Birthday Fun!

In case I haven't mentioned this on the blog before, I am doing Becky Higgins' Project Life. I started in January and have kept up-to-date and current with it and am very proud of myself! In addition to the regular photos I decided to add in an extra 8.5x11 layout for special occasions and other events when I have a lot of photos to scrap. I am also adding in extra memoribilia in the 8.5x11 page protectors. Other than that, I am doing Project Life (PL) really straight forward. I've seen others who are not using the products that came with it or really getting fancy, but I am just sticking to the basics. The point of getting it in the first place was to make it easy for me to keep up with documenting everyday life for our family.

This layout was done on the front and back side of an 8.5x11 pice of kraft cardstock. At the bottom of the first page I stamped the word "together" but the ink was too light and it doesn't really show up in the picture. Also, I had to re-stamp "real life" and it wasn't lined up good so it looks kinda crappy, but that's OK because I'm not perfect! The borders are up on foam adhesive.

The pictures are so funny! It was my middle daughter I's birthday, but my youngest daugher S blew out her candles without permission! The photo caught S getting ready to blow and you can see I looking at her like "she isn't about to do what I think she is, is she?". The photo on the right is my husband sticking his fishy smelling hands in her face. She hates fish and fishy smells so the look of revulsion on her face is priceless.

With this second page I just cut strips of patterned paper for above and below the photos. I also fussy cut this sentiment out of the patterned paper from Echo Park's Little Girl collection and put it up on foam adhesive.

The photos here are also funny. In the left photo S was jokingly going to "hit" I and this photo caught it all in a hilarious way. On the right, I is checking on her birthday dinner. We had ravioli, which was her choice.

Here are the products I used: cardstock - Archiver's; patterned paper - Echo Park; cardstock borders - Martha Stewart Crafts; chipboard letters - Cosmo Cricket; stamps - Technique Tuesday; ink - Tsukineko and Close To My Heart.

I have plans for a card for my Grandma next so stay tuned!!

~Melissa

I'm On A Roll!!

Wow, I'm on a roll! Another card already...and not waiting until the last minute even. Here is the Father's Day card that all 4 of our "fathers" will be getting this year. What do you think of my photography? Is it horrible? I am using a point and shoot so I know that is one disadvantage. I took the above pic in direct sunlight. The detail pic below is indirect. Well, I will keep experimenting until I figure it out. Maybe eventually I will set up some kind of special area with lights if I keep blogging regularly.

I used the Silhouette to cut the star and create the sentiment banner strip. I used the print and cut feature, so easy! I also busted out the sew mini and stitched on the woodgrain paper with red thread to tie the red star into the design. I used the Papertrey Ink Mat Stack 4 die to cut the mat out of cork paper. I have had that cork paper for at least 5 years. Isn't it funny how you can hang on to something for so long and then all of a sudden you finally find a use for it? Makes a good case for hoarding, ha ha! Also used on this card: cardstock - SU; patterned paper - My Mind's Eye, Echo Park and Cosmo Cricket; ink - antique linen distress ink by Tim Holtz; cork paper - unknown.

I have big plans to create a 8.5x11 birthday scrapbook page insert for Project Life, so hopefully I will be back soon!

Have a great day!

~Melissa

I made a card!!

Hi everybody!

Yes, I made a card. I kinda had to. My hubby is attending a graduation party for the daughter of one of his co-workers and needed me to make one. I made two since we have another grad party coming up soon. I am really happy with how it turned out. I did a sketch first and then let creativity rule from there. It's hard to see in the picture, but I used a notebook lined background stamp on the yellow mat piece with light blue ink. Kinda gives it an academic feel with the staples and paper clip.

Truth is, I made three other cards since I blogged last. Mother's Day cards. I didn't have time to photograph them (and then blog them) since I had to take them straight from my craft room to the post office!! Nothing like waiting until the last minute!

Here's what I used on the card: cardstock - CTMH; patterned paper - Scenic Route (really old!); Stamp and Ink: Hero Arts; Print & cut - Silhouette (House of 3); Dies - Papertrey Ink; staples & paperclip - Tim Holtz.

Hopefully I will be posting again soon!

~Melissa