My Valentine

Another challenge this month was a color one requiring some use of red. I tried something a little different that became a Valentine for my sweetie.

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Design Credits:
All from the Oscraps Collab It's A Wonderful Life

For part of my inspiration see Adryane's "this and that"

Peace and Joy - and a Happy Winter Solstice

After today, the days will begin getting longer! Hurray for that. Wishing you all the joy of the season.

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Designer Credits:
-background, frame, pinecone brush, gold paint, white berries: ArtPlay Palette Christmas Magic by Anna Aspnes
-gold swirl: ArtPlay Palette Santa Nicolas Add-On No. 1 by Anna Aspnes
-gold notion, word art: Merry megaPack by Dido Designs
-green paint, music tape: 52 Inspirations {2012} Week 52
-red bunch: Autumn Sonnet by Mary Pop

Gilded by the Light

I did another page for the January color challenge with its warm colors using a photo I took back in December when the camera challenge featured light. I used a sky photo taken further down the street at that time, but really liked this too.

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Designer Credits:
-papers, stitching, frame: Fallen Sun by TaylorMade Designs
-moon: Winter Escape by TinaMarie Creations
-pebbles: Sunrise, Sunset by Fei-fei's Stuff
-leaf pattern: Profiles no. 2 by Fei-fei's Stuff
fonts: Lithograph, Pea Anderson

Light of a Late Afternoon Sun

Last week we went out one sunny afternoon and found fantastic ice formations along the lake. In the warm light of the late afternoon sun they looked enchanted. We birded west to the lakefront airport as the sinking sun created a colorful sky. At the airport we saw three Short-eared Owls up and hunting. I took lots of photos of the ice and sky and have created two pages from them so far. The ice photo was done for the January color challenge which featured just such warm colors. The sky photos were my attempt at this week's AnnaLift.

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Designer Credits:
-background paper, brown strip: Italian Coffee Blends by Creations by TinaMarie
-other papers, paint splotches, stitching, flower: Terra Toni by Maya de Groot
-floral stamp: Fallen Sun by TaylorMade Designs
fonts: Snell Bd BT, Shotgun BT

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Designer Credits:
all Anna Aspnes
-paper, brad: ArtPlay Palette Santa Nicholas Add-On 1
-edging, brush: ArtPlay Palette Ablaze
-outline brush, frame, transfer: ArtPlay Palette Sophistica
-leaf brush: Etched Leaves 1
-text brush: ArtPlay Palette Encapsulate
fonts: Pea Anderson, More Enchanted Prairie Dog, KrooKed

Decorations on Display

Color challenge this month is four colors only plus black and white. I wasn't too excited by them, but think I found a way to use them to accent a photo I got from a store's pretty display of lots of Christmas decorations. They were so glittery and bright.

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Designer Credits:
-green papers: Oscraps Collab Family
-gray paper: Subdue by Creations by TinaMarie
-frame, green flower: Free to Fly by Vera Lim
-large leaf: MultiMedia Leaves No. 2 by Anna Aspnes
-pink flower: Happy to be Me by Lydia Designs
-red branch:  Oscraps Collab Life
fonts: Pea Aimee, James Fajardo

Memories of Ethel

This month's color challenge isn't about the colors, but about what we're thankful for and whatever colors that entails. I've used a photo I scrapped before -- but not like this! I love the photo and how it captures some of Ethel's irrepressible spirit. She wasn't always easy, but she was special. I've always been glad I got to take her on a birding trip to New Mexico when her bad knee limited her ability to participate in a normal birding tour. We had a great time! The photo was taken in New England (I think) a while later. Next year will see the 100th anniversary of her birth. Amazing!

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Designer Credits:
by Anna Aspnes
-background: ArtsyBlendz Snow Paperie No. 2
-photo mask: ArtPaly Palette No. 10
-large brush, black flower: ArtPlay Palette Encapsulate
-small brush, red flower: ArtPlay Palette Barren Sunrise
-word art: ArtPlay Palette Encapsulate by Dido Designs
font: Pea Beth

Plants Familiar and Exotic

For a weekly scraplift challenge I had to use a photo of a plant called hyacinth bean that is very attractive, but is special for its bright purple seedpods. Next I featured our standby crabapple that didn't do well this year, most of its fruit missing. That was for the monthly color challenge in the category of fall colors.

