Happy Halloween!

Hello Everyone,

Today's post is a quick one for Halloween. There will not be a lot of desciption or a supplies list to this post. I just wanted to create some fun decorations for Halloween. I created them using the Mini Monsters cartridge from ProvoCraft. The monsters were created from 9.5" to 11" in height using a bunch of scraps. The lettering was 3" tall (I think). Enjoy the photos and Happy Halloween!

Be sure to come back tomorrow for the latest project for the Cutting Cafe!

Snow Friends and Operation Write Home!

Hello Everyone!

Today's post is another one focusing on cards I am doing for Operation Write Home's holiday cards.  For those following along at home, each of these card styles represents 25 completed cards so with 3 designs and 75 cards my new total is 225 cards ready for OWH...whew!

These cards are super simple and appeal to the little kid in me. I thought these would be sweet cards for someone to send to their small children during the holiday. I hope you enjoy them!

Thanks for following along and I hope my little snow friends creations makes you smile. Have a wonderful Thursday!


Supplies:
Stamps: Snow Friends (CTMH)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Paper: Recollections
Tools: Copic Markers

October PTI Blog Hop

Hello Everyone,

Today's entry is my first ever foray into the PTI Blog Hop. The theme of the Hop is to...

"Create a project that celebrates Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or some other winter holiday as we embrace everyone's beliefs in a celebration of diversity through paper crafting."

My card is embracing the "Peace, Joy & Love" of the season. Of course, it would have helped if I realized that today was the 26th and NOT the 25th so I missed the hop but wanted to share my card with you anyway because I am proud of it and it is a departure from my usual style. I hope you enjoy it!

Have a wonderful Tuesday everyone!

All supplies are PTI products unless otherwise noted:
Stamps: 2010 Holiday Tags, Framed, Background Basics: Text Style
Paper: Pinefeather, Kraft, SS White
Ink: Chai; Ponderosa Pine (CTMH)
Embellishments: Ponderosa Pine ribbon, Pure Poppy baker’s twine, Pure Poppy button; Classy Red rhinestones (Queen & Co)
Tools: Tag Sale #2 die, Limitless Layers dies ( 1-3/4” Circle, Scalloped Circle), Polka Dots impression Plate

Cutting Cafe Monday featuring Zombie Juice!

Hello!

Today is Monday and you all know what that means...yes, a new work week (yuck) but it also means a fun project highlighting digital stamps from The Cutting Cafe! Todays project uses a number of sets from the Cafe including: Spider Web Background (a favorite of mine), Halloween Wine & Soda Wrappers and Halloween Toppers & Tags.

The close up of the tag lets you see the cool spider web background paper. I printed the image out on kraft cardstock, distressed the edges and matted it on some black cardstock and wrapped it around the wine bottle...easy peasy. I added the Zombie Juice label (after some moderate distressing) and voila!

Here is a close up of the tag. I stacked 2 cuts from a tag die from PTI, distressed the edges and then added a topper/tag to add some dimension and, of course, another spider! The hardest part of this project was to get the bow to cooperate. Wouldn't this be a great gift to bring to a halloween party? I think any host would be tickled to receive this scary gift!

Come back on Wednesday when you can see the latest batch of holiday cards for the soldiers I have completed (another 75 cards!). I am noticing the trend here in one-layer cards for Operation Write Home this year. I will give you one hint for Wednesday...snowmen...LOVE!

All supplies are from The Cutting Cafe unless otherwise noted:
Stamps: Spider Web Background, Halloween Wine & Soda Wrappers, Halloween Toppers/Tags
Paper: Black Cardstock (PTI), Kraft and Beige Cardstock (misc)
Ink: Charcoal (Colorbox)
Embellishments: Black satin ribbon (Offray)
Tools: Tag #1 die (PTI), Sizzix Big Shot Express (ProvoCraft)

Girlfriends Layout

Hello!

Today's post is a 2-page layout devoted to my girlfriends (Mary Ann and Sandy). Unfortunately I don't have any pictures for it yet. I have a flash card with what I am told are photos that I may be able to use but we shall see. In any event, I really like how this layout came together and thought I would share it with you.

As you may have noticed by now I am not an overly fussy scrapper. I tend to be pretty boring I guess but I like a clean and simple layout. This 2-page spread is based on a sketch from the book Imagine by Jeanette Lynton called Understudy. I love using sketches and then making them my own.

Above is a close up of part of the title. Please try to ignore my cutting job. I don't cut letters out much but I just love this alphabet set and color (Juniper)

Above is a fun photo mat treatment. I love using ribbons and buttons to dress up a mat.

Here's page 2 of the layout. I have left a large journaling block in the upper right hand corner to talk about my girls. I have also snuck in a cute sentiment from a stamp set from CTMH about friendship.

