Andrea's blog

I finally had a chance to play with two of Imaginisce's new paper collections:

First, a Thanksgiving-themed two-sided decoration.  Might use this on the buffet table this year:

This layout is in an 8 x 8 photo sleeve in my 2010 album:
front

back

and an 8 1/2 x 11 page, also in my 2010 album:

And here's my only Dino Roar page so far - Paxton's 18 month portraits:

I especially loved the Apple Cider collection of fall themed papers, but I have some more things in mind for that Dino Roar collection too -- just need some good Paxton photos to go with them first! 

Thanks Imaginisce! Check out their blog for more Apple Cider and Dino Roar inspiration!

Congratulations to our three winners in the BIC Mark-It Color Collections giveaway!

Please send me your full names and mailing addresses via e-mail and I'll forward them onto BIC so they can send you your prize!

Each winner will receive:

• 36-count BIC Mark-It Permanent Marker Color Collection - Fine
• 36-count BIC Mark-It Permanent Marker Color Collection - Ultra-Fine

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Kimberly | Wed, 10/27/2010 - 08:37

When I received an email asking me if I'd be interested in reviewing some new sets of permanent markers from BIC on my blog, you'd better believe I was interested. They sent me two sets of the new Mark-It Color Collections - ultra fine and fine point permanent markers in 36 colors each. I tell you what, for a girl who loves office supplies and scrapbooking products, it was like Christmas in October!

• writes on nearly any surface, including slick surfaces like plastic, glass and metal
• excellent detail doodling and journaling possible with the ultra-fine tip markers
• fabulous easy-to-use, sturdy storage case
• includes a color available to match ANYTHING
• passes the "eraser test" (draw guidelines w/pencil, write journaling w/marker, erase pencil marks = NO SMEARING! Yay!)

• would prefer a slightly more opaque finish  when writing on glass, plastic and other slick surfaces (gel pens or paint pens work better for that opaque finish)
• can wash off of dishes when put in the dishwasher

• Markers Used: Fandango Pink (fine) & Deep Sea Blue (fine)

• Markers Used: Fandango Pink (ultra-fine), Hot Aqua (fine) & Hot Aqua (ultra-fine)

Next, I tackled a holiday-decor project - Christmas tree ornaments. First, I decorated a glittered Styrofoam ball ornament  with polka dots, a hand-drawn letter and some ribbon. I knew the Styrofoam ball would be tricky, since it's a textured surface, but the markers did a remarkably good job covering the area and maintaining a fairly precise look. 

• Markers Used: Rambunctious Red (fine), Hot Aqua (fine) & Tuxedo Black (ultra-fine)

• Markers Used: Rambunctious Red (fine) & Tuxedo Black (ultra-fine)

• Marker Used: Meadow Green (ultra-fine)

• Markers Used: Woodsy Brown (ultra-fine), Tranquil Teal (ultra-fine), Tranquil Teal (fine), Honey Brown (ultra-fine)

• 36-count BIC Mark-It Permanent Marker Color Collection - Fine
• 36-count BIC Mark-It Permanent Marker Color Collection - Ultra-Fine
• or check your local craft store!

Though I'm no longer working at Maurices (it was just too hard on our family for me to be gone all weekend), I wanted to leave a little piece of me at the store.  So as a thank you to the staff for the great time I had working there, I made this sign to hang above the back room door:

It follows the motivational theme for the year for employees and though the photo doesn't show it all that well, it's also made in Maurices colors - turquoise and gray.  I went by the store yesterday to visit and it was hanging up.  Made me happy. :) 

So happy I volunteered to be in a "Rescues and Runways" fashion show for them next weekend.  Oh boy! Me, walking a dog on a runway?  Sounds ridonculous -- but fun! Come see me at Pet-a-Palooza at Veteran's Park in Hoover, AL next Saturday at 11am!  I'll also be donating a "Signs by Andrea" gift certificate to the silent auction.

This lovely sign that I made was purchased as a housewarming gift.  As usual, with all my custom orders, I loved the challenges it presented and was especially pleased with the result! 

I also love the saying, kind of a family mantra and good rules to live by.

What's YOUR family mantra?

4ft x 4in w/beveled edges, custom design

This afternoon I had an uncontrollable itch to create. Make *something*.  Get sticky. Make a mess.  All that good stuff.  It had been too long. 

This house-shaped wood tray was just asking to be turned into a Halloween decoration.  I could hear it.  It started out red.  I painted it black -- and then roughed it up a little bit.  I added a few Halloween themed papers and stickers from my stash, and then started cutting, trimming, glittering, and gluing.  Until I ended up with this:

Oh yeah, that's a little bit of Scrap Tutor wire-working.  It's been a while! 

Ahh, and it felt sogood to scratch the itch.

Supplies:

• wood "house" - garage sale find
• black spray paint
• sandpaper
• patterned paper - mostly My Mind's Eye Night Light collection
• Maya Road chipboard shape (for owl's body)
• Fiskars scallop border punch
• wire
• old jewelry
• metal frame
• circle punch
• small daisy punch
• heart punch
• Prima stencil mask set
• glitter pen by Sakura
• StazOn Jet Black Ink

Can we all just do a giant fist pump to the weather?  It is FINALLY below 90 degrees around here.  We think the 70s are downright chilly (not us...but some of these AL folks do).  The heat finally let up for October, and so it was time to get festive.  I hadn't planned to decorate this year, but when Ayla saw some decorations down the street, she was very interested in getting ours out too.  So I gave in and we spruced up the playroom with some of the decorations from Halloweens past:

This is SO my favorite month of the year.  I even bought 6 cans of pumpkin today! Let the pumpkin bread baking begin...

Ayla was on a sugar high, I saw this red brick wall, she had on a red dress and was eating a red sucker and wearing sparkly shoes -- and well, it was just a perfect time to take some pictures.

After months of Paxton wearing pink & purple sunglasses (having snatched Ayla's), I figured it was time to get him his own.  He wore them ALL day long (inside too). 

Every year, I'm so inspired by the artists at the Bluff Park Art Show.  This year was no exception.  Two that caught my eye were Julie Schwarz and Michael Cole.

Julie Schwarz makes these great watercolor-looking photograph prints.  Turns out, they're made from "smushing" Polaroid prints before they dry.  Very cool technique.  And this picture caught my eye right away...because I have that beach chair! 

Then of course, my favorite every year is Michael Cole's typeset collages.  So cool...