Anything But a Card Challenge 46 Fool's Gold

Well, hello! I am so glad you stopped by! Today I am sharing my DT creation for ABAC.  This month's challenge is Fool's Gold and we are challenging you to pull out all of the wonderful golden, gilded goodies that you have and make something wonderful to share with us!  I really hope you will be able to join us!

I have to admit that I don't use a lot of gold in my creating. I'm more partial to silver personally, but I did have some wonderful gold foil paper in my supplies and I thought it might be fun to create an ATC using this.

I ran the foil paper through an embossing folder and then patted it on top of an early espresso ink pad to give it an aged appearance.  I didn't want to cover up the pretty embossing, so I kept the embellishing pretty simple and uncluttered.

I want to apologize to my regular blogging friends for my lack of visiting.  Things have been pretty chaotic around here and I am counting the days til summer vacation!  It seems like there are less hours in the day lately...  I promise I will resume my regular posting and visiting in a few more weeks!

Thanks again for stopping by and I hope you enjoyed my golden creation!  Have a fantastic week!

Flashback Scrapbook Friday

Hello and TGIF!  I have spring fever so bad and it is killing me to be inside at work all week where there are so many other things I could be doing!  Like updating my blog!!!

I still have a few photos of scrapbook pages from my crop that I have not shared and I thought that since the papers are old and now the pictures are a little bit old, we'll just call it a Flashback!

Today's layouts are not anything fancy and were completed rather quickly once I knew what I wanted. 

Have I mentioned how much I LOVE the tag 

topper punches???  Here's another one on this page!

I pulled out the pennant punch to make the title 

for this page.  I just had to have this paper long

 ago and then never used it until now!

Well, that about wraps it up for me!  I hope you have a wonderful day and that you don't spend all of it cooped up inside working-yuck!  Thanks so much for visiting!

Page Recipes: paper-bases from stash, whisper white, green from stash, ink-strawberry slush, basic black, accessories-scallop tag topper punch, pennant punch, bakers twine from stash, whisper white bakers twine

How does this happen?!

Hello! Don't mind the post title; I'm just trying to solve one of the earth's mysteries...  Not the meaning of life or why are we here, but how can I use so many of my supplies and still have a mountain of things there when I'm done?!  I would pack my bags and seek enlightenment elsewhere, but I'm pretty sure this is what is referred to as a 'first world problem'. wink!

But seriously, I packed my supplies for the crop I attended recently and was thinking  that this is such a great way to use up some of my things.  If I don't have the entire stash at my fingertips, I have to use what is there.  Somehow, even though I used what I brought, I still ended up bringing a lot of it back! Now, granted there were attendance prizes, a gently used sale, and a silent auction... Hmmm...this might have something to do with my mystery!  I can say that I did use quite a few of my new goodies immediately which worked out really well when I realized I did not bring nearly enough embellishments. OK! Enough of my pseudo-problems and on with the pages!

Again, super simple and featuring another tag topper!

No new goodies on this page!

I used three of my freebie flowers that were in my 

goody bag at the table. Great to have something

that works so well with what I'm making!  Don't you

just love DD's face in the middle photo?!

I hope that my super simple scrapbooking is encouraging you to do a bit more creating yourself.  And if you ever find out why a crafter with waaaay too many supplies continues to buy more as she complains about too much stuff-then you have REALLY solved a mystery!  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Page Recipes: paper-bases from stash, whisper white, ink-tuxedo black, stamp-just journaling, accessories-pretty new flowers from goody bag, angled tag topper punch, bakers twine and burlap ribbon from stash  

A special helper makes everything fun!

Hello! I am so glad you stopped by today!  If you have been following my blog recently, you know that I attended a crop last week and worked on lots of scrapbook pages.  So now I actually have pages to share with you!

My DD#1 likes to make cards and went along with me.  She also took her bucket for softball that she has to decorate and return to be used for storing her gear.  When we arrived at the crop, one of my former preschoolers helped us carry things inside.  His grandma organized the crop and he was there 'helping out' (He informed me that really he was 'in charge' but it was a secret!).  We had a great time catching up and he was quite impressed that DD1 was decorating a bucket.  His face lit up when she asked if he could help her.  They worked together for about 15 minutes, perfectly placing the stickers and decorations.  It was so much fun watching the two of them together, and he spent a big part of his time visiting with us and even made a few pictures using some goodies we gave him.  It was a great reminder that when we share what we love to do with others, we not only enrich their lives, but bring happiness to our own.

Here is the photo of the busy bees working on the bucket.  I blurred the faces as a courtesy to the others there.  I think she just might have the most blinged out bucket in the dugout!

