Sunday, January 29, 2012

Clean and Simple Valentine

My dear friend, Ashley, asked if I would make a Clean and Simple Valentine for her Sunday challenge that she features on her blog: The Glamorous Side of Scrapping.

"Would" is never a problem when it comes to my friend, Ashley ... I'm happy to help!

The question is more like, "could" I make something clean and simple.

I tend to "over-do" everything. Ask my hubby! 

So here is a card that I made in less than 5 minutes.
The heart, wings and arrow were cut using a Sizzix die with all three images on it. I cut the paper to size from scraps I (literally!) had lying around, and laid them on top of the die. One pass of the die through my Sizzix Big Kick was all I needed.
The card is an ivory pre-made. I arranged the pieces on it as I wished. The only change I made to what the die cut was that I used an X-acto knife to cut semi-circles where the arrow pierced the heart, and threaded the arrow through the cuts.  I taped the wings in place to the back of the heart, and glued the heart in place, leaving the wings loose to flutter.

I stamped the sentiment, and used a red gel pen for the faux stitching around the perimeter. Tah-tah, done!

 

Saturday, January 28, 2012

A Princess' Wedding Blog Hop - 12x12 Layouts fit for a Queen (to be!)

Welcome and thank you for joining us to celebrate the fairytale wedding of Princess Heather, the beautiful daughter of our hostess Liz Cline. 

Today, January 28th, 2012, is Heather's wedding day. While you are hopping she will be getting dressed, walking down the aisle, and already celebrating her new life with Prince Charming. 

This blog hop is dedicated strictly to 12 x 12 scrapbook layouts. All layouts you see in this hop have been sent to Liz and assembled into a wedding surprise scrapbook album for Heather, a gift fitting of any young princess. You are going to be amazed at what creations these fabulous ladies have designed.

As a “thank you” to blog hoppers, Liz has secured some dreamy blog candy to offer. Here is the list of the ever so generous sponsors for today’s hop: 
 
FB: https://www.facebook.com/mypinkstamper 

FB: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Creations-With-Christina/110022992358395  

Paper Creations by Nikki 
FB: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Paper-Piecings-by-Nikki/210135505721726  


In order to be eligible for this blog candy, all that is required of you is to comment and follow each blog along the hop and to stop in at the Facebook pages of the sponsors to thank them. 

The last stop on the hop is Heather’s blog, Please stop in and wish her congratulations and if you Facebook, drop her a note on her wall: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1224236273

Without further ado before the "I Do!", let me tell you a secret:  I was ALMOST unable to post a picture of my layout I did for Heather because (duhhhh), I skipped town before creating and scheduling this post. The picture of the layout I created is on my computer back home, and I am visiting my two favorite lovebirds, my parents Ed and Dot -- married 61 years -- in Florida.


... but, luckily for me, I finished my layout and mailed it to Heather's Mom Liz -- who despite all the hub-bub around her house, was able to take a pic of my layout and send me a picture of it to post here.  Thank you, so much Liz, for doing that for me.  

Here is the layout I created:

I intentionally kept the layout clean, classic and elegant ... and in the bride's colors of ice pink and silver. I'm partial to the ice pink myself, since it's the color I wore as a bride when I married John (the love of my life!) nearly 13 years ago.  It was the second-time (LAST time!) around me as a bride, and I just loved my elegant beaded jacket over a long chiffon dress. 



When I was worried that I would have nothing to post for this hop, I caroused a few of the many blogs I stalk follow, and found these two gorgeous layouts -- ones I now WISH I had done for Heather. Perhaps I can scraplift one of these to have a re-do, once I'm back from Florida and home to my crafting supplies:


This layout was done by Danielle Flanders and is currently featured on her blog, Homespun With Heart. She made it using the new "Victorian" line of Melissa Frances' "C'est La Vie" papers -- and I think it is simply GORGEOUS!!



This layout was done by international scrapper, Karola Witczak.  It is featured on the manufacturer's blog of Melissa Frances Papers.  Gorgeous, especially in that it features silver and gentle pink, the colors our Princess bride, Heather, has chosen for her wedding.


