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I am a Honey Bee

All about my adventures with cooking, crafts, and travel

Stampin' Up!

Project Life 2012: week 7

I felt a bit rushed putting this week together since I’m falling a bit behind. I am making it high priority to get week 8 and 9 done this week… umm yeah, I’ll fit that in while looking at a house, concert, rep dinner, cookbook release party, dinner out… I really have something planned for every night this week. It makes for fun PL documentation but it can make me fall behind. Oh the juggling act!!

Week 7: 

Full Spread

Left Side

 

I like the butterfly embellishment because I first took a piece of patterned cardstock, stamped over it, add dimensionals to the butterfly, put the brad in the middle and then put it on the stamped paper.

Right Side:

 

The letter circles on the central journaling box are cute hole reinforcements for binders that I picked up at the Container Store. They came in a ‘carnival theme‘. Well as cute as they are I am do down right pissed about them. I peeled them off their backing and put them on my edge of my desk to grab easily once I had the cardstock trimmed. I do this for my Thickers as well to plan but thickers are nice sweet alphas that don’t rip the laminate off my perfectly fine Ikea desk like this little SOB’s did. So take my advice and don’t stick them on anything but paper!

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Happy Birthday Jason LO- Studio Calico 10/17 Sunday Sketch

Sketch

Okay, so don’t judge so much… This Studio Calico Sunday Sketch is from October. Aye Aye aye! Well, here it is anyway. 🙂 I did a lot of flipping and flopping when it came to this sketch because I wanted different photos to hold more importance than others, also I wanted the page to feel balanced. I really enjoyed getting to work with photos from our friend Jason’s recent birthday. I have been trying to keep up with my layouts, just maybe not the sketches 😛

I have to admit that since I have been ‘forced’ to use Tickers (alphabet sticker sets) since subscribing to Studio Calico kits, that I have been enjoying them. Alphabet stickers are still not my favorite things because I always run out of the letters I need and I end up with so many damn J, K, Q, X Y, Z, etc left behind. For a long time I only used my Cricut for my tiles so I could get the exact letter, size, paper/ color that I wanted. I now have been embracing the different brands of alphabet stickers, while still going back to my Cricut for some titles.

Supplies (off the top of my head): Cosmo Cricket Pattered paper, American Crafts Thickers, Stampin’ Up Solid Paper, Studio Calico Solid Paper, October Afternoon Shape Stickers

Craft Room Clean Up: Ribbon Storage Giveaway

I have been in the process of cleaning out the office/my craft room. We are facing a move in the next few months so now is the time to purge out some of my goodies to make moving a bit easier.

So I am going to start the next few weeks with some giveaways/sales to help purge out my stuff. The first items to go are my ribbon keepers from Stampin’ Up! I love how they hold the ribbon while allowing it to roll out easily. I’d def keep these but I’m purging out some ribbon and heading towards stacked bin organization.

Large Ribbon Keepers - by Stampin' Up! Medium Ribbon Keepers - by Stampin' Up! Small Ribbon Keepers - by Stampin' Up!

Large Ribbon Keepers– $18.95

Medium Ribbon Keepers– $15.95

Small Ribbon Keepers– $11.95

That is a value of $46.85! And these ribbon keepers are in like new condition. You would get 2 of each ribbon keeper sizes.

Entry #1- Comment on what you are looking forward to this week.

Entry #2- Share this blog post on Twitter by using the button below.

I will pick a winner on 2/6/11. Good luck!

Snow Bunnies- Layout

I had these photos laying around for a while. I took them back in January when I had the rabbits outside in the snow. Part of me wanted to make a 2 page spread with a lot of embelishments but I decided to keep it rather simple. I fought myself about this page quite a bit. I played around with color selection, embelisments, and arrangement. Overall a simple grid would work best. I wanted to feature the rabbits so the close up’s on them to stand out. Additionally, I did not want to have multiple photo sizes- I don’t want to play favorites with them. ha.

I kept things simple since I wanted to emphasize them in the snow. The brightest thing in the photos was the harness so I started to pick colors that were similar to that and then kept going from where, while keeping in the came tonal family. I wanted to have some snowflakes on the page but did not want die cuts or stamps so I used a Hambly transperancy. I added a few colored gromets in a large (visual) triangle.

