Hello Sunshine!

Hello Sunshine!  Hope you are doing well and enjoying the last few weeks of summer.  I just can’t believe that it has been a week since  blogged…..oops.  Well, school hasn’t started quite yet in this neck of the woods and we’ve been trying to get in as much activity as possible befor it begins.  I did have this card that  I can finally show, you now that it’s been in out in Scrapbook and Cards Today magazine over the summer.  Hard to believe that I should be sharing fall stuff already!  I’ll have more teacher inspired things real soon! 

I just have to post a few more colorful photos of the massive mojo going on in our household.  The girls have been playing RESTAURANT ‘playdough style!’ 

Before that, they were cutting out paper snowflakes and painting them.  hmmmm….It seems to me that last year at about this time we had a paper snowflake storm in our house????? 

Notice how I am avoiding the other end of the table in these shots?  Yes, it’s covered in paper and you can’t even imagine all what else.  I’ve been creating up a storm during some free time in the evenings but it’s not anything I can post for a bit.  It’s a good thing the girls have a crafty edge.  I hope you’ve been inspired by all their color!  LOL 

Thanks for taking a peek! 

Home is Where you Hang your Heart

Supplies: Spellbinders S4-121 Doodle Parts; S4-137 Classic Scalloped Heart; S4-192 Blossom; S4-198 Flourish Accent; S4-290 Labels Fourteen; I2-1014 Fleur De Lis Pattern Impressabilities, Graphic 45, Dressed to the Nine A Proper Gentleman Patterned Paper; Pink Paislee, 5th Avenue Tinsel Town Patterned Paper; Worldwin Papers, Ivory Treasures Cardstock; Clearsnap, Chestnut Roan Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink; Tattered Angels, Sweet Pea, Coffee Glimmer Mist; Sparkle n' Sprinkle, Shimmering Sea Glitter; Creative Impressions, Cream Bits of Bling Pearl, Melissa Francis Rub-on

It seems that we have been all over the place this summer…chasing the sun!  But, for this week it’s good to be ‘home.’  This is a frame I created using the new Labels Fourteen die template (the one that frames the opening.) I used newspaper and glimmer mist to layer the Blossom die template and layer the flower to give it a more vintage feel.  The heart in the middle was designed by using an impressibilities and then I added liquid glue to the raised part.  Pouring the glitter on the raised part brought out the design. 

Have a blessed day and thanks for stopping by!

Delight in the Unexpected

Supplies:  Spellbinders™ LF-008 Grand Labels Four, S4-235 Fancy Tags, Pattern Paper – KaiserCrafts, Cardstock – Bazzill, Stamp – Flourish, Fiskars; Ink – Ranger, Flowers – Prima Marketing, Brown Pearls – KaiserCrafts,  Ribbon – May Arts

I had fun putting this vintage card together.  I stamped the strip that is behind the the tag with the sentiment.  

Speaking of the unexpected, if you are international and have always wanted to design for Spellbinders Paper Arts then I have some exciting news for you!   Spellbinders is looking for an International Guest Blogger for the month of October.  You can read all the details on the Spellbinders blog here.

We had a chance to spend some time at Detroit Lake earlier this week.  It was fabulous!  I will be sharing a few photos soon!  Still trying to get through all the smoky laundry right now!  And in a bit we are off to register my first born in middle school……yikes!!  I absolutely cannot believe this day is here.  We will complete the trip with shopping for school supplies which is always a ton of fun! 

Thanks so much for visiting.  I appreciate each of you so very much!

Spellbinders™ Grand die templates

 Supplies:  Spellbinders LF-110 Grand Classic Ovals; LF-111 Grand Scalloped Ovals; LF-190 Grand Labels Four; S4-121 Doodle Parts; S4-232 Blossom Two, Patter Paper - My Mind's Eye ( Black Lush,) The Robin’s Nest (red); Cardstock – Worlwin (black) ; The Robin's Nest, Red Cardstock, Stickers – Making Memories; Pearls – Zva; Red Ribbon – Webster’s Pages

