Project Life 2013: May and June

Well, we have had such a very busy and exciting week!  We helped with a Superhero themed Vacation Bible School at our church this week. It was so much fun!  We also went to SpiritSong Christian music festival at King’s Island yesterday – it was so much fun watching our children ride the kiddie rides! 

Needless to say, between a dance recital and lots of t-ball games, we have had a busy month off of school!  I finished my monthly layout for June and thought I would also share my layout from May…if I already shared it, sorry!

We actually went to Disney at the end of May, but I’m saving all of those pictures for another book!  Too many good pictures to share!  We also had kindergarten graduation and Halleigh’s first school play!

I have to say after spending all week hanging out with my husband and kiddos…I love my family!  We may not be perfect, but we sure have a good time together! 

And here is a little snippet from June – we have had lots of trips to the library, to the farm, t-ball games, play dates, recitals, and Vacation Bible School! 

And now I’m off to bed!!!!  Enjoy your Sunday!

Create with Connie and Mary Challenge 257

I decided to use the Create with Connie and Mary Challenge 257 for a scrapbook page this month.  I found a few pictures of my husband coaching the t-ball team last year and they were so sweet.  Last year our team was completely made of children from our church children’s department, so it was neat that he could pray with the players after each game. 

I used the Epic Day Designer Series paper and matching stickers for the title and journaling card. Did you notice those Calypso Coral Candy Dots on my title sticker? 

I also added a few hexagons from the Six Sided Sampler stamp set to connect the journaling and the pictures.  I love the versatility of this stamp set! 

Stamps:  Six Sided Sampler

Ink:  Calypso Coral, Basic Grey

Paper:  Epic Day DSP, Whisper White

Accessories:  Hexagon punch, Epic Day stickers, Candy Dots. Calypso Coral Button (SAB), Pool Party Baker’s Twine

T-ball scrapbook pages

So, as I stated yesterday, I am just now up to last year’s pictures….so while we have started our t-ball season this year, I am finally scrapping last year’s t-ball team.  I loved using the Storybook Time DSP for this layout.  I have a whole bag full of old chipboard letters from SU that I have had forever, so I pulled a few to make this title.

I used the Great Sport baseball to create an accent for a pocket for journaling.  My journaling tag was just another scrap of the lined DSP that I attached to Crumb Cake paper and added a ribbon to.

And here is is all together.  Ta-da!  Finally starting to pull out of my creative scrapbooking slump!  Yeah! 

Stamps:  Great Sport

Ink:  Real Red

Paper:  Real Red, Crumb Cake, Storytime DSP

Accessories:  Real Red polka-dot grosgrain ribbon and Baja Breeze ribbon (retired), 2 1/2” circle punch, chipboard letters (retired), stapler

My Pumpkin Challenge - 0613

I am personally loving My Paper Pumpkin kits!  In fact, I loved the stamps from the last kit so much that I haven’t even made the cards yet!  I was inspired to use them to create a scrapbook page with the divided page protectors.  (I’m only a year behind….it’s last year’s Father’s Day pictures!)

So on this page, I actually used the stamps from the last two kits.  The May kit had the love this stamp with the arrow as well as the Good Life stamp I used on the journaling spot.  I used the Hearts a Flutter framelits to create a banner with some scraps of Real Red paper.  I stamped the chevron background stamp in Soft Suede on a scrap of Crumb Cake paper.  I punched those out using the small heart punch. 

On the top piece of Crumb Cake paper, I made a mask using my large heart punch and some printer paper.  I stamped the chevron stamp from June’s kit over the mask to create hearts and added the small heart stamped in Real Red to accent each. 

I’ll probably get around to making the cards this week, but for now, I’m happy to get a page done in my album!    Now that’s what I call letting the creativity carriage take me away! 

