A jar of joy

The moment I saw the Jars of Joy Challenge in the Moxie Fab World, I knew I wanted to play along. I also knew that I had the perfect jar to use.... the little chipboard one that came in my Pretty Party Crate Paper chipboard set.

I decided to pair it with some coordinating Crate Paper patterned paper, as well as a sheet of Christmas paper from My Mind's Eye.

I also used Papertrey Ink cardstock (rustic white), stamps (love lives here: holidays), button and dies (limitless layers: ovals 3.5"). I was pleased with how perfectly the sentiment fit on the jar!

I decided to also make this for this week's Make It Monday at Papertrey Ink: The Inside Edition (where we were challenged to stamp on the inside of our cards). I used another sentiment and boughs from LLH: Holidays.

Thanks for looking!

Happy World Card Making Day!

Hey there! After errands today, a little cleaning and a little laundry, I managed to sit down and actually make a card. Yay! It helped greatly that I needed it for a 50th wedding anniversary party that we were attending this evening....... nothing like a deadline to motivate, right?

So here's the card that I made for WCMD, combining challenges for this week's Make It Monday at Papertrey Ink: Glitter Tabs and this week's CAS-ual Fridays Challenge to use pink.

I used Papertrey Ink cardstock (soft stone, stamper's select white), stamps (happy day, movers & shakers sentiments) and dies (half & half). I also used Echo Park patterned paper, a My Mind's Eye brad, Martha Stewart glitter & some ribbon from the dollar store.

For this MIM technique, I trimmed a 1x2.5" piece of Sizzix adhesive sheet and adhered it to the cardstock, before running it through my diecutting machine. Then I peels off the adhesive and sprinkled glitter over top.

Thanks for looking!

Five for Friday

1. I need to find some balance.... LOL! Last week, I was all focused on purging my house and getting ready for our garage sale.... this week, I feel like nothing is getting done because I'm so busy with 1) work, 2) fundraising attempts for my Congo trip and 3) just trying to heal from my cold/cough. Sigh.

I was hoping to have today off, and when the phone didn't ring this morning by 7:45, I was pretty confident that I could stay in my my fleecy pants all day.... but then the phone rang at 7:55... Oh well, at least I'm not subbing in the phys. ed. department. My voice wouldn't be able to take it at all.


2. This lovely girl is growing up before my eyes.... She's excited about school, love learning and enjoys being a part of the voluntary choir at school. She's also getting big on volunteering.... she's giving up one lunch hour a week to sort Campbell's soup labels.

And she's really pretty, too.... ;)

3. I'm pretty excited about an impulsive purchase I made this week.... I'd noticed earlier this week that Studio Calico is offering a Cut It Out class, sponsored by Silhouette America. While I don't own a Silhouette Cameo, I've been watching my online friends purchase them, one by one, but I've held back. "I have the Big Shot and my dies...." I'd tell myself.  "I don't need a Cameo." But, everytime I get a new magazine, I drool over layouts & cards made with Cameos. Then, on Tuesday, someone posted a link to this: the Silhouette Portrait. It has the same features as the Cameo, but it's smaller and cheaper. I was able to get a spot in the SC class and then popped over to amazon.com to order my Portrait (they had it listed there for $148, with free shipping.) My mom had given me money for my birthday and I've been hoarding it, waiting for the perfect purchase.... and I'm thinking I just made it. ;)


4. I'm hoping to participate in World Card Making Day tomorrow. I need to make a 50th wedding anniversary card for the party we're attending tomorrow night, as well as a birthday card for my sister-in-law, Cheryl. I've also been working on a few cards to submit for the WCMD contest.


5. And before I go, I thought I'd share another card that I submitted for publication earlier this year...

I used Papertrey Ink cardstock (vintage cream, melon berry), patterned paper (dearest jane), button, twine, stamps (think big favourites #12, stitches and swirls) and dies (bloom builders #3, tag sale #3 & heart border die). The patterned paper is Crate Paper.

Thanks for looking!

Falling for you....

Well, our fall has been a little crazy so far. On the weekend is was 28C (the best weather we've ever had for a garage sale!) and now, this morning, it's cold, rainy and they're forecasting snow! I'm totally not ready for snow yet!

And, things have been a little crazy, other than the weather, too.... I've been very busy with my fundraising attempts for my Congo trip (my crop, a lunch and making cards & bracelets to sell). I've also been working every day this week (sa far) and have caught a cold with a wickedly annoying cough....

So, all this to say, I'm sorry if I haven't been updating as often as I'd like..... I just haven't been able to carve out some crafty time for me lately. I know this will all change next month, when I'm back from my mission trip, so I hope you'll bear with me.

