How did that happen?

Happy Spring!   

I know some of us don’t feel like it temperature-wise, but it’s officially here and I’m going to fake it until I make it.  Speaking of faking it… (did you see what I did there!)

I was on a roll finally finishing some layouts from some vacation photos in Key West.  I was positive I had measured everything perfectly and glued my photos down.  You can see where this is going.  My measuring was not exactly what it needed to be.   

I was left with blank spaces that were intended to have two additional photos in them.  My plan had been to have a square of matted photos and embellish the rest of the page. 

Well, I decided to embellish the blank spaces instead!  I simply placed a strip of patterned paper in one and went a little heavier on the embellishments in the other.  Add a title and some simple strips along one side of the square and it’s all back in order.  I actually like this better than what I’d planned.

Hanging Out by Moanica Caston.  Cardstock: Bazzill; Patterned paper, and other embellishments: Cosmo Cricket; Letter alphas: American Crafts.

Remember, there are no mistakes in scrapbooking.  That’s the beauty of crafting and creating.  You can make it whatever you want! 

Here’s to warmer weather!

Moanica

Happy Sisterhood Month

I’m celebrating the love of my sisters in Delta Sigma Theta Sorority,  Scraps of Color and Sisters in Craft Land. This canvas painting was inspired by my president of Memphis Alumnae Chapter.  She is a compassionate president.  Our chapter is over 600 members and she personally handles every request no matter what the issue before she delegates.  Have you checked on a sistah lately?  

There are so many sweet gestures to express your love and concern:

• Leave a comment on a sistah’s blog
• Send a RAK (Random Act of Kindness)
• Call a sistah you haven’t heard from in a month
• Plan a lunch or dinner outing    
• Send a card, especially one that you created.

Let’s do something to brighten a sistah’s day!  Be Blessed....Princess

I

GO RED!

Today is National WEAR RED DAY!  GO RED FOR WOMEN!

So I was inspired to create some tags.  I decided to add digital images by Robert Jackson that was just right for the event.  He had a few healthy living digis.  You can find them here.  He has already added images for Valentine's Day and Black History Month.  It's February right?!!

 This is the start of my effort to pile it on with embellishments.  Love making these tags.  It's a perfect way to use your scraps.  I'm adding some African American stamps.  Yes I recycle them after receiving mail for Black History Month projects!  Look at what I've started with (Sizzix die cut elephant, Forever Young cricut die cut, African American stamp, definition, word, and mini Martha Stewart elephant)

Check out these cute images?  I'm dealing with the first one now, but I did something about it this morning. Believe me when I say,  "Exercise does the body good!"  I'm patiently waiting for my next career and definitely want to be in shape.

It's February.  Do you have your Black History projects together?  Why not grab some die cuts and items from your stash and make tags?  They make the perfect gifts.

Happy Heart Day!
Princess

What's In A Blog Name?

I took another project off my 'Crafty Things To Do List'.  I've been wanting to make a plaque with my blog name on it, but today my Design Team post is a Canvas.  I'm satisfied!  I thought I would play with a few of my Faber Castell products that were still in the package.  After watching a few videos, I took the plunge and this is what I created representing my blog name.

Recipe ingredients:
Faber Castell gelatos
Colorbox Chalk ink
Tsukineko chalk ink
Stazon ink
Studio 71 canvas paper
Prima Bloom Girl
Canvas Corp - canvas
Recollections stamps, metal and stickers
Webster's Pages fabric sticker and flowers
Prima and Recollection flowers
K & Company Sea Glass chipboards
Making Memories mesh
Martha Stewart butterfly punches
Provo Craft alphabet stamps
Stickles - variety
Copic and Bic Mark it markers
Kimberly watercolor pencils

Here are just a few products I pulled out to get this canvas started.  I decided to use my film strip stamp, inked it on acetate paper and added a clock stamp to it.  The prayer was cut in strips to capture it on the page filling it with lots of embellishments to create the tropical decor. 

This is how I made my banner using Studio 71 canvas sheet.  I poured on the gesso then added my gelatos and sprays.  After it dried, various stamps were added.  I cut some in strips and added it to the canvas.  Butterfly punches, a heart and the banner were cut with the paper.  Chalk inks were added to the ends to define the paper.

This is My Scrapbook Prayer that Tiare featured in  Scraps of Color E Magazine years ago that I wrote in 2008 after attending a Scrapbook Extravaganza.  It is still dear to my heART!  I love the Prima Bloom Stamp....A 'Natural' Beauty just like me.

