Holiday Gift AC Challenge

Quick post...like everybody else, cramming for the holiday!

Made this Gift Holder?money Holder out of 3 different Dear Lizzy Christmas papers.  The ribbon is Premium Ribbon. And while I was "stitching" the stocking I noticed the Galaxy marker is from American Crafts, as well! I also used an EK border punch.

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

You better NOT Pout...

When we saw this picture of my daughter and Santa, I could not resist making a layout!  It was too stink' cute!  I had what to see if I could paint over a cake doily to get the effect.  It worked after a few attempts. I will do it again.

Supplies:

AC Papers - Dear Lizzy Christmas X2

AC Puffy Letter Stickers

MakingMemories Letter stickers

Cuttlebug Swirls Embossing Folder

Ribbon

Paint

Doily

Ahhh the smell of Christmas!!!

I have been busy the last few day cranking out projects. (Hoping to share some pictures soon!) I would like to share a Quick & Easy Holiday card for this week's AC challenge:

Supplies:
-AC Dear Lizzy Patterned paper
-AC Red cardstock
-Making Memories Buttons
-Clear Stamp (need to search for name)
-The Paper Studio Joy stamp
- Recollection Brad
-Silver and Red Ink

Lastest Layout

I decided to take a breather and krank out a quick layout!  I used Echo Park's Little Boy collection!  Figured I would use the papers for actuall boy  pages, but could not resist!

I'm grateful... AC Challenge

So I some how found time to complete a layout this week!  The challenge at American Crafts is "I'm Grateful..."  Of course, my first answer was more wonderful kids!  At least they are wonderful most of the time :)  (It is only Tuesday and I am ready for school to be back!  Boy am I looking forward to Winter Break ...)

Here is my layout:

Supplies: AC Enchanted paper, AC Thickers, AC Foam letters, misc cardstock, EK Succes border punch, Spellbinders Circle Die-cut, Spellbinders Impressabilities,  Michael's ribbon.

Happy Thanksgiving!

AC Recipe Challenge

Was I happy to see this challenge- AC Recipe Challenge!  I have been meaning to make a scrapbook/recipe book using my husband's family recipes!  This was just the challenge to kick my bottom into gear and get started!
I made the first of many layouts to fit into a 8x8 album.

Supplies: AC City Park Papers, AC Washer Stamps, AC Thickers, EK border punch, chalk, ink, and brad.

I cannot wait to start the other layouts!  Just need to add it to my list of to-do's (and there are MANY!!!).

I have been working on some exciting things, hoping to share with you very soon!

Take care!

World Cardmaking Day

Just got home from watching OU/Texas game...Way to go Sooners!  However, it was an all day event and really wanted to participate in the World Card-making Day!  Threw together a QUICK birthday card using a couple papers from American Crafts Everyday Collection and American Crafts stickers.

Wish I could have made more cards...hoping for some time tomorrow!  But church and yardwork comes first!

AC Weekly Challenge-Favorite Technique

This challenge was just calling my name!  I love cutting out embellishments from patterned papers!  I just bought some paper from the City Park Collection from AC and knew that I would end up cutting some balloons out. Perfect for this week's challenge: Favorite Technique!  So my favorite technique changes oftens, but the technique of the moment is cutting out paper designs.  Here is the card that I came up with:

I used the following AC papers: Grass Cardstock, Everyday-Gidday (sky), Craft Fair- Midge Gathermore (houses), and City Park- High Line Park (balloons).  I embossed the sky with Cuttlebug's Divine Swirl embossing folder. The stamp is from Studio G.

I'm sooooo ready for FALL!!!!

It feels like it has been so long since I have made a card! I found some cute fall paper from Imaginisce at my LSS this weekend and could not wait to try it out!  I am sooooo ready for fall weather!  I hear all everyone talking about how their weather is changing and it's so nice, but here in Houston it's still hot and muggy and icky!!!  Anyway, here is the card I came up with :

I started thought process of this card with the sketch challenge from The Paper Variety weekly challenge.  It is a new challenge site that just lauched this past week!  I am so excited to see what comes from this challenge site and hope is gets my creative mojo started up again!

