Lawnscaping #8 - 2nd Entry

Back again today. Really making up for those two weeks I was M.I.A. ;). Hope your week has been good to you so far. Today is my Friday, which always makes me ecstatic!!! I work four 10 hour days and have Friday, Saturday, and Sunday off. Thank God, but I’m pooped by the end of today, I’ll tell you that.

Today I wanted to share what would've been my 2nd entry into the Lawnscaping #8 Challenge. It was due by yesterday, but I wanted to share it with ya today anyway:

I just can’t ever get enough adorable Owls. I love them all. I really, REALLY want the Lawn Fawn Critters in the Forest stamp set - I love all of those little critters included in the set, especially that Owl!!! I’ll have to wait it out though :(. Must stay on my budget. Anyway, I used this adorable Hampton Arts Owl Stamp instead. I got it a while ago from my A.C. Moore trip. That store seriously rocks for stamps & stamp goodies!!! I’ve only been there once (it’s a little far away from me), but do plan on visiting again someday.

I had a lot of fun with this card. It’s for my Grandma who lives in Upstate NY. I’ve gotten a BUNCH of cards from her this past month. One for my son’s B-Day, one for my Anniversary, a congrats card for my son (for getting Student of the Month), Easter Cards for the kids, and now my hubby’s birthday (which was yesterday). I decided it was time I send her one back! I’m over due, I guess. I think I get my love making people smile through sending cards from her ;). Here’s a look at the finished product:

and a wonky view... for the dimensions:

I thought this paper {October Afternoon’s “Seaside” - from an 8x8 pack} was a perfect choice for this card - so bright and fun!! It’s still pretty chilly up her way, so I thought this would remind her that the warm weather will come soon. I used the map page inside the Polaroid because it makes me think the owl’s taking a balloon ride from FL to NYC ;)... I wish.

I picked up those awesome (Fiscars) Cloud punches last weekend (YAY for punches being 40% off at Joanne Fabrics!!) And decided this was the perfect card to use them on. I popped one of them up with foamies, then paper pieced the owl’s balloon (3 times!!) and also popped them up (3 times!!) - and attached them to the owl with bakers twine from The Twinery and a glue dot around his hand. I like it. Came out c-ute!

That’s probably all for me for the week. I’ll be foot loose & fancy free until Monday. Hopefully creating up a storm - when I’m not playing with my family, of course ;). Have a great weekend!!!

It's Sneaky Peek Time!!!

Hey there crafty ladies, I’m so happy to share my sneaks with you for the May Paper Niche kit!!! Holy cow this is one amazing kit. I know, I know, I say it every time, but wow! This one has been - no question - my ABSOLUTE favorite kit so far. Ever. I love that there is a bunch of Crate Paper (Portrait) goodies in this one!!! I was SO super inspired by it and I hope you are too. Here is a looksie at my sneaky peeks:




Looks promising right?!?!? I just can not say it enough, I’m in LOVE with this kit! Now, don’t forget, they’ll be having sneak peeks the rest of this week over on Paper Niche's Blog up until the full reveal, next week. Tara kicked inspiration week off yesterday :D. For more inspiration, you can check out our individual blogs too: Gine, Bea, Veronica, Tara, and me, of course, you're here :D.

What are you up to this week, friends? I've got tons to do, project wise!! My mom, mother-in-law, and sister-in-law all have birthdays in June! Starting with my mom on June 1st! Because of my budget, I'll be giving them all creative gifts! Got to get started!! Also, teacher appreciation week is coming the 1st week in May. Time to get busy! The good thing is, I'll have losta goodies to share on the ol' blog :D.

Speaking of which, thanks for always visiting me & for all of your sweet comments! They really make me smile & feel super happy! I hope you have a wonderful day!!

Mother's Day Card/Wee Memories Challenge #53

Hi there. Another day, another challenge around here ;). Today, I wanted to share a card I made a little while ago to submit for a Paper Crafts publication call - which it wasn’t picked up for. At least I can share on it here now ;). I made it for my mom for Mother’s Day. I was thinking it’s perfect for the Wee Memories Challenge #53:
YAY! Girlyness... I think this card may just be perfect for her! Here’s a look:



The patterned paper is from a 6x6 pad of Bo Bunny’s “Crazy Love”. I’m really liking the 6x6 paper pads. They’re perfect for smaller patterns of great patterned paper - perfect for cards. I used Lawn Fawn’s Sew Lovely, Bannerific, and Jessie’s ABCs. I’m loving that Lacy Martha Stewart Punch, but haven’t used it much at all. Thought this was a nice project for it. The pink silky ribbon is from May Arts, I believe. I accented it with some bakers twine from The Twinery, and a Basic Grey Button. The toole is Glitz Designs. It was included in my 1st Paper Niche DT Kit, back in February. I love the girly twist it gives the silhouette.

