Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Mojo Monday at Flying Unicorn

Here is a layout I made using this week's Mojo Monday sketch at Flying Unicorn


The papers are Bo Bunny Weekend Market and Double Dot.  I stamped and stenciled with gesso on the background paper, then stamped with black archival ink and colored in a couple spots I wanted to stay the original color (the flower sprigs) with Crystal Gel.  I then inked the entire paper with Distress Inks in Festive Berries, Squeezed Lemonade and Tea Dye.

This is a photo of my nephew when he was just a little guy.  We just spent the weekend with him and it's hard to believe that this sweet little guy and the busy eight year old he is today are one and the same person.

Here is the sketch:





This weekly challenge is open Monday through Sunday so there is still plenty of time to play along!


We are on vacation at my in-laws' cabin in the wilderness and I had the best scrappy day today.  My stepmom and dad came up in their boat and my stepmom and I spent the afternoon out in the sun on the deck scrapping, listening to the sounds of the ocean.  It was gorgeous!

Gotta enjoy the tranquility before I return home next week - apparently there is a nasty package waiting for me from Bitsy, one of the members at Flying Unicorn.  This month instead of the Creative Team presenting challenges for the members the tables have been turned and the members are challenging the Creative Team.  Each CT member has two challenges, one that is open to all (come join us, there are some lovely RAKs to be won and the CT aren't eligible :) ) and another that is only for that specific CT member.  And involves a package of hideous scrapbooking supplies hand-picked for that CT member.  Come join in the fun and watch us squirm!

Hope you are all having an opportunity to enjoy the summer!

Monday, July 30, 2012

Flying Unicorn Creative Team Announcement

I am thrilled to announce that I've joined the Creative Team at Flying Unicorn!  I've been bursting over the past couple of weeks wanting to tell, and the time is finally here - it's official.  The caliber of the work at Flying Unicorn is unsurpassed in the industry and I am so excited to join this talented group of ladies. 

Here is the official announcement:

The day is here!! We are so ready to reveal the 2012-2013 of our Creative Team! We know that this team will inspire, excite and motivate you in a world of Creative Bliss.So without further adieu let me introduce to you Flying Unicorn's Creative Team :

DENISE JENSEN - Creative Team Director


My name is Denise Jensen and I’ve been scrapbooking for almost 13 years now. I’m a married mother of 4 (3 girls and 1 boy, well he is a man now) and grandmother of a very beautiful boy! I work at a center as the Recreation Coordinator for children with special needs. My darling husband is a police officer and between work and family, we are kept pretty busy in our little town of Marion, North Dakota. My children are all involved in sports and I like it that way, it keeps them busy!! I am a Girl Scout Leader, Sunday School teacher and Special Olympics Track and Field coach as well.
Scrapbooking is a passion of mine. I love what I do. I try to create something every day. I believe scrapbooking is an expression, not a competition. I also believe in sharing our love for this craft. Each one of us creates in our own beautiful way and there is so much to learn from one another.
I am the proud Creative Team Director for Flying Unicorn and love it! I have learned so much since I joined and have made some fabulous friends!

MAGGI HARDING - Creative Team Coordinator


My name is Maggi Harding and I live in North Carolina, USA, with my wonderful husband and two standard poodles that we refer to as the spoos. They are my children and of course, I do a lot of layouts featuring my furkids.

In 2005, I thought it would be a great idea to make each of my two best friends from college a scrapbook filled with memories of the 35 years that we have known each other. I was immediately hooked on this art form as I finally found something that combines my love of photography and writing with my artistic longings. Scrapbooking is my passion and I spend most of my free time pursuing my "scrappy" dreams. Through scrapbook art, I have awakened my "inner artist"!

I describe my style as eclectic vintage/shabby chic. I love to liven up a layout with bright and contrasting colors. I love scrapping 12 x 12 pages but I also have a real love for making paperbag albums and off the page projects. For me, scrapbooking is an artistic adventure, what can I create, how can I make this piece of paper come to life? Along with scrapping the pictures, I love to tell the stories and often reflect on how to tell the story hidden in my photographs.

