Travel Journal and a Winner

Happy Monday everyone! I wanted to show everyone the cute travel journal I made for my friend Nancy to go along with the card from the Motions and Folds blog hop. I used chipboard for the front and back of the album and decorated it with Fabric from Stampin UP!s latest mini catalog. I just love this fabric. I am not much of a sewer but I have been really making a go of it lately. The entire front is hand sewed. I even sewed the letters that I cut out on my Cricut onto the fabric to make up the title. I cut the scalloped square with my Big Shot and sewed the flowers and ribbon on as well. I used fabric glue to adhere the fabric to the chipboard and placed a piece of craft cardstock over the edges so you wouldn't see that part. I used some Aleene's Stop Fraying glue to cover the spots where I wanted the hole's to go so the fabric would cut out nicely for the holes. Once that dried I took my crop-o-dile and punched the holes through the fabric and chipboard and then took o-rings to bind it all together. I really loved how this came out and I was so excited to give it to Nancy!

Front of the book

I just used plain white paper for the inside.

Back of the book

Now onto the winner from this past weekends hop. Random.org chose number 56 which was Lucy!

Here is what Lucy had to say:

Great card! I'm going to have to try it. Thanks, Lucy

Congrats Lucy!!! Angelica from Market Street Stamps will be emailing you soon with your info on the gift certificate. Thank you so much to everyone that visited my blog and commented. I love reading all the comments and everyone was so sweet!

Sketch 242

Happy Sunday everyone! I have a quick post on a scrapbook page I did for this weeks challenge over at Scrapbook Challenges. It's this past weeks sketch, sketch 242. This photo is from Christmas time so the layout is Christmas. I used Mini Monograms for the letters and my Cindy Loo cartridge for the swirl. I really like how it came out.

The layout is based on this sketch

Supplies Used:

Ink: Stampin UP! Basic Black

Stamps: Market Street Stamps Simply Stitched Borders

Paper: Stampin Up! Basic Gray, Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler, the patterned paper is from my scraps

Ribbon: Stampin UP! Old Olive grosgrain ribbon

Motions and Folds Blog Hop

Hi everyone! I am so happy you are visiting today and hopefully taking part in the Motions and Folds Blog hop sponsored by Ellen at Card Monkey. Hopefully you came from Sarah's blog atSimply Shaddock, if not and you would like to start the hop from the beginning, head on back toEllen's blog. This hop was sooo challenging for me! First off, it's very hard to decide on which card to make. If you do some searching, there are a lot of options to choose from and some pretty neat cards could be made. I chose to make a Diagonal Double Fold Card. I found the directions online at Splitcoast Stampers and went from there. My friend Nancy is having her birthday tomorrow (Happy Birthday Nancy!) and I wanted to make her a very special card to celebrate the big day. I also made her a travel journal which I will be posting on Monday so be sure to check back! Anyway, Here is the card I made:

This card is made from one sheet of 8 1/2 x 11 paper. If would like a tutorial on this card, this is the one I used from Splitcoast Stampers:http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/diagonal_double_pocket_card/ I wanted to include a fold in the card where I could put this little tag in. The tag is for her to use as a bookmark in her journal. The second flap opens up and that is where I entered the sentiment. I am a little obsessed with ribbon flowers right now so I included a flower and also some ribbon on the bottom. I chose colors that would go with the journal I made so they would all coordinate. I also used a Market Street Background Stamp called Hearts a Plenty to decorate the front of the card. I thought it came out really sweet.

So what's a blog hop without some blog candy, right? I have some very special blog candy sponsored by Market Street Stamps! I am so excited about this as I just love Market Street Stamps and would buy everything they have to offer if the budget would allow!

That's right, a 25.00 gift certificate to Market Street Stamps!! Just leave a comment under this post with an email address and I would love if you become a follower if you aren't already! I will choose the winner Monday morning using random.org, good luck!!

You next stop is Sue at Susana's Corner!

