Inspiration Elevator Challenge- scrappy layers

Our main purpose here at IE is to challenge ourselves, each other and YOU to take the creative process to the next level;  to inspire growth and change in our scrapbooking beyond the mundane.
You can see all of Inspiration Elevator's previous challenges at on Facebook .

 This month's challenge is issued by the creative Katherine Sutton. Katharine has a fabulous, eclectic style where she showcases all kinds of mediums and keeps the focus on her great photos. This month she has a warm seasonal challenge for us. Here it is in her own words:

" 'cos Autumn is all about layers of leaves and layers of jumpers (in the northern hemisphere) I would like to challenge you to add lots of layers to your page....this could be layers of paints, inks, stamps, papers, glassine paper, acetate....lots of lovely layers."

 My page started as a mass of pop dot clusters all over the page but I realized I wanted a more clean look because I wanted to display this page in my office..

Papers, die cuts and chipboard are all Crate Paper. Flair is from A Flair For Buttons on Etsy.

I lost my precious iPod Touch a couple of weeks back so I had very little material to work with.
Thankfully a friend who lost her entire photo library last year (THE HORROR!!!) convinced me to back-up everything up into iCloud so my photos are safe.
I just don't have access to them till I buy a new Mac device and since I refuse to pay outrageous data charges or buy a new iTouch with an inferior camera it's gonna be a while before I can print my pix.

Die cuts are the easy way to create layers. 

We encourage you to check out each designer's creation this month: here's a complete list of this month's participating designers!

 Katherine Sutton

Lisa Moen

Lisa Speigel

Ann Jobes

Michelle Hernandez 

Jayne Morgan

Christa Uttley 

Wendy Robinson

Why not give the challenge a try yourself? Then pop by our Facebook page and share with us what you created!

I have a second back up- Flickr. So this fall photo is safe.

Thanks for swinging by!

Skissedilla selected scrapper for October

Hello scrap happy folks!

It's been an eventful week for me and I am so glad to finally share this latest scrapbook page.

I'm the featured scrapper over at Skissedilla for October. yay!

Things are changing for the challenges- instead of  a sketch a week there's only one a month.

Skissedilla has a GREAT design team with plenty of raw inventive power- I suggest you swing on by and check it out.

Here's my solution to this month's sketch:

I loved the sketch but I got caught up in the literal- how to make that sunburst pattern look fresh and new?
Silly rabbit- just make the page! The flair is from A Flair For Buttons. The chipboard from Scrap FX.

The actual sketch:

Challenge 228

A close up:

Whenever I get stuck I start cutting strips of paper. No matter how
bad the mojo is I always seem to respond to stripes on a page.

And here is the RAK up for grabs to one lucky winner:

Some beautiful Art Deco inspired frames from Scrap FX and flair from
A Flair For Buttons and Bluebird Chic on Etsy.

Thank you so much to Skissedilla for asking me to join the team for October- I was THRILLED when I got the email.

One great thing about living in Salt Lake City- farms everywhere-
on the way to the mall- the BIGGEST tomatoes , peppers and
cucumbers are there for the picking. We bough 3 bags of fresh produce for 5 bucks.
Can't beat that with a bat!

Hope you have a great week!
Michelle

True Xoxo and If It's Groovy BLOG HOP!

HIYA folks!!!

Today's post is dedicated to the If It's Groovy and True Xoxo Girls Challenge crossover blog hop!
WHEEEEE!

Here is the blog hop order:

Representing January we have: Wendy & Christa

Representing February we have: Michelle & Michelle H - You are here. HIYA!!!

Representing March we have: Wendy & Miae

Representing April we have: Heather & Jaclyn

Representing May we have: Lindsey & Deborah

Representing June we have: Brenda & Khristen

Representing July we have: Jean & Tess

Representing August we have: Rochelle  & Faye

Representing September we have: Kelly & Tiffany

Representing October we have: Kelly & Alaina

Representing November we have: Heather & Kimmy

Representing December we have: Deborah & Queen Kat

And the purpose of this hop is to make a page giving meaning to a particular month of the year.

