Scrapping the city 5 ways. The cityscape trend in my scrapbooking.

Hello from cloudy (YAY!) Utah!

Today I want to share different ways I've used the cityscape theme in my scrapbook pages.
You've probably seen some of these pages before but it's nice to have them all collected in one page.

For me scrapping the city isn't about keeping up with scrapbook trends but more about reflecting my environment and finding ways to capture my reality visually.

Now that my family has moved to Salt Lake City, these pages have become deeply nostalgic and important to me.

One of my new realities is having to explain why we left.
I open my mouth, I get questions about my accent.
I show my id or give my zip code to make a purchase, I get questions.
I like talking about it but it's also making me feel a bit self-conscious.

Here's the skinny:
NYC is awesome!
It's also expensive, dangerous to the unwary and challenging to raise children in.
Can you get with this wild galloping beast of a place?

My family wanted to start a business and New York with all it's opportunity was actually not the best place to do so.
I'm grieving- give me a couple of months.

Anyway- onto the show!
I didn't upload those photos to my ipod (or bring my actual computer) so I have to use screen captures for this post- my apologies.

My Get It Scrapped page (swing by to see how the rest of the DT used the city as a motif in their pages)
For this I used Sassafras Lass paper and stickers, Amy Tangerine embroidery stencil

I wanted to use a larger cityscape here as well so I added the empire state building using
an old chipboard I had in my stash as a guide. The numbers in the photo are my old zip code

Photos- the easiest way to get it done.

I have so many photos of the Empire State Building I try to switch things up and make pages without a "street feel". Here I likes how the butterflies matched the colors in the photo.

Ephemera- in this case a tag from a pair of pants from Jones New York:

The canvas tag was too awesome to throw away.
This page is about Project Inside Out which is a giant camera in a van.
Check out their facebook page to see when they will be swinging by your state!

Scrap FX Chipboard (which I usually use unfinished):

A page for an article on finishing chipboard that I wrote for Shimelle.com.
I used Scrap FX chipboard, A Flair For buttons flair
and liquitex acrylic spray paint.

Crafter's Workshop stencil and LOTS of vintage buttons:

I love this last page. I almost threw it out mid way because aI thought it was too dreary.
I added the buttons to liven it up a bit. This is Ronda Palazzari's Urban Landscape stencil from
Crafter's Workshop.

I'd love to see how you've incorporated cityscapes into your projects.
Leave a link in the comments section and I'll swing by!

Have a great week!
Michelle

Let's Get Trendy Now- NEON

Happy monday folks!

Today I'm sharing my page for the Let's Get Trendy workshop.
The scrapbook trend I'm covering is a definite favorite- NEON! Woo hoooo!

There are other fantastic projects (including gorgeous cards and two sketches) on the Let's Get Trendy blog please swing by and check those out.

I love neon and I tend to go overboard when using it.
I make no apologies for this.
But it leads to pages that are certainly out there even for me.

I know the going wisdom is that you should use neon sparingly.
I've seen many gorgeous pages and cards made with just a hint- a touch - a zing- of neon.
I'm not part of that party.
I say slap it on, slather it all over and have fun with excess.
Viva the Las Vegas GLITZ of it all!

Materials: Paper Source Navy blue cardstock, MT pink washi tape, pricing stickers from the dollar store,
Sakura gelli roll pen in white, Crafter's Workshop pie chart stencil, vellum from Paper Source, Studio Calico
paper clip, Crate Paper tags, neon pink tag from Lawn Fawn, raindrop stencil from Scrap FX, Liquitex
neon pink acrylic spray paint, Mister Huey in black.

Neon items I highly recommend:
sequins
washi tapes (especially since they can be layered)
glitter (go. all. the. way!)
embroidery thread
chalk bistro markers (these are how Starbuck's gets perfect chalkboard menus)
stamp pads
acrylic paints- there are so many of these- you can go with high end Guache water color or a kid's set from Ikea

Two of my current favorites:

Sakura Gelli Roll and Souffle pens.
Souffle is so awesome- you get pure gorgeous neon PLUS a funky embossed effect. You can also use embossing powder on these because they dry slowly.
Molotow is a graffiti art brand.
These are paint marker refills with open droppers so you can either drip directly on the page or squeeze out and use a brush- the colors are pure energy- great for using on unfinished chipboard.  

