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This is collection of tips, techniques, and samples that have been highlighted on my home page.

Feautred Artist - Artsy Addicts

I have shared with you guys before how much I adore Marion Smith. She is an amazing artist, and her work has inspired me to stretch beyond the ordinary.

A few years ago she started a Facebook group called "Artsy Addicts" this is a community where crafters can gather and share their talent with others through project shares, and swaps. She also offers great kits exclusive to the Artsy Addicts.

I was super excited when Marion asked me to be a featured artist on the Artsy Addicts blog. I was shocked when I found out that she named me the "First" featured artist. Read my post here.

Thank you for your thoughts & Prayers

In September of 2009 I got Pneumonia and then H1N1. I was in a coma for 6 weeks, and then rehabilitating the rest of the time. I still have not completely returned to work, but I'm sure it won't be long. Recovery has been tedious. I had to learn to walk again, I had to learn to breathe again, and so many other things we take for granted on a daily basis.

Thank you to those who sent flowers, cards, food, well wishes, and support to me and my family. I can only image what they must have gone through.

I am finally getting back to scrapbooking. But sitting for long periods of time is very hard. This site will not be updated too often, and for that I apologize. Just don't have much time. I spend a lot of time sleeping and in physical therapy.

I can't wait for the day that I can get out and teach classes again. In the mean time, happy scrapping.

Rethinking Photo Sizes

If I asked, what photo size do you most often print? I bet the answer would be 4x6. If every picture is a 4x6, then most all your layouts have to work around a 4x6, eventually everything starts to look the same. You find yourself always cropping and laying out photos in the same way. Talk about ruts!

In general, I like for my main focal photo to be a 5x7 on a 12x12 layout. When wallet sized photos are paired with a 5x7, the drastic size difference adds interest to the layout. I know that 5x7s cost a little more to print. However, for me, it is worth the extra cost to print a few "key" photos from an event as 5x7s. Wallets are also a great size for mini albums. Group 4 wallet sized photos together and you have the equivalent of a 5x7, 2 equals a 4x6. Most mini albums are 6x6, 8x8 and 5x7. Therefore, the wallet sized photo is the perfect match.

So how do you get these awesome wallet sizes?
Although you can set up collages manually in a photo editing software, many scrappers do not want to invest the time at the computer. Did you know that most photo labs offer a feature called collage printing? This option is usually in the "Other" photo gifts section, and therefore gets overlooked. Warning – the wallet paper size in most photo lab software will duplicate 1 photo 2 times on a 4x6. You must chose Collage printing if you want multiple photos on 1 4x6.

In a few mouse clicks, this 8x10 was generated with a 5x7 and 4 wallet photos. The photo sizes will vary based on the number of photos, original photo size, and the paper size selected. This image would be gorgeous on a page as is, or I could cut the images apart.

Collage printing also gives you the ability to share photos with your loved ones at an affordable cost. You can usually print an 8x10 for under $3 in an hour. Collage print 9 wallet photos on the same 8x10 for under $3, or 2 wallets on a 4x6 for under $.20. When printing a 4x6 collage, I recommend only adding 2 photos, unless you want tiny images. Also consider that close up photos are the best option for smaller sizes. Next time you plan to print a collection of photos from an event, think about printing them in a collage or as 5x7s.

Finding Your Creative Mojo

This time of year after the rush of Christmas, I'm so overwhelmed, over stimulated, and sometimes find it difficult to focus. I'm inspired, but can't figure out where to start, or my room looks like a hurricane blew through it. I absolutely lose my creative mojo thanks to ADHD and clutter. I have all these awesome projects that I want to do, but can't focus enough to work on any one thing. So this is how I get my mojo back.

