Back in the Saddle again

So, life has been pushing itself to the front burner.  With it in the forefront, sometimes scrapbooking gets pushed to the back.  One of my goals this year is to get back with the crafting and the blogging to go with it.  So, here we are.

I really like how this layout turned out.  It took a fair bit of work and trying some new things.  I used Bo Bunny paper called Midnight Frost.  The layout comes from a book called Magic.  It is from Close To My Heart. 
The layout is called Showtime and is an interactive layout. 
Here is the left page:

The two small pictures, side by side, at the top of the layout replace the called-for 5x7.  Next to the scalloped border is a small bow.  Untie the bow and there are more pictures and journaling.

Keep flipping open pages and there are even more pictures.

And more!

All open!

The Magic book shows all the steps to make this interactive fold out.  I love this book!!! I was able to fit 14 pictures on this layout without cropping them down to tiny little pictures! 14! Love it!
Here are a few close-ups of the left hand page.

And the right hand page:

Some of the details:

Thanks for looking!

Heart 2 Heart Challenge, ABC

So this week at the Heart 2 Heart Challenge, we are doing the ABC's!  Be sure to check out the projects from the design team.  They are really great.  So here's what we have to do this week:
A= Alphabet. Use alphabet stamps, stickers, etc.... in some way on your project

B= Boy. Your project must be for a boy.
C= Chocolate. You must include the color Chocolate (or other dark brown) somewhere on your artwork

I have a feeling that I will be doing more than one of these this week.  This challenge is right up my alley!  Not only do I have three boys, but I have a nephew being born any minute now.  My brother and his wife are at the hospital and hopefully, we'll add another grandson to my mother's flock soon. 
Here is my project:

Here's the left page

And the right page

These pictures are from our very first day here in Australia.  This will go in the boys' album to celebrate and remind them of our first day here. 

I used the Tiny Typewriter alphabet to spell out the little tag box.  I used some non CTMH chipboard letters for the Sydeny.  I painted them with our white paint and then sponged chocolate ink on the edges. 

I tied little bits of ribbon to the letters to add a little more texture to the page.  I used three papers from the set Sweet Home on these pages.  The yellow is the front side, but the other two are back sides.  Since I was using the back side on the brown, I had to cover up the trademark.  The bottom of the "E" worked nicely for that. 

I thought the plain blue didn't work well with the brown so I added some brown to it.  I used the swirl from our Felicity stamp set and some small flowers from the Connections stamp set.  I random stamped on the blue with Chocolate ink.  It turned out really well and tied the two papers together.  I decided to use the front side of the yellow because a few of the pictures have yellow in them and it made for a really nice accent. 

I added a line of buttons for some fun and over all I am very pleased with how the layout turned out. 
Hope you like it too!

Some cards for a friend

As a birthday gift for a friend, I made 12 of the 20 cards in the Wishes Just Because card workshop.  I used a left over Tickled Pink set and my friend really liked them. 

Heart 2 Heart Challenge, Sentimentally Yours

So this week at the Heart 2 Heart Challenge, we have to use a Close To My Heart sentiment stamp to create our project.  Be sure to check out the challenge blog here for all the beautiful artwork. 
Shortly after we started school, I met a woman who's husband works for the Royal Australian Air Force.  He is on the same project that my husband is on, but they don't work together.  Each of our middle children are in the same kindergarten class and she knows what it is like to live overseas.  She lived in Seattle for three years while her hubby was on this project. 
Anyway, this kind lady has taken me under her wing and showed me the ropes of living in Australia.  I'd be lost without her.  I decided to make her a card and here it is.

I used the Stay Left pattern out of Wishes and made my own background paper.  I took a piece of bamboo textured cardstock and sprayed it lightly with water.  Once damp, I crumbled it all up and then flattened it back out.  I let it dry and then stamped the KINDNESS stamp from the set State of Mind in Cocoa ink across it.  I then cut it to size.  I used Vineyard Berry and Cocoa cardstock for the rest and hand-stitched the edges of the Vineyard Berry.  I used a scrap of Vineyard Berry ribbon and stamped the Thanks in Vineyard Berry.  The Thanks is from the stamp set For Every Occasion.  It was also stamped on a bit of bamboo textured cardstock. 

I think that my friend will like the card and I'm happy with how it turned out. 
Thanks for looking!

A Blog Award!!!

I've never gotten anything for my blog before, so I am thrilled that Carol Labuski chose to pick my blog as one of her 5 favorites.

I am very surprised and honored to get this little award!  Thank you, Carol!  I think that Carol is very talented and you can visit her blog here. 
There are a few rules for this award. 
1)  Thank the person who gave it to you
Thank you, Carol.  I am honored to have you like my blog. 
2)  Post the award on your blog.
No problem, it will be done!
3)  Tell everyone three things that you love.
Hmmm, just three?  It would be family, friends, and crafting. 
4) Share a picture you love. 

This is really hard for me, as I have about 10 pictures or so that are my absolute favorite.  Most of them are digital, but I have a couple that were taken with my old SLR before I switched to a digital SLR.

We spent an overcast morning at a local beach and I got this picture of my oldest and youngest sons, playing in the sand.  I love how both of their shirts are riding up just a bit and how they both have a reflection on the sand.  I just love it!

5) Pass the award on to five blogs that you love.

Oh, very tricky for me, but I'll give it a go.  There are so many blogs that I read and it's hard to choose just 5.  Here they are in no particular order.

1)Vicki

2)Katy

3)Beth

4)Deneen

5)Jamia

Please go visit their blogs and see their beautiful artwork.  I think they are great!

Heart 2 Heart Challenge, Color Challenge

So this week at the Heart 2 Heart Challenge, we have a color challenge.

These colors really make me think of fall.  There's a problem though.  It's not Fall here.  It is 12 days into Spring.   So it took me most of the week to come up with something that I liked... and I LOVE how it turned out.

Thanks to inspiration from Tresa Black's bandana technique, I created my own background paper.  The cardstock started off as white daisy.  Using two stamps from the Summer Wishes set, I random stamped the cardstock.  I then carefully colored all the swirls on the flowers with a white pencil.  Using a sponge, I then rubbed Autumn Terracotta ink all over the page.  I had planned to add some white dots like Tresa does, but I actually loved how it looked without the dots.  I picked a pattern from Wishes called Simplicity.   I mounted my paper on some sanded New England Ivy cardstock and added another strip of it across the front.  I rubbed ink on a 2x2 square of colonial white cardstock.  I used candles from the Everyday Celebrations card kit and masked them.  I wanted the flames to be Honey and not NEI.  The word "wishes" is from the Summer Wishes set and "birthday" is from A Litte Everything.  I popped up the square with foam tape and added two old Autumn Terracotta spirals under it.  I am really happy with how it turned out!

Heart to Heart Challenge, Fancy Folds

This week at the Heart 2 Heart Challenge, we are doing fancy folds.  Please check out the challenge and the other great projects here.
Here is my project, a folded paper Christmas star ornament:

I made this using our Jingle paper and added a little bling with some small sparkles, randomly added around the ornament.  I first learned how to make these at a workshop in the summer of 2008.  Shortly after I became a consultant in October of 2008, I posted one on the bulletin board and was flooded with requests for directions.  I also hosted a workshop in 2008 with them as well.  I got a little tired of them and haven't made them since then.  It was nice to pull something out from the past and do it again.  I enjoy making them a lot, though I won't over do it this time hopefully. 
Here are some directions for making them.  I used Evensong in the lower example. 
You will need 5 different patterned papers.
1) Cut one 4"x4" square and two 2"x2" squares from each paper.
2) Fold each 4"x4" square in half.

3) Open the square and fold in half the other direction. 

4) Open and fold diagonally.

5.) Open, turn square over and fold diagonally in the opposite direction.

6.) Open up the square and bring diagonal folds together.  Make sure the paper you want to show is on the inside.

7.) Repeat 4 times for the other 4"x4" squares. 

8.) Adhere the first folded square to the next, for a total of five.  Do not attach the first to the last yet.  (The two squares shown below get adhered together.  Make sure the squares are all oriented the same way.)

9.)  All five together

10.) Attach ribbon to last squre and adhere the first square to the last square.  The ribbon should be on each side of the point.

11.)  Fold all 2"x2" squares diagonally with the patterns that you want shown on the inside.

12.)  Adhere all 2"x2" squares to the outside of the star, over the back sides of the other paper. 

13.)  Ink all edges with coordinating ink and add any embellishments.

14.) Done!

Once you've done a couple to get the hang of it, you can do them pretty quickly.  I can make one is less than 15 minutes, including all the cutting, folding and adhering.  These make great little gifts for teachers, customers, etc.  Have fun!