Parrothead Tailgate Frame

It's Jimmy Buffett concert time again for my group of Iowa Parrotheads.  We're road tripping to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, next weekend for our annual Jimmy Buffett concert at Alpine Valley, tailgating, and whatever other shenanigans we can get ourselves involved in.  A couple years ago, I decided to get creative and made a woodburned shot glass oar, which you can see HERE. 

 

This year, I decided to come up with one of the photo-booth type frames that are everywhere right now.  Here's the end result:

It turned out great and was SO easy.

 

I started with a plain, unfinished frame from Michael's.  I used a coupon, of course.  Then I spray painted it pink:

After the pink was dry, I went over it again with some glitter spray paint for some extra glitz.  You can see the sparkle in this close-up:

 

Then to decorate.  I picked up a few extras, but mostly used beachy odds and ends I've been accumulating [hoarding] forever.  Everything was attached with a hot glue gun.

That's an old CTMH catty I use for glue messes.  When the page is too sticky, I just turn to the next page.  I think I got this idea from the stamp goddess herself, Tresa Black.  If it wasn't her, she probably deserves a shout out for some other idea someone has stolen from her anyway.  :)

 

I painted the little attached sign (also purchased unfinished) with a bright green craft paint, then I sponged on just a little CTMH White Daisy pigment ink for more of a beachy feel. 

 

The shark fin and blue "waves" behind the green sign are cut from fun foam.  The fin was cut from the thickest white foam I could find so it would stand up, then I inked it with CTMH Slate ink.

 

I put the date small and a little away from the letters.  Later, if I want to re-use the frame, I can add a new date over the top or repaint that area.  The shells and starfish are from my stash of stuff.  Along with the drink umbrella and shot glass.

 

Close-ups of the other sections of the frame:

The plastic margarita glass is full-sized, but the flip-flops are child-sized,  I added the flowers and pearls to the tops.

 

 

I made the clock with a clock-face sticker I found at Michaels in the clockworks aisle, and I stuck it on some chipboard I painted bright yellow.  The hands are also pieced of chipboard, and a flower and beach-like glass center cover the spot the hands meet.  The anchor and palm tree are prepainted pieces from Michaels.  The shark is a rubber toy.

 

The parrot is another rubber toy.  The lei is something from a previous year, and I glued it strategically so it wouldn't get in the way.  I wrapped twine around the frame to look like rope and glued on more shells and flowers.

 

Here's another look at the finished frame.  Fins Up!

Now to see how well it travels to Margaritaville.  I'll post some pics of our gang posing with the frame after next weekend.

University of Iowa Graduation Layouts

Jess & Neal's college graduation scrapbooking is done!  It came together so quickly, I should have done it sooner. 

The first layout is very simple, but classy:

 

I used a preprinted University of Iowa B&T paper I bought at my LSS.  I just added the picture of Jess & Neal in front of the Old Capitol (the photo color is better in person), a mat, and some CTMH Sparkles Flourishes.

 

The second page has the program, an announcement and two pictures from inside Carver Hawkeye Arena during commencement.  Again I just added mats to the photos and a CTMH Sparkles Flourish.

 

Here's the second layout from the day--much less formal, but still very simple:

 

I cut out "Iowa" with my Cricut, and cut and punched the other "Hawkeye Gold" elements with Crème Brulee cs.

 

I added CTMH black opaques to the letters to fancy them up a bit.

 

This page shows Jess & Neal having fun after the ceremony was over.  The center photo is raised with dimensional adhesive.  The sentiment "Celebrate Today" is a stamp from CTMH's new hostess set, "The Party is On."

Thanks for looking.  GO HAWKS!!!

Seattle Dream Pop Layout

When I started this layout, I had every intention of using one of CTMH's new paper packs (because I'm supposed to be selling that, right?), but in my mind the now unavailable Dream Pop papers just kept calling.  That's how it goes sometimes, and that's exactly why I'm a hobbyist and not a full-time CTMH consultant.  I create what makes me happy with whatever supplies I choose.

Back to the layout:

These are pictures from our recent road trip to Seattle from Iowa to visit new Seattle residents Jess & Neal.

I'm actually starting to use my Cricut more, and this layout has several Cricut elements and NO stamping.

The filmstrip is from CTMH's Cricut Artiste cartridge.  It makes a great accent or collage piece.  The strips in the upper right are zip strips from the edges of the Dream Pop B&T paper.  I edged each strip, the photo mats, and the layout in CTMH Slate ink.

"Seattle" is made from the old "George" Cricut cartridge that came with many of our first Cricut machines.  I still like the font.  I used black cs for the shadow and B&T paper from Dream Pop on top.

The cute little camera is made with CTMH's newest exclusive Cricut Cartridge, Artbooking.  I used Slate cs for the outline and a Dream Pop B&T paper for the background.  I edged the Slate cs with Slate ink.

The easiest way I've found to edge smaller cutouts like those made with the Cricut is with a makeup applicator.  Works like a charm and is super cheap.

 

Here's another look at the finished layout:

Thanks for looking, and feel free to share on Pinterest!

 

Baby Mini Album with CTMH Cricut Artbooking Cartridge

I made this cute mini baby album almost exclusively with the new Cricut Artbooking cartridge, exclusive to CTMH:

There are hearts in the cartridge, but I had a punch nearby, so I punched out the hearts.  Notice all the cool edge elements along the side of the pages.

 

These are almost all the images I used to create the book.  The best thing?  You set the size dial once (I used 8"), and everything comes out to scale.  You never change the dial again.

 

Here's a look inside the album:

I used CTMH new paper pack "Babycakes" and the coordinating cs that came with it: chocolate, slate, sunset, & colonial white.

 

I used some chocolate and sunset ink to distress around the edges of the pages and paper elements, but there is NO stamping in the entire book.

 

How cute is that colonial white overlay over the sunset page? All this book needs is some baby photos.

 

On this page I only glued the overlay down on three sides then added interactive tags embellished with a little grey baker's twine.

 

The whole album came together very quickly, and it turned out great!

 

Here's what comes with the Artbooking Cartridge:

The cartridge, (which includes roughly 700 images!) three coordinating D-size stamp sets, and three coordinating dimensional elements.  Click HERE to order yours from my website.

Where Have I Been?!

Yikes, this blog is stagnating this summer.  Mostly because I've been busy, busy with work, my daughter & son-in-law's college graduation, storing a lot of their stuff in my studio, and finally a week-long road-trip to Seattle to see them and take the aforementioned stuff to their new apartment.

 

Here are some just-waiting-to-be-scrapbooked photos from Seattle:

Cub fans in Seattle!

 

The Fremont Troll

Tom & I at the Space Needle

Jess at the beach -- I always love unstaged photos of people walking on beaches.

Jess & Neal at the International Fountain

In front of their apartment building

Flowers at Pike Place Market -- Beautiful!

 

Tom and I in front of the skyline




I even did a little scrapbooking on my lap in the car -- more on this later!