End Of Year Teacher's Card

Another school year is coming to a close...eight days, but who's counting??

I can hardly wait for summer's lazy days!  I know teachers probably can't wait either.  I have always given an end of school gift to Delaney's teacher.  This year (same theme as last year) I am doing a beach bag filled with beach towel, flip flops, sunscreen, aloe vera gel, Off! spray, decks of cards and I am planning on throwing in an Amazon gift card.

So today I sat down to make a card for Delaney to write in....here's what I came up with.

Does it have a beachy theme??  :)  I also used the swiping technique on the flower.

Have a great weekend!
Meredith

Supplies Used: all CTMH unless noted
Paper:  Dakota B&T, White Daisy CS
Ink:  Lagoon, Pear, Cotton Candy, Buttercup, Slate
Stamps:  Extreme Happiness (C1356 RETD) Thank You (C1361 RETD)
Other:  piercing tool, antique copper brads, micro tip scissors, edge distressor, adhesive 

Mother's Day Elephants

This year I actually got it together to make a Mother's Day card for my mom.  It's been years since I've made a card for Mother's Day....  :P

I was so excited to see the elephant print paper in the Dream Pop promotion because my mom LOVES elephants.  I chose to cut out one 'momma' elephant and two 'baby' elephants since my mom has two kids.

And I am still in love with the glossy embossed cardstock.  :)

How cute are the little baby elephants?  Just don't ask me how cute it was trying to cut out those little trunks!

Guess I need to get busy making my Mother-in-law a card now!!
Meredith

Supplies: all CTMH
Paper: Dream Pop
Other: micro tip scissors, edge distresser, Shimmer trim, foam tape.

5x7 Hinged Display Tray {featuring Dream Pop}

This month CTMH is running an amazing special--you can get a gorgeous double sized paper pack for only $10 when you spend just $35!!  The best part is these papers are AMAZING!  They feature bright colors, and GLOSSY embossed cardstock!

I cut into my first pack of Dream Pop yesterday to use with the hinged display tray.  I chose these beautiful pictures of my daughter the day she got her new glasses.  I had no idea that kids could need reading glasses--she could see the board fine, so I was surprised to learn that her headaches were caused from being FAR sighted!  Anyway--she looks absolutely adorable in the frames so I had to document them somewhere!

Here is the picture of the total tray--both sides.

Here's the left side.

And the right side.

I tried taking a few pictures outside to help capture the project better...

Here are a few detail shots I took today when I had a little more light.  I really wish I could take better photos of this!  ;)

Oh and in case you notice...that's not actually black nail polish on her thumb.  She had slammed her finger in the door at school.  :(

Whew!  That's a lot of pictures!  Check out my shopping website to get your own Dream Pop papers today while supplies last!!

Thanks for stopping by!
Meredith

Supplies Used: all CTMH unless noted
Paper: Dream Pop B&T and Cardstock, Colonial White CS (for the photo mat)
Other: Sparkles, Sparkle Flourishes, Mini Medley Assortment in Slate, Glitter paper, Buttons (green assortment) Cricut Art Philosophy (glitter heart)

Friend Layout {Using Chantilly Papers}

When I saw the beautiful layout in the 2013 Spring/Summer Idea Book on page 19 I thought it would look fantastic framed on the wall.  Then the more I thought about using it for a workshop, I wanted to make a companion layout.  Welllll long story short--here is what I ended up making.

This is what I did with the LO from the Idea Book.  I flipped it.  And since I didn't have the exact stamp I improvised.  (Which was much easier since my stamps are now cataloged--more on that in a future post.)

Here is the companion LO.  It's a take on page 27 in the Make It From Your Heart Volume 1.

Some of the details...

And here are the two LOs side by side...

I am so happy with how they turned out, but I feel like they might be a little involved for a workshop.  I'll have to think about it a little.  ;)

I hope to have a post about how I organized my stamps up soon so check back...
Meredith

Supplies Used:  all CTMH unless noted
Paper: Chantilly B&T, Champagne CS, White Daisy CS, Pear CS
Ink: Pear
Stamp: True Friends (D1406)
Other: Cricut Art Philospophy, Chantilly Textiles, Zipper Lace, Green Red and Pink Buttons, foam tape, Micro Tip Scissors, Creme Brulee baker's twine, edge distressor, adhesive.

