Hi there! Welcome to the Social {Media} Butterflies March blog Hop!

If you are following along, you should have hopped here from  Kristin T's blog.
If you are just getting started, please start at the beginning of the blog roll with GLITZ DESIGNS by clicking on the link below to see all of this month's inspiration!

BLOG ROLL FOR THIS MONTH:

Glitz Design http://glitzitnow.com/blog/

Shay http://sbookinshay29.blogspot.com/Corinne

Trisha http://www.trisha-grace.blogspot.com/

Amanda http://www.somethingsorta.blogspot.com/

Kristin T http://rukristin.blogspot.com/

>>> YOU ARE HERE>>>Suz

Jenny http://mycreativelife29.blogspot.com/

Malika http://www.malikakelly.blogspot.com/

Ellie http://scrapbookmamaof4kidz.blogspot.com/

Danielle http://www.somethingsorta.blogspot.com/

Jen http://jenritchie.com

Kristin D http://purplestarfishdesigns.blogspot.com

SMB site http://socialmediabutterflies-papercrafting.blogspot.com 

This month we Butterflies have been creating with Uncharted Waters from Glitz Design and are so excited to be taking part in in their Uncharted Waters Inspiration Week! Be sure to head over to Glitz Design blog to see all of the inspiration there in addition to our blog hop here.

When I first saw the new Glitz products at CHA in Anaheim, I knew this line was a must have for me. And while I was really fortunate to be able to create a make-and-take there and bring home a few little tidbits of the new scrappy love, I was even more excited to get my order in of some of my faves from this line!

In my first project below, I am showcasing not only the fabulous patterned papers from Uncharted Waters, but several of the washi tapes and the fabulous rubber stamp collection. I love this stamp set! And the date stamp has and will be used several times in my creations, not only on layouts but on my Project Life spreads too! I love that you just circle the date that you want and that the years range from 2000 all the way up to 2019! How cool and useful is that!?

Here is the layout I created with this fabulous line:

*Click on any pic to view larger.

 The anchor sentiment in the 6x6 patterned paper was the inspiration for my layout. I knew I wanted it to take center stage on my layout and to have the wave pattern paper to be it's backdrop; stitched for added texture. I like the effect that my imperfect stitches with my sewing machine made. Kind of a rough/choppy waters effect.

I pop dotted the anchor up for added dimension.

Here's a close up of the awesome calendar stamp:

The theme behind my layout was all about my dear hubby, Mick, (at the time of this picture we had been married almost 17 years) and how he is the anchor in my life. I wanted the layout to showcase how much I appreciate his support and love through the years especially during the times when life traversed us through some rocky waters (deaths in the family, job changes, moves, the day-to-day grind, etc). He was and has always been there for me, helping us navigate through it all. So now, when we actually come upon calm waters, and smoother sailing, the fact that he has been there for me during the tsunamis, the  hurricanes, and the choppy waters of day to day life? Well, the smooth sailing is all the more enjoyable. Appreciated. Cherished. Love him for that. 

Sailing on, here is a card that I created with a similar theme. This will make a great anniversary card or card to a friend or family member who has been a big help or super supportive. :)

 I used the anchor stamp from the Uncharted Waters rubber stamp collection and stamped it on the wavy patterned paper from the 6x6 Uncharted Waters paper pad. I punched the image out with a circle punch and backed it with a bit of yellow from the same paper pad and then popped it up with 3d foam adhesive. Taking baker's twine, I stitched through the doily and tied a knot.

Typed my sentiment on some more patterned paper and stitched down over the transparency and pink anchor paper and called it done.

I am still playing with all of the scrap goodness of the Glitz Design Uncharted Waters and hope to get a few more designs posted back here soon! 

In the meantime, head on over Jenny's blog, to continue along your way in this month's hop.

I will be posted more pics of my creations on Twitter and Instagram too. You can follow me there at "SuzMannecke" (no spaces). 

Thanks for stopping by. Please be sure to leave a little love for the other talented contributors!!! 

Happy Good Friday all!

Suz

Project Life | Rad Rollercoaster Ride Edition

Hi All! Back with a Project Life post that will be featured tomorrow on Michelle's Bostinelos' blog. Michelle contacted me recently and asked if I was interested in sharing my Project Life pages over on her blog with others. I replied back that I would love to! Michelle has been sharing her love of Project Life with others by posting a different Project Lifer's layout each week on her blog. Such a fun and inspirational thing to do!

Thanks Michelle for the invite! :)

Now, on to the Week in My Life | Rad Rollercoaster Ride Edition:


Here is my week made with primarily items from Studio Calico's March PL kit; Neverland.

I always like to stamp and to stitch on my Project Life spreads and this week was no different. I used the stamps from the Neverland kit to stamp an ombre pattern with the days of the week stamp. Stitching around the ampersand and other journal cards adds a touch of texture and dimension that I like. *Note: Click on any pic to view larger.

