Fun news! Ormolu reader feature

Just wanted top drop by and give a small toot that I'm featured over at the Ormolu blog today.
Yaaaaay!
I LOVE Ormolu products- they are the perfect small size, super bright and GREEN!

This page caught me completely by surprise.
I started by getting all Jackson Pollock on a piece of Jillibean Soup kraft paper and almost threw it out when I thought it looked to messy.
I starred at it for a while telling myself- SELF- YOU CAN'T THROW THIS OUT!! That paper was a DOLLAR.
I'm kinda strange.... But you knew that.
I then added the tone on tone Scrap FX chipboard which immediately focused the page and added the Studio Calico stamp on the bottom right to anchor the design.
The Sassafras Lass triangles went next to add some contrast to the chipboard and lastly I added the night photo, Ormolu "Super cool" tag and fabric flag on top to give it more pop.

The paint is watered down acrylic- the only thing that will show on kraft
I took apart an Amy Tangerine layered embellishment for the
"wish you were here".

When I was done I realized I was working with my lizard hind brain again- going forward with no real plan.
Very cool.
So thank you Ormolu- I got a lift on a rainy day!

GRATUITOUS CUTE TODDLER SHOT!!!

Learning to skip rocks.

MucHoS SmOoChEs!
Michelle

To redo or not, that is the question

If you are a frequent reader here you know two things
1. I talk too much. (Sorry)
2. I redo my work all the time.

I redo because I frequently get blank brain syndrome (made that up- Web MD can't help on that one) and have trouble coming up with new concepts but I'm REALLY good at spotting what's wrong with an older page.
So the redo is really an entry point for the next original project.

It's also a way to escape from the "I can't mess this up" loop.
If you frequently find yourself saying "I just have to get this right. I can't let these beautiful materials go to waste!"
Stop. You can always change things around. Use repositionable tape and let go.

Case in point:

Even lighting, more red to add contrast, a heart from the absolutely GORGEOUS  Prima wood veneer
collection and the addition of Jillibean Soup stickers- suddenly the page makes more sense.

You've seen me post this page at least 2 times before but only this time is it good enough to post.
I'm using Gauche Alchemy's Nearly Nekkid Mixed Media Paper Art.
I really liked the Jillibean Soup kraft cardstock alphas but I will admit to being a somewhat lazy scrapper. The amount of effort required to get these to look neat on a page is just too much for me sometimes so I scrawled my journaling in the nearest blank spot and called it a day.

I tried ignoring my mistake but when I hung the page up on my wall recently, I got a daily eyefull of personal scrap sloth and decided the evidence needed to go.

Easy-peasy redo. Ok not so easy- those darned itty bitty stickers
are nearly impossible to pull out their packaging without taking half
the other stickers out too so I use tweezers. EXCRUCIATING!!! But worth it.
Also- commas- I need one. 

Don't ignore the problem. Rise above it.
I'm speaking to myself most of all here.
another long week of no photos- a brief pause on my Project Life album but no worries, I will return for week 9.

What I'm working on RIGHT NOW:

Gauche Alchemy Knick Knack Paddy Whack kit.
I'll let you in on a secret: paint SCARES ME.
So this is killing me!!
Talk about WHAT IF I MESS IT UP? syndrome

MuChOs SmOoChEs!
Michelle

Scrap FX. RAD awesomeness- scrapified!

Scrap FX is having a design team call.
Their first ever.
This. is. monumental. Exclamation points. Many. Lots.
I love Scrap FX product. As in, I LOVE it.
I don't USE it.
I COLLECT it.
Like my Mom collects Lladro porcelain.
Like a jealous squirrel preparing for a long winter.
Have you ever gotten between a squirrel and her winter hoard?
It's not pretty.
Squirrels are TOUGH and they jump pretty far.
STOP LAUGHING.
A chittering squirrel advancing upon you in short barky hops is TERRIFYING.
You know it's giving you the old-school dress down.
Especially Manhattan squirrels- such SNOBS.
A. NY.WAY
5 projects are needed for the application.
This is my first:

You'll be able to see this page in the August 2012 issue of Scrapbook Trends Magazine

I've had that New York chippie in my stash since summer 2011. I bought it in Salt Lake City for 5 entire dollars.

Yes that's FIVE DOLLARS. FIVE! I loved it too much it had to be mine.

