step right into...the Candy Shoppe.

though i am sitting in the hotel room in California right now...i wanted to share my layouts from the February Studio Calico kit, Candy Shoppe. (sneaky me...for once i thought ahead and scheduled this post before i left!!)

this first layout uses the Licorice Twist add-on exclusively...how can you NOT add that alphabet background stamp to your stash?! supplies: Warm Calico Mister Huey(2peas + Studio Calico), Lemon Drops Ink (2peas + Studio Calico), Tumbled Glass Ink (2peas + Studio Calico), Licorice Twist add-on.

i spritzed a bit of the Warm Calico Mister Huey on some white cardstock and used that as my base. grabbed both the Lemon Drops and Tumbled Glass inks...randomly dabbed each onto the alpha backgound stamp, overlapping here and there...and kind of built the rest of the page around that. i grabbed my favorite pen and outlined our initials within the stamp, just for some extra oomph...simple page + simple words.


supplies: White Zing Embossing Ink (this may be the ONLY place it is still available online...GRAB IT!!), Chewing Gum Ink (2peas/Studio Calico), Basic Grey Hopscotch 12x12 Element Stickers (2peas/Studio Calico), VersaMark Ink, Jawbreaker add-on.

ok, so i look a bit sleep deprived in the above photo.

but i still love it, because Steph and i aren't able to get together very often...and some of these softer colors reminded me of her. it was taken last March when the two of us each drove about 7 hours to meet up at April's house before we all drove on to Jenni Bowlin's Spring event in Tennessee. (why don't i have a pic including April?!)

i am in LOVE with the honeycomb stamp from the Jawbreaker add-on...it will be used over and over with the new Countryside products, and popped right off the page in combo with the WHITE Zing Embossing Powder. i cut the title with my Slice, stamped and cut out the light bulb (from the Pulled Taffy add-on) to symbolize our 'bright idea' (HA) and used lot of bits from the Basic Grey Hopscotch 12x12 Stickers.


Supplies: Jawbreaker add-on, Basic Grey 12x12 Hopscotch Stickers (2peas + Studio Calico), Large Cloud Punch (2peas + Studio Calico), XL Cloud Punch (2peas + Studio Calico), Lollipop add-on

this last one features the exclusive papers from the Main Kit from Crate Paper + the label stickers. our first 'family photo'...from 1973. my mama's hair cracks me up EVERY time i look at this one.

so make your way over to the SC Shop...and let Candy Shoppe make it's way home.

Studio Calico Blog Hop...WINNER!!

as promised...here is the winner of the green phrase rubs and yellow alpha stickers:

KASEY!!!

Those pages are wonderful, Nicole. My favorite embellishment of the new release would have to be those Wood Veneer butterflies. They had me at first sight! lol. Thanks for the giveaway!
January 24, 2011 7:47pm

Kasey, please email me at brains32192ATaolDOTcom

WOOHOOO!!!
now i'm off to pack for the big trip westward tomorrow...so excited to see everyone again, and will miss those who aren't able to make it.
back soon
:) xo

Studio Calico Blog Hop...introducing Countryside.

welcome to the SC Blog Hop...i've had the opportunity to play around with the Countryside line, and i have to say...i am in love. as in, my fave SC line to date. seriously.


the softer tones aren't typically what i reach for...which may be why i am loving the change. they aren't pastel-y though...they are just right. first off, a layout of young me :)

used just a weeeeeeee bit of the Lemonade Mister Huey on the white cardstock...but i am in LOVE with the Addy Aphabet Stickers! and the rub-ons? the phrase there under the photo in green?? WHOA! and woodgrain butterflies?! somebody stop me!! add the veneer butterflies and i can't hardly contain myself, lol.

next is a layout i made for the SC booth at CHA this week:

hello green alpha stickers...you are perfect.

so my giveaway is this:

Just leave a comment about which is your favorite new embellishment/sticker/rub-on from Studio Calico's new release (you can see them on the SC Blog) by 12am EST Wednesday 1/26/11, and i'll choose a winner to receive a set of the green phrase rub-ons AND the yellow/woodgrain Addy Alpha Stickers!!

then...travel on to Nicole Samuels' blog for more inspiration + chances to win the new releases!!

(if for some reason you come across a blog hop 'road block', you can always go back to the SC blog for links to who you've missed)

enjoy the hop!!

snow day cookies.

life changes as you move along...i don't always run to grab my 'good' camera anymore. if i have my phone handy when the mood strikes, i grab it and snap a pic here and there. then i play around with them eventually with the Instagram app (not sure if this is just on the iPhone?? if not, IT'S FREE...and you should download it now!). this particular app crops the photos into a square, which is a fun/easy way to change up your pages...without taking the time to fool around in your editing program, trying to figure out how to print a larger square photo. after i apply a filter i like (from the app), i save it...upload to my computer (if you aren't sure how to do this, just email it...to yourself lol!)...then print it AS a 4x6 ON 4x6 photo paper. it will leave this lovely white border (grab your paints, now that you know how!), and you just cut off the top and bottom of the excess paper to make it look how you want...i like leaving the bottom wider, kind of looks like a 'faux Polaroid', lol.

