Can't get enough...

PAPER TRUNK!!

I am still creating with this AWESOME paper!!

Can't help it!

It inspires me!!Plus, I can't get enough of seeing myself on the front page of their website. {Ego.} :)

The Secret's OUT!

FINALLY!
It seems so much more "real" to share it with the WORLD!!

Thursday, May 1st was the big REVEAL! In collaboration with Pine Cone Press, myself, and the Design Diva's created "Stamping and Scrapbooking"!

Yeah!

One day your at CHA, the next (OK-MONTHS LATER) your in a book!VERY cool!
(here is just a peak at a page with two of my I think 10 LO's!)

Thank you, to all the customers who came to the VIP party! WOW!

Thank you for your enthusiasm, support, excitement-WOW, you wanted our autographs!

Thanks for Scrapaganza-without you, I would not be designing!

Thank you Design Diva's, for being willing to bust a move and create beautifully in 3 1/2 seconds!


Thank you Beth for coming behind the Queen of typos, and added SO much to the book!

Thank you all involved! All the pain was worth it, to see my proud Dad at the VIP party! :)

Thank you Paper Trunk!!

What a crazy cool thing to go to their blog and see my mug featured there!!

AND to have the layout on their FRONT PAGE!!

Thank you Paper Trunk for this wonderful opportunity!

I am still inspired by your paper and products!

While I last, see me here!

Another for Paper Trunk

I can't get enough of these yummy papers! And with boys, I think this line is perfect! Yet there is enough frill, if you had a girl in mind, great!

And there are plenty of big circles and flowers within the line to cut and create embellishment!

Do ya not LOVE 3D foam dots??

I added some K&Co. paper ribbon, and a Jenni Bowlin mini-die cut and chalkboard letters. And a bit of her paper too...

I have one more Paper Trunk LO and a clipboard coming!


Thanks for looking!

I'm Goin' to Ranger U!!!

YAY!!!!

Well, I PLAN on going!! I better put some stellar classes together so I can afford to go to Ranger U! I was picked out of over 70 applicants-one of 28 spots!! COOL!

I already have a hotel roommate! This is going to be so FUN!!!!

I applied to Ranger U so I could learn their techniques-that I hardly have a clue about (I use distressing ink, but that is about it)!! Seriously-I watch Tim and I wish I could make those things, but I don't have a clue!!

Here is a loose schedule...

Friday: Introduction to Ranger’s Facilities, meet your classmates and curriculum overview, followed by education on Melt Art® with Suze Weinberg and Perfect Pearls™ with Robin Beam.

Saturday and Sunday : Tim Holtz Tim Holtz will educate on Rangers lines of Inks, Paints and Embossing Powders. Claudine Hellmuth will teach techniques on BeesWax, paints and fine art mediums.

I get to take classes from Tim Holtz and Claudine Hellmuth!! Not to mention Suze Weinberg and Robin Beam!!

WOW!! How cool is THAT!!

And when I am done, I will be a certified Ranger instructor!! SOOOO... I learn these cool techniques, and then I teach them to all my friends at Scrapaganza!! YAHOO!!!!!

So if you are reading this, and you frequent Scrapaganza, watch for classes being announced soon that will help support my jaunt to New Jersey!!! And when I get back-watch out!! I will start a series to share my new skills! :)

Guest Designer for Paper Trunk

I have the incredible privilege of being the guest designer for Paper Trunk!

And check THIS out!

They are SO up my alley! Recycled papers, soy based inks, "green" packaging...

And their papers are so bright! I LOVE their product, and can't wait to see what they do next!

AND they have STAMPS!!! :) And this GREAT chipboard "wheel"!

Here are the first layouts I have done for them! I plan to do at least two more!!

This layout is my favorite so far! I decided to make my own die cut paper...
I traced the shape and cut it out... then did the same again on another piece of (of their fabulous) paper, for the printed frame, and traced a smaller frame (free hand) inside. I wasn't going for perfect.

I then used my (FAVORITE TOOL) Making Memories Edge Scraper on the outside and the inside edge. When you are working on such a thin piece of paper, do small sections at a time, in between your fingers that are supporting that section. It won't take long at all!
I edge distressed the mats a LOT too... LOVE it!
I used their printed paper with the paisleys as embellishment.


For this one... I layered like CRAZY! The frame, the half circle design, the other circles... layer layer, layer... I was never 100% satisfied with the results-but I love working with these papers-they would work for so many things!

Also on this one, I used my crop-a-dile to make holes in my large metal brad, so I could add the decorative little brads to it... I also used my edge scraper again. Can't put that thing done!

