My first colored digi stamp...........(ever)

I have always been fascinated with the digital stamps but never had the real urge to actually use one. I have never understood why people wanted to pay LOTS of money for regular image stamps that you can only use a few times before you get sick and tired of it. I am not talking about the text stamps or background images, just the cute little dollies. Don't get me wrong, I think they are the cutest, I just think I would never spend so much money on something I won't use that much.
Last month we had this huge blog hop over at Let's Scrap and it was all about cards. We had so many uploads to the gallery that there was lots of inspiration. Normally our gallery is mainly filled with scrapbook LO's and with the hop there were mainly cards. Great to see and lots of inspiration. with all those cards there were also quite a few of colored images and many of them were digital ones. Some of them looked like art, they were so pretty done. I am not even aiming for that, LOL. So this week I decided to actually color a digital stamp. I went to Dustin Spike's blog and found this CUTE little dog drooling over a love letter. Dustin Spike designs the coolest digi stamps, cutting files and images for Doodle Dragon Studios. Definitely worth the visit.
I do not own any Copics and I have this beautiful container of aquarel pencils form Caran d'Ache so my goal was to use those. I also had a water brush so I used that one for the blending. It was hard, especially working with the brush but I do like how it turned out.

CS: Bazzill, Coredinations
Digi stamp: Dustin Pike
Embossing folder: Fiskars
Stamp: Hero Arts
Ink: StazOn
Water color pencils: Caran d'Ache
Misc: Bakers twine 

You still have time to enter for our DT call. Go check out all the details at Let's Scrap!

At this point I am anxiously waiting for the UPS guy to deliver my new camera. Can't wait to start playing with it! 

Thanks for stoppin' by and have a GREAT Friday.  

Winner Let's scrap Leap around the World blog hop

With over 1,200 cards and LO's posted we can say our blog hop over at Let's Scrap was a HUGE success. I can not believe how many people participated and how many cards and LO's were made from my sketches. Some other thing that really impressed me was the amount of people that actually finished all 50 cards.
For all the hosts and participants: Thank you so much!
Every blog has a winner and the master winner's list is posted in our forum. The winner on my blog is: Ana! I have known Ana for quite a while and I absolutely love what she creates. If you have time take a peek at her blog. Ana was also one of those amazing people that finished all 50 cards. Hard for me to pick a favorite but I tried: This is one I really like. It is not my favorite since there are so many I really like.
Congrats Ana!

I have not scrapped for about two weeks, my mojo left and I do not know where to find it. I sure have enough photo's and enough supplies so that can not be the problem. Hopefully I'll be able to find it soon. I would really like to play with our month long challenge over at Let's Scrap.

Thanks so much for popping by and have a great week!

Let's Scrap Design Team call

IF YOU CAME HERE FOR THE BLOG HOP: YOU CAN FIND THAT POST HERE 

I always think time flies and every time we (Betty Anne and myself) have to start posting the new DT call for Let's Scrap we say the same thing.
Last call we changed our term from 3 to 4 months and it still flies. But okay, it is that time again and we are looking for a new design team. Here is what we are looking for:

We are looking for experienced and new, talented designers from all over the world that can do awesome things with our sketches and challenges. The term will be running from April 1, 2012 – July 3, 2012

If you would like to apply to join our wonderful team we would love to receive your application before March 20, 2012. 

This is what you’ll need to turn in:

• Your take on the sketch below - it can be a 2 page layout or you can do either side
• A short paragraph about yourself, explaining who you are and “why you want to be on the Let's Scrap DT”
• A link to your gallery or blog if you have one
• List of any teams you are on right now or responsibilities
• Your contact information

Each DT member will be expected to do the following 'chores':

• Make 2 LO's/cards per month from our sketches
• Provide a challenge or tutorial (at least one per term)
• Be an active member in our forum and in the gallery
• Be a team player

If you think you are THE new DT member please send your application to: letsscrap2011@gmail.com. Anyone thinking of applying for the DT please contact us for a more detailed information sheet about what would be expected of a member of the Let's Scrap Design Team.  

And here's the sketch we want your take on:

And even though I am a bit biased, only a bit, LOL, I can say Let's Scrap is such a fun place to be. 

