The CropFest weekend ...

I had the amazing opportunity to attend my first CropFest in Kingston Ontario with some amazing gals that I originally met at Crop & Create in Ottawa two years ago, we became great scrappin' buddies, they are two of my Peeps!  I also invited a long-time friend who has recently gotten into scrapbooking.  The theme was Garden Party - and we were encouraged to get into the theme, which we did with our garden hats, fascinators and tea party dresses.  It was an amazing time;  a full weekend of scrapping - challenges and games but no interruptions, no classes, no schedule; very different from what I had been attending recently.  And don't get me wrong, I love the intensity of full day classes, but I also love to be doing my own thing too.

I got a lot accomplished; 3 layouts, two cards and a mini album.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Surprize! Look at your Cake Face ...

A photo of my son on his first birthday - hard to believe he will be turning FOUR in just a couple of weeks ... already in school full time.  Where does the time go?

CAKE FACE

Using the Surprize collection from Bo Bunny I wanted the letter to pop a little so I used my fine tip Sharpie to doodle around the word surprize.  I used red ink to distress the edges to bring out the red of the paper line, and dripped some Heidi Swapp color shine in Sweet Cherry. A toilet paper roll and gesso for the random rings.  The balloons I used Utee and Versamark on to make them more dimensional. The title is Basic Grey chipboard letters.

 

 

 

Thanks for looking!

 



Advent Calendar for years to come

When Emma had her sale this summer I bought a Kaisercraft Advent calender with hopes of having it done by December 1st for the kids to celebrate the season with .... well I'm not horribly late - just tardy as per my predictable self!  I finished it today - December 3rd!

 

I wanted this calendar to be unique, and timeless.  First I painted all the parts to the box white.  And put the boxes together with Ranger Terrifically Tacky double sided tape.  I wanted to use my favorite Christmas paper line Jovial by Basic Grey.  I created a fireplace with texture paste and gelatoes using a Prima stencil.  I wanted some lighting in the shadow box of this calendar, so I used a flameless tealight and some sticks as logs in the fireplace.  I also used a Tim Holtz mini lantern and his Woodlands collection tree and wreath.  I coloured the tree and wreath with Glimmer Glaze in Dirty Martini.

 

 

I kept the boxes simple and without too much decoration - so I inked them and put faux stitching on the edges.  I Mod Podged each of the boxes for durability for years to come.  Flowers on the tree are Prima, and the twine is Doodlebug.  The star on the tree is Teresa Collins.  The stockings are Debbie Travis garland!  I replaced some of the numbers with Tim Holtz bingo markers.

 

 

 

 

A trip to the dollar store to fill the boxes with trinkets, toys and the odd chocolate.  I can't wait to see the look on their faces for years to come when I haul this beauty out with the Christmas decorations!  I loved the process.  Although the building stage could have used more instructions ... and by more I mean ANY!  This kit came only with a photo of the finished product, nothing else. 

 

 

Let me know what you think - be kind become a subscriber and leave a comment.

 



 

 

 

 

Copic Techniques class August 25th at Auntie Em's Scrapbooking

Join me on Saturday August 25th to make this adorable Christmas card (you heard right - Christmas) The technique she will be focusing on is "reflection". Cost will be $25. You will complete this card and will be provided a spare image to colour. Please bring with you your scissors, adhesive, pop dots and the following Copic Markers:

R05 - Salmon Red

R29 - Lipstick Red*

R59 - Cardinal

YG93 - Grayish Yellow*

YG95 - Pale Olive*

YG97 - Spanish Olive

YG99 - Marine Green

Y21 - Buttercup Yellow*

YR14 - Caramel

YR27 - Tuscan Orange

E21 - Baby Skin Pink*

E51 - Milky White*

Optional are: E44, E29, E04, R20* - this is for hair and cheeks - you can change if you wish.

*Markers you will have in your collection already if you have taken all of my previous classes.

Don't you just love the Basic Grey Jovial collection, it is still my favorite Christmas line of all times!!!

