happy birthday cards

It's Wednesday...which means it's hump day and the weekend is almost here!! It also means that tomorrow is September!! I cannot believe it's almost September already!! Time flies!! But on to the craftiness...I wanted to stop by today and share two cards I made using Basic Grey's Life of the Party collection.

For this first card, I inked up a Hero Arts/Basic Grey cling stamp using four colors of distress stains. I then misted that with perfect pearl mist for some shine. I stamped that onto some watercolor paper. I cut out the ric-rac paper from a larger sheet of patterned paper. For the sentiment, I used a die cut label and letter stickers from the Basics collection, which is attached using foam dots. Kept it simple so it would work for either a masculine or feminine birthday card! Since there isn't a lot of bulk, it will mail easily too!

For this second card, I made a shaped card using my silhouette. I love the layers. I stamped the senitment in two stages since this is a long stamp and not a stacked stamp as I have done here. I know there are some stampers who can cut their stamps to either stack them or make them long...I am not one of them (yet). I say yet because anything can change at any time, but for now even the thought of cutting my stamps makes me cringe (even though I am well aware that the image will go back together easily...I just can't do it!!)!! I trimmed the 'presents' from a sheet of patterned paper and tied them up with some Divine Twine. Love that this gives the look of presents and adds some dimension.

Thanks for stopping by!
Deb

skee ball

I am not going to lie...I love skee ball!! I asked my sister if we could go to Chuck-E-Cheese for my birthday figuring the kids would have a blast, but really I wanted to play some skee ball!! Let me just tell you, that we all had a blast!! Even my parents played some of the games! While we weren't necessarily playing any games of skee ball against each other, my sister kept beating my score...that was until the last game!! That's when I finally beat her!!

Lots of fun layers on this using Basic Grey's Oxford collection. I am loving the camera stamp by Unity that I found at my LSS this past weekend too. I stamped that on some American Crafts cardstock and trimmed it out.

Thanks for stopping by!
Deb

playtime at the park

I decided to play along with Shimelle's latest Sketch of the Week again this week after taking last week off. Lots of layers on this weeks sketch!! I adjusted the sketch slightly in that I used punched circles around the main focal image instead of paint splatters. I think some of my punches have been feeling a bit unloved lately, so I broke out a bunch of my circle punches in various sizes and just added to the layout until it felt finished. Love the way it turned out and would love to hear what you think.

When I was visiting my family up north a few weeks ago, we went to one of the local parks in the morning for the kids to burn some energy. Matt was ALL over the place, but because he's still not quite big enough to play unsupervised, he kept my sister quite busy!! Julia on the other hand only talked about that fireman's pole...hence why we went to this particular park. She didn't slide down the pole, she climbed up it! It was especially funny when three boys came over and only one of them could climb up it! Julia was sure to point that out, but she did encourage them to try!! She could only climb about half way up (she is only 4), but I give it until next year for her to be able to climb up the entire way!!

Thanks for stopping by!
Deb

adventure

I have been wanting to share this layout for a while, and to honest, I am not sure why it's taken me so long! I had this pattern paper from a Studio Calico kit, that I figured would work great for a title. At one point, however, I had sliced right through the word between the 'ent' and 'ure.' No worries though, I just merged it back together and mounted it onto some black cardstock. Can't even tell it had been cut in half at one time!

There is certainly a lot going on on this layout! I am loving the circle embellishments lately! This set of 9 is from the lesson of the first week of Explore. Since that lesson, I am finding myself making these types of embellishments more and more, instead of relying on florals and/or butterflies! I am still needing to spend some time on Explore and get it finished. I failed miserable at keeping up...I think I made it through 3 days! But with Labor Day coming soon in the US, it also means a 3 day weekend soon...so I will be taking advantage of that time to finish Explore!!

Thanks for stopping by!
Deb

i am so not a morning person

Quick post today as we go in and out of rain from Hurricane Irene off the coast. It's ironic that I live in Florida, but my sister and her family in Connecticut should be the one's preparing for this Hurricane! Best piece of advice I can give (from someone who survived three Hurricanes in 2004 within a 5 week period, including a Category 4) is to make sure you have everything that isn't nailed down, inside!! But on to the crafty stuff!! I put this layout together for the Starting Point challenge over at Shimelle's blog. You can find it here. I also put it up over at 2peas for their weekly challenge.