These two BEAUTIFUL layouts remind me that I am a cardmaker at heart -- and how utterly beautiful layouts can be when we follow expert crafters. Oh, I'm just so jealous of the abilities it takes to make layouts like these. Beautifully done, Danielle and Karola!!

I'm sure you'll find more inspiration along the Hop!  Please hop over to these Hops and leave comments/love. Your next stop is SHANNON

Don't forget to visit PinkPunkCosmo -- that's Heather's blog -- and wish her love and luck on her wedding day!  ♥ Loads of Love ♥ on your special day!


Thanks for stopping by!


Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Unleash the beast, and Blog Candy winner!

Hi Everybody ...

I'm having quite a bit of fun "Being Me" in 2012.
That's my goal, you know ...

TO BE.... 

...happy    ...loved    ...amazing     
...kind     ...honest    ...unique     
...believable     ...healthy 
...grateful     ...inspiring     ...creative

...ME!

To get there, I have a lot of "unleashing" to do...
I made this card, just because ...


This is my "Unleash the Beast" card, that goes with my 2012 smash book.
The outside cover (like my mild-mannered exterior, ha!) is timid ...
Inside, I'm the creative beast!!! (HAHAHAHA)
Here's the inside of the card.
Here's the mild-mannered exterior. (I crack me up!)

What are you doing ... to be you?

And I have some sweet (BLOG CANDY!!!) news for you, too!!  The winner of my Lacy Dragon Frame die by Cheery Lynn Designs is AMY of www.lovetocrop.com.  Congrats, Amy.  Please e-mail your post-address to me so that I can get your die out next week! 

This button's for you, AMY!
I'm off for a couple of days for some much needed R&R ... re-energizing for some more creative projects next week.  You'll next see me over on my BFF ("Bloggy Friend Forever") Ashley's website on Sunday, where I'm a guest designer for her Clean And Simple Sunday, featuring a Valentine!  Stop over there on Sunday 1/29!

Monday, January 23, 2012

Greetings from China - New Years' Dinner - Blog Hop, Day 2

This is the second day of the Chinese New Year Blog Hop, hosted by April Nourse, who has an extra-special reason to celebrate: She and her family have welcomed their son, Alex, an adopted 6-year old who came to them from Taiwan. 

To welcome Alex and to share her happiness with us all, April invited her bloggy friends to celebrate The Year of the Dragon, Chinese New Year. You should have arrived here from the Queen T's blog spot; if not, or if you're one of my followers who'd like to start at the beginning, please go to April's site and wish her well on her journey (and learning Chinese!) with her wonderful gift from Taiwan.
 
In case you missed it, see yesterday's post to learn that last night, I hosted a Chinese New Year dinner party for some neighbors. I showed the invitation in yesterday's post. 

Here is one of the napkin rings that I made for the occasion: 

To make this napkin ring, I found an image of a Chinese dragon on ClickArt Online. (www.clickartonline.com).  I then printed the color image on white cardstock and fussy cut it out, mounting it on yellow paper for added stability.  For the ring, I cut a 1/2" piece straight across and off of a toilet paper cardboard.  I put a swab of glue inside the ring and wrapped it with red seam binding from Zipperstop.  I slit the opening for the fire from the mouth of the dragon, and fussy cut a fire-like/tongue thingie that I slid into the opening.  After letting a liberal dose of Stickles dry, I used Sookwang double tape (strong!) to adhere the image onto the ring.  To allow it to dry, I rolled a piece of white cardstock into the ring, which is when I took this picture for this post.  They looked FABULOUS on my table, with yellow linen napkins trimmed in red.

I just found this great looking cupcake dessert tray, posted on Facebook, via HelloCupcake's blog (http://blog.hellocupcakebook.com/2012/01/23/year-of-the-dragon-cupcakes.aspx).  Wish I saw this before dinner!!!  




Be sure to visit April's blog to learn about the GRAND PRIZE Blog Candy for those who comment on each of the blog's stops. However, I also have blog candy! ...

