Dance of the Bored

Now, I'm no dancer, but like most girls, I took my share of dance classes in my day.  And I still appreciate the art form.  So I jumped at the chance to go to see the Hungarian National Ballet while we were in Budapest, especially since Mark would be going to the ballet for the very first time.  I should have rethought my plans when I saw they would be performing "A Midsummer's Night's Dream," which isn't very much a traditional ballet like "Swan Lake."  Needless to say, I will be hard pressed to get Mark to another performance any time soon.

Just Beautiful

Supplies: 7 gypsies Olana; Scenic Route Paper; American Crafts cardstock; Art-C Silver glitter mist; Studio Calico Mr. Huey Calico Cream; Daisy D's Beautiful rubon; Elle's Studio Collected cutouts, red banners, little tags (Handmade); K & Co Juliene Vintage label diecuts; Recollections Transparency Embellishments; Jolee's boutique stickers

Incorporating Ephemera

Every time we go on vacation, I come back with tons of maps and tickets and brochures, and I'm always trying to find a way to work them in to my scrapbook pages.  Our tour guide in Budapest gave us this large post card of the Hungarian crown.  I could have slipped it into a 6x12 page protector next to this completed page, but while I was looking at my inspiration page, I realized that the domed shape of the crown mimicked the round center shape, so I replaced the patterned paper with the post card.  I know that its not acid free, and that might not appeal to some people, but my photos are all digital now and backed up in a million places, so I'm not too worried about ruining the prints.  Plus I think it adds to the story.

Crown Jewels

Inspiration

http://scrappinworld.blogspot.com/2011/01/scrappiest-100th-sketch-celebration.html

Supplies: Tim Holtz Kraft Resist paper, Distress Ink, alcohol ink; American Crafts cardstock, Thickers Cream Soda; Basic Grey Infuse (Extract), Boxer (Slim Fit), rubons, Heritage border sticker; Crafter's Workshop template; Glimmer Mist Chalkboard Ink; Chatter Box alpha stickers; Pink Paislee 6x6 pad; Scenic Route chipboard; VersaMagic Night Sky; KaiserCraft bling and pearl; Studio AE for Technique Tuesday (Are We There Yet?)

I Never Win Nothin'

Some people are lucky.  My husband can win $300 at a slot machine before I can get back from the bathroom. I don't bother to buy lottery tickets any more because my luck stinks.  On the rare occaison I do win something, it makes me even more grateful for it.  I won a cruise once.  My sister claims it because she actually filled out my ticket, but I'm the one who got the phone call.

Recently, though, I've been on a little streak. The folks at Lensbaby sent me this awesome book:

Yay!  Then, a couple of days later, I won one of the prizes during Ella Publishing's awesome Spring Training event, I won one of the daily prizes!  So not only did I get 2 week's worth of awesome scrap content, I also got a prize?  Who is this girl?

I won a $50 gift card to Ormolu.  I've been wanting to try this company for a while, and well, now I have.  It's great quality, beautiful stuff, and let me tell you, $50 will go a long way in her shop!  And Kaitlin provided fantastic customer service.  So here is everything I got:

Bungalow Fabric strips, Tag Sale fabric tag sheet, Bungalow snapshots

Fact or Fiction flappers and flair buttons, dots n spots, and fabric swatches

Isn't this camera flair so stinkin' cute?

Go negative package tags, Little Labels from Bungalow and Tag Sale

Of course I couldn't wait to break open those packages and use some labels and flair.  I just love the bright colors and the clean look, and I'm going to be placing more orders of Ormolu.

American Idol

Sketch: Sketches for Scrapbooking vol. 5


Supplies: Studio Calico 6x6 pad, Mister Huey Calico White, Wood Veneers, Badges; Basic Grey Sweet Threads (Must Have),  Hello Luscious stitched brads; Scenic Route cardstock; Tim Holtz Distress Ink, Stain, Tiny Attacher; Pink Paislee Expressions Cushies; American Crafts Remarks; K & Co Smash tabs; Martha Stewart for Avery labels; Elle's Studio cut outs; Jolee's Boutique French General stickers; Ormolu Fact or Fiction flappers, flair buttons, fabric swatches; Queen and Co twine; My Minds Eye Miss Caroline brads

I Love a Good Challenge

Normally when I scrap a layout, I like to make my own kit of sorts, picking out products from different manufacturers that look good together.  But I also like a good challenge, and the folks over at the Lily Bee blog gave me a good one!  Using their sketch and products, here's what I came up with.  Even thought there are several collections on the layout, I love that they all coordinate seamlessly.

Municipal House

Patterned Paper: Lily Bee Memorandum (Payday, Grapefruit), Head Over Heels (Courting), This and That (Teacup), Catching Fall (Flannel Sheets), Happily Lost (Sun Soaked); MAMBI paper tape; Prima Flowers Iced Got Flowers?; Scenic Route black date label; Jenni Bowlin Chipboard Buttons; Tim Holtz Distrss Ink ; Stickles; Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist

We interrupt your regularly scheduled vacation layouts...

I know you are probably tired of seeing layouts of Prague and Budapest.  I've only got 1200 more photos to scrap from that vacation!  I do have a post planned on how I tackle such large projects, in case you've been interested.  But for now, I'm sharing a layout of my visit to Mt. St. Helen as part of a work conference I spoke at last year.  I've been fascinated with the volcano since I was a kid.  I can remember reading in a magazine about 5 years after the eruption about the plants that had started to come back.  I never in a million years thought I would have the chance to visit.  Two weeks after this visit, to the day, I was standing on top of a mountain in Munich.  That's a lot of elevation for this beach girl!

