Layouts for Your Enjoyment :)

Hi there,

Well, it's been a rather long day, trying to wrap my head around what life has dealt us

once again.... and all I'll say is that I'm not doing so well with it!

I've been hibernating in my craft room to try and forget... if only for a little bit at a time.

I have several layouts to share with you today.  Hope you'll sit back and enjoy my creations.

My first layout was a submission at Soul Scrappers http://soul-scrappers.ning.com/

for the Negative Space Challenge (NSC17).

Here's the sketch:

My creation: 

Spectacular view of Katahdin!  And what a LONG hike/climb too... but the views along the

way are amazing!

Scroll down to read my journaling.

Supplies used:

Paper: Colorbok

Die Cuts

Chipboard Glitter Heart: Colorbok

Distressing

Distress Stain: Tim Holtz

Alcohol Inks: Adirondack

Clear Plastic Tab

Computer Font: Amperzand

Bracket

Rub ons

 The edges were distressed.

 All paper edges were distressed.  The bracket was traced from a die cut.

The tab has flowers rub on.  The frame around the photo was measured and hand cut with the

edges distressed.  A plastic tab was tucked under the photo and over a portion of the bracket.

Here's a better look at the paper tab.  You can just barely see the plastic tab below this.

The rub on is so sweet!

The flower petals were folded in the centers and gently folded up with the

edges stained.  A glitter heart was used as the center.

The next layout was submitted at Colorful Creations http://colorfulcreations.ning.com/

for their Guest Designer Sketch Challenge (gdtnov).

This is the sketch:

Here's my layout:

This is Geri, sleeping under our dining room table with her paws hanging off one of the

bars of the chair.  I couldn't believe that she was actually SLEEPING this way!  She's such

a silly cat!

Supplies used:

Paper: DCWV, Other

Flowers

Large Circle Brad

Gem Brad

Decorative Brads: Stampin' Up!

Chenille Rick Rack

Font: Cricut Stamped

Cricut

Sharpie Marker

A simple flower with a cute brad adhered over two thin strips of paper.

This is my flower grouping... with several different styles of flowers and various

gems/brads added to their centers.

My "go to" Cricut font!

This package of chenille rick rack was a great find at a discount store for $.50 per package!

Gotta love that!

My last layout/card was a challenge also submitted at Colorful Creations for their

Favorite Things Challenge (NOVFAVE).

The Challenge:

1.  Use your FAVORITE C.C. sketch.

2.  Your FAVORITE "go to" embellishment.

3.  Your project can be a layout or card... and if you make both (from the same sketch),

your name will be entered TWICE for the prize!!

This is the sketch I chose:

Here's my layout with my favorite "go to" embellie - Flowers!!

Our son, practicing his soccer skills on a beautiful summer day.

Supplies used:

Paper: DCWV

Distressing

Dimensional Magic

Distress Stain: Tim Holtz

"Love" Bubble Embellie: Greatest View

Satin Cording

Sharpie Marker

I used dimensional magic on the leaves, with the hopes that it would look like

rain droplets... but it doesn't look like that at all!  So, I'll just settle for it looking like

"spots" on the leaves and flowers!

A bow covers the ends of the leaves.

Cording was used under the flower just to add a bit more to this grouping.  A large

"love" bubble makes a great center for this flower.

 All edges were distressed, even the photo.

A closer look at the distressing, flower center and my "spotted" flower and leaves!

And now for the card I created using the same sketch:

All edges were distressed and most paper pieces embossed using my Big Shot and 

Darice and Cuttlebug embossing folders.

Satin cording was knotted over each square and two gems added on each one.

Cheesecloth and cross stitch fabric flower was stained and misted.  A larger gem

was added in the center.  A 3-dimensional sticker sentiment completed the card.

Thanks for stopping by and hope you will come back soon!

Libby  :)

Peaceful

Hi there,

Another "mellow" day here today.  Glad for it too because tomorrow the "storm" in our lives begins....

I have a layout to share that was submitted at ARTastic Challenge Blog http://artasticchallengeblog.blogspot.com/

for their November Inspiration Challenge.  Below is the inspirational photo, which is

actually a QUILT!  How cool is that!

** Additional criteria is to use fabric and stitching on your page.

Taking the greens and blues (or teal) from the photo, which caught my eye, this is what I created:

On our Allagash trip with the Boy Scouts in 2008, a few of us were just standing

there enjoying the peaceful scenery.  Our son is in the bottom photo, standing in the

center (with the hat on).

Supplies used:

Paper: DCWV, Colorbok

Satin Fabric

Lace Fabric

Font: Cricut Opposites Attract

Perfect Pearls Mists

Diamond Stickles

Embroidery Floss: Making Memories

Stitching Template: Bazzill Basics

Paper Piercer

I chose a Creating Keepsakes sketch

Using the stitching template and my paper piercer the holes were in place for the

stitching.  Stickles were added randomly along each stitch.

One of my favorite Cricut fonts!

The letters were misted.

And now for the fun part!  I don't normally work with fabric very much... on my layouts!

Once I found this satin fabric, and stared at my layout for awhile, I started cutting 

triangles, which would represent the trees.  I cut a strip of lace fabric to place under the

trees.  Another strip of lace was cut to cover up the bottom of the lace.  

Next, I cut strips of the mesh-like lace and twisted it and adhered it on top of the lace section, kinda

angling it like a "scenery" of trees would be.

Then the trees were added, trying to tuck the bottom of the trees under the rolled

pieces.  Stickles was applied to the bottom strip of lace and on the rolled pieces as well

as along the bottom of each tree.

The trees were only adhered along the bottom, leaving the rest of the tree free to lay as

it wanted and also giving it more dimension.

