Pinspired Challenge #2

My lovely friend Jen from Pinspired Challenges once again reminded me and a few of our friends to be a part of her lovely new challenge site. And, since it is my birthday! I decided to take a few moments to myself when everyone went to sleep to make a cute little card. Like most things, I spent most of the day plotting how this would look, so it didn't take too long to put together once I had figured it all out.

Fun, huh? I created the card based on a Silhouette cut. I doubled the mitten, made a score line along the two mittens, and cut them. Then I cut a single mitten, with a heart shaped hole. I layered some of the Authentique Lovely paper behind the inked mitten cut from the Authentique Seasons: Winter line. I really love that line. Too bad it didn't snow this year, or I would really use it!! Then I layered a little bit of another pattern from the same line. Added a Twinery twine pompom, and a small snowflake (also from the same line).

If you want to participate, make sure that you check out the Pinspired Challenge blog. Here is the image for this week's challenge.

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AUTHENTIQUE: A LOVELY Layout!

Today's project was a long way in the making. I've had these adorable photos of my little one for awhile now, just waiting for the perfect papers to mix them with. Although they are not Valentine photographs, the "lovely" pinks, reds, black and creams of the Lovely Collection are perfect. I loved adding all of the different Petaloo flowers throughout the layout.

I started with a full sheet of Amour, then layered Dainty, Valentine and Be Mine, using the Kiwi Lane Designs templates in Paisley Place to showcase all of the various papers. The photos were matted using the 6x6 pad from the Paper Crafting Assortment.

I then added Petaloo's wonderful flowers from their Spring Darjeeling collection (Mini Daisies, Dahlias, and Mini Pearl Daisies), along with some small embellishments from the Paper Crafting Assortment. I love all of the little die cuts in the set.

The little lock sticker is a perfect addition, peeking out from behind the photo corner.

I die cut the title using my Silhouette and both the pattern and the reverse of the Keynote paper. It needed something more however, so I used the Picolla Cool-Set Enameling Gel in Napthol Red. The Enameling Gel was a perfect addition, as it gave shine and dimension to the heart.

Lastly, I added another die cut from the Paper Crafting Assortment, and another Mini Pearl Daisy.

It was really fun to play with flowers in a layout. All of the little details really made this a special project that I know that I will cherish forever.

Products Used:

Authentique: Lovely Collection: Adore, Keynote, Valentine, Amour, Dainty, Be Mine 6x6 Pad, Paper Crafting Assortment, Details Stickers, Elements Stickers

Petaloo: Mini Daisies, Dahlias, and Mini Pearl Daisies

Other Supplies: Imagine Crafts Memento Ink in Gray Flannel, Piccolo Cool-Set Enameling Gel, Kiwi Lane Designs Templates

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Boy or Girl? No One Knows... Yet!

Over the weekend, I had the pleasure to attend a baby shower for a lovely family. They don't know the gender of the baby yet, which is super exciting! It will be such a wonderful surprise when their baby comes. I guessed a girl, but I really have no clue... I thought both the girls were boys until our gender peek.

Since no one knows the gender, I tried really hard to make both the card and part of her present gender neutral. My lovely friend Karen got a smoking deal on some Carta Bella Alphabet Junction papers that I used for this project. I really wanted it for the adorable hedgehog that was on the paper. I'm a sucker for hedgies.

The card itself is a onesie that I cut from my Silhouette. Instead of the emblem that is from the Silhouette file, I used a CB sticker and created a banner from paper. Then used some Sassafras Lass letters that were from my stash. 

The book is ultra cute too! I used a couple of Silhouette files (Little One, Months) and just the CB paper. I lined the inside and outside with some of the 6x6 papers, because they are easier to glue down, and the inside of the book are pieces of cut down 12x12.

Lastly, I have a couple of cards that I used my December Gossamer Blue kits for. I love using all of my scraps and bits for cards. 

I have just a few more thank you cards from Christmas to go out now. I'm getting caught up. Even those this year's Christmas card is going out as a Valentine. Oh well... Can't have everything :) Pin It

Two Challenges!

For this little project, I used some of my October Afternoon Cakewalk papers. I needed a cute little container for one of my friend's birthdays that is coming up soon. One of my lovely friends (Jen) is over at Pinspired Challenges, a new challenge blog. Here is their first challenge.

The pictures are a little wonky. I really need some sunshine over here!!

The following is a layout created using my January Gossamer Blue kit. I love this kit! It has some beautiful blues, pinks and greens. Perfect for my little girls! I used their first ever sketch challenge for this layout. I did however change it up quite a bit. The norm for me and sketches :)

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Three More Layouts, Two Kits, & One Sketch

I cannot believe that I haven't blogged for almost two weeks!! I have a couple of layouts that I have had laying around for awhile... The first two are using Gossamer Blue's fabulous December Kit. I snagged GB's first kit during their fantastic Black Friday special, and also grabbed November's Main Kit Add-On. It's super pretty, but with all of the holiday craziness... I haven't even cracked into it!

Anyway, here is my 3rd layout using my December kit. I loved how easy this came together. I just positioned my photo to allow for the date to show, circled it, placed arrows that pointed in the direction I wanted, added the mat and photo... A few embellishments and BOOM! DONE! I especially love all of the Sn@p! alphas. Using all of those colors was just too fun!

This one took a little more time and effort. I wanted a pieced heart, but hate when the pieces come up, so the pieced part is really behind the heart, which is cut with my Cameo. I used bits and pieces from random pieces that I had used throughout my three other layouts, and just made them all fit. Glued those down onto a piece of cardstock that I then glued and sewed to the background piece. Draped the fun garland on the heart, stitched that in... Then stuck the photo down, added washi, and a title. I really do love sewing, but it does take some time. Good thing I'm not a perfectionist with the stitch lenth :)

This was a super quick layout also! I used Studio Calico's Sock Hop Kit for this, with my lovely friend Venetia's Mid-Wid Mojo Guest Sketch. I love her ideas. She's also pretty darn fantastic at most crafty and artsy things.

Hope you liked the layouts! I have some more cards that I created using all of these kits too!! Pin It

One Little Word... The Word that Chose Me.

To say that the word PATIENCE was all my choice would be a falsehood. While I know that I'm not going to be blogging about how patient I am becoming, or scrapbook on how much more amazing I am... I know that this is something I need to work on. I've actually had this carved rock since about 1999-2000. I guess my younger self knew something then too.

PATIENCE to me means quite a few different things...

• more prepared
• more forgiving
• more loving
• more kind
• more thoughtful
• follow-through more
• more complimentary
• more purposeful
• more family focused
• more focused
• more in-the-moment
• more present

This is hard for me. To admit this, even harder. I'm a present shaker, a texter, I tap my steering wheel to wish the light would change because I am running late, I'm all about the quick-fix, or looking far into the future, without really enjoying the present.

I plan to be more. Especially PATIENT. I do not want to regret not living my life, while waiting for it to move on towards the next step. With an amazing husband, two wonderfully loving little girls, an adorable dog, and fabulous family and friends... They deserve my best.

And if I falter... I will even be PATIENT with myself :)

*Note:  One little word is a concept developed by Ali Edwards.  You can learn more about it by visiting her blog here. Pin It