Friday, March 1, 2013

First Ever Crop Circles Blog Hop!


 
Hi Everyone! I'm Rhea, welcome to my page! If you are participating in the Crop Circles March blog hop you should have come from Kelly Klapstein’s blog. Don't worry,I have a list at the bottom of the post! Crop Circles is a group of women who share layouts, ideas, tips, and friendship. We challenge each other monthly to keep us on our toes. Cathy Caines is the ringleader for this one. The sketch for the hop comes from Sketchbook365 , with our varied styles this is bound to be fun. My non-blog partner for today is my friend Natasha Connolly.

Here's the sketch:
Initially I had different plans for the sketch as I make a lot of tags (and I may do that layout later still), my creativity took another route. If you’ve been following my blog you've seen that I've been scrapping our Fall family photos and wanted to keep up with that for this week’s posting. My Authentique stash was next to me (pilled on my lap, covering the couch, the cat, and Warren). I really wanted to include the large journaling sticker as “A unique blend of wishes and dreams come true” since it reminds me of my children. The base is from the “Splendid” line, the teal 6 x 6 sheets are “Free Bird”, the card stock label from “Genuine”, and the navy paper and stickers from “Original”.
To create the layout I inked the edges of the base paper with my Tim Holtz distress ink in Gathered Twigs, straight from the pad. I layered stickers on my Ranger non-stick mat or back them in card stock. I like to glue last, as many of you know, but I do glue page elements to each other just not to the base. The American crafts stickers I wanted to use were an 'e' short. I grabbed a color that nearly matched and smushed ink on top same as I did in Wednesday's post. Since my elements bring not attached to the base I could move them and add ink to the background. I used Tattered Angels mist to create droplets by simply unscrewing the sprayer and flicking the straw at the paper.  
 
 
I drew the hearts with the straw on the base paper and let it dry. Then I decided I didn't like them. Crap. How can I fix it? I thought “I know, I’ll trace it with my Picket Fence Distress marker”. I went outside the line. Double crap. Then I had to fix that by using the marker to highlight the elements of my layout. Then it looked weird. Whole darn litter box of crap. I wasn't about to give up, since by that time I had glued it all down. I stared at the TV for a bit, Richard Armitage was on MI-5/Spooks shirtless, showing off his character’s black line Russian prison tattoos. Inspired, I decided to grab my Black Soot Distress marker to contrast the highlights. It was much better. Lastly I added Glossy Accents to them really make them pop.


Supply List: Authentique patterned paper and stickers; Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Inks, and Markers; Ranger Glossy Accents; Tattered Angels Mist; Paper Valise twine; unknown vintage trim and buttons; Bazzill Basics cardstock; American Crafts Thickers; Best Creation Foam.

I'd like to introduce my blog hop partner Natasha Connolly!
"Press F5: Refresh/Reload.
After having a falling out with my scrappy supplies, we decided that we both filed for separation. We have had a year of just being on quasi-talking terms and I am happy to say that we have reunited and are now relearning things about each other. We needed a reload! To start the process I first began redecorating the space that I share with the kids – they call it the play room, I call it the scrap room – either way - we both PLAY! We recycled some old furniture and wall art to make it more cohesive with the “PINK” theme and of course added some new items for good measure! While EVERYTHING isn’t ready for a reveal quite yet, I was super excited to get started on the sketch provided! I was further inspired by The Paperie’s Mojo Monday: Bash your Stash Challenge  – and after picking out some old papers and embellishments (some from 2004), I started creating. I remembered how much I love PAPER and that I really did miss it more than I even thought. 
Then, I saw it, the Glue Glider Pro, standing proudly in my tool carousel, just screaming to be used, still smelling of cellophane. Even though he was well over a year old, I only just removed him from his packaging when I was reorganizing my scrap space days earlier. To top it all off, he was PINK! If you know me at all, you KNOW… I LOVE PINK!
 Ironically, God blessed me with a house full of testosterone, a husband, two wonderful boys, and incidentally, all of our pets, including the fish, have been male. Alas, I digress. I completed the layout in record time (for me anyway) and Boo (the youngest-testosterone filled-youngest child – who has an uncanny resemblance to hubby and myself) also had fun creating. He, however, is much more into different mediums – he loves paint, clay, playdough, and markers. It was a success for all, Bubba (eldest testosterone laden child who, even with a quick glance at him, you would see myself and Hubby oozing out of him – looks and personality), Boo, AND myself had a FABULOUS time just being together and creating. What about Hubby? He LOVED that I was FINALLY using all that “scrap stuff” that was taking up space, and he even pretends to like the PINK curtains! That is REAL love huh? What else did I learn? I’m a “stand-up” scrapper – who knew?

I loved the sketch, the papers I selected, the photo, AND the people in it – talk about setting myself up for success! To take it one step further, I get to post on Rhea’s blog – she IS the ReAson I FINALLY scrapped! Thanks for being a friend, lending an ear, and helping me ReAlize that I NEEDED to scrap again! F5 - I'm Refreshed!"
Supply List:
Cardstock/Patterned Paper: Bazzil Red and Black, Unknown White, Bella Blvd: Making the Team
Mists/Inks/Stamps: Color Mist: Mister Huey's Calico White, Sprinklers: Holiday Style: Spruce Tree, The Crafter's Workshop: 12x12 Template: Chicken Wire, Ranger Archival Ink: Jet Black, Sharpie: Fine Black, DCWV: Black Rub-On Stitching, Autumn Leaves Stampology:Borders Celebration
Embellishments: Little Yellow Bicycle:Clear Cuts Journalling Pieces: Calendar, Wild Asparagus:My Mind's Eye: "Handsome" Tag, Scenic Route: Chipboard: Summer Collection: Arrows, Bella Blvd: Making the Team: Alpha & Bits.


Be sure to leave a comment on this blog for a chance to win the prize listed below, and on each blog in the hop to win the grand prize ($75 value).  The next stop is Catherine Stockley. The Hop is open from March 1 to March 3 to qualify to win a prize.
 

Enjoy!
Blog Hop List:
1. Cheryl Ashworth with guests Shar Strahan & Brande Strahan
*3.You are here* Rhea Skomorowski and Natasha Connolly
9.  Lori Smith and blog partner Elaine Lambe Beck
 10. Liz Davis
11. Cathy Caines and guest Rexene Lockyer

 

Shar Strahan & Brande Strahan - partner with Cheryl Ashworth
Kelly Klapstein-http://kellycreates.blogspot.com/
Rhea Skomorowski - http://www.rheaski.blogspot.ca/
Natasha Connolly (partner with Rhea)
Catherine Stockley- http://catherinelovesstamps.blogspot.ca/
Michelle Marks - http://michellesscrapbits.blogspot.ca/
Darlene Head Whalley http://cherrytat.blogspot.com/
Corina Mayo Thorne - http://craftycorina.blogspot.com/
Sara Case Strickland - http://wp.me/p280bG-FE
Lori Smith - http://itsabouttimeblogspot.wordpress.com/
Elaine Lambe Beck (partner with Lori Smith)
Liz Davis - http://piecesofmyeverydaylife.wordpress.com/
Rexene Lockyer (Send to Cathy Caines)
Cathy Caines - http://cathycaines.blogspot.ca/

35 comments:

  1. Hi Rhea,
    First of all I got to say.. you have a wonderful distributive story telling ability I loved how you described your testosterone filled house.. LOL made me giggle! Its great to see a bunch of ladies having fun with there new hop! And a very cute and creative hop name too BTW!
    Having all that testosterone you must have the male layouts down to a T!.. I'm male layout challenged!! lol Give me pink! Put a male pic in front of me and my mind goes BLANK!! lol Anyway Thanks for sharing your work Its always fun to see other ladies work and styles!!

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  2. Wow! You ladies rocked that sketch! I love how both layouts are similar (because of the sketch) but the 'style' is so different...and I LOVE both! LOL :)
    (PS: Tash, stand up scrapers drive me crazy...BUT, I realized that while I sit to scrap, I stand up for Project Life! hahaha

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    1. LOL, If I am not on the couch surrounded so I can't move, I stand too!

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  3. I always enjoy pursuing your layouts because there is always so much to take in - love seeing the kids - and I love that you and hubby appear a lot in your pages as well - I tend to forget about the adults! You rock the mediums - I think my little Boo would love to play at your house!!!

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  4. What fun! I love blog hops. It is so much fun to see how each of you use the sketch. All the different embellishments. Wonderful. Fun post! I'll be smiling all day!

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  5. Beautiful job ladies !! Isn't this sketch super fun ?!?

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  6. Rhea, you know that I've got a love affair going with Authentique as well. Something about that paper just pushes all my buttons. I love your layout! Natasha, I am so glad you are back on the band wagon again. Love the layout! Great job ladies!!!!

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  7. Awesome, awesome, awesome!! Glad to hear you're back in the swing of things Tash...missed your fabulous layouts!!

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  8. Loving this Rhea and Natasha - you really hit it out of the park. Two different styles but oh so awesome. Scraplift worthy, as usual!

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  9. Rhea, I loved your story about the "crappy" hearts, LOL! You turned them into an awesome accent, and I love the ink splatters, too!

    Natasha, glad you made up with your scrap supplies! Love your page, especially the black arrows & red accents!

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  10. Ha! It's working! Love both LO! Rhea~ really love the messiness of the background! Tash~ Love how those hearts pop off the page!!

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  11. Love how you both used the sketch and your layouts are so different! Fabulous work!

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  12. Great job Rhea and Tash! Love the LO's!

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  13. Thanks for sharing your work. Great layouts!

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  14. Both beautiful layouts!! Rhea, I just love your style. Natasha, so glad that you made up with your scrappy supplies, you two are great together!! I also love both of your blogging abilities, so fun to read!!

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  15. Your photo is adorable and I love the grunged up inky technique, Rhea! Now, why doesn't Natasha have her own blog?? She is quite the storyteller! Love the clean lines of your layout, Natasha, and that photo is stellar!

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    1. She actually does, but hasn't posted in a long time.

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  16. Fabulous job by both of you! Loved reading your posts, too :)

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  17. Love the squares of layering!

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  18. Beautiful layouts, ladies. Love the comedic commentary:-)

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  19. Rhea...Love your LO!!!!The misting is awesome. You did a great job with the layering and the colors you used were beautiful. I love the humor you added to your blog post and I loved how you made (what my friend Cathie Reed would say) a "flopportunitiy" - you turned a mistake around to make it work!!!

    Tash...yout LO is simply beautiful. I like the misting and masking on your LO and I enjoyed reading about you and the kids. I alternate between standing and sitting when I scrap, especially the past month..hope to see more of your creations soon.

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  20. Beautiful Los!!! Rhea , love your running commentary on all the ooppsies and love how it all came together in the end. Tash...you crack me up...a woman surrounded by that much testosterone NEEDS a bit of pink in her life!

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  22. Great layouts, ladies. Thanks for the inspiration.

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  23. Love the misting and arrows, great layouts!

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  24. Two fantastic takes on this sketch. Love the close-up photos!

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  25. Both awesome layouts! I pinned the love one because I want to lift. thanks for the inspiration!

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  26. arent you just a lucky duck! enjoy your new space!!

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  27. Rhea, I adore your layout almost as much as I like reading your process :)
    Yay, Natasha is back, nice work lady!

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  28. Great layout! Love your interpretation of the sketch!

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  29. Totally gorgeous Sketchbook365 layout! I love that colour combo and the way you have splattered the ink. TFS

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