It's That Time of Year

It's the time of year where we are reminded how blessed we are to live in this country. We're also reminded of the amazing men and women who give so much for others. This past weekend I was blessed to be a part of an event at my local scrap store that was sponsored by a number of companies (including We R Memory Keepers) to make cards for Operation Write Home. These cards will be sent (along with many, many others) to the men and women of our armed forces. If you're not familiar with Operation Write Home, you can check them out here. They are a very cool organization that has sent out over 1 million cards to date. If you're feeling especially blessed this 4th, you can also check out Anysoldier.com. It's another awesome organization where you can find info on sending notes of thanks and care packages to the troops.

Ok, now on to the details about the cards! I finally got around to cutting fabric with my Silhouette. Let me tell you, it was so easy! If you can cut paper with your Silhouette, and you can work an iron, you can cut fabric. I found patriotic linen napkins that were just too cool to pass up, so I used them here for the stars. I paired the stars up with My Mind's Eye's American Made paper, added a button or 2 and some ribbon, and ta-da some star-spangled cards.

Wishing you a blessed weekend and beautiful 4th of July!

We Cally You Trouble

I played along with Crate Paper's sketch challenge this month. There are some layouts I like, some I'm just happy to have done, and some I love...this is one of those that I really love. It's clean and simple, but truly catches the essence of my little man.


The patterned paper is from Crate Paper's Toy Box line, as are the border stickers (the red triangle accents), and the brad in the bottom right corner. The alphabet stickers are from Jillibean Soup, and the journaling was done on my computer.

Fun in the Sun

I had to share 1 last Simple Stories 100 Days of summer layout. This one is so much better in person! I added Stickles to the sun in the title strip and the word "sun". I added Glossy Glaze to the "fun in the sun" and blue swirl part of the title. It was a simple way to really make the title strip pop, and add some texture.

Summer Parade Mini Album

Thanks to the generous folks over at Little Yellow Bicycle (I won a contest a while back), I now have in my possession Sweet Summertime. I wasted no time creating a summer mini. Every year we walk in a summer parade with the company my husband work for. It's one of my favorite summer events, and the kids love being in the parade. The bright colors of Sweet Summertime were perfect for capturing the fun!

Simple Stories Layout #2

I wanted to chat a bit about Simple Stories today since I've been working with their 100 Days of Summer line quite a bit. There are a lot of scrapbook companies out there, but Simple Stories does scrapping a bit differently. Simple Stories is a system that contains pre-designed element pices (journaling tags, photo mats, quote blocks, and titles) that are printed on double-sided 12 x 12 sheets of paper. All you have to do is cut them apart to create a custom page. You can use the pices as you normally would on a layout, or you can slip them into specially sectioned page protectors (check out We R Memory Keepers 12" x 12" divided page protectors). You're pages go together really quickly!

Simple Stories

A Walk Down Memory Lane is now carrying a company called Simple Stories. I fell in love right away with 100 Days of Summer (however, the name starts me singing the Phineas and Ferb theme song). The colors are gorgeous, and I've found this line so easy to create with. So easy, in fact, that this is the 1st of three layouts I've made from that line that I'll be sharing! Love it!


2 Years
Paper: Simple Stories 100 Days of Summer
Accessories: Simple Stories 100 Days of Summer Alpha Stickers, My Mind's Eye Stella and Rose Buttons, Tim Holtz Tissue Tape
Tools: EK Success Edger Punch Bracket, We R Memory Keepers Corner Chomper

Helping a Hero with...

“Operation Write Home” I wanted to share some information on a project I feel honored to help with. Check it out:

