Gratitude

Today I am filled with an overwhelming gratitude... especially for the wonderful people in my life. I've been gone from the blog for awhile-- school has started again, keeping me very busy, and "life unexpected" has happened. I hadn't been feeling well for a little while-- well, that's an understatement-- I felt pretty darn bad for about 10 days and after finally, reluctantly, carting myself off to the doctor, and several high-tech tests, I found myself in the hospital for 5 days. I am feeling 100% better and, wow, it is so good to be home!  I am so thankful for the wonderful doctors, nurses, family and friends who were all a part of my care.

This card is one of many I am making for some of those very special people to say "Thank you."

I just have to add that I love this new paper from CTMH called Flirty!  The colors are so cheerful and "fallish." Just looking at this paper makes me happy!

 

 

Materials:
Paper:  CTMH Flirty, CTMH Kraft and Colonial White cardstock
Ink: CTMH Archival Black
Stamps:  CTMH "For Every Occasion"
Embellishments (all CTMH):  Adhesive Foam Tape, Designer Rhinestone Brads, Just Blooms

Celebrate

I admit it... I am addicted to pretty paper!  My favorites, of course, are Close to My Heart, but I have a couple of 6x6 pads and loose sheets from My Mind's Eye that I have been hoarding for some time now. I just adore the patterns and colors and finally decided to create with them. This paper is from My Mind's Eye (Lime Twist) Fly a Kite Collection. I used Cocoa and Colonial White CTMH cardstock and the stamps are from the CTMH Paper Lanterns set-- which I also love! This stamp set is so perfect for celebrating a special occasion or just celebrating the everyday. Inks are CTMH Pear, Sunset and Cocoa.

 

 

Confession...

Ok, confession time... this is the first time I have used the Sonoma paper that has been sitting on my craft table for a loooong time and... this is my first attempt at the rolled roses from the Art Philosophy cartridge. I have NO idea why I waited so long! I am so happy with the results and the roses were easy and so fun to make! I was inspired to open that Sonoma pack by these cards on Lynn's blog. She inspired me with her great tips and her quick but beautiful layouts. I was also inspired by sweet Brenda Rose, "queen of the cluster." And now that fall is just around the corner, I am loving that Smoky Plum color in the Sonoma papers.

You're a Hoot!

Many of you know that I've got a whole lot of owl love going on these days. My classroom is decorated in owls and and I can't get enough of them! So, I made these cute little treat bags for some very special friends! I used the Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge to cut the face-- it is a fancy sqaure-ish cut, folded in half. The eyes are just circles cut at three different sizes. I used Kraft, white daisy, black and grey Dotty for You paper. The beak is just colored with an orange marker. The back is decorated with a retired stamp set (called "You're a Hoot!" I am crazy about it!) stamped in chocolate ink. I was inspired by a Pinterest project here . Hope my sweet friends like their sweet treats!

Happy 96th Birthday, Grandma!

My Grandmother's 96th birthday is Tuesday and she loves butterflies and sparkle, so this is what I created for her.

The Art Philosophy cartridge made cutting out the butterflies a breeze. I attached one directly onto the background and the other one I glued just in the middle with the wings bent up to make it appear to be in flight. I love the Splendid Day stamp from the Harvest Happiness set, and I used the Eclectic Edges to trim the pink paper and the inside of the card. The paper, of course, is Lucy from CTMH. :)

More Country Life!

I could not put this "Country Life" stamp set away! The images are just so charming and sweet. I chose the lamb for this card and think he is just precious. I could easily see using this stamp on a baby card!  For this card, I distressed the papers by sponging chocolate ink around the edges. I have a confession... (you won't tell, will you?)... I have not been a big fan of distressing. Gasp!! I know!! Please don't judge me too harshly-- it's hard enough to live with the shame as it is! I have had trouble seeing the purpose in making something NEW look OLD. Yes, yes, I know! Vintage is "in." I think at some time in my past, I must have been exposed to some very badly done distressing-- you know, scrapbook pages that looked like they had been crumpled up and thrown away, then pulled out of the garbage as an afterthought, and cards that just looked torn and dirty. Honestly, I couldn't see giving that to someone as an expression of my affection for them! BUT-- I think I have seen the light! Lately I have seen some really beautifully distressed artwork! So, thank you to my wonderful team-mates (go Rose Blossoms!!) and the fabulous CTMH artists and crafters out there who share their passion and their lovely work each day. :) You have broadened my horizons.

