Sarsaparilla Baby Can

This is a baby can and a card to match that I did for my sister as a gift to one of her coworkers. The little boy's room is done in Western stuff and CTMH's Sarsaparilla Paper Packet was the perfect addition.

--------------------------------------------------------------

You should be able to click on the picture to enlarge and read the poem attached to the can. In short, it says that life is too busy to immediately sit down and do a scrapbook page or add "firsts" to a baby book....just write the activity and date and baby's age and drop it in the can. When you have more time to scrapbook, you can grab the can, pull out the notes and do your layout or add it to the baby book. It's been a life-saver to me and to everyone who's ever recieved one as a gift from me.

Lid......Products used are all CTMH unless otherwise noted:

Paper Packet: Sarsaparilla & Stickease

Ink: Chocolate for distressing
Natural Hemp

Black Ribbon Rounds (back side of 5/8ths flower ribbon)

Cranberry Waxy Flax

Pewter Brads

Distressing Kit: Sandpaper & Edge Distresser

Non-CTMH items: Paint Can from Home Depot &

Snapon Scrapbook Rivets by Scrapbook Interiors

SUPER BUSY....

Can't chat long but I wanted to let you know that this week is pretty much out of the question on posting. I'm SUPER BUSY at work with Quarter Reports and Quarter Reviews that all I do when I get home is cook, homework, baths (no....I don't take more than one bath but getting 3 boys to bathe, it feels like I do), check out my daily blogs I like to visit and wash dishes....plus not feeling really too hot right now...left over sinus from my 3-week long sinus infection, I think. Anyways, I will pick up posting next week!

OH, and PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE read your financial statements each quarter from your broker/financial institution....some where there is a little somebody preparing those statements who just wants to go home and scrapbook :0)

'Till next week!!!

P.S. Where were you today while HISTORY was made???

Free to Choose Friday....

EASTER EGG HUNT

Can you spot the Easter eggs?

This is a 5x7 card I did for an online swap using February's SOTM (Easter Eggs) and the NEW Emporium paper packet. I have been fearing this combo since it was announced a month ago, but it was actually fun to challenge myself. I really didn't want to use the eggs to make a flower (kinda overdone if you ask me) but Easter wasn't anywhere near my mind when I looked at this paper packet.

-----------------------------------------

You can't really see it in the picture but there is Prisma Glitter on the Buttercup Bigger Brads which are set inside the Pewter Conchos to represent the center of the flower. I then used the Bonding Memories Glue Pen to add Prisma Glitter all around the flower centers. I also used a strip of the B&T at the bottom of the card and stitched it with our Embroidery Floss to resemble ribbon. The eggs are stamped on cardstock and then I used the end of my Paper Piercer to roll the petals to give them dimension.

--------------------------------------------

I enjoy online swaps because they allow me to really turn things up a notch on distressing and detail since I only have to make one (I know...I'm lazy) shoot a couple of pictures and then e-mail it to the swap hostess. I hope my swap girls are pleased :0)

Products used are all CTMH:

Paper Packet: Emporium

Stamp Set: Easter Eggs (February SOTM)

Inks: Sweet Leaf, Crystal Blue & Cocoa

Buttercup Bigger Brads, Pewter Brads and Conchos

Dimensional Elements Bookplates

Embroidery Floss: Neutral Assortment (Colonial White)

Edge Distresser, Sponge Daubers, Paper Piercer

Tombow, Glue Dots, Liquid Glass

Bonding Memories Glue Pen & Prisma Glitter

CELEBRATE!!!

Another Cupcake Sprinkles card...this time with the colors of CTMH's Stardust paper packet...LOVE them both!

In the top left corner, I tried to do something my upline, Pamela O'Connor, did on a recent post of her's...didn't quite turn out the way I wanted it to so the Heavenly Blue bow is an unexpected addition.

