And You Thought I Was a Procrastinator...

Who me?  Procrastinate?  Not a chance.  I actually completed this layout for my October 2010 calendar page last night.  A FULL 48 HOURS BEFORE OCTOBER 2010 ARRIVED.  How's that for being ahead of the game?  And even more amazing....I cleaned up my mess before going to bed.

I used the Practical Scrappers' Friday Sketch for the first page and then just put together a complementary page to go along with it, since I prefer to create two page layouts.

Page One:

It's really challenging trying to photograph layouts.  At least for me.  Either the colors off, or there is photo glare or something.  The colors are much more vibrant IRL.  I used the Close To My Heart Zippidee Kit to begin with (I didn't use any of the dimensional elements on this layout...saving 'em for another one.)

Page Two:

Details:

Next to butterflies, clocks are my other favorite image.  These are from a couple of different companies.

Since I'm on such a roll, maybe I'll get my December page done tonight...

(I am thinking, however, that I may have already scrapped the pictures on this layout.  Oh well, that will mean a layout for MY album and a layout for Joshua's album...)

I'm looking forward to Scrapbooking with my newly formed Ebenezer Club gals on Saturday and a couple of young ladies on Sunday. 

Thanks for stopping by,

Marie with a : )

Tracey Mason's Paper Flowers...

I'm not very good at following directions.
But I decided to give Tracy Mason's paper roses a try. (There's a link under Tutorials and such at the top of this page.)
I also decided my CAS card from Friday was too bland so I added the Tracey Mason rose to another flower to "fill in the gap."
And still making animal cards for some reason.  This one is going to a nephew - we are heading out to his birthday party soon.  Inside reads: Happy Birthday, Party Animal!

I think my camera battery is dying because the last few photos I have taken have been "off" in color. This one has much prettier colors IRL.  Any guesses as to where this card is going? 

Isn't this little guy so cute??

Well Blogging Buddies, I hope to be able to check out some of your new creations after the birthday celebration this evening.
Thanks for stopping by,
Marie with a : )

Painting the Roses Red

So they aren't roses.  And they aren't red.  But I DID color my flower with some tattered angels glimmer mist.
I got quite a number of bottles of the glitter mist back in March, for my birthday, and I've had a difficult time using them because they tend to "splotch" on me.  Tonight I sprayed some on a plastic bag and then used a dauber to apply it to my flower.  The result wasn't quite as shimmery as I had hoped, but I'm okay with it.
The card is for the Clean and Simple FTL 109
The sketch looked easy enough but for some reason I just couldn't seem to make it work. After several attempts, here's what I came up with:

Then I decided it  looked a little too bland so added another flower:

All products are Close To My Heart, except for the glitter mist.

Thanks for stopping by,
Marie with a :)

Party Animal Strikes Again

This card was for two challenges:
Heart 2 Heart's sketch challenge and
Papertake Weekly's Animal Magic

The DT's on both challenges have some amazing samples!

I just think this critter is cute and has so much potential...I can't help using her/him again!  I started this card while waiting to go pick Matthew up from work and finished it while sharing prayers and praises with a precious friend in Cyprus.  I love being connected with dear friends from different times/places in my life through facebook.

It's difficult to tell in the photo, but I used liquid glass on the balloon to make it 3D and shiny.

And below is what the card originally looked like, but I thought the buttons made it look too busy so I removed them.

Recipe:  All products CTMH unless noted otherwise

Cardstock: Olive, Bamboo, Chocolate

Paper: Expedition (retired...which makes me sad)

Inks: Chocolate, Olive, Cotton Candy

Stamp Set: Party Animal (D1437)

Embellishments (sparkles- red/pink assortment)

liquid glass

CPS 185 for a Wonderful Daughter

I've mentioned my oldest daughter a couple of times recently.

But I also have two other precious daughters at home...and I want to make sure that they know they are loved beyond measure as well, so this card was created for one of them. I used the CPS Sketch 185.  It was supposed to be a quick and easy card, but after a series of klutzy Marie Maneuvers, it took a bit longer than anticipated.

For this card, I used the new CTMH colors Lagoon and Gypsy, the Hooligan papers and some older CTMH stamp sets (Family, Sweet Talk and Thoughts of You), some CTMH buttons and brads, black and white Hemp as well as a couple of miscellaneous buttons and a Prisma flower.

Thanks for taking a look.  Maybe tomorrow I'll go back and create the original card I had planned!

Marie with a : )

I'll Probably Get Tomatoes Thrown For This One...

I'll probably get tomatoes thrown at me for this one.
But the truth is, as much as I LOVE autumn (it's my favorite season of the year), I really dislike Halloween.  Go ahead, throw 'em now.
I don't know.  Maybe it's because, like the inner GPS gene, I've also missed out on the creativity gene and costumes have always been a nightmare for me. Perhaps it's the symbolism behind it. Most likely it's merely the thought of bags of candy, lying around the house just waiting to catch me in their sugary snare. First it's the bags I buy ahead of time because I'm "being prepared."  And then there's the bags my kids come home with from the church's "Fall Festival."
This year I think I'll just turn out the lights and hide out in my craft room.
And enjoy the "Party Animal" SS that isn't just for Halloween!

Supplies:  All supplies CTMH

Stamp Sets: Say It In a Style (D1283), Party Animal (D1437), Comments (D1359), Triple Play Limited Edition (from Triple Play Kit)

Paperpack: More To Adore (no longer available)

Opaques Mocha (Z1333)

Sparkles: blue & green asst. (Z1327)

Card Bases, 4.5" Circle (Z1352)

I'm The Scrooge of Halloween I reckon...


(I suspect I'll be making a lot of these.
I miss you cards.
'Cause I'm missing my daughter like crazy! (and kinda glad to know she's equally missing me : ) )
I went to the post office to mail her a card today.
$1.82 for 5-10 day arrival.
$28 for 1-5 days.
She'll just have to be patient!)

BTW, this is my first circle card, using one of the CTMH pre-made card bases.  I used the Clean and Simple 108 Sketch to make it a quicker process.

Hope you are having a fabulous weekend,
Marie with a : )

Heart2Heart: Sentimentally Yours

Not much time in the craft room lately, but here's my take on the Heart2Heart: Sentimentally Yours challenge, which was to make a CTMH sentiment the focal point of the card.  I used a sentiment from one of my favorite stamp sets, Make It Count:

Recipe: All Products CTMH unless noted other

Paper: Olivia

Card stock: Chocolate, bamboo

SS: Make It Count

Ink: chocolate

Embellishments: window charm (on clock face), opaques (mocha), sparkles (clear)

other: stamp (Rcollections) die (nestablilities)

Have a wonderful Wednesday,

Marie with a : )

Happy Birthday, Josh (and Time to Start on Christmas Cards)

In honor of Josh's 22nd birthday, I thought I would post a picture of us playing Scrabble...especially since I BEAT HIM!

Aren't we just Scrabble Geeks?

While waiting to see if Alyssa will show up online I try to do something productive.  (You'd probably have a hard time believing that since I'm STILL IN MY PAJAMAS...) so I worked on a Christmas card since my sister Samantha keeps reminding me it's time to get started.  I'm hoping a group of us will get together soon and just crank 'em out.

I soooooo love the new CTMH Mistletoe paper that I was being VERY frugal with it. I hope to get at least 30 cards from this pack! Check out my website to order the Mistletoe Workshop kit: IsomCre8tions CTMH . The stamp set is from our new book and is called harmony and suits my vintage-y style nicely!  

Look Ma, No Butterflies! ( CAS, Fun party, upcoming workshops!!)

If you look through my posts, it becomes glaringly obvious that I have a penchant for butterflies. And flowers. But I used neither of these images on the cards or layout I made today. Yay me.

I had a CTMH party.
Seven ladies.
2 hours.
Strawberry yogurt cake and coffee.
Laughter.
A card and a 2 page zoo/jungle layout.
Heart to heart conversations.
And nary a butterfly.
Yep, it was a successful day : )

I forgot to take pictures of the awesome layouts "my girls" created.  I had the basic layout  all set, but they were free to alter any way they wanted.  Lotsa creativity in the group!
After a walk with the Handsome Husband this evening, I played with the scraps and made a card for the Clean and Simple challenge. Even though CAS is typically my style, I kept wanting to embellish more:

 This next one is what we made at the party/gathering/workshop. 

And one more with the scraps:

   For those in my area, I will be starting something new, beginning in October.  CTMH now has Workshop on the Go kits. Each kit includes an exclusive acryllic stamp set, a paper pack (12 gorgeous papers with 10 coordinating pieces of cardstock) and set of coordinating embellishments.  Also included is a "how to" guide for making a couple of layouts and a few cards.  We will be spending 4 hours together as a group, working to get the layouts and/or cards finished.  This means girl time, craft time and the guarantee of at least a couple of layouts completed each month! What I like best about the workshops/parties is getting together with girl friends. The creations are merely icing on the cake.

 The cost of the kit is $29.95 plus tax and S/H (this comes to $35.95)   If you are interested in joining one of the two groups (1st Saturday of the month from 10 AM  until 2 PM and the 2nd Friday of the month from 7 PM until 11 PM)   contact me ASAP to get into the group that you want, as there are limited spots, and several people have already chosen a day. I will need payment NLT September 20th.

 Here's the kit for October:

https://orders.closetomyheart.com/CTMHConsultants/TrainingAcademy/workshops/pdf/2010/autumn/hooligans_scrapbooking_flyer_us.pdf

Remember, in addition to the four scrapbooking pages, you can make cards as well - the how-to-guide provides instructions for both.

And finally...an Alyssa update.  I think her first message came when she was still feeling jet lag and was overwhelmed with the reality of what she is embarking on.  Later I received another message and she sounded like she was having fun.

I've been strangely unemotional.  I think some of y'all have cried more than I have.  I wondered about this and finally realized: I asked for this.  I went before my Creator and Sustainer and asked Him to do a work, to change a rebellious, hurting heart into one that knew the joy of the Lord and sought to obey His calling.  He did abundantly above all that I asked.  How can I complain? How can I be overly sad?  I miss my girl, but I'm excited for her and refuse to let the enemy steal the joy of knowing she is going to be ministering to desperate people, in the most humble way...just like my Savior did.  Honestly? I'm a little jealous.

Thanks for stopping by, 

Marie with a : )