Some treats while I'm gone, part 1

I'm leaving today for 11 days to travel to the DR Congo with a team of five from my church. This is my second trip to the Congo (I went in February 2010-- if you'd like to see photos from that trip, click here) and again, I'm serving as our team translator.

I was thinking about how much I look forward to the 5th to the 15th of each month because PTI posts sneak peeks on Nichole's blog on those days. It's so nice to have something to look forward to getting out of bed for. So, I thought I'd do something for my family while I'm gone and make treat bags for them to open, one for each day.)

I wanted to go a more inexpensive route, so I decided to use kraft lunch bags to make up the treat bags. I also used PTI white cardstock, pure poppy ink and a date stamp, so they'd know which ones to open each day.

In each bag, they'll find a treat to share among the four of them, as well as a note from me.

For this tag, I used PTI spiral note book die and a stamp from PTI's Road Trip set. I used pinking shears to cut the bag and sewed up the bottom. I also stuck a small glassine bag to hold the treat (I can't remember what's in each one, but the candy ones are either Hershey's Kisses, Reese Peanut Butter cups, mini-chocolate bars and Starbursts.)

Again, I used a stamp from PTI's Road Trip stamp set and PTI's Mat Stack 4 die. I made a pocket by stitching the bag together on the three sides and used a border punch along the top.

For this third trip, I made a "sour cream container" by rolling a piece of PTI kraft cardstock into a cylander and stitched the one end shut. I added the candy and then stitched the top shut, along with the tag. The stamp is from Close to My Heart (CTMH) and the tag is a PTI Fillable Frames (#8).

And for this last treat, I purchased a video rental gift certificate and put it in an envelope. I cut the Mat Stack 5 die from one side of a paper bag and used the negative to wrap around the envelope. The stamp is CTMH.

Thanks for looking!

#WOFcelebrate

Last Thursday, my BFF, Val and I joined a group of women from our church to go to Minneapolis for the Women of Faith Conference there, where the theme was "celebrate." We had such a great time!

Here we are on the bus ride down:

We stopped for lunch in Fargo at Paradiso. I loved this large owl in the foyer, so I had someone take a photo of us with it.

We got to Albertville and did some shopping. I can't even remember how many stores we went to. I ended up getting a pair of jeans at New York & Co., a $60 cardigan for $19.99 at Banana Republic and a leather jacket at Wilson's Leather for $41.99. And did you know there's no sales tax on clothing in Minnesota? Fabulous!

(We were too busy shopping to take photos. Our bus was suppose to leave at 8pm to take us to our hotel and well, ahem, we were a little late getting there. We ran across the parking lot, carrying our purchases, and were the last ones to arrive. A little embarrassing to say the least!)

So the next morning, we took the shuttle from the hotel to the Mall of America. This is our before photo:

And our after:

LOL! We bought shoes (one pair for me, and two for Val), some Silver Jeans (we each got a pair), some tops (two for me and one for Val), a Lucky Brand bracelet for me, as well as some Fancy Pants goodies from Archivers.

After eating supper out, we headed to the Excel Centre for the conference. The first night was great! Ken Davis and Sheila Walsh both spoke (great stories and Ken Davis is soooo funny!) and Cece Winans sang (not my favourite style of music, but it was fine.) Oh, and the worship was wonderful!

Here's a photo taken on Saturday:

And, more great speakers (Liz Curtis Higgs, Max Lucado, Angie Smith and Pat Smith) and Selah performed. Just a wonderful time, being with friends, hearing from God and worshipping Him!

We got back late Saturday night (well, Sunday morning) and I'm still tired. But we're already planning on going next year again!

So, to let you know, I'm leaving tomorrow on another trip..... to the DR Congo! I know I've mentionned my fund-raising before for this trip and now, the trip is finally here. I'd really appreciate your prayers while I'm gone, too.

I'll have some papercrafting posts scheduled while I'm away, so feel free to still stop by my blog. I'll have wifi for some of the time while I'm in DR Congo, so I'll still be able to check my emails and see your comments.

Thanks for looking!

Last Day of 7

I wanted to share a layout that I made last week, using the October Challenge on the My Mind's Eye blog, which is to incorporate stamping into my project. Since I love using MME products and including stamping on all of my projects, this challenge was right up my alley. ;)

I took this photo of Sage on the day before her eighth birthday.

I used My Mind's Eye patterned paper, diecuts and decorative brads. I also used Lily Bee alphabet stickers "of", and Papertrey Ink cardstock (rustic white), stamps (fabulous frames) and dies (edgers #5, notched flowers).

Here's a close-up of the flowers:

And the journaling gets pulled out.

Thanks for looking!

PWP Sketch Challenge #14

Well, it's October 15th, which means it's time for me to post another Sketch Challenge for Pages With Papertrey.

The sketch I'm posting today is one I designed myself. I think it leaves lots of options for how many photos you'd like to include...

I decided to go with a one photo layout:

I used Bazzill cardstock (12x12), a Pink Paislee badge and My Mind's Eye patterned paper, sticker, diecut and decorative brads. I also used Papertrey Ink cardstock (rustic white, aqua mist, summer sunrise), stamps (wonderful words additions, fabulous frames, simply you) and dies (modern alphabet uppercase, double-ended banner, edgers #5, tag sale #5).

The journaling pulls out of the pocket at the top...

If you use this sketch to create a layout, please post a link to it here in the comments or here on the PTI boards, so I can come and check it out!

I'm also entering this layout in the October Challenge on the My Mind's Eye blog, which is to incorporate stamping into my project.

