OCL Sneak Peeks ~ Day 4

It's finally Day #4 of sneak peeks & tomorrow is the big day of the release and a GINORMOUS blog hop! You will NOT want to miss out because there will be tons of prizes!

Both of my project today use the new Our Craft Lounge set called Swingin' By. I just love this set that Debbie drew ~ it's so darn cute! I love the tree in the set, but I decided that I wanted to make a few cards without it because I also LOVE the owls and birds in this set. There are so many fun ways to use this one!

Well now for more OCL peeks:

Holly - http://toyzhaven.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/
Debbie: http://www.dbdoodle.com/
Heather - http://heathermcnally.blogspot.com/
Cami - http://www.cambriaturnbow.blogspot.com/
Jacqui - http://www.sisterlines.blogspot.com/
Beth - http://freckledandfun.blogspot.com/
Kisa - http://kisaspapercuts.blogspot.com/
Pam - http://pamhooten.blogspot.com/
Cammie - http://myblogbycammie.blogspot.com/
Val - http://www.valeriestangle.blogspot.com/
Joy - http://joyofstamping.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/

Hey Wait ~ I'm not done yet!!!!

Along with this great new set, I also used fun paper from My Mind's Eye. This line of pattern paper is called Penny Lane & it's available over at i{heart}papers! On the first card, I used paper from the Free Bird Collection ~ great for those guy cards. On the second card, I used paper from the same line, but from the Tiny Dancer Collection. I also used some new shapes from Nestabilities ~ Labels Four & Labels One (very original name huh?).

Sadly, today is my last day of my term on the i{heart}papers Design Team. I've had a great 6 months on the team and I have met some wonderful new friends. Thank you so much Kate for everything! It has been great working with you. To say goodbye to me and hello to a new team member, Lynn Mercurio, Kate is having a special ~ it's called Goodbye/Hello. The code is HGB10 & it will run today through Sunday, May 2nd.

Our Craft Lounge ~ Day #3!

Here we are again with yet another set (or two) to show you from the new release for Our Craft Lounge this Friday. I thought I'd slip an extra card in my post today.

My first card is from the very cute set called Nailed It! ~ it's great for those masculine cards that we always need and struggle with. BUT... there are so many wonderful sentiments in this set, that it's perfect for more than just a Father's Day card! Debbie did a FAB job designing this set. Some of the girls had a few more sentiment suggestions, but for some reason, they weren't accepted...wonder why???? LOL!

My next project uses a very pretty set designed by the Magical Marker Girl, Marianne & it's called Garden Thoughts. There are several main image stamps as well as some beautiful script sentiments included in this set.

Are you ready to see some other great projects? Here ya go...

Cami - http://www.cambriaturnbow.blogspot.com/
Denise- http://thepaperlandscaper.blogspot.com/
Val- http://www.valeriestangle.blogspot.com/
Heather - http://heathermcnally.blogspot.com/
Pam - http://pamhooten.blogspot.com/
Lila - http://lilascreativecorner.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/
HB - http://www.happinessblooms.blogspot.com/
Joy - http://joyofstamping.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/
Cindy http://onehappystamper.typepad.com/
Debbie - http://dbdoodle.blogspot.com/
Roseanne - http://www.sumtoy.blogspot.com/
Kisa - http://kisaspapercuts.blogspot.com/

And a few more:

Holly http://toyzhaven.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/
Charmaine http://oodabugalley.blogspot.com/2009/04/bubbles-happen.html
Jacqui - http://www.sisterlines.blogspot.com/
Beth- http://freckledandfun.blogspot.com/2009/04/swingin-by-sneak-peek.html

C'mon Over to Our Craft Lounge...

Here we are ~ DAY #2 of the sneak peeks from Our Craft Lounge. We are ramping up for the big release & a MASSIVE blog hop this Friday, May1st! There are 24 new sets coming out ~ WOW!

The new set I'm showing you today is called Bring on the BBQ. I just LOVE the border that comes in this set. This set was designed by the Copic Queen herself ~ Marianne.

