Messy Boy

Let's admit it: this picture of my grandson squeezing a container of yogurt all over the place is perfect for Cindy Brown's  "Use Your Scraps" challenge for Swirlydoos.

I started with an 8x10 canvas that I had prepped with a heavy layer of gesso some time back and then put aside for some unknown reason. The edges were defined by rubbing them with a Jet Black Archival Ink pad; I used the same ink to randomly apply the Prima Paint Splatters stamp here and there.

Next, I adhered layers of scraps left from the April 2016 kit from Swirlydoos, along with a few Petaloo canvas blooms, some metal gears and some banners and string that I've had for a while.

The flowers and metals were covered with gesso, then I took out my fan brush and emulated  Mr. Nicholas with splatters all around.

Million Dollar Dream

Did you know that May 20 was Be a Millionaire Day? I certainly didn't know that there was such a thing until Jan Penny, who is hosting the May 2016 SGC Challenge, pointed it out.

And that is the theme of her challenge: to scrap what you would do if you had a million dollars.

Realistically, I'd (1)retire and (2)move closer to my grandchildren, but we're fantasizing here, so I've decided that I'd grab me some island space in the Caribbean and let the grandchildren (and their parents and uncles) come to me.

I've been doing some cleaning and organizing of my scrap room and I came across this wonderful collection by 7 Dots - perfect for my subject. Add some cheesecloth and a bit of blue netting (thanks, Jen Snyder!) and a few shells from a shop in Provincetown, Cape Cod (thanks to my SIL Linda Wood for taking me there) and some scattered pearls and there you have it - my Million Dollar Dream.

Jan added a few twists; I've done them all.

1.Use the word million in your title. I've actually put the title on my page: Million Dollar Dream.

2.Use purple on your project. There are hints of purple around the edges of the paper and one of the last of my Blue Fern Studios flowers from the April kit next to the photo. I've also inked the edges of my photos and elements with Dusty Concord Distress Ink and scattered purple pearls and shells around the page.

3.Use a song title or lyrics. I'm assuming that you all recognize the lyrics that I printed out and placed here and there.

May 2016 Round Robin at Swirlydoos

This image of my beautiful mother holding an eight-month-old me is the perfect photo to use for the May Swirlydoos Round Robin, with its theme of "All About Mom".

What's a Round Robin? It's a special kind of creative challenge, with a lot of people coming together to share ideas and techniques throughout the month. Sign-ups are held in advance; then the participants are broken up into teams of 4, with the first person in each team assigned to complete a layout at the end of Week 1. The next person must "lift" or copy that layout using her own style and materials, but keeping the basic idea of the first design; this is due at the end of Week 2. Then the third person "lifts" that page for publication at the end of Week 3 and the last person in each team will do the same for Week 4. There is a prize given to the person whose layout receives the most votes of all members of the group (not just the Round Robin participants), but I've always thought that most of the fun is seeing all of the different takes on a theme and a design, sort of like a game of telephone.

I've used some of the last of the Blue Fern papers that came in the April kit, punching and fussy cutting here and distressing a couple of strips there.

The large yellow flower (as well as the brown one peeking out above) are from a RAK sent to me by Bec Genet. The beautiful rosette trim is from Cheryl Merrihew, something that I've been hoarding for a long, long time. Thank you to both of you ladies for such pretty embellies...

The title is from an old Kaisercraft rub-on set that came in a long, long ago Swirly kit.

April Layout of the Month

I feel so honored that one of my layouts was chosen as Layout of the Month at Swirlydoos.

This was created for the April Round Robin challenge, where the theme was "Spring" and nothing says Spring like these photos taken by my DIL on Easter Sunday during the Egg Hunt. As you can see, the twins did quite well for themselves!

Kim asked for some much loved (and therefore hoarded) scrappy supplies and I decided that it was time to let go: one of the last of my Flights of Fancy papers by Prima from the  March 2010 Swirlydoos kit and a bit of my Fairy Flora paper that (I think) came from a special Swirly order around that time.

I've also dusted off  some Blue Fern Studio chippies, Prima vines and a package of Prima flowers that I'll admit to hanging on for far too long.

I've colored most of my flowers with Color Blooms, changing them to green and blue. The Blue Fern Vine was coated with Opal Magic and cut apart to scatter around the page. The metal leaves and butterflies were coated with alcohol ink.

Thanks so much for stopping by for a peek!!!