WHAT A WEEKEND! PLUS A LAYOUT

The challenges were flowing fast and furious during this weekend's online crops at the Fiskateers and Dare 2 Dream!  And guess what Chickie's?  The Fiskateers crop continues until Wednesday, January 27! Can we do it?  Yes, we can!  Well, maybe.  I have to find my craft table first!  Cleaning chores are my first priority when I finish this post.  Then I'm going to put together a layout for a Fiskateers challenge--create a layout with the consecutive letters, CHA, in the title.  Maybe I will share that one tomorrow!

Today's layout is from one of Saturday's Fiskateer Challenges, Embellish your Embellishments.  The required item was embellished chipboard.  I chose to embellish my  naked chipboard title (Best Occasions), Full Moon, by painting it with Perfect Pearls (Ranger).  I thought I had an oops moment because I forgot to paint or paper the chipboard first--but, the Pearls covered just fine without taking the extra step.

All papers are from DCWV except for the silver portions of the triple mat which is Wausau Papers.  I used the Fiskars  Pearls of Wisdom corner squeeze punch on the mat.  The silver ribbon is from ki Memories and I picked up the gem clip stars at Office Depot.  A bit of adhesive and some dark blue embroidery floss and I was done.

The photo was taken in December, 2008 while vacationing in Aruba.  There is a companion to this page but it is nothing special--just more moon photos and very basic journaling.

Thanks for dropping in.  What did you do crafty this weekend?  I love hearing from you so leave a comment and let me know!

FISKATEERS!

Hello, everyone!
It's raining here and I have several craft projects to post--but I want to get good photos of them so stay tuned!  Love the rain after our drought but I think I'm growing gills!  I've got cards, my ATC box, layouts and a sewing thing to post when the weather cooperates for photos. Think the weather is breaking tomorrow.
In the interim, I thought I would share a photo of me at the Fiskars 360 Celebration!  Yes,  Fiskars has been in business for 360 years!  Can you believe that?  Fiskars started in Fiskars, Finland 360 years ago in the steel business.  Their return policy and customer service has no equal in my opinion or knowledge.

It was an honor to attend the Fiskars 360 Birthday Celebration at Epcot in Orlando.  I got to meet a bunch of  my on line friends, all the Lead Fiskateers and some of the home office Fiskars folks.  I met Maxine from WV and watched as she was crowned FOY of 2009 (Fiskateer of the Year for 2009!  YaaaaaaaaY Maxine!).  All I can add is that it was fabulous and it was hot and humid while running around the park doing Scavenger Hunt.  BTW my hair gets a bit wavy/curly in those conditions.

Fiskateers are brand ambassadors for Fiskars products--paper crafing, gardening, sewing, jewelry or floral. If  I didn't list a crafty item (like ceramics, knitting, crotchet, etc.), I didn't do it on purpose because all crafts are represented on Fiskateers.com.

Come join in the fun!  We have a fun, and short, on line crop scheduled for 10/17/09 for Breast Cancer Awarness.  Click the Fiskateer blinkie on the left or go to http://www.fiskateers.com/  and follow the instructions. 

I would love to see and welcome you as a new Fiskateer!

SO YOU WANNA SCRAPBOOK?

Recently, I've had several conversations with folks interested in scrapbooking but they've never done it.  They want to know the how and why I got into it and what they need to get started.

About six or seven years ago, I attended a home party type crop to benefit a charity.  I created one 12 x 12 page with a 5 x 7 photo, 2 balloon stickers and a metallic gold pen that night.  I was hooked!  I went to Michael's armed with coupons and credit card the very next weekend.  I picked up some mini albums, two cardstock value packs, a package of pens in fall colors and some Thanksgiving stickers.  I was going to knock out a few Christmas gifts!  I got started on them but all of it ended up in a box where it sat until 2007.  I got the box back out and completed those books for Christmas 2007 and have been scrapping ever since.  Scrapping makes me happy!

I started with scissors, pencil, ruler and the few items previously mentioned.  I then added more consumables and a trimmer.  Then I added some decorative scissors and punches and more consumables and a better trimmer and I really could go on and on.  BUT, I'm pretty sure I could go back to the scissors and ruler and make a decent layout.

