What do you get the couple that has everything???

I was overjoyed when I received a wedding invitation in the mail a few weeks ago.    These two friends have been together for over 30 years.  They have traveled the world together, exploring such places as China and India.  They have collected antiques the world over.  They own multiple residences, and their own businesses.  However, the invitation forced me to ask myself: what exactly do you get the couple who truly has everything when finally they are allowed to get married - and are doing just that???

I decided on something personal, something handcrafted, something created just for them.  I dug through my own wedding photos and found the perfect black and white picture of the two of them together.  I headed to a local scrapbook store that I knew carried Graphic 45 paper - since these two scream "vintage" more than anyone I know.  I bought a 12x12 shadowbox on sale at Michael's - and viola - a layout mounted in a shadowbox was created.

 

Obviously, I edited some personal information from the layout before posting, as that is the invitation I received complete with names and RSVP information.  I used Tea Dye distress ink to tone down the ecru card stock the invite was printed on.  Additionally, as this has not yet been given, I do not have permission to post pictures of the recipients, so the photo has also been edited out.  (The happy couple does not know about this blog, so they won't see their gift in advance).


To create the layout I used paper from Graphic 45's A Proper Gentleman collection.  The background is Dressed to the Nines and A Proper Gentleman.  The invitation and photo are both double mounted.  First on Nightmist Bazzill, then on A Proper Gentleman and The Sophisticate, respectively.

The quote is one that I found in my stash from DCWV Wedding & Romance quote stack.  I adhered the vellum to the Bazzill with my zig two-way glue pen, and then covered the glue with antique brass squares I found in the clearance bin at Michaels.

This photo also shows the two different background papers I used.  The ruler along the bottom is cut from A Proper Gentleman.

My original intent was to make the Tim Holtz grunge roses for this layout, but they just didn't look right on the page.  I did some Google image searches and found flowers that I thought would fit in perfectly.  Using Mother's Day Bouquet and my brand new Art Philosophy cartridge I created the flowers for the lower left of the layout.  It didn't look complete without a vine or something to connect them, so I used Art Philosophy to cut the flourish.

The paper is from DCWV Life's Journey stack.  With a little bit of Tea Dye distress ink, it coordinated beautifully with the Graphic 45 paper.  I inked the edges of the flowers with Faded Jeans.  The pearls in the center are from Recollections.

The wedding is next week, and I hope they like their gift.  I would LOVE to hear what you think, so please leave me a comment.

As a reminder, on Sunday, September 4, I will be designing for Susan's Anything Goes Festive Birthday Blog Hop.  I will be giving away one set of 3 of the handmade flowers in this layout to one random person who comments on this blog during the hop.  I hope to see you there!

.· ´¨¨)) -:¦:-
          ¸.·´ .·´¨¨))
      ((¸¸.·´  ..·´   -:¦:-
     -:¦:-   ((¸¸.· (¨`v´¨)
                       `v´  Darlene

Yet Another Two for One Challenge: WMSC 62 & Challenge Me Monday #74

Hi Everyone!

Fresh on the heels of Hurricane Irene I have a project for 2 different challenges!  First up is the weekly sketch challenge at Waltzingmouse Stamps.  Found here.

The sketch looked like this:

The challenge allowed me to create either a tag, a card shaped like a tag, or a card with a tag on it, and of course, use Waltzingmouse Stamps!  For those of you that have never seen Clare's stamps, I urge you to check out their deliciousness!!!!!!  I do not consider myself a stamper, but I LOVE her stamps, and for this challenge used my most favorite sentiment from Say it With Style.

To combine challenges, I created a birthday card for the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Me Monday # 74, whose only requirement was to create a birthday project, and of course, a Cricut Cut. Found here.  I used the Dreams Come True cartridge for the focal image.

So, without further ado, here is my tag shaped card, using the "Happy Birthday" sentiment from Say it With Style.  I inked the "happy" and "birthday" individually and stamped them individually, before hand cutting the banner pieces.  I inked the edges of the banner pieces with distress ink, but for the life of me I can't remember what color I used!!  I'm counting Belle's skirt as the third banner piece from the sketch.

I used by I-Rock to attach the bling to the banner pieces.  I realized a bit too late I should have attached bling at the top where the hole would have gone at the top of the tag.

