First Sketch with Inspired Crafters!!

My first completed scrapbook page for 2010. Oh how I've missed scrapping! This definitely isn't my best, but it's a start. It's so weird going from a 5x4 canvas to 8x11. Thank goodness for sketches! Of course me being, well me, I couldn't make the sketch exact. I thought I'd scale it down from 12x12 to 8-1/2x11 since I'm just getting back into it.

This one was a nice one to ease me back into the swing of things. It's from Page Maps and it was chosen by my friend Banu for our Inspired Crafters Saturday Scrapbook Challenge. A few of us started a blog so that we can have our own challenges. I'm very excited about it! Banu has done an excellent job of getting things started and organized. Thanks Banu!!

I'll be back soon with more pages.

Stamps: PTI New Leaf & Fancy Flourishes, CTMH Today's Date
Ink: PTI Aqua Mist, SU Pumpkin Pie
Paper: SU Pumpkin Pie, PTI Aqua Mist, My Mind's Eye Bloom & Grow
Misc: QK Silhouette (Hero arts butterfly), Amienne font for title

Thanks a Melon!

To my friends who encouraged me yesterday, I thank you. Each one of you warmed my heart more than you know.

 

I know you can't see it, but I made her feet, ponytails and the watermelon 3-D with pop dots. Added some stickles for some shine. I haven't played with my copics in months so I need some practice desperately!

Stamps: High Hopes (stamped image from my friend Angela)
Ink: Memento Black
Paper: PTI Raspberry Fizz & Select White, SU Certainly Celery
Misc: Copics, brads, Nesties Ribbon tag, prima flowers, flat back pearls, PTI Raspberry Fizz Swiss Dots Satin Ribbon

Fear

It's something I live with every day. Oddly enough, I never realized this until recently.

I'm afraid of heights.
I'm afraid of disappointing people.
I'm afraid of failure.
I'm afraid of people not liking me.
I'm afraid of my kids getting kidnapped, hurt or killed.
I'm afraid of new situations.
I'm afraid of living up to my own expectations.
I'm afraid of change.

I'm just afraid of too many things.

And it's got to change.

They may not seem like huge fears but each one of them prevent me from doing things that I wish I had the courage to do.

So... to start off the New Year I decided to tackle one of my fears. Change. I've been wearing my hair pretty long for a while. But I've always envied the women who could pull off short haircuts. I've never been able to do it. But I found a great stylist and knew if anyone could do it right, she could.




So I chopped off a good 6 inches. You should have seen the mess of hair on the floor. My girls kept commenting on just how much there was.

I know many of you have seen this picture already, so you don't have to comment. :) I think I am mainly doing this for me. To document the fact that I can overcome a fear and I can make a change and actually survive it.



Here's to a New Me in the New Year. HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!
xoxoxo

The last batch

 

This is the last of them. For a while I hope!! I did enjoy making them all but since I left it for the last minute it was quite stressful getting them all done in time.

The first one was for her librarian, the next was for her guidance counselor, her teacher who likes Green & Blue. Then my other daughter wanted some for her teachers. When I gave them out yesterday, I got some good feedback. I hope they can use them.

I'd list all the products like usual, but it's just like the previous notepads. All products PTI. Except for the actual notepads inside. I got them for a steal! Paid $5 at Walmart for two 6 packs (which gave me 24). Then I got an additional 24 notepads for free at Office Depot since the cutting machine didn't cut them exact. But I think they may still be usable....

I have a few Christmas projects almost ready to share this week. If the girls allow me some free time I'll get them done to show you all. Thanks for stopping by! Each and everyone of you make me smile!!

First try with my new Silhouette

See that pretty light pink design at the bottom of the notepad? It was cut out with my new Silhouette. I've only played with the machine a few times but I am smitten!! I added some Raspberry Fizz rhinestones to jazz it up, a damask image and a pretty little bow. I don't know about you, but I always seem to have a mile long list of things to do. And for some reason the list never shortens no matter how much I get done! So I figure if the package that has my dreaded errands in it is pretty to look at, I might be a little bit more apt to pull out the list and actually get the things done.

Stamps: PTI Damask Designs, Take Note
Ink: PTI Sweet Blush & Raspberry Fizz
Paper: PTI Sweet Blush, Raspberry Fizz & Vintage Cream
Misc: PTI Vintage Cream Satin Ribbon, MS Heart border punch, pop dots, Silhouette



I made another one for my friend that asked me to make her some notepads for her son's teachers. Not sure if it's too frilly for her, but I tried to keep it less than mine. I added flat back pearls instead of rhinestones, some buttons and a scalloped edge. I hope she likes it.

