Fleas Navidad!

Once again, I am posting my card for the Jingle Belles prompt "Not a Creature Was Stirring..." with about five minutes to spare. Ugh... how did life get so busy? I struggled to find the perfect animal for my card and while I was in bed last night, I remembered I had the Paper-Source lab stamp. A beloved dog stamp. Yes! Oh, and tartan plaid paper to go with! Excellent!

I know, another CAS card, but hey, that's my style. It works. I know exactly who I'm going to send it to, with a beautiful picture of my big boy, Wrigley.

Best Friend

This week, Sketchy Thursdays is having a challenge/prize blowout! There is a sketch, a theme (friendship) and a blog hop! Woo-hoo! I couldn't resist playing along. Here is the sketch from Sketchy Thursdays:

The theme is from ScrapFit, workout #52- F is for Friendship. Hands down, my husband is my best friend, besides my mom.

 My layout:

These pictures were taken in Hilton Head this summer. We were at my cousins wedding and the two of us had the best time! My cousin caught these pics of us and I knew I wanted to scrap 'em! :) Enjoy!

Clean and Simple = Love

Those cute Jingle Belles are teaming up with the Clean and Simple Stamping gals this week! I don't care what it is, I love clean and simple- it's my style... it's just how I roll, k? So, imagine my excitement when I was handed not only a sketch, (love!) but also the instructions to keep it clean and simple! Holy awesome, Batman! I'm on it!

Here's what I came up with:

A close up of all those delicious Basic Grey chipboard embellishments... I only have 3 left from the pack!!! I also used October Afternoon paper and stickers and added a few tiny clear rhinestones.

And last, but not least, the sketch:

I hope you'll play along! You have until Wednesday at 6 pm to add your link. AND, the Jingle Belles have a swell prize up for grabs to one lucky, random participant! Woo-hoo!

Jingle Belles- Shape Up!

Shape up! The Jingle Belles challenge this week is to make a shaped card! Okay, I think I made a shaped card back in the 90's, but haven't since, so this was actually a challenge for me! Once I got an idea in my head, I got excited and eager to start.

So, here's my not so Clark Griswald decorated home for the holidays:

AND, I even made the house shape attach to a card that actually opens! Squeal! I was so impressed with myself!

If you look close, really close, you can see the coarse glitter I used on the chimney, trees and window edges. Those trees are cut from a Papertrey Ink die and the snow drifts? Those are die cut clouds from felt, cut in half. My wreath was assembled with Hero Arts poinsettia flowers and leaves, all attached with a vivid green brad. The Christmas lights are from Michael's and they have glitter on them too! ;) Whew!

Now, shape up, or ship out! That's what I always say to my kiddos... get yourself going on a shaped card- it was fun!

You're the Best!

Happy Friday! Getting ready to leave for a girls weekend to do some scrappin' and craftin' and eatin'! Super excited, but first I wanted to share a fun card using the Card Patterns sketch for the week. Here's my card:

And this is the sketch:

Hope you have a great weekend!

Jingle Belles- Stars OR Stripes!

Hi there! Have you all recovered from the long July 4th weekend? We are slowly catching up on our rest. ;) Before I hop off to bed, I wanted to share my Jingle Belles card for this week. The challenge was to use stars OR stripes in your Christmas card creation. Here's mine:

The snowflake paper from Basic Grey reminded me of stars and my chipboard "JOY" has striped letters. Yes, I used PINK on another Christmas card. That's what happens when you make a holiday card in the summer. Come fall, my Christmas cards might be ORANGE! ;)
Enjoy your evening...

Card Patterns Sketch

I am always in need of a birthday card- especially with as many nieces and nephews that I have! When I saw this weeks Card Patterns sketch, I knew exactly what I was going to do...

I love that this card can be used for a boy or a girl. The banner is from the border sticker collection from Pink Paisley and the lion dimensional sticker is by Recollections at Michael's- it came in a pack of 6 darling animals wearing birthday hats and the entire pack was only $0.99!!! I only have 2 stickers left... need to pick up another pack! I added some punched circles, stamped a couple Hero Arts stars, added a button and twine and viola!

Here's the sketch:

Hope you get a chance to play along! You have until this Friday, July 1st.

Wanna Dance?

Hello, crafty friends! I have a layout today! This weekend was very productive in the creation department, so I got lots done and the inspiration was rollin'! I used this weeks sketch from Sketchy Thursdays, which I *loved*. In fact, I have two more layouts in the process using the same sketch... one for each of the boys. I hope to share them on Wednesday. Here's the sketch:

Here's my layout:

I had loads of fun doing this page- used some paint, tape, different borders, chipboard... Anna loves it- she wants to put it in her room. ;) It's of her and Stephen dancing at my cousins wedding we went to a couple weeks ago while we were at the beach. So fun...

Jingle Belles- All Bundled Up!

