Water FANatic

My girls and I love the pool and the beach, but I did not realize that they both would enjoy being on a river as well. I allowed them both to try being out there the summer of 2010. I can see by the expression on Kristen's face that she enjoyed herself. Adventures make this a fun world to live in :)
Deb♥

A 2 Pager from Jean Today :)

My 7 year old daughter recently asked me why the scrapbook stores still had Christmas stickers, etc out. Well that was a perfect moment to explain to her how in our scrapbooking we work on many albums at many times, and/or because we may just be getting to Christmas photos. She does scrapbook some, but I am busy preparing her to become a scrap-a-holic in the future so knowing that is important right? LOL!


I think you will see that in Jean's Christmas layout that she is busy getting caught up and creating wonderful projects using our one and only Heather's sketch from February 10th too!
Deb♥

I used Heather's great sketch for another layout for my Christmas album. We always head north 2 1/2 hours to visit my mom and sisters. This year we decided to go on Christmas eve day instead of Christmas day. It was less chaotic and made the visit more fun. This sketch allowed me to scrap many photos at once!

Making Rosettes

Have you tried making rosettes? I have seen a die for one of the Sizzix machines with Tim Holtz, but they can be done without all of that. Let Michelle share :)
Deb♥


I have made paper rosettes only once before doing them on this page. Not sure why it took me so long to try them out! I love how they came on on this page. I used a Close To My Heart paper kit called, Lucky. There are a few tutorials out there. But I just cut a strip of paper, scored every 1/4", then accordion folded and attached the ends together. Using a wallet photo I had left from Holiday photos. I placed all my embellishments and journaling surrounding the picture allowing for the "negative space".

A Wedding Day in Penny's Life :)

Take note of Penny's tip for dollar store flowers. I too have done what she suggests and you will find that it is a money saving tip!
Deb♥

This is a layout of my daughter Sequita and my granddaughter Madison, on Sequita's wedding day.


For this layout I used the following items:
Sketch was taken from here:
http://blog.basicgrey.com/?p=1857
Pattern Paper:
Basic Grey - Urban Couture - URB-363 Pashmina
Basic Grey - Perhaps - KISA - PER - 738
String clasp:
Basic Grey - string clasp - 542631
Stickers:
Basic Grey - 551152
Word Brad:
Studio K Basic Grey - 564688
Inks:
Tim Holtz Ink- Vintage Photo - TIM - 19527
Studio G Ink - WM 0028 Lime Green
Fisker's Paper trimmer - the really old one, I still love and use it even though I have several more that are more expensive!
Elmer's Craft Bond Glue Stick - 4021
Cardstock:
1 sheet of 12 x 12 Dark Green Cardstock
5 tiny strips of white cardstock for journaling strips.
K & Co. Border strips (these came in a pack, and I have found that I use the "wrong" side of these as much as I used the "right" side.
Flowers:
Floral Garden - Silk flowers 967173- 1109 (I purchase almost all of my silk flowers from either Dollar Tree, or Dollar General, and just remove them from the stems, and use them on my layouts, much cheaper than the more expensive one's that are for scrapbooking.
Small hole paper punch
Ribbon:
This is actually 330 Wrights Hem sewing tape - Seal Brown 092
Assorted brads - unknown
Assorted jewels - unknown flea market find
Pop Dots
Zots glue dots
1 small sheet of mulberry paper

I started this layout by cutting one of the background papers almost in half, and then cutting out some of the background flowers and popping them up off the main background sheet on the layout with the pop dots.

Next I tore strips from the dark green cardstock, and the rest of the mulberry paper to form the lines on the layout, along with the K & Co. border strip, and held them in place with glue and brads.

I then added the mulberry paper, as a photo mat, and placed my photo.
I cut and placed the "hem" tape, using brads and glue.

Next I free hand cut the butterflies, and inked their edges, and placed the jewels on the butterflies with glue dots. (If you don't want to free hand cut the butterflies, you could use stickers, or a cutting machine to make yours.)

Next I cut and inked the journaling strips, and added my journaling.

Then I inked the flowers with the lime ink, in order to make them match the layout colors, and added them to my layout with brads. (They appear brighter in the photo than they actually are.)

Then I added the string clasp and title stickers.

The journaling reads:
Sequita and Madison, the 2 girls of the family now. Given the task as memory keepers, as most girls in families.

