Thursday, September 8, 2011

I've Moved!

The new blog is still under a bit of construction (Wordpress isn't quite as easy to work with as Blogger), but it will be linked to my web page once that's up and running.  Check it out and follow me there!  I'd appreciate it!

Sunny Side-Up Designs

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Another layout, anyone?

I know, another challenge layout.  This time Kelly chose a Page Maps sketch for the Summer Nights challenge.  I loved the sketch and was so happy with how my layout turned out! 



This sketch has been showing up all over Pinterst since we did it over at Scrap Chicks.  I had a lot of fun with it and was proud of myself for actually using my machine to sew on it and for changing the thread to brown.  I tend to just use white thread on everything :)
I hope you're having a great week!  Go be crafty!

Saturday, August 13, 2011

My 10 on 10 pics

I decided to play along with the 10 on 10 challenge this month.  I don't have a logo or any real info to share, just that you take one photo an hour, for ten hours/photos on the tenth of each month.  Here's a peek into a regular, fairly boring day at our house :)


10:00  Up and watching some TV


11:00 Tucker's on the DS and I'm working on my computer


12:00 Lunch time!  We leave for school at 12:30 and this kid takes forever to eat


1:00 Dropped Tucker off and stopped at McD's for a drink and ice cream cone for my friend and her daughter.


2:00 Scrapping with Kim!  The highlight of my week, for sure :D


3:00 Still scrapping and Kim is going through some of the crap I threw at her :)


4:00 Kim left and I was snapping a card I made for gel-a-tins


5:00 and guess what Tucker is doing again?  I was working on the Scrap Chicks sketch challenge.


6:00 and Glennifer is making the tacos!


7:00 Tucker's out of the shower and back on the DS, Glen and I are trying to relax and watch some T.V.

Anyway, they're ugly pictures, but I'll work on that next month.  Hopefully my day has more to it than a kid playing video games :)

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

I do other things besides challenge layouts :)

See?  I do cards for DT work too! :D 


I used the Many Thanks set by gel-a-tins to stamp the ribbon with the leaves and also used it for the greeting.  I layered and attached all that ribbon with my Xyron 150 (love it for that).  I used my Xyron 510 to attach that canvas to the card blank too.  Any other way I would have tried would have been a mess for sure!

Remember the Sassy Lil' Sketches e-book I mentioned?  I got some more details!  It'll be out by the 15th of August and the cost will be $8.99.  That's a great deal for a book of about 70 sketches that's also filled with samples!

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

I've started a new feature at gel-a-tins~

If you haven't already seen it today, head over to the gel-a-tin stamps blog.  We're doing a new monthly challenge.  You have to use your gel-a-tin stamps to make a project, making sure that you meet the details of the challenge and you'll be entered in a drawing to win a stamp set! 

This month I'm challenging everyone to use their stamps to make the embellishments for their page.  Check out the sample I made with the Super Star set...


Go to my side bar for the link to the blog!

Friday, August 5, 2011

Another challenge layout!

Before I get to the challenge layout I did last night, let's talk about Sassy Lil' Sketches.  Cherie is the one drawing all these amazing sketches and very soon she'll be releasing an e-book filled with them!  I'll be sure to let you know when it's officially been released, and I want you all to check it out because I'll be in it!  I got a little peek last night and it's going to be amazing!


Now, on to the layout.  We had another summer sketch challenge last night at Scrap Chicks.  These have been a lot of fun and I was pretty happy with how my layout for last night's challenge turned out.


The sketch was for an 8.5x11, but I do 12x12 so I just laid the smaller layout on top of a piece of cardstock. 

What have you been crafting lately?

Monday, August 1, 2011

How to get better project/layout photos!

If your layouts are important enough to share and post, it's important to know how to take a decent picture of them, right?  We don't start scrapping and immediately know how to take a good photo of a layout.  If you've only ever used your point and shoot on auto mode, it may not even occur to you to turn that flash off.  I have read a lot of tutorials and hints since I first decided to start trying for design teams, and I thought I'd share some of what I've learned with you.  You don't have to be on a DT to be able to take a good picture of your work, but in all areas of scrapbooking, good photos are important.

