Friday, February 29, 2008

Cute as a Button Baby Announcement

This was my daughter's baby announcement. I got the idea from Sarah Hawkins. I searched everywhere for some tiny white buttons and found them at Joann's in the button section. Of course I had exhausted all avenues of every scrapbooking store in town and every online button website before I tried Joann's. Go figure.

Anyway, I did most of it on my computer. I used CTMH’s chocolate cardstock for the inside and a Marvy scallop square punch for my daughter’s photo. I also used some scalloped scissors for the edge on the front. Everything else is pretty straight forward. It’s hard to believe that she is already 18 months old!

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Sweet Pea Layout


This layout was 100% inspired by Jill Broadbent. She did a very similar layout that was shown at CTMH’s Regional Celebration last month. I fell in love with her “furry” chipboard letters and had to recreate the layout myself. Hannah’s name is created by using CTMH’s Dimensional Elements Simple Alphabet wrapped with chenille Sassy Strands from the Winter Cozy collection. I used Glue Dots to keep them in place and to glue them to my layout.

Cardstock: CTMH Baby Pink, White Daisy Papers: CTMH Sweet Pea Paper Pack Other: Winter Cozy Chenille Sassy Strands, Paper Trimmer (to emboss the edges), Sanding Kit, Big Pinks Paper Flowers, Craft Buttons, Circle Window Charms, CTMH Colonial White Ribbon Rounds, Lots of Glue Dots!

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Card Box

Sorry I didn't post this yesterday as promised. It was a crazy day. This is the card box that I mentioned in my last post. You can fit 5-6 standard sized cards and envelopes in it.

The first photo is of the back of the box with a card and envelope sliding into it. The next one is a photo of the front of the box. The two after that are photos of the backside of the box. Finally the last one is the template.

The original box design is from Close to my Heart, however I altered it a bit to fit the envelopes a little better.

Basically you start with an 11x11 sheet of cardstock (I used CTMH's Heavenly Blue) and score and cut as shown in the template. Then stamp and decorate before putting it together. Then fold it up with the little flaps inside at the bottom. I have used both my ATG tape and CTMH's Bonding Memories Glue to adhere the sides together while making these. They both work just fine, so go ahead and use whichever adhesive you prefer.

Once the box is glued together, punch two small circles from a different color cardstock (I used CTMH's Cocoa) and glue them on the back as shown. Then using a piercing tool, poke a small hole in the middle of each and then insert a mini brad. Spreading out the lower brad is a little tricky, but doable. Just stick your hand inside the box as best as you can and try to spread out the prongs. Then use some floss or fiber to wrap around the brads. I used CTMH's Colonial White Waxy Flax. Feel free to post any questions. I'm not sure I explained it very well.

Click on the template photo to make it larger.

Stamps: CTMH Simple Beauty (March Stamp of the month), Blooming Flourishes (Friends) Cardstock: CTMH Heavenly Blue, Cocoa, White Daisy Inks: CTMH Cocoa, Heavenly Blue Other: Circle Punch, CTMH Mini Pewter Brads, CTMH Colonial White Waxy Flax, CTMH Heavenly Blue & Crystal Blue Markers, CTMH Sparkles (center of flower)

Monday, February 25, 2008

One More Simple Beauty Card

I am kind of stuck on this stamp set and the color blue lately. This card is part of my March card workshop. It uses CTMH's Simple Beauty stamp set and the “celebrate” from CTMH's Happy Birthday set. I colored in the butterfly with Heavenly Blue and Grey Flannel markers. Then I covered the Grey Flannel with Prisma Glitter. I added a CTMH sparkle on the butterfly's head. I also have a matching box to store my cards that I will post tomorrow. (I still need to recreate the template to post with the photos.)

I'm not sure if you can see the glitter on the butterfly. It looks kind of pretty in real life.

Colors are: Heavenly Blue, Cocoa, Grey Flannel

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Fun Photoshop Border

OK. I know this isn't a card or a scrapbook page, but I just had to share this fun (and easy) photo border treatment. First of all, I have to give credit for this adorable photo to a fabulous photographer named Wendy Whitacre of Blue Lily Photography. She took some great photos of my kiddos and me last summer. Be sure to check out her website! She is absolutely amazing!

