A day on the farm

Two summers ago our family went to visit an old acquaintance's organic farm.  My daughter had so much fun playing with the goats, sheep, chickens and other animals.  She had seen most of these animals before, but not up close that she could touch them.  It was a great adventure for sure.


Tina asked me to do some farm layouts with some Kaisercraft Cockadoodledoo collection.  I did another layout with this "this little piggy" see HERE, but I wanted to do something more 'farmish' so I printed a large photo of my daughter and husband in the field with the sheep and washed out the colours a bit.  I cropped down the photo and added two pieces of wooden fence that I had painted with crackle distress paint.  Added a couple of fussy cut sheep and a bit of border punch, a title and this layout was done.  A five minute layout.  It took me longer to blog about it than it did to create it, but I just love it!  Tell me what you think - leave a comment below.

Copic marker cards

Sharing some cards I did for Tina's Scrapbooking Creations in Winchester using copic markers.
Lucy and Ricky from Kraftin Kimmie - Webster's Pages papers, and Prima flowers - Copics used: C1, C3, C5, C7, C9, R56, RV34, RV11, G85, G46, G21, BG90 (love this grass)

Hockey Riley - Scrappin Sports papers - spellbinders - Copics used: E81, E84,E15, E53, C5, C3, C1, R35, R39, R27, W5, BG90, BG10

Hockey Riley - Scrappin Sports papers - spellbinders - Copics used: E17, E15, E43, E44, G46, G28, G21, C3, C5, C7, BG90

Ice Skating Riley - Moxxie papers - spellbinders - Copics used: E44, E43, E33, E31, V20, V22, BG10, BG13, C1, C3, C5, BG90

Teacher Anya - The Greeting Farm - Basic Grey papers, Bazzil smooth cardstock, Ranger Distress inks, Copics used: E21, E25, E29, E81, E84, E87, E000, E00, E01, R20, BG13, G85, G46, G21, YG17

Teacher Anya - The Greeting Farm - Basic Grey papers, Bazzil smooth cardstock, Ranger Distress inks, Copics used: Y21, YR23, YR27, E81, E84, E87, YG95, YG93, R89 R59, R56, BG13, E000, E00, E01, E31, R20

Well, tell me what you think!!!  Don't you just love that grass on the skunk card??? I love it!  You can see these cards on display at Tina's Scrapbooking Creations in Winchester.  I will also be doing an advanced Copic Class "Flesh and Hair" on May 16th - reserve your spot today!613-774-4611

~Lorena~

Google + Creative Kit (the new Picnik)

I am a HUGE fan of the online photo editing program Picnik, I do all my photo editing in it, resizing, watermarking, touch-ups; everything.  So when I got a notice from Picnik that they were closing, and have sold to Google + I was very worried.  I immediately opened up a Google + account (not because I want to replace Facebook, believe me, I spend enough time on Facebook that I don't need to have to be watching and updating my Google + too).  My mission was to find where Google + has tucked Picnik into their virtual Facebook carbon copy of a social networking site.  That was my mission ... and it stayed like that, in the planning phase, for about 3 months.  The April 19th deadline is now tomorrow, and I thought maybe I should figure out where Picnik (if it is the same) is now hiding.  Good news, I found it, and even better news, it looks virtually the same - there are a few minor differences, but the major things are still there ***WHEW***  Don't get me wrong, I also own PhotoShop, but I'll have to take a 3 week course to figure out how to use that.  That's what I loved about Picnik, it was so simple yet powerful and intuitive!
Now, if you are curious as to where to find it in Google + I have put together (mostly for myself) a step-by-step on how to get there and save/edit photos.

If you would like me to email you a copy of this, please send me an email and I will forward onto you. MailboxLorena@aol.com

Login to your google + account

1) on left hand side (greyed out) bottom, click on "more"

2) first tab - click on Photos

3) top right - click on "upload new photos" (at this point things should start to look familiar to picnik)

4) it will ask you to create an album - you will notice if you have a Blogger account your images will show up here too. Press cancel once uploaded or else it will paste to your Google + profile.

5) once you have the photo that you want to edit uploaded - double click on the photo.

6) above your image click on "Creative Kit" this is the old Picnik - a few tweaks but same same.

