Find Your Voice

Find Your Voice, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

I love free stuff, don't you?? =D I ran across another free workshop--this one's about storytelling. It's called Find Your Voice.

And it's FREE!

It's an 8-week course, free, with coursework, inspiration and lots of contributors, all about finding our own voice in storytelling. Perfect for journalers as well as scrapbookers. And it's all FREE!

Did I mention this workshop is FREE?? ;-)

It's run by the talented Kristin at rukristin papercrafts...with lots of help from others. There's a Facebook page and other community building spots too.

Kristin suggested that we find or make or buy some kind of album to put all our photos and writing in during these 8 weeks.

I grabbed a brand new Tim Holtz two-ring binder and made my own little album. I cut up an old OLD accounting textbook and BOOM. Album done! Upcycling heaven!

I decorated the outside panels with Tim Holtz paper. And then I just threw that flower on there because it had been sitting on my desk for like two years.

The little stickers on the side read "Find Your Voice 2013."

This is the first week for the workshop so join in! You can catch up in no time!

Did I mention it's FREE?? It IS!! ;-)


And today I'm working on a totally different project. Busy, busy around here!! =D

Oh, and if you love Day in the Life type stuff, play along with Ali Edwards as she documents her day. Check it out on her blog here.


That's it for me! Craft happy, my friends!!


~Cynthia

Coneflower in Bloom

Coneflower in Bloom, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

Hey, long time no see! ;-) I've been busy scrapbooking and completing fun projects! And here's one page I just finished.

I think I've used this kind of layout before, but it really works when you have just one 4x6 horizontal photo.

The papers are all from the Little Yellow Bicycle line called Poppy It's a super bright, colorful line perfect for summer or garden photos!

Alas, this is NOT a shot of *my* garden! =D I went hiking a few days ago at a Nature Preserve that is partially run by a local college. They have planted an educational garden which is now full of these gorgeous pink Coneflowers! Ah, the bees were a'buzzing!!


Thanks for dropping by today. Check back tomorrow and I'll show you one of the projects I'm working on this summer!


~Cynthia

Oh Boy!

Oh Boy!, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

So.

Yesterday I mentioned that I've got lots of wildlife around my yard.

About a week ago, I noticed a leaf caught in what I thought was a spider web beneath this big sun face on the side of my house.

On Tuesday the "leaf" had gotten a lot bigger.

Investigation ensued.

I opened the second story window above the sun face and leaned out, tilting the face a bit to see what was going on behind the scenes there.

To my surprise...a BAT had taken up residence!! He (she?) was supplying us with guano!!

I didn't want to disturb him further...nor did I want him flying in the house!...so I settled for photos of his new abode and not of the actual bat. And then I let the journaling tell the story. ;-)

The paper is from a line by Bazzill Basics called Lucy's Crab Shack. I cut up a few of the journaling cards from the same line including the "BOY" piece. Originally it said something like "I love this BOY," but I thought it would be kinda funny to use BOY in a completely different, head-shaking, head-scratching, disbelieving kind of way. (Unless you HAVE boys. Then it's probably the same thing, right?? Heh, heh.)

I threw on some Bella Blvd washi tape and some October Afternoon letters--which, awesomely, matched exactly. ;-) Love it when that happens!


And that's it for me today! Thanks so much for visiting!! I appreciate it!!! =D


~Cynthia

CASEing Shimelle

CASEing Shimelle, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

You might have noticed a theme running through my scrap pages lately...the Great Outdoors! I live in a very rural area--not cow rural, but tree and forest rural. And there's always something exciting going on outside! I do tend to take lots of pictures of those exciting events. Which makes my 'everyday' scrap pages full of wildlife!! ;-)

But I promise--these will be the last crow photos! =D

This page is really way cooler in person. I cut the strips of paper by hand, making big scallops. I cut it messy on purpose. Then I used Pop Dots randomly under a few of the scallops.

It's a fun, messy look and I think I'll use the layout again. I got the inspiration from Shimelle's sketch.

The paper is very old (and very loved and very hoarded) Cosmo Cricket--the Mr. Campy line.

The journal card and the little letters are from Simple Stories, 24-Seven line. The big letters are Thickers.



Thanks so much for dropping by today!


~Cynthia

Rain Rain Rain

Rain Rain Rain, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

I'm trying to scrap more of the everyday around here. The photos for this page are of sweet gum tree seed balls. We call them sweet gum balls or landmines. If you accidentally step on one barefoot, you will be in a world of hurt! :O

We've also had a TON of rain this year. This has caused the sweet gum seeds to sprout while still inside the ball. I've never seen this happen before! They're very alien-looking!

So I took a few pictures and scrapped them on some American Craft rain drop paper with an 8x8 sheet of BasicGrey.

I threw in some snippets and a bit of washi tape along with some metal dots and a K&Co flower. I also added Pop Dots under paper edges and flower petals.

The letters are from The Paper Studio and October Afternoon.

The layout idea is from a video I saw by one of the Garden Girls over on Two Peas in a Bucket--justlulu.  She's got a link to the video on her blog.



It's pizza night around here, so I'm off! Have a lovely evening!!


~Cynthia

CASEing Sam

CASEing Sam, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

OK, all I've got to say is....this page really does look so SO much better in real life!! Maybe I'll try and photograph it tomorrow when the sun's up and you'll see the true colors--with no shadows!

And with that mini rant out of the way, on to the page!

I saw this page by Sam Wright over on the BoBunny blog and absolutely loved the idea of using a faux postcard.  Scroll down a bit on the BoBunny blog post to see it.

I used a bunch of different stamps and even a (dreaded!) rub-on, which I managed to apply with NO mistakes! Yay, me!! ;-)

I added some brand new washi tape and another handmade flair button--currently I have obsessions with both!! =D

The photos, which are hard to see, are yet more shots of my brave little Five-lined Skink. He was peaking his head out and once again posed so quietly for me that I had to take more photos of him!

The main paper is from BasicGray and the die cut flower is from Memory Box, with a few bits from Kaiser Craft too.



Have a great weekend!!


~Cynthia

Sketch to Page

Sketch to Page, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

Quick post tonight...it's almost time for "Burn Notice" and I love that show!! ;-)

I followed Shimelle's sketch today. She meant it to be used for photo booth strips, but I used 3 photos I took with my cell.

The larger paper is Little Yellow Bicycle (Acorn Hollow) as are the green pieces on the far right. The yellow piece is the back side of We R Memory Keepers' Country Livin' (Flower Field.)

I added cork stickers, wood triangle thingys and a butterfly. Plus some fun Pebbles sticker letters, along with my beloved Authentique tiny letters.

OK, I gotta run! Can't be late for Michael Westen! =D



~Cynthia