Micro Light Box

Hello!

I was just over that the Scrapmaster’s Paradise Forum and we are having a discussion about light boxes and photography techniques.  Many crafters take photos of cards and layouts but don’t really know the improved quality that you can achieve with a simple photo tent or micro light box.  So, I wanted to show you what I use to give you some ideas on how to improve your crafty photos.

Here is a the micro light box that my dad built for me (isn’t he handy!?) :

It’s a wooden frame and a wooden floor wrapped in this thin, white stretch polyester fabric.  I decided to go with this kind of fabric because, as you can see I can ‘push’ the light further in or out to change the intensity and quality of the light.  I’ve actually used two aluminum work lights that can be found in a hardware store because they are cheap, but they still take small true-color bulbs.  I need to go and get one of the larger ones to put on the top – then I will really be in business, lol!

Here is a shot where you can see the lamps I use:

The one downside is that these lamps get hot pretty fast.  I’ve never really had a problem, but I am careful never to leave them on when they are not in use, so I don’t let them get TOO hot.  There are other slightly more expensive alternatives but these work for me right now. 

I used to have a homemade photobox (which worked well also) that I made from cardboard and tissue, but it collapsed a lot and I got frustrated with it.  You might have more luck – try searching for tutorials online, there are TONS!

Another thing to consider is that my setup is not easily moved.  I am fortunate to have a permanent place to keep mine set up, but if you need to transport or break it down often – I’d look into a photo tent that can be collapsed.

Here is the quality of the photos I take before I brighten them a bit in PSE:

Then, I increase the ‘blacks’ a little (In PSE8: Enhance>Adjust Lighting>Levels) and I make it a bit brighter (Enhance>Adjust Lighting>Brightness/Contrast) and here we are:

I really love my little light box.  It makes it SO easy to get photos of my crafts that really LOOK like the original thing I made instead of being dark and distorted.

Thanks for taking a look today! Hope this inspires you to try some different techniques with your craft photography!

Keep it royal people!

I Just Fell IN LOVE with PageMaps!

I’m a little ashamed that I’ve only just discovered this wonderful blog and website that has amazing sketches for layouts and cards! If you’re interested and/or haven’t ever visited this site before visit PageMaps by Becky and enter a layout yourself!

Here is the sketch for the current challenge:

Really GREAT, right!? I LOVED this sketch the moment I saw it and couldn’t wait to get started! It is my goal to scrapbook more this year and these sketches are JUST the thing to get me going!

Here is my page:

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DSP: My Mind’s Eye Signature Christmas Glitter Book ; Basic Grey Jovial, Nordic Holiday, Eskimo Kisses | Stickers: The Girl’s Paperie Tinsel and Twig; Basic Grey Curio; The Paper Studio| Die cut: K & Company | Chip Board: GCD; Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses | Spritz: Tattered Angels Porcelain | Ric Rac: Creative Imaginations | Other: Buttons

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Entered In:

PageMaps: CHA Challenge

Make It Monday: Always Anything Goes

Come and Get It: Anything BUT a Card

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Thank you for stopping by today! I always love your comments. I have really been enjoying the CHA buzz that started yesterday – I hope you’re all taking a look – I’m already making a list of must-haves!

Keep it royal queenies!

PMS Digital Makeover Challenge #21–Be My Valentine

Happy Monday morning! It is time again for another Digital Makeover Challenge at Paper Makeup Stamps!

The rules are simple: Use a digi and stay within the challenge theme. There will be one random winner who will receive 3 single digis of their choice from PMS (or 5! if you use a PMS image in your winning entry).

The Challenge:

And some inspiration:

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Stamp: PMS Automaton Robot | DSP: Pink Paislee Vintage Vogue ; Authentique Uncommon | Cardstock: Co'ordinations ; Recollections | Colored Pencils | Chipboard: Cosmo Cricket Cogs Blackboard | Embossing Folder: The Paper Studio | Die: Memory Box Rolled Rose | Ribbon: Pebbles Ever After

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Entered In:

Lollipop Crafts: Anything Goes

Truly Madly Crafty: Anthing Goes

Thanks for stopping by! We had LOTS of entries last week, but lets have DOUBLE that this week! Go enter!

Later queenies!

Stamping with Sami #5–Rock ‘n Roll

Hello people! Good morning and happy Sunday! It is time again for another Stamping with Sami Challenge! This one is cool one!

The Challenge:

The Rock ‘n Roll Technique

(Basically you ink up your stamp and then ‘roll’ the edges of that same stamp in a different color ink. When you stamp the image it has a very cool effect.)

The Rules:

Our Stamping With Sami (SWS) challenges are designed to inspire beginner and advanced stampers. We focus on SP and Company Stamps and supplies found in the SP Store because we know our products are fantastic and I am sure you would agree! We want our challenges to be super fun for everyone, keeping the following rules in mind:

1. Entries must clearly identify SWS Challenge in their blog post or gallery entry so that we KNOW you are playing along with the SWS Challenge. Link back to us, list us as part of your description, etc. Make it clear that you are participating in our challenge or else your entry will be deleted from the linky widget. We don't want our challenge to be the last thing you list in tiny print, we want to be the inspiration for your creation.
2. Entries to our challenges must use at least ONE SP and Company Stamp.
3. Your creation must be newly created, specifically for our challenge.
4. We love other challenges, just like the rest of you, but there comes a time when the challenge madness gets out out of hand. So to curb excessive challenge pile-ups: Entries that enter more than 2 other challenges will be removed.
5. Or course, entries must follow the guidelines given for the actual challenge also.

And here is some inspiration:

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Stamps: SP & Company Lippy Single Stamp, Little Floral Background; Stampology Borders | Twinery Twine: Cherry | DSP: Echo Park Hugs and Kisses | Punches: Martha Stewart Fancy Scalloped Border , Marvy 1” Oval | Dies: Spellbinders Labels Ten; Memory Box Rolled Flower; Die-namics Flourish

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Entered In:

Squiggle Saturday: All Loved Up

Simply Create Too: Love is in the Air

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Thanks for stopping by and PLEASE stop by SP & Co and pick up a stamp or two so you can participate in the challenges!

Later queenies!

Long Thank You Card

Hello! I have a card to share with you today.  I just purchased a new stamp set that has a HUGE and beautiful flower in it.  I couldn’t wait to use it.

 

Isn’t that big flower just gorgeous?!

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Stamp: Stampendous Jumbo Tulip | DSP & Chipboard Sentiment: K & Company | Cardstock: Recollections | Ink: Fiskars | Ribbon

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Entered in:

Little Miss Muffet: Blues and Cream

Moving Along With the Times: Blooming Marvelous

Creative Craft Challenges: The Color Blue

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Thank you for taking a look today! Happy Friday!

TGIF and Later queenies!

PMS Digital Makeover Challenge #19–Winter Blues

Hello on this fine Monday morning!  It is time again for another Digital Makeover Challenge at Paper Makeup Stamps!

The rules are simple: Use a digi and stay within the challenge theme. There will be one random winner who will receive 3 single digis of their choice from PMS (or 5! if you use a PMS image in your winning entry).

The Challenge:

And here is some inspiration:

I saw that this week’s challenge was going to be blue and this image automatically came to my mind for some reason. But, I want to give it a different spin – not just coloring or regular paper piecing.  so I cut it all out and decided to really give it lots of dimension.  I embossed the sails and background (don’t you LOVE that vintage background?!) and popped pretty much EVERYthing up with pop dots to give it a really lively look:

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Stamp: PMS Sailing By Set | Ink: Unknown ink spot | Cardstock: Stash | Embossing folders: Provo Craft | Tulle: Hobby Lobby | Brads

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Entered In:

Paper Sundaes: Paper Piecing

The Crafty Pad: One for the Boys

Dilly Beans Challenge: Have the Blues

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Thanks for taking a look today! Hope you have fun getting the blues this week!

Later queenies!  

Stamping with Sami #4–Coloring

Happy Sunday everyone! Time for this week’s Stamping with Sami challenge! Get those markers and colored pencils ready!

The Challenge:

Coloring

The Rules:

Our Stamping With Sami (SWS) challenges are designed to inspire beginner and advanced stampers. We focus on SP and Company Stamps and supplies found in the SP Store because we know our products are fantastic and I am sure you would agree! We want our challenges to be super fun for everyone, keeping the following rules in mind:

1. Entries must clearly identify SWS Challenge in their blog post or gallery entry so that we KNOW you are playing along with the SWS Challenge. Link back to us, list us as part of your description, etc. Make it clear that you are participating in our challenge or else your entry will be deleted from the linky widget. We don't want our challenge to be the last thing you list in tiny print, we want to be the inspiration for your creation.
2. Entries to our challenges must use at least ONE SP and Company Stamp.
3. Your creation must be newly created, specifically for our challenge.
4. We love other challenges, just like the rest of you, but there comes a time when the challenge madness gets out out of hand. So to curb excessive challenge pile-ups: Entries that enter more than 2 other challenges will be removed.
5. Or course, entries must follow the guidelines given for the actual challenge also.

And here is some inspiration:

The thing I really like about this one is how the background is stamped. I used the smallest Candy Heart shape, inked up, and stamped off before I stamped them. I love the faint background pattern it created!

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Stamps: SP & Co Candy Hearts | Cardstock: Co’ordinations | Copic Markers | Die: Tim Holtz Alterations’ Paper Rosettes | Fiskars’ Paper Crimper | DSP: I don’t remember, lol

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Entered in:

The Poodles Parlour: Valentine

Wags ‘n Whiskers: Valentine/Love Card

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Thanks for taking a look!! Happy Scrapping!

Later queenies!

PMS Digital Makeover Challenge #19–A Fairy Nice Day

Happy Monday! I hope you are having a good one. It is time for another Paper Makeup Stamps Digital Makeover Challenge! I am very excited that I was able to break out my new 6x6 Authentique paper pad and get all distressed with it!

The Challenge:

My inspiration:

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Stamp: PMS Lauren In Love | DSP: Authentique Uncommon | Brads: We R Memory Keepers | Stitching: We R Memory Keepers’ Sew Easy –Zig Zag Head | Fuzzy Ball Ribbon/Twine: Pebbles Ever After | Cardstock: BBP

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Entered in:

The Deconstructed Sketch:

Designed 2 Delight: Hearts

Art Impressions: Pink, Pink, and more Pink!

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Thanks for giving my card a look today and good luck with the challenge!

Have a good week scrap queens!

Stamping With Sami #3–Blue and White

Hello! It’s Sunday again and time for another Stamping with Sami challenge! This one is pretty open and I had a lot of fun trying out some of the new SP & Company stamps!

The Challenge:

Blue and White

The Rules:

Our Stamping With Sami (SWS) challenges are designed to inspire beginner and advanced stampers. We focus on SP and Company Stamps and supplies found in the SP Store because we know our products are fantastic and I am sure you would agree! We want our challenges to be super fun for everyone, keeping the following rules in mind:

1. Entries must clearly identify SWS Challenge in their blog post or gallery entry so that we KNOW you are playing along with the SWS Challenge. Link back to us, list us as part of your description, etc. Make it clear that you are participating in our challenge or else your entry will be deleted from the linky widget. We don't want our challenge to be the last thing you list in tiny print, we want to be the inspiration for your creation.
2. Entries to our challenges must use at least ONE SP and Company Stamp.
3. Your creation must be newly created, specifically for our challenge.
4. We love other challenges, just like the rest of you, but there comes a time when the challenge madness gets out out of hand. So to curb excessive challenge pile-ups: Entries that enter more than 2 other challenges will be removed.
5. Or course, entries must follow the guidelines given for the actual challenge also.

And here is some inspiration:

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Stamps: SP $ Co. Bold Sentiments I and Circletastic Background | Ink: Fiskars | Cardstock: Recollections | Ribbon

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Entered in:

Secret Crafter: Anything Goes with Blue

Sarah Hurley: Thanks You

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Have a great day! Later queenies!

SP&Co January Blog Hop! (White)

This month's color is WHITE (or Cream)! After you're done hopping around today, make sure you play along with this month's White challenge (click here for details) for a chance to win some awesome SP and Company prizes!



Join us for our Release Celebration that is happening today and tomorrow on the SP Forum HERE. You can talk to all of the designers, discuss projects and chit chat with other stampers!



Don't forget that the random prize patrol is watching so leave a comment on every blog to be eligible for the prizes!!


Today I have a sweet little engagement card to share with you. This design is really graphic, modern, and easy to reproduce, especially because the black strip is exactly the height of this month's new Little Floral Background stamp!


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Stamps: SP&Co Little Floral Background and Mix 'n Match: Occasions | Embossing Folder: Provo Craft | Ranger Perfect Medium | Embossing Powder: Martha Stewart | Memento | Spellbinders Grand Nestabilities: Labels Eleven | Ribbon
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Make sure you check out the SP Blog to see what Samantha did with the new stamps! We also have the Stamp Team and the Challenge Team teaming up today to show you lots of amazing projects with the newest stamp sets!



Here is the list of designers that will inspire you today:



Chrissie

Lori

Britt (You Are Here!)

Jen

Kelli

Patchi

Patty

Stephanie

Susan

Tella

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Hopping!

PMS Digital Makeover Challenge #18–Get Well Wishes

Good morning all! I am happy to bring you a new Digital Makeover Challenge from Paper Makeup Stamps!

The Challenge:

I am very happy with the way this one came out!

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Stamps: PMS Fairy Jane and Sleep, Riches, and Health | Copics | Divine Twine Brown Sugar (SP&Co.) | Ribbon: American Crafts | Flowers: Prima | DSP: We R Memory Keepers Grandma’s Kitchen

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Entered In:

Crafty Emma: Anything Goes

Deconstructed Sketch:

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Thanks for dropping by! I really appreciate your comments!

Remember, it’s so GOOD to be queen!

Stamping With Sami #2–Simple Masking

Good Morning folks! Today is Saturday and we are about to embark on another Stamping With Sami challenge over at SP & Company!  I actually have a few extra pictures to go with today’s post because I wanted to show you a little of how I did my masking.

The Challenge: 

Simple Masking

The Rules:

Our Stamping With Sami (SWS) challenges are designed to inspire beginner and advanced stampers. We focus on SP and Company Stamps and supplies found in the SP Store because we know our products are fantastic and I am sure you would agree! We want our challenges to be super fun for everyone, keeping the following rules in mind:

1. Entries must clearly identify SWS Challenge in their blog post or gallery entry so that we KNOW you are playing along with the SWS Challenge. Link back to us, list us as part of your description, etc. Make it clear that you are participating in our challenge or else your entry will be deleted from the linky widget. We don't want our challenge to be the last thing you list in tiny print, we want to be the inspiration for your creation.
2. Entries to our challenges must use at least ONE SP and Company Stamp.
3. Your creation must be newly created, specifically for our challenge.
4. We love other challenges, just like the rest of you, but there comes a time when the challenge madness gets out out of hand. So to curb excessive challenge pile-ups: Entries that enter more than 2 other challenges will be removed.
5. Or course, entries must follow the guidelines given for the actual challenge also.

And here is my sample:

Inside it says “I missed your Birthday”.

I wanted to show masking in a little bit of a different way.  You can use masking in small amounts to make your stamps more versatile.

Here’s what I did:

I decided that I wanted to see how many different things I could make with the Hug a Bug stamp set.  I am very partial to it (obviously). Since the challenge was masking I had to think a little outside the box.

I started with this little bug body stamp.  I stamped once and fussy cut it out. Like so:

I put the ‘mask’ down on my paper and I stamped over it, which masked the bottom-most lines on the bug body.

Put the mask over the new stamped image and stamp again to complete the body of your fish!

The next part I like to call ‘reverse masking” mostly because I don’t know what it’s called if it has another name.  So, I took another little bug part, stamped it, cut it out, and trimmed the unneeded part.

Next, I placed the mask over the STAMP so I would only ink the part I wanted to stamp.

And I stamped on top of the body. Here he is with his little bug wing fins and a sweet smile. : )

I used some of the circles to make extra bubbles and the fish's eye.  And the tail was stamped right onto the body with another little bug body part.  Here’s my finished fish:

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Stamps: SP&Co. Hug a Bug | DSP: Storytellers’ Club | Copics | Ink: Memento; Distress Ink | Cardstock: DCWV | Fabric: Fabric Connection | Bow: Hobby Lobby

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Entered In:

Fashionista Friday: Use Your Stash ( I have a TON of old Storyteller’s Club papers which I used on this card)

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Thanks for taking a look today! Have a great week!

Later queenies!

Resolutions

I have never made scrapbooking-related resolutions before.

I know, I know, but I've never really felt as serious about my cardmaking and scrapbooking as I did this past year. I many ways - it saved me from completely losing myself in the bad stuff. I needed to be saved from the bad stuff this past year. I don't ever really get personal on this blog because that isn't what this blog is about, but suffice to say that I have never, in my life, been so happy to see a year end. For the most part, I want to spend the rest of the years of my life erasing most of 2011 from my memory.

I did have some great things happen. I took an amazing trip to California. I stayed at a job the longest I've ever been at one place. And I got on my first design teams and gained more than half of my AMAZING current followers!

So. Here goes with this year's goals:

I resolve to Scrapbook more.
- I need to get back to pictures. I need to get back to memories. I can't keep allowing a few big bad things keep me from looking at all the big good things.

I resolve to make more cards that are not for design team assignments.
-I've gotten into a bit of a rut for posting. What I really mean by this is that I need to POST the other things I make because I want to share my passion and not just my obligations (though I LOVE my design team assignments!).

I resolve to devote 365 LESS moments to thinking about the past.
- I can't continue to dwell on 2011. I have to celebrate the good moments and move on.

I resolve to be more healthy.
- I'm not going to let unhealthy behavior rule my life because it's easier. I'm too young to feel so old. I'm too young to feel so tired.

So. That is it. I don't expect to be 100% successful, but I'm not going to count myself out too early either. : )

Here is one of my favorite cards from 2011:

Later Queenies!

PMS Digital Makeover Challenge #17– Sketch

Good morning all! It is Monday and time for the first Paper Makeup Stamps Digital Makeover Challenge of 2012!!

The rules are simple: Use a digi and stay within the challenge theme. There will be one random winner who will receive 3 single digis of their choice from PMS (or 5! if you use a PMS image in your winning entry).

Here’s the challenge:

Here is my inspiration. I love this sentiment from PMS. I had so much fun making all the rainbow strips and my card was cut with my new GRAND CALIBUR! I am so excited – I think I’ve planned to make about twenty things on it since I got it on Christmas.

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Stamp: Raindrops and Rainbows set | DSP: K&Co. | Spellbinder’s Grand Nestabilities Grand Labels 1 ; Nestabilities Inverted Scalloped Circles | Ribbon and Cardstock from stash

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Entered in:

Robyn's Fetish: Anything Goes

Paper Sundaes: Something Old (OLD ribbon) Something New Grand Calibur dies!

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Thanks for stopping by!

And Remember: It is so GOOD to be queen!

Stamping With Sami #1–Stamp Something!

Hello!  Happy New Year everyone!  With this new year comes a new challenge for SP & Company Stamps called ‘Stamping with Sami’. I’m pretty excited about it and I hope you will be too!

We will showcase a winner when we post our next challenge, and that crafter is going to win some SP Goodness!!

OFFICIAL STAMPING WITH SAMI CHALLENGE RULES

Our Stamping With Sami (SWS) challenges are designed to inspire beginner and advanced stampers. We focus on SP and Company Stamps and supplies found in the SP Store because we know our products are fantastic and I am sure you would agree! We want our challenges to be super fun for everyone, keeping the following rules in mind:

1. Entries must clearly identify SWS Challenge in their blog post or gallery entry so that we KNOW you are playing along with the SWS Challenge. Link back to us, list us as part of your description, etc. Make it clear that you are participating in our challenge or else your entry will be deleted from the linky widget. We don't want our challenge to be the last thing you list in tiny print, we want to be the inspiration for your creation.
2. Entries to our challenges must use at least ONE SP and Company Stamp.
3. Your creation must be newly created, specifically for our challenge.
4. We love other challenges, just like the rest of you, but there comes a time when the challenge madness gets out out of hand. So to curb excessive challenge pile-ups: Entries that enter more than 2 other challenges will be removed.
5. Or course, entries must follow the guidelines given for the actual challenge also.

This week the challenge is simple and straightforward: Stamp Something!

Here’s some inspiration:

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Stamps: SP&Co Hug a Bug, Mix ‘n Match Sentiments: Occasions | DSP: Echo Park Springtime | Ribbon: American Crafts Dear Lizzy | Flowers: Prima Sprouts | Ink: Memento

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Thanks for stopping by today!

Later Queenies!!