Thanks for looking!

A birthday card

I wanted to share another card that I made for this week's Make It Monday at Papertrey Ink: The Inside Edition. This one is for my sister-in-law, Cheryl.

I made this card and showed it to Sage and the first thing she said after "I love it!" (isn't she great?) was "It's so outdoorsy looking-- it's perfect for Auntie Cheryl!" It was great to know that I'd accomplished the look I was going for!

I used Papertrey Ink cardstock (vintage cream), stamps (happy day, beautiful butterflies), felt & dies (turning a new leaf, happy day). The brads are Basic Grey.

And for the inside, I stamped with Turning A New Leaft stamps, as well as Love Lives Here: Holidays for the berries.

Thanks for looking!

Five for Friday

1. I am on my second week of living with my cold.... and not liking it! I totally should have said no to coming into work today, but no, here I am, wishing I was at home, under a blanket...


2. I got some happy mail this week.... Paige Evans from Northridge Publishing requested two of my cards for the March issue of Cards, as well as one of my mini-albums for their Create: Mini-albums publication (also due out in March).


3. I ended up going to taekwondo last night.... it was the first time I'd been in two weeks. It was our red belt & up class, so I took the boys and Cameron hung out with Sage (she's a red stripe, so not high enough ranking to join us-- but next month, she'll most likely test for her red belt.) We mostly did patterns, in between my coughing fits. (Crazy.) But at the end of the class, the people testing in November practised breaking boards. I'm not testing again until May (hopefully!), but they let me break with the rebreakable boards, so I broke three: one with a back spin kick, one with a travelling forward jump-front snap kick and a third: a power break with the thinnest board & a punch (the power break is where you hold your own board, drop it and break it as it falls.) I ♥ breaking boards!


4. I stopped in at my LSS earlier this week (totally one of my very favourite stores!) and spoke to Lori, the owner. I showed her the paper-bead bracelets that I've been making and she said she'd love to sell them in her store!


5. After finishing the card set that I made for Marlo, I decided to start on some cards that my brother's girlfriend requested. For all three, I used the October Challenge on the My Mind's Eye blog, which is to incorporate stamping into my project & this week's Make It Monday at Papertrey Ink: The Inside Edition.

I've been enjoying working with this line of papers from MME so much, that I made three more cards with it:

I used Papertrey Ink cardstock (smokey shadow) and stamps (falling leaves). Everything else is My Mind's Eye.

For the inside, I stamped some hexagons with my Happy Hexagons set. I tried using the cover plate as a guide, but they seems too far apart, so I redid it free-hand.

For my next card, I used Papertrey Ink cardstock (smokey shadow), stamps (movers & shakers sentiments) and dies (filigree border). Everything else is My Mind's Eye.

For the inside, I stamped a sentiment from Movers & Shakers sentiments.

And my third card...

 

I used Papertrey Ink cardstock (smokey shadow), stamps (movers & shakers sentiments, fabulous frames), buttons and twine (rustic white). The orange twine is lawn fawn and the patterned paper is My Mind's Eye.

For the inside, once again, I stamped a sentiment from Movers & Shakers sentiments.

 



Thanks for looking!

A card set: card #3 & #4

Here are the third & fourth cards that I made for a card set. Both are for the October Challenge on the My Mind's Eye blog, which is to incorporate stamping into my project & using this week's Make It Monday at Papertrey Ink: The Inside Edition.

I used Papertrey Ink cardstock (vintage cream), stamps (think big favourites #3), buttons, twine and dies (mat stack #4, layerz mat stack #4). The patterned paper, baker's twine and decorative brads are My Mind's Eye.

On the inside, I stamped a sentiment from PTI's Shutterbug Special.

And here is the the fourth card:



I used Papertrey Ink cardstock (soft stone), stamps (think big favourites #5), button twine, buttons and dies (heart border). The patterned paper is My Mind's Eye.

On the inside of my card, I stamped a sentiment from PTI's Beautiful Butterflies.

Thanks for looking!

A card set: card #2

Here's another card that I made for a card set on Monday. Once again, I used patterned papers from the Sweetest Thing Honey paper pad (& am entering this card in the October Challenge on the My Mind's Eye blog, which is to incorporate stamping into my project), as well as this week's Make It Monday at Papertrey Ink: The Inside Edition. 

I also used Papertrey Ink cardstock (soft stone), stamps (a wreath for all seasons) and dies (edger's #3, double-ended banner). The decorative brad is My Mind's Eye.

I was inspired by the doilies to stamp with my PTI Delightful Doilies on the inside of the card:

Thanks for looking!

A card set: card #1

A couple of weeks ago, my friend, Marlo, asked me to make a set of four cards that she would use as a game prize on our bus trip down to The Women of Faith conference in Minneapolis later this month. I finally got to spend some time in my craft space yesterday afternoon (it was bliss!) and got all four cards made using this week's Make It Monday at Papertrey Ink: The Inside Edition.

For the cards, I decided to use my The Sweetest Thing Honey 6x6 paper pad, so they'd all be matching. I'm also entering this card in the October Challenge on the My Mind's Eye blog, which is to incorporate stamping into my project (not a difficult challenge for me. ;) ) Here's the first card:

I also used Papertrey Ink cardstock (vintage cream), stamps (Beautiful Butterflies) and dies (double-ended banner, happy day). The decorative brads are My Mind's Eye.

I was inspired by the flourishes on the patterned paper to carry that theme to the inside of my card.

Thanks for looking!

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!