Friday, July 27, 2012

La La Land Crafts Inspiration Friday - Create a Circle Card!

Hi everyone and happy Friday! Welcome to another week of La La Land Craft inspiration! This week's theme is to create a circle card. I couldn't wait to pair up Kimono Marci with Graphic 45's new Bird Song paper.

Here's the circle card that I came up...


I added gold Art Glitter to Kimono Marci's paper pieced kimono and her umbrella is paper pieced as well... isn't she just adorable?!


Here's the card at a different angle... I love the sentiment that comes with the stamp set. "Konnichiwa" is Japanese for "Good Afternoon." ❤

I punched out the "Happiness" sentiment from the Bird Song paper, used a dimensional to adhere it to the card... and it acts as a "stopper" to hold the card upright...

 Here's the card when it's opened up completely...

Copic Markers:

Skin: E000, E00, E21, E11, R20, BV000, Lips: R24
Hair/Slippers/Umbrella: C3, C5, C7, C9
Paper pieced using Graphic 45 Bird Song
Gold Art Glitter accents


Be sure to stop by the La La Land Crafts blog for more inspiration from the design team and learn how you can join this week's challenge and enter your chance to win a prize from LLLC!

Enjoy your weekend and thanks for stopping by!

xoxo,

Products:
Graphic 45 Bird Song papers
Graphic 45 Staples Vintage key
Chinese coin
I Am Roses Flowers
Copic Markers
Art Glitter
Ranger Adirondak Alcohol Ink - Gold
Flower stamen
Spellbinders Grande Circles and Grande Scallop Circles dies


Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Graphic 45 - Want2Scrap - Art Glitter BLOG HOP!




Graphic 45 has partnered up with two amazing companies for a super FUN blog hop this week - Want2Scrap and Art Glitter! Welcome to blog hop Day 3... we hope you are following along for your chance to win some BLOG PRIZES! Here's a peek at some of the G45, Want2Scrap and Art Glitter prize packages being given away...



All you have to do is comment along the hop for your chance to win! Winners will be selected randomly from the blog comments on the designers' blogs.

I'd like to share this special card I created for my friend's daughter who just celebrated her Red Egg and Ginger party. In Chinese tradition, a Red Egg & Ginger party is thrown when a baby is at least 1 month of age. In the olden days, the baby fatality rates were high in China. A baby living past 1 month old was likely to survive. The parents would celebrate this gift of life with a Red Egg & Ginger party. I myself am part Chinese, so the Asian traditions are close to my heart. ❤

The Asian inspired Bird Song papers by Graphic 45 were PERFECT for the card I created for Alyssa.


I added gold Art Glitter to accent the center of my card. I love how it just adds that perfect touch of gold to this Asian themed card. I also used the large Staples Metal Tag and new ornate vintage key. The Asian coin pendant is from my stash... it was silver, but I used my Adirondack Gold Alcohol ink to color it up and distress it.


I distressed some Staples Metal brads with Lindy Stamp Gang two-tone embossing powder and accented my card with the black pearl bling from Want2Scrap.


I fussy cut the birds from the paper collection and perched them on top of my card...


I always finish off the insides of my cards... inside I did a lot of layering and added some of the postage stamps that I fussy cut from the collection... my friend commented on how heavy this card was when I gave it to her. hehe! All the Staples metal and layering made for a VERY sturdy card. ❤


Okay, I "had" to include a little picture I took of Alyssa when we saw her in Las Vegas during our recent vacation. Isn't she the most ADORABLE ever in her little 4th of July outfit?! hehe!


Anywhoooooo, let me get you on your hopping way! Here is the blog hop schedule for this week. We hope you join us and gain some inspiration along the way!


Monday, July 23rd
Jane Tregenza: http://janetregenza.blogspot.com/
Maiko Miwa: http://shiny-scrap.blogspot.com/
Tara Orr: http://eachmoment-onlyonce.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, July 24th
Alberto Juárez : http://vintageodyssey.blogspot.com/
Gloria Stengel : http://gloriascraps.blogspot.com/
Nicole Eccles: http://www.nicoleeccles.com/

Wednesday, July 25th
Arlene Cuevas: http://butterflykisseswithlove.blogspot.com/ <-- You're HERE!
Jim, The Gentleman Crafter: http://thegentlemancrafter.blogspot.com/
Betto Cesare: http://scrapguys.blogspot.com/

Thursday, July 26th 
Clare Charvill: http://mycreativespirit.blogspot.com/
Kristin Wilson: http://www.kristinwilsonhandmade.com/
Sharon Ngoo: http://glooshmoo.blogspot.com/

