So what have I been up to?

It's been awhile since I did any blogging.  I've been a bit busy doing some long overdue scrapbooking and along the way met a great bunch of people on SCS in the Close To My Heart forum.  If you've any interest in the products of CTMH I wholeheartedly recommend you check it out - there are some wonderfully knowledgeable CTMH centric people there.  Now for the "stuff" I have been up to. Please do accept my apologies for these pix, capturing scapbook pages is new to me and lighting is yet a mystery!

Welcome Caroline pg. 2

Details
Paper: Making Memories Animal Crackers Ella
Cardstock: Bazzill Chablis

Embellishments:  Various Making Memories Animal Crackers Ella 
Ribbon: Making Memories Animal Crackers Ella Trims

Punch:  Marvy Uchida Circle Punch 2"
Design:  Scrapbooks Etc. 

Precious Little One

Details
Paper: Making Memories Animal Crackers Ella, Basic Grey Granola Collection
Cardstock: Bazzill Chablis
Embellishments:  Various Making Memories Animal Crackers Ella 

Ribbon/Fibers: DMC Craft Thread

Die Cuts:  Making Memories Slice Animal Crackers Design Card,  Stampin' UP! Sizzix Top Note Die

Punch:  Stampin' UP! Scallop Circle
Design:  Scrapbooks Etc. Owl I'll Love You Sketch, February 2010 Issue

Happy Birthday Jasey

Details
Paper: Stampin' UP! Good Morning Sunshine, Basic Grey Urban Prairie Collection
Cardstock: Stampin' UP! Kiwi Kiss, Pacific Point
Stamps:  Close to my Heart My Acrylix It's Your Day D1352 

Embellishments: Paper Reflections Creative Tags, Joann's Pewter Eyelets
Ribbon: Michaaels Christmas Trims

Die Cuts:  Making Memories Slice Music & Dance Design Card

Punch:  Stampin' UP! Word Window Punch, Oval Punch Large
Design:  Reflections Scrapbook Program, Jeanette R. Lynton, Layouts 1e & 8b

Kammie is 4!

Details
Paper: Close to my Heart Topstitch
Cardstock: Close to my Heart Baby Pink, Colonial White, Vineyard Berry

Stamps:  Close to my Heart My Acrylix Love is in the Air B1339, Hampton Art g Studio Unnamed Sentiment 

Embellishments:  Close to my Heart Sparkles, Soft Suede Pinwheels, Mini Medley Colonial White
Ribbon: Close to my Heart Mini Medley

Die Cuts:  Close to my Heart Dimensional Elements Hearts

Design:  Imagine, Jeanette R. Lynton, Layouts Understudy - Left & Right

Coupon frenzy

So I went to the Michaels President Day sale today.  Those 50% off coupons just burn straight through my wallet.  I had four of those suckers ... poor David he is such a trooper when it comes to me and this hobby.  He supports me so much, listens to me talk on and on about paper lines, card stock colors, inks, techniques, you name it.  So for the shopping assault on Michaels I was to go in scope everything out pick out what I wanted mindful of using my four 50% and two 20% total purchase coupons -- then phone David and have him and the kids come in.  So sad, I know.

Well, I walked out with some great things but one item totally perplexes me, I have no idea what I was thinking.  I bought this 12X24 K&Company Designer Paper Pad from the new Handmade collection.  12X24?  Huh?  You see it was 30% off and then I had the 20% total purchase coupon ... it was 50% off.  I mean 50%.  Now I have 36 sheets of K&Company paper which I traditionally despise that when cut to 12x12 will be 72 sheets of paper.  HUH?  Those coupons can make you loose your damn mind.  For the rest of the day I kept saying to David that I should take this paper pad back - he wouldn't have it.  So tonight I sit here looking at a 12x24 paper pad that I don't know what I am going to do with and more importantly where I am going to store it.

Thanks for looking and yes HE stamps.

