Twofer Guest Designer for Challenge #20-Critters

Hello everyone!! I hope you are all having a FABULOUS day!!

Today I am a the guest designer for this months Twofer Card Challenge.

This month the challenge is "critters."

I created a birthday card and a Christmas card for my cards. I used a mouse from Hello Bluebirds "Field Mice" as my repeat critter. The mouse on the left is the same mouse but colored in a different color for each card.

Here are the rules for the challenge:

CARD DETAILS

For the birthday card I used Distress Ink in Twisted Citron for the grass and Tumbled Glass for the sky.

All the small details, like the butterfly, hats, flowers and the cupcake are small stamps from different stamp sets that I combed through to make my scene.

The grass was a stencil I created using an MFT die that I had. I used a craft knife to cut into it in two places to tuck the feet of the mice under it.

The finishing touches are using Glossy Accents on the balloon and hats, and Stickles glitter glue in a variety of colors.

For my second card I created a Christmas card.

I layered different patterned papers from Basic Grey and Prima. I added some snowflakes that were "extras" from a previous project that I tucked behind a pre-made Prima tag.

The "Merry" sentiment is from Simon Says Stamp that was another "extra" in my stash, that was already colored in. I used Antique Linen Distress Ink on all the white accents because the background paper was not a true white.

All the little mouse accents, from the cheese "present" to the hat and scarf are from Lawn Fawn.

I have to admit that this IS NOT my favorite card. The mice are a bit too close together on the tag but I had to do it this way because of the size of the tag. It is also busier then I usually make my cards. All in all, it was fun to create but not my usual style.

That is all from me today. I thank you so much for taking the time to stop by. Have a wonderful day!!

National Scrapbook Day Pages

This past Saturday was National Scrapbook Day. I hosted the challenges at Scrapjazz.com and it was so much fun!! I was not able to create scrapbook pages for each challenge but I was able to finish two. I am such a slow scrapbooker so two pages was good for me.

The first challenge was to pick an article from Scrapjazz.com and create a layout or card that was inspired by that particular article. I had a really hard time choosing but finally settled on a sketch article that featured travel layouts from Prague by Amy Sotolongo. Here was my take on the sketch:

I had extra fun creating this page because I dug through all my drawers and used so many products on this page. Chipboard, die cuts, felt flowers-it is all there. I plan to use this layout design again on a canvas I want to make for my entryway.

The second challenge I finished was another sketch challenge. I created the sketch below in Photoshop pretty much copied it exactly.

I had a lot of fun creating the layers and using conversation balloons for my journaling. Again, I pulled a lot of things out from my stash to layer on here.

I know NSD is over but if you need some inspiration, come on over to the Scrapjazz SJ Challenge Central board every month to complete new challenges and win some prizes. The next challenges will be posted on the first of June.

I hope you enjoyed your time here today. Happy Thursday!!

Nora

Happy New Year!!!

I hope everyone had a happy, safe New Years eve. We just spent it watching a movie with Charlotte and I was in bed by 10:30. I am trying to get back into my work habits because over vacation I have gone to bed rather late and slept later then I usually do. Going back to work tomorrow will be interesting!!

Today I thought I would share some of my projects I did for the holidays. Yes, they are over but I wasn't organized enough to post them. I am going to try to do a Christmas Inspiration piece once a month, from tags to ornaments or gifts to get you inspired to create all year. Wouldn't it be nice to be organized for next year's holiday ahead of time?

My first projects are various cards I created. The one below was the EASIEST I have created in a long time. I used a piece of patterned paper over an ivory card stock base. I then layered fun embellishments from Pink Paislee over both. This is a card I did in about 15 minutes-a record for me!!

Supplies: Paper-Basic Grey Aspen Frost Woolen Mittens, Ivory Card Stock; Pink Paislee Parcel Tags, Pink Paislee Ephemera Pack, Pop Dots, Paper Trey Ink Stamp, Vintage Photo Ink; twine

My next card looks just as easy but it took a little more time. That funky star is a die cut that I glittered and then attached over all the layers. I love this card. The star really makes it!!

Supplies: Paper-green, red, ivory, and kraft card stock, Lily Bee Design Christmas Cheer patterned paper; Pink Paislee Parcel Tags; Ink-Red and Vintage Photo Ink; Tim Holtz Large 3-D Die; Red Rhinestones; Technique Tuesday "Be Jolly" stamps; Diamond Stickles

The next one is not my favorite but I am including it because not everything will turn out how you want, will it? The wreath is part of the Pink Paislee Parcel tags pack. I just doctored it up with glitter glue.

