Happy Birthday to my little love...

Today is my little guys 3rd birthday. Oh how the time has flown. He's a complete bundle of little boy complete with plenty of kisses for mommy, scrapes and bruises and falls, curiosity, full of mischief and everything I love all in one tiny little boy. It's bittersweet watching him grow up. I love all the things he's now saying and doing, but I want to keep him little forever. It's so short lived. And I try to cherish every moment!!

Okay, now that I'm all weepy, I'll get on to the little card I made him. It's bright and fun yet simple. Perfectly like him. :-)

Happy Birthday, Logan! I love you to the moon and back.

Santa Mini with SP and Company

Hope you're having a jolly month so far! I have my final *sniff, sniff* guest DT post this week with SP and Company. I've had such a blast getting crafty and creative with these stamps. I really hope everyone has enjoyed my projects and my use of showing how to use your stamps in really creative and fun ways!

On to the project...(it's really why you're here right?)

Welcome my santa mini album!! I've had this album in my stash FOREVER and I finally decided what to use it for. It's an accordion style album that has yummy cream pages inside. Now they're jolly!

This is our second year attending this Santa Walk and Visit in Sycamore, IL. It's about an hour there from our house, but last year, it was fun. And really, Sycamore is a beautiful little town. There is this giant tree in front of the courthouse building that's all decorated, stores are all lit up and festive, and of course, you get to see the big guy. It's a lot of fun. Cold and all. I'll have to post the after pics with the photos and journaling inside. Stay tuned for that.

Here is the inside front cover. I found this jean material "paper" at Micheal's on clearance and I knew I wanted to make it into a pocket. Well, naturally, I used the pocket from Vintage October: All Zipped Up with simple white ink and some copper brads to finish it off. Perfect sentiment on the cards and pocket from the Vintage October: Winter Pocket Fillers set. A little twine and the pocket is finished!

For the filler, I stamped the little lined card from Vintage October: Winter Pocket Fillers and used the letters from the Tiny Build A Banner to put in each of my kids names. I'll write a few things off their Christmas lists to finish those off.

Here are some shots of the interior pages. You'll see I stuck with the same patterned paper throughout and some clear Maya Road snowflakes that I had won from my mini album from summer being published :) Perfect use!

I really had a BLAST being a guest designer for Sami at SP and Company. Thank you so much for letting me showcase your awesome stamps!! I've really had a ton of fun creating this month. I hope to be able to do this again for you. Your stamps ROCK!!!! 

I also took advantage of the Black Friday sale she was running and I have a whole bunch of ideas...stay tuned...

Here are the links for the sets I used below for really quick reference to purchase!

Artsy Heartsy

Christmas Medley
Scallops and Lines
Vintage October: All Zipped Up
Vintage October: Winter Pocket Fillers
Tiny Build A Banner

Sweet Project with SP and Company!

Hey there! I've got another adorable and quick project for my guest DT duties over at SP and Company today. This project could be easily done as an assembly line process for quick and cute gifts for the kids on your holiday gift list. This paired with a book of their choice would be perfect ;)

I've got a simple bookmark today featuring the gingerbread man from the Cutest Gingerbread Man set. Since I'm a book type and I wear glasses, this guy HAD to have glasses. I spied the glasses from the Vintage October: Falling for Autumn set. And ya know what? They fit PERFECTLY. He's the right touch of bookworm for my taste! And I found the perfect sentiment from the Swirly Doos set.

For the bookmark base, I just cut and glued together two pieces of patterned paper cardstock I had that matched my little gingerbread man, who was just cut out of kraft. I stamped with Memento Ink in black and colored him in with Spectrum Noir markers, my Spica glitter pen for the tips of his hands and feet to give him that sugary look, and a white marker to add the mouth.

For the ribbon, I had a spool of this fun grosgrain on hand that matched perfectly. Punched the hole, tied the ribbon and rounded the corners and I'm done!

I seriously love this little guy a LOT. And what I love is that you could customize your bookmarks for every boy and girl with the different faces that come with the set!! Look at the other sets too to see what elements you can pair this guy or gal with! I just love stamping with SP!