Stamps:  May and June My Paper Pumpkin kits – Good Life, Hello to You

Ink:  Real Red, Soft Suede

Paper:  Crumb Cake, Real Red, Retired DSP

Accessories: Small and large heart punches, Corner rounder punch, Word Window punch, Modern Label punch, Hearts a Flutter  and Chalk Talk Framelits, Chevron Embossing Folder

Creative Inspiration: Charlotte Keeney

We took our children to the library today for Dr. T-Rex and their usual time in the children’s garden and the children’s library area.  Dr. T-Rex was fabulous – anyone who can hold the attention of a 16 month old who hasn’t had his morning nap for 30-45 minutes is pretty incredible to me! 

Anyway, one of my club members and friends, Charlotte, is the head librarian at our local library.  She sent me a few pictures of the latest cards she had made this past weekend, so I thought I would share them with you! 

As you can see, Charlotte has not only been busy making cards, she has been putting her Big Shot to work with those embossing folders!!  I love how she framed the flowers above in the oval embossing folder and then framed that main image within the tulip frame embossing folder.  It’s a very bright and cheery card.

And here is a stamp I will always love – especially when the image is colored with markers so beautifully!  This flower flourish is from a Sale-a-bration set from 2012 called Fresh vintage.  I like how the white circle pops off the white honeycomb embossed background, too! 

Great job, Charlotte!  Keep those lovely cards coming and thanks for sharing! 

Zoo Review: By Carol Manning

Where does the time go?  It flies, I tell ya’!  At least when it’s not a long work day, it sure does!  We have t-ball games and dance recital this week – that makes for a busy week for us – but alas, it is a good week.

I adore these incredible cards Carol has made to inspire us this month.  She made these while she was waiting on her new goodies to come in, so I suspect she has some more gorgeous cards up her sleeve! 

These cards all use a great stamp set that really is nice for watercoloring – it is called Zoo Review.  I have used this stamp set for cards as well as scrapbook pages.  A few years ago I used these stamps to embellish pictures from our stay at the Animal Kingdom lodge!  I love the realistic sketches of the animals. 

First up is Mr Lion – he is looking fierce, I tell you – love how these Soft Suede and Cherry Cobbler colors make this card so manly.

Check this out!!!!  Why did I never think about this?  How cool is this idea to create spots on the mat of the card that resemble the giraffe?!  Wow!  I love how is it embossed with the lattice folder also, great texture!

Here is a great birthday card – love the delicate bow with the stamped birthday image.  These penguins have just the right touch of color to make them pop, also!

Again – just a little bit of coloring on this polar bear really makes him stand out – this is a great color combo for the polar bear.  It would make a great baby card, too!

And one more incredible background for this zebra card – Carol – you knocked these cards out of the park, my dear!  I just love the zebra background – these are truly outstanding!  Thanks for some awesome inspiration! 

New Stamps–In love with Chevrons!

I have to say that one of my favorite new stamps is the chevron background stamp!  I LOVE it!  I love how it coordinates with the chevron embossing folder, too!  I used the Chalk Talk stamp set and the matching Chalk Talk Framelits to create my accents.    Have I mentioned how much I love the magnetic platform with the framelits?!?!?! LOVE!

Aren’t you loving the new in colors, too?  I couldn’t resist adding a little Calypso Coral Candy Dot to accent the heart, also!

So, what is your favorite new product from the catalogue?  Let me know – you might inspire me to make a creation with it!

Stamps:  Chalk Talk, Chevron Background Stamp

Ink:  Crisp Cantaloupe, Baked Brown Sugar

Paper:  Crisp Cantaloupe, Pistachio Pudding, Crumb Cake, Baked Brown Sugar

Accessories:  Chalk Talk Framelits, Chevron embossing folder, Basic Rhinestones, Candy Dots

Secret Garden Cards

I am going to add these 4 cards to the card class for June 29, so that will be a total of 8 cards from which you may choose to create.  Each of these cards will focus on the stamp set Secret Garden and will cost $2 per card.  You can tell me which cards you would like to make and how many of each. 

Card #5 – Secret Garden Thank You

Card #6 – Secret Garden birthday

Card #7 – You made my day!

Card #8 – God is Love

All of the sentiments can be changed for another sentiment if you prefer.  I have plenty from which to choose! 

Remember, if you want to come, check out the cards and tell me which cards you would like to make and how many of each! 

Everything Eleanor Class

I will be having an Everything Eleanor Stamp a Stack on Saturday, June 29 from 1-4.  You can make your choice of the following cards that afternoon.  You pick which cards you would like to make and how many you want to make.  Cards will be $2 each.

Card #1 – K is for Kindness

Card #2 – Birthday card

Card #3 – Lifetime of Happiness

Card #4 – Above and Beyond

If you will let me know which cards you would like to make and how many you would like to make, I will have all of the supplies cut and ready for you. 

This will also be a good day for those club members who wanted to make up scrapbook pages for our yearlong scrapbook, so if you just want to come and work that day, you can do that as well! 

Carol Manning: Guest Designer–June edition

Cards by Carol VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Just a quick post today!  Carol and I are patiently awaiting our new products from the new Stampin’ Up catalogue!  In the mean time, Carol has been busy as a bee!  Check out a slide show of all of the gorgeous cards she made!  I am absolutely LOVING the cards she made with Wildflower Meadows!  LOVING them!  I love the new DSP she used, also! 

I could go on and on about these great cards, but I have to get my kiddo to dance class, so I must get out of here!  Enjoy!    Thanks Carol!

This and That travel journal

As you may have already read, I am serious about taking stamping and scrapbooking items with me on vacation.  And my husband is so wonderfully supportive of this, he bought me a big suitcase that was specifically made for scrapbooking supplies a few years ago for Christmas.  Needless to say, I take my supplies with me every single vacation now! 

On my recent vacation to Disney and to the beach, I made about 5 cards and I also completed a travel journal about our trip.  I forget so many things so quickly, so I have found that if I can just keep a travel journal during our trip, it will remind me of all the little details of our trip when I go to scrapbook it later on….usually I get to it about a year later, although I’m currently getting behind!!!  Thank goodness for MDS!!!

Thank goodness for the This and That line! 

I am not finished with this book by any means….there are still several odds and ends I need to add to my book….but, for now, here you go!

This and That Album–Travel Journal VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

More New Products

Mosaic Madness strikes again!  This time I used a color combo from the new in color coach.  The color combo was Rich Razzleberry, Sahara Sand and Strawberry Slush.  This first card was a card that I simply made out of some scraps I had on my scrapbook desk area. 

This particular card was so simple to make!  I used the new Wildflower Meadows background stamp and matching embossing folder – it packs such a punch!  In fact, my mom loved this card so much, she wanted it for her birthday card!  Her birthday is not until September!!!  I just let her make her own card instead! 

I don’t know if you can see it very well in the picture, but the embossing folder matches up almost perfectly with the flowers on the background stamp!  I don’t know if this ever happens to you, but sometimes I get a product that looks really cool and makes very cool effects, but then, when it comes time to use it….well, it turns out to be more trouble than I usually want to go to on a daily basis.  Yeah, that’s what I thought….I’m not the only person who has really innovative products collecting dust because I don’t use them enough!

This is completely NOT TRUE of these embossing folders!  It was literally SO EASY to match up the stamped image with the embossing folder!  Wow!  I hope SU makes more of these!  Super cool! 

Now, if only my magnetic platform would get here….I’ll tell you how much I do or don’t like it as well!!!!

Stamps:  Mosaic Madness, Wildflower Meadows

Ink:  Strawberry Slush, Rich Razzleberry

Paper:  Sahara Sand, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White

Accessories:  Wildflower Meadow Embossing Folder, Small Butterfly punch, Mosaic punch, Basic Rhinestones, Artisan Label punch

Seeing the Possibilities Online Class projects

I recently downloaded the online class Seeing the Possibilities from Stampin’ Up.  I used the Show & Tell photopolymer stamps and followed the ideas presented in the online class.  I happened to make all of these cards while I was on vacation, so I just used what I had on hand.  I did all of these without my handy stamp-a-ma-jig (as you can tell!).

I really like this card for the most part!  Yes, it could be a little more straight.  I didn’t' get my sentiment stamp inked completely….but I love the overall feel of the card! 

I stamped off to create the two toned look with the arrow stamps.  I set up those arrows the same way as the above card – I lined them up on my clear block, but this time I stamped and stamped again right beside the first image.  It looks really neat in real life!

I don’t know if it is the color scheme or the pattern of triangles, but I think I like this card the best.  This card was just a fun moment to let me try out the new in colors!  I think Coastal Cabana and Strawberry Slush are my favorites!  That Baked Brown Sugar is awfully yummy, too, though! 

Stamps:  Show & Tell 1 & 2

Ink:  Strawberry Slush, Island Indigo, Pool Party, Coastal Cabana, Baked Brown Sugar, Pistachio Pudding, Crisp Cantaloupe

Paper:  Whisper White, Island Indigo, Strawberry Slush, Epic Day DSP scrap

Accessories:  Linen Thread, Small scallop circle punch,

Time for the NEW CATALOGUE!

Who’s ready for some items out of the new catalogue already?!?!?!  I know I sure am!  I am very patiently awaiting the arrival of my first items from the new catalogue.  Two of the items I am most excited about are the hexagon punch/stamp set and the magnetic platform for the Big Shot.  What about you?  What are you most excited about? 

Here is the new stamp set called Mosaic Madness.  It has a matching punch that makes putting cards like this together easy as pie! 

Speaking of pie, tonight I made peanut butter pie, but I didn’t have Cool Whip, so I just whipped cream up using whipping cream from scratch.   I put my pie in the freezer for a couple of hours…..only to have peanut butter pie soup.  But, hey, it was good soup! 

Stamps:  Mosaic Madness

Ink:  Midnight Muse, Pool Party, Strawberry Slush

Paper:  Midnight Muse, Strawberry Slush, Whisper White, Epic Day DSP

Accessories:  Mosaic punch

CAS Best of Butterflies

Just a quick stop in today to show a CAS or Clean and Simple card I made not so recently. 

I used Apricot Appeal, a color that has been retired for more than a few years, for the card base.  I stamped a quick and simple thank you in Midnight Muse.  I finished with a butterfly punched out from the Best of Butterflies stamp set.  Yup, it was just that easy!

Stamps:  Best of Butterflies, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink:  Pool Party, Midnight Muse

Paper:  Apricot Appeal, Whisper White

Accessories:  Large Butterfly Punch

Carol Manning: Guest designer

Time flies when you’re having fun!  This past month has been quite hectic – in fact, this  past week has been the first opportunity I have had to play with any of my new products!  I had to stay late at work a few times a week, our daughter had dance and soccer 3 nights a week….and all of that was in addition to our usually busy life! 

We went on vacation as soon as school was out…literally!  We left as soon as I was done with work and headed for Orlando, Florida.  While in Florida we went to all 4 of the Disney parks (Toby and I had tickets for all of the parks from about 4 years ago that didn’t expire).  After that we headed to the beach for a few lazy days!  Now, I am back, refreshed and ready to roll!!!

In the meantime, you get to enjoy some of Carol’s cards that she made for us to enjoy!

		Cards by Carol VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Aren’t you proud of me?  I actually put the cards into an album like Carol sends them to me!  I think you will be excited to find that the sea stamps are in the new catalogue.  Carol has several great cards using these stamps – I think these stamps are great for making manly cards!  She also has several gorgeous vintage cards, a few using the single hello stamp, and my personal favorite, the butterflies! 

Thanks for the inspiration, Carol!  Sorry I have been a bit swamped and have neglected the ol’ blog!  I’m back in action and ready to get back to work – or play, rather!