Wonderfully Complex

Etsy Treasury: Romatic Bliss

2012-01-16T21:14:00.002-06:00

I have curated a new etsy treasury: Romantic Bliss. Inspired by Valentine's Day and all things pink, I found lots of inspiration in blush tones, flowers, rose gold, and lace.

As seen here.

Our Family Motto for 2012

2012-01-01T11:01:00.000-06:00

We don't do New Year's Resolutions. But, we do take time to reflect on the past year and focus on goals for the new year. So, in a way we actually do a resolution. This year we focused on a wonderful set of scriptures that embrace exactly who we want to be as a family.

The scriptures come from 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. I used a free map font from A is for Ampersand to create some word art to hang up in the house as a daily reminder of our family motto.

Happy New Year!

Garland Love

2011-12-19T19:17:00.001-06:00

I'm obsessed with garlands right now. I've already added one to the house and I can't wait to add more! Here are a few of my favorites from around the web.

1. Twisted Felt Garland 2. Felted Garland 3. Scalloped Fabric Garland 4. Tassel Garland 5. 3D Bauble Garland

Color: Garden Tones

2011-12-18T20:24:00.000-06:00

A Christmas Tree for Baby H

2011-11-06T17:56:00.000-06:00

Baby H's room has a forest theme. I'm not quite finished with the artwork for his room, which is why I haven't posted a room tour yet. Um, yeah...only 8 months behind.

And as if I need another project on my never-ending to-do list, I've been thinking of how to decorate a special tabletop tree for Baby H's room. So naturally, since his room is forest-inspired, why not a forest-inspired tree?

I fell in love with these ornaments from Anthropologie. Of course, I don't like the price tag, so I'm going to look for less expensive alternatives. Plus a bunch of handmade.

Which then led me on a Pinterest search for more ideas...

Source: westelm.com via Marinelle on Pinterest

Source: realsimple.com via Amy on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Carpe Diem on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Kat on Pinterest

Source: rosylittlethings.typepad.com via Siobhan on Pinterest

Source: marthastewart.com via Rachel on Pinterest

Source: img2.etsystatic.com via Ashley on Pinterest

Source: landofnod.com via Barky on Pinterest

Happy pinning!

Hello, Dolly!

2011-10-23T10:42:00.000-05:00

I've been eyeing Blythe dolls for two years now, itching to get my hands on one. I'm not sure what my fascination is with dolls and dollhouses. I guess I haven't "grown up" all the way. Which is totally okay with me. I have always loved dolls. And why should that change? I might be 30 years old, but does that mean I have to stop liking children's toys?

Well, I finally did it. Two years of wistfully looking at other people's pictures of their dolls. Two years of reading inspiring posts by fellow doll lovers like Danielle Thompson. Two years of watching dolls on ebay. I finally did it. I finally bought this one:

A boyish girl Nicky Lad is visiting the new Science Museum in the park with her friend.
The museum has a rain forest exhibit that has occasional showers here and there!
She is going prepared with her rain coat with hood to take a good look at everything!

Weekend Link Love: February 26, 2011

2011-02-26T23:20:00.000-06:00

Beautiful pink and burlap invitations @ Oh So Beautiful Paper

Back to school themed birthday party @ Sweet Designs

Party hats DIY + template @ Oh Happy Day

Card and page sketch books @ Kristina Werner

How to celebrate Dr. Seuss' birthday @ Good Life Eats

Baby Update: 33 weeks

2011-02-20T17:52:00.000-06:00

Just an update on Baby Hugh and Momma. We are doing great, but my blood pressure got a little high this week. Everything else has checked out fine. No toxemia, no bed rest. The high blood pressure is most likely due to the fact that I'm teaching full-time right now.

Posting has been sporadic since the pregnancy. It's been so hard for me to keep up with the blog, despite the many posts that are running around in my head. And, since I've gone back to full-time teaching (all new courses, too), there has been an added stress. So, posting will continue to be sporadic. I truly hope to get back on schedule about a month after Hugh has arrived.

Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers. I will continue to do my best to keep you posted.

Nursery Ideas

2011-01-28T22:47:00.002-06:00

As Hugh's birth draws nearer and nearer, lots of people have been asking how I'm decorating the nursery. First of all, I am no where near finished with his room. No guarantees that it will be finished when he is here either. :)

The walls are gray, and so I wanted a golden yellow to go with that. I also wanted to start with a gender neutral palette, in hopes that one day if we are blessed with another child we can use the same bedding and curtains whether it is a girl or a boy. Well, you would not believe how hard it is to find fabric in the specific color I want that isn't too feminine! I never realized what a difficult task that would be.

I finally settled on this fabric from the Michael Miller Sanctuary by Patty Young line.

Glass Tiles Lemon

To go with that gorgeous golden fabric, I've picked out other fabrics in turquoise and orange. Those two colors are more masculine, so if we ever have a girl I'll change out the turquoise and orange for something a little more feminine.

Building Blocks Seafoam

I've been checking out Etsy for some cute artwork for Hugh's walls. Lots of cute, vintage woodland creatures. I'm really not into characters or themes, so I really love the vintage look of these prints.

It's Going to be a Good Day by krisblues

This is Happiness by LoveSugar

Scattered Showers by lauramiss

Deer Letterpress Print by cindytomczykart

Mature Antelope Squirrel by amberalexander

Happy Owl by matteart

And a few other things that have caught my eye.

Night Owl Clock by decoylab

Happy Sew Lucky Fox Pattern by matsutake

Liam the Woodland Fox by sleepyking

Owl Music Baby by mimishop

DaVinci Jenny Lind crib

So, there's a few ideas I have. I can't wait to see it all come together.

Places to get Great Fonts

2011-01-04T18:47:00.003-06:00

Free Fonts:

Premium Fonts (aka fonts you pay for):

Scrap 'n Fonts

My Favorite Digital Scrapbooking Sites

2011-01-01T08:05:00.004-06:00

Shopping:

Printing:

Persnickety Prints

Classes:

Designers and Blogs:

Writing #reverb10

2010-12-02T16:15:00.002-06:00

Today's prompt is writing. What do you do each day that doesn’t contribute to your writing — and can you eliminate it? (Author: Leo Babauta)

First of all, let me honestly say that writing is not one of my strongest areas. I'm great with visual stuff, but when it comes to putting words on paper I find myself easily distracted. The funny thing is I can write amazing speeches and am pretty good with creative writing exercises, especially when my sarcasm is allowed to shine through. But somehow, when I sit down to write an article I find myself writing monotonous and dull words. I think that if anyone where to read my words, it would come out sounding like Charlie Brown's teacher.

Why should blogging be any different from speeches and creative writing exercises? Why should writing how-to articles stump me so?

I think it goes back to the essays and endless papers I wrote in high school and college. Somewhere between 10th and 11th grade I began to feel as though my work wasn't good enough. I lost my confidence in my writing skills and decided to write papers that had correct grammar and were "good enough." The curriculum changed drastically between those years (as well as the teaching styles) and I found that I wasn't doing as well in an area that I though I had always excelled. Where one teacher appreciated and applauded my creative strives, the other stifled them. One teacher loved my conversationalist style, but the other thought it was too "elementary" and needed better vocabulary, better structure.

Fast forward to 2010, I again find myself berating my writing once again, comparing myself to other bloggers and scrapbookers who write amazing posts, feeling like what I have to say isn't "good enough." How do I deal with this? I avoid writing. I don't write out my prayers. I don't blog. I let myself get caught up with other to-dos, shifting writing to the end of the list until there is no more time for it.

Point in case: I procrastinated writing this blog post. In other words, I avoided it.

So, instead of stating what I do that doesn't contribute to my writing, I choose to state what I don't do. I don't write enough. Can that change? Yes. Yes, I can write more. I am determined to write more.

..............................................................................................................

What is Reverb 10?

Reverb 10 is a series of prompts that encourage you to "reflect on your year and manifest what's next. You can join along here.

One Word Reflection #reverb10

2010-12-01T21:33:00.003-06:00

The end of 2010 is coming to a close, and it's a great time to reflect on what this year has meant to us. So much has happened with my family this year. And there are many great things that are going to come next year. So, I'm following along with Reverb 10, posting responses here to their daily prompts.

What is Reverb 10? In their own words: "Reverb 10 is an annual event and online initiative to reflect on your year and manifest what’s next. The end of the year is an opportunity to reflect on what's happened, and to send out reverberations for the year ahead. With Reverb 10, we'll do both."

You can join along here.

Today's prompt is one word. Encapsulate the year 2010 in one word. Explain why you’re choosing that word. Now, imagine it’s one year from today, what would you like the word to be that captures 2011 for you? (Author: Gwen Bell)

The word I felt best summed up 2010 is preparation.

One main reason I chose that word is because I have spent half of 2010 pregnant. Talk about a major change that is happening in our lives! And looking back over the year, I feel like things that have taken place (such as jobs, commitments, etc) have led us to this major change. The last half of this year has especially been spent in preparation, as we clear out room for a nursery, adjust our time commitments, make major purchases, and more.

The word I picked for 2011 is life.

I want to truly experience life to the fullest. As we welcome a new life, a precious little one to our family, I am reminded of how precious life is. I never want to take it for granted. I am incredibly blessed with the life I have, and I don't want to waste one bit of it. I can't go back in time, I can't change past decisions, but I can determine tomorrow. And I am determined to go into the next year with a positive attitude. A new year, a new start to life.

Weekend Link Love: October 15, 2010

2010-10-15T21:51:00.000-05:00

Photo by isayx3 via Flickr

Articles:

Too Cute to Spook: Halloween Activities for Kids Under Five @ Momtastic

Last Time You Had This Nutrient was in Breast Milk @ Sweet Beet

Cricut Imagine Product Review @ ChristyNelson.net

Recipes:

Candy Apples @ Torie Jayne

Meatloaf Like Mummy (Never) Used to Make @ The Knead for Speed

Pumpkin Muffins with Vanilla Glaze @ Alisa Burke

Now-You're-Talking Pumpkin Brownies @ Curbly

Projects:

Pacifier Clip Tutorial @ Sew Mama Sew

Barbie Zombie Garden @ This Mama Makes Stuff

Videos:

Mad Hatter's Costume from Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland @ YouTube - Threadbanger

Halloween Video Library @ Food Network

"Going West" Papercraft Book Animation @ Craft

Weekend Link Love: October 9, 2010

2010-10-06T15:15:00.000-05:00

Photo by StGrundy via Flickr

Articles:

The Book About the Book, About the Book @ Molly Irwin

Redefining Simple Living: Choose Your Priorities @ Simple Mom

12 Cozy Date Ideas for Fall @ Simple Marriage

Fall Projects for Your Home, Yard, Body & Mind @ Simple Mom

What I Learned This Morning When a Birdie Knocked Himself Out on my Kitchen Window @ Kelly Rae Roberts

Recipes:

Simple Chilled Pumpkin Cheesecake @ Simple Bites

Pumpkin Macaroni and Cheese @ Momtastic

Owl Cupcakes @ Almost Unschoolers

Projects:

Halloween Wreath @ Nikki Sivils Scrapbooker

Halloween Gift Wrap @ Tattered Angels

Fall Decor Crafts @ Martha Stewart

Pumpkin Carving Templates @ Martha Stewart

Homework Kit @ Fancy Pants

Halloween Flags @ Hambly Screen Prints

Weekend Link Love: October 2, 2010

2010-10-02T17:56:00.001-05:00

Photo by Luo Shaoyang via Flickr

Articles:

A Personal Challenge: Savor Autumn @ Simple Kids

The Decorating Voices in My Head @ A Peine for Your Thoughts

Autumn Ideas @ Molly Irwin

Establishing a Cleaning Schedule for Fall @ Life as Mom

Boost Your Immune System for the Coming Cold Season Using Real Foods @ Keeper of the Home

Recipes:

Pumpkin Pie Baked Oatmeal @ The Pajama Chef

Pumpkin Pecan Cheesecake Pots @ Good Life Eats

Soup Recipes (Perfect for Fall) @ My Blessed Life

Healthy Banana Bread @ Alisa Burke

No-bake Granola Bars @ Lynn's Kitchen Adventures

Projects:

Hurricane Vases (Frugal DIY) @ My Blessed Life

Leaf Creatures @ Craft Magazine

Fall Fabric Tree @ FamilyCrafts.About.com

Enjoying Autumn

2010-10-02T16:42:00.001-05:00

Photo by Tobi_2008 via Flickr

*Sigh* I absolutely adore fall. I love the crisp, cool weather. I love that it's not too hot, yet not too cold. I love the spices. I love the colors. It's my favorite time of the year.

