Pion Design DT - OMGosh!!!

Have you heard of them? Pion Design in Sweden manufactures THE best soft, romantic papers you've EVER seen. Before their DT Call closed, Jenny Erickson contacted me to guest design (check out the announcement here that was posted last week) and my box of goodies is due to arrive ANY day now. But then I woke up this morning to an e-mail requesting a DT term of a YEAR as their Canadian representative. I couldn't say yes fast enough. I am soooooo thrilled. Check-out the glorious collections and stunning vintage photo cut-outs below. I'll post the entire international DT list once it is released but if you want to check out some fabulous work visit the Pion blog, or my friend and GDT girl Toni Kelly's blog (aka 2Dogs on Sb.com) for amazing inspiration. I can't wait for my box to arrive and dig-in!

Fuzzy Lollipop Flower Tutorial

I just love the new Prima Innocence 2 flowers and was inspired to make my own using some inexpensive thin mulberry paper (can be found at most local artist materials supply shops - where university art students buy from have the best prices though). You can use thicker paper like people use for making tear bears but then the cost is a lot more and probably worth just buying the Prima ones, LOL.

Supplies you will need:

- a sheet of mulberry paper (a 12x12 sheet will yield 3 good sized flowers of 2-3 inches each)

- a very firm bristled toothbrush (if you don't have a wire brush used for tear bears)

- a Q-tip type cotton swab

- a decorative brad

- a little pot of water

- pearl strand (optional, not shown)

Step 1: Using the Q-tip, freehand "draw"one water circle at a time and then with dry fingers gently pull out the circles. For a 2-3 inch flower you will need 7 circles (anything bigger use 9 circles). You will want to progressively get smaller with your circles. 

Step 2: Stack the flower larger to smaller circle and secure with your brad.

Step 3: Brush the layers all around, stroking from middle to outer edge to make the paper fuzz a little more.

Step 4: One layer at a time, starting with the smallest, crumple them up toward the center as shown below. Be careful not to pat down the fuzzy edges though.

Step 5: Carefully open up the layers starting with the largest circle. This circle flower is about 2 inches in diameter.

Step 5: You can further decorate your flower by adding a ring of string pearls around your decorative brad but be careful not to put too much glue as it will stain the thin paper. The larger flower below is over 4 inches in diameter and I used 9 circle layers for that one.

Here are the original Prima flowers I used as inspiration. I suspect they are made of thick mulberry but I have not seen these yet in person. Just fell in love with this picture and had to try making something similar for an upcoming layout.

Thanks for stopping by. As always, I am more than happy to share how I make my flowers but should you make them yourself and post online, please give credit where due (as these tutorials do take a fair bit of time to produce). TFL!

March Prima BAP & Palette

OK, I think I am addicted to this challenge since I have had the honour of being featured on Prima's blog since I started these sketch contests a few months ago. This month pushed me out of my comfort zone which is a good thing. I've been hanging on to this adorable pre-sewn background paper for way too long and it was time to use it. FYI - I don't sew ANYTHING since I failed my grade 12 project many moons ago, LOL. I made good use of some Prima packaging too. Too pretty to throw away :). This layout was a little inspired by Janine on the Prima DT as she always does amazing layouts with circles.

So funny story behind this picture. We were Spring camping, it was dusk, almost supper time and were freezing and hungry.  I stuck my daughter's daytime vest overtop of her bunting suit, with a bib (ready to eat) and bundled in a blanket. She was such a fashion hazard we had to take a picture. Surprisingly it worked out really well for this layout, LOL. I just love these peach Prima flowers too!

Here is the Prima sketch I used...

Lastly, I didn't do the palette this month but I am posting it in case you wan to give that contest a go too!

Prima's Product Picks for March are filled with lots of lucky leprechaun greens! We never knew green could look so GOOD!

Just look at these gorgeous NEW products:

• Butterflies
• Arco Iris Flowers
• Deshire Flowers
• Lovely Leaves
• Delightful Day Flowers
• Raffia Flowers
• Champagne Roses
• Crystal and Lace borders
• Trinkets
• Cabachon Flowers
• Lace
• and DeSoie Flowers

Creative Scrappers #147 Reveal

Today is reveal day for my fist DT project with Creative Scrappers! Here is my take on the sketch #147. It's no secret that I love Amarilys' sketches and this one was no exception. I used my left-over scraps from the March Scrap That! kit, featuring G45 and BG papers. I just love this picture of my daughter in our backyard last summer.