There are several girls showing off the new stuff today ~ so go take a look around. Oh, and don't forget to leave some love for everyone ~ we LOVE that!

Cami
Joy
Heather
HB
Pam
Kisa
Cindy
Holly
Val
Nancy
Debbie
Charmaine

Our Craft Lounge ~ Sneak Peeks & some photos...

First off ~ I have a fun new set to show you from Our Craft Lounge. It's called The Bees Knees. How cute is that title for a stamp set? Do you know what it means (originally I didn't, so I thought I would ask you). Well it means ~ Excellent or High Quality ~ who knew?

Anyway, this fun new set is by a brand new artist for Our Craft Lounge & she is FABULOUS! Her name is Debbie Corbari & I adore her new designs! You might be able to see that I used some of the new Brown Sugar Sparkly Fluff on the bee hive ~ too cute. Do you have some the of the Fluff yet? WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR ~ IT'S FANTASTIC!

We will have sneak peeks all week ~ you can check out the following blogs for more fun peeks:

Cami

Heather

HB

Pam

Kisa

Denise

Yesterday's Event ~ Race for a Cure!

So yesterday, my husband, kids and myself walked in the first ever Northern Indiana Race for a Cure. It was great and I thought we all did very well. Here we are at the starting line just before the race.

This picture is when we were on the Survivor Rally. As a 3 1/2 year survivor, it was cool to be part of the sea of pink!

We had an unseasonably warm day for late-April. Thankfully, it was a bit overcast, so it wasn't too hot. Here is a picture of the pink trail of people behind us on the River Walk in downtown Mishawaka, Indiana.

A life lesson ~ At one point during the race, my son (9 years old), saw a shortcut that we could take. I simply told him that sometimes we have to take the harder or longer roads in our lives. Since I didn't get to take any shortcuts during my treatments, maybe we shouldn't take any today during the race. He agreed...

I was very honored to be part of the walk this year. It's not just a "walk" for my family, it is literally is a "Race for a Cure". I pray all the time that there will be a cure ~ not only for me but for those who will follow.

I am so fortunate to have raised $755 as of last night & I'm thrilled to say that most of that money will be used right here in the Northern Indiana area. How thrilling it is to know that the cancer center where I received treatment, will benefit from my walk.

Today is a PINK day...

Woohoo! Guess what I'm doing today? I'm walking in the Northern Indiana Race for a Cure this morning with my family. So I thought it would be a good day to put up a pink card. I'll post pictures of the race later today or tomorrow. That's it for now ~ if you'd like to see our family race page ~ click on the link to the right. I'm so excited that we exceeded our donation goal & collected $700!

Supplies Used: Stamps ~ Lizzie Anne Designs (Garden Inspirations); Cardstock, Ribbon & Ink ~ PTI; Edge Punch ~ EK Success.

A Taste of Summer...

These yummy little treats are my son's favorite summer treat. This new Sweets & Treats set from Lizzie Anne Designs goes on sale today ~ along with all the other wonderful products we've been showing you this week.

And there's an extra treat ~ any order placed today at Lizzie Anne, will receive a free package of French Floral Pattern Paper. You don't even need a code ~ just order today.

Supplies Used: Stamps ~ Lizzie Anne Designs (Sweets & Treats); Cardstock ~ PTI, SU; Ink ~ Palette, SU; Ribbon ~ May Arts, SU; Glossy Accents ~ Ranger.

Post #2: More Lizzie Anne Sneak Peeks

Don't forget to keep scrolling down for my Inchie Friday post...

Well here we are...the final day of sneak peeks for the new Lizzie Anne Designs spring release. This week has been so fun with all the fun new stamps and digital paper packs. Everything goes on sale tomorrow.

Now for my projects ~ today I worked with a great new set called Sweet & Treats and a new digital paper pack by the same name. The dot that I used as a backgorund on the blue card is from an older set called Dreaming of Dots. I also printed out the pattern paper in some darker shades so it would a nice bright turquoise.

