Prima August PPP Challenge -Girl With Hat

Girl With Hat

Created for the Prima August PPP-(selected as Honorable Mention)

OK - yeah I admit it - I stink at names for layouts.  

I can talk up a storm.  I can tell a wild story.  I can make up bunk about darn near anything.  

Why oh why can't I think of catchy names for my work?

If she had been wearing a purple dress, this would be  "Girl with purple Dress".  You get the idea. 

Any way, the sweet girl wearing the hat is the daughter of a friend.  She was a great model for me. 

This was the color palate for the PPP challenge. 

Here is the Prima product list:

• Prima Shabby Chic Collection - Apricot Tree paper

 • Prima Cherise -Taos Flower in Teal

• Prima - Pebbles Collection - Pebbles with Gems - Annalee

• Prima - Paintable Clear Acrylic Stamps - Grid 

• Prima - Stencils Mask Set - 6 x 6 - Mix 8

• Prima - Charme Rose Collection - Flowers - Meadow Lark 

• Prima - Velvet Rainbow Collection - Fabric Flower  - Vintage 

• Prima - Madeline Collection - Madeline, Beautima, Rosalee, Spring Tide, Ste. Marie

 • Prima - Shabby Chic Collection - Metal Treasure Embellishments - Hutches

Thanks for looking just the same. 

Donna Salazer August Challenge - Scraps of Elegance

This was created for the Donna Salazar monthly challenge designed by Mistra Hoolahan.

I used the June Scraps Of Elegance kit to create this.  The kit featured the wonderful Botanique Collection by GCD Studios - Donna Salazar. 

The photo was taken in the Everglades, Florida back in June, 2012.  My husband and I were supposed to be on a boat tour that would take us out to a little island to do some shelling.  No one else showed up so we ended up on a private tour - all alone on this beach.  Really peaceful and beautiful. 

I used the Dusty Attic Grass Border #1 DA0659 and painted in Adirondack paint in Snowcap.  Then I inked the edges with Donna Salazar - Mix'd Media Inx - Chiffon and Honey

Donna Salazar August Challenge

Donna Salazar Products Used:

• GCD Studios - Donna Salazar - Botanique Collection  - Elegant, Stationery

• Clearsnap - Donna Salazar - Mix'd Media Inx - Chiffon, Honey

• Spellbinders - Donna Salazar - Shapeabilities Collection - Shadow Flowers

Please consider joining us at Scraps of Elegance. 

Thanks a bunch.

Prima PPP June 2012 Winner!

Wedding Day Joy

Anyone who knows me know I am running around my office this morning screamming with excitement.  I won the Prima  June PPP challenge.
Thanks oh sweet folks at Prima. 

This is a wedding layout I created using a Retired Scraps Of Darkness Kit. 

Below is the inspirational piece that Prima has supplied for the month of June.  Gorgeous soft creamy colors that speak of wedded bliss.  So I used a photo from a couple I know still have that "wedded bliss spark" after 52 years, my parents.  Gosh my mom was all of 18 and my dad was 20 and in the Navy. 

Prima PPP June

I used some Dusty Attic here as well and cut it apart to serve my needs.  The Dusty Attic Corner Flourish #2 DA0629.   I simply painted it with Adirondack Paint in Snowcap, then dabs of Sandal. 

Here is my  Product List:

• Martha Stewart Crafts - Punch Around the Page - Large Craft Punch Set - Wild Flowers

• Prima - Debutantes Collection - Miniature Fabric Flower Bouquet - French Vanilla

• Prima - Say It In Crystals Collection - Self Adhesive Jewel Art - Bling - Ribbon Borders - Botanical

• Prima - Vermont Collection - Fabric Leaves Embellishments - Ivory 

• Prima - Printery Collection -  Emperor

• Prima - Printery Collection -  Negative 

• Prima - Stencils Mask Set - 6 x 6 - Mix 7 

• Prima - Fairy Belle Collection - Chipboard Pieces 

 • Prima - Trim- Natural

• Dusty Attic - Corner Flourish #2 DA0629

• Molding Paste

• Adirondack Paint - Snow cap and Sandal

Thanks so very much for looking. 