Materials: Scrap FX New York Chipboard,  Jillibean Soup Fresh Mushrooms paper,  Sassafras Lass In Retrospect paper (diamond stars), bicycle clip from World Wide Co, Studio Calico Awesome stamp, American Crafts Zing powder in black, Ormolu chevron fabric flag, tin pin and "cool" spot, Amy Tan hearts fabric strip and "wish you were here" sentiment, My Mind's Eye journaling card, white acrylic paint for splatters

I have weighed the ramifications stemming from an application for weeks.
Do I have the time to participate?
Do I have good ideas to to share and break out into tutorials?
Am I able to sell the product in my writing because I use it and love it so much?
Yes, yes, Oh HECK yes!
Am I awesome enough?

White acrylic paint watered down just a bit. All white colored
mist products just disappear into kraft card stock.

That last question is of most importance. I can't really answer it.
I have decided to just go ahead and throw my hat into the ring anyway.
Fingers crossed they will like my artsy urban Brooklyn girl style.

Things I love:
Insta frames, stamps,  iPod photos, the word awesome, woodgrain,
arrows, fabric embellishments, pop up elements and kraft paper. 

If you haven't heard of Scrap FX before, let me show you why I love them so much

(All product photos copyright Scrap FX).

These are my favorite products from the latest release:

Brick pattern good for mini book covers, misting to use
as a template or RAD city life themed projects!

Chicken Wire- I like to break these up and add them as layering to a page.
 Like here: (click on this link- please? smiley face)

I love all the different styles in this mini pack.
Great for adding emphasis to journaling,
pointing out the funny bits in a photo or to sprinkle
on a page to give it graphic UMPH!

Ampersand. Scrap FX offers an ampersand pack with
a different fonts- imagine that!
You could sprinkle them all over the page like HERE. 

The deadline is March 9th.
Are you awesome enough?
I think you are.
Go on and apply.
Here's a US distributor if you need to hoard up.

GRATUITOUS CUTE BABY PHOTO!!!!!

New Hipstamatic Loftus lens and DC film from the Foodie SnapPak.
LOVE the lens blur and crisp color!

MuChoS SmOoChEs!

Scribble scribble

Lola drew all over the toilet cover.... and all over the sink cabinet... and on several towels.
1 box of crayons and 10 minutes in the bathroom while I was trying to take a shower- that's all it took.
As my Mom would say "PRIMERISA!"
First timer!
Never look away during the crayon phase!! Which means I'll be staring at her till she's about 6, doesn't it?

But I guess I'm weird (or limited edition- heh heh) because the crayoned up toilet cover is staying- I like it- it's unique. The towels were fine after a good wash. No photo of the toilet- the idea of showing it skeeved me out- sorry.

I'm trying to find different ways to organize shapes on my pages- I feel this one hasd too much white space in the middle and looses the viewer- what do you think?
Materials: Jillibean Soup folder, Pink Paislee border strip, Sassafras border strip, Studio Calico exclusive red woodgrain, journaling tag and doily from K and Company

Also, over at Gauche Alchemy, fellow team member Christina is showing a gorgeous mixed media piece she made with with an old t-shirt, seed beads and a few strips of punchinella- it's really great work click the link above to check it out.

Salt Lake City mountain and sky

MuChOs SmOoChEs!
Michelle

Inspiration/Innovation: Discovery and Creativity

I cannot BELIEVE it's already June 27th! I spent all winter yearning for summer, now summer is here but I'm not taking full advantage of it. Part of it is the sharp shooting pains in my lower back. I can't really carry Miss Lola's stroller up and down the 4 flights of stairs to my walk up apartment. I really REALLY wish we lived in an elevator building. I say this each and every single time I leave and return "home". I am SO ready for a huge change in lifestyle!
Whatever. Today is Monday and so I am determined to SIEZE the day!
Here is a page promised last week:

Materials: Jillibean Soup Monsters paper, corrugated alphas and scallop frames, Sassafras Lass papers and Entwined Blooms, Maya Road star pins, clouds from American Crafts paper, Bird from Paper Issues Etsy store kit

Over the weekend I saw a FASCINATING documentary on Origami. I've always loved the mathematical and transformational nature of that paper folding art but the practitioners in this documentary take it to a whole new level. what they do is simply AMAZING and their work is not just decorative- it's being studied by NASA for possible use in transportation and fueling projects! I was floored. But it reminded me of the tiny line that exists between artistic creativity/ inspiration and scientific discovery.
Check it out: Between The Folds. We streamed it on Netflix and let me tell you- it was the most though provoking hour I've spent in a long time.

Two artist quotes to ponder:
First- "(Referring to his Origami work) It always feels awkward and like it's not gonna work and then it does".  This dude is saying this while literally twist smashing his 3 hour long project to make it swirl- it was excruciating (fascinating!!!) to watch!