Things I want to do this season:

Make a felt leaf garland and wreath for my built-in in the living room
Carve a pumpkin
Toast pumpkin seeds
Go to the pumpkin patch (Check! Did this today.)
Have a weinie roast and make smores
Make apple cider
Go to a football game
Start crocheting some scarves
Work on the play quilt for our baby room
Put weed carpet and mulch down
Plant some mums
Make pumpkin puree for bread, muffins, cakes, pies, scones...the list goes on and on
Sit outside more

There's probably so many more things I can do to enjoy the season. What things are you planning on doing this fall?

Side note: Hubby and I found a lawn mower by the side of the road and decided to bring it on home. We figured if it didn't work we would put it back by the road. Worked the first time. Score!

Baby Bump Update

2010-09-30T16:04:00.001-05:00

Click here for an update on our baby bump!

MIA Blogger

2010-09-21T17:41:00.001-05:00

I've been a little MIA on the blog lately. Okay, not a little but a lot! But I have a great excuse:

Yup! We are eagerly expecting this bundle of joy in April! Hubby and I are super excited. So now you understand why I have been a horrible blogger. Morning sickness + fatigue = baaaaad blogger.

I've started a blog for my family, so if you want to read updates on my personal life click here. I'll occasionally update ya on this blog, too. Don't worry!

Favorite Scrapbooking Sites

2010-08-13T11:40:00.006-05:00

Scrapbookers and Blogs:

Shopping:

Classes:

Manufacturer and Store Blogs:

My Favorite Cardmaking Sites

2010-08-13T09:51:00.003-05:00

Cardmakers and Blogs:

Card Challenges:

Shopping:

Manufacturer and Store Blogs:

Birthday Wish List

2010-07-30T09:25:00.000-05:00

My birthday is next week! My family and I are notorious list-makers, so here’s what made it on my birthday wish list this year:

I’m totally in love with this camera tote from JoJo Totes. I am a photographer so I always have my camera on me. But sometimes I don’t care to haul around my large, unattractive camera bag. It makes me feel like a tourist. This tote is perfect! I can put my camera, extra lenses, and a few other goodies such as a snack, book, and wallet in this gorgeous tote. And it looks like a regular, but large purse.

*The picture with the person holding the tote is from Danielle Thompson’s blog. I first heard of this tote from her.

I love Blythe dolls but they are way over my budget right now. While looking for Blythes, I found something totally awesome…Pullip dolls! I love that these are ball-jointed dolls. This means that you can pose them. I wouldn’t recommend these dolls for little kiddos because they are expensive. But for doll collectors, these are a must. I really love this one!

I’m always asking for art supplies. The latest goodies on my list are 1. Golden Crackle Paste – I can’t believe I haven’t bought this yet, but I would love to add some crackle in my mixed media work. 2. PanPastel Artists’ Painting Pastels Sets – I’ve heard these are absolutely amazing pastels. I would love to start out with at least the 10-piece set. 3. Golden Fluid Acrylics, 1 oz - specifically Turquoise and Quinacridone Red.And a few other goodies: 1. Re-ment Dining Table – for 1:6 dolls (such as Barbie, Blythe, or Pullip). 2. Ranger Craft Spinner – to hold all my ink blending tools. 3. Re-ment Display Kitchen – another goodie for 1:6 dolls.

A couple of other things I asked for are some Copic Sketch Markers, a gift certificate to Papertrey Ink, and a gift certificate to Two Peas in a Bucket.

Of course, I don’t expect everything on this list! I am realistic, after all. These are some things that have inspired me lately that I would love to play with.

More Kawaii Goodies

2010-07-28T16:06:00.001-05:00

I just posted about the awesome giveaway at Super Cute Kawaii, and I wanted to tell you of another one. The Plush Team is giving away one of Moon Creation's adorable plushes.

Meet Moon Bun, who spends a lot of time in her very own terracotta pot.

How cute is she? Absolutely adorable. So kawaii!

Part of the giveaway entry is to check out Moon Creations' etsy shop and state which item is your favorite. Moon Creations was already a favorite shop of mine, and just yesterday I had marked this as a favorite:

Tipsy the Pink Elephant

Read all about the giveaway here. The last day to enter is Friday, July 30.

Kawaii Goodies

2010-07-28T10:49:00.001-05:00

I'm totally in love...with Kawaii!! I'm not sure I can accurately describe what Kawaii is, but I find it incredibly cute and inspiring. It brings out the little girl in me. Japanese goodies with adorable smiles. Miniature food items. Well-known stuff like Hello Kitty, but lesser known as well.

Chicki is a cute store full of Kawaii goodies. Here's some of my favorites:

1. Scrummyland Roulade Bow 2. Scrummyland Waffle Ring 3. Scrummyland Pocket Mirror Apple

And my ultimate favorite:

Scrummyland Sundae Necklace

And even better? Super Cute Kawaii is having a giveaway! You can win some of your own kawaii goodies.

One lucky winner will receive two necklaces, stickers, badges, a pocket mirror, and a hair flower.

And two runner-ups will receive a necklace.

So awesome!! Click here to read the details and enter the giveaway. It ends August 9th.

Fresh Fridays: Make Your Own Fabric Patterned Paper

2010-06-18T13:53:00.002-05:00

I love the fabric patterned paper from the Dear Lizzy collection by American Crafts. I wish more companies made fabric patterned paper.

If you aren't familiar with fabric patterned paper, it is printed canvas with adhesive on the back. It usually comes already sized to 12x12. You can use it like you would patterned paper, as a background or cut up. But, since it's fabric, you can do anything that you can do with traditional canvas. You can paint it, ink it, sew it, and use it to make flowers which is what I did.

Using a transfer technique I saw Claudine Hellmuth do, I found that I could take an entire sheet of patterned paper and make my own fabric paper. Now the possibilities are endless. All it takes is some sticky-back canvas, water, and a little elbow grease.

I made my own fabric, and then I cut it into strips and rolled into flowers.

Watch my video to see how to make the fabric. I've also included how to make the flower.

*Note: The video is actually only 7 minutes long. The last 3 minutes are a blank screen. Sorry. Also, I used a 2 3/4 inch circle.

Watch video below | Watch at YouTube

Supplies used:

Canvas: Claudine Hellmuth Studio by Ranger
Patterned Paper: BasicGrey, American Crafts, K & Company
Gel Medium: Claudine Hellmuth Studio by Ranger
Stamps: Papertrey Ink
Ink: Memories by Hero Arts
Flair: Dear Lizzy by American Crafts
Sticker Letters: Dear Lizzy by American Crafts
Cardstock: Papertrey Ink, Target
Die Cut Machine: Silhouette

These are the Silhouette images I used:

3_flower_borders_C00194_24282

sketch_flowers_C00036_27011

Illustration Friday: Ripple

2010-06-17T04:47:00.001-05:00

This week's Illustration Friday prompt really means a lot to me. Since I live in an area that is greatly impacted by the recent oil spill in the Gulf, I understand how much help is needed to restore the waters, wildlife, and communities back to their former glory. I live in Mississippi, in a city about an hour and thirty minutes from the coast. We know of many who are concerned about their jobs. We've had friends visit Orange Beach and comment on the oil. We've talked to restaurant workers at places where seafood is their biggest source of income. And, we've seen footage of helpless animals unable to survive this tragedy. It is incredibly heartbreaking.

But every bit of help will make a difference. Not immediately. But eventually.

My submission this week is a mermaid of the Gulf doing her part to save the animals. She has rescued a poor baby fish and is carrying him to cleaner waters. Others have seen her efforts and are encouraged to do their part.

Kelly Light started the Ripple Blog as a way for illustrators to band together and support clean-up efforts of the oil spill. Here's what she says about this week's prompt:

"It's hard to make ripples in oil soaked water. But throw enough stones and you will! It's not about the politics or the corporation. It's about the animals. It's about not feeling helpless in the face of an overwhelming disaster. We're illustrators. We don't lose touch with that kid inside who marvels at the creatures who swim below or fly above the sea. We draw them. We are inspired by them. We need to help them. The Ripple blog was started on th 45th day of the Deepwater Horizon Catastrophe. The oil spill in the Gulf is now over 50 days old with no sign of stopping. We may be too small as individuals to do some grand gesture, but together our small gestures can be grand."

Artists from around the world have donated a 2.5x3.5-inch sketch card. Each sketch card featured on the blog is for sale for $10.00. The $10.00 is a donation to help the animal victims of the Deep Water Horizon Gulf Oil Spill. Every penny is donated. The two Non-Profits that are benefiting are The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies and The International Bird Rescue Research Center.

For more information and to view cards for sale, check out the Ripple blog here.

We don't have to feel helpless. We can help. Our small actions together will ripple outward.

Engagement Shoot {Mississippi Wedding Photographer}

2010-06-15T11:49:00.002-05:00

My younger sister is getting married in December, and I was incredibly honored that she asked me to take her engagement portraits. We have many settings planned, this is the first.

Here are some of my faves.

Illustration Friday: Trail

2010-06-04T17:54:00.001-05:00

This week's prompt at Illustration Friday is "trail."

“The trail is the thing, not the end of the trail. Travel too fast and you miss all you are traveling for.” ~unknown

This petit doll has been on many trails. She travels from city to city looking for her next adventure. Her pants are worn out, her face full of dirt smudges, and her suitcase full of patches. But she does not fret, for her adventures are great. She collects a feather for each adventure, hoping to have her entire hat covered one day. When you see her, you had better speak then because in the blink of an eye she'll be off on another trail.

(My scanner is still messed up. Sorry.)

Fresh Fridays: Birthday Wishes card using the Silhouette sketch feature

2010-06-04T15:19:00.002-05:00

This week's card features images found in the Silhouette store. These are sketch images designed by Scrap 'n Fonts. In the video I show how to set up a sketch image as well as put the card together.

Here's the video. A few things to note: This is my first video where I've been able to do live screen shots, add audio, title screens, and splice videos. At 10 minutes it is a little long. I promise that I tried to cut out as much, but since I'm learning please be patient. I promise I will get better.

Also, in the video I don't share how to change out the blade for the pen in your Silhouette machine. I'm sure that would probably be useful, but it's pretty easy. It's just like changing blades, except you add the pen.

And, somewhere between my editing software and YouTube, the video quality got worse. Ugh. Oh well, I will keep learning.

Watch below | Watch on YouTube

Supplies used:

Cardstock: American Crafts, Papertrey Ink
Patterned paper: Die Cuts with a View
Stamp sentiment: Papertrey Ink
Ink: Hero Arts Memories
Colored Pencils: Prismacolor
Gamsol
Paper stumps
Twine: Papertrey Ink
Glitter glue: Scribbles
Silhouette machine
Sketch pens

Here is the image I used from Silhouette:

candles_C00098_24406

And, if you like that image, here are some other CUTE images that would be perfect for little boy cards.

spaceships_C00085_24406

aliens_C00083_24406

This next one would be great for a space theme or anything involving stars (you're a star, 4th of July, Memorial Day...).

