Hop Over to my Other Blog!

Hi Scrappers!

This blog isn't as active as I'd like to to be. Primarily because I'm using my Heart-Paper-Scissors blog more often. I invite you to switch to following my other blog, www.heart-paper-scissors.blogspot.ca, to see what I've been creating and to stay up to date on what's going on with my CTMH business.

See you there!

Susana

Starlight Starbright

You know I love a good challenge. This layout was inspired by the July "It's A Sketchy Challenge" from Canadian Scrapbooker.

Unfortunately, to be considered for publication, one needs to use at least one Canadian manufacturer on the layout--and I don't have much from Canadian manufacturers. Nor do I know where to stock up. With the demise of most of the LSS in my area and my reliance on online stores, it's very difficult to find Canadian manufacturers for sale. If you know where to get the supplies, please let me know!

I used up the last of my Basic Grey "Boxer" line papers for this page and found they co-ordinated perfectly with the autumn colours of Close To My Heart inks. For the largest star, I tried mixing Perfect Pearl paint with Whit Daisy ink and sprayed the chipboard star. The paint gives the ink a beautiful shimmering effect and makes the star twinkle. I also gave the blue background paper a spray with the same ink and am pleased with the shimmery "milky way" look it gives the page.

The little bird stamp is one of my favourites. It's from a French company (that's French from France, not Quebec) called Studi 2 Mers Creations. I love the bird's crown and usually bling it up. On this layout, I simulated petite pearls with a few dabs of Liquid Applique. I repeated the look on the green floral paper, adding a petite pearl to the flower centres.

I liked this sketch because it didn't call for much journaling. Just a clever title and a line with the names and date are all this page needed.

If you're looking for a good challenge, CS has a sketchy challenge every month. Check it out!

From a Purple Pumpkin Fan

So, if you've been following this blog, you'll know that I'm a Purple Pumpkin fan. I love the monthly sketch challenges and I really love the awesome buttons from their online store. Today, PP artist Samantha Hauzer is having a HUGE give away!! Yet another reason to love PP! Check it out at Samantha's blog: Me and The Little Rascals.

While we're on the topic, here's my take on the sketch for the monthly challenge.

In addition to the PP buttons (that birdie button is so adorable!) I used the Dotty For You papers from Close To My Heart and added a little sparkle with pearlized spray ink and gems. The stamps are from the CTMH Card Chatter stamp set.

The story behind this page is this: At Scrapfest Oshawa 2011, a bunch of ladies from Saturday Scrappers met up. We had our photo taken by Sue Sykes of Canadian Scrapbooker fame and all of us went home with a free print! I finally got around to scrapping the photo at the last club meeting.

I'm really pleased with the way this page turned out and it will be one of the treasured few from 2011 that actually have me in the photo!

Celebrate Scrapping!

I celebrated National Scrapbooking Day by creating this layout based on the one provided in the Pagemaps blog. But my computer decided to drop dead that day and I was not able to enter it into the contest. But, I'm very happy with this page and was excited to finally use this amazing "Periodic Table of Personality Quirks" patterned paper. (Not the real name; just what I call it.) It suits my science-geek son so well.

I like this layout because it's simple and lets the photo shine, but also because I was encouraged to create a fancier title than I might otherwise have. Often when creating titles, just letter stickers on a matted block is as fancy as I'd get. But with such a simple title (just a single number), the sketch suggested layering and adding height.

First I defined the space between the title and journaling with a chevron sticker. Then I layered a piece of cardstock, with a notepaper punched edge over it. I added an artisan label sticker by first sticking it to a scrap piece of paper then adhering to the layout with Pop Dots. Finally, I added the felt number and wrote in y son's name.

It wasn't even hard to do! That's one of the reasons I love sketches--they challenge you to try things you might not do on your own. And in this case, I'm inspired to take a second look at all my titles from now on to see how I can add a little something to make them just a little more interesting.

Somebunny Has Been Crafting...

I often have good intentions when it comes to making cards for the holidays. I usually get a batch of handmade Christmas cards done, but as for the other holidays--like Valentine's Day, Canada Day, Thanksgiving and Easter--my success rate is very low.

This year I am inspired/determined to do better. I'm even thinking of getting organised and putting cards/envelopes/dates/names/addresses together in one spot so all I have to do is write a message and mail off the card.

But until then, I will continue having days like today. The Scrapbooks Etc newsletter arrived in my inbox and when I clicked on it I saw a link to Easy Easter Cards. That sounded just right to me. So I clicked and browsed and thought the "Play with Colour" card is just about the cutest Easter card I've ever seen. Then I remembered some Beatrix Potter Silhouette images I'd purchased last year and used on my Easter scrapbook pages.

So, with just an ink jet printer, leftover scraps and some ink, I quickly put together six of these cards:

Now, I did have some help. My youngest son inked the edges of the "Happy Easter" strips and stamped a basket image on the envelopes. I don't think it made the process go any faster, but it was a lot of fun crafting with him and seeing his little hands turning chocolate brown. And the odd little fingerprints on the cards just make them that much more special (at least to me).

Now, if you don't receive one of these cute little missives, fret not; National Scrapbooking Day is coming up in May. And you KNOW that's something I'm going to celebrate!!

Creative Foundations

OOOHHHH!!! So exciting!!

If you've ever heard me talk about scrapping, you've probably heard me talk about my crush on Vicki Boutin. I've been a fan of hers for years and her work is really what inspired me to take my own scrapping to the next level by expanding my use of techniques and exploring my own creativity. I had the pleasure of meeting her when I took a class with her at Scrapfest in 2010 and even had my page about Scrapfest (with a pic of her, of course) published in Canadian Scrapbooker!

But what I'm excited about today, is the giveaway on her blog: http://vickiboutin.typepad.com/. Do the blog hop, collect the words and post the sentence for a chance to win a copy of her new book Creative Foundations.

The phrase is mentioned on a couple of the blogs, but don't stop! Visit each blog! They're beautiful and exciting, with great examples of pages and cards. Definitely worthwhile!!

Happy Hopping!

The United Colours of Scrapping

Remember Benetton? They were so popular when I was growing up. I think every girl in my class had Colours perfume. But I digress.

This layout put me in mind of Benetton because the products I used on them are from around the world! Literally!

Of course, it's mostly stuff from the US: Bazzil cardstock, Jillibean Soup letters, Cosmo Cricket sticker and Sew Easy twine. But the paint is from Canada and the patterned paper is from Quebec (not sure if it's from a French or Quebec manufactuer, but it's a French paper line...whose name escapes me at the moment...). The pen is Sakura, from Japan. And (drum roll, please) the adorable buttons and doily are from Australia: Purple Pumpkin!

A while back I won a prize pack from Purple Pumpkin and waited eagerly for it to arrive. What a stash! They gave me a generous supply of buttons, doilies, flowers and die cuts. I'm sure I'll be able to use them on at least a dozen pages and cards.

This page was my first time using Purple Pumpkin products--fittingly enough, for the Purple Pumpkin March Sketch Challenge. I've admired them online for a long time, but just never put in an order. Maybe because I don't tend to use a lot of buttons on my layouts. But these fabric covered buttons are amazing! They're vibrant and whimsical. A great addition to my kid pages.

Check out their website for yourself! Purple Pumpkin Store

Happy Scrapping!