A brand new challenge blog

There is a brand new challenge blog up and running called Use Your Words. This blog is focused on using a word or words to create your projects. They are looking for a DT, please go check them out and help spread the word.

What is expected of our Design Team?

• Complete 2 projects per month (you will be given challenges at least a month in advance).
• Comment on participants entries (THIS IS A MUST!). Any team member not adhering to this rule will be promptly removed from the team so please make sure you can do this before applying.
• Commit to a 3 month term (Beginning of July to the beginning of October)
• Keep an active blog that is updated frequently
• Post our challenge and your project on your blog on reveal day and link back to the Use Your Words blog

If this sounds like something you're interested in please head over here and see how to apply. Thanks!

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I'm moving, want to come with me?

Hello scrappy friends! Thank goodness it's friday! I don't know about you, but this has felt like a really long week to me. Actually the last two weeks have been kind of hectic for my family. We drove up to Illinois to visit my Grandmother; her health hasn't been too good lately. Then my Dad went to the Dr. for breathing problems and finds out he has a blood clot in his lung. I'm afraid to ask "what's next?"

Anyways, on a lighter note I've decided to finally change my blog address. I've been wanting to get that done for a while now and I think it's time. Here's where you can find me
http://michellessrapdesigns.blogspot.com/ 
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<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/8953787/?claim=cks3gcf9s5y">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>

I would be thrilled if you continued to follow me during my move! Have a wonderful weekend!

Be still, at peace, free

Happy Friday everyone! I'm sharing a page that I had done awhile back for the April Plus challenge over at Colorful Creations. I just realized that this post was still sitting in my drafts. The challenge was to use a masking technique, flowers, and bling. How easy is that! This is what I came up with

The papers I used are Kaisercraft's Sweet Nothings Collection. I messy punched the border with a MS border punch, then water distressed three of the corners to crinkle them up a bit. I used CW "tiles" mask and Heidi Swapp "Moss" acrylic paint in a few random spots on the background. For the Kaisercraft's wooden birdcage I simply inked it with Color Box in Bronze. It was all pretty quick and simple.
Thanks for stopping by! I really appreciate it! Hope you have a great weekend!

My heart's song

Happy Monday morning all! Let's Get Sketchy has a brand new reveal that went live this morning. This is my page that I've done based off this week's sketch...

I used Pink Paislee London Market collection papers for my page. I have done some masking, stamping, and distressing to my layers. For the Dusty Attic chipboard I simply inked it black and added a light coat of clear embossing powder on top, adhering it to my page with pop dots for more dimension. I like the added texture it gives rather than the smooth surface you get with more powder. Then I went over the page with a sea sponge and some gesso, lightly dabbing in random spots. On the tag I wrote a quote by Plato that states "Every heart sings a song, incomplete, until another heart whispers back. Those who wish to sing always find a song."

And here's this week's fun sketch...

Hope you get the chance to join us! Thanks so much for stopping by! Have a wonderful day!

Wherever you are...

Good morning all! The reveal for Keeping the Best sketch #62 is here and I can't wait to share my inspirational page with you

I used the May Scraps of Darkness kit for this page, which was chock full of Authentique and Theresa Collins papers. I distressed all my layers then adhered them to a piece of cardboard for some more dimension. The flowers are a mix of Prima and some from my stash. The metal tags are also from my stash. For the chipboard compass I simply inked it with Merlot color box ink then sprayed it with Tattered Angel's in Red Velvet. I did some masking to the background with a tiny circles stencil and the Merlot ink. The rhinestones came in the kit and they are made by Prima.

And here's the fabulous sketch to inspire you...

I'm so glad you dropped by and allowed me to share with you! Hope to see you link up with us!

Inspire

Good morning! It's time for a brand new reveal at About A Girl challenge blog. This time we are challenging you to use bold patterns and colors in your project. And this is what I came up with...

The papers are made by GCD and I used two different Martha Stewart border punches for some messy punching around the background.  For some interest and added texture on the background I did a little masking with a Prima stencil and texture paste and added a few acrylic paint splatters in teal. The flowers are a mix of Prima, ManorHouse, Petaloo, and my stash. The Dusty Attic chipboard frame  I gave a couple coats of gesso using a sea sponge for texture, then a few light dabs with Shimmerz Dazzlerz in Gummy Beary Blue and then added some seed beads in teal. The metal title I primed with gesso then painted with the Shimmerz Dazzlerz in the same Gummy Beary Blue. I adhered it to my page with pop dots for dimension.

