SPRING with Cosmo Cricket!

63 degrees today, 67 tomorrow?
Too awesome!!!
I'm so excited I could BURST!

I had a very busy scrap week.

I made this for an upcoming True Xoxo Girls challenge but it doesn't fit the challenge parameters so back to the drawing board it is.
The March challenge is finding inspiration on Pineterest. (click through to see for yourself)
Swing by and submit your page.
The winner gets a GDT spot on the team.

This page started as a design experiment with shapes. It was supposed to be really graphic but the further I got into it the more I realized it wouldn't attract an the audience that way so I added the pearls and Cosmo Cricket swirls- now I think it's too much of everything.
What do you think?

Materials: Cosmo Cricket Earth Love swirls, black board butterflies and Heart in the Dark alphas, Crafter's Workshop basket weave template, Tattered Angels Glimmer Glam in Mermaid, ZVA pearls and rhinestones swirls, K and Comapny Smash tape, Ek Success parenthesis stamps

Detail shots:

I have a guest spot coming up over at Do More With Less, Yvonne Yam's fantastic personal blog. I love Yvonne's highly innovative style and her ability to use messy techniques on perfectly crisp and clean modern pages- she's an inspiration.
I will be talking about the Neon trend and showing off a card and page project- feel free to swing by March 20th.

Sneaky peek!!! Do More With Less- March 20th

My page is still messy- I'm working up to a more clean style.

I am also trying to make my blog more relevant to my readers.
What do you like to read about?
What are your blogging pet peeves?
What would you like to see more?
I've been at it for over a year and feel like I've hit a rut. Fell free to give me your 2 cents and I will try to implement everything as best I can.

GRATUITOUS TODDLER SHOT!!!!

Sure! Get comfy why don'tcha?

MuChOs SmOoChEs!
Michelle

Kick up your heels with Punky Scraps

Hello there!
It's friday and that means it's time for a new Punky Scraps challenge!
Here is this week's photo inspiration challenge:

Roses, skullies and acid green? YES PLEASE!

Earlier this week I wrote in an "About Me" post that I can't wear heels.
I used to think I just "needed to get used to it".
By "it" I mean the wretched sharp Kudzu KNIVES that LEAP up my instep when I try to wear anything over an inch tall.
So like Peter Jackson- I gleefully sport Birkenstock (but not the cargo shorts- I'm not an Auteur).
It's not hip but HIP can go jump in a hot fuming lake of lava and take it's numerous medieval torture devices with it.
But not THOSE (pointing up). I can look at those foreverrrrrr.
And so I came up with this page (in less than 30 minutes- you can TOTALLY tell right???):

Core Impressions paper is the BOMB!!! Chevron embossing!!! This one is a rather sickly shade of mint green but look what happens when you sand it down a bit and shoot it in open shade! LOVE! There is also light beige one which is incredibly beautiful but only comes in the Pink Paislee Core Impressions Pack (linked- click away). Get the pack, say I.
Materials: Core Impressions Pink Paislee paper, Studio Calico exclusive script alphas, Jenni Bowlin flying bird punch, Basic Grey brads, Making Memories metal ampersand (LOOOOVE!!), Martha Stewart doily and multi butterfly punches, Doodlebug chunky glitter in white and white acrylic paint.

That shoe photo makes me sigh with unrequited materialistic love.
I would get them in Canary Yellow and wear them with snazzy dark wash jeans rolled up to show my fabulous calves.
I have awesome calves.
My ankles are fat though.
But lemme be positive. I have awesome calves.

Not a picture of my calves- that would be weird.
That rules is a sticker from the Dear Lizzy Neopolitan collection.
I wish they would include multiples of some of those designs-
they are so beautiful!!!!

I have 12 pairs of shoes in my closet- a very large collection if you saw how big our apartment was.
I wear TWO pairs.
My Birks from April till November 1st.
My Nike street kicks for the horrible months.
Here is how I look. ALWAYS.

ZOMG! I just love them!!!!

