Rose 8

Hi!

I'm up today on Scrapbook Steals' blog.  As a matter of fact, I'm the "guest sketcher" for the Rose 8 Mid Week Mojo.

When Melodee told us they were going to do a Design Team Picks week on SS, I was excited.  I gave her a huge list of some of my faves.  Then she asked if I would be willing to do the Mid Week Mojo sketch during that week, using We R Memory Keeper's Chalkboard collection, I was a little hesitant at first (don't tell her that though).  I had a bit of a hard time working with another chalkboard collection.  But after I got WRMK's collection in my hot little hands, I was in heaven!!!  For some reason, this collection was so much easier to work with.  I think the patterns and the brighter/variety of colors made it a joy to work with.  As a matter of fact, I got so excited about the paper, I started on a home decor project to post before I remembered I was supposed to be doing the MWM.  Oops!

Ok, enough talk about the collection and the everything, here is the page I created:

I also had fun playing with some of my WRMK tools to make this page.  Here are just a few.

For a more detailed look at the layout, as well as the sketch, be sure to visit the Scrapbook Steals blog.  Don't forget to play along with the MWM sketches for a chance to win prizes.

Cheers!

Woohoo!

Happy Halloween! 

I'm a little late in posting this...but I am very excited to say I am part of the Fall/Winter Design Team at Scrapbook Steals!  Melodee & and crew over there have picked an amazing group of ladies to be part of this team.  Check them out here. 

As many of you know, I love Scrapbook Steals.  It is because of them that I started this fun journey of scrapping.  Now I feel like life has come full circle, and I'm excited to be designing for them.  My first post will be up next Tuesday.

I hope everyone has a safe (and dry) Halloween. 

Cheers!
Kristy

Scrapbook Steals October Blog Hop

If you are looking for the PGCB Hop, click here.

Welcome to the October Blog Hop for Scrapbook Steals.  I was so happy when Melodee asked me to be a part of the hop.  I was even more excited when I was at their Retreat last weekend, and she handed me the steal to work with...My Mind's Eye Titles, Quotes & Die Cuts Mega Pack.  Let me tell you, when they say mega, they mean MEGA.  There was probably a stack more than 1" thick of tags, quotes and die cuts from some of my favorite My Mind's Eye collections, including The Sweetest Thing, Collectable, and Indie Chic.

I can't wait for you to hop along with some insanely creative designers.  Make sure you leave a comment on all the blogs for a chance to win a $20 gift certificate to the Scrapbook Steals store.  Comments must be left by October 6th at 11:59 pm MDT.  Here is the order of the hop:

ScrapbookSteals.com - http://scrapbook.steals.com/ <- Did you start here?  If not, hop back!
Kristina MacKeen- http://mamasanity.blogspot.com/ <- You are here!
Charissa Miller http://www.akihasmommascraps.com <- Hop here next.
Staci Jones http://scrapbookingischeaperthantherapy.blogspot.com/
Heather Conklin http://goldiecar.blogspot.com/
Erin Shultz http://trailofscraps.blogspot.com

And now, here is my project:

As I was looking through the all the tags, I thought it would be fun to make kind of a banner style hanging of all the titles.  After I laid out the ones I liked and thought would be good together, I glued them down and gave them a light whitewashing of gesso.  These tags are actually from all 3 of the collections.  Adding the gesso toned down the colors, and made them flow together nicely.  I added a light coat of Frost White Shimmer Paint from Stampin' Up over the gesso.  It is hard to see in the picture, but it added just a touch of shine to the background and tags.  I loved how you can still see the colors, yet they flow together nicely.  Instead of using the frame (also part of the Mega Pack!) in front of my photo, I added it behind.  This way you are able to see all my daughter's (and son's) animals, yet the pop of color is still there.  A quick trip to the sewing machine and some journaling around the edge, and I was done. 

I hope you enjoyed my layout!  Don't forget to leave a comment for a chance to win the gift certificate to the Scrapbook Steals store. 

And since it is almost my birthday, I feel like sharing a few presents with you!  I will choose one comment to win some of these fun My Mind's Eye titles, quotes, and die cuts.  Make sure you are a follower to win!  I will announce the winner on Oct 10th.

Cheers!
Kristy

Practical Scrappers: Paint

Howdy!  I'm switching gears from an inky card yesterday to painted layout today.  Practical Scrappers is featuring projects with paint.  There are some wonderful ideas over at the site.  When you are done here, you should go check them out.