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Designer Credits:
lift of "The Autumn Came" by Geraldine (Dady)
ArtPlay Palette No. 10 by Anna Aspnes
ArtPlay Palette Autumn Haze by Anna Aspnes
fonts: Snell Bold BT, Minya Nouvelle

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Designer Credits:
-background, stitching border: Whispering Trees by TinaMarie
-frame, other papers, glitter: Blessing by Lydia Designs
-leaf stamp: Fallen Sun by TaylorMade Designs
fonts: Angel Tears, Huxtable

Fabulous Orange Mushrooms

Last week we drove through Lake View and were surprised to see a big old oak tree ringed with bright orange mushrooms. I had to take lots of photos of them. That led to a series of scrapbook pages. The multi-photo one shows the general scene and uses a Quick Page and Template. The identity of the mushrooms and a little about them is in a color challenge page. A color or palette was not specified, but we had to "lift" a color from our photo. Last, a designer new to Oscraps has a free kit and a challenge to use it. I think it is perfect for me and my favorite photo of the lot.

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Designer Credits:
-template: Simply Quick No. 39 by Sue Cummings
-background paper (blended with photo) from Sketchbook Artistry No. 1 by Sue Cummings
fonts: harrison, Lithograph

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Designer Credits:
-background & orange papers, stamp from Rachel by Lydia Designs
-glitter, brown paper from Blessing by Lydia Designs
-masks for papers from ArtPlay Palette No. 10 by Anna Aspnes
-orange dots from ArtPlay Palette Saffron Villa Freebie by Anna Aspnes
-doodle from Grafitti by Fei-fei's Stuff
-plant drawing from Profiles No. 2 by Fei-fei's Stuff
fonts: Angel Tears, James Fajardo, Kartika

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Designer Credits:
ArtPlay Palette Saffron Villa Freebie by Anna Aspnes
fonts: Dungeon, Erie Black, Erie

Welcome to July

I always remember July 1st as my mother's birthday. She would have been 101 today! The weather is beautiful, our house is getting painted (though they knocked off early today and won't be back until Tuesday), and there are scrapbook challenges for a new month. For some reason the color challenge to do a page predominantly yellow made me instantly think of a 40-year-old photo that I have always liked. In the parking lot at the beach on the Virginia shore I wanted to photograph a good-looking Laughing Gull. I threw out a potato chip to lure it closer. Suddenly the sky filled with a whole flock of them. Here is the picture of the first one in a very summery layout.

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Designer Credits:
-background paper from Solid and Understated Lite by TaylorMade Designs
-bright yellow and patterned papers, rick rack from Oscraps Collab TrOpical
-flower, swirl from Stamp My Heart by Kitty Designs
-floral brad from Sketchbook Artistry no. 1 by Sue Cummings
-staples from Sunrise Sunset by Fei-fei's Stuff
fonts: Sybil Green, Staccato222 BT, harrison, Boopee, Blue Highway

Iris in My Sister's Garden

I took photos of iris in my sister's garden on May 25th. None of the tall-bearded varieties were in bloom yet, so they were mostly standard dwarf and intermediate bearded. They are always so beautiful. The June challenges have given my the opportunity to scrap a few of the pictures.

On the left is a scraplift of one of the members and the right is a color challenge. Don't forget to click on the images to see them in a larger size.
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Designer Credits:
[LEFT]-lift of "Enjoy the Smell" by ViVre
-background from Stamp My Heart by Kitty Designs
-tattered text sheet from Sketchbook Artistry No. 1 by Sue Cummings
-gray paper, frame from Life Collab by Merkeley Designs
-butterflies (with chrome effect) from Life Collab by MaryPop Designs
-circle stamp from Corinthia by Kitty Designs
-trail from Trail It by Merkeley Designs
-button from First Street by Miss Crow's Magickal Emporium
-pearl tree from Winter Escape, Creations by tinamarie 
fonts: Chicago House, Minya Nouvelle
[RIGHT]-gray paper, gold paper, bird, scalloped border: Primavera by Maya de Groot
-floral paper, leaves: Corinthia by Kitty Designs
-circle design paper: My Playlist by Biograffiti
-white paper: Stamp My Heart by Kitty Designs
-journaling stamp: Rachel Stamps by LydiaK Designs
fonts: Mufferaw, Pea Anderson

The Pleasure of Nesting Robins

American Robins are so numerous among our human dwellings and a pleasure to share space with. Sometimes they will follow us around the yard when we might be digging something up for them. Right now we can look at a nest on the window ledge next door, but so far they aren't incubating there. Last Saturday we came across a nest in Lake View with the female sitting. She wasn't very concerned and of course our pictures are taken with telephoto lenses from a little distance. Dick took this photo and since she is looking over her shoulder you completely miss the distinctive bright orange front. I used it for a color challenge that also required lifting a page from another digi-scrapper named Trudy.

