Kenya Safari Mini

One of our favorite weeks in Africa, was a week spent in Kenya at the Masai Mara.  

This is the most wonderful place to go on Safari/

Not only do you really see the creations of God,

but you get to experience life in such a calm and peaceful way.

You are spoiled to the hilt, with hot chocolate delivered to your Safari Tent

at 6:30 in the morning before your first safari adventure of the day/

You then travel  in  an open Landrover for 2-3 hours in the

early morning, stopping to see any animal in the bush.

Back for an outdoor breakfast, close to the river below filled with

Hippos honking, and immersed in the green and brown water

below you.

I have to say, while we where there, I wanted to stay forever.

Peaceful. Calm, and as close to nature and God's

creatures as you can get.

This is such a cute page

that represents time on a Safari.

It can be for a fishing vest too. 

I cut the vest by drawing it on the paper and cutting it out, 

I then cut pockets and distressed the edges with ink to give the pockets

a dimensional look. 

This was placed on Glitter Palm Tree CS

Then I added stickers from the Safari Sticker.

I also created a mini about our Safari

This is the cover of my mini.

This mini is larger than normal mini's. I cut it 9x9 because I wanted to be able

to see things bigger and have more space.

Products used on Cover of mini:

Glitter Leopard CS

Glitter Palm Tree (back side)

Safari Sticker

Dew drops

Glitter Cowboy Rope

and other things from my scrapbook supplies

There is nothing more refreshing when creating a book to find photos that are perfect for your 

book.  Some of these photos come from magazines that I purchased in 

Africa.

Products used:

Green Chipboard

Glitter Leopard CS

Brown Glitter Paws (Retired)

Brown Glitter Animal

This picture is how I felt when we got off the small plane

on the dirt runway in Kenya.  So I saved it and used it  on this page.
I decided instead of putting the curved edge on the side of the page, I put it
on the top of the page, so you eye is drawn to the top of the page
on the right side because it is taller.

Products used:

Glitter Brown Rope CS
Zebra Animal Glitter CS
Safari Sticker
Honeycomb Fleur linen CS
Brown Dew drops
Other products from my scrapbook stash

The black and white Zebra Animal glitter print is one of my favorite papers.  

It comes in Black and Brown, and white on white.  I love all of them.

When we were in Ethiopia we drove 2 days on horrible roads to go see the Zebra's.

Dana did this for me on my birthday.

So here I am with the Zebra's in the background.  I walked out pretty close to them

so I could get a good close up photo.

As I was walking through the tall grass, in my mind, all I could see

was the sign on the wall of the sign in and pay office showing

25 different snakes in the area to beware.

I was in sandals of course! 

But I made it, no snakes at all!

Products used:

Zebra Animal Glitter CS

Red Watercolor CS

amber dew drops

the rest comes from my scrapbook stash.

I so wanted to see a Leopard, but not in Kenya, we did see some in South Africa.

I did an opposite cut on the curved edge, the leopard paper is actually the paper cut on the

curved edge.

Products used.

Brown Glitter Paws (retired, but available in black)

Glitter Palm Tree CS

Safari Sticker

Rest from my scrapbook stash

Giraffes! 

Did you know there are different kinds of Giraffes, and their spots on each kind looks different?

Well. I didn't know that.  It is so very cool/

Products used:

Honeycomb Fleur linen CS

Safari Sticker

All other products from my scrapbook stash

Cheetah Sighting!

We did see a cheetah and her cub under this bush, it was on the 3rd day of Safari riding in

an open Landrover when we finally saw them.

Products used:

Silver Glitter Leopard CS

Brown Glitter Paws

Glitter Chipboard

Grass Dew Drops

Nothing is greater in Nature than the sky.  

Where would we be without it?

Products used:

Clouds CS

ocean and amber mini dew drops

Elephants!

I used the back of Snow Covered Trees CS for this Elephant look.

The embellishments come from wrapping paper that I bought in Kenya.

Well, Dana learned how dangerous Elephants

can be, and was so lucky that he just stomped his feet

and flapped his ears and screamed.

Back in the truck, 

and we were on our way down the road.

Whew!

Products used:

Snow Covered Trees CS

Amber dew drops

Last but not least

the Lion!

He is huge, massive paws. she is still quite large, and is the hunter.

We saw a pride every day we were there.  

When we were in South Africa we saw white Lions.

They are the top of the food chain

and it is obvious

KING of the Land.

Products used:

Red Lion CS

Brown Glitter Paws

White on White Zebra Glitter Animal CS

Rose Dew drops

Other products from my scrapbook stash.

Well,
there you are, my Safari Mini,
this pattern could be used for USA safari trips too.
It is a one size fits all.

Do you want to buy the book as a kit?
Let us know!

Hugs,

Robin

Not Lip Service

I thought I would share a simple layout with you this week.

This layout is just fun and simple.

This is a picture of Dana and I years ago by Steinaker Lake, not far from home.

Every day I make sure that there is sometime in the day that I tell him

I Love You.

Sometimes, I will say, "did I tell you I loved you yet?"

and on some days it is way more than once.

So this page celebrates 

that I really mean it when I say

I Love You!

Products used:

Glitter lip CS

Black Journaling tag

Silver Glitter Fleur

Roses CS

Silver Mini Dew Drops

Black Cardstock

Glitter Black Heart cut from Glitter Black Chipboard

Heart Designed by Rachel

Red Glitter Chipboard

V shaped paper clip

Just simple and true.

Have a great day to all of you this summer!

Hugs,

Robin

My Family Wall

Hello all

It's time again,

 to share another awesome idea. 

 I have been wanting to make a family wall for quite sometime now.

I set aside an old project display

from our store, and wanted to update it.

It has been set aside for YEARS!

There always seem to be others things going on

that were more important than this.

I even cleared off the wall that it would go on over a year ago,

and alas, it has just come to fruitation this week!

And...

it is so awesome.

Here is the wall all finished with my projects completed on the wall.

Now, some of these items you will remember from previous posts.  

The "O" beaded with dew drops

The O'Crowley wall hanging

And now the Family Picture Canvas Project.

This is how it looked when I started.

 I had old photos on this, and papers, and removed all of these, this is 4 

separate canvas squares and 3 are screwed onto the largest square.

 I selected my color scheme, and painted the large canvas black, then used a retired foil stamped

cardstock sheet for my base of the bottom canvas.

I chose gold, black, and tan as my colors.

 I then cut my selected papers to cover each canvas, 

and adhered them to the canvas squares.  

Then the fun begins.

Papers used so far:

Honeycomb Fleur

Ancient Map

Gold Glitter on Black Fleur

Then after all the embellishments and photos are added, 

the multi-media canvas wall hanging

becomes complete.

Here it is completed.  

I added another canvas off to the side on the left.

I started with the center of the canvas with Dana and I as the center of our family.

This section actually was embellished last.

But as you can see, I have added things that I 

have saved over time.  Not all items 

are from scrapbook supplies, some items are

just shapes that I like and have found to be perfect for this project.

 Then each of our family was added to the smaller canvas'.  

Each of the family photos on the canvas are hooked to our 

Fleur Paper Clips,

this way I can change the photos as a new photo is taken.

I used a metal strip on this canvas, added dew drops, and a shape

die cut from Black glitter chipboard.
The Fleur de lis is cut from mat board and embellished
with dew drops.

 This is Jeremiah and Tara's Family, they have one more boy.

The "O" is placed on a shield and covered with dew drops.  

On the shield I used the Viva La France Rub on

The shield and the Fleur de lis is cut from mat board (framing supplies)

I also used a broken diamond looking bracelet under the shield.  I adhered everything with

The Best Glue Ever from Scraperfect.

This is Josh and Robyn's family.

The Honeycomb color added to the palate brings brightness to the project.

I also used a separate sheet and hand cut the 

fleur and popped it up.  

Other embellishments were created with Black glitter chipboard,

Brown glitter chipboard, dew drops, large clear dew drop with a fleur 

punched from another paper under it, and a sticker from

Classified Sticker.

This family looks familiar, as I used their pictures for the America Book

a few posts back.
This is Jake and Britney and thier family.
Their paper is the Gold Glitter Fleur on Black CS

Their embellishments are dew drops, Classified Sticker, Shape die cut from

Black glitter chipboard, and a penny.

This canvas is for Rachel's family.  She had Chelsea and the new baby Silas 

out to visit her this week, so I'm hoping for a new photo.

The last family photo they have, I can't find, it was on my office wall in Ethiopia.

I used Gold on Black Classic Swirl, Brown Animal, Clock CS Sheets, Classified

Sticker, and Dew drops.

Here is a close up of the dew drop covered mat cut fleur.

I also used a large clear dew drop in the middle

it has a single fleur punched from the fleur CS 

under it.

As you can see, embellishments can come from anywhere.

I used a silver mini frame and put Gold Classic Swirl then a square

punched from Glitter Black Chipboard and a Love necklace pendant.

The Black glitter shape is cut from Spellbinders die out

of Glitter Black Chipboard and a tiny gold heart in the corner.

The fleur on this used to be my key chain, but broke

I have saved it for some special project, and this just was a perfect match.