Free printables

IF YOU CAME HERE FOR THE BLOG HOP: YOU CAN FIND THAT POST HERE 


I thought it would be time again to show you some free printables that I found in this great environment called the world wide web. I love free printables and I have tons of them saved. Now the only thing I need is walls to hang them on and time to craft with them, LOL.
Here's some lovely ones:

Sprik Space

Pink Ink Doodle

Just Something I Made

Less Cake More Frosting

Kiki Creates

Homespun with Love

Megan Turnidge Designs

How Joyful

Laundee See Laundee Do

Hello, Good Gravy

I just hope you have enough ink in your printer or enough storage on your computer. Thanks for popping by and have a great week!

Rainbow Colored Cake

IF YOU CAME HERE FOR THE BLOG HOP: YOU CAN FIND THAT POST HERE

My little boy is getting BIG! Last Thursday he turned 11. I can still remember the day he was born as if it was yesterday. He has been a total joy ever since the day he was born and I can not believe how sweet and nice this little man is.
In our little family we have this cute birthday tradition: You eat your birthday cake in bed!!!!! So this year I made DS Joram an angel cake covered with white chocolate (he loves white chocolate). There's one con about this cool tradition we have: You never have a complete birthday cake when your party starts!
He had his party on Friday and I decided to make al ast minute cake at 2pm. Well, let me tell you: You can better think of it a bit earlier than 2pm. I was stressing. Always aiming at high goals I wanted to make something special with little than less supplies. The party started at 6 so there was no time for complicated icing or decorations.
All of a sudden I had this great idea: I was going to make a rainbow cake! This is how I did that. It might not be original but hey, it was made by me!

I just took a recipe of a plain cake and doubled it. Just use your favorite recipe and start making it the way you always do. The only thing extra that you will need is food coloring in various colors.
When your batter is all done divide it into little portions. The more the better I found out. If you have more, the pattern in the cake will be better to see in a slice. Put the portions into glass bowls since you will be working with food coloring and you don't want to eat your apple out of a purple colored plastic container.
Mix every batch of batter with food coloring. I experienced that blue and purple kind of look strange. Though the blue I had was dark blue, turquoise would probably work better.
I used a round cake pan and scooped golf ball sized 'splashes' of batter in the cake pan, just playing around with the colors. And after that just bake it the way you bake your cake.
I covered the cake with icing so the surprise effect was going to be bigger when I cut the cake.

DS Joram had no idea what the cake would look like inside and neither did his party guests. You can imagine how ecstatic they were when I cut and served it.

Layouts from card sketches

IF YOU CAME HERE FOR THE BLOG HOP: YOU CAN FIND THAT POST HERE

With the Leap around the World blog hop going on at Let's Scrap I could be expanding my card collection with no less than 50 cards but I chose the hard way. Always wonder why I make it so hard on myself.
This is what I decided to do: I want to make LO's instead of cards form all the 50 card sketches. So far so good, I did 6 LO's since the first of February. And let me tell you; if you knew what was all going on here, 6 is my absolute record.
For a while our computer is playing tricks on us and we finally decided to buy a new one. Nothing spectacular there, right? Trust me, there's more to the story. With a 10yo in the house it is kind of nice to keep track of his computer habits. So we decided to put one of the computers downstairs and the other one in my scrapbook room. So far so good! But then I decided I did not want the computer all out in the open in the living room so we needed some kind of cupboard for it. I looked around and found this great looking cabinet that perfectly matches our dining room table. And very affordable too. DH picked it up and when I opened it, it turns out to be a TV cabinet, not a computer cabinet. One problem more to be solved.
I finally was able to store all the important items and files on my old computer and ready to be transferred to our new one. So I opened the box and got everything set, hooked up cords, put in plugs, find more empty outlets. Hmmmmmm, in what outlet on the computer should the screen go? There's this one outlet which has the perfect shape and size but it has a cover on there saying 'Do not remove'.
After some Googling and searching I find out that our computer screen is not compatible with our computer the way it is and we need an adapter to get it going. Bummer. Got to make a confession: I did remove the 'do not remove' cover and yes, that outlet is perfect for the screen, but unfortunately it is NOT activated. More bummer.
So I am still typing away on my old computer, waiting for the opportunity to go downtown to pick up an adapter.
But: Back to the blog hop. As you all will know by now we have one one the biggest blog hops ever going on at Let's Scrap: 50 hosts, all with a different sketch and all with two chances on a prize. And believe me: There are some awesome prizes to be won! As said: I already finished 6 LO's from card sketches.
For those who are still interested in participating in the hop: You still can, it goes until the 29th of February, so still lots of time to play. And the fun thing is: You can do one card, 5 or even all 50. You can read all about it HERE in my host post. So back to my LO's created from card sketches, here they are:

My two kids and the two of my DB

PP: Echo Park
Stickers: American craft, EK Success, Adornit
Misc: Black pen

This photo was taken when DD was 8 days old.

