Altered project...

My Mind's Eye is doing a DT call. I don't normally go out for the manufacturer dt's because there are only a handful of companies that I love everything that they produce. This is one of them and I am going to try for it. They are one of my all-time favorite manufacturers...I simply love using their product...all of it!!!

This is my altered project for the DT call. It's actually a fairly large wall-hanging. The plaque is 14x20 and each of the hanging layouts is 5x8. It's all Wild Asparagus papers, tapes, and tabs. I only added in the bases of the project and the beaded binding and the Paris stamp. All of the photos are from our Paris trip so they hold special memories. I am really pleased with the way that it turned out!

smiles,
christi

Memorial Day...

Remembering those that have sacrificed all and those that continue to do so on a daily basis...

Reproductions....

This is my layout that I did using the Victoria creative prompt. I used the first layout and reproduced their lay out of the page for my photos. This is a great technique when you have multiple photos to feature. Let's face it the guys that lay out the graphics for magazines are professionals and if you copy the way that they do it, you probably will not go wrong.

A couple of weeks ago we made a daytrip out to the beach and while there, got to explore a reproduction of Columbus' ship, the Nina and these are my photos from there. This ship was tiny! I am so glad that I didn't have to cross the ocean on it!!!

I had someone ask where that birthday cake came from and it is from an incredible website that sells cheesecakes called www.elegantcheesecakes.com. They do cheesecakes that are nothing less than art and since I can't afford to order one to eat, I thought we would use one of these as a creative prompt, just try not to drool on your project!




I hope that you are having a fantastic memorial day weekend!
smiles,
christi

My Ode to Victoria...

Victoria magazine was my first ever real pleasure that I did simply for me. I made it a ritual when I received my monthly mag...I would make myself a cup of tea, find a quiet corner and simply enjoy the beauty of the magazine. They were the first magazine to truly embrace beauty in everyday life. The magazine was filled with gorgeous photography, very few ads (but what they did have flowed with the style of the mag), and they truly showed the beauty that you could experience with everyday rituals/events.

Thankfully I kept all of my issues because sadly the magazine stopped publishing in the summer of 2003. Lately I have been looking at these old issues for photos for my dream project and was amazed to realize that even my issues back to 1997 have a timeless quality to them...they don't look dated at all. There is a lesson in that...classic beauty never goes out of style.

I have been excited to see that Somerset (the publishing company responsible for Stampers Sampler and all of the gorgeous Stampington titles) is coming out with a new magazine called Somerset Home. One of the write-ups that I saw about this magazine was that they too missed Victoria mag and were trying to fill that niche. Needless to say, my hopes are really high for this one, but I will be satisfied if they do it even half as well as Victoria did because they would still have a truly awesome magazine!

So in honor of my ode to Victoria magazine, today's creative prompt is from there. It is actually scans from a couple of pages of the June 2001 issue. You can take your inspiration from the actual layout of one of the pages, the color combo (love those shades of purple with that lime green), whatever inspires you. Just enjoy the process!!!



smiles,
christi

The latest...

This is a layout that I did in response to an ad challenge over on the pub. Much more graphic than my normal style, but I like it. I am really loving these Scenic Route stickers that I used on both of these layouts.

Here is the layout that I did using the latest creative prompt. Another gorgeous photo of my beautiful nieces. This was an interesting color combo to work with.


In other news, I received my latest issue (15) of The Scrapbook Magazine yesterday and one of my layouts is on the cover and it's a layout featuring one of my younger brothers. Congratulations, Daniel, you're a cover model...too bad you're asleep in the photos! LOL! See this is one of the dangers to being related to a scrapbooker...



This mag had some of my favorite layouts that I have done over the past year so I will be throwing them on here to give you all (that don't live in the UK a glimpse...although most of you should be able to pick up the mag at Barnes & Noble...the sample Blonde Moments papers that are included with the mag are lush too!!! Have a look at Missy's blog to see what you can do with them!)

I was going to attach a creative prompt onto this post, but I am getting a bit long and I want to elaborate on the prompt so I will post it later this afternoon!

smiles,
christi

It's newsletter day at the Cottage...

The second edition of the Cottage Classroom is available to download here. Here are a couple of the layouts featured in the newsletter. I am hoping that you can read the text of the When I grow up layout when you click on it to make it better...hmmm, that's kind of iffy so here is the journaling for it,
When I was in 2nd grade, we lived in Elkhart, KS and went to a library sale where mom bought me several books from the Cherry Ames Series.