Peachy Keen Stamps Sketch Challenge

Some friends of ours found out a few months back that they were having a baby after years of trying. They have two cute, rambunctious boys and Mommy really wanted a girl. Their dream came true last week when they found out they were having a little girl! I wanted to make a card for them to celebrate this momentous occasion and wanted to make it very girly. I love my Twinkle Toes cartridge and thought I would use that, my favorite cuts being the cute little girls and the ballet shoes. I also received my new paper stack from Erin Lee Creative and loved the music notes paper, I just knew I wanted to use that for this card as well and create it based on the latest sketch from Peachy Keen Stamps. I thought this card envisioned future trips to dance classes with their little princess, well, as long as she doesn't turn out to be too much of a tomboy with those big brothers around. Somehow I know her Mommy will be sure she is a princess!

Here is the sketch

Here is my take

Supplies Used:

Stamps: Stampin UP! Warm Words (retired)

Ink: Stampin UP! Basic Black

Paper: Stampin UP! Basic Black, Whisper White, and Rich Razzleberry, Erin Lee Creative My Favorite Things paper pack, the green was out of my scraps

Ribbon: Stampin UP! Black Satin

Kids Craft Blog Hop

Hello everyone! Welcome to the Kids Blog Hop sponsored by the Purple Scrapbooker! If you have arrived here from Linda at Heavenly Creations, (www.heavenlycreations7.blogspot.com) you are on the right track! If you would like to start the hop from the beginning, see Jen at the Purple Scrapbooker, (www.purplescrapbooker.com).

My daughter, Ava, is so excited to be able to show her work on a "dot com" site, as she likes to say! Ava is only 4 years old but she has a very big personality! Her favorite "art" that she likes to do is paint. We have many pictures displayed around the house of her painting and she loves to go to Joann's and pick out one of those wood photos to paint. Last fall she picked out this huge flower to go in the backyard by her little wooden house. Here is a photo:

I love letting her pick these out as they are fairly inexpensive and she has a ball with them. This one was extra special as we got to see it every day in the backyard until the weather turned cold. She just asked me the other day when we could get it back out.

For this blog hop she has chosen to color in some stamps I have. Her favorite stamps that I own are all the faces by Peach Keen Stamps. She loves stamping faces on everything!! Since we can't really color in faces, I let her choose another stamp set and she chose to color a fairy from a Stampin UP! set and then a little girl with her dolly and her dog from Vivenne and Friends by Peach Keep Stamps. (Too hard to choose just one!)

Here are the two cards we created:
We actually based this card on the current sketch from the latest Tuesday sketch challenge over at Peachy Keen Stamps. We used the Martha Stewart Fringe Shears for the grass and cut out a simple yellow circle for the sun. I thought it came out really cute and Ava knows the PERFECT person to give this to, her Grandma for her birthday.

For this set, Ava used my Big Shot to cut out the Scallop Squares for the base and then picked her own construction paper in pink for the layer. She loves this fairy from Stampin UP! and has decided to give this card to her best friend for her birthday which is coming up soon!

Since she is only 4 she hasn't quite mastered coloring yet, although anyone who receives a card from her doesn't care! They mostly just love getting cards that are handmade from Ava. Isn't that normally how it is anyway? Do we really care how pretty something is when it's handmade? It's the thought that counts!

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed these projects today from Ava. I know she would love to hear your sweet comments on them!

Your next stop is Zeni over at www.scrappyzeni.blogspot.com

!

PKS Sketch Challenge

Today I FINALLY got a chance to play with my new Build a Blossom stamp set and corresponding punch from Stampin UP! that I received on Monday. I created this quick card based on the latest Peachy Keen Challenge which is a sketch challenge. I loved this sketch and thought it was such a cute one that I knew I wanted to try it out! I needed to make a card for an upcoming birthday so I thought this the perfect time! Here is the photo of the sketch:

Here is my take:

Supplies Used:

Stamps: Stampin UP! Build a Blossom and Teeny Tiny Wishes

Paper: Stampin UP! Basic Gray, Whisper White, Regal Rose, and Rose Red

Ink: Stampin UP! Regal Rose and Old Olive

Punches: Martha Steward Ribbon Punch, Stampin UP! Scallop Trim Border, Word Window and Blossoms Petal Punch

Sketch 240-A Boy is a Joy!

