Live, Laugh, Love...

Happy Tuesday! I hope all is well... school starts here in 1 week and we are very busy wrapping up all of the last minute details. Our preschool is a coop so all of the parents are busy setting up the school, getting it cleaned up and prepared for our little ones to have some of their first school experiences... there are such precious memories there and even more to come with Hadley soon... I am so happy to be a part of such a wonderful school!

Here is a card that I made using one of my favorite patterns from one Piggy Tales newest collection's Thumbelina mixed with Pebble's Tree House collection.

To make card:

1) make card from patterned paper 
2) adhere green center square and sew around edge 
3) adhere sentiment sticker 
4) fussy cut flower and leaf elements from patterned paper and adhere to card with foam tape 
5) hand cut small heart and adhere to center of small yellow flower

I hope you are all well & happy!

August Inspiration... Home Towns

Hi all! Its Windy here today to share my layout based on this inspiration...

... and the prompts: What makes your town special? Why do you love living where you do?  What is your favorite thing to do in town? 

After thinking long and hard about what approach to take... I decided to poll the kids and see what their answers were to the questions. Because in reality... what is true in my life right now is them and what they love to do. As a result of that conversation, I decided to create a layout about our favorite spot in Cincinnati... 

Patterned papers (Homespun Chic collection); border strips (Artsy Urban & Homespun Chic collections), brads (Homespun Chic collection, butterflies (Artsy Urban collection)

...I'm certain it will change... probably every year... but I love knowing (and having it documented) that this is their favorite 3 and 5 year old spot. Perhaps this will start a new tradition for me of scrapping our favorite spot in the city every year?

Piggy Tales Academy September Kit

Hello! Just dropping in with a peak of Piggy Tales Academy's September Kit. Click HERE for the details.

 

Doesn't all of that bright & colorful product look like so much fun to play with? Just what you need to get all of those summer photos scrapped. Speaking of scrapped, my goal this week is to get at least 1 page scrapped (it has been way too long). Do you have any paper crafting plans for the weekend?

Back To School

Ok... so we are getting into the school mode here...  we are almost set. We hunted every big box for the perfect color and sized Twinkle Toes... we've found the cutest 1st day outfits... haircuts scheduled... and I have given up on finding a good sized backpack for my young children locally and ordered online... I even made the girl's back pack tags using some of my favorite Jillibean Soup.

... I know... they don't look very durable... but don't worry. I know where to find more supplies to make more if needed... now, if only I could figure out how to make a backpack from paper...

In Loving Memory...

I've been stamping away for Paper Crafts current stamp call (and they extended the deadline to the 30th... so if you were thinking about it you still have time to give it a try) ... my fingers are stained red and pink and my white desktop is now a rainbow of color despite my attempt to keep it clean.

Here is a card that I made for the call, photographed it and then decided I didn't like it. When I do this I always try to rework the card, which resulted in a fatality for this one... my sewing machine pretty much chewed it up (yes you can imagine my reaction)... so in loving memory (and as a way to help me let it go), I thought I'd share its original carnation here.

To create card:
1) stamp and emboss frame with red ink (red brick distress ink)
2) stamp bird (tea dye distress ink)
3) stamp sentiment with black ink
4) ink and blend edges of card (tea dye)
5) embellish with crystals and button

Happy Saturday! Thanks so much for spend a part of it here:)

For all my Twilight loving friends...

... a couple of things using Creative Imaginations Breathless Collection. Since my girls are still pretty young, we are more into rainbow fairies and Tinker bell... but I know many of you are big fans... so these go out to you:)

These guys are super simple to create... just a few stickers & ribbon on a pre-made journal (7 Gypsies) and embossed cardstock (Tim Holtz damask folder by Sizzix).

Well I have to run... the girls decided to giving Maggie the cat a new hairdo... I just saw them run and get the hairspray so I must intervene:) Have a great Friday!

What's on My Desk...

...tons of Unity. I am a diehard fan and monthly kit club member. I'm not much of a stamper, but every bit of my stamping passion is due to Unity... I just love their style & their sentiments rock.

Love is a promise, love is a souvenir once given never forgotten, never let it disappear. John Lennon

As a newbie stamper I own only 2 Copic markers (yes... I know... but for my pocketbook's sake I have held out as long as I could on the whole stamping thing... until this point)... so I'm proud to say that these "Promise"cards are my first ever colored card! So I started simple... I know a big red heart isn't that spectacular...but I took the plunge:)  

To create card:

1) make card from cardstock and round bottom corners

2) tie on bow and adhere crystals

3) stamp image on cardstock, color with marker, fussy cut and adhere to card with foam tape

Products: patterned paper (Graphic 45), rubber stamp (A Little Happy by Unity), marker (Crimson by Copic), crystals (Zva Creative), pigment ink (Onyx by Tsukineko), ribbon (from my scrap stash)

To create card:

1) make card form cardstock

2) adhere kraft mat

3) ink edge of patterned paper and adhere to card

4) stamp heart and color with marker

5) tie on bows and embellish with mini keys

Products: patterned paper (Basic Grey), rubber stamp (A Little Happy by Unity), marker (Crimson by Copic), keys (7 Gypsies), pigment ink (Vintage Sepia by Tsukineko), chalk ink (Chestnut Roan by Superior)

I just love those old keys... they remind me of the doors in my parent's old farmhouse. Anyway... what gets you using the stuff on your desk? Here's to a crafty week!

