Monday, February 20, 2017

Reviving a Scrapbook Challenge



Good Morning!!! I have to recap what a GLORIOUS weekend and the WEATHER!!! It's been positively Balmy really. 10C here and many of us hearty Canadians are ready to cast our down coats aside for fleecy Hoodies!!!!!

I just came back from a little walk with Syd and Mom and have to say I'm glad I wore my winter coast as it was just a touch chilly in the Breeze. Even so, just having the warm sun on one's face can do wonders with regard to lifting a wintery mood.

 A few years ago, I hosted the Inspiration Challenge on Splitcoaststampsers Things got a little complicated in my life and sadly, I took a step back from many of the things I loved, including hosting the Scrapbook Challenge.

In the last two years, once again, my life has become manageable, having purged unhealthy relationships, commitments and alliances. I have once again found time for me and for doing the things that I love the most......relaxing walks (although my distance is limited) spending time with my friends and family and my creative expression.

So as you see above, this is the first layout i've created in quite some time. I have a funny story to share about the Scrapbooking Papers. Last year I was at a crop and I purchased this packet from a lady who had a pop up shop there. We are so limited with regard to accessing Scrapbooking Supplies here in Kingston as we don't have a brick and mortar store here. Anyway, I purchased this Summer Paper Collection by Fabscraps. I am a sucker for anything Beachy or Nautical. The Kit held an assortment of delicious papers ( some of which you're peepers are gazing upon now) as well as a few Chipboard pieces and some stickers.

In the layout above, I coloured the "AHOY" Chipboard piece with my Copic Markers so I could shade them. The Beautiful large lighthouse was on the patterned paper already and the colour combination perfect for this photo that we took of Jonathon on a visit to Confederation basin to board several tall ships. Was that really sixteen years ago?

I spoonged the edges of the patterned papers with Tim Holtz Vintage Photo; my favourite ink for distressing!

The stickers in the package were fairly sheer, so I adhered the red one on top of a White button to make the sentiment (summer) easier to read. It is a fairly uncomplicated layout, but I prefer my pages to be relatively clean.





I treated the chipboard a little differently when creating this card. First I coloured it with a Black Sharpie. Once it was dry, I rubbed here and there with some metallic rubs. This gave the anchor a distressed look. I also added a touch of hemp to reinforce the nautical theme and mounted the stickers on Chipboard to give it a little dimension.

I would gladly list the papers, but sadly this line is a few years old and has been discontinued for awhile. However they have some AMAZING Scrapbook Lines and you can find them HERE

I will be sharing more creations with this fun line however because I surely won't waste a lick of this super sweet designer paper.

P.S. you can find the SB Inspiration challenge HERE

XX's and Oh's

--Vicki~~

Sunday, February 19, 2017

Bee is for Birthday



The weekend is quickly coming to an end. WOW! We had an amazing weekend weather wise. With the temperature creeping up to 10c  it felt like Spring. Yesterday was a super day for a Road Trip. My Girlfriend Laura and I took a drive down to Belleville to meet Kim, who was down from London at her Brothers! Of course Ecstasy Crafts is along the way and we couldn't resist a little side trip there. I bought the cutest stamp and die set and will share with you in the near future.

As you know, I really enjoy playing the Splitcoaststamper Challenges. I find they motivate me to create, share and spend time on the website looking at all the great creations.

Sunday is Featured Stamper challenge. One of the stampers Gallery is featured and it is our challenge to Case the card, but make some changes. This week Beverly Sue Wilson's Gallery was featured

You can see her card HERE

In my sample, I kept the flowers Monocrhromatic

I just recently purchased the ZIG Clean Brush markers and I LOVE watercolouring with them. The colours are so rich. I only used One shade of coral, green and yesllow. Impressive!

I Love the Happy Stamp set and Matching Die from Impression Obsession The Set allows you to stamp a Shadow and Layer the die cut over to give it a 3D effect! LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!!!

The flowers were stamped in Stayzon and can be found in the Maya Clear Set

Lastly, I stamped the chalk bee using my Mini  Misti. That allowed me to used markers to stamp the various sections.

I finished up the card and added a little Vicki G Pizzazle with some gorgeous Cosmic Shimmer Diamond frost glitter! This is some of the most gorgeous glitter I've ever used!!!

This cheery card is going to a most cheerful lady. I sure hope she enjoys it

XX's and Oh's
--Vicki~~

Friday, February 17, 2017

Festive Friday


Good Morning! It's hard to believe that we're 7 weeks into 2017 already. My gosh, the time sure does fly doesn't it? I find even now that i'm home the days seems over before it has even began. A trip to the pool or the grocery store and a short walk or two with Sydney and a little stamping of course and it's bed time again!

I have a "stampless" card for you this week as i've used all dies for my festive creation. I was inspired to make this card by the Ways to Use it challenge on Splitcoaststampers in which we were to create a shaped card. This Mitten from Impression Obsession is the perfect size for a sweet Christmas Card

Although I didn't use it, the die set comes with a nice snowflake and ribbon accent
I added some dimension to the mitten by running it through my big shot with the SU! Cable Knit Sweater Embossing folder.

To embellish the mitten, I cut the holly and berries form the Patchwork Holly Die set

Lastly, I added just the "Merry" portion of the Merry Christmas Die by carefully cutting the sentiment apart. I did it in Gold Glitter paper so as to add a little festive bling!!!! I'll save the "Christmas" word for another card perhaps!!!

That's it for today! I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

XX's and Oh's
--Vicki~~

Thursday, February 16, 2017

Impression Obsession Thursday Designer Challenge-Somebunny Loves you



Good Morning!!!

