A 50th Anniversary Celebration!

Well the big day is soon approaching. On October 18, 2008, exactly 50 years to the day that they got married, and exactly the same time, my parents will renew their wedding vows at a Catholic mass. Later that night we are planning a huge party with dinner, dancing, friends and family....and of course, a wedding cake. In my Stampin’ Up!® gallery, you can see the invitations for the event. It was also published in Just Invitations this past summer. 

This is a digital layout I did using their wedding portrait and a photo taken this summer in Orlando when we were celebrating my mom's special birthday (no, aint telling her age, but you'd be amazed!) I am hoping to be blessed with these same “young looking” genes.

I did some Photoshop tricks to give the wedding day photo a warm, peachy vintage feel. I used papers and digital goodies from ScrapGirls.com, a great site for digital scrapbooking resources. If you are wanting to try out going digital, they are a great site to get you started. I do both...some traditional scrapbooking and some digital.

So in a couple weeks, our family will be headed back to Philly (where I grew up) for the big event! I can't wait to see my whole entire family...it will be like another family reunion. I still am working on stuff for the party so I haven't been as active about posting. Sorry :D!

Turn Cards into Display Art

In one of my Sept. posts, I showed a card element featuring the cracked glass technique. I wanted to post a follow up image showing how I turned that card element into a frameable piece of art. Above left is “Artfelt Thanks” card and the framed card is “Framed in Happiness.” 

Also, with Christmas just a few months away, this is a great time to think of ways to turn your scrapbook and stamping creations into gifts for others. By simply adding a decorative easel or frame, you can turn cards into Display Art. 

This “In the Fields” card features a fun faux stitchery technique for non-sewers, or those of us who don't feel like dragging out the machine for one card. Recreate it by using a paper piercer, piercing guide (both available from Stampin’ Up!®) and some dual tipped markers. In this sample, I used Always Artichoke Stampin’ Write marker pointed tip to draw the faux stitches between the pierced holes, but the thing I think that gives this a sense of realism is to use the brush tip of a second color of marker to make a shadow of the stitches. I used Creamy Carmel for the shadow. Both are from Stampin’ Up!®.

Current Stampin' Up! Promotions

Only 8 days remaining on the Never-Before-Seen stamps promotion from Stampin' Up! If you are wanting some great sets and want to save 15% off, hurry and order fast! This promotion ends on Sept. 30th. 

And be sure to check out the spooky spider vinyl decals from the Decor Elements collection. With World Card Making Day coming up on Oct. 4th, you can save 20% on select cardmaking kits that entire week!  If you would like to receive pdfs of these flyers or to view the two Decor Elements catalogs, email me or click on the links above to view the promotion details on the Stampin' Up! Website. You can simply go to my demonstrator website to place your order and have it shipped directly to you!

Your Chance to Win Some Blog Candy!

My friend Melissa clued me in to some sites who have some blog candy up for grabs. Check out these sites: Scrappin' in My Spare Time and The Card Kabin. Be sure to swing by Melissa Bove's site, Creating from the heart, to check out all her beautiful projects, along with the projects on these other sites! Never can have enough inspiration.

Waiting for a touch of Fall

Well, I keep waiting for that little touch of an autumn breeze to blow our way, but the only winds lately have been spawned by hurricanes. I couldn't wait any longer for the change in weather to post this Autumn Bloomin’ card. The colors are what I remember of the changing leaves in the North Georgia mountains or my Fall garden in Shawnee, KS. 

Here are some hints of how to make this card:

I cut in half, a traced circle of Kraft cardstock and used a paper piercer around the semi circle, distressing the edges with ink. I loved the look created by using my Stampin' Up scallop circle punch and tucking the really rust cardstock shapes behind the semi circle. It gave it a giant flower look. {This would be so cool for creating a large sunflower!} 

The stamp set is one of my personal faves from SU called Fresh Cuts. I also used Summer Sun CS, patterned papers from We Are Memory Keepers Peasant Collection, Inque Boutique's Whispers™ Chestnut ink for lighter distressing, Chocolate Chip ink, Naturals buttons and antique brass hardware from SU, along with Prima Essentials flowers. For adhesive, I used Glue Arts Glue Ring Adhesive and micro adhesive squares. The front panel is trimmed 1/4" shorter on width and the brad and photo turn fastens the card shut.

Ideas for Stamping and Embellishing Your Layout

I did this layout a while ago, but wanted to share some ideas of how to combine a photo and stamping creatively on a layout.  Since I wanted the colors of the stamped flowers to stand out, I printed out my image in b&w {me on our 20th Anniv. trip to Aruba} so the two didn't compete for attention. I stamped these flowers from Inque Boutique’s Tropical Lagoon set directly onto my light patterned paper. Using markers and blend pens, I added the colors to the flowers. Next, I carefully cut along the outer edge of the flowers where I wanted to slide my photo under {kinda like one big giant photo corner}. I set the photo aside while attaching the Queen & Co. scrolled felt ribbon. I then attached the photo, did more stamping for the journaling box. To make the colored flowers pop, I inserted brads into pastel colored Prima flowers and attached them to the scroll. The wave border and title were both done using embossing powders to add texture & interest. Most of these papers {and cardstock stickers, too!} are from the Cabana Collection from Inque Boutique.

A "Go Green" project to try!

Who would guess that this weekly planner started as a cereal box? Inspired my friend, Susan Stringfellow's blog challenge to use items you would normally throw away in a project, I decided to figure out something cool to make from a cereal box. With school starting and schedules crazier than ever, I needed a weekly planner that I could grab and go that would tell me what time Kylie’s dance classes began and ended as well as what nights Ashley had volleyball games...to name just a few weekly scheduled activities (and it fits on my desk)!

This desktop, portable planner, created as a project for Glue Arts’ design team, has a removeable stamped calendar made using Stampin’ Up!®’s Mark the Date and Full Calendar sets. I designed the weekly planner portion in Adobe Illustrator and saved as a pdf file. I will update you on when these project instructions will be available online. Between now and then, I challenge you to think before you throw something in the trash...it may become your next, best project! Think greener.

SU August Workshop highlights

O.K., so the kids are all now back in school, despite the 

interruption of Tropical Storm Fay and the threat of 

Hurricane Gustav. I was sure that all you stampin’ moms 

would have some first day photos to show off or send to 

the family, so I designed this make-n-take project with 

that in mind. It also shows off some of the wonderful, 

new Stampin’ Up. In Colors from the new catalog along

with the new scallop border punch, the tab punch, the Full 

Calendar and Tart and Tangy stamp sets,

plus the Nursery Letters wheel, which is a must have 

supply for school themed projects, (in my opinion).

I also did a 12 x 12 layout that I hope to photograph 

and post on the blog later this week. Hopefully,

we won't be threatened by anymore hurricanes.

Stay away, Josephine!!!

With fall just around the corner, I wanted to demo 

the cracked glass technique using the new Stampin’ Up 

Level 3 hostess set, Happiness always. I also showed 

how to use your stamp positioner for mounting the set.

This technique uses the Versamark pad and layers of 

Glassy Glaze (a thick, clear embossing powder) which was 

used on the project, heat set, put in the fridge, then cracked.

To accentuate the cracks, ink was rubbed on top.

Needing a cute note card in a hurry? Try combining

the Fresh Cuts stamp set and note cards. Here, I used

Pumpkin Pie ink with Pacific Point. I sponged ink around the

die cut flowers using a scrap sheet to protect the inside.

To make it a true note card, I added the layer of solid

cardstock behind the die cut so the note would not show

through the die cuts. I used Baja Breeze CS for the center

flower along with an ice blue rhinestone. A matching 

envelope was done using the leafy stem and Pacific 

Point ink stamped on the envelope’s flap.

44 isn’t so bad!

