Made a new card for a challenge blog at Paper Take Weekly.  Their challenge this week is Anything Goes, so here is my entry:

The two (2) Flower designs are from one of the Bird Song Asian sets (they came out with 3 or 4 sets) from Graphic 45.  Loving Graphic 45! Used Copic markers for coloring. Edging of top flowers piece is Blue Lagoon of Chalk Cat's Eye Color Box set. Pop squares under top flowers so recipient can lift top flower piece along right side and see the entire Phoenix underneath.  Base paper is from Oriental Papers book from Search Press/Crafthouse Press. This paper was so cool, I am using it as part of the card, instead of a background.

Was in the card making mood today. Started 9 cards, but finished only 2. Have yet to color 2, and the other four are drying. Will finish tomorrow, I hope.

My first card I am entering in the Ribbon Carousel blog monthly challenge. Theme this month is Halloween and I must use ribbon or twice.  Everyone wears masks at Halloween and Twine is included.

Photo does not do this card justice! Design is from Carnevale di Venezi (Curious by Design Collection) by Rubber Stamp Concepts. Colored using Metallic Pens. Added a couple of blue blings on Venice. Background paper is from DCWV La Creme stack. Used pop squares to lift design and pink backing. Tied twine around base paper and again around design and pink paper (same piece of twine, did not cut it).  This one was FUN to do!

Truth be told, I did this card before I found out about the Challenge. My sister told me I needed to enter it in this particular challenge. Hope they like it!

You know how when you are going through your favorite scrapbooking or craft store looking for just the right papers, blings, stickers and sentiments to add to your current or near future project?  Then, something catches your eye.  "Love that paper!  Oh...it's a kit... well..." (you look over the kit front and back carefully)  "...hmmm.  Okay, I'll try it.  The paper is just too nice to not pick up the kit.  If I don't like the projects in it, I can use the paper on my own projects."

This happens to me way too often.  Two weekends ago, I started work on a project from the Destinations Options kit by Pinecone Press.  The problem with these kits is you have choices -- greeting cards, book projects or scrapbooking page layouts.  Sometimes, it is an easy choice of what to make, sometimes not. This time, it was a difficult decision.  After carefully studying the 12-page project idea book that comes with each Options kit (thus, why they are called "Options"), I decided to do the travelogue.  After all, it is called Destinations.  My husband and I hope to take a major trip next January, so this will be an appropriate album to add our photos to.

Here is my finished album:

The thing about travelogues is you can have so much fun with them.  You can ink the edges of the front and back, and any or all pages in coordinating colors. You can use pop dots to "lift" things up to catch the eye.  Just remember to save room for photos!  The Big square and compass are on pop dots. The paper just below the Big square has been curled at two ends. Nice touch.

Always be sure to record information about your trip, preferably on the inside cover or first page. Notice the second page is only a half page with a ribbon around it. When we go on our trip, it WILL be a Journey!

Room for a photo or two on the back side of the half-page. When working with these types of travelogues, you may consider cutting your photos into pieces -- cutting out what is most important/focal point, especially if the backdrop is drab and of no consequence. This half page will accommodate a 3-inch photo. Add another photo to page 4 and tuck it under the North.South.East.West. banner, which is on pop dots.

 A place for a photo on Page 5. You can add a smaller photo on the pocket or information about the photos. Same for the tag on the left. The tag on the right in the pocket says "Explore Discover Escape".  Hmmm, a small photo would fit on the back of each tag.

Page 6 is actually 3 smaller pages...Go.See.Do. is Page 6.

Back side of Page 6 (which would be Page 7), and Page 8, a little bigger than Page 6/7. Room for photos on both. Notice these smaller pages have "Tabs" for easy page flipping and design.

Page 9 (back of Page 8) and a small page 10 above. Perfect for photos with a little room to spare to write a memory.

Back of Page 10/11. Page 12 is back to the regular size album page with room for photos and information. (All these yellow stickies are to remind me photos go there.)

 Page 13 (left) with room for a photo and trip information. Now here is something different and interesting -- Pages 14 and 15: Green fold-out for up to 3 photos, and the smaller brown page above.

 Turn the pages and you have "Relaxation Vacation Getaway" and a place for more photos on the back of the fold-out green paper (Pages 16 & 17). Room for more photos and trip information on Page 18 (right).

 Page 19 has a compass on paper with twine wrapped around. Place photo underneath. Page 20 has more room for photos and a final memory. Wow -- 20 pages squeezed into this little album with some fun creativity!

Back side of album.  The album size is 6 X 12 inches.  The chipboard and rings were included in the kit.  I generally do not like working with rings, but in this case, it seemed like a good fit. I prefer to bind my books with my Zutter Bind-It-All.

It took a day to make this travelogue.  After our trip, I will add not only photos, but tickets, receipts, and any other little knick-knack piece of paper as a reminder of our trip.  

Have you made a travelogue recently to document your trip?

Time to get back to making greeting cards.  My personal stash is getting low, and I need to make some new ones for holiday craft shows coming up.  Yes, it is that time of the year already!

PS. Sometimes companies will sell the kit papers separately, so if you do not want to buy the kit, check out their stock to see if they offer the pages and other related items separately.

Hi Everyone -- 

How many of you use Copic Markers in your greeting cards or scrapbooks?  My younger sister got me started on them. In fact, she got me started in several techniques that I use today in making my greeting cards, though I started making cards several years before she did.  We have lots of fun swapping techniques, tips and rubber stamps when we get together once every year or two to work on projects.

