Perfectly Imperfect

Today begins our first challenge of the year at Frosted Designs.  I am the host and I picked White as a Snowflake (snowflakes, snowmen or white on most of project) as my challenge.  

I planned on scrapping photos of Tanner playing in the snow, but twice we were supposed to get snow and both times we just got a dusting.  I took a different approach comparing snowflakes to people - no two are alike! 

Meet Owen Henry Haan - my newest daycare baby!!  He was born in September and will join the daycare on Monday.  He is the fourth Haan child to be in my daycare - I can't wait to snuggle this one!

I started by cutting out three snowflakes out of an overhead transparency sheet and using it as a stencil for my modeling paste.

I used a pallet knife to spread the paste and peeled off the stencil.

I sprinkled the snowflakes with Pearl Glass Glitter before it dried. 

I needed a journaling tag.  I used this wood piece and softened the color with gold gelatos and Heidi Swap gold color shine.  I used a sponge to smooth out the color.  I later used the same sponge to ink my white papers. 

I wanted to do the same thing only in white to the chipboard snowflakes and swirl.  I ended up using a bit of liquid glue to adhere the glitter to the chipboard.

I love the title as we all are Perfectly Imperfect!  I cut the title with my Silhouette Cameo. 

Here is a close up of the snowflake made out of molding paste and glitter. 

And here is a close up of the chipboard snowflake.

This layout ended up nothing like I was planning - sometimes those are the best projects!!

Happy 2015!  If one of your goals/resolutions is to scrap more memories - be sure to join us for our challenges every other Friday!!!

Products Used from Frosted Designs online store:

Simple Stories Cozy Christmas Paper

Dylusions White Linen Ink Spray

Pearl Glass Glitter

Chipboard Snowflakes

Gold and White Gelatos

Molding Paste

The Gift of Giving Blog Hop

Hello there fellow crafters!!!  Welcome to our "Gift of Giving" Blog Hop!

If you are looking for Handmade Holidays Blog Hop (The Buckle Boutique) please go HERE.
If you are looking for my Frosted Designs Layout for Friday's Challenge (white space), please go HERE.

With the holiday season lurking just around the corner, we decided to give our members some ideas for fabulous handmade items that can be gifted this year!  Our Design Team has been working really hard so sit back and enjoy the show as you "hop" along with us!

As you hop along, you will notice each Design Team member has a "secret" word on their blog that makes a quote.  Be sure to write it down and email Brandimatos@gmail.com with your completed quote!  After you've completed the hop, come back here (the Frosted Designs Blog) and leave us a comment letting us know.  One winner will be randomly selected from the comments to win a $20.00 Gift Certificate to the Frosted Designs Store!!!!

We also have some other fabulous prizes up for grabs! 
Creative Embellishments is offering up a $20.00 Gift Certificate to their AMAZING online store full of chipboard, stamps, flair, and more!!!! 

Regina from The Cutting Cafe has generously offered winner's choice for THREE SETS of their choosing to her online store FULL of digi stamps and cut files for EVERY occasion (no, seriously... EVERY occasion!!)!!!!!

So what are you waiting for?!?  Let's get hopping!!! 

Here is the line-up in case you get lost along the way:

Michelle

Sandee

Athanasia

Brandi

Shanna

Rachelle

Solange

Julie

Channa

Megan

Joni

Lori

Connie

You have until midnight on November 14th to "hop" along with us!  As you hop, be sure to write down the "secret" word from each member's blog.  Once you've completed the hop, you'll have a completed quote!  Email that to brandimatos@gmail.com for your chance to win one of the fabulous prizes listed above!!!!

Most importantly, HAVE FUN!!!!!!  
Happy Scrapping :-)

Hello and Welcome to the Frosted Designs The Gift of Giving Blog Hop!!

You should have arrived from HERE.  If you found me first, please go to the BEGINNING so you don't miss anything!!!  My DT Sisters are very talented!!

I used watercolor paper for the covers of my two Note Pads.  I colored on the watercolor paper (sized to 3 1/16 x 5 1/16) with burgundy and gold gleatos. 

I spritzed the watercolor paper with water and used a paintbrush to blend the colors. 

As the paper dried, it flattened out. 

