Closeup of "That Slmile"

This is a closeup of the cut work, popup work, distressing and stitching that I did on this LO.

You can see some to the detail work that I added here. Also seen in this closeup are the cutwork of some of the lovely flowers and the scalloped area of the paper, which I hand cut, scored, folded, and inked. One thing that I enjoyed using was adding a little dewdrop with Glossy Accents by Ranger. You can see that in a couple of other places on the LO, too.

THAT SMILE

This is a LO that I did for the Crafty Scrapper Design Team (Waxahachie, Texas).....My local scrapbook store. For this LO my goal was to include a lot of detail, include dimension, and to work with the paper in a new way for me. Done, done, done! I spent some time hand cutting the lovely flowers that are in this GORGEOUS PRIMA collection called Madeline, After cutting them I used a foam sheet from the craft store to get a solid cushion for each flower. Also, I distressed, inked and stitched around the circles for more details. Last, I hand cut along the lace border (see bottom of page), inked it, scored it and folded it up. The only products used here that are not Prima are the lovely white frame by Pinkpaislee called Artisan Elements, the Ranger Glossy Accents for the title and other accents (see closeup) and Maya Road chipboard mini alphabet called Noah, which I inked, using Cat's Eye Magenta.

The photo is of my DD, Elizabeth, taken last Friday.

Classy Lassie

This layout is for the Crafty Scrapper Design Team. What a treat it was to work with the Pink Paislee collection, "Sweetness"! Other supplies used include Maya Road mini Chipboard Letters, Trinket Pin and Ticket, Prima Summer Carnation "Thistle", Pink Paislee Artisan Collection Frames and Websters Pages Designer Trim and Ribbons, "Vintage Inspired Netting". Also, on the title I used Ranger Crackle Paint, "Fired Brick".

Techniques used here include paper tearing, wet distressing, inking, and folding. Layering is a big deal to me. I believe it creates lots of interest and use it in almost all of my LO's. This one is no exception. Frequently, I do some machine stitching, as is the case around the border in this LO.  I always sew my buttons on, rather than using glue to adhere them....it's an obsession with me....kind of like cooking from scratch!!! LOL I just can't help myself!!!!

Our Blessed Nest

This is a project that I did for "The Crafty Scrapper" design team. I am so honored to be on Carolyn's team and am already enjoying making charming mini albums and layouts for my favorite scrapbook store in Texas. Stop in and see where I love to shop and create!

http://www.thecraftyscrapper.com/staff/

This little "Home Tweet Home" Maya Road Chipboard album was tons of fun to make!

Part of the fun was using a technique that had an interesting effect. All of the chipboard pieces were inked lightly with StazOn ink in "Jet Black", then Ranger Crackle Paint (Rock Candy)  was applied over it for a shiny, crackled glaze. What I really loved about using the light inking is that the texture of the ink pad shows up on the chipboard and looks as if the chipboard has been sanded or in some other way distressed. The process was much faster than that of painting, then sanding, and it had a weathered look to it.  The patterned paper is the "It's the Little Things" collection by Fancy Pants Designs, and the little birds are perfect for the birdhouse theme. Other Maya Road products used are the Windows Chipboard set and the Tree Set. All of the ribbons are by May Arts. The title is done with the  Maya Road, "Jonathan Mini" alphabet set, and the little white flower on the front cover is also by Maya Road. Each page was inked around the edges for definition.

                             

The little yellow flower in the photo above uses Maya Road pleated ribbon that is wound around on of the "Wood Bingo Motifs" by Maya Road. Two little MR trinket pins give the flower a romantic look.           

                      

More pleated Fancy Pants "It's the Little Things" collection patterned paper.

 More paper pleating here.

                                                          Maya Road Organza Roses trim in pink adds a touch of softness on this page.

More MR ribbon, bingo motif and trinket pins make another lovely flower.

