Christmas Projects

So, tomorrow we're going down to visit my aunt and cousins for Thanksgiving.  I was hoping to save on postage, so was aiming at getting my Christmas gifts finished by today to take down with me.  And some of them are for Christmas, so they should be opened before any way.

Here's what I made for my aunt:

This is the first page.  I collected 52 little quotes/scriptures about Thankfulness/Gratitude.  Thank you, Pinterest.  I formatted and printed them out, put them on tags, made my little stand, and attached them with a ring.  There are 26 tags, so she can flip through one a week, when she gets to the end, she flips it around and does the other 26.  Here's another random page:

For my cousin's daughter, I made this set:

Besides these principles, there are 5 shephers, 7 sheep, 3 wisemen, 2 camels, and 2 cows.  The set is an SVGCuts file.  Love their files.  I wasn't sure if she'd just want to leave them flat or if she'd want to stand them up, so I cut the stands and she can attach them if she chooses.  

One gift is only part-way done, but it will be easier to mail.  I almost did it!

Hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving!  Safe travels!

Summer -- HB

More photos from Father's Day at Huntington.  I do miss my hometown.

I used the DCWV November Stackaholic sketch and papers from the DCWV Basic Stack (6x6) that Merry sent me!  Thanks so much!  AND -- I was able to use the maroon, blue and green for the Color Challenge at SP.    These colors just pop with the photos -- it's cold and cloudy and even at the "brightest" today, the photo of the layout didn't come out well.

Playing with Project Life

I've been working on creating my own PL cards.  Here's one I made for a Thanksgiving card for my aunt:

And -- I figured out how to turn it into a jpeg.  But I'm losing some sharpness in the save.  I'm working in Word -- I'm thinking PS might be easier.  Might play on some of the sites -- Photobucket or Picasa or whatever and see if I can get a better final product.

Here's the card I made:

Love that DCWV paper.  Wasn't sure how I was going to use it -- but it worked out great cut, turned side ways and folded LOL.  The back has the pretty leaves too.  This is a bigger than I normally make card -- folded size is 6 x 7 (12 x 7 paper).  Had to make my own envelope -- used some lighter weight DCWV for that -- the pretty side in.  

Now -- on to some Christmas cards.

I Can See Clearly Now...

Ben and his dreds.  Sigh.  And the end of his dreds.  :-D

This is for the Mexico challenge at Skrap N Chat and I also used a sketch from Let's Scrap.

Hollywood Dreams

Just a quick layout of some stars from Hollywood's Walk of Fame.  These all have a Star Trek theme :-)

Used a sketch at Pretty Little Studio and inspiration from Africa at Sketch N Chat.

Musso and Frank's -- Pt. 2

This is again for a challenge at Skrap n Chat -- the Ukraine.  And I included a postage stamp strip (bottom left) for the challenge over on S-P.

Here it is:

There are some extra photos under the two landscape photos.  We have a hard time getting everyone looking at the camera and smiling nicely at one time :-)  So it usually takes several shots.

Musso & Frank's -- Part 1

I had "heard" about this restaurant in the Harry Bosch books by Michael Connelly.  Harry and crew eat lunch here periodically.  So when I saw it on Hollywood Blvd., I, of course, wanted to eat there too.  It's a Hollywood icon and one of those "old time" upscale restaurants.  I feel like we're horribly under-dressed, but we were dressed for a day of sightseeing in Hollywood.  Just like everyone else.  Great food -- great service -- "great" bill :-)

My layout was inspired by the S.W.A.T. Drill #19 (a new to me site) to scrap food.  And by the Switzerland challenge at Skrap N Chat  (use chocolate colors, white and brown, and alter something -- I altered the tag and did some fussy cutting to alter the paper -- hope that counts).  I probably wouldn't have gone for the brown, but I really do love how it worked with this.

This is the left page, the right page is being worked on:

Sorry about the glare in the photo.  The postcard in the top left is available at the restaurant.  I love how the butter comes in the little crock with the paper cover on it.  

