Layers of Love

Today, my heart is a bit heavy after finding out that one of my former CCD students, a 14 yr. old friend of my daughter Kylie, has a cancerous tumor in her lung. Sometimes life just seems so unfair for someone so young and active to be dealing with something so difficult. But here is where those layers of love come in to play. Saturday night, I stayed up til the wee hours of almost Sunday wake up time to prep some ready to assemble cards at Confirmation classes. The girls and guys assembled their selected card and wrote messages to Kayla. It really warmed my heart to see teens reaching out and writing words to comfort and uplift a friend in a time of need. Who needs sleep anyway...it is overrated! (Actually, I caught an hour or two nap before Super Bowl commercials aired.) And some of the kids delivered the cards in person while visiting with Kayla.

Our church community has gone into their prayer warrior and super outreach mode to see that the family is equally supported with meals and an outpouring of love. Sometimes it is difficult to hear stories like this, but they do remind us how important LOVE and friendship is not only on Valentine's day, but every day. Today's scripture readings talked all about God's healing powers, which we all will be praying he bestows upon this beautiful young girl, and that is a great comfort at this time.

This card is called layers of love, and is one I am sending it to my SIL and BIL...oops, hope I didn't spoil the surprise. Beth is a talented jewelry designer and is always so supportive of my craftiness so I wanted to share a little bit of love with them. If you need a unique Valentine's gift, be sure and check out her site. The color combination is Cameo Coral and Melon Mambo. The Love stamp is from Rubber Stampede, and one that I haven't used very much. The outline flowers are from SU's 5th Avenue Flowers set. The technique used on the ribbon is so simple. I heated it with my embossing heat tool to create the vintage crinkles. Be inspired today to layer someone with your love!

Valentine Publication Alert!

If you are a subscriber to Cardmaker Magazine, you may have caught this project of mine published in the January 2010 issue as a bonus web project. The Love You Beaded Heart card was one I originally created for my DH and recreated, since the background paper was no longer currently available. (Hint: I sponged Pretty in Pink ink on the background of Whisper White CS to give it that light pink color, then used Chocolate chip ink and dots stamps to create the pattern - easy peasy!) Some other tips: I made the pocket of Regal Rose CS by scoring and folding. For added interest I scored a few nore lines across the pocket. Other stamps used are from an eclectic mix of sets. Check out Cardmaker for a complete list of supplies used on this card creation.

You know I have a second love affair with the colors pink and brown, but HUSH, don't tell my hubby, he might get jealous! So if today, you find yourself staring at a blank piece of chipboard, pull out beads, buttons and glitter and get busy decorating that blank canvas. Then use it as inspiration for a card or scrapbook layout. Happy Crafting!

Pull Out Your Winter Mittens

With all the cool weather we have had this winter in Florida, it made me dig out some of my old winter hats, gloves and scarves. In the spirit of the season, here is an idea for some indoor winter decorating to warm up your walls. Inspired by the cool holiday papers and embellishments from Imaginisce’s Polar Expressions collection, I created these mitten templates to create a fun wall hanging display. This project can be added to a winter basket along with a mug and some hot cocoa or coffee for a warm and wonderful gift. Or you can attach some metal clips to the flip side and hang these in your kitchen to keep your favorite winter recipe cards on hand. And if you want another clever gift-giving tip, just attach a pockets to the back sides of the mittens, one with a gift card and another to insert a personal note. Or turn them into a winter mini album. Use this template along with the winter hat one I designed to create coordinating winter mini albums.

This was a project I created for Glue Arts showcasing their Wall Art Decor Adhesive (used to apply paper to handcut mittens); High Tac adhesive (used to reinforce edges and small attach embellishments); Adhesive Squares to attach Poinsettias and bird die cuts. Note: diecuts and texture envelopes are from Stampin' Up!®.

The CHA Red Carpet

O.K. humor me a little. I had a blast in my whirlwind tour of the Craft & Hobby Association Winter trade show in Anaheim. What added to my whimsy was taking photos of these creatively dressed mannequins. I just had to share a few of these with you. Check out my albums to see all the photos from CHA.

Look a little closer. The Plaid model is wearing clear Christmas balls, the fillable kind, the red and blue dress is made of Pentel pens and pen caps and those cool rings are made from layered buttons. Which would make your best and worst dress lists? Just a post to help you decide what to wear and not to wear at the next CHA show.