 

I also managed to get a little something accomplished!  I completed several of DD#2's scouting and softball pages.  I still have a ton to do, but at least the albums have a few more pages in them!

I have found that I have really adopted a less is more style to scrapbooking.  I absolutely love the beautiful vintage and full of embellishment pages that I see others creating, but I just keep thinking that for me less is more.  I have decided that this specific page is going to get a title, but I also knew that as busy as I've been lately that if it didn't get on here as is, it may never appear!  I'm not going to give any instructions for this page-pretty self explanatory...

I am so glad that you took the time to visit.  I know that life can get super busy and it means so much that you take time to see what is going on here!  Have a wonderful day!!

Page Recipe: paper-base from stash, whisper white, ink-tuxedo black, stamp-Just Journaling, accessories-paper flowers from Audrey, white brads from stash

Another Fifth Sunday at Anything But a Card Challenges

Hello!  In case you had not noticed, this month has 5 Sundays in it.  That means there is a mini challenge going on this week at Anything But a Card Challenges to create something with five.  That's it; no other requirements (other than the whole card thing...) needed.  It can be the number five, five items- the sky's the limit!

I went to a Relay For Life cancer fundraiser crop this weekend and had the most wonderful time with my oldest DD and many incredibly talented ladies.  Lots of food, lots of laughs, and lots of creating for a very good cause.  My five could also easily be the five pounds I probably gained from all of the yummy snacks and meals, but instead I'll share a photo of my five flowers I made on this scrapbook page.  You really don't want to see me with my extra five pounds!

I used the Boho Blossom punch to make the flowers, inked the edges and put them together with some very old green brads I had in my stash.  That's one of the good things about crops-they make you use what you brought!

I have also decided I love my tag topper punches! These are so awesome for dressing up journaling!  I was a little proud that when we left the crop, I had scrapped all of the photos I had brought with me.  Feels pretty good to be putting a few more pages in my girls' albums!

I will be back soon with more layouts from my scrapbooking day.  Have a wonderful week and thanks so much for stopping by for a visit!

Page Recipe: paper-base from stash, whisper white, ink-strawberry slush, accessories-boho blossom punch, scallop tag topper punch, green brads, twine from stash

Sure Signs of Spring

There are so many heralds of spring-crocus and daffodils, robins returning, grass greening, buds forming on trees, the ping of a ball hitting a bat... What?! That doesn't happen everywhere???  In our home, the true sign of the arrival of spring is muddy cleats and softball pants!  This sign shows up sometimes before the first flowers!!

I have once again been neglecting my poor blog for other priorities, like playing taxi driver and running a full service sports laundromat...  I did however manage to combine one of our favorite spring sports with some crafting time recently.  I volunteered to create this year's bulletin board located at our school's softball field.  While these are not the most 'crafty' things I have made, I did color and bling up the images that I printed!

This image was already created, but I colored the letters 

with red and added dazzling details to the word 

'diamonds' 

I used a digital softball image, turning the color from 

black to red, then added the Bible verse.  It was printed 

onto softball colored cardstock.

This was a digital image that I simply printed.

I created the inspiring sentiment in a word document,

then added some sparkly softball stickers for good 

measure!

All of the items were mounted on basic black or real red cardstock.  I also made some smaller softballs using a stamp, real red ink, and the softball colored paper.  Each player will have her name and number on a softball.

Well, I know it's not super creative, but I thought I would share just what I had been up to!  I also have another project to share but have to wait a little while for that.  I am also heading out to a crop tomorrow, so there should be a bit more coming up shortly!  Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you have an incredibly creative weekend!

Bunny Butts, Anyone?

Hello! So very happy you stopped by for a visit! Today I have a cute little treat that is super easy to make and perfect for Easter.  This was my 'make and take' project for a recent fundraiser at my school.  My girls have affectionately named these Bunny Butts. 

If you need something that is easily reproduced (like bunnies...), this is a terrific option.  I punched out all of the pieces for 30 of these while watching tv one evening.  They are even easier to put together.  For each Bunny you need a 2 1/2" circle with a 1 3/4" circle punched out, a complete 2 1/2" circle, and two small ovals.  I also used a circle treat cup ($2.95 for 12) and a 1" white pompom.  The snack size bags of pastel m&ms fit perfectly inside the cups!

We had a lot of fun making these at the Ladies Day Out and I think they could be cute table setting decorations for Easter as well.  I have been playing around with a lot of my new to me supplies and will have quite a bit to share with you soon!  Spring Break is almost here and I have big plans to get a lot of scrapbooking completed and lots of other creative things accomplished too!