This is a photo she took of my daughter. (Isn't she a cutie? Hee-hee.) If you like Photoshop, Jessica Sprague has some wonderful classes and tutorials on her website. This border was a free download from her blog. Check out the instructions here. Super quick and super easy. Have some fun and try it yourself on one of your photos...

Saturday, February 23, 2008

Playful Flourish Card

This simple card uses CTMH's Playful Flourishes stamp set. (One of my favorites!) I embossed CTMH's Taffy Textured Cardstock with white embossing powder. Then I stamped a few sentiments in Taffy ink from CTMH's Happy Birthday set. I used three mini flowers from CTMH's White Daisy Just Blooms and added a Pewter brad in the middle.

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Another Simple Beauty Card



This is a card that I made using CTMH's March stamp of the month called Simple Beauty.

I stamped the image twice and then colored it in with markers, cut out the flowers and used 3-D foam squares to add dimension. The "hello" is from CTMH's For Every Occasion. I also added a bit of Prisma Glitter to the center of the flowers, which is a little hard to see in the photos.

Colors are: Crystal Blue, Heavenly Blue, Buttercup, Chocolate, & Sweet Leaf

Dress Card

I saw this adorable dress card on Giovana's blog and had to make one myself. The dress pattern came from this site. I used some patterned paper from Chatterbox and Blush cardstock from CTMH. The ribbon is actually from Big Lots of all places. *Ü*

The card below uses CTMH's Sweet Pea paper pack, Colonial White Ribbon Rounds, White Daisy Just Blooms flowers and some mini CTMH brads.

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Everyday Blessings Card (with a little sewing)

I finally got a little time to play with my new Janome sewing machine. I am LOVING it! The ironic thing is that I just discovered Gina K's posts on her blog about how to use the darn thing. Click here to visit her blog, see her fun tutorials, and enter to win your own FREE Janome Sew Mini! Woo-Hoo! As you can tell from my card, I still need a little practice with getting my lines straight and getting the corners to look halfway decent. But for my first sewing project, I guess it's not too bad.

I got my Papertrey order yesterday and was excited to see what I could make with my fun new goodies. Can I just tell you that I am in love with their cardstock? It is very thick and so luxurious (if you can even say that about paper.) I used her new “Perfect Match” cardstock, ribbon, and ink, along with the new Everyday Blessings and Polka Dot Basics stamp sets. This is what I came up...
Check out the corner here. Yikes. How do I avoid this and make the corners look nicer???
Stamps: Papertrey's Everyday Blessings, Polka Dot Basics Cardstock: Papertrey Aqua Mist & Spring Moss, CTMH White Daisy Inks: Papertrey Aqua Mist & Spring Moss, CTMH Black Other: Janome Sew Mini Sewing Machine, Papertrey Spring Moss Grosgrain Ribbon, Vellum, 3-D Foam Squares, CTMH Watercolor Pencils, CTMH Grey Flannel Marker, Prisma Glitter (for the little dots on the cross)

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Textured Cardstock Basket



I finally tried one of those fun cardstock baskets. It was a little tedious, but fun to make. Here is a link to the instructions. I used CTMH's Honey colored textured cardstock which I love because it is darker on the inside and lighter on the outside. I sanded the cardstock and then inked the larger strips with chocolate ink.

I used Papertry's Oval Borders & Corners and Out on a Limb stamp sets, however for the life of me, I could not stamp a clear image. I may need to season the stamp a bit more...

Stamps: Papertrey's Out on a Limb,Oval Boarders and Corners Cardstock: CTMH Textured Honey Inks: CTMH Chocolate, Honey Other: Chocolate Grosgrain Ribbon, Pewter brads, Marvy Scallop Punch

Monday, February 18, 2008

What's a girl to do?

Sorry I don't have any art to post tonight. I have spent most of my free time this weekend balancing my books and prepping our taxes in between my coughing fits. (My son and I are both sick.) I was happy to find that I actually made a profit this year with my CTMH business. Woo-Hoo! Now I don't feel as guilty about all of the extra stamp and other crafty purchases I made this year.

