I’m visiting my dear friend Boomdee in Alberta, Canada. She works for The Urban Scrapbook, and is on deadline for her monthly page layout.
Urban provides a kit each month, filled with patterned and solid-colored paper, ribbon, and other embellishments. She kindly brought home a second kit of papers, so that we could make coordinating pages together. The “Urban Girls” create a layout for the store once a month.
My intentions were good, but when you’re sitting across from your Boomdee Bestie, artistic crafter extraordinary, it’s intimidating. I opted instead to watch her work and to record the process.
She started with a series of papers spread in front of her, and decided on a featured photo. Aren’t we adorable?
Using a stencil, she added Gesso to her base page,
then splattered bits of black acrylic paint for texture and interest. From there she built up paper layers, starting with black card stock, then adding pink and a third layer of patterned paper.
After adhering the three layers together, she did something unexpected: she went to her sewing machine and laid down three rows of black stitching using buttonhole weight thread.
Using a die cut of the word bliss, she cut one from a sheet of pink paper, then using the same die, she cut part of the actual photo. I love the effect. Using double-sided tape, she created a border on a white piece of paper, then added pink glitter. She attached the photo to the glittered frame, then offset two pieces of patterned paper for a layered effect. Meanwhile, she used spray dyes to color a piece of off-white seam binding, then stitched down the middle with the same black thread.
She gathered the seam binding into a small puddle of sorts, then added a heart-shaped chipboard to the top.
The layering continued, using chipboard, crystal dots, glitter, unfolded and dyed paper cording and finally tissue paper.
I’ve been writing this in real-time over the last four hours, punctuated by a late-night snack and a glass of something with bubbles. We’re having fun and I’ve learned so much more by observing then if I had attempted a page on my own.
I’ll write more about my visit when I’m home next week. Mike and the boys are in San Jose keeping the cats fed and the birdbaths full. I miss them of course, but I’m having a wonderful time. As luck would have it, my hosts have a pair of cats of their own.
You can see more of Boomdee’s work at Boomdeeadda and The Urban Scrapbook where she writes a bi-monthly column, Kelly’s Korner.
I knew it all along! She is just taking credit for the cat’s work. No human can be as hilaiously, sweetly, brilliant as Boomdeada.
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The secret is out. That is one talented cat. 😉
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Sorry, forgot the r…..the cat stole the key.
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LOL! The kitties would like to take over the Boom-room and often do. You’re too kind to consider me both hilarious and brilliant in one fell swoop ❤ That's a real compliment Cindy, thanks my dear! xK
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So glad you two are enjoying your time together. I had a hard time following that -can’t even fathom how she does it. Hugs to you both
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Hi Betsy, thanks for cheering us on. We’re trying to get in as much as we can since our next visit might be months away. I feel like I’ve won the lottery and Alys was the prize. Thanks for the hugs, that feels warm and fuzzy, my second favourite thang. xo K
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Thank you, Betsy. It’s magic to behold her at work. We’ve had so much fun. I hope your summer is going well and that the girls are having fun.
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My goodness what a spectacular layered masterpiece. So interesting that you chose to observe and record. It is not often that we get to witness the creative process of others from start to finish, and in her Boomroom to boot. Sounds and looks like you are having a great visit together. 😍
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Wilma, I agree. I’ve admired her work for so long. It was really a treat to see her pulling this together. I know I would enjoy watching you work as well.
We’re having fun-filled days, relaxing evenings, wonderful weather…the works.
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Wilma you’ve left such thoughtful message, mwaaaaa x 1,000,000 x B
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Hi hon, it’s fun to see photo’s from Saturday night and now you know the mode of silliness that goes into my monthly Urban Challenge. I’m glad you weren’t bored to pieces. back in the AM to comment since I keep falling asleep xoxo K
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Bored? NEVER. On the contrary, I had a terrific time and learned a lot. What fun to create in your cozy room.
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quadruple mwaaaa, to the maximum factor …..ok, now I’m REALLY going to hug you….here I come. xk
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And a wonderful hug it was, followed by roller coaster hilarity. Mwaaaaa
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❤ ❤ ❤
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I bet it’s just wonderful to see the process happening, isn’t it Alys – Our Boomdee has such an eye for colour and form and making sure every centimetre holds something beautiful.and special. What a treat for you! I’m so glad you two are having such a great time together – it will fly past so thanks for making time to include us in some of the fun today. ❤ ❤ ❤
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Pauline, it really is. She does have a great eye and pays attention to every detail. The layers of color and texture come together beautifully. Further, these aren’t really her colors, so I admire her ability to create from materials she wouldn’t generally choose herself. That takes thought and skill.
