Hi everyone, I am back with more fun techniques with Distress Inks. Today I want to share how to make a "wrinkle free" distress. For this technique you will need various colors of distress inks and a craft sheet.

Hi everyone,  I am back with more fun techniques with Distress Inks.  Today I want to share how to make a "wrinkle free" distress.  For this technique you will need various colors of distress inks and a craft sheet.

Begin by directly applying various colors of Distress Ink Pads to the surface of the  craft sheet.

 Then drag your tag across your craft sheet. 

 If you have any un-inked areas simply place that area of the paper on any left over ink on the sheet.

 Finally Dry your paper or tag using an iron or heat tool. 

 To finish the look, ink the edges with a contrasting color.

For the final project I spritzed my tag with a bit of Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist.  I added a bit of Prima lace that I dragged across an ink pad and a few Vintage Trinkets.

Kitchen is coming right along.  I should be back in tonight....It isn't finished, but is fully functional!  I still need paint, window trim, pendant lights, and tile (as well as a few behind the scenes things) but we are getting close!  Woo Hoo!!!!  BTW, I think I am missing Menu Monday's as well.  hee hee

Hugs

Nancy

Sassy Lil' Sketches

Today is the 28th and that means another fabulous sketch from Cheri at Sassy Lil' Sketches.

A super fun, double photo, sketch!  I have been loving these lately.  They are just perfect for my Disney photos.  Brighton adores Donald Duck.  He is one of the few characters that Brighton still enjoys seeing when we are in DisneyLand.  I think the fact he is hard to find is a motivator.

Crate Paper Neighborhood Collection Kit, American Crafts Thickers, Mickey and Friends Cricut Cartridge.

Be sure and pop over to the Sassy Lil' Sketches blog for all the other DT samples and to link your layout for a chance at these prizes.

June Paper Sponsor:



June Digital Sponsor:

Layouts must be uploaded below by July 5th, 11:59 P.M. EST to be eligible for the June random prize drawing*.

Specific rules for both Sassy Lil' Sketches site can be found on our Sassy Lil' Sketches "Rules" page.

*The paper prize is available to U.S. residents only

The digital prize is available to US and international residents.



Let's Get Distressed

When Kristina told me that the Your Memories Here store would begin carrying Tim Holtz distress inks I was thrilled.  These are a tool that I use on just about every layout I make.  So, I thought it would be fun to share with you a few different ways to use them.   Today, let's start with a simple distress.

For this technique you will need your inks, a water mister (I picked mine up at the dollar store) and a heat tool.  I like to use water when I am distressing as I feel it gives the paper more of a worn texture.

Begin by crumpling your paper.  Here I chose to use a simple manila tag.  Remember to always start crumpling your paper from the center, it just makes it easier.  Next, simply rub the Distress pad over the project.  You can work with one color,

or layer them for more depth.

 next, mist with water...

then dry with your heat tool.  I find that drying the inks allows me to control the flow of the ink better.

 And finally, because I love a bit of bling, I spritzed my tag with a bit ofTattered Angels Glimmer Mist.

 a fun stamp....

and my tag is ready for a project.

And on the kitchen front....

 Not much happened to day to take a photo of, because a good portion of the day was spent hooking up gas and electric to .......

My new range!  So thrilled, six! full size burners.  ah.....

Well, off to do some tidying up before dh comes home.

Hugs.

Nancy

Hello Again....

Hello!  Look at me!!!  Two days in a row!!!!  Seems like old times.  Hee hee

Well, I have another layout I completed, this time from a sketch at Sketchabilities.

Pink Paislee -Daily Junque papers and white alphabet, Prima florals and bling,  Glitz Designs tiny alpha.

These are photos of Ainsley blowing bubbles in the backyard.  What better summertime activity is there...just hanging out and blowing bubbles.  The Pink Paislee papers were the perfect bright, summer colors for these photos.  I added a few Prima flowers and a bit of Prima bling.