It’s right up my mom’s alley. Girly & fun. I'm thinking I need to make another for my mother-in-law ;).

I’ll be back tomorrow with my Paper Niche May sneaky peeks. EEK! I love this kit. It had... WAIT FOR IT... Crate Paper!!! I made a special request - and got my wish!!! I love the projects I got out of the kit - and had tons of goodies left over. Can. Not. Wait. To. Share!!! Thanks for peeking at my goodies!!! I hope you have an awesome day.

Lawnscaping #8/Card Patterns #112 Challenge Combo ;)

Good morning all!! It’s been so long since I’ve posted that I decided to complete/combine two challenges in one post today! YAY!!

I hope everyone had a great Easter yesterday! Mine was really nice. Went to church, then they had a little Easter egg hunt for the kids. Such fun!! Then afterwards, they had breakfast there with friends, it was really a nice day. My favorite New Yorkers were here until Saturday, that’s why I haven’t posted in a while. Too busy having family fun time. We were all really sad to see them go, but I just couldn’t get my creative mojo flowing while they were here. That’s how it goes.

So, this weekend I got an invite to a dear friend’s baby shower. I’m super excited, they’re in our bible study group - some of our most valued and cherished friends. They tried for this baby girl that’s on the way for 2 long years!! We’re all just so happy for them!!! I’m still thinking hard about what to make them for the shower...

Anywho, I decided to combine the Lawnscaping #8 Challenge with the Card Patterns #112 Challenge
This is only my second time combining challenges. It kind of intimidates me, but I’m going for it anyway!!! I'm also sad I haven't been able to get Lawn Fawn's Critters in the Forest Stamp Set yet :( {boooo}. I love the critters, I've just been on a tight budget. I decided to dig through my stash to complete this card. Here's a look at what I came up with:




I used the new Fancy Pants’ “It’s the Little Things” 6x6 deck which I picked up from Paper Niche a few weekends ago {horray for coupons!!}. I’m just in love with these papers. I distress inked them up a bit with Weathered Wood & Worn Lipstick (I think these are my 2 new favorite Distress Inks!!). I got that beautiful ribbon from i{heart}papers a few months ago and had been dying to use it - beautiful!!! I’m not the best bow tier (yea, I don’t think that’s a word either, but I’m going with it), but think it came out pretty good. It did take me a bit longer than it’s probably take a normal person, but that’s ok. I used Lawn Fawn’s Say Cheese, Sophie’s Sentiments, and Bannerific combined with that adorable Owl, which I believe is Hero or Hampton Arts. This HAS to be one of my favorite owls, but I never saved the packaging, Sorry :(. I popped the owl & banner up with foamies for extra fun ;). Then I finished off the card with some Papertrey Ink buttons. On the inside of the card, I stamped “Congrats” (also from Sophie’s Sentiments).

That's it for me today. Well, how about some sweet Easter pics for ya??? You know you wanna see...

This is my sweet little Alivia and sis-in-law, Dawn coloring Ester Eggs on Friday:

Here is Christian & my niece, Kristen (who we call KK when she's here, because Christian & Kristen are not so easy to say when the two of them are together - we say the wrong name constantly!!), also coloring eggs:

Then here are Alivia, Paige (niece), and Christian with their goodies after the church's Egg Hunt:

My grandparents made them all the baskets, Paige forgot hers at home, so, she used one they made for my hubby :). I treasure them! I had one when I was a little girl, and it means so much to me that now my babies have them!

Ok, now that's really all for me today! Hope you have a great Monday!

More Paper Niche (APRIL) Projects #s 3 & 4 & 5...whew!

Sheesh, I've been absolutely going crazy, I tell ya! I didn't realize that this didn't post!!! Had it all set up for Sunday, and... nope, it didn't. So, these are the rest of my projects made with Paper Niche April kit.

I just can't say enough how much fun I had with this kit!!! It was just full of goodness! Today, I'm sharing the last layout I made using the kit along with the 2 cards I got out of it as well. Here's a look: Sorry for the bad picture. I don't know what I did... Anyway. One of the things included in this kit, was a Jenny Bowlin Hodge Podge Mini Book. I love it, but honestly, I wasn't into using it as a mini book. instead, I decided to take it apart and use the seed packet page - which is now home to a tag including the LO’s journaling, and the clear bracket page. I really like how it came out. This is an older pic - from Mother’s Day 2009. I really love this picture. It makes me think. I really hope I don't take our moms for granted too awful much. I really try not to. They sure are good to us. They adore their grand babies. We never appreciated them as much until we had Christian, and now Alivia. They are amazing grandmothers!!!!

