LIfe in Details Challenge Blog-September

Hello there!
This month's challenge includes a lovely color combo.

While I like working with color combos I will admit this one was definitely a challenge.  In the end I decided to use a few colors on two different spreads.  

On this spread I used Burgundy and Gold with just a touch of Aquarium (the label on the bottom right)  

The beautiful wood veneer 'hello' is from the new Project Life by Heidi Swapp. I admit I bought both core kits and all 4 mini kits.   I added gold stickles to the veneer, but you can hardly notice in the picture (but I promise it looks fabulous in real life). The cards are from the Becky Higgins core kit Turquoise.  That kit was my first kit ever!  

The bottom left photo is a flip pocket I got in a prize pack over 10 years ago...Exactly why I rarely purge my supplies. Ha. Many companies are coming out with more of these flip ups.  I like using them and even created my own version with left over plastic from trimming page protectors.  

For the second spread I used the Aquarium and Lei Flower colors.  These pictures were perfect for the color combo.  I love it when that happens.  

I kept the journaling to a minimum for this spread because I plan on creating a mini album for the entire vacation with more details.

Instead of a core kit I used a collection from Basic Grey named Carte Postale as well as bits and pieces from The Pier collection from Crate Paper.  The card second from the top was created using a variety of stamps from the Citrus Twist Pocket Life kits.  I was a subber for a while.  

Head over to the Life in Details Challenge Blog and play along with our challenge.  If your creation is chosen you will be our guest designer next month!

Thanks for stopping by.  

Marisol

Design Team Call-Life in Details Challenge Blog

Have you heard?  The Life in Details Challenge Blog  is having a design team call. We are looking for Pocket Pages, Layouts and Smash pages based on this sketch.

Details can be found here.

Hurry the deadline is August 28th.

Thanks for stopping by!
Marisol

Watercoloring with distress markers

Hello there!
Watercoloring is so popular in the card making world right now. There are so many products and techniques one can use to create the watercolor look.  Today I used one of my favorite background stamps and distress markers to create a watercolor card.

I heat embossed the image and then added a clear water wash to the watercolor paper before adding the color with a brush.  I scribbled the marker on my craft mat and picked it up with a brush before adding it to the card base.  The water does all the work for you and the embossing 'traps' the color creating pools of different shades.

I'm entering this card into the Mama Elephant and ME August Challenge. The challenge is watercolors and birthdays. The sentiment is from the Mama Elephant Make a Wish stamp set.

I'm also entering this card into the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge. The challenge is to create a project that reminds me of summer.  To me the color blue and flowers does nothing but remind me of summer.

Thanks for stopping by!

Marisol

Some bunny is on the way

Hello there!
I have another card to share with you.  The card is for a couple who is expecting a baby.

A couple of months ago I challenged myself to go out of my comfort zone and create 'cute' cards. I have been enjoying the cute images found in stamp sets from Lawn Fawn and  Mama Elephant.  I used to shy away from them because I didn't know how to color them without making the image look flat and because I thought the 'cute' cards were only for kids.  Well now I can color with some basic shading and realized that many adults like 'cute'. Ha.  

No cool techniques here but I did double up on the grass to give it more dimension, used glitter paper for the yellow flowers and added white enamel to the bunnies tails to give it a shiny look.

Products:

Lawn Fawn: Hello Baby stamps

Avery Elle: Ink and heart paper

Mama Elephant: Index card frames 

Cloud Paper: Super old from my stash and I have no idea who makes it. 

My Favorite Things: Grass die cut 

I'm entering this card in the Simon Says Stamp Work It Wednesday Challenge

Thanks for stopping by!

Shake it baby!

Hello!
Shaker cards are all the rage right now in the crafting world!
Believe it or not I don't own a lot of sequins and have never made a shaker card.

I used 2 different techniques to create the shaker cards.  

 The one on the left uses foam squares to create the 'pocket' for the sequins. The card on the right uses a different technique that is a bit difficult to explain. Instead of foam I used several layers of cardstock to create the pocket for the sequins.  I learned this technique from Lucy Abrams (she has a picture tutorial to follow).

While a little more challenging I prefer the second technique because it gives you a polished look when viewing the card from an angle.

