Punky Scraps and Echo Park- so BFFs!

We interrupt this random pre scheduled post to announce I am now part of the Scrap FX design team!!!
YEA BABY! BOOOYAAAAA!
UUUA UUUA! UUUA UUA!!
awkward dancing.
smiling
YAYYY!

Now back to my usual blathering.

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

I'm trying to ignore current tv news and political smack talk lately as it just makes me rave unattractively.
There are eye ticks and references to obscure literature involved.
Mostly because I have definite ideas about women's issues and feminism...
Wait- did I lose you?
I DISTINCTLY saw eyes glazing over!
Did I REALLY just write the word FEMINISM in my SCRAP blog?

Don't worry I won't  flail burning under garments in your general direction.
I will leave all political implications at the door where you may pick them up and RUN WILD in the streets with them.
Mostly because it's late, I'm tired and there's a really good episode of "Ghost Whisperer" I wanna watch.
Let's relate on a more personal level.
After all, we all want the same things:
a long healthy happy life, true love, pizza, the occasional trip to the scrap store and the latest Echo Park line.
This one:

This has GOT to be the COOLEST print this season!!!
Echo Park's This & That line- pure awesomeage!

Woodgrain, Scrabble tile and Dymo tape alphas?
It's a dream come true!

The only thing is that Echo Park has randomly assigned a gender to this FABULOUSNESS and printed the word "boy" all over it. BOOO!
I'm using it anyway!
See?

A page for this week's Punky Scraps Sketch challenge.
Materials: Echo Park This & That paper, stickers and brads, Gauche Alchemy punchinella,
SC Mister Huey in white and Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher.

This week's page was a little difficult- mostly because I didn't want my page to resemble to sketch exactly so I got stuck trying to improvise.
I decided to not over think and just started adding fun bits to the page.
I like the result. It could use more white space but it was fun to make so I'm ok with it.
The sketch by Marie Mison:

Deceptively "simple"!!

There is also This and That "girl" line and it's flowery and red and pink all over.
That palette would normally send me into a buying frenzy but the "boys" line is so much cooler!!!  Mod cameras! Teal and turquoise! Film strips and woodgrain together!
Imagine what some red and pink cameras would have looked like!!
ACK! Missed opportunity!!!
Let me distract myself with my latest "find" a "vintage" alphabet rubber stamp set from EK Success.

Oh what's DIZ? Only my latest obsession.
These are rad to the max! More to come
#everystory (hint!)

Oh and I forgot to blog about it but waaay back when I was cool and there's a movie showing at Lincoln Center PROVING so!

More on this come Project Life Monday. Promise!

Swing by and give the Punky sketch a try.
I really love how my fellow team members interpreted the sketch.
Can't wait to see how YOU tackle it!

MuChos SmOoChEs!
Michelle

In the Pink with American Craft's Dear Lizzy Neopolitan Line

Gooood afternoon world!

You know what I don't like?
Feeling completely overwhelmed and only then realizing I don't know HALF the things I need to get my latest "goal" accomplished.
This week I need to buy a printer.
ACK! I'm falling over in exhaustion just thinking about it!

Happy place! Happy place!!! HAPPYYYYYY PLAAAACE!

That's my baby at 8 months old. That's her "pleeeease take me out this crib" face. Needless to say it worked every time.
Materials: American Crafts Dear Lizzy paper and stickers, Martha Stewart mini doily, Studio Calico exclusive Thickers, Pink Paislee hexagon chipboard, Crafter's Workshop chickenwire template. Gesso from my local art supply store-(the cheapest I could find!)  Diamond Stickles and Making Memories lace.

I REALLY need to catch up on my Project 365 but with the printer on the fritz I don't see how its going to happen.

Anyone have a good printer recommendation? I'd like one with a scanner and separate color ink cartridges. It'd be great if it didn't cost an arm and a leg to buy ink for it but I know that's asking too much.
Here are some detail shots:

I ripped the back cover off the Dear Lizzy sticker book- the water color print is so pretty.

The Dandelion wisp post-it note is from a Korean stationary store
here in NYC- it's closed now- WAAAH!

I came across a GREAT blog post a million years ago on adding a bar to your 4 by 4 Instagram photos so you can print them at your local photo-o-mat BUT (there's ALWAYS a but on the truly fabulous... which explains Jennifer Lopez by the way) you have to use a PhotoShop Action.

**********Insert "Home Alone" movie Aaaaaaaaa face here.**********

I really dislike getting involved with Photoshop.
It's why I love my crappy iTouch so much- I get lots of fun photo effects and avoid "loading" Photoshop actions.
I bet I know what you're thinking!
What IS a freaking Photoshop action Michelle? YEESH!
A Photoshop action is the automation of a series of steps taken when using Photoshop to get a desired effect on a photo.
Does that even make sense?
No, right?

 So there you have it- thanks Einny.

I've never been good with learning anything that requires more than 3 nit picky steps.
My brain just freezes and goes: Trrrrrrra LA LA LA LAAAAA.

It's why I avoid HTML, Math, French cooking- you know- useful, life enhancing, money earning things.
I'm not proud of it or anything- just acknowledging the problem (and moving on)

Here's the link to that printing action by the way- sorry to make you wait with baited breath and all.

http://willettedesigns.com/?p=3701

And here is what I got accomplished this week full of so much NOTHING I got exactly NOTHING done.

blank space indicating nothing

LOVE. IT. when I let that happen.
PS have you seen "Never Ending Story"?
No?????? GO. SEE. IT!!!

Oh! And I really love the Dear Lizzy line. Really really. Yellow and pink together?? Water color details? LOVE!!!

GRATUITOUS TODDLER PHOTO!!!!

I have a talking dandelion I can call my own.

Let's talk printers mi gente! Rants, questions you want me to investigate- recommendations- whatever!
PS- rants especially appreciated- if they are funny I will be tweeting them- you have been warned. :)

MuChoS SmOoChES!
Michelle

SPRING with Cosmo Cricket!

63 degrees today, 67 tomorrow?
Too awesome!!!
I'm so excited I could BURST!

I had a very busy scrap week.

I made this for an upcoming True Xoxo Girls challenge but it doesn't fit the challenge parameters so back to the drawing board it is.
The March challenge is finding inspiration on Pineterest. (click through to see for yourself)
Swing by and submit your page.
The winner gets a GDT spot on the team.

This page started as a design experiment with shapes. It was supposed to be really graphic but the further I got into it the more I realized it wouldn't attract an the audience that way so I added the pearls and Cosmo Cricket swirls- now I think it's too much of everything.
What do you think?

Materials: Cosmo Cricket Earth Love swirls, black board butterflies and Heart in the Dark alphas, Crafter's Workshop basket weave template, Tattered Angels Glimmer Glam in Mermaid, ZVA pearls and rhinestones swirls, K and Comapny Smash tape, Ek Success parenthesis stamps

Detail shots:

I have a guest spot coming up over at Do More With Less, Yvonne Yam's fantastic personal blog. I love Yvonne's highly innovative style and her ability to use messy techniques on perfectly crisp and clean modern pages- she's an inspiration.
I will be talking about the Neon trend and showing off a card and page project- feel free to swing by March 20th.

Sneaky peek!!! Do More With Less- March 20th

My page is still messy- I'm working up to a more clean style.

I am also trying to make my blog more relevant to my readers.
What do you like to read about?
What are your blogging pet peeves?
What would you like to see more?
I've been at it for over a year and feel like I've hit a rut. Fell free to give me your 2 cents and I will try to implement everything as best I can.

GRATUITOUS TODDLER SHOT!!!!

Sure! Get comfy why don'tcha?

MuChOs SmOoChEs!
Michelle

Kick up your heels with Punky Scraps

Hello there!
It's friday and that means it's time for a new Punky Scraps challenge!
Here is this week's photo inspiration challenge:

Roses, skullies and acid green? YES PLEASE!

Earlier this week I wrote in an "About Me" post that I can't wear heels.
I used to think I just "needed to get used to it".
By "it" I mean the wretched sharp Kudzu KNIVES that LEAP up my instep when I try to wear anything over an inch tall.
So like Peter Jackson- I gleefully sport Birkenstock (but not the cargo shorts- I'm not an Auteur).
It's not hip but HIP can go jump in a hot fuming lake of lava and take it's numerous medieval torture devices with it.
But not THOSE (pointing up). I can look at those foreverrrrrr.
And so I came up with this page (in less than 30 minutes- you can TOTALLY tell right???):

Core Impressions paper is the BOMB!!! Chevron embossing!!! This one is a rather sickly shade of mint green but look what happens when you sand it down a bit and shoot it in open shade! LOVE! There is also light beige one which is incredibly beautiful but only comes in the Pink Paislee Core Impressions Pack (linked- click away). Get the pack, say I.
Materials: Core Impressions Pink Paislee paper, Studio Calico exclusive script alphas, Jenni Bowlin flying bird punch, Basic Grey brads, Making Memories metal ampersand (LOOOOVE!!), Martha Stewart doily and multi butterfly punches, Doodlebug chunky glitter in white and white acrylic paint.

That shoe photo makes me sigh with unrequited materialistic love.
I would get them in Canary Yellow and wear them with snazzy dark wash jeans rolled up to show my fabulous calves.
I have awesome calves.
My ankles are fat though.
But lemme be positive. I have awesome calves.

Not a picture of my calves- that would be weird.
That rules is a sticker from the Dear Lizzy Neopolitan collection.
I wish they would include multiples of some of those designs-
they are so beautiful!!!!

I have 12 pairs of shoes in my closet- a very large collection if you saw how big our apartment was.
I wear TWO pairs.
My Birks from April till November 1st.
My Nike street kicks for the horrible months.
Here is how I look. ALWAYS.

ZOMG! I just love them!!!!

The other pairs are all event related and never see the light of day.
I prefer "events" that don't require I wear inflexible shoes- call me crazy.
If I hear one more fashionista declare that comfortable is ugly I will be very indignant.
Comfortable can be awesome.
Just layer the color and try to stay away from the cheap and stretchy stuff.
Enough said on the subject of "fashion".

GRATUITOUS CUTE TODDLER SHOT!!!!

Can you guess which apartment contains 1 little girl?
The  lobby of fill in the address here. :)

Join us this week over at Punky Scraps- we'd love to see what you come up with.

MuChOs SmOoChEs!
Michelle

11 random things- a post

I LOVE these type posts!
I love reading them. I love writing them.
Thanks Kristy and Leah for starting up the latest run.
Here goes:

There are five rules:
1. Post these rules.
2. Post a photo of yourself and 11 random things.
3. Answer the questions set for you in the original post.
4. Create 11 new questions and tag people to answer them.
5. Go to their blog/twitter and tell them you’ve tagged them.

Random things

1. March is the hardest winter month for me. I just want it to be SPRING already!!!!

2. I love math symbols and equations- they are so mysterious and beautiful.

3. My favorite writer is Terry Pratchett. Neil Gaiman is a very VERY close second.

4. I can't wear high heels, ice skates OR flats. I have flat feet. Shoe shopping SUCKS for me.
Before you ask- the tape is from the Labelbox app. You're welcome.

5. I stopped being able to watch graphic movie violence the second I learned I was a Mom.

6. I love ferns. How's THAT for random?

7. I love the New York Yankees but if they play the Mets I root for the Mets.

8. This is my tattoo. It's a Taino Cemi.
Can't believe I've never blogged about it before!

9. My idea of a good vacation involves hiking, my bicycle and possible burro riding. 

10. I love Laffy Taffy grape candy but only the big bars- the minis taste like corn syrup.

11. I'm easy to prank but tend to punch arms and yell a lot when it's over.
Also, I like this fish toy.

Questions from Leah:

1.  If you could cure one disease what would it be? Greed.

2. Your happy place is.. ? On my bike.

3. Favorite summer/winter activities? Summer- riding my bike and walking. Winter- scrapping and eating (I know but that's what summer bike riding is for!).

4. Most asked for recipe? My Guacamole- I put mango in it.

5. Person you admire the most? My sister Leticia.

6. Biggest crush when you were a teen? Ralph Macchio (grinning!)

7. If you could only listen to one band the rest of your years, who would it be? Oh SO EASY- U2!

8. Favorite time of day to get crafty? Anytime Lola sleeps!

9. When is the last time you got a traffic ticket? What was it for? I don't know how to drive (grinning again)

10. Your dream home is? 4 bedrooms with a garden larger than the actual house, lots of windows and closet space and there's a tree with a swing in it and my Mom lives near by and we have a dog and a cat and a chicken coop and maybe a goat. And the house is somewhere warm. And there is a scrap shop within biking distance. And my daughter can walk to school alone. And my husband has a garage to himself so he can wild out on his toy helicopter fetish.

11. Where do you want to live when you retire? Dave and I want to be wherever Lola goes. We've already talked about it.

I tag Misty, Margrethe, Miae, Gabriella and Cheryl. Guys please answer the questions above. I forgot to post my own and now am drawing a complete BLANK. 
If you want to participate or have already leave me a link so I can visit! I LOVE reading these posts!!!

GRATUITOUS ABUELA/ TODDLER PHOTO:

MuChOs SmOoChEs!

Michelle