Reserve some time on Saturday, June 25, 2011. This Saturday will be a SPECIAL day with you, our customers, joining us to send some special handmade love to our troops. A Walk Down Memory Lane is teaming up with international crafting supplies manufacturer, We R Memory Keepers, powerhouse magazine Scrapbooks Etc’s Craft it Forward program, and vacation company Cruise and Crop, to launch a major initiative, Operation We R Grateful, to bring cheer to active duty soldiers of the US Military. Operation We R Grateful is a large campaign designed to collect thousands of cards to send to deployed troops, through the organization Operation Write Home. OWH sends blank cards to troops to use to send home. The Operation has multiple components to the campaign: card classes, album workshops, contests and events. A Walk Down Memory Lane is sponsoring a full day for card makers at the store located at 1418Main Street in Rock Valley, Iowa. Starting at 10am there will be a card class for beginners to learn how to make cards. At 12pm the workshop/classroom area will be open for the public to come in and make their own cards, use our card templates or ideas to make cards, and there will be pre-made cards to send to the troops in appreciation for their sacrifices. A Walk Down Memory Lane is also a collection center for people who already made cards, and just want to drop off their completed cards. The last day to drop off cards is July 5, 2011. HOW CAN YOU HELP? 10 – 12. . . Join us for a free beginners class to learn how to make cards or some simple stamping techniques (PLEASE call by June 23 to register for the class) 12 – 5 . . . Our workshop/classroom will be open for people to make some cards to send to the troops. If you are new to card making, we will have some templates ready for you to copy and make some cards. All you need to do is purchase the paper/embellishments for your cards, we’ll provide the ideas! If you are a seasoned card maker, bring your supplies and make some cards for as many hours as you would like. 10 – 5 . . . Come in and sign a card to say thanks to a member of our military. We will have pre-made cards for the public to come in and voice their thanks in a handmade card. 5 – 11 . . . We have a scheduled workshop this evening. If you make or bring 5 cards to send to the troops, you can crop for free during this crop. Please call us to sign up for the crop so we can reserve a spot for you. WHAT ARE THE RULES? They are looking for all types of cards. You can make birthday, thinking of you, love, thank you, holiday or get well cards that are blank inside for the troops to send back to family and friends. These need to be blank inside, so the troops can write in their message to their loved ones. Also, if your card has a dark inside, please line it with a light color for them to write on. One more note…NO GLITTER on these cards please! Night Vision goggles can pick up a spec of glitter on a uniform miles away! We will also be collecting cards for you to send your appreciation to the troops. Make any type of Thank You card with a short message from you inside. Deadline for dropoff is July 5, 2011. ONE LAST KICKER Our sponsors are giving away a CARIBBEAN CRUISE to one lucky winner! When you make your cards, bundle them up with an ENTRY FORM to be entered for the drawing. Each “type” of card needs an entry form. So, you can make 10 birthday cards but you only need one entry form. If you make 5 birthday cards, and 5 holiday cards, you need 2 entry forms. Click HERE for a link to more details about the contest. Click HERE for the rules and regulations Thanks so much for helping us support the troops. I know they will love getting handmade cards from home, that they can send to their friends and family. If you have any questions about this event, please feel free to call us at the store at 712-476-3443

Gasp!

I realized it's 1/2 way through June and I've totally neglected to mention who the featured manufacturers are over at my favorite scrap store, A Walk Down Memory Lane. For the month of June you can shop Pink Paislee and My Favorite Things on-line and in the Brick and Mortar store at 25% off. Here's a little something I made for the store to show off what can be done with this month's featured manufacturers. Enjoy!


Our Simply Wonderful Summer Mini Album by Samantha Taylor
Book: Fancy Pants Artist Edition Chipboard Banners
Paper: Pink Paislee Hometown Summer (Sunnyside Lane, Heat Wave, Summer Fun, Neighborhood Pool), Jillibean Soup Staples
Stamps: My Favorite Things Polka Dot Greetings
Ink: Versamark
Accessories: Pink Paislee Hometown Summer Border Stickers, Pink Paislee Hometown Summer Rubber Charms, Pink Paislee Soiree Twine, American Craft Zing Clear Embossing Zing Powder, American Craft Aqua Zing Embossing Powder, Cosmo Cricket Tiny Type Alpahs, The Twinery Twine, Jenni Bowlin Malted Milk Paint, Jillibean Soup Dutch Mustard Soup Cardstock Stickers, Jillibean Soup Spotted Owl Soup Cardstock Stickers, Jillibean Soup Corrugated Alphas, Pebbles Inc. Candy Dots, Fancy Pants It’s Your Day Buttons, Doodlebug Boutique Buttons, Making Memories Journaling Pad, Echo Park For the Record Alpha Stickers, Jillibean Soup Bean Blossoms
Tools: Fiskar’s Uppercrest Border Punch, Fiskar’s Scalloped Sentiments Border Punch

I Love a Parade

It's sketch challenge #24 time over at the My Mind's Eye Blog. I recently won some of the Lime Twist collection from the generous people over at MME, so I have no excuse not to play. Here's the sketch:
Here's my version:

The theme for the challenge this time around is Song Lyrics. Since I had recently taken photos of my kids at a parade I chose, "I love a parade".
I didn't make too many changes to the sketch. I took the sketch and rotated it 90 degrees. Sometimes when working with a sketch I focus on 1 element to highlight. This time I took the scalloped border and focused on that. I kept the rest of the layout fairly minimal so as not to overwhelm the photos.

Glitter Ritz Card Class

I'll be teaching this class on June 18th at A Walk Down Memory Lane.

Glitter Ritz Cards

AWDML now carries Glitter Ritz Glitter. You have to see this glitter in person to truly understand how cool it is. It's low mess and satiny in texture. In this class Samantha will teach you how to apply it, color it, use it with patterned paper, stickers, and stamps while making 3 cards. The best part? You go home with your own container of Glitter Ritz Glitter (a $7.49 value)! Call AWDML at (712)476-3443 to reserve your spot!
Cost:$20
June 18 from 10:15 am - 12 pm

Geography Time

I must start this post with the disclaimer that this project is completely, 100% inspired by a very, very similar project done by Amber Packer over on the My Mind's Eye Blog. You can check out her awesome project by clicking here. There are even some great directions linked up there. I only changed a few things.



