OCL Challenge #65 ... Photo Inspiration

This has to be the yummiest photo I've seen in a long time & perfect for the unseasonably hot weather we've been having in Northern Indiana the last few days.    It's time for the weekly OCL Challenge and this week it's a photo inspiration challenge ~ which means you can do pretty much anything as long as the photo inspired your project {and you use Our Craft Lounge stamps}.

 

So have you ever planned out a card and it came out just the way you wanted it to... yea, well that didn't happen this time ~ LOL!   I'm not sure if you can see any part of the inspiration photo in my project, but it really didn't end up where I had hoped. I really wanted to focus on something very summery & I had this super cute paper from Fancy Pants called Beach Babe.  The colors were perfect for this photo.   I paired it up with the Whale of a Tale set and paper pieced the whale and the bottom of the mermaid.   I kind of like that she is riding a wave ~ she's cute.

OK ~ your turn to play along!  You have all week, just add your link to the OCL Blog for your chance to win a set of your choice!

A Vintage Look...

Well the week is just flying by isn't it?  Wow ~ Thursday already.

I was searching around the blogland yesterday and found a pretty card by Dawn McVey & loved the layout.  So this card was inspired by her card.  My project has a bit of a vintage look ~ well about as vintage as I get.  I used the camera image from a Technique Tuesday set called Life In Pictures.  It's a great scrapbooking set, but I really wanted to use it for a card. 

I also stamped one of the sentiments in the set on the inside of the card and added some scraps of patterned paper.

Check back tomorrow for TWO posts for TWO fun challenges!

Supplies from i{heart}papers:
Stamps ~ Technique Tuesday (Life in Pictures)
Patterned Paper ~ Crate Paper (Portrait Collection)
Ink ~ Palette (Burnt Umber)
Trim ~ Maya Road
Nestabilities ~ Lables One Small
Embossing Folder ~ Quickuts (Swirls)

Make A Wish...

I did it!  Wooohoooo!  I wanted to get a page done yesterday to keep going on my scrapbook projects & I'm so happy I got one done.  I ordered a new kit from i{heart}papers called Hip Hip Hooray Boy Collection by My Mind's Eye. 

I'll remember this night for a long time because these 5 great kids had such a blast together and laughed so hard.  It was the easiest party I ever threw for my daughter!

Supplies from i{heart}papers:
Patterned Papers & Die Cuts ~ My Minds Eye (Hip Hip Hooray Boy Collection)
Palette Ink ~ Noir, L'Amore Red
Ribbon ~ May Arts (Colored with R39 Copic Marker)

A Perfect Pair...

One of the singles this month at Lizzie Anne Designs is a comfy pair of jeans called Favorite Jeans.  I decided to do something a little different and unexpected with the blue jean image and make it into a card for couples ~ anniversary, wedding, engagement, etc....  I know it's a bit unusual, but I thought it turned out kind of fun.  I also used the Timeless Textures set for the backgrounds ~ it add just the right touch!

Have a great Tuesday & come on back tomorrow for some fun stuff!  I'm hoping to get a scrapbook page today and maybe if I write it down here, I will actually get it done! 

A Thank You for the Teacher!

Hi there! I hope you have a great weekend and you are ready for some fun this week.  Since today is Monday it's time for the kids to go back to school so I wanted to share a new digi image with you by Mabelle R•O from Whimsy & Stars Studios called Back to School.    This card will be perfect to give to one of my son's teachers for the end of the year.

I printed out my digi image on lined notebook pattern paper, colored it with my Copic Markers and then trimmed it out to look like a notebook page.  The pattern paper is from Crate Paper and it's called School Spirit.   For the sentiments, I used a set by Our Craft Lounge called Bookworm & a set by Lizzie Anne Designs called School Days.

ETA: To answer Faith's question, I do not need to seal my pattern paper before coloring with my Copic markers.  But make sure you print using an Ink Jet printer.  If you use a Laser printer, the ink tends to flake off when you use the alcohol ink markers.

Whimsical House

Hello Peeps ~ Happy Mother's Day to everyone!

