Taking a Break

I am going to be taking a break from this blog for a bit.  We're preparing to move and the next several weeks are sure to be hectic.  Packing with a 1 year old and a 2 year old underfoot is already proving to be a real adventure!  *LOL*  I have decided to go ahead and begin packing my craft room now since there are so many small things to put away - and it will be hard to find time to craft and blog anyways with preparing ourselves and our little children for our move.

I have some new stamp sets I'm itching to play with, but it will just have to wait.  I hope to be back into the full swing of things in late September or early October.  I'm anticipating about a month off total.  A couple weeks to pack to pack, my mother will be visiting from out of town for a week, and then the move.  So, please be patient with me.  I am looking forward to my return and am hoping to really get back into the swing of doing more videos again.

I appreciate each and every one of you for kindly visiting and leaving sweet comments!  It means a lot and I am so glad we can share creativity with each other :)  I'll try visiting the blogs I follow during my off time, and feel free to leave me a comment on this post so I can come visit you during my blogging break!

Elegant Thank You Card

Here's something I made to be clean and simple.  All the products are from Stampin' Up.  I used the Bella Blue paper kit from Scrapmaster's Paradise.  I also used some satin ribbon that she had a ribbon share for.  It seems thicker and doesn't fray quickly like the other satin ribbon I've tried.  It was really fun to work with.  She's got a couple more ribbon shares going on now if you want to check them out here.  In that same post she also talks about the different kinds of Stampin' Up ribbon. I went ahead and bought the ribbon share because I felt like it was a good value and a way to try out the colors and see what I liked.  I think it was a good purchase - you can do 1 or 2 yards of each color. 

I stamped using Whisper White Craft Ink from the Happy Moments stamp set.  Then I did some faux stitching with the Uni-Ball Signo gel pen.  I love that thing! 

Sorry posting has been a little scarce and I've been bad about checking my e-mails.  We are in the process of buying a house.  Things are going well now so I feel like I can say something.  We are set to close on Sep 15th and life has been just crazy! *LOL*

Random Photo - My New Nails

Yes, this is random I know but I wanted to share my fancy nails.  I am so impressed by the fantastic work the gal did creating this design by hand.  The details show up better in person.  

It's the first time I've ever gotten a design done on my nails, but I figured it would be a like a little wearable art I can enjoy even on the days I'm in my pajamas and otherwise look like a scraggly mess!  :)

Super Sweet Baby Card

I used New Arrival for the main image on this card - I think I used Gypsy Wanderings for the scalloped circle and regular circle - but it really doesn't matter I suppose.  There were a lot of tiny pieces to this one - the shoes were especially hard.  I created the strip for the green on the hat by hand.  All the layers cut as one piece and I ended up using hide contour a lot to avoid a lot of extra cuts.  The sentiment is a My Pink Stamper stamp - I think it's from Everyday Occasions.

I made this at my very first Swarm this past Saturday. It was so much fun.  I didn't do a ton - 5 really simple layouts & 2 cards - but it was just a blast and I'm so glad that I went.  Maybe next time I'll focus a little more on actually trying to get some work done!  *LOL* :)

For You Pillow Box

Here's a little something I put together using some fabulous papers from a kit over at Scrapmaster's Paradise.  I used all Stampin' Up products.  I created this adorable pillow box using the Pillow Box die, and then I cut a strip of paper to go across it as a band.  I stamped a frame and a sentiment from Vintage Labels using Craft Ink in Whisper White, and then cut it out.  I adhered everything with Sticky Strip since it's 3d and more likely to pop apart with adhesives that aren't as strong.  As a bonus the designer paper is double sided, so the pillow box looks pretty inside too :)

What I Did at My First Crop

 This is a card I made for my new friend Nadia.  

 Using up some random embellishments I've had in my stash.

Using up more of the same embellishments, and also a rhinestone word that's been sitting in my stash.

I didn't have a clue what to do with this chipboard word groovy for the longest time, this is what I came up with. 

Here's us.  We probably should have asked someone to take our photo much earlier in the day!  *LOL*  I was such a total mess by this 11 pm photo.

Here's a quick photo of the make and takes they did. Fun stuff, I got to use some Tim Holtz products for the first time to make an Artists Trading Card. 

Yesterday was like the best day ever!  I had an amazing time with a fantastic gal, Nadia who I met on the Circle message board.  So much laughing and joking and creativity.  The day was even more amazing when I got home and had a special package from another very kind Circle sister and friend waiting for me at my door.  It was filled with special little goodies and treats from CHA.  I was bummed I couldn't attend and she wanted me to feel like part of the action - and now I really do.  I even got the cute Imagine sunglasses!  I feel a completely renewed sense of spirit after enjoying such a fabulous day and experience.  I completed 4 cards, which I have pics of here, as well as the 3 make and takes, and also 2 layouts - but I didn't take photos of those.  So,  I didn't make a ton, but I had an absolute blast!

I am planning to attend my first Swarm next weekend and do some classes at Archiver's next month too.  Now that I've experienced how much fun it is I want to venture out and meet up with some fellow scrappers at least once a month if I can.  If any of you are in Colorado hit me up and I'll let you know where I'm planning to be if you want to come too :)

Packing for My First Crop

So, I don't have a project to share today, but I have the exciting news that I'm going to my very first crop tomorrow and I'm busy packing and trying to make some simple page kits to take with me.  I also have my first Cricut Swarm the following Saturday.  Boy am I excited!

I am trying to pack pretty light.  I don't have any fancy portable organizers or anything.  I'm just taking a small plastic container.  Of course I'll bring the essentials like adhesives, paper trimmer, etc.  If anyone has any tips they'd like to share, please do so.  I'd love to hear them :)

Thank You Doodled Card

I had a blast making this card.  I always need thank you cards for something or another, and I wanted to make one that would be appropriate for almost anyone male or female.  I grabbed my fantastic paper kit from Scrapmaster's Paradise and punched out 6 circles, at 1 inch each.  In the middle I added a 1/2 inch strip and then I went to town doodling with the Uni Ball Signo White Gel Pen.  That thing is just awesome.  It truly glides across the paper and it is so consistent.  I had some gel pens a few years back that I hated and was hesitant to try again, but this one is fabulous.  I wrote thank you to the top and bottom of the strip, and just did random fun doodling on the rest of the card.  I'm trying to do more handwriting and doodling on cards to make them more personal and unique.

Pizza Card w/ a Video

This is one of those projects that was stubborn.  Nothing really went as planned, but in the end it's still cute.  I think I'm going to stick this in my husband's lunch.  He loves pizza so he'll probably get a real kick out of it.