World at your Fingertips...Happiness? **Scraps with V**

My oldest son is going through a lot right now at school.  His anger has taken control of his life and he is having a hard time coping with frustration and loss, pretty sure all related back to his sister's death a little over 2 years ago.  He is going to therapy and we are trying to work through it all, it just takes time and a lot of patience.

This LO is about the frustrations he is feeling, the words on the left that create the wall he is facing say "the whole wonderful world is at your fingertips if you only reach for it" and then I titled it "happiness" as that is what we are trying to achieve, for him to be happy and to live a carefree childhood as best as he can.  I wanted to show the light at the end of our tunnel with the bling on the one side, and then the mess of paints and inks all over as the chaos we are dealing with right now.

I really grunged this LO up. I tried my hand at gesso and paints, smearing them on, then also stamping and inking, distressed the edges of the papers, tearing, and wetting the papers too.

I created this layout as an inspiration challenge with these wonderful fall colors over at Scraps with V.  If you would like to join in and play along please head on over and play along!!

Challenges:
http://ceschallenges.blogspot.com/ - (59) new beginnings - fresh start for my son - 11/3x
http://prima.typepad.com/ - sketch - 11/15x
http://charismacardz.blogspot.com/ - (43) anything goes - 11/2x
http://creataliciouschallenges.blogspot.com/ (27) distress - 11/13x
http://bellichallenge.blogspot.com/ (129) 1234 - x
http://creativeinspirationspaint.blogspot.com/ - fall - 11/4x
http://dreamvalleychallenges.blogspot.com/ (19) anything goes - 11/11x
http://heartsonginspirations.blogspot.com/ (22) 3 layers - 11/7x
http://karensdoodleschallengeblog.blogspot.com/ (87) quote inspiration - 11/5x
http://lollipopcrafts.blogspot.com/ (55) anything goes - 11/5x
http://paperplaytime.blogspot.com/ (59) anything goes 11/5x
http://punkyscraps.blogspot.com/ - recipe - 11/3*
http://www.stampsruschallenges.blogspot.com/ - masculine - 11/12x
http://totallygorjuss.blogspot.com/ (104) remember - 11/6x
http://tuesdaytaggers.blogspot.com/ - fabric - 11/1x

Enjoy!!

Erin R. 

Boo - Morgan's Ghost

Happy Halloween Everyone!!

I hope everyone has a spectacular day with all the ghost and ghouls out today!! 

Halloween is a fun spooky day....so why not let your pages feel the same.  Embrace the colors - orange, black, purple, and yellow.  I love these colors and Prima's Product picks for this month are perfect for this!! So head on over and take a look!!  Have fun with the dark and grunge feel of a page.........enter the dark side, lol.

The ghost in the picture is my oldest son Morgan.  He was having a blast with the sheet over his head making "boo" sounds trying to scare us a couple of days ago.  As luck would have it I had my camera in my pocket and I was able to get this fun picture of him.  Since then I have been mulling over how to create a layout this for this picture.

I love to create layers, it adds so much dimension to a page.  Layers of papers, colors, embellishments, and textures gives so much depth and intrigue to a page........it keep you looking for more. In this page I was playing with the idea of the hard and the soft.  The hard dark edge of the colors and Halloween, but the softness of the flowers, ribbon, and swirls make a great juxtaposition to each other.  I also just love getting dirty playing with my distress inks, mists, and glitter.

I hope this inspires you to get dirty and to have fun playing a bit on the dark side of scrapbooking!!!

