Playing With Paper!!

I can't believe this is my desk!

I am a bit of a neat freak.  Now, when I am scrapbooking or making a card-my desk is often a disaster but I clean up when I am finished.  It's just the way I am.  However today my desk is just a mess:

And although this is unusual for me, I don't really mind it.  I am working on thank you cards for a friend.  She has a baking business and wants some cards for her clients.  I am having a blast working on the cards & I have a million card ideas in my head.  I didn't think I could work with so much disorganization but I am feeling very inspired.  Here is one of my cards:

I used sketch number 33 from Fresh Made Sketches as my inspiration.  I really liked how the patterned paper is the star of this card.  So cute don't you think?

Mother's Day Card

I made this card yesterday afternoon.  The patterned paper is from Stampin' Up! - it retired a long time ago but I still love it.  The stamp is from Denami Design.  And the saying is from My Favorite Things.  I used a sketch I found on Fresh Made Sketches.  I love this card.  And I think I am going to use it for Mother's Day.

Minor mishap with my computer...

I haven't been able to update my blog because I spilled coffee on my computer last week!  What a mess!!  But I got it back this afternoon  - Yah!!  

This afternoon I having been making cards.  This is the sketch from Fresh Made Sketches this week:

And this is my take on it:

I used patterned paper and stamps from Stampin' Up!.   I love strawberries so I love this paper! And I love the colors - they are so happy!  Pretty cute card don't you think??

Very Presidential!

My youngest is in 2nd grade.  He is having an amazing year-he has a wonderful teacher, great friends and he's learning a lot too!!!  For Patrick, everyday is an adventure.  For President's Day, all 2nd graders were asked to choose a President & write a report on this person.  Then the students were asked to give a brief presentation on their President (and they were asked to dress as their President). My son chose Andrew Jackson.  He did an awesome job and he looked great too:

The patterned paper is from SU!.  I chose it because it kinda has an old-time feel.  I found the inspiration for this layout in an old Creating Keepsake magazine - Super-Fast Pages with 4x6 Photos (volume 2).  I wasn't surprised when I saw this layout and realized it was created by Allison Davis - I love her layouts!!  The chipboard letters are from Pink Paislee.  I bought them at Paper Anthology a while back and am so happy I finally found a layout for them.  I am very pleased with how this layout turned out...pretty cute!

Better late than never...

This is this weeks sketch over at Fresh Made Sketches:

I don't know why but this one was really tough for me.  I loved the sketch but I couldn't figure out what to do with it.  It took a couple of tries but I finally got it (I think).  Here's my take:

The patterned paper & stickers are by Martha Stewart.  The "Happy Birthday" is from Stampin' Up!. Super simple card to make.  After many unsuccessful starts I needed a simple card to work on. Sometimes simple is a good thing!!  I really like it though...what do you think?

Yikes...what happened to the weekend?

This past weekend just flew by - I hate when that happens.  I was having a bit of a rough day yesterday so my husband suggested I lock myself away in my scrap room for a little piece & quiet - isn't he great.  So I worked on some cards and some layouts, wanna see?

The photos are from my birthday dinner at the Morris Tap & Grill (amazing restaurant in my town).  I was continuing to play with my new camera so some of the pictures are in black & white while others are in color.  I wasn't sure how this would look on the layout but it works great.  Almost everything is from SU! except for the buttons and little pearls in the center of each button.  I used my Sizzix to create the flowers:

I love to use buttons on layouts but I wanted a different look for these flowers.  So instead of leaving the button plan, I embellished it with the little pearl.  Now the button almost acts like a matting for the pearl.  I am really pleased with how this layout looks!

Happy Sunday!!

It's another challenge day for me thanks to Fresh Made Sketches!

I must be honest, this was a tough challenge for me and I am not sure how I feel about my card.  I like it but you should check out some of the other cards on their blog - amazing!!!

I went a little old school for this one.  The butterfly is from a retired stamp set from SU! - Reason to Smile.  It's hard to tell by the picture but the butterfly is embossed.  And then I dug out some of my old metal tags to add an extra touch with rub ons.   I was really into the colors more than anything.  Simple card but pretty.  What do you think?

Hello color!

The layout above is created from pictures of my son writing his Valentine's Day cards for his class.  He was so excited to pick out his Valentine's & give them to his classmates.  The patterned paper is by October Afternoon and I colored the chipboard flowers & hearts with Ditto Mist (found at Michaels).  I used my pennant punch from SU! and Thickers to create the title.  I love the brightness of this layout - it is so happy.  

Who doesn't love a rainbow?

Always on the hunt for inspiration, I have noticed a technique that I call rainbow, color blocking. Squares or circles are placed on a card (several in the same color) to create a rainbow effect.  I have been waiting for the chance to come up with my own creations and yesterday I got the time.  So, with my kids playing with the neighbors (no fighting for almost 2 hours!) I pulled out some card stock, paper trimmer and punches and set to work.  This is my first attempt:

 All card stock and ink are from SU!.  I cut my squares to 1x1.  I wish I could tell you where I got the flower punch but I can't rememer.  I found the flower punch in a drawer a while back - having forgotten that I even bought it!  I like the idea of breaking up all the color so that's why I chose to put white flowers with a color center on the bottom.  I love this card - it is so happy & springy!  

But I wasn't done after the above card:

I decided try the same color-blocking idea with circles.  I like this card but honestly I think I prefer the square shape.  On this card, I added a littl bit of bling with rhinestones from Queen & Co.

And finally my 3rd card:

I think this card is my favorite - squars & bling.

I love all of these card - they were so much fun to make.  I only used 2 pieces of white 8 1/2x 11 card stock and 1 sheet of the other colors to make three cards.  I feel so frugal!!!  Now, I need to figure out how to convert this to a 12 x12 layout...

Another card to share...

I love this card.  I totally got the idea for this card from here (I have never inserted a link so I hope this works).  Again I used DSP Everyday Enchantment.  I was so excited to find the inspiration for this card on Pinterest and couldn't wait to make it.  I am so pleased with how it turned out that I am thinking I am going to make it again in some variation!