Catered Crop–Think Green Recipe Swap

The latest Catered Crop recipe swap is up!  With Earth Day on April 22 and National Arbor Day on April 25, it’s the perfect time to Think Green. Just make a project that includes the color green and come join our party at the Catered Crop.

For my project, I dug out a photo of of our sweet Summer was taken about a year ago.   Although I have been pretty lax about scrapbooking the last few years, I really wanted to make sure I created a page with this photo for my daughter’s scrap book.   We lost Summer, who was a member of our family for almost 15 years, in February so this page seemed especially important to me.

 

 

After finding some paper that used a lot of green in it, I used lots of various odds and ends that I found in my craft room.  I mixed various stickers and die cuts from other projects to create this page. 

As always, Linda has curated a fabulous Pinterest board to get our create mojo working.  (Don’t you just love her boards?)    You can go directly to Linda’s “Green”board by clicking on the photo below.  (I was totally excited to see that one of my projects was on the board!  Woo hoo!  It makes me feel like a crafting celebrity.)

 

 

 

After being inspired, don’t forget to come back and link your “Green” project at the Catered Crop.

 

 

 

Supplies:

• Papers:  Papertrey Kraft & Ripe Avocado CS, My Mind’s Eye Indie Chic Citron 6x6 paper pad, Starbucks coffee sleeve
• Tools: Sewing machine, Big Shoot,  Die-namics Simply Scallop die, Fiskars edge punch, Papertrey Journaling Tabs die, Sweet ‘N Sassy Stacking Hearts die
• Embellishments:  Jillibean Soup kraft mini brown alpha stickers & Vacation Soup labels, Cosmo Cricket Storytime Tiny Type stickers, Thickers Cupboard chipboard stickers, misc button, May Arts burlap twine

Challenges:

• All Crafts Challenge - 2M, 1st Monday of the month every other month, NO CARDS - (April / May) Anything but a Card

• Craft-Dee BowZ - M, E3, project must have bow - (April) Anything Goes with a Handmade Bow

• Crafty Bloggers Network - M, SIO - (April) Die Cuts or Embossing

• My Craft Creations - 2W, Challenge links on top, occasionally SIR - (Week 1) Always Anything Goes

• Unstampabelles - M, 3E, NO STAMPS allowed (rubber nor digi) - (April) Incorporate Animal or Bird

• 613 Avenue Create - W - #67 Anything (Optional – Reuse / Recycle Something) (heart from recycled starbucks coffee sleeve)

• Challenges 4 Everybody - M, 3E - April - Anything Goes

• Lasting Memories Layout - W, Layouts - #186 It's the Little Things

• The Squirrel & The Fox - 2W, 2E - #67 All Creatures Great and Small (week 2)

• Crafty Catz - W, 1E – No.226 – Animals

• Crafty Hands Challenge Blog - 2W, 3E (no complete digital projects, digi images ok) -No. 12 - (W1 of 2) - Anything Goes

• Inklings and Yarns - 3E, JFF - Always Anything Goes

Catered Crop Recipe Swap – Put A Bird On It

Hello & Happy Monday!

Linda over at the Catered Crop has cooked up another fun recipe swap – Put A Bird On It!   How fun is that?!

I love birds.  I love watching them at my many feeders, their antics in the bird baths, and building nests.  I love keeping an eye on their eggs and watching the progress of their hatchlings.  I love watching them fly across the sky in big flocks or long V’s signaling the change of the seasons.   Given my love birds, you can probably guess that I have tons of stamps and digital stamps of birds in all their various shapes and sizes, bird nests, and bird houses.  But, when I was looking for something to use for my Catered Crop project, nothing caught my interest.

As I was digging through my stash, my little Senegal parrot, Corky, was working really hard to get my attention.  He was whistling, blowing kisses, and using all his best phrases like “You are such a good, good boy”, “Give me a kiss”, “What are you doing?”, and “Come on, come here.”    Then it hit me, I had the perfect bird to put on it!   Meet Corky!