SPECIAL BLOG CANDY alert!!  For my SUPER blog candy for this Hop, I am giving away the die I used to make the invitation I showed yesterday. It is the beautiful Lace Dragon Frame by Cheery Lynn, which I purchased from Happy Scrappy LLC.


ANYWHOOOO... if you'd like to win the Cheery Lynn Lace Dragon Frame I used above, please:

a) Be or become a follower of mine,
b) Leave a comment on this post telling me:
c) "My favorite Chinese food dish is ...."  

Winner will be picked at random using Random.org, and announced on this blog on Tuesday, January 24 (since this is a 2-day hop). Post about this hop on your blog or on Facebook, and get another chance to win!!

So now head on over to the next stop on the Chinese New Year Hop:  PSA Essentials! 

Here is the complete line-up, in case you get lost along the way:





  • April - http://curlsandgrins.blogspot.com









  • Lynne K. - http://slasewcraftiness.blogspot.com/









  • Ashley - http://theglamoroussideofscrapping.blogspot.com/









  • Amy - http://www.lovetocrop.com/









  • Jearise - http://lorbysworld.blogspot.com/









  • Shannon - http://www.purplelionpaper.com/blog









  • Inga - http://mommahobbit.blogspot.com/









  • Maria - http://www.mdcraftcorner.blogspot.com/









  • Janet- http://www.createatdreamscrapbooks.blogspot.com/









  • Dena - http://missdjones.blogspot.com/









  • Jennifer - http://jenrubio.blogspot.com/









  • Theresa- http://www.thescrapbookingqueen.com/









  • Ellen - http://cardmonkey-business.blogspot.com/  <--- YOU ARE HERE!









  • PSA Essentials - www.psastampcamp.blogspot.com/








  •  (Thank you!)
     

    More Butterflies -- In Sympathy of a Baby's Passing (IFTL)

    If you are here for DAY 2 of the CHINESE NEW YEAR BLOG HOP, please click HERE

    As a butterfly graces our lives with one moment's fragile beauty, so too has Olivia’s presence blessed you, and those that surround you with her short life, and unique spirit.

    May you find peace, and joy with each butterfly that passes, knowing that your beautiful baby lives on in the hearts of all she touched.

    Baby Olivia's family, including her twin Amanda.

    The family of sweet baby Olivia will be the recipients of the very special cards made by the friends of one of my BFF's, Madison, and her "I Feel The Love" project.

     
    Olivia and her twin sister Amanda were born in August 2011. Olivia was just 2.2 pounds at birth and had both heart and lung defects. Her life expectancy was just two weeks, but she grew and thrived, with love and special attention.  Following multiple open heart surgeries, her parents held hope that they'd be able to bring Olivia home by Christmas.  Sadly, the baby died on December 19. 

    Sympathy cards are often the hardest to make -- and when the angel is a child, it makes it even harder. As a result, I think, Madison has received only a few cards to help support Olivia's family in their grief.

    Will you help by making a card for this sweet baby's family?  More information can be found here: www.funkycards.blogspot.com.

    I made the card at the top of this post, for the IFTL project, and will be sending it to Madison later today. I used the flower (a Hero Arts stamp) as an image symbolizing Earth. The two pink butterflies (similar, but not identical, twins) represent Olivia and Amanda. Olivia has been blessed and glittered, with love on her journey across the Rainbow Bridge. The cloud she is flying to is glittered as well, representing Heaven. The flight lines represent her joyous time on Earth.

    The pink text (above) is what I typed inside the card, in loving memory of Olivia.

    Supplies used: Stamps from Hero Arts; Colored with Copic Markers; glitter glue by Ranger Glossy Accents; fine glitter by Martha Stewart; Exotic butterflies by Cheery Lynn Designs and purchased at Happy Scrappy; ribbon from stash.

     

    Saturday, January 21, 2012

    Chinese New Year Hop - January 22-23

    There is a tremendous amount of excitement in the home of our Chinese New Year Blog Hop hostess, April Nourse. Her family has expanded by one -- a son -- who came to California just two weeks ago from Taiwan.  Alex, the very handsome young guy, is six years old!  

