Happy New Year!!!!

Happy New Year! How is it already 2008?

Do you set New Year's Resolutions? I normally don't, but this year I have set some new goals for myself and in honor of the New Year, I created a new daily journal to start off the year right for tomorrow. For those of you that have never seen these before, this is a little notebook from Target that I have altered to keep track of my daily to-do lists and starting tomorrow, it will also keep track of my crafty endeavors. You can see my prior months' books here and here.

So, I know that you are just dying to know what my New Year's Resolutions (not! LOL!!), but I am going to share them with you because I need you to help keep me accountable. :)

My goals are:

*check off the majority of my to-do list everyday

*do something creative everyday

*list my gratitude daily (I will blog more about this one tomorrow)

*submit in the US with a goal of being pubbed in Cards and in PaperCrafts this year

*use my supplies that I already have

I think that is all, but it seems like I am forgetting something so I may add to the list later...

And now a quick share...this is a layout that I did this afternoon. It's pretty basic. I have the hardest time creating layouts on these papers that I hate to cover. Sometimes I just think that I should just frame the paper and forget using it for a layout. LOL! The paper here is Urban Lily. The embellishments are a mix of Prima, chipboard, and snowflakes that I can't remember where they came from...

Happy New Year! I will be back tomorrow with more to share!

smiles,

christi

So Blessed...

I did this layout for a Rusty Pickle challenge over on Create My Keepsake.

Okay, this layout is stretching a bit for the theme of the challenge which was to do a layout celebrating a holiday. I just love that in this photo that DD is in her 4th of July/patriotic dress and that DH is in his uniform. So even though the photo wasn't actually taken on the 4th, it is a very patriotic layout.

Absolutely everything on the layout is the Rusty Pickle Mayflower line except for the lace, 7gypsies photo turn, and the Bazzill scalloped cardstock. The quote strip across the top says, "This nation will remain the land of the free only as long as it is the home of the brave." This quote rings so true right now as my heart aches knowing that we are about to send him to Iraq (in a month) and that he is going to miss her 1st birthday. But he does his job to help secure her future in this country...Thanks for looking!

You're a VERY bad scrapbooker when...

...you only have ONE picture for your daughter's first Christmas and it looks like this...

...and this is why I don't have many Christmas layouts. LOL!

Contrary to the visual proof (or lack thereof), we had a wonderful Christmas. At the last moment we ended up having a guest for the day which is the first time that I have had to do the Christmas thing with someone that I didn't know in the house. DH's 1st Sgt. had surgery Friday and no plans for Christmas day so we had him over for the day which was fine, but it definitely made the day more crazy for me trying to make sure that everything was perfect. And, of course, you know what that means. Because I was trying to make sure that everything was done just right, I had WAY more go wrong than normal. LOL! But as far as I know, no one ended up with food poisoning so I guess it was okay.

But I did end up with some cute photos from Christmas Eve...

and this has been pretty much our view of Jacob ever since Christmas (it rained all day yesterday, so there hasn't been much to do)...

And while we are talking visual proof here, can we revisit that horrible photo at the top? See those little short hairs at my temple? That is where my hair is growing back after it all fell out after Kat was born?!?!?! gotta love it.

Yesterday, we all just relaxed (well, actually DH went to work, but the rest of us relaxed) and I enjoyed the cleanliness of the house which meant no crafting for me, but today that changes. My craft stuff has to come back out and the messiness will reign once again. *sigh* One day, I will have a craft room again...

smiles,

christi

Happy Holidays from that Snow Guy!

This year for DH's squadron Christmas party, they wanted a baby photo of him for a game. This cute little photo has sat by my computer ever since so when I got an email from Valerie (got Sketch?) asking for Christmas cards using her card sketch, I was inspired to use this fun vintage photo. Again, this is a play on our last name, Snow.


Supplies used:
*Basic Grey papers
*Autumn Leaves Holiday stamp
*twill
*7 gypsies label

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

smiles,
christi

Believe in Magic...

Well, I told you all that I was going to do this class again and here is the result. I think that I love it even more than Jacob's version. And, yes, this class by Catherine Matthews-Scanlon is so easy to follow that this was easily done in less than 2 hours!!! I LOVE projects like that!!!

Supplies used:

*butterfly photo

*vintage photo

*Heidi Swapp chipboard butterflies and alpha

*MM Noteworthy paper

*misc. trims and buttons

*Bazzill crocheted flower

*Scenic Route letter stickers

*Fancy Pants alpha cards

*fairy stamps from the UK

*MME cards

If you have the chance over the next few weeks, I highly recommend heading over to Heart In Hand Scraps to check out the classes. They are REALLY inexpensive ($3-$7) and come totally complete with tons of photos and instructions. Very little thinking involved and sometimes it is just really nice to create that way. It is also a great idea for your kids if they need something to do over the holiday break...tons of projects that could be made for their rooms!!!

smiles,

christi

Final Christmas Crafting...