Challenges:
http://prima.typepad.com/ - PPP - 11/15
http://charismacardz.blogspot.com/ - (43) anything goes - 11/2x
http://craftycalendarchallenge.blogspot.com/ - spooky - 11/3x
http://creataliciouschallenges.blogspot.com/ (27) distress - 11/13
http://bellichallenge.blogspot.com/ (129) 1234 - x
http://deliciousdoodleschallenge.blogspot.com/ (5) good vs evil - 11/9x
http://delightfulsketches.blogspot.com/ - colors - 11/2x
http://dreamvalleychallenges.blogspot.com/ (19) anything goes - 11/11x
http://doyoustackup.blogspot.com/ (43) halloween - 11/1x
http://forfunchallenges.blogspot.com/ - halloween - 11/1x
http://paperplaytime.blogspot.com/ (59) anything goes 11/5x
http://punkyscraps.blogspot.com/ - halloween - 11/5x
http://thesecretcraftersaturdaychallenge.blogspot.com/ (158) spooky - 11/2x
http://simplycreatechallenges.blogspot.com/ (55) pumpkins - 11/8x
http://stampingwithdragon.blogspot.com/  - fall - 11/10
http://thepapervariety.blogspot.com/  - spooky - 11/1x
http://totallygorjuss.blogspot.com/ (104) remember - 11/6x
http://totallypapercrafts.blogspot.com/ (90) glitter - 11/5x

Enjoy!!

Erin R.

Little One Card **Wags N' Whiskers Stamps GDT**

My long time friend from high school has a little girl who is turning one this weekend.  I thought I would make her a card, and when I found out I was a GDT for Wags N' Whiskers and saw their cute little image of the birthday dog I could not resist.

The challenge this week at Wags N' Whiskers is to use BLACK and a BOW or PEARLS. I used all three items, but I threw in some fun pink in the mix of it all since the birthday is for a girl, you have to use pink!!

I black matted all the papers to really make it pop, and to let each pink paper really stand out from each other.  TO also let the papers meld better i inked all the edges with black chalk ink, so fun little tip: always ink your edges to make then appear softer and it gives the entire overall look a much more relaxed feel.  I made the little bow, and used my stamps to create the cute little flowers!!

So head on over to Wags N' Whiskers and play in their fun challenge of BLACK and a BOW or PEARLS.

Challenges:
http://ceschallenges.blogspot.com/ - (59) new beginnings - baby - 11/3
http://charismacardz.blogspot.com/ - (43) anything goes - 11/2x
http://clpchallenge.blogspot.com/ - (41) sketch - 11/1
http://craftyannschallengeblog.blogspot.com/ (52) CAS - 11/4
http://bellichallenge.blogspot.com/ (129) 1234 - x
http://paperplaytime.blogspot.com/ (59) anything goes 11/5
http://southerngirlschallenge.blogspot.com/ (30) stripes and dots - 11/4
http://totallygorjuss.blogspot.com/ (104) remember - 11/6
Enjoy!

Erin R.

Cute as a Bug **SiT**

When Brandon was 7 month old (July of 2010) we were playing at a bounce house place with Big Brother Morgan.  Brandon was much too small to play there, but they had a little area perfect for him.  They had toys and balls that he thought were the greatest.  We played in the little area for a good hour while Morgan was having a blast bouncing away.  During this time I had just gotten my smart phone and I was playing with the camera feature of the phone, so Brandon playing was the subject of the day.   

When I saw this wonderful vintage sketch from Sketch Inspiration.  I remembered these pictures and it came alive.  I used some really old papers in my stash, and worked perfect for this layout!!  So I created this layout for Sketches in Thyme for their open challenge call..  So you still have time to head on over to SiT and load up your project to join in for the great prize this month!!  Also don't forget that SiT is having their DT call going on right now!!

 

I used only paper and ink for this layout, I cut strips of faux sewn paper and used them to create a border around the pictures.   I really went for a clean and simple look on this layout, something different from my normal shabby distressed ones.

Please head over to Sketches in Thyme for the Open Sketch Challenge

Challenges:

http://paperplaytime.blogspot.com/ (59) anything goes 11/5

Enjoy!!

Erin R.

1st Day of School - Brandon **SiT and Frosted Designs**

My little boy Brandon started preschool this September at Christ Church School.  He is in the Toddler II class and loves it.  He thinks he is just like this big brother (Morgan is in Kindergarten) wearing his backpack and looking like a big boy!!  I took these great pictures on the first day right inside our house, and of course he is mugging for the camera.  The backpack was a bit heavy for him, so he was kind of fighting for it to say on, but he was determined to wear it like big brother does.  Too cute!!

