March Paper Trail - Miracle Paper Pack

Welcome to the March Paper Trail blog hop! If you have arrived from Karen's blog, Inky Fingers, you are on the right track.

This month we are using the Close To My Heart Miracle paper pack. I love these colors, Heavenly Blue and Sweet Leaf, I think they are so pretty together. I made this banner using the My Creations Banner. I'm taking this to Seattle with me for my friend who is hosting a craft weekend. Hope she likes it!




This beautiful Miracle paper package can be purchased on my website, just click on its name. Now, you must hurry over to Terri's blog, My Frame of Mind, to see what she's been up to with the Miracle papers!

Just One of the Reasons I LOVE Studio J (Online Scrapbooking!)

Normal scrap booking area when finished with a project:


Scrap booking area when finished with online scrapping:


I think the photos say it all!

My layouts are beautiful! Not only do they get printed and shipped to me (including page protectors!), but I also receive jpegs via email so I can print more on my own or send them via email to my friends and family.

I'll never give up paper & tape scrapping, but this does have some great features. With my laptop and wireless connection, I can scrap and watch movies with my family at the same time.

You can play with Studio J (online scrapping) at no cost. If you like what you do, you can then purchase it. Go play with it here: Paper Boutique.

The Amazing Things You Can Do With A Lunch Bag (one of)

At IOD last night Margy shared a gift from a friend that was made with a lunch sack as a gift holder. It was so stinkin' cute!! I did up a simple version, not nearly as awesome as the one Margy shared, to help me remember what it was like. Think matchbook cover.

Here is it open with a mini stamp set and one of our new spray pens inside. Just needs a few little tweaks and details and it'll be awesome!!


If you are attending MAC's stamp retreat in Washington next month, please forget you ever saw this....

IOD Challenge

Just want to give a quick share of what we are doing in IOD (Ink or Dye) this year. Last year our monthly swaps were theme based. This year the challenge is for everyone to take home the same stamped image for our card exchange and a specific item to be used for the ATC exchange. Both the stamp and the ATC items are supplied by the gal who is also doing the technique or presentation that month. This photo is the image we were assigned for the card this month, and the paper is the item assigned for the ATC.

What I really liked about this challenged was knowing that we'd all be using the same things therefore I really wanted to think outside the box and do something that was either unexpected or unusual.

After I chalked up the image I decided to chop it in half and use layers of papers for my accents in completing the card. I am pretty happy with the results.



The paper for the ATC was full of grasses and flower petals. I decided to salvage the 2nd bird that I didn't use from the stamped image. I then tore the paper to make ragged pieces and create a nest (of sorts, lol!) with the little bird adding a bit more.



It was really a fun challenge.

Sweetheart - February Paper Trail

Welcome to the February Paper Trail blog hop! If you arrived from Karen's blog, Inky Fingers, you are on the right track! And didn't you love Love LOVE the cards she made with these papers?

This month we are featuring work created with Close to my Heart paper packet "Sweetheart." I think the combination of pinks, reds & blacks is just stunning. I particularly love the reverse sides that are black on black patterns. So cool & sophisticated!!

I decided to do up a couple of little Valentine gift card holders. You don't have to have a romantic love in your life to give or appreciate getting Valentine gifts. I think I'll be giving these to my daughters on Valentines day. I know they'll love them!

I chose the red plaid paper for the outside of this because I wanted to make it a bit less girly. On the flap is the reverse side of the same paper with edges sponged in red. I used the Sweetheart Level 2 Assortment which is the black polka-dotted epoxy stickers to embellish.

When open you'll find two pockets, one the perfect size for a Starbucks gift card (or any gift card of your choosing), and the other with a little insert to write a sweet note to the recipient. I love this style of GC holder. It has a very substantial feel to it.


This second GC holder is a simple tri-fold, embellished with sparkles and images stamped from the exclusive set that comes with the Sweetheart Workshop on the Go.

And again, my Starbucks gift card tucks nicely inside. So quick & easy!!

This last card is by my daughter, Alyssa. She wanted to show that the papers can be used very differently than the reds & pinks suggest. The blackish polka dotted paper at the top of this card is from the same packet as the first two items, but the card has an entirely different look. Great job, Alyssa!!

Thanks for stopping by. You're on your way to Erica's blog, From the Heart, now for some more great ideas. Just click on her blog name.

January Paper Trail Blog Hop, WINGS

Welcome to the January 2011 edition of the Paper Trail Blog Hop! If you've arrived here from Mary's blog Road to Peace of Mind, I am sure you already have fallen in love with the new Wings paper and how she used it on her beautiful project!!

I was challenged this month to use a Level 1 Wings kit with our new black accessories and our 12" assortment Flip Flaps. I'll be honest with you, I am not so big on scrapping as much as stamping and card making, so this was more challenging than I really want to admit!

First photo is my project with the Flip Flaps closed. I used 2 12x6" Flip flaps and attached them to open like French doors with the equivalent of a double layout being revealed as shown below. I created two paper flowers from one of the included B&T papers to embellish the front. The letters on the front and inside layouts are part of the Stickease assortment included with the Level 1 Wings kit.

I chose my husband's parents' gardens as my subject, using photos I took when we were out in Seattle the summer of 2009. Their garden is full of fruits and vegetables which adorn their table all summer and into the fall. Much is canned for the winter months, too. Bee keeping has been a hobby for my father-in-law for many years. We love all the gifts that we receive from their wonderful garden!

(Remember, you can click on any of these photos for a larger view)

I cut a tag from one of the pre-printed pages and made a little pocket behind one of the center photos for my journalling. I'm thinking this may be a little small for all I want to say about their garden, I may have to add to it.

Since I was a bit behind on getting my items ready for the Paper Trail blog hop my daughter, Alyssa (also a CTMH consultant), jumped in to help with a couple of cards done with Wings. She also used the January Stamp of the Month Set, "Find your Style" and our new Bohemian alphabet.

All these items can be found on my Close to my Heart website in our January Inspirations brochure. Click on the photo in the lower right corner when you visit my website, Paper Boutique. There are some deep discounts on the stamp sets when you purchase the Wings Workshop on the Go. Please go look, you won't want to miss out!

Now to see more with Wings, go visit Erica at From the Heart.

Paper Trail December Blog Hop - Magnifique!

Welcome to the December edition of the Paper Trail blog hop! This month we are featuring Close To My Heart's "Magnifique" paper packet. If you arrived here from Karen's blog, Inky Fingers, you are on the right trail!

One of many things I particularly like about the Close To My Heart papers is their double sided patterns. These four cards were designed for my Holiday Card Workshop using Magnifique. The sky blue monochromatic side of the papers was perfect for a wintery feeling. Stamps featured in this card are from the Father Christmas My Acrylix stamp set.

Large patterns of peacock feathers are disguised as a random design when used in small pieces and perfectly accent the card. Winter scene is from Captured Moments.

I broke one of my rules here and used more than one or two stamp sets. But when you already have them and the card just needs that little more.... Sometimes you just gotta break the rules. My Acrylix stamp sets used are, Ice Crystals, Unity, and All the Best from the Mistletoe Workshop on the Go.


My final card is not so holiday-ish but is a winter card. I love this stamp set, Nature's Gift.

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you've enjoyed my cards. You're on your way to Mary's blog, Road to Peace of Mind or Escape now for some more great ideas.