There you have it! This will auto save them to your Google + account, if you want to save the photo to your computer, just "right click" over the photo and "save as"

Let me know if this is helpful!

Copic Colours

Are you looking for a complete listing of the colours available at Auntie Em's Scapbooking of Copic Markers?
Well wait no longer, here you go!  Keep in mind that Emma also brings in other colours too - currently she has all of the 2012 new release colours in stock (some of my favorites include the E84 & E89 and my new fav for shadows BG90)
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new 2012 colour release

0 - COLOURLESS BLENDER

100 - BLACK

C1 - COOL GREY no.1

C3 - COOL GREY no.3

C5 - COOL GREY no.5

W1 - WARM GREY no.1

W3 - WARM GREY no.3

W5 - WARM GREY no.5

B00 - FROST BLUE

B02 - ROBINS EGG BLUE

B05 - PROCESS BLUE

B12 - ICE BLUE

B14 - LIGHT BLUE

B18 - LAPIS LAZULI

B21 - BABY BLUE

B24 - SKY

B26 - COBALT BLUE

B29 - ULTRAMARINE

B32 - PALE BLUE

B34 - MANGANESE BLUE

B39 - PRUSSIAN BLUE

B41 - POWDER BLUE

B45 - SMOKEY BLUE

BG02 - NEW BLUE

BG05 - HOLIDAY BLUE

BG09 - BLUE GREEN

BG10 - COOL SHADOW

BG13 - MINT GREEN

BG15 - AQUA

BG18 - TEAL BLUE

BG32 - AQUA MIST

BG34 - HORIZON GREEN

BG45 - NILE BLUE

BG49 - DUCK BLUE

BG99 - FLAGSTONE BLUE

BV00 - MAUVE SHADOW

BV04 - BLUE BERRY

BV08 - BLUE VIOLET

BV23 - GRAYISH LAVENDER

BV31 - PALE LAVENDER

E00 - SKIN WHITE

E02 - FRUIT PINK

E04 - LIPSTICK NATURAL

E07 - LIGHT MAHOGANY

E09 - BURNT SIENNA

E11 - BARELY BEIGE

E13 - LIGHT SUNTAN

E15 - DARK SUNTAN

E19 - REDWOOD

E21 - BABY SKIN PINK

E25 - CARIBE COCOA

E29 - BURNT UMBER

E31 - BRICK BEIGE

E33 - SAND

E35 - CHAMOIS

E37 - SEPIA

E39 - LEATHER

E51 - MILKY WHITE

E53 - RAW SILK

E57 - LIGHT WALNUT

E59 - WALNUT

G00 - JADE GREEN

G02 - SPECTRUM GREEN

G05 - EMERALD GREEN

G07 - NILE GREEN

G12 - SEA GREEN

G17 - FOREST GREEN

G19 - BRIGHT PARROT GREEN

G21 - LIME GREEN

G24 - WILLOW

G28 - OCEAN GREEN

G82 - SPRING DIM GREEN

G85 - VERDIGRIS

R00 - PINKISH WHITE

R02 - FLESH

R05 - SALMON RED

R11 - PALE CHERRY PINK

R17 - LIPSTICK ORANGE

R20 - BLUSH

R24 - PRAWN

R27 - CADMIUM RED

R29 - LIPSTICK RED

R32 - PEACH

R35 - CORAL

R37 - CARMINE

R39 - GARNET

R59 - CARDINAL

RV02 - SUGARED ALMOND PINK

RV04 - SHOCK PINK

RV06 - CERISE

RV09 - FUCHSIA

RV10 - PALE PINK

RV11 - PINK

RV13 - TENDER PINK

RV17 - DEEP MAGENTA

RV19 - RED VIOLET

RV21 - LIGHT PINK

RV25 - DOG ROSE FLOWER

RV29 - CRIMSON

RV32 - SHADOW PINK

RV34 - DARK PINK

V04 - LILAC

V06 - LAVENDER

V09 - VIOLET

V12 - PALE LILAC

V15 - MALLOW

V17 - AMETHYST

YG01 - GREEN BICE

YG03 - YELLOW GREEN

YG06 - SALAD

YG07 - ACID GREEN

YG11 - MIGNONETTE

YG13 - CHARTREUSE

YG17 - GRASS GREEN

YG41 - PALE COBALT GREEN

YG45 - COBALT GREEN

YG63 - PEA GREEN

YG67 - MOSS

YG91 - PUTTY

YG95 - PALE OLIVE

YG99 - MARINE GREEN

YR00 - POWDER PINK

YR02 - LIGHT ORNAGE

YR04 - CHROME ORNAGE

YR07 - CADMIUM ORANGE

YR14 - CARMEL

YR16 - APRICOT

YR18 - SANGUINE

YR21 - CREAM

YR23 - YELLOW OCHRE

Y00- BARIUM YELLOW

Y02 - CANARY YELLOW

Y04 - ACACIA

Y06 - YELLOW

Y11 - PALE YELLOW

Y13 - LEMMON YELLOW

Y15 - CADMIUM YELLOW

Y17 - GOLDEN YELLOW

Y19 - NAPOLI YELLOW

Y21 - BUTTERCUP YELLOW

Y23 - YELLOWISH BEIGE

Y26 - MUSTARD

Y38 - HONEY

