Post Surgery Update and NEW Challenge Idea

Hi Everyone!  FIRST I want to wish everyone a very Happy Memorial Day Weekend - and to I want to say THANK YOU to all those who have served and sacrificed for our GREAT Country!

Well, it seems like I am back among the "Scrappy!" At least for a few minutes today anyway!! LOL!

My foot surgery last Friday went well - but the healing process seems like it will be a long one. Anyone who is considering Bunion Surgery - (the name sounds nastier than the actual surgery,) I think it is more of an inconvenience than anything else.  Seriously, I really do not have much pain at all. So I say GO FOR IT!  It will be worth it in the "long run" - (pun intended! LOL!)

Little pain is a VERY good thing, as it seems that Pain Medication and I do not get along!  I either get very very itchy, or nauseous!! So from day 2 on, I've just been taking Tylenol, and it is going okay. I would describe it as more of a discomfort.  All in all, I am sure it will certainly be worth it when I am hiking up a volcano in Hawaii on our 30th Anniversary Disney Cruise in October!!

It looks like I will be out of work for @ 3 weeks - but I am fortunate to work for a GREAT Company ( in the "real" non-scrappy world) and I am able to check work emails on my phone, and access my work computer from home, so I've been able to keep up with things there.

I haven't been able to get any scrapping in, and have to limit my computer and "foot down" time to a few minutes a day.  My foot, and I feel better if I am sitting in a reclining chair with my foot raised on a pillow, and have ice on my ankle, while I am watching Home Improvement shows, and cooking shows on the Food Network. (INSERT GIANT THANK YOU HERE to my WONDERFUL HUSBAND and AWESOME SONS who are taking care of me and everything else in the house!)

Back to my TV viewing - CHOPPED is my ALL TIME FAVORITE cooking show!  Have you seen it????   It is a challenge show where 4 chefs are given a basket with 4 crazy ingredients and they have to make something AMAZING with them.  Their creations are then judged by Celebrity TV Chef judges, and one of the contestants is eliminated after each round, and Appetizer, Entree and Dessert.  The winner gets the Title of CHOPPED CHAMPION and a $10,000 cash prize! 

Now my "scrappy" brain started thinking - 

and I am HAPPY to ANNOUNCE that

coming to my FAVORITE LOCAL SCRAPBOOK STORE 

"SCRAP-A-DOODLE DOO" in Ramsey, New Jersey

this AUGUST 2012 -

we will have our FIRST "CROPPED!" Challenge Night!!  

I've discussed some of the details with Stephanie from THE DOO, and we are working on finalizing everything. We will be setting a date over the next few weeks - so be sure to sign up for email notifications to my Blog - or FOLLOW/LIKE the Scrap-a-Doodle Doo Facebook Page or THE DOO BLOG, so you can join in on the FUN!!  ( We even hope to make a video of it to share with everyone over the web!!)

Contestant space will be limited and there will be a PRIZE involved too!  (sorry, it won't be $10,000 -as this isn't a real TV Show - YET - but I am open to any offers to take it to the Networks - so if you have any connections - feel free to have them contact me - LOL!!)

Well, my foot is saying "please go back to the recliner!" so I have to listen!

Wishing you all a wonderful long weekend - I hope you have a chance to "get your "Scrap" on!!

((HUGS)) ~ Sherri

Just "DOO" IT! ~ Why Not Scrap Yourself?!!

Hello my Scrappy Friends!

Here is my 2nd post of the week as a DT Member of Scrap-a-Doodle Doo! If you don't already, PLEASE check out and FOLLOW The DOO Blog, so that you can continue to receive TIPS and INSPIRATION from the rest of The DOO Team, and find out info on upcoming classes at the store, as well as WONDERFUL Weekend Crop Events, Sales and Scrappy Happenings!

This is a layout I made using BoBunny's Zoology Collection.  It is a photo of ME! Yes, I actually scrapped a photo of JUST ME (and a few Elephants too!)

