Core'dinations Design Team!!!

I am so excited I can finally share with you all that I have made the 

2013-2014 Core'dinations ColorCore Cardstock Design Team!!!!

Turning out to be a great week!

I love it when life goes as planned.

Often I feel like someone is giggling as they throw a wrench in my best laid plans.

I try to go with the flow, but sometimes it just isn't that easy and occassionally not pretty.  

Which is why when things go as planned I am grateful.  

The beginning of the week felt like everything that could go wrong did go wrong.

So I am estactic that this weekend is going great! 

What is so great you ask?

Well, today my daughter, Lily, busted her booty at her playoff soccer game. 

 Did they win?Nope. They tied.  

Now they have to win tomorrow to make it to the state playoffs.  

BUT (yes,I am starting a sentence with the word but), Lily ran hard, fought hard, and was aggressive.

Who could ask for more?

Yesterday I found out that I made the Gel-a-tin's Design Team.  

I tried out for this team on a whim, hoping that they would notice that my stamping 

skills are as good as my daughter's soccer skills.  They noticed!  Woo Hoo!

This is the card that I designed just for the Gel-a-tins DT call....

Stamping on Washi Tape was not as easy as I had imagined it would be.  The tape is slick!

I had to stamp the sentiments a few times before getting them lined up (and not smeared). 

Love how it turned out! 

Now we are off to double Halloween party. Kiddos in the afternoon. 

Adult bonfire tonight.  The costumes are ready. The food has been cooked. 

It is time to have some fun!

I think the rest of this weekend is going to be just as great!  

Hoping you have a great weekend, too! 

Scrappy Chics June Reveal

I just love Scrappy Chics' June Main Kit!

So many great papers and embellishments.

I wanted the focus of this layout to be Chase and his wonderfully expressive eyes.

The blues in the cardstock and patterened paper really complimented his eyes.

Talk about expressive!  Lily is a girl with 100 facial expressions.  Most of the meant to make you smile. It is just awesome that she continues to be a ham for me even as she gets into her teen years.

I am thoroughly loving the grey based papers.  They allow for other colors to pop of them, yet they are not the traditional black or white. 

This wonderful photo of Kass was taken by Elizabeth Beaudoin of Elizabeth Beaudion Photography. I can not say enough about how well Elizabeth captured Kass' personality and the beauty of the pregancy. 

I left the journaling spot open for Kass to write something herself. 

This chipboard piece by Cosmo Cricket is just spectacular. 

I felt it just stood on its own so I made a simple card showcasing just that.  

All of these papers and embellishments can be found in this month's Scrappy Chics' Kit. 

 It is bound to sell out fast!  

Make It Masculine

I am not a big maker of masculine cards.

I should be as the list of men and boys in our everyday life just keeps growing. 

This week it was my turn to decide the callenge at Crop Stop Challenge Blog.

I am challenging you to make a masculine card. Boy or Man?  Your choice!

I am loving the look of Kraft papers with bold colors lately.

Maybe having a grandson after years of only having daughters

inspires me to use the bolder colors?  

I embossed a Tim Holtz Kraft Tag with the Retro Circles Embossing Folder.

The fun accents on the tag are Candi-Dots.  Have you seen them?

They come in so many colors and even a few patterns. 

Crop Stop Supplies: 

Candi Dots - School Days

Momento Ink

Cart-Us: Retro Circles Embossing Folder

(see the 10% off coupon code on my sidebar for CropStop)

Upload your masculine challenge project to CropStop Challenge Blog.

Guidelines can be found on the blog.  

Scrap Happy with Scrappy Chics

I had a field day with this month's add-on kit from Scrappy Chics!

It is filled with Teresa Collin's Spring Fling line.  

Here are my Design Team projects using this kit...

A layout filled with wallet sized photos of the girls

being silly at Lily's 13th birthday party.

Everything is a little crooked, on purpose.  

