It's time for another CK Blog Issue Blitz!!  I'm so excited because I've had a chance to look through the new July/August Issue and it is really fantastic!  BTW, I absolutely LOVE the option to get the digital CK magazine!  It is so handy to be able to pull up inspiration whereever I am.

So I am offering up a copy of this new CK issue to a randomly selected winner!  Just leave a comment on my blog about what is your favorite summertime activity!  I'll select a winner on Saturday, so please check back in on Saturday to see if you've won!

Here is a link to the CK store where you can purchase this issue. And a link to the CK on-line extras where you can find contests, downloads and techniques based on this issue.

 

So I did a couple of LOs based on the wonderful inspiration in this Issue.

First, I love the sketches and while I didn't need to do a 2 page LO like the sketch, I did like one side of the LO. This is one of the LOs in the Issue based on sketch done by Shelley Jacquet.

and my LO based on the sketch - right side which I flipped for my photo orientation.

and I really love the "My Hero" article by Joannie McBride.  To me, it's so important to honor those that make a difference in our lives and scrapbooking allows me to do just that.  I love this LO done by Jana Morton of her Role Model and I knew photos of my grandfather would be perfect.  He was obtained his Ph.D in Chemistry in the 1930's - very inspirational for an African American back at that time!  And he inspired me to get my degree in Chemistry, too.

Here is my LO.

I know I'll find lots more wonderful ideas to scraplift in this Issue.

And make sure to check out these blogs.  These ladies are also giving away a chance to win this issue as well. Here are links to their blogs.

  The Scrap Review (Ashley Harris):   http://www.thescrapreview.com/
                                      Patty Cieri:  http://thegreenhouseonthehill.blogspot.com/
                                    Laina Lamb:  http://lifeonthelamb.blogspot.com/

      

Thank you so much for all the wonderful comments on my LOs!!  I truly appreciate you visiting my blog!

Random Number generated was 15, so Emily H, you are the winner of the CK Issue!! I will e-mail you!

thanks again everyone for playing along!!

CK March/April Issue Give-away!!

I am thrilled to be offering up the March/April Issue of Creating Keepsakes Magazine for a randomly selected winner.  So, if you want to be entered into the drawing for this great issue,  please leave a comment to this post.  And check out the LOs that inspired me and my take on them!  I'll pick a random winner Tuesday night and post on Wednesday!

This really is a such a great issue of the magazine and has truly inspired several LOs for me!!

 issue:March/April CK Issue

Here is a link to the CK store where you can purchase this issue.

and a link to a CK on-line extras where you can find contests, dowloads and techniques based on this issue.

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Now, in order to expand my creativity, I've made it a goal this year to do a LO based on every LO or idea from this issue.  There are so many great ideas and I'm having such a great time learning new ideas and techniques!!

  First, I have to share the LO I did based on Maggie Holmes super cute cover LO!!  I loved it so much - the colors, the sweet photo, the way she arranged her embellies!  Just beautiful.

Kiah in the Park - 1991

Next, I was also inspired by Kim Jackson's LO and the idea to use canvas.

Kim Jackson - "Chicago" (CK March/April Issue)

I didn't have canvas strips, but I did have a mini - canvas.  So I used that along with other canvas circle pieces for these fun photos of me with Erin and Kiah.  I also inked the edges of my canvas and added a rub-on.

Birthday with my girls - Feb, 2012

a close-up of the mini-canvas with rub-on added.

 I wanted to share this LO I created based on Michelle Wooderson "Natural Beauties".  Michelle used watercolor designs on her LO and so I wanted to captured this fun idea and give it a try

Michelle Wooderson - "Natural Beauties" (CK March/April Issue)

In a past life, I used to do a lot of pin and ink watercolor designs, so I pulled out my acrylic paints, watercolor paper and some cute christmas pen and ink drawings to create this LO.  It was really fun to be painting again and I know I'll have to give this technique a try again!

Christmas 2010

a close-up of the watercolored snowman

 Lastly, I want to share another LO that I created based on the great inspiration from this CK Issue.  I loved this LO by Stacy Cohen and how she created those beautiful glassine flowers.

Stacy Cohen - "So Happy Together" (CK March/April Issue)

 Well, I didn't have glassine paper, so I tried to come up with a way to "copy" this idea.  I ended up cutting the flowers out using spellbinder dies, coloring the flowers with alcohol inks and then brushing them with pigment powders like Stacy.  I did need to heat set the flowers and they took a long time to completely be set (a few days!).  I was pleased how this LO of my ODD and her boyfriend turned out.

So Silly - January 2012

I plan on continuing my creative journey with this CK Issue - I've got several more LOs tagged to scraplift!!

And make sure to check out these blogs.  These ladies are giving away a chance to win this issue as well. Here are links to their blogs and good luck in winning a copy of this great issue!!

              Laura Vegas:   http://lauravegas.typepad.com/

Paper Craft Magazine:   http://www.papercraftsconnection.com/

               Erika Hayes:   http://www.thinkingthroughdesign.typepad.com/

       Piradee Talvanna:    http://piradee.blogspot.com/

        Joey Manwarren:   http://everydayimagination.blogspot.com/

wooo hooo!!  I just signed up for the BPC NSD challenges.  I can't wait!!

Over Christmas break, we were all shopping in Macy's and saw this wonderful shot of Justin Bieber.  We knew we had to get a photo with him.  Mark and Erin completely ignored us and left the store since Kiah and I I guess were just too embarrasing to be seen with.  So Kiah asked a stranger in the store to take our photo and she did!!  What clowns we are!!  He does seem a little uncomfortable and stiff....

The journaling says:
"Who would've guess we'd bump into Justin Beiber at the mall!  Quite a thrill for Kiah and I!  and he was nice enough to pose for a picture with us!"

Basic Grey papers, MS border punch, music fabric from TBC kit.  Sassafras journal block

Valentines Day Card frenzy!

I've been working on Valentines Day cards for the last couple of days.  These are what I've done.  I've mostly used Little Yellow Bicycle papers - they are so fun and bright - I love these papers!

Samantha and Zoey - enjoying life

Wow - 1st post

Well, I'm journeying into the blogging world with this first post!!  I can't wait to add other stuff, too!