Reflecting on...Frugal Scrapping...

So.....I've been reflecting lately on the original purpose of my Frugal Scrapper Extraordinaire blog...and I've realized that over the last year, I've moved away from the reason I originally started this blog...to share my ideas for FRUGAL paper crafting:)

With that being said (and with a little help from my scrappin' friends), I've been turned on to some AWESOME ideas for frugal scrappin' & paper craftin'.

My friend Jacquie found this awesome blog http://counterfeitkitchallenge.blogspot.com/ that has GREAT ideas for using your stash and replicating some of those awesome embellishments we all know and love...but, alas...sometimes just cannot purchase:(

FEAR NOT, fellow FRUGAL CRAFTERS, because there is SO much inspiration out there, that we may NEVER need to shop again...well, maybe ALMOST never, lol!

With that being said, I will definitely be bringing this blog back around full circle to what I love to do best...save my hard earned crafting $$ and spend wisely.  Now the newest and greatest paper will still be my guilty pleasure....BUT, going forward, MOST of my embellies on my projects will be "copykat" ideas I've come up with (or found on-line) that I will be sure to share with you all.

LOOK OUT Frugal Crafters...put your creative hats on, and join me on this amazing FRUGAL journey!

You definitely WON'T be disappointed:)

Now head on over to http://counterfeitkitchallenge.blogspot.com/ and leave some love...and tell them I sent you there:)...this is DEFINITELY a blog after my own frugal heart:)

Frugal Scrappin' Sneak Peek:)

One of the things I did notice at CHA was alot of flowers that LOOKED homemade...well you know me, why buy one already made when you CAN make it yourself?

With that in mind, shown above is just ONE of the cards we will make in the Febrary Frugal Scrappin' class that will held on Thursday, February 24th from 6:30 - 8:30 at Ever After Scrapbooks.

Now, if you're really perceptive, you may notice a cute little birdie stamp in the lower right corner...well, fellow frugal crafters, we WILL be making this awesome stamp in class, so you will be able to take one home with you!  Whoo hoo!  This is an idea I've been thinking about for a while, but my AWESOMELY talented co-instructor actually made this one for me as a gift.  THANKS, KAREN...you ROCK, girlfriend!

Since I'd been thinking about this anyway, and I do have the diecut to make this bird, I thought I'd just use this design for our class.  It's really cute and will help us start thinking about Spring which is right around the corner...well actually for us in Southern Cali, it's just Spring and Fall all year, but I'm sure you get the drift.

We will make 4 cards in class, some in a different shape (5 x 5) and we will also be using some other FRUGAL products to use with our cards...I just need to feel better so my creative mind can start workin' again:)

enJOY, and check back for more sneak peeks at the rest of the cards...as I design them, they will be posted...and as always, they WILL be AWESOME and will be FILLED with new TECHNIQUES to try:)

CHA Update:)

Hello fellow crafters:)

I'm back fresh from CHA and right into the worst illness I've had in a long time.  I actually had to call out of work 2 days in a row!  Any one who knows me knows I just DON'T call out of work...but this illness really wiped me out!

Anyway, I did go to CHA over the weekend, but for some reason thought there were NO pictures this year...go figure that I'd ACTUALLY listen and NOT take my camera.  Luckily Heather did have hers and let me use it...now we just have to connect so I can get the pics...before CHA is long gone and forgotten, lol...

There were a few stand out companies for me this year and they are as follows (in no particular order)

BoBunny
October Afternoon
Sassafrass Lass
Simple Stories (this is a new company that JUMPED right out of the box)
Kaiser Craft
Tim Holtz

I'm sure there are others, but I just can't think of them right now...

For Tim, I have SO much of his stuff I still have yet to use, that I'll wait to purchase some of his new items until I can see some ideas on how to use them.  While cool, some of the idealology products are a bit pricey and are use once and done kind of things.

I DO have to say, though, that his Shadow Box (the Configuration) is very cool!  I have never seen this and LOVE the different shapes and sizes of each opening.

Of course the new Alterations dies are also really cool!

Sorry, I have no pics:(

enJOY your day!

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:)