Christmas Memories

I did a layout over the weekend about this past Christmas. I don't do very many 2 page layouts, but for Holidays, they seem to work better. I like being able to use alot of pics and still be able to get my journaling in without it all looking crowded together. I'm really happy with the end result!

Supplies: Cosmo Cricket Paper - Cogsmo & Honey Pie; Fiskars Scallop Border Punch; Colorbox Chalk Ink - Lipstick Red; Basic Grey Brads; Making Memories Edge Distresser; Making Memories Sanding Block

*Based on a sketch seen here at the Bo Bunny blog

Thanks for looking! I hope you have a great day. :)

Another "sketch" book!

I recently got an amazing deal on some supplies for my Cuttlebug on eBay, so now I have a great variety of embossing folders and dies. The only problem with this is that they are all in my cabinet and alot of the times, I forget they're there or exactly what I have. Well, today an idea came to me about how to solve that problem. I made another one of Kristina Werner's sketch books, but I'm using it as a sort of inventory book instead. Cool huh? ;)

I printed out the pages and made the book just like the first one I did (see the post here for pics and a link to Kristina's blog for directions), and once that was done, I got started on the inside...

I decided that I would use the portrait boxes (in the front) for my embossing folders and the landscape boxes (in the back) for my dies. After measuring them, I realized that a piece of cardstock 2" by 1 1/2" would fit perfectly inside the boxes. I cut enough pieces for all of my embossing folders, as well as a few for the borders that I have (cut to 2" by 3/4"), and after running them through my Cuttlebug, I simply attached them all to the book. I did the same with my dies, and also the die/embossing combos that I have.

I am really loving how it turned out!!

Supplies: Cuttlebug Machine/Dies/Embossing Folders; K&Company Paper Pad - Wild Raspberry; Colorbox Chalk Ink - Chestnut Roan; EK Success Corner Punch; Fiskars Scallop Border Punch

So if you're looking for a way to keep up with some supplies you've got, this could be a perfect solution for you! I'm thinking about making another one for ink colors and also some stamps I have in CD cases. I can see sooooo many possibilities with it.

Thanks Kristina...you seriously rock. :)

Fantastic tutorial...

I was browsing some blogs earlier and came across an awesome tutorial for making your own stitching templates. To see the entire post, you can visit Melissa's blog here. She explains how to take a shape you want to stitch, trace it onto some acetate, and then pierce holes into it to use it as your template. Is that smart or what?? :)

Well, I was sitting here trying to think of a way I could try it out today (no acetate sheets yet)and an idea popped into my head. A few weeks ago, I went through and put a bunch of my single clear stamps into CD cases. A few of these were the individual word stamps that are in Heidi Swapp's handwriting. They come in a plastic package, stuck to a piece of acetate that has the word written on it. When I took the stamps out of the package, I kept those words thinking I could use them for something later on. Boy, am I happy that I did!

I pulled them out and chose a word, grabbed my paper piercer, and went to work piercing the holes. Next I cut down a piece of paper to the size I wanted it, held the acetate in place over it, and once again pierced the holes, but this time through the acetate to the paper. After that, I stitched the word. It worked great!! Here's a picture of the acetate and also the stitched word...





I have 3 more of the Heidi Swapp words and also a few other designs that might work for this, so I can't wait to try them out. I'm also definitely going to get some acetate sheets so that I can try Melissa's idea.
You should try it too! ;)

Card sketch book...

Have you ever wished you had a cool little book to draw your card sketches in? Well, now it's possible! Kristina Werner created a wonderful PDF that you can download and print to create your own sketch book. How cool is that?!? You can find the post about it on her blog here. She even made a video of her creating a book so that you can do it step-by-step right along with her. I created one last night...

Supplies: K&Company Paper Pad - Greenhouse; Doodlebug Loopy Lou Cardstock Stickers - Bon Bon; American Crafts Clear Alphabet Stamps - Ginger; Colorbox Chalk Ink - Chestnut Roan; EK Success Corner Punch

I really love it! Now if we can only talk her into doing a PDF for layout sketches...hmmmmmm. ;)

One note...in the video Kristina uses a pivot point stapler to put her book together. She says that if you don't have one, you can just use a regular stapler opened up, laying against a soft pillow or cushion. Then, once you push your staples into place, you can just turn the book over and flatten the prongs yourself. That's exactly what I did, but I used an old mouse pad instead and it worked perfectly. Just sharing... :)

WOW!!!

A few weeks ago, I read a post over at scrapbook.com about a new blog site, Flamingo Scraps. They were looking for ideas of what people wanted to see on the blog and all you had to do was comment to be entered for a prize pack. Well, I posted and actually won! I got my prize today and it is FANTASTIC!!! I got sooooooo much stuff. This is what was included...

• (10) Sheets of Fancy Pants Key Lime Pie paper
• (8) Sheets of Prima Morning Song Collection paper
• Fancy Pants Key Lime Pie ribbon
• Fancy Pants Key Lime Pie rub-ons
• (2) Prima Say-it-in-crystals
• Maya Road Sheer Butterfly Album
• A VERY full bag of Prima flowers

Isn't that just awesome?!? I am so thankful for all of it. Here's a picture of my yumminess...

