NSD card challenge

I was planning to have my card ready, to tease you with a peek for this challenge.
Planned on it.

But my head feels like Siobhan Magnus is having a screechfest right behind my left eyeball.

Can't exactly craft with that.

So I'm going to issue the challenge without a teaser.

I expect to see many card challenged crafters participating!

Without further ado...

1. Create a card.
2. Use woodgrain (this could be a patterned paper, a stamp, a piece of veneer, a tree sticker, etc).
3. Use the color blue.
4. Use a punch.

and that's it!

To participate in the challenge, link your card to this thread at SC. I will be looking at that thread in order to choose a winner, and that winner will win a $10 gift certficate! woot! You did see all the punches, the Basic Grey Basics line, and the Cosmo Coredinations line, didn't you?! You could do damage with $10.

If kids could tweet....

...this is what Morgan would have twittered about today:

"Today I have school in kindergarten (12 girls, 7 boys)."

"Now it's time to go home"

She wrote that last bit on the bus, and made an illustration, just to further clarify her message (in case you were wondering).

She got this little notebook and has been carrying it around with her a lot lately. Cracks me up. She's better with the random updates than I am! :)

Studio Calico May - What's in Granny's Cupboard?

The kit is live and it's time to take a peek into Granny's Cupboard. I came up with 4 layouts and 2 cards. My kit is still out and I have been using it on other projects to be shared later this week, though. I love it!

I purchased two add-ons this month, Linen & Lace as well as Trinkets. I also got more add-on paper, which gave me a few pieces in the Knick Knack add-on, and also made it easier to cut into some of the really pretty ones, knowing I had two.

I'm proud of myself too. I did 4 layouts, and only one of them uses kraft as a base. An easter layout uses some of the kraft Basics line from Basic Grey. Oh my word I'm in love with this idea.

I'm also digging the new Coredinations stuff with Cosmo. It just arrived back at the shop today so I don't have it in my hot little hands yet, but I ordered the classic/neutral pad that Cosmo put out. I fondled it at CHA and have been waiting in anticipation. This also a must have. (I missed out the first time it showed up in the shop).

Without further ado, my work for this month:




Payton is 4 but looks 14 in these photos. Egads! I wanted to do a layout about her interests at 4. After doing these monthly for her first year, I now do them every 6 months and don't plan to stop.

I cut open one of the MR envelopes for this layout. I also used yummy olive twisted burlap from the shop for my flower stems. That yellow OA paper is in the Trinkets addon. YUM. So pretty. I loved all those buttons in the main, the flowers, and the blue alphas too.

Here's that Basic Grey Basics I was telling you about. Isn't it perfect!? It's Tally, from the Kraft pad. This is in the Knick Knacks addon, but it's also in the more patterned paper option, and you can also buy that paper pad! I definitely need more of this.

I had a lot of fun roughing up my cardstock, as well as the fabric paper. I also used my new label punch for the journaling and date. Because the layout was so free, I even used a border punch on my photo. Heck, I print them myself at home. I can trim any size I want, right? I used my Fiskars Scallop Sentiment punch and my new EK Success double embossed dotted lace punch. I'm not a huge fan of the embossed part and I don't think it's very noticable anyway, so I'm a huge fan. I like that I don't have to hand cut this big scallop anymore.

I saw some sneaks using the Bumpy Road punch, and that's the next one on my list. I like it better in action than I thought I would. I've got a lot in my cart, but I might add this as well for next month.

I have a loose interpretation of the Earth right there with my Crate paper circle on this layout (also in the knick knack addon but also in the more add-on paper option).

I definitely need more of those clouds. ::sigh:: I used more of my favorite jute here. I also did some paper tearing. It's been a while. I used to do that A LOT a few years ago but then cut back. The trend is back. I'm inspired by the way Nik tears everything on her layouts.

This next layout came together in about 45 minutes and I had kids climbing all over me. This is an amazing thing, I tell you!

It started with the delicious SC exclusive paper and that doily stamp. I thought it would make great dandelions:

Morgan came up to me the other day with these dandelions and asked if I'd get a photo of her with her flowers and the one in her hair.

I was giggling the whole time. She is posed all sweet and has flowers and all that, but all I can see are the dang weeds she's holding. We are NEVER going to get rid of them. lol.

The big scallop punch from Mavy mixed with that dotted lace punch. And yes, more ivory jute.

Look at the cow pasture:

When the cows get here they are going to eat them all right, but then they are going to come out fertilized. Steve sprays them with weed killer, but he can't keep ahead of the kids, and they don't understand. Morgan told me, " but mom, they are pretty yellow flowers! ". ayiyiyi.