I wanted the focus of "You Are My Sunshine" to be on the pretty picture of Lily

so I kept the design simple.  A little Tattered Angels Champagne Glam was 

added to the flowers and butterflies to make them shimmer.  

You can see the motion in the photos in "Happiness Is This."
Syd (and her brother) had a lot of fun playing on this seat at
the playground.

This little notebook is from The Kraft Outlet.
I just added a little paper and die cut embellishment to
make it pretty.  Now it is perfect for my purse!

I used scraps from my other projects to whip up this card.

I love the quote, which comes from Alice In Wonderland.

Scrappy Chics also has a pretty fabulous Main Kit this month as well as

a brand new monthly "Addicted to Paper" kit that is worth checking out! 

Emboss This!

I have new found love of embossing.  

I really love the texture an embossed image adds to a project.

This week's challenge at CropStop Challenge Blog is to emboss.

Dry emboss, wet emboss, de-boss.  Your choice!  

My example for this week's challenge includes both dry and wet embossing.  

 Since I only wanted part of the card dry embossed, I placed the Cart Us "Roses" 

embossing folder over 2/3 of my card base before running it through my Big Shot.

To wet emboss I stamped my image with Versa Mark and evenly spread

grainy black embossing powder over the stamped image.  I used my

 handy-dandy heat gun to heat set the image.  

Crop Stop Supplies:

Cart Us Roses Embossing Folder

Tim Holtz Movers & Shapers - Tags & Bookplates

Sizzix Framelits

Momento Ink

Versa Mark

Crop Stop has an amazing supply of embossing folders & is the only supplier 

in the U.S. of Cart-Us and Couture Creations folders.  I love the sharp 

crisp images you get from the Cart-Us folders. The Couture Creations

are awesome because they are 5" x7"!  I even have a 10% off coupon

on my side bar for Crop Stop if you NEED to have these awesome folders.  

Be sure to upload your challenge project to CropStop Challenge Blog.

Guidelines for prize eligibility can be found on the blog.  

I am a Kite Flyer!

There is a new kid in town!

Kite Tails Designs has invited me to 

be a part of their premiere Kite Flyer Team

along with several other talented designers.  

Paloma Carvalho (Brazil)

Shawna Webster (USA)

Jackie Weeks (USA)

Mary Pat Siehl (US)

Annelie Maddock (New Zealand)

Valerie Bishop (USA)

Hanna Larsson (Sweden)

Chrissie Tobas (USA)

Irit Shalom (Israel)

Katie Nolan-Denham (USA) <-----------That is me! :)

Melissa Elsner (USA)

Sue Mylde (Canada)

Congrats to all the new Kite Flyers!

April Scrappy Chics Sneaks

Next week is the release of Scrappy Chics April Kit.

Lots of color, lots of pretty, all packed in one fantastic kit!

Here are some sneaks of the projects I created using the April kit...

Have a lovely day!

Rainbow of Color

Today's challenge at CropStop Challenge Blog is to use a

"rainbow of colors." Simply meaning, use four or more colors.  

The colored Candi Dots inspired this card.  

Have you used them yet?  

They are a simple, yet fun way to accent.  

Crop Stop Supplies:

Ink Essentials Craft Tags #8

Hero Arts- Ticket Frame Cuts Die

Hero Arts - Frame Cuts Stamps

Momento Ink - Rich Cocoa & Paris Dusk

Candi Dots

Core'dinations Cardstock

(there is a 10 % off coupon code on my side bar for Crop Stop)

Go on over to Crop Stop Challenge Blog to check out 

the DT great examples. I bet you will be inspired to 

create with a rainbow of colors!

Challenge guidlelines can be found here.  

Have a colorful day! 

My Cousins

Good morning!  

Today we are being buried under a blizzard of snow and I am wishing

it was more like the wonderful beach day weather you see in the photo 

in my layout below. That was this past October in Maine.  Really! 

