Scrap Fest at MOA

I had a great time at my first Scrap Fest.

I didn't know what to expect, but it was great! I went with my sweet sister. We did some make-and-takes, quite a bit of shopping (it was a the Mall of America after all) and some good eating-we tried P.F. Chang's and Macaroni Grill.We didn't do any of the classes. I think I will try to get in one next year though. The projects looked great! They had samples out from each of the workshops to look at in the registration area.



The make and takes we did at Scrap Fest. What fun ideas!!

I did get to watch Tim Holz doing his class in the rotunda, and up close and personal at a table outside of the Archiver's store-very cool!!



This is my haul from Archiver's...cool, new products!

Have a fabulous first week of fall!

The leaves are starting to turn here in northern Wisconsin. It is my favorite time of year.

Paula

Scrap Fest here I come!

I am headed to Scrap Fest at the Mall of America this weekend with my sister, and I am so excited!!

I have wanted to attend for a long time. Go to Archivers' website and check out the festivities.

I haven't posted for so long...sorry. I am feeling like I really want to get back in the swing of creating and posting. This weekend will be a great boost for my creative inspiration I am sure! 

Then there is shopping at MOA. I hear there is a new Vera Bradley store-dangerous!! Then there is a giant IKEA across the street, which I haven't been to for years.

I hope everyone has a great weekend! I will share my projects when I get back.

Stay warm...they are talking mix of rain and SNOW possibly tonight-I can hardly believe it. It was 90 degrees here two days ago. Crazy!!

Paula

Summer Mantelscape

It's been a busy summer! I stated adding things to my mantel in the spring with the intention of coming up with a very purposeful design for my mantel. 

Well, it never got there, but I like the 'collected' look that I ended up with.

The most recent addition is the starfish garland that I found at Michael's for $5. Most of the items have been gathered over time and I no longer remember where they came from. 

The cute printable is from Simple Crafter. The monkey knots were made by my sister. 

Rocks are from Lake Superior.

A view form the end of the green bee catcher glass. You can see instructions for the paint chip art here.

Hope everyone enjoys August-our last month of summer-it does go by so quickly. 

But summer is followed by fall...my absolute favorite time of year!

Happy Summer everyone!

Paula

Birthday Card Challenges

I've been wanting to get a little creativity going lately, 

so I found a couple of challenges to try:

My Pink Stamper's birthday card challenge

and Birthday Sundaes challenge

Wet or Dry Embossed Birthday Card Challenge #13

Supplies Used:

Pink patterned paper from lime twist-Happy Go Lucky by My Minds Eye

Solid pink cardstock embossed with Cuttlebug folder 

Light blue dot patterned paper, white and hot pink were in my scrap stash

Happy Father's Day 
to all the Dad's out there!

Congratulations Sierra!!

This is a picture of my daughter's memory board at her 8th grade graduation. We are very proud of her. It was fun to look back over the years and make this board with her as well. She is now off to high school-I can hardly believe it! She is a smart and talented girl and I know she'll do great! She is going from a class of 8 kids to 150+ kids at the high school. She is ready for it though-onward and upward. :)

Congratulations Sierra!!!

On a quick personal note, I am very happy to report that after 2 sets of mamograms, an ultrasound and a very uncomfortable MRI, the doctor called me to say that all is fine!!  Oh how relieved, happy and thankful I am! 

Breast cancer has affected the life of so many wonderful people, including my younger sister, who I am also happy to report is doing great!

Keep up the fight for all you beautiful ladies out there and God bless you all.

Paula

Archiver's Haul

I spent Friday and Saturday with my daughter on her 8th grade trip to Mall of America. Actually, the rest of the class left Friday night and we stayed an extra day to shop. That was what she wanted for her present for graduation. We had a lot of fun, visiting the Bare Essentials store and getting her makeup done, many clothing stores, the Lego store(for my little guy), and my one request-a stop at Archiver's! Oh, I was in heaven. :) 

BTW-Is any one else planning on coming for Scrap Fest at MOA in September? I would  love to meet some of my bloggy friends in person!

This is what I found at Archiver's:

Pink cardstock

Mango colored cards

2 super fun kits from Pinecone kits

2 cards of twine in some really fun colors-Lime Twist

Tim Holts texture fades-Damask

2 6x6 paper pads-From Lime Twist-super cute!!

