Valentine's Cards

Today, we are sharing Valentines over at PRACTICAL SCRAPPERS.  I decided to take the challenge to create a Valentine project literally and made a couple of cards using leftover papers and bits and pieces from my PAPER BAKERY LOVE POTION #9 SCRAPBOOK KIT.  Yep, so far I have made four layouts and three cards from one kit.  AND, I have enough left over to make another card or two.  That's a pretty awesome kit, if you ask me!

Here is the second Valentine I made with my kit (the third card is an everyday card that I will share later):

I do not consider myself a "card maker;" however, this kit contained so many cute design elements that even my simple cards turned out absolutely adorable.  I am sure they will put a smile on my Valentines' faces!

Have you made your Valentine Cards yet?  Better hurry!  Only 7 days left to V Day!!!

P.S. - did you know that both PRACTICAL SCRAPPERS and PAPER BAKERY have sketches posted each month?  If you like to use sketches to create your layouts and cards, you are going to love these!  Be sure to check them out (and tell them Krissy sent you).

Happy Birthday, Honey Bunny

 

Today is the Hubster's birthday.  I can't tell you how old he is without him divorcing me, but let's just say he is at the "distinguished-looking" age.  And if you guessed "distinguished-looking" appears to be about 59 years old - well, you just might be correct!  I won't tell, though!  No matter - he is handsome and kind and wonderful.  I wouldn't trade him for anything, and I thought today was the perfect day to tell my honey-bunny exactly that.  And, of course, I posted it all to PRACTICAL SCRAPPERS where I am up today (but don't worry, I didn't tell them my man was 59 either).

 

Here is my layout:

 

 

I used more of my MY CREATIVE SCRAPBOOK kit that I received as one of the April Guest Designers.  So far, I have created 3 layouts and 3 cards using the main kit, and I STILL have stuff left over!  That's a pretty awesome kit if you ask me!

 

 

I had fun adding these layers.  I started with a border of my yellow paper that I made using my Silhouette Cameo.  Then I sewed a layer of lace on top, making sure to leave the bottom tips of the yellow border exposed.  My last step was to sew these adorable "LOVE" tags on top of everything.  I couldn't resist adding a heart button!

 

And I love this little cluster.  I layered, adding pop dots to some parts for increased depth, until it was j-u-s-t right. 

 

 

Finally, here is the card I made - simple, yes.  But perfect for my best (and only) guy!

 

 

That's it for me today, but I will be back tomorrow to show you a homemade birthday gift I made for my man.  It was simple, it was easy, and it is SUPER cute!  Stay tuned...

 

In the meantime, go check out all the cool stuff going on at PRACTICAL SCRAPPERS, like these ideas for using TWINE or SEQUINS.  That's right, I said sequins!

Practical Scrappers - Summer Layouts and Cards

I have so much fun with PRACTICAL SCRAPPERS- especially when the challenge is to design a layout and card about one of my favorite seasons - summer! I created this using a recent CREATIVE SCRAPPERS sketch from its Sunshine Crop along with a favorite pic of one of my daughters and her guy taken last year when they were at the beach surfing

The sketch really caught my eye because of all the layering, and I am very happy with the end result!

I think muted papers are just about perfect for beach layouts.  And I really, really like the messy ink-splattered effect on these lovely patterned papers by We R Memory Keepers.  As far as I am concerned, a little messiness is always a good thing!

I thought the "name" of this paper - Down by the Sea - was perfect for my title.  So I cut it out and added it to my layout, on my picture.  See?  Some may call it laziness; I prefer to call it ingenuity.

I love summer SO MUCH that I also created a summer-themed card for Practical Scrappers two days ago.  Of course, it was a piece of cake.  I simply used the bright papers and the adorable stickers from my Echo Park Hello Summer Collection.  I added a few buttons and a little bit of baker's twine and I was done.  Quick and cute!

And that's it for the day!  Hope you are having a lovely start to YOUR summer!

It's National Scrapbooking Day - Hooray!

Happy, happy Saturday to you! Are you playing along with any fun challenges for National Scrapbooking Day? I am, and I decided to keep a running blog going for today with each project I complete. First, I am playing with ECHO PARK, whose first challenge is to create a quick card. I did this one in under an hour using their Note to Self Collection - really good for me considering it's been a looooonnnggg time since I've made a card. I have handwritten on the inside, "Today and Every Day" (It's for my hubby, of course!) What do you think?

Next challenge for the day is a challenge over at PAPER SECRETS,where we were challenged to use machine stitching. Machine stitching? Uh, don't have to ask me more than once! I used the May Sketch for Paper Secrets, and I drew additional inspiration from HEATHER LEOPARD's bright colors on a recent layout (which I tend to shy away from)and from AUDREY YEAGER's fussy cutting accents. I used my fabulous BIRDS OF A FEATHER May Kit, which was full of Amy Tangerine and Christy Tomlinson papers and goodies. Here is what I came up with:

I had so much fun with this little cluster.

I wasn't quite sure what to do with the page of crepe paper - until I decided to tear it into strips and use them for the ras of my sun.

I think I've got about two more projects in me before I call it a day. So, stay tuned for more to come...