It was wonderful chatting via Skype. Your warmth shines through across the miles. I adore you. xo
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Thank you Mama P, I wish we could come learn some painting techniques from you. If you lived here, Urban Scrapbook would scoop you up in a heartbeat. We so love to have artists come and offer their techniques. I was so happy to hear you and see you Sunday night. I miss you ❤ xo K
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What fun to be in on this together. Bliss, indeed,
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Great fun!
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You two ARE adorable! That’s a great photo–it sounds like your visit is going perfectly!
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Thank you, Kerry. We’re having a great time together. I feel so welcome here with her lovely husband Jim and the cute kitties all making me feel at home. It’s been great getting away. The boys (Mike and our teens) have had fun too, watching scary movies, going out to eat, etc. while mom is away.
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Looks like great fun for both of you! Enjoy.
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Thank you! We’re having a great time.
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Well, I saw the pictures and read the directions but still wouldn’t be able to come up with something that incredible. I was delighted to see the little aqua sewing machine out and working. :)) It just fits there. Petals looks like she wants to get in on the art work too. I’m delighted to see you two having such a fun time playing with your toys together and sharing nicely. :)) Can life get any better? Doubt it. Enjoy, enjoy. Hugs to you both and pets to Blossom and Petals.
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Marlene, I heard the wonderful story of the little aqua machine. You’re a delight!
Like you, I wouldn’t know where to begin. It was fun watching her in action though, and I’ve learned a lot. We went to Urban Scrapbook today and I met some of her coworkers. I bought a set of acryclic stamps, and I’m determined to come home and do something new with them. Wish me…courage.
Hugs right back your way.
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I had it advertised on Craigslist for about 5 minutes when my brain screamed at me that the machine belonged to our favorite aqua queen. 🙂 So I took it off Craigslist right away. I have a lot of stamps. Brand new, bought in the early 2000’s. Interested? :)) Will I ever use them??? Keep having fun.
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Very elaborate work!
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It is! She’s amazing.
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😀 ❤ Thank you Helen. I just do my thang
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Boomdee is the Leonardo of craft papers. I couldn’t even begin to compete, so don’t blame you for documenting instead, and look what we got for it! I hope you’re having a fabulous time. The picture is great! Hi to Boomdee!
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Hi Lisa! I hope your heatwave is in decline. It’s warm here too, but quite dry. It’s so different from home. I judge the humidity by the wave in my hair. It’s laying low right now. Conversely, if I travel to Hawaii everyone thinks I’ve curled my hair. Funny that.
I’m glad I documented the process and honestly had just as much fun. I followed her around, asked questions, looked up links to some of the products she used and admired her creativity.
I will tell her hello, but suspect she’ll be by later as well. xo
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It’s still hot. Going to be all week, at least. I’m wearing sundresses to work and carrying a sweater. Hats are a must. Hair is definitely a bit unruly.
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Oh yes, hair and humidity. We are well acquainted. We’re finally cooling down into the eighties here after a week in mid-ninties. The air is horrible due to the Big Sur fire. It’s been burning for ten days, and they don’t expect containment for a full month. We’re in a series of spare the air days, with hazy brown skies. Blach.
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I guess that would make our code orange air days look minor. I hope the fires are controlled (or better yet–out) soon.
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Are code orange smog days? I’ll have to look that up. Unfortunately the fire continues to spread. They’ve now lost 57 homes and continue to burn with only 35% containment. It’s a bad one. Our air quality was horrible for many days, but last night’s heavy fog helped pull some of the particulate out of the air.
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Yep, mostly from cars. Ugh. Your air situation sounds really bad.
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PS Hurray for sundresses and a hat, though.
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Ahw, BFF’s together again!! And artist extraordinare indeed! Lovely post from Lovley women…have a great stay! Xo Johanna
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Thank you, Johanna. xo
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I can just see the two of you, working, giggling, and enjoying something bubbly together.
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It was great fun. Adding to the merriment, and sadly no photos, were the two kitties filtering in and out. At what point I turned around and kitty was sitting on a stack of suitcases looking over my shoulder. I could have written an entire post on those two adorable cats. They made me feel right at home.
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What a detailed process! So fun to see all this wonderful creativity at work. Sounds like you two had an absolutely wonderful time together! 🙂
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Sheryl, it was a wonderful time that passed far too quickly. We have so much fun together. Alberta is vast and beautiful. I can’t wait to return and see more of it.
As for watching her craft, it’s amazing. Such a pleasure to see it all unfold.
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