My chosen month is February.

Materials: Basic Grey Fact or Fiction paper and embellishments, October Afternoon 9 to 5 stickers,
Studio Calico fabric rips and vellum arrows from Twine + Ink at Two Peas in a Bucket.
Yellow paint from Kaisercraft and mist from Studio Calico

I... dislike... February.
February means early evenings and long cold nights.
There are no benefits to cold weather no matter what poet Nikki Giovanni tells you.
Cozy doesn't cut it!
But February also means lots of red in the stores (thank you otherwise meaningless holiday Valentine's Day!)
AND it's my birthday.
For those reasons alone, I tolerate February.

So happy to have some vellum arrows! Now I get to indulge my
need to layer them all over my pages. My camera is in the shop so I'll be
scanning all my projects from a few months. I removed the chipboard from behind the
Basic grey "Fiction" butterfly so it flattened out completely.

This year I am a proud 39 year old woman.
I don't worry about being old or about the smile lines sprouting around my mouth and brow.
39 is a chance to start fresh and have some experience under my belt.

Not exactly deep journaling but it's my mantra for the month of February. 

For this page I wanted to use a color not usually associated with winter- yellow.
It's my favorite color and how I keep myself from FREAKING OUT over the weather.
I put bring cheery colors all over my pages- pretend I don't mind being stuck inside for three months and soon it's SPRING and I sigh in relief.

Thanks for joining in today- you next stop in the blog hop is:

Wendy - http://disneydarling07.blogspot.com/

Xoxo!
Michelle

Skissedilla challenge #186 accepted!

Happy Saturday folks!

I'm feeling sad right now so I completed a challenge page for the art scrap website Skissedilla using my absolute favorite Scrap FX piece EVER.

(Thanks for reminding me Scarlett! I love this challenge site but constantly forget to check in!)

Here's the page:

I outlined the border and left it alone- the design itself does most of the work.

Here's the Scrap FX flourish chipboard I used: (item number 2010287)

Swing by Skissedilla and give the sketch a try!

Thanks for swinging by!
Michelle

Vellum confetti- A paper crush (and a True Scrap Challenge)

Hello there!
Today I am sharing my latest inspiration page for True Xoxo Girls July Challenge.
The prompt for June is Scrap Your Closet!
I know- BANANAS!
But totally fun!

Here's my page:

Scrap FX June challenge- Scrap Your closet
Materials: Sassafras Lass paper and stickers, Gauche Alchemy doily washi tape, Scrap FX "Adorable" wordlett,
A Flair For Buttons "Believe" button, Viva Decor pearl pen, American Crafts Dear Lizzy mini doiles,
Ek Success bird punch, Martha Stewart heart confetti punch, brads from Basic Grey

So what does "scrap your closet" mean to you?
Some ideas the True Scrapbooking DT came up with:

• choose the most frequent colors in your wardrobe for your page
• make your closet layout into a sketch (GENIUS!)
• cheat (like I did) and scrap about your TODDLER'S closet since yours is full of grey and black duds.

Here is a fuzzy Instagram of Miss Lola's closet:

It's all about the turquoise, magenta and yellow this year.
I wish this was MY wardrobe!

Some project detail shots:

Vellum confetti! I added water droplets and bling to give it a bit of sparkle.  I layered
2 punches for each bird and bent the wings up for first layer of each so that they
cast a shadow. 

Scrap FX Adorable wordlet 2012126.
I used a Viva Decor pearl pen in Ice White to give the title that pearl finish.
I LOVE this product! I've had a couple of these pens for a while now but I haven't used them- MISTAKE!
They dry incredibly fast (beating Stickles glitter glue by miles), add perfectly formed pearls to your paper projects
(check it out here) and the color is great for covering darker colored alterables like chipboard.

Swing by the challenge and give it a try! It's FUN!
The challenge closes July 31st so you have plenty of time to shop for more clothes (ha!- we all know it's PAPER you spend your cash on!))

Parting shot!