I'm not usually one for a lot of fussy cutting but these papers were too cute and perfect not to. I'll be turning this 5x7 layout into a door hanger for my daughter's room. I also did this layout for the ScrapFIT Glitter and Glam challenge. The prize this month is very motivating - go check it out!

Thanks for stopping by and please be sure to check out what the rest of today's team revealed over at Creative Scrappers!

Scrap That! Hop Winner

Thank you to everyone who participate in the Scrap That! Blog Hop this past weekend. We hope you enjoyed it and found lots of inspiration along the way. The best part for us was making some new friends!

We have picked one comment winner from each blog to win a package of Prima goodies just for stopping by! The randomly drawn winner for my blog is:


True Random Number Generator

Min: 1

Max: 49

Result:

38

Powered by RANDOM.ORG

Congratulations:

misty said...

I already follow you because I love your work! Thanks for this opportunity. Awesome job on the latest LO's!

Misty please email friends@scrapthat.ca with your mailing address so we can get your Prima package out to you in the mail!

Don't forget to stop by the Scrap That! Blog and see if you won the Grand Prize of a "Secret Garden" Kit. We hope the lucky winner enjoys creating with it. We look forward to seeing what you come up with!

Join us again later this month for another fun hop when we release our April Kit!

Scrap That! Blog Hop (& March Kit Reveal)

If you have just arrived here from "the reluctant scrapper blog" (Janis) blog you are in the correct place. If not, head back to the blog hop beginning at Scrap That! and join us. Remember, the hop will end at midnight on Feb 27th EST, so get your hop on, and get over to www.scrapthatchat.blogspot.com to start and to seethe new kit contents!

We have 8 AMAZING blogs for you to visit today, each with a some beautiful projects that were created using the Scrap That! March "SECRET GARDEN" kit.

All qualifying entries will also be entered into a draw for the GRAND PRIZE, a Scrap That! "SECRET GARDEN" kit which is loaded with new releases from CHA!

TO QUALIFY:

1) VISIT EACH BLOG ON THE HOP, LEAVE A COMMENT AND BECOME A FOLLOWER OF EACH BLOG

2) GO TO SCRAP THAT! FACEBOOK PAGE AND BECOME A FRIEND

3) GO TO THE SCRAP THAT! SOCIAL COMMUNITY AND BECOME A MEMBER

4) EMAIL THE SECRET SENTENCE TO FRIENDS@SCRAPTHAT.CA

For my first layout "treasure", of my daughter las summer, I didn't want to mess with the beautiful G45 Springtime paper so I kept it really simple. I just added a paper doily (with green chalk ink) from my stash along with some  gorgeous embellies from the kit.

Design Tip: Use a soft paintbrush instead of the Smooch paint applicator (teal Smooch paint is in this kit!) to get a smooth finish on your chipboard.

In my second layout "angelic", again my daughter last summer, I used the gorgeous February Dusty Attic sketch and snuck a few chipboard pieces from my stash on there.  I just love all the Prima yummies in this kit! Also, a special thank you to my team-mate Ivana for the beautiful handmade resin buttons (wonderful gift, from a wonderful person). Sorry these beauties are not part of the kit... but be sure to tell her she really needs to sell these babies when you hop to her blog next!

Design tip: Make your own flowers to match the Prima one in the kit by using my "shabby crinkle flower" tutorial and plain cardstock. Just omit step 5 (do not squish towards the center at the end) and only use 3 large punched flowers - since you'll be placing a button or jewel in the center. Even easier than the original flower!

Design tip: Ranger crackle paint and brown chalk ink work wonderfully on chipboard to give a weathered texture. Be sure to enter my Dusty Attic Giveaway - the draw is on April 1st!

For my third layout "cuter than most", I did  whole lot of fussy cutting on the BG Curio paper (that matched the G45 ones perfectly!) and reworking the flowers in certain areas. It does take a lot of planning to make it look like the paper was printed that way though, so be careful before you start cutting. Everything on this layout is from the kit, even the brown background cardstock and light pink Stickles on the fairy!

Design tip: Adding flowers to a flower patterned layout can be tricky. The style and color should match... but the kind of flower doesn't necessarily need to be exactly the same. More yummy Prima!

In my last layout (for now) with this kit, "tender", this is my hubby when our daughter was a newborn. I used the Creative Scrappers sketch #142. The large white doily was from Michaels and the string pearls were another great gift from Ivana. Can you believe I still have enough papers to create another layout or two from this kit? And I WILL! Again the BG and G45 were a heavenly match for this kit. The title didn't photograph well but is really pretty and shimmers in real light.

