R.I.P

I created this layout for the second October Challenge at Better Living Through Scrapbooking. Head on over, take a look at the challenge criteria, and get entered for the monthly prize!

This layout has my oldest niece as she was just finishing her makeup. The picture was a bit blurry, but oddly enough, the blur really fits with the Halloween theme.



I found a really fun way to distress this layout: bleach! Who would have thought. I just took a paint brush, dipped it into bleach, and then splattered the bleach onto the layout. Then I took my heat gun and ran it over the spots of bleach to speed up the bleaching process. A very simple technique that adds a lot of visual interest to a layout.

Another thing I really love on this page is the headstones. I simply diecut them using my Cuttlebug and a die. Then I covered them entirely with black Stickles and once the Stickles were dry I inked around the edges with silver and pearl alcohol inks. It really gives an aged look!

Family Fun

The entire family got together one day in May for a birthday celebration and one of the munchkins grabbed my iPod. Little did I know that it would keep them entertained for hours. Who would have thought that music trivia apps would be so entertaining? Even the two year olds were playing along. Of course, this provided the perfect opportunity for a picture. It’s not too often that everyone is sitting still and in the same spot.


This layout features LOTS of yummy embellishments from Basically Bare! The canvas heart was inked with Distress Inks and then the dots were made with Enamel Accents. The acrylic heart was completely covered with Stickles. And the little bird was made by pealing a layer off the corrugated chipboard and then adding Distress Ink. Lastly, the canvas flowers were added and colored using Distress Inks also.

School Memories

The first challenge of the month is up at Better Living Through Scrapbooking. Head on over, take a look, and create a layout to get entered for the monthly drawing.This challenge was all about school photos. Well, I didn't have have any of my photos from elementary school (they're all at my Mom's house.) However, I have plenty of pictures from my Senior year. Just looking at these pictures just reminds me of 1) how much hair I had back then, 2) how long it took to get that teased look, and 3) how much hairspray it took to make sure my hair wouldn’t fall. Big hair, those were the days. :)

Since this challenge has me thinking back to my high school days, I have to ask this - What is one of your fondest memories from your Senior year in high school?

Triptych Arch

The first July challenge is up at Better Living Through Scrapbooking! Head on over and take a look at what the Design Team has created and while you're there check out the prize for July. All you have to do to get entered for the prize is get creative and post those creations to the challenge website. Easy, peasy.



Now, on to my project for the first July challenge. This is was the theme:

Make a layout or project about what you want to do – what’s your dream job or what career goal are you working toward? If you’re already doing that job, show why you love it.

For this challenge I wanted to do something a bit different so I created a Triptych Arch. Mixed Media items allow me to express my emotion in my art and the topic for this challenge struck an emotional nerve with me. As a young child, I dreamed of all the high profile, high paying jobs just as any normal child. However, growing up very poor you quickly learn that all it takes to be happy is a job that pays the bills and leaves a few extra dollars in the bank at the end of the month. Currently, I have that well paying job that allows me to pay my mortgage and utility bills each month plus have money left over to indulge my creative side.

Then and Now

This layout is my DT entry for the second June challenge at Better Living Through Scrapbooking.


This challenge was all about showing how you and a close friend or relative have changed over the years. And boy, have we changed or what?!

So head on over, take a look at the other DT creations and get your entries posted for a chance to win the monthly giveaway. The prize for June is a $25 gift certificate to Basically Bare! They have such amazing alterable pieces - plain chipboard, corrugated chipboard, canvas, felt, acrylic. So what are you waiting for?

Time To Get Inky

This is my DT entry for the first June challenge at BetterScrap.com. Head on over and play along for a chance to win the monthly prize!


The challenge was to create a layout showing what I do when things don't go my way or I have a bad day. The first thing that immediately came to mind was to get inky. There's just something completely relaxing for me when I get lost in a world of creativity. I crank the music up so I can drown out the world around me and go to town. An yes, after a good play date in my scraproom, my hands look just like this. :)

So, what do you do when it feels like the world is conspiring against you?

The second May challenge is up at Better Living Through Scrapbooking. Head on over, create a layout (or two or three), and get entered for the May challenge prize, a gift certificate to Gauche Alchemy.


This was my DT contribution. I had the freedom to choose my own theme this time, so I let my photos be my inspiration. I just went looking through all of my pictures until I found one that screamed out to the scrapped.