Imagine the Possibilities

Sail Away

2012-01-12T20:17:00.003-05:00

I'm still loving Studio J. It's fast and easy and fun! Here's a layout using the Elemental paper pack. Notice that on the right page there one photo that fills 6 different photo wells. To do this scale up a photo approximately 150-200% in each of the photo wells. Move the photo around in each of the wells until each piece lines up. It's best to zoom in close to ensure the photos are lined up.

Rock The Block!

2012-01-01T18:37:00.004-05:00

You are going to love this campaign. Spend $25 on qualifying Close To My Heart products and you can purchase this E-Size stamp set and the sneak peak cubes set from the upcoming catalog for $15! That's a savings of more than $30! You can place an order at my website or call me with your order.

I've seen some wonderful picture puzzles and also a fabulous LOVE mobile and holiday decorations. What can you create?

Believe

2011-11-25T21:12:00.000-05:00

A fun layout showcasing the Believe paper pack. This fun bright paper is perfect for your holiday photos. I've added in a flap for additional pictures or journaling. I added in liquid applique to Santa's coat for some added texture.

Winter Wonderland

2011-11-18T21:10:00.000-05:00

I love how this layout turned out and I can't wait to add some great winter photos to it. It uses the Wonderland paper pack. The title is cut out using the Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge from Close to my Heart.

Mischief

2011-11-10T21:04:00.000-05:00

This paper is designed as a Halloween paper but here I've used it for my son's school album. I also added in some "bonus material" hidden behind the main photo with a pull out. A great way to add extra photos in when you don't have the room on the main portion of the page.

The last page is a close up showing the distressing I've added to the layout. I mixed Cocoa re-inker and Pearl paint and then using a stipple brush painted it on the pieces and main base page. It adds a lot of shine. I also painted the banners in the upper right corner and the tag in the lower right corner.

Typeset and Cricut

2011-11-03T21:01:00.000-04:00

Here's a card that uses both the Typeset paper pack and the new Cricut Art Philosophy. I cut EVERYTHING so now that there are so many images that coordinate with our stamps I don't have to cut by hand! I'm loving my Cricut!

Elemental

2011-10-26T20:59:00.000-04:00

I love the new Elemental paper pack. Small background patterns in 6 different colors! They work well together or individually and really let the stamped images shine in art work. The stamp set is Zoology.

Celebrate

2011-10-19T20:57:00.000-04:00

Here's a fun card showing how you can emboss on Kraft paper and get a big wow. I like how white embossing stands out.

Wonderland Mini Album

2011-10-15T15:26:00.001-04:00

Using the Wonderland B & T, cut the following pieces:

5.75" x 2"
(3) 5.75" x 1.5"
(2) 5.75" x .75"
(2) 5.75" x 1.25"
(2) 2.75" x 2.75"
(2) 4" x 5.25"
6" x .5" (can use border)
6" x 1"
4" x 4"

From the 12 x 12 Kraft cardstock, cut and score the following pieces:

one piece 5.75" x 12" and score at 3" and 9"
one piece 5.75" x 11.5" and score at 5.75"

To the card base, attach the two kraft pieces on the inside of the card. The tri-fold goes on the right and opens top/bottom. The half fold goes on the left and opens to the left.

Assemble as follows:

partway opened

completely opened

front cover

Typeset Card

2011-10-12T08:55:00.000-04:00

Here is one of the cards I made for my swap using the Typeset paper pack.

Typeset Layout

2011-10-04T20:51:00.004-04:00

Here's a layout I put together using the Typeset paper pack in the new Autumn/Winter Close To My Heart catalog. With each new catalog I participate in a swap with 5 other very talented artists. This is the layout I made for my portion of the swap. I will be sharing the other creations here throughout the coming months.

"Enjoy" Scrapbook Page Pops with Flowers: Project Inspiration Autumn/Win...

2011-09-21T18:20:00.000-04:00

This video features ideas you can make with the new CTMH cricut cartridge. I love this cartridge and all 700 images you can cut with it!!!

Thanksgiving Card: Project Inspiration Autumn/Winter 2011 Idea Book

2011-09-09T18:15:00.001-04:00

Check out this great video on how make a wow looking card in just minutes. It's so much easier than you might think!

Miracle Layout

2011-09-03T20:44:00.000-04:00

I used the Miracle paper pack to make this fun Outdoor Adventure layout. The colors in this kit are so versital. You can add a variety different accent colors to really change the look of the paper. Try adding in pink for a fun spring flower layout.

Celebrate - Simple Card

2011-08-31T20:40:00.001-04:00

This is a super simple card with a big effect. Stamp any small stamp in a line near the top and then draw a ling around the card. Add a few sparkles to dress it up and bit and you're done. I got this idea from another consultant but can't remember who to give them credit. I adapted the card to fit my needs.

Pinwheels Galore

2011-08-24T08:38:00.003-04:00

Making pinwheels is all the rage and oh so easy. Take a square and cut in on all of the diagonal corners toward the center (don't cut all the way to the center). Fold every other corner toward the center to make the pinwheel. Now add a button or brad or fun center to finish. These are great on cards or layouts and can be made to any size.

8 is Great

2011-08-21T20:33:00.005-04:00

This layout will be used for my son's 8th birthday pictures. I utilized several products and techniques on this one. There are star dimensional elements and the great eclectic dimensional elements. I used an envelope template where I can add in additional hidden pictures or journaling. To jazz up the white paper I mixed Cranberry reinker and with water in our spray pens. You get a different effect time you use it. It's a great way to make your own paper!

Stamping with Paint

2011-08-15T20:31:00.001-04:00

This is a fun card using the Mayberry paper pack. I used pearl paint mixed with Olive re-inker to stamp the pear. This gives the stamped image a shiny effect. It's hard to tell in the picture but it's a really great effect.

Studio J - Scaling embellishments

2011-08-12T07:05:00.002-04:00

On this Studio J layout I used the My Stickease to jazz up some of the blank space. You can scale up the embellishments as much as 200%.

Studio J borders

2011-08-05T07:00:00.001-04:00

Another Studio J layout. I am using this to help me catch up and it's working! I can do a layout in about 30 minutes. Just think, you can get a scrapbook layout done on your lunch hour (maybe even 2 of them)!

Notice that the border on the top left of the picture on the left page and bottom right of the strip of pictures on the right page is made up of stacked buttons. The borders on the My Stickease just weren't working for me so I made my own.

New Paper! Typeset

2011-08-01T08:49:00.000-04:00

The new catalog is here and I'm in love with all the new papers. Here's a card I made with the Typeset paper pack. This paper pack features Juniper, Creme Brule, Desert Sand and Black.

Studio J with Stitching

2011-07-30T07:10:00.001-04:00

Here's a layout I created using Studio J. They've added stitching embellishments which are so much fun! Now I can stitch a layout in a just a minute or two!!! If you haven't tried Studio J go in and play around, it's FREE!

The Best Dad Ever

2011-07-21T08:24:00.000-04:00

Here's a layout celebrating Father's Day. It was such fun to make Dada a special pan of brownies decorated with a hand written message. My two boys are so much fun and I love them both dearly!

It's Christmas in July

2011-07-13T09:00:00.000-04:00

I'm finally getting around to finishing up a Christmas layout from 2009...better late than never right?

Lucky You!

2011-07-02T08:00:00.000-04:00

Who would have thought that that weed whipping would be so much fun? He was so excited to get to do this "Grown Up" job!!! I haven't decided on the perfect title yet to finish the layout but it's nearly done...

