Christmas Card Week 10- slightly late...

Ok- I was reminded yesterday that I hadn't posted any Christmas Cards since before my flood... in March! We've officially had 27 Sunday's in 2009 so I've got 17 more designs to go before I'm caught up- and there's another Sunday just around the corner... I'll do my best.

Now.. before you say anything- I realize this card looks like it's totally been walked on!! I was so excited to show this design... until I saw how it translated on the computer- it looks so much prettier in person that I made 3 of them today!! I almost didn't post it - but hello- I'm so far behind on my Christmas cards and it IS pretty in real life... so here goes.

I was at the local Meijer last night (if you're not in the mid-western states then think WalMart... it's got groceries, clothing, auto supplies etc... but it's only in a few states!) and was perusing the craft aisle... all the scrapbooking/ card making supplies were on sale and they had these really cute rhinestone Christmas tree stickers - 3 stickers for about $1.60. I used the Everlasting paper for this card and a pattern from the new Wishes Book by Jeanette Lynton sold only by CTMH consultants- it's an awesome book and made this card super fast!! The only stamping is the sentiment with is from the Peace on Earth stamp set.

I can NOT wait till the first of August when I can see all the new Christmas sets in the fall CTMH book!! They are always so awesome and I'm in need of new stamps (nothing new there!)

Thanks for looking and I hope to have more Christmas cards to show soon!!

My first boy layout!

Ok- it's not totally true... I HAVE created boy pages before- but not for MY boy :) I've done a lot of scrapbooking for/ of my nephews but I've been itching to start my son's album now that he's officially 8 weeks old today (boy.. that went fast!) and finally sat down last night. I have been creating artwork up a storm but mostly for a class I'm teaching at the end of the month and I am waiting to share that till after the class is over so that the participants are the first to see it.

Now that all of that artwork is created and ready... I have a LITTLE time to just scrapbook for the fun of it.

Here's what I came up with:

My title... "Love at first Sight"... was brewing for the last few weeks. I've been thinking about this layout for quite a while actually.

The left side shows a few of the ultrasound pictures and the right side shows the first two photos taken as well as some "cleaned up" photos.

{supplies: CTMH : Caprice Level 2 paper pack, Chocolate Alpha stamps, Rustic Alphabet stams, small Friendship alphabet stamps (no longer available), Special Delivery Stamps (stork), Sweet Baby stamps (It's a boy)Just Blooms Big Pink flowers and White Daisy Just Blooms colored with Crystal Blue Marker, Winter Button Collection, Colonial White Button, natural hemp, rectangle metal rimmed tag (cut vanilla cream cardstock to fit over the white so it matched the layout), Crystal Blue and Chocolate ink pads non CTMH: Berry Blue glitter from Pink Paisley}

Hop right on into July!!

edited to add: For crying out loud... I've attempted to repair these links every way I know how- if you are a subscriber- please forgive me for all the re-posting- I'm hoping this is the last time!
I've corrected all the links so if you visited earlier and they didn't work- please try again!
Welcome to my stop on the Close to my Heart consultant July blog hop! Today we're featuring the cute new July Stamp of the Month "You've Got Flair".

I'll be the first to say that when I first saw this stamp set- well- I was not thrilled. But then- when I actually sat down to use it- wowee are there lots of options with this set. But don't take my word for it- you'll need to check out all the fabulous artwork for yourself!!



If you are just joining the hop- scroll down and start at the beginning with Jena's blog... if you are hitting my blog as part of the hop- you're almost done!! I've included the entire blog hop list in case you have any trouble with the links.



And for my card: The photo was taken at a weird angle to reduce the glare but you get the idea! I used one of the fancy designs to create a flower.
I used my piercing tool and needle set with some sweet leaf embroidery floss to create the stem and leaf- it was totally freehanded- and super simple!

{supplies: Notebook Level 2 paper pack, Bamboo and colonial white Cardstock, Twilight and Black ink pads, Markers (Blush, Baby Pink, Bamboo and Twilight), clear sparkles, Shades of Green Embroidery Floss, piercing tool and needle, photo clips, You've got Flair stamp set, Say it in Style stamp set. AND... I think the Emporium level 2- but I can NOT remember which pack of paper that blue stripe is from!!}

Hope you like my contribution to the blog hop! Here's the full list of links:


Jena Devrieshttp://www.livelovelaughscrapbook.blogspot.com/
Wendy Kesslerhttp://www.myscrapbookingblog.com/
Sherry Thompsonhttp://www.picturespatternsandpaper.blogspot.com/
Dawn Heufthttp://www.stamptildawn.blogspot.com/
Brae Montgomeryhttp://thebrae-er.blogspot.com/
Melissa Lavertyhttp://www.fancymelissa.blogspot.com/
Karen Normanhttp://www.gettinscrappywithit.blogspot.com/
Deb Younghttp://www.scrapbookczar.blogspot.com/
Adeline E. Brillhttp://adeline-brill.blogspot.com/
Tammy Lea Pinchardhttp://www.creativeimpressions-pinchme.blogspot.com/
Jen Rubiohttp://www.jenrubio.blogspot.com/
Cibele Glazerhttp://www.flowerfoot.blogspot.com/
Laurie R Newtonhttp://scrapsfromthebeach.blogspot.com/
Kami Welterhttp://www.scrappin4memories.blogspot.com/
Helen Onulakhttp://www.hookedonstamping.com/
Sarita Schraederhttp://www.blessedscrapper.blogspot.com/
Chris Shousehttp://www.houseostamps.wordpress.com/
Paige Doleckihttp://www.paigespaperparadise.blogspot.com/
Dawn Rosshttp://www.iamahappystamper.blogspot.com/
Jamia Bankheadhttp://www.papermadnessinc.blogspot.com/
Nona Davenporthttp://www.nonapearl.blogspot.com/
Haley Dyerhttp://www.inkyscrapper.blogspot.com/
Misty Jacksonhttp://www.misstscraps.blogspot.com/
Jennifer Patrickhttp://www.roxybonds-scrappin.blogspot.com/
Carla Ironsidehttp://www.carlacreates.blogspot.com/
Jody Gustafsonhttp://www.cre8nmemories.blogspot.com/
Heather Painchaudhttp://www.twindragonflydesigns.blogspot.com/
Julia Menssenhttp://www.ralphandjulia.blogspot.com/
Lori Millerhttp://www.clearlyfromtheheart.blogspot.com/
Pamela OConnorhttp://www.cherishyourmemories.blogspot.com/
Reba Poquettehttp://www.thedirtyscramper.blogspot.com/
Anne Beckhttp://www.anniemuses.blogspot.com/
Shannon Pelletierhttp://www.shannonmvt.blogspot.com/
Caren Goldseinhttp://www.scrappycaren.blogspot.com/
Jan Moxeyhttp://scrapandstamp4ever.blogspot.com/
Kristie Horness-Herdenerhttp://www.goofyscrapper.blogspot.com/
Alanna Moseshttp://www.damoses.blogspot.com/
Leslie Marklandhttp://pandascrapper.blogspot.com/
Barbra Ottenhttp://barbraotten.blogspot.com/
Traci Godbeehttp://createwithtraci.blogspot.com/ ***you are here
Jill Lucashttp://scrapwench.blogspot.com/
Amy McVeyhttp://www.clearlystamping.blogspot.com/
Laurie Levnikhttp://www.creationsbylaurie.blogspot.com/

end of June... already!

I am in shock at how fast this month flew by. It must be because we have a newborn at home.

A new month brings a new Stamp of the Month to CTMH and you'll want to check back tomorrow to see the CTMH consultant blog hop where we"ll all be putting our own projects using the stamp of the month on display!

For today- here's another swap card I mailed off last week. I have a LOT of sheets of one of the Paper Garden Level 1 scrapbook pages left and made myself use some on both this card and the one posted last week. Each card focuses on different colors for different looks.

{supplies: Flower Child Stamp Set, Blush and Colonial White cardstock, Paper Garden Level 1 pack, Daydream Level 2, Colonial White crochet ribbon, Blush eyelets, Bamboo, Blush and Black ink pads, CTMH markers(Blush, Baby Pink, Bamboo, Sweet Leaf and Vanilla cream)

To color: The petals were first colored with vanilla Cream, then over the top with Baby Pink and some highlighting done with Blush. For the flowers center- I first colored with Bamboo and then over the top with Blush. When using the CTMH markers- it looks much better if you don't color back and forth as the paper can "pill" so I use a small circular motion and don't over color if that makes sense?

Don't forget to stop back tomorrow for the blog hop! P.s. TODAY IS THE LAST DAY OF THE JUNE DEAL A DAY SPECIAL- it is supposed to be a Goodie Box with 50% or more in savings off regular cost. Visit my website here after 11am EST to order yours!

Summer Gardening...

Do you garden during the summer? I love to work in my vegetable and flower gardens each summer... unfortunately - with a newborn... I am way behind and will probobly catch up just in time for the first fall frost to kill it all... oh well- for now I'll have to settle for my floral papers and stamps!

Here's a card I just completed for a consultant swap- If you click the photo you'll get a larger view which shows off the liquid glass and glitter a little better.

{supplies: Flower Garden paper, Sweet Leaf and Colonial White cardstock, Colonial White ric rac, CTMH markers(sweet leaf, baby pink, crystal blue, vanilla cream , bamboo , petal and topiary), liquid glass, prisma glitter, black ink pad, sweet leaf ink pad, sweet leaf eyelet and sweet leaf button}

last of the June club projects...