First, the don'ts...
1.  Don't prop or stand your layout up to take a picture.


This plate holder doesn't support the layout anyway.  When you look at the side view, you see where it really gets ugly :)
 

That big bend is what keeps your layout from being square in your picture.  Even if you have a piece of chipboard behind your layout to support it, you still end up with big old legs of the plate holder in the shot.  Kinda takes away from the layout too.


This was the best I could do with cropping that picture.  Not pretty!


This time it's just propped against a jar.  It's in a more suqare shape, but unless you're careful you're not going to get a square finshed picture.


See what I mean?  Cropped, but not square.  Very distracting.

2.  Don't take your photos against a busy background.

Just look again at the pictures we just checked out.  It may be very tempting to just throw your layout down on the table where you've been scrapping a snap a picture, but don't.  Clear some things off or head somewhere else.  The mess ends up being what everyone looks at, not your work.

3.  Don't use a flash!

Seriously, you guys.  NEVER.  Don't do it.  It doesn't matter how dark it is.  Wait for daylight or turn on all the lights, get some lamps, etc. to brighten things up.  Don't use a flash.


This is not pretty.  You can't even see the pictures you just spent time scrapping! 


How about some do's now? :)

1.  Get as much natural light as possible without being in direct light.

For a layout, it's best to go outside, but take your photos in the shade.  The direct sunlight will just wash out all the color and you will just end up with a photo of your shadow over your layout :)

Here's what I do:


See?  Just out of direct sunlight.


See my feets now? :)  That's because I stand with them wide apart and lean forward so that I'm directly over the layout and can get a square shot of my layout. 


I usually leave a little frame of the concrete around my layouts because I like the way it looks.  If I'm working on a white layout the grey helps to show off the edges.  I can trim it down to the layout and have that square shape, and it's because of the way I take the photo.  Now, don't get me wrong, this isn't exactly fun when it's 110 outside, but it's important to me that I take a picture of my work that shows it off, not one that just gets a photo on my camera.

What about projects and cards?  Same thing with the natural light.


This is in my scrap room right in front of the window.  You can just choose the brightest room in your house.  I use some foam core board in white (to help reflect the light) and set up there.  I use patterned paper as a background for my shots when I can (like, when the project is smaller than 12x12).  Something that coordinates with the project but doesn't distract from it.


I turn on all the lights in my room as well as opening the shutters.  This picture may be crooked, but with a little cropping...


Voila!  Bright and fun. 
Now, what if it's night time, you're on a deadline and there's no natural light for you to use?


2.  Use uncovered lamps.  No flashes! :)

I happen to have fancy lights that I totally stole from my younger brother when he moved out of my parent's house.  Not everyone has them, and I get that.  You can just as easily take a couple of lamps, remove the shades, and use them instead.  It'll be a little more harsh for lighting, but still wayyyy better than a flash.  Here's what I do when I have to take my pics at ngiht:


Same scraproom, but now it's late.  I get my lamps as close as possible (having 2 helps with getting enough light and with shadows), and squeeze myself and my camera in there to take pictures. 


This is also a larger project photo, so instead of using patterned paper for the background, I used a roll of shipping kraft paper and used it.  Picked it up at the dollar store!
Granted, this works great for cards and projects, but what about layouts?  Here's something I do when that comes up.


Remember this stuff from school?  Mine is empty because I think it fell behind my desk or something.  Ugh.  Anyway, grab a little of this.


Stick it on a wall in whatever room you want to take your layout photo.


Stick your layout to the wall.  Turn on all the lights and get some lamps too (uncovered means take the shades off)! :)


Is it the best photo ever?  No.  But, you don't see a flash, the layout is square in the picture and you've got a fairly decent picture to share, right?  That's something!


