two for the price of one

I made the "U shine" card from scraps that I had on my table. The lettering is free hand. Why is it that it never looks right when I free hand it. I will never know.

See the roll of Zots Dots. That is another one of my cool tips. Who knew that tying a small ribbon around the roll would keep it from unraveling ! Love this tip and immediately started to use it! Hope you can to.

Thanks for looking!

Julia

(4) 5x7 mats from 12 x 12 paper

I was THRILLED when I learned this trick a few years ago. It is great for scrapbooking and making those 5 x 3.5 cards! I want to share it with you !



With your paper set at 5 inches...make a 7 inch cut.
Rotate your paper 1/4 turn to the left and make another 7 inch cut
rotate and cut as above 2 more times.

When you have made 4 cuts, you will have (4) 5x7 mats and a 2 inch square!

Enjoy!

Julia

Twinkie-Mobile

Yesterday's festivities included these super fun Twinkie-Mobiles!Here you see my nephew and K. working on theirs.

C was working hard too.

No one worked harder than H (16 months old).


Thanks for looking!
Julia

My life is so blessed

I finished another card for my card swap. This card is for the "Best Friends" theme. The inside of the card reads: because you are in it.

I don't know who made the polka dot paper (If you do, please let me know in the comments.)

The Chocolate cardstock and "Because of you" stamp set are both from CTMH.

Thanks for looking :)

Julia

celebrate

I am hosting a card swap. This is my card for masculine Birthday.

I was inspired by Daniela Dobson's card in the April/May issue of PaperCrafts ( page 86). Check out her blog. I could not find the inspiration card shown there but she has some GREAT designs!

I used Basic Grey for the background paper.
CTMH's April stamp of the MONTH ( LOVE IT!!!!) called Express Postage. The circle, "celebrate" "Happy Birthday" are all seperate stamps...that's the beauty of MY Acrylix. I also added the star in the middle from CTMH's Star Stuck stamp set.

I still consider myself a novice when it comes to making cards, but I feel like I am getting better... I guess that is all that counts, right?

Julia

pages 40: True Love

This is another "Tag , your it LO":
I was inspired by the heart shape, the title design and the middle strip of pattern paper.
I used buttons and CTMH paper from the Serindipity kit.

This is the LO Shell O. sent me for inspiration:



Thanks for looking,

Julia

blank note

Well, at this point I am stuck on this card. So I will stop for now. It is very pretty, but I worry that it is also too somber. Would you think "WHO DIED?" if you got this card in the mail?

Paper: CTMH Silhouette
ribbon: unknown

Laundry is EVIL!!!

Laundry is my least favorite task. This comic strip says it all!

Here is how I feel EVERY day.



If you have any other funny comic strips about laundry, let me know...I'd love to add it to my collection.

Julia

My daughter was a climber too :)

After the last post, you may be surprised to find out that K was my climber! Oh she drove me nuts. I really could not leave her alone 'cause this is what would happen.

Yes, I actually took pictures of her. The scrapper in me won over the mommy for this one! She had JUST turned 2 when I took these pictures of her getting into the blue food color. But, the journaling reveals the truth.

Journaling:

Her Mother's Reward

At the age of 18 months I scaled a ladder and sat on the peak of our house watching the cars go by. My mother was 9 months along with James and needed the neighbors help to save me. No wonder a little trouble like this doesn't phase me.
May 2004

Thanks for looking!
Julia

Be afraid...be very afraid

Do you see that bus on top of the refrigerator? My son who was 3 at the time got busted so it went "away bye bye". Well, my son still wanted it and you can imagine my surprise when I found him on the top chair stretching his little arms trying to get it.

I have never scrapped this picture, basically I was afraid that my kids would think that building chair towers is a good thing. Now that they are 5 and 7 I think it is safe to scrap this one.

Who knows how I will scrap it...but one day I will.