I learned two things about cutting with my Silhouette on this layout:

1.  It sure is cute, but cutting and adhering the outline on "Adventure" is a real pain in the butt!

2.  In order to cut through Authentique cardstock, you have to set your blade to a much higher number than the software suggests.

I used the negative space from some shapes as the main paper and embellishment for this layout.  I love my layers, but I'm really liking the clean feel of this layout.

Volcanic Adventure

Sketch: Silhouette Blog

Supplies: American Crafts Cardstock; Authentique patterned paper (Brilliance); Basic Grey 6x6 pad (Life of the Party); Making Memories metal tab; Staz On ink (Jet Black); Lily Bee rub on (Domestic Bliss); Scenic Route letter stickers; ki memories buttons; Pink Paislee metal badges (Old School), Baubles (Hometown Summer)

Silhouette Shapes: Journaling Shapes, Scalloped Grid; Adventure

***For 12% off any purchase at Stop and Scrap, use the code FEATHERS***

Prague Train Station

Going to Prague, and particularly Budapest, was like walking into a museum.  It was like time stopped before Communism, in so much of both of these cities.  I wandered upstairs in the ultra-modern Prague train station, and it was like the Land That Time Forgot.  Hidden away, with almost no visitors but an open cafe, was an unrefurbished Art Deco gem.  I hope Prague puts some effort into restoring this beautiful treasure, as they have with so many of their other treasures.










Sketch: Scrapbook Generations

Supplies: Cardstock: Scenic Route Cardstock, Core'dinations Graphic 45; Patterned Paper: Tim Holtz Kraft Resist paper, Teresa Collins World Traveler (Passport), Basic Grey Nook and Pantry (Bundt Pan); Tim Holtz Distress Stain (Picket Fence; Weathered Wood); Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist (Bahama Blue), Martha Stewart punch; Cosmo Cricket tag; Crate Paper diecuts and stickers ; Lily Bee ABC sticker letters

***For 12% off any purchase at Stop and Scrap, use the code FEATHERS.***

St. George and the Dragon

The legend of St. George and the Dragon was important in Prague and in Budapest.  I wanted to take home the beautiful jewel-encrusted box/statue at the Hungarian National Museum, but it wasn't for sale!

St. George and the Dragon









Sketch: Scrapbook Generations

Supplies: American Crafts Cardstock; Little Yellow Bicycle Pack Your Bags (Navy Schedule); Scenic Route patterned paper; Pink Paislee (Queen Bee, 365 degrees  6x6 paper pads); 7 gypsies tag kit (Family), 97% stickers (Voyage); Studio Calico Mister Huey; Spare Parts clocks, brads; Elle's Studio tag; Tim Holtz mask, tiny attacher; American Crafts Thickers (Cream Soda); Lilly Bee ABC stickers

Finally getting to the vacation photos

As you may recall, I have a massive amount of vacation photos from our trip last fall.  Midst the craziness of moving I was able to come up with a plan of attack and get all of the photos I'll be scrapping printed.  I'll show you in a later post how I'm dealing with the album overall, with around 1000 photos to scrap, but here's the page I started with.  I'm not scrapping the photos in any particular order, but they will go in the book divided by city.

Beautiful Prague











Sketch: Scrapbook Generation

Supplies: American Crafts Cardstock; Scenic Route patterned paper and sticker; Foofala patterned paper; Basic Grey patterned paper, Bling It On; Tattered Angels Chalkboard mist; Martha Stewart punch, Cherish labels; Colorbox Cat's Eye Ink; Making Memories letter stickers, Baubles; My Minds Eye die cut, chipboard sticker; October Afternoon letter stickers; Fancy Pants rub on; Rebecca Sower Designs stickers; Prima baubles; Heidi Grace cardstock stickers; Bazzill Basics bling

***For 12% off any purchase at Stop and Scrap, use the code FEATHERS.***

Digging through the stash

Aw, come on, admit it.  If you are a scrapbooker, more than likely you have a stash, with paper and embellishements that go WAYYY back.  You are not alone.  With this layout (yes, another one featuring the Cat), I dug into my stash and used some old old papers.  Just because they are a few years old, doesn't mean they aren't still beautiful!  I challenge you to dig into your stash and use some of that old stuff.  It feels really good!

Cute Kitten
I love the light feel of this layout.  Because I used a lot of older papers and scraps, I don't have all the names of the patterned papers.  Sorry about that.










Layout inspired by Piradee

American Crafts Elements Glitter Buttons (Brights), Mixtape (Stream), Details (Fash Max), Doily
My Minds Eye Transfer Titles (Family: "Kitten")
Prima Shalimar Amia
Melody Ross for GCD Homespun Chic Vintage Labels
Crate Paper Emma's Shop Phrases
Basic Grey Junebug glazed brads
Making Memories Diecut Lattice (Poolside Paperie)
Elle's Studio Hand Sewn Layers Blank Pennants
Scenic Route Labels
Bella Blvd Socialite (RSVP)
Sei Ally's Wonderland (Dizzy Daisy)
Tinkering Ink Beloved (Affection)
Hambly Grandma's Wallpaper (Silver)

I got the music in me

Often I’m inspired by music lyrics for my pages or my titles.  I love this song from the Dave Matthews Band and thought it would be a great layout for a photo of Mark and me.


You and Me Together
 







DCWV cardstock
Cosmo Cricket Circa 1934 – Garbo, Astaire, Elements, Borders, Stickers
Scenic Route chipboard
Chatterbox alphabet stickers
American Crafts Remarks letter stickers
Echo Park Dots and Stripes letter stickers
America Crafts Thickers Subway accents, letters
Glimmer Mist - Black Magic
Adirondack Alcohol Ink - Watermelon