Sassy Lil' Sketch

Here is the February 21 sketch from Sassy 'Lil Sketches.  Since Sketches in Thyme has an open contest, I am using it for that, too.  I used it to create a page about the 4th of July....can you tell from the color combo?!  I think this is one of the first pages I've scrapped of this holiday - maybe ever!

So here is what I did with the page - it was mostly pics of my daughter playing at the July 4th celebration we have every year at our church. 

I used some red glimmer paper to create some shiny stars.  I also found some really neat blue star trim to add a layer to my page.  I staggered my scalloped edges of Night of Navy paper using a technique I saw recently in Tips & Techniques magazine.  The title letters come from a Making Memories letter set.  The other embellishments are from Jolee's.  They just screamed out to me to make a patriotic type of banner going across the page!  Here's the closeup:

Paper:  Whisper White, Night of Navy, Playdate DSP, Tempting Turquoise DSP

Accessories:  Scallop border punch, Stars #2 die cut, red glimmer paper (All SU), Red glitter letters, star trim (Making Memories), Star and banner embellishments (Jolee's Boutique)

Pixie Dust Giveaway

Is it okay to fall in love with a kit called "Fall in Love?"  If it is, then I am in love with this darling scrappy kit from Pixie Dust Paperie!   Now, don't let the picture fool you - it is just a sneak peek.  The kit looks really absolutely fabulous!  And the best part is.....you can win this great kit! Just hop over to The Pixie Dust Paperie Blog and become a follower for your chance to win!

The Scrappiest #108

I found another sketch at The Scrappiest to scrap.  I decided to scrap these pics of our Valentine's Day from this year.  I made these using the Love Birds digital kit for MDS.  I loved the little owls as well as the digi sticker that says, "I love my Family."  That just says it all for me!  It may not seem like much to you, but I was pretty happy with a heart shaped pizza from my favorite pizza place in the world, Donato's, for Valentine's Day!  I love my little family!

Scallop circle card

I have to say....after winning a few images from them, I just LOVE Sassy Studio Designs!  Who knew that starting this whole blogging thing would open up my eyes to all of these different types of scrappy goodness?  I never even knew there was a whole world of digital stamps or even Copic markers, for that matter!  

Sassy Studio Designs is having a challenge to make cards of different shapes.  So, for this card I decided to make a card for my husband.  Isn't he cute?

 

I know....it's a little girly, but I wanted to make it, so he can like it or else!!! Hee hee!  Actually, when he saw it, he said, wow, that's really intricate!  Then when I told him it was for him, he wanted to know if I thought he was girly!  Of course not.  He just gets whatever I'm in the mood to make!

And since I don't give him cards that are naked on the inside, here is the inside.  I wrote on there something I saw on a Tim Holz stamp:  "When I want to see love defined, I look at you."  We have been through a bit of a rough time lately and I just wanted him to know I love him and appreciate him, so I chose little girl from Greeting Card Kids to be me - giving him my heart.  I know I'm silly....oh well, I'd rather be crazy in love after 12 1/2 years than just plain crazy! 

Stamps:  Greeting Card Kids

Ink:  Memento Cocoa Brown

Paper:  Whisper White, Sahara Sand, Rose Red, Pink Pirouette

Accessories:  Scallop Circle Die, Chunky Pink glitter, crystal effects, Pretty in pink Satin ribbon, heart punch, vintage wallpaper embossing folder, White gel pen, Copic markers, Doily (Wilton), packaging tape (Making Memories), pin (CTMH)

Stampin' Club is tonight!

Tonight is our monthly stampin' club meeting hosted by Johnna B.  I am looking forward to seeing the ladies and getting a little scrappy time, too!  Since banners are oh, so hot, I thought I would create a little 6X6 scrapbook page using a banner.  For this particular banner, I used the party hats from the Party Hearty stamp set.  I colored the stamp using my watercolor crayons, misted with water and stamped.  Very simple.  I topped it off with Daffodil Delight pom pom trim (LOVE) and a Party This Way sentiment from the stamp set titled Party This Way.  I finished it off with some dazzling diamonds and some embellishments from the FREE Ice Cream Parlor set you get for every $50 you spend for Sale-a-Bration!!!!