Blasting Through CHA in a Day!

I'm back from the 2010 CHA Winter Tradeshow and want to give you the whirlwind 1 day sneak preview inside the show that I enjoyed. From creatively displayed products to unique product samples, you will be creatively inspired. There are also a few pictures with some crafting celebs. Hold onto your seat...we are about to take off into creative wonderland!

If you would like to view these images at a larger size, and pause them, double click on the slideshow to go to my picasa web album.

Valentine Hoot Box and Mini Card

Using my SU bitty box and envelope die with my sizzix big kick, I created this adorable gift box and card set for Valentine's Day. The owls are from Sassafras' Olivia & Pals clear stamp set, the flower petal is an older SU punch, the heart is a Marvy scallop heart punch and backround flower is also a Marvy Punch. The cardstock is a personal favorite collection called Classic K McKenna from K&Company along with Soft Vanilla from Stampin' Up!® and Tan CS from The Paper Co. Other supplies used: Brown satin ribbon, light and dark pink rhinestones, Chocolate Chip ink, Regal Rose Marker, stamping sponge (to distress edges), Glue Glider Pro with high tac adhesive, Glue Arts' ribbon adhesive and mini adhesive squares. I displayed this project at the CHA Craft SuperShow this past Saturday. This is a close up view of the gift card and box top. Scroll down for more photos.

Some design notes: I used mini adhesive squares to make & attach the ribbon loop under the punched flower. If you don't own this punch, you can substitute with a similar size flower. To create the 2 toned owl, I stamped once in chocolate chip, then once using the Regal Rose brush marker to color and stamp. I trimmed out the heart shaped face and adhered to stamped brown image. I trimmed around owl shape and mounted to layers on mini gift card. For edging on card, I used a stamping sponge dipped into ink pad. I drug along CS to distress. I freehand cut the mini pink heart from the wing portion of the owl I stamped in Regal Rose.

Don't forget to dress up the outside of the envelope. Here I used the scallop heart punch with a lightly patterned solid CS from the collection so I could write the name of the person I was giving it to inside the heart. Again, I edged in brown ink to make it pop!

This shows a view of the inside of the mini gift card with the ribbon wrapped around the inside. I added a tiny verse from a retired SU set, called Be Mine, but you can add in your own stamped verse or set up a message on your computer and print out. I edged Vanilla CS with rose marker.

My CHA Travel Experience

I am back from the CHA Craft SuperShow and retailers tradeshow in Anaheim inspired by the creativity that surrounded me. I had demonstrating Glue Arts' adhesives while leading make-n-takes at the consumer and retail shows on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. It is always great to see the wonderful Glue Arts gang and get to hang out together for a few days. Participating in the PJ Party Live event Friday night brought stares (at our pajamas & slippers) and fulfillment in showing crafters how to make a winter hat mini album. My experience at this year's CHA show ended with a day of walking the show and getting creatively inspired by the wonderful new products and talent that surrounded me. Here is a peek of my travel diary. I will post show previews later this week. If you want to veiw the captions, just click on the slide show to view at larger size in Picasa.

From One Coast to Another

Today I head to Anaheim, California for the Craft and Hobby Association (CHA) Consumer Super Show and Retailer’s Show. I can't wait to see all the crafty goodness. I will be participating in the PJ Party Live hosted by Tiffany Windsor on Friday evening. See my earlier post with a sneak peek of the winter hat project we will be doing. I will be at the Oh My Crafts booth helping with make-n-takes earlier in the day as well as on Saturday. Then the retail show starts Sunday, where I will be working in the Glue Arts booth. Monday, I will get to walk the show and see what fun products will soon be released. Then, Tuesday I travel home to my family and pooch, whom I will be missing and sending loving until I return from one coast to another!

This card is one I created for my Father-in-Law’s birthday. Hope it inspires ideas for a masculine birthday card. I wanted to send him some warm Birthday wishes in the month of December. I promise to post some more projects when I return.

50 doesn't mean you're a fossil!