So, I just wanted to say a big THANK YOU to Flamingo Scraps. If you get the chance, please visit them at their eBay store here. You'll be glad you did! :)

Cards For Kate

Jennifer McGuire is having a card drive for a little girl named Kate and her family. This is part of the post on her website that tells some info about them...

About 6 weeks ago the life of the McRae family changed forever when their precious 5 year old daughter, Kate, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer. Dad (Aaron) is a pastor in Arizona and he and his wife, Holly have two other children, Will and Olivia. Of course this is devastating for the whole family and many are praying for them. (Go to www.prayforkate.com to learn more about this family and their struggle). Kate has a rough road ahead of her for quite awhile. When you hear their story you will want to do anything you can to help.

To read the full post and find out how you can help by making some cards for this family, you can go here. The cards need to be sent into Jennifer by October 15th, so there's still plenty of time to help!

I made some cards last night for them and these are a few of my favorites...

I hope that in some small way, this amazing family might be blessed by receiving them. Thanks for looking...

My sweet girl! ;)

I did a layout of Madison today and I love how it turned out! A few months ago, I found this dress for her and immediately knew she'd look adorable in it. Was I right or what? ;) The color of it fits her so well!

I got this picture of her last month, and as soon as I saw it, I knew I had to scrap it. Emily had just decided to give Madison her rocking chair and she was soooo happy about it! The look on her face makes me smile every time I see it...

Supplies: Fancy Pants Sweet Spring Papers - Shelby & Title Strips; American Crafts Buttons; Scenic Route Chipboard Butterfly; Colorbox Chalk Ink - Chestnut Roan; Tim Holtz Distress Crackle Paint - Tattered Rose; Brown Sharpie; Making Memories Edge Distresser; SMC Floss; Making Memories Alphabet Stickers - Chloe's Closet

*Based on sketch #36 at 52 Sketches...52 Weeks

Just a note...if you've never tried Tim Holtz Distress Crackle Paints, ruuuuun out and buy some!! A friend of mine sent me a jar last month and I used it on the butterfly here. I painted a pretty thick layer of the paint onto the butterfly, and then once it dried, I sanded the edges and inked it brown. I love the effect!! If you click on the picture, you can see close up how amazing it looks...

Thanks for looking. Have a blessed day! :)

The Biltmore Estate...

If you ever get the chance to visit the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC, you should definitely do it. I've been a few different times and each and every time I go, it amazes me all over again. It's so wonderful! There's so much history and beauty all wrapped up together and displayed for everyone to admire and enjoy. I don't think I could ever get tired of seeing it...

This layout is about a trip Mark and I took there to celebrate my birthday one year. My mom gave us the tickets and his mom watched the girls for us, so we got to go and take our time just being together. It was an awesome day. :)

Supplies: K&Company Paper Pad - Classic; American Crafts Clear Stamps - Ginger; Colorbox Chalk Ink - Chestnut Roan; Making Memories Buttons; Bazzill Scalloped Cardstock (used as a template)

Thanks for looking!

I hope you're all having an amazing weekend. :)

Some recent creations...

I've done some scrapping this week but haven't had the time to come post about it yet. Because of that, I'll just share it all now while I've got a few minutes... ;)

This first layout is about Mark and Madison having a funny face contest. I love these pictures! I've wanted to scrap them for a while now, but trying to scrap the colors pink and red together, without the page looking too girly, is a tough job. I decided to go with these papers from K&Company, and I think it looks great!

Supplies: K&Company Paper Pad - Greenhouse; Fiskars Large Squeeze Punch - Round & Round; Colorbox Chalk Ink - Lipstick Red; Bazzill Just The Edge Strip (used as a template); Scenic Route Chipboard Heart (used as a template); Buttons; DMC Floss

*Based on sketch #34 at 52 Sketches...52 Weeks

The next layout I did has my 2 sweet girls on it. I got this picture of them taking a walk together last year and I fell in love with it. There's just something about the way they're walking along, hand in hand, that just melts me. Instead of journaling myself, I used a favorite Bible verse of mine, which is 2 Corinthians 5:7 - "For we walk by faith, not by sight." I think it fits the picture perfectly...

Supplies: K&Company Paper Pad - Life's Journey; American Crafts Buttons; Colorbox Chalk Ink - Chestnut Roan; Prima Flowers; DMC Floss

*Based on sketch #35 at 52 Sketches...52 Weeks

The last layout is one I did today, about a trip we took to Build-A-Bear back in June. My sis-in-law sent the girls some gift certificates to celebrate their cousin Marybeth's birthday (and Madison's), and they had so much fun picking out their new friends! I love how happy they look!

Supplies: K&Company Paper Pad - Wild Raspberry; Colorbox Chalk Ink - Lipstick Red; Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Tea Dye; Basic Grey Chipboard Letters; Making Memories Edge Distresser; Making Memories Sanding Block

Ok, that's it for today. Thanks for looking...I really appreciate it. :)