PTI Blog Hop - February 2012

I am so excited to be participating in the blog hop for the first time in a LONG time.  My release products just came in yesterday, but I already had this in my head.  So, I hope you enjoy.

Here is the front:

Then you open it up:

I created a little pop up for a gift card.  I made it and cut it out on my Silhouette.

Here is a close up of the inside of the card:

This was a fun challenge.  It really made me stretch myself.  This was a super fun card to make.  Thanks for looking.

Supplies - All Papertrey Ink unless noted
Stamps: Beautiful Butterflies, Turning a New Leaf, Inside and Out: Birthday, Butterflies (Martha Stewart)
Inks: Simply Chartreuse, Raspberry Fizz, Orange Zest, Kraft, Yellow (Studio G), VersaMark
Dies: Mat Stack 4, Turning a New Leaf, Beautiful Butterflies
Ribbon: Orange Zest Satin Dot
Punch: Butterfly (Martha Stewart)
Paper: Kraft, White (Sam's Club), Simply Chartreuse

From the Bottom of My Heart

I have a quick Monday share for you.  This was made from more of my "scraps" that I am working to use up.  Quick, easy, and ready to send.

Supplies - Pattern Paper and Butterfly Die Cuts- TE Key Ingredients; Stamps - Taylored Expressions

Thanks for looking.  Happy President's Day to all my US readers.  I am having a fun filled day with my kids today.

Thanks for Everything

I am still in my mode of using up older supplies.  I have had these Prima Flowers forever now.  In fact, I could probably wall paper a couple of complete houses with the flowers that I have left from my Prima infatuation.  :)  I will use them.  I will use them.  I will use them.  Actually, forcing myself to use through some of my supplies has been pretty therapeutic and eye opening.  It makes me consider each and every purchase.  Will this such-n-such still be around in a few months?  Or can I see myself honestly using up this before it goes out of my style?  And I have learned that my supplies were meant to be used and not hoarded up for months or even years.  (I know no one knows what I am talking about, right?)

Thanks for stopping by today.  I have a few more cards that I will be sharing from my use it or loose it phase.

Supplies - Paper: The Paper Studio; Flowers: Prima; Ribbon: Hobby Lobby; Stamp: Papertrey Ink; Embossing Powder: Fillagree

Happy Valentine's Day

As tradition would hold, I sent my children off to school today with special handmade valentine's.  This year my son put his design preferences on them and my daughter ultimately followed.  Although, I wish she would have stuck with her original idea of glitter swirls and hearts.  BUT, I love making things for the kids and love seeing them sparkle when they see the finished product.

Here is what we came up with:

My son really liked the idea of the "You Rock" with the guitar and was super excited that I had a "Dude, You Rock" stamp.  So, we went with the "Dude You Rock" and Red Guitars for the boys and the "You Rock" with Pink guitars for the girls.  50 valentine's later and I was done.

I hope the kids love them, but I am pretty certain that they will end up at the bottom of the trash can this side of next week.  :)  Either way, I had fun designing them with the kids and spending some much needed crafty time.

Supplies - All Papertrey Ink unless noted
Paper - White Sam's Club 80lb card stock
Stamps - My Hero My Dad, Heart Prints, Boy Basics: Rock On, Signature Greetings
Ink - Smokey Shadow, Raspberry Fizz, Pure Poppy, True Black
Dies - Rock On

Challenging Myself to Look at my Stash

As you may or may not know, we are in the process of building a house.  I have been working on designing my craft room.  (Yes, I have the most amazing husband in the world.  As he insisted that we design in the plans a room of my very own far away from the reaches of my children.  My own little escape and piece of heaven. )  I have been thinking about all the aspects that will go into my room.  I realized a few needs that I currently don't have.  One of the needs being a place for patterned paper.  I don't tend to use it much, but I do love it.  It wouldn't sit there if I have some way of storing it in such a way that made it assessable and easily available.

I am also challenging myself to use up some things in my stash that are stuck or haven't been used.  This will allow the move to go easier.  And it will use up some things I just don't use much anymore.  That is how this card was born - using up older supplies that have been "stuck" and using some patterned paper.

I went ahead and made a coordinating envelope to go with the card.  I didn't have enough of the patterned paper, so I had to turn to my stamp stash and make something.  I love how it turned out.  It is fun to add these details.  I will hopefully continue to challenge myself to go a step further than just a card front.