Well, I better get hopping back to work! Thanks so much for stopping by!

Project Recipe: Paper-whisper white, Accessories-2 1/2" and 1 3/4" circle punches, small oval punch, circle treat cups, white pompoms

Anything But a Card Challenge 45-Green with Envy

Hello and happy Ides of March!! " Et tu, Brute?" (My high school lit teacher would be so proud that I remembered this!) It is time for Week 3 of the Green with Envy challenge at Anything But a Card.    The team has shared some wonderful versions of green and envy, and we would love to see what makes you go green!  I have to say that this challenge stretched my mind creatively (happens quite a bit with these amazing ladies!) since I really couldn't come up with anything for 'envy' and while I like green, it's not my 'go to' color.  So I went to my trusty Pinterest search box to see if something there would inspire me.

If you want to be completely overwhelmed and wowed at the same time, try typing in 'green art' in the Pinterest search box!  There were a lot of amazing creations, but this one really caught my eye!

It's made from glass bottle bottoms!! Isn't it fantastic?!  Now, I am nowhere near skilled in glasswork.  I would either shatter the pieces or slice off a finger in the process!  I did like all of the varied shades of green and the round shapes.  I also knew I had a lot of green scraps that could create a similar design.  I decided to make a scrapbook page, using the greens to make a background pattern.  I set out with all of my circle and scallop punches and a bunch of green papers. *Bragging moment- I did not cut any whole sheets of paper for my page!  Everything was scraps, except for the green base!*

After punching a lot of shapes, I started to lay out my pattern, and this is where it all went downhill fast.  I was totally stressed out over their placement.  First, too many of the same size, then the same color, then colors that didn't look great together.  Grr...  So I took a break, made lunch, and did a load of laundry, and during these tedious jobs a thought struck me.  This is supposed to be fun and I'm not having fun.  I'm choosing laundry over creating...  So I went back to the pile of circles and reminded myself that art is process not product.  Rather than attempting to lay out the entire page, I started in a corner and worked my way out.  Interestingly enough, it became easier once I was committed to complete what was already glued down!

To add interest, some of my circles went off the page and were trimmed.  I then reused the cut off pieces to fill in other edges.  Truly a 'scrap'py page!  The photo I added was from a craft day that my daughter's Girl Scout troop sponsored, so all of the green ended up being quite appropriate for the scouting page.

I hope you will join us with your green with envy creation!  We would love to see what you do with the challenge!  It's a great way to celebrate St. Patrick's day too!

Page Recipe: papers of almost every shade and pattern of green, various circle and scallop circle punches, perfect polka dots embossing folder

Happy Easter Bunny

Hello! I am so glad you stopped by today!  I have a fun little card to share with you that I made during one of our most recent snow days.  I am not normally prone to purchasing Easter stamps since they aren't as versatile for other purposes, but the Happy Easter Bunny stamp from the Occasions catalog was just too cute!  Plus, it has absolutely nothing to do with snow and freezing cold weather, so it was a pleasant change from my current view...

I paired the sweet bunny with the Painted Blooms DSP (also from Occasions) because this spotty paper reminded me of dyed eggs.  It was fun to color the image as I watched movies with my girls.

When I finished putting all of the layers together, the card looked like it still needed something.  So I pulled out some retired wild wasabi ribbon to make a bow.  I really wish I had moved the oval up a little so the bow would be under the image, but it was already glued down and I didn't want to tear up the card.  

I can't believe that in a few short weeks, Easter will be here!  Where has the time gone?! Not that I am complaining that spring is on its way!!!!! Bring it on!  I am just hoping that I will be ready when the time comes!  

Thanks so much for visiting today and have a marvelous day!

Card Recipe: Paper-daffodil delight, whisper white, Painted Blooms DSP, Ink-memento tuxedo black, wild wasabi, rose red, blackberry bliss, soft sky, blushing bride, pacific point, Stamp Set-Happy Easter Bunny, Accessories-oval framelits, wild wasabi stitched ribbon

School Fundraisers aka Shopping Without Guilt!

I don't normally share posts like this, but right now I am helping our school's special needs teachers raise money for Hands In Autism.  If you would like to help us out and support your creative habit at the same time, please go to the Stampin' UP website and place an order.  When you get to the check out, enter Hostess Code WND67AWZ, and the proceeds from your purchase will help cover the costs of their training.  I will close ordering for the fundraiser on Friday, March 13th.

Don't forget that this month is Sale-A-Bration too!  Every order of $50 receives a free item from the list of SAB items!!