I will be teaching a Copic "Critters" class on Saturday April 28th - space is limited but still available, call Emma or Laura to reserve your spot today! 613-938-4888

Tina's Scrapbooking Winter kit --->> the results

Tina's Winter 2011/2012 Contest kit was nothing short of amazing.
I have a love for pink, and those of you who know me will know that I don't need an excuse to make a pink layout - heck I would even scrap my son on a pink page if I think I could get away with it!


Here is the rundown for what is in the Winter kit.


My Little Shoebox - Winter Wonderland - Gum Drop Lane (2)
My Little Shoebox - Winter Wonderland - Starburst
My Little Shoebox - Winter Wonderland - Cardstock Sticker
Doodlebug Designs - Santa's Workshop - Pretty poinsettias (2)
Doodlebug Designs - Santa's Workshop - Jolly Dots (2)
Doodlebug Designs - Santa's Workshop - Holiday Tweed(2)
Doodlebug Designs - Santa's Workshop - 4x6 cutouts (2)
1 sheet white cardstock (smooth)
1 sheet light blue cardstock (textured)
1 sheet light pink cardstock (textured)
2 white snowflake buttons
6 felt snowflakes (blues and white)
4 snowflake stickers
1 Clear Scraps plastic snowflake (clear) 4"
12" pink stitched ribbon
1 large white Tim Holtz tag


An amazing photo taken on Christmas day 2011.  I used several boarder punches to give this affect, and liquid pearls for all the 'snow' dots.  For the acrylic snowflake I used white StazOn ink and stamped snowflakes and the edges of the snowflake.



 This is my least favorite of my layouts - it's too busy for my liking.  I used the snowflake buttons in the centres of my poinsettias and coloured them yellow - worked for me!!

A fantastic photo taken by the ever talented Jennifer Carroll over at Live Laugh Photograph

 Inspired by the Damien Hirst spot paintings - as I had NO idea what to do with this polka dot paper!!
Coloured the title with my copics and glued to clear acetate and popped up with Scrap Dots

 My favorite layout of the bunch, it's pink, need I say more?  Handmade flowers again, and leaves.

So, as you can see I got quite a few layouts out of this kit - five to be exact, and I could have squeezed out another one or a few cards had I given myself a bit more time, and I have no excuses - I just never picked up the kit until it was almost closing time.  My favorite layout is the first one I made "Angel" I'm really happy with the way the flowers turned out and the title.  Except for that I used my entire allotted 12" of ribbon on this title. 

Remember I have a flower making techniques class coming up at Tina's Scrapbooking on April 25th - call or email to reserve your spot!

I'm pleased as punch to say that I shared the victory of winning the Winter kit prize with the Uber tallented Christine Levere-Vanderbroek!

~Lorena~

Product review - best paper and ink for copic coloring

There is so much personal preference in cardstock/paper used for copic colouring.
Well here is my personal opinion.  I haven't tried a multitude of cardstock though, so my view is limited.

I started out with 110lb cardstock that I bought at Staples - the price is right for this, but I have to admit is bleeds quite a bit, as it is not a very tight weave to the paper.  So, I would recommend it for when you are starting out for the price point, and you will be going through alot of paper to practice with.  $17.74 for 250 sheets.

Then I moved to what Copic recommends for their markers - Xpress It cardstock, 110 lb, the price point of this the highest expect to pay $1 a sheet at your local scrapbook store.  I like this paper, as it doesn't bleed very much, but, I do find that when I am colouring with multiple colours (layering) the cardstock tends to blotch and look shiny - not the look I'm going for.

I then contacted Gina K, and bought some of their 120 lb luxury cardstock, this is a very tight weaved paper and I have been extremely impressed.  Very blendable, the ink sits on top just waiting to be blended.  I have not found that it soaks through to the back like the other cardstocks.  And at a cost of $6.96 for 25 sheets (plus shipping  - to Canada is $10.90 unless you put in an order of $50 - and let Me know if you want to split on shipping I will gladly do it if you are in the Ottawa to Kingston corridor)  They have the best  paper I have tried.

Next up I would like to try the Neenah papers, but haven't secured purchasing any of that paper as of yet.

Onto inks now .... I find the best ink for stamping and colouring is the Momento ink (tuxedo black) but I have recently purchased the "rich cocoa" and haven't tried it.  I also have used Ranger Distress Inks, and Stampin Up dye inks.  All work well, but the Momento is the best.  It doesn't smudge and it is a true black.  If you are looking at printing out digitalis, I will tell you to only print on a LASER JET printer, do not, and I repeat NOT print on an ink jet ... it will smudge, you will get black shadows and your images will not be crisp.  One other piece of advice - do not use heat embossing to set your images and try to colour with them.... this will ruin your marker tips .... learn from my mistake, my YG17 will never be the same!!

I hope this little ditty has helped you in dispelling some mystery and I would love to hear what your favorites are and why.  Please leave me a comment.  I might even have a couple of Copic Markers kicking around here to send to one lucky commentator for their trouble.  Comments are always welcomed, but this give-away will close on April 21st 2012.

Remember I am teaching, in Cornwall, an Advanced Copic class on April 28th "Critters" will give you insight into how to colour all those furry little friends!  Call Auntie Em's to reserve your spot - 613-938-4888

~Lorena~

April PageMaps Challenge at Auntie Em's Scrapbooking

April - A-P-R-I-L one month closer to summer YAY - that's all that counts anyway right? 
This month I got the amazing opportunity to use Basic Grey's Hello Luscious collection and utilize layers - yes folks its all about the layers over at Auntie Em's Scrapbooking this month.  Adding dimension to your page all based on the April sketch from Scrapbook and Cards Today calendar. I used multiple layers of paper and ribbons and layers of flowers, yes my signature handmade flowers.

And now for a little shameless advertising - join me on April 28th for an advanced Copic class "Critters".  Learn techniques and tips regarding the colouring of animals and FUR - suggested colours include the Warm Grey's - Cool Grey's as well as E31, E35, E37 (or your favorite browns).  Contact Emma or Laura to reserve your seat. 613-938-4888

Cutie Patootie

Here is my sample. I used the Hello Luscious collection by Basic Grey and layered not only my papers and ribbon, but my hand made flowers; four of them to be exact. I also used chipboard and canvas pieces from this collection for different texture and dimension.

The journaling reads:

"As always you are looking pretty cute, at this photo shoot when Logan came to visit; August 2011"

~Lorena~

Its Flower Time!

Are you curious about how I make some of my handmade flowers?Well here is your chance to learn how to make them.  I will be doing a two hour tutorial on five different flowers; providing you step by step instructions and guidance to make your own flowers!

All you will need to bring with you is the following:

- scissors
- quilling tool or tweezers (if you have them)
- Tim Holtz "Tiny Attacher" stapler (if you have one)
- Aqua (pen if you have one)

I will have adhesives, materials and all punches and inks needed to produce these little lovelies, but if you want to bring your own distress inks, stapler and glue (I suggest Helmar 450 and Tombow Multi)

There are limited spaces left - if you are interested in learning these flower making techniques join me on Wednesday April 25 from 7:30 to 9:30 in Winchester, Ontario at Tina's Scrapbooking Creations!!  Call Tina to reserve your spot today - 613-774-4611.

~Lorena~