Happy Birthday Card

2011-06-30T17:00:00.000-04:00

I found this card on Vicki Wiznick's blog (she's an amazing artist) and loved it so much I scraplifted it.

June Stamp of the Month - Simple Card

2011-06-28T06:23:00.001-04:00

I found a fabulous card on a fellow consultants blog (Katy Donaldson) that was simple yet gorgeous. I decided to scraplift the idea an change it up with different stamps.

Circle Cards

2011-06-24T07:05:00.000-04:00

I decided to experiment with the circle card designs from the Wishes book. I used Fanfare, Mayberry and Sophia papers and made 6 different thank you cards. These were part of the gift we gave as and end of year gift to a wonderful 2nd grade teacher.

Free For All with Studio J

2011-06-21T19:00:00.000-04:00

For the month of June you can try out Studio J and get a FREE jpeg file of any layout you want! I love Studio J and am creating lots of layouts. I will never give up traditional scrapbooking but this is a fun way to get some of past layouts done so I can work on some current stuff and get caught up...can that ever happen? Studio J really is a fun and SUPER Easy way to scrapbook. Give it a try by clicking here. You need to create an account if you don't already have one (that's free too!) but then you're off to start creating.

Here's the layout I made in June and got the Free jpeg file of. You can use the file to post on the web or print at a local printer (Costco can print 12x12 and I believe other places can too). You get three files 1 for the web (a lower quality version of both pages together) to share on blogs, facebook or email and two high resolution pages (one of the right and left) to print with if desired.

Happy Father's Day

2011-06-19T19:00:00.005-04:00

Here's to all the great Dad's in all of our lives! I designed these two cards to celebrate with two of the three wonderful dads in my life (my dad and my father-in-law). The other dad (my husband) got a hand made card from my son...priceless!

Summer Fun

2011-06-06T15:00:00.000-04:00

It was time to finally put some photos on some layouts I'd made ages ago. I thought these fun summer pictures worked great with the Emporium layout. Now if we can only have some nice days again around here!

Pink and Green

2011-05-31T14:00:00.001-04:00

I love how pink and green look together so the Sophia paper was a sure winner in my book. Here's a super easy card I made with the paper. The stamping is also easy because the stamp set is made for having the inside and outside portions of the flower different colors. These base and shade stamp sets are lots of fun.

Sweetheart Layout

2011-05-29T18:32:00.003-04:00

Here's a super girly layout made with Sweetheart paper. I love how easy it is to add pinwheels and how fun they are. The clear and colored sparkles add just the right touch of bling.

Layout Contest

2011-05-15T19:52:00.005-04:00

I made this layout to participate in a contest my Close To My Heart team was holding at our unit meeting. Unfortunately mother nature flooded the basement where the meeting was going to be held and it had to be canceled. I am so glad I decided to make the layout though because I love how it turned out. I used a Miracle and Lucky paper packs with a little Barn Red cardstock for some added color.

These pictures were taken at a sand hill in northern Michigan. It is a favorite activity to climb to the top over and over again. Kids never tire of the activity, however adults are good hanging out at the bottom and taking pictures!

Card Magic

2011-05-05T16:18:00.007-04:00

I love the Wishes card making How-To book because it has 3 different card workshops. One of the workshop makes 12 6x6 cards, one make 20 standard cards and the third make 16 standard cards. Each of the workshops has cutting diagrams for each of the papers used. I made the 16 card workshop out of the Creative Basics paper that coordinates with the Wings paper. This workshop uses 2 pieces of 12x12 paper, one sheet of neutral 8.5x11 paper and card bases and that's it for paper! My goal was to use 16 different stamp sets and make each card unique. I had so much fun making these.

May is National Scrapbooking Month

2011-05-04T16:28:00.004-04:00

April showers bring May flowers right? I hope the April showers will end now that May is here! I love spring and all the flower and spring scents in the air. I love May because it is National Scrapbooking month and Close To My Heart always offers a great kit! This year is no exception! Check out the new You and Me kit in honor of Scrapbooking Month.

This kit features the two beautiful layouts and includes everything except the ink pads and a sponge. You can purchase the kit for $34.95 or you can get it for only $15 when you spend $50 on any Close To My Heart products. I love the layouts and had a great time making them. Now I need to pick the perfect pictures to put on them! Let me know if you'd like a You and Me kit!

You can check out the kit on my website or email me for more information.

Nothing but Blue Skies

2011-03-31T17:30:00.000-04:00

This layout was made using the Mayberry paper pack and the Over The Rainbow stamp set. I love this stamp set because it is so fun and easy to coordinate with so many paper packs. This layout was made during my techniques class in March. Join me for my April class and make either two cards or a two page layout using the Lucky paper pack.

2011-03-30T17:14:00.002-04:00

Hope for Japan

This new and beautiful stamp set is being offered from Close To My Heart from now through the end of April to help with relief efforts in Japan. By purchasing one of these stamp sets you will be helping the people in Japan. This A-sized stamp set would retail for $7.95 but is being offered for only $5! All profits from this stamp set will be donated to the American Red Cross to go to help Japan. Please consider making a donation today! To purchase you can email me or order from my website.

Miracle paper pack

2011-03-14T20:29:00.005-04:00

Today I'm featuring the Miracle paper pack. This paper combines blues, greens and browns for a stunning look. I'm featuring a card which uses the colors to showcase a sweet bunny for a cute look. For the layout I've added in a pop of color with Smoothie and Honey. I wanted a fun summer layout so I added embellishments with lots of stamps. I've added in some paper lanters, a paper flower, tree and hamock and pennants for the title. The color will be great to accent some fun summer pictures in the back yard or on the beach!

Mayberry

2011-03-07T14:10:00.004-05:00

Today I'm highlighting the Mayberry paper pack. What I love about this paper pack is that it's good for both boy and girl layouts and has some of my favorite CTMH colors combined in a way I wouldn't have thought about. I love honey and olive so I was sold right away.

Here's a card I made with the paper pack and I'm so excited that it won two different art challenges and is now worth $70. Yep I typed that right, $70! I won a contest at my local unit meeting and got $20 in product and then I won a corporate contest and got $50 in product. I'm going to hang it on the wall in my craft room for inspiration!

Wishes: Pieced Together

X7136B Mayberry Level 2 Paper Packet

D1467 Trees & Things Stamp Set

1388 Colonial White Cardstock

X5642 Cocoa Cardstock

Z2137 Olive Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad

Z2114 Cocoa Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad

Z2105 Black Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad

Z2196 Smoothie Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad

Z2162 Honey Exclusive Inks Stamp Pad

Z1094 Green Assortment Embroidery Floss (Olive used)

Z280 Natural Hemp

Z1278 Hearts Dimensional Elements

Z1312 Stars Dimensional Elements

Z1366 Metal Assortment Brad Assortment

Z679 Liquid Glass

Z1151 3-D Foam Tape

Z1114 Piercing Tool Kit

Z578 Corner Rounder

Z697 Sponge

Z534 Mirco-Tip Sissors

Sweetheart

2011-02-25T07:25:00.003-05:00

This fun paper is full of hearts as you might have guessed. It's so fun and happy just makes you smile. Here's a card I made with the paper and using the February Stamp of the Month. The stamp is so versatile. I have to admit when I first saw it I was stumped at how to use it. Now I see lots of possibilities and think it will be a go to stamp for backgrounds and simple embellishments.