So, all of the Distress Inking is done with Antique Linen. Isn’t that Prima trim just fabulous?!?!? When I saw it, I had a moment ;). It’s just so lush!!! I also wanted to take the time today to share the two cards I made using the kit. Like I mentioned before, I’m SO happy Paper Niche is carrying Lawn Fawn Stamps. They’ve been my fave stamp company for a while now and I just love it that I can use them on my DT work for the kit because Paper Niche carries them in the store :D. I used the bodice from the Sew Lovely Set. One of the cards’ sentiment is also sew lovely, and the “congrats” is from Sophie’s Sentiments. Here they are: I used the abundance of Prima paper & trims form the kit, and some distressing with inks and the distressing tool. I like the shabbiness of them. My hubby says they’re very fru-fru ;). That's cool with me.

Any plans this week/weekend? My sister-in-law & 13 yr old niece are coming down from NYC (Long Island) for 10 days. They arrive this morning. I have to work today and tomorrow :(, but then I'll be off from Fri-Tues. Nice little homey vacation. We'll hang around town. Maybe hit our local little water park, it's usually a MUST when they visit. It's been record breaking heat here, already into the 90s. We'll probably also hit the beach, and the science museum. My kids are SO excited, I just can't even begin to tell you!! They LOVE it when Dawn & Kristen visit. LOVE IT!!! As for me, I also have Paper Niche's May kit awaiting me at home. EEK!! It's amazing. I know I say that every time, but I asked for some special goodies to be in the kit... and got my wish!!!! Can't wait to play.

I hope to post more this week, but who knows if I'll be able to. If I don't, I'll catch ya on the flip side (A.K.A next week). I should still be popping over to your blogs to visit in the meantime. I hope your week/weekend is great - full of fun, peace, and of course, crafty goodness!!!

Congrats! - Lawnscaping #7 ;)

Well, I didn't think I'd actually get this done, but I did, YAY!!! I was really sad when I didn't get the time/energy to participate in the last (#6) Lawnscaping Challenge :(. I do love these challenges - mainly because I can't seem to put down my Lawn Fawn Stamps ;). So, I'm back for Lawnscaping Challenge #7.

This challenge was create your own patterned paper with stamps: As always, there is a fabulous prize up for grabs :D.

Ok, so I needed a card anyway, so I combined that need with the challenge. The Law Firm I work for has 2 attorneys. We have had the second attorney for almost 3 years now, and he just got made partner!!! Super exciting for him, and us! He's so smart and such an asset to the office!! I wanted to make something masculine, which is always a challenge for me. Here is a look at what I came up with:
Sorry that my picture has weird shading, I'm always a wonky crafty picture taker, what can I say ;).

So, I did a mini tutorial on how I created the background/my own patterned paper (in pictures): As you can see, I decided to kind of go with, a "you're a star" type theme, so I used Lawn Fawn's Teeny Tiny Backdrops background stamp and a ColorBox Chalk Color Q set to stamp the background 4 times with Red, Orange, Yellow Orange, & Yellow. {I also used Say Cheese, Bannerific, & Sophie's Sentiments)
Then I trimmed each strip out and cut 1" squares and inked them with the coordinating color. Then I did a little placement on the card to make sure I had enough squares...perfect.

Next, I used a scrap piece of (plain white) paper to glue my background onto so that I wouldn't ruin my card base if things didn't go as planned (which of course, they didn't... a little trial & error ;) in the end it all worked out though).

I popped up the Polaroid and banner with foamies, and decided it needed some black gems, twine, and a brad (adhered with a pop-up glue dot) to finish it off.


As you can see, I used Crate Paper, I really thought it worked perfectly for a masculine card. I {HEART} Crate Paper...SIGH. I'm super happy with how it turned out. It's not perfect. My sentiment is a bit wonky, as is the background (as much as I measured and tried and tried to be precise... I always end up a bit crooked). That's me I guess. I'm cool with it ;). Hope you likesie. Thanks for all of the great comments, always. You guys are way too sweet to me!!!

Paper Niche Kit Project #2

Good morning!

Today I wanted to share another LO I made using Paper Niche's April kit. Everything on the page, of course, was included in the kit. {Didn't I tell you the kit was full of all sorts of fabulousness?!?!?!?} I'm just loving this Bo Bunny "Gabrielle" line!!! LOVE!

