Scrapbook Express, here I come!

I have some exciting news to share, I am back on Scrapbook Express Design Team!

I am really happy. First of all, Scrapbook Express is an awesome online store with great products and fabulous service. Secondly, they have a great message board. If you are looking for an online place to hang out, with fun challenges, great scrapbooking inspiration and friendly people, you should check here. I would love to see my blog friends joining me!

I will share what I made for the DT call. I submitted a layout and card based on this sketch .The whole layout is made with Bo Bunnny Barefoot and Bliss papers and chipboard.

I mixed yellow metallic acrylic paint with sparkle texture effect medium and stamped the circles using 3 different drinking glasses. I think it gave nice effect of sparkling sand.

The chipboard letters were inked and then covered with glimmer mist.

Supplies: patterned paper, chipboard, jewels (Bo Bunny), chipboard letters (Basic Grey), letter stickers (Bella Blvd), paint, sparkle texture (Martha Stewart)

The card is based on the same sketch. I used flowers instead of pictures and butterflies instead of circles. The flowers are made from folded Heidi Swapp silk flowers (remember them?). The butterflies are covered with matte accents. The mat with punched border is raised with pop-dots. This card is bulky but I like how it turned out. Special card for special occasion.

Supplies: patterned paper (Pink Paisley, My Mind's Eye), flowers (Heidi Swapp), tag and leaf die-cuts (My Mind's Eye), floss (Bazzill Basics), border punch (Martha Stewart), butterfly punch (Martha Stewart), matte accents (Ranger), pearls (Kaiser Crafts), alphabet dies (Lifestyle Crafts)

I got an email today with more exciting news, but that will have to wait for another post.

Sketches, sketches, sketches

Three recent layouts based on sketches. 

The first layout is based on Shimelle's sketch. I printed the logo and the picture of Laa-Laa from Teletubbies website (yes, there is such thing). I used a square of silver paper on the right side of the layout. Does it looks like a TV screen?  

Supplies: cardstock (American Crafts), patterned paper (My Mind's Eye), stickers (My Mind's Eye), letters (Tim Holtz), pearls (Kaiser Crafts), border punch (Fiskars), circle punch (Fiskars), acrylic paint

This layout is based on Donna Jannuzzi's sketch #11 for Ella Publishing. I used Jenni Bowlin kit from May 2009. Yes, the kit is more than 2 year old. I love the papers so why not?

Supplies: Jenni Bowlin May 2009 Kit, letter stickers (Bella Blvd)

The last layout is based on Anam Stubbington's sketch for Crafting Jewish Style. I made it for today's post. Look what other DT members made with the same sketch. All 4 layouts came out very different and this is what great about the sketches. You can follow it as is, you can modify it however you want. It is just a springboard for your inspiration.

 
Supplies: patterned paper and stickers(Crafting Jewish Style), letter stickers (Cosmo Cricket), pearls (Kaiser Crafts), raindots (Cloud 9), corner border punch (Fiskars), tag, circle and scallop punch (Fiskars), die and de cut machine (Lifestyle Crafts)

Tuesday Trio sketch 85

Another cute sketch at Tuesday Trio. I made this card based on the sketch and the inspirational photo. I was drawn to the dark silhouette in the photo and decided to use dark brown stickers as the main focus of the card. All paper and stickers are from Creative Memories.

Supplies: patterned paper and stickers (Creative Memories), ink (Colorbox), flower (Maya Road), sequin (Doodlebug), die and die cut machine (Lifestyle Crafts)

I used the papers from the same CM kit for the next layout. It was made for the Diva scraplifting challenge at Scrapbook Express. I lifted the gorgeous layout by Mara 

Supplies: cardstock (Recollections), patterned paper and stickers (Creative Memories), lace (Recollections), border sticker (Sassafras Lass), stamp (American Crafts), ink (Brilliance), raindots (Cloud 9), thickers (American Crafts), buttons (Foof-a-laa), floss (WRMK), brad, die and die cut machine (Lifestyle Crafts), heart and corner punches (Fiskars)

P.S. Guess where I was at 5:45 am this morning? ...
At the gym. "Enjoying" the first lesson of the boot camp

Baby Yali and baby Ella

Few months ago I made a layout based on a sketch from my local scrapbooking store. I used Kaiser Crafts baby papers mixed with some old Jenni Bowlin papers. The cute baby in the pictures is my nephew Yali. We live so far away from all our nieces and nephews, I treasure every picture I get.