 

 

This little guy has been with me almost 23 years!  When I got him, I was told Senegals generally live 10-12 years and may learn 1 or 2 words .  Wrong!  Now life expectancy estimates are up to 50 years and I have lost track all the words, phrases and sounds he knows.

As always, Linda has curated a fantastic Pinterest board to get our creative mojo flowing.  Here is a peek.  Click on the photo below to go to the board.

 

After creating your bird project, be sure to stop back and share creation by linking up at the Catered Crop.

 

 

Before we go,  here is one more look at Corky while he is enjoying a bit of banana.

 

 

Have a great day!  Thank you for stopping by!

 

Supplies:

• Stamps:  Bountiful Backgrounds from the Verve Stamps
• Papers:  Bazzill Basics kraft CS, Prima Alla~Prima collection 6x6 paper pad
• Tools: Sewing machine, Big Shot, Papertrey Banner Basics die, Martha Stewart butterfly punch, Stampin’ Up photo corners punch, Fiskars edge punch, Sweet N Sassy heart dies
• Embellishments:  May Arts burlap twine, October Afternoon Midway Designer brads and Green & Cream Mini Market alpha stickers, Cosmo Cricket Tiny Text stickers, Jenni Bowlin Malted Milk paint dabber, Tatter Angle Apple Glimmer Mist, Cork, misc button

Challenges:

• 613 Avenue Create - W - Anything Goes
• One Stitch At A Time - W, SIO – Anything goes
• Challenges 4 Everybody - M, 3E - #39 March - Anything Goes
• One Stitch At A Time - W, SIO - #206 TBA
• Scrapbook Blessings Club Tutorial Challenge - 2W, must fit feature to YouTube videos, E3 – Anything – one week only
• Scribble and Scrap - 2W, SIO, E3, C15, F - Always Anything Goes
• Crafty Calendar - M, 1E -  Animal Antics
• Hiding in my Craft Room - W, 1E - #143  Freestyle
• My Sheri Crafts - 2W -  #130 (W1 of 2)  Anything but a card
• Open-Minded Challenges - 2W, 3E  (W1 of 2) #7  Animal Antics
• Bloggers - W, JFF – Animals
• 4 Krafty Girlz - 2W, E3 (W2 of 2) # 14 Anything Goes
• Dream it Up - M SIO Anything Goes
• Outlawz Twisted Thursday - W - Anything Goes...  Adda butterfly
• Paper Crafting Journey - 2W - (W1 of 2) Anything Goes
• Creative Moments - 2W, 3E - #39 Anything goes/Things with Wings
• Inklings and Yarns - 3E, JFF - Always Anything Goes

• Through The Craft Room Door W, 2E - Always Anything Goes

• Craft It Up & Link It Up Linky Party by Craftin Desert Divas - 2W - (Week 1) Anything Goes

• The Paper Nest Dolls Challenge - 2W, E2, SIO - (Week 1) Anything Goes

Fencing is Hard Work

Happy Monday!  Over the last couple of weeks, I decided to go back to my paper crafting roots and try my hand at some scrapbooking pages. 

 

I love this photo of Liz.  My husband snapped it during fencing practice a couple of weeks ago.    When I watch fencing, the athletes make it look so easy and balletic, that I almost forget that is it such a physical sport.  I took some fencing lessons last year so that I could learn more about the sport that is my daughter’s passion.  To say I was a “hot mess” when I was done is an understatement.

 

 

 

 

If  you would like to learn more about fencing, here is a info graphic from the Guardian for the 2012 London Olympics that gives a great over view.   (slide 8)

 

In other, related news, earlier this month, we found out that Liz was picked to be a Taste Agent for Skratch Labs.   Skratch Labs products are designed to optimize performance using real, all-natural ingredients.  (You can read all the details on the Skratch Labs website.)

 

 

 

That’s all I have for you this week.  I hope you have a fabulous week!  Thank you for stopping by.

 

Supplies:

• Paper:  Bazzill Basics CS, Simple Stories Say Cheese 6x6 paper pad, Georgia Pacific white CS, Paper Studio black CS
• Tools:  Big Shot, MFT Die-namics Stacking Stars Die
• Embellishments:  Black Patio Pain,  cork, misc washi tape & buttons
• Font:  Traveling Typewritter

Challenges:

• 613 Avenue Create - W - Challenge #64 Anything Goes w/Optional Twist: Birds of a Feather
• Challenges 4 Everybody - M, 3E - (4th Week) Challenge #39 Anything Goes.
• Scribble and Scrap - 2W, SIO, E3, C15, F (Must be a follower to qualify)Challenge #14 (2nd Week) Always Anything Goes.
• Crafts and Me Challenge & Inspiration Blog - M, P4 , 2E Anything Goes
• Just For Fun - M, P1, F, 3E Anything Goes
• Pumpkin spice - W - #64 Dots
• Crafts 4 Eternity Recipe Challenge - W, 3E – No. 168 - Anything Goes
• Cut it Up- 2W, 1E, Must have Die Cuts - No. 41 - (W1 of 2) - Anything Goes
• 4 Krafty Girlz - 2W, E3 (W1 of 2) # 14 Anything Goes
• Crafting By Designs - F,M - Anything goes
• Inklings and Yarns - 3E, JFF - Always Anything Goes
• All Crafts Challenge - 2M, 1st Monday of the month every other month, NO CARDS - (February/March) Anything but a Card
• My Craft Spot - W, 1E - Anything Goes

• Through The Craft Room Door W, 2E - Always Anything Goes

Tea for Two

Our new challenge at ShopPumpkinSpice is “Coffee/Cocoa/Tea”.   I decided to make a 6x6 scrapbook page of my daughter, Liz, and I having high tea when we were on vacation.   

 

 

My daughter was so cute!  All morning she was very excited about “going to tea.”  Then, when we were getting ready, she asked me “What do people do at tea?”   I explained to her that you drink tea, have little sandwiches and sweets and talk.   When get were seated in the tea room, I swear her bottom barely touched the cushions before she said “So, Mom, what do you want to talk about?”    We ended up having a really nice time together and she still talks about what kind of tea she is going to try when we go back. 

 

I included a little pull out with some information on that day.  I’m terrible at journaling on my scrapbook pages.  I decided that I wasn’t going to stress about journaling.  If I have to journal, I would never get any scrapbook pages done.

 

 

I know it is a little hard to read, but the stamp in the corner reads “You & Me the perfect blend”, which I thought was perfect for the day.

Don’t forget to link up your “Coffee/Cocoa/Tea” creation HERE for the third ShopPumpkinSpice challenge.    You can also see the challenge details there.

 

Thank you for stopping by!  Have a great day!   Have a cup of coffee/cocoa/tea and stay warm!

Supplies:

• Papers:   Bazzill Kraft Cardstock, Echo Park This & That Graceful 6x6 paper pad, HP Photo paper
• Stamps:  Cup of Tea (rubber stamp) by Darcie’s Heart & Home from ShopPumpkinSpice
• Embellishments:  Echo Park This & That Graceful Element Stickers, misc. doily
• Tools:  Sewing machine,  HP Photosmart 5510 printer

 

Items from ShopPumpkinSpice

InLinkz.com

 

Challenges:

• ShopPumpkinSpice – Coffee/Cocoa/Tea
• LEJ Designs SIO -  #37 Stitching Real Or Faux
• Papelitos Stamps 3E - #25 Anything But A Card
• Created With Love - 3E, C10 - Anything Goes
• Make it Monday - W - always Anything Goes
• 613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes (twist: Kraft Paper)
• Crafty Catz - 1E – anything but a card
• Inspire Me Fridays – Anything Goes

Wings and Such

I’m so excited!  This is my first post as a member of the Paper and Such design team.   Today I get to share a sneak peek of the new stamp set, Wings and Such, which will be available next week.

When I saw this set, I immediately thought of these pictures that I had of my daughter and wanted to scrap.   The rest just flowed together. 