Finally, everything was misted with Pearls Mists.

I LOVE how this turned out!

Here's a closer look at one portion of my tree grouping.

Wanted to show you the misting, which is so cool!  Love this stuff!

An even closer look at the fabric & lace techniques.  You can see how the 

trees are gently falling over the rolled lace.  This was so fun to put together!

Hope you like it!

Thanks for stopping by and hope you'll return soon!

Libby  :)

Smelling the Roses

Hi there,
I have a layout to share which was submitted at Sketches in Thyme http://sketchesinthyme.blogspot.com/

for their sketch challenge #93.

Here's the sketch:

And this is what I created:

Our son when he was 2 years old.  Hard for me to believe he's now 20 years old!!

He loved these roses and had to sit right beside them, smelling them and touching them.

It was so cute!

Supplies used:

Paper: Colorbok, DCWV

Distressing w/Scissors

Folk Art Glitter Paint/Toothbrush

Cork board

Perfect Pearls Mists

Sharpie Marker

Pop Dots

Font: Cricut Stamped

Cricut

A toothbrush was dipped in glitter paint and splattered onto the page and hexagons

using my thumb.  Sometimes it's fun to get a little messy!  :)

The journaling block is on a larger hexagon and the edges distressed.

Each hexagon was distressed.  For some reason I had a hard time to arrange these

where I wanted them and where they would look best.  Ugh!

This is what I finally ended up with.

It was harder to adhere these letters with no straight line to follow!  I had to use a 

ruler to help me out, but then the ruler moved.  So much for that, right?

They're a bit crooked but oh well!

Thanks for stopping by and hope you will return!

Libby  :)

Higher & Higher

Hello,
I have another layout that was submitted at Sketches in Thyme http://sketchesinthyme.blogspot.com/

for their sketch challenge #92.

This is the sketch:

This is what I created:

Our son, jumping on the trampoline.  He's got quite the stance... ram-rod straight... preparing

for the even higher jump!  His two cousins better watch out!  :)

Supplies used:

Paper: Colorbok

Swirls: Traced the die cuts & hand cut

Gesso mixed with Folk Art Paint

Perfect Pearls Mists

Dots Stencil

Distressing

Font: Cricut Stamped

Cricut

String

Sharpie Marker

Circles: Hand Cut

I lightly traced lines onto the circle (mainly because I usually end up with a beautiful "slant").

I erased most of the lines but then decided "some" of the lines showing looked better.  The

edges were distressed.  

 These swirls were actually the backing peeled off the chipboard shapes.  I kept the peeling and

adhered it to cardstock so I reuse it as a template.

The swirls were dabbed with Gesso mixed with paint for a slight color and misted.

 A scalloped border was added behind the photo and distressed.  

A small portion goes over the swirls.  I tried squishing it onto the block without going over the

swirls, but it looked too crammed.  I like how this turned out.

 I used a dotted stencil to place over the circle and generously dabbed the mixture to add a 

bit of dimension.  Once that dried, this was also misted.

String was looped and placed under the corner of the photo.

Thanks for stopping by!

Libby  :)

Waiting

Hi there!

I am so not liking the time change... it gets darker way too early!  This makes it quite 

challenging for me to find places/ways to take photos of my layouts and cards.  I've tried 

several different things and some photos have this "orange tinge" to them.  UGH!

Maybe my hubby can help figure out something for me... :)

In the meantime, if I complete layouts "later" in the day, the color won't be so great.

Bear with me... I'll work something out!  

This layout was submitted at Rochelle Spears Blog http://rochellespears.blogspot.com/

for the November Stash Challenge.

The challenge: 

1.  Include a pocket (envelope, file folder, etc)

2.  Use chevrons

3.  Use something metal

This is the sketch:

And here's what I created:

Zoe and Tom, waiting for me to let them in.  They would sit there quite awhile, watching me

and waiting...  Such funny animals!

Supplies used:

Paper: DCWV, Colorbok

Font: Cricut Stamped

Cricut

Metal Brads

Rosettes

Cording

Decorative Trim: Webster's Pages

Creative Memories Border Template

Netting

Fabric Heart

Plastic Flowers

Plastic Tag & Hart: Making Memories

Paper Lace Doily

Cross Stitch Fabric Flowers

Pocket: Paper Pizazz Stencil

Metal Moulding

Distress Stains: Tim Holtz

Alcohol Inks: Adirondack

Perfect Pearls Mists

Copper Leafing Pen: Krylon

Hand Made Chevron

Gesso

Staples

Circle Punch

Sharpie Marker

Sizzix Flower Die

Big Shot 

My title and a view of the spritzing.
Love these large metal circle brads.  They were dabbed with Gesso and misted.

Gesso was applied using a scrunched up piece of paper towel, smearing and dabbing.

Love this decorative trim from Webster's Pages!

I used copper leafing on the edges of the metal mounding strip and randomly on the top and dabbed with Gesso.  Everything was misted.

The hand made chevron was placed under my cluster.  I used Gesso along the edges.  A small piece of recycled netting was used the chevron, then the paper doily which was painted with

Gesso, copper leafing and misted.  Cross stitch fabric flowers were added along with hearts,

rosettes and plastic flowers.  

The pocket was distressed and inside is the tag with hidden journaling. 

The rosettes were dabbed in Gesso and brushed lightly with copper leafing.

String was used to tie the tag around the metal moulding.  The tag was dabbed with Gesso

and misted with copper leafing around the edges.

Lots of layers and dimension!!  :)

The journaling tag was edged with copper leafing.  A circle punch was folded in half

and stapled at the top as the tag.

The decorative trim was adhered to the back of the circle.

Thanks for looking!

Libby  :)