Blown Away

I wanted to share a page I did about a week ago with a Pencil Lines sketch. This is a classic example of a sketch I didn't think was "my style" and papers I loved but would normally leave untouched.

MATERIALS: American Crafts Huckleberry Finn paper, Martha Stewart scallop dot border punch, MS lace corner punch,  American Crafts subway glitter alphas- turquoise and pink,  My Mind's Eye turquoise polka dot mat, Crate paper doilies, pop dots,  Crate Rainbow exclusive paper, Pink Paisley Sweetness collection cut-out roses, Prima flower centers, Liquid Pearls- pink, MLS and Cosmo Cricket mini alphas- pink, turquoise and yellow. Buttons and rhinestone from salvation Army, American Crafts Mementos frame.

Pencil Lines DT sketch

I sat down. I got up. I sat down. I got up. That happened for about 2 days until I dropped paint on it. I then had to hide the paint or incorporate into the layout. But something wonderful happened- I stopped caring. I let go. Out went my preconceptions of what my "current style" was and I just added and added till I was able to feel "finished". That was a great feeling. I was wading out into unfamiliar waters. I was using a sketch to think outside the box. I was working through my block and finding out I had more creativity than previously thought. Effing COOL!

So this week's lesson is: Keep calm and scrap on. Now I just need to get the Maya Road stamp that says so.

Amor, salud y dinero!
M.

Why are Valentine's Day pages easier?

I went through major drama putting together Christmas pages but for some reason Valentine's Day is much easier- why? Could it be that Valentine's doesn't have all the intense need for perfection that Christmas does for me??? Anyhooo..
Head on over to Paper Issues- there is now an ETSY shop!!! The kits available are THE CUTENESS! And VERY affordable. I am awarding them a BESTIE for... BEST PRICE POINT/CUTEST EMBELLIES. I bought a mini kit within seconds of visiting the store- can't wait to break it open and PLAAAY!
Here's my version of Pencil Lines sketch 219 by Rina McClune.

Fierce Creature
Materials: S.E.I With All My Heart papers, Hambly Studio Pink frames tranny, EK Success Abstract Flower edge punch,  Tattered Angels Glimmer Glam- Big Apple, Basic Grey chipboard alphas, Basic Grey naked alphas, C-Thru ATC Kit Love brads, K and Co fabric flowers, ColorBok bling hearts

That is a favorite series of photos of Miss Thang doing her piggie face. She was wearing a "Princess" onesie AND stomping the ground like a sumo wrestler. My child is F.I.E.R.C.E!!! Two snaps and a bad-ass folded arm stare. Amada is the Lolster's second name. I was still recovering from the c-section and stuck to my hospital room. I was scared to death that she wasn't going to make it so I named her the first thing that came to mind- Beloved.

Pencil Lines sketch 219 by Rina McClune

Aren't those SEI papers FABULOUS???? When I got the papers I looked at them for a while wondering if I liked them (?!!!) they are so different from what I normally use. But I got over that with the quickness. I LOVE the pearl gleam and glitter details they have. As usual both sides are equally beautiful so I cut 2 of them up to try to get in as much heart cuteness as I could.

LAYOUT PHOTO NOTE- use a bounce flash to get detail from an embossed or glimmer paper without blowing out the highlights. This requires you get an expensive flash unit but you deserve it no? Here I used my Nikon SB-28.  The flash unit is pointing up so the light bounces off the ceiling and looks like it's coming from a skylight. I shot this in the middle of the night with no weird flash effects.

Total product freak out- wish I had scored some more!
Colors left to right: Private Meadow, Mermaid, Big Apple, Oil Slick,
Golden Goddess, Dirty Martini and Blue Suede Shoes
Missing- Pink Lipstick and Espresso Bean

I used some more of that Tattered Angels "Big Apple" Glimmer Glam here. It's a true red- not almost Pink, not Wine, not Magenta- RED- in your face RED. Glimmer Glam is super duper saturating. I brushed some onto some orange Basic Grey chipboard letters and not an ounce of original color is to be seen plus the glam stayed raised and gave the letters some dimension. I'm in loooove. The glam stuck to my paintbrush, my fingers, the dinner table and more importantly- the metal spoon I left on the floor. AH HAAAAA! Next up- my acrylic and metal stash- will it stay glammed? Stay Tuned to find out.

Piggie FACE!

MuChOs SmOoChEs!
M.