Unity MLS Hip Hop Blog Hop!!!

Hello and thanks for hopping with Unity today. I'm beyond excited to be a part of this hop!!!

We are so pleased to share our new Co-Branded stamps with My Little Shoebox. Make sure you leave a comment on each blog to win one of the fabulous prizes from Unity Stamp Company and My Little Shoebox. Winners will be chosen at random from the participating blogs.

Now if you have been hopping along, you should have hopped here from the FABULOUS Eryn's blog. If not, you gotta check out the whole hop and start at the My Little Shoebox Blog.

For my little creation today, I decided to do some fussy cutting with this super sweet owl and sentiment from the Feelin' Owl-y stamp set. I paired it up with the background stamp Crunch Time (this one is super sweet). All those little leaves are hand colored using Faber Castell Aquarelles and Big Brush pens.

And here is the finished project. Using Prima Papers, The Robins Nest Papers and all that Unity goodness!!!

These My Little Shoebox stamps are super sweet and I've loved working with them. Thank you so much for leaving your comments today, We all appreciate hearing what you have to say.

Now it is time to hop to the next blog, a personal favorite of mine Jen Erickson.  Click the button below to take you right to her amazing and often funny blog!!!

Unity Guest Designer- September

Hello everyone and Happy Monday!!!! Fall is definitely in the air and I love the slightly cooler evenings. School is well underway now and the kids are absolutely loving it. I also now have 2 days where I'm alone, but can now see my girlfriend Jen more which I LOVE.

This month, I'm so very honored to be the Guest Designer over at Unity Stamps. Unity Stamps were some of my very first rubber stamps I had, and my fondness for them has grown 10 fold. Come by the Unity blog to see today's post (a spooky layout with Dylusions Spray, Molding Paste and Doilies)

Last week, I created a pretty butterfly card for my first Unity Guest designer post which you can read HERE. I'm going to share with you the card today and for a few great close up shots, go on over to the Unity Blog.

This butterfly stamp from Unity is my favorite butterfly stamp, and Lord know, I have a LOT!!! I've colored the images using Faber Castell Aquarelles. Hope you love it!!!

The ribbon is from May Arts and matched PERFECTLY to the card. Blues and browns together are so pretty. You can find the ribbon HERE. Thanks so much for stopping in today. I hop all of you have a FANTASTIC MONDAY

Until next time
Toodles

Imagine a layout Filled with Blog Candy!!!

It has been a whole week since I posted ACK!! It's funny how sometimes time just flies and suddenly it is the beginning of June. JUNE!!!! Only 6 more weeks til CHA,, 1 1/2 till Fathers Day, 4 till school is out for the Summer. This year is speeding on by Ferrari style. I think I need to take some time today to create. There is something so soothing and relaxing about playing with papers, glue and embellishments.

Speaking of playing with papers, I have a layout to share with you today. This layout uses the Rustic Collection from FabScraps. The colors and images on these papers are beyond scrumptious. Teals, greens and browns are perfect for a little boy layout don't ya think? I used a combination of 002, 003, and 004 papers, paired up with some awesome card stock colors from Bazzill (Safari, Hillary, Avalanche and Real Teal). I got out my trusty Prima edger distresser tool and got to work. The flowers are from the Rustic Paper Flower die cut pad and are super easy to create.

The Imagine chipboard piece is also from Fabscraps. I inked it up with some Quick Quotes inks then used Wow Embossing Powder in Clear to give it a glossy look. Love how this title turned out.

Here is the entire layout. I hope you enjoy.

Well that is it for today. I think I'm going to give away a little box of goodies today. Filled with DewDrops, Chipboard and a few Mini Albums. Leave a comment today and I'll select a winner next week. Let your friends know too.

Until next time
Toodles

Trinity Paper Arts- Sincerely

The new papers from Trinity Papers Arts are so much fun to work with. I love the deep wine tones and black/white combo that comes in the Sincerely collection. Today I've got a layout to share with you using this collection, Helmar 450 Quick Dry Adhesive, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist and Prima Flowers.