 Loved using the funky washi tape (image below) I ordered from Freckled Fawn by I Lowe Scrap and pairing it with the Lucky journaling card from the kit, Maggie Holmes' embellishment, and a touch of October Afternoon Midway and called the card done.

 This week was a bunch of fun as my littlest and I were invited to take part in a commercial filming of a brand new wood rollercoaster ride at a nearby theme park. The coaster boasts the longest  drop (85 degrees) of any wooden roller coaster in the US (and maybe even the world)! It was definitely a "rad" ride for sure! Cannot wait to go back and ride it again!

It was a lonnnnggg time in coming, but I finally purchased the RadLab plug-in for Photoshop and Photoshop Elements. This plug-in is super quick and easy and a rad way to quickly edit your photos with filters to enhance them and customize them and make them your own. Love it! On sale for $99 (from $149)  plus and extra 15% off with a promo code form Ali Edwards' blog (*ETA Today, Sat. March 23, Ali has a giveaway for Rad Lab AND new 15%off promo offer on her blog for Rad Lab), I definitely knew it was time. This company is also the manufacturer of the trending and popular PicTapGo app for the iPhone. This app essentially does the same thing for iPhone pics as RadLab does for DSLR pics-but it's wayyy cheaper (like $1.99)-so if there are those of you who are primarily taking pics with your iPhones -this is a great way to go. (Not a paid endorsement-I just love the products and wanted to share the news). ;)

 I like to add ephemera to my layouts, and decided to repurpose a  shipping envelope from my PL kit to add the tickets from our adventurous day.

 Right side of spread:

 It was overcast today, so unfortunately I had to make do with what light I had.

 This camera stamp is from Mama Elephant. I added dimension to it by adding a few Midway epoxy brads.

 Loved the flair/badges from Hello Forever too.

I will add Sat and Sunday's pics and journaling and weekly recap in an insert once the weekend ends.

And here's a glimpse of my Spring Break Edition. I have been having some computer issues and will post the rest just as soon as possible. The love card was stitched and stamped "love (Studio Calico Stepping Stones alphas) and then painted with Mr. Huey's Watercooler in an ombre effect. Kind of love the soft feel to it and that it complemented the adorable Amy Tangerine's adorable city paper. I cut into it enough to tuck my photo behind it for added dimension. Love Amy T's puffy stickers too. :)

Don't forget to head over to Michelle's blog to checkout all of the other weeks of inspiration from several other Project Lifers too! Happy Friday y'all!

Winner of Shanna Noel's Sketch Challenge

Is here: http://shannanoel.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-one-with-march-winner.html
Congrats to Stephanie who has one herself a $10 gift certificate to Freckled Fawn!!


Be sure to check Shanna's blog again soon for her latest sketch challenge!
Have a great day!

Little Black Dress March Edition | "A Chance for Luck"

Hi All! Happy Thursday to you! Stopping in with my last design team gallery for Little Black Dress Kit Club. I have enjoyed so very much designing for LBD these past 9 months. Fabulous kits and lovely and talented designers to be affiliated with! So very thankful for the experience and for getting to know better this lovely group of DT ladies. A special thank you to Valerie ONeall and Sarah Beth for all of their behind the scenes help and efforts along the way. Thanks so much and all of the best to you both and to Little Black Dress in the future! :)

Without further delay, here is my March gallery; "A Chance For Lucky":

Just when I thought we might go the whole winter season without any really pretty accumulation of snow, we got lucky and "Old Man Winter" arrived. When I first saw this adorable playing card and the gold covered twigs in the kit, I knew exactly the layout I wanted to create! I first misted on some grey cardstock and then placed the chevron vellum over the top to give the layout a dreamier effect and make the mist splatters appear like the softly fallen snow we had just received. I really like the effect it has as opposed to misting on top of the vellum. Not that I don't like that effect. Just that this was something a little bit different. A change up. ;)

Here's a closeup of the lovely embellishments and stickers in this kit. Loved it all!

A simple card I created with the stitched vellum triangles meant to symbolize deepest sympathy. I really enjoyed that this kit had a nice combination of soft and lovely and some bold and graphic lines! :)

 This layout was my first ever in using a panoramic iPhone pic my DH shot of our newly renovated cabin. I wanted to document what while we've come a long way in the renovation, we aren't quite yet finished but are "Getting There."

 I placed the "You Look Lovely" such that the arrows in the patterned paper would draw one's eye to it as well as then down to my journaling. I often try to incorporate elements into my designs that help lead one's eyes to where I'd like them to focus or to rest on. This is just one example of how I do that.

