My Other Pages

To make it easier to read about our trip to Ireland, I have made a page that is just for that. There is a tab above for Ireland Trip 2014 or click on the Home tab to read my other posts. I have also created a new page for My Weight Loss Journey if you are interested in that, click on the tab above.

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Shower invitations

Hello all! 
I hope your weather is as beautiful as mine is here.
It's a beautiful, sunny day here in Western New York.
The perfect day to show you the invitations I'm making for my nieces shower.

I used the beautiful "Bouquet" (#16220) image from QKR Stampede.
If you have been around my blog for a while, you have seen this image before, guess that's because it's one of my favorites, it can be used for so many different kinds of project.
The image was stamped onto white card stock and colored with
watercolor crayons. 
I used a Nestabilities die and my Cuttlebug to cut the oval shape,
 then inked a bit around the edges of the oval.

I used a Fiskar's border punch to make the "belly band" and adhered the Bouquet image to it.  This band can just slide off the card. 
When you slide the band off, the card opens to a little 'box' where I will put all the information about the shower.
The card is made from one sheet of 8.5" x 11" paper.

If you are interested in how to make these cards, send me an e-mail and I will get the info out to you.

Aren't these just lovely? 
I love that each one will look a little different, since they are all hand colored. 
I will also be making them with different colored bands and possibly some with different papers for the 'card'

Thanks for stopping by my blog today, leave me a comment and let me know what you think.
Then head over to QKR Stampede and see what other wonderful images you can find for a beautiful, sunny summer day.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!




Friday, July 29, 2011

Back to the wedding album!

Hi everybody!

I thought it was about time I showed you some more layouts from the wedding scrapbook.

This first one is one of my favorites!
I used my computer and my wide format printer to make the 12x12 paper for the base of these pages.  I love to make my own papers, especially for a special occasion like this.

I used the "program" on the top of these pages and the wedding party along the bottom.
                             
Since the wedding was outside at a favorite State Park the 'aisle' was a very long walk, so we have a lot of pictures from the beginning all the way up to meeting Joel.  I wanted to show this progression and I love the way it turned out.
These 2 pages are also paper that I made for the book.  I used pictures that I took of the surrounding hills and beautiful fall colors that were all around us.
That couple looking over their shoulders at me are my brother and sister in law.
The left page was when Joel and Renee took 2 vases filled with different colors of sand and poured them into 1 jar to signify the joining of the 2 families.
 
The colors were so beautiful all around the park and it was such a gorgeous day that I took a lot of pictures of the trees etc.  These are also papers that I made. 

This last layout is another favorite.  I used pictures of Joel and Renee during the ceremony to make the base paper then used the same pictures in the lower corners of the pages.  The peacock feather was to match his boutonniere and the white flower and tulle (which doesn't show in the picture) are to match her headpiece.

I must apologize for the poor quality of the pictures.  There is a lot of reflection and I'm sorry about that!

Thanks for stopping by to see more of this wedding scrapbook.
We're about half way through it now, I'll be back with more pictures one day soon.
Leave me a comment and let me know what you think of the scrapbook so far.  I know Joel and Renee both love it.  Hope you are enjoying it too.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!




Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Tangled lights.

Maya Angelou is an amazing woman with so much insight, I think she is wonderful.  Below is one quote from her and I think it is quite appropriate to go along with the card I am showing you today.
"I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights."

I wanted to end my July posts with one more "Christmas in July" project.
Hopefully, you have gotten some great inspiration and ideas from my blog this month and have gotten started on those Christmas cards and projects.

I love this image called "Skunk and Lights" (#10901) from Eureka! Stamps.
The "Merry Christmas" (#13806) sentiment is from QKR Stampede, one of the sister companies of Eureka!
This image is great to use on cards that you want to make a lot of, as most of the image is 'colored' for you already.  Once the "Skunk and Lights" is stamped all you need to color is the lights and they are quick and easy.
The sentiment was printed from my computer.  "Merry Christmas" comes as a rubber stamp and also as a digi, which is what I used.  I don't use a lot of digital stamps, but I do love that I can size this sentiment to whatever size I need to fit my card.

I used "Christmas Border" (#15706) also from QKR Stampede, on the inside of the card.

Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you have gotten some inspiration and will hop on over to check out the images at Eureka! Stamps and QKR Stampede to see what wonderful images you can find.  While you are at it pop into
Biblical Impressions, the other of the 3 sister companies, and see what they have to offer.
Be sure to check out the QKR Stampede Blog if you haven't been there recently, for more ideas for both Christmas and many other occasions.

All three stores have some amazing images and the Design Team ladies have some wonderful projects and cards posted.  
Be sure to click on the tabs at the top of the blog home page and see what all three design teams have to show you.

Leave me a comment and let me know if you have started your Christmas cards yet and/or what your plans are for your cards.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!


Thursday, July 21, 2011

Christmas or Not...

Hello! We've been having quite a hot spell in our area.  I love the heat, but this is getting to be a bit much.  Hope you are staying comfortable where you are.

