Scrapbooker’s Blog Tour

Hi everyone!

Recently I was tagged by Ashley Calder to be part of this fun and amazing Scrapbooker’s Blog Tour.  Being new to the scrapbooking online world, I first discovered Ashley’s blog a few years ago.  Her blog was so inspiring to me and I remember distinctly sitting at the computer and showing my DH and saying to him, “This is what I want to do”.   Besides Ashley’s blog inspiration, I totally admired her style, which I would describe as artistic, methodical, and soulful.  I just love her layers upon layers, handcrafted embellishments, and little surprises (a bit of ink here, a stroke of paint there, and a little sparkle).  I count Ashley among the group of artistic scrappers whose work gave me the confidence to bring my own artistic flair to my pages.

So now it’s my turn play along:

1. What am I working on right now?

Right now I am working on a layout for Ashley Calder and the Things That Shine.  I love designing with Ashley’s kits full of unique and beautiful scrappy  goodness.

2. How long does it take me to create a project?

“Don’t rush your art”, said Claudine Hellmuth.  I’m probably paraphrasing, but that is one of the things that stuck with me from Claudine’s Composition for Collage class.  I try to remind myself of this when I’m feeling rushed while creating my scrappy projects, because I approach my layouts as little works of art.  But, to answer the question I’d say three to four sittings, which usually translates into days, in which I spend an hour or two at a time.

3. What are my favorite things to create with at the moment?

Little shiney things…

and inks and paints.

4.  How does my creating/writing process work?

As I said earlier, I approach my layouts as little works of art.  I have a fine arts background and this is what comes natural to me.  Everything I learned from studying art and all my acquired scrappy skills come into play.  When I’m stitching  a line, if straight or purposely crooked, I am drawing with my sewing machine.  When gluing sequins down on a page, I feel as if I am painting with them.

As for the writing or journaling on my pages I too try to let that come natural.  Sometimes I just write a few lines, sometimes I write a story, and sometimes I get poetic.  Right now I am loving word stickers, phrases, and sometimes incorporate them into my journaling.

5. How do I become inspired and stay inspired?

My guilty pleasure….many, many, home décor magazines!!  I look at them every morning when I wake up and every night before bed.  Other inspirations are found purusing and pinning on Pinterest, looking at other scrapbookers and crafters beautiful work, and of course the adventure that is my DS.

6. What is my signature style?

Because it seems I am always trying things that are new to me on my layouts my style is ever evolving. I do think my pages have a certian look, although I don’t know if I can put it into exact descriptive terms.  For me the photo is the most important; it is what I want to stand out, so I usually chooses papers, patterns, colors, and embellishments to enhance it.  I love layers and seeing through.  I love combining the old with the new.  I love a softness, but a richness to my colors.  I love putting it all together like a puzzle to lead the viewer around the page.  I love bits of journaling and quirky titles.  And I just love telling the story through my eyes.

And now it’s my turn to tag a two of my favorite scrappers to continue the blog tour.  These talented ladies pages and projects continually inspire me:

• Betsy Sammarco
• Doris Sander

They will have their posts up on Monday, August 18th.

Thanks for looking and reading!

🙂   Evie

We Have a Winner!!!

Hi everyone!!

Today, I am announcing the winner for my P-A-R-T-Y Challenge that was part of Sketch-N-Scrap’s Birthday Celebration.

I want to thank all of you who participated in my challenge with all your lovely entries!  To pick the winner I went to random.org and the number generator said “8“.  Jane you are the winner!!!  Yay!!!  I will email you shortly with your $20 gift certificate from JBS Mercantile!!  Click here to see Jane’s wonderful entry.

See ya soon and have a scrappy day!!  🙂

Resoluting and Ruminating

Hey there!

January is almost up, so I’m just squeezing in a quasi-new-year’s resolution post.  I really wish I would have gotten this up at the beginning of the month, because I did start off the year with uncommon enthusiasm.  You remember: a New Year, a New Beginning.  Now, at the end of the month with real life butting in, I find my enthusiasm waning.  You know: car problems, scheduling and rescheduling doctor’s appointments, keeping on top of my forgetful ds’ homework assignments and class projects, etc.   All those little and big things that crop up and take time away from all those new year’s goals and plans.  No wonder we give up on our resolutions or worse yet, give up on  making them.  But there is hope, I say!!  I think January should be considered a month of adjustment.  Yes, make the resolutions, the goals, the plans, but give yourself a month to put them into practice; see how they really fit in your schedule, adjust them and maybe scale back a little; but don’t give up.  It is a New Year, a New Beginning, a time for uncommon enthusiasm.   And with all this is mind, I chose a resolution to help get me through what life dishes out.  Well it’s not really a resolution, but rather a state of mind.

