Monday, October 25, 2010

Paperclipping September Challenge Winner

I wanted to congratulate the winner of the Paperclipping Challenge last month... Angie Ladeau & share her   beautiful serene nature layout she created for our challenge.



This  is what Angie had so say about her layout:

I am experimenting with layouts that have less “stuff” on them and more photos and words. I love the idea of a big photo used as a background to draw the viewer immediately into the action of this story. It seems to say, “Let’s go explore!” As we entered the field that evening the sun was just starting to set and the light was waning fast. I loved the texture of the mushrooms and saw my daughter walking out of the frame as I crouched down to capture its remarkable texture. Again, the photo says, “Hey, wait for me!”
My second goal with this layout was to make it look like I printed the photos on canvas, then laid it out on some cardstock, added the butterfly and took a picture of it. I played a lot with the placement of objects and the painting on the edges of the background photo to create a frame. Although I was trying to keep it simple, I couldn’t help but try to see how a visual triangle would fit in. As I added the finishing touches to the title I realized that the buttons, the butterfly, and the scripted text in the title create a visual triangle, directing the viewer into the story. I just love this design stuff!!
{Melissa Bennett buttons and background papers from “Autumn Memories” (TDF21; thedailydigi.com)}

What the judges had to say:

Our goal is to identify the layouts that do a great job telling the story. Angie accomplished that with this page. The haziness she gave her photo adds to the almost surreal beauty. Light from the sunset burns through the haze to catch your attention. It emphasize the horizon and places you immediately into the narrative. The child at the front of the background (main) photo adds to the feeling that you’re included in this experience. A part of it. Both she and the diagonal horizon line give a sense of movement to the page and photo.
We love that she chose to journal directly onto the photo so that she could use it as the backdrop of the entire page, enveloping you in her story. The handwritten font lends to a personal feel — that this photo isn’t just a mystery photographer’s nice shot; this was Angie’s personal experience. The title is subtle, so it doesn’t distract from the beauty of the picture.
And Angie was right. There is no need for a third yellow accent to create a visual triangle. She had already created a triangular shape with her title and the other elements. Her restraint keeps the focus on the best story-telling element of this layout — the photo.

Find Angie Ladeau

You can find her in our community, The Crop Circle. She also has a blog.

It's Monday... Already

The weekends sure aren't long enough.  It was beautiful weather this weekend (a tad hot but I'm not complaining... much - I'm just ready for some cooler fall weather it shouldn't be in the mid 80's).  We got some much needed rain today & looks like it will continue for a couple days.

In honor of halloween coming up I thought I would share a layout (which I thought I already posted here  but I guess it was just in the Paperclipping forum for the monthly challenge.  If you haven't already submitted your page you've got until midnight pacific time on the 31st.  Click here for all the details - all are welcome.

This is my son (on left he looks a bit too good as a girl scary lol) and his friend. At 21 he still loves to dress up each halloween.

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Enabling...

I thought I would share a few things I'm loving right now...


I used my survey taking rewards last week to purchase SCAL for my Cricut Expression.  I have to say I can't believe I waited this long to jump on this bandwagon....  The program is really easy to use yet can do so much.  There are a lot of free svg files out there and it gives me so many more images without buying cartridges all the time.  It's on sale for $59 right now


Another thing that I resisted buying for a long time was an ATG gun.  With arthritis in my hands I didn't think I would like how big it was.  I HAVE LITERALLY TRIED ALL THE SMALL RUNNERS AVAILABLE.   When I could no longer get my Kokuyo dot rollers I was on a search for an adhesive I really liked & with all the layouts/cards I make it had to be affordable too.  I do like the American Crafts runner but at $5 it can get a bit pricey & I don't know if it will longterm last on my projects.  So when Michaels started carrying the pink breast cancer model that with a coupon was less than $17 with adhesive I couldn't resist trying it.  I have to say the weight and size don't bother me since it's so easy to pull the trigger & apply.  This model only uses the quarter inch tape which is what I like anyway.  I am a believer & an ATG girl now..


Speaking of adhesive my favorite liquid adhesive right now is Crafter's Pick The Ultimate.  It's a very versatile glue & dries fast, strong, and clear.  I am using it all the time on my mini albums.  It even holds metal securely so I don't have to get out the Glossy Accents/Diamond Glaze and dries clearer/less shiny than those making it more invisible.  A little goes a long way.


Pink Paislee products are always a favorite of mine... I love all 4 of the lines they released recently.  Parisian Anthology designed by the House of 3 is so elegant & innovative.  I love the subtle resist print that makes it perfect for inking and spritzing.  These tickets are so versatile & affordable.


Unity Stamp Company has a new website.  They have been growing by leaps & bounds and no have a website that can keep up with them.  It's absolutely fantastic.  I love that I can create a wish list & everything is so easy to find now.  You all know how much I love my Kit of the Month...


Another paper line that I have been using up every last scrap of is Crate's Restoration.  I love the colors & texture.



Helmar Adhesive is hosting a great blog hop this weekend filled with loads of inspiration.  Start on there blog here.

Hope you had a relaxing weekend.

Friday, October 15, 2010

TGIF

This has been a week... thank goodness it's finally Friday.

