Christmas gift tag love- A scrap FX design team post

Hi everyone!

I'm having SUCH a hard time creatively!
I haven't made anything in well over a week except for THIS:

Those clear acrylic beads are from Joanns and they rock my scrappy universe.
 The chipboard is from Scrap FX out of Australia.
A little bird tells me they are having a design team call soon!

I am very proud of it.
It's proof that I can make multiple mistakes,
mistakes UPON mistakes,
and still come out with a tolerably good looking Christmas tag.

I had this whole long Instagram post ready but deleted it.
Who wants to read about that?
Exactly- NO ONE.
Most people have decided to stay, including little old complaining me.
This is what I have decided:
I love IG.
I need IG to stay on top of scrap trends- it's the most immediate social media platform out there.

And if I want to get on ANY design teams I need to STAY on IG because that is the future of craft media and marketing.

So my compromise is that I will only post scrapbook related photos.
This is probably better in the long-run anyway.
Who wants to see each and every "cute" Lola shot I take?
Other than my Mom...
Who doesn't have Instagram.
I'll keep posting more family oriented images here.

Rockefeller Center.
There were a billion people here at this time- LUCKY SHOT!!!!

NYC street food. Roasted Chestnuts! SOOOOOO delicious!

Ferrara Chocolate and pastries at Central Park.

Off to see The Hobbit next- WHIRLWIND I tell you!
Chells out!!

CELEBRATE GOOD TIMES! Die Scrapperin Magazine Blog Hop is HEEEERE!

Hello from downtown Brooklyn, New York happy people!!

Welcome to the  2frollein Party Hop! 

Please come celebrate 2frollein´s first year anniversary

with Felicitas and Janna, the  designers, guests designers and friends of Die Scrapperin.

Join us for our Anniversary Celebration Blog Hop!

Find a wonderfully eclectic mix of fabulous celebration projects on 35 international blogs.

One year ago, preparations for the first 2frollein creative online class began. Scrapbooking and Mixed Media classes have followed since.

In November 2011 2frollein did their Impro-Scrap and since January 2012 they have also published the magazine, Die Scrapperin.

This would not have been possible without your support so we would like to say, "Thank You!". 

Please come and celebrate with us!

This is how the Party-Hop works:

A real party needs presents! And we got lots of them for you today :)

If you hop the Design Team blogs you have a chance to win the following: 

 a bundle of Die Scrapperin back issues (issues 2,3,4,5),

 the current May issue (no. 6),  or the August 2012 magazine issue (released in mid-August).

If you hop the Guest Designer blogs,

you have a chance to win 1 of 4 spots in our upcoming online classes

(September or November 2012). Please note: classes are in German!

If you visit our creative friends' blogs, you can win 1 of 2 craft product prizes

 with items from 4heures37, 7 Dots Studio, Kaisercraft, Kars, Nath's Design and Scrapbook Werkstatt!

Do you hop through ALL the blogs or only certain segments? YOU decide!

Important: you need to leave a comment in each blog hop group you decide to visit to be eligible for that group's prize!

When you're done, please come back to the 2frollein blog and leave a comment in the Party-Post

letting us know exactly where you've been (designer, guests, friends or all 35 blogs).

We will draw the winners from all comments left at the 2frollein Blog.

The Hop ends on the 25th of July 2012, 8pm CET.

Wieners will be announced on the 28th of July 2012

Ready? Let's get hoppin'!!!

