Happy Halloween

I know I have been neglecting my blog lately. These past few months have been filled with two toddlers, and 130 seventh graders, and 2 major evaluations on the new evaluation model for teachers. Basically on this model we are being told reaching a 5 is impossible so to shoot for 3. So you can imagine how hard I have been working. One lesson plan for one day on this model took me two full weeks to complete and was 5 pages long typed not counting all the typing I did creating the supplies for the lesson. So scrapbooking has been low on the totem pole lately.

Over my fall break I went on a much needed vacation and did manage to find the time to make my girls Halloween Costumes. They went as Tinkerbell and Sleeping Beauty. I saw a similar Tinkerbell costume and wand on etsy for $50-$60 dollars and I thought to myself, "I can make that!" So for about $12 each here is what I came up with.

Close to my Heart Convention Sneak Peaks!

Ladies it has just been announced that CTMH will have an exclusive Cricut Cartridge that will have over 700 images and will go with several of our stamp sets! B&T paper (pattern paper) is now cardstock weight as well! You can begin to order this and all the other fabulous new products Aug 1st so start saving now! This catalog will make you want to spend!

Mommy Day Crop!

The other day my great friend and I got together to scrap while our wonderful hubby's kept our kids. It was so great to spend some time talking and relaxing while working on our baby books. I am terribly behind in my two year old's book. I am only up to about 7 months old for her and have not even started my 1 year old's book yet. So I needed this day to get in gear. Here are the pages I completed.

This layout pattern I did on my own. I used CTMH Kraft Cardstock and the circle is from an old CTMH Constant Campaign kit called Felicity. The chipboard letters I bought a few years ago at a scrapbook convention but I do not have the company name. I was just proud I finally used them. The leaf is from the CTMH stamp set Many Thanks. Then I had a journal block that I cut up and sponged ink over each line in CTMH Ink's (Honey, Tulip, Sweet Leaf, Twilight, Chocolate, and Autumn Terracotta). What I LOVE about CTMH paper and inks is that they all match and it makes doing your pages super easy.

 

For this page I used Kraft Cardstock again as my base and B&T (background and texture) paper from Felicity. I lined my photo on Chocolate CTMH cardstock and the letters were done on my Cricut using the Zoobaloo cartridge and done with Colonial White CTMH cardstock and I sponged the edges in chocolate ink. Then I added a pumpkin adhesive felt border I got at a scrapbook convention, some orange buttons I attempted to make look like pumpkins and the Autumn Terracotta leaf is once again from the Many Thanks stamp set. I used the Tiny Typewritter Alphabet stamp from CTMH and chocolate ink for my journaling.

Here are the other two pages I did. This pattern was straight out of our new CTMH How To Book called Magic. If you like making your pages interactive then this book is for you, even if you don't you can make the same layout without the hidden items just like I have done here. It is such a versatile book! 

The stamp images were all from the Beware and Creepy Cobwebs CTMH Stamp Sets I just LOVE these stamps...so cute! I used my Cricut to create my letter's on Autumn Terracotta cardstock and I used the Felicity Paper mixed with Black Cardstock. I LOVE this layout! It sure does help that my hubby takes such great photos and captured this great photo of my little girl on her 1st Halloween.

In this close up you can see I wet embossed my black circle element with white embossing powder. This stamp image is meant for a square corner, but the great thing about clear stamps is you can shape them on the block or see through them enough to line up your stamp and make it fit your shape. The Boo sentiment is also done with white embossing powder. I also dry embossed my black strip with my Sizzix to add some texture to the page.

For the last page and this one I sanded the  Autumn Terracotta cardstock to reveal the white core that all CTMH cardstocks have. I embossing this black strip with my sizzix as well and used my cricut for the letters and the oval shapes. The "So sweet it's scary" sentiment was done using the Hodgepodge Alphabet stamp from CTMH. The bat image is embossed with black glitter embossing powder. Add a few other embellishments and Voila! Making these pages was so much fun remembering how cute she looked as a little pumpkin. It would have made me a little sad to realize how fast she is growing up, but then I remember I still have to scrap my baby girl's book and she wore this outfit too. That is the great thing about having two girls...I get to see the cute outfits again!

It has been way too long!

Hello? Is anyone there? Really? You still read this site? Yes folks...it has indeed been way too long since I have posted any artwork. I have had some time recently to finally be crafty again and will have several new posts of projects I have been working on. This first project was created last month for one of the teachers on my team (I teach middle school) who was retiring. We threw her a party and I was in charge of making the little sign that would be placed with her guest book. 

This is what the guest book  looked like and I tried to keep to the color scheme with the sign.

Here is a close up of the little sign. For this project I used Chocolate cardstock from Close to my Heart and embossed it with my Sizzix then backed it with a Crystal Blue cardstock from CTMH so you could not see my ribbon glued in the back. I used some lace ribbon from the dollar bin at Wal-Mart, and some Prima Flowers. I used Colonial White cardstock then printed in brown ink from my computer the sentiment. If you look really close you can see I scored two lines above and below the sentiment and then used Chocolate Ink from CTMH to distress it. Then I finished it off with a my stickease butterfly from the Miracle Kit that I stuck to a Taffy colored CTMH paper clip. I hope you like it

Just an Update!

I have new artwork to show you as soon as I get my computer back. My brother in law is working on it and I should get it back next weekend. So hang tight and I will have some more to show. I also will be starting my summer next weekend (I teach 7th grade) so I should have more time to keep up with this blog again.

My firstborn is 2!

 My firstborn girl M turned 2 Monday. This was the spread I made for her spring themed party. We had cake and donut holes (bought from publix) Fresh fruit, candy covered marshmellows, and birds nest cookies (made from scratch).

This was one of the crafts I did in preparation for the party. It was my first time making this tissue paper pom pom, and I LOVED how they turned out. I think I may hang these in my scrap space now.

 Here is the full effect.

 The fruit on a stick.

Close up of the birds nest cookies (peanut butter, choc. chips, and chow mein noodles mixed together and shaped like a nest with candy eggs on top.

I saw the inspiration for this here. This blog was great! I wanted to make my own birthday banner like they did, but I ran out of time.

 My 7th grade girls named these marshmallow pops "cloud pops".

These were marshmallow on a stick, dipped in vanilla candy melt, and while wet dipped in sprinkles. Then I placed them in the freezer for a few minutes to harden again and presto, marshmallow pops.

The cake, there is a story with this. I was not overly impressed with out publix cake. I mean, sure it's cute. However, I ordered an 8" round cake covered in fondant with fondant polka dots, pastel colors, and half chocolate half white. I got an 8" round cake covered sloppily in fondant (creases, cracks, etc),  these bright colors, and layered choc, white, choc, white. The taste was not the best either. I think it worked and it was cute, but did not fit my vision and I was upset about the quality of the look. I know it looks pretty good here because I found it's best angle and took the picture. Don't get me wrong I tried to take it as a glass half full kinda gal, but it just still irks me a bit.

 The spread again.

My birthday girl in front and my little one in back.
I would love to hear your comments and critiques. What do you think?

Yes...I am alive.

Sorry everyone, I know I kind of just fell off the face of blogland for a while there. I have begun a new hobby, couponing. It is saving me a ton of money, but it takes a lot of time. With two girls two and under it pretty much has taken all my free time lately. But I am getting a handle on juggling it with everything else now. Just had to convince myself I did not need every deal and that yes, it would go on sale again soon. :) Well, my daughter turns 2 Monday and her party is this next week. I am going to attempt to craft some things for her decorations. If I am able to find the time I will post them here soon.