Zukesgirl Creates

This is as far as I got on my new commitment to the layout! hehehe I had a stamp fest making all the Christmas "papers". Sorry for the poor quality photo but I will take better detailed ones after the layout is done. I think I have decided against the frazzles (the plaid "ribbon" on the box) LOVE them but not for this layout. I think I will slide the photos behind the presents a little bit. But the layout is starting to look a bit fuller. Any suggestions??? On a side note MSN groups is making me crazy - I cant even post!

OK - Little by little I am trying to "personalize" by blog space. I added the apple picture today (as it is getting close to fall and all) to the title Hope you all like it!

I love cards -- I love stamping. But I started all of this to keep records of my family. I now use it for so much more. To keep me sane in a world where it seems like I have control of nothing. To be able to use my creativity in a more open way (yes we engineers do use it but in the world of working for the government it is very limited how much you can do at once - small steps). To be able to start and complete something and grow in a new skill. OK enough blabbering --- so I started another layout. As you may or may not notice I am a two page layout gal. I do some single pages just not very many. So here is my latest in process. First here is the design I sketched out: This is a Christmas Layout -- last years. I have started sketching most of my layouts before I put it together. And here is the layout so far -- not much I know. But some progress made. Hope all your creations are coming along too!

I am loving these challenges! This week Kristin picked some very sweet colors. The pink and green together is beautiful and I LOVE brown. Here are her colors: Aren't they just beautiful colors! Here is my card for Kristin's challenge: For this card I used Bazzill paper (3 shades), some ribbon, QandCo micro brads stickles in cinnamon and cotton candy (I added some coral glitter to the cotton candy stickles), Koh-i-nor colored pencils, Espresso brown ink from Ranger, Studio G stamp (flower), SU stamp (words), clear embossing, TH Ruler for the holes and of course -pop dots!

This is a pic of my stickles tray -- I also keep my glitter here. But it will have to move to a new location as I have preordered the 12 new colors from LoriMart! WooHoo I am LOVING it! The order gets sent in early in September. Can we say stickles addict!! (OK now that makes chipboard, ribbon and now stickles!) I am WAY looking forward to getting the new colors! I think it is awesome that they will match the Tim Holtz colors. Love my distress ink. I am also trying to collect all the distress embossing powers. But we will be taking it one bottle at a time there!

Another work week started. I am hoping to get done what I can to finish up some items this week but I am taking Thursday and Friday off. We are taking Jenni to college on Thursday - her first year and I am going to miss her terribly. Friday I would like to go to the state fair (Minnesota has the BEST state fair -- the theme is food on a stick -- they have some AWESOME food, fresh cut french fries and deep fried candy bars and new this year is thick cut maple syrup bacon on a stick - mmmm. OK yes I love junk food!) But the hubby is not commiting to going yet - I think he wants to be sure about the weather. I am not expecting too much time for scrapping this week as I will be working and helping Jenni to pack but I am hoping to slide a little in. Have a great day!

This challenge comes from Cute Card Thursday --- which is linked to the right. The challenge is to use bright colors. Well I just love yellow, so bright and happy so I has to work it in. The stamps are from Scrappy Cat. I colored them with my Koh-i-noor pencils blending with mineral oil. The little thanks tab is from my Scraparatus. The stems are scrappers floss braided and the "string" is single floss. The inking is Colorbox Cats Eyes. The rest are scraps from my stash. I think I am becoming the pop dot queen! hehehe Bright enough for you???

I am trying out Taylored Expressions Challenge. I think I am really enjoying doing challenges. Here is the layout that we had to match. Some of the examples on the site were pretty amazing. I don't think my little card is up to that. and when I say little I mean little. I decided to keep it to a 4x4 inch card to attach to a gift at some point in the future. I think I have pink on the brain left over from the Kristin Challenge. They asked us to use cupcakes if we have them. I only the one stamp that has a cupcake so I used it again. Sorry that the picture of the card isnt as good as it should be. The cardstock is white -- inked with Colorbox Black Cats Eye. The paper is Heidi Swapp. The mini brads are from Oriental Trading. The stamp is Inkadinkadoo. Pop dots raise the circles above the squares. If you look close I added the word 'Cup' before Cake. It is easily seen IRL. I ripped this card apart with Undo and redid it and I still think it is only OK. Maybe it is the la...