I followed the starting point pretty closely, but used papers from my stash. I also didn't hide my journaling on this layout. I have done that in the past, but this layout didn't warrent hidden journaling!

Thanks for stopping by!
Deb

starbucks

It's not secret that I love Starbucks!! Those who know me think it's what's running through my veins I am sure!! I do have a cup of coffee everyday, but I only go to Starbucks once a week...it does get expensive if I go more than that! It seems that every season, they release a special drink just for that time of year...in the fall, everyone loves their pumpkin spice latte's (well, everyone except me because I don't like anything pumpkin), one summer it was a mint mocha frappuccino, there was one season with a maple latte (that was super yum in my opinion), and I think there's even a peppermint eggnog latte around Christmas (don't quote me on that one because I also don't do anything eggnog either)!! This summer they have had the mocha coconut flavor...and it's so good!! I get it in frappuccino form of course (I do live in Florida remember...hot drinks are usually only good for a few months down here, then it's all about the cold drinks)! When I was just getting to know the instagram app on my iphone, I took a pic of a freshly made mocha coconut frappuccion...and I just had to scrap that for the memories.

Ok, here's the true story behind this layout. A few months back I decided to try a few Mister Huey mists by Studio Calico. I love the glimmer mists, so I wanted to give these a try since they were a flat mist...more options and all! When my mists arrived, I had to try them out, but I didn't know exactly what I wanted to use them on, so I just grabbed this sheet of 8 1/2 x 11 kraft cardstock from my stash. It very well may have already been on my desk waiting to be made into some cards. I honestly can't remember. But the first colors I picked up were Piglet (a light pink) and Pickle (a green). So I put this sheet into a box and misted it with some pink. The results were less then stellar as the pink doesn't really show up to well on the kraft. Then I just shot it with some of the Pickle...which turned out fantastic. Then I set the paper aside figuring I would use it for something, I just didn't know what. I shuffled this sheet of cardstock around my office for a long time...moving it from the desk, to a shelf, back to the desk, over to a different shelf, to a pile over there, to a pile over here!! It just kept moving and moving because I couldn't part with a piece of cardstock that had a bit of mist on it!! Then I took this picture and once I got it back I had an epiphany...that misted kraft cardstock would be perfect for a simple layout about my summer love affair with the Starbucks Mocha Coconut Frappuccio!! Match made in heaven! I don't usually scrap this size, but it works very well for this subject and it add's just a little something extra to my 2011 album!

Thanks for stopping by!
Deb

spread your wings

Well, I am officially scrapbooked out!! I finally finished up the last layout for all of the challenges over at Shimelle's blog!! This one is for the Bingo Cards & Butterflies challenge...another inspiration challenge. I found inspiration is the design, color, and choice of butterflies for accents. I don't typically use a lot of yellow on anything...layouts, cards, clothes I wear, etc. However, I am now in love with yellow, black, and grey!! When digging through my stash for the Hot Pink Hoopla challenge (back when I thought I would make a layout for that challenge that used hot pink) I stumbled upon some Teresa Collins Posh papers. I found one that I adored!! I wanted to make it work for the pink challenge, but I just couldn't get it to work with that airplane photo...and I was set on that photo for that challenge. Hence why I didn't actually use pink (you can see that layout here if you'd like). But, I digress into something way off topic!! Back to the paper. Loved this paper that I found...so I set it aside for this challenge!!

I kept my design similar to Shimelle's, but I used a 4x6 photo instead of a bingo card. I also used a much smaller butterfly (by Maya Road).

Since this is a layout from my nephew's baptism, I wanted to keep it somewhat masculine, even though I was using butterflies as my main embellishment. To do this, I first painted the butterfly black. Once that dried, I painted over it with yellow distress crackle paint. I used a thin coat to get the smaller cracks. Then I used my ink blending tool to rub black soot distress ink into the cracks and around the edges. I just lightly cleaned up the surface with a baby wipe. The black ink got into the cracks while the yellow was still on the surface. The title is pretty fitting given the event, and it works with those embellishements too. Ties it all together!!

Thanks for stopping by and have a fabulous Sunday!!
Deb

hot pink hoopla

Ok, so I must confess...there is NO pink on this layout!! I did this layout for the Hot Pink Hoopla challenge over at Shimelle's blog. Thankfully, however, the challenge was not to use pink, but to use the layout as inspiration...that could have meant pink, but it could also mean many other things. I found inspiration in the smaller box on the layout and the border strip.

I decided not to do a lot of embellishing on the left side of the layout mainly because I didn't want to cover the border strip. I wanted to have those planes showing since this is a layout about the first flight of my trip. I used lots of October Afternoon on this layout, mainly from the Boarding Pass collection, but the background dots are from the Rocket Age collection. I love how well these collections go together!

I hope you had a super Saturday and found some time to do some crafting!! Thanks for stopping by!
Deb

seniors

Well, this is the final layout that I did for Shimelle's 'proud to scrapbook' weekend of challenges...and it's for the 3 is a magic number challenge. I don't know about you, but I have really enjoyed all of these challenges!! It's like National Scrapbook Day in August!! Not to mention how many layouts I've scratched off the to-do list! Plus some of these have really challenged me creatively and I am sure I will be saving the post with all of the challenges to my favorites for when I am in a scrapping slump...these will be just what I need to jump start my creativity.

I went a little retro with this layout too...meaning I scrapped another photo from my senior year of high schoo. This time, however, I used a photo from earlier in my senior year instead of graduation. I was in the marching band at my high school for 5 years (we started in 8th grade there) and at the end of each season all of the seniors get together for a photo that is usually given to all of the coaches during the awards banquet...this is a layout of that photo.

For my 3 embellishemnts I made 3 fabric flowers using Glubers. Well, 2 are from fabric and 1 is from ribbon. I've had the Glubers in my stash for a while, but this is the first time I've used them. The design of this layout was inspired by a Real Simple Magazine. I saw it on the stands and was drawn to it, so I picked it up knowing I would use it for scrapbook inspiration. On the magazine cover, there was a cluster of paint sample strips to the right of the main element, hence the flim strip. That's a stamp that I got from one of my Studio Calico kits, and I finally broke it out. I filled in the white space with patterned paper in the same color scheme. Since I used 3 strips, I guess these could count toward the 3 embellishments too.

But, this is my last layout for the weekend of challenges. Two left, the Butterflies & Bingo Cards challenge and the Hot Pink Hoopla challenge. I have one of those done and will post it in a bit. I am almost finished with the other and am planning to have that up on the blog tomorrow. Until then, thanks for stopping by!
Deb

staying cool in the pool

I can not lie, I used to find it so terrifying to just cut into my patterned paper! It would cause my huge levels of stress, anxiety, trauma...I could go on. But then I just did it. And let me tell you...it is so liberating not to fear cutting up that perfect piece of paper...because I have come to realize (and it took me a L O N G time to reach this conclusion), that tomorrow there will be another perfect sheet of patterned paper. So rather than keep things in my stash for months (ok, sometimes years) I am finding that I am using more of what I get now (and using a lot more of what I had already)! I no longer fear cutting up the paper!!!

Enter Shimelle's Chop Your Paper challenge!! This was the perfect challenge for me to do after I stressed out about the sticker challenge (HA!)!!! And I decided to show off my nephew a little because I felt like I was neglecting all the photos of him from my recent vacation!! He is such a fish and, at 2, loves to swim. He needs a little help because he just doesn't quite know how to hold his head up on his own, but it will not be long before he's swimming all by himself!!

I used a lot of Echo Park's Splash collection for this...solid papers, patterned papers, border strips, and journaling cards. I did add some of the new Studio Calico/Hero Arts cloud stamps on the top to balance out the sun. Love those stamps!! Stamp perfectly every time!! And I love that they match the Fiskars cloud punches!! The only non paper embellishment are the buttons...just needed a bit more detail and those doodlebug buttons were perfect!

Thanks for stopping by!!
Deb

cutie patootie

A stickery challenge...I love stickers but I don't always buy they when I am buying other fun scrappy embellishments because I don't seem to use them on my layouts. So this was a bit of a challenge for me. I have so many old sticker books at home from when my mom would buy us stickers for random rewards when we did good things or stickers from the dentist/doctor...so I love stickers, I just don't seem to love them on my scrapbook pages. So when I saw this challenge amongst Shimelle's weekend of challenges, I knew I would want to give it a go, but I also knew it would probably be one of the last that I tried because it would not come easy!! Then I decided to cheat just a little and use some chipboard stickers...hey they are stickers, right!! Made this layout a lot easier for me to put together!!

This layout features stickers from Crate Paper (yes, stickers and chipboard stickers), October Afternoon, and Fancy Pants. I also used Crate Paper and Fancy Pants patterned paper, a little bit of kraft cardstock, and some white Mister Huey's mist. I used more instagram photos from my recent vacation (of my niece of course, but my sister...her mom...is in the top photo too)!! My sister 'rents' Disney dvd's from  our mom (meaning our mom brings new movies every trip and trades them out for the movies they brought the previous trip) and this trip Sleeping Beauty was among the movies that were brought. We watched it two times in as many days. I don't mind as it is my favorite of the princess films. But it was so darn cute when, in the middle of the second time watching it, my niece went over and sat on my sister as she layed on the floor. So of course, I had to capture that moment!!

Happy crafting (if you are finding time to craft this lovely Saturday!! Thanks for stopping by!
Deb

signature accent

Hello Saturday!! I love weekends and I love not having to work on Saturday! I work in retail, so I usually work Saturday and have Sunday off...but this week it's the opposite. Not that I like working on Sunday (in fact it's my least favorite day to work...even beating Monday) but every so often, I really enjoy having a Saturday off!!

I wanted to start the day off today with a layout that I put together for Shimelle's Signature Accent challenge from her scrappy weekend last weekend (still have a smidge of time left to create for these challenges if you want)!! A few weeks ago I would have said my signature accent is usually a flower or butterfly. Lately I have been in love with little layered circles. But I think that's just a phase I am in right now...I still LOVE my floral embellishments!! So that's what I went with for this challenge!! And I decided to go with homemade florals! Also as of late, if I can make the embellishment rather than buy it, I will! So that's what I did.

For this layout, I used a lot of the Classics collection from American Crafts. It's got of layers and I love it. I also love the photo, which was taken from the instagram app using my iPhone and printed by postalpix (another iPhone app). I can't rave enough about postalpix! Anyway, back to the layout!! I made the flowers using the barcode strip that can be found on the AC papers. I just trimmed them, adhered them into circles, pressed in the center slightly, layered them up (four circles for each flower), and stapled them together in the center with my tiny attacher. Then I just adhered a coordinating button to the center with a glue dot!! Super easy and add's a great element to layouts!!

I am sure to be back later with more layouts for the challenges! If I am counting correctly, I've got 5 left (including the two from this past week)!! Hopefully I get them all done..I'm sure gonna give it the old college try!! Thanks for stopping by!!
Deb

the uss arizona - July 4x6 photo love

I am super excited to share this layout! I love the idea of 7 photos on one 12x12 layout! I knew exactly what photos I wanted to use. These photos are from our visit to the USS Arizona Memoria back in 2004.

I had to photograph this layout while it was laying down because everytime I stood it up, the accordian fold opened up. I am still trying to figure out how I will keep it closed. Right now I am leaning toward sewing some baker's twine through the back to tie in the front. That should hold everything together in the album. Right now, I just haven't cut the page protector, so it's all in there nice & neatly right now!

Love the accordian on this and all the room for journaling. I took so many photos of the flag that flew above the memorial, so this page is all about that.

And this is the other side of the accordian. And yes, you'll notice more circle embellishment clusters!

Thanks for stopping by!
Deb

class of '96

Happy Friday!! I wanted to share a layout today that I put together for the retro challenge over at Shimelle's blog. This challenge is all about scrapping older photos, meaning photos from before 2011. I got out my old high school albums and decided to scrap some photos of my graduation in  (gulp) 1996. All of my high school photos are in 'safe' albums (meaning not magnetic) but they are certainly on my 'to scrap' list, they are just not of high priority on that list since they are already in safe albums and out for people to look at. I was even smart and wrote out all the names of everyone in those photos on little stickers that are placed next to the photo (so really, I could scrap these photos in 20-30 years and know everyone in those photos). So glad I thought ahead on that one!!!

But on to the layout. I used lots of red and white papers, because our colors were, well, red and white!

I am seriously becoming addicted to those circle embellishment clusters! I must make a layout without using them!!! The journaling on this is pretty straightforward and general because I have a TON of photos from this event. I've got photos, like these, that were taken from my parents in the stands and I've got photos that I took from the field! I have always been addicted to taking photos (and apparently documenting everyone in the photos) so it was a natural progression to scrapbooking the following summer!!

I hope you have a wonderful Friday! I will be back later with my layout for the latest installment of 4x6 photo love! Can't wait to share that layout! Until then, thanks for stopping by!
Deb

bright eyes

I am blogging and watching Suits at the same time...so I apologize in advance if this seems to go astray! This has to be my new favorite summer show!! But on to the business at hand...I wanted to post this layout today, and since the day is amost over, it's time I get it up here on the blog!! I put this one together using the digital printables from this post as it is for another of Shimelle's 'proud to scrapbook' challenges from last weekend. I used the girl circles and journal boxes for this layout, combined with some older items from my stash!

This layout features two more instagram photos of my niece from my week vacation visiting family earlier this month. These were taken at Chuck-e-Cheese. We went there for my birthday, figuring the two kids would have a blast...and they did!! For the record, the title letters look really great in real life and are not as washed out as they appear to be in the photo above. This layout it all about how this little girl has that glow in her eye and I can tell that she is destined for greatness. I am so proud to be her Aunt!!

Thanks for stopping by!
Deb

coffee

Happy Thursday!! I am back with another layout!! I put this layout together for the Grid It Up challenge over at Shimelle's blog. Since the photos that I used are from our 10th anniversary dinner, I used a similar color scheme as I used here. These layouts will sit opposite eachother in my album, so I wanted them to appear to go together!

While the meal at Victoria & Alberts is fabulous, one of the parts of the experience my hubby and I look forward to most is the coffee. It is brewed in a vintage coffee pot right at the table. And, to be honest, it's better than any coffee that is brewed in my pot at home. But that's why we look so forward to this part of the dinner...and another reason it's someplace we go to only so super special occasions. We all need to have things we look forward to!!

I am planning to be back later today with another layout to share. Until then, thanks for stopping by!!
Deb

blessed

I had made this layout a few months ago of me holding my niece at her baptism. That layout didn't have a lot of journaling on it...in fact, it didn't have any. So that was a perfect candidate for the Add To The Story challenge (another in Shimelle's weekend of 'proud to scrapbook' challenges).

I made my addition 8x8, which is a size I don't usually use. However, I had picked up some page protectors in that size thinking I might want to get it a try someday. Someday has come! It's the perfect addition to the page I had originally created.

What I love about this little mini-page addition is that it was made entirely from scraps! I didn't cut into any full sheets of patterned paper! Love when I can do that!!

Thanks for stopping by!
Deb

happy anniversary

I am back with another layout to share that I put together for the Color Story challenge over at Shimelle's blog. It was another of her 'proud to scrapbook' challenges from this past weekend. If you haven't checked out any of the the challenges you can do so here...and the best news...you have until Sunday the 21st to get your layouts made and posted!! So why not get to some scrapping these next few days!!

This challenge was all about color and using specific colors...red, white, and aqua. I love all three of these colors, but hadn't paired the red & white with aqua before! It's such a lovely combination!! I had a sketch in ming from my little page sketch book that I had been wanting to use, so I decided to use that for the basis of this layout. I also knew that I really wanted to use a wood element from Pink Paislee on this layout as well. As a result, this layout came together quite quickly...once the glimmer mist on that wood element dried!!

Those doodlebug glitter stickers that I used for the title are much more visible in person that they appear to be here! I used a combination of brands for this layout: The Girls' Paperie, American Crafts, Doodlebug, House of 3 for Pink Paislee, Pebbles, and Tattered Angels. Love the simplicity of this layout!

The rose photo was taken with the instagram app on my iPhone (love that app) and printed using the postalpix app. They print square photos in 4x4 and 5x5 and regular sized photos as well, all ordered directly through the app from your phone! I have ordered from them a few times and the shipping is quick and the quality is great!! My only wish is that 3x3 photo printing becomes available soon!!

My hubby and I celebrated our 10th anniversary just over a month ago, and we decided to splurge a bit and got to Victoria & Albert's at Disney's Grand Floridian. It's very a very high class 7 course meal where men are required to wear a jacket. In the 11 years we've been here...we've only every been two other times...that's how MUCH of a splurge it is! They give you personalized menus and you select each of your courses right away at the beginning. There are options for each course, but you pick each of your 7 options right away. It's very yummy and worth it, but only on special occasions! At the end of the meal, each lady is given a long stemmed red rose...this is a photo of that rose!!

Thanks for stopping by!!
Deb

all i want...

I had hoped to get this layout posted last night, but I actually fell asleep really early! My body needed the catch up apparently! So that means today I wil have three posts! I am starting with this layout, which I put together for Shimelle's Starting Point challenge. I think this was the most popluar challenge from her 'proud to scrapbook' weekend!! Of course, it was my favorite challenge!!

For this layout I decided to use a lot of Echo Park's Everybody Loves Christmas collection. There are only two things on the layout that are not from this collection...the kraft cardstock and the glitter Thickers. I did a lot of layering for the embellishment cluster on the left. I used stickers from the sticker sheet, but backed them with white cardstock so I could use foam adhesive for more dimension.

I loved these photos of my nephew from back in 2009, the year he celebrated his first Christmas. Because of his size, my sister had a hard time finding 'first christmas' clothes that would fit him. Then she found this shirt and thought it was perfect since both of his Aunt's live far away.

I will be back later with another layout share. Until then, thanks for stopping by!
Deb

sweet girl

One of my favorite challenges from Shimelle's 'proud to scrapbook' weekend was the Half Page Challenge. I don't usually create a page with so much empty space, but this was fun and liberating!! Heck, I used to only scrap 2 page layouts, and now I am all about the one pager...so sometimes challenges are good and can really open up the waves of creativity! I will be putting another layout like this again soon, that's for sure!!

Since this challenge was sponsored by Pebbles, I decided to break out some of my Pebbles stash. I used papers and embellishments from the Happy Go Lucky line, with American Crafts Thickers.

Loving that cloud background paper!! Thanks for stopping by!
Deb

sketch of the week

I am back with a late post today! My blog schedule is quite messed up right now!! I had inteded to get this up earlier, but oh well!! I wanted to share the layout I created for Shimelle's latest Sketch of the Week. It was the first of her 'proud to scrapbook' challenge weekend. This was a fun sketch to work with, and I knew exactly what I wanted to do when I saw it...down to the photo I wanted to use and the embellishments. That usually never happens, so when it does, I embrace it and run with it!! Here's what I came up with...

I created another layout for our Hawaii album from our vacation way back when (7.5 years ago...WOW time flies)!! I made the flowers using the UPC barcode strip and other strips of patterned paper (American Crafts Margarita collection). Then added buttons on top to finish them off. I stamped the journaling spot and used a details sticker for the title. I painted close to the edge to balance out the design (Jenni Bowlin's Chicken Feed by Ranger).

I knew right away that I wanted to use this photo for this sketch layout! It's of the courtyard/lagoon that was in the center of the hotel we were at on the Big Island. This was before I had a digital camera, so this was taken with my film SLR. This is still probably my favorite photo from our vacation!! I knew I wanted to showcase it on a layout all by itself!!

Thanks for stopping by!!
Deb

i love this girl

I have been absent from the blog all weekend because Shimelle (one of my favorite scrappers and bloggers) has been having a 'Proud to Scrapbook' event on her blog this weekend with lots of challenges. I encourage you to check it out you can enter the layout challenges until Sunday, August 21st!! You can check out all of the scrappy challenges here. As a result of this and my job, I have either been working or scrapping...therefore neglecting the blog a but. But never fear, now I have LOTS of projects to share!! First up is not exactly what I had planned to share first, but BOTH camera batteries are dead (and therefore charging now) and this was the ONLY layout I was able to photograph. I put this layout together for the From The Heart Challenge, which calls for I Heart... or I Love... as part of the title.

This is my niece and I just love this girl!! She's also my Goddaughter and my little buddy!! I first met her when she was 2 months old (I live far away from the rest of my family) at her baptism, where my husband and I were blessed with the honor of becoming her Godparents!! That's when I became known to her as her crazy Aunt Debbie (of course, she doesn't remember that but everyone else does so she's picked it up). I was then able to travel up to see my family when she was about 7 months. On the ride from the airport to my sister's house, I was warned by my parents that my niece was very shy and often needed a bit of time before going to someone she didn't know. But when I walked in the door, my sister handed her right to me...I made a funny face and she immediatly started laughing. No shyness around me what-so-ever...though she was with my parents who she had seen many times more than she had seen me!! Some say it's because I'm her mom's sister and she could sense that...my sister and I, however, agree that it's because I am a goof ball and didn't give her the chance to do anything but laugh!! I didn't include this story on this layout because I have plans for it on another!! Just FYI on that!!

Anyway, I hope you have the chance to check out some of the challenges and maybe even take part in one!! I'll be back tomorrow with another layout to share!! Until then, thanks for stopping by!!
Deb

Altered Serving Platter

I was on vacation last week visiting my family in Connecticut and upstate New York, and while in NY we hit up a few antique shops. I didn't get a lot, only picked up two things, because I didn't want to ship anything home...it was going in my luggage or carry-on. I picked up a vintage milk bottle that I plan to use for small flowers or as a bud vase (after all this time, I don't actually have anything small for single flowers or buds...it was perfect). I also picked up an old silver serving platter that I altered with some pretty patterned paper, ribbon, letter stickers, tags, and a photo of my sweet hubby and I at a concert a few weeks ago (I will share that adventure soon...still trying to get used to being back from vacation...and get back into my crafty groove). I used lots of Authentique on this (from the Journey collection) and added some Papertrey Ink ribbon because it matched perfectly!!

I had originally planned to use the Uncommon collection, but I couldn't find a pattern that I loved for the base of this project. So I pulled some Journey and the paper with the flourish was just perfect!! Then I just started layering. I pulled some doilys from my stash, but the rest is Authentique.

Thanks for stopping by!!
Deb

10 things

It's the 10th...so that means it's time for another 10 things!! I didn't plan for this months post at all...so I am just going to wing it!! I loved Shimelle's 10 things post about her town (London) and it's making me want to get a passport and take a trip across the pond!! For me, it was the part about the history...since I LOVE history!! But for now, I will hopefully convince a few people to visit my town...Orlando, FL!!

Attractions: We are home to Disney World, Sea World, and Universal Studios (which...hello...has Harry Potter!!)

Space Travel: A quick drive east and you'll find yourself on the space coast, and while the shuttle program is officially over, it's still a pretty cool place to visit. The VAB (vehicle assembly building) is HUGE and it's a pretty neat sight to take in a launch pad...or even a rocket launch if you visit when one is scheduled!!

Beaches: go east or west and you're going to hit a beach...it's just a given!!

State Parks: Weikiva Springs is a natural spring you can swim in, it's attached to the river that you can canoe up, or you can just have a fun afternoon picnic!! It's a bit of country inside the city!!

Hot Air Balloons: I see them flying every morning on my way to work!! What a great way to see Orlando!!

Water Parks: Don't feel like going to the beach...we've got a few water parks to help beat the heat!! Wet n' Wild, Aquatica, Disney's Blizzard Beach, Disney's Typhoon Lagoon...just to name a few!!

Car Racing: Daytona International Speedway (and world famous beach) are just an hour away!!

Cirque Du Soleil: La Nouba...one word...Amazing!!

Weather: If you like the heat...well, this is your town!!

Discovery Cove: Did I mention that we have a place where you can swim with dolphins??