I did a lot of edge distressing and hand dyed the flowers with a combination of Cranberry and True Blood Glimmer Mists for the perfect match.

Valentines Day Altered Cigar Box and Wow Embossing Powders

Happy Valentines Day everyone. Today is a day filled with chocolates, valentines cards and people we love. A day to craft with your children and do something special for your spouse.

Yup, I'm a fan of the Hallmark holiday known as Valentines Day and today I'm sharing with you the Altered Cigar Box project I've created for the WOW Embossing Powders Valentines Week Hop. If you haven't been following along this week, make sure you take a moment and check out the creations so far.

I wanted to create something special for my husband and thought what better thing than an altered cigar box. My husband is a fan of a good cigar, so the item kinda jumped out at me. For this altered cigar box, I used Whirly Pop, Cable Car Red and Gold Ultra High embossing powders. These embossing powders work fantastic on wood, plexi and flowers and to prove it, I've got pictures!!!!

First of a close up of the Gold Ultra High on chipboard. I love this stuff!!! Such a crisp emboss when it has been heated. No bubbles!!!!

Next I masked a chipboard heart and used both Whirly Pop and Gold Ultra High. Pretty Pretty I say...

For the front plexi part of the box, I used Whirly Pop and Gold Ultra High again. I wanted a really distressed look, so took a fan brush to some of the powder before heat embossing it.

With me still? Now the entire cigar box itself was embossed using a combination of Whirly Pop and Cable Car Red. I love these two colors together. Perfect for a Valentine project indeed.

Now for the entire shadow box. I added the flowers using Helmar 450 Quick Dry and Helmar Liquid Scrap Dots to give dimension. The burlap and papers were from the January Dixie Pieces Kit Be Mine, The rub-on in from The Robin's Nest.I hope you like it.

Think he'll like it? Probably would love it if it had a few Cuban cigars in it for sure haha. Well, thank you so so very much for stopping by today. Make sure you leave a comment, because I'm pretty sure at the end of this Wow Valentines Hop week, there is a Wowtastic Prize. Hope you all have a fantastic day filled with love

Until next time
Toodles

The Robins Nest Mothers Layouts with Dew Drops

Have you seen the new Classified collection from The Robins Nest. It is full of beautiful patterns, blacks and white and is so versatile. Hey there everyone, I'm here today to share with you a layout I created using some wonderful products from The Robins Nest. I used the Glitter Black and White Border Swirl, Gold Paisley on Black and Parisian Mini Dew Drops.

Firstly, I misted the entire sheet of Glitter Black and White Swirl with Glimmer Mist. Then I added white pen to some of the swirls for a really great look. The Paisleys were cut out and adhered with Helmar 450 Quick Dry Adhesive to really make sure they are not going anywhere.

Here are a few photos for you

 Here is a wonderful close up of the Gold Paisley Papers. This is becoming a top favorite of mine. It also comes in Silver too!!!

 Here you can really see the fussy cutting and the swirls I created with the Parisian Mini Dew Drops

The Robins Nest papers really work beautifully with mists and paints and I love how this one turned out. Take a look at some of the new items at The Robins Nest and try your hand at altering papers today. Thanks so much for stopping in. I hope I've given you a little inspiration.
Until next time

Toodles

I Brake for Stamps and Tattered Angels Goodness

I love the ocean, the beach, the sand... Funny how I'm a landlocked girl but my soul soars anytime I'm close to the coast or the sea. So when I found out that this months theme was paint systems, I knew my heart and mojo would be lifted up by the Lagoon Paint System.


First off today, I'm sharing with you an album cover I created using a Pink Paislee canvas album I had received from a friend (thank you so much Martha ~hugs~). I sprayed the album cover with the Apricot Nectar Chalkboard Mist and the Bahama Blue Glimmer Mist. Then I added a little Golden Goddess Glimmer Glam here and there. The flowers were either sprayed with Apricot Nectar or painted with Golden Goddess. Love how those roses turned out...

