scrapologie

Coming off the sugar rush...

***UPDATE*** Sorry, just realized I am not supposed to post my librarie drawer for awhile yet, to allow the magazine to remain fresh. But you can get a glimpse of it here: Scrapbook Trends

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Be sure to check out the new kits at JBS Mercantile at midnight tonight. This month's kit contains Jenni's annual addition to her Red and Black Extension and it's oh SO lovely! And you won't want to miss the gorgeous holiday themed project kit either - I'll be sharing my creations soon.

I am not much of a published paper artist. I don't submit to magazines as I simply don't have the time and I confess I am in a place where I just enjoy creating for its own sake. Nonetheless, I do understand the thrill of being published, and it was indeed a thrill when Scrapbook Trends Magazine emailed me asking to use this project that I created a while back for 7 Gypsies, featuring the Mini Librarie Drawer. Pleasant suprise turned to all-out excitement when they advised they were going to feature it on the cover! I had to email the Gypsies who still had the project. They informed me that a few of the elements on the front of the drawer had gone missing during their use of it. Fortunately, awesome Janelle Smith was able to work some Gypsy magic on it and re-created the missing parts and shipped it off to the publication in time to meet the deadline. I was gobsmacked when I walked into Hobby Lobby and saw it on the magazine rack, staring back at me. I hope you don't mind my sharing it with you - it so rarely happens that my work turns up in print, so when it did, and on the cover to boot, I just couldn't resist sharing it here! The first two photos show my original project. You can see the minute differences on the magazine cover. Thanks for letting me bask! ;)

And thank goodness we're coming down off the sugar rush! I think it's been Halloween for over a month in this house, and I am glad to see it go... we have enough candy to last us until next year, probably (if we still have all our teeth left)! Hope you had a wonderful Halloween with the kiddos! Enjoy your week.

 

 

JBS Scrapfest!

If you missed out on the fun the last time we had a scrapfest over at JBS, now is your chance to join us for lots of fun, chat and prizes. Pop in and stay for the duration, or for just a little while! Join in on the fun at http://jbsmercantileforum.ning.com/

 

Roses for the Dead

 
 

                                            Ah, broken is the golden bowl!  
                                                The spirit flown forever! 
                                            Let the bell toll! — A saintly soul 
                                                Glides down the Stygian river! 
                                            And let the burial rite be read — 
                                                The funeral song be sung — 
                                            A dirge for the most lovely dead 
                                                That ever died so young!
                                                            -excerpted from Lenore, by Edgar Allen Poe

I don't have a vast collection of Halloween images, so I thought I'd try and make an existing image look more haunted. A rather ghastly looking bouquet, isn't it? Hope you can use it in your decor and crafts this season!

Spooky Halloween Inspiration

Love the black and white halloween theme at Pottery Barn and all the decor ideas. All images are from the Pottery Barn website, except the last one which is from Better Homes & Gardens. How do you decorate for Halloween? Are you a traditionalist with orange and black? Gothic with black and purple? Or do you prefer black and white?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How cute is this witch's cauldron mug?!

 

 

Columbus Museum of Art Photo Shoot

These were taken yesterday at the Columbus Museum of Art. Their collection of art is not bad for a city that is not a major metropolis, and Alekha and I enjoyed looking at all the artwork and exploring the kids area which is very interactive. They didn't have as many open spaces as the Conservatory, but they did have a lovely atrium with a glass ceiling, where many of the photos below were taken as well as an absolutely stunning church next door - it was built in the mid-1800s but looks centuries older. I do wish at times we lived in a city where there was a lot more architectural interest, culture and history, but I am grateful for the small surprises I've found out and about town.

Here are some photos from yesterday, I used the Addicted action from the Fresh Wonderland 2 Set on the first few photos where she is seated in the window seat. We're off to the Columbus Zoo today. It's been 80 degrees here this weekend and we're loving it, and thinking it will probably be one of the last weekends of warmth before the cold weather hits!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Conservatory Photo Shoot

I think I must have taken over 200 photos last weekend at the Conservatory with Alekha! It wasn't that hard as she kept us moving from one locale to another and all I had to do was keep clicking most of the time. She stopped to pose for me when requested but she absolutely loved exploring the gorgeous conservatory.

