VBS here I come...

Hi there crafty friends. I just wanted to letcha know that I don't think I'll be sharing many crafty projects on the blog this week. In fact, if I complete anything I will be amazed!! It's VBS (Vacation Bible School) time at our church this week. My hubbs & I are always super involved with that, and we're both set to teach classes (I'll have the 2-3 year olds this time - EEK!). So, my daughter will be in my class ;).

I work full-time Monday through Thursday from 8am to 6pm (as a legal assistant), and VBS is from 6pm-9pm everyday this week. I know I'll be seriously exhausted from all of the fun {singing, dancing, crafting(!!!), story time, snacks, bible lessons, etc) and probably will be too pooped to create much this week.

I will, however, be spending lots of time with these peeps:


Some of my favorite peeps, to be exact! I love our church. It's so nice to be involved. I love it that all of these kiddos have literally been together practically since conception. I love that bond they all share. I love that church on Sunday, Sunday School, Marines for God (their Sunday night program), and awesome stuff like VBS keeps them connected even though they all go to different schools. All of us moms rotate teaching Sunday School, and it's just a great family we all have there. I love that!

Who knows, I just may surprise myself and create something awesome this week, but I doubt it. I'll probably just be enjoying my most amazing creations;). These two amazing little people:

I'll still be visiting your blogs - I mean, a girl can't be expected to live without a little daily inspiration, after all!! I hope you all have an amazing week!! Get crafty for me, will ya!?!?!

Have a Whale of a Time!

Hi there!! So, yesterday's post was not supposed to be posted onto MY blog, but the Paper Niche Blog {what.a.dork}. Thank you, though, for your sweet comments about the upcoming class!! I'm really excited about it because it incorporates lots of my favorite goodies {Lawn Fawn, Crate Paper, Rustic Twine} and cool techniques {handmade flowers and a pinwheel - which I LOVE!!}. So, thanks girls - for the love {even though I am totally a dork}.

Ok, back to today's post. I have a card to share :D. I actually made this card this weekend, and thought I'd enter it into the Card Patterns #123 but... I was late. Story of my life. But I really like how it came out - my 1st time using my new Lawn Fawn Critters in the Sea Stamps - they're SO fun!! So, here is a look anyway:

and here is a look from the top - a textury view ;).


I used October Afternoon's Seaside Collection for this one (I'm really loving & plowing through my 8X8 pad of this awesome paper!). I cut the "watery" paper in half along the waves & then popped up the bottom half. Then I paper pieced the cute sea critters and added googly eyes to them for fun! I also used the tiny clam shells as a banner {it says HI, but is kind of hard to make out) and attached them to Maraschino Twine using Tim Holtz's Tiny Attacher. When I finished the card, it just seemed to plain to me, so I added the Papertrey Ink buttons with some more of the twine (from The Twinery) wrapped through it. On the inside I paper pieced a banner (from Lawn Fawn's Bannerific) and stamped "have a whale of a time" on it (fit perfectly) and tied on some twine bows. Unfortunately, the picture did not come out nicely, but very blurry every time I took it.

I think it's a fun card ;). Would be perfect to send to my sweet nieces up in NYC. Anyway, that's about it for me. I hope you have a great day!!!

August Card Class with Heather!!

Hi there everyone! Hope you're having an awesome week so far! I just wanted to share the info on my next card class {again}: "Flowers, and Stamps, and Pinwheels...OH MY"!!






This is one of my personal favorite classes yet! We will have a blast creating 4 beautifully fun cards! Not only will we be stamping using Lawn Fawn’s Sophie’s Sentiments and Bannerific Stamp Sets, but, we will also be making 3 handmade flowers and a pinwheel (squeel!!!) out of... you guessed it - PAPER - Crate Paper's beautiful Emma's Shop Collection to be exact!!! These are techniques you can carry over into your future card AND scrapbooking projects. They are so fun and addicting to make, that once you get started, you wont want to stop!!!!