 

A Little Prima Canvas, and Basically Bare canvas too. Adding some gems and pearls to finish the album cover up. Here is a close up of the flowers for you. They look so darn real with the Glimmer Glam!!! And a little Zva Creative flourish pearls for good measure and VOILA!!!s

 

Next up a simple card using some Pink Paislee Parisian Anthology Papers and Crepe Ribbon. I created the flower by spritzing it with Apricot Nectar and a smidge of Bahama Blue. Then the inner part was painted with Golden Goddess Glimmer Glam.

The wonderful stamp is from I Brake for Stamps and is called Nature. They have so many amazing sentiment stamps so take a boo would ya?

When you purchase anything, use my design team code to receive a 10% discount on your purchase. The code is SAVE10ERIKA

 

Lastly is my second page for my journal (made of Chip Tiles) that I started thanks to Tracy Weinzapfel. I'm putting my own spin on the Life List album by creating pages that remind me of the things that are important. For this one, I used a fair helping of the Pewter Glimmer Glaze (one of my new favorite paint colors) . I used a heart Glimmer Screen for a few layers of color, then added Gesso onto the journal page using the screen as well. I LLLLOOOOOOOVVVVVEEEEE this one.

 

Well, that is all for me today. Don't forget to check out the Tattered Angels Design Team Call HERE. This company is a dream to work with and you may not think you will be accepted, but you never know until you try. I didn't think I had a hope in H E double hockey sticks, but my dream came true and I got my wings. Thanks for stopping by

until next time

Toodles

Saskatchewan Tiger Lily

When I saw this stamp at I Brake for Stamps, it made me think of my husband. Why you ask would a flower do that? Well the Tiger Lily is the Provincial flower for Saskatchewan, and my wonderful husband is from there. So I asked if this one could be included in my design team package, and I'm so glad I selected it.

Hi everyone, I'm here today to share with you a card I created using the Large Lily with Forever stamp. For this image, I stamped on some beautiful Mica/Metallic paper in Quartz  from Paper Temptress. I embossed the image, then painted it entirely with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist and Glimmer Glaze. Once dried, I added a little Copic marker in burgundy and finished it off with Helmar Crackle Medium. I love how this one turned out.

It has a bit of a watercolor feel and I love it. This image stamps so amazingly clean and was super easy to work with. Here is a close up of the flower for you, so you can really see the detail.

Isn't that beautiful? If you love flowers, there are so many stamps to chose from at I Brake for Stamps. Everything from collage to bold and anything in between. Take a look and grab yourself a couple of flower stamps today. When you do, make sure to use my design team code SAVE10ERIKA to save yourself 10%

Until next time
Toodles

Tattered Angels and Prima. The PERFECT combination!!!

I think two of my favorite products on the market have to be Tattered Angels and Prima. They go together like peanut butter and jelly and are beautiful to work with. When our theme over at Tattered Angels this month was a partnering with Prima, I just about inked. The creative wheels started turning and I created 3 projects using some of the prettiest color combinations I've seen.

All of the projects below use Helmar Adhesives, they truly are the best there is and I couldn't create without them. My go to glues are Helmar Liquid Scrap Dots, Helmar Premium Craft Glue and Helmar 450 Quick Dry Adhesive.

Here they are for you.


First off a layout using the Prima Canvas combined with the Prima Tattered Angels clam pack colors (Patina, Cranberry Zing and Suede)

Next a card I created using Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist and water to create a water color effect. Love the result this created.

