The LONG and the short of it

Sketch-a-thon!!!!

2012-01-31T05:39:00.002-05:00

My Sketch World is hosting a sketch-a-thon starting tomorrow, February 1st, through February 15th. There will be challenges and a huge number of prizes from wonderful sponsors like Crop Chocolate, Apron Strings Designs, and many, many more. Come play!!!

Have a great day,

Deb

Gift Card Holder Tutorial

2011-12-19T01:37:00.000-05:00

It has happened again - the holidays have snuck up and are upon us!! If you are like me, you end up buying last-minute gift cards for all those folks you forgot to buy for. I came up with this gift card holder as a way to personalize those little credit-card sized cards so many merchants sell these days. If you would like to make one (or six), heres how:

Cut one piece of cardstock-weight paper at 7.25" by 4"

Cut one piece of cardstock-weight paper at 8" x 2.25"

Cut one piece of ribbon or cord at 10"

For decoration, cut a piece of paper (or ribbon) at 1.25" x 2.5". Stamp a sentiment, punch it out with a circle punch, and create a frame using a scallop circle punch and a coordinating paper. Create a small tag.

1. Score the 7.25x4 paper at 2.5 and 5 inches. Fold on score lines; if desired, use a circle punch to notch the center panel.

2. Adhere a thin line of adhesive at the bottom of the smaller panel and fold over to adhere to center panel. Fold over larger panel and here this over the smaller panel. This becomes the envelope.

3. Score the 8x2.25 paper at 4". Fold on score line. Punch a hole through the open end and thread the ribbon/cord through along with the tag. Tie closed. The gift card fits in this sleeve.

4. Decorate the envelope. Insert gift card sleeve into envelope.

Have a great day!

Deb

Simple embossed card

2011-12-18T08:53:00.003-05:00

I am really trying to use my tools ore, and to that end, I tried making some clean and simple cards using some of my embossing folders. I used the balloon stamp and sentiment from the Stampin' Up 'Up Up & Away' set and embossed the balloon for a little dimension. It was easy to whip out a set of these in a few different balloon colors, and I am pleased with how they came out!

Have a great day!

Deb

Winner!!!

2011-12-07T04:59:00.003-05:00

Thanks to everyone who played along on the My Sketch World blog hop! Stay tuned next weekend for another great hop by our fabulous card designers. It will start Saturday, December 10th at 12:00am sharp on the MSW Blog! There's another AWDML Gift Certificate up for grabs and LOTS more inspiration to come!

And now, the winner of my blog hop prize pack...

Mrs Walrath!!!

Please let me know how to contact you in the comment section so I can get your mailing address!!

Have a great day,

Deb

2011-12-03T00:01:00.004-05:00

Welcome to the My Sketch World blog hop! Hopefully you started at the beginning and have hopped over here from Cindy Noesen's fabulous blog. If not, be sure to backtrack so you can leave entries at all the hop sites!

This was a sketch challenge for me - my DT sis Ginni chose this fab sketch by Lucy Chesna for me to work with. And to make it more interesting, she told me I had to use something metalic and some circles ('cause Lucy LOVES circles, and well, so do I!).

So here is what I came up with:

Leave a comment to be entered for a chance to win a prize from My Sketch World, and I am also offering a prize of scrappy goodness to be chosen at random form all comments left on my blog. And if you become a follower of my blog and leave me a comment on this post telling me you did (or that you already were!) I'll give you an extra entry into my prize drawing! Now, hop on over to Ginni's blog and see what I challenged her to work with!

Deb Long (You are here)

Ginni Gass

Joan Borgelt

Malin Rimby

The details:

1. Visit each blog and leave a comment. Read carefully, there may be individual requirements as some designers are offering little prizes of their own!

2. After you have visited each Designer's blog come back to My Sketch World blog and let us know what you thought. Part One of the hop ends Monday, December 5th, 11:59 EST.

3. Everyone who posts a comment on each blog will be entered to win! Winners will be randomly chosen.

4. To receive an additional entry, scraplift a layout and link it back to the My Sketch World blog (in your comment) and tell us what inspired you!

6. Have fun! Be inspired! Part Two of this hop begins December 10,2011.

2011-11-22T10:20:00.001-05:00

K is for KISS

2011-09-18T19:23:00.000-04:00

As in keep it simple. Another challenge from the My Sketch World ABC Crop. A layout using only one piece of patterned paper, one piece of cardstock, one journaling spot, one font in the title, and 3 simple embellishments.

Have a great day!

Deb

J is for....

2011-09-17T19:20:00.002-04:00

Ok, I really am not a big fan of misspelling, but I can understand that you need to stretch things a bit when you are trying to come up with a challenge for every letter of the alphabet. This challenge from the My Sketch World ABC Crop was "J is for Jems," making a card with bling. Here's mine:

Have a great day!

