Mini Album

Hello Everyone!!! Sorry its been a while, the oldest kiddo came down with Strep --- ugh!! Its been a challenge keeping everything germ free to prevent from everyone else getting sick.... ON TO SCRAPBOOKING!!!!

So, While busy at work, I had some time to look up some baby boy album ideas... Down below, (on other posts) I had the dilemma about a light pastel color type paper or darker color type paper to use as his album... I still haven't been able to decide for sure but, I am leaning toward the lions tigers and giraffes (OH MY--- if there were bears) ... ---

Here is a mini album I found that has similar paper--- I love this little video... I want to make something like this in a 12x12 version... but what do you think??  This video was made by GingerCupcakeCards...

Just beware--- I have purchased several stacks of light blues and yellows and greens -- along with the dark varsity pack I was able to show below and the paper similar to this video!!! This weekend should be my deadline to figure this out... He will be here before we know it!!

Thanks for watching!

Award

I want to thank Afternoon Scrapper for the awesome 'Stylish Blog Award' she gave me.  Thank you so much for viewing ScrapiliciousVal...

The requirements for receiving this award is to list 8 things about me and to pass it on to 8 other blogs.  This is so much fun.  :)


About me:
- I am having my 3rd Kiddo.
- I would love to open my own business one day.
- I do have a full time job --- it's rather fun.
- I have tried many new techniques in scrapbooking and they never turn out like in the demo.
- I love girly notebooks and paper
- A friend of mine and I almost opened our own scrapbooking store-- we chickened out.
- I love to eat at on the border!!!!.
- My hubby is very supportive of my scrap hobby!!



The blogs I chose to send this to:

- http://splendidscraps.blogspot.com/
- http://summertimedesigns.blogspot.com/
- http://mysbroom.blogspot.com/
- http://www.obsessedwithscrapbooking.com/
- http://memorylanecafe.blogspot.com/
- http://kozyscraps.blogspot.com/
- http://i-heart-scrapbooking.blogspot.com/
- http://scrapbook-crazy.blogspot.com/

Thank you all for the support and making me smile. I enjoy very much following these blogs and many many more-- There are just too many on my list to chose from... I hope you all enjoy and thank you again for the award, Afternoon Scrapper

Distress Ink

I am so excited today!!! First, thanks for viewing the post!! I really do appreciate it!!! Another reason for the excitement is because I went to one of my many favorite stores today ---- HOBBY LOBBY!! I "had to get out of the house and get some fresh air" (which translates to --- I wanted to go to Hobby Lobby) and I had seen this you tube video on distress ink.. Now, I am new to the scrapbooking ordeal.. not too new but compared to all the blogs I follow -- which are many -- I am pretty much a novice....

The video is from apieceofcraft.com which distresses the page with water along with the ink pad... I finally decided I was going to try it out... So, I went out and bought a few distress ink pads by Holtz. Enjoy!!! Here is the video I viewed...

Below is a page from acherryontop.com shows you several other ways to achieve the same result but not using any water like the video from above...

Distressing
In the hobby of scrapbooking, distressing can be defined as altering paper or embellishments to give them an aged, vintage or well-worn look.  It is a very inexpensive technique that can add a lot of depth and texture to your pages.  Distressing looks great with heritage photos, sepia photos and black and white photos.
Dry distressing techniques
This is the first LO I created to demonstrate some of the basic techniques:

The first thing I did was cut a strip (3 1/2" x 12") of the Jenni Bowlin Turquoise Wallpaper patterned paper.  I then crumpled it up:

Unfold it:

If you want it to be more wrinkled, crumple it again.  Next, I used the large sanding file from the Basic Grey Precision set to sand the paper.  You will notice that it really makes the creases in the paper from crumpling it stand out.

Next, I inked it using some Ranger Distress Ink.  Hold the ink pad over the paper and lightly brush it with the pad.  The harder you press, the more ink will be added to your paper.

Here are some tips on using ink to distress your paper.  You can hold your ink at a 90 degree angle and it will lightly ink your edges like in this photo.

If you would like more coverage on the edges, tilt the ink pad closer to the paper (making the angle between your paper and ink pad more acute.)

Here's another tip that I learned that I am not sure you knew.  When you purchase your Ranger Distressing Pads, they have a flat surface like this:

You can actually pull the top flat surface.  It is a great idea to wear gloves when you do this.  My fingers were broken china blue for several days.

