March Card Class "Stamples"

The beautiful artwork of my talented downline Michelle totally inspired this month's card class! She graciously agreed to let me copy her ideas. Thank you, Michelle!

Here are two of my cards that you will have the opportunity to make on Sunday, 3/21, at 2 PM at my house. We'll also have some "manly" cards too, following this same general idea (minus the flowers). We'll be creating our cards with the incredibly versatile March stamp of the month, A Little Everything.

The Creme Brulee card uses the March stamp of the month exclusively, paired with the Verana papers. Can you see the addition of the Create-a-Shade pearlized paint brushed on the flower? I absolutely love the Just Blooms Spring Blossoms!

The Tulip card also uses the Just Blooms Spring Blossoms and the March stamp of the month, but I also added flourishes from the Playful Flourishes stamp set and used the Perfect Day papers.

On a personal note, my sister and I are headed south today to go to my uncle's funeral. We'll be back tomorrow night.

Sweet on Spring/ODBDSCL5 Challenge Card

Crazy title, right? Several things inspired this card. The sketch came from Our Daily Bread Designs. I thought that it was so lovely, and I already had the Juniper scalloped circle cut (leftover from another project).

My color scheme was inspired by the Close To My Heart Dare to Dream campaign ad (at right) and the Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger "Sweet on Spring" photo.

The center flower is not one large stamp like it might look like. The stamp is actually four petals, so I stamped them tightly six times in a circle to create the flower. The center Sparkle was just what it needed for a little bling.



To add pink to the Veranda palette (Juniper, Garden Green, Creme Brulee, and Cocoa), I colored part of the B&T with my Blush marker and added Blush polka dots. I also sponged Blush ink onto the Veranda B&T to soften the edges and help it all blend together. The Blush polka dot paper is from the Jingle collection. I finished it off with Colonial White ribbon. Since I couldn't decide on an occasion, I'll stamp a sentiment inside when I decide who the recipient is.

Happy spring!

All supplies from Close To My Heart except the Martha Stewart scalloped border punch: Follow Your Heart stamp set; Veranda Creative Basics, Veranda My Reflections, and Jingle My Reflections paper packs; Blush ink and marker; Sparkle

RIP Uncle Mickey

My mother's brother passed away this afternoon after an extended illness. Knowing that this would happen sooner rather than later doesn't make it any easier on the ones left behind. There is much consolation, though, in knowing that he IS in a better place. I can only imagine the hugs and kisses and laughter in heaven as he is reunited with his son, mother, sisters, and others who have gone before.

This picture is one of my favorites even though it was waaaay before my time. The story goes that my Grandmother wanted the portait with all the girls, so Mickey drove them to the studio. The photographer talked him into sitting too, though he obviously wasn't thrilled about it. My mom is the cute gal standing next to her mother, and that's Aunt Nan on her lap.

Gift Bag & Clip

For as long as I've been stamping, I've been decorating plain ole' brown paper lunch sacks as gift bags. Have you ever tried a white paper lunch sack? They can be quite lovely too! (Did you know that you can turn a few of these bags into a little mini album? Let me show you how to create either project!) One word of caution: be sure to place a piece of cardboard INSIDE your bag before attempting to stamp.

I'm not sure where I saw the idea first for a clothespin to hold the bag closed, but here's my version. I used the same liquid glass and prisma glitter technique that I showed you in my video tutorial (scroll down a bit if you want to find it to watch) to create the "M" monogram. This time, however, I cut down the square a bit, following the Baroque alphabet stamped image, and mounted this one (with 3-D foam squares) onto a smaller Dimensional Element Perennial chipboard flower that I covered with the lovely Veranda B&T. I used liquid glass to hold the chipboard flower to the clothespin on which I had already glued a strip of coordinating B&T. I think that's all the steps, but let me know if you have any questions!

All materials are from Close To My Heart except the paper bag and clothespin.

Mojo Monday #128 (on Sunday)

Whew! This card for the Mojo Monday sketch #128 almost didn't happen. I cut it close on the time limit, but things have been busy here (as usual), and I'm a bit under the weather (cold/sore throat). Yesterday we did get to leave Mayberry and head South because Logan had to go to a viewing (the mother of one of his groomsmen). The girls and I hit the outlet mall, so we definitely got the better end of the bargain! (Our big score was them each getting a $10 pair of Osh Kosh jeans.)

Anyway, back to the card! All supplies are from Close To My Heart. I stamped the vine on the left side of the card in Cocoa ink. Then I stamped the flowers in Creme Brulee on the Vanilla Cream side of a piece of B&T from the Veranda collection, cut them out, and adhered them to the card. A little ink distressing, a little scissor distressing, a little flower layering, and voila! (Let me know if you have any questions about anything. I'd love to know what you think of my card. Thanks!)

Materials: Veranda Creative Basics paper pack (which includes the Creme Brulee ribbon), Veranda My Reflections paper pack; Follow Your Heart stamp set (only available with the Veranda Workshop on the Go); Cocoa and Creme Brulee inks; Cocoa marker; Dimensional Elements Perennials (chipboard); Just Blooms Spring Blossoms collection (paper flowers); Spring Blossom brads assortment

Techniques: distressing with ink and markers; scissor distressing

My Favorite Layout

This layout is one I have been wanting to create for a while. Hopefully it helps capture the love I feel for my family, especially my two precious daughters. They look so beautiful in all of these photos! (That's my husband and me too.)

If you're needing a little spring, maybe these photos will remind you of prettier days to come!

Sorry that I didn't think to take any close-ups of some of the details!

Let me know if you'd like to know about anything here. You can't see it well at all, but I used liquid glass and glitter on the "Flowers" part, and it is sooo pretty in person!