This week, the Jingle Belles have challenged us to get "all bundled up," or rather... lots of layers! I love to layer, so I think I'm covered on this card! I used the Basic Grey Jovial collection and added 3 layers to my card base, then topped it off with ribbon, twine, a hand cut felt heart, decorative tape, and some blue half pearls. I used chipboard letters to spell out the "you" in my greeting- also Basic Grey. I love this card... it warms me right up... just like a good friend would. Enjoy!

P.S. Sorry I have been MIA... got started on another big home project- stripping wallpaper hung in 1972 in my foyer. It's been a serious job, but I am almost completely done! Yahoo! Next up... paint colors! :)

Jingle Belles Sketch!

Hello there! I have a Jingle Belles card for you today! Brace yourself... it's busy... and shiny...

 

 The cards this week have to be based on this sketch:

Let me tell you, I love to work off a sketch, and I really liked this sketch- looked easy and clean. However, the more I added to the card, the tackier it got! I mean, first the tree. Then the buttons- they looked "blah" so I added coarse glitter and some twine for garland. Loved the star (of course, it's plain!), but my sentiment lacked the tacky theme, so I added some half pearls. I should have used the sentiment "Merry & Bright"!

Scrapping Everyday Miracles- Challenge #1

Hello, friends! Today is the first challenge over at the brand spankin' new blog, Scrapping Everyday Miracles! Be sure to check out the blog for some awesome inspiration!

Hopefully you had a chance to hop with us this last week and check out the DT and their awesome work. Each of the Design Team members made a layout showing what God is doing in their life, focusing on the little things....those everyday miracles!

My layout is of my daughter, Anna. She finds such happiness in the everyday, little things. She loves to swing, climb trees, gets giddy over finding a bug, she always brings her own sunshine. She is such a blessing!

Now it is your chance...

Little Things Challenge... What kind of everyday little things is God showing you in your life?

Don't forget our Scrap TWIST!
Please use computer journaling to journal and paint/mist. Computer journaling doesn't have to be just journaling that you print from your computer... it can embellishments that have pre-printed journaling on them. For example a sticker that has the perfect quote on it.... or a die cut frame that has something meaningful printed on it... so in short make it yourself or use something pre-made. The paint/mist is self explanatory and easy I think!

Link up your layout to the Scrapping Everyday Miracles blog post by June 30th.... and you could win a prize from our lovely sponsor.... ME!... A gift certificate to choose what you like from my Etsy shop! Yay!

Not only can you possibly win some some of my cute felties, but from all of the layouts submitted for June's Challenges, the DT will pick their top 3 layouts.... and if you are our top favorite you will win a spot as our Guest Designer for August. FUN!

I can't wait to see what you create!

Polkadot Door Blog Hop + Giveaway!

It's time for the second inspirational blog hop at Polkadot Door Designs! 

Look at this fantastic bit of inspiration:

This is what it inspired me to create:

This is a wedding gift for my cousin who's getting married next week. It's 8x10 and I am going to frame it in a black shadow box.

I made my felt nest using tulle, raffia, blue felt and cut strips of brown. I would *LOVE* for you to have one too! If you are a FOLLOWER and LEAVE A COMMENT, it could be yours!  Straight from my Etsy Shop!

Our sponsors for the Month of June are :

She is providing 3 tags to the winner of our Blog Hop!

Pinkpearlstudio is providing a digital download of scrapbooking goodies to the winner of the Inspiration Challenge!

Polkadot Door Designs is giving away a Scrapbooking kit to our June Featured Designer! Be sure to comment on your favorite project when you finish the blog hop at Polkadot Door Designs!

Here's your Hopping Map! Have fun, get inspired, join in!

Marivic

Jennifer
Valerie
Amanda { you are here!
Diana
Sabrina
Nicole B.
Jennifer G.
Polkadot Door Designs

Jingle Belles- "We Three Kings"

This week, the Jingle Belles are challenging us to use three different types of patterned papers on our cards! Fun! I love mixing it up and my Christmas paper and embellie collection is put together using basically three different manufacturers: Crate Paper, Basic Grey and October Afternoon. I chose to work with Crate Paper and created this fun card:

I used 3 patterns from Crate Paper, a red loopy border, and an October Afternoon sticker strip that says "Let it Snow." I made the tag and stamped snowflakes and added the snowman chipboard. Easy peasy, bright and cheesy! :)

JB- Sugar Plums!

Today, I am the Guest Designer over at Jingle Belles! I came across this inspiration board on the Paper Doll Romance blog and it was titled "Visions of Sugar Plums." I thought it would be a great prompt for a holiday card! It reminds me of the Nutcracker, and all that purple, glittery goodness reminds me of how sweet the holidays actually are!This is the card I came up with: I was inspired by the bottom right corner of the photo. I loved the garland and the ballet shoes, and how soft it all looked. So, I pulled out some sugar plum colors, coarse glitter, white ink and some scissors and went to town!

As I was crafting, 2 of my 3 shadows were close. So close, they wanted to make a skate card too. Ugh... I agreed and then they went to town with glitter, the Cuttlebug, ink and rhinestones. I love that they want to create, but they get everything out and make a huge mess. I still have coarse glitter on my desk... 3 days later!