Friday, July 27th
Denise Hahn: http://www.inmyblueroom.blogspot.com/
Laura Denison: http://www.followingthepapertrail.blogspot.com/
Susan Lui: http://luv2scrap-pages.blogspot.com/

Here's a little bit of information about Graphic 45, Want2Scrap and Art Glitter:




Graphic 45 Bio:

Graphic 45 an award-winning scrapbook and paper crafting company­— owned and operated by a mother and her two daughters.  Together we create vintage inspired crafting products that capture the flamboyant style of the 1920's and 30's - with vibrant color, irresistible texture and imaginative design to create products with decades-old appeal that's both fresh and familiar. Let our products inspire your next scrapbook layout, card, album or home decor project.




Want 2 Scrap Bio:

Want2Scrap™ manufacturers rhinestones lines including the specialty Nestabling™  line along with the newly released Nestaboard™ chipboard line that coordinates perfectly with the Spellbinders™ Nestabilies™ die templates. Want2Scrap™ also manufacturers their own line chipboard albums and accents, acrylic albums, and multi-layered laser designs and other fine scrapbooking products. Want2Scrap™ brings ease of use and flexibility in their product lines by offering products uniquely tailored to its customers’ needs.



Art Glitter Bio:

Spread the Sparkle! Be it cosmetics, scrapbooking, t-shirts, cards, jewelry, quilts, rock star toes, home decor or even cement...everything is better with Art Glitter on it! Barbara Trombley opened Art Institute Glitter, Inc. in 1982 and now supplies artists and artisans, crafters and craftsmen with more than 400 brilliant cosmetic quality glitter colors and industrial-strength adhesives. Art Glitter products have been featured on “The New Martha Stewart Show”, “Carol Duvall Show”, HGTV, Home Shopping Network and several times in “Martha Stewart Living Magazine” including this upcoming December, 2009 issue. Thousands of retail stores throughout the world carry Art Glitter products. Barbara’s first book, “Glitter Artistry: Bags, Tags & Cards,” was warmly received by artists in 2006 and is still a big hit today (Sterling Publishing, Inc.). Art Glitter’s retail showroom is located in Historic Old Town Cottonwood, Arizona.

Be sure to check out the Want2Scrap and Art Glitter blogs for even more craft inspiration and prize opportunities! This has been an AMAZING week of inspiration so far! Enjoy!

hugs! ❤









Products:
Lindy Stamp Gang Two-Tone embossing powder
True Black cardstock by Paper Trey Ink
Kraft cardstock by Paper Trey Ink
Red MFT cardstock
Asian coin pendant from my stash

Friday, July 20, 2012

La La Land Crafts CHA Summer 2012 Release!


Hey everyone! I'm super excited to share my latest La La Land Crafts projects using stamps and dies from the CHA Summer 2012 release. Let's start you off with some pictures of the new products, available for pre-order NOW on the La La Land Crafts website.







WOW, right?!

Now, let's talk about PRIZES!!

All you have to do is comment on the CHA Summer Showcase post on the La La Land Crafts blog to enter your chance to win the following AMAZING prize package:


I gotta say it again... WOW, right?! So now that the prize information is out of the way, let me share my projects with ya! ❤

I created 3 projects using some of the new images and La La Land Crafts steel dies... (Complete product information will be listed at the end of this blog post.)

First up is this 8x8 scrapbook layout I created of my son Logan using Beach Luka, the sun from the Cloud, Sun and Island die set and Wave border die.




Copic markers:
Skin: E000, E00, E21, E11, BV00
Hair: C3, C5, C7, C9
Tank top: BG10, BG11, BG72
Pants: E55, E57
Pail, Shovel, starfish: YG23, YG25
Sand castle: E40, E41, E42
Seashells: E41, E42, E43


Next up is this card I created using the new Daisy Faerie Marci (with accessories) and Butterfly Set 1 die...






Copic Markers:
Skin: E000, E00, E21, E11, E93, BV00
Hair: R02, E08, E17, E18
Daisies: Y11, Y13, Y15, YG61, YG63, E55, E57
Dress: BG10, BG11
Beads: Y11, Y13, Y15
Wings: Y11, Y13, Y15, B0000, B01, Art Glitter


Last up is this birthday card I created using Telephone Marci (with accessories), Filagree Corner die and the new AMAZING Hot Air Balloon die...






View the video of my projects & new releases HERE.

Well, that's all folks! ❤

Be sure to stop on over at the La La Land Crafts blog to check out the other inspiring projects from the design team. And while you are there, don't forget to LEAVE A COMMENT on the CHA Showcase blog post for your chance to win the SUPER PACKED prize package pictured earlier in this post.

