Summer Focus Blog Hop with Stampers with an Attitude

Welcome to this month's Stampers with an Attitude Blog Hop with a focus on "Summer".  I love, love, love summer for various reasons (I am an Educator by trade - LOL).  It does provide an opportunity for me to spend my evenings and weekends as I choose (or so that is how it is supposed to work - LOL.

If you are coming from Catherine's Blog, you are on the right track!  This blog is a circle with 12 Consultants participating.  Continue to move through the hop by clicking on the link towards the end of this post or you can find a complete list of participating Consultants at the bottom.

I purchased this wooden frame a few month's ago at WM.  I strolled through the arts and crafts area and found them on sale.  I think I spent $2.50 for it.  Well, I decided to dig it out and figured no current paper packet screams summer to me more than Lollydoodle.  (I am sure you are not surprised that was my choice.)  It was super easy to decorate and I can see making these, using scraps (that is all you need) for various gifts.  

Here are some closeup shots of the individual frames.  I used various products to decorate them up a tad.  I have not decided what photos I want to put inside the frames but I think it will be cute decor when I move into my new office in August.  

Now, hop on over to Denise's Blog where you become inspired by her fabulous creation.  Do not forget to leave me a comment, if you so feel led.

1. Denise Elliott ~ http://www.inspiredbyd.blogspot.com 
2. Melinda Everitt ~ http://www.ifyoublingit.blogspot.com
3. Fawn Carriker ~ http://photofunwithFawn.wordpress.com
4. Sheila Bennett ~ http://sheila-bennett.blogspot.com
5. Hilary Reynolds ~ http://stampcraftyreader.blogspot.com/
6. Barbi Kelley ~ http://barbispapercreations.blogspot.com/
7. Jen Patrick~ http://roxybonds-scrappin.blogspot.com/
8. Jaime Llewellyn ~ http://jaimellewellyn.blogspot.com
9. Kat Ancheta- http://creat-w-kat.com
10. Di Crawford ~ http://scrapwithdi.blogspot.com/
11. Catherine Nowak ~ http://catscrapbooking.com/
12. Melissa Robinson ~ http://mlisrobinson.blogspot.com

Happy hoppin'!

Heartfelt Sentiments Team Paper Packet Focus Blog Hop

Happy, happy June and thank you for joining us for this month's blog hop featuring the Lollydoodle paper packet - my favorite, of course!  Several team members have agreed to share their artwork made with this paper packet.  I am sure you will love what they have in store for you.

This hop is a circle so feel free to continue to move through the links provided in each post or here is a list of the participants should you get lost along the way.

1. Melissa Robinson - http://mlisrobinson.blogspot.com
2. Tonya Whitehurst - http://heartandsoulscrappers.blogspot.com
3. Joy McHargue- http://www.studiowowjoy.com
4. Debi Barber - http://debiistheothersister.blogspot.com 
5. Judy Faye Garner - http://judyfaye.blogspot.com
6. Marianne Hancock - http://thescrapbookchick.blogspot.com/

If you are coming from Marianne's Blog, you are on the right track!

In trying to decide what I wanted to design for the hop, I came across this trinket/jewelry box that I have owned for...awhile.  LOL  I will refrain from saying how long but I thought, "Ooh!  I can decorate that!"

The "Wise beyond your years" title is a sticker that coordinates with the paper packet.  The brown, leaf border is a zip strip that is cut from one end of our 12" x 12" B&T papers.  And, I took some cute floral paper and cut out the leaves and various flowers to use them as embellishments.  I had taken out some extra "goodies" to include in my design, but decided against using them, feeling this design was enough.  I was pleased with the results.  Is it wrong to gift it to myself?  :)  I can think of plenty of uses for it and you know I LOVE this paper!  LOL

Here is an additional photo so you can see the dimension of this box.  (You can find these at various craft stores for a reasonable price.)  They definitely make great gifts!

Thank you for stopping by and please consider leaving a comment.  Now, hop on over Tonya's Blog to see what CUTE creation she has designed to share with you!

Happy hoppin'!

Happy Hello!

The Lollydoodle cardmaking kit, which costs just $24.95, includes enough materials to make 15 fresh and fun cards like these!  Aren't they too fun?!

Click on the image for an enlarged photo

The kit includes the items shown below and full instructions - a kit too good to pass up!

Click on the image for an enlarged photo

We offer several Workshops on the Go, card or scrapbook focused, which are priced lower than if you were to buy the items separately plus, they include an exclusive stamp set not available otherwise.  You can find a link to those items by click here.  Let me know which one you would like on your next order!

Lollydoodle Wreath

Soo...I must admit I started a wreath for Christmas and...yeah...I never finished it. There was something about it that just did not have me motivated to do so.  I think it was because it was my first and I did not realize how putting forth a little more effort would make it more full and beautiful.