(pinned from s978.photobucket.com)

I know, I know…another Keep Calm…but bear with me.  This really struck me when I saw it on Pinterest and I’ll tell you why.  Firstly, take time to really read it.  Keep Calm….take a deep breath and Scrap On…just keep making stuff.   The reason this made such an impression on me is that between Christmas and New Year’s Day I took the time to take that stack of layouts I made over the last year and put them in page protectors and get them in my albums.  It was like a year in review.  A review of what I created in this past year.  I can’t tell you the happiness I felt and all the reflection and introspection that came about.  So, I will share with you an excerpt from my daily journal from 12-28-2013:  “Whatever I went through, whatever was hard – I made these pages.  I have these creations to show for my year and they are good & worth it!  I love them unto themselves – beyond the blogging & galleries, I love them for what they are; little pieces of personal art.”  So you see why I related to this Keep Calm in a more deep and meaningful way.  It just seemed to symbolize what I had written in my journal.  And it reminds us that yes, life is busy; unexpected things come up, but it is so important to do the things that bring you joy and help make life meaningful for you. 

And I will bring it to a close there.  I have more practicle things to share about what I learned from looking at my older layouts that relate to more specific goals for this year…but I will save that for another day.  Maybe, Resoluting and Ruminating Part 2? 

FYI:  My posting schedule will revolve around the Sketch N Scrap challenges, which are on the 1st, 10th, and 15th of the month.  I will also throw in a post here and there to average it out to posting about once a week.

Thanks so much for stopping by and see ya Saturday!  Remember not to give up on those resolutions and keep creating!!!  Life is good!

xo, Evie

My One Little Word and a Winner!

MAGNIFIQUE…. of course, I had to pick a French word and doesn’t it just sound fun! 

This year I decided to try Ali Edward’s One Little Word class and I am so glad I did.  It is only the first month and I can already feel the benefits.  It felt so good put down, in one place, all my thoughts, goals, and ideas that I randomly scribble in my daily journal.  I feel much more focused and I can see what really matters to me; the core.

I picked such a word as magnifique, because like I said, it sounds fun.  To me it means to be brave and bold with a sense of fun.  Fun…the opposite of serious, of which I am usually too much of.  When I thought of choosing brave or bold, it did just feel too serious.  When I thought of choosing magnifique, it made me smile.

I am still waiting on my page protectors for this assignment, so I just laid the pieces on top of an 8.5 x 11 cream piece of cardstock.  I changed up the placement of the different items we were to include on this page, because I wanted to use this horizontal photo of me.  Yes, I’ll admit, not the most flattering photo of me with the angle and blurriness.  I wanted to use it, though,  because I took it of myself while in the top of the Space Needle.  Going up to the top was something I was afraid to do and I liked that I came up with an artsy photo by turning off the flash.

I was inspired by Ali’s use of grid transparency and chose this Crate Paper grid patterned paper that I had in my stash.  The vintage postal service sorting card is from a past Jenni Bowlin Studio kit.  I thought it was a perfect addition with the words Skyway Terrace printed on it.  To place the Kraft Bazzill numbers 2-0-1-4 on, I found this vellum in my stash with bits of metallic confetti in it.  I thought it really work well with the blurred lights in the photo and the gold Color Shine mist I used.

For  the symbol to represent my word I chose the Eiffel Tower, because it is pretty magnifique!  Here I stamped the tower with jet black StazOn, on top of the gold Color Shine.  I had dripped the Color Shine on the paper and lifted up the paper at angle so the ink would run across creating those little gold lines.  I did the same thing on the paper behind the photo of me.  I definetly will be playing more with that technique!

And this would be the back, page 2.  See detail shots below it.

The quote I chose.

And the why I chose this word.  (I’m dating myself with the Mary Tyler Moore reference!)

I did indeed complete the next two pages, but I feel that they are too personal to put out in the blog-o-sphere.   (I think I already let out enough of my gooniness for one post!! )  When I am working on these monthly assignments, I don’t want to be hindered about what I write.  I don’t want to be thinking in the back of my mind that it may go on my blog; since ultimately this class if for personal growth.  Also, you can see that I used pencil instead of ink.  I’m trying to think of this more a working  notebook or project, not looking for perfection.  This way I can quickly write down my thoughts, erase if I have to and move on.  This is what is working for me.

And now the moment you’ve all been waiting for…picked by random.org…the winner to the free spot in Claudine Hellmuth’s Technique Toolbox class with Big Picture Classes is #4, Amy Coose!!!

Congrats Amy!!!   I will email you with your coupon code.  Thanks to everyone for playing and thanks for stopping by today to check out my OLW!

xo, Evie

Happy News: Technique Toolbox is Back!

Hello everyone! 