To the Bride and Groom

A really good friend of ours just announced her engagement a couple of weeks ago.  I was so excited for her.  I have been needing to get a few more wedding cards made, so this was the perfect inspiration.

I have had a HUGE hole in my stamping arsenal for a while when it comes to good wedding stamps.  I was super excited for PTI to put out such a great Love and Marriage Stamp set.  It is the perfect combination of images and sentiments for such precious occasions.

I have been working on making a "complete card package" every time a make a card.  I usually fly through the card not even considering the inside or envelope.  So, I took some time to finish this card out completely.

It isn't anything special inside, but I thought it was a great touch to finish the overall card.  I am going to continue to push myself in the finishing details area.  No promises though.  :)  But, I am going to be making an effort.

Have a great weekend!  We are spending the weekend together as a family.  It is mom/son and dad/daughter date night.  We have plans to catch a movie the next night.  And we are planning our Family Fun Game Night for Sunday.  It is so much fun to play Old Maid, Uno, Crazy 8, Trouble, etc with the kids.  I am trying to get in some extra family time before the new baby takes up my time for a while.

Supplies - All Papertrey Ink

Project Life 2011

Once again, I was able to complete my Project Life for last year or 2011.  Although I don't do a full on Project 365, I get pretty close (well, for the most part).  My goal is to just take pictures of our life and family.

After a year's worth of hard work . . . my book arrived today!!!

I ordered again from Blurb.  I was in love with my 2010 Project Life book.  So, it was a no brainer where I would get mine from this year.  I am super pleased with the quality and the turn around time.

Here is a little peek inside.

If you are interested, here is some random information about what I do and how it gets from photo to awesome book in 365 days.

I take LOTS of photos.  I always have.  I don't stress about taking a photo a day, but I really try to, on purpose, capture as many things behind the lens as possible.

I have used Weeds and Wildflowers stuff for my last 2 books.  Let me just say that it is FABULOUS!!!  Gina, who I think owns Weeds, is the best!  The girls at the Weedpatch (the Weeds and Wildflowers forum) are amazing.  They are so helpful, so nice, and so willing to help and share.  This year I used the Every{day} Life line of products.  I really love how big the photos turn out.  Last year I used the Sweet and Simple Line of products and although I was super pleased, the Every{day} Life blew it out of the water.  The focus is really on the photos, then the journaling, and then the decoration.  The best part is that you can get as decorated or sophisticated as you choose.  If you are like me and like the CAS style, it is super easy.  If you prefer more embellishment, it is pretty easy to add decorative papers, elements, word art, and title.  What I love the most is when you open my book, you will SEE the photos.  They take center stage.

I format my book as follows: a monthly title page, a 2 page spread for the 1st to the 7th, a 2 page spread for the 8th to the 14th, a 2 page spread for the 15th to the 21st, a 2 page spread for the 22nd to the 28th, a single page for the 29th to the 31st (or 30th).  I do add a couple of title pages at the front and an ending page at the very end.  But that is just my preference.  If I only have 2 photos for a particular week, I roll with it.  If I have 10 photos I want to include for a particular week, I go with that too.  I don't stress about it at all.  I do like to add as much journaling as possible.  I have learned through the years of scrapbooking that the journaling completes the story.

There are times when I do make a single book about a single thing.  For instance, when we take a big vacation, I include some of those photos in my yearly book.  But, I then go back and make a book about that particular vacation with extra details and lots and lots of photos.  I also make smaller books for my children that cover a year in their life.  Again, some of the same photos end up in both books.  In my kids' books, I do a lot more detail and journaling about them specifically.  So, there is a page in their book about their school information: teacher, grade, friends, favorite subjects, etc.  I also include a 2 page spread about football season: coach, team photo, highlights, memories, and lots of action shots.

I work very hard at doing it as the year progresses.  The secret to my success is to do it.  :)  Easy, right?  I work hard to catch back up if I begin to lag behind.  This has been a HUGE help.  I assemble my Project Life book in the Blurb software all along the way.  It keeps me from having to format 120 pages all at once.  I can do it little by little as I go.  Also, my kids' books start and end in August of each year.  It is opposite of my P365.  It allows me some time to finish up and tweak anything without the burden of 4 books due all at once.  I do the vacation books along the way as well.

Thanks for looking.  If you have any questions, I would love to help you be successful at your very own book.  My family and I have greatly enjoyed the books that I have made.  You can do it if you really want to.  I spend about 1 to 2 hours per month on my Project Life book.  That is totally doable, and I would love to help you have a book of memories of your own.