Photo Strips

To me scrapbooking is all about the photos.  It is a great way to preserve a special memory and document life.  This week's Heart 2 Heart Challenge was to share a project that incorporates a photo...or my my case many photos.  

Like most moms, I document the 1st day of school heavily.  Pictures getting ready for school, pictures on the front porch, pictures in the car on the way to school and of course pictures at school.  How fun will it be to look back on those first day of school photos and see how my children have grown each and every year?  I just finished creating this fun "Back to School" layout using CTMH's Cruisin' paper pack for my June Scrappy Creations class.  I love the photo strip look and love that I can incorporate all of my photos in the fun, yet not too busy layout.  I think it helps document the day without extensive journaling.     

Don't you just love the fun star embellishments?   The letters from the B&T paper are great to use for titles too.  

Close up of the photo strips.  So fun to see my daughter's different facial expressions.  

I just love this layout and think I will be trying to incorporate more photo strips into my layouts in the near future.  

~Amy

A Guiding Hand

A mother always gently guides her children throughout all stages of childhood and even on into adulthood, that is why I thought this stamp set would make a perfect Mother's Day card.  I created this card using last year's Pick a Pair Stamp set.  When paired with the Dotty for You papers and the cute bakers twine, it makes for a sweet and simple card.    

Thought this card would be perfect for Heart 2 Heart's Mother's Day Challenge and may even use them to show a little teacher appreciation this week too. 

~Amy

Everything Rapunzel

For the past week, all things were Rapunzel as we prepared for my daughter's Tangled birthday party.  Our home was filled with music, frying pans, floating lanterns and lots and lots of hair!

In lieu of balloons this year, we decided to add some floating lanterns to the decor.  I was able to purchase those great lanterns at www.justartifacts.net to match the streamers perfectly.  They were a fun addition.     

As the children arrived for the party, they were given either a flower clip or a Flynn Rider belt to wear. 

With 10+ children attending, it was important to keep them busy and active throughout the party, so while we waited for the all the guests to arrive, the children decorated floating lanterns (purple gift bags) with stickers and jewels to hold their all their prizes and goodies.   

 In addition there was also a paint wall for the kids to paint and decorate just like Rapunzel did her tower.  I found some great Crayola paintbrush markers that work perfect for this activity.  No spills and easy to use. 

After everyone arrived, we started the party with games!

Game 1:  Pin the Hair on the Tower

My daughter decorated the tower with flowers and plants we cut from magazines.  She even added a picture of Rapunzel and Flynn Rider.  

The children were blind folded and spun around and given strips of hair to connect Rapunzel to Flynn.  

Game 2:  Dreams

Next we headed to the "Snuggly Duckling" where the children shared their dreams for a special prize. 

Game 3: Snuggly Duckling Freeze Dance. 

While playing the song "I've Got a Dream" the children danced until the music stop where they had to freeze on colored squares on the floor.  There were asked a color related question (i.e. What color is Rapunzel's dress?, What color were the floating lanterns?) and who ever was on the corresponding color got to choose a prize.  To ensure that all children got a prize, our last question was what color is Pascal?  

Game 4: Hair Toss

To master Rapunzel's hair tossing skills the children had to aim and knock over a stack of blocks with her hair (a bath towel).

 Game 6:  Frying Pan Pinata
Instead of using the traditional stick, we used, Rapunzel's choice weapon, a frying pan to hit the pinata.  We had to set up some rules before starting to ensure everyone was safe (a clear boundary  of where children should be while waiting for a turn and to hold the pan with two hands).  This was the children's favorite game and was lots of fun. 

 Game 6:  Floating Lanterns
Using a parachute the children pretended that the yellow balloons were floating lanterns and helped them float  into the air.  This game was so easy, but so fun for the kids. 

 Lastly, we had a nice family dinner and celebration.  At the end of the evening we launched a real floating lantern.  Those can also be found at www.justartifact.net as well.  Even though it wasn't dark it was still fun to set it off.

