Polka Doodles

A new challenge is up at the Polka Doodles blog and this week the challenge is to use a template! Polka Doodles has so many cute ones, the toughest part was deciding which one to use! I opted for the cupcake and gave it my own special sauce by stitching beads on the icing for sprinkles!!

The template design is from the Paper Boutique III CD and the background paper is from the Pretty Tuff CD.

Make sure to stop by the PD blog to see all the other cute designs and see what you can win by joining us on this challenge!

Some October Afternoon deliciousness...

I got to play with the Sidewalks line from October Afternoon recently, for Love is in the Details. How can this paper line just not make you happy, happy, happy!?

First some cards...

So, funny story. Way last summer I made a Facebook comment, that someone should tell the designers of such things, to make a punch that cuts hexagon shapes. And I was really hoping to find some revealed at CHA next week...!

Then a few weeks ago, my friend Aleks pointed out that long time ago, before I was ever paying attention, Creative Memories made just such a punch. In a variety of sizes no less. She even pointed it out with a link to eBay!!

Et voila!

How much fun is that, huh?

And finally an October Afternoon layout! I sewed the banner out of pieces of Sidewalks die cuts and strung them across.

(Please excuse the bulky/shaded scan.)

Project 365. Well, 366 this year.

Meet my new best friend, Blurb. Kind of a funny name for a friend I know, but that hasn't gotten in the way of a budding new relationship that I just know will last longer than Element 117 or gum stuck to the sidewalk.

Since I started doing APAD in January of 2008 I've been trying to think of a way to showcase my photos for my own pleasure and for my family to see and enjoy as well. I even went to the effort of creating a hard cover photo book, with dates and a few explanations along the way but I didn't ever order it.

Even after all that work.

Because it still wasn't what I had in mind.

Then again in 2010 when I committed to the concept of capturing (at least) one photo every day, I kept trying to think of what format I would like to bring this project to life. It's all very well and good to have 47, 638 photos on your computer, but if no one gets to see them, or worse yet, your computer should crash....!?!

Turn the clock to January 2012 (apparently I am an even-year APADist) when I am committing again to this project and enough is enough. Time to think of something and do it. Then I had a full on frontal lobe idea. A small, (5"x5") soft cover book, with nothing more than a single photo on each page from January 1 to December 31. Trouble is, I couldn't find anyone that binds books that small and that thick.

Until I met Blurb. Blurb prints/publishes everything from a print run of ONE to hopeful best-sellers of oh, a LOT. Mine will be in the former category. Their smallest size is 7"x7" but now that I have it in my hands I realize it's the PERFECT size. And best of all, I could keep adding pages till I reached a year (and I could have gone further yet).

It arrived in the mail yesterday and let me tell you I could not be more pleased!! After a certain number of pages, they bump you down to the Not As Premium Paper, but honestly, I completely LOVE the quality of this book. And so does my family. And my friends. Who've been inspired to start Project 366's of their own!! That should tell you something!

So, I'm off to begin creating another one for 2010 and I can't wait to finish up this year and order ANOTHER one!! Always something to look forward to!!

Aiko

Day 5 and the final day for My Little Shoebox Winter CHA reveals! Today we want to show you Aiko! How adorable is this line, right?? You'll want to go to the MLS blog to see the complete line in all its cuteness and to leave a comment for a chance to win this line yourself!!

Lovely Day

Day 4 of the My Little Shoebox winter CHA reveals and today we're showing you Lovely Day! I got to play with this line and as I'm sure you can guess, the clouds, birds and cages and flower vines are a winning combination when it comes to creating cute projects!!

Here's a card I made with this line and I also have to tell you how much I love that all the new lines have coordinating solid card stock paper too!

Be sure to stop by the MLS blog to leave a comment for a chance to win this collection before it even hits the stores!!

Up in the Trees

My Little Shoebox reveal Day 3!! And it's a keyUTE collection called Up in the Trees!! Check out the wood grain with the hearts in it!! Click on the link to see the whole collection and make sure to leave a comment on the MLS blog for a chance to win this collection for your own!!