Fanfare

2011-02-23T17:09:00.006-05:00

Today's hightlight is the Fanfare Paper Pack. This is one of my favorites because of the bright colors. Pacifica, Sunny Yellow and Cranberry are combined to give lots of color to any card or scrapbook page.

Here's a birthday card I made with the paper pack. The stamp set is the exclusive set that come in the workshop on the go kit. These kits are a great deal! You get an exclusive stamp set, a level 2 paper pack, a workshop guide and at least 1 embellishment pack. I loved the ice cream cone so I had to have this one for sure!!

Lucky - Everyone is Lucky with this paper

2011-02-22T08:00:00.000-05:00

This is the new Lucky paper featured in the Spring/Summer Catalog. I really love all the new papers in this catalog but I was immediately drawn to this one because of the orange and green. I have a son that I love to scrapbook pictures of and I knew this make some great layouts. Here is some artwork from the catalog with this paper.

For my layout I decided to go with Sepia toned pictures. I thought the browns really made the paper shine. I had more pictures to scrapbook than the layout had room for but with the new Magic How-To book I was able to add in 2 extra hidden pictures! I used the button slide technique. In the second photo you can see the hidden photo part way out. I love that I now have the ability to make my scrapbooks interactive!

Notice the buttons in the center of the page. These are pulls for hidden pictures.

Here's a close up of the left page with the button side photo part way pulled out.

I'm Finally Back

2011-02-21T07:58:00.003-05:00

Ok so it's been a number of weeks, ok a couple of months since I've last posted. I have been working on creating and all the other things that come up in life and was a bit distracted. I'm back and hope to post a couple days a week.

Did you know that the Spring/Summer Idea Book for Close To My Heart just arrived on February 1st? This catalog features 8 new paper packs, tons of new stamp sets and lots of wonderful embellishments! Check it out today! If you'd like your idea book let me know and I'll get you one today. It's more that just a catalog, it's a great source of ideas too!

Stay tuned this week to see the new papers and some art work I've been creating!

Teacher Gifts

2010-12-17T21:02:00.004-05:00

Hello everyone. I know I've been absent from my blog lately but I've been keeping busy running errands and preparing for the upcoming holidays. I did get a chance to make teacher gifts this year so I'm posting pictures of how they turned out. The teachers were really happy with them! I decorated a paint can with moonstruck and sky cardstock and used Ice Crystals and All Decked Out stamp sets. I got the directions for the Tresa Black's Fabulously Artsy Blog and the idea for decorating the front from Vicki Wizniuk's Blog. I saw the snowflake and ordered the stamp set in my next order because I fell in love. I filled the cans with chocolate covered popcorn...sinfully delicious!

Sketch Time Once Again!

2010-12-04T21:32:00.006-05:00

I'm finally back to my challenges again! It's been a busy few weeks but I think I'm back to my creating again. This week at Heart 2 Heart it's a sketch challenge. These are some of my favorite challenges. Here's the sketch to follow this time.

I went with a New Year's theme card this year. I was looking for something different. I wanted some sparkle and shine for the card so I dug out my embossing powder, sparkles and liquid glass. I first stamped the champagne glasses in Barn Red and then stamped over them with VersaMark ink and embossed with clear embossing powder. It adds a shine to the glasses. I embossed the snowflakes the same way. I added liquid glass dots to the back ground paper over the existing dots and to finish it off I added some sparkles to each glass.

Supplies:
Felicity Paper (September 2009 Constant Campaign)
Barn Red cardstock
Barn Red Ink
Twlight Ink
Crystal Blue Ink
Chocolate organdy ribbon
In The Month of January Stamp Set
Sparkles
Liquid Glass
Clear Detailed Embossing Powder

Christmas Layout

2010-11-29T16:31:00.005-05:00

Hi Everyone! Sorry it's been a couple of weeks since I've posted or participated in a challenge. We were on vacation and trying to get ready and then recover. We're back, had a great time and have jumped back to normal life again.

Today I'm posting a Christmas Layout I made with my techniques class this past weekend. I used the clear cards to make the layout interactive and give me extra room for journaling and pictures! Thanks to my friend Sue I cut the cards in half and used a paper "binding" to attach it to my layout. What a great way to stretch the use of the clear cards! Thanks Sue!!

On the clear card you can add a picture to the front and a picture and then on the mat or you could use journaling in one of the spots. For one space you get 3 pictures, very cool. I've added a clear card on both the right and the left pages. I can't wait to fill the pages with Christmas pictures from this year. Hey, I'm ahead of the game, yeah!

Supplies: (all CTMH unless specified otherwise)
Creative Basics Mistletoe Collection - paper and gold ribbon
New England Ivy Cardstock
Cocoa Cardstock
Square clear card
Stocking Style stamp set
Evergreen stamp set
Cocoa ribbon round

Out of Shape

2010-11-12T12:47:00.003-05:00

A great Challenge at Heart 2 Heart this week to keep me creative! Gettin' Out of Shape is the name of the game. Make a card that is NOT rectangle or square. I've put together a yummy birthday ice cream cone card. It's filled with lots of sparkle "sprinkles" and glittery icing.

All Supplies CTMH:
Stamp Sets: Party Pedant, Bolw of Cherries
Paper: Twitterpatted, It's a Guy Thing, Brown Bag
Embellishments: Colonial White Ricrac, Red and Pink Sparkles, Prisma Glitter

Happy November - Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!

2010-10-31T21:00:00.001-04:00

Wow it's November already! I am in shock that there is less than two months until Christmas. Along with the start of November comes a new Stamp of the Month! I love being able to earn stamp sets for reduced prices or even free! If you've arrived here from Jody Gustafson's Blog you're on the right track. If not you can keep going from here because the hop if one long circle.

This months stamp set is called "A Little Thanks". It's a perfect set to add some heartfelt words of thanks on a card or even to a scrapbook layout. I find that I send a large number of Thank You cards each year and this set is a fabulous to help me out with those cards.

I am trying hard to use up scraps and dig into my stash so I can make room for new paper that I "must have". I am so really having fun with the workshop guides that come in the Workshops for each of the new paper packs each new catalog. These kits are a fabulous deal and come with an exclusive stamp set only sold in this workshop, a full embellishment pack of some sort, a level 2 paper pack and a workshop guide. The workshop guide has one how-to exclusive layout and one exclusive card design. I save all of my workshop guide so I can use them with whatever paper I desire. For this month's blog hop I dug through my guides and found one that came with the Grace paper pack I thought would be perfect. I have some Grace scraps left so I went with that paper pack. What I love about the card design is that it's one design that they rotate 90 and 180 degrees to get three different cards! Lots of fun, super easy and all unique!

Now hop over to Traci Godbee's Blog to see what great artwork she's put together this month!

Gettin' Spooky Challenge

2010-10-27T20:22:00.003-04:00

The challenge this week at Heart 2 Heart is to create something Halloween inspired. I made a Halloween card last week so I wanted to make something different this week. I decided to have a go at making some hexagon stacking boxes. I found a template online at Evil Mad Scientist and printed it at 90%, 100% and 110% to get the three different sizes.

I made them three different colors and put different decorations on each box. I also used a different technique on each box. The bottom box has 6 different jack-o-lanterns which I "rock and rolled". To do this ink the entire stamp in the lightest color. Before stamping it on the paper "roll" the edges of the stamp in a darker color and then gently huff on the stamp to remoisten and stamp on the paper. Depending on what colors you use it dramatically changes the look. I was going for very subtle so I used Goldrush and Autumn Terracota.