This was my final project for the holidays that I had to get finished. Just some bookmarks for DH to take on his deployment with photos of the kids. I figured that this was a good way for him to take them with him.

Now the debate is, when do I put all of my crafting stuff away? Since it now resides on the dining room table which is on the other side of my living room, it makes the whole house feel messy. I think that it will probably all go away sometime Sunday because I am just not sure that I can stand to let go of it until then. LOL! It's not like I am getting a whole lot done, but I always have high hopes and those are gone as soon as my supplies are gone from the room.

smiles,

christi

Final Christmas Cards...

Finally, my Christmas cards are done. This was my final design (I sent out about 5 different cards/variations.) This card is actually based on a layout sketch from the SketchThis site (#35).

Supplies used:

*MME papers

*Inkadinkadoo stamp (I don't know if you can see it on here, but it says "Snow Mail")

*bit of bling

A tip here for this card: that polkadot scalloped strip was actually part of the labeling on the paper. You know that bottom strip that has the info about the paper on it. I just cut off the parts that had writing on them. :)

In other news that I don't think that I have mentioned on here yet, little Miss Kat is crawling. Right now it looks like a battle crawl as she hasn't quite figured out how to get around on all hands and knees yet, but she is definitely all over the place. :)

smiles,

christi

Our Little Snow's

So, you have already seen a few of the photos from Kat's photo shoot yesterday, but when Jacob got home, I had to pull out the camera again. Instead of showing you just the photos though, I actually have the whole layout done...

For these layouts, I used a new sketch site (at least to me,) Sketch This. I have used several of Janelle's card sketches, but I have never used her layout sketches before. This first layout uses Sketch #36 and the December kit from Create My Keepsake. I have to admit, it is fun having a last name of Snow this time of the year...

This second layout was done using this week's sketch, Sketch #37. This layout features the Laurel line from Scenic Route, Making Memories glitter alphabet, some lace, a bit of Heidi Swapp bling, brads, and a 7 gypsies photo turn.

smiles,

Christi

Personalized Stationery...

First and foremost, if you haven't seen today's photos of Kat, you need to skip over this post and go down and take a look because she is just too cute and you need to see. ;) I love that little girl!

And now to the creative stuff...
Creative Prompt #14 from last week featured two fonts written over each other and I really loved the look that it achieved so I've been having fun playing with the fonts and creating stationery...

This first is a one version of our Christmas cards that (will someday soon!) be going out in the mail.

Then I created personalized stationery to go in everyone's stocking. shhhh, don't tell! (and I apologize for a couple of blurry photos on this!)

I left these all fairly plain besides the colors so that we can add to them based upon need/event that the card is needed. I will add either stamping, lines, or embossing to most of them.

We are still battling the lurgy around here. Mine has turned into full-fledged laryngitis which is really the pits. An odd side effect...because I can't talk, I am having the hardest time writing a lot of words either... so this is another short post for you!

I hope that you are hunkered down and staying out of the weather...

smiles,

christi

Santa Baby...

Photo shoot on the couch with Kat this morning. Isn't she just the cutest?

smiles,

Christi

My First Heart In Hands Project...

Good morning! How is everyone out there? All of you out in the midwest, I hope that you are staying warm!! I won't rub in the fact that it has been 80 degrees here for the last three days. I think that someone forgot to mention to the weatherman here in North Carolina that it is December, not May!?!?

Kat and I are both still sick...I swear that this is the neverending cold. She has had hers now for at least a week and a half, but you know, she is such a good baby. The only time she even gets fussy is when I lay her down and I honestly think that is because she can't breathe, but most the time she is happy as can be. I, on the other hand, feel like I have been run over by a truck and whine about it at every available opportunity. :)

In the midst of it all, I found time to do my first project over at Heart In Hands for the creative team. My job is to take assigned classes and remix them. My first was a gorgeous collage by Catherine Matthews Scanlon. As you all know, I have some difficulties putting together collages, but OMG! This class made it so easy!!! This entire project from start to finish took me less than 2 hours!!! I highly recommend these HHS classes esp. if you need a quick gift for this time of the year. It totally takes all that time commitment out of the creation process and when you need a gift in a hurry, these are perfect (and they are darn cute too!!!)

I am definitely creating another one of these for Kat. This one is for my 12 yo son, Jacob.

Supplies used:

*papers: Collage Press, Urban Lily
*tags: Making Memories, MME

*chipboard: Heidi Swapp

*punch: Whale of a Punch

*glitter paint: Jo Sonja's

*gaffer tape: 7 gypsies

smiles,

Christi

New stamps...