Remember the boring layout I posted? hint: scroll down Well I spent some time on it yesterday and here is what I came up with. First I inked the Basic Grey paper with red (using a Q stack). The I decided to use glitter on the Bazzill to make my own patterned paper. I used a glue pad and the two scoops swirlie stamp. I added clear/white ultrafine glitter. Sparkly! This view may show you the sparkles better. I used some silver chipboard letters from Kurio (a little obsession of mine is sparkly chipboard letters!) added a ribbon under some of the letters (OK ribbon might be an obsession too) to make them pop more and I have my title. For the journal box I did not like to have the white showing so I used some more of my Cats Eyes to color that yellowish gold to match the paper before journaling. It is not my favorite layout but better then before!

My hubby brought a certain package to the postoffice for a certain someone -- 2 items didnt fit in so they will just have to go next time!

Kristin is back!!! Her blog is working, her back is better (yeah) and she has a new color challenge posted. I gave it a go with using pink as my highlight color. I used Bazzill cardstock in grey, back. The white is from a textured ream I bought at a local paper source wharehouse. I used some black gross grain ribbon, some Tim Holtz Blak Soot Ink, black embossing power, Hero Arts stamps (dots), Inkadinkadoo stamps (Got Cake), Glaze pen (pink) and pink paper from Heidi swapp for the highlight. And of course MM pop dots. Hope you like it!

I had made another notebook that I havent posted anywhere yet so I thought I'd put it on here! well here it is. This is the front of the notebook -- using DCWV All Dressed Up and some fun brads. I also added some glitter and some TimHoltz stickles. I love all the sparkles and how girly it is! And here is the layout I have underway. It looks so boring!!! I'll have to work on it tonight after work! Have a great day!

I started a layout last night. I scrap in probably a different way then most people. I print about 3 to 6 months of photos at a time. I then scrap them in any order. I always find my hardest (least inspiration) photos at the end. That's where I am now. I have two mini photo stacks left. One of some Christmas photos (usually really fun to scrap but these are NOT the best photos) and my last stack of my cat and dog that passed away last year (very sad to scrap). So I started on my Christmas ones. So far the layout is a little plain but I will work on that! I hope to get a picture posted but my camera batteries need charging and I have to head to work. So hopefully tonight.

I got a gift in the mail!!!! I LOVE it! Look at these wonderful flowers!! WOWSA Thank you sooo much Sharon! I need to get my butt in gear and send her the stuff I got for her. But ain't they pretty!!!

I am popping in after the candle party, Love their stuff but I tried to make sure I stayed 'reasonable' in what I bought. Gotta save the $$$ for scrapping, right?

Added my favorite Links area off to the side. OK, I know, big whoop, but I feel like I am getting going. I am committing to the blog o sphere! hehehe Well before I am completely committed I need to go get ready for work. After work tonight I have a candle party. I know so 'suburban mom'. But I LOVE Party Lite candles. I have too may already so I will concentrate on the cute halloween and fall holders!

My older daughter is heading to college and so she needs to have a little of home with her. So here is a fun notebook for her. I made her a second one as well but it isn't dry yet (stickles!) She loves pink and girly (as well as shiny like her mom!) My youngest is heading to 8th grade so she needs a little something something as well. I made her two as well but I thought I'd just show one since they are similar. Her favorite color is blue. Both of these were made using the DCWV All Dressed Up stack.

OK here goes! I am gonna start this one away from Scrapbook.com and Scrapping Friends (my msn group). I feel like I am stepping out on my own (just a little!) Tracy