Illustration Friday: Slither

2010-06-03T08:40:00.001-05:00

Here's my drawing for this week's Illustration Friday prompt, slither. I immediately thought of snakes, and since I've been re-reading Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes by Edith Hamilton my mind immediately turned to Medusa. I've been working on petit dolls for my Suzi Blu class, so I wanted to create a Medusa petit doll. My petit dolls are not ugly, though, so this Medusa isn't extremely horrid.

My scanner is on the fritz, I think it might be his final days. RIP. Since I couldn't scan the image, I photographed it. It really looks so much better in person. The photograph makes the lines and coloring look a little harsh.

I really love how her hair turned out. I loved drawing and coloring the individual snakes. And, I decided to match her skin to the snakes. At first I didn't, but she looked *too* pretty. She needed something to make her a little more horrifying, though this depiction of her isn't horrifying at all.

Thanks for visiting!

OWH Blog Hop Winner

2010-06-01T04:38:00.002-05:00

Super congrats to the winner of the OWH Blog Hop:

Congrats to Cheryl! I've sent you an email, but just in case please email me at christysheffield51207 (at) yahoo.com or christy (at) wonderfullycomplex.com. Thanks!

OWH Blog Hop (and a giveaway!)

2010-05-29T04:02:00.003-05:00

Hi everyone! I'm so excited to be a part of this year's Operation Write Home (OWH) blog hop! This is my second year to participate. If you aren't familiar with OWH, let me fill you in. It's an awesome organization that sends handmade cards to soldiers stationed overseas so they can write home to loved ones. For more information about OWH, check out their website or blog.

*If you are reading this post through a feed reader, facebook, or by stumbling across it, the blog hop actually starts here.

I am a huge supporter of our troops because I understand the sacrifice they are making. My father was in the army when I was younger. In fact, I was born in Germany. Mom was blessed to be with him while he was stationed there. Other times, though, we were forced to be apart. Us back home and him overseas. I have two sisters, and we are all close in age, so I can't imagine how hard it was for Mom to go to the grocery store with a toddler and two babies.

So, thank you to all the troops (and their loved ones) who sacrifice time with family to guarantee my freedom. And, many prayers to those who have lost loved ones.

Now onto the card!

The theme was "Missing You" with red, white, and blue.

Stamp a background onto red cardstock. I love the look of tone-on-tone stamping for a subtle background. It really makes the card look great without distracting from the other elements. Papertrey Ink is great for that because they have inks to match their cardstock.
Cut patterned paper into strips of varying sizes. Adhere going along the side and the bottom.
Cut a large star using the Silhouette (you can certainly use other die cut machines or punches). Adhere with pop dots.
Punch two smaller stars.
Add the sentiment.

If you are making a card for OWH, click here to read some tips.

Now onto the giveaway!!!

I absolutely love stamping because it is economical, easy, and always in style. You can use stamps over and over in many different ways. Ippity stamps are some of my favorites. They are a sister company to Unity Stamp Co. and are high-quality red-rubber cling stamps with many cute sentiments and images. I happen to be a representative for Ippity stamps, so if you are interested in purchasing, please visit my blog for more information. If you are unfamiliar with how cling stamps work, click here for my YouTube video explaining it.

The Regal Greetings stamp set is perfect because it provides different greetings such as "Missing You" and "Thinking of You." I am giving away one set to a random commenter. Please leave a comment by Monday 11:59 p.m. CST to be entered in the drawing. I will pick a comment at random and announce the winner on Tuesday. Be sure to leave an email address so I can get in touch with you if you win.

COMMENTS CLOSED. Click here for the winner.

Thanks for checking out my card. Here's the next stop on the hop: Karen @ Creating with Kajikit.

Artist spotlight: Danita

2010-05-07T16:06:00.001-05:00

There are a few artists that I absolutely love, and Danita is one of them. Her mixed media paintings are breathtaking. So fun and lively; a perfect representation of someone who lives somewhere as colorful as Mexico.

I remember seeing Danita's work in Somerset Studio. After that first article, I instantly recognized her work. She has somehow created a style that is uniquely her own. No one else can come close to recreating Danita's style. I love how whimsical her little people are. Even though their faces are often solemn, I am immediately drawn to them, wanting to know more.

Danita also translates her style into jewelry, combining pendants and beads with her unique images. You are truly wearing a piece of art when you don one of her creations. And, these are not mass-produced either. Danita isn't selling her jewelry through some other manufacturer or distributor. These are handmade pieces.

To purchase prints, originals, and jewelry, visit Danita's etsy shop here.

Read Danita's blog here.

Growing Cilantro Digital Layout @ Pen Scrappers

2010-05-05T16:12:00.001-05:00

Hey everyone! I have a new digital layout up at the Pen Scrappers website. If you get a chance, please head over and vote for it. Thanks!

Supplies used:

Patterned paper strips and flowers: Pen Scrappers (Renee Pearson)
Grid patterned paper: Carina Gardner
Journaling tag: Andrea Victoria
Alphas: Katie Pertiet *
Frames: Kitschy Digitals
Brushes: Sande Krieger
Pen tablet: Wacom

* You must be a registered member to access this freebie. Registering is free.

New shapes for the Silhouette

2010-05-01T16:08:00.001-05:00

If you are a Silhouette user, I encourage you to check out some of the new shapes from the newest designers, American Crafts and KI Memories. I am super excited that both companies are now created Silhouette die cuts. Here are some of my favorite.

From American Crafts:

dear_lizzy_bicycle_C00003_27175

dear_lizzy_clothesline_C00008_27175

dear_lizzy_doily_cloud_C00015_27175

dear_lizzy_strawberries_C00028_27175

From KI Memories:

octopus_C00045_28466

rainbow_C00054_28466

stork_C00060_28466

sunshine_C00063_28466

Did you know that Silhouette offers a free image every single week? The rest of the images are $0.99 a piece. However, this weekend (in honor of National Scrapbooking Day) you can find images for $0.75 each. You can also get 20% off a subscription plan. And, there are three free images this weekend:

flourish_2471

phrase_enjoy_2473

(this is a print & cut file)

phrase_sumertime_2472

I plan on posting later about the different die cutting machines, so stay tuned.

Inside my art journal

2010-04-30T15:08:00.001-05:00

Here's a peek into how I made my art journal:

Watch video below | Watch on YouTube

You can find the Zutter Bind-it-All here and at Hobby Lobby. I have the original version. It's a little expensive, but it is worth it. I use mine a lot. If you are near a Hobby Lobby, I would wait until it is on sale or use a coupon.

How to use {ippity} stamps

2010-04-20T13:55:00.001-05:00

Here's a video I made showing what {ippity} stamps are and how you can use them. Enjoy!

Watch video below | Watch on YouTube

Now selling {ippity} stamps

2010-04-19T02:46:00.001-05:00

Hi everyone! I'm so excited about this new endeavor, and I know you will be, too! Over the years I have learned many techniques, including stamping. I am passionate about stamping! It's an investment. Think about it. You could spend $5 on a rub-on set that you use one time. Or, you could spend $15-18 on a stamp set that you can use the rest of your life. The savings are endless!

I started out as a traditional scrapbooker (meaning paper, not digital). I was first introduced to scrapbooking at a Creative Memories party in 2000. Let's just say I was hooked! I didn't have a ton of money then, so my pages were mostly cardstock, a little bit of patterned paper, and cutesy stickers. Boring. But that's okay because that was in style back then.

Boy, have times changed.

I still scrapbook (both traditional and digital) and make tons of cards. In fact, I sell my handmade cards on Etsy. But, most of all, I love teaching other people how easy it is to scrapbook and make cards. And, as my skills have grown, my love of stamping has as well.

When I first started scrapbooking, I wasn't into stamps. That's because I was clueless to their versatility. Plus, I wasn't into the styles that were popular then. No offense, but they were too cutesy. I appreciate cute, but in a more modern way. Over time, my love of stamping grew. Now I stamp everything. And, since I only work part-time, finding cost-effective ways to scrapbook and make cards is essential. That's why I love {ippity} stamps. They are cute. They are affordable.

Trust me, once you try them you will be hooked too!

If this is your first time visiting my site, please look around. I have all my products listed, and you can purchase them using PayPal. You don't have to be a member of PayPal to buy from me. You can enter your payment information without logging in. It's still just as safe!

I also have information on kits, crops, and more. Let me know if there's something you'd like to see on this blog!

That's all for now!

Utilizing local sales papers and coupons

2010-04-19T02:40:00.001-05:00

Check out my latest article on Examiner.com on how you can make the most of budget crafting by utilizing local sales papers and coupons.

Honeymoon Slippers LO

2010-04-02T09:24:00.001-05:00

Wow, it has been a crazy week. Last week I had a booth at the Duds for Doodlebugs consignment sale in Hattiesburg. I sold handmade cards as well as discounted scrapbook supplies. I was clearing out my stash because I have TOO MUCH STUFF and I'm always WANTING NEW STUFF. If you know anything about the scrapbooking industry, products are typically short-lived. With the exception of tools, paints, etc. you can't find a particular patterned paper year after year. Product releases are scheduled around CHA (Craft & Hobby Association) shows which happen twice a year. This means that twice a year manufacturers have NEW stuff. It's a craft hoarders dream/nightmare.

I still have a ton of stuff left and it's still for sale. I'm thinking about listing some of it on etsy and selling the rest at crops. Yes, you heard right. There are scrapbook parties / crops in the works. With both the local independent scrapbook stores closed, the opportunity to get together with fellow scrappers has all but ceased to exist. Well, no more baby! I'm bringing 'em back! Stay tuned for details.

In the meantime, I'm trying to get my house back in order. And, I've been doing a lot of creative play as well. I've been pulling out old photos to scrapbook.

Supplies:

Bazzill cardstock (ivory and pink)
Papertrey Ink cardstock (lemon tart)
DCWV patterned paper (pink polka dot strips and stars)
American Crafts patterned paper (yellow damask/pink stars, yellow damask circle behind title)
BasicGrey patterned paper(yellow and pink strip)
Fiskars star punch
Fiskars effervescence border punch
Making Memories border strip
Heidi Swapp alphabet masks
Maya Road mists (pink and cream)
Rhinestones
Papertrey Ink vellum
Silhouette die cutting machine (used to cut "honeymoon" and circle)
Fonts used: Impact, Calibri
DMC thread
Machine stitching in yellow
Glossy accents to adhere stars, rhinestones, and vellum

Happy*Loves 03.11.10

2010-03-11T13:36:00.001-06:00

Hello everyone and happy Thursday. I apologize that I haven't posted anything in a few days but I have been a busy little bee with things that I can't share yet but hope to soon.

After several days of storms and rainy blugh weather, we have sunshine today in good 'ol Mississippi. Talk about spring fever! The kiddos will be on spring break next week, and I hope the lovely weather continues for them. Usually it is fuh-reezing cold but maybe not this year. Who knows? Our weather has been crazy this year with lots of snow, so maybe spring break will actually be warm.

Anyway, I thought it would be fitting to do a spring-inspired happy loves. After all, spring really is what is inspiring me right now.

1. Planting seeds. Love watching them grow from a little seed to a seedling to a full-grown plant. So cool. These are some of my cilantro seedlings I've started.

2. Blooming trees. They softly whisper romance to me.

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3. Spring colors like blush, aqua, and lemon.

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4. Bunnies.

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5. Garden parties.

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6.Secret gardens.

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7. Vegetable gardens.

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8. Cottages.

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9. Adorable garden sheds.