My map is 12" x 12". I did this because I wanted to use a 12" x 12" piece of cork behind the paper as backing. We plan on sticking pins in it to show where Dad (my husband) is traveling for work (he travels a fair amount, and I think it will be fun for the kids to track him).

I also cut the large background US (seen here in white) with my Silhouette machine. It was also used to cut the state template pieces. However, I still cut the patterned paper states by hand.

The biggest difference is that I used My Mind's Eye's American Made paper. I think it's the perfect line for this patriotic project.

Father's Day Card Alternative

If you're looking for a Father's Day project, I've got one featuring Glue Dots® for you today. I wanted to make an alternative to a card for Father's Day this year, so I decided to fill tubes from SRM with candy (who doesn't love the new Pretzel M & M's...seriously) and add a tag instead of a card. This is also a great project for using up scraps and bits and pieces of leftover papers and stickers. Here's the breakdown:

What you'll need:
Memory Book Glue Dots®
Scraps of paper (my largest measures 3" x 4") (I'm using Mr. Boy from Bella Blvd.)
Matching embellishments
Ribbon or Twine
Stickers or Stamps (I'm using stickers from SRM and Bella Blvd.)
Plastic Tube (the ones I used are from SRM Stickers)
Candy


I made a little decorative strip for the bottom of the tube. Cut a strip of paper about 1 1/4" tall and punch it with a decorative border punch. The length of your strip will be determined by the circumference of your tube.


Now you will put Memory Book Glue Dots® on both the inside and outside edge of your strip of paper. The Glue Dot® on the inside will secure the paper to the tube (since Glue Dots® are clear the adhesive is virtually undetectable even when the tube is empty). The Glue Dot® on the outside of the paper strip will secure the paper to itself when you wrap the strip around the tube.


To create the tag, you will need 2 pieces of 3"x4" paper per tag. As you can see in the photo, I didn't want the back sides (the dog print and the "future athlete" paper) to show, so I took 1 piece of wood grain paper and adhered it with Memory Book Glue Dots®


If you put 1 Glue Dot® in each corner, you'll get a nice firm hold.


Embellish your tags with paper and stickers.


Attach your tag with ribbon or twine around the top of the tube. I tied my ribbon in a knot instead of a bow to make it a little more manly.


Now you have a tasty alternative to a card!

*I wrote this blog post while participating on the Glue Dots® Design Team.

Another one checked off the "to craft" list

It feels like I'm saying, "I finally got to use ______ paper," or " I finally got to scrap _______ photos" a lot lately. It sure feels nice to clear some things off of my "to craft" list (yes, I actually have a physical, down on paper, "to craft" list). It feels really good! Here's another one of those. Today I finally have my photos from St. Patty's Day scrapped. Woo hoo!



P.S. This layout is done with a big thank you to Little Yellow Bicycle. I won this line (Lucky Me) from them months ago.

4th of July Decorations and Tutorial

With Memorial Day in my rear view, I have to admit, I've already begun thinking about the 4th of July. It probably doesn't help that my local scrap store (A Walk Down Memory Lane) just got in My Mind's Eye's American Made line. I love every sheet in this line...both sides. I'm pretty sure Tommy Hilfiger is jealous of the beautiful prints. I've stashed some American Made away to make some 4th of July layouts after all the fun this year, but first I made some patriotic decorations.



What you'll need:
~Ultra Thin or Permanent Glue Dots®
~Double sided patterned paper (you can get 2 decorations per 12 x 12 sheet)
~Scoring Tool
~Strong Scissors
~Ribbon, Twine, or String


First, cut your paper to 6" x 10".

Score the paper lengthwise, every 1/2" from 1/2" to 9 1/2".


Turn your paper and score it height wise at 3".



Accordion fold the 1/2" folds and hold tightly together.


Take a length of twine, string, or ribbon and tie it as tightly as possible around the center of your paper (there should be a score mark at the middle that you can uses as a guide).


Cut the ends of your paper at opposite angles (This is the hardest part of the project. You'll need a good, strong scissors and some elbow grease to cut through the thick layers of paper).


Add Ultra Thin Glue Dots® to the flat edge of the paper.


Fan out the paper, and press the seams firmly together.

Now all you have to do is decorate!
As you can see I've used ribbon to hang one star medallion, and attached a stick to the other one for a table decoration. If you're having a 4th of July party, you could make multiple medallions attached to sticks for table decor that guests can also use as hand fans. I also think the hanging medallions would be really lovely worked into a garland or wreath.

*I wrote this blog post while participating on the Glue Dots® Design Team.

You Can Fly

Remember when swinging was sooooo much fun? I love the joy in these photos. Jillibean's Watermelon Gazpacho was just perfect for capturing the moment.



I hope you and yours are enjoying the simple pleasures of summer!