“I love scrapbooks. They are one of the finest ways of dejunking life and abode... A good scrapbook is interesting and inspiring even to the stranger...Well put together scrapbooks and photo albums have warmed more hearts than any bound book... Without a good scrapbook, much that's memorable in life is forgotten or damaged or lost...."

~ Don Aslett

Thursday, March 31, 2011

April Stamp of the month blog hop

Welcome to the April Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!  The stamp set featured this month is D1455 Blessed.  This month we have over 50 wonderful consultants participating and showing off their creations!


If you have come from Sarita's Blog then you are on the right track!

This month I drew my inspiration from a color combination from an outfit that I love to wear.  The outfit consists of brown pants, a pink shirt and a cream colored sweater.  I felt that this combo was well suited for this months stamp set as well as the Bliss paper pack.  I created a 5 x 7 card and added some shimmer brads for some dimension.  Enjoy!

Products used (all CTMH):
Blessed stamp set
Chocolate, Hollyhock, Grey Wool Inks
Bamboo, Hollyhock, and Colonial White Cardstock
Bliss Level 2 paper packet
Shimmer Brads


Now "hop" on over to Haley's Blog and check out her beautiful artwork for this month!


If you get lost along the way you can go to Helen's Blog to see the complete list of all the participants this month.
 
Be sure to visit all the consultants at their blogs to get some other great ideas! Remember, the April SOTM is only available until April 30th!  Contact me (GrigsterN at yahoo.com) or click here to see how you can get this stamp set at a discount or even free!
 

Friday, March 25, 2011

H2H challenge - Oh Baby!

My sister-in-law is so excited to have recently become an aunt!  Her sister just had an adorable baby boy.  I knew that I had some Caboodle paper left so I decided to make a book for the baby.  It just so happens that baby is the theme over at the Heart 2 Heart Challenge Blog this week!  And here I was thinking I had no reason to make anything baby.  Some of the pictures are blurry and for that I apologize and I have no idea why.  I would retake them but the book is now packed to go to a crop with me this weekend!

Front

Inside pages 2 and 3

Inside pages 4 and 5

Back

Inside pages 6 and 7
These books are so easy to put together and make great gifts - just like this one is!

Materials (all CTMH unless noted):
Caboodle Level 2 paper pack
9x9 accordion album
Caboodle Stickease
other EK Success stickers I found at Walmart that match perfectly

Head over to the H2H Challenges Blog to see what other Baby artwork has been created and happy crafting.
Also - if you want to make your own book, see my post right below this one!

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Hope for Japan

Like many organizations, Close to my Heart has hopped on board to help the victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.  They have created a very pretty A-size stamp set that has 100% of the profits going to the American Red Cross for relief efforts.  Ordering information has not been provided yet but I can make a list of pre-orders for anyone who would like one of these.  

Typically, our A-sized sets retail for $7.95/$8.95 CAN, but the "Hope for Japan" set will be available through April 30 for just $5--and Close To My Heart will be donating 100% of the profits to the American Red Cross to benefit relief efforts in Japan.

If we all do a little, together we can do a lot. Let's show our support and together, provide real HOPE for Japan!


Post a comment here on my blog or contact me via email (GrigsterN at yahoo.com) if you would like to order one.  Lets all come together for a good cause!

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

9x9 Accordion Album workshop

I am once again offering the 9x9 Accordion Album workshop at ScrapThat2! in the Burlington Center Mall.  It was a huge hit the end of last summer so I thought spring would be a great time to bring it back for anyone who missed out the first time.  Details and pictures are below.  You can choose any paper pack from the 12 that are currently available.  Click HERE to see the current papers. (Note: the cherry paper I have used for my sample is no longer available)  These books make great gifts for Mother's Day, Father's Day, Easter, vacation or birthday!


Saturday,  April 16th from 6 - 9pm

Supplies for Single Kit*:             Supplies for Double Kit**:
(1) 9 x 9 Accordion Album                (2) 9 x 9 Accordion Albums
(1) Level 2 Paper Packet of choice     (1) Level 2 Paper Packet

                                                              of choice to split
(1) Coordinating My Stickease           (2) Coordinating My Stickease
Total with s & h:
$28             Total w/ s & h: $40 (split-$20 ea.)

*Makes 1 book, when you are done with this project you will still have half of your paper left over for other projects.
**Makes 2 books, if you want to partner up with a friend and share a paper pack, or do 2 books the same (no leftover paper) you can.

 I will be supplying the use of my inks and a personalized cutting guide to follow, please bring the following supplies with you:
~paper trimmer
~adhesive
~scissors
~sponge (if you have one)


Payment may be in the form of cash, credit card, or check/money order and must be to me by Saturday April 2nd in order to ensure the supplies arrive in time. Please comment here or email (GrigsterN at yahoo.com)/call me to reserve a spot or catch me at ScrapThat on April 2nd.  If you can't make it to ScrapThat but are interested in this project, please contact me to work out alternate arrangements!



Happy Scrappin!  Hope to see you at ScrapThat soon!

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Lucky ScrapThat Preview

I know that some of you have probably been waiting for this.  The infamous preview of Saturdays Make and Take class at ScrapThat!    This weekend I will be featuring a layout using Lucky papers - great for guy pictures!  Also, I will have the Miracle clear cards again, they have been a huge hit!  As always, you can email me (GrigsterN at yahoo.com) or post a comment here if you want to secure your spot on the list!

Layout as it will be made in class (title may be different)
Layout with Lucky Level 2 chipboard assortment added (not included)



Hope to see you Saturday!!!

Friday, March 4, 2011

H2H Color Challenge and other cards

I love when the Heart 2 Heart challenge for the week is colors!  I love playing with different color combos and while most say the colors aren't always easy to work with, I love being limited to only certain colors, makes decision making easy!  This weeks colors are pretty awesome in my opinion.  Gypsy, Creme Brulee and Black.  Wild, right?
So I thought these would be great for a birthday card with some cupcakes on it so I checked out the Fanfare workshop guide for some cupcake inspiration.  That was how this card came to be!   It took me several tries to get it just the way I liked it, but I'm happy with it now!
Materials:
Fanfare WOTG stamp set
Happy Birthday stamp set
Creme Brulee ribbon
Black brads
Inks: Black, Creme Brulee, Gypsy
Paper from Hooligans Paper pack (Gypsy)
Paper from Veranda (Creme Brulee)
Black and white daisy cardstock

I also made some other cards the other night and thought that you might enjoy those as well.  These use the Sweetheart and Wings paper packs and some inspiration I got from a piece of home decor of a friend.


Notice a theme??

Now go check out all the other "colorful" artwork this week and maybe make some of your own!