On the middle box I used a technique that I have been wanting to try but haven't done before. I embossed with glitter. This is a great way to get that glitter to really "stick" on your project. Mix 2 parts embossing powder to 1 part glitter. Ink and stamp an image with Versa Mark and sprinkle with the glitter embossing powder. This is so much fun! It's hard to see in the picture but the bats, and cauldrons really sparkle and appear to have lots of color even though they are black. The glitter really add lots of fun sparkle.

On the top box I colored the fun monster from Party Animal with a blending pen and ink pads. This is a great way to mix colors and add highlighting.

I will fill the box with some halloween treats for my son. I thought he would enjoy a special box just for him :)

Inspiring Art Work

2010-10-26T19:23:00.002-04:00

I wanted to let everyone know that I've added several more of the great blogs that I follow in my Blogs I Love section. These are some super artists and wonderful writers. When you need some inspiration check out their blogs! Everyone loves it when you leave them comments too so if you have a few minutes let them know how much you like their art work.

I'm working on a piece of Halloween artwork that I'm hoping to post either tomorrow or Thursday so be sure to check back to see that. I am going to try out a new technique on 3D items for display in the house. I'm excited and have been gearing up for this for a couple of days now....now I just need to find a few minutes to get it started and then finished!

Embossing Challenge

2010-10-20T20:00:00.006-04:00

This week's challenge is to use embossing on a project. It can be dry embossing or heat embossing. I happen to love embossing so this challenge is right up my alley. I couldn't decide on dry or heat embossing so I figured I just do both :)

I made a halloween card I'm sending to my nieces. I used the "In the Month of October" stamp set, which I love. The month ones are so versital and I find I keep grabbing for them!

I dry embossed on the card background and green accent piece. To do this you place the piece you want embossed on your cutter and using an embossing stylus run it down the cutting groove. Continue moving the paper and embossing until you get the desired patterned. To get even spacing I line up the first embossed line up with a line on my cutter and keep that same dimension all the way across. Once I was done embossing I turned it over and lightly sanded. This reveled the white core of the cardstock on the raised areas.

I heat embossed using versa mark and black embossing powder. I embossed the ghostly greeting circle, black cat, broom, bat and the fence with pumpkins. The heat embossing adds a shiny texture to the paper and mkes the item stand out.

It takes a little extra time but the embossing adds a ton and is so much fun! Try experimenting on your own layouts and cards!

Birthday Bash!

2010-10-10T20:16:00.003-04:00

This week was a really fun challenge to make a birthday card at Heart 2 Heart. Who doesn't need more birthday cards?? It's taken me all week to get to making the card but with 1 hour and 40 minutes to spare I made it!

I decided to go with a 5x7 card out of Wishes. I wanted to make a super bright card and do some sewing. I added glitter glue on the outside circles and a Happy Birthday message on the pull out tag.

All supplies CTMH unless noted otherwise.
Cardstock: Smoothie, Cotton Candy, Chocolate
B&T: Hooligans Level 2 paper pack
Stamp Sets: Happy Birthday, Festivities
Inks: Chocolate, Sunset, Pear, Lagoon
Embellishments: Clear buttons, Glitz glitter glue, craft thread (not CTMH)

October Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

2010-09-30T21:00:00.012-04:00

It's October already which means it's time for another blog hop! This month it's time to think Christmas. I know it might seem early but if you start thinking Christmas cards and gift tags now you'll be ahead of the holiday rush!

The Stamp of the Month is "Share the Magic". It's a great fun holiday stamp set.

If you're coming from Beth's Blog you're on the right track. If not you can continue from here as the hop makes a complete circle.

For the hop this month I decided to make a series of interactive gift tags. Each of the tags has the "To" and "From" hidden under a portion of the tag. I used brads, folded paper, and hinges. I chose the new Summer Carnival color pallet for a twist on the traditional Christmas colors.

Now hop over to Jen's Blog to see what great art she's created!

ABC Challenge

2010-09-30T15:29:00.004-04:00

This week I'm able to play along at Heart 2 Heart again, yeah! The challenge is ABC:

A = Use alphabets either stamped or with My Stickease
B = Make something for a Boy
C = Use Chocolate or Cocoa

I was really excited because I love alphabet stamps, I have a boy and I love using cocoa as a neutral.

I wanted to making something for my son but didn't want to make a card. I decided to make a dry erase practice pad. To make the project dry erase I simply slid it into a memory protector. I turned the protector sideways so I could tie a marker to it so the two wouldn't become separated.

Now Ryan has a personalized fun place for some evening practice! I incorporated 3 different paper packs, 3 different stamp sets and My Stickease. A well rounded project.

Zippidee Level 2 paper pack
Tinkerin' level 2 paper pack
Good Times Level 2 paper pack
Good Times My Stickease
Rustic Alphabet Stamp Set
Classmate Alphabet Stamp Set
In the Month of August Stamp Set
Basic Button Assortment
Cocoa Ribbon
12x12 Memory Protector
Good Times My Stickease

A Winter Sketch

2010-09-26T20:23:00.004-04:00

I'm finally back to submitting for a challenge this week again. The past several weeks I've been busy and haven't gotten a chance to participate. I guess with work, motherhood, being a wife and school starting life just got ahead of me.

This week was a sketch challenge at Heart 2 Heart. I decided to dig out liquid glass, vellum and lots of glitter. I went with a winter card. It's a 6x6 card I will send to someone special this winter. I hope the glitter will bring lots of smiles.

Here's the sketch I was working from. I decided to push the envelope and use the snowflakes as my circles. I stacked two different snowflake dimensional elements. I sponged them in crystal blue and then added lots of glitter. To soften the blue base I added vellum as the second layer. I added dots over the dots on the blue paper with liquid glass and then added glitter for a shimmery effect.

I'm ready to see what next week's challenge will be!

Christmas Cards

2010-09-06T18:40:00.008-04:00

It's that time again when I start working on my annual Christmas Card workshop. This year we'll be using the beautiful creative basic papers with olive and cranberry papers and two different stamp sets.

You get to come and make two of each of the cards (20 total) which includes supplies (precut) for all the cards, envelopes, embellishments and lunch! The embellishements include ribbon and the new Opaques. These are colored, self-adhesive "pearls" that I love. They are super fun and easy to apply and add lots of dimension and pizzaz to your projects. You get an entire package which includes 108 gems total. There are 4 different sizes and three different colors in the package. There will be many left over for you to take home to embellish other projects!

Sign up to make your sets of cards today! Click here to sign up.

November 14, 2010
1-4pm
$20 for the first set and $15 each additional set (if you would like to make additional sets).

Stitching Things Up

2010-08-28T16:25:00.010-04:00

Oh my gosh, I was so excited when I read the challenge at Heart 2 Heart this week...it's all about adding stitching to a project! I have been adding hand stitching lately so I knew this was really going to inspire me to create something fun. I was an avid quilter before I started scrapbooking and haven't used my machine much so I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to dust it off.

I really wanted to make a layout this week so I could add one more to the completed pile. One of my favorite sets of pictures are the self portraits my husband took with he and my son. They were just having fun and being silly.

I was really out of the box for me and I combined three different paper packs, Grace, Moon Doggie and Majestic. Who would have thought those would be good together? I added tons of machine stitching. I first did straight stitching around the base cardstock and then added zigzags in several areas. I even made the "equal sign" by stitching. On the title I put stitches on the letters with the Circle Around stamp set image. So I have some machine and some faux stitching. I love the layout and can't wait to add it to the book...one more done, many more to go!

