Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Sharing Some Thoughts | Glitz Design: Wild & Free Collection


Hi All! I am back to share with you some of the latest COGC store items; the Glitz Wild & Free Collection. I love that this line has a nice mix of pastels along with bold, graphic lines and patterns.
For this layout, I used the Wild & Free Alphabet and Word Stickers  and the Wild & Free 6x6 Paper Pad as the foundation to my layout.

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Can I just say...the alphabets in the sticker sheet? I love them all and love that they are varied in size!
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I pop-dotted the "Be Yourself" and the two circle sentiment stickers for added dimension.
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The "wild at heart" square  (top right) is a fold up journaling card. This will house some personal thoughts about my sister Linda. A bit about what she would say to me, to her kiddos, to her friends and family left behind. Things like:

Be Brave.
Be True.
To Others.
To Yourself.
Be You.

She lived her life that way.
Daring to be different.
To be brave.

To stand out in a crowd (even at the slight embarassment of her family members and friends). ;) 
To wear what she wanted to wear. 
To say what she wanted to say or what needed to be said and what needed to be heard.
To be true to herself and true to others. IMG_6511
In this photo she was actually skiing 360s down the mountain on our last Christmas vacation together. She was always goofing and making people smile and laugh until it hurt. This picture was taking only weeks before she passed on. 
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I am sharing with you this because I think that while it is fun to play with pretty paper and pretty things, it is also important to never lose sight of the reason why one scrapbooks

Sometimes it isn't about using the newest product, or trying to re-invent the wheel. 

Sometimes it is simply about leaving a recording of our lives. Or in this case, my sister's life and the impact that she had on others.

I am sharing this layout with you today because I wanted to share a little bit about how I use product to showcase, if you will, my life. My family. 

In this layout, I decided to add a bit of Stickles to the dreamcatcher in the top left corner. I did this not only because it made the dreamcatcher look as if snow had fallen on it, but also to symbolize the bling my sister often wore that she was so fond of. The more bling (jewelry-expensive or cheap, it didn't matter, only that she was wearing lots of it) the better. The sequins, of course, are also meant to symbolize her bling. The onward and upward circle sticker represents what I know she would want us/me to do in our lives.
 To move onward.
 To keep climbing up the mountain of life. (Or in this case skiing it.) 

The "be brave" sticker represents that she would want us to be happy and to be brave and adventurous and to keep on living. loving. laughing. 
These are just some of the words I think she would say. 

No, these are the words I know she would say.

Thank you for reading along this far while I shared a little bit of my heart here today. I appreciate you listening and hope you make the most of this Wednesday and that you find yourself a bit braver and bit more adventurous and a bit more true today. :)

xo,
Suz

Friday, September 20, 2013

Come On Get Crafty | It All Started With A Sketch | Winner!

Sorry for the late hour. I have been away from my computer today. The winner of the spot in the Come On Get Crafty Online Class, It All Started With A Sketch is........




Pascale CreaCollage!!! Please email Nicole at comeongetcrafty@gmail.com to notify her that you are a winner and to get login and class info. Thanks so much!!


Happy Friday!!!

Suz

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Guest Designs for September With Citrus Twist Kits | *Magical

Hello everyone! Happy Tuesday. Today I am back sharing several of my Guest Designs using September's Citrus Twist Kits, Magical.

This kit was such a joy to create with! I have nearly killed the kit after several projects, many of which are shown below:







This was my take on this month's sketch below:

 I rarely do a two page layout, but these chalkboard stickers from the embellishment kit were begging to become a collage of all things fall.
 Here is a close-up of the left side of this two page layout:

I used a white Sharpie Poster Paint marker to journal on the chalkboard stickers. Really like the effect it had on each.

 I loved the graphic lines of this Fancy Pants Designs paper (below) and couldn't wait to stitch and stamp on it and pair it up with the DL embellishments and enamel dots included in the kits.


 And who says you can't create a boy layout and have pink and flowers on it? ;) For this layout I placed a sheet of vellum over the Hello Again paper to tone and soften down the pink hues. Then I misted (drew with the applicator of the mist bottle)  some circles and added drops of mist and let dry. I stitched in a circular/oval pattern to attach vellum to the pp beneath and then began layering and adding embellishments. Journaling about this little Nook on our home, and my son's and cat's affinity for it, was placed on shipping tag beneath the photo. I raised up a few of the Carta Bella Hello Again stickers for added depth.


I'll be back with a few more of my September Magical creations soon including a PL spread. Be sure to check out all of the awesome kits that are available this month at Citrus Twist 
here:


Suz


Monday, September 16, 2013

GIVEAWAY @ Come On Get Crafty Blog Hop | It All Started With A Sketch

Hi All! Happy Monday to you! Today Come On Get Crafty is hosting a blog hop in celebration of it's first online class; It All Started With A Sketch.



Have you been hopping along? If so, you should have arrived here from Diane's blog.


If you are just getting started, be sure to begin at the blog hop's start here. 


