Monday, February 28, 2011

Cupcake, anyone?

If you read my friend Heidi Kelley's Blog, you may remember that she made some mazing paper cupcakes a few months ago.  Well, I decided to try my own version of those cupcakes, and this is what I came up with:
 I used a Styrofoam ball, then made frosting from a layered flower, lace, and acrylic paint.  Then I topped it with an Arco Iris flower.  The box was cut from more Sparkling Spring Papers, using the Silhouette.
 I finished it off with some So Cute Chipboard and Sweet Fairy rub-ons.  Yum!

Speaking in Heidi Kelley, she is teaching this AMAZING class at Stash to Treasure, and it starts in the morning!  You can check it out HERE, but here's a little sneak peek:
 See you there!

Friday, February 25, 2011

I'm in print!

My first paper publication came out last week!  It took me a few days to get my copy, but I am now the proud owner of 2 copies of this magazine:
 And I am on page 71 with the project I created for Prima Marketing:
Gotta love it!  SOOOO fun and exciting to see my project in a paper magazine for the first time.  AND... I'm going to be in the July issue also!  Yippee!!

Another kind of fun is the Color Room and their continuously gorgeous palettes:
 I had a chance to work with this one.  It sort of turned vintage/retro on me, unlike the gorgeous photo that inspired the palette.  The photo is of my mom and my son, trying to keep warm at a late-season soccer game.  :)
Thanks for coming by!  I am trying to be a better blogger.  We'll see, right?!  :)

~Alyssa~

Thursday, February 17, 2011

"I say" that numbers belong in art.

Typography excites me. Is that weird?  My largest collection of scrap supplies is alphabets.  I hoard them, shop for them everywhere, and they are my favorite part of creating a layout.  My latest art journal page is crammed full of lettering and random letters, and I love it.

Numbers are a close second to letters.  Actually, numbers and colors kind of compete for that second spot in my heart.  The problem is that while colors throw themselves out there and compete for my attention (note the 35 or so mists hogging a large portion of my desk), numbers hang around in the background and wait quietly for me to use them.  They are stuck at the end of my Thicker sheets and on the last page of chipboard alphabets, and I neglect them.  Not by design, just by oversight.

A few nights ago, I decided to make a public statement on this matter.  Here is my layout, titled "I say numbers belong in art."





As you can see, letters and numbers are fully involved here also.  It's bliss on a page.  :)

I created this layout using Cosmo Cricket's Circa 1934, available at Your Scrapbook Stash.  It's also available in a very cool altered clock kit from Stash to Treasure's February class.

~Alyssa~

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

More Purple.

Until recently, I would have told you that I rarely use purple.  Lately, however, between Prima's new lines and the color palettes I have been working on, I've used a lot of purple.  I may be that I have started to like it, just a little.  But I'll probably never come right out and admit that, so don't get your hopes up!  :)

Here is the latest palette from The Color Room and my take on it.  For some reason, that seafoam green interpreted more as a aqua blue in my head.  Guess I should have gone back and looked at the swatch again.  Oh well, it was fun, and that's the point!





I was thinking last night about how long it has been since I did a layout with no rules.  No color palette, no sketch, no specified products.  I can't remember when that was!  Might have to give it a try sometime, though I will admit to being a little nervous about it.  I nearly always have a starting point already set!  Yikes.  Well, I'll let you know the results when I give it a shot. 

Come back tomorrow for a Cosmo Cricket/Your Scrapbook Stash layout!

See you then,
~Alyssa~

Monday, February 14, 2011

Random Thoughts

I've seen this going around and thought it was fun, so I decided to post it.  


listening.... Franklin on Nick Jr.
eating...... nothing
drinking..... coffee
wearing... PJs
feeling...... reluctant to search for motivation
weather...... warming up just enough to turn my yard into a slushy mess
wanting..... to do some more scrapping
needing..... to tackle some tax topics (ugh!)
thinking..... about the new venture I am headed into
enjoying..... my coffee and the lazy morning
wondering..... which parts of my to-do list I need to put first.

It's time for the new BAP from Prima!  You can play along at prima.typepad.com.

This is the sketch:

And this is my take on it.  I drew the bricks with my ruler and the PITT Pens I was telling you about yesterday.  I misted over them... see, no bleeding!
 All the instructions for playing along are on the Prima Blog.
~Alyssa~

Friday, February 11, 2011

Friday!!

It's Friday, and I have been a very bad blogger! I'm here to rectify that with a jam-packed post, so hang on to your hats.  :)

First, I want to let you know about a product that I love: PITT Artist Pens from Faber-Castell.

They don't smudge, or run, and I can mist and paint right over them without worrying about the results at all.  I had a few that dried out on my, and Faber-Castell replaced them immediately.  Great customer service!!  LOVE.

On to projects.  I have a few to share today from Prima.  The first project is "My Girl" and is a super fun layout I created with New masks and canvas from the new winter CHA releases.  LOVE this artsy look, it is so much fun to create.




This Valentines ATC started with Kraft cardstock.  I brushed on some white paint, spritzed it with red mist, then dumped clear embossing powder on the wet mist and heat set it.  I cut the hearts from a new Sparkling Spring paper and finished it with new Vintage Trinkets, lace, and a flower that I painted with Tattered Angels Glimmer Glam.



Lots more CHA projects to show, so stay tuned!  I'll try to be a better blogger.  :)

~Alyssa~

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Layout Catch Up

Time to play catch up on projects for Your Scrapbook Stash!  This is my most recent one, using Pink Paislee "Sweetness" and Studio Calico Rub-ons, along with some SC Mister Hueys.  By the way... everything on this layout is straight in real life... but if fiercely defied being photographed that way.  Oh well, I like spunk in a layout!  :)




 More projects soon!
~Alyssa~

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Blog Hop Winners!

Time for my Blog Hop Winners!

Friday's Winner: Bev
Sunday's Winner: Ruth
Monday's Winner: Ilene

Congrats, ladies!  Send me an email at alyssa.mcgrew at gmail dot com to claim your prizes!

Thanks for hopping with me!  See you tomorrow for a project!
~Alyssa!