SHONA KEEHN- Creative Team



My name is Shona Keehn and I am from British Columbia, Canada. I have 3 children, lots of grand babies and a wonderful husband of 26 years. He is pretty supportive with my scrapping addiction and tries not to blow a gasket when I spend too much on it…lol

I have been scrapping for many years but have just found my scrappy style in the last year or so, Shabby Chic, and it is definitely something that I change up lots. I am always trying new techniques and love to make embellishments. I love to start with palettes and sketches. I find it amazing all the variations from just one starting point.

I get so much inspiration from everyone in the scrapping world and I hope that you can get some from me.

Tammy Henderson- Creative Team



Hello, my name is Tammy Henderson (aka Simplyme). I have 2 wonderful teenagers that keep me going and a wonderful husband; we have been married for 18yrs. I live in the Bootheal area of MO. I’m just a small town girl having a blast in the scrapping world! I have been doing this wonderful craft since 2005 and have been hooked every since. I love all types of art and the different mediums. I think that is the thing that has kept me in love with this craft, because it’s not the same ole thing. Anything goes and the sky is the limit. I absolutely love getting to combine pictures of my loved ones, with my favorite thing in the world ART! I have been a Creative Team member for 7mths for Flying Unicorn. I love every minute of it! My favorite embellies to use is Flowers!! Rare will you ever see a project done without one!

Laura Ghully- Creative Team

Hi everyone I'm Laura (aka Angelbear). I am so proud to be on this wonderful Creative Team, with all of these amazing and talented ladies!
I live in a small town in beautiful south-western Ontario, Canada. I am a small town girl, and get lost in the big cities lol! I am a stay at home mom to 2 fantastic and energetic little boys - Cody is 11 and Ty is 10. They are 13 months apart and they keep me hoping! I am always busy with something with them!!!! I am happily married for 12 years to my best friend and the most patient & handsome man on earth, Jon. He keeps me grounded, is always there for me and NEVER asks how much I spent on scrappy stuff! He is a long haul truck driver, so it is just me and our boys all week, but when he is home, it all about us!
I started scrapping years ago when my sister took me to a Creative Memories beginner class and I although I really enjoyed it I just wasn't a Creative Memories scrapper and soon struck out on my own. I found a few very helpful and friendly sites on the web and have been trying new things and learning ever since. That's why I LOVE being on the creative team....I learn so much from these talented ladies!!!! I think my style is eclectic. sometimes I like a very clean and simple layout, sometimes my layouts are more layered and sometimes I ink, tear, layer and distress my projects! With my husband on the road, and two very active boys to keep me busy, I don't have a lot of time to myself to scrap so I make time! Almost every night after the kids go to bed, I take out my supplies and try an do something scrapbooking oriented every day to give me some 'me' time. My family is the focus of my life, my inspiration, and my motivation to scrapbook.


Kelly Foster- Creative Team



My name is Kelly Foster, I am 25 years old. I am enjoying a busy life in Minnesota, with my other half, Jeremy, and our two beautiful red-headed little girlies, Lilah (2) and Paisley (2 months). I started scrapbooking 2 years back, just wanting to preserve the thousands of photos I was taking!! I quickly became active with the online scrapbooking world, and my creativity just kind of "took off" and I have learned so much!! I am constantly experimenting with my style, but if I had to define what I'm currently doing, I'd call it "shabby/artsy/chic." I love lots of distressing, layering, and a little bit of messy. I love mixing lots of patterns together, and searching through the mess on my desk for fun bits and pieces to add to my layouts!! I've recently begun making cards, as well. I am currently designing for Once Upon A...Sketch, and 2 Crafty Chipboard.