....inside of card (candles have prisma glitter on the flames)

Products used are all CTMH:

White Daisy Cardstock

Stamp Set: Cupcake Sprinkles

Inks: Moonstruck, Topiary, Bamboo & Honey

Ribbon: Heavenly Blue Ribbon Rounds

Coluzzle Circle

Stylus

Sponge Dauber

Prisma Glitter

Glue Dots, Bonding Memories Glue Pen & Tombow

Key To My Heart MINI Basket

This is a gift I'm giving to all my customers who earn the Key To My Heart paper packet and stamp set either for FREE or for only $20 with a qualifying order. It's a basket made from a toilet paper roll, cut in half, covered with paper and embellished. Inside are two craft jars...one with 4 ft of Colonial White grosgrain ribbon and the other with 40 brads in Juniper, Tulip, Sorbet & Lilac Mist. Both of these mini gifts will coordinate perfectly with their Key To My Heart paper packet and stamp set...plus it's FREE!!!

Products are all CTMH unless otherwise specified:

Key To My Heart paper packet and stamps set

(only available 'till January 31st)

Inks: Tulip

Dimensional Elements Perennials

Spring Blossom Brads (Tulip)

Liquid Glass & Tombow

Toilet Paper Roll (Charmin, I believe :0)

Cupcake Sprinkles - Dare to Be Square Sunday (D2BSq)

I've been dying to use our NEW Cupcake Sprinkles stamp set....and since it's Dare to Be Square Sunday (D2BSq), I thought I'd give it a try.

Although I love the NEW girly paper CTMH has, I have a house full of boys and decided to use some primary colors (Holiday Red, Heavenly Blue, Sunny Yellow & Outdoor Denim).

I can't wait to play with this set some more....

Products are all CTMH:

Cardstock: Holiday Red, Heavenly Blue, Sunny Yellow, White Daisy

Stamp Set: Cupcake Sprinkles & Calendar

Ink: Holiday Red, Heavenly Blue, Sunny Yellow & Outdoor Denim

Prisma Glitter, Holiday Red Organdy Ribbon, Sponge Daubers, Edge Distresser

Sewing Machine

Chore Chart - Free To Choose Friday (FTCF)

Sorry this is late, but we all knew it was bound to happen...I was hoping not so soon, though. Here goes my project for Free To Choose Friday (FTCF)....

Magnetic Chore Chart

My boys ALWAYS do chores but we've never really paid them for it. We thought, especially since they are getting older and needing more and more money for stuff they want, that a true "allowance" was appropriate. QT asked me if I would make the chore chart and this is what I came up with. It will hang on our refrigerator....

The days with the rectangles are the days the chore needs to be done and the blank spaces means they don't have to do that chore that day.
The circles are magnets and represent a chore being done...the "pass" magnet is awarded for bringing home an "A" on any homework assignment or test. DT can also earn this "pass" for behaving in school.

Products used are all CTMH unless otherwise noted:

Paper Packet: Caprice

Stamp Set: Cobblestone Alphabet

Ink: Chocolate and Heavenly Blue (for distressing) & Honey

Rub-Ons: Chocolate Love Letters

Dimensional Elements: Bookplates

Chocolate Brads

Sanding Kit

Tombow adhesive

Non-CTMH: poster board, magnets, brown map colors (handwritten chores)

Happy Birthday - Caprice Style

My card for today is an attempt at going "green"....it was made using scraps from a little project I'm working on that will probably be ready for my FREE TO CHOOSE FRIDAY post. Here's a little sneak peak...

The Inspiration

--------------------------------------------------------------------

The Card

The well wishes for this Wednesday happen to be the Birthday kind using CTMH's Caprice Paper Packet and Color Ready Alphabet. I'll be the first to admit that I am not a sticker fan but these things might just change my mind! These versatile, adhesive-backed alphabets in White Daisy cardstock are perfect for chalking, inking, sponging, stamping, and more. Just embellish, peel and attach! They come in 3 different fonts (I used Oxford) and are only $3.95!!! I sponged, stamped AND used rub-ons on mine.