Today I wanted to share a new digi image with you by Mabelle R•O from Whimsy & Stars Studios.  This sweet little image is Mabelle's gift to you with the purchase of $6.00 in digi images from her store.

I paper pieced the image by running 3 different patterned papers through my printer and cutting them out.  I only had to color a little bit with my Copic Markers ~ the tree trunks (E25) and I added some green to the trees to make them just a bit darker (YG11, YG13).  All of the adorable papers are a new collection from My Mind's called Lime Twist (Fly A Kite) ~ LOVE IT!!!!    The sentiment is from Lizzie Anne Designs (Welcome Home set) and stamped in Palette Ink (Burnt Umber). 

Have a wonderful Mother's Day!

HAPPY {NSD} National Scrapbooking Day!

IT'S TIME TO HOP!

That's right!  Since it's National Scrapbooking Day ~ OCL is having a blog hop to celebrate.  I love scrapbooking when I have a chance, so of course, I HAD to make a page! 

My beautiful daughter is one of my very favorite scrapbooking subjects!   On my page today, I added some stamped images to help embellish the page, but they don't distract from the main focus ~ the photograph.   Another little trick I used ~ I added a quote in Photoshop Elements on my photo before I printed it.  There was so much white space next to her, it really needed something.

What I Did: I used several borders from the Fancy Fringe set by stamping them tone-on-tone (same color ink and paper).  I used the flourish border on the blue scallop border piece; on the brown cardstock, I used the small dotted border, and I also used the large dot border down the side of the page and under the photo.  Then I used the script background stamp from the Love Notes set behind the large dots along the side of the page, on the chipboard hearts (which I stamped in Burnt Umber Palette ink), and up on the top left side under the button accent.    I used both of the sets in pretty understated ways, but add a nice touch of texture to the page. 

Play Along: There is a special blog post TODAY on the OCL Blog.  At the bottom of that post, you will be able to LINK your blog or public gallery post!  All you have to do is create a scrapbook page (any size or shape) OR a card/project that features a photo. Your project must also feature OCL stamps. 

If you leave your link, our Design Team will vote to select ONE WINNER from all the entries & the winner will receive a fabulous OCL  stamp set. 

In addition, everyone who leaves a comment on the OCL Blog, will be entered into a random drawing where we will select ONE MORE  WINNER who will also receive a stamp set.  All comments and links provided must be posted  before midnight (PT) on Sunday, May 8^th to be eligible to WIN!  Winners will be posted on Monday, May 9^th on the OCL Blog.     

We can’t wait to see what you CREATE!

Who is Hopping? Here's a list of who is playing along today on the OCL Hop!  And don't forget to add your link too!
Heather McNally
Kendra Wietstock {that's me}
Amber Hillman
Latrice Murphy
Mandy Sarver
Deb Felts
Pam Hooten
Lori Tecler
Debbie Seyer

Check out the OCL Blog for all the details!

OCL Challenge #64 ... Piece it Together!

Once again Friday is HERE and it's time for an OCL challenge!  This week we are piecing things together with patterned paper ~ also known as Paper Piecing.    I love this technique and use it all the time!

On my card today, I used the Tea Time set from OCL.  I used the set along with this cute patterned paper from My Mind's Eye called Fine and Dandy to make the pretty pattern on the tea pot and cup. 

So do you know how to paper piece?  It's easy peasy!!!  I actually just taught this in a technique class for our local scrapbook store. 

Here is the step-by-step tutorial I used for my class:

1. Stamp tea pot and cup images on white cardstock using black ink.  You may overlap the handle of the tea cup over the tea pot. (see picture)

2. Stamp both images again on the green flower patterened paper.  Do not overlap the images. (See picture)

3. Using scissors for cutting small details, trim the images out from the green patterned paper.  For the cup, do not trim the saucer or handle.  For the tea pot do not trim the handle.

4. Attach the patterned pieces over the top of the same images stamped on the white cardstock.

5. Color the saucer with YG11, YG13 Copic Markers. 

6. Color the tea bag with R85 Copic Marker.

7. Color the flowers on both images with YG13 Copic Marker.  Add green gems to flowers. Attach to black scallop rectangle.