On my next card, once again I used the Sweet & Treats stamp set. Isn't this gumball machine THE BEST!

There is another set and a single being shown today in addition to the Sweet & Treats set. You can see complete pictures of the new sets & a list of all the sneak peeks over on the Lizzie Anne Designs Blog.

Scroll down for my Inchie Friday post.

Post #1: Inchie Friday ~ May Calendar Page!

Happy Friday! Today I have my next installment of my Inchie Calendar. I can't believe May is next week. Woohoo! Spring can't get her fast enough for me.

On my page today, I decided to use a technique that I've had in the drawer for awhile. I don't even know what it's called but it's full of bling! My little white Inchie Square totally transformed once again!

Please note: I wouldn't use this in your scrapbooks because I don't know how archival safe Future Floor Wax is for your photos.

Here's what you need for the project ~ Future Floor Wax, a few Pearl Ex Pigment Powders, and a small detail paint brush.


1. I stamped my image on the White Inchie square using black pigment ink and embossed it with clear powder.

2. Color around the image with a Copic Marker.

3. Next, I put just a small amount of Future Floor Wax on a disposible plate to use as a palette.

4. Dip your detail brush into the floor wax and then into the jar of Pearl Ex pigment color (you just need a little bit) and apply it to your image. Just wash out your brush on a wet paper towel between colors.

5. Use 3 to 4 colors to really make the colors POP!

That's all there is too it ~ EASY PEASY! Look at it shine!

Supplies Used: Inchie Squares ~ Inchie Arts; Cardstock ~ SU; Pattern Paper ~ Lizzie Anne Designs (Garden Inspirations Digital Paper Pack); Ink ~ SU Pigment, Copics; Pearl Ex Pigment Powders; Scallop Square Punch ~ SU; Calendar Template ~ created on Excel.

Lizzie Anne Sneak Peeks ~ Day 2

I've got more fun sneak peeks for you again today! Click on the pictures for a closer look at all the details.

My first project it is a great stamp for those sentimental Father's Day cards. This beautiful sentiment is a single stamp that will be available called Father Saying. I've paired it with the Garden Inspirations stamp set and the matching Digital Paper Pack. I think these all go beautifully together.

The next new set is called Everyday Sayings. This great new set comes with 21 beautiful greetings in a mixture of four different fonts ~ here are just two of them. I've paired the Congratulations sentiment with the sweet elephant from the Born to be Wild stamp set AND some of the great new digital papers (Gizmos & Gears and Perfect Polkas).

The Celebrate sentiment is paired with the large lavender polka-dot paper from the Perfect Polkas digital paper.

My last 2 samples are from the new set called Grillin' & Chillin' ~ isn't that a great name?!? On the first card, I used the little ant from this set to jazz up the large polka-dot paper.

On the next card, I added another new single stamp called Happy Father's Day and used the smaller polka-dot paper.

As you can tell, I've been having a blast with my new toys! Yesterday, I played more with my digital paper packs and learned how to change the colors and even tried my hand at some scrapbooking. You'll see the new colors soon; however, the scrapbook page needs some work. I'll include more tips here on my blog for printing and changing colors in the next few days. I'm still getting a handle on it myself, but it's proving to be pretty easy {even for a digitally challenged person like myself}.

You can see complete pictures of the new sets & a list of all the sneak peeks over on the Lizzie Anne Designs Blog. And don't forget to check back tomorrow for more sneak peeks ~ you won't want to miss it!

Lizzie Anne Designs ~ Sneak Peek Day 1

It's that wonderful time again when we have new stamps from Lizzie Anne Designs ~ YIPEE! Not only are there new stamps...but the talented girls have come up with some fabulous new pattern paper & they are DIGITAL paper packs!

The first new stamp set is called Garden Inspirations ~ and it is GORGEOUS! Not only is this a wonderful set, but it has a beautiful Digital Paper Pack also called Garden Inspirations. Click on the pictures to get a good look at these wonderful papers! Some of the best things about digital papers ~ you won't run out of your favorite patter because you can print another one & you can scale down sizes of the patterns for cardmaking or keep them larger for scrapbooking.