Julia

page 39: namesake

I have had a few pictures of my Grandma for a LONG time. They have always kind of haunted me because I never knew the women in these pictures. The women I knew was frail and unhealthy. So, in a way it is sad to me to say I did "know" the woman I was named after.

I used a sketch from Gettin' Sketchy and one of thoses photos for this LO. I think this LO will end up being an all time favorite!

Papers: CTMH: Silhouette Kit, blush card stock

Stamps: CTMH Playful Flourishes

Cricut: Accent Essentials ( to make the flowers) and Jasmine


buttons: manufacturer unknown

Thanks for looking.

Julia

Pure Joy

This another one of my favorite LO's from the past. My hubby took these pictures of the kids when he took them to the beach one day. I just loved getting his perspective of the kids at play!

Paper: CTMH Colonial White, Indian Corn Blue B&T
Embellishments: CTMH ribbon, clear buttons, Chip board, brads and flowers.

It is funny. I don't usually put that much stuff on a LO, but this one was for a specific challenge, and I have to admit, I love the details!

Thanks for looking,
Julia

pages 37 and 38: Star

This is a LO I created from my last sketch swap. It features C. this school year. We are so proud of him!

Thanks for looking.

Julia

pages 35 AND 36 :So You

I am playing a scrap game called "Tag , your it". I am given a LO for inspiration and I must create my LO based on it. I was 4th in line so there are 2 generations between the orginal LO and my LO.

Each tag on my LO has a word that describes my son: joyful, enthusiastic, curious, spirited and loving.

Papers: CTMH Majestic blue

Cardstock Denim Blue, Cranberry and Bamboo

Cricut: Basecamp.

Thanks for looking.

Julia

Why I Scrapbook

I created this LO last year. Dad was near the end of his battle with Alzheimer's. The pictures are of my father holding me as a baby, my father holding each of my children and then "current" shots I had at the time.

It still hurts to know that they will never know him.

Jouraling:
Why I scrap
So I won't forget the names and faces ( like he has)
So my stories won't be trapped inside ( like his are)
So my family will always know I love them ( like his does)

* This jouraling was lifted off a 2peas LO I had seen. It said EXACTLY what I was feeling.

Thanks for looking
Julia

Pages 33 and 34: Family Circus

My family on my dad's side has this CRAZY gift exchange at Christmas every year.

First we have to argue a bit over the rules (every year) and then we draw numbers. Number 1 rules. Number 2 doesn't. By the end of the game, the gifts have changed hands at LEAST 20 times (unless you got a DUD gift). At any rate , this year I faithfully recorded EVERY move the gifts made and will be including this as the journaling for this LO.

Thank you Becky Dixon for this swap LO. ( She has done 100 pages this year so far...my 34 pages don't seem so impressive)

Julia

Pages 31 and 32 : Family Love

Another LO of Christmas...the kids were simply adorable!

Paper: Bo Bunny
Cardstock: CTMH Colonial White and Cranbery
Cricut: Alphalicious, Christmas Cheer.

Thanks for looking,
Julia

Pages 29 and 30: Christmas Joys,Christmas Toys

The best part of Christmas is watching the kids play with the toys! Of couse, the adults always seem to join in.

Paper: Bo Bunny
Cardstock: all CTMH : Colonial White, Garden Green, Cranberry
Bigger Brads: CTMH
Cricut: Basecamp

Thanks for looking!
Julia

pages 27 and 28 : Amazed By You

It is fun to create a LO that is not just event specific. These are pictures of K throught her 5th year. It is fun to see her personality shine.

Thank you Amanda L. for this swap LO.

Julia

Caardvarks Micro Challenge

I decided to enter this card in the Caardvarks Micro Challenge
Can you create a card without pattern paper?

I used CTMH stamp set called Ritzy Ribbon.

The colors are Hollyhock, Sweet Leaf and Baby Pink ( all CTMH)

This card was inspired by a fellow consultant who posted a similar card MONTHS ago. I wish I had recorded her name. What simple and beautiful design. It was easy to create too!

Enjoy!

Julia