Well, I gave the wreath another try.  It was one of our projects at the retreat I attended over a week ago.  It was decorated in a different way than the first and I think I prefer this method better.

We simply cut 1/2" x 6" strips - I used approximately 5 sheets of B&T paper.  We made "loops" - actually we made two loops using two different patterns of paper, poked the stick pin through the ends (to make it stay as a loop) and then separated them before sticking them in the foam wreath.  (One of the girls there had an epiphany and this worked easier and faster.)  I worked on my wreath while enjoying the conversations in the room so I think it helped me just kind of go with the flow.  This is a great task for while watching tv with your family.

I love how it turned out.  Maybe it is because it is made out of Lollydoodle paper.  :)  Because of the looping technique used, you can actually use cardstock for some of your loops.  (I was not able to use loops with the other process I tried because it is too coarse.)  One of the girls at the retreat did add cardstock into her wreath and it looked beautiful!

If you have any questions about this process, please let me know.  I have this wreath hanging proudly in my studio.  Happy creatin'!

10-Minute Card Challenge

I took the day off yesterday to relax.  Today, I spent my time cleaning (with a little relaxation thrown in).  Tomorrow I plan on sorting through some things in my scrap room and creating some items for a blog hop that I will both host and participate in which will go live on the 5th.

In attending the retreat this past weekend, the final activity was a challenge.  We were provided with some limited supplies and all we could add in was ink and adhesive.  Of course, we could use our paper trimmer but that was it!  It was fun and I was pleased with what I came up with.

The other creations were pretty fun.  It was fun to see the various ideas with limited supplies and we were only given 10-minutes in which to create the card.  

I love the saying I included on this card and try to remind myself of it daily.  I hope you do the same.

Happy Tuesday!  (No foolin'!)

Present Box

One of the fun things I enjoy about hosting/attending retreats are the fun gift exchanges.  I had a gift to give my secret sister which needed a fun package.  I have made boxes before but sought out to search for a new pattern and this is what I found.  Isn't it cute?!

It opens up as shown below so I made the "strap" and bow detachable where it would just slide off and could be replaced easily.  The Present Box tutorial can be found here.  

I have made paper bows before, but it has been awhile, so as I searched online for a tutorial, I found one that was a little different.  I decided to give it a try and liked the result.  This bow is a little more full than the the ones I have made before.  You can find the Bow tutorial here.

Packaging a gift in a fun and attractive way adds more value to the gift.  Gotta love when you can make it out of supplies you currently own.  Give these patterns a try and let me know what you think!

Lollydoodle Frame

I thoroughly enjoyed my friends and fellow scrappers last weekend.  I am sure missing the fun girly time and late nights.  I do not like that our retreat only happens once a year but I will take it.  It is better than zero times a year, right?

I was productive and maybe will have some time to share my creations with you this weekend.  Real work took over upon my return so gotta love fun "work" when I can play with CUTE products that results in FUN creations!

One of my downline, Lisa Lawson, gave me this cute frame with the challenge to decorate it.  As soon as she did, I knew I had to use our new Lollydoodle paper packet and stinkin' cute stickease.  I love how it came out and will be putting some photos in it of my husband and I.  (I will share that photo when I decide ones I want to use.)

It has been a long week so I hope to enjoy a little bit of sleeping in tomorrow morning and some papercrafting the rest of the day!  Enjoy your weekend!

Stampers with an Attitude - Shimmer, Sparkle and Shine Blog Hop

Welcome to the Stampers with an Attitude Blog Hop!  The Stampers with an Attitude team members, with Close To My Heart, are excited to showcase some artwork entitled "Shimmer, Sparkle, and Shine".  The hop is one big circle so feel free to continue through following the links.  The blogger in front of me is LaJeania at Scrap 'Til You Drop so if you came from there you are on the right track!

My interpretation of "Shimmer, Sparkle and Shine" had to include bling!  Here is a close-up of the focal point on my creation.  I included our Sparkles Flourishes and trimmed them to fit the area that I had allowed for them on the piece of Cocoa cardstock.  I used some retired items for the owl's eyes and you'll see below, in the other pictures, that I have also included two Aqua Dots. 

I created this for the cover of a composition book.  It is awesome how easily these can come together for a special gift or for note-taking purposes for yourself.  

Click on the image for a larger view.

I love, love, love this paper packet called "Lollydoodle".  How can it not put a smile on someone's face?!  I am absolutely fond of the BRIGHT colors and GORGEOUS images!  I already know it will be a paper packet that I wear out!  Well..it makes me happy so why not, right?!

This is a close-up of the focal point of the book.

 I truly appreciate you stopping by and joining us on this hop.  You are in for a treat when you check out what other artwork the participants have in store for you.  Please consider leaving a comment and head on over to Keeley's Creations to view her fabulous creation!  I know you'll love our new products just as much as we do!

Take the time to shine!