New Weekly Feature: Reader of the Week

Good Thursday morning!  Today is the first installment of my Reader of the Week.   This new feature will highlight a blogger who reads my blog and leaves a comment.  Everyone has a fair and equal opportunity to be selected.  Each week I will randomly select a winner by reading through the list of people who leave me a comment on one of my posts.   With 500 people reading my blog every day, there is a lot of opportunity to bring attention to yourself.  It’s that simple.

Kim Hutchinson:  Running on Ink

This week’s Reader of the Week is Kim, from Running on Ink.  Kim is a mixed media artist who incorporates photos of her family into her work.  She has a witty sense of humor, often leaving thoughts on her pieces by gluing on words found from an old textbook.  The piece above is one of my favourite pieces.   Her signature blue is highlighted with pretty colours, text and rubberstamping.  Did you notice that the artwork is held up by a bent fork?  Kim constantly surprises her readers with unique art created from unusual “stuff.”   Kim is a long-time cyber friend, so I thought it was fitting to introduce my new feature with Kim’s blog.

For a chance to be featured as my Reader of the Week, simply leave a comment on one of my posts.

Names will be chosen at random.

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Tutorial Tuesday: Scallop Edge Flower

Here I am a little late in the day, wondering how I should introduce this fold.  Quite often I’m torn about divulging my weaknesses to my readers.  My sister, Cathie, firmly believes that I should stand tough and keep my hardships to myself.  So far I have listened to her, but this time I am overriding her advice, and I’m going to admit that I had difficulty with this design.  Yes, folks, Beth had a very difficult time trying to follow the video tutorial, and almost scrapped the tutorial.  But, because it was shot before I went to bed last night, I had no time to prepare a new tutorial.  When will I ever learn to shoot earlier the week previous to posting?!  Beth, of Nana’s Memories and More is always quick to whip up her own version of my tutorial.  Beth,  please give me a critique of the tutorial–if you try it that is.  I might have scared you, and all my other readers, away.  If anyone does try this, please get back to me and let me know how you made out.  That said, I am not letting this technique get to me–I will try it until I accomplish the results I want.  I still haven’t decided if I am going to post this in my index of tutorials.  What do you think?

The video I followed can be found at After Midnight Art Ranch.  Good luck!

Supplies:  Scallop Circle Nestability

Cuttlebug machine and folder

Variety of ink

Sponge

Double-sided paper (mine is Stamp’n up DP)

Cut out four scallop circles.  Emboss.  Two pieces of paper can be laid on top of each other with great results.

Sponge colour onto the embossed side and along the edges.

Here you will see I distressed the edges of the backside of the circle (on the left).  The embossed part of the paper was distressed with ink (on the right).

I used two coordinating colours of ink.  By inking one colour randomly over your image, and inking a second colour randomly once again,  you will end up with lovely results.

Only two colours of ink were used.  The designer paper helps to make it look more interesting.  Sponging overtop of colours resulted in it looking like I used more than two ink pads.

Fold in half.  Be sure to fold in between the scallops.  Edges won’t match exactly, but that is okay.

Fold over the left side of the half circle so that the left edge touches the center of the half circle.  Ensure the bottom edges are lined up.

Take the far edge that you just folded to the center of the half circle and bend it to the left.  You want to make sure the bottom edges are shaped into a sharp point.

Next, turn the paper over so the back is facing up.

The top edge that my newly painted nail is pointing too (Donnie is still out on whether he likes it or not–I think it is his way to say I went overboard and he doesn’t like it–LOL.  It’s kind of how my girlfriends husband reacted to her pink hair die job–right Kim!) is drawn down so the edges meet on the left as seen below.

This is what the backside looks like now.

Open the scallop circle up, and cut down the long centre line.

Fold each petal as you see in this photo.

Attach petals to a circle with glue dots.

Wow.  16 photos, and lots of talking later, you’re now ready to put your flower onto a project or card.

For a full list of my tutorials, click on “Tutorials” on the top of the page.

Don’t miss out on my weekly tutorials–subscribe today.

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Tutorial to be Posted This Evening

My weekly tutorial will be posted this evening.  Until then, enjoy this Drywall Stitching.  This technique came from the Technique Junkie Newsletter.

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Hello from Snow

One of the nice things about blogging is the friendships that are developed through cyberspace.  I have several cyberfriends, and one of them sent me this adorable dress, all the way from Mexico, for Snow.  Audrey, of Audrey’s Cards by Design was just as excited to see Snow in the dress as I was.  Thank you, Audrey, for this adorable dress.  Snow received lots of comments when we went for a walk yesterday.  She is being groomed up nice on Wednesday, so I’ll have more pictures for you.

Snow is 3 pounds and her dress is a tiny xxsmall.

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Odd Bird Planet Earth Day Challenge Winners

Congratulations to Tiffany at Ink Blots for winning the Odd Bird Planet Earth Day stamp.  But wait, that’s not my only winner.  Beth from Nana’s Memories and More will receive an Odd Bird Planet stamp and a goodie bag  from me.

