It's my life

One card and one layout today

Just a quick post tonight.  I am busy getting ready for a long weekend vacation in the Georgia mountains which also unfortunately means that I will not be having internet access for about 3 days.  I will have to go the coffee house in town to get online so you probably won't be hearing much from me this weekend.  

I have been working on a lot of different things this week but I can't show everything quite yet.  But I do want to share a birthday card that I made for a friend and a layout that I created using a Got Sketch sketch.

This card is for my friend Suzy.  She is on the Embellish Online Design Team with me.  I truly hope that she has a wonderful fun day!

Supplies:  All papers and embellishments can be purchased at Embellish Online.  Just click on the blinkie on my right hand side bar.

Here is a layout that I created using a sketch from Got Sketch 104.  I have been a class member for each of the Got Sketch classes and it just keeps getting better and better.  Do you see the stitching?  I just love this tip that Janna shared.  I have always meant to do this but never got around to.  This sketch gave me just the inspiration that I needed.  I can't believe that Brett is only 5 in these pictures.  He has grown so much.

You can still sign up for Got Sketch if you would like.  It's nice to be on schedule but you don't have to.  Actually this layout is Sketch 2 or 3 so you can totally tell that I am not on schedule.

Well see you next week.  I hope you have a fun weekend.

Inky Impressions Challenge and Craft Critique Shimmerz Review

Today in It's My Life

Inky Impressions Challenges  There is a new Inky Impressions Challenge up today.  I played along and you should too.  This one is easy because basically this is the recipe for most of my cards.  For the challenge you need to use 1 ribbon, 2 patterned papers and 3 buttons.  You can check out all of the details here as well as the other Designer's projects which are awesome!  To get this cute little stamp Lili's Prayer stop by the Inky Impressions webstore.  While you are there make sure to browse through the entire collection.  They are all so cute!

Giveaways  Craft Critique is posting their reviews of Shimmerz products.  There are lot of giveaways so be sure to stop by and comment on the their posts each day.  I have some of the Shimmerz Paints and I can say that I absolutely love them!!  The shimmer is perfect, easy to apply,  and it comes in so many different colors.  If you head over to Craft Critique and mentioned that I sent you there when you comment I will be giving away a pot of it myself to one lucky winner.  So two ways to win!! My giveaway will end Friday, June 25th at 8:00p.m. EST.

Have a great day!!!

Wish On a Star

Today's News in my Scrapbook World

Free Digital Scrapbooking Class  Have you heard about Jessica Sprague's free Birthday Bash class, Photo Editing: Frame-ups and Special Effects?  Your register on her site and look in her blog posts for a special class code to take this class for free.  I have taken about 5 of her classes so far, paid and free, and have always been impressed with her professional product and personality.  You cannot lose.  So go register. She will also be giving away prizes all week to celebrate the 2nd birthday of her site. So read all about the fun stuff going on this week on this blog post.

Create  Here is a layout that I created today for Embellish Online using papers from American Craft.  This is actually their baby line but the colors are so versatile that you can use it for about anything.  

I had a lot of fun with this layout.  I really love the white felt flower border and I was excited to figure out how to put the text around the inside piece. 

All of the products that I used in this layout came from Embellish Online.  Yesterday I shared with you that you can purchase any of these products for 20% off if you just click the blinkie on my sidebar and use the discount coupon code "Glitter".

Craft Critique  Coming soon, a critique on Shimmerz.  This is a product review you do not want to miss.  I will be posting a link as soon as it becomes available.  Here is a link to today's post.

Stampin Up!  Calling all Stampin Up! fans.  Now through June 28th, I will be offering a secret discount offer.  I think you will be excited to hear the fun that I will share.  To find out what the secret discount offer is you will have to email me.

June 09 Kit Mini

News:  Just want to make sure that everyone knows what is going on in my Scrapbooking World.

Classes:  I will be teaching a masking stamp class this Thursday at Scrapbook Mania.  There are a couple spaces left.  Please come join us.  We have so much fun.

Craft Critique:  Did you see the reviews of the Sharpie Markers on Craft Critique?  The critiques were really good and I learned a ton of information about them.  I think the best thing about Craft Critique is that if you want to know how a certain scrapbook products measures up you can go there to get the scoop.  The other cool thing is that a lot of the time there are some great giveaways from the companies that are being reviewed.  You could be a winner!!  Please stop by the blog and search for info on your next purchase.  Expensive or not, a review is probably on there.  Don't you want to be the best informed when you spend your money now a days.  Every dime seems to be counting for most families right now.

Inky Impressions:  Have you stopped by the Inky Impressions website to check out their stamps?  You really should.  They are gorgeous.  

Stampavie:  Have you checked out their current challenge.  Remember they have a challenge every two weeks with some great prizes.  The current challenge is easy.  Flowers.  Just put as many flowers on your card that you would like and then submit it to the Stampavie DT challenge post.  It's really easy and I know you use flowers just as much as I do. Hehe.  I will be checking the list to see if your name is on there.

Embellish Online:  I've got some great projects to show you this week using products that you can find in their store.  If you like to shop online then you really should check them out.  Click on the blinkie on the right hand side of my blog and make sure to use the word "glitter" to receive a 20% discount when you check out.  

I promised some pictures of the mini desktop album that I created for the Scrapbook Mania's June kit so here they are.  I got this idea from my favorite book of late, Outstanding Mini Albums, by Jessica Accs.

This is the cover of the desktop album.  I used paper from Scenic Route called Garden Grove which was part of the June Kit.

Here is the side view.  You can see how I put it together.

I love this and I know that my parents will love it to when I give it to them.  This will also be an album that I will make over and over again for gifts. It's 6x6 so it's easy to create and you can include as many or as little pages as you would like.  My husband has already requested one for his desk at work.  I need to get busy.  It will be a late Father's Day gift. :)

I hope you all had a great Father's Day and had the opportunity to spend your time with family and loved ones.  

Edited to add:  Dear friends of mine, please know that even if I am not commenting on your blog I am seeing all of your gorgeous creations via my RSS feeds.  Truthfully their are so many totally talented ladies out there that I have an RSS feed on out there I can't totally can't keep up with commenting some days but please know that I am thinking about you all everyday.

Scrapbook Mania's June Scrapbook Kit

I am so excited about this month's kit at Scrapbook Mania because I was the lucky person to pick out the contents and design the projects.  Scenic Route has always been a favorite of mine and I knew that the bright fun colors of Garden Grove was the perfect line for this summer month's kit.  Today I will show you the layout and card that I made with the kit and tomorrow I will show you the mini book.  The amazing thing is that I made all three of the projects with just one kit and I still have product left over.  

Here is the layout that I created.  We threw in a Fancy Pants overlay and I combined it with a kraft sheet from Scenic Route.

You might notice that there is a hidden journaling pocket behind the pictures.  I really couldn't journal on the overlay so I thought I would include a pull out journal tag.  I just can"t believe that I took these pictures almost 3 years ago.  Wow, she has changed so much yet stayed so much the same.  Yeah, I think the price of those braces were worth it. :)

Here is the card.  Simple but elegant I think.  Isn't that polka dot ribbon the cutest?  I think so.

Tomorrow I will show you the mini book that I created.  I am so excited to show you it because I think it is the perfect mini for family or friends that regularly sit at a desk.  Hmm, that was a hint.

Speaking of hints, we are close to a winner.  I mean I am really going to have to pay attention to my comments.  Did I just say that....

Oh, by the way, if you like what I did with the June kit be sure to sign up for Scrapbook Mania's August kit.  I will be designing that one too and I am over the top excited about what we are putting in it.  A lot of fun stuff.  

Have a wonderful day!!!

Got Sketch 104 has Started

Well, Got Sketch 104 has officially gotten underway and I have my first layout to show you.  I really had fun using Sketch #1.  I used some of my favorite October Afternoon papers.  For the title I used some new American Craft see through sticker letters as well as their vinyl letters.  The pretty flower embellishments are from Sassafras Lass and the scallop oval and leaf die cuts are from Stampin Up!

I have had these pictures for such a long time, almost 10 years, and never scrapped them.    I took them when I was using film and I was afraid to scrap them.  I am sure that I have the negatives in my storage box so when I saw this sketch I knew that they would be perfect so I took the plunge.  I am so glad I did because I love all the bright colors together.  

If you like to play with sketches I would suggest that you sign up for Got Sketch 104.  It is well worth the $25 and not too late.  Thursday is chat night and we will be chatting with Valerie and Janna.  Both of them are great people and wonderful scrapbookers so it should be a fun time.  Also, in 104 there will be videos included.  Not sure yet who is making or what they will be on but I am sure they will be fantastic!  If you do sign up  and join Got Sketch 104 make sure to add me as a friend. :)

There is a New Stampavie Challenge Posted

Stampavie posted their new Challenge #6 today.  It's a real easy one so everyone should play along.  The challenge is to use as many flowers as you want plus a Stampavie stamp.  See I told you it was an easy challenge.  Everyone likes flowers and the Stampavie has the cutest stamps.  This contest will run for two weeks so you have plenty of time to enter.  See more details here.  The prize is always a surprise but I have heard that it is always fantastic and includes something wonderful created by Heidi who is the owner of Stampavie!!!  She is an incredible paper crafter.  Look at this post.  This is just one project of many that she has shared on the DT blog.