The last few days have been a bit crazy as my husband and I prepared for Hurricane Irene.  This hurricane is the most powerful to hit in New York State since Hurricane Gloria in 1985.  I spent Friday running around in anticipation of the storm buying a few necessities.  (wine, cheese etc. ).  Early Saturday morning was spend at a birthday party, (the birthday girl was the recipient of today's project) while the rest of the day was spent sitting around just waiting for Irene to make landfall.  Today I spent the entire day without power.  Thank goodness for battery powered Ottlites to see my crafting space!!!  We lost one tree to the hurricane.  Not a bad outcome considering the tree was right up against the house and it went down in the opposite direction!!  I live in a condominium complex, and as such, the downed tree has already been removed!  It was actually removed a full NINE hours before electricity was restored!!!  So, a huge thank-you to the tree trimming crew that was here for removing the tree before it broke any windows, or was completely uprooted and damaged someone else's property.  I hope everyone reading this that was in the path of Hurricane Irene is safe and sound and without damage, or that your loved ones that found themselves in the path of this monster storm are all safe and sound.

.· ´¨¨)) -:¦:-
          ¸.·´ .·´¨¨))
      ((¸¸.·´  ..·´   -:¦:-
     -:¦:-   ((¸¸.· (¨`v´¨)
                      `v´  Darlene

Another Two for One Challenge!

First up, Cricut Cardz Challenge, found HERE.  The theme was back to school, and the requirements were red, ribbon and rhinestones!  I lost track of time, so this might not actually make the time constraints for entry.

The second challenge was for Crazy About Cricut, found HERE.  Again the theme was back to school, and the only requirement was to make a note!!

This was my first time using the Lacy Labels cartridge.  I used the "Bliss" cut at 4 inches, and welded the shift and non-shift images together to create the card.  The patterned paper scalloped circle is a Spellbinders; paper from DCWV.  The little girl and her easel are from A Child's First Year cut at 3 inches.  If you look closely you can see the rhinestones in her hair!  I inked the card base with Tattered Rose and Firebrick Red Distress ink.  Tied on a ribbon and viola - a simple little card I will send to daycare with my little girl!  The solid cardstock is from my stash.


.· ´¨¨)) -:¦:-
          ¸.·´ .·´¨¨))
      ((¸¸.·´  ..·´   -:¦:-
     -:¦:-   ((¸¸.· (¨`v´¨)
                        `v´  Darlene

Was that an EARTHQUAKE??

Why yes, yes it was.  And to think, this morning my biggest concern was what to wear to a hearing!  By now I'm sure almost the entire country knows that a 5.9 quake hit in Virginia and was felt up the coast.  Here on Long Island (the appendage of New York state where I live), it came as quite a surprise to many people.  Reports are it was felt down in South Carolina and up in Massachusetts.  Once I realized what it was, I was concerned for those located near the epicenter.  Once I discovered where the epicenter was I was concerned for my BFF and her daughter.  She and I have been friends since the 8th grade!  It's amazing to me that we have maintained this friendship after more than 30 years and across state lines.  (YIKES - am I that old??) She moved to Virginia about 5 years after we graduated high school, and relocated to Florida for a while, before returning to Virginia.  I keep trying to talk her into returning to Long Island but her job needs her close to Washington, DC.

So we maintain the friendship through morning phone calls while I drive to work.  Yes, I'm one of those people yammering away on my cellphone.  I do however always use a hands free device.  I find that the only time I am alone long enough to have a decent conversation with anybody is when I'm in the car.  We see each other when we can - although certainly not often enough.  I'm hoping to make it down to see her next month.  It will be my birthday present to myself, if only I can find an affordable hotel for the family that isn't in a bad neighborhood!

So, my friends are safe, and I'm safe, and my family is safe, and I hope that all out in cyberspace reading this are safe as well!


.· ´¨¨)) -:¦:-
          ¸.·´ .·´¨¨))
      ((¸¸.·´  ..·´   -:¦:-
     -:¦:-   ((¸¸.· (¨`v´¨)
                        `v´  Darlene

Do I own a punch to make a tag?

Just a quick thought about getting organized. I'm willing to bet that other scrappers can relate.

I want to make favor tags for a birthday party. I saw photos of some online & I know I can make them myself.

I asked myself: Do I own a tag punch or maybe a tag Cuttlebug die?

I answered: I'm not sure. Maybe I'll ask my scrapping buddy, our very own Darlene, if she has one or if she has a Cricut cartridge that would do the trick. Or perhaps instead of bothering her to borrow something I can just ask her whether *I* have one.