Valentines Day is over and So we're onto the next major Holiday-Easter

This week's challenge is to create an Easter Card, A Love card with Bunnies and Easter Card made with love! The possibilities are endless

Be sure to link your card up on the IO Blog to get a chance to win a $25.00 Gift Certificate to the IO store.

For my card I used this sweet image called Bunny with Eggs
First I coloured the image with my copic  markers. I made a fun base under the eggs by using the tip of the marker to make a dotted pattern in different colours. I then cut the image out and layered it onto a pinky purply glitter background, layered onto a silver background.

I mounted the image on foam dots to give it some additional dimension.

Lastly, I stamped the sentiment from the Easter Basket clear set!


Be sure to visit the designer blogs for some Bunny Love

XX's and Oh's

--Vicki~~

Monday, February 13, 2017

Just a quickie (or two~)






Good Monday Morning!

I was up early and decided to play the Splitcoaststamper Monday Challenge
You should check it out! Impression Obsessions own Kelli is hosting the challenge today
If you add Pink into your card, it will also qualify for our Think Pink Challenge over on the Impresison Obsession Blog

For this quick card, I used the following stamps:


I LOVE the quote by Coco Chanel. There is truly not a more beautiful feeling than being comfortable in your own skin. Making no excuses for beliefs or behaviour and appreciating the uniqueness in each and every one of us. Sometimes that isn't always easy to achieve, but I feel that when i'm striving toward that, I am more appreciative of the beauty that surrounds me both in my relationships and environment. Remaining mindful to be in the moment makes it a little easier.



 

This card was exactly in compliance with the challenge, which was to make a card that showcases as sentiment. No extra stuff here, save for the glittery orb that dots the "i". 


Sunshine and matching Sunshine Die

and on that note, I wish you Sunshine and Happiness, today and always

XX's and Oh's

--Vicki~~

Sunday, February 12, 2017

Happy Birthday Momma!






Happy 77th Birthday to my Beautiful Mother. I feel so very blessed for your love. I feel proud to call you my best friend. Here's to many more Happy Birthdays! 

XX's and Oh's

--Vicki~~

All supplies by Prima Marketing with the exception of the ❤ die, which is from Stampin' Up!

Friday, February 10, 2017

Festive Friday


Good Morning! 
I'm still working away at my Christmas Cards. 
Again, my focus is to create cards that I can send for standard postage. I don't want to give Canada Post one more cent than I need to. Don't get me started on the Canadian Postal system! Ah well, there could be worse things we as Canadians could have to endure! 

This card was fun to make. Rather than give you instructions, I'm going to do a video; erm, what I mean is I'm going to TRY to do a Video! I've been a little shy about trying this before, but I readily need to keep up with technology. Soooo stay tuned! I'll try not to keep you waiting  long! 

Supply List: 

Whisper white, Real Red Cardstock
White Embossing Powder
Inks: White Craft Ink
Lost Lagoon
Soft Sky
Not Quite Navy
Zig Clean Color Pen
Dollar Store Gems

Stamps:


Be back soon with a little more Eye Candy! 

XX's and Ohs
--Vicki~~


Tuesday, February 7, 2017

Painting in Progress



Hope you all had a good weekend!
Since i've been off since November, Ive been trying to maintain somewhat of a routine or structure to fill my days. Besides swimming and practing yoga and mindfulness I have been resting and relaxing! I signed up for two online courses to whet my creative appetite and hopefully grow in my art.

One of the course happens to be Inspiration Wednesday with Donna Downey

I find it to be low pressure as the projects are posted Bi weekly for the entire year. This means that I should have little difficulty maintaining the pace, even when I do get back to work.

Tell me, how to you fit your "creative time "into your busy schedule?

Our assignment for IW17 week three was to paint still life fruit. I followed the lead of Donna, choosing to paint Lemons....I was quite pleased with the way that they turned out and happy that they allowed me to create through a bout of insomnia last night. I haven't done much freestyle painting and can't WAIT to continue to experiment with Acrylic paint!!!





Do you paint? If so, I would love you to add a link to one of your favourite creations in the comments section. I really enjoy other's art almost as much as creating my own.

XX's and Oh's

--Vicki~~

Friday, February 3, 2017

Festive Friday 5



Hello!

Are you all geared up for the weekend? I went out and got a few veggies as I'm doing a cleanse. I've been doing a lot of reading on Lyme disease and am trying some of the things that i'm reading to see if it will speed up my recovery or at least allow me to manage the symptoms. Goodbye Chocolate!!!

I have a super easy card for you today using the Word Tree stamp
What makes it quick and easy is my Mini Misti
I simply lined up my stamp where I wanted it and stamped each segment separately going direct to stamp with my Stamp n Write Markers

I think it's quite pretty, albeit plain!

I'm on track and hope to have 5o cards for mailing out in December

XX's and Oh's--Vicki

Thursday, February 2, 2017

Impression Obsession Designer Challenge-Think Pink


Good Morning!

Hope you're having a WONDERFUL week!!!!! 

It hasn't been long since you've been here last, if you were participating in the blog hop!

Today's challenge is called "Think Pink". My interpretation was to use a lot of pink in my card creation (although I added some others for interest)

I watercoloured this adorable Jays Flowers Using Stampin' Write Markers and an Aquapainter.
I have to apologize that it's a touch "wrinkly". It buckled a bit when I made a wash of the background. Not having done TOO much watercolouring, I will definitely tape my next watercolour project down while I'm doing it.

Anyway, once I fiddled with that, I mounted it on a Blushing Bride Background

I used the Confetti Dot Cover a Card. Isn't it FABULOUS???

Make sure you enter your creation for a chance to win a gift certificate

You can get all the rules on the IO Blog


also, be sure to check out the DT Creations!


XX's and Oh's

--Vicki~~