Now it's your turn to make a layout like this of your own! Happy Scrapping!
Love Penny

Big Boy's Birthday

When I saw this card made by Tammy I absolutely fell in love with her big birthday boy embellishment!!! It is just so sweet and the vintage stamps...I have not seen thos in like 30 years...and now I want some, lol! Happy birthday to Tammy's hunny :) and great job on the card Tammy!!!
Deb♥


My husband's birthday was this month. Cards for "boys" are sometimes harder for me to make...but when I found this chipboard vintage little boy (I've had him forever, finally got a chance to use him!), I knew he was perfect for this card. I put it on a base of children's writing paper, added some S&H vintage stamps and little pennant pieces, stitched along the side, and hand wrote the sentiment ;) TFL, Tammy

Friday Sketch with Michelle

Here is a new one from Michelle with one of the cutest puppy dogs...ever! Enjoy! Deb♥

Baby Days :)

I am delighted to share a project with you today made by Heather. Baby books are the best gift we as paper crafters can give to a new mommy or mommy-to-be. Heather has made an extraordinary baby album that is sure to please the recipient of this one. Way to go Heather!
Deb♥

ACROSTIC:Penny

The challenge was to create a layout that had an Acrostic Title or poem. In my case that would be the word "Adore".
This layout is of my boyfriend's mother and granddaughter. It was taken a few Christmas'es before she passed away. It was oblivious to everyone how much her granddaughter loved her!

The journaling on this layout reads:

A=Always loved you no matter what you did.
D=Devoted to family and friends.
O= Openly loving, and quick with her hugs and kisses.
R=Ready to help out, with anything you needed.
E=Enjoyed her life even when it became difficult to live.

The supplies I used for this layout were:

Pattern Paper - Basic Grey - Sublime Collection Confused ACS - 055
Cardstock - DCWV - Light Tan, and two small pieces of black
Tag Alphabet Stickers - Sticko SP - RSN - 12 Rebecca Sower
Cameo - Flea Market find
Punches
Oval - McGill
Photo Corners - Martha Stewart
Rick Rack - Trim tex - G1-114
Lace - Flea Market find
Assorted Brads - Some were from Recollections

ACROSTIC: Jean

This year WINTER means to me Walking In Natural Trails Enjoying Rockford. We have walked in and around the trails of our town several times. We also stop and share a hot dog with Bandit from the corner hot dog stand.

ACROSTIC: Heather

My GUYS can definitely Get Under Your Skin but that's because they can go straight to your heart! I love my guys!! As much as I wanted a little girl, I have 5 extremely loving and wonderful guys! (If you don't know, Guy is our last name!)

I used Scenic Route paper for the majority of this layout. The hearts were punched using a Fiskars punch and as you can see, I also used the negative from the heart punch also for my subtitle. I pop dotted the hearts to not only give some dimension to the layout but also make them stand out against the circles. I used a creative memories punch for the circles. Added some brads around and some lettering by Cosmo Cricket.

And of course, no Heather layout would be complete without some tearing of paper and some distress ink!!!

ACROSTIC: Michelle

My son never stops moving! I guess that's why when I first read about this challenge I knew it would fit him perfect! Now the only problem was getting pictures of him. This summer he was introduced up close and personal to his favorite things...TRUCKS! Using the word Trucks only explains a small bit of his obsession. I just caught him on camera with the kitchen chair pushed over to the back door. Watching his world drive by or in action. Poppy has a pick-up "Big Ruck" and a tractor. Uncle Brian has a few Tractor Trailer with various trailers; Box, Logging, Flatbed, etc. There are also a number of heavy equipment machinery; a Loader, Excavator, Harvester, Sanding Truck and multiple attachments too!
So, my son always has his ears perked and ready to see what is going on!

Poppy's Ruck is something that my son needs to get in at least once a week! If he can get a chance in the Truck or the Tractor (K=Kubota) before nap time I usually have to get him asleep next to Poppy! His imagination has turned my kitchen into a farm and a corner chair is his "Big Ruck!"

Popped up the letters for "TRUCKS", which I stamped using Close to my Heart Posterboard Alphabet and then stamped with a diamond plate background stamp. I pulled out my Sizzix Embossing folders. Used the Diamond Plate to embossing the mats and journaling.

