Sketches in Thyme Card Challenge

We've got a fabulous sketch for you this week at Sketches in Thyme.  I just know you are going to love it as much as I did...

Delicious Doodles, our generous sponsor for November provided us with so many pretty stamps to choose from while creating a card using this sketch.  For this project I chose another beautiful holiday stamp, "Little Nut Tree".  I am CRAZY about this stamp and plan to use it on many more holiday cards and tags... it's just that dang cute!

Because I sized the stamp down for this card, I decided to pull out my Prismacolor Water color pencils... I didn't want to risk the chance for the Copics to bleed outside the fine lines...

The details on this stamp are some of the best I've ever laid eyes on! The shading was already present on the stamp, so coloring this with the pencils was so fun and easy!  Here's a closer shot...

I hope that you'll join us for this week's card sketch challenge at Sketches in Thyme and make sure that you stop by the blog to see all the other Maven reveals... so pretty and inspiring... you just don't want to miss them!  Don't forget to stop by our sponsor's digi store, Delicious Doodles too... there are so many more gorgeous digi stamps to choose from... hop to this link right here to check them out!

Sponsor Supplies Used:

Delicious Doodles: Digi Stamp: "Little Nut Tree"

Other Supplies Used:

Patterned Paper: Memory Box: "Mistletoe 6x6 Collection"

Cardstock: Papertrey Ink: "Vintage Cream"

Ink" Papertrey Ink: "Spring Moss"

Stamps: Papertrey Ink: "Holiday Wishes"

Embellishments: Making Memories: Paper Reverie "Sienne Gems and Brads"

Other: Ribbon from stash, Prismacolor Water Color pencis, Spellbinders Nestabilities Large Circles and Scallops, Die Cut from Papertrey Ink

Blog Hop Winner and Kraft Holiday Challenge Announcement too!

I hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving Holiday and thank you for joining us in the First Annual Papercraft Star Thanksgiving Blog Hop.  We've drawn a Grand Prize winner (for the $25.00 gift certificate to My Favorite Things, our generous sponsor for the blog hop)  over at Papercraft Star right here.  (Check it out... it just might be you!) Now it is time for me to draw the randomly selected winner here at Runs With Scraps for the $15.00 gift certificate to My Favorite Things! The winner is...

Melissa Bove (SCS ~ Melissa1872) Melissa said... "Wow! How gorgeous is this?!! ♥ it! Love the bottle idea and your beautiful card! I am a new follower of your blog! Happy Thanksgiving!"  

Melissa, please contact me by email, bethcat at sbcglobal dot net. I'll need your email address to have your gift certificate emailed to you! Congratulations on your win!

If you missed out on our Thanksgiving Blog Hop... or even if you didn't.  There is a chance to win more prizes!  Just hop on over to The Kraft Journal, the blog for the Kraft Outlet and join in on the Kraft Holiday Challenge for a chance to win one of two (2) $20.00 vouchers to the Kraft Outlet online store!  Entering the challenge is EASY.  Just link up one of your holiday projects that you've created within the last month that features Kraft paper somewhere in the design.  There are lots of other ways to win too, so please be sure to visit The Kraft Journal today and check it out!

Better Living Through Scrapbooking November Challenge 4

This week is the “Whistle While You Work” challenge at Better Living Through Scrapbooking. To play along all you have to do is create a layout about household tasks that you perform every day. (i.e. laundry, lawn mowing, cooking dinner, washing dishes, garden tending, school carpool, etc.) Journal about why you love or hate doing them. Choose at least 2 of the following:

1. Use at least 2 photos that represent your household tasks.
2. Use a paper-tearing technique somewhere in your page design.
3. Use rubber or acrylic stamps somewhere in your page design.
4. Make a reference to Cinderella, Martha Stewart, or your favorite TV mom in your journaling.
5. Give a retro/50s theme to your page.

I'll be the first to admit that when it comes to housework, inside the house anyhow, there isn't much I find to whistle about.  I'd much rather pull weeds, plant gardens and water flowers than do laundry or wash dishes, any day of the week. For this layout I chose to use two photographs; a picture that I took of my livingroom earlier this year after my grandsons (aka "The Destroyers") were playing in there and one I took of my yard last summer.   I also used a stamped image on my journal block and referenced both Cinderella and Martha Stewart, because when I am doing inside housework I feel like Cinderella, but when I am working out in my yard, I feel like Martha (sorta) :-)

I wanted to share this close-up with you for two reasons, one to show the journal block and also to give you a close-up view of the darling buttons provided by one of our sponsors, Charlene's Button Box. She has some of the cutest little buttons I've seen! You can learn more about Charlene's Button Box and our other sponsors Discount Cardstock and Plaid by visiting Better Living Through Scrapbooking.

