Thanks for the Memories - Mary-Ann

I think that by now, you have the understanding that eP is coming to an end.  We, as design team members at eclectic Paperie, have our hearts filled with sadness and understanding.  We all also feel honored to work along side such talented ladies over the last few years.  There is a time to move on for all of us.  Kim has made an incredibly important decision for her family that everyone can completely understand.  I will miss the daily activity on this blog, but each of the talented designers have other avenues to display their work.  If you have continually been inspired by one or all of the girls on the team, head to their blogs and follow them on their next adventure.

Adriana Templeton

Bonnie Irvine

Broni Holcombe

Julia Aston

Karen Crossen

Mary-Ann Maldonado (me)

Micki Harper

Sherry Cheever

Sue Carrington

Sue Lelli

Toni Burrows

Steph Acherman

Debbie Sherman

Monica Edwards

Kim Schofield (owner)

Here are a couple of my favorite projects I created over my time here at eP.  As a well known, "clean" girl, I did attempt getting dirty a couple of times.  But very lightly!

Thank you for all the encouraging messages you have left for me over the years.  I will miss eP, the DT girls and the eP friends.  May God bless you all and may you continue to create.

Carving & Bobbing - ePlay Fall Challenge

It is fall here in New England.  

The trees are starting to change, mums are popping up on porches, pumpkins are being picked and people are gathering for fall festivities.  Last year, we were lucky to be invited to a little gathering to carve pumpkins and bob for apples.  You can bet that I did NOT bob!  

Mary-Ann here to share with you, my take on the September ePlay - Fall Challenge. 

 I dug out some of my recently cracked 6x6 paper packs from Fancy Pants and selected colors that would replicate fall and blend with my pictures.  I decided to keep this layout simple by cutting strips of random sized papers and applied haphazardly on my cardstock.  I added loose Fancy Pants embellishments, buttons, ephemera and a few drops of colorful Dylusions.  I did dig out my die cutting machine to help cut my leaves and my sewing machine.
I love how it turned out and hope that you do to.
Here are a few closeups of my layout.  

Thank you for stopping by and be sure to upload your FALL creations to this link.

Supplies I used on this project!

Fancy Pants - Me-ology - 6x6 inch Paper Pad	Fancy Pants - Me-ology - Button Set	Fancy Pants - Burlap & Bouquets - 6x6 Paper Pad	Fancy Pants - Burlap & Bouquets - Button Set	Fancy Pants - As You Wish - 6x6 Paper Pad
Dylusions Ink Spray - Melted Chocolate	Dylusions Ink Spray - Squeezed Orange	Dylusions Ink Spray - Lemon Zest	Scotch Foam Mounting Tape	Mono Adhesive Refill - Permanent

Mixed Media Scrapbooking layout

Do you live in an area where you can witness the amazing art of sand sculptures?  The only product that the designers can use is sand and water.  That is it!  They produce amazing art pieces that will, in a few days, be destroyed by the elements.  I  guess at least with our hobby, we are preserving memories.  Hopefully element free!!  Mary-Ann here today to share a layout I created from our trip to Revere Beach in Revere Mass.  Look closely at my large photo.  My son is mimicking the sand sculpture behind him. 

 To get started, I chose papers that would highlight my pictures.  What better paper and embellishments to use than the Prima Seashore collection, right?

My base paper is pretreated with clear Gesso.  This allows my spray inks to blend and not immediately soak into my raw paper.  After the Gesso dried, I sprayed water onto my page and added drops of spray ink like so....

If you feel your  colors are too harsh, like here, you can add white or a bit more water to thin it out.

While my inks are drying, I layer papers behind my photo.  I used papers from the Prima Seashore 6x6 paper pad and the October Afternoon Public Library 8x8 paper pack.  I also grabbed a few ephemera from 7Gypsies  Chronicles packet.  I staple them together so they do not shift but still allow me to insert other pieces if I feel necessary.

I added this clump to the upper right of my page, allowing enough space on the bottom for my second clump of papers and photos.  Here I added a few embellishments that help anchor (no pun intended) my page.

Here is the lower clump of papers and photos.  Check out that Iwo Jima sculpture, truly magnificent in person.  I added a few more embellishments here, just like the upper portion.

Then I added my title.  I did a bit of machine sewing for my title to ensure that it would remain in place.  Once I did that, I needed to add stitching in other places to bring it all together.  I tried not to do too much and take it over the top.

