A little blue for a birthday?

So how about some blue for a birthday?  For this card I went semi-small 4-3/8" square and choose to break the seal on my Blueberry Crisp DSP by Stampin' UP!  I really love this paper although the patterns are not new and appeared previously under the name Razzleberry Lemonade.  A first for me was using Night of Navy, I had previously believed this color was far too dark for my tastes.  Who knew?

BTW, is anyone else thinking about fall?  We had a very nice day yesterday (no air conditioning) and this AM it was still quite pleasant and I found myself thinking about fall and pumpkin spice coffee.  Summer has been nice, rather hot this year.  However, fall is one of my favorite seasons.  The falls in New England are gorgeous, something to behold, so many colors, that nip in the air ... it's a wonderful time of year.  Or maybe I am being influenced by the many fall stamp sets I am seeing!

Blue Birthday

Supplies:
Stamps: Stampin' UP!  Happy Moments
Ink:  Stampin' UP! Classic Basic Black
Paper:  Stampin' UP! Blueberry Crisp, Very Vanilla, Sahara Sand
Accessories/Tools:  Punches (several), Stampin' UP! Ticket Corner Punch,  Stampin' UP! Very Vanilla button, Close to my Heart Black Waxy Flax,  Stampin' UP! 3/4" Twill Tape, Making Memories Slice, Studio Essentials Design Card
Design:  Splitcoaststampers.com Clean and Simple Challenge:  CAS76


As always, thanks for looking and yes HE stamps!

A mix of cards

Well, we had a bit of summer here in Connecticut this past weekend and into the early week.  It actually got up into the high 80's early 90's (91 to be precise.)  The kids have been playing outside a good amount, Jase is having a problem with bugs.  He breaks out into screams and cries of terror if any land on him anywhere and he freezes.  His screams make my heart skip a beat.  Not sure what we are gonna do to get him over that -- maybe time will take care of it.

I haven't been creating much but I do have a few cards to show.

Yet another Mother's Day Card

Details
Paper:  Close to my Heart Caboodle Level II Paper Pack
Cardstock:  Close to my Heart White Daisy, Crystal Blue, Stampin' UP! Groovy Guava
Stamps:  Close to my Heart One of a Kind, A Little Everything
Ink:  Close to my Heart Sweet Leaf, Crystal Blue, Chocolate, Stampin' UP! Groovy Guava
Fibers:  Stampin' UP! Whisper White 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon
Diecuts:  Nestabilities Label 4
Punch:  Stampin' UP! Modern Label Punch
Embellishments:  Recollections Blue Rhinestones
Design:  Splitcoaststampers Card Sketch #278


One last Mother's Day Card

Details
Paper:  Stampin' UP! Rasperry Tart
Cardstock:  Unknown Mfg. Kraft, Stampin' UP! Rose Red
Ink:  Stampin' UP Chocolate
Stamps:  Stampin' UP! Happy Moments
Fibers:  Stampin' UP! Kiwi Kiss Striped 5/8'' Grosgrain Ribbon, Karen Foster Designs Black Scrappers Floss
Diecuts:  Making Memories Slice Fonts:  Essentials
Design:  CASEd but unable to find original source.  If it's yours let me know & I'll give credit!


For You

Details
Paper:  Basic Grey Nook & Pantry Collection
Cardstock:  Stampin' UP! Whisper White
Ink:  Close to my Heart Juniper
Punches:  Stampin' UP! Designer Label, Martha Stewart Classic Butterfly Craft Punch
Embellishments:  Recollections White Pearls, Joann Mini Brass Brads, Staples Standard Sized Staples
Design:  Paper Crafts Magazine, March/April 2010 Issue, Page. 23, Friends Card

As always thanks for looking and yes HE stamps!

Of all the people

Recently, I stumbled on a challenge over at SCS that's issued weekly called the Scrapbook Variety Challenge and a few weeks back they issued a challenge SVC118 Men in our Lives.  Since I have been thinking that I might need to do some scrapbooking for the adults in my life I thought this would be a perfect way to start.  As I previously mentioned on this blog I ran into a brick wall called life for awhile.  Eventually, I did finish the layout and here are those results.  My partner David and I have been together for 13 years now -- it's the longest sustained relationship in my life.  I won't go into the luck with which we someone found one another or the obstacles we have faced as a couple.