Deb

I is for Ink

2011-09-13T04:57:00.000-04:00

For this challenge at the My Sketch World ABC Crop, we were asked to create a layout using ink on it. I chose to stamp images on kraft cardstock and cut them out as embellishments - the crown, frame, sentiment, and airplane.

Have a great day!

Deb

H is for Hearts

2011-09-12T04:55:00.000-04:00

A card challenge from the ABC Crop at My Sketch World - we were asked to use at least two hearts on a card, any color but red. I used Stampin' Up heart punches and Basic Gray papers.

Have a great day!

Deb

G is for Gratitude. Today is for remembrance.

2011-09-11T04:48:00.000-04:00

Another layout challenge from the ABC Crop at My Sketch World. It was a hard layout for me; my sister Liz passed away 6 months ago this week, and that combined with the 10th anniversary of 9/11 has made this an emotionally difficult week. I am really grateful for the opportunity to revisit these memories of Liz through photos and to spend some time thinking about her.

Today is a day to stop and remember all of those you love, both those still here and those gone. To value your relationships and tell those around you what their presence in your life means to you.

Deb

E is for Extended Family

2011-09-10T16:47:00.003-04:00

Yes, I know it's out of order,but I couldn't get a good shot while it was raining.

Have a great day!

Deb

F is for Four - ABC Crop at My Sketch World

2011-09-09T07:05:00.000-04:00

For this challenge at My Sketch World, we had to use 4 elements on a card: flower, font, fringe, and fall colors. Here is my take:

D is for Die Cut

2011-09-08T04:34:00.001-04:00

The day 4 challenge at the My Sketch World ABC crop was "D is for Die Cut." I used a Spellbinders pendant die set to create my card:

Have a great day!

Deb

C is for Color

2011-09-07T04:29:00.000-04:00

The day 3 challenge at the My Sketch World ABC crop was a layout color combo challenge:

I used one of Lucy Chesna's sketches and the Basic Gray Lime Rickey collection to scrap this photo of mother's day:

Have a great day!

Deb

B is for Butterfly

2011-09-06T04:24:00.000-04:00

I'm running a little behind at the My Sketch World ABC crop, but I'm catching up. The Day 2 prompt was "B is for Butterfly," and the challenge was to use 2 butterflies on a card. I used mists on a butterfly stamp to create the background and a sticker for the green butterfly.

Have a great day!

Deb

My Sketch World ABC Crop!

2011-09-05T16:38:00.004-04:00

My Sketch World is hosting an awesome ABC crop. All month long there are challenges posted with alphabet cues. The first challenge was A is for Arrows - the challenge was to create a layout using at least 2 arrows. I actually made a minibook to take with me when I travel; I used a Maya Road arrow sheers keychain as the base for the book:

Have a great day!

Deb

Post-Hurricane

2011-08-29T17:29:00.002-04:00

Or technically, post-tropical storm, I guess. Irene had lost quite a bit of her punch by the time she arrived on Cape Cod - we actually got very little rain here, and some gusting winds. A few tree limbs down, and a lots of debris across lawns and roads. We lost power for about 6 hours, but it went back on at dusk, so we have nothing to complain about. We are awaiting a status report on our home.

Here is a photo of yesterday morning's sky - I wish I could have recorded video to show how fast the clouds were moving.

Deb

Hurricane Irene

2011-08-27T20:49:00.001-04:00

Everyone stay safe - we'll be tucked in at the Cape with a couple of stir-crazy kids and a dog (who by the way, is clearly freaked out by the change in atmospheric pressure, or something).

My Sketch World Sketch Challenge

2011-08-13T12:52:00.006-04:00

I discovered My Sketch World recently and, being a big fan of sketches, have promptly become a fan! Lucy Chesna designed this sketch for the August challenge:

And here is my take on it:

I finally broke into some of my Cosmo Cricket paper and alpha stash, and that's one of a dozen ribbon flowers I made with a package of Glubers, to which I am now officially addicted.

Have a great day!

Deb

Practical Scrappers Recipe challenge

2011-08-06T14:12:00.003-04:00

I have been having a blast this week playing along with the Practical Scrappers recipe contest. Every day this week, 2 items were added to the LO recipe. Here is my final product:

And here's the recipe:

Day One: CARDSTOCK & PATTERNED PAPER: Bazzill CS and Lily Bee PP

Day Two: FLOWER (OR FLOWERS) & RIBBON: Flowers (made from Lily Bee PP) and SU polka dotted red ribbon
Day Three: BUTTON (OR BUTTONS) & BLING: button centers on bottom flowers and Fancy Pants glitter tranparency (cut into page corners)

Day Four: STICKER (OR STICKERS) & INK (ANY TYPE - MARKER, PAD, DISTRESSING, ETC): sticker sentiments in flowers and inked photo edges and marker page border
Day Five: FLOSS OR TWINE & SOMETHING RED: twine used to tie buttons and red PP, ribbon

Day Six: CHIPBOARD & BRADS: Cosmo Cricket chipboard alphas and SEI fabric brads

Have a great day!

