{ my secret heart }

A marker, a paint brush and 17 buttons

Could it really be? Three consecutive days of blogging? Gasp!!

And I'm back with a new project. 

And it involves two new (for me) techniques.

It's true. It's really true.

1. I used a Copic marker.

This is a big step for me! I've always liked coloring, yet Copics have scared me every time I've attempted to use them. But in this case I stuck with one color and didn't try to get fancy. I colored in the glass part of the stamped image to try and make it look a little like a Mason jar.

2. I painted with mist.

I was stumped on how to make the lid of the jar silvery, but then it dawned on me...I have silver mist! So I took a paint brush, dipped it in the mist and painted the lid silver. Problem solved!

Plus, I used 17 buttons! Buttons may soon overtake my craft room if I don't use some up or purge them from my stash. So, I consider using 17 on one project a pretty big accomplishment. :)

After this experience, I'm going to add "attend a Copic certification class" to my list of crafty goals. They really are a great product and I'd love to learn how to get all fancy with them.

What's on your crafty goal list?

M

A couple of cards

Did you follow along with Card Making Week earlier in the month at Write Click Scrapbook? It was a great series, especially if you are interested in just getting started with card making.

I loved the different creative approaches to making cards that were shared in the series. Personally I relate to the approach of treating cards like miniature scrapbook layouts. What's your approach?

Since we're talking about cards, I thought I'd share a couple today. The first is one of my projects from the March Inspiration Gallery at Elle's Studio, which uses the new Handmade Layers collection (plus some fun things from my stash - like those BasicGrey bloomers that I love!).

And I made this card for the Scrap-Mart blog a couple of weeks ago.

I primarily used the Sassafras Paper Crush line of patterned papers to create the butterflies and added those fabulous Pebbles candy dots in the center of each. This was super easy to pull together and I love all of those colorful butterflies!

Thanks for stopping by today! I'll be back tomorrow with a new project.

M

The one with the Handmade Layers

Confession:  Sometimes I love a scrapbooking product so much that I use it on every single project I'm working on at the time. I just can't help myself!

To say I love the new Handmade Layers line of products from Elle's Studio is an understatement. Elle definitely hit one out of the ballpark with this collection of tags, banners and journaling cards!

And speaking of ballparks, my first LO from the March Elle's Studio Inspiration Gallery is about a trip to the K to see the Royals play. 

Yes, I've finally joined the legion of scrapbookers who are using their Hipstamatic iPhone photos on layouts. I had these pictures printed as 2x2s and they inspired the design of this layout.

I used the Blank Pennants and Note Tags on this project. See, I just can't help myself!

My second layout this month is about a day trip to see the southern California wine country. What a beautiful place...

I used a mix of the large and small circle journaling tags and typed the journaling on them with my vintage typewriter.

Don't forget to stop by Elle's Studio today to check out the new Inspiration Gallery. There are some really great projects from my fellow DT members this month.

Have a great day!

M

Monday menagerie

Where I've been...

My blogging productivity is at an all time low in the month of March. Honestly, I'm completely consumed by March Madness and can think of little other than basketball. But the good thing is that you can watch basketball AND scrapbook. Kind of.

Adios Big Love...

I've watched Big Love from the beginning and am sad to see it go. I can't decide if I was surprised or not by the ending. Thoughts?

March, I've been waiting for you...

Way back in July I was at an internet cafe in Nassau and might have jumped up out of my chair and scared everyone in the place when I freaked out after reading an email from CARDS Magazine. Me? Designer of the Month? Really? It's completely surreal to see it in print. Thanks for the honor, CARDS!

 

Sneaks!

I can't believe it's time again for sneaks of my Elle's Studio projects. The March Inspiration Gallery will be revealed this week and here's a sneak peek of one of my layouts.

Here's to a great week! Rock Chalk!

M

Let's get the party started!

There's a Heartfelt Creations blog hop going on this week and it starts at Scrap-Mart with a new project every day. Today's my day to kick it off and I created this card to get the party started.

Isn't that flower image great? It's a stamp from the Heartfelt Creations Flora Grande 1 set and I love it! The set includes a small version of the same image, but they also offer the Flora Grande 2 set that includes multiple sizes of the flower.

I stamped with black ink on a silver patterned paper. Then I added a bit of American Crafts Mixtape and stamped the sentiment with a stamp from the Heartfelt Creations Classic Sentiment set. I finished the title with American Crafts Thickers.

Enjoy the blog hop and thanks for stopping by!

M