Sooo... this little card has some Elemental paper (love it!), some Kraft Color Ready borders (sponged with chocolate ink), a button, ribbon, waxy flax and a little bit of that Simple Stories 100 Days of Summer floral print... all thrown together and attached to some Kraft cardstock.  Hope you like-y. :)

Here's a video clip from Close to My Heart featuring some gift ideas created with the "Country Life" stamp set. Enjoy, and have a wonderful weekend! xoxo

Country Life

One stamp set I don't see used very often is the Country Life set. I'm not sure why, though, because I think that set is adorable! The set includes a rooster, a sheep, a cow and a sentiment. The sentiment says, "Live simply, love generously." The stamps are rustic, yet detailed. I have several friends and family members who collect roosters, so I thought I would make a card using the rooster stamp.

I used the Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge to cut the oval and the scalloped frame. I can't tell you how much I love that cartridge (and there's a new one called Artiste coming out August 1--yippee!!)-- it has so many wonderful cuts-- I don't know what I'd do without it.

I embellished with a couple of "Just Blooms," an antiqued copper brad and some cocoa grosgrain ribbon. I love the blooms and really have to show restraint and not add them to every card I make! The paper is not from CTMH, but I fell in love with the floral print which reverses to check. It is from Simple Stories' "100 Days of Summer" line. I think it is just perfect for that cute little rooster. Inside I added more of the print paper and trimmed it with the Color Ready Kraft Borders (from the "while supplies last" list) which I inked in CTMH's chocolate ink.

I'm thinking I might make a card set using the sheep and the cow, too. Stay tuned... :)

Materials:

Paper: CTMH Kraft and Colonial White cardstock, Simple Stories 100 Days of Summer
Stamps: CTMH Country Life
Ink: CTMH Chocolate Exclusive Ink
Embellishments: (All CTMH) Just Blooms, Antique Brass Brads, Color Ready Kraft Borders
Other: CTMH Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge

Avonlea and Mojo Monday

I was so happy to wake up this morning and not feel like I should be writing a paper or reading a text book! Saturday was my last class for my Specialist's degree and I am so excited to be done!  Teachers in my district report back to work in two weeks, so I have two weeks to relax, play and catch up on things. :)

This morning I opened my e-mail and there was the new Mojo Monday card sketch. I always enjoy looking at all of the beautiful creations and have found so much inspiration from all of the talented papercrafters who participate. So... I decided to jump right in! This is not the first time I have created a card from one of the sketches, but I might just try to link this one up! :)

I love CTMH's new Avonlea paper-- the color combination of green, teal, grey and chocolate are just lovely!  I really, really, like the patterns too. They are just so fresh and modern. All of the papers are from the Avonlea kit, the stamp is from Hooray Bouquet and the embellishments are mocha gems. I hope you like it!

Here is my card:

From this sketch:



Quick Cards

I am totally in love with the "Quick Card" stamps from Close to My Heart! One stamp, some ink and paper and you have a complete card, ready for sending to that special someone. Here's a video featuring these fabulous stamps. The "Kristine" in this video is not me! She is Kristine from the CTMH Corporate Office. I'd love to craft with her someday!



Enjoy!

Party Pennants

So... in the spirit of trying to appreciate the here and now, I pulled out my summery inks and created this card with all of my favorite bright, cheerful colors. I really do enjoy the brights, and they lend themselves perfectly to this stamp set called "Party Pennants." I've had this set for a few months, and just pulled it out last night to play. Have you noticed how popular pennants and buntings are these days? I really adore this set and it is right on trend! I love that each flag-- there are four to choose from--is a separate stamp, which makes it so easy to make a variety of pennants using whatever patterns and colors you choose. I also love that the frame is separate and there are several sentiments to choose from.

This card is my version of a Clean and Simple (CAS) card. Don't let anyone fool you into thinking that just because the word "simple" is in the title that creating a CAS card is easy!  I can't tell you how much White Daisy cardstock I went through! One smear or smudge... and it's all over! I finally ended up stamping the flags on separate paper and cutting them out (pretty easy because they are basically triangles, right?), then gluing them down. So, maybe it's not a "true" CAS card... but I think it has that spirit! What do you think? Have you tried the clean and simple style?

