15 Years Layout

It seems that as much as I am now creating cards, I don’t do near as many layouts as I once used to.  So, I’m trying to make sure I keep creating for ‘me’ and using the pictures and documenting the memories that I really want to preserve. 

I used an amazing new line from My Mind’s Eye for this layout.  I created it in honor of our 15 year anniversary.  Wow.  Time is flying. I also used Pink Paislee chipboard and American Crafts alphabet stickers.  The paper flower that I created is topped off with a Webster’s Pages Sparkler (love those!)  The Labels Fourteen was the perfect Spellbinders die template to frame my subtitle which was the date of our Anniversary.  I have issues with my handwriting as so many people do but I absolutely loved documenting how I feel about my sweet hubby whom I am so blessed to be married to!  I think it’s important to document those kinds of emotions that can later be reflected on.

I’m so grateful for all you and the encouragement you bring me.  Thank you visiting my blog today.  I hope you were inspired!

Grand Nestabilities™ Card

Supplies:  Spellbinders Die Templates: Grand Scalloped Squares, Grand Squares, Labels One; Pattern Paper – Echo Park; Ribbon – SEI; Stamps – Mint Motif (available exclusively at i{heart}papers.com,) Gina K Designs; Embossing Powder – Sparkle n Sprinkle

I love making these shaped cards with the new Grand die templates from Spellbinders.  They’re so easy and so fun!  This is similar to one I shared a while back except on this one I embossed the the turquoise frame image.  It is a stamp from Gina K Designs that fits right into Labels one.  Love that!  Then I scrunched up my ribbon and sewed it on.  The butterflies are a ‘fussy cut’ job right from the paper. 

I’ve been busy subbing all week and working on a fun assignment.  Hope you are having a fabulous week and thanks so much for stopping by!

Spread Your Wings and Fly

Supplies:  Pattern Paper – Fancy Pants (Road Show,)  Stamps – Fancy Pants, Silhouette – Webster’s Pages, Flowers – Prima Marketing, Brad – Fancy Pants (Road Show) Glimmer Mist – Tattered Angels, Stickers – Fancy Pants, Chipboard Alphabets – American Crafts, Ink – Ranger Distress Ink, Clearsnap (Colorbox)

As I watch my nearly nine year old engage in her different activities such as soccer and piano, I’m just in awe of her drive and determination.  Then I see her in the kitchen, blooming in to this beautiful young lady and I just can’t believe it’s happening right before my eyes!  She was just in second grade!  Suddenly she’s this lil’ pre-tweener!  I’m lovin’ it and embracing every minute. 

I created this layout with all Fancy Pants Road Show pattern Paper to document these quickly passing time.  Then I created this card to go with my tag from the last post.  I used the Fancy Pants Road Show paper again with a Flourish stamp.  I also used one of my new favorite Labels fromSpellbinders that I just got.  Woot!  It’s Labels Sixteen and she’s a beauty! Framing the bottom is actually one of the new Grand die templates as well.  It is showing off a peek of Grand Labels Four.

I woke up to a happy email today.  Crafts n’ Things will be publishing an ensemble that I put together using my new Spellbinders Grand Die Templates.  Yay!

Today we have good friends and their four kiddos coming in from California for the week.  It’ll be a full but super fun week!

Blessings on your Monday!

Ribbon Tutorial and winner

Supplies:  Pattern Paper – Fancy Pants (Road Show,)  Bow – Hug Snug Seam Binding, Glimmer Mist – Tattered Angels, Ribbon – Fancy Pants (Road Show,) Die template – Spellbinders, Chipboard – Tattered Angels, Sparkler – Webster’s Pages, Pins – Maya Road, Ink – Clearsnap

Hi friends!  I had a few emails with questions about the bow I did on my last project so I promised to do a tutorial and here it is!  I’m sure there is a few different ways to do this but this is my version.  ; )

 

1)  Cut the desired amount of seam binding (I would suggest using Hug Snug.)

2)  Decide what color scheme you want to make it and choose your glimmer mist.  You can do a solid color like I did with the green bow or use several colors together.

3)  Mist seam binding with about 6 or 7 squirts depending on how dark you want it.

4)  Here’s where it gets messy ; )  Using your hand, squeeze the seam binding in your had a few times.

5)  To add an even more distressed look, poor a darker color glimmer mist in a little puddle (preferably on a craft mat) and dip a few edges of the binding into the darker color glimmer mist.  *tip* I didn’t do this on my previous green bow because there wasn’t a lot of distressing on that card.  I like to do this on my projects that I’ve inked up and distressed a lot.

6)  Scrunch seam binding into ball and stick in zip lock bag for a few hours or over night.

7)  To create bow, tie two individual bows.  Don’t worry about the length on the bottom.  I like to leave extra so I can cut off what I want after it’s adhered to project.

8)  Layer one bow on top of the other using glue dot.  I often create one extra loop to stick in the middle on the top to make it a bit more full with still only four strands hanging down.

9)  Add a button or pearl to the center and you are ready to embellish! 

Hope this helped!  I’m so sorry that I’ve not posted my RAK winner or this tutorial earlier.  My Canon Rebel has been giving me so much trouble.  I think I’m going to need to send it in for sure.  So, I added a bit to the RAK and here is what it consists of:  Fiskars Rain Dots, 2 packs of Glitz frosting, Doodlebug Design Braddies, TaDa Stamp, Nikki Sivils Cord Brads.

I want to thank you all for the amazing comments on the Orange Blog Hop. I so appreciate each and everyone one of them.  I hope you were able to find some great inspiration as you went a long.  Alright…..on to the winner!!!  Random Generator choose….

Here are your random numbers:
52Timestamp: 2010-09-15 17:21:48 UTC
Congrats Patti #3651!  Please send my your addy and I will get this out to you right away!
Thanks so much for stopping by.  Blessings on your day!

Hoppin’ Orange Style

 

Supplies: – Apron Lace Border Punch – Fiskars;  Cardstock - WorldWin, Bazzilll; Pattern Paper – Pink Paislee; Die Templates – Spellbinders; Ribbon – May Art; Pins – Maya Road, Stamps – Gina K Designs (Autumn Splendor Stamp TV Kit)  Markers – Copic; Ink – Ranger distress ink

Hi there!  Welcome to the Orangest blog hop evah!  Actually, it might not be full of orange projects but it will consist of a group of Fiskateers who share a common passion for crafting!  It’s great to be apart of an online board with a group of friends who can encourage and inspire one another.  It’s been an amazing journey! 

If you have come from Shannon White’s blog then you are right on track!  If you just happened upon this blog hop and would like to start at the beginning you can start by clicking here to get to the Fiskateer board or the first link listed below. 

When creating my ‘So Grateful’ card, I used my Fiskars Rotary trimmer (as I do with every project!) I also used one of my favorite border punches called ‘Apron Lace.’  It’s the white strip on the right hand side.  I had fun coloring in my stamped image with my copics. 

If I could send each and every one of you this card I would.  The truth is, I really am SO GRATEFUL for my blog readers.  You can’t imagine how much your comments mean to me.  So for today, one lucky reader will win a package of rain dots and some other fun embellishments that I have ready to go for you.  And, if you keep on hoppin’ you may find a little more eye candy! 

**UPDATE**  I’ve had several questions about the ribbon on my card.  The bow at the top is from ribbon that I created with Hug Snug Seam Binding and Tattered Angel Glimmer Mist.  I’ll do a tutorial in the next few days so you can see how it’s done.  The ribbon at the bottom that I sewed on the card is May Arts ribbon.

I also wanted to mention some exciting news.  I found out that one of my favorite layouts has been published this month here at Scrapbooking.com.  Thanks for lettin’ me share!

Ready for some more inspiration?  Next, you can head on over to

******************Mary Gibson’s blog! *************************

Thanks for taking a peek everyone!