Aurélie Pennec (Frankreich): http://liliema-scrap.blogspot.de/  

Birgit Krasenbrink (Deutschland): http://scrapinfeacted.blogspot.de/

Birgit Ott-Wiedmer (Deutschland): http://scrapissima.wordpress.com/

Cathleen Kick (Deutschland): http://cathisscrapblog.blogspot.de/

Clivia Schmidt (Deutschland): http://herzskoenigincs.blogspot.de/

Imme Hansemann (Deutschland): http://made-by-imme.blogspot.de/

Janine Eulert (Deutschland): http://janinee.blogspot.de/

Magda Bolinska (Großbritannien): http://mumkaa.blogspot.de/

Marinette Lesne (Frankreich): http://www.scraptherapie.com/

Marjan Pel (Norwegen): http://diekleinemeerjungfrauscrappt.blogspot.de/

Nina Stenzel (Deutschland): http://www.meinlebeninscraps.blogspot.de/

Petra Schwarz (Deutschland): http://einfachpe.blogspot.de/

Sandra Dietrich (Deutschland): http://mojosanti.blogspot.de/

Ania-Maria Wolniak (Polen): http://annamariawolniak.wordpress.com/

Antje Müller (Deutschland): http://www.iloveschnipsel.blogspot.de/

Bérangère Denis (Frankreich): http://chiknana.canalblog.com/

Claire Donovan (Großbritannien): http://www.hearthandmade.co.uk/

Daniela Gouletsas (Deutschland): http://augenblycke.blogspot.de/

Gaelle Ly (Frankreich): http://pouponnieredesfe.canalblog.com/

Kasia Krzymińska (Polen): http://czekoczyna.blogspot.de

Michelle Hernandez (USA): http://myanaloglife.blogspot.de/

Paula Castells (Brasilien): http://paulacastells.wordpress.com/

Aki Iinuma (Japan): http://kawaiisb.blogspot.de/

Anna Wach (Polen): http://i-like-grey.blogspot.de/

Beata Krowicka (Polen): http://by-lejdi.blogspot.de/

Birgit Kunte (Deutschland): http://www.biscrapt.blogspot.de/

Emma Boissot (Frankreich): http://carnet-de-scrap.over-blog.com/

Jasmin Schramm (Deutschland): http://www.cherishtheeveryday.blogspot.de/

Jenneke Knol (Niederlande): http://jenneke-justwhoiam.blogspot.de/

Kasia Tomaszewska (Polen): http://worqshop.wordpress.com/

Leah Farquharson (USA): http://amusing-to-create.blogspot.de/

Michelle Lagler (Schweiz): http://crela.ch/

Tanya Batrak (Ukraine): http://www.tanyabatrak.com/

Yana Smakula (Ukraine): http://www.zrobysama.com.ua/

Zarah S. Peterson (Schweden): http://www.zarischka.com

My work is mostly about my family and what's zinging about in my brain.

For my celebration themed page, I wanted to introduce the person who inspires me most- Miss Lola.

Thank you so much, Janna and Felicitas, for giving me this wonderful opportunity to share some work with your readers. I am honored to be sharing hop space with many of my all time favorite designers.

Printed my photos on resume/document paper by mistake and LOVED IT!

MATERIALS:

Paper Source Luxe white cardstock

Scrap FX retro flowers chipboard

Prima flowers

K & Co Smash washi tape

Hambly Studio mini transparencies

Studio Calico Mister Huey- Gold

Krink permanent paint marker

Maya Road star pin

Dew Drops- clear

MuChOs SmOoChEs!
Michelle

A day for honoring the dead

True Xoxo Girls November Challenge Page- swing by and participate!
MATERIALS: Ikea plastic cake doily (I know!), Core'Dinations Jenny Bowlin paper, Cosmo Cricket blackboard and naked chipboard, Prima flowers and leaves (painted black with acrylic paint), EK Success slim line border punch, Petallo velvet roses and Dahlia value packs (black and red), Tattered Angels Glimmer Glam in Oil Slick, Smooch Spritz in black and Silver

The Mexican holiday known as Dia De Los Muertos has always fascinated me. The tradition is a hybrid of long established rituals in Pre-Columbian Mexico and the Catholic religion brought in by Spanish invaders- oops- I mean- "Conquistadors". The celebration actually lasts 3 days and takes place during what is also known as "All Saints Day" and "All Souls Day"- a change brought by the Spanish when they found they could not destroy the practice outright.

Calaberas are the focus for Dod.
TIP- that's found fishing line in that circle-
guess where I'm off to scrap shop next?

I burned right through my black Prima and
Petaloo stash... LOVE the black velvet!!!

The colors, the pageantry, the flowers- Day of the Dead is wonderful!!!  Best of all- it's a time to remember those you loved and lost- to tell their stories and carry on their name.

I envy the cultural strength it takes to carry this tradition 500 hundred years into the present. I admire the joy it brings to what could be a sorrowful occasion. Perhaps you remember your Mother or your Abuelita today. Maybe you make an altar for Celia Cruz or Frieda Kahlo- Madame Curie or Helen Keller.

Untitled Day of the Dead page 2
MATERIALS: Gauche Alchemy Wedding Night White Mixed Media Kit, Bazzill Kraft paper, Mister Huey in Plum Thumb, Overdue and Hot Dog, Crate Random mini paper, Daisy D's rub on stitches (which have dried out and can't heat them up since they are on a roller- darn!)

These are my first Dia De Los Muertos projects and not remotely authentic as they don't commemorate anyone. I wanted to keep these light and showy since they are meant to grab your attention and hopefully draw you into this AWESOME Latin American tradition.