Here is my project:

I used Tim Holtz paint in Iced Spruce and Bundled Sage (applied with a dry brush) to create the background on the right side of my page.  I love the "rough edges" the dry brush gives the paint.  I really like how the transparent arrows allow the painted background to show through.

The paper and many of the embellishments came from my August Gossamer Blue kit and the sketch is from ScrapbookSteals.com's Aquamarine 5 sketch. 

Cheers!
Kristy

PGCB: Glitter, Glitter, Glitter!

Happy Monday! 

Today is the first Monday in August, which means it is time for a new challenge over at The Paper Girls Challenge.  (Can it really be August already?!?)  Judy's challenge for PGCB was to use glitter on your project.  I firmly believe you either love the stuff or hate it.  I love the sparkle it adds to a layout...so much so that, I used two different sparkly pieces on this layout.  :-)

Ok, I said I love glitter, but I should add that I love glitter that sticks to paper and doesn't leave a trail everywhere.  On this layout, I used Glitter Thickers and Stampin' Up Champagne Glimmer Paper.  I am happy to report, no glitter was left behind from these products.  ;-)  The papers I used on this project were from Amy Tangerine's Lucky Charm, with the cut-off strip from Webster's Pages/Allison Kreft's  Candy Heart's paper.  Who says you can't use those cut-offs?!?

If you like this layout, you should check out the Aquamarine 4 sketch at ScrapbookSteals.com to see where I started!

Cheers!
Kristy 

Practical Scrappers: Tags

I was having a fun time combining a few challenges with today's layout.  First, Practical Scrappers is featuring the 10 Thing team (that's me) using tags.  You can see the tag I stamped with "Hello Love" to highlight my honey.

The starting point of this layout was the Aquamarine 1 sketch on ScrapbookSteals.com (seen here).  I'm also fulfilling one of their Birthday Challenges, but using 4 washi tapes on this layout.  The papers are from the Studio Calico July kit.  The other embellishments are from the Gossamer Blue July kit.  (Yes, I'm mixing it up a little here.  ;-) )

Cheers!
Kristy

May Arts Nautical Craft Challenge

I am very excited to be part of the May Arts Nautical Challenge.  If you aren't aware of how their challenges work, here is the quick version: they send out a call once a month asking for applicants.  Only 20 are picked.  I was very surprised when I saw my name on the list.

I have spent a lot of time around boats thanks to my grandparents, specifically my grandfather.  Every time I see nautical themed projects, I think of him.  I took this opportunity to work with some pictures of him from opening day of Balboa Yacht Club yacht club in Newport Beach, CA and his 90^th birthday.  He was the oldest Staff Commodore on Opening Day and led the whole processional to start the event.  Watching this brought a tear to my eyes (and still does when I think about it).  The next day was his 90^th birthday and our whole family gathered together to celebrate.  I live about 2,000 miles away, so it meant so much for us to be there. 

 

For my project, I worked with

Grosgrain with Satin Edge 376-1-03;

Metallic Chain Cord 348-14-30;

Twill QN14;

Woven Chevron Stripes 443-58-01

I loved all these ribbons.  They were all so rich.  I have to say my favorite was the Metallic Chain Cord.  It is flat and lays great on paper.  It adds a fun sparkly touch to any project.  To create this layout, I started with the Peridot 7 sketch on ScrapbookSteals.com.  My plan is to frame this in a shadow box and hang it up on my wall of family portraits.

Cheers!
Kristy

Practical Scrappers: Stamp Around the House

Today's post at Practical Scrappers features stamping, using Frugal Finds from around the house.  I decided to try stamping with a wine cork.  I love the uneven nature of cork, which added a fun touch to the pink background on my all pink layout.

This is what I started with:

After a lot of dipping and stamping, here is the final look:

Using a Spica pen, I framed the stamped portion, added a few layers following the ScrapbookSteals.com Peridot 5 sketch, and viola!

 

Cheers!
Kristy

Love at First Sight

Happy Monday!

I hope everyone is having a great day.  I am home with my little girl, doing one of the things I hate most of all about parenting - potty training!  Ugh!  But we are going to conquer this.

I thought it was a good time to do a layout about the day she was born.  It was love at first sight with this girl, for sure!  I can't believe it was almost 3 years ago.  I have loved watching her grow into a little lady - attitude and all.  ;-)  I started with the Amber 3 sketch on ScrapbookSteals.com.