Weeds. We have 'em.

This was a spur of the moment idea so I didn't have yellow ink from the shop, but I verified with Lisa that the mustard seed would have looked just like this Colorbox yellow I used on the stamp.

With the card talk on the site and my card challenge for NSD, I figured I'd better make some cards for my gallery as well.

That K&Co. pink frame worked great here.

And I put another MR envelope to good use with this card as well. I trimmed off each side so it would open right up.

I'm hoarding those flowers from the Linen & Lace add-on, but sacrificed one for this card. She's going to have be a really good friend in order to get this one in the mail, lol.

And that's it! I hope you got what you wanted from the shop!

I'll be back later. I can't begin to tell you how many irons I have in the fire, many of them coming straight to you on Saturday!

Davinie

Be Advised: NSD challenges ahead

I just wanted to give a quick post to let you know of some NSD challenges on the horizon.

First, there's this:

Scrapbook and Cards is having some NSD fun. Becky Fleck designed us a special sketch and all of the designers are going to put our own spin on it. I can't wait to share what I came up with. The sketch is very fun too

And then there's this:

There's going to be tons of challenges and tons of prizes.

I'm issuing a card challenge, so all those card challenged crafters out there need to be sure to tune in. I will cure you, lol.

I'm also going to be in the chat room at 8am PST. Nik will be there too. I have a busy day with soccer and a birthday party so I have to get there early. Be sure to stop by and chat with us! National Scrapbook Day is this Saturday, May 1.

Before I go I wanted to share this promo that starts today (4/27):

Who doesn't need adhesive? And a free refill? Good gravy!

There's the glue dot runner:

and the solid glue runner:

AND the strips runner:

(I'm a dots girl myself).

And since today is also reveal day, I hope you have your fingers ready for presale, if you are a subscriber.

Me? I'd first head to the AC albums. That's because I have a super cute Mother's Day/ gift idea to share with you next week, and I'm using one of those for my project, so I need a ton more albums. After I'm done making that gift I need to put some of the stacks of layouts I have piling up in a proper place. Spring cleaning and all that. Next I'd get page protectors, because you know you always need refills. It's going to feel good to have those layout safely away and that space cleared out.

After I was done in the album section, I'd clean them out of jute. Yes I would. I used it a ton on my projects this month and need more myself. I'll race you to the ivory.

P.S. You did know that Homefront won't be reprinted, didn't you? I just thought I'd share. (wink, wink)

There's been a lot of talk about the tiny attacher, and I might cave and get one next month. I don't always cave to the hype, but it would have come in handy this month.

EDITED to ADD:

Girl's Paperie Sticker Boooook - that's one of my favorite things from CHA but it didn't come in time to play with this month. I want one of these really bad! There is so much in it! GREAT price point.

The paper flowers are divine as well.

AND don't forget Studio Calico the manufacturer!! The rubons are finally in the shop and I've been using the buttons and stitches like crazy lately. Pick those up!

EDITED AGAIN:

How could I forget BG! Basic Grey Basic paper packs are in the shop! Manilla, kraft, and white. I did not like the kraft when I first saw it at CHA, definitely too gold for me, but they changed it a bit. We had a piece of it in the Granny's Cupboard kit and I immediately used that puppy as a base to my layout. I bought all three packs. Can't wait to supplement them in my kraft stash.

Also..... CRATE PAPER has fun things planned for NSD too! Saturday is going to be loads of fun.

And that's it! Enjoy your day today! I'll be back tonight with my layouts with the May kit.

March at my house and some Studio Calico sneaks

I don't really have an excuse.

I'll just say that I haven't felt like blogging.

I have also been up to my armpits in busy. The kids' soccer practices are in the evening, 3 nights a week, which means that dinner is late, baths are late, and then bed is late, which means even less time for me to get anything crafty finished. But you don't want to hear about that.

And then Kate was sent home. You'd think I created a Hallalujah layout or something. But I think I was in shock. Tim went home too. That was a quite a night.

And then there was the highly anticipated Madonna episode. I do think they could have done much more with that one, but of course I had to tune in.

And then Parvati pulled out TWO Idols and ruined my night on Survivor. But then Seth Aaron won Project Runway and that saved the night. I liked all three designers. Can't craft when I'm watching those shows.

I don't have a TV in my scrapbook room. I need to get one though, obviously, lol. I often drag out projects to do when I want to watch TV, but not this week.

