Zoe's first birthday

I can't seem to get enough of Pebbles Hip Hip Hooray line.  I have done at least 3 layouts and I'm working on #4.  I've never done that before - normally i buy enough for one page and I'm spent and move on.  Not this line...this I have purchase at least two more times since it came in my Studio Calico kit. 

I took a small doily and used Cameo for the misting/masking magic :)  I also used a little of the most awesome glitter paper ever!  POW from American Crafts is stunning and they come in about 10 colors (I hope they come out with more since I'm now addicted).  I also used the smash date stamp (my dear lizzy one is on order - whoo hoo!) and washi tape from A Muse Studio. 

This is a happy and sad layout for me.  I'm so excited to watch her grow I think I just wish it was a little slower.  Maybe it's because shes the baby - the last one.  My 3 year old on the other hand is showing me that two is a cake walk... ;)
xoxo
-M

"Do You Realize?"

I was listening to XM radio the other day and Flaming Lips came on with their song "Do you realize?".  I've always loved that song but I was in the middle of scrap-lifting this awesome layout that I found over at Studio Calico when it just hit me.  As soon as I got home I took all the butterflies that I had die cut (A Muse Studio butterfly trio) out and redesigned my entire layout.  I knew I wanted a tone on tone look but instead of it looking like Kinsey's page called Dylan (Take Note) see- Kinsey's work @ Studio Calico  (which don't get me wrong - I LOVE. LOVE, LOVE this layout) to the one you see above.  I never do double pages but and defiantly not 8.5 x 11 but that size seems to be my thing lately and I thought these lyrics just looked better on two pages.  I used Stepping Stone which is a alphabet set from Studio Calico (in both the lined and solid fonts) as well as using their awesome wood veneer letters from a previous kit.  I pretty much have killed that alpha so I used what I could and left it plain.  I used chalk ink in raspberry pie and dark bark.  I don't even know who makes them but they are little ink pads of loveliness.  To finish it off I took brads from My Minds Eye from the _ collection and 7 Gypsies silver domes to break up all that craft.  I took this picture of my daughter Zoe when she was just 6 months and it's still one of my favorites to date.  Poor Holden has been a bit neglected in the scrapbooking world so I will have my next two layouts be all about him.  Until next time :)

CK sketch

 

creative keepsakes sketch 

I came across this sketch from either a post that CK did off of Twitter or Facebook.  I already had an idea with photos that I had been playing around with but was having issues coming up with a design.  I was pretty happy to see this sketch since I felt it fit fairly well.  

My little girl can be quite dramatic when she is told no and one day I picked up my 7s and was able to get her 4 stages of disbelief.  She kept trying to do something she wasn't supposed to which gave me plenty of opportunity to snap whatever I needed.  This is what I came up with. 

  I used a good amount of Crate Paper Valentine line, A Muse Studio cloud dies (smaller gray clouds), Mister Huey mists in clay and white, two different types of letters both from Studio Calico and then I drew out the umbrella and larger clouds.  I wanted to watercolor because I love how the colors blend but still look like it was just left out in the rain.  I hand wrote the 4 steps and took that title from a Los Campesinos! song.  I just thought it was so fitting and it's a good song.  Oh and that wood-grain circle that is on the first page is the stickers Studio Calico uses to seal our kits.  I just love those stickers - I save them every time :)

I lovea this layout - finally!

I mixed both collections for my next two layouts.  Along with the primary kit - Daydream Believer - I also got the add on paper which was chock full of the brand new lines from Dear Lizzy Neapolitan and Pebbles Hip Hip Horary!  I like to switch up my sizes so I went with 8.5 x 11.  I also tossed in some washi tape from a past SC kit, SC wood veneers, smash date stamp, American Crafts and Authentique letter stickers, pink stickles for the little heart and Prima's raspberry pie ink on the top and bottom.  I took a paint brush and watercolored the ink to give it a softer look plus added a little here and there to tie it all in.  I love to watercolor but I also love to use ink as my medium.

The title says "I lovea us".  The lovea comes from our 3 year old son who tells my husband (who is away a good bit) that he lovea him when talking to him on the phone.  For some reason he adds letters to certain words and poof now you have an inside joke that's extremely cute and a must to document.  The picture was taken on a lunch date in Frederick, MD.  They have the best stores and this hat that my very silly husband is wearing was taken because we have a dear friend who just LOVES monkeys :) I love how silly and stupid we are. 