Sponsor Supplies Used:

Cardstock: Discount Cardstock "Natural Smooth 12x12”
Embellishments: Charlene’s Button Box: House
Adhesives: Plaid: All Night Media “Mini Pop Dots”

Additional Supplies Used:
Patterned Paper: October Afternoon "Thrift Shop: Complete, Great Finds, and Needs Paint"
Ink: Ranger: Archival Ink “Coffee”
Stamps: Papertrey Ink: Vintage Labels
Embellishments: Horizon Group USA: Hemp Cord, October Afternoon: Market Ledger Stickers
Other Tools: Spellbinders: Nestabilities Large Circles and Large Scallops, EK Success: Papershapers 2 inch Scallop Punch 

All kinds of Puppy Love...

This has been a difficult week for our family, as we lost one of our sweet Labs, Gracie on November 20, to a terrible and sudden illness. She was not quite 5 years old. I posted about it briefly on Facebook but couldn't get myself to write about it here on the blog... it was too difficult knowing that I had, just a few days before her passing posted on the blog about her and my other Lab, Marley right here.

Instead I have been working on a layout of Grace as a tribute to her (which I can't post as it is a gift for my middle daughter Caitlin - Gracie was her dog).  We have found this week that even still with a household of (four) dogs and (seven) cats to keep our hearts and minds busy... there still remains and shall always be a huge hole without our Gracie May here, she is so loved and will be always missed.

But there is someone who has been very busy trying to keep us smiling...  (I wrote about when we got her and how she was rescued by my middle daughter Caitlin right here.)

All of Remi's injuries have healed now from whatever life she was living before she arrived here with us several weeks ago and we are getting to know her with each passing day... I am thankful that she is helping us all... especially my daughter Caitlin, to get through this difficult time as we adjust to life without Gracie.

While no dog will ever replace the love we have for our Gracie May... having all kinds of puppy love to share certainly helps ease the loss when you get hugs and kisses like this...

I wish that I had not been so slow on the "draw" snapping these photos as I missed the big SLURRRRRP Remi gave Caitlin's face...

but I did capture the aftermath... :-) Doesn't Remi look smug?!

I hope you and your family had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Quick and Easy Birthday Card

It's Black Friday!  Do you know where your checkbook is?  :-)

Hope you enjoyed your Thanksgiving dinner! Now it's really time to get geared up the the holiday season, right?!  I don't do the Black Friday thing any longer (that event was for my younger years)... but if you are out there, snapping up the big bargains... could you maybe pick something up for me too?! :-)

Seriously though, here is the last birthday card I have to share with you for this week.

I used the brand new My Mind's Eye Tickled Pink papers to create this ultra-bright and cheerful card. I also added some stitching with my sewing machine and used up the last of some Prima Flowers I've had in my stash for longer than I can remember.  You gotta love when you finally find the right project for something that has been floating in your stash for months and months.  

Instructions: 

1. Create 5 1/4 x 4 1/4 card base from white cardstock.
2. Cut 3 pieces of coordinating patterned paper at 5 1/2 x 4 1/4, 5 1/2 x 3 1/2 and 5 x 3.
3. Border punch top of the 5 1/2 x 3 1/2 patterned paper.
4. Adhere all pieces together and sew straight stitch around edges.
5. Tie ribbon
6. Adhere flowers
7. Stamp sentiment, cut out and adhere with Pop Dots.

Supplies Used:

Cardstock: Neenah Classic Crest "Solar White"

Patterned Paper: My Mind's Eye: 6 x 6 Paper Pad "Tickled Pink"

Ink: Ranger: Archival Ink "Coffee"

Fiber: Papertrey Ink: Twill Ribbon "Berry Sorbet"

Embellishments: Prima Marketing "Flowers"

Other Tools: Sewing Maching, Fiskars Edger Punch

Metal Label Birthday Card

Happy Thanksgiving.  I hope everyone is enjoying this time to reflect on all that we are thankful for, as well as time with family, friends, food and even football or hunting if those hobbies are your "thing" too. 

If you stopped by here yesterday, you know that I actually pre-scheduled this (one of several I wrote for this week) post to display some cards I created earlier in honor of my oldest daughter's birthday.  

