Bling'd Out Composition Book

I love it when the kids go back to school. It gives me the chance to create awesome notebooks, binder covers and composition books, like this one featuring a Squigglefly new September release! The digital image, called Dragon Tamer, is by artist Niina Niskanen. Here is a close-up of my Copic-colored image.

After covering a 50 cent composition notebook (don't you just love back to school sales?) with DCWV Once Upon a Time patterned paper, I used Frog Tape, which is like blue painters' tape, but green (duh).

I covered the bound edge with flowers, added a Smash Book element (clasp & lock) after coloring it black with a sharpie, and adhered the sentiment and pearls.

Since Squigglefly offers a new challenge this week, Add Some Bling, I Stickled my dragon tamer's wings as well as parts of the dragon and the sun-sparkled roofs of my renaissance town's buildings. Here's the back of the notebook.

How will you add some bling to your challenge for Squigglefly this week? Don't forget to use a Squigglefly image to play for free digis!! 

Whatever you do, have fun!!

Butterfly Takeover

This week the challenge over at Squigglefly is to use butterflies on your project--in the image, your papers, your shape--anywhere! I decided to make a purse prayer journal for my girlfriend. It measures about 3x4 inches, has a velcro closure and is perfect for those down times, those sometimes anxious times, like waiting at the doctor's office for test results, before or after Mass in church, or even running late for work but waiting on a long, l-o-n-g freight train.
I used Pamela Lehto's artwork entitled "Even Today," a Squigglefly April release. I die-cut the image with my Epic Six and Nestabilities die. I tried to fold in the middle and it mussed up a little, but I don't think she'll mind. I embellished with butterflies and jewels.
I love the versatility of Squigglefly digital images. I've used them on tiny 3x3 cards as well as on 12x12 layouts and canvas. I've printed in different sizes, flipped it to their mirror image, and printed on patterned papers and transparencies. All with using just Microsoft Picture Manager--no fancy photo editing software!
So now that you know how easy peasy it is to use digis, check out the Squigglefly store and pick out your favorites. Then come play with us at this week's butterfly challenge!!
Other challenges I am entering:
Open-Minded Crafting Challenge Blog - Easter or Pastels

Getting Steamy with a QKD Image

It's new release time over at Queen Kat Designs, and I have a great image to show you today!

I altered a composition notebook for my daughter.  She fell in love with "Steampunk Heart" one of the new digital images available at the QKD Shop.  She loves to write, so I covered a composition notebook with some handmade paper and distressed the heck out of it.
I colored this heart image with Copics, adding some shine in parts with Liquid Glass from CTMH.  I had a few gears from Spare Parts by the Paper Studio that I adhered onto the heart.  The rest of my gears and chains went onto my cover, along with some hearts and a journal sticker.
I have been cleaning out my craft room, trying to get organized, and I rediscovered some grunge board in the shape of latches.  I distressed them with inks, paints and mists, spraying and rubbing and sanding.  I'm quite proud of how they turned out. In person, they look like strips of leather. One thing I have also discovered in my craft room clean-out.  I don't have a lot of "distressing" supplies.  I'll have to fix that right away! LOL
My daughter saw her new notebook this morning and she loves it.  I might have to make another one, just for me!  For some more inspiration, check out the QKD Facebook page.  And get over to the SHOP if you want to purchase this little beauty of a digital image!!

A Squigglefly Recipe

This week Squigglefly offers crafters a recipe challenge: Use a Squigglefly image with patterned paper, buttons/brads AND twine.
I used Squigglefly digi image Tiger by artist Enid Barnes. The drawing is so life-like that you don't have to be an experienced artist to color it. I just swiped it with Copic YG04.
I fussy-cut it out and framed it with cardstock and then patterned paper (to match its eyes). For my base, I used a dollar store journal whose cover was Kraft paper. I covered the covers with Basic grey patterned paper. After popping on my image, I applied sticker alphas to read ROAR, then embellished with jewels and buttons. I finished my altered journal by tying bakers' twine to both edges of my front cover, as well as using coordinating fibers to the spine. 
Now to explain the use of the word Roar:  Some girls don't ROAR out loud; sometimes they can only ROAR in the privacy of their own thoughts.  I know a very quiet girl who could use some ROARing lessons, so to start her off, I made this journal for her, so she can ROAR all she likes on paper.  She is also a big Katy Perry fan, so the following lines are for her as well:

"I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter, dancing through the fire 

Cause I am a champion and you’re gonna hear me roar.."

