thinking of you Rainbow

Yes, I've been MIA. I haven't visited any blogs in months. I'm a horrible blogger. :(

But I just wanted to pop in real quick to post this card. I thought it turned out cute.

I used my circle Nestabilities to create the rainbow. So easy and so much fun!

I've been working on Operation Write Home cards. Trying to make as many as I can for the Oct. 10th deadline. I hope to share those cards soon!! xo

Stamps: PTI Banner Builder, Hero Arts sentiment

Ink: SU Real Red and Pumpkin Pie

Paper: PTI White and Spring Rain

Misc: Circle Nesties, PTI Cloud dies and banner die, Amuse butterfly die

MIM #80 Baby Garland Card

Yesterday I made another Garland card. A very special friend of mine just had a baby and I wanted to make a cute card. I used a few different stamp sets from a few different companies.

On the inside I used the Seed Packet die to hold a gift card. I wanted to show you guys how perfectly the new Counting my Blessings die fit on top of it.

That's it for now! Off to go scrub some floors. Fun stuff. 

Stamps: PTI Counting my Blessings, Through the Trees, Commumique Sentiments, Tag its #3, Hanging Out, Pink Cat Studio Sweet Pea 

Ink: SU Limeade, Pumpkin Pie and Crumb Cake, Amuse Grass, Versamagic Turquoise Gem

Paper: PTI Hawaiian Shores, Rustic Cream, White

Misc: PTI Seed Packet Die, Twine, pop dots

MIM # 80: Making Garland

Now that the girlies are in school I can spend some time in my neglected craft room!

I was excited to see this week's MIM and ran right for my TT: Christmas set.

I used the boughs from Bells and Boughs and then sponged the edges a bit to soften it up.

I had a lot of fun with this card and hope to make a few more before the week is up!!

Thanks for stopping by! 

Stamps: PTI Tiny Treats Christmas and Bells and Boughs

Ink: SU Real Red, Memento Bamboo Leaves

Paper: PTI White and Pure Poppy

Misc: Twine

Project Life-Step One Organization

I've wanted to get back into scrapbooking for a long time now. I just haven't been able to dedicate the time it takes. I've been a fan of Project Life for a couple of years but never fully jumped on the bandwagon for a few reasons. Sure, I bought all the supplies, hoarded them, but never used them. I finally took the plunge and bought the Clementine Core Kit pack on Amazon when it was for sale a couple of weeks ago.

I like the new packaging it comes in. It keeps everything all neat and tidy. But I am a visual person. I need to see things in order to use them. So I scoured Pinterest and Google images for ways to store the kit. The only thing that caught my eye was this organizer, which of course is discontinued. And this neat wooden box.

What I wanted needed to be able to hold the 3x4 cards, the 4x6 cards, my patterned paper packs and scrapbook stamp sets. It also must be portable.

Enter Target. Aaahhh!! {angels singing} I brought one of the 3x4 cards with me to see where it would fit. I tried a few different organization trays. I found one that I liked okay. It fit the 3x4 cards perfectly and the 4x6 would fit too, but it still wasn't perfect. It was only $5 so I brought it home to decide.

But when I was on my way out I walked by the Itso aisle. I found something that has everything that I needed! I was so excited!! Yes, organization thrills me. Hehe! (Here is the online link for what I purchased.)

In the above photo, you can see how it fits the 4x6 cards side by side nicely.

Here are all the cards from the Clementine Core Kit. On the left are cards that I found online as free printables. Love that!

The Itso container fits perfectly in my Ikea Expedit shelf. I had to squeeze it in there, but it fits!

 Here is the beginning of my Project Life area. It will sit near the printer for easy access. It's also going to be in the family area so that the girls can make their own pages. I plan on having my scrapbook album on top of the shelf open to the current page so I can add to it as the week goes on. 

I just love the Expedit series. Actually, I'm going back to Ikea today to return this small one and get a larger one! 

I hope you found this somewhat helpful! If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask in the comment section or email me. :)

PTI Blog Hop July 2012

It's been a while since I've hopped with Papertrey Ink. I just couldn't resist the challenge of using these beautiful colors and this gorgeous picture.

The Sweet Life is by far, my favorite flower set. EVER. I have played around with it every day since I got it.