Of all the people

Details 
Paper: Stampin' UP!  Treehouse
Cardstock: Stampin' UP! Buckaroo Blue, True Thyme, Basic Black
Ink: Stampin' UP! Classic True Thyme
Embellishments:  Stampin' UP! Whisper White Eyelets
Ribbon:  Stampin' UP! True Thyme Grosgrain Ribbon

Diecuts:  Making Memories Slice Basics 1 Design Disc, Sizzix Sizzlits Curlie Girlie

Design:  Reflections, Jeanette R. Lynton, Sidebar - Triple, pg 42 & 3

As always thanks for looking and yes HE stamps!

Heart 2 Heart Challenges: The 1.2.3 Challenge

Well, I found a bit of the old mojo and created this card for the blog Heart 2 Heart Challenges.  This week the ladies at H2H issued  a 1.2.3 challenge.  So your project must break down to use one stamp, two patterned papers, and three embellishments. The sketch is from the Card Sketch Challenge on SCS actually Card Sketch #273 (issued a couple of weeks back) and I found inspiration from a wonderful little card "Birthday Froggie" created by user Cork1035 to CASE.  I did some fussy cutting on the prince frog layering a second belly and head over the bottom which isn't quite visible in this photo.

This card will be the perfect way to remind my grandbaby Caroline that I am thinking about her.  My daughter sent some new pictures last week that I'm holding in my email inbox just waiting to be printed and made into a layout!

Prince Frog Missing You

Details
Paper: Close to my Heart Daydream Paper Packet Level II
Cardstock: Close to my Heart Blush, Sweet Leaf, Stampin' UP! Chocolate Chip
Ink: Close to my Heart Chocolate Chip

Stamps:  Studio G Clear Stamps VS4911 Series 6

Embellishments:  Recollections Clear Rhinestones Pink
Diecuts:  Making Memories Slice Basics 1 Design Disc

Punches:  Stampin' UP! 1-3/4" Circle Punch

Design:  Splitcoast Stampers Card Sketch #273, Birthday Froggie by Cork1035

As always thanks for looking and yes HE stamps!

Halloween 2009

Being that the kids came to live with us in November 2008 we missed Halloween.  So these pictures are of the first Halloween that we got to spend with them.  Both Kam and Jasey had very definite ideas of who they wanted to dress as.  At the time Kam was entranced with the Snow White movie so she of course wanted to be Snow White.  Jase is crazy for two movies, Cars and Toy Story - he wanted to be Lighting McQueen but the costumes were horrible so we talked up Buzz Lightyear and he went for it.  They were so excited getting dressed and preparing to go out ... I'm not sure but I believe it might have been the first time they ever went trick or treating.  It was a special day for ALL of us.

These pages were so much fun to do.  I love the colors and images of Halloween.  I probably should have scaled back a bit and choose one of the more kid friendly collections like Imaginese has but I went for the ever reliable Making Memories.  There's a forgettable first attempt at stitching on the second page - needed to be larger and more dramatic but there's always next year.

Halloween 2009

Details
Paper: Making Memories Spook Alley Collection, K&Company Tim Coffey Whimsy Collection
Cardstock: DCWV Textured Black
Embellishments:  Martha Stewart Halloween Transfers
Ribbon:  JoAnn Crafting Essentials Orange Twill, Black Organdy

Punches:  EK Success Photo Corners, Martha Stewart Pumpkin Double-punch, Small Bat

Diecuts: Cricut, Stamped Font Cartridge, Making Memories Slice Spellbound Design Disc

Design:  Reflections, Jeanette R. Lynton, Maine Frame - Four Square Layout, - pg. 52,  Triple Play - Three is the Charm, pg. 96

As always thanks for looking and yes HE stamps!

