2 Birthday cards with a Beachy twist

Hi friends! It's been a while since I've been able to post on here, I've been working like a mad woman and it seems things probably won't slow down until after the holidays. Such is the life in retail. I was off yesterday, and was able to get a few hours of crafty time in, but still didn't get as much done as I'd like. But it was extra fun because hubby joined me for the last part of it to make a birthday card for his mom. Here are a few pics of his card:

Excuse the pics, hubby took these on his phone and I had to steal them since we sent the cards off in the mail already!

And here are some pics of my card:

I enjoyed sharing a little crafty goodness with you today. I have a lot of projects in the works just have to make time to get them going, I think tonight may be another crafty night since I'm on the late shift again tomorrow, hopefully I will be back soon to share some more and show you some of my awesome fall pics from the beautiful Pacific Northwest :) Enjoy your Wednesday- I'm off to work!

Welcome to the Frosted Designs 'Quote' Blog Hop~ July 26- July 31

Welcome to the Frosted Designs Quote Blog Hop!

We are so glad you could join us!!!

You should have joined me from Sandee's blog, don't worry, there's a list at the end in case you get lost along your way! There are 7 wonderful and incredibly talented hosts 

that will inspire you, along with

2 awesome sponsors!!!!

 Our first sponsor is Artful Delight.

Artful Delight is a monthly scrapbooking and card kit club designed to bring you the latest and greatest scrapbook products.  Our kits are jammed packed with fabulous pattern paper, coordinating cardstock, chipboard shapes, ribbon, buttons, stickers, and so much more from manufacturers like Pink Paislee, Fancy Pants, Crate Paper, American Crafts, Basic Grey, Tim Holtz, and Graphic 45, just to name a few. We try to keep scrappers and card makers in mind when creating our kits.  Allowing our kits to have to most versatility.  Our scrapbook kits will allow you to create at least 4-5 layouts.

Artful Delight monthly kits are offered at an amazing single monthly price , and  at 3 and 6 month subscriptions, our 6 month subscription will give you the best value. We offer shipping to the US, Canada and Internationally.  (For Canadian and International orders please email leeanne@artfuldelight.com)

One lucky winner will receive their choice of Artful Delight's August Scrapbook kit or card kit.

Our second sponsor is Words or Whatever.

 Words or Whatever was created as a subsidiary company to NEIL'S TIMBER SIGNS after purchasing a laser engraving machine.  Words or Whatever is run by Suzanne and Neil Webster on the lovely Central Coast of NSW.

We can cut chipboard in both 1.2mm and 1.8mm, MDF from 3mm to 25mm thick, acrylic, felt and cardstock.  We specialise in custom orders that have no minimum quantities.  Please don't hesitate to contact us with your requests.  We can also provide custom made items exclusive to individual stores at no extra charge.  Do you want something in particular?  Well just ask us!!  This means you can offer this service to your customers so they can order their children's names or individual titles for their pages.

One lucky winner will receive their choice of 15 pieces of chipboard.

So without further ado, here are the details of the blog hop!!!!

1. You need to hop to every blog on the list.

2. Leave a comment on the Frosted Designs blog telling us that you completed the hop.

3. Complete a Quote project and link it up to the inlinkz on this post!  

Your project must contain all or part of this quote:

"It is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all."  Author:  Laura Ingalls Wilder

For my project using this amazing quote, I decided to step out of my regular project of layouts and do a chipboard mini album! I had some fantastic pictures from our first trip to Cannon Beach, Oregon last month and it just reminded me of this quote. The simple things in life- sun, sand, waves crashing, salt water taffy, good local seafood. That is why I decided to take on this project! It took me a little longer than I had planned but I am really happy with the way it turned out! Check out my photos here! WARNING: THERE ARE ALOT! LOL

If I had the time I would sit here and list all the products and items I used, maybe one day I will go back and add them all! It was so much fun jumping back into making minis! I feel some major mojo going on right now!;) And as a thank you to my loyal followers and new friends, I am giving away a little rak of my own...check it out:

Lots of fun embellishments in here, even some homemade tags and also a few things I put together myself. I realize its kind of a girly color palette so sorry if you have boys :( 

All you have to do to be entered to win this fun stuff (plus a few more things not pictured- like paper!!!) is

#1 leave a comment on this post about whether you are a faithful reader or new friend, also with your email included so I may contact you afterwards

#2 be a follower of my blog on blogger or google plus

#3 Please go "LIKE' my fb page: https://www.facebook.com/vvcrafts

The winner will be drawn by Random.org on August 1st! Good Luck and Happy Hopping!!

