Studio L3 AND 365 Cards:)

Well bloggers, I am spending some time this weekend at the ole craft table, I'm happy to report...I am feelin' kind of a creative block though, so I've decided to try and jump start...well....somethin' with a little help from some of my favorite challenge blogs:)  I know I'm double dippin' but a frugal scrapper's gotta do what a frugal scrappers gotta do sometimes...

Since today is my son Dan's 31st BIRTHDAY, yes, I know I look WAY to young to have a 31 year old, lol...I decided to make a card for him...now I don't normally make traditional birthday cards...my cards need to "speak" to me...hmmmmmmm...I often say I need to create things that "speak" to me...now before you call the white coats, I really DON'T hear voices, lol...it's just my inner creative mind at work, heehee...

Anyway, I'm really into dreamin' big, and livin' those dreams...I've been caught WAY too many times gettin' up on my ol' soap box and sayin' "figure out where you want to go (what your goals are)...then back up...and figure out how to get there"...

(disclaimer)...just don't back up so far that you fall off the cliff you didn't see behind you, ya hear?

Anyway, I am SO PROUD of my son and all he has accomplished in his life and I just want him to keep followin' those dreams...and remember....always GIVE MORE than you GET...

O.k...I'm gettin' down off my soap box now, lol...and will show you my card for the day...it's kinda simple and deep...hopefully YOUR dreams give YOU glimpses of LIFE bigger than YOUR own:)

Now, hop on over to Studio L3 AND 365 Cards so you can see the challenges I was tryin' to play along with...then feel free to "pop" back here and leave me a comment...what are YOUR DREAMS tellin' YOU?

Today she becomes...

Happy New Year everyone out in blogland!

It's been a while since I've had time to create, so today is the first day of the NEW YEAR that I've been able to just chill 'n create:)

I've been meaning to start a scrapbook for Dan and Steph (my son and daugher-in-law), but just wasn't able to find the time to sit and get it started...then I saw a great SKETCH CHALLENGE over at the NEW CropStop Challenge Blog.  I'm VERY excited for them.  They have created an AMAZINGLY creative blog that I think is just BEAUTIFUL!

The first challenge on their new blog is a sketch challenge.  I had printed a kind of artistic picture from the wedding and was looking for the PERFECT opportunity to use it in a layout.  Well, the CropStop sketch definitely SPOKE to ME.  Of course, my finished projects always end up being very LOOSELY based on the sketch, since once I get started, my creativity just takes on a mind of it's own...

Let's start with the sketch:

My good friend, Gloria designed this sketch and I love the simplicity...it's not overdone and allows you to run with it and make it your own...GREAT JOB, Gloria:)

Here's my take on it:

I had seen this "artistic" take on a photo a while back and really liked it.  I was so happy to be able to use this frugal foto in my layout for this challenge...in fact I think this is the first actual layout I've done in months!

I used some of my Basic Grey Capella paper pack along with some of the diecut shapes from the same line.  I added some bling from Prima and some ribbon and lace from my stash.  Of course, I had to add a bit of "grunge" so I used some bubble wrap and my Espresso paint dabber to add some texture.  I also outlined the photo and all of the paper mats with the same paint dabber....oh, and the blue paper????  from one of my Tim Holtz paper packs:)

enJOY:)

Lori, FSE:)