I used a great sketch from Sketches in Thyme to create my layout.  You can enter in the challenge until the end of the month with this same sketch!!  Just pop on over to the SiT blog and load up your creation!!

I also made this LO for Frosted Designs.  They have a new challenge about using fancy trims.  I used a variety of trims under the "First Day of School" chipboard.  I cut each strand to about 2 inches long and then folded them i half and stapled them to stay folded.  I then tucked the folded stapled part under the chipboard to give it a starburst feel.  I picked trims that were fun and funky, but that worked with the colors of the LO.

So please pop on over to both of these great challenge sites and enter in the fun!!

Sketches in Thyme - sketch


Frosted Designs - fancy trim

Challenges:
http://paperplaytime.blogspot.com/ (59) anything goes 11/5

Enjoy!!

Erin R.

Haunted Card **Papercrafting Journey**

I was lucky enough to be a guest designer for Papercrafting Journey again this week!!   The challenge this week is a color challenge.  The colors are black, white, and orange as  the main colors in your project.

We’re sponsored by 2 Cute Rubber Stamps - so please head on down to Papercrafting Journey and play along!!

I loved the image of the little monsters, they were just too perfect for a card to my son's teacher at school!!  I am still learning the art of coloring in images, so this time I used map pencils and chalk pencils to color the monsters.  I then inked the edges to soften it all up and cut paper that had a sewn texture on it to make it look like i had sewn it for real, easy way to create a sewn look to a card, use paper that already has it on it!!

Challenges:
http://priscillastyles.blogspot.com/ - sketch - 10/18x

http://bythecuteandgirly.blogspot.com/ - anything goes - 10/31x
http://charismacardz.blogspot.com/ - stitching - 10/19x
http://clearitoutchallenge.blogspot.com/ - halloween - 10/16x
http://copiccreations.wordpress.com/ - (59) saturated color - 10/14
http://craftsandmechallenges.blogspot.com/ - (56) orange - 10/16x
http://craftycalendarchallenge.blogspot.com/ - spooky - 10/31
http://creataliciouschallenges.blogspot.com/ - (26) - anything goes - 10/14x
http://creativecardcrew.blogspot.com/ - spooky - 10/23x
http://www.cupcakecraftchallenges.blogspot.com/ (163) halloween - 10/16x
http://delightfulsketches.blogspot.com/ - fall - 10/19x
http://dreamvalleychallenges.blogspot.com/ - (17) monochrome - 10/15x
http://doyoustackup.blogspot.com/ - (41) scraps - 10/19x
http://lollipopcrafts.blogspot.com/ - (52) critters - 10/15x
http://sarahhurleychallenges.blogspot.com/ - (51) halloween - 10/15x
http://www.scrap-creations1.blogspot.com/ - halloween - 10/15x
http://simplycreatechallenges.blogspot.com/ (53) older then 6 mo (paper) - 10/14x
http://sparklesforumchallenges.blogspot.com/ (22) halloween - 10/31x
http://stampingwithdragon.blogspot.com/ - fall colors - 10/14x
http://www.stampsruschallenges.blogspot.com/ - fall - 10/16x
http://toptiptuesday.blogspot.com/ - (55) tip - 10/16x
http://wagsnwhiskersrubberstamps.blogspot.com/ (64) handmade - 10/13x

Enjoy!!

Erin R.

Autumn Days tag **S4A Contest**

There is a Fall Mini Contest going on at Sketches4all from October 10th until October 17th. There are two challenges. One is to make a Fall themed Layout and the other challenge is to make a Fall Themed Card.  So come on over to S4A join in the fun and win some great stuff!!

We are very lucky to have The Cutting Cafe as our sponsor for this contest.  The Cutting Cafe has fabulous affordable printable stamps and cutting files.  Head on over and check them out!!

Regina over at The Cutting Cafe will be picking the winner of the Fall Card Contest and offering from The Cutting Cafe your choice of 3 digi sets to the winner!!

The Sketches4all Design Team will be voting on the winner of the Fall Layout Contest and the winner will receive an awesome Embellishment Kit full of wonderful goodies.  You can see the prize over at S4A.

Our design team has been hard "at work" playing with some of The Cutting Cafe's gorgeous digis and here is one of the projects I made.  Check out yesterdays post to see the wonderful card I made with her great products!!

In this card I used her words "Autumn Days" and also two of her adorable mini colored bingo cards.  I love the colors she used, they feel so much like autumn!!

Now it is time for you to head on over to Sketches4all and join in the fun October Contest!! You might end up being the winner of one of the two cool prizes!! 

Challenges:
http://clpchallenge.blogspot.com/ - (41) sketch - 10/31

http://creataliciouschallenges.blogspot.com/ - (26) - anything goes - 10/14
http://dreamvalleychallenges.blogspot.com/ - (17) monochrome - 10/15
http://karensdoodleschallengeblog.blogspot.com/ - distress - 10/15
http://onestopcraftchallenge.blogspot.com/ - (152) anything goes - 10/14
http://simplycreatechallenges.blogspot.com/ (53) older then 6 mo (pocket) - 10/14
http://stampingwithdragon.blogspot.com/ - fall colors - 10/14
http://stampinsanity.com/ - (77) any but card - 10/19
http://tuesdaytaggers.blogspot.com/ - tag - 10/17
http://wagsnwhiskersrubberstamps.blogspot.com/ (64) handmade - 10/13

Enjoy!!

Erin R.

Autumn Blessing Card **S4A Contest**

There is a Fall Mini Contest going on at Sketches4all from October 10th until October 17th. There are two challenges. One is to make a Fall themed Layout and the other challenge is to make a Fall Themed Card.  So come on over to S4A join in the fun and win some great stuff!!

We are very lucky to have The Cutting Cafe as our sponsor for this contest.  The Cutting Cafe has fabulous affordable printable stamps and cutting files.  Head on over and check them out!!

Regina over at The Cutting Cafe will be picking the winner of the Fall Card Contest and offering from The Cutting Cafe your choice of 3 digi sets to the winner!!

The Sketches4all Design Team will be voting on the winner of the Fall Layout Contest and the winner will receive an awesome Embellishment Kit full of wonderful goodies.  You can see the prize over at S4A.

Our design team has been hard "at work" playing with some of The Cutting Cafe's gorgeous digis and here is one of the projects I made.  Come back tomorrow to see the tag I created with her wonderful products!!.

In this card I used her words" Autumn Blessing" and also two of her adorable mini colored bingo cards.  I love the colors she used, feel so much like autumn!!

Now it is time for you to head on over to Sketches4all and join in the fun October Contest!! You might end up being the winner of one of the two cool prizes!! 

Challenges:
http://craftsandmechallenges.blogspot.com/ - (56) orange - 10/16
http://creataliciouschallenges.blogspot.com/ - (26) - anything goes - 10/14

http://lollipopcrafts.blogspot.com/ - (52) critters - 10/15
http://onestopcraftchallenge.blogspot.com/ - (152) anything goes - 10/14
http://simplycreatechallenges.blogspot.com/ (53) older then 6 mo (brads) - 10/14
http://stampingwithdragon.blogspot.com/ - fall colors - 10/14
http://www.stampsruschallenges.blogspot.com/ - fall - 10/16
http://toptiptuesday.blogspot.com/ - (55) DP - 10/16
http://totallypapercrafts.blogspot.com/ (87) animals - 10/14
http://wagsnwhiskersrubberstamps.blogspot.com/ (64) handmade - 10/13

Enjoy!!

Erin R.

Trick or Treat Card **Raise the Bar**

I was asked to be a GDT for Raise the Bar again this week.  For this challenge the theme is "Hat's Off", so simple use and image that has a hat in it somewhere.  For my hat image I had this really cute one of a witch, and had some really fun papers left over from a layout I had done last year.  I used the colors in the papers and matched with when I colored the witch (I am not the best a coloring, and I used map pencils and textured cardstock - not sure if I like the look of the texture under the cardstock, but it was an experiment).  I also use some weaving to create a fun look, and i made sure the little spider what showing on the top of the weaved papers.  I make sure none of the white edges were showing I inked all the edges of every paper on this card, fun little tip for ya!!

