Magnolia title block

Who knew??

Since I started making cards a little over 4 years ago, I never ever EVER had the desire to do any kind of scrapbooking whatsoever. Ever. Then I met the ladies in my Ebay group, The Paper Hen House. They. Are. AMAZING!!!! I know I've gushed about them many times before....but click HERE to see their scrapbook layouts, paper piecings, & paper bag albums for sale on Ebay. Amazing!

So.....since I chat with them every day...& we watch each other's auctions....I got curious. Could I do a layout?? How about a 6x6 or 8x8 layout?? That's kind of like a card, right?? Then somebody mentioned title blocks. Apparently, people will buy titles to put in their scrapbooks. Cheaper than buying a layout, easier than making their own. So I tried one. Here is my very first attempt at a title.......




It was *very* hard to get a good picture of this. I don't know if it's the colors, all the glitter, or just my ineptness at taking photos....but this was the best I could do. I figure I couldn't go wrong with Magnolias!! This is Tilda & Edwin On Ice, which I got at 7 Kids College Fund. I colored the image with Copic markers, cut out the image, & added a little "pond" that I hand drew & cut out (after covering it with Stickles). The letters are called Thickers from American Crafts & they are available at Michael's. The papers are SU's Real Red, Night of Navy & DCWV Christmas. The snowflakes were cut out using Nesties....& covered with glitter using a glue pen. After posting a picture of it in our Ebay Yahoo group, some suggestions were made to add the red half pearls & the little gingham ribbon with the snowflake charm. These ladies are GENIUS I tell ya!! Thanks for your help!!




Oh & I can't forget about the Fun Flock added to Tilda's coat!! Gotta have fluff on the coat!!





I wish the letters would have photographed better....they are so sparkly pretty....but isn't the ribbon with the charm just the finishing touch? Thanks, Victoria! I never would have thought to do that!! THIS is why I don't make layouts, lol!!!

I am pretty sure that I will be doing more of these. The finished size of this one is about 5x7....close enough to the size of the card that it's not overwhelming, but it's something different! Who knows.....maybe layouts ARE in my future!!


Are you all watching American Idol?? I try to, but sometimes I forget it's on like last night!! I know!! How could I forget?? So... I missed my favorite...Aaron Kelly. He's 16 & was I believe the 2nd to sing last night. He has an amazing voice, it's easy to forget he's only 16. There are a few others that I like, but for me this kid has really stood out!! Go Aaron!!

Thanks for visiting....still working on that custom card!! LOL!!

7 Kids update

Hello everyone...I haven't had an ounce of craft time the last few days so I have nothing new to show you. I need many more hours in my day & many more days in my week. Not to say my days aren't fun....in fact today I got to go on a GREAT field trip with my 5th grader. Man I love field trips, lol! I get to go to so many places I wouldn't otherwise. Next year they get to go to Chicago...can't wait for that one!!


Anyway, I just wanted to let you know of a few new things at 7 Kids College Fund !


SPARKLY FLUFF from Our Craft Lounge....ohhh this stuff looks yummy...check out all the fun colors!


NELLIE SNELLEN floral punches...complete set #2!!


anddddd.....



the HOPPY EASTER MAGNOLIA COLLECTION is available for preorder!! You know how I love my Magnolias & I can't wait to order some of these cuties!!


I'm off to finish a wee little project I've been working on....it's my first of its kind so I'm not quite sure I'll be posting it here....& I need to start a custom card for an Etsy customer. I don't do custom orders often....I don't really like being told what to do, lol. But it's an Easter card & since I've been doing Easter cards anyway I may as well!!

Thanks for visiting!!

HH challenge #64....texture!

Happy Sunday everyone! I am just as surprised as you are that I got a card done for today's High Hopes challenge...I was pretty sure I wasn't going to have time & in retrospect I should have skipped it! Oh my gosh, this card gave me fits like you wouldn't believe!! But I won....I finished it...& in time, too!!!

Today's High Hopes challenge hostess is guest Diva Melanie, & she is asking us to add texture to our card or project.




I used another fabulous Crissy Armstrong bunny on my card, Posing Bunny. I tried watercoloring twice....& both attempts ended up in the garbage. No matter how much I practice or how hard I try, I will never be good at it. So....Prismas it was!! I did stamp the image on Cryogen white shimmery paper, so the whole thing is sparkly pretty. I wasn't planning on cutting the image out, but after making yet another error, I had to!! The 2 embossed layers are cut with my Nesties Labels 4 dies. The papers are SU's Basic Gray, Sage Shadow & Cosmo Cricket Everafter. The flower in the corner is made with the same organdy ribbon the heart charm is hanging from....I've seen this on many blogs...you just thread some ribbon, gather it in a circle & secure it. I don't know how secure mine is....I was in a bit of a rush....so if anyone breathes on this card it may just come undone!!






And the final bit of texture....the Liquid Applique on the tail.






Close up of the ribbon flower. I'm sure if you look closely enough you can even see the thread strands behind it, lol!!

Be sure to check out the High Hopes blog for all the other great creations! Thanks for visiting, & enjoy your Sunday!!