Elemental Apple

I hope you all are enjoying your summer!  I've had a chance to catch up on a few things and work on some school work. My grad school classes come to an end this weekend (so grateful for that!) and "back to school" is just around the corner!  Just another two or three weeks and those little darlings will be tumbling through the classroom door. I really love back to school time. It's so exciting to meet new friends and re-connect with the old. I have always loved going and picking out new school supplies (even as an adult!! There's nothing like opening up a new box of crayons!).  The apple on this card gives me that same back to school feeling...

So, here's a card that uses the Elemental paper (oh, I really like that patterned paper-- only available through the end of July!) and a variety of solid colored cardstock papers as well as some CTMH Kraft paper. Isn't that Kraft paper perfect for just about any occasion? The stamped sentiment is from the Mayberry Workshop kit (retired) and the apple was cut from Cricut's Preserves cartridge.  And... even though school is always on my mind, I am determined to make the most of the time left in this summer break! Be looking for a few Summery creations from me before school starts again!

Grateful for You

This little card was created for another team challenge swap. I sent this one to Lynn, whose talent has been a true inspiration to me. (You can see her blog here. )Our instructions were to use the Cricut AP cartridge to create the card shape. There are so many fun shapes to choose from on the AP cartridge! I first selected a rounded square with a fancy window cut in the center. I cut it from Colonial White cardstock then I random stamped it with a tiny flower. I backed the window in the sweet leaf dot from the Dotty for You collection and added the sentiment on the same paper cut out to mirror the window cut. I cut a frame of the same shape with the bold patterned paper and attached that. The bird was inked with desert sand then rolled in sweet leaf, lagoon and chocolate before coating it in liquid glass and left to dry over night. I had it all put together and then-- gasp!-- I bent the card! But, as I tell my students-- if you mess it up, dress it up!  I cut the card as close to the patterned frame as I could (don't look too closely!) and then went back to the Cricut and cut the fancy shape card out of Kraft cardstock. It was challenging to cut around the branch-- I had attached it firmly with liquid glass and it did not want to come apart from the paper. I mounted the whole extravaganza on the new Kraft base. Honestly, I like the fixed up version better than the first. But of course, it has been made to look even better by Lynn's fabulous staging and photography! I love how she nestled it among some decorative branches and berries before snapping the photo! Hope you enjoy it!

A Tulip

I recently came across the sweetest little stamp set call "A Tulip." It comes with the flower, stem, a scalloped floral border, a button, stitching and a sentiment. It is just right for putting together quick cards that are perfectly coordinated. I used Sweet Leaf and Cotton Candy ink and cardstock, paired with kraft and Colonial White for a soft and sweet color palette. I added a couple of buttons from the pink collection and some retired pink gingham ribbon to embellish.

I know this set will be perfect for so many occasions!  I just love that little tulip! :)

Card Swap

Oh-- It's been a while!  I have been on creative lock down! School has been out for two weeks, and it seems I have been busier than ever!  Grad school projects, home projects that don't seem to get done during the school year, and believe it or not-- lots to get done to prepare for next school year-- seem to be taking up my time these days! I just now pulled out some paper and stamps and am going to "allow" myself some time to play. Quite honestly, I sometimes feel so guilty when I do that! Maybe there's a little voice inside telling me that I still have so much to get done-- I shouldn't take the time out to piddle around with my toys. :) Yet... (and I bet you'll agree), I believe it is so important to relax, take a step back and do something that really brings joy. :)

What I have to share today is a card I made for a sweet new friend as a part of a team card swap. Each person in our group was assigned another person for whom to make a card. I made this for Marg and I really hope she liked it!

Here's a link to Marg's blog--  Marg's Blog .She has posted all of the cards from our team swap if you'd like to check them out. They are all wonderful!  

Kindergarten

Woohoo!  It's almost summer!  I am so excited for the coming summer break! It has been a great school year for me-- full of new adventures, a lot of learning and growth! After seven years of teaching kindergarten, I offered to go to second grade this past year. I love second graders-- their "maturity" (well, compared to a kindergartener!), their humor and their helpfulness. I have really enjoyed the curriculum, too.  I found that I love teaching multiplication and division!  Who knew? :) Yet---  I am SO thrilled to find that next year I will be going back to kindergarten!  That is where my heart truly is. I really love teaching reading and writing from the very beginning. I love to see the growth and so many "aha" moments when literacy just clicks. I love being a part of helping those five year olds become real readers and writers.

