April SOTM Blog Hop!!

Thank you for stopping by to enjoy our April Stamp of the Month Blog Hop featuring this month's SOTM - You Are... S1204! If you've just arrived here from
Mary's Blog then you are on the correct path.

I created this simple standard-size card using the April SOTM, Kraft paper cardstock (for the card base), and the Victory papers X7150B (ink colors are Barn Red, Chocolate, Olive, and Outdoor Denim). The cardstock that my "focal point" sentiment is stamped on was cut using the Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge (1.5" colonial white and 1.75" outdoor denim). This masculine card would make a great Father's Day card, but is versatile enough that it could be given for just about any occasion really. The banners were created with 1"x3" rectangles of patterned paper that I cropped with a square punch to give them their "banner" shape (as shown below):

Finally, here is a view of all of the fun images included in this stamp set:

I haven't even used the fantastic background stamps included in this set yet,
but I already know I will be using them a lot and am so looking forward
to creating with those images soon too!

Now you can continue on with our Blog Hop to be inspired by more creativity with this stamp set by visiting Annette's Blog next! Enjoy!!

March 30 and 31 scrapbooking classes!!

Let me help you make more progress completing more of your scrapbooking this year...one page...and one layout at a time! We will meet every month at 6:30pm and 7:30pm on either the 3rd, 4th, or 5th weekend of each month. Join us on Friday night or Saturday night or even both nights if you want/need extra time to create with us!

At 6:30pm we will create one 12x12 layout with traditional materials (paper, stamps, and embellishments!) for $10 per layout. This month we will be using the NEW Victory papers and each class kit will include a full assortment of

Cork Alphabet Stickers (a $5.95 value)!

 Then, at 7:30pm we will create another layout (faster, simpler, and easier!) with Studio J online at no additional charge! Yes, you read that correctly, the Studio J class is FREE! You can join us for both segments of class time, or just come for either the first or second hour, whichever interests you most!

12x12 left page (above)
Click on any of my images to see them larger!!

12x12 right page (above)

Full view of 12x12 layout (above)

The layout design is inspired by (Left-side) Reflections - Sidebar-Quartet (page 44)

and (Right-side) Reflections - Title Topper-Photos (page 21).

I will have all of the papers for the layout pre-cut and ready for you to stamp, assemble, and embellish! All you will need to bring is your adhesive, photos, and favorite basic tools you like to use. Please PLAN AHEAD NOW by getting your prints printed/finding the photos you will want to bring to use (or you can also add the photos at home later if you prefer)! Left side of the page could include (1)5x7, (1)6x6, OR (4)3.5x3.5" square photos. Right side of the page could include (3)4x5 photos (as shown) or a combination of 4x4's and 4x6's (I can show you how to crop your 3 photos to make them fit at the class)! I will have kit supplies available for just 12 students, so please RSVP ASAP to guarantee your spot NOW before it fills up!!...and please let me know which night you prefer to join us (Friday and/or Saturday) when you RSVP!

Next, here is the Studio J layout I've chosen for us to create together this month:
(click on the photo to see it up close for a better view of the stitching!!)

Kit: Florentine

Pattern: Treasure Tags™

Photos: 3-4 vertical

We will watch the newest Love Your Layout episode (March 2012) to help us make this adorable spring-themed layout with fresh colors and the super simple stitching tool!

You can view this video presentation early

by visiting this link to StudioJ.com now!

For those joining us for the Studio J class at 7:30pm, bringing your own laptop computer is recommended, but not required. I do have a few extra computers available for your use when you reserve one with me (first come, first serve)! It is also very important that you remember to bring your digital photos to use (files that you have saved on a memory card, flash drive, or dvd) to create the Studio J pages (or you can add the photos later)!

Finding my "Mojo" again!

Standard size card to celebrate the first week of Spring!!

Featuring the Pemberley papers X7148B, Love Clusters C1484 stamp set, Paradise Paper Flowers Z1710, and Color-Ready Seam Binding Ribbon Z1732 (dyed with Indian Corn Blue re-inker mixed with water in a spray pen),

design inspired by Mojo Monday 233!

This has been an especially difficult week for me. On Sunday morning my oldest child woke up with the stomach flu. There were no signs, symptoms, or warning that this was coming (no fever or headaches), just sudden vomiting. By Sunday evening I had another child starting to get sick also. Then Monday morning I woke up sick and felt so horrible for two days. At first I was thinking that maybe we had food poisoning, but because of the way it progressed (and the fact that we had all been eating different things on Saturday) I realized that we definitely had some kind of flu and unfortunately this was THE WORST stomach flu I can remember having hit my family ever. This illness struck us very suddenly one person at a time and messed up all the plans I had made to accomplish most of the things I had wanted to this week.

By Wednesday evening, I was so sick and tired of cleaning up throw up and doing laundry and feeling bad about all the things on my "to do" list that I couldn't handle this week, that I just couldn't wait to get my hands on some paper finally! (lol). When the stresses of life overwhelm me, I find that the thing I look forward to the most is some stamping and creative therapy to make me feel normal again! Usually I have no trouble designing something, but for two days I just couldn't seem to stamp anything that I was happy with. So this morning I turned to the Mojo Monday blog for inspiration, created the card shown above, and feel like I finally got my "mojo" back!! Yeaay! Now I can go on to enjoy this weekend I've been looking forward to so much (gonna go see "The Hunger Games" with my family tomorrow - can't wait)!!

March 9 and 10 Card Classes!!

You are invited to join us for my monthly card classes coming up on March 9th and 10th (6:30pm-8:30pm). Join us on Friday night or Saturday night or even both nights if you want more time to create.
THANK YOU to the 9 ladies who attended my March Card Classes - Addie, Carolyn, Dorothy, Frankie, Jackie, Jenn, Nancy, Rosann, and  Sandra!!
What fun we had!!

Let me show you how to create a variety of 3 different hand-made greeting cards using the latest NEW stamps, papers, techniques, embellishments, and our Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge that cuts paper to perfectly fit the images we'll be stamping on them! You get to choose how many of each card you make!

3 cards for $5 or 6 cards for $10 (when you bring your own adhesive)

3 cards for $6 or 6 cards for $12 (when you use my adhesive)

3x3 Box Card with Drawer (above)
featuring the My Peeps stamp set, Enjoy stamp set, and Lucy papers.

Inside view of 3x3 Box Card with Drawer (above).

View of what's inside the 3x3 Box Card with Drawer (above).

Instructions (including the cutting dimensions)

to make this "Box Card with Drawer" (above)
can be found here!

Standard-size thank you card (above) featuring the Pemberley papers X7148B,

with Card Word Puzzle C1494 and Pemberley WOTG G1033 stamp sets.

6x6 card (above) featuring the Cruisin' papers X7145B and March SOTM - Potential S1203. You also have the option to choose a different sentiment like "Deepest Sympathy" if you would like your card to be a sympathy card instead.

Space is limited to 9 guests each night, so please RSVP ASAP to reserve your spot(s) now for either Friday, Saturday, or both nights! I hope you can join us for the creativity and fun!