My DD title page

Originally I had the 25 on chipboard but then cut it down to fit the original binder that was part of the kit.  I loved the look of Ali's cover and wanted to do something similar so I got a thing of white flock and went to town.  I ended up flocking it over and over again because it just wasn't coming out how I had it in my head and then I started to lose the coolness of this font so I whipped out the white paint and outlined the numbers.  It still wasn't looking exactly the way I wanted it which lead me to the icicle stickles.  This is when I really switched gears to do the 12x12 PL and now my chipboard was only 6x8.  I decided to grab the holly berry spray and a white piece of Bazzill.  I also grabbed my washi sliver tape from A Muse Studio's, some glitter glass by Melissa Frances and you can't do Ali's DD without her awesome Technique Tuesday December stamps (I highly suggest becoming a member)

Once I finish any project I put it up on my mantel and take a step back.  When I did this for this page I realized I was PL was the perfect fit for me and that I'm on the right track!  Stay tuned for 25 more layouts :)   

December is a busy month & Moxie Fab World's Championing Award Medallions Challenge

Hi everyone,
December is setting out to be one crazy month!  And I'm not talking the regular shopping, decorating, baking etc etc crazy.  I'm talking about taking on WAY too many projects for one's sanity ;)  SO just what am I up too?  Well besides my A Muse Studio "business" (see my other blog @ http://www.itsallveryamusing.blogspot.com/) I have decided to do Tim Holtz's12 days of tags AND Ali Edwards' December Daily/25 days book.  I am also working on my home decor and just like the BOO for Halloween I've got a JOY for Christmas coming this way too.  Yes I know I'm nuts, but in a fun way I guess.  So without further ado... Here is my first tag in my TH "collection".  I will be adding this in with my 25 days so at least it goes hand in hand.  Since this little guy also has a rosette I am adding it to the Moxie Fab World  challenge just for fun.  Yes I know I said no more challenges but this just happened to fall within the challenge guidelines so why not toss my hat into the ring...

I wanted to something along the lines of sugar plum fairy and even though I find this a bit cutesy for me I think it came out pretty well.  All the stamps are from A Muse Studio, the tags (Tim Holtz) and the glass glitter (Melisa Frances) I purchased from Simon Says Stamp.  I used Versa Mark for the back ground stamps then took two of Tim's limited edition colors - Seedless Preserves (fall) and Festive Berries (winter) and swirled them on to each corner.  I then took antique linen and covered the entire tag to give it a more grunge look.  I then took my Martha Stewart scoring board (can't paper craft without this tool!) and made the rosette from MMBI Christmas kit paper pack.  I once I scored the 1.5 inch strip I balled it up then flattened it out, ran over it with more antique linen and then attempted to fold it.  There are some rips and a few parts that didn't want to fold up but that's just all part of the "look".  I grabbed my nesting circles from spellbinders for the center, gave that an antique linen treatment and then stamped in black my sentiment.  I stamped out our little ginger bread couple, cut them out and gave them some antique linen treatment.  To color them I used a white gel pen for the "icing" and my awesome copics for the buttons and eyes.  I also stamped out 3 gum drops, ran them through the seedless preserves and then used icicle stickles and glitter glass to give them the look of sugar.  Because I felt it needed more bling I used the same stickles and glitter around the circle.  Grabbed some ribbon out of my stash for the green bow and used A Muse Studios' twine (dragged that through antique linen as well - can you tell it's one of my favorite colors) for the ribbon on the top. 


Whew!  What a post!  I think that's the longest one I've done so far.  Well only 11 more to go as well as my DD (daily December) book and Joy decor to post.  It's going to be one crafty month!  I will do my best to post almost every day.  Thanks everyone :)

DeNami Sketch Challenge #10

Hi,

I only have a this challenge left for the rest of the year and then I'm taking a break from cardmaking to catch up on scrapbooking.  Don't worry I will still post my project-goodness :)  Anyway lets get down to business! 

Card 1:  First up I used the awesome apple basket stamp, colored it with my copics (I went with green because you don't see green apples as much).  Then I took my scallop border punch from EK and some gingham paper from A Muse Studios to create the stripe.  The sentiment is from Paper Smooches because I don't have any from DeNami...yet.  I then took my orange a bit further with Want2Scrap's rhinestone border and cut around because I don't have that SB die yet either.  I finished it off by inking the edges with two distress inks. 

Card 2:  This second one is MY FAVE!  This little kitty is probably one of my absolute favorites in my entire collection.  I made him a little black and white kitty and added a silver glitter pen to the ribbon and the sentiment.  I was having issues getting my camera to show that so maybe you can see it if you zoom in.  The white cardstock and bow are A Muse Studios and the 2 shades of green and pink are Bazzill.  The sentiment is from Lawn Fawn.  Enjoy! 

