The Promise- a tone on tone experiment

Lately I've been REALLY awful at keeping up with my blog reading.

Thankfully I have Scrap FX and some photos I printed over 2 years ago to provide the inspiration for my latest scrapbook layout.

3 weeks ago I saw a post by Melissa Mann for Greenfrog Studios where she used her scoring board to make an embossed grid on her layout. 

I was SO INSPIRED!

So I tried it:

Those bright and fully alert eyes followed me everywhere.
Materials: Scrap FX The Promise wordlet 2012061, Flourish Kraft tag set 2012041 K, Kraft Lace tag set 2012040 K, Swallow embellishment pack 2010054, The Paper Source Kraft paper, buttons from American Crafts, My Mind's Eye and Basic Grey, Studio Calico Mister Huey in Calico Cream, EK Success score board (for embossed lines). Wax baking paper and cooking twine. Spools from Maya Road. Twine from The Twinery (via Scarlett- thanks girlie!!!)

I LOVE the subtle tone of tone effect this technique gives a layout. Melissa is a friggin' GENIUS!

Gotta use my button stash! 

At this time, 3 years ago, I was struggling through the scariest thing that has ever happened to me. 

I had JUST gotten the immensely exciting and joyful news that I was pregnant.

I had JUST started to shop for maternity clothes when a routine sonogram showed major problems with my baby's fetal nucal translucency. 

I was made to sit down as the doctor told me over the phone that this was a sign for fatal genetic defects and that further testing needed to be done right away.

And so the roller coaster began. 

Test after test showed very low probabilities for genetic disorders. 

So more exotic tests were given to ensure my baby didn't have some newly discovered syndrome. 

"Termination" was recommended several times each doctor's appointment even though no one would take a stand and tell me that they knew FOR SURE that my baby would not survive infancy.

All this cautious but terrifying probability talk really pissed me off.

A title meant for an engagement photo is given another meaning.

So I took a leap of faith.

I am strictly a rational person when it comes to this stuff but that's what it was.

I trusted that everything was going to be ok.

Not because I'm some wonderfully moral person but because I already loved my baby.

I loved her the second I found out she was there. 

And I made her a promise even if she was "only" a floating bean in a calm and dark sea. 

I would protect her at all costs. 

I would willingly and completely hand over all the love, all the affirmation and all the support one scared Brooklyn girl could give another. 

We would stick together and make it through this. 

Whatever "this" turned out to be.

Journaling written while Lola was in the NICU.

I told everyone to BACK OFF. 

I knew she was gonna be ok.
I got lots of flak from people I thought would be on our side.
They feared I would be "stuck" with a severely disabled child.

I ignored them too.
And I got support from unexpected corners.
People came out of the woodwork for Miss Thang!
My Mom most of all.
The outcome is a normal kid with an unnatural love of apple juice and Udon noodles.

She's had no health or developmental issues of any kind. 

She runs and jumps like a puppy on caffeine pills, makes random strangers answer her garbled questions, bosses everyone around (SIT! RIGHT THERE!!!) and generally acts like she's 5 not 2.

I love and am endlessly amused by my half-pint.

For her continued health I am unconditionally grateful.

GRATUITOUS TODDLER SHOT!!!!

Asleep...

AWAKE!!!

MuChOs SmOoChEs!

Michelle

Fall colors, beautiful light

Ok I can dig this Fall season- 78 degree weather and rain at night? It's perfect! We went into tree country last weekend to pick apples but the fall colors are not showing fully yet so I decided to get warmly cheerful in my current Punky Scraps layout:

Be
MATERIALS: Gauche Alchemy woodgrain punchinella (that's right WOODGRAIN) and Lady Marmelade orange mixed media color kit, Dusty Attic chipboard, Hambly Studio tranny, Studio Calico paper and tag, Mister Huey Hot Dog, Making Memories metal letters, Basic Grey brads, Mesh origami paper (!!!) and black acrylic paint.

The prompts were many and diverse for this "Get Picky" challenge so I procrastinated LOVELY the entire week. Finally, last night, after 2 bottles of Pacifico beer and a bag of Blue Cheese Kettle Chips I was ready- who cares if it was 1am?

The Mighty List:

Tamara - Hessian/Mesh

Kat - A Tag

Cheryl - steam punk imagery

Kerry - your own handwriting

Marie - black mist

Jolanda - a picture of your eye(s). what do they say/mean to you?

Celina - lace of any kind

Ashley - Doodling

Misty - metal

I was supposed to go deep with my journaling but what I really needed was a page I could hang on the wall and use as a touchstone while I worked- it reads: Do what you want- people will decide they don't like you anyway.
Not to sound like Michael Jackson who I thought spent entirely too much time being defensive (and dangling babies off hotel balconies) instead of concentrating on HIS WORK.