Stamps: PTI Take Note
Ink: PTI Raspberry Fizz
Paper: PTI Sweet Blush, Raspberry Fizz & Vintage Cream
Misc: PTI Vintage Cream Grosgrain Ribbon & Pink Buttons, MS Heart border punch, flat back pearls, pop dots, Silhouette

You're Probably Sick of These...

but I had to make a few more for a friend of mine. I still have to make some for my kids' teachers. And all I wanna do is play with my new Silhouette!!

Sorry I don't have time to list the supplies individually right now. If you have any questions, just let me know! Off to make more teacher gifts....

Stamps: PTI Take Note, Damask Design, Turning a New Leaf & Friends til the End, Impression Obsession notebok stamp
Ink: PTI Rasperry Fizz, Sweet Blush, Aqua Mist, Summer Sunrise, Dark Chocolate, SU White Craft ink, Not Quite Navy,
Paper: PTI Raspberry Fizz, Blue, Aqua Mist, Vintage Cream, Summer Sunrise
Misc: PTI Ribbons & Button, MS Butterfly Punch, pop dots

Birthday Card by my 7 year old

I just wanted to share this card with you all because I thought it was so CUTE!!

Teachers Notepads

I made a couple more notepads for the girls teachers. The first one is for the Music teacher. I used my Quickutz music notes die, which I think will become obsolete very soon since I purchased a Silhouette machine!!! I found some music paper at my LSS and inked the edges.

For the Coach's notepad I wanted to keep it low key so it's pretty plain. I figure most PE teachers don't prefer bling and ribbon. ;-) I made the baseball by stamping only a part of the dotted circle that comes with the Take Note Set.



I'll be wrapping them up in these clear plastic bags that I found at Hobby Lobby. I also have some tiny bells and some pine with holly twisty things that I will be adding. And some tags that I made. I'll show you the finished gift bag when they are all finished.

Music Notepad:

Stamps: PTI Take Note
Ink: Versamark Sepia
Paper: PTI Vintage Cream & Pure Poppy, SU Creamy Caramel, misc music paper
Misc: PTI Button, Cream Ribbon, misc twine, QK notes die

Coach's Notepad:

Stamps: PTI Take Note
Ink: SU Not Quite Navy, Ruby Red
Paper: PTI Pure Poppy& Select White, misc sports paper, misc navy blue cardstock from my stash
Misc: Nestabilities

Holiday Things To Do

 

The month of December always has me running around with tons of things to do. So while I was making some notepads for teachers and friends I decided to make one for myself. I tried a few different techniques with this pad. I layered buttons, added pearls and I used a strip of tacky tape and sprinkled with some Martha Stewart gold glitter. I also masked the "Holiday Planner" stamp and used it with the "Things to do stamp".

I added some of the girls fake snow to give it a nice wintery affect. We rarely get any snow so this is the best we're probably gonna get.

I have a few more of these notepads to share. Stay tuned! (And stay warm. It's been FREEZING here lately!)

Stamps: PTI Take Note, Holiday Button Bits
Ink: SU Old Olive & Ruby Red
Paper: SU Old Olive, Ruby Red, Chatterbox patterned paper
Misc: Flat back pearls, MS Glitter, PTI Buttons, pop dots, EK Success Punch

A Quick Card

 

I was able to sneak away for a half hour this weekend. I was going absolutely crazy with the girls home 24/7 for NINE days. I feel so bad whenever they are home and I go stamp. But I really needed a break. I made this card and went back downstairs refreshed.

Just an FYI if you ever use the new PTI pigment ink with the Kaiser Rhinestones. Let the ink DRY first before putting them on. I was in such a rush, I didn't even think about it. Until I picked up the card to take the photo and the rhinestone slipped off the flowers. I had to re-glue them all with Crystal Effects. S'okay cause it gave me a few more minutes of quiet time. ;)

Stamps: PTI Floral Fusion & Turning a New Leaf
Ink: PTI Sweet Blush Raspberry Fizz, Martha Stewart green chalk ink
Paper: PTI Sweet Blush, Raspberry Fizz, Vintage Cream
Misc: CB Swiss Dots folder, Kaiser Rhinestones, pop dots