Caboodle with Love You Forever

I love all of the owl and other bird stamps that are so popular now so I was eager to get the Love You Forever stamp from CTMH. My daughter used each and every stamp in the set on the day it arrived! Well, that was about a month ago and am only now getting to play with it myself.

I based this card on one by Sherrie Siemens in CardMaker magazine's March 2010 issue. I really love her card layout and I think I will try it again with more details as I made this one somewhat quickly. The flower was originally White Daisy and I colored it with a Crystal Blue marker.

Supplies used: (X7121B) Caboodle paper pack, (C1398) Love You Forever, (1386) Black cardstock, (Z1136) White Daisy Mini-Medley Accents, (Z2105) Black stamp pad, (Z2353) Sweet Leaf marker, (Z2317) Crystal Blue marker, (Z2310) Buttercup marker, (Z2312) Citrus Leaf marker, (Z2318) Desert Sand marker, (Z1218) Brads Basic Assortment

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Time Flies When You're Having Fun

Well, I had my shaker card workshop yesterday and I had such a great time with the wonderful ladies who attended. It was the perfect cure for a somewhat strange week (lots of ups and downs). Anyway, I am so grateful to know such nice people and to be able to spend time with them. Thank you ladies! Time really does fly when you're having fun. This card has a slightly different take on that saying!

Supplies used: (B1309) Fun Times, (X5669) Textured Cardstock Autumn Harvest Palette, (X5643) Chocolate cardstock, (1273) Desert Sand cardstock, (1388) Colonial White cardstock, (X5639) Sweet Leaf cardstock, (Z2153) Sweet Leaf stamp pad, (Z2137) Olive stamp pad, (Z2105) Black stamp pad, (Z2108) Brown Bag stamp pad, (Z2111) Chocolate stamp pad,  (Z578) Corner Rounder, (Z1217) Brads Metal Assortment, (Z1151) 3-D Foam tape, Mini scallop scissors

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I'm Ready for Spring!

I'd love to be able to garden again. I think things around here will be very muddy for a long while after all the tremendous amount of snow melts! But this image, especially with the little sparkles for earrings, makes me happy.

Supplies used: (X7100B) Perfect Day paper pack level 2, (D1344) Ms. Gardener stamp set, (B1230) Solos "F" stamp set, (Z2366) Tulip marker, (Z2318) Desert Sand marker, (Z2324) Grey Flannel marker, (Z2342) Parchment marker, (Z2353) Sweet Leaf marker, (Z2105) Black stamp pad, (Z1104) Clear Sparkles, decorative scissors

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Happy Valentine's Day?

One Valentine's party down...two to go! Yes, Valentine's parties are taking place only now. The parties were delayed because we had so many snow days off from school. It didn't seem to faze the kids at preschool that our party was "late" and they were so adorable putting their Valentines in each others bags saying, "Happy Valentine's Day!" I didn't have to do too much prep work for today since the teacher I work with is so awesome. All I did was make heart shaped rainbow crayons for the kids. I got the idea from here and here. One of the kid's parents must have found the same links that I did because that was her "Valentine" to the kids in the class too! Oh well, great minds think alike...or at least surf the web while there's a big snowstorm going on!

I really didn't have to do anything for my son's class pary either, just get the candy Valentines. I usually try to have him make something or hand out some sort of alternative to candy but  now that he's older he was thinking that he might not bring in anything this year. But then just two days ago, he said that he wanted to! Well, I figure candy is okay with two days notice!

The party that I did have to do a lot of preparation for is for my daughter's class, in large part due to the snow. The volunteers couldn't really set up a meeting to discuss what we wanted to do because we were home and snowbound for so many days. Luckily, when I heard about the anticipated storm, I decided to go ahead and buy Valentine items while I could. While everyone else was stocking up on milk and other food items, I was buying Valentine colored M&M's and Sweetart Hearts! Although I spent some time preparing during the storm, I have to admit that I procrastinated and did a lot today too.

Here is another item I found directions for on the web but I actually decided against trying to have the kids make this. I think it would be too complicated but it is just such a sweet little woven basket.

My example isn't quite as perfect as the one on the website where I found it and it doesn't have the handle. Take a look at the picture and directions here: http://www.makingfriends.com/winter/heart_shaped_basket.htm

I might use this idea for little treats at my daughter's birthday party in March.

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Tag Album Journal - Part 3

It's been a busy week with the kids home from school. I haven't had a chance to post in a week, sorry! We got some new inflatable sleds and have enjoyed a lot of sledding even over the refrozen, icy and bumpy parts of the hills. My husband and I celebrated our thirteenth wedding anniversary yesterday also! My son did receive homework through the internet though so it hasn't been all fun and games. And guess what? We have another snow day today!

Here are the last of the pages in the tag album journal that I've been working on.

I tried to keep the labels on the pages somewhat open ended so that the recipient could decide how to use the journal. For example, my original thought was that this page could be used to show a typical daily schedule and I was going to stamp times such as 7 am, 8am, etc.,  but then I thought that someone may prefer to write about their day in a different way (morning, afternoon, evening, or even just about a particular or special day).

The front of this page has a little pocket with library cards (stamped on each side) which can be remove and written on. Again, I was thinking that this could be written in many ways. It could be about the books read in the current year or it could be about all time favorite books.