Gauche Alchemy Scarlet Fever Red Mixed Media Color Kit, some dollar store roses.

Traditional activities include

• visiting family graves and decorating them with beautiful floral and paper displays 
• making mini "altars" for your home and decorating them with colorful fruits and flowers 
• gathering with friends and family and serving heaps of food 
• making papier-mache, papel picado (cut tissue paper) or sugar sculptures

Photos came from a street art poster.
The Skull and crossbones cameo was found on Etsy.

Whatever you do, tell the tales of those who have passed on- do not weep- rather, weep and laugh and shout out with joy- your loved ones are now in a better place!

Results of a sugar skull workshop. Getting
those sequins to stick using only spit was
harder than it looked.

Today I commemorate
Leo the caretaker and bike rider.
Nakia who left us so young.
Neco and Maneca my great grand parents.
And Juan and Mita my grand parents.
Whom do you celebrate?
Whose memory do you sing praises to?

Hugs mi gente- pass it on.

Michelle

Cardtastic Friday!!! Two hand made cards.

Lola's been sick all week and hasn't been sleeping. I've had little creative time but I've really felt a NEED to make stuff. Rather than drive myself crazy trying to schedule pages in 20 minute intervals I've started making cards.
A master crafter can easily spend hours on a card using advanced techniques, check out Polka Cabana to see what that looks like, but I like to create a card in 30 minutes flat. Especially since I suspect many amy end up in the garbage anyway. But not best friend Gia- she's a keeper.

Gia's Birthday Card- I tried a new way of shooting this and really liked the result.
I placed the card directly in front of the light coming in the window and used a bounce card to light the front a bit more. I also over exposed this shot by 2 stops using my manual setting.
Materials: Gauche Alchemy ouchless corrugated board, Webster's Pages flower, Prima roses,
Elle's Studio banner, Canvas Corp burlap, Maya Road pins.

I made this card minutes before I met Gia for the first of 3 lectures on website design at Noble Desktop. Yup- I'm going pro people- blogging is awesome and I want to do it for bucks- maybe I'll finally land a paying gig too.

This shot shows more detail but it's flat.
I really need to invest in some photo staging material. 

Remember a million and  half years ago when I started my "Happy Mail" project and gathered all the real world addresses of my facebook friends? I haven't sent a single post card since!
I was talking to Cheryl the other day when she very politely pointed out she was still waiting for her card. OOOOOPS!
Here ya go sweets!

MATERIALS: Gauche Alchemy Scarlet Fever Red, Wedding Night White and Black Out color mixed
media kits , red punchinella, Fancy Pants filter doily, Paper Trunk Rockabilly paper (rose), Bazzill
Phoenix Swiss Dotted paper, Mister Huey in Plum and Schoolhouse, DCWV houndstooth paper.

This card will get mailed today- promise.
Cheryl got married recently. Swing by her blog, And Handmade Too, to check out her fabulous Rockabilly themed wedding. The wedding colors were red, black and cream which make for fantastic design.

Couple more scraps for the interior and we're done.
Hmmm- I need to fill in that receipt at some point...

I predict Cheryl will love the record shaped button on this card. I got it at a local thrift store here in Brooklyn called JUNK. It was the only one I saw that day but I'm going to go again to see if maybe I can dig a few more out of the huge bowls they are kept in.

How does Junk get away with charging 25 cents a button when
 they're displayed like this? Dave thinks I'm bananas for pointing this out as I wait
 in line to pay.  I stopped at 3 bucks- that's all the cash I had. 

It's now Midnight on the 28th of the month. I go check out Studio Calico as a regular schmo (dropped my subscription like I said I would)- you know what? I like this month's kit but I already have 90% of the products offered up and once again the only thing I wanted- AC woodgrain Thickers- are sold out 3 minutes into the game. NO regrets here!

Isn't this TOTAL awesomeness??? It's the Halftone app and I'm in LOOOVE!
I'm a  reformed comic book geek so this is reaching all KINDS of sweet spots!!

MuChOs SmOoChEs!

Welcome to the Xoxo Blog Hop!

Hiya!!!

