Blog challenges at The Paper Element!

Wow. I am a bad, bad, bad blogger! In case there's anyone out there who hasn't given up on me, check out The Paper Element's blog for our weekly blog challenges! They'll go up every Saturday morning. And keep watch on the blog, because our new papers are due in soon!

I've managed to scrap about as much as I've been blogging, so no new images to post, either. Bummer! All in all, it's a pretty typical fall here...

Paper Element Giveaway!

A little birdie just told me that there'll be a giveaway on The Paper Element site tomorrow (August 2). Head on over and see what's up!

Sketchfest results! Using a bit o' Ranger!

So the Creative Scrappers Sketchfest was this weekend, and I have a few results. I'm still working - we have until the 31st to complete layouts. But let me tell you, the sketches were great, and I think it was just what I needed to get past my fried brains and start creating again. I took the opportunity to play, not to "scrap fast." My friends who I crop with will laugh when they read this. I never scrap fast! I like to play anyway, but this time I did things that take a long time just to do them.

This first layout has a bit of Ranger Distress Crackle Paint as well as Distress Embossing Powder... and some hand stitching helped by my new Tim Holtz Idea-ology Ruler. Love it. The hand stitching did make me wish that I had room to set up my sewing machine, though. Pictures are from our family reunion two weeks ago -- my dad's first cousins on the Haugo side. The brilliant sketch is by Liz Weber.

The next one is another reunion photo, though the cousins in this photo are just a tad younger! The photo is an important one for me, though -- my daughter with my cousin's granddaughter. They see each other about once a year, if we're lucky, but they always look forward to it. You can't tell in the picture, but they were sharing a recliner at the reunion, hanging out downstairs at my dad's cousin's place, watching movies. I crept downstairs to see what they were up to, and this is what I found.

Let's see... not as much Ranger on this one, though the Holtz influence is clear here in the grungeboard, ink, and distressed edges... This sketch was by Cherie Averill.

Sketchfest at Creative Scrappers

Guess where I'll be this weekend? Well, here at home most of the time, but in cyberspace, I'll be here:

Join us!

News from CHA!

Check out the Paper Element "booth babes!" I just returned from CHA and have to share some pictures and news. You're looking at The Paper Element's booth, and from left to right, Lisa, Emily, and Beth. (It's always an advantage to be behind the camera... That way, I don't have to post pictures of myself!) I've got a few close-ups of the new fall/winter collection, and I'll post a few more in a couple of days.

Two of our most popular lines at CHA were Tinsel Town (in red, below) and Blue Flannel. Aren't they gorgeous? The altered items you see on the table were made by the creative powerhouse behind The Paper Element and owner Lisa's brick & mortar store, The Keepsake Element: Jolene Graning, Angie Huonker, and Emily Pipkins.

Some other CHA highlights

Check out the Stampers Anonymous releases. Some amazing new stamps from Tim Holtz, and if you check out the right side there, you'll see the fabulous Wendy Vecchi's new stamps! How exciting is that? Read further for a close-up... ;-)



Wendy's new stamps, below, and the artist herself, doing make n takes at the Ranger booth. On the right in the stamp picture are some projects she made with the stamps. Can't wait to get my hands on these! The Stampers Anonymous online catalog has close-ups. I'll be checking Scrapbook Friendz, where she teaches from time to time, as soon as my pocketbook allows.

The most exciting stamp for me is "Ticket to Art," which has a spatter pattern stamp. Wendy got me hooked on a stamp that she used for aging and distressing the surface of papers, and this stamp modifies that design a bit.


Piggy Tales has some new cute lines. I was excited to see a counterpart to Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star that had more "boy" colors in it, since I have a Guitar Hero nut at home who wants to start getting real guitar lessons, too. It's called Old King Cole, on the left in the picture below.

Watch for a few more!

The Paper Element Design Team!

Between the end of the semester and everything going on in my family, I've been bad about posting updates.  The biggest news is that The Paper Element has chosen their first Design Team!  And the secondary news, though it did take over my life for a few days in the last month, is that I'll be the DT Coordinator.  So, a huge welcome to the eight talented scrappers who were chosen for this term.  Check out their blogs for inspiration (and a bit of drooling); I've posted a blog roll in the right-hand column using Blogger's new Blog List tool.  Works pretty well, and it automatically posts the latest update to each entry.  Kind of cool.

The new Paper Element Design Team:

Kimberlee Croucher

Pauline Dirrig

Susan Dupre

Sasha Holloway

Cheryl Kelly-Van Domolen

Susan Lui

Penny Smith

JJ Sobey  

The Paper Element now has 14 paper lines, and they'll be releasing more lines for CHA.  (Stay tuned for sneak peeks!)  I had lots of fun picking out coordinating embellishments to send to the DT with each paper line...  as I told them, shopping without having to pay for it myself?!  Heaven!  

So, watch The Paper Element's website over the next few weeks for the gallery to explode!  I can't wait to see what everyone creates with these papers!

My Mojo May Be Back

The semester is over, spring is here, and I think my mojo has returned... or at least, having time to sit down and play has helped me find my mojo again. I've also finally got all of my Lisa & Becky rails in, and all the pieces are up except the ribbon spool holder... still waiting for that to arrive. Once that's up, then I'll post some pictures of the pit after the overhaul. And, I've also got news about the Paper Element -- but I'll save that for my next post.

Here's evidence of my mojo having returned. I had my kraft paper sitting and waiting for just the right project, and when I realized that I had paint colors that matched Alicia's top in the picture, I knew what the project was. And of course, I had to get out some stickles, too. The title is stamped with Technique Tuesday's Provence letters ("kiss"), outlined in Stickles, with Stickles in the swirls. The frame is painted with one brush dipped in two colors or paint -- one a Heidi Swapp and one a Making Memories color. I wouldn't recommend using two different manufacturers' paints for this... It was a little difficult because the Swapp and MM paints are such different consistencies.

I can't claim the photo credit on this one. The picture was taken by their mom, my niece, and it's been hanging over my desk for months. Those sweet babies are now two and almost four. Time flies!