Deb

More Practical Scrappers challenge cards:

2011-08-01T14:59:00.004-04:00

Here is one using flowers, dies cuts, and patterned papers (the first vertical row from this challenge):

and here is one using stamps, colors, and brads (the last vertical row):

Have a great day!

Deb

Why you should check your garden daily....

2011-07-30T19:28:00.001-04:00

Yep, that's a zucchini. Or possibly our third child.

Have a great day!

Deb

Your Scrapbook Stash - Scraplift Challenge

2011-07-29T14:23:00.000-04:00

Your Scrapbook Stash is my favorite online scrapbook store, and they always have the best DT. So how excited was I to see Shellye McDaniel on their new DT roster? Shellye used to own a wonderful kit club and message board and was the very first person to give me the confidence to start sharing my work (and she also gave me my first DT spot!). Needless to say, when I saw their scraplift challenge, I knew I would turn to one of Shellye's pieces for inspiration. She did a wonderful layout titled "Beach Dude" which served as my inspiration for this piece.

Supplies:

PP - Scenic Route, Cosmo Cricket

Stickers: Cosmo Cricket

Corrugated flowers - Jillibean Soup

Alphas - October Afternoon

felt title - Creative Imagination

Other - ribbon, buttons, bakers twine, paint, mica flakes

Thanks for the inspiration, Shellye!

Have a great day,

Deb

Challenge card

2011-07-29T14:13:00.000-04:00

Practical Scrappers has a great Bingo card challenge this week to celebrate their 2nd anniversary. I chose a diagonal row - patterned paper, ribbon, and stamps to create this card.

Have a great day!

Deb

Happy kids!

2011-07-27T14:49:00.002-04:00

My kids love summer! They are completely unfazed by the heat (like last week's 104 degree days!) and love being outside. This past weekend we visited with my parents and the kids even took their craft projects, lovely gifts from their Aunt Susan (thank you, Aunt Susan!) out on the porch.

Enjoy summer and have a great day!

Deb

Scrapbook Circle Challenge

2011-07-19T14:55:00.004-04:00

I love challenges, and I really love great ones! Scrapbook Circle had a great challenge this week, based on the colors in their yummy July kit:

I wish I had this gorgeous kit, but I don't, so I combed my stash and came up with this layout:

Have a great day!

Deb

One layer cards

2011-07-19T13:38:00.002-04:00

Practical Scrappers had a great challenge up yesterday - one layer cards. I perused last year's Stampin Up catalog and found a card that inspired me to make these:

Have a great day!

Deb

Excited....

2011-07-10T10:12:00.001-04:00

I am heading over to Right at Home Scrapbooking this afternoon to take their Home Study Cards Book Club class. Doesn't that sound like fun? I'll report back on how it goes!

This class looks neat:

2011-07-09T06:54:00.002-04:00

Pernickety Prints is giving away a spot in Tiffany Tillman's Scraphic Design Core Class!

{There is no class meeting time, so you're free to view the videos at your own pace. Class discussion takes place via a private forum with a gallery for sharing your work with the instructor and other students. The class forum is moderated by the instructor. Support is provided via weekly live Q&A video chats, email and the forum.}

THIS CLASS INCLUDES:

22 in-depth video lessons in the areas of color theory, pattern mixing, element clustering according to style type, text works, and realistic depth + more.
Class workbook with video lesson steps outs + additional challenges and case studies not featured in the video lessons
TIffany's secrets for building wow pages!
This exclusive digital kit by One Little Bird
Free 12×12 page prints of your projects courtesy of yours truly- Persnickety Prints!
and a final, personalized PDF critique of your completed projects with suggestions for strengths, areas of improvement and goal sheet by Tiffany.

Been a while....

2011-07-09T06:45:00.002-04:00

It's been a rough spring - losing my sister hit all of us really hard, and I don't think I understood just how hard it hit me until I realized how much of my life I had put aside. I made a scrapbook about Liz for my parents shortly after she died, and had the pages copied so I could make replicas for other family members. I finally put those books together last weekend, and it was like unlocking a door - I cried again, and suddenly felt ready to venture into my creative side. So hopefully, I'll have some stuff to post soon - I started Noah's birthday book yesterday.

NSD- YourScrapbookStash.com sketches

2011-05-08T09:29:00.008-04:00

I love YSS for my online scrappy shopping trips, and they are hosting sketch challenges all week for National Scrapbook Day. Thanks to my wonderful husband, I have had some time this weekend to play, and here are my takes on two of their sketches (check them all out here on the YSS blog):

Both are made with SEI papers from my classes at CKC Manchester last week, plus the Bubble Bath layout has yummy Melissa Frances crepe paper and mica flakes, both new products and techniques I learned in her class there!

Happy Mother's Day!

2011-05-08T05:52:00.002-04:00

To my wonderful mom, mother of 3 children and grandmother to two; patient, loving, giving beyond measure. Thank you for everything you do and you are. Have a day filled with peace.

Miss Art's is open!!

