Western BBQ Fiesta Palooza Pages

I did this page with my New "Old West" Cricut Cartridge. The letters and numbers are two layers to give them the shadowed effect. I also used the cartridge to cut out the brown and blue hat and saddle on my Cricut. YES I love my new cartridge. It was time consuming putting the letters, numbers, saddle, and hat together, but the end results are well worth the time!

This family seemed to be popping up in several of my pics so I decided to make a layout using them. The little guy was scared at first of Honey (the horse), but later he didn't want to get off of him. I love how this page turned out. I layered the tag together and really like it.

Since my Western MOJO was going full blast I thought I would try my luck at a couple tags. I hand stitched the Star on the brown tag and put a star brad in the center of it. The cute little cowboys are off some Vintage Cowboy Valentine's. I embellished them with star brads and stickers. Laced some vintage silver rick rack and ribbon through them. I can't wait to use them in my album.

Paula, over on Paula's Palace of Altared Art is hosting a Wild West Tag Swap. I have entered into this Swap and need to get busy on my tags for it. Visit her site and see some of the tags she has received already. Stay tune for my tags.

Love,
Debxx

16 Weeks Challenge

I have been doing a 16 weeks challenge over on Barb's Blog. I haven't posted any of them so I thought I had better start posting some so that she knew I had been doing them. Here is a bit about the Challenge:

16 Weeks Challenge
Starts Saturday, May 3rd., and ends Aug. 16th. One layout a week for 16 weeks. I will post a prompt each Saturday. To get in for the prizes, you must do a layout for each week.

Week 1 Prompt - Awake/Asleep

Awake Layout

For my Awake Layout I decided to use some of the beautiful Spring Flower pictures that I took this Spring. I had several to choose from. "I love the first signs of Spring, It gives us hope for a New Beginning." Just like our Lord always gives us. I am so thank for such a caring Savior.

Asleep Layout

For my Asleep layout, I also used pictures that showed the Earth asleep. No signs of life when these pictures were taken. We had an Ice Storm hit southern IL in March. My son and I were driving around and seen the sign in the middle of my layout. We live in "Kell, Illinois" and the storm hit in "March" and Kell and March were the names on the Road signs. SO I had to have a picture of them. =)

Week 2 Prompt - Likes/Dislikes

Likes Layout
For this prompt I picked some of my favorite things in life. I love spring flowers. Making beautiful cakes, especially Wedding cakes, A Fresh blanket of Snow, and my Mom's sense of humor...Yes my Mom's Christmas Tree is hanging from her ceiling...She is such a nut. I love you Mom. =)

Dislikes Layout

For the Dislikes layout, I used pictures and letter die cuts that I didn't like. I do not like it when my pictures turn out blurry, when the cakes I decorate turn out ugly, When I am stopped by trains when I think I am in a "hurry", and The ice storm that hit our area and blocked the roadway to my house, and destroyed many of the trees in our area.

Week 3 Prompt - Clean/Messy

Messy Layout

I wanted you to see the Messy Layout first, so you would appreciate my Clean Layout. My poor Scrapbook room was terrible till I finally got my shelves and organization. Everytime I would purchase new products they would lay on the table or my desk because I didn't know where to go with them. Or if I needed something that was in one of the 10 totes under the long table, it would get threw on the table. Frustration would set in, then it wouldnt get put up, and I couldn't scrap or do anything. So it was always a mess. Then one day I had it. I boxed everything up, set them outside of my room, told the hubby lets go, we went to the shed I got the shelves out of shed cleaned them up and that was the start of organizing my Scrapbook/Craft Room. YEAH!!

Clean Layout

This is my CLEAN Scrapbook room I am so proud of it. My desk stays so nice..well except when I am doing something. But now I can put the supplies up as soon as I am finished with them. They have a home..=) The first pic is of my desk, 2nd is my new Cricut Machine...so wonderful, and then one of the Shelves that I put in my room. I have organizers with drawers that helps alot with the organization. There is another set of shelves beside this one that I keep my sewing supplies on, yarn, material, crochet thread, and ribbons. I also have a cabinet with my sewing machine and supplies in the other corner. But couldn't get the pictures of the machine and the shelving unit on this layout.


Week 4 Prompt - Fire, Water, Earth, Wind (had to pick 2)


So I choose Water:


I picked beautiful pictures of people having Fun In the Sun at the beach. There isn't any thing prettier then the blue water against the sandy beach. So thats where my mind went when I seen the prompt for Water.

I also picked Fire:

These are some of the fireworks from our local 4th of July Celebration. The 4th of July is one of my favorite Holidays. Even as a kid I couldn't wait till the 4th of July to get here. The firecracker in the middle of the page is made from cardstock, yarn, and fibers.