well...to me anyway. :) copyright 2peasinbucket. (get a closer look at it here)

supplies: BG Ledger Paper (oooh...these are on sale, time to restock the stash), OA Tin Pins (seriously a new fave item...not bulky at all)+ Word Labels + Paper, Doodlebug Buttons + Border Stickers, Sassafras Alpha Stickers + Paper, Crate Paper Brads + Paper, American Crafts Thickers + MixTape, My Minds Eye Trim/Twine, EK Success Square Asterisk Punch (best $8 i ever spent on a punch...snowflakes on one page, candy sprinkles on the next lol!).

if you read the journaling, this page is simple...i wanted to remember the new 'tradition' that Mike & Allie began on our first snow day home from school this year. love that he came up with this idea...how many dads would voluntarily make cookies from scratch with their 'daughter-who-is-bored-to-tears-beacuse-there-isn't-anything-to-dooooooooooooooo-today-since-we're-stuck-inside' ??

not many that i know of, lol.

AND he let her drag out the colored sugars + sprinkles to decorate??
Dad rocks.

only downside?
neither of them like sweets, lol.
but my co-workers do/did.
and they are eagerly awaiting our next snow day.
:)

eta: the lovely Cindy Tobey is hosting on the Creating Keepsakes blog this week with tips on organizing your room/supplies...SO MANY good ideas, and even a few you may have seen here before. ;) make sure to stop in and check it out and leave a comment for a chance to win!

Candy Shoppe sneak...continued.

just a quick post to share my last two sneaks for Candy Shoppe...being sick eliminates all reasons to leave the house, which equals more scrap time!!


lots has been said about how bright this kit is, but here's a layout showing that it can be 'soft' as well...have to love versatility! aahhhhhhhhh...back to bright!

both of these use one of the Shop items that i asked April to stock...a definite must-have, but we'll see if anyone picks up on it. ;)

have a great week...

i'm off to redose my Day-Quil.

Candy Shoppe sneak x1.

good morning everyone! coming out of my Ny-Quil induced haze to post the one lonely sneak i have for the February Studio Calico kit, Candy Shoppe. several others are laying on my desk, and i'm hoping to get to those today...if i can stop coughing/blowing my nose/feeling yucky for a bit. (this had BETTER be gone two weeks from now...)

so here it is...my one sneak. all alone. for now. ;)

this is using ONLY add-on #1, Licorice Twist. it's funny, because i seem to always like the add-on that is LEAST named as a fave in the various threads at SC lol...what does that say about me?! i was PERPLEXED about what to do with those fabric flowers in the add-on...so i tore one apart (lik i usually do with flowers)...and found a cool way to add some fabric to this page.

oh.

and that 4x6 alpha background stamp you see there? the one i used with the Lemon Drops and Tumbled Glass Ink??

it's pretty much awesome.

and i now need it in an alphabet stamp set.

hopefully April feels the same way.

:)

caught my eye + Countryside!!

morning all!!
it's the time of winter when we all get giddy about new stuff coming along...have you SEEN the first of two new collections from Studio Calico?! the first is Countryside... (how can you NOT love the new die-cut tags?!) see everything from this collection on the SC Blog!

but alas, it will be a short while before it is available in stores/online etc...so i thought maybe i'd enable a few fellow scrappers with goods that have caught my eye...hehe.

Circle Chain Edge Punch.

i love circles. i love punches. see how easy that was, lol?

Rose Bouquet paper by Echo Park

grey + vintage-y floral. again...easy peasy. i like bits of this kind of paper...i wouldn't use it all at once. i would punch it out/border it up/use a smidge here and there, thus making it last longer lol.

K&Co. Flora Fauna Fabric Art

now. you know i fear flowers...but these fabric pieces could be used OTHER ways, thereby making them less scary to me. again, digging the muted greys/neutrals.

K&Co. Flora Fauna Pins

WHOA. there is PURPLE on that card...STOP! normally a deal-breaker (lol)...but LOOK at how cool the shapes of these pins are!! love that they are a bit 'fancier' than the ones seen previously.

Be My Valentine layered chipboard tags

These are sitting on my desk...and are too dang cute. not SO layered that they make your pages too bulky, and generic enough that they aren't limited to Valentine-y projects.

Heart & Love Faric Brads

Martha, these are perfect. thank you. :)

Ruffled Heart Punch All Over Punch

versatility + cool punched image + AWESOME-sized heart piece leftover?! PERFECT again! Mary Glitter Cardstock

bold navy catches my eye all. the. time. My Home Stitched/Textured Cardstock

Look. i know me. i love stitching with my machine on pages...but in a simple way. i also love the sweet trees + house here...but know there is NO WAY i would attempt that myself lol. and for $0.89?? i don't have to lol. ;)

Willie Double-Sided Ledger Paper

again, i love the colors here...and the ledger...and the wee floral.

sorry folks.

but i HAD to share, lol!!

