Just scootin' by...

I know I keep saying things like this, but am I the only one in complete disbelief that it's already January 19th?! Where is the time going?! It's scootin' on by, that's for sure!

Speaking of scootin' by (you'll appreciate the segue in a second), I recently purchased a new stamp set from the Sweet Stamp Shop. It's called Scootin' By and I'm in love with it!


The card I made with it is the first of it's kind in my novice book, as I've never paper pieced anything together using a stamp as a guide before. I have to disclose, though, that my card is a blatant copy, er, card lift of another card I found which was created by Donna Mikasa. I wouldn't be able to do fun stuff like this if I didn't have amazing examples to follow!

Here's Donna's card:

And here is mine:

For this being my first time paper piecing, I'm thrilled with the way it turned out! I stamped the flag and the body of the scooter on patterned paper, cut them out, then adhered them to the stamped image on a separate piece of cardstock. I almost don't want to give this card away! :)

Hope you enjoyed this card and that you are inspired to try something new! You never know...you might like it! =)

Until next time,

It's a Miracle!

Hello all! Just wanted to stop by and let you all know that I am featured today on Authentique's blog. Our design team is promoting Helmar adhesive products this week, so I created a cute layout with the help of their products. Oh, and I used one of Authentique's BRAND NEW collections, Miracle! This collection is a mix of new and revamped old papers from other collections. It is a gorgeous collection.

Here is a sneak peek:

If you want to see the rest, be sure to head over to Authentique's blog!

I'm still here! I promise!!

Hello friends! I'm sorry I've been MIA a lot lately! It seems like ever since Christmas passed us by, things have gotten a little hectic around here. (Isn't that supposed to STOP once Christmas is over??) Both of my girls were sick one right after the other and the past week or so I've been busy making some projects for Authentique to take to CHA. That, folks, is pretty exciting for this scrappy novice! =) I hope to be able to show you all some of my projects in the near future, but for now, I'll show you a Christmas project I did using Authentique's Wonder collection.

I found a naked wood block set at my local big box store and decided to give it a whirl. I'd never attempted to do anything like this before and there's a first time for everything, right?

I started by tracing the letters on to the paper I wanted to use and then cut them out. I also cut out the papers that I would be putting on the blocks. I used my Xyron X sticker maker to adhere everything to their respective wooden piece.

The papers on the blocks overlapped, so I used some sand paper to file it down on all of the edges/corners.

Then I used a Colorbox Chalk cat's eye ink pad (in Chestnut Roan) on the edges of the blocks and letters.

I glued the letters to the blocks, added some buttons and floss and VOILA! My project was complete!

For being a first timer at doing something like this, I'm pretty excited about the outcome. Not to mention, this is the first project that made some sort of ripple in the waters of the craft world...Xyron featured this on their facebook page and it can even be found on Pinterest as pinned by Scrapbook and Cards Today magazine. I have to say, I was pretty psyched about that. =)

I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend! I will be back soon with some cute layouts!

A Splendid Photo Display...

Hello friends! It is January 4th...am I the only one in disbelief? It seems like just yesterday was Halloween and somehow Thanksgiving and Christmas have zoomed past us. Where does the time go? In any event, I hope you all had a safe and happy holiday season.

Moving right along, I am featured today over on Authentique's blog. I created this cute frame:

Be sure to head over to their blog to see the tutorial! Hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday!

A Wonderful Gift Card Holder

Good evening, friends! Anyone else ready for Christmas to be over with? {raises hand} It seems like the middle of December raced to get here and the days have been creeping by ever since. Maybe it's just me.

ANYway, I thought I'd make a card to put a gift card in. We all know how attractive the card holder that comes with the gift card usually are. I decided to put a different spin on them this year. And I'll tell you something...this is SUCH an easy and cute way to dress up a gift card!

I used a craft pocket as the card holder and then decorated around it a bit using twine, an edge punch and a little tag I made.

This card probably took me 20 minutes to make. That's quite an accomplishment in this crafty novice's book. :)

I hope I inspired you to put a new spin on an old (an unattractive) idea.