The other pairs are all event related and never see the light of day.
I prefer "events" that don't require I wear inflexible shoes- call me crazy.
If I hear one more fashionista declare that comfortable is ugly I will be very indignant.
Comfortable can be awesome.
Just layer the color and try to stay away from the cheap and stretchy stuff.
Enough said on the subject of "fashion".

GRATUITOUS CUTE TODDLER SHOT!!!!

Can you guess which apartment contains 1 little girl?
The  lobby of fill in the address here. :)

Join us this week over at Punky Scraps- we'd love to see what you come up with.

MuChOs SmOoChEs!
Michelle

11 random things- a post

I LOVE these type posts!
I love reading them. I love writing them.
Thanks Kristy and Leah for starting up the latest run.
Here goes:

There are five rules:
1. Post these rules.
2. Post a photo of yourself and 11 random things.
3. Answer the questions set for you in the original post.
4. Create 11 new questions and tag people to answer them.
5. Go to their blog/twitter and tell them you’ve tagged them.

Random things

1. March is the hardest winter month for me. I just want it to be SPRING already!!!!

2. I love math symbols and equations- they are so mysterious and beautiful.

3. My favorite writer is Terry Pratchett. Neil Gaiman is a very VERY close second.

4. I can't wear high heels, ice skates OR flats. I have flat feet. Shoe shopping SUCKS for me.
Before you ask- the tape is from the Labelbox app. You're welcome.

5. I stopped being able to watch graphic movie violence the second I learned I was a Mom.

6. I love ferns. How's THAT for random?

7. I love the New York Yankees but if they play the Mets I root for the Mets.

8. This is my tattoo. It's a Taino Cemi.
Can't believe I've never blogged about it before!

9. My idea of a good vacation involves hiking, my bicycle and possible burro riding. 

10. I love Laffy Taffy grape candy but only the big bars- the minis taste like corn syrup.

11. I'm easy to prank but tend to punch arms and yell a lot when it's over.
Also, I like this fish toy.

Questions from Leah:

1.  If you could cure one disease what would it be? Greed.

2. Your happy place is.. ? On my bike.

3. Favorite summer/winter activities? Summer- riding my bike and walking. Winter- scrapping and eating (I know but that's what summer bike riding is for!).

4. Most asked for recipe? My Guacamole- I put mango in it.

5. Person you admire the most? My sister Leticia.

6. Biggest crush when you were a teen? Ralph Macchio (grinning!)

7. If you could only listen to one band the rest of your years, who would it be? Oh SO EASY- U2!

8. Favorite time of day to get crafty? Anytime Lola sleeps!

9. When is the last time you got a traffic ticket? What was it for? I don't know how to drive (grinning again)

10. Your dream home is? 4 bedrooms with a garden larger than the actual house, lots of windows and closet space and there's a tree with a swing in it and my Mom lives near by and we have a dog and a cat and a chicken coop and maybe a goat. And the house is somewhere warm. And there is a scrap shop within biking distance. And my daughter can walk to school alone. And my husband has a garage to himself so he can wild out on his toy helicopter fetish.

11. Where do you want to live when you retire? Dave and I want to be wherever Lola goes. We've already talked about it.

I tag Misty, Margrethe, Miae, Gabriella and Cheryl. Guys please answer the questions above. I forgot to post my own and now am drawing a complete BLANK. 
If you want to participate or have already leave me a link so I can visit! I LOVE reading these posts!!!

GRATUITOUS ABUELA/ TODDLER PHOTO:

MuChOs SmOoChEs!

Michelle

Playing with photos! And a GAUCHE ALCHEMY DT CALL!

Perhaps you were expecting a Project Life Monday post?
OMG it's been 2 weeks! I'm SO overwhelmed with it right now!
I promise to have something ready this week!
I'm also low on new images so this weekend I got to work.
I took a walk and some photos.

Michelle K, whom I met through Instagram,
suggested the photo writing app- Phonto. I'm in looove!

Then I sat down and looked through all the photos and chose this one to share. (yay!)

Someone really doesn't like Valentine's Day....