2011-05-01T08:16:00.003-04:00

I am a huge fan of online crafting classes, since I have very little free time to actually go to live classes. The same people who brought us one of my fave sites, Stash to Treasure, have opened a new site, Miss Art's, and the grand opening is today! Check it out!

Elisabeth Sarah Ebert April 4, 1969-March 15, 2011

2011-03-17T05:56:00.002-04:00

Beloved daughter, sister, aunt. We miss you so much.

Really - a lot of snow.

2011-01-28T05:23:00.004-05:00

Not to repeat myself, but we have gotten so much snow this year. And no melting since New Years. And it's not yet February. I'm not crazy about snow to begin with, and this is not helping me feel better about it. Ok, maybe a picture will help you understand what I mean when I say "so much snow."

You see? That is a lot of snow. We have had 5.5 snow days (5 full ones and one early release), which means the kids know pretty much every Disney movie by heart. And as I mentioned, it isn't even February yet.

Eek.

Snow, snow, and more snow.

2011-01-22T16:09:00.002-05:00

So it's cold, days are short, and we now have a snow base of at least 2 feet. So let's make it official by decorating with a snow theme! I used the Coordinates Collection Sleigh Ride kit, which is full of papers and embellies from Echo park and Fancy Pants (plus bunches of other stuff!); the alphas are Tim Holtz grungeboard that have been in my stash for years, and the label shapes were cut with Spellbinders dies.

Have a great day!

Deb

Doodling....

2011-01-17T14:21:00.002-05:00

I really want to learn to doodle (I mean, in an aesthetically pleasing manner), so when Stash to treasure came up with a doodling challenge I figured I had better give it a try. Not sure I'm thrilled with the results, but it provided me with some fresh motivation to keep doodling!

Have a great day!

Deb

2011-01-12T05:30:00.000-05:00

I am having fun trying new techniques and playing with my supplies (one of my resolutions!), and I made a bunch of these flowers over the weekend. They are just different sized circles, each dampened and rolled along the perimeter and then nested. I used various buttons and gems from my stash as centers. The punched strip is made with a Kreaxions border punch - my first one, and I really like it!

Have a great day!

Deb

Baby cards

2011-01-09T14:14:00.003-05:00

Seems like almost everyone I know is expecting in the next few months, so I'm making baby cards! This one took some fussy cutting, but luckily I got a great tip about cutting up foam adhesive to use on small areas on Stash to Treasure this week, so all those little arms, legs, tails, and trunks should stay put!

Have a great day!

Deb

The Mosy Scrapper January creations

2011-01-04T00:11:00.000-05:00

This month we worked with the fantastic December kit from Birds of a Feather. The kit has patterned papers from Echo Park and Little Yellow Bicycle, embellies from Making Memories, Little Yellow Bicycle, Jenni Bowlin, and Websters Pages, and textured and embossed cardstock from Bazzill. Although it is a Christmas-themed kit, the paper choices were so versatile that I made layouts and cards with no holiday theme at all, as well as Christmas projects. The kit is also HUGE - I still have several pieces of patterned paper and cardstock I haven't even cut into yet! I really can't say enough about these kits - definitely a new fave!

Have a great day!

Deb

New Year's decor

2011-01-03T05:07:00.003-05:00

I was inspired by the DTs at American Crafts and Martha Stewart to create a New Year's garland. Mine is made with Lily Bee papers; I used my Kreaxions circle cutter to cut graduated circles from 5.5 inches down to 2 inches and attached them with jump rings. The alphas are AC Thickers. This would be great in Valentines colors with hearts too, don't you think?

Have a great day!

Deb

2011-01-01T04:07:00.002-05:00

Guess who loves snow?

2010-12-29T13:46:00.003-05:00

We had lots of snow this week and lots of changes of plans because of it. So while we are sad to miss seeing our dear friends, the kids at least enjoyed playing in (and eating) the snow.

Exciting news!

2010-12-23T05:16:00.003-05:00

I have been asked to be on the design team at The Mosy Scrapper for the next four months! Christa runs a truly lovely board - incredibly warm and friendly, and it is a real joy to work with her and the TMS DT!

Coordinates Collections December Blog Hop

2010-12-19T19:01:00.004-05:00

Coordinates Collection challenged its readers to create a LO with some sparkle in it this month, and no one likes bling as much as my lovely daughter. So since I have been procrastinating about scrapping the photos from her birthday party, I figured this was a good time to pull them out and get them on a sparkly layout. There is a LOT of sparkle on this page - the Pink Paislee glitter alphas, the Prima bling swirl, the black rhinestone frame around the number 6, and the Stickles sprinkles on the cupcake!

Have a great day!

Deb

Late Chanukah post...

2010-12-19T18:27:00.003-05:00

Better late than never - I just got a chance to sit down and edit some of my photos from the beginning of the month! Jeff took this picture of me and the kids lighting the menorah:

It's hard to believe Chanukah has already come and gone!

