tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43353258975183705202024-03-14T07:21:45.689-04:00Inspiration of the DayCreative inspiration for stampers, papercrafters, and altered artistsKimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16732576903105086777noreply@blogger.comBlogger78125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4335325897518370520.post-47776535266443356072011-02-04T12:07:00.000-05:002011-02-04T12:07:32.134-05:00Thank you...<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not sure anyone checks my blog anymore--I know I don't! My life has been upside down for the last eight months helping to take care of my father. He passed away last week. Please don't be sad--he is in a much better place, and I hope he's happy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have not stamped in eight months but hope to get back to it soon. I have made the decision not to maintain the blog anymore, though. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">So thank you all for following me and for all your kind comments while I did dip my toe in the blogging world. I love you all!!! </span>Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16732576903105086777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4335325897518370520.post-43440951950533200382010-07-26T20:18:00.001-04:002010-07-26T20:18:08.731-04:00I think I’m back…<p>Been awhile, hasn’t it? Can I start by saying I’ve missed blogging and all my blogging friends!! I hope you all haven’t forgotten about me!!! Why have I been gone, you may ask. Well, this is why:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/TE4ln6Mz9gI/AAAAAAAAAas/s-l3KkT-zxI/s1600-h/Daddy%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="Daddy" border="0" alt="Daddy" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/TE4loJ3d5LI/AAAAAAAAAaw/TYUVBX32AzY/Daddy_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>Yup—that’s my Daddio. I won’t bore you with all the details, but he went in the hospital early in June. After spending about a week in the hospital, they refused to release him unless he was going to 24 hour care. Since he was adamant that he didn’t want to go to a nursing home, we’ve been taking care of him at his home ever since. I’ve taken on the bulk of the duties, and have been living at his house most of the last month and a half. He lives about 40 miles away from me, so I’ve spent very little time at my own house between working and taking care of him. Well, we had a meeting with the Hospice team last Friday, and after all the care and pampering we’ve been giving him, they agreed that we could scale back on his care. So, I think I’m going to be able to spend all week sleeping in my own bed!!! He has his good days and bad days, but he’s in much better shape than he was at the beginning of June. He’s a skinny little thing, isn’t he? He weights 100 pounds soaking wet, even after a month of three meals a day. </p> <p>I wasn’t able to do any stamping or other artwork while I was at his house—I dragged enough stuff there as it was, without taking inks and stamps and paints and paper…you get the drift. I was able to do some creative things, though. Let me ask all of you—when was the last time you crocheted? I don’t think I’ve done any extensive crocheting for a good 30 years! However, I got a wild hair before my dad went in the hospital and decided to crochet an afghan for my special needs sister, Lisa. Here’s a not very good picture of her and the afghan I crocheted for her:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/TE4lo71sbiI/AAAAAAAAAa0/8dLRMM5JKMs/s1600-h/lisa%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="lisa" border="0" alt="lisa" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/TE4lpPfaOgI/AAAAAAAAAa4/xQDDefl7fag/lisa_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p> <p>She’s waving at me, trying to get me to leave! Once I finished that one, I needed something to keep my hands busy while staying with my dad, so in addition to helping my nieces with some of their 4-H projects, I made even more afghans. Here’s my niece, Casey, and the one I made for her. The picture is awful—I took all of these with my phone. The colors in this afghan are turquoise, lime green and yellow:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/TE4lrFJLH9I/AAAAAAAAAa8/DtlgukVlkdY/s1600-h/casey%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="casey" border="0" alt="casey" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/TE4lsuXZfpI/AAAAAAAAAbA/WPD4Teya1w4/casey_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a>Then I had to make one for my dad, since he’s always freezing. Here’s his:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/TE4ltaOtOnI/AAAAAAAAAbE/GubHH6pfj9U/s1600-h/daddy%20afghan%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="daddy afghan" border="0" alt="daddy afghan" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/TE4ltyod4gI/AAAAAAAAAbI/GPjmyiNLHyY/daddy%20afghan_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>Then I  made one for my other niece, Morgan. Here she is with hers:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/TE4luqhQP_I/AAAAAAAAAbM/z_pXpLxTFu0/s1600-h/morgan%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="morgan" border="0" alt="morgan" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/TE4luyBcoCI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/x8SosYdfIko/morgan_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>  I couldn’t leave out their big brother, could I? I don’t have a picture of him, but here’s his afghan. The colors don’t show up very well—I used a camo variegated yarn and two shades of green:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/TE4lvjCwt4I/AAAAAAAAAbU/jnSSr33ogYk/s1600-h/tyler%20afghan%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="tyler afghan" border="0" alt="tyler afghan" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/TE4lvwS3PpI/AAAAAAAAAbY/7gpMLND4OeM/tyler%20afghan_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>Wow—was this addicting!!! Now I have Casey hooked (LOL—pun intended). She wanted to learn how to crochet, so I taught her and she’s going full steam ahead!!  </p> <p>I’m sure my postings will still be sporadic for awhile—I have to take care of my much neglected house and yard, I’ll still be going to my dad’s regularly, and work is getting ready to be crazy for the next three weeks. I just wanted to assure everyone that I haven’t fallen off the face of the earth, and I promise I’ll be back visiting your blogs in the very near future!!!</p> Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16732576903105086777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4335325897518370520.post-1618724687301467572010-06-09T21:32:00.001-04:002010-06-09T21:32:17.966-04:00Drunken Stampers #19…<p>I have a quick card to post tonight that fits Drunken Stampers challenge 19—Birthdays.This card is for my wonderful friend, Angie, whose birthday is tomorrow. The card sketch is from <a href="http://inkstainswithroni.blogspot.com/">Roni’s</a> blog. I used the Medium Bee from <a href="http://www.jocappersandon.blogspot.com/">Jo Capper-Sandon’s</a> stamp line at <a href="http://www.stampotique.com/">Stampotique Originals</a>. The button is a vintage one I found at the antique fair last month, and I broke into the vintage lace my blog buddy, <a href="http://www.trashtotreasureart.blogspot.com/">Lynn</a>, sent me. I love that I can tie two lovely people together with a piece of lace!! </p> <p>Here’s the card:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/TBBAnvod-KI/AAAAAAAAAaU/T-TzogTL8fk/s1600-h/Angie%20B-Day%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="Angie B-Day" border="0" alt="Angie B-Day" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/TBBAoT8ZeAI/AAAAAAAAAaY/uYmp1KeQJnk/Angie%20B-Day_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="404" height="392" /></a>  </p> <p>If any of you follow me regularly—I want to let you know that my blogging may be a bit erratic over the next few weeks. I haven’t had a chance to catch up on my blurfing lately, and I haven’t had a chance to play very many challenges. My dad has been in the hospital and is now in hospice—we hope he will be able to come out of hospice, but I think that’s wishful thinking on our part. Please keep him in your prayers. </p> Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16732576903105086777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4335325897518370520.post-45140612270949634522010-06-08T21:45:00.001-04:002010-06-08T21:45:29.917-04:00Aww….I got a blog award!<p>Thank you to my good blogger buddy, Lynn, from <a href="http://www.trashtotreasureart.blogspot.com/">Trash To Treasure Art</a>, for nominating me for this wonderfully prestigious blog award! Sorry I didn’t get this posted sooner, but I’ve been busy crafting my lies!!!!! </p> <p>Here’s how it works.