Liquitex acrylic spray paint. Expensive and has a tendency to clog but still AWESOOOME!!!
Micheals' carries it.
It's usually locked in a cage to keep crafty teens from defacing the world with it. (snicker, snicker)

You can always layer over whatever bits you don't like.
Whenever something makes you uncomfortable I say WORK IT
Get out of that comfort zone!

You might just like swinging through the jungle growing outside.

Have a GREAT (colorful) week!
Michelle

HOT TOPIC Wednesday! Scraplifting. Also? FUN SCRAPPY NEWS

Hello dear readers!
Thank you for swinging by today!

I'm going to give picture headings another try. This is my try at "hot topic"- the hearts are red.
Yeah I know.  I had to try!

Hot Topic will now be my wednesday post theme.

I love to talk and have opinions about everything.
Rather than shying away from this personality quirk (disorder) I have decided to embrace it.
Please feel free to tell me I'm fulla beans.
I like feisty people who tell it like it is.

This week I want to talk about (mini drum roll) scrap lifting.
"Hardly a hot topic!" You declare.
Well how about this- I think scraplifting is awesome.

Why Scraplifting ROCKS

• All beginners start by imitating the work of other artists. Even Pablo Picasso. Even Rembrandt. If they can do it, so can you! Nothing separates one creative pursuit from another except intention. 
• Scraplifting allows you to make pages you like from the word go.
• Scraplifting teaches you about good design practices.
• Scraplifting gives you a way to share with artists / crafters you admire. This last part is key.

I don't own a crafting business, sell classes or design products (YET- ha!) so my viewpoint might change when I have a financial stake on this issue.

But Not Always- Lifting isn't stealing

There's a difference between imitating an admired project and posting your version in your personal blog/gallery and selling someone else's technique, original pattern design or tutorial as your own.

I cry foul on that. 

What if someone copied a project of mine right down to the same paper and title and posted it with no credit?

Personally, I'd be glad someone noticed my work and I'd leave comments to encourage that person to keep going. 

Give people the benefit of the doubt! It's FREE- like politeness or smiling.

Maybe they forgot the source of inspiration. 

Maybe they have no clue that giving credit is a cool thing to do- that's not "common sense".

I didn't do it when I first started out!

But really- does it matter?

I posted this page a few weeks back but I'm putting it up again because it
was lifted by Mia of MyCreativeLife.blogspot.com. Mia's page is coming up next. 

You are FULL of ideas! Your brain = Mary Poppins' carpet bag!

I know I have MANY more original ideas in my brain pan.
"Copy cats" (ie: people of excellent taste) can catch up but they can never pull ahead- they have to wait for my next move after all.
But what if they DO pull ahead?
What if "they" get published? Get the DT spot I wanted?
Or spark up a rad new product deal with fill-in-the-blank scrap company?
Then they are doing something right!
Watch them and learn. They aren't merely copying.

Scraplifting gives you a way to share with artists / crafters you admire but haven't met yet.

Sharing is good.

Share the credit- give shout outs to people- even the "big" scrap personalities like to hear that their readers are paying attention.

Don't just say "Love this!" 

Tell them why or how it reminds you of a particular story you'd like to share.

Make the page and change things up a bit-

improvise and leave a link on their blog comments section.

Call them out on Twitter.

"Share" their links on Facebook.

Before long you'll have a mutual appreciation going.

And THAT is what scrapping "public" should be all about!

Mia's version uses her favorite colors- bright pink and soft blue.  I suspected she would like my page when I posted it because it looks a lot like HER work. Check out her blog My Creative Life.  See what's happening?
We feed off each other- this is a GOOD THING.
It's why scrapbooking and blogging about it works so well-
you grow as  crafter and you see how your work influences others.

Speaking of which, I have a couple of shout outs to share:

Special HIYA! and Thank You! to Ashley Oliver AKA Soaphousemama of PurpleMailbox.

Soapy has my back and I love her for that! 

Also? She's freaking amazing. Swing by her blog and check it out!

I also want to thank Margrethe Aas Johnsen of OneLifeDocumented

Margrethe's work over at Scrapbook.com got me to stop trying to imitate the Prima design team and start making original work.

If you want a lesson in disciplined and modern scrapbooking swing by her blog.

