Fariy Series: A fairys delight

I decided to get inspiration from one of my favorite artists, Gabrielle P. I scrap lifted her page from November 2013 titled Family. She never ceases to amaze me with her creativity and innovation. So without further ado, here is the next in my fairy series, A fairy's delight:

I worked again with the Enchanted Garden collection from Bo Bunny. In addition to layering paper strips, I also spritzed the page with glimmer mist (Patina and Purple pansy) and did some fussy cutting on the fairy dust bottles. I had some Lindy's color shots (Jack in the Pulpit Teal) left from an old Scraps of Darkness kit so I colored the flowers with it. Stamped various spots with Distress inks in Broken China so it would be subtle in the background. I also splattered some craft paint in teal and lavender as well.

Detail shot!
Thanks for taking a peek! Happy creating.

xoxo Amanda

A Rose

I promised new layouts! Over the Memorial Day Weekend we went down to Portland Oregon for the day. We had never been, except driving through. Our first stop was Voodoo Donuts, mmmm..... My newest layout was inspired by our second stop, the International Rose Test Garden. It was breathtaking.

All around the gardens were light posts covered in rose vines.... I had this Dusty Attic chippie just waiting in my stash for the perfect layout...and as soon as I saw those posts in the garden, I knew I was going to use it! I just love the new Enchanted Garden collection from Bo-Bunny. The combos of teals and purples is so eye catching. The quote is on a wall in a section of the Garden called Shakespeare's Garden.

I used Distress Crackle Paint in brushed pewter on the light pole. When it was dry I went over it with distress ink black soot. The flowers I sprayed with Glimmer Mist Purple Pansy and Patina. The white flowers I sprayed with Sheer Simmer Spritz in frost.

Here is another close up of the flower clusters.
Thanks for taking a peek - Happy crafting!

xoxo Amanda

It's been awhile...

WOW! Where as the time gone? When I posted in April of last year, I had every intention of keeping up with this blog - but life got in the way. I won't go into detail, but let's just say that my husband and I have been working our way through a major family crisis, all the while trying to work full-time, keep up a house etc.... I myself have been trying to get out of a deep funk - personally and creatively. I have actually worked on more pieces for my "fairy" series. I can share two of them, the third I haven't taken photos of and it is up on display at my local scrapbook store. I also finally have my "own" craft space - my son moved out and his room became my craft room! It's been a labor of love, my husband helped tremendously. It has taken some time for me to venture in and actually start creating in it....I'm not sure what was holding me back, perhaps the "funk" had something to do with it. I apologize for the jumble of words, they are not in any kind of cohesive order just thoughts that are popping into my head.

So - a step in getting out of this funk - here are two more in the Fairy Series...

More to come! Soon.
 


Happy creating all!

xoxo Amanda

Fairy Series - Forest Fairy

This is my first try at an altered art piece - a reverse canvas. For years I have been collecting fairy cards - with the intent of framing them and hanging them as art in my house. Then I decided I should scrap them, and there they have sat....for  years. This particular picture is actually an envelope that went with one of the cards I found..... I couldn't not use this as well....  My hopes are to create a series of altered art pieces or scrap pages - hence the title Fairy Series

I started by prepping the back of the canvas with gesso, then I painted it with a combo of brown paint, antique gold mica and gel medium to give it a little texture.I painted the inside with a cream color. The flowers are all prima, the glitter butterflies are Martha Stewart and the moss is from Michaels. I am pretty happy with the result! I have this hung above my "mantle" in the living room.

Thanks for taking a peek!

xoxo Amanda

Dream - OAUS and Scraps of Elegance

It's been a LONG while since I have posted anything here.... I decided the January challenge over at Once Upon a Sketch and the January Kit from Scraps of Elegance was the perfect time to get back to my blog!! The theme for January's sketch was New beginnings - I chose to do a layout of my daughter Chloe - she has been through a lot lately-and found a quote from a song that I thought fit perfectly with what has been going on with her....The tranquil blues from the SOE kit were just perfect for the mood I was trying to create with this layout....

 Here is the quote from the song "Because you're young"

 Close up of one of the flower clusters and the wonderful butterflies from the SOE kit!!

Thanks for taking a peek!

You'll be in my Heart - Berry71bleu May Challenge!

Happy May Day!! This month is my turn to host the challenge over at Berry71bleu! I have centered my challenge around your favorite quote/poem/song about Moms. Here is my layout using my BEAUTIFUL Berry71bleu tag - I chose the song "You'll be in my Heart" from the Disney movie Tarzan.

Here are some quotes are songs for inspiration:

“All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel mother” ~ Abraham Lincoln

Mother, the ribbons of your love are woven around my heart.

“ A little girl, asked where her home was, replied, ‘where mother is’. “ ~ Keith Brooks

A mothers heart is a patch work of love.

 “ A mothers happiness is like a beacon, lighting up the future but reflected also on the past in the guise of fond memories.” ~ Honore de Balzac

 “ What are Raphael’s Madonna’s but the shadow of a mothers love, fixed in permanent outline forever?” ~ Thomas Wentworth Higginson

 Or if you prefer songs:

 Coat of Many Colors – Dolly Parton

 Somebody’s Hero – Jamie O’Neal

 I Hope You Dance – Lee Ann Womack

 Dear Mama – 2Pac

 A song for Mama – Boyz II Men

I also did a tutorial on my Dusty Attic chipboard piece:

Beautify your chipboard!

Please consider joining the challenge over at Berry71bleu this month, I would love to see what you create!  Berry71bleu Blog

Here are the details

RULES:

 1. You are allowed to make a card, layout or altered/off the page project as long as you follow the theme or challenge of the month.

 2. This challenge is open to anyone anywhere in the world.

 3. Pls post your ACTUAL project post using the link tool on the sidebar and DO NOT link to your ENTIRE blog.

 4. Please SERIOUSLY CONSIDER turning off your word verification if comments are important to you:)

 5. You can submit as many projects as you would like and combine your entry with other challenges.

 6. Please mention in your blog post that you are playing along at Berry 71 Bleu TOGETHER with a link back to our blog. Thank you!

 7. All entries must be received by MIDNIGHT May 31st Central Standard Time. Winner of the challenge will receive a prize collection kit from our sponsor this month.

Les Papiers de Pandore. Scrapbooking papers from France has provided us beautiful prize from their new collection called "The scent of Camelias"

Visit their website HERE.

Another winner will receive this prize pack from Zeus and Zoe and Berry71bleu Etsy Shops:

If you have any questions about the challenge, pls don't hesitate to email us at berry71bleu@gmail.com. Thanks for stopping by and we hope to see your projects this month.


Thanks for taking a peek! Happy Scrapping!! xo Amanda

Serenity - Scraps of Darkness Round Robin

The newest kit from Scraps of Darkness " Sakurabana" is so versatile! Beautiful and dramatic Blacks and reds, stunning blues, and tranquil greens. I have always loved this picture of my daughter and thought the the Bo Bunny line "serenity" gave me a perfect title for this layout. The quote is:
"Serenity is not freedom from the storm, but peace amid the storm"

I found a paper piecing pattern for the butterfly in one of my old scrapbooking magazines.... I used glass glitter for the wings. The tree branches I made by cutting strips of dark brown paper, wetting them and twisting them tight. The "cherry blossoms" are just flowers punched with a little perfect pearls in the center.

This bird was included with the kit. I used some Lindy's color on it, then used lindy's embossing powder from a previous kit for the bird. Just really light on the powder.... the branch I painted with Tim Holtz crackle paint in vintage photo - then I rubbed darker brown ink when it was dry.

Thanks for taking a peek!

xo ~ Amanda