You...Make Me Smile

For the Freshly Made Sketches challenge this week I created 2 totally different style cards. The first one is what I first imagined in my mind. I wanted to mix some soft colorful flowers with bold black & white and just a touch of gold! Maybe it was a little better in my mind, but its still pretty!

Then, just for fun I saw a card on Pinterest that inspired me to get out the Confetti Wishes paper and the Operation Smile, Happy Everything stamp. After coloring the balloons I realized that I didn't have sequins that perfectly matched. No problem, I just colored some white sequin with the Shin-Han Twin Touch Markers! I finished with 3 MyStickease gift packages that were pop dotted.

Which card is your favorite?!!

Wedding Card and Mini Adventure Album

Besides decorating for their wedding, I wanted to give the Bride and Groom a special handmade gift. I used some Cricut cuts for the card along with lots of ribbons and bling. I kept it all within their wedding colors. {Do you recognize the paper collection?} I even decorated the envelope with some stamping.

The card contained a small gift, but I really wanted to give something personally from me. After hearing plans for their honeymoon, I knew exactly what I wanted to make for them. A kraft mini album for them to keep all the photo's they would capture on their adventures through wineries and vineyards! Why the bicycles? They both enjoy riding their bikes, but their adventures through wine country will be on bike.....how cool does that sound?!!

If you follow me on Instagram you would have seen a sneak peek of the album cover. I layered the cover with some For Always papers, burlap ribbon and a couple of For Always PML cards. I added some stamping and hand stitching. The neutral colors will be a great base to add any photos no matter the colors. Here is a look at some of the pages inside. I left spaces for pictures and journaling.

 My favorite is the "Happy Hour" page. You know there will be lots of hours that will be happy on a wine tour!!

I also liked the card I created from the zip strip on the For Always paper and the new Documenting Moments stamp set.

Finally, this is how I wrapped the card and book together. Just a simple bag tied together with ribbon.

The kraft mini album is simple to decorate and put together with PML cards. It makes a great gift or keepsake. The My Crush books are also fun to assemble, but wait until next month to see the awesome deal that Close To My Heart is offering on them!!

The Wedding Planner!

I wear many hats in my life, as several of us mother's do! Lately, I got to try a whole new, completely different hat. I was asked by my co-worker and friend to decorate and coordinate her wedding. I was thrilled to take on the challenge!

The wedding took place this past Saturday night. I'm happy to say that it all came together beautifully!

Me and the beautiful bride~

She knew her colors and I got a sense for what the couple wanted. I took a look at the venue and knew right away that I had a challenge! I pulled some inspiration from the venue, a local winery, and from Pinterest of course! With the large open space I wanted to create little areas to break it up. I also put a little bit of handmade love throughout.

Just as guests entered the room, they could drop off any cards or gifts they had for the couple. The bride found these lighted cherry trees and I was able to borrow a few old wine barrels from a friend.

When I was shopping for something to hold the cards I was not happy with the choices and especially not the price tag! I found this paper mache trunk at Hobby Lobby on sale for around $7. I painted it myself and mod podged some CTMH paper inside. I created the little banner using some Cricut cuts, twine and mini clothes pins. I'm glad I didn't just purchase an ordinary item. Plus, the couple now has a great little keepsake!

Another area I created was an idea for guests to leave the couple a message to be read on their anniversary!

In order to break up the large white wall behind the bride and grooms table I created a false wall. My first idea was to drape fabrics on a PVC frame. After talking to my hair stylist about my latest project she suggested these metal screens she had laying around. They were unique and a little weathered. I loved them and wanted to dress them up. I scalloped some satin fabric and attached it to the frame with some wrapped flowers. Then we strung some white lights through the panels.

Here is how the table looked after the flowers were delivered and the lights dimmed.

I found some images on the internet of cake tables and knew right away I wanted to light the underside. The couple loved this idea too! After much pondering on how to pull it off, I finally came up with some tulle and a purple satin sash. It was lovely and so was the cake finished with some pale green & white fresh orchids.

Looking across the finished room~

 Not too bad for my first wedding planning!

I would love to share with you the card and special gift I made for the couple too. Come back soon!

