Card and Page Monday... Sending a Little Love

Good Monday everyone! Just dropping in with a Card and Page post for you. This page was totally inspired by the darling photo of my daughter wearing her favorite sweater...

Journaling reads: "Remember when you said: I'm going to put my hood up so the rest of my body doesn't get cold." LOVE May 2009

And after making this page, I put together a card with my left over ribbon and embelies... and boy am I glad I did because it was my first card ever published in Paper Crafts Magazine...you can find it on page 69 of the January/February 2010 issue (insert big smile here)! What a total surprise and thrill for me... :)

Well all, thanks so much for stopping in today!  I hope you all have a good one:)

Reasons for Mail...Thank You for Being You

Welcome to a new series that I am going to attempt to bring to you every Friday (no guarantees that I'm going to be 100% accurate because after all, I do have a 2 year old and a 4 year old!), called Reasons for Mail. I was going to call it 52 Reasons for Mail, but as I stated before... kids :), so we'll just stick to Reasons for Mail. As card makers, we all create an extraordinary amount of remarkable cards that we do a fab job of sharing around the blogosphere, but how much of it do we really share with the people we encounter in our real day-to-day lives? If you are like me, you probably share a lot during the holidays, but you also probably have a ton of cards that you create on a weekly basis just sitting around waiting for the right occasion... well, this year I want to make an effort to share more everyday.

So that is why every Friday I will post a Reason for Mail. Maybe I should call it The Not So Obvious Reasons for Mail because I'm not going to focus on the obvious reasons to give someone a card, like a birthday, an anniversary or a holiday, but on reasons that will help us connect and build better relationships with the people around us. The things that we often know, but often forget to acknowledge.   

Why mail? It's tangible... it's real... it's a great system that has been around forever... and most importantly, I love the way I feel when I open the mailbox and there is a real letter or card in there for me. I want to share that feeling with my acquaintances, neighbors, and loved ones on a regular basis. What better way to do that than by sharing a gift that I have... the gift of making beautiful cards. This will be my means to make meaningful connections to people in the new year. 

So won't you join me each week on my journey to share more and connect more this year? Whether you recreate the cards I share with you exactly, or just snag the sentiment and throw it on a card that you create for another challenge is not important. What is important is that you send or give a card to someone you know, love and care for...  everyone of you are all so talented and have a true gift to give the people that you know... and what is a gift if it's not shared?

Let's start off with an easy one... Thank You for Being You. You can take this one in many directions... I think that I'm going to give these cards to two people to let them know how much I appreciate them... and how they had such a positive impact on my holiday... by just being themselves:)

To create this card:

1) cut card from kraft (6 1/2 in x 4 1/4 in) 

2) a. cut patterned paper (6 in x 4 1/4 in)  b. ink edges  c. adhere to card

3) stamp sentiment on grid like pp  b. cut in shape of a banner  c. ink edges

4) attach ribbon:  a. cut a slit in the sentiment banner   b. slide ribbon through slit c. adhere to card 

5) embellish with button

Supplies 
Patterned paper: Casual Friday, Cubical and Lunch Hour from Office Lingo by Pink Paislee
Ribbon: Ribbon FX by Hobby Lobby
Buttons: Making Memories Vintage Findings Silver Buttons
Ink: ColorBox Chestnut Roan Chalk Ink, Palette Hybrid Burnt Umber Ink
Clear Stamps: Rachelle Anne Miller Sentiment 1  by Stampavie


I hope you are as excited about this as I am... If you plan on joining me, please leave a comment. I'd love to know about it :) Have a great weekend!

Scrap that Poetry Challenge # 7 Hope

Hello and HAPPY NEW YEAR! Wow, can you believe its 2010?? Not me, it seems like we were just preparing for the year 2000, and now we're 10 years past that ... what happened?? Anyway, its time for another installment of Scrap that Poetry... and I have to say, this one has been the most fun to play along with yet. This week's poem is Hope by Emily Dickinson. Here is the poem...