Here's a close up of the sentiment about friendship. A nice coincidence I discovered is that after I cut out the stamped image I noticed that the shape was familiar. Then I peeked at my dies and found that the Mat Stack #4 die from PTI matched perfectly. I love that.

The final photo highlights some more cute buttons and another ribbon treatment for my photo mat. Can you just eat this paper up with a spoon or what? This is another example of me using the Perfect Day paper from CTMH. These colors are just wonderful.

Coming up is another Cutting Cafe Monday and perhaps some fun photos of this weekend's "Trunk or Treat" event at our church...I am going to decorate our car with images from the Mini Monsters cartridge from Provocraft. I predict a fun layout coming out of that event. Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Supplies:
Stamps: True Friends and Friendship Alpha (CTMH)
Ink: Chocolate and Juniper (CTMH)
Paper: Perfect Day (CTMH), Chocolate and Tulip (CTMH)
Embellishments: Vintage Cream Buttons (PTI), Cranberry Grosgrain Ribbon (CTMH), DMC Floss for buttons
Tools: Big Shot Express (Ellison), Mat Stack #4 Die (PTI)

More Operation Write Home and Lawn Fawn Goodness!

Hello!

I was able to pump out 50 more cards for my OWH deadline coming up. For those keeping score at home, I have now completed 150 holiday cards with at least another 100 to go before October 30th...whew!

The first card is a simple but sweet card using the Frosties set from Lawn Fawn (love!). I stamped a simple snowflake, adhered a nice bit of bling, added a sentiment and I was done.

The second card was a bit more involved. I used the Bannerific set from Lawn Fawn, some Copics and my Hodgepodge alphabet from CTMH. I took the banner from the set and cut some slits so that I could curve the banner. I really like how this one came out too. Are those little biried not the cutest little things?

I hope you enjoyed these cards. If you come back Friday I should have a beautiful 2-page spread dedicated to best friends (I needed a break from holiday cards). I hope you all have a wonderful day!


"Happy Winter" Card
Stamps: Frosties (Lawn Fawn)
Ink: Juniper (CTMH)
Paper: Recollections
Embellishments: Rhinestone (Queen & Co)

"Merry" Card

Stamps: Bannerific (Lawn Fawn), Hodgepodge Alphabet (CTMH)
Ink: Black (Memento), Garden Green (CTMH), Pure Poppy (PTI)
Paper: Recollection
Tools: Copic Marker (B45)

Cutting Cafe Monday featuring a Halloween Layout

Hello!

Happy Monday everyone and welcome to another Cutting Cafe Monday where I feature digital stamps from The Cutting Cafe! Today's project is a layout for Halloween. I still need some photos to use but that should be resolved in a few weeks right? Anyhoo, this layout features "Chills & Thrills" and "Trick or Treat, Smell My Feet" from the Halloween Day Sentiments. This is such a fun sentiment set for cards or layouts.

Come back Wednesday for some more cards for Operation Write Home. I have done another 50 cards using 2 designs that I look forward to sharing with you.

Supplies:
Stamps: Halloween Day Sentiments (Cutting Cafe)
Ink: Charcoal (Colorbox)
Paper: Marco & Lindo (7 Gypsies); Juniper (CTMH), Black (Misc)
Embellishments: Ribbon (Offray); Buttons (PTI); Floss (DMC)
Tools: Cricut Expression (Oct. 31st cartridge - "Beware" at 2")

Operation Write Home and Lawn Fawn Goodness!

Hello!

Sit down and set a spell as this post is wordier than most but I have some explaining to do...

As many of you know I am a supporter of Operation Write Home and make hundreds of cards each year for soldiers deployed overseas to send home to loved ones. Well, I sent out a bunch for Halloween that I highlighted on the blog a week or 2 ago. Well, I looked at the calendar on Wednesday and realized that my Holiday/Christmas/Winter cards are due on October 30th! Did I mention that it is currently October 15th? Aaaahhhhhhh! I had not done a single card and I typically do about 250 cards for this delivery and my goal was to push it up to 300 this year. Whew!

So I decided I needed to come up with a way to pump out many cards and save myself some time. Usually I cut and score the paper myself for the card bases. This time around I noted that Michaels is having a sale on prepackaged card bases and envelopes...score! I picked up 100 yesterday for around $12. Double score!  I then decided that the cards needed to be single layer. I usually have many layers and do-dads but this would not cut it this year. Then I looked around my craft desk and saw a recent delivery of my first purchase ever from Lawn Fawn. I absolutely love the stamps that Kelly Marie comes up with and decided that the stamps from Bows & Holly would be the first set to use. Throw in some coloring with my Copics and I was on my way. Can I tell you that I pumped out 75 completed cards last night?!?! I have another 25 stamped and partially colored. I will finish them and start on the next 100 later tonight after I visit Michaels again to get some more card bases before the sale ends on Sunday.  So after much blathering on I am going to show you my super simple (but I think adoreable) cards...keep in mind that I am only showing one of each design but each design has been done 25 times!

