11-28-12 Sketch

This will be my last "professional" sketch for this Design Team @ Let's Scrap. 

My term is officially ending; and next Wednesday, you will see a whole new crop of designers @ Let's Scrap.  I have enjoyed my two back-to-back terms there immensely.  I can't wait to see new, fresh ideas.  I have loads of new cyber friends.  We have supported each other through many of life's blessings and tragedies these past eight months.  I will miss our daily dialog...but I will be lurking!  I just might be back sometime next year hopefully in a renewed DT capacity...but, in the meantime, look for several new sketches I designed for Let's Scrap to appear in the coming months. Jus' sayin.

Anywho...here is today's sketch:

And here is my take on it:


2011
Candlelight Dinner

Some close up detail:

Here are the technical notes for the layout:

• This entire LO evolved from the beautifully embellished blue menu that was on our table. 
• The sketch calls for a large vertical photo on the lh side.  Hmmm...I think that is the perfect place to include the menu!
• The LO also calls for three, 2" x 3" vertical photos.  I replaced two of those with a 3" x 4" horizontal photo.  All other photos are cropped as depicted in the sketch.
• The title is a custom design (from yours truly) and cut from white cardstock using my Silhouette machine.
• The LO called for several embellishments around the title.  I cut a 12" x 12" patterned paper just off center and used the snowflake/ornaments printed on the paper in place of the embellies.
• The two snowflakes on the lh side are punches.  They are "strung" with mini pearls, embellished with a jelly roll star pen with large center pearls.  They match the paper fabulously...if I do say so myself!
• All other paper, die cut ribbon, and layered embellies are from the new Creative Memories "Be Merry" collection.  "Pssst...there is a beautiful red album that matches the paper!"
• The journaling on the rh side is computer generated in coordinating colors...of course.

Dear Santa

I know it's early, but I wanted to make darn sure Santa gets my letter.  Pronto!

I realize that it's hard to read.  I'm gonna devote some time to blog design come January.  Just click on it to read it full size.  I know Santa had absolutely zero trouble reading it ;-)

11-14-12 WINNING Sketch!

Remember the sketch contest over @ Let's Scrap? 

I'm so very proud to finally be able to announce my winning sketch!  It is featured this week for 4,200+ Let's Scrap members!  Woo hoo!

I can't tell you how exciting it is for me to get an original design recognized and published.  I am over the moon about it.  I cannot wait to see the layouts coming in this week!  P.S.  I've got more news to share about sketch design over @ Let's Scrap.  Stay tuned!

This was an entirely different excercise for me.  I have NEVER designed a sketch first.  I always start with some piece of a layout that I want to use, be it the photos, patterned paper or a really cute embellishment. 

So, after looking through oodles of photos, I settled on a layout about Gracie (no surprise there.  Are you tired of her yet?).



Gracie is part Golden Retriever; and boy,
does she like to retrieve and retrieve and retrieve!



Close-up detail:

I did deviate a bit from the sketch.  Instead of two title octagons and two journaling octagons, I added a few more photos 'cuz I don't ever get tired of looking at her!

Here are the technical notes:

• All of the octagons were hand cut @ 3"
• The octagons were distressed (inked) with brown ink
• The pawprint heart was cut on my Silhouette
• Additional journaling was added to the pawprint
• The title box and journal boxes are word "clouds" generated on wordle.net, printed on white cardstock, hand cut, and mounted on pop dots.  I cannot tell you how much I love this web based word generator!  I have used it for cards, holidays, blog art, etc.  Try it...you will love it!  DISCLAIMER: you may get hooked.

Handmade Gift Exchange: Holiday 2012

Remember the Handmade Gift Exchange I participated in this past summer?  Click here to refresh your memory.  It was so much fun!

Here's what I got in the exchange.

My gift was perfect for me 'cause I DON'T SEW!  Can't wait to put my new pillow covers out with my holiday decorations!

The Holiday version of the gift exchange is now open for registration.  It's so much fun!  Please join me.  Here's a few of the particulars:

This is the 7th Handmade Gift Exchange

Registration closes on November 7, 2012 at midnight. On November 8, 2012, you will get an email from Elfster informing you of your assignment. You will only be able to view your partner info during the exchange. Once the exchange is over on November 30, your partner will not have access to your information on Elfster.