 Thanks for popping in for a peek! Hope you get the chance to join us! Have a wonderful day!

In Focus

Happy Monday morning everyone! Let's Get Sketchy has a new reveal released today with a wonderful sketch designed by our own talented Ashley Horton. And here is my inspiration layout for this week's reveal

For my papers I chose the MamaRazzi 2 collection by BoBunny. I kept my page fairly simple and as close to the sketch as I could. On the background I did a little stamping with aqua ink and bubblewrap, then black ink and a grid stamp by Prima, finishing it out with a few splatters of Inkadinkado spray ink in black. After inking the edges of my layers I matted them on cardboard for some dimension. My daughter had picked out the cute camera charms one day at Michael's and I thought they would be a cute addition on here. Most of the time I only use 1 or 2 photos on a page so when I'm taking photos I generally only take a few at a time. I really need to remember to start taking a series of photos. I keep saying I'm going to do a page with a sequence of photos and this sketch would be perfect for that.

Thanks for dropping by! I truly appreciate it! I hope you get the chance to join us this month! Have a great day! 

Be Unforgettable

Good morning! If you're here for the Keeping the Best reveal please scroll down. Today I have a page to share that I've done for the Frosted Designs blog hop using the sketch they provided and a few of the items/techniques they required. I used at least ten from the list.

 I did some masking on the background with the ledger mask by CW and Shimmerz texturez in Patina. And just a bit of masking with Tim Holtz Vintage Photo ink and the tiny tiles mask by CW. I inked the edges of the background with the Vintage photo, then randomly went over it with a little gold Rub and Buff. Then using the TH ink and a few of my postage stamps I went around the edges and on my layers. I whitewashed the background and through my clusters with some gesso to blend it all in. I dyed my laces with some tea to age them a bit. There's a few drips and splatters of Tattered Angels in English Ivy and Creme de Chocolate. The pretty green flowers are by Kaisercraft, and the rest are from my stash. I even added a few twigs from  my apple trees for the Scrap for help June challenge.

 I used a few metal embellishments to my clusters, then ran a strand of pearls through to dress it up a bit more. The lasercut doilies are by Gina's Designs.

And here's the Frosted Designs sketch

Thanks for dropping by! Hope you have a wonderful day!

In the garden

 Hello everyone! Today I'm sharing the page that I've done for the Keeping the Best sketch #61 reveal. We've got a fabulous sketch to get you inspired.

I used papers from Prima's Fairy Rhymes and Authentique's Lovely collections. I whitewashed the papers with some gesso to tone them down and get a bit of a shabby feel. Using a 3rd Eye butterfly stamp on the background as well, then going back over it with a bit more gesso to try to make it look more like it was already on the paper. Then I went over my layers randomly with a CW mask and Tim Holtz ink in Vintage Photo. I used some photos of a few of my roses that are in my garden. I just love roses; I have seven bushes in my gardens. In my gardens is one of my favorite places to be. I'm entering this with The Memory Nest for their Whimsical Wednesday #6. You can link up any layout or card, new or old that's a favorite of yours to share.

I added some Gina's Designs chickenwire chippies that I simply darkened with the Tim Holtz Vintage Photo distress ink. And the cute little metal gardening tool charms seemed like a perfect addition.

 

And here's the wonderful sketch we have to inspire you from Keeping the Best

Hope you get the chance to join us! Thanks so much for stopping in! 

Love without end

Wow it's the first of June already! It's time for a new challenge at About A Girl. Who doesn't love the frilly feminine touch that using doilies on your projects adds? The current challenge is to do just that; create a layout with a doily (or a few) on your background. And today I'm sharing my page that I've done for the reveal.

I started by paintig my corrugated board with acrylic paint in "linen" once dry I randomly inked it with ColorBox in "antique gold". I added a strip of pretty lace and trim across the top and bottom to soften the look. I distressed my FabScraps paper and slightly curled the edges to tuck my lace and trim in. I used lasercut doilies and a dressform chippie from Gina's Designs. Some random masking was done to the background with a Prima mask and molding paste mixed with a little gold acrylic paint. Then I went around the page dabbing it with gesso to soften and blend it all together. I primed the cute little dressform with gesso then gave it a coat of the linen acrylic paint, and then added a couple dabs of pale pink acrylic paint. Once it dried I inked the edges with TH in Vintage photo. Finally dressing it up a bit with some lace and pearls.

Thanks for stopping by! Hope you have a wonderful day!