And guess what else is a fabulous summertime activity?  Adding cabinets to my kitchen!  I am so excited to be in the putting it back together stage.

By the end of today (this photo was taken last night), the cabinets should be mostly in as well as the range!  Woo hoo!!!!  I can see the end in sight!

Hugs.

Nancy

Sewing Patterns

Recently, my girls got the idea into their head to do some sewing.  Well, that has left us with a bit of sewing pattern paper.  I thought it would be fun to use this to make some flowers.  I started with some old dress pattern paper and a die for a simple flower (you can also use a punch but be sure to punch quite a few layers at a time.  Circles or scallops would also work.

I cut a bunch of these out.  You will need about 20 shapes for each flower.  I found that if you use too many you just end up with a big ball of paper.  

Poke a hole in the center of the flowers.

Add a brad to hold the layers together.

And scrunch and play with the layers until you get the desired look.


You may remember these from last week?  

Thanks for dropping in.  I have some projects on my desk, so keep your fingers crossed.


Hugs.


Nancy

Oh Goodness

Time is getting away from me.  These early mornings are just about doing me in.  The days are flying by.  Luckily, yesterday flew by in a haze of creativity.  I managed to get a few pages completed.  Woo hoo!!!  It felt so good.

This first one is based on my good friend Heather's sketch for Scraptastic.   They have got some of the cutest kits.  You really should check them out!  And yep, that is me....almost 45.  Hard to believe.  When did I get so old?

Fancy Pants- It's the Little Things Collection, Misc.- trim, American Crafts - numbers, Carolee's Creation - tiny alphas

This next one is another of Heather's fabulous sketches!  Heather!!!  Thanks so much for helping me be so productive!  Your sketches rawk!  This is Ainsley....who, when she gets mad, packs her bag so she can move out.  sigh....  I don't know whether to laugh or cry when she does this, so I decided to take photos.  I convinced her about 1/2 way down the block that she really shouldn't run away barefoot as her feet might get cold, so she came back.

Fancy Pants- It's the Little Things Collection, Prima - Lace, bling, Carolee's Creation - foam alpha, Jenni Bowlin - tiny alpha

 And finally, a Pencil Line's sketch.  My darlings at Goofy's Kitchen in DisneyLand.

Oh, and before I run off to take some photos of my almost 1/2 installed kitchen cabinets.....Some news.

It is that time again!
We are looking for a few talented layout and card designers for Sassy Lil' Sketches and Sassy Lil' Card Sketches.

How to apply for our August '11 to January '12 Sassy Team
Please send an e-mail to sassylilsketches@gmail.com with the following information
by JULY 7th:
1) specify LAYOUT or CARD DT in e-mail subject line
2) your full name
3) your email address
4) your blog address (or online gallery if you do not have a blog)
5) a short bio
6) one layout or card (depending on which team in which you are applying) based 
on any Sassy Lil' Sketch/Sassy Lil' Card Sketch on our blogs. Please include the date of the sketch you used.
7) one layout or card (depending on the team in which you are applying) that showcases your individual style.

We welcome international applicants.

Sassy Lil' Sketches expectations:
1) Layout Sassies: Create one layout a month based on a Sassy Lil' Sketch.
Card Sassies: Create two cards a month based on 
Sassy Lil' Card Sketches.
2) Share your monthly Sassy Lil' Sketch creation(s) on your blog and any online galleries which will allow you to do so.
3) Join our Sassy Lil' Sketches Forum. While active participation is not a requirement, it is encouraged. The forum is how we will communicate with our Sassy DT. 

A note from us:
Our sketches are designed by Cherie to be shared with the scrappy world. We maintain the two sketch blogs for fun and inspiration. At this time there is no compensation for our Sassy DT members except the pure joy in inspiring others to create. We hope you will apply to be one of our Sassies!
Thank you,
Cherie and Katie

Excuses, Excuses

I know my poor neglected blog...you have probably missed me.  Truth be told, between swim teams, the remodel, and...well...life (re. facebook).  I just haven't had the time I would like to scrap.  Guess the mojo is lacking?

