Throwback Thursday

Sometimes I like play around with the products I have on hand just to see what I can do, or if I have a need for it, I try to make it rather than buy it. Results are varied, and sometimes quite interesting or they just downright fail and I feel like I've utterly wasted good money, despite the learning process. Much like my programming debacles, I have scrapbooking failures, I accept neither easily. The deeper recesses of my brain still thinks I'm a perfectionist.

I encountered one of these such incidents a few weeks ago. Mind you, I have been stuck on building the page that these were intended for, still putzing about wondering if I should use them. At least I have the sense and time to put off a page for a while and come back with a fresh head later.

A little background on the page, since there are no pictures. I only take them when I have a finished product. This page is intended for my youngest daughter's baby book. Its a 2 page spread with inks of her feet at 2 weeks old. Title: 10 fingers & toes. Solid color background with accenting pattern strip across the middle. Purple and pink hues.

My problem was/is, (and always has been) accents. I tend to love to put as many embellishments as pictures when that is really not the point. I'm learning to curb that urge. However, I needed flowers to accent. Side note: LOVE flowers, and its a girlie girl book, its expected. I didn't have a single flower in the hue of my chosen palette. I often run into this problem with my embellishments and lately have fought the urge hard core to just run out and buy something. I refused to give into that this time.

So, here's what I decided to do:

I looked through my huge stockpile of random things I own, found these. I picked them up at Target sometime back only because they were on clearance. Side note 2: If its not on sale or I don't have a coupon for it I -try- not to buy it, unless I really, really, really (yes 3 really's) need it.

Okay, so I discovered these. White fabric flowers. Fabric, not paper. I had paper, but I wasn't so sure the thoughts in my head would work on paper flowers, so I opted for this.

Pretty, cheap fabric flowers

Better to start with a white base than some other odd color that I'd have to mutate somehow. Alright. Next thought in my head was, INK. I didn't have any pigment inkpads that would work for color and my Adirondacks seemed a bit to watery to work for the situation. I'm not good with fabrics, so I couldn't guess what they were made out of (wasn't written on the packaging either). All I could think of was to grab my Tattered Angels ink in Rum Raisin and try it. I could at least have some bling on there too in that case. I think I eventually mixed in some of my Adirondack ink as well by the end, and the shimmer of the TA ink didn't stick.

So first off, I tried the TA Rum Raisin, not too much, just a couple of sprays. I figured I would let just a splash of purple catch on it, and the white of the fabric would still stick out on my page design. So I tried that, and it didn't seem quite right. So I took to the Adirondack ink (I forget what the name of the color was), dabbed a few drops, added in some blending solution (few drops) and let it stew in that.

Once they dried out (next day) I decided they needed something more. Another layer of color, dimension, something, ANYTHING. Since I also had pink in my color palette for the page, I decided to dig through the pigment inkpads again. One of my Colorbox ink colors seemed to fit the bill, so I tried it lightly, just hoping to catch the raised edges of the fabric. It worked decently.

Pretty Little Flowers

Kinda. I'm still not sure about using them in the page, but then again, the page is still one I'm mulling about. Not so sure I like the visible ink edges where it "bled" out as it soaked up the ink it stewed in. I could always cover those with other bling, or stack them. Honestly though, not one of my worst failures in either field I know. I'll make it work with something, someday. If nothing else, I learned just exactly what ink can do in this case.

For the Love of Chipboard

I started my adventures in scrapbooking with one sole purpose, making a single, ever expanding album for my mother of my (then) only daughter. 4 years and one more daughter later I find I can hardly keep up with all the projects in my head or on paper. I have also moved away from the traditional album/page design that originally addicted me to this. Those projects get pushed to the back burner, a lot, driven by a muse that would rather create cards and home decor right now.

In the past few weeks I have fallen in love with chipboard decor letters. 8" high, 1" thick layered raw paper goodness in an end display at Hobby Lobby. I even picked up the project idea booklet sitting with the display of letters in all its $1.99 glory.

I'm never one to copy ideas straight from the books though; I am what you call a scraplifter. I take the ideas presented, mesh them into something of my own with slight twists, and viola, project all my own! This is exactly what I set out to do when I first rested my eyes on the selection of chip decor a few weeks ago. I knew I wanted to make something for each of the girls for room decor (new house, still decorating, etc.), but I wasn't sure exactly what, so I hit up the accompanying project booklet for ideas. 

This is the mesh that resulted for my oldest:

This is the culmination of several projects from the idea booklet. I wanted her to have something somewhat functional (the practical side of me) but yet cute, homespun and fun (yah, that -other- side). It now currently resides on her wall by her closet adorned with hats, scarves and what peg she has left over for her many handbags. How I grew a fashionista I'll never know.

I plan on expanding on this particular project in the near future, with a series of images and steps on how I created it. For now, its just enough for me to show it off and hopefully inspire someone else out there.

As I said before, cards are another route I take with scrapbooking. I really feel like I'm doing a disservice to the women who raised me if I don't remember a card on the proper holidays or personal celebrations. (And yes, I have forgotten them occasionally, or circumstances prevented me from hand creating them. I'm not perfect.) I'm also not the type who is satisfied buying something off the shelf to fulfill that request. This also comes from my heritage, as all the women on both my mom and dad's side of the family are crafters of some sort. If its from the heart, it means something more to the recipient (I would hope!), so that's always my intention, though I still am my own worst critic.

That being said, and having two birthdays this month (one now past, sorry Sis!), I hand tooled their birthday cards. Albeit the "gift" wasn't all that inspiring (gift cards), I hope the cards will be for someone out there.

Spawned from an idea in a magazine passed down to me, each has their own unique take. Enjoy!

My sister's version of the card:

















And my Mother's version of the card:

Uh, Hello Thar!

Welcome to my brand new blog! Forgive me if I am shy to this new writing world, I've spent too much time over the years writing for the characters in my head rather than myself. This is my chance to share my unique bit of knowledge with whoever happens to pass by. I'm an interesting mix of person, little bit IT, little bit Suzie Homemaker, dash of crazy and a whole lot of hoarding Scrapbooker. Honestly. No joke, I have too much stuff!

This blog is my motivation to do something with all of it, so I can share the results to you. Much like a child showing off his latest art project.. (My oldest daughter does this now, so yah, I'm there too!).. I have an overwhelming urge to bring you, the people of the Internet, my latest work with the exclamation of "Hey! Look what I did!" Muwhahaha, hope you all like it!

Keep stopping by to check out what I've finished next!