Tiffany’s name will be entered into a draw for the grand prize of $100, $50, or a coupon for 25% discount.

Ladies, please e-mail me your mailing addresses to:  scrapbook4ever@yahoo.ca

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Odd Bird Planet Earth Day

Oh, did I have fun, fun, fun, with Laura’s Landscape challenge.  The sky was brayered with Adirondack’s Pool and Sunset Orange, and the top edge was sponged with Adirondack’s Espresso.  Next, I tore yellow paper and sponged with Adirondack’s Espresso along the top and Adirondack’s Lettuce below.  The sun was punched with a circle punch and then sponged with  Sunset orange.  Trees were coloured with Prismacolor pencil crayons and OMS.  Tree and sheep are from Odd Bird Planet.

Stay tuned for more cards when I get home from work tomorrow.  Remember, you have until midnight, on Thursday, to enter your cards for a chance to win a $100 shopping spree.

Happy Earth Day!

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All Creatures Great and Small Earth Challenge

Welcome to my Odd Bird Planet Earth Day Challenge.  My topic is “all creatures great and small.”    I was quite pleased to come home and find my Stamp’n Up order waiting between my doors today; it gave me the opportunity to add the green punched tree branch.  Of course the tree is awesome too.  They, along with owls, are so trendy these days.  Owls have been around for a long time and there is no hint they are going anywhere but on more of my cards!

Want to win a free stamp and be entered into the hat for the grand prize that Johanna is giving away?

All you have to do is create a card using my theme for your source of inspiration and link it up to me before midnight tomorrow (Thursday).

I will be available for the next three hours so let me know if you have any questions.

Stay tuned for more Earth Day cards from me today and tomorrow.

Happy Earth Day!

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Earth Day Celebrations

Our talened Odd Bird Planet Design Team member, Godelieve, created this wonderful photo to announce our Earth Day Celelebrations.

By participating tomorrow, your name will be entered into a draw for an Earth Day stamp and for the grand prize

o One winner will receive $100 in Odd Bird Planet stamps

o One winner will receive $50 in Odd Bird Planet stamps

o Five winners will receive a 25% discount coupon when they place an Odd Bird Planet order

How do I get a ballot?

Simply participate in any and all challenges that the Odd Bird Planet design team is hosting.  In honour of Earth Day, my challenge is called All Creatures Great and Small. The name is self-explanatory I think. Your name will be entered with each challenge you participate in.

Do I have to Have Odd Bird Planet Stamps?

No you don’t.  But if you have them why not show them off.

What is the time-frame?

Challenges run from 6 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.  You have until 11:59 on Thursday to get your cards posted to your blog and/or the Odd Bird Planet Paper Craft Planet Forum.

What time are you participating, Beth?

My personal challenge, All Creatures Great and Small, will be from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Challenges

• Godelieve Tijskens – Natural Beauty
• Tracy Durcan – Rainbow Colors
• Rina Koibuchi – Keep Blue Sea
• Kathi Rerek – Plastics
• Kim Schofield – Aluminum Foil
• Teresa Abajo – Old Text
• Sparkle Smith – Earth Colors – Blue, Green Brown
• Laura O’Donnell – Landscape
• Beth Norman – All Creatures Great and Small
• Suzy Haghighi – Brown Paper Bags
• Nicole Maki – Repurposed Packaging
• Tanis Giesbrecht –  Recycle Paper
• Marnie Bushmole – Recycled Magazines
• Dianne McInrue – Egg Cartons
• Debbie Scheunemann – Subscriptions recycled (those pesky paper inserts)

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Tutorial Tuesday: Chipboard Dimension

This week’s tutorial explores one, of the many, creative ways to enhance the look of your chipboard.  By using an embossing folder, a flat piece of chipboard is transformed into a unique three dimension embellishment.  There are various ways to colour chipboard; today’s tutorial will show how to use Adirondack’s paint dauber.

Supplies:

Cuttlebug and embossing folder

Paint dauber, ink or acrylic paint

Sponge

Run chipboard through Cuttlebug.

Paint or sponge colour onto chipboard.

Close up view of embossing results.

There are so many ways to create fun chipboard.  Try it out today!

Chipboard and Embossing Projects

Maya Road’s Embossing Tutorial

Clear Scraps Blog Acrylic Album

pamelacy’s Embossing Tutorial

The Inspired Scrapper describes ways to decorate chipboard

Mel Stampz embosses vellum

For a complete listing of my weekly tutorials, click the tab on the top of the page

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Peek-a-boo

Good Morning.  Mommy asked me to say hello and to let you know she was called in for overtime today (she’s working two shifts back-to-back) so she won’t have a card to post.  Darn, I love to sleep in this house, at her feet, when she is stamping.  I had a great day on Friday when Mommy was off.  She carried me into work in my pink purse.  All her friends made a fuss over me and I got to show off my new skills of “sitting” when mommy fed me a Timbit.  I’m such a show-off.  Mommy says I’m spoiled, but I think she’s fooling.

Have a great day!

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