my Stamp BOX: Pearl Ex Tutorial

Want to learn how to make this shimmery Christmas card?

Click here for the tutorial!

Creative Concepts - Second Quarter 2009

Today's a sharing day! Here are five cards that I had published in the 2nd Quarter Issue of Hobby Lobby's Creative Concepts magazine. Click on each image for a closer view. Enjoy!

Express Lane Video: Alcohol Inks

Today I'm sharing another video tutorial on the Scrapbook {Express}ions blog. This video shows two ways of using Adirondack alcohol inks and metallic mixatives. Take a look!

Get in Shape!

Today is challenge day at Caardvarks! Our sponsor for this challenge is Scrapbook News & Review. Check out the wealth of information on their site - it's jam-packed with good stuff! They are also offering up a 3 month subscription to SN&R magazine as the prize. Thanks, SNR!

For this challenge, create a **NEW** SHAPED CARD and upload to Caardvarks via Mr. Linky by June 3rd at Midnight PST. By "shaped card" we basically mean anything other than square or rectangular. Be sure to check out the 'Varks DT sample cards for this challenge - they are nothing short of astounding!

For most of our recent challenges, the 'Varks designers have been taking turns creating "Caards & More" projects. Today is my turn! For our shaped challenge I scouted out a wooden object to alter that had an interesting shape. I found this wooden mirror at Hobby Lobby and went from there. I have a few friends who are new to scrapbooking, so I decided to post some steps for easy altering projects they could try.

I started by removing the mirror insert and painting the wood frame, taking special care to cover any edges and creases that would be difficult to cover with paper.

Once dry, I used a thin coat of Mod Podge on the front of the frame and adhered it to the wrong side of my chosen patterned paper.

I used a craft knife to cut away excess paper from the frame and sanded the edges smooth using several different files in the Basic Grey Precision File set.

I used a Colorbox Fluid Chalk ink pad to distress all the paper edges then applied a sealing top coat of Mod Podge.

The price tag on the kick stand for the mirror was really difficult to remove, so I simply covered that piece with patterned paper. I opted not to cover the entire back because it would have been tricky to work around the hinge.

Once the top coat of Mod Podge was dry I had fun adding embellishments such as flowers, chipboard with Stickles and bling. I inserted the mirror to complete the project. The shape of the frame gave me some inspiration to create a flower-shaped card for this challenge as well.

I cut one flower from the Doodlecharms cartidge on my Cricut. I used the flower die cut as a template to create a card in the same shape, tracing on a larger piece of cardstock then folding it in half. I cut the center piece for the flower from coordinating paper and added more goodies such as the flower, ribbon, rub on and Stickles. The flower petals and leaves were enhanced with chalk ink as well.

Want to see another awesome card-turned-project? Check out Mel's blog for her adorable creation and all the detailed steps for how to create it. I just wish I was small enough to use it! ☺

Scout Hike

Here are some photos from our cub scout hike this week. Enjoy!

SIWL: Sweet Bracket Album

Today I'm sharing a fun mini album I made for Say It With Letters. Click here to view all the inside pages of my album.

This Heather Bailey Freshcuts Bracket Album kit is loaded with this popular bracket-shaped album and all the supplies you need to create a gorgeous project. Check out all the paper, ribbon, bling, flowers, buttons and glittery chipboard you get in this kit. After loading up my pages with plenty of embellishments I still had supplies left over to make a few cards.

If you're looking for kits like this or wooden shapes and letters to alter, Say It With Letters (Damboise Designs) is your place to shop! Their selection and customer service are top notch. Deb also loves sharing completed projects from her customers, so send in your photos once you are finished. Enjoy!

Scrapbook {Express}ions: Ad Inspiration Challenge

Would you like to win these Bo Bunny stamps? Join us at the Scrapbook {Express}ions blog for an ad inspiration challenge. Create your layout and add it to our Flickr group by Wednesday May 20th at 5 PM EDT to be eligible to win.

Scrapbook {Express}ions: Altered Clipboard

Have you ever tried altering a clipboard? They were all the rage a few years ago, but I never made any until recently. This one is for a friend from church, and I have some in the works as teacher gifts. Check out the tutorial I posted for making them!

My Mane Man

Here it is, the long-awaited Zutter idea book! We first found out that Matthew's Halloween 2007 mini album was going to be included in this publication nearly a year ago. It wasn't until January 2009 that we found out he was going to be on the cover!

He loves looking at "his book" and pointing it out when we see it in stores. No pressure for Mom, huh?

Happy Mother's Day!

Here's a quick post to share the altered canvas I made my mom for Mother's Day. Details are here. Many blessings to all mothers on this special day!

Scrapbook {Express}ions Sketch Challenge

Join us for a sketch challenge at the Scrapbook {Express}ions blog this week. Entries are due Wednesday May 13th by 5 PM EDT in our Flickr gallery. Details for this layout are here. Have a great scrapping weekend!

Caardvarks: Don't Quote Me

It's challenge day at Caardvarks! Unity Stamp Co graciously supplied the Crew with stamps to use for their sample cards, and they will be providing a bountiful stampy prize to the winner of this challenge!

Create a ***NEW*** card incorporating a verse or quote and link us to it using Mr. Linky by Midnight on May 17th, PST. Be sure to link us *directly* to your blog post or gallery card. Good luck - we can't wait to see your entries!

Our newest feature at 'Varks is Caards & More. Be sure to check out these incredible projects by Heidi, Mel, Tanis and Adela. They are rather impressive!

I used Unity's verse stamp on my card above as well as Core'dinations White Wash cardstock, We R Memory Keepers Teen Angst paper and a Martha Stewart border punch. It's so tough to photograph sparkly stuff on projects - take my word that the main words of the stamped image and the accent circles are especially pretty!

So find a verse or quote that inspires you, and link us up to your card. Can't wait to see!

my Stamp BOX: Sketch Blog Hop

It's National Scrapbooking Day

with all the my Stamp BOX designers!

This evening we are sharing tons of fun stamped projects with sketches to match! If you just stumbled upon this post, please go back and start from the beginning of the blog hop. You'll be happy you did!

Here's my sketch! I scrapped some photos from my son's recent preschool field trip to the grocery store. I used the Letterboxes alphabet and the & sign from the Oversized stamps from my Stamp BOX. This alphabet is so easy to handcut, especially for those of us who aren't the straightest with a pair of scissors. I had some fun with Prismacolor pencils and Gamsol on the & as well.

So who wants to win some free stamps? You have two ways to win:

* Continue blog hopping and comment on each one of the participating designer's blogs. You must have comments on all 10 blogs to win. A winner will be drawn at random.

* For a second chance to win, simply create a project using one or more of the sketches you've seen on your blog hopping journey. Link all creations back to the Stamp BOX blog. Each project you complete will give you a ballot for the second stamp set. You have until Monday, May 4th at 11pm EST to link your creations back to the Stamp BOX blog.

So get hoppin'! Up next is Allison Cope. Check out what great stuff she has to share today! ☺

Scrapbook {Express} Lane Video: Core'dinations

Happy National Scrapbooking Day!!

Today at the Scrapbook {Express}ions blog we're kicking off a brand new feature. Twice a month we'll be sharing {Express} Lane videos featuring products and technique tutorials. Today's video is all about Core'dinations cardstock. Come take a look!

I also want to give a great big shout out and thank you to my college pal, Greg Lutz. Greg has graciously allowed me to use an original composition of his for my video theme music. Thanks so much, Greg!!