Jun 25, 2011

I ♥ Echo Park

If you are looking for the MyStampBOX blog hop please scroll down to the post right under this one...
---
I know if you've been here before you know how much I ♥ Echo Park.  I have a few new Echo Park projects to share and one quick tutorial too. The Cards blog had a challenge to create an animal shaped card. I decided on a fish card using Echo Park's Splash line. I started by making a fish template by drawing a fish shape free hand on cardstock in about 4x6".

I cut out my template and traced it onto a piece of cardstock folded into about 6x6.

 I overlapped on the top so that the card would fold up and down.

Then I punched half circles from various Splash patterned papers.
You will need a lot of half circles!

 I added a dollop of wet glue to the center of the half circles and started laying them down along the outside of the fish shape. I used wet glue in the center so the sides would curl up a bit and look a bit like scales.

Once I had gone around the fish and filled it in with "scales"


 I let the whole thing dry and then covered the scales with Rock Candy for texture and shine.

 I added a googly eye on top of a button, and some Pearl Paint around the mouth. The sentiment was placed on a rectangle of cardstock which I poked a hook through. The hook was made from a metal tag that I cut and bent. I added a fish from the sticker set of Splash and that is it!
Probably the most labor intensive card I've ever made, but totally worth it :)
I made a much simpler layout with Echo Park's Little Boy line and I wanted to show you that too because the layout is not about my little boy--instead it is about my little girl and her mood swings lol! It just goes to show you that Little Boy is not just for Little Boys:
And last but not least, one more layout that was included in my Elle's Studio gallery this month. Lots of Dots and Stripes (from the Candy Shoppe collection here:
Lots of stitching on this one, a few Maya Road pins and some cute Elle's Studio tags which complimented the Echo Park colors perfectly :)
From simple to labor intensive, I love using Echo Park collections on my cards and layouts.
Have a great night!
♥ Rebecca 

Jun 23, 2011

MyStamp BOX Mystery Box Blog Hop

If you have just happened upon our event today, please begin your journey on the myStamp BOX blog here.
All of our wonderful myStamp BOX designers are joining us today to show off some inspirational BOX creativity! 

Bettina Von Gross (http://mystampbox.com/blog/)
Jill Hildebrand (http://www.fromthefarm-jill.blogspot.com/)
Sue Sykes (http://www.kewl-beans.blogspot.com/)
Jaine Drake (http://www.craftydrake.blogspot.com/)
Janet Zeppa (http://janetsjoy.blogspot.com/)
Birgit Koopsen (http://birgitkoopsen.typepad.com/)
Linda Abadie (http://lindaabadie.com/)
Jolene Johnston (http://jolenejohnston.blogspot.com/)
Agata Pfister (http://underconstruction-agata.blogspot.com/)
Rebecca Keppel (http://www.myclutteredcorner.com/) <============ YOU ARE HERE
Marsha Valk (http://marshavalk.wordpress.com/)
Allison Cope (http://yourmemoriescanada.blogspot.com/)
myStamp BOX Blog (http://mystampbox.com/blog/)

We are giving away an amazing prize package from the myStamp BOX shop for our event this weekend and all you have to do is COMMENT along your journey to WIN

We have given three of our lovely designers a mystery prize box and you could WIN the prize inside just by leaving a COMMENT on EVERY designer’s blog. Our Mystery Box Hop winner will be announced on the myStamp BOX blog on Monday so all comments are due by Sunday June 26th at 11:59pm EST. Good Luck!

And here is what I did with my MYSTERY BOX




I started by covering the box with patterned papers from Echo Park. Then I stamped (*Smile*) from the Sigh Gush Gasp collection and adhered it to the lid with a punched border. I added a butterfly from the Colorful Companions collection.
Next I stamped a border of hearts with a little heart from the Symbols collection.
For both sides I stamped another butterfly from Colorful Companions.
And once you get a peek at what is in my little gift box, you'll understand why I went with so many butterflies lol! One last stamped butterfly is adhered on the inside of the lid:
And here is the little butterfly post it book and pen I bought from the Target dollar spot all wrapped and ready to be given to my daughter.