Stampin’ Up, Hambly, Cricut

So Very Happy- LO

In just a few short hours Pricer and I are leaving Boston to head up to Maine. We are going to a teeny tiny town called… ready… SUNSHINE!!! No Joke. Guess what the main road through there is? SUNSHINE ROAD! I’m absolutely giddy about our long weekend there. We are getting to hang out with Price’s family, which means getting to see the little guy who is the star of this layout. These pictures of Addison, one of Pricer’s nephews, are about 2 years old now. Can’t beleive how fast times flies!! And how slow I am at scrapbooking. Ouch!

While Price and I were camping in NH 2 summers ago we met up with his family. I love how Addison is just so happy. He was so proud of himself for crawling on the rock. I love the picture of him nuzzling up to Chase. Totally love for his Dad.

Sketchbook 2: Day 3

Price is such a good sport. I bugged him 2 nights in a row about this simple layout. I started it late on Monday night because I just had to get it going then. So when he we  he was ready to get to bed I called him back to show him my work-in-progress layout. Poor tired Pricer is trying to get to bed early (to be at work at 6) and I want to stay up all night scrapbooking. And then I started working on it again on Tuesday night and had him checking it out again when he just wanted to drink a beer in peace. He is such a good sport about it considering my scrapbooking table and storage unit ended up taking over the office and now there is a table in the dining area. At this point he has as many rounds of golf and cigar smoking owed to him.

Anyway… I am absolutely loving this Sketchbook 2 class!!! It is helping me stay current with my scrapbooking. Like having 3 weekly assignments. I’m going to fall a bit behind since we are going to spend this upcoming weekend in Maine but I’m okay with it. Our long weekend in Maine will result in lots of photos and ultimately more scrapbooking! So I took this picture on the 30th when my mom came up to Boston for a weekend visit. We had a fantastic time shopping in the North End and in Coolidge Corner, going out for dinner at Euno in the North End, having a grilled dinner in the backyard, 2 trips to Haymarket, making smoothies, and another great meal at Bouchee. We were basically go, go, go so these are the best pictures from that weekend. This was such a fantastic meal and time I just had to document it.

I enjoyed playing with this sketch a lot. The sketch had spots for 2 photos and 2 small circles (focal points) Instead of just 2 photos I used 5, but I reduced the size of 4 of them to fit into a 4×6, mimicking the 2 photo look. Also I did not use 2 circles in the layout. I still wanted to use a circle but I made it 1 larger one. Instead of treating the 2 circles as just 2 circles I used their spots as focal points, which allowed me to put my text embellishments there.

Sketchbook 2: Day 2

Day 2 of the Sketchbook Class from Kelly Purkey and Studio Calico brought along another great sketch. I loved this sketch! It was fun to do this layout out. Esp since Emily was over (we watched the Informant!) and we went through a lot of my papers to pick out what to use for this paper and just discuss my addiction. Piles of blue and green solids were pulled out, as well as patterned papers as well.

I might redo the title for this. Still not decided. Or I might add something to it. Always a work in progress.

Happy Layout

I wish I could tell you I have been in a scrapbooking rut. Why else would I not be posting any layouts? I have not been in a scrapbooking rut. I just have not been following through and posting them after I am done. I’m still making messes, finding strips of paper in the sofa, and unearthing ‘old’ photos and papers to rediscover. I’m having a blast.

My mom took this picture of our dog Piper this past May. Piper is 13 years old now so we let her get away with everything. She is slowing down but she surprises us when she takes off like a bullet after Cobi. She does whatever she wants, which usually means ignoring me and paying attention to Price. She is just about always happy, except when she gets shots from the vet. She greets you at the dog and practcally climbs up your leg to be held. If you stop rubbing her she will nudge you to start again. Pipes knows when you need some cuddling and some extra love.

 

Lack of sleep and a new layout

I had such a horrible night’s sleep last night. I never have a bad night- I lay down and I’m out within a few minutes, often mid sentence while talking to Price. But last night I laid there for what seemed like forever, 1 o’clock rolled around and I’m awake, I woke up several times during the time (no like me) and ta-da the alarm goes off at 5.20 or so for Price to get ready for work. I snoozed until 7 but the alarm every 9 minutes is not a sound sleep and I really wanted to be up at 6 anyway. So I’m off today. But I’m still trying to pull it together by tossing up a blog post.