Stickles in Broken China

White Crackle paint

Distress Ink in Barn Red

Kit to make slider cards (looks tricky, but I can't wait to try it)

and empty clear containers that I'm going to but my flowers in

It was a great time!

Hope everyone had a great weekend!!

Paula

Teacher Appreciation

I was inspired by a free printable at eighteen25 to make this cute wall art for my son's first grade teacher. She is a wonderful teacher who LOVES color and decorations in her room, so I think this will fit right in! 

I glued the subway art to a clip board that has a wire clip at the top, and tied colorful pieces of ribbon to it for dimension and added interest. 

It is so fun...just like his teacher. 

Only 7 days of school left...and all we have to do is take a field trip to the park, a farm tour, 8th grade trip to Minneapolis, driving range practice, 8th grade golf scramble (golf outings are my husbands' duty), a trip to the zoo an hour and a half away, a spaghetti fundraiser and finally...8th grade Mass and graduation, followed by a dinner. Oh, and Memorial Day is in there, my daughter is accepting the wreath for her school and my husband is in the VFW honor guard. Aren't the last days of school the craziest!!??

I hope everyone is enjoying spring and all the fun activities at the end of the school year!

Paula

Winter LO

I have to say that I never thought I would be doing a layout about the first snow of the year from last November and look out my window and still be seeing snow falling in May! Doesn't he look like he's having so much fun? :)

Sounds like 60's for Wednesday so I am very excited!!!

This was a simple layout that was done with ripped white cardstock that looks like snow piles on a light blue background. The stickers and sentiment are from Creative Memories.

Thank you to everyone who has visited my blog today! 

Paula

New Layouts ...I'm so behind!

I am posting today some of my latest layouts....I'm only 3 years behind!?! Oh well, I've been enjoying doing a lot of other projects since I began my blog, so all is good. :)

This two page layout was a simple yet interesting use of the pages, I thought. I wanted to try a LO using the white of the page as a decorative element.

This two page layout uses a full sheet of paper with one picture on it-which is unusual for me. I tend to put many pictures on a page if I can. I love how this turned out-the paper was just perfect with the colors in the photo.

I cut out the letters from Blackletter on my Cricut-designed vertically on the Gypsy.

I am now working on a project for my daughters' 8th grade graduation and I plan on entering Birthday Sundaes challenge this week.

I'm back on the crafting wagon-woo hoo!!

Have a great week everyone.

Paula

Happy Easter

I want to wish everyone a happy and blessed Easter!

I know it has been a long time since I have posted. I promise to make some more time to post very soon. Life is just crazy sometimes! :)

I wanted to share the Easter card that my super-talented crafty daughter made for me for Easter. The font is Cricut Don Juan, eggs cut from Cricut George and Basic Shapes. She inked the eggs with Distress Inks. She added patterned paper bands with sting and fibers. Then she added some clear crystal bling. What a fabulous job she did!!

Have a happy day.

Paula

Modern Birthday Card

I wanted to try out a a few ideas I've been seeing around the craft world lately:

Chevron designs

Teal and orange color scheme

and I wanted to enter a Spring themed challenge

After thinking about how to combine all those I came up with this simple, modern card. It's not my typical style but I really like the results.

My recipe:

White cardstock card-5x6

Teal zigzags from a Creative Memories short cut pack

Orange cardstock scrap-cut at 3-1/2"

White Cardstock cut from Cricut Cindy Loo cartridge at 3"

I entered it in the following challenges:

Challenge #2-Spring Birthday Card

Challenge #53-Looks Like Spring

Have a Happy Spring!

Paula

Blog Awards

I was very honored to receive two blog awards this past week.

Thank you to Pat N. at Pat's Scraps for 

The Versatile Blogger Award!

The requirements of accepting this award are:
1. Thank the person who gave you this award.
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Pass the award on to 15 other bloggers, and let them know.


Here are 7 things about myself:
1.  I have scrapping and card making for about 12 years now.
2.  I need to finish my daughters' grade school scrapbook...soon! She graduating from 8th grade in a couple of months-wow, how time flies!
3.  I love my  new Cricut Expression!!
4.  I have been blogging for about 9 months now, and it has been so much fun! I have meet so many wonderful, crafty people.
5.  I don't know how I went this long without knowing about this whole supportive, sweet blogging world that exists out there.
6.  Coffee is one of the things I can't live without.
7.  I am very grateful for all the friends (followers) I have met, and the many kind comments I have received on my blog- I appreciate you all!!

