Music is Life Blog Hop

Welcome to the Music is Life Blog Hop

We sang our ABC's as children loud and off key!

We rocked out in our bedrooms with our friends to our favorite tunes.

We slow danced awkwardly to that memorable ballet with the boy we crushed on. We walked down the isle in to the wedding march as we married the man of our dreams. We sang a sweet lullaby to our babies as we rocked them to sleep. We sing our favorite songs as we drive the kids to school, annoying them the whole way! Yes, music is Life! It's everywhere in our lives! 

Join us as we celebrate the wonderful Life of Music!!

You should have arrived from Holli  . In case you didn't and you need to start at the beginning,

Connie Can Crop is our Drum Major in this Music is Life Blog Hop.

This is a one day blog hop and I appreciate your leaving a comment for all of these fantastic ladies who are here sharing their Musical themed ideas and creations. 

I have a fantastic sponsor for this hop, Scrap & Craft

They have generously donated a fun fall themed kit full of cardstock, embellies, and a stamp set.

Please visit Scrap & Craft HERE

you can find them on facebook HERE

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 12:00 am Monday to finish the hop and leave your comments.

Winner will be announced on Wednesday here at Connie Can Crop.

Be sure to follow everyone and leave a comment along the way!

Our instruments have all been tuned...time for the show to begin!

I purchased this chip board note when it was on sale half price at Hobby Lobby.  I decided to alter it for my husband's man cave.  He likes metal.

 

This is my favorite part.  I loved making the line of studs.

Ingredients:

Hobby Lobby chipboard note

Rock Princess Cricut cuts

Recollections metallic studs

mesh

Misc stickers and card stock

Quick Quotes Midnight Confession 

NOW....

 Up next is Sarah 

Here is our complete line up in case you get lost along the way:

Connie 

Melinda 

Haidee

 Veronica 

 Charmagne 

 Angela 

 Pam 

 Holli 

 Alicia 

Sarah 

Sharon 

Theresa 

Daphne 

 Miranda 

Rebecca 

 Audrey 

Jessica 

Thank you for joining us on this magical musical adventure!

I would like to enter this in the following challenges:

http://diecuttindivas.blogspot.com/2015/09/challenge-232-3d-projects.html until 9/13

Showcase Pick

http://inspirationdestinationchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2015/09/ag-no-50.html until 9/15x

http://leftofcenterchallenges.blogspot.com/2015/09/challenge-95-die-cutspunches-with.html until 9/17
top pick!

http://creativecornerchallenges.blogspot.de/2015/09/team-mel-anything-but-card-non-sponsored.html until 9/17x

http://crafty-girls-creations.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/challenge-4.html until 9/23x

http://cas-ualchic.blogspot.ca/2015/09/ccc03.html until 9/25x

http://alohafridaychallenges.blogspot.com/2015/09/aloha-friday-challenge-56-make-music.html until 9/25

http://craftingwithanattitude.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/challenge-7.html until 9/30x

http://alteredeclectics.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/september-challenge.html until 9/30x

http://rheddscreativespirit.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/septembers-challenge.html until 9/30x

Kiwi Lane Sketch Challenge Butterfly card

I was checking out Kiwi Lane and saw a great sketch!  Here's my take:

Here's their sketch:

I have a couple of 6x6 paper pads that are almost at the end...so I am trying to use them up!  You may see some more simple sketch cards in the near future.

Ingredients:

CTMH sentiment from Just to say

Colorbox Lilac

Judikins clear detail embossing powder

Quick Quotes Very Berry

Basic Grey 6x6 Plumeria

Kiwi Lane templates: Nature 2, 2T; Mini Cascade Trails 1B; Ring 2

Queen & Co bling

I would like to enter this in the following challenges:

https://www.kiwilane.com/card-ideas/butterfly-thank-you-card/ until 9/13x

http://www.southerngirlschallenge.blogspot.com/2015/09/layer-it-up.html until 9/22x

Sketch N Scrap Twistback Thursday Halloween Layout

Today I have for you the Sketch N Scrap Twistback Thursday sketch.  The twist is to use something with all the letters of the word APPLE!  Interesting twist!