CS: Bazzill, K&Company
Stickers: Adornit, My Little Shoebox
Twine: Divine Twine
Misc: Tiny hole punch

This is my DD with my mom and her DH. Title in Dutch and reads: Grandpa and Grandma

CS: Bazzill
PP: Girls Paperie, DaisyD's
Stickers: Echo Park, Kaisercraft, Bo Bunny
Misc: Sewingm achine, lace.

On this photo my DD is exactly a week old. Even though it might look different, this photo is NOT posed. It is hanging in DD's room 20"x20'.
The scan made the photo a little crooked but it is placed straight as can be.

CS: Bazzill
PP: Echo Park, Around the Block, My Minds Eye
Misc: Twine, rhinestones

I hand cutted the elephant and the bird matching the sheet blankie the kids are lying on.

 Those monitor lines have been hanging in our hall closet for two and a half years and I never knew how to scrap them. This was the perfect sketch for them. 

CS: Bazzill
PP: Autumn Leaves, Girls Paperie
Dies: Cuttlebug, Zip-e-Mate
Stickers: Cosmo Cricket
Misc: Sewing machine, lace

LOVE this photo!

CS: Bazzill, Papermania
PP: Autumn Leaves, Lily Bee Design
Border punch: Fiskars
Misc: elastic, heart sticker, sewing machine

The title was cut with my Silhouette.

With that last LO I actually broke off one of the handles of my Fiskars border punches. With their life time guarantee I have all the confidence that it will be replaced. I already e-mailed them. 

Thanks for popping by and have a great week! 

Let's Scrap Leap around the World blog hop!

Hello and welcome to your next stop in the Let's Scrap Leap around the World blog hop. One of the biggest blog hops ever with 50 hosts, all with a different card sketch and a different prize. And a great reason to get your cards for every occasion done for this year. And when you are not a card maker: Feel free to turn the card sketch into a LO sketch. 

If you are hopping well your previous stop should have been Sue Colerick @ http://creativitybug.blogspot.com/  If that is not the case something went wrong during the hop. Maybe a leap???? Just go to Mindi Brown @ http://scrapchat-n-coffeetalk.blogspot.com/ has the entire hop order to help you get back on track.


Now that I have mentioned Mindi. Not is she only your guide during this hop, she is also the reason why this hop has just started! Mindi organized it pretty much by herself and I will be the first one to say: YOU DID AN AWESOME JOB MINDI, THANKS SO MUCH.
Mindi is one of our current DT members at Let's Scrap, we love our DT! 

This is going to be so much fun! Even if you are not a card maker, just give it a try or be creative and turn the card sketch into a LO. 

Here's the sketch I used for my example and it is also the one you will be using if you want your name in the draw a second time. A fairly simple sketch but one with so many possibilities. 

I made one example card and really liked it and when I looked at it again I though the colors I picked might have been a little bit too much Christmas. So; I made another one! So I have two examples and a couple that I did previously. Enough inspiration I would say. Here's the ones I made for this hop: 

CS: Bazzill

PP: Me and My Big Ideas

Die cuts: Quickutz (now called Lifestyle Crafts), Cuttlebug

Misc: sewing Machine, baker's twine

CS: Bazzill

PP: Girls Paperie*

Stickers: EK Success

Button: American Crafts

Misc: sewing machine, bakers twine, ribbon

Companies marked with an * are no longer in business.

Over time I made several cards and even some LO's with this sketch and I just want to show you those to see how different the outcome of a sketch can be and how versatile sketches are.

Now the image you all have been waiting for: my RAK. Hopefully you like what you see. You will get enough rhinestones and half pearls to really spice up your LO's, some sweet stamps, so really cool brads, snaps, a bottle of glitter glue and those cute paper roses. And maybe, when the hop is really booming, I'll add some extra's to it. 

Now the boring, but yet most important part of this post: The rules, the do's and don'ts and all the other stuff you do not want to read but HAVE to know. So keep on reading. 

It is not hard to get in the draw at all, here's how it works: 

• Be or become a member of Let’s Scrap which you can do by clicking HERE . It is free, easy and fast! Once you get there, I am sure you will love it! It is one of the most friendliest communities you will ever find. 
• Become a follower of my blog (I know some of you are already)
• Leave me a comment telling me what your scrapbook wishes are. I would really like to hear them. 

