Happy Mother's Day!!

I have a terrific daughter-in-law and I created this card for her - I hope she likes it!!  The flower comes from a tutorial on Capadia Designs using a 12 petal flower from the Cricut Paisley cartridge.  In a later post Diane also shows the flower created using a 10 petal flower from either the Forever Young or Serenade cartridges.  I do recommend you check out her tutorial as it is full of pictures and very well done.  The paper is from an old American Crafts stack called Play but it is new to me (clearance at Michael's - gotta love it!) and I picked up the ribbon at the dollar store.  Now back to scrapping the day away...

Home is Where the Heart is...

A friend asked me to do up a card for her son who has recently moved into a new home and this is what I came up with.  I love making these pleated flowers and how different they come out depending on the papers and the type of border punch you use. Stamps and cardstock are CTMH.  The paper and buttons are unknowns from my stash...   happy scrapping!!

Inspired by Ornamental Iron

I just got this cart and had to try it out.  I decided I wanted to use the window feature to create a gate of sorts opening to a garden.  Shimmer Cardstock is from DCWV, paper is K & Co., stamp is from Hero Arts - everything else is from my stash. It's hard to tell but I used some Black Cherry Glimmer Mist on the flowers.  I am really enjoying creating bigger cards instead of the standard A2 size.  happy scrapping!!

Simple Friendship Card

I scraplifted (or should that be cardlifted) this design from one I saw online only I didn't have the right size stamp to finish the first one I started so I had to do another one.  I love the simplicity of this design and how it can be used over and over again and yet be different each time.  I also decided I should start making envelopes at the same time as I make the card in order that I can dress them up as well. The Martha Stewart scoreboard and envelope scoring tool sure make it easy to make perfect envelopes.  The paper is from a DCWV Summer Stack and the flowers were from my stash.   happy scrapping!

Birthday Card - McQueen

My brother-in-law has a major birthday coming up and I wanted to make him a fun card and also incorporate his love of racing so I did up a McQueen car!  There is a lot of love in this card as it took nearly four hours to finish.  The card base is cut from the Disney Cars cart using my gypsy to weld it into one piece at approximately 5.5" x 18".  It was also my first time using a 12" x 24" mat with my cricut.  Of course there were lots of little bits to put together and the base should have been black but I didn't have any that was large enough. I hope he enjoys receiving it as much as I enjoyed making it!  happy scrapping...

ScrapFest 2011

I was at ScrapFest in Kitchener this weekend with my good friend Anne as well as a couple other friends I have met through scrapping - Terri and Dani.  We had a wonderful time.  Anne and I attended a class put on by Vicki Boutin for a Junk Mini Album - I loved it and would highly recommend her classes to anyone - this was my second. Once I get the album finished I will share as it is gorgeous!  It was Anne's birthday a couple of weeks back and I gave her this card incorporating her love of Paris and my love of the colour purple!!  I used cuts from French Manor and Summer in Paris... Papers are from DCWV Shimmer Cardstock and Mademoiselle Paper Pack.  I am happy to say that she quite liked it.  happy scrapping...

The Paper Variety Challenge

I found a new site that looks absolutely wonderful - The Paper Variety - and the layout below is based on a sketch there by Jana Eubank for their current challenge.  I have done a few card challenges but this is my first layout challenge. It is starring my middle son Todd from a very long time ago and yes, he still has those beautiful eyes.   The papers are from Close to My Heart - Animal Cookies.  I used Gypsy Wanderings to cut the pennants and Alphalicious for the title.   happy scrapping!

Happy Sunny Sunday!

It's a beautiful morning here and I have some beautiful sets of cards to show you in my ongoing saga to use up the bits that I have had hanging around forever.  enjoy and happy scrapping!

Just Because

One of my favourite kinds of cards to make is a "just because" card - my philosophy is that giving someone a card just because means much more than giving cards only on special occasions.  This is how "Just by Lee" came about.  The easel card is also one of my favourite styles of cards to make and you can find some very easy to follow instructions for making an easel card at Splitcoaststampers ... happy scrapping :)

Paper Craft Planet - Sketch Challenge 3/11/11

I found this really cool site (Paper Craft Planet) that I have just joined and am playing along with one of their challenges to create a card from the sketch below...  I have used DCWV Far East Papers; CTMH Stamps; Martha Stewart Ribbon and the butterflies are Recollections.  Notice how I even managed to add a touch of green in honour of St. Patrick's day!  I think I am going to enjoy this site!  happy scrapping...

Still Using up Scraps...

I don't think I'll ever use up all of my scraps but I am happy with the results so far.  Here is another set of cards that I did up and although I have not shown them, the insides are nicely finished as well.  The original idea was to perhaps do some assembly line cards; however, as you can see there are only a couple that are similar. I really to need to figure out how to take better pictures... happy scrapping!

Using up Scraps (or trying to...)

My mission for this long weekend was to try to use up my scraps - this could take many long weekends to accomplish!! but at least I have a start. Finishing the inside of a card for me is just as important as the outside - it's what makes a card special. I had purchased coloured card blanks quite awhile ago and this is what I did up with the black ones... stamp are all CTMH and papers, ribbons and embellishments are all from my stash... the insides go with the cards reading left to right... happy scrapping...

Inside of Card One

Inside of Card Two

Inside of Card Three

Inside of Card Four

Inside of Card Five

First Mini Album

I had been wanting to create my own mini album for quite some time after watching all of the talented people on you tube showing off their mini's. So finally last fall I took the plunge... I used CTMH Veranda paper and embellishments that I had already taken out of the packaging... I have to give credit especially to Laura of Following The Paper Trail - her tutorials are awesome! This mini is now filled with memories of my dear friend Nancy's aunt who passed away last year... take care and take time to hug those you love...

Live Without Fear

I saw this paper when my girlfriend and I were checking out my scrapstore and thought this would be the perfect reminder for how I want to live the rest of my life...  it is extra special as it was a gift from my friend and it was also a challenge to do up a layout without pictures!   I think I did pretty well... happy scrapping!!

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."  - Marianne Williamson (A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of a Course in Miracles)

Another BDay Card for Alex

I did up this card for my third son, Alex's birthday back in November.  He is out in Shilo, MB where he is not liking all the cold weather!!  The paper and stamp are from Close to My Heart and the letters I cut using my Gypsy but don't remember which cart they are from.  The colours really are much more vibrant than they appear.  happy scrapping!