Desert Sand Cardstock
Bamboo Cardstock
Grace Level 2 Paper Pack
Moon Doggie Level 2 Paper Pack
Majestic Level 2 Paper Pack
Color Me Ready Alphabet
On the Edge Stamp Set
Star Struck Stamp Set
Alphabet Stamp Set
Love Letters Rub Ons
Dimensional Elements
Olive Ink Pad
Cranberry Ink Pad
Honey Ink Pad
Indian Corn Blue Ink Pad

Get School Inspired

2010-08-22T15:30:00.008-04:00

I am so excited to announce that last week I made the Top 5 in the Heart to Heart challenge! I was picked by the design team and am so honored and pleased. I hope you all stop by to check out the work from last week (click here to check it out) which will be used for the 2nd grade page in my sons school album! Ironic that this week is a school challenge at H2H.

This weeks challenge at Heart 2 Heart is to create something that is inspired by going back to school. I know I've waited until the last minute to post but wanted to be sure to make something that really inspired me. With all the talk about going back to school I have been working on my sons School Album. The thing I get stumped with on albums is coming up with a first page. I want it to show what the album is all about. I thought this was the perfect challenge to get me moving on a title page for the album.

I decided a great way to show the purpose of the album was to put together a page that had a small picture of each of his yearly school pictures. It will really display how he continues to grow each year. I went with a classic "School Days" title. In order to get all the pictures in I needed more than the bottom portion of one 12x12 sheet so I decided it would be a perfect place to add in one of the new 4x12 flip flaps. I will put 4 pictures per row and will end up with 3 rows to display 12 pictures. I was still one spot short in order to get K-12 so I left room at the top of the page next to the title where I can put his senior picture.

To really add to the page I decided to use the antique copper embellishments but putting brads on the "S's" in the title, the bigger brad and photo clip on the long ruler and then a series of brads to make a quarter circle in the bottom left corner. Add some stitched stars a bit of twine and several stamped images of common school items and the page is complete. To highlight the pictures I've added in a small tag labeled with the school grade for each photo. I know the page looks empty but as the years go by it will be filled up!

I hope you all like the layout, I know I do! I can't wait to add the 2nd grade picture this fall.

All items used are CTMH (It's a Guy Thing Level 2 paper pack, Honey, Outdoor Denim and Bamboo cardstock, Rustic Alphabet and In the Month of August and Shining Star (template for stitched stars) stamp sets, Antique copper embellishments, twine, large flip flaps, neutral embroidery floss).

Gettin' Sketchy with H2H

2010-08-14T13:10:00.005-04:00

This weeks challenge at Heart to Heart was a sketch challenge. These are some of my most favorite challenges because I love to see what one sketch can inspire in so many people. Although the sketch was published on Monday it's taken me until Saturday afternoon to get it done and posted. I had originally started off planning to make a back to school card to send out but as I started creating I decided it would be become the title for my son's school album. I managed to fit in a ton of embellishments, techniques and papers. The colors are from Jeanette Lynton's Color Me Monday challenge.

Products: Black and Honey Cardstock, Moon Doggie (red strip) which I folded like Roman Shades and sewed down, Back Country paper (plaid behind school bus), Vellum paper, Olive, black and Cranberry inks, embossing powder, dimensional elements (stars from the snowflakes DE), Olive floss for sewing, In the Month of August and Solo 2 stamp sets.

In the end this will be a great title for a school book. Now I can even coordinate his outfit for the first day of school with this!

Tag You're It!

2010-08-04T17:49:00.012-04:00

From the title of the post you might have guessed that the challenge I'm participating in this week involves tags. This week the challenge at H2H is to create a piece of artwork that includes a tag. It can be a tag or have a tag on it. I've decided to give you all a sneak peak at two of the new paper packs for the fall catalog and to show you a bit of interactive art. The interactive art is featured in the new How-To layout book called Magic that is also in the fall catalog.

My first tag is a Christmas gift tag. I sanded the cardstock to give it the antique look to match the feel of the Santa and Merry Christmas. I added a hinge for embellishment and function. The Santa is on a flap that can be lifted to revel who the package if for and who it's from. All items are CTMH: Evergreen, Cranberry, Mistletoe, St. Nick.

The second tag I made is a unique birthday card. I went all out and stitched and used dimensional elements too! When closed it looks like it has a tag inserted. When you pull the tag out it reveals a secret message. What a fun way to say Happy Birthday! This fun technique is great for cards and on layouts! Find out how to make yours with the new Magic book in September! All items are CTMH: Gypsy, Pear, Hooligans, Sunset mini medley, Dimensional elements stars, and my favorite...Hooligans fuzzy monster embellishments.

August Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

2010-07-31T21:00:00.012-04:00

The beginning of another month is here which means a new stamp of the month! This month brings us a beautiful stamp set called Something Splendid! A beautiful large flower that incorporates one of my favorite techniques, Base and Shade Stamping.

This month the blog hop has over 60 consultants featuring tons of beautiful artwork to inspire everyone! If you come from Dawn's blog you're on the right track. If not just keep going from here as it's one continuous loop. You're sure to love all the art that has been created!

Base and Shade Stamping: This is one of the easiest techniques that adds a huge amount of dimension. To do this stamping technique you first stamp the "shade" or inside portion of the stamp in the lighter color. Next add the "base" or outside stamp by lining up the images. This is easy with acrylic stamps! Just look at the effect you get!

I've created two different pocket cards. One can hold a nice letter and the other I've designed with book marks. It's a great small gift and who doesn't need more bookmarks???

Now hop over to Jody's blog for more inspiration!

2010-07-30T16:04:00.002-04:00

It's an Entire Weekend of Scrap-A-Mania!

November 5-7

Come spend an entire weekend scrapbooking with other fellow enthusiasts! Just think…an entire weekend of scrapbooking and FUN! Freebie drawings all weekend, silent auction for Operation Smile, Close to my Heart Product Table, Goodie Bag and much, much more!!!

You can't beat the price!!!!

Cost Before August 10: $125 (includes 2 night’s lodging, 5 meals & a super fun scrapbooking goodie bag)

To Reserve Your Spot Email me at:

k.orear@sbcglobal.net

Cost After August 10: $135 (includes 2 night’s lodging, 5 meals & a super fun scrapbooking goodie bag)

When: Friday, November 5 through Sunday November 7

Where: Howell Nature Center

Time: Friday check in: 6pm

Sunday check out: 1pm

Final RSVP by October 15 (Space is Limited so the sooner the better!)

To Reserve Your Spot Email me at:

k.orear@sbcglobal.net

The rooms house 2-3 people, so let us know if you are planning to come with a scrapbooking friend or friends and you will be assigned the same room.

You will earn tickets throughout the weekend and be entered to win lots of fun prizes (including card kits, paper packs, stamp sets, and more). Here are some of the ways you can earn tickets throughout the weekend:

Recruited a friend to come to this weekend crop--10 tickets (plus a free stamp set)
Bring a snack or goodie to share (there is a fridge)--10 tickets
Stay up the latest during one of the nights--10 tickets
Complete any project you brought--1 ticket per project
Buy anything off the shopping table--5 tickets
Sign up for any workshop--20 tickets
Book a party --20 tickets
Place an order--20 tickets

Do you love to scrapbook or make cards but feel like you never have time to devote to it at your house?