Lawnscaping Challenge #21 - Thank You

Good Morning all,

Here is a card I made for the 21st Lawnscaping Challenge.  The theme this time around is Thank you.  I used my favorite new bunny from Lawn Fawn and cut out his scarf in brown to give it a little dimension.  I then sprayed A Muse Stardust finishing spray (because I'm addicted to it!) to give it some shine :)  Since I had just received my new Tim Holtz winter distress inks I had to play with those.  I was bummed for missing out on the LS blog hop all about red so I thought I would do one anyway.  I took regular piece of paper and because I am not able to find the Christmas resist pack from TH just yet I used the Halloween one (i just chopped off Mr. Bones) rubbed the holly berries all over both, sprinkled water on the regular piece and let it dry. 

I then added some of Martha Stewart's tinsel glitter, added two clouds from LYB, ribbon by A Muse and the snowflake is from Making Memories.  The blue brad is from my stash and the brand is unknown.  The sentiment is something I printed off of Word. 

Due to all that shine and glitter parts of it seem hard to see (at least by my standards) but enjoy anyway :)

CR84FN Color Challenge

I'm tossing my cards into the ring - finally - for the CR84FN color challenge.  The 3 MAIN colors this time around are Black, Pale Pink and Neutral.

I ended up with two cards for this challenge.  I've been on their email list for a while and thought that it looked pretty easy.  I'm not sure if it was the colors this time around or it's just hard for me to use 3 colors with out an idea already in my head. 

I used Bazzill (sorry I don't know the color - there wasn't a sticker on the back like every other piece I have) for the back ground and the stripe.  Paper by A Muse Studio in Blush and Black.  The ribbon also by A Muse is in bubblegum polka dot.  The flower is from Prima and that inked whiteish paper that is behind the flower is actually a mini cupcake wrapper.  I inked it with black ink so it wasn't SO white.  Sentiment is also from A Muse stamped in black. 

The second one is done with all the same paper companies and colors.  Sentiment by A Muse Studio, pin is from Maya Road, ribbon in satin bubblegum also by A Muse.  The Sweet Ribbon stamp is for Basic Grey's Piccadilly You're the Best clear stamp collection made by Hero Arts.  I colored it all with copics, switched out the cherries for the strawberries and made the ribbon strips out of bubblegum gingham from A Muse.  I can't remember where I saw a version of this sketch probably paper smooches - if I found it then I will correct my post. 

Peanut Butter Jelly...

I started out by doing jelly and toast but then when I went looking for a heart I saw the sentiment and knew I had to kick the toast out and put the peanut butter in.  The two jars are from the new Paper Smooches Wake Up set.  The heart and sentiment are from the PS Falling for you.  The frame and the gingham background are from A Muse Studios (I used gingham to give it a picnic feel).  I colored everything with my awesome copic markers and the crystal pin is from Maya Road.  The brown twine is from Kim @ PS- she ties all her packages with this and I re-purposed it ;) I used a black brad from my stash, regular hemp twine to "hang" the picture and kraft paper from Michael's.   

Enjoy!

What time is it? It's breakfast time with Paper Smooches

About 15 years ago I purchased a watch from Bloomingdale's in the Tyson's Corner mall.  It was Joe Boxer - before the brand jumped the shark and ended up @ K-Mart...

I took inspiration from this watch that had no numbers only images of breakfast, lunch and a martini glass for dinner...

I still have this watch, I just never wear it, and can't imagine getting rid of it because for some reason I have an odd thing for food items...

I used spellbinder nesting circles for the watch face.  I made the arrows - the black, white and gingham papers are from A Muse Studios.  Then I stamped and cut out the egg and bacon after using my copics some color.  Added a little bling also from A Muse.  The brad in the middle is from my stash, back ground paper is from Bazzill and the watch winder...is the jam jar colored in silver that is also part of the PS wake up stamp set!   

I hope you enjoy my card...this is my FAVORITE set from PS (not that I don't love them all - how could you not).  Tomorrow I will have a PB&J card that just cracks me up!!!

Young Crafters Unite Blog Hop!

http://www.youngcraftersunite.com/

Hello Everyone, 

Welcome to the YCU blog hop.  This hops theme is masculine cards and who are the rockin sponsors for this November hop you ask... Why that would be Paper Smooches and Simon Says Stamp Check them out if you haven't already!  They are awesome sites.