These are pictures of my very first kindergarten classroom back in 2004. I had so much fun setting the room up and now I look forward to setting up my new kindergarten room. Don't get me wrong-- I am most definitely looking forward to summer break-- it is much needed, but there is something so special about kindergarten and I can't wait to get back there.

This scrapbook page was so easy to put together with CTMH's digital scrapbooking program. Let Studio J help you document your special memories!

Hugs,

Kristine

New York City!

It's been a while since Mike and I have been on vacation. We have a goal of paying off all of our credit cards before we do any pleasure traveling-- it has been a long road, but one I know will be so worth it in the long run. Anyway-- several years ago, for about five or six years in a row, my mom, my brother, Mike and I would travel to New York for a long weekend over the Memorial Day holiday. We would have a Broadway show marathon-- seeing about 5 shows in 3 days-- and also doing some great touristy sight seeing and eating at some fabulous restaurants. Such good times!  I can't wait until we are able to do that again! For me, there is nothing like the excitement and energy of the Big Apple. I do love my relaxing vacations too, but I really heart NY! 

These pictures were taken the year we visited the Empire State Building. We stayed at the Doubletree in Times Square and I believe we saw Spamelot, Wicked and a few other great shows. We ate at Norma's. Aquavit, the Carnegie Deli, and some other favorites. I love being able to just get out and walk everywhere! We did take a few taxis, and boy, those were thrill rides in themselves!  Where is your favorite place to travel to?

I used Studio J to put together these pages quickly. The layout is fairly simple-- but you can add as much or as little as you like with Studio J. I love how you can just drop the photos in and they are sized automatically. I do wish I had known about photo editing software when I made this, though-- I would have lightened up the photo in the top left corner!

Thanks 4 Everything...

I am an admitted Pinterest addict... I came across a quote a couple of weeks ago that made me chuckle. As a teacher, I am a little particular about spelling and grammar, and this little gem said, "BEFORE. B-e-f-o-r-e, not B4. We speak English, not Bingo." Hahaha! So true!! I cringe when I think of what texting is doing to our spelling habits (though I personally admit to being the Queen of Typos)!  Well, this little stamp, has the "4" instead of "for," but I have to say it's as cute as can be, and I love it in spite of-- or maybe even because of-- that little 4. :)

This card was a quickie-- still working on the thank you notes! I love the colors of the Cruisin' argyle paper, and I am crazy for gingham. The paper lace is a Close to My Heart product from when the company was called "DOTS!" It has little tiny heart punches along the middle. I think that there are some border punches out there in craft-store-land that offer a similar effect. The ribbon is also Close to My Heart. Did you recognize the big dots? Those are hand trimmed from the gorgeous Dotty for You paper. I think the one on the left needs a wee bit more glue to tack it down. I had a little red heart I was going to attach to the top left dot, but my husband convinced me that there was already a lot going on here, and maybe in this case, less would be more. Hmmm... he's probably right! :)

Materials:

Paper: Cruisin' Paper Pack, Dotty For You Paper Pack, Lagoon cardstock, Black cardstock
Ink: Archival Black
Stamps: W332 Wonderful You Incentive Set
Embellishments: DOTS Paper Lace, CTMH black gingham ribbon

Footloose

So... last night our air conditioner decided to just stop!  Now, it's early May, so we usually try to hold off putting the air on, but lately here in Georgia it is already getting hot. It was 85 degrees inside and almost 90 degrees outside. I was feeling a bit tropical, so I grabbed the Footloose paper and tried to make the best of it! :)

I'm still working on some "Thank You" notes and gifts for all of the wonderful ladies who help out in my classroom, so this one has the simple "thanks" sentiment and I'll add my own message inside. I used the cute little turtle from the Complements Dimensional Elements set and added some sparkles. I just love the colors of the Footloose papers-- the Lagoon and Sweet Leaf together are so cool and soothing (just what I needed with the sauna going on inside my house!). The Cricut AP Cartridge made cutting the patterned paper so easy. I was going for the effect of a little pond. How did I do? :)  Thanks for taking a peek! Our air is now fixed and we are all as cool as cucumbers over here-- hope you're staying cool too!

