Altered Items & Other Such Things

I love this card....I consider it "shabby chic." I made it with the intent of showing that everything you make doesn't have to be with a "kit" or even with "scrapping merchandise." For this card I used Best Occasions Brown Textured Cardstock; Wedding Ribbon and Hearts taken from a windchime, both from the $ Tree. Stamps by Inkadinkado and Creating Memories Red Ink. This just goes to show that anything can be used when you are creating! Of course, this type of crafting probably will not get you in a mag or on a design team, but when I create just for the sake of creating, I like to try different things and use odd items. I spent a few hours yesterday altering a couple of items as pictured below.

I decorated a plain $2 yearly planner and personalized it for myself. This was so easy and yet, I loved the finished product. Not only is it functional, it looks nice lying on my desk.

I had a 5x7 sketch book, but really wanted something smaller that I could carry with me in my purse. I found this cute book of index cards, complete with dividers and rings. I turned it into my portable sketch book and I just love it. It is the perfect size for purse or pocket with plenty of pages to sketch my ideas. (and yes, it already has a couple in it that I can't wait to try.) Both items were created using Making Memories "Noteworthy" and "5th Avenue" Kits.

I also put together a little chipboard album of Packer the poor rescued puppy whom we have adopted. I joke that a three pound puppy has taken me hostage! I titled the album, Puppy Love...A Packer Tale.

I cut my own chipboard circles and used Making Memories "Travel" Paper to cover them. Embellishments were random 'doggy' items from my scrap bin and viola! A puppy album was born. Now, if only this puppy would grow some hair! Oh well, we love him anyway.

Hope your day is everything you want it to be!

Smile!

Happy Tuesday to all! We awoke to a mixed bag of weather this morning; at first it was a pleasant 49* then the temp rapidly dropped and we have had intermittent bouts of rain and snow. Accumulation is in the forecast....but I am still thinking of sping and flowers. This card is made using Best Occasions textured brown cardstock as the base. The print is Making Memories Spring Collection along with Prima flowers, jute and buttons.

I broke out my Singer Pixie Craft Sewing Machine which I got before Christmas and used it for the first time! I love it! So simple and easy to use, and I am not one for sewing! That is my least favorite crafty thing to do, but I really enjoyed this!

I did a tiple fold on this card and tied the edges to make more fanfare out of opening the card. The front simply says "Smile." Which is what I wish for you today......happy smiles!

Thoughts of Spring

My Dad reminded me today that it is still very much winter-time! Our temps are supposed to be in the single digits by the week's end, but my mind had already reached for Spring! When I woke up this morning, these cards were just waiting to be created. I found these adorable glittered hearts at Walmart this weekend and could just see countless projects that I could use them for. The flourish, lettering and pink print is by Making Memories. The ribbon is generic pieces that I had lying around. The inside is stamped with "We Love Because He First Loved Us" by Inkadinkadoo with Fuschia Dye Ink Pad by Stampede. The white base is Best Occasions Textured Cardstock.

This Springtime card is much cuter in person ;) The flowers are K&Co; the ribbon is from Target Scrapbooking $ Spool; the patterned papers are Making Memories as is the tag. The buttons are from my gigantic button collection (my Granny Smith would be so proud!) and the white cardstock is the same as above.

I wanted to mention that I received a beautiful handcrafted gift this Christmas....it was a quilt, handpieced and handquilted by my husband's Aunt who passed away last February. Her 88 year old sister gave it to me on Christmas morning. We both shed a few tears at the opening and I was again humbly reminded of the precious people that God has placed in my life. The quilt will serve as a sweet reminder of the wonderful woman who shared many day to day activities of my married life. She often told me that I was "her's, not an inlaw." :) Living next door to her, we worked on crafts together for many years before Alzheimer's Disease took her from us. My home is filled with many of her creations and she inspired me. Take a moment today to tell those who are special to you how they touch your life. Sometimes, that is the greatest gift of all.