8. Using VersaMark ink, stamp flower background on green card base.

9. Using Black ink, stamp sentiment on scallop oval.

10. Attach patterned paper to black scalloped mat & attach to cardbase.

11. Attach image to card base

12. Attach sentiment to card base with foam dot.

National Scrapbook Day ~ it's TOMORROW!!!!

Are you ready?  Are you going to scrapbook???  I'm sure you can guess that I will be ~ I've already got my page done for my post tomorrow too.  How about you?  Make sure you put your page on the OCL Blog so we can ohhhhh and ahhhhh over it!  Here are all the details for our blog hop:

There will be a special blog post tomorrow on the OCL Blog.  At the bottom of that post, you will be able to LINK your blog or public gallery post!  All you have to do is create a scrapbook page (any size or shape) OR a card/project that features a photo. Your project must also feature OCL stamps.

If you leave your link, our Design Team will vote to select ONE WINNER from all the entries & the winner will receive a fabulous OCL  stamp set.  In addition, everyone who leaves a comment on the OCL Blog, will be entered into a random drawing where we will select ONE MORE  WINNER who will also receive a stamp set.  All comments and links provided must be posted  before midnight (PT) on Sunday, May 8^th to be eligible to WIN!  Winners will be posted on Monday, May 9^th on the OCL Blog.     

We can’t wait to see what you CREATE!

BUT WAIT ~ THERE'S ONE MORE THING I HAVE TO TELL YOU ABOUT!!!  Since it's National Scrapbook Day tomorrow, there will be sales and Kate at i{heart}papers is starting her sale TODAY and will be running it all weekend.

  There were some new additions to the store this week so be sure to check the new section on the store. And, LUCKY YOU…to celebrate National Scrapbooking Day, IHP has a 10% off coupon for you when you spend $40 or more, valid starting today through Sunday (May 8, 2011). Use code NSD2011DT. All single digi stamps are only $1 and orders $100 or more will get a free extra gift from Kate as a thank you. It might be a paper sampler or a stamp or something else! It’ll be a surprise!

OK ~ I think that's it for today!  BUT...make sure you come back tomorrow and check out my cool page ~ I'm very excited about it!

Mix and Match Scrapping...

It's funny where inspiration comes from.   Yesterday, mine came from an email from Archivers Scrapbook Store ~ did you get that one too?  In fact, these layouts were in that very email.  I loved the idea for the pages and I actually had the exact paper on hand ~ so what the heck, I CASE'd them!

The paper and stickers are from the Echo Park 12x12 Scrapbooking kit called For the Record from i{heart}papers.   I did change up a few embellishments they had on their page & made mine as flowers.  I also added a stamp from the Technique Tuesday set called Favorite Memories and just stamped it in Palette (Noir) ink.

I don't know about you, but I have way too many photos on hand to make a 12x12 layout for each subject or event.  Therefore, I love making Fast-Scrap Albums, especially for my vacation photos.  They are page protectors that have dividers so you can just slide in your pictures.  The great part is, you can add in 12x12 layouts throughout your album and then add in lots of photos of the same event right next to your full-size layout.   It's fun to mix them up and the page protectors I use from We-R-Memory Keepers come in TONS of different layouts that include all different sizes of photos.

And here is my Fast-Scrap page using the same Echo Park Paper and Technique Tuesday stamp set.  I simply used a divided page protector, slid my photos into the pockets, and added matching papers and embellishments here and there so the pages would match.  Easy Peasy!

Your pages, or cards for that matter, don't have to be original ~ as long as you give credit where credit is due.  Make things easy every now and then ~ you'll get a lot more done!

Continuing the Story...

Well....I'm on a roll!  I started scrapping last week and I just can't stop.  I can't think of a better week to work on them with National Scrapbook Day coming up this Saturday.  This layout is the cover page for our Spring Break 2011 Album!  I used some old papers & embellishments I have in my stash from Little Yellow Bicycle's Travel Collection.  Gosh...I just realized that I didn't even stamp on this page ~ LOL!

