If you've been reading my blog long enough you'll remember that back at the end of August I was excited that I was getting one of my projects published. (You can read the post here) When I signed the publication contract it stated that I wasn't allowed to show the project to anyone until two weeks before the on-sale date of the magazine. Well, the on-sale date is February 5, which means I can now share my project with you!!!! I'm so excited!!! It will be published in the March 2008 PaperCrafts Magazine. Their website is here. They are always looking for projects! Go ahead, submit! Here is where you find out which ones they need at the moment. … [Read more...]

I was able to create some cards today. I seem to have caught a really bad cold, one where after a while it hurts to blow your nose because you've already blown it 5 times in the last hour. On another note, my camera has been annoying me lately! I haven't been able to take any close up pictures of my projects without them going fuzzy. I couldn't figure out why there wasn't a close-up setting on there. I finally pulled out the manual and read it...and found the button. So enjoy these extra close-up pictures of some of my latest cards. This one was really simple. The finished size is 3" x 3 1/2". I stamped 3 hearts, cut them out and … [Read more...]

Wood Grain Hexagon Boxes Directions: 1. Download template here. Find a wood grain image online that you like. I like to look at Wilsonart Laminates , or Treefrog Veneers. Once you find an image that you like, right click on the image and save it to your computer. 2. Print the wood grain image on photo paper or cardstock, then print the templates onto the wood grain. (Any other pattern will work too!) 3. Then follow the directions on the template to finish up! To print the three different graduated sizes I printed the template at 85%, 100%, and 125%. Hope you like it! … [Read more...]

Well I finished all 450 of the wedding announcements. It actually wasn't too bad. Here's the final design! They worst part was punching all of the monograms to adhere to the satin ribbon. I thought for sure I'd break my paper punch, but it still works great, even after all that!Basically I made the black and white damask image and did double sided copies with the damask on the front and inside flaps, with the bride and groom's picture on the inside middle. The vellum overlay has the wedding information printed on it. I gate folded the announcements and wrapped a satin ribbon band around it with a monogram. The finished size was 5" x 7". I … [Read more...]

Here is a new cupcake creation that I'd like to call "Lemon Eclair Cupcakes". Basically I used a lemon cake mix to make the cupcakes. After they were cool I used an icing tip and filled them with cool whip. This is the first time I've ever tried to fill cupcakes and it was much, much easier than expected. After that I made some lemon icing and used another one of my new icing tips to add a little yellow flower on top and topped them with fresh raspberries. Christian said they were the best cupcakes he's ever had! I thought they were pretty close to the top of my list too! … [Read more...]

This week at work there was a contest to see who could design the best holiday mailer. This was right up my alley so I decided to create a few cards to enter into the contest. See below for the cards I entered. (Some are a little non-traditional but if you go to the website of where I work you'll see why) The winner would get to produce all the cards (for a fee of course!) and be credited on the back of the card. It had to be non-denominational and be international as well, since we're an international company. Friday came around and the announcement was made. No-one. Yep, that's right, they didn't choose any of them. And the … [Read more...]

I designed a box template based off of a pizza box and am having way too much fun with it! It's just the right size to hold a small gift (like jewelry), a beautifully decorated cookie (think wreath shaped for Christmas time or heart shaped for Valentines Day). It even fits a gift card just perfectly. The finished size is right around 3 1/2" square. Here is one I did this afternoon: The one below is one I made from a clear transparency. First I found a pattern I liked from a wrapping paper image from The Container Store online. I printed it out onto the transparency and then printed out the template on top. Then it's just a matter of … [Read more...]

It's already past the middle of November and I haven't posted anything since the day after Halloween. Yikes. It seems so far away, even though it was only a few weeks ago. I have a few projects I'm working on that I'd like to post soon, and one to post now... My finished Headboard for our bedroom. I figured out how big I needed it to be, and my dad helped me build the frame. It's built out of a piece of plywood and a few 2x4's. That took no time at all! I had Lowe's cut the plywood piece for me (It was only 75 cents!) since I don't have a big table saw in the garage, but I cut the 2x4's with a circular saw. Then I just screwed it all … [Read more...]

Here's what greeted the Trick or Treaters tonight! My homemade ghost with felt eyes and a bouncy ball head. And my free spooky Halloween tree. I made Christian go with me and find a spooky dead branch at a little area of trees not far from our house. We found the perfect one and I stabilized it with a bucket of landscaping rocks we had in the garage. Next came little plastic skeletons I had and some orange pipe cleaners made into quick squiggles. I think it turned out alright. Next year I might have to try some orange lights. I also had little luminaries lighting the path. Some of the older boys found those amusing. In … [Read more...]

Here it is: And here's how it's done. It's pretty easy. I used two different FREE downloaded digital scrapbooking kits: Coralee Evans, aka MzCora Halloween Mega Kit found at http://mzpimptress.vox.com. This kit is awesome! So many different papers and embellishments! (She just emailed me and let me know that her site where the Halloween Kit is found is down at the moment. If you leave a comment with your email I can email you the pages that I used to make the kit.) Ronna Penner of Scrapadelic.com ExpressYourself alphabet found at http://www.scrapadelic.com/ (Well, it was found there, but I think it was a limited time only kit for … [Read more...]