Hope is the thing with feathers 

That perches in the soul, 

And sings the tune--without the words, 

And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard; 

And sore must be the storm 

That could abash the little bird 

That kept so many warm.

I've heard it in the chillest land, 

And on the strangest sea; 

Yet, never, in extremity, 

It asked a crumb of me.

Most of my reaction to this poem was verbal, so my design was based on my journaling. After reading the poem, I jotted down into my computer all of the thoughts that were racing in my head, organized them, and dropped them over a photo my daughter took in our backyard one evening (rainbow girl wanted a photo of the pretty pink sky;)... Voila, here's my layout... 

Journaling reads: Remember... do not destroy your child's HOPE... HOPE that is unbridled, wildly creative, and a force that can change the path for humankind. Do not destroy HOPE with a maelstrom of anger or negativity... HOPE exists everywhere... we are the only ones that can break the bird's wing and destroy HOPE in humankind. HOPE is a song that never ends as long as we do not let it. May HOPE (Peace, Santa, God... whatever you may call it) always be with you!
Some details...

I hope you play along this week! I'd love to see your work :)

Products: cardstock (Cream Linen & Java by ACW), kraft (Paper reflections), patterned paper (Cosmo Cricket), chipboard (K&Co.), pearls (Kaiser), die cuts (MME), alphabet stickers (Making Memories), glimmer mist and screen (Tattered Angels), border punch (Martha Stewart Crafts)

2S4Y - Laura's Sketch 42

Hi everyone, just stopping in quickly to post a card I made to play along at 2S4Y this week...

To create this card:
1) a. cut card from cream cardstock  b. cut kraft paper mat slightly smaller than size of card (ink edges)
2) a. cut patterned paper (slightly smaller than kraft paper) b. cut patterned paper in half and flip one side c. adhere both pieces to kraft paper
3) a. stitch patterned pieces to kraft paper with a zig zag stitch  b. tie on ribbon  c. adhere to card  d. embellish with flower/leaf
4) a. stamp sentiment on die cut  b. ink edge of die  c. adhere die to card with pop dots

Also, if you are looking for a little ribbon inspiration hop over to Jacksonbelle Embellishments Blog... today's Tuesday Challenge is Rolling in Ribbon:)



Supplies: cream cardstock (AC Moore); kraft (Paper Reflections); patterned paper (Little Ladies from Jana by MLS ); ribbon (ribbonFX by Hobby Lobby); tag (Feeling Groovy "No Worries" Small Accessories from Penny Lane Collection by My Minds Eye); clear stamps (Birthday Cupcakes by inkadinkado); leaves (large bean seed by Jillibean Soup); flower (Alabaster Flowers Alissa by Prima); ink (Chestnut Roan chalk by ColorBox); other (thread)

Sketchy Thursdays ippity Second Chance Challenge

Hi everyone! Did you have a good Christmas? We did in so many lucky ways, but are now all working hard to catch up on our sleep and get back to a somewhat normal routine.

I'm just jumping in to throw up a card up for Sketchy Thursday's Second Chance Challenge (card sketch... whoot!) & the deadline isn't until the 31st so there is still time for you to play along too;) Here's my card...

... yes I'm a snow lover & we didn't get anything but rain here for the holidays, so I'm still waiting for some of that fun white stuff to be dropped here:)  For this card I used Jibber Jabber from Jillibean Soup's Talk Soup Collection as a base with a little Cosmo Cricket Jolly By Golly!, Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses run-ons, Prima pearl flourishes, scrap ribbon and Jolee's Snowflakes to complete the card.

Thanks for stopping in today!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

Hello everyone and happy Wednesday! I just wanted to drop in with one last holiday card to wish you all a heartfelt and Merry Christmas!

