Happy Thanksgiving!

I have a quick post to share with you tonight as I wait for my Apple Crumb Cake to finish baking in the oven. Last weekend, I felt crafty but with my scraproom literally spread out on the dining room table as Sal worked to finish up our office renovation, I just didn't have the space to scrapbook. So, inspired by a challenge over on the Hero Arts blog, I created Thanksgiving place cards out of scraps and trimmings. So glad I did because I haven't had a spare moment since. Here is my place card:

I cut out and embossed the basic shape using my Cuttlebug and the largest shape from Nestabilities' Label 1. (My arm got quite a workout since we will be 12 for Thanksgiving dinner. LOL!) Next, I stamped the wood grain image and used distress ink to fill in the background. On the rust scrap, I used stamped the Dots & Flowers backgroundwith Versamark ink, sprinkled with clear embossing powder and heat embossed before punching out the flower shape. I punched out the leaves as well as the scallops on the stripe paper, assembled and added to the main place card with pop dots. I can't wait to see how they look on my table!

Hope you all have a happy Thanksgiving.

Supplies: Card stock: Stampin' Up!. Patterned Paper: Memory Makers (Autumn Splendor). Stamps: Hero Arts (Designer Woodgrain; Dots & Flowers). Ink: Stampin' Up!; Tim Holtz Distress Ink. Punches: Stampin' Up! (Scallop); Martha Stewart (leaf); EK Success (flower). Diecut: Spellbinders (Nestabilities Labels 1); Button and twine from stash.

Once in a Century!

So what were you doing on July 8, 2009 at 10:11 a.m.? While reading various blogs this past summer, I saw a lot of scrappers preparing pages for this once-in-a-lifetime moment and decided to join in the fun. After all, what better way was there for me to tell the story of what Mark and Melissa did this past summer. So I took pictures (well actually I had Mark and Melissa reenact the moment) but sadly didn't get to the layout for a while. Finally, here's my layout called "07-08-09 @ 10:11":

First, can I just say that having a title with all numbers is a great way to use up some of your sticker stash. LOL!

Here are some details about the layout. I knew that I wanted to journal on this layout but I didn't want a strong journaling block so instead, I used the Jenni Bowlin tickets. The journaling reads: "It only happens once each century. Melissa was at field hockey camp & Mark was training for East Meadow High Cross Country."

I added texture to the layout by running the blue medallion paper through my Cuttlebug using a Swiss Dot embossing folder. I then lightly sanded the paper to make the dots pop. I used the Pink Paislee arrow sticker and added a Making Memories tiny alpha "w" to mark that this date happened on a Wednesday. I then added more tiny alphas to the top of the arrow to create my "Where Were You?" subtitle.

I added doodled rub-ons and some lines with a white gel pen to add a little touch of whimsy.

My visual triangle was completed by the "LIVE" Bingo card. I was thrilled that numbers 7 through 11 were on the card so I highlighted them with a stamp as if I was playing Bingo!

Melissa pointed out to me that I could do another layout like this next year on August 9th at 11:12 a.m. I just might do that!

Supplies

Patterned Paper: Pink Paislee (Captivating); Basic Grey (Recess)

Stamps: Technique Tuesday (Rounds Medium) -- back used to stamp Bingo card

Ink: Stampin' Up!; White Signo pen

Chipboard: Basic Grey (Offbeat)

Stickers: Pink Paislee (Captivating and Enchanting); Making Memories (Chloe's Closet Tiny Alphas)

Embellishements: Pink Paislee flower; Jenni Bowlin tickets and Bingo card;

Rub-ons: K&Company (Urban Rhapsody)

Tools: Cuttlebug (Swiss Dot embossing folder)

Discover

My computer crashed. Yes, we saw the dreaded blue screen that signifies the death of all things Dell. And, although Sal has been able to perform CPR in the past, this time our hard drive could not be saved. For me, being without the Internet is almost as bad as being without chocolate or reality tv. But, I'm finally back, typing on a new keyboard and seeing the world on a wide-screen monitor.

Since you've had to wait for nearly a month for a post, I thought I would start with one of my favorite new layouts. Did you ever have a day where everything just went right? Well that's how I felt about creating this layout. It didn't hurt to have adorable pictures of my grandnephew for the subject. And, a recently organized scrap space (which was necessitated by excessive shopping at CKC) meant that so many embellishments found their way to the page instead of staying hidden in a bag for months until the glue on this layout had dried and I could declare, "This would have been perfect, if I just had remembered that I bought it!" LOL! Anyway, here is my layout.

I am so proud of myself for using five (you can count them!) different patterned papers and on this layout. (for those of you who are counting, the green dot is actually part a stripe on the ruler paper.) Talk about using up my stash!

Okay. Let me walk you through the layout. I featured papers and embellishments from the Chloe's Closet line from Making Memories which I had scored on clearance at Michael's this summer. I inked the edges of the papers on my main photo block. I made my own custom die-cut piece by tracing the scalloped edge of another piece of patterned paper which didn't match my layout onto the blue grid paper. I then added a subhead using tiny alphas.

Next, I cut out my title using my Cricut. For extra texture, I "pleated" my ribbon using staples to hold down the first fold and glue dots to hold down the top one.

I wanted to to emphasize Thomas' age (5 months) with the ruler paper. After a few trials and a little help from a friend, I punched the number five out of the paper, glued it on a button and affixed that to the center of my flower. My adoration of the Martha Stewart butterfly punch continues, but I wanted to change it up a bit. I had some floss left on my craft table from another project so I wrapped that around the butterfly to form the body and antennae. Oh, and one more thing for you to notice: I used my Janome Sew Mini on a layout for the first time. I love the extra texture the stitches give to the layout!

To finish up my visual triangle, I added a cluster of flowers and and chipboard buttons, the date, a stick pin with beads and, for a touch of whimsy, the acetate frog.

Supplies: Cardstock: American Crafts; Patterned Paper, buttons, flowers, stickers: Making Memories (Chloe's Closet); Punches: Stampin Up! Circle and Scallop; Chipboard: K&Company (Wild Saffron); Acetate frog: Colorbok (Friendly Forest); Paper Pin: Around the Block; Ink: Colorbox chalk ink; misc beads from stash.