Before I forget too...I hope by now you have also had a chance to participate in our First Annual Thanksgiving Blog Hop at Papercraft Star.  If not, please stop by for a chance to win a $25.00 gift certificate from My Favorite Things... our generous sponsor for this special event.

This card combines some of my favorite colors with the gorgeous Sassafras Indie Girl patterned paper.  I also used something new that I've not tried on a card before... a metal label.  I purchased the metal labels at Meijer here in my town. Because we don't have any official scrapbooking stores in our town, I am always tickled pink when I find something in the craft sections at our local stores that I really like and want to try out.  Trust me, this photograph doesn't do the glittery metal label justice... it is so pretty!

Okay now, don't forget to leave plenty of room for dessert! Happiest of Thanksgiving to You!

Instructions: 

1. Cut card base from cream cardstock at 4 1/4 x 5 1/2
2. Cut patterned paper the same size as the card base.
3. Ink all edge with Scattered Straw
4. Tie Ribbon
5. Thread button twin through know of ribbon and tie into bow
6. Cut cardstock to fit behind fram and stamp sentiment
7. Adhere to back of frame with tape
8. Adhere frame to patterned paper with brads
9. Adhere to card front.

Supplies Used
Cardstock: Papertrey Ink: "Vintage Cream"
Patterned Paper: Sassafras Wee Bundle "Indi Girl"
Ink: Ranger: Tim Holtz Distress Ink "Scattered Straw", Ranger: Archival Ink "Coffee"
Fiber: Papertrey Ink: Twill Ribbon "Hawaiian Shores", Rustic Button Twine "Cream"
Stamps: Papertrey Ink: "Delightful Dahlia" (sentiment)
Embellishments: Making Memories: Label Holder "Antique Silver"

Celebrate Today Birthday Card

Greetings to you My Friends!  I hope that everyone is enjoying this beautiful Thanksgiving Week!  If you haven't yet checked out the Papercraft Star First Annual Thanksgiving Week Blog Hop, then what are you waiting for I must ask...as there are prizes to be won and inspiration to be found.  Go here to check it out. As soon as you are done though, but sure to come back and check this out...

One of the things that I am thankful for at this time of year (and all year long for that matter), is the birth of my amazing, beautiful and charming first-born daughter, Erin Louise.  She turned 28 years old recently and so naturally, I had to create some birthday cards to honor her birth.  I'll be sharing the cards I made for her during the rest of this holiday week.   (Pre-scheduling this week's posts with cards I made previously is how I make it APPEAR that I am still hard at work creating pretty paper projects to share on my blog, when in reality I am actually sitting on my butt eating turkey and other fine tasty treats, while Blogger is doing the work for me after the fact!) Ah, technology is grand.

This is yet another card of mine that was inspired by Ashley Newell, if she had any idea at all how much I stalk her blog, she'd probably be getting a Restraining Order against me... so we'll just keep this information on the down-low. :-) At any rate, I loved how Ashley combined the various ribbon and textures at the bottom of her card and wanted to re-create that feminine look on my own card. My oldest daughter is a real girly-girl and this card reflects that quite well if I do say so myself.

Instructions:

1. Cut base of card from cream cardstock at 4 1/4 x 5 1/2.
2. Ink edges of card base with silver marker (I have no idea why it doesn't show up in the photos..but trust me, it's there).
3. Cut patterned paper at 4 x 4 1/2 adhere to card base.
4. Die cut eyelet strip from pink cardstock  4 1/2 inches long and adhere to card front.
5. Tie ribbons and cording around card base as shown.
6. Die cut label and stamp frame with pink ink.
7. Stamp sentiment on label and adhere to card front with Pop Dots.
8. Adhere flower and pearls.

Tip: Cut 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 piece of cream cardstock and adhere to inside of card to cover ribbon.

Supplies Used:

Cardstock: Papertrey Ink: "Vintage Cream", and "Sweet Blush"
Patterned Paper: My Mind's Eye: Fine and Dandy 6 x 6 "Tickled Pink"
Stamps: Papertrey Ink: "Mixed Messages", "Delightful Dahlia" and "Vintage Labels"
Ink: VersaMark: "Pixie Dust", Ranger: Archival Ink "Coffee"
Fiber: Papertrey Ink: Twill Ribbon "Sweet Blush", American Crafts: Premium Ribbon "Greeting", Wrights" 1/8 " cording "White"
Embellishments: KaiserCraft: "Pearls", Prima Marketing: "Love Letter Roses",
Other Tools: Spellbinders: Nestabilities "Labels One", Papertrey Ink: Die Cut "Eyelet", Plaid: All Night Long "Pop Dots", Marvy: DecoColor Paint Marker "Silver"

Kraft Holiday Challenge - Win Big!