The lower photo shows another little pocket with an insert that the recipient can write on or attach little photos to or the recipient could replace the insert and put some other little memorabilia in there such as a tag, ticket, receipt, etc.

This is the front and back of the last page for either journaling or photos.

Supplies Used: (X7105B) Emporium Level 2 paper pack, (D1347) Confidential stamp set, (D1329) Noteworthy stamp set, (D1378) Notice the Details stamp set, (D1222) Tiny Typewriter Alphabet stamp set, (Z2114) Cocoa stamp pad, (Z2160) Twilight stamp pad, (Z1126) Colonial White Ribbon Rounds

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Shaker Cards

I have a Shaker Card workshop coming up so here are a couple of examples. Each frame around each image is popped up to allow room for the shaker ingredients so the scan of the image isn't quite as clear as I'd like but I hope you can get the idea.

Supplies Used: (X7122B) You Rock Level 2 paper pack, (D1244) Snow Friends stamp set, (D1407) Piece of Cake stamp set, (Z2330) Indian Corn Blue marker, (Z2317) Crystal Blue marker, (Z2338) Orange marker, (Z2350) Sunflower marker, (Z2105) Black stamp pad, (Z2130) Indian Corn Blue stamp pad, (Z1151) 3-D Foam tape, (4110) Memory protector, kosher salt, nestabilities

Supplies Used: (X5754) Creme Brulee cardstock, (1385) White Daisy cardstock, (X5670) Textured Cardstock Winter Cozy palette, (D1407) Piece of Cake stamp set, (Z2310) Buttercup marker, (Z2317) Crystal Blue marker, (Z2353) Sweet Leaf marker, (Z2350) Sunflower marker, (Z2105) Black stamp pad, (Z1151) 3-D Foam tape, (Z578) Corner rounder, (4110) Memory protector, micro beads, nestabilitiesPin It

Snowstorm

I really like snow but I'm ready for it to stop falling now! Here's the view outside our front window.

Yes, it's a tree across our front lawn!  It fell at around 10pm last night.

That's a view looking at the house. We are so grateful that it did not fall ON the house. And yes, there are more large pine trees to the side of the house...all heavy with snow. I didn't sleep well last night. I kept thinking I heard noises of trees falling!

Here's my poor husband after sawing the branches that were leaning on the house and the ones blocking the front walk. I can't believe he's still smiling.

Here he is shoveling out the front walk. It's already been covered over since then. The forecasts don't call for an end to the snowfall until this evening. I hope you are safe and warm!Pin It

Overall Card

The following card was inspired by some amazing cards by Deneen Treble. You can find the template for these cute overall cards on Deneen's blog here along with her beautiful artwork. I used textured paper so the lighter blue is just the reverse side of the darker blue paper (Outdoor Denim). I sanded the dark blue to give it more of a denim look.

Supplies used: (X5669) Textured Cardstock Autumn Harvest Palette, (B1309) Fun Times stamp set, (Z2334) Moonstruck marker, (Z2316) Cranberry marker, (Z2137) Olive stamp pad, Outdoor Denim stamp pad, (Z697) Round sponge, (Retired) Pewter My Accents, White Sakura Gelly Roll Pen, Googly eyes, sandpaperPin It

Soccer Card with Textured Paper

This is a card I made a while back after getting my first pack of textured paper. I was happy to see how nice the paper was for stamping, despite the "bumpiness." All of the paper, except for the stamped soccer ball, is textured and you can really see how the texture shows up in the areas that I sanded. The lighter green is just the reverse of the darker green. The bottom of the front of the card is cut shorter in the front with a deckled edge scissors and shows off just a bit of the lighter side of the green card base which is on the inside of the card.

Supplies Used: (x5669) Textured Cardstock Autumn Harvest Palette, (Z2105) Black stamp pad, (Z2124) Grey Flannel stamp pad, (Z534) Micro-Tip Scissors, (Retired) Best Shot stamp set, sandpaper, deckled edge scissors, Coluzzle cutting systemPin It

Treetops

This card was inspired by another one I saw in Card Creations. Each tree "top" is cut out and placed on it's trunk. The ones stamped in Sweet Leaf (the lighter green) are popped up for dimension.

Supplies Used: (X7114B) Bella Level 2 Paper pack, (C1368) Treetops stamp set, (Z2155) Topiary stamp pad, (Z2153) Sweet Leaf stamp pad, (Z2111) Chocolate stamp pad, (Z2108) Brown Bag stamp pad, (Z1151) 3-D Foam tape

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Close To My Heart's February Campaign: Hearts for Haiti

For the month of February, all 12" x 12" Close To My Heart textured cardstock combo packs are buy one, get one free. Plus, with every textured cardstock pack, Close To My Heart will donate $2 to Operation Smile’s Haiti relief efforts. So for $14.95, you get two packs of textured cardstock which works out to be about 30 cents for each sheet. There are five combo packs available: Basic, Spring Harmony, Summer Celebration, Autumn Harvest, and Winter Cozy. Click here to go to the online shopping portion of my website and see the available textured paper packs.

Operation Smile is always a fantastic charitable partner—offering free facial reconstruction surgeries to needy children throughout the world. They are currently providing emergency relief in Haiti, and the donations given as part of Hearts for Haiti will be used exclusively for Operation Smile’s efforts there. To read about their work in Haiti, you can visit www.operationsmile.org/haiti.Pin It