Jackie Clark- Creative Team


My name is Jackie Clark. I live in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada with my husband (who happens to be my highschool sweetheart) and our three boys. Elliot is nearly 6, Brennan is 3 and Colby just turned 1 so needless to say we are very busy! Fortunately like most young boys our sons are constantly on the go, providing ample photographic fodder for my scrapping addiction. My husband rolls his eyes when I say scrapbooking is cheaper than therapy and mutters something under his breath, but despite his doubts he is incredibly supportive of my hobby, even when it takes over the kitchen counter and dining room table. Still hands make me twitchy, and going several days without doing something creative leaves me climbing the walls, and as they say, happy wife, happy life!


I was introduced to scrapbooking at a Creative Memories party 12 years ago and I was instantly hooked. My style has grown and developed over the years and I am constantly learning and evolving as a scrapbooker. I have a pretty eclectic style — I enjoy shabby chic, and have been known to strew flowers and glitter over my boy pages, but I also like to change things up and go grungy. I love making cards; in my mind giving a handmade card is a way of telling the people in my life how special they are to me. Recently I have been delving into Mixed Media and I am IN LOVE! Whether it is the brightness of Dylusions sprays and Dyan Reaveley’s funky stamps or Finnabair’s dark paints and salvaged computer parts, I can’t wait to get down and dirty, and wear my ink-stained hands as a badge of honor.

Adrienne Ford- Creative Team

Hi There!
My Name is Adrienne Ford. I was born and raised in Pennsylvania U.S.A and currently live here with my loving husband, and two beautiful babies- Luke, my rough and tumble yet sweet as pie two year old and my beautiful baby girl Karina. I am a kindergarten teacher by trade, but have left that field to be a stay-at-home mama for the time being. I have enjoyed going down this road of staying at home with my kiddos, but I could not do it without a cup of coffee in hand!

I got into scrapbooking when my son was born in 2010, so I am fairly new at this awesome hobby. I found that I not only needed a way to house all my gorgeous photos of him, but I also needed a creative outlet that was just for me. ( My husband was also was begging me to get a hobby!)
Since then I have been evolving as a scrapper and have been creating like crazy!

I absolutely LOVE flowers, misting, and chipboard which are normally incorporated in most of my layouts. I also enjoy playing with Art Mediums, white space, and clustering elements on my page. But one thing stays the same throughout-my joy and love of scrapbooking is ever-evolving and I love trying new techniques- the more artsy-the better!

Stephanie Eaken Creative Team


Hi!
My name is Stephanie Eaken& I am a 39 year-old (& holding!) stay-at-home mom. I have two kids who keep me busy, entertained & scrapping! My daugter is 9 & my son is 5. We live in Richmond, VA with my husband of 13 years & our two dogs!
I love all things related to scrapbooking! I started scrapping about 9 years ago when my oldest was a baby & have not stopped!! I look forward to my scrappy time in my space in our basement. I am currently on the design team for Let's Capture These Sketches.

I love working with kits, sketches and online challenges!! Paper and glue have been longtime friends of mine.

Monica Edwards - Creative Team


Hi my name Monica Edwards and I have been crafting since I was a teen.

It has only been the last 2 years that I ventured out into the blog and FB world and this is what opened my eyes to so many of the different facets of craft. My claim to fame was my flowers they “no pun intended” was what made me bloom.

I have 2 kids and have been married for over 20 years. I would say I am like a chameleon I change color or style. I enjoy the fun bright yet I also love the vintage, grunge look as well.

I believe they all can be mixed together in one way shape or form and that’s what makes crafting endless.

Tracey Gregory - Product Creative Team


Hi there-My name is Tracey Gregory I am a married mother of 4 and a RN regional manager which has me on the road quite often.I have been scrapping since 2005 and have had the pleasure/"bragging rights" of being published several times in your magazine, SNR and various Website challenges.


I am mostly a 12 x 12 distressed, shabby type scrapper but am driven by colr,texture and great inspiration-those ideas that grab you and keep you misting and pasting til 2 am.

