Challenge time!

Hey, all!! I am about to go traveling for the next two weeks so I will not be blogging during that time. I did, however, want to leave you with a challenge!! Here's what you need to do:

1. Create a layout using one of my past sketches:

2. Post your link here by January 10th! You may only enter one layout, but you can share as many as you like...just let me know which one is for the challenge.

It's as simple as that!!

The winner will receive a $25 gift card to Scrapbook.com. This will be a random drawing, so I will put your name in twice if you link your layout back to my blog. If you're a follower your name will go in three times!

Have a very safe and happy holiday season!

FINALLY!

I am FINALLY done with Christmas shopping. That is not to say that I won't end up buying more gifts for people. It just means that now I don't have to anymore. Haha. Knowing me, I will continue to buy things until the last minute and will spend a small fortune...but that's okay...that's one of the best parts of Christmas...making others happy.

Tonight I made a gift for a family I'm close to. They have a very strict "Kat, do not buy us anything" policy. But I always find ways to bend the rules a bit. This year I made them a wall hanging...and of course, I had to buy the frame for it. But, I don't really think that counts as buying them a gift.

Here is the wall hanging I made. I scraplifted Cindy Tobey's layout "Laugh With Me." It's one of my favorite layouts of all time and I was totally inspired by it. I have a feeling that this will not be the last time that I scraplift this particular layout. I know it's not the greatest picture...photographing stuff has never been my strong suit (I guess I should have taken the glass out, then taken the picture, but that's an awful lot of effort...ha!)

Christmas spirit

Hey, all! So, I have been completely overcome with the Christmas spirit...I am so, so excited...I can't believe it's only a week away. Then shortly after that, it will be a New Year. This year has really flown by quickly. It's exciting, though. A whole new year, time to make fresh new memories...I can't wait to see what the future brings!

I just wanted to share a few more of my recent holiday layouts with you. I know this first one looks a lot like the layout featured in my paint technique post from yesterday:

I actually do not like this layout very much, but decided to share it nonetheless:

It also appears that I really enjoy tying baker's twine around my layouts recently...I just noticed that when I made this post...ha!

Until I talk to you next...happy kraftin'!

Paint technique

Hey, all! So, I definitely do not have a vintage scrapping style. I love vintage layouts, but I've never been one that could really pull that look off. I am too in love with bold colors and patterns. However, every now and then, I love to dabble in the vintage style of scrapping.

One of the trademarks of a vintage look is distressing. A lot of people do this with ink...but once again, that's not something I'm very good at. I prefer to use paint. As always, I use acrylic paint since it dries so fast (awesome). I like to put paint on a Q-Tip and run it around the edges of paper and pictures. And the good thing is, you can be totally random about it...it doesn't have to look perfect...it's not supposed to!

So, while using paint for distressing doesn't look completely vintage, it does give a "quirky vintage" look to the page...and I love that. Here is an example of a layout I did recently using this paint technique:

Giveaway opportunity!

Hey, all..I just wanted to let you know about a great giveaway opportunity. It's on Sarah de Guzman's blog. I don't know if you all are familiar with her work, but I'm pretty sure you have seen it somewhere before and just don't realize it. This talented lady is on about a billion design teams and is super, super creative. The most impressive thing about her? She does most of her layouts in about 30 minutes. That's awesome to me. So, definitely run by her blog and check out the giveaway. I don't think you'll be disappointed!!

SOTB Challenge

Hey, all! A few weeks ago, I found out that I made a design team: Scrap Outside the Box. SOTB is a challenge blog that challenges you to use nonscrappy items in your layouts. It definitely makes you think outside the box.

This month's challenge asks you to use Band-Aids! Here is my take:

Head on over to SOTB to see what the other lovely ladies of the design team came up with and enter your own layout for a sweet prize!!

Krafter's Block

Hey, all! I have recently been suffering from a bad case of creativity block. I sit down and try to scrapbook and everything I end up producing is total rubbish. No fun :( I really want to create something, but my brain just isn't working right. Oh well. I'm sure I'll get my groove back soon. In the meantime, I did draw a sketch today when I was really, really bored. I have not made a layout for it yet. I'm hoping that when I do sit down to use this sketch, I will finally be able to produce something good. So here it is:

I hope everyone has better luck than me being krafty!!