Ribbon Embellishment Tutorial

Hi everyone! Its Windy here to share a quick and easy way to add an elegant ribbon embellishment to your cards and scrapbook pages...

To make this stacked ribbon:

1) cut various lengths of ribbon (cut each piece 2x the length of desired bow + 1")

2) make each ribbon into a loop and fasten with a stapler or glue dot

3) cinch ribbon in center

4) punch hole in center

5) attach decorative brad to hold layers together

Super simple... right? Here's another card using the same technique:) I hope you enjoy!

All patterned paper for both projects from Artsy Urban collection

Gift for a Crafty Girl

Hello! How was your week? Ours was another quick one... we are just trying to enjoy every minute of what we have left of the summer. I'm quickly dropping in tonight with a gift set for a crafty friend...

journal

note cards

mini note book for purse

Thanks for stopping by & happy summer:)

All paper, chipboard & metal embellishments from GCD Studio's Homespun Chic collections; Flowers by Prima; Ribbon by Michael's Stores Inc & the rest from my stash of scraps:)

Bib Necklace...

Last weekend I was lucky to be able to run up to Chicago to attend CHA's SuperShow (thanks sweetie;) and I loved it because there were so many different types of crafts that you could try your hand at (paper crafts, jewelry making, sewing, crafty painting, etc.)... super fun if you like to dabble in this & that the way that I do. Anyway, I just wanted to share this project that I made at the CHA SuperShow...

It is one of my favs and it was so nice to meet its creator Shannon Dennis, an awesome crafty author, seamstress and mom from one of my favorite cities ever... CLEVELAND!  Anyway... can you see the many applications for these type of flowers on scrapbook pages and cards?

Thanks for stopping in today! I hope you all have a great week:)

Love Notes...

I LOVE the shabby style, but for some reason I just can't nail it... it is defiantly a challenge for me. Here is an attempt at a shabby little journaling book...

...so I sat on it for a few days... looking at it... but just NOT loving it. So I ripped it apart and tried again...

... this time I'm feeling it. Its still not Melissa Phillips shabby or Beatriz Jennings shabby, but its a start... what style is the hardest for you to master? 

Products-Cardstock: (kraft) DMD, Inc.; Patterned paper: (Valentina collection glitter paper) Anna Griffin, Chalk Ink: (ColorBox Chestnut Roan) Clearsnap, Accent: (metal/Tim Holtz vintage button) Advantus, (Alabaster/Alyssa Flowers) Prima Marketing, (metal/ mini keys) 7gypsies , Fibers: (cream, 1 1/2" organdy ribbon) Michael's Stores Inc, (cream/ thread) Coats & Clark, (burlap/twine) May Arts, (cream & white/lace) Webster's Pages, Font: (CK Wellington font) http://www.creatingkeepsakes.com, Other: (Roma Book Cover) 7 gypsies

August Piggy Tales Academy Kits

Piggy Tales Academy has their August kit posted... it is super fun and perfect for back-to-school scrapping... you can check it out HERE.

Here are a few cards you can make from the kit...

Super Friends

1) make card using backside of patterned paper (Hillside)

2) layer card with backside of Bridge patterned paper and front side of Hillside (punch both edges with scalloped edge punch or scissors)

3) apply sentiment to scrap paper and adhere to card with yellow chipboard bracket

4) embellish with brads and stars

cool! 

1) make card with backside of Sieve patterned paper 

2) mat rectangle of Fairy Godmother patterned paper to its yellow backside and adhere to card

3) adhere red barn door tag to card and embellish with rub-on, star, disc and brad

4) tie bow on to card (optional)

I love this kit... it includes bright colors, fun embellishments, awesome rub ons and chipboard, and some really cool school themed patterned papers. 

Have a fab Friday!

BIG Give-a-Way Contest

Hey all! GCD Studios has a huge give-a-way contest going on over at its blog. If you have been eyeing the new Chip Art tool... you'll like this prize. Here it is...

The Chipart Tool, metal stamps, cute chipboard, paint brushes and much more (as seen in photo) is worth more than $150.00! 

Now this is a contest, and you only have until August 29th to enter so click on over HERE to find out about the details... I'd love to see your work over there:)

I've been playing around with my chip art butterflies...

It is so much fun to de boss chipboard designs and then release my inner artist by dragging out all of my old paints and Modge Podge that had been hiding in my storage for years.

I'm not sure what I'm going to do with these guys yet, but I'm certain that you'll be seeing them again on a card or layout of the girls. Take care & good luck if you decide to enter:)

Proud to be Artsy

With the most primitive means the artist creates something which the most ingenious and efficient technology will never be able to create. -Kasimir Malevich

Products: patterned paper, border and patch (GCD Studios Homespun Chic collection), ribbon (Michael's Stores Inc.)