The Odd Whimsy

Happy Thanksgiving!! I'm posting a day early since I will be working all weekend. Hope everyone has safe travels, enjoy your family time, and PLEASE be respectful and nice to those working the Black Friday madness. We are people too, and don't deserve to be treated like dirt beneath your feet when we can't do what you want, or are sold out of items. So please be courteous! Have a happy Holiday everyone! -AR

So just a quick post for today.  I made this tag as a Thank You gift for a friend.        I made this using Graphic 45's Typography, Kraft Collection (the playing cards), and Steampunk Debutante (the butterflies). I also used another real book page from Splash of Color.  Enjoy!-AR

So the lovely ladies at Sketch-N-Scrap  revealed the second sketch for November at sketchnscrap.blogspot.com . This is Sketch #45.  I loved the simplicity of this sketch, and I knew exactly what photos I wanted to use.  I am still in the process of scrapping all of my NYC photos (I have two separate trips worth!!) and these were some I had taken on my phone and had instagramed. I got them printed at my local Walmart. I used Graphic 45's Le Cirque (if you haven't already noticed I have a bit of a G45 obsession!!!!) I thought this sketch would be great to do some stitching on, which I don't do very often. But I think it turned out great! I use the Sew Easy tool from We Are Memory Keepers. I like it for when I don't want to drag out my sewing machine. I embroider anyway, so I don't mind doing it by hand. I also used a real book page that I got from my local scrapbook store. It was an assortment of real book pages from Splash of Color. I added a f

So I haven't really had much time for anything crafty this week, but I thought I would share this tag I have been working on.  I used Tea Dye and Victorian Velvet for the base of the tag and then stamped over it with a large diamond stamp and some black ink. I then used an embossing folder and my cuttlebug to emboss the tag. I accidently embossed it the wrong way, so the indents were on the right side of the tag and the raised portion on the wrong side. I used this to my advantage and took a white jelly pen and filled in the indentions. -AR

So I started following this great sketch blog sketchnscrap.blogspot.com and I LOVE the sketches! This is the November Sketch: And this is my take on it: I used Graphic 45's The Magic of OZ paper. I love this paper and I have several pads! I chose to scrapbook some photos of my Aunt, my Mom, and my Grandmother outside the Gerswhin Theatre in New York City where we saw Wicked last October. I loved the show and we all had a great time! For this layout I fussy cut some poppies, compasses, and cards from the paper. I used glossy accents and some gears on the compasses, stickles on the center of the poppies, and Tim Holtz Distress paint in Rock Candy on the cards. Thanks for stopping by!-AR      

Ok so I have never been one for all the "throwback Thursday" stuff but I thought I would play along this once. This is a layout I did awhile back for Die Cuts With A View's monthly Stack-a-Holic challenge. I don't often scrap myself, but I thought I would for once.  I used DCWV's Timeless Type stack, which I love. I like anything old and grungy, and this paper really worked well for the pictures I was using.  My apologized for the slightly blurry photo, there is so much dimension on the page it's difficult to pull out of the album, so I left it in. Enjoy!-AR

Hello all!! It's starting to get a bit chilly in East Texas. Had to turn on the heater the other night.  I thought I would share the present I made for my best friend's birthday back at the end of October. I use Graphic 45's Typography and the large album tags to make a mini book! It turned out beautifully and she loved it. Sorry for the poor photos, I was in a rush to finish it so I could leave to go meet her in Arlington (about two and a half hours from where I currently live). We had a shopping day to celebrate her birthday. Enjoy!- AR

So I had this beautiful green colored wine bottle sitting around, and since I hate to throw anything out that I could possibly use I altered it using Graphic 45 French Country.  I wrapped the bottle in paper and glued it down with mod podge. I fussy cut out some sunflowers and also glued them down using mod podge. I used glossy accents on the sunflowers, and Tim Holtz Rock Candy Distress paint on the label which is popped up with dimensionals. I wrapped the upper half of the bottle and cork with TH Tissue Tape, inked it with antique linen to knock back the white, and then sealed it with more Mod Podge. Enjoy!-AR

Sorry it's been a bit since I posted. It's been a crazy last few months, and since things have finally started to wind down I hope to get posting again!!  My latest project is an altered canvas using Graphic 45's A Ladies Diary paper. I had a lot of fun with this one! Enjoy! -AR