That said, though, I have my Project 12 layout to share. Another reason I love this project? I had to go through my photos to remember what we did in March. And that was just a MONTH ago. See how fast the mind goes? I even asked Steve the other day if I have Alzheimer's already and he's been having to deal with it. As far as I can remember.... hmm. What did he say? lol. ack.

Anyway. Without further ado, here's my layout for the month of March:

I felt like using a lot of Studio Calico product with this layout. Paper, month stamps, and stitch/button rubons. I also used that Maya Road calendar and did mix in some new October Afternoon as well. I also used some white Doodlebug frills from my stash on this layout.

Have I mentioned how much I adore using extensive journaling on my Project 12 layouts? I love it. It helps to satisfy the personal journal itch.

My post is up at the SCT blog and you can see some favorites linked there, as well as the two winners of the Thicker prize from American Crafts. Congratulations ladies!

Looking forward to playing again next month. I'll do better about posting early. I promise. My goal from here on out is the 10th of every month, so I give a few days before the deadline of the 20th and you have a reminder to get your layouts finished.

Before I go I did want to share a few more sneaks of Granny's Cupboard, the May kit from Studio Calico.

I do have to say something about this kit. LOVED it. But the weather has not matched this kit, so I struggled a bit. My kids have been playing a lot of soccer too. The soccer theme didn't go very well with this kit. So expect to see further inspiration in the coming weeks, as this kit is very dear to me and I have been hoarding some of my favorite pieces in anticipation of future photos.

From the main kit I'm hoarding:

this, from Lily Bee. I need 2 more. One to hoard, and one so that I can then use each side on a layout.

I'm going to need 14 more of this one from Girl's Paperie. I might wallpaper my scrapbook room in this paper. Love every little inch.

From Linen's and Lace, I'm hoarding:

I made myself use the yellow bloom, but I think I'll need to get another package of these flowers. The are adorable. The paper flowers are so fun too. They will go great with:

I Love love love loved these. I have a layout in mind using all 4 in the package too. I just didn't have the photos to go with it. Usually I don't work this way, but I have plans. Big plans. For these ribbon frames.

From Trinkets I'm hoarding:

Another Girl's Paperie item of which I need 14 more. I could use that graph as a base for every layout!

I have a lot more product I didn't use, but those in particular are pieces that I hold dear this month.

With that said, here are my sneaks:

I was a huge fan of the clouds fairly au natural, but this layout uses the cream mist and I used hydrangea on my other layout. I used ALL of the clouds this month. I need more of those too.

I also used tons of jute. Yards. I wrap things at least 3 times when I use my jute. Ivory was my jute of choice this month.

And that's it! Be sure to check back soon. The kit goes live on Tuesday night! Next Saturday is also National Scrapbooking Day, and I am involved in a few different things that day, so it should be a fun day for sure! Too bad I have to fit in soccer games as well!

Davinie

Packaged Happy

If you could bottle happy, I swear to pete that is what you would find with Granny's Cupboard, the May kit from Studio Calico. I am having a lot of fun working with this kit and have a couple peeks to share.



Main kit, Linens and Lace, and the base paper is from the Trinkets add-on, plus some olive twisted burlap from the shop.

This one was FUN. I used a little bit of everything plus my new label and scallop punches (and of course, my scallop sentiment punch too).

I'll be back with more soon. Two layouts down and I still have plenty of inspiration to create more. I think I could scrap every photo I take of my family with this kit.

Enjoy your Friday! Davinie

Scrapbook and Cards Today - Spring Issue projects

For the Spring issue of Scrapbook and Cards Today, I had a last minute article assignment to create projects for an article called "Embellish with Ease" (page 42). The assignment was to create projects using handmade paper embellishments.

(If you haven't had a chance to download this free issue and you don't subscribe to this wonderful magazine in printed form, check it out here).

For my first layout, of course I had to make the paper roses I am now seeing everywhere on the net. You can see a tutorial on how I did those the first time here.

Supplies: Studio Calico patterned paper, October Afternoon patterned paper, Jenni Bowlin buttons, Harmonie wood alphas, Bazzill swiss dot cardstock and some American Crafts fabric brads.
That great big scallop is hand cut, traced from that ruler at the Dollar Tree. I just got my new double embossed dotted lace punch and while the scallops are a wee bit more narrow, this punch is going to get a lot of use!

This next layout included a fun technique. I used the longest stitch on my machine and ran down the center of the pink pattern. Then I dipped it under the tap and slowly pulled the bottom thread to scrunch up the paper. After it tried I trimmed the stitches out and layered the title.

Supplies: American Crafts Abode, chipboard alphas, Basic Grey chipboard alphas, Sassafras blooms

I love the ruffled look it gave to this layout. That big circle was traced from a Fiesta ware dinner plate.