Happy as a Bee in a Hive

Today I am sharing a card I created for the Freshly Made Sketches Blog. It features the Operation Smiles stamp, Happy Everything and this month's special paper collection, Taste of Summer. The embossed honey comb background in bright yellow makes this card really stand out and I love that little bumble bee!

The frame on the label was stamped from the Curlicue Frames stamp set only available in the Artfully Sent Cricut Collection. {Z3017}

Taste of Summer paper collection will only be available to purchase until May 31. You can order online here.

Tall and Happy

So I had a few pieces of cardstock and papers left over from a recent card exchange. A tall template design that I featured the Typewriter SOTM, Typed Note. Not to let these pieces or card bases go to waste I created a few cards with the Operation Smile stamp set, Happy Everything. (back cover of the Annual Expressions 2 book) It is a great stamp set that offers ideas for so many occasions and fun events. Plus, a portion of proceeds goes to Operation Smiles. Take a look at what I created!

You can learn more about Operation Smile through this great story on the Make it from your Heart Blog.

Inspired by: Patches of papers and "fabulous" pops!

I was finding myself in need of some de-stressing craft time this weekend. Surfing through some pins and blogs I found inspiration from separate sources that I incorporated together.

The patchwork of patterned paper idea came from a post on the Make it from your Heart, Close To My Heart Blog. I used some left over pieces from the new Blossom papers with some Fundamentals flat and glossy sided patterned paper.

The sentiment for the card stayed in the same place too, but I wanted to use the current Operation Smile stamp set Happy Everything. This sentiment is fabulous on it's own, but when I saw how Wendy Coffman used it I fell in love! You can see her creation on her Blog Stamping Rules! Cutting out the "fabulous" script is tedious, but the result is well worth it!

I hope you are all having a one-of-a-kind fabulous day!

When Life Gives You Lemons!

This Taste of Summer tag sums up how I've been feeling lately. My long absence will tell you that I have been extremely busy. With all of the challenges, tasks and decisions that have presented themselves to me lately, I remain positive......and make lemon bars!

I used the sketch at Freshly Made Sketches to make this colorfully sweet tag. I love the bright purple with green and pop of lemon yellow. With the Taste of Summer papers you can't help but be cheerful when your creating!

Taste of Summer paper collection and special stamp set are only available this month. You can order online here!

Thank you for visiting. Come back soon as I will reveal some of the projects that I've been working on!

Exclusive Taste of Summer Stamp Set

During this month of National Scrapbooking, you can take advantage of an exclusive paper pack and stamp set called Taste of Summer!

  Only in the month of May you can purchase the exclusive Taste of Summer D-size stamp set for $17.95 USD / $19.75 CAD. Think of it as an added bonus to the awesome paper pack!

Make sure to follow along with the Close To My Heart blog, Instagram account, and Facebook page throughout the month and check out the hashtag #CTMHTOS to see this stamp set in action!

Taste of Summer Workshop

Hey there!

Happy National Scrapbooking Day!

Later this month I will be hosting a Taste of Summer Workshop in conjunction with my Crate Card Club. This month is a celebration of scrapbooking our memories. With this gorgeous collection of papers being offered this month you will surely be inspired to scrapbook.

For this workshop I am offering a two-page layout and 2 fun summer cards.

For the layout and cards you will be using the new Taste of Summer papers, a brand new stamp set from the Seasonal Expressions 2 book, a Cricut cut title and some liquid glass with a bit of glitter sprinkled on. Take a closer look at the cards....mmmmm.....Juicy!!

 This workshop is only $15. If you are interested in attending please contact me. For more information please click on the Current Specials tab at the top of this page or go online here.

Be sure to follow me on Instagram and Pinterest for tons more inspiration using the Taste of Summer papers!

Hello May

Today is the first of May and the first day to take advantage of the new specials!
May is also National Scrapbooking Month, Yippee!

With a fabulous promotion of juicy sweet summer papers and a cute new stamp set, you should be inspired to scrap your summer time or anytime memories! Please click on the Current Specials tab at the top of this page for more information.

I will be back tomorrow, National Scrapbooking Day, to share a workshop I am hosting later this month!