Sunday, February 28, 2010

scrapbook circle march kit and a little dollie


Over the next few days, I'm going to share with you the loveliness that is the Scrapbook Circle March kit. WOW is all I can say!! There are great colors, fabulous extras and the some of the best new products out there jam packed in this kit!


I made this page using the Design Dollies sketch for this past week. Head on over and check it out!! Those girlies know what they are doing over there. Great inspiration!


The little princess in this picture is my best friend's youngest daughter. She just had her second birthday and this was from her dancing around at her party in her new tutu. So cute!!

I love the way the burlap from the Scrapbook Circle March kit contrasts the girlie-girl of the tutu and costume jewelry.

The kit goes on sale March 1!! Scoop it up, you won't be disappointed!!

Thursday, February 25, 2010

monster trucks rule!


Have you ever been to a Monster Trucks show? They are loud!! And I mean really loud. And so much fun! Nate, like most little boys, is going through his cars and trucks phase and just loves Monster Trucks.

So when the show came to town in January, we had to go.


It was pretty difficult to get great pictures in the arena, but I'm so glad that a few turned out well enough so that I could scrap this moment. My son's obsession live and in-person... no longer just toys, but real, live Monster Trucks!!

His expression in this one picture says it all, doesn't it?!


I used the Studio Calico February kit for most of this layout. I added the Jillibean journal spots from my stash and the black letter stickers are new from K&Co.

Being Thursday, you probably know that this page goes with a Sketchy Thursdays sketch. Check out the sketch and the fabulous prize Your Memories Here is giving away by heading over to the Sketchy Thursdays blog. The DT did a fabulous job with this one!! Gotta check out what they did!!

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

my favorite memory is him


Sorry for the far away picture. My camera is mad at me and I just can't seem to get a good picture lately. It's not keeping a charge, it's been focusing with a clicking sound... I think I've worn it out. I better start looking for a new one.

This page is made for Julie's My Favorite Things blog challenge: My Favorite Memory. Since all of my favorite memories are pretty much about my son, I thought it best to make the page about him.


This fabric flower is made from scraps from the baby quilt that my mom and grandmother made for my son right after he was born. Mom came into town and we picked out all of the fabric together so that it would match the room I was decorating. That was so fun! The little piece of yellow fabric behind the picture is also from from the quilt.

I hand-stitched around all of the clouds. It took quite a long time, but for the final effect it was completely worth it.


This picture is from my son's 4-week-old photo shoot. You know the one... where they are a lump but you expect them to smile for the camera because you're a new mom and that first trip to the photographer is the best one... so they better cooperate. Yeah... that one!

We still have the sepia version of this picture in 11x14 framed and matted in the living room. My favorite picture of Nate as a baby!!


The layout for the page came from the Guest Design Team Member Challenge at Scrapfreak. I lifted Bethy's page HERE. There are a lot of great pages this time around!!

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

cute dress form tags


It's my day to blog over at Scrapbook Circle. I posted a little bit more about these lovely little tags. If you're interested in how I made them, click on over there to see.


I think these tags turned out better than I'd planned!! I was going to send them to a good home, but I just can't seem to part with them. I think they're gonna live here in my scrap room for a little while longer.

Thanks for reading my Scrapbook Circle blog post today!! Or feel free to leave a comment here and guess how you think I made them. That could be fun, too!

Monday, February 22, 2010

march peeks for scrapbook circle


If you don't have a subscription yet, you are seriously missing out on some great stuff!!!! Scrapbook Circle is bringing you October Afternoon Fly a Kite, Cosmo Cricket Garden Variety and My Mind's Eye Quite Contrary to you along with some great new embellishments from Jillibean Soup, Jenni Bowlin and more.


My poor mailman is in trouble!! I may stalk him until this kit is at my doorstep. :)

Friday, February 19, 2010

fun with floss


Moxie Fab is at it again! Cath has posted another challenge that motivated me into action! Last weekend I made THIS CARD HERE for the Papertrey Ink Day 13 Challenge. I experimented with, and loved, the floss that I used for that card.

When Cath posted this week that her latest challenge was to use floss, I knew it was a sign... more like a great coincidence, because I knew I wanted to try this technique again.


I used my Scrapbook Circle February kit for this card. If you don't have a subscription yet, I highly recommend it. These kits go on and on and on! And with the new Material Girl line from Cosmo Cricket front and center this month, you can't go wrong!

Thanks for stopping by! I want to say thank you, and that I am soooo grateful to everyone who purchased items from my store this past week. I am stunned by how well received those new items were. I have plans for some more and perhaps these pinwheel flowers may even make an appearance...

I am off to visit family and friends this weekend. Hope everyone else has fun plans!!

Thursday, February 18, 2010

some more lovelies

I am so excited to showcase some of my new items! I have been working on making my shop a one-stop-shop for creative embellishments and kits for scrapbookers.