Don't you just love it when you do not even know what is in your stash, and you are are too lazy to look but then you realize that your friend can probably tell you whether you own it? It's a fringe benefit of scrapping with other people!!!!

I was considering making a list of my supplies, perhaps just a word document, but then, uggh, I would be keeping inventory & having to add my new purchases to a list.

What tricks do you have for staying organized and for simply remembering what it is that you may own?

Two for the Price of One! WMSC 60 & Peachy Keen Stamp Sketch Challenge 58

How often do you find the same, or similar sketch for a challenge?  This week, Waltzingmouse Stamps, and Peachy Keen Stamps have virtually identical sketches for their challenges.


The Waltzingmouse Challenge can be found HERE.
This is the sketch:

The Peachy Keen Challenge can be found HERE.
 This is the sketch:

Virtually identical right??

So, rather than create two cards, I made one.  In keeping with the rules, I used Waltzingmouse Vintage Labels 4 and Say it With Style stamps on this card.  Peachy Keen doesn't require use of their stamps for a sketch challenge.  Whew!!!

The photo is a bit crooked, but you get the idea!  I used Perfect Pearls Forever Green on the Label 4 stamp.  I would have used it to stamp the sentiment, but Black Perfect Medium is very sticky and very hard to get off clear stamps.

Here is a close up of the Perfect Pearls.  You can kind of see how it is iridescent.  It looks really nice in person.

The bling was attached with my I-Rock.  The patterned paper is from a holiday paper pack that I have hanging around.  I inked the edges of the oval with Broken China distress ink.  For the scallops I used good old fashion decorative scissors.  Hope you like it!

· ´¨¨)) -:¦:-
          ¸.·´ .·´¨¨))
      ((¸¸.·´  ..·´   -:¦:-
     -:¦:-   ((¸¸.· (¨`v´¨)
                       `v´  Darlene

My Creative Time Throwback Thursday Challenge

Time for another challenge at My Creative Time!!  You can find it HERE.  This time the task was to use a retired Cricut cartridge.  I've had Bags, Tags, Boxes & More since I got the free download with my Gypsy, but was a bit intimidated to do anything with it.  After watching a few YouTube videos, and finding the handbook online, I decided to give it a whirl!!

This is the first time I ever actually stitched on a project, so it's a little crooked.  My husband thought it would be nice to create a box for the tic, tac, toe game I made earlier in the week, but I wanted to use Emma's All Around Christmas stamps.  So, I combined the two.  I created a Christmas gift box for the tic, tac, toe set!!  The green tag is also from TBBM, while the argyle frame underneath is Spellbinders Labels 4.  The green paper for the tag is Bazzil, all other paper is from my stash.

· ´¨¨)) -:¦:-
          ¸.·´ .·´¨¨))
      ((¸¸.·´  ..·´   -:¦:-
     -:¦:-   ((¸¸.· (¨`v´¨)
                      `v´  Darlene
 

Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Me Monday #72

Keeping up with my goal of at least one challenge a week, which is in and of itself proving to be a challenge, here is my project for the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Me Monday.  The "rules" were to make a project with a bug (and of course use your Cricut machine on the project, although not necessarily on the bug).  You can find it HERE.  My 3 1/2 year old has just learned to play "knick, knack, toe" as she calls it, so I decided to make a magnetic game for her.  I used Create a Critter for the ladybugs and bees.

I made 5 of each.  I used a random rectangle sized at 4 inches by 1/2 inch and welded the four of them together using my Gypsy to create the tic, tac, toe board itself.  I adhered it to a magnet sheet with my Zig Two Way Glue Pen.  I cut the bugs from the same magnet material.  All layers are adhered to the bugs by running it through my Xyron.  The cardstock is scraps from my stash.

· ´¨¨)) -:¦:-
          ¸.·´ .·´¨¨))
      ((¸¸.·´  ..·´   -:¦:-
     -:¦:-   ((¸¸.· (¨`v´¨)
                       `v´  Darlene

The Pink Stamper August 2011 Blog hop

One of the fun things about this hop is that after you have gotten to hop through the hop, Robyn invites the scrapping world to post back on her blog following along with the theme of the hop.    You can find that HERE.

This month she introduced her new design team members and asked them each to create a project to show off their style.  I never thought I had a style per se, but I have found myself being drawn more and more toward a vintage look of late.  So here is the card for this challenge.