Then I went online and looked at too many pin boards and found this website:

This was made using the website: http://strix.org.uk/stencil/

Then I answered emails, read Facebook updates and LoLed many times.
Then at 1am I got to work on my actual project.

Sneaky peek!
More to come on this neon inspired project!

It's 1am or NEVER because from 7am to around 9pm Miss THANG demands food, Daddy hugs, entertainment, food, juice, park, bubble bath and MORE Daddy hugs.
I do not get the spontaneous hugs.
Mostly because there are at least 4 Tom Cruise sofa jumping sessions I put an end to before brains meet wall.
It's a hard knock life. :)

But that is NOT what I wanted to talk about today!
Do you want a chance to sport THIS badge in your bloggity blog?

Then swing by Gauche Alchemy and get the full monty of becoming a blog writer, videographer or newsletter editor.
Gauche Alchemy is an awesome mixed media online store with monthly kits sure to inspire your work into funky new heights.
Are you wonky, irreverent, artsy and/or just plain coo coo for cocoa puffs?
Then you should consider working with us.
We're not the "cool" kids.
We're the weirdos sitting in the back with Santo Gold playing softly as we host staring contests and discuss how the meaning of life is 6.
But you KNEW that!
What are you waiting for? APPLY! APPLY!

GRATUITOUS TODDLER SHOT!!!!

What became of the 36 ounce box of Cheerios
Mom left on the kitchen table.

MuChOs SmOoChEs!
Michelle

My Scrap FX Design Team Audition

Have you checked out the Graphic 45 finalist auditions?
I just couldn't get over the level of talent! So many amazing details! The altered projects are incredible!
I suggest you swing by and see for yourself.
Paper Crafters Corner Industry Scoop- Graphic 45 Finalists
I only meant to take a quick peek and got totally sucked in.

In the spirit of the totally inspiring blogs I quickly visited- here is my Scrap FX Audition for the Spring 2012 term:

Altered Project:
Shabby Chic Curio.
This will be a gift for my Mom who's been wanting something like this for a very long while. I remember she had several large curio trays full of Holly Hobby dolls when I was little.

Made with Scrap FX Flutterby, Chicken Wire and Swallow chipboard, Gauche Alchemy Knick-Knack Paddy Whack Kit and Wedding Night White Mixed Media Color kit 

Buttons from Crate Paper and October Afternoon
Pins from Maya Road, Flowers from Petaloo

Clear embellishments and Platinum inked flower

Embossed Flutterby

Chalk Ink, glass powder and gloss glue Swallow

Key to my Heart card:

Made with Scrap FX Gear Key chipboard, Gauche Alchemy red punchinella and
corrugated board, Tim Holtz kraft paper and metal gears.

Scrapbook pages:

I love these scrolls. I tend to use chipboard naked as I like the neutral tones and here
I wanted to provide some contrast to the lace and florals already on the page. 

This page for the March 2012 True Xoxo Girls Challenge quickly came together once
I though to layer and sew the chipboard and vellum butterflies to the blank Instax print.

Tone on tone- this page almost didn't happen because I was so annoyed with
the slap dash look of the white paint- turns out it was the perfect foil for the title.
I wish I had 5 more of those! They are FABULOUS!

Fun with Instagram:

When I get "stuck" I stage mini tableaus that only exists as photos.
This is one of my all time favorites using Swallows Scrap FX chipboard,
Tattered Angels Sunflower mist and a Sunburst stencil from Crafter's Workshop.

Imagine my surprise when scrappy friend Amy told me my
New York Project had made the Two Peas Most Liked List!
To quote Sally Fields: You LIKE me! You REALLY like me!

What do you think? I'm hoping my eclectic style will stand out a bit.
I'd like to think I would bring a modernist design vibe to their beautiful products. We'll see how it goes.
I would not have applied if I didn't really love the products and it's been incredibly exciting (and educational!) to try to exceed the higher standards a DT application requires.
Fingers (and toes) crossed.

What I'm Working On RIGHT NOW:

Dreamer page for an upcoming Guest Spot at Do More With Less.

MuChoS SmOoChEs!
Michelle