Design tip: Make a fan using an accordion fold to add a special feature/handmade embellie to your page.

Thanks for joining us today for this fantastic blog hop. Before you hop along to Ivana’s blog, you will want my secret word to continue completing the sentence, which is OUR. Now head over to Ivana's blog (http://papergirlcrafts.blogspot.com) for some more amazing creations using the March Scrap That! "SECRET GARDEN" kit.

Prima February BAP and Palette

Well, I couldn't resist the Prima February BAP sketch and Palette (pinks and reds), so I combined and did both in one project! I had to scrape and scrounge in my Prima scraps for this one, LOL. This is my daughter at a little over a year old right after her first haircut  - yes she had THAT much hair already!

Design tip: use some fabric rose petals as a soft delicate border under a picture.

Here is the sketch... you still have a few days left if you want to enter the challenge!

Thanks for stopping by. Be sure to come back tomorrow for the Scrap That! blog hop and March kit reveal. Oh and while you are here right now, make sure to enter my chipboard giveaway in the previous post!

I'm a Dusty Attic Retailer! (& GIVEAWAY)

I can hardly believe it myself! With the encouragement and support of Mandy Harrell (on the DA design team and a retailer herself) and my really wonderful husband, I am thrilled to announce that I am officially a Dusty Attic chipboard retailer. Thanks again Mandy!

I will start with carrying Dusty Attic products but my plan is to branch out and retail other foreign scrappy products (not manufactured in Canada or the USA). I will be selling through my Etsy shop (http://www.etsy.com/shop/vickyalberto) for a little while to gain a customer base and to allow me the proper time to research and develop a good website. I'm soooo excited that Jen Hedger at DA took a chance on me and that she sees the potential in my niche market business - thanks Jen!


As an appreciation to help me spread the word, I am drawing for this awesome DA blog candy (pictured above) from my stash.


What you need to do:


1. FOLLOW my blog (if you don't already). This is how you will find out about when product arrives and if you win the prize.

2. WRITE a post about me being a new DA retailer and my blog candy - please include both the prize image above and my Etsy address - http://www.etsy.com/shop/vickyalberto - on your blog (or Facebook page if you don't have a blog).

3. Leave me a message at the bottom of this post, with the LINK to your post, and tell me what DA piece is at the very top of your "wish list" (so that I know what you want me to carry).

The winner will be randomly drawn on April 1st. Since I will be shipping anywhere, this giveaway is also open to all countries.

As a fun BONUS... if my blog following more than doubles, reaching over 600 followers by the time my order arrives, I will draw for a second DA pack (when I announce that the product has arrived and is available for purchase of course!).


Thanks again for all your support in getting the word out there for your patience with the delayed stock production during these difficult times for the Dusty Attic "crew". Just a note, for future shipments I will be taking custom pre-orders with a minimum of 15 pieces.


Vicky


P.S. If you ever come across a great scrappy product that you'd like me to consider carrying just give me a shout through an Etsy conversation.

Prima 's FEB Palette

OMGosh have you seen the new Prima Palette? I'm working on a layout with their Feb sketch and this amazing pink (my fave!) palette right now...

Prima's Product Picks for February will make your heart flutter!

Soft pinks and rich reds are sweetly intertwined with gorgeous fabrics, luscious pearls, and sparkly crystals to create some of the most unique and exquisite products on the market: all hand-made by Prima!

This month's pick includes:

Audrey Rose, Delightful Day, Dechire & Floret Flowers, Fabric Ribbons, Candy Gems, Gianna Flowers, Melody Papers and journaling cards, Say It In Crystals Lace and Trim Sets, our new Heart Canvas Album and so many more gorgeous flowers!

Scrap That! WINNERS and March Sneak

 This is THE best kit yet and as the Scrap That! Kit Coordinator, I am involved in the upcoming kit selections, so I know they just keep getting more amazing leading up to Scrap That!'s one-year anniversary celebration in May. Anyways, we're talking about the March kit right now... OMGosh I almost died at all the Prima and amount of papers (better than it looks online) and all the... oh wow if I keep writing I'm gonna give it all away. This kit is JAMMED with goodness. Seriously, I think I could get 6 projects, maybe even 7, out of this kit (if I had more hours in a day to create, LOL). Seriously my fave since the start of the kit club and having a blast creating right now. Here is a sneak of what the DT has created to date and we still have a few more days until reveal on the 26th!