Pretty in Pink

Hi all. Can you believe that it is Friday already? I am not sure where this week went, but it sure flew to get there. My sister phoned me today to check on me...stating, "you haven't posted for a couple of days. Are you okay?" I had to chuckle....we guage our wellbeing on the amount of time we spend creating! How cool is that....all of you scrappers understand, don't you?

I have decided that I love the color pink! I never wear it, but I have fallen in love with it for card making and scrapping. I also loved the bling on this card. It is a rhinestone sticker by BestCreations. The flowers are K&Co. Although I do not own a cuttlebug yet (Birthday hint, hubby ;) I used an embossing tool on the checked paper and appreciated the texture that it offered. My gems are from The Beadery.

Big news for my niece, Amber. She was chosen as part of Cuttlebug Challenge Design Team! How exciting for her (and me, vicariously ;). I can't wait to see what her creative mind will come up with for their challenges. You can check her out at thecountryscrapper.blogspot.com. She is a gifted scrapper and lives on a really cool farm. You might even catch a glance of her menagerie!

Happy scrapping...and may your day be blessed!

Love Is In The Air

Hi all! It has been a rainy, dreary day here in Eastern KY, but I am feeling all warm and mushy anyway! Today, I broke out the pastel papers and how pleasant they are to the heart and eye. I found the pretty pink glitter hearts at the $Tree and what a deal, 9 for $1! I couldn't pass that up, afterall, we are in a recession. The papers and ribbons are just odds and ends that I dug out and the glitter letters are by Colorbok. Just looking at this card makes me crave some decadent valentine goodies;)

While thinking of Valentine's Day, my mind fast-forwarded a bit to spring....my favorite time of the year. This card just came to me when this VERY large daisy fell out of a junk box while I was organizing some of my Christmas Scrap goodies. (Hubby laughs because I never throw anything away, but just look what I might have missed if I had!) This ribbon is a Michael's $1 spool, and matched my card perfectly!

I am loving this light studio! I could never get close-up details before and now....just look at that detail! Someone asked the name of the lighting set-up, it is Concepts Digital Portable Lighting Studio; found at my local Walmart for a steal of a deal at $20. It comes complete with studio, 2 lights and a tripod. Who could pass that up? (It was originally $44.84) My verrry favorite "after Christmas" find! Hope you all have a great day and happy scrapping!

Back At It!

Whew.....it is good to be back to the scrap habit again! I couldn't find much time during the holidays, but now.....it's back to what I love doing the most. My mother-in-law asked that I make a few cards for her Sunday School card ministry and here is a glance at my creations. I didn't put anything elaborate on them (like my over-the-top bows ;) for postal rate savings.

These were mostly made using scraps of cardstock, Prima flowers and jewels from the Beadery. This was my first attempt at "mass production" and I enjoyed the project. I hope that her class will as well.

You all have heard me complain time and again about my inability to get quality lighting on my posts. Well today, I had the shopping experience of shopping experiences! While developing my Christmas pics at my local WM....I happened upon a Digital Lighting Studio for less than half-price and decided to give it a try. (I also phoned my scrapsister to ask if she would like to invest in one as well ;) Look what a difference this makes! I had made a homemade lightbox but apparently ,not a very good one. This makes all of the difference in the world! Now, I can't wait to make something else...just to play with my lighting. Happy scrapping to all!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! What a great day that I had on New Year's Eve. It began with breakfast with my 79 year old Dad who suffered a serious heart attack and subsequent health problems this past February. He has had a tough year health-wise and it was wonderful to hear him say, "I feel good today" and get to spend time with him. What a blessing!

The afternoon was "girl's day out" with my son's fiancee, and my sister-in-law and nieces who live in Arkansas. We had a nice lunch and an afternoon of "girl stuff", including manicures for the teens and shopping for all. (What a great opportunity for sweet fellowship and memory making!) Another blessing!

Tonight my husband's brother and his family joined us for our Church's New Year's Service where they heard my son preach the opening service and then stayed for refreshments and met our church family. Another Blessing! All of this following a wonderful belated Christmas celebration yesterday at my Mother-in-law's home. I am feeling very thankful and extremely....BLESSED!

May this New Year find you equally so!