With simply paper and creativity anyone can create art


Friday, September 2, 2011

Last 3 Creative Imaginations Guest Projects

Of course I saved the best projects for last this week :) Let me first say that it is no secret that Pink IOD Papers and Prima Flowers = A Perfect Layout (in my opinion). The IOD Devotion collection is such a fantastic eclectic group of papers with endless design possibilities. This is my all-time favorite IOD collection to date, although there has NEVER been a collection of theirs that I didn't like :) Here is a picture of my chubby baby a few years ago in the kiddie pool. I added some feminine lacing to break up the dark floral pattern and to add interest to my page. Gotta love all that pink!


Design Tip: Just use a regular office hole punch to create beautiful lacing on your pages.

Here is a second layout using the dark orange/red and green in the collection. I was actually inspired by the IOD Beach Cottage collection to create this beach layout. I've been itching to used the amazing Dusty Attic chipboard shells that I sell through my Etsy shop (visit http://www.etsy.com/shop/vickyalberto to see all available chipboard styles) and found this picture that went better with the Beloved papers so I decided to give them a go together. This is a picture of my eldest son as a baby (he is now 8 years old) and I in Cuba, while on our first ever family vacation. Ahhh to be 29 again, LOL! I added a lot of texture on this one with burlap, netting, fabric flowers from the Funtoolas Etsy shop (thanks Cindy!) and several torn and distressed paper layers. I adore the die cut shapes that come with all the IOD collections! The chipboard shells were coated with Deco Art Snow Writer for texture and then I used pink and tan chalk in to define the edges.


I was inspired by The Color Room Palette #73 for this layout.

Here is a close-up of the flowers and shells in the corner:

My very last project to share with you is an altered wood picture frame using more pink papers from the collection. I will be teaching this shabby chic project, complete with the large handmade layered flower and fussy cutting, in Calgary, Alberta at the North store location of Scrapbooker's Paradise on October 15th.


I was inspired by The Color Room Palette #68 for this frame - couldn't resist the pink palette. I plan on putting this decorative frame in my daughter's bedroom.

Here is close-up of the handmade layered flower:

I would like to thank Creative Imaginations for the honour of being featured on their blog and to all of you who took the time to read my posts this week.

While you are here, don't forget to scroll down to the next post to find out how to win one of my 3 Dusty Attic chipboard prize packs this month!


Thursday, September 1, 2011

HUGE Dusty Attic Giveaway

OK, I've teased you about it since last Friday, so here is my...

3 ways to win Dusty Attic Chipboard GIVEAWAY! 
I have teamed up with Jennifer Hedger at The Dusty Attic and will be giving away 3 chipboard packs, to be won 3 completely different ways and, shipping anywhere in the world!

PRIZE #1) I am the September sponsor for the fantastic Creative Scrappers sketch site. 

TO WIN: All Creative Scrappers entries for sketches 172-173-174-175 (enter as many times as you wish) will be entered in a RANDOM draw to win this amazing prize containing brand new Dusty Attic and a few of the best sellers from my Etsy shop. Deadline is September 30th.


PRIZE #2) All orders that I receive from September 1st to 30th will also be entered to win a random draw for this awesome prize containing these newly released styles:



PRIZE #3) For all my blog followers (and I still can't believe there are over 500 of you)... here is some blog candy containing some fabulous chipboard from my shop:



3 EASY STEPS TO WIN THIS:

1. FOLLOW my blog (if you don't already). This is how you will find out if you win the prize.

2. 
WRITE a short post about me being a Dusty Attic retailer - please include the blog candy prize image and my Etsy address - http://www.etsy.com/shop/vickyalberto -
on your blog or Facebook page if you don't have a blog).

3. Leave me a message at the bottom of THIS post, with the 
LINK to your post, and tell me what DA piece is at the very top of your "wish list" (so that I know what you want me to carry in my shop).


All of these prizes are open to win by anyone, from any country. Thanks again to Jen for sponsoring the first two prize packs for this great September giveaway!

Winners will be announced the first week of October for all 3 prizes - good luck to everyone! 