Leave me some love. I always appreciate it!

Thankful with SP and Company

Happy post-Thanksgiving day! (Since I'm not partaking in Black Friday, I'll call it that!)

I had made this card for my husband to tell him that I'm thankful for him. Naturally, there's a bunch of sappy thoughts inside for a completely NOT sappy guy, but he smiled and I could tell my outpouring of emotion made him just a teeny bit sappy for the day. But it was all true!

I wanted to use the Tiny Build A Banner set from SP and Company in a different way to show you just how versatile these stamps can be! I love the way he came out.

I just free handed the turkey body from kraft and stamped the various tiny banners onto patterned scraps I had. Yes, in case you were wondering, I do have them sorted by color... :) I then cut them out and layered them behind the body of the turkey. I just drew on the eyes, gobbler thing (I know there's a name for it, I just know it), and legs. I cut out a small orange triangle for the beak. For the sentiment, I used the letters from the Tiny Build A Banner set for "thankful" and the "for you" from the Bold Sentiments 1. And his tiny heart is also from Tiny Build A Banner.

Very simple layout for the card, but I love the way it came out. How about you? Leave me a comment! Take a trip over to the SP and Company store to check out the great Black Friday deals going on!!!! Which I'm off to partake in...happy shopping!

Christmas Project with SP and Company!

Hey there! This is my second post as Guest DT member for SP and Company coming to you :)

I wanted to do something Christmas-related with the stamp sets to show you how versatile they can truly be. I used several sets this go around and I'll get to those in a minute!

One of the most fun things I love to do is honestly wrap presents. I love making them all pretty, sharply folded corners (yes, I'm a stickler for that), and topping them with a pretty bow and handmade tag. So here is a set of 8 handmade tags.

Here they are:

For most of the sets, I used the Tiny Build A Banner set. Yup, one of my new favorites!!! I highly recommend buying this set. Or tell a certain man with a beard that you'd love it in your stocking perhaps...just a thought!

I also used Artsy Heartsy on a few and my other go-to set, Journal This! And of course Bold Sentiments I.

I also had some fun with the Studio Calico mists and Glimmer Mists on these. Lots of wintery goodness. And some Stickles, too. It's all too fun.

I must say the little snowman I made out of one of the Artsy Heartsy  designs (houndstooth) and the circles and bow from Tiny Build A Banner  in the above tag is my favorite.

I hope this inspired you to use your SP and Company stamps in a new and fun way!

AND here is a glimpse of one of the little people in my house...sticky smiles.

November Blog Hop for SP and Company

I'm very excited to announce I'm the guest designer over at SP & Company for this month! I'm so honored to have been chosen and I hope you enjoy my projects. Check out my stampy goodness below.

We are shaking things up a bit with the holidays on the horizon and combining the November and December stamp release into one big party! That means extra projects for you today! All of these gorgeous stamps are available now. We will not have a December release party so that everyone can concentrate on family and friends.

This month's color is TEAL! After you're done hopping around today, make sure you play along with this month's teal challenge (click here for details) for a chance to win some amazing SP and Company prizes!

Do you want to win some amazing SP & Company products? Then don't forget that the Prize Patrol is always watching! Leave a comment on every single blog to be eligible for the prizes!! The more blogs you comment on, the better your chances are of winning something fabulous!

I decided to make a mini album for my son's upcoming 3rd birthday. I have NO idea where 3 years have gone, but alas, he's growing up :( So I wanted to make a real mini album since I want to keep him mini...most days...and I got these great clear boxes online and I thought what a great holder for this! I measured the album to fit inside the clear pillowbox. Perfect fit! 

The cover features the new set, Tiny Build a Banner, perfectly! I adore the tiny little pennants and the cute little bow. Let's look at the letters, too! Such a fun, typewritten font. And I had to add the heart image in place of the "o". LOVE!

Mini album, 2.5x3.875 overall size with the clear pillowbox holder.

Look at those pennants!!!! LOVE them! You'll love this set, Tiny Build a Banner.