 

To make this page, I used my Studio Calico Neverland Paper Add-on Kit (Crate Paper's Maggie Holmes: Remember This and Amy Tangerine's Yes, Please: Commit) for the paper.  I added some butterfly touches to background using Unity Stamps: Butterfly Garden and {...with her own wings} and Stampin' Up inks.  I soften the edges of the butterflies by tapping them with a wet wipe after they were stamped.  I am entering this layout at Unity's {be inspired} Challenge.  I also incorporated some prompts from the 213 in 213 Challenges at 2 Peas in a Bucket.  And you know I can't complete a layout without grabbing my Kiwi Lane templates.  I used Tags 1 and Tiny Tags 1.

This is actually page redo.  Gasp!  I know.  I am actually redoing a page.  The original was only the 3rd page I had ever done.  But from the day I finished the original, I was disappointed in it.  I'm not sure what it was I wasn't happy about.  It just never felt right. 

Thank you Shimelle (Adventures of Glitter Girl: Memoir Makeovers) for encouraging me to try my hand again at these pictures.

Cheers!
Kristy

Scrapbook Steals Blog Hop

Hi!

Welcome to the February Scrapbook Steals blog hop. If you are looking for the Kiwi Lane Design's Blog Hop, please click here.

Welcome to my blog, Mama's Sanity. You should be joining me from Abbey Colbert's blog.

Here is the order for the Scrapbook Steal's hop. If you didn't start at the beginning, please jump back to Scrapbook Steals and follow along from the start. There is so much inspiration on everyone's posts!!!

ScrapbookSteals: http://scrapbooksteals.stealnetwork.com/wp/
Charissa Miller - www.akihasmommascraps.com
Catherine Povec - http://tybearsmom.blogspot.com/
Brenda Ragsdale - http://granddivasscrappyplace.blogspot.com/
Abigail Stoops - www.scrapbookista.com
Candice Elliott - http://truedivinehand.blogspot.com/
Abbey Colbert - http://www.theothersink.blogspot.com
Kristy MacKeen - http://mamasanity.blogspot.com/  <--- You are here!

Remember to hop through all the blogs.  Scrapbook Steals will pick one comment from all the blogs to win a $20 gift certificate.  Comments need to be made by 11:59 pm, Sunday, Feb 3rd.Comments need to be made by 11:59 pm, Sunday, Feb 3rd.


If you have been a follower of my blog for a while, you know how much I love Scrapbook Steals.  They have some great deals on product, and I have met a lot of WONDERFUL crafty sistahs through their "community".  When Kerys' asked for someone to help fill in a spot on the February Blog Hop, I was happy to help out.  It was a bonus when she said we would be working with Prima Flowers for the hop.  Double Bonus - I received pink flowers to work with.  And I had the perfect picture in mind to work with.

This picture of my daughter was taken on Mother's Day last year.  I thought these flowers complimented her dress.

I used Echo Park's Holly Jolly Christmas papers to create this layout.  Hard to tell it is Christmas paper, huh!  But it isn't the paper that makes this layout for me, it is the cluster of green rose trim and pink hydrangea flowers weaved together to create the focal point in the lower corner of this layout.

Here is a little closer look at the cluster.  I started by adhering the green trim with Glue Dots and winding it around and adding more glue dots as I went.  I wish I had snapped a picture of just the green portion, but I was so excited about how it came out, that I just plain forgot!  ;-)  I layered two flowers together and put a yellow brad through the middle and used that to attach the flowers to the page.  I love how the green roses in the middle forced the pink flowers to close a little.  I also tucked a few Pebbles hat pins in the cluster for a little more "bling", because, what girl layout isn't complete without a little bling?!?

Finally I framed the layout and scattered a few more flowers in the bottom of the frame.  I was hoping I would have a little more gap between the layout and the frame's glass, so the flowers would "float" a little more behind the glass.  But I still like how they scattered out.

Here's a little surprise bonus for you. I have a little blog candy to give away to one lucky commenter on my blog. In order to win, you must be a blog follower, so make sure you click Join This Site over on the right hand side of this blog!

Thank you for stopping by. Hop back to Scrapbook Steals @ http://scrapbooksteals.stealnetwork.com/wp/ if you haven't shared the love there yet.

Cheers!
Kristy