Half 'n' Half

Something old, something new...that's the challenge up at Scrap Your Crap this month! I'm sure you won't have any problems doing that right? In spite of all the old stash you haven't used, you've probably added to that stash recently, am I right??? Don't worry, that's only normal!! So we want you to use some of each in a LO and show it to us!!

On this layout I used:

Old Studio Calico tags, fabric strip, rub ons and mists, REALLY old Heidi Swapp alphabet masks, #2 sticker, SEI epoxy bubbles, "cute kid" fabric tag (and don't forget the photos - circa 2005!) and new Pink Paislee Nantucket die cuts and background paper.

You'll want to see the other layouts done by the DT to give you inspiration! And when you get done with this challenge, link it up so we can be inspired by you!

And before you go, check out today's My Little Shoebox reveal!! This collection is called Happy Go Lucky, and I don't know about you, but between the airmail stripes and the bicycles and clouds, I am feeling pretty Happy Go Lucky myself!!

Don't forget to pop over to the MLS blog and leave a comment for a chance to win this collection!!

My Little Shoebox reveal week!!

YAAYYY!! It's almost CHA time!! I love this time of year!! And I'm SO EXCITED to be going again to help in the MLS booth!!

Today we're showing you the first reveal of the 5 lines coming out at CHA and if the first is anything to judge by, you're going to be drooling over these lines!!

Ladies and gentlemums, please put your hands together for KEEPSAKE!!

New for 2012! Keepsake Collection Kit

• double sided patterned paper
• double sided color cardstock
• 12x12 Cardstock Sticker sheet
• 3D Roll Up Flower
• circle Die Cut

Also new for 2012, coordinating solid card stock!

And here's a lovely card made by Shemaine Smith using this collection.

Make sure to head over to the My Little Shoebox blog and leave a comment for a chance to win this collection before it ever hits the stores!!

Something NEW!

A new challenge up at Challenge Me Happy today!! And the challenge is to use the word NEW in your title!

Should be easy enough to do in the January of the year, huh?

Here's the layout I did...pure 1975 right?

Been saving this photo to scrap this year exactly, when there are so many cute bicycle embellishments to choose from!

The one that made it to the page was from the Dear Lizzy American Crafts collection. Dear Lizzy, c'mon DOWN! *clap, clap, clap*

Most of the supplies for this layout come from the January Studio Calico kit, Country Fair! Studio Calico, C'MON DOWN!!! Whoooot!!

Before I leave you though, I just want to let you know that the sponsor for this challenge at CMH, is Little Yellow House kits. And that you need to go check out the other lovely, fabulous layouts by the design team. And then get your glue and scissors out and make something of your own with NEW in the title, (doesn't have to be English) and then link it up!

January Challenge at All My Memories and a Polka Doodles card.

This month the challenge at All My Memories challenge blog is to make a layout about the one in your life who is truly the wind beneath your wings...your one and only, and what that means to you. Maybe it's your significant other, or a bestie, or your mom. But whoever it is and what they mean to you, tells something about the person you are too!

Here's the layout I did.

And you get to see the boy I fell in love with! Isn't he a hunka hunka burnin' love!?! (Hm, my spell checker doesn't like that. *shrug*)

The beautiful part is that he's so much more than that now, and maybe the looks have faded a little over the years....whose haven't?? But he's still the only one who can make my stomach drop from 30 paces!

Be sure and head over to the AMM blog to check out the other designer's layouts for more inspiration!

And this week it's a Vintage/Retro challenge at Polka Doodles!

I had fun exploring all the cds again and choosing these images and papers with which to create a vintage card. I love the soft subtle colors and the way they go so nicely with distressed edges and distress ink.

The buttons, pin, lace and chipboard butterfly are add ons from my own stash. There are so many gorgeous samples at the Polka Doodles blog for you to be inspired by! Go on over and check them out, as well as the sponsors for this challenge.