Then, this is the perfect opportunity for you!! Don't miss out on this super fun, affordable weekend of scrapbooking!

H2H Color Challenge

2010-07-28T21:42:00.005-04:00

This week at H2H the challenge is a color challenge. These colors (Vineyard Berry, Blush and Creme Brule) are beautiful together! I decided to make a fan fold flower to embellish my card. It was super easy and fun and adds great dimension. Just take a strip of paper, scallop one edge, score between each scallop and accordion fold on the score line. Tape to make a circle and "flatten" to make a circle and adhere to a circle. Add a center and you're done. I made three different "flowers" and stacked them to get different colors.

The card pattern is from Jeanette Lynton's Wishes book, the papers are Creme Brule and Blush cardstock, Emporium and Cherry-O creative basics. The bitty sparkles add just the right tough of bling.

What's Cookin' at H2H!

2010-07-20T20:48:00.004-04:00

The challenge this week at H2H is to incorporate a recipe of some sort into your art. I have to admit that this one took me a while to come up with something to make. I was thinking of a recipe book or layout with pictures and a recipe but I was also wanting to make something that was a bit different and unique. I finally came up with an idea I thought would be fun, unique and useful. I call it "Recipe for Happy Trails".

We do a lot of outside activities in our family so I made this fun envelope bag to pack up snacks for the hikes or bike rides. It will carry some nuts, raisins, crackers and M&M's. What's a happy journey without snacks right?

The bag is made with a shipping envelope. Just cut off the top to make it square, score the three folded sides 2 inches, open the envelope and fold on the score lines. Tuck under the flaps at the bottom and you've got yourself a bag. It was lots of fun to make and I know the users will love it and the contents :)

Card Challenge Sunday

2010-07-18T20:47:00.006-04:00

Today I had some time to work on my Mojo, finally! I decided to take on two challenges and do something very different for each. Both were sketch challenges but from two different sources. My first card is based on this sketch from Taylored Expressions. When I saw the cute flowers I knew I had to use the CTMH Splendor Paper. I fussy cut the flower from one of the patterned papers and then stamped the bird and the three bug buttons. I embossed them to give them a bit of shine and character.

The second challenge is from 365 Cards. I decided to go with a gate fold card and rotate the sketch 90 degrees. I am going to send this one to my niece who just learned how to ride a bike. I don't have a bike stamp but thought this one would work out just as well. She was so excited to learn that she called to tell me right away.

H2H Challenge - ABC

2010-07-16T08:21:00.004-04:00

This weeks challenge is Anything But A Card. I decided I would make a set of four magnetic game boards. I covered metal and some magnets from a home improvement store with Stardust paper to make Tic-Tac-Toe, Chinese Checkers, Hangman and Checkers. They are going to be stored in a My Creation Memory Box (it hasn't arrived yet so I don't have it to decorate quite yet). I thought this would be a great thing to take in the car for some of the long rides.

To make the hangman I used packaging tape along the bottom and sides so you can use a dry erase marker to write the words and the letters that weren't part of the word. The snowman is made up of individual parts that can be assembled as missed letters are mentioned.

Back from Convention

2010-07-16T08:13:00.006-04:00

Ok I've been back for nearly a week but it's taken me that long to fully recover from Convention. It was an absolutely fabulous time! Jeanette Lynton is such a wonderful woman and she inspires us all. Before Convention my friend Jeannette (not Lynton but just as nice and inspiring) went out for a day of sight seeing. It was about 110 degrees, very humid and we were on an unairconditioned bus. It was the hottest tour I had ever been on. The tour guide was wonderful but by the end of the tour I was almost certain I had melted! Here are just a few pictures of some of the places we stopped. The last picture of Jeannette and I was after being on the bus for 3 hours so forgive our rather hot and melted look!

Convention is HERE!

2010-07-08T22:05:00.002-04:00

Today was the first day of the 2010 Close to my Heart Convention and it was AMAZING! The production and events are more than anyone can image. The detail of decorating the hotel is unmatched. There are stickers on the vertical risers of the stairs and a huge window banner all for CTMH. Our company is fabulous and I'm so in awe of the support and talent of all the corporate staff and consultants who are a part of it.

Today we learned of the many new products that are coming up in the fall idea book and new programs that are going to be unveiled from mid July through the end of the year. No one is going to want to miss out on the Fall open house I'll be hosting. There will be art, prizes, catalogs and more new stuff than ever! I will be sending out an newsletter after to convention with many details. I'll also post pictures as soon as I get home.

Happy 4th of July

2010-07-04T07:32:00.000-04:00

Happy 4th of July Everyone! I hope you get to spend a day filled with friends and family enjoying the freedom of our nation!

In honor of Independence Day I thought I would share one of my Studio J layouts I did that features family fun at a fireworks display. Studio J made this layout so much fun and so easy to do! I've done this layout with standard scrapbooking techniques and it's cutting intensive and I had to reprint one picture 3 times to get the cutting right. I love how it turned out and love even more that it took me about 20 minutes to compete! Check out Studio J to see what you think. All you have to do is visit my website. There is no cost to use ANY of the software! You don't pay for anything until you decide to print the layout you've created. I save up and order 10 at a time because they send you page protectors for free and you get free shipping! Check it out today on my website. http://kimorear.myctmh.com

Passages Layouts

2010-07-03T19:28:00.008-04:00

I was finally able to sit down and create with the new Passages paper pack. I wasn't sure what to do with it at first but it didn't take me long to realize how much I loved it! The browns are rich with just the right touch of green. Our outdoor pictures are going to look great on one and I have some wonderful Father's Day pictures to put on the other one.

This weekend I had my layout class and these are the two layouts participants got to make. Everyone was pleased them. I can't wait to see what pictures they put on them!

Left Page Close-up

Right Page Close-up

Left Page Close-up

Right Page Close-up: the upper right rectangle is a pocket where I can put journaling tags.

July Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

2010-06-30T21:00:00.004-04:00

It's a new month again and time for another blog hop! This month brings us an adorable hedhog set called Happy Forever. I love the super cute hedhogs with the balloons, kite and butterfly, they are just too cute to resist!

If you've come here from Nancy's blog your on the right track. If not keep going and you'll still get to see all the fantastic artwork. The hop is one big circle. If you would like to see a complete list of the hoppers click here.

For this hop I created a gift bag and 8 different cards to go inside. It is a gift for my niece for her birthday. I thought she would enjoy sending them and using them for her own creativity! She's turning 7 and loves to craft!

Now hop over to see what great art Tammy Lea has made for all of us to view. It's fabulous I'm sure!

Magnetic Board

2010-06-27T21:12:00.002-04:00

I know I've been absent for quite a while but it's been a busy summer so far! School is out and weather has been nice so I've been spending lots of time outside and having fun with my son. Working also takes a large portion of my day which hasn't left much time for crafting. I did get time to make this adorable magnetic board for my nice for her birthday. I purchased the frame and magnetic insert from Archivers and then painted the frame and decorated the insert. I put her name on it with dimensional element letters and added some hearts and flowers. The flowers and clips in the middle are attached to magnets. I think it will look great hanging in her room and it will be useful too! She was very happy with it yesterday when she opened it.

Day 100 - All Lined Up

2010-06-08T18:14:00.003-04:00

It's the 100th day for challenges at 365 cards! Hard to believe that it's been 100 days since the beginning of March...where has the time gone??? Today's challenge is to line everything from the embellishments to the sentiment up. You need to have at least THREE items in each line that you create.

