COMING SOON...

...Hello blog friends!  I've been away but am about to start on a whole new venture in papercrafting.  Stay tune for my announcement coming Labor Day!

How to Take Better Photos for Your Scrapbooks

Wendy Whitacre from Blue Lily photography shares tips for taking better photos for your scrapbooks.

To learn more about Wendy, visit www.bluelilyphotography.com.

Opposites Attract

Hi all!  It took me until the last week of the month but I got my layout done!  Boy, did this month fly by!  My DH and I are about as different as two people can be and it shows in this picture.  This is an old pic of us and even though none of the colors from Happy Times are actually in the photo (hence the reason for the added green accents throughout the page.  I wanted to pick up the green in the carpet!  Also, it matched the green leaves and my blue suit is not too far off the blueish leaves in the paper!) it still made for a cute layout.

All the products are from CTMH Happy Times except the gems, doily, wooden couple accent and green cardstock.  I used Copic pens to color my couple to match the paper and to continue my opposite theme.  The letters were cut from my Cricut Expressions 2.

Enjoy!
Debra :-)

Sisters

While looking for the pictures I wanted to use with this Charlotte paper packet, I found these from 2003!  I still like the way it turned out!

Enjoy This Happy Day!

One of the MANY things I love about Close To My Heart is the fact that all of their products coordinate from one season to the next!  Check out the following layout.

 I used patterned paper from CTMH Paper Fundamentals pack I bought last year and patterned paper and accessories from CTMH Fanfare paper pack.  I can't even remember what year this set came out!

Since I was making a layout using pictures from a visit with my daughter to the Washington DC mall, I was going for a patriotic look using red, white and blue paper.

The Fanfare stickease was so much fun to use!  And as you can see, the Red and Blue Fundamentals papers work nicely with the Fanfare patterned paper.  I still wasn't completely satisfied with the layout so I decided to add the banners, that came with the Fanfare stickase set, at the top of each layout to complete my project.

Now I have a nice memory of our fun day at the mall....that happened about 10 years ago!  (Have I mentioned lately that I have a LOT of pictures I have to scrap!)

Until next time, be blessed!  Debra :-)

HAPPY EASTER CARDS

Hi!  It has been FOR-EVER since I've created things to post online.  But I feel like I'm getting my mojo back and so I'm starting out with a few Easter cards I made yesterday and this evening.

I like this one because it really shows how versatile (and timeless) Close To My Heart products are!  The patterned paper is from the Chantilly paper pack from one or two years ago.  The washi tape (three different colors) was from last year.  I've had the cardstock AT LEAST four years and the swirl gems is at least a couple years old.  The Happy Easter stamp came out last year...I think.  The point is, it matches so nicely!!!  The flower and the other gems are the only thing not from CTMH and yet I've had them a couple of years as well!

This adorable bunny is the reason why I wanted the Happy Easter Holiday stamp set!  After I colored the egg, I added the gems.  Again, all CTMH products except the arrow and the butterfly.

 

Now I made this card in 15 minutes!  How, you ask?  The topper is actually a 5.25"x4" die-cut cardstock from an old package of K&Company set!  The flower, bird and butterfly already had glitter on them to make them stand out.  I just inked the edges of my card, stamped the sentiment on a scrap of cardstock and cut it out with decorative scissors and mounted it on the card with a mounting strip.  Then I just added the bling!

 

Well, I hope you enjoyed these cards.  Hopefully, I can get more items made now that things have quieted down in my house! 

 

I plan to add a layout before the holiday but incase I don't, I hope everyone has a BLESSED EASTER!  HE IS RISEN!   :-)





Sew Mice Friends

 

Cross-stitch is becoming my favorite hobby!  I get a kick out of counting those tiny squares and using the thread to "paint" a cute picture or design.  In keeping with my resolve to curve my crafting spending this year, I decided to work on this adorable Picture Kit from Design Works to hang in my craft room!  I've had this for about 3 yrs!  I found it in JoAnn Fabrics and IMMEDIATELY fell in love.  But I was so intimidated by all of the detail that I didn't touch it....Until Now!

 



I like to use hoops and since this is a big project (9" x 22"),  I rolled in each end of the aida cloth and attached mini binder clips to secure them.  I covered the area with tissue paper before attaching the hoop to keep it as clean as humanly possible, tearing away the paper as I get to the section I want to work on.  You experienced cross-stitchers out there will notice I have not worked in the white sections yet.  I've read that it's best to stitch white sections last to prevent it from getting soiled before the project is completed.

Aren't they the cutest things!! I remove the hoop when I know it will be awhile before I can get back to it and just roll the cloth to prevent creases.  I'm fully aware that it may possibly take me half the year, or more!, to finish this.  I don't care.  It's just such a joy to see these adorable little characters come to life!  I'll show updates from time to time so check back and watch the magic happen!

The Coloring Studio

If you want to find a way to relax from the comforts of your home, try coloring!!  As we all know, adult coloring books are all the rage now!  I've bought a few but one that is quickly becoming my favorite is The Coloring Studio by Stampington & Company!  This was the first page and, trust me, the rest of the book does not disappoint! 

The drawings are so different yet so appealing.  I've used colored pencils and markers so far and absolutely love the results.  I got this book at Barnes and Noble but you can also get it online at Stampington & Co.

I'm posting the ones I'm very happy with on my Instagram - @happyscrapn48 - so check them out!  Debra :-)

Happy New Year!!!

Hi everyone!  Can you believe it?!  It is now 2016!  I don't know about you, but there are a lot of changes I want to make this year.  Among others, I hope to be more active on my blog. 

And since this is National Papercrafting Month, this will be a great time to start sharing more layouts 

 



and cardmaking projects.

 

 

 

One more major thing I will attempt to do this year is to buy less scrapbook supplies and use what I have in my stash this year.  (Did I really just announce that to the world!?!)  The fact of the matter is that I have a miniature craft store in my crafting room!  I'm sure a lot of you can relate but it is getting to the point where I can't concentrate on my projects for seeing the closet and drawers bursting at the seams with supplies!lol

 

So, let's see how creative I can be in using just what I have in my craftroom.  If you would like to join me in this quest to buy less and use what you have more often, leave me a comment and let me know how you are doing and  I will keep you posted on my progress also.  It will be neat to see how I pull this off because I LOVE TO BUY SCRAPBOOK SUPPLIES!!!

 

In the meantime, HAVE A BLESSED NEW YEAR!!

Debra :-)