In the following picture, you can see what it does for your paper.  The right edge was inked before I removed the top layer of the ink pad.  The bottom edge was after.  I love that the bottom looks more natural and not manufactured to make it look aged.  Hope that makes sense when you look at this photo:

 I placed the paper we distressed next to the original piece so you could see the difference:

I then continued to do the same thing to all of the other papers I added to my page.  I kept adding layers of paper to the page.  I think that with distressing, the more layers of paper you add, the better it looks.  This is just my own personal preference.

Another thing I wanted to show you was paper tearing.  I think it looks great with distressed papers and really goes with the worn and vintage look.  You can see from looking at my LO that I tore the edge of the Turquoise Wallpaper patterned paper I used on the left of the LO.  When tearing paper, I like to place the paper with the pattern face up.  I then tear the paper upward.  It is hard to show you the exact way I hold the paper while I tear it with one hand on the camera but I usually use one hand to hold the paper and the other to tear.  By tearing it upward, you can see the white core of the paper.

The white core will also pick up and show more ink when you ink the edges.  If you don't want the white core to show, then place your pattern face down when tearing.
Another distressing technique I used on this LO, was sanding.  Again, I used the large file from the Basic Grey Precision Set and sanded the edges of the paper. I also sanded some of the surface of the background paper.  Both add more texture to your page.

Again, here's my finished page.  With these techniques, keep repeating them and combining them until you get the desired look you want on your page.  If the distressing technique isn't giving you as bold of a result as you like, do it again.  Keep doing it until you get the results you want.
 The problem I was having when scanning these pages was that the true depths of the distressing was getting lost.  Here are some photos of the page that might help you see it better.

Anyways, I am so excited I am about to go try all these methods out!!! I hope you guys enjoy the post.. Sorry So Long!!! I'll shorten it up next time!!!! 

Treat Box

Treat box by Beate Johns

You can find more projects at http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/

Stuffed full of candy, cookies or potpourri, this easy-to-make box is sure to be a hit!

I thought this would be a cute project to share... I haven't been able to get on in a few days since I've been busy with Vday plans...Hope everyone is enjoying the sites i've been stumbling upon!!! ~Val

Supplies

• Paper cutter with scoring blade
• One 12"x12" piece of cardstock
• Eight 3 3/4" squares of Patterned Paper A
• One 3 7/8" square of Patterned Paper A
• Eight 3 7/8" squares of Patterned Paper B
• Adhesive
• Eight Eyelets
• Crop-a-dile™
• Ribbon
• Bone Folder

Step-by-Step

1. Step 1

   Score 12" x 12" cardstock at 4" and 8".
   

2. Step 2

   Turn cardstock 90 degrees and score at 4" and 8".
   

3. Step 3

   Prefold all scores.
   

4. Step 4

   Fold one corner square over to a center square to create a diagonal fold in the corner square.
   

5. Step 5

   Add a diagonal fold to all four corner squares.
   

6. Step 6

   Cut all 3 3/4" patterned paper squares in half diagonally.
   

7. Step 7

   Tape the triangle shapes to the outer squares and tape the 3 7/8" paper squares in Pattern B to the scored squares of the box inside.
   
   The one 3 7/8" square of the Pattern A paper goes in the center of the box.
   
   (The inside of the box is the side that has the diagonal fold going in.)
   

8. Step 8

   Flip cardstock and decorate the outside.
   
   There's no need to add patterned paper to the center panel as this will be the bottom.
   

9. Step 9

   Punch a hole in each of the outer corners.
   

10. Step 10

    Add an eyelet to each of the punched holes.
    

11. Step 11

    Thread a 24" piece of ribbon or cord through the eyelets and tie to hold the box together.
    

12. Step 12

    Finished box.
     

Here is the Video in case you all would like to see it done before your eyes!!! Its pretty simple to do and looks gorgeous!!!

Loving Bo Bunny!!!!

So I know its just a few days before Valentines Day!!! And I am way too old to give out Valentines Day cards but my girls aren't!!! I love reliving elementary school -- ha ha..  My oldest watches me scrapbook and attempted to make her own following a Bo Bunny design...

(She was too embarrassed to show you the outcome)  -- She is 9 yrs old but here are some of the ones we attempted.. You can find these at http://bobunny.blogspot.com/2011/02/valentines-day-cards.html

Needelss to say, the 'Hopelessly devoted' card did not turn out like it did here... In fact, It didnt resemble it at all but I loved her effort.. We love Bo Bunny paper and their ideas but if I have a long way to go, maybe my nine year old can surpass me when she gets to my age... LOL...