Challenge winner

Hey, all...I want to thank everyone so much for entering my first challenge. I received so many great layouts. The winner for this challenge is Angela (aka: Foreverscrapping). Here is her fabulous layout:

She will have a week to get me her contact information, or another winner will be chosen and will win all the yummy Christmas goodies.

I also decided to send Caroline Hancock a goodie bag filled with random embellies for being such a dedicated follower. I can do these kind of things you know... :-)

If you didn't win, don't despair...I will have another Challenge coming up soon...plus another out-of-the-blue winner, I'm sure. So, ladies, if you won...just email your mailing address to kraftykat9@gmail.com within the next week.

Thanks to everyone for participating and congrats to the winners!

Quick reminder

This is just a quick reminder that the entries for the Christmas/Winter Challenge are due tonight at 6pm PST. I will announce a winner tomorrow.

Here are a few of some of my recent layouts. This is a scraplift of an awesome layout that I saw in "creating keepsakes." It is called "celebrate" and it was done by Jen Jockisch. You can find it on page 24 of the January 2010 issue:

This is another layout I did last night. Sorry for the bad scan...it was the best I could get, though...I'm so in love with the Crate Paper "Bliss" collection. It's so perfect...and it goes really well with all the pictures from my best friend's wedding:

Make letters!!

Hey, all! So, I am here with a fun gift idea that you can make for your scrappy friends or your kids...paint them a letter! It's cheap, super easy to do, and it lets people know that you care about them, since you put so much time and effort into their gift. You can buy 9" wooden letters at most craft stores...I got mine at Michaels. They usually have a few different fonts to choose from also, so you can pick a letter that matches your style. This is a letter that I made for an 11 year old girl. She wanted a letter 'A' for her bedroom. She loves lime green, turquoise and flowers (her bedspread is also lime green and turquoise), so this is what I came up with...
I've also seen these given as wedding gifts. Decorate the first letter of the last name for the newly married couple. You can make it ultra classy (wedding colors, pearls and diamonds)...or you can decoupage it with pictures of the couple together. You may even be able to pass this off as a good gift for a guy if you decorate it with the colors of his favorite sports team for an office, etc. I love this project because anything goes...and you can really tailor it to fit the person who it is being made for.

As always, I would love to see any projects you make...so if you do decorate letters, leave a link to this post and I will definitely go shceck them out!

sketch time!

Hey, all! I have another sketch for you! Remember how much I like squares? Well, if you remember that, then this sketch should be no surprise to you. I like sketches that have a lot of squares, because you can insert pictures or squares...two totally different looks, but both look good. Here is the sketch:
And here is my layout:

And another note about this layout: the background paper was super easy to make. I just took some acrylic paint and squirted it around randomly. The blue paint was almost out, so it had a different effect when I used it compared to the red paint. It looks a little messy, but I like the way it ended up turning out anyways...

Holiday Layouts

Hey, all. Unfortunately, I do not have too many words of wonderful wisdom (sarcastic) tonight, but I figured I would share some of my most recent holiday layouts with you anyways...

This one was based off of a sketch by Helen Croft:And, if you liked the different paper strips in that one, then enter my Winter/Christmas challenge (the link is on the left side of my blog)! All that paper comes in the paper kit that is up for grabs...yay!

And this is just a random layout I did...nothing too special...it looks oddly similar to my "tree trimming" layout from my last post ;-)

Thanks for following!

Hey, all! So, today an idea popped into my head and I decided that I would do a random drawing of my followers and send one of them an embellie grab bag. I think it's so great that total strangers can provide people so much support for all the things they do. I love that people take the time to take an interest in other people's work. All those comments, love and support can really help someone to become even more creative.

I went to Radom.org to generate my winner...and that winner is...Karen Lee! So, Karen, please send your mailing address to me at kraftykat9@gmail.com and I will get that grab bag in the mail to you!

And for all my other followers, don't despair...I will continue to do this from time to time. Sometime it will be random and sometimes it won't... :-)

Here is a layout that I did recently...I'm getting so psyched for Christmas. I love everything about the season. I love spending time with family, and shopping for family and friends, and decorating, and going to church to recognize the reason behind season...and of course, I love the time after Christmas, too, because then I get to scrap all my fun new memories!!

