New Year....New Challenge!

Happy 2012!!!

With the new year we are bringing you new challenges at Love My Tapes to help spark your creativity, and give you a chance to win some fabulous LMT products!

This month we have a card sketch created by Giovana (with some help from JJ) for you to play along with.  The best thing is if you don't have any Love My Tapes products you can still play along and have a chance at the prize pack of goodies!  If you do have some LMT products please use them we'd love to see what you do!



I took the sketch and gave it a bit of a flip to make my very simple card.

I like to have some cute simple birthday cards on hand in case the kids get invited to a birthday party...I realized recently that my stash was quite low.

All you need to do to play along is create something using the sketch and link us up in the comment section on the Love My Tapes Blog.  The deadline for all entries is Friday, January 27th, 8:00pm EST.

World Card Making Day!

Happy World Card Making Day!!!  Do you have any plans to celebrate today?

If you're looking for a couple of challenges to participate in today, head over to the Love Is In The Details Blog!

I made a sketch in honor of today....

I decided I needed to get started on my Christmas cards, so I made these two cards based off my sketch.

Have a great weekend and enjoy some time getting creative!

Stamp an Embellishment

Hello there bloggers!  The newest challenge at Counterfeit Kit is to stamp an embellishment.  I love this challenge it really opens up so many creative possibilities to really make your layout/card/project special and unique.

I couldn't wait to scrap this photo of Sami from the first day of school, it's so hard to believe she's in grade 4 already. 

The little boy/girl reading the book image was stamped using Ranger Archival ink, then I colored it with some water color pencils.  This image was perfect for the layout, Sami regularly has her nose in a book.  I also added some stamps on the red tag, and the background paper.

I hope you'll come out and join us for this stamptastic challenge!  Be sure to hit the CKC blog and see all the fun embellishments the DT made!

Simon Says....Show a Tag!

 This weeks challenge at Simon Says Stamp & Show is to make a tag.  It's been quite a while since I made a tag...this gave me the little push I needed. 

I really do enjoy making tags they're like instant pieces of art, and one of these days I'll decide what to do with all of these.  Actually I have an idea in my head how I want to display them, just need to find that one perfect thing first.

Mini Canvas

Simon Says Anything Goes!

This week the challenge at Simon Says Stamp & Show was to create anything, card, layout, altered item...whatever your heart desires.

Here's a little mini canvas I made...it's about 4x3....so cute & quick.  I used some Tim Holtz dies, grunge paper and distress ink & embossing powders.

One of these days I'm going to actually make a spot to hang all these little canvases I've been making..but for now I'll just enjoy creating!

Get In Shape

It's time for another challenge at Counterfeit Challenge!  Our challenge this time is to choose a shape to take centre stage on your layout.

When I looked at my kit I realized I saw a bunch of circle embellishments staring me in the face...it was an obvious choice to have circles take centre stage!

Here is my layout!

I did add a piece of Core'dinations cardstock to this layout...but keeping with my theme it's from one of the new Basic Grey collections!

I hope you'll play along and show us how you Get In Shape!

Simon Says - Distress

It's been WAY too long since I played along with a challenge at Simon Says Stamp & Show, but I was cropping yesterday and had all my DT stuff done....well the stuff I had to finish yesterday.....so I played.

I just picked up this Tim Holtz die and embossing folder, I couldn't resist playing with them!  I don't do 'manly' cards often, I actually find them challenging, but I'm loving how this one turned out.

So the challenge for this week at Simon Says is to show your distressed or torn edges.  Not a ton of distressing going on here, but I did distress the background paper and the tag!



Hope you're all having a great weekend!!!  If you are lucky enough to still have your father in your life...enjoy him today!!!

April Counterfeit Kit Reveal!

I'm very excited about my first reveal as a Master Forger for Counterfeit Kits!!

This month we choose a kit from a brand new kit club, Front Porch Kits! What a fantastic first kit for this new club, be sure to keep an eye on them, this one sold out the first day!!

I didn't have any of the papers in this kit so I decided to match up the colors & patterns best I could from my own stash......wasn't too hard and totally fun!!! I love this color combo, these are all colors I love to use! Here is a look at my kit....

I haven't even had a chance to dig into this yet....still catching up on everything since returning from vacation (which I will post more about later). I am going to a crop on Saturday so I'll be sure to dig in then, if not before! ;)

I hope you'll all come by and join us!!

Show Your Stripes!

This week Simon Says Stamp & Show challenged us to show some stripes! I'll admit stripes are not my favorite pattern to work with.....but hey I'm always up for a good challenge!

To make the striped background on my tag I used masking tape and 3 colors of distress ink (Bundled Sage, Peeled Paint & Pine Needles). Adding ink and moving the masking tape up and down created the perfect stripes....hmm maybe I'll start liking stripes a little more!

That's all for today, hope you are having great weekend!! Off to get creative!