This week at CropStop Challenge Blog we are all about Becky Fleck

 sketches and ovals!  We have a card sketch & and layout sketch by 

Becky for you to use for our oval challenge.  

I chose the awesome layout sketch to use for my DT project this week.

My oval is small, but full of goodness.  I used an oval chipboard which I 

embossed with Cuttlebug's Polka Dot Embossing Folder. 

Then I painted it with Broken China Distress Crackle Paint.  

You will definitely want to play along with this week's CropStop Challenge! 

The random prize drawing is for Becky's Exclusive Labels & Tags Dies by 

Spellbinders.  How cool is that!!! 

Please be sure to use my 10% off coupon code (found on my sidebar)

for any order you place at CropStop.  

CropStop Supplies used in my layout:

Tim Holtz Decorative Strip Dies - Vintage Lace

Core'dinations Paper

Cuttlebug Polka Dots Embossing Folder

Spellbinders Dies - Labels Four & Nested Lacey Pennants

Momento Ink - Rich Cocoa

These Girls....

My family goes apple picking every year at one of the numerous apple

orchards within a 5 mile radius of our home.  This year my sister, Kerry,

was home from Florida so we invited her BFF (since they were 9) and her

daughters to join us.  Her girls are a barrell full of fun! They always make

me laugh with their quippy humor (just like their Mom).  Lily loves it when

Elizabeth & Jenny visit. The girls love Lily.  It is definitely a mutual 

admiration.  On this day their sense of folly & humor shined again!

Because the photos were just so darn cute (in my opinion), I didn't want to overpower

the layout with tons of color and embellishments.  I chose to use a few of the papers 

from Scrappin' Sports & More new "Girls Rule" line.  The animal print is so fun, just 

like the girls!  

I fussy cut the word "Laugh" out the "Girls Rule" Cheer paper. To accentuate it,  I crinkled and distressed before adding some Glimmer Mist for a little shimmer.  

The bit white brads have been in my stash forever. 

 I added some fun rubon arrows and bling to dress the brads up a bit. 

Scrappin' Sports & More Supplies:

Girls Rule Line

Cheer Paper (#1387)

Homecoming/Prom Paper (#1392)

Track/Cross Country Paper (#1396)

Did you know?

Scrappin' Sports & More has a Design Team Blog?

Scrappin' Sports & More is on Facebook?

Scrappin' Sports & More just started pinning on Pinterest?

Scrappy Chics Februrary Reveal

This month's Scrappy Chics' kit really inspired me to create!

From pretty papers by Glitz to everyday papers by Simple Stories

there is something for everyone.  

This simple layout is my favorite project using the main kit....

The beautiful photo is another one from Kass' maternity shoot with Elizabeth Beaudoin of Elizabeth Beaudoin Photography. Such a soft & pretty photo deserved soft & pretty to surround it.

The chipboard mini-frames were just perfect for highlighting bits of the pretty Glitz papers. 

I used the packaging from the Prima Crystals for the base of my title work. The 

print on the package was a perfect color compliment to the rest of the layout. 

Lil' Man is full of personality & don't these photos show it!  These photos were taken 

consecutively, so just imagine how fun he is in real life. 

I designed this layout using the Simple Stories papers from the Scrappy Chics' main kit.

I really like that I their papers are chalked full of words, sayings and shapes that can

be trimmed to fit anywhere.  

I trimmed the Glitz papers and glued them to the acrylic lock & keys, 

then added them to the pre-cut tag book from the main kit.

Glitter was added to the already punched out textured heart. 

The pages are adorned with wallet sized photos of those I love

and embellished simple using leftover Glitz papers.  

More ideas are spinning in my head for using this month's kit. 

Now I just need to find time to play!  

It's Time!

Good morning!  Rise and Shine!  

This week's challenge at CropStop Challenge Blog 

is to create a project that includes a clock on it.  

I have been having lots of fun with all the new embossing folders at CropStop.