Participate in a challenge. A good old fashioned challenge will make you jump start those creative juices. Choose something simple like a tag, atc or charm swap. Most challenges come with specific requirements so they help you focus, and the act of doing something creative helps. This year I started Jan. 1 with Marion Smith's 31 days, 31 videos, 31 goals challenge. In this challenge you can do anything, doesn't have to be creative just set a daily goal, follow through with it, and video tape the process. Some are doing weight loss, cleaning, finishing old projects, and learning new techniques. You can follow my 31 Day Challenge on my YouTube channel.
Clean. When I say my space looked like a natural disaster, I'm not kidding. Look at my goal video on Day 1. You can't get creative mojo from the pile-it system. Cleaning also helps you rediscover hidden treasures. When I shop, I only buy things that strike an emotion in me. When I clean, I find those projects and the creativity begins to flow. Don't try to tackle the room all in one day, make small daily goals, and tackle only that day's goals. You will feel better when you are done, and you won't be overwhelmed. During this process, evaluate your workflow. Ask yourself, "is my work surface cluttered with things that can be put in tubs, does my furniture make sense for my space, is my lighting or wall paint color too harsh? Follow my organization process in the videos from Days 1 - 7.
Finish incomplete projects. I really like this one, because it is usually a no brainer process, and you feel like you have accomplished something in a short period of time.
Visit blogs and watch YouTube videos January and July the Craft and Hobby Association has their seasonal trade shows, and all your favorite scrappy companies are getting their latest and greatest collections together. So their sites are chopped full of yumminess. Local scrapbook stores are purging products to get ready for their new arrivals, so they generally have great projects on their sites. Scrappy people are just starting to get their winter collections and they are creating like mad. So their blogs and YouTube channels are hopping with great ideas.
Take a creative class or attend a crop Nothing gets the creative juices flowing like learning something new. If you have never stamped, take a stamping class. Never made a charm, visit a bead store and take a class. Never used dimensional art, GO FOR IT!. Just get out there. Classes at local scrapbook stores are generally expensive. But my experience is that they include loads of product, and it is usually a lot more than you need for the project. Plus the relationships you build with the instructor and other class mates are more valuable than the cost of the class. Crops are a great way to get ideas. I find that I never create anything at a crop I spend a lot of time socializing and laughing. But I walk away refreshed.

These are just suggestions. I could really go on forever. How do you get your Creative Mojo back?

Graphic 45 "dream" - I Mean - Design Team call.

Yes, the winning just keeps happening for me. I never in a million years thought I would be listed as one of the top 25 out of HUNDREDS in the world. But God does bless those who are faithful and call on him. I prayed when I thought of projects, I prayed when I finished projects. Cause let me tell you - Tonya on her own could not compete with this group of talent. Well yesterday Graphic 45 narrowed it down to this group of talent.

Okay, here it is! The 25 finalists (in no particular order) of the Graphic 45 Design Team are...

Amanda Phillips - Goose Creek, SC
Laura Denison - Maple Valley, WA
Jane Tregenza - Australia
Karen Wilson - Prescott Valley, AZ
Gloria Stengel - Oceanside, CA
Tara Orr - Canada
Michael Jack Putman and Lesley Fisher - Mesa, AZ
Sherry Cheever - Jeffersonville, IN
Jamie Dougherty - Ramona, CA
Hilde Janbroers - The Netherlands
Tracey Locher - Escondido, CA
Leica Forrest - Canada
Karen Bearse - Fairfax, VA
Lynette Carroll - Braintree, MA
Natalie Dever - Sheboygan Falls, WI
Nicole Eccles - Springboro, OH
Robin L. Shakoor - Fredericksburg, VA
Melanie Forbes - Australia
Nancy Wethington - St. Louis, MO
Jade Moore - Belleville, Il
Tonya A. Gibbs - Keystone Heights, FL
Tomoko Takahashi - Japan
Jason Jones - Whitesboro, TX
Jenny Svensson - Brakne-Hoby, Sweden
Yuka Hino - Japan

So now I am off to create a layout, a card, and an altered object for ROUND 2. They will announce the lucky 12 on April 1. So perhaps I can strike gold and win another prize next month. So far - I have won something every month in 2011.

>Read the article posted on Graphic 45's blog.

> These were my submissions.

You can see some of the awesome submissions from other contestants on Graphic 45's Community.

I won 2 Challenges in February

Marion Smith - 31 Days 31 Videos 31 Goals Challenge

In January Marion Smith, Educator and Designer for Prima Marketing, hosted a 31 Days 31 Videos 31 Goals challenge on YouTube. The object was to create 31 videos 1 a day for the entire month of January. Each video needed to highlight a daily goal that you have set for yourself. During this month I posted a video each and every day. I started the challenge cleaning and reorganizing my scrapbook room. I had tons of projects that were unfinished - while I didn't finish them all, I did make a dent in them. I also created a mini album for the class I'm teaching for the church. Got all the class kits together, and posted tips and techniques. I created a mini album with the Circa 1934 paper from Cosmo Cricket. It was fun to go back through the videos and see what all I got accomplished. I had a lot of fun, and what a great way to kick off the new year.

Marion selected me as her grand prize winner out of more than 100 participants. She also selected a super talented multi-media artist, ArteDar, as a runner up. Marion said the competition was very stiff and she really had a hard time selecting just one winner. So what did I win? Marion Smith's entire Winter 2011 collection. Oh - I just can't wait for these goodies to come in the mail.