Cherry Tree double layout - featuring Kissing Booth

I have long since been a fan of Basic Grey - I would put them at the top of my list in paper companies.  However I must admit they have not had many lines in the past year that I have *Loved* but when I saw Kissing Booth I did love everything about this line.  Two tones of pink and brown, yes, my perfect combination for girly pages.  I am blessed to have both a daughter and a son, so I can go back and forth with the boy pages and the girl pages.  I have however been rightly accused of doing more pages of my daughter ... I think there are a few reasons for that:

•  I love pink. 
•  I love flowers - and while I still put flowers on my boy pages, I can go haul-ass crazy with them on a girl page.
• My daughter is so much more photogenic than my son ... seriously she is a poser!
• My daughter has been around longer - by 18 months :o)

Anyway, enough excuses, here is another pink layout featuring my daughter and myself.  We were both dressed in pink this day, and the cherry tree in a friend's yard was in full bloom, so we posed and had a mini photo shoot - it was a fantastic day.

Lesson learned on taking photos of your layouts on your Smart Phone though .... the photos are HORRIBLE - I photo shopped the crap out of these photos and they still turned out less than mediocre.

If you would like to see this layout in person, please visit Auntie Em's Scrapbooking in Cornwall!

Be kind and leave a comment.

~Lorena~

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~

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~

More Little Yellow Bicycle Winter Twig

Crisp blue, cool steely grey, a hint of mossy green and a dash of chocolate brown accent.  The Winter Twig collection from Little Yellow Bicycle is great to work with.  I have always loved the canvas like texture to LYB papers.  I did however pair this winter paper with photos of my son that were not taken in the winter at all, they were in fact taken in the hottest week in September, but the colour in his shirt really went well with this paper - who says you have to have winter photos on a winter paper? 
Little One

I kept a very horizontal look to this very simple layout and added a title that I cut with my Cricut (Calligraphy Collection) and distressed with some Ranger Distressing Inks (vintage photo & gathered twigs)  Two of my handmade flowers top off this layout and of course some Prima leaves tucked in there.  I am SO not afraid to put flowers on my boy layouts - not even a little!


Smile

I used Ranger Distress Stain in Picket Fences to tone down the beautiful pine cone paper so that I could journal on it. I altered the colour on the button to my liking by using my copic markers and giving it a textured look. My favorite chipboard letters from Basic Grey (Piper in Milk Chocolate Chip - and had I known they would discontinue making them I would have bought 50 packages!!!)  I made my own flowers as usual - two different styles; and if you are interested in learning some of my flower techniques I suggest that you sign up for my flower making class that I will be giving at Tina's Scrapbooking Creations on April 25th.  I supply all the materials and show you how to make 5 different flowers to add to your layouts, cards and altered projects, all for the amazing low cost of $20!

My wants from CHA 2012 Winter

I must say there haven't been many wants from this CHA - nothing that stands out on its own.  There are a few nice lines, but I've not been impressed with any whole collection.  Not like in years past.  I hope this is not foreshadowing for something.

So, of the CHA Winter 2012 products that I have spotted, this is a list of my favorites, and I will likely pick them all up - if anyone out there knows how I like to buy, and ultimately hoard scrapbooking products.

  

Basic Grey: There is one paper line I'm liking over the others - Plumberia - I do love the backside of the last paper - I'm calling it a faint tartan, but it will work with alot of things.  I can't say enough about the wax seals they brought out in this collection though - those are awesome!

Prima:  The follow up to the Printery collection is called Almanac - it is very pretty in general, but I am really liking the art tiles and

Lily Bee:  I love the gingham papers in the Double Dutch collection.  I want the 6x6 pack just for the gingham, could care less about the flip sides of the papers, as I'm always looking for a 'solid' that's neither a stripe nor a polka dot.  And by solid what I mean is one colour - not a pattern.

We R Memory Keepers: Lucky 8 punches - I think these are going to be a big hit! You really have to watch their video to fully appreciate what these punches can do - CLICK HERE

Ranger - Distress ink Markers - yes, I want the whole set!  How can you go wrong, it's an economical way to get all of the inks if you are just planning on doing watercolour or multi colour stamping on one image.

Ranger - New and innovative product - Texture Treads - I'm looking forward to playing with this to see exactly what they do, but I'm loving the Leafy Branches.  I believe these texture treads are likely made of vulcanized rubber, you pour melted UTEE into it and let cool ... can't wait to see how they work.

Jillibean Soup - I thought these little sayings were all quite humorous.

Well that about sums up my likes on CHA 2012 Winter - actually I'm sure there are tones more, but these are the ones that really stuck out.  Notice no paper collections - usually there is at least one collection I'm just dying to get my hands on.  Just tools and new products.  So... all my retailer friends ... here is the Lorena's Best Guess list for this season - free of charge LOL!

Enjoy!