Show your Sparkle!!

With a new challenge up at Southern Girls Challenge blog! Our sponsors this month are Pink Gem Designs, Delicious Doodles, and Little Claire.

Now, you know me, I'm not big on glitter, but you know there are LOTS of other way to get some sparkle and shine without resorting to that wretched stuff, lol!!

Here's the layout I did. I punched out a few(!) flowers and glued them down and then Stickled the centers.

That satin rosette is one of last summer's obsessions! I think I made 400 at last count! Aren't they pretty?

There's also a bit of glitz and glamour added with the silver snowflakes and the pearls.

Be sure to head on over to Southern Girls and check out the rest of the DT's inspiration, as well as the sponsor links for this challenge!!

Happy New Year 2012!!

I'm wishing you a year of health, happiness and just enough of what makes you count your blessings, and not too much of what you weren't hoping for!

Let's begin with a new challenge over at Challenge Me Happy! Freehand Scraps is our sponsor this month and they ship internationally too!!

Our challenge this month was to lift the talented and lovely Trina McClune of New Zealand. Here is her gorgeous layout.

And here is what I did to lift Trina's LO.

Some details...

When you do this challenge, be sure and link it up at the Challenge Me Happy blog so we can lay some love on your lift, and also to have the chance to win the Freehand Scraps prize!

In the mood for some cupcakes? Some snowball cupcakes? These are seriously the best tasting cupcakes I've had in a very long time, boutique OR homemade!! I made some over the holidays to fill a cute cupcake box I'd decorated. Giving someone an empty cupcake box is just not politically correct. Even if it IS decorated as cute as this. So making cupcakes seemed the only thing to do.

The box is from Love is in the Details and I used the My Little Shoebox Winter Wonderland line to create the scene on the top. (Lori also has some very cute individual kraft cupcake boxes in the store and you need to see how Chelsea decorated them here!)

And here's the recipe:

Coconut Snowball Cupcakes


1 pkg white cake mix


1 C water


3/4 C Cream of Coconut (available in the cocktail mixers aisle at the grocery store.)


3 egg whites

Combine in large bowl, beat on low for 30 seconds, and on medium for 2 mins. Bake according to the pkg directions for cupcakes.

Frosting


1 pkg cream cheese


1 tbsp sugar (or to taste)


2 (or more) blocks white chocolate (melted in microwave)


1 C whip cream (whipped, with 1 tsp almond extract added)


1/4 C Cream of Coconut

Cream the cream cheese in a bowl with electric mixer. Add sugar, melted chocolate and cream of coconut and beat till smooth. Beat whip cream (with extract added) till stiff. Fold into cream cheese mixture and frost cupcakes. Sprinkle coconut and white crystal cake topping on top of cupcakes and watch them disappear! (Seriously. I watched two grown people fight over the last one!)

I also have some fun gift card packaging ideas to show you! These, as well as the cupcake box above are up at the Love is in the Details blog showcasing a few of the fun items Lori has in her store! This California Pizza Kitchen GC goes so perfectly in this Maya Road tin. I think it was alphabet sheers that came in it....

I just used the exacto knife to cut a partial line around the "Adore" shape, just wide enough for the GC to fit in and not slip down.

I used ONE sheet of paper from the Lost and Found - Sunshine line by My Mind's Eye, to make both the pillow box AND the tin liner. The designs on the paper work perfectly for that, and just minimal embellishments are all you need to add to call it done!

You can also find the awesomest burlap bags and muslin bags that make for fabulous gift card "envelopes"!

Right??

All I did to adorn this one was mat a big ol' honkin' snowflake sticker on brown cs, cut it out, tie it on and stick some buttons on the bottom!

(Totally in LOVE with these muslin bags!!) This one got stamped, an embossed chipboard frame, rosette and 2 leaves added to create something I'm finding hard to part with... The gift card is wrapped in French dictionary paper and tied up with jute and a little rusty snowflake.