Sweet Memories

This past week at Love Is In The Details we played Mystery Sketch! It was so much fun and a new monthly feature at LIITD! Now I'm not going to give away all the details here...but you can check them out on the Forum.

Here's the entire sketch I created for the challenge..

Here is my finished layout...

Mike asked me if I had a note tucked in the little Maya Road envelope, and I told him not yet. As I was thinking about what to put in there it dawned on me that it would be really sweet if Mike wrote a special note for Sami to read when she grows up! Now to convince him of this idea! LOL

Another busy week ahead and it looks like the weather is going to finally warm up a bit! I hope you'll come back next week for my LIITD monthly reveal!

Weekend Creativity

I spent yesterday in Miami, MB scrapping, laughing and eating with some wonderful members of Love Is In The Details! We were a small group but the day was fabulous!

I can't say I was overly productive yesterday but I did manage to get a couple of things done, one is this cute little canvas for Simon Says Stamp & Show challenge......'mask it'!

I finally picked up my first set of Wendy Vecchi stamps! The background text on the little house is from her Love To Make Art set. I've been following her blog for a while, she is one creative lady! You should head over and see all the sneak peeks she has going on for her new stamps! Now that I'm hooked I know I'll be in big trouble.....must add more of her stamps!

I did manage to get another project done yesterday......but I can't share it quite yet, sorry!

Have a great weekend & thanks for stopping by!

Simon Says....New Stamps!

The first challenge for 2011 at Simon Says Stamp & Show is to use your new stamps! Well luckily I got 2 new Tim Holtz stamps sets for Christmas.....Good Thoughts & Rock Star!

This little canvas (it's only 5x7) ended up being a labor of love. I started by covering the face of the canvas with a page from an old readers digest, but it was too crisp and I didn't love it. I decided that the words on the page needed to be distressed a bit and pulled out the masking tape to remove some of the words. Well I didn't quite wait long enough for the gel medium to dry and more paper came of than I wanted. Well what can you just go with it.

I figured I keep going and ended up removing almost all the paper with the tape, then I let it dry for a bit. Once it was dry I sprayed the front with water and rubbed off most of the remaining paper which brought out the text from the backside of the paper.......this is a really cool transfer effect I've used a few times.

I wanted to ink the front once it was dry but there was still bits of paper fibres and I just wasn't getting the look I wanted so I pulled out the Claudine Hellmuth paint and gel medium and painted it instead. But again once the paint dried I still wasn't happy, it was too clean & flat.

I sat thinking now what....do I scratch the project and start all over or try to fix it? One good thing about working with a canvas it's quite forgiving and you can layer, layer, layer!

I decided before totally giving up to try sanding off some of the paint to lighten it up and distress it. I wasn't too hopeful this would give me the look I wanted but it did...I sanded, then sanded some more pulled out the distress inks and inked the sanded parts! Finally as I said after much labor the base of the canvas was done!! Phew that took more work than I anticipated but in the end I would do it again because I love how it turned out!

Sometimes when things aren't coming together as you imagined you need to just keep at it....and you might surprise yourself and end up with something you love even more!

Thanks for stopping by!

Welcome 2011!!!

Here we are at the beginning of another new year! It amazes me how each year seems to pass by faster than the last.

With a new year comes new opportunities for everything.....including creativity! Today I'm hosting the first sketch challenge of 2011 at Love Is In The Details!

Here's my bright summery layout I made from the sketch...yes summery because winter is too long to only scrap wintery pictures! ;) Besides I love these photos of Sami swinging with her banana! LOL

A little close up of the scene I created in the bottom corner. The fence is cut using the Tim Holtz On The Fence Sizzix Die. I also painted up that little bike, I've had it in my stash so long that it feels good to use it up!

I want to wish you all a wonderful 2011 full of happiness & creativity!!

LIITD Sunday Reveal!

Here we are the first Sunday in December....have you got your tree up yet? How about your Christmas shopping, is it done? I have to admit I have neither of these things done...wah!! But the Birthday parties for Sean & Sami are planned....mostly...so that's one thing off my list.

Speaking of lists do you keep a running list of Christmas presents you've bought? I normally do, and I haven't made one this year..eek!!! I need to sit down tonight and get that list going so I know what I've bought and what I still need.

Once again this week the entire Creative Team is part of the Love Is In The Details reveal...I love how different our projects end up! Lori sent us these cute little wood 'houses' to play with, and oh are they fun!!! You can see how each CT member decorated their houses on the LIITD Blog!

It's also my day to post one of our December Challenges, I went with a Color Challenge...you can see the details HERE. I decided to make a card this time around. I'm sure I'm not the only one who hasn't finished their Christmas cards yet!

I am LOVING this new Tim Holtz die!! Yay!!

Speaking of the man himself, have you been following the 12 Tags of Christmas? The techniques and inspiration Tim comes up with each year is amazing!! I hope to get a couple of the tags done before the month is up!

Off to get one list going and mark some things off another!