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10. Sunshine.

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Penscrappers Layout: 10 Things

2010-02-23T15:11:00.001-06:00

If you are a digital scrapbooker, then you must check out Wacom's Penscrappers website. A definite must if you own a pen tablet; however, you can still participate in the monthly challenges without one. Each month you can download a new (and FREE!!!) kit that you use to create a layout.

This month's theme was 10 Things. Here's my layout:

Kit by Anna Aspens; Template by Cathy Zieskle (from the Help Haiti collaborative kit)

Click on the image below to vote for my layout. Voting ends February 28th.

Playing with the Pen Tablet + a freebie

2010-02-22T08:06:00.001-06:00

I've mentioned before that I got a Wacom Bamboo Pen Tablet. Love this little thing. It allows me to do things with digital scrapbooking and graphics design that I would never accomplish with a mouse. To help myself learn this little baby a bit more, I'm taking a class on Jessica Sprague's website, "Pen Tablet Basics for Scrapbookers." Here's my week one projects:

I'm trying to use my pen tablet instead of mouse to do anything in Photoshop. But, some specific things done with the pen tablet were: the handwriting, the scalloped border on the two orange papers, and the orange dotted line from one destination to the other.

We also had to practice some doodling mid-week with the theme of love. I'm no where near finished, but I thought I'd post a sample of the work I'm doing. I'll post the finished project when I completed. I think this would end up being a neat patterned paper.

And, finally, we had to create some sort of layout or embellishment using dotted lines. I made a journaling tag. I wanted it to have a free form look, so I didn't worry about lining the dotted lines up exactly or spacing them perfectly. I made a tag for my husband.

And, here's a blank one that you can download for your own personal use. You can right-click and "save link as" or click on the link to open the image in a new window.

Cards 4 Kids Drive

2010-02-21T15:59:00.001-06:00

The uber-talented Jennifer McGuire is hosting another round of Cards 4 Kids. This is a great opportunity to use your love of scrapbooking and cardmaking to make a little something to cheer a child who has been diagnosed with cancer. What a great idea! It takes very little time to make a card, so why not take a few more minutes to add an encouraging note and send the card to someone who could use it?

While there is no end for the card drive, if you want to be considered for a prize please mail your card by March 31st. You can send as many as you want.

I saw this on Jennifer's blog earlier and meant to send a card. Ashamedly, I did not. I know how much this would mean to me (or my child if I had one) if I was the one on the receiving end. Since I already make cards, I thought I would go ahead and make a few more to send.

So, my goal is to make one card for each child. And, if I make more that's great. Please join me in this amazing effort. You can find more information and read each child's story here.

I plan on posting pics of my cards on this blog. If you are participating in the Cards 4 Kids drive, please leave a comment. I would love to check our your blog if you have one.

Valentine's Day Tag No. 1

2010-02-02T06:00:00.001-06:00

I've been working on some tags for my Etsy shop and thought, why not make some valentine tags that I can showcase each day up through Valentine's Day?

Here's tag number 1:

For sale here

Edited: I ran out of time to post any more tags before Valentine's Day. Sorry!
SHOP UPDATE: I promise I haven't forgotten that I was supposed to do a shop update yesterday. I've moved the shop update to tomorrow! Sorry for the delay.

Happy * Loves 01.29.10

2010-01-29T18:32:00.002-06:00

This week I'd like to share some movies that have inspired me lately. This is not all inclusive, as I am a huge movie watcher. Just some of the recent ones.

1. Down with Love - a great nod to the wonderful Doris Day and Rock Hudson romantic comedies. I'm not a huge Renee Zellweger fan, but she does a great job. And, Ewan McGregor is, as always, charming.

2. Marie Antoinette - Such romantic clothes. Love the colors.

3. Pride and Prejudice - I love all renditions, but I have to say that I love the styling of the Keira Knightley version. And the music is absolutely beautiful.

4. Moulin Rouge! - Definitely out there, but such a great movie. Some people aren't a fan, but I enjoy the movie. Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor do a great job and I love the arrangement of modern songs. The sets are so elaborate, and I do love when Nicole Kidman plays a redhead. (REDHEADS ROCK! I am one, so I know.)

5. Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events - A children's story with edginess. Definitely not a Disney movie. While I would say that this movie does not do the books justice, I do like the stylization. I don't particularly care for Jim Carrey's overacting, but that's usually a given with him.

6. The Holiday - For the music. Good storyline, but the music makes me melt.

7. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Yeah, I watch this movie over and over. I can't help it - I love nearly everything that Tim Burton does, and this is no exception. When it first came out, I was appalled that anyone would try and redo the beloved Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, but this movie is delightful and a little dark at times. And,I love the oompa-loompas even more.

8. August Rush - Another movie with a beautiful soundtrack and sweet storyline.

9. Peter Pan - I love how this version focus more on the transition of child to young adult, which I find to be the theme of the original story.

10. Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium - So magical. I love the character of Mr. Magorium - he's so childlike yet wise at the same time. This is a great story about believing. And, Natalie Portman's pixie cut is too cute. Plus, the main music piece is stunning.

BONUS: Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland - I know, I know. It's not even in theaters yet. But it's already inspiring me. I cannot wait to see it.

And, if you haven't seen the trailer, enjoy. Watch video below | Watch on YouTube

Shop Review: The Button Shop

2010-01-25T15:39:00.002-06:00

One thing I would like to do more on this blog is review my shopping experiences with different shops out there...some local, some chains, and many etsy shops. Especially etsy and local shops. I believe that word-of-mouth is the best marketing there, plus if I know something about a store I like to share it with others. The good and the bad. So, at least twice a month I hope to bring you a shop review.

This week I'm reviewing The Button Shop. This shop is owned by Tessa Ann, who creates the most beautiful buttons out of polymer clay. For example, look at what is currently in her shop:

Look at the amazing details on each button! These aren't just various polymer clay buttons in different colors. The images on the buttons are amazing.

You can also request a button set to match a specific color scheme. Or, if you want buttons to match a specific scrapbooking line, you can also request that.

The buttons you see are not the exact buttons you will get, as Tessa Ann makes the buttons once you order them. Therefore, it can take up to one week before your buttons are shipped. I will say that the buttons I received looked very much like the buttons in the picture.

I had no problems placing an order with Tessa Ann's shop. She uses Etsy.com to host her shop, and Etsy uses PayPal as the form of payment. Within 24 hours of purchase I received an email from Tessa Ann letting me know when she would ship my buttons. My order was shipped via good 'ol USPS First Class and arrived on time.

I was very excited when I saw the adorable packaging. (I'm big on packaging. I love it to look nice, and bonus points if it contains something that I can reuse.)

Can totally reuse that adorable crepe paper strip and twine!

Even her handwriting is adorable!

The set I ordered had 12 buttons total; 4 buttons with decorative elements, 4 buttons with painted elements, and 4 plain buttons.

All of the buttons were in great shape. (No breakage! Whew! I have to admit that I was a little worried about polymer clay buttons traveling through the mail.) Each button was glazed as well.

The buttons did appear a little larger in the promo picture, so here's a pic to give you an idea of the size. The size can vary depending on what set you order.

I immediately set to work using these buttons. They are almost too adorable to use, but I had some great ideas in mind.

First, I made a headband "slipcover" and used the buttons on a felt flower. I had a very ugly, gold headband. I always try to think of how I could use something before I throw it away or donate it. After some thought, I realized that I could cover the headband somehow. At first I was going to try ribbon, but then I remembered this post from MmmCrafts on making a fabric cover that you slip over the headband. The great thing about this is that it is, in essence, a slipcover that you can take off. I envision myself making several of these in different colors so I can change them out to match my headband. Goodbye ugly gold, hello pretty florals!

I just so happened to have some leftover fabric that matched my buttons perfectly! I made a flower out of pink and white felt, added some stitching, and stitched on a button for the flower center. I then stitched some leaves to flower and stitched the entire thing to my headband (being sure to go through only one layer of fabric so I could change out the fabric if I wanted to).

Very fun and flirty!

The next project was to make a simple flower ring. I wanted something that would be strong enough, but nothing too permanent. I used glue dots to adhere the button to the flower and the flower to the ring. If you want something permanent, I would definitely recommend a stronger glue.

The last project I made was a card (OF COURSE!!!). I know all three projects used the buttons as flower centers, but I can't help it! I love using buttons as centers for my flowers.

(Sorry for the horrible pic of the card. It was dark by the time I took this so I had to use my flash. Trust me, the colors are not so brash and you can actually read the sentiment in person.)

I still have some buttons left, too!

I will definitely purchase from this shop again. I had a great experience and the product is simply beautiful.

If you have shopped from The Button Shop before, please share your comments below. I would love to hear your experience as well!

Hand Stamped with Flowers Card

2010-01-24T05:12:00.001-06:00

Just wanted to share a card I made for my Style School partner, Dana. I wanted to send her a little happy, so I made her a blank card that she could use for any occasion.

Supplies used:

Vintage book text
Papertrey Ink's Guide Lines stamp set
Papertrey Ink's Avocado Mist and Melon Berry Pigment Ink
Martha Stewart ribbon
Floss
Prism cardstock

Etsy Shop Update

2010-01-22T07:44:00.001-06:00

Edited: All cards have sold! Thanks for supporting my store. I'll be adding more products to the store soon!

I'm a little behind in posting this shop update, but I wanted to let my blog friends know that I have re-opened my etsy store and added some cute cards...lots of valentine cards, too. Several have already sold, but I plan on making more.

*Share Your Heart*

*Flowerful Hellos*

*Sweetheart Ribbon* - On Reserve

*Valentine Hearts*

*XOXO*

*Valentine Wishes*

*Bright Hellos*

*Damask Valentine*

*You Make Me Smile*

*Love U*

*Quilted Hellos*

*Hi*

*What's Up?*

*Lime Thanks*

*Friendship Heart*

*Thinking of You*

*Grungy Valentine*

All cards are $4 plus shipping and I do offer a shipping discount if you order multiple items from my shop. I make a lot of my embellishments on my cards, though some are store-bought. I use acid-free products, so the card will last a lifetime.

Also, if you are local to Petal, Mississippi and you wish to pick up your card instead of having it shipped, I will gladly refund the shipping cost. In fact, if you want to do that, put that you will pick up the card in the "Notes to Seller" and do not go on to pay. I will send you an updated invoice without the shipping charges.

And, last but not least, I am glad to do any card you want. So, if you see something I've done in the past that you like, or you want a specific card, please message me on Etsy or send me an email and I will be glad to do a custom order.

Next shop update is scheduled for February 1st.

Happy * Loves 01.22.10

2010-01-22T06:14:00.001-06:00

This week has been a long week as I've been helping my sister paint her new house. She's a first-time home owner and I'm so excited for her. Also, I'm super excited because...she bought the house next door to me!

Now onto what has inspired me this week.

1. Doilies

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2. Helping my sister paint her house has got me thinking more and more about the color scheme I want in my studio. I want it feminine, soft, yet still modern. This digital kit from Design House Digital is exactly the color scheme I'm going for: gray, pink, lime, teal, brown.

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3. Pretty mailboxes.

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4. Parson's mini desk from West Elm. I think this would be nice in my living room - somewhere we could keep the laptop or write a letter. But I would get my hubby to make it instead of spending $249 on it.

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5. Lily Pulitzer Home for Garnet Hill is so beautiful. I always have loved the bright colors.

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6. Japanese candies - simply because the packaging is so cute. I would never want to eat it!

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7. Vintage typewriters.

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8. Things sorted by color. Call me OCD but I love it. Nearly everything in my studio is sorted by color. I even sort my clothes in the closet by color.

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9. Matryoshka dolls. They remind me of my two mission trips to Russia.