So, RIGHT NOW, I want to give you PERMISSION to do the same - It really is quite fun!!
After all, you are the creator of scrapbooks in your family, right? SO why SHOULDN'T YOU do a few pages that make YOU Happy, and your family / friends will enjoy and cherish in years to come?
GO ON - JUST "DOO" IT!

I promise, if you never have - you will LOVE the results
- SO just go ahead and CREATE for YOU for a change!*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* 

  I was able to add lots of things that I just LOVE on this layout, because it is based on one of MY favorite animals at the Zoo (San Diego Zoo in this case) from our first trip there last summer.  We had a great time watching these BIG and BEAUTIFUL animals interact with each other, and some of the trainers.  It was a day and a trip I will always remember, so I wanted to do a layout to remember it by.

The materials that were used was BoBunny's TIGER 12x12 paper as well as some of the CUT OUTS and coordinating chipboard elements - all with the Elephant Theme!

The BB Tiger paper edges were inked with Ranger Distress Stain BLACK SOOT.

I wanted to pick up the teal of my shirt and necklace, so I found a teal diecut in my stash, and inked those edges with Ranger Distress Stain Picket Fences.

I used lots of flowers, brads and gems from my stash. TIP: PLAN BEFORE YOU GLUE! I always layout the photos, and the elements before I glue anything down and then take a picture of it with my phone, so I can look back and see the placement of all the elements, once I have it set the way that I want it.



Can you find the little metal elephant charm? He, along with some of the buttons are also BoBunny's added elements from this collection - soo cool! There are all kinds of Flowers on this Layout too - most of them are from Prima if I remember correctly. I love this little grouping of "Stuff!" don't you?



The 3D Elephant is also from BoBunny's coordinating elements. I just LOVE all the "STUFF" they make to coordinate with their lines.  They add such dimension and FUN to my Layouts!  AND ~ I also LOVE that Scrap-a-Doodle Doo, my MOST FAVORITE Local Scrapbook and ON-LINE store carries LOTS of WONDERFUL Products, and is my GO TO place to get all this Scrappy Goodness!
GOTTA LOVE THE DOO!

The Teal Pearl Swirls are from ZVA - this was one swirl that I cut up into pieces, and added by each grouping of elements. The playing card was from a small deck of cards that I purchased at The San Diego Zoo - with scrapping in mind of course! LOL! I added it with HELMAR's Zap Dots to give it some added POP, along side the 3D Elephant - LOVE those things!


Thanks for looking! I hope this layout has inspired you to "GET YOUR SCRAP ON!" this weekend!


Hopefully somewhere down your scrappy road, you will Just "DOO" It!
Go ahead and create a layout with YOU as the "STAR!"


HAPPY SCRAPPIN' !  ~ ((HUGS)) Sherri

Sometimes Water does go well with Paper....

Hi Everyone!

Here is a cool ( and wet!) technique that I shared over on the Scrap-a-Doodle Doo Blog this week ~ EDGE DISTRESSING with WATER.

** If you are not a "follower" of "THE DOO" Blog - be sure to become while while you are there.  The other DT Members and I take turns posting projects, tips and scrappy info every week! **

On to the technique......

 

This is a fun way to "cut out" sections, or just to "cut" edges of your paper, giving a textured/tattered look that you can keep white, or add ink to

 ( either chalk, ink pad, or my newest favorite "must have" Ranger Distress Stains!)

This look works great on grungy projects, as well as for a shabby chic look, and it is even a great way to add or soften lines on a layout that is full of straight edges, and will add a little texture/interest.

Here is what you will need :

•A piece of scrapbook paper

•A few Q-tips

•Water

•Some kind of ink - (chalk, stain, pad - if desired)

First - decide where you want to "tear" you paper. My best suggestion here would be to follow the pattern or design of the paper. You can even draw a line with a pencil to help you "stay on track."

 

After you determine the "Where?" - next is the "How?"



Wet a Q-Tip with water and begin to follow the "line" while pressing and rubbing - no need to be too gentle here - you want that water to soak in and saturate the paper. Start out small - only about a 3" - 4" section at a time - keep wetting and rubbing.

You will begin to see the paper turn white - as the color/design is rubbed away. (You do not need to rub right through the paper.) When you see white - try to poke your finger through and tear gently along the line you've created. If it does not tear easily - add more water and continue rubbing. As soon as you have that section torn, move on to the next 3"- 4" and continue until tearing has been complete.



Here you can see how I am following along the design to make the tear, and where the black paper is turning white and almost ready to tear.

 

I wanted to make a "frame" for this layout, so I created my own line above the design. Here you can see how the top layer has been rubbed away, just before I am ready to tear it.



For added interest, after the paper has been torn, you can fold back the wet edge to give it a "framed" look too.



Here you can see the frame that was created with the textured, water distress opening.  The edges were inked with Ranger Distress Stain and really make it "POP" I think - don't you?

Here is the finished Layout.


*********

You can also just "open" up the paper and not fold it back too. Here is an example of that -

First I rubbed the Q-Tip around the outline of the Leopard on the COOL BoBunny Zoology Paper,

 Then I continued on, to "cut" out the center of the paper, to make a frame.

(TIP - you can then use that center piece to make mats or embellishments
ie: the 2 flowers in the layout below! )

As you can see, I inked the edges of the inside and outside of my Leopard Frame to make it POP off the page -( LOVE that Ranger Distress Stain !!) - this happens to be Spiced Marmalade. Oh - and I painted the Leopard with Ranger Distress Stain and sprayed him with Studio Calico's Mister Huey's GOLD Color Mist -one of my new FAVORITE FINDS! I think it makes him look really WILD - don't you!! ROAR!!

For more samples of Water Distressing - Click here to see all of them listed on my BLOG

Thanks for stopping by -
Now GO and GET SCRAPPY ~ CREATE SOMETHING!!

((HUGS)) ~ Sherri
 









"SS-DL" Class May 11th at THE DOO!

Hi Everyone!

Here is some info, and 2 Sneak Peeks for my next class at SCRAP-A-DOODLE DOO!  I hope you can join me!

FRIDAY NIGHT, May 11th, 6:30PM to 9PM

Cost $20.00

 at SCRAP-A-DOODLE DOO

37 C Swan Street

Ramsey, NJ 

201.818.7060

Seating is limited to contact the store to reserve your seat soon!

( KITS will be available for sale but quantities are limited too!)

This is my 3rd Class in the "HOW'd She DOO That?!" Series called:

"SS~DL" 

which stands for -

"Same Stuff ~ Different Layout"

My last class was so well received, I actually taught it twice!  While doing so, I fell in love with the AWESOME Zoology Paper Line by BoBunny  - I wanted to use it again.  I decided to challenge myself to make a totally "DIFFERENT LAYOUT" - using the "SAME STUFF"
- hence the idea for "SS~DL"

I have added a few new techniques to this class, as well as products for students to try/play with - it is going to be so much FUN!

I will be using the SAME materials from my last "HSDT" class to create a complementing yet DIFFERENT Layout! This class will feature paper tearing with water, Distress Stain Painting, Distress Marker highlighting, and Mister Huey`s GOLD Color Mist and so much more!

  

We are even going to using the Cuttle Bug with Tim Holtz's Tattered Flower Die to make our own "WILD FLOWERS!"
LOOK:

 
 
  Students can select from the following Title Options 
"Life's an Adventure"  
"Roar" 
" Wild Thing!"
"I'm Wild For You!" 
OR - you can add your own title at a later time.

Students - please bring the following items to class:

12x12 paper Trimmer, Liquid Adhesive, Tape Runner, Small Sharp Scissors
HELMAR 3-D 1/2" ZAP DOTS, Pencil, Mini Mister
The following items will be available for you to share with others - BUT if you would like your own, These are suggested "Bring it or Buy it" Items:
Ranger Distress Stain - Spiced Marmalade,   Ranger Distress Stain - Peeled Paint,
 Royal Coat Dimensional Magic,  Ranger Black Soot and Picket Fence Distress Marker- or any Fine Tip Black  and White Marker,

I HOPE YOU CAN JOIN ME!

((Hugs)) ~ Sherri