All the opportunities that have landed on my plate lately are due to friends who read this blog.

THAT'S why you leave love, give credit, stay positive and be true to you.

It comes back.

Times five.

DOH! Before I forget!!!    BREAKING NEWS!

I participated in this week's Paper Clipping Roundtable, a free scrapbook podcast available through iTunes.

I was FLABBERGASTED when I heard they wanted to talk to me.

Me? Random chick with a blog that isn't connected anywhere else?

COOOL!

Fellow guests Tracy Banks and Lain Ehmann blew my mind with their poise and great ideas.

Hosts Noell Hyman and husband Izzy are so genuine and funny! 

They made me feel welcome and valued- I talked like a mad woman as usual but they handled it.

Swing by and check that out- better yet- subscribe! 

It's free and it's fun to hear people talk about scrapping once a week.

http://www.paperclipping.com/prt-150-crackers-in-their-soup

MuChOs SmOoChEs- the paper kind!
Michelle

TGIF!!! A Cityscape scrapbook page

Hello there!

I wanted to share a page I almost threw in the garbage this week.
With my track record that usually means everyone will like it.
Not fishing for compliment,
just admitting that I don't have all the answers (obviously! LOL!)

The new Crate Paper DIY Shop line has me DROOLING!
I combined it with a couple of older favorites from Jenni Bowlin.
The final effect seems dreary.

Let me know what you think ok?

My Leica is at the shop FINALLY getting cleaned (after 2 years of sticky buttons) so I shot this page with my husband's iPad. It's incredibly difficult to shoot straight with one of those plate-like things. I did my best.

Materials: Jenni Bowlin Tickets paper, Crate Paper stripes paper, CoreDinations Jenni Bowlin embossed paper,
A Flair For Buttons Project Life flair and arrows flair, Crafter's Workshop Urban Landscape stencil,
banners from Basic Grey and Maya Road, Prima Stamp Press and black chalk ink, Ranger black crackle paint,
Montana white paint marker (which turned green when I used it over the Ranger crackle paint. It wasn't dry yet)

How in the WORLD does Anna Maria Wolniak get all that water color paint on her pages without warping her paper????

Between the gesso and the uneven machine stitch my page is more of an S shape.

And that K & Co washi? 

Love the print but the darned thing can't lay down flat even with stitches AND Zip Dry holding it down.

Adding the buttons and the twine was a last minute idea.
I love how the final page looks finished without a lot of
my usual last minute fussy cutting of random elements.

My goal for 2013 year is to sharpen my technique skills.

I want to be able to cut a script word with my Cameo and stitch the center following the font.

I'm a LONG way from my goal! 

YEESH!

Then again, if  I were to throw this out for "mistakes" it would have lasted all of 5 minutes. 

Literally every step involved a screw up that I had to FORCE myself to overlook.

One thing I love about it is the diagonal border. 

I could do that to every single one of my pages and never have enough.

Also?

Buttons are RAD!!! On everything!

SPRING FEVER!!!! HA!

MuChOs SmOoChEs!
Michelle

Project 30 bags in 30 Days and some December Daily love

Hello!

I'm making some headway into my 2013 resolution to clean up and simplify my home.

I've joined a low key project called 30 bags in 30 days where you organize and throw out at least 1 bag a day for 30 days.

Almost everything in this box got donated to Materials For The Arts.
Only the Basic Grey prints made the cut and I'm using those for a Valentine's Day
project coming soon to a blog near you.

Scrapper and Photographer Becky Novacek has many beautifully organized space photos posted on Instagram and her blog Becky Novacek Photography, head on over for inspiration.

Several friends on Facebook have already expressed interest in joining along.

If you'd like to join us- there isn't an official group or web page-
just use the hashtag #30bags30days on Instagram or Twitter or post photos on your blog and let me know through Facebook and I will swing by your blog and cheer you on.

The art wall behind my computer got a thorough dusting.
I also threw out all the computer related ephemera that had snuck onto my "inspiration shelf."
I'd like to switch out some of the objects but that is a later project- first clean the mess I've made on the floor.

I haven't taken photos of my seven bags so far.
Mostly because I'm so distraught about the mess I'm making while cleaning that I forget to shoot the bag or the room.
I think it's going to take more than 30 bags to rid me of the mess I have in this very small space.
But I'm trying anyway.

