Boy Page!

Yes...boy pages are always harder for me. It is so easy to grab a pack of flowers, or some pretty ribbons, and go to town, right? But, more masculine pages....much, MUCH, harder (for me anyway!)

However, I've decided to do a few each month since I do have four boys of my own...and a few of the boys don't particularly want flowers on their pages anymore. hehe.

Once I got going it really wasn't as hard as I thought....with all of the new masks, stamps, sprays, metal pieces, tapes, etc., out on the market it was MUCH much easier, and so MUCH fun!


16
My Boy 


So here's a page about Brayden, my 16 year old. He hates to pose for pics, but he cooperated this day for my sweet friend and photog, Sarah G!

I started by using gesso and some of the new Prima stencils by Donna Downey for a lumpy, textured background. LOVE how it almost looks like "building construction" is going on with that technique. Anyone else see that?

Then I started stamping and adding pieces of paper and washi tape...just to build a few layers up and make it grungier. HINT: let that gesso dry ALL the way before you stamp. For you impatient people (like me) you will be grateful you did! And use a permanent ink (Archival by Ranger) for stamping on glossy surfaces (like a photo.)




I also cut up some triangles from scrap paper and just added them on with a foam square. Stick them where you want people to look: the photo, the title, etc.

Of course Ingvild Bolme's Tiny Junkyard Findings can be used for masculine pages. What a perfect way to add strength and stability to a theme.





I LOVE those new linen-like alphas by Prima too...but I like to stitch through them. 

I HATE finding layouts that are a few years old and one lousy letter is missing. What in the world do you do? So I am stitching through as many as possible now to really get them down! haha.


 


















Then I added some metal pieces by Ingvild and Finnabair. LOVE those metal pieces!  Finish off the piece with a few drops of a color spray. Don't spray it...just open the bottle up and drop some splotches form the tube! (Cover your photo first with scratch paper.)






891671, 922375


Supplies:

• 922375, 922351 DD Art Stencil
• 891671, 891633 Tiny Junkyard Findings
• 562861, 562908 Alphas
• 890995, 891003, 891015 Comfort Craft Chalk Fluid Edgers
• 960353, 960261 Mechanicals by Finnabair
• 960124 Clear Stamp- Sunrise, Sunset
• 564377 Washi Tape Stamp
• 563042 Clear Stamp-Engraver
• 564896 Lifetime Washi Tape
• Star Punch
• Gesso
• Ranger Archival Black & Brown Ink
• shipping tag
• twine
• Color Shine: BlackVelvet
• Glimmer Mist: Dark Denim
• Fabri-Tac by Beacon

My Jump Start Post!!!

I am so excited to be a part of Nathalie's AMAZING Jump Start 2013 Summit!!!

I have a special prize just from me for one of YOU! Just leave a comment on NAT's site where the video is hosted! (not here!!!! Although I would love to hear from you here too!)

So go sign up for Jump Start and get the video emails sent right to you!

And here are a few shots of my projects featured, along with a close-up or two from the video..

Let me know if you have ANY questions, okay?

Challenge-to use NO flowers on my son's page. I always use flowers so lately I have been trying hard to scrap some more masculine pages. Now, my 8 year old son doesn't mind flowers on his pages (YAY), but the 19 year old...that's another story! See the tucked in tag for journaling? I misted lightly over a mask to create some dimension on it.

I also used a few decorative wood elements that I got as a gift from Zarza Laser in Brazil! I loved making the page even more special with them.

Prima's Reflection mirrors are perfect for a guy's page. They are sturdy, yet reflective, adding a unique element to the design.

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Next up is a very special Christmas card I made for Gerry van Gent as part of the Prima DT Christmas card swap! (Shown before, but I love using tags for cards and had these pics handy!) Isn't it exciting to send something to someone who will appreciate all your hard work?

Sometimes when I get stuck making a card I decorate a tag and add it to a card base. It just opens up the path to creativity for me!

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My last project using tags is this sweet layout of my granddaughter's first birthday. I added supplementary photos & trimmed them to fit the chevron bags at the top. I think I stuffed almost 12 extra party photos in those two pockets. Some photos are added to tags for extra journaling space.

The bonus technique can be found on the video using Golden Glass Bead Gel and a Prima mask! You are going to LOVE the glimmer and sparkle it adds to your tags!!!



So-I hope you were inspired just a bit to get your creativity going! THANK YOU for stopping by!

~ Sharon

Highlights of 2012

Facebook created a 2012 Highlight album the other day and it prompted me to make my own...right here...on my blog!

2012 had some really high highs, and some really low lows.  I know life cannot be perfect, but as I get older I wish more and more for the highs and for less of those stinky lows. lol.

So, for 2013, I chose the word "boundaries".

I know God has been prompting me to establish better ones in my life. My hubby, my kids, and I all need it. I am going to do my best to marginalize the negatives...I'm not going to be pulled down by negative people or be tangled in their pointless dramatic webs. Nope. Those are all going outside my new boundaries. I will be looking for positives to bring inside...those who are kind and giving...those who are true friends...those who really care deep in their heart to do good. I know this will help me, and thus, my family, to truly use my gifts to help others and keep my mind, soul, and body healthier.

great link on setting boundaries 

and another fab site 

and one more just for good measure!

So to wrap up 2012 and start 2013 off with a fresh feel I would love to share a few glimpses of 2012 picture-style! I used all of my vacation and comp days to teach and visited quite a few countries in a short time. It was exhausting and refreshing at the same time! I met so many amazing people around the world adding some new friends to my circle. As I traveled I realized we are ALL basically the same. We just live in different worlds with different foods and languages. We all wish for good things and dislike the bad.


January:

My project in the Ranger booth!

February:

My precious granddaughter!

Valentine's Day in Paris with Bill!

March:

Prima's Spring Tour-love these Israeli ladies!

Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem

Camel riding near the West Bank

Floating in the Dead Sea

Teaching in southern France!

Making friends in Geneva!

Teaching fabulous gals in Switzerland

Teaching a huge group of amazing ladies in Spain

Break time in Spain with wonderful gals

Teaching in Norway to a FAB group of girls

In the Netherlands again!

Paris in April!

Teaching beautiful French ladies

Laduree Macarons at the airport for my kiddies!

UK's National Championship win while I was in Paris! (UK is the college in my hometown.)

May-Britt's Art Display

Billy and Brayden's baptism

Britt's college graduation

Grandma and Grandpa visiting us

 

State awards for TBQ

May-TBQ Regionals for the older boys

Loving on Amariah!

May-Billy's home-school graduation

King's Island with the fam

June-lazy summer day with Johnny and Josiah

June-staying up LATE talking with a bestie

July-TBQ Nats with my boys

TBQ Banquet

Brayden winning 2nd place in the 1-on-1

August- CHA Prima booth

Color Run with the kids and friends

August-Britt and Jobes get engaged!

Meeting Leeza Gibbons

Jumping with a few classy ladies!

Musical time with the boys

Brazil Tour with Scrap Sampa!

Papel Arteiro students-so much fun

In Rio having lunch with some special ladies

Finding my Starbucks mugs with Rommel and Cari

Rio

I am just not sure what we were doing.

Classic Rio

September-Brazil Tour continues

Meu Scrap staff and interpreters!

Sao Paulo Scrap Sampa classes

Scrap Sampa classes day 2-amazing!

shopping in Sao Paulo

Sao Paulo Cathedral

hehe-Brazilian models

Scrap Sampa good-bye. sniff

Russia Classes

With Pom and Elina in Moscow

October-Moscow

St Basil's

With Elena in the subways

After Russia I met Bill in Belgium!

Meeting the talented Anna Dabrowska again!

First time meeting Iris! Love meeting my Prima girls!

Prima make-n-takes in Belgium

Venice!

Hubby and I skipped over to Venice for 2 short days!

Home again and making pies with Amariah

Pumpkin carving with the fam

And Breanna thinks I am dramatic?

Britt and Jobes with their pumpkin

November-Miss Amariah

Family Picture day-the guys

my girls

Will & Breanna

Little Miss Amariah

Bill and I

our whole clan

Britt and Jobes

Billy

Josiah

Jonathan

Jon, Bethany and Amariah

Brayden

The Galliers announcing a NEW grandbaby for us!

December-Christmas Day with the people who are near and dear!