I've been really busy moving stuff around in the house... the moving of the scrap room has turned into moving a bunch of rooms around.  I used to always move furniture around myself when the boys were young.  The running joke in our house was that when my hubby was out of town for work he would tread lightly as he entered the house since he never knew if I had moved something into his path (yes it was from experience where he almost broke a toe on an ottoman as I created a "conversation area").  These days I can't move the big stuff without help but that's what I have grown sons for right lol.  The trouble with that is that I have to wait on "their time" instead of when I get that moving around hair up my you know what.

I thought I would share a layout using some cute My Mind's Eye goodies.

This is an 8x8 layout.  I love Debbie Tehrani's style & she always does that size.

I'm having an Ippity Stamp Sale click the tab above or here.

Hope you have a fantastic weekend - it's getting cooler here again so I can't wait to do something outdoor in the faller air.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Inspiration

I'm loving so many of the lines that have been recently released.  Yep I am so one of those people who is inspired by products almost as much as I am the photos and stories I want to scrap.

I thought I would share a page that I made recently - my friend Lori & her cat Koko using some Basic Grey





Thanks for visiting.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Winner

The winner of the weekend giveaway is


True Random Number Generator  1Powered by RANDOM.ORG




Robin said...



Happy World Cardmaking Day!
I just returned home from getting together with a few friends to make some cards! My favorite card was when someone showed us how to use used dryer sheets on your cards .. way cute!
I've seen a couple of the giveaways that you mentioned, nothing else yet .. but I plan to keep looking!
October 2, 2010 3:40 PM

Congrats Robin - email me your snail mail address to sgray110 at gmail dot com
========================================================
Thanks to everyone who left a comment & visited.
Hope you are having beautiful weather in your area.  Here in Georgia fall is the best time of the year.  Except for the ragweed (which is really bad this year( & yellow jackets (the bug not the college team - so don't get your panties in a wad those of you who love GA Tech - the bugs seem to know they aren't long for the world & want to take anyone down with them who gets in their paths)  it would be perfect... but you can't have everything.  We get cool nights and days in the 60's or 70's which after tis super hot summer is so welcome.  I love to watch the dogs first thing in the morning go out and that chill in air causes them to tuck the tail & just be a bit more frisky running around the yard.
It's also the time for festivals.  Every weekend there is something fun to do close by the house.  We went to the Lawrenceville Rockin' Rib Festival on Saturday.  It was the first time we attended this one but thought it was worth checking out since there was live music, good food, & very close to the house.  Charley rushed me and I forgot the camera so thank goodness for the iphone.
The music was a Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young cover band & they were very good.  

I love that the old town of Lawrenceville has live music on the lawns outside the old courthouse.  

While enjoying the mellow music out of the corner of our eye we both saw at the same time this crazy guy who was dancing like a maniac.  

We were dying laughing.  Come to find out he was recording HIMSELF....

Here are some You Tube links of him dancing to some of the other bands later in the day

Looks like he even got on the stage with this band

We were pleasantly surprised you could buy beer (if you stayed on 2 of the 4 blocked off streets surrounding the courthouse square?)

$4 a little cup was a bit high but that didn't stop you know who

I seemed to have the kiss of death for every line I stood in....

First Rita's to get an italian ice... they were out of everything after a 10 minute wait

Then how about a funnel cake.... waited another 10 minutes only to get within 2 people of front of the line and something happened to their power....

So we walked around a bit & saw Hawaiian ice & I stood in line yet again...
20 minutes later I got this

Finally!  A delicious & refreshing cherry delight...

I think I enjoyed it even more because I finally got something to eat.



===========================================================

Well that's all for today... have a great day.




Saturday, October 2, 2010

Happy World Card Making Day & a Giveaway!


So what are you up to today?  It's a beautiful Saturday here with lots of festivals going on.  I have 2 bags full of mini album kits that need to go to the LSS for sale & I'm not able to drive (dang medicine)... so sweet talking hubby to come along for a "puttsing" day where we don't get much accomplished by enjoy ourselves.

Happy World Card Making Day!  There's lots going on the web today in honor of this event.  

Unity Stamps is giving away their Kit of the Month for a YEAR.

Moxie is giving away a boat load of Hero Arts stamps to 2 lucky winners... I'm going to be one (positive thinking) so which one of you will be the second   : ).   

Hero Arts has some goodies for those who accept the challenge.

Papercrafts has a huge grand prize - enter by sending in a card.

Operation Write Home (organization that sends cards to our deployed service members) has Kimber McGray's (one of THE sweetest people in the world) book to a lucky winner.

Studio Calico has lots of their goodies to a few lucky winners.

Jennifer McGuire has Tim Holtz Sizzix dies (love those edges)

That's all I've found so far... 

I wanted to offer a giveaway too.  Open to international readers too - I couldn't exclude since it's "WORLD" card making day

I've misplaced my camera cord (yes again) so no photo of the prize so I'm finding pictures online (overcoming obstacles)

Includes:  4 Retired Quickutz Halloween dies (they work in any die cutting machine), 
(couldn't find the 4th online but it's a cute one)




card makers 6x6 paper assortment, 


Ippity Stamp A Bit of Burlap,

and some surprise goodies *trust me they are good goodies*.

Enter by midnight est Monday, October 4th, 2010

Leave me a comment telling me what you're doing today & if you've found any WCMD giveaways I haven't listed do share.... 

Do you love those little gems that we all use to decorate your pages & cards?  I always run out or don't have the right color... my friend Lesley did a video on how to create your own gems so we never have that problem again.... check it out here.


Also I posted the Paperclipping Monthly Challenge yesterday.  I hope you join us here.