Rays of Sunshine - Prima BAP August 2012

Prima August 2012 Build A Page (update 9-18-2012 :winner of the Challenge)

This was created using the  Prima Madeline Collection.  I've been saving this collection for almost a year.  Shame on me!  What was I thinking?  Beautiful paper is not good just sitting - it needs to be cut up. 

This was a photo I took of a friends darling daughter.  

Prima Aug 2012 Build A Page design by Marie -Nicolas Alliot

This unique bold design by Marie-Nicolas Alliot was really a challenge for me in a fun way. 

How did I make my background? 

Starting with the rays, I cut a circle of cardboard first, then sliced them up into pie wedges. 

After placing them on my paper, I took one large sheet of white tissue paper and laid it on top covering the cardboard slices, coating with Matt finish Mod-Podge.   In the photo below, you can see the tissue paper on the edges.   I just gave them a nice coating of Mod-Podge and let them dry overnight. 

I love Mod-Podge.  I used Mod-Podge as a kid on school projects and scouting projects fairly often.  I love it even still.  It helps me reconnect with little 10 yr old Jen-Jen.  My husband probably prefers me to do a little less reconnecting with little 10yr old Jen-Jen thinking she's a little predominant in the house.  LOL

None-the-less, I'm a scissors, glue and paperdoll sort of person even after all these years. Say "hello" to your inner child.  

OK then, refocusing on the layout....When dry, I gave the tissue paper coated layout a top coat of gesso just to brighten and smooth out any uneven tones.

I ripped little pieces of paper from the Madeline Parfait sheet and glued randomly.   I took a Prima Mask and used some molding paste to get some feminine dimension back into my layout.  I wanted to soften up my stark harsh rays.  

I used a Dusty Attic Sweet Pea Border DA0593 and simply painted it with Adirondack Paint in Snowcap. I wanted to bring in more subtle femininity.

Topped with Prima resin wings and flowers to complete my project. 

Prima Supplies used:

• Prima - Madeline Collection -  - Parfait 

• Prima - Madeline Collection -  Ste. Marie 

• Prima - Stencils Mask Set - Sublime Screens - Mix 3 

• Prima - Resin Collection - Ingvild Bolme - Resin Embellishments - Angel Wings 

• Prima - Charme Rose Collection - Flower Embellishments - Meadow Lark 

• Prima - Pankita Rose Collection - Flower Embellishments - Summer Mix 

• Prima - Say It In Crystals Collection - Bling - Ribbon Borders - Sparkling Spring

Thanks for looking and taking some time to listen to little Jen-Jen blabber on.  I do believe little Jen-Jen had a chit chat problem in grade school which has carried over to big Jen's blog and journaling.  

Scraps Of Elegance Blog Hop and prizes

Scraps of Elegance is having a blog hop to kick off September. 

Please join us for some cool reveals, announcements, surprises and PRIZES!

September 1st. 

Guest Designer at Studio 75

The wonderful folks at Studio 75 have invited me to be a Guest Designer for their sunny, wonderful summer collection, Summer & Latte. 

It all started as my dear friend and talented artist, Bellaidea,  Agnieszka,recently sent me some great papers to play with by Studio 75.  This is a  a fresh company out of Poland. Below is an image of the Studio 75's New Summer Collection - Summer & Latte. 

Peach Harvest

This image was taken from Moonlight Magical Free website.  It has some great vintage images to play around with.  I wanted to show that while the collection is certainly light, fresh and sunny, it can easily be used for some vintage work. 

On this image, I used the Summer & Latte 03 and 02 along with some inks, stamps and flowers from my stash to accentuate the photo. 

In addition, I used a Prima mask under the photo that complimented the delicate flourish pattern on the sides of the background pattern paper from the Summer & Latte collection.  

The chipboard is beautiful straight from the package, but I love to cut up my chipboard and arrange them to accommodate my needs.  Below,  I used the coordinating chippies and painted them white, then highlighted with a little Ingvild Bolme, Olive ink. 

