Page Maps...

Like I mentioned yesterday, I really like using sketches. Especially if I have a large project...with the layouts sketched out for me, I can focus on the papers and embellishments...(and sometimes finally break out my new tools and try them out!)

And one great source for sketches is Page Maps website...as well as their blog (which hosts cool contests with cool prizes).

This is a layout I finished on the 12th (yes I was very busy that day!)...and am finally getting it posted (just prior to the cut-off for the Page Maps contest...whew!)

Here is the sketch...



And my version...



This picture is of my cat Rooster Cogburn (yep, we are John Wayne fans) and one of the foster kittens, Lizzy...the most photogenic foster kitty we had! The last few weeks of having the foster kitties, as we waited for their new families to come pick them up, Rooster spent most of his day in the room with them...he just loved playing with them and keeping them company...and Lizzy took a real shining to him...aw, kitten love!

This was the first layout I did using my new iRock tool....and I L-O-V-E it!

I love how the scattered rhinestones look in conjunction with the pre-made pearl swirl.

I also used another new favorite tool, from Epiphany Crafts, a little button maker. Now you can make perfectly matched buttons for your projects using patterned paper...so cool!



The papers I used are from K&Company...but I can't remember the line...sorry...they came in a ginormous variety pack I bought at Michael's last year...I think the paper pad was called "The Best of K&Company"...



I love how my tag turned out...I cut strips of coordinating paper from the line and used a variety of edge punches on each...then layered them on top of a manila tag...I inked up the punched edges a bit and then 'fluffed' them up...



Overall...a very pastel purple page...not a color I usually use, but it seemed appropriate for the picture...very sweet!

Another Sketch Layout

I found this really great sketch website, Pencil Lines, last year when I was in the need for some inspiration...and through their website I found one of my fav blogs to read, Balzer Designs...Julie is so inspirational!

Well, Pencil Lines had a sketch posted on their blog the other day, sketch #227, that really struck me as super cool...so I had to sit down and work out a layout based on it...

Here is the original sketch...



I love the center vertical design, not a design I generally use...

And here is my layout...



I would say that I have been on a 'cat in the sunshine' picture taking kick laltely...but if you know me, you know I am ALWAYS taking pictures of the cats in the sunshine...jealous of them, I'm sure that's my motivation.

The journaling on this layout, by hand again (ugh!), is about how nice the cats have it...food, petting, napping, and such...but specific to the pictures of Elaine, it is a bit about how relieved I am to know that she has a good and safe place to live, given her limitations (which have not stopped her one bit or slowed her down at all!)...



And I just have to say, I am loving using stamps on my layouts...all thanks to some awesome free classes over at 2P's!



I posted a question on their stamping forum about what ink pens stampers recommend for inking up stamps...and one person said they use Crayolas...really?!?! Yes, and they are awesome (better on rubber stamps than on acrylic) and soooooo cheap! I'm loving them!

And one final picture of Lainey (for now, anyway)...I love this look...


"Hey mom, whatcha doin'?"

Page Maps Contest

I am an ardent follower of Page Maps...and was thrilled to see this contest posted on their blog a few weeks ago...

So of course I had to get my craft on and take a stab at the sketch...

Here is the sketch...


And here is my take on it...


I have really been focusing on journaling more on my layouts...and I seem to really enjoy putting into words the feelings my photos give me...


I took a ga-jillion pictures of the cats this afternoon...just lounging on the stairs in the sun...and it really reminded me to slow down and enjoy the afternoon...so I did...I just sat on the steps with the cats, petted their heads and rubbed their bellies and enjoyed the warm sun filtering in through the hall windows...nice!



I hope you got the chance to slow down and just breath this afternoon...sigh!

Wacky Wednesday...and Other Mid-Week Madness

So I got some fun news the other day...The Everyday Scrapper website asked me to join their online forum team. Woo-hoo!

I'm in charge of Wednesdays...so when mid-week has got you down, shoot over to the forum and check out my topics!

I will be posting the Question of the Day, the Scrapbooking Question of the Day, opening up a forum post for the Website Topic of the Day, posting some Daily Inspiration and posting a Tutorial...every Wednesday!

And now I'm sitting here, gathering ideas...and I think I have some fun things for the Tutorial section...here's a hint...think "Clean House"...be sure to check it out next week!

On another note...I checked on my tulips last night. They are starting to send up buds (yeah!)...here is a sort of fuzzy picture...I had my camera set on macro, and there was a breeze, so nothing would stay still long enough for a clear shot!



Except, little Bonnie...who normally never takes a good picture...I thought this one turned out pretty nice. Hmm...I may need to scrap this picture!




Thanks for stopping by...

Busy Weekend...and Other Fun Things

I love when I have a really busy, productive weekend. When I get to do what needs to be done, as well as what I want to get done. And this past weekend was just that kind of weekend...and plus the rain (I love the rain)...it was just perfect!

I got some scrapbooking time in, had dinner with my friends, watched some good movies on TV, finished (and started) some knitting projects...and got the dishes done, the bathrooms cleaned and the laundry washed and folded (although putting it away will actually take place tonight...).

I finished two small, one-page layouts...both for online contests...and I'm pretty happy with both.

The first one is for the Jan "new" ary challenge at Scrapbook Express based on a Becky Fleck Page Map:



The second layout is for the January Goal contest at Magistical Memories...



I also submitted a page, I finished a couple of weeks ago, to the January Challenge at The Everyday Scrapper.



Whew..a lot of submissions! Plus (and this is a biggie) I sent in a submission, via email, for the Nikki Sivils Design Team...that one's a long-shot, but I gotta try, right?!?!

And I finally finished a scarf I had been working on for several months (sorry, no picture)...started and finished a scarf based on Niki Epstein's Tree of Life afghan (again, no picture...although I am wearing it right now, and it is quite toasty and warm)...started and finished a "mini traveling scarf" for a mini-album my friend is working on...I couldn't resist taking a picture of Bonnie wearing the mini-scarf...


Ain't she cute?

Whew...like I said, very 'busy-bee' weekend...hopefully I can keep up the pace, 'cause the juices are flowing!

If all goes according to plan, tonight I will get another hour or two in the studio to work on a couple more layout submissions that are due at the end of this week...wish me luck!

Layout Submitted...and Other Scary Things

Well...I did it!

I submitted a scrapbook layout to a Becky Fleck page call for Page Maps. Whew! I can't divulge the layout yet...I have to wait until I hear from them, so check back around the end of the month...

I would love to be picked, in addition to having the layout posted on her website I would win $50! (Of course there are still 24 days before I could spend the money on anything crafty...sigh!) But I am most excited that I finally did it...put something out there...in the big-bad scrapbook world...well the scrapbook world is really a bit more warm and fuzzy than that, but you get the point...

I'll admit, I'm a bit nervous and excited...what if they laugh when they see it (well, if they do, I guess I'll never know since I won't be there...) I just need to go chin-up and keep submitting, ignoring the potential for laughter, 'cause really, I just do this for me!

Until I can reveal the layout...here is one I did about Sam:



Well..I think I'll go hug the dogs and cats...and start working on my next submission...