I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Until next time...

The 80s are BACK!!

Hello all! Hope you are having fun hopping along on the Back to the 80s Birthday Blog Hop! If this is the first you've heard of it, go back to Emily (the birthday girl's) blog for all of the details!!

The 80s seem like such a long time ago, but also seem like just yesterday. My earliest memories are from the 80s...everything from the toys to the clothes stick out in my mind. The strange thing is, a lot of what I had, saw or experienced in the 80s are BACK! Guess I grew up in a pretty cool decade. :)

This is a picture of me from about 1985-ish.

Anyway, for my project I decided to scrap a picture that was taken of a friend and I back in 1985. I had just moved from Colorado to Arizona with my family and was going to be going to Disneyworld with my best friend from Colorado and her family. I flew - SOLO - from AZ to CO, then on to Florida with my friend and her family. The picture in my layout was taken at the airport in Denver before we left on our amazing adventure. The things that scream "HELLOOO 80s" in this picture are what my friend and I are holding: a Rainbow Brite doll complete with Sprite sidekick (me) and a Cabbage Patch Kid (my friend). Doesn't get more 80s than that, folks. :)


I used Echo Park's Little Girl line for this layout because the colors and patterns seemed very appropriate for a layout about the 80s. It was a very colorful decade, that's for sure.


I also decided to turn my picture into a polaroid-like picture as part of the throw-back theme.

I have to say, creating a layout to go with this picture was really fun. The memories of all of my 80s toys took me back to a happy place, which is something I needed after the last few days I've had.

Don't forget to post on all of the blogs along the hop because as Emily's post stated, there will be some FUN prizes given away! Have fun hopping!

The next stop on the hop is Heather!

Here's the blog line up in case you get lost along the way:

Emily
Lisa
Abby
Candace
Nicole
Julie Ranae
Stephanie
Tanya
Candace
Elizabeth
Angelica
Michelle
Erin
Sarah
Dawn
Kathy
Jeannie
Cristine <-- You are here!
Heather

Hopping along with Authentique and Scor-Pal!

Hello visitors and returning friends! I am excited to be taking part in the Authentique Paper and Scor-Pal Blog Hop today! If this is the first you've heard of the hop, make sure to go back to Authentique Paper's blog to take part in the whole thing!

Here is the blog order for our fun hop: {click on the name to take you to the specific blog}

Authentique Paper
Tifany DeGough
Steph Ackerman
Emily Lanham
Gini Cagle
Misty Buck
Lisa Andrews
Brenda Smith
Katie Tate
Cristine Redmond <-- You are here.
Kittie Franken
Scor-Pal

Be sure to comment on each blog as you hop because there are some great prizes up for grabs! Authentique Paper is offering TWO winners a fantastic paper prize pack {$20 retail value} and Scor-Pal is offering a Scor-Buddy {$20 retail value}! {Winner will be chosen randomly from all comments on the manufacturer blogs AND the DT blogs. Winner must have a US/Canada address.} Blog comments close Monday, December 19th at 11:50 pm {Pacific} and winners will be announced Wednesday, December 21st on the Authentique Paper and Scor-Pal blogs.

Now on to the fun stuff! For my project today, I decided to try something I've never done before...making an elaborate paper ornament. Here are the supplies I used:


I used my Silhouette to cut out 15 2-inch circles. I used some chalk ink to ink the edges of one side of the circle. Then I scored each circle so that a triangle was formed.


I used my Xyron Mega Runner to put adhesive on the backs of the flaps formed by creasing the circle, then I started sticking the edges together. Once I got the first five pieces together, I made the bottom cap of the ornament by stringing a button and some Jenni Bowlin pearl charms with twine.


The next row consists of 10 more circles, then finish it up by adding the final five. I added another button, then tied off the twine to make a loop for hanging the ornament on the tree.


I am so happy with the way this turned out! I've never attempted anything like this before and judging from how easy it was to put together, I don't think this will be my last!

Thank you for hopping by my blog today! I hope you'll become a follower to see what other fun things I have up my sleeves!

Next stop on the blog hop is Kittie Franken.