Scrap Whispers Reveal

I took part in a Scrap Whispers challenge in October. The reveals are happening, so I can now share what I did. It was a fun challenge for me and it pushed me to really think about what I was doing. You are sent a photo of a layout and then you "scraplift" it in your own style and then pass your photo on to the next person. Fun!! I was on Team 1 (don't know who won yet).

Here is what I did:


I don't think I will do this next round since December is a busy month, but I will definitely try it again sometime.

Today I made my first Christmas card!!! Look for photos soon :)

Finally - some crafting time!

I have been so busy with a son returning from a mission, school, 5 other kids, etc., etc., that I haven't had much time for playing with paper. Yesterday I got the chance to go and work on projects that I missed at the "Got Ink Girlz" Stamp Camp and they are so stinkin' cute I had to share:


There were 12 projects and each one was so cute. The girls were so nice to those of us who just purchased kits - they cut out and stamped EVERYTHING - all we had to do was put them together. It was fun to go to Mary Lynn's house and visit, assemble and enjoy!

Here are some individual photos:

I love them all! The little bird card makes me giggle, the spider full of m&m's is adorable and the Build-a-Bear tin with the magnet dress ups inside is so dang cute! As you can see, they are a talented bunch of stampers! It was nice to be able to refill my stash a bit.

Thanks Mary Lynn and all of the "girls" for such cute projects!!!!

Crafting Crossover

I love my hobby! I have been in love with paper and stickers for, well, FOREVER! When I stumbled upon the scrapbooking/paper crafting hobby, my life became perfect (well - from a hobby standpoint anyway).

As I have acquired more and more "stuff", I have found that when I can use it for more than just a card or scrapbook page I'm very happy.

Case in point: My Cricut. At first I said I would never want one (too expensive, too bulky, etc. etc.). When I finally caved in and got one I thought I would use it occasionally. Now that I have had it for awhile I find I use it for many things. It's great for crafting scrapbook pages and cards, but I have also made home decor, gifts, helped my nephew with a school project and helped my own kiddos with projects too. It really helps justify the cost (are you listening Stan? tee hee)

This month my Cricut "project" was some posters for Marcus. We are having "mom and Marcus school" three days a week. He really wanted to go to school like the big kids.

Here he is on our first day of school with his posters (he loves them and so do I). They were quick and easy.................thanks to papercrafting.



I love crafting crossovers!!! (and I love that cute kid in the photos too)

UGGS!!

This post has nothing to do with cards or cakes. It's all about Boots!

I love boots! It really is too bad that I live in the desert and only have a short window of time to wear them. While school shopping at the mall this week, I made my kids stop and look at every boot display I saw. Short ones, tall ones, leather and suede! I also think UGGs are totally cute. If you love them too head over here for a chance to win a pair. (and you can even get that cute little button I have added to the sidebar).

Cupcakes!

I had my first "jumbo" cupcake experience this month. I was asked to make 3 dozen for a bridal shower. The cute bride (who was one of my Mia Maids from church - 13 years ago!) loves cupcakes. She is getting married in a tropical paradise so they wanted hot colors.

I decided to try and fill the cupcakes since they are so huge. It worked! I made Chocolate with Chocolate mousse filling, iced with chocolate butter cream *YUM*, Vanilla with strawberries and cream filling, iced with whipped cream icing, and Pina Colada cupcakes (a family recipe that has coconut, pineapple and pecans in it), no filling in this one, iced with coconut cream whipped icing.

I spent a couple of days making accents for each one too. I used fondant to make flowers, leaves and strawberries. The funnest part was embossing the fondant. I decided to try and use my Cuttlebug embossing folders (one craft spilling over into another), and it worked. I put the fondant in the folder and just rolled over it with my rolling pin. Too cute!!

All in all, I was pleased with the way they turned out.


At the shower, we displayed them on my 3 tier stand.


And here is the cute bride to be - totally thrilled that she had cupcakes at her shower.


The only thing that didn't go as I thought it would was which cupcake was most popular. I really thought the chocolate would go first, but actually everyone went ga-ga for the Pina Colada - go figure!

It was a fun project and now I feel confident doing them again.

Get the creative juices flowing.......

I love to blog hop! It's fun to look at other crafter's work and admire their creativity, plus, it often gets my ideas flowing (especially when I'm stuck in a creative rut). While I was looking around the internet the other day I came across a Design Team call for Die Cuts R Us. They sell the things I love.........paper and cutting tools! I love my Cricut and Cuttlebug and love how they help me "scrap on a budget" - who doesn't need some extra pennies these days.

Anyway, I decided that it would be fun to submit my projects and see what happens. Here is what I sent:


Just Because Card: Cardstock (Stampin' Up), Pattern Paper (Making Memories), Ribbon (Club Wed - Target), Cricut Cartridge (Don Juan), Gem (source unknown).


Christmas Joy Card: Cardstock and Ribbon(Stampin' Up), Pattern Paper (SEI), Cuttlebug Embossing Folders (Swirl and Swiss Dot), Star Template (Coluzzle), Ink (Stampin' Up) Button and Twine (source unknown).



Birthday Celebration 12x12 page: Pattern Paper (Cosmo Cricket - Cogsmo line), Cardstock and Ribbon (Stampin' Up), Cricut Cartridge (Celebrations)

Thanks for looking!

Learning to Love Photoshop

I have had a love/hate relationship with Photoshop. I know most people LOVE it, but I felt like an idiot when I couldn't learn how to use it.

Well, my opinion is starting to change. I am taking a free online class at JessicaSprague.com called "Photo Editing: Frame-ups and Special Effects". What a fun class! It is covering what I always wanted to learn in Photoshop and I think I'm actually "getting it". Today we learned how to put type on the photo..................something I think is so much fun. Here is what I did:




This was Elder Jennings' first major snow storm in Iowa. Love the photo and now I love it more with the added texture, frame and text! I can't wait to print this one out! Thanks for looking :)

God Bless America!

I usually post all of our family pictures on our family blog, but this one was too cute to resist!
Happy 4th of July!!

One more post today :)

Just finished this baby cake for a shower tonight. It's a double shower for two cute ladies in our ward. One is having a boy and the other just had a girl. I got to do the girl cake (hope that's obvious).

Here is a close up view of the top. My daughter (I guess I should say my apprentice - she has decided she wants to learn how to decorate cakes) helped make the fondant bow and she punched out all of the cute fondant flowers. Hope the new mom likes it!

June Fun

I have actually found a few minutes since school got out to sit at my desk and play with paper! Here's what I've been up to:

Still working on my oldest son's scrapbook. This photo was from July 4, 2002. All the kids put red, white, and blue gel in their hair (well, all but the oldest - he was too mature for that - ha ha). I had fun making a little backdrop and shooting photos.

I totally cased this layout from my talented friend Susan. She did a great 12x12 of her son and I adapted it for 8 1/2 x 11.

Supplies: Cricut cartridges (Accents & Elements and Don Juan), Cardstock (Stampin'Up), Ink (Stampin' Up), Ribbon (Michael's), Pattern Paper (old scraps)

Also made Father's Day Cards:

Supplies: Cards (DCWV), Stamps, Ink and Ribbon (Stampin' Up), Cricut Cartridge (Opposites Attract)

This project was my favorite so far this month. I had a friend having a birthday and made this little goodie bag for her:

It was so fun to make and embellish and was just the right size for some girly things: lotion, lip gloss, a room diffuser and some chocolate!
Supplies: Pattern Paper, Ink, Die Cuts & Ribbon (Stampin' Up), Stamp (Autumn Leaves), Fiber (source unknown)

Last but not least, I had fun making this Masquerade Birthday cake for a client last week. We went to High School together and recently got back in touch (got to love FaceBook). Her daughter was turning 13 and wanted a masquerade theme. She told me the colors her daughter wanted and let me have fun! I think it turned out pretty cute :)

Birthdays and Chores (summer must be here!)

Since today is the last day of school and since there are 4 birthdays and a wedding in the next two weeks, AND since I am a wonderful mother (tee hee), I let the kids come home and just do nothing today. I spent a few hours in my craft space making cards and a special present for the kids.

These two are for my Sis in law and my brother who share the same birthday:

Supplies: Wild Asparagus paper, Cardstock (stampin up), jewels and Fiber(unknown), embossing strip (Cuttlebug), Stamp (Autumn Leaves), Ink (Stampin Up)



Supplies: Cardstock (stampin up), P Paper (Wild Asparagus), Cricut (Celebrations and All Mixed Up), Ink (Stampin Up)

A the special gift for my adorable children:

A brand new shiny chore chart! I'm trying to avoid confusion, whining and losing my sanity this summer. Everyone has 2 daily chores and 1 weekly chore and they will rotate weekly. I even included my toddler. Once their daily circles are moved to the complete row then they can go play, use the Wii etc.

Just a close up of the side:

Supplies: Simply Scrappin Kit (Creative License, Stampin Up) Ribbon (stampin Up) Cricut(Opposites Attract and All Mixed Up Cartridges).

Happy Summer - let the work begin :) Hopefully I can get the other birthday card and Wedding card finished tomorrow.

Fun week!

This week I got to enjoy some creative time, finally! I figured I'd better enjoy it while I can since school is almost out and everyone will be home all day................................I think I feel a new chore chart coming on :)

Anyway, my son will be 16 in a week and is going to have some friends over for a party. That gave me the perfect excuse to pull out the Cricut and make some invites:

This paper from DCWV was the perfect "teen" look I was going for. The back side could be cut into four equal pieces. After cutting them apart I folded and glued them shut to make a little "envelope". The details for the party are on the inside slider piece. The words on the front were cut with the Cricut. It sure made putting together easy.


Supplies: DCWV Rucksack paper, circle punch, cardstock (Stampin Up), Brown ribbon (Stampin Up), Cricut cartridge (Celebrations)


Our youngest turned 3 today so I also made this:

He loves yellow and Curious George!!
Also did an Anniversary cake for a client:

I used a new brand of fondant called Satin Ice............LOVE IT!!! It worked like a dream.

The Scrap Review

There is a great new site that I have really started loving. It's called The Scrap Review (TSR). They review scrapbook produects - without bias! It's great to be able to read the pros and cons of new products and get information that really helps.

Check it out - you'll love it too. (Plus they are having a huge prize raffle coming up so it's worth a look)

New collections

Pebbles Inc. has some new papers coming out soon (not soon enough for me though!).

Here is a little sneak peek:

I can see that I will "need" this one for my toddler's album - it looks very cute and toddler-ish!

And this one:

The possibilities are endless!!!! Guess I'd better start searching for change in the couch cushions :)

Color Inspiration...............

I had fun making my niece's birthday card this week - thanks to Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration. The colors were so playful, which was a perfect match for my cute little niece's personality. Here are the colors:


Here is my card:


I started with a long card that was white. I added the brown cardstock and then made my own "background" paper to match the colors. I used a set from Stampin' Up that has been retired for quite a while but I still love its playful nature. It just seemed to go with the feeling I wanted to create. I cut the letters with my Cricut. I'm going to post my efforts on her blog too. I usually don't do that part but I'm pretty happy with my card. She is giving away prizes this time and after looking at some of the submissions I don't expect to win - but I am thankful for the creative "boost" from the challenge!

Supplies: Brown cardstock (source unknown - came with a kit from Wal-Mart), White, red, yellow and turquoise cardstock and matching inks (Stampin'Up), Stamps: Simply Circles (Stampin'Up), Cricut "Don Juan" cartridge.

April Card Class

Yesterday I made two cards from one of the sketches in my online card class. They were quick and easy and turned out cute!





Supplies: Pattern paper - American Crafts; Cardstock - Stampin up (Kraft and Always Artichoke); Ink - Stampin Up (Chocolate Chip and Ruby Red); Stamps - Hampton Arts (from the $1 bin at Michaels)

Re-stocking the "stash"

My card supply is so pathetically low! My mom came over last week to "play" and after I stamped 50 lunch sacks for the Primary Activity - I decided to make a few cards.

I made two of each of these. Same sketch - different supplies.

Happy New Baby

Swiss dots embossing folder (Cuttlebug), Stamps (Stampin'Up), ribbon and button brads(Making Memories). The card base is from a
box of textured cards from DCWV.

Here is the same card sketch - just different colors etc.

Embossing folder - sorry forgot the name (Cuttlebug), Stamps (Stampin' Up), ribbon (American Crafts), brads (unknown source - they came in a kit).

It was fun to make cards and rebuild the supply. I have been so focused on Austin's scrapbook that making cards has taken a back seat. I think I'll go make some more!!

Easter is here (already??)

It finally dawned on me (today), that Easter is THIS Sunday. I thought I'd better get some cards in the mail to the out of town relatives, so I hit the craft room. How is it that I have been scrapping/card making for 10 + years and do not have an Easter stamp set? I did see a really cute one online that I am totally wanting (it's called Jelly Beans by My Cute Stamps and the bunny is so adorable), but there is no way it would be here in time, so I took out my Cuttlebug and Cricut and made some eggs and grass. It's a simple card, but it was made with love.



Also, this week, I made a thank you for my daughter's science teacher. She did an amazing act of kindness for 4 kids at the school and I thought this quote summed it all up quite well. I used my Summer Picnic paper from SU and the Tart and tangy stamp set. I hope she likes it.


Just one more happy thought for today. There's nothing better than seeing a boy and his dog!!

Some of my "stuff"

Since I'm going to concentrate on cards and layouts on this blog now, I thought I would post a collage of some of my recent "stuff".
There are a couple of Valentines, Some Thank yous and, of course, an Easter card. The back to school layout is one I did for Austin's scrapbook. I'm trying to get it all caught up before he gets home from his mission in October. I think I'm almost to his High School years! (I think I can, I think I can!!!)


Thanks for stopping by to look ;)