It was a great day to be a little girl in our home!

~Amy  

Fun with Felt

Today was a great day to play with felt.  In preparation for my daughter's Tangled birthday party we made some cute hair clips and a headband.  Additionally we made some fun Flynn Rider belts for the boys who will be attending the party. 

With the wind blowing through her hair, my daughter felt just like Rapunzel.  

 I saw these fun hair ties on the Disney Family website and decided I wanted to create similar clips for my daughter's Tangled party.   Here are the steps I took to make these adorable rosebud hair clips. 

Supplied needed;
- Hair clips or Head band (I purchase mine at Micheal's)
- Felt strips cut 1 x 5 inches (3 per clip)
- Felt leaves cut per template found at Disney Family (2 per clip)
- 3 strips of Ribbon cut approximately 18-24 inches.
- Hot Glue Gun

 1.  Fold felt strip in half and glue together. 

 2.  Start to tightly roll felt strip up, glue as you roll to hold rose bud together.  Be careful not to burn your fingers. 

 Display with folded side up.  Don't all those little roses look cute and whimsical? 

 3.  Glue three ribbons on the clip as desired. 
4.  Glue leaves on top of ribbon. 
5.  Glue three rose buds together to form a cluster, then glue cluster on top of leaves. 

 **If you are making a head band.  Cut an oval out of the felt and glue around the head band in  the desired location.  This makes for a sturdier base to glue all the parts onto.  

The hair clip is so cute.  Think the girls will feel just like princesses wearing these. 

 The headband is cute too and perfect for the birthday girl. 

 There will also be several little boys at the party, so not to leave them out or embarrass them with hair clips, we made a very simple Flynn Rider belt. 
Supplies
-Dark Brown Felt from a ream
-Tan Squares of felt (cut 3 x 4 inch rectangles with a 2 x 3 inch rectangle cut out of the middle)
-Velcro
-Hot Glue Gun

1. Cut 2 1/2 inch strips of brown felt for  belt.  Cut in half or to desired length.
2. Cut a point on the right end of the strip. 
2.  Cut out belt buckles from tan felt.    

 3.  Place 3-5 inch strip of hard Velcro (not the soft side) on the left hand side of the belt.  There is no need to attach the soft strip of Velcro.  It will adhere to the felt on it's own.
4.  Glue the belt buckle approximately 4-6 inches from the pointed end of the belt (i.e. right side).

 Such an easy and cute belt.  Perfect for any young Flynn Rider. 

We are all eagerly awaiting the fun Tangled/Rapunzel party and will post more of the festivities next week. 

~Amy

So Happy!

This bright and cheery bathroom was the inspiration photo for this week's Heart 2 Heart Challenge.  I love the brightness of this picture as was inspired by the colors and pretty flowers on the shower curtain.  

 While creating this card, I wanted to add some pink to it, but was liking the simpleness of the orange and green papers on Close to My Heart's  Kraft Die-Cut Cards.  I additionally used this month's promotional papers, "Dotty for You" (purchase for only $5 dollars with an order of $35.00 or more) and CTMH's Baker's Twine.

 Can't wait to make someones day with this pretty little card. 

Thanks for the inspiration Heart 2 Heart!

~Amy

Window into My Heart

This weeks Mojo Monday Sketch reminds of a window pane.  It is simple with lots of possibilities.  

 By using a single sheet of  B&T paper from Close to My Heart's "Dotty for You" paper pack, and mounting the 9 frames on a "smoothie" piece of card stock, I was able to get the desired look I wanted for my card. 

I am tempted to try this design with a variety of different papers to get more of a patchwork look.  Who knows, I may have another entry this week. 

~Amy

**Remember, the "Dotty for You" paper pack may be purchased for $5 when you place an order of $35.00 or more from the current Close to My Heart Idea Book.

May's Scrappy Creations Class

May Scrappy Creations Class

Thursday, May 10th @7PM

This month you have two choices, create a layout, plus 5 cards or simply create 10 cards. 

