A Fabo New Site

As pathetic as I have been with my scrapbook completion as of late, it's funny that I should happen upon this delightful new site: The Scrapbook Review. It looks to be very down-to-earth, and it keeps me hopeful for that fateful day coming up when I will no longer receive Simple Scrapbooks {sniff, wimper}.

Their launch takes place during the first week of March. Check out the cool blinkie on the right. Also, go and check out ways that you could win some free stuff. That's always a good time, yes?

Just a cardmaker, you say? I have gathered a good amount of ideas for my cards from scrapbookers. Same idea, smaller "canvas." I also use a good deal of my cardmaking "skills" when I scrap. Do not fear the merging of the two worlds.

Clean and Simple: Enjoy

My submission for this week's Clean and Simple challenge is one that I really "enjoy." Get it? Ho ho he he. I crack myself up.

The challenge asked us to use one button. Just one. So, I decided to use one of my favorite techniques: a clear button with patterned paper underneath.

I also decided to only use scraps that I had in my scrap pile. Well, the patterned paper was new and waiting to be "filed," but I made good use of it. The green is the flipside of the patterned paper, therefore matching the green in the pattern perfectly. Guess which blue I used? Oh, come on. Guess. Yes, Baja Breeze, ladies and gentlemen. What a shocker. The patterned paper was... come on... come on... I'm absolutely that transparent... yes! American Crafts a la Carte Avocado.

To see other Clean and Simple button cards, click here.

Specs:

Size: 5.5 x 4.25 inches

Paper: SU! Baja Breeze, American Crafts a la Carte Avocado

Stamp: SU! Enjoy Every Moment

Ink: SU! Basic Black

Thread: Paper Wire

Also: Dimensionals

Design Your Life - Color

I loved Cathy's discussion of color. Colors are probably my least favorite part of a layout, or at least they were before. Cathy gives a really good overview of the use of color. One of the things she paraphrases from Stacy Julian. It's an analogy of how to use three colors in a sketch. One color is your gallon, one color is your quart, and one gallon is your pint (or cup... I can't recall that last one). Anyway, it gives you an idea of how to use three main colors throughout a sketch. Also, Cathy suggested to look at your pictures and find common colors. Once you have found four, try to narrow it to the three you like best, and go from there.

As I wandered through my photos, I happened upon Ignatius' First Holy Communion pictures. What a dapper dude. It was his first experience with a full suit, and he looked adorable, all 8 years old of him. Since he and his dad were in black suits, I decided on black as one of my colors (8 1/2 x 11 piece in the background). That was my "gallon."

Then, since there was green in my dress and green in my fake ficus, hues of green were an obvious second pick. At first I tried solid-colored cardstock. I was then inspired to take a peek through my patterned paper. Lo and behold! Manchester DSP from SU! was a perfect fit. That was my quart. The argyle threw in an additional color: sand/kraft. Since that color is in the walls in two of the photos, I took it as a sign. I used Kraft for my journaling and important info. That was my pint. For the title, I decided upon Thickers (hide your shock!) Sweater felt stickers. Not sure that the color goes 100%, but I am OK with that. My OCD is allowing it tonight.

It cracks me up to see how short Ignatius was. Four brief years, and *poof*, he's practically taller than Scott now. Sigh.

Calling my name

I was so excited to hear through Ann's blog that SCS has created a new challenge called the Clean and Simple challenge. I am so ready for something of this nature. As some of you may be aware, there are all types of extremes to paper crafting. Here are my descriptions of your typical paper crafter, based on by copious scrutiny:

*Regurgitation Sally: This crafter type embodies the spirit that all embellishment companies wish to foster. Her daily mantra is, "No embellishment left behind." You may often wonder, when seeing her cards, how they fit in an envelope, not to mention the cost of shipping the card. Figuratively, she "regurgitates" all her supplies on every card. She is also broke most of the time.

*Arty Marty: Arty Marty should have her own art studio. Her cards are pieces of art to be framed rather than sent. When placing a card in the same gallery as AM, no matter how spectacular the card, one always feels a little embarrassed. It's almost like she's "slumming," if you know what I mean.

*Confused Claire: Claire doesn't really understand the purpose of stamps in her crafts. When she does stamp, you definitely see some hesitation in her stamping... some missed spots or something crooked... not falling in the lines of "that's what makes it handmade." Most of us have gone through the Confused Claire stage in our stamping infancy.

*CASEy Macy: When a crafter CASEs something, that means she is imitating another piece of art in order to make it her own. In this world, credit is expected to be given to the card being CASEd. We have all been CASEy Macy (not that there's anything wrong with that). CASEy needs an intervention when none of her cards are completely her own.

*Clean Jean: Personally, I love Clean Jean. She is embodied by artists such as Cathy Zielske, Becky Higgins, and the like. Clean Jean knows cards are meant to be sent, and that writing in them is as important as what they look like on the oustide, if not more so. Clean Jean will do this challenge every week.

Don't get me wrong... I have made cards that represent each of these crafters. That's how I know them so well. :) But I want to be Clean Jean the most.

So, without further adieu, I give you CAS Challenge #1. We were to be inspired by JoAnn's Snuggle Fabric. At first, I saw the fabric with little hand and footprints, and I went a bit crazy with some metal embellies. I hated this card so much, I threw it away. However, it did remind me of a card I had recently made that was very clean and simple. So, in a roundabout way, I was inspired by the fabrics.

I tried to use the circle design on the card I was making. it just didn't work out as I had sketched. So, this is a card I recently submitted to Paper Crafts, but they didn't pick it up for publication. I love this card. Absolutely love it. So screw them. :) I am such a grown up.

Size: 5-3/8 x 4-1/4 inches
Cardstock: The Paper Studio Kraft and Stampin’ Up! Textured Chocolate Chip
Image: Stampin’ Up! Season of Friendship set
Ink: Stampin’ Up! Chocolate Chip and Color Box Chalk Chestnut Roan
Patterned Paper: Stampin’ Up! Autumn Vine Designer Series Paper
Circle Paper Punches: 1” and 1-1/4” diameters
Embossing: Scor-Pal
Techniques: Distressing (on Chocolate Chip circles), scoring, inking/distressing

Cinema Saturday

My very own craftin' pal, Ann, is a guest designer for Cinema Saturday this week. I, of course, waited until the eleventh hour to get a card in.

The challenge and sketch asked us to be inspired by the movie, The Princess Bride. Yes, it's true... I had not seen the movie until today. I watched it in segments on You Tube. I have to say, it was interesting. I thought it would be more "Monty Python-"esque, but it really wasn't. It was fun to see Fred Savage during his "Wonder Years" again.

My card was inspired by one of the main characters, Wesley. For a long time in the movie, he wears black. He eventually wins the heart of his woman, horsefully named "Buttercup." So, I tried to mesh both characters as my inspiration.

I used American Crafts Elegant gown patterned paper. The silver and white reminded me of a lot of the costumes of the "royals" in the movie. I used SEI velvet in black and pink. I felt the filigree brads from SU! were a good fit with the theme of the card. I used an SU! stamp from the Riveting set. Lastly, I chose a sheer white bow to finish out the sketch. I mainly toyed with my Coluzzle circle template and my circle punches when deciding upon the circle layers. Coluzzle drives me crazy. I hate that I have tosnip part of it. It never looks good. I should just use my Cricut. Don't know why it's an afterthought, other than the fact that layering with it for more than just a shadow can be tricky.

Anyway, congrats to Ann, as she showcases her talents!