Today I’m excited to share with you that Claudine Hellmuth’s Technique Toolbox class at Big Picture Classes is back and starts on February 10th.  Happy news all you scrappers and crafters, I have a free spot in the class to GIVE-AWAY to you!!!

Technique Toolbox with instructor Claudine Hellmuth.

Master 25 mixed-media techniques in 5 weeks.

Starts 2/10/2014 $50.00

Class Description:

Create a faux tintype image transfer, make art with Elmer’s glue and a plastic bag, create a gesso chalkboard—these are just a few of the amazing techniques featured in this class! Technique Toolbox is your chance to brush up on these (and 22 more) mixed-media techniques with nationally known collage artist and illustrator Claudine Hellmuth as your guide.

Technique Toolbox consists of 25 instructional videos and 25 professionally designed “recipe cards” that outline each technique. You’ll file these printable recipes inside an adorable handmade toolbox you’ll create in class. And that’s not all! Claudine has invited 20 fellow artists and crafters to create exclusive projects with her techniques, giving you plenty of ideas for creative, real-world applications—from scrapbook pages to wall décor.

Hey, I’m in there!

Read rest of the class description here .

If you missed the class the first time around, now is your chance to give your layouts and projects a creative boost for the new year.    And remember at Big Picture Classes you have FOREVER access to the classroom.   To be entered to win the GIVE-AWAY spot just leave a comment and I will choose a random winner with random.org and post it on Wednesday, January 22nd.  Good luck!

xo, Evie

P. S.  All the links in this post are my affiliate link.  Your clicks are much appreciated!!

Liebster Award, count ’em two.

Hi there!

The wonderfully talented Kristah Price nominated me for The Liebster Award.  Thanks Kristah!!  I told her I been previously nominated, but she assured me that was okay.  Kristah is a scrapbooker and the author a fictional book about scrapbookers, so I feel very honored to receive a nomination from her.  Please visit her blog to find out more about her and her books.

This time around I am to provide you with five things you may not know about me, answer ten questions from Kristah, and create ten questions for my five nominees.

5 things about me that you probably didn’t know:

1. I started out as a photography major in college.
2. I love wearing socks with patterns on them; like dots, hearts, and argyle.
3. I eat one Dark Hershey’s Kiss daily.
4. My favorite T.V. shows are House Hunters International and American Pickers.
5. I listen to jazz music while driving my car.

These are my answers to Kristah’s questions:

1. What was the most memorable thing that happened to you in 2013?  Being a Contributing Designer for Claudine Hellmuth’s Technique Toolbox Class.
2. Who is your favorite author?  Debra Olliver, who wrote Entre Nous-A Woman’s Guide to Finding Her Inner French Girl.
3. Have you ever had a paranormal experience?  No.
4. Where was the best holiday you ever had?  Our recent trip to Seattle.
5. What is your favorite food?  Chicken pot pie and Baskin Robbins Chocolate ice cream.
6. What country or place would you most like to visit?  Paris, again!
7. What is your favorite movie?  Mary Poppins.
8. What new craft/skill would you most like to learn?  The trick to getting and keeping my house organized.
9. Are you a cat lover, a dog lover, or both?  A converted dog lover.
10. Who inspires you the most?  It is always changing, but at the moment  scrappers Jill Sprott and Wilna Furstenberg.

Here are my nominees for The Liebster Award.

• Isbaha’s Home
• Bonjor Scrap!
• feedyourcraft
• Dictionary’s Creative Space
• life, scrapbook, repeat

And my questions for the nominees:

1. What is your favorite dessert?
2. Who is your favorite artist?
3. What was your favorite subject in elementary school?
4. Do you like to dance?
5. What is your favorite season?
6. Do you eat real butter?
7. What do you collect?
8. What do you put in your coffee?
9. Who is your favorite Disney character and why?
10. Are you a little bit country or are you a little bit rock-n-roll?

Here is a list of guidelines should you wish to accept and pass on the award.

1) Thank the person who nominated you and add a link to their blog.
2) Display the award on your blog.
3) Answer the questions about yourself that were provided by the blogger who nominated you.
4) Provide 5 facts about yourself.
5) Nominate at least 5 bloggers you would like to pass the award on to.
6) Create a list of 10 questions you want your nominees to answer.
7) List a set of rules similar to these on your blog.
8) Inform the bloggers that you have nominated them and profile a link to your post.

Most of all, have fun!

Whew!!!  I made it through.  Thanks everyone for stopping by and I’ll see ya soon!

xo, Evie

Exciting News!!!

Hello everyone!

My family and I were on vacation for the entire week of Thanksgiving and boy has it been hard for me to get back into the swing of things!!  But, today I have major motivation to get back into the blogging and scrapping groove.  I’m so excited to share with you that I am now a member of the Sketch-N-Scrap Layout Design Team!!  Yay and WooHooo!!!!