And if you would like a second chance in the draw

• Make a card from the sketch I have posted and upload it to the gallery at Let’s Scrap. Please tag it as such 12-15-10, LEAP6. Please note there is no spaces and that LEAP is all capitals. 
• Leave a comment with a link to your card on Let’s Scrap.

The hop ends at 11:59 pm Central Standard time February 29th, which you would be able to track using the clock on the main page of Let’s Scrap.


Your next stop in this hop will be the talented Margaret Kieser @ http://www.deniquecrafts.blogspot.com/ . So you are hopping from Europe to Africa, we did not  exaggerate when we named our hop 'Leap around the World'
If you get lost along the way or have joined the hop in the middle, Mindi Brown @ http://scrapchat-n-coffeetalk.blogspot.com/ is the beginning of the hop and as said before: She also has the entire hop list posted. . You don’t want to miss any of the fun!


Thank you so much for stopping by and participating in this blog hop. I can not wait to see what you all come up with. I think that is the most fun of it all: Looking at all your creations! 

Let's Scrap Leap around the World blog hop!

As one of the 50 international host blogs, I am gearing up now for the upcoming Let's Scrap "Leap Around the World" February blog hop!!  This fun event will start at 10:00am on February 1 and end on February 29th at 11:59pm according to the main page clock on the Let's Scrap website (your clock may vary, so check the time difference).

I would love it if you joined me in this big hop!  There are several things you can do RIGHT NOW to be prepared:

• Make sure you are signed up as a follower on this blog.  Just scroll up to the right-hand corner and click on JOIN THIS SITE.  
• Click here to join the Let's Scrap website.  It's free, simple and quick, and not to forget: One of the friendliest communities on the web! 
• Find all those scraps of paper you have been setting aside for the last 5 years.  You will need them because the blog hop is all about making CARDS!
• Clean off your scrap table, I assume this is a MUST for most of us, LOL  
• Get ready to make a massive amounts of cards, each from a different sketch, so lots of variety!

OK, a few more details.  You did read correctly: there are 50 blog hosts!  Once you have joined Let's Scrap, at each blog, you will get two chances to win some blog candy (aka: booty, prizes)!  Do the math!  You will have 100 chances to win free stuff...and good stuff, too!  This is also the perfect opportunity to restock your card stash!  The first chance comes when you join/follow each blog and leave a comment.  The second chance comes when you use the card sketch on each blog to create a card, layout or other project based upon the card sketch appearing on each blog--they are all different! You then must post your creation in the Let's Scrap website gallery, then go back to each blog and leave a second comment linking back to your gallery post.  Don't be overwhelmed...you are doing only one card at a time!  Our hope is that you will visit every blog, but, remember, you have the whole month of February to do this.

Thanks for popping by and hopefully you will join me and all the others in the hop fun! 

LOAD challenge and scrapping with kraft

The LOAD (layout a day) challenge that Cathy is hosting at Let's Scrap sure made me scrap. I can not say I am totally up to date but so far my count is #24. Not bad for someone who did a 106 LO's last year.
As you will all know by now I am a huge fan of single LO's, single photo pages and kraft cardstock. Ooooh, do not want to forget machine stitching, LOL.

For this LO I used a photo from DD Jinte where she is showing off her Mr. Patato Head. We found him in one of the boxes in the attic that were filled with toys from DS Joram when he was younger. And Jinte LOVES playing with it. And mostly to make funny and weird looking faces with two pairs of eyes, an ear on the spot the nose should have been. In the gallery at Let's Scrap was mentioned twice that the creature she created looks like one of Picasso's paintings. Oh my, that is true, I never looked at it that way!

PP: Basic Grey, Bo Bunny, Lily Bee Design
Border punch: Martha Stewart
Photo corner: Daisy D's*
Misc: sewing machine, button, embroidery floss


* Companies marked like this are no longer in business. 

The title was cut with my Silhouette


I am also putting this LO in for the ScrapFIT #23 challenge, which is to use kraft cardstock. Got to love a challegne like that, LOL. Always loved and still love the Basic Grey kraft lines. Too bad it did not became one of their basics.


Thanks for popping by, I can not believe it is Wednesday already. I got the cold from Jinte so now I am sniffing, sneezing and coughing. Maybe I'll hit the hey early today.