</p> <p>1. Express gratitude to the blogger who bestowed the award unto you. Thank you, Lynn, my Idaho soul sister!!! </p> <p>2 Display the picture on your blog proudly. <br /></p> <p><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kmE8Jz3__80/TAncilqoPpI/AAAAAAAAC1U/FslnDk5u5bk/s1600/creative_writer.jpg"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kmE8Jz3__80/TAncilqoPpI/AAAAAAAAC1U/FslnDk5u5bk/s320/creative_writer.jpg" /></a> <br />3. Be nice and provide a link to the person who gave it to you. (Here it is again—Lynn at <a href="http://www.trashtotreasureart.blogspot.com/">Trash To Treasure Art</a>).</p> <p>4. Tell up to six outrageous lies about yourself, and at least one outrageous truth, or switch it around and tell six outrageous truths and one outrageous lie.</p> <p>5. Nominate seven creative writers who might be into doing this. I am passing this one on to Bloggers who make me smile, laugh, or emote in some way or another. </p> <p>6. Post links to the seven blogs you nominate and let the owners of those blogs know.</p> <p>OK—here are my lies—or are they truths? You decide!!! (I’ll give you a hint—two are truths and four are lies…)</p> <p>1. As you all know, George Clooney grew up in the Cincinnati area, where I was born and raised. He and I dated briefly in high school, but I dumped him because he was a lousy kisser. He’s much better looking now—he must have had a nose job or something. </p> <p>2. While helping a friend in Florida move from her apartment to a condo, I had the opportunity to meet Prince Albert of Monaco at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables. I wish his good friend, Bono, would have been with him at the time! (Party like a rock star!!!)</p> <p>3. When I was in my early 20s (30 years and quite a few pounds ago) I was a pretty famous local stripper. My stage name was Texas Trixie and my costume had a cowgirl theme (explains my fascination with cowgirl stamps, doesn’t it?) The bartender at the club where I stripped had a thing for me, and invented the Buttery Nipple (a “shooter” drink for those of you who don’t imbibe) in my honor. Texas Trixie is long gone, but the Buttery Nipple lives on!! </p> <p>4. I truly am a famous writer, which makes this award so appropriate! My pen name is Danielle Steele. </p> <p>5. Everyone knows I’m really a “shrinking violet.”</p> <p>6. While in Rome, I got on a bus full of Italian sailors (not on purpose!) Rather than give me one of their seats, I ended up standing at the front of the bus while the sailors proceeded to sing to me until I got off at my stop. </p> <p>OK—now I need to nominate seven blogs for this same award. I didn’t come up with seven, but did do five—I hope the blog badge police don’t get me!!! Here are my nominations:</p> <p>1. Roni at <a href="http://inkstainswithroni.blogspot.com/">Ink Stains</a>—Roni is incredibly talented and very generous with her knowledge. She posts lots of great tutorials, and has a fabulous book to boot! </p> <p>2. Nan at <a href="http://nansniche.blogspot.com/">Nan’s Niche</a>—Nan does <em>beautiful</em> work of all kinds. Her scrapbook pages almost make me want to start scrapbooking, and that’s saying something!!!  </p> <p>3. Suzie at <a href="http://sashayward.blogspot.com/">Passionate About Crafting</a>—Suzie has lots of hobbies, just like me. She quilts, knits, and does paper crafts. Stop and visit her blog! </p> <p>4. Peg and Spike at <a href="http://drunkenstampers.wordpress.com/">Drunken Stampers</a>—gotta love the blog name, plus they have great challenges (although I confess I haven’t played yet)!</p> <p>5. Dawn at <a href="http://dawnanewday.blogspot.com/">Dawn…a new day</a>—Dawn does beautiful work and has been a real inspiration to me in my cardmaking. Plus, I love her llama pictures!!!</p> Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16732576903105086777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4335325897518370520.post-52931280079979885972010-05-31T20:47:00.001-04:002010-05-31T20:54:47.164-04:00So many challenges, so little time…<p>I hope everyone had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend. I had hoped to play a little more over the weekend, but other things kept getting in the way! I finally sat down this afternoon while watching some John Wayne movies on TV and worked on this card. When it was done, it ended up fulfilling three different challenges, although I’m only going to officially enter it in one. </p> <p>My niece is turning 11 in a couple of weeks, and I asked her if she wanted a cute card or a funky card. She said definitely funky! (I knew last year’s cute card was probably the last I could get away with!) Well, the planets were in perfect alignment for funky today, since my Stampotique Originals stamps arrived last week and were calling my name!! </p> <p>I went looking for a “funky” sketch, and decided that the <a href="http://priscillastyles.blogspot.com/2010/05/midnight-madness-red-carpet-week-sketch.html">Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge 55</a> fit the bill. (I’m not entering it in this challenge, because I deviated from the sketch a little.) The <a href="http://stampotiquedesignerschallenge.blogspot.com/2010/05/sdc8-purple.html">Stampotique Designers Challenge 8</a> is to use purple, and since that is one of my niece’s favorite colors, it was a no-brainer to use some Basic Grey papers from the Kioshi line. (Not entering this one, either, since I kind of CASE’d Monique, one of the DT members—loved the zig zag!) Finally, <a href="http://gingersnapcreations.blogspot.com/2010/05/gc54-spicy-supply-challenge-pencils.html">Gingersnap Challenge 54</a> is pencils, and I colored the image with watercolor pencils and a water brush. The background uses DI inks, and by process of elimination, this is the challenge I’m entering! </p> <p>So—here’s my niece’s card in all its <a href="http://www.stampotique.com/stamp/penney-torrente/6048.html">Moth Fab</a> glory—let me know if you think it’s funky enough!! </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/TARYoJphk_I/AAAAAAAAAaE/7-CFi7w1IeM/s1600-h/DSCN2093%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="DSCN2093" border="0" alt="DSCN2093" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/TARYo75YTWI/AAAAAAAAAaM/Njvp6TyrCWY/DSCN2093_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="241" /></a> </p> <p>I had hoped to finish the mini-album covers this weekend, but I’m still mulling that over. I’m thinking of metal but haven’t made up my mind yet. </p> Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16732576903105086777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4335325897518370520.post-2955141167595730212010-05-26T20:33:00.001-04:002010-05-26T20:34:11.565-04:00Mini-album, part 10…<p>This is the last spread in the mini-album from <a href="http://inkstainswithroni.blogspot.com/2010/05/bff-altered-bookmini-album-10.html">Roni</a>. The challenges were to use the color yellow (the reason will become evident when you read the verse!) and to use a stamp you have not previously used in the book. Well, the challenge part was easy—I painted cardstock for the background with Claudine Hellmuth’s Studio Paint in Yellow Pastel, and then streaked it with Touch of Yellow. These colors are BRIGHT!!! You can see them here at <a href="http://www.simonsaysstamp.com/servlet/the-...Claudine-Hellmuth-Products/Categories">Simon Says Stamp</a>. The challenge came in trying to take a picture! It took awhile, but the yellow finally came out kind of close. The challenge to use a stamp that I hadn’t used before was easy, too. I used one of the first stamps I ever bought—who knew it would be so versatile?? The verse for this final part is, “Friendship is like peeing your pants. Everyone can see it but only you can feel the true warmth.” Don’t you love it? Now, here’s my take on the final spread:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S_291vZNqeI/AAAAAAAAAZs/_3F4HC3t-Ow/s1600-h/mini%20album_aa%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="mini album_aa" border="0" alt="mini album_aa" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S_292BKJkPI/AAAAAAAAAZw/6p2j5edQxAY/mini%20album_aa_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="115" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S_2923c8NkI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/pjsGhUmlWq4/s1600-h/mini%20album_bb%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="mini album_bb" border="0" alt="mini album_bb" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S_293BWtNaI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/k4q7bq9z0ZI/mini%20album_bb_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="222" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S_293-3CRcI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/t6Ydha2Z8h4/s1600-h/mini%20album_cc%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="mini album_cc" border="0" alt="mini album_cc" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S_294TAFI_I/AAAAAAAAAaA/HgWQKMdQiLI/mini%20album_cc_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="222" /></a></p> <p>I