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10. This Mary Blair illustration. For those who are unfamiliar with Blair's work, she did a lot with Disney back in the day. Her illustrations were and still are amazing.

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Happy * Loves 01.15.10

2010-01-15T17:58:00.001-06:00

I'm so glad that I didn't put Thursday in the title of this weekly column because I'm a tad late this week. Oh well. I have an excuse because I've been getting ready for the re-grand opening of my etsy store. I've got a lot of great cards that I will be listing (plus a bonus for anybody who orders during the month of January) so stay tuned! I hope to open the shop on Monday.

Here's what has inspired me this week.

1. Funky nail polish. Anybody who knows me knows I'm not afraid of color on my nails. The only problem I have is keeping it looking nice. I usually end up with very chipped nail polish. Anyway, I especially love the Alice-inspired line that OPI is coming out with. Love the glittered Mad-as-a-Hatter polish.

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2. Paper dolls!!!! I've been looking at different ones for inspiration for my Petit Dolls class I'm taking and I am hooked. I always loved playing with paper dolls as a child. So easy to change. Of course, then Barbies came along. But, paper dolls are so economical. I'm really enjoying the free paper dolls on Liana Kerr's blog. You can print and cut them out for free. I am amazed that she draws and colors these herself. I also love that the outfits are based on what's happening in her life, whether it is a movie she just watched, a book she just read, or a game she just played.

Here's some of my favorites for the Sylvia doll.

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3. I love my dog, Pedro. We have so much fun hanging out.

4. Cherry Blossom Girl's pictures of Paris in the snow. So dreamy.

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5. Miniatures. I've been checking out pictures for ideas for my dollhouse. Love these miniature goodies from Petit Plat by SK.

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6. Mermaids. Love 'em.

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7. I finally saw Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette this week. We all know the outcome of that story, so I was more interested in seeing the stylization of the movie. Wow, love love love the costumes. So pretty.

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8. I really love the cabinet card digital frames that Danielle Thompson released over at JessicaSprague.com, but I especially love how her team member Kirsty Neale used them on fabric to make a book and banner.

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9. Alisa Burke's painted egg carton organizer tutorial is a great idea for reusing instead of wasting. Plus, her art is fantastic.

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10. Mists!!!!

Let's Mist, Baby!

2010-01-13T08:52:00.002-06:00

I've been having a lot of fun playing with mists lately. Yes, I realize I'm a little late jumping on the misting bandwagon. I've realized the error of my ways...mist on scrapbook pages and cards is absolutely gorgeous. It adds such an artistic look, like a painting. Misting is great for layering, too.

Here's a card I made using some Maya Mists and heart paper doilies.

Notice the heart behind the couple? I made that using spray mists and a paper doily. I'll show you how.

First, you'll need to gather up some spray mists.

Spray mists are a combination of water and ink (usually with a little glimmer to it) that you can spray directly on cardstock, fabric, just about anything. You can also use masks (both pre-made or homemade) to protect part of the cardstock so that it remains the original color. All sorts of things can be used for masks...die cuts, chipboard letters, stickers...the possibilities are endless.

There are several manufacturers of mists. Tattered Angels makes glimmer mists. I find that these tend to take a little longer to dry and achieve a splotchier look. Glimmer mists puddle easier to me. If you want a more splattered look, they work well for that. Glimmer mists also come in a wide array of colors and each has a little bit of "glimmer" or light sheen look to it. Photos do not really capture the beauty of the shimmer, so they are best seen in person.

Maya Road makes maya mists. I find that these create a more even coverage. You can still achieve a splotchy look, but if you want full coverage these are great. They do not have as many colors, but I still enjoy them. I also like the shape of the bottle because it is easier to store. And, the cream mist is to-die-for! Love love love it. It looks orange in the bottle, but it really comes out such a beautiful cream color.

Adirondack also makes a mist spray called a color wash. I have never used these because they are not readily available from the places I shop at the most. I like to save up my money and buy several supplies at once so I can get percentages off or free shipping, so I usually shop at only a couple of online retailers or local stores. I've heard a lot of artists rave over this, plus it is something Tim Holtz uses...so I'm sure it works great. I've heard that the saturation and color is amazing. Again, this isn't a first-hand experience.

For this tutorial I am using Maya Mists in pink and cream.

I found some heart paper doilies while perusing the Valentine's section at Wal-Mart. I picked them up for next to nothing. Doilies are a hot trend in scrapbooking right now, and I thought that these would be perfect for some Valentine cards I'm making.

I picked up red, pink, and white doilies.

The next step is to place a doily on a card. It doesn't matter the color because the doily will be used as a mask and will be removed later.

You can place the doily on the card, but I like to be sure it won't move around during the misting process. So I add just a touch of adhesive. Repositional adhesive is best for this, but I don't have any so I use permanent. I use it lightly and find that it comes off easily.

Before you start going crazy with mist, be forewarned. This stuff will get everywhere. Everywhere. Be sure to protect your surface. Ranger Industries has a great craft mat and Tattered Angels has a larger one. However, I tend to have a lot of stuff out on my work table (and yes, I have ruined already made cards by accidently "misting" them as well) so I've found that using a cardboard box works great. I use one that my Studio Calico kit came in. It's the perfect size because it can fit a 12x12 layout on it.

I also get some of the spray on my hands, so I never mist while wearing nice clothes. I'm usually wearing my painting clothes because if not I will touch my shirt with my hands and ruin it. Yes, I've done that before. I speak from experience. And, thoroughly wipe your hands after misting before you pick up a finished project and get a nice inked thumbprint on it. Again, speaking from experience.

So, again, protect your work surface because if you don't...

...your desk will end up like this. Nice. (I've decided to paint my work table white, so this doesn't bother me. Besides, it reminds me of my grandmother's table she always painted ceramics at. Well-used and well-loved.)

Begin by lightly misting the cream. Add a little at a time. You can always add more later, but you can never take away.

Next, add some pink.

Continue adding cream and pink until the look you are seeking is achieved.

Wait until the mists are dry (which usually doesn't take long if you are using Maya Mists) and lift the doily to reveal the original color underneath.

If any of the adhesive from the mask remains on the card, just use a clean cloth to wipe it away.

Now your card is ready to be embellished.

I wanted to add some ribbon but it wasn't the right color.

No problem. I'll just mist it. (Warning...this stuff is so addictive.)

Much better.

Now for some stamps. I wanted to use this stamp set from Hero Arts, but I wanted each word of the sentiment by itself.

At first I never wanted to cut my stamps apart. But, they do actually fit back together nicely so you can use it as it was originally planned.

I hope you enjoyed this little tutorial. Have fun misting!

My New Toy

2010-01-12T17:07:00.003-06:00

Actually it's several new toys.

But before I share them, I want to say a little thank you to my wonderful hubby.

Now onto my new goodies.

My husband's parents, James Ward and Delores, gave me some money for Christmas. After reading many reviews, I decided to get a prime lens. Specifically, a Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Camera Lens. Can I say how much I love this little lens? It is unbelievably awesome.

My wonderful sister, Nikki, helped me out with this one. I'm so thankful for her! Yes, it's a student edition but it all works the same. This includes Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. So excited! I have great plans for using this software. I will keep you posted on this.

My last goodie is a Wacom Bamboo Pen Tablet. I've been wanting one of these for three years now. And, since Wacom has released the pen and touch version, the pen only version has gone down in price. I've got a lot to learn with this, but I'm super excited about all of the possibilities.

I used my new tablet (literally - got it today) to write the above love letter to my husband.

Here's a sneaky peeky of a new tutorial going up tomorrow.

Happy Loves 01.07.10

2010-01-07T16:43:00.002-06:00

I'm typing this as we watch the Bama/Texas game. Roll Tide. (My husband's family is huge Bama fans. Huge.)

Here's some things that make me happy this week.

1. Totally into the Legend of the Seeker TV series right now. I've been watching it online through Netflix. Really cool show, if you are into Eragon, LOTR -type shows. Plus the main actor is total eye candy.

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2. Ronda Palazzari has a great tutorial from November '09 on the Cocoa Daisy forums. Love the layering techniques using mists, paint, stamps, rub-ons, and stitching. Can't wait to try this on some layouts.

3. Googly eyes! Now we want to put some googly eyes on our aloe vera plants. Watch video below | Watch on Hulu

4. This layout from Ingvold Bolme makes me swoon. Gorgeous!

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5. Dresses made out of duct tape.

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6. pandas!

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7. Bakerella's creations make me squeal with delight. I would love to make treats like this, but I really don't have the patience for it.

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8. pretty embellishments.

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9. carolina herrara's new line really inspires me.

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10. I've really enjoyed reading the blog Art Cupboard by Diana Martin. Lots of inspiration.

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More Petit Dolls

2010-01-02T12:28:00.001-06:00

I've finally uploaded some dolls that I am working on for Suzi Blu's "Petit Dolls for Beginners" class that I'm taking online. I'm not sure which want I want to work on for my final project.

Here are my options.

The bride who is deeply saddened because she broke her grandmother's beloved pearls.

The devilish pixie fairie, inspired by the mischievous fairies in Melissa Marr's Wicked Lovely.

The angry Egyptian queen who finds ruling a country to be quite a difficult task.

The happy mermaid who enjoys life under the sea.

My take on Alice in Wonderland, combining the elements of Alice, the Cheshire Cat, the White Rabbit, the Mad Hatter, the March Hare and the Queen of Hearts.

Which one do you like the most?

Happy * Loves 12.31.09

2009-12-31T12:09:00.001-06:00

10 things that I'm enjoying right now:

1. chai tea. LOVE LOVE LOVE it.

2. I'm reorganizing my craft room, so flickr is always an inspiration. Just a few of my recent faves.

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3. dollhouses. I have one that was never finished, and it is on my list of goals for 2010.

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4. blythe dolls. I love seeing how women style them. it's like barbie but for grown ups.

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5. totally enjoying my les petit doll beginner class from Suzi Blu. totally behind on it as well, but that's okay. i <heart> drawing. Here's the beginning of my petit doll. Can you see I was inspired by Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland that is coming out in March?

6. i've been enjoying reading the tales of skunkboy creatures. I can't remember if I found her site through elsie or leigh-ann's blog, but I remember seeing her work in stuffed. love her creations.

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7. winter white. heavenly.

as seen on Design is Mine, original source here

8. all things kawaii (japanese for *cute*).

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9. fabric poms. I'm going to make some for my craft studio.

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10. cupcakes. yum.

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Use your stash: Thinking of You card

2009-06-28T11:23:00.001-05:00

One thing I love about scrapbooking is all the new stuff that comes out. Companies are constantly introducing new embellishments, papers, and other goodies. The visual inspiration is endless.

But, who has that kind of money to spend? Especially in times like these, when the economy isn't being friendly to everyone, purchasing the latest and greatest items isn't always feasible. So, lately I've been using my stash up.

This week I'm making cards and layouts using my stash. No new products. Over the next few days I'm showing a series of cards I made using one kit from Memory Works. I have a couple of older kits that I never used, so before using any of my new Studio Calico kits I figured I better clear out my stash. These papers came from the August kit. They really aren't my style (probably why I didn't use them) but I found a way to make them work.

Here's the card for today:

Supplies used: Cardstock (Prism); Patterned Paper (Prima); Stamp (Hero Arts); Ink (Memories); Pen (American Crafts); Ribbon

Here's what the paper looked like before I cut it. It's from Prima's Dude collection. Great paper for all things boys...full of fun and whimsy. But, not exactly my style. I love the doodled look, but it really didn't fit with any layout ideas I had.

But, I couldn't waste a great patterned paper, so I cut individual circles out, layered them on the card, and anchored it with ribbon and dots.