The inside...with plenty of room to write.*

Products used are all CTMH:

Paper Packet: Caprice
Stamp Sets: Happy Birthday, Friendship Alphabet and
Key to My Heart
(only available during Paper Crafting Month - see my side-bar for more information)
Ink: Chocolate, Heavenly Blue and Honey
Heritage Edge Anchors
Color-Ready Alphabet - Oxford
Chocolate Rub-Ons - Love Letters
Chocolate Grosgrain Ribbon
Sponge Dauber
Tombow Adhesive

* I usually don't stamp the inside of my cards...especially if the front side has my "wishes" on it. That way, I have plenty of room to write. The only exception is when I'm using a stamp set that has a 2-part phrase and then I'll stamp the front with the 1st part and the inside with the "punch line".

FIRST EVER.....Mini Monday

Remember.....a NEW year means lots of exciting NEW posts!!! My first ever Mini Monday has two posts so keep reading!

The OLD me would've kept one of these projects as something to share for FREE TO CHOOSE FRIDAY....but, the NEW me is going to post both so I'll have to play again before then (hehehehe)!

SCRAPLINGS

This first "mini" is what Sparkle calls "scraplings" and they are so DARN CUTE!!! A scrapling is what's left over when you cut a standard-size card to a 4x4 square card.....a mini 1-1/2 x 4-1/4 card. It was a little intimidating working with such a small stamp space, but after it's all said and done, I will DEFINITELY be making more of these....and don't forget to go check out the ones that gave me inspiration!

Products used are all CTMH:

Paper: Key To My Heart (available 'till January 31st)

Stamp Set: Key To My Heart (available 'till January 31st - comes WITH the above paper packet)

Inks: Tulip, Sorbet and Juniper

Ribbon: Creme Brulee Ribbon Rounds and waxy flax

Techniques: Direct-to-paper distressing and masking

2009 AT A GLANCE

This second "mini" is a magnetic calendar that measures 6x12....I know that doesn't seem so small but the actual months (January SOTM - Moments in Time) measure only 1-1/2 x 2 so that's pretty mini if you ask me!!

I got this inspiration from a fellow consultant (so sorry but my teenage son closed the tab before I could see who you were...you know, one of those....clicked on so-and-so's blog and then so-and-so's blog and then another so-and-so's blog and there it was type thing). It's a magnet so you can hang it on your fridge or a magnetic board in your scrap space (that's where mine is going). The one I got inspiration from was hanging from some ribbon so use your imagination. Edited to add: Thanks to Trinka, I found Aaron's blog with the original inspiration!!

Products used are all CTMH:

Paper: NEW Emporium Creative Basics

Stamp Set: Moments in Time (available 'till January 31st)

Cocoa Ink Pad

Rub-Ons: Chocolate Love Letters (2009 on the Bigger Brads)

Ribbon: Vineyard Berry (comes WITH the Emporium Creative Basics)

Just Blooms: Big Pinks & White Daisy

Clear Buttons, Bigger Brads, Chocolate Waxy Flax and Liquid Glass

Techniques: Distressing using a CTMH Sponge & Cocoa Ink (edges of all paper & on Just Blooms) and

Scallop border (on 2009 Vineyard Berry piece) using CTMH EK Success (TM) Corner Rounder (with guard off)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

I know these wishes are a bit late but I've been trying to get over a massive sinus infection and today is the first day I feel good enough to do anything.

Starting Monday (tomorrow), there will be some changes to my blog....New Year Resolutions of sorts, I guess. I just love to add to my blog and I certainly LOVE to surf other blogs and get inspiration. So, to help me stay on track with my posting, I've decided to have the following post dates.

Monday: Mini Monday - I will post mini albums, mini cards, all things mini that I'm working on.

Wednesday: Wednesday Wishes - this is the day that will be reserved for cards...no set size limit or type of card. Anything goes as long as it's a card.

Friday: Free to Choose Friday - self explanatory....

Sunday: Dare to be Square Sunday - square cards, 12x12 layouts, altered projects....anything as long as it's SQUARE!

I also reserve the right to get a fire under my butt and post at any time, anything....hehehehe.

Check back soon....