Supplies: Paper-Basic Grey Aspen Frost, red and ivory card stock, Pink Paislee Parcel Tags; Pop Dots; Stickles-Diamond and Turquoise; red buttons; ribbon

The next card is created by layering paper and then a stamped embellishment over a doily is the focal point. This stamp isn't meant to be a Christmas stamp but I used it on many cards this year.

Supplies: Paper-Lily Bee Design "Christmas Cheer" 6" by 6" paper pad, Red Card stock, Bazzill Basics-"Sheet Music"; Ink-Red, green and Vintage Photo Ink; Stamps-My Mind's Eye "Cutie Pie" Technique Tuesday "Be Jolly" stamps; Martha Stewart Doily.

The next two photos are a project that I saw on Pinterest and have wanted to try for over a year. I am not a wine drinker so I had to enlist some people to help me collect corks. I still need more so everyone I know, save them for me. It would be greatly appreciated!!

I used the Pinterest pin only as a jumping off point and made them my own as aI always do. I NEVER copy anything exactly. Charlotte made the deer on the right and I created the deer on the left. My reindeer is an ornament. Charlotte made fun of it because she thought it looked like it had too much to drink!!

Here is a side view of my deer with the little hook for where the hanger would go. I want to make more of these over the year because I have a ton of friends that I could see gifting one of these to. However, I have to figure out a better way to cut the corks. My husband was on a business trip and Charlotte was afraid I would cut my finger off. She had all the first aid supplies and a phone ready in case she had to call for help!!

This next photo is just a few chocolates wrapped with tulle. I stamped a tag, added a bow and a bauble and it is an instant gift. Easy peasy!!

I took A LOT of time with this ornament. I die cut the star, stamped it, glued trim around it, glittered it and added embellishments. It came out fantastic and this is another project I want to create more of for gifts next year. The fun thing about this was I dug through my box of Christmas findings I buy every year on clearance to decorate the front.

Supplies: Paper-white card stock; Tim Holtz 3D Star Die, Hero Arts Stamp, Stickles Diamond Glitter Glue, White Ribbon and trim; Christmas findings.

One of the things I try to do when I give a gift is to make my own tags. Often my wrapping is better then the gift inside!!

I created this tag for my niece. I adore this little gingerbread man! Instead of glitter glue I experimented using a glitter paint. It went on nicely however it made the paper curl a bit. I then layered the gingerbread man over a stamped tag.

Supplies: Paper-kraft and white cardstock, scraps of patterned paper; Ink-red and Vintage Photo Ink; glitter paint; pop dots; red Washi Tape; Sizzix Gingerbread Die and Silhouette Tag; Technique Tuesday "Be Jolly" Stamp; 

The next three photos are of a canning jar that I filled with truffles for a co-worker. I covered the top with patterned paper and ribbon to hide the top of the jar.

I then attached a tag I die cut and stamped over a tiny kraft bag. Inside the bag I placed a gift certificate. This woman does so much for the department that I thought she deserved more then the candy!!

I even decorated the inside of the tag. Sometimes it is the little "extras" that make the gift!!

Supplies: Paper-Lily Bee Design-Christmas Cheer; White card stock, Blue card stock, Ink-red and Vintage Photo Ink; Die Cuts: Paper Trey Ink and Silhouette Cameo; red ribbon; canning jar; Paper Trey Ink 2010 Holiday Tag Stamps

My last addition to this post are of a tag and star I created to top another co-workers gift. I love these little added touches. Presentation goes a long way!! Again, all I used was a die cut machine for the star and tag. I topped them off with bells and some curling ribbon. I LOVE how this came out!!

Supplies: White card stock; blue ink; Simple Stories grey polka dot paper; diamond glitter glue, Die Cuts-Tim Holtz Large 3D Star, Silhouette machine; Stamps-Paper Trey Ink and My Minds Eye.

I hope this inspires you to make some of your own tags and gifts for next year. Happy New Year!!

Nora

A Little Springtime in Summer!!

We have been busy this weekend trying to stay cool. Once again I am uploading layouts to this blog that I have created over the last few months. This post will be all about "spring." Each page contains something to do with spring.