Materials
Paper: X7151B Footloose Paper Pack
Stamps: Say it in Style
Inks: Chocolate Exclusive Inks
Embellishments: X7151C Footloose Complements Dimensional Elements, Z1104 Clear Sparkles, White Daisy Grosgrain Ribbon

Dotty Thank You

Hello all!  I hope you all are well! I am so blessed to have this stamping and scrapping hobby of mine-- it keeps me sane :) and lets me feel a little creative! I also get to share the love with others!

As you know, I am a teacher, and this time of year, especially, I am so grateful for all of the help and contributions of time and resources that have been made to my classroom. This card is for one of the volunteers that comes in faithfully to help out. I love this "Thank You" stamp and the bright vibrant colors of the Dotty for You papers. I used the color ready wooden shapes some buttons and a little waxy flax to add some personality. I think the card turned out kind of cute-- I hope you do too!

Materials
Paper:  CTMH Dotty for You, Colonial White cardstock, Cocoa cardstock
Stamps: D1510 "4 My Friend"
Ink: CTMH Cocoa Exclusive Inks
Embellishments: Z1718 Color Ready Wooden Accents, Z1088 Waxy Flax, Z1358 Basic Assortment Buttons

Beautiful Friendship

I created this card for a special friend whose birthday is being celebrated tomorrow. I hope she likes it!

The band slides off, and the card is unfolded to reveal the message inside. I love the patterns of the Florentine paper--they lend themselves perfectly for creating the belly band of this card. I picked one of the beautiful stripes that had a scallop beneath which I hand trimmed. The colors are rich and elegant, perfect for so many occasions.

Materials:
Paper: Florentine, Colonial White, Creme Brulee and Cocoa cardstock
Stamps: B1400 Beautiful Friendship
Inks: Chocolate Exclusive Inks
Embellishments: Shimmer Brads

That's Remarkable!

Hello All! :) I hope that you like this little card! It is a variation of one I made for a swap back in February. I added that Desert Sand scalloped circle behind the wreath because it is just so easy with the Cricut AP cartridge.  I know that I have featured the Remarkable Wreath stamp set before-- but I just love it and find that it is so versatile!  I used the beautiful Pemberly papers for this one, and I apparently am loving the Fiskars scallop border punch, too (see previous photos! lol!).  Back to the wreath-- I have always had an affinity for things that have interchangeable parts-- earring sets where you can change out different colored dangle-y stones, those wrist-watches with lots of different colored switchable bands, you get the picture....  This wreath just fits the bill for me! I love how you can choose whether you want leaves, berries or flowers-- or all of them-- and you can also choose the perfect sentiment banner. Love, love, LOVE it!! Perfect in so many ways!

Anywho! I hope you love this wreath as much as I do! :) Sending hugs your way...



Materials:
Paper: CTMH Pemberly, Colonial White and Desert Sand cardstock
Stamps: Remarkable Wreath
Inks: CTMH Exclusive Desert Sand, Outdoor Denim and Chocolate
Embellishments: Antique Gold Durables, Fiskars border punch

Pinch of Love

I am so in love with this little "Pinch of Love" stamp from the Under the Sea stamp set! I mean, who doesn't need a little extra love every now and then?  I have been struggling through some things lately and it has meant so much to me to have those special people in my life who give me that extra pinch o' love when I need it most. :) I think the tiny little heart stamp from the Love Clusters set adds the perfect touch.  I used my blender pen and ink pad to paint that crab cutie.

I hope you get that extra little bit of love when you need it most too...

Materials

Stamps: C1500 Under the Sea, C1484 Love Clusters

Paper: Stella, Dotty for You. Outdoor Denim cardstock

Ink: Archival Black, Holiday Red Exclusive Inks

Embellishments: Z1104 Clear Sparkles, White Daisy Grosgrain Ribbon, foam tape

Friday, at last!

Well, folks, it's been a long week, but it is finally Friday! I have been super busy with grad school and all that goes into teaching 23 seven year olds! I have class all day tomorrow, so the fun continues (lol!). I have pulled out another layout from the archives-- I really need to catch up on my scrapbooking! Thank goodness for studio J. I know that I can just hop on the computer, select my background, layout and colors and just drop in those photos. Embellishing is easy and fun too, it's like one stop shopping, with so many great options! I love how everything coordinates so beautifully. Now I just need to work on coordinating Mike's choice of outfits with mine. lol. Oh,  admit it, you know you do it too!