Tools Needed:
Basic Kit, including Paper Trimmer, Tape Runner, Edge Distresser {such as Tim Holtz’s Distresser), Fine Point Scissors, Small Glue Dots, & Wet Glue {such as Glossy Accents or Fabritac}.

The class is on Friday, August 19th from 3:00-5:00 p.m. and the cost is $20.00. I really hope to see you there!!!

Happy Birthday - Wee Memories #62

Hi again! Happy Tuesday. I couldn't wait to get home yesterday to try out my new stamps that arrived this weekend {woo hoo}. I've been admiring all of the pretty projects I've seen using Paper Smooches Stamps, and finally took the plunge and ordered myself the Sentiment Sampler and Boob Tubes. I love the fun fonts & cute/fun images & they were a blast to play with!

I had it in my mind that I was going home to make a card for the Wee Memories #62 Challenge:


and so, that's what I did ;). Here is a look at my card:


I started with a Neenah Kraft card base - which is my fave for cards. {The patterned paper is all from October Afternoon's Sea Side Collection - which I LOVE - it is a perfect set for masculine cards too!!!}. I stamped one of the Boob Tubes onto 3 different patterned papers & then paper pieced them, then also stamped them onto the {Neenah} Kraft Cardstock. Next I cut out the TV screnes & stamped them with the sentiments "Happy Birthday Dad" - the Happy Birthday was from the Sentiment Sampler set & "dad" came with the Boob Tubes set - but they were the exact same font which ROCKED!!! Next I inked up the edges of the tv screne pieces with Weathered Wood Distress Ink (mainly because I cut them out all wonky & needed some type of remedy - but also because I thought it's look really cool!!). I really like how that looks, gives it a little something extra ;).

So, I had a lot of fun with this one. Clean & Simple seems like it should be so easy, but I found it to be kind of a challenge - but I have to admit, it was a seriously fun one!

I'm loving the Paper Smooches Stamps too - amazing quality and such fun designs! I will absolutely be ordering more stamps from them! The sets I have my eyes on in the immediate future are: Sugar Rush, Surf and Turf, Swanky Snowdudes! Guess I better start saving my pennys ;). Anyway, thanks for peeking at my card, I hope you have an awesome day!!

Hang in There - Lawnscaping #14 - Stamp a Scene!!

Hi there crafty friends!! Hope you've had a great weekend! Mine was nice. Had a date day with the hubbs yesterday - which was really nice. So overdue! It's so funny, I was working on a few cards this weekend and then much to my suprise realized that one of them works perfectly (I think) for the Lawnscaping #14 Challenge:

What a fun challenge!!!

I really love the Lawnscaping Challenges!! First of all, the DT members are amazing - so much inspiration with every single challenge!!! This week I was so impressed with Christy's card, especially - WOW. But all of the girls came up with really amazing cards, you should totally go check them out!!!! I can't wait to see what everyone else comes up with for this one - are you playing along?? You totally should. As always they have a fabulous prize up for grabs!! Here is a look at my card:

and a closer looksie:

I made it for one of the attorneys I work for. Things have been so crazy for us at work, with my boss being sick and all. He is not only an attorney in my office, but is also my bosses nephew, which only makes it harder for him. Tough on the business end & personally. I've just been feeling so bad for him. I can see that it's having a real effect on him.

I came home from work just really feeling for him & thinking "hang in there. hang in there..." I created this little scene in my head and just HAD to ruch home & get to creating this for him right away!

All of the paper is from a 6x6 pad of Crate Paper's Portrait collection (very masculine if you need it to be). I stamped and paper pieced a few of the trees from Lawn Fawn's Critters in the Burbs set and tied a piece of The Twinery's twine between them to make a "tight rope". Next I stamped one of the smaller umbrellas from Lawn Fawn's Partly cloudy set directly onto the patterned paper using red ink. The owl is actually by Hampton Art, he was originally holding a {heart} balloon, but I just cut that piece off and stamped him using {brown} Archival ink and heat embossed him using clear {American Crafts} embossing powder and paper pieced him onto the card. Finally, I made a grassy/hilly area and fringed it up using my Martha Stewart scissors.