My first page is about how coloring Easter eggs is always an after thought in our house. I can buy a die kit months in advance like I did this year and we still wind up coloring eggs in the late afternoon of Holy Saturday. (Please excuse the scan. For some reason I have a difficult time getting both sides of a Kraft Cardstock background to meet up!!) I created this page for a challenge over at Scrapjazz.com this month. If you want, come on over and join us. If you create a layout and upload it, you will be entered into a random drawing for a prize pack from Scrapbook.com.

Supplies: Paper-Bazzill Kraft Cardstock, Basic Grey Sweet Threads-Boutique Shopping, Drapery Top, Knotted Shirt and Weekend Look, Die Cuts-Jillibean Soup-Dutch Mustard Soup Pea Pod Shapes and Watermelon Gazpacho Pea Pod Shapes, Paper Trey Ink border and banner die,  Stickers-My Little Shoebox Mini Alphabet-Sunrise and Jillibean Soup Watermelon Gazpacho Cardstock stickers Punches-EK Success Whale of a Punch Circle, Ink-Vintage Photo Ink , Pens-Zig Writer.


The next page is a simple page of Charlotte and her cousins on Easter. I love the striped border on this and the butterfly.

Supplies: Paper-Echo Park Splash Collection-Fish and Journaling, Jillibean Soup Watermelon Gazpacho 6" by 6" paper pad, Borders-Jillibean Soup Watermelon Gazpacho Soup Pea Pod Shapes and Bazzill Just the Edge French Vanilla Border, Stickers-Jillibean Soup-Glazed Green Cardstock Alphabet, My Little Shoebox Carnation Glitter Alphabet, American Crafts Thickers, and Heidi Swapp Bling, Pens-Zig Writer.


The last Spring page I designed I emphasized the white space. The photo was taken of Charlotte in Boston in a plaza by the Old North Church.

Supplies: Paper-Bazzill Kraft Cardstock, Jillibean Soup Watermelon Gazpacho Soup 6" by 6" Paper Pad, Die Cuts-Jillibean Soup Watermelon Gazpacho Soup Pea Pod Parts and Journaling Spots, Punches-Marvy Uchida Extra Large Scallop Punch, and Stickers-My Little Shoebox Glitter Alphabet-Ruby and Jillibean Soup Watermelon Gazpacho Soup Cardstock Stickers.

Thank you for perusing my blog. I hope you have a great week!!

Nora

Another Long Hot Day!!!

I cannot wait for this weather to break. As my husband will tell you, I am AWFUL in the heat. I get ugly and complain a lot. Don't hate me but I really prefer the cold. I very rarely complain about winter, unless we have TOO MUCH snow. It sure beats being hot in my book!

Today I am  uploading some layouts that I have created over the last few months. There is not particular rhyme or reason to them. I just create what photos strike me at the moment.

The first page is a rare 8 1/2" by 11" creation for my "Book of Me." My mother LOVED butterflies so every time I see one, I think of her. Charlotte and I scout butterflies out and she says "Grandma Mary Ann is watching out for us today" when we do see one. This photo was taken at Wickham Park in Manchester last year.

Supplies: Paper-Basic Grey Lauderdale-Rose Colored Glasses and Clam Bake, and Basic Grey Gypsy Collection (background Green), Bazzill Brown Cardstock Punches-Matha Stewart 3-in-1 Classic Butterfly and Fiskars Apron Lace Border, Stickers-Basic Grey LilyKate Alphabet Stickers, Font-Lucida Handwriting, Other-Jillibean Soup Journal Spots 


The next page I created is all about Charlotte's "rivalry" with our dog Zack. They literally fight over me. It can be funny but it usually winds up with the dog being yelled at and Charlotte running to her room crying. I guess I should have had another child and then maybe this wouldn't happen!!

Supplies: Paper-Bazzil Frosted Yellow Cardstock, Basic Grey Lauderdale Collection-Wavelength, SPF, Bikini Time, Coastline and Clear Water, Punches-Fiskars Scallop Sentiment Border,  Paper Shaper Medium Circle Punch, and EK Success Bracket Edger Punch, Stickers- Basic Grey Lauderdale Alphabet and My Little Shoebox Mini Alphabet-Indigo, Die Cuts-Jillibean Soup Dutch Mustard Soup Die Cut Pieces, Christmas Red Stickles, Stamp-Unity Stamp Bella Blvd Collection Family Tree, Zig Pen and various colored inks.


