Debonair !

I was so happy with my altered acrylic stand made 

during the Webster's Pages 12 days of Christmas crop 

( taught by Iris Uy ) 

that I had to do another one with a masculine take , since the opportunity arose . 

This pic of our debonair friend  from our church 

was taken during last year's year end party . 

Their theme was Flash Forward & 

everyone was supposed to come dressed as  

who they would dream to be in 10 years' time . 

One of this young man's dream is to become a top investor 

& A  is in fact in the financial industry at the mo. 

I had fun using some silver & gold mixatives on a Tim Holtz compass mask here . 

The paper is G45's A Proper Gentleman line 

which was perfect for my purpose . 

I also took the opportunity to use up some Tim Holtz hardware 

- game spinners , metal corner , word key ...

My first batch of G45 masculine cards were well received & all used up ,

so I also took the time to make some more . 

For this card here , the sentiment  is by Creative Imaginations . 

I also cut out a Cuttlebugged star with some GM Tattered Leather smooshed on it . 

Love the effect ! 

ICSketches #55

Have you been kind to your dreams 

in 2010 , blogging friends ? 

I more than hope so for you  . 

The year has been off to a roaring start for me 

as far as I'm concerned, even when sometimes 

daily situations conspire to throw me off my feet. 

I just keep on looking up !

Supplies used : GCD Studios' Artsy Urban pps & embellishments , 

Prima lace and

 MS pinked scallop border punch

 (which I highly recommend in terms of ease of punching ,

 love the doily lace punch the best for the design but punching it ain't no fun sometimes . lol. ) 

We have another new awesome sponsor this week, Sew Many Cards owner Angela is giving the winner for ICS #55  5 Free Images of their choice as prize. Remember to link up your creation here .

Are you gaga ?

So this was my original take of the Scrappiest Sketch 53 this week .

(See my post below for a take 2 )

My nieces here themselves provided the title for this layout . 

They do fancy themselves a little gaga-ish with those overlarge sunglasses ! 

I used mainly Prima's new Flight of Fancy pps here 

and kept everything rather simple & true to the sketch 

so that some of the overlarge / dramatic elements will add their magic to the overall design.

Before I stuck anything down I misted in part of a scroll design using a TA Glimmer Screen ( from their Garden Lattice line I think ) , using Maya Mist in Avocado & GM in English Ivy.

I just can't leave pastel colors alone & have to add in a little color intensity & depth somewhere . ;) 

To add some interest to a straight edge I used my fave MS deep edge ( well it is only my sole one for now too! ;) ) punch - the Garden Lattice - here. I tried out using a border punch too on my  smaller photo directly. I don't like matting pics much, so I sometimes get around it by adding in a black frame to the photo before printing. 

I found the   curved lines drawn at 2 corners of the sketch rather interesting. 

At first glance , it reminded me to use swirls to finish off the design . 

& I was more than pleased to use this overlarge Prima black crystal swirl  which I have long forgotten I even had 

but thanks to the sketch - was unearthed   from my stash ! ;) 

for the smaller suggested swirl ,  I used a new Prima pearl swirl with the little rosebuds to dress up the photo corner.

This particular new design in this lovely peach is really addictive & definitely good to ALWAYS have !  . 

For the titlework ; I wanted to keep "gaga" larger in proportion to the other words 

& chose to use the new Prima chipboard alphas that matched this Flight of Fancy line as well.

I added Red distressed stickles as well as an icicle type . 

To finish off the titlework I used a black marker to outline my misted design , as well as to outline the chipboard alphas to add some pop . 

If you want to try the sketch and hopefully get your hands on that rockin' kit from Scrap For A Cure, link your LO up to Mr. Linky here before the month is over.

The Scrappiest layout sketch 53

Sketch 53 is up & running over at the Scrappiest this week. 

& just for this week I have take 2 here for this sketch. 

( you can see my original take using mainly Prima over at the Scrappiest ) 

My latest mailing of Such Sweet Tierney buttons arrived

 soon after my latest scrappy purchase last week.

Now I'm very happy to report that I am keeping up with my one of my goals 

this year to keep expenditure on the latest & greatest scrappy findings

 to at least 50% ( or better ! ) of last year's spending . 

One of the best ways is simply to buy 2-4 pps per line that interests you .

And certainly not every coordinating embellie in sight. 

So, this time, I got hold of 3 pps of the SF Cherrylicious line ,3 pps of the CC Material girl ,  2 of the  JB Homespun pps etc etc a coupla of Dear Lizzy pps ...I skipped the latest Anna Griffin ( they are beautiful as always ! ) , MME & Teresa Collins . woot ! 

We got lucky here that quite a few brands landed at the same time last week 

so I was able to buy the latest in a more coordinated way & have 'em kit up  .

I managed to use some of the Sass Cherrylicious pps here for this layout , 

mixed with some SEI snowflaked pp , and a Dear Lizzy Golden Gleam pp ,
 Doodlebug Design snowflake stickers 

For the title I used a CI cardstock sticker & then I used fibre & yarn 

with the Such Sweet Tierney snowflake themed buttons 

for some fun , textured wintry feel of a different kind . 