Stamp Scrap Diva: Get Inspired Sketch #2

So Ronda over at Stamp Scrap Diva has decided to alternate her weekly Get Inspired Sketch between a scrapbook layout and a card.  So for her Sketch #2 it's a wonderful three photo layout that definitely inspired my creativity.  Of course, I remain behind the schedule of the Get Inspired Sketch's ... hopefully I will get caught up VERY soon!

The scrapbook page is of my sweet little grand-baby Caroline.  These photos were taken at the hospital and through a series of mistaken opportunities my daughter missed purchasing these gems.  I procured them with the aid of some questionable software which explains the watermark on the photos.  I have yet to meet this precious little girl but remain hopeful that I'll get to hold her soon and tell her just how much she is loved.

Welcome Caroline

Details
Paper: Making Memories Animal Crackers Ella
Cardstock: SU Pretty in Pink, Bazzill Chablis

Embellishments:  Various Making Memories Animal Crackers Ella 
Ribbon: Michaels White Organdy 1/8", Karen Foster Scrapper's Floss Pastel Pink

Punch:  Marvy Uchida Circle Punch 2"
Design:  Stamp Scrap Diva Get Inspired Sketch #2

Thanks for looking and yes HE stamps!

A Christmas Mini Album

So, when I discovered mini albums awhile back I thought they were the living end.  Small canvas, specific theme, totally control the number of pages ... seemed the perfect answer for a procrastinating former scrapbooker like me.  But surprise, surprise I find these mini albums as challenging as the full-size 12 x 12 ones.  It's hard to walk that fine line between photos being small enough to fit the page and still recognizable by the reader.  The same is true with embellishments - full-size embellishments take up far too much space.  But I found this was a great place to break out my Slice machine - with the ability to cut dies in different sizes using such wonderful discs was just great (pardon me, while I gush about Making Memories and Slice here.)  So for better or worse here they are, photoing the little album was a tough one but I hope you get the idea of "it" all.

Christmas 2009

Details
Paper: Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses
Cardstock: SU Pretty in Pink, Bashful Blue, Bravo Burgundy, Kiwi Kisses (Retired), and Whisper White
Ink: SU Real Red and Basic Black.

Markers:  SU Pumpkin Pie and Bashful Blue
Embellishments:  Making Memories Slice Mistletoe Disc and let's just say lots of stuff :-)
Ribbon: SU Pretty in Pink Taffeta Ribbon 3/8", Kiwi Kiss Striped Grosgrain, 5/8" (Retired), Whisper White Satin 5/8", American Crafts Light Blue Grosgrain 3/8", and Marcella K Fresh Paint Ribbon Blue 3/8"
Stamps:  SU Mr. Twigster and Cute & Curly
Design: I would say my own but I am sure I "saw" it somewhere.


Thanks for looking and yes HE stamps!

Stamp Scrap Diva: Get Inspired Sketch #1

So two weeks ago, my friend Ronda of Stamp Scrap Diva began her own sketch challenge "Get Inspired Sketch" and I wanted to participate but was in the midst of doing a mini Christmas album for my mother (scrapbooking takes me a very, very long time.) When I finally finished (a chorus of alleluia's were heard) and then I started on the card. A week later I am finally posting my intepretation of Ronda's wonderful sketch. I'm afraid that I'm not much of a clean and simple cardmaker so you'll have to overlook my patterned paper and extra embellishments. Incidentally, I'm finding these days, that Always Artichoke is becoming my go-to color - I am so drawn to the richness of the color and it's ability to pair with so many others.

Get Inspired Sketch #1

Details
Paper: Memory Box Gossamer
Cardstock: SU Always Artichoke, Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink and  Whisper White
Ink: SU Ruby Red and Always Artichoke
Embellishments:  Making Memories Vintage Findings Crystal Clear Button, Karen Foster Black Scrappers Floss, Recollections Clear Rhinestones
Ribbon: SU Pretty in Pink Taffeta Ribbon 3/8"
Stamps:  SU Fifth Avenue Floral
Design: Stamp Scrap Diva Get Inspired Sketch #1

Thanks for looking and yes HE stamps!