distressed Valentine

Valentines don't have to be all pink and flowery.  I made this one for my nephew a few years ago.  I cut a "tribal heart" image and a heart with wings image out using my Silhouette.  It's a little more edgy than just a plain heart.  To color the heart, the tag and the library envelope, I used a technique I saw Tim Holtz use.  I dabbed distress ink onto a paper plate, then misted the plate lightly with water.  Next, I put my tag, die cut, and envelope face down on the plate, then lifted it back up.  This gives a mottled look to the paper.  Then I dried the paper with a heat gun, and repeated the process with a second color of ink.  I used "Fired Brick" first and then "Black Soot."  After the heart images were dry I inked the edges with more black distress ink, then used Ranger's Perfect Medium and Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel in clear on them.  I used a swirl foam stamp from Making Memories on the envelope, and some Tim Holtz stamps on the tag, and finished it off with some ribbon and cord.  I don't remember who makes the black/sliver star patterned paper. 

Like This

Ok, so you met Chai in the last layout I posted.  She is such a joy to me.  She was a surprise too, I never thought I wanted dog again.  I have had dogs before and have an allergy to them.  But when I saw her it was "love at first sight."  Sounds very silly, and I suppose it is, but it is true.  She looked at me and I at her and it was decided in an instant.  During the first weeks I had her, I had to buy air purifiers, special dog shampoos, air cleaners, medicines for me,  etc. to be able to handle having her.  I found a system that worked and it's been smooth sailing as far as the allergies.  Chai ate some dog treats from China when she was a pup and it made her very sick.  (Please avoid buying dog treats/food from China!  It's NOT safe!)  After that experience she refused to eat dog food, or kibble.  So I did some research and I decided I would make her food.  She eats mostly meat, veggies and rice. She's picky about dog treats and won't eat many kinds of those.  I have been suprised to find myself being one of those people who dote over a little dog, and I never thought I would be "like this."

She wanted to get in the picture with her layout.  She knows.  It's pretty awesome having her as a pet!

It's a Girl

                                   



In November, 2010 we got a new member of the family. We hadn't intended to get a dog, but we saw her and that, as they say, was that.  I'm really happy to say that I haven't regretted the decision. She was the cutest thing, ever, wasn't she?  I can't remember who makes this paper, I'm sorry!  But isn't she cute?  We named her "Chai."

Grace

This is a layout I did of my daughter Grace's senior portrait.  My brother took the picture (so handy to have a photographer in the family).  I like using old things, ephemeral looking stuff.  I did this shabby chic style, which I just love.  Papers by Basic Grey, My Mind's Eye and the gone but not forgotten Rusty Pickle.  The dress stand, flowers, doilies, butterflies, rosette and black border accents were all cut with my Silhouette machine. The matting behind the photo is a die cut from Spellbinder's (Fleur De Lis).  Children grow up so fast, don't they?