I don’t have a pic but I just have a generic heat tool. Heat embossing is what turned me to rubber stamping in the first place so I really liked this tool before I even learned what other cool effects it can create. On this page I used my heat tool to emboss clear embossing powder over craft ink. I did this for the sit spin challenge that was to create a view master page and include flowers or something that would be thrown onto the ice while the skater is bowing. I’ve wanted to do a title like this for a while now ever since I saw it in a magazine a few months ago. I embossed the rose and have 6 different pictures in the viewmaster frame. I did not do any journaling but Lavinia's name and included the date in the title.
Stamps: Stipple Rose
Paper: Cameo Coral, Barely Banana, white cardstock for viewfinder
Ink: Barely Banana, Black Pen,
Extras: brad, ribbon
On this page I used my heat tool to emboss images to create a resist technique. I made this for the Try To Resist My Olympic Experience challenge that was to use emboss resist and to use colors from a different country's flag. I picked Azerbaijan whose colors are red, white, navy, and white.
I just had to scrap the only pics I had of Independence Day when I was in the States. Journaling reads: During the summer months of training in Los Angeles, we would always go to Canoga Park to celebrate the fourth of July. July 4, 1997
Stamps: Letterpress Alphabet, Brushstroke alphabet, Fun Filled
Paper: Glorious Green, glossy white
Ink: Night of Navy, Versamark, white souffle pen
Extras: clear embossing powder, decorative tape
I did two monochromatic sample pages for my National anthem challenge for this past VSBN. My challenge was to make a page using the colors or your country’s flag and use the kissing technique.
Journaling reads: This is my grandmother Audrey Harris MacLellan while she was still Audrey Harris MacLean. She worked as a cook in Halifax away from her home in Cape Breton. I believe that is where she met my grandfather when he was a WWII soldier before going overseas.
Stamps: fancy corner, Best Blossoms, Brushstroke Alphabet
Paper: Real Red, Whisper White
Ink: Whisper White craft ink , white Souffle pen, black pen
Extras: buttons, ribbon
Here is the second sample page with the reverse kissing technique. I inked up and then stamped off on the Background stamp before applying it to the paper.
Journaling reads: This is my Mom in the late '40's visiting her Uncle Fred and Aunt Helen Younker. Back then, a trip to the city was an occasion so she was always excited to visit them.
Stamps: Linen Background, Best Blossoms, Brushstroke Alphabet
Paper: Real Red, Whisper White,
Ink: Real Red, black pen
Extras: buttons, ribbon
I did this page for the Time's Up challenge which was to use numbers on the page, bonus for using one of the metal colors.
Lavinia had a great time visiting her cousins. They had lots of fun on the trampoline. She held her own with the older girls. They screamed when a bug landed on it and she would go right for it and flick it off. Then Matthew showed her some flips. Aug 06
I did this for the You Go Girl challenge that was to create a vintage page using black and white photos and using greys, black, white, and cream papers celebrating women of the past.
Stamps: Brushstroke Alphabet
Paper: costco patterned paper and grey and black cardstock
Ink: Jet black staz
Extras: prima flower, sequin, brad, lace and black ribbon, vintage hinge sticker, vellum quote
Stamps: French Script, wine glasses from Katie& co.
Paper: Always Artichoke, So Saffron, Bordering Blue, and white glossy cardstock
Ink: Always Artichoke, Bordering Blue, and So Saffron
The first challenge I tried was Stats. During the Olympics you hear the announcers talk about the athletes statistics and what they have accomplished throughout their careers. The challenge is to make a layout using a stat sheet, use doodling on your page, and use a file folder. The stats on my page, rather than name, birthday, date of pic, etc, were the various tasks I had while I was in the Shenandoah unit of Covenant Players. The tasks were: Housing Co-ordinator, Program Planner, Office Worker, Show Scheduler, Guy Pal, Actress, Friend, and Comic Relief. The journaling inside the folder reads: These were my many jobs when I toured western Virginia and West Virginia with Sean and Christen. Sean was the Team Leader and ultimately responsible for everything and had to sign all the contracts for shows and took charge of van maintenance. My primary task was housing co-coordinator, which was a very stressful job because most of the housing contacts I called to let them know we were coming to their area didn't want to have us. We did get through the tour and always had a place to stay. Christen was in charge of office files and finances and the rest of our duties were shared. There were a lot of stressful times but we did have a lot of fun too. Sean was a guy that just needed male bonding. It was hard for him to travel four months with no other guys so I did my best to do man things with him. We played tennis, watched guy movies and mostly watched football. Spring 1996 I used Certainly Celery and Night of Navy Cardstock and a file folder from Marcella by K. I stamped the Certainly Celery with the swirl stamp from Fun Filled in Night of Navy craft ink and stamped the title with Brushstroke Alphabet in Certainly Celery craft ink. I inked my primas with Certainly Celery as well and edged my stats with Chocolate Chip. I used a black Zig pen to doodle and write the journaling and stats. The brads attaching the primas and spiral paperclip are from the Hodgepodge Hardware set.