Frequently Asked Questions

• There is no skill level required. A handmade gift is always wonderful, no matter how technical it is!
• There is no price minimum on the handmade gift. If shipping costs are an issue, you can make a gift that is light weight and fits inside an envelope.
• You do not need a blog to participate!
• How will I know who my partner is? You will get an email on November 8, 2012 with your assigned person’s name and information.
• There is no official theme for this Gift Exchange. If you feel so inclined to do a Christmas theme, go for it!
• Can I make a gift from a kit/pattern? YES!! If you made any part of the gift, that’s perfect!
• Can the gift be in digital form? No. You can create a printable or graphic for your partner, but please PRINT it off and send a physical copy to your partner. Part of the fun is actually physically receiving a gift in the mail.

JOIN ME.  SIGN UP!

For my international friends, please note that there are five different exchanges: USA, Canada, UK, Australia, and All Countries. Use the drop down box to make your selection!

Click the widget below to get started.  Can't wait to see all of the handmade creations!

 

10-31-12 Sketch

Here is today's sketch @ Let's Scrap.

And, here is my take on the sketch.

I know...I know...this shoulda been a Halloween layout. It's not like I don't LOVE Halloween, I just don't have any little vampires, witches, or goblins to use in a layout.  I do, however, have a really cute dog...maybe next time...

It's the Great Pumpkin!
wondering
what time do the trick-or-treaters get here?

Anywho (pun intended), football is a great fall activity and a Denver Broncos game makes a great layout!  Bill has season tickets and absolutely loves the Broncos.  I tease him that he has orange coursing through his veins.  I only get to go to the game on a rare occasion...(and I only like the "warm" ones).

Here are the technical notes for the layout:

• Instead of pockets on the lh side, I chose to include our tickets from the game.  They are anchored with photo corners and ribbon.
• I used MS Publisher to include 8 additional photos of the game and printed one large 8" x 11" photo (no fancy or high priced software needed!).  Truth is...I love this format for including a lot of pictures on a layout...you still have lots of room for artistic/creative embellishments!  There are 11 photos on this two-page layout!

Products used:

• Football paper, stickers & chipboard accents:  Creative Memories
• Football photo corners:  Jolee's
• Washi tape:  Queen & Co.
• Orange striped paper: Colorbok
• Cardstock:  orange & white
• Title (downloaded from the internet) was printed on white cardstock and "fussy cut" by hand
• Ribbon:  American Crafts

Thanks for stopping by...don't each too much candy...just the chocolate. 

Let's Scrap

Several things happening at Let's Scrap that I'd like to share with you:

1.  Card sketch for today:

And, here's the card I made:

The sketch just says "hello...I'm a camera" to me so that's what I made!  I was thinking that the sentiment could be just about anything using a camera as the main embellishment.  'Cause let's face it, we use a camera for just about everything these days...good or bad.

The chevron background paper is from My Mind's Eye.  The rest of the card is simply "paper piecing" of a camera design loosely based on the instagram logo.  I added a round brad (hugz) and a printed sentiment to the center.  I also glued some twine around the hugz.  Easy peasy.

2.  I've just come home from a three-day retreat in the beautiful Rocky Mountains.  Finished 44 pages, a furbaby book for Gracie, and almost finished a digital book.  Very productive.  Love, love retreats.  I feel like I really can get away and get absorbed into this hobby I love so much.  I have such a sense of accomplishment after a retreat.  Fourty-four finished layouts means I've met the LOAD challenge...see that icon to the right?  Up to 48!  Wonder how many more I can get in before the 31st?

3.  Remember the sketch contest I won?  My sketch will be featured on Wednesday, November 14.  Can't wait for the big reveal.  Can't wait to see what 4,100+ members can do with my design.  Stoked!

Wait!  There's more news!  Even bigger news.  I submitted five sketch designs for that contest -- loved designing so much that the ideas just kept coming.  Turns out...the fine ladies @ Let's Scrap want them ALL!!  You will see the rest of my designs appearing over the next term @ Let's Scrap!  The new term (and a new Design Team...for which I am very sad) starts in December and will run through the end of March.  Of course, all of my sketches will also be featured concurrently here on the blog.  Whew!!  Who knew that my very first attempts at sketch design would be so fruitful! 

I may just keep on going and going and going... 

A Fabulous PINK Weekend

This past Sunday I walked with 40,000 other men, women, and children @ the 20th Anniversary of the Denver Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure...four thousand of which are women dressed in pink t-shirts.  Women who've been diagnosed, in or through treatment.  Women who fight.  Survivors.

Yay Denver!

I celebrated my sixth year as a survivor.

Notice the pink hair extensions?  Fun!

I celebrated with a very special team of friends and family.  Their love & support touches me deeply.

My "team" gets a bit bigger each year.
Love 'em dearly.

I celebrated hope.

 

I celebrated mammograms and for "catching it early."

 

I celebrate LIFE!

 

Although I walk in PINK, I: