Saturday, December 31, 2011

Block Party Layout

I made this layout using a sketch from Sketches in Thyme.  I get all excited when they have double page layout sketches, because I really like double pagers the best!
Here is the right side of the page.  I cut a celebration banner from a scrap of paper (Pink Paislee, maybe?) that matched the page really well.   Loved the sparkly My Mind's Eye paper for a block party - very festive!   I decided to add some stickers from a pack of label stickers for the journaling.  The border was from a pack of Sassafrass Lass borders for Studio Calico.
On the other side I added some more splatters of Lemonade Mr. Huey.  The party pieces are just from the party store with a little scrap of Crate Paper ribbon to tie them together.  I made the title with my favorite title sticker - Thickers by American Crafts.

Kit:  Handmade (Studio Calico)
Supplies:  Paper (Pink Paislee, Basic Grey, Bazzill, My Mind's Eye), Stickers (Sassafrass Lass for Studio Calico, Thickers by American Crafts), Lemonade Mr. Huey (Studio Calico), Ribbon (Crate Paper), Party accents (Party Store)

Friday, December 30, 2011

Sleeping Beauty page

I'm almost finished with the princess pictures!  Who knew these would take so long!  I guess if we hadn't splurged on the photopass, I probably wouldn't even care to scrap half of them, but since we have really great pics and poses....hey that's what we got the photopass for!

Anyway, I made this layout based on the Studio Calico Sunday Sketch.  Nothing too special about it, just simple and girly!

Paper (Studio Calico), Stickers (Making Memories, Creative Memories, Jolee's, EK Success), Ribbon (making memories)

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Paper Crafter’s Library Design Team Submission

I am an avid reader of Papercrafter's Library and enjoy making my own version of the projects Andrea, Sophia, and Tracey create on their website.  Recently I saw a call for design team members and was immediately excited and nervous.  Knowing how much I love the website and that I have been following them for years, I certainly got excited about the possibility...and then I started to compare myself to others.  I finally decided I would never know the answer unless I tried!
So, here goes - these are a few of my favorite projects from the last year.
This is the Valentine card I made for my darling husband.   I challenged myself to make this card a different shape than the regular card.  To do this, I folded my Sahara Sand paper in half and cut it with the scallop circle die cut in my Big Shot.  I left just a bit of room on the edge where it was folded so it would cut around it.
And since I don't give him cards that are naked on the inside, here is the inside. I wrote on there something I saw on a Tim Holz stamp: "When I want to see love defined, I look at you."  At the time, we had recently gone through a miscarriage, so I just wanted him to know I love him and appreciate him.  To convey this feeling, I chose little girl from Greeting Card Kids to be me - giving him my heart. I know I'm silly....oh well, I'd rather be crazy in love after 13 years than just plain crazy!

Stamps: Greeting Card Kids
Ink: Memento Cocoa Brown
Paper: Whisper White, Sahara Sand, Rose Red, Pink Pirouette
Accessories: Scallop Circle Die, Chunky Pink glitter, crystal effects, Pretty in pink Satin ribbon, heart punch, vintage wallpaper embossing folder, White gel pen, Copic markers, Doily (Wilton), packaging tape (Making Memories), pin (CTMH)

Another project I just loved this past year was an easel card that I made for my mom for Mother's Day.  The picture above shows the card as it is closed.
 
Here is the card on it's easel. You can see most of the elements are leftover pieces from another scrapbook page I made using the Studio Calico Singin' in the Rain kit. I added a piece of retired ruffled SU ribbon across the front, a sticker from Cosmo Cricket, a chipboard sun sprayed with Lemonade Mr. Huey, and a little yellow Crate Paper button. I found this pin on my desk, so I have no idea where it came from.

Here's a closeup of it.

Those little butterflies are Jenni Bowlin Studio stickers with Making Memories rhinestones. There is also a wood veneer Studio Calico butterfly that I spritzed with Cherry Limeade Glimmer Mist.

And here is the inside of the card. I put the last scrap of floral paper on the inside and added a sentiment to a sticker. I added little tiny red rhinestones to the corner of the sticker and that's it!

Stamps:  Stampin' Up!
Ink:  Chocolate Chip (Stampin' Up!)
Paper:  Crate Paper
Accessories:  Singin' in the Rain kit, Wood veneer butterflies, Lemonade Mr. Huey (Studio Calico), Rhinestones (making memories), Cherry Limeade Glimmer Mist (Tattered Angels), Button (Crate Paper), Ribbon (Stampin' Up!), Stickers (Jenni Bowlin Studio, Cosmo Cricket), Chipboard accent (Maya Road), stick pin

As I looked back through the hundreds of scrapbook pages I have made in the past year, I decided to use this one for this post.  I don't know if it was the fact that I loved the paper or the memory of going to the Melting Pot, my favorite fondue restaurant. 
This layout sticks with my style - not too cluttered, but it also had a little twist of angles that I really liked when I was done. 
I used the Lawn Party kit from Studio Calico for this page. Here is the stamp which I embossed with irridescent ice embossing powder. I colored the 3 with my Copic marker and a versamarker and embossed it as well. Finally, I used a ruler and deliberately made straight lines at not so straight angles so if they weren't perfect it was okay! 

Stamps:  Numbers Border Stamp (Studio Calico)
Ink:  Basic Black, VersaMark (Stampin' Up), Marker (Copic)
Paper:  Ash (American Crafts), Pebbles, Fancy Pants
Accessories:  Ruler, Basic Black journaling marker, Irridescent ice embossing powder (Stampin' Up!), Stickers (Basic Grey, Martha Stewart), Ribbon (Making memories), Glitter flower brad (Pebbles), Ruler

For my final project, I thought I would include these centerpieces I made for a banquet this summer. I had to make centerpieces for a banquet, but I wanted them to last so I could use them again in September.
To begin, I used Stampin' Up's Celebrations DSP so the centerpiece would have a birthday feel.  I used basket filler and hid a foam piece inside to hold the flowers in.   I cut out the pictures and a backing piece using the Top Note die - I cut the pictures on the perforated edge so they would be matted on the background piece.   You will also notice a pennant cut with the Pennant die cut for the Big Shot.  I had to make about 10 - 15 of these, so I wanted pretty, but not terribly time consuming!
I used the Fun Flowers diecut to create the flowers. I curled the ends of the flowers using my distressing tool - my favorite for curling ends. I hot glued each piece to the next so it would have super holding power and give it some dimension (only one finger got glued to a button!!!Ouch!)
Finally, I finished it all off with some blue organza ribbon that my friend Angel gave me.

Paper:  Bashful Blue, Celebrations DSP, Old Olive, Real Red (Stampin' Up!)
Accessories:  Fun Flowers, Top Note, and Pennant die cuts, Big Shot (Stampin' Up!), Floral foam, floral picks, hot glue, hot glue gun, shredded paper filler, glass vase (Craft supply), Organza Ribbon (Offray), Buttons (Basic Grey)

So, there you have it, a recap of a few of my favorite projects from 2011!  Here's wishing you a happy and productive (and, of course, scrappy) New Year!

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

You Make me Smile

I subscribe to the Studio Calico monthly kits, so I decided to use the Handmade kit to make this page.  I thought the greys and greens would accent the colors in these pictures quite well.  I started with a basic sketch and just made a little triangle with butterflies and stickers.
My daughter told Tiana and Naveen she was "Never, ever, ever going to kiss a frog!"  It was really just too cute, so I accented the journaling with Crate Paper stickers.

Supplies:  Studio Calico kit - Handmade, Creative memories stickers, Sassafrass lass chipboard for Studio Calico, rhinestones by Stampin' Up, making memories journaling spot, baker's twine, Crate Paper stickers

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

December Daily pages

It's a dreary day yet again here in Kentucky.  It has rained so much this year, it almost feels like we're in Seattle!  Here are a few more December Daily pages - I tried my best with what little sunshine I had....
This first page is a photo of the picture we sent out in our Christmas cards this year.  It is a picture of us on the Disney Dream boat.
The next one is a picture of our Christmas caroling crew at the hospital the other day.  We walked around the hospital for 2 hours caroling (and trying not to cry).  It was very touching to see how much people appreciated just the simple act of caroling when they were in the hospital at Christmas.  One man had just gotten off of life support, so that was really a hard spot not to cry!
Here is a picture of me and the hubby at a UK game - we are big fans, so we went to two games last week and have one more this week.  The big one...UK -vs.- U of L.  Rivals....

Supplies:  Studio Calico (December Daily kit, paper, chipboard letters and journaling spot), Stampin Up! (paper), Kaisercraft (rhinestones), October Afternoon (Chipboard buttons)

Monday, December 26, 2011

Jasmine

Finally!   Some non-Christmas page, eh?  I actually made this page about a week ago, but I decided to wait to schedule this page until I was pretty close to being through with Christmas pages for the December Daily. 
I used pretty much all pieces from my Studio Calico Handmade kit for this page.  I believe the patterned paper is Pink Paislee and the Thickers and fabric accordian people chain is Amy Tan for American Crafts.  In addition,, I added a little tiny Creative Memories sticker of Jasmine and a few hearts are from Pebbles.  I finished it off with some Washi tape (I think it is...) that I got in another SC kit. I actually made this for the Sunday Sketch for Studio Calico a few weeks ago. 

