~Scrapbook News and Review~

It's time!! The next issue of Scrapbook News and Review magazine has been published!! The staffers were granted the opportunity to give you a little peek of a layout of our own and one of another staffer's as well. This is going to be another great issue!! This first one is from an amazing artist and staffer, Lisa Valentine!! Her work never ceases to amaze me, plus she is such an awesome person and I just adore her so much!! Look at this gorgeous layout, titled Memories, which is featured in the masking and stencils section!!

This next one is one of mine that created using my son's photo. This layout was created for the dark and industrial section.

Again here is a link to the magazine!! Scrapbook News and Review!!

SOD Nevermore Kit Layouts

I still had so much wonderful stuff left in my October kit from Scraps of Darkness that I decided to make a couple more layouts. This first one is of my dd Tyler dressed as a fall fairy. There were a lot of gorgeous fall colors in this kit which made it nice to venture away from the normal Halloween theme. I always like to dress up my kids so new kits are a great excuse to get out there and take some pics. There are some close-ups below.

All items were from the kit and add ons. The florals were so awesome and I loved the variety of brands as well.

This second one is my dd Rylee dressed up as someone from the past. I added a gorgeous tree chippie from Dusty for this one. I haven't had the opportunity to use that piece until now.

I inked this tree with Ranger black soot ink and then embossed it with gun metal colored embossing powder to get this silvery metal look.

There are more kits available in the Scraps of Darkness Store!! Don't miss out on a great kit!!

Thanks again for stopping by!! God Bless!!

~SNR Holiday Sampler~

Scrapbook News and Review magazine would love to see more layouts from all of you!! I know a lot of us aren't thinking Christmas just yet, so you are welcome to send layouts from past years as well. Here is the link to the current call list!! It's a great way to get your work seen!!

Call List

~Personlizing Your Background Paper~

Way back when I first started scrapbooking there wasn't as nearly as many products to choose from as there is today. A lot of times I could look at various projects made by various women and they would almost be identical. Nowadays that hardly ever happens!! With everything available today you can even make your own patterned paper!! Over at Swirlydoos there is a contest open to everyone that is all about making your own patterned paper!! I decided to enter a couple of times and here are the two that I made.

I created this first one using the October sketch by Beggahuna. This page gave me fits and I even started with a different background that I pulled completely off and replaced with this new one. I used Invisibles paper from Heidi Swapp. This is great stuff and super easy to use. All I did was spray with green and yellow Smooch Spritz then wiped off the excess. The pics are of my dd. She saw me take a pic of a dandelion (pic one) then of course she picked it and put it in her boot for quite some time. Then like every flower she picks it ended up on the ground as shown in pic three.

These flowers were made out of copy paper that I sprayed with yellow Smooch Spritz. I created 6 layers of a 6 petal flower that I attached together using a tiny brad. Then I scrunched up each layer, one at a time, until all scrunched to the center. Then fluffed it back up and gave it another spray of Smooch! Not quite an exact replica of a dandelion, but close enough. I added a gorgeous piece of swirly chippie from Dusty Attic that I actually used as a mask in the following layout.

I created this page using that piece of Dusty I just mentioned. I started with light purple cardstock and laid the chippie down then sprayed over the top with TA chalkboard mist in green.

I added some small purple flowers to this Prima vine and see how the one popped up lol. Oh well!!

Here is a close up of the framed flower. Just added a little something different. I also used the small bird bath chippie from Dusty Attic!!

Lisa Gregory, a DT over at SDoos, always supplies us ladies with gorgeous butterflies to print out. I used some pearls and stickles on this one.

Thanks for looking and God Bless!!

October Scraps of Darkness Reveal!!

It's that time!! This was a much anticipated kit and Scraps of Darkness did not let us down. This month SOD offered an awesome embellishment addon that featured some gorgoues flowers and embellies. Plus this is the first month for SOD's project kit and it's so dang cute!! Here are some of the things I worked on this month and I'm not done yet. I plan to do even more layouts with this awesome kit!! To start off here is the newest Sketch made to go along with the October kit.

I decided to mix the papers from the main kit and the project kit to complete my take on the sketch. I LOVE these papers and HAD to make at least one layout with them. This is Brooklyn dressed up as Alice from the G45 papers.

This layout I made with the main kit that featured some paper from My Minds Eye Halloween line. Gorgeous natural colored papers. I added the Dusty Attic to this and also used a sketch from a fellow DT over at Dusty Attic. There is a sketch contest going on right now and the sketch is one of the most beautiful I've ever seen. The title is a play on words because she is supposed to look like a mourner from the old days. A bit spooky isn't it lol.

I love this photo of Brooky. Her hair and skin are such a gorgeous contrast. I added the Dusty Attic fence and scroll to this as well.

Here is the project kit for October. It's called "Alice's House" and the house and mini album are made from Maya Road. This kit also comes with a cute pack of embellies and the gorgeous papers from G45, Halloween in Wonderland.

Tip: This adorable little house is the perfect size for holding a square tissue box that you can dispence from the chimney.

Here is the mini album that comes with the Maya Road house. It is a 6 page mini album that is really easy to work with.

Tip: When working covering chipboard with paper, it's best to have a small exact-o knife for close cutting next to the chippie. Then take a small file or sand paper to smooth down the edges. I then go over them with ink.

Thanks for stopping by and God Bless!!

Dusty Attic is Back

Another shipment of Dusty Attic arrived today and my store is stalked. I always let me followers of my blog know first, so check out what's in stock!!

My Etsy Shop

Reminder to Prize Winners!!

I need all three prize winners to send me an email to FSOLprizes@yahoo.com with your mailing info so I can send you your prizes. The winners are listed in the post below this one. If I don't hear from the winners before October 15th, I will have to draw new ones.

Drum Roll Please!!!!

It's that time!! Here are the three randomly drawn winners of my kit packs!! Username and comments are listed below!! If you see your username and comment then you are a WINNER!!

1. Mel - Mel said, "OMG! you should see my first LO. Couldn't possibly compare to your first LO which is called "Raine" & is just fab!!!" September 13, 2010 3:16 AM

2. Katherine - Katherine said, "hi Mandy, great blog!! What an adorable little baby in your first LO "Raine" September 13, 2010 6:33 AM

3. Ellen - Ellen said, "Your first layout was of your daughter Raine! Your first looks better than my first! I don't think I want to share!!" September 14, 2010 9:57 AM

Congrats to all three winners!! Please email me with your shipping details to FSOLprizes@yahoo.com to claim your prize!!

Thanks for playing and God Bless!!!