Home Sweet Home {Bottle}

Today I finally had the chance to complete a project I've been wanting to do for 41 weeks.  How on earth do I know it's been 41 weeks?  Well because Pinterest tells me that's how long ago I pinned THIS.  I fell so in love with it!  But not the forty dollar price tag!

And I just knew I could make my own--and thanks to Close to My Heart products and a trip to the fabric store I did!

I was SO excited with how it turned out.  I used muslin from the fabric store, CTMH self adhesive Studs in antique gold, and some ribbon from my Pear and Partridge workshop kit.  Those Studs are so easy to use!  Made the job easy!

I stamped the image with the wonderful pigment ink in Cocoa.  No smudges and just pure color!  Even on the rough muslin.

Here is a picture of my creation with a printed page from the online catalog....

Now of course mine is not an exact duplicate, but I love how it turned out.  In fact I am already lining up some friends for her....

Thanks for stopping by!
Meredith

Supplies: all CTMH unless noted
Stamp: Home Sweet Home (Stamp of the Month S1302)
Ink: Cocoa pigment ink
Other: recycled glass jar, muslin fabric, Terrifically Tacky Tape (Provocraft), Studs,  

Buzz and Bumble

My next card for this week's upcoming workshop uses the Buzz and Bumble Workshop on the Go.  I chose to use the 3x3 card format.  But I also wanted to showcase our new alcohol markers.  

I was not very enthusiastic about this paper to begin with--could have something to do with my husband's deathly allergic reaction to bee stings, but seeing it in person I kind of fell for it.  

Already thinking ahead to my next project to use it....

Meredith

Supplies: all CTMH unless noted

Paper: Buzz and Bumble, Colonial White CS

Ink: Bamboo, and markers in both shades of Sweet Leaf, Honey, Creme Brulee, Autumn Terracotta

Stamp: Buzz and Bumble WOTG (G1054)

Other: sponge dauber, edge distresser, burlap ribbon, liquid glass, foam tape, sparkles

Floral Happiness

I'm still trying to come up with two cards for my workshop next Wednesday.  I really wanted to feature the Stamp of the Month for March and a new product or two.

Here is the first card.  Inside reads 'having you as a friend'.  The stamp set has some great sentiments on it, but I just had to work forever to get the layout how I wanted haha.

I am kind of digging the new Chevron Ribbon in Outdoor Denim too.  :)

Hope you all have great plans for the weekend.  My daughters and I will be taking an art lesson!
God Bless!
Meredith

Supplies Used: all CTMH unless noted
Paper: Outdoor Denim CS, Dakota B&T, White Daisy CS
Ink: Outdoor Denim (second generation) Buttercup
Stamp: Floral Happiness (S1303)
Other: Chevron Ribbon, sponge dauber, edge distressor, micro tip scissors, sparkles, adhesive and foam tape.

So Ready for SUMMER!

One of my bestest friends, in fact we consider each other sisters, wants to do a workshop this month.  She chose to feature the CTMH My Creations Bracket Frame and a beach theme.  I was so excited to do it!  Here's the frame I came up with.  Be sure to click on the picture to enlarge it and see the details!  :)

I love love the look of the barn wood paper with the beach theme.  And the Surf's Up papers were so colorful and fun I thought they would work perfectly for any beach themed photo that a person might want to add.  I chose this adorable shot of my son playing in the water from last summer.  Gosh could you just smooch that face or what!?!

The thing about these frames that I love is that you can make them very 3D!  The layout with clouds is in the back of the frame.  The twine with Mini-Clothespins is hanging across the middle and the paper candy is on the outside.  It really draws your eye in.  And the cool part is you can change the photo whenever you want since it's just hanging on the clothes line!!

Just for fun, I'm adding this entry to the Moxie Fab Challenge.

Thanks for dropping by!
Meredith

Supplies Used:  all CTMH unless noted
Paper: Dakota B&T, Surf's Up B&T, Colonial White CS
Stamps: Tropical Paradise C1531
Ink:  Crystal Blue, Ponderosa Pine
Other: sponge dauber, Cricut Artiste, circle punch, Edge Distressor, glue gun/hot glue, twine, Micro-tip Scissors, foam tape, adhesive, Mini Clothespins (Z1815)

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