Cosmo Cricket Cards

Here are a couple cards I made a little while ago using their Honey Pie line. Speaking of Cosmo Cricket be sure to check out Leah Killian's blog as she is giving a ton of goodies away!

You will probably not hear much from me until after the new year. I MUST wrap presents asap and need to get a couple more items bought or the Santa gifts will be pretty weak this year! Also need to get some cooking done. I am working Monday and Tuesday and then taking the rest of the week off.

Other shares:

Paper Crafts picked up a couple cards for their Card Creations Vol 7 issue coming out in June. I just love their publications and am always thrilled to get an email from them. Cath also has a new blog that has tons of inspiration and giveways too. Be sure to check it out - it is Moxie Fab!

Jillibean Soup - I found this fun company who has some super cute product. The owner also likes the Iowa Hawkeyes so score one for her in my book!

Happy Holidays to everyone!!!!!

Paper Crafts - Card Creations Quick and Easy - Vol 2

I received my copy today so I thought I'd go ahead and share my little turkey card that is in there. As usual this special issue if full of great ideas..and I often don't feel worthy when I'm selected for an issue! This little turkey is kinda goofy...I accidentally cut one of his legs off. Instead of fussy cutting out a another turkey...I just gave him slilt legs. To quote the great Bob Ross - "That was a happy accident!" I used Reminisce papers and stickers, Around the Block label tape and my Dymo label maker. If you haven't noticed - I use my Dymo machine alot!

Other random tibits:

I found a cute site that specializes in buttons. They are uber cute! The site is called My Little Bit of Whimsy. Be sure to check them out!

Also received a couple emails from CARDS magazine requesting cards (ok that's probably a no brainer that would be cards if you have an ounce of deductive reasoning skills...lol). They will be in the May 2009 issue. I have pretty much gotten used to everything being 6-9 months in advance. Unfortunately sometimes it's hard to find Easter paper in stores in October! (ETA: Just got some card love for the May issue of Scrapbook Trends ...yipee!)

Hope every is staying warm. It was in the 50's here yesterday and is 20 below plus wind chill today. I hear it's snowing in Vegas too - weird!

When Your Mom Has Ample Supplies....

.....you can make your Webkinz a hat! I don't have scrap things to share this week, so I'll share some of Parker and Emma's recent creations. Bones (the Basset) was needing some headwear the other day. Sophie (the leopard) not to be left out...had to have one too. She kept cutting up the glitter foam paper and when each piece wasn't quite right she kept throwing it away...gasp! We attached the plastic cups with some stretchy jewelry string. Of course the hats lasted all of about 10 minutes, because if you keep taking them off and on they fall apart. Emma has made a variety of hats for Sophie and she often sports a hair bow or a Barbie skirt. Poor Parker keeps begging me to make Bones some clothes, but alas I don't sew. Hey grandma????

2 Awesome Kids Layout - Creatively Yours Sketch

This layout is simple and quick. It's also 6x12, my first time trying that size. I'm planning to hang this in my new scrap room (if it ever gets done?) I used Scenic Route and Fancy Pants paper, American Crafts vinyl Thickers and Martha Stewart flower stickers. You can find the sketch here.

Hope everyone is keeping warm...here in Iowa it is FREEZING!!!

Wedding Gift Card Holder

The challenge this week over at Mothers and Daughters Creations was to make a gift card. I used the Creative Imaginations Veronika gift card holder and also some Heidi Grace paper and chipboard, Doodlebug glitter paper, EK Success sentiment, Paper Studio bling, and some Making Memories stickers. The gift card was from Walmart and I thought it matched perfectly. Size is 5 1/2 x 5 1/2.

Love 2-4-6-8 Box

I had a little time tonight so I grabbed the papers at the top of the pile and this is what I came up with. I had bought some K and Company Smitten a month or so ago. A lot of it is glittered (my weakness) so I just had to have. The big heart is glittered but it is hard to see from the picture. I also used some Me and My Big Ideas bling, a Fancy Pants button and some ribbon from who knows where! This quick and easy 2-4-6-8 template can be found at 3D Designs Challenge blog. I haven't had much time to participate over there much lately, but I have used this template in the past and the challenge this week was to use any of their previous templates. My first attempt even got picked up for a future Paper Crafts issue!