If you have more tips, feel free to share them in the comments! This is just what works for me. 

Saturday, July 30, 2011

More Cuppy Cakes!

I had another project on the gel-a-tins blog this last week and it may be one of my favorites yet.  The Witchy Poo stamp set comes with the cutest banner and I thought that mini size would be perfect used in a cupcake (the way a slightly larger one looks cute on a cake).  I also used my Cricut to cut out some cupcake wrappers and stamped them to match.  I even use the same banner stamp (attached to my Fiskars Stamp Press) on a curve to stamp around that bottom edge.  I think these would look great on a treat table!





I hope you're having a great weekend!  Don't forget about the Scrap Chicks crop that's going on right now too!  We'd love to have you come play and win some prizes!  Link is in the side bar!

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Get ready to crop!

I know I mentioned that I'm part of the team over at Scrap Chicks now :)  Well, this weekend is our first crop!  I have three challenges and I am so excited to see what everyone does with them!  Please come by this weekend (starting Friday).  Join up if you haven't already!


I also have a new project on the gel-a-tins blog today!  Just a little tag that you could use for a million things this Halloween.  Head over to that blog to see how I made it.

Saturday, July 23, 2011

I need a schedule :)

I blog all the time (almost every day) over on the gel-a-tins blog, but rarely over here.  I'm pretty sure that has everything to do with me making a schedule for that one.  It may have a teeny bit to do with the fact that I don't make enough stuff to be able to post every single day either, though.

Over at Scrap Chicks the Sizzling Summer Nights sketch challenges are still going strong.  It's a timed challenge where a sketch is posted and you're given a certain amount of time to complete a layout and get it uploaded.  They have been a lot of fun and this week's sketch was no exception.  Here's what I did with it.

The sketch was really cute and we were challenged to rotate it, only distress either the rectangles or the circles, to use two fonts for the title and to use more than one color of ink or mist.  I love all these Sassafrass Lass papers and had fun working with them here.

Just a few more days until the twins are back in school (and I have more quiet time to create)!  Woohoo! :)

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

My second gel-a-tin stamps project!

Woot!  I am having so much fun playing with these stamps!  The detail you get is really amazing.  I also used some scented embossing powder tonight and it is so cool!  The color is silver and it's called Storm.  It's a masculine scent and I like it a lot.  These aren't like scratch and sniff scents, think more like a yummy candle.  They smell great!  Anyway, check out my project!

I used some frames I was given to make these cute little shadow box style decorations for my house. I can set them on a table or hang them on the wall. Can't wait to use them! That Halloween banner that comes in the Witchy Poo set might just be my new favorite stamp.



Supplies Used:
Witchy Poo stamp set and Storm scented embossing powder by gel-a-tins
Cardstock by Coredinations
Texture rollers by Xyron and texture folder by Provo Craft
Versamark and Staz-On inks
Twinery twine, Daisy D's stickers, Martha Stewart accents
Xyron adhesives and a hot Glue Gun

Thursday, July 14, 2011

I'm running a challenge...

...and gel-a-tins is sponsoring a give-away! 

I was asked to put up a challenge over at a forum called Piece of Scrap :)  I am challenging users to take their stamps and make a background paper with them.  Here's my sample:



I used a star set by gel-a-tins to make that background.  I love the set!  I even used the same stars to make an embellishment and a journaling spot!

Here's the deal.  The thread is here.  You'll have to join to play along if you want a chance at the prize.  That prize?  This fab star set of stamps!

So, head over, get to stamping and win some starry goodness :)  Good luck!

Monday, July 11, 2011

Blog Hop Winner!

Thanks so much to everyone that took part in the hop!  I hope you all were inspired by the projects that were shared and will keep coming back to the blogs!

The winner picked from my blog comments was....

Bishop's Mommie

Congratulations!!  Just email info@gelatinstamps.com with your info and your choice of the stamp sets so we can get your prize out to you!

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Coolness and Crazy Times!