First day of school

I can't believe it's been so long since I last did an update, time just slips away.  I have a few things to show you today.  First of all, I have a layout of my niece Kamdyn on her first day of school (we call it that, but it's actually daycare.)  She was such a trooper on that day, a bit scared but not a tear in site (that was the next week.)  She's finishing out her time at the daycare this fall she will start kindergarten.  She's a very special little girl who has been dealt quite a raw deal in life.  It is my constant hope and prayer that we can avert the disastrous decisions that have formuated so much of her life till now.  Sorry, about that my heart turns to mush about these little kids we are attempting to raise.

Now about this page, the patterned paper is Crate Paper and do I have a beef with this company.  Over the past few months I bought four different collections from them and this page was my first use.  This paper is not true 12x12 (at least this collection isn't.)  After a bunch of measuring and remeasuring I wised up to the fact that it was not me but the actual paper that was not 12x12.  I made due but not this paper will probably be relegated to card paper which means it will be around as long as Methuselah was.

First day of school

Details
Paper: Crate Paper Bliss Collection
Cardstock: Stampin' UP! Kiwi Kiss, Whisper White
Ink: Stampin' UP! Stampin' Write Journaler Basic Black

Embellishments:  Unknown Mfg., Floss Pink, Making Memories Alphabet Rub-ons Providence

Punches:  Stampin' UP! 1" Circle, 3/4" Circle 

Diecuts: Making Memories Slice Handwritten Fonts Design Disc

Design:  Imagine, Jeanette R. Lynton, Left Layout, Medley - pg. 34 - 35

As always thanks for looking and yes HE stamps!

Swingin'

Here's another page for my grand-baby Caroline.  She is so adorable and looks so bright and awake in these pictures.  After my own heart she is holding on tight to that swing -- swings were never my favorite things growing up, particularly if some jerk got behind me and decided to push.  Unfortunately, I am having a bit of an issue with my Kodak EasyShare printer dock and color selections.  Since these printer docks have disappeared from the Kodak web store I am assuming they have been discontinued so it's day are numbered.  Technology just changes far too fast to keep up.

Just Swingin'

Details
Paper: Making Memories Animal Crackers Ella, Basic Grey Granola Collection
Cardstock: Bazzill Textured Basics Orange, Stampin' UP! Pink Pirouette, Unknown Mfg. White

Inks:  Close to my Heart Colonial White

Embellishments:  Recollections Pearl White
Diecuts: Making Memories Slice Basics 2 Design Disc, Music & Dance Design Disc

Design:  Imagine, Jeanette R. Lynton, Right Layout, Double Take - pg. 102 - 103

As always thanks for looking and yes HE stamps!

Stamper in Training

A little over a year ago I scrapped these pictures in a 6x6 format, since then I have decided to abandon that size all together -- just too small.  For these pictures I have used the Close to my Heart Topstitch paper packet again, I am really loving this collection.  For my SCS forum friends this layout is almost completely CTMH with the exception of a few embellishments.

lil* stamper

Details
Paper: Close to my Heart Topstitch
Cardstock: Close to my Heart Heavenly Blue, Unknown Mfg White

Stamps:  Close to my Heart Journaling Jots, FAB Starpoint Hello Kitty Mini Stamp Set

Ink:  Hampton Art Ultra Washable Stamp Pad Hot Pink
Embellishments:  Close to my Heart Dimensional Elements Hearts, Soft Suede Pinwheels, Stampin' UP! 1" Double-Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon Bashful Blue, Basic Grey Cupcake Buttons, Making Memories Animal Crackers Ella Buttons
Die Cuts:  Making Memories Slice Design Card Noteworthy

Design:  scrapbooks etc. April 2010, Made in Minutes pg. 98

As always thanks for looking and yes HE stamps!

A first

Well, this is the first card I have ever made from Close to my Heart products.  I have to confess that I was one of those people who simply did not think of CTMH for cards.  But I was wrong.  This card comes from the Topstitch Workshop to Go - which provides the papers and embellishments to make several scrapbooking layouts and numerous cards.  I adjusted the design of the card a bit from the instructions and used my nifty Making Memories Slice machine for the image shape.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I did making it.