Good luck and if you are ready to shop, click HERE!

Happy crafting!

hugs! ❤







SUPPLIES:

8x8 Beach Luka Scrapbook Layout
Beach Luka (with accessories)
Cloud, Sun and Island die
Wave border die
Graphic 45's Tropical Travelogue papers
MFT Fishtail layers Die-Namics
Copic Markers
Heavy chipboard
toothpick ("beach" sign)
Burlap twine


Daisy Faerie card
Daisy Faerie Marci (with accessories)
Butterfly Set 1 die
Prima Sunflower papers
I Am Roses daisy & mini roses
Copic Markers
Art Glitter
White 5" doily from Owl & Thistle (Etsy)
Paper Trey Ink Kraft cardstock


Telephone Marci Birthday card
Telephone Marci (with accessories)
Filagree Corner
Hot Air Balloon die
Prima Almanac papers & flower
Black doily from Owl & Thistle (Etsy)
Recollections White Pearl Bling
Black lace
Paper Trey Ink Black cardstock and kraft cardstock
Ranger Black Soot Distress Ink





Tuesday, July 17, 2012

My Road Trip Adventure!

Hi everyone! Just a random blog post here... ❤

I just returned from a much needed vacation with my family and boy did we have a BLAST! But it was one of those vacations where you tell yourself, "why oh why didn't I just stay home and vegetate?!" LOL! But my kids had an AMAZING time as did I and my hubbs....

Let me share our journey with you... feel free to grab a cup of coffee or some chocolate for the ride. ❤

We started off from sunny Northern California and drove 9 hours southeast to Las Vegas, Nevada. Here are my boys doing some yoga stretches at a rest stop along the way.... (LOL, they crack me up!)


My parents have property in Las Vegas, so when we drive down, we typically don't have to deal with the craziness of the "strip", we just stay at their house which is literally 20 minutes from the strip. But this time, we stayed on the strip because we celebrated my Mom's 70th birthday over at the Wynn Hotel and Casino. Anyhow... we did a TON of walking during the day and let me tell you.... the 111 degree desert heat was NOT pretty!! Here are a couple of pics I took during one of our walks...



Here is a pic of my beautiful Mom at her birthday dinner at the Wynn (with my son Dylan.)

After Las Vegas, we took a 5 hour drive to the Grand Canyon.... and yup, it was just one of those day trips! We were up and out by 5:30am and back to Las Vegas by 9pm. CRAZY right?! But the trip was so worth it. I haven't seen the Grand Canyon since I was 10 years old and my kids just HAD to experience it... they had a good time... here are some more pics!

I'm such a poser... haha!

I love my boys!

My Mom and me...

Logan LOVES to hike... he had a great time!

GO Logan!

My 3 little men...

After a few more days in Las Vegas... we drove 5 hours west to San Diego to visit Sea World... the Sea Turtles ("honu" in Hawaiian) were my favorite... Logan's, too!


Great shot my husband took from inside the aquarium... doesn't it look like he's comin' at ya?! LOL!

Then off to Disneyland and California Adventure we went for a 3-day extraveganza! Here are some pics of the new Cars Land at California Adventure --- SO FUN!!!! The new Cars ride is a must ride!! :-) We all had a BLAST!

I felt like we were back at the Grand Canyon! LOL! But this is Radiator Springs...

At the Cars Land entrance...

This is what the vehicles look like on the Cars ride... but they come in an assortment of colors... we rode a green one and a red one...

One of the views while on the Cars ride...

A pic inside the ride... thats "Red" the fire engine!

And... you can't go to Disneyland with out riding the Pirates of the Caribbean, my ALL TIME favorite... The boys love it too, even Logan! I just love how they incorporated Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) in some of the scenes on the ride...





I still get goosebumps when I read this... ha! A true Disney fan at heart. ❤
This sign is posted on the bridge at the Disneyland entrance...

 In front of the Disneyland Railroad station on Main Street...


Last but not least... we HAD to visit Universal Studios to check out the new Transformers 3D ride... and OMG people, it is the BEST experience ever! And I say experience, not ride, because really... you feel like you are THERE... in it! It's a trip!!! SAVE the all spark! LOL!




With Bumble Bee... YES, there IS a person in there!!

My little guy...


Well... I could stick around and share more with you... but I did take over 500 pictures during this entire trip... way too much to share and even more to scrap! LOL!

Prior to leaving on my vacation I was hard at work creating CHA projects for both Graphic 45 and La La Land Crafts. I'm super excited to share the projects with you, so I hope you come back to visit soon!

Enjoy the week ahead and happy crafting! ❤



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