I was searching through my photos on my computer to try to find some projects that I hadn't posted here and came across this one, which I'd make last winter, for the Papercrafts Sept/Oct call.

I used Papertrey Ink cardstock (rustic white, spring moss), ink, stamps (leaf prints, falling leaves), buttons, twine and impression plate (woodgrain.)

Thanks for looking!

Better late than never...

I realized this morning that I'd never posted the photos I took of Sage's birthday party last month....

When we first started planning the party, the idea had been to be a sewing party, inspired by Elena' Sew Seven Party. Sage had decided that she wanted a sewing machine cake and that we would do some sewing crafts with her friends.

Then, as the planning continued, and Sage decided she wanted to invite 5 friends, I convinced her that a crafting party would be just as good (& easier on me!)

After the guests arrived (only four could make it), Sage opened her gifts and the girls played while I set up the first craft. We made hair accessories. I'd put out my PTI felt for them to choose their colours, as well as some buttons and decorative brads. They had a choice of three different PTI dies (beautiful blooms II #1 &#2 and notched flower). Here's what they made:

Then, they played some more, while I set up the second craft.... door hangers. We used my friend, Mandy's PTI wine bottle tag, as well as my assorted dies and patterned paper. The girls all enjoyed cranking the handle of my big shot while they cut out their own diecuts!

For their treat bags, I put in their crafts, with a little candy and made some tags using PTI button boutique stamps and dies.

Here are some close-ups:

The patterned paper is My Mind's Eye.

Oh, and here's a shot of the banner we hung in the dining room window. Sage and I made this together before the guests arrived:

And even though it wasn't a sewing party, Sage still wanted a sewing machine cake:

Thanks for looking!

PWP Challenge #14

Happy October 1st!

While I don't like to rush through the months, I've been looking forward to October for a while now.... I'm looking forward to spending time with family this upcoming  Thanksgiving weekend, on the 18th, I'll be going to The Women of Faith conference in Minneapolis and  right after that, I'll be returning to the DR Congo with a team from my church.

I created this layout earlier in the summer, in anticipation of my return to Africa. I also decided to use it as the next Pages With Papertrey challenge, which is to use the same stamp repeatedly (more than once) on your layout.

I used Papertrey Ink cardstock (rustic cream, simply chartreuse), stamps (road trip), twine and dies (fillable frames #9, block alphabet). The stickers are Heidi Swapp and the patterned paper is Making Memories.

So, on my layout, I used the challenge in a couple of different ways... I repeatedly stamped "adventure awaits" to create a border....

And, I stamped the compass stamp once and then again, without reinking.

If you create a layout for this month's challenge, please leave a comment here with the link or here on the PTI forum, because I'd love to see what you make!

Thanks for looking!

Five for Friday

1. I only worked one day this week, which has been nice, because it's given me a bit of time to get some other things done......one of these things being taking down my summer decor and putting out some fall decorations.

I filled the container with an assortment of silk leaves. The pumpkins (LOVE that white one!) and gourds were picked up yesterday after school at our town's farmer's market. I felt like I lived the ultimate of a charmed life as I walked home with my kids, under the canopy of yellow leaved trees, carrying my pumpkin in my arms. :)

I got this wreath at Michael's a couple of years ago..... Sage said she doesn't like the glitter on it, but I think it's very delicate looking and pretty.

2. I was super proud of Austin yesterday. He had to run the endurance run at school (1.6 km, or 1 mile for my american friends). Last spring, it had taken him over 12 minutes to run it. When he came home from school, he had me guess his time.......... 9 min 45 seconds! He said he "ran" the whole thing (so, no walking or stopping) and when he was done, he couldn't even talk, it was so hard to breathe! I told him I was so proud of him, multiple times, because to me, this meant that he tried his best, which is all I ever desire from my kids.

3. Sage came home from school yesterday with a tree seedling for us to plant. We chose a nice spot in the backyard, behind our new patio, where I think it will flourish. I said we'd have to take a photo of her in her grad dress (in less than 10 years) beside it.


4.  So, Sage and I have been busy this week..... making bracelets. We're using the new paper bead die from Papertrey Ink, some of my 6x6 paper pads and some beads I bought at Walmart. We've made 16 so far. We're planning on selling them as a fundraiser for my mission trip to Congo.

 

So, I'm still a little unsure of how much to charge. My friend, Val, suggested $10 each, which seems high to me, but $5 seems too low (it is a fundraiser, after all). I'm leaning towards $8 each, but 3 for $20. What do you think?