Week 5 Prompt - City/Country
(I am really sorry about the scan on this one. I have tried different ways to scan it and it just will not turn out. I guess its because of the light paper that I used to scrap on.)

For the City Prompt I have pictures of Motels, Tall Buildings, Villas, and heated indoor pools...then I commented, " Everything is way too close together. I need breathing space like in the ----->"

Country Prompt

Here I used a picture of my son at a Go-Cart Race in a friends pasture, my sisters dog swimming in the horses water, a long beautiful path that one can go for nice quiet walks, and of course the beautiful wild flowers that one can see on those walks. "Country - A lovely place to Live"

I hope the long post wasn't too bad, but I wanted to get these posted so Barb could see them. Thanks again for the challenge Barb. I have really enjoyed working in it, I will post some more soon, I want everyone recover from this long post first. =).

thanks for stopping by,

Debxx

Write Place, Write Time Summer Journal

I want to let you know why I haven't been posting as much. I have started a new Summer Journal. It is taking a lot of times for some of the projects but I am Loving every minute of it. Accomplishing some things that I didn't know I could do.

Teresa McFayden, is the author of this fabulous E-Zine. I am going to quote her and allow her to explain it.

"Is there ever a right place or time for artistic play? What would you write or create on those pages? If you hesitated to respond, then this summer journal escapade is for you. Every Monday Wednesday and Friday between June 2 - June 27, the E-Zine will feature a new journal prompt, detailed technique or artful exercise. If you have an old blank book (6x8 or so in size), pens or markers you like, interesting embellishments and patterned papers, you have most of what you need for this E-Zine. Truly! Several down loadable templates and even a video or two of techniques also will be included. I’ve taught similar journaling courses over the years and they are always very well received. Past students have loved these exercises. I’ve updated my lesson plans and added more just for Write Time, Write Place. It’s like getting a little bit of inspiration every other morning! It’s paperless! No advertisements, no 6 month old projects. Just techniques, 12 projects with detailed instructions and photo step outs, ideas and fun with your fellow subscribers! View the site as many times as you like. Many subscribers print out the projects for safe keeping and for easy referral later." Thanks Teresa.

Please go over to her fabulous blog and see her great artwork. She is a wonderful teacher. The first project was called "defining you". We made a 2 page spread about our self. "Defining" our self. We used a color blending technique, found a picture of our self to use, and then came up with words that we thought defined us. Here is my take on it.


Here is the first page of my layout.


Here is the second page of my layout. I used the blending technique on my hand. It was a 3 step process. 1. color with a light color of your choice 2. Pick a color that is a little darker and color with medium pressure. Also color in different angles. 3. Take a darker color, outline the right side and bottom of your color. Take your first color now and pushing hard, "blend your colors". Pulling your highlight colors into the others.

Thanks for inspiring us Teresa.

Updated My Slide Show

Check out the slide show ........

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I updated it with my newest creations

To list a few:

Inchies

Heart Pillows

House Pins

Cards

Layouts

Bloggers Ball Gowns

CKC St Louis Projects

House Charms

I hope you enjoy my slide show.

Love,

Deb

Fashionistas Layout Challenge

I mentioned before I LOVE Challenges!!!!! Here is my Layout for Wilna Furstenberg's, this is her first Fashionista Layout Challenge. Wilna loves simple things. So this Challenge is called The 6 Thing Challenge.

The 6 Thing Challenge, the items you will need to use are: Brads, Paint, Cardboard, Ribbon, Chipboard Letters, and 1 Printed Paper.

So here is my LO for this challenge. The picture is of Paula, Cat, and myself at the Scrapbook and Altered Art Retreat last weekend. We were working on our Art Muses (dolls).

Hope you enjoy my take for this challenge.

Huggles,

Deb

Scrapbook and Altered Art Retreat

What an AWESOME weekend I had. I spent the weekend with Paula from Paula's Palace of AltAred Art, http://pclouse.blogspot.com/ and Cat from Cupcakes and Coffee, http://www.cupcakesandcoffee.blogspot.com/. You talking about 2 crazy ladies.

Wow

We had a great time, what a great surprise to me when I walked into the Retreat and there Cat was, it was such an honor to meet her this weekend and get to know her. Paula and I are long time friends, she is like the BIG sister I never had, so I always LOVE the time we get to spend together. I want to thank Paula and Carla, our Creative Memories Consultant for the great time, that 11 Scrapbook Sisters spent together at the BEAUTIFUL Lodge at Lake Sallateeska, North of Nashville, IL.

As Paula would say, "We waxed creatively all weekend!" We made Art Muses (Dolls), Happy House Pins, Cards for special friends, 5 sided Easter Eggs (Made like a 5-sided journal box), and of course many scrapbook layouts. I will post pictures as soon as I get pictures of all the wonderful things we made.