Blue Beauty

How Beautiful is this? I must say, purple is one of my favorite colors, but blue is now becoming one too. My hydrangea's have done so well this year. It must be from all that cold, cold weather we had this winter. The color is so vibrant!!!! AMAZING.........

Inspiration for this project came from my garden. I wanted to make a book marker for my upcoming club, the more I worked on it the more it turned into a beautiful tag. Something about tags, they are easy and quick to make and are so universal, I can't seem to make enough of them.


I searched through my room and found this wonderful stamp set from SU and some paper I had picked up last year. I couldn't stop until I was done, at midnight last night. Enjoy.

Celebrating our Troops

Lately I have been contemplating on how I can give back for all that others do for me and I decided to join the VFW Ladies Auxiliary Post 4536. Did you know if you are related to a person who served or serves in the US Military in a foreign war you can join too. My dad served in Vietnam, so I asked for copy of his discharge papers and signed up. My girlfriend from high school has been a member for over 15 years. She's always telling me about the amazing things this group of ladies does for our troops and I have been touch by their generosity for years. For the past few weeks I have attended many functions and have met many new people and I must say they have pulled my heart strings. The VFW is open to the public, did you know that? They do charity dinners, functions and so much more. Last week when I went in to submit my application I inquired about donating probably over a 100 cards I have made over the past 2 years and the ladies eyes lit up....they were so excited about my cards. They have been collecting donated items and have been purchasing items for our troops and are about ready to send out the packages overseas and wanted my cards for sure.

That day I had brought my laptop along and showed them some pictures of my work and talked to them about my passion for CTMH, and before I knew it we were planning a Celebrate Our Troops Workshop. As a CTMH consultant, at times it seems like I have tons of paper left over and enough stamp sets to do just about anything you could ever imagine, so here is my proposal for Post 4536 and anyone else who wants to attend.

Celebrate our Troops Workshop, join to create a personalized Thank You card for our troops. Each attendee will make one card to go into a special package to troops around the world. What a special touch to have personal card in a package you receive. Cost is $5.00 for this workshop coming up in June, date to be determine and all proceeds will be donated right back to Post 4536 to keep the giving back going.


Email me today if you are interested in attending and for more details and check back in a few days of definite date.

Baby Hop

Last month we welcomed a new edition to our household "Hop", well now we have 2. Hop had a baby. This afternoon while checking on my garden I had a scare and I almost screamed like a little girl as this fuzzy critter fumbled across my foot, I thought it was a rat, but to my surprise it was a tiny baby bunny. She's so cute I just want to snatch her up and keep her for myself, but I won't. Now, I hope my puppies leave her alone and let her enjoy her garden of celery, tomatoes and much, much more. I can't eat all these veggie myself, so I'll open my garden to her. She is so content in the burrow her mommy made for her in my tomato plants.

Vintage Summer

Last night I attended an open crop at my upline Annette Green's house. I must say this is a wonderful way to get stuff done. Annette opens her home up to anyone who wants to scrapbook or do paper crafting each month and to top it off, she lets you use all her stuff too!!!! I even had the pleasure of using her Vagabond by Tim Holtz last night. What a surprise, I have Sizzix Big Shot, but there's no comparison, WOW is it nice. Thank you Annette!!!!


When I showed up I had no idea what I was going to make, so I practically brought my entire craft room with me, well, maybe not that much stuff, but I did have a variety of stamping supplies from CTMH, Tim Holtz, SU and Paper Tray, yep, that's the majority of the products I use. I also brought along a catalog that I get fairly frequently in the mail, "The Country House". Now years ago I use to order from this catalog a lot, but since I found paper crafting I'll admit my compulsive shopping days are spent in that direction.


This card was an inspiration from one of the items for sale in that catalog. Funny where you find inspiration from pictures and general color schemes in magazines. I started out to do a Father's Day card and ended up with a vintage Forth of July Card. What I really like about paper crafting is that what ever you do you can end up for just about anything.


Next, I moved on to these wonderful books I picked up when I first started making cards. I'm sure you've seen them around town, there called "Cards" the July 2009 edition had this great clear card and the game was on. Somehow, without even seeing the book that I grabbed as I ran out the door to beat the rain, I also place an embossing folder from SU and some clear plastic that I save from craft packages, how lucky can you get.


Annette also let me borrow a SU die to cut the plastic and we then embossed it with the SU embossing folder I brought. All paper is CTMH, Colonial White, Bamboo and Barn red. Inks used are Bamboo, Desert Sand, Outdoor Denim, Cocoa and Barn Red. Stamp sets used are also CTMH, "You & Me" and "American Celebration".

Thanks again Annette, can't wait until next month.

Fanfare Summer Workshop

Primary colors and much much more. Fanfare is the ultimate summer fun paper. WOW is all I can say about this paper packet from CTMH.

This was such a fun project to do, I decided to offer it for a June workshop. What a great way to show off your summer. A perfect gift for a friend or family. Every summer Todd and I travel to Georgia to visit family, and I can't wait to fill this mini album. The entire album is Fanfare Level 2 paper packet X7138B. On the cover, Pennant Alphabet E1018, Polka Dot Alphabet D1469, White Daisy Ribbon Z270, Cranberry Ribbon Z1103, Red Assortment Buttons Z1369, Metal Assortment Brads Z1366, Colonial White Waxy Flax Z1081, and Liquid Glass Z679. Now, the airplane is from PaperTray and was paper pieced with some polka dot paper from PaperTray as well.

The next layout was made with some help from my Cricut, circles are cut from Colonial White cardstock 1385 and Indian Corn Blue cardstock 1284, Cranberry Ribbon and CTMH exclusive stamp set You & Me D1495.


Too keep with the same theme, my next layout I used Pacifica cardstock X5759, In the Month of July stamp set C1417, Celebration stamp set, Wishing Star stamp set D1333, and don't forget Outdoor Denim Ink Z2140, Cranberry Ink Z2116 and Honey Ink Z2162.

Now, I couldn't resist adding some hot air balloons, what is summer without hot air balloons. Now, this is yet another PaperTray stamp set. Same color scheme going throughout the album.

Flip Flops!!!! If you're a Florida girl like me, who could live without flip flops? I'm in them 12 months out of the year. Again I used In the Month of July stamp set C1417 and American Celebration stamp set D1458 (June's SOTM)

And for the grand finale I've added an interactive element with this drop down journaling folder on the right hand page. Kites are another memory I have of summer fun, so this stamp set from PaperTray has the balloons and kites in it and I just couldn't resist using this set for my album. If you like this theme you can also use CTMH Splendid Day stamp set which has an airplane and kite, I didn't have this set and either did my upline, so I had to divert to my stash of stamps. And don't forget about Horizon stamp set which has a wonderful hot air balloon and a fun sun which could be used.

Fanfare Summer Workshop will be held at my home on Sunday, June 26 from 1-5 p.m., if your are interested post a comment, email or call me to reserve your spot. Class fee just $25.00. Kits are also available for $30.00 which includes shipping and step by step easy instructions for assembly.

Have a great weekend.