As for the recent contest and friendly rivalry with Tara... I lost by one lousy vote! But, on the bright side ROBIN SHAKOOR was the randomly drawn winner of the Scrap That! March kit. BTW, the guest designers were recently announced on the Scrap That! blog and you will see the following designers showcasing our kits over the next few months...

Tina Rutledge will be designing with the April/May kits

Robin Shakoor will be designing with the June/July kits

Melissa Vettorel will be designing with the August/September kits

After the September reveal, on August 26th, the Scrap That! community members will vote on which of these 3 lovely scrappers will remain on the Scrap That! Design Team for the rest of 2011. So exciting!

Now, I "grumbly" (LOL) ask that you pop on over to Tara's blog to see who won her Bo Bunny prize. Since she won the Scrap That! Designer Contest, she needs to draw for her promised blog candy. BUT before you go, I have decided that since my chipboard (that I was going to draw for if I "beat" Tara) would like still like a new home so... I will add it to a BIGGER blog candy giveaway that I will post on Tuesday. Until then, I will keep you in suspense.

Creative Opportunity for you!

Creative Scrappers is looking for a few featured designers for the months of March, April and May!

Send in your request to be a guest and maybe you'll be featured on the CS blog!

Interested?
Send Kristine an email! (kristine@creative-scrappers.com)
Title of email "CS Featured Designer "
Your full name
Blog address / or gallery address
2 of your Latest Layouts

Deadline for submission is March 1, 2011
Those selected will be emailed on or before March 3rd

www.CreativeScrappers.blogspot.com 
Come Create with Us! 

Prima toot!

Prima featured my layout along with a few others from the Jan. BAP contest! Almost as good as winning, LOL - almost :)

http://prima.typepad.com/prima/2011/02/loads-of-winners.html

Creative Scrappers Team!

I am thrilled to announce that I am a new creative team member, for my very favorite sketch site... Creative Scrappers! This will be a great kick in the butt for me to start using my overflowing stash, LOL - I'm a paper hoarder! So many talented ladies made the team and I'm sure you'll recognize most of the names... check it out!

http://creativescrappers.blogspot.com/2011/02/announcing-our-ct.html

Ideas for Scrapbookers DT

I am pleased to announce that I am now a contributing artist for Ideas For Scrapbookers along with my Scrap That! team member Lisa. I have been a follower for a long time since most of my scrappy icons have been featured there at some point. This is a site that offers spectacular tips and tutorials, sketches and FREE digi templates, information about cool products and frequently showcases great scrappy talent on Fridays. Thank you so much Pam for inviting me to join your wonderful team!

This is my first project for them using a fabulous sketch by Cathy Dippolito... check out http://ideasforscrapbookers.blogspot.com for the sketch and to see what the rest of the DT created. I wasn't sure how much of myself I really wanted to reveal to the world... but my hubby pushed me to scrap one of his favorite pictures that he took of me (at a whopping 8 months pregnant with my third and last child). No smiles, I was SO sick the entire pregnancy. I look big in this picture but I had only gained 15 pounds the entire pregnancy from throwing up so much. Why the "sublime" title then? After 2 boys I was having a girl - worth all the torture in the world, LOL.

I used the Color Room palette 45 and the papers are the new K and Co. Flora and Fauna papers along with some Dusty Attic chipboard I won from a draw on DT member Jen Burns' blog. I just used chalk ink (without priming first) to keep a dark wood color. The flowers are cut from a stem I bought at Michaels.

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to enter my Watermark Challenge (with RAK) and Chipboard draw while you are here on my blog.

Featured on the Glitz Blog!

I am thrilled that Glitz Design featured the Scrap That! Love Notes kit on their blog along with a design from each of the DT (mine was my CAREFREE layout!). Check out their post at http://glitzitnow.blogspot.com/2011/02/scrap-that-february-kit-glitz.html. Thank you Glitz for the feature, we love your products! Happy Valentines everyone!

Win some Chipboard!

Do I have your attention??? Keep reading...

The Scrap That! Design Team is having a friendly team competition (and I really want to "beat" Tara because she's playing a little dirty, LOL). OK, so this is what you need to do...

1) Choose your favorite design from one of my February Loves Notes Kit Layouts HERE.

2) Write a post about it on your blog. We will be checking!!!

3) Include a link to your blog post on the Scrap That! blog HERE.