My APPLE:

A is for Alphabet stickers

P is for Patterned paper

P is for Pumpkin

L is for Lace

E is for Eyes

The lace could be the felt spider web or the black mesh banner.

For the pumpkin, I used the "innies" from a sticker with red card stock.

I enhanced the some of the eyes on the top pattern paper with red bling.

Forgive me but I have misplaced my "ingredients" list for this project.  Most everything was pulled out of my Halloween section.  The red ribbon is Recollections and the velvet is American Craft.  The felt spider web border is Queen & Co.  The skull paper is My Mind's Eye - Lost and Found Collection - Halloween - 12 x 12 Double Sided Paper - Hallows Skull Doily and the moon is from Graphic 45 - Happy Haunting Collection - Halloween - 12 x 12 Double Sided Paper - Man in the Moon.  The pumpkin is from Making Memories - Spellbound Halloween Collection - LineArt Stickers - Black and Silver.

Thanks for stopping by today!

I would like to enter this in the following challenges:

http://inspirationdestinationchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2015/09/ag-no-50.html until 9/15x

Alicia

Quick Quotes Feminine Farmhouse layout

I am so excited today to show you my first project with the latest Quick Quotes paper collections!  I actually got to work with the new lines at the Quick Quotes Mini Reserve in Toledo a couple of weeks ago.  I am enamoured with all the new lines and how well they coordinate.  I primarily used the Farmhouse collection with a few papers from Anchors Aweigh.  I just knew this photo from Mother's Day would look gorgeous with the colorful but soft background paper.

I used templates to create the flowers and borders.  Although I used various sizes of flowers and a pearl in the middle, they seemed to need something else.  I punched a floral piece of paper with not a circle but a HEX to give the flowers a little more interest.  You just can't go wrong adding one more layer or one more small detail.  It will usually give your project more dimension.  I am a fan of dimension without too much bulk. For instance, I crumpled my flowers a bit and chalked again to highlight the distress.

I even distressed the resin flower I used for this flower center.

Thank you for stopping by today!

Alicia

Quick Quotes Ingredients:

Anchors Aweigh Papers 101, 103

Farmhouse Papers 102, 104, 105, 106

Farmhouse chipboard die cuts

Peach Tree PowderPuff Chalking Ink

Sunset PowderPuff Chalking Ink

Seafoam PowderPuff Chalking Ink

Blue Moon PowderPuff Chalking Ink

Other Ingredients:

Kiwi Lane: Cedar Trails 2A, 2B; Mini Cascade Trails 2B; Sunnybrook Lane 2B; Floral 2, 2T

Recollections pen

Creative Memories hex punch

Misc embellishments

Cricut cut photo mats and photo

I would like to enter this in the following challenges:

http://pictureandscrap.blogspot.com/2015/09/udfordring-102-brug-blomster-use-flowers.html until 9/13x

http://craftyhazelnutspatternedpaper.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/craftyhazelnuts-patterned-paper.html until 9/30x

http://www.scrapbookblessingsclub.com/2015/09/september-challenge-anything-goes-with.html until 9/30
I love to distress with ink and wrinkles (flowers)

Back to School Blog Hop

Welcome to the "Back To School" Blog Hop. This blog hop is a one day blog hop that is jammed pack full of some amazing projects. We have had so much fun creating this hop and we have a wonderful line up with some oh-so-talented creators. You will see some amazing projects having to do with a school related theme and have a chance to win some blog candy along the way.

You should have arrived here from Sandy's blog, if not you can begin the hop with Lisa @ Honeybearz!!

Sponsors for this hop

Pretty Cute Stamps - http://www.prettycutestamps.com/

They will be sponsoring a $15.00 Gift Card for the Pretty Cute Stamps store

SVGAttic - http://www.svgattic.com/

They will be sponsoring a $15.00 Gift Card for the SVG Attic store

Pink and Main - http://pinkandmain.com/

A free stamp set

TreasureBox Designs - http://treasureboxdesigns.com/

Is giving the winner three FREE files of their choice.