I think the wreath card is my favorite of the four designs...but I do love them all. In case you were wondering what the stamp set looked like I thought I would show you my set (now well worn after stamping 100 cards).

I love the simple and fun images and they stamped so beautifully. I think I now must own more of these sets...like Harvest Season (for my Thanksgiving cards), Sophie's Sentiments (to go with Bannerific that I purchased - LOVE!), Just my Type (perfect for OWH miss you cards), Critters in the Burbs and Harold's ABC's.

The next post will hopefully be this weekend and include many more holiday cards for OWH but this time I will be playing with snowflakes from the set called Frosties from guess who? That's right, Lawn Fawn!

Supplies:

Stamps: Bows & Holly (Lawn Fawn

Ink: Black (Memento)

Paper: Recollection Paper/Envelope Pack (25 each)

Tools: Scor-Pal (Jr.), Copic Markers (YG13, YG17, R27)

Hello!

Today's post is from a new website that I recently promoted called Papercraft Star. They have weekly challenges and more. The neat thing about their challenges is that they are already created so you can look ahead a few weeks and see what will be the sketch challenge for that week...they have them done through the end of the year so you can really start ahead...I think that is brilliant! Anyhoo, here is Sketch #16 below which was for last week (they have their challenges every Wednesday)...

And here is my take on the sketch...again, I am using some of my long-neglected CTMH paper and stamps. This week I am all about my Perfect Day paper. I just love all the colors. 

Here is the side view of the card as I like to show you the dimesion...also, it is just another angle on all the pretty colors.

I hope you enjoyed this card. Come back Friday for my final salute to Perfect Day paper with a fun 2 page layout. Have a wonderful day and happy crafting!

All supplies are CTMH unless otherwise noted

Stamps: True Friends

Ink: Juniper; Chestnust (Colorbox)

Paper: Perfect Day, Juniper & Very Vanilla

Embellishments: Cranberry grosgrain ribbon

Tools: Half Pearls

Cutting Cafe Monday...and a bit more Halloween!

Hello!

Today's card is another project using a digital stamp from The Cutting Cafe. The card is designed for Halloween using the "31" colored stamp image from the Halloween Day Sentiments Colored set. This card uses some scraps of 7 Gypsies paper that I couldn't throw away and a big black bow. I must say I am getting more practice tying bows as I have been doing a lot of challenges lately that include a bow. This is definitely a skill where practice makes perfect (or just much better). I also like the idea of a non-traditional Halloween Card. I hope you enjoy the photos.

I know it is Monday and Monday's can be tough...just take a deep breathe push on and realize that when it's over you're another day closer to Friday!

Have a fantastic day!

Supplies:
Stamps: Halloween Day Sentiments Colored (The Cutting Cafe)
Ink: Charcoal (Colorbox)
Paper: Marco & Lido (7 Gypsies), Juniper (CTMH), Black (PTI)
Embellishments: Grograin ribbon (PTI), Black Half Pearls (Queen & Co)
Tools: Edge Punch & Circle Punches (EK Success)

For My Friend Card - Mojo Monday 159

Hello!

Today's post is a last minute attempt at a Mojo Monday card. I thought I would give it a whirl.  It is also the first in a series of projects using the Perfect Day paper collection from Close To My Heart (CTMH). This paper is lovely and I combine it with some CTMH card stock and a favorite stamp set (True Friends - also CTMH) and voila, a week's worth of fun posts is ready.

Here is the sketch for this past Monday...

Here is my take on the sketch. I really enjoy the Perfect Day paper collection because it utilizes some of my favorite CTMH colors: Juniper, Sorbet and Tulip.

Here is a side view so that you can see the dimension added to the card. The curved bottom of the card was made by hand. I originally used a border punch but I just didn't like the look of it so I freelanced my own design.

Overall the sketch was very simple and decided to mimic it closely to keep it simple. I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend. Come back Monday for a new card featuring digital stamps from The Cutting Cafe!

Happy Crafting!


All items are CTMH products unless otherwise noted:
Stamps: True Friends
Ink: Juniper
Paper: Perfect Day, Juniper, Very Vanilla
Embellishments: Cranberry grosgrain ribbon
Tools: Circle Punches (1-1/2" & 1-3/4")(EK Success)

Tim Holtz Make-n-Take at Archivers

Hello!