They are such a great way to add texture and dimension to a card. 

For my DT card I used the Cart-Us Trendy Diamond Embossing Folder.

In the little spaces between the diamonds I added a drop of Enamel Accents in black.  

CropStop Supplies:

Cart-Us Trendy Diamond Embossing Folder

Enamel Accents by Ranger

Tim Holtz Decorative Dies Strip by Sizzix

Sizzix Big Shot Extended Spacer Platform (13in)

Sizzix Decorative Strip Cutting Pad (13in)

Core'dinations: Tim Holtz Distress Collection

Upload your challenge project to CropStop Challenge Blog for an opportunity

to win a $15 gift certificate to CropStop.  Don't forget, too, that my special discount

code for 10% off any purchase at CropStop is always on my blog sidebar. 

I am off to CHA today!  

You might just find some of my favorite things from the event

popping up on my blog over the next week.  

I love to watch Lily in motion.  Whether it be soccer, swim, or dance, she is fun to watch. 

She is such a sprite. Small and fast and graceful.  

  Scott found it more difficult this year to get photos of the girls on the bigger field, not surrounded by opponents.  That is why I love the middle picture of Lily in this layout.  No opponent, just her in motion.  

The patterned papers are new from Scrappin' Sports & More. It is the front & back of the new Soccer papers from the "Sporty Words" line.  I played on the big "soccer" printed on the paper for the title work.  The big soccer ball with the words on it was fussy cut out of the backside of the same paper.  Pretty cool, huh?  

Scrappin' Sports & More Supplies:

Sporty Words Line

Soccer Paper (#1405)

Name of Game Cardstock Stickers

Soccer Balls (#5530)

A Little Shabby

  I am always in awe of those artists who excel at Shabby Chic.
The layers, the textures, the prettiness. 

This week's challenge at Crop Stop Challenge Blog is to create a project that is "Shabby" in style.  

For my Crop Stop DT example I embraced a couple of elements of shabby.  

The flower was made by cutting book pages using Blossom 2 & Dahlia from Spellbinders Dies.  I spritzed them with mist, scrunch them, and then layered them.  

Crop Stop Supplies:

Cart-Us Roses Embossing Folder

Tim Holtz Caged Bird Die

Spellbinders Dahlia Die

Spellbinders Blossom Two Die

Tim Holtz Crackle Paint

To be eligible for the Crop Stop prize be sure to upload to the blog!

The rules for participation can be found there. 

Don't forget to use the coupon code on my sidebar for 10% off any purchase at Crop Stop!

Half Crazy!

The new "Girls Rule" Line from Scrappin' Sports & More is so fun.  From the great big corner titles to the fun prints, it is bound to be a favorite!  I was so excited to see a running paper in this new line.  It was perfect for this photo of me and my peeps before the Seacoast Half Marathon in November. You might remember that I wrote about the race in this post. 

Scrappin' Sports & More Supplies:

"Girls Rule" Line

Track/Cross Country Paper (#1396)

Homecoming/Prom Paper (#1392)

You can find more wonderful projects by the DT using SS&M's two new lines at the Scrappin' Sports & More Blog.  Don't forget that the deadline for SS&M DT Call is Jan. 22. Details can also be found on their blog.

I have gotten a couple of comments about the embossing folders I used on this page. I got them from Crop Stop. They are Brocade and Grunge Lines by Craft Concepts.  Really awesome embossing folders!  

You Can Quote Me On That!

This week's challenge at Crop Stop Challenge Blog is use a quote on your project. 

I collect quotes I find online in my Pinterest and others in one of my altered notebooks.

You never know when you will need an appropriate quote!

My quote is an Irish Blessing meant to compliment the little butterflies.