I'll start by saying that these projects HAVE to be posted today so that my club members can choose to make the layout or cards before we meet this weekend... otherwise I would NOT be posting the layout yet... it needs a few more things done to it before it's finished... but you get the idea!

So I'll start with that!! The inspiration for the left side of this layout came from this post on Jeanette Lynton's blog. Really- it was that post that MADE me buy this cute stamp set called "Picture Perfect".

For some strange reason I thought I'd grabbed Taffy Cardstock.. so the "shoot" was stamped in Taffy- it was only after assembling everything that I realized the yellow color is Creme Brulee...oops- I am not sure why the photo of the right page makes the Creme Brulee look so much more yellow than the left page... I'll be changing the Creme Brulee tomorrow but I'm not yet sure to what because it appears that I do not have Taffy cardstock!!... The two missing photos are still in my frames- and the journaling is not completed- BUT- you get the idea. I designed the layout with professional photos in mind (obviously I knew which photos I'd planned to use since my colors are based on those HOWEVER- my club members can choose their accent color based on whichever photos they think they might use... so the Chocolate and Vanilla Cream Colors will stay and they can swap out the Ocean for something else) So all the sizes are based on sizes you can order through a photographer... one 8x10, one 5x7 , one 3.5x5 and 2 wallet sizes. However- you could easily swap the 8x10 for a 5x7 with an extra mat- or 2 cropped 4x6's.

If you don't have professional photos- it's pretty inexpensive to have a 5x7 or 8x10 printed of your favorite photos. Thinking outside of the box... this layout can also be used for non-people photos... I often take multiple photos of my gardens, wildlife etc that would also fit the "photo shoot" category!

Once I switch out the Creme Brulee cardstock I'll be adding a few brads and other embellishments to finish off the pages!

For my cardmakers... here's the 3rd card for class ( the "Play Date" stamp set has lots of fun images and they can choose which to use) I thought this card would make a great birthday card. I love the bright colors!! The stripe is from the new Tinkering paper pack and I paired it with Sunflower and Holiday Red Cardstocks... I stitched with my sewing machine on the girl card (and if I remember to pick up more white thread my customers are welcome to stitch theirs as well) and on the boy card I simply did some direct to paper edge distressing.

All coloring was with CTMH markers (Sunny Yellow, Honey, Desert Sand, Holiday Red, Dutch Blue, Vanilla Cream and Grey Flannel.)

This card is extremely simple, mostly because the other two club cards are more involved and one includes a stamped envelope- so I needed a quick and easy card to finish the set (although if they choose to stitch... there goes the quick and simple!)

For those that don't know- my sewing machine was broke for a LONG time... over a year! When my mom was here after Kaden's birth, I asked her to take a look at it- she fixed it in no time flat (um... i think i had it threaded wrong! how dumb is that?) so I blame the lack of practice for my stitching errors!!

Anyway- Hope you have a great weekend- I'll be finishing up some swaps that need to be mailed Monday- so I'll be posting those soon!!

If you live in the Kalamazoo, Battle Creek area of Michigan- you are welcome to attend either Saturday at 11am or Monday at 6:30pm. Post a comment with your e-mail and I'll get the info to you!!

color combo #1- club card

I love spending time each day perusing some of my favorite blogs looking for great ideas... One of my favorite blogs is CTMH CEO Jeanette Lynton- she's so talented and the great thing about her artwork- is that I usually have all the supplies she uses!!

In early May she started a Monday feature called "Color Me Monday" where she features a new color combo of CTMH colors... I find her combos are often times color pairings I'd never have thought of!! I've been wanting to go back and start at the beginning and use her color combos in my art and finally had the chance yesterday.

Here's the color combo I used - I think it was from the first Color Me Monday- around the first of May.

Here's the card I created which my clubs will make this month...

I had a blast making it - even though it took a LONG time... my scrap area is such a mess that I had to search for every little thing I wanted to use. I found the general card layout in a past CTMH Summer Idea Book- either 2007 or 2008- not sure which and I've already put the book away so I don't know which it was. I love using old books for ideas!!

A little "how to" - the white flower was colored with the Sorbet marker. The ricrac, flower and button were all adhered with liquid glass (my favorite for ribbon and other bulky embellishments!) I sanded all the colored cardstocks and edged all the white cardstock with Desert Sand ink...

{supplies: Garden Green, and White Daisy cardstock, Desert Sand Textured Cardstock, Big Pinks Just Bloom (white), white daisy ric rac (from the RicRac Designer Ribbon Collection), White Daisy and Heavenly Blue eyelets, Winter cozy brads (sorbet), sanding kit, neutral embroidery floss (white), Spring Button Collection (Heavenly Blue), Sorbet and Desert Sand markers, Desert Sand and sorbet inks, Ambiance Stamps and the new TLC sentiment stamp set, liquid glass to adhere the flower and button}