My Mom went to Pennsylvania and all I got was this LUSCIOUS collection
of vintage buttons!!! THANKS MOOOOM!

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

XoXo- I heart U!

Have you not tried a scraplift challenge over at True Xoxo Girls? Really? No way! 

The prizes are always AHHMAYZIN'! 

The design team is wonderfully diverse so you are sure to find a style you can "lift" each and every month. I encourage you to head on over and try it out.

Here is April's lil ditty from moi:

BUSY BUSY BEE
MATERIALS: MLS City by the bay paper, SC cloud rub-ons, airplane and yellow alphas,
Bee and circles from DCWV Artful Life pad.

 It was late. Miss Lola was giving us hell. I was worried about MIL in hospital recuperating from operation (Get well Reyna!). Anxiety attack! So I started putting strips of paper on this LUSCIOUS piece of buttery yellow MLS paper (which I got for the brick pattern on back). I added a salvaged piece from previous night's MAJOR PAPER DRAMZ- 

(an SC Schoolhouse red bottle that I spilled onto my fave grid print- THE HORROR- seriously- I wigged out) and a cut out bee from a FABULOUS DCWV Artsy Life pad and... Whaaaaaaa?... 

Something happened- 

MAGIC!!!!!!!! 

A page I LOOOOVE. 

Red/white/blue twine? HEART U!!! Got it at reallyreasonablereason.com

How much do I covet that yellow fabric print from MLS?
MUCHO MIS AMIGOS!

First handmade embellie- K and Co handmade fabric

New avatar I'm trying out still love the old one.

Quick enlarged look- I need to rethink my 3 column blog design. ;)

MuChOs SmOoChEs!
MICHELLE

Color ROCKS! Let's celebrate!

Color is just too awesome. Fuschia, Turquoise, Canary Yellow and Cherry Red are my favorites closely followed by Kelly Green and Orange. My house is currently sporting orange and green walls (separate rooms- I'm not completely insane). Many people LOVE the look when they visit (once they get over the mess) but if I tell people my walls are orange they CRINGE. I get a lot of: How do you DO IT? How does your mind rest. REST? Who has time for that? I have an 18 month old! She spends her time knocking down everything OR trying to get in the garbage can- that reminds me- we need to get a lockable garbage can.

Here's my page for Moxie Fab World's Tuesday Trigger- you have until Sunday March 27th to enter:

Miss Lola Learns to Walk
MATERIALS: Bazzill Tangerine Blast, MLS alphas, Prima green felt scroll, Sassafras Lass Beatnik Buds,
Adirondack brights paint daubers in Citrus and Sunshine Yellow, Tattered Angels Glimmer Glam Golden Goddess, Kaiser Craft bubble wrap stamp.

Orange in our small dark living room makes me feel happy and focused. I need the energy let me tell you. The green in Lola's room is restful and calming. But right now it's all about Citrus colors. I'm seeing this color combo everywhere. Here's a layout from way back in 2010 that needed some green and yellow to give it more POP:

Lola LOVES Mangos! August 2010

Orange just makes me HAPPY! Now go out and make your own project for that Moxie Challenge! Don't forget Paper Issues has some wonderful scrap goodies for 1 lucky follower or Favorite Things project linker. My first give-away will be chosen this friday- keep those fingers crossed- if you aren't busy scrapping that is. :)
Here are some happy color shots:

Love the texture here- can I recreate on paper???? Hmmmm...

Lola finds my receipt file and I let her play so I can wash dishes in peace.

MuChOs SmOoChEs!
Michelle

Cityscapes are HOT!!!

That's according to trend watcher extraordinaire Moxie Fab World. I've tried to tackle a cityscape project for 4 months now but somehow the page always ends up looking messy in a drab and uninspired way (Like living the the Bronx Ahahha haaaah! Don't kill me!). Today I was feeling down- it's SNOWING in NYC. Momma Nature obviously did not get my tweet- it's SPRING chica!!!!! SHEESH!

Miss Lola is also trying to get over a nasty cold and refusing to sleep on her own- or at least she was yesterday- today she gave me 2 hours to myself!!!!! I'm SO THANKFUL!!!!

