Sew Suite rub-on with Christmas page

Ugh.....blogger land is not being very nice right now. It is rejecting every single picture I try to upload. Anyway, I found that I can return to the old blogger way of doing things to get around it for now.
So, anyway, here is a nice and simple page that I made of my daughter playing Poppy's little helper....yes, I know the title says Poppa....she has changed Poppy to Poppa for now.....we'll see if that sticks or not. I just think it's funny!


Here is a little closeup of those little buttons from Crate Paper - I just love those buttons - so much character.  In fact, I bought another pack just the other day of new buttons....I can't resist!  There is a little Pebbles toothpick flag, too.  I used the new SU Baker's twine to tie the buttons, also.

Here is the title area - I used Doodlebug stickers for poppa and echo park stickers for the rest.  The paper is Echo Park and is leftover from the CKC in Louisville I went to this spring.  The little girl is one of the rub-ons from the Sew Suite items that were in the spring mini catalogue for SU.  I colored her using my Copic markers, although I was having a few pieces of rub-on try to slip away.  I really liked the way she added some character to the page. 

Punch pal and paper pieced graduate card

I saw this cute and adorable little wise paper punch owl on Papercrafter's Library recently and decided it was the perfect little piece for a card front!  It was pretty big, though, so I didn't want to add much more to the card and take away from the punch pal, so I used my same sketch from Sassy Lil' Sketches to create this card.  I just flipped mine counterclockwise and made it a vertical card. 

On my card I used the retired Night and Day DSP paper I got on the clearance rack, Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso, Whisper White, and So Saffron.....and a whole slew of punches!

In addition to the sketch, I decided to take on the Paper Trailmakers Challenge Blog had a paper piecing challenge.   I thought that pretty much went perfectly with my card, so I decided to use some paper piecing on the inside of the card.  I used the retired Congrats, Grad stamp set on the inside.  I cut some copy paper and stamped another little owl image in the bottom.  I colored the body with my Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake and So Saffron Stampin' Write markers.

  For the paper piecing portion, I decided to stamp the little cap on the opposing side of the DSP scraps from the card front.  I cut out the owl's hat as well as a few others - it added just enough oomph to the card to make it perfect for our grads on Senior Day this Sunday!  Now....one card down.....10 to go!

Sweet Details photobook - youth group version

I recently purchased the Sweet Details photobook template for My Digital Studio.  While I am all about creating my own pages in MDS, I adore the ability to just plop pictures in a gorgeous photobook and add the journaling and be done with it.  I love that I was able to make this entire book in only a few hours and now I can allow the students in our youth group to purchase the book, too, as a fundraiser for our summer camp fund!  How awesome is that?!?!?  Enjoy!

Strength and Hope - Christmas style

 I am almost finished with all of my Christmas pictures (insert happy dance here!)  Not that I mind making Christmas album pages....I just never end up making them around Christmas time.....It's a little hard to get in the Christmas spirit when school's almost out for summer! 

Anyway, I used the Real Red and Old Olive Designer Series paper from the Brights Collection as well as some patterned paper from the PlayDate Designer Series Paper for this layout.   

Here is the first page in my layout.  I made a card the other day for the May challenge at The (paper) Trail Makers challenge blog and got featured, so it inspired me to use another doily on my layout.  This time it was a heart doily (the kind you find on the Target $1 spot at Valentine's Day). 

Here's a closeup of the bottom part.  I used a leftover piece of sticker sheet to create the circle frame for the picture.  The paper daisy is colored red with a Copic marker and has a ribbon tied onto a pretty red ribbon slide from Making Memories.  The pleated ribbon is also from Making Memories.  Finally, I used the Strength and Hope stamp set to create the butterfly in real red with soft suede around the edges.  The bottom piece is a scrap of Whisper White paper that I stamped in Versamark and sponged Real Red chalk pastels onto (the Poppin' Pastel technique).  It is embossed with a polka dot embossing folder and die cut with the larger scallop square on the Scallop Square Duo die.

I finished it off with this second page.   Pretty similar overall - those borders are cut with the Tasteful Trim XL diecut.  The title is from Making Memories and there are also some leftover stickers from a Simply Scrappin' kit - I tied those ornaments on with Baker's Twine.

Christmas cookies

Here is my daughter in her ultimate haven - making Christmas cookies on Christmas day to take to our family reunion.  Mind you, the icing was lacking in consistency - not enough powdered sugar, if I remember correctly....but it still tasted great!  She had a wonderful time making cookies, even if they didn't look beautiful!  I love having a little helper in the kitchen!  I can't wait to see what kinds of things she will eventually cook up!

This is from a CTMH kit that I got from a friend, Carla Lowe - one of my club members.  I took the sketch given in the directions and flipped it on it's side so that it would work with my pictures.  I moved around my embellishments and masked off the title and spritzed with Glimmer Mist.  It was a good quick and easy page.  Plus, it had your basic Christmas colors without being overwhelmingly Christmasy.  I have been doing a lot of non-traditional Christmas pages this year....that's okay with me!  Break out of the shell!

Ear Mouskas and my crazy husband!

Do you live somewhere cold where you have to wear Ear Mouskas in the winter?  We had a terribly cold winter this year, so Halleigh was so glad that Santa brought her some ear mouskas (yes, I know the rest of the world calls these ear muffs, but I just can't stop myself - I think it is so adorable when she puts her ear mouskas on!)

I already think about how many little daily things I thought were so cute that I have forgotten on my own.   Thanks to scrapbooking, I can remember these precious little details forever - and that's why I scrap - doesn't matter what brand, what color, what size.....it's the memories that I want to keep forever.  I know I can't keep her small forever, so at least I can preserve these precious memories for days like today when I get all sentimental about just how fast my sweet little girl is growing up. 

Who knows if God will bless us with another child in the future.  Since the rapture didn't happen yesterday, at least we have the rest of our lives to find out exactly what God has in store for us.  It may just be taking care of all the little hearts in our youth group - so fragile and tender, so many hearts hurting this weekend.  It just breaks my heart this weekend to see so many of them hurting and know that there is nothing we can do for them except pray.  Thank goodness we have a Father who is in control and knows best what to do and how to use all of these little hurts, habits, and hangups for his glory. 

My goodness, I never thought keeping a blog could bring tears to my eyes or be so therapeutic!  Egads!  I promise I was just going to tell you that the Sweet Shoppe stamps look much better on the title in person! (They're 30% off this month!) Now I have tears streaming down my face!  Ah, well, nothing that a little prayer won't take care of!   

Or, then again, reminding myself how silly this husband of mine is - here he is at a double surprise birthday party we had Friday night for some of the kids in the youth group (now you see why I haven't posted in a few days?  Look what I have to put up with??!?!)  Just kidding.  I love my silly husband and our thankfully the kids in the youth group don't mind putting up with him, either!

Now to get a picture of Halleigh's most recent discovery - she has BAMpire teeth!   Ha!  Look out Twilight!

Sassy Lil Sketch - May 7th

I found another Sassy Lil Sketch that I liked, so I used some of my new papers to make a page using the sketch. 

I got these papers in my Studio Calico kit from May.   The October Afternoon 5 & Dime paper was a 12X12 sheet, but I cut out the little toy elements to make the bottom border.  You can see it here:

I added a little Pebbles pennant and some red rhinestones along with a few vintage Christmas images from Pretty Little Studio that I won recently.  I used my SU distressing kit to add tea stain and charcoal ink to add to their vintage look.  I used my SU scallop edge punch to create some Basic Black border under the main image.

Here is the journaling spot.  I made some little pennants with scraps of the star side of the Oct. Afternoon page and clustered it together with a journaling spot from Pretty Little Studio.

Sassy lil Sketch

Sassy 'Lil Sketch, May 14 - here we go!

I used various elements on this page.  The purpose of the page is sharing the letter that Santa left Halleigh this Christmas.  Here is the picture  of her reading about why he couldn't leave her a horse that she could keep in our garage or the trunk of the car.  He left her a note to tell her she could go visit a horse at another person's house this spring/summer.

Here is a closeup of the border - it is a hodgepodge of October Afternoon paper that I fussy cut and added black rhinestones to, the red edge from the backside of the base piece, a piece of crochet trim, and a rosette ribbon.  The journaling piece is from Echo Park paper company.

Here is the title - it uses October Afternoon letters on a Pink Paislee title banner.  Then a banner made of Jenni Bowlin Studio pennants and little rhinestones in between.  When it goes in the page protector, the letter will be behind the page for her to pull out and read whenever she wants. 

A bouncing baby card

This card makes me think of that little rhyme....here comes Josie with a baby carriage!  I knew when I got this little die cut in a Lucky Girl kit that I would use it for a baby card....I just couldn't decide how. 

The Paper Trail Makers challenge blog had a doily challenge - I love doilies!  And Sassy Lil' Sketches cards blog had this sketch which was perfect. 

I used some old retired SU paper that was a light peach color and some paper from my latest Studio Calico kit.  I used the SU postage stamp punch to create the little V in the middle strip of paper and the edges underneath the baby carriage.  I added a few little leftover pearls in between those borders.  Finally, I inked up all the edges with Peach Parfait. 

Quick thank you card with Fresh Cut and Pendant notecards

My dear hubby requested 10 thank you cards the other day.  This is a rare occasion when he actually requests cards, so I know to keep cards nice looking, but not too girly!

I decided to use my Fresh Cuts stamp set and the matching notecards to make the set I needed. 

I stamped the large image in Marina Mist on a 3 3/4" square and put it behind the flower cutout.  I punched a 5 flower petal flower in Bashful Blue and stamped the flower image in Marina Mist for the top.  I added a little blue rhinestone and a thank you sentiment in Marina Mist.  Finally, I tied some thin Marina Mist ribbon around the card and it was finished! 

See, simple and elegant and not too girly!  :)

Here's the same thing but this time using the kraft colored pendant notecards.  I found some Bashful Blue square scraps, so I used one of those on this card.  I ran out of Marina Mist ribbon, so I used some Bashful Blue gingham ribbon I had from the clearance shop. 

Handmade Flower

Sassy Studio Designs and Frosted Designs both have a handmade flower challenge going on, so I decided to make a handmade flower. 

Except this time, I decided to make it just a flower that you wear instead of letting my scrapbook page wear it! 

To make this flower I used some of the retired material from the holiday mini catalogue.  I love that it is not at all Christmasy!  It is very whimsical and it was SOOOO easy to make!  I used a bunch of different die cut flowers.  Scallop circles, Fun Flowers, Island Oasis, and Flower Layers and just started layering.  To add some extra oomph, I folded some of the layers over.  There at the top, I fold the scallop circles into 1/4 pieces and put 4 together and topped it all off with a nice big Blushing Bride button and red/white baker's twine.   I added a little pin on the back and now just have to find the perfect outfit to wear it with!

Cards inspired by Studio Calico NSD Challenges

With my few extra minutes of time last night, I decided to scraplift a few cards I found on the Studio Calico blog for National Scrapbook Day.  This top card was scraplifted from Davinie Fiero, who was published in the last Create magazine I read.   I love to find inspiration from magazines and blogs. 

I used some final pieces from a Lucky Girl kit.

Vee Jennings' card was the inspiration for this kit - it was mostly some leftover pieces of a Singin' in the Rain kit.  I spritzed the background paper with Bluegrass Mr. Huey and I added an SU rub-on and some Making Memories felt pieces along with baker's twine. 

Scrappy time for Mother's Day!

Last night my Mother's Day present was just simply time to take a nap and play with my scrapbook stuff while watching the Amazing Race finale. We were delighted to have two Kentucky teams in the finals and really liked all three of the final teams. It's just so nice to have teams that play a game fairly and don't get all mean and catty. Anyway, here is the lovely page I made with my scrappy time.

My page background is Pink Paislee - again, I think it was meant for 4th of July, but it was a soft enough background, it looked like a starry, snowy night, too.  I think the color combo for this ended up being unusual, but a nice combo. 

Sweet Peach Crop Shop has a song challenge and Crop Suey also has a song and dance challenge, so I thought this would be the perfect page for both of those challenges!

Here's a closeup of my title and journaling:

I took a tag and used some old rub-ons for the part of the title that is on the tag.  I also put a few little blue snowflakes down with removable adhesive and spritzed Carribean Blue and Cherry Limeade Glimmer Mist over each corner.  I took my snowflake masks off and wiped off the rub-ons. 

Here's the other side - a journaling tag from Studio Calico, several snowflakes and some lace and a ribbon pull (Making Memories).  You see some red/white baker's twine from the summer mini and some whisper white buttons in there, too. 

I'm pretty certain you are wondering what in the world this picture is!  My daughter is pretty much obsessed with caterpillars.  We collect them....everyday....at least 2-4!  And if we're lucky, we get a few pet snails named Shelben, also. 

Halleigh came to me yesterday morning puzzled because her pet caterpillar grew a wig overnight.  When I went to check on it, I discovered it had begun creating a cocoon!  She is so delighted to be watching a real live metamorphosis in front of her eyes!  She won't even take it away from our house to show anyone (which is highly unusual for her!)  We'll see if it turns into a moth or a butterfly.   Pretty cool for a caterpillar right out of our yard, though!  Better than the snake she saw over the weekend!  :)

Mother's Day pics and a layout

Here are a few of our Mother's Day pics.  Halleigh told me she was going to get me some dandelions and caterpillars....hey, it works for me!

Here she is with her grammy and nana.   They both adore her so!

And my quickie little layout.  I used the Singin' in the Rain kit from Studio Calico for the patterned papers.  I had some old SU ribbon from the clearance and some Early Espresso for the background.  The other embellishements are Making Memories.  The red letters are Pink Paislee and the creamy letters are fabric thickers from American Crafts.

Easel Card #2

Well, after making easel cards tonight during our club meeting, I decided I had better make another mother's day card so I would have one for each of our moms.  Although, now that I've made this one, I almost don't want to give it away!  Just kidding, mom!  Hee hee!!!

Here is the card on it's easel.   You can see most of the elements are leftover pieces from another scrapbook page I made using the Studio Calico Singin' in the Rain kit.  I added a piece of retired ruffled SU ribbon across the front, a sticker from Cosmo Cricket, a chipboard sun sprayed with Lemonade Mr. Huey, and a little yellow Crate Paper button.  I found this pin on my desk, so I have no idea where it came from. 

Here's a closeup of it.

Those little butterflies are Jenni Bowlin Studio stickers with Making Memories rhinestones.  There is also a wood veneer Studio Calico butterfly that I spritzed with Cherry Limeade Glimmer Mist. 

And here is the inside of the card.  I put the last scrap of floral paper on the inside and added a sentiment to a sticker.  I added little tiny red rhinestones to the corner of the sticker and that's it! 

Ruffled tissue paper

Here are a couple of Christmas layouts.  On the top layout, I just used a few different pieces of ephemera from Making Memories.  Nothing too special. 

I really like this bottom layout.  I used the vintage Christmas paper that retired in the Christmas mini.  I added a few pieces on the kraft paper and curled up the bottoms of the paper.  Under the red patterned paper, I added some sticky strip and ruffled up some tissue paper.  Finally, to keep the boyish look and offset the ruffled tissue paper, I added a few star rub-ons from Studio Calico and punched them out with my star punches. 

Here's a closeup:

In case you're wondering.....the journaling says something to the effect of...Toby got Reese's peanut butter cups and money for Christmas.  Two of my favorite things!  So....needless to say, he said, "Mine!"  when he got them and I, of course, took a bunch of them.....maybe all of them!  Isn't there a rule in marriage that says, "What's mine is mine and what's yours is mine"?   That's a rule in our house.....especially when it comes to Reese's!  Hee hee!  And money!!!!

Easel card for mom

At first glance I'm sure this doesn't look like anything too special.  Just a plain old matted picture with a couple of little flowers. 

And then you open the card!  And it stands up on itself!  Yowza!  What's not to love about this easy little easel card?  You likey?  Come on over on Friday night to our stamp club meeting and I'll let you make one for yourself!  Or, treat yourself to Pampering for a Purpose, a fundraiser for Oasis Care Center in Somerset, Kentucky, and you can make one there on Saturday as well! 

Stamps:  For All You Do
Ink:  Baja Breeze, Early Espresso, Pumpkin Pie
Paper:  Baja Breeze, Early Espresso, Greenhouse Gala
Accessories:  Daffodil Delight ribbon, basic pearls, Decorative label punch, stampin' dimensionals

Glittery snow princess page

Halleigh just loved this little outfit that we found at the consignment sale this year.  It was the perfect little winter outfit - fit for a snow princess!  I thought it was only fitting to use some glittery letters and snowflakes to adorn the page. 

Here's the cluster in the bottom corner - a bingo card from Making Memories and some snowflakes and stars from Making memories.  The little girl in the circle is from Pretty Little Studio.  The DSP is the retired Christmas paper from this past Christmas.  I'm almost through with it!

Here is a closeup of those letters .  Love the sparkle!  And the snowflakes are by  Bo Bunny.  I've had those things forever, I think!  Just waiting for the perfect page. 

Monochromatic look

I started this page at CKC Louisville, but it was really lacking.  Too much white space for me...I loved the Basic Grey paper it used - it was perfect for this Tinkerbell picture of Halleigh in her Halloween costume.   I wanted a Tinkerbell to go with it, but I didn't like any of the ones I found that were stickers.  Finally, I lucked out and Sassy Studio Designs made one - just for me!  Just kidding!  I broke down and bought it and was so pleased with the result!  (Halleigh was pleased, too - I've had to print it out twice for her already!)

Here's a little closeup of my flower.  I didn't want Tink to just float on my page, so I used my Blossoms builder punch to create a nice big flower for her to land on.  I colored Tink up with my Copic markers.  Her wings were really beautiful even without glitter, but I had to make her glitterific, you know!  I was very happy with the final product!