When I first layed eyes on these Spellbinders Grand die templates, you can’t even imagine the excitment that ran through me!  They are so great for scrapbooking and I am definitely a scrapbooker before I am a card maker.  The great thing is, they are perfect for card creating as well!  What a match!  I am absolutely loving working with them.  They are fabulous!  There are so many book/ mini album possibilities; it just gets my mind swirling!  (Can you tell I’m a bit thrilled that Spellbinders came out with these?  LOL)

Here is a a  Guest Book that I made using the Grand Labels Four Die Template as well as the Grand Classic Ovals and Grand Scalloped Ovals.  They are linked in my supply list if you want to read more about them.  To create the flowers I used Blossom Two die template and I used the stylist to roll the tips of them to give the flowers more dimension.

Thanks for taking a peek!  Have a fantastic Monday!

Thank You

Supplies:  Stamps – Mint Motif (School Basics – available exlusively at iheartpapers.com); cardstock-Bazzill; pattern paper -October Afternoon – (Thrift Shop) chalkboard paint – Plaid

Today is Mint Motif’s release day for School Basics.  You are going to love this cute lil’ stamp set and all it’s possibilities!  Kimberly’s lil’ chalkboards inspired me to get out my chalkboard paint.  I am stocking the mailman for some chalkstock paper (chalkboard cardstock) that I can’t wait to try out but I thought it’d try this out while I wait. I think the paint is intended for wood ect. but I used it right on paper!  I stamped my lines, sentiment and stars and was good to go! 

School Basics is being sold exclusively at iheartpapers.com and is only $10!  This set will have you covered for the entire year!  I think I might just get ahead start on all those teacher cards I am scrambling to make throughout the year.  LOL 

The rest of the design team have also created some projects just to get your mojo going!

• Geny Cassady
• Latisha Yoast
• Kazan Clark
• Kimberly Crawford
• iheartpapers.com blog

Spellbinders™ Large Format Grand Labels One

It’s been so fun having a chance to play with these Large Format dies that Spellbinders has just put out.  I love that they can cut through so different things….even burlap!  I used the LF-007 Grand Labels One die template on this card and just cut the top portion off.  The rest is all Echo Park goodies. 

I’m so excited to be meeting up with a very good friend of mine who moved to Florida.  We try to see each other at least once a year.  And, all my sweet peas will be coming home!  Can’t wait.  Before you know it, they will be back in school.  Yikes! 

Speaking of school, did you see the most adorable lil’ chalk board sneak peek on Kimberly’s blog? That gets me excited for back to school! 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Master Designer

I am writing this post today in total awe.  Ever since we got back from our trip where it has been beautiful and sunny, I’ve been a bit down about the weather here on the coast.  It’s been dark and cloudy most every day since getting back.  Cold too!  It does not feel like summer.  I came to a place of realizing that I need to have a better attitude about it and be grateful for the place that I live.  We truly are so blessed.  And then out of no where..…check this out!

My in-laws were so gracious to take the girls while our oldest is at camp so that the two of us could celebrate our 15 year Anniversary.  We didn’t need to go far.  Just seven minutes away to our favorite place.  Within hours of checking in, the weather changed and I saw blue skies for the first time in a week!  Not only that, this was the view from our room….it just kept getting better and better at sunset.

 

These are unedited, straight from my camera shots.

Having a love for photography and being a artist/paper designer, I love moments like this when I realize that God is the ultimate master designer and that He has created all things.  I am humbled to think that the spark in me that drives me to want to create has come from the one who makes the most gorgeous, mysterious pieces of art ever to be imagined! I can’t even describe to you how majestic and powerful looking the sky and sunset was.  You don’t even want to know how many photos I took.  LOL  But, it just kept changing!!  It was sooo cool!

As I was reflecting on these photos and amazing time that we had celebrating our 15 years together, I was thinking about how God is also the master designer of our marriage.  He designed marriage!!  It was all His plan and idea!  I can’t even tell you how thrilled and blessed I have been over these past 15 years to be married to this man.  I thank God for master minding this plan and for allowing me to be apart of  this incredible family. 

We have had such a special time together and yes, I miss my kids (can’t wait to see them tomorrow!) But it’s been so wonderful to have life with just the ‘two of us’ for a few a days.  A time I will cherish forever. 

