Take My Picture

Clean lines are what make this layout appear so pleasant, in my opinion. I am not one of those trendy scrapbookers who is able to combine 37 different elements on one page surrounding just one photograph. I think in straight lines and tend to keep things simple. This is what works most often for me.


This layout, featuring Basic Grey's Green at Heart Collection is perfect for scrap-lifting! Anyone can copy this layout! The patterned paper is all from the collection pack, I used American Crafts textured cardstock for the title (cut with my Cricut) and journaling. To give the flower sticker a little bit of dimension, I cut the flower at the stem and attached it to the layout with a pop dot. A white gel pen and a ruler allowed me to add "stitches" around the orange block with ease.

New Release from Basic Grey

Basic Grey has recently announced two new collections to being shippin mid- to late-June! These playful and sweet Oliver and Olivia collections are sure to be a welcome addition to your scrapbooks!

I can guarantee that both of these collections will be joining my own personal scrapbook paper collection.

Operation Write Home -- Bloghop!

If you are not yet familiar with Operation Write Home, this awesome organization collects handmade greeting cards from crafters all over the United States and ships them to troops overseas for them to use to write to their families back home.


If this is your first stop in today's bloghop, please take the time to return to the start of the hop HERE.

Welcome! The new Kioshi line from Basic Grey has been calling my name since it arrived last week. The colors and patterns are perfect for spring! I used four different patterned papers as well as chipboard embellishments from the Kioshi Collection for this all-occasion card.

My reason for making cards for OWH is simple: I would love my husband to send me cards when he is deployed so I am sure that there are many other family members who feel the same way. I especially love to include Any Hero notes with each package as I want to do my part to make sure that every service member knows his/her sacrifice and devotion is very much appreciated.

Here's a picture of my hero and I from his commissioning ceremony a few years ago. He has proudly served our country for the past 13 years and is currently training away from home to prepare for an upcoming deployment. Love you!


Now time for some Blog Candy! These are a few of my favorite things--Tombo liquid glue, American Crafts envelops, brads, buttons, glazed brads, paper frills and chipboard!!! To enter to win, just leave a comment. Easy! If you follow the blog, leave a second comment and if you decide to become a Facebook Fan, leave yet another comment. The winner will be chosen using random.org on Monday!


If you'd like to help by making some cards of your own and sending them to OWH that would be great! Keep in mind that the deadline for Mother's Day cards is April 1--this is the date that they must reach the shipper.

Next up is Lori's Purple Giraffes. I LOVE Lori's card. She has included a step-by-step video demonstrating how she made her card. I need to learn a few techniques from Lori!

Basic Grey -- ALL on Sale!!!

Just in case you have not yet signed up to receive my promotional newsletter, I wanted to let you know that our entire stock of Basic Grey is 20% off through March 24. This includes the brand NEW Kioshi & Green at Heart Collections.


The Kioshi Collection is sophisticated in design, yet I think it will also be perfect for all of the upcoming spring and Easter pictures we are all sure to take.


A crafter can never have enough buttons on hand. Am I right? The lovely pastel colors in this button pack coordinate perfectly with the entire Kioshi line.


The Green at Heart Collection is described as fresh and fun. I could not have said it better myself! These colors and patterns are making me very impatient as I wait for the grass to return to green and the flowers to bloom locally.


Flowers and cute little critters are the highlights of this chipboard sticker pack.


This is my favorite new stamp set! The Tree Hugger Bitsy Stamp Set is too cute and I think some thank you cards have just been added to my weekend's to-do list.

Junior Photo Frame

While digging through some old memorabilia boxes I came across two of these old frames full of photos from high school. Since I'm 12 years removed from my high school days, I thought this was an especially good time to find a new use for these frames.


The new Junior line from American Crafts has been taunting me from across the room since the day it arrived in stock. Love it! It matches my boys' bedding perfectly--primary colors, cars & trucks theme--so it only made sense to create something they could display in their rooms.