Flag is from the Tiny Build a Banner set and a little spray mist :)

Grid from the Journal This set, and the other elements are from the new Tiny Build a Banner set.

The left hand page is actually the curved line from the Tiny Build a Banner set just in a pattern!
The circles on the right hand piece are from that new set as well. The sentiment is from Bold Sentiments I.

I used the grid and line stamp from the Journal This set and the "you" is from the
Artsy Heartsy, with the pennants from the Tiny Build a Banner set.

I used a few SP and Company stamp sets on this mini book! Artsy Heartsy for a couple sentiments, Journal This, Bold Sentiment I and the new release which is going to be a DEFINITE favorite of mine, Tiny Build a Banner.

Fun cluster of circles and the bow from the Tiny Build a Banner set!

Front and back cover open

I had a lot of fun using different elements of the set throughout this mini book. I plan on putting cropped down photos from my son's birthday get together! And possibly writing down his favorite things at 3 :) I would love to hear your comments!

Make sure you check out the SP Blog to see what Samantha did with the new stamps! And don't forget to hop around to each Design Team Member's blog - there are brand new projects with the stamps that came out TODAY to inspire you!

Here is the list of designers that will inspire you today:
Chrissie
Kelli
Michelle
Evgenia
Amber
Jenn
Vicki

PRODUCTS USED: Stamps: SP & Company
Ink: Memento, Versamagic
Spray Mists: Studio Calico (white), Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist (blue)Cardstock: Bazzil (brown, teal), Cougar Cover 80# (cream)
Patterned Paper: My Mind's Eye, So Sophie
Markers: Copics, Spica Glitter Pen

My First Published Work!

Happy Labor Day!! Hope you all did something fun today or at least this weekend to be able to scrap about. Come on, everyone thinks that way right? I know I do...

I wanted to share my published album finally!! I had received a couple copies of the publication and my beloved mini album back last month and I am proud to share it with you all. I had a Summer 2011 mini album published in the Create: Mini Albums publication (by Northridge Publishing). My. First. EVER.

Thanks to my BFF for urging me to submit this. I never made it with any intention of submitting it for pub. Just a collection of our summer memories. That's it! True story.

Here's what the cover of the publication looks like...

And here's my spread in the book:

And the mini album itself. Of course, their photos are much more creative ;)

There it is! I'd love to hear your comments. Stop by again soon!!!!!

SP & Company Guest DT...Last Submission!

Hello again! I've got ONE last project I'm entering for the SP & Company's Guest DT call. Details for her challenge are below. The contest ends tomorrow, so fingers crossed!

Calling all guest designers!!!

We want YOU to try out to be our next guest designer. Guest designers will have the opportunity to work alongside the SP Design Team for one month. Guest designer will receive TWO newly released stamp sets (one upon acceptance and one upon completion of all guest designer duties). The guest designer will join us for the monthly blog hop, have a bio & introduction post, and have 3 additional guest blog posts/projects to go on the SP Stamps Blog for their design month. 

Got what it takes?? Then enter below! All you need to do is make one newly created project (can be any paper craft item) showing off the color YELLOW & showcasing your creative use of stamps. You DO NOT have to use SP & Company Stamps on your creation if you don't have any yet; we just want to see your best work with any stamps! Enter a direct link to your creation in the linky widget below.

International designers may apply! You MUST have a blog for this position. Entries are due by August 31st at midnight EST. Please no more than 3 entries per person for this contest. Good luck everyone!!

You can enter here! WISH ME LUCK!!!

I wanted to do a popsicle card. I've seen these all over the internet and they were so cute! I had wanted to make mine a tad different in that I added "drops" to my corner with the bite taken out. How fun!! I did that with my Glossy Accents type stuff (I'm not sure of the exact name!), let it dry...and dry...and dry...that part was not too fun! ;)

Inside, I make a tiny pocket which is actually big enough to fit a gift card inside. Wouldn't an Oberweis or DQ gift card be a perfect little gift card for this popsicle greeting? Mmm!