Fisk-a-hugs!

So Blessed

Feelin’ so blessed today for having such an amazing family.  We are heading into a new time in our lives with a ‘middle schooler’ and no kids under 5 years old! 

This is a layout I created quite some time ago but never had a chance to post it.  I had an exciting surprise today in the mail!

It was this uber fun issue of which I have a few projects in!  Thank you Paper Crafts!  This mag. is oozing with inspiration.  I can hardly type fast enough because I’m wanting to go create!

Speaking of creating…..did ya notice the big orange badge on the side of my blog?  Yup, hop on back tomorrow for the Fiskateer blog hop if you want to see some great projects from a bunch of us who share a passion for crafting. 

Now to leave you with a few photos of the first day.  My camera is so sick.  I may have to send it to the camera hospital.  I was able to get a few good shots in the morning before it completely died. 

Tuesday…first day of school….

 

(don’t even ask…)  LOL

School Basics

And….just like that, they are off!  My boy to his first day of middle school and my youngest to her first day  1st grade!  Her first time ever to be at school ALL day.  And she in a split class so she has second graders with her.  Ashley was the least bit  nervous.  She has the same classroom, same teacher, same friends…..3rd grade.  She loved it before it began!  I’ll post photos from the ‘shoot’ soon.

The house was so quite today, you could hear a pin drop!  In the middle of the silence, my chalkstock paper from iheartpapers.com arrived and I was able to make this card that I wanted to try with it.  Lemme tell ya!  The stamping turned out soooo much better than using chalk paint.  I love this chalk paper!  Of course I also used my Mint Motif (School Basics – available exlusively at iheartpapers.com) to do the stamping and my October Afternoon Report Card pattern paper to give it the ‘pop’ in color.  I wanted to alter a via Starbucks pack to go with this…a survival pack….for the kids’ teachers who I happen to know LOVE Starbucks!  But, I’ve been a bit under the weather and haven’t been hittin’ the craft table as much as I thought I would this week.  I’ll be sure to update with it when it comes together. 

Enjoy your day!

Play HARD!

SUN-River.....I don't think you could ever put those two words together and go wrong!

Labor Day weekend is always such an exciting time. One last chance for family get togethers or summer outings before the school starts and the schedules become crazy! I can't even believe how much we packed into two days. Biking, running, swimming, obervatory, baseball, table tennis, water ballons, squirt guns, playground, birds of prey, hot tubbing, boardgames, painting, ice cream shop....phew! The kids are going to need a week to recover! (ha...who are we kidding? We all know it's the parents who will need to recover!)

Hope you are having a fabulous Labor Day as well!

Mint Motif School Basics Bookmark

Supplies:  Stamps – Mint Motif (School Basics – available exlusively at iheartpapers.com); Pattern Paper – October Afternoon (Report Card)

Good Morning!  It’s so hard to believe that the start of school is just around the corner!  For those of us on the Westcoast, we don’t start until after Labor Day.  I put together this little bookmark with my Mint Motiff School Basics stamps.  What teacher doesn’t need another bookmark….especially one expressing appreciation! 

Just a quick post today.  We are enjoying some family time for Labor day weekend.  Hope you are too!  Thanks for stopping by!

Celebrating Love….

It’s a special day today.  It’s my parents 39th Wedding Anniversary.  This is for them….

I am so proud of them and I love them so very much!  Hope your day is spectacular!!

Okay, the truth is, I also made this card for the Waltzing Mouse challenge that I found out about on Mona’s blog!  I have fallen hard for so many new Waltzing Mouse sets.  I was so excited to visit their site and see how many of them are ‘Nestabilities Friendly!’  Here is the sketch that was posted for the challenge:

Now, I can’t wait to see the new release!  On this card I used a set called Very Vintage Labels No. 3.  I then cut it out with my Spellbinders Labels Three die template.  The pattern paper is Kaisercaft  and the sweet silhouette in the middle of the bow is  Webster’s Pages.