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

December Daily Day 18

Well, I am officially all caught up on my December Daily pages.  I am actually writing this on Monday, but I am not behind.  It's funny, I hesitated to purchase the December Daily kit from Studio Calico, because I was afraid I wouldn't keep up with it.  I am actually doing okay keeping up with it.  I knew myself well enough to know that if I didn't have the kit, I wouldn't attempt it at all.  If I had the kit, I would attempt....but I was afraid I would fail miserably.  So...all in all, I must say that my pages are not overly ornate or extravagant, but they are done!  I think that is really the point of the album.   Just to capture little snippets of the season while you are still in the season!  And, now it is so nice to think that I won't be stuck making a gazillion Christmas pages in July of 2012!

Anyway, enough chatter...I took a few pics of my daughter and her gingerbread house she made last night.  She enjoys all of these little activities so much!  And she is really getting much better at creating beautiful creations....more than in the past anyway! 

The candy cane stripe paper is American Crafts.  I can't remember who the background paper is from behind the pictures.  It was white and I spritzed it with Holly Berry and Bluegrass Mr. Huey and wiped it off with a Kleenex.  The woodgrain paper behind it all is Crate Paper.
The chipboard pieces and stickers are all October Afternoon.

December Daily Day 17

Here is our staff Christmas party for my husband's work.  All of the pastors, staff and their wives came over for dinner Saturday.  We had 17 total here, so my husband decided to move all of our furniture into the hallway.  Yes, you read that correctly!  All of it....the couch, the chair, even the piano! 
Anyway, we had a great time eating and playing games together and it really was nice to all be together at the same table together. 

Supplies:  Paper - Stampin' Up, Studio Calico, Teresa Collins; Letter stickers - American Crafts; Brads, chipboard - Echo Park; Label stickers - October Afternoon; Rhinestones - Kaisercraft

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

December Daily Day 16

Wow!  I am so proud of myself!  I am actually staying caught up on this.  Now, mind you these pages are not too fancy or complicated, but they are done....and imagine how many Christmas pages I WON'T have to be making next summer!  That's pretty incredible.
Here is a picture of my daughter holding her Rudolph ornament that she is so proud of making.  We have 4 ornaments so far that she made hanging on our tree!  Aren't they cute!  I love my family!

Supplies:  Studio Calico December Daily kit, October Afternoon stickers, banner, and chipboard buttons

Monday, December 19, 2011

December Daily 15

We didn't get a great picture because it was pretty crowded, but at my daughter's
Christmas party at school they went caroling at a local business and then had a visit from Santa.  So, since the picture with Santa was terrible, I included this picture of her singing carols.  They were too cute, of course.  I added a sticker from the Handmade kit from STudio Calico and kept the rest of the supplies from the December Daily kit.

Sunday, December 18, 2011

December Daily Day 13

Well, I'm starting to get a little bit caught up here.  This is a picture of some of the ornaments Halleigh made at kindergarten this year.  We were delighted for her to make so many and so proud of all of her cute ornaments we can add to the tree now!
Not much going on - just a few ornaments and rhinestones to adorn the pictures.  I cut the strip of paper from the December Daily kit that said ornament to go next to day 13.  
Supplies from December Daily kit by Studio Calico and Basic Rhinestones by SU! 

Saturday, December 17, 2011

December Daily day 12

I decided all of my pictures so far in the album were of me or my daughter and my hubby was missing, so I captured this photo and wrote him a sweet little note to say thank you for all of the support he has given me in the last several months as I've been going through treatments to remove a horrible plantar's wart on my heel.  I am very fortunate to have such a wonderful and handsome husband!

Supplies from the December Daily kit by Studio Calico as well as retired DSP from SU!

December Daily Day 9

I decided to go for quick and easy on these last few pages.  Just trying to keep up and realizing that the focus is not on complete and total beauty....it's just capturing those little things about this particular Christmas that I will forget.  So here is a faddish one...but look at all of this pink!  So like my prissy little girl!  She got a Barbie CD in her advent calendar the other day and was tickled pink to have it and dance around singing to these songs.  I think she was only disappointed that it wasn't the movie!  Oh, well....
Supplies are from Studio Calico December Daily kit, Crate paper stickers, and American Crafts pink flowers.

