Cards on Tuesday

Happy Tuesday all!  I am enjoying the last couple of weeks of summer, sleeping in and lounging with a cup of coffee when I wake up.

It is back to school soon!  I have shopping to do and classroom set-up to finish.  To help me get in the school spirit, I created this card using yummy Lily Bee products!  It can be given to a teacher, mentor or colleague. 

 

I used the August sketch from the Lily Bee blog to make this card!  Check it out at the blog.  Diana Fischer also has two great cards to share!

 

Here is a shot of the details.  This would be a good card to celebrate the first day!

 

 

Be sure to head to the blog and join in on the sketch challenge!

Cards on Wednesday

I am having a love affair with the sun.  Summer has something to do with it, but I am talking more about sunbursts, sunrays and sunshine found in scrapbooking.  I have always had a weakness for clouds and now the sun has joined them in the sky of my imagination.

I created a sun on my newest Lily Bee project.  I used an adorable sketch created by Wendy Sue Anderson.  The sketch and cards made by Wendy Sue and Summer can be found on the blog.

The theme for this week is fun in the sun so I was inspired!  I created the sunrays by cutting a typography border in smaller pieces.  I added some blue and orange as a contrast.

A close-up!  Head over to the Lily Bee blog and play along with the card sketch challenge for this month!

Tuesday Tip: Extend It

I had the pleasure of designing the card sketch for this month's challenge over at Lily Bee!  It is a simple design overall.  How do you make something relatively simple feel interesting?

I think you group and cluster.  Maybe you include elements that are all related, yet are different lengths and widths.

Take the banners on my card.

I went with different lengths starting with the longest sticker banner on the right.  I like how it brings the eye down to the sentiment.

The Party Time sticker had looked too small to be my sentiment, so I extended it! I changed the length of the sticker by placing it on the chevron paper.  I turned it into a banner by cutting the end.  

I used many of the elements of the new Embellishment Bundles to create this card!  The sketch I made is right here!  

I hope you will be inspired to create  your own card and share it with Lily Bee.  You'll will be eligible to win a prize pack!  Head over the the blog to see the details!

Monday's Musings: Photo or Live it?

We had a beautiful Easter Sunday yesterday.  Great times with my family.  We ate, laughed, had debates and just enjoyed each other's company.

The kids played together, watched movies together, and opened up Easter baskets.

I set the table using pretty, yellow daffodils and my ceramic bunnies.

I didn't take one picture.

I decided to simply live in the moment.  To focus on preparing the food and joining in on conversation.  I decided to not worry about how the lighting was or worry about bringing everyone outside for photos.

I wonder if I did the right thing.  I know that life is short and moments with family should be captured.  But shouldn't life also be fully lived for those same reasons?

I wonder.

In the spirit of Easter, I am sharing a gift box I created using Webster's pages goodies.  It is simple packaging, but the intent is to bring joy in little ways.

I made a folded card with an envelope flap.  The inside looks like this:

I used a mini bag to hold small candy.  A couple of punched holes and some twine, and it is all fastened!  I used the New Beginnings collection to make these goodies!

In the spirit of Easter, I decided to just be present yesterday.  I will find a time in the near future to take those photos.  Whether or not they are taken, the memories have been made!

A Card with a Suprise

Happy Wednesday!  Almost the weekend!  Today, I am sharing  a card with a surprise. 

I was recently challenged to go through my Webster's stash and mix old with new.  A little spring cleaning...

I fell in love all over again with each and every older collection and embellihsment.

I started with the journaling card and simply starting layering other paper.  I added the beautiful butterfly and sticker.  Simple, yet pretty.

Inside is a new mini bag, glued right down onto the card.  It is the perfect place to put a gift card or cash or tickets...crackers?

Anything that makes it a surprise!

Joy in the 6 X 4

Who knew I would actually enjoy the card making process?  In the past, I made them because I had to...but now...I want to.  I like to.

There is joy in working with a 6 X 4" space and making it as pretty or as simple or as graphic as you want.

I made two cards recently using the same themes.  The words Today and hearts were the primary design elements.  But I wanted to make two totally different cards.  Here is what I came up with.

This is the He side of things...primary colors, navy base, woodgrain.  Love the orange with the woodgrain.  These papers and elements are from the new Destination collection by Lily Bee!

Here is the She side:

I went with pink and monochromatic for this one.  The Today and hearts are still there.  It is fun to take the same design elements and see what different creations you can conjure up.