I was hosting a crop at my house while I made this project. You all know what that means...I was doing a bit more talking than scrapbooking. :) The end result is cute, but I will do things differently with the second frame. First, I don't like the two blue blocks side-by-side. I didn't plan this project, I just began! Despite using a ton of chipboard and pop dots, I still had wanted a more 3-D effect. We'll see if I can execute that with the second project.

Supplies Used: American Crafts Junior Line (Radical paper, Yay! paper, You're Out! paper, Junior Buddy Accents Remarks Sticker Book), AC Denim textured cardstock, Basic Grey Lime Rickey chipboard accents, Basic Grey Lime Rickey glazed brad.

Star Ornaments

My boys have a small Christmas tree that we let them decorate on their own. It has brightly colored lights and cheap-o plastic bulbs. Nothing fancy at all. Next year I want it to include a bunch of handmade ornaments--made by them and a handful made by yours truly.

I found these rustic, metal star ornaments at Michaels this year for $1.29 each. I grabbed 12 or 15 thinking I would decorate them and sell at craft fairs. Instead, I decided to cover a few for us.


This one is covered in Basic Grey Figgy Pudding paper that I had leftover from 2 years ago. The ornaments are only 5" X 5" or so which makes this a great project to use up some of that scrap paper stash that we ALL have on hand.

I used my Tombo Mono Adhesive (my favorite liquid adhesive) to attach the paper to each section of the star. I cut out the center embellishments from one of the scrap pieces of paper and attached them with glue dots.


This ornament is definitely going on the boys' tree. I used the super cute Basic Grey Lime Rickey paper pad. I can't wait to find time to make a few more of these for their tree. Fortunately, I placed the ornament box just inside the attic door (which is in my craft room) so I can easily add to our ornament stash throughout the year!

Creative Month & Origins

Eventhough I have not been scrapbooking as much as I would like this month, I have been crafting and creating almost constantly. I hosted four gingerbread house workshops with my playgroup and my boys (ages 3 & 4) made these adorable houses!



I have also completed Christmas cards orders for four customers totalling over 250 cards. Did I make my own cards this year? No. I "cheated" and ordered photo cards from Shutterfly. However, I do not feel guilty at all. Last year I never mailed cards...I only managed to address the envelopes!

New in stock is the Origins Collection from Basic Grey. I cannot wait for things to slow down a bit so that I can make something with this delicious new paper collection!

Baby Hugs

Look! Another scrapbook layout! I figured I should really start using all of my delightful scrapbooking products that I have on hand instead of saving them for some future layout.

I fell in love with Basic Grey's Lime Rickey as soon as it was released. I used 3 sheets of paper and one sticker element from the 12 X 12 Collection Pack, one sheet from the 6 X 6 Paper Pad as well as embellishments including the Glazed Brads and Chipboard. Purchasing the smaller paper pad was such a great idea, if I do say so myself. It allows me to use additional patterned papers on my layout without cutting in to one of the full 12 X 12 sheets. (This is much less expensive).



The title of this particular layouts says it all. I still need to look up the exact date that these pictures were taken and add that on the orange patterned paper block to complete this layout, but I think you get the idea.

Supplies Used: Patterned Paper (Basic Grey), Textured Cardstock (American Crafts), Chipboard (Basic Grey), Brads (Basic Grey).

Lemonade Card Kit

My love of the card kits from Basic Grey continues. Here's just one of the cute cards from the Lemonade Card Kit.



I have been so busy opening new wholesale accounts and ordering lots of new product for the store that I haven't had much time to complete any layouts of my own. I have at least 6 layouts near completion--most are just waiting for journaling. Hopefully I'll be able to steal some time for myself to finish the layouts soon!

Lime Rickey Card Kit

I absolutely LOVE the card kits that Basic Grey has added to their product line. For $15, the kit includes everything you need to complete 8 cards (plus envelopes and extras). The rub-on pack that came with the Lime Rickey card kit had so many extra rub-ons that I was able to add sentiments to the inside of most of my cards plus some cute images for other projects. You can purchase this card kit from my store HERE. The Wisteria card kit is also avaiable and the Lemonade card kit will be added to my store at the end of the week!