Your challenge this week is to make a card or layout using all older supplies, nothing new. I ended up making ten cards from one kit, with loads of paper and embellishments to spare.

Come back tomorrow for another card!

CPS Sketch #121

2009-06-27T11:05:00.001-05:00

Here's my take on this week's sketch from Card Positioning Systems (CPS).

Supplies used: Cardstock (Prism); Patterned Paper (Prima); Stamp (Hero Arts); Ink (Memories, Ranger); Ribbon; Thread

I've really been enjoying playing with distress inks and cutting up patterned paper lately and this card is no exception. I inked the cardstock, the base patterned paper, and the cardstock and patterned paper that the sentiment is on. I also took some Prima patterned paper that had some whimsical circles on it and cut the circles out. So much fun!

Card Patterns Sketch #20

2009-06-26T18:54:00.001-05:00

If you are a cardmaker, then you will appreciate Card Patterns, a weekly card sketch blog. Here's my take on this week's sketch:

Supplies used: Cardstock (American Crafts, Die Cuts with a View); Stamps (Hero Arts); Flowers
(Prima); Ink (Memories, Ranger Industries); Corner Rounder (EK Success) Button

I used Tim Holtz's Distressed Inks on the flourish stamp. I would randomly ink the stamp with two different colors, so there is a nice colored effect. I also used the Broken China Distress Ink to stamp my flower.

Etsy Shop Update: 6/19

2009-06-19T09:43:00.001-05:00

Just a quick note to let you know that I've updated my Etsy shop with some handmade cards. I'm working on more stuff to upload, so check back often.

The Real Me layout for PageMaps challenge

2009-06-08T02:10:00.002-05:00

Here's a layout I made for a PageMaps challenge. I'm new to PageMaps, but already I know I love it. I like coming up with sketches, but it's so nice when somebody has already done it for you.

Supplies used: Cardstock (Bazzil); Patterned Paper (Studio Calico); Fabric Strips (Studio Calico); Foam letter stickers (American Crafts); Ribbon (American Crafts); Thread; Font: Huxtable

Everything but the ribbon came from Studio Calico's March kit (Garment District). It's already sold out, but if you like it then you will like their others. I recommend subscribing. It's a great price and you get a ton of stuff! Also, you can purchase the fabric strips without subscribing to a kit.

The Big 5-0!

2009-06-06T22:28:00.002-05:00

My dad turned 50 last month. I don't normally make layouts for every family member's birthday, but turning 50 is a pretty big deal. Definitely worth commemorating.

I used supplies from Studio Calico's May kit, "Playground." The lovely ladies also hosted a challenge on their blog this week to make a pinwheel. You can find the post (with a easy to follow tutorial) here.

Supplies used: Cardstock (Bazzil, Die Cuts with a View); Patterned paper (Crate Paper, Cosmo Cricket, Studio Calico); Die cut cards (October Afternoon); Cardstock stickers (Jenni Bowlin); Name, Date, Place labels (Jenni Bowlin); Brad (Sassafras Lass); Rub-ons (Pink Paislee); Pen (American Crafts, Faber-Castell)

I've had this idea toying in my head about a way I could include a ton of pictures on a layout without showing all of them at once. I have a ton of cheap picture books on hand. You know, the kind they would give you when you turned in a roll of film to be printed? Anyway, I found that it was easy to tear the plastic protectors from the yucky cover and still keep them sewed together. I adhered some patterned paper to the front to cover up the seam. And, there you go - a photo book on my layout. How awesome is that?!?

Here you see my lovely hand pulling up all the photos and showing you the last page. Instead of a photo I adhered 4x6 journaling card. The rest of the slips hold photos.

CFH Blog Hop Winner + New Cards

2009-05-26T11:48:00.002-05:00

Wow, what an amazing weekend! There were some absolutely gorgeous cards! Every person who participated (blogger & hopper) worked hard this weekend to make the blog hop a success. Great job! CFH is sure going to be busy this summer!

I urge you, if you are not doing so already, to consider making a card for CFH. While you are at it, make two cards - one blank card for a soldier to use and an AnyHero card where you write a personal message inside thanking the soldier. Find out here how to send cards to CFH. (Be sure to check out the cardmaking tips blog where you can find out what cards are needed and what cards to avoid. Also the shipping info page shares specific needs as well. Plus, there's where you can find a shipping address and packing label.)

Not creative? Lacking time? That's okay, too, because you can send a donation to CFH to help with the shipping costs. A box of 325 cards cost CFH $11.95 to ship, so any donations would be great. Find out how to donate here.

Now, onto the winner! Thank you, everyone, who left such kind comments. I thoroughly enjoyed reading each and every one of them. I used the Random.org Interger Generator, and the winner is...

Congrats, LadyDoc! I hope you enjoyed the blog hop (and I hope that the papers and tests weren't too unbearable). Check your email because you should get one from me (Christy Sheffield - christysheffield@yahoo.com). I'll need your mailing address so I can send off your goodies.

Here's two more cards I made this weekend for CFH (only 110 more to go):

Supplies used: Cardstock (Prism); Patterned Paper, Circle die cut (Scenic Route); Letter stickers (BasicGrey); Distress Ink (Tim Holtz for Ranger Industries)

Supplies used: Cardstock (Prism); Patterned Paper (Rusty Pickle); Circle die cut (Scenic Route); Metallic marker (Martha Stewart); Distress ink (Tim Holtz for Ranger); Wooden stars; Ribbon

Both cards used some distressing techniques. I even distressed the ribbon on the second card so that it would match. I'll share details in a post later this week.

CFH Blog Hop: USA Card

2009-05-23T03:00:00.002-05:00

Hey everyone! I hope you are having a great time looking at all the amazing cards in the Cards for Heroes Blog Hop! Note: This is not the first blog post in the blog hop. Be sure to start at the beginning of the blog hop by going here and clicking on the blog hop button.

I decided to go with a patriotic theme since CFH is taking cards for Independence Day.

Supplies used: Cardstock (Prism); Patterned Paper (Scenic Route); Chipboard letters (Maya Road); Clear Star Shape (Maya Road); Silver Pen (Martha Stewart Crafts); Ribbon (Offray)

This is a super easy card to make and can be easily adapted to any theme.

Cut your cardstock to 5.5 inches wide by 8.5 inches tall. Fold the card in half to make the card 5.5x4.25 (which will fit in a A2 size envelope).
Cut a piece of patterned paper to 5.5 inches wide by 2.75 inches tall. Adhere to the bottom of the card. Trim off any excess paper.
Using the silver pen, draw faux stitching around the entire card. Also draw faux stitching around the clear star.
String some yellow ribbon through the hole in the top of the clear star and wrap around the card where the patterned paper meets up with the cardstock.
Tie the ribbon into a bow and slide around to the left of the card. Trim off excess ribbon. To prevent the ribbon from shifting, put a little glue behind one spot of the ribbon. It isn't necessary to put glue behind the entire ribbon; just a little dab will do.
Color the chipboard letters with the silver pen. If you are using the Martha Stewart pen, it will dry quickly. You could also use silver paint.
Adhere the chipboard letters to the clear star. Depending on the size of your letters, they might hang over the edge of the star. That's perfectly fine. When placing your letters, center the S first, then add the U and the A.
Be sure to add some cream colored cardstock or patterned paper to the inside of the card for the soldier to write on. A lot of times soldiers have only pencils or black pens with them, so the navy isn't suitable for writing. Adding some light paper to the inside will really help them out!
If you are sending this card to CFH, click here to find out how.

This is my first time making a card for CFH and I absolutely loved it! I posted earlier about CFH, but in case you missed it, here's what CFH is all about. Cards for Heroes began in 2007. Cardmakers from around the world make handmade cards and send them to CFH so that the cards can be distributed to soldiers overseas. Obviously, a soldier stationed in Iraq can't head to the local drugstore to buy a card for his or her family member, so this is a great way to help our troops out. In addition to sending blank cards for soldiers to use, cardmakers can send AnyHero cards, which are cards of encouragement for the soldiers themselves.

Some of you may not know that my father served in the army when I was a child. We lived on army bases until 1989 when we finally settled down in Petal, Mississippi. In fact, my father was stationed in Augsburg, Germany where me and my younger sister were born. While we were fortunate to be with him then, there were other times that we could not go with my dad. I remember being four years old when my dad was stationed in Korea. We stayed back in Massachusetts at the time. Therefore, CFH's efforts mean a lot to me. Though no one is my family is currently serving in the military, I understand the sacrifice the troops are making.

CFH has sent 140,875 cards, so let's make it more! To encourage you to make your own card for CFH, I have a little happy for you to win.

Here's what you can win:

(1) 5.5x4.5 navy card with cream envelope
(1) 5.5x2.75 patterned paper strip
(1) Maya Road clear star
(1) Martha Stewart silver metallic pen
(1) 18 feet Lemon Satin ribbon spool
Maya Road chipboard letters: u, s, a

To be entered in this drawing, please leave a comment sharing your Memorial Day plans. Comments will be closed MIDNIGHT on Monday night (May 25). I will pick one winner at random, so be sure to leave your name and email address. The winner will be announced Tuesday morning.

EDITED: Comments have been closed. I will draw a name in the morning and post the winner then. Also, I will notify CFH of the winner, so check CFH's website for a complete list of winners. Thanks for playing and thank you for all the kind comments.

To continue in the blog hop, please head over to Bridget's blog and see what she's been crafting.

Bridget is a Stampin' Up demonstrator from Australia (HOLY MOLY - that's awesome!) and her cards are gorgeous! Bridget made two cards - one for a male, one for a female. How cool is that?

Cards for Heroes Blog Hop

2009-05-22T23:51:00.001-05:00

I will be participating in the Cards for Heroes Memorial Day Blog Hop tomorrow. Cards for Heroes is a wonderful organization that sends handmade cards to soldiers stationed overseas. Cardmakers donate blank cards that soldiers can send home to loved ones as well as notes of gratitude for the soldiers themselves. CFH began in 2007 and has sent 140,875 to date.

Crafters across the world will be making cards for tomorrow's blog hop. Here's how it will work:

Go to http://cardsforheroes.org/bloghop/ tomorrow around noon Pacific time (2 p.m. CST).
Click on the Bloghop Button to go to the first blog.
Each blog will feature a handmade card that will be going to CFH along with a link to another blog.
Be sure to post a comment because there are some awesome prizes from CFH Blog Hop sponsors. Also, some of the bloggers will have their own prizes, too.
After posting a comment, click on the link to "hop" to the next blog. Keep going until you are returned back to the CFH Blog Hop page.

If you have any time this weekend, please participate in this blog hop. This is a great organization with a wonderful purpose - showing support to our troops.

Click here to learn more about Card for Heroes.

P.S. In case you are wondering, not only am I making a card but I will also have a small giveaway for commenters. Hint, hint!

Anniversary purchases from 2Peas and more

2009-05-06T22:03:00.002-05:00

This year my husband and I will be celebrating our second anniversary. I know that most couples get things such as jewelry, etc. for anniversary gifts, but Jason and I are a little nonconformist. We are definitely an nontraditional couple. Since we are both huge hobby enthusiasts, we get stuff that could support those hobbies.

Case in point: Last year's Valentine's Day present was not jewelry. It was not roses. It was not chocolate. It was a wooden stool plus fabric and foam to make a cushion. Boy, does that speak romance! (At least to me! I would rather have something like that than roses anyday!)

For our second anniversary, we decided to give each other money for our respective hobbies. My husband, an avid Magic the Gathering player (a card game involving strategy and a lot of nerdy stuff that if you sat down and talked to a magic player would literally blow your mind away with how in depth this game really is; think yu-gi-o, but way more involved and for grown ups), is using his money to buy cards. I think I've literally bored you to death. (Just kidding, hubby. No wait, I'm serious.)