Happy Anniversary, Honey. 

Yellow.

Mint Motif School Basics Sneak Peek!

Is this stinkin’ cute or what?  ‘Vintage, old school’ look is one of the hottest trends right now in papercrafting and I’m so excited to share this Mint Motif sneak with you because you are going to love this new set!  This new Mint Motif set is called School Basics and it’s sold exclusively at i{heart}papers.com  On this card, I have stamped the print lines, the cursive words, the apple AND the pencil!  That’s not all the images either!  The cork paper I used is Karen Foster and the pattern paper is by October Afternoon (Report Card).  I colored my images using my Copic Markers.

Be sure to watch Kimberly’s blog this week as she posts more of the images on her creations, eventually leading up to the full reveal day on the 14th. 

The rest of the team have come up with some sneak peeks for you as well.  And guess what?  One lucky reader who leaves a comment along this blog hop will win a Mint Motif, School Basics stamp set of their own! Here’s where you can get to hoppin’!

Charlene Austin

Geny Cassady

Julie Overby (you are here)

Latisha Yoast

Kazan Clark

Kimberly Crawford

iheartpapers.com blog

Echo Park and Large Format Die Templates

Supplies:  Spellbinders™ Grand Scalloped Squares, Grand Classic Squares, Labels Fourteen, Pattern Paper – Echo Park, Buttons – American Crafts, Ribbon – Papertrey Ink, Stamp – Gina K Designs

Have you heard of Echo Park?  It’s a great new paper company that makes bright, whimsical designs.  I used my new Large Format die templates from Spellbinders to create the base of the card and the orange square.  Then I lined up layers of pattern paper and blued them all together on the green paper and ran it through with my Large Format Classic Square.  That way, the embossing is all the way around the edges (hard to see in the photo!)  It’s a similar technique that I used in creating my ornament card that I posted a few posts back. 

It’s been dark and rainy ever since we got home.  I’ve such a hard time taking good photos of my projects.  I need to get new bulbs and pull out my light box that I use in the winter! 

Toodles!

More Mint Motif Cakes!

Supplies:  Stamps: Mint Motif – Cake Shoppe, Cake Shoppe Too! (available exclusively at i{heart}papers.com;)  Die Templates:   Spellbinders™ Lacey Squares, Labels One; Pattern Paper:  October Afternoon – Thrift shop and Report Card; Ribbon: Creative Impressions, Cardstock – WorldWin, Ink – Clearsnap: Colorbox

Hi there! I have some more cake for you!  This is is a little box that I made for a birthday present.  It could be used to hold a gift card or some hand made jewelry ect.  I’m always needing birthday boxes/cards on hand so this was perfect way to get my sentiment and gift wrap made all together!  Do you see the Lacey Square die template?  It’s one of the new releases from Spellbinders.  It’s totally fabulous!

I’m also so glad that Kimberly was able to release this Mint Motif set over summer because I have had so many weddings to celebrate and it’s so great to be able to put together a simple Congratulations card.  All I used for this card is GCD Studios pattern paper, cardstock and the Mint Motif stamps. 

I hope you are inspired to create some of your own hand crafted cards this summer!  The sneak peaks of the new MM stamp set is just around the corner!

Northridge Media and Spellbinders giveaway!

This give-away is not one that I’m doing but I’m excited to tell you about it!  Then I will announce the winner of mine.  Northridge Media has a new blog called create: They are celebrating with a giving away a prize each day.  Today they are featuring my ‘I Adore You’ layout and there is a chance to win some Spellbinders goodies!  If you want to take a peek, you can check it out here.

On to the winner of my little RAK from last week….

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

4
Timestamp: 2010-08-03 23:46:56 UTC

Marla!  Congrats!  Send me your addy, I have some Webster’s Pages Bloomers and other goodies ready for you!

TONIGHT our friend Kurt Fuller is on Wipe Out!  Ouch!!  I can’t wait to watch.  I don’t know if you could pay me enough!  LOL

I don’t have a project ready for today.  I’ve just been getting unpacked and settling in.  Not much mojo going on quite yet!  I do have a few more photos to from our trip though!

Thanks for stopping by!