O.B.A.

Good evenin' bloggers! I have enjoyed a day off from work and since I completed my task of deep cleaning the carpet in the living room and dining room today, along with some other household chores, I am here to share a new layout! I did this one a few weeks ago before we left for Costa Rica. I had my favorite scrapping ladies over, Crystal, Carmen and Leanne and we also got to make a fun eggshell necklace that Carmen showed us the technique!! It was alot of fun, afterwards we went to the 'Taste of Mobile' for some good food. I was kinda disappointed that they didn't have any vino though!! 

These pics are from this past summer on a Sunday afternoon trip to the beach, all 3 of us were off, it was great weather, so we decided to take the 45 min drive to enjoy the sun, sand, seafood and bushwackers at Tacky Jack's in Orange Beach, AL better known as O.B.A. It was the perfect way to spend the afternoon!!

Here is an overview of the whole layout:

I started off with my background paper, not sure what line it is, I originally bought it thinking I would use it on a wedding project but I didn't. It looks like faded wood really rustic which is why I was so drawn to it in the first place! On top of the background, I used a large strip of paper, I think maybe American Crafts? It was a border paper that had different sized ones with a nautical theme, I cut out the crawfish one and distressed it then inked the edges. On top of that, I started laying out my photos.They were already a perfect size, prints of my instagrams that I ordered off of Kanvas.com! I decided to round the edges for a retro look. I also layered 2 more pieces of wood looking paper and a brown paper bag. The strips of wood paper are from Crate paper I think. Here are some close ups:

I also made a banner using some little flags from Elle's studio and also some baker's twine. I cut out all the flags and inked them, then folded them over and secured them to the twine with double stick tape. On top of my brown paper bag, I built one of my clusters, starting with a purple pumpkin button and a few tickets that i inked.  I added a large flower, a few of my favorite vintage buttons, and some small white flowers by Prima. For the centers of the flowers I used mini pearls, a large pearl, and stickles in Xmas Red and True Blue for the larger flower.

For my title, I used some Amy Tangerine Thickers that I lightly ran over with a brown marker to make them match my wood background paper. I also used some red checkered washi tape and a cut out sentiment from the same Crate Paper line to highlight a photo of my handsome man!!

 For my other cluster, I used half of a purple pumpkin crochet doily, some tickets, more vintage buttons, large flower and small flowers by Prima. Then I added the pearls and stickles to match the other centers I did on the bottom of the page. A little washi tape off to the side completes the look! For my journaling I used one of my favorite manila tags!

 And another view of my layout...near the window it was very chilly here today! About 10 degrees below normal!! Tried to get some pics while the sun was still peaking it's head out this afternoon!

Ok friends, well that is all I have to share with you today! I hope I have inspired you to get creative again and break out all those goodies in your stash!! I know I am looking forward to another day off, staying home and since I did most of my chores and running around yesterday and today, I will have an all-day crafty day tomorrow!! YAY! The perfect thing to do on those really chilly days, sweatpants, socks, hot cider, pandora and my scrap room await me.....until next time, peace y'all~ VV

'memories' auction layout using Crate Paper

This is a layout that for Scrapping Frenzy convention that was put up for auction for the weekend. I really loved the papers and colors I used for a super vintage look. I think they are Crate Paper. So whoever won the auction is one luck gal with this one! I did a lot of embellishing of course!! Sorry for the pics...I took them under fluorescent lights at the convention, and they didn't rotate either!! 

(apologize in advance for your neck problems!)

 A few close ups of the little clusters I did. Combining wooden buttons, flowers, pearls and bling as well as some Purple Pumpkin goodies!

that's it for today! Hope you enjoyed my share and your weekend! It's the start to another week and one day closer to Thanksgiving :) my favorite holiday because of the yummy food!! until next time friends, peace y'all~ VV

In LoVe with some ShAbBy cHiC!!

Hello everyone! I hope you have been enjoying your summer. I know I sure have been trying to make the best of more down time at work, along with wedding planning and scrapping time I've been pretty busy! But honestly scrapbooking is such an outlet for me...I could spend hours at night in my craft room with Pandora playing...it really allows me to forget about everything else and just enjoy some creative therapy :)

So I am here today to share another layout I did for July using some BRAND NEW paper lines that we have at Scrapping Frenzy! Including Crate paper and the new Neopolitan line by American Crafts. I really loved all the papers I got in my DT kit, they all worked really well together and it was hard for me just to choose a few for this layout but I picked my favorite ones! I did this layout using some pictures from a friend's wedding. My sister was one of the bridesmaids and I loved the color of their dresses,"pool". So the pics I just thought went perfectly with this paper!! I also based my LO loosely on this month's sketch challenge over at Purple Pumpkin.  This was the sketch by Crece Thomas:

For the butterfly, it's actually something I made a while back using a stamp from a friend, some Tim Holtz grungeboard, and lots of mists. I used some Tattered Angel's Glimmermist in lilypad as well as Clearsnap Smooch Spritz in gold glow. The stamp was inked using Tim Holtz distress ink in tea dye. I did several of them on my grungeboard sheet, so I can cut them out, big or small, whenever I need one!!