Joy in the 6 X 4

Snow Day

Snow day in full effect here!  I may not be happy in June, but I am giddy right now!

I love the idea of waking up without an alarm, enjoying that first cup of coffee and thinking about what DIY project I can jump into.

Today, I will share a couple of projects using the new Lily Bee collection....Pinwheel.

First, a card.  I simply layered the different label stickers and added some words.  Can you say orange?  I love a pop of it!

I also created a tag by layering different chipboard pieces and stickers.

We start our bathroom renovations on Monday.  I am going to take before and after pictures to share.  I just have to gear up for dust, noise and mess.  It will all be worth it in the end.

Happy day...hope yours is filled with some relaxing time!

Woodgrain Love

I love woodgrain and it seems to have a place in many recent collections.  Something about the warmth and the rustic feel.  It has presence without being busy.

I used woodgrain on two cards I made for the Lily Bee booth at CHA.  The Destination collection is full of gorgeous woodgrain papers and designs.

I went with lots of squares to make this first card.  I love the Polaroid frame paper and thought it was the perfect centerpiece for a card.  The globe is from the chipboard set.

I wanted this tag to be pretty and feminine...I visualized Valentine's day.  I am seriously in love with the heart bokeh paper.  I decided to add little touches of yellow to this tag.

Woodgrain love...

Who Knew: Card Making

I have never fancied myself a card maker.  Not like some of my card making idols.  I typically struggle with how to make an interesting card.

But, lately...I have discovered a new side of cardmaking.  I love using 6X6 pads because of the smaller patterns.  I also love the creativity of working with a small space. 

Here are two new cards that are up on the Lily Bee blog today.

I mixed and matched the collections to create these.  I went with color combinations to help me mix and match with ease.  The first uses softer colors.

Along with cardmaking, I have discovered how useful stamps are!  Hello final details and sentiments!

My second card uses a primary colored scheme.

 

I love those number circles from Christmas Cheer.  I also used the circle stamp from Persnickety to create the white circles along the top. 

 

 

If you consider yourself a card maker or not, you should head to the Lily Bee blog...there are amazing cards up today!

 

 

World Card Making Day

Happy saturday!! If you are here for the Webster's Pages blog hop, then see the post below. But...before you do that...check this out too...Its a special day!

World card making day!

I am here to share a new card using The Persnickety collection from Lily Bee!

 

I combined one of the Journaling Index Cards along with the "Celebrate" stamp and stickers.

 

My fellow design team members created some amazing cards to be sure to head over to the blog and check them out.  There are giveaways....

 

Even more special!

Monday's Musings: Happy Life

So happy right now...life is about big and small moments. 

Watching Nathan's eyes widen when he saw the Jefferson Memorial.  He read the walls and just took it all in.  I sat back and watched him as he absorbed it all.  He is a learner.  He is a dreamer.  He wants to be the President one day.  I love that he has big dreams, where ever they take him.

Watching my children play with their cousin, Riley, who they just met.  Riley runs around calling out Ella's name and it is the cutest thing. Ella is so helpful with Riley, which warms my heart.

Cooking dinner with my brother and hanging out in the kitchen with both of our families.  Because in his words, "that is what families do."  I am so lucky to have delved into this part of my life.  I really feel blessed and thank Sara for opening the doors.

Life is about talking and realizing how much you have in common.  Having people open their doors and hearts to us as we do the same. 

It makes me happy.

A recent card that fits the situation...

 It makes me realize how life really can change if you change in big and small ways.

Sentimental

So I consider myself a one man kinda girl.  I am faithful and loyal.  Can't help it...when I am in love, I am in love.

While I adore my dear husband, I happen to be speaking of the good ole scrapbooking layout!  I really could just scrap 12 X 12 all day...no branching out into cards or projects.  I love minis, love cards, love home decor...I make them...they come out okay, but I love layouts the mostest!

So today, in the spirit of trying...I am sharing cards!  I think my biggest barrior is the sentiment.  I want to be quirky and original like some of my favorite cardmakers.  It just doesn't come easy!

And a project...which has a sentiment...giggle!  This one was in the August issue of Cricut Magazine!  So fun to use my Cricut and Teresa Collin's Black and White Cartridge to put this ribbon together!

All projects feature Teresa Collins:  On the Edge, Sports Edition II and Timeless!  I have been having so much fun playing with the new World Traveler and can't wait to share this week!

