Journey More Than Words July Challenge

 Another month another fabulous challenge over at More Than Words!! The challenge this month is a sketch and the word smile. This is my version.

 You've met this little sweetie before. Her name is Keaton and she fought and won her battle with cancer! She has every reason to smile don't you think?

Kiki developed cancer at the tender age of two and has suffered more than any human should have to in her battle with it. I have been documenting her journey through it's various stages by scrapbooking. This layout will also be included in the albums.

I used Blue Fern papers for this layout. Just a few close-ups.

I used a Prima stencil on the background and some mists in gold and pinks.

 

 The title journey is self-explanatory. What this little girl endured in the fight for her life is unimaginable!Yet she did and she won. She is such a trooper!

I added some seashells to the layout as it was taken on the beach and it felt right! I also used some Blue Fern Chipboard on this piece.

More flowers from Prima!  

You can follow the story of Keaton's battle at Kisses for Keaton

That's it for me now it's your turn! Hope to see you on the blog!! Now for some awesome prizes:

All our prizes include free international postage!

MAIN CHALLENGE WINNER

a $50 USD gift certificate from THE SCRAPBOOK DIARIES

Here is more information about our 1st place sponsor this month:

"The Scrapbook Diaries is an online retailer for premium scrapbooking and paper craft supplies. We specialize in kits from the industries' top designers. Our kits come mailed with directions as well as access to step by step videos that enable you to follow the creative process of designers around the world. We carry products from international manufacturers and we boast the largest selection 

of laser-cut chipboard available on the web."

Next, 4 runners up will be each awarded a prize, as follows:

1st RUNNER UP

a $25 USD prize package from 7 DOTS STUDIO

(image below is for illustration purposes only)

2nd RUNNER UP

a $25 USD prize package from STUDIO 75

3rd RUNNER UP

a $25 USD store credit from THE DUSTY ATTIC

4th RUNNER UP

a $25 USD prize package from COLOUR BLAST

(exactly as shown below)

In addition, we will draw one random winner from all eligible entries!

RANDOM WINNER

a $25 USD prize package from COUTURE CREATIONS

Each month, we hand pick a winner who has not made it into our TOP 5, but who has captured our attention someway, somehow. We might pick a project due to its original use for a certain product, the cleverest title, most beautiful photo, etc... 

Who knows what we'll be looking for?

MYSTERY WINNER

a $25 USD prize package from FABRIKA DECORU

And last, but certainly not least, we will randomly award a prize to one lucky blog follower who has commented on any of our July blog posts.

LUCKY COMMENTER

a $25 USD gift certificate from MAGENTA

We have the best sponsors ever so we would appreciate it if you took the time to click on the SPONSORS tab above to learn more about them and their products.

Now, it's time to get creating on your 

July SMILE & SKETCH Main Challenge project!

All the best! :)

Imagine

 It's reveal time again at More Than Words! It was a fun challenge this month and I think you'll love playing along. This is my layout.

This is the challenge

Awesome isn't it just imagine and get messy!

I choose this photo of my DGD Emily playing fairy in the forest. That's one thing I love about children is their unfettered imaginations!! They are inhibited by any of the adult issues and insecurities that come with age they are just free to let their imaginations run wild. 

I used a stencil and molding paste on this. Rather than try to meticulously add color I just dumped different colors of embossing powder on the wet paste then dried it allowing it to bubble. My stamped butterflies were done once with embossing powder and the second time I went off a bit with black archival ink to give it a smudged look. Everything is sort of haphazardly placed on the page.

I did a great deal of fussy cutting and then ran a string of pearls throughout the cluster. I loved these gorgeous papers from Bo Bunny's Soiree collection.

I choose this particular chipboard font from Thickers because of the adorable pink tint in it but mostly because it reminded me of how children print.

I really enjoyed doing this challenge and hope you do to!!

Don't forget to look at our lovely prizes this month including one sponsored by me!

All our prizes include free international postage!

MAIN CHALLENGE WINNER

a $50 USD gift card from FLYING UNICORN

Here is more information about our 1st place sponsor this month:

"Flying Unicorn... it's about One of a Kind! We offer an incredible selection of products for all paper crafting artists. Our "Your Passion Your Art" monthly kits are filled with the latest and the greatest and always include an off-the-page project to keep your creative muse flowing. We share daily tips and tutorials on our blog and you can also find loads of inspiration on our Facebook page!"

Next, 4 runners up will be each awarded a prize, as follows:

1st RUNNER UP

a $25 USD prize package from 13ARTS

(image below is for illustration purposes only)

2nd RUNNER UP

a $25 USD prize package from MAJA DESIGN

3rd RUNNER UP

a $25 USD gift certificate from LINDY'S STAMP GANG

4th RUNNER UP

a $25 USD prize package from LEMONCRAFT

(image below is for illustration purposes only)

In addition, we will draw one random winner from all eligible entries!

RANDOM WINNER

a $25 USD prize package from 2CRAFTY

 (image below is for illustration purposes only)

Each month, we hand pick a winner who has not made it into our TOP 5, but who has captured our attention someway, somehow. We might pick a project due to its original use of a certain product, the cleverest title, most beautiful photo, etc. Who knows what we will be looking for?  We call this our Mystery Winner.

MYSTERY WINNER

a $25 USD prize package from FABRIKA DECORU

And last but certainly not least we will randomly award a prize to one lucky blog follower who has commented on any of our May blog posts.