My dad REALLY liked his card. 

I'm playing along with Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge

Sentiment: Stampendous and Lawn Fawn

Ballon Die Cut: Simon Says Stamp

Sequin: Unknown

Pattern Paper: DCWV (super old paper stack)

A 10 minute card

I was cleaning up and found the scalloped vellum piece, the blue background and the balloon die cut on my desk and decided to make a card.  The card literally took me 10 minutes to complete.  

I used the gold embossing powder for the first time and I think I over heated it because it started to bubble.  The balloon die is from Simon Says Stamp, the sentiment from WPlus9 and the scalloped frame from Mama Elephant.

I'm entering this card in the Addicted to CAS Code word GOLDchallenge.  I recently discovered this blog and have a feeling I'll be a frequent visitor.
Thanks for stopping by.
Marisol

Another Mama Elephant card

Another Mama Elephant cutie!  The In My Heart stamp by ME is just so adorable. I used a variety of stamp sets. The bows on her ponytails are from the stamp set Honey Bunny.  The die cut clouds are from the Lawn Fawn Hello Baby set.  The papers are from Avery Elle. I used copics to color the little girl.  

Thanks for stopping by.

Marisol

Hang in there-He'll be home soon- A Mama Elephant and ME Card Challenge

 I have a card to share today.  It uses Mama Elephant products and I'm entering it in the Mama Elephant and ME challenge. Inspired by the image below I created a card for my darling sister-in-law.  You see her son left to space camp for a week and she is missing him terribly.  

The inspiration photo

I liked the colors in the inspiration photo and used them on the balloons and the little boys clothes, as well as the grass and sky. I used Copics to color the images. That cloud paper has to be over 10 years old.  Yup you are right I NEVER purge!  I found a pack of 30lb weight vellum paper at Walmart and used it for the scalloped background.

The sentiment stamp actually says 'The best is yet to come hang in there' but I only stamped the 'hang in there' part. I used an alpha stamp from Lawn Fawn to create the inside sentiment (not photographed). It says 'He'll be home soon'. 

This card is heavily inspired by the awesome Nichol Magouirk. She is on the design team for Mama Elephant and creates the most adorable cards.  

Thanks for stopping by.

I'll be back soon with a Project Life share.

Marisol

Life in Details July Challenge

Project Life Share 2013

Hello there!
Yes I now it has been a long time since I have updated my blog.  I have been very busy with my 50 card challenge (more details on that in another post).
Today I welcome you to another Life in Details Challenge.  This months challenge is to use a 4x6 picture across 2 pockets.

Project Life 2013 Week 28

This page is the left side of Week 28 and docuements our road trip back home from Florida. Truthfully, I don't remember what state that bridge is in.  HA.  So much for documenting the details.  

I used Crate Paper's The Pier Collection as well as Basic Grey's Carte Postale to document the entire trip. Please don't laugh at me and my goofy face...I was delirious at that point of the trip!

My original idea was to use a few pictures of the trip in the Family Project Life Album and then create a handbook for the entire trip.  BUT I ended up documenting the entire trip in the PL album and didn't add any memorabilia.  I'm glad I changed my plan because otherwise the pictures would still be sitting in my computer.  

Please join us for this month's challenge!  I think you'll like what the rest of the design team has shared this month.  

I'm also linked up at The Mom Creative.

Thanks or stopping by!

Marisol

50 Card Challenge Update and a new challenge.

I reached my goal!

I did it! I met the challenge!  In fact I created 61 cards!  I am excited, proud and in disbelief. A few times after setting up the challenge I questioned if I would ever reach it.

Lawn Fawn Love You S'more

This card is a complete copy of the one on the Lawn Fawn Blog.

Unfortunately many of the cards were NOT photographed before sending them off.  As a result, I did not join many of the card challenges that I thought would motivate me to create.  I guess my motivation was internal! I'm off work for the summer and hope to continue making cards and catch up on PL.  

Lawn Fawn Love You S'more

Mama Elephant Make a Wish

Lawn Fawn Birthday Tags

I decided to stamp on the inside of the card and am happy with the result!