Well I hope you all think they're super cute as well.. I added their link above in case you wanted to see the rest and you aren;t already following them.... Take care and until next time!!!

Valeria

All Events in One Album!!

Hello All!!
Well I wanted to show you on a project I am currently working on.. It is not finished and I hope to finish it soon.. I was really frustrated because I have a pretty good size family that lately has been growing at a good rate!!! (SMILE)

I wanted to remember every ones address, birthdays, anniversaries and I wanted it all in ONE place.. So I thought long and hard as to how I wanted to accomplish this... I made a little video -- showing it off... ----
Now, Remember I just put it together so its not completed ..

Now the video quickly explains how I designed it.. Below you'll see pictures of the different months... I have a lot of embellishing to do ...  =)

So there you have it... The video shows how the addresses are recorded and I will embellish those pages as well.. Now, I hope to get STARTED on the baby album!!! Wish me luck!!!

The Cricut Expression 2 (Anniversary Edition)

Ok, I haven't written in a couple of days or a week... but there are 2 things I want to point out that are extremely important to me!!! (smile)

1.    This week, I went to Hobby Lobby and ALL scrapbooking paper is 50%off without the use of a coupon....

2.     I saw that there is a new cricut coming out soon!!! The Anniversary Edition...  You have to check it out!!! I am so excited.

I've been working on making an album for the baby!! Its becoming a bit difficult because I have so many ideas!!! Help would be greatly appreciated!!! I have two themes I love.. One is an animal theme (lion, giraffe, etc) using bright colors...I believe I can blend in some pastel blues!!!

But, I also love the dark hues in this sport theme which by the way, is ALL boy!!! His nursery is done in a sports + animal theme ... so both work in my eyes.. 

I'll show you what I decide later on but some help on this would be great!!!  This seems like it will take me a while!! Until Next Time!!! 

Photo Books!!!!

I love to scrapbook!!! My favorite part has to be going to Hobby Lobby and Michaels or Joanns and picking out the supplies I am going to use next. Before the baby arrives, I want to finish all my projects and lately I have found myself loving the photobooks offered by Smilebox and Shutterfly.  Recently I found Mix Book.. I haven't researched Mixbook as much as I have the other two, but next time I need a photo book I may just use them.. They offer you a 20% discount on your first purchase... Just go to Mixbook.com and sign up (make sure you have in mind to make a book in 7 days bc then the coupon will expire).  Below are a few examples of what they offer...

Now, I have to say the reason why I love Smilebox... Smilebox incoorporates scrapbooking with photobooks!!!! (See Below) I made a few that you can email for free to family members and LOVE IT!!!! As I mentioned, I love to scrapbook and my daughter (now in first grade) had so much art work from Kinder that I felt I needed to add it into a book... So I did the first album (Color me happy) and you can make it embellishment heavy or not...  The only downside was I can email it for free but if I wanted to print the book, I have to have a yearly memebership ... I have no idea what the charge is!!!

Last but not least I am sure, is Shutterfly!!! I am unable to show you a few pictures of those but they are pretty cute... and you can change the layout.. I ended up buying my daughters photobook from them since I dont have to purchase that yearly fee.. If anyone knows of any others please let me know!!!!

I would love to digitally scrapbook but my main problem is I Love 12x12 layouts!!! I do not have a printer or know of many printers that would be able to do a superb job printing out scrapbooking pages... Any advice???

Pregnancy Rants....

I wish I could be the "typical" pregnant woman.  Twenty four weeks is how far along I am and I have got a belly to prove it!!! I wish I had the normal cravings but I don't.  I work in a men driven company who see me and tell me their wives wanted pickles with peanut butter. I had one tell me it was pickles with mayo and I thought to myself I LOVE PICKLES!!! However, I don't crave them... In fact, I have no cravings.  I eat and continue my day ...

I have heard the oddest stories of women craving dirt and pine sol --- (A lady was mopping her kitchen and realized she just wanted to suck on the mop for a bit --- and she did!!!!) but thankfully, I am not craving those items either...

What all could people crave??? I mostly hear about pickles...

Maybe, the cravings will hit once i get bigger to where I have to eat all the time!!!!

Ha! Wish me luck!!!

~Valeria