Next, I used Tim Holtz Dot Fade stencil (from the Shades of Spring Kit) and some Molding Paste to add some texture. 

I inked the edges with Mixed Media Peach ink and stamped some images on one of the covers. 

I used some rub ons from the Enchanted Kit on the other cover.  I have never been a fan of rub ons because they never seemed to work for me.  I have to say I do like these rub ons - the color is very vibrant and they transferred to my cover pretty easily. 

My covers are finished - now to turn them into note pads.  I use unlined index cards for my paper.  I punch the holes and bind the note pads with my Zutter Bind-It-All. 

Here are my supplies! 

I punched the covers first.  I trimmed chipboard for the back cover and punched them as well.  Next I punched the index cards.  I punch about 10 sheets at a time. 

I center the paper in the Bind-It-All and punch away. 

I used 3/4" wires and trimmed them with my wire cutter to fit my note pads.  First I put the paper on the wires, next the cover and finally the back.  This way the pretty wires are in the front.

Once they are on the wire, I close the wire using the Bind-It-All. 

I added a bit of ribbon to each and they are ready to give away!

Here are the note pads individually!  I love making gifts for my friends - I hope I inspired you today!!

The word you need is: HAVE!  Good luck!!

Thank you for joining us on this hop!  Your next and final stop is CONNIE!

Your next stop is HERE.

Here is a complete list of blogs in case you get lost along the way:

Not Every Witch....

Hello and Happy Halloween!!!  

Today at Frosted Designs we are showcasing Halloween projects!

I am LOVING gleatos!!!  They are fun to color and blend on canvases. 

I took purple, orange and lime green and colored on a blank canvas board.  Then I misted the board with water and used a brush and paper towel to blend the colors.  You can add more if you want until you get the results you like!

I purchased this saying from the Silhouette Store and cut it out in black vinyl.  Some days I think it is talking about me!!!

Happy Halloween!!!

Pick of the Patch

Today I am featured at Frosted Designs.

I just love fall - it is my favorite time of the year!  We went to the Pumpkin Patch last week and my friend captured this picture of Tanner picking his pumpkin.  I wanted to showcase this photo all by itself so I grabbed papers from the Garden of Abundance kit. 

I realy like the colors in the flowered paper - they look similar to the brown and green in the pumpkin patch.

I needed a pinch of orange so I grabbed an orange gelato and colored around my photo mat and title mat.  I spritzed my paper towel with water and blended the orange around the edge of the paper.

I used my Silhouette Cameo to design and cut the tree, pumpkin border and title.  I just love that tree! 

I inked the pumpkins a bit with some moss green ink and then spritzed them with Heidi Swapp gold color shine. 

Look at that gold on these pumpkins - just gorgeous!!  I cut some of the pumpkins off the border and pop-dotted them on the page.

I added the wood heart to the tree trunk and a bird in the branches.

Enjoy your fall and don't forget to create and share your stories!!

A Mother's Love is Never Ending

Welcome to the Miscarriage and Infant Loss Awareness Month Blog Hop.

You should have arrived from HAIDEE, but if you did not, be sure to start at the beginning HERE! 

Today, October 15,  is National Miscarriage and Infant Loss Awareness Day. 

This hop was created for those that have either have Angel Babies, for those that suffered a devastating loss with the loss of their own child or someone in their life that has an Angel baby or lost a child. 

Here are a few statistics to keep in mind regarding Miscarriage and Infant Loss: 

75% of all conceptions end in miscarriage

30% of pregnancies end in miscarriage (1 in 3)

15-20% of confirmed pregnancies end in miscarriage

The majority of miscarriages happen in the first trimester

Chromosomal Abnormalities are the most common reason for miscarriages and still births

90,000 children die annually before their first birthday

Nearly 2,500 babies are lost a year in the US due to SIDS

Nearly 30,000 babies are year are born stillborn. This number jumps to 4.5 million worldwide

Stillbirth occurs 10 times more frequently than SIDS

More babies die as a result of stillbirth than all other causes of infant death a year

The above reference statistics can be found on both of the following websites if you would like to find out more information: 

**http://www.hiringforhope.org/pregnancy-infant-loss-awareness.html

** http://miscarriage.about.com/od/riskfactors/a/miscarriage-statistics.html

Too many people in this world grieve in silence over the loss of their children. This hop is meant to CELEBRATE them! You will see many different stories from the wonderful ladies in this hop. Some have themselves loss their beautiful babies, some had family members go through a loss, and some are here to show their support for the women who have gone through it. 