Cherry Ames was a nurse during WWII. The series follows her through school until way after the war. She was a mystery-solver, romantic with bright red lips(why her name was Cherry, but more than once got her in trouble for wearing lipstick which was never allowed for a nurse.

She was a fantastic nurse that always wore her nursing cap with style and I wanted to be just like her. Nevermind the fact that I didn't want to do anything that actually had to do with nursing. Cherry was the original single girl in charge of her own destiny and she was my hero for a lot of years.

That is until I discovered my passion for art and creation...which definitely changed the focus of what I wanted to be when I grew up!



smiles,
christi

Dream Journal Week 4...

Whoohoo! I am caught up on the dream journal project. Here is my week 4 (windows/doors) entry. I am using an art book on Monet for this and incorporating his art. For this page, the theme is the dream of everyday rituals. The dotted piece on the right side is a door that reveals the journaling and more photos. The journaling says "I create...it's what I do, but I dream of creating a beautiful life. There are women like Pam Garrison and Martha Stewart who create beauty in their everyday rituals. I dream to one day be like that."

This is my first entry that I have scanned rather than photographing...I am thinking that I should go back and do the same with my other entries so that you can see the details on them.

smiles,
Christi

Happy Birthday Dan, Dave, & Ali!!!

HaPpY BiRtHdAy!!!! I hope that you have a fabulous day!!!
smiles,
christi

Dream Journal Revisited...

I finally have had some time to play with my dream journal. Here are week 2 (layers) and week 3 (images). For the week 2 entry, my layout centered around fairies which I consider to be dream creatures. I added wings to the Monet painting (remember, I am altering a Monet art book and using some of the images) and then used a couple of poems about fairies that I have written.

For the week 3 entry, I painted over the text with a shimmery pink paint. I printed the eiffel tower onto a transparency and then layered it on using the Heidi Swapp tapes to attach it.

Tomorrow I hope to get to week 4's assignment and then I will be caught back up with the group (artsymama is providing the awesome prompts and tutorials for this project with some gorgeous examples...it's not too late to join in!!!)

I also have a new creative prompt for you...it has been a while since we have visited Target so here is a bedding ensemble from there to inspire your creative muse! I also hope to have a play with this tomorrow too!!!



I hope that you have had a fun, creative weekend!!!
smiles,
christi

My Perfect Day...

There was a dare on one of the UK boards that I am on to do a layout featuring the word perfect. This is a layout that I did about my perfect day. It was a blog tag from Sharon a couple of weeks ago so I did my layout around the journaling. Here is what it says:

You have 24 hours to do anything you want, it can be travel, play, anything.
Your day starts at 8 A.M. any day of the week you choose, and ends at 8 A.M. the next morning.
What would you do?

My day would consist of 24 hours to myself. It would start on a Monday so that way the guys wouldn't notice that I was gone too much! I would start off the day with a quick jaunt down to Barnes & Noble with lots of cappuccino, sketching, and buying up all the latest magazines for inspiration.

I would then grab my XXL full of scrapping goodies, my latest magazines I just purchased and my overnight bag and head out to the airport for a quick plane ride (where I would continue to be inspired and sketch ideas) to the mountains. A driver would pick me up at the airport to take me to my private cabin in the woods stocked with firewood, bubble bath, wine and chocolate.

My cabin would be a small cabin with a screened-in porch perfect for being one with nature while also scrapping. I would scrap the day away, being only interrupted mid-afternoon by my personal masseuse with my massage to rejuvenate my scrapbooking. Towards evening, when it is getting cooler, I will move inside, light a fire in the fireplace, grab a glass of wine and read a good book with classical music playing in the background. Finish the evening off with a bubble bath in the claw foot tub and luxuriate under a down comforter while listening to the crickets through the open window.

That is my 24 hours of bliss!

All of the photos came off the internet.

I am off tonight for a girl's night out. We are helping a friend celebrate her birthday because her DH is deployed for the next several months. Then tomorrow I will be posting another creative prompt. In the meantime, what would you do for your perfect 24 hours???
smiles,
christi

Results from the art inspiration....

Here is the layout that resulted from the art inspiration prompt that was posted on the 11th. These were wildflowers simply by the roadside from last weekend's road trip. Can you believe how gorgeous they are???

Challenges...