I used a Studio G stamp I found in the Michael's $1 bin and stamped it on some orange marblized paper from The Paper Studio.  The cut-out leaves are attached to the Imaginisce paper (back pattern).  Strip patterns were cut out and added to the card.  Cream cardstock (The Paper Studio) was inked with brown ink and tied with brown hemp string.  "Thanks" is a diecut from the Cuttlebug.

Button Challenge for Practical Scrappers

This week's challenge is BUTTONS.  My favorite embellishments!!!!  I found some button paper and textured cardstock at Hobby Lobby and decided to use it for a layout of the birth of my first son. 

I inked the edges of the paper with Memento Ink-Bamboo Leaves.  I used a chipboard shape to trace and cut-out the patterned paper.  The chipboard letters are from The Paper Studio.  The real buttons are from Making Memories.

New weekly challenge for Practical Scrappers

This week's challenge at Practical Scrappers is to make a project using white core cardstock. 

I have limited experience using white core and decided to emboss and sand.

The texture white core carstock is from DCWV.  A birthday Cuttlebug embossing folder was used to create the images.  I sanded the images to reveal the white core of the cardstock.  A tag was punched and stamped with a Studio G stamp.  Stickers were used for the numbers (stash).

White Pen Challenge for Practical Scrappers

This week’s challenge over at Practical Scrappers is to use a White Pen. I did not have a white pen to work with, so it gave me the perfect reason to go shopping! Well, they did not have a white pen, but they had a white marker! I made a LO about the birth of my daughter. I made a paper flower (from a lunch bag) and outlined it with the marker. The swirls were hand-drawn and cut-out. I use chipboard letters for the title and also outlined some of the letters using the white pen.  The envelope was made with my new Martha Stewart scoreboard.

The patterned paper and buttons are from Making Memories. The green and pink cardstocks and chipboard letters are from The Paper Studio. The flower was made using a heart punch and a paper lunch bag.

New Challenge Blog

I am getting excited about the new challenge blog The Paper Variety.  They announced the pretty cute giveaway today!  I love it...crossing fingers!

I was hoping I could get some crafting done today...but I spent the day looking for a certain ribbon for a project.  I had just used it 2 days ago and COULD NOT for the life of me find it!  (My craftroom is organized and clean.)  I was getting ready to give up, assuming that I threw it away by accident...I found it in one of my scrap boxes!  But now the day is gone...off to do supper, baths, and bedtime!

What a bright smile!!!

So I cranked out another scrapbook LO!  I am having fun...I am so addicted! 

So I was going through my paper piles and I came across my "Songbirds" paper pack. (I forgot I had it and it was like Christmas morning!!!) I just had to use it!  (OK, I know I am using !!!! too much, I will try to stop! oop, sorry....)

Here is the LO:

All the paper came from the DCWV Songbirds pack.  I hand-cut the sun, birds and house to embellish the page

The SMILE is Provo Craft chipboard letters that I painted a Golden orange.  The letter stickers are from Making Memories- they started off white, but colored them with a tan marker.

I used pop-dots to the birdhouse embellishment.

Off to the craftroom to see what I come up with next!

Lace Cardstock challenge from Practical Scrappers

This was a tough challenge!  My first thought...how do I make lace cardstock, never heard of it???? So I looked through my suppplies and came across my Martha Stewart border punch and went from there!  I also included a digi stamp from this month's sponsor Sassy Studios.  I did a chalkboard instead of a scrapping project today!

Practical Scrappers Stitching Challenge

So this week's challenge at Practical Scrappers is to use stitching.  This was that first time I actually used my sewing machine for paper.  I had a blast and have stitched on several projects since.

I used a Sailor Honey stamp for Sassy Studios (colored is with pencils) and the patterned paper is from The Paper Studio.  I used a simple zig-zag stitch to sew the patterned papers together.  The stamp is from Stampablilites.  Buttons are from my stash.