(lyrics copyright of Katy Perry)

Your turn to ROAR with Squigglefly's Recipe challenge.  All participants get a randomchance of winning free digi's!!  And if you haven't started your Squigglefly digi collection yet, pick up some FREEBIES.

Owl Always Love You

Today I don't have a card for you.  I have a lovely altered notebook that I created using a Squigglefly image and one of the sentiments that comes with it.  This cute image is called "Hooo Loves Ya" from artist Fawn Palmer, and it comes with not one, not two but FIVE sentiments!
I snagged a couple cute notebooks from the $1 bin at Michael's.  It already had the diecut white cover and the blue "under-cover" was so pretty that I used the same color for my image and sentiment (Copic B93).  I decided to fussy-cut my sentiment so it would fit where I wanted to place the words.
For embellishment, I added adhesive-backed pearls and doodled (and highlighted) with a white gel pen.  That's it!  Simple but very stylish.  So stylish, in fact, that my daughter, an owl-lover to the nth degree, now has possession of my altered notebook (with my blessing, of course).
This week's challenge over at Squigglefly is to use a Squigglefly image AND sentiment on your project.  And just like me, you don't have to make a card (although you go right ahead if you want to) LOL.

A Love of Lists

I am a list maker.  I LOVE making lists.  

Not just your hum drum to-do lists, but lists that tell a person’s life story.  Lists like “the many ways my husband shows he loves me.”  Or “all the things I have for which to be thankful.”

One that really helps me pull my wretched self out of a deep pit of depression is “how many people whose lives I have touched (and who have touched mine).”

One year I kept a journal of lists and wrote in it at least once a week.  Luckily I am just enough of a hoarder to have buried the journal for a couple years.  I just re-discovered it while cleaning out my dresser drawers.  And upon reading my lists, I re-discovered myself. 

I remembered the things that made me happy not so long ago.

I re-discovered my passion for art and painting.

I renewed my dreams.

I re-evaluated my bucket list.

And most importantly, I reminded myself how much I LOVE making lists!!

I created the project above for the Path of Positivity's February Challenge on the theme of LOVE.  Since I LOVE making lists, I decided to make a journal cover for all my 2014 lists.

I started with a 4x6 index card notebook.  It has an acrylic cover, which works perfectly for setting the background of heart-themed patterned paper from DCWV.

Next I chose my image.  Since journaling is really just a conversation with yourself, I used a digi image called "Skellie Gossip" from one of our monthly sponsors, Ike's Art.  I used very little color (Copic E000) for my pair of bony companions, then fussy-cut them out.  I adhered a leftover diecut of patterned paper on the front cover of my notebook, placing a border of washi tape from Recollections on which my pair could rest their weary bones (pun intended).

I embellished the patterns on the tape with black Skittles.

A few adhesive-backed jewels and a large heart charm almost finish off my project.  I just needed to bring out the edges of where the two front flaps join together to keep all my lists from spilling out.  I used black and Diamond Stickles for that and my altered notebook is complete.

What's going to be my first list of the year?  The people I love to LOVE-that would make a very good start to the new year.  Judging from my project, 2014 will be another banner year for my list-making love.  

Will you share something you LOVE with us?  Go to the Path of Positivity to play in this month's challenge.  The fabulous sponsors and prizes are:

   Ten digital images from Creative Bug Digitals for the person out of the top seven who receives the most votes during voting week.

    Three digital images from Ike's World for the post or project that the DT deems most inspiring of the bunch.

    Three digital images from Scribbles Designs, our guest sponsor this month, for a person chosen in a random draw based on all entrants.

    One digital designer paper from Décosse's Dynamite Doodles for one lucky voter who leaves a comment.

     One digital sentiment for every single person who enters the challenge from Décosse's Dynamite Doodles as well.

The Last of my Christmas Decorations Being Packed Away

I'm putting the last of my Christmas decorations away and came across this notebook I had made.  I used the QKD stamp called Christmas Elf & Bauble by Joanna Bromley.  You can find it here on clearance through January 31.  Don’t miss this fantastic deal!