Marion's Collection | Follow my Videos | ArteDar's Channel

Fiona's Flower Challenge

Fiona Jennings, Jennings644, on YouTube is a super talented woman from the UK. I have been following her YouTube blog for a year now. She loves to push the envelope with her challenges, and get people thinking outside the box. I participated in her Flower challenge - 1 flower punch 6 different designs. You could use different sizes, but the basic shape had to be the exact same.

A lot of people used a basic rose design, but I decided to really push myself with this one. I use the Martha Stewart Hydrangea punch. With this one punch, I created a hydrangea, dogwood, gardenia, daffodil, poinsettia, mum, and a rose.

Here is a glimpse of the flowers that I created for her challenge.

Cosmo Cricket 1934 Circa Mini Album

When I got this collection from Flamingo Scraps I knew exactly what I wanted to do. It had kitchen wall paper written all over it. In my family, all kinds of things happen in the kitchen. I remember pulling a stool up to the counter to help Momma prepare dinner. I also remember the dinner with the entire family that happened every night (no fast food in my past). Some of my fondest family memories surround a dinner table or the kitchen. Even now, I notice that we all seem to congregate at the table or in the kitchen.

This little mini is going to capture some of the recipes that I remember being at the top of list. Like my Granny’s Japanese Fruit Cake, or Tomato Gravy, Momma’s fried chicken and pot roast. But most of all I want to write down some of the things I remember the most about family life in the kitchen/dining room. Funny stories, or how ‘bout that I hate cubed meat, because we always had cubed steak on report card night – lots of tears shed over that chewy meat. Or the night my Mom asked my sister (age 5) to help clear the table, and she picked up a plate and dropped it in the kitchen floor (she cleared the table). I don’t want these stories to die with me. I want them to linger on for generations. As I watch my kids grow, I realize that things are not as they were when I was little, and I know my Mother and Grandmother would report the same. Things like – there were no microwave ovens until I was in high school. Every night we currently pick a restaurant for dinner, where when I was young, dinner was always at home. It was a treat to eat out - not a given. I also want to include photos of some of those women in my life who made that kitchen time so special.

I love that this book is 6 x 6 the photos will be large and there are tons of pockets and journal spots for leaving funny stories.

From Flamingo Scraps: Cosmo Cricket Circa 1934 collection patterned papers; Tim Holtz Walnut, Black Soot, Tea Die & Vintage Photo Distress Inks; Webster’s Pages Bloomers and Trims; Prima Bling. Other products: Book pages; EK Success Punches; Fiskars Punches; Cricut Cartridges: Summer in Paris, Base Camp, From My Kitchen, Various Buttons, and Ribbon; Cuttlebug embossing jacket Paisley; Sizzix Embossing Jacket Swiss Dots; Tim Holtz Labels Die Cut. Martha Stewart border punches.

To view the full mini album up close, please watch my video of the album!

National No Housework Day

I just love to make altered objects from ordinary house hold objects. What better way to celebrate National No Housework Day than hanging out with Dawn!

Dawn Dish

Well.... I should clarify.... I meant to say with this fabulous bottle of Dawn!

This lovely lady was adorned with the new Melody collection from Prima, Some beautiful Prima Flowers, and say it in Pearls and Lace bling. She is topped with a cameo to give her the proper lady look.

Re-facing Lace & Trims

Lace comes in so many varieties, textures, and colors. It makes an awesome accent on Scrapbook pages, cards and altered objects, and is a great way to soften a project, or frill it up.

This White Venice Lace Galloon Rosebuds from Cheep Trims is available at Flamingo Scraps.

White Rosebud Trim

By using a paint brush with Hula Hoop & Pink Taffy Glimmer Mists, I had more control of the color, and created a total different look. Synthetic trim and lace can also be recolored with alcohol inks or staz-ons.

Trim Painted

Twist it up

I was browsing the internet trying to find inspiration for jewelry designs and I stumbled across an artist Kayleigh Designs who creates whimsical bent wire jewelry.

I thought these would make fun embellishments on a scrapbooking page, so I tried my hand at it. Here are a few things I created:

Bent Wire

It is really easy to do, all you need is a little imagination, a roll of 20 or 18 gage wire, wire cutters, objects to wrap the wire around for great shape designs, and some extra trinkets, buttons, beads or metal embellishements.

For the pieces above I decided to make them fit the Adage Tickets from Tim Holtz. I selected my ticket, made a clip from the wire by wrapping it around a pencil twice, affixed the ticket to the clip, then began to shape the wires around the eges of the tickets, working in beads here in there for interest.

Warning - playing with wire can be very addictive!

I think these are a fun way to display dangled charms, titles, and clip memorabelia on scrapbooking pages, mini albums, and cards.

I have a Youtube tutorial on how to make these: