Friday, February 25, 2011

better late than never!

Welcome to my post that should have been posted a few weeks ago. Or, let's just think of it as me helping you get REALLY ahead for next Valentine's Day! I am still not quite used to the new computer, now that I live in Mac world. Probably because I'm in denial, and trying to do as little as possible. So photos are staying on the camera, and when I do upload them, they are in strangely named folders which I can never find again.

But I digress (as always) . ..

Valentine's Day. (Focus, Laura, focus!) These are the Valentines that Mr. B and I made, (okay really it was just me. But he addressed them at least. We made the crayons in plastic candy molds. In the oven, in a water bath within a shallow pan. I read online, that it would work. And as you can see, it did. But I don't recommend it. I also don't recommend using cheapy crayons (you know, the ones you accumulate from restaurants) Go with the Crayolas and the wax and pigment won't separate as much. And use a metal muffin pan instead of trying to not melt your plastic candy molds. It's not pretty.

But the crayons are cute, and the packaging is cute. And THAT is what matters. I printed the text on Avery sticker paper, so all I had to do was print it out, trim, and adhere. I used Santa Red, Prussian Blue, and Solar Yellow cardstocks from Discount Cardstock. My little bags were three inches across, so I cut the cardstock into three inch strips, and folded it over to wrap around the bags. I added a staple (a cute GREEN staple, I might add) and that was that!!!
Below, you can see the front and the back. And this font, is called Howser. It's one of my all-time favorites! You can find Howser at www.kevinandamanda.com It is a FABULOUS place to get free fonts!!!! LOVE IT!
So save this idea for next year, and you'll be way ahead of the game! All thanks to ME! ;) (tee hee!)

Sunday, February 20, 2011

moving right along. . .

Just when the holiday decorations are barely down, Valentine's Day comes rolling along. And then before you can blink, it's time to think about Easter. I love how the holidays carry us from one month to the next, and cause the days to pass with something always to look forward to. Granted, it doesn't take much to make me happy, so I am content to look forward to a cozy bed, a big hug, or a sweet treat. But I digress. . .
Easter! Stephanie came out with SUCH a cute Easter set, for this month at The {Stamps} of Life! LOVE this set!!! I LOVE the font she used, and i LOVE this giant polka-dotty egg! I used some bright springy colors from Discount Cardstock, Frosted Kiwi Prismatic, Iced Pink Prismatic, Salt Dotted Swiss, and Posh Aqua Satin Sparkle. This card is also my CPS card for the week, sketch #206. It's a fun sketch this week! I like working with circles. (Or in this case, I changed the circle to an oval. . .an EASTER EGG oval!) Be sure to stop by the CPS blog and check out the sketch!
Thank you so much for all the comments on my last post - goodness, I wasn't expecting such a response! That was more comments than I've had in a long time! (Which is pretty sad, being that I am so excited about SIX comments!!!) ;) Maybe I'll dig some more old cards out more often, and share them again soon!! Have a great rest of your weekend!
XOXO

(card goodies: cardstock and button (Discount Cardstock - Posh Aqua Satin Sparkle, Frosted Kiwi, Iced Pink, Salt Dotted Swiss), stamps (The {Stamps} of Life), ribbon (Papertrey Ink) ink (Close To My Heart)

Friday, February 18, 2011

kickin' it old school.

I was cleaning out some of my crafty stuff the other day, (it seems like I'm ALWAYS doing that!) and I was purging some published cards, from long ago. I came across a few of my very first cards that were published. It was funny looking back at some of them. I had to keep them, of course, because they are totally sentimental!!!! I thought I'd share a few with you today!