I like to try different "off the page" crafts as well.


and then there is Me ....

Alda Stevens - Owner/Founder


I started the Flying Unicorn brand with selling handmade items on Etsy and doing some graphic design work in order to give me a creative release from Pillar Management Group, a property management and development company I also own. From there we have progressed to supplies for paper crafting goods ,a Kit of the Month Club and now manufacturing our own flowers and soon to add more to the Flying Unicorn Brand. But we are more then that. Flying Unicorn has grown to provide an online social forum where everyone is welcomed, to share, learn, teach, and never losing site of the people behind each creation. We emphasis at all times integrity, honesty, and pure enjoyment of a hobby that we love.
By applying creativeness, unparalleled customer service, and business partnering, Flying Unicorn in all aspects is to stand out and be ... One of A Kind.

http://www.flyingunicornblogspot.com









Saturday, July 21, 2012


I made the flower on top with Martha Stewart Crafter's Clay, a fantastic air-dry clay.  Lynne Forsythe did a great tutorial on the stuff showing how you can run it through a die cutting machine sandwiched between layers of wax paper without damaging your dies.  I added some Lindy's Magical Micas to it for some shine.

Here are some closeups:










Have a great weekend!

Jackie

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Steampunk Trunk

I made this cute little trunk following a pattern over at Flying Unicorn as part of their Steampunk Trunk challenge.  My middle son, Brennan, loves pirates, so I wanted to make my truck look like a treasure chest.  The papers are Bo Bunny Weekend Market.  I trimmed the edge of the lid with a leftover bit of burlap, and used a beautiful Prima flourish on the lid.



Hope you have a glorious weekend!

Jackie

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Flying Unicorn - July "It's Not Christmas" challenge

In the midst of Christmas in July promotions, Maggi from the Creative Team at Flying Unicorn proposed the following challenge - to make a non-Christmas layout using only Christmas papers.  The layout had to feature a picture that was in no ways related to the holidays, at least 3 Christmas papers and could not look like a Christmas layout.

I used Kaisercraft December 25th, Bo Bunny Father Christmas and Graphic 45 Christmas Emporium.  I used Art C suede cord as an accent around the Kaiser Craft die cut to add a little more dimension.  The little purple flowers are handmade - I was trying to go for heather; it didn't quite come across but I like them anyway.

This is a photo of DH taken in the Lake District in Northern England the year before Elliot was born.  I was reading a series of historical fiction by Jack Whyte about King Arthur and he situated Arthur's adolescent home at Hardknot Pass at an old Roman fort. Because of the remoteness of the location more of the fort survived than many others. The road up there is pretty treacherous, and there are all sorts of warning signs before you begin the ascent. We climbed a great distance in the car and then we climbed awhile on foot, but we got to see both the Roman fort and two F16 jets flying below us through the canyons - DH was SO excited to see fighter jets up close, especially to be looking down into their cockpits.


Since I already had my Christmas stuff out, I went ahead and made a card for Alda's "Christmas In July" challenge.  The challenge is to make a Christmas layout, card, tag or OTP using the colors white and gold and snowflakes.  I used a sheet of Pion Waiting for Santa paper, and applied molding paste through a Crafter's Workshop snowflake stencil.  I love molding paste!  When the molding paste was dry I put the stencil back on and spritzed them with Gold Glimmer Mist.


I always have the best intentions about sending out Christmas cards, but year after year December 1st comes and goes and I haven't started them, much less gotten them into the mail.  Eventually I buckle down and make enough for the members of the extended family we will see over Christmas and tuck everything away until next year.  Well, it's mid-July and I have one card done - maybe I'll turn over a new leaf this year.  Who knows, it could happen :)

In addition to the beautiful RAKs up for grabs in each of these challenges, Alda is offering a third RAK for a lucky winner who completes both challenges.  There's still plenty of time left in July, so dust off your Christmas supplies and join in.