How can YOU show your support today? Here are a few examples:

Keep your headlights on all day

Keep your porch lights on all day

Wear pink and blue ribbons

Light a candle and display it in your window

Release butterflies 

The theme for this hop is any project centered around Angels, babies, pink and blue ribbons, condolence cards, tributes, and  layouts!

There will be a blog prize from Craftin' and Stampin' from online Close To My Heart store. 

The "Your Own Kind Of Wonderful" stamp set is the prize for today's hop. To be eligible, please visit each blog and make sure to comment and follow along the way. Winners will be announced on the Craftin' and Stampin' blog on 10/18/14.

I have been blessed with three healthy boys ages 24, 19 and 8.  Each time I was pregnant, I had a close friend who was unable to get pregnant, or had a miscarriage.  Other friends have lost their babies:  my neighbor, my sister-in-law, my Avon Lady (who lost her twins at 20 weeks) come to mind.  

My oldest son was in daycare and a baby girl (I think her name was Megan) had a SIDS episode.  The provider stopped the episode and the baby had vital signs when the ambulance took her, but sadly she died 3 days later.  Several years later, my Sister-in-Law's niece - Bailey Lynn Schneckenberger - died of SIDS.  This was a baby that I held in my arms at my brother's wedding.  I have been to several funerals, but her funeral was the hardest....

My heart breaks a little for each loss.  I also feel a little guilty because I never suffered such a loss.

I wanted to make something that could be displayed in a special place - on a shelf, on a wall or placed in a Memory Book.  I found an image online and cut it out in vinyl.

I used blue and yellow gelatos on an 8 x 10 flat canvas panel.  I used water and a paint brush to blend the colors.

I added my vinyl design and these words from my heart.  I inked the edges of the canvas with a black PITT artist pen.

If you are one of the many parents who have lost a child, my heart goes out to you!

You are now off to CARLA'S Blog. 

Here is the lineup should you get lost:

Jessica: www.craftinandstampin.blogspot.com

An'Jenic: www.anjenicgibson.blogspot.com/

Madge: www.thescrappinlounge.com

Haidee:http://created2bunique.blogspot.com/

Lori:  http://www.scrappinmystressaway.blogspot.com/***HERE

Carla: www.racincrafts.blogspot.com***NEXT

Alicia:  Www.goldengoddessdesigns.blogspot.com

Melissa L :Http://papershenaniganz.blogspot.com

Melissa C: http://pinkpolkadotscrapping.blogspot.com

Connie: http://conniecancrop.blogspot.com

Robin: http://www.create-a-latte.blogspot.com/
Sarah : www.sarahbiswabic.blogspot.com

Live a Colorful Life (Frosted Designs)

I have been playing with Gelatos lately and wanted to share one of my creations with you.  I am also on the blog at Frosted Designs today!!

I started with an 8x8 flat canvas board.  I sprayed it with water and picked out two Gelatos - turquoise and lime green.  I scribbled randomly on the canvas.

I have to admit that this part is fun for me!!!  Because the canvas board was wet, the colors started to run and blend.  I used a paint brush and my mini mister to blend the colors until the board was covered.

Once the board was dry, I pulled out some ink and some stencils.

I used Dylusions After Midnight ink with the diamond stencil from the Beauty of Nature Kit.  I masked off the rest of the canvas because I did not want to cover it with the dark ink.

I used the Mini Love Post Stencil from the Capture the Moment Kit with the turquoise gelatos to make the heart.

I used a spray sealer once the ink dried.

I cut out this phrase with my Silhouette Cameo and white vinyl.

I transferred the vinyl onto the canvas.  I almost gave up a few times during this project, but I remembered what fellow DT Member Sandee said - just keep layering!!!  I am very happy with the end result!!!

I hope you choose to Live a Colorful Life!!!

 

gelatos - mix & match designing with gelatos set

Dylusions Ink Spray

Beauty Of Nature

Capture the Moment

InLinkz.com