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade
dianaj1012.etsy.com


My hope is that no matter what kind of flower, accent or embellishment you are looking for, you can get it at my shop as well as splurge on a few items to make some goodies yourself. When it's all in one place, you save on shipping fees.

So, with that thought in mind... what do you WISH you saw here? I have lots planned, and I would love to head in the right direction.



I am happy to be participating in the Everything Etsy "I Made It!" Blog Party! Do you have some creativity flowing? Head on over there and start surfing handmade lovelies!

Hope everyone has a great weekend! I have lots planned this weekend including some traveling. Thanks for stopping by!


sketchy thursdays, some lace and a door


This week's Sketchy Thursdays is sponsored by Michelle's Scrapbooking & More. The DT was so lucky to each receive one Pixie Cottage stamp to work with for this week's sketch challenge. So fun!


I got the holiday door... which I was happy to get since I'm still scrapping the holidays. I figure, if it is still snowing, the holidays are fair game!


I inked my stamp with Colorbok ink in a rich brown color then embossed it with clear embossing powder. I colored in the darker areas with American Crafts markers and in the lighter colored areas I used watercolor color pencils. Then, where the snow is, I added glue and glitter for a shimmery, winter effect.



The chipboard ornaments are covered in vintage sheet music paper that I've found in my antiquing searches and love to use.

Thanks for stopping by! Check out Sketchy Thursdays to see the sketch for this week and to play along with us. You can also see a bit more about Michelle and the Pixie Cottage stamps. The DT did a great job with their stamps. (Oh, and GDT Sandra, she did a FABULOUS page using quilling, you just HAVE to see it!!!)


Wednesday, February 17, 2010

wordless wednesday


I don't have too much to say today. I've been swamped at work and the inspiration level when I get home has been pretty low. It's amazing what 8 hours of staring at a computer doing layouts can do for your mojo... it can kill it. All out squish it! Especially when you have deadlines back-to-back-to-back like I have right now. But I digress...


Here's a cutie-patootie little card I was asked to make for a co-worker to give a client. I thought this was just the cutest little elephant! He's from Sassafras Lass. They just make the cutest stuff!

OK, that's enough of my "Wordless" Wednesday. See you back here tomorrow for my Sketchy Thursdays page and a new sponsor!

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

a scrappy design sale

*Use the following code: BITTERSWEET in the message to seller at checkout. She will refund the discount via PayPal when she processes your purchase.

I'm passing along Heather's sale to my lovely readers! I am on the DT for A Scrappy Design and have loved every piece she's ever sent me to work with. You can see some of the previous posts where I've used her items HERE and HERE.


I had also made these projects and never posted them other than on the A Scrappy Design site. The Doodle Cutz Heather makes are so cool to work with. I've made cards and ATCs with them.



Head on over to A Scrappy Design and scoop up Heather's inventory!!

Monday, February 15, 2010

why i don't...


Who's That Girl is live with Challenge #3: Why I don't.... I had an incredibly tough time with this prompt, which is why, I guess, it's called a challenge.

I went through "Why I don't skydive," "Why I don't fly," Why I don't have any money (with a picture of my stash). And, with last week being deadline week at work (the time when we finalize the issue and send it to the printer), it seemed very appropriate to say, "Why I don't print anything without my editor."


Laura is my editor, the publisher of the magazine, and my bff at work. We have sat side-by-side in the same space for 8 years. I'm the only one who can read her handwriting, and she is the only one who knows what my hot buttons are.

The question is... will she find my typos before we go to press (lol). And she
always does!

Stop by Who's That Girl today to see what the rest of the DT came up with and to get the full details so you can play along with us! Love to see what you don't do.


Did you see those wonderful paper button flowers? I have some left in my Etsy store. And I have been crafting up a whole bunch, so you'll see some more varieties and colors in there soon.

And the ruler under the photo? More of my folding up those fabulous ruler strips from my Scrapbook Circle kit. Only this time I paired it up with some fussy cutting from a Material Girl page and then ran it through my sewing machine. Same cool folding, just a flatter version of it.


Other than the Thickers and my paper button flowers, this page was made using the February kit from Scrapbook Circle. Such great, versatile pieces in this kit!!!

This page is also built off of the most recent sketch at Design Dollies. Kristy does a fab job over there are giving sketch inspiration, and Adina and Leah pair it up with some great color and elements challenges. If you aren't playing over there, you are missing three very inspirational divas and their fab-o team of ladies.

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If you haven't seen Sketchy Thursdays yet today, stop on by.
There is a new DT Call!!

Saturday, February 13, 2010

a flowery little challenge


Here I am giving my best shot at the Papertrey Ink's Day 13 Challenge. The challenge is to:
• Design a floral embellishment, then create a card using one and and an acetate sheet of them to share.

And here I did just that! Thanks so much for stopping by and looking!





Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend!

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Sketchy Thursdays has a Facebook Fan page!! When we reach 100 Fans, I have a prize for one random fan. Check it out today!