I love my husband...

I got so much crafting done this weekend!  My husband knew I have been under a lot of stress lately, he did all the housework and let me spend tons of time in my room.  Greatest husband ever!!!!!

I came across a sketch challenge at Skipping Stones and gave it a try.  It is not what I had invisioned, but it did turn out pretty good, I think!

I used brown textured cardstock for the card.  The pattern paper is from Heidi Grace.  I cut the large flower out of the paper and used the revesre side for the bottom of the card.  The yello cardstock is embossed with Cuttlebug swirls.  I stamped the sentiment on a tag and attached it with a Recollections brad.  The button and ribbon came from my stash.

Ahh, the summer is almost over...

This summer has gone by so fast!  I am both happy and sad about it coming to an end.  My oldest starts school back up in two weeks.  He will be going in the morning program, so that means that once again I have to rearrange my schedule for getting things done wach day.  My husband says I'm a little OCD and tends to make fun of the lists and schedules I make for EVERYTHING.  But hey, I know that works for me and I will continue :)

So this week's challenge at Practical Scrappers is to use summer themed items.  Believe it or not, I found this somewhat difficult.  I don't have too many summer-themed items to work with!  But I made a cute LO...

The summer-themed item I used was a Studio G flip flops rubber stamp. 

I used ribbon to make the sun.

I used a couple different scissors and torn paper to make the waves.

I am off to complete my next project...what will it be?  I will find out once I start going thru my scrap room.  I think I need to make some more birthday cards for September.  But we will see what I end up doing!

Have a great day!

My first Design Team project for Practical Scrappers

I am so excited about joining the Practical Scrappers team!  I look forward to the upcoming challenges and I hope I inspire others as I have been inspired by the wonderful artists out there!

Here is a quick and short bio- I am a stay-at home mom of 3 wonderful (and energy-draining) kids. Two boys (4 and 2) and a 8 mo. daughter.  Nap-time is my crafting time.  I use it as a relaxation method!  I normally make cards, but just recently started to make scrapbook pages!  I am addicted to looking at the fellow bloggers' pages (that is my after bedtime addiction)!

Practical Scrappers is celebrating their 1 year anniversary this week.  So they are bringing a different challenge for each day.  Today's challenge is to make a card or LO celebrating a "first" (birthday, anniversary, tooth, etc). 

I have made a first birthday card for a little girl.  I used kraft cardstock (MY FAVORITE) for the base of my card. I took patterned paper and matted it onto green cardstock.  I hand cut the layered cake and rolled a piece of paper to make the candlestick.  Pop dots were used to adhere the cake to the card.  The flame was also hand-cut and orange ink was used to accent the flame.  I punched out 6 flowers to make the 3D flower and added a lime green button for the center of the flower.  The number 1 was a die-cut from Cuttlebug. And finally "Happy Birthday" (Studio G, another addiction) was stamped in brown ink.

Thank you for viewing my first design team project!  I look forward to many more!

More paper flowers...

I just had to try these flowers that I have been seeing. I think they turned out pretty well for my first try!  They can only get better (I hope)!  I am also lovin' stitching!  I am finally putting my sewing machine to some good use!

All the papers are from My Mind's Eye.  Brads-Recollections. Stamp-Studio G.

Challenges:

Stamp and Create - Flowers

Ooh La La - Birthdays

 

Tons of projects in the works!

So I have actually had time making a variety of cards, scrapbook pages and wedding invitations this week!  I am loving it!  Now that I have cleaned and organized my room, I have been letting the kiddos in the room while I work (probably not the best idea, but it works)! So they are having a blast bouncing on the bed, so I am getting some work done!  (In between my daughter's fits...gotta love teething)!  Here is one card that I made:

Once again I used kraft cardstock...I cannot stop...please help me (just kidding...don't send help...I'm not in need of a kraft intervention quite yet)!

