Christmas Mini Album

I made two more mini albums like this one that I made in September. I just love the size of these books. They measure 5 -1/8-inches by 8-inches. To me they are just the perfect size. For my cover I used a Sizzix die and cut a bunch of the branches. I then cut them apart and made them into a wreath. The embellshment came from my stash of wreath making supplies. The bow is made from some ribbon in my stash using a tutorial from Gina K. I took some classes from Bella Crafts Connection at the Mall of America and she was kind enough to let me tape her creating one. Bows are so hard for me! I either have to use a fork or another thing I have to make bows with. 

I decided to add two waterfalls to this book. One on the inside front and back cover.  I wasn't sure if I'd need to increase the spine or not. Turns out it worked out and the spine is the same size as the other books I made. 

I just love that there are so many pockets and places for photo mats.

I came across this paper by accident. I had stopped into Hobby Lobby for a pack of Kraft paper and walked by a display of paper that was 50% off. I looked at it, went on my way and went pack and loved it so much I picked up the 12x12 and the 6x6-inch pads. It's called Old World Winter. It has a little bit of texture to it and I love that.

That's it! I didn't add any embellishments to the inside. There is room, but I think the paper is beautiful that it's doesn't really need anything else. I want the book to have room for photos and or journaling. 

My next post will be another book using the same concept just changed up a bit. 

Thanks for stopping by!

February Swap Card

It's time to share the cards I created for a swap I'm in. I can't believe how fast the month has flown by! It seems Like I just sent them off and now it's time to get new cards ready for the March swap. I really thought I'd have time to participate in some challenges and do some blogging about them. It seems there just isn't a lot of extra time for such things lately. 

I saw a video in on of the groups I belong to on Facebook for triple time embossing. I've always wanted to try the triple time stamping but I just haven't gotten around to it. This technique looked easy and I liked the look so that's what I went with this time for my swap cards. You can see the video I watched here.

For my first card above I used an embossing folder from Cuttlebug called Leafy Branch. The distress ink I used is called mowed lawn.

This card uses an embossing folder from The Paper Studio called Intricate Swirl. The distress ink color is fossilized amber. 

My final card uses an embossing folder called Whimsy from We R Memory Keepers and the distress ink used is salty ocean.

I loved using this technique and I'm sure I'll use it again. I don't think all embossing folders will work for this technique, but it doesn't hurt to try any that you may have. Now I'll have to try the triple stamping!

Thanks for stopping by! 

Unscripted Sketches 5th Blog-iversary + A Giveaway!

Unscripted Sketches is celebrating their 5th Blog-iversary! 

We've got some fun giveaway's planned. 

Head over to the Unscripted Sketches Blog to check out all the fun!!

Here's my take on this week's sketch:

 

I used some Golden Light Molding Paste with a Prima stencil for my design on black cardstock from PaperTrey Ink. The background paper peeking out from behind is called Everyday Kraft from the Paper Studio. I die cut the burlap flowers using the Tattered Flowers Die from Tim Holtz using the Burlap Stack from DCWV. Sentiment is from Hero Arts called "Thank You For Being My Friend".

For the Blog-iversary I'm giving away a Sympathy Stamp set from Hero Arts called Remember.

To be eligible to win here's what you need to do:

1. Become a follower on either my Blog or my Facebook page (or both!).

2. Leave a comment.

Winner will be chosen at random Friday, April 18th and announced on my blog on Saturday, April 19th. 

Hope you'll join us this week with your take on the sketch above. All the details are on the blog post over at Unscripted Sketches!

This post is also linked up to Virginia's View Challenge.

Thanks for stopping by!

Products Used For This Card:

Base Cardstock - PTI in True Black & White

Patterned Paper - the Paper Studio - Everyday Kraft, DCWV - Burlap Stack

Ink - Tim Holtz Distress - Black Soot, Ranger Archival Ink - Jet Black

Gems - DCWV Gem Stickers

Stamp - Hero Arts - Thank You For Being My Friend - CL487
Flowers - Tim Holtz Tattered Flower Die
Prima - Stencil
Golden Light Molding Paste

Unscripted Sketches #251 - Sharing In Your Sorrow

Hello and happy Saturday! It's time for another sketch design from Unscripted Sketches. I toyed with several different variations of how I wanted to work with this sketch and this is what I settled on. It was a hard decision for me. 

I chose to use a chevron cutting plate from Taylored Expressions for the bottom half of my card. The design covers the whole card, but I only used a half sheet of card stock when I cut the design. 