If you started at the beginning then you should have just came from Katie K.

If not then go check her out - she has some beautiful work :)

Here is today's card...

Everything on this card is from A Muse Studios except the brad and the tie.  I stamped the tie from an A Muse stamp but used My Minds Eye Hattie 6x6 paper pad for the tie.  The brad is from my stash - sorry I don't know the brand.  The sentiment and shirt is from the set called brief notes.  The circle was cut out from my spellbinders nesting circles.

Thanks for checking out my card. 

Time to pass on the love to the next blogger Jenny M

She has some great stuff too.  

Thanks for hopping with us hope you every one's cards!  Have a wonderful day :)

**I am adding a small side note.  I couldn't remember where I saw the original sketch that gave me inspirations to do this card.  Since I wanted to give credit where it's due I went thought my stash of print outs and finally found it.  The original (similar but not exact) sketch that gave me inspiration to do this card was off of Paper Smooches.**

(More) Masculine Cards

As soon as I signed up for the blog hop from YCU I struggled to come up with a card - any card.  Something I guess clicked and I ended up making 5.  I could only pick one for the blog hop see the post above (unless you got here before 11/4/2011 @ 1:01am then you will have to come back to check out the one I picked). 

It was really hard to pick a favorite because each card had something that I really liked - I hope I made the right choice... On to the 4 that didn't get picked.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!! (HDH113 creation included)

Can you believe it's finally here.  I'm sad because tomorrow it will have come and gone...but it's always a little bit of Halloween in my craft room so I guess it's not all bad.  I will be very sad to take down my skull wreath.  I love that little guy...(see the older posts if you want to see what he looks like in all his glory)

Anywho I have been uber inky lately and have two more cards to share with you on this awesome October day!
I am also tossing my hat into the ring from the Haunted Design House challenge #HDH113 on the creation below...

So I LOVE Tim Holtz and used his Halloween paper for this.  It was one of the quad sheets that had 4 of the same image. I picked Mr. Bones here to be my spokesperson for this "hotel ad".  They have quite a few vacancy's if you know what I mean...  I used peeled paint distress ink in dauber form then splashed water to get the background.  The house with frame stamp is from Darcies.  I layered the dripping blood from rubber baby bumpers then sliced down Mr. Bone's arm and tucked it in after I used antique linen and gathered twigs distress ink pads. 
I then took a toothpick and rolled it around in fired brick to get that blood splatter look.  I found some old Martha Stewart bloody letters and used the V on white card stock, then followed with American Crafts in Edgar rub-ons.  I mounted the Vacancy sign onto A Muse Studio's wood grain paper in french toast and used a very large glue dot to hold it all in place.  Since this is an ad I spiffied it up by cutting a piece of orange garland and glued that to the bottom.  Added two red rhinestones for some glowing eyes and you have a fun travel destination! :) No bags needed where you're going...

OK everyone - I have never done anything with a digi image until now!  Drum roll please....

Check out this awesome image from Strange Skin!  LOVE THEM!  I purchased a bunch of digis to see what I could do with them since that seems to be the thing.  I still used it as a traditional item but printed it out on scrapbook paper and using my beloved Copic's to color.  I then cut out the tag, popped it up after stamping a sentiment from Darcies (same stamp set as the house) then distressed it with some antique linen and to top it off I used diamond and green stickels for the fly (he reminded me of those that fly around poop. How they are all green iridescent so I tried to recreate that).  The background paper is general kraft, black A Muse Studio and Basic Grey (erie collection).  To make the toe tag pop I used regular twine, dragged it through some distress ink and followed the drawing with the string and some clear glue.  

Enjoy!  Happy Halloween! 

It's never too late to go trick or treating :)

BOO!

I said I would be doing more Halloween decor and here it is.  I took wooden letters (I was going to do SPOOKY but I didn't have enough paper etc left for 5 letters so I went with 3.  Here's how I did it.


I took Making Memories paint (yes I know it's old but it's still a goodie in my book) in Black and Shopping
Bag.  I didn't want something so harsh as black so I mixed the two and painted the letters.


Once dry I traced the letters out of Basic Grey's Eerie collection and because I traced them they are going to be slightly bigger than the actual letters.


I sprayed some Auburn Tattered Angels for a little color and sparkle. I then added some of Tim Holtz's crackle paint in rock candy and picket fence.  Distressed it in Black Soot and Gathered Twigs, BG felt and glitter 3D stickers.  I scored a 2" strip to make the embellishment that is behind the skull and used thick chipboard in strips to connect the letters together.  I finished it off with some red flowers, black velvet ribbon and black/white twine. 