I, on the other hand, love crafts. So I decided instead of purchasing one big product (such as the Zutter Bind-It-All that I got last year) I would get a bunch of smaller items. Plus, I stocked up on stuff such as ink, stamp, and adhesive...items that I could use over and over again.

Since I haven't posted a Friday Finds in a while, I thought I'd share my latest purchase. The stamps were on sale 30% and the flowers were free after I used a coupon.

*TIP: I highly recommend signing up for the Two Peas and Scrapbook.com newsletters as there are always monthly coupons. Also, if you love Studio Calico and already subscribe to their main kit, you can purchase add-on kits AND any other supplies that they sell, and all items will ship for free with the main kit. Pretty cool.

Layouts from NSD Weekend

2009-05-04T22:45:00.002-05:00

In honor of National Scrapbooking Day (May 2), I spent my weekend scrapbooking. It was exhilarating. I haven't scrapbooked in quite some time. In fact, the last time I scrapbooked was to work on a baby album for my sister. Besides that, it has been two months since I scrapbooked for me. Unbelievable!

Side note: I go through craft cycles a lot. Sometimes I spend a lot of time scrapping. Other times it might be sewing, cross-stitching, embroidery, cooking, etc. Just depends on my mood.

I participated in two NSD online crops: Two Peas in a Bucket and Studio Calico. I absolutely love Two Peas! There is a great online community there with tons of free classes. Plus, they carry nearly every product I want. Not quite all, but not bad. I try to support my LSS (local scrapbook store), but let's face it - sometimes they don't have what I want, and sometimes they are too expensive! Did you know that Two Peas always has something on sale? Plus, if you save up and have $50 or more to spend, you can use the free shipping code that is in their newsletter.

The other online crop I participated in was Studio Calico. I subscribe to their monthly kits, and let me tell you - I LOVE THEM! Exactly my style! The prices are reasonable and the kits have the coolest looking papers and supplies. Plus they always come with an acrylic stamp designed by Studio Calico. There's a vintage eclectic feel to their stuff. If you haven't checked it out, I urge to you take a look. You'll be tempted, trust me!
Here's what I did this weekend (I'll try to link to as many products as I can):

Supplies used: Yellow patterned paper, Pink paper, Aqua paper, Gray patterned paper, Orange patterned paper (American Crafts); Aqua fabric letter stickers (American Crafts); Rockabye foam letter stickers (American Crafts); Vinyl letter stickers (American Crafts); Buttons (American Crafts); Pen (Faber-Castell); Paper flower (Sassafras Lass); Pop up dots (EK Success)

Supplies used: Cardstock (American Crafts); Patterned paper (Prima Marketing); Rockabye foam letter stickers (American Crafts); Buttons; Thread

Supplies used: Cardstock (American Crafts); Patterned paper (Making Memories); Word stickers (Making Memories); Chipboard flowers (Maya Road); Buttons; Paint (Making Memories); Corner rounder punch (EK Success); Scalloped rotary blade (Martha Stewart), Pop up dots (EK Success)

Supplies used: Cardstock (American Crafts); Pink and orange double-sided patterned paper (American Crafts); Vinyl letter stickers (American Crafts); Ribbon (American Crafts); Thread; Scalloped rotary blade (Martha Stewart); Corner rounder punch (EK Success)

Supplies used: Cardstock (American Crafts); Patterned paper (Cosmo Cricket); Rockabye foam letter stickers (American Crafts); Ribbon (Martha Stewart)

Supplies used: Patterned paper (Pink Paislee); Aqua fabric letter stickers (American Crafts); Cardstock (Die Cuts with a View); Paper flowers (Sassafras Lass); Pearl flowers (Jenni Bowlin); Fabric squares; Thread; Pop up dots (EK Success)

*Inspired by an Elizabeth Dillow layout in the May issue of Simple Scrapbooks*
Supplies used: Patterned paper (Martha Stewart); Patterned vellum (Martha Stewart); Cardstock (Michaels); Quote stickers (Martha Stewart); Pen (American Crafts); Chipboard letter stickers (Heidi Swapp); White ink (Memories), Vellum adhesive (3L Scrapbooking)

Inspired by Jennifer Johner's layout here.
Supplies used: Cardstock (Bazzil); Pink patterned paper (Making Memories); Green patterned paper (Studio Calico); Floral rub-on (Creative Imaginations); Chipboard butterflies (Heidi Swapp); Chipboard flowers (Maya Road); Glitter (Martha Stewart); Eyelets (Makng Memories); Instant setter (Making Memories); Chipboard letter stickers (American Crafts); Fabric letter stickers (American Crafts); Scallop border rotary blade (Martha Stewart); Black ink (Memories); Pen (American Crafts)

Supplies used: Kraft cardstock (Studio Calico); Animal and crossword patterned paper (Sassafras Lass); Green and red patterned paper (Studio Calico); Graph paper (Studio Calico); Die cut arrow (Scenic Route); Clear star (Maya Road); Yellow snaps (Making Memories); Yellow ribbon on stars (American Crafts); Chipboard stars (Scenic Route); Gel Medium (Liquitex); Aqua fabric letter stickers (American Crafts); Paper piercer (Timeless Touches); Aqua cardstock (DCWV); White pen (Sakura); Pop up dots (EK Success); Yellow thread

Supplies used: Kraft cardstock (Studio Calico); Patterned paper (Studio Calico); Fabric chipboard elements (American Crafts); Ledger journaling spot (Jenni Bowlin); Rockabye foam letter stickers (American Crafts); Brown marker (American Crafts); Thread

Friday Finds: Gardening Edition

2009-04-17T16:42:00.001-05:00

My husband and I are working on a raised vegetable garden bed this weekend, so I thought that would be a fitting theme for this Friday Finds.

Friday Finds: Easter Crafts

2009-04-10T20:16:00.001-05:00

After a brief hiatus due to a very crazy schedule and being sick, Friday Finds is back. This week I focus on some great Easter crafts worth trying. Plus all of the finds posted this week are free! Please be sure to leave the original author a comment if you like their tutorial!

Of course no Easter crafting is complete without a little Martha Stewart. For an added bonus, here's my favorite Easter finds happening on the Martha Stewart website.

what i've been crafting lately

2009-03-18T19:53:00.001-05:00

Besides the fact that I'm having some sinus issues and fluid in my ears (resulting in some dizziness and medicine that makes me extremely groggy), I have been enjoying my Spring Break. There are probably a million things I could be doing around the house, but I'd rather spend my time crafting. Okay, so I'm balancing both - don't worry, I'm not avoiding my responsibilities. But, hey, this is Spring Break. I'm supposed to be enjoying it, right?

Here are two of several projects I've done this week:

While surfing the web, I found a great idea by Keri Smith. She listed a post of 100 ideas to try to boost your creativity. I wanted to document my interpretation of these ideas, so I created an odd-shaped journal. Keri provides a PDF of all the ideas, which I downloaded and printed off. I then glued each idea on a separate page. Something neat for when I'm in a creative stump.

Another thing I've been working on is a new cover for my Bible. Before I went on summer missions to Virginia in 2002, I bought myself a New Living Translation Bible. I loved it! First, the translation was beautiful. Second, the Bible was tiny, so it could easily fit in my purse or backpack. Since then, this particular Bible has been with me all over the U.S. and to Russia. I couldn't part with it even though it was becoming worn.

For my birthday two years ago, Jason bought me a new Bible. Oh it was fine, but I felt odd setting my little friend aside. Granted, the Bible is the Bible. The words do not change. But, have you ever read a book before, fell in love with it, and no other printing of it compares to your dog-eared copy that you grew to love?

I also feel this way about my Chronicles of Narnia books that my mother bought for me from a Scholastic Book Club when I was in 2nd grade. This was long before Narnia ever became a movie. In fact, this was so long ago that the books were numbered according to the time they were published. So, the first book was the not the first book chronologically, but the first book C.S. Lewis published in the series. And, that's how I read the entire series. Completely out of chronological order, but in the order the author intended. I couldn't imagine reading it any other way. Alas, those books became worn over time (and I lent one of them to an ex-boyfriend who wasn't an ex at the time, but then we broke up and things were awkward...and needless to say, I lost the book). I considered replacing them, but couldn't bring myself to do it. I did manage to find a used copy online that looks exactly like the others.

All of this to say...that's how much THIS copy means to me. And, it's been sitting in my project pile waiting for a chance to be used again.

You just don't know how much this excites me. Seriously. I completely understand the line in You've Got Mail where Meg Ryan smiles joyously about "bouquets of freshly sharpened pencils."

Using my photo

2009-03-18T13:16:00.002-05:00

Duncan Riley posted an article on PABA Media and used my pic of Darth Vader to illustrate how Telstra could be choking the life out of your business. Don't know much about the details, but it is a cool way to illustrate *choking* something.

Trachelle Newman wrote an article on her blog about women creating, and used a mosaic I made of my favorite craft spaces.

"Hi Abigail" Layout

2009-03-15T22:13:00.001-05:00

Using my March '09 Studio Calico kit, I created a page about my new niece, Abigail.

Supplies used: Cardstock (Bazzil); Patterned Paper (Cosmo Cricket); Fabric embellishments, Foam letters, Chipboard letters, Marker (American Crafts); Journaling card (Jenni Bowlin); Flower; Button; Ribbon

Inside the Craft Studio

2009-03-14T02:53:00.001-05:00

Here's my happy place, the place I often retreat to after a long, hard day. I spent last week cleaning and organizing, so it's a very calming and enjoyable place now. I really work much better in an organized space.

The studio serves as both an office and a craft space. The table in the middle was a birthday present from my wonderful husband who snuck over to my dad's house and MADE THIS! I was completely surprised! It still needs to be painted and stained (to match the computer desk). Jason made it high enough so I could stand as I work (which I often like to do). But when I'm tired, I can sit on the stool (another gift I received on Valentine's Day - my man really knows how to win me over!).

When I was in college I complained to my Dad that I was very tired of the cheap, plastic shelving that was sagging under my wealth of books. So, his response was to make me a cabinet out of oak. I am truly blessed to be surrounded by such giving and talented men! Since we have a piano in our dining room, this beauty became part of the craft room. And, yes, it is extremely difficult to move since it is so heavy. The glass cabinet in the center holds my panda collection. The baskets hold various crafting supplies. On top of this (which by the way has always been called the "mini-shrunk" since it resembles a shrunk my parents had) is my collection of various souvenirs and maps.

This is a set of six cubbies from Target that were a Christmas gift. I absolutely love this. For around $120 I got a great looking (and adaptable) storage unit. Right now I use one side to store my cardstock by color. The other side has embellishments sorted by themes (Christmas, birthday, baby, love, etc.). I need to get some trays or plastic containers for it, though. The center cubes hold various supplies. Three of the drawers are dedicated to my three favorite brands (American Crafts, Making Memories, and Heidi Swapp). I like to keep those alphabet stickers and embellishments separate since I use them often. Another drawer houses all of my letter stickers. The remaining four drawers house my wooden and foam stamps.

Here's the corner of the office by the computer desk. (No that's not where I normally store my trash can. I was just lazy and didn't bother to put it back for the picture.) The white metal rolling cart holds inexpensive white tubs from Target. Inside the tubs are cardstock and patterned paper scraps. I have cardstock in 8.5x11, 8x8, and 4x6. I cut my patterened paper and cardstock scraps down to 4.5x5.5 which is the perfect size for the front of a standard sized card. This really has helped me cut down on the amount of scraps that pile up and never get used.

Also, you can see that I have clipboards hanging on the wall. I'll explain those in more detail next.