Thank you also to 

CurlyQ1703 from Just a little 'Bit of Time 

for the Liebster Blog Award.

The rules to this award are:
1. Thank the giver on your blog,
2. Link back to the blogger who gave you the award,
3. Copy and paste the award on your blog,
4. Give the award to 5 other blogs,
5. Let them know you chose them by leaving them a comment.

I want to get this posted to thank the ladies that gave these awards to me. I've had sick kids this week so I will get these awards passed on ASAP-hopefully by the end of the weekend. 

Thank you again so much for thinking of me!

Paula

I love these prints!!

Love at first sight!

I spotted these great prints in a recent Ballard Design catalog and I would so love to purchases them....

but in my world, that is out of the question right now. I knew I had a couple of inexpensive canvases just waiting for a project down in my craft room, so I though I'd try and paint my own.

Don't you just love the color palette?

I picked colors that I knew had sample jars available and started to paint the backgrounds.

The paint I used was water base wall paint and dried very quickly, so it was a little difficult to work with.  

I haven't painted for so long but it made me realize how much I missed it. 

Here are my results....not sure if I'll put them up, but it was fun! I think I'll try again, maybe just repaint over these. I'll post them if I try it a second time...then again, I may just have to break down and buy the real thing. 

Have a great day!!

Paula

Birthday Card Challenges

I decided to search out a challenge today and found the perfect one at 

Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog.

Challenge #52 Happy Birthday

Create a birthday card or project.
(Happy Birthday to Robin at FCCB!!)


I also entered the card on Birthday Sundaes first challenge.

I decided to make a card for my Mom, her birthday is coming up soon. I was inspired by waking up to find Tim Holtz demonstrating his fab products on HSN this morning! 

Here is a list of products that I used:

Happy Birthday cut from George and Basic Shapes 

(I trimmed off the tags on the H and the Y)

White and black Recollections cardstock

Tim Holtz floral paper from Lost and Found stash

Tim Holtz clear stamps

Distress Inks in the following colors-

Worn Lipstick, Shabby Shutters, Walnut Stain, Mustard Seed, Chipped Sapphire and Black Soot

Diamond Stickles on the Crown

Tag with Fabric ribbon 

I had fun making this card. I'm sure there will be more to come-spring is birthday season in my family!

Happy Spring to everyone!!

I'm So Lucky Blog Hop Candy Winner

Thank you to everyone for the kind comments and for all the new followers. I really had fun reading all the  comments and appreciate each and every one!

Per my 7 year old, the winner of the blog candy is #15, Tamara. 

Congratulations!!

Please leave a comment here with your email address and I will get it out to you right away.

Happy First Day of Spring!!

I'm So Lucky Blog Hop

Hi everyone!! Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Welcome to the next stop on the 

I'm So Lucky Blog Hop

This is my first blog hop and I was very honored when Jen from Honeybean Creations invited me to hop along! Click here if you'd like to start at the beginning. Jen has a challenge over on her blog for a prize. If you would like a chance at the grand prize you need to leave on comment on each stop in the hop. 

I also am offering some blog candy for one lucky person who comments on this post. Would love if you became a follower-it's not required though. Have fun!

The theme is I'm So Lucky....we needed to create two projects that showcase the blessings in our lives. 

My first project is a scrapbook layout. My family is a great blessing to me, and our time spent together recently at Disney World was simply priceless. I know we will all cherish this fabulous vaction forever!

Some of the supplies that I used are:

Letters cut from Cricut Mickey Font

Solid cardstock-Bazzill

Patterned paper-Best Occasions

Stickers-Reminice

Prima flowers

Some brads, buttons and gems

My second project is an Easter card to represent the blessing of faith in my life.

This card is 5 1/2" square.

Patterned paper from Anna Griffen

The colorful brad is from Bo Bunny icandy-SWAK

Inked with Distress in Vintage Photo and Worn Lipstick

Since babies are also a wonderful blessing to so many of us, I have decided to have some baby girl blog candy to give away. I will draw from those of you who leave a comment on this post.

Thank you for stopping by!!

Now, on the the next stop over at Gigi's blog:

THE CRICUT BUG http://thecricutbug.blogspot.com

Here is the complete blog hop lineup:

HONEYBEAN CREATIONS  http://huffinatorshangout.blogspot.com

SCRAPPY JAVA GIRL   http://scrappyjavagirl.blogspot.com

RASPBERRY AND LIME DESIGNS  You are Here!

