Create!

Snow days creativity...

2010-02-12T13:54:00.001-08:00

I apologize for the quality of these photos. I am great at taking photos of people, but for some reason I just can't seem to take good photos of my layouts and cards. I think part of it is this yucky winter light (or lack of it!).

I took advantage of our snow days this week and did a few layouts. I love how this first one turned out. I used my new bird punch from Stampin Up and created a flower using my Cricut to cut different size circles. LOVE how the flower turned out!

Finally doing layouts of the first day of school photos! I used another fun punch (Owl punch from Fiskers) and also used the October Afternoon Report Card paper.

Yet another layout of Jenna using a photo of her toothless smile from this fall. The colors on this LO are all crazy. The Hambly transperancy is actually hot pink and the "brown" in this photo is actually black. UGH Oh...and yet another punch - my new butterfly punch from Martha Stewart.

See...I told you I loved this flower! I actually made 2 for the LO, but thought it was too much...so I used it to make a quick card....

These last 2 projects are from this month's Cricut club.

A cute little tin with layered flower on top. You can't tell in the photo, but the petals were textured using the Cuttlebug (which is now officially on my wish list of things I would like to own!). I love the layered flower on the top.

...and a bright colored birthday card with a cute cupcake!

Cards 1.28.10

2010-01-28T17:07:00.000-08:00

Now that my Journal Your Christmas book is complete, I finally have some time to do non-Christmas layouts and create cards once again! I'm finding that I have lost some of my creativity, so these cards are pretty simple. I'm hoping I get a little more creative the next time I head to my scrap room!

A quick card created using the Big Shot scallop die cut (dress) and a few punches (purse and border)...

Three cards created using the "Out of the Box" stamp set.....

Layouts 1.28.10

2010-01-28T16:55:00.000-08:00

A few recent layouts I did. I had plans of doing layouts for all Cheryl's challenges, but lost focus and did my own thing. I did manage to get a couple of the challenges done though.

Challenge: Create a layout that shares highlights 2009Challenge: Create a layout using only patterened paper and embellishments (It's hard to tell, but the paper is black with tiny white dots)

SU projects - January

2010-01-28T16:49:00.001-08:00

Projects from this months Stampin Up class....

Cute notepad set - the outside is a file folder

2010-01-18T16:55:00.000-08:00

You may remember that in early December I won a spot in the "Journal Your Christmas" on line class. I love Christmas....so I knew documenting it would be fun! I decided to do the class on my own terms though....no one needs extra stress during the holidays!

You receive a prompt a day for 37 days starting on December 1st.
There are some "super women" that managed to keep up with the prompts and complete a page each day. I am not one of those women. Instead, I printed off each prompt and would work on a few at a time on the weekends, during Christmas break, and even after break. I finally finished today!
Some of the prompts I liked and used as the basis for my page. But, there were some I did not like, so I made up my own prompt. :)
Some of the pages are really involved and contain a lot of journaling....some are ultra simple.....and I'm ok with that.
I am officially tired of working with red and green!
I used 8x8 pages - not too big, not too small...but just right for this project.
The prompts started on Dec. 1st and continued until Jan. 6th. I decided to stop on Christmas day.
Lots of people do this album every year. For the most part, mine is non-year specific and just a general Christmas album. I just don't think it is something I would want to do every year.
The photos of my pages have a yellow cast to them, so the colors are kind of wonky. I was just too lazy and tired to fix all the pages in photoshop.

Here are my 25 pages from my Journal Your Christmas album. It really is a fun project and I would recommend it!

Creating Stencils with Cricut

2010-01-10T08:32:00.001-08:00

Last Tuesday's Cricut Club project was my favorite so far! We used the Cricut to create stencils. We made these cute tote bags using an image from Graphically Speaking.

1. Use Reynolds Freezer paper to cut a shape using the Cricut

2. Use an iron to adhere the freezer paper stencil to the fabric. We used tote bags, but you can use anything fabric. I think it would make cute baby onesies or burp cloths, t-shirts, tote bags (lunch bag, library bag, dance bag). I've also seen winter scarves and blankets personalized on line using this method.

3. Use fabric paint and a foam brush to fill in the stencil.

4. Remove freezer paper stencil and allow paint to set (we used a hair dryer and it was set in 30 seconds)

5. If you want to add embellishments (we added a bow), use "liquid stitch" fabric glue - it's permanent and sets quickly.

I can't wait to try more projects using this technique!

Christmas goodies

2010-01-03T11:15:00.001-08:00

This year we did goodie bags for each family at the Covey/Baxter Christmas. Usually I make several baked goodies, but this year I came up with several other fun ideas.

