Not Letting Go...

Not letting go of Christmas that is...even though it's in the mid-60's here in Colorado today.  Oh my!  Today's layout featured our handmade Christmas cards from this year.  It's the first year I actually had the time and the motivation to make all 90 of the Christmas cards that we send to family and friends.  And can I tell you I have fallen in love with this red-aqua blue color combination (what took me so long I don't know). 

 

Supplies used: Alpha stickers - Thickers; Border - K & Co.; Brads - Bo Bunny; Cardstock - Echo Park Paper Co.; Die cuts - Silhouette Cameo; Ink - Colorbox Chalk Ink (Charcoal); Journaling block - Echo Park Paper Co.; Patterned paper - Echo Park Paper Co. and My Mind's Eye; Pen - Pentel EnerGel; Stickers - Echo Park Paper Co.;  Tag - Elle's Studio and Michael's; Transparency - Making memories; Washi tape - My Mind's Eye

The journaling is tucked in behind the actual card as seen here.

 

This might be that last of the Christmas layouts...but I wouldn't count on it.  Don't worry I still have a Valentine's project to share with you soon too.

 

Go With the Flow

I am so loving this creative flow that I'm having right now.  Keep it coming!!!  I've got another layout to share with you all today.  It's more Christmas...I guess now that all the decorations are packed up and put away, I'm more in the mood to see reds and greens on my craft table.

 

Supplies used:  Buttons (trees, bells and snowflakes) - Michael's; Cardstock - Bazzill Basics and Neenah Desert Storm; Die Cuts - Silhouette Cameo; Doilies - craft supplies; Embossing powder - Zing;Ink - Memento and Ranger Perfect Medium Pens; Patterned paper - Echo Park Paper Co.; Pens - Bic MarkIts; Rubber Stamp - Michael's; Stickers - Echo Park Paper Co., Jillibean Soup and October Afternoon; Twine - Martha Stewart Crafts Washi tape - My Mind's Eye;

 

I had two Santa elements and needed a third to balance my layout when I remember the cute Santa stamp I had from Michael's a few years back.  The boys and I originally used them to make Shrinky Dink miniature ornaments that they attached to their Christmas thank you cards.  He was perfect.  I used my Bic MarkIts to color him in and I have found that they actually blend pretty well to create a shading effect (similar to that of Copics)...you just have to work at it a bit more.  I used my Ranger Perfect Medium pen to color in his beard and then added white embossing powder to give it a little "fluff" and I did the same with Santa's belt and boots using super fine clear embossing powder to make them look shiny.  I probably spent the most time coloring in that little Santa element up in the top left but I love coloring, it's so relaxing.

 

I have more crafty projects in the works that I can't wait to share with you soon.  Table decor for an upcoming baby shower as well as a Valentine's day wreath to help decorate our home.  They are all a work in progress right now but I promise to share once I finish them up.

 

Our boys are off from school tomorrow and Monday and one is battling a sore throat so he's actually been home with me for the last couple of days.  I'm enjoying the extra cuddle time with him and sure hope he feels better soon.  Have a fun-filled and blessed weekend.

Getting Back in the Swing

It's almost inevitable that I tend to scrap more at the beginning half of the year.  I always start out with the best of intentions (getting to at least one layout a week is my goal) but then the busy-ness and other tasks of everyday life seem to sneak in and push out that crafty time I've carved out for myself.  Well, it's the beginning again and hopefully I will do better this year but I'm not counting on it.  Kids activities and running a household as well as my work outside of the home take priority.  After all, these years of being a stay-at-home mom are about service to others more than they are about service to self and so scrappy time gets relegated to the bottom of the list more often than not.  Nonetheless, I will continue to share what I create in hopes that it inspires someone, somewhere...

 

Here is my latest layout.

 



Supplies used:  Alphabet stickers - Lilybee Design and Thickers; Border punch - Fiskars; Brads - Basic Grey, My Mind's Eye and Sassafras; Cardstock - Neenah Desert Storm; Ink - Distress Ink in Frayed Burlap, Versafine in Onyx Black and Zig Writer Pen in black; Patterned paper - Graphic 45, Pebbles Inc., October Afternoon and We R Memory Keepers; Stamps - Studio AE by Technique Tuesday; Stickers - Crate Paper, Jillibean Soup and October Afternoon 

I have been holding on to that Graphic 45 yellow and black polka dot paper for the longest time and I'm so glad I did...it's the perfect match to the beautiful fall aspen leaves.