Your next stop on the hop is Joni: http://www.joniparkerstuff.blogspot.com/

 If you get lost on the way here is the order of the blog hop:

Debbie  http://lovelifeslittlepleasures.blogspot.com/

Sandee  http://inthehillsofnorthcarolina.blogspot.com/

Katie http://www.vintagevixencrafts.blogspot.com/- you are here

Joni  http://www.joniparkerstuff.blogspot.com/

Tamra   http://www.tamrascraftypapercreations.blogspot.com/

Lydia  http://www.kiwimumscraps.blogspot.com/

Anita  http://theflamingochronicals.blogspot.com/

Artful Delight  http://artfuldelight.blogspot.com

Words of Whatever Facebook Page(pleaselike) 

http://www.facebook.com/messages/1449051252#!/wordsorwhatever?fref=ts

dreaming of BEACH BLISS......

Hi everyone! Hope your week has had a great start! I am off work today, trying to tackle my massive to-do list which includes my least favorite thing: laundry. Hopefully though a little Starbucks this afternoon and some Pandora will help with motivation:) I had a take a quick break and share with you a layout I did a few nights ago, surprisingly a non-DT layout so I was happy about that...also just trying to get the mojo going so I can start some new Etsy projects for the shop. Hope this is some fresh inspiration for you today!

I scraplifted a layout that I found in a recent issue of Creating Keepsakes magazine.

Here are a few close ups:

I actually started the background by spraying some Glimmer Mist and Smooch Spritz in 'river mossy' and sunshine yellow, also lightly stamping with a large chevron background stamp. After that I distressed a few strips of leftover wooden plank paper across both pages to tie them together. Then I started adding my elements. I knew I wanted to use one of my very favorite paper lines, Out of Print by Basic Grey. I fussy cut the large doodle flowers from the paper and layered them with pop dot and topped off the center with a pearl sticker.

For the banner under the large photo, I used some blanket tickets from Purple Pumpkin that I stamped and misted, then cut out my own banner shapes from another scrap of BG paper- Lime Rickey and  canvas, which I also misted and distressed. I stapled them over the tickets and twine for a messy kind of look. I really like how it turned out and I will definately try this technique again!!

 Page 2 is full of instagram prints, which I LOVE on my layouts cause they are the perfect size!! Also stickers, thickers for the title, and some pretty flowers along with my fussy cut flowers.

I was excited to use my 'let's ride in tandem' bicycle stamp for the first time! It's so cute!!! Also got to use some of the wooden veneer boys and girls from the awesome giveaway I just won...so exciting! Can't wait to play with some more of those goodies again tonite!

And that's about it! Here's a look at my craft space in mid-mojo, I always enjoy sharing what I'm working on  instagram! 

And last but not least, when I went to take some layout photos by the patio door for natural light, of course my kitty had to be in the way. She loves window watching ;)

well, until next time friends, enjoy your mid-week inspiration! 

Peace Y'all~ VV

'Water Lover' SF/DT layout for July ;)

Hi everyone!! I'm here with you on this lovely Thursday to share with you my first  DT layout for July that I did for Scrapping Frenzy, my LSS. I hope everyone enjoyed their 4th of July holiday, I know I sure did, got to spend some quality time with the fam and eat some yummy food and just think about how lucky we are to be Americans!!!( the 4 day weekend sure did help too)  So this layout was kind of just something I thought up when looking at the papers that came in our DT kit for July. I was really in love with the woodgrain paper so I decided to take it even a step further and make it part of the main focal point of my background. And something else that rarely happens- all 3 of these photos are of just me! Well except for Jimmy's feet in part of one! Also, our themes for July are the colors red and yellow, as well as 'beach' so I knew this would be perfect for what I was going for! Ok, on with the photos, close ups first this time!!!