 

 

I think this might be my quickest lay out ever.   I completed the entire thing, including editing and printing the pictures, in a little over an hour.  That is a record for me.   I guess when your mojo is flowing and you have some beautiful stamps and papers to work with, everything just goes together. 

I know it is a little hard to read the sentiment stamped on the tag in the photo, so I’ll tell you what it says.

May the wings of the butterfly kiss the sun

And find your shoulder to light on,

To bring you luck, happiness, and riches

Today, tomorrow, and beyond.

~Irish Blessing

Isn’t that beautiful?   What a perfect sentiment for a child.

 

Be sure to stop by the Paper and Such blog every day until  Wings and Such is released to see sneak peeks from the design team.   Stop back here on August 9th for the new release blog hop!

 

Don’t forget that now through August 4th, you can get FREE SHIPPING on any order at Paper and Such.  (No coupon code necessary.)

 

Thank you for stopping by!  Have a great day!

 

 

 

 

Don’t miss out on my Followers Blog Candy.  Click on the picture below to go to the details.

 

Supplies:

• Stamps:  Wings and Such from Paper and Such,  Bountiful Backgrounds by Verve stamps
• Inks:  Memento Rich Cocoa, Close To My Heart Blush, Distress Ink Tea Dye
• Papers:  Papertrey kraft CS, Carta Bella Beautiful Moments paper pad
• Tools:  Sewing machine, Copic marker
• Embellishments:  Misc. tag, bakers twine

 

Challenges:

• Bearly Mine - 2E, SIO - #46 Anything Goes
• Creative Craft Challenges - 2W, 3E -  Summertime  (Week 2)
• Everybody-Art-Challenge - #201 Summer (Until 28th August)
• Ladybug Crafts Ink TLT Challenge - 2W, 1E, SIO - #65 Summer Fun
• The Stamping Boutique - Anything Goes
• Cupcake Craft - The Great Outdoors
• Make it Monday - always Anything Goes
• Paper Playtime - 2W, F - (1st week) Anything Goes
• Amusing Challenges - 2E, No Digi - Anything Goes
• Come and Get It Challenges - Anything BUT a Card
• Dream Valley Challenges - 2W, 3E - (2nd week) Summer
• Fashionable Stamping Challenges - 3E, 2W, no digi allowed - (1st week) Anything Goes
• Pile It On - Cute as Can Be  (my DD is as cute as can be)
• Robyn`s Fetish - Summer Fun
• Inspire Me Fridays – Always Anything Goes
• Pattie's Creations - 2W, 2E, SIO, include a digi / stamped image - Week 1, Animals / Insects
• Whimsy Inspiration - 3E, SIO - #49 Summer Fun
• Make it Monday - always Anything Goes
• Scrapbook Sisters - 2W - #93 Things with wings

Walk on the Ocean

Remember that song from Toad the Wet Sprocket?  I use to love it.  Anyhow, that song was running through my head when I was working on this scrapbook page.  I wanted to scrap these pictures from our trip from Virginia Beach this spring.   Liz wanted to swim in the ocean SO BAD, but it was too cold.  You can see her pouty face in the bigger pic because I wouldn’t let her put on her swim suit.  (I’m such a meanie!)  The round pic is her running out of the ocean after I gave in and said she could put her feet in. 

 

 

 

I’m going to keep this short.  We are having people over later today so I’m off to clean the house.   Have a great weekend!  Thank you for stopping by!

 

In case you forgot about Toad the Wet Sprocket, here is the video for “Walk on the Ocean”.

 

 

Supplies:

• Papers:  Papertrey kraft CS, Pink Paislee Nantucket paper pack
• Ink:  Distress Ink Antique Linen
• Tools:  Sewing machine, Big Shot, Spellbinders Nestabilities, Papertrey Edgers #1
• Embellishments:  Twinery Caribbean baker’s twine

Challenges:

• Inspire Me Fridays – Always Anything Goes
• Simply Create Too - 2W - Week 1, Summer / Vacation 
• C.R.A.F.T. - 5E - Splashy/water
• Little Red Wagon - #140 beach
• Creatalicious Challenges - M, P15, F - (ends Jul-14) Anything goes
• Cupcake Craftroom - 3E, P1 - Lots of layers
• Crazy Amigo Challenge – Vacation
• Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
• Crafty Bloggers Network - 2W, SIO - (1st week) Anything Goes
• Lexi's Creations - 2W - (2nd week) At the Beach
• Make it Monday - always Anything Goes
• Catch The Bug - 3E, SIO -  Anything Goes

We Love Sea Turtles!