As my reward I purchased some new stamp sets!  As I was working on the challenge I noticed that I was enjoying my card making style and at the same time wanted to step out of my comfort zone. I decided that I would buy more 'CUTE' stamp sets.  Most of my stamps are florals and classic.  I did not have 'cute' stamps.

I purchased several sets from Lawn Fawn and Mama Elephant.  Purchasing these stamp sets also made my 5 year old daughter (who works right along with me) very happy!

I am setting another challenge for myself again but in a different way.  During the challenge I did not take pictures of all my cards and didn't get the opportunity to enter many challenges.  My new challenge will include both those tasks. A card will not count towards the challenge until it has been photographed, blogged and entered in a challenge (if applicable).  I am setting my goal at 20 cards. I believe this to be a realistic goal because I AM OFF FROM WORK FOR THE SUMMER!

My hope is that the challenge will help me establish a blogging routine.

So who will join  me? Have you set a goal (card or scrapping) for yourself? I would love to follow you during your challenge.
Thanks for stopping by!
Marisol

Avery Elle Circle It Card Set

Hello!
Today I'm sharing a card set I created using the Avery Elle Circle It  Stamp set.  The stamp set is so easy to use.  I simply used the set as it was intended and I was happy with the results.  I used various Hero Arts Shadow Ink cubes. Unfortunately, the paper absorbed the ink and showed right through the card stock on the inside of the card.  Next time I'll use pigment ink because it doesn't get absorbed by the paper.  

I really like the script font that is included in the set.  

With this card I used the large and small circle stamp randomly around the sentiment.  You can't tell in the photo but I colored in the circles with the Wink of Stella Glitter Pen.  

These cards count towards my 50 card challenge!  I'm surprised with how many cards I have created.  

I'm entering these cards in the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge

Thanks for stopping by!

Marisol

The 50 Card Challenge

As some of you know I returned to card making with full force. I took an online card class with the lovely Jennifer McGuire and that is all it took to fall in love with card making again! And I'm sure you can imagine what came with that...Yes you guessed it...Enabling and Crafty Hauls.  Oh boy I was enabled!  I have made MANY purchases since March.  In fact I''m still waiting for an order from Simon Says Stamp and Amazon!

In response to my spending I decided to join a few card makers from the Two Peas in a Bucket General Stamping Board in a 50 Card Challenge.  The challenge is to create 50 cards or paper projects before purchasing another crafty item.  I took the challenge further!  Only cards/projects made from new supplies will count towards the 50.  

As of today I have created 19 cards towards my goal! Yay for me!  

How in the world will she do it?!

1. I have joined several Flickr groups and Challenge blogs to help inspire me throughout this challenge.
2.  I have bookmarked the blogs of the manufacturers that created the stamp sets I have purchased. Such as Avery Elle, Wplus9, Simon Says Stamp, Lawn Fawn,  Hero Arts, and Mama Elephant.
3. I will use the lessons from the most recent online class as well as the content from past classes.  
4. I will accept that not every card will be a masterpiece!
5. I will accept that it is OK to scraplift (with appropriate acknowledgement of course)!

Does anyone want to join me?  

How will you meet this challenge?  

Know of any good challenge blogs?

Thanks for stopping by!

Marisol

Hola Hola Hola-Hero Arts Sketch Challenge -Sketch #2

Hello!
I have been using my newly purchased goodies to create cards. I have decided to not make any new purchases until I make 50 paper projects! A great way to use my stash is to join challenges.I also joined the Flickr groups for Hero Arts, Avery Elle, Lawn Fawn and Wplus9.  Inspiration will now only be a few clicks away.

The Hero Arts Blog is hosting a sketch challenge.  I worked with Sketch #2.
Today's card has a paper background which is not what I usually use for backgrounds.  The flower was created using the Flower and Butterfly stamp set and coordinating dies.  I created the tag using woodgrain paper ( I really like the texture it adds).  The banner is from Avery Elle and the sentiment is from Stampendous.  I colored in the leaves and the stems with Spectrum Noir Alcohol Markers.

I am also submitting this card over at A Blog Named Hero for the Layers challenge.
Thanks for stopping by.
Marisol

Build a background challenge

The challenge was to build your own background and that is what I did.