It goes perfectly with the Mega Gracious Vases set.

Hope you are enjoying the hop!!

Stamps: PTI Sweet Life, Communique Sentiments

Ink: PTI Melon Berry, SU Calypso Coral, Amuse Papaya, PTI Summer Sunrise

Paper: PTI Summer Sunrise, Simply Chartreuse, White

Misc: PTI Mega Gracious Vases Die, SU leaf die, PTI Woodgrain Impression Plate, pop dots

My stamp storage

Today I received my PTI July Release order. That's the fastest my release order has arrived in a couple of years! I was so excited to see it today!!

I thought I would take this opportunity to show you how I store my stamp sets now.

I switched all of my clear stamps from CD cases to binders. It wasn't as intimidating or as overwhelming as I thought it would be. As a matter of fact, it is such a perfect storage system for me, that the hours it took me to switch it all over was definitely worth it.

So this is how the stamp set arrives. Index label, stamps on acetate and tip sheet.

The first thing I do is line up the index label with the stamps.

I cut the index label down to size and cut off the name of the stamp set.

Next, I adhere the index label right onto the acetate.

I smooth it down carefully.

Then the stamp set name label goes right onto the tip sheet.

I slip it into my Martha Stewart page pocket. The $15 sets only needs half of a page, the $24 sets use both upper and lower pockets.

Then it goes into the proper binder. 

(Right now my Flowers/Butterflies binder is stuffed to the gills. Shocking, right?)

So when I use the set, I just flip through the pages, find my set and take it out to use it. Once I'm finished, I have the tip sheet in the pocket with the stamp set label on it.

This system is SO quick and EASY. 

And cheap! My only expenses are the binders and the pocket pages. Each costing about $3.

Plus, it's condensed down so much that it gives me much more room to hide, er, 

I mean store my stamp sets.

Now, if my kids either go to bed early tonight, or stay occupied enough in our A/C house tomorrow, I might be able to blog the cards I am making.

Hope you are all staying cool in this heat!

Teacher's Card set

I've posted this card before...I decided to make a set for my kids' teachers.

Please excuse the terrible photos.

I'm mostly posting this for myself so I can reference them later on. :)

Dynamic Duos #9 My Home

Real quick card I made this morning. 

I saw this week's Dynamic Duos and knew I need to use pink as my choice. 

I absolutely LOVE the Kraft ribbon.

I just ordered some Crumb Cake ink last night.

So today I used PTI's Kraft ink which I love, but I cannot get used to the odd shape.

If you look closely you can see the vellum clouds.

Sending this one to Operation Write Home also.

Happy 50th Anniversary!

My parents are celebrating their 50th Wedding Anniversary today. I can't believe it. I guess because when I was little people who celebrated their 50th were very, very old with gray hair. Not my parents. They look and act so young! 

About a month ago, my father asked me to make a card for my Mom. I was flattered and more than happy to do it! I thought about it. And thought. And thought. And thought.

Finally it was 3 days before their Anniversary. WHAT?!! 

In my typical procrastination fashion I waited until the very last minute. I am talking glued the last pearl on the card at 4:45pm when I had to get it to the post office by 5. 

When will I ever learn!?!!

I gold embossed the rose on the envelope for a finishing touch.

Stamps: Wedded Bliss by Flourishes, Birthday Builder by Amuse

Ink: Versamark

Paper: PTI, misc patterned paper that I had hoarded

Misc: Gold Embossing Powder, PTI Dies

This next card I made 2 weeks ago when I was playing with vellum. 

I decided to send it to my parents.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY MOM & DAD!!!

WE LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU DEARLY!!!

XOXOXOXO

Color Q Challenge #143

I thought I'd take a try at the Color Q Challenge #143. I recently bought a set of SU spots so now I have most of the colors. Makes me so happy because now I can join in all of these wonderful color challenges!

I made a few of the same card so that I can ship them off to Operation Write Home. 

Hope you are having a good weekend so far!

Stamps: Hero Arts, Papertrey Ink

Ink: SU Riding Hood Red, So Saffron, Pacific Point, Amuse Slate

Paper: PTI Pure Poppy

Misc: Pop dots