OUAS August Challenge (using Swirlydoos July kit and Helmar Adhesives)

This is a layout I made using the beautiful August sketch challenge at Once Upon a Sketch. I created it using the remaining papers and a few embellies from my July Swirlydoos "The Paper Doll" kit featuring KaiserCraft papers (The Lakehouse collection). That's me and my daughter when she was a baby. I had no make-up and didn't do my hair and I still love the photo, LOL. The hidden journaling reads "It's the little moments with you at the park and beach that make my summer fun."

The theme this month is "Seasons" - I obviously chose summer. Here is the beautiful sketch to accompany the theme...

Here is a close-up detail of the Dusty Attic chipboard in the kit. I wanted it to look like stone and created this look with gesso and chalk inks and my fingers to apply it all.

Be sure to enter the OUAS challenge this month - check out the blog for details and ALL the gorgeous prizes up for grabs too! Please note that I used Helmar premium craft glue for all the paper layers, the adhesive runner for the photo and 450 quick dry for the embellishments.

Card set with Susan Weckesser papers (Helmar and Green Tara)

Here is a fun little card set I made with the brand new whimsical paper line "Live in Color" by Susan Weckesser (she is also on the Helmar DT and a fellow Canadian designer). I had so much fun designing with a paper style that I don't usually gravitate towards but the colors and sentiments are just so very sweet. Green Tara embellishments were a perfect touch to add to the sweetness of this paper line (details at the end of this post). I used Helmar's Premium Glue for the paper layers, the adhesive runner for the delicate doilies and 450 quick dry for the embellishments. The papers can be purchased through one of Helmar's preferred partners Want2Scrap. They are REALLY thick and great to distress with!

I also used the August Helmar challenge as inspiration. Be sure to enter this month for a change to win some sticky goodies!

Can you spot the staples, buttons, banner and flower frame in my card set? Here is a close up of each to help you spot the challenge details. The first one is a trick, it's just an extra card I made with my scraps after the first 3 were done - I just love pink (and even numbers, LOL)!

Be sure to check out more creations with the paper line during Helmar's cross promotion.

There are also some great newly released Unity Stamps that coordinate with Susan's paper line and they are on sale right now - check it out!

Green Tara Products used:

Pack of 5 Apple Blossoms, Ivory

CODE: FDV044Iv5

Cherry Blossoms Blue

CODE: FLC22B

4cm Aster Batik Vintage pack of 4

CODE: FDS026BatV4

3 Flower Sprays Cream

CODE: PFSTC

3 Flower Sprays White

CODE: PFST1

Self Adhesive Flower Garland 10m Roll White

CODE: RB797Wh

3mm Stitched Grosgrain 20m Roll Pink/White

CODE: RB244P/W

OK one last thing today, my friend, fellow Canadian, and Helmar (and Green Tara) DT mate JJ Sobey is giving away a FABULOUS Faber-Castell (another fantastic Helmar preferred partner) prize pack but hurry, only 2 more days to enter so check it out! Oh I can't even begin to tell you how much fun these products are to play with.

The Spring Paisley Collection (Meg's Garden)

As we North Americans are in full Summer mode, Australians are in deep Winter right now and looking forward to Spring! Meg's Garden just released The Spring Paisley Collection with beautiful florals (signature style) and a hint of dark contrast. Can't wait to play with this new collection!

Fun little Notepad (Helmar Adhesives and preferred partners)

Sorry it's been quiet on here for a bit, been really busy creating but mostly things to be revealed in August. Today I do have a share though...

The Helmar DT received a generous parcel of Faber-Castell and Robin's Nest products to play with. I had this little plain white die cut notepad (from the Michael's Crafts dollar bin). I started to play with the PITT pastel pencils, Art Grip Aquarelle watercolor pencils and PITT marker pens and big brushes, really late one night. At the end of playing, I "washed" the entire thing by lightly brushing it over with water and a paintbrush so the colors would blend.

Then, the next day, in real light... I realized it needed some sheen so I took a pink Gelato and smeared it on my finger and rubbed the entire surface. 

Here is a look at some of the Faber Castell products I used:

 I also added some punched butterflies and Dew Drops from the Robin's Nest. I used Helmar Gemstone Glue to add the drops since that glue doesn't make the acrylic look cloudy and gives a REALLY strong hold.

I used some of the off-white and clear beads from the Fairy Dust Dew Drops set.

Well there you have it - a little late night experiment turned into a wonderful notepad for my daughter. She loves to draw and stamp while I craft so I thought she'd really like her own little art booklet.

OK, I don't usually post things like this but it's too good not to pass up. Ingvild Bolme is doing a massive Prima Giveaway on her blog to celebrate her new blog design. Look at that gorgeous mountain of goodness!!! Just spreading the word :)

Swirlydoos July Kit Reveal/Blog Hop

Welcome to Swirlydoos' July "Paper Dolls"

Kit Reveal and Blog Hop Block Party!

