Monthly Archives: June 2011

sweet summer days

Posted on June 10, 2011 | 6 comments

While it’s not officially summer until the 21st of June, to my thinking summer has already arrived. Beautiful balmy days, sunshine and my perennial garden is bursting into bloom. I’m looking forward to school being out in another couple weeks, some family coming from Alberta and long lazy days at the lake. I can’t wait!

Summer makes me think of fresh colors, flowers, banners and fun. Does this card fit the bill?

As you may know, I absolutely adore embellishments. Today I’m in the CLASSroom sharing two cards featuring embellishments and how to put them together. Please join me!

Enjoy your sweet summery day…

6 Comments

Posted in Card Designs, Ellen Hutson LLC projects

forever

Posted on June 9, 2011 | 5 comments

It’s wedding season!

Do you have any weddings to go to this year? Last Saturday we attended a beautiful one. I always love sitting there listening to the vows. It makes me think back to our own wedding 22 years ago.

Forever and for all eternity…I love this sentiment, don’t you? It’s a Paper Smooches stamp in Kim Hughes beautiful signature handwriting.

To create my background, I’ve paired up Claudine Hellmuth Sticky Back Canvas and some Glimmer Mist. Just mist it on and allow to dry or give it a shot of heat with a heat gun to speed things up. After I adhered my canvas to my card base and stitched it, I ran the entire card through my Big Shot and die cut this sweet little heart window. So easy and I love the little peek you get into the inside of the card.

Supplies: white cardstock by Neenah, sewing machine, Pretty Phrases Stamp Set by Paper Smooches, Viva Pink & Electric Blue Glimmer Mist by Tattered Angels, Claudine Hellmuth Sticky Back Canvas, twine, Bauble & flower  by Prima, Scalloped Heart Die by Spellbinders, Big Shot by Sizzix

Enjoy the sunshine…

5 Comments

Posted in Card Designs

my type of friend

Posted on June 7, 2011 | 4 comments

There’s just something special about a typewriter. When I was a child I used to sit at my mother’s typewriter and tap away. It was an old typewriter at first…the kind that the keys flip up and strike the paper and would jam if you hit two at once. I loved it.
I look at technology today and wow, we’ve come a long way. I’m really NOT that old either!

While I love new technology, I’m still a sucker for old typewriters. One of these days I’m going to splurge and buy one just for fun.

Today’s card is fun with some classic prints and a fun retro typewriter stamp image. I love how this Hero Arts set allows you to personalize the sentiment stamped onto the paper. So cute! I just couldn’t resist buying it. To subtly highlight the image, I’ve pierced a circle in the paper and then stitched a running stitch with embroidery floss.

Supplies: Cling My Type stamp set by Hero Arts, circle piercing template, embroidery floss by DMC, Jet Black Archival Ink by Ranger, Fly a Kite 8×8 patterned paper pad by October Afternoon

Do collect any fun or whimsical vintage items?

Take care!

 

4 Comments

Posted in Card Designs, Hero Arts

the places you’ll go

Posted on June 6, 2011 | 6 comments

Life seems to be changing in a hurry around here. My oldest has moved to Toronto and is settling in. I’m so thankful that he’s still close enough that I’ve been seeing him every weekend so far. This week we had another new development. My daughter who was starting University in the fall and going to be living at home has decided to go a little further away. It’s taken me a few days to get used to the idea. We’re so excited for her but wow…another one leaving the nest. She’ll be missed.

I love the Dr. Seuss book Oh the Places You’ll Go. It’s fun as a kid but looking back into it, the book is full of life lessons that are wise to remember. I can’t wait to see where my daughter’s journey takes her.

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
You’re on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.

~Dr. Seuss

This layout was for a Lily Bee DT challenge. Lily Bee Design papers work so well together you can mix up the lines and the papers with ease. On this layout I’ve used papers from the Picket Fence, This and That and Happily Lost lines as well as mixing up the stamps and stickers from them. If you have time, check out Mix and Match the Lily Bee Blog today for some great projects and fun combinations of the three most recent lines.

To create my own custom embellishments, I’ve pulled out some Tim Holtz Fragments tags and placed a sticker on one and stamped on another. For ink on plastic I like to use the Jet Black Archival Ink by Ranger and then heat set it.