I made this downstairs on the coffee table as my scrap room is even messier than usual as I'm in the process of packing most of it up. They have started on our addition and any day now the house dude is going to tell me he needs to cut thru my scrap room wall. Long story short...my room is stuffed...so it's not like I can say give me 5 minutes and I'm ready. I'm trying to leave essentials out and for the next couple of months digging into various boxes and scrapping at the coffee table. (I wanted to put tissue paper or filler in this love box, but alas it's already boxed up) But I must be patient as my new scrap oasis awaits! It's sad...but I lay awake at night thinking about my new room. A room I can actually walk around in and gasp...maybe even be able to find things when I need them!

Creatively Yours - Card Sketch #15

On this card I went a little crazy with a variety of manufacturers. I made it with a fun card sketch from Creatively Yours. I used Bazzill Bling cardstock, Scenic Route Sonoma papers, KI Memories Hula Envy lace cardstock, Basic Grey Urban Prairie cardstock stickers, Making Memories sticker and some Darice gems.

Off to take the hubby out for supper...he turns the big 4-0 tomorrow!

Tinkering Ink Card

I made this a little while ago, but I don't think I ever shared. It's made using Tinkering Ink's Provincial Fare line. The bling is Paper Studio and the ribbon was in my stash...I think something from a package if I remember right.

Magistical Memories Samples

Uber excited to get my chipboard in the mail before the crop on Saturday. I was able to get these made and am still planning to make many more things to share. I'm so proud of myself...I made another layout!
Paper: Creative Imaginations (pink), K and Company (flowers) and Lasting Impressions (white embossed)
Chipboard: Magistical Memories Fancy Frame and Scallop Plate
Glitter: Doodlebug (applied with Modge Podge)
Rubons: Doodlebug
Stickers: Making Memories (flowers and ABC)
Jewels: Doodlebug
Bent flowers to add dimension
Size: 12x12

Paper: Fancy Pants (some of the goodies I won recently on their blog...yum!)
Stickers: Basic Grey
Rubons: American Crafts
Brads: Making Memories (used for eyes)
Raw Chipboard: Magistical Memories Owl Hang Around (I just love this guy!)
Inks: Sugarloaf (used to ink up the raw chipboard)
Size: 6x6

Paper: Fancy Pants
Cardstock: The Paper Studio
Transparency: Hambly
Velvet Flocked Paper: Hobby Lobby
Embossed White Paper: Doodlebug
Raw Chipboard Flowers: Magistical Memories May Apple Bloom
Paint: Plaid
Glitter: Doodlebug
Rubon ABC: Doodlebug
Flower Sticker: Ayomi Yoshid
Size: 5 1/2 x 5 1/2
I traced the chipboard onto the velvet and white papers and cut out so that I could add more layers. Sorry for the glare!

Papers: My Mind's Eye
Raw Chipboard: Magistical Memories Flutterby's
Flocking: Doodlebug - added two layers with Modge Podge to the butterly
Black Glitter: Doodlebug - add to body and then layered Tulip glitter paint on top
Rubon ABC: Doodlebug
Gift Card Holder: Creative Imaginations Veronika

Magistical Memories BBQ Chipboard Giveaway

I received my DT tryout chipboard in the mail yesterday and as Emma would say...delicioso!!! I am headed to a crop tomorrow and plan to get crackin' on some cards and layouts. Magistical Memories is also giving away the very same chipboard I received. Just leave a comment at their blog. Well it's late, I'm off to bed...and of course I haven't packed for tomorrow or cleaned out the van so my stuff will fit....eh...there is always tomorrow morning!