Now it’s time to HOP along and find out what the next talented designer has created with their MYSTERY BOX. Your next designer is Marsha Valk. Don’t forget to leave a comment below for a chance to WIN one of our MYSTERY BOX giveaways!
♥ Rebecca

Jun 22, 2011

Misting and Inking Chipboard

Usually when you are prepping a piece of chipboard for embossing with the GCD Studios Chip Art tools, you spray and slightly moisten the chipboard. This softens the chipboard enough to allow an impression to be made. For this technique, you are going to use an ink mist to moisten the chipboard. It provides a hint of color, shine and shimmer (depending on the mist you use) and adequately softens the chipboard for embossing. These are the supplies you will need (a piece of chipboard, the GCD Studios Chip Art tools including the mallet, block, and plate, spray mist and chalk ink.
You will start by misting your chipboard piece:
You want full coverage without making it sopping wet (because you dont want the chipboard to fall apart when you start banging on it).
Next, use the Chip Art tools to make impressions in a pattern on your chipboard.
I applied mine randomly and made sure to have several hanging off the edge for a fun look:
Finally, you can ink the edges with a darker chalk ink for definition:
And you are left with a pretty handmade chipboard piece to be attached to layouts or cards.
I added mine to this layout:
Of course, I couldn't resist adding one of those gorgeous Cabochons from the Funhouse collection as the finishing touch! 

Jun 21, 2011

Taking Care of Business

I have some business to update here. First of all, have you seen any of the sneak peaks of the July Scrapbook Circle kit? No? Well let me show you...
Do you spy anything you are interested in playing with? I do...ALL of it lol!

Keep checking the Scrapbook Circle for the release of this awesome kit! 

Ok, next order of business... MyStampBOX is having a Mystery Box blog hop on Thursday June 23.

There will be prizes! So be sure to stop by the MSB blog for lots of altered inspiration (we are all altering a box for the hop) and for the chance to be one of several winners of an MSB stamp set! Winners will be chosen from 3 different DT blogs (the mystery is whose blog will draw a winner) so be sure to stop by all the DT blogs including mine on Thursday!

And finally, because I can't NOT post a layout, here is a GCD Studios layout...
Summertime is hot, hot, hot where I live so we spend an inordinate time inside where it is air conditioned or alternatively in the pool. And yet, my kids are nervous about swimming. So last year when my daughter finally let go of the edge and ventured out into the center of the pool, I knew I had to document it!
I used the Material Girls collection for this layout because the blues really went well with the blue in the photos. And the pops of pink coordinate with her pink swim vest:
So next time you are working on a summer layout don't be afraid to reach into a non summer themed collection of GCD Studios paper--you might find something that perfectly matches your photos!
That's it for now. I'll be back tomorrow with a GCD Studios technique and Thursday with the MSB blog hop!
♥ Rebecca

Jun 16, 2011

When One Door Closes...

Ok, it is not really a door closing, but my term at Elle's Studio ends this month and I was feeling really bummed about it. I am not going to get into goodbyes yet because we still have a June gallery to reveal, but needless to say, I was a bit down. And then I got some exciting news:
I was so excited to find out that I will be a member of the Therm O Web Design Team! You can see the announcement and the rest of the team members on their Facebook Fan Page. I can not WAIT to get work!
And if that wasn't enough...my Just Keep Swimming card:
was in last week's Cards gallery
and if THAT wasn't enough....
I won TWO collections of my choice from Echo Park for their Dots and Stripes contest!
OK, one last SUPER EXCITING, CRAZY out of control item of news! I found out today that I was one of the winners of the Crate Paper Wedding Week contest! EEK! I think I get an awesome GC to Crate and Barrel--my favoritest store EVER! You can see my layout on their blog HERE.
Phew, now you'll have to excuse me as I need to run out and play the lottery ;)
Before I go, I want to share at least one layout here. This one is from the GCD Studios newsletter. 
In the newsletter I explain how I made that big bow in the corner. 

I saw Heidi Swapp make one on the Create Blog and had to try them out....beware they are a bit addicting!
Be sure to send an email HERE for the GCD Studios newsletter if you don't already receive it.
Thanks for stopping by and wading through all my excitement.
♥ Rebecca

Jun 14, 2011

Who said?

