you are so cute

I followed a sketch by Liz Chidester for the current Paper Secrets challenge. The papers are from The Good Life by Fancy Pants. The title chipboard from He Said by Teresa Collins. The felt embellishments are by Basic Grey, which I rescued from clearance at Archiver's.

These two pieces of flair are by American Crafts.

"Dream Big" chipboard piece is from Indie Chic by MME. The journaling tag is from 

Monstrosity by Sassafras.

The hearts and blue burst thing are rub ons by Fancy Pants. The brad is from Ad Lib by BoBunny.

Thanks for stopping by!

Celebrate with style

I hate spring.

Allergies. Frustration.

Boo.

But then there's this card....

I followed one of Claudia's layouts. I even used the same paper from Miss Caroline by MME. The stamp is by PSX. I colored it with Prismacolor pencils and blended with the marker. The surrounding flowers are all made from Heartfelt Creations stamps and dies. The sentiment is by Hero Arts.

CHALLENGES:

Simon Says- Anything Goes

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Earlier this week, I participated in the Heartfelt Creations Design Team Alumni blog hop. I couldn't get over feeling like my card wasn't finished.

The previous card.

UPDATE

There we go! I added filler leaves and a sentiment. Finished!

Thanks for stopping by!

Thoughts of You

Welcome to my post for the Heartfelt Creations Alumni Blog Hop!

Be sure to leave a comment on all the participating blogs. One participant will be chosen to receive a $25 Gift Certificate. Be sure the check the Winner Announcement on Sat, Mar 30. If you win, send an email to Emma Lou and write "winner of the January Alumni Hop" in the subject line.

Hop ends on Friday, Mar 29th at midnight.

I was inspired by Claudia's style for this card. Papers are from This and That by Echo Park.

 These flowers were made with Posy Patch stamps and dies and Tattered Blossoms stamps and dies.

This stamp is retired and is called Thoughts of You. I colored the image with Prismacolor pencils and blended with the Blender Marker. After cutting with Spellbinder dies, I inked the edges with Broken China Distress Ink.

Selma http://selmasstampingcorner.blogspot.com/

Dina Kowal http://mamadinis.blogspot.com

Emilia van den Heuvel http://few-favourite-things.blogspot.nl/

Alissa Well http://willrunforstamps.blogspot.com/--- YOU ARE HERE

Sarah Miller http://plainandfancypapercrafts.blogspot.com/

Lisa Allen http://toddandlisacreations.blogspot.com/

Thanks for stopping by!

CHALLENGES:
Simon Says Stamp- Easter/Spring

FILE: Help Wanted

I am thrilled to share this layout today! This incident where my husband broke his wrist in January has been scrapped three times now. I wasn't satisfied with the first one so I took it apart and rearranged it. It was better but not good enough. Third time's a charm!

And it just so happens that Glitz Design has teamed up with Gossamer Blue for a Guest Designer Challenge. I'm so grateful for this challenge because it pointed me to the perfect paper for this layout.

I've been hoarding these papers from Scarlett by Glitz Design for a couple of years now. They're so pretty and so edgy! This layout design was inspired by a sketch at Artful Delight- just like my first layout about this topic.

The "file" stickers are by Glitz Design. They were on the packaging as "life" but I rearranged them and paired them up with "help wanted"- a stamp by 7Gypsies.

 The arrow brad and chipboard frame have been in my stash forever. The brads are by Prima and were gifted to me by Krissy. "I do all my own stunts" is a rub on by the Paper Studio for Hobby Lobby.

An alien! I love my alien stash. This cutie is a feltie by Sassafras. The stamped numbers behind him are done with a roller doodle stamp by Glitz Design.

Thanks for stopping by!

what i love about you

Still enjoying my crafty spring break. I cooked yesterday but I didn't commit to a workout. Bah. Today! Really.

My Mind's Eye is having a Die Cut Challenge. I followed this awesome sketch by Jill for inspiration.

Most of the papers here are from American Made by MME. The wood grain paper is from Miss Caroline Dilly Dally. The checkered and polka dot paper (the little cloud) are from Complete Boy. The "Noted" spot is a sticker from Lime Twist.

 "my boy" is a stamp from Fine and Dandy (probably my favorite all time MME collection). The die cut might be Stella and Rose? Can't remember. I cut it apart but used both pieces on the layout. "What I Love About You" is the other part of that die cut. The ticket is from Lime Twist.

The blue buttons are from Stella and Rose. I added a little stitching for texture. The floss is by Making Memories. "Little Old Soul" was made with my Dymo Labeler. Love that thing. My little boy has been referred to as "an old soul" by several people. He loves adults.

So, making those straw post lookin' things was an adventure. I rolled up plain printer paper and wrapped the rolls in decorative tape. The die cut ziggy things are from Stella and Rose. The 7 is a sticker from Lime Twist.

I do love clouds on my boy layouts! These were made with Fiskars punches. The largest is outlined with a Signo pen and the other two with silver Stickles.

 Thanks for stopping by!

Check out my new camera, Y'alls!

I've been using a little Sony Cybershot for about 4 years. For Christmas 2012, I asked Amazon gift cards so I could upgrade and I intended to purchase a DSLR.

But, you know, LIFE.

Nov- New furnace

Dec- New car; invested in camping equipment

Jan- New wrist for husband- broke it in a rollerblading mishap

Feb- Little guy got the flu and exhausted all my days- pay cut

Seeing the dollar signs fade away? Me, too. Our roof is also 25 years old. I figured I should re-evaluate.

