One Rant and an Announcement

I want to start by saying I love this place.  I've loved it since the moment I started it - but I'm just not carving out the necessary time to make this space the place I wish it could be.  Consequently - I will be closing the blog at the end of this month.  I plan to be active on at least one scrapbooking/mixed-media site and will leave a link as soon as I have determined which site to use.  I will also be active on Goodreads so feel free to send me a friend request.  In addition, I'm sure I will be posting to Pinterest with my usual amount of dedication.  I appreciate all the readers I've had in the past few years and wish you the very best.  Until then..

One last rant: I looked up a condition on my online health chart today and the first link on google was a veterinarian site.  WTF!!!!!

10 on the 10th - Most Used Crafting Supplies

I'm a little scared to utter the words out loud - but I think my mojo might be back!  I've scrapped four pages in the last week and am feeling really good about it.  I thought I'd take this opportunity to list the 10 products I've used most on the last four pages and really loved.  I also will give a little bit of information on how it's changed the way I'm doing things.  So drumroll please Ms. Tonks...

 1.  Dylusions Ink Spray by Ranger ~ I currently have the four color swatches below (colors from left to right: Vibrant Turquoise, London Blue, Lemon Zest, and Fresh Lime).

Original Source (image & swatches)

2.  Dylusions Stencils

Original Source

3.  Color Magic by Heidi Swapp

Original Source

4.  Distress Inks by Ranger - I'm really loving Perfect Peacock right now.

Original Source

5.  American Crafts Thickers - Heyday Mistable from Studio Calico

Original Source

6.  October Afternoon ~ Loving layering these with a brad.

Original Source

7. Decorative Brads ~ Pick your favorite company.  Right now I'm really loving My Mind's Eye.

Original Source

8. American Crafts Adhesive

Original Source

9. Distress Markers by Ranger

Original Source

10. Instagram Photos - printed at Persnickety Prints

Original Source

I should also add I've been using sketches, design principles, and patterned paper by the masses.  I'm on Pinterest constantly.  I've organized my boards to be more meaningful and inspiring for me.  These 10 products have opened the door to a subdued form of mixed media scrapbooking and I couldn't be happier.  I went for the 3X3 option for my photos so there's much more space to tell the story.  In addition, because I'm using wet media - I walk away from my layouts for drying time which has really given me permission to let a layout sit and percolate for a few hours or days depending on the situation.  I'm really loving this new approach (if you want to call it that).

Today: I'm getting out of the house, getting coffee, and reading up on play therapy.  Good times all around.  I don't have any immediate plans to craft but who knows.  I'm really trying to enjoy these last few days of summer.  I hope everyone has a great Friday.  Until then...

It's All Coming Back to Me Now

It's slow going - but I'm scrapbooking again.  I don't have the best pictures to share.  I'm really into Instagram right now and I think it's a perfect app for sharing my more personal layouts.  So without further ado...

Supplies: Patterned Paper: Crate Paper, Echo Park; Letters: American Crafts Thickers; Cardstock Stickers; Crate Paper, Embellishments: October Afternoon; Stamps: Autumn Press; Ink: Distress Ink, Dylusions; Stencil: Crafter's Workshop

This layout was a little tricky.  It was based loosely on a sketch from Scrap Friends and I realized it was all wrong because my sweet nephew was looking towards the outside of the album.  I made the changes and it came together.  It was a good first step back into the fray.

Supplies: Patterned Paper: Pink Paislee; Banner: Heidi Swapp; Letters: American Crafts; Stickers: K&Company, October Afternoon; Buttons: My Mind's Eye, October Afternoon; Cardstock Embellishments: Crate Paper; Brad: SEI; Wooden Flower; Kaisercraft; Ink: Distress Inks & Markers; Silver embellishment: unknown

 I had seen a lot of crafters take on this paper and was super excited to use it.  There was only one problem...The ultrasound photo had so much black it needed to be more prominent in the overall scheme.  I decided to outline each and every piece of paper with my black distress ink marker.  It's hard to tell in this photo - but it helped make the elements pop and gave some unity to the layout.

Supplies: Patterned Paper: American Crafts, My Mind's Eye; Paper Embellishments: October Afternoon; Brad: SEI, Letters: American Crafts, Cosmo Cricket, Echo Park Paper; Stickers; October Afternoon; Ink: Ranger Distress Ink; Spray Ink: Studio Calico; Flair Buttons: American Crafts, Basic Grey; Cardstock Embellishments; Crate Paper

I loved doing this layout.  My niece had sent me a video the night before and I knew I just had to scrapbook what she said.  I had a lot of fun mixing papers and embellishments.  I also loved the spray mist effect.

So that's it for now - I don't have any immediate plans to scrapbook but my muse is definitely no longer on permanent hiatus.  It's nice to see her again.  I hope everyone is having a great Monday.  Until then...