Hi all! I have been kind of working on this page all week. It finally went from a piece of kraft 12x12 paper and 2 photos sitting on my desk to this. I just had a hard time figuring out what colors I wanted to use. The photos are not that great as you can see from below but the day was just so special. It's the day we found out we were having a boy and went to get the ultrasound. I'll have to do a lot more journaling than what is on here as it was such an emotional day! For some reason I always thought I would have two girls and to find out we were having a boy was such a shock! Not to mention that I have only have a sister, my sister has two girls, and most of my cousins are girls. We had one boy cousin in my family!

Anyway, I finally found the DCWV Celebrations pack at Joann's yesterday after much searching and after going through it I knew I could use that to create this page.

This page is based on this sketch from the Scrapbooking Challenges. They load a new sketch each week and it really helps with keeping me going on scrapbooking.

Here is my take:

Tropical Dreams

Good morning all! This morning I woke up a little early so I thought I would try to accomplish a project for the latest Music Mondays challenge. The theme this time is "Hotel California" and I knew exactly which stamp set to use for this one. I have the Stampin UP! set Tropical Party and thought it would be perfect. Since everyone around me, including myself, is sick of this winter weather we are having here in Chicagoland I thought palm trees and tropical drinks would be the perfect way to forget about the weather for a little while! Every time I think of California I think of beautiful San Diego where my Uncle lives and highway 1 along the coast. I love California and my husband and I always talk about how we should have moved there when we had the opportunity many years ago...sigh.

I also used the same sketch from the MOJO Monday challenge for my card.

I was thinking of giving this card to my husband as a reminder of the vacation we NEED to go on:-). Think he will get the hint?

MOJO Monday Challenge 177

So today I got a very fun package in the mail! All my Stampin UP! product and a background stamp from Market Street Stamps. I had to begin playing with them right away! I wasn't really into doing a full scrapbook page so I thought a nice card would be quick and easy. My Dad hasn't been feeling well lately and I thought he would be the perfect person to make a valentine for. I love to check out the Mojo Monday site for inspiration and this weeks sketch and challenge was so cute.

Here is my take,

Supplies Used:

Stamps: Stampin UP! Valentine Defined, Maket Street Hearts a Plenty Border

Ink: Stampin UP! Real Red

Paper: Stampin UP! Real Red, Whisper White, Red Glimmer Paper, and the pink was out of my scraps

I used some ribbon and sewed together the flower and put a little heart button in the center.

Winner from the Blog Hops this Past Weekend

Hi everyone! I have chosen the winner of the Cricut Sampler Cart using random.org and the lucky winner is Carly, here is what Carley had say:

This is so cute! I love the layout! I love your blog it is so cute! Thank you for sharing! I hope you have a fabulous day filled with lots of glitter!

~Hugs~ Carley

Thanks So much to everyone who visited my blog this past weekend! I had such a blast with both hops and just love reading everyone's sweet comments.

Feel the Love Blog Hop

Hi Everyone! If you are looking for Nicole and Meighan's Bday/ Bloggerversary Bash Feb 5th and 6th, click here.

Welcome to the Feel the Love Blog Hop! I am so excited for Valentine's Day! I like to look at it as a day to share the love all around you. What a great thing to celebrate. We all need a little more love in our lives right? If you are coming here from Meagan at Beyond Paper, then you are in the right spot. If you just happened on my blog today and want to start this fun blog hop from the beginning, visit Jamie at Glitter, Stamps, and Paper, Oh My!