On a more random note…WOWZERS!  Did you see that lil’ 10 year old on America’s Got Talent?  I’ve never, ever, ever seen anything like that before.  Definitely worth checking out.  Jackie Evancho.

On just one more random note…FIVE more days and my first born will be in Middle School!  *blink*  *blink blink*

Spellbinders™ Labels Eight Mini Album & BIG News!!

Every time we come back from our vacation in Kelowna, B.C. (Canada,) I have hundreds of photos and it can be so overwhelming to think about scrapping them.  I love to highlight an event and then create a little mini album to cherish the memory.  This lil’ album here is actually about our trip from last year and I made it about four months ago.  When I saw Spellbinders Labels Eight die template, I knew right away that I’d be using it for minibooks/baby books/guest books ect.  It’s the perfect shape! 

So, when I first saw Spellbinders™GRAND Nestabilities, the possibility of creating larger mini albums with the die templates became so exciting!  Although I haven’t had a chance to put an album together (that I can actually show you) with these Grand Nestabilities, I know that once the kiddos are back in school I’ll be pulling out my stacks of photos for sure!

Have you ever wanted to create your own mini album?  It’s really as easy as 1..2…3…!

1. Cut/emboss how ever many pages you would like to make with the Labels Eight die template, using heavy weight cardstock.  (***tip***if you want to make the cover heavier, you can use chipboard or a cereal box covered in your favorite fabric or paper!)
2. Cut/emboss your photos using the same die template and cut one end of photo off to create a straight edge (this will allow room for journaling and embellishments!)
3. Punch two holes in your pages, add some rings and embellishments and viola!  You have created your own super cute mini album!

With this design that I created, I love how each photo has one side that is in the shape of the Labels Eight die template.  Mini albums don’t have to be different on every page.  Sometimes consistency can be your strongest element of design.

******Speaking of Spellbinders, they announced some very exciting news yesterday on their blog.*****

I can’t even begin to tell you extremely proud I am to be designing for this company.  I seen Stacey and Jeff work so very hard to reach this level of success and I couldn’t be more happy for them. 

Huge Congratulations to the Caron’s and all the other hard working people at Spellbinders!  Here is the announcement:

Spellbinders Paper Arts Named to Prestigious Inc. 500 List

Spellbinders Listed as One of America’s Fastest Growing Companies

Peoria, AZ – August 31, 2010 — Spellbinders™ Paper Arts, LLC, an award-winning inventor, manufacturer and marketer of cutting edge tools for crafters, announced today it has been named to the Inc. 500, a list of the fastest growing private companies in America. With an extraordinary three-year growth rate of 673%, Spellbinders Paper Arts is ranked 446 on this year’s list, No. 5 in the Phoenix Metro area and No. 25 in the Consumer Products & Services category. With over 27 million businesses registered in the United States, the Inc. 500 list represents the top-tier businesses in America today.

“Fast growth at any time is a big achievement; fast growth during the past few years is just short of miraculous,” said Inc. editor Jane Berentson. “The Inc. 500 consists of these just-short-of miraculous companies, the ones that through ingenuity and ambition have increased revenue, hired employees, and grown fast in difficult economic times.”

Each year, Inc. magazine ranks U.S.-based, privately held companies according to percentage growth. The fastest-growing list is an exclusive ranking of entrepreneurs nationwide – a group Inc. magazine refers to as the most important segment of the U.S. economy. “It is an honor to be included in this year’s Inc. 500 list and recognized for our entrepreneurial achievements,” said Stacey Caron, Spellbinders’ President. “Our focus has always been on manufacturing innovative, quality products for crafters. This confirmation of our success is the ultimate recognition of our efforts to grow a business that is both rewarding and fulfilling.”

Spellbinders embraces Web 2.0 marketing methods. They have assembled a team of the best designers in the industry to share their expertise online through a variety of web communities.

To read more about this company, visit their blog here!

Thank you so much for letting me share the big news.  It’s so nice to be able to share my excitement with my blogging buddies!