And this one.... I got to use this piece of dictionary paper that I got in a kit! And again, I layered. I really got rough with the piece under the picture! crumpled, sanded, edge scraped, inked...
To attach, just put glue dots on the creases that bend down towards the paper you are attaching it too... so the dots will be random.

For the flowers-they were cut from their patterned paper, then I held the base of each petal, and folded the rest of the petal in half longways. And not all the way, just enough to give the crease.

Better than sliced bread!

This is why I like blogs so much!

You go to a blog of someone that has the same interest-in my case scrapbooking and photography-and you find this great little gem that someone shares with you...

So I am going to share (too)!

Now I know that it will transform all of your pictures, and I will have nothing on anyone...
but I can live with that! Cuz this is too cool!

www.picnik.com

I have been playing for hours!

I have been able to do with my photos-actions, text, effects... that others paid a LOT of money for... you know, that expensive software they want you to buy!

Well, until I see otherwise, this is what I am using! THIS makes picasa look like childs play! LOL!

Here is a slide show of some of the different effects I did with the same picture.

OK, so some are not as "practical" as others-but cool none the less!!

And let me tell you-adding text... A breeze!!!!

Enjoy!
(the picture is a bit less dark in reality-but you get the idea!)

Tagged!

By Candi...

Six Random Things:Hmmmm....

#1-I hate brussel sprouts.
#2-My basement is COVERED in toys-and I have left it like that for over a week. Seriously. I don't go down there right now.
#3-Speaking of things I don't do, my husband does 99% of the dished. I hate dishes. It was in our marriage vows, I think. Or at least the verbal agreement. :)
#4-I am teaching at 'Get Inspired' in Des Moines also... poor Candi-me and my great ideas!!
(I'm no midwife, but I was a doula-so I'll do in a pinch!)
#5-My Dad's my Hero... seriously. He, like us all, has his flaws, but he has set an example of love and survival that I will appreciate this whole little life. Thanks Dad, for living a great life!
#6- I eat pancake mix "raw" before I cook the pancakes. Seriously. I love any Bisquick dough.
{repeat after me: white flour is bad... white flour is bad...}

Thanks Candi for the tag. (Ugh) :)

I tag: Megan, Apryl, Mindy, Collen, Charlene and Tina!

Blogs and food for thought. ...

OK, I am trying to move to typepad... cuz my name is easier to remember than "artfully embellished"... well, typepad is just NOT as easy as blog spot! (Dang it!)
It might be a few more days! It took me an hour to figure out how to continue to annoy you with my music!

In the meantime-here is a video to watch. It is sobering and convicting and, well, it makes you think.

It was shown at church on Sunday (I am a member of Harvest Bible Chapel in Bettendorf).

If statistically, we reduced the population to 100, here are some very interesting things to realize:
Miniature Earth

I brings me to be grateful for what I have.

"Have what you want, but want what you have."
It should have meaning.
I have a lot.

New look...

OK, so the black was just so dark! So I am going with a more "spring" look!

Let me know what you think! I like green and pink together! :)
(which I then changed to red and black on white! LOL!)

FYI, I will have some VERY exciting news VERY soon!!

HANG IN THERE!! It's coming!!

Anyone reading this that is a scrapbooker, come to our National Scrapbooking Day Crop at Scrapaganza!

Actually... it is in the emtpy-once- Cato store by Wal-mart! LOTS of room for you and all your frineds! Or come alone and make a new friend!

Too sweet!

Gabriel's class (he attends pre-school at Heritage Christian in Park View) did a visit to a nursing home in Eldridge, and I have to say, I am pretty proud of him! He did SO well! He did the singing &the hand gestures, and went around to each resident in attendance and shook their hand (which was planned-but I was proud of how comfortable he was!) He was probably thinking-Grandparents, THEIR a good thing!! :)

They did a few songs and a little play of "There was an old lady that swallowed a fly" (she cried, instead of "died"-Gabriel was a "crier". TOO cute!)

Way to go Gabe!
(Don't ya just love the boots!! He just LOVES his fireman rain boots!)

12 Essential Rules to Live More Like a Zen Monk

OK, those that know me are probably thinking "What!"... but (via Ali Edwards blog) I came across this, and I thought it thought provoking enough to share... so here goes. :)

“We have more possibilities available in each moment than we realize.” - Thich Nhat Hanh

Zen Habits (click here)

Speaking of quotes... anyone notice the "Quote of the Day" to the right? I have been enjoying these immensely !

Todays was great: (and fitting)
Democracy is a process by which people are free to choose the man who will get the blame.
Laurence J. Peter