Jackie

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

100% Natural

I was up first this month in the Round Robin challenge at Swirlydoos.  Here I've used more of the Donna Salazar Botanique papers from the May So Chic kit.

This is a picture of Colby at the playground earlier this spring.  Ever since Elliot started kindergarten last fall we walk to and from school and stop at the playground on our way home every day.  The kids get a good play, and I have formed some wonderful friendships with other mothers.  One day when the daisies were out I started making daisy chains, and couldn't resist putting one on Colby and snapping some cell phone pics.  He's my first baby with curls and was just too cute for me to resist.


I wanted to use DA chicken wire to add a manly touch to the page, however to make it fit with the overall layout I covered it in glitter.  The photo corners are Theresa Collins and were included in the kit, along with the bling swirl.

Here is a close up of the blingified chicken wire:


Thank you for stopping by!

Jackie

Monday, July 16, 2012

Water Boy

Donna Salazar's Botanique collection is beautiful.  Full of gorgeous muted pinks and purples, thick enough to distress beautifully, it is a dream for shabby chic.  And here I am with 3 little boys.  So I set out to try something new - to make a boy layout with these quintessentially feminine papers.  Because the subject of the photo wouldn't match the color scheme, I set out to find a photo that would.  I chose a photo of Elliot in the pool on vacation in Palm Springs which had a pink kickboard in it.


The bubbles on the background paper are made with glass bead gel lightly stained with mists before I applied it.  I treated the strips of paper with Picket Fence Distress Stain to tone them down slightly, then painted the edges with gesso.  The little bird is fussy cut from The Crafty Chronicle.

Because I was using a traditionally feminine color palette (and lace, and a doily LOL) I opted not to use flowers on the layout, opting instead for rosettes cut from Botanique papers using the Tim Holtz rosette die.

I love the way it turned out.  What do you think?

Jackie

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Flying Unicorn Lay It On Me! Challenge

Cute, fun papers are not normally my thing.  But when I saw the Barefoot and Bliss collection by Bo Bunny I couldn't resist - it reminded me of trips to the beach with my kids, and I had to have it.  And it has languished in my stash until now.

This month one of the challenges at Flying Unicorn is to create a background using layered shapes, buttons, and something from your stash that is at least 6 months old.  Well, as soon as I saw this challenge and Laura's adorable inspiration layout I knew exactly what picture I wanted to use.  A cute, funny candid from a recent family trip to Mexico, and the Barefoot and Bliss papers complemented the picture perfectly.


I wanted the circle layers to create a scene, so I layered circles of different sizes and colors to create this ocean scene.  I used Fran-tage Taupe Colored Fragments for the sand - it actually looks like bits of crushed shell IRL.  I fussy cut the turtles from the patterned paper, and punched around the edge of my cardstock for a postage stamp look to further the travel feel of the layout.

From now on I'm referring to this collection as Barebum and Bliss.

Thanks for looking!

Jackie

Friday, July 13, 2012

"Son" Shine

With the two wonderful honors I've had this week I haven't had a chance to share this layout yet.  It was made with last week's Mojo Monday sketch over at Flying Unicorn.  Tammy designed a gorgeous sketch that almost scrapped itself.


We had a travel-heavy spring (not that I'm complaining!) and this is yet another photo of Colby, this time in the pool in Palm Springs in March.  The papers are Donna Salazar from the Botanique line, from the Swirlydoos So Chic kit.  I colored the little Prima roses yellow using a Dylusions spray.

With three boys we get a lot of comments when we are out, "Wow, three boys, you must be busy" or "WOW, you have three boys?!?" and I feel bad for my boys sometimes, as though others are suggesting that our family isn't complete because one of them isn't a girl.  The truth is, I am thrilled to have boys, and they make the sun shine for me, hence the title of this layout "Sonshine".

Thanks for stopping by!

Jackie

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Swirlydoos Layout of the Week

Wow, this has been an incredible week for me!  My layout has been selected as layout of the week at Swirlydoos.