In case you haven't noticed over my last few posts... I am totally IN LOVE with the shabby chic look. I love the soft colors, the mix of textures, and of course making some gorgeous clusters of stuff!! This is really simple to do, it's all about placing your elements on the page, big and small, and just moving them around until you're happy with the look. I love mixing and matching different elements like paper flowers, buttons of course (my fav!) and then a little bling or stickles to add some sparkle!! 

I also really like the quote I used underneath the cluster.

And, I will end this post with my favorite pic, I think it showcases all of the yummy soft colors that really bring this whole LO together!!

Alrighty, well that's all for me today until next time. I hope I inspired some of you to try making a cute cluster on your next LO, it's really simple to do and adds a lot of texture and interest to your pages! Until next time, Peace y'all~VV

Scrapping Frenzy Supplies: Crate Paper 'pretty party' collection "papercloth" and scrap of "cake stand", American Crafts Neopolitan line 'heart song' and 'pretty please', Clearsnap Smooch Spritz in 'gold glow' and Tattered Angels Glimmermist in 'lilypad', baker's twine- yellow/green/white by Queen & Co., Clearsnap Colorbox Cat's eye inks in creamy brown, chestnut, and mint. Ranger stickles in 'patina' and Tim Holtz distress stickles in 'dried marigold',Pebbles Crystal Candy Dots, pink and blue. Doily journal block- Crate paper embellishment sheet.

Other supplies: Tim Holtz grungeboard, vintage buttons and ribbons from my stash, flowers- Prima Marketing and Recollections, resin embellishments by Jolee's Boutique, decorative musical note tape- Recollections, DCWV Quotes Sticker Stack 'fun in the sun' and fabric covered buttons by Purple Pumpkin Crafts.

A Lil' Girlie OWL ART!!!

Happy Friday!! (the 13th OOH spooky!)  I am here to share with you a special project that I did this month for Scrapping Frenzy! I used some of my leftover scraps of patterned paper, a little paint, a canvas, and just a little creativity! I had originally thought it would be kind of challenging to come up with something to make, and then I just started browsing through my scrapbook magazines. In the newest issue of Scrapbooks, Etc. this project was featured in the back! So I can't take full credit for the idea, but I did totally make it my own and add a few things! This little art piece would make a great gift for a girl's birthday and that is what I plan on doing with it, for my little niece, Zoe!

To start, this is the page that inspired me in the magazine:

So I started sorting through my scraps and I mixed and matched several lines of paper to come up with quite a colorful palette. I first cut out all the circles, distressed and inked them, then hand drew the eyes, and the top of the head with ears. I glued the top piece down first to a thicker piece of cardstock, then started layering my circles. I moved them around quite a bit until I was happy with the color arrangement. Last I glued down the eye piece on top of the circles and added a small triangle for the nose. This is what it looked like before embellishments:

The last pieces I did were the wings, which I hand drew basing them on the thicker brown wings from the magazine page. I glued them on top of the circles, then started layering on some feathers. I thought it would be a nice addition of more texture so I picked maroon, cream, and natural looking feathers and mixed them together to come up with the 'wings'. I first tried using glossy accents to adhere them, which didn't work, then a tape runner, and in the end I figured out that large glue dots worked best!! This is how it turned out after I added everything!!

I really wanted it to be colorful, so I chose 2 different colors of blue for my canvas instead of grey or white. also I layered some large dew drops and xl brown buttons for eyes along with a tulle bow to the flower. I tied the bow by hand and used my fingers to smear some stickles in 'tropical tangerine' over it to add some sparkle!

To the otherside I added a grungeboard butterfly covered with stickles and a mini chalkboard. I used Tim Holtz distress markers in 'picket fence' to write on the chalkboard but it didn't come out too clearly so I went over it with some old school puff paint!! LOL

So here is another shot of the whole thing! I am really happy with the end result, even after all my stressing :D and I can't wait to give it to my little niece!!

So I hope I have inspired you today to step out of your scrapbooking comfort zone of layouts and cards and make something really special for your family or friends! Scrapbooking supplies can always be used for something great, like wall art!! I am taking a personal day today to get ready for a DT meeting and private crop at Scrapping Frenzy, can't wait to see my friends and get the creative mojo flowing again! I'll be back soon to share some more lovely LO's from tonite (depending on how much I get done, LOL)!! 

Until next time, Peace y'all~ VV

Supplies: cream, white, pink, orange, and brown cardstock- Bazzil, misc. patterned papers including; Basic Grey 'Out of Print', Bo Bunny 'a Gift of Love', American Crafts 'Neopolitan' line, and Crate paper. Clearsnap Smooch Spritz in 'caramel mocha'. Colorbox fluid chalk inks- creamy brown, pumpkin pie, Ranger Stickles 'tropical tangerine', paper doily- Crate paper, Tim Holtz distress markers 'picket fence' and 'antique linen'. Large clear dew drops by The Robin's Nest,Tim Holtz paper distressing tool, Tim Holtz grungeboard, turquoise-colored tulle, large brown antique buttons, mini chalkboard, misc. feathers-from stash. large pink  flower- purple pumpkin crafts, Modge Podge, Folk Art Acrylic paint in 'calypso blue' and 'turquoise', mint colored puff paint, foam brushes, and square canvas from art supply store.

'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