Gotta love the details on these buttons .

 I don't worry about having to do my own stamping when I use these as accents.

After I finished the layout I realised I could have used my new Prima music score stamp 

in some of the white spaces .

 ( oh well ! perhaps the next layout then ! :) 

Photo credits : Metal_Minish , his BJD Snow Buddies here are Konami & Nintendo . 

I will be back in my next post with take 1 for Sketch 53 . ;)

Frame it with a Challenge ! - GCD Studios

Here's the Challenge from GCD Studios :

Create a layout about "what I've learned in 2009" (this does not have to be the title, but it has to be the theme). Use frames as well . You have until Feb 25th (Midnight) to enter this challenge and need to have at least 25% of GCD on it :)

 The winner of this challenge will win GCD Studios' new Ava papers! 

--------------------------------

Any reason to use up more of the new Homespun Chic line is good for me right now ! 

I decided on a singular focus for this challenge  - 

so I used only one frame & one main lesson to share from 2009. 

& this is a lesson that I am so passionate about

 in terms of sharing it with 

whoever might be in need of it this year !

   ( I know I have shared with a coupla blogging friends already ;) ) 

What I learned in 2009 ? 

focus on the transitions , 

not the changes ,

in life . 

By transitions - I mean our emotional & mental response 

to the good, bad or ugly changes that come into our path . 

Focusing on managing the transitions better will put us in better stead , 

with a much better attitude & with greater resilience . 

I have found this to be useful, applied in many areas of my life. 

This lesson was crystallized for me by Paul Scanlon . 

2 other fave lessons from 2009 ? 

2. Stop looking back . 

3. I survived this past decade , now I'm a reviver ! 

GCD Studios' Melody Ross' Homespun Chic line - Sew much fun !

I'm just so surprised how easy it was to create with this new Homespun Chic line . 

Loving all the different ideas I have in terms of using it, 

even though I didn't get all the papers or embellishments  in this line at one go. 

Love the turqouise & pink shades here . 

And this fun dress pattern paper. 

Other supplies : New Jolee's Boutique birdcage sticker, 

Jenni Bowlin stick pin , 

New Prima Burlap flower

Pretty little things with Prima !

I wanted to try out these Prima Strawberry Kisses pps 

on an altered project 

& decided on  it a quick, practical gift idea 

A notebook for her.

And then I tried the papers on a layout too .

4 pretty nieces from the same fam ! 

I had some fun splattering some Shimmerz Blingz just to see how they turn out. 

The Butterflies are by Chelley Bean Designs

 which I altered slightly by outlining & adding some pearls for the body.

The dimensional circular frame here was also given some Pixie Dust Blingz treatment . 

(soon to be replaced by the use of Antique Lace Blingz - gotta try 'em all ! ) 

Love this particular lime green Prima lace & used touches of it within the frame. 

Layout Design is based on a sketch by Julie Bonner for Magpie Club's Feb Challenge. 

Spring in the City !

This is sooo gonna be a banner year - at least in scrappy terms , it already is . 

Scrappy, blogging friends will know what I'm talking about - 

especially in terms of supplies & embellies that are banner themed galore

from CHA Winter ! 

last year I fought against that trend - this year I'm simply jumping right in . 

This is only the 2nd layout ever that I've tried with a banner of sorts .

Being that its Chinese New Year here

 I tried to create a red banner that is commonly hung over the doors/doorways of homes /buildings etc 

I took a piece of scrap night curtain material & simply misted it in TA's GM in Candy Apple Red.

The result was not as bright as the color actually is but I didn't mind 

since the rest of my red embellies more than made up for it . 

Used a Dear Lizzy chipboard shaped piece for the title. 

& my photo is framed in the Chinese character for Spring ! ;) 

This creation is inspired for the Banner Bonanza Contest over at AMM.

ICS #54

Here's ICS #54 up & running this week ! 

& my card using up scraps of Prima Flight of Fancy after completing a Scrappiest layout . :) 

This week's prize is a RAK sponsored by DT member , Debra ! 

It includes : 

44 sheets 6"x6" K&Co Paper

Whiff of Joy stamp Willow

2 packs roses

2 bunches of leaves

All you have to do is create a card or some other paper project using the sketch. 

You can rotate, flip, stretch or anything your heart desires.

 As long as we can see some of the sketch your good to go.

 BUT remember to always have fun.

The Scrappiest layout sketch 52

The latest sketch for the Scrappiest is up ! 

Our sponsor this month is Scrap for a Cure. 

Complete the sketch and link it up

 and you could win an awesome kit! 

Still cutting into the new paper collections by Prima . 

This time I used some Flight of Fancy pps 

& a coupla new florals, 

mixed with some older Say It with Crystals , 

felt viola & flocked transparency.