A look back...

TGIF!! I hope you had a great week! My kids had off today so we ran some errands.....& we have a busy weekend ahead of us!! Various parties & Cub Scout activities...which means no creative time for mom!! Since I haven't had time to make anything new, I thought I'd post some High Hopes cards from the archives that to me say "spring". Have I mentioned how anxious I am for spring? LOL!!

You can find all of these stamps at 7 Kids College Fund...just click the link below the picture!





Willard Weather Ant....





Bedelia.....





Bunny Blooms....





Burt's Bath.....




Lenny's Love Me Nots....





Little Missy.....


What a blast from the past!! I love looking at my old cards to see how my tastes & style have changed. One thing hasn't changed....I still loooooove my High Hopes stamps!!! Thanks for taking this trip down memory lane with me! I hope to have something new for you soon! Have a fantastic weekend!!

Oooooo....that's bright!

Hello & happy Wednesday!! I'm not even going to comment on the weather....because it's the same. Cold, white, & very unsunny. Have I mentioned I'm ready for spring?

Speaking of spring, it's about time I started working on Easter cards!! High Hopes has lots of fun Easter stamps, which are available at 7 Kids College Fund!



I used Bunny With Gift ....colored with Prismas & a bit of Twinkling H2O's. Had to make the egg sparkly :) I had picked out these fun papers from The Paper Studio, but I underestimated how bright they were!! Yikes!! Well they definitely scream spring!! The other papers are DCWV & SU's Razzleberry something (a color I hadn't used before). I cut the image using my Nesties Labels 9 & the matte with my Nesties Labels 3. The usual stitching & flower cluster....with some pearls added to the punched Razzleberry layer. Oh, & of course I added Liquid Applique to his tail....can't have a bunny without a fluffy tail!!




Such an adorable face on this bunny!!





Here's the inside, & the matching envelope....all ready to put into my Etsy shop!! I often make my envelopes using the Enveloper, but for this card, which isn't too bulky, I used just a store bought white envelope. I always line my envelopes with matching card stock or paper....just so everything matches & looks pretty :)

I hope you enjoy the rest of your week....my kids get out early tomorrow (11:30....what's the point of going??) & then they are off on Friday. I'm sure they will be at the height of bickering by Friday night. Thank goodness for Ipods!!

High Hopes challenge ~ a recipe

Hello & welcome to another High Hopes challenge! Today's challenge is brought to us by the incredible Sirpa....& she gave us a recipe! 3 dp.....3 flowers.....& 3 buttons!




I used Sting, one of the new release stamps from Dustin Pike. The papers I chose to use are SU's Soft Suede & Prima Marketing's Breathe Collection. I used my oval Nesties to cut & matte the image, & lots of Stickles on his wings & his flower. I really had to scrounge through my tiny stash of buttons to find 3 that would match, lol! But I think I got it covered.....3 dp....check!!! 3 flowers....check!! And 3 buttons...check check!!!





Be sure to visit the High Hopes blog to see all the other fabulous creations! I hope you can join in this fun challenge!! If you do, be sure to leave a link over there to be entered to win some HH goodness!!

Don't forget,You can buy High Hopes stamps at 7 Kids College Fund....click HERE to see all that is available in the store. Also check out all the fun new stuff she has in the store, including some new Shimmerz products.....some Greeting Farm stamps....Distress Ink reinkers.... Click HERE to see all the new goodies Tab has added to her store!!

Hope you all have a great Sunday & a Happy Valentines Day!!

Sweet Tilda

Hello everyone & happy Thursday! I received a fun little package in the mail yesterday from my friend Ila.....she surprised me with some images including this little cutie....thanks again Ila!!


She's Sweet Tilda, & she's from the Raising the Ceiling collection, which you can preorder from 7 Kids College Fund....click HERE to see the whole collection! I colored her with Prismas & cut her out using various oval Nesties. The papers are SU (the blue layer....it was an In Color & I don't know the name of it. I am so SU challenged!).....& Cosmo Cricket Girl Friday. I used my beloved Martha doily lace border punch, & 2 different leaf punches. The blue flower was cut using my Cuttlebug flower die & the little white flower is a Prima. My first time using these babies!




My close ups never look too good......

We are off to visit a fire station with the Cub Scouts tonight....tomorrow I'm helping with various Valentines parties....I tell ya my life is a never ending string of fun....lol...have a great weekend!

A very snowy Tuesday

A few days ago when the East got hit with all that snow, I kept thinking "I'm so glad for once it's not us". Well.....we got ours! It snowed overnight, all day today & it isn't supposed to stop until tomorrow morning! Ugh! I'm not even going to take pictures this time because they will look like all the rest I've posted!! Lots of white! It was soooo slippery on the way to work this morning...I always worry about the kids riding on the bus. I always try to believe they are safer on that big ole bus than in my little car (ok, I drive a minivan...not so little....but it's a bug compared to that big bus!). I think today you will all hear me gasp with relief from wherever you are when that yellow bus comes up over the hill to our stop!