The pic is of my sweet little Lulu at almost 9 months old. Such a sweetie! I kept the pic at 4x6 - super simple - and rounded the top right/bottom left corners. Just seemed like a good idea. I misted the brown background with the white Mister Huey - which I'm LOVING right now!!! Next I inked up the tag and the grid background paper (which is Kaiser Kraft) with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.

I knew right off the bat that I wanted to use those pretty Bo Bunny Clear Acrylic Letters on this layout!! I decided that I'd try Tim Holtz's Clear Crackle Paint (in the paste jar - not the Crackle Accents - that may have been a better idea, now that I think about it!) on them. I left them to dry overnight, when I woke up, I was a little disappointed. They looked cool, but when I picked them up, the crackle paint started chipping off :(. Not good. I decided to add Glossy Accents over the top of the crackle paint to secure the crackle paint and add some shine. I let them dry all day, and IT WORKED!!!! I love the texture that it gave them!! I'm so happy Gine included them in the kit this month. They're beautiful and so versatile!!!

Anyway, while those dried, I got to the embellishing... the fun part :D. I misted the pretty ribbon from the kit (it started out white-white), with Glimmer Mist's Broken Shells, and added the pretty Bo Bunny Brads (also in the kit!!)to the center of each of the flowers on the ribbon. The other metal flowers (to the right of the page), again, are Prima - nice huh?!? Then I punched a few strips of different colors of pp with my new fave punch (EK Success' Large Scallop) and also a few strips with Fiscars' scallops. I handmade the shabby flower and added a brad to it's center, and finished the page off with, of course, some punched Martha Stewart Butterflies held together with staples ;).

I hope you like. I love how it turned out. I'm telling you, I've had so much fun learning & trying new techniques this month. Getting out of my comfort zone and seeing that it's pretty cool!!! So, you'll want to go to Paper Niche's Blog to see what the other girls came up with. They are amazing!!! I hope you have an amazing day!!!

Paper Niche Project #1

I know, I know, I’m a little liar, I promised I’d be back yesterday to share some crafty goodness... it just wasn’t in the cards. I’m sorry :(. I sure do miss posting craftiness regularly. Things have been so crazy busy for me lately.

Today I wanted to share one of the projects I created using **Paper Niche’s** April Kit. YAY!!! There are so many interesting goodies in this month’s kit!! It’s just jam-packed with Prima (I mean, paper, flowers, trim, ribbon, you name it). It also included the new metal Prima Flowers!!! WOW! They were awesome, - and worked great with Glossy Accents {is there ANYTHING Glossy Accents doesn’t work on, anyway?!?}.

Here is a look at my first project using the kit, “Year One”:

Close up of 1st Pg:

And the 2nd Pg:

Ok, let me just say it; I am so SUPER excited that Paper Niche has started carrying Lawn Fawn Stamps!! That means that I can use Lawn Fawn when creating with my monthly kit for the store!!! I knew right away, that I wanted to make a 2 pager about Alivia’s 1st year using - what else but the Say Cheese polaroid. I also used Say Cheese too for the Months - cool huh? I really love how it turned out. But...

I can tell you, that the one mistake I made (on pg 2, to your right) - which maybe doesn’t stick out to you as much as it does to me (it REALLY sticks out to me!!!) - happened after I got everything finished and glued down. Ok, I was planning to use the acrylic Bo Bunny letters from the kit for the title, then I thought it’d be cool to use those letters as a mask/template - and Mist (you know I’m loving the mist right now!) the title onto the page.

The problem was that I had already basically finished the LO. So, what I did was stick a couple Post-it Notes around the page - to protect everything else, then I placed and misted the letters using Glimmer Mist. Some pics of that:


Next time I do this technique, I will be doing that step FIRST... not last. Dumb mistake. I wish I had my brain storm before the glue. So, then I faux stitched (a.k.a. drew) a little border around the misted title using a Copic Multiliner. I finished the LO off with a bunch of goodies from the PN Kit (pretty flowers & bling - which was a flourish that I cut into half and then used it on each side of the LO). You know I couldn’t NOT use those adorable Martha Stewart Butterfly Punches!!! I love them so! There is also a ton of Vintage Paper Distress Ink going on over here ;). It’s one of my new favorites!!!

All in all, I really treasure this LO. I used several different techniques on it (stamping, paper piecing, punches, masking, misting, distress inking, layering, etc) - all of which were a lot of fun! When I started the project, I had a completely different idea, in the end, I really like where I ended up.

It’s funny because Prima isn’t really the papers I’d pick up at my LSS. I love them, and think they’re absolutely beautiful, but when I’m shopping, I tend to go for the October Afternoon, Cosmo Cricket, Fancy Pants, Basic Grey, Crate Paper, etc. Usually Bright & Fun! Working with these kits have made me think outside the box - and that is a great thing!!!! Our DT Coordinator, Gine is amazing and does such a fantastic job!!! She know how to balance the kits so well, and packs them FULL of goodness!!!!