I tried painting around the Say It with Swirls crystals 

in hottie pink blingz by Shimmerz 

for some definition & color. 

Had fun with these new Prima Canvas alphas -
 outlining it with some remnant Hottie Pink Blingz
on my brush after painting around the crystals.

Happy V-Day ! & Have a Tiggerific Chinese New Year 2010 !

dear blogging friends , near & far , 

from the East to the West ! 

It's already Feb 14th here 

& we usher in the Year of the Tiger 

this Lunar New Year 

while its also Valentine's Day ! 

You bet I could be dressed in Red & tiger prints today !;) 

( haha ! jest kiddin' ) 

Java Nice Day !

Some ideas just take a longer time to brew than others . 

I don't know why it never occurred to me earlier that 

I could use these G45 Domestic Goddess pps 

with this pic until now. 

( & I have scrapped this pic at least twice already ! ) 

I do like how this color combination turned out 

& using a Liz Qualman Feb 2010 sketch  for MCS 

helped me put this together easily.

I like the effect of the Shimmerz Spritz

 on the top half of this Bazzill damask embossed cardstock. 

I couldn't resist adding this journaling strip by Crafty Little Secrets. 

& of course I love all the new Primas in this new 1-1.5" size . 

Added some black stickles to the silver puffy flourishes to try to age them a little . 

Is there life before coffee for you too , blogging friends ? ;) 

p/s : Liz is looking for 20 guest layout designers to create with her beautiful sketches this year .

Do check out her blog post here if you're a sketch-o-holic ! 

Love u !

More torn circle frame experimentation here . 

I tore back the paper in a circle to the size

 that was good for my wallet sized pic. 

I water distressed the paper & while wet, moulded

 the paper around a brush handle -

 even with the brush removed and left to air dry

 the paper will still retain that rounded dimension . 

I then misted in pink close to the frame for a heavier color result .

I finally try out some string twirling here - & tried to get in a heart shape here

  - & loving  how fun & easy it is ! 

Trying to finish up what's left of my pot of Pixie Dust Blingz . 

Paper is from the Prima Strawberry Kisses line. 

Layout design inspired by a sketch by Jeni Boisvert . 

Some Glimmer Mist tips from Heidi Swapp from her  latest live ! show  for Tattered Angels today  : 

1. Using different doily patterns as masks & even as stamps .
( yes ! whip that brayer out , spray a doily generously with mist & then stamp it on another paper ,
 brayering the doily unto the paper )
2. Heidi likes ivory paper by 7 Gypsies  , manila file folders for an absorbent background to mist on.
3. She also likes to use paper towels after misting, unto her paper, to pick out the excess mist .
4. Don't be shy about using GM generously on your paper ! ;)

ICS #53

Sketch #53 is up for ICS this week . 

Come on over & check all the DT inspiration 

& play along .

You might just win a $10.00 Gift Voucher to use in the Busy Beauties Boutique Online Store. 

That's what's up for grabs this week.

Supplies : Prima Patische pps & chipbooard 

and here's another sneakie peekie using new & old Primas together 

The Scrappiest layout sketch 51

Sketch 51 is up & away over at the Scrappiest ! 

& Here's what I did using the latest G45 Le Romantique pps . 

& I just wanted to have a go at creating my own handmade embellie again 

I chose to make a hot air ballon using the handcut roses for the balloon portion - 

they are also supposed to be heart shaped although I'm not sure that's obvious .:) 

I certainly had fun making the basket first & then

 adjusting the balloon height after I put the basket in place on the layout . 

I think I used more than half my pot of Pixie Dust Blingz on this layout ,

painting it on almost everything ! ;) 

On the Prima roses here ...

around the puffy flourish ...for some contrast from the brown misted area 

& even tried painting on the Pixie Dust on my photo

 ( knowing of course that my photo paper is waterproof ! )

If you do feel inspired to try the sketch and if you want to win an amazing kit from Scrap For A cure, complete a LO based on this sketch and add it to Mr. Linky to the post here . 

Good luck and we look forward to seeing your creations!

Thank you sweet friends !

A Huge thank you to my sweet friend in Canada , Jennifer Shaw , 

for this lovely blog award ! 

& thank you too to all my dear blogging friends who come by

 & often sharing your sweet thoughts here with me . 

I do hope that I can always come up with eye candy that's worth your time to look! ;) 

& unbeknown to dear Jenn

I'm not very good at blog awards these days 'cos of

 people they exclude more often than not ..

altered notebook - G45 A Proper Gentleman

I was so very sure I would have no use or need

 for this G45 A Proper Gentleman line prior to getting them . 

My first batch of masculine cards created was well received last week , 

so I can't wait to make another batch ! 

No no hoarding ! ;) 

I also decided to try the papers out on for a quick altered notebook gift idea.

Definitely no complaints from me how it turned out 

 - so easy to use these papers together - a breeze ! 

And while I was at it 

I wondered how some of the new Prima papers might look on a notebook too . 

Here's a sneakie peekie  using Strawberry Kisses pps .