Paper Secrets 14

Good morning 

here's my layout I did for the challenge over at PaperSecrets.  Each week we are given an assignment for a layout. I really don't care if I win the contest, it's just helping me to do more layouts that I should have done a long time ago (or some new ones in this case). If you participate and follow the guidelines you advance to the next week. We started with 27 and 10 moved onto again last week.  I will keep updating you as I go along. Who knows, I might not be able to participate one week and then I am out, but until then, I am scrapping my butt off, (they used a different word, but my blog is family friendly...hehehe
Here is the sketch:

 And here is my layout

 I added the Getting Cricky stamp from the Positive Thoughts stamp set.  

 and I also added some buttons to finish it off.

This is what I needed to use for the challenge and 

what is in red is is what I used.

5+ brads/eyelets (5 black square brads)
chipboard alphabet
flowers/leaves
bling (ring inside the circle)
fabric/felt
border punch (green torn strips)
journaling embellishment
hand or machine stitching
stamping (Getting Cricky Positive Thoughts stamp on photo tag)
ribbon/lace (Black ribbon over the picture)

I hope you will come back and check out next week's challenge. 

Hopefully I am still in it.

Also, don't forget about the U-Stream and blog hop coming this Friday.  You can come right here for all the details this Friday and we can't wait to show you what Kristal has come up with now!!!

Each of the Design Team members will be previewing the BRAND NEW Stamp Sets AND you'll get to 'meet' the NEW Design Team Members too!!

Paper Box and Day 1 of BWCA

Good morning


I am starting this morning out with quite a few pictures of our trip.  These pictures are all about entering Boundary Waters and setting up camp so if you are not interested, scroll down to see my project for the day.

My nieces and brother in law

My oldest son and sister in law

The youngest.

It's tradition to stop at Subway before entering so that we all 

have a full belly before we get on the water.  You never know how 

long it's going to take to find "camp" and get set up.

Canoe on top of the car.  Those poor tires.  I secured my camera

in my waterproof container for the paddle in, so I don't have any pictures showing

the paddle in, but if you continue to come back you will see us coming out.

Setting up camp.  Yes, the hammock is already up and 

that is where the oldest son spent most of his time.  

He went to BW with a sprained ankle, but he did very well with it.

Designated firepit

Rugged terrain

Tenting site.

The walk way to the facilities.  No I will not show you

the hole in the ground in this segment.  hahaha

Beautiful evening sky.

The Tree...I will explain this in a future post.

NOW onto my project:

Amy over at Love to Crop is a fellow DTM  at Getting Cricky and she has some of the neatest tutorials and projects.  While I was on vacation she had a guest designer who made this super cute box card.  I couldn't wait to get home and try it and here is my take.  AND there is also a challenge going on and it will be open until 8/11, so hurry up and check out my box card and then go and make one yourself and enter the challenge.


You can also see a video tutorial as I needed this to complete it.  Once you watch the video it's as easy as pie.


I started off with 2 pieces of scrapbook paper that complimented each other.  I cannot believe I don't have any two sided paper left.  I used a spray tac and glued them together and let it completely dry.  Then I cut it down to 8.5 x 11 size.

For the belly band I used the left over strips of the papers and glued the flower pattern on top of the checkerboard paper.  I also used a strip to make the rosette.  I have this flower punch from Marvy Uchida and inked around the edges in purple.  Then I stamped the sentiment from the Positive Thoughts stamp set from Getting Cricky also in purple.  It just fit so perfectly inside this flower punch.

I also added a white border punch to the outside edges. 

Added a gift card inside and there is a perfect little gift.

This is the back side.  I just love how this coordinated so well.  So now I hope I've inspired you to make a card box and to join in the challenge over at Love to Crop!!!

Simply Sunday "Postive Thoughts"

Good afternoon my friends,

***If you are looking for my Lasting Memories post, please scroll down***

I hope you are enjoying your Sunday.  As you are reading this I should be half way to our vacation destination, so with no internet access I will not be able to know if my posts have posted or moderate any comments, but I so look forward to reading all of them when I get home.  Our Simply Sunday at Getting Cricky today is to use the "Positive Thoughts" stamp set.  Every time I create something using Kristal's stamps I say to myself that this is my favorite set...I guess I don't have a favorite because they are all so awesome.  Now this set is Sold Out, but I am sure she will be restocking them soon.  Also, when you purchase this stamp set, remember that Kristal also donates $1 to Storefront Shelter (Homeless shelter for children and youth).  

I really needed some inspiration the other day so I went blog hopping and came across this super cute card at Pause Dream Enjoy, she even has a cool video to go with it.  I really wanted to try this technique and this is what I came up with.