Thanks so much Studio 75   for trusting me with your collection.
Please check them out and take a look at the rest of the inspirational art on the Studio 75 blog to see what others have created with the Summer & Latte Collection.

Featured at The Scrap Cake

Featured at the Scrap Cake!

The Scrap Cake is so kind to spotlight the Scraps of Darkness Team designs from the Jamaican Sunset kit which features the wonderful Summer City Collection. 

This  collection feels like a warm lazy summer day, the colors are relaxing and carefree.  

This is the paper I used, Summer City - Apricot Dream.  

Costa Rican Sunset

The kit is called Jamaican Sunset, but I only had a Costa Rican photo to use.  This photo was taken by a talented 17yr old on his class trip to Costa Rico in Spring 2012.  I happened to get the gorgeous photo from him  to scrap.  It goes so well with the Scrap Cake Summer City papers.

I used the Dusty Attic Shells 6pack DA0048 here as accent pieces.  I covered them in thick molding paste. 

I also used the Bella Rose Stamp from heartfelt Creations and the matching die from Spellbinders.  I inked with Donna Salazar's Mixed Media Inx in Honey, and Chiffon.  I used the Tim Holtz Distress markers in Spun Sugar to accent the stamp.   

Thanks to The Scrap Cake for featuring us and thanks to you for spending the time looking and reading.  I appreciate this a great deal. 

Please check out  Scraps of Darkness and the art created by the rest of the wildly talented design team.  

Scraps Of Darkness Aug Reveal - Jamaican Sunset

Jamaican Sunset - Aug Scraps Of Darkness

Welcome to the August reveal for Scraps of Darkness.  

The great thing about the Scraps of Darkness kit is that it is packed with versatile products that allow you the freedom to create art to fit your mood.  And the mood of this months kit is fun, flirty Summer boldness.  Summer seems to be slipping past us rather quickly.  This kit will help us capture a little more of summer 2012 to hold onto forever.

This magnificent kit, thoughtfully assembled features the papers from:

The Scrap Cake - Summer City
My Minds Eye  -Indie Chic
Stick pins by Mandy Harrell


Urban Chic
These are photos of my co-worker repelling down buildings in Downtown Rochester for a charity.  Each year the BoyScouts in our town hold a major fund drive with the entertainment being your very own stroll down a 21 story building.  It's not for the faint of heart. 

I did NOT take these photos - just so you know.....because I do have a faint heart.  hahaha. The photos are professionally taken by the event coordinator.

This was also created using the sketch from Charlotte Jenkins, suepup.  Thanks again, Charlotte for your continued inspiration.

I used some cool embossing paste by Dreamweaver in Glass Black.  I used it with a Prima brick stencil. 

I also used the Dusty Attic Wrought Iron Trim DA0547 and covered it with Ranger Black Puffs Embossing Powder from the August Scraps Of Darkness Color Add-On kit. 

I find the Color Add-On kits that Melinda assembles is an excellent way to try new items and expand your product base with interesting new items that I perhaps would not even think about trying otherwise.  Mel makes it easy. She does the research and the coordination and I get to play.

World Marketplace
This photo is one I took at Universal Studios in Florida, June 2012 in the world marketplace.   We took my son and his friends for their 16th birthdays.  (I saved for 18 months to pay for the trip- just so you don't think I'm "Jen moneybags".....hahaha).

The trip was supposed to be perfect.  With saving that long, I had every detail in my mind covered.  This is gonna be a SPECIAL trip.  It's Florida and it's gonna be sunny and warm and beautiful.   The ONLY detail of this trip I could not control in fact went wildly out of control.  The weather.

BAM!  We land in Florida and the sun shines so perfectly to welcome us to what's called "The Sunshine State".   Which is then followed by Tropical Storm Debby where it rained crazy amounts of rain for a solid 4 days.

