Coconut Goddess

TGIF and the end of hell week

Let's Play! Woo Hoo! I am counting down the hours to FREEDOM. So let's party like it's 1999. ok, maybe not. But I owe you a Let's Play Wednesday Thursday Friday... so I will see you tonight. I promise lots of fun! AND that sneak peek!

not quite done with this, here is a sneak peek preview. I am honored to be a guest designer over at Mosh Posh next week! Be sure to stop over and say hello and pick up this month's very fun kit. i will have lots of layout ideas, cards, other paper crafts... not to mention a how to video! uber fun!!!

in this layout, I really like how the tone on tone turned out. try layering Lazar cut paper of like colored cardstock or patterned papers.

and here is another little peak. a fun element using the Heidi Swapp blossoms that came in the kit.

Let's Play Wednesday - late nite edition

Let's Play Wednesday will be a little late... see you tonight. [help]

winners and hell week

i am SOOOO sorry. this is hell week at work, i am literally up to my eyeballs with it! and nothing terribly exciting. as my busy travel season begins... i am in the midst of some serious work insanity. so much for a year of balance huh?

the winners for NSD.... first the daily winners.

tuesday

wednesday

thursday

friday

email me your addys ladies! all the prizes will go out friday. tomorrow i will announce the grand prize winner and have a special sneak peek for Let's Play Wednesday! See you later...

Let the After Party Begin!

this layout is not one of shear genious. it is however an example of how *I* scrapbook. Simple, quick, and easy. use cool materials you love, clean simple design, and a little bling.

ok, now the winners...

you are going to have to wait just one a little while longer. cuttig these apart and picking the winners is taking longer than I thought!!!

You challenge for my final giveaway of the week... it is simple. send me a link to a layout that represents how YOU scrap. i will pick the one that imspires me most and post the winner next week!

Happy NSD day!!!

There are literally dozens of activites TODAY all over the net. (including at creatingkeepsakes.com) and for more, you can aslo visit Scrapscene.com

and for the AFTERPARTY festivites... come back to the COCONUTGODDESS. Tonight I will announce the winners of the daily drawing, AND post my NSD Afterparty Challenge for more prizes!

The fun will begin 8pm Mountain Time. See you then!

i *heart* woodgrain pt.1

i *heart* woodgrain

this is my ode to woodgrain pt. 1. (an all paper layout will post later this evening... its a two-fer today!) this particular layout  shows a digital technique. I used a clipping mask so that the wood grain pattern would show on the white side of the layout. And I simply used white for the right side of the layout. 

i have to admit, i am not the best at teaching this technique to others. in fact, to do it... i called Jessica Sprague in the middle of night asking her for help to make my digital woodgrain! (imagine what she was thinking when I call at 1am and ask.." hey Jess, so I am making this woodgrain digital layout and need your help. . .") So if you are interested in trying your hand at digi... go visit her site. the link is in my links list.

• play with brushes - seriously. even non-digi scrappers will find many uses for these fun little tidbits.
• use actions - these are scripts created by smart people so you can do all kinds of fun things to your photos with out having to learn every step!  (http://www.thelightsrightstudio.com/photoshop-tools.htm) try these on for size.
• camera phones can be your friend. now, they will never replace your real camera, but this photo on this page, was from my camera phone. and well.. i like it. remember, not EVERY photo has to be a perfect specimen. sometime, it just needs to be.

see you tonight!

size matters

*all materials are Hambly Screen Prints designed by the awesome and talented Allison Kreft!

size matters

here is a layout i actually created to go on my wall. try playing with size on your next layout. here, i used a ginormous flower and paired it with tiny photos. i suppose it is not really a technique, but the 3-d petals are... see below.

• for layouts that will be out of your book layer the print for a 3-d effect
• i cut petals from the same paper in a different color, slit the background, then used my finger to "curl" the petals. i used some foam adhesive to keep the petals up.
• for some of the petal, i actually cut the background then layered more petals under it.

don't forget to enter for our NSD giveaway!

cut it out

*bad photo disclaimer- look close and notice that the round window is cut out

cut it out

this is my layout, "world of crazy" which basically sums up my little family.

• cut out a window, just for fun from a layout.
• here, i cut a round window the size of the pattern in the overlay
• i machine stitched the overlay over the "hole"
• try using rub ons on the BACK of the transperency so the appear to be looking through the window
• cut off some of the scallops from the edge of the paper for an interesting look - be sure to save the lopped off scallops for another project

don't forget to "enter" for another chance at a fun NSD prize!

the envelope please

*disclaimer: my photo skills still lack, so it is impossible to see the texture and layers of this layout

the envelope please

try creating a layout with lots of envelopes. in this case I used a pre-printed set that came in a KOTM. however, it would only take a little more effort to create the envelopes from patterned paper or to embellish pre-made ones with stickers or rub-ons. the big white envelope has embossed dots all over it with a scalloped edge.

• simply layer your envelopes so the the openings are still accessible.
• cut the end off an envelope and use a circle punch to create a "notch"
• a tiny slit through the bottom and top of an envelope is perfect for a simple ribbon closure.
• fill the envelopes with journaling, "inside jokes", personal adice, or more pictures. in this case i will put some "out takes" in the large tabbed envelope, a personal note in one, and some of our guilty pleasures in the other. 

it is hard to tell in the photo, but i also used foam tape to raise the pictures up off the layout.

*don't forget to leave a comment to be entered into the Countdown to NSD giveaways all week.

happy monday. . . countown to NSD

when did WEEKENDS become "WORK-ENDS"? seems like this last weekend ended up being all work no play. worked the Warehouse sale sat morning, to come home... crash, then spend the rest of the weekend cleaning up the house and do other odd chores. kind of a bummer really. i am going to have to do something about that.

anyways, this week is my Countdown to NSD week! Starting tomorrow I will post a layout-a-day with one of my favorite tips or techniques. and each day i will giveaway a kit so you can recreate that technique yourself! just be sure to leave your comment each day. i will announce all the winners on National Scrapbooking Day! sound like fun? it will be! (a lot more fun than my lame weekend!!!)

happy monday