You don't want to miss this Kraft Journal Holiday Challenge or a chance to win cash to spend at the Kraft Outlet either!  The challenge is accepting all holiday inspired projects created within the last month that include Kraft cardstock.  Here is the link to check it out for yourself!

Sketches in Thyme Card Challenge!

This is it! The first ever Sketches in Thyme Card Challenge!  I can't wait until you see all the new Card Maven's reveals for this week... FABULOUS!  Super cool too is that all of us Mavens had the pleasure of working with some awesome Digi Stamps (you don't have to use digi's to play along though!) from Delicious Doodles our sponsor for this month! But, I'm getting ahead of myself here... so before I go further... let me show you the super fun sketch you'll be using for this week's challenge...

This sketch was great fun to work with and I selected the adorable "Poinsettia Corner" digi stamp from Delicious Doodles to make my very first holiday card of the year!

I printed the Delicious Doodles stamp out four different times on my printer and then colored them up with my Copic Markers.  Then I cut them apart (eek) and put them all back together with a Pop Dot here and Pop Dot there (here a dot there a dot everywhere a dot, dot... sorry, I couldn't help myself)...  Here's a closer look so you get what I mean...

See what I mean... lots of layers... a big fat gorgeous Poinsettia from one cute - cute digi stamp!  I added some additional dimension to the project by using Mod Podge Dimensional Magic on the berries and the center of the Poinsettia.

At first I was going to attempt to fussy cut the Poinsettia, leaves and flourish... but then I remembered that my scissor skills are about as technically advanced as my three-year old grandsons... so I decided to just cut it all out enough to let it lift up off the page a bit.  (as it is, you shouldn't look too closely at my cutting work... gak!).

At any rate, I really want you to join us in our challenge over at Sketches in Thyme and you just GOTTA SEE all the other Maven reveals over there... REALLY.... so go forth to the blog!  We can't wait to see what you create with this super cute sketch too... so, I hope you join us!

Sponsor Supplies: Delicious Doodles: Digi Stamp "Poinsettia Corner"

Other Supplies Used:

Cardstock: Neenah: "Classic Crest Solar White"

Patterned Paper: Memory Box: "Mistletoe 6 x 6 Collection"

Stamps: Hero Arts: "MerryChristmas Trees"

Ink: Tsukineko: Memento "Tuxedo Black", "VersaMark Watermark Stamp Pad"

Fibers: Papertrey Ink: Twill Ribbon "Pine Feather"

Other Tools: Plaid: Modge Podge: "Dimensional Magic", "Pop Dots", Ranger: Emossing Powder "Clear", Copic: Copic Markers, Spellbinders: Nestabilities: Large Circles and Scallops, Liquid Gold Pen

First Annual Papercraft Star Thankgiving Week Blog Hop

Welcome to the First Annual Papercraft Star Thanksgiving Blog Hop Week sponsored by My Favorite Things. Our Designers have come together to celebrate this special holiday by creating projects inspired by Thanksgiving and all that we are thankful for in our lives, including you!

You should have arrived here from Jennifer's blog.  If not, please go to Papercraft Star to start from the very beginning of the hop, because you don't want to miss a single thing and to be eligible for the Grand Prize you must comment on all the blogs.  Not to mention that many of us are also offering prizes at the blog stops as well.

During this special week of Thanksgiving we hope that you'll find a wealth of inspiration among the beautiful projects our Designers have created especially for you! To add to the fun, we've got fabulous prizes along the way at many of our Designer's blogs and you'll be entered to win our fantastic $25.00 Gift Certificate by our generous sponsor My Favorite Things, if you visit every blog and leave a comment with all of our Designers! You have until midnight (Eastern Time) on Saturday November 27, 2010 to leave all your comments and be entered to win the Grand Prize. We'll draw the winners of the prizes and announce them beginning Sunday November 28, 2010.

This is the first time in more years than I can count that we'll get together with extended family in my hometown to celebrate Thanksgiving. My Aunt Sally is hosting the event for our family and I decided to create a small Hostess gift for her as a way of showing my appreciation for her efforts to ensure we could all celebrate together this year. As my way of thanking her, I'll present this bottle of sparkling wine and thank you card to her on Thanksgiving Day. I created the bottle wrap in a snap with my Cricut and the Plantin Schoolbook Cartridge, and used matching products to create both the thank you card and envelope as well.