In honor of being the last week of school I've decided to make one more lunch box note for the year. I made three rows...one with the buttons and frog, one with the stitching and sentiment and then the last one is all words.

Mojo Monday 141

2010-06-06T11:47:00.003-04:00

I saw the challenge for this weeks Mojo Monday and knew I had to make both the circle and the square versions of the cards. I have been wanting to dig into the new Clear Cards from CTMH and this was the prefect opportunity. Both cards were lots of fun to make and I can't wait to send them now!

The Sweet Smile card uses the great new pearl embellishments. They are all together on a clear adhesive background so they are super quick to put on.

For the Nothing but blue skies card I added clear buttons to accent the clear card and popped up the hot air balloon for dimension.

Supersize It

2010-06-05T23:54:00.002-04:00

Today is Day 97 at 365 Cards and the challenge is to Supersize your card. The completed card needs to be 5.5" x 8.5". I found a picture of a card in Papercrafters magazine that I just fell in love with so I decided to use it for my inspiration. I cut different pieces different sizes and spaced them out on the card. I used a zigzag stitch stamp to make them look like quilt pieces and then I added a few stamped embellishments in areas. It's a busy card but I really love how it turned out! I love the new Splendor paper and Over the Rainbow stamp sets from CTMH!

Bright Colors on 96 of the 365 Card Challenge

2010-06-04T22:07:00.002-04:00

I was really excited to see a color scheme posted on today's challenge at 365 Cards. It's a bright scheme I thought would make a great birthday card. I did a bit of background stamping, some sanding and added a few brads. An easy and fun card I know my niece will love.

June Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

2010-05-31T21:00:00.006-04:00

Happy June Everyone! I love the beginning of each month when the blog hop starts so I can see what great ideas everyone has for the new stamp of the month! This month the stamp set is Wonderful Friend. It features stamps to honor the men in your life or other wonderful friends.

If you're coming here from Shannon's Blog you're on the right track. If you would like to see a list of all the participants visit Kathleen's Blog. You don't have to start at the beginning because it's one continuous loop so hop on anywhere and just keep going. You'll discover so many great pieces of artwork and ideas!

I chose to make the enchanted closure card out of the Wishes How-To book. I had one more Father's Day card to make so I decided to use this stamp set and opportunity to finish that task. I love the fun closure on the card. I went with all card stock and used the argyle stamp set to make the background and then sanding to give the distressed look. My favorite part of this stamp set are the great sayings.

Now how over to Nancy's blog to see her inspiring art. Enjoy the hop and hope to see you back next month!

Day 79 - Color Scheme

2010-05-18T23:32:00.000-04:00

It's Color Challenge Day at 365 Cards! I love color challenges. Today's colors are below.

I wanted to create something that wasn't patriotic because that's the first thing I thought of when I saw the colors. I decided to go with a birthday card suitable for a boy. It's a fun gate fold card with distressing and stamping. The entire thing is made with cardstock and ink which for me is sometimes a challenge too.

Day 77 - Super Sketchy Sunday

2010-05-17T06:41:00.004-04:00

Yesterday was Sunday so that means another Super Sketchy Sunday at 365 Cards! I love the sketch challenges and today was no different. For this weeks sketch I took a different twist and cut out the oval on the front to revel the stamped design inside. I used the fabulous new rainbow stamp set and cloud paper from Splendor. Lots of fun! Look back later for a second post for today's challenge.

I had the card for Sunday done and the pictures take but I didn't get it posted until this morning. It was so nice outside yesterday that we spent time playing some baseball and enjoying the sun.

Criss Cross Applesauce

2010-05-15T20:12:00.002-04:00

I'm sure anyone who's had preschoolers has heard of this phrase but today it's the 365 card challenge. Make a card with a criss cross pattern...simple as that. Today I've made this fun rainbow card with a new stamp set. I'm in heaven lately getting to play with lots of new stamp sets. The cloud and one of the rainbow stripes is a criss cross pattern. Such a fun card to give anytime.

Recipe Day

2010-05-14T21:04:00.002-04:00

Today's challenge at 365 Cards is a card recipe. Make a card using only the following items:

- 4.25x5.5 standards size card
- 2 patterned papers
- stripes
- 1 piece of ribbon
- stamped image
- stamped sentiment

Ok I have to admit that when I read the challenge this morning I thought it would be easy to pull off but when I actually sat down to do it I found it rather difficult. As I read the instructions I wasn't sure that I could add additional paper for the stamped image and sentiment so I went bare bones and kept to the directions exactly. The stamped image and sentiment were stamped on a light brown paper with dots. The other patterned paper is obviously stripes which counts as the stripes as well. Next is the ribbon to end it. In the end I'm not thrilled with it because it seems like it's really missing some pizzaz. Hopefully tomorrow will find me a bit more inspired.

Buttons and Bows

2010-05-13T21:33:00.003-04:00

Today is all about Buttons and Bows. Add four of each to a card. All in all a fairly easy challenge although it's taken me an hour to get the card made. I had several distractions and just didn't to spend uninterrupted time on it. I got to use a brand new stamp set which I love though so all is good.

I used all cardstock today and spiced it up with dry embossing and sanding. Some dots and some stripes. I popped out the flower for some added dimension.

I'm back!

2010-05-12T20:23:00.005-04:00

I know it's been over a month but I'm back and the 365 card challenge again! It was a very busy month and I just didn't have a spare minute to fit in anything extra so I had to take a break. I've missed the card challenges and all the inspiration I got by doing it!

Today's challenge is Tri Colored. Make a card using an image (stamped or digi) and only three colors (black and white not included). Different shades of one color can't be used as one color. I decided to go with this cute file card and add stars. I inked these up and added them to the card. I used CTMH colors Vineyard Berry, Sorbet and Olive. I sanded to distress.

I was inspired today and decided to also take on the Mojo Monday Challenge. This challenge involves making a card using the sketch provided. I went with a simple and small card I will put in a certain someones lunch box tomorrow as a surprise. He's been missing the mom notes lately.

May Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

2010-04-30T21:00:00.004-04:00

It's Blog Hop Time! My favorite part of blog hop time is getting to between 60 and 70 different ideas! I take time each month to hop around to check out all the art and it never fails to amaze me and to inspire me! I scrap lift many ideas and turn them around to make them my own, thank hoppers for your great ideas!

Now onto this months details. If you are here from Sheila's blog you're on the right track! If not just keep hopping around in the big loop to check out all the art. Should you get lost or want to see a list of all the participants check out Helen's blog.

This month features Cherished Memories which has a great collection of check boxes to signify holidays, occasions, thanks, celebrations and more! I chose to make three very different cards. Each of the card patterns is from our Wishes How To book that I LOVE! The circle card features Animal Cookies creative basics, the 6x6 square card uses paper and embellishments from the Miracle kit now on sale to celebrate National Scrapbooking Month and the standard card features the new Zippidee paper pack (love it!).

Thanks for looking at my art. Now hop over to Brae's Blog to see what great things she's put together this month! Happy hopping!

Happy Birthday

2010-04-19T06:50:00.002-04:00

I took the past several days off from the 365 challenge because it got busy around my house. We celebrated a birthday this week so I was getting ready for that. We had a small family party on Saturday. My mom always made us cut-out cakes for our birthday and I've carried on the tradition with my son. I thought they were just fun and different. Each year he and I look through my books together to pick out the "perfect cake". This year I found a new cake in Family Fun magazine I knew would be perfect for him so I made it a surprise year. He didn't see the cake until it was time to blow out the candles.