If you came here from Pion Design's blog, then you are on the right track. If not, go back to Swirlydoos' blog and start from there. We have some amazing projects for you to see today! This July "Paper Dolls" kit is really packed with beautiful goodies, featuring Kaisercraft's Lakehouse collection with a mix of Pion Design papers.

For my first project, I made a display layout for my daughter's room. I added some beautiful 2Crafty chipboard and a doily from my stash. I love the Prima resin birdbath in this kit and the divine flower add-on is a must have!
Just click on all images below to enlarge.

Here is a close-up of the ornate dragonfly chipppy:

Here is a close-up of the blooms and the parisian border:

For my second project I only added a Dusty Attic chipboard clock and a bit of bling - everything else is from the main kit and flower add-on. The title is actually created from the excess strip you cut off the edge of the Kaiser paper!

Here is a close-up of the cluster under the picture:

For my third project, I made a new display for my mantle (I do this every season). I layered 2 of the Pion papers. The chipboard, doily and ribbon are from my stash. The Kaiser sentiment paper is so beautiful in this kit and the little Petaloo butterflies are such a cute touch!

Here is a close-up of the heavenly Prima flower in the middle of my bow:

I used the beautiful July kit sketch for my mantle display:

For my last project, I altered a plain pink headband with some trim and flowers from the kit. My daughter adores headbands and I love making them for her!

Well, I still have plenty of supplies to create yet another layout so I will be working on that soon! These kits are really packed and a great value!  My projects are made with 80% kit contents from the main kit and the flower add-on. 

You have until midnight, eastern time, on Monday, July 9th to complete the hop. Winners will be announced on the Swirlydoos Blog on July 10th. In order to qualify to win here is what you need to do:

1: Visit all of the blogs and leave a comment on each. This way we know you were there. Become a follower if you're not already. Take your time. There are REALLY beautiful things to see along the way.

2: Before you leave each blog, look for the “special” words and write it down. Once you have visited all the blogs and collected all the special words, they will create a QUESTION.

3: Finally, go back to the Swirlydoos blog and leave a comment letting us know how much fun you had, tell us the QUESTION that was created with all of the special words collected, and THEN ANSWER it! Can't wait to hear from you.

My special word is : DID

The party continues over at Angelica's blog. Have fun!

Please note: I used my favorite Helmar adhesives (Premium craft glue for paper, 450 Quick dry for embellishments and Zapdots to add dimension) on all of these projects. The brand new USA site is www.helmarusa.com and the Aussie site is www.helmar.com.au.

2Crafty Chipboard Now Available

I just loaded 20 of my favorite 2Crafty chipboard styles (that you will soon be seeing on my designs) into my Etsy Shop. I also replenished my Dusty Attic stock with a bit of my personal stash (brand new - unopened packages). This is all I will have listed until about the end of September.

Here is a peek at some of the 2Crafty styles I listed...

Now... take a look at the BRAND NEW sentiment releases I want to order next time:

OUAS July Challenge Reveal (Meg's Garden/Helmar)

Today is my first reveal post for the Once Upon a Sketch (OUAS) challenge site! I used beautiful papers from Meg's Garden "Forget me not 2" collection as well as some gorgeous lace, flowers and velvet leaves from her store. I adore the soothing colors in this beautiful paper collection.

This is one of my favorite wedding day pictures, taken right after the ceremony. The OUAS theme this month is FRIEND. The journaling on the back reads "On December 1st, 2011, we vowed to be best friends for life and we still are". Hubby and I really are best friends... we were even room-mates in school 16 years ago (so we truly don't know how to live apart!).

Here is a close-up of the pretty embellishments. The Dusty Attic Chipboard is from my shop. I used Helmar Premium glue for all the paper layers and the 450 Quick dry glue to hold all the embellishments (really great for heavy embellies like the resin shutters).

And here is the OUAS sketch this month. Be sure to check out the blog for fantastic inspiration from the new design team as well as all the challenge details... GORGEOUS prizes to be won too - there are so many great sponsors!

Wine Bottles Teacher Gift (Pion Design, Green Tara, Helmar, Epiphany)

Today I am sharing a little project I did using the gorgeous Grandma's School Book collection from Pion Design. This was a fantastic collection to use to alter wine bottles to give to my son's teacher as a thank you gift. I used the Helmar July inspiration challenge and 450 glue (holds anything really nicely to glass) for this project. I also added some beautiful Green Tara trims and flowers to compliment these papers. I used an Epiphany Crafts tool (they were so sweet to send me the "25 round" tool and sample product for making these) to create the pretty epoxy charms out of the Pion papers. June 25 to July 7th is our manufacturer cross promotion with Epiphany and Helmar - make sure to check out the Helmar blog for all the awesome project ideas using these great epoxy tools!

Aren't the Pion paper graphics in this collection just so precious and perfect for a teacher gift?

Here is a close-up of the Green Tara Flowers and trim too.

Don't forget to check out Helmar's July Inspiration Challenge and play along for a chance to win some gluey goodness!