I'm signing off until January when I'll be bringing back Card and Page Mondays and I have a new feature that I will share with you on Fridays called Reasons for Mail... I can't wait to share all that I've been working on then:)

May peace be with you all!

products: patterned paper (Joy Ride Collection by College Press), buttons (Mimis Boutique by DeNami Designs), clear stamp (Strictly Sentiments by Renaissance by Design), ribbon (gingham by Bazzill Basics and baker's twine by Knit it Up), other (metallic thread by Coats & Clark), ink (ColorBox)

Jacksonbelle Tuesday Challenge

Its Jacksonbelle Tuesday... you will be hearing that a lot more around here as I am just so happy to announce that starting January 1st, I will join the Jacksonbelle Embellishments Design Team (aka Jacksonbelle Rockstars), which will enable me to bring you fun challenges every Tuesday and a great source for finding the newest and greatest products in the industry...

So I'm pleased to be joining the current Jacksonbelle Rockstars for this week's challenge which is simply to use any product from the store... super simple since Christmas is right around the corner.  I decided to show you this card using that fab Pink Paislee Mistletoe and Co. Paper (with a bit of Amber Road thrown in;) ..  I think I love this holiday collection best this season because it is a refreshing change from all of the pink, red and green/teal combos that are out there... it makes a great masculine card... perhaps this one would work for someone's hubby...

It is super easy to play along in the JBE challenges! All you have to do is post a comment on the JBE blog linking to your blog or card. Be sure to visit the other JBE Rockstars for more fun and inspiration!

Lynda Benden: Stamp Act

Lindsey Botkin: Embellished

Tobi Crawford ~ Tobi’s Place

Jill Dunn: Ink Genious

Heather Lee-Reppen: The Best in Life

Jimmi Mayo ~ Stamping & Shopping

Michelle Philippi ~ Inside My Own Private Idaho

Carly Robertson ~ Paper in Bloom

Stephanie Severin ~ Ingenious Inkling

Shemaine Smith ~ Scraptastic

Amy Tsuruta ~ Tsuruta Designs

Happy Tuesday! Thanks for stopping in:)


Sketch: CPS 72

CPS 147

Just jumping in quickly to share my take CPS sketch this week... three cute and fun tags using some of the scraps that are laying around my workspace and American Crafts Stamp Collection clear holiday stamps.

Thanks for stopping by!

Last Minute Gift Ideas...

Just stopping by today to share a few last minute gift ideas that I am going to squeeze in...

A CD case desktop calendar for a coworker or fellow crafter...

I cranked this one out in about 10 minutes, start to finish. You can purchase these fab calendar templates from Kwernerdesign Blog. I was looking for a super fast way to decorate... and even though I'm really getting into stamping... I just didn't think it would be quick enough. So I pulled out my glimmer mist and screens (any type of reverse stencil would work) and after a few spritzes here and there... you've got an elegant but simple to make gift.

Another gift that I found to be simply stunning were these salt and dough ornaments. You can find the details on Abigail Money's blog Down Abbie's Road. I haven't made any yet, but certainly plan too... I'd love to take theses elegant and stunning ornaments as little gifts to everybody I visit next week (and would it be fun to share all of your favorite stamps this way;)


Take care!

Yikes... Friday Already??

Just dropping in quickly to share a homespun Christmas card...

size: 5.5 in x 4.25 in

1) cut card form kraft 

2) cut patterned paper slightly smaller than card, mount on red cardstock and sew to card 

3) punch scallop border, ink edges and adhere to card 

4) adhere ribbon, twine, flowers, buttons, and hearts to card 

5) stamp sentiment on kraft, cut out and attach to card with pop dots

Thanks for stopping in! I hope you are enjoying a slew of (happy) holiday activity:)

