Challenge Layout

This layout was fun since it was a challenge to myself to use new ideas. There was even a sticky note list to refer to when considering "what can I do here" It was good to have a written guideline!
Here's my list:

• Do not mat the photos
• Do not match colors exactly
• Do not put watermelon cut outs on the page, nothing too literal
• Put at least one embellishment on the page
• Try one new technique
• Stamp on the page
• Get it done(don't over think it)!

It was pretty sucessful for a challenge. I used grommets and brads thanks to my cropodile big bite, also a watermelon looking background using Plantin Schoolbook mountians, as well as a new technique of paper tearing (I know I'm a little late on trying that) LOL.

Plus I stamped on the page using a combination of my Studio G's as well as a Stampology Sentiments stamp set, using Staz-on Timber Brown ink. I really like clear stamps since I can lay them out to make sure of the placement first.

Also, there are chipboard letters with inked edges(DCVW RAKed to me by Enfys,TY!). The B! was cut from Street Sign font cart and glittered with Martha Stewarts glitter and inked.

My friend Stephanie helped out a lot when she recommended inking using a dauber in a circular motion...Thanks Stephanie!! I just used a q-tip and the small "journaling box" turned out much better than the lettering.

Happy Birthday to the USA!...Stars & Stripes Forever

I am so pleasantly pleased to see how much my DD's love the USA. My littlest one couldn't wait to celebrate the "Happy Birthday" party! Not quite two and she does have it right! We have several grills burning, food shared, and at least two dozen kids (and a few lighthearted adults) running through the collective backyards, with games, water slides, music and fun going on everywhere. Today is a beautiful day to share and reflect on our many blessing throughout this country.

In celebration I am posting my patriotic creation. My only one...LOL. I created inchies for a swap with my message board friends recently. I planned it all in my head then designed them in Design Studio relatively quickly. I discovered quite by accident that the arrow key will move an item exactly one eighth of an inch each time.

The bases were created by by overlapping one inch strips, then the rest was created with Plantin Schoolbook elements(I used the 's from the first inchie for the third. All the white is glittered and the "stars" and the "stripes" are pop dotted. I used a red-white-blue pattern to create a coordination between them all. For the glitter, I ran the white pieces through my xyron and then put on the colored pieces as well as pop dots for the two raised bits and then glittered with Martha Stewart's glitter. That was the easiest method I found. Once I had that all figured out, they went together fairly quickly! And yes the outside dimension for each of these is one inch! :)