DOG SCIENCE

I am taking the Snapshot photo class at Studio Calico this month.  One of the prompts we had was "Noise".  My dog can hear me touch his bag of treats in the kitchen from the other side of the house while under the covers in our bedroom.  I touch the bag, I hear the click of his toes coming down the hallway and he presents himself right at my feet, then begs.  I did not teach him to do that, he learned that on his own.  He also watches TV that way with me too. I am not sure he knows he is a dog.

I had lot of fun with this one and took a scientific approach to the topic.  I cut the title using a font on my laptop using the Cricut Explore.  I stamped and punched the circles in Coral Bay and Sunny Day ink by Studio Calico.  I painted the background using SC masks in Something Blue and Sunny Day Acrylic Paints. For the mat I just used the Sunny day since the blue was more predominant on the background.  I used another SC Mask.  I cut the mat in waves around the edges and used the strips I cut on the sides, sewing them down to the background.  I really liked the effect they had when I folded them up.   Being so bright the contrast was too much between the photo and the page elements, so I sprayed some dark blue mist over the paints on the left and then lighted it a smidge with a white gelato pen.  It gave the page more balance and depth in its textures.

 I left a small strip on the side white to journal on.  The atomic symbol was die cut on the Explore by using a stamp in photoshop on a blank new project then saved as a png. file. I then imported the file into the explore to create the cut. Whoever thinks you can't design with this machine is wrong.  I haven't found anything I wanted to create impossible yet. I then splattered sequins from various SC packages on the right side of the mat to counter the circles on the left to provide the page with more balance.  The yellow tab at the top left, and the triangle on the right were from a printable pages I also got on the SC site.

I just love how the concept of one word turned into a complete evening of fun.  I think I will do more of this on my own.

If you can make someone HAPPY, do it.

This is a picture of my DD and her friends, one of which was moving to Atlanta. She is coming of an age where friends are going in different directions.  I hope they keep in touch Yan is a lovely girl and has been a good friend.

The papers on this layout are from Carta Bella. It is their "Hello Again"  Collection.  I am pretty sure I need a class on clustering, for I just can't seem to get that pulled together look.  I began by splattering the entire page with gold paint, mixed with a little  water.  The nozzle has long since clogged, but I still use the stick in the bottle to splatter.   I made a messy stencil using Plaid paint, in Cameo, as a bottom border, then added strips of the paper. (It is the perfect pink for me) The stencil is from Studio Calico.  I printed the mat using Adrienne Loomans "Country Girl" Digital paper on a white piece of cardstock, then tore around it leaving the torn white frame. I then tucked the Doily (Michaels) behind the photo.  Then I stitched on the print paper, so I could fold up the white frame.  I stiched another frame inside of the photo.  I fussy cut the typewriter and flowers on the bottom tag ring.  The folded ribbon is Tim Holtz Tissue Tape.  The other embellishments were Studio Calico printables, printed on vellum.  Of course you can see, I am starting to use my dots.  I will be getting smaller pony beads next, so I can have a variance on size.

Stuck on U Sketches Project Life Challenge Reveal: Twine

Hi all!

Hope you are enjoying these last few weeks of Summer.  This week Stuck on U Sketches has a challenge for us Project Lifers.  We are to use Twine in our layouts.  I love using twine, string, yarn, anything that is thin, easily manipulated and serves a purpose is a great addition to any project life page.

I decided to use a bow for my ice cream bar.  It just gave it that decorated look.  I also edged the bar in stickles to give it a little more of an icy look.  Twine and Washi makes a great banner that is really quick to make. I also photographed my husband and I waiting for the AC in my car to be fixed. I went two weeks without it and decided I was melting.  You can see the pic of me and my flat hair to prove it was true. That was after driving to the shop after work.  It gets hot here in Carolina.  It was a priority that my dh fixed.  It was also our anniversary this week, and though no photos were taken, I did write a small journalling tag and tucked it behind a decorative tag.  I also used twine to hold the larger tag in place. I just mini stapled in on each end. Easy Peasy!!! The decorative tag can be removed to read the journal tag that was pasted below to keep it's layered place. I also commemorated some bucket list sewing projects I accomplished lately,( ergo no posts in a while). I made an embroidered peasant blouse.  It has ivory stitching on a peachy pink.  (My colors)  I also tackled making my own custom fitted bra.  I am going to make a ton of them.  It is like wearing pajamas.  Had to take a photo of my first for I was really proud that I could do it. It looks great on...something I never expected.

Head over to the SOU blog and see what the other lifers are doing with their twine.  Grab an old mop and see all you can do on your projects too.  Enjoy!

Making Dots...

I found a post on Pinterest that really thrilled me. I went straight to Walmart to buy Pony Beads (found in Kids Crafts)  I LOVE dots, but they are pricey.  $3.99 seems to be the going price for about 20.  I spent about $16 and will have almost a 1,000 of them in all sorts of sizes and mediums.  I now have pearly dots, bright dots, clear pastel dots and strange black with metallic abstract dots.

Recipe:
   Preheat oven to 400 degrees

   Place parchment paper on a cookie sheet

   Place beads on the cookie sheet at 1 inch apart.

   Bake for 15-20 minutes.

   Pull sheet out of oven and pull paper off to cool

   Wait one or two minutes to let them cool and pop them into your container.

Here is what I learned making mine:

1) The first batch takes 20 minutes....the rest about 3- 5 minutes

2) The longer they are in the oven, the more oval they get...so watch them. The oval ones look like drops of
     nail polish

3) The longer they are in the oven the more muted the color becomes.  White becomes ivory.

4) The Metallic beads do not melt  as gold and silver. They melt as black with metallic spots.  They also take      a lot longer to go flat.  I haven't found the average time yet.

5) You can get a divided bead case for $3.97, but  you can get a Divided fishing lure case for $1.49 in the sporting goods department