What's Up with BoBunny Sunkissed!

It's a well known fact - I love bright colors and I LOVE BoBunny's Sunkissed collection. A Cherry On Top challenged members to create a layout in Citrus colors for July - and reaching for Sunkissed was pretty obvious to me. I have loved these photos of our son for a long time, and happily scrapped them for the challenge. Many of you, who read my blog regularly, may know that we raise Monarch butterflies each summer. These photos are from perhaps three-four years ago. Kyle was trying to catch the butterfly in our living room so it could be released, but it kept eluding his grasp. Suddenly it landed on top of his head! We opened the door to the outside, and told him to walk slowly towards the door and out. That's how we released this particular Monarch that day, and of course I captured some photos first.

If you have a Cuttlebug or other embossing machine - keep in mind that you can change up your chipboard letters by running them through. I used BoBunny's Chunky Chip alpha, painted them orange, and ran through the Cuttlebug upside down, to get an inverted design. I left the center of the P intact, and placed a circle design from the Sunkissed 12x12 chipboard on top.
You might also note in this shot that the clouds have been sprinkled with a little "stardust". I had the Duncan iridescent paint out for elsewhere, and decided my clouds needed sparkle, too.

I love how BoBunny provides so many options for journaling. On this layout, I used another shape, with journaling lines from the chipboard set. Of course we all have loved the cut outs since they were introduced, and NOW BoBunny has Noteworthy journaling spots- which work great for embellishing as well. I love that there are so many options, as I for one, am a firm believer that every layout should have journaling of some degree upon it.

You can see how versatile a 12x12 sheet of coordinating chipboard embellishments are. It's no secret I LOVE chipboard - and was personally thrilled at the introduction of chipboard to the BoBunny lines. A bright line up of squares is a great accent at the bottom of my focal point photo.

The cardstock stickers are another favorite for giving a slight mat, and raising off the page -especially the word accents!
I created this layout in under an hour...the butterfly made with Quickutz was an extra from a previous project. The clouds are actually from scrap of the Skies paper from a previous project. I can't stand to waste paper I love or throw it away, so I managed to squeak several partial clouds from my scraps and tuck them in - so you would never know they were from scraps if I had not told you my secret. Waste not - want not! Especially when it comes to BoBunny!

A belated add in - this layout was chosen as Layout of the Week at ACOT on July 25th - woo hoo!!

Happy creating,
Rita S.

The Story of Cosmetics (2010)

Friends, I care about you, which is why I URGE you to watch this You Tube video. Please consider what you are putting in your bodies, and that of your children. Of course it all affects our planet as well, as we wash the bubbles and suds down the drain.

After watching this you may wonder why these companies are including toxic ingredients in their product...bottom line...it's CHEAP.  Which is why safe and pure personal care products cost more money. It takes a whole lot more research to make sure the ingredients are safe, and quality ingredients cost more. You need to make a choice for you and your family.

My family is probably one of the last few in the U.S. that does not own a cell phone. Simply, it is not in our budget. But WE ARE investing in healthy, safe products for our family by using Arbonne's safe and pure products. I feel good knowing that I am not shampooing my 7 yr old in a carcingen. And I hope that by changing my personal care products now, that I can reverse the harm already done inside my body. One thing I am fully aware of from watching the video above - using Arbonne's 7-day detox program on my body twice a year is very necessary in the world in which we live.

If you want to put your money into the latest and greatest iPhone, audio system, or high fashion clothing, I say go for it. But I urge you to consider the ramifications of putting products on your skin day after day that promote excess estrogen growth, that contain carcinogens (cancer causing substances) and other known toxins.   If budget restricts spending...choose wisely, and I would recommend, for the benefit of your family's health.  Our bodies are a temple to God - please take care of it.

BoBunny Card Sketch Challenge!!

Do you love sketches? BoBunny offers a card sketch challenge on Tuesday - be sure to stop by the BoBunny blog to save the sketch. This week's sketch is designed by the talented Juliana Michaels. Above is my take on the sketch. Because I wanted to use the "Little Pockets, Big Smiles" sticker I elongated the card to 5x7". Don't ya just love that quote? It sure makes me smile, especially when I think of all the things I have found in the pockets of my children when doing laundry. Now, isn't that a fun scrapbook page in the making? There is an extra idea for you. (LOL)

The design team offered up a BLOCKBUSTER group of cards featuring Block Party! Don't ya just LOVE that line? Be sure to check out all of their creations on the BoBunny blog. I have photos screaming to be scrapped with it. BoBunny's cardstock stickers always inspire me. If not the quotes, then the design itself. Seeing the little pocket on the It's A Boy Thing sticker set, I could not help but think of a pocket to hold a gift card.