True Xoxo is a great team- welcome to our blog hop!!
It was ALL I COULD DO to keep this under wraps for this long!
Lisa Murphy Watson (a wonderful scrapper if I may say so) threw the challenge down LOVELY!
My challenge? Channel master scrapper Ingvild Bolme. WOOOOHAA!
And here it is:

Wonder Wheel- New Year's Day 2011
MATERIALS: American Crafts white cardstock, Tattered Angeles Mermaid Glimmer Glam and Patina Mist, buttons fro m Basic Grey and My Mind's Eye, Chipboard from Dusty Attic, metal gear brads from Oriental Trading

This page is very different from what I normally do and I proved to myself that I can still rock the shabby chic/romantic vibe without getting overly prettified. Still, when I saw Lisa's challenge I WIGGED OUT.
Ingvild's design style is incredibly complex and uses lots of advanced technique.
Click here to check out her blog. But come back here ok? please? :)

Ingvild's a perfect choice for this challenge. She's got a very distinctive style that isn't easily imitated but can be used as a "jumping off point" for your own ideas and style.

First I made a list of themes I loved about her work.

• White background paper- negative space
• Turquoise paint- splatters and swishes
• Transparencies and sewn details
• Lots of texture with gesso, netting and edge distressing
• Black and white photos with blown out highlights
• Flowers, lace and other Prima products

I tried random swishes of a paint across the page but HATED IT!
I dabbed the page with the brush but hated that too.
Then, instead of throwing the page out, I stuck it to the wall and dabbed it more "confidently"with dripping paint- that's how I got that "tree" look.

My only problem with this photo is that it appears to be out of focus.

The photo looks fine in real life but when I take a picture of it WHAM!- no faces!

I then misted it with Tattered angels "Patina" and used my heat gun to dry it off- this lessened the warp I got from using Glimmer Glam.
The Dusty Attic gears were too thick to allow for direct to the page sewing so I referenced the effect by winding some floss around them.

The big blue rose actually started out pink but some misting and glimmer glamming whipped it into shape. I also tried to stay away from edge distressing which can get really ugly in the hands of the inexperienced.

Ingvild's stark white portraits are an inspiration but I decided to take it easy on myself. Rather than start a whole new shoot, I used images from the Polar Bear Club New Year's Dip my husband and I participated in January this year. He jumped in the freezing water and I got my boots wet trying to take photos- it was a truly fantabulous day.

So cozy in the 2 feet of snow...

Did you enjoy the hop? I sure hope so- thank you so much for joining us! Your next stop is back at Xoxo headquarters- thank you for commenting and following each blog- we really appreciate it and remember- it's the best way to win the grand prize- a True Xoxo Guest Designer spot!
But WAIT there's MORE!!!!!
I have a little give away of my own for new followers (and old ones as well- just leave a comment with your email or blog addy)

These lovely flowers are all yours- just swing back to this blog to find out
 who won October 20th!

CLICK HERE for your next stop- the Xoxo home page!

My pant cuffs and feet were completely soaked here- so is the sacrifice I make for me "art".

MuChOs SmOoChEs!

Top 10 of 2010

I just went over my scrapbook.com gallery and got a real look at my scrap progression through 2010. There's a definite style change- from frills and flowers to grids and stitches. Also- I stink at taking photos of my pages... I wonder what 2011 will bring?

I do have very definite scrap goals:
1. Use more spritz, paint and transparencies in my pages
2. Deepen my Photoshop skills.
3. Learn how to use my Leica in MANUAL so I can get exactly the shot in my brain.
4. Get published.
5. Get on a DT for a shop so I can get FREE monthly SWAG!

In no particular order (because really- I just can't commit) here are my Top 10 of 2010. Thanks to fave bloggers Alia, Lucy and Margrethe for this idea!! Please go by their blogs- these women are AMAZING!!!!

November- Date Night: Love that it sparkles. Love the mini pix.

October- Defy Expectations: Negative space- I held
back for  once.

April- 6 Months: frills, flowers and fabulousness.

August- Engaged! Lety & Berto: spritz madness

December- He Said/She Said: The photo is of the
bathrooms at IKEA- love the randomness of this page.

September- Out of a jar sprung Hope: This was a page
celebrating my daughter's birth. I got crazy with
the stitching and I LOVE IT.

November- 80's Child: Glad I used these photos- SO rad.

December- Feliz Navidad: After all the struggle with
 Christmas projects I was glad to make
 1 really nice project.

August- Precious: I combined some of my most favorite
elements,Maya Road Kraft envelopes, lace die cut
paper, flowers and spritz into 1 page.

August- Happy 2nd Anniversary!: Dave and I have been
together for 12 years- married for 2- it's been awesome.

I want to wish all me readers a very HAPPY NEW YEAR!! May your 2011 be filled with peace, hope, beauty and love. Thank you for taking some time for this blog- I deeply DEEPLY appreciate it!!!

AMOR, SALUD Y DINERO!!! (love, health and money)!
M.