Butterflies, butterflies

2010-12-08T00:45:00.000-05:00

Ok, butterflies aren't the usual December motif, but when Just Imagine/Kreaxions sent me this awesome new butterfly die , I had to play with it! This is a flat metal die, compatible with most die-cut systems - I used it with my Spellbinder Wizard and it worked beautifully. I have seen several versions of these butterfly collages and always wanted to make one, so I pulled out several sheets of Basic Gray and Pink Paislee and went to town cutting butterflies. I layered them on this Basic Gray paper until I was happy with the arrangement and then embellished with whatever bling and buttons I had on my desk.

Have a great day,

Deb

Happy Birthday Jeff!!!

2010-12-01T05:22:00.001-05:00

December already? Where does the time go? Today is my husband's birthday - happy birthday sweetheart. I hope your day is filled with love and surprises.

Looking for a few gifts?

2010-11-29T04:56:00.003-05:00

My friend Christa makes BEAUTIFUL beaded jewelry. She is having an outrageous Cyber Monday sale today in her Etsy shop, Doohickies & Such - go check it out!

Have a great day,

Deb

Paper Pumpkins

2010-11-24T00:12:00.001-05:00

These are really easy to make - cut or punch 8-10 same-sized circles and fold them all in half, right sides in. Adhere to one another, leaving the ends free. Roll a piece of paper to make the stem, place in the center of the folded circles and adhere the circle chain closed. Ta-dah! Pumpkins! (or, next September, apples for the teachers!)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Deb

Rainbows!

2010-11-18T04:31:00.002-05:00

This week's color challenge at Simply Scrapping Crafts was to use a rainbow palette. It really had me stumped until I decided to just make a rainbow (yes, I know, but sometimes the obvious solutions are the hardest to find). I love the happy, bright result! I think this may be one of my go-to solutions for a quick card. Plus, it's a great way to revisit scraps.

Have a wonderful day,

Deb

My little crafter

2010-11-15T04:35:00.004-05:00

My daughter loves to craft, so I felt really lucky when I met Sara, of Sara Jane's Studio. Sara is a wonderful artist with a passion for teaching, and she is terrific and patient with kids (and grown-ups too, for that matter!). Sara has a monthly card class, and allows me to bring Gabi. This month I had to go to a class during the week while Gabi was in school, so Sara sent me home with Gabi's materials. We had a fun (and glittery) crafting session at home, and Gabi loves her art so much that she plans on framing them and keeping them in her room.

Have a great day,

Deb

A banner day!

2010-11-10T04:14:00.000-05:00

I had to take my Halloween banner down last week. Isn't it amazing how quickly seasonal decorations go from cool to passe? So I decided to make a new one for Thanksgiving! I used my *awesome* Kreaxions circle cutter (yes, I know I gush, but seriously, if you cut circles this is the best $9.99 you'll ever spend. Go buy one. Get some extra blades, too - you'll be using this a lot) to whip out 24 circles in no time.

The banner is made by punching each patterned paper circle with Kreaxions punch 915 and then adhering down to a cardstock circle of the same size. The top row of circles is smaller than the bottom row. The papers are from last year's DCWV autumn stack, and the alphas are Cosmo Cricket .

Thanks for stopping by!!

Deb

Giving Thanks

2010-11-07T03:43:00.004-05:00

For the last few years, I have tried to take take in November to stop regularly and give thanks - before the holiday tornado sweeps through and everything else is forgotten. Last year I decided to create a small thankful journal where I could write a little something, or add a picture of what I was thankful for. Jeff added some entries too, and I am hoping that as the kids get older they can participate. Here is the one I made this year:

It's being featured today on the Crop Chocolate Crop!

Have a great day,

Deb

First ever Crop Chocolate online crop!!!

2010-11-04T05:05:00.003-04:00

Trying to figure out what to do with yourself this weekend now that the harvest festivals are over, all your leaves are raked, and it's too early to start cooking for Thanksgiving? Come play at Crop Chocolate for a 48 hour online crop November 6 and 7, 2010!

All you need to participate in the Online Crop and to be eligible for the prizes is to have an active CC account with a valid e-mail address. It will be part shopping, part crafting, part challenges, and completely fun! Come play to win some prizes, complete some projects (layouts, cards, altered items--you know finally use up some of you stash), and have some fun! There will also be some fun mini-games and activities going on under the Sweet Talk section of the website throughout the weekend, so make sure to stop by Sweet Talk and check them out too.

Can't make it for the whole weekend? No worries! The main challenges will be posted beginning on Saturday November 6th at 10:00 AM on the main page and it will alternate a challenge, then a SWEET deal, then another challenge, etc. If you miss a challenge on the main page they are always accessible under the "past deals" section of the website. The deadline for the submission of projects to be considered for prizes for the challenges is MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8th, 2010 11:59 PM MST (CC time) unless an earlier deadline is stated. That is approximately 24 hours after the crop ends. The challenges will be posted between 10:00 AM and 10:00 PM on Saturday Nov 6th and 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM on Sunday Nov 7th.