This was my very first card published. It was in the November issue of CARDS. . .2007. I borrowed October Afternoon stamps from my dear friend Angie (she's my favorite and my best, when it comes to begging, borrowing, and stealing supplies). This was wayyy back when, I think before OA even had paper. I have been obsessed with them, from the very very begining! I used CTMH ribbon, and cardstock. I still love this card. Sometimes when you look back at cards, they look so dated and not quite as cute as they once seemed. But I still really like this one.
This was my very first layout ever published. I did an assignment for Simple Scrapbooks magazine - it was in the very last issue (sniff sniff!) This, and one other layout that I did. It is super cool seeing my cards published, but even MORE exciting to see my pictures, and my family, and ME on a magazine page!!! It was a fabulous experience!!! (This is the only time I've had my scrapbooking published. .. maybe because I don't really scrapbook anymore! ha ha!)
I think this was the second published card. It was in CARDS, March 2008, I think. This one looks a little more dated to me! But I love that it was picked up, because I sat down specifically to create some St. Patrick's Day cards, because there was a call out for them. I thought to myself, "St. Patrick's Day. . .that just might be obscure enough that I have a decent chance!" And I guess I did!

Thanks for wandering down memory lane with me!!!! It was fun! I hope you have a terrific weekend! We are hoping to head to the park, and take advantage of the spring-like weather!
XOXO


Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Ooh la la! Lookin' fancy!

Happy Day After Valentines Day!!!! I had a GREAT time scooping up some post-V Day goodies at Target this morning! New heart shaped plates, and place mats for next year! (And I think tonight we will celebrate our first ever "Night After Valentines Dinner" so that we can use them, just once, before I pack them away!

So, have you seen the new releases at The {Stamps} of Life yet!? Easter eggs, and coffee and sentiments - OH MY! Be sure to go over to the TSOL website and see the full stamp sets.

I sent these cards to Stephanie, because she needed some samples for her video. I had so much fun watching the video, and seeing her talking about my projects! Crazy me forgot to photograph them before I mailed them to her (it was in the midst of The Great Computer Disaster of 2011) so she was sweet enough to send these CUTE photos to me, so I could post them around. (Having someone else take pictures of your work makes it look SO much cuter, I've decided!) I have some more projects I will share in a few days, but these should getcha started!
The new Easter set is called eggs2hunt. I used it, along with last year's Easter set (which includes the smaller eggs, and the grass,) to create a little gift bag.
Coffee. Coffee. Coffee. This stamp set is adorable! It's called coffee4two and it has a BIG coffee cup, a small one, and lots of fun sentiments to stick on the cup.
I used October Afternoon patterned paper, and my favorite Kraft cardstock (from Discount Cardstock) on both of these cards!!!

I have one more Easter card to share in a few days, so be sure to come back and visit me!!! But for now, the wee one (who has not yet had a nap today) is at my feet, and crying for my attention, so I think I better GO!

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Warm fuzzies!

Happy weekend! I intended to be an especially good blogger this past week, coordinating with my week-long visit as Guest Blogger at SEI . . . .but instead of being an especially good blogger - I was an especially TERRIBLE blogger here! I had bunches of cards, but not much I could share this week.

It was worth it though - I was tickled PINK to get an email from Paper Crafts yesterday, requesting FIVE of my cards for their Stamp It! Cards issue, coming out in July. That is totally a record - I've never had that many cards picked up for one magazine! I was completely floored!
Last night I was reading through the comments on the SEI blog. If you go leave a comment on my Friday post, you'll be entered to win some fabulous goodies from SEI - some of the same new product I shared in my posts this week. The comments have all been so sweet, and left me feeling warm and fuzzy last night as I went to sleep. {So if you are one of those comments, thank you, from the bottom of my heart!!!! You made my day!}

This card features Close To My Heart stamps, that will be released as a May Stamp of the Month, along with My Mind's Eye patterned paper, and my favorite kraft cardstock from Discount Cardstock. The scalloped strip is new from Close To My Heart, it comes in a package with different patterns. They are really quite cool. And here's an amusing fact - they are self adhesive . . .but I didn't realize it, so mine is carefully glued down with adhesive! Silly me! ;)

Have a wonderful weekend. Thank you again to each of you for stopping by here, and for visiting with me at SEI {it was such an honor to be over there!} I'm going to go grab some breakfast, and watch my littlest man stack Duplo Legos! XOXO

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Hey there cupcake!!!

Hey there cute cupcakes! How's your weekend going? We have spent a good part of the weekend in Mr. B's room - decluttering, rearranging, and purging (on the sly, of course!) It looks pretty good in there . . .and I'm sure it won't last through the weekend!