Here is Anna's card. She is 6 and I believe she is adopting my "clean and simple" style. But the girl does love glitter, and more is, well, more! Her favorite tools- stamps and markers!

Here is Elan's card. He is 4. Anna was a bit perturbed that he kind of "copied" off of her card, but actually, he copied my card. How about those orange socks? He's quite the stamper! His favorite tools- the Cuttlebug and Glue Dots.I hope you will join the Jingle Belles blog this week and make a Sugar Plum card! With all this purplicious inspiration, I don't see how you could pass up the challenge! ;)

Can't wait to see all the creations!

JB- Jolly Old St. Nicholas!

The Jingle Belles are at it again! This week the prompt is to use "Jolly Old St. Nicholas" on your card.
Seriously, this was my one and only Santa in my stash and it was on a journaling card. I used my Basic Grey "jovial" paper pad and the sticker is from October Afternoon. I inked up all the edges to make it look a little more vintage. Simple, yes, but that's just my style... roll with it, k?

Until next time, friends, happy crafting.

JB- Christmas Past

Hey there! It's been a whirlwind of business since last Thursday! Derby week is a blast, but it takes me a few days to recover! ;) Then, we threw in Mother's Day the day after Derby, and sheesh... I'm still catching my breath!
Anyway, I had to get my Jingle Belles card done and posted before the deadline! Again, just in the nick of time! This week, the prompt: "Christmas Past." I used a vintage card from October afternoon as my starting point of "Christmas Past" and went from there. Adding printed paper from Basic Grey, felt embellie from MM, rosette ribbon from Am. Crafts, and the blue button? That really is vintage! I thought it looked great with the blue in the little girls dress!
Enjoy! I hope to breathing at a more regular pace by next weekend!

PolkaDot Door Blog Hop!

Hello and welcome! Today, I am participating in the first Polkadot Door Designs blog hop! It lasts through the week with tons of fun, inspiration and prizes! I hope you will join us and browse from one creative blog to the next!
For the first blog hop, Polkadot Door decided on an inspiration challenge to base a layout, card or project on. I love this picture of colorful goodness, inspiration is all over it:
At first glance, I was drawn in by the colors. So fresh, bright and springy! So, I based my layout on color inspiration:

Then, I really was digging those pinwheels. So, I made another project... lots of the same colors, but with a handmade embellie!
My two boys sharing a birthday party- this layout goes in my oldests book! ;)

A close up of the pinwheel:
Now it's your turn! All of the blog hop details can be found HERE. The blog hop list is below, and I encourage you to start at the beginning if you found yourself here first! After you cruise the hop and get loads of inspiring ideas, link up your creation at the Polkadot Door Designs site!

Kim {begin here}

Natasha

Geri

Amanda {you are here!}

Valerie

Jean

Diana

Nicole

Yvonne

Amy

Polkadot Door Designs

Have fun hopping, and if you create something, please leave me a link so I can check it out! A special thanks to Sarah and Rebecca for all their hard work putting together a fantastic blog hop!

A Boy Layout With *gulp* LACE!

Boy layouts are kind of hard when you have to "dress them up." For example: Mac's First Communion. I wanted it to be sweet, white, add some softness, maybe a flower... but for a boy, it's tough. So, I was glad to see the Etsy Inspired Challenge for the week. The Etsy shop is Creating Is Fun and there are lots of great, vintage looking things in the shop. These are the two things that inspired me:


And here is my layout: I am happy to say that it's still very much all boy, but has a flower, lace, a button, rhinestone and laser cut paper. It's sweet and peaceful- exactly what I was going for!
Thanks for the inspiration! ;)

A Quiet Place...

...that's exactly where I wish I was! It's the first day of Spring Break here, and the kids were occupied with a long play date. With seven kids, all under 8, it was busy, wild, and chaotic, but fun! We do have a busy week planned, so hopefully we will have some nice weather! Here is my most current layout: I love how it turned out! I finally decided to use the fabric tree from Trinkets,NH that I got on Etsy- it seemed perfect for this page! I also pryed that button I made out of my Kung-Fu grip and used it. The grass was made with green scrap paper and Martha Stewart fringe scissors- love them. Here's a close up: The background story to this layout is kinda funny... Elan was bugging the tar out of Mac, following him everywhere and talking his ear off. Finally, when Elan turned his back, Mac climbed the tree and finally had a quiet place to draw and write. It actually took Elan a while to find him! ;) *Challenge: Paper Issues: "Show Us Your Grass!"

Papertrey March Blog Hop Challenge

The March Papertrey challenge is to use embroidery floss! I love to stitch on my cards and scrapbook pages, so this was a very fun challenge for me. First, I used my new Martha Stewart score pal and embossed the outer edges of my card. Then, I added the two patterned papers and following the "x" design in the paper on the top half, I decided to do a cross stitch pattern with my floss. I die cut the butterfly in raspberry fizz felt and punched another to layer. Lastly, I stamped my sentiment in chocolate ink.
Can't wait to gawk at everyone else's projects!