This last minute project was a card made with dimensional butterflies.

I simply punched the butterfly twice, and layered the pieces, with a darker print on the bottom for a "shadow". I then bent the wings on the top layer and added some jewels.

Supplies: Crate paper's Pink Plum line, Studio Calico patterned paper, chipboard, Basic grey sticker alphas, Martha Stewart butterfly punch, ZVA Creative jewels)

I'm currently working on my assignment for the summer issue, which is turning into another fun issue. I can't wait to share what I have been working on.

I'm also just about finished with a couple projects using the May kit from Studio Calico, Granny's Cupboard (the sneak show is here), and will be back soon to share my own sneaks. I purchased Linen and Lace and Trinkets, as well as more add-on paper and more SC paper this month.

Have a great day! Davinie

P.S. got Studio Calico's Anthology line?

because if you have been waiting for it.... it's now available in the shop at Studio Calico.

Check it out here.

AND... you can have them hold it and ship it with your next kit too, if you subscribe.

Just thought you'd like to know! :)

This and That

April 3 hit and I've been one busy mama.

On Monday nights, there's this:

Tuesday and Friday nights, there's this:

And then Saturday, we have a couple of these:

Morgan's team is the Green Iquana's. The kids got to name their team. When asked what she wanted, Morgan's suggestions were... "Go, Team" or "Go Green Team". And she's a crafty girl! It was practically game time and they still didn't have a team name, so I asked Steve for an idea, he said Iguana's, Morgan threw it out there, and the Green Iguana's it is.

She played fall soccer, so she's back for more fun.

Payton turned 4 a few days before the cutoff, so she gets to play too. She picked out a name and lucky for her, there were no objections to being the Blue Dolphins. I have an extra day of practice and another trip to the ball field. In the end that's probably better than a mopey girl who yet again has to sit and watch her big sister have all the fun.

And to be honest.... I swear to pete my youngest is the most adorable thing on that whole field. I know I'm biased, but I'm not kidding. She's basically a year younger than all of her teammates, and she has this long torso, so she has these short little legs but she can be fairly fast. She's also not afraid to get in there and try to get the ball. It is SO. CUTE. Almost as cute as when she stops mid play on the field and waves at me.

Melts my heart and makes me smile every time.

Really, my only complaint is the weather. We've had two games and both have been at about 33 degrees with 15 mph winds. Seriously.

Look at these Michellin babies from last week:

Kids don't feel temperature so they were doing just fine. Mom on the other hand, was freezing her tush off on the sidelines. Last Saturday we heard it was supposed to get to 60 degrees so I didn't wear a windbreaker. Big mistake. I only got one or two photos of Morgan's game because I was too darn cold to stick my hands out of my sleeves.

Anyway, I've been having a lot of fun with my family, which is what life is all about, but I'm also knee deep in assignments so I haven't had a spare moment to do fun things to share.

I will say this, though. I have been feeling interior lately, and have been wanting some more homespun elements in home decor. And then I saw this blog post and I thought, you know, she sure looks cozy. I really like those pillows she's resting on. She sure seems like she's enjoying that book, and I attribute it to the pillows. I need to make me some pillows.

Jenn's blog post on the Studio Calico blog today sealed the deal. If I felt comfortable sewing fabric in a circle I would do the first example, but I think I'm going to do squares, more of a quilt block. I'm finding another use for that extra Nicey Jane fabric I have laying around. It matches my home just fine. I look forward to sharing that project! Oh, and in case you are wondering... Heather Bailey fabric is very high quality. I promise. My stepmom says she likes to fondle her fabric before buying it, but if your only option is online, trust me. It's wonderful.

Sneak night is tonight at Studio Calico. Be sure to keep checking the blog for the Sneak Night Giveaway blog post. It's always something good:

I'm closing this post and dashing back to my desk to whip up some projects to share with you too. Have I told you yet that this kit is looking like a favorite? Well, it is.

One last thing though. Do my photos look pixelated? On my last post I resized my photos so my dial up friends would be able to get here, but they look terrible. Blogger doesn't resize photos for you so it's a guessing game. Anyway, I didn't resize them as small this week so let me know how they look. Also, let me know if it takes you forever to load this post too. oy.

Have a great night! Davinie

Easter Recap and some SC

How was your Easter weekend?

It was chilly yet again this year at my house. I have finally come to terms with it and am very excited about next year, because I'm absolutely going to make my girls super cute aprons they can wear over jeans instead of spending money on dresses you never get to see.

