Desperately trying to forget I'm 43!

I guess if you can't forget it, you might as well announce it.  

I am divulging too much information about myself over at eclectic Paperie today.  Ugh, can you believe it?  I often feel 43, if not older.  I have just recently started seeing things in the mirror that didn't used to be there.  I could list them but you probably don't care:o)  

So instead, I will share a layout with you using Fancy Pants Me-ology line.  

I don't often scrapbook about myself, so this is new.

Head over to eP and see more closeups of his layout.  But please,  do not wish me a happy birthday.  It was last month and I refuse to celebrate.  Until next year of course!

Life is Good

Today I am sharing this super cute layout of my super cute dog over at A Flair for Buttons. 

 I used a cut file from Silhouette America, flair, my KOTM from eclectic Paperie,  a Fancy Pants title, Freckled Fawn Oh Deer Me KOTM and clouds from Maya Road!

It all started with the circle sun cut file that could house no other face than Flo's!!  I added machine stitching for added embellishment, paint splotches for color and tons of doodling that really makes this layout complete.  The clouds and flair take it to the next level.  I just love adding little bits and pieces of different kits to complete a project.  All of these papers come from American Crafts that were included in my monthly kit from eclectic Paperie.  See above for link.  

I hope to see you all again soon.

Family mini album part duex!

It is my turn over at Eclectic paperie and I am finishing off this mini that I submitted a few months back for the Get Altered - altered book challenge.  

Go here to see what I mean!  

Well, I am gonna share the rest of this mini with you today.  I seriously finished this guy while my family was camping in the deep woods of Maine.  I stayed back while my family hiked deep into bear country.    Hang on while I take you through this photo heavy journey of 2013 family selfies!  I believe if you click on each photo separately, it will make it larger for you to read my journaling.  Only if you are interested:o)  

Here is proof that I scrapped while camping!!!

Tata!

New Bike - ePlay Fabric Challenge

I have this layout, with fabric, over at the eclectic Paperie blog today.  You should see what the other designers have created with fabric.  I am out of my league:o)

I have to tell you that I not much of a sewer and don't have scraps of fabric hanging around.  My mom does but she lives four hours away.  So, I called my gal pal and asked her to scrounge up a handful of scraps that I might incorporate into my layout.  

I realize that you have seen some pretty serious fabric play this month, but I am going to bring it to you simple style.  My style.  Scrapbook style.  

I swear to you, there is fabric on this layout!!  I used it as I would paper.  Cut blocks, tucked them in, and applied a strip on the bottom.  Nothing earth shattering but still fun and fabric adds a bit of texture to my layout.

Mary-Ann

eclectic Paperie and Add a Little Dazzle Blog Hop (Day2)

Welcome to Day 2 of the eclectic Paperie & Add a Little Dazzle Blog Hop! 

 We have more exciting projects to share with you as we continue with our Blog Hop.

My creation...

You can see that I have created a simple layout using the Outrageously Orange Metal Sheet from

 Add a Little Dazzle.  It matched perfectly with my "Date Night" paper by Chickaniddy Crafts.  Working with metal is new to me, so cutting it with a die cutting machine was my obvious choice.  I dug out my Big Shot and my favorite dies to include Decorative Strip Spring Greenery.

I layered, added a few of my loose embellishments, machine sewed and added a few splashes of Dylusions Ink Sprays.  

If playing with something new frightens you, try small steps.  Like I just did.  I loved the brightness the metal brought to my page.  Hmmm, maybe next time I will try sanding a little bit.

Prize Alert!

Make sure to stop by and visit each of the Design Team Blogs for a chance to win 1 of 2 prize packages from eclectic Paperie and Add a Little Dazzle  valued at $25.  You have until Friday, June 27th to enter.  The winners will be announced on both blogs on Saturday, June 28th.  You must leave a comment on all blogs.

Here is where you need to go next...

Sue Carrington 

Monica Weaver

Karen Crossen 

Cathy Parlitsis 

Julia Aston 

Mary Ann Maldonado  <<< You are here!

Micki Harper 

Vicki

Broni Holcombe 

Missed Day 1?

Visit Eclectic Paperie and Add a Little Dazzle to check out Day 1 of the Blog Hop!

Thanks for stopping in.

Third Grade Biography and Typical Expression

Today I have two layouts over on eclectic Paperie's blog. 

The first is of Bubba doing research for his third grade biography.  He wanted to do a sports figure but we assumed that is what all the other kids were going to do.  So, off we headed to the library to research possible war hero biographies.  He was attracted to the Green Berets books but decided to report about Norman Schwarzkopf.  He can actually spell this guys name!!  I had to use spell check! 

The second layout is of Bub's typical facial expression.  

These layout were created using eclectic Paperie's kit of the month.  Although the kit is packed with amazing goodies, a little flair from A Flair for Buttons never hurts!

Thanks for stopping in.

Mary-Ann

Military life

Good morning, today I am sharing a project life layout over at eclectic Paperie.  Sometimes keeping it simple in my world is just what the doctor ordered.  With my husband spending 21 years in the USMC, we are pretty obsessed with anything remotely connected to the military.  Whether it be nerf guns, army men, history or books about war, you can be assured that the boys in my family are interested.  This layout depicts how my breakfast table could look like on any given day.  I just created this layout but the pictures are from 2011.  Keep in mind, that I could duplicate this exact same layout with the exact same pictures with a kid that is just a tad older now!  

I really enjoyed taking a larger photo and chopping it up to fill 4 of the pockets for project life.  This army man photo works perfectly because you don't have to worry about cutting a persons face down the center.  

I had a few extra pieces from the Fancy Pants ephemera pack that coordinated with my photos.  I added them to various pockets.  A few drops of Dylusions green ink and machine stitching and my layout was done.

Thank you for taking a look at my project and hope to see you all again really soon.

Mary-Ann

Family Mini album

Today I am over at eclectic Paperie, sharing this mini alum in the works.  Be sure to stop over for supplies used and a bit more detail.  

Thanks for stopping in.

Mary-Ann

Believe

I don't know where December went or the first part of January!!!  We did have two snow days that postponed back to school, so maybe that is where the time has gone?  Snow days = NO time for mom!!  When I was planning my layout to share with you today, I decided I would choose my all time FAVORITE  photo from Christmas and use up some of my leftover stash from Fancy Pants, Merry Little Christmas.  I have also been watching a ton of tutorials from other design team members and think I did a pretty good job of incorporating mixed media with my traditional style of scrapbooking.

I started with a clean white cardstock base.  Added Gesso, rubbed distress inks into my stencils, dropped some splashes of inks and Distress Paints.  I still needed something more.  I used the same technique I used on my Fall Swim layout (click here to see). I sprayed colors onto my mat, added a little water, turned my cardstock face down on this pretty mess of colors, rubbed it a lightly and voila, smudgy drippy awesomeness.  The splotch looks a bit bright and large here  but most of that gets covered by my paper layering.

Then I began layering.  I cut my title and deer embellishment with my Silhouette.  I tucked a Fancy Pants Glassine Bag behind my picture and tucked my journaling in here on a really large tag I had on hand.

To create these droplets of silver, I used a dry paintbrush, dipped it into my Brushed Pewter Distress Paint and let gravity drop the liquid.  If you let them air dry, they will be slightly raised to the touch.

Hope you have enjoyed my creation.  I look forward to seeing you again real soon.

Mary-Ann

PS:  Head on over to the Eclectic Paperie blog,  find out which items I used and where you can purchase them!