Anyway....tomorrow is a big day in the kitchen remodel as my cabinets are being delivered!  I am so excited.  And a little..."I told you so". hee hee  I wanted a country kitchen, you know, white cabinets, granite countertops, tile backsplash.  And I wanted it shabby!  I bet you never would have guessed that part, huh?

Anyway....I wanted the white cabinets with a worn finish.  Everyone told me I was crazy, you wouldn't be able to tell, see the detail, blah, blah, blah.  Well, guess what?  They are fabulous (not that I have seen them).  They are the cabinet maker's and the finisher's new favorite painted treatment...so there!!!!!  neener, neener, neener!!!!

Speaking of shabby....I have a post today over on the Your Memories Here blog.  All about these tags I made for the Artsy Attics Butterfly swap on Facebook (see, told you...too much time on facebook).

And I will have a post next week on Ideas for Scrapbookers for making the sewing pattern flowers.

Oh, and there are new sketches up at Sassy Lil' Sketches!  And Sassy Lil' Card Sketches.

I have a layout or two to share, somewhere around here.  But I haven't had the time to photograph them yet...hopefully tomorrow.

Until then.

Hugs.

Nancy

Long time....

Hi everyone!  Sorry I haven't been around much lately.  But with the end of school and the start of morning swim...couple that with some funky weather and a horrible cold that had me in bed for two days......

Well, enough about that.  Here is a fun layout I just completed using a sketch from Once Upon a Sketch.  I used some fun papers from Crate Paper for their color challenge and a bunch of Prima flower.  I love all the different styles of flowers that Prima makes and had a great time mixing them together with some Maya Road on this layout.  

Crate Paper Emma's Shoppe, Prima Marketing florals, Maya Road flower (large pink), American Crafts Thickers.

I added in a few Prima pearls and a fun little Prima bird that I painted with some Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist.  I also painted a white Prima rose with the same Glimmer Mist to make it match a bit better.

I love the way all these pink and yellow florals played off my niece's photo.

Oh, did I mention that we are now 1 1/2 weeks without a kitchen?  I showed you what my kitchen looked like once upon a time.  How about a photo of what it looked like at the end of last week?

Lovely huh?  Well, let me say, the few days my contractor has been here this week didn't help it much.  hee hee

I now have electrical boxes, and new recessed lighting (I had cans before, but they were incandescent, which is a huge no-no now.)

And this monster duct is for my new vent hood.   Much bigger than the old one, but then my new range is much bigger as well.  Tomorrow they run the gas line.  Then inspection and we can begin on making things pretty.  Drywall and cabinets next week...I should have appliances by the end of the month.  Cross your fingers.

Hugs.

Nancy

Leftovers

Hi everyone!  Today I am here with a quick card I made using some of the leftover items from the Altered Book Kit that I purchases at Your Memories Here and a few recycled objects.

I used packaging from Prima flowers for the base of my card.  The color is so pretty and there is a lovely design all the way around.   I attached two of the package inserts with some decorative tape to hold my card together.  A few bits of lace, some gorgeous flowers and a bit of Prima bling and my card was ready to go.

I also included the cup holder from my morning Starbucks that I swiped with a bit of white paint.  I love being "green".   Of course, I used my favorite Helmar 450 to hold it all together.

My sister's birthday is coming soon, and I think this may become her birthday card, although it could be used for just about anything.

And I bet you may be wondering about my kitchen remodel....well....today we officially began construction, or should I say, destruction.  lol

Here is a picture of my temporary kitchen.  Hooray me.  

And here is what my kitchen looked like this morning before we began.

I am going to miss being able to cook these next few weeks.  I am not really one for eating out so I see a lot of grilled food in our future.  

Thanks for stopping by.

Nancy