Sketches and BoBunny's coordinating products are great combo for making quick and easy cards - why work so hard at it when BoBunny makes it easy for you? With a few ingredients I created this card. To make the pocket shape I folded a piece of 4x4" white paper and cut out the shape, tracing it onto the Celebration cardstock. I layered a scrap piece of chocolate dot cardstock and Chill paper to create the cuff. Remember, sew the CUFF on first so your pocket is not sewn shut!

Supplies Used:

5x7 blank card
BoBunny Block Party: Chill, Dots, Celebration, Sparkler, It’s A Boy Thing Cardstock Sticker, Buttons and Bling
Clover Double Dot Ribbon
Chocolate Dot Cardstock
Thread

Thanks for popping in! I hope you have garnered an idea or two.

Happy creating,
Rita S.

Peacock Lane - One Sticker, Two Ideas

 

A friend asked me if I would make a card for her grand-daughter in New York, who had just graduated. Immediately my mind went to BoBunny's Peacock Lane, setting out on my table from a previous layout. Initially I thought about the "journey" cardstock sticker, ran an idea past her, and off I went to make a card.

Once I began looking at the Peacock Lane stickers and papers around me, I spotted this phrase, "life is a great bundle of little things." ohhh...the mojo kicked in! Today's cards are not fancy. They possess no brilliant technique. They were quick to make - thanks to BoBunny's coordinating papers, dot cardstock and stickers.  There is little real life dimension - due to the fact that the cards are being mailed - however, the beauty of BoBunny's cardstock stickers is the "built in" dimension created by the design utilizing drop shadows. If you have little time for card making, reach for BoBunny coordinates!

What I really want to share with you today is the versatility of the "bundle of little things" sticker.  You can take that phrase and gear it towards a number of occassions.

For the requested graduation card, the inside reads, "Make each one count, and your life will be BIG! Congratulations graduate!"

It is also perfect to welcome a new baby. "Life is a great bundle of little things." Inside: "But none can be sweeter than your new bundle of joy. Congratulations!"

For a birthday, how about giving a bundle of fresh flowers, and creating a card or tag to go with, that reads, "Life is a great bundle of little things." Inside: "May your birthday be filled with little things that bless your heart."
I hope today's little post has given you some ideas on making a card with BoBunny's cardstock stickers. Remember, handmade cards do not have to be fancy to be special. It is the gesture of making a card that warms the heart most.

Happy creating,
Rita S.

Inspired by Movies and Television Shows

Do you have a favorite movie or television show? BoBunny asked it's DT that question, and challenged several members to create a layout inspired by such. Today, you can visit the BoBunny blog to see which television shows, or movies, inspired the team. Perhaps you will come away with ideas of your own!

One show I do love and hate to miss is "Monk" - viewed Saturday nights at 9 p.m. here. Monk is a private detective who has a few quirks and issues of his own, such as obsessive-compulsive-disorder. I had a great idea for a layout inspired by Adrian Monk, however, I could not lay my finger upon it.

So I began to think of other shows...not too inspired to scrap my favorite cooking shows (even though I have phots of Kyle cooking), and the station "Create" really doesn't count.... I thought of favorite movies, such as "It's A Wonderful Life" - a super easy topic for which almost any photo could be used; "Return to Me", but I had no idea whom I would be returning to; or "Sleepless in Seattle", but I've never been to NY or Seattle, and do not suffer from sleeplessness. (LOL)  In a tie for my number two all time favorite movie is "While You Were Sleeping", this is one movie I never tire of. I thought to myself, wouldn't it be fun to find a sleeping baby photo, and scrap about all the things I got done while my babies were taking their afternoon nap?

I set about to find a sleeping baby photo, and was real happy to find one of Kyle in a sleeper, and wrapped in a blanket, containing many of the colors found in Peacock Lane! Seeing the "lollipop tree" in the Bleu paper design, I was inspired to write between the lines, and thus a layout was born.
If you decide to cut out the tree from your own sheet of "Bleu" paper, consider using adhesives of various thicknesses to create dimensional interest in your layout.

My journaling spots read:
 - weeded the front flower bed
- emptied the dishwasher
- washed 3 loads of laundry, and folded 2. watched Oprah.
- caught up on e-mail
- admired your little fingers

Loopy Ribbon Border

Two techniques were used to create my felt and ribbon borders. For the top piece, which was very short, I simply used glue dots. Using larger dots I offset the end of my 1" or so length of ribbon end-to-end, so both ends were caught in the glue dot - and positioned three of them adjacent to one another in a short row. I then used a felt piece to cover the ribbon ends.

However, if you would like to conserve glue dots, take a thin scrap piece of paper (as you can see in my layout, I trimmed off 1/4" around each side of the Ivy paper), and staple each loop to the strip of paper. Building upon a paper base makes adhering with my ATG gun or a few glue dots super simple. I used my Fiskars large scissors to cut not-so-perfect scallops along one edge of a piece of felt, which measured 3x8". I mention the dimension because I want to stress how important it is to add stitching BEFORE cutting a thin strip as shown in the layout. It would be difficult for me to stitch on a strip of felt that measured approx. 3/8" wide, without it getting caught in the feed-dog. I ran a line of straight stitching down the felt near the scalloped edge, and trimmed it to a skinny piece, as shown, after-the-fact.

As you can see, I could not resist potting the "lollipop tree". I created a simple template for the potting, folding over the top edge to create a band. (BoBunny's two-sided paper was perfect for this!) Of course you have to have a little "dirt", and I cut a little oval from Chocolate Dot cardstock scraps. Scraps of the turquoise were utilized to create the backside of the pot, thus giving the illusion of depth.

BoBunny Supplies Used:

Peacock Lane Collection: Ivy, Bleu, Parade. Plumes, Tweet, and Cut-Out papers; Simply Wonderful Cardstock Stickers, Combo Stickers, Rub-Ons,

Sunkissed "Skies" paper, Summer Fun Cardstock Stickers, Buttons & Bling
Concord Double Dot Ribbon
Chocolate Dot Cardstock
Buttons and Bling - Jazmyne and Sunkissed

Other Supplies:
Black Alphabet stickers-Boxer Scrapbook Productions
Crystal butterfly sticker - Mark Richards
craft felt
Colorbox chalk ink
Black thread

I hope you have enjoyed this layout. Be sure to check out other movie and television show inspired layouts by other BoB DT members. Speaking of DT - are you working on your submissions for the BoBunny team? It is seriously a fabulous gig ladies and gents. I have rarely set foot in a scrapbook store this past year, and have no desire to - other than to stock up on glue dots or pacify my border punch fixation. If you have been visiting my blog this past year you can probably count my non-BoBunny projects on one hand. I really have no desire to "get other stuff" when I am swimming in BoBunny delight already. Papers, chipboard, alphabets, brads, and now, even journaling spots with the release of Noteworthy - BoBunny has all the coordinates I ever need. Good luck to those putting your hat in the ring!
Happy creating,
Rita S.

BoB Sunkissed - Perfect for Vacation Photos!

When these photos were taken on vacation, feeding the lorikeets at the Columbus Zoo in Ohio, my first thought was the fun bird in BoBunny's Sunkissed collection. I could not wait to scrap these photos. I had had a title in my head, "sweet treats for the lorikeets", but then I started playing with the Sunkissed collection. Spotting the clouds in the "Skies" paper, I thought it would be fun to cut out some clouds and add them to the layout.

A new title came to mind, "on cloud 9" - Kyle and I enjoyed feeding the rainbow lorikeets so much that we went back to do it several times - it was the highlight of our trip to the zoo. I decided to have nine clouds total, including the photo of the parrot. I used the cloud for the Sunkissed 12x12 chipboard shape as a template for the shape in the photo. Note that my BoBunny chipboard bird shape may not be colored the same as yours. That's because I used markers to create deeper, more rich tones to mimic that of the lorikeets in the photos.

When creating this layout, I broke some "rules of scrapbooking", but kept others. One common rule is to ground everything...title letters, photos, embellishments  - we are taught that everything on the page should be somehow connected to another. However, clouds float in real life, and I wanted them to float on my layout as well. To balance out the clouds that ground my title words, I mirrored the right side of this 2 page layout with more clouds in the form of a cardstock sticker and another cut out from the Skies paper.

A rule of scrapbooking that I use almost always, is adding elements in groups of three, or odd numbers. To pick up on the dotted paper of the Noteworthy journaling spot, I cut strips from the Sunkissed dot paper and added it to the layout in a visual triangle. I also used a border punch and Ocean Dot Cardstock to mimic the edges of the journaling spot in two other areas.

 For a twist on dating the event, stamp a partial image of the Save the Date stamp. I noticed that 2010 and the date we went to the zoo fell into the same quadrant, and chose to stamp a portion of the image, using red to circle the date. Using the same set, a marker was used to "ink" June only on another stamp, and it was imaged within the first impression.

Use the DiStress Me Out stamp set to "stitch" around the outside edge of a page with lots of white space. This will add a border of color. A fine tip marker of the same color can be used to doodle in "strands, and some "out of line" stitching, which helps bring the two pages together in the center.