Supplies: cardstock (Bazill), patterned paper (Kaiser Crafts, Jenni Bowlin), chipboard letters (Lil' Davis), chipboard frame (Lil' Davis), raindots (Cloud 9), letter stickers (Sassafras Lass, Making Memories), rub-ons (Jenni Bowlin), die (Lifestyle Crafts), jewels (Heidi Swapp)

My layout won the sketch contest so when I came to pick it up I had a prize package waiting for me - Cosmo Cricket Upcycle paper pack, yummy green lime thickers and a package of Jillibean Soup sugar picks

I thought this was very generous prize and couldn't wait to take everything out of the package and start playing. Here is the first layout that I did. I love those pictures of me and baby Ella in her wrap. I never took this wrap off. It was always on me, ready to cuddle my sweet baby. Look at her feet. Ain't they the cutest?  The picture on the left also has our cat Barsik. We have only few pictures of him, so I was glad to have this picture scrapped and added to my albums.

Supplies: patterned paper (Cosmo Cricket), thickers (Anerican Crafts), pins (Jillibean soup), hearts (Colorbok), border punch (Fiskars), scallop punch (Fiskars)

I spent most of the day today grocery shopping and cooking. Ella bought American Test Kitchen game for her Nintendo DS (don't ask me why) and we tried a new recipe for the beef stew. I also made a yummy grapefruit and pomegranate salad and shared the recipe on the Crafting Jewish Style blog. What are you cooking? Anything interesting? Let me know!

P.S. I was asked if I can read comments in Hebrew. Yes I do. And in Russian :) I love reading your comments so feel free to leave them in any language that feels comfortable. I always try to go back and visit the blogs of my commenters. I can do that only if your profile is public, otherwise I don't have any ways of contacting you.

Starting point

Another Shimelle's starting point challenge and another layout. This time I decided on my papers before I knew what pictures I will be using. These papers from American Crafts looked very lonely so I picked them up, trimmed the scraps and made this.

After some thinking I remembered that I have pictures that Ella took when her friend came to a sleepover last month. The papers are so colorful that I didn't add much - just few stickers from the same collection, letters stickers and 2 big pink polka dot brads.

Supplies: cardstock (Core'dinations), patterned paper (American Crafts), stickers (American Crafts, Bella blvd), letter stickers (Bella Blvd), journaling card (Martha Stewart)

I am liking those starting point challenges! What about you? Would you give it a try? The new challenge is already out.

Tuesday Trio Sketch 84 and Design Team call

I have a super easy card for you today. It is based on Tuesday Trio sketch 84. I decided to use the sketch as an embellishment for my baby card. I took a pre-made small envelope and tucked inside a chipboard teddy bear. Few hearts, letter stickers and viola. Simple and cute baby card.

Supplies: patterned paper, chipboard, heart stickers (Recollections), letter stickers (Basic Grey), envelope (Me and My Big Ideas)

Stop by the Tuesday Trio blog for more inspiration and share your take on the sketch.

While you are there check the scoop on the Design Team call. Come play with us!

Summer then and now.

Summer 2000. Baby Lila in our yard, splashing in the water and enjoying the warm (probably very hot) weather. Olesh. Israel.

Supplies: patterned paper (Creative Imaginations, Dear Lizzy for American Crafts), letter stickers (Bella Blvd), chipboard hearts (Heidi Grace), border punches (Fiskars, Martha Stewart), butterfly punch (Martha Stewart)

Summer 2011. Baby Eli sinking his teeth into an ear of corn at Memorial Day picnic. Kettle Moraine State Forest. Wisconsin. USA.

Supplies: patterned paper (Rusty Pickle), stickers (Sassafras Lass), letter stickers (Bella Blvd), doily (Michaels), dove punch (Martha Stewart), tag

Starting point

Here is something different I did last week - a layout based on Shimelle's starting point. I pulled out the scraps from Pink Paislee "Hometown Summer" kit and with just few small trims arranged them to look like this:

Few Sassafras pieces, few buttons, floss and a picture of one very cute little boy came together as this layout.

 

 I inked Tim Holtz grungeboard letters with blue ink and than sprayed them with light blue glimmer mist.

Supplies: patterned paper (Pink Paislee), stickers (Sassafrad Lass), letters (Tim Holtz), ink (Brilliance), glimmer mist (Tattered Angels), buttons, floss, acrylic paint

I think it is my current favorite layout. Thanks, Shimelle!

Tuesday Trio Sketch 83

It is nice to post my Tuesday Trio card on Tuesday and not weeks late. Today the sketch 83 is revealed on Tuesday Trio sketch blog. We were asked to use brown, pink and white color scheme. I rummaged through my scraps and found a scrap of Jenni Bowlin brown paper and pink journaling tag. I only had to add few brown velvet Maya Road flowers and pink buttons to make it perfect. This card came together so quickly and I love how it turned out. I may decide to make few more!

Stop by the Tuesday Trio blog to see what other Design Team members made and to share your crafty projects. This challenge is open till September 17th.

Supplies: patterned paper (Jenni Bowlin), tag (K&Company), souffle pens (Sakura), flowers (Maya Road), buttons (Foof-a-la)

Don't forget, you still have 4 more days to participate in the previous challenge and to be included in the prize drawing - 4 digital stamps of your choice from Crafty Sentiments Designs.

More summer projects

Few more crafty projects from this summer. 

I made this layout for Crafting Jewish Style blog back in May. The Design Team used Anam Stubbington's sketch

I picked 2 pictures from Shavuot celebration in our moshav. (I am the one with the headband, holding little Lila.) All papers are from Crafting Jewish Style Hanukkah collection. Once again, I used my trusty heart squeeze punch to make the scallop border. The flowers are made with Lifestyle Crafts die. The pictures were taken during the tractor ride so I had to add the tractor. I googled for tractor coloring page, printed it and used it as a template to cut my tractor pieces.

Supplies: patterned paper and sticker (Crafting Jewish Style), die and die-cut machine (Lifestyle Crafts), flower cabochons (Recollection), border punch (Fiskars), squeeze punch (Fiskars), hebrew letter stickers, brads

The next card I made for Bar Mitzvah of one of Lila's classmates. I used the papers from the same Hanukkah collection but just stayed with the blues to give it a masculine look.

Supplies: patterned paper (Crafiting Jewish Style), cardstock (American Crafts), twine (We R Memory Keepers), circle punch (EL Success), corner punch (Fiskars), ink

The last project is another Bar Mitzvah card with altered printers trey. I always wanted to make one of this. I bought wooden numbers at Michaels (13 is the Bar Mitzvah age) and colored them with black acrylic paint. When they were dry I sanded them and covered with glimmer mist. I did the same with the chipboard letters. The big Star of David is printed on a vellum.The small square with the Star of David and Hebrew words was part of the invitation. 

I am still not sure if it was a good idea. I don't know about the boy but I hope his mom liked it.

I have more projects to share but we will leave them for another time. I went through hundreds of posts in my google reader, trying to decide what subscriptions to keep and what I will have to let go. I need to limit myself to some manageable amount. I think I am almost there.  So, I am wondering, how many blogs are in your google reader?

Tuesday Trio sketches

Few cards and layouts I did for Tuesday Trio this summer.

This card is based on sketch 82. The challenge for this sketch is to use punches. I used my Fiskars scallop and circle squeeze punches  to punch out the sentiment and the scallop behind it. I also used my favorite Fiskars corner squezee punch to round the corners of the green cardstock piece. For this sketch the DT got to use digital stamps by Crafty Sentiments Designs. I picked this adorable bunny. You can win 4 digital stamps of your choice by participating in the challenge. Link up your layout or card here by Septemeber 10th, 4pm Central Time.

 

Supplies: patterned paper (My Mind's Eye), digital stamps (Crafty Sentiments Designs), punches (Fiskars), pencils, smooch ink

The next card is based on sketch 81 and the challenge here was to use distressing but not with ink. I chose to distress the edges of the patterned papers that already had a vintage and distressed look.

Supplies: patterned paper (Jenni Bowlin, My Mind's Eye), flowers (Recollection), journaling sticker (Jenni Bowlin), letter stickers (Cosmo Cricket), pearls (Kaiser Craft), twine, rub-on

The next one is based on the sketch 80 and the theme for this challenge was "women". We just came back from our big road trip when I worked on this sketch so I decided to use this sully photo of us, all wet after the hike in the rain.

Supplies: patterned paper, letter stickers, chipboard (Colorbok), journaling tag (Making Memories), flower punch (EK Success)

This layout is based on sketch 79 and the challenge here was "use bright and happy colors". And I did. All papers and embellishments are from Pink Paislee "Hometown Summer" collection. The scallop border is done by adhering punched hearts under the circle.

Supplies: patterned paper, chipboard (Paink Paislee), chipboard letters (My Mind's Eye), letter stickers (Doodlebug, Jenni Bowlin), punch (Fiskars)

Here is another layout using the same paper collection. It is based on sketch 77. The challenge for this sketch was to use acrylic paint. I painted two big chipboard corners that I had forever. Love using older supplies and mixing them with new products.

Supplies: patterned paper (Pink Paislee), chipboard letters (My Mind's Eye), journaling sticker (Basic Grey), die (Lifestyle Crafts), chipboard corners, acrylic paint

The next layout is based on sketch 76. The challenge was to use a text page. I used a page from an old magazine in Hebrew to mat my photo and to punch out two butterflies.

Supplies: cardstock (Core'dinations), patterned paper (S.E.I.), crochet flowers (My Mind's Eye), paper flowers (Petalloo), buttefrly punches (Fiskars, Martha Stewart), jewels, doilly

 

Phew, that was a long post. I will be back tomorrow with more layouts and card from this summer.

Sassy Lil' Sketches E-Book

I was a bad bad blogger this summer, but I did find some time to scrap. I even made a layout for Sassy Lil' Sketches Ebook. Cherie Averill creates beautiful sketches, it was fun to work with her sketch and even more fun to see my layout in the book among other gorgeous and inspiring layouts.

NEWS RELEASE

At Sassy Lil' Sketches, we are happy to announce the first Sassy Lil' Sketches Ebook has been released!

The Sassy Lil' Sketches Ebook features about 70 brand new sketches designed by Cherie Averill!

You'll find sketches for layouts with one, two, three & multiple photos! You'll even find double page sketches! Plus, sample layouts from talented designers that will spark your creativity!

Most of the sketches use standard photo sizes (4x6, 5x7, 8x10). To get extra mileage out of the sketches, switch it up! Use the sketches to create cards, double pagers, etc.! If you need ideas for "switching it up", check out the cards in the Sample Layouts section or stop by the Sassy Lil' Sketch blog on Saturdays.

The Sassy Lil' Sketches Ebook is available for online viewing or you can easily download and print it. It's your choice!

Visit www.sassylilsketches.com to get the Sassy Lil' Sketches Ebook and get scrapping!

I can't show you the layout but I will leave you with a little sneak peak.

I am taking my copy of the book to the next crop!

September 1st 2011

Another 2 months passed for me like blogging doesn't exist and it is OK. We had a great summer. Grandparents visited us for 3 weeks, we made a 7 days road trip to Niagara Falls, we skated, participated in drama and ceramics workshops, read books, watched TV, played video games and enjoyed the summer. 2 days ago we came back from the last summer trip to north Wisconsin. The girls tried white water rafting for the first time and we all enjoyed hiking and discovering numerous waterfalls of Marinette County. 

Today the girls are back in school so it is just me and Eli for now. Hopefully September will bring me more scrapping time and maybe some time for blogland. There are so many things I want to do this year. One of them is to improve my photography skills. Lately I am getting more and more disappointed with the pictures I take. I feel that I am not satisfied any more by just any picture, I want a good one. Those are definitely not the best but here they are - my 8th and 5th graders, ready for the new school year.

Other things on my min:
  - decide how to scrap our road trip to Niagara Falls,
  - United Stated of Fiskateers event in WI on November 5th. Finally, Fiskateers event that is close to me. I can't wait!
  - Scrapbook Express Design Team Call  - if you would like to be a part of the Design Team, give them a try! Heather and her team are very generous. Designing for the scrapbooking store is different than designing for the kit club. You have so much more freedom to decided what you want to do and to pick your supplies. It was a great experience for me! Read all about the DT call here.

Happy new school year for all the moms that sent their kids to school today!