Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Blue Fern Studio's...Here I come!!!


Well I have a wonderful announcement to make and I am sooooo very excited!!! I have a feeling this is going to be VERY big!!!!! Blue Fern Studios is a United States manufacturer of detailed, sophisticated papercrafting designs, currently specializing in chipboard shapes for crafters of all kinds! Just check out the Design Team for Blue Fern Studios!! Yes sir, that's me in the mix!!! Keep your eye on this company...And come follow Blue Fern Studio's for more exciting news!!!






Go check out the blog, become a follower and watch where this company goes!! I promise you, you are going to be very inspired creatively!! The designs are absolutely beautiful!!


Monday, December 24, 2012

Hard To Say Goodbye...

My Dear Swirly Girls...

Girls, I just wanted to let you in on a personal decision I have had to make. Believe me, this was a tough one. I feel like I am losing a part of my family with you guys. I hope you understand. 

It is with a heavy heart, and after much thought, that I have decided to step down as a designer for Swirlydoos. As you know I have become a full time guardian for my father in law and caring for him has become a full time job. I cannot promise or guarantee that I would not fall short once again on my commitments here, and rather than fail Swirlydoos, fail you, or fail my father in law, I will bow out gracefully. I will fulfill my commitment for the month of December, and end the year with Swirlydoos. As for camp, I can not commit to go, for fear that because of my responsibilities to my family, I may not be able to make it. Instead of losing everything, I have chosen not to go. Someone will be happy to get that open spot if one remains!! I will surely miss you guys. 

I hope that you are never put in the position I have been put in. I have not been feeling well lately, and I fear that the stress of everything has finally taken it's toll. Today is the first day that I didn't stay in bed since last Thursday. I thank God for my husband and kids who have all pulled together to help make my Father in laws life worth living for whatever time he has left. Steve and I have cut our hours at work to part time, Gabbie has moved back home to help us, and Nick changed to 12 hour days at work to be at my house more often. Between the 4 of us, we have my father in law covered 24/7. So I must also lighten my load. I also have to be there for my sister at this time. If my brother in law doesn't make it, she will surely fall apart...I cant even imagine. I want the chance to say goodbye if he doesn't make it. We are praying for a Christmas miracle. Family is EVERYTHING to me. 

It is also amazing how you all have become like a family to me. You get to know the good, the bad, the ugly (lol), I laugh with you, cry with you, support you, and above all cherish the moments that I shared with you
You Camp girls, well, you are in a league of your own!!! What fun!! It was an honor to have sat beside you all to create. I will miss you guys the most!!!! You all hold a special place in my heart. 

So this really isn't goodbye, I will just be walking through the back door, wondering, maybe one day, I can walk through the front door again!! I have some very exciting ventures in 2013 lined up, so you will see me out there!!! I wont disappear, because after all, this hobby is my therapy.
I will keep in touch. I am sure our paths will cross again, and again, and again...After all, this wonderful thing called scrapbooking is all part of a great big worldwide family!! 
Swirlydoos just happens to be the Elite family. And I am honored to have created for Krissy as she is the ultimate business woman who always made me feel like family, and honored to have worked along side all of you. I have forged friendships that I know will last a very long time. Thank you for all of your kind words and prayers once again. And I hope you understand. My time here in Swirlyville has really meant a lot. I will never forget it. 
I hope that everyone and their families have a wonderful holiday season. I personally have a lot to be grateful for. Be safe, and love on everyone that is dear to you...Life is oh so precious.

Big Hugs, 
Lisa

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Blue Fern Studios Giveaway

Look out my scrappy friends...There is going to be a new kid in town!!!  Blue Fern Studios..And they are having their first giveaway. So go check it out and enter. Who knows, you may see your ideas in chipboard in the near future!!


Right now Blue Fern Studios is working on some page/card titles!  They need your input though and what would be better than gifting some chippies to some randomly drawn winners?!!

So what do you have to do?  First, Go to the Blue Fern Studios Blog and be a follower if you aren't already.  Next, leave a comment telling them a title that you would like to have designed as chipboard.  That's it.  Pick your favorite and most desired title though as there can only be one entry per person!  The drawing will end on Dec 22,

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Welcome to Swirlydoos December Kit Reveal Blog Hop Block Party!!

If you came here from Swirlydoos's blog, then you are on the right track.  If not, go back to Swirlydoos' blog and start from there.  We have some amazing projects for you to see today !!  We have 3 manufacturers hopping and 3 designers from Webster's pages!!!  Also, as an extra special twist, 2 of our designers are hiding secret prize on their blog!!!!!  Make sure to leave a comment on all of the blogs for a chance to win!!!  Check out Swirlydoos on Facebook and Like Us!!!  
 
THE SKETCH
 
 
This is my layout based on the beautiful sketch shown above,created by Beggahuna.
 

  One of the papers in the kit is an "inchie" paper, and I thought it was perfect to cut apart and use some of the inchies to create the banner along with the pretty trim in the kit. The title is die cut from the Alterations Typeset Alphabet die.


I used pop dots under the matted photo's  of my sister and I visiting Santa. I used scraps of paper from another layout to create the flowers using my Alterations TATTERED FLORAL GARLAND die. The pearl flourishes are from ZVA  (not in the kit).

  This next layout is of my daughter taken on a cold winter evening on Thanksgiving a few years ago. Florida can have some weird cold weather at times. Thank goodness it doesnt last long.  I did some punching and distressing on the background. I die cut a couple of Sizzix film frames and was going to do something else with them in the design, and changed my mind. I still incorporated them into the background.


I created another banner using one of the tags from the paper.


I created a file of the butterflies to match the papers. You can find them at Swirlydoos along with many other files I have created over the years. I use a little Rock Candy Stickles on them and color the antennae with a block sharpie. The title was die cut with the Alterations Typeset Alphabet die.


The photo on this last layout was taken in Baily Clorado a couple of years ago at Swirlydoos camp in the mountains. We were tucked away in the hills and it was just so peaceful. The outer circle was punched using my new Martha Stewart circle punch exclusivily sold on HSN at the moment. It wont hit the reatil stores until sometime next year. It came with 3 puch designs, and all you do is purchase the punches for the machine. What is nice is you can punch a 12x12 paper for the size shown in my layout.


I created the flowers using the new Sizzix Tattered Poinsettia die. I forgot that I also had an a embossing folder to match. Using it would have given the flowers so much texture. next time!! The pearls came in a spray in the kit that I just cut apart and used as stamen. Puffy paint is edged on the petals and heated to puff after it dried. Then I just stacked some layers for the middle flower. The others are singles.


Here is a closeup of the single flowers. The green leaves are also a die cut that I cut aprt to create the individual piecs. I sprayed them with Glimmer Mist.


You have until midnight, eastern time, on Friday, 12/14 to complete the hop. Winners will be announced on the Swirlydoos Blog on Saturday 12/15. In order to qualify to win here is what you need to do:
1: Visit all of the blogs and leave a comment on each. This way we know you were there. Become a follower if you're not already. Take your time. There are REALLY beautiful things to see along the way.
2: Before you leave each blog, look for the “special” words and write it down.
Once you have visited all the blogs and collected all the special words, they will create a sentence.
3: Finally, go back to the Swirlydoos blog and leave a comment letting us know how much fun you had, tell us the sentence that was created with all of the special words you collected. Can't wait to hear from you.

 

                                                              My special word is : SEEK

 
The party continues over at Miranda's blog. Have fun!

Here is the order and blog addresses just in case you get lost along the way!!
Swirlydoos CLICK HERE
Lisa G - CLICK HERE
Miranda - Click Here
Faber-Castell - CLICK HERE
Lynne - CLICK HERE
Prima Educators - CLICK HERE
Heidi - CLICK HERE
Iris Babao Uy (Webster's Pages) - CLICK HERE
Gabrielle Pollacco (Webster's Pages) - CLICK HERE
Jaz Lee (Webster's Pages) - CLICK HERE
Lisa V - CLICK HERE
Rae Moses - Click Here
Angelica - CLICK HERE
Paulien - CLICK HERE
LuminArte - CLICK HERE
Vicky - CLICK HERE

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Magic Mike and my Vagabond!!

Remember the Sizzix Where In The World Is Your Vagabond promo???? hhhmmmm....Wondering how mine got here!!! Magic Mike..Your a naughty boy!!!