Of course, the new stuff is all layouts, glorious layouts!

They were lovely days...

Here I am...sitting at my computer in the comforts of my own home and I feel satisfied!  We just got back from a week at Disney.  A week full of amazing smiles, first experiences, dreams come true.  We had ten people in our party...we all got along great!  I couldn't imagine Nathan and Ella going to Disney without their cousin Christian.  I am so thankful to Nana and Grandpa for allowing us this experience, together as a family!

It was a blast, it was busy.  We went and went and went.  Days were outrageously hot...but we pushed through and did so much!  Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and Epcot.  They loved Dumbo, the tea cups and the Character Spot at Magic Kingdom.  Star Tours and the Toy Story 3 rides were a hit at Hollywood Studios.  Soarin' at Epcot was the hugest hit of all.  Although I didn't enjoy it very much due to a crazy fear of heights.  The pool at our resort was amazing too. After watching Christian, Nathan decided to take off his life jacket and learn to swim underwater (supervised, of course).  He must have gone underwater 150 times.  The best quote of the week came from him.  Nathan:  "This is the best day of my life.  I learned how to swim and I did it at Disney."  Priceless.

Yesterday we were awake at 3:30 a.m. to get on the Magical Express to the airport.  Not so magical...We traveled for 12 hours to get home at 3:30 p.m.  Our kids were such troopers...It cost us $20.00 in coloring supplies from the airport. Well worth it.

I am now starting my full-on pajama weekend!

Before I do, I wanted to share a couple of recently made cards!

Speaking of lovely days, the Nook is having a weekend crop coming up soon!  We have the BEST crops ever and this one will rock too!

I will be back tomorrow to share some photos of our trip!

Have a lovely day!

I Think the Secret is...

So, I have mentioned before that I don't consider myself to be a very good cardmaker!  What I am lacking in natural talent, I make up for in pure determination.  Overachiever...

I made it a bit of a personal goal to make cards more regularly and try to be as creative as possible.  I think the secret to a great card is having a great ribbon to finish it off!  I also think that having one unexpected element helps!

So here is a recent card using new Teresa Collins goodies!

I used the Posh collection for all paper elements!  The clock is handcut from a sheet of paper using the Timeless collection!  Ribbon from my stash (haven't received the TC trim yet, but if I had it, I would have used it!...gorgeous).  The unexpected element is the color combo.  Love blue and yellow with the Posh collection!

The TC design team has its own blog to show off all of Teresa's great designs and products!  These ladies rock so check it out!

I completed this card for a challenge over at The Nook where we lift one member of our community each week.  The Nook girls...Danni Reid and Ingrid Danvers...plus the rest of that talented team...hello, I better improve my cardmaking skills!  Those girls are rocking the card forum...you should check it out if you are like me and are looking to improve skills or if you are already a pro!

I am pledging to make more cards and if you don't see me doing that, kick me or something...LOL!

Feeling so Grateful

and honored and humbled.  Excited and happy!  A new door has opened and I am jumping through it!

Check out the new Webster's Pages Design Team!

Iris Babao Yu {Philippians} ~ Design Team LEAD

Anabelle O'Malley {USA}
Jaz Lee {Singapore}
Gabrielle Pollacco {Canada}
Ivana Camdzic {Canada}
Larissa Albernaz {Brazil}
Tomoko Takahashi {Japan}
Emma Trout {UK}
Stacey Michaud {USA}
Emeline Seet {Singapore}
Gerry van Gent {Netherlands}
Webster's Pages Hybrid/Digital Design Team
Mitsue Iwata {USA}
Steph Devlin {Australia}
Julie Walton {USA}
Webster's Pages Altered Team
Laura McCollough {USA}
Angella Peardon {Australia}

That's me in the second row, alongside so much talent! I am a fan of so many of these girls! I have dreamed of this for years!  WP has been one of my top companies since the beginning!  Last CHA, when I was in the booth, I thought, "What an amazing dream team this would be!"  Told everyone I was going for the guest designer spot, tried hard and didn't get one...but now!  I think I willed it to happen...LOL!

What is even better is that my submissions were all layouts and projects that were me staying true to me with my style.  My friend, Sasha, always talks about being you at all times.  And I was and they really like me as me!  I can't wait to play with all the new goodies, be inspired by such a great community and do my best to represent this fabulous company!

For Brandin and all my friends:

I am one lucky and happy girl!