I will be posting some more Halloween cards soon.  :) 

A few more cards from Saturdays WCMD

**If you are hoping from OWH or Paper Crafts, please scroll down to see the two Christmas cards that are part of these hops**

Amazing paper by Simple Stories, all stamps are by A Muse Studio, corner punch and gems are from EK Success 

Paper and I love you sticker by Echo Park, stamp is by Unity, gems by EK Success

  

Paper is by Basic Grey, tea pot stamp is by too much fun, kitty stamp - unknown, colored with copic and embellished with stickles.  Sentiment by Lawn Fawn. 

Today's cards so far

**If you are hoping from OWH or Paper Crafts, please scroll down to see the two Christmas cards that are part of these hops**

Wow - this has been a crazy day.  My first blog hop and not only World Card Making Day but all my favorite vendors doing huge contests.  How can you not play?  I was hoping to post these earlier today but all those fun activities made that day turn into night...

Here are 3 (so far)

I had a heck of a time getting a good pic of this one.  My flash wanted to drown out the very light colors in this awesome Melissa Frances line.  Now that I'm looking at it - you can't even see the deal in the cookies and milk Lawn Fawn stamps I did with my copics.  Sentiment is from A Muse Studio. 

Love Doodlebug and poking around on the OWH site they need Birthday, Miss you, Love you and Thank you cards so I used DB's birthday line to make this card.  The sentiment is from A Muse Studio and you can't really see it but on each side of the sentiment there is a gem. 

Using my Paper Smooches I made this silly little guy.  I love google eyes - they make me giggle.  Sentiment is also PS.  All but the teal is Echo Park's little girl line.  The polka dot teal card stock is Bazzill.  

WORLD CARD MAKING DAY HAS ARRIVED!!!

Below are my two Christmas Cards that I have made for the OWH blog hop.  I used Basic Grey's Nordic Holiday for both.  My first card I cut out the poinsettias and then coated them with Rock Candy by Tim Holtz/Ranger.  Not only did it curl up the leaves for some dimension but it also gave it this cool cracked distressed look that I can't seem to get enough of.  (I was having issues taking a good photo to show you the rock candy look so hopefully it comes through enough of everyone visiting)

The second card I followed a sketch by Kim Hughes out of Paper Crafts Card Ideas for paper crafters Magazine.  I added twill ribbon from scenic route (I know but I hoard), stamped the border from an A Muse Christmas set, put both the bird and sentiment on chipboard and used the new limited edition gathered twigs distress ink from Tim Holtz. 

I decided to do OWH because I come from a military family.  My husband and both brothers are in the military and my husband has friends from his unit (another shout out to the 203rd MI BN!) over there right now.  I know how hard it is to be separated from a loved one so if a handmade card helps keep home close then my work here is done :)

I will be posting more cards later this afternoon so come on back after the hop and check out the party :) 

My Sweet Hubby and a Get Well Card

Hello everyone!  My sweet hubby is in the ARMY Reserves and was deployed a few years back with a lady who now has cancer.  She has 6 kids from 6 to 23 so he decided to take up a collection to help her out.  He has so far raised $400 (with more checks on the way) and asked if I would make a card so everyone could send their good wishes.  This is what I came us with.  I made it extra large so it would have room for everyone to sign and then I used one of my most favorite stamps in my collection - my chicken soup stamp from Cat's Pajamas Stamps.  I used Bazzill card stock, the patterned paper is from another fave - doodlebug, the red silk ribbon and sentiment stamp are from A Muse Studio, walnut distress ink cuz I distress everything and I colored my little chicken using Copic. 

Getting Texty with Lawnscaping Challenge #18 2nd submission

Good Morning everyone!  Here is my second submission for Lawnscaping's getting texty challenge #18.  I loved this stamp from Lawn Fawn the second I saw it and not only had to have it but had to use it for this challenge.  It makes me feel all warm and cozy! :) 

I used this sweet little lawn fawn fox and sentiment with Fancy Pants Hot Cocoa line from last year, a big red doodlebug button, satin ribbon from A Muse Studio in pepple and from my old stash that I've hoarded over the years 3 crystals from EK Success.  I cut out the sentiment and rolled it in some diamond dust also from A Muse Studio to give it some more dimension.  This has to be my most favorite card to date.  I have always been a scrapbooker but cards are something I have just started creating.  Enjoy my lovely little fox with her texty mug of hot cocoa!  Have an awesome day!