Here is a a close up of the layout.  Great for masculine or outdoor/"woodsy" photos. 

  The cards are simple yet classy and would be perfect for Father's Day. 

We will be using the following products in May:

Victory Paper Pack-

Durable Square Studs-

Evergreen Color Ready Cork Shapes-

Please let me know if you would like to attend this class no later than Friday, April 27th.  Make sure to let me know which Kit you would like and if you would like to make the layout, plus cards, or just the cards.   

Workshop on the Go (Includes all supplies plus the My Acrylics Stamp Set)- $35.00

Kit 1: (Paper pack)- $11.63

Kit 2. (Paper pack, Studs)- $15.17

Kit 3 (Paper pack, Cork Shapes)-$15.17

Kit 4 (Paper pack, Studs, Cork Shapes)-$20.86

**Please note, if you choose to purchase Kit 3, and would like to share the studs with others in the class, I will add $1.50 to your order.  By choosing this option, you will not have any studs to bring home for extra projects.

Looking forward to another great class!

~Amy 

Chicks Dig It!

The new "Dotty for You" papers from Close to My Heart are so cute and springy, I couldn't resist pairing my card with my pretty hydrangas and cute little chick.  Check out the card's I created using Mojo Monday's sketch, while also incorporating some stitching for the Heart 2 Heart Challenge.   

 This simple "Thank You" card was created by stringing banners on CTMH's baker's twine and then mounting them on a neutral "dotty" B&T. 

 You can get a totally different look by simply changing your banner colors and/or the color of the baker's twine.

 This weeks Heart 2 Heart Challenge was to incorporate stitching.  I love the detail stitching adds to a project, but usually overlook it because of the simplicity of using glue.  I am much more likely to create stitching lines with a pen, stamp a stitched line using the "Sew Happy" stamp set or sand an embossed line and puncture holes onto it to create a faux stitched line.  This week I decided to using baker's twine to stitch a banner together.  By poking holes in top corner of each banner I was able to string or "stitch" the banner togeter.  It was super easy and quick, because all I had to do was attatch the two ends of the twine to the back of the the grey dotty paper.  The banner hangs nicely on the card and even has some movement.  No glue on the paper also enables you to see the inside of the banners for even more color.  I really liked how it turned out.   

Make sure to take advantage of Close to My Heart's, National Scrapbooking Month promotion.  Purchase $35 dollors from the Spring and Summer Idea Book and receive the exclusive "Dotty for You" paper's (featured on my card) for only $5.

~Amy

Dotty for Scrapbooking!

Did you know May is National Scrapbooking Month?  Close to My Heart is giving you two extra weeks to celebrate by offering the beautiful "Dotty for You" Paper Pack for only $5 with a qualifying order of $35.00 from the current Spring and Summer Idea Book.  This paper will be available , Tuesday, April 17 -May 31st--or while supplies last.  Don't miss out on this great value.  2 pages of 12 different patterned papers totaling 24 pages for only $5.  Wow, that is practically 75% off the retail value!  Start your shopping here.   

From now until the end of May, I too will be celebrating National Scrapbooking Month, by featuring a variety of different projects using the "Dotty for You" papers.  I plan to post as least one project per week.  Hope this get your creativity flowing! 

My first project is a 9x9 Memory Showcase Album I created for my sister's new baby girl, Grace.  These Memory Showcases are available in the "While Supplies Last" section of my website and are a great value for only $3.00.  Make sure to check out the other clearance items for sale while you are there.  Both the 9x9 and 6x6 Memory Showcase Albums make great gifts.  Think, baby gift, Mother's Day gift, wedding gift, teacher gift; you name it, this would make a nice, thoughtful and easy gift for anyone. 

Front Cover:

 Back Cover:

I love how clean and simple this album turned out and can't wait to see sweet Grace's pictures don it's pages. 

Happy Scrapping!

~Amy