 

I’m so thrilled to be included with such a talented team of ladies and I can’t wait to get started.  If you haven’t yet been to the Sketch-N-Scrap sketch challenge blog you defintely should go check it out.  They have amazing layout and card sketches that will boost your creativity and help you get those pages and cards done!  Every month there is a chance to win an awesome prize and to be a featured designer…love that!  This month you have a chance to win some super cute Webster’s Pages goodies, which is reason enough to pop over to  Sketch-N-Scrap by clicking here.

This is offically my first Design Team and I am ready to give it my all!  Thanks so much to Lisa and Kelly and everyone over at Sketch-N-Scrap!!

As always I am so glad you stopped by!  I hope your holiday preparations are going well, as for me…I need to get them going!!

See ya soon!

xo, Evie

What a Hoot!

I’ve joined in on the fun over Paper Issues for their Halloween Hootenanny!  And thanks to Mary Jo a Halloween layout of mine is being featured on their blog.

Here’s a detail from the layout.  To see the entire page (and leave a little love) pop over to Paper Issues by clicking here. 

Thanks so much for stopping by and for your much appreciated support!!!    🙂

See ya soon!

xo, Evie

Lucky Me, Lucky You – A Give-Away!!!

Recently, I was lucky enough to win a random challenge over at Jenni Bowlin Mercantile Forum.  Part of my prize was this awesome JBS Mercantile May 2013 Papercrafting Kit.  Now here’s where the lucky you comes in…since I subscribe to the monthly JBS Papercrafting Kits, and already have this kit, I though I would pass it along to one of my lucky readers.  It’s perfect timing too, because this month marks my one year anniversary as a blogger and what better way, than a give-away,  to thank all of you who come and visit my blog!!!

Wow…there are so many goodies, right!  Notice the vintage tags and labels at the bottom left.  I love that Jenni includes some real vintage items each month.

Love, love, love all these papers!  Some from Bazzill, Pebbles, BasicGrey, My Mind’s Eye and two exclusive JBS Mercantile sheets designed by Lisa Dickinson.

Here are the other sides of the paper, plus the JBS Mercantile stencil and stamp that has become available to non-subscribers as of Summer CHA.

To enter to win the give-away, please leave either your email address, or 2 Peas name, or scrapbook.com name in the comments so I can get in touch with you.  Also, I would love it if you would consider following my blog and or following me on Pinterest.  The cut off for entering is Monday, September 23rd, midnight eastern time.  I will choose the winner with random.org and make the announcement here Tuesday, September 24th.  Good luck!!

Just for fun here is a link to my very first post.  I have to say “I’ve come along way baby”!!  I really think my scrapping stlye and blogging style has evolved over this last year.  Although, looking at the layout in this first post I notice I am still using the Fiskars Threading Water punch, including trims on my pages, and using Claudine Hellmuth’s Thought Bubbles.

It’s been an amazing year and it has been so fun getting to know all of you and to be inspired by you daily!! 

See ya soon with more Paris!

xo, Evie

A Back to School Share

Hello everyone!  Today is the first day of 6th grade for my son, so I thought I would share something I’ve been doing for his class since he was in 2nd grade.  Each year I volunteer to teach an art program for his classroom called Meet the Masters.  It is a wonderful program where the kids get to learn about a different artist each month.   They attend a lecture with slides and make a work of art in that artist’s style.  The later is where I come in.  At the beginning of the month I go to a one hour training session where I learn a bit about the artist and make a sample project to teach in the classroom sometime during the month.

Here is a a sample project that I made last year in the stlye of artist Paul Klee (Klay).  Paul Klee is actually one of my favorite artists.  He was born in Switzerland in 1879 and died in 1940.  He painted in an abstract manner emphasizing movement.  For example, he would use arrows to lead the viewer’s eye around his paintings.  Do you think that is where us scrapbookers and crafters got the idea of using arrows? 

I was quite pleased with this little tree house painting considering the supplies we had to work with; construction paper, black crayons, watered down tempra paints, and brushes that did not want to keep their point.  We used the black crayons as a resist to the watery paint; to keep the paint in it’s little sections.  Pretty cool…huh?!

Even though I get a little stressed out before I go in front of the class and the teacher(!!) to teach the lesson, once I get going I really love it.  I get to impart some of my artful insights along the way and it makes me relize that hey, I do know a thing or two about art.  🙂

Here is a link if you want to learn more about Paul Klee:  click here.  or just google Paul Klee, there is a lot of information and painting images out there.

Also check my art and collage pinboard.  I’ve got a few Paul Klee’s over there.

As always, I am so glad you stopped by and if you’re a teacher, a student, or you have little ones or grand little ones….here’s to a sucessful school year!!!

xo, Evie