Well here is my 15 minute layout of the day. I used the color prompt from yesterday and combined it with the ad challenge brought by the effer dares this week. This is simply cardstock and my yummy new Banana Frog stamps (the first time that I have had a chance to play with them...LOVE THEM!!!) This is one of the photos that I took last week out at the Carolina Coast of DH.

Off to go play some more!
smiles,
christi

Taking time to play...

I was working today just like I was supposed to be doing, but I made one mistake...I had printed out yesterday's creative prompt at the same time that I printed out some of my work, which meant that this creative prompt was shoved into my work notebook. Well, of course, you know that means that I absolutely am going to have inspiration strike!! I decided to take a 2 hour break to seize my mojo before it fled and here is the result:

These are photos of my nieces from Easter that my wonderful sister-in-law sent. They are simply the cutest girls and I haven't even met the youngest, Mia, yet so these photos are even more precious!!! BTW, there is hand-drawn scrollwork around the entire edge of the layout, but the scanner cut off a lot of it.

And I also have a new creative prompt...this is a color one. I was flipping through the latest Home Companion magazine the other day and saw this color grouping and thought that it would be fun to play with so here is your latest creative prompt:

Have fun with it and I am back to my work!
smiles,
christi

The inspiration's flowing...

I have created 3 layouts and a card today, but not anything that I can share yet because they are all for the CC newsletter, but I may give you a glimpse of one tomorrow.I have a really fun one that I created using the art inspiration creative prompt, but... In the meantime, here is a new creative prompt. Hopefully it inspires you!


smiles,
christi

Re-gaining control of my schedule...

Well, you know that when I am not taking the time to blog, that I am REALLY running behind on my deadlines. All of the events of last week with DH's work definitely took a toll on all of my work, but I am starting to get back on top of things. I finally got the computer work done for two articles yesterday. Today I did my work using the new EK Success Wedding line for my LSS (pictured here). ***Edited to add: the Bazzill cardstock color for these pieces is Lagoon.***

I ended up pushing back the publication date for the next Cropper's Cottage newsletter and that is on the agenda for the rest of the day for today and tomorrow...lots of editing and several projects to complete for that so I am STILL really busy! But it should go out next Tuesday.

In the meantime, we had a family trip out to the beach on Saturday which was wonderful. DH has a jeep that we bought when we got back to the country, but we haven't had a chance to take the top off until this weekend...it was the perfect day for it. It has been a while since we got to go on a family outing so it was really nice! I may have even gotten some good pics...I need to download them and see!

I have also been completely wrapped up in the Grey's Anatomy season finale. Can you say OMG! The writing on that show is amazing!!! I am STILL reeling from last night's episode. I wish that I had it recorded so that I could re-watch it. I didn't start watching the show until the Superbowl so I am thinking now that I need to go out and buy the original season DVD....TOTALLY HOOKED!!!

In other news, I received my copy of Scrapbook Premier which is a retailer publication that I wrote an article for a few months ago. I had never worked with them before and they pretty much gave me the assignment without even looking at any of my writing work so it never seemed like a real thing. Well, the article was in there exactly the way that I wrote it. I am really pleased...a whole 6 pages...I will scan it in the next few days so that you can see it!

I apologize for my absense! I just printed off that artwork creative prompt and am getting ready to go create a layout using it as inspiration. Have you done anything with it yet? If so, give me a link!
smiles,
Christi

Not enough hours...

Tonight is the dinner that DH is in charge of. The tablecloths are made, but not pressed yet. I am about 90% finished with the printing of the program, but then they need folding. And I still have to put the seating chart poster together. That all needs to be done by lunchtime so that we can decorate.

But I realize that my blog has been suffering from the craziness lately, so here is a little tidbit for you...How about a creative prompt??? It's been a while hasn't it...mainly because I was feeling guilty about not getting them done myself, but I promise to do better.

Today's creative prompt is an art inspiration piece. I can't wait to see what you do with it...

I hope that you are finding time to create this week.
Smiles!
Christi

And a third layout....

I had to do one more layout just to give my LSS owner choices. This is a photo you all have seen before and a style layout that I have done before, but my LSS has never seen them so I think that I am good...
smiles!

Playing with KI Memories...

I have been doing some assignments for my LSS today. Just a bit of KI, but this is a first assignment for me so I am not sure if I have done complex enough projects. I was told to do a simple layout and then a normal layout. What do you think? I have enough supplies so I may do another layout and let the owner choose which two she wants.