LUCKY COMMENTER

a $25 USD prize package from our DT member, PAMELA

So, take part in the fun!! Just imagine and get messy! 

All the best! :)

Hello beautiful

I felt inspired by the new Julie Nutting papers that came in the April LE kit at My Creative Scrapbook. I've been a longtime fan of Marilyn Rivera and love how she folds paper. I scraplifted one of her layouts just for fun.

It's the first time I've cut the photo and in hindsight i think I might go back and add some detail around the base of it. But for now this is what I came up with.

I did alot of fussy cutting and used the roses both under my fold as well as to cover some stamping mistakes I made! I also added random spots of crushed glass for extra interest.

All these gorgeous flowers are from Prima. I also sprayed the lace trim with some pink Shimmerz to match my paper better.

A little embellishment added on the bottom to cover another stamping mistake. I also did a bit  of stitching around two of the edges. Of course there was some masking and misting involved! That's it for now! See you soon! All the best! :)

Dream

 Dropping in for a quick post today to show you a layout I did using the gorgeous Tales of You and Me papers by Frank Garcia. I love these papers and am thinking of doing my first mini album with them! This is my beautiful granddaughter Emily as a flower girl at her uncles weddingl She is just so precious!

I got these papers in two separate kits from Swirlydoos and My Creative Scrapbook! Consequently I have lots to play with and the matching embellishments are sublime!

A close-up of the masking work I did. I love this new mask. You can ink in the background then add in the rest of the bloom with molding paste. I love the funky look of it!

Beautiful blooms and chipboard both from Prima!

I die cut a doily out of one of the papers to add background to my photo. The quote is from Kaisercraft.

Another view of the die cut doily.

That's it for today. Admittedly I have been way off my game lately. With the loss of my best friend I have found it difficult to focus, much less to be creative. I have been stressed and it has finally caught up to me in the form of a wicked cold and bronchitis. I am on the mend and hope to be back with some new changes that I had planned then put off because of the situation. So here's hoping things take a turn for the better!

All the best! :)

Moments-More Than Words May Challenge

It's that time again at More Than Words,  the reveal of another new challenge!  This May it's about clocks and moments!! That's right TIME! And here is my interpretation!

 Here is the challenge

I can just imagine all the awesome projects we'll see this month with this challenge! A few additional photos. . .

Because the photo is old I wanted to carry that into my page so I used a resin lantern and some chipboard from Dusty Attic and went to work. I painted the lantern with Prima Bloom Spray in Vintage Gold and used Get Glowing Inklingz from  Shimmerz for the yellow glow. I went over the piece with Artisan Powder to make it look more worn. This powder is fabulous!

I used a TCW stencil, some moulding paste and more gold mist and did some masking on  my background. I then used a sentiment stamp and went around the page. The metal clocks are from Prima's Vintage Trinkets line. I added the paper clocks by fussy cutting my Maya Design papers. I used Vintage Autumn for this layout. 

My title speaks for itself perfectly. I believe that time is short and we need to really step back and reassess our priorities. Do what is important, have fun, live for the now.

The little boy is my dad with his father. My grandpa died three weeks before the end of WWII. Shot down by a sniper's bullet my dad was left without his father at the age of twelve. I lost my father to pancreatic cancer. It was the first day of his retirement when he got the news. Live for the now!

AND NOW

Here are our prizes for the month

All our prizes include international postage!!!

MAIN CHALLENGE WINNER

a $50 USD prize package from COUTURE CREATIONS

Here is more information about our 1st place sponsor this month:

"The Couture Creations and Ultimate Crafts brands are owned and manufactured by Artdeco Creations Pty Ltd which also manufactures other leading craft brands.  Artdeco Creations is one of the world's great die manufacturers with a long history of quality products which are bespoke and boutique.  Our dies are very intricate with beautiful fine features and are of the highest quality.  We have a dedicated team of wonderful people who are crafters designing for crafters.  We love what we do and take pride in our designs and work."

Next, 4 runners up will each be awarded a prize as follows:

1st RUNNER UP

a $25 USD gift certificate from THE SCRAPBOOK DIARIES

2nd RUNNER UP

a $25 USD prize package from 7 DOTS STUDIO

(image below is for illustration purposes only)

3rd RUNNER UP

a $25 USD prize package from STUDIO 75

4th RUNNER UP

a $25 USD store credit from THE DUSTY ATTIC

In addition, we will draw a one random winner from all eligible entries!

RANDOM WINNER

a $25 prize package from COLOUR BLAST

(exactly as shown below)

Each month, we hand pick a winner from all participants who have not made it to our TOP 5, but who has captured our attention someway, somehow.  We might pick a project due to its original use of a certain product, the cleverest title, most beautiful photo, etc.  Who knows what will we be looking for?  That's why we call it our Mystery Winner!

MYSTERY WINNER

a $25 USD prize package from FABRIKA DECORU

And last but certainly not least we will randomly award a prize to one lucky blog follower who has commented on any of our May blog posts.

LUCKY COMMENTER

a $25 USD prize package from GRAPHIC 45

(exactly as shown below)

To learn more about all our generous sponsors, click on the SPONSORS tab above!

We cannot wait to see you interpretation of our 

May MOMENT & CLOCKS Main Challenge!

Link up your project using the LinkyTool in the right sidebar

by May 31st at 11:59 pm EST.

PS: Remember our DT Callout 

for which you can find all the details HERE. 

We hope that you will apply! 

I look forward to seeing your creation HERE  at More Than Words! And don't forget about our Design Team call!!

All the best! :)