Today I have a card to show you that I'm calling "Christmas or Not"
I made it using 2 images from QKR Stampede.
First I used "Tree" (#14501) I inked the stamp, stamped it on a scrap paper and then stamped onto the green vellum.  I did this several times to make the 'forest' Then I stamped onto green card stock, colored the trunk of the tree with brown and fussy cut it.
This was adhered to the card with foam tape.

Next I stamped "Bear Hugs" (#15007) onto water color paper and colored them with watercolor crayons.
I fussy cut them and adhered them with a double layer of foam tape.

I intended this to be a Christmas card to go with the "Christmas in July" theme we have been having this month.  Once I got it finished and mounted on the red card base, I realized it could be used for something other than Christmas.
So you decide, Christmas or not?

Thanks for stopping by today. Leave a comment and let me know what you think.  Christmas or Not? that is the question.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Mini albums

Warning! 
This post is very picture heavy.
  I'm not going to go into detail about how I made these mini albums or the supplies I used.  I just want to share them with you.
If you have questions, please feel free to e-mail me.
My e-mail addy is at the right sidebar.

This first mini album is a masculine envelope album. Can't believe I don't have a picture of the cover!


  

This mini is a more feminine

envelope mini.
Thought I had more pictures of this album, but I can't find them.

This is an album I taught a class on at My Happy Place.

This last mini album is my favorite
Probably because it was the first I made when I came up with this
design. I originally designed this album for the pictures from this vacation.
Later I designed the pink one above for the class.
I hope you have enjoyed seeing my mini albums. 
Hopefully, this will inspire you to make one of your own.

Thanks for stopping by today, leave me a comment and let me know which is your favorite.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Santa and Balloon

Hello blog friends! 

Today I have another "Christmas in July" card.
I'm really excited about this card, because I used a couple of my new stamps from Eureka! Stamps that I just received in the mail the other day
.
There is a whole category called "Balloon/Holders" and they are the cutest things ever.  There are so many options with these stamps!

You can choose from the many holders like "Santa Balloon Holder" (#5603) the one I used for this card.  Then choose balloons to go with the holder, I used "Christmas Balloon" (#16402)
There are several options that would work with Santa. 
I stamped "Christmas Balloon" and "Santa Balloon Holder" onto watercolor paper and colored them with watercolor crayons.

I used red Stickles for the berries on the balloon, icicle Stickles for the fur on Santa's hat and coat, gold Stickles for his belt buckle and white Liquid Pearls for his beard.

I used VersaMark ink and silver embossing powder to heat emboss the background with "Snow Background" (#27301) also from Eureka! Stamps.

I used green embroidery floss for the string that Santa is holding.
Santa and the balloon were adhered with foam tape to the background which was then layered onto silver vellum and a green card stock base.

I do have some other balloon and holder stamps which I have been playing with. I will be posting some projects using them in future posts.

These are such fun, pop into the Eureka! Store and see which ones you like.
Thanks for stopping by today!  Leave me a comment and let me know what you think of these balloons and holders and which ones you like the best.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Thursday, July 14, 2011

QKR Design team blog hop. A simple tag.

Hello all you craft loving friends!

I know, I just went back to summer from my Christmas posts and here I am again with another Christmas post! 
Today is the QKR Stampede Design Team Blog Hop and our theme is
"Christmas in July"
and you know it's a great time to be thinking about those
Christmas projects you want to get done.
Don't wait until the last minute and end up not getting them done. 
Start them now. 

Today the design team has some wonderful ideas to show you, so if you just happened onto the hop here on my blog, pop over to the QKR Blog and start at the beginning, you will want to see all the projects and get some great inspiration.
If you have come from Jessica's blog, you are on the right track!

Now for my project, as simple tag.
I love hand made tags. For this one, I used red distress ink and used the direct to paper technique to put the color down onto the tag.
I then used "Trees" (#14501) from QKR Stampede and stamped it onto green card stock.  Once I had cut it out, I applied some liquid pearls on the edges of the branches and a bit for snow here and there on the tree.
I used foam tape to adhere the tree to the tag.
The "Merry Christmas" is a sticker that I had in my stash.
There is plenty of room on the back of the tag to simply write 'to' and 'from' or include a little wish or message to the recipient.
This tag was simple to create and would be very easy to mass produce.
Hop on over to the QKR Stampede store and see what other Christmas images they have that would be great for your Christmas tags.  There are a lot of wonderful images at QKR.
Now, I'm sending you off to Kristine's  blog to see what wonders she has to show you.
Thanks for stopping by today.   Remember to leave a comment as there is a prize to be won.  See the QKR Blog for details.
Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Back to summer!

 Summer is back on Kristie Kreates!
The last couple posts have been Christmas in July posts, but now I'm back to summer!
I love summer!  It's my favorite season of the year.
I love the hot weather, the sun, the flowers, summer fun and summer clothes,
no coats - yippee!

I have a tag to show you today.
I used "Shell Pattern" (#29001)
one of the wonderful Pattern/3-D stamps from Eureka! Stamps
Each pattern/3-D stamp comes with directions on how to use these stamps and make your 3-D piece.
I simply stamped the image onto card stock, shaded it a bit with some chalks, cut it out, scored it, used a little bit of glue to put it together and that was it.  Easy peasy!