One of our favorite exhibits at the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center was about loggerhead turtles.    When I got home and was looking through my Meljen’s Designs digital images, I saw this little sea turtle and had to use him.   He inspired me to create a scrapbook page to help us remember the day.

 

 

Don’t forget to stop by the Meljen’s Designs blog on Thursday when the new challenge is revealed.  It’s a good one! 

 

Thank you for stopping by!

 

Supplies:

• Stamps:  Turtle’s Little Star (digital stamp) from Meljen’s Designs
• Inks:  None
• Papers:  Bazzill Basics, Papertrey Rustic Cream CS, My Mind’s Eye Quite Contrary Little Boy Blue DP
• Tools:  Copic markers, Sewing machine
• Embellishments:  Misc. clip, buttons, twine

Challenges:

• Incy Wincy Designs - Digi`s ONLY
• Pollycraft - SIO - Cute Critters
• Tammy Scrapin Corner - Anything Goes with a Splash of Green 
• Paper Sundaes - 3E, C10 - Anything Goes
• The Crafty Pad - SIO - Bounty of Buttons (more than 3)
• Cupcake Inspirations - Photo Inspiration
• Crazy 4 Challenges - #C4C132 Using Buttons
• Fairy Fun Fridays - 2W, SIO - Week 2, Anything Goes
• Wags 'n Whiskers - 2W, SIO - Week 1, Anything Goes
• Delightful Challenges - 1E, SIO - Stitching (real or faux)

My Fencer

Can you believe this is my 5th post this week?  Wow – what got into me?  I think I had to make up for not having any crafty mojo a couple of weeks ago. 
I am still trying to work on at least 1 scrapbook page per week.    I decided to use this picture, which I totally love, of my daughter.   She is proudly showing off  the silver medal she won at her first fencing tournament.
I played around with the photo in Photoshop a little bit.  (You can see the original photo in my right side bar.)  I used some tutorials that I found in Pinterest and like the way it turned out. 



I’m still trying to get back on the swing of scrapbooking and need some inspiration to get me going.   I was inspired by this layout I saw on Pinterest. 



Since it is Saturday, I also have  a song to share for Music Saves My Soul.  If you would like to play along, you can link up your favorite song, or a song you would like to share, on Marcea’s blog.

I was listening to Buddy Guy this morning on my iPod and decided I wanted to share this song.   Then I found this video with Buddy and John Mayer.  It brought back some fun memories at Summerfest.   (If you don’t know what Summerfest is, check out the link.  Let me know if you are coming!)  Anyhow, it was raining out and my friend and I found Buddy Guy playing on the blues stage.  While we are watching him, some guy walks on stage and starts playing.  It was John Mayer.  He was playing in a different area of the festival, finished up his gig and came over to play with Buddy.    It already was an awesome performance but that was just the icing on the cake.




Have you heard of Pinerly yet?!   This is an exciting new way to manage your Pinterest boards!
It is not yet open to the public.  You have to request an invitation like you did for Pinterest. 
Click HERE to sign up and request an invitation!