 Here are a few cards I made as samples for the card we are going to create.  I went with a tri-fold card.  For the first card, though, I punched on the wrong side, so I just cut the third side off and made a regular card out of it.  I added some champagne glass glitter around the circle and a butterfly from Thanks for Caring. 

Here is what I really wanted to do with this card.  I made a damask background using the flourish stamp from the Bliss stamp set (another FREE Sale-a-Bration stamp set!). 

Here is a closeup of the butterfly.  I colored it with Blushing Bride, Pear Pizzazz, and Early Espresso Markers and stamped it.  I added Smooch Pearl Accents to the top for a touch of shimmer and elegance.

Here is the inside of the card.  I stamped the flourish in Blushing Bride and then the Bliss sentiment on top in Early Espresso.  I finished it off with a tiny bit of Early Espresso ribbon to hold it closed.

Finally, for a variation, I made the same card using the Ice Cream Parlor paper and the Aviary stamp set. 

Here's the inside - it says You're too kind and has a few more little flowers around it.

Lots of Inspiration on a gloomy day!

It's a yucky, gloomy day here - we're up to get about 4-5 inches of rain today....yes - today - within the next 24 hours.  YUCK!

Anyway, for a brighter color combo, I found this adorable project - I just love it!  You can find it at the Lucky Girl Crafts blog Friday Fun Challenge.

I also found another great sketch by Cherie at Sassy Lil' Sketches to help me out.

And here is my bright and cheery little layout!  A tea party complete with banner, flowers and bling!  I used the banner, journaling card and vintage girl square from Pretty Little Studio.  The rhinestones are from K & Company.  Rose Glimmer Mist.  Everything else is SU - the new Fun Flowers die cut, Sweet Stitches DSP, Sweet Buttons embosslit, and coordinating button.  Background papers are Wild wasabi and Daffodil Delight.

Final inspiration for now comes from Page Maps.

Now you can see how gloomy it is.  I couldn't get the picture any brighter than this for this page!  Grey skies....go away!

Here's a little closeup.  I used a set of papers and stickers from CTMH as well as a few embellishments from K & Company and some packaging tape made by Making Memories.  I also spritzed the background with Rose Glimmer Mist using my Tim Holz glimmer screens.

Petal Cone Carrot and MORE blog candy!

I used the Petal Cone Bigz diecut the other day to create this cute little carrot that is filled with chocolate bunnies.  It was so easy to make - even with the details I added, it was only about 30 minutes start to finish!

I used Pumpkin Pie and Pear Pizzazz to mimic the look of a carrot.  I added a tiny swatch of Greenhouse Gala paper at the top of each side of the cone and rouched some Pear Pizzazz seam binding ribbon around the top of the cone for a touch of elegance.  I added Pear Pizzazz scalloped petals to the top and bottom parts for the leafy part of my "carrot."  Finally, I stamped the sentiment from the Easter Blossoms stamp set and punched it out with my 1 1/4" circle.  I added Daffodil Delight pom pom trim and an Early Espresso 2 3/8" scallop circle to the back of it. 

Here are some of the details from the side view.

P.S. - We are making this on Friday at our February stamp club meeting if you want to join us!  We'll have lots of fun!!!

Stamps:  Easter Blossoms

Ink:  Early Espresso

Paper:  Pumpkin Pie, Pear Pizzazz, Early Espresso, Whisper White, Greenhouse Gala DSP

Accessories:  Pear Pizzazz seam binding ribbon, Daffodil Delight pom pom trim, 1 1/4" circle punch, 2 3/8" scallop circle punch, Petal Cone Bigz die cut

Also.....if you're looking for MORE blog candy, stop by my blogging pal Rose Blossom Legacies blog for another chance to win more blog candy!  I love blog candy!

Scrappiest Sketch 107

Quick post....got to teach a kickboxing class!  I love Liz Chidester's scrappiest sketches, so I played with Sketch 107 last night and here's what I came up with:

Nice, bright colors - Daffodil Delight, Wild Wasabi, and Melon mambo - all colors in the Sweet Stitches line of paper from SU.  Sew cute!  Really!  If only I had all the money in the world....

Flowers are from the Fun flowers die cut in the mini with a little tiny doily behind them to add a dainty touch.  There is a daffodil delight button in the center of it, too.  A few old pieces of Simply Scrappin' kit, an old rub-on, and some pink rhinestones and.....

Whew....that was a quickie!  More tomorrow....I hope!

Friday Fun Day Challenge

Jessica, the guest scrapper for ScrapFIT this month, has an outstanding blog that I have enjoyed visiting over the last few weeks.  She owns a terrific scrappy place called Lucky Girl Crafts.  Anyway, every Friday there is a Friday Fun Day challenge.  I loved her project from this past Friday, which was making a purse out of a plastic berry case from the produce selection.  Unfortunately, we don't have any of those laying around, so I decided to be inspired by this journal project.

While I didn't make a "journal" for my inspired project, I opted for another type of mini project.  A mini album.  Now, you may remember that I started this mini project over the summer.  And as my projects sometimes do.....they sit.....and sit....and wait for inspiration!  Enter the Friday Fun Day Challenge.....and inspiration arrived!

Here is what happens when you pull on the ribbon.  It slides over to say Our journey.  This is a little mini-album from a trip my husband and I took to Spokane, Washington in November to a national music teachers conference during the week of my birthday.

Here we are hiking in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho - we took a little road trip to go hiking and explore the area before the conference started that evening.  Are these not gorgeous photos?!  Great reflections in the water!

I decided when i started taking pics of the album that I'm going to cut off part of that postcard.  The picture is too pretty to cover it up completely!

Schweitzer Mountain - it was closed until the snow came....but it was still pretty!

And the next photo is from right outside the conference center!  Can you believe that?!  How beautiful is this?

A fun little park in the area directly outside of the conference center.  It had an oversized Radio Flyer wagon with a slide - too fun to pass up!

And some oversized blocks for the oversized kids in the pics!  A great photo op for tourists and scrappers!!!  Hee Hee!

Now....this is rare right here - a picture of just the two of us.  Everyone who has kids understands this!  Our pictures since we had our daughter have turned into just mommy, just daddy, or Halleigh or a combination....but never just mommy and daddy!  Can you relate? 

That in itself was enough inspiration for me to make a separate little mini-album for a trip that we took all by ourselves.  Another thing that rarely happens!

And, of course, since I am married to Mr. ESPN  (is there an award for that?!), he had to go to a Gonzaga game....and get in.....for free.....on the front row.   Yes, I told you he is Mr. ESPN!  You can go on and invite him to the All-Star sporting event of the century .... he WILL find a way to get in! LOL!

And finally, the back of the album.  Nice and simple to finish it up.  Hope you enjoyed the scenery!  Go join in on the fun!   Jessica is generous enough to give away the upcoming March kit to the winner!  I am personally just chomping at the bit to get my hands on one of her adorable kits! 

Stamps:  Sentimental Journey, In a Word

Ink:  Night of Navy, Bashful Blue, Crumb Cake, Garden Green, Pumpkin Pie

Paper:  Travel DSP from last summer, Bashful Blue

Accessories:  Distressing kit, chipboard suitcase album, binder rings, bashful blue ribon, jumbo eyelet, Passport stickers, flowers, and journaling tags (Making Memories), Vacation flashcards (Pretty Little Studio), orange rhinestones (Michaels)

Looking for some blog candy?

If you're looking for a little blog candy to brighten up your weekend, check out Pretty paper and chipboard for some blog candy and even better inspiration!  Lou has some fantabulous layouts, so check her out and become a follower...it might just be you!

Sketchabilities Sketch

It's funny how one sketch site leads you to another!  I came across this sketch site because I found some of their old sketches on another sketch website.  I thought, hm....I really like these sketches, I should find this website!  Boy, I'm glad I did. 

When I first started using sketches, all of the sketches were very linear and very simplistic.  Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with those sketches!  But when I started finding sketches like these from sketchabilities and the ones I find at Sassy 'Lil Sketches, I really started being able to layer my pages.  I went from a pretty simplistic looking page to the pages you see now.  Full of lots of little layers of personality.  I really like that!  So, I just want to say thanks to Karan Gerber and others who have helped me break out of my little scrappy box!

So....here is the page I made with today's sketch.  These are the last two pictures from my nephew's first birthday this past summer.  I just loved the picture of him looking at my brother.  So sweet - I wish I a good photo of the next pic - him swiping blue frosting all over my brother!  Halleigh watched for a little while, but then she got tired of having to wait to get her piece of cake! 

Here is a closeup of my cluster on the left hand side.  I had a strip of Presto Patterns paper that I spritzed with Cherry Limeade Glimmer Mist and tied with with a Pacific Point ribbon.  I added a few strips of patterned paper as well as a strip of material (the bashful blue/red polka dot strip) and a strip of Real Red Tasteful Trims large ric rac piece.  I used a rhinestone arrow to highlight the cake and added a few embellishments from Pretty Little Studiop for the title.  I added Dazzling diamonds to the icing and this time added chunky red glitter on the cherry.  I backed it again with red glimmer paper. 

I honestly have no idea why this will not turn the right way.....I have tried 4 times to fix it, so you'll just have to turn your head sideways here!  Sorry!

On top of the top note die cut, I stamped the Happy Birthday stamp onto Bashful Blue.  I colored in the number 1 and added a little Dazzling Diamonds to it.  For a finishing touch, I put crystal effects around the edge and added more chunky red glitter to the edge. 

Stamps:  Bring on the Cake

Ink:  Basic Black

Paper:  Pacific Point, Bashful Blue, Real Red, Presto Patterns, Celebrations DSP, red glimmer paper

Accessories:  crystal effects, chunky red glitter, dazzling diamonds glitter, pacific point grosgrain ribbon, material from christmas mini, 2 3/8" scallop circle punch, 2 1/2" circle punch, top note die cut, tasteful trims die cut, cherry limeade Glimmer Mist, Rhinestone arrow (Kaisercraft?), birthday and cupcake embellishments (Pretty Little Studio), black dot strip (Making Memories)

Frosted Designs sketch

 Yes....I found yet another site I like.  I can remember a few years ago watching my hubby sit on the computer for 30 minutes or more just surfing away.  I kept thinking....what in the world is on there that he likes so much?  Obviously for him it was NOT scrapbook sites...it was sports blogs and the infamous ESPN.com.   I thought....hmmmm....if all that is out there, I bet there might be scrappy stuff, too!  Well, it took me a while to really start finding scrappy blogs and challenge sites where the focus wasn't always on cards, but I finally found a limitless supply of inspiration!  I am officially in love with challenge blogs and websites! 

So....here is the newest site I found.  It is called Frosted Designs - it is a site I found from the guest designer and sponsor for this month over at ScrapFIT.

Here is the page I made tonight.  I have had a bit of a rough week personally.  I definitely needed some scrappy therapy tonight.  So here is the result of my therapy for the evening.  Much cheaper than a doc, huh?!

Here is a closeup of the title and embellishments.  I used a paper heart doily I got at the $1 section at Target.  I had a few little butterflies leftover from the last layout, so I added them to this page along with a few Diamond rhinestones and Red glimmer paper.  Finally, I finished it all off with these darling....did I say darling?....little embellishments I won from the Crop Suey blog.  I am in love with the products I won!  They are from Pretty little Studio  where you can find these precious vintage embellishments and papers.  Just too cute!  I spritzed the birthday flashcard with Carribean Blue glimmer mist and added a touch of Dazzling Diamonds to the frosting on the cupcake. 

Ink:  Tempting Turquoise

Paper:  Whisper White, Island Oasis DSP, Celebrations DSP

Accessories:   (SU) Dazzling Diamonds, Beautiful Wings Embosslit, Red Glimmer paper, 2 1/2" scallop circle punch, rhinestones, doily (Target), journaling card, birthday title tag, cupcake (Pretty Little Studio), glittery swirl accents (Forever in Time), Glimmer Mist

Spring is in the Air!

Are you ready for spring?  I sure am!  The ScrapFIT workout #38 is just in time for you, then!  Your workout assignment is to get ready for spring!  Just use green, yellow, orange, and red on a layout and you, too can be ready for spring, too! 

So, workout mates, here is my layout I created!  I am so delighted with the look of this page!  I saw a rainbow in Simply Handmade made out of butterflies, so I decided to mimic the look on a smaller scale. 

For the sunshine I made a little banner by handcutting 1 inch strips of paper and cutting a triangle out of the bottom.  I put some Daffodil Delight pom pom ribbon on the edge and topped each banner off with a shiny little yellow flower/rhinestone sticker from Jolee's Boutique.

Below the picture is a cluster of flowers from Making Memories that are sprayed with Carribean Blue and Cherry Limeade Glimmer Mist.  I also used a Real Red ric rac from my Tasteful Trims die cut and some red rose ribbon from American Crafts to ground the picture. 

Here's a closeup of the rainbow.

I used lots of scraps of DSP in my Beautiful Wings embosslit to create all the lovely butterflies on the page.  I hand cut some Tempting Turquoise clouds.  I added white gel pen accents to the edges of the clouds to make them stand out.  I also added a few extra metal butterflies from Making Memories flying around the clouds. 

Underneath the rainbow and clouds is a doily that you find in the Wilton cake decorating section.  I sprayed it with Carribean blue Glimmer Mist to highlight my dreamy cloud look.  Finally, I topped several of the butterflies off with some matching rhinestones from the stash.  The title is a rub on from Imaginisce.

So, what are you waiting for?  You could be the lucky girl to win one of these two fabulous prizes this month!  Get your spring on!

Or maybe you might win this prize!



Published for the 3rd time!

Even though it has been a crazy week...I woke up to find out my daughter had a fever this morning, I'm guessing flu.....I got really happy news today! 

For the third time now,

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Can you tell I'm a little excited?!?!  I had a Valentine's card published last week and just yesterday I found one of my layouts on their website - it is here - close to the bottom of this post. 

So, while I don't have anything new today (you can scroll to the next post to see my valentine's I made last night), I promise to have some super cute scrappy inspiration for you tomorrow!  Get ready to get ScrapFIT!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day to my two favorite valentines ever!  My sweet hubby and darling daughter....I love you both for making my life as wonderful as an enchanted fairy tale.  Who says fairy tales can't come true?  Okay....so maybe we don't have the maid or the fairy godmother....but we have a happy little life together!

So...if you didn't already miss me, I have had an extremely busy week.  I had two snow days this week and didn't even get to scrap any!  That should be a sin!  LOL! 

Anyway, we have a Valentine banquet out of the way and a few clean clothes in the house.  The dog we're doggy sitting for is okay after having some kind of seizure or episode on Friday that made us really scared.  Egads!  Crazy week! 

So....here are my crazy little Valentine projects I finished .... all today!  Yowza!  These are the treats for all the ladies and gents who are dedicated enough to come do kickboxing and an abs class tomorrow for Valentine's day.  I'm thinking water has no calories, so no one can resist it after sweating for an hour!!!

My sweet daughter actually helped make her own Valentines this year.  She picked out the stamps, stamped the hearts and even put the pop dot adhesive on the hearts in addition to drawing on the scallop square with her name on it.  It really helped out a lot having a little helper around to do part of the projects!

And finally, for my crazy loves...our teenagers at church.  We made 50 of these little flowers with a tootsie roll pop or a blowpop in the center thanks to the Island Oasis flower die.  I love the Big Shot inventor!!!

Now...all I have left is to bag up all the candy to go with it and I'll be done!!!  Yippee!!!