Here is my project for the hop:

I found this adorable wood LOVE sign at Hobby Lobby last year for a steal. I think it was originally only 3.99 and I got it for around a 1.00 in a sale. It had a little red ribbon on it and was just plain wood. I took it and painted it all white. Added the paper to it, along with some black gingham ribbon and cut out some shapes from the Cricut Sweethearts cartridge. I also took my Peachy Keen Everyday Character Face stamps and stamped some cute faces on the hearts. I LOVE how it came out, he he. It's currently hanging on the pantry door in our kitchen and it's just so festive!

For this blog hop I am offering some fun blog candy, the Cricut Sampler Cartridge for your cricut!

You have 3 chances to win.

1. Enter in a comment on this post

2. Enter in a comment on my other blog hop post, here

3. Become a "fan" of my facebook page and enter in another comment telling me you did :-)

Please become a follower if you aren't already. I will keep this open until Monday night at midnight and pick a winner on Tuesday the 8th. Thanks so much for visiting me today! Your next stop is Jill over at The Scrapaholic. Jill always has such amazing stuff and I know she will have something awesome for you today!!

If you get lost along the way, here is a list of all the blogs in the hop.

Jamie at Glitter, Stamps, and Paper, Oh My! http://glitterstampsandpaperohmy.com

Karel at One by One The Flamingos Are Stealing My Sanity http://karelj.blogspot.com

Nikki at The Glamorous Side of Scrapping http://glamoroussideofscrapping.blogspot.com

Elizabeth at Skittles and Scrapbooks http://skittlesandscrapbooks.blogspot.com

Brittni at Life's Musings http://gardenwhispers.blogspot.com/

Jesi at Jesi's Things http://jesisonaroll.blogspot.com/

Ellen at Card Monkey http://cardmonkey-business.blogspot.com

Jessica at Overjoyed Scrapper http://overjoyedscrapper.blogspot.com

Casey at Simple Joy Crafting http://simplejoycrafting.blogspot.com

Jenny at Crazy about Cricut http://www.crazyaboutcricut.blogspot.com/

Shannon at My Scrappy Creations http://shannonleffew.blogspot.com/

Meagan at Beyond Paper http://beyondpaperdesigns.blogspot.com

Jessica at Creative Stamper http://thecreativestamperspot.blogspot.com You are Here!

Jill at The Scrapaholic http://thescrapaholic.blogspot.com

Katy at Crazy Mommy Katy http://crazymommykaty.blogspot.com

Aimee at http://www.littlepsmomma.blogspot.com/

Kathy at http://kathyand3kids.blogspot.com

Amanda at Something Sorta http://somethingsorta.blogspot.com

Michelle at Holy Cricut http://queenofmycraftroom.blogspot.com

Kathy at www.kathy-thebeautifullife.blogspot.com

Angie at http://atuttletime.blogspot.com

Nicole and Meighen's Bday/ Bloggerversary Bash

Hi everyone! Welcome to Nicole and Meighen's Bday/Bloggerversary Bash! If you have just arrived here from Christine at Scrapbooking Technique then you are in the right spot. If you would like to start the blog hop from the beginning, head on over to Meighen at Scrappin 3rdeeschik.

For this blog hop we were tasked with doing a birthday themed project with a holiday theme. Well my birthday just happens to fall around Christmas time. Over the last few years my husband and I have always done something really special for my birthday. We have gone downtown (Chicago), stayed in a hotel, went to see a play and just had a great time alone without the kids! LOL. It has been super fun. A few years ago we did that very thing and I wanted to scrapbook the photos from it. Here is my Christmas themed scrapbook layout.

Supplies Used:

Paper: Stampin UP! Cherry Cobbler, Bashful Blue, Crumb Cake, and Very Vanilla

Stamps: Stampin UP! Delightful Decorations

Cricut Christmas Cartridge and Make the Cut for my title and the banner which is and svg from Lettering Delights

I also used my i-rock to add bling to my tree and the ornaments

For this blog hop I am offering some fun blog candy, the Cricut Sampler Cartridge for your cricut!