She really is very patient with her snap-happy Mama and she earned a trip to Barnes and Noble, where she chose a Phineas and Ferb book, as well as some crafty goodies at Michaels. I hope she never tires of being photographed, because I love to take pictures, and love taking pics of her especially!

I can't believe she just turned 8 in July, she has a lot of natural grace (which definitely wasn't inherited from me) and plenty of 8 year old goofiness too (which WAS inherited from me) - as evidenced in the last photo. She was using one of the large pompoms on her sweater to smack herself in the face, and was all hilarity and laughs for a good ten minutes!  

Tons more to edit, but here are a few. I used mostly the Fresh Wonderland 2 and Miracle Makeover Actions from Paint The Moon to edit these in Photoshop. I love Annie's actions at Paint The Moon, she's an incredibly gifted photographer (with adorable subjects) and her Photoshop Actions are incredible. Plus she posts video tutorials to give you the know how.

We're off to the Columbus Museum of Art tomorrow. I'm on a "rediscovering my hometown" kick and am visiting all the placed I've wanted to go right here at home. Enjoy your weekend!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vintage Holiday Images

 It's been quite a while since I've posted vintage images. These look like they'd be lovely for some holiday crafting. Enjoy!
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cinderella's Garden...

 Over the weekend, Alekha and I decided to visit the Franklin Park Conservatory right here in Columbus. The trip was spurred by the fact that I needed photos of Alekha, but it was too cold to photograph her outside. Necessity spurred me to do a little looking online for indoor photo venues around town and I stumbled upon the Franklin Park Conservatory. Though I'd been there many years ago (in my pre-photography obsession days), I hadn't seen the entire conservatory and approaching it with new eyes, I was in for a fabulous surprise. It was a completely stunning venue with gorgeous light filled atriums and sections blooming with plants and trees of every kind and climate, mini waterfalls and footbridges worked into the landscapes and plenty of art exhibits, including those of glass artist Dale Chihuly and a photography exhibit on world food. The sweetest surprise however was a beautifully landscaped courtyard filled with an array of gorgeous glass pumpkins, glass gourds and glass fruits of various kinds and in a rainbow of colored glass. It was truly like being in Cinderella's garden, and you could just imagine her fairy godmother transforming one of these glass pumpkins into her magnificent coach. And even though we didn't get to see the Victorian Palm House, one of the loveliest sections of the Conservatory, due to the fact that there was a wedding going on there during our visit, we were lucky enough to see the lovely "Cinderella" bride in the courtyard, having her photos taken among the glass pumpkins.

The photos don't even do justice to the beauty of these glass masterpieces, the brainchild of the immensely talented glass artisans at Cohn Stone Studios. Here's just a few of the photos I took, I'll surely be going back for more photos. The conservatory gift shops had a display with several glass pumpkins for sale - they were pricey but I am sure they are worth every penny, they were completely stunning. We finished our visit with a delicious lunch - chickpea salad for me and mac and cheese with fruit for Alekha followed by coconut cupcakes.

It definitely left a magical impression on me, so much that I couldn't resist a little fairy godmother magic, adding some fairy like digital details in the first photo above. It's so exciting to find a treasure in your own hometown. It's always gratifying to know there is some little part of town that you haven't yet explored, some little gem that is waiting to be sought out. It was worth the trip. If you've read this far, I'd love to hear what little gems you've found in your hometown that inspire and excite you!

 

 

 

The photos don't do these white ones justice - they were just gorgeous, glowing and luminous. They'd be beautiful in a moonlit garden.

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

October @ JBS

Right now I am loving the October Kit at JBS Mercantile. The Design Team contributed some amazing work this month. Check out the gallery here, and you can take a look at my contributions below. The first photo features elements from the Project Kit, one of the loveliest ones I have seen all year.

 The stitched doily paper was in the Artisan add-on kit, and those gorgeous lace flowers are in the main kit. I am in love with the Kaisercraft Sparklets that I used in the centers which are from the project kit.

 

 

 

 

This is a quick little project I did for the Mercantile Blog - using a die from Papertrey Ink. Planning to do a bunch of these little goodie bags for the Fall Party at Alekha's school.