For the tag, I used blue Distress Inks, applied with foam pad applicators.  I used a Mini Mister to give it a little spritz of water.  This gives it a little bit of texture and more of a 'watery' look.

The 'sand' at the bottom of the tag was done by tearing strips of kraft card stock, distressing them with my fingernail and layering them on top of one another.

The "Summer" is from my stash and and is part of a set from We R Memory Keepers.
Tags are great to use on scrapbook layouts, on gifts or just as a little greeting to someone.

Thanks for stopping by today.  Feel free to leave a comment and become a follower.  I'd love to hear what you think.

And hop on over to the Eureka! Stamps site and check out those pattern/3-D stamps, they really are pretty cool.

Until next time, Happy crafting!

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Christmas in July with Eureka! Stamps design team

It's Christmas in July with the Eureka! Stamps design team!

If you have happened upon the hop because you stopped by my blog, you can start right here, as I'm the first of the design team on the hop.

The Eureka! Stamps Blog is the official starting point and has a list of all the blogs to visit. If you have a problem, you can always hop on back to the
Eureka! blog and get back on track. 

Be sure to comment on the blogs as you go, to give youself as many chances as possible to win a free stamp of your choice from Eureka! Stamps.

You also will have a chance by following the Eureka! Stamps Blog and following QKR Stampede on Facebook. 

The official start is at 8a.m. so if all the links aren't functioning, please be patient, they will be soon.

You don't want to miss any of the wonderful inspiration
the design team has to offer so be sure to hop through all the blogs.
If you have come from Eureka's blog you are on the right track.

Today I'm sharing a scrapbook layout that I made with pictures from my family Christmas tree hunt 2010.  While the guys were doing the tree cutting, Kelsie and I were getting silly and modeling for one another.
The poinsettia was made using Eureka! Stamps
"Poinsettia Pattern" (#30401)
This is one of the wonderful 3-D stamps that Eureka! offers.
You stamp the image, cut it out, score on the lines indicated and piece the flower together.  It really is quite simple.  Each 3-D stamp comes with directions on how to make these lovely pieces.

Here is a close up of the poinsettia.  It does come with leaves also, but I chose not to use them for on this layout.  This flower can be made to have even more dimension, but for this layout I didn't want too much bulk as it could get smootched (that's a technical scrapping term, LOL) in my scrapbook. 
It's all up to you, when you use these stamps.  Lots of dimension, or a little.  Either way they turn out beautiful.

I hope you will pop on over to the Eureka! Stamps shop and check out all the beautiful Christmas and pattern/3-D stamps that are offered.
It's a great time to get started on your Christmas cards, or maybe use some stamps on your scrapbook layouts like I did.

Now it's time to hop on and see what the talented Holly has to show you.  I'm sure it will be something wonderful.  

Thanks for stopping by, be sure to leave me a comment and become a follower.

 Until next time, Happy Crafting! 

Not too early......

Hello!  Hope you are all enjoying beautiful summer weather.
Why? 
Because I'm going to throw you a curve ball by saying
It's not too early to be thinking about Christmas.
I know, it's only July and the weather is hot and beautiful,
we don't want to think about snow and cold!
But, if you are going to make your Christmas cards,
this is a great time to get started.

Today I am showing you a Christmas card I made with 2 images from
I used "Tree" (#14501) and "Sleigh & Reindeer" ( #15705)
I heat embossed "Sleigh & Reindeer" onto blue card stock with silver embossing powder. 
At the bottom of the blue, I swiped the VersaMark pad across the bottom and embossed with puffy white embossing powder to make the snow mounds.
I dotted VersaMark and embossed the 'snowflakes' also.
"Tree" was stamped onto green card stock with Versa Mark ink and heat embossed with white puffy embossing powder.  Then I fussy cut and layered it onto the card with foam tape.
I layered this scene onto red card stock and adhered it to a white card stock base to finish off the card.
You can find these and so many more wonderful images that you can use to get your Christmas cards started at
Pop on over to the store and have a look around, there is sure to be something you'll love.

Thanks for stopping by! 
Leave a comment, become a follower.
Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Friday, July 1, 2011

Wedding Scrapbook continued

Hello!  Hope you are having some beautiful weather where you are.  We are here in the Buffalo, NY area.  Let's hope it continues!
Today I thought I'd share a few more of the layouts from the Wedding Scrapbook.
I hope you enjoy seeing them.
Renee, getting ready for the wedding.

Some of my family. 
Sorry for the poor photos of the layout!

More family.

Family and friends waiting for the ceremony.

Parents of the bride and groom.  My brother is the handsome guy with the darker suit and my sister in law is the pretty gal in the upper right hand corner.
Happy parents on both sides.

That's it for today, quick and easy.  Hope you enjoyed them.
Leave me a comment and let me know and like I said above, sorry for the horrible photos, but it's all I have.

Until next time, Happy Crafting!