Hip to be square (cards!)

I've been on a square card kick lately. Here are two that I created for the busy week last week.


This was the thank you for the kid's teachers. On the inside it said "Thanks for helping me grow" and had a pocket filled with seed packets. It was a pretty simple card, using only embellies and one stamp set from CTMH. The flowers were off of a silk flower set from Wal-Mart (a great way to get tons of inexpensive flowers for cards & such!), a layered button and brad for the center and a little rickrack for the stem - all from Making Memories.

This card was inspired by, of all things, a plate I saw as a wall hanging in someone's photo on Facebook. Kind of strange, I know, but inspiration can come from many different areas, so why not? =)

This was going to be for a graduation card, but I think it turned out more frou frou than I expected, so I'll be using this as a wedding card instead. All stamps are CTMH, papers and inks are Stampin' Up, but only because I made this at the Girl's Night Crop and had to borrow all of Candice's stuff. Since they are Stampin' Up colors, I couldn't tell you what they are, but I do know that the closest CTMH colors would be Buttercup, Breeze and Sweet Leaf. I also used the Stampin' Up Scallop Border punch and added little holes with their stitch guide-thingy. I added double-sided satin ribbon from A Touch of Ribbon, and a Petaloo flower with a little bling brad.

Thanks for looking!

Feeling so loved!

Life has been so hectic lately, and once I finally got a chance to check my email this week, I found a wonderful gift left by the ever-talented Jamie Harder. She sent me my first two blogger awards. What a wonderful surprise!





The rules of the award (to pick up the Lemonade Stand Award): Comment on this blog. Cut and paste the award logo and use it in your own blog. Nominate 5 to 10 blogs you feel show great attitude and gratitude. Link to your nominees within your blog post. Comment on their blogs to let them know they've received the award. Link back to the person who gave you the award to show your appreciation.

The friend award comes with the following description to be added and passed along. "These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated" It also says: "Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award."

Wondering who I've passed my awards to?

I'm passing them back to Jamie, just because she's so awesome and such an inspiration.

One is going to Marie Isom - she's such a sweet heart and always has kind words.

One's going to Samantha Ovit - she is a wonderful woman and a great artist.

I'm passing one to Amber Korn - she's in my CTMH Friends Yahoo Group and always has beautiful artwork and is always a great source of support.

One is being passed to Susan Culotti - I love her life tidbits and gorgous artwork.a

And finally, I'm passing one to Roxann - her color combos and embellies are always top notch.

One is also being passed to Adeline Brill - another one from my CTMH Friends Yahoo Group. Her projects always spotlight CTMH in the best light.

One is going to Amy Jolley - she always has such unique and beautiful projects.

And finally, one is going to Amy Ballard. I'm new following her site but am in love with her projects!

I don't actually know any of these women - but I have been so inspiried by their artwork and attitudes. Keep up the wonderful work, ladies!

Happy Mother's Day

OK- so I know it's not Mother's Day anymore, but hopefully this will give you inspiration for something else!

This card was created with Stampin' Up stamps. The images were hand-colored with Stampin' Up brush-tip markers directly onto the stamp. Once everything is colored in, give it a little "huff" by breathing onto the stamp and you're set to go. I used a sponge to add very faint blue background using Close To My Heart Heavenly Blue ink - though you can't really tell here, it made it look like you were viewing the flowers against a lightly cloudly sky. The ribbon and flower pin are also from Close To My Heart, but that little pearl is soething I picked up at Target - Marcella by K (BTW - the pearls don't stick very well at all! I had to attach mine with a mini glue dot to keep it on there.)

Girl pages...

Here are a few layouts I did for Sophia's album.
This is Soph with our latest addition to our family - a Teacup Terrier named Baby. She's full grown at 4-1/2 lbs. Sophia thinks she's the greatest! I think this paper is Autum Leaves - but I'm not sure. The scalloped circle is from last winter's Dazzline Diecuts special from Close To My Heart. The alphabet stamps, ink and large pink flower and small white flower are also from Close To MyHeart. The rest of the flowers are Making Memories (dark pink and brown polka dot) and Bazzil (large white flower). The button and bling brad are from my stash. The rub-on is from Stampin' Up.

I struggled with this layout FOREVER! The first page - the one on the left - took five hours of deliberating (admitedly mixed with food and gossip, but still!) It wasn't until it was all finished and the second page put together that I decided that I liked it. I think I had so many problems because Sophia's costume wasn't my favorite - those 80's colors! Both pages were inspired by PageMaps. The neon pink and acid green cardstock are from Stampin' Up, the acid green scallop & heart were more Dazzling Diecuts, and the flower bling is also from Close To My Heart. My layered flower is part leftover lei from Sophia's 3rd birthday party, part Making Memories and part Petaloo, plus a random button and CTMH ribbon. The sparkly stickers are Making Memories.