4) Leave a comment on the Scrap That! blog about my layout HERE. Bonus: you'll also be entered to win the draw for a Scrap That! kit too ($45 value!)

SO - If I win the competition with the most posts about my layouts, then I will draw for a Dusty Attic AND Tattered Angels chipboard combo prize pack. If I don't win, well then you're still entered in the draw for the Scrap That! kit (the draw will be made on Feb 20th). Now, help me be a little "pain" in the neck for Tara by sending your votes my way - she deserves it this time, LOL :)

If you're not already following my blog, I'd love you to.

Vicky

Watermark Stamp Challenge with RAK

I'm hosting a little challenge just for fun and posted it on the Scrap That! Ning at http://scrapthat.ning.com/forum/topics/feb-watermark-challenge-wrak. This challenge is open to ANYONE - like I said just for fun. All you need to do is share a project (past or new) using a watermark stamping technique - so easy! Jump on over and check out the details. Both Ivana and I have shared different uses for watermark stamping on the forum this month too. If you' like to check them out, they are under the Design Team Tips and Tutorials section. You'll need to sign up to access the NING and trust me, with what Scrap That! has in store over the next few months, you'll really be glad you did. The winner from my challenge will be randomly drawn on March 1st for this little RAK from my stash of unopened goodies. Good Luck!

Scrap That! "Love Notes" Kit

Oh my goodness is all I have to say about the FEB Scrap That! kit. The papers (Glitz - Love Nest and Fancy Pants - Lilac House) and a perfect combo of versatile and rich colors for feminine or masculine layouts for any season. Pick your poison, blue, green, pink, brown or yellow! You can go rustic, vintage, funky - anything goes with this kit!

In my first layout "Love", this is my daughter at one year... a candid shot taken by a friend. That cute little birdcage? A Glitz stamp INCLUDED in the kit add-on. Everything in this layout except the doily is from the kit. Fabulous "what nots" tags and dies cuts, Prima flowers (I glimmer misted the large one to get a darker pink) and bling plus that AWESOME stamp! Oh and this is my take on LG's sketch from this kit too - love her sketches!

Design Tip: Use single pearls to enhance stamped images and "bring them to life".

In my second layout "Remember Cuba", this is hubby with my first son at 9 months old on our trip to Cuba. The picture was taken with a film camera, so I just used the original image since I had doubles printed out. Not the best picture but a great memory (which is more important to me). Again the tags and dies cuts are so fantastic in this kit. There is chunky chipboard too that I painted green. I used an oval frame from a past kit and painted it to match, using the Ranger crackle paint from the September kit. I also used the Color Room Palette 42 as inspiration for this.

Design Tip: Use any flourish stamp and the watermark ink pad (ink pad INCLUDED in the main kit!) as a guide to follow along with liquid pearls of choice for an easy handmade bling flourish. I used my Inkadinkado Dot Flourishes that I got on sale for $10 at Michaels. So fast and easy!

My third layout "Carefree" is one of the very few pictures we have of my husband as a child. This perfectly captured his carefree spirit. I used the JAN. Dusty Attic sketch and snuck a chipboard piece on there - it is not part of the kit (everything else is, including the awesome music sheet and Prima flowers). I love the fact that there are always 3 perfectly coordinated plain pieces of cardstock in every kit for backgrounds.

Design Tip: Simply use chalk ink on bare chipboard for an easy, beautiful matte finish.

Here are the main kit details but be sure to check out Scrap That! for kit images and add-ons. While you're there, check out the other DT projects in the gallery too. Thanks for stopping by!

FEB. LOVE NOTES MAIN KIT CONTENTS

6 Glitz “Love Nest” Papers

3 Fancy Pants “Lilac House” Papers

3 Coordinating Cardstock

American Crafts Thickers - Root Beer Float

1 Stickles Forest Moss

1 Watermark Resist Ink

3 Genuine Parrot Feathers (blue, yellow, green)

1 Maya Road Brown Satin Posie

1 Piece of Sheet Music

1 Prima Say it in Swirls Grey Fimo Flourish

3 Prima Watercolor Flowers

1 Package of Glitz What-Nots

1 Package of Glitz Paper Layers

3 Prima Athena Powder Puff Flowers

6 Prima Flights of Fancy Flowers

2 Maya Road Kraft Tags

1 Maya Road Kraft Envelope

1 Length of May Arts Twine

1 Length of Prima Brown Lace

1 Length of Maya Road Pink Crushed Velvet Ribbon