Yet we managed to have a wonderful time.  Due to the rain and rather horrible weather forecast, attendance was significantly down at the Universal Theme Park.  Instead of several thousand coming through the gate daily, we barely hit 1000.  The park and all rides were open so we owned the park with no lines.  And we were grateful for NO people because we all wore white plastic rain ponchos every day and looked rather silly - wet and silly.  Not really a picture perfect vacation BUT memorable.

These flowers are metal pieces by Graphic 45.  The Staples collection by the way.  I ran them through my Tim Holtz Vagabond using the  Sizzix - DecoEmboss Die - Vintaj - Embossing Folders - Moonlit Night.  I got this in a previous Scraps Of Darkness Add-on kit featuring the Vintaj Embossing folders.

After embossing the metal flowers, I sanded the edges to bring out more gold tones, rubbed some Adirondack acrylic paint in Pool color to match my photo and then used some Rub 'N Buff around the edges of the flower to gild them in gold a little more.  Topped them with the McGill Starburst punch -just perfect for flower centers.

I used the Dusty Attic Vintage Frame DA0254 and painted it with gold Adirondack acrylic paint. I get an uneven quality with the Adirondack gold paint when I dab it on the chippy instead of wiping it on or painting it on.  It sort of bubbles when I apply it with a hard dab.  Then it dries a little bubbly.

I also wanted to mimic the blue in the photo so I took some blue tissue paper and  covered it with matte finish ModPodge, topped with some gold and white glitter.  I love ModPodge - really fun stuff. Reminds me of all the scouting projects I made when I was a kid. 

Tropical Storm Debby soaks Florida's Gulf Coast June 27, 2012

As Tropical Storm Debby hovers in Gulf, Florida gets more rain.

Well you get the picture.  It rained every day of our trip - buckets of rain.

Costa Rican Sunset
The kit is called Jamaican Sunset, but I only had a Costa Rican photo to use.  This photo was taken by a talented 17yr old on his class trip to Costa Rico in Spring 2012.  I happened to get the gorgeous photo from him  to scrap.  It goes so well with the Scrap Cake Summer City papers.

I used the Dusty Attic Shells 6pack DA0048 here as accent pieces.  I covered them in thick molding paste. 

Thanks for spending the time looking and reading.  I appreciate this a great deal. 

Please check out  Scraps of Darkness and the art created by the rest of the wildly talented design team.  

Guest Designer- Studio 75 - Summer & Latte Collection

My dear friend and talented artist, Bellaidea,  Agnieszka,recently sent me some great papers to play with by Studio 75, a fresh company out of Poland. Below is an image of the Studio 75's New Summer Collection - Summer & Latte.

 

These were created using the wonderfully fresh and summery paper collection, Summer & Latte from Studio 75.

This collection is perfect for all your images of summer vacations, lazy days and beachy fun.  Plus the coordinated chippies are gorgeous and so very delicate in design.

Apple Blossom:  (Guest Design piece)
This image is a photo I took in the spring of an apple blossom in my neighbors yard.  Where else would I take photos?  She's got all the good stuff in her yard.  This was a 6am find.   The blurring in the back ground is not a photoshopped effect.  It was created by focusing only on the blossom and using the sunlight.  

The Summer & Latte papers are such a great match for this image.  I was really excited to see what a great combination it made. I used the Summer & Latte 07,01,05 and 04 as well as the matching chippies from the collection. 

I did alter the chippies by cutting them up to suit my needs.

Peach Harvest:

This image was taken from Moonlight Magical Free website.  It has some great vintage images to play around with.  I wanted to show that while the collection is certainly light, fresh and sunny, they can easily be used for some vintage work. 

On this image, I used the Summer & Latte 03 and 02 along with some inks, stamps and flowers from my stash to accentuate the photo.

I used the coordinating chippies here and painted them white, then highlighted with a little Ingvild Bolme, Olive ink.