Thursday, February 11, 2010

jillibean soup love


I'm still working through that amazing stash of papers and embellishments that Jillibean Soup sent me for their holiday giveaway. These papers are so versatile that I'm having a blast combining them to make all sorts of great pages.

And I finally found where I put that picture I took of what they sent. Thanks again, Jillibean Soup!!!


The pictures in this page are from Christmas Eve. Nate's cousins had some Santa hats, and he was having a ball playing around with one of them. And of course I was in my glory taking his picture over and over again, so this cute little montage happened.


This page goes with the 2.11 Sketchy Thursdays sketch challenge. I wasn't too sure about the multi-picture sketch, but it has turned out to be a great layout. The DT really liked it, and I am wowed by what they created!! Take a look at the Sketchy Thursdays blog to see what the DT made for this challenge.


Here is the next sketch. Link up your entry to the Sketchy Thursdays blog by next Wednesday!! Can't wait to see what you all create!! Especially since this sketch has way more photo spaces than we usually have for you.



Happy Thursday!! Hope you're having a great one!! And make sure you visit the next Sketchy Thursdays sponsor, Magpie Club. Tara has a great kit for the winner. Check her site HERE and the kit up for grabs HERE.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

a manly way to say "i love you"


Not every husband or boyfriend is going to appreciate a glitter soaked, heart-filled Valentine's Day card from his woman. Especially mine or some of my friends' husbands.


One of my dearest friends had me make this card for her to give to her man. I just love it! Such a perfect way to tell the man in your life that he's important on Valentine's Day.

Do you have your man's gift or card yet? What are you doing this V-Day. I need ideas!

Supplies: Basic Grey Lime Rickey (pp), Pink Paislee (pp), CardBlanc (ruler ribbon), Technique Tuesday (heart stamps), Studio Calico (car graphic), K&Co. (lettering)


Tuesday, February 9, 2010

ahhhh, love this boy!


Finally, I got to play along with some of my favorite challenges! And this is a "pile it on" page. The title and prompt inspiration comes from Scrap That Poetry's newest challenge: Ah, Yes! Love! (A very sweet poem, go over and read it.)


The sketch comes from my girl Kristy over at Design Dollies. Love this sketch! Click on over there and get inspired by the Dollies!!


The color challenge is from If The Shoe Fits...Scrap It! (My old stomping ground... miss you girls!) They want to see red, white and pink. I put the three of those in there and then threw in the orange on account of Nate being a boy. I think it makes the red, pink and white more subtle once you throw in that fourth color.


Most of these papers and such came from the February Studio Calico kit. I threw in the Smooch Spritz, some of the flowers, the journal spot and the black lettering from my stash. If you haven't been to Michael's recently, the one near my work just put out the new K&Co. stuff for the Designer's Corner area. I picked up the black letters and the flowers there. They are super cute in person.

Thanks for stopping by! I am blogging over at the Scrapbook Circle blog today. I'm talking about bending the rules over there (you'll see...)!


Monday, February 8, 2010

something completely different from me


I had every intention of making a Valentine's Day heart box for the Tuesday Trigger from Moxie Fab this past week. (You can see it here at this link.)

Only when I went to make my planned canvas project, I used butterflies. D'uoh! I love it anyways, and in some ways, I love it even more!! Must be why I gravitated to the butterflies.


To make this, I used cranberry colored alcohol ink and water in a mini mister for the first layer. Then I placed the butterfly chipboard down and sprayed again with the orange color Smooch Spritz. (Love this stuff by the way, it was my first time using either technique.)

I let it dry and then outlined the masked areas left by the butterflies with a black ultra-fine Sharpie.


I covered the chipboard butterflies with paper, edged and sanded them, then popped them up off the canvas with foam double-sided pop dots. Add the bakers twine and the stamp, and vióla!

I had meant to get so much more done this weekend, but instead spent Saturday with a very dear friend (hi Ames!!!) and went to a Super Bowl party yesterday. I hope to catch up this week.

Happy Monday everyone, and hope it'll be a good week for you!

Sunday, February 7, 2010

handmade flowers, new kits and a winner!


I've been busy. Super busy deciding on a direction for my Etsy store. I am really committed to making handmade embellishments with different fabrics, as well as putting together awesome kits.


I like using recycled and vintage findings. I LOVE buttons. So the buttons are the common element with the papers and fabrics differing with each piece.


Hope you like what you see and might make a stop over at my shop to check it out. I really hope to add to it each week if not more often. If there's something you've been looking for that is along these lines, let me know, I'd love to custom-make something for you!



And I'm sure you'd love to know who won the Scrapbook Circle February kit?! Well, the winner is #26:



Kristy, send me an e-mail with your shipping address and I'll make sure you get your kit from Scrapbook Circle. Thanks to everyone who played along with my commenting for the chance to win the kit!! I know some of you did sign up to get the kit. I know you'll love it!

Have a happy Sunday everyone! Enjoy the big game if you're watching it!