Preschool Grad Layout

Here is another layout I did on Saturday at the crop...I know two layouts in one day...wow! These are pictures from Emma's preschool graduation in May. I may try to scan this as I wasn't happy with the way my pic turned out. I used a Fancy Pants journaling card, Heidi Swapp chipboard letters, Rusty Pickle and Doodlebug rubons, Basic Grey sticker, some kraft and yellow cardstock and buttons.

I have some more fun news to share. I made it to the final round in Magistical Memories 2009 Design Team call. They make the best chipboard!! I have shared some creations on earlier posts (and also have a card coming out in Paper Crafts next year using some of it). I will be getting some more chipboard to use for my next entries for the team. Crossing my fingers I get selected!!

Scrap Within Reach Design Team - Woot Woot!

I am still in a bit of shock, but oh so excited! I have been selected to be on the 2009 design team for Scrap Within Reach. Their products totally fit in with my style and I can't wait to get started! They will also be coming out with a monthly kit club in March so I will keep you posted on those. You can also find their blog here. This totally made my November!!!!

Say It With Letters - Christmas Wreath Kit

*Altered wreath project will be featured in the Dec09/Jan10 issue of Simply Handmade.

I was lucky enough to win a Christmas Wreath kit over at Say It With Letters recently. I love to alter so this kit is right up my alley. I knew I wanted to tackle this at the 15 hr crop I went to yesterday. In addition to making the wreath, I also made 3 cards....and there are still papers and things left that I plan to make a few more when I get some more time!

To make the wreath I painted the entire thing with brown paint. I forget to bring any green, so I ended up going in a different direction...I'm glad I did! To cover up most of the brown, I then took a variety of EK Success circle punches, then used a glue pen to draw a circle on each one and them applied Doodlebug copper glitter. I overlapped them all over the wreath, including putting pop dots behind some for added dimension. I also added some buttons and stickers from the kit to some of the circles. I also traced the bow onto paper and added glitter. The chipboard Merry Christmas I attached to a diecut that I outlined with copper glitter as well. I recommend using a fairly strong adhesive since you are gluing some of them directly to the paint. But then you also have to be careful since you may not be able to move things once they are stuck down. There are two holes on the back of the wreath, so it makes it so easy to hang on your wall!

The cards came together very quickly. Only extras included Coordinates and kraft cardstock, Clearsnap Chestnut Roan ink and some Paper Studio gems.

Thanks again SIWL!

Upsy Daisy Vroom Layout and Card

Found an expected surprise in my mailbox on Friday when I got home from work. Some cute rubon letters and papers from the Upsy Daisy Vroom line! These papers went pefectly with these pictures I had printed out earlier in the day for a crop I was going to the next day. Usually you have papers and then print out the pics, but this time it was the opposite! Perfect timing! If you click on the picture you can see the journaling better (it's at the top and bottom) but the gist of it can be found on this post on my family blog. Man - spring sucked around here...mud, mud, mud!!!!

Extras include Paper Studio butterfly punch and Doodlebug and DCWV glittered cardstock, Next Style buttons, some kraft cardstock and white clip for the card. On the layout I also used some felt circles from Are You Kitting Me, Next Style buttons, American Crafts pen and thread.

More Page Plan October Sketch Cards

Here are some more of the cards I made this month when I was a GDT for Page Plans. They have sketches for both layout and cards...so there is something for everyone! This card is 100 percent American Crafts. The paper and embellies are from their Spring and Summer line. I also used some vinyl Thickers. I can't get enough of Thickers! All of these goodies were a total and very pleasant suprise the other day in the mail. You can find the sketch here.

These two Halloween cards were made with the same sketch. The rubon sentiment and the candy sticker are from Joann's, the orange flocked frame is from Making Memories, Spooky and green paper are from Scenic Route Salem and the jewel is Darice. The creamish paper is actually the packaging from the Making Memories flocked stickers.

Paper is Reminisce, flocked Spooky sticker and ribbon are Making Memories, jewels are Darice and brad is Cloud 9.