You don't have to live inside the box.  On the top of the large canvas, I placed

this oval clock sticker from the Classified Sticker.

It is place over the top of the canvas, so part of it is on top of the canvas.

I edged it with mini brown dew drops.

So again, the completed project!
Finally, I have my family wall to walk past and see our family
EVERY DAY!

On the bottom left corner of the

large canvas, is Jessiciah.  She is a lone member of her family, so to add her

on the bottom of the big canvas was perfect. I taped her on with metal tape.

And now in my home, my family wall,

 I want to find a small chair to hang on the wall.
 This is to represent no empty chairs
in Heaven.to the wall
.

My sign, It's all about the "O" represents the things

our family does,  "done the O'Crowley way".

Robyn made this for me.

You may see it again sometime with dew drops added to it!

Remember, my business blog is
chatteringrobins.blogspot.com
come visit me there!

Hugs to all of you!

Have a great and awesome day.

Robin

At Home with Nature Mini Book

 Wow, What a summer!  Trying to keep up has been a challenge.  I post on my first blog
chatteringrobins.blogspot.com every wednesday, things that
I have created with products from The Robin's Nest,
a company I started 15 years ago.

Earlier this year 

I created this book, and even taught it as a class at Treasured Memories in Utah. 

Each month I teach a book class in Alisa's Scrapbook Store.  

This month on the 27th of July

the book I am teaching is the Cabo San Lucas Mini book posted 

under Robin's Posts.  

We would love to have you come and join our class.

At Home with Nature Mini Book

This is the cover of my Nature Book.  Dana and I love to take our RV up to the 

Uintah Mountains 

we can see from our home.  

Just to retreat!  Which is where we are this week.

This Book is such a classic and can be used for 

Camping, Hiking, Campfires, Nature lovers, and just about anything Nature

you can think of.

Products used on the cover half page:

Glitter Getaway Leaf CS

Camping Sticker

Trees Cricut cut from B/W Pinetree CS

Leaves Cricut from Stencil Green/Plum

Mountains diecut from Glitter Witch Accessories

Other elements from my scrapbook stash

 This is the edge of the book, you can see that the first page is half page with the

 Robin's Nest Camping sticker 

coming out over the edge.  Each page is labeled from where the photos are taken.

I have used many elements and different papers in this book.

You don't necessarily have to use Nature or Woodsy papers

to create a Nature look. 

Letters are from my scrapbook stash

 I love this pocket page created on the back of the half page.  

Journaling paper is attached to the tag inside the pocket page.

I created a full page look with a Cricut shape cut to 8" then framed it.

I then created a swirled leave motif with dew drops and tear drops.

Products used on these pages

Olive Daisy CS

Olive Fleur CS (retired)

Brown CS

Glitter Getaway CS

Tree motif Cricut from B/W Pinetree CS

Tree motif background Cricut from Brown Herringbone

Small tag from my stash

 The dew drop swirl leaves are created with  ff-mini dd's(brown) 

and leaf green tear drops.  All adhered with the Best Glue Ever.

 Page 2 is created with great balance.

  I love how it looks, and that you can fit 4 pictures on one side of the book.  

This is a fairly simple layout.

Products used:

Camping Sticker

Brown Glitter Chipboard (punched birds)

Adventure Ribbon

Leaf Cricut from Brown Herringbone CS

Glitter Getaway CS

Green Mini Dew drops

Clear Large Dew Drop

 Again, just a simple layout, and I used the excess of paper from the die cut pages to frame my photos.

To create the edge on the oval tree sticker, I stuck the sticker down, then I pulled up the edge of the sticker

with my fingernails, then the white edge shows, and it looks dimensional.

Products used:

Getaway Glitter Leaf CS

Camping Sticker

Glitter Green Journaling tag

Brown Tear drops

Leaf Cricut from Brown Herringbone CS

 Mushrooms!  

They grow so good in the forests!  

Products used:

Olive Green Velvet Ribbon

Leaf Stripe CS

Getaway Stripe CS

Glitter Getaway CS (borner)

Glitter Green Journaling Tag

Camping Sticker

Leaf Green Tear drops

Leaf Cricut from Brown Herringbone CS

I so love texture in my books.

Burlap is added to this page layout to add this texture

I used a Halloween paper die cut out in the mountains shape for the look

of mountains on this page.

Products used:

Natural Burlap

Glitter Green CS

Glitter Green Journaling Tag

Leaf Cricut from Green Stencil

Mountains die cut from Glitter Witch Accessories

Glitter Brown Chipboard (Birds)

Leaf Green tear drops 

This is another fun pocket page.  

I used a simple layout technique, with 3 of the same size photos on each side but I put the trio of photos on the opposite sides of the layout, and then, 

used different shapes to complete the balance of the pages.

I used a circle punch on the edge of the pocket.

So true confessions,  I accidentally punched my holes on the wrong

side of the page, but I put twine in the holes

and it looks like 

I planned it!

Wish I was that smart! 

Products used:

Getaway Stripe (back side)

Glitter Getaway CS

Camping Sticker (popped up)

Trees Cricut from B/W Pinetree

Brown 6mm Dew drops

Leaf Green Tear drops

Leaf Cricut from Green Stencil  

Small tag from my stash

This book is full of very simple layouts.  This too is one of them.  It also has great texture.  A piece of brown linen is behind the picture on the left, then topped with 2 Spellbinders bird shapes cut from our Glitter chipboard.  This is the opposite side of my ooppsy holes, but they just make the page look complete!

Products used:

Glitter Brown Chipboard

Glitter Getaway CS

Brown CS

Chocolate Dew drops

Dark Green Tear drops

Extra pieces of Glitter Getaway Stripe

This is another peek a boo pocket page.  

In the middle between the layout is a small pocket page made from 

Glitter Getaway CS.  I punched the edge with a circle punch.

then embellished it with a Cricut nest and eggs.

Again I pulled up the edges of the sticker with the trailer on it

to make the dimensional look.

Products used:

Glitter Getaway CS

Glitter Getaway Stripe CS

Camping Sticker

Brown Herringbone CS

Glitter Green Journaling tag 

Green and Brown Dew Drops

Green tear drop

Here are the pattern designs without pictures.

The links to The Robin's Nest website

Black Forest Collection

Glitter Witch Accessories

Dew Drops

Mini Dew Drops

Tear Drops

So....

I hope you enjoyed my Nature book.  I so love it, and love to

share my ideas with you!

Tell me how you like this book!  

I love to hear your comments.

Hugs to you!

Robin

Come visit my the Robin's Nest Blog
chatteringrobins.blogspot.com 

Celebrating the 4th

I so love my country,

 I know I say this all the time, but living for 2 years in Africa just makes me love America more and more.  I remember exercising on the old bike machine looking out the window and seeing the Ethiopian Flag, it always made me want to see my own country's flag.  When Jer and Tara came to visit, they brought us a large American flag, and we hung it over the door in the living room so we could see it everyday and made it better for me.

So when July comes around I go all out. 

 Our flag hangs on the front of our house all year long, it is very important to me to have the flag out year round.  I also hang in my front window a flag with a yellow ribbon on it when we have a soldier from our family on tour.  Jeremiah is gone right now on the 6th tour between our 3 sons, this is Jer's 2nd tour.  

We have 3 awesome sons serving in the military.

I went to Thanksgiving Point a month ago, and they had the home decor area decorated in Americana, which inspired me to make some pillow covers for my pillows in the family room.  We have a red couch and I decided that we would go festive.  I pulled out my Americana box for decorating, and went through a couple of boxes of my old fabrics to see what I had to work with.  I found some blue and white stripe fabric, but the great find was some bandana's from my store that never sold, they were there when we bought the store and still there when we closed the store.  So I decided they were perfect for my pillow cases, they were much bigger than I remember in size.

I also had a place mat that was quilted, and it became a pillow too.  Here is the family room couch and our new pillow cases in Americana.  It just brings such fun and brightness to the room.  I so love it.  There is a 3rd big pillow on the chair, the opposite side of the room.  So virtually they cost me nothing, only time to sew and find the parts.  

In my Americana box were lots of goodies, here are some of the decorations I decided to use.

 Our Olyimpic Blanket looks great as a table cloth on the kitchen table.

 My book about America that I made, and my book 100 Flag.

 Our distressed American Flag about 2 feet tall, I needed some height on the middle table.

 My 12x12 America book that I made from Robin's Nest Products.

 The bar in our kitchen in Red, White, and Blue Dishes.  And the American Flag placemats,  I love coming into the kitchen every morning.  I love the feel of America in my kitchen.

America Placesetting

Our festivities were very fun for the day.  It started with french toast.

We also made stars, hearts and mickey mouse shapes out of watermelon.

We also made red, white, and blue cheesecake. and cupcakes.

And a great BBQ as a family.  Tara and their 5 boys are here, Jake, Britney and their 4 kids are here too.  It has been such a great day.

Tara had all of her family dressed in their Old Navy Flag shirts, they are so awesome!

4th of July was a great day, and we spent the evening at the park watching fireworks, shooting them off at home.  Great day, great family, great memories.

Hugs for America!

Robin