Have you heard of Kim Hughes? Chances are, you have seen her work in a magazine or two (or three or four or five...) I was lucky enough to be on a DT with Kim a couple of years ago and have been so excited since she started her blog and announced her stamp line that she creates through Cornish Heritage Farms. Her blog is awesome because she always has fantastic eye-candy, gives great tips, updates pretty much everyday, AND she has great giveaways.

I was lucky enough to win one of those giveaways. It was supposed to be a stamp set from her second release, but luck would have it (at least for me) that her third release (that's released TODAY!) arrived on her doorstep first. So guess what I have had... one of those gorgeous new stamp sets to play with. I was lucky to get to play with Bloomin' Beautiful for the last couple of weeks. :)

My supplies used on these cards are:

*Kim Hughes/CHF Bloomin' Beautiful stamp set

*Kim Hughes/CHF Scripty Words stamp set

*Kim Hughes/CHF Vases stamp set

*Collage Press Citrus paper collection

*black inkpad

*ribbon

*various bling

For this card, I used one the stems to create the swirls. Tip, use a small circle punch in the corners to create the corner detail on these cards.

For this card, I stamped the big flowers using the "kiss" method with one of the little swirls. I then stamped one the tiny flowers in the centers and added a bit of marker detail around the edges.

This one stamp right here makes the price of this stamp set so worth it even if you never use one of the other stamps (although I can't imagine why you wouldn't use all of them...they are so cute!) Scallops are huge right now and this stamp (which I am assuming is some sort of sunflower) looks exactly like a scalloped edge medallion...perfect embellishment for any card!!!

Kim is also releasing 6 other stamp sets so go check them out. I also highly encourage you to stop by her blog and comment!! It's definitely worth the visit!!

oops, ETA: I forgot to mention that third card was created based on one of the Sept 07 cardmaps sketches.

smiles,

christi

Christmas Journal Catch-Up...

Yesterday, I spent some time catching up on my Christmas journal. These photos aren't the best, but it's really cloudy today so I am not getting the best light. The book is also extremely floppy and messy which is one of my favorite things when other people create little altered books, but I have a hard time doing myself so I am just trying to let go on the creative process. LOL! You can click on the images and they will come up a bit bigger for you.

Day 4: Daydreams of Christmas

Day 4's entry was supposed to feature your ideal Christmas and when I think about Christmas, these are the kinds of images that come to mind. The photo on the right was actually taken by my brother, David, at their home. I think that I may need to move in with them!!

Day 5: Countdown to Christmas

Day 5's entry was supposed to be basically your advent calendar, but I had talked about it on day 1 so I did a variation on the theme by posting my goal dates for getting everything done for the holidays. The paper and stamps on this entry are Urban Lily.

Day 6: Ghosts of Christmas Past

This entry is filled with fond memories from past Christmas'. The papers are American Crafts. The brads are MM.

Day 7: Shopping Girl

This entry features top-secret hidden journaling about my shopping this year. Supplies used are a mix of Basic Grey, Urban Lily, and that unknown blue harlequin paper.

smiles,

christi

A Couple of Creative Prompt Projects...

I have been lax of late and have fallen behind on the Creative Prompts. So yesterday, I decided to see what I could do to fix that.

This is the project that I created using CP#11 as inspiration. Creating Keepsakes offered some downloads from their January 2008 issue for creating a creative planner. I printed off a whole bunch of these to create my planner using a 5 1/2x 8 1/2 3-ring binder. As you can see, the whole look of my project looks nothing like the original prompt, but the layout is almost identical.

I used a bunch of Amy Butler & Scenic Route papers, as well as that cute Kim Hughes owl and Inque Boutique alphabet.

For the inside dividers, I simply cut 4x6 pieces of the patterned papers and rounded the outside corners.

I created a layout using CP#12. This is our family photo for our Christmas cards this year. I made the photo so that it can flip up and we will put a copy of our Christmas letter in there. Almost the entire layout is done with the Creative Imaginations Winter Garden line. I punched different sized circles to create the shape behind the photo and by adding the buttons and the little owl, I think that it is kind of reminiscent of a wreath. I forgot to do it before I took this photo, but I plan on adding The Snow Family in the central oval at the top.

There is a new Creative Prompt up over at the CP Blog...I hope that you will come and play with us!

smiles,

christi

Christmas Journal

In 2004, Shimelle started a Christmas journal with prompts each day throughout the season to help you keep your journal. That was the year that we spent Christmas in Austria and it was a truly magical Christmas and I love my journal from that year although I never did quite complete it. Once you have taken this class from Shimelle, you are a member for life (which I am so thankful to her for). Regardless of my plans to do so, I haven't ever made another journal. This year that has changed and here is my journal so far....

My Cover is made from a Basic Grey chipboard book. The paper and Winter Memories sticker is Creative Imaginations Winter Garden. The bird stamp is Inque Boutique. The alphabet stickers are Basic Grey. For the inside pages, I am simply using 4x6 index cards and covering them.