This Sunday I hosted a scrapbooking crop, except last-minute rsvp changes and forgetfulness resulted in a crop of 1. While bummed that I could have slept in and not set up, I spent the day scrapbooking anyway. I got a few layouts done and some in progress, which I having been working on at night now. So the next few posts will be about the scrapbooking I have been getting done.

Today’s featured layout was one I did for a photo I took a few weeks back. I have noticed that I have been doing more 1 photo on a 12×12 layout than I did before. I still have my several photos layouts but I have begun to enjoy the 1 photo layout because it gives me more space for embellishment. Anyway, it always gave me a chance to use some cherry paper I just got- def a plus. I used both sides of the patterned paper- 1 side was cherries and the other was definitions. I circled the definition of “Enjoy”. I was definitely enjoying the moment, and my apron!

Supplies: Tea Towel Cherry Hill Paper by October Afternoon, Solid paper and real red ribbon Stampin’ Up!, Early Bird Borders by Cosmo Cricket, journaling tag and cherry circle tag by Shabby Chic Crafts, lace

Holy Glitter Batman!

I have been feeling a little off lately. Just not myself which has translated into a scrapbooking slump for a few days. I also think that this contributed to the muffin mishap on Sunday (see earlier post), clearly I was not thinking properly, ha.

Well I finally told myself to shake it off and get back to being crafty. I have been thinking about this layout for a few days but have just been putting it off. It’s kinda simple but that was sorta all I could handle last night. I have had these Stickycut Letters from Stampin’ Up! for a long time. I decided that I would used them for this layout and use glitter to make a bold title.

I made a horrible mess on the floor, table, and my face. Price said he could see glitter all over my face… great, I hope I got every speck off in the shower this morning. Either way I love glitter and I have a feeling I’ll be using these Stickycut Letter a lot since they are made for glitter and beads, and I imagine sand would work too!

Whoopie

I find the word Whoopie hilarious. One word and so many applications.

Whoopie cushion… whoopie pie.. making whoopie… Whoopi Goldberg. Or Whoopi Goldberg is a stretch but still great.

So when I decided to make Pumpkin Whoopie Pies in November I was so excited. 1) never had a whoopie pie before 2) first time making whoopie pies 3) Price helped. Price does not normally help me in the kitchen because I’m generally on a mission in the kitchen. Things are always so rushed so making dinner 1 person in the kitchen is easier than 2 bumping in to each other- one day we will coordinate the kitchen dance. At least there are nights when Price watches me cook while sitting on a chair while we chat about the day.

Maybe someone would argue that there is no need to scrapbook about baking Whoopie Pies but I enjoyed the night so much that I had to. Since I’m a goof about the word whoopie I gave it extra attention and made each chipboard letter different. Plus I really liked the pink polka dot paper from Stampin’ Up! so I had to use that and I basically worked the page around that.

Solid and patterned papers, chipboard letters, inks (white and soft suede), wire, and scalloped edge punch are from Stampin’  Up!, Tim Holtz Distress Crackle Paint in Worn Lipstick, ribbon

Pumpkin Whoopie Pie with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe is HERE!

Getting Inspired Again

While architecture school requires you to be creative I always approached my projects pragmatically. I like grids, rhythm, and realism. While I could have gotten a bit more wild and free with these I liked to imagine them as real projects, with structure, budgets, and codes. The last class I really felt creative in was a C (third) level studio when I sewed a majority of my project. It was a horrible pain in the ass and it required the sewing machine (that my dad designed when he worked for singer in the 80’s) to be serviced. I had shades of red to pink to represent users and the feeling invoked related to those users. It’s not to say that I did not like my other classes but that was the most hands on creative one.

Now that I am getting out of school I am determined to try every crafty thing I can get my hands on. Even if I try and fail or hate it I am going to try it. Different mediums, different techniques, different classes, etc. Up next is learning to crochet.

Over the weekend I made a wreath using a  12″ foam form. I wrapped the whole thing in the majority of a skein of yarn. Then I wrapped it in ribbon, from Stampin’ Up! Broke it and then stuck it back together with toothpicks. You would never know I cracked it but dumb move on my part. Then I decorated it with holly leaves that I diecut using Stampin’ Up! papers and a sizzix template. The berries were buttons, also from Stampin’ Up! Lastly, I added some wire (SU!) to add some depth to the wreath.