I want to apologize for the poor lighting. Iowa weather/lighting right now stinks! It's either windy or gets dark so darn early. The back patio that I would sometimes use is now framed into a basement. So it stinks right now but in a few months I will be living large! It has been in the works to get an addition to our house. We are adding a basement and a 2nd floor above the basement. Our house is set up pretty weird...but I won't bore you with the details. We have changed our minds about a million times, what exactly to do with this new space. My dinky scraproom (maybe 80-90 sq feet) is becoming a hallway and closet, so one of the things to figure out was where will my scrap room go. Anything would be bigger than what I have now. My lack of space is really stifling my creative process lately. Too much stuff.. and no where to put it or find it! I suppose I should be nicer to the hubby as he wants me to take over our family room as our scrap room. This room is about 450 sq feet...pinch me I'm dreaming! It's also on the main level right off the kitchen so I will be able to go in there for a few minutes here or there. My daughter also loves to scrap so there will be space for her to have her own desk and I can also have friends over to crop. The computer will also be there so everything will be in one space. I guess the point of my story is that I will eventually set up a "lighting" area for pics and staging. The 2nd level of our addition will now be our new family room (around 400 sq feet) so if things get changed and I get that room instead it's still cool with me too. Of course I had to promise I would keep my new room somewhat cleaned up..... we'll see how that goes....

Check out my family blog if you are interested in seeing house progress.

Hmm, Hmm...Good - Paper Crafts Gourmet

This latest special issue by Paper Crafts combines two of my favorite things...food and scrap supplies! The above biscuits and cute tag were made by Alisa Bangerter. You can find these along with other great projects and recipes here. I'll even share a little sneak with you on how to make these!

Cheesy Garlic Drop Biscuits
Alisa Bangerter
This is a perfect recipe to pull out if you are short on time because there is no rolling or cutting. The cheese and garlic add extra kick to a plain biscuit, and kids love them. They are the perfect accompaniment to serve with soups or stews, and are great served with a salad.
INGREDIENTS
2 c. flour
2 tbsp. granulated sugar
4 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2/3 c. butter or margarine
1 1/2 c. grated cheddar cheese
1 1/4 c. milk
Chives (optional)
DIRECTIONS
Mix together dry ingredients. Cut in butter with pastry cutter until mixture is fine. Add cheese and mix well. Add milk and stir until just moistened. Drop by spoonfuls onto greased baking sheet. Sprinkle top with chopped dried or fresh chives if desired. Bake at 400 degrees for approx. 15 minutes.

Enjoy Halloween Tag
Designer: Alisa Bangerter
SUPPLIES: Cardstock: (ivory) Dye ink: (Black) Stewart Superior Corp.; (Summer Sun) Stampin’ Up! Specialty ink: (Mango Lemonade color wash) Stewart Superior Corp. Color medium: (black chalk) Craf-T Products Accents: (black brads) Making Memories; (chipboard bat, moon) Melissa Frances Fibers: (black striped ribbon) Pebbles Inc. Font: (Black Family) http://www.dafont.com/ Adhesive: (foam tape) Finished size: 3" x 4 1/2"
1 Make tag from cardstock. 2 Crumple tag and smooth out. Spray edges with color wash; let dry. Apply chalk. 3 Ink chipboard moon; let dry. Chalk edges and adhere. 4 Ink chipboard bat; let dry. Adhere with foam tape. 5 Print sentiment on cardstock; trim and tear edges. Chalk edges and adhere with foam tape. Attach brads. Attach ribbon with brad.

Use Your Stash Rubon Challenge Cards

The challenge this month at Use Your Stash was to use at least 3 rubons on a project. Can you find them? I used Heidi Grace red rubons as the border, KI Memories sentiment and circles (these were older KI, so nice to dig into the stash a bit), and also some Fancy Pants made the red circle line on the tag. Paper and tag are from Basic Grey and brad is Imaginesce.

I used 4 on this one....white lines are from My Mind's Eye (older stuff), Basic Grey barcode rubon, American Crafts hi flowers and Doodlebug glitter rubon swirl brackets. Also used some Basic Grey paper and Darice gems.

