Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Project PageMaps 15

Happy Wednesday!!

I am back today with another layout for my Project PageMaps. This time I used the 15th sketch found on page 35. It's a 2-photo 8 1/2 x 11 layout. I turned it into a 1-photo 12x12 layout.....shocker huh?


I realized after taking this photo that I didn't complete the date..LOL
I fixed it, the date is now complete. This is the first time that I have used a floral paper for my son. I'm not sure how he will feel about it, but I really like how this turned out. The papers are from the My Mind's Eye Stella and Rose collection. It is full of great patterns and colors for both boys and girls!

Next week I will work with the 17th sketch found on page 40 since I have already used #16.

I hope you are having a fabulous day!!

Monday, April 25, 2011

The Kraft Journal - May Day

Monday brings us the beginning of a brand new week and a new challenge at The Kraft Journal. This week the challenge theme is May Day. Now, I had to google May Day to read some information about the holiday. All I could come up with was the May Pole and I couldn't figure out what to make. I actually learned a lot about the history of the holiday and was really quite surprised. One of the websites I visited said this, 

"One of the most popularly known May Day traditions is to hang a basket full of spring flowers and/or other small gifts on a neighbor's doorknob. The trick is you don't want the neighbor to see you! If you get caught, you are supposed to get a kiss."

That's where I got the idea to make a mini basket! This basket is made out of a toilet paper roll cut in half, yes it's very small. I weaved Lunch Bag Kraft Cardstock strips that had been inked with Vintage Photo Distress Ink onto the roll to make the basket. I then attached another strip of the cardstock with some pink brads for the handle. 



Here is another angle of the little basket so that you can see more of the weave and the little brad. I layered some paper flowers and felt leaves that I had laying around in my stash to fill up the basket. 


I chose the "For You" sentiment from Stampin Up (because it was one of the only stamps I had that would fit..LOL) to put on a Round Metal Edge Grungy Prim Tag. I attached it with a pop dot to finish the little basket off. This was used for my daughter's Easter Basket. We don't do large baskets anymore because the kids are older, don't need candy and only really want money anyway. I  just put the money is a small coin envelope and placed it inside the basket.

Please visit us over at The Kraft Journal and see what our other designers came up with for May Day!


Kraft Outlet Supplies:

#926 Round Metal Edge Grungy Prim Tag
#202 Lunch Bag Kraft Cardstock

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Practical Scrappers and Project PageMaps

(this is my 2nd post for today, scroll down if you are looking for my Kraft Journal tutorial)




I've got a 2 for 1 post for you today. I combined my project for Practical Scrappers with my Project PageMaps. I had to skip the 13th sketch, it just wasn't working for what I had in mind. I used the 14th sketch found on page 33. It's a 3-photo 12x12 sketch but, as usual, I modified it a bit ;)



It's all about "Little Girls" today at Practical Scrappers. I couldn't resist combining these super cute papers from the My Mind's Eye Fine & Dandy collection with the even more cute photo of my daughter back when she was 18 mos old. It seems like yesterday but that photo is about 18 yrs old!!

Here is a look at us yesterday,


Okay, back to the layout.....
I used some of the trim and brads that go along with this collection and added a few flowers that I made out of tissue paper and a scallop circle punch.

Be sure to head on over to Practical Scrappers and see what the other designers came up with for "Little Girls".

The Kraft Journal - Paper Tape Flower Tutorial


Thank you for joining me for my tutorial this week at The Kraft Journal. This week we have a fun challenge going on. The challenge  theme for this week is  Easter Use this week's theme to inspire you to create a project and then link it up at The Kraft Journal before 6:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on Sunday April 24, 2011.  All participants in the challenges for the month of April have a chance to be featured on the "Feature You Fridays" posts as well as be entered to win a $15.00 Kraft Outlet Store Voucher!  The more challenges you enter this month, the more chances you have to win! 



Monday, April 18, 2011

My Computer is Sick :(

My computer is sick and going to the doctor today. Hopefully it will be all better by the end of the day or tomorrow. I will be back on Wednesday with a post for The Kraft Journal, Practical Scrappers and my Project PageMaps for this week.

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!!

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Practical Scrappers


I am happy to tell you that I have been invited to be a member of the Practical Scrappers Design Team! This is a great place to visit and I have submitted quite a few of my layouts there for their digital publication. If you have never visited Practical Scrappers, NOW is the time...there is a giveaway going on!!
Just click on the banner and it will take you there, today is day 2 of the giveaway so don't wait too long!!

You will see some projects from me in about a week, be sure to come visit me and see what I can come up with.

Have a fabulous day!!

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Project PageMaps 1-12

It's Wednesday again...already.....wasn't it just Wednesday a day or so ago? Time just seems to fly faster and faster!! Someone or something knows that my 40th birthday is around the corner and is pushing me closer and closer to it!! Well, I don't mind turning 40 very much anymore because I am getting a fabulous birthday present. Yesterday my husband gave me a few surprises!! It was our 10 yr wedding anniversary and he surprised me with not going to work last night and a meal at my favorite mexican joint and a ride on the Harley. That right there made for an amazing day!! But, to top it off, he asked me what I wanted for my birthday. I told him that I wanted Beth to come for my birthday party. Guess what...he is making it happen!! Beth will be here for my 40th birthday...seems only fitting since I was just out there for her 50th. I am beyond excited!!

You probably came here to see a layout using the 12th sketch from PageMaps, found on page 31....okay okay, I'll stop blabbing and get on with it. This sketch was a 8-photo 12x12 double layout. Of course I had to modify it....I'm not sure if my layout even resembles the sketch anymore...but trust me...it is based on the sketch...just loosely!



I used some of my new paper from Echo Park - Springtime Collection. I had a few arguments with my sewing machine on this one, hence the crooked stuff at the top of the page. It's okay....just adds character! (at least, that's my story and I'm stickin to it!) I just had to add a bow on my Ziva's ear to make her look like the princess that she is. I am so in love with her..she truly is my sunshine, unless it's 5am and she thinks she is starving and has to have breakfast RIGHT NOW!! 

Well, that's it for me today. I've got some projects to get working on and hopefully get ahead on some things. I also have an announcement to make...but I'll share that with you later this week. 

Have a great day!!

Monday, April 11, 2011

Kraft Journal - Bunnies, Baskets or Babies

We have a fantastic challenge this week at The Kraft Journal! Bunnies, Baskets or Babies...tell me you can't think of something to create with a topic like that! I really tried to get a picture of Will , "baby", making a "basket" with a "bunny"...but that darn bunny just wouldn't hold still!! (I am totally kidding, but that would have been pretty funny) Instead I chose to focus on just the Baby part of the challenge and do a layout featuring the always handsome and adorable William.




I created this bright and cheerful layout with some fabulous products from Kraft Outlet. I used Red Baker's Twine for several bows and ties as well as some hand stitching. White Twill Tying Tape gives a great accent at the bottom of the photo. The Vintage Style Tickets give a great little bit of whimsey. A White Library Card makes a great base for little Will's name that is spelled out using the Bottle Cap Alphabet set. All of the DP, card stock and buttons are from Stampin Up. I even used a little Glossy Accents to highlight the little heart on the tag and the words on the tickets.

I hope that you will join us in the fun at The Kraft Journal this week!!

(this layout is based on a sketch from PageMaps2)

Friday, April 8, 2011

Project PageMaps 1-11

Better Late than Never!!

I really meant to have this posted on Wednesday but it's been surgery week at our house, well for the dogs. Ziva had oral surgery on Wednesday and little Piper is having orthopedic surgery as I type this, I'm just waiting for the call so that I can go hold her while she comes out of anesthesia. Poor baby, I feel so bad for her. She will be confined to a kennel pretty much 24/7 for at least a week and will have VERY limited movement for about 10 weeks total. I'm not looking forward to it, she is such an energetic little girl. I'm sure she will be pouting quite a bit!

On to the layout for this week. I am on the 11th sketch found on page 29 of the 1st book. It is a pretty simple 4 -photo 12x12 sketch. I wasn't sure how I was going to like the result...but I love it!!


Okay...let me start by saying....Can you believe I get paid to snuggle with that adorable little boy 4 days a week!?! Oh my goodness, he is just the cutest little thing!!

I dug out some older Stampin Up paper, Sweet Pea, and really liked the blue, orange, brown and yellow combo in it and thought it would be perfect for a little boy layout. I finished it off with some SU buttons, chipboard letters inked up with Distress Inks and some sewing machine action.

I hope you all have a fabulous weekend! I will be back on Monday with another layout of little Will for the new challenge at The Kraft Journal.

Monday, April 4, 2011

Kraft Journal - Spring Cleaning

Wow, it's Monday again and time for another challenge at The Kraft Journal! It's all about Spring Cleaning this week. When I first saw the theme I wasn't really sure what I was going to create. I mean, I don't really have any pictures of myself cleaning...so a layout was out of the question. I did find some pictures my husband had taken of me working out...but they are ridiculous and I didn't really see how those would apply to a Spring Cleaning theme. When I went up into my craft room to create "something" I found a big mess...uummmm why did I leave my room this way...I have no idea, lazy moment. As I was cleaning it up I found several items that appealed to me and I figured I would make a card with items I came across while cleaning up my room. Here is what I came up with;



This card is so cute in person, I just love it!! I used some newer things from the Kraft Outlet and I used some really old things that I had laying around. It's kinda fun cleaning up, almost like finding hidden treasures that you forgot you had!

Why don't you join me and the gang over at The Kraft Journal and play along this week! You can find all of the challenge details right HERE.

Kraft Outlet Supplies Used:
#128 Brown Kraft Note Cards
#939 Glassine Bags
#997 Victoria Seam Binding
#76 Grungy Prim Tag

Other Supplies Used:
Die Cuts - (K&CO)
Stamp - Vintage Labels (Stampin Up)
Ink - Jet Black StazOn (Tsukineko), Tattered Rose Distress Ink (Ranger)
Other - Swiss Dots Cuttlebug embossing folder (Provo Craft), Slot Punch (Stampin Up)

Friday, April 1, 2011

Papercraft Star Challenge 39

It's a Recipe Challenge at Papercraft Star this week;


Challenge 39 - Simon Says Create A Card

Create a Card Using the Following Recipe:
Base 5 x 7
Mat: 3 x 4.5
Add Rhinestones
Add Flourish
Add Whatever Else You Desire
I created this card using some of my yummy Stampin Up products! I just love the quality of their paper and stamps. I have every ingredient the recipe calls for plus I added a bow, another mat, the bird and a sentiment. This is a different look for me and I'm please with how it turned out. It's always fun to change things up a bit!
I hope you will join us this week at Papercraft Star, you have until 9pm (Eastern) Sunday, April 3rd to get your project linked up.