   Thanks for taking a peek!                                               

Altered Organizer

This is an organizer that was given to me. It has four plastic 14" x 7.5" x 1.75" boxes. Each box has numerous sections where I have put many of my favorite embellishments for scrapbooking. The only problem was that it had a company logo on the front that had nothing to do with scrapbooking! I went to work using letter size canvas sheets, called "Sticky-Back Canvas" by Ranger. First, I  ran the canvas through my printer to print my name, "A Sassy Scrapper" on it. Then, I determined the correct size needed to cover the company logo. Using pinking shears to cut the appropriate size gave the edges a little interest. Next, I stitched several times around the edges, at times using a zig-zag stitch. Using StazOn black ink, I inked around the edges for definition and stamped images  with Tim Holtz stamps. Next, I masked off an area with Advantus - Cropper Hopper - Tim Holtz - Idea-ology FLOURISH. As soon as the canvas was dry, I used a "Sharpie" permanent marker to imitate black stitches around the flourish.  Last, I added lots of Prima, Maya Road, 7 Gypsies and Tim Holtz embellies. Some were sewn and others were glued into place with Tombo Multi glue. The whole process took approximately an hour to make a personalized organizer that is perfect to take to crops!

 

Valentine Cards

  These Valentine cards were made with Jenni Bowlin's Red Wallpaper, Red Love Song, and BoBunny's Crush Collection. I love the way the MS border punch, "Birds on a Wire" and The Cuttlebug Birdcages are perfect for the BoBunny Crush Collection!  

Winged Heart

Last week I took a class at The Crafty Scrapper in Waxahachie, Texas to make a "Winged Heart". The class was tons of  fun and I was happy with the end result!  Materials used were metal  and tools by Ten Second Studio, a precut wooden base by a woodworker in the pattern selected. Scrapbooking embelishments by Prima were used:  Roosevelt Collection (Missus) flowers, Andora Collection Jeweled Butterfly and Holiday Lights Collection spray. What made this piece special to me is that I was able to use various costume jewelry pieces from my mother, two grandmothers, my daughter and some from my childhood collection of jewelry as well as pieces that I have worn as an adult. Other supplies  used were a variety of embossing folders for the Cuttlebug, Adirondack Acrylic Paint (pearl), Glossy Accents by Ranger and E-6000 (industrial strength) glue from JoAnne's.  

I've been tagged with the Liebster Blog Award by Poetry In A Pot Of Tea......THANK YOU, SHAWN!!!!

Here's a little calendar that I made using some K & Co patterned paper and a little coathanger that I purchased at a scrapbook convention last year. First, I created a pattern for the dress and cut out the blue floral print for a vintage look. Next, I used a Martha Stewart punch to add layers of lace to the sleeves, apron and petticoat. After that, I inked everywhere and glued all pieces together. I painted the dress and apron with Ranger Crackle Paint (clear) for an antique look. While the crackle paint was drying, I downloaded a free mini calendar from here: http://sites.google.com/site/catscreativeplace/Home/download-freebies

After cutting all 12 calendar pages I stapled them to the dress, wrote "2011" for a title, added the flowers and button and hung the little dress on the hanger.  VOILA! 

Two more Heritage Layouts

In this LO I used "Road Show Collection" by Fancy Pants Designs for the patterned paper. The flowers are "Symphony Blend" and the flourishes are "Say it in Pearls and Crystals", both Prima. The rub ons are by Basic Grey, Fancy Pants Designs and Little Yellow Bicycle.   

Distressed, inked, border punched and crackle painted to get a period look. Many of the embellies are from my stash, such as the heart and key, the cameo, the treble clef, the lazer-cut trellice and the metal piece at the bottom of the picture. The antique scrap of the little cherubs belonged to the lady in the portrait.

This is a portrait of my maternal grandmother. She loved beautiful music and played the piano like an angel. Her favorite color was orange and she had many albums of "scrap", as they did in those days. Granny left a box of scrap that she never used, and that's where I got the little cherubs. I feel that taking the scrap off of her albums would be disrespectful, and would never do that. She also loved antiques and was passionate about them. This LO is for my mother's album.

STEAMPUNK STYLE

The Steampunk scrapbooking style is influenced by and often adopts the style of the Nineteenth Century scientific romance novels of Jules Vern, H.G. Wells, Mark Twain and Mary Shelley. Included in this style of LO are clocks, gears, wings, metal, vintage and victorian images.

On this Steampunk LO, titled, "THE TANK",  I did some distressing, inking and stamping, as well as a little bit of paper cutting. I thought that a steampunk theme would be fun for this one, and it was!

Last August, my daughter, Elizabeth totalled her car in a wreck and was hospitalized. She fortunately is fine now, thanks to Divine intervention, and she decided that she would need to drive a vehicle that would give her a little more protection.....so she got a Hummer.....It's the smaller one (H3) and SHE LOVES IT!!!