Who said this little bean...

was allowed to turn into a 6 year old, seemingly overnight?
Certainly, not I. Six is such an interesting, scary, crazy time. We've already been through the transition into elementary school, but the idea of going into FIRST GRADE just sounds SO grown up! There is some ability to reign in the emotions and definitely mellowing as far as temper tantrums go, but on the other hand the battle for independence is definitely in full swing. She is really a very good kid, but she often works my very last nerve. She can be a button pusher, but the next minute she can be so kind and encouraging to her little brother that it melts my heart.
She is so creative and smart as a whip. She has a razor sharp memory for things like phonograms and poem recitation. She has a knack for numbers and an eye for creative design. She is a good eater and tries new foods constantly. She pushed us to let her try out Karate and to sign her up for weekly classes. We are so proud of her initiative and doing something out of her comfort zone. She is a good friend and always nice to others.When the mood strikes her, she is a good helper and listener. She loves music and dancing. I wish I had photos from the other day. We went to the bowling alley and they were playing fun dance music loudly. After every bowl, she would stop and just shake it or raise the roof. I couldn't stop laughing--it was pure joy to see her having so much fun.
"Sometimes" we butt heads. She pushes, I push back. We argue. She wants to do things her way and on her timetable. So, it always amazes me to hear that she wants to be like me. She has been leaving me little notes and cards that say, "I love you Mommy. You are the best Mommy ever." Sigh. 
And yet, she will always be Daddy's little girl.
They have the same sense of humor, sarcasm and competitive spirit. They have so many similar likes and dislikes--too many to list. 
All in all, six has gone by fast, way too fast. I certainly hope the next six years will go a bit more slowly, although I highly doubt it. We love you Little Miss. Happy 6th Birthday :)
♥ Mom

Jun 7, 2011

Summer is on a Roll

Yikes, here comes the summer train rumbling through. It has been a full week since I have posted, I have photos backed up waiting to be edited, layouts needing to be completed, deadlines and assignments to do and cleaning to be done before my Dad comes to town on Thursday. But summer schedule has taken hold. Swimming, movies, going to the gym. Yes, there have already been lots of sibling arguments and we are less than 2 weeks in! But there has also been lots of fun too. We baked mini cupcakes from scratch. We made several trips to the dollar store for craft supplies and immediately used up said supplies! But the 2 pieces of big news... My girlie lost her first tooth!

 She has another one well on it's way out too! Sheesh, I totally remember the weeks of sleepless nights when she was teething and these teeth were growing in as if it were yesterday! Of course the tooth fairy paid her a visit last night ;)

And in just as big news, she passed her first Karate test to move up from a white belt to a high white belt. We were so proud of her and she was SO cute:
As you can see she was right in the middle of a hiiiiiiii......
ya!
I have been busy playing with the June Scrapbook Circle kit. It is called Garden Party and, yes, you NEED it. lol! The papers are a gorgeous mix of Pink Paislee, Girls' Paperie and Jillibean Soup. It includes the fabulous Fancy Pants filter flowers and my personal favorite...the Studio Calico Wood Veneer butterflies. I would buy this kit for the butterflies alone. Did you know they are already discontinued and most places are out of stock?? Fortunately the rest of the kit is also gorgeous and worth every penny! 
There is a fun card sketch contest happening on the Scrapbook Circle blog. Use this sketch:
link your take to THIS POST, and you are in the running for a Crate Paper Neighborhood collection kit! Easy peasy, right? Here is my take on the sketch:
And here is a layout that was part of the Lifting You series HERE:
I cut out a few clouds from the Jillibean paper to make a journal list:
I popped up the wood veneer butterfly on a rolled up Zot so it looks like the butterfly is flying off the page and rolled a tin strip of paper like you would for paper quilling for the butterfly trail:
I have three more layouts to share and more in the kit to create even further! I am telling you the Scrapbook Circle kits are PACKED with goodies! Hope you are having a great week and hope to be back in a few days   rather than another week! :)
♥ Rebecca