THE CRICUT BUG    http://thecricutbug.blogspot.com

THE PURPLE SCRAPBOOKER    http://www.purplescrapbooker.com

VIVI EN PAPEL  http://vivienpapel.blogspot.com

PINK AND PAPER  http://pinkandpaper.blogspot.com

MEEMEE’S CREATIONS   http://meemeescreations.blogspot.com/

PURPLE MONKEY MOMENTS  http://mumoftwoblog.blogspot.com/

PRINCESS PAPER PROJECTS http://princesspaperprojects.blogspot.com

CROP AND CREATE http://crop-and-create.blogspot.com

Thank you Beth

Here is a card sent to me from my bloggy friend Beth at Scrappy Java Girl. Thank you so much Beth- I love the card!! She has such a nice blog, cute projects, great recipes, and a shared love of crafts and coffee. She has some new weekly posts I think you'll love-Weekly Blend and Java House Wednesday. Please stop by, say hi and check out her blog. 

Crafting Updates

I have some updates to some earlier craft posts:

The first one is on Paint Chip Art. I really didn't like the traditional brown oak frame. I thought more of a gray barn-wood look would fit the piece better. 

So, I grabbed a grey color sample of wall paint and a rag, and started to rub it on the frame.

I was a little nervous at first but it turned out just how I had hoped it would! I purposely left it looking streaky and shabby.

Here is my final mantle with my "new" frame and some spring items. My sister made me several monkey fists out of rope that really look fabulous...thank you Andrea!! I added a couple of carved spring birds and some small speckled eggs made by my daughter (left over from a former, school science project). 

My second update is on my candle holder, also from my sister. After eating the valentine candy,  we added wine corks. Then I saw a candle holder using split green peas! So cute!! (Sorry, I don't know what blog it was on.) This is how it looks currently. It is fun to think about all the options out there for this fun centerpiece.

Happy Crafting!!

Disney Album

Today I helped my daughter make her little brother a birthday gift for his 7th birthday.  She thought he would like an album of photos from our recent trip to Disney World. It turned out really nice-she did a great job! This was my first mini album with the mini Your Story binder. It worked well and was so easy!

We used Cricut Disney Font to cut out the letters and logo on the front cover. She added some stickers as well. I'm sure Jason will love it. He loves to look at our pictures from the trip and this will be his very own book. I'm off to Kansas City for business on Tuesday and won't be home until 11:00 at night on his birthday so I hope this little book will be a nice surprise for him. We'll do a big party the next day-Happy Birthday to my favorite little guy!!!

Thank you Angel

Thank you to Angel, from Owl Bee Scrappin, for this award. I was very honored that you thought of me! Please visit Angel's blog and check out her super cute projects.

The Liebster Award is designed to bring new blogs to light.  It is a great way to share blogs that might not otherwise be seen, or blogs that you may want to share with others. I am here to honor these blogs and to bring awareness to other wonderful blogs.

As a recipient you must share the love and pay it forward by: 1-Creating a post where you blog about the Liebster award & reveal your 3-5 blog picks, 

2-Let them know you chose them,

3-Copy & paste the blog award on your blog,

4-Have faith that your followers will rally & show their crafty love back out to those you awarded,

5-Have fun!

Here are my award choices, go on over to their blogs and support them by becoming a follower:

1. Beth at Scrappy Java Girl

2. Jenifer at Honeybean Creations

3. Kellee at Scrappin Nana

Paint Chip Art

 I wanted something new to hang above my mantle, and a project that I saw a while ago came to mind. Use paint chips to make a collage. Since I own a paint store I have access to a secret stash of paint chips with no writing in the face of them. I saved all the past seasons of Pottery Barn colors (Benjamin Moore) because I just couldn't throw them out (must be the crafter in me!)

After trying several different layouts I decided on a paver pattern.

They are mounted on the foam core of a disassembled piece of art. I spray-glued the board then worked as quickly as I could to get them down before it dried. It got a little hairy at times! 

After they were attached I wiped a layer of stain over the whole thing. It gives them the look of stacked blocks of wood.

Here it is, framed and hung on the wall. I really like how it turned out...and it was FREE!! Now I need to work on a mantle scape for spring. I don't feel very spring-y today with the snow coming down, but I know it will be here eventually!

Have a great afternoon!!