Thank you for stopping by!  Have a great weekend!
Supplies:

• Papers:  My Mind’s Eye Stella & Rose Hazel paper pad, Papertrey kraft CS
• Tools:  Sewing machine, Stampin’ Up corner punch, Sweet N Sassy heart die, Papertrey Block Alpha Upper Die & Tiny Tags Die
• Embellishments: Misc. buttons, dew drops, flowers, cotton twine, epoxy flowers, Papertrey silk ribbon (colored with copic marker)
• Fonts:  Jenna Sue from Dafonts.com
• Technique:  Custom made rub ons  - You can see my tutorial on this technique HERE

Challenges:

• Catered Crop – In stitches
• Scrapbookaholic by Abby - 2W - Week 2, Anything Goes
• Crafty Purple Frog - 2W, SIO - (1st week) Anything goes
• Paper Crafting Journey - 2W - (2nd week) Pretty Pastels
• Paper Play - 2E - Spring colours
• Colour Create - 2W, 1E - (2nd week) Pink, Blue, Sage, Cream/White + Photo Inspiration*
• Crafts and Me - #76 Spring colors
• Freshly Brewed - JFF, 5E – dots
• Tuesday Throwdown - #90 Spring Cleaning (Use hoarded stash)  (all the embellish are from hoarded stash)
• Going Grey With Scrap-Creations - 2E - Flowers

My Beautiful Girl

I was able to complete a 2nd scrapbook page this week. I haven’t been doing things in chronological order but have been bouncing around to see what inspired me. This week I scrapped a photo of my daughter after she got her ears pierced. We then went to her favorite restaurant for Mexican food and she proudly showed off her new ear rings to every one. Since it was her birthday, she was given the sombrero while the wait staff sang her a birthday song. As you can see, she loved the attention.

Today, for Music Saves My Soul, I have a song to share from Sinead O’Connor & the Chieftains. In the spirit of St. Patty’s day, I went with a Irish song, although I decided to pick a more traditional song instead of a drinking song. You can play along by linking up your musical pick for the week on Marcea’s blog.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day to you! Sláinte! If you celebrate the day, I wish you your fill of corned beef, potatoes, and a pint (0r 2) of Guinness. Thank you for stopping by!

While you are here, don’t forget to check out my March Followers Blog Candy of 2 MME paper pads. Click on the picture for details.

Supplies:

• Stamps: None
• Inks: None
• Papers: Papertrey kraft CS, Echo Park Country Drive paper pad
• Tools: Sewing machine, Martha Stewart edge punch, Big Shot Papertrey Journal tags die, Sweet n Sassy heart die
• Embellishments: Misc. button and white cotton crochet thread
• Fonts: Throw My Hands Up In The Air

Challenges:

• Delightful Challenges – Someone special
• Digi Doodle Shop’s Best – People
• Shelly’s Terrifically Thrilling Thursday – Anything goes
• Wags N Whiskers – Green
• Gingersnap Creations – #142 Edge punch
• Inky Impressions – Green
• Simon Says Stamp – Green
• City Crafter – Things in your heart (my daughter)
• Sassy Cheryl’s Challenge – Wearing of the green
• Kaboodle Doodles - Green
• Sentimental Sundays – Go green or recycle

Beware….

Pin It

I recently decided to take a step back to my paper crafting roots and start scrapbooking again.  I have been wanting to do it for a while, but I have to admit that I found doing a 12 x 12 layout intimidating.    So I decided to get back to it and do what I am more comfortable with.    So here is my first page, a 6x6 page from last Halloween.    I messed around with some photo effects and kind of like how this turned out.

 

 

 

 

 

With St. Patrick’s day now less than a week away, I thought I would share a tune that is in my St. Patty’s playlist.    (This song sums up last week to a tee for me.  Thank goodness for the week end!)   If you would like to share a song in the musical blog hop, stop by Marcea’s blog to link up.

 

 

 

Don’t forget to check out my March Followers Blog Candy.  Click HERE for more info.

 

Thank you for stopping by!

Supplies:

• All papers, die cuts and stickers are from the Teresa Collins Haunted Hallows collection
• Embellishments:  Timeless Twine bakers twine, Cosmo Cricket Tiny Type numbers stickers, Paper Studio gemstones

Challenges:

• C.R.A.F.T. – Inspired by song  (Everyday is Halloween by Ministry)
• Paper Crafting Journey – Anything goes
• Dare to Be Sassy – 2 or more polka dot items (2 different papers)
• PaperTake Weekly – Anything goes
• Craft your Passion – Anything goes