And lastly a Dreams mini book front page that I created. Tracy Weinzapfel, a good friend, started a challenge on her blog to create a Life List Journal. I have never created a mini book before, but something in Tracy's word inspired me to at least try. Thank you so so very much Tracy for you inspiration and your belief in me. You have been there when I've had troubles and you always know exactly what to say. (if you haven't seen Tracy's blog before, please go take a peek and follow, she truly is amazing in every way)

I'll be back tomorrow with a few more projects for you. I've got posts up at Cottage Cutz and I Brake for Stamps today as well, so be sure to take a boo would ya?

Toodles

Tattered Angels and Prima. The PERFECT combination!!!

Talk about some serious fun!!!September is Tattered Angels & Prima month. Both design & educator teams will be showcasing how perfectly these two companies work together. AND...there are giveaways! Details can be found here on the Tattered Angels blog and here on the Prima blog and you will get a chance to see some of the creative inspiration from both Design Teams & Educator teams. There is a chance for you to win some amazing prizes too. Make sure to check out both the Prima and Tattered Angels Facebook Pages for even more inspiration.

Take a look at these great prizes

Follow along all month to see some beautiful projects using Tattered Angels and Prima Goodness.

Toodles


Tattered Angels Giveaway


Prima Giveaway

A little DIY Wedding Post

Tis the season for tiaras, bouquets and wedding dresses, so I thought I'd share with you a few projects I've created using Tattered Angels products, Helmar adhesives and Prima. First off an altered wedding album featuring some of my favorite Tattered Angels colors. I've adhered everything using Helmar 450 Quick Dry Adhesive. I painted the once cream colored album with a soft bristled paint brush and a brayer. Ain't she beautiful!!!

Next a whimsical wedding sign created using Gesso, Tattered Angels Glimmer mists and a few Prima flowers and branches. The wedding sentiment is painted on using Jenni Bowlin Paint Daubers.

DIY wedding projects can really save you money and personalize your special day to fit your dreams.

Thanks for stopping by today. Hope you are all enjoying your Monday

Toodles

True Beauty

True Beauty come in many forms, but none more beautiful than my Mom. She is a huge inspiration for me when I create and I wanted to make a layout showing that her beauty started when she was a very young girl.

For this layout I used Bo Bunny papers and Helmar Adhesives. Adding a little Prima to the mix to give it that vintage feel to go with the photo. I love all the distressed edges and the butterflies were simply perfect. I hope you enjoy and Mom, I LOVE YOU!!!

Favorite Things of Spring and some SUPER COOL NEWS!!!

I love the newness that Spring offers. The fresh blades of grass poking out from the ground, pretty pastel flowers blooming in the moist soil, and the return of all things new.

This week, the new challenge over at TAAFOMFT challenge site began, and it is all about "What is your Favorite Thing about Spring". I just had to grab some of my favorite colors of Tattered Angels Glimmer Mists that make me think of Springtime. A Little Puerto Rico, Viva Pink and Bahama Blue should do the trick I think!!!

The background paper is from the Parisian Anthology Collection from Pink Paislee and the rest of the papers are Websters Pages. I used some of beautiful blossoms from Prima to finish off the layout and I know this is my favorite layout to date. It is just so ME!!! I hope you love it. All matched up perfectly with my favorite adhesives. I used Helmar 450 Quick Dry Adhesive and Helmar Liquid Scrap Dots, with a dollop of Premium Craft Glue for good measure.

So take a look at the other projects the design team at TAAFOMFT has created for the Favorite Thing about Spring challenge.

Also I've got some amazingly exciting news to share with you. 

A little while ago, I received an email from Candy Rosenberg about an opportunity to be on a design team. Well without even knowing what the product would be, I leaped into the possibilities and today is the day that we go live. Basically Bare is the absolutely wonderful creation by Angela Pruitt (who I've been blessed to work with in the past). Beautiful canvas, chipboard, felt and acrylic pieces to alter to your hearts content. Please take a moment to check them out. You will see the sweetest dress forms EVER!!! They also have a fantastic blog and a facebook page that will have regular giveaways and contests, so take a moment to "like" them.

Toodles for today