Introducing Little Darleen

My beautiful mother as a child

Using Chipboard in your layout

Chipboard is an easy way to give a 3D effect to your layout. 

 

I like to work with Chipboard in two different ways. 

 

1.  Paint: In this layout I used Smooch to paint the chipboard.  Smooch paints are easy to use and dry very fast.  They apply much like nail polish, a little goes along way.  Smooch has a nice shimmer once it drys. 

 

 

 

 

2.  Paper/Sand: In this technique you adhere paper of your choice to the chipboard and use sandpaper to create an antique look. 

Supplies:



 

 

Choose your paper and cut out to match your die cut.

 

 Adhere the paper to your chipboard.

 Use sandpaper on the edges.

 To make it POP off your paper use Chalk Ink to Antique the edges.

 

Here are some other examples on how I use Chipboard in my layouts:

Large Tag Chipboard with Ribbon

 Heart Chipboard into a Balloon



Large Heart Chipboard

Layout of the week - Giggly Girls

 

 

 

It's the Little Things

 

I am a big fan of double, triple matting with all different textiles.  Here is an example. 

 

Popping Up Flowers

 

Do you struggle to get all your photos on a two page spread?   Try this 15 Photo Layout Idea.  

 

Halloween Layout

 

 

 

 

 

 

Daddy's Girls

Each Year I do a two page spread for each girl about the first day of school.  My favorite picture has now become an yearly ritual.  Daddy walking hand in hand with the girls to school.  It is fun to see year after year how the girls grow compared to Dad. In one of my books I have him holding one girl on each hand and carrying a toddler on his back.  Precious! 

 

I love working with bright colors.  In this layout, bright yellow and pink stand out beautifully with the blue background.

 

 

 

Scrapbooking Retreats

I have become a huge fan of scrapbooking retreats.  In fact, my next one is only a week away! As the daily balancing act of kids, work, home, and sports doesn't allow for much free time to scrapbook, retreats have been a great way for me to keep caught up on my books.  What's better than a weekend with the girls, great food, chic flicks, and scrapbooking!  Retreats are a great way to share your ideas and learn from others.  In Minnesota there are tons of retreats available throughout the year.  Just do a search for "scrapbooking retreats" and you will be amazed at all the options.  Unfortunately they get booked fast. Cost can range between $100 - $160 per person for the weekend.  In our groups we either cater in food or take turns cooking the meals for everyone so the expense of food is equal for all.

I have experienced three different places over the last few years. 

Sunflower Stuga (occupies 8), Stillwater MN
www.sunflowerstuga.com
Great location just east of the Twin Cities.  Large work area with a wonderful variety of supplies and equipment to use.  The retreat is surrounded by fields and woods.  Each time I have been there I see herds of deer crossing the fields.  The owner lives close by and has  wandering Chickens that provide all guests with fresh eggs for the weekend.  Great option for a small groups. 

Granada Getaway (occupies 14), Granada MN
http://www.picturethisscrapthat.net/index_files/Page275.html
Granada Getaway is a small town church converted into a scrapbooking retreat.  Large work room on lower level next to large kitchen with double appliances for cooking for a large group.  Many rooms to choose from, with single beds that feel like your are sleeping on clouds!  Two bathrooms in work area/kitchen area, and one large bathroom that has three - four private shower's and toilets.  Allowing others to use the sink and vanity areas. The owner has some basic supplies available for sale in the work room as well.  

Milton House (occupies 16), Mantorville, MN
www.miltonhouseretreat.com
The Milton House is also located out in the country just west of Rochester, MN.  The work room is large and is on the main floor, making unloading and loading easy.  Kitchen and dining rooms are off of the work room.  Bedrooms are comfortable and uniquely decorated.  One large great room includes several beds while five separate small rooms have two beds each. 

Please comment on these retreats or any other ones that you have experienced.

Washi Tape

One of my favorite new products to use to embellish is Washi Tape.  I got introduced to it at Scrapfest this year.  It is a great way to add layers to your layouts, make an easy border, or use as visible adhesive.  It comes in tons of colors and is so easy to use, plus one roll goes a long way. 

http://www.archiversannex.com/Zephyr-Washi-Tape-55-Yards--561215/default.aspx?PageID=21&CategoryID=124&ProductID=64341&PPG=2&RootCatCode=11550

Layout of the Week

This is probably one of my favorite layouts I have done.  I went with a pink, brown and green palette and made several circles with multiple shape circle punches for the folage.  Over lapping and layering the circles gives it depth.  Used the Cricket to make the tree trunk/branches and added texture with ribbon and buttons throughout the tree. 

 

 

 

 

On page two I used the same paper as I did for the circles and cut different sized triangles to creat the sun burst effect. 

 

Introduction to LDF!

I am so excited to Launch my very own Blog.  Let's just say I have been wanting to do this for over two years.   Thanks to my tech smart niece today is the day I get to share my "passion" with the world!  Ok maybe not the whole world but my little world.  I have been scrapbooking for over 15 years, the last 4 years I like to think I have become  almost, semi-professional....   Since 2008 I have attended the annual Archiver's Scrapfest at the MOA, participate in retreats throughout the year, and have made several scrapbooks for friends and families for those that are not so "Scrap Happy". 

Little Darling Fox is in honor of my Mother, Darleen.   She is one of the strongest women I  know.  She has battled MS for over 30 years and to this day doesn't complain about a thing.  She has been so limited in life that you would think she must have a lot of complaints, not the case.  Her love for her Family and God brings her peace every day.  For the my whole life I have only known my mom as a victim of MS, so when I was going through old pictures of her before my parents 50th wedding anniversary I came across the most "Darling" picture of her when she was young.   A little blond hair, blue eye girl, outside on the farm, in a homemade dress, leaning up against a tree. 



Not knowing what her future holds, at the time not limited to anything.  Now as a mother of three girls I see that same look in them, I just hope I can raise them to be strong as her.  She married my father Harlan Fuchs (which we pronounced :Fox") and had 5 kids, 16 grandchildren, and 1 (+1 on the way) great grandchildren.    That is where the "Fox" comes from.

That is what makes "Little Darling Fox"

What do you think?

LDF