I covered a composition book with patterned paper and then stamped the image three times, coloring each with Copics and framing them with red card stock.  I used Basic Grey chipboard alphas for the sentiment.

Each year I'm going to keep Christmas lists, card designs, poetry and other writings that I created and collected.  It's a form of journaling that I will only see once a year, but will hold many precious memories.

House Mouse Goes to School

With all the cool school supplies on sale this month, it's easy to snag some great deals on items to be altered, like this mini composition book.  It measures 4.5x3.5 inches and is perfect to showcase a House Mouse image like this one.

I belong to a crafting group on PaperCraftPlanet called House Mouse & Friends, and there is a swap going on for group members.  I finished mine and wanted to post it here.  I think the image is called "Morning Song" but I could be wrong.

I colored it with Copics and fussy-cut it so that it would fit on this small canvas.  I covered the notebook with some fun music sheet patterned paper and added some upholstery ribbon to the spine.
I distressed my page with distress ink and acrylic paint.

I added some leaves so that my tree stump would be anchored to the scene.  A couple musical acrylic stickers added to the song theme I had chosen, and then i stamped the sentiment "Just a Note."

A couple pebble stickers completes my altered mini composition notebook.  I had fun with this, and if I can get to Staples, will purchase more to alter!  This one is a little bigger than theirs, but it cost a dollar for just one, and Staples offers a pack for a dollar--nuff said! LOL

Whatever you do, whether scrapbook, make cards, sew, paint or make altered art, do it with a song in your heart!!

Making Lists

Are you a list maker?  I am!  I like to cross off the things I've listed on my to-do list.  I like to make sure I get everything on my grocery list when I go shopping.  I  like to know what I've got stashed in my closet during those last few shopping days before Christmas.
I love lists!!  And I get tired of having to buy pretty little books to keep my lists in, so I made a few this week and wanted to show them off.

The first notebook I made uses a Queen Kat Designs April release from artist Sandra Caldwell.  It's called "Four-Eyed Flower.  I colored it with Copics and, after making the "cover" from patterned paper, I fussy-cut the image and popped it onto the front flap.

Here's the inside:

I didn't do much to the inside.  I just added a few stickers and some gold lace border.

The next notebook I made is for a challenge from my Yahoo group, Your Scrapbook Place.  Every day this month, we receive a new challenge and have 24 hours to finish and post a photo of our projects.

This challenge was to make a special notebook called Purse Papers.  There is a tutorial on Split Coast Stampers with instructions and a template, if you click on the link.



Anyway, I tweaked the instructions a bit.  Instead of stamping on white cardstock, I used double-sided patterned paper.  My booklet opens the opposite direction, too.  But I like what I created!

Please don't laugh at my Christmas theme!  I just happened to have the paper in front of me.  And the box of Christmas embellies was just an arm's length away.

The booklet stays closed with the help of the ribbon. tied into a nice neat bow.  I added some die-cut pine trees and the sentiment sticker.  To really get into the whole winter thing, I used white acrylic paint for some snow effects.

When opened, a pretty pocket holds some sheets of paper, decorated with a (of course) Christmas-themed stamp.  I inked the edges and added a few candy cane hearts.

So I am in notebook heaven, ready to make more lists, and cross items off of them.  I should save up all my old lists and place them in a time capsule.  It would certainly showcase how I have lived my life!!

My Book of Lists

Just had to show you another project with the Queen Kat Designs stamp Ruby Slippers from artist Melia Newman.  I used my Copics to color these beautiful spike heels, but the colors came out a little on the plum side of red, instead of ruby.  I decided to roll with it instead of coloring a new stamped image, and found the perfect Fall embellishments to complement it.

I found this cool skinny notebook with the ugliest blue foam cover, but the loveliest long papers for making lists.  Did I mention that I am list-addicted?  Yup, give me a pad of paper and I'll make a list--groceries, errands, to do, Christmas cards--doesn't matter, as long as I can pen it in and cross it off.

So I made this handy dandy Book of Lists and gave it a Fall feel with patterned paper, embellishments and especially my colored version of Ruby Slippers.

Now which list do I start with?  Today I think I'll make a list of all the things I'm thankful for, starting with my lovely collection of rubber from QKD.  Don't have any of your own yet?  Why don't you start yours today by checking out the Shoppe?