Always and Forever Layout

Today I'm sharing another layout to frame for my Oliver's memorial wall. The photo was taken in September of 2014, prior to his downhill slide.  I miss those eyes, they were such a piercing pale blue almost white color.  He was my most handsome man, and I miss him terribly every single day.

I am entering this layout into the Blue Fern Studios June Sketch Challenge. Papers and chipboard are by Blue Fern Studios.  There are many online stores from which to purchase these gorgeous chipboard pieces and papers.  I got mine with my Scraps of Darkness and Elegance Kit Clubs and/or from the Scraps of Darkness online store.

I am also entering my layout into the Inspiration Board Challenge for June at the Scraps of Darkness & Scraps of Elegance Mixed Media Scrapbooking Community on Facebook.   Please see both the Blue Fern sketch and the Scraps of Darkness Inspiration board below.

The paper I used is from Blue Fern's gorgeous Tranquility collection that came in one of my Scraps of Darkness kits.  I created some texture on the background using a doily stencil and some sprays.  The sprays didn't turn out the way I wanted, so I embossed in white over it and was happy with that result.  The Blue Fern chipboard pieces were purchased at the Scraps of Darkness online store.  I  covered them with various embossing powders in different colors and textures.  I just played with them until I got the result I wanted.

As far as the inspiration I drew from the Inspiration Board...well, it does have a kitty in it, so I just had to create another layout for Oliver's memorial wall.  I also grabbed some of the shades of blue, and the butterflies (by Renea Bouquets) from the board, and also the use of a quote on my page.  I used some flecks of gold that were also pictured, and some circles which I stenciled at the upper right of the page.

Here are some links to visit:

Blue Fern Studios Blog

Scraps of Darkness

Renea Bouquets

Thanks so much for looking!

Gecko Galz June Projects

This month our theme at Gecko Galz is "Man O Man".  I ended up creating all of my monthly samples in a masculine theme.  It wasn't my intention to do that, because we have so many amazing papers and images to choose from in the Etsy store, but I loved the masculine collage sheets and background papers that I'd chosen for my challenge theme sample card so much, that I got carried away.  You can see what the rest of the Design Team has created by visiting the Gecko Galz Blog each day.  We hope to inspire to you create your own project and to play along with our challenge.

Man O Man collage sheet set
Dapper Dan printable paper pack

I also used a couple of chipboard pieces from Gypsy Soul Laser cuts as well as a steampunk cardstock doily.   The film reel on the last card is vintage from an actual view master.  The reel was falling apart and this piece was the backing.  It was already neutral colored so I just stamped it with a newsprint stamp by Kaisercraft.  I also did additional stamping in vintage photo distress ink with some Tim Holtz stamps.  Thanks for looking!

New Gecko Galz Challenge for June!

This month the theme for the challenge on the Gecko Galz Blog is "Man O Man".   Creating in a masculine theme was something new to me and I really enjoyed it.  The card was simple to make with just some classic matting.  I covered the top half with a piece of plain cream cardstock  that I embossed with a gears pattern, and then inked lightly with vintage photo.  The clock at upper right was stamped and fussy cut.  I added chipboard hands which I embossed.  The shirt is one of the collage sheet images which I will list below, and the hat and tartan blanket were fussy cut from one of the images.  The lower half of the card is papered with a design which is already collaged, and it's an amazing design with many uses.  The printable paper collection I used is also listed below.  The sentiment is stamped, fussy cut and elevated by pop dots.  I also added a piece of chipboard chain which I embossed the same as the clock hands.  The chipboard accents are by Gypsy Soul laser Cuts.

Gacko Galz on Etsy:

Man O Man digital collage set

Dapper Dan printable digital paper pack

Thanks for looking!  Please visit the Gecko Galz Blog to see what the rest of the design team has created to inspire you to enter the current challenge.