The Pirate and the Princess

2010-11-01T12:32:00.004-04:00

We had a fun Halloween, trick-or-treating with new friends for the first time in our neighborhood as well as going back to our old neighborhood to scare (I mean say hello to) old friends.

Here are "crazy candy smiles:"

And the most harrowing moment of the evening (don't worry, like all good fairy tales, it all turned out in the end and they lived happily ever after.)

Have a great day!

Deb

You've been booed!

2010-10-30T07:20:00.003-04:00

Check out the Glue Arts blog if you want to be booed too!

Fall greetings....

2010-10-27T00:01:00.000-04:00

I am a total sucker for all things autumnal. I just love the fall colors, so I now find myself with two large paper packs I bought last year (on clearance, mind you) full of fall papers. And because I'm also trying really hard to use my stash before it all collapses on my head in a tragic scrapbooking accident, I need to use them.

So I made some three-layer cards! The papers are MAMBI and DCWV, and some of them are pretty thin, so they lend themselves to layering like this. I used my awesome Kreaxions 4-in-1 punches to punch the edges, and although that gives a pretty dressy result that could certainly stand on its own, I embellished further with some Making Memories Autumn Splendor leaves and glitter stems.

Thanks for stopping by!

Deb

Blog Hop Winners!!!

2010-10-25T12:04:00.002-04:00

Thank you to everyone who particiapted in the Kreaxions Blog Hop! Don't forget to hop back through and find out if you won at each DT blog!

The Kreaxions punch winner is #26:

~jan said...
Love how you backed the punched paper with the orange-it really makes it pop!
October 23, 2010 5:38 PM

And the blog follower winner is #14:

Kelly Massman said...
GREAT projects! I'm already following you! :-)
October 23, 2010 12:44 PM

Ladies, I've sent you emails! Please send me your addresses so we can get your prizes out to you!

Have a great Monday,

Deb

Just Imagine Kreaxions Blog Hop!!!!

2010-10-23T00:01:00.003-04:00

To join the fun simply start at the Just Imagine blog and you're on your way!! Each of our wonderful design team members will be giving away a different prize on their blog - to be entered into the drawings leave a comment on each blog. We'll be giving away a grand prize too!! You'll be automatically entered into the grand prize drawing by commenting on each blog - and if you "Like" us on Facebook and/or become a follower of the Just Imagine Crafts blog you'll get an extra entry!!

Just Imagine Blog

Stacy

Bev

Sarah

Deborah<------- YOU'RE HERE!!!!

Ellen

Gini

Steph

Rebecca

Melissa

So far you've probably seen lots of awesome projects from the rest of the team, and you've just hopped over here from Sarah! Please make sure you've left some love on each blog in order to be eligible to win all these amazing prizes!

My Halloween projects is a mini-album I made for my friend Maria so she could keep pictures of her son's costumes over the years in one place. I used Kreaxions 4-in-1 punch #918 along the edge of each page to give the album continuity, and I backed the black cardstock with orange to make the punched images pop. The border stickers are from K and Co, and the album is a Zutter Cover-All.

I am giving away the Kreaxions punch I used on this project - 918. To be entered in the drawing, please leave me a comment on this blog post by tomorrow, October 24 at 9 pm EST. We'll announce all our prize winners on Monday.

Want another chance to win some scrappy goodness? Become a follower of my blog and post a separate comment telling me you did (or that you already follow), and I'll draw a random winner for a prize pack!

So from here, hop over to Ellen's blog, eat a little candy, and enjoy the hop! Don't forget to comment along the way...and Happy Halloween!

Have a spooky day,

Deb

The Fine Print: In order to be eligible for any of the prizes you need to be a resident of the US or Canada (sorry)

ALL Simply Scrapping Blog Hop Winners posted!!!!

2010-10-18T06:59:00.001-04:00

We at Simply Scrapping Crafts would like to thank you for making our very first Blog Hop such a smashing success! We had so much fun creating our projects for you and hope that they inspire you to create ones of your own and share them with us!

As you know, we had some prizes "hidden" on certain blogs. Here is our master winners list:

Barb's Boys...prize hidden on Deb's blog

Julie M....prize hidden on Georgia's blog

Lisa (Purple Place) AND Trina...there were 2 prizes hidden on Theresa's blog

Andrea6760...prize hidden on Rona's blog

Helen...prize hidden on Amy's blog

Terry G (T)...prize hidden on Emily's blog

Denise...prize hidden on Clare's blog

Roxann...prize hidden on Pryn's blog

Again, we would like to thank you for your participation and look forward to bringing you many more hops in the future :) Please do not be a stranger and stop back anytime you would like! We would love to have you :)

Simply Scrapping Blog Hop Winner!!!!

2010-10-17T14:25:00.002-04:00

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:27
Timestamp: 2010-10-17 18:22:57 UTC

Barb's Boys said...
That banner is just awesome-love the paper line you used!
October 16, 2010 12:11 PM

Barb's Boys, PM me with your address so I can send you some happy scrappy mail!