Recent Paper Crafts Pubs

Sorry for the lack of recent posts. I'm blaming it on - this seems to be the craziest time of the year for the fam (both kids' bdays, lots of extra curicular activity overlap and reality TV season has started up again!) Also I swear our computer hates me! I was excited to have 3 cards featured in Card Creations Volume 6. This card even got the head spot in the Congratulation section. I also have one featured in Thank You and the Photo card section.
I had this Girl tag featured in their recent Holiday Cards and More Volume 3. I loved both of these magazines and honestly can't say which issue I like better!!

Smattering of Cards

Staying up way too late again tonight, but wanted to get a few more cards posted. Still have a few more left that I made recently to post, but that's for another day. On all of these cards the papers are from the September Are You Kitting Me kit. Also had another card with a bunch of Are You Kitting Me goodies, but it will be in the May/June issue of Paper Crafts :-) On this card paper is 3 Bugs In a Rug, rubon is Rusty Pickle, pearls are Mark Richards and some kraft cardstock.
Paper is the back side of the green 3 Bugs In A Rug paper, Archiver's cardstock, K and Company heart, Hambly transparency and Making Memories ABC stickers.
I used a sketch from a fun new site called Rough Draft Sketches. It could be used for either a layout or a card. Papers are Daisy Bucket, Laura Ashley and Bo Bunny, K and Co felt, Making Memories chipboard sentiments, some Paper Studio bling and an EK Success cupcake.

This was also made for a sketch call at Paper Crafts. It's a mini at 3x3 1/2. Daisy Bucket papers, Making Memories brads and ABC Doodlebug rubons.

Mother's Day Cards

*This card will be featured in the May 2009 issue of Scrapbook Trends magazine.

This mixes a number of papers together which is unlike me. Pink is Bo Bunny and striped is Daisy Bucket both from Are You Kitting Me September kit. The scalloped paper is from Making Memories and was one of the MANY goodies that Becky was kind enough to send me. Thanks again Becky!! ABC stickers are also Making Memories and gems are Darice. Felt betterfly is EK Success. Size is 4 1/4 x 5 1/2.
This also uses more Daisy Bucket paper, Paper Studio cardstock, Colorbok transparency, ABC rubons from Doodlebug, felt flower from EK Success, gems from Heidi Swapp, Darice and paper studio. Size is 6x6.

Sassafras Lass Cards

I know this paper isn't new, but it's new to me :-) Was excited to see some of this Sassafras Lass at Archiver's last night. Also picked up some of their stickers. On the center, I used a Making Memories Halloween die cut, then a Sass stickers, then an EK Success felt flower. The sentiment are Making Memories ABC stickers. (Can't get enough of those - bought two more different ones last night) Size 5x5
Here is another one with more Sass. Also more Making Memories ABC stickers (Xmas ones), some Paper Studio bling...and you can't tell but I used a Tim Holtz clear fragment with the deer. It's actually 3d in real life. I won the fragments and some Glossy Accents at the crop last night...dang I've been lucky lately! Size 4 x 8.

Bo Bunny Cards - Teen Chic

I have a lot of cards to share today, but I have to jet out of here in a few to take Emma to a bday party and Amazing Race and D. Housewives are on tonight - so I may be sharing over the next few days so be sure to stop back. I was able to get quite a few made yesterday for World Card Making Day and also have a few rejects from earlier calls to share too. This yummy Teen Chic paper from Bo Bunny on these 3 cards I received in my kit from Are You Kitting Me recently. I was excited to be asked to be the GDT for October for Page Plans - a fun card sketch site. Here was my take on this week's sketch. I'll be making something every week in October - I'm excited! In addition to the Bo Bunny paper, I also used Bo Bunny brads, DCWV glitter paper and a Prima pink flower.
I made these last two cards at the crop yesterday. This card is based on a sketch over at the Bo Bunny blog. In addition to the Bo Bunny paper and brads, I used a Making Memories metal sentiment and picked up some of the fun new KI Memories glitter lace cardstock. I'm totally into butterflies right now! The big butterfly I cut out of the paper, but on the litle butterfly I used my Martha Stewart punch and punched from a big buttefly on the lace cardstock.
This last one I also used the paper (I'm very into fussy cutting...can you tell?). Also used some Prima Bling, Doodlebug ABC rubons and Paper Studio gems. Cardstock is from Archiver's I believe.