I used Lawn Fawn's Jessie's ABCs on the inside of the card to stamp the sentiment "Hang in There" and left it on his desk for him ;). Hopefully it made him smile. I am really happy with it! I love that I used the Crate Paper for everything - I love that paper! Anyway, I hope you have an amazing day!! Thanks for peeking at my card :D!

August Card Class at Paper Niche!!

Happy Wednesday!

I just wanted to share pics of my upcoming class at Paper Niche!!! It will be on Friday, August 19th from 3-5pm!!
“Flowers, and Stamps, and Pinwheels... OH MY!”
The cost will be $20.00...

In this class we will have a blast creating 4 beautifully fun cards! Not only will we be stamping using Lawn Fawn’s Sophie’s Sentiments and Bannerific Stamp Sets, but, we will also be making 3 handmade flowers and a pinwheel out of... you guessed it - PAPER!! These are techniques you can carry over into your future card AND scrapbooking projects. They are so fun and addicting to make, that once you get started, you wont want to stop!!!!

Tools Needed:
Basic Kit, including Paper Trimmer, Tape Runner, Edge Distresser {such as Tim Holtz’s Distresser), Fine Point Scissors, Small Glue Dots, & Wet Glue {such as Glossy Accents or Fabritac.

Here are close ups of each individual card:





Ca-ute huh?!?!? I used Crate Paper's "Emma's Shop" and Lawn Fawn's Bannerific and Sophie's Sentiments Stamps and, honestly, I'm SO happy with how they came out!!! I had a class at Paper Niche this past weekend - with 5 students - and it was awesome!!! I feel really happy to be given the opportunity to tech there and I'm so grateful for all of the support and help all of the girls over at paper Niche have given me!!! They've been great. Reall encouraging and petient with me. That means a lot.

Anyway, that's it for me today. Thanks for peeking. I hope your day is great!

Lawnscaping #13 - Don't Forget the Inside/Moxie Fab's Stamp it Challenge

Hi there! So hopefully your day is going good so far. Today I wanted to share my card with you for the Lawnscaping #13 Challenge:
and Moxie Fab - Stamp It Challenge:


I just picked up this issue of Papercraft's Stamp it & LOVE IT!!! So excited to see projects from some of my favorite papercrafters/cardmakers!!! I thought this'd be a good challenge combe because I could combine some of my fave things - Lawn Fawn, Stamping, and... paper piecing.

As for Lawnscaping, the DT projects were so utterly amazing!! Check out the Lawnscaping Blog - also, check out Lynnette’s card HERE - amazing right?!? Then as I browse around my friends’ blogs I see THIS card by Chari!!! Holy cow - she killed it!!!!!!!!

Here is a look at the outside of my card:

and the inside:

I went for paper pieced flowers ;).

The patterned paper is all My Minds Eye's Stella & Rose - love that 6X6 paper pack!! Beautiful patterns! And I used plenty of Lawn Fawn Stamps ;) {Say Cheese, Hello Friend, Critters in the Forest, Petite Florals, and Sophie's Sentiments}. I HAD to add in some Marichino Bakers Twine from The Twinery and a Papertrey Ink Button for extra fun!

I'm working on another submission - a pop-up card. I just really haven't done much more than the Stamping/Copic coloring. Let's see if I finish it before the deadline...

Anyway, I hope your day is amazing!!

"Hi" Wee Memories #61

Hi friends. I wanted to share a card I made, that I think is perfect for Wee Memories' #61 Challenge



Here is a look at my card:




I found this 8 1/2 X 11 "pad" of clear "paper" at Michaels a month ago & have really been itching to give it a try for cards. I think it's such a fun concept. So, I started by cutting a page in half to make a 5 1/2 X 4 1/4 card. Next I covered the inside page of the card with a fun blue background - for the sky (all patterned paper here is October Afternoon's "Thrift Shop". Then I cut a yellow strip which I glued to the front/outside of the card. Next I stamped & paper pieced a few images from Lawn Fawn's Bon Voyage Stamp Set and the banner & sentiment from the Crusing Through Life With You set and adhered that with bakers twine. I popped up some of the clouds, the airplane and the banner with foamies for fun.