Top 3!!!

I want to thank the DT at Simon Says Stamp & Show for choosing my project (see below) as one of the top 3!!!




If you haven't check out the Simon Says Stamp & Show challenge blog you have too!!! The DT does the most beautiful & inspiring work!!

Fun Storage Idea!

I've spent the last few days sprucing up my scrap space....the drab basement walls just weren't doing it for me anymore. It's amazing how a little coat of paint can do wonders for such a little space.

Before the paint I had always kept my blending foams on the wall using sticky Velcro dots...well I didn't want to ruin the paint so I needed a new place to keep them.

I made this little book using the cover from an old children's book to store my blending foams. It's the perfect solution to get these off the wall.......and it will be easier to grab them when I'm off to a crop!!!

The Challenger this week at Simon Says Stamp & Show is to use your favorite Tim Holtz stamp. Really how could I choose just 1!! I really do love the different sayings spattered throughout Tim's collection and thought this one was perfect for the cover of my new blending foam storage!

On the inside I used the sticky Velcro dots to hold the blending foams in place. I might make labels for them too so I know which color they go with!! But first I need more dots!

I'll get some new photos of my space up soon......just waiting for the sun to shine into my drab little basement!

Have a great week!

10-10-10

Simon Stamp and Show challenge this week is to Show Your Numbers!!

Every week their DT comes up with the most amazing projects, the inspiration is unbeatable!

Once again I used a dollar store find. When I started this was a plain little wood wall plaque.

Now I need to find somewhere to put this....this is becoming a bit of a challenge. ;) Could be worse I guess! LOL!

Today is 10-10-10....do you know where you were on this day 10 years ago? I remember the day clearly, I was in labour with my first born....he was quite stubborn and didn't make his way into the world until the 11th. It's amazing how fast the last 10 years have flown by!!

Tomorrow is Canadian Thanksgiving, the family will be here to celebrate, and we'll also celebrate Zach's bday...with his favorite Gramma's lemon pie!

Happy Thanksgiving to all my Canadian friends!!

Fall!

This weeks challenge at Simon Says Stamp & Show is distressing & sanding! I love everything distress...ink, edges, embossing powder...and at least one of these shows up on every project I make!

I found this fun crazy little tree at the dollar store and just couldn't resist it! I made a little harvest banner and sign for the base. I'll be using this little project as a decoration for a special event coming up!

For the sign I used a piece of Maya Road chipboard and embossed it with the Tim Holtz wood grain embossing folder. Then I used some distress ink and distress embossing powder for color & more texture. The leaves are die cut from Core'dinations cardstock, which I crumpled and sanded. Didn't have quite the right color for the leaves so once I was done sanding I added some distress ink.

The little orange pumpkin is from a Basic Grey set from last year, it wasn't quite the right color so I embossed it with the Tim Holtz brick embossing folder, added some Spiced Marmalade distress ink and a spattering of distress embossing powder for more texture.

Yesterday was World Card Making day, I hope you all got a little crafty and made some cards! I made a couple and will be sure to post them later this week!

Fall Hop!

The leaves are turning the air is getting crisp and cool......it's FALL!! This is my favorite season, the colors are rich and beautiful!!

Simon Says Stamp & Show has teamed up with the Simon Says Stamp Challenge Blog for a Stamp-tember blog hop!!!

The challenge is to make a holiday card...fall, thanksgiving, Halloween or Christmas. Since I really only hand out Christmas cards I figured this was a good time to start....but I took my color inspiration from all he beautiful fall colors we'll be seeing soon!

The hop ends September 15th...so hurry up and join the fun!!!

Thanks for visiting!

Turn old into new...

Raise your hand if you have a ton of old unloved supplies! You know those ones you bought years ago and loved them...but never actually used them.

My hand is raised....and it's raised HIGH!!! My stash has been feeling a bit neglected lately so I dug around and decided it was time to pull out some old items and give them a 'fresh look'!

Oh Scenic Route what a fave that was when I started....I would actually buy 2 of every paper, yup beginner mistake right there. The result is I still have a fair amount of it left...and the love has faded. Here's a 'before' photo of the items I used (other than the star, which I totally forgot to use...oops).

I pulled out my Tim Holtz distress ink, distress embossing powder and had fun giving these items a 'fresh look'!!

And here's the result.....

A little close up of the embellies. I used a texture fade to emboss the brown frame, then sanded and inked it. The chipboard circle got flipped around to the raw side and embossed with some distress embossing powders.

I challenge you to pull out those old supplies and give them a new 'fresh look'! If you take on the challenge come join us at Love Is In The Details and show me what you've done....this is one of the Monthly Prize Challenges!

And if you're looking for more inspiration check out the LIITD Blog where you'll find Chelsea's September reveal......and a Surprise Crop put on by the owner herself Lori!!! Believe me you do not want to miss the Surprise Crop....Lori's creativity and challenges have blown us all away!