hope you’ve had as much fun with this little book as I have! I need to figure out what to do to the covers, and I also want to go back and distress/ink the edges a bit (you can still see the chipboard edges) and maybe embellish some of the pages a little more. The hardest thing I need to do is decide who to give it to!! </p> <p>I also want to say again—this is the first time I’ve ever done anything like this. I really didn’t think I could do it, but it ended up being very easy when it was broken down into manageable chunks. If you’ve been hesitant to try something like this book or any project outside your comfort zone, I say, throw caution to the wind! What’s the worst that can happen? You’ll have a “learning experience?” Go for it, and be sure to share it with all of us! </p> Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16732576903105086777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4335325897518370520.post-65479930412976293102010-05-25T22:12:00.001-04:002010-05-25T22:12:08.510-04:00GC53 challenge…<p>Hey, everybody! I decided to finish up a project I started over the weekend for Gingersnap Creations challenge, GC53, Read. The challenge was to, “Use readers, reading, books, familiar stories and text as your jumping off point for this one!” </p> <p>Let me just say that I had a great idea that didn’t translate very well in the execution. I think we’ll write this one off as “a learning experience.” </p> <p>My mom’s oldest sister, Aunt Sissy, had polio as a child, which left her increasingly debilitated and unable to walk. By the time I could remember her, she was paralyzed and required complete care. But when she was still able to function on her own, she was an avid reader. She belonged to the Book of the Month Club for years, and had quite a collection. Out of all her nieces and nephews, I was the only one who liked to read, and she gave me all her books. One that she insisted I read was a book called <em>A Girl of the Limberlost</em> by Gene Stratton-Porter. I fell in love with that book, and it became a summer reading tradition for me from about the 5th grade all the way through high school. It was very romantic—Elnora Comstock was an awkward girl with a cold mother who ended up finding romance. The story takes place in the swamps of northeastern Indiana, where Elnora hunted butterflies to sell to collectors as a way to put herself through school. The whole idea of it seemed so romantic to me—catching butterflies, wandering through the swamp, and especially the name—Limberlost. Isn’t that a great word? </p> <p>So—on to my project. I decided to use this book as my inspiration. First, I tore some pages from an old paperback and glued them to a piece of grungeboard. I then went over them with DI in Rusty Hinge, Wild Honey, and Walnut Stain. So far, so good. But this is where I ran into trouble. I’ve never been a vellum kind of gal so really have no experience with it. However, I have this pack of luscious Webster’s Pages paper that had a piece of vellum in it that happened to have butterflies on it, so I thought I would put this over the glued down text. I used a pretty ordinary technique—cut the vellum to size, covered the text pages with matte medium, and glued down the vellum, which promptly proceeded to curl up into a little roll. Now what? Well, I covered the top of the vellum with the matte medium, too, in hopes that would even it all out. It kind of did, but not very well. The vellum proceeded to get a little misshapen and wrinkled up. In addition, the grungeboard also started to curl. Great. I set it all aside to dry for awhile, then glued a collage image on top of the vellum. There were also some sticker letters in the Webster’s Pages pack, so I used them to spell “limberlost” across the piece. I put it inside a phone book to hopefully flatten out, but when I got it out tonight, it was still kind of curled. There are still wrinkles in the vellum, too, so I decided to cover some of those up with lace trim, which is really too light, I think. I used the same lace to make a rosette, and put a Basic Grey brad in the middle. It doesn’t look very good, but I think I’m going to stop before I waste any more supplies!!! So—here it is, in all its pitiful glory!</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S_yDdQW93XI/AAAAAAAAAZk/ArXtnY4c5k4/s1600-h/GC53%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="GC53" border="0" alt="GC53" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S_yDd603-xI/AAAAAAAAAZo/4-NDOoyUUzc/GC53_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="372" height="484" /></a> </p> <p>If you’re still reading after all of this, I’ll share some more info with you. Gene Stratton-Porter lived in the swampy area of northeastern Indiana where this book takes place. Her home is an Indiana historic site, and I believe the property surrounding it is a nature preserve. I’ve never been there, but have driven past the signs pointing the way. I think I’m going to put it on my list of things to do this summer—I’ll read the book again for the first time in years, and then drive up there for a visit. I’m planning to go to Shipshewana, Indiana, sometime this summer for their weekly flea market—I can make Limberlost a stop along the way. Stay tuned—I’ll tell you all about it when I go!! </p> Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16732576903105086777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4335325897518370520.post-76838877019657025332010-05-23T15:54:00.001-04:002010-05-23T15:54:27.339-04:00Mini album, part 9…<p>As promised yesterday, I’ve finished <a href="http://inkstainswithroni.blogspot.com/2010/05/bff-altered-bookmini-album-9.html">part 9</a> of Roni’s mini-album challenge. Whoo-hoo! I’m all caught up again!! The challenge for this part was to “Make it Metal” by using metallic paints, inks, embossing powder, or real metal on the layout. I chose to use metallic paints. I randomly dabbed Adirondack metallic gold, silver, and copper acrylic paints to the card stock, then I took Distress Crackle Paint in Tarnished Brass and Antiqued Bronze and dabbed it pretty thickly in vein-like patterns in several places. I allowed this to dry completely, then used an ink blending tool and Black Soot DI all over the whole thing to tone it down and make the cracks in the crackle paint stand out. I’ve embellished with some metal flowers I got somewhere. The verse for this layout is, “This is my oath…I pledge it to the end. Why? you may ask. Because you are my friend!”</p> <p>Let me know what you think!</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S_mH58ZIluI/AAAAAAAAAZM/cMEKCknpiZg/s1600-h/bff_album_x%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="bff_album_x" border="0" alt="bff_album_x" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S_mH6INuE7I/AAAAAAAAAZQ/AMqF2HKHUTw/bff_album_x_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="122" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S_mH63qdl3I/AAAAAAAAAZU/Gtky8LNsceI/s1600-h/bff_album_y%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="bff_album_y" border="0" alt="bff_album_y" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S_mH7bGVkkI/AAAAAAAAAZY/O8vPIvGPNQQ/bff_album_y_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="232" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S_mH8Zm30ZI/AAAAAAAAAZc/krH0upXRpjg/s1600-h/bff_album_z%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="bff_album_z" border="0" alt="bff_album_z" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S_mH8jkjvvI/AAAAAAAAAZg/f65a3ZtrJW4/bff_album_z_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="221" /></a></p> Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16732576903105086777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4335325897518370520.post-42451238451648931882010-05-22T16:31:00.001-04:002010-05-22T16:31:14.052-04:00Mini album, part 8…<p>Bet you thought I’d forgotten about Roni’s <a href="http://inkstainswithroni.blogspot.com/2010/05/bff-altered-bookmini-album-8.html">mini-album challenge</a>, didn’t you? Well, I’ve been mulling over the part 8 challenge for a couple of weeks, because I just wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. The challenge was to use at least three different stamps and at least three different ink colors, not including black. The ink colors weren’t the issue—I couldn’t decide which stamps to use. I finally settled on something the other day when I decided to use the faux bandanna technique for the background. The background image uses three different Stampin’ Up! images stamped with jet black Archival Ink. The background was then colored with Distress Inks in Peeled Paint, Shabby Shutters, Crushed Olive, and Forest Moss. Some of the colors weren’t blending as well as I wanted, so I sprayed the whole thing with a generous coating of Wheatfield Glimmer Mist. You may also notice something different about this spread. If you’ve been following along, you know that I’ve embellished every page with the same trim. Well, I’m out of it. I went to JoAnn’s last night to see if I could find another spool, and of course they didn’t have any. I search that darned store from end to end hoping I could find some tucked away somewhere—big mistake. I went for a $2 spool of trim that I couldn’t find, but came out $88 broker! How does that happen, anyway???? So, I’ve used some different fibers for embellishment and plan to go back through the other pages and replace some of the other trim with this combination of eyelash yarn and beads strung on hemp. Let me know what you think, and I hope to be back tomorrow with another spread complete, then I’ll be caught up again! Oh—the verse says, “When you fall, I’ll pick you up and dust you off—after I laugh my rear off!”