Today's post is a short one. I wanted to show you what I did with a make-n-take I did last weekend at Archivers. They were promoting Tim Holtz products and I made a small tag of sorts using Distress Ink, Distress Embossing Powder, Distress Stickles, and Tim Holtz stamps and key die.  The corners were punched with a Corner Chomper by We R Memory.

I took the tag I made and attached it to a mat for an A2 size card. I took some versamark ink and some flourish stamps to create a background on the mat and tie it into the tags stamp designs. Nothing too fancy but I didn't want to waste the neat project.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend and makes time to create something crafty. Come back on Monday for a new project highlighting digital stamps from The Cutting Cafe on Monday.

Thank You Card

Hello!

Today's project is a thank you card for my BIL and SIL for my recent birthday gift. I wanted to play with one of my stamp sets that had been neglected until now...School Basics from Mint Motif.  I am also continuing my love affair with Kraft paper...it changes the entire look of a card...it makes this card feel cozy and warm (I hope).

This card was created using all scraps. I love that! The patterned paper was left over from my 40th birthday layout and the tag was created with a bit of Spring Rain card stock from PTI. The ribbon was a tied in a bow, topped with a red button and popped on top of the tag. You might notice the Pure Poppy Baker's Twin I used in the button. The striped twine is very trendy right now and it adds a nice touch to cards (with or without buttons).

I don't always decorate the inside of my cards but it seemed appropriate with this stamp set. I took a piece of the Adorn It patterened paper, distressed the edges and topped it with the sentiment I created with School Basics. You need to check this set out as it is clearly not just for teacher cards (wink) and it is only $10(love that!). I hope you enjoy this card and take a moment today to thank someone you care about for their kindness.

Have a wonderful Wednesday and happy crafting!

All supplies are PTI unless otherwise noted

Stamps: School Basics (Mint Motif)

Ink: Noir Black (Palette), Chai (PTI)

Paper: Spring Rain, Misty Collection (Adorn It), Natural (The Paper Company)

Embellishments: Pure Poppy Ribbon, Button and Baker's Twine

Tools: Corner Chomper (1/4")

My 40th Birthday Layout with Cutting Cafe goodies...

Hello!

I am so rarely in my scrapbooks that I decided to focus on me for a change. I decided to do a layout celebrating my 40th birthday highlighting a fun digital stamp set from The Cutting Cafe called Birthday Fun.

I borrowed a layout sketch from PageMaps...I liked the open space and simple layout focusing on one photo. I did a little "free-lancing" on the sketch of course and made it my own.

I decided to use one of the stamp sentiments from Birthday Fun for my title and, since I was posing with my cake and lit candles, it worked out perfectly.

The journaling was done using a library card stamp with the details. I tucked it behind some fun embellies I created from my Birthday Fun set. I popped up the "Birthday Girl" and attached a small red button with striped Baker's Twine. I love the new Pure Poppy baker's twine...with the tails sticking out to one side it give the sentiment motion.

I hope you all enjoy my layout and a rare photo of me. Happy Monday everyone and happy crafting!

Layout Ingredients:
Stamps: Library Card (PTI); Birthday Fun (The Cutting Cafe)
Ink: Noir Black (Palette)
Paper: SS White (PTI); Misty Collection (Adorn It); Sunny Days Collection (GCD Studios)
Embellishments: Pure Poppy Ribbon, Buttons and Baker's Twine (PTI)
Tools: Big Shot Express (Sizzix), Labels #4 and Circle Nestibilities (Spellbinders)

New Site Promotion: Papercraft Star!

Hi Everyone,

No projects for today (come back tomorrow), I just wanted to promote a new site that is out called Papercraft Star. They are currently having a promotion to win a $25 gift certificate. I know all you PTI fans will want a chance to win that!

Check out the blog here, follow the instructions for up to 3 chances to win!

World Card Making Day!

Hello!

Happy World Card Making Day erveyone! I have a quick post today. I made the following card for my fabulous FIL for his 82nd birthday. It also works with a Papertrey Paper Dolls Challenge so it is a 2 for 1. I hope you enjoy it!

This was such a simple and fun card to make. The banner were actually cut initially with the smaller star die from PTI. I then used my Star Prints stamp set to stamp the images and then I trimmed off the ends to create the banners. Fun!

Here is the angled view so you can see the dimension you get from popping the banners up. Don't you like the way the banner works with the Framed stamped image? Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

All supplies are PTI unless otherwise noted
Stamps: Framed, Star Prints
Ink: Noir Black (Palette), Ocean Tides, Summer Sunrise, Plum Pudding, Melon Berry & Spring Rain
Paper: Ocean Tides & SS White
Embellishments:
Tools: Big Shot Express (Sizzix), Star die (small)