    To welcome Alex and to share her happiness with us all, April invited her bloggy friends to celebrate The Year of the Dragon, Chinese New Year.  
    You should have arrived here from the Queen T's blog spot; if not, or if you're one of my followers who'd like to start at the beginning, please go to April's site and wish her well on her journey (and learning Chinese!) with her wonderful gift from Taiwan.

    Be sure to visit April's blog to learn about the GRAND PRIZE Blog Candy for those who comment on each of the blog's stops. I'll have some of my own blog candy to encourage your comment here (read more later!)

    So here's my project:

    I decided to actually host a dinner party for my neighbors tonight. It's going to be catered by my local favorite Chinese restaurant with take-out specialties that we love. The restaurant's co-owners, husband and wife, Alvin and Shema, came to the U.S. via Chinese adoptions as well!  Here is my invitation that I made for the event:


     

    Isn't that just the perfect die to use for this occasion? It's by Cheery Lynn, and I bought it from my favorite vendor -- Happy Scrappy LLC -- who sells these dies at a deep discount. Alex, the owner, is a generous sponsor of many of the hops I am in, and I hope you will patronize him when you're shopping for dies. Please tell him I sent you!

    SPECIAL BLOG CANDY alert!!  For my SUPER blog candy for this Hop, I am giving away the die I used to make this invitation!  It is beautiful ... and in addition to the dragon (shown above), there is an oval lattice frame that circles it that can be used on many other projects.  

    I will tell you that I had difficulty using this die at first. Then I contacted Alex at Happy Scrappy who was the best in terms of walking me through the use, leading me to some excellent videos -- and urging me to buy a "Cuttlehug" metal plate adapter to use with these very thin, intricate designs.  

    Alex sells these adapter plates in two sizes, and also sells other supplies (like B and C plates for Sizzix and Cuttlebug, embossing pads, and crafting picks) -- no craft room should be without them as mine was!!

    ANYWHOOOO... if you'd like to win the Cheery Lynn Lace Dragon Frame I used above, please:

    a) Be or become a follower of mine,
    b) Leave a comment on this post telling me:
    c) "My favorite Chinese food dish is ...."  

    Winner will be picked at random using Random.org, and announced on this blog on Tuesday, January 24 (since this is a 2-day hop).  I hope to have another project for you tomorrow (January 23), so you can leave another comment then for 2 chances to win. Post about this hop on your blog or on Facebook, and get another chance to win!!

    So now head on over to the next stop on the Chinese New Year Hop:  PSA Essentials! 

    Here is the complete line-up, in case you get lost along the way:

  • April - http://curlsandgrins.blogspot.com

  • Lynne K. - http://slasewcraftiness.blogspot.com/

  • Ashley - http://theglamoroussideofscrapping.blogspot.com/

  • Amy - http://www.lovetocrop.com/

  • Jearise - http://lorbysworld.blogspot.com/

  • Shannon - http://www.purplelionpaper.com/blog

  • Inga - http://mommahobbit.blogspot.com/

  • Maria - http://www.mdcraftcorner.blogspot.com/

  • Janet- http://www.createatdreamscrapbooks.blogspot.com/

  • Dena - http://missdjones.blogspot.com/

  • Jennifer - http://jenrubio.blogspot.com/

  • Theresa- http://www.thescrapbookingqueen.com/

  • Ellen - http://cardmonkey-business.blogspot.com/  <--- YOU ARE HERE!

  • PSA Essentials - www.psastampcamp.blogspot.com/


  •  (Thank you!)
     

    Touched by a Butterfly: David Kracov's art

    (c) David Kracov
    It's a snowy day here in suburban Philadelphia -- a perfect time to lounge in my jammies, catch up on reading some of my favorite blogs, discovering new ones, online shopping (shhhhh!), reflection ...and of course, there will be some crafting.

    But given the snowy landscape outside and the bitter cold, I likely won't be seeing a butterfly ... and I miss them!

    (c) David Kracov
    So here I am minding my own business, thinking back on the new knowledge about The Butterfly Project I last blogged about, when I stumbled across (on Facebook) a beautiful picture of art done by Artist David Kracov (www.davidkracov.com).