Will Power

Photos are from our San Diego trip -- Old Globe Theater in Balboa Park.

Inspiration for this layout comes from a sketch with a twist from Paper Secrets  and the England challenge at Sketch n Chat.

Better Together

This layout is for all sorts of challenges.  All the inspiration came together into two separate pages that make one layout.

The title "Better Together" is for a title challenge over at S-P.

The left side is for a Japan challenge (folded paper and washi) at Skrap n Chat, the right for Egypt (use a mummy's fabric).

But I also incorporated a sketch challenge from S-P on the left and another challenge from Scrap our Stash on the right (use 6x6 papers -- I so need to use these and forget about them all the time).  The embellishments I used were all from one pack of chipboard doo dads -- the journaling tab, the little squares with my gauze flower, the photo corners.

Alien Jerky

This was a fun layout.  On our way home from Vegas, we usually stop at Bun Boy in Baker.  Home of the world's tallest thermometer.  But Bun Boy is closed now.  But there's a new attraction in town -- Alien Jerky.  We did buy some -- it wasn't green.  Didn't taste all that different.

I was inspired by the "Pack your Bags" challenge at Skrap n Chat (Cyber Crop going on this weekend) to include a photo flip stack -- the photos I took of some of the articles, etc. behind glass didn't come out that well, so putting them into a flip book worked well.  The flip stack is on the right side page on the left.

I used a sketch from "Let's Scrap" as inspiration also.  Of course I chose green for the little green aliens in the car and the papers are over 15 years old -- from a 8 1/2 x 11 stack my son got to do some scrapping with me years ago.

I never thought I would say this, but I'm about out of alien embellies.

Hot Hot Hot

A layout about the world's tallest thermometer -- in Baker, CA.  Bun Boy has been closed and the temperature no longer shows.  :-(  We always enjoyed stopping in at Bun Boy on our way to Vegas.

The colors were inspired by a challenge at S-P -- Orange and Black, non-Halloween.  I so struggle with orange, but love using red and black.  Go figure.  I added some yellow, but I like the look of the orange and black.  The sun die cut is from a swap on CK.

Cabbage Roses

I found these beautiful roses online -- and they were made with napa cabbages.  We don't eat napa cabbage, but I've been able to make similar imprints with romaine lettuce.

First, cut off the stem part and fix your salad.  Save the stem/base.  Make sure the cut is as flat as you can make it.   Put ink/paint/mist on your stem and stamp.  You don't want it too wet -- but wet enough for all of it to print.

I used ink with the smaller heads,

but this big one was more than I wanted to ink up.

I thought I had paint in the right color, but didn't.  So I improvised with spray mist.

You can see in the top pic where I cut one out to use.  You could print right to your background paper, but if you're like me, I need to just print when I have them and use them later.  So I just print on white cs and cut and use as needed.

One of my friends who saw one on a layout made the comment that it looks so organic.  It's not perfect, it's much more natural.  I like that.

Around the World

More shots from Vegas -- inspired by the Risk challenge at Child's Play:

Most of the papers are Cara Bella:  Well Traveled (love that line :-) with a little G45 thrown in. Cardstock is Recollections and Coredinations.

testing

Contest

Or more of a giveaway -- http://luckyflutterbycreations.blogspot.com/2013/10/sunday-funday-and-giveaway.html

...Be Happy

This is another from the Bellagio -- the birds in their garden (where the lighthouse was).  I was inspired by Merry's "title" challenge at S-P to use "Don't Worry....Be Happy" and by Frosted Designs' "Tag You're It" challenge.

They had birds in the aviary and I was taking photos through glass (4 photos in the center) the other two photos show their display and garden.