Happiness:  (Guest Designer Piece)

This image is  a photo I took with my remote control before anyone was out of bed on a Saturday morning a few weeks ago.  The sun at 7 am is my favorite.  It backlights everything so perfectly including my gray hairs.  hahaha.  seriously, I just love the morning sun and how it streams.  Besides I had just gotten a haircut the night before and it was still straight, manageable and sassy.  Usually my hair is a bundle of untamable sass - bad sass.  I had to take advantage of the good fortune. 

I used the Summer & Latte 02, alphabet and stamps in blue along with some of the Studio 75 coordinating chippies.   
 

See the whole line of gorgeous papers here.    Thanks to the ladies at Studio 75 for creating such a summery, inspiring collection. 

Thanks for looking and please stop by and support Studio 75 Summer & Latte.  Also, please go check out the amazing talent of Bellaidea.

Summer Haven -Scraps Of Elegance Aug Reveal

Welcome to the August Scraps Of Elegance , Summer Haven.  What a gorgeous and inspirational kit.  It features Kaisercraft, Teresa Collins and Fabscraps.   Melinda, our talented leader and owner is masterful at coordinating papers and cool fascinating embellishments. 

Our kits also showcase the beautiful and unique butterflies handcrafted by Renea Harrison. 

So let's get revealing, shall we?

Feather In My Bonnet

Featuring the Kaisercraft Lakehouse collection and Renea's butterflies. This is a photo of my sister-in-law at high tea.  We went to a tea party and I just so happened to have my camera.  Imagine that!  Actually I was invited for my camera and not actually for tea.  But I "bummed" some anyway and a cookie to boot.

High Tea

This paper is also from Kaisercraft and is my niece at high tea.  Yeah, she totally looks thrilled to be at a tea party. And a camera in her face was no help at cheering her spirits. Moody photo - I just love it.

This was also created using the sketch from Charlotte Jenkins, suepup.  Thanks again, Charlotte for your continued inspiration.

The bird is a wooden piece from Kaisercraft. It is covered in Stampendous Aged Embossing Enamels in pink and green.

Miss Sari Petrass - The Lady with Two Endings

Meet Miss Sari Petrass and the fascinating tale of an actress, espionage, lies, romance and an untimely death - kindof sortof. The story of Miss Sari Petrass:

Sari Petrass - actress, singer

SÁRI was born in 1888 in Budapest and began her fabulous career at about the age of 17, appearing Hungary, Austria, Germany, England, and the United States. For several years, she was the toast of London. And look at her!  What a beauty.

In 1915, she appeared on Broadway and was a smashing success. She then returned to the UK and married an Englishman.  It is now that her story takes a bizarre twist. Newspapers in the United States reported the following in March of 1916:

Death Notice Posted in Paper (abbreviated)

The story goes that Sari returned to Britain, not as an actress but as a spy for the British as WWI was raging at the time.  She used her celestial beauty to pursue Military Officers to help deliver her messages.  (Guess she loved a man in uniform).

It is said she was betrayed by one of her suitors in a fit of jealousy and immediately shot. When taken to the place of execution she fainted and was unconscious when shot.The announcement of her execution was the first news her family had of the charges against her - a surprise for sure.

This rumor circulated in newspapers and print for years but is not clear where or how it started.

The real story?  The beautiful actress went on to live many more years in the theater.  

Death Notice #2

On September 8th, 1930, SÁRI and two companions were travelling by car in Belgium near the River Schelde. The ladies were on their way home from a shopping trip. 

The chauffeur became blinded by the beam from a lighthouse on the river, and as a result the vehicle plunged into the water. The driver managed to escape through a window and float to the surface, but sadly SÁRI and her two companions remained trapped inside and drowned.  References  
Some more facts and photos of Sari Petrass

Day at the Beach

This is a photo I took a few years back after a terrible storm.  This layout features the Teressa Collins Sweet Afternoon collection.   I tried to make this soft and sweet, yet the day I took the photo was anything BUT sweet...

This is a piece of Dusty Attic that I painted with Adirondack paint in Lemonade and then topped with Sunshine Yellow. These are Mini Scrolls DA0685.

Please consider stopping by Scraps Of Elegance .  You can view the rest of the Design Team's artwork here.
Thank you for your time.