However, I am continuing to take a loss on The Paper Loft, my other business. I have been debating for the last two years whether to shut it down. I worked really hard to build it up when I first started it in 2001, but it is just too much to try to keep up with two small kids, my hubby, and two home businesses right now. I do like having a business license and a tax ID # so that I can buy things wholesale. Oh, what is a girl to do? I may just try to cut as many costs as I can and keep it around one more year. I just don't know...

Well, off to bed. Maybe I will have some energy (and a few extra minutes) to create something tomorrow. Nighty-night.

Sunday, February 17, 2008

Embossed Frame card

Staying true to (my latest) form, here is another simple card. I used one of CTMH's beautiful metal Foundry Frames to emboss the chocolate cardstock. First I spritzed the cardstock with a little water on both sides. Then I laid it on top of the metal frame. I used my rubber brayer to roll over the cardstock pressing firmly so the raised image from the frame would emboss the cardstock. (I tried it without spritzing the cardstock with water first and it didn't work very well.) I wanted the cardstock to dry before I sanded it and was too impatient to wait, so I stuck it in the microwave for about 8 seconds and that did the trick. Then I sanded it lightly with a sanding block. It is a great way to get more mileage out of my Foundry Frames.

Stamps: CTMH Best of Times, Fair Blossoms (sentiment) Cardstock: CTMH Chocolate Inks: CTMH Chocolate, Crystal Blue, Honey, Sweet Leaf Other: Foundry Frames

Saturday, February 16, 2008

Single Photo Layouts


I love creating layouts using a single photo. Sometimes you have that perfect photo that you want as the main focus. The layouts above are obviously of my two favorite subjects. My adorable kiddos. They were quick and easy to create because all I did was some “somewhat” random stamping down the page and mat the photos and layout on colored cardstock. Quick and easy.

Stamps: CTMH Classic Caps, Adorable, Rustic Flowers Cardstock: CTMH Twilight, Heavenly Blue, Chocolate, Hollyhock, Baby Pink, White Daisy Inks: CTMH Heavenly Blue, Twilight, Chocolate, Bush, Baby Pink Other: Corner Rounder

The layout above is another example of my random stamping with one photo as the focal point. I love this photo. It was taken at Legoland just as we were getting off one of the rides. My husband and son were walking in front of me holding hands and my first thought was, “Kodak Moment!” and I took a few shots as we walked down the little path away from the ride.

Stamps: CTMH Delight in Everything, Rustic Alphabet, Card Commentary Cardstock: CTMH Garden Green, White Daisy Inks: CTMH Buttercup, Cranberry, Garden Green, Heavenly Blue Other: Cranberry Grosgrain Ribbon, Buttercup Accents (Brad & Photo Clip)

Thursday, February 14, 2008

"Love" Layout

I did this couple years ago. I feel in love with the cover of the CTMH Spring 2006 catalog and decided to use it with a Fall theme. My favorite part of the layout is the photo. I attached it to heavy chipboard and then cut it with my paper trimmer and sanded around the edges. If I were to do it again, I would now use CTMH's sanding kit which would have made it a lot easier! I also scissor-distressed the edges of the Colonial White cardstock before adhering it to the Chocolate base.

I love the photo because it was sort of unplanned. A friend of mine was taking some family photos for us at a park and as we were walking to the next "location," I saw this really cool leaf dangling from a tree. It was spinning around and looked really pretty. I thought my son would get a kick out of it, so I pointed it out and while we were all looking at the leaf, my friend took this shot. It is one of my favorites.
Stamps: CTMH Love Tags, Believe Lowercase Cardstock: CTMH Chocolate, Barn Red, Colonial White, Autumn Terracotta Inks: CTMH Barn Red, Autumn Terracotta Other: Chocolate Grosgrain Ribbon, Autumn Terracotta Accents, Vellum, Pewter Brads, Dimensional Elements Classic Alphabet & Bookplates

Look what I got this morning!

My hubby is the best! He surprised me with these beautiful roses and the sweetest card he's ever given to me! I love you Honey!!! Today is actually his birthday, so I should be spoiling him! Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

What's up?

