Final SENZ Layout

Remember that box of goodies I showed you last month? Well, here's another layout that I whipped up with the contents. It sat on my desk for weeks and I couldn't seem to get it right but now it's done, I am more happy with it than I expected. The photo doesn't do it justice but it has a real deep richness to it and when the light hits all the bronzed and glittered bits, it glows. The photo corners and the flower got a dose of Zing Glitter Embossing powder to match the bronze trim from the box (German Scraps?). The Journal Spot (place for my own photo when I eventually get to Italy myself) and some of the cut-out embellishments were all popped up with foam dots. I got to play with the Tim Holtz resist kraft paper and spray inks. I even got to use some new Spellbinders dies to cut the trim (not that I am admitting to having bought more stuff ;) Keep an eye out for it at Fiona's stand at SENZ next weekend: Create.

PS the photos of Italy came from a free photo website: www.freefoto.com

That's the legal bits out of the way then!

Im Bored So You Get A Blog Post Today

It's really boring being home sick so I am filling in my time by blogging and catching up on my own blog-hopping. Lots of ideas make me want to scrap but not feeling up to it. I have had a layout sitting on my desk for weeks (no exaggeration). I just can't seem to get it 'just right'. Seems I have forgotten my 'just glue it down' philosophy but it is a design for someone else which will be on show at SENZ. Only one week to go till SENZ (I better be better by then!). Sadly I missed out on booking into the class I wanted to do but I will just have to console myself with shopping instead.

It was my Dad's birthday this month so here's the card he got. I meant to photograph the inside before I wrote the sentiment but I forgot. I am really happy with this card. I added clear OHT to the bottom of the trimmed card front so that it could still stand up on its own. The blue felt trim was a last minute addition and I was worried that it wouldn't work with the green but I think it turned out great! He liked it and that's the main thing.

I am submitting this card and post to the latest challenge at Southern Girls Challenge site:

http://southerngirlschallenge.blogspot.com/

The challenge was: anything goes! (Lucky for me, eh ;)

Ta Da!

Still having trouble with blogger but I managed to get one blog post posted - let's try for another.

Here's the layout I created from the goodies from Create for Create. As usual things didn't go smoothly. The ink on the word memories matched the burgundy trim perfectly, that is, until I added Glass Finish to it! The beautiful, matching burgundy faded to a paler shade of red. Then, my favourite glue (Pritt Power Gel) ran out right when I needed to glue the plastic/chipboard bits down {while nearing a personal deadline too}. I had to use the same glass finish to attach the chipboard and the buttons. This is a great tip/glue for using on buttons/plastic but not so good on my Glass Finish Chipboard word - the ink ran, again, and became more orange then red. O well , still looks good and I am happy with the overall layout - it could work with any two landscape 4x6 photos.

The torn out strips are backed with printed tissue tape. To strengthen the torn out sections of the page while still retaining the opacity of the tissue paper I backed the torn bit with heavy acetate.

I had a lot of fun distressing everything - a new technique for me. It did feel a little unnerving using the Heidi Swapp Distresser, inking everything heavily and tearing! It was more nerve-racking because I was creating it for someone and it was going on display. At least, whenever I felt I had overdone it I could shrug it off and call it distressed!

Look What Arrived....

This little package from Fiona @ Create arrived a week ago but this is the first time I have been able to blog and load a picture of the goodies - thanks Blogger Update! I have been having difficulties publishing posts from the laptop since I upgraded Outlook and have to publish them from work. Let's hope this works today or you will have to wait, again, until Monday.

I have already completed a layout from the pack using some pics from my trip to Ireland in 2009. I took a picture of it today to load to the blog but, go figure, my watermarking software had a hissy fit and froze! Grrrr, times like these I really dislike not being tech savvy!!!

Fingers crossed.....

I Couldn't Resist

I couldn't resist having a play with some of my new stuff. I grabbed a piece of scrap cardstock and cut out the new Ticket die. Then I had to stamp it up with the matching Tim Holtz stamps and distress inks. I love how they all work together. Not one to waste paper, I then played with the negative of the ticket die. Unfortunately I grabbed a glossy piece of paper to play with and the new ink didn't like it. The ink wasn't drying (smudged a bit) so I covered it with clear embossing ink and heat embossed it. What I didn't know was that this made the ink fade by at least two shades!

Things I learnt today:

I need lessons on my Fiskars Stamp Press

Glossy paper needs more skills than I have at this stage

Clear embossing powder causes distress inks to fade

Don't start playing on your day off before you do the jobs you need to do (I knew that already but I chose to ignore it!)

I May Have Gone Shopping

While I was away I managed to sneak in a visit to Michaels & Joanns - thank you Joanns for your fabulous sales plus discount coupons (40% and 50% off an item - yes, please!). How naive was I? I thought my newly acquired goodies would fit in one photo! After I took the photos I realised I missed a couple of items - stamp press mini & original, sizzix ticket die and a stamp set.

I thought I would share it with you all. When the BFF saw my collection she pronounced that I had a problem. However, her exclamation was soon followed by lots of oohing and aahing. I think I am not alone in my addiction. I'm sure she won't mind if they come over for a play date some time soon.

I was stoked to see Joanns supply of unmounted, self-cling, rubber stamps. I love acrylic stamps for their price and ease of storage but there's no doubt in my mind that rubber stamps provide much better stamped images. Needless to say, a few sets came home with me that day (30% off - yes, please!). I can't wait to play with them and the punches. There's also a piece of green paper that is printed to look like crocodile skin and feels like suede - unfortunately there was only one sheet in the particular green I liked.

Why am I blogging when there are new toys to play with.......?

A Hiatus of Sorts

Instead of simply not updating my blog for a while I will just put it out there that I will be on a crafting hiatus for a few weeks (6-7 weeks - that sounds a long time when I actually write it down). However will you survive I hear you exclaim - don't worry, I will be back (with or without Arnie impersonation - your choice!). Because of time and supply constraints I wasn't able to do my first project for Create for Create in March as planned. But I am scheduled to create a project for Create for Create when the hiatus is over - not before mid-May. I'm looking forward to it as it is weird walking past my creative space and seeing it cleared (I mean, you can actually see some of the table top and the other half has been folded down, most of the floor is visible too!). Must rectify that as soon as possible. See you in May!