Simply Scrapping Crafts Blog Hop!

Welcome blog hoppers! Come on in, make yourselves at home. Can I get you a cup of coffee? Here, have some cookies. I made them myself.

There. Now that you're all settled, let's talk crafting a bit, shall we?
Well, the challenge for this blog hop was to create something using a masking technique. So, about a month ago, I said, "Sure, I'll do that. I have no idea what masking is, but it's probably not rocket science, right?" I studied Chrissie's and Rene's examples, and as the date loomed closer (yesterday), I scoured the internet for more examples and tutorials. But, I'm a very simple scrapper. I don't use a lot of techniques, I don't use lots of stamps, and I don't have any glimmer mists (though I do have some on the way, actually.) I knew what I wanted to scrap, I just needed a way to incorporate masking. Or, at least, I wanted one. It's always good to try something new, you know.

So, I did it. But I kept it really simple. Just the way I like it.



I simply cut a square of scrap paper a little bigger than my photos, and then painted around it to create my frame.



Then I placed my photos inside, some cardstock, a title, and voila. I kept trying to add some embellishments, but I liked it best when it stayed simple. I didn't even have that much to say; the photos and the title, (and the little handwritten "always") captures how I feel about Sam's love of science and nature, and my hope that he always keeps his eyes open.



Which reminds me, back when he was a rambunctious 2 year old running me ragged, about the only thing he stopped moving for was to look at books about animals, and a to watch insects at the playground. Seriously.

While you're here, tell me, what's your favorite crafty technique?

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you come again!

To get back to Simply Scrapping Blog Hop group, click here.

Remember those birdwatching photos?

Here they are again in another layout, featuring MOI:



And some closeups:



Just so you can fully appreciate my love of buttons, and my inability to sew in a straight line:




And in case you're thinking, "that's great Aliza, but I think your pictures a little overexposed. You're face is an unnatural shade of white," I say to you, "No, that is actually my skin tone."

This layout is my interpretation of this SSC sketch:




I still have at least 2 more layouts in mind for these pictures. I really like 'em, and they make me think of lots of things.

A Little Catch-Up

T'was a busy few weeks here, with lots of scrapping and lots of work for my day job. I had parent teacher conferences on Thursday and Friday (as the teacher, not the parent), and now that that is done, I can share some of the scrappy creations of the last few weeks.
I have not yet shared SSC's sketch challenge for last week, but it's ok, because you can join in all month long. I've been wanting to scrap these two photos since my nephew's Bar Mitzvah in March, but I was just waiting for the perfect sketch:





And this week's: I was able to scrap one of the many photos from our Mother's Day outing. (My brain is still pondering how to scrap the other dozens of pictures from that day. I love them all.)






And then at Crafting Jewish Style, I wrote a scrapbooking tip about making a 4 page layout:








And, how was your week?

I Totally Win!

See, I have been dying to go bird watching in Central Park for years. I've read books on the subject (really, not book, books), and every year I try to entice the family to go. I knew they would love it if they went, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get anyone to go with me.

So for Mother's Day, it was decided (by Dave) that we would go. It is my day, after all. They accepted their fate, but, oh, how they doubted me. "Yeah, it's going to be so great to see pigeons."

Then we got there, and once we got our little backpacks, Sam was happy right away. "Cool, binoculars!" He immediately, was on the lookout for frogs and birds, and he was climbing on the giant rocks, giving us all little heart palpitations, since he always likes to find the most challenging spots to climb. And, Max was determined not to complain, as a Mother's Day gift to me. He even got in on the action a little bit.




Still, some time went by, and the trees were quiet, not a non-robin bird in sight. Still, it was nice to be out in a new place, a new kind of environment (namely, outside).

















And then, finally:





There were more birds, just they were hard to catch on camera, what with the flying, and all.

Oh, and I also like this:



Long, multi-photo story short. No one else wanted to go, everyone had a good time, which makes me right, everyone else wrong. I Win!

Crafting Jewish Style

I had my first 2 gigs Crafting Jewish Style this week. And wouldn't you know it, my very first post there was for Yom Hashoah, Holocaust Memorial Day? No pressure. Using products from all the different crafting Jewish Style lines,I made this:



On a lighter note, I created this layout, about Matzah, but more importantly about the little traditions that surround big holidays.

Short and Sweet

Lots to do the next few weeks for my "real job," but I just want to post the latest sketch over at SSC. It's the last sketch challenge of April, and I don't think I ever mentioned this, but there is a lovely prize up for grabs for this month's sketch challenges. Drum roll please...It's $25 store credit to spend at Lucky Girl Crafts.



See their cute, little, blinky?

So, now, without further ado, The Sketch:



This one makes me happy because it's all straight and in a grid. I just added a generous dose of white space around the sketch:



It's just a little something I pulled together about my niece Nava, who likes to craft along with me. It can be a bit difficult, what with her living in Israel, and me in the US. But, I will be there this summer, so hopefully we can get our craft on.

People often ask me if my boys are crafty, too. And, I say, yes, but not in the same way. While I like to make things pretty, Sam, and occasionally Max, well, how to describe it.... Let's just say, it involves lots of duct tape.




And chop sticks.





So, to me that's crafty, just not in the way that people usually think.