I am really excited about this class because, for me, sketches are a great jumping off point to get my creativity flowing. And, I always love seeing how others interpret a sketch and how different and unique each contributors' take is on the very same sketch!




Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday a new sketch and layout examples from the class contributors will be delivered to your inbox! There will also be a private Flickr gallery and group for our sketch class! It is going to be lots of fun!
Make sure you visit the other Come On Get Crafty designers and the Come On Get Crafty blog to enter for more chances at a spot in the class. Here is the blog hop order.
Suz Mannecke <<< YOU ARE HERE



Besides the Come On Get Crafty Creative Team's contributions to this class, these lovely and talented ladies  (below) are also joining us! We are so very excited to have them join us! Welcome ladies! :)





Next up is the lovely Melissa Mann

*******Please continue to hop along each COGC Creative Team Member's blog and to leave a little love (comment on each blog) along the way to increase your chances at winning a free spot in this class! Each CT member is giving away a spot in the class! How awesome is that?***********

Good luck! You can comment up until midnight CST Thursday. Winner will be announced on the Come On Get Crafty blog on Friday, September 20th!

For more news, inspiration, and updated information follow @SuzMannecke and @ComeOnGetCrafty on Twitter and Instragram. :)



Saturday, September 14, 2013

Elle's Studio September DT Gallery

Hi all! Happy weekend! I am back sharing with you my designs for Elle's Studio September Design Team Gallery.














This layout was a fun one to create as it was inspired by the funny text my YS sent me. *Click on any pic to view larger. 





If you haven't already checked out the Elle's Studio DT Gallery lease do so as my fellow DT members have some pretty awesome inspiration to share with you! 

On another note, Citrus Twist September Kits are available now! There are several awesome choices with add ons and stamps featuring many new CHA-S releases from Kaitlin Sheaffer's Hello Again Carta Bella line as well as Dear Lizzy and more. Melissa Stinson's manufacturing her own wood veneers and they are included in this month's kit. Jen Boom has her own set of stencils with TCW as well. Be sure to check them out here.

Happy weekend! Happy crafting y'all!


Suz

Friday, September 13, 2013

Remembering 9.11 | Jenni Bowlin Studios


I have often thought many times over the years about documenting this day, but have put it off because it is still so raw to me. I am sure I am not alone in these thoughts. But, I decided, it was time for me to get started. Each in his or her own time.
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SHOP ITEMS USED: Jenni Bowlin Tiny Trims Gold, Jenni Bowlin Sequins, Studio Calico Glitter Stars, Bella Blvd patterned paper

 *****PHOTO CREDIT: NICOLE GOULD US AIR FORCE*****
I began by laying down some modeling paste for my base and then began painting with metallic gold watercolors over it. Before it dried I placed some vellum stars and gold sequins onto the modeling paste (which acted like an adhesive). COGC911.2

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Then I applied the gold banner sentiment rub-ons from JBS. Next, I dropped mist splatters using Heidi Swapp's gold Color Shine and added the vellum numbers for the date (The vellum stars and numbers were cut from my Silhouette).
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Then I added Studio Calico glitter stars and Amy Tangerine skyline rub-on, painting in the windows of the building with the metallic gold watercolor paint. I backed my photo with Bella Blvd pp and added the photo to a folded 6x8 piece of cardstock where my journaling will be placed. (Many strong feelings to document as I was very pregnant with my Ethan at the time and my DH had been to the Pentagon the Fri before the attacks and had flown across country to San Fransisco the very day before the attacks. Many emotions. Too difficult to document for me back then. Hopefully I can now. Twelve. Years. Later). 

So, where were you when the world stopped turning? Have you documented this day in some way?


Thanks for stopping by. Love and Blessings.

Suz

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Elle's September's Exclusive Kit and Designer Gallery is Live!

Hi all! Today is Reveal Day at Elle's Studio and the fun new September's Kit is available for purchase now while they last.

Here a look at this month's kit:

And my Project Life pages made with it: (*Click on any image to view larger).

 Back to school week for the boys. I decided to snap a few pics of the boys' new clothes along with the obligatory "Front Porch First Day" pictures! LOL

Decided to break out some eyelets for this journaling pocket. I have to admit, it was a bit fun stitching this together.


I decided to add the tag from my YS's new rolling backpack. Good thing we did go with a larger size backpack as it is currently completely packed with school items!




This card talks about YS's summer reading reward-Gator hoodie. The first one was "damaged" (translation: stolen in transit) and I journaled about it here along with a photo beneath of dear friend's "going away" luncheon.



The Daily Routine card from this month's Elle's Studio Kit came in handy for documenting and hiding my oldest son's school schedule. It is stapled with Tiny Attacher and flips up for easy viewing.



I used a few of the 100% Sweet Stamps (from the Elle's Studio Shop) to add a little extra to this tag.



It has been a fun month of creating with Elle's Studio designs. My whole gallery is up here along with all of my fellow DT members'! Be sure to stop on by and leave a little love for them!

Back later with more of my creations here too!

Happy Tuesday!
Suz