I got PSE for Christmas 2011 and have not learned to use it properly. It's still on my to-do list. Also, the folks I know that do have a DSLR seem WAY more interested in photography and learning the machine than I am. I knew I wanted to: take great pictures from a distance, shoot short videos, do a few tricks. I looked around on Amazon, did a little research, and decided that a fancier PS would be great for me.

I chose this 

Canon PowerShot SX500 IS

I received it yesterday and you better believe I was playing with it at midnight after the battery charged.

Yesterday, I took this photo near a well lit window with my Sony Cybershot. Even with editing in iPhoto, there's still too much blue and it's not crispy clear. I always have to be careful about when I take my photos during the day. 

I finally decided to try again and took this in direct sunlight. I tried indirect sunlight and it was just awful. This is washed out but it's crispy clear so I went ahead and posted it on my blog and for a challenge.

I took this photo with my new Canon! At 11 am, it would be too early in the day for the Sony. This is crispy with true colors! I shot this photo by my usual well lit window.

The Canon is a keeper.

Spring Butterfly

It's a crafty sort of spring break! I'm still in my pajamas, sipping coffee, and poking at the computer. I MUST work out today and I MUST cook good food. No more Easy Mac.

Today's card was inspired by a sketch at Artful Delight and by Gabrielle's "Congrats" card.

Papers are from The Bright Side of Life by The ScrapCake. The Kraft die cuts are from Decorative Butterfly by Spellbinders for Heartfelt Creations. The doily cut is from Floral Doily Motif by Spellbinders. The butterfly is a sticker by K and Company. The pink pleated trim is by Maya Road and the bead trim is from my stash.

CHALLENGES:

Artful Delight- Card Sketch

Thanks for stopping by!

happiness is...

I had a wonky whale of a time getting good pictures of my layout today. Or I'm getting super picky. Or my eyeballs are failing.

I do like the layout. Once again, Artful Delight offers up a sketch that understands me and my style. Anytime I want to participate in a challenge, Artful Delight is the first place I visit.

Of course, I took the clean and simple sketch and totally junked it up- Alissa style.

My sister Vivian took this awesome photo of me and my little boy last summer.

Everything except the letter stickers came from my Counterfeit Kit for March. The papers are from Ad Lib by BoBunny. The polaroid journaling spot was cut from paper by American Crafts. The doodled box with a heart in it is a rub on by Fancy Pants.

The banner sticker is from Sassafras. I used a Micron pen to scatter my journaling on the layout.

"so sweet" is a stamp from Fine and Dandy by My Mind's Eye. The brad on the right is from Ad Lib by BoBunny.

Did you notice my random pen bordering? What do you think of it?

CHALLENGES:

Artful Delight- March Sketch Challenge

Counterfeit Kit- March- Vera Bradley Challenge

About a Boy- Hoarders

Thanks for stopping by!

home run

Here's my layout for Pamela's World of Scrap. I turned it and adjusted a bit for some negative space. 

I used my Counterfeit Kit for March.

The papers are all by American Crafts. I love the solid color on one side! The "home run," flair, chipboard cloud, and star stickers are all by American Crafts. The polaroid tag was cut from AC paper. Ain't it cute?!! The cloud stamp and "fun under the sun" sentiment is from Prairie Hill by Pink Paislee. The banner sticker is by Sassafras.

CHALLENGES:

Pamela's World of Scrap- Sketch 231

Counterfeit Kit- All Pictures/No Journaling- I only wrote a wee statement... not journaling... not like I normally do?

best day ever

Hi, Everyone! I recently discovered Pamela's World of Scrap blog and I love how she offers her sketches three different ways: single LO, double LO, and a card. I have my card ready and I'll be back tomorrow with the single layout.

Here's my CAS card made entirely from scraps. The papers are from Flea Market by Colorbok and Autumn Leaves. The sentiment is from Birthday Wishes by Hero Arts.

CHALLENGES:

Pamela's World of Scrap- March Card Sketch

Simon Says Stamp Challenge- A Bit O' Green

Counterfeit Kit Challenge- March

For someone with limited funds, Counterfeit Kits definitely keeps things fun!

This month's kit is inspired by the awesome Soda Shoppe Kit by Noel Mignon. I just LOVE the colors and versatility of all the elements in the kit.

I had a good time mixing and matching my kit. I pulled papers from Junior by American Crafts, which was RAKed to me by my sister Vivian. I matched them up with Ad Lib by BoBunny. I LOVED that collection when it came out but was really disappointed in my one LO using Ad Lib. So, I definitely need to try again. Over to the right is one of my beloved Sassafras banner sticker sheets. Never used!

The polaroid die cuts are leftover from my January kit. You also see flair, Sassafras cardstock stickers, Heidi Grace chipboard stickers, and a camera by American Crafts.

I threw in a couple of my recent stamp purchases. How cute are those sets by MME and Pink Paislee?! I also have some old rub ons by Fancy Pants. I used to hoard rub ons so I'm set for life. I also added Ad  Lib brads, mustache stickers (all the rage these days), and dinosaur stickers. My boy pages always feature some creature or other.

I also have these awesome cardstock sticker books by American Crafts. I'm determined to use at least three stickers. Behind the sticker books is the Ad Lib cardstock sticker sheet.

I'm on spring break this week so I hope to be a scrappin' fool!

Thanks for stopping by!

May Your Day

I needed something quick and fabulous so I CASEd this card by Andrea Ewen.

Papers are from Charlotte's Dream by Kaisercraft. The decorative border punch is by Fiskars. The sentiment stamp is by Darcie's. I cut the sentiment with a Spellbinders die and accented with Tim Holtz Distress Ink. The trims and button are from my stash.

CHALLENGES:

Simon Says Stamp- Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by!