Here is my sample for Challenge #6.  Please stop by the Stampavie's DT blog to see the other designer's card samples.

 

 

 

Got Sketch 104 started today.  The sketch is fantastic.  There is still time to register for the class.  Tomorrow I will share my layout for the first sketch.  It was a dream to use.  

Babies First Mini Album

So what is your favorite scrapbooking company?  Well up until last year I would have said Scenic Route, and believe me they still are in my favorite top 3, but this year hands down, one of the top two on my favorites list includes October Afternoon.  I wonder if you can guess what the other one is?  Everything that October Afternoon has released lately has been just awesome.  When this line, Ducks in a Row, came out I immediately thought mini book.  Tonight I will share a few of the pages that I created in this mini.  I will apologize up front when I say that there are no pictures in this book.  My kids are so not babies anymore and their baby pictures are all in film and I just didn't want to take the time to get them printed.  I guess I will just have to give this mini album away.  It is probably one of the simplest mini books I have ever put together but I just love it that way.  

The base for this mini book is from Maya Road and it was a dream to work with.  It has some great tabbed chipboard pages and then some fun pockets.  It was the perfect format for this project.

 I love making pocets for my mini album pages.. The journaling cards in the October Afternoon lines are perfect in these pockets. 

 

 These pockets really make the album.  There are 4 included and perfect for holding those special memories that don't quite fit on a regular page.

Okay so that tooth will have to wait a while to be put into the album but at least there is a place for the picture on the other side of the envelope. :)

 

 

 

Well there are a couple more pages included but certainly you get the idea.   This is a small album but I really love the format.  Maya Road always does a great job creating new and fun chipboard albums.  

If you are local to Birmingham, Alabama please stop by Scrapbook Mania in Bessemer to get all the supplies you need to make  this wonderful baby album.  

Fun in the Sun Bo Bunny Popsicle Collection

Just a quick post tonight.  I am so loving the new Bo Bunny papers that are out.  I created this layout using their new Popsicle line.

Is that not the cutest paper ever?  These pictures of my daughter was taken so long ago.  She will be turning 17 this August so you do the math.  These pictures worked perfectly with all of the bright colors of this line.

  

Got Sketch #86 Playing Along

Valerie has her #86 sketch up on her blog and this week it is a card sketch.  She is an amazing sketch creater and this card sketch#86 was no exception.  As you might know I have been contributing some layouts for her blog using her sketches but this week I am just playing along.  

For this sketch I decided to put down my Copic markers and just go totally paper and embellies.  I also wanted to showcase some of the wonderful American Craft products that they have at Embellish-Online.  It has actually been so long since I have made a card without my Copics I felt a little rusty but before long everything was just fitting into place.  I did have to tweak things a little bit and recut a few times but you all do that too right???

So here is Sketch #86

and here is my card.

I was really happy how it turned out.   

1.  The card base is Stampin Up! cardstock just because their cardstock has such great weight for card making.  

2.  Then I took some American Crafts paper called Twinkle Twinkle and embossed the blue back side of it with tiny dots and rounded the corners.  Can you believe that all of this paper is from AC Baby collection.  Just goes to show how versatile their patterns can be.  

3.  The solid green paper is on the back of the Peek-A-Boo paper.  I ran it through my Big Shot with my scalloped rectangle die.

4.  Next I layered on Mary Quite Contrary.

5.  The scalloped border edge was cut with my Stampin Up! border punch and layered with some more Peek-A-Boo paper and Making Memories ribbon.  

6.  My embellishment was a simple layered stack with a Martha Stewart butterfly punched on top.  Isn't the bling cute on it.  

7.  My last step was to put on my sentiment.  I used the American Craft Thickers called Lullaby in the color Sunflower.  I think the fancy letters just made the card!

All of the American Crafts Baby Collection can be found at Embellish-Online.  They are a wonderful group of ladies and I have had a wonderful time already being on their DT.  Save 20% on your order when you use the word glitter.  Click on the Embellish-Online blinkie on my sidebar to go straight to their site and earn me a little credit. :)

Bad News:  My computer just crashed.  I am quickly finishing up on my other computer so that I can concentrate on fixing it.  Hopefully things will be alright, trying to be positive here, as I have another closeup of my card that I wanted to show you.

Wish me Luck!!!