Here are my latest December Daily pages.

Red, silver and white are SO awesome! Can't help throwing in some black to ground things.
The rock star badge is From A Flair For Buttons on Etsy.

Crafter's Workshop snowflake stencil and Crate Paper vellum number. Washi tape 
and "Love" wood veneer arrow from Freckled Fawn.

I later added kraft as a color since I love how it looks when paired with silver.
Scrap FX mini chipboard shapes and new arrows are the perfect
 addition to this project. Silver glitter embossing powder from Paper Source
is now an all time favorite product.

Last year I made a page a day but I was home all day so it was easier.

This year I decided to make the album larger using 6 by 8 flat cards from Paper Source as my base.
Last year's "cute" loose ring binding failed- it exposes interior pages too much and I've had too many pages fall off.
This year I will bind the album using traditional book binding tape- a tutorial on that coming soon!!

Now get going, you! Life is awaiting!
Michelle

Merry Christmas! My first 2012 December Daily Mini Album Post

Merry Christmas everyone!
It's 4:30pm and Lola FINALLY decided to take her nap.
I had to drag her through half of Manhattan before she finally gave in.

I spent a lot of time dragging various family members through the cold streets of this city this week.
I didn't get a lot of actual crafting done but I got lots of photos so next year I'm GOLDEN.

Here are the three pages I've managed to finish for my December Daily album.
Never mind they are out of sequence- my printer ran out of ink so I used what ever photos came out with the least amount of streaks.

December Daily 2012- Day two. Thai chicken noodle soup.
6 by 8 paper from Paper Source. Crafter's Workshop stencil,
Wood letters and snowflakes from Studio Calico. Scrap FX chipboard design.

December Daily. Day 3. Visited Rockefeller Center during the day.
Crate Paper vellum numbers, Paper Source peppermint coaster, fabric tag and home flag from Ormolu.

Day 19. With Dad working 7 days a week, we treasured the moment he got home.
Fabric swatch from Ormolu, Red tag from Scrap FX, Maya Road transparency,
hello word bubble from Freckled Fawn.Date stamp from American Crafts 

I could write something deep and introspective but I lack the brainpower and energy.
I hope you and your family have a wonderful, meaningful and safe holiday.
I hope you get snow if you want and wine if you'd like and LOTS of sleep.

Never got around to painting these.
Ornament sized wood bird houses from Michael's.
30 cents each on clearance!

Thank you for your continued support and reading this year.
2013 will be AWESOME.

Newsprint wrap from Home Goods- I get the look without the negative headlines.
I finally used my triangle punch on one of the presents.
Letter stickers are fast and fun!

Cheers!!
Michelle

Punky Scraps 2012 COME BACK Tour! (and Blog Hop)

HELLO! HELLO! HELLO!
Punky Scraps Challenge blog is back!

We are here to meet the design team and VERY SPECIAL GUEST STARS.
For me, the roster reads like a who's who of amazing art style scrappers.
I'm very glad to be in the mix with this talented group.
Please try to hit up all the blogs and leave love.
There are some great prizes for those who hop and leave tracks.
There is also a sketch at the end that you can use to apply to be the next Punky Rebel.
Tell me THAT'S not awesome!

Before you skip off, here are a few facts about me:

• I tend to be all over the place in style and theme. 
• I like romantic flowers and swirls as much as I like neon color and bold modern patterns. 
• I like minimalism but I tend to be a throw it all in there and see what sticks type.
• I scrap for my current whim, not for posterity.
• Much of my work uses pop dots, transparent elements and/or strips, circles and stars.
• Favorite patterns are woodgrain, graph paper and sunrays.
• Favorite "current" trends are triangles, pie charts and chevron patterns.

Here are some of my PUNKY PAGES from 2011:

Be. For a sketch challenge- I went as minimal as this girl ever gets.
This was for a "Get Picky" challenge were fellow team members each choose 1 element that
had to be added to the page- talk about RANDOM- a GREAT thinking challenge! 

FDR. I frequently glue string on a page to avoid actually sewing it on.
Also arrows. Arrows are awesome.

245 Days. My favorite photo of my Mom EVER.
Co-credit for this page goes to fellow Punky crafter Marie who designed the sketch. 