BOO!

2010-10-16T00:01:00.002-04:00

Welcome to Simply Scrapping Crafts First Annual Haunted Hallow Hop!

We have quite a line-up for you today filled with lots of tricks and treats! Now what would trick or treating be without candy? Eye candy that is! Our DT has been busy at work in Dr. Jekyll's lab creating just the right formula to inspire your hauntingly sweet projects this year. Be sure to comment all of the blogs along the way because we have "hidden" some extra special treats along the way. There is no way to tell where we have them stashed, so be sure not to miss out! Some of our hop hosts are giving an extra entry for becoming a follower. Who doesn't appreciate more chances to win right?

All winners will be announced on Tuesday, October 19, 2010 via the DT blogs and also in the hop room at SSC, which can easily be accessed here . You have until 11:59PM EST tonight, October 16, 2010 to comment for your chance to win. All you need to do is click on each link and leave a comment as you hop along to the end of the list.

Are you ready for a frightfully wicked Haunted Hallow Hop? Let's get to hoppin'!

Today, I want to share a Halloween garland I made. Because Halloween is one of my favorite holidays (come on, how many purely candy-based holidays are there??), I always have more Halloween-based crafting stuff than I can realistically use on layouts of my childrens' costumes. So, I decided to use up lots of bits and pieces of papers, embellishments, and ribbon to make this garland.

All of the sections started out as rectangles. If you cut them all the same size, your garland will stay in proportion. I layered patterned paper, cut just a half and inch smaller in both height and width, over the black carstock. I used patterned paper from a single line (this is actually from a fall -themed paper stack) so that all my colors would work together, but this would also be cool with mixed papers. I used my stash of Martha Stewart ribbon to decorate and string the garland together, and various embellies, including the LYB clears, to finish it.

Here are some close-ups:

Decorative scissors add texture to the edges.

This shape was made by using a circle punch on the corners of a rectangle .

The letters are mounted on scalloped circles punched from the same paper line for additional contrast.

Now for the treat: leave me a comment to be entered to win an awesome scrappy treat. Want another entry? Become a follower of my blog and leave me a second comment telling me you did so. You have until midnight tonight, October 16! And remember, leave comments on all the DT's blogs for more chances to win!

Thanks for hopping by! Your next stop is Maureen

It's a pink and flowery kinda day...

2010-10-13T18:30:00.003-04:00

I don't know why I was in the mood to create something so, well, girly. Maybe because my 6-year old daughter loves everything pink and pretty. Anyway, Kreaxions 4-in-1 punch 903 and my trusty Kreaxions circle cutter created the oval frame. The flowers and leaves are Kreaxions punches, too!

Have a great day!

Deb

Six.

2010-10-12T00:01:00.000-04:00

I cannot believe you are 6 today. That sounds so big and so little at the same time. I hope every one of your wishes comes true. Happy birthday, my darling girl.

A very cupcake birthday

2010-10-04T17:57:00.002-04:00

We had Gabi's birthday party yesterday at Treat Cupcake Bar - a big thank you to Marie at Treat for making it such a fun time! The girls started by decorating their own cupcakes boxes. Then Marie taught them how to make decorations out of fondant, and they created polka dots, balloons, and squiggles. The, out came bowls of pink, purple, and blue frosting, along with mini M&Ms, Gummi Bears, sprinkles, and oreos, and each girl decorated 6 cupcakes. It was a delicious afternoon that had all the parents wishing they could play too!

Have a great Monday!

-Deb

Coming soon -- Simply Scrapping Halloween Blog Hop!!!!

2010-09-30T06:38:00.002-04:00

Join me on October 16th for an awesome blog hop with my Simply Scrapping DT pals!! There will be lots of inspiration and prizes, so stay tuned.

Crazy Jam Lady

2010-09-24T15:36:00.000-04:00

You've heard of crazy cat ladies? Well, I'm the crazy jam lady. Since moving last year I have become kind of obsessed with living a little closer to the Earth, including being more aware of seasons and where our food comes from. So now I try to capture some of the fruits of summer by making jams to last us all winter.

This layout is based on a sketch from Your Scrapbook Stash; I played with Glimmer Mist, some papers and stickers from Echo Park's A Walk in the Park line, and my trusty Kreaxions 903 punch. And a bunch of flowers, buttons, and tags from my stash.

YSS Blog Hop!

2010-09-23T05:35:00.001-04:00

One of my favorite online stores, Your Scrapbook Stash, is having blog hop this week - check it out!

First day of School

2010-09-10T03:01:00.000-04:00

Ok, I'm a little late getting this posted, since the kids went back Tuesday, but better late than never, right? Gabi is a kindergartener this year (gulp!), and Noah is very excited to be a big kid in his classroom. They have slipped right back into their school routines and love being back at Riverbend Montessori. Gabi even assigned herself homework the other night!