You have 3 chances to win.

1. Enter in a comment on this post

2. Enter in a comment on my other blog hop post, here

3. Become a "fan" of my facebook page and enter in another comment below telling me you did :-)

Please become a follower if you aren't already. I will keep this open until Monday night at midnight and pick a winner on Tuesday the 8th. Thanks so much for visiting me today! Your next stop is Corri at Buglvr.

If you get lost along the way, here is a list of all the blogs in the hop.

1. Meighen - http://scrappin3rdeeschik.blogspot.com/
2. Jennifer - http://creativearmywife.blogspot.com/
3. Liset - www.hailemnat.blogspot.com
4. Jill - http://thescrapoholic.blogspot.com/
5. Pam - http://pammejo-scrapbookflair.blogspot.com/
6. Jess - http://www.kinderstampo.com/
7. Dawn - http://www.pinkyswrspaper.blogspot.com/
8. Tracey - http://thecroppingcanuck.blogspot.com/
9. Martha - http://pattisscrapingtime.blogspot.com/
10. Janie - www.typicalscrapbooker.com
11. Madison - www.funkycards.blogspot.com
12. Shannon - www.purplelionpaper.com/blog
13. Jenny - http://jennyplace26.blogspot.com/
14. Christine - www.scrapbookingtechnique.blogspot.com
15. Jessica - www.thecreativestamperspot.blogspot.com -->You are here
16. Corri - http://www.buglvr.blogspot.com/
17. Lisa - http://bitbythecricutbug.blogspot.com/
18. Cristina -http://www.craftingwithcristina.com/
19. Chris -http://stinkydogdesigns.blogspot.com/
20. Nancy - http://fancywithnancy.blogspot.com/
21. A Scrap Above - http://ascrapabove.blogspot.com/
22. Holly - http://www.kricutkween.blogspot.com/
23. Danielle - http://fundamentalchange.blogspot.com/
24. DD - http://craftydeb-ddscrafts.blogspot.com/
25. Shelley - http://heartstring-designs.blogspot.com/
26. Mel - http://scrappymel.blogspot.com/
27. Kathy - http://kathyscozies.blogspot.com/
28. Ellen - http://lifeatwalnuthill.blogspot.com/
29. Alina - http://neverstopscrapping.blogspot.com/
30. Liz - http://www.lizspaperloft.blogspot.com/
31. Denise - http://deesdesignsfrommyheart.blogspot.com/
32. Nicole - http://canadiannickelscrapn.blogspot.com/

Sketch 239

Hi everyone! We have so much snow here in Chicagoland. The drifts around my house are over 2 feet in some places and I swear I saw one by my neighbors taller than me! While the kids and I enjoy a snow day I thought I would upload this scrapbook page I did yesterday. I wanted to do a page based on the latest sketch challenge over at Scrapbook Challenges. Here is a photo of this weeks sketch:

Here is my take (I flipped it)

I made a ribbon rosette for the first time last and I really wanted to include it in this page. I found a youtube video of how to do it, don't you just love youtube? I love how it came out and I can't wait to do more!

Supplies Used:

Paper: DCWV Green stack, Stampin UP! Basic Gray and scraps for the owl

Ribbon: Stampin UP! Pink Pirouette and pearls from the pretties kit (now on sale in the clearance rack!)

Punches: Stampin UP! Owl Punch and Creative Memories Tag Punch

Make the Cut for my title with my cricut

Valentines Decorations

Today I threw together some quick decorations to put up around the house. This is when I really LOVE my cricut. So many cute cuts to choose from! Just cut out, throw on some ribbon and voila! an instant decoration! I cut these out using the Sweethearts cartridge. I love the scalloped heart and the love stamp on it. I am entering these decorations into the challenge on the 40:31 Creations challenge for a Valentine's day themed project as well. I love this time of year and all the love themed projects!