If You Believe. Kraft paper, gold mist and Crafter's Workshop stencils? YES PLEASE!

One of my all time favorite pages- water color that I messed up... is awesome!

So here's the blog hop order:

START- Punky Blog www.punkyscraps.blogspot.com

Kat www.kraftykat9.blogspot.com

Misty Russell www.myscraptherapy.com/

Leah Farqhuarson GUEST www.amusing-to-create.blogspot.co.uk/

Kerry Lambourne www.socksandscrapbooks.blogspot.com

Jaine Drake GUEST www.craftydrake.blogspot.com/

Marie Johansson www.gulavillanivallen.blogspot.com/

Lisa Saunders GUEST www.scrappyfairies.blogspot.com/

YOU ARE HERE! WOOT! Michelle Hernandez www.myanaloglife.blogspot.com/

Tammy Wade www.mumto2angels.blogspot.com/

Wendy Morris GUEST www.scrapnspire.blogspot.co.uk

Sarah Pettersson www.snorsk.blogspot.com/

Celina Matthews www.scrapvamp.blogspot.com/

Sarah Hurley GUEST www.sarahhurley.blogspot.com/

Amy Lassiter www.sparklinggnome.wordpress.com/

Emilie Chamel GUEST www.emiliesscrapbook.blogspot.com/

Ashley Van Etten  www.ashleyvanetten.blogspot.com/

Jolanda Simons www.jolandascrapsels.blogspot.com/

Louise Nelson GUEST www.louise-justloolabelle.blogspot.co.uk/

FINISH with head Punky scrapper- Natalie www.njmacs.blogspot.com

When you are done give the sketch on Natalie's blog a try and apply to be on the team!

You have until August 5th to enter!

I can't wait to see your creations!

Now off you go to Tamara's blog: www.mumto2angels.blogspot.com

MuChOs SmOoChEs!
Michelle

Scrapping with unusual colors and funnies from the blogging front

I'm Googling like a mad woman trying to figure out why some of my teamies over at Scrap FX have new blog formats they can't "follow" people on.
Do you know what I mean?
Have you updated your Blogger blog lately and found your "follow" button now reads "share"?
What's THAT all about???
If you know, share please!
Google is NO HELP.
I can't  find articles no matter how many search terms I put into the search bar.
Which made me wonder- what search terms are landing people here?
These:

• 3 people found me by using: "fly story with stencil": That. Right there. Is awesome! FLY story? YES PLEASE! I luuurv me some FLY stories! 
• 3 with: "Puerto Rican Pride":  Ok. I got the pride. I have a digi Puerto Rican Flag permanently flying in my Pinterest account and it only gets pinned by other Puerto Ricans. Abrazos a todos! This is a scrapbook blog- if you can roll with that, we are main buds. Hey, do you mind sharing your flan recipe? Please?
• 3 with: "Scrap FX": WHAT? ONLY 3? MUST correct that! ASAP!
• 3 with: "stencil of Puerto Rican flag for": FOR WHAT? Guys, you've totally left me hanging! For baking? For rinsing beets with? What already?
• 2 with: "Billy drinking pop + red fern"- HUH? How are Billy's pop drinking habits connected to scrapbooking? RAAAANDOM! Red Fern? That's a book. I know from my searching Ebay for live ferns to buy. Yes I used to buy ferns, ON EBAY.
• 2 with "EK Success punches with settings": So cool! Now what are these settings you are looking for? You KNOW I'm going to be looking that up! I'll be finding myself next!

DOH!!!
I never posted my May True Xoxo Scrapbooking challenge page!!!
Swing by and play along!
Here it is:

I used Gauche Alchemy's limited edition Neon color kit to make this page.
You'll also spot some embossed lines I made with a score board and bone folder-
thanks to Melissa Mann for that idea. The chipboard alphas and flourish are from Scrap FX.
I used gel pens and neon pastel crayons to finish them.

And this? Apparently, I forgot I submitted a page a month in advance

Cosmo Cricket Heart in The Dark alphas and blackboard chippies, bling from Kaiser Kraft
Crafter's Workshop basket weave stencil, Tattered Angels Mermaid Glimmer glam, Smash tape and
some AWESOME EK Success stamps.