 

Off to work on more inspiration...





Wishing Wellness, Cheer and a Fresh Start in the New Year

It's been a busy holiday season as we approach the new year.  My sister-in-law had surgery that then had complications and another hospital visit.  I made this card to help cheer her up upon her return home.  Thank goodness my mom was able to be there to help out with my lovely nieces and just the general upkeep of running a home...I know my brother and his wife were so appreciative.

 

Supplies used: Brad - My Mind's Eye; Die cuts - Silhouette Cameo; Patterned paper - My Mind's Eye and October Afternoon; Pen - Bic Mark It

 

One of my Christmas gifts was the My Mind's Eye All is Bright collection pack.  I had actually used some of the washi tape on our family Christmas cards this year and just fell in love with the whole collection.  Naturally, I had to carve out a little time to use my new supplies.  This is what I came up with.

 

Supplies used: Cardstock - Bazzill; Die cuts - Silhouette Cameo SVG Cuts and Making Memories; Patterned paper - Echo Park Paper Co. and My Mind's Eye; Stickers - Echo Park Paper Co., Jillibean Soup and My Mind's Eye; Tiny Attacher by Tim Holtz; Washi tape - My Mind's Eye



I love how well the Echo Park Paper Co. mixed with the My Mind's Eye.  The holly flourish die cut was a freebie from SVGCuts and I loved pulling it all together even though it is labor intensive to cut out and then assemble it all...it's so worth it!

 

Lastly I finally got up the courage to do a vinyl wall sticker for our son's room.  I saw this quote on a plaque while shopping one day and loved it.  It took me a bit to get it cut out and up on his wall - not a hard process, just a little time consuming (but then again, that may be because I'm a total perfectionist).

The football and baseball player are actually metal sculptures from Hobby Lobby.  I stumbled across those on accident and our son loves them.

 

As we head into 2013, I wish the best for you and yours.  May you be blessed!

From Our House to Yours...

May you be blessed as you celebrate our Saviors birth.

 

Hopping Holidays

I've been hopping through the holiday preparations around here.  The house is mostly decorated and the tree is partially up (I started to put it up today but the lights didn't all come on so that's a huge process of going through each bulb and trying to figure out what's going on).  I'm tempted to cut off all the lights and buy some new LED lights to re-string the tree.  Our Christmas cards are made, the annual letter is written and they are all in the mail on their way to our dear family and friends.  Here's how they turned out.

 

 

I must say I love my Silhouette Cameo for big projects like this...it made the creation of 80+ cards so much easier.

 

I was also recruited to make the place cards for the husband's office holiday party.  Here's a sampling of how those turned out.

 

Simple and easy - but just enough holiday pizazz to get you in a festive mood.

 

 

Lastly, here's a sweet card for my sister-in-law who just celebrated her birthday.

 

I wish I had some layouts to share but that hasn't been happening lately.  I miss it and really want to get back to it.  I have to carve out some time and make it happen!  I hope all of your holiday preparations aren't wearing you out.

All Things Crafty

Things sure are bustling around our household.  I've been busy doing crafty things but not necessarily paper crafting.  I've been turning these lovely tomatillos from our garden into salsa and just canning them as is for future chicken tomatillo stew in the cold winter months.

 

 

 

 

I've been busy at my sewing machine making costumes for my two ninjas.

 

I also made a super cute skirt that I plan to wear out Friday night with my new boots.

 

 

And then I enlisted my amazingly handy husband to finish off the wood floors in our foyer.  I was able to help tear our the old flooring but the new floor had some pretty crazy angles for him to deal with so I was better off staying out of the way.

 

 

He does amazing work!

 

On top of that I'm working on our Christmas cards already (all 120 of them).  Oh my!  I'll share those once they get sent out.

 

So yep...plenty of crafty-ness happening around here and I am so thankful that I am able and can do what I do.