My next project shows another Digital Paper Pack called Perfect Polkas. There are 16 patterns of large and small polka-dots in 8 different colors ~ just yummy! I also used the sentiment from Garden Inspirations on this cards.

My final projects for today don't showcase new stamps, but another Digital Paper Pack called Gizmos and Gears. It matches the set by the same name that is already available.

For a complete look at all the new products, the sneak peek schedule, and the designers who have peeks for today, take a look at the Lizzie Anne Designs blog for all the details.

Come on back tomorrow and Friday for more sneak peeks from me. Everything will be available at Lizzie Anne Designs this Saturday, April 25th.

i{heart}paper challenge...everything's askew

Hoppy Tuesday to you! Today, the girls from the i{heart}papers Design Team are having another fun challenge. The goal today ... make things crooked.

I decided to use my cute little frog set by Hero Arts called Froggy! and the sentiment is from a set called Sending Happy Thoughts. I also used my Spica green glitter pen for the spots on the frog & some fun gems from Hero Arts on the flower ~ they came with the Froggy set! Check out his eyes ~ I used little googly eyes! Don't ya love it?

You won't want to miss all the fun projects the girls have made ~ so go take a look at the rest of the DT blogs! They should have their challenge cards up at some point today. Oh, and make sure you leave some love along the way!

Cathleen Torina

Amber Kroening

Kate ~ i{heart}paper blog

Lori Tecler

Deb Felts

Tracy Schultz

Meredith Socha

Carolyn Mustopa

Dee Jackson

You are...

...my sweet girl! Yesterday, I looked out in the backyard and there was Meg, my 12 year old, on the swings. She must have stayed on that swing for 15 to 20 minutes just lost in her thoughts. She wasn't unhappy at all ~ but was just enjoying quiet time.

Meg is a joy to me ~ sweet, kind, talented, and so gorgeous {both inside and out}...

I used all kinds of fun products from i{heart}papers! First off, the fun stamp set from Upsy Daisy called Make a Bloom ~ it's just packed full of fun flower shapes and stems. The other great product I used is one of my very favorite paper lines right now ~ Grow Kit (from the Bloom & Grow line) by My Minds Eye. The kit comes with 9 patterns of paper and a punch-out accessory sheet with the flowers, tags, brackets & dots ~ LOVE IT!

Thanks to the Coaches!

Hey All! Yesterday we had a great time at my daughter's year-end volleyball party! Megan loves volleyball and this was her 3rd year playing club ball. The girls had a fantastic head coach and two wonderful dads helping her this year. Each and every girl made huge progress over the season.

As the team mom, I put together some cards and gifts for the coaches. They were a big hit ~ which made me so very happy!

The gift bag for the head coach was filled with all sorts of green and white Concord Volleyball things ~ a cup, shirt, whistle lanyard, socks, shoelaces, and a fun keychain. The other green tote was for the head coach of the club ~ Mtn. Dew & Twizzlers!

Here's a close up of the tag on the gift bag.

Here's Coach T modeling her new Concord T-shirt!

It was a super fun day! Hope your weekend is great!

Coming soon ~ New stamps from Lizzie Anne Designs! If you'd like to see a sneak peek & a chance to win one of the new sets ~ take a look at the Lizzie Anne Blog.

Unity Challenge Cards

I got some pretty new stuff from Unity Stamp Company this week. These images are from the April Kit of the Month. I just had to break open the envelope as soon as it arrived and used them to make these challenge cards. They are so fun to play with ~ love them!

Supplies Used: Stamps ~ Unity Stamp Co (April KOTM); Cardstock ~ SU & PTI; Pattern Paper ~ Cosmo Cricket (top) and SU; Ink ~ Palette, Copics, SU; Ribbon ~ SU; Embossing Template ~ Spellbinders; Nestabilities; SU Scallop Edge Punch.