So swing by True Xoxo Girls are get to scraplifting!
I fully give you permission to STEAL THESE PAGES!
(Can I get a small mention though? Come on- you love me! Admit it!!!! )

Well hello there, gorgeous! (summer 2010)

MuChOs SmOoChEs!
And a digi PR flag waving! I'm a PROUD Boricua!

Taking it to the next level- The 2nd Floor Challenge

I've been going through a mini creative crisis this year.
It is an increasing challenge to stop all the internal chatter and just create.
There is always the question-who am I making this for?
Usually I'm making something just so it can go up here.
Perhaps that is why my work has so little influence.
It has no unique voice yet.
I made a promise to myself many years ago that when I got older I would write. I would create.
I would take many MANY pictures.
But I got lost along the way.
I decided chasing a corporate career and making money was important.
And I failed.
Spectacularly.

So now I am going back to that original promise and taking my talent seriously.
I am working on developing both my writing and my creative "voice".
I am an artist. Not just a hobbyist.
So when I read Julie Fei Fan Balzer's intro post on the Second Floor challenge.
I felt she was talking to me personally.

I've heard:
- Artists do not take photos of babies and family.
- People who call themselves "artists" are pretentious.
- Artists are too busy creating to run around calling themselves artists.

I let those statements quiet me for a while.
I've been called pretentious so many times I've internalized it and added it to the long list of labels for describing me.
Why is it ok to apply that negative label but not the more open and neutral label of artist?

The first step to any serious endeavor is deciding where you are headed.
You may detour many times along the way (it's fun) but you should have a clear vision of where you are going.
The final destination may change many times but to keep yourself motivated and focused those first few years you have to choose a path and GET TO WORK.

I choose the tools before me- a camera, some paper and some glue.
And I focus on WHAT I KNOW TO BE TRUE- my daughter, myself and my family.

So when I say I'm an artist, I'm thumbing my nose at convention AND taking what I do seriously.
Because I'm done pretending I'm "just a Mom".
I'm done calling what I do a "hobby" because I am so passionate about doing it I want to make it my career.

And so the need for the Second Floor Challenge.
I loved Nathalie Kalbach's Gold Paint post .
Using gold paint is the first challenge and its supposed to make you pause, freak out and think.
I love gold paint, gold glitter, gold thread but I have very little knowledge on how to use them effectively so this was a good chance to flex my creative muscle.

Here is what I came up with:

Toddler scribbles on water color paper painted over with gold paint. I sat on this for a
week. I tried a second page with Crafter's Workshop cloud stencils. I hated both.
So I combined the projects by cutting the clouds out and adding a sewn black border.
This could be more meaningful but for my first try at making something more abstract
 I can live with this. 

The Gauche alchemy punchinella is embedded in some Modge Podge.
The swallow chipboard is from Scrap FX.
I kinda wish I had added more of that black thread trailing from the clouds. 

A step in a long series of steps where the work isn't everything and the process also matters.
But I've never been very good at staying serious for long.

MuChOs SmOoChEs!
Michelle

On randomness, stencils and kraft issues- a Punky Scraps challenge

So it's time for the Punky Scraps "Get Picky"challenge.
This is usually the week I freak out trying to incorporate all the different elements Team A picks.
Yes I KNOW I don't have to pick all 10 but therein lies the challenge!

I'm a little insecure about what I came up with this week:

The Get Picky challenge items for this month are: kraft cardstock, a self portrait, 3 of something (cameras), masking and something red, metal (tiny attacher staples), something lucky (dandelions), fabric (ribbon), something pleated (ribbon) and stitching

I believe the biggest problem with this page is that the kraft paper- while awesome- is too dark for the Tattered Angels mists.

This is the mist color combo I used (I LOVE these by the way):

My Tattered Angels "Patina" bottle is getting dangerously low.
It's so hard to find!!

I like that the Sunflower color dripped in the bottom of the page and turned gold but the Frozen Lake color lost all it's luminosity.

I literally just added the black stitching and dandelion stencils after letting the page lie still over night- not sure if it's "rescued" but I certainly like it a lot more.
Here is how the page looked yesterday:

First draft. I shot this and realized it needed something
else. Not sure my solution helped the overall color problem.
I must admit- the overcast day lighting does not help.

In a somewhat related note- I'm in love with "The Paper Company" kraft cardstock!
I got a pack of 50 for 2 dollars at Joann's and the quality is really cool- darker, more rugged (sounds like a gorgeous man huh? laughing!!!)- perfect for mixed media experiments such as this.
And it's 8 by 11 so no measuring and cutting needed. WIN!
I'll use both kinds and call myself HAPPY!

Here is an alternate page to see if I could "lighten" the design up. I like the texture but the paper curled up so the second layer of mist went on wrong.

Crafter's Workshop "Squircle" is hella awesome!

Question for you experimental crafters- how the heck do you keep your cardstock from curling? I get curl no matter what I do- heat it flat, put a book on top over night- nothing works. 

Do you guys iron your pages while still wet?

The Crafter's Workshop "If You Believe" 6x6 stencil was hard for me to use as an outline because it's so delicate and flexible the stencil would slip around while in use.

Next time I'll use double sided tape to keep it still.

I decided to color the words in with a yellow neon highlighter and added Glossy Accents to see if the phrase would pop out more and it did.

I lack the design vocabulary to critique this.
It's not bad- it's just not what I call successful.
Has the same ever happened to you? The elements are all there but yet- it lacks.
Frustrating.

What I learned:
Kraft sucks up color like no other card stock so choose bright or paint dense formulas.
Crafter's Workshop stencils are fantastic just remember the artist tape.
Take risks more often.

What I need to learn:
How to mix gel medium or whatever so my gesso is thicker- tips anyone?
How to get maximum stencil madness with minimum paper curl!

GRATUITOUS TODDLER SHOT!!!!

WHY is everyone staring at Lola?? Clueless Mom adventures.

MuChOs SmOoCheS!
Michelle

The NEON Challenge!!

2012 is the year neon came back!
I'm seeing it everywhere.

Even on the lace bows of expensive french lingerie! 

Who wears neutral underwear with blindingly bright pink bows that cost 200 just for the bra?

MATERIALS: Bazzill grey card stock, Cocoa Daisy stamp, Cosmo Cricket’s DeLovely paper,
Crafter’s Workshop 6x6 chevron stencil, SC Mister Huey in white and chipboard from
Crate Paper, Sakura Gelly Roll pen outlines in fluorescent yellow,  neon pink twine,
Cosmo Cricket Heart In The Dark alphas and Jenni Bowlin flying bird punch.

To celebrate, I'm hosting a challenge over at DO MORE WITH LESS.
Yvonne Yam's awesome scrap style is both clean, modern and full of messy techniques such as paint, upcycled items and glitter.
How does she manage to pull it all off with nary a finger print or stray pencil mark on the page???
I aspire to that kind of control over technique.

This project was shaping up so well! Those finger prints are
UNINTENTIONAL and decidedly UNHAPPY accidents!

Perhaps you have some generic price stickers or neon pink twine lying around?  Most of Hambly's entire inventory qualifies. I've also found lots of great neon in Basic Grey (Out of Print) and Crate Paper's Random line.
Cosmo Cricket totally saw the trend coming because the entire DeLovely line is neon and it came out last winter.

Martha Stewart NEON GLITTER! EEEE!
25 dollars for the pack! Coupon time!

If nothing else Sakura makes neon gellyroll pens. (EEEEE!)
I tend to buy these every time I go to the scrap store because I use them on everything.
And there's always the 89 cent bottles of craft acrylic paint from the kids section at the arts and craft store.

Price stickers, 89 cent paints and thread.
At 5 bucks a pop perhaps thread is the purchase you want to save till
you've decided you love neon.

Swing by Do More With Less- you probably are already a follower- she's that awesome.
Thank you so much for the opportunity Yvonne!

My second project-you can do better I'm SURE! I do like the border. REDO TIME!
Materials: Basic Grey Life of the Party, Ki Memories NYC puffy, woodgrain fabric circles, Hambly
woodgrain washi tape,  EK Success peg alpha stamps, Scrap FX flying bird chip board, American
Crafts Zing embossing powder, K & Co Smash tape, Tattered Angels Glimmer Glam in Mermaid.

Ah bribery- the BEST way to drive traffic.
Here's what you get if you win the challenge:

GRATUITOUS TODDLER SHOT!!!!

MuChoS SmOoChEs!
Michelle