For the patterned paper I used Bella Bohemia from The Paper Studio. I love the colors in this collection!

To create my flower I used scalloped circles from Spellbinders. I spritzed the circles with water, scrunched them and dried them with my heat tool. You can also let them air dry. 

Be sure to stop by out check out all the other Design Team Members Blogs:

Adriana

Billie

Claire

Debbie

Henna

Kimberly

Michelle

Patty - that's me!

Rebecca

SarahKaye

Shirr

Susan

Tammy

Tracey

Hope you'll join us this week with your take on the sketch above. All the details are on the blog post over at Unscripted Sketches!

Products Used For This Card:

Base Cardstock - PTI in Vintage Cream & Scarlet Jewel

Patterned Paper - Bella Bohemia - The Paper Studio

Ink - Tim Holtz Distress - Vintage Photo & Black Soot

Cutting Plate - Chevron Cutting Plate by Taylored Expressions

Stamp - Hero Arts - Remember - CL577
Ribbon - Really Reasonable Ribbon
Spellbinders - Scalloped Circles
Misc - Button, Jute

Believe

I've made it a goal of mine to make cards with every stamp I have this year. I had so many sets that I purchased and only used once or twice. I went through them, weeded them out and sold them. I have a lot of new ones now and they're too cute to just let sit. I also have many embossing folders I've picked up and am going to try and use more. I'm so guilty of buying certain items and then they just get lost in my craft room somewhere. 

For this card I used a stamp set from Sweet 'n Sassy called Celebrate Today. The patterned paper is from DCWV - The Old World Stack and The Paper Studio - Bella Bohemia. I know it's hard to see, but the black strip on the far left is a piece of fabric called Additions by Mark Richards. It's almost has a light burlap/linen feel to it. I die cut the edge with the Tim Holtz Alterations - Torn Notebook.  I die cut the oval with the Spellbinders Beaded Oval Die and then cut it in half. The Field Grasses die is from Die-Namites. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Mother's Day Card

I'm back with another card using patterned paper from the Domestic Goddess Collection from Graphic 45. Hopefully you won't be tired of seeing cards with this paper! I pulled it out of my stash the other day when I participated in a challenge. I love all the patterns so I decided to create a few more cards using it. 

I love mixing patterns! I've had a few comments from people before that have questioned some of my choices. I  guess my thoughts on that are if you like it, don't worry about what others think!

I love making flowers. This is one that I learned to make several years ago. For the sentiment I used the Fancy Tags from Spellbinders. I die cut it on cream cardstock and then again on patterned paper. I cut the center out of the one from the patterned paper and then adhered it onto the cream one. For the flower I used scalloped circles from Nestabilities. 

I used Tim Holtz Black Soot Distress Ink around all the edges. The gemstones are from The Paper Studio and Queen & Co. I created the sentiment on the computer using one of the many fonts I have downloaded. 

Here's a closer view of my dimensional flower. 

Thanks for stopping by! This post is linked to these parties:

Crafty Showcase

Handmade Tuesdays

Take-A-Look Tuesday

Thank You & Birthday Cards

We've had so many things going on in our life lately and I'm afraid my blog has really had a low priority. I created this thank you card for our neighbors. They were so helpful in shoveling our sidewalks and taking care of our dog with just a last minute notice. I included a gift card for them and had to get the card made quickly since they are moving this weekend. 

I added some dimension to the sentiment by using foam tape to pop it up. I inked all the edges with Tim Holtz black soot ink. The patterned paper is from Creative Imaginations. I used an embossing folder called Chevron by Darice. The pennant is a Spellbinders Shapeabilities called Nested Pennants. The gemstones are from Hero Arts as is the Thank You stamp. The stamp set is called Find Joy CL497. Cardstock base is from PTI. 

I joined a group called Scrappy Girls and we have an optional birthday club list we can join. Well.....naturally with everything going on I'm behind in getting my card sent out! This card is going in the mail tomorrow. We do have a public Facebook page that anyone can join called Scrappy Girls Make It Better. It's a page where we share things that we create. You can check it out here.

For this card I used cardstock from PTI. The stamp set is also from PTI and is called Think Big Favorites #12 Stamp Set #2473. I used two embossing folders. One is called Dots & Flowers by Sizzix and the other is called Intricate Swirl from The Paper Studio. The pearl gemstones are from Hero Arts. I inked up my embossing folder with Tim Holtz Fired Brick Distress Ink, added my cardstock and then ran it through my Big Shot. I love kraft, red and white. One of my favorite color combinations. 