I posted this card on my mom's Close To My Heart blog a few months ago, but I don't think I ever shared it here. It's getting so close to Valentine's Day, I thought it was fine time for a CUPCAKE CARD! (with less calories than the real thing!)

All CTMH goodies on this baby, (except the twine and the button!) I used the stamp set, Cupcake Sprinkles, paired with Twitterpated paper I also used the sweet little frame stamp (one of my new favorites!) from the set, Priceless Love. I added some Chocolate ribbon, (and the twine and button are from Discount Cardstock!!)

Hey - speaking of Discount Cardstock. Are you a fan of Discount Cardstock, on Facebook? Check this out:

"Want to win a FREE Posh Paper Kit?? Invite your friends to become a fan of Discount Cardstock. Have them leave a comment on the wall that you referred them. The one with the most referrals will win a free January Posh Paper kit and one of those who you referred will win a great embellishment pack. The contest will run until Wednesday morning at 8am"

(But don't say that I referred you, because I'm a design team member!!!)

Okay, one last thing to share for the day. (Well, maybe two.) Here's what I'm cooking for dinner tonight. Paying tribute to my Greek heritage, and attempting for the first time. . .spanakopita. Just came from the store and got everything I needed. Phyllo dough, please be my friend today!!! Only problem is that I just realized I forgot the parsley. Hmmm.

I must admit, I rocked the coupons quite nicely today. I spent $31.04, and saved $46.54 and here are some of the highlights: 6 cans of Rotel tomatoes, 3 chunks of Kraft cheese, 4 bags of Kraft shredded cheese, 2 containers of feta, 2 cream cheese, 2 sour cream (it was a big dairy day today!) 2 boxes of Nabisco crackers, milk, 2 jars of salsa. . .and a bunch of other stuff. I really got even a better deal, because I had a gift card with $5 left on it, so I only spent $26 out of pocket! SWEET!!!!

Have a great day today, and be sure to come visit me at the SEI blog tomorrow! I'll be there blogging all week! XOXO

Friday, February 4, 2011

a card and an announcement!

Good morning!!! It's Friday, and I LOVE Fridays. The hubs is off on Fridays and it's always nice to have him home during the day. I've always loved Friday anyway, because it's nice to have the whole weekend to look forward to.

Today is an especially good Friday, because it's a new month - and that means a new Apron Strings kit. The February kit was my first opportunity to play with Webster's Pages paper. Man, it's some nice paper!!! It's really thick, and very high quality stuff! I created this card, using stamps from Close To My Heart for the sentiment, and pennant flags that I cut on my paper trimmer.

Today is also an exciting day for me, because it is the first of six days that I am guest blogging and designing for SEI! SEI is one of the very first scrapbooking companies that I really became familiar with. Being invited to blog with them was really exciting, and I enjoyed preparing some projects to be shared next week. So hop on over there - today I shared some weird and wacky facts about myself. (You'll see how strange I really am!) And next week, I'll remind you to go back over and see what else I've been cooking up!!!!

HAPPY WEEKEND!!!!
XOXO

Thursday, February 3, 2011

House obsession (CPS 203)

(card goodies: stamps - Stampotique "Row Houses", patterned paper - October Afternoon, Kraft cardstock, buttons - Discount Cardstock, ribbon, ink - Close To My Heart)

I told you that I am obsessed with houses. I have made quite a few cards with these cute houses, from Stampotique. This is my card for this week's CPS sketch, number 203. After I started stamping the houses on patterned paper, I just kept mixing and matching what I had, and I created a few cards with the same paper.

So the new iMac arrived yesterday afternoon. Hubby just finished loading Photoshop for me, and I am happy to be reunited with my old friend :) Finally - something that looks familiar, as I adjust to the world of Mac! (Although I was just barely adjusting to the PSE 9.0, after upgrading at Christmas, so really, even Photoshop isn't all that familiar now!)

I'm looking forward to getting all my pictures and files organized this weekend, and hope to have things running smoothly by next week. Come by tomorrow though - I have something exciting to share with you!!! :)

XOXO