I really love to be organized. I have so many ideas, schedules, and lists running through my head that needed to be organized. But, I'm also a very visual person and preferred to have things out in the open so I can remember them. This is the perfect solution for me. I bought some inexpensive clipboards from the local store (I think these cost my $0.97 a piece) and used gel medium to adhere maps. I love maps and have them throughout my studio, so using maps was the perfect thing. Now I have a cute and organized way to see exactly what I'm working on and what's coming up.

To the right of the door (left if you are walking in) is my inspiration boards and closet. The inspiration boards are chocolate brown corduroy bulletin boards I picked up on clearance at Target. Underneath the boards is a small table holding current craft projects.

I absolutely love the closet! The previous owners (actually two owners ago) added some extra shelves for their child's closet. We improved upon that and added one more to make five shelves. The shelves can easily be removed if we ever sell the house (we also kept the clothing rod). Originally the closet had sliding doors that made it very difficult to reach everything in the closet. So, I decided to remove the doors. I hated the closet before, but now I love it. Everything is accessible and in plain sight. I tend to use my supplies when I can see them. We saved the doors, of course. They're in the storage room. The closet holds my fabric, felt, gift bags and wrapping paper, office supplies, patterned paper, craft books, etsy items, chipboard, vintage books for mixed media projects, small embellishments, acrylic paints, canvases, and mini albums waiting to be transformed.

In the opposite corner of the room I have a bunch of my favorite things. My thread spools are on the wall, as well as a Pottery Barn organizer that I got on clearance for $15. I use that to house future projects. I have two more on the other side of the cabinet. I also ashamedly stuck my mba diploma on a folding dinner table that holds my cricut machine. I really couldn't think of anywhere to put it when I earned it, and it's kind of stuck there now. Collecting dust. Which is exactly what that degree is doing in real life since I'm not using it at the moment. :)

I'm extremely proud of this. I found this wicker shelf unit in my laundry room when I bought the house. I couldn't think of anything to do with it and was going to donate it. But then Making Memories came out with their embellishment storage center. Which I loved, but couldn't afford. A-ha! Lightbulb moment. So, I cleaned the shelves and stuck it on my cabinet. It now holds my lovely paints, glitters, and buttons.

The side of my table houses all of my ribbons. One side (not pictured) has jars full of little ribbon bits sorted by color. That's the ribbon that is too short to go around ribbon cards, but long enough to use on small projects. This side has my ribbon spools and other ribbon. Longer bits of ribbon that isn't on a spool is wrapped around ribbon cards from Cropper Hopper. And, yes, they are sorted by color. The cards are stored on large binder rings hooked to dowel rods.

The ribbon spools was my most recent project. I tried storing the spools on dowel rods but found that if I made the rods long enough to fit in the pre-drilled holes, I ended up scraping the sides each time I took the rod off. Which I would have to do when I used up a ribbon or added more. Not a big deal now, but once the table is painted I would end up with a scrape. Not cool.

Fortunately I had bought some curtain rods a while back that I had been meaning to return to the store. Never got around to it, but that's okay because I found a way to use them here. Now, these rods hook onto metal plates that are screwed into the wall. So, they lay flat. That wasn't going to work for me, however, because I didn't want to screw the plate into the back of the desk. I wanted it on the sides. Because I'm thrifty, and pretty determined, I found a way to make it work. I simply got my pliers out and bent the piece that sticks out (that you put the rod on) out a little, so that I could still use the rod. That explanation probably makes no sense, so I'll try and post a tutorial on that. Anyway, to put it in simple terms - it worked and I now have a great storage space for ribbon spools.

This side also houses a basket for my sewing machine supplies (such as extra needles, cords) and my drawing supplies.

Here's more pics from around the studio:

1. Paint, 2. Art, 3. Ribbon-03, 4. Glitter-02, 5. Souvenier-03, 6. Souvenier, 7. Glitter, 8. Pincushion, 9. Ribbon-04, 10. Leather, 11. Buttons, 12. Thread, 13. Ribbon-02, 14. Pincushion-02, 15. ChessSet, 16. Souvenier-02

Friday Finds: St. Patrick's Day Edition

2009-03-13T21:56:00.001-05:00

With St. Patrick's Day just around the corner, I thought I'd show some luck-of-the-Irish Etsy finds.

1. I've seen a lot of stamped metal necklaces, and this lucky one by J.C. Jewelry Design is perfect for St. Patrick's Day. You can also order custom necklaces stamped with your children's names, husband's name, pet's name, or just about any 12-letter word you can think of.

2. Even Fido can get into the Irish mood with this awesome Celtic dog collar by Classic Hound.

3. I love the flower and feather headbands I've been seeing lately on J.Crew, Forever21, and Charlotte Russe. This get lucky headband from Miss Ruby Sue is pure loveliness (and the fact that it is on sale adds to its charm).

4. I used to never wear rings, but now lately I've enjoyed a little splash of color and personality on my fingers from nail polish to rings. This lime and emerald green cocktail ring from Bella Lilli is definitely full of personality.

5. I have always loved to wear flowers in my hair and did so frequently in college. If you don't believe me, check out my Easter photos. Handmade dresses + flowers in hair = pure goodness. Of course, I LOVE this green flower clip by Mandizzle. Plus the hair-do is pretty cool.

6. You can't mention St. Patrick's Day without mentioning a shamrock. This shamrock necklace from Notions by Nicole is the epitome of St. Patrick's Day.

7. This whimsical emerald gardenia necklace from Bionic Unicorn is neat but the price isn't. Still, it's beautiful to admire.

8. This hand-carved four-leaf clover stamp from Whimsy by Jess is divine. Her other stamps are simply divine. I'm supposed to learn how to carve my own stamps in the RVA online class I'm taking. Can't wait.

9. I can't devote an entire Friday Finds to St. Patrick's Day without an ode to the rainbow (and the ultimate quest for the pot of gold at the end of one). This rainbow necklace by Minty Fresh Fusions is too cute!

Friday Finds: Baby Edition

2009-03-06T23:07:00.002-06:00

Sorry, this post is a little late. But, hey, it's still Friday, right? So, in honor of my new niece, Abigail, this week's Friday Finds will be full of stuff for baby.

1. This baby rattle / teething ring from mimishop is absolutely adorable. I love the simple, clean, and modern design. Mimishop has some other really cool stuff. I bought Amelia and Abigail a neat and beautiful owl with a music box sewn in that Amelia can hang from the crib.

2. I love Amy Butler and am definitely putting her newest book Little Stitches for Little Ones on my wish list.

3. Paper Source has some of the coolest stuff, and this handmade Little Lion baby book is no exception.

4. This hat from Heirloom Impressions is the CUTEST!!! Pandas are my favorite animals, so you can see why I love this!

5. For anyone interested in making their own bibs (for their own babies or as a gift), Precious Patterns has bib patterns that you can purchase for very little.

6. B is for Baby: 26 Projects from A to Z by Suzonne Stirling is one of my favorite all around baby craft books. Suzonne has cute projects for, you guessed it, each letter of the alphabet. I'll be posting a review later.

7. October Afternoon is a wonderful scrapbooking manufacturer with wonderful, vintage-looking papers. Their Ducks in a Row line for baby pages is the cutest.

8. In honor of my younger sister, Nikki, I have to post this adorable piggy pacifier clip by Fawn and Finch. (Nikki loves pigs.)

9. I made Amelia a little journal to "scrapbook" her pregnancy journey. The best journal I found was Waiting for Baby by Tracey Clark. I loved the in depth questions; plus there was plenty of space for photos.

Friday Finds: Feb. 28th Edition

2009-02-27T17:00:00.001-06:00

1. These felt beads from Piril make me really happy. I have no clue what all you could use them for, but they really look pretty sitting on the table.

2. Every girl has to have a hoodie, but you don't have to look like a boy wearing one. This hoodie definitely has a prep girl look to it. Love it.

3. Love the colors on these Anna Maria Horner Good Folks fat quarters found in Down Shadow Lane's shop. This particular bundle has already sold, but the shop has plenty more pretties.

4. This necklace from Sylwia Calcus Design is just plain GORGEOUS! Too bad it sold out, though I couldn't afford the hefty price tag anyway.

5. I absolutely LOVE these felt quotes from Evalicious. She also has the cutest St. Patrick's Day bubbles and some awesome buttons using dictionary pages.

6. I don't have a ton of clothes, but I do have a ton of accessories. Shoes, necklaces, earrings, and of course purses. I read an article once about organizing your purse since you use it everyday, but I don't bother because I'm constantly pulling my main staples from one purse and putting them in another purse that goes with my outfit. I love this clutch from Boden, though the hefty price tag will prevent me from purchasing it.

7. Christoph Niemann's rendition of New York using legos is hilarious.

8. Okay, I about fell out of my seat when I saw this. I told my husband, an avid hunter, no deer in the house. But this one? It's adorable! I think I could live with Dorm Decor's deer made out of foam.

9. What a beautiful sight! Believe it or not, this is a miniature Lisbon photographed by Ricardo Monteiro. Check out his other cities.

Wonderfully Complex

Etsy Treasury: Romatic Bliss

Our Family Motto for 2012

Garland Love

Color: Garden Tones

A Christmas Tree for Baby H

Hello, Dolly!

Weekend Link Love: February 26, 2011

Baby Update: 33 weeks

Nursery Ideas

Places to get Great Fonts

My Favorite Digital Scrapbooking Sites

Writing #reverb10

One Word Reflection #reverb10

Weekend Link Love: October 15, 2010

Weekend Link Love: October 9, 2010

Weekend Link Love: October 2, 2010

Enjoying Autumn

Baby Bump Update

MIA Blogger

Favorite Scrapbooking Sites

My Favorite Cardmaking Sites

Birthday Wish List

More Kawaii Goodies

Kawaii Goodies

Fresh Fridays: Make Your Own Fabric Patterned Paper

Illustration Friday: Ripple

Engagement Shoot {Mississippi Wedding Photographer}

Illustration Friday: Trail

Fresh Fridays: Birthday Wishes card using the Silhouette sketch feature

Illustration Friday: Slither

OWH Blog Hop Winner

OWH Blog Hop (and a giveaway!)

Artist spotlight: Danita

Growing Cilantro Digital Layout @ Pen Scrappers

New shapes for the Silhouette

Inside my art journal

How to use {ippity} stamps

Now selling {ippity} stamps

Utilizing local sales papers and coupons

Honeymoon Slippers LO

Happy*Loves 03.11.10

Penscrappers Layout: 10 Things

Playing with the Pen Tablet + a freebie

Cards 4 Kids Drive

Valentine's Day Tag No. 1

Happy * Loves 01.29.10

Shop Review: The Button Shop

Hand Stamped with Flowers Card

Etsy Shop Update

Happy * Loves 01.22.10

Happy * Loves 01.15.10

Let's Mist, Baby!

My New Toy

Happy Loves 01.07.10

More Petit Dolls

Happy * Loves 12.31.09

Use your stash: *Thinking of You* card

CPS Sketch #121

Card Patterns Sketch #20

Etsy Shop Update: 6/19

*The Real Me* layout for PageMaps challenge

The Big 5-0!

CFH Blog Hop Winner + New Cards

CFH Blog Hop: *USA* Card

Cards for Heroes Blog Hop

Anniversary purchases from 2Peas and more

Layouts from NSD Weekend

Friday Finds: Gardening Edition

Friday Finds: Easter Crafts

what i've been crafting lately

Using my photo

"Hi Abigail" Layout

Inside the Craft Studio

Friday Finds: St. Patrick's Day Edition

Friday Finds: Baby Edition

Friday Finds: Feb. 28th Edition

Use your stash: Thinking of You card

The Real Me layout for PageMaps challenge

CFH Blog Hop: USA Card