This week is INSANE!  If you haven't seen it, there's a blog hop going on over at gel-a-tin stamps.  It's the first one I've ever run and I really want it to go well so my previously type-a self is going all nutso about it.  I really want to see lots of comments and winners!
Then, I signed up for a class this summer semester.  An internet class about the internet.  Sounds a little nuts, right?  Well, I've taken internet classes before and did fine, so we'll see how it goes.  It's just that there are seven assignments due this first week of class and I don't completely understand the directions for the first one.  Always a good sign.
Also, I agreed to do some projects from Xyron and those are due this week.  I finally was able to get the supplies and I did sketch everything out that I want to make so now it's just a matter of cutting, printing and sticking it all together.  Shouldn't be too bad, but this is the busiest week ever.
And then?  I have a project to do for a board/gel-a-tins challenge.  I know what I'm doing, but it's still that whole put it together thing.
None of that includes the swimming lessons, laundry, grocery shoppping, hair appointment or cleaning that I need to do/have already done this week.
So, I'm here :)  Just running around like a loony toon.  I did get a GIANT box of goodies from Bonnie at gel-a-tins on Tuesday and I'm dying to dig into that too.  I'll be sure to share things as soon as I can.
The specific coolness I wanted to share?  I am going to be published in the Sassy Lil Sketches ebook!  I am so excited to be a part of it!  Cherie's sketches are fab and I just love them.  The book is going to be amazing!  I'll be sure to share more info as I have it.
Hope you're having a nice, calm week :)  Somebody has to make up for all this crazy!

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

The gel-a-tins Blog Hop! Woot!

Today is the first day of the first ever gel-a-tins blog hop!  There are 12 prizes up for grabs and I want to see YOU win!
Here's what you have to do...
Go to each of the blogs on the hop and leave a comment on the blog hop post.  Then, go to the gel-a-tins blog and follow our blog (using the link in the sidebar).  We'll give one prize a commenter on each blog and then well also draw a name from the blog followers and give away a prize to them too!

These are the stamp sets you have to choose from if you're one of the comments winners...

Butterfly Love:


Peace on Earth:



Or Admission is Free:

I don't have any gel-a-tins projects to share with you, but I will soon :)  I have a box of goodies on its' way to me this week.  WOOT!
Be sure to check out all the blogs and comment, and don't forget to follow for a chance to win a bigger prize on the gel-a-tins blog!  You have until Sunday the 10th at midnight to leave all your comments.  Winners will be announced Monday.

The next blog in the hop is Cherie!  Head over and leave her some love!

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Another fun announcement!

I'm just full of them lately :)
It was just announced yesterday over at Scrap Chicks that I'm going to be a part of the team!  I'll be helping with challenges and doing my usual chatting.  I am so excited to be a part of the team and I hope I can be as inspiring as the other girls have been since the site opened.




Feel free to join and chat and scrap along with us!

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Cards!

I am the worst card maker.  I have some kind of crazy mental block when it comes to them.  They announced a card making class and Scrap Chicks for this month and I decided that I'd give it a go.  Well, it went pretty well and I actually even like some of the cards I made :)  Check these ones out...

My Favorite!  Monochromatic with tons of trim :)

Simple, but sweet! 

Used scraps of Mickey Mouse paper on this one :) 
Hope you're finding lots of inspiration this summer!

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

The scraproom: A work in progress



A video from today of my room now that I've spent a couple of days working on it :)

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Happy Father's Day!



I hope everyone is having a great Sunday!  We have plans to go see my Dad and my Grandpa over at my parents' house today for Father's Day.  Some swimming and some visiting and it should be a great day!  My husband chose what he wanted for breakfast and dinner (and even ran out for doughnuts for those of us that don't like bacon and eggs). 
A friend made this card and shared it, so of course I wanted to make one too.  How cute is that?  She found it first at Playing with Paper.  I'm giving this one to my Grandpa.  He always prints out special cards for everyone for their birthday and Christmas, so I thought I'd make him a little something too.

Have a great day!