This week is another week where there is no way that there is going to be enough time to get everything done. I mailed out two projects for the UK mags today, but I still have to finish up the computer work for those. I have to make a 3 bugs card today, a birthday card for my niece, and mother's day cards (and do the shopping that goes along with all those cards). My DH's boss is retiring this week so we have a ton of dinners and ceremonies to go to for all of that this week. I am also making 12 tablecloth squares for one of those dinners for Thursday night. I also really wanted to get a piece of artwork done for them with a fantastic photo that I have of them, but I am not sure that is going to happen at this point. It is also newsletter deadline time for the Croppers Cottage and I still have a TON to do for that including several pieces of artwork. Add to that my dream journal and another challenge that I am participating in for one of the UK boards and Aaaaackkk! What am I doing on the computer?!?!?

smiles,
christi

Book of Dreams!!!

I finally got a good start on artsymama's dream journal project!!!


This is my cover. The theme of my dream journal is exploring dreams through art so I purchased a bargain book at B&N that features the art of Monet who is one of my favorite artists and my plan is to let snippets of his art show through the art of my pages...kind of like what I did with the cover here.

This is my intro page. For the first week, our assignment was to create a pocket so I printed off a library card pocket and used it to hold a bookmarker that I can use throughout the book. I found that little bird stamp yesterday and was so excited because it is so reminiscent of Pam Garrison's art which I love. I hope to have it someplace on every page I create...a little signature of sorts.


This weeks challenge is layers which is really one of my weak points with collage so I am really excited to have a go at it!
smiles,
christi

OMG!!!!

LOOK, LOOK, LOOK!!! OMG!!! I just received this HUMONGOUS box full of the best surprise!!! Look at all this stuff that a wonderful friend just sent me!!! She is simply the best and obviously knows my tastes to a tee...cause all of this is SOOOOO ME!!! OMG! LOOK at this stuff...those lush stamps, the awesome C's, and all that gorgeous Paris stuff! I am on CLOUD 9 and grinning from ear to ear!! I love a good mail day! :D :D :D
Huge Cheesy Smiles,
christi

Blog challenge....

Sharon had issued this blog challenge and it is too good of a question to pass up remarking on:
To do anything you want, it can be travel, play, anything.
Your day starts at 8 A.M. any day of the week you choose, and ends at 8 A.M. the next morning.
What would you do?

My day would consist of 24 hours to myself. It would start on a Monday so that way the guys wouldn't notice that I was gone too much! I would start off the day with a quick jaunt down to Barnes & Noble with lots of cappuccino, sketching, and buying up all the latest magazines for inspiration.

I would then grab my XXL full of scrapping goodies, my latest magazines I just purchased and my overnight bag and head out to the airport for a quick plane ride (where I would continue to be inspired and sketch ideas) to the mountains. A driver would pick me up at the airport to take me to my private cabin in the woods stocked with firewood, bubblebath, wine and chocolate.

My cabin would be a small cabin with a screened-in porch perfect for being one with nature while also scrapping. I would scrap the day away, being only interupted mid-afternoon by my personal masseuse with my massage to rejuvinate my scrapbooking. Towards evening, when it is getting cooler, I will move inside, light a fire in the fireplace, grab a glass of wine and read a good book with classical music playing in the background. Finish the evening off with a bubble bath in the claw foot tub and luxuriate under a down comforter while listening to the crickets through the open window.

That is my 24 hours of bliss! What would you do???
smiles,
christi

Scraplifting myself...

I had created this layout of Kim for the Cropper's Cottage newsletter. Well, I really loved the way that it turned out and today I needed to do a layout of myself for the LSS so I decided to simply scraplift myself.


What do you think of the two different looks? I think that I like Kim's better, because I love that unusual contrast between the black and brown.

Really busy around here! I am working on an article that NEEDS to get done today!!! I am in the process of finishing up a board position on base that has gone on WAY TOO LONG!! I have made a start on Artsymama's Dream Journal challenge and am hoping to find some quality time working on it in the next day or two so hopefully I will have something to show there soon. And I still need to finish up on Rhonna's 21-day journal. Unfortunately, I had a cybercrop in the middle of that which put a real wrench into my healthy eating, but I am going to get back on track with that and the journal is definitely the way to go.

The good news is that the cybercrop is over. I have the first CC newsletter under my belt and the weather is inspiring so hopefully, I will be back on schedule soon!

I hope that you all are having a good week.
smiles!
Christi