Ok, what is up with the funky comments from spammers? Who would have thought that I could get spammed via comments on my blog? Is there even such a thing as "blog spam?" Anyone have any idea how to stop it? Very strange...Hmm...

Papertrey Card

This card is totally cased from Debbie Olson. She does amazing work and is so talented! I made a few minor changes to my card, but overall it is Debbie's design. Thanks Debbie. *Ü*

Stamps: Paper Tray set from Papertrey, Oval Borders & Corners from Papertrey, Happy Birthday from CTMH Cardstock: CTMH Garden Green, White Daisy Inks: CTMH Garden Green, Blush, White Daisy Other: Marvy Scallop Punch, CTMH Pink Polka Dot Ribbon

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Floral Tapestry Card

You may be wondering what happened to that little sewing machine I posted about a couple weeks ago. I did get it and I have opened the box and actually practiced sewing on paper a bit, but I am still trying to figure out how to make a card with it and have it actually look halfway decent. I promise to post something once I figure out how to control that crazy thing a little better. In the meantime, here is a card I made a while back using CTMH's Simple Stitches Stamp Set. (Kind of looks like real sewing, doesn't it?)

I also used scraps from the Floral Tapestry paper pack that I had lying around in addition to some Just Blooms paper flowers. I colored the flowers with re-inker to match the paper. I also used two sparkles from the Mini-Medley kit. The smile sentiment came from the Playful Flourishes Stamp Set.

Monday, February 11, 2008

Aloha Layout


I realized that I haven't posted a layout in a few days, so here is an old one that I just love. My son is so young here and he looks so cute in his little Hawaiian shirt. I have no idea what brand the papers and embellishments are, but they seemed to fit the photos well when I saw them in a local scrapbook store a couple years ago. The photos were actually taken at Walmart of all places and I think, if I remember correctly, the whole package was really inexpensive and I got a TON of photos.

Well, I am off to cut the supplies for a class I am teaching tomorrow night. (Nothin' like waiting until the last minute!) Nighty-night. *Ü*

A Different Kind of Tag

I received a "Blog Blessing" from both Kari and Kathi. (Two gals whom I appreciate so much even though we have never met.) The idea behind this tag game is different from other tag games. Rather than look inwardly, we look outside ourselves and bless, praise and pray for three blog friends. By participating in this endeavor we not only make the recipient of the blessing feel valued and appreciated, but we are having some fun too. We’re going to see how far the bloggin’ blessings can travel around the world and how many people can be blessed! Recipients of a bloggin’ blessing may upload the above image to their sidebar if they choose to do so. In addition, be sure to go to the blog of those you are blessing and leave a comment on their blog to be sure they check yours!

I am so new to blogging and only have a few "blogging buddies," whom I have already tagged within the past week. So, I hate to tag them again. I will be praying for them all even though I won't be passing along the "official tag."

However, one blogging buddy that I haven't tagged yet is Jeanne. So, I will officially pass along this "Blog Blessing" to her.

Sunday, February 10, 2008

g thanks card


Well, here it is...another super simple card. I wanted to showcase a few of CTMH's distressing tools, so I created this card using the Solo G and Solo T stamps sets. I also used the sanding block to sand the blush textured cardstock, the edge distresser on the edges of the chocolate and white daisy cardstock, and the sponge tool to sponge a little chocolate ink on the edges of the white cardstock. I added a photo hanger and a piece of chocolate grosgrain ribbon on the side, popped it up with some 3-D foam squares and was done with the card in less than 10 minutes. (Love those quick and easy ones!)

Saturday, February 9, 2008

Simple Beauty Card

Here is another cased card. Unfortunately I don't know who designed the original. (It was one of you talented ladies whose blog I visit daily.) I went back through all of the blogs saved in my favorites and can't seem to find it, so if it looks like your design, please let me know so that I can give you credit.

I changed a few things on my version, including the stamp sets and a few other things. I used CTMH's March stamp of the month, called Simple Beauty and Angel Whispers for the sentiment. As in my usual fashion these days, I added a bit of Prisma Glitter to some of the flower petals. One of the things I like about this card is that I used textured cardstock. I am getting hooked on it! I plan to order CTMH's special this month (144 sheets of textured cardstock for only $70. That's a steal!)