I really feel bad about not posting much lately. I do have another post in the works. I also have many projects that are currently in process. I'm trying to get caught up and spend more time crafting. Thanks for stopping by!

I've linked this post to this party:
Chic and Crafty Party!

Layout: Tree Of Life

Every year when we return from vacation my husband goes through all the photos we've taken and we choose the ones we like best for frames for our "vacation wall". We've finally ran out of room on the wall we're currently using. We're going to have to use the wall that goes up our stairway next. We had a few pictures we didn't use so I decided to do a layout with one of them. I haven't even started going through the photos to see what I want to scrap yet. Wait....I have MANY vacations that need to be scrapped. I'm always behind :)

For this layout I checked some of my favorite sites for sketches and settled on a one-photo sketch from Got Sketch? It's sketch 115 and you can see it here.

We took this photo at Animal Kingdom's signature landmark, The Tree of Life. The tree towers 14 stories and has hundreds of carvings depicting all manner of wildlife. It's a very stunning symbol of the interdependence of all living things.

The patterned paper I used is from a stack called Bella Bohemia by The Paper Studio. I picked it up when I visited Hobby Lobby. I love all the patterns and the colors. I have a tendency to gravitate toward darker colors. I originally bought it to use for some mini albums so I'm excited to start working on them.

For the lettering I used Tim Holtz idea-ology Random Alpha Parts. I used the EK Success bracket punch for the edges of the cardstock behind the photo and I used Sizzix framelits for the diecut used behind the lettering. I had this very sturdy piece of burlap leftover from a project I made using Canvas Corp products. It fit perfectly as a mat behind my photo. I also added journaling on a tag that I inserted into a mini bag from Canvas Corp.

I made the twine flowers and I just adore them! The centers are brads from Bazzill. Here's the tutorial I used to make them.


This post is linked to these parties: Saturday Showcase, Think Pink Sundays, Craft-O-Maniac Monday, Made by you Monday, Make it Great Monday, All Things Fee, A Marvelous Mess

Thanks for looking!

Graduation Cards

I'm so behind in posting cards I created for a custom order. I'm hoping in the next week or so to get them all blogged. In total I made 21 cards. Some of the ones I've already blogged about can be seen here and here.

For the background on this card I used an embossing folder from The Paper Studio that I picked up at Hobby Lobby. It's called Intricate Swirl. The cardstock is from PTI in pure poppy, true black and white. I used an EK Success punch called open scallop on the border of the white cardstock. For the hat I just used a black square of cardstock and added a black brad. The tassel is made from black crotchet thread. I just rolled up white paper for the diploma. The letters are from EK Success called alpha mod script.

I used a Sizzix die for the leaves on this card. I've had this die for quite awhile. The velvet flowers are from Prima, the white ones are from Hero Arts. The stamp is from Heidi Grace Designs called clear stamp quotes. Cardstock is from PTI, Bazzill. I also used some black sparkle paper and black brads for the flower centers.

When I created this card, I didn't realize I had used the same sentiment as the card above this one! I guess I have too many stamps and can't keep track of all of them! This stamp is from Hero Arts called anytime messages CL129. Other items include black metallic decor from Hero Arts, black/white twine, red and black sparkle paper and cardstock from PTI. I used Sizzix fancy labels for the dies.

Life's Possibilities from Tim Holtz is the stamp I used on this card. The embossing folder used for the kraft border is called argyle and black/white twine is tied around it. Hero Arts gemstones in red are used around the sentiment. The cardstock is from PTI and I also used red sparkle paper.

I used black and silver sparkle paper for the stars. The stars were cut using a die from Sizzix. The stamp is from Hero Arts called everyday sayings CL342.

I am having a hard time finding stamps with a graduation theme. I have looked everywhere! I don't care for the real cutesy ones with owls and things. I just want some decent sentiments and maybe a few other stamps to coordinate that aren't real detailed. I could use a few simple dies also. I just can't believe they are that difficult to come by. I've scoured all stores I go to and have checked online. Maybe I'm not looking in the right places. If anyone knows of any, please let me know! Some decent baby stamps and dies would also be nice too.

The other day I received an email from Nicole over at Raggedy Creek Creations. She asked permission to use one of my cards in a post she was writing. How nice was that!! She was creating a graduation card and had found one I made last year that she was going to use as inspiration to make hers. The card I created is here and you can see her take on it here.

Larger images of all these cards can be seen in my Flickr account.

This post is linked here: Crafty Confessions: Tuesday Confessional Link Party, Made by You Monday, Take-A-Look Tuesday

Thanks for stopping by!