Sketchy, Skethcy

Hey, all! So, I have yet another sketch for you...I need to start mixing it up a bit, huh? I'd love to see what you end up doing with it: And here is a layout that I made using this sketch (or, if I'm going to be quite honest, I made the sketch using this layout...)

On another note, I'm really excited about my Winter/Christmas challenge. I have already had three really cool entries. There really are some very talented people out there! Hopefully, I will see a few more...remember you have until 11 December to enter.

Until next time...happy kraftin'!

Christmas wreath!

I made my Christmas wreath a few days ago and it was super, super easy. To complete this project you only need a few items:

-an undecorated wreath
-wire ribbon (I prefer the 2 inch)
-assortment of Christmas ornaments (I used mini ball ornaments and some word ornaments, but this is where the uniqueness comes in, so have fun using whatever kind you like!)
-hot glue gun

All you need to do is wrap the ribbon around the wreath and randomly glue on the ornaments...I told you it was super, super easy. Here is what my finished product looked like:

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Sketch

Hey, all! Sorry I've been MIA for awhile...went on a little vacation (more pictures to scrap!!). This is a really quick post. I just wanted to share a quick sketch with you:


And here is a layout using that sketch:


Hope everyone has a fabulous Thanksgiving...don't forget about my challenge!

Challenge Time!!

Hey, all! It's time for my first challenge and I'm pretty excited about it. First, here's what's up for grabs:

-K & Company Christmas/Winter paper pack (12x12)
-Jolee's snowflake stickers
-Me & My Big Ideas Christmas chipboard
-Plus a small goodie bag from me filled with a random assortment of embellies

If you enter this challenge, and you don't celebrate Christmas, just let me know. That way, if you win, I will come up with a different prize for you that you can actually use.

Here's what you have to do to win:

-Design a layout about Winter or Christmas

-Post the link to your layout in the comments section of this post by 6 pm PST on 11 December (that's a Friday...and 3 weeks away, so you have plenty of time)

-That's it!! Super easy challenge, but hopefully pretty fun...I always get into the Christmas spirit just a few weeks before Thanksgiving. By the time this challenge is due, I figure most of you will be pretty psyched for Christmas too!

Here are some layouts that I have done that fit the challenge criteria:

So, get to scrappin' and I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with!!

Another sketch!

Hey, all...I have a new sketch for you! It's another simple one...but maybe it will inspire you anyways!

And here is a layout I made using that sketch:

Link your layouts to this post...I would love to see what you decide to do with this sketch!

Make your own patterned paper!

Hey, all! I want to share a few fun ideas with you on how to get some awesome patterned paper. I love bright colors and unique patterns, and sometimes the only way to achieve the look I want, is to make it myself. For all these projects, I recommend using acrylic paint. It dries really fast on paper, so you can make your paper, fold a load of laundry, and when you come back, it's ready for scrappin'!

The first technique I like to use requires an aluminum can or two. Take an aluminum can and paint the bottom ring of the can in your desired color. Then stamp the can onto the paper. I recommend using a separate can for each color unless you actually want two-toned rings (which would look pretty awesome). Here is the result:


To achieve the second look, paint a layer of paint onto the bubble side of bubble wrap. Try to only keep the paint on the bubbles. I recommend using a foam paint brush. If you paint across the bubbles real fast, as if you were painting a piece of wood, you shouldn't get much paint between the bubbles. Flip the bubble wrap over, so the paint side is laying on the paper and pat the bubble wrap so it sticks to the paper. Then peel off. I like to use two different colors from the same color family, but I bet any combination would look great. Here is the result:

For this last technique, I once again recommend using a foam paint brush. You will also need some tissue paper. Ball up the tissue paper, as if you were about to stuff it into a gift bag. Then add a layer of paint to the wad end. Don't worry about covering all the tissue paper. I like to pick certain wrinkles to paint. Once you have applied your paint to the tissue paper, stamp it on to your scrapbooking paper. Here is the result:

Here is a layout I made using the rings paper (layout based on a sketch from Creative Scrappers). I like that I was able to customize the colors to match the other patterned paper:

And here is a layout I made using the bubble wrap paper (layout based on a sketch from ScrapSketch):

You can view another bubble wrap layout in yesterday's post entitled "thankful 4 friends."

As always, I would love to see any layouts that you decide to use these techniques on...just link them to this post! And keep checking back...I will be posting my first challenge later in the week (sweet prize for the winner!).