In order to be eligible for the blog candy from me in today's hop you must leave a comment on every blog in the hop and become followers to all the ladies in the hop.  Good luck!


Here is my project:

I took these pics last year or so at open house at my son's school.  He is a technical theater major and this was his scenery classroom.  It is also the backstage of the Corbett Theater which is home to the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra.  My son's technical education is obviously world class.  We feel so lucky to attend.  It is a public school but auditions are required.  If a student lives outside of Ohio they may also pay tuition to attend.  It is not your typical high school!  Several high profile persons have attended including Nick and  Drew Lachey of 98 degree fame.

I just loved these lockers from Cricut Design Space!

(a piece of silver came off while photographing and I stuck it back in the wrong place...I fixed it when I put it in the album)

Ingredients:

Cricut Autumn Celebration, Varsity font

Basic Grey Obscure papers Random and Rock

WeR Teen Angst Psyched

Bazzill card stock in various colors

Kiwi Lane templates: Accents 6T, Adventure 4, Explore 4T, 5T

Thanks for taking a look!  

Denise is up next!

But in case you get lost here's the complete lineup:

1. Lisa - http://honeybearzdesigns2011.blogspot.com

2. Sandy - http://simplycraftycreationsbysandys.blogspot.com

3. Alicia - http://www.goldengoddessdesigns.blogspot.com

4. Denise www.craftconfectionery.com

5. Angela www.crazy3monkeys.blogspot.com

6. Madge - http://www.thescrappinlounge.com

7. Theresa - scrapsbygracie.blogspot.com

8. Haidee - http://created2bunique.blogspot.com/?m=1

9. Holli - http://sunflowerholli.blogspot.com

10.Charmagne - Sanurascraps.blogspot.com

11. Anna - http://agrandmaacricutandablog.blogspot.com/

12. Rhonda - Craftingwithblue.blogspot.com

13. Audrey - www.kricutkreations.blogspot.com

14. Aisha - http://www.londonskyedesigns.net/

15. Rebecca - http://www.stampandscrapstudio.blogspot.com/

16. Jessica - http://www.craftinandstampin.blogspot.com

I would like to enter this in the following challenges:

http://heather-bittenbythebug2.blogspot.com/2015/08/back-to-school-challenge.html until 9/5x

http://giveacrafteracookie.blogspot.ca/2015/08/cookie-challenge-26.html until 9/9x

http://creativecornerchallenges.blogspot.de/2015/09/team-jess-back-to-school-sponsored-by.html until 9/10x

http://jwscrapshack.blogspot.com/2015/09/ffc-104-anything-goes.html until 9/11x

http://fairytale-challengeblog.blogspot.com/2015/08/challenge-125-mit-einem-foto-with-photo.html until 9/11x

http://funwithshapesandmore.blogspot.ca/2015/09/challenge-190-schule-school.html until 9/17x

http://fussyandfancychallenge.blogspot.ca/2015/09/fussy-and-fancy-challenge-147-back-to.html until 9/17x

http://www.frosteddesigns.blogspot.ca/2015/09/friday-challenge-back-to-school.html until 9/29

Quick Quotes Mini Reserve Part 2: Fabulous Fun, Friends and Prizes!

I am back to share the fun we had at the Quick Quotes Mini Reserve!

Below are my friends, most of which I had never met IRL (in real life)!  We belong to several different scrappy Facebook groups.  In the corner is Theresa from Scraps by Gracie  and Card a Day Challenge blogs.  She organizes many of the groups where we share, swap and chat.

I thought this was a great pic of Theresa.  I hope she doesn't mind!

Here are the product, prizes and giveaways!

We also had a couple of contests.  I love contest.  I won second place in the scrapbook layout one!  Below are the winners and the winning layouts:

Here is the table with all the layouts entered.  I feel very privileged to have won.  There's also some snapshots of some games and our bag in which we received our album. 

Here is the altered frame contest winners and their frames:

Here is all the frames entered and some of the non winning entries including mine in the corner.