Products: patterned paper (Gingerbread Lane from The Merry Days of Christmas by MME); red cardstock (Archivers); felt poinsettias (Hero Arts); mini buttons (Basic Grey); burlap twine (May Arts); leaves (small bean seeds by Jillibean Soup); rubber sentiment stamp (Picture Show); cream ruffled ribbon (May Arts); red metal hearts (ColorBok); red hybrid ink (Technique Tuesday); Chestnut Roan chalk ink (ColorBox); punch (EK Success); other (thread)

Snowy Stitches... Moxie Fab World Challenge

So I started off tonight making a card for Moxie Fab World's All Creatures Great & Small Challenge (you can play along too until Monday, December 21) and it turned into a little series of cards... all stitched and snowy:)

First is my Moxie entry... I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this little penguin (and just needed an reason excuse to pull him out of my stash;)

 And then I got going on the snowflakes and couldn't stop...

...and all of this snowy craft gets me dreaming of a white Christmas. We have a little snow in the forecast for the weekend... perhaps we'll get lucky:) How about you... are you up for a snowy holiday?

Have a terrific Thursday:) Thanks for stopping in today!



Products: patterned paper (Cosmo Cricket), metal sticker dots (HeroArts), snowflakes (Making Memories), kraft (Paper reflections), ribbon (American Crafts, Bazzill Basics) metal hearts (ColorBok), other (ink & baker's twine)

Catch Up on Your Christmas Scrapbook Pages...

... and play along with us over at Scrap That Poetry. The poem for Challenge #6 is "The Night Before Christmas." If you are like me you probably have it memorized... if not, you can click on over to read it.  This poem of course arouses visions of my little sugar plums not dancing, but sleeping in their beds...

Journaling reads: ... not a creature was stirring... not even a mouse... 12/24/05... the one and only time you two have ever slept together

When Jenn emailed us the December poems I knew that I had to scrap this photo... (not a great photo but) it is the one and only time that these two have ever slept together so it is one of my favs (how darling is that to see your two little ones all snuggled in their bed?)... Hadley is not one for snuggling... even at a young age she only wanted her own bed, so this event is one of a kind:)

Hope to see you over at STP! Have a great week!

products: patterned paper and stickers (K&Co.), baker's twine (Knit It Up), bells (Darcie), journaling card (CollegePress), other (pink satin ribbon & cream thread)

Warm Winter Dreams...

... thought I'd save these photos that I captured in St. Augustine, FL for a cold winter day. That, my friends, is here in Cincy today.

Can you feel the warm sun on your face accompanied by a 78 degree day? Have a loving and warm (even if its only on the inside) Sunday!

Our First Real Snow...

Ok, so today we had our first "REAL" snow according to my four year old... naturally, we went outside to make snow angels...

... if only we could see the world from the eyes of a child. We spent quite a bit of time outside this morning playing in our first "REAL" snow... my little munchkins had a ball running around, tossing snow back and forth... giggling and laughing... and playing along as of there were 3 feet of snow.

I have a quick holiday share tonight... the one was birthed as I was trying to work out a design with this lovely little tree stamp for my holiday cards... this wasn't the winner, but once I get my cards out in the mail I will share it with you.

That's all for today (and thank you all for your kind words about my little gnomes and Moxie Fab win:) Have a fab Friday!

Meet Peace and Noel... Moxie Fab Christmas in the Old Country Challenge

I'm addicted... I never thought of myself as moxie fab, but I just love Cath's challenges! This one (and yes, I'm cutting it down to the wire) entitled Christmas in the Old Country Challenge is all about "channeling the global ghost of Christmas past."

My inspiration is from the darling Scandanavian felted gnomes on Cath's post... I just couldn't stop thinking about those cuties... and since I have two very girly gnomes running around this house, I decided to make a pair of paper gnomes (paper dolls;) for my little cuties.

Meet Peace and Noel...

Have a super Tuesday!

products: patterned paper (Jillibean Soup and Cosmo Cricket); cardstock (Bazzill Basics Dotted Swiss), pearls (Mark Richards), sentiment stickers (EK Success); other (felt, floss, bells, thread)