    This is a metal sculpture called "The Book of Life" commissioned as the Rabbi Raichik Memorial Award in honor of the beloved director of Chabad's Children of Chernobyl project.  Through that healing project (and at the time of the commission of this art), 2,547 children had been evacuated from the Chernobyl region, and provided medical care, a new home, and education in Israel.

    David created this art using butterflies to represent the lives of each of those 2,547 children. 

    (c) David Kracov
    Seeing David's use of the butterflies here, I explored more, and found this remarkable sculpture he did on commission for the Holocaust Museum of St. Petersburg, Florida.  

    And now, here's one of those "small world" sorts of connections I have to this art. The founding Executive Director of the Holocaust Museum of Florida was a warm, wonderful and loving guy named Larry Wasser.  


    Larry was my first boss out of college, when he hired me to work as communications director for the March of Dimes in Philadelphia. Larry was super-fun, always good spirited, kind and what a boss!  He and his family moved to Florida a more than two decades ago.  

    "My Heart is All A Flutter" (c) David Kracov

    I never knew this about Larry, he never mentioned it: he was the son of Holocaust survivors Kurt and Goldie Wasser.  Larry's heart was so large that it finally gave out on June 2, 2003; he died of a massive heart attack at age 56, leaving his widow Deanna and two young sons, Kurt and Adam. 

    I miss Larry!




    "Reflections" (c) David Kracov

    ... but his work lives on, through butterflies. Today, David Kracov adds a butterfly to each and every piece of art he does, whether the theme is a butterfly or not -- whether visible or not. Why?


    The Outdoor Arts Foundation (another that has commissioned works by David) says it best: 




    (c) David Kracov

    "The butterfly represents hope through our children. 

    May children all over the world fly free as does the butterfly; 

    May they be able to imagine and live a life filled with life and hope; 

    May they be given a chance to reach the fulfillment of their dreams; and, 

    May their aspirations soar as high as does the butterfly."

    Thursday, January 19, 2012

    Now in Flight: Kari's Butterfly Kisses Blogaversary January 19 Blog Hop

    If you are here for Tina's 3-0 Birthday Blog Hop, please click HERE


    Our friend, Kari, chose the butterfly to celebrate her blog's anniversary, and to have you all visit on a Hop to see projects featuring this lovely creature, the butterfly.

    So if you've come from Ashley's blog, you're on the right flight.  If you'd like to start at the beginning, and wish Kari well on the start of her new year of blogging, go HERE.

    To continue on the hop, please go to AMY next. Be sure to leave comments and ♥ love ♥ along the way to qualify for the blog candy detailed on the blog of our hostess and 2-year blogger, Kari.  A full list of hop stops can also be found at Kari's blog.

    And now for my project:

    What a beautiful image, full of hope and new life, dazzling color and freedom of expression! 

    Our projects are to use a butterfly, and so mine does.  A dream one night brought this card to me -- a colorful flock, released to the winds, when our creativity emerges. 


    This card is 5x5".  I generated the sentiments on my computer and printed them on an 8.5x11" white cardstock. I lined up my Spellbinders circle die to cut the opening over the words "Unleash the creativity."  I then lined up stripes of colored stock on my Cricut mat, and cut oodles of butterflies (found on my favorite cartridge, "Cake Basics", using the shadow/shift) that are 1/2" each.  I used Aleene's Turbo Tack glue on just the body portion of each of the butterflies, lining them up in flight as if to form a rainbow of ideas.

    I thought I was done with butterflies for the week ... 

    ... But then, just as I was creating this post, a new bloggie friend, my watercoloring friend Jenn, told me about THE BUTTERFLY PROJECT and asked if I'd join in. The timing and theme were too coincidental ... and if it's about children, and memorializing them, I'm in.


    The Butterfly Project is a special exhibit, scheduled to be placed in the Spring of 2014, that has been created by the Houston Holocaust Museum to honor the estimated 1,500,000 innocent lives of children lost during the Holocaust. Each life will be represented by a handmade butterfly made in many media from all over the world. They have already collected 900,000 butterflies!!  Will you be making a single butterfly, to send to Houston's Holocaust Museum by December 31, 2012?  I will be.