2 Sketches 4 You - Laura #9

*Card will be featured in October 2009 issue of Crafts N Things*


I used a variety of manufactures on the card I made for this week's sketch - most items courtesy of Are You Kitting Me. I'm trying to get more outside my comfort zone and not being so match matchy all the time and this kit is perfect to help me do that. Paper is 3 Bugs in a Rug, scalloped paper is from one of the Making Memories notebooks, chipboard fence from Magistical Memories which I applied Doodlebug copper glitter, Daisy Bucket rubon sentiment, Darice gems and some yellow flower ribbon. Size is 4x6.

Made a couple other cards so far with the kit, but submitting to a call so will post in a couple weeks if they don't make the cut.

Girls Weekend Card - courtesy of Are You Kitting Me

*CARD REMOVED FOR PUBLICATION IN JULY 2009 CARDS ISSUE*


I was excited to win September's Are You Kitting Me kit from Magistical Memories. And even more excited when I came home from work yesterday and it was there! Uber cute stuff..lots of funky, fun little pieces in it and a bunch of papers I can't get locally. On this card I used the In the Meadow Daisy Bucket paper and a piece of fabric that was included in the kit. Buttons and Doodlebug rubons were out of my stash. The Daisy Bucket paper has the most interesting texture to it. I felt bad cutting it up! I'm hoping to have time to use more of the kit later today so stop back for more samples in a day or two.

Around the Block Birthday Cards

I'm slowly but surely bringing over cards I originally posted on my family blog. These I made with the Birthday Party line from Around the Block. Love that it's 2 sided - more bang for your buck! Other suplies include Doodlebug pink frills, Paper Studio felt stuff, metal flower/brad, KI Memories flower, some Target ribbon and Archiver's cardstock. Sizes on both are 4 1/4 x 5 1/2

Use Your Stash Chipboard Challenge Cards

Here are the cards I made for September's challenge over at Use Your Stash. The challenge product was chipboard. Lets just say I have no shortage of chipboard (and leave it at that...lol). On this card I used a raw chipboard star from Scenic Route. Where you ask? It's under the orange and blue papers. It gave the card nice dimension and without making it too heavy. I used kraft cardstock, Around the Block papers and Darice gems. I've used this birthday paper alot. Love the bright colors and I love that you can cut the different sentiments right out of the paper.

Ok, it's not anywhere near St. Pat's day yet (but in the scrappy world it is). I used Bazzill cardstock, Die Cuts With A View paper and sentiment sticker, American Crafts chipboard swirls and also a DCWV chipboard Pot O' Gold.

Page Plans Sketches - Melissa Frances Thankful Page Kit

These cards with made with more of the Melissa Frances Thankful page kit that I received from Scrapbook and Cards Today . I totally heart this paper! I made these with a variety of Page Plan sketches -here, here and here. Extra embellies include Paper Studio buttons, Making Memories ABC stickers, Daisy D's flowers, Bo Bunny Brad and American Crafts rubon. Sizes are 6x6, 4x8 and 4 1/4 x 5 1/2.

2 Sketches 4 You - Kazan #9

I used my new goodies that Scrapbook and Cards Today sent me when they cruised by my blog a couple weeks ago. It's from Melissa Frances Thankful Page Kit. Gorgeous papers were in this kit! A portion of the proceeds of all of the Thanful kits are donated to http://www.breastcancer.org/ so be sure to check it out. You can find Kazan's sketch here.

In addition to the Thankful papers/die cuts/stickers, I used Paper Studio buttons and inked everything up with Clearsnap Chestnut Roan. Size is 6x6.

P.S. I think my scrapping mojo is finally back...I'm so excited!!!