Bee Happy Blog Hop

Welcome...

to the Bee Happy Blog Hop! We are buzzing with joy!! It's Spring; the birds are singing, and the bees are buzzing! So happy you decided to join us in this fun bee themed blog hop today!

 

You should have buzzed on over from Pam's bee hive. If not, the Queen Bee is Connie Can Crop, and she is the first stop in this hop. This is a one day blog hop, and we appreciate your leaving a comment for all of these amazing crafters.

 

We have an awesome sponsor for this hop!

One lucky winner will win their choice of 3 their awesome files in their shop!

Be sure to check out their shop online HERE;

Visit them on facebook HERE;

Follow their blog HERE for inspiration!

 

What do you need to do to win? Easy... become a follower of each of the fabulous blogs in this hop, and leave each of them a comment, letting them know what you like best about their projects. You will have until 10 pm Sunday (4/10/2016) to finish the hop and leave your comments. The Winner will be announced on Wednesday (4/20/16) at Connie Can Crop. Be sure to follow everyone and leave a comment along the way!

 

I really need to up my card stash. I send cards out all the time... and I used to have a pretty big stash. Then something happened. My take got bigger than my make! Did you follow that? In plain English because my other English was more plain than this, apparently, all the stuff I've been making, haven't been enough for the taking. Did you get it this time? And so... it appears that most of my blog hops and challenges and pretty much mostly everything for awhile just might be cards.

 

I needed a pick-me-up type of card for a dear friend who was in a car accident. I have a sympathy card, but um... not quite appropriate. I had an ouchie card... again, not quite appropriate. I'm not very appropriate, apparently. I decided to put a bee in her bonnet and get into some of her bee's-ness (haha, get it?) and make her bee happy! hahahaha! I love all the plays this "bee" word can make!

I started with a cute little dollar-store stamp, in Walnut Stain Distress Ink - Tim Holtz... I LOVE YOU! I wanted it a little "fuzzy" (because that's how bees are, ya know...) and not so crisp. The Distress Inks are perfect for this. I filled in the white body parts with Zig glue... sprinkled on some Martha flock (in a yellow daffodil) and let 'er rest a bit. Then tapped off the excess flocking. didn't need FUZZ everywhere... 

If you read me you know, not "me" per se, but at least my blog, then you may have read several other posts where I used a clear or colored Crystal Lacquer. Whelp! I did it again! I put that light blue pastel Crystal Lacquer in the wings, being extremely careful not to put it on the lines. Patting self on back. Good job, Lisa!!!

Ok... this pic's not so hot. I'm having close-up difficulties with the iPhone 6 (in case you want to give me FREE advice on better techniques to use with said phone) and I'm really just too lazy to go get my "real" camera, take pics, download said pics to the computer, upload said pics to my blog... See? Way too much work. I'm tired already. Anyway... the pic is supposed to bee the stamped and embellished image with further embellishment. Can you tell what I did? Yup! I sprinkled Pixie Dust on the wings. But they didn't fly... and neither did I. But it really does look good, in person...

I don't hate my writing. I used my writing skills  and wrote out the word "Bee" on the front of the card in more Zig glue and sprinkled more flocking. I was impatient and simultaneously glued and flocked the word "HAPPY" in HUMONGOUS letter on the inside and neglected to let it dry enough...

I inked up the edges with another Distress Ink (did I tell you I love Tim Holtz?). But it still wasn't enough. After reviewing several of my posts, I'm starting to think I'm a Children's Lit author with a sing-songy voice and repetitive phrases... kinda like when there is a chorus or trademark...

And so... since the Pixie Dust didn't seem to work...I made my bees fly! (with a little penwork...

My advice? Let the outside dry before working on the inside. Now, I'll have to slice off the cover and attach it to another card. Ugh. I hope you like it anyway. I know my friend will, when she gets it! I just want her to "Bee Happy"! (and YOU, too!)

Up next is Sarah... buzz by her blog and see what kind of bee-you-tiful stuff she's got goin' on!

Here's our line up in case you get lost:

• Connie- http://conniecancrop.blogspot.com/
• Kim - http://katydidcards.com/
• Angela-http://Crazy3monkeys.blogspot.com/
• Janet -http://janetscreativeworld.blogspot.com/
• Sharon - http://piece-ofheart.blogspot.com/
• Theresa -http://Scrapsbygracie.blogspot.com/
• Veronica- http://vickyscrappingpassion.blogspot.com/...
• Miranda - www.nanasscrapspot.com
• Pam - http://lovebugcreations3.blogspot.com/
• Lisa - http://lisaslittlerascals.blogspot.com/
• Sarah- www.sarahbiswabic.blogspot.com
• Christi-http://tranquility1905.blogspot.com/
• Alicia - http://goldengoddessdesigns.blogspot.com/
• Holli - SunflowerHolli.blogspot.com
• Daphne- Craftyscrapsofstuff.blogspot.com

Back Again!

First, let me say that I've worked hard trying out new techniques and reading a lot... as you can see in this photo of my latest page. True... Labor Day 2007 was quite a long time ago... but I finally got it into my book.

These next two are "closer-ups" of the double-page layout.

Here, I did an accordion-style technique that allowed me to incorporate several more photos. There are photos on each side of the accordion.

Then, I used a photo for a pocket and added hidden "pull-out" journaling.

Also, on the first page, there are tags with several "faces". This allowed me to showcase the "flip-side" of things (Jr. made some really funny faces, that I put onto the tags) and do some more hidden journaling.

The letters and numbers are punch outs, sprayed with adhesive, coated with sand, then applied with "Crystal Lacquer" to make it shiny and raised. The letters ended up being pretty heavy, so I adhered them to the pages with with "red tape."

The papers, I cut and tore, to resemble the many layers of the beach and the beautiful day that we experienced. I'm very proud of these pages... However, I am for now on ordering my prints online, as I don't particularly care for the glossy and would rather get the matte finish. The glossy is just way too difficult to keep fingerprints off of.

This layout took quite a while for me, as there were several new techniques. I didn't want to do too many pages for the one event, so I explored my options so that I could do as many photos as I wanted without using a lot of space. This was very successful (at least I think so). The pictures of the pages do not do it justice. I also wanted the viewer to experience the pics, so I made it as interactive as possible, and added the pull-outs and flips.

Also, the use of Crystal Lacquer was something I've wanted to do since I saw the stuff at the the EXPO. The company who makes it, though will for sure be getting a letter from me. Although I love the final result, this was an extremely messy thing. Mess, I don't mind, but the product leaked from the bottle when pressure was applied. It also took much longer to dry than the instructions said. 15-45 minutes my foot! It took almost 24 hours! So... needless to say, I wasn't able to finish it when I thought I would be able to.

Oh yeah! I got to use the Crop-a-Dile Big Bite... now I really want one! The eyelet and brads were set through it. Gotta love that! Works like a dream!!!

I did another couple of layouts from the Butterfly Exhibit, but they are done. I need to finish off the titles and journaling, so my Cricut will be whipped out tomorrow, and I'm hoping to complete them.

I've been trying to not think about my beloved car so much, as it will be another 2-3 weeks. We'll see... for now gotta go! Today is "family day" as Juan's home and so is his daughter. I was hoping the sun would peek out so we could go bike riding, but so far, it is still gloomy and chilly. Yuck! Toodles for now! lisa