</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S_g_Azm1-zI/AAAAAAAAAY0/_-plp-_A2qs/s1600-h/bff_album_u%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="bff_album_u" border="0" alt="bff_album_u" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S_g_BYjfRfI/AAAAAAAAAY4/jA1YoDow6Og/bff_album_u_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="126" /></a>  </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S_g_Cj-MQcI/AAAAAAAAAY8/UosBfwGhI_Y/s1600-h/bff_album_v%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="bff_album_v" border="0" alt="bff_album_v" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S_g_CyNY8VI/AAAAAAAAAZA/ZnWaBnM-xCE/bff_album_v_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="229" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S_g_DqloA6I/AAAAAAAAAZE/yuWsTzrYhxQ/s1600-h/bff_album_w%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="bff_album_w" border="0" alt="bff_album_w" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S_g_EdN3FsI/AAAAAAAAAZI/vgoDZpxauqA/bff_album_w_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="198" /></a></p> Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16732576903105086777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4335325897518370520.post-49562922136307369022010-05-15T14:24:00.001-04:002010-05-15T14:24:56.129-04:00Birthday card…<p>I’ve been working on my sister’s birthday card today, and I’d like to share it. It’s not part of any challenge—just a plain old card for my sister, who’s staying with me this weekend. I did try out the <a href="http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/rolledflowers/">rolled flowers</a> tutorial that was posted on <a href="http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/">Splitcoaststampers</a> this week. Hope you like it!</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S-7m9cLLhdI/AAAAAAAAAYU/7wM-xQ1njSk/s1600-h/Lisa_B-Day%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="Lisa_B-Day" border="0" alt="Lisa_B-Day" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S-7m91jwMuI/AAAAAAAAAYY/u0z0xoGYZOk/Lisa_B-Day_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="236" /></a></p> Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16732576903105086777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4335325897518370520.post-24074666143147369322010-05-09T14:22:00.001-04:002010-05-09T14:22:48.744-04:00GC52, card 2…<p>First, let me wish all you mothers and grandmothers a Happy Mother’s Day. I hope you’re being pampered and coddled by your loved ones today! </p> <p>This second entry in the <a href="http://gingersnapcreations.blogspot.com/2010/04/gc52-color-challenge-kraft.html">Gingersnap Creations color challenge</a> would make a nice Mother’s Day card, I think. Yesterday, I showed you a masculine take on the color Kraft. Today, I want to show you how feminine Kraft can be! Instead of distressing with Tea Dye Distress Inks, I distressed all the edges direct to paper with SU Whisper White ink. This leaves the edges very soft and worn looking. I also added lace, velvet ribbon, and a piece of an old doily. You know, my mom is probably rolling in her grave right now—I think my aunt may have made that doily, and it’s the first time I’ve ever cut one up. But I’m thinking it’s better to share a piece of it with someone on a card than having it hiding in the closet where no one can appreciate it, right? Also—the poppy image is stamped on Kraft and colored with Prismacolor pencils and OMS—I love how soft that technique looks on Kraft. You may recognize the earring I picked up at the antique show last week—I love the way it looks on this card!! Let me know what <em>you</em> think!!!!</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S-b9dPuPDPI/AAAAAAAAAYM/TBHcR7w1mjo/s1600-h/GC52%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="GC52" border="0" alt="GC52" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S-b9d9DiHzI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/JHcyvtcxcZo/GC52_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="232" /></a></p> Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16732576903105086777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4335325897518370520.post-7257099835618650052010-05-08T18:55:00.001-04:002010-05-08T18:55:43.763-04:00GC52…<p>A couple of weeks ago when the <a href="http://gingersnapcreations.blogspot.com/2010/04/gc52-color-challenge-kraft.html">Gingersnap Creations color challenge</a> was  posted, I thought, “What kind of challenge is THAT???” That’s because the color challenge is KRAFT!!! You may not have noticed, but I rarely make a project without using Kraft somewhere—usually the base. I find this kind of ironic, because beige is not my color! I don’t wear it, I don’t decorate with it, and for the most part, I despise it! So why do I reach for Kraft card stock over and over again? Because it’s so darned versatile! It can be masculine or feminine, young or old. You can dress it up or down as your mood dictates. So, a Kraft challenge? I’m all over that!!! </p> <p>I’ve done a masculine card this time, and you may have a hard time finding the Kraft, because I’ve distressed it to within an inch of it’s life with lots of Tea Dye DI. </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S-Xr5-eHFUI/AAAAAAAAAX8/IwMO2MEuLcQ/s1600-h/GC52_a%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="GC52_a" border="0" alt="GC52_a" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S-Xr6kiuGSI/AAAAAAAAAYA/V26ZIBk3ttw/GC52_a_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="227" /></a> </p> <p>I’ve wanted to make an easel card for quite some time, and this idea has been floating around in my head for awhile—bet the lady I bought the vintage yardstick from last week at the antique show would be having a cow if she knew I cut it up!!!</p> <p>Here’s the inside:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S-Xr7bTF3tI/AAAAAAAAAYE/moeXMmH7aUs/s1600-h/GC52_b%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="GC52_b" border="0" alt="GC52_b" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S-Xr7teMEZI/AAAAAAAAAYI/w95qX7gRkAc/GC52_b_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="231" height="244" /></a> </p> <p>The verse says, “Give a man an inch and he thinks he’s a ruler.” </p> <p>I plan on doing another entry for this challenge, but the next one will be feminine and shabby chic, just to prove to any non-believers out there just how adaptable Kraft can be!</p> Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16732576903105086777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4335325897518370520.post-69243530631923702742010-05-06T00:12:00.001-04:002010-05-06T00:15:29.931-04:00Mini-album, part 7, and GC50…<p>Let me just start by saying that I don’t like to combine challenges—it feels like cheating to me. So the fact that I’ve combined two here is kind of unusual, but the stars all aligned and it seemed to work. So. The saga of the mini-album challenge posted by Roni over on <a href="http://inkstainswithroni.blogspot.com/">Ink Stains</a> continues. This week’s verse is, “When you are sick, stay away from me until you are well again. I don't want whatever you have.” The challenge was to stamp the background with something other than a stamp. We’ve all experimented with using non-stamps to stamp with but maybe don’t do it on a regular basis, so this was fun. I looked around for some candidates, and this is what I came up with:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S-JBgWSc_TI/AAAAAAAAAXc/jHdiTVP_EB4/s1600-h/stamping%20stuff%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="stamping stuff" border="0" alt="stamping stuff" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S-JBg7dLqwI/AAAAAAAAAXg/SqQ-bIO4940/stamping%20stuff_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> </p> <p>There was still some string laying on the table from the string background technique I did a couple of weeks ago, so I wrapped that around an acrylic block. I also found a piece of corrugated cardboard that I tore a layer off, and a wrapper from a fast food spoon.  Unfortunately, I didn’t take a pic of the background before finishing the layout, but it turned out pretty well. The string around the block didn’t work very well, so I ended up wadding the string in a glob, pouncing it on the inkpad, and then pouncing on the background. Did the same with the wrapper. </p> <p>After I had the background done, I started looking through the cowgirl collage images, and none of them really looked sick, although one did look like she had a rough night and could be slightly hung over. That got me to thinking about some bottle caps I had collected several years ago with the intent of making some bracelets, so I went looking for them, which leads beautifully into challenge number 2, <a href="http://gingersnapcreations.blogspot.com/2010/04/gc50-spicy-supply-challenge-found.html">GC50—Found Objects</a>! It did take awhile for me to find them, too! So—the bottle caps are the found objects for that challenge. Now—here’s the layout:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S-JBiqCKV_I/AAAAAAAAAXk/c9Dbx_FMRRs/s1600-h/bff_album_r%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="bff_album_r" border="0" alt="bff_album_r" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S-JBi2OYl8I/AAAAAAAAAXo/K0bxFBedB0A/bff_album_r_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="122" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S-JBjtCUoNI/AAAAAAAAAXs/evBTLHPVNTg/s1600-h/bff_album_s%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="bff_album_s" border="0" alt="bff_album_s" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S-JBkhA3H7I/AAAAAAAAAXw/wFdlCCNJWpo/bff_album_s_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="227" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S-JBlpphR7I/AAAAAAAAAX0/NX8Bi1HGtQ8/s1600-h/bff_album_t%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="bff_album_t" border="0" alt="bff_album_t" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S-JBl-UQC8I/AAAAAAAAAX4/ztyLerE7Msw/bff_album_t_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="219" /></a> </p> <p>I know people usually use the inside of the bottle cap, but these seemed so appropriate, for both the cowgirl theme and the one who looks hung over (she would be on the right). The gal on the left has a bit of a flushed appearance, so I thought she might have a fever—I know, it’s a stretch!! Next time I’ll think these details through a little better!! Anyway, hope you like my stamped-without-a-stamp background and my beer bottle cap flowers—looks like I might need to replenish the bottle cap stash this weekend! LOL</p> <p>Now I’m going to try again to go to sleep—if this is a menopause symptom, I hope it goes away quick!!!!</p> Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16732576903105086777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4335325897518370520.post-30880190350810133672010-05-02T20:04:00.001-04:002010-05-02T20:04:09.771-04:00Mini-album, part 6…<p>Well, my lovely, pampering weekend is drawing to a close. I guess I’ll be glad to get back to work tomorrow. To wind up the weekend, I braved the rain we’re having here and went to an outdoor antique fair. The way this particular show is set up, vendors can set up stalls completely outside, or they can rent stalls that are under cover. Unfortunately, the rain kept all but the most hearty away from the outside stalls, but there was plenty to look at in the covered areas. I spent about two and a half hours, but my feet were getting soggy and I was getting a chill since my jeans were soaked halfway to my knees!! So, I came home and started working on <a href="http://inkstainswithroni.blogspot.com/2010/04/bff-altered-book-mini-album-challenge-6.html">part 6 of Roni’s mini-album challenge.</a> The verse this week is, “When you are confused I will use little words.” and the challenge is to use words or alphabet stamps somewhere on the spread. Roni kept her layout to a minimum, and I decided to do the same. I did have some fun with the background, though. If you’re like me, you love poking around in the art supply area at the craft store. I picked up some iridescent medium last week, and decided to play with it on this layout. I made a tissue paper background using the iridescent medium and mini misters with reinkers/water in them (how did I live before I got those things? Love ‘em!) So—here’s the layout. You can really see the iridescence. and that golden glow? Wild Honey Distress ink! This is the first time I’ve used that one, and it is very nice!! </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S94S5ynN1NI/AAAAAAAAAW8/nAhljumROcc/s1600-h/BFF_album_o%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="BFF_album_o" border="0" alt="BFF_album_o" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S94S6dn6ZlI/AAAAAAAAAXA/WMQrTk4mxdo/BFF_album_o_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="142" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S94S7IpEXBI/AAAAAAAAAXE/yCpenQ_clyw/s1600-h/BFF_album_p%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="BFF_album_p" border="0" alt="BFF_album_p" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S94S7RFzKGI/AAAAAAAAAXI/l1bUSs3CD2A/BFF_album_p_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="227" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S94S8Asp8HI/AAAAAAAAAXM/CfxK5-48j9U/s1600-h/BFF_album_q%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="BFF_album_q" border="0" alt="BFF_album_q" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S94S84ZGjyI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/oc3E-Zv2yk4/BFF_album_q_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="231" /></a> </p> <p>Finally, I want to share a pic of my antiquing goodies with you. Everything I picked up was with crafting in mind, so don’t be surprised to see some of these things show up in future posts.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S94S97yKBLI/AAAAAAAAAXU/6ozr_M8dwKo/s1600-h/antiquing%20finds%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="antiquing finds" border="0" alt="antiquing finds" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S94S-buGVNI/AAAAAAAAAXY/_2BR27D4TgA/antiquing%20finds_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="174" /></a>Nothing was more than $5, so I can’t complain. And before you start scratching your head over the bright, spiky earrings on the left—the first thing I thought of when I saw them was some of the more recent Cosmo Cricket paper lines—the colors will go really well!!! </p> <p>So, I  hope you had a chance to pamper yourself and recharge your batteries this weekend!  </p> Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16732576903105086777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4335325897518370520.post-9334126676881773262010-05-01T16:40:00.001-04:002010-05-01T16:49:09.307-04:00GC51…<p>Still having fun this weekend! I’ve been playing around a bit this afternoon, and completed a card for <a href="http://gingersnapcreations.blogspot.com/2010/04/gc51-random-redhead-challenge-botanical.html">GC51, Botanical</a>, over on <a href="http://gingersnapcreations.blogspot.com/">Gingersnap Creations</a>. I have lots of birthdays coming up in May, so I better get busy making some cards!!! </p> <p>This one also uses this week’s sketch challenge from Splitcoaststampers, <a href="http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=489279">SC278</a>. </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S9yRyKNF9HI/AAAAAAAAAW0/zCm4_ZfuCL4/s1600-h/GC51_SC278%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="GC51_SC278" border="0" alt="GC51_SC278" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S9yRygQ8C1I/AAAAAAAAAW4/cj61uz9Iyag/GC51_SC278_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="236" height="244" /></a>I’ve used <a href="http://www.g45papers.com/">Graphic 45</a> paper and the stamped image is from <a href="http://www.ibrakeforstamps.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=SFNT&Store_Code=IBFSSF">I Brake for Stamps</a>.  For the background squares, I used the Glassy Embossing technique from the Feb/Mar 2010 issue of <a href="http://www.patstamps.com/">Technique Junkies</a>. I colored the image with Prismacolor pencils and odorless mineral spirits, then covered the image with Rock Candy Crackle Paint. I hope you like it!!</p> Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16732576903105086777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4335325897518370520.post-40162585393710032042010-04-30T21:45:00.001-04:002010-04-30T21:45:08.912-04:00GC49, The Good Earth…<p>I’m back for a second post today, and let me just say—today has been just lovely! I had a massage, facial, and pedicure this afternoon, and to top it all off, got to play tonight. Life can be good, can’t it?</p> <p>I wanted to do something for the <a href="http://gingersnapcreations.blogspot.com/2010/04/gc49-chestnut-theme-challenge-good.html">Gingersnap Challenge, The Good Earth</a>. When this challenge was posted, the first thing that came into my head was the novel by Pearl S. Buck entitled, <em>The Good Earth</em>. I read this novel eons ago. It’s set in pre-revolutionary China, and follows the life of a Chinese couple.</p> <p>So, here’s my interpretation of GC49 with an Oriental flavor:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S9uHoMkf8tI/AAAAAAAAAWs/2Aos_8_WTVA/s1600-h/GC49%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="GC49" border="0" alt="GC49" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S9uHpKjA-yI/AAAAAAAAAWw/hiJ0OgQRJAA/GC49_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="140" height="244" /></a>Hope you like it!!! </p> Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16732576903105086777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4335325897518370520.post-9352717242771162352010-04-30T09:33:00.001-04:002010-04-30T09:33:41.711-04:00Never-ending quest...<p>Just a quick post this morning. First let me say, THANK YOU to <a href="http://gingersnapcreations.blogspot.com/">Gingersnap Creations</a>—they graciously gave me another GingerGems award!!!! Whoo—hoo!!!!!</p> <p>Second, I hope to get LOTS of play time in this weekend. Keep your fingers crossed that I can!! I’ve started on something that I should be able to post later this afternoon, but until then, I have something else to show you. If you’re like me, you’re always looking for the perfect way to organized your ever-expanding supply of stuff. I’ve just converted all my Distress inks to a new system that I am hoping works. Previously, I had all the ink pads in one place, reinkers somewhere else, Stickles in yet another place, and ink blenders somewhere else. If I wanted matching items, I had to look in multiple places to find them, and usually gave up before I found everything. Well, this is what I decided to do. I went to The Container Store and found these little clear acrylic boxes that perfectly hold an ink pad, reinker, Stickles, mini-mister, and one of my homemade ink blending tools. Now everything is all in one place! I think this will encourage me to use all these products a lot more. </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S9rcMJhvCnI/AAAAAAAAAWc/P8p02W1eDuY/s1600-h/DSCN2059%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="DSCN2059" border="0" alt="DSCN2059" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S9rcMnsLqII/AAAAAAAAAWg/-VrrLJRVmec/DSCN2059_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="129" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S9rcM2OM6hI/AAAAAAAAAWk/Hll3YTqcEMo/s1600-h/DSCN2060%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="DSCN2060" border="0" alt="DSCN2060" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S9rcNQrzdtI/AAAAAAAAAWo/3UFAJ6AX4es/DSCN2060_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="202" height="244" /></a>  I am not that crazy about the Ranger ink blending tool—I never was able to get it to work for me. So, I came up with my own version. I purchased these 1-1/4 inch wood blocks and attached squares of Cut and Dry foam to one end and wrote the color on the other end. It was actually a pretty inexpensive solution that works great! The foam stays securely in place with red line tape, but can be removed if it needs replaced. Plus, I got all 36 colors out of a single sheet of foam! The one thing you’ll see missing is the Distress embossing powders and the crackle paint. I don’t have any of the embossing powders—just don’t feel the need—and I only have a few of the crackle paints, mostly in the metallic colors. I’ll find someplace else to store those. </p> <p>So—let me know what you think! Have you found your perfect storage solution? </p> Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16732576903105086777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4335325897518370520.post-40393178335266323322010-04-26T19:25:00.001-04:002010-04-26T19:25:18.790-04:00Mini-album, part 5…<p>Whoo-hoo!!! I’m caught up! I finally caught up with Roni’s mini album challenge over on <a href="http://inkstainswithroni.blogspot.com/">Ink Stains</a>. The next part airs tomorrow, so stay tuned!!</p> <p>The challenge this week was to use recycled items. The only cardstock allowed was on the collage images, and you could use brads and other embellishments that weren’t recycled. Roni’s background for part 5 used torn pieces of an old book. I decided to deviate a little, and use a technique that was a result of a successful experiment a couple of years ago. Plus, it’s green! </p> <p>This is what I started with:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S9Ygxm8FryI/AAAAAAAAAV0/-P6V7OmUKDQ/s1600-h/recycle%201%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="recycle 1" border="0" alt="recycle 1" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S9YgyDrjnqI/AAAAAAAAAV4/WH4fdhxjcJE/recycle%201_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="181" height="244" /></a>This is a brown paper bag from Skyline Chili. If you’ve heard of Cincinnati chili, this is what they’re talking about, but that’s for another post! </p> <p>I actually had two of these—you can’t tell from the picture, but they are the size of a standard lunch sack. I tore off the printing and threw it away, then took the rest of the bag and tore it into irregular pieces. I then wadded each piece up pretty tight to get some texture, and then pulled out a bunch of ink pads. I unscrunched each piece of paper, and roughly rubbed an ink pad over the high spots. Once I had a bunch of these little pieces of paper, I adhered them to the album’s chipboard base with Mod Podge. After it was dry and the edges were trimmed, this is what I ended up with:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S9YgyxCBzSI/AAAAAAAAAV8/mKwFPxDY9IY/s1600-h/recycle%202%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="recycle 2" border="0" alt="recycle 2" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S9YgzfhG15I/AAAAAAAAAWA/p32ClJI1lHo/recycle%202_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="242" /></a>I love the look of this. I used this on a composition book a couple of years ago, and it still looks great! </p> <p>Here’s the completely decorated spread:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S9Yg0DodAoI/AAAAAAAAAWE/mTd6BHzZsY4/s1600-h/BFF_album%20n%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="BFF_album n" border="0" alt="BFF_album n" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S9Yg0k0otEI/AAAAAAAAAWI/e6ifkO3Eopc/BFF_album%20n_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="137" /></a> </p> <p>And here are the individual pages:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S9Yg1SsOC6I/AAAAAAAAAWM/5muY22nCJCc/s1600-h/BFF_album%20o%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="BFF_album o" border="0" alt="BFF_album o" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S9Yg13n73rI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/TlEZ7OVrneM/BFF_album%20o_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="224" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S9Yg23SpWDI/AAAAAAAAAWU/YwVfY9IVjnU/s1600-h/BFF_album%20p%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="BFF_album p" border="0" alt="BFF_album p" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S9Yg3pl2ojI/AAAAAAAAAWY/1zyF_UGy8SU/BFF_album%20p_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="234" /></a> </p> <p>The flowers are also recycled. I used the new Tim Holtz flower die to cut the flowers out of pages from a phone book. I sprayed them with various ink colors (yes, I finally got some mini-misters!), glued together, then dried with the heat gun. Once they were pretty dry, I sprayed them generously with Wheatfield Glimmer Mist, then dried them again. This time, the paper started to get a little “crisp” but the petals started to curl beautifully. I have to say—so far, this is my very favorite spread!!! </p> <p>I hope you like it and that you like my distressed paper bag background. </p> <p>Looking forward to the next installment in Roni’s challenge!!</p> Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16732576903105086777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4335325897518370520.post-91716418711875436632010-04-25T00:11:00.001-04:002010-04-25T00:11:38.427-04:00Mini-album, part 4…<p>I got a little time to play today (shhhh…..I brought the laptop home and should have been working!). The next spread in the mini-album from <a href="http://inkstainswithroni.blogspot.com/">Ink Stains</a> was calling my name, so I took the background paper from a couple of posts ago and used it on this spread. Let me say again how much I like this glue distressing technique! I used it on the stamped image I incorporated into this spread, and think it turned out pretty darned good! This verse of the poem says, “When you’re scared, we’ll high tail it out of here.” This is getting pretty fun—I hope Roni hasn’t created a monster! I’m looking forward to making another one soon!