I used  my Slice machine to cut out the scallop circles and hand cut them to turn them into flowers.  I embossed the circle with Cuttlebugs Swiss Dots and brushed it with black ink.  I used white ink to stamp the Studio G stamp.  The patterned paper is from Adorn It.

Relaxed...

Got back from a small vacay and ready to get back to crafting! 

So we went to Oklahoma to visit with family.  My craft buddy is my mom.  This time around...she showed me how to sew a dress for my daughter.  I'm sorry, but "easy-to-sew" patterns should be considered as false advertisement!  I will try to make a dress on my own (I'm afraid of the final outcome)!  I tend to be a perfectionist when it comes to my work and I think it will drive me crazy if I cannot get the hems straight.  But I will try :]

Tweet, Tweet little Chalkboard...

So I had some masonite left over from a project, so I decided to paint it with chalkboard paint and make this cute board for my kitchen:

The tree is a hand-made cut-out and the leaves were done using a Cuttlebug diecut. The birds were cut-out from the AC paper-Millie Singer.  A Tiffany blue satin ribbon is used as a hanger.

SWEET...

I could not resist making a page using this picture of my daughter.  Her smile melts my heart :) (Yes, I know all mothers' think that!!!)

I used a couple of AC papers to cut out the circles, as well as the flowers to make my own 3D embellishments.  The coral patterned ribbon is AC Premium Ribbon.  The letters are so OLD (I believe I have had them for at least 5 years and sad to say I think this was the first project I actually used them!

Supplies: AC papers (Yo!, Long time no see, Gidday, Aloha, Good morning, Bonjour), AC ribbon,stash punch-out letters, Recollection brads

Home is where the heart lives...

So I completed the second scrapbook page and I must say (to myself)...Not bad!!

I have been having too much fun (wait...that's not possible) with making my own embellishments from patterned papers.  I cut out the houses and circles from AC papers. To add texture to the page, I embossed the yellow tree and distressed the edges of the pink tree.

Supplies: AC Papers (Wouldn't it be nice, Yo!, Midge Gathermore and Pretty), Stash Cardstock (Brown-tree trunk, Red - dragonfly body, kraft), Studio G stamps, white and brown inks, circle punch, border punch, distress tool, Cuttlebug-Embossing folder Swiss Dots.

Crafts and Food---Life is good!!!

So I have been working in my room all week and am getting a lot of projects completed!  (While keeping a clean room---a project in itself!)

Here is the one of the latest cards:

Supplies: Studio G rubber stamps, Martha Stewart Doily Lace border punch, Recollection red brads, patterned paper from stash, kraft cardstock, red, white and blue textured cardstock, black string

And on top of being busy in the craft room, I made homemade chicken pot pie that was so DELISH, I have to share a pic!!!!

Getting there...

So The last few weeks I have been focused on organizing my craft room.  It has turned into a bigger project, but I am loving the outcome!

Sadly, I do not get a ENTIRE room to myself (sniff, sniff...wipe tear)! Half the room is my craft room and the other half is the guest room.  So I was overwhelmed with projects in May and June that the room got CRAZY!!! So I went on the mission to re-organize.  So here is the big reveal...

I'm not done yet, still have some final touches to complete. Boy, do I have more than ribbon than I thought...it disn't help that the last time I went home, my mom gave me all her ribbon!  So I ran out of the pegboard things, so I will hopefully get to Home Depot this weekend!  I have 2 more rolls of solid ribbon to hang (and won't mention the amount of pattern ribbons there is!  But I must say I do like the idea of the pegboard!  I stole it from my husband's garage!  It have been leaning against the wall for almost 2 years, so I snatched it!!! And worst of all...I made him hang it up ;) 

Well, I better get back to my project!  Kiddos are napping, so the time is precious!

New Practical Scrappers Design Team Member

I am super excited to be choosen to participate in the Fall Design Team for Practical Scrappers!  I cannot wait to get started!  Looking forward to this new adventure :)

Back to card-making and lovin' it!!!!