I do not have all the Copic markers yet, but I am working on it...slowly. (Jan is a lot closer to completing the set than I am!)  If you are wondering how to keep track of the Copic markers you have so you do not buy duplicates, check out the Copic Markers website. Feel free to download their chart.  You can also download a chart from the Oozak website. (Just click on the company names which act as Links to their websites.)  Check off or color in the boxes of the markers you have, and no more duplication -- just remember to take the list with you when you go to your favorite stores!

What projects have you completed this summer? With fall almost here, what projects do you have in the works for the winter?  What needs to be completed by Christmas?  I would love to hear of your projects with photos upon completion!

I've been laid up for the past week with a sprained ankle, so no gardening for awhile.  It is all I can do to get out and pick my raspberries. Before I was relegated to crutches with orders to "stay off my feet" (yeah, right!), I did manage to complete a small Memories album for my mother. She lost her partner of 10 years on September 1.  Unfortunately, Gordon did not get to see the album as he passed away while we were enroute to visit them.  I would like to share this album with you.  It is not fancy and not meant to be. It was emotionally difficult to put together, but it has become a comfort to my mother and other family members.  Enjoy the Memories album!

The letters of Gordon's name is in silver -- odd that it became blue in the photo.

Gordon and mom.

Gordon's beloved dog, Schemer.
The following photos are Mom and/or Gordon with various family members over the past couple of years.

 Pillowcases I hand cross-stitched for Mom and Gordon one year for Christmas.

 Yes, I hand cross stitched this tablecloth, and they do use it.

 Addition to the house that Gordon added after he retired.

 Can you believe these used to be cow pastures? Gordon did great work on them! And, yes, that is a Bald Eagle in the lower photo above.

Papers and most sentiments used on this 8 X 8 inch Memory Book are from Creative Memories using the Earthy paper pack.  I used Zutter chipboard front and back cover, and the Zutter Bind-it-All binding kit to bind the completed album.

If you've recently lost a loved one, even though it will be difficult to put together, a Memory Album is a comfort to the family left behind.  And, a treasured keepsake for generations to come!

As this is September 11, prayers to our Soldiers overseas and for the families of those lost during the 9-11 tragedy. Prayers for peace for all of us.

House Mouse HMFMC126 Challenge

This month, I am putting up a second House Mouse Challenge (click on link in title).

I used the House Mouse Baby Blocks HMIR1008 rubber stamp and colored with Copic markers. Used Tim Holtz' Peeled Paint distress ink for edging. Placed on dark blue stock paper and held in place with two diaper pin brads. Standard blue ribbon with blue blings in opposite corners. The background paper is from Tim Holtz Idea-ology Kraft Resist paper stash.  This paper pack is great for background paper.

Hope you like the card!

House Mouse Double Trouble Challenge

HMFMC126

You know that I love House Mouse rubber stamp designs and products. They are just way too cute!  I've entered a couple of their challenges in the past. Their newest challenge is Double Trouble. Here is my creation:

The script background paper is from the Kaiser Craft Vintage Timeless 6½ inch paper pad. The rest of the paper is regular cardstock.  I colored the Chocolate Heart 02 (HMGR1008) rubber stamp design using Copic markers.  Both the Mouse and "Happy Anniversary" stampings are adhered with foam tape. Ink edges are Copper on the mice and Lipstick Red on the sentiment, both from Color Box ink. The Eggshell and Lime paper roses are both from My Moments.  The black lace on the left side I picked up from our local Sew & Stitchery Expo a couple of years ago.

Inside the card, across the lower left corner, I rubber stamped mouse foot prints, a House Mouse design, Mouse Feet (HMA1002).

If you want to try your hand at this challenge, it ends on August 25, so you have a week to get it done. Follow the House Mouse link above for instructions on how to enter.

Good luck!

Hi Everyone!

It has been a long summer and I haven't gotten half the things done that I wanted to -- mainly greeting cards!

I did manage to spend some time in my craft room a couple weekends ago to work on a card for my husband's upcoming 53rd birthday. He likes Owls, so I was planning something related.  I don't know about you, but when I'm planning a new design, I lay it out in my head first, then lay out all my paper, stamps, bling, etc., and lastly, stamp, color and adhere it all together. After two days of going through all my stash and laying it out, this is what I came up with:

Front of the tri-fold card.  All paper on this card is Rugged designer prints from Creative Memories. The Owl rubber stamps are from various manufacturers that we've picked up over the years. Notice the Maple Leaf brad to the lower left of the Owl.

Inside front cover. Notice the Pine Cone brad.

Inside short flap of tri-fold card. Love the Owl ribbon! The blue frame around these Owls are done with the Cricut using the Fancy Frames cartridge.

Inside of the short flap. Sentiments are leftover stock from other projects. The blue edging is created by Tim Holtz' Distressing Ink pads, color Peacock Feathers.

Center inside of tri-fold card.  I used Copic coloring pens for coloring all the Owls. Again, used Tim Holtz distressing ink pads for the edging.

This was fun to put together, but a lot of work.  Only special people in my life will get this kind of card.  I will try simpler designs using this layout for greeting cards I want to sell, in order to make it more affordable.


Do you know what new products are coming out over the next few months?  Our local scrapbook store, Urban Scrapbooker, recently had their CHA preview night.  If you do not know what CHA is, it is the United States' premier expo for manufacturers to show off their upcoming new items to retail stores and websites.  Brooke, owner of Urban Scrapbooker, goes to each CHA (two times a year) and then holds a CHA preview night.  This is the first one my husband and I have been able to attend.  Oh boy!  Did we pre-order a bunch of stuff.  Good thing these items will come in over time over the next several months, as I would hate to get that bill all at once!  So stay tuned -- I will be using new goodies in my card making.

Let me know if you discover a new scrapbooking store or website so I can list it here.

Well, time to get my Creative Memories order in (special offer to save on shipping if I get it in by a certain time today!).  Have a great week everyone!