</p> <p>Here’s the two-page spread:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S9PA7s7fm7I/AAAAAAAAAVc/YFXz1XKLJKU/s1600-h/BFF_album%20k%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="BFF_album k" border="0" alt="BFF_album k" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S9PA8IqZxJI/AAAAAAAAAVg/w-d7ADgNqCo/BFF_album%20k_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="123" /></a> </p> <p>Here are the pages individually:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S9PA8pIEXsI/AAAAAAAAAVk/2zXOcKQTX0M/s1600-h/BFF_album%20l%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="BFF_album l" border="0" alt="BFF_album l" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S9PA9JBf91I/AAAAAAAAAVo/6Nl0O2w7_SE/BFF_album%20l_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="224" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S9PA-LTYF4I/AAAAAAAAAVs/EPWIom1cmyE/s1600-h/BFF_album%20m%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="BFF_album m" border="0" alt="BFF_album m" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S9PA-dRBkCI/AAAAAAAAAVw/o_1ssC5PdPI/BFF_album%20m_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="223" /></a></p> <p>I am having some issues with this whole concept, though. I’ve never worked with collage images before, and I’m not quite sure what to do with some of them. I’ve been using them pretty much as is up until now, but on the second page of this spread I cut one out (the cowgirl on the horse in the upper right corner). For you folks who do this regularly—I salute you! They are very difficult to cut out!!! Embellishing isn’t coming easy to me, either. I feel like there needs to be more layers and “stuff” on these, but I can’t quite figure out what to to. Maybe when the whole book gets done, I will go back through it and add embellishments. If you have any suggestions, be sure to let me know!!! </p> <p>I’m still one spread behind—maybe I’ll get caught up tomorrow. The technique for the next one is “recycle it”—Roni used pages from a book for her background, but I have something else up my sleeve. I’m looking forward to showing you. </p> <p>Hope you’re having a good weekend where you are—it’s raining here. Good weather to stay in and play, right?</p> Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16732576903105086777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4335325897518370520.post-69427441852293039192010-04-20T20:11:00.001-04:002010-04-20T20:11:13.837-04:00Quick update…<p>Just thought I’d let you know I got the grass mowed today. My house doesn’t look like a foreclosure property anymore!! Also—I thought it was high time I put a picture of myself in my profile. This is a couple of years old (I get my pic taken as little as possible!!). My hair is a little shorter and I have different glasses. Otherwise—that’s me!!! </p> Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16732576903105086777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4335325897518370520.post-32901611374364633212010-04-19T21:59:00.001-04:002010-04-19T21:59:20.531-04:00Background, please…<p>Just a real quick post. I didn’t get the fourth spread done for Roni’s mini album challenge, but I did get the glue distressed background paper done. What a very cool (and easy!) technique!! I can imagine lots of possibilities with this one! I didn’t have the Aleene’s Super Thick glue, so I substituted Mod Podge. Seemed to work fine—at least I’m happy with the results!!! In looking at Roni’s example, I should have smeared the Mod Podge around a little more, but I think this looks fine. This 12 x 12 piece of cardstock will look even better when I cut it up for the album background. What do you think?</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S80Kdrf7vJI/AAAAAAAAAUo/zgT-1gDyZPo/s1600-h/glue%20background%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="glue background" border="0" alt="glue background" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S80Kd4tq7ZI/AAAAAAAAAUs/4XvURnAJcyA/glue%20background_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a>   </p> <p>OK—now I need to vent. This is info I should probably be too embarrassed to share, but you’re all friends. When I got home from work today, there was a pickup truck sitting in my driveway. They backed out when I turned on my signal to turn in. I got the car in the garage and they were still sitting in the street. The woman rolled down her window and said she wanted to ask me a question. They are interested in moving into the neighborhood and <em>wanted to know if my house was under foreclosure!!!!!! THE NERVE!!!!!!!  </em>Anyway, guess that was the kick in the pants I needed—the lawn mower is hooked up to the battery charger right now so I can get it started tomorrow night and get the darned grass mowed. But a foreclosure???? I’m still fuming. I’m sure there are plenty of you single gals out there who know how hard it is to keep up with the outside of the house, the inside of the house, and a full time job. That leaves no time for crafting, and a girl has to have her priorities!!!!! Obviously, mine hasn’t been the grass!!! So—the mini album spread will have to wait—I need to mow the grass tomorrow night!! </p> Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16732576903105086777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4335325897518370520.post-54877481820191632442010-04-18T19:47:00.001-04:002010-04-18T19:48:22.757-04:00Mini album, part 3…<p>Slowly but surely, I’m catching up with the mini-album challenge that Roni Johnson is sponsoring over on <a href="http://inkstainswithroni.blogspot.com/">Ink Stains</a>. This verse says, “When you smile I will know you are plotting something that I must be involved in.” I’ve been trying to follow the techniques Roni has used for each of her spreads. The challenge here was to use glimmer on the spread. Initially, I wasn’t sure I liked the way this Northern Lights technique turned out, but the darkness of it lent itself to the theme that eventually emerged. I didn’t have any of the ink refresher, so instead I used a gold Glimmer Mist with the Perfect Pearls, and it turned out OK. I hope to get the next spread done before Tuesday, then I’ll be all caught up!! </p> <p>In addition to the collage image (lower left) I also used some <a href="http://www.oxfordimpressions.com/">Oxford Impressions</a> stamps from the Cowgirl Blues sheet. BTW—if you’re wondering what the brass embellishments are, they are spent .45 cartridges. Nuff said….</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S8uZ-UjdQlI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/BZwe4oqQiBQ/s1600-h/BFF_album%20h%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="BFF_album h" border="0" alt="BFF_album h" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S8uZ-2hhSvI/AAAAAAAAAUU/aSbcevRC3Jc/BFF_album%20h_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="134" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S8uZ_jVygZI/AAAAAAAAAUY/AvcYCk-AN48/s1600-h/BFF_album%20i%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="BFF_album i" border="0" alt="BFF_album i" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S8uaACZ9GFI/AAAAAAAAAUc/FS12J2PyhVI/BFF_album%20i_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="240" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S8uaA3rANrI/AAAAAAAAAUg/E2KjdZd_Xdg/s1600-h/BFF_album%20j%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="BFF_album j" border="0" alt="BFF_album j" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S8uaBZX2BFI/AAAAAAAAAUk/A8brhQXFEYI/BFF_album%20j_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="229" /></a></p> Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16732576903105086777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4335325897518370520.post-89273227413816070262010-04-15T23:34:00.001-04:002010-04-15T23:34:11.542-04:00GC47 challenge…<p>Well—I think the mojo has come back to roost for awhile! I really wanted to do something fun for the Gingersnap <a href="http://gingersnapcreations.blogspot.com/2010/03/gc47-color-challenge-copper-ginger-or.html">Copper, Ginger, or Rust color challenge</a>. I’m going to get kind of mushy here, and say….</p> <p align="center"><strong><em>I love Gingersnap Creations!!!