This week's challenge over at A Blog Named Hero is to build your own background.  I used the Happy Birthday sentiment and the cupcake from the Cupcakes stamp set by Hero Arts.  I used white pigment ink and heat embossed the background. I colored the cupcake using Chromatix (alcohol markers by American Crafts). The markers are not that great but I'm not ready to make the investment with Copics. I think I may go back and add a candle to the cupcake.
I'm entering this card to the following challenges:
A Blog Named Hero: Build a Background
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge
The challenge at SSS was to create a birthday card. Birthday cards are my favorite to make.

I'm expecting an order from Simon's and another from Joann's!  I'll share pictures of my happy mail when it arrives.
Thanks for stopping by!

Marisol

Hello Hello Hello

An update and a card share.

I'm hoping to share a lot more on the blog soon.  I purchased a new computer and now won't need to share with family members. Yipee!  

As far as Project Life 2014 goes I am taking a very relaxed approach to it.  I no longer pressure myself to take pictures just to fill the pockets.  I am a few weeks behind and DO NOT FEEL STRESSED about it.  Now if I can just figure out how to use my Canon Selphie with my new computer!  I want to growl at Canon for not providing us with an update!  But that is an issue for another day.

Onto other matters...

Last month I joined the Clean and Simple Cards 3 classroom.  Participating in the class helped to renew my interest in card making.  Unfortunately, I was pressed for time (and supplies) and did not keep up with  my 'homework' .  Since the class ended I have ordered more supplies and have created a few cards here and there.  Today I'm sharing a card that uses a stencil and 'watercolor stamping'. Both these techniques are currently really popular in the card making world.  

I masked the middle portion of the card before stenciling with Broken China Distress Ink. I inked the flower stamp (by Inkadinkado) with Distress Markers and sprayed it with a few mists of water before stamping.  The Hello sentiment is from Everyday Sayings by Hero Arts.

I was pleased with the result and created a few more with different colors.  

I'm entering this card in the Virginia's View Challenge #2: Stencil.  Check out the blog...it is fabulous and inspiring!

Thanks for stopping by!   

Marisol

Project Life 2009

Project Life 2009 Week 16

Life In Details Challenge Blog-The April Edition 

Hello! I'm back with this months Project Life Challenge. Our challenge this month was to use pastel colors.  It was a welcomed challenge because I'm thinking of spring.  
For this challenge I decided to work on the 2009 Easter pictures.  Yes I'm working on my 2014 album too!  And my 2013 album!  Surprisingly, I am not feeling stressed about being 'behind'. But because I'm working on all the albums and taking an online card class I won't share too many details about the products or techniques I used.  I still can't manage to take a good indoor picture of my pages. Oh well. 

I'm submitting this page for this month's PL Life in Details Challenge Blog. Our challenge was to use pastel colors.  Using the Citrus Twist Sept 2013 kit helped me meet this challenge with ease.  

Front of insert

Back of insert

You will notice that my 2009 pictures are very dark. That is because I had a small point and shoot camera that did not take very good indoor pictures. In one crazy moment I thought I would edit and reprint the pictures! I know crazy! I decided to keep them as is, otherwise I would NEVER finish the album.
I do have one regret...I wish I would have journaled better. I feel like I'm missing little details behind each photo.  Moral of the story: JOURNAL your thoughts and feelings!
Thanks for stopping by!

If you have any questions I will gladly answer them.

Clean & Simple Cards 3

One Layer Cards

It has been several years since I took an online class.  For the past few months I have been itching to get back into card making and that itch led me to sign up for an Online Card Class. 

Actually, I was at a friends house and from afar I saw that she had a very pretty card displayed in her kitchen.  I took a closer look and saw it was a card I created!  A card I created in a card gift set I gave to my sister in law years ago.  My sister in law said to me "I love your cards and actually sent them to people".  Then my friend added "You gave her a card gift set? That is a great idea for my birthday" That was more than enough to inspire me to create new cards.  Many of the cards I will create for the class will be given to my dear friend for her birthday.

Lesson 1 Faux Effects

One of the lessons focused on die cut inlay.  I don't have many dies and went old school with an old Cuttlebug foam die.  This technique is time consuming and out of my comfort zone. I usually use lots of inking techniques to create cards.  Overall, I'm fairly satisfied with the end result. 