Crop Stop Supplies:

Spellbinders Butterflies

Tim Holtz Decorative Dies Strip by Sizzix

Cuttlebug: Polka Dot Embossing Folder

Liquid Pearls: Buttercup

Sizzix Big Shot Extended Spacer Platform (13in)

Sizzix Decorative Strip Cutting Pad (13in)

Core'dinations: Tim Holtz Distress Collection

Be sure to upload your project to Crop Stop Challenge Blog to be eligible
for the prize drawing of a $15 gift certificate to Crop Stop.
On my blog sidebar you can always find a 10% off
discount code (CTKND-2) any purchase at the Crop Stop store.

Go For Gold!

I am a silver girl.  Yep, love silver.

So when I had to design a card for this week's "Go For the Gold"

challenge at Crop Stop Challenge Blog I was a little stumped.

I'll be honest, I created four cards (yes, four) before I was

completely happy going for the gold.  

I chose to pull out my gold craft paint and use it as an accent color.  I ran the dress form through my Big Shot using the new Brocade embossing folder from Craft Concepts. Once embossed, I ran a thin layer of gold paint over the raised brocade design and spritzed it with a little blue mist. 

This Crop Stop Challenge runs through next Wednesday.  You can find prize eligibility guidelines at Crop Stop Challenge Blog.  

Crop Stop Supplies:

Core'dinations Paper: Tim Holtz Distress Collection

Spellbinders Dies: Labels Four

5th Avenue Glam Embossing Folder: Grunge Dots & Brocade

Zots 3-D

You can find a 10% discount code to Crop Stop on my side bar!  

January Scrappy Chics Reveal

Today is my first reveal for Scrappy Chics.  

I have to say that I love the papers from the January Main Kit

and of course, the papers from the Add-On Kit are so fun!  

Oh my, so blue! The blues in the Authentique papers in the SC Main Kit were the perfect compliment to this picture I took of my grandson.  

We Love Boston!  I have had these pictures just waiting for the perfect combination of papers.  The SC January Add-On Kit it is all Picadilly by Basic Grey. I used two pieces of cardstock from the main kit as the base and then went to town with all the fun BG papers.  

The create the hearts in the title all I did was punch out two hearts, score the top one down the middle, staple the two along the score line, and then fold the paper to give it dimension.  This is one of my favorite little touches to cards & layouts.  

I popped the cardstock sticker tree & butterfly & flowers with some Scrapdots by Helmar to give the layout a bit of dimesion.  

"Sister" is just chocked full of Glitz Design paper from the SC Main Kit.  I hadn't seen these papers IRL before.  Just let me tell you, they are pretty! 

I made the lace flowers from the lace in the SC Add-On Kit.  Spritzed it with a little mist first. Then I ran a simple stitch (by hand) down the side of the lace & pulled the thread to gather the lace in a circular shape. 

Kass helped me chose the sister quotes for this layout.  Believe me, she nixed any that were too sentimental.  Here is a list of what I used:

"A sister is a little bit of childhood that can never be lost" 

~Marion Garrety

"When sisters stand shoulder to shoulder, who stands a chance against us?"

~ Pam Brown

"When Mom and Dad don't understand, a sister always will"

Author Unknown

"Sister to Sister we will always be, a couple of nuts off the family tree."

~Author Unkown 

I already have Scrappy Chics' February Kit in my hands. It is just awesome!

Cap & Gown 2011

I don't know about you, but I often find traditional activities such as sports, holidays and graduations a little more difficult to scrap.  Part of it is my need to keep my style in tact while doing an event justice with paper, glue and ebellishments.  I have pulled out the pictures in this layout several times over the last few month and have just put them away uninspired. 

This time I pulled out the pictures with a couple different lines of paper from Scrappin' Sports & More.  

Viola! Perfect!  

Scrappin' Sports & More supplies:

"School Is Cool" Line

Senior Paper (#1365)

CardStock Stickers (#5575 High School)

"Title Sports" Line

Baseball Paper (#1367)

Wrestling Paper (#1384)

Scrappin' Sports & More is looking for one more designer for the Design Team!

DT Call details can be found on the SS&M Blog.