My Weekend With Tim Holtz

I am so very excited! I turn 50 on the 26th of May and Mike just bought me an early birthday present! I am going to Shawnee, KS to spend a weekend with Tim Holtz.....lucky me!!!! LOL

Tim will be visiting Stampers Ink (click on name to visit store) for a book signing and several classes, here is my tentative agenda...

Friday 6/17... 6pm-8pm book signing/reception

Saturday 6/18....9am-1pm Creative Blocks-multi layered canvas project showcasing techniques with inks, paints, mediums & beeswax.

Sunday 6/19....10am-1pm Idea-Ology Intrigue-creating several pieces of wearable art with Idea-Ology products.

Sunday 6/19 4pm-8:30pm-Configurations Of Your Imagination-create a one of a kind configuration of your imagination with techniques in inks, paints, collaging, and layering.

I am super stoked about this....thanx for letting me share it with all of you! Can't wait to see what wonderful things I can learn from such a gifted person....YAY TIM!

getting older isn't all bad

cya,

~~~Sandy~~~

Wired Ribbon Flower AKA Tutu Cute Bloom

Hello again my fair ladies....just wanted to share a quick and easy flower tut....was playing around with some craft ribbon I bought for Easter and happened on to this fun little flower...

what you will need...

circle punch, I used a 1" (or cut with cricut)
scissors
card stock
hot glue
wired craft ribbon 2 1/2" in width
assorted buttons

I found tons of this craft ribbon in lots of spring colors at the local all for a dollar store...

Cut two pieces of ribbon 1 @ 20 inches and 1 @ 10 inches...

I found it helpful to pull a bit of wire from each end and fold it over, this way I didn't 'lose' it in the ribbon.

Start gathering the ribbon into a circle...

Once you have it as tight as it will go tie off the wire...

Do this to both sides, trim the wire...this is what you will end up with...

Now...repeat this on the other piece of ribbon...

Grab your card stock circle...

Add some hot glue to the edge of the circle and attach the larger ribbon ring...

Glue the smaller ribbon ring into the center....add the button...and viola...it's that simple....

Gotta be one of the simplest flowers I've ever made....wouldn't they look super cute on a headband for a wee princess???

You know me though....these will be turning up on one of my layouts real soon...LOL! I think they look like a little mini tutu....hence the name....

Hope you enjoyed this quick little tutorial....take care until I see you again!

Blessings,

Sandy

E2 Contest Entries....

Hey there! Along with many other faithful cricuteers I recently submitted birthday themed layouts for the wonderful opportunity to win a new E2....I would like to send a big shout out to all those lucky, talented winners...CONGRATS to each of you...what beautiful entries each of you had!

I would like to share the pages that I submitted...it was a wonderful experience to be a part of the contest....it was the first time I ever entered one and it really was a great challenge....so, thanx Provo Craft for the wonderful opportunity!

This layout is made with K&Co papers and Bazzill card stock. Photo mats are cut with A Child's Year, banner, cake, happy, and celebrate were all cut from Straight From the Nest.

The flowers were all made with Mother's Day Bouquet....as were the leaves....I used a leaf cut to create the calla lilies as well....some details added with pens and chalk. I also added lots of stickles to everything...lol...and chalked the leaves....My butterflies were cut from Hannah Montana....once again using chalks and pens to add details...several creative crafters have done this and I just loved the look so had to give it a go...luv the outcome!

The clock...it's about time....is from Graphically Speaking....added lots of adhesive pearl accents throughout the layout... I used my diztress it all to distress the edges of the papers...luv this thing!

This layout is Glitz and Bazzil....some cuttlebug embossing and offray ribbon accent the cuts. The Stamping cart is used for the mats, circle and all the words...

cake and candles are from Stretch Your Imagination the lips from Indie Art.

The gift is also a cut from Stretch Your Imagination....little dots accent several of the cuts.

This fun layout uses DCWV, Bazzill and Recollection papers. Pooh and Piglet as well as the honey pots, honey and font are all from Pooh Font. Offray ribbon accents the gifts and the photo mats.

The gifts, balloons, xo, cake and mats are all cut from A Child's Year.

Several cuts are accented with pens and stickles....isn't pooh just toooo stinkin cute!!

Okay ladies...that wraps up these birthday layouts....congrats again to all the winners....until next time...cya

Sandy

~~~Faux Metal Layout~~~"These Two" & Stylish Blogger!!

Hola blogging buds!! I am so excited to post this really dramatic yet simple layout using a faux metal technique! I was inspired to do this page by a layout I saw on face book, you can see it here . Since this was a post of a class project I did not have any real instructions. Well, you know me, last night I had to dig in and give it a go!!! I think I will post a small tutorial on the process in the next few weeks...let me know if you are interested...I am sure there are lots of tuts on similar techniques, but I would be glad to share my trial and error experience! The pieces are simply card stock covered in foil, embossed and then some painting techniques applied....HOW FUN IS THIS!!! So, this is a photo of my sweet son and our pup. I have used several cricut carts and some cuttlebug embossing folders to create this project. The Fleur de lis is cut from Stamping, the findings are cut from Ornamental Iron. I've used lots of little hinges, metal pic hangers and brads.

The font is from Wall Decor and More, each letter is embossed with a different cuttlebug folder.

I've added some eye hooks to the sunburst cut from Ornamental Iron, some buttons and a "forever friends" brad from my stash. The frame for the picture was created by cutting some card stock @ 1x4 1/2 and 1 x 6 1/2 and then mitering the corners. (this was done BEFORE I glued the foil to the card stock)

The clock and compass are both from Wall Decor and More. There is a button in the center of the clock. I've used some nails as clock hands and added a little metal finding over the top of them and another brad in the center of the compass. I cannot wait to do this again...I already have a picture and title in mind!! This technique is just so perfect for a masculine layout!! Yay! I hope you liked it as much as I enjoyed making it.

Sending a special thanx and big hug out to Brenda from Una Crafting

for this luvly award. Please stop by and see Brenda, she has some awesome layouts and cards to share. Her crafty projects are a wonderful inspiration!!

The rules are to list seven random things about yourself and then pass to seven blogs you have recently discovered. I have been unable to do a lot of blog hopping lately and love each and everyone of you dearly. I get so much inspiration from all of you! I have been blessed with several new followers recently. I would like to pass this award to each and everyone of my followers so that I can share the love...if you would like this award and follow my blog please accept it and pass it to those who inspire you!!!

Thanx again Brenda and each and everyone of you!

My seven random things...

I love God.

I adore my children.

My family is very important to me.

I look forward to time to create ( i don't have enough, LOL).

Every child I encounter blesses me and touches me in some way.

I am grateful for all of life's lessons (even the hard ones).

I am looking forward to summer break.

Thanx for stopping by....have a great week!!

~~~~Sandy~~~

It's Life's Little Moments I Love

True to my heart I love the everyday details of life, this is a photo of my 3 oldest boys back in 93 when we lived in Salem, NH. I love the simplicity of them just enjoying the moment. I also love that I can take an old snapshot and play with it in photo impact to add my personal touch to it.
I've used several brands of paper here, K&Co, Glitz, DCWV and some plain card stock. I think the chipboard pieces are from Basic Grey...not sure.

The ticket is cut from Wall Decor and More. My filigree cuts and banner are from Straight From the Nest, I've added some metal findings that I picked up from a jewelry clearance bin @ M's as well as some natural string. It's is cut from CindyLoo, I cannot remember which cart I cut little from...so sorry...if I figure it out I'll add it...I guess that means I have to many carts...lol.

I've tucked pix of the boys faces into some of the flowers...the yellow flowers are from Mother's Day Bouquet and of course the black flower is from my tutorial for SOUS this week...if you missed that pop on over and check it out!

The alpha's for Life are one of Colorbok's sticky alpha stax.

I used my Martha Stewart punch for the edge of the light card stock. Plantin Schoolbook for the hearts and once again my Mother's Day Bouquet for the leaves. After I cut the leaves I used a marker to edge the leaves and add the veins and then added some Ranger Meadow alcohol ink. The tiny alpha stickers are Memory Makers.

Another one of my fleur de plume flowers, the inside of this one is another Mother's Day Bouquet flower, water distressed. The flower centers are beads held in place with glossy accents. There is a glimpse of some more of the Straight From the Nest filigrees.

I've also added glossy accents on the title fonts.

My boysss...what a blessing...miss these days...Here you can see the Offray ribbon I've meandered along the bottom of the photos. (kinda like me meandering down memory lane today)

Hope you are having a happy day!

hugs,

Sandy

fleur de plumes Flower Tutorial

Hey there!! Happy Friday to all! Once again I've been invited to be a Guest Designer at Stuck On U Sketches.

This week I've created a tutorial for all you flower lovers....pop on over and give it a go...and then pop back and let me know how you liked it!

Hope to have a layout up later today using these flowers!

Until then...

hasta luego,

Sandy

Spread Your Wings~~~SOUS Guest Designer~~~

Hola mi amigas!! I hope this finds you as happy and blessed as I am! I am so very honored to be Guest Designer for my fav challenge blog, Stuck On U Sketches, aka SOUS. As many of you already know I used to be a part of this talented group of ladies and it is so fun to be sharing the limelight with them this week. Sandi sent me this super funtastic, sandylicious sketch by Suepup....isn't it just delicious?

I luv, luv, luv the sketch so much that I did not stray far from the original design. I used some yummy K&Co papers (big surprise, LOL). I adored the look of the paint wash over the page so I added that to my layout as well.

The photos are of my sweet little DGN, Madalyn. I changed the pic to b/w, overexposed it to get the subtle look and then added some color back in on her eyes, cheeks, mouth, the wings and a few of the rose petals.

I used PhotoImpact for all of the enhancements.

Spread and Wings are both cut from Songbird and the circle is cut by making a centerpoint circle cut in two sizes, the second 1/4 inch smaller than the first, using Plantin Schoolbook...this is a great way to get the circle accents in the narrow sizes. I've added some pearl adhesives to the circle, butterflies and title. The journal tag is from K&Co and originally read, 'what did you want to be when you grew up?' I used computer generated words to alter it to read, 'what do you want to be when you grow up?'

The bird is from Indie Art and is layered over a peacock feather. The 'wrought iron' cuts are all from Ornamental Iron.

Oh you just have to love the Mother's Day Bouquet cart....so many flowers, so little time...LOL. The frosted lace stickles are just so funderful to use on florals...love the look they give. These leaves are from a cuttlebug die.

Some more yummy MDB flowers anchor the corner of the photo. My tag cut is from Plantin Schoolbook. The bingo card has been miniaturized and layered onto the tag, I then added a frame of adhesive pearls.

Here you can see the funderful butterflies from Sentimentals...I've added some adhesive pearls and made antennae from craft wire. I've added a pin to pierce the 'y' alpa bead in the word your.

Once again I want to thank the SOUS team for the wonderful invitation to join in on this super delicious sketch....give it a go and link it to the SOUS site to share your insipration!!!

Thanx so much for looking, have a great day!

Much Love, Sandy