Thanks for stopping by!!
Deb

halloween

I am up next hosting the challenge over at the Papertrey Playhouse!! I have had a busy few weeks and was sadly not able to play along with the last challenge to make a Christmas project. However, in keeping with the holiday theme of that challenge, I thought it would be fun to make a halloweek (or fall themed project if halloween isn't your thing)!! I decided to make a treat bag instead of a card. I figure this will be a just start in getting some fun things made for the people I work with!! Last year, I made everyone little glassine treat bags, this year, I think I make a bunch of these...or something very similar.

I decided to keep the project pretty simple, and yet it took some time to put together! I only used Sweet Treats II for this card, stamping the spider web all over some white cardstock to create my own background. I then used Favor It #3 to create my little bag (love this die...how have I not used it yet)!! I stamped my focal image and sentiment onto some Orange Zest cardstock and punched it out with a 3" circle punch. Then I tied some orange zest ribbon around the treat bag and adhered the focal image using some foam adhesive! Again, pretty simple in design, but packs a lot of punch!! And for a crew of co-workers that LOVE Halloween, this will be perfect...just need to whip up 29 more!! Thankfully I've got time for that!!

So the challenge: Make a Halloween or Fall Themed card, layout, or other project!! Hop on over to the Papertrey Playhouse post and leave a link to your project! I'd love to see what you make!!

Thanks for stopping by!!

Deb

Congrats Grad

Quick post today since I am headed back home to FL. I had a blast visiting my family and a few old friends too!! I wanted to share a layout of my neice, who graduated pre-K this past June. She's growing up way too fast, and will be starting kindergarten in the fall!! I can't believe that!! It's making me feel very old!!

For this layout I used Echo Park's Country Drive collection (and some button dies from Papertrey Ink for that embellishment cluster on the bottom left). The colors in the patterns matched the photos perfectly without taking the focus off the photos!! And how cute is she in that cap & gown??? So proud of her!!

Thanks for stopping by!!
Deb

Pearl Harbor

I have another layout to share today!! I haven't worked on layouts for our Hawaii trip album in quite some time, so I thought it would be nice to get back into those layouts since I don't have too many left! This is going to be the first layout in the album for our visit to Pearl Harbor.

Since I have my degrees in American History, and as someone who loves History in general, no trip to Hawaii would have been complete without a visit to Pearl Harbor and the Arizona Memorial! Thankfully, as an Army vet, my husband felt the same way!

In keeping with the rest of the album, I used a lot of American Crafts Margarita collection on this layout (there is also some Technique Tuesday, Basic Grey, and October Afternoon as well). Because of the history that surrounds this place, I didn't feel right using some of the brighter papers from this collection, instead, I kept with just the blues and greens. I did this mainly to reflect the palm trees of Hawaii and the blue water. For these layouts, I didn't want to take away from the seriousness, but I also wanted them to flow with the rest of the album. So I just made the collection work for me!! And I LOVE that is does!!!

Hidden journaling on there (much like April's 4x6 photo love class...just flipped around). And I added some stamping too, using a Studio AE stamp set from Technique Tuesday. Those sentiments just fit perfectly!!

Thanks for stopping by!
Deb

I {heart} you

I had made this card a while ago and never got around to sharing it. I made it right when I got my Background Basics: Chevron Stripes stamp set from Papertrey Ink....so it's been a while! I can't believe I haven't shared it!! I used untraditional 'love' colors on this card...aqua, pink, and white. I think this is going to be amongst my favorite color combos.

I love the simplicity of this card!! That chevron stamp set is so fabulous!! I am going to be playing around with that set again very soon! I also love that, with the exception of the ribbon, this is a single layer card, which means it should mail pretty easily!!

Thanks for stopping by!!
Deb

Distress Stain cards

A few weeks ago Jennifer McGuire shared a technique over at the classroom blog using Distress Stains, Perfect Pearl Mists, Watercolor paper, and Stamping! I tried it and was instantly hooked. I posted a card for the last week of Summer Card Camp using this techinque (you can see that here). When I was first playing around with this technique I had to try as many stamps and colors out as I could...and as a result, I made a bunch of cards!!

I used plain white Prima flowers and colored them with the distress stains! I don't think I will ever get another package of colored flowers again because I love the customized look of these!! And they match perfectly to the stamped image!! What could be better than that??

Thanks for stopping by!!
Deb