Do you have a blog plaque or sign in your Craft room?  If not, I hope I have inspired you to create one.

Love,

Princess

A Love Story

February is the month of Love and Black History.  I want to share a little of both.  It's a Love Story I wouldn't 'trade' for anything featuring Robert Jackson digital stamps.  Let me tell you a tidbit about Robert's connection with Scraps of Color.  It was Mary Joyce a fellow scrapper who also resides in Arizona, who shared her concerns of not seeing enough African American images. The rest is Black History!  Fellow Bloggers, I got a LOVE JONES for you.

Chapter 1 - The Artist

Once upon a time there was a man name Robert Jackson, who turned his Artist imagination into digital stamps.  Out of the mini envelope came.....

Chapter 2 - Cupid

 Cupid who shot her Happy bow and arrow into a young man and woman who.....

Chapter 3 - The Romance

Romanced each other one night with one of their many talents.  He played the piano and she could sing...

Chapter 4 - The Marriage

 They later exchanged vows in a beautiful Wedding Ceremony, forever together til death do them part...  

Chapter 5 - A Bundle of Joy

 The Lord blessed them with a child to love.  What a blessing to cherish, a baby is coming....

Chapter 6 - A Love like this

 They lived each day as they did when they dated.  Inseparable yes they are....

Chapter 7 - Love Never Ends

Although they are moving a bit slow, their love continues to grow.  The end.


WOW I have had a ball making these trading cards.  Trading cards are measured at 2.5 x 3.5.  This was my vision and I went to my stash of scraps and worked to the last second.  I colored and cut each digital, which had it's own theme.  I'm not going to 'trade' them.  I'll be making all types of items with these.  Can you guess what items I'll be making? Stay tuned on my blog later this week.

Author Princess Jones

Bits and Bobs

Bits and bobs – I just love that phrase.  It’s a British expression I picked up that I translate to mean “little, small pieces and things.”  Of course, I’m on this big British kick now that Season 4 of Downton Abbey has started here in the U.S.  Now, that’s a whole other post!

But, I think “bits and bobs” is the perfect way to describe all the little touches and embellishments that we’re seeing now in scrapbooking.  I thought I’d give it a try with some things from the Cut & Paste collection by Amy Tangerine using two photos from our cruise stop in Nassau.

What’s really nice about this approach is that it mixes really well with other embellishments like my favorite – 3-D embellishments.   

That little sailboat on my layout is straight off a Jolee’s sticker sheet and is just perfect here.   

And I actually cut up that “happy notes” tag and used a piece under the sailboat to ground it a bit more.  Fun, fun, fun!

Paradise Found by Moanica Caston.  Cardstock: Bazzill Basics; Patterned Paper and Stickers: Amy Tangerine for American Crafts; Brads: Basic Grey; Sailboat: Jolee’s Boutique;  Alphas: American Crafts Thickers.

 

I love that this technique even appeals to a simple scrapper, like me.  What worked for me and my “simple scrapper’s eye” was lining things up on the vertical instead of the scattered approach.  Maybe I’ll try that next!

Moanica

Embellishments – not just for the page anymore!

I hope you are having a wonderful holiday season!  It’s not over yet and I know many are preparing to welcome in 2014 in grand style!  

I’m in full on preparation for the new year myself – cleaning the house and preparing a menu for New Year’s Day “guaranteed” to bring us much joy and prosperity in the coming year.  Black-eyed peas, anyone?   

But, I took a moment to scrap some photos of our dog, Baxter, from Christmas.  Since we don’t have kids, it’s a pretty mellow affair at our house.   

Baxter had a great day though – a new, festive collar, two slices of bacon for breakfast and then a nice, long nap!  Yep, it’s crazy around here!

I had a few photos of her watching me in the kitchen.  I pulled out a page kit and it had one of those fabulous sticker sheets with more stickers than you can ever use and some pretty, shiny crystals.  You know I’m a sucker for the bling!  I decided to see how much of it I could use on this one layout.

I purposely looked for space on my photos to see if I could add something there.  Of course, I could have used even more of the sticker sheet, but this amount works perfectly for my style.  So, look for space on your photos for embellishment.  

No Grinch Here by Moanica Caston.  Cardstock: Bazzill Basics; Patterned Paper and Stickers: Bella Blvd.; Merry and Bright Flair: Twopeasinabucket; Gems: Studio Calico;  Alphas:  American Crafts Thickers.

 

And have a wonderful, prosperous 2014!

Moanica