I cut the flowers with my E-Craft and layered 3 of them
on top of each other and added a flat pearl for the center.
I also inked around all the edges.

The flap tucks behind the flower flap

I added my sentiment to the inside flap.

Isn't that just so cute?

I also inked the inside paper to give it an aged look.

Now, I could have layered more papers and dressed it up a bit more, but sometimes simple is nicer.  This was very easy to make and love the look.  Now create a card, layout or anything you want with a "Positive Thought" and then head on over to Getting Cricky and link up your project.


Did you hear???

Kristal's  NEWEST Stamp PREORDERS--for a limited time, you can get them at a discount and reserve yours before they sell out!!! 

Coffee & Tea Mix & Match  

Sympathetic Sayings (Larger set)

Winged Things: Mix & Match

(Bonus frame & images)

You will rise above this (Pink ribbon)

Good morning,
I have a quick card I want to share with you.  A friend of mine is battling breast cancer for the 2nd time and I wanted to make her a card letting her know she has beaten this once already and she "will rise above this to be victorious".  I am featuring the "Positive Thoughts" stamp set by Getting Cricky.  This set is so wonderful with all it's different meanings.  Perfect sentiments to inspire, encourage, and uplift! 4x6 sheet of photopolymer stamps made in the USA. $1 from each set benefits Storefront Shelter (Homeless shelter for children and youth).

I inked around all the edges of the ribbon, the tag (just cut with my crazy scissors) and the card base and added lots of bling.  She's gonna love all that bling.  Super easy, peasy but from the heart.

Now remeber there will by a  very special blog hop coming up this Saturday called Operation Owl, the hop has been sponsored by Amy Chomas and she has donated Gel pens and a holder to give away! These pens are awesome! You can use them in your cutting machines! WOOHOO. So make sure you come back on Saturady so you can join in all the fun! There lots of prizes and goodies along the way. I will be giving away another K.Andrew stamp set.

Lasting Memories #44 "Scrapbook pages that Recycle"

Good Morning,

So here we are again with another Lasting Memories submission.  This week we are using recycle-able things, or reusing something we can re-purpose.  This challenge wasn't hard for me at all...you should see my craft room.  I keep EVERYTHING that I think can be reused, recycled or re-purposed.  When I was growing up, my mom used to say "when we move, we just need to pack Brenda's room, because if you need it, it's in there".  Ha, well mom, I'm still that way!!!  I guess I've been helping save the earth for at least 37 years...uhum!!!  The other day I was going through some of my son's clothes that don't fit anymore and I donate a lot of stuff to Goodwill and such.  He had these awesome dress shirts, but they had some stains so I took the buttons off.  Yup, recycle them babies.  Then I went through the linen closet and found some table runners that I've had for a hundred years and don't ever use.  As I was packing them up when I thought some of them had some lace on them that I could reuse somehow, so out came the scissors.  I was also cleaning out some of my flower designs that have lost their use.  I tore apart a topiary I made a long time ago and kept the flowers, cuz you just never know.  Well, I combined all these things and this is what I came up with:

Now the flowers on the Title are from the topiary set along with the buttons from Austyn's dress shirt.

The tan fabric/lace is from the table runner.  I cut about every 9 holes and weaved a piece of blue ribbon through it.

I punched a flower out of blue cardstock and then layered strips of the lacey stuff around the punch with hot glue to make a flower.  Then I inked the fabric and added a button to form the flower and hotglued some leaves to the back of it.

The tags are cut from SCAL's tags shapes and inked around them.  Then I used more of the lacey fabric and cut strips to attach to the tags.  I also used some leftover twine and made my own baker's twine.  If you want to see how I did that you can check it out here.

Now the title/tag I made for myself.  You see, I just underwent some major dental work and I am so excited to be able to really SMILE for a change.  It's been a long time coming and I feel so much better about myself.  I wanted to commemorate this feat for myself, thus the layout is for ME!!!  I used Getting Cricky's stamps set "Positive Thoughts" and "Amazing You".  Now, some say you shouldn't brag about yourself, but I don't think I am bragging, just feeling good about ME!!!  Believe me, it's a new feeling for me to be this happy and confident.  Even my BFF said that I am smiling more and actually laughing out loud.  My mom used to always say, when you feel good about yourself you are a nicer person and it shows.  Well, mom, again you were right!!!

So I hope I've inspired you to create a layout with things you can reuse or recycle.  Remember, every little bit helps.  If you don't recycle on you layouts, remember to recycle through your garbage though.  It doesn't take very long to separate your items and help save the earth one step at a time.