I really like how it came out. I think it's super fun. Thanks for peeking!

July Kit Reveal - Wedding Photos...Scrapped!

Hello there. Hope everyone’s week is going well so far. Mine has been very “Meh” to say the least. My weekend was nice. Lots of family time. Which is always nice.

I just wanted to stop in and share the layouts that I created with Paper Niche’s July Kit! Gine was right when she said that this kit has to be one of the absolute best so far! It included my {new} favorite Fancy Pants collection “It’s the Little Things”!! I just love that line!!! Here's a look at the kit:

I’ve been splitting up the LOs each month to tease you, but I’m just going to go ahead and give them all to you at once this time around. I don’t have the mental energy to put too much into it:




So there you have it. As you can see, I was majorly inspired to scrapbook my wedding photos - this collection is MADE for wedding pics, in my opinion!!!

I have all of our professional wedding photos still in the fancy-shmancy book they came in almost 11 years ago. I look at them every so often, and I keep thinking how I’m really doing them a disservice by not scrapping them. But then I think of how many kiddo photos I have to scrap - seems like they accumulate on a daily basis {Oh! That’s because they do!}. I mean SO SO SO many. They’ve taken over! I really wanted to take the time out this month and honor my wedding pictures. Such a happy time for me & Sal.

We we’re highschool sweethearts, me & this boy. We met when I was in 9th & he was in 10th - at the end of the year. Not at school, but at the movie theater where he worked at the time. After we met, we’d realized that we literally passed each other every single day on our way to almost all of our classes. It’s funny how that works. I don’t believe in love at 1st sight. Maybe “like” at 1st sight. But sometimes things are funny like that. Fate. I believe in fate, I guess.

We were young. We had our share of break ups/make ups along the way, like any good, young, couple. Just over young stupidity and immaturity, I guess. But that last time, I was a senior - he had already graduated. I think I started to like someone else - which was really dumb. Anyway, I realized what I was missing and he stopped taking me for granted. We got back together after about 2-3 weeks. Both of us realized that we were in absolute REAL-REAL love and that if we wanted to stay together, we’d have to stick out the “tough times” together.

We were made for each other, as cliche as that sounds. It’s true. We compliment each other really well. We just work. We’re a great parenting team - we have each others’ backs. I’m really blessed. I love him with my whole heart, and the day we got married I just knew I was the luckiest girl around. We just celebrated our 10 year wedding anniversary. Been together 16 years this past June. I really should’ve taken the time to scrap these pics earlier. Anyway... wow, you just got a wholelotta my history and I didn’t plan on that one!

I’m tempted to delete all of this - except for the pictures - but I wont. You are my friends, after all ;). Hope your day is awesome. So far, mine was so-so {at best} but I’ve now got a huge smile on my face, just thinking about this boy.

Upcoming Card Class at Paper Niche - Girls Just Wanna Be Sew Lovely!!

Hi creative girls!! It's just wanted to let you know my card class is this Saturday, July 9th from 2:30-4:30 p.m. If you're a local I'd love for you to join me ;).



The Cost is $20.00 and you will be making 4 lovely, girly cards that you will be so proud to gift upon your besties or any other special ladies in your life. Two are Birthday cards, and the other two are Thinking of You cards. We will be playing with some of Lawn Fawn's Finest Stamps: Bake Me a Cake, Sew Lovely, Saw Cheese, and Sophie's Sentiments. We will be stamping and paper piecing, inking with Distress Inks, Border Punching, and just having some good, clean stampy fun!!!

Items needed to bring to the class:
Basic tool kit including paper trimmer; precise scissors; foam adhesive; rolling adhesive; liquid glue - such as Glossy Accents, Helmar's 450, or Fabritac; black {stamping} ink - such as Versamark, Archival or Momento; Distress Inks {Spun Sugar and Weathered Wood}; and ink blending tool.

Remember:


Please click HERE if you'd like to take it!!