Thank you Shelley J for the beautiful Studio Calico paper!

I took a photo of an image I had opened on my computer desktop using the Hipstamatic app on my iTouch and my favorite lens filter- Watts. 

I then changed the contrast, color and added a round blur using Instagr.am. 

The paint splatters were made by watering down some acrylic paint and using a mascara brush to sprinkle tiny dots all over the page- I don't trust the spray nozzle on those bottles one bit.

                                                               *************************

'I also wanted to repost these tags that I linked over at Flashback Fridays. Amy sent me a nice email reminding me I'm not supposed to backlink an older post since the whole point is to show how much you have improved- yikes- sorry about that. I love these so I'm glad to have a chance to show them off again.

I made these for a tag swap over at Kreatorville Krafts using some old office folders, some scraps of
favorite prints from Sassafras Lass and Girl's Paperie, Making Memories metal tag rims and some buttons-
it took over a week because I kept over thinking the process but I loved the final product.

You can check out the original post here: Going Tag Crazy

Please swing by Punky Scraps and join the challenge- there are 2 prize packs available this month and only 1 person in the running for both- does that sound fair to you? Go up in there and give her some competition!

This year she actually rode the pony AND I managed to get an
eating apples shot where she didn't look like a zombie.
I can't believe that beanie still fits- It's 2 years old!

MuChOs SmOoChEs!
Michelle

Going Tag crazy- a lesson in randomness

Hiya! Over the labor day holiday I found myself furiously trying to finish my tag project for Kreatorville Krafts.
For some reason I had a really hard time with it. I wanted to pull a "shock and awe" scrap stunt and that was my downfall- never forge into any creative endeavor with perfection in mind- that way lies madness.

Favorite 3 tags from my tag swap project for Kreatorville Krafts.

PROJECT GOALS:
1. Use my scrap pile- papers whose patterns I loved so much I kept even tiny pieces that were now taking over my desk.
2. Use metal rims from Making Memories. I have so many of these I wanted to showcase them in a project.
3. Make the actual tags- don't buy them.
3. Use at least 1 stamp and 1 punch on every tag- I have so many stamps and punches! They hardly get used because they are in plastic boxes out of easy reach- this forced me to break them out and play.

"MINI TUTORIAL"- insert self-derisive snort here.

1. Using ready made tag as a template, cut out tags from left over office folders.

2. Make 3 "test tags"- experiment with acrylic paint- decide it looks great. Ruin them with microbeads.

3. Paint each tag with white acrylic paint to tone- down bright primary hues a bit.

4.  Experiment with make up brushes to sprinkle Tattered Angels Golden Goddess Glimmer Glam. Mascara brush works best- so does dropper from Baby Ibuprofen (Hope Lola never needs it).

5. Mist each tag with Mister Huey"Warm Calico" to "soften" stark white paint- have fun with polka dot template left over from circle punches made for project.

6. Start layering paper bits- panic tags are all looking the same- take a break.

7. Take metal rims and attach using basic stitch to each tag- rims go over the actual photo.

8. Project has a message- think- add Kaiser Craft mini alphas to each tag then cover alphas with Glossy Accents so that they stay put while in the mail.

9. Stamp each tag and sign- make sure signature is illegible thus besides the point. Whatevs the project is DONE! WOO HOO!

WHAT I LEARNED:
1. Pre cut your scraps and just play with resulting random shapes- do NOT try to "pre-design" each tag.
2. Paint and mist the entire tag cardstock THEN cut out each tag- that makes your pattern more random and natural looking.
3. When layering tiny pieces on light background colors highlight edges to make them separate.
4. Sometimes starting with tag titles is best as that can lead your design process. Use word association to come up with titles that aren't too "bossy".
5. DO NOT try to make a multiple item project with impressing others in mind- you will get "crafter's block" and suffer many hours of self doubt- let it all hang out"- as it were.

Final Results:

Materials: Pendaflex folders- brights, Making Memories metal tag edges, Sassafras Lass Amplify paper,
Fiskars Large circle squeeze punch,  The Girl's Paperie "On Holiday" mixed dot paper, Ek Success Large Edger -circles,  Double embossed dotted lace and Bubbles punches, Jillibean Soup corrugated shapes

This was great- onto my next large project- hand made post cards for each and every facebook friend! Do you want one? Friend me! Michelle Hernandez, Brooklyn, New York- or not- you can see them here as I will post as I make them.

MuChOs SmOoChEs!
Michelle