Topstitch Happy Birthday




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

Stamps:  Close to my Heart My Acrylix Love is in the Air B1339, Hero Arts Clear Birthday Message 

Ink:  Stampin' UP! Classic Ink Close to Cocoa
Embellishments:  Close to my Heart Sparkles, Mini Medley Colonial White Embellishments
Die Cuts:  Close to my Heart Dimensional Elements Hearts, Making Memories Slice Design Card Noteworthy

Design:  Workshop on the Go, Topstitch  Jeanette R. Lynton  card layouts


As always thanks for looking and yes HE stamps!

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

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!

CHA even in Connecticut

I'm so excited, you must congratulate me. I was just a winner of two Slice Design Discs from the Making Memories blog. Read about my surprising win on the MM blog. Now I'm thinking I should start trolling all my favorite company blogs for chances to win product. But that's a bit greedy, huh?

Any Slice owners/users out there? Have you seen the new hands free Slice attachment that was premiered last evening? I am waiting anxiously for more details on that one. I love my Slice but making rounded objects is a real chore with the current method of lightly (!?!) holding it in place. This new magnetized board is going to make a world of difference in my opinion.

Thanks for looking and yes HE stamps and Slices!

Thank you cards

I created a few thank you cards over the past couple of days for gifts family members sent the children. You will notice a complete lack of winter themed images and colors - this was done on purpose. Although it may only be December 28 I am ready for spring. Our yard and gravel covered pathway from the driveway to the house is mud based as my sneakers will attest -- the older I get the less snow friendly I become. Onto the cards.

Treescape Lil' Note of Thanks



Dets: Paper, Stampin' UP! DSP, Cardstock, Whisper White and Wild Wasabi, Ribbon SU, Punches, various SU, Stamps, Plant-a-Tree by FontWerks. Design CASEd from Verve Stamp website.


Butterfly Thanks #1



Dets: Paper, Stampin' UP! DSP, Cardstock, Kiwi Kiss, Pink Piourette and Riding Hood Red, Punches, Martha Stewart, various SU. Design CASEd from somewhere on the web (bad memory, bad boy!)

Butterfly Thanks #2
aka The Moth Card (as my loving partner has dubbed this one.)



Dets: Paper, Stampin' UP! DSP, Cardstock, Whisper White and Chocolate Chip, Ribbon, SU, Stamp, SU, Punches, various SU, Rhinestones, Making Memories Halloween collection. Design CASEd from somewhere on the web (bad memory, bad boy!)

Butterfly Thanks#3



Dets: Paper, Stampin' UP! DSP, Cardstock, Whisper White, Purely Pomegranate and Pretty in Pink, Ribbon, SU, Stamp, SU, Rhinestones, K & Company, Diecut, Making Memories Slice BASICS 2 Design Card. Design CASEd from somewhere on the web (bad memory, bad boy!)

Post Christmas update and wishes

I can't believe it's been so long since I posted to this blog. If intentions only counted, right? It's been a very busy Christmas holiday. I spent over a month making cards and then sent only a handful out the day BEFORE Christmas - next year I will start in May. I did a few other small paper crafting projects forgive the lack of pictures - it would take me another month if I endeavored to add them to this post.

For Christmas David surprised me with a Slice. It's a nifty little machine that is so much easier to use than the Cricut and I am quite taken with it. It does have problem with my beautiful SU card stock but I am hoping that somehow it magically resolves that problem. Shhhh - it keeps me happy to believe my own little illusion. Actually, I received the Slice a few weeks back, David bought it on Ebay and the seller wrote on the outside of the shipping box what it was - since I'm home to bring in the mail ... you can figure it out. He was quite disappointed, I was of course giddy (he really proved that he IS listening when I prattle on about my beloved paper crafting.)

The children have opened and scattered the pieces to EVERY gift they have received. This year David is insisting that we allow them to open and play with whatever they choose whenever they decide. It's about to kill me I was taught to put things up and play with them one at a time ... wisely Christmas could last well into March. Wait, that sounds very un-childlike. Probably explains a whole lot.

Wow, the house has suddenly gone eerily quite and I'm getting nervous. Take care, have a wonderful holiday season and may your New Year be everything you wished for.