You R Sweet {Pear and Partridge}

I'm back at it with the Pear and Partridge papers used for a Valentine's card.  I can't help it.  I like it better as a Valentine's paper than I ever did for Christmas!

I can't take credit for using the hearts as cherries.  I know I've seen that before, but I sure did think it would be cute to try.

I inked the edges of the hearts with Smoothie to give them some dimension.  So what do you think?  Is this card sweet??  :)

TGIF!

Meredith

Supplies Used: all CTMH unless noted

Paper: Hollyhock CS, Olive CS, Colonial White CS, Pear and Partridge B&T

Ink: Olive, Smoothie

Stamps: Serendipity (for the leaf-retired), Solo "s", "y" and "r" (retired), With Love (for the stem-retired)

Other: edge distresser, Sparkles, sponge dauber, Cricut Artiste (hearts), 

My Creations Container {Chantilly Papers}

I have been itching to make something with some of the new product (available for purchase February 1st) and I finally sat down today to work with it!

One of my favorite new products...and there are a lot...is the Kraft My Creations Container.  When you look at it you can just imagine the possibilities!

And with the lid on...

It is a sturdy little container that is just perfect for filling with goodies!  And I choose to use one of the new paper packs Chantilly to add some beautiful spring color.

The flowers are from the Cottage Assortment--which is still available.  ;)  Chantilly has SO many colors it matches just about anything!

 
If you're wondering, that delicious chocolate drizzled caramel corn is none other than Snackwell's snack packs.  It's super yummy!

I wasn't sure about the lighting so I took a few more pics in my office.

I can't wait to order some more of these containers--they will be great to have on hand for quick gifts!  Hope you enjoyed this project...and stay tuned for more new products!
Meredith

Supplies used:  all CTMH unless noted
Paper: Chantilly B&T, Buttercup CS, White Daisy CS
Stamp: For a Friend D1542
Ink: Ruby (second generation stamping)
Other:  My Creations Container, edge distressor, Cottage Assortment flowers, glue dots, circle punch 2 5/16 (The Paper Studio)

Small Square Valentine Card {Pear and Partridge}

Continuing with my Christmas paper as Valentine's theme, I created another little card.  I realized that several of the patterns in the Pear and Partridge papers work really well as Valentine's patterns!

This sweet little card is very simple.  I like the almost fabric-pieced look of it.

Hope you all are getting in the Valentine's spirit as well!
Meredith

Supplies Used:  all CTMH unless noted
Paper:  Pear and Partridge B&T, Desert Sand CS, Blush CS, Hollyhock CS, Colonial White CS
Other:  Edge Distressor, Cricut Artiste

Glitter Cupid! {January SOTM}

Well I am definitely on the Valentine's kick.  And here is another card featuring the January Stamp of the Month "Happy Valentine's".

I also used the gold glitter paper again....this time for a cute little cupid!

And yes that is the Christmas paper, Pear and Partridge.  I inked the edges on these two pieces and placed them together to look like a ribbon banner.

Okay.  I really think this one might be my favorite.  :)
Meredith

Supplies used: all CTMH unless noted
Paper: Pear and Partridge B&T, Desert Sand CS, Colonial White CS Gold glitter CS
Ink: Desert Sand
Stamp: Happy Valentine's (JAN SOTM) 
Other: Cricut Artiste, sponge dauber, foam tape

Christmas as Valentine's ??

I was looking through my papers yesterday and noticed that the Pear and Partridge paper had lovely Valentine colors and I thought...why not?

And once I started working with it I realized that the gold glitter paper (NEW IN FEBRUARY) would work perfectly!!

I hope you enjoy this new take on another holiday paper!
Meredith

Supplies Used: all CTMH unless noted
Paper: Pear and Partridge B&T, Desert Sand CS, Colonial White CS, Hollyhock CS, Gold Glitter CS
Ink: Desert Sand
Other: Cricut Artiste, sponge dauber, foam tape

A Sweet Valentine Card

Last night I made a quick card to satisfy my craving for doing something creative!  The wreath and picture frame were not working out for me so I pushed them aside to make a card.

And I decided I wanted to mix some different paper packs.  This card is using the La Belle Vie and Dakota papers...

It came together pretty fast, but then it is pretty simple.

Hope you are having a great weekend!
Meredith

Supplies used: All CTMH unless noted
Paper: Colonial White CS, Dakota B&T, La Belle Vie B&T, Silver Glitter
Other: Cricut Artiste, Baker's Twine, foam tape, corner rounder

Lemon Meringue Pie!

My dad makes THE best lemon meringue pies.  They are very tart and sweet.  And he grows his own lemons!

Well this weekend he brought a bounty of lemons (and oranges and grapefruit) to my house and then said, "Hey want to make some lemon pies?"

Sure I want you to make some lemon pies.  ;)

So he did.  And I happened to think--what a great scrapbook page this would make.  SO I quick grabbed my camera and starting snapping pictures. (Scrapbook page is not done, but I wanted to share the photos...)