So now that the craziness has slowed down and am back to card-crafting!!!  I made this card for my Grandmother's bday coming up in a few weeks!

I continue with my love for kraft paper!  Will I ever get enough???? (I hope not!)  I decided to make a bigger card this time around.  I usually make the normal A2 size, but went with a 5x7 card.  I also did more detail than I normally do.  I tend to be a clean and simple card-maker, but went alittle wild (what a dare-devil I am becoming). 

Challenges - Practical Scrapper

American Crafts

365 Cards (Something old - button, something new - paper, something borrowed- my interest in card-making comes from my grandmother...however I'm not giving it back, so I guess that doesn't make it borrowed :) 

Now I am off to work on my next project.. my craft room is too clean for my standards ;)

Supplies: Kraft cardstock, AC Moondog Paper, AC Majestic Clear stamps, AC Premium Ribbon, EK Success Border Punch, Fiskars Circle punch, Paper Studios Chipboard Stickers, button from stash, brown ink.

Craziness!!!!

So the past few months have been CRAZY!!!! I have been working on wedding orders and trying to maintain the household!!!  Swim lessons are over this week and I will be finishinf my last order tomorrow!  Next mission...organizing the craft room!  I plan on re-arranging and organinzing everything!  I cannot wait to get back to order!

Still alive...

I haven't made any cards lately!  Been busy with wedding orders!  Will have to make bday card and Father's Day cards this week!

I miss making cards :(

Cosmo Cricket Layout and Practical Scrappers Challenges

So, just in case I thought I was getting low on projects...I have added more to my list!  I am determined to make a scrapbook for each of my 3 children.  So, I have been searching and searching for inspiration!  I came across this layout challenge from Cosmo Cricket!  I also saw that Practical Scrappers weekly challenge is Stickers.  I figured it was simple enough for my first real (well...second) stab at a scrapbook page!  I had fun!  Now I need to go shopping and buy lots of papers and embellishments, etc!  Man, so I love those Cosmo Cricket collections!  Hoping I can find some at the stores!

Here is my layout:

Isn't it funny how you look at a word and swear you are spelling it right, but it doesn't look right?  I finally had to go look up precious, because I thought I did it incorrectly (after I stuck the letters to the page)!  Luckily, I was correct...sigh of relief!  Now I need to decide if I am brave enough to write some journaling on the bottom.  (I don't want to screw up the page :[ )

NSD Blog Hopping and having a blast!

So I started one blog hop and now addicted!  Too bad tomorrow is my wedding anniversary...wonder if I can sneak some time in?

Here is some blog candy that I came across:

Go to Anita's blog

Have a great day!

When will I find time?

So I returned to making wedding invitations and boy am I busy!  Hoping to find time soon to make a card or two...

Finally done with the Thank you cards, plus a birthday card!

Boy. am I glad to be done with Thank You cards!  Then I saw today's challenge from 365 Cards and had to use it to make my sister-in-law's birthday card!

So here are the lastest cards:

Day 24 - Terrific Ten  (Use ten different papers).  All the papers are from My Mind's Eye.

The Pink Elephant Challenge #59

Day 25 - Do-it-Yourself (Add glitter to an embellishment).  Can't tell by the pic, but I put glitter on the yellow brad in the middle of the flower.

Day 26- Recipe Card (Use only 5x5 card, 3 circles, 2 squares, ribbon, and senitment of choice).  So I went alittle out of the box for this card (Used circles and squares and cut in half, but stuck to the limited shapes).  The only thing I "broke" was the size of the card - did 5x7, need to mail and do not have a square envelope to fit 5x5 ...sorry :( 

1st batch of Thank you cards

I have so many to make, so I will have to come back and include the supplies...

Practical Scrapper Challenge- Use something you have had for over a year (I used these daisy stamps for a wedding invitation order and have not used them since!)

I'm not too pleased with all of them, but I am trying to work with supplies I currently have!