Nothing like a good sketch

Once again I am pushing past my paper hoarding. I am using the paper for current projects rather than saving it for the best rainy day project ever. What am I saying? It is raining here in Southern California, so I guess I did save it for a rainy day project.

First, a big thank you to Friday Sketchers for a very inspirational sketch. Their design team had some really fun samples to check out! Next, to Stamping Up, I say thanks for the stamp set Life Cycles. It has been more fun that I can tell you. I wish I could display them all, but for now I am just showing off the basket cycle with the friend quote. Lastly, another big thank you to...by now you have probably guessed it, Apron Strings. The paper came from their Smaller than a Breadbox kit. It is Bella Blvd (one of my favorites) from the Sunny Happy Skies collection. I was holding off on using this paper...hoarding it for the perfect project. Then I said, "Jana, this is awesome paper and you have some cards to make. Brighten some days, you old scrooge!" So here we are.

Another round of five thank you cards for the troops. I would almost feel sorry for the super girly cards, but I am just hoping they get to our ladies over there who could probably use some pink and some bling! The last card is a fun friend card that I could not resist playing with.

There is just something about happy paper being used that puts a big smile on my face. Thanks to Sunny Happy Skies, I am a sunny, happy girl!

Oh, the holly tree

Thank you Jingle Belles! Another song prompt to get my Christmas card making back on track. The suggestion is to add ivy and holly. Luckily, I am using graphic 45 and Making Memories. Both had some fun holly accents and were so pretty with a lot of old world charm. The design team's inspiration was fabulous and inspired me to collage.

It was more fun than I could possibly imagine. This may be a new trend for me...playful collage.

Gratituesday...a day late.

What am I grateful for this Tuesday and Wednesday, several things. But the one that stands out lately is mason jars. I love canning jars.

Our recent move to a coastal city reminded me of creepy crawlies that get into plastic bags of food. We have lost more coconut and flour that way. So, I started trying to find the perfect plastic containers that would maximize pantry space and contain all of my food. It gets expensive. Then I started putting some smaller items into my pint jars. Next, I tried to put some of my bulk items into larger quart canning jars. When I started making my own spice mixes, I found the mason jars helped me out again. Now, I do not know what I would do without my fabulous and fun mason jars.

I like looking into my pantry shelf and seeing my jars of goodies lined up like toy soldiers. Occassionally, I have the worry about breakage. But overall, it is a working and workable system. Who am I to mess with that?!!

Cute pictures take a while to scrap

In addition to my paper hoarding, which is now common knowledge... I am a picture hoarder as well. I know that you are wondering, "where does it end, woman?!" It is just so hard when you see super cute photos! Alright, I will own it, it is just so hard for ME when I have super cute photos. I have to wait for the right, super cute paper and the right, super cute embellishments.

This layout is part of that serendipitous experience. I have super cute pictures of my niece at the local science museum. I have some super cute paper from my Apron Strings kit. More of the Imaginisce Animal Crackers. And I have some super cute star beads and flowers.

The colors do not show that well, but trust me, in person, this layout is a blast. It helps that Gillian is such a cute subject! Apron Strings does it again.

Another round of thanks

Back to the thank you project for the troops. A little boy, Stephen, was inspired to try to send a thank you card to every serviceperson that is currently deployed. After doing a bit of research he came up with a grand total of 180,000 cards. To help him reach his goal, Bazzill is having a contest. For every five thank you cards you make and send in (with form) you are entered to win two tickets to creative escape.

So, here are my next round of entries! It has been a lot of fun making these in addition to supporting the troops I have through Soldier's Angels. Most of the letters I get back assure me that nothing brightens the day of a deployed soldier more than news from home. If you have the time, I really encourage you to participate. Let's help Stephen and the troops!

A simple housewarming gift from afar

My fabulous friend, Becca is moving! As I type, she is moving boxes, two labs, toddler, baby and husband to a new pad. And I thought I was tired.

After turning to my Apron Strings kit again, I pulled out the We R Memory Keepers' family keepsake line and made her some treats. First, I made her a simple housewarming card. A little bit of Bazzill cardstock and some embellishments and it was complete. Then I thought that she might be busy...pause for understatement. And it will take her a while to scrap a page on the new house, or move. Or even worse, she might forget to take pictures of the moving process and new house. Hence, the playful 8 1/2 x 11 layout for her new home. All she has to do is add the picture and through in a little bit of journaling if she wants.