You wouldn't even believe the number of scrapbooking projects I have piled up.  I have Fast-Scrap vacation albums to finish, mini albums for a year in review, our recent Spring Break trip, along with lots and lots of other photos.  I will say that I am caught up with two albums ~ the kids school books.  Each year at the end of school, I make sure to finish their pages for that year.  Everything else, well...let's just say...I don't even want to think about it!

More Scrapping...

Yesterday, I decided to work on more scrapbook pages this week.  I just had way too much fun last week.  On this page, I used some of the pictures from our recent Spring Break trip to the Smoky Mountains & a scrapbooking kit from My Minds Eye called Good Day Sunshine Girl. 

See you tomorrow ~ maybe with another scrapbook page.  You'll just have to wait and see...

Supplies from i{heart}papers:
Pattern Paper ~ My Minds Eye (Good Day Sunshine kit)
Ink ~ Palette (Burnt Umber)
Nestabilities ~ Circles

I had some fun ...

Yes, I made a page last week ~ fun, fun, fun!  Actually, since National Scrapbook Day is coming up this weekend, I'm really in the mood to spend some time on my pages.  My scrapbooks have been rather neglected lately.

My page today uses stamps from Technique Tuesday ~ Simply You & Kids are Cool.  Super fun sets!  I also paired them up with Echo Park Paper ~ Playground and Little Boy.   I just love the overlapping letters on the sentiment from the Kids are Cool set.  Around the patterned paper, I stamped tone on tone using sentiments from the Simply You set.  The font is super small after the word BE, but it says, "be that fantastic, incredible, wonderful, amazing person you are."  Then I added the extra words from both of the above sets and some additional older Technique Tuesday set ~ you, curious, genuine, great, sweet, loving, tough, and smart on top of the smaller type.  I'm so pleased with how it came out.

Speaking of National Scrapbooking Day (NSD), it is coming up this Saturday, May 7th and OCL wants to celebrate with YOU!  Our Design Team will be having a blog hop and we want to invite YOU to play along. 

There will be a special blog post that day on the OCL Blog.  At the bottom of that post, you will be able to LINK your blog or public gallery post!  All you have to do is create a scrapbook page (any size or shape) OR a card/project that features a photo. Your project must also feature OCL stamps.

If you leave your link, our Design Team will vote to select ONE WINNER from all the entries & the winner will receive a fabulous OCL  stamp set.  In addition, everyone who leaves a comment on the OCL Blog, will be entered into a random drawing where we will select ONE MORE  WINNER who will also receive a stamp set.  All comments and links provided must be posted  before midnight (PT) on Sunday, May 8^th to be eligible to WIN!  Winners will be posted on Monday, May 9^th on the OCL Blog.     

We can’t wait to see what you CREATE!
Supplies from i{heart}papers:
Stamps ~ Technique Tuesday ~ Simply You & Kids are Cool
Pattern Paper ~ Echo Park Paper ~ Playground and Little Boy
Copic Markers ~ YG23,25,03,17,95
Ink ~ Palette (Noir)

Blue Jean Baby!

May 1st is here ~ it's MAY DAY!  It's rather hard to believe that April is over already.  So with a new month brings new singles from Lizzie Anne Designs.  This month, they are bring you a pair of blue jeans and a matching sentiment called Favorite Jeans and A Good Friend. 

I actually made my pair of blue jeans into some cut-off shorts ~ lol!  I stamped the image on denim fabric and then trimmed them with my detail cutting scissors.  Then I carefully took off a few threads to show the white tattered threads & I snipped them a bit so they would look a bit jaggid.  I also added a small brass brad for the button.

Have a great May Day!

EXTRA...EXTRA! OCL...is in the news!

Our Craft Lounge has a brand new NEWSLETTER to share with our customers & we are very excited about it!  To get a better look, you can click Page 1 & Page 2 for the online version. 

If you'd like to have it come directly to your email inbox ~ visit the OCL website and register. Once registered, click on My Account , then click on Update Address, and finally on that screen, check the Mailing List box.

Isn't it bright and fun???  You'll love all the fun things we have planned over the next few months!