The next LO was my first attempt at Steampunk. I always enjoy doing something new wiith my scrapbooking, and entered this in a challenge. It was one of the three finalists. I used Basic Grey's Origins Collection for the patterned paper, then inked around the Prima Stencils Mix #5 Used 7 Gypsies Steampunk Rubons, in several places. Also, I used a clock face and measuring tape trim from my stash. I got the airship image off of Internet, as well as the eclectic eye image. They were both printed onto transparencies, then trimmed. Over the eye was glued a vintage optical lens from my stash, which was once used by an optometrist to test eye patients' vision. Had to use a Tim Holtz "Philosophy Tag", of course...And some laser cut gears from a SB convention....sorry, don't know the manufacturer. Also, used Maya Road wings on either side of the clock face that were crackle painted with Ranger Crackle Paint. Also, I border punched the pp behind the photo, using EK Success binding Edge punch.

The photo is a picture of my son, Lee, while doing some lab work for a college chemistry class.

What a JOY it was to do this LO!!! The techinques used were wet distressing, inking, stamping, folding, crackle painting and journaling. All flower embellies are Prima, and the pp is Graphic 45 (Le Romantique) and Basic Grey Manila Collection. Other supplies from my stash are metalic lace, , ribbon, brass heart and miniature love letters. The birdcage stamp is by clearartstamps, and it is called "Birds at Home". Also, included are antique lace and a small piece of scrap from my grandmother's collection.

The photograph is of my maternal parents during their courtship, circa 1919. Don't they look so in love? The location was Houston, Texas.
The next LO was done with all K & Co. pp. The flowers are Prima. The techniques I used were distressing, inking, sewing, border punching and wet folding. The page out of the first edition of Alice in Wonderland was found on the Internet, as was the little playing card and the picture to the left of the photograph.

Although the photograph of my mother is not in focus, I love it, because she looked so beautiful in her red dress and hat. Shortly before this picture was made, she played The Queen of Hearts in "Alice in Wonderland". Recently, Mother, Liz (DD) and I went to the movie by the same name, starring Johnny Depp, and Mother said it was very different from her play, back in 1933. Who woulda' thunk? LOL Regardless, something tells me that she stole many hearts back then!

Enough of the bird watching for now.  A scrapbooker has to scrap!

Many of my layouts (LOs) are heritage themed, as is this one. In this LO I used the outside portion of the Creative Imaginations die cut paper, hand cut the pocket watch from Graphic 45 A Proper Gentleman Collection (Timely Point of View) as well as lots of Idea-ology embelliles and 7 Gypsies Tag (love that assortment!). Crackle Painted the wings from Grungeboard Elements (Dots) and inked it black

These photographs were taken this past October (2010) when my cousin, Ken and his wife, DH, DM and I traveled to Fayeteville, Texas to see the home of Ken's and my Great, Great Grandparents and the building
where our GGGfather ran his mercantile business. This little community in Central Texas still has a vintage look and feel to it.....even now, in the new millennium! We all had such a WONDERFUL time seeing our roots....BIG THANKS TO MY MOTHER for all of her hard work in our family GENEALOGY!!!

Winter's Crown Jewel

The cardinals are wary of humans, so getting a good photo of them is an accomplishment. We have three males and three females in our menagerie. Here are two photos taken today from our kitchen windows.

Sweet little Mourning Dove

The little doves who seek shelter outside our window are so peaceful.

Life in the Deep Freeze

Once again we were in the deep freeze, here in North Texas!  I'm looking forward to creating a LO of my bird pictures that I took from my kitchen windows. I think our little birds have told all their friends on their blogs that there's a lot of food at "A Sassy Scrapper's Nest" LOL!!!

Welcome!

The unveiling of a blog can be just a little bit unnerving, but very exciting at the same time! I feel like a proud, first-time parent! My blog designer is Karen at Valentine Design, and I highly recommend her work. She is currently writing a book on blogging, and I cannot wait to use it! THANK YOU, Karen for all of your work, care and creativity in making my blog! 

In North Texas, we are in the middle of a winter deep freeze, as is much of the country. The only reason that I got out of the house today was to feed our little menagerie of birds! We had cardinals, blue jays, tit mice, doves and a solitary woodpecker. They were all eager to feast on the sunflower seeds, suit, breadcrumbs and corn chips that we put out for them! What a treat it was to watch them from our kitchen windows! 

It was a good day to stay inside and do a little scrapbooking, so I started my Valentine cards. These first four will go to family, and are made with a lot of TLC! I love the personal touch of creating Valentines that come from my heart.