I’m really at a place where I’m craving learning new things and techniques. Stretching my creative style. I don’t like to be boxed in. I’ve really appreciated working with the Paper Niche kits for that reason. The style is very Vintage. Artsy. I love that look, but am still learning how to incorporate that with my “cute & fun with clean lines” style.

Anyway, I’m getting talkative lately huh?!? Hope I’m not boring your brains out! I’ll be back tomorrow with another PN project. I hope you have a great day & night!!!

What I've been up to & have been admiring in www land!

Hey girls!! I’ve been M.I.A. for a little while. Sorry, things have been crazy. I will have some crafty projects to share with you hopefully by tomorrow. I’ve been super busy working on so many projects, but I haven’t been able to share any of them with you just yet :(. I sorry.

Today, I figure I’d tell you what’s been happening around here (or what I’m crushing on right now) over the past 2 weeks. Very random, k??

I finished up my work on Paper Niche’s April Kit - hopefully I’ll be sharing those goodies with you tomorrow!! I’m super happy with my creations this month & think you’ll love ‘em too ;).

I’m also working on samples for my first teaching gig over at Paper Niche. It will be a 2 pg layout & will be in May. EEK!! I’m crazy excited & nervous!! The girls in the store have been amazingly helpful to me & I’m so grateful!!! Hopefully sharing more info on that soon ;).

I got a “Fab 4" nod on Challenge #48 over on the Wee Memories Blog. Was super proud to add that awesome little badge to my blog! This is the card I made for the challenge. It has to be one of my best cards, ever. I used so many techniques (and 5, yes, 5, Lawn Fawn Stamp Sets to make it) & was really proud of it in the end! Thanks Jenny & the Wee team!!

I’ve got a few new followers from over at Momo’s Blog. Thanks Momo!! I’m so happy to have you guys!! I’ve found a few great blogs from Momo too. Horray for spreading the love!!!

One of my new followers gave me a cool award on her blog, which I think is way awesome!!! Thanks for the shout out, Terri! I love your blog too!!!

Also, I won a giveaway over on Laurel’s blog, and just got my very own Lawn Fawn Year One Catalog in the mail - THANKS LAUREL!!!

Speaking of Laurel, did you know Lawnscaping has their own Facebook page now?!?!?! Hello! Go over to FB & “LIKE” them now ;). You know I have. I BIG PUFFY {HEART} Lawnscaping Challenges. Are you going to be playing along in Challenge #7?? I totally am! I was really sad that I missed my 1st challenge with them :(. I had WAY too much on my plate these last 2 weeks. There was no way. I was really sad about it, actually! Challenge #7, here I come.

My son, Christian was Student of the Month for March!!!! I’m absolutely so proud of him. He tells me he’s been trying so hard to be good & it’s really paying off for him!! He'll be 6 on Friday, my becoming a mommy Anniversary :).

Also, have I told you that I’m madly in love with Crate Paper?!?!? I’ve just started using their products & am head over heals, I tell you!! The paper is SO lush!! Also, the chipboard stickers...SWOON!!!! You must check out their blog, like now! I can not wait to give this project a try!!!! Maybe tonight. My son would LOVE something like that. Maybe an extra Birthday add-on.

Also, one of my all time favorite companies, October Afternoon - OF COURSE - has a fabulous sketch on their blog and two of their designers tore. it. up!!! I’m especially loving what Roree did with the Sketch! I can not wait to get my hands on those 5 & Dime goodies.

I’m hoping Chari had an amazing Wedding Day!!! She has to be one of my new fave card makers!! If you are not a follower of hers yet, you should get on that! Her cards are fabulous * she’s super creative. Check out this card... and this one too! Lovely, right?!?

Also, I attended my 1st Crop!! it was at Paper Niche on Friday night. The girls were all great and I had an awesome time. It was my 1st time ever scrapping outside of my home. Stayed out until 1am (YAWN!). It was fun, fun stuff!

My mom is doing great! She's off Chemo for another week. gaining strength & (hopefully) weight. This next round is supposed to be tough. Please keep her & all of us in your prayers. I really appreciate that girls!!!!

We had a pool birthday party for Miss. Paigepooh's 10th Birthday, on Saturday. It was super fun!!

Ok, have you had enough of my rumblings yet?!? I REALLY wish I was able to share all of the crafty goodness I’ve been up to, but I can’t. Not just yet. I hope you all have a lovely day.