Here's what came of it:

This IS Home
MATERIALS: We R Memory Keepers cityscape lace, Crate Paper Toy Box and Neighborhood paper and stickers, My Little Shoebox alphas (most AWESOME alphas EVER!), my new signature- yellow string all messed up into a ball, Fiskars Cloud punch, Martha Stewart jewelry tag punch, Maya Road bingo motif

I'll submit this to Moxie Fab World's Cityscapes are on the Rise challenge and see what people think. There are so MANY gorgeous cards there- seriously guys- go check out the beautiful work already posted. http://www.moxiefabworld.com/2011/03/cityscapes-are-on-rise-challenge.html

I had a lot of fun making this and not only because Lola was asleep. I used the scraps off my table again because my stash is so disorganized right now it's actually keeping me from feeling like I can tackle a more detailed project.

I LOVE the new Crate Paper collections- ALL of them! I added a few details here and there and will try to keep the rest for a Crate specific page. Did you know you are more likely to be picked for a DT if you can limit your projects to 1 one brand? That was a tip from a Paper Issues CT member who shall remain incognito but she's my fave blogger right now and a very VERY talented lady whom I sincerely thank for sharing. It must be SO ANNOYING to have to talk down uppity whipper snapper team members from their respective scrap ledges all the time. Hello Michelle- GET A LIFE and stop WHINING!!!! (That's me talking- she would never say that- she's nice) As for how I will use the info.. I haven't the foggiest! One of the things I like MOST is mixing brands up. So I'm in more trouble than I thought...
Then again I did promise not to apply to any more DTs as I get all maniacal about it... so I'm safe FOR NOW!  MUAH HAH HAH HAH HAAAAAAAAAA!
Some cool shots- Hipstamatic is AWESOME for Mojo upkeep.

These are SO on my next page!!!! Maybe it will be another cityscape page- Moxie is giving you till the 28th so get scrapping mi gente!!!

OH and before I forget- don't YOU forget to drop by PAPER ISSUES Blog Hop and take a looky look at the linked projects and DT member creations there- lots of great give-aways and inspiration. I sure learned a lot when I went through everyone's blogs this weekend- mainly that I'm SO GLAD I'm part of their team.

Page again with no sidebar interference...

MuChoS SmOoChEs!
Michelle (why keep my name secret right?)

My big Announcement

I wanted to post news of a fun development in my scrapbook life-  I made another DT for a great scraplift challenge blog.  YAY! But my name and the names of fellow new DT members are not online yet so I want to hold back just in case.
This for an upcoming challenge on that site but it doesn't hit all the parameters so THIS page is nixed :

And another page which will be on hold till the website XOXO GIRLS (Hee hee hee hee HEE! and much delighted wrangling of the hands) goes live with the news.

He Said/ She Said

Materials: Cosmo Cricket 1934 grid paper, Shabby Chic Crafts word bubbles, Maya Road Acrylic people (digi altered), Sassafras Lass Monstrosity paper, Martha Stewart multi butterfly punch, K and Co mini embossed alphas, Smooch spritz in black, Prima vine (digi altered), Ranger Acrylic paint dabber in black.

This page is about the inevitable arguments couples have. Specifically how Dave and I always argue about 3 things:
1. He thinks I spend too much time online shopping and reading blogs. (He wins)
2. I think he's bananas with a generous side of nuts for buying electrical gadgets. His latest is an electric skateboard imported (much to our dismay as it arrived- broken- 3 months late) from the UK. (I win)
3. I think he should wear his wedding band at all times. This is a draw as get this- HE LOST HIS WEDDING BAND IN THE BATHROOM AT WORK!!!!!! Yes you read that right!!!! He left it on the wash stand!!! But I'm no better. I just lost a diamond off mine because I literally NEVER take it off- not even for  the yearly REQUIRED upkeep. DARN!!!

But we both agree on one thing- Miss Lola is the Beez Kneez.



MuChOs SmOoChEs!
M.