Supplies: Happily Lost patterned papers: Hammock & Stroll, This & That line patterned papers: Pretty Fabric & Brooch, Picket Fence line patterned papers: Al Fresco, Picket Fence Acrylic Stamps, This & That Acrylic Stamps, Happily Lost Mixed Cardstock Stickers, white cardstock by Bazzill, heat gun, Jet Black Archival Ink by Ranger, flower by Pink Paislee, Tissue Tape by Tim Holtz,Vintage Pin by Jenni Bowlin, Thickers by American Crafts, Mini Ticket & Wood Motif Bingo Piece by Maya road, Tim Holtz Fragments

Thanks for stopping by!

6 Comments

Posted in Lily Bee, Scrapbooking

those little things

Posted on June 5, 2011 | 14 comments

What makes you smile?

I’ll bet if you think about it, it’s most likely the small things in life. A smile, a note, a flower, a call from a friend. Grand gestures are wonderful but it’s usually the little things that add up to so much meaning.

Today it’s a simply gorgeous day and my family is all at home for the weekend. It’s more than enough to have me beaming with happiness.

Today’s card is simple. A little thank you for a friend. This card uses some simple layers but instead of layering up, it’s layer goes back into the design. Instead of layering my clouds on top of the sky blue paper, I’ve die cut it and you see some fun white clouds with text peeking out from underneath the die cut windows.

Supplies: white cardstock by Bazzill, Jet Black Archival Ink by Ranger, Cloud die by Paper Trey Ink, vellum butterfly by Jenni Bowlin, Clear Design Dictionary Greeting stamp set &  Thank You for Being My Friend stamp set by Hero Arts, patterned paper by Echo Park Paper Co.

Wishing you a day full of smiles…

 

14 Comments

Posted in Card Designs, Hero Arts

my girl

Posted on June 3, 2011 | 8 comments

Finding the time to scrapbook favorite photos and record special events is something I love to do. When I recently ordered a the beautiful February kit from Up the Street Scrapbooking, I didn’t really know what I was going to do with it. It was so pretty though, I just had to have it. I always adore working with Tara’s kits. “My Shabby Valentine” is still available at Up the Street and this layout seemed to just put itself together. I love it when designing goes easy like that!
ma jolie fleur

This layout translates “my pretty flower”. Using the French just sounds so pretty and seemed to go with the romantic feel of this layout. My daughter is named after a flower and that’s where the title inspiration came from. I took these photos of my beautiful girl last Friday night before she left for her Prom dinner.

You may notice that my photos have a vintage look to them to match the style of the layout. Kimberly Crawford recently tuned me into MCP Actions and I’ve become an addict as I love the different looks you can achieve so easily. If you’re new to photo actions, they are like a preprogrammed setting that you can run on your photos to edit them into various looks. They really ramp up your photos and make them look much more professional. Photo Actions are run with Photoshop or Photoshop Elements programs. Make sure you look into what you are purchasing as most actions only run in Photoshop. For these two photos I’ve used the MCP Throwback Vintage action from the Quickie Collection™ Photoshop Actions Action Set.

Sometimes it’s all about the details. Above I’ve distressed a little flower and placed it in a tiny Melissa Frances frame.

Wishing you a fabulous weekend!

 

8 Comments

Posted in Photos, Scrapbooking, Up the Street

For Father’s Day

Posted on June 2, 2011 | 1 comment

June is always such a busy month. School is winding up, the beautiful weather finally arrives and of course, June brings Father’s Day.

Dad’s a Star Card

I like keeping my “guy” cards simple and clean. Fun prints and a wood star make this simple design fun and masculine. I’ve been totally enamored with this Campfire line of prints by October Afternoon. They are so versatile for almost any occasion.

Supplies: Campfire 8×8 paper pad by October Afternoon, red cardstock by Bazzill, Flocked chipboard letters by MME, red baker’s twine, wood star by Studio Calico, Mini Pin by Tim Holtz

Also, if you like to shop, Ellen Hutson LLC is having a Father’s Day sale on some great masculine themed products. Check it out by clicking on the graphic below.

Thanks for stopping by!

1 Comment

Posted in Card Designs