  Not a very good photo I admit, so here is a close up of the quote:

I discovered this quote and have found it to be comforting when thinking of loved ones who have passed.  The card itself was quite simple.  I scored a 5x10 inch piece of cardstock to create a 5x5 card base.  Adhered ribbon to an inked 4x4 piece of patterned paper from DCWV.  The quote was printed on white cardstock which I cut with Labels 10 Nestabilities and inked with distress ink.  The small butterflies are an EK Success punch.


.· ´¨¨)) -:¦:-
          ¸.·´ .·´¨¨))
      ((¸¸.·´  ..·´   -:¦:-
     -:¦:-   ((¸¸.· (¨`v´¨)
                        `v´  Darlene

When I became one of the Two Scrappin' Lawyers, I decided that I would share some fun photography in addition to sharing my scrapbook projects. I've been taking lots of pictures but I've been a bit slow with scrapbooking them. I have pictures to show but not many layouts to show. I took this photo of my son on the swing at sunset on Fire Island at the end of June. In July I learned that Long Island's main newspaper, Newsday has a photo contest every summer. They accept entries until September. There are several prizes and the first place winning photo becomes the cover photo for the following summer's guide for fun things to do on Long Island. I submitted my photo and someone from Newsday contacted me the very next day to tell me that they wanted to run it in the Explore LI section on Friday, July 22nd instead of waiting for the contest to end. Here is the photo. I sure hope that I am still in the running for the contest that is to end in September.

I crouched down low to get this shot and I was so happy to see through the lens that the swingset framed the shot nicely. I didn't even think that I had the ability to take a great shot at sunset. I loved it immediately but I had no idea that Newsday would agree!

My Creative Time Throwback Thursday Challenge

It's that time again . . . Emma's Throwback Thursday Challenge.   For this challenge the requirements were to use an older Cricut Cartridge (I used Joys of the Season), make it a Christmas theme (the sentiment is from Emma's new release All Around Christmas), and to use material anywhere on the project (ribbon on the top of the ornament).

I embossed green foil paper with Cuttlebug Ornament embossing folder that was part of an HSN exclusive set.  The ornament is cut at 3" from Joys of the Season page 62.  I used leftover gold paper I had hanging around.  I stamped the sentiment with Black Perfect Medium, and used green Perfect Pearls.  The ribbon I had in my stash.

It's simple, but I think it packs a bit of a punch!


.· ´¨¨)) -:¦:-
          ¸.·´ .·´¨¨))
      ((¸¸.·´  ..·´   -:¦:-
     -:¦:-   ((¸¸.· (¨`v´¨)
                        `v´  Darlene

Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Me Monday #71

The challenge for this week was to create a project for a friend.  I decided to try my hand at something other than a card or scrapbook layout.  I purchased an unfinished wooden frame from Michaels  I adhered patterned paper to it using Modge Podge.  I used Gypsy Wanderings to cut "Friends" and Mother's Day Bouquet to cut the layers for the rose. 

I used Tim Holtz' grunge rose technique to create the rose.  I sprayed it with Cherry Ice Smooch, and inked the edges in black.  The vine beneath the rose is from Cindy Loo.

 I really like how it turned out!  I hope the friend who is the recipient of this gift likes it too!


.· ´¨¨)) -:¦:-
          ¸.·´ .·´¨¨))
      ((¸¸.·´  ..·´   -:¦:-
     -:¦:-   ((¸¸.· (¨`v´¨)
                        `v´  Darlene

Peachy Keen Stamps :: Sketch Challenge 57 w/a Twist!

Nothing like starting a blog to keep up with crafting, only to not post in weeks!!  YIKES!!  Unfortunately my little girl came down with walking pneumonia, and then my husband got sick.  Taking care of the two of them left very little time for myself.  Not to mention my crafting space is in the master bedroom, and with the hubby in there asleep, I couldn't exactly keep the lights on.

However, I did manage to squeak out this card for the Peachy Keen Stamps Sketch Challenge (Link).

I used my Cuttlebug to create the flowers, and a Pink by Design stamp for the clouds.  The sentiment is from an old stamp set with each word inked and stamped individually. 


.· ´¨¨)) -:¦:-
          ¸.·´ .·´¨¨))
      ((¸¸.·´  ..·´   -:¦:-
     -:¦:-   ((¸¸.· (¨`v´¨)
                        `v´  Darlene