When coming up with a name for this card creation for my brother-in-law’s 50th birthday, I thought it would be humorous to poke a little fun at being archaic at the age of 50. This card utilizes the faux fossil technique using reinkers, glossy stock and rubbing alcohol so it just made sense to call the card Fossilized 50th Birthday. The numbers are from an older Inque Boutique set, Shari Numbers, which is a favorite of mine to use for momentous birthdays. The Stampin' Up! verse on the inside is another personal favorite for birthday wishes! Hope these ideas inspire a great card idea for a special birthday recipient.

Wild Winter Roadtrip Recap

Just had to share some fun photos from our holiday trip to Philly, right as the big 23" snow storm hit the northeast. We looked liked the Grizwald's with a trunk that looked like a Jenga game, but Dan insisted on taking his all wheel drive car even though my trunk is bigger. Dare you pull anything out, it might fall on your head. {you will see in the pictures} Try not to laugh too hard at these Floridians who tried to pack lightly while knowing that we were about to enter the frozen zone, which by our standards is anything over 50 degrees! LOL!!!

{the snow photos are from our Dunkin Donuts detour in Virginia after driving 16 straight hours and hitting unplowed roads in Fredericksburg- and yes, Dan was smart to insist on us taking his car. We passed many 2 wheel drive SUVs stuck on the side of the road. Fortunately from Washington to Philly the roads were plowed.}

Did I forget to mention that we brought the dog along? This was Bella's first long road trip and she aced it with the help of Kai's chenille pillow spanning the leg area in the back seat! Princess Bella lounged across the back seat dining on Chic-fil-A wraps, waffle fries and ice chips (of course she grubbed my dinner!) There was no avoiding it, and once you see some of the photos you will understand how I couldn't resist her begging. I have some more hilarious shots from this adventure, but I am saving some of those for scrapbook layouts!

{You know what happens when you are cooped up in a car too long...you get a little loopy! The girls gave Bella hairdos and dressed her in the hat Kylie wore most of the roadtrip. I think Bella arrived the only one well rested. Dan drove the whole way with no sleep! He is a true road warrior.}

Nineteen hours after leaving home, we arrived at our destination, my sister’s house in Ardmore, PA to a blanket of white snow and a huge family welcome from my sister, brother-in-law, niece and parents. We only slept a few hours that day, but I think it took me until Christmas Day to truly wake up!

It only took 17 hours driving straight through to make it home, and I could barely keep my eyes open, but as we were just a few exits from home, the sun rose...what a welcome sight and a perfect ending to an awesome trip!

{For about 3 days following our trip, my DH was experiencing caffeine detox from all the coffee he drank to stay awake. Just another tale from the adventures of our life. Belate Happy New Year wishes to all!}

I'm baaaack!

I am baaaack now in more ways than one. Yup, I know I have been missing in action on my own blog {how pathetic is that!}, but it started with being sick twice between Thanksgiving and Christmas and constantly playing catch up throughout the holiday mayhem. Then, you factor in a 2 week haitus to Philly to see family, including the 19 hr. trek during a record-setting snowfall in the northeast and a 17 hr. return trip requiring blink eyedrops about every two seconds of the last 4 hours and as many caffeine drinks that my bladder would allow given our limited stops. Yes, December began and ended in the blink of an eye, but I promise to do multiple project postings to show you what creative things I have been up to during my absence!

As you may know, the big Craft and Hobby Assocation Winter show in Anaheim, CA is fast approaching. This is a peek at the winter hat mini album I created and will be presenting with Glue Arts at the Inspired at Home Pajama Party Live event. So whether or not you are one of the lucky attendees making this at the CHA Craft Super Show special event, you check throw on your PJs and slippers and check out the live broadcast of this event!

Since everyone's budgets are pinched tighter by holiday spending, ya'll are probably ready for a sale. If you have been wanting to try out Glue Arts' adhesives, now is the time. Save 10% from now until the end of January using the promo code JAN10 during checkout.

Friends...noteworthy of thankfulness

As Thanksgiving Time nears, I got to thinking about things that make me grateful, and one of those things are true friends. I have made many friends over the years, and looking back at those incredible connections always makes me grateful. That is why I chose to share this card and envelope set called Noteworthy Thanks — a great set to send to a friend. It uses Stampin’ Up!’s chocolate chip and Baja Breeze color combination with Illuminated Wheel, Pocket Silhouettes Stamp Set, scallop square punch, brown grosgrain and white satin ribbons and a large turqouise button. I hope that it springboards your creativity in creating a matching notecard or thank you to send to one of your friends.