Really. And they'll be cute. And they'll be able to wear them to school. I already have patterns from Fig Tree & Co. I'm just going to wait to see what Heather Bailey comes up, although I do love Nicey Jane.

Chilly or not, we did have a great weekend. We live on 2 acres so are a good spot for easter egg hunts. At around 11am, this is what I found in my backyard:

Raegan (my neice), Payton and Morgan, Shelby and Krysta (a couple of close family friends), and Kael (my nephew).

I always have fun getting eggs ready, but because of the gusting winds and my Betty Baker status in the kitchen, Steve was tasked with the hiding of the eggs. The kids had a blast.

Afterwards, the sugar high began:


We deep fried a turkey, which I've never done before, but it was really good. I also made some of PW's Cinnamon Rolls, which were delish, if I do say so myself. I even made deviled eggs, and I've actually never made deviled eggs before.

My sister Sabrina came with a couple dozen decorated eggs we had embellished the night before, and after admitting she had put them in a pot for about an hour and a half, they became the best candidates for this:

Why yes, you are seeing that correctly. I've hidden it for years, but yes people, I am that tacky neighbor with a tower in her yard.

It used to be the radio tower for the airport in the 1940's. That white building on the left, which is also on our property, has some radio equipment in it that should be in some sort of air museum. We've had people stop by our house and tell us stories about our tower that irritate me, lol, because it adds historical content to something I'd be happy to remove.

One of them comes out of Alaska in the 1960's, when the big earthquake hit. Apparently our tower was the beacon for ham radio users to get messages out of Alaska to family members.

Great.

What to do with it? Rent it to a cell phone company? Tear it down and sell the metal for scrap? Use it for wind power and put a windmill up top which will generate enough power for my home and then send power down the grid so I get a check from the power company every year? No idea what we should do with it. But if we tear it down you can't put one back up again, so there it sits.

Honestly, the house needs so much work we haven't had time to worry about it.

But in April? In April we launch eggs. Easter Eggs. At the tower.

Yes, we are that kind of redneck.

Oh my how the boys love it when it's egg launching time.

I didn't post a photo, but this year they perfected a technique as the day wore on by attaching the tubing to our swingset so that two people wouldn't have to hold on to it.

This enabled my 6 year old to launch her own eggs, which somehow went further than anything her daddy had been trying. It was pretty funny.

I wish you could see the mountains in that photo. They are right there behind the trees. It hailed later in the day so the clouds had come in and covered them up. But we have mountains. That's one reason we bought the place.

Another exciting part of the day was the opportunity to get most of the kids with their Great Grammie. My mama's mama.

The other reason that was extra special this year was because she finally got to meet this little bundle of joy:

Yep, Lilly and her mom and dad came to stay with me for the weekend. They said she was teething and a little fussy but I don't believe them. A sweeter baby I have yet to meet. And those cheeks!

I miss her already and can't wait to see her again. If not before, we have plans to head her direction, the Seattle area, Labor Day weekend. Can't wait! She'll be on the move for sure by then.

Thinking of Lilly and her family made it easy to do my Studio Calico layout for the month:

Homefront's Dollhouse and Alpha Stickers mixed with pieces from the Anthology line as well as Crate Paper's Brook line.

Homefront Fabrips made the easiest brads using my I Top tool and the small brad daddies. I also used some fun rubons, the orange buttons and a blue doilie. My big scallop was hand cut with a Dollar Tree ruler, but I can't wait for my Double Embossed Dotted Lace punch to get here from EK Success! It'll get as much use as that Scallop Sentiment punch I use all the time, methinks.

Seeing my brother become a father has changed him, and me. Lilly has no idea how lucky she is to have him for a dad.

I feel fortunate to have him for a brother. He's 7 years younger than me, I'm the eldest and he's the youngest of 4, so it's great to finally have something in common. I can't wait to get to know them better as a family and to spend more family time together. It's been great!

He's already commited to coming down for Easter every year (he seems to think he can outdo the design on the egg launcher. I told you, we rednecks can draw people in to our web like nobody's business).

Anyway...

I have been busy with assignments lately, which is one reason I haven't been posting as much. I can't wait to share my work with Scrapbook and Cards Today and their summer issue, as well as a "Confidential" article assignment I can't share yet. Oh, and I'm excited about this too.

I'm also knee deep in soccer, but I'll share the Iguana and the Dolphin later. Payton made the age cutoff by 4 days, so I'm a soccer mom to two sweet girls, who are having the best time. So even though it's only 36 degrees out and the winds are blowing 15-20 mph, I still have a smile on my face as I see them darting around the fields.

Fun times.

Be back soon! Davinie