The next layout is Charlotte swinging at the park last summer. I had fun distressing the edges of all the papers on this page and then "messed it up" using Stickles like a paint to "splatter" in strategic areas on the layout. It was an experiment that I will be repeating because it was so fun.

Supplies: Paper-Bazzill White, Basic Grey Lauderdale-Bikini Time, Coastline and Cut Offs, Die Cuts-Jillibean Soup Blossom Soup Die Cut Pieces, Stickers-Basic Grey Lauderdale Alphabet Stickers,  My Little Shoebox Mini Alphabet-Sky and Glitter Alphabet, Sassafras Lass Cherry Delicious Collection Alphabet Stickers, Fontwerks Label, Punches-Martha Stewart Heart Confetti and Large Monarch Butterfly, Stickles-True Blue and Orange Peel, Zutter Distress It All Machine, Stamps-Stampin Up! Chicken Wire Stamp and Paper Trey Ink's Basic Label Die and Stamp, Black Zig Writer and Memento Orange Ink.


The last page I created is going to be framed for my friend. I caught her son dancing on film when we went to the park one day last year. I used spray mists on this to get the effects I wanted. I had never used them before and had a lot of fun!!

Supplies: Paper-Bazzill Smooth White, Doodlebug Design and Bo Bunny Press, Mist Sprays-Tattered Angels Sweet Clover, Jazz Blue and Electric Blue, Punches-Paper Shaper Small Circle and 7/8" nesting punch, Silhouette Die Cut Machine.

I hope you enjoyed my pages and are keeping cool!!

Nora

Very hot outside and what to do?

We have had record highs outside the past few days. I have wanted to make cards and scrap but my scrap room does not have air conditioning and the room was too hot to even think. What is a girl to do? I decided to update my blog!! I promised in June to update regularly but as you can see, I have not done so. I plan to do a few entries ahead to get it back in gear, though.

For this entry, I want to concentrate on some cards I have created.

The first two cards I created I used a Martha Stewart Butterfly punch and paper from Basic Grey's Lauderdale collection. They are simple but I love how they came out!

Supplies: Paper-Basic Grey Lauderdale Collection-Bikini Time and Coastline, Card stock-Hero Arts- Kraft Punches-Martha Stewart Heart Confetti and Large Monarch Butterfly Stamps-Hero Arts Things Ink-Vintage Photo Ink .


The second card I added a couple Jillibean Soup products. I just love quick cards!!

Supplies: Paper-Hero Arts Kraft Cardstock, Basic Grey Lauderdale Collection-Wavelength, Jillibean Soup- 6" by 6" Dutch Mustard Soup Paper Pad and Dutch Mustard Soup Die Cuts, Punches-Martha Stewart Heart Confetti and Large Monarch Butterfly.

The next card I created for an article I wrote to review Martha Stewarts Punch Around the Page punches. You can view that here. The punch had holes around the heart that were prefect for stitching. I also raised the front of the card with pop dots to give it some dimension.  I think it is one of my favorite cards that I have created in a long time!!

Supplies: Paper-Echo Park-Gingham Gabby and Jody's Stripe, Bazzill White Cardstock, Punches-Martha Stewart Studded Heart Punch and Classic Butterfly, EK Success Large Corner Rounder, Stickers-Echo Park Little Girl Alphabet and Hero Arts Diamond Bling, Other-DMC Floss, Stampin Up! Cameo Coral Ink, Stamps from Stamps by Judith.


The last card was a quick card I created for my nephew's birthday. It is very simple as I always have a difficult time coming up with ideas for masculine birthday cards. Maybe if I had them in my stash, I wouldn't miss so many birthdays!!

Supplies: Paper-Jillibean Soup-Watermelon Gazpacho Collection, Bazzill Kraft Cardstock, Ink-Stampin Up! Navy, Tsuekineko Momento Tuxedo Black Ink, Stamps-Paper Trey Ink 2011 Birthday Tags, Birthday Bash Sentiments and Label Basics, Die Cuts-Paper Trey Ink Label Basics and Banner Die, Other-Red Ribbon from Michaels


That is all for now. Tune in tomorrow for some layouts!! Try to keep cool!!

Nora