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Designer Credits:
-left of LO by Trudy (taxed4ever): Quote Challenge
-background: The Gift by Fei-fei's Stuff
-word art, border: Sunrise Sunset by Fei-fei's Stuff
-mask: Bohemian August by Miss Crow's Magickal Emporium
-gray swirl: Fresh Start by Ashalee Wall
-brown swirl (darkened): FALLing In Love by ZuzanaH Designs
-leaves: Shimmer by Kitty Designs
font: Century Gothic

Owl in the Details

I couldn't resist this title! After our anniversary dinner we spotted small carvings just inside the door. On one side it was an owl so I had to get its picture. I used it for a color challenge that had to include all four colors: nearly black and white, a tan and a nice blue. The colors are even similar to what I used for the dinner layout.

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Designer Credits:
-pale background: Like Home by Fei-fei's Stuff
-blue paper, flower: Ohana by Biograffiti
-leaves: Shimmer by Kitty Designs
-dark paper: Solid and Understated by TaylorMade Designs
-brown paper: Winter Escape from Creations by tinamarie
fonts: LatinWidD, Kastler, Circus

New Challenges, one in red and white

February is a new month with new challenges. I've got two layouts to share on this snowy Groundhogs Day. We had a few more inches of snow Monday night but not too much during the day. Then last night we got freezing rain and in the wee hours we got up to about 35F and the icicles were dripping. This afternoon we've started to get swirling snow, but they don't predict we'll get a large accumulation. Not like Tulsa where Jim has over a foot of snow and lots of drifting, the city nearly at a standstill.

So, on to something bright and cheery! The Oscraps color challenge this month is to use only red and white (with accent of 1 or 2 colors allowed) and NO PHOTO! Wow, that took some thinking, but what else than a bird for me to scrap about?

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Designer Credits:
-template (with stitching): Four Play No. 1 by Biograffiti
-red paper, patterned papers, wings (lightened): My Playlist by Biograffiti
-white paper, heart doodle, bling: Shimmer by Kitty Designs
-bird (recolored): Stamp My Heart by Kitty Designs
fonts: Stereofidelic, PTBarnum BT
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Oscraps has a new designer spotlight now on Paislee Press & One Little Bird. There are freebies and a challenge to scrap quotes. Check it out HERE. Most of the layouts are quoting cute kid sayings and some inspirational quotes, but I've gone off and done one of our favorite Bob Dylan lines.

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Designer Credits:
-template: Conversation piece no. 3 by paislee press and one little bird
-background paper (blended), stitched element: Winter Escape by Tinamarie
-other blended paper, brown paper: The Gift by Fei-fei's Stuff
-clipped paper: Fresh Start by Ashalee Wall
fonts: Boopee, Huxtable, BlacklightD

Chase Away Gray Winter Days

The city greenhouse has such wonderful things on display and in the winter the humid heat and exotic blossoms are really a way to brighten these dismal winter days. In December we visited very briefly and you've already seen some of the poinsettias on display. Among them were some other lovely flowers and I loved a photo of a bird-of-paradise. A January color challenge gave me the push to get it onto a page. Given all the new snow that fell today with more to follow, it was really nice to play with these pretty colors.

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Designer Credits:
-yellow papers: November Rain by TaylorMade Designs
-magenta paper and flower: Awakening by TaylorMade Designs
-lavendar paper: Happy To Be Me by Lydia Designs
-frame: Party On Blog Train by Cinzia Designs
-design: Something Pop by Fei-fei's Stuff
fonts: Girls are Weird, HansHand

Hairy Woodpecker layout redesigned

In September of 2008 when I was taking a photo a day and scrapping it I was fortunate enough to get some pictures of a Hairy Woodpecker in our yard. At that time I did a layout with them for that month's color challenge using very vivid colors. I've sometimes thought it would be nice to redo it with more natural tones. I've just given it a try with this result:

I kept the photos pretty much as they were and did a design much like the original but with very different colors and an earthier look. The lower left photo is a little hard to interpret, but it is the bird in flight with its back to the camera.
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Designer credits: Sugarplum Paperie - Heart of Thankfullness; fonts: Wilderness, Switzerland Narrow

Fascinated by feathers

Oscraps has a color challenge this month in which the only requirement is that the layout be done in just two colors (NOT black and white). I had fun with one in green and purple, but thought I'd have another go at the concept. This time I've worked in green and brown, pretty natural colors for me.

I always am drawn to fallen feathers, even ones like this that come from gulls or geese.
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Designers Credits:
-background paper: Lydia Designs - Party On Oscrap blog train
-green paper: Fei-fei's Stuff - Party On
-pale paper: ninascraps designs - Party On
-maple seeds: ZuzanaH Designs - FALLing in Love free sampler
-design: Ashalee Wall - Fresh Start
fonts: Earwig Factory, Snell Bd BT, Stereofidelic