Happy New Year

Looking back on 2011, I'd say it was a pretty good year!I know it was a rough year for many others, but personally it wasn't too bad for me. I lost 40 pounds, even though I gained 10-15 back, but tomorrow starts a new year. Now that I know it's possible, I'm going to continue with eating healthy, working out, and trying to be healthy and happy for my family. I also started this blog, which I will continue to update, sharing my passion with the world. Thank you all for your support! Have a happy New Year! Be safe, and PLEASE don't drink and drive!

Gingerbread House

I made this Gingerbread house full of photos of my mom's grandchildren for Christmas. She cried when she got it. I found this cute shadow box at the Thrift store for just 69 cents. It just screamed gingerbread house, so I used Christmas photos from 2010 and 2009.

Here's what I started out with.

The first thing I did was to paint the whole house brown. I then used American Crafts Merrymint collection for my pp. I cut out all the candies and treats and then applied Glossy Accents to them. On some of the candies I used glitter over the Glossy Accents.

For the roof shingles, I cut out brown circles and outlined them with white puffy paint. I also used the puffy paint to represent the icing all over the house.

The door opens up to reveal more Christmas photos.

I had so much fun working on this, but the true joy was seeing the look on my mom's face when she got it.

Funtoolas December Color Challenge

I hope everyone had a good Christmas! I was finally able to get some scrap time to myself, and created this page for the December color challenge at Funtoolas. We had to use teal and plum, which was a very inspiring color combo for me. I used this photo of my beautiful sister and cousin. I made all the flowers myself, except for the small plum ones. I made the ribbon flowers using Lisa Gregory's fabulous tutorial. I tried putting in the link, but for some reason it's not working. If you want to make them, you can find them at What a beautiful mess. The other 2 flowers were actually left-overs from past projects, so I'm not sure how I made them. Lol!I just added some bling and glimmer mists. I cut out the wine glass and bottle with my Cricut using the Summer in Paris cartridge.

Here's some close-ups.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone! I just want to thank all my followers here! I truly love and appreciate all your comments and support! Have a safe and happy holidays!

Birthday card

Wow! I can't believe there's only 5 days left until Christmas. I just wanted to share this birthday card I made earlier this month for my Mother-in-law. I used the same tree technique that I did in my "White Christmas" LO. The train was printed from an image I found online. My husband came up with the whole concept, from the train, snowy trees, to the snowflakes. She loved it!

The Color Room Palette #88

Hello! It's been awhile since I've played in the Color Room, so I thought I'd give it a shot. This was also the first time I used their sketch. Here's palette #88.

Here's what I did. I scrapped these photos of my nephew who I haven't seen since last Christmas. I'm really looking forward to seeing him again this Christmas! I mixed some different pp's from Bo Bunny, Basic Grey, and Fancy Pants, but I think it worked out. I painted the tree using my Tattered Angels glimmer screen again.

 Here's a close-up of the tree.

Thanks for stopping by! Happy Holidays!

Poinsettia Flower Tutorial

Happy Holidays everyone! I thought I'd share another flower tutorial with you for the upcoming holidays. I did this page for the lyrics challenge at Scrapbook.com to use Christmas songs or lyrics on your page. Here's my LO. I started with white cardstock and misted the trees using Tattered Angels winter trees stencil. After misting, I applied diamond dust to the trees and used an old toothbrush in white paint to make the snow on the background.

And now for the tutorial.
Supplies:
Red and green cardstock
Stylus
Stickles (I used Frosted Lace)
Glue
Small white,clear, or yellow beads (I used clear)
Mother's Day Bouquet Cricut cartridge
Plantin Schoolbook Cricut cartridge

First I used my Mother's Day Bouquet Cricut cartridge and cut flower #25 at 3", 2 1/2", 2", and 1 1/2" out of red cardstock.

Then I used my scissors to shape the petals giving it a ragged look. It doesn't have to be perfect. Just make sharp jagged edges like this.

Then using your stylus over a foam pad, start making your veins on the petals. I made a straight line from the center out, and then added some veins going out from the center line.

Next I applied Frosted Lace stickles over all the flowers. Once dry they'll naturally start to curl.

Then use your stylus, pen, or whatever you have on hand to curl your largest flower petals down. The rest can be curled up.

Start layering and gluing your flower together starting with the largest one on bottom.

Then put some glue in the center and add your small beads.

Now for the leaves.
Cut out 3 leaves using the leaves on the Plantin Schoolbook Cricut cartridge, at 3", 2 1/2" and 2" out of green cardstock.

Then using my scissors again, I shaped the leaves like this, cutting a sort of inward scallop around the whole leaf. Again, this doesn't need to be perfect.

Then using my stylus I made some more lines to create veins.

Then I added my Frosted Lace stickles and glued them around the bottom of my flower.Here's a close-up of the finished flower. Thanks for stopping by!

Top 10 Chipboard LO's

Hello! I just LOVE working with chipboard and all the different things you can do with it! Painting is one of my favorites, but there's so many other techniques you can use with chipboard.Here are some examples.

1.

Here I painted the wings white, and added stickles to give it sparkle.

2.

This chipboard cow was painted, inked, and embossed.

3.

This cool fence was painted with a glossy black.

4.

I painted this pocket watch, including the numbers, and then added Glossy Accents and a chain to it.

5.

Here I painted the snowflake white, and then added diamond dust to it.

6.

Another exmaple of the power of glossy black paint.

7.

To make this chipboard frame I used some tissue paper and glued it over the whole frame, before adding some inks and paints. It gives it a great texture.

For the small frame I just used some paints.

8.

Here I painted the frame yellow and added yellow stickles.

9.

I painted and used some distress crackle paint on the black where the title is.

10.

Some more fun with paints using a white pearl dabber to create a snowy look on my letters.

Happy Birthday Hon!

    I just want to wish my darling husband a wonderful happy birthday! Here's a page I did of him and our son. I just LOVE this photo of them together, taken about 3 years ago. I did some misting, masking, stamping, and sewing on here.

Here's a close-up.