Woohoo!! Blog hop!

2010-09-09T11:56:00.000-04:00

What a wonderful weekend...

2010-09-06T13:09:00.000-04:00

We said goodbye this morning to our dear friends, Mary, Lisa, and Meryl, who traveled to spend the last weekend of the summer with us. Hurricane Earl brought a slight hiccup to our plans to spend the whole time on the Cape, but we made it down Saturday morning and had a wonderful visit with dear friends. What a lovely way to wrap up our vacation.

Plimouth Plantation

2010-08-28T04:04:00.000-04:00

We visited Plimouth Plantation yesterday - I was concerned that the kids were too young, but they really enjoyed it. Noah befriended (yes, big surprise) one of the actors, who taught him about muskets and fire-building, both of which are undoubtedly essential skills for a four-year-old boy.

We also went to see the Mayflower II. That's Jeff on the ladder!

Gabi and Noah were enlisted by one of the actors the empty the chamber pots onboard (they had water in them...I think). Apparently this used to be the responsibility of the youngest child in the house, so Noah enthusiatically volunteered.

Visiting Miss Liberty

2010-08-27T15:57:00.000-04:00

Last weekend we visited my sister in New York to celebrate her graduation from culinary school. The kids have been obsessed with "Miss Liverty" since watching An American Tail, so we had purchased tickets months ago for the ferry ride and monument. Need I say it ended up being the first rainy day of the entire summer? Despite the iffy weather, it was a great trip, and the kids loved seeing their aunt and the adventure of New York.

Picking up Cassie

2010-08-14T06:11:00.000-04:00

As you may know, we lost our wonderful dog of 15 years, Jessie, last May. We recently adopted Cassie from a wonderful organization calledAlmost Home Rescue. She is as different from Jessie as, well, cats and dogs, but has quickly become a part of the family.

Here are pictures from her pickup day.

This layout is made using American Crafts cardstock, Doodlebug buttons, a Jillibian journaling spot, and Kreaxions 4-in-1 punch 903.

Psst - check it out....

2010-08-08T05:34:00.000-04:00

My Just Imagine DT pal Sarah Mullanix has created these adorable embellishments and journaling spots, and the crazy girl is actually giving them away!! Check out her blog to enter to win!

CPS Sketch 178

2010-08-07T08:39:00.000-04:00

I am always inspired by the weekly card sketches at CPS, and this week is no different. I have been saving my October Afternoon stash for a special project, and this sketch seemed like just the right occasion!

Wait for it....

2010-08-03T19:53:00.001-04:00

"Mommy, I have stitches."

"What? Where do you have stitches?"

"Here, and here, and here." (pointing all over body to completely intact skin)

"Hmm, I guess I missed that. Who put in your stitches?"

"Ummm...Dr Seuss."

A day on the water

2010-07-29T04:57:00.000-04:00

Ok, I'm a bit late getting this posted, but I wanted to say a big thank you to cousins Dan and Samantha for inviting us to spend the day with them last weekend and the lovely day on their boat. As usual, my children surprised me with their competence and ease (Gabi: "Mommy, I already know how to put on my life jacket - we do it at camp for boating. You don't have to help me.") and intense curiosity (Noah: "What's that called? What is it for?"). It was such a terrific day and of course, the company was wonderful.

New Haircut

2010-07-24T17:03:00.000-04:00

Gabi got a new haircut today - our compromise for her not wanting to wear her hair in a ponytail during the summer when she swims at least twice a day, leading to nightly struggles with her many snarls. I love it, and happily, so does she!

BLOG CANDY - YUM!

2010-07-23T05:45:00.000-04:00

My buddy Gini is celebrating her blogaversay by giving away the most unbelievable blog candy - check this out!!!!

Ooh- a giveaway!!

2010-07-21T05:55:00.000-04:00

Imaginisce is giving away a great prize pack just for commenting on their blog! Check it out!

Happy Birthday Noah!!!

2010-07-19T17:24:00.001-04:00

My darling son Noah turns four today! It is hard to believe this is the smiling, chubby-cheeked baby we met in a hotel room in Guatemala in 2006 - he is so strong willed and able now. I'm so very proud of him. Here he is telling me how old he is today, and getting a phone call from our friends Lisa, Mary, and Meryl singing him 'happy birthday.'

Ah, summer....

2010-07-18T15:23:00.000-04:00

I must really love my kids, because while they love the beach, I hate it. Don't ask - I'm not good in the sun, and I don't like sand. But I adore my kids, so we go, slathered in sunscreen.

This layout is the first one I made with my Kreaxions Circle Cutter, and I just love this tool. It could not be easier to use, and you can adjust it infinitely. You don't even need a special mat. The inspiration came from a design by my buddy Amy Beaver, who designed this awesome sketch for Simply Scrapping Craft's Sketchy Saturday Challenge this week. Thanks Amy - you talented gal!!!! The papers are from Making Memories Just Chillin' Boy pack.