:)

quick tutorial...edging your photos with paint.

good morning, all!

one of the things i'm asked about (quite a bit, surprisingly!) is my practice of edging all of my photos with paint. i print them all with white borders, but always add paint to them for a bit of color...i SWEAR this isn't messy. no need for trays. no wasting of paint.

ready?!

here's what you need: paint + foam brush + photo. easy peasy! on the topic of paint, everyone who uses it has a favorite. mine has always been Making Memories...it is thicker (less water) so it dries faster and covers better. when i use paint, i'm not looking for sheer coverage...i want to see it! now, the only place i've seen MM Paint recently was the $2 spot at Archiver's...boooooo. (i suspect maybe they aren't manufacturing it anymore?) Delta Ceramcoat is my next choice...just about equal consistency-wise and LOTS of colors. the FolkArt brand is ok, and that last one is like water....wouldn't recommend that one at all.

***eta: i picked up my first Jenni Bowlin paint at an LSS last night and tried it this morning...i like the consistency, but am generally not a fan of the dabbers. they clog/fray pretty easily, so i end up just removing the lid anyway, as seen below. will definitely pick up a few more of these! 2peas/Studio Calico

here's a secret...REMOVE THE LID!! this allows you to plop just the right amount of paint for one photo on your foam brush. why waste paint?!

grab that foam brush, place it on top of the open pant and hold it there with your finger.

turn the bottle upside down, still holding the foam brush.

turn it back over...voila! paint on your brush + ZERO MESS.

the above plop looks a bit too generous for me...so i simply swipe some of the paint back into the bottle.

there. perfect amount + ZERO WASTE.

next, hold your photo in one hand, and the foam brush in the other (i'm right handed).

lay the brush at an angle onto the edge of the photo. it takes some practice...maybe use some leftover cardstock to play first.

now, just draaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaag the brush along the edge...imperfection is my goal.

keep going.

there you go! one edge done. see how it's uneven/clumpy in spots?? i like this...you may not! just play until you find a look that works for you.

repeat for the other sides of your photo.

honestly, once you get the hang of it...the entire process, applying paint to the brush + swiping the edges of your photo, takes all of 30 seconds. (no exaggerating) i set it aside to dry for a minute while i glue something down on my page and then it's ready to go.

hope this helps...if you have any questions about this post, don't hesitate to ask!! i read each comment and promise to reply :)

have a great day!

(photos courtesy of Allison Harper)

unbelievable...welcome to the Garden?!

so, I think the only word to sufficiently sum up my reaction to an email I received from Jamie at 2peas last month, inviting me to join their team of Garden Girls, is: flabbergasted.

shocked didn't seem to quite cover it...and awestruck seemed not quite right.

so I'll stick with flabbergasted. :)

I'm so eager to jump right in, and still hesitant to believe that I'm actually a part of the GG Team! here is my first addition to the Garden... supplies: KI Snow Die-Cut paper + BG Wander 12x12 Stickers + AC Sunny Thickers + OA Tin Button + MME Die Cut + Doodlebug Brad + AC MixTape + Bella Blvd. grey dot paper + EK Success Square Asterisk Punch + OA red dot paper + BG Micro Mono Alpha

Jamie asked me to do a page using a 'winter' photo.

and while I was looking through my photos on my computer, my daughter walked in and asked what I was up to...when I mentioned the assignment, she said 'Mama, why don't you just use that photo of us from when we went to chop our Christmas tree down last year?'. I didn't remember which one she meant, so she went straight to my desk, dug through some photos and pulled this one out. (apparently I must have printed this awhile ago, and clearly she spends time creating at my desk while i'm at work...that made me smile.)

she kind of held it in her hand for a quick second, and said (without looking at me):

'Mama, we've had so many happy times together...I can't wait to see how many more we can have before I grow up'.

hmmmm.

this caused me to:

A. choke up at the fact that she still calls me 'mama'.

B. smile because it means she still looks forward to adventures with me, and

C. use this 'winter' photo for a layout that has nothing to do at all with the season.

those 'snowflakes' were made with the Square Asterisk Punch...LOVE IT. a billion uses for it, totally reasonable on the budget (only $8?!) and since every other snowflake punch out there is a bit too 'formal' for my taste, this one fit just right. don't you love when you can find a use for something in your stash that you may not originally have thought about?!

now, those yellow hexagons are from the BG Wander 12x12 sticker sheet...and i have been 'saving' them for just the right occasion. this is not my typical practice...i encourage using whatever item in your stash you love, right?! well, i used a piece at the top to highlight the MME die cut, and cut the rest into sections of 3...they fit PERFECTLY inside the calendar squares of the KI die-cut paper. (my favorite recent find...i own several of this particular color, as well as quite a few of the others lol! who could pass up double-sided, stitched, die-cut paper for $0.99?! not i.)

so just remember, it's ok to use photos for a completely different reason than they may show at first glance...and now this page means 10x more to me than a story about chopping down a tree.

:)