BoBunny Supplies Used:

Sunkissed Collection: Papers - Dot, Skies, Party; Clearly Stamps, Combo Stickers, 12x12 Chipboard, Noteworthy, Cardstock Stickers - H20 + Fun and Summer Fun; iCandy Brads and iCandy jewels, Buttons and Bling
Paprika Double Dot Ribbon

Ocean Dot Cardstock

Save the Date Stamp n Store

Dis-tress Me Out Stamp n Store

Be sure to visit the BoBunny blog today to see more ideas and fabulous 2-page layouts from other members of the BoBunny team, all featuing the Sunkissed line today!

Happy creating,
Rita S.

Peek-cock Lane Sneak

If you are not a fan of purple, I am willing to bet you might just fall in love with BoBunny's Peacock Lane anyhow! Turquoise, lime green and purple are a sizzling hot combination, too HOT to resist!

As sizzling as it is...I just scrapped a tender-moment layout using these bright colors. I love it when a baby blanket from 12 years ago has almost all the colors in this awesome collection - can you guess whom the babe was?

I can't share the layout just yet, but come back on July 16 to see what I did - it's an idea that I do believe mothers with little ones might embrace. I must say, it is one of the cutest layouts I have ever done. But before that, visit me tomorrow for a two pager using Sunkissed!

First Vacation Layout - BoBunny Sunkissed!

My first layout of our family vacation, and surprise, surprise - I am in the photos, this is a rare one for my own album! Every once in a while we have to do those, don't we? I was playing with the photos of Kyle and I feeding the rainbow lorikeets- but there were too many for one 2-page layout, so I created one for myself.

Of course BoBunny's bright colors in the Sunkissed line was the perfect choice when scrapping these colorful parrots. I have been wanting to feed lorikeets since seeing a show on the birds of Austrailia in the mid-90s, I never expected to have that chance at the Columbus Zoo in Ohio!

What was so cool is that the Lorikeet garden had breeding pairs. Several pairs of lorikeets had eggs hidden in the long grasses, and it was so cool to see their devotion to one another - as shown in the photo at the top right of this layout.

Are you loving the new Noteworthy journaling spots found in the new BoBunny collections? I do, and they can be used for so much  more than journaling - keep your eye on the BoBunny blog for ideas on how to use them in coming weeks. BUT don't bypass the transparency that protects the packet of Noteworthy cards in the store!! I took a micro tip scissors to remove it as part of the packaging as it is quite thick - and utilized it at the top of my layout. I layered my title stickers over the top, utilizing alphabet stickers from 4-5 BoBunny collections for a rainbow of color!

Stickers from the cardstock stickers were mounted on black cardstock and lifted off the page with dimensional foam adhesive. Buttons & Bling were added for spots of color at right.

When I found one of Abby's yellow crafting feathers sitting on my scrapping table - I had to just snag it and secure it with a glue dot and Wild Berry Double Dot ribbon, I mean, why not? Anything found on my table is game for a page, the way I see it, and these birds have yellow feathers, so, yes, why not? (LOL)

Challenge yourself to scrap at least some photos of your summer vacation shortly after you return, before the vivid memories have left your mind. Be sure to stop back July 15th for another layout - a 2 pager on the same subject!

Happy creating,

Rita S.

"Healing Rain" - A Re-Pub Toot!

I am so glad to have friends who check out all the pubs...they tipped me off about seeing my sympathy gift bag published in Paper Crafts new "Scrapbooking Secrets..." e-zine, check it out on page 20. This project was originally published in the magazine quite some time ago, two years perhaps?

The gift bag was an assignment from Paper Crafts, after submitting my "healing rain" layout to one of the CK Media publications back in 2007. They loved the layout, but wanted it in the form of a gift bag for the "sympathy" category of an upcoming release, which is what you will see if you click on the link above.

I thought I would share the inspiration for the bag, and the layout, in turn, was inspired by a message I heard at Blackhawk Church. God's mercy is for everyone, no matter your past, where you have been or where you are going...His mercy rains down for all, to heal your hurts and sorrows.

An original poem:

Rain falls like mercy upon the scorched land-
Bringing newness and hope where doubt had been.

It washes away the pain and the sorrow-

A healing balm for all our tomorrows.

It falls for you, and it falls for me -

No matter our past, God rains mercy.

It seems fitting to dedicate this post to three wonderful lady friends, who have very recently suffered great losses. You know who you are if you are reading this. I can offer no words that will ease your pain, but I can pray that God's mercy and God's love be the healing balm for your tomorrows.  (HUGS))

In love and mercy,

Rita S.