I have to say.  Mirielle followed us around all afternoon begging us to 'please can we make the lemon pies now?!!'

'Please can we make the pies now??'

So we finally started and first comes the crust.  I took lots of pictures.  Mostly because I just wanted pictures of my dad's hands.  :)

Okay and now came the FUN part.  Squeezing the lemon juice.  Mirielle was in heaven!  Dad said to her "push on that lemon like you own it."  And she gritted her teeth with a huge smile on her face and said "I do own it!"   I laughed so hard!

Delaney got in on the action too!

Then we baked the crusts.

Then there was some mixing, whipping, cooking, stirring, and baking again and then next thing I know....

Sorry there was a LOT going on and I lapsed on the picture taking.  :)  If someone wants the recipe you can ask for it in the comments and I'll post it.

Hope you all are having a good week!
Meredith

Good Thing Happen Here {Smile Jar}

It's amazing what you can get accomplished when your family is healthy!  First the laundry room re-do.  Now crafting?!?

I saw an idea someone else had to make a jar where you can add slips of paper all year.  On these slips your family writes the good things that happen to them or things that make them happy.  And then on New Years you pull them all out and read them.  I just love that idea.

And I just happen to have a beautiful glass jar.  But it needed some decorating.  Thank goodness I had a few Close To My Heart supplies on hand...

First I have to say that I was very intimidated to try my hand at the whole chalkboard font craze.  But I practiced first on paper with a pen.

I used my Art Philosophy cartridge to cut the label shape from the Chalkboard adhesive backed paper.  LOVE that stuff.

I wrote several practice times on the label with actual chalk because then you can just rub it off with a tissue.  But it gave me an idea of placement and also made the paper look like an actual chalkboard!!

What do you think??

It makes me happy!  And look at her cute little apple green ribbon!  That was from my stash (my sweet sister in law gives the most beautifully wrapped Christmas presents-wink)

And of course this little lady would not be complete without a sweet little bow.

Do you see the first note of the year in there??  It just might have something to do with those lovely shelves my husband installed in the laundry room this week!  ;)

Have a great weekend!
Meredith

All supplies CTMH unless notes:
Cricut Art Philosophy, Chalkboard paper, Chalk marker, green ribbon (Lindsay), jar (Walmart)

Laundry Room Re-Do

Way back when I started this blog I think I mentioned I might do some room makeovers.  Well today I am going to bravely share my laundry room makeover.

We have lived in this house over three years.  We built it.  It's our dream home.  It's where we want to live forever and ever.  :)

So since we had to move in before it was totally and completely finished to dream home status....some things need improving.  Like the laundry room.

Our laundry room was not very functional for me.  Not only did it house our washer, dryer, laundry hampers and piles (hehehe) it also had an upright freezer.  Well as if that wasn't enough, we got a new HE washer and dryer a while back and it was even bigger, plus--as much as I LOVE them--they were taller which meant I lost my 'folding clothes' space.  But one of the very worst problems was that the only place I had to hang clothes hangers was on the laundry sink.  And as you will see from the pictures that bumped right up against my, ahem, behind as I tried to work with the clothes.

Ready to start the tour?

This is the door into the laundry room.  Actually at this point we have already removed the freezer.    Prior to that you would have been staring at the door to the freezer against that wall.  And those two rolling hampers used to be side by side between the freezer and the sink.  (Incidentally, that trash bag was there just because I was doing cleanup....)  You'll notice though with no place to hang clothes I would have to use those hangers on the door and the door knob AND the freezer handle, that's gone now....

Okay moving into the room, here is a view of the laundry sink (filled with soaps, hangers, dust, dust, dust....and clothespins)

As you can tell.  I was in dire need of shelves and clothes rods!  And here we have piles...I wish I could say those have only been there a couple of days.  HA!

Ick.  But let's not dwell on that!  Here is my beautiful washer and dryer!  Does HUGE loads in a single bound!!  And as you can tell--has to hold folded clothes as well.

Have you seen enough?  How about one parting shot just to remind you that there was NO place to hang clothes.  At all.  (In case you're wondering that Huggie box is where I put clothes after I wash them that are giveaway.)

Man.  That was sad.  But let's move on to the positive!

Ta-dah!

Sigh.  Did you see that?  Floor space.  And hangers.  Hanging.  How about that abominable sink fiasco??

Wait...what?  There really was a sink in there.  Hmm.  That's handy in a laundry room.  Anyway.  Shall we take a look at pile central?

Hint: that is the part where you should have heard angels singing.  :)

This shot doesn't look much different from before because, well, my washer and dryer are still my countertop.

And here's the door sans articles of clothing.

I still need some type of counter top.  I am talking with my Dad about some type of fold down table over the hampers that can be put up when not in use.

Ahh.  I know it's not one of those beautiful laundry rooms you see on Pinterest with the vinyl words and soap in glass jars, but I like it.  In fact, I walked around the house all day looking for dirty laundry to wash.  Truth.

Hope you all are having a lovely start to your new year!
Meredith