Another day of sending love from one coast to another.

Who needs pictures?!

Often times I am more inspired by the paper than the pictures. In this case, I simply had no pictures to distract me. For the first time ever, I missed my little niece's birthday. It would have been impossible to fly from L.A. to Ohio for one weekend. Which means my sister took the pictures. Which means because she is using the excuse of working full time, going to school part time and raising a wild four year old (niece in question) she will give me some lame excuse about not having time to upload pictures right away. Let's hope she does not read this post! :)

I decided to do a page anyway and then like a light from the heavens, my Apron Strings kit arrived with Imaginisce's Animal Crackers line. Oh my goodness, it is a whole lot of circus fun. I cut and played and added some fun baker's string. Then I cut the white cardstock to 4x6 and added them to give my sister an idea of picture placement. So much fun!

Once the layout was complete I was even able to make two cards...with fun sequins! Unfortunately, my terrible photos do not do the colors and the paper justice. Please check it out on Apron Strings website. Nothing like super fun paper and sequins to get the creative juices flowing!

More thank you cards, yeah!

So, another round of thank you cards. Speaking of thank you's, thank you very much Henry Ford for an assembly line system. Cut the paper according to size. Color the stamped images and cut them out. Assemble all pieces and tie up with some ribbon. Stamp the message and call it a day. Nothing like scraps and a few stamp sets to turn you into a card making fool.

All owls all the time

As part of a thank you card project for the troops, I created six cards. I played around with some of my favorite paper. This is another round of paper I was hoarding. Adorn it paper from the Fern Collection has owls and stripes. It is so much fun! I love this paper, I have been holding it for all my "male" cards. So, after playing with my "owls all around paper", buttons, prima flowers and my thank you stamp I have some fun, funky cards.

Nothing like owls to remind you that crafting is such a hoot!

Pinching pennies the paper way

I am one of the cheapest people I know. My husband likes to call it frugal, but either way, I like to save and use up all that I can. Which means when I cut a gigantic circle out of a 12x12 sheet of paper I want to still find a way to use those little corner sections. Solution: enter in the punches. My favorite thing to do is punch out flowers, butterflies and circles from this paper, trying to use up every bit. If you have punches, I suggest this method, you can use these as accents for the rest of your layouts if you want them to coordinate with the rest of the papers you are using. You can also use them for cards.

Another great suggestion someone once gave me... after the layout comes the card. Use the rest of the scraps from your layout for a few cards. The paper, the cardstock and all the other bits are there, why not use it while you got it!

Happy crafting and frugal living!

Catching up

Back with more Apron Strings fun! This is Birthday Challenge #4. It was a blast. First, you choose elements of a cake you want to bake. Then you are given the scrapbook equivalent of the cake ingredients. For example, I chose a vanilla cake, with strawberry filling, buttercream frosting and fresh fruit on top. Sounds good right? In Apron Strings terms that translates to white or kraft cardstock, with patterned paper that has dots or circles, some buttons and finally paint! Good times were had!

I decided to do a simple layout of my husband at the zoo. He is my favorite person and the zoo is quite possibly his favorite place. We walk through the gate and the man turns into an 8 year old kid who cannot get enough of animal planet. It is one of the many things I love about him.

Thus, the layout has him happy and painted up. Once again, I turned to Mind's Eye Alphabet soup and ranger paints. Paint makes it feel like a real project... must be all the mess!

Thanks to Apron Strings

So, it is a bit obvious that I have not been posting lately. I found that life once again got in the way of my hobbies!

Thanks in large part to Apron Strings I am back on track. First, I got my smaller than a breadbox kit in the mail a few weeks ago and finally got it out to play. Also, they are having all kinds of fun challenges and prompts. Visit the site if you have not already, you will not be disappointed.

I am getting a late start on their challenges so I am working my way through them little by little. This is the second birthday challenge. It is a sketch challenge. Yeah, sketch challenges are usually my favorite because I LOVE to scraplift. I find it very inspirational. Sketches mean that all I have to do is concentrate on paper and pictures, a few of my favorite things (cue: Julie Andrews).

Thank you Apron Strings for getting me back in the groove. Many thanks also to Minds Eye Alphabet Soup and Ranger Paints for getting me in a finger painting, crafting mood.