Well who says turning 44 has to be a bad thing? This birthday, I feel pretty encouraged. Even though I still have some toning up and a few more pounds to shed, I am beginning to feel more comfortable in my own skin. I am more fearless than I ever was (not that I am this wild risk taker or anything!), more God focused, and feel good about the kind of mom I am for my girls. (Oh, and not to leave out being blessed with a DH who still brings me flowers for our anniversary and insists on taking me out to dinner for my birthday! Pretty lucky girl, huh?) And this month, I reached one of my New Year’s goals of getting published in some new magazines...a nice Birthday surprise! You can find my samples and/or articles in these four publications, either in print or online:

Scrap & Stamp Arts, Scrapbooking.com Magazine, Scrapbook News & Review and Just Invitations!

Here is a preview of some of the featured projects:

How "Sweet" is This!

Who doesn’t like an occasional bouquet of flowers? It’s that thoughtful gift that makes someone feel extra special. This project adds a little extra sweetness to the idea...a truly edible bouquet.

Supplies: an old can, chipboard alphabet container or other cylinder pkg.; a sheet of patterned paper; floral brads; See-D’s Starter Package (stamped flowers); 4 ink pads (to coordinate with paper and CS); 3 solid colored sheets of cardstock; Sizzix Bigz™ Build-A-Flower die; Sizzix Big Kick;Glue Arts™ High-Tack Micro Adhesive Squares; Stampin’ Dimensionals™ (double sided foam adhesive); scissors; crinkle confetti; coordinating ribbon and pixie sticks.

Use the sizzix diecutter to cut the outer shapes, stamp the floral shapes on patterned paper and build these flowers using a dimensional adhesive to raise up the center circles with brad centers. Sandwich the pixie stick between the flowers using high-tack micro adhesive squares from Glue Arts.

Stamp and decorate the container, add flowers and crinkle paper filler to complete. This makes a cheery get well wish or surprise birthday bouquet. 

Against All Odds

I am blessed to live in the Space Coast area of Florida, where the beaches and dunes are preserved for Turtle Nesting. This little hatchling was battling both the waves and the odds to survive his return to the sea. He was turned around and getting pounded by waves near the shore, when he encountered some little rescuers who scooted him out further beyond the crashing waves. If you have ever watched a mother turtle nesting, it is an amazing experience, and one I will never forget. Out of hundreds of eggs, only a couple of hatchlings actually survive to adulthood. Many don’t make it past the first few days of life. There are some days that I can relate to the hatchling where the odds seemed so stacked against me and the obstacles seem too large to overcome. Ever had a day like that?

Within the first few months of living in Florida, we experienced four hurricanes, ironically, the first one starting on Friday the 13th, August 2004. Was that a message? Many friends asked if we regretted our move here, but we pointed to the many upsides of living where we do...and we still love it here. Recently, we were impacted by Tropical Storm Fay. Entering from the west coast, who would have thought she would have left such an impact on our tiny east coast town...flooding, tornado warnings and almost 30" of rain — half of our yearly amount in just 3 days, and miraculously we remained dry and with power! (We're hoping it stays that way!) Who would have expected Fay to cancel 4 of the first 5 days of school; she was merely a Tropical Storm who parked herself over Melbourne, FL. So if you never knew where I lived before, I am sure from the news, you have now at least heard of Melbourne.

Although our hurricane season doesn’t end until November, nothing compares to watching a turtle nesting, seeing the shuttle launch on the Fourth of July, taking a walk on the beach whenever time allows, not being confined all winter long, spontaneous shell hunting and feeling even closer to God while watching another beautiful sunrise. So the next time you feel like that little hatchling, embrace all the good that surrounds you, and you too, will survive the worst.

Get ready for Back to School in style!

Send your favorite student back to school in style. This "Hip Clipboard" project is a great way to organize papers, fill out forms and look stylish while working on homework. I used the See-D’s Echat mini and Funky Flowers stamp set from Inque Boutique. The ribbons are all from Walmart...the really thin ones. Takes a little bit of patience to tie these onto the clip, but it really adds color and texture! The colors and stamps can be changed out to appeal to boys, too. Think robots or spaceships! I found this clipboard at Walmart during last year's back to school season, ready to decorate.