Let the hopping begin.....

Please scroll down for more posts ~ this Let's Scrap Blog Hop post will stay at the top for all of February.

Hi there and welcome to your next stop in the

If you hopped over from WilnaCremer's blog then you're in the right place!  If you didn't come from Wilna's blog, make sure you stop by Mindi Brown's blog who has the hop order to help you find your way.

I'm very excited to be hostessing on the huge Let's Scrap Blog Hop!  I've really enjoyed the Let's Scrap challenges and their member gallery is filled with talent!  When I'm in need some inspiration or am looking for a sketch, they're the place I turn.

Here is the sketch I'm showcasing for the hop.  It's sketch 3-16-11 in the Let's Scrap card sketch gallery.

Here is my Valentine's Card created from the sketch.

Supplies

To create the curled edges I brushed a small amount of water along the edge of the polka dot paper (My Minds Eye Love Me) and gently curled the paper with my fingers.  I love using this technique to give my project a vintage feel.  I also used natural burlap string (in my Etsy Shop) to add some texture without adding too much bulk. 

Now for the really fun part!  Here is the RAK (randow act of kindness), or Blog Booty, I'm offering!

American Crafts lower case alpha run-ons, Cosmo Cricket Spinner Wheel & Tiny Types, Basic Grey Alphas (from Green at Heart) and an acrylic alpha from Kleer Kutz.

Here is how easy it is to enter for my random draw:
          *Be, or become, a member of Let’s Scrap which you can do by clicking HERE . It is

            free, easy and fast! Once you get there, I am sure you will love it!
          *Become a follower of my blog
           *Leave me a comment telling me what your favorite new scrapbooking paper/product
            from the Winter CHA 2012 reveals.

And if you would like a second chance in the draw, make a card {or layout} from the sketch I have posted and upload it to the gallery at Let’s Scrap, then come back to my blog and leave a second comment linking back to your gallery post. Please tag your card or layout in the Let's Scrap gallery as such:  3-16-11, LEAP13.  Please note there is one space between the comma and L and that LEAP is all capitals. 

All of the blogs (there's 50 of them!) have a different card sketch to follow and you have the whole month of February to follow along and create your projects.  Get ready to create a bunch of projects this month.  Just think, you could make all your birthday, anniversary, congrats, best wishes, etc, cards for the whole year by creating along with this awesome blog hop!

The hop ends at 11:59 pm Central Standard time February 29th, which you would be able to track using the clock on the main page of Let’s Scrap.  All members of Let’s Scrap, hosts, DT’s and administrators are eligible to win. Winners will be announced on March 3, 2012. They will first be posted here on Let’s Scrap and then on each individual blog. If you are a winner (fingers crossed) you will need to contact the host by March 19, 2012 so they can get your prize shipped out to you. Please keep in mind, since this is worldwide, shipping times can vary, and may take a while to arrive. If the host does not hear from you in that amount of time, they will draw a new winner.

Thanks for visiting my scrappy blog!  Don't forget to become a follower and leave me your comment about your fav new WINTER CHA 2012 reveal!!  I'd love to send my Blog Booty to YOU!! 

Your next stop will be the talented Katy Drogos, so hop on over to her blog & keep playing along this month.  If you get lost along the way or have joined the hop in the middle, go to Mindi Brown's blog which is the beginning of the hop. You don’t want to miss any of the fun!

Happy Scrappin & Hopping this month!

BLoG hOp CaRD ShaRe

Hey friends!  Wow, it's been busy in my home.. 2 kids had pnuemonia and now my hubby is sick.  Yuk!  Here's what I whipped up this week for the Let's Scrap Blog Hop.  Lots of pictures to share today!

I dug deep into my stash for these cards  & layouts and found two long lost favorite Cosmo Cricket lines from a few years ago, Dutch Girl & Hey Sugar.  I added a caption for each card, according to their Let's Scrap Blog Hop tag.

2-18-09, LEAP9

4-15-09, LEAP4

5-2-11, LEAP5

9-21-11, LEAP3

10-19-11, LEAP10

10-21-09,LEAP8

12-15-10, LEAP6

And here's a couple layouts using the same papers, along with American Crafts Kraft CS, Hr. Huey's White Spray, Me&My Big Idea's epoxy stickers, Tim Holtz Tissue Tape & Frayed Burlap Distress Ink, misc white paper flowers and some bling.

Layout Based on LEAP11

Thank you for stopping by today.  Don't forget, you still have a few days left to participate in the Let's Scrap Leap Around the World Blog Hop.

I'll try and share a few more this week before the hop is done.

Happy Scrappin' & stay healthy out there!

As promised

I'm back today with my Memory Works Inspiration Friday post, with some bonus close-ups!  If you know me, you know that I adore My Minds Eye.  So, today I'm showing my MME love with the Blush Theme Set from Memory Works.

Also included: Tattered Angels crepe paper and journaling card, Webster's Page Bloomers, Jolee's sticker, KI Memories tape and Heidi Swapp Bling.

My second project is loaded with MME Blush and also includes some Canvas Corp, Maya Road, Tim Holtz and Jillibean Soup.  Who doesn't love banners.. not this girl!  I used the glittery banners already infused on this pretty paper as my inspiration for my heart banners.  To give my banner that little something extra, I tied each heart together with my trusty burlap string and finished it off with those super cute mini clothespins from Canvas Corp (man I love their stuff!)

Also included: Tim Hotlz Adage Ticket, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist, Maya Road Rosette Trim & Resin Blossoms, crochet flowers, burlap string, Jillibean Journaling Spot (Nov) and Canvas Corp Mini Clothespins.

Sorry this picture got a little pixely, if that's even a word...

And how did I get that chandelier to look like that you ask? Simple! I gooped up my Hero Arts stamp with white acrylic paint, then pressed it firmly onto my paper. By pressing firmly, some of the paint was squeezed to the edge, creating some of the negative space and raised edges. Neat huh? Try it out on your next project. I bet black paint would look awesome on a light background too!

Thank you for stopping by.  I hope you were able to gather some inspiration here today. 

Facebook friends... sadly no one guessed correctly what I used to stamp that image.  Maybe next time!  I'll save that 3 yards of May Arts brown check ribbon for another day.  Happy Scrappin'!

Inspiration Friday Post.. on Tuesday

Hello friends!  