This layout is inspired by the incomparable Stacey Young.  I love the way she can use bright colors and soft pastels interchangeably and the way she uses paint on her layouts.  She manages to incorporate colors, flowers and shimmer into boy layouts instead of sticking with muted colors.

This is a picture of Colby at 9 months old on a family trip to Cancun.  He loved the beach and was such a fabulous little traveler (we were lucky, all three of them were).

The paper and many of the embellies on this layout are from the gorgeous Swirlydoos Mon Doux kit.

Hope you are having a wonderful week and finding lots of time to create!

Jackie

Monday, July 9, 2012

Project of The Week at The Flying Unicorn

I'm so honored to have been selected as Project of the Week (POW) at the Flying Unicorn.  I'd known about the wonderful Flying Unicorn store, but until their recent blog hop I hadn't realized what a vibrant online community they have on their forums.

Here is my POW, a little Christmas in July for you.


This is my three boys this past Christmas.  Sometimes it's challenging enough trying to get a good photo of just one of the boys (aside from our oldest, he's always been a ham for the camera); getting one of the three of them has been impossible.  I thought this one was a pretty sweet candid, though, with Brennan trying to put his arm around his baby brother.

Hope you're experiencing some glorious summer weather.  It's just gotten beautiful here after a rainy June, and I'm hoping the sunshine is here to stay!

Jackie

Friday, July 6, 2012

Birthday Card

I made this birthday card for my girlfriend, Kirsten, with papers from Donna Salazar's Spring In Bloom that I won on a blog hop at Swirlydoos, along with embellishments from the Swirlydoos May 2012 So Chic! kit.  The sentiment is taken from Donna Salazar's Crafty Chronicle - the front of the card reads "You're a great friend" while inside it reads "but if we're ever chased by zombies I'm tripping you!"  Very fitting considering Kirsten is my running partner and if we ever were being chased by zombies I'm sure she could outrun me, so my only hope would be to take her down :)


Hope you have a great weekend!

Jackie

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Dylusions Cards

I was recently introduced to Dylusions sprays and stamps at an art journalling class at my LSS and I fell hard for the saturated colors and funky images. The instructor, a lovely lady named Joanne, showed us a neat trick - she uses manila file folders to catch the overspray from her mists, and when it is good and saturated she folds up roughly the bottom third and then folds the folder accordion-style.  What you're left with is a mini tag album with four pockets.  Add some trims and embellishments and voila!

I volunteered to do the class card for my son's kindergarten teacher and thought this would make a great card - families could write their sentiments on the tags and if we ran out of space it was a simple thing to embellish a couple more tags and stick them in.

The front of the card:


The back:


I love the splatter look here, achieved by applying Picket Fence Distress Stain onto a Crafter's Workshop stencil on a scrap piece of paper and then flipping the stencil over onto my project and using it as a negative mask.  In addition to the Dylusions sprays I used some Lindy's Starburst stains for my background color.

Inside:


I had so much fun making this that I decided to make another, this one for my stepmom's birthday.  This time I gave each child a tag to decorate and kept one to be from DH, the dog and I.  Even 1 year old Colby got into the action, scribbling away with a pen, and Grandma was thrilled to get his first drawing.

This time I went with a brighter palette and did a lot of stamping with my Dylusions stamps.



Thanks for stopping by!

Jackie

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

As this is my first blog post I wanted to start with a project that had some significance.  My first ever scrapbooking layout is buried in a box somewhere, so it will have to wait for another day (how far I've come in 12 years!).  Instead I wanted to share a Tim Holtz District Market burlap panel I made as inspiration for the June Swirly Girl Challenge over at www.swirlydoos.com - my first ever challenge-hosting gig.  The challenge was to incorporate papers and embellishments from more than 3 kits or product lines, and to mix in some mixed media elements.  I had a lot of fun playing with sticky-back foil, alcohol inks, Inka-Gold, embossing powder and Distress embossing powder.