Anybody out there???? You've all been pretty quiet lately. I'd love it if you said "Hi" once in a while.

Inchie Friday ~ Fast Scrap!

Today my post is all about GETTING IT DONE! As you know, I love scrapbooking! However, it can be time consuming & sometimes you just need to take some shortcuts.

I'll get to some of those tips as my post goes on ~ but first, here is my fun little Inchie Arts page for today. This great picture is from our New England cruise last summer. I just love the vibrant purples and greens in this photo ~ not to mention my little guy (Matt) and my brother-in-law.

Here are the details: For the main flower image, I used the Itty Bitty Lavender image from Lockhart Stamp Company. I stamped it on the white Inchie square in black Palette ink. Then I used my Copic markers to color it & finally added just a touch of Pearl Ex pigment powder to make is shimmer. I used two additional Inchie squares to add the names of the people in the photo and the date it was taken. For the background, I colored each one the same using a lighter shade of purple so they would all tie in together. Then for the title, I simply fed my cardstock through my printer so I could play with the font and size. This was a simple and fast page.

Now the page size for this is actually 6" x 8 1/4" ~ odd sizing I know. But here is where the shortcut comes in...

This small scrapbook page is actually part of a larger page protector with photos you slide inside pockets. I know this is a pretty popular way to scrapbook these days, but I have to laugh and tell you that I've been scrapbooking this way for about 4 or 5 years now. Not all the time, but I tend to use this technique for theme albums (like trips) or when I'm so far behind that I feel like I'll never catch up.

How do you do this?

1. Print & Sort - When I put together an album like this, first I print and sort my pictures. This album is for a trip & I want it scrapbooked chronologically. Therefore, I sort my pictures by day and events within that day.
   
   
2. Page Protectors - Sometimes the biggest challenge is finding the right pictures (in the right orientation) for each pocket ~ so order a variety before you begin. Find the page protector that fit the photos you have for that day's events. Some photos may need to be trimmed to fit a different direction, reprinted, or left out if you don't have the right pocket for it. I usually find a way to make it work.
   
   NOTE: These types of page protectors come with different sized pockets so you can add larger photos, documents, maps, etc. I bought the page protectors for this album a few years ago & they are from Scrapworks. Unfortunately, this company went out of business. However, there are some from Bazzill (Lickity Split) and We R Memory Keepers Photo Sleeves. I just ordered some of the We R Memory Keepers ones & they are due in May ~ I'll keep you posted if I like them.
   
   
3. Full Layouts - I use in a 3-ring binder binder so I can add full 12x12 layouts to my album as well. This album is a Stampin' Up! Linen Album & the page protectors work beautifully inside. Generally, the holes for 3-ring binders are standard so you can mix and match protectors.
   
   
4. Leave Blank Spots - But don't forget to leave some pockets open so you can add titles and journaling. That's where you can add all the fun little doo-dads from your scrapbook supplies. HOWEVER, don't make them too bulky!
   
   In my trip albums, this is where I like to add information about what we did that day, titles of where we were (as I did here), or information about the port of call we visited. I do most of my journaling on the computer and then stamp backgrounds, use pattern paper or cardstock to add color. It's using your creativity in a smaller way, but including tons more photos in your book!
   
   
   
5. Another Benefit - When you get back from a trip, I like to look (and share) my photos right away. What's great about this album, is that you & your family can still enjoy your photos before they are 'scrapped' because they are all laid out and protected from nasty little fingerprints.
   
6. You can do it! - Even if you don't scrapbook, you can do this! It's a fast, easy way to get those precious memories down on paper. Your photos are important ~ so document the details. You don't have to add all the pretty little doo-dads, but you really need to record the family history. Future generations will appreciate it!
   
   NOW GO SCRAP SOMETHING!!!
   
   Supplies Used: Inchie Squares ~ Inchie Arts; Cardstock ~ Stampin' Up!; Ink ~ Palette, Copics; Stamps ~ Lockhart Stamp Co, Hero Arts; Font ~ from Photoshop Elements.