First, I made homemade hot chocolate using this recipe. I put them in jars I found at Hobby Lobby, cut a snowflake from vinyl using my Cricut, and then added a red fleece scarf and a tag with the instructions.

I also made a CD of Christmas music, including a new song I just heard this year. I used this digi kit to make the CD covers . So easy and fun!

This was my favorite addition to the goodie bags - small desk calendars (4.75x4.75) using my photos for each month. I went through my photo files and searched for a photo just right for each month. I realized as I went through my photos that I need to take more landscape and nature photos instead of always focusing on people. I am going to make another calendar for myself using some of my favorite NYC photos to put on my desk at school.

Cricut creations....

2009-12-06T17:15:00.001-08:00

Last month I was asked to join "Cricut club" by a friend. We get together once a month to share ideas using the Cricut. Each month 2 people share projects for us to make. This month it was a recipe tin and a gift box.

Not sure what's up with the colors on this photo....in real life the green behind "recipes" matches all the other greens.

We also had a gift exchange (each gift had to be homemade). I made a jar with a painted chalkboard label and filled it with "white trash" (I'm sure there is a better name, but that's what my recipe says). I tied a Christmas ribbon around it and attached a little tag and of course a piece of chalk. I love how it turned out.

I received these JOY letters from my friend Rosannah. LOVE them!

Challenge layouts

2009-12-06T16:56:00.000-08:00

More layouts from the latest challenges with Cheryl....

Challenge: create a layout about something you are thankful for at this time in your life.

Close up of the embellishments. I cut the frame around "thankful" using my cricut and then used the same paper to create the flower embellishments.

Challenge: use embellishments to create a shape on the LO

I used the silver dot jewels to create the heart on the layout

Challenge: Use a traditionally non-scrapbook item as an embellishment

on your LO

Jacob helped with this one. He actually suggested that I use denim on the page, but I ended up using burlap since I couldn't find any denim.

Challenge: create a LO telling someone you love something you've been wanting to tell them but haven't taken the time

The journaling is a letter to Jacob about middle school and how I hope he knows he can always come to me to share what he is feeling or experiencing.

And the winner is.....

2009-12-01T15:03:00.001-08:00

ME!!!! I never win anything, but am always entering contests on blogs just in case. I recently entered a contest on Jennifer McGuire's blog for a spot in Shimelle's online class - Journal Your Christmas. I was so surprised when I checked my email today and found an email from Jennifer letting me know I had won!!! YAY!!!! I have seen samples of other people's scrapbooks from this class and am so excited to document my favorite holiday of the year! Be sure to check back....I'll be sharing my pages as I journal my Christmas!

My little creative space....

2009-11-21T18:49:00.001-08:00

We recently remodelled our basement....and as a part of that project I finally got my scrap space. It has been completed for about 3 weeks now and I have used it every weekend. I love all my storage!

The view from the family room. I love my french doors!

My work area and storage. I originally had planned to have the whole area be storage and then have a seperate table to work at...but I love having my work area right with all my storage! (cabinets and counter top are from Menards, stool from Menards, bulletin board from Hobby Lobby) The right side is storage for all my stamping supplies.

LOTS of Stampin' Up sets....

Stampin' Up sets and acrylic stamps....

stamp pads....

other stamping supplies (markers, colored pencils, heat gun, embossing powder, glitter, etc)...

Extra stamps, Stampin' Up paper, cards already made, and envelopes....

The left side is for my scrapbooking supplies.

Supplies I use most often - adhesives, scissors, hole punches, pens, etc....

Brads, buttons, flowers, tags, and larger rubons(not sure the jars will all stay in the drawer - I would rather have them out so I can get to the easier)...

Adhesives, journaling, chipboard, and misc. scissors/cutting tools....Lots of punches....
Alphabet stickers, photos, chipboard alphabets, alphabet rubons, etc....

paper storage and my Cricut - I don't love my paper storage right now, but it will do until I figure out a better solutions (if you have any suggestions...leave me a comment!)Love all these things! Red bowl from an antique store trip with Cheryl - holds misc embellishments, photo girl print purchased from Elsie Flannigan's Etsy shop, damask bin full of embellishments....A basket full of ribbon....

Challenges {11.16.09}

2009-11-16T19:10:00.000-08:00

This week I was able to complete 4 of the 5 challenges Cheryl and I came up with.

1. scraplift a page you did over a year ago

old layout (june 08)

new layout

2. use only black, white, and one accent color on the layout

3. create a LO using only circles (other than the actual photo)

4. create a LO using song lyrics as the title

I used the song lyrics from "Butterfly Fly Away" by Miley Cyrus - love the lyrics to this song...plus it's a song Jenna and I sing together often.