I'm Back

It's been a long time, but I stopped by to say hello. We're moving, and I won't have a ton of time between now and next month to update here, but I'll start sharing tips and tricks again soon. Thank you for your messages and for checking in when you have. I appreciate it!

Two Challenge Tuesday # 4

Hello all, it's already that time of week! Two Challenge Tuesday. I've borrowed the sketch for this weeks challenge from Split Coast Stampers. You can find the post at the link below.

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/showthread.php?s=722bdb9060122d76fd95d03bba05459e&t=271904

We're going to combine the shape challenge with a color challenge. Here we go.

Here is the Sketch piece of the challenge (Thanks SplitCoastStampers!)

And here is the color piece of the challenge. I thought these were great colors given that summer seems to be quickly fading away. It's been cold here in Minnesota, so I'm trying to warm things up! :)

This is my really quick take on this sketch and color scheme (I literally made this card in 5 minutes). Time was not on my side to get this one done last night. SORRY!

Monday Already?

I can't believe that it is Monday already! I'm lookingforward to an extra day off work this week...I took Friday for a vacation day, and I'm hoping to get a lot done. I've been getting a lot of things started, but not a lot completed. I have to finish my card exchange item for Stamper's 12 on Thursday. I'm hosting, and the theme is Halloween or Fall. I'm making little Halloween treat holders. I'll be sure to post a photo when completed. I'm getting ready to list a family layout and we'll see how it does on eBay. Here is a picture.

Thrift Thursday---Recycle

Sorry all, I'm a day late getting this posted. I've been feeling a little under the weather this week and work has been insane, so I've not had time to play as I'd like to in my room. This week our Thrify Thursday (okay Friday) will be about how to scrap what you may have around the house without realizing it... I've shared with you how to make albums from lunch bags, but we stop there? Lets think differently...I'm not sure about all of you, but I'm constantly looking for new things to scrap. I LOVE chipboard and you can find it sooooooooooooooooo many places. I've used envelopes to create a pocket hold for stationery. I'm working on a project (ok I have been since January) that uses 6x9" envelopes to create a monthly card sorter. On the front side is the month and the back side is lined paper for you to keep track of who to send a card to for what reason that month...March 3 anniversary, April 27 Birthday, etc... I'll show you when mine is completed. I want to have it finished this weekend. I got hung up no August. See how easily distracted I am?? Where was I? Yes, what other things around the house can you scrap? How about coffee can? Make season centerpieces from them that hold napkins, silverware, flowers...


My friend Kristi over at ourscrapbookmemories.blogspot.com made a mini album out of paper towel/toilet paper rolls. How cute? Here is Kristi's. Click the link below the picture to get to her blog and find out more!


















http://ourscrapbookmemories.blogspot.com/2009_04_01_archive.html


The possibilties are endless!

• coffee filters


• coffee can


• envelopes


• paper bags


• chipboard


• toilet paper/paper towel rolls


• canning jars (decorate the tops and use to sort your embellishments)


• shoe boxes (make ribbon holders)

I'll post come photos of my envelope card organizer when I'm finished with it as well as whatever else I'm able to come up with over the weekend. Please send me your ideas for thinking outside the box and reduce, reuses, recycle in your scrapping!

Two Challenge Tuesday # 3

Hello everyone! It's that time again. Time to see what I've come up with for the Two Challenge Tuesday... This week the challenges will be a mix and match. You can choose two of the following 4 suggestions. I've used all 4 in my sample (I felt like being an over achiever for once :0)--that was my attempt at humor and if you needed to read this line to get that I failed miserably!)

1. Two-Step or Mask Stamping: In sample this is the rose and the sentiment stamped on top of each other.

2. Texture: I embossed the background blue and pierced the edge of the white layer with the rose

3. Use of supplied sketch: My interpretation of the sketch

4. Color challenge: Use black and white

Show me what you've come up with the challenge this week...are you an over achiever too?

Show Me Saturday

Hello All!

Given the economy many of us understand the trend for giving handmade items as gifts. I personally have always been a fan of making gifts for people because of the personal connection. I spend hours and lots of care and attention to make whatever item I choose to give. It's from my heart.

There are many paper crafts that you can make and give, but it can sometimes be overwhelming to know where to start. Today we'll focus on a paper bag album. Lunch bags turned beautiful. I love giving paper back albums because the base of the book is inexpensive, but I can turn it into a irreplaceable keep sake.

Here are the instructions that I use. This site also has other mini album ideas and instructions. Check out the calendar!

http://www.scrapbook-crazy.com/paper-bag-album-instructions.html#a1

Here are some samples of paper bag albums. This one as you can see was title, "A Mother's Love" and was donated to a charity auction.

Front Cover

One of the pages--this one actually lifts up for photo or journal spot

The removable tags--tucked into the pockets

Side view

Show my what your albums look like! I'd love to see what you create!

Thrifty Thursday--Distress for Less

Today I'm going to share a tip that I use to try and save money in my paper crafting addiction. I try not to buy specialized items that are only for one purpose, but I love the looks of some of the products and tools so I try to balance getting the look without spending the money. I'm going to share a Thrifty tip with you and I hope that you'll do the same! I love to make my dollar stretch so please share your money saving tips here too.

I love the look of distressing, but I don't want to buy more specialized products for one technique...My solution? Use what I have in unique ways. I have MANY pairs of scissors, and they each get used for something else: I have one pair for ribbon, one for paper, one for adhesive, and one for paper distressing. The one I use for paper distressing is a fairly small pair, the whole scissors is about 6 inches long and the blades are about 3 inches long. I open the scissors completely and hold the paper tight in my left hand while I scrape the scissors along the paper with my right hand. This gives a wonderfully distressed look. Rather than buying expensive distressing inks, I usually use brown chalk. The key to chalk is to seal it so that it doesn't smear and wipe off. I use a VERY LIGHT layer of hair spray to set the chalks. Here is a sample of both techniques on a card I made quite a few months ago.

Two Challenge Tuesday #2

Here is your second challenge. This time I'm not giving you a sketch or a color scheme. Your challenge is to us watercolors, and use a unique shape. Here is my card. The image was water colored with water color pencils and then distressed and I used some Rangers Stickles to add some pizzaz. The unique shape is that this particular card is a gift card holder.

eBay-SMIC August Challenge

So my talented friends at SMIC, the design group on eBay, have an August challenge. We were all challenged to create a school layout using yellow or something in three's. As you can see from the pictures below, I've chosen a lot of yellow!

I'm actually really happy with the way these pages came out, but I wish the camera would have cooperated a little more. The pictures don't do the colors justice. I did lots of special details on these. The bus took me almost 3 hours to make! I hand drew it, sanded, chalked, and assembled. I also made is a secert journal/photo holder. If you lift the tires you'll find another space for memories.

Make sure to search my listings on eBay to be able to purchase this layout, and make sure to search SMIC for all the other creative productions of my talented friends!

Two pages together

Page One

Page Two

Backpack Bear

School Bus

Two Challenge Tuesday #1--Color and Sketch Results

Here is my card for this callenge. I used Stampin Up, Penny Black, and Cuttlebug product to create this card. Let me see what you come up with!

Two Challege Tuesday's

This idea came to me last night and I got REALLY excited. I'll post a dual challenge on Tuesday's with my sample for that challenge and then each of you can share your take on the challenge. For example, it may be a color and sketch challege, or a technique and product challenge. My mind is swimming with possibilities and I'm excited to hear what you think!

Memorial Day Weekend

Well all, as usual, my everyday life has taken over my time. I got back from Tennessee, and head right for a wonderful retreat. Now I've been back to "real" life since last Tuesday, and the chaos has jumped into full swing!

Yesterday we planted some fruit and veggie plants to grow in pots on our patio. We'll see how they do and if it was worth the work and expense to grow our own :)

I'm working on the MAY Challenge for my eBay scrapbook group SMIC. Out theme this month is "Memories" or "in Memory of"... I need to get my items made and listed so that they end by 5/31. Does anyone have a suggestion for a theme for our June challenge?

I apologize that I haven't put pictures in the last two posts. I'll work on that for the next one!

Decisions, Decisions...

Well, my evening was certainly eventful. I'm preparing to leave town to Tennessee, and I needed to get my cards completed for a card swap that will happen while I'm gone. The theme was Masculine for this month. I struggled with what stamps, papers, colors...alright, I struggled with the whole thing :)

I ended up using the Lovely As a Tree Stamp set from Stampin Up, and I chose the oak tree. I chose the color Night of Navy for the base, Mellow Moss, Brocade Blue, and Whisper White for the card stock layers and two pattern papers by Chatterbox. Below are the instructions for the card.

• 
  
  Cut the Night of Navy card stock to 3.5 x 8.5 and score at 4.25 (this is the base for the card).


• 
  
  Stamp the image onto a 2.5 x 2.5 piece of Whisper White card stock and tear the top of the paper all the way across


• 
  
  Layer with a piece of Mellow Moss car stock cut to 2.75 x 2.75


• 
  
  Layer with a piece of Brocade Blue card stock cut to 3 x 3


• 
  
  Fasten Snap or brad in the left top corner of the layered image


• 
  
  Adhere layers of pattern paper overlapping to leave a .25 border around the edge of the front of the card.


• 
  
  Adhere stamped layers with pop dots to the right side of the card front


• 
  
  Cut and adhere a 3.25 x 4 piece of Whisper White card stock for the inside of the card

I didn't get a picture of the finished card, and I apologize. If someone follows the directions, please send me a picture of your finished card.

I know, not an elaborate card, but it was 9:30 pm when I started them and I have a ton of things to finish up before we leave. I'll make it up to the ladies next month! That's all I've got for you today. My next post will most likely be once we return from Tennessee. Thanks for stopping by!

Warmer Weather and Sunny Days

Well the weather is certainly warming up nicely in Minnesota. Spring is my favorite time of year (for every reason except allergies! ). I love to see the new growth, budding trees, greass turning green, flowers starting to grow, the birds singing and building their nests. It's all a beautiful reminder of the gifts we receive daily.

I've been playing in my room the last few weeks, but I've been really focused on cards and stamping. I only have one scrapbook related item to share with you, and that is a page border. I still love cardstock bears, so of course they made an appearance! Take a peek and let me know your thoughts!

This can be a border set for one page or a double page layout. The title is "Bathing Beauty" Aren't they cute??? I used my Cricut to cut the tub, bubbles, and the ducky. I embellished each with chalk and the bubbles with glitter. I have to also admit that I'm completely addicted to the border punches out there right now. I have a variety of them made by different companies, and I love them all! I love the finishing look it gives the items. Below are close ups of my little bears.

CARDS

I use Stampin Up cardstock in all my cardmaking because it is such a sturdy product and all their papers, ribbons, embellishments, etc. coordinate so nicely together. I use mostly Stampin Up stamp sets as well. I also LOVE Penny Black's hedgehog or Hedgie, as he's lovingly referred to, sets. I just recently added 4 of her sets to my stamp collection. They are nice as they store easily since they are clear acrylic. I still love my Stampin Up ones, but they take much more space to store...Maybe I just need a bigger room. Somehow I don't think suggesting that our master bedroom be converted into my craft room will go over very well with hubby. That was all in jest. I feel incredibly blessed to have the crafting space and supplies that I do. I think I've mentioned to you all before, the reason I sell items on eBay is to feed the habit! Anyway, below are some of the cards I made last week. I tried some new things. 1.) color combinations like pink and orange 2.) decorating the insides of the cards for a more finished product and 3.) square shaped instead of all 4 1/4 x 5 1/2"

Take a peek below and let me know your thoughts.

Well, that's some of the cards for now. The Father's Day card was inspired by a scrapping friend who lost her father right before Easter. My thoughts and prayers are with her and her family. Her tragic loss reminded me of my dear father who has been gone for so long now. I was 14 when he passed away, and that was 20 years ago this coming October, but the poem on the inside of this card reminds me of my dad. It reads, "A father is neither an anchor to hold us back, nor a sail to take us there, but a guiding light whose love shows us the way." I love you dad!

Well, I'll be back later.

March is Here!

It's so hard to believe that it's already March. The weather here in Da Nort (the North for those of you that don't speak Minnesotan) is finally starting to feel like Spring. With Spring comes Easter. We're less than a month away from celebrating Easter already. Below are some of my Easter creations. Let me know what you think.

February Already

Where is the time going? It's already February. Here are some of my latest pieces. I've really been on a card kick lately. I love the look of distressing, inking, tearing the paper, chalking etc. I like the rustic look of it, especially for the masculine cards.

Love Beyond Measure page borders

Love You Paper Bag Album


Floral card

Thinking of You card

Masculine Happy Birthday Card

Another Masculine Happy Birthday Card

Baby Girl Onesie Card

Baby Boy Onesie Card

Baby Boy Card

Baby Girl Card

Girl Birthday Card

Boy Birthday Card

To Someone Special Card

Days Gone By Paper Bag Album