Day 1 is the manifesto about what my plans are for the journal. The papers here are Basic Grey Figgy Pudding. Stamps by Autumn Leaves. Velvet ribbon from Michaels.

Day 2 was entirely snow based. The papers and stickers are MME. The snowflakes are from Marcella.

Day 3 was about Christmas cards. I attached photos of several of my prototypes. The papers are Creative Imaginations Winter Garden with an index card and a few buttons thrown in...

I have lots of projects that I am working on today so hopefully, I will have some more fun stuff to share tomorrow. Kat is feeling better today...more stuffy now then drippy. :)

smiles,

christi

Sharing Stamping....

Here are my layouts that I created for my Inque Boutique DT application. I didn't get chosen for the team, but I love these layouts so I am okay with that.

Title: When She Smiles

For this layout, I used two Inque Boutique stamp sets. Mini Bella Flora was used for the swirls on the top edge and the flower center. French Quarter Alphabet was used for Kat's name. The only other supplies used on this page was Scenic Route paper (one of the strip sheets) and a Bazzill flower.

Title: Sweet Girl

This layout used two other stamp sets...the swirls from Nightingale and the alphabet from Nightingale's Song. The papers are Rhonna Farrer (from her Christmas line) and a piece of the MM Noteworthy paper.

Title: Santa's Helpers

For the final layout, this one had to be a Holiday layout and it had specific guidelines, like no really obvious writing, obvious papers, or really overly focal photos. Color scheme requirements were that it had to coordinate with the stamp set color, etc. I don't have any of the Inque Boutique holiday stamps so I used the swirls from the Nightingale set to make my snowflakes. The paper are Making Memories and Basic Grey. All of the snowflakes have a bit of bling in the center too. And of course, those gorgeous photos of my nieces are courtesy of Kara.

I realize that I still owe you art journal pages from my Christmas journal, but Kat has come down with her first cold and is feeling pretty miserable so it may take a couple of days before I get them photographed...

smiles,

Christi

The Perfect Day...

Have you ever had one of those days where you should honestly play the lottery because it just seems like everything is going perfectly? Yesterday was one of those days for me.

As you know, I started out the day over at Cornish Heritage Farms celebrating Lisa Strahl's 30th birthday and the release of 16 new backgrounders. But I will come back to that in a minute because I am about to bust with my fun news.

Remember the book that I made for Kat? I made it for a Creative Team application for Heart In Hands. I MADE THE TEAM!!! I am so excited!!! As part of the creative team, I basically get to take the classes from the instructors and remix them! How awesome is that?!?! And they have gorgeous classes...tons of altered items, papercrafts, home decor, etc. I am so excited (have I said that already?!?) :D There's also a fun, friendly message board over there so go over and check out the site, classes, and forums!!!

This is going to be a long post so let me intersperse it with cards that I made yesterday...

Card based on a sketch by Debbie Olson.

Supplies used:

*Amy Butler paper

*Kim Hughes Scripty words

*MM ribbon

So in the midst of all the Cornish Heritage Farms creating and really fun news coming through the web, I got some really fun mail. I can't tell you anything about it yet, but I will say that stamping and sharing will be involved within the next couple of weeks.

Time for another card?

This card based on a sketch by Tami Mayberry.

Supplies used:

*MM patterned paper
*Creative Imaginations paper

*MM brad

*Creative Imaginations ribbon

*buttons

They also had games yesterday. Kim Hughes hosted a very fun bingo game which I WON!!! I get to choose one of the new backgrounders as my prize. How cool is that?!?! I am telling you, it was my day!

And my final card to share...

This card based on a sketch by Sharon Harnist.

Supplies used:

*Kim Hughes Pretty Birds stamps

*Imagination Project paper

*Bo Bunny paper

*crocheted lace

*misc buttons

I have also joined Shimelle's Christmas journal this year and actually did complete my first day yesterday, but I haven't taken photos of it yet so I will probably share it with you tomorrow. Today is the day for Christmas decorating so there will be very little playing for me (except for the Christmas journal and maybe one other little project I am hoping to whip up quickly.) What? A girl has to create at least a little every day... I hope that you are doing some creating today!

smiles,

christi

Looking for something to do today?

Cornish Heritage Farms is hosting an online celebration today to coincide with their newest stamp release (some fun backgrounders.) They have lots of challenges, tutorials, and games going on.

This is a card that I made for the first challenge which was a color challenge. I have been wanting to design a Christmas card for this Thomas Kincade stamp so it was the perfect first challenge to get me going this morning.

Supplies used:

*Thomas Kincade stamp

*Basic Grey figgy pudding papers

*Tres Jolie frame and buttons

*Autumn Leaves holiday sentiment

I'll be back soon with some other holiday crafting and news...

smiles,

Christi