Well, it's past time to tumble into bed-- I need to be up at 4:30 am to meet my group for the 2 hour drive to our classes in Tennessee. It's not a bad drive, but it's my turn for the carpool and I don't think my friends would appreciate me dozing at the wheel!  I see some Starbucks in the very near future!

Blog Hop Winner!

Thank you to everyone who came to visit during the Blog Hop! After putting all of the tickets that were earned in a hat... we have an official winner of the beautiful scrapbook and card making supplies!

The winner is Tamytha!  Congratulations!!

Please contact Brenda at girlygirlrose43@msn.com to claim your prize.

Spring Blog Hop

Happy Spring! The Rose Blossoms team of Close to My Heart consultants welcomes you to the Rose Blossoms Blog Hop!

 

Nothing says spring like flowers, right? These ribbon flowers were inspired by the talented Penny Kentosh. If you are interested in creating your own, I'd be glad to teach you! I love the sparkle added to the center of the middle of each bloom. The bright, springy paper comes from the "Dotty for You" paper pack-- you'll be seeing more of that from me-- I LOVE the fresh colors and patterns. It's available to customers on the 17th! The cute little gifty bag was created using the Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge...  unbelievably simple and easy to make!  I hope you enjoyed my creations!  Your next stop on the hop is http://www.angelbaycraftinghearts.com/, but first read on for for instructions on how to earn chances to win our fabulous prizes!

The rules are really simple for this blog hop. You have the opportunity to earn 8 tickets for a drawing to win the scrapbook/craft supplies pictured below.

To earn tickets:

· Visit each of the seven blogs on the hop and leave a comment for one ticket in the drawing. You must comment on all of them to get this ticket!

· Receive an extra ticket for each blog that you decide to follow!

This Spring Blog Hop goes through Monday, April 16^th at 11:59 pm central time. One winner will be announced on Tuesday evening, April 17^th. Here is the $40 prize package that the winner will receive, perfect for your end-of-the-school-year or Graduation cards and pages:

Keep hopping to http://www.angelbaycraftinghearts.com/

Happy Hopping and thanks for visiting!

Should you get lost you can always come back here to find out who you need to visit:

1. Brenda at Rose Blossom Legacies (http://roseblossomlegacies.blogspot.com)
2. Marg at I Didn’t Have Potatoes (http://ididnthavepotatoes.blogspot.com)
3. Tammie at I Love to Craft! (http://tchelberg.blogspot.com)
4. Crystal at All Things Crafty (http://craftinginlove.blogspot.com)
5. Lynn at From My Bungalow (http://frommybungalow.blogspot.com)
6. Kristine at Merry Heart Creations (http://merryheartcreations.blogspot.com) **you are here!**
7. Jenny May at Angel Bay Crafting hearts http://www.angelbaycraftinghearts.com/

Supplies for card and treat bag (all CTMH):

Paper:  Colnial White cardstock, Dotty for You patterned paper

Stamps: B1400 Beautiful Friendship

Inks: Black Exclusive Ink

Embellishments: Colonial White Brads (while supplies last), Z1104 Sparkles, Z1393 Sweet Leaf Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon

Happy Easter!

Good Morning and Happy Easter!  Later today Mike and I will be heading up to my sister's to share an Easter lunch with her family and then over to Mike's folks for dinner! It seems we drive all over North Georgia on many holidays for the opportunity to spend time with our loved ones. It is so worth it, though! Can't wait to see their sweet smiling faces.

Here's a note card created using Close to My Heart's new Colonial White die cut cards. Notice how the card closes by tucking the flower on the right behind a petal of the middle flower. Love that, if I do say so myself! :) The center of each flower is popped up on a bit of foam tape, and I used the Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge to cut the label on which the sentiment is stamped. That is one cartridge jam packed with great things!

I hope you all have a wonderful Easter holiday.

Matthew 28:6 "He has risen, just as he said!"