Friday, December 16, 2011

December Daily Day 8

Well, I'm not finished with my gift wrapping yet, but I do actually have a pretty good start on it!  That's pretty good for me!  I found this little title in the Ali Edwards clips she gave the December Daily people.  I printed them on Crumb Cake paper (SU!) and added a few pebbles buttons to create a little visual triangle.  I had an extra strip of that polka dot paper, so I added a little flair in the top corner to finish off the gift wrap idea.
All supplies were Studio Calico December Daily kit.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

December Daily Day 6

Here is my day 6 - it is a picture of part of our old dilapidated Christmas village that is one of our daughter's favorite spots to play during Christmas.  I think I underestimated how much she would love playing with this stuff!  We've had it for 13 years now....to think it is like a new dollhouse area for her! 

Everything is from the Studio Calico kit - the paper is spritzed with Holly Berry Mr. Huey and masked with tape and some Glimmer Mist screens.  The extra strip has some silver glimmer paper from SU! and the chipboard banner and button pieces are October Afternoon.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

December Daily Day 5

Here's a proud mama moment for you!  This past month our daughter started reading books to us.  She just turned 5 and loves learning.  She brought this classic Mac and Tab book home (kind of like Dick and Jane, but mostly 3 letter words that are easier to pronounce phonetically!). 

Anyway, after she read it to me one last time before returning it to her school, I snapped this picture of her.  When I went to make a page, I decided the letter paper here was perfect for the background and the Basic Grey sticker was a great title.  I added just a few touches to finish it off.  I used the letter stickers for the title of the book.  I added a scrap of another paper and some Making Memories holly leaves topped off with one of those plastic flowers.  The supplies all came from the Studio Calico December Daily kit. 

Sunday, December 11, 2011

December Daily Day 7

I skipped a few days on this one, but since it was a busy day I didn't really have any pics.  I wanted to document the day and something I haven't included in any of my scrapbooks so far.  I added a schedule of my day and then just journaled what happened....including a long bout with a plantar's wart that just won't go away. 
I used one of the tags that Ali Edward's made for us at Studio Calico, a scrap from my Letters to Santa DSP, some thickers by American Crafts, a Studio Calico Scrap, and a Basic Grey sticker that says This is my Life.  Not too exciting, but definitely part of our December that has made an impact on my life for sure!

Thursday, December 8, 2011

December Daily Day 4

Okay, so here is my day 4 page.  I wanted to highlight the email from Santa that we saw that morning.  So.....I went on and included a terribly horrid picture of me to keep the memory of the email and the delight my daughter had upon seeing Santa call her name out on the nice list.
Here's a little closeup of my favorite spot - it's this October Afternoon sticker and I added flocking to the beard and fuzzy parts with Liquid Applique (CTMH) and heated it up.  I just loved watching it fluff up.  So festive!!! 
The back paper is from my DD Studio Calico kit, there is also Basic Black, Real Red, Crumb Cake, and Pool Party SU paper and Baker's Twine on there. 

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

December Daily Day 3

I took my daughter to the annual town Christmas parade Saturday.  It was the first time we have ever attended the parade.  The journaling says,
"Much to my delight, Halleigh loved going to the Christmas parade for the first time this year.  When this tractor came by, she said, Mommy, that's impressive!  HOLY SMACKASOLY!"
I honestly don't know which one cracked me up more - her saying that it was impressive, or her silly made up words....smackasoly?!??!  Really?  This is a 5 year old child!  What a sight!
I couldn't get a good picture of it, but I put a top coat of Smooch Shimmer on top of all of the stars to add a little glittery touch to them. 
All supplies were from the Studio Calico December Daily kit.

Sunday, December 4, 2011

December Daily - Day 2

So I switched to green for the background on day 2.  I decided to highlight some of my favorite ornaments - There is a set of vintage ornaments from my grandmother who passed away earlier this year at 95.  I thought I had lost them, so I was delighted to find them.  I used the vintage looking strip from the Jenni Bowlin page for the accents here.  I printed out a few freebie clips on Crumb Cake paper (SU) and added a vintage star button on that little tag. 

Saturday, December 3, 2011

December Daily - Day 1

Well....I'm probably crazy, but I decided to try and start a December Daily album this year.  I'm printing pics from my HP All in One wireless printer....thus a little less quality, but it also helps me be able to keep up with the printing for the scrapbook.  It's a tradeoff...

I used all of the materials from the December Daily and Handmade kit from Studio Calico for this page.  I printed out the Ali Edwards daily - I accidentally ordered the wrong size, but I figured out I could print it out on 6X8 size paper and get the same result I originally wanted.