What do you think of the addition of Spring Iris to the Veranda paper pack? I went out on a limb with that one but loved the way it turned out.

The layout pattern is the "Visual Texture" from the fabulous Cherish how-to guide from Close To My Heart. (All materials/supplies are from CTMH.)

Techniques: paper pleating, sponging Just Blooms with Vanilla Cream and Spring Iris inks, paper piercing, coloring ribbon with markers, direct-to-paper distressing, coloring metal accents with StazOn ink, adhering prisma glitter with liquid glass (on cardstock and on large brad), printing computerized journaling on B&T paper

{Layout 2010 #13}

CTMH Follow Your Heart 3"x3" Thank You Card

This darling stamp set is one of my favorites! You can get it right now with the Veranda Workshop on the Go kit (which I will be featuring later this spring). I actually combined mine with the Topstitch paper pack, using the same card pieces and pattern I cut for my Open House earlier this month.

CTMH Caboodle Workshop: Scrapbooking and Card Making

This month's workshop is fresh, spring-y, and fun! We've got something for everyone, beginner and advanced, whether you're a card maker, scrapbooker, or both.

Join me on 3/27 to create some or all of these beautiful projects. If you can't attend the workshop, you can still purchase the kits with instructions to create your own at home. They're a great value!

The scrapbooking portion of the workshop will begin at 1:00, followed by card making at 3:00 on 3/27. You can attend either session or both. (You only need one kit to create everything!)

Here are your kit options:
Budget Kit: Caboodle Level 2 paper pack and Dimensional Elements Booksmart ($17.90)
Basic Kit: All of the above plus full-color workshop instruction guide and exclusive B-size stamp set ($29.95)
Best Kit: All of the above plus Tiny Tabs and Sweet Leaf Designer Ribbon Rounds ($41.85)

Please order your kit no later than 3/15 for the workshop on 3/27. (Prices are before shipping/handling & tax.) Thanks!

March CTMH Card Class: A Little Everything

Did you enjoy the March stamp of the month blog hop? Weren't there some fabulous ideas?!? You are going to get to play with this versatile stamp set at my card class on Sunday, 3/14.

If you plan to give cards at all this year (and who doesn't?), you're going to want to attend this card class to make your own! Nothing celebrates relationships like making it from your heart (and your hands). We will create a set of all-occasion cards using the March stamp of the month, A Little Everything. We'll make thank you and birthday cards suitable for both genders, plus try a few new things with Just Blooms paper flowers. (Don't worry, they won't be on the "guy" cards!)

Class will begin at 2:00 at my house. Please let me know if you can come no later than 3/13 so that I can prepare adequate materials and be sure to have enough seating. Invite a friend! The class fee of $5 will be waived with a minimum $25 order placed that day.

I'm also preparing a special add-on workshop for that afternoon: create a binder to hold and organize these cards and more in style until you're ready to give them. Complete details and project photos coming soon, but go ahead and mark your calendars now!

Prima Flowers Giveaway

Click right HERE to enter Prima Flower's Big Secret Promotion Giveaway. You have until Thursday. Good luck!

If you don't have a blog, don't worry, you still have a chance to win.

That's Right! Prima is giving away two more AMAZING prize packages in conjunction with our BIG SECRET!

We want EVERYONE to have a chance to win so we are changing the rules a bit.

• Please copy this write-up and link us on your blog, Facebook, or any other site that you frequent (please follow their TOU).
• Then post here with a link to your blog, Facebook or site post for your chance to win BIG with Prima!
• One US and one International winner will be chosen on Thursday, March 4th, 2010.

And we are getting closer and closer to revealing our secret-it won't be long now!

Just a couple more days of suspense!

Snow Day {AGAIN}!

When the alarm went off this morning, I looked outside to find it WET but not WHITE. I took my shower as usual and was very surprised to get the call saying no school today. By 8:00 AM this morning, though, the snow was coming down and piling up!


Since we will have to make up today on either a Saturday or during spring break, DH decided we had to get out. We took my 4x4 since it's roomier, his brother piled in with us, and up the mountain we went. (I think we were ahead of the DOT, but we were fine on the main roads in 2-wheel drive.)

When we pulled in to the Byron Herbert Reese Memorial trailhead/parking area, 4-wheel drive was necessary. There had to be a good 4-6 inches up there! Let the snowball fights begin!

Can you see Uncle Reid's snowball in the top left headed right toward me?!?

We went out to Helton Creek Falls while we were out. They were absolutely beautiful!

Macey pointed out these mushrooms (or whatever they are) growing on the side of the tree, and she said they must be fairy shelves or steps. Too cute!

CTMH March Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!

We are hopping again with the March stamp of the month! It is truly A Little Everything (set of 26): Thanks, Celebrate, and all sorts of Happy sayings too.


If you've come from Annette G.'s blog, then you're following the hop right along. No matter how you got here, thanks for popping in.

My card is in honor of my husband and all the things he does for us (a little everything!). It is based on the "Sun Dial" sketch from Wishes. I used the You Rock paper pack with Sunflower, Indian Corn Blue, and Outdoor Denim inks. It's probably hard to see the Outdoor Denim twill that I stapled onto the Outdoor Denim B&T strip. Hopefully the staples, pewter photo clip, and edge distressing give this card a masculine feel.

You can check out A Little Everything here if you're interested in purchasing your own set or earning it at a discount or even free! I will be featuring this set at my All Occasion card class on 3/14. You don't want to miss out on this one!

From here, hop on over to Melissa B.'s blog. Thanks for your comments before you leave!

P.S. Scroll down to my earlier post if you'd like to watch my first video tutorial! Thanks for looking.