Hmmm...maybe I'll blog today...

I've taken a hiatus from blogging, scrapbooking, baking...I guess life just happens and sometimes I forget to make time to do some of the things that really make me happy. So, a few weeks ago I snapped out of it! I decided to finish the layout that I started back months and months ago...I can't even remember when I started it--that's how long ago it was. I think it was before Christmas. All I had to do was bling it up and be done already!

So I did and that got the wheels turning and renewed my interest in scrapping.
Here is the layout that I finished. It is from an album that I am doing of me and the girls I hung out with in grad school. We called ourselves The 4 Musketeers. This is about the 4th or 5th layout of the book--it is so unlike me to drop this in without starting at the beginning of the book. But, maybe this is the new me! Jump right in and don't worry about being so "sequential"! {okay, we'll see how long that lasts}

"Night Life"
I used Me & My Big Ideas paper, Tim Holtz fragments to make the guitar and flower embellishments out of DCWV Rock Star paper, DCWV All Dressed Up chipboard pieces, and Oriental Trading Company black felt flourishes. I made the paper flowers by dipping them in embossing powder and heating them several times to make them thick and shiny. Then I blinged them up w/ some black and clear rhinestones.  The letters are Thickers.

Hope you like it! More to come! I am working on some new things and trying out mini albums. Oh my gosh! I'm having fun now!

Saturday's Haul of Fame!

So...went shoppin' yesterday...I HAD to!  There were coupons to use...and voids that I had to fill...Sigh...

Okay, mom and I went shopping to use those special 40% off coupons that you get get online or through email...they are tempting and really the only way to go sometimes.  I had a wish list in one hand and 7 coupons in the other hand.  I am a big fan of Jennifer McGuire and I follow her blog regularly.  She designs for Hero Arts and contributes to Creating Keepsakes magazine.  She "specializes" on how to use the fabulous tools out there and then shows you how to use them.  She's brilliant!  She posts these awesome how-to videos on her blog.  I have been inspired by her to try many techniques and to do that, I need tools. 

So, I had a few tools that she recommends on my list...but of course somehow things not on my list somehow end up in the shopping cart.  Some of this is mom's too.

Here's a picture of the entire haul from 3 different stores...see it's not too bad!  A lot of things were on clearance too.  Got some clear stamps, ink, some brads, Cinch rings, K&Company Que Sera Sera die cuts, rub-ons, chipboard, leaf punch...

Here is what Jennifer recommended:

~Tim Holtz Ink Blending Tool and Pads

~Distress Inks
~Ranger Craft Sheet
~Glossy Accents
~Hero Arts Friends Definition Cling Stamp
~Tim Holtz Tonic Scissors
~Fiskars Portable Trimmer (this is the small on, still need the big one)
~Creating Keepsakes Scrapbook Supplies (with Jennifer McGuire) and she's on the cover

You can also find all of this stuff featured somewhere on her blog jennifermcguireink.

Now...it is time to go play with my new toys!  Have a happy Sunday!

Steph