</em></strong></p> <p>I’ve really enjoyed their blog ever since I found it, and appreciate the fun, low-key challenges that have lured me into the whole challenge world. Thanks, GC—you’re wonderful!!! </p> <p>OK—end of mushy. Now onto the challenge creation. Let me start by reminding you that I love weird, funny, suggestive, and totally off-the-wall sayings. I refer to these as “rubber stamp wisdom.” Well, I saw this stamp online awhile ago, and the double entendre possibilities really tickled me. (Yes, what you’ve heard is true—my mind is never too far from the gutter!) I’m hoping it tickles the Founding Femmes, too. </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S8fasH8f79I/AAAAAAAAAUI/XGTqbtI5y0E/s1600-h/GC47%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="GC47" border="0" alt="GC47" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S8faskQjahI/AAAAAAAAAUM/RaXipFa_Y_E/GC47_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="153" height="244" /></a>   </p> <p>I bet when Tim Holtz created this “Dream” ticket this isn’t exactly what he had in mind! It did get me to thinking, though. As I was looking through all the tickets, word sticks, and other assorted “word” paraphernalia, I wondered if Tim will ever come out with some tags or tickets that say things like, “Snicker,” or “Ticked” or anything really meaningful like that. I would have loved a “Frustrated” ticket for this little hangy thing! LOL!!! </p> <p>I also want to apologize for the photo of this one. I had no idea how to display it so the fringe would dangle, so it’s hanging from my paper towel holder that is sitting on top of a roll of packing tape. Oh well, at least the fringe dangles. And speaking of that fringe—isn’t it fab??? I picked it up at Tuesday Morning for cheap!! </p> <p></p> <p>So—I hope to get some more playing in this weekend. I have two plays to go to, though—my 10 year old niece is in her school’s production of <em>Sound of Music</em>, and my 15 year old niece is in her school’s production of <em>Meet Me in St. Louis</em>. </p> <p>So—Happy Anniversary, GC—looking forward to the next year of fun challenges!!!</p> Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16732576903105086777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4335325897518370520.post-56792988148602273762010-04-13T18:22:00.001-04:002010-04-13T18:22:23.131-04:00The more I do….<p>…the behinder I get!!! Sound familiar? I’m still two spreads behind in Roni Johnson’s BFF album challenge over on <a href="http://inkstainswithroni.blogspot.com/">Ink Stains</a>. These little album thingys are hard to do!!! Like I said, this is my first attempt at one of these and my first time using collage images. So far—not sure I’m too successful!!! </p> <p>First, I want to thank Roni—she posted a picture of my first spread on her <a href="http://inkstainswithroni.blogspot.com/2010/04/bff-altered-book-mini-album-challenge-4.html">blog</a> today. YAY!!! Thanks, hun! </p> <p>After looking at that first spread, something seemed missing so I added another image—here’s the modified page:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S8TujsbzC6I/AAAAAAAAATg/WVOYxFTZ_58/s1600-h/BFF_album%20d%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="BFF_album d" border="0" alt="BFF_album d" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S8TukZNc0mI/AAAAAAAAATo/k6BTx82rrg4/BFF_album%20d_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="215" /></a> </p> <p>Not a huge change—just added the cowgirl on the bucking bronco. </p> <p>I also finished the second spread. Loved the technique Roni used on the second spread, and I changed very little. I was worried about the brown chipboard showing through, so I covered the spread with some pages ripped out of an old book before creating the paint/reinker background. Before I show you the spread, let me warn you about this—I wanted the cowgirl to look like she was turning blue, so I smeared some blue Stickles on her face. She looks more like she has a case of chicken pox!! Oh well. So, here is spread number two:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S8Tuk957PwI/AAAAAAAAATs/hxPdY_D5gvI/s1600-h/DSCN2039%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="DSCN2039" border="0" alt="DSCN2039" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S8TulTD8rjI/AAAAAAAAATw/w71DXwsEv1A/DSCN2039_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="126" /></a> And here are the individual pages:</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S8TumAPn51I/AAAAAAAAAT0/u5oNVErvFbM/s1600-h/DSCN2040%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCN2040" border="0" alt="DSCN2040" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S8TumsC_QtI/AAAAAAAAAT4/C8WEC8qAwKw/DSCN2040_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="215" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S8TunE9ZgQI/AAAAAAAAAT8/FPftGAZGzv4/s1600-h/DSCN2041%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCN2041" border="0" alt="DSCN2041" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S8TungwHFmI/AAAAAAAAAUA/NMjaREbi1bA/DSCN2041_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="208" /></a> </p> <p>I think these need more embellishments, but have no idea what to use. I made the yo-yo flowers with pages from the same old paperback, and the centers are some cool buffalo buttons I found awhile back. There just isn’t much “umph” to any of these pages so far, is there? Go ahead—you won’t hurt my feelings if you say so! I have a strange feeling I’m going to be fiddling with this little book long after it’s “done!” </p> <p>Now, I have a challenge for you—why don’t you go over to Roni’s blog and play along!! I would love to see what you do with the challenge!!! </p> <p>I hope to get caught up before the next spread’s challenge is posted next Tuesday. So—off to play. Leave a comment and let me know what this danged thing needs, OK???</p> Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16732576903105086777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4335325897518370520.post-68116483331618639252010-04-11T17:18:00.001-04:002010-04-11T17:18:30.476-04:00Mini album…<p>OK—I’m back again today with the first spread of the mini-album I talked about yesterday. Since I was in a pinky frame of mind yesterday (and the pink stuff was already out!) I decided to go with pink for the first spread. Since I’ve never done one of these things before, those who know me well know I’ve been thinking it to death!!! I’ve decided to go with cowgirl images throughout and I picked up some trim at the fabric store a couple of weeks ago that I’m going to use on every spread to tie the whole thing together. Before I show you my spread, I want to talk a little bit about the trim I’m using. I’m sure most of you know this little trick, but for those of you who don’t—I tea dyed the trim to tone down the colors and make it work better with the shabby nature of the album. Here’s a pic:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S8I8kWyBzvI/AAAAAAAAATA/ruN2uBO1IBE/s1600-h/tea%20dyed%20trim%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" border="0" alt="" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S8I8mIEikBI/AAAAAAAAATE/KsmX0xqE-4U/tea%20dyed%20trim_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> </p> <p>The trim on the left is straight off the spool, and the trim on the right has spent about 15 minutes in some hot tea. This is my favorite technique for “distressing” fabric-y items.I wasn’t sure how it would turn out since this trim is nylon, but it worked great!! </p> <p>Now, on to the first spread of the album. <a href="http://inkstainswithroni.blogspot.com/">Roni</a> used what looked like cheesecloth to add texture to her album. I couldn’t find any at the fabric store, so I picked up some burlap instead. It was a bit of a challenge to work with!!! And once it was adhered with the gesso, it seemed like nothing else would stick to it. I got it eventually, though, and here is the result:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S8I8m4xMsPI/AAAAAAAAATI/0aZJxsW-axU/s1600-h/BBF_album_a%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="BBF_album_a" border="0" alt="BBF_album_a" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S8I8nPl8j3I/AAAAAAAAATM/5lTxdE6WzhY/BBF_album_a_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="136" /></a>  </p> <p>Here are the individual pages, if you’re interested. </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S8I8nwCKwsI/AAAAAAAAATQ/TEO8yNUXNoE/s1600-h/BBF_album_b%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="BBF_album_b" border="0" alt="BBF_album_b" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S8I8oXBx4RI/AAAAAAAAATU/F684WiSR7QI/BBF_album_b_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="207" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S8I8pOWUGuI/AAAAAAAAATY/54n2mGR-27k/s1600-h/BBF_album_c%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="BBF_album_c" border="0" alt="BBF_album_c" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_4txgCj2DJK0/S8I8pdL8MII/AAAAAAAAATc/i4BQAenw7yY/BBF_album_c_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="226" /></a> </p> <p>I may need to embellish some more—let me know what you think! Now I need to get moving on the next verse so I can get caught up! Keep an eye out—maybe I can get that done and uploaded tomorrow night. </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Anyway—this is my first foray into the world of collage images—let me know if it looks like I’m doing something wrong. I think I’m going to need all the help I can get with this project!!!!</p> Kimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16732576903105086777noreply@blogger.com