5. And, I wanted to share the first layout that I made at my crop last weekend. It's the first layout for my photo-a-day summer 2012.

I used American Crafts cardstock (12x12), Papertrey Ink cardstock (white), stamps (fabulous frames) and dies (fabulous frames, modern alphabet uppercase and modern numbers).

Have a great weekend!
Thanks for looking!

PTI September Blog Hop

Once again, I've decided to participate in the Papertrey Ink blog hop this month.

This month's challenge is all about wrapping it up, where we were encouraged to have fun experimenting with fabric & felt packaging ideas.

I have to confess, at first I was stumped. I'm quite frugal, so the thought of using a large piece of my covetted PTI felt to wrap a gift didn't really appeal to me. Then, however, I was browsing through a Christmas magazine at the Superstore and I was inspired! (I love it when that happens!)

I decided to wrap up one of the only gifts I have so far for Christmas--- it's for my brother's girlfriend, Tatiana. I wrapped the box in kraft paper and tied on some baker's twine. For the bow, I followed this tutorial and used some PTI pure poppy felt.

For the tag, I used PTI cardstock (rustic white), stamps (wreath for all seasons, love lives here: holidays), buttons, twine and dies (tag sale #3).

And there you go. One present wrapped and ready to give.... and three months early, too. ;)

Thanks for looking!

A few crop for Congo projects

I wanted to share a few projects that I got done at my fundraising Crop for the Congo on Saturday.

I decided to work on scrapbooking my Photo-a-day for summer 2012 photos.... Here's week 2:

I used American Crafts cardstock (12x12), My Mind's Eye patterned paper and Papertrey Ink cardstock (white, aqua mist), stamps (fabulous frames) and dies (modern alphabet, fabulous frames.)

Then, using my scraps, I decided to make a card for Moxie Fab World's Focal Point Challenge, as well as for the My Mind's Eye Blog September Challenge: which was to create a layout and card using the same products.

I used My Mind's Eye patterned paper, diecuts and decorative brad and Papertrey Ink cardstock (aqua mist), stamps (pretty peonies, rosie posie) and dies (rosie posie).

I also made another card, this time for Moxie Fab World's Repetition Challenge:

I used Papertrey Ink cardstock (rustic cream, simply chartreuse), stamps (love lives here: holidays) and dies (love lives here). The patterned paper is new Simple Stories, from their 6x6 paper pad.

I had so much fun at my crop--- I was quite sad when it was over, knowing I didn't have it to look forward to anymore. I could easily get together with friends once a week to scrapbook (if our schedules permitted.) At the crop, in addition to hosting and preparing food, I finished a couple of card sets, made some paper beads and made the layout for week 1 of my photo-a-day for summer, which I'm hoping to post later this week....

Thanks for looking!

Five for Friday

1. I can't believe it's Friday already! This week has flown by!


2. Tonight is my fundraising Crop for the Congo. Well, tonight & tomorrow. I don't have a large group coming (less than 20), but I think it will be really good. I'm trying to decided what I want to work on..... my options include: working on my photo-a-day layouts for the summer, making beads with my new bead dies that I picked up yesterday with my Papertrey Ink order (I'm thinking of making some bracelets to sell for a fundraiser), making some cards to sell or just working on a few layouts, just because. With twelve hours of scrapbooking (okay, with hosting, I won't have twelve.... but hopefully eight or nine), maybe I can work on all of the above a little bit.


3. I got some happy mail earlier this week. I'd won the 10 photo challenge on the My Mind's Eye blog and my prize was a MME collection of my choice! I chose The Sweetest Thing Tangerine and it arrived on Monday! It's so pretty-- I haven't opened anything up yet.... it just looks so pretty in its packaging. I'm definitely taking this along tonight!


4. I made another set of cards to sell as a fundraiser for my mission trip. I decided to look for some inspiration in the "online card aisle" for this week's Make It Monday at Papertrey Ink  and found this card:

I decided to use Papertrey Ink cardstock (rustic white) and stamps (vintage ornaments), along with my Hero Arts Pine Bough stamp and a couple of extra PTI stamps from my stash that I decided fit well with a couple of the ornaments.

Here are the cards that I made:

On this one, I added a medallion from Iconic Images to my pink ornament.

And on this one, I added a decorative element from Modern Wood Mat to my ornament. The sentiment is from Think Big Favourites #9.


5. And, my baby girl turned eight this week. I know I mentionned this earlier, but I thought I'd share some photos that I took of her on her last day of being seven:

I've had these printed and would love to scrapbook them this weekend!

And then she took a couple of me:

Thanks for looking!