 Here is my finished layout again.  The messy cut triangle corners were a must in making this layout come together.  There was just a bit too much white space.

I do appreciate you stopping by and seeing my project.  Stop in daily as our design team is busy creating.  

Supplies used:

Prima - Seashore - Shore Side - 12"x12" Double-sided Paper	Prima - Seashore - Shell Postage - 12"x12" Double-sided Single Paper	Prima - Seashore - Sea Memories - 12"x12" Double-sided Single Paper	Prima - Seashore - Sea Breeze - 12 x12 Double-Sided Single Paper	Prima - Seashore - Metal Paper Clips
Prima - Seashore - Flair Buttons With Stamp	October Afternoon - Public Library - 8x8 inch Paper Pad	7 Gypsies - Gypsy Chronicles - Mini Ephemera	Dylusions Ink Spray - Lemon Zest	Dylusions Ink Spray - White Linen
Inkssentials Mister Bottle - 2 oz.	Mono Adhesive Tape Runner - Permanent	Idea-ology Tiny Attacher	Idea-ology Tiny Attacher Refills	Tonic Studios - Kushgrip Non-Stick Scissors

Turning 43

Guess how old I turned this year?  

Mary-Ann here, divulging information that should totally be kept a secret:o)  This year was hard for me.  If I am 43 then my boy is turning 10, I am full of gray hair and I just noticed wrinkles.  Lots of them.  So, I refuse to celebrate any more birthdays until next year.  hehe

I decided, for a change, to focus on a "me" layout.  I am hardly in the photos we take unless I insist on a "groupie" picture.  Even then, one of us is usually making an inappropriate face and the entire event becomes a battle.  I'm yelling, telling them to pretend to have fun, or "take another, my hair didn't look good" or "you can see my waddle!" 

I promise, I did have fun creating this layout and I hope you enjoy the journey with me. 

 I promise not to get all weepy.

FYI, this entire layout, except the white base is made from a 6x6 paper pad.  No 12x12 paper was harmed in the making of this page:0)  After I decided on my colors, I decided to spray paint a couple wood veneer numbers that I had on hand.  (A great big fat reminder of how old I am!) You could color these with Dylusions.  A paint brush will do the trick or even just spraying.  

The white base you see, is actually a little creamy once I started taking pictures, it is a big piece of watercolor paper.  I sprayed Dylusions ink (red, small amounts of black, and white) onto my craft sheet.  I added a few squirts of water from my Ranger Mister bottle and squished my paper face down on my craft sheet.  When I lifted it, this is what I got.  

I started layering Fancy Pants Me-ology papers under my photo.  Painted a clothespin with the same black Dylusions spray.  I also tucked some of the banner buttons under my papers, clumped coordinating Me-ology buttons to the side with matching enamel dots.

You can see here that I utilized some Tim Holtz Index labels.  Just so happens, they come in black and red!  Perfect for this layout.  I wanted them to be a little sturdier, so I took the packaging from the Fancy Pants Buttons and backed the stickers.  See photo below.

Added a cool title, more enamels and my journaling, which is neatly tucked inside one of the Fancy Pants Library Card envelopes.  I didn't want my journaling card to stick out too far, so I trimmed down the existing library card and turned it over to utilize the white side.

It is pretty simple.  Just some fun coloring and painting, paper layering and story telling.  I hope you have enjoyed my layout today.  Keep checking back  daily for more design team inspiration.

Supplies used:  

Fancy Pants - Me-ology - 6x6 inch Paper Pad	Fancy Pants - Me-ology - Button Set	Fancy Pants - Me-ology - Library Cards/Pockets	Fancy Pants - Me-ology - Toppers	Dylusions Ink Spray - White Linen
Dylusions Ink Spray - Black Marble	Dylusions Ink Sprays - Complete Set of 6 New Colors	Inkssentials Mister Bottle - 2 oz.	Dina Wakley - Media Stiff Bristle Paint Brush 4/Pkg	Inksessentials - Non-Stick Craft Sheet
Ranger - Watercolor Paper 8.5"x11"	Glue Dots� Craft Clear 1/2" 144 pc Sheet	Scotch Foam Mounting Tape	Idea-ology Tiny Attacher	Idea-ology Tiny Attacher Refills
Tim Holtz � Idea-ology � Index Labels	Distress Ink Pad - Fired Brick