Giveaway winner and a sketch!

Hey, all! So, first I want to give a big THANK YOU to everyone who participated in the giveaway. I got a lot of awesome input. The consensus is that you want to see sketches, challenges, and techniques.

And, now for the winner...I went to http://www.random.org/ to pick a winner...and that winner happens to be Ms. Schwiet! So, Ms. Schwiet, please email your mailing address to kraftykat9@gmail.com and I will get your prize in the mail.

As previously mentioned, a lot of people said that they wanted to see sketches. I've actually never done a sketch before, so I figured that I should start off fairly basic:

And here is one of the layouts I made with it:

And then I flipped the sketch on it's side to create this one (using super fun Crate Paper):

If you decide to use this sketch, I would love to see your work...just link it to this post.

Got Scraps? Make Squares!

Hey, all! Recently I've been on a square kick. I love making layouts with squares. It's super easy and quick to do, and I think it gives layouts a nice, clean look. Plus, it's a great way to use up some of those scraps that I know you have laying around. Here are a few ideas:

For this layout, I made squares out of patterned paper that were the same size as the photos and then randomly placed the photos and patterned paper. (P.S.- Don't you just love those Prima fabric words???)

For this one, I actually used the squares of patterned paper to create a background: For this layout, I once again cut the patterned paper to be the same size as the photos. However, I canted all the photos and patterned paper to give it a more unique look:

For this one, I used the squares to create the background and I used a corner rounder to give the squares a slightly different look:

And finally, for this layout I used the squares to create a background and interspersed some stickers throughout:

So, hopefully I've inspired you to get out there and use some of those scraps. And don't forget about the giveaway that I posted yesterday. You still have one more day to enter!

GIVEAWAY!!

Hey, all!! In honor of my new blog, I'm doing my very first giveaway! Here's what's up for grabs:

*1 set of K & Company "simply sweet" layered accents

*1 package of Making Memories tiny alphas

*1 package of Petaloo flowers

*1 package of Colorbok adhesive gems

I absolutely love all these products. I was involved in a swap on Scrapbook.com and my pal, Jackie, gave me a package of those awesome Petaloo flowers. I haven't had a chance to use them yet, but I have them ready and sitting on my desk to use in my next layout.

Here is a layout that I did with the K & Company layered accents. It's a scraplift of the layout "Lil Biker Dude" by Kelly Gorree.

And here is a recent layout I did using the Making Memories alphas. I used a sketch by Helen Croft to create this:

Okay, so what do you have to do to win this? It's REALLY SIMPLE. All you have to do is leave a comment on this post telling me what kinds of things you would like to see here. In other words, what kinds of things would keep you coming back for more? Do you want challenges? Sketches? Tell me! I wanna know!

Yep, it's that easy, and I will randomly pick a winner on Sunday evening. So, you'll have to come back at least once more to see if you're a winner!! :o)

Lovebirds Christmas Ornaments

So, I was messing around a few weeks ago and came up with the idea to make these cute ornaments:
I got the idea from a mini book kit that I had purchased at my local scrapbook store, The Pink Pineapple. The kit came with some felt pieces and the template to make a little bird. I thought the birdie was just so cute and easy to make, so I expanded on the idea to create the lovebirds ornament.


Here are the supplies you will need:

*Pre-made, unfinished ornament (Michael's has great ones for only $0.99 in their woodcrafting aisle...and they're actually made out of cardboard)
*Felt
*Googley eyes/sequins
*Heart-shaped brads/sequins/rhinestones
*Paint
*Glitter Glue
*Black pen/fine-tip marker
*Scissors
*Paint brush
*Adhesive

Directions:

1. Paint the unfinished ornament the color of your choice. Once the paint is dry, add a coat of glitter glue.

2. Cut the birds out of felt using the birdie template provided. I typically cut out the pattern first and use a needle or pin to hold the the paper pattern in place on the felt.

3. Adhere the felt birds to the dry ornament. Glue on eyes, heart, and draw on the legs.

You can always find special ways to personalize the ornament, by putting names on the birds, etc. I'm making a few of these to give as little gifts to people for Christmas. It's a cute idea, it shows you put time into the gift, and if you make a few, it's a pretty cheap project...I bet kids would like making them, too!