Tuesday, June 30, 2015

062915 Our Beautiful World #103

OBW #103
Two is better than one.

We have been spending much of the last month up at the retreat working on the cabin.
Today was rafters...

Won't you join in over at 
http://our--beautiful--world--365.blogspot.com/
"Sharing our world through our lens"


Thanks for stopping by!

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

062415 June CKC Member Blog Hop

So glad you are hopping through our June CKC member's hop! 
It's your time to shine & inspire us all with your creativity.

Some months this is my dilemma...
I always love my kits, and the process of putting them together.
When I go to use them I can find myself uninspired for the challenges.
I'm sure there is a Design Team secret to avoiding this!
Challenge #1:  Patterned Die Cuts
 Use only PATTERNED PAPER to create 
a layered die cut for your project.

I'm always a sucker for a rosette.
Like the FAB ones in this book:


 So I made this from (mostly) patterned paper:


I wanted to scrap this photo from our recent trip to Georgia.


I just love how the adults are so laid back but the three year old is ready for what's next!
I used two more of the little kraft hearts to make my visual triangle.



I wish I had stitched the white chevrons...

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

061615 June CKC Challenge #3

This was my favorite challenge this month at Counterfeit Kit Challenge blog.
Challenge #3: One side or the other
  Focus on only ONE side of your project 
(either one...I don't have a preference) 
and keep the rest white space.

Fortunately I had some help from ScrapHappy's June sketch.
Link HERE to find out more about membership.

More inspiration from my scrap crush, Ashli Oliver.
I loved the stacked elements on the left & the layers of white.
Ashli Oliver for Simon Says Stamps
(Process video HERE)

We just spent a week visiting Gatlinburg, Tennessee en route to Atlanta to see "the peaches."

We went to the Georgia Aquarium to celebrate their birthdays.
Chloe adored being up close & personal with the fishies!
She struck a pose more than once of gracefully moving as if she was swimming...


I knew I wanted to use this fish stamp, so I used a less than perfect image
to hold it's place on the start of my layout. The blue paper is standing in for the photo.


Then I used Archival Ink for a perfect image, and added an assortment of Distress Inks to add color.
This process always seems miraculous!
Just blot the ink pads on your mat, spritz with water, and sop up the ink.
Then I added a subtle spray of gold Color Shine.


Fussy cut, highlighted the crown with a gold pen, added a few tiny gems, and some Glossy Accents for the eye.
Makes me look like an artistic genius but the Ranger products did most of the work!


Because of the direction of the fish stamp I flipped the orientation R-L.
Then I decided that my white space could use some added pizzazz.

Happy Scatter Etsy shop HERE
Had a blast putting this together!
(It was really hard not to add any color on the left.)


A little vellum accent punched with "bubbles" is the perfect finishing touch.



I hope you are inspired to tackle this challenge!

Thanks for stopping by!

Friday, June 12, 2015

061215 June CKC Challenge #2

Time again for some challenging fun at Counterfeit Kit Challenge blog!


Challenge #2:  Transportation Challenge 
Have something transportation related on your project.

Well, what could be more perfect for that than a trip up a mountainside
to 3,590 feet? First by cable car & then by ski lift (sans snow, of course!)



Thanks for stopping by!

Thursday, June 4, 2015

060415 CKC June Forgery Tutorials

Welcome to my CKC June forgery tutorials.
You know at the Counterfeit Kit Challenge blog we are all about the big cheat.
Let's make some new goodies out of old stash!
My Basic Grey collection is Prism.

I liked this B side of the Petals paper.

(I thought it was light bulbs!)
Prima stamp & Color Box Frost White ink
My friend Sherrie gave me some *good advice* when stamping a pattern.
Start & end off of the edges to give it a continuous look.

Next is the B side of Quilt:

I used a Heidi Swapp die cut paper as a mask with
her Color Shine in Black Velvet on blue cardstock.

Next I made my own stencil like this one.

I had the perfect old AC paper that made it relatively easy.
I just cut out the triangles row by row in the same pattern.


I loved these dressed up tags...
...so I made a few with washi, paint, and even some gold foil.

I just thought I would show you how the gemstone freebies 
that Lynnette had in the tutorial post this month turned out. Love these!
Just print on your paper (the reverse side if single-sided) & fussy-cut.
I enlarged the freebie paper & when I can locate 
my watercolors that are playing hide & seek with me
in my studio I will shade the gems with the water brush!

Just for fun, I also foiled some wood veneers with a 15 year old 
product originally made for foiling on fabric, but a little glue & voila.
They are a little less than perfect but I'm calling them "distressed".

So won't you try your hand at hand crafting your favorite items?
It's easier than you think! Don't forget you can look at past 
months' tutorial posts for additional ideas & inspiration.

Thanks for stopping by!

Monday, June 1, 2015

060115 June CKC Kit Reveal

Welcome to Emma, our wonderfully creative & prolific June Guest Designer.
Emma has been playing along for the last few months and loves how having
her kit at the ready helps streamline her daily scrapbooking.

 We are basing our kits this month on the new collections at

How will you know which ones are new?  
There is a little "What's New" tab on their page!
Choose a fave or mix & match elements.

The one little problem with using an entire collection is that it's quite matchy-matchy.
What if you haven't anything in your stash to inspire?
For some help BE SURE to return for the Forgery on the Fourth feature.
Lynnette has outdone herself this month covering all eight collections!
With some help from the Master Forgers you will not lack for inspiration.

My inspiration:

I happened to have the "Medallion" paper (3rd from the right) which started my kit.
I chose Prism for it's light & bright quality - so many of the others seemed a bit muddy.

How did I do with the papers?


Let's go see what else is in June's Magic Blue Box!


In addition to Lightbender's original kit papers shown above, 
I've thrown in a few more for good measure.


Not as robust as my usual kit, but as always I reserve the right to dip into my stash throughout the month!





A hint of citrus, a sprinkle of gold dust...
Now, the FUN begins!


Julene:  http://julenebydesign.blogspot.com

Thanks for stopping by!