Okay, and now the full-page view! Pardon my holding the page by the window, this was the first sunny day we'd had in a while and I had to take advantage of it quickly to get some good detail photos. I always take my pics by the window because natural lighting is the best always!!! I had alot of fun layering again on this LO, starting with the wooden planks I made using the Crate Paper 'Pretty Party' collection, this paper is called 'cake stand'. I basically wanted it to  look like planks on a boardwalk or a beachouse, so I roughed up the edges using my paper distresser, then inked them, then sprayed in random places using some smooch spritz in gold glow and caramel mocha.Then  I inked again in a secondary color
& laid it flat to dry.

To assemble my fun cluster under the photos, I started with a scrap of seersucker fabric I had from some pants that needed to be hemmed! HA! Cause I'm short all my stuff is too long! I actually ended up making them shorts, so I have ALOT of this leftover. On top of that I put a scrap of burlap, some vintage buttons and fabric buttons, along with a few other little things I found in my stash as well as 2 vinyl hearts off the to side. I tied the red button with some red/white baker's twine by Queen & Co.

For the paper strips behind the wooden planks, I actually cut off the 'border' on 2 of the other papers in my DT kit and used the reverse side of them as decoration, they fit perfectly! Then for the cluster on the other side I added more random stuff along with some Prima flowers, and buttons o'course!!!!

For the title, I fussy cut around several block letter stickers I had and decided to do every-other one for a more stand-out look. Then on top of the sticker letters I used Stickles in yellow.

Ok, well that's all for me today! I hope you got some inspiration from this page to combine your scrapping stuff and some household stuff to make a super cute, super shabby chic page!! Thanks for stopping by! :D Until next time, Peace, Y'all~ VV

Scrapping Frenzy Supplies: Crate Paper 'Pretty Party' collection 'cake stand'-woodgrain paper, Crate Paper 'Pretty Party' collection 'Stitch'- red lace background paper, brown cardstock, beige shimmery cardstock-journal block, red/white baker's twine by Queen & Co, Yellow striped border strip from American Craft's Neopolitan line 'Pretty Please', Ranger Stickles in yellow and Xmas red, Smooch Spritz by Clearsnap in gold glow and caramel mocha, The Robin's Nest dew drops, Tim Holtz distress ink in fired brick and tea dye, also Tim Holtz distress marker in antique linen. Colorbox fluid chalk inks by Clearsnap- dark brown and chestnut roan, Sticky thumb pop dots.

Other Supplies: vintage buttons and floral fabric buttons, burlap and seersucker fabric- from my stash. Large red spotty button, yellow tickets, red and yellow vinyl hearts- Purple Pumpkin Crafts, Prima flowers, cabochons-Recollections

how 'bout a 'STAYCATION' ???

Good afternoon blogland! I hope everyone enjoyed their weekend... I went to a family reunion that my parents were hosting Fri and Sat and today and Mon I am home trying to get some house cleaning done and hopefully wedding stuff done too. I can't believe it's only 110 days away! OMG!!

Okay, well on to my crafty share for the day. I was able to go to our monthly crop last Friday night at Scrapping Frenzy. I was 2 hours late but I still managed to do 2 layouts!! So proud that they are just fun ones and non-DT related stuff. I also got to meet some of the lovely ladies and regular customers of the store and had alot of fun!! This is one of the layouts I completed, titled 'staycation'. The pic is from last summer at fly creek cafe, it's my step brother, brother in law, and my niece and nephew chilling outside on the sand on a

late summer afternoon- I liked this picture of them so much I just had to steal it from facebook! I have lots of pics like that, and tons that I need to print too! :D maybe I can do that this weekend! Okay, here are the pics. I apologize for the crooked pics I couldn't get them to rotate for some reason!! 

AGH! Just think of it as abstract art! Some close ups:

Thanks for taking a look! This is my first non-DT related share in a few weeks, glad that I had the extra time in June to do a few new pages for my personal album. I think I was just feeling extra inspired! I hope it continues through July....cause it's gonna be a very busy month!! I hope to be back tomorrow with more non-DT related layouts to share and a sneak peek at my 'special project' for July!!! Ok, well enjoy the rest of your Sunday night :) Until next time, Peace~ VV

Supplies List:

kraft striped paper, background paper and chipboard birdies- Oriental Trading Companyyellow 

paper flowers (kraft and light teal)- Recollections

large circle paper- Basic Grey 'Lime Rickey'

vintage buttons, travel journal tag, arrows- from my stash

brown letters by Thickers

white and yellow cardstock by Bazzil

yellow/white and green/white baker's twine by Queen and Co.

Stick-on Summer Quotes by Me & My Big Ideas mat sticker stack

large dew drop and birdies eyes- dew drops by The Robin's Nest

Glimmermist by Tattered Angels in lily pad

Colorbox chalk ink by Clearsnap in chestnut roan, dark brown

denim flower, green spotty button, crochet doily and yellow cabachon by Purple Pumpkin Crafts

"Greetings from Delray Beach" ( I LOVE Authentique}

Good afternoon blogland! I am here today to share with you a quick project I did using the new Authentique  "Fresh" line available now at Scrapping Frenzy!! The mini cardboard travel case was given to me by a friend a while back as a gift at a crop we attended, and I have been waiting to do something fun with it! When I saw this paper, I instantly thought about these old photos I had of my 2 grandmothers back in the day..in their bathing suits! It was perfect and it will be a keepsake that I'll always have around to remind me of them. Okay, so on with the photos!!!

 For the inside of the case, there were several little compartments that I decorated differently. First I cut some plain white cardstock using the Cricut beach cartridge and made the sandollar border, which I then inked using Clearsnap's colorbox fluid chalk inks in grey whale, and azurite. After that I cut the border apart a bit and double-pop dotted it (is that an official scrapping term? LOL) with one sand dollar above the rest for dimension. Also I colored in the little sea stars with a gold paint pen.

 This is the inside top largest compartment. I covered the whole back with teal solid paper and then used some of the decorative tape to give it color. Then I layered another sand dollar, a vintage button from my stash, some red tickets, and an earring which I actually lost the other one to-tied with red baker's twine. I love using random things from around the house in scrapbooking! Then I put her initials next to a cute cabachon by Jolee's boutique.

This is a full view of all the compartments:

 Still my favorite shot, the front of the box which I did using the Authentique paper, an acetate frame by K&Co and some xmas red stickles. Of course I had to add textural elements, a paper flower, more sand dollars, some twine, and a button of course (i love buttons in case you haven't noticed)

 This is the side of the box which I did using the decorative tape and some stickles in Aqua.

 And the back of the case, I layered the Authentique paper and some red tickets.

 This is the case standing up!

 To go inside, I made this mini thing to keep beach things in, like little sea shells that you find walking along the beach. I used this magnet holder thing that I have been keeping cause I thought it was cool. 

 This is the back of the little case thingy.

 And the other compartment, using more Authentique paper and some baker's twine.

Okay, well that's it for today!!! Back tomorrow with some more fun stuff to share!! 

Until next time, peace y'all~ VV

Supplies List:

Authentique 'Fresh' line patterned paper

red/white and teal/white baker's twine by Queen & Company

white and turquoise cardstock

Clearsnap Colorbox fluid chalk ink- grey whale, dark brown, azurite

Tim Holtz distress ink-vintage photo, fired brick

Stickles by Ranger in Xmas red and Aqua

Cricut beach cartridge

red damask decorative tape-Micheal's

Tim Holtz paper distresser

K&Co clear acetate photo frame

Zig writer in brown

gold paint pen

red/teal cabachons by Jolee's Boutique

teal paper flower by Recollections

red tickets, leftover earring clear drop,& red vintage buttons from my stash