 This layout was inspired by the awesome Glitz Design patterned paper!! Since the topic was about CHA and finding what things were "On Trend" there, I utilized the paper itself as part of the title work and added stitching to showcase the awesome graphic lines that this paper has. I don't often scrap on the diagonal, so this was a fun challenge for me to step out of my comfort zone a bit. I used mist to paint the vintage camera pink. Just for fun. :)

 Journaling was done with a silver gel pen to not distract from the lines of the layout, but to still ascertain that I got the documentation of this fun event completed. I added more lines to the layout by folding the vellum in a sunburst effect to help draw the eyes to the photo and title work as well.

(*Note: Are you finding yourself tilting your head to look at this? LOL-Sorry! :P ) I really liked that the pp complemented what Shay and I were wearing too. Repetition. Helps strengthen the design.

*Click on any pic to view larger.

And another layout below showcasing some of the awesome new Glitz Design lines. I stamped with Staz On onto the plastic chip and added some machine stitching for added texture without the bulk. Journaling is about our "Sistas' Scrappin' at the Cabin November Birthday(s) Bash" that I host each year. Four out of the 6 of us have birthdays in November. A whole weekend of scrapping, sisterhood, fellowship and fun. Everyone needs a little of that happiness every now and then, right? ;)

 I decided to add another veneer arrow (*not included in the kit) to keep the repetition of the triangle shapes and movement across the layout towards the subtitle.

  

 This little muslin bag (below) prettied right up with the embellishments and trims included in the kit. I love the wood veneers and the mix of pretty trims. A nice balance of masculine and dainty all in one. This bag is going to hold gift cards and a few favorite treats for my hubby in celebration of our wedding anniversary in July. We will be heading to Vegas so I plan to add some lucky "tokens" in there along with a few sentiments about of 18 years as husband and wife. Once he has emptied it out and has used/eaten the contents, I plan to collect and store ephemera from our trip in it. :)

I still have much more of this kit to play with before it is completely maxed out. It really was a fun kit to scrap with! If you haven't already, head on over to Little Black Dress and get yours today! While you are there, please welcome some of the new ladies that are joining the team!!
Take care you.

Suz

Social {Media} Butterflies & Elle's Studio Giveaway Winner!

Hi all! Shay just announced the winner of the SMB February Elle's Studio Blog Hop Giveaway. Here is what Shay posted:

"WINNER!

I apologize ladies, I moved over the weekend, and was slightly behind-- and there's a winner that needed to be announced! Without further delay, Cynthia B you are the winner! I have sent you an e-mail to contact me with your addy, congrats!

>>>>>*****Cynthia B.February 28, 2013 at 11:30 PM

What a sweet memory between you and your hubby! Glad you kept the notes, and I love how you did the hand stitching. Must get some of those Amy Tangerine templates!

Thank you ladies for joining us on the hop, and we hope you'll come back for the exciting things we having coming up!" 

Sketching with Shanna Noel and Freckled Fawn Giveaway

Hi all!

I am sketching along with Shanna Noel again this month and this month proved to be another inspirational month! I absolutely loved the sketch and the other talented contributors interpretation of it. (That's always my favorite thing, seeing other artist's take on the same sketch). :)

Here is Shanna's sketch:

And here is my take on the sketch using at Studio Calico's Front Row Scrapbook kit:

*Click on any pic to view larger.

I pretty much stayed true to this sketch with my layout.  Sometimes I veer wayyyyy off from it and that can lead to fun developments too. ;)

I really loved how the pp complemented the colors in the pic and the sentiment I was feeling for my boys and the beautiful day we had experienced on the beach, playing in the sand.

So, SO much fun playing along again this month. I love using sketches as a jumping off point for my creativity. Thank you Shanna for inviting me!

Be sure to stop on by Shanna's blog as she is giving away a $10 gift certificate to Freckled Fawn for those who play along with the sketch and post on her blog.

Here are the other talented artists contributing this month:

Adrienne Alvis:www.adriennealvis.blogspot.com
Malika Kelly: www.malikakelly.blogspot.com
Trisha Grace Galang: www.trisha-grace.blogspot.com
Melanie Blackburn: http://melblackburn.blogspot.ca/

Shay Tibbs: http://www.sbookinshay29.blogspot.com

Jennie McGarvey: http://jenniemcgarvey.typepad.com/

ALSO, leave a comment here and follow me on Twitter and Instagram "SuzMannecke." I have a small little giveaway of Freckled fawn lovelies for someone who plays along with the sketch and/or follows me here on my blog, on Instagram or on Twitter. Please link your sketch on Shanna's blog and leave a comment here that you have done so. Winner/s will be posted on March 12 on Shanna's blog and here as well! Be sure to check out the other artists' creations and to leave a comment!! You won't want to miss out on the inspiration!!

Good luck and have fun playing along!
xoxo
Suz