Two- " The process of making is the object. The object (your project) looks good if the process of making it felt good" This guy had a very meaningful quote about how people tend to value paper "eliphants" that look like real "eliphants" and how people get caught up in the literal and ignore abstract art's ability to make you see the world differently but every time he said "eliphants" I busted out laughing.

Yes! It's the journey- the discovery- the working that matters- not the actual final product. This is why I take photos! This is why I make unpretty pages (sometimes)! It's MORE than the final product for me- it's about playing and discovering and communicating.

Is it the same for you? Do you like loosing yourself in the process? Or is the final product what you want? Both are equally valid and good if you ask me.

So there you are- a clue on how to follow your nose into the great dark that is "creativity"- wise words from paper obsessed men.

MuChOs SmOoChEs!
Michelle

My crazy craft desk

Not sure what happened but Lola napped for 3 hours yesterday! After I was done cleaning and cooking I almost got bored!
Thankfully I came to my senses and got to work. (YAY!)
Here are the results:

Imagine part 2
Materials: Jillibean Soup Monsters paper, K and Co Amy Butler  Sola paper,  October afternoon journaling tags,  Sassfras Lass doily sticker, Making Memories Paper Reverie butterflies, Tattered Angels Mist in Patina

I have a second page I will save for later as this post will be more about my lack of scrappy organization. After 2 hours of scrap time my desk looks like this:

I am not ashamed! 

Living in a 400 square foot apartment (Yes, I live my whole life in a walk-in closet's floor space) makes organization a CHALLENGE. I don't have the space for organizer shelves to keep everything in view so when I have a productive day it takes several more days to clean up. The result is I rarely clean the desk. My favorite products are all in pampers boxes under the desk. It's a crazy way to innovate but it will have to do till we Escape from New York.

I do keep my Studio Calico kits together and organize my papers by manufacturer. The countless stamps, alphas and other embellishments are all kept in 12 by 12 boxes on my book shelf. Giving my books away was traumatic.
 I know how it looks. I imagine the shuddering. I have stopped shopping for 2011. It will be hard when Summer CHA products come around. I've already spotted the new Pink Paislee Mistables Collection that will make it into one of my Pampers boxes. I just can't buy the whole collection like before.
Little steps people- little steps.

Look! It's Sassafras Lass' Sunshine Broadcast!

MuChOs SmOoChEs!
Michelle

Craft Elf! No- craft GREMLIN...

Lola is a constantly amazing me. Naturally I think she's a genius and incredibly fascinating- and funny- and adorable- the most lovable thing since sliced bread with lemon curd and cool whip on top.

Here she is casing the join for paper to DESTROY. This is her new hobby- make Mommy scream in anguish. I love her- this is proof- anyone else going into my plastic cases would get the ol' heave ho.

I created this page for the PAPER ISSUES Christmas Challenge. Go check this website out- there are so many spectacular projects there I can hardly stop reading and looking to make my own.

Craft Elf using Pencil Lines sketch 215 by Jennifer Matott

The circles have photos of my favorite ornaments.

Here are Lola's:

These are constantly coming off the tree and traveling to far off places- like the bathroom. 
I love felt ornaments. The more rudimentary they look the more I want them. This year I'm stalking West Elm and Lord & Taylor- when they have their 75% sales I am SO there!

For the second Christmas page I used Core Impressions Cosmo Cricket neautrals. The paper is Turquoise but of course the scanner turned it green. I had a devil of a time trying to turn it back and didn't succeed. I really need to take some advanced photoshop courses...

Anyways I also used some felt, some wire ribbon for the borders and strips, a Jillibean soup kraft tag and packaging for the journaling and my new favorite embellishment string. The gold border is German and I got it from Vintage Images In Time- an Etsy shop.

I love stitching! It allows me to talk, listen and think but not watch tv- it's the ultimate zen craft.

Talking to Santa Giraffe 

MuChOs SmOoChEs!!
M.

My First Christmas Page!!!

I DO NOT do "theme" pages. I DO NOT do "Happy Birthday" or "It's Halloween" or "You're PREGS!?? YAAAY!" Why? It's hard. So here's my simple page- simple does not mean easy. I struggled with this for 4 days. Mostly because I'm trying to be unique and mostly because I have no Christmas photos yet so go easy- or get picky- both help. :)

Black Friday- unlit

Black Friday- LIT!

It's supposed to be funny. Yes ok... tomorrow I go to take some real Christmas shots...

Used in this project: Embossed Twirl paper from Paper Presentation on 18th street, Glitter leaves from Michael's, canvas flowers from Jillibean Soup and filament lights from Pottery Barn. The lights are awesome! They run on batteries so I don't have to worry Miss Lola will electrocute herself when she goes after them on our mini tree.

MuChOs SmOoChEs!

M.