I used several items that I've won from challenges -- the Twinery twine came from a Let's Scrap challenge, the paper and stickers came from a Fawn Lawn package from CK (about the end of that prize!).  I cut the tag and the title sticker on it is K&Co.  Journaling on the back of it.  I even misted/painted!  The design idea came from something I saw, I think on Pinterest -- a single page layout or sketch with a Z sorta look to it.  Not sure who originated it -- not sure I even pinned it.    But it came back to me as I worked on this  This was such a peaceful place, despite the people who were all around.  Love that the Bellagio saves a place for this in their hotel.

HB - Surf City

I used a sketch from Let's Scrap :



And a challenge to use all blues and include a stamped image from Love to Scrap!

So here is mine, from our Father's Day trip to Huntington Beach:

The title is a sticker I got in a little shop on the pier.  The pp strips are from K&Co.  The die cuts are from swaps, as is the journaling velum.  I used a mat behind the flipflops and the velum from an old Debbie Mum for JoAnn's Travel stack.  The stamps are sea shells from one of the $1 bins at JoAnn's, I think.  Stickers from a Carta Bella sticker page.  Buttons from an RAK.  Cardstock from DCWV and Coredinations.

Life's a Journey: Bellagio

I've been trying to use some bits and pieces that I forget I have.  Some of those forgotten items finally made it onto these pages:

I loved this paper for these photos -- from outside and in the lobby of the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas.  Absolutely LOVE their glass flower ceiling.  I used a rubon!  (Life's a Journey), I used a mirror!  I used chipboard flourishes, etc. that I've had for 5 years or more -- from 2 different sets!  I triple matted the Bellagio name photo!  I double matted my tag (and the ribbon on it came with the chipboard foil things)!  I'm really trying to go just a little further and not just stick in my comfort zone.  Growth is good.    I'm really happy with how this came out -- I think it was based on a sketch...but I'm not sure where I got it...

Beauty

These are photos from the Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa Park down in Sandy Eggo (what it sounds like to me).  I was inspired in the creation of this layout by the Barbie challenge at Child's Play -- I used Pink! (not used much here, since my most frequent subject are the guys) and the little umbrella reminds me of all the Barbie furniture and stuff we used to scavenge to play Barbies with.  :-)

I was also inspired by the "Name that Tune" challenge that I'm hosting over at S-P:  the song "Kodachrome" is the inspiration song -- my journaling strips have lyrics "You give us the nice, bright colors, You give us the greens of summer, You make us think all the world's a sunny day, oh yeah, I love to take photographs..."

I used the front and back of the paper -- I loved both.  Absolutely adore the tea set.  I couldn't find a lantern svg, so printed off, colored and fussy cut the clip art.  The title, is of course, the Japanese character and English translation "Beauty".  This was such a lovely, peaceful spot.

The One Where David Took the Photo of Us in Front of the Lighthouse...

and pretty much cut off the lighthouse.  I love my husband.  Really.  For over 30 years  I have.  Usually I take the pictures.  When I said, "You guys go stand by the lighthouse so I can take your picture," he said, "No, I'll take your picture -- you go stand with the boys."

So I did.

We got the requisite "warm up"photo with them being silly.  Then we got "the real one".

That building behind really is a lighthouse in the Bellagio garden.  It is beautiful there.  This story is on the back, where my DH won't see it.  :-)

I'm submitting this to the Child's Play "Pete's Dragon" challenge.

moments

This layout was based on a CK sketch.  I thought the challenge went til the end of the month, but, ooops, it ended the 13th.  Instead of photos, I used postcards  I picked up at the national park -- I collect them and don't like to glue them down, so usually use photo corners.  I made these myself -- was easier than I thought.
I also chose papers that would fit the color challenge over at S-P:  blue, green and yellow.  The die cut title is one I got in a swap quite a while back.  I love being part of the online scrappy community.

Also included is the "passport stamp" from the Ranger Station.  I didn't buy a passport, but use some scrap papers to get the stamp when we go to a Park.  I love the old poster and stamp postcards.

Boothill

These photos aren't really from Boothill, but from El Campo Santos Cemetery in San Diego's Old Town.  It just looks like a Boothill.  I used  a sketch that Carolyn shared at Scrappin-Peeps for a weekly challenge.  My photo of the layout is horrible and has such awful reflection from the overhead light on my table, but if I wait, I may never get it done :-)

Reading about this cemetery, there are reported sightings of ghosts.  One "working girl" who died in the old west days and wasn't allowed to be buried in the cemetery itself -- she's been seen hanging around outside the gate.  When the paved street went in, they paved over several graves.  To appease the spirits who were not happy with it, there were markers and a memorial placed on the grounds commemorating those under the street.  Apparently paranormal activity was so high, that several of the local shopkeepers pooled their money and had an exorcism or similar ceremony performed.  Since then, reports of activity have been down.
I was really surprised when we visited this old graveyard, that some of the graves had recent memorials (the toys and stuffed animals).  Don't know if it's family members still in the area or if it's just that children's graves strike a chord with many of us.

Here's my layout:

Awesome, awesome, awesome.

My two sons went to Van's Warp Tour in San Diego this last summer.  David and I went down with, we spent a couple nights in a motel, David and I wandered Balboa Park, Old Town, etc. while they were at the concert.  We went to pick them up -- and this is who came out with Scott.  Yes, the Aquabats played.

Here's the sketch I used from 2 Broke Girls:

  

Mollie's Nipple

This is in Utah, outside Hurricane, where David went to High School.  One of the shots is from up closer to Cedar, the other is down closer to St. George.  I thought it was Molly's Nipple, but found out that the USGS frowns on apostrophes in place names, so officially it's "Mollies Nipple".  But locals (and others) still throw the apostrophe in (probably all those grammar teachers) so it is alternately known as Mollies Nipple, Mollie's Nipple or Molly's Nipple.  I couldn't leave the apostrophe out.

I used a sketch from 2 Broke Girls :

Yes, there's reflection in it, because it's dark out and I'm taking the picture on my kitchen floor with the overhead light on.  LOL

Three New Layouts from last summer -- Vegas and San Diego

We made a stop in Vegas on our way home.  Here's my layout of the iconic sign.  I'll probably add some handwritten journaling to the bottom right.

This was from a sketch from Paper Secrets:  Their twist is to use dots and stripes.  The stripes are obvious, I'm hoping they'll see the dots in the photo around the Vegas sign or consider the turquoise horizontal piece as blobby dots.  

I loved the sketch -- it looks so Halloweeny, but I like how it came worked for my summer "night lights" photos also.  I put together three pps from 2 manufacturers and 3 stacks  -- the striped is Colorbok, the labels and horizontal piece are K & Co.  Wasn't sure about mixing them (I have such a hard time mixing patterns -- especially the labels and stripes together was hard for me), but I like how it looks all together.  The cs pieces are just scraps. I tried coloring in the lettering on the title to look like neon more -- but it got muddy and you couldn't read it.  There's a lot of white space -- more than I'm used to and it's Really white!  But I think it's effective.   

The next is a 2-page spread about Ben's Dancing in the Luxor lobby.  

We were standing around, trying to decide what to do, and he just started dancing all over the open area.  As I say in my journaling, not the be-bop in place, but the arms and legs flailing, high-energy, all over the place dancing.  We were laughing.  Nobody else seemed to notice -- guess it's Vegas.  Then he threw a shoe and stopped.  I ran across a quote from Nietsche about dancing:  "Those that were seen dancing were thought insane by those who could not hear the music."  Which led me to two more Nietsche quotes:  " We should consider lost any day in which we have not danced at least once." and "You must have chaos within you to give birth to a dancing star."  Beyond the quotes, I was inspired by Devra's challenge at Scrappin-Peeps to use a different palette than we usually use.  I love color -- and tend to use the deeper colors more often.  I started to use pastels on this, but it just wasn't working.  So I went with neutrals -- I use them even less than I use pastels.  Black, white, grey, brown.  The only color in this layout comes from the dancing.  Symbolic, eh?  I thought it was clever LOL.  And -- there was this cool sketch at Bird is the Word with the word -- Dance: 

I used it as inspiration for the left side.

Last, is a layout I did about the guy who stacks rocks down in Seaport Village in San Diego.  It is incredible to see.  Such a fun trip.  I used a sketch from Let's Scrap, but didn't get it done in time for the challenge.  I'm so slow these days.

Thanks for dropping by -- love to see your comments.

Challenging

Lush Life

This layout is from our trip to San Diego -- while the boys were at Warp Tour, David I went to Balboa Park.  These pictures are from the botanical building -- beautiful orchids and other flowers.  And the building with water garden in front is beautiful in itself.

I used the colors -- green, pink, and black -- from the monthly color challenge at Scrappin' Peeps.  I had chosen the background any way and then realized the pink mats would go well.  But the black really made the pics pop.  I was also inspired by the Random Challenge (Scrappin' Peeps again) to use photo collage in the style of leafrance.com.  Mine is not nearly as intricate as their collages, but has a bit of the stained glass feel with the black.  I originally had my photos placed differently, but the inspiration led me to their final positions.  I may go back and add some journaling or I may do it on the back.

Two from Seaport Village

It's been a while since I've posted.  I was about challenged out, so was off doing my own thing for a while.  But, I'm back gleaning inspiration from various challenges, like this one:

  This is actually last week's challenge at Scrappin' Peeps -- but I didn't get it down and photographed in time.  This is my version:

The background paper is DCWV.  And I didn't have to do much to it -- I added the tan shells paper (also DCWV), the turquoise swirly and vintage beach babe (G45), my photo and mats, and the journaling spot -- the borders and shells were already there.  This is from Seaport Village in San Diego -- where Scott got the captain's hat he's wearing.  Since then, whenever he wears it, SOMEone (and usually several) feel compelled to make comments about the hat.

For the companion page, I used this sketch:



This is September's sketch challenge from Scrappin' Peeps (the message board a bunch of old CKers started when CK closed theirs).

Here's my take on it:

I used the tan shell paper for background this time, added the G45 papers and some banners and colored shells I fussy cut from another sheet of the first page's background paper.  Journaling talks about how the boys and I have reach (sort of) a compromise.  They cooperate in my photos if I take theirs as well (including Scott with his finger up his nose and Ben in weird poses).  

Here's the two together:

A fun one -- ET Hwy

This was just fun -- photos from the Extraterrestrial Highway outside Area 51 in Nevada.  The cow was the most alien life form we saw -- the weather was incredible.  Saw rain and lightening -- clouds were impressive.  Stopped at the Little A Le Inn (see next layout :-)

Photo of the layout is awful.  It's from a Let's Scrap sketch.

More Prom, More Disney, More Cat

Some of these I finished before vacay, You Oughta Be in Pictures was a before and after, New Throne was done last night.  Trying to get my last batch of photos done before the next batch (vacay and father's day and San Diego) get here.  So many photos, so little time!  LOL

Disney:  Ok, the journaling talks about our petty victory.  We waited outside the theater, almost first in line, only to have the cast members (not employees in Disney-speak) move the line around the corner without respect to who was there first.  These people, who had one person standing in line and then had about 20 appear when it was close to time, pushed and shoved and were loud and rude.  But we ended up in front of them in the theater LOL.  Petty?  Yes.  Victory?  Definitely.

I think this was for a challenge, and quite probably from a sketch -- but I'm not sure from where.

I have two layouts of my cat -- one is just weird how the photo came out.  The other is about his new resting spot.

This last one is from Ben's prom -- it's phone photos they took at the photo op spots at Madame Tussauds Wax Museum.  Will be submitting this for the fussy-cut flower challenge at 2 Broke Girls.

Where in the Resort?

This layout uses some of the odds and ends photos from Disney LOL.  Inspired by the challenge at 2 Broke Girls to use numbers -- I created a game.  Can you tell where these photos were take without looking?