Monday’s challenge was exactly that since I had some “help”. The Olympic ring challenge was to follow a sketch by Becky Fleck that includes many rings. The challenge was focus on uniting the circles and the title and photo. The page is of Lavinia eating pizza for the first time. Journaling reads: Lavinia went through a year eating nothing but hot dogs and cheese and yogurt. We could never convince her to try new foods until one night when we ordered a pizza. She found that she loved pizza. August 2006.
I used Barely Banana, Rose Red, and a non SU blue cardstock. I used my white Souffle pen to do the edges to the journaling block and the ribbon. I made the pizza by taking a Rose Red cirle, stamping circles from a stamp from Fun Filled with Versamark for the pepperoni, then I took a q-tip and applied Chocolate chip ink for hamburger. I then applied a thin layer of Barely Banana craft ink for cheese on tip and heavily around the edges for crust and put in on a larger blue circle for a tray. Now looking at the page, I wish I matted the picture with Rose Red cardstock as well. I then applied various buttons and silk flowers I collected over the years.
I had a plan for the page and had everything ready to put together except the buttons and flowers for the big circle. Lavinia had lots of fun getting into my stash of buttons and flowers. She picked out every button on the page. She insisted on eating grapes while we were putting it together and no matter how often I took them from her and had her wash her hands, she snuck some more past me. She did get some spots all over the page and I did my best to cover them. It’s not bad the circle of flowers and brads are not very even. We did have fun putting it together, which we never did before, and she was better behaved than I expected so I guess that is the most important thing. I would try to do another page with her again, but not when there is a time limit to finishing it.
I really like this quote. It’s so full of hope. We went to bed early this New Year’s Eve and I missed doing my new years resolutions. I still could not skip it entirely. Instead I was a few days late figuring them out (ironically contradicting my first resolution which is to stop procrastinating). What is the point of celebrating a new year without at least attempting to be better, trying to be better, or striving to be better than the previous year. A new chance and a fresh slate is an amazing thing and should be celebrated. Even though most resolutions are rather lofty and unrealistic and soon forgotten, that is not the point. The intention itself is better than nothing at all. Without it there is no hope and no dream of something better. Congratulations to those who are still trying to work on their resolutions.
Here is a card and a 6x6 page using the quote. I’ve never done a New Year’s day card before. It’s usually so soon after sending out Christmas cards, it never even occurred to me to make one. I really like this card so I may do more for next year. This was made from Ballet Blue and Certainly Celery cardstock and ink and some printed paper from my stash. I think I got it at the $1 store but am not certain. I used the sketch from this week’s SCS sketch challenge 106.
I got the idea for the ladybug from splitcoaststampers but can’t find who came up with the idea in the first place. I used the sketch from the catalogue last year on page 101 using Say Something Mice. I thought it was a great sketch to use a lot of scraps. The wings spread to reveal the word bliss stamped underneath. I really liked it so I made a few more. They are great to use together for a framed affect like 
I did in Lavinia’s park page or combined with different shaped circles in Lavinia’s Bubbles page. 
In the Big Sister heritage page I used the punches for framing but also used it to make a paper tag. Of coarse any 1¼ and 1½ circle punch will do but I find it so handy to have both tools in one. Usually when I use one I use the other too and it illuminates so much searching through my messy pile of goodies.
Lately the scrapbook challenges have started taking a turn to the “about me” type of pages. I started scrapbooking shortly after I was married so I never did a page about me before. The main reason was because most of the pictures taken were of my daughter. There were a few pages that included me but I was definitely not the focus of the page. The first about me challenge that I tried was to scrap your personal mantra. It really appealed to me because I was doing a heritage album at the time and often wished I had known stories and feelings of my ancesters instead of only dates and names. I’m not one to think my scrapbooks will be heirlooms passed down to future generations, however if my child or future children were curious these pages are better than nothing. Plus I have a lot of fun doing them.
This was my submission for my mantra page. Journaling reads: When I first heard the soundtrack to the musical RENT, I was overwhelmed by the powerful message of living in the present. Actual living. No holding back or hiding. At that point in my life I would often wallow in regrets & was worried about the future. I no longer worry about the future so much. Instead I am such a procrastinator not only in everyday tasks, but also in achieving personal goals. My mantra reminds me to stop using tomorrow as an excuse & work toward reaching my goals now.
This was another page done during the last VSBN. It was done for the Ireland challenge, which was to complete a layout in monochromatic green while following the sketch.
Journaling reads: Carly and I met at Canoe Cove Christian Camp in the mid '80s. We saw each other only once a year but wrote often. Once we could drive we saw each other more often. Throughout time we often lived far from each other. But we lived in the same dorm for 6 months. We worked in the same mall for 6 months. We love to laugh. We love to sing. We love to be crazy. This is us being crazy in the garden. My 16th birthday Aug 27,1991. Stamps: Noteworthy Paper: $ store patterned paper, green cardstock Ink: Whisper White, White Souffle pen Accessories: Vintage clip art, sticker quote, Monogram Rub ons Techniques: blocking
I made this cardset for the craft fair. There is 2 of each design. I used Reverse Prints (now retired) and Noteworthy (also retired). 
I also made a notebook with matching pen. I’m still not sure if I will sell together or separately so people have the option to mix and match. All papers were from my miscellaneous paper pile so I am not aware of the manufacturer I used Glorious Green Ink.
This is a 4 ½ x 4 ½ card The stamp is Katie&co. and the papers were again from my miscellaneous paper pile. I used Jet Black Staze on ink. 
The color is off in these cards. They are more green than they seem. I used the poinsetta image from Happiest of Holidays. I used Old Olive ink and a black Zig pen for faux stitching.
I saw a similar layout on someone’s blog (unfortunately I can’t remember which one) and modified it to fit a 12x12 page. I made this for the Italy challenge, which was to use the color of wine and some heat embossing on the page. I embossed the title and the smaller words to each side. Journaling reads: We went to the old playground in the National Park. It was very windy but Lavinia did not want to leave the slide. She didn’t even want to walk the trails. She loved that slide. Cavendish Sept 2006
Papers: Costco generic Stamps: LetterPress Alphabet, Noteworthy Ink: Perfect Plum
I did this layout for the France challenge. which was to use brown to complete a vintage look to your layout. Also embellish well. I normally love metal and ribbons; I left it out on this layout. There was a bonus for sepia tones, which I did not do. Journaling reads: Jason, Taryn, and Lavinia spent the day at Woodleigh Replicas while visiting Grammie and Grampie MacLellan for a week. September 2006
Paper: Simply Scrappin' Vintage papers and stickers, $ store patterned paper Ink: Basic Brown for aging Accessories: Basic Grey Urban Couture alphabet stickers, vintage clip art, library pocket.
I did this layout for the Scotland challenge, which was to use plaid in your layout.
Journaling reads: When I was little both Philip and Tanya’s friends called me “Little Philip”. That always made me feel so proud. Philip was the smart one who always excelled in school. My grades were never that good. After pursuing a PhD in Economics he made a decision to start a different career path. He then went to school to become a teacher. He practice taught in my high school and I loved spending time with him.
I loved to follow Tanya around everywhere. Sometimes she would do my hair. Later she became a hairdresser and she continued to do my hair for years. She was in 4-H and I remember her being very good at cooking and crafts, which I could never do. She did introduce me to scrapbooking, which later became my obsession. Stamps: Letterpress Alphabet Paper: Real Red, Paper Pizzazz Christmas plaid paper, white cardstock Ink: Read Red, White Souffle pen
The next Virtual Scrapbook Night (should really be weekend) should be January. Close to that time we will see threads in the forums with the dates and a shopping list of what you would need on hand for each challenge in the event.
My challenge for last months VSBN was to have people make Faux-Leather for their pages. The look is created using masking tape, dye ink, and clear embossing powder. My challenge was to use this technique to create fake crocodile skin.
For the first example the Big Easy, I made lines with my masking tape and cut out circles and ovals to look like the skin of a crocodile. It took a while and since there is a 2 hr time limit, the rest of the page had to be very simple. I did not have or take any pictures while I was in Louisiana so I used my postcards from the area and one picture of Robin and me who was in Louisiana with me, even though the picture was taken in Los Angeles.
Journaling reads: In 1999 I toured Louisiana and Arkansas with David Groves and Robin Black. After 3 years on the road I'd lost so many cameras that I gave up taking pictures and bought postcards instead. These postcards are particularly special because it was my favorite place – the French Quarter. We went to Café du Monde often and get coffee and baguettes. Each time the same trumpet player was there and I thought it was so funny when I saw him on the postcard. I loved Arkansas and northern Louisiana but because we had gaps in our itinerary, I booked more shows near New Orleans so we could spend most of our time there.
We were in Lake Charles for Fat Tuesday and the celebrations were tamer than the New Orleans version but still a lot of fun. We still saw lots of parades and went dancing on Bourbon St many times. Because of one of our school programs we had the opportunity of a lifetime. The teacher previously worked for the mayor and was still involved in many charities and was able to get us in the stands where the mayor and the judges sat. It was so amazing. When she found that I was a big Harry Connick Jr. fan, she also got us in to see the Orpheus parade. I did not get a good look at Harry because he turned and kissed his wife right when he passed. I did see Sandra Bullock as she was presented with keys to the city.
I loved the cultural diversity – Creole, Acadian, Southern, and urban. It was such a great mix and the food was so delicious. Cajun food is the best. I tried many new foods that were so delicious. I tried crawdads, jambalaya, and even tried alligator. It tasted like spicy pork to me.
Hurricane Katrina struck last year in 2005 around the end of August. It was a horrible devastation to the area. New Orleans was completely under water and even areas in the northern LA were destroyed. It was such a horrific thing to happen to this great area and to the great people in it. I sometimes think of the time I spent there and wonder what happened to the great people we met and who took us into their homes. The destruction was so bad that New Orleans is still finishing rebuilding now a year later. According MardiGrasday.com many hotels are taking reservations and this year will be a big celebration of life. After going through hell and surviving, I can’t think of better people that deserve a good time.
Stamps: Letterpress Alphabet Paper: Bravo Burgundy, scrap paper under faux leather, Old Olive Ink: Old Olive, printer ink for journaling Other: metal edge tag, vintage clip art, burgundy ribbon, library pocket, key sticker from Simply Scrappin' Vintage pack
On my other sample page, I decided to use holographic EP instead of clear for a variation. Journaling is just Lavinia’s full name and Spring 2005.
Stamps: Letterpress Alphabet Paper: neon green cardstock for base, tan cardstock Ink: Bravo Burgundy, Handsome Hunter Other: masking tape, Holographic EP, heat gun, circle punch, paper fastener, silk flower
This layout was done for the Antarctica challenge which was to show winter pics with sparkles. I doubled up on the bonus challenge which was to stamp on acetate using Staze On. It was supposed to be something big but I thought it would be perfect for my corner stamps. I barely use them because they are angled strangly so it can not be symetrical. Acetate and Staze on Solves that problem. I found acetate really hard to stamp on without smearing. You don't want to know how many photo corners I scrapped because they were smudged. I also don't have any clear glue so I used a mini glue dot and covered it with a rhinestone. I did use more acetate for a shaker box around the journaling but did not stamp on it.
Another of my favorite pages was this one. This was done for the Netherlands challenge. The challenge was to make pinwheels and use flowers (extra points for tulips) and have a hidden element on your layout. I based the page around tulip stickers but once the page devoloped, the tulips didn't quite work. I scrapped it and changed for the metal flower.