Here's my take on the Motorcross cake that was featured in the magazine. If you don't get it check them out online they have tons and tons of ideas for everything kid related (birthdays, bordum busters, crafts, homemade games and more).

I'm hoping to jump back into the card challenge this week sometime. It's another busy week as I prepare for a kid party and a mother/daughter event. My mothers and daughters will each make a photo flip album, paper purse with an accordian picture album, a paper bag mini album and a bookmark and card. It will be a fun event!

Another White Space Challenge

2010-04-14T21:24:00.002-04:00

Today is another white space challenge. This on has the card divided into 4 triangles. Here's my take on the white space.

Day 44 - White Space

2010-04-13T21:46:00.004-04:00

The second white space challenge for the week. Here's today's white space sketch. I decided to emboss the white space and add a fun space cadet in the corner. I'm going to use this as a lunch box note for tomorrows lunch.

Day 43 - White Space

2010-04-12T18:57:00.002-04:00

This week will be devoted to White Space Challenges at 365 cards. This is going to be a challenging week because I find it difficult to leave white space. Sometimes I can pull it off comfortably and others it just feels wrong. Today's sketch focuses on an oval. It seemed like a lot of white but in the end I went simple and am pleased with it. I need a thank you card for a male I thought this would fit the bill. Simple and yet says what I need it to say. Come back tomorrow to see what I can do with more white space!

Day 41 and Day 42

2010-04-11T13:31:00.006-04:00

Day 41 - DIY Glittered Blossoms

Make your own glittered blossom by adding glitter to the outside edge of the blossom. You can make your own or you can use a premade one. I decided to make one by using a paisly punch to make a flower. I put glitter on the edges to make it sparkle.

Day 42 - Super Sketchy Sunday

For the sketch challenge I made a flower by punching out 4 scallop circles and crinkling them up one at a time. These are tons of fun to make are so versatile. I'm so glad I'm playing the card challenge. It's really keeping the creativity going!

Day 40 - Friday Five

2010-04-09T07:28:00.003-04:00

The Challenge at 365 Cards is to add 5 of any one thing to your card. Could be five different colors, buttons, patterned papers, stamps, etc. I decided to go with five buttons. I even stitched (by hand) on this card! I do like the bright colors and the touch the buttons added. It's hard to see but I stippled the cardstock behind the stars in varying degrees of red, blue and yellow.

Totally Transferred

2010-04-08T20:42:00.002-04:00

Today's challenge is to decorate a card using ONLY rub-ons. I must admit that although I've been making cards for over 10 years and have been scrapbooking for 6 I've only used rub-ons a few times in the last 2 years! I do love them but forget I have them and how versatile they are. I used patterned paper and rub-on...hopefully the patterned paper still fits within the challenge guidelines.

Acrostic Poem

2010-04-07T11:25:00.002-04:00

Ok this has been by far the greatest challenge for me. Poetry is my least favorite subject so having to write an acrostic one and include in on a card was really difficult for me. In case you were like me and didn't even know what and acrostic poem was...

A poem where the each letter of a word is the beginning line for a poem. I went with a birthday theme for an upcoming birthday for Ryan.

R un around and celebrate
Y our birthday is finally here!
A nnounce it to the world
N ow give yourself a cheer!

It won't win any awards but I'm sure it will make the special little man in my life smile, which is an award in my book.

Day 37 - Terrific Taggies

2010-04-06T18:36:00.002-04:00

What inspires you about the all popular Taggie blankets that so many young ones have? That's today 365 Challenge. Taggies didn't become popular until my little one was too old for them but I know they are super popular among many moms and babies now! They are so fuzzy and fun! I was inspired by the babyness (if that's a word) and the tags of ribbon on them so here's my take on a card.

Day 36 - I Quilt!

2010-04-05T20:15:00.002-04:00

I Quilt! challenge was a fun challenge for me because I really do quilt! I've seen this quilt block before but never used it in a quilt for it was fun to combine my hobbies!

I decided to go with a birthday card that will be sending out tomorrow! I used the Topstitch paper which has soft pink and blue with chocolate. I put a small tag in the corner and topped it off with a suede flower. I hope the recipient loves it!

Day 35 - Super Sketchy Sunday

2010-04-04T12:09:00.002-04:00

Happy Easter Everyone! We had a fun morning of finding the Easter Bucket (no baskets in this house) and pigging out on candy. Guess I'll need to do some extra exercise this week!

Today's challenge is another sketch challenge. These are probably my favorite challenges because I can create from a pattern which if fun and fast. I always start by picking out the stamp set I want to use and then pick the paper. I know this is backward from what some people do but it works for me. I made this card to send with my son whose going on a trip with his cousins and grandparents for break this week. The kids get notes from home each day so I'm making cards to put the notes in.

Day 33 and Day 34 Card Challenges

2010-04-03T18:27:00.004-04:00

Day 33 - Whip Stitch It! The challenge is to whip stitch 3 sides of your card. I decided to go with a clear card and whip stitch the outside. I love clear cards because they are different and fun. The whip stitching really helps define the edge of the card and I'm very happy with how this turned out!

Day 34 - Color Scheme Design a card using this color scheme:

I used a piece of patterned paper that had the orange and yellow stars with green in the corner and pulled in the red around the window frame and ribbon. Put it all on white card base and it's all in there. Fun challenge! It had been awhile since I've done a card with a window in it so I thought this would be a fun thing to add to the challenge.

Recipe Card

2010-04-01T20:30:00.002-04:00

Today's 365 card challenge is to make a recipe card. Last was a card recipe where you created a card from a given list of ingredients but today's challenge it to make a card for a recipe to be written on. For a rather simple card I used 3 different stamp sets! The lines are from a background set that I love. The apple is from a set featuring things from the month of september and the enjoy is from a fall leaves set. I plan to take the card and put my mom's great Apple Crisp recipe on it. Sounds so yummy right now!

Blog Candy Winners

2010-04-01T06:26:00.004-04:00

Ok I know I'm a bit late on getting the winners for the blog candy from the Father's Day card on Sunday but better late than never, right? The winner is ♥♥♥Jan ♥♥♥ ! Drop me an email and I'll send your blog candy out right away.

The end of March was yesterday so that means another blog candy winner for followers. That winner is Rebecca. Again, drop me an email and I'll send your blog candy out right away!

Stop by later to see what I come up with for today's 365 card challenge. I haven't even looked to see what the challenge is but I will very soon.

April Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

2010-03-31T21:00:00.006-04:00

April is here which means the promise of spring, flower, budding tress and lots of fun outside! I love the change of seasons because it gives me a chance to change my wardrobe. Away go the heavy coats, boots, wool sweaters and lined pants and out come the cropped pants and 3/4 length sleeves!

If you've arrived here from Laurie Levnik's blog you're on the right track. If not just keep hopping because it's one big loop so you'll always make it back to where you've started.

The stamp of the month for April is Flower Pot and is filled with different flowers, flower pots and a darling window. It's perfect for adding some spring to your cards or scrapbook pages.

For my project this month I decided to give a diorama card. It's a fun 3 dimensional card. With Mother's Day fast approaching I decided to make a Mother's Day Card. I figured I might as well kill two birds with one stone. I used a few of the pots and a several of the flowers. It's so fun to see blooming! Here's a picture of the front and one from more of a top view so you can see the 3D effect.

Now hop over to Jen Patrick's blog to see what inspiring art she's created this month!