I am doing another card workshop next month and think I may include these two flower cards. I'm still working on more. I'll post the others when they are finished.

Cardstock: CTMH Textured Sweet Leaf, Cranberry, White Daisy Inks: CTMH Cranberry, Sweet Leaf, Black Other: Scallop Scissors, Prisma Glitter, Cranberry & Sweet Leaf Markers

Playful Petals Card

I cased this adorable card from Carolyn Hulin. It uses CTMH's Playful Petals stamp set along with the Happy Birthday set. I LOVE the ability to bend the acrylic stamps to form whatever shape I want. I also used 3-D Foam Squares to give the petals some dimension.

Cardstock: CTMH Hollyhock, Sweet Leaf, White Daisy Inks: CTMH Hollyhock, Sweet Leaf, Buttercup Other: Garden Green Brads, 3-D Foam Squares

Friday, February 8, 2008

Valentines Candy Holders


These are the Valentines that my son will be giving to his classmates next week. They are super easy to make. I just took a 7-3/4"x2-1/2" sheet of Cranberry Cardstock and scored it at 3-1/2" and 4-1/4". Then I stamped a tag from CTMH's Gift Tags stamp set on white cardstock. On one side I stamped a heart from CTMH's Season Thoughts stamp set, colored it in with a Cranberry marker and added some Prisma Glitter. (I seem to be adding glitter to everything lately.) Then I stamped the sentiment from CTMH's Random Thoughts. I had my son sign his name on the other side. (That was not an easy task! He got bored after doing two, so we had to spread it out over a few days.) Then I put some candy hearts in a little zip lock baggie and folded up the sides of the cardstock candy holder, punched a hole in the top, added some ribbon and we were finally done.

Cardstock: CTMH Cranberry, White Daisy Inks: CTMH Cranberry, Black Other: White Organdy Ribbon, Prisma Glitter, Plastic Zip Lock Baggie from Walmart

Valentine Heart Tin



This is a total case from Nichole Heady's Valentine Tin shown here. I thought it was a perfect gift for my son's teacher for Valentine's Day. This is his first year of preschool , so it is the first time I had to think about Valentine's for his classmates and teacher. (Nichole's version is MUCH nicer and cleaner, but ours will have to do for now.)

I used a cute heart tin from Papertrey and covered it with some retired CTMH B&T paper.

The inside used a template from Lisa Johnson's blog that fits perfectly. I used CTMH Cranberry cardstock as a base and stamped it with the Adorable Backgrounds stamp in Cranberry ink. Then I asked my son why he loves his teacher and after getting some pretty silly answers, I typed them up on my computer, printed them out and attached them to the cardstock. I hope his teacher will like it.

Cardstock
: CTMH Carnberry Inks: CTMH Cranberry Paper: CTMH Cranberry B&T (retired) Other: White Grosgrain Ribbon, Marvy Scallop Punch, Prisma Glitter, Papertrey Heart Tin

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Scatter Sunshine Acetate Card





I LOVED this card when I saw it on Nichole Heady's blog, so I had to case it using sets that I have. I used a ton of CTMH stamps sets to make it. Check out Nichole's version here. BTW, have you heard all of the great things that Papertrey is doing? If not, check out Nichole's blog to find out. Lots of fun stuff!

I stamped my images on white cardstock. Then cut a piece of overhead transparency to 11x4.25 and wrapped it around the card. I used clear glue dots in the corners on the back so you can't see the glue too much. Then I stamped an image and added some Prisma Glitter and a sweet leaf brad to the white strip on the front. I attached it to a 1.5x11 piece of blush cardstock and wrapped it around the inside of the acetate so you couldn't see the adhesive.

Pretty easy once you do one card. I love using acetate on my cards!

Cardstock: CTMH White Daisy, Blush Stamps: CTMH Solo 9, solo 4, solo H, solo G, solo C, April Word Puzzle Inks: CTMH Buttercup, blush, sweet leaf Other: Overhead Transparency from office supply store, Prisma Glitter, Brad from Cottage Edge Anchors, Glue Dots