Please note: Some crafters have asked me how I created the bottle wrap with my Cricut. It was so easy with instructions I found in the November 2009 issue of CardMaker magazine. I have re-typed those instructions from the magazine for you right here just in case you don't happen to have that back issue you can refer to. The design is by Kimber McGray. Thank you Kimber! If you would like to create your bottle wrap... here is a mini-tutorial that I made to get you started...

I also plan to cook up some favorite family dishes to pass at the dinner as well. 

My Aunt isn't the only one I want to thank this holiday season however, I also want to thank you! So, in addition to having the opportunity to win the Grand Prize (as well as prizes along the hop), I am offering a $15.00 gift certificate to one follower who comments here at Runs With Scraps during the hop. For a chance to win this randomly selected prize, just make sure you are a follower of Runs with Scraps and leave me a comment before the end of the week! I'll draw a winner on Sunday November 28 and announce the winner soon after.

I do so hope you enjoy the hop! Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours and thank you again for joining us for the Papercraft Star Thanksgiving Week Blog Hop, your next stop on the hop is Catherine.

Sparkling Wine Bottle Wrap - Mini Tutorial

For the First Annual Papercraft Star Thanksgiving Blog Hop, I featured this Hostess Gift project that I created.  Some crafters have asked me how I created the bottle wrap with my Cricut. It was so easy with instructions I found in the November 2009 issue of CardMaker magazine.

I have re-typed those instructions from the magazine right here for you, just in case you don't happen to have that back issue you can refer to.  The design is by Kimber McGray. Thank you Kimber!

Bottle Wrap on the Cricut

Using Plantin SchoolBook cartridge, cut scalloped bottle wrap. To cut bottle wrap, load a 5 x12 inch piece of patterned paper into cutter. Select 4-inch dial on right side. Push "End Caps Shadow" button, followed by "Scallop image" button. Press "Cut." Note: Do not unload paper yet.

With the "End Caps Shadow" button still selected, Push "Space" button eight times. Push "Shift" button. Push "tag image" button. Note: The screen should say tag right. Press "Cut." Unload paper.

Place adhesive on straight end of bottle wrap to cover bottle. Adhere pearls.

More Information:

Again thanks to CardMaker Magazine and Kimber McGray for those directions (please note I did change a few words here and there).  Alternately, if you don't happen to own a Cricut or that cartridge, you could very easily just cut a scallop edge and glue it to the end of a piece of 5 x 12" paper. I have to say however that the advantage to using your Cricut for this cut is that the scallop ends up matching perfectly with the width of the paper (no partial scallops).

This bottle also had a band around the neck that didn't go well with the paper or theme, so I opted to cover that in strips of Summer Sunrise Ribbon from Papertrey Ink. (I hot glued each strip and lined them up neatly in back so it looked nice... sorry no photo).  I created the hang tag using Papertrey Ink's Limitless Labels die cuts and the stamp is from their 2009 Fall Tag collection. Paper is October Afternoon's Thrift Shop Collection. I also created a matching card and envelope for this project.

Better Living Through Scrapbooking November Challenge 3

This week at Better Living Thourgh Scrapbooking is the “Family Tradition” challenge. Create a layout about a family tradition, event, or something your family regularly does together that is not holiday related, then choose at least 2 of the following additions to your layout:

1. Use three or more photos from a family event, cropped to fit your page design.
2. Use paper or supplies on your page that are at least a year old.
3. Use the word “tradition” in the title of your page.
4. Use hidden journaling in your page design.”

To create this "Family Tradition" layout, I used three of the additions to the challenge. With my Cricut and the Potpourri Basket cartridge I created a card and envelope to hide my journal block. I used the word "tradition"in the title and I added more than three photographs to the project. By the way, those pretty little flourishes that I used to adorn the layout are cut from the Potpourri Basket

On the journal block I handwrote a note for my daughters which basically told them how much it means to me that they have kept up the tradition of taking family photographs at beautiful Bertha Brock Park here in our hometown. Every year while they were growing up, I would take them there to take pictures of them together. Now, they go there on their own to take photographs and then give the pictures they take to me as gifts. 

This close up of the layout highlights the beautiful buttons I used from our sponsor Charlene's Button Box.  To learn more about her and our other sponsors, Plaid and Discount Cardstock, as well as see the rest of the Design Team reveals for this challenge be sure to visit Better Living Through Scrapbooking and don't forget to join us for the challenge too!