This is one of my earliest 12 x 12 layouts.  (Not THE earliest because I don't know what happened to the one with the balloons!)  The title and the sand dollar (MS Office clip art) were printed on vellum.  I used a small set of nesting bowls to draw a circle around the sand dollar and the gray card stock mat and cut them out by hand.  I used a pair of deckle edged scissors to cut the title.  The photo, from our 2007 vacation on the lovely island of St Kitts, is triple matted and the journaling was done with a white Sakura gel pen.

How did you get started down your scrappy road and what was in your little kit bag?  I would love to know so please add to the comments.  Thanks so much!  Have a wonderfully creative day!

READY FOR AUTUMN

I'm not ready for summer to be over but I love the colors of fall.  I like the change of the seasons, especially summer to fall.  There's just something about wearing sweaters and closed toe shoes again that makes me happy!  I'm looking forward to cooler, crisper weather, raking leaves and making soups and chili.

I created this layout using the Fiskarscrafts.com September '09 sketch.  The photos were taken during one of my "tagalong with working husband" visits to New York City.  It was a lovely, late October day, a perfect day to be outside enjoying the scenery.  I had decided to explore Greenwich Village and found myself in Washington Square Park.  This squirrel was not afraid of me or anybody else.  Must have been a native Manhattanite!

All pattered paper is from Cloud 9 Outdoors Collection.  The NUTS title is Heidi Grace Harvest Row adhesive alphas.  The rhinestone leaves (on vellum paisley shapes) are from the dollar bin at JoAnn's.  I used Fiskars Leave it to Weaver, Threading Waters, and Diamond border punches, Comma, Comma Chameleon squeeze punch and scallop paper edgers.  The journaling block and Got part of the title were created in MS PowerPoint with the stationary fill background and Bradley Hand font.

Thank you so much for checking in.  Enjoy the last little bit of summer!

CROP CRAZY

Wow, what a Fiska-fabulous weekend! The Fiskateers hosted an online crop and the challenges were flying at fever pitch. The message board was hopping, the gallery was popping and the chat room was, well, chatty. The crop started mid morning on Friday and the majority of the challenges were due by Saturday, 10 pm CST. I spent most of my free time on Sunday commenting on my fellow Fiskateer’s lovely projects. Here's one of mine.

We were challenged to create a scrapbook layout, card or other project using a “sacred” paper or embellishment. You know, that paper that you fell in love with at the store, just had to have and then were too taken with it to use? That’s my background paper! I just love the soft, warm tones and the subtle paisley and floral pattern. It’s Terra Cotta Paisley from the Sonnets Studios line from Creative Imaginations, LLC. The bird is from Prima and the brads are Spare Parts. Photos are from a trip I took to New York City in 2007.

Cropping and sharing the creativity with my Fiskateer friends is always special. Click the Fiskateer blinkie on the right for more details about this super group.

Thank you for visiting Traveling Down A Crafty Road! Please sign my Guest Book at the bottom of the page. Comments are always read and welcome

AN OASIS OF BLOOMS!

My husband often travels for work. When I have the opportunity, I go with him. While he’s working, I’m off gallivanting--enjoying the sights and getting the lay of the land. I shop, too! I search for arts & craft stores before I even leave home. I don’t think that’s unusual, do you?

This double layout is from a trip to Washington, DC. I stumbled upon this lovely garden while walking The Mall from The Smithsonian Castle to The Air and Space Museum. When I saw the pocket garden with its cute little birdhouses, I knew I had to stop and see what else it had to offer. I didn’t know if I would ever have a chance to visit again, so I thought "Why not now?"

I used Paper Reflections patterned paper. The paisley embellishment squares were punched with the Fiskars Comma Comma Chameleon squeeze punch and edged with Stickles. The circular spirals are Colorbok Sticky Stitches. The folded ribbon (unknown source) is just stapled onto a square of the patterned paper.

Note to self for lone sightseeing jaunts: Improve the long arm, self portrait photo technique or just start asking all those other charming tourists you end up chatting with to take your picture.

Thank you for visiting Traveling Down A Crafty Road! Please sign my Guest Book at the bottom of the page. Comments are always read and welcome.