    If you'd like more information, click on the pink text next to the butterfly image, above left. You'll find parameters on what size to make your butterfly, limitations, and where/when to send it.

    This tender poem was written by one young woman who lost her life in Auschwitz in 1944. It lends the reason for the exhibit:

    The Butterfly

    The last, the very last,
    So richly, brightly, dazzlingly yellow.
    Perhaps if the sun’s tears would sing
    against a white stone....

    Such, such a yellow
    Is carried lightly ’way up high.
    It went away I’m sure
    because it wished
    to kiss the world good-bye.
    For seven weeks I’ve lived in here,
    Penned up inside this ghetto.
    But I have found what I love here.
    The dandelions call to me
    And the white chestnut branches in the court.
    Only I never saw another butterfly.

    That butterfly was the last one.
    Butterflies don’t live in here, in the ghetto.
    by Pavel Friedman, June 4, 1942

    Born in Prague on Jan. 7, 1921.
    Deported to the Terezin Concentration Camp on April 26, 1942.
    Died in Aushchwitz on Sept. 29, 1944.



    Thank you for stopping by today.

    Your next stop on Kari's 
    Butterfly Kisses Blogaversary Hop is AMY

    Wednesday, January 18, 2012

    Tina's 30th birthday blog hop

    How fun is it that we bloggers get to meet friends all over the world, all nationalities, all ages and through the scrappy world, we can come together to celebrate life's great occasions??

    Today is one such FUN occasion -- Tina at Crafty and Green is turning 30!  And she's hosting a blog hop to help celebrate the occasion. So if you've come from one of my BFFs, Susan's blog, you're at the right party. Be sure to stop and wish a happy b'day to Tina at her blog, too... as she says, she's not 30, she's 18 with 12 years of experience!

    Now, it's been quite some time since I've turned 30 ... in fact, I'm closer to twice that age. But looking back, all I wanted then (and now!) was a haus-frau. So Tina, this one's for you:


    I made this tri-fold card for Tina, which features an adorable digi-image of a housework fairy by Mo Manning at Mo's Digital Pencil. I paper-pieced the fairy's dress and apron using the reverse side of some Nikki Sivils Scrapbooker paper, in the My Li'l  Monster line. Snips of the same paper decorate the center of the folded card. The cover I designed, typeset and printed on my computer.

    To see what other treats Tina has in store for her birthday bash, be sure to hop on over to your next stop:


    If you get lost along the way, here is your full blog hop list.  THANK YOU for joining us today ...
    and Tina --->
                                           
    1. Tina - http://craftyandgreen.blogspot.com
    2. Ashley - http://theglamoroussideofscrapping.blogspot.com/
    3. Caroline - http://www.stampingsandinklings.blogspot.com/
    4. CallyAnn~ http://callyanncraftycreations.blogspot.com
    5. Barbara-http://barbarab3.blogspot.com/
    6. Susan - http://susanascorner.blogspot.com/
    7. Ellen - http://cardmonkey-business.blogspot.com/ YOU ARE HERE!
    8. Amanda http://craftsbyamanda.blogspot.com/  Please visit here next!
    9. Shawnee - http://www.blessedonthebrightside.com/
    10. Amy Jo - http://lv2scrapandfibrofacts.blogspot.com
    11. Nikki-http://creationsbymommy.com
    12. Lynne - http://slasewcraftiness.blogspot.com/
    13. Monica- http://scraps2treasure.blogspot.com/
    14. Anita~ http://www.anitaandbugs.blogspot.com
    15. Enjoli- http://mississippihippycrafts.blogspot.com/
    16. Erin - http://deeplyrootedlife.blogspot.com
    17. Jamie- http://myamusinglife.blogspot.com
    18. Shannon - http://scraplady324.blogspot.com
    19. Janet- http://createatdreamscrapbooks.blogspot.com/
    20. Lori Apgar- http://www.scrappinmystressaway.blogspot.com/