ACROSTIC: Tammy

Fantastic

Unexpected

Nonsense



That's my acrostic to describe these photo booth pictures my hubby and I took at the fair this year. Sometimes I can be too quiet, I think he was surprised at the outcome of these ;) I used Echo Park paper and stickers. The small letter stickers are My Little Shoebox (unsure of the bigger letters). The transparent frame I believe is Colorbox, and I used a "notebook" style EK border punch, Tim Holtz tiny attacher, and misc. tags and frame. TFL, Tammy

March Acrostic Challenge by Groovy Deb♥

Happy March! I am so excited that spring arrives here in only a few weeks :)

Let's talk about the challenge that I presented to The Grooviest Chicks ever for this month :) I asked them to create layouts using an acrostic in any way they wanted. According to Wikipedia this is the definition of acrostic in case this is all new to you:

An acrostic (Greek: ákros "top"; stíchos "verse") is a poem or other form of writing in which the first letter, syllable or word of each line, paragraph or other recurring feature in the text spells out a word or a message.

Fun yes?

Here is what I did with mine using pics from my dad's 76th birthday...you will see that I took part of the word birthday and made little pennants using those letters to the right. We would love to see what you can do with this challenge so feel free to email me or leave a link to your blog showing me yours :)



Keep watching over the next few days for all the renditions the girls come up with!
Deb♥

Pop X3

LOL! LOL! LOL!
Deb♥


Oh how I love my triplet boys!!! Weren't they just adorable at 2 years old? Well, I think they still are but at age 5 they have bigger attitudes too . . . which aren't as cute! haha!

The boys used to put there pacifiers in their mouths and then pull them out to hear them POP!!! They thought it was hilarious! Can't you tell by those huge grins??? I love catching the everyday moments such as these!!!

This layout is quite a mishmash of different products. Kraft paper for the background. The torn paper for the background is Jenni Bowlin. Then I used Basic Gray's Oliver collection for most of the rest of the layout!!

Let's make sure we capture the everyday moments as well as all those special events!!! Yes, it does mean that I have THOUSANDS of pictures to scrap and that I will probably NEVER get caught up completely, but it's worth it when I can look back at layouts like these!

On the Red Carpet

Tami over at the Fiskateer site has challenged us to create a layout based on someone who was inspiring us at the Academy Awards.

I thought Angelina Jolie looked so beautiful in her black dress and her stunning red lipstick.





















I made this after seeing her :)

Canvas Art

If you have not tried creating on canvas you really need to! It can be so stress-free to just do anything without the thought of it being connected to one of your albums. IT can be a perfect project for letting loose. I think you will adore what Jean did with her canvas as much as I do! Let her show you now...
Deb♥

If you are like me, you have been scrapping holiday photos. I decided to put the scraps to good use by making a canvas. I used stamps for the background and even added rubons and stickers. No canvas - no problem. This could be done as a scrapbook page and I even used the basic design for thank you cards.

Friday Sketch Day!!!

Here is a new one from Heather, enjoy!
Deb♥

Pinterest is so Interesting!!!

Have you hopped on the Pinterest bandwagon? I LOVE it! If you are lacking in inspiration for home decor, scrapbooking, cooking, anything really, then Pinterest is likely to have something to stir your creative juices. I reward myself at the end of the day by spending a few minutes there :) Click this button and come see what inspires me :)

Have a good day!
Deb♥

Meet Colleen: Pieces and Parts Designer

I am pleased to share some projects with you made by Colleen, our newest Pieces and Parts Designer of the day :) Before getting to those let's get to know her a little bit with her answer to what makes her a groovy chick :)
Deb♥






















I have been married for 22 ½ years, we have 2 daughters Sarah 18 and Kristen 12. Most of my scrapbooking is stuff for my daughters. They are both involved in dance, 4-H, band and choir, and other activities at school. I am the at-risk coordinator for the high school that I teach in. This means that I spend my day working with students who are at-risk. It is so nice to know that you have had a part in helping high school students. I just wish that we were able to get through to all of the students and that we didn’t lose any of them. Besides teaching high school and chasing my daughters around I am also involved in my church. I am chairperson of a board and then also a council member. Plus I am one of two that have managed to get started and organize a scrapbooking/crafting night at our church once a month and then 3 overnight retreats a year at our campgrounds. I also volunteer as a Clover Kids leader (4-H for the Kindergarten to 3rd grade kids) and teach CPR and First Aid courses for the local red cross.








































You can find Colleen here:
http://www.cleancreate.blogspot.com

Farewell to Viji and a Mini Arts Project

Time on the DT here at IIG can move along so fast. Viji has been with us since August and now as she steps down I send a big thanks and wishes for a great outcome on your project at home! Your work is lovely and will be missed.

Before she goes here is a great project she has for us today. Enjoy!
Deb♥

Hi to all the lovely IIG supporters! This is my last post here as I have decided to leave IIG to take care of things at home. I thank each and everyone of you for letting me be a part of this fabulous team and for encouraging me through your comments.