Materials Used (all CTMH unless noted):

Paper:  Z1738 Colonial White Die Cut Cards, X714B Stella Paper Packet, Cocoa cardstock
Stamps: B1398 Just For You
Inks: Cocoa, Sweet Leaf, Olive, Lagoon, Sunset, Tulip
Other: Z1263 Bitty Sparkles, foam tape, Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge

Sweet and Simple

Here's a little card I put together some time after Christmas to use for thank you notes. One thing I like to do is that when I am making a card, I usually like to make multiples... I like to be able to have a card or two on hand in case an occasion comes up, and as long as I have the supplies out, it only takes a little more time to cut and stamp a few rather than one.

I love the Remarkable Wreath stamp set (you'll be seeing it again)! It is so versatile! I love being able to choose from the leaves, flowers, berries and many messages that come with the set, and I think that it can be used for any season or occasion.

Materials used:
Paper:  CTMH Colonial White Cardstock, CTMH Cherry-O Creative Basics (retired)
Stamps: CTMH Remarkable Wreath
Inks: CTMH Chocolate, Tulip, Blush
Embellishments: Velveteen ribbon from Cherry-O Creative Basics pack,  foam tape

Another Easter Studio J Layout

Ok, I'm sharing this layout for a few reasons. One, though the pictures are from many years ago, I want you to know that it is never too late to get out those old pictures; two, it is almost Easter, and voila (wah-lah!)-- here are a couple of Easter themed pages for ya'; and three, I am working hard to avoid writing a paper that is due very soon! 

These photos are of Mike and myself with my twin sister Elizabeth, her husband Max and our nieces Meredith and Macey and nephew Maddox. My sweet mother (we call her Mammy) and wonderful brother Bill also make an appearance in these pages. We look forward to holidays when we all have the chance to just enjoy being together. We love our nieces and nephews dearly and just looking at these pictures makes me happy. We celebrated Easter at my Mom's house, where she has lived since 1971. I believe that she has the most beautiful street in the world in Spring. It is lush with azaleas, daffodils, blooming dogwood and cherry trees and so many other Spring-y things. God's glory is surely evident there.

Alrighty... back to work on that paper now...

Hey Stella! Stell-ahhhh!!

Hehe... that name always makes me think of Marlon Brando's angst in "Streetcar Named Desire." Well, Stella now has a new meaning for me!  I love, love, LOVE the new paper pack from Close to My Heart called Stella. The colors are vibrant-- Lagoon, Sunset, Tulip, Cocoa... and I love the patterns! Here's my take on a card pattern called "Keyhole" that is also a favorite of mine. :)  This is my first attempt at photographing one of my cards-- and I know my technique needs some work-- so please forgive me for that! This photo looks a little fuzzy-- I took a bazillion pics and this one was one of the best. I'll keep practicing.

I really enjoyed putting this one together. Using the Cricut to cut the circles has made my life so much easier! Don't know what I did before welcoming that spiffy piece of machinery into my home! This card came together rather quickly, I hope you can see the detail on the antiqued copper brad (love them-- I'd put them on every card if I could!), the cocoa opaque gems and the chocolate grosgrain peeking out from the bloom! Oh! And check out that brightly patterned piece of "zip strip" running horizontally across the back. Those zip strips on the top of the CTMH paper are genius, giving you just a little more bang for your buck. I curled the message banner and popped it and the bloom using foam tape to give it dimension. Hope you like it!

Materials used:
Paper: All CTMH-- Stella patterned paper, Colonial White and Kraft cardstock
Inks: CTMH Chocolate
Stamps: CTMH Say it in Style, CTMH You and Me
Embellishments: Just Blooms, Antiqued Bronze Designer Brads, Cocoa Opaque Gems, Chocolate Grosgrain ribbon, foam tape

Scrapbooking Made Easy!

Good Morning! I'm on Spring Break this week, so I have a little time to get my feet wet here! I have been taking a break lately from scrapbooking-- but I sure do love it and love to sit down with a good scrapbook and remember so many wonderful times. Last year, when I discovered Close to My Heart's Studio J digital scrapbooking, I was so excited! It is such a fun and easy way to create beautiful layouts! And for a girl like me who spends much of her life on the computer anyway... it was a natural fit!  This is one of the first layouts I created. These are two of my beautiful nieces, Hailey and Jenna, at Easter several years ago. I love the blooming azaleas and, of course, my sweet nieces. :)

Welcome!

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