Here is the bag we received:

Here is the inside when I returned.  Most of which is included with the price of the Mini Reserve.  I only purchased the Add on and two paper pack while I was there. Do you see how much stuff you get for the price?  And the two days of paper crafting instruction!

I was also one of the grand prize winners!  I won the really nice Canon printer/copier/scanner.  My teenage son has already commandeered it since I have a large format printer in my studio.

Thanks you Quick Quotes for a full weekend of learning and fun and product! 

Alicia

Quick Quotes Mini Reserve Review Part 1: The projects

This past weekend I attended the Quick Quotes Private Mini Reserve in Toledo, OH.  I have to say it was a blast!  This is not your regular "crop". Quick Quotes is providing hours and hours of classes!  Concentrating on techniques and new ideas for several different types of projects.  There are several options of Quick Quotes' weekends: a Private Reserve is 3 days and a Mini Reserve is 2 days and Quick Quotes has a third option of one day called Super Saturday!  They hold these classes all over the country.  At the Mini Reserve we spent day one on a 20 page album with several hours of free crop time in the evening.  There are breaks between all the classes and a nice lunch break.  Day two includes some different types of classes again with breaks and lunch with giveaways near the end and a little more crop time.


Our Mini Reserve was held at a church in Toledo.  I am not that familiar with the city but I brought along a friend who was a bit more familiar and a great navigator!  Theresa @ Scraps by Gracie and Card a Day Challenge blogs.

Above is a view of half of the class.  Below is a few from my seat since these old eyes can't see well, I wanted to be on the front row.  The next pic is the Add-on paper pack that provides more of the same papers used in the album project and 3 more two page layout kits! Next to that is our instructor, Lisa.  Below is a Teaching Assistant, Liz. In the corner is a two page layout from day two.

Here is just a selection of the 20 album pages we created.  As I said the class focuses on techniques and therefore, there is not enough time to fully complete the pages.  The first page has some little squares that go all around the circle. It was a  little too time consuming to complete in class plus many areas had to be left unfinished to add pictures later.  All in all, I believe after I print my pics and start adding them, it shouldn't take me but a few more hours to complete the album in it's entirety.  Until I made it in class, I wasn't really sure what I would use it for but now I have decided.  I am even more pleased I purchased the Add-on kit because the layouts in that kit are going to go perfect in the completed album!

The first two pages in the picture below look super intricate but with Quick Quotes pre cut dies they were a cinch to complete!

Here are Day two projects:

We made two more two page layouts, a flip book standing album and altered a mini!  Don't tell but that standing flip book is going to be my mother's birthday present!  The mini was part of the Canon class and is a pocket album.  We learned several nifty ideas to dress up the pocket album and the flip book!  There was also a Canon rep there for part of Saturday and Sunday.  We were able to try out several different Canon printers.

Later I will be back to share the friends and fun!

Thanks for taking a look today!

Alicia

Sketch n Scrap September 1st Layout Sketch

I am still scrapping pictures from all kinds of events.  I did a layout of architectural details from the home tour for Sketch N Scrap a few months ago.  Here I have an exterior and a portrait of the home in original condition.  It is now subdivided into apartments but was originally a 10 acre estate with this main home and a carriage house.  Originally built in 1893 by a tobacco baron named Meyer, it was eventually purchased by Christian Moerlein's son as he rose to the top of that company.  When Moerlein and his wife passed in the 1920's the lot was subdivided and the addressed changed from Ludlow Avenue to Manor Hill Drive with many homes being built on the property.  The carriage house is now a separate residence with the manor house's first floor and some of the second floor being an primary residence and part of the second floor and third floor and attic space are apartments.  The primary residence still contains many original architectural details highlighted in a previous post.

Here's the sketch and you have all month to play along!

The buttons and charms are new but have a vintage look.

Ingredients:

Paper House paper

Creative Memories card stock brick

Bazzill card stock Black Walnut 

7 Gypsies paper tape

Martha Stewart wedding cake border stickers

Marvy border maker 

buttons, stickers, and floss from stash

Noah's ABC's font from Cricut

cream card stock distressed with Antique Linen Distress ink

Thanks for taking the time to stop by today!

Alicia