Another Blog Hop!

Welcome to the Faber-Castell and myStamp BOX Partner Blog Hop!

If you just found our event, please begin your journey on the Faber-Castell blog.

See how well Faber-Castell and myStamp BOX products work together!

START AT: Faber-Castell
Marsha Valk 
 Linda Abadie
Jaine Drake
Janet Zeppa
Els Brigé
Jolene Johnston

Rita Barakat 

--->Jennifer Matott 

Mou Saha 

Isolde Pyncket
Agata Pfister

Jill Hildebrand 
END HERE: myStamp BOX Blog

We are giving away some amazing product from both participating companies. All you have to do is COMMENT on all designers blogs along your journey to WIN. Our three blog hop winners will be drawn from all participants, so be sure to leave comments by Sunday March 25th at 6pm EST. We will announce the winners on the myStamp BOX blog and Faber-Castell blog on Monday, March 26^th. Good Luck!

Here is what I made using products from Faber-Castell and myStamp BOX:

 Leaves

I used the "Falling Leaves" stamp set on this layout!

I stamped the oak leaf along with WOW! Embossing powders and created Gelato drips down the page.

I used the chocolate Gelato to color the doily.

 I love the little phrase included in the set... just the perfect addition to my page!

  Here is a second project that I created using the "Falling Leaves" and "Happy Word Jumble" to create a sweet card.  

I love the fun way to add a sentiment to the card... I stamped the leaves on cardstock and embossed them with WOW!  Embossing powders.  I then added Aquarelle Watercolor pencils from Faber-Castell to create contrast and beautiful color!

 I hope you enjoyed my projects using Faber-Castell and My Stamp Box products!

Now it’s time to HOP along and find out what the next talented designer has created. Your next designer is ******Mou Saha.  Don’t forget to leave a comment below for a chance to WIN one of our THREE product giveaways!

Grace

This months Scrapbooking from the Inside Out kit is titled "Grace".  The colors in this kit are dreamy and sweet.  I wanted to share another of my layouts from this month.

 Delight in the Beauty that Surrounds Us

I created this page from the photo of a sunset that I took from my car on my drive home from work one day.  It took my breath away when I turned onto a street near my house that runs between two fields. The view was stunning!  It reminds me that there is so much beauty around us and in that beauty is a higher power's hand.  Whatever you believe, I truly think that there is something bigger than us that helps us to recognize the wonder in the world. 

 Gesso splattered and brushed onto the kraft cardstock.  I used scraps to create banner pieces that I staggered in length and thickness. The word strips were also cut into ribbons and added in.

I loved the different letter styles that are included in the kit and wanted to create my title with a mix of them for interest.  The combination of the patterns and colors really inspired me!  I hope you love this kit as much as I do.

SFTIO Blog Hop!!!

Welcome to the Scrapbooking From the Inside Out Grace Blog Hop!!!  If you are just beginning at my blog, make sure you go back and begin at Melissa's blog (see links below). If you got here from Bonita's blog, then you are on the right track and in the right place!

Order of the hop is as follows:

Melissa

Stacy

Bonita

Jen (you are here!)

Nicole

SFTIO Blog

I'm going to share one of my Grace layouts from this month's kit!  This is my favorite one from this month...

 Love

This layout was the first one I did with the kit and felt that this photo was perfect for the colors and embellishments in this kit! The vintage photo is of my maternal Grandmother who I called Nana. She was a beautiful bride!  I found these photos in a pile of extra photos from my grandfather's albums when he passed away.  It was like I hit treasure when I found them! I was struck with the grace of her look and dress.  They got married very soon after they met.  My grandfather was in the Army and was a ranking officer when they met through mutual friends and they made a beautiful couple.  I always idolized my Nana and her southern grace.  She was from Texas and grew up with little  money but a lot of love!  Her family was very close and they were extremely crafty and artistic.  I'd like to think I got my artistic interests due to her and my Mom.  She had great taste, even if it did travel to a more feminine appeal than I like, and she was always dressed well and generous with her love! 

 I fussy cut the flowers and used pop dots to raise them up in areas.  I also used the tulle ribbon to add feminine touches under the photo. The mistables were perfect to add a bit of color when misted with Glimmer mists.   I love all the spring-like colors and feminine feel to this kit!

 This layout doesn't have much journaling because the photo speaks to me of grace and love... isn't that what this kit is about?  I used some droplets of the spray mist to embellish the paper and sanded the embossed shapes to bring them out.  The hexagon shaped chipboard stickers were perfect to fit into the shapes.  I used them sparingly to just give a hint of design and color.

What to know what you are going to win?  Well, if you like the colors and materials I've used, you can win one of the kits!   To be eligible to win the GRACE kit, leave a comment here on my blog post. Tell me what GRACE means to you..

Each blog you visit and leave a comment on, gives you more chances to win the kit!!  Comments can be made until 6:00 P.M. PST on Saturday, March 10th.

The hop begins on FRIDAY, MARCH 9th through SATURDAY, MARCH 10th.

The next blog is: Nicole 

I Made It!!!

They like me, they REALLY like me!  LOL!  I made it... I am one of the Basically Bare DT members for 2012.  I am beyond excited and know that it's a great fit to have these awesome products to use with all my other DT products that I represent!  Just a perfect fit!  I think that is what I'm looking for.... products and companies that fit with my style and what I love to do.  If I love the product, I will LOVE making stuff with it!  Oh how I love the albums and embellies from this wonderful company! Here is the post from their blog:

Without further ado, here are the members of the 2012 Basically Bare design team:

Returning as our design team coordinator is Elizabeth (Beth) Gaddis.

Christina Colon
DeeDee Catron
Erin Bassett
Jennifer Matott (here I am!)
Rebecca Price
Sandra Wilson

 Becky Launder
Daniela Costa
Emily Lanham
Linda Brun
Moe Mahoski
Tanisha Long
Veronica Johnson

Angela Holt
Frank Garcia
Katrina Hunt
Kristin Tweedale
Miae Rowe
Sarah Bargo

Thank you for everyone that left a lovely comment here and on my Facebook page!  I will let you know who wins that awesome prize soon!  You can comment on my post from Monday 3/5 until Friday i think... Can't wait to get my hands on these products and create!!!

Basically Bare- Finalist

 I am excited and nervous to announce that I have the honor to be chosen to participate in Basically Bare's final "exam" for their DT call.  I am a finalist! They are a relatively new company and I've loved what I've seen so far!!!  I strolled through their new products and picked out three of my favorite ones.  I've already got so many ideas and inspiration for future projects...

My first favorite is the Mixed Media Album - Tilly's Tabs:

This mixed media album is amazing!  It's perfect for me and my style... the cardboard covers (swoon!!!), canvas, chipboard, acrylic pages and the envelope.  It's absolutely perfect for my mixed media love!  There are endless possibilities!!  I would love to alter this book with the focus on textural materials such as modeling paste, embossing (both dry and powdered), felt, paint/ gesso, and many other natural materials.  I want to really dig into this one and rip away layers of the cardboard, build up surfaces, create imagery that makes someone think of nature, effects of weather on materials, and the general earthiness of life. Here are a few of my color choices and images that I'm inspired by and thinking of:

Lots of feathers, peeling paint-like look, erosion, drippy, layered goodness.  The final book would have so much texture and natural images.

This next book is one of those that grabbed my attention and immediately got me thinking of childish games and hidden faces...

 Bare Booklets - Mixed Media Album - Wonky Windows 

The windows in this book are perfect for "peek-a-boo" images, intereactive items, and mixed media.  Here are some photos of my colors, images, and materials:

I love the European windows and doors with all their colors and textures... window boxes, faces peeking out, building elements, text/ quotes about home or architecture.

Finally, I would love to play with the banner set and use it either alone or with the books above.  These little banners are charming and full of possibilities...

 I absolutely LOVE the materials used and how they might be altered!  Here are a few of my past projects in which I have used banner pieces integrated into the artwork.

I would love a chance to join the Basically Bare team!  Thanks for letting me share my thoughts and inspiration for the products they make! If you leave a comment here on this post, one lucky commenter is going to receive a BIG grand prize pack, including all the CHA Winter Basically Bare albums and embellies! The winner will be chosen from the comments on all the finalist's blog posts. Please leave a comment before March 15th!