I bought the adorable Sweetwater patterned paper almost three years ago - before Sophia ever started preschool - with her first day layout completely in mind. It wasn't exactly how I pictured it, but I love how it turned out! The cardstock is Stampin' Up. There's a bunch of buttons and staples from my stash, and a Cricut font that I don't remember. I cut out the big daisies from a coordinating sheet of Sweetwater paper and added more buttons as their centers. The ribbon is from Close To My Heart.

Boy layouts

Andrew's baby album is a constant work in progress. Here's what I got done last weekend:


This layout features a page from one of Close To My Heart's level 1 kits - which means that the hard work is done for you. These kits are great for beginners or scrappers in a hurry as they give you the pre-printed layout already done. All you have to do is add pictures and accents to complete the look. I used a clear accent from Close To My Heart - with brown StazOn ink and a Stampin' Up swirl. The ribbon is also from Close To My Heart, but the flowers and button are all Making Memories.

To attach clear embellishments with glue, you spray the back evenly with a spray adhesive, like 3M, or run through a Xyron, but be careful with the latter because it can get messy! Whatever method you prefer, just make sure that the adhesive is applied evenly. You can also attach clear embellishments with ribbons, staples, brads and/or eyelets.


This Poppa & Me layout is created with Close To My Heart papers & buttons that I've had for years. I added little stitch marks with a piercing tool and the guide from Stampin' Up. The cute letter stickers are from Doodlebug Designs.

Broncos fans at heart!

When Andrew was a baby, his first words weren't mommy or daddy. Nope, not in our house, where Broncos attire is mandatory during football season. His first words were "Touchdown" and "Go Broncos!"

After waiting longer than Andrew's been alive, we finally got our season tickets last year and took Andrew to his first game. Heck - it was my first game too! I couldn't wait to scap the experience. It was by far one of the best games - ever - to go to, but it was so loud! Andrew hates loud noises, but he endured like any fan would. It was military appreciation day - always an event that brings tears to my eyes and pride to my heart. Plus, we won the game in an edge-of-the-seat thriller. I can't wait until next season!

Non-traditional Disney Layouts

We went to Disney Land two years ago for spring break and I'm still working on pages for our album. Since I don't do anything in chronological order, but rather as the creative mood strikes, I'm not in any huge rush. Here are a few of my recent pages for the album.


I found this paper and immediately thought of our trip to Disneyland - even though I think it was technically designed for school/sports. The A Day to Remember paper is from Adornit by Carolee's. Polkadot paper is Making Memories. Jeweled brads are from Oriental Trading Company and Mickey sticker is from Jolee's.

This is one of my favorite Disney layouts! I love how clean this feels, and how girly! "Dumbo" & "favorite" are from the Cricut Storybook collection (I might have to break down and buy a Cricut just for that cartridge!), flowers are Making Memories, Petaloo & Oriental Trading. Papers & small bling are from Close To My Heart, bling brad is Stampin' Up, and pens are the Bic permanent acid-free pens. Oh - and the swirl stamp is also Stampin' Up - I used Staz On ink so I could stamp directly onto my picture.

Aren't these colors perfect for Jasmine & Aladdin? This uses all Close To My Heart papers, a little Bling from ColorBok, and of course, the Storybook cartridge from Cricut.

My awesome friend Juanita gave me a little gift at our retreat last weekend and the goody pack contained this yummy embossed, glittered paper. I'm not sure who makes it, but I want more! The flowers are Making Memories and Prima (can you tell I got stuck on a new technique last weekend) and though you can't tell very well, there is a glittered brad layered into a button to create the center of the flower. I had to sand the button holes with the Finishing Files from Close To My Heart - Love them! The sticker letters are from a Making Memories card kit I got ages ago. Oh - and that cute little file tab thing? That's one of the new metal embellishments in the latest Close To My Heart Idea Book - released just last week! The foundry tabs are sold in a set of 8 (four colors, each in different designs) for just $3.95! I sanded the embossed design on mine to get it to stand out a bit more.

Baby Shower Card

I hosted a baby shower today for my sister-in-law and my nephew to be. We had a great time! The cake was designed off of the Little Prince card I posted a while ago, which was also the design of the shower invitations. It turned out so cute! Of course, I didn't get a picture of it since I was busy hosting, but if I can get a pic of it I'll share it with you.

Here's the card that I put together this morning before we had to leave for the shower...


This card features papers from the Close To My Heart Animal Cookies Creative Basics collection - which includes eight sheets of two different designs of papers (each of which include a full color side and monochromatic side) and 20 yards of ribbon - perfect for bulk layouts or card making. The ribbon is also Close To My Heart, though not from the creative basics collection. The stamp, one of my faves, is from the CTMH - Party Animals set. I colored him in with Stampin' Up Watercolor Wonder crayons. Buttons are from Wal-Mart.