Fun little interactive flip up under the "Trick or Treat" sticker

I really like the fun cute image, and this will be one of the cards I give to my kids teacher this Halloween.

Thanks for taking  a look and please don't forget to head on over to Raise the Bar and enter in your very own "Hat's Off" project!!

Challenges:
http://craftycalendarchallenge.blogspot.com/ - spooky - 11/4
http://craftycreationschallenges.blogspot.com/ - CAS = 10/4
http://creataliciouschallenges.blogspot.com/ - anything goes - 10/13
http://deliciousdoodleschallenge.blogspot.com/ - unexpected (flap to see other word inside) - 10/12
http://phindysplacechallenge.blogspot.com/ - fall - 10/6
http://pileitonchallenge.blogspot.com/ - fun - 10/31
http://www.practicalscrappers.com/ - Halloween - 10/31
http://thesecretcraftersaturdaychallenge.blogspot.com/ - Halloween - 10/5
http://www.scrap-creations1.blogspot.com/ - girl - 10/3
http://simplycreatechallenges.blogspot.com/ - older than 6 mo (paper and sticker) - 10/13
http://stampingwithdragon.blogspot.com/ - fall colors - 10/13
http://stampinsanity.com/ - art inspiration - 10/5
http://toptiptuesday.blogspot.com/ - tip - 10/3
http://totallypapercrafts.blogspot.com/ - fall - 10/7
http://wagsnwhiskersrubberstamps.blogspot.com/ -handmade - 10/13
http://americancrafts.typepad.com/ - post - 10/7

Enjoy!!

Erin R.

Flower Holder **Frosted Designs and Papercrafting Journey**

Frosted Designs has a wonderful new challenge up this week to use fussy cutting on your project.  I had the privileged to create a fun project that used fussy cutting.  I had this cardboard tube that I got in the mail with some free samples and I was using to hold my pencils, pens, scissors on my craft table.  So my tip to you is think how to reuse the items you get int he mail as fun little holders or containers that you can alter!!  Then I thought why not spruce it up a bit and make it look nice, not everything I do needs to be a layout or a card!!

My holder started out like

I added some of the beautiful Graphic 45 paper, distressed, used my punch on the cream border in the back, and also punched out a butterfly for a fun accent.  I inked everything, but I did want to keep it simple to so you could see the beautiful image I cut out.  I also made this wonderful project for a GDT spot I have with Papercrafting Journey with the challenge to use punches. 

Some fun uses of this holder could be for pencils, or for my flowers that are in long vines.  I thought it would be fun to showcase them this way so I could see them and make it look like I had a little mini flower arrangement on my scrap desk.

I hope i inspired you to go out and make a fun holder for your scrap table, and please don't forget about the wonderful challenges:


Frosted Designs - Fussy Cutting


Papercrafting journey - Use punches

Challenges entered:
http://anythingchallenge.blogspot.com/ - anything goes - 10/3
http://clearitoutchallenge.blogspot.com/ - alter - 10/4
http://craftsandmechallenges.blogspot.com/ - flowers - 10/4
http://creataliciouschallenges.blogspot.com/ - anything goes - 10/13
http://forfunchallenges.blogspot.com/ - warmth - 10/5
http://justtracyscraftschallenge.blogspot.com/ - anything goes -10/24
http://myshericrafts.blogspot.com/ - think pink - 10/14
http://www.practicalscrappers.com/ - altered - 10/31
http://prairiefairyfridays.blogspot.com/ - pink and distressed - 10/6
http://southerngirlschallenge.blogspot.com/ - anything goes - 10/15
http://toptiptuesday.blogspot.com/ - tip - 10/3
http://tuesdaytaggers.blogspot.com/ - altered childhood book - 10/3
http://wagsnwhiskersrubberstamps.blogspot.com/ -handmade - 10/13

Enjoy!!

Erin R.