Sponsor Supplies Used:

Cardstock: Discount Cardstock "Clove Felt 12x12”
Embellishments: Charlene’s Button Box: Painted Buttons
Adhesives: Plaid: All Night Media “Pop Dots”

Additional Supplies Used:
Patterned Paper: Bo Bunny: Back to Backs “Calypso Hope, Calypso Dream”
Embellishments: Dear Lizzy & American Crafts: Thickers Foam Stickers “White”, Papertrey Ink: Rustic Cream Button Twine
Other Tools: ProvoCraft: Cricut Expression and Potpourri Basket Cartridge (Envelope, Card and Flourishes)

Cocoa Sliders Tutorial featuring Discount Cardstock



This little holiday Cocoa Slider is so easy to create and such a nice gift idea too.  My inspiration to create this slider came from Kerry's Papercrafts Blog, she has a fabulous video tutorial right here. 

Here are the supplies you need to get started making your own Cocoa Slider with the ultra pretty embossed Holly Blizzard Lily White and Really Red cardstock from Discount Cardstock.

1- sheet of Really Red cardstock cut to 7 3/4 x 5 1/4 inches, scored at 3 5/8 and 1/2 inch

1- sheet of Holly Blizzard Lily White cardstock cut to 7 3/4 x 4 1/2 inches, scored at 3 5/8 and 1/2 inch

Enough 1/4 inch ribbon to hold Cocoa in slider and tie into bow

1- 2 inch scallop circle punched from Really Red cardstock

1 - 1 3/4 inch circle punched from Holly Blizzard Lily White cardstock
Tools: Papertrimmer, Scoreboard, Hole Punch, Adhesive Tape

Step One: Adhere Holly Blizzard Lily White cardstock to Really Read Cardstock lining up score marks.

Step Two:  Fold at score marks. Adhere 1/2 inch scored part of cardstock to inside of flap creating a pocket.

Step Three: Punch hole toward top of slider through both sides. Loop ribbon around one package of Cocoa mix (the long side) and slide down into cardstock slider (the loop at the bottom will hold the Cocoa in the slider. (The photo below shows how the loop will hold the Cocoa in.)

Optional Step:  Remove curious cat's claws from ribbon and place cat gently on floor. Continue working.

Step Four: Stamp Sentiment (I used Papertrey Ink's 2008 Holiday Tag stamp set) on Holly Blizzard Lily White circle punch and adhere to Really Red cardstock 2 inch scallop punch.  Adhere to front of slider.

Step Five: Pull Cocoa package up tight into slider with ribbon. Tie ribbon in bow. Gift as a super cute and easy holiday gift!

Magnet Clothespin Tutorial with Discount Cardstock and Plaid

Here is a little tutorial on how to create these super easy and inexpensive clothespin magnets, using Discount Cardstock's beautifully embossed Holly Blizzard Lily White cardstock. These make great holiday gifts and I'm even going to show you how to make a cute (and easy) bag for gift-giving.

To begin you'll need the following supplies:

1 - 12 x 12 sheet of Discount Cardstock "Holly Blizzard Lily White"
1 - 12 x 12 sheet of Discount Cardstock "Brilliant White 80#"
1 - 12 x 12 sheet of Discount Cardstock "Really Red"
1 - 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of Discount Cardstock "Magnecote Sheet"
Plaid: Mod Podge: Matte
White Ribbon 1/4 inch
Clothespins (I used 7 in this project)
1 - 5 x 7 (approximate) Glassine Bag
Stamps for sentiment (I used Papertrey Ink: 2008 Holiday Tag Collection)
StazOn: Black Ink

Tools Used:

Hot Glue Gun

Paint Brush

1 3/4 inch Circle Punch

2 inch Scallop Punch

Papertrimmer

Ruler
Stapler

(I also used the Ultimate Crafters Companion to tie by bows)

Step 1:  Measure clothespins front (or back) length and width. Cut 1 strip each of Holly Blizzard paper and Magnacote Sheet using those measurements as your guide.

Step 2: Adhere Magnacote (magnet side up) to one side of each pin with Mod Podge, being careful not to get it on the magnet side (black side) of the product.  Let Dry.

Step 3: Repeat Step 2 with strips of Holly Blizzard paper and let dry.

Step 4: Hand tie a bow for each clothespin. (I used the Ultimate Crafter's Companion to help me tie perfect little bows).

Step 5:  Adhere bows to clothespins using hot glue gun. (These magnets are going to look great holding holiday cards on the fridge!).

Step 6: Create embellishment for gift packaging by punching a 2 inch scallop circle from Discount Cardstock's Really Red 12 x 12 cardstock and punching a 1 3/4 inch circle from the Holly Blizzard paper. Stamp Holly Blizzaard paper with sentiment (I used the Papertrey Ink stamp set) and adhere to Really Red scallop punch.

Step 7: Put decorated clothespin in glassine bag, fold top of bag over and staple shut. Adhere Sentiment to bag over staple with adhesive tape.



The Snooze Seat

In most households...this particular piece of furniture is called a "Love Seat"....but at this house...

...it' a Snooze Seat.

After my grandson woke up from his nap yesterday afternoon I didn't get around to taking care of the blankets and pillows right away... and this is the result. :-)

Dies Direct Cheery Lynn Designs Design Team

Cheery Lynn Designs, a new division of Dies Direct has honored me with the opportunity to be a member of the Cheery Lynn Designs Design Team.  As part of the team, I'll be creating products using American made dies manufactured by Dies Direct. These dies are universal thin metal dies for table top papercrafting machines like the Big Shot, Cuttlebug, Epic and Wizard.  They also manufacture delicious embossing plates as well!

You can shop for dies at this link right here.  You can visit the Cheery Lynn Designs blog right here and browse fabulous products using dies and embossing plates at the gallery right here.

Meet the other talented Designers who joined the team for this term as well by visiting this link.

I am so looking forward to sharing my projects created with Dies Direct products right here at Runs With Scraps as well as on the Cheery Lynn Design Team blog!

Discount and Other Papercraft Star News

Have you been over to Papercraft Star recently? If not, now is the time to go!  We've got some exciting things going on this month that you won't want to miss out on one thing, including an exclusive 15 percent discount on all the products at the Kraft Outlet, Papercraft Star's Design Team sponsor for November/December.  (Just use voucher code STAR15 at checkout to get your discount). Learn more on this post right here and receive links to a fabulous Christmas Scrapbook Mini at that post as well!

Second, meet our new Design Team that begins December 1, 2010 by going right here.

Third, get up-to-date PCS plans for the new Design Team term and meet our regular Guest Designer for this term, Catherine Pooler by going right here.

I'm a Maven at Sketches in Thyme!

I'm so excited to share the news that I've been honored with the opportunity to be on the first ever team of Card Mavens at Sketches in Thyme! It's part of a whole new concept that founder of Sketches in Thyme, Kim has put together to add card challenges to the already popular layout sketch challenges that are offered each week at the blog!

Each week Sketches in Thyme will offer a scrapbook challenge AND a card challenge as well as provide you with fabulous tutorials and tips on Saturdays... how cool is that?!

To learn more about Sketches in Thyme and to meet all the Mavens... hop on over to the blog... we're waiting there for you! :-)

Better Living Through Scrapbooking November Newsletter Challenge

I hope you've had a chance to sign up for the Better Living Through Scrapbooking monthly Newsletter. If not hop on over to the Better Scrap website and sign up, you'll be glad you did! This month, as always, the newsletters is packed with fabulous tips, tutorials and a brand new challenge. 

If you hate growing older (or even if you don't), we want you to try to remember your birthdays for the good times you had. So this challenge is all about scrapping your favorite Birthday memory. To join our challenge all you have to do is create a layout about one of your favorite Birthday memories and then choose two of the following options to go along with the project:

1. Paint on your page using object other than brush (pencil eraser, q-tip, bubble wrap, etc)
2. Make an embellishment entirely from cardstock
3. Use multiple layers of cardstock for a photo mat - try ripping, using a border punch, die-cut machine, etc, for fun!
4. Journal on a shape
5. Use a very bright color palette - vibrant yellows, reds, blues, and greens!

For this challenge I combined photographs from the surprise birthday party my daughters planned for me when I turned 47 years old (back in 2008) with a fun layout featuring our sponsor's both Plaid and Discount Cardstock products.  I also used paint on the leaves of my flowers, dabbing it on with a squished-up paper towel, made the flower embellishments entirely from cardstock, and created multiple layered photo mats all on a bright color palette.

I cut the title from Cream Smooth cardstock using the Plantin Schoolbook cartridge and my Cricut Expression.

I created the die cut flower layers entirely from cardstock and dressed them up by stamping them with a variety of stamps from Plaid's All Night Media Ornamental Stamp Set in Coffee ink from Archival Ink. I gave them added dimension by rolling the leaves in different directions and popping them up with Plaid's Pop Dots. The leaves are hightlighted with Plaid's Extreme Glitter Paint (and when they say "extreme" they are not kidding... that paint has tons of glitter mixed in and goes on so smooth and pretty, even with a squished up paper towel).

I used the Ornamental Stamp set to highlight the journal block as well. I just can't seem to get enough of that samp set!

To see all the other fabulous Designer Reveals for this challenge be sure to visit the Better Scrap website and sign up for the monthly newsletter.

Sponsor Supplies Used:

Cardstock: Discount Cardstock "Cream Smooth #80 12 x 12”
Adhesives: Plaid: All Night Media “Pop Dots”
Paint: Plaid: Folk Art Extreme Glitter “Peridot”
Stamps: Plaid: All Night Media "Ornamental Rubber Stamp Set"

Additional Supplies Used:
Patterned Paper: Crate Paper: Restoration Collection “Slipcover”, "Ruffles", "Heirloom"
Ink: Ranger: Archival Ink “Coffee”
Stamps: Papertrey Ink: "Delightful Dahlia"
Embellishments: Crate Paper: Restoration Collection "Stickers"
Other Tools: Papertrey Ink: Die Cuts "Delightful Dahlia", "Beautiful Blooms II", Tattered Angels: Glimmer Mist "Dew Drop", Copic: Copic Marker "Y35", ProvoCraft: Cricut Expression and Plantin Schoolbook Cartridge, Dear Lizzy and American Crafts: Elements "Assorted Brads"

Better Living Through Scrapbooking November Challenge 2

At Better Living Through Scrapbooking, “The Greatest of These is Charity” is the challenge for this week.  One way to make your life better is through scrapbooking, another way is to do something nice for someone else. Scrap about something you do or have done for someone else. A loved one, a neighbor, a charity, etc. and then choose 2 of the following additions to add to your layout:

1. Print an element of your page (NOT a photo) using your home or office printer. This can be your title, your journaling, an embellishment, or anything else you can use on your page, but not a photo!
2. Use three brads somewhere on your page.
3. Use a chipboard letter or shape on your page.
4. Use the following quote somewhere on your page or in your journaling: “If you haven’t got any charity in your heart, you have the worst kind of heart trouble. — Bob Hope”

For this "Charity" layout I decided to scrap about our Raccoon Rehab facility. The photographs are from the first two orphaned litters we rescued this past spring through summer. For the additions to the challenge I also printed the journal block from our home printer, I used more than three brads on the page, and I used chipboard on the title.

I absolutely love Discount Cardstock's 12 x 12 Primary Red Vellum. It went perfectly with the Cosmo Cricut patterned paper and I love that it lets the patterned paper "peek-a-boo" through it.

The close-up shot of the layout below not only gives you a chance to see the beautiful bird button from our sponsor Charlene's Button Box, it also gives you a closer look at Bella (one of our rehabbed raccoons who broke her leg shortly after release and had to be rehabbed again unti she recovered) laying on a banana peel (one of her favorite treats was bananas).  Bella has since recovered and been returned to the wild.

And here is a close-up of the printed journal block. I highlighted the top and bottom of the block with a stamp from the Vintage Labels stamp set by Papertrey Ink.

To learn more about our sponsors, Charlene's Button Box, Plaid and Discount Cardstock and to see the other Design Team reveals for this challenge visit the Better Living through Scrapbooking website.  And don't forget to play along with us too!

Sponsor Supplies Used:
Cardstock: Discount Cardstock "Primary Red Vellum”Embellishments: Charlene’s Button Box: Birds
Adhesives: Plaid: All Night Media “Pop Dots”

Additional Supplies Used:
Cardstock: Papertrey Ink “Rich Linen”
Patterned Paper: Cosmo Cricut: Togetherness Collection
Ink: Ranger: Archival Ink “Coffee”
Stamps: Papertrey Ink: Vintage Labels
Embellishments: Papertrey Ink Grosgrain Ribbon: “Hawaiian Shores”, Prima Marketing: Flower, Papertrey Ink: “Hawaiian Shores Vintage Buttons”, Cosmo Cricut: Togetherness Collection Stickers, Zva Creative: Pearls
Other Tools: Spellbinders: “Nestabilities Classic Scallop Circles Large and Circles Large”, brads and glitter chipboard from my stash.