For my second attempt I created a Project Life 3x4 card.  

I used the Lawn Fawn 3x4 die and the camera stamp is from Studio Calico.  I added some glitter detail with a glitter pen. I will use this as a filler card for my album later this month. 

My third attempt. This is actually just a card front. I messed up the card base and will adhere this to a new card base. 

The other techniques were faux metal and faux letterpress. I haven't tried those YET! I was able to create today because it is a SNOW DAY! YIPEE! 

I highly recommend Online Card Classes!  I ordered a bunch of the featured supplies for the class but haven't received my order yet.  I did this purposely because I wanted to use some of my stash first and determine which techniques I am most likely to use again and which supplies are the most versatile. 

Thanks for stopping by!  

Marisol

 

Sharing some exciting news! And a Project Life Spread

I will be joining the Project Life Creative Team for the  Life in Details Challenge Blog

The blog is for Project Lifers and Smashers!  Every month a challenge is posted and participants can link up their creations in a couple of easy steps.  The winner of the challenge will be asked to be a guest designer for a future challenge.  

The February Project Life challenge is to use Pink and/or Red as primary colors.

Project Life  2009 Week 7

Yes you read it correctly...2009!  I have FINALLY started working on my 2009 album.  The pictures and journaling have been in the album for years.  2009 was my first PL year and I struggled for many reasons to complete the album. 

Project Life 2009 Week 7 

2 page spread

Since I started working on the album a week ago I have completed 3 two page spreads!
I plan on using PL monthly kits to stay current with 2014 and to catch up with 2009.  I have some unused monthly kits and have significantly reduced my subs.  Right now I am only subbing to ONE PL kit club.  I made this decision a while ago and already feel less overwhelmed with new products.
For this spread I used a variety of elements from past Studio Calico, Gossamer Blue and Citrus Twist kits.  The spread is fairly simple.  I added a blank grid card to some of the filler cards to be able to journal on them. I did that with the red chevron and the red card with the hearts.
Even after 4 years ( I skipped 2010 and regret it ALL OF THE TIME) of using the pocket pages style I am still really enjoying this type of scrapping.  The one regret I have about 2009 is that I had a really bad camera and the pictures are very dark.  For about a minute I thought of reprinting them but quickly realized that would be JUST CRAZY!  
How are you coming along with your Project Life album?

Thanks for stopping by.
Marisol

My approach to Project Life 2014

Hello 2014! 

The year of downsizing.

For quite some time now I have been debating on downsizing my Project Life album. Not because I struggled keeping up with the album and not because I didn't have enough photos to fill the pockets (although towards the end of 2013 I found myself thinking "I better take more pictures to fill up this weeks pockets"). Defeats the purpose of the album doesn't it?

I debated switching to a smaller size because the completed albums (yes I have more than 1 album per year) are so HEAVY! My family has great difficulty handling the albums.  I have little kids and they can't manage the albums on their own.  Heck, I can barely manage.  

I have tons of 12x12 pocket protectors in all types of designs.  I don't like being wasteful and because of that I stuck with the 12x12 size for 2013.  Then I realized that those 12x12 page protectors will be used for other projects, like vacation and school albums. 

I also debated downsizing  how much I purchase for the project. It was hard BUT I cancelled most of my monthly kit subscriptions and I *plan* on using JUST my stash after my last sub expires.

I used a Studio Calico 6x8 Handbook for my December Daily and I really liked working with it. 
I finally decided to use a Handbook for Project Life 2014.

This is the album I'll be using.The Studio Calico Snippets Album.

I got a REALLY good deal and purchased three albums. I'm not sure if I'll use all three but I didn't want to take the chance. 

I had fun creating the first few pages of the album.

I used the January Gossamer Blue Life Pockets kit.

I trimmed a pocket page in half for the intro page and used ribbon as a tab.  

Back of the intro page

I am really pleased with the end result.  I did not create anything groundbreaking and did not use any new techniques. But I am very satisfied! 

Next time I'll share some of my ideas on maximizing the real estate in a 6x8 album. 

Are you making any changes to your approach for PL 2014?

Thanks for stopping by!

Marisol