I made baby shower favors for one of my friends recently. I used Pazzles to cut out the pattern and the scallop circles. This was my first 3D project and I loved how it turned out! I love pastel colors the heart on top of the box with the letters S are the initials of the mom & dad-to-be!! Just a little personalization.

Well, I hope all of you like it:) Thank you for all the love and support!

Signing off...
Viji

Penny has a few Secrets!

I had to LOL when I read what Penny has written about the camel...I think we as family members can related...you'll see what I mean, but also read on for the tip, uh hum secret, Penny shares about the alphabet letters. It's a great tip!


I used the following supplies for this layout: Pattern Paper: Basic Grey - Oh Baby Girl - OBG-442 Sophie Stickers are also from Basic Grey Round pattern vellum - these were actually from a wedding invitation kit and were not really round, I just cut them to be that way. The other sheet of what looks like pattern paper is actually a post card by: Pratt & Austin - Penny Wise Post cards, I used two post cards and just tore them in half so that I would have enough room for my journaling. Tim Holtz Ink - Vintage Photo TIM 21056 Assorted brads Floral Garden silk flowers - 19971 - 1105 (This is just the code for one of them, but I purchased my flowers at Dollar Tree, or Dollar General. Toner Craft Twine - 86244 K & Co Borders Buttons Photo turn yellow thread.

To make this layout I first inked the K & Co. borders and then sewed the twine through the holes of the border. To make this process easier, I glued the tips of the twine so that it didn't unravel during the sewing process. Then I glued the vellum in place making sure that no glue would show after I placed my photos on the vellum. Next I inked and glued the two postcards together and placed in on the layout. Then I glued in place my photos, and then glued in place the sewed borders, but I added brads just to make sure they stayed in place. To make the words out of twine I used a plastic bag from a sticker sheet and worked and glued the twine into the letter shapes.

After getting them close to what I wanted I then started gluing them to the layout. Then I added the flowers and stickers. It's not clearly visible in this layout but here is a small vellum banner under the top flowers. I then sewed the buttons in place, and the cross stitch pattern on top of the left hand side of the postcard. The journaling reads: I took these photos of Madison while we waited for Matthew to finish ball practice. She carried that "horse" around for months. We never did tell her it was really a "camel"! What a sweet face! 2008 Now it's your turn! Happy Scrapping! Love Penny

Tribute to Whitney Houston

What sad news we all received around the world last weekend when learning of Whitney Houston's passing. Although it was public knowledge that she had her struggles with substance abuse, it is my hope that it is found that it was not a cause for her death. She was so instrumental with her angelic voice when she came bursting onto the scene in the 1980's. Seriously, I am not sure if we ever had such a beautiful voice as that and we 80's chicks definitely looked up to her! The Body Guard has long been on my top 5 movie list of all time and I seriously respected her talent. What a loss to those who knew her and those who enjoyed her music and acting.

I asked those Groovy Chicks who had some time this week to create something in tribute to the beautiful Miss Whitney and below we will show what we came up with. Sending many blessing and prayers to her family.

DEB♥

Here is another layout (yay!) for my wedding album! We celebrate 18 years in April...'bout time dontchathink??? I was inspired by Whitney's "I Will Always Love You"





















TAMMY

Tammy and I chose the same song for inspiration. Here is her beautiful "I Will Always Love You".





















JEAN

Jean chose my favorite Whitney song of all time, "Saving All My Love for You".















HEATHER

Heather has chosen another beautiful classic, " The Greatest Love of All"



If you would like to take part in leaving love for Whitney follow this link where you can see thousands of fans have been doing the same:

A New Sketch by Michelle

Here is a new one Michelle has created and her example of how to use it. Enjoy!
Deb♥

Meet Cacie the Cat

As part of the Liftateers project last week I made this kitty page. this is a kitty I had years ago and it felt so good to finally scrap this one :) Have you scrapped anything older lately???
Deb♥

Heather's Sketch by Tammy :)

I always love having a great sketch to inspire me and I also love to see the Groovy Chicks connecting with one they love too. Tammy took one from Heather's drawn sketches that we just showed this past Friday and she used it to help her create this great 2 pager :)
Deb♥


I took Heather's sketch and mirrored it so I could do a double. The first photo shows the double, on the 2 other photos, I took them at a slight angle so you can see the sheen to the background paper, and the added hot pink Stickle accents and silver glitter stickers I added. Other than that, I kept it pretty simple. I used S.E.I. patterned paper. Tammy :)