Wednesday, August 31, 2011

More Creative Imaginations GDT Projects

Back with more Creative Imaginations creations I made for their feature this week. I adored the Breathless Collection by Marah Johnson when it was released but never had the chance to work with it so... when asked what papers I wanted to play with, I jumped at the chance to get my hands on these before they are no longer available. This VERY "alternative" style layout features a postcard advertisement of the Bedouin Tribal Bellydance Fusion dance troop from a local studio I dance at (the most amazing exercise for post baby bellies and great "me" time!). I took the gate diecut and chopped it to frame the distressed papers. I've always done some sort of dance classes most of my life and say that I've been "bitten" with the urge to explore my creativity though various mediums. Dance is one of my addictions (along with chocolate, paper art and watching Vampire Diaries - all at the same time is bliss :) NOTE: The portrayal of this layout does not reflect their beautiful dance style -  it is just a fun art experiment for me to try scrapping a different style. The intention was not to offend any dancers. Also, don't expect to see pics of me - I refuse to perform, LOL!


I used a large black flower from the Funtoolas Etsy shop (thanks Cindy!) and created my own red ones with velvet hydrangeas (bunch bought after Christmas at Michaels Crafts on clearance) and Prima bling centres. I will be doing that again - gorgeous flowers for practically nothing and they look similar to the Petaloo ones!

For my second project with the Breathless collection, I made a bonbon gift box using a simple free template I found at http://www.ruthannzaroff.com/mirkwooddesigns/bonbon.htm

That's it for today but I will be back TOMORROW with details on my huge Dusty Attic GIVEAWAY (3 prize packs up for grabs - 3 ways to win one). I will also be back on Friday to share more designs I made with the Creative Imaginations IOD Devotion collection. Don't worry, I'll be back with my girly, shabby chic style too - my comfort zone, LOL. Thanks for stopping by!

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Message for Kathy

I don't usually do posts like this but I got this really AMAZINGLY flattering comment from one of my blog followers "Kathy" regarding my handmade flowers:

Blogger Kathy said...


I love your work. Read about your classes and would give anything to take the Wild Spirit Layout.

Have someone video tape it and sell it. Talk to Scott at Blue Moon Scrapbooking. He is figuring out a way not to make it available to whole internet but to purchasers.


I need to learn what you are teaching so bad.. Please have someone video tape the class. Check out USTREAM classes. Prima uses it and so did Swirlydoos for a workshop we paid for. We received the materials beforehand and then watched the class to learn what to do.


I am so excited about your class and then I got really disappointed when I realized it wasn't online.


Please think about doing this == a new source of funds and becoming more know in the scrapbooking world.
August 29, 2011 6:43 PM


I can't access her e-mail to respond (Kathy you can e-mail me at vickya@shaw.ca)...  but all my flower tutorials are available with quick links in the right sidebar of this blog. I am not technical person at all so no videos yet, but they are detailed tutorials with lots of step by step pictures (yes VERY painful to produce, LOL).

So... I was wondering if this is a popular idea for scrapbookers  - taking online classes that is? Personally, I'm a in-person kinda gal who prefers shopping in stores rather than online. Taking or teaching classes online never crossed my mind because I've never even taken any sort of traditional scrap class myself. I know funny that I teach them locally! Anyways, would love to know your thoughts on this. Leave me a comment - I do read every single one of them (and they are always appreciated).

Thank you to all my very wonderful followers like Kathy - I have a treat for you so come back on Thursday for my huge Dusty Attic giveaway (there will be 3 prize packs to be won in September!)

Monday, August 29, 2011

Guest Designer for Creative Imaginations!

I am beyond thrilled to be a guest designer for Creative ImaginationsToday I am sharing a brand new layout I created with the IOD Wild Spirit line. These gorgeous papers were also featured in the Scrap That! August kit - just a few kits left so grab one soon before it sells out! I will be teaching this layout, complete with two large handmade wild rose flowers, in Calgary, Alberta at the North store location of Scrapbooker's Paradise on September 17th. The picture is of my handsome and very supportive hubby who actually "gets" why I scrapbook since he is in a creative field himself. The warm and cool color combination of this paper collection is sunning don't you think?


Here are the blue handmade flowers I am teaching:

I was inspired by a Dusty Attic sketch for this layout. 

Here is a fun and quick little kirigami gift box I made with one single sheet of IOD Beach Cottage paper, including the handmade flower.


That's it for today but I will be back on Wednesday and Friday to share more new designs I made with the CI papers I chose to work with. Thanks for stopping by to take a peek at my work today! Check out the feature at http://creativeimaginations.typepad.com/creative_imaginations_blo/2011/08/guest-designer-vicky-alberto.html.


Don't forget to come back on Thursday for my HUGE Dusty Attic GIVEAWAY!!!