I also got hit with a bug over the weekend, so I wasn't able to participate in Sunday's High Hopes challenge. The challenge is to use metal or wire on your card.....go check out the details & fun creations HERE!

I did get a card made a few days ago though....using a Penny Black stamp that I believe I picked up very cheaply at a rummage sale!! Gotta love those deals!!



The stamp is called Hook, Line & Sinker. I colored the image with my Copic markers....I've been gathering quite a nice collection & decided I'd really better start using them more often!! The papers are SU's Basic Gray, PTI's Sweet Blush, & K&Company AB Lotus. I used my Circle Nesties & Blossom Nesties to cut the image....added lots of Stickles to the bottom layer....3 metallic Dew Drops in the corner....& finished with LOTS of stitching.




A close up the of adorable hedgie...oooooo that picture is a bit bright...sorry about that!!




And here is the inside, all finished & pretty. Yep, I copied all the details from the front except the bow & the Dew Drops. All it needs is a matching handmade envelope & it's all ready to go!!!

I wanted to say thank you to Kim for passing on to me this cute award that I have not seen before!! Check out her blog for some fantastically fun projects! Thanks so much Kim...you made my day!!




One more thing.....I know I'm really gabby today....BUT I wanted to share with you some AWESOME talent. I'm sure a certain friend is sick of hearing me talk about it....hi Dianne LOL....but I am a member of an Ebay seller group called The Paper Hen House, & I am completely obsessed with them. They are all scrappers....& they are AMAZING!!! I have never scrapped a thing....I am working on something that I started last fall & have yet to complete. But these ladies are my idols & they inspire me. Every day I ogle every item they list on Ebay. I am so lucky to be part of this greatly talented group. Here is the link to the TPHH auctions....even if you don't need anything or want to buy anything, please go check them out!! These items are so fun to look at!!

Ok, I am done now....have a great Tuesday & thanks for reading my ramblings!!!

Recipe Thursday returns....& the Martha score board is at 7 Kids!

Hi all & Happy Thursday!! I haven't had time to be creative lately, & since it's Thursday I thought I'd post a recipe! I haven't done that in a while!! I just made this last weekend & since it's so easy & soooo yummy I thought it would be a great recipe to share!!

I first tried this about 20 years ago, at a food day at work. The person who made it shared the recipe, & I kept it for years. Well, when I went to make it last weekend I couldn't find it anywhere!! It must be a very common, very popular recipe though, because I had no trouble finding it in the land of Google!


CREAM CHEESE SQUARES

2 (8 oz) cans crescent roll dough
2 (8 oz) pkgs cream cheese
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350. Grease a 9x13 pan. Press one can of the crescent rolls into the bottom of the prepared pan. In a medium bowl, mix together the cream cheese, 1 cup of sugar & vanilla until smooth & creamy. Spread over the crescent layer. Unroll the second can of rolls 7 lay them on top of the cream cheese layer. Do not press down. Pour the melted butter over the entire pan. Combine the remaining 1/4 cup sugar & cinnamon; sprinkle over the top. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the top is crisp & golden.


Of course, ANYTHING with cream cheese is yummy!! Can you believe that I actually don't like cream cheese by itself?? Like on a bagel.....uh-uh. But any recipe with cream cheese as an ingredient is a favorite of mine!! If you make this, be sure to tell me how much you LOVE it!


And a bit of news in the stamping world......the highly sought-after Martha Stewart score board is now available at 7 Kids College Fund!! Click HERE to get yours!! You'd better be quick....I hear these are verrrrrrrry popular!!!

Have a great night!!

Soggy Tilda

Happy Tuesday!! Hope you are having a great week!! We got more snow today....shocking, I know!! I am soooo ready for spring!!




Well this is KIND of a spring image.....it's raining, not snowing!! She's actually called Tilda in Spring Rain, although I call her Soggy Tilda. I have a habit of renaming my Tildas to suit my needs, lol. I got her in my last order from 7 Kids College Fund....& believe me I earned her!! Every time I went to order this one....gone!! Seems Soggy Tilda is very popular! I colored her with my Prismas....& because I made an oops while trying to make the raindrops sparkly...I had to stamp the image again, I cut Tilda out & just glued her in place. I used my Labels 4 Nesties to cut it out ....(don't forget you can preorder the FABULOUS new Spellbinders HERE!) & made it all sparkly pretty with Stickles all around the edge, plus a bit on the umbrella. The papers are Bazzill Dots (the black), Basic Grey Sugar Rush & Papertrey Ink Spring Moss. I finally splurged & when I bought more of the wonderful white paper from them, I got the multi pack of all the colors!! They are soooooo pretty! But I'm sure you already knew that :) Added some Primas with Dew Drops in the centers, along with some punched leaves. I tell ya, that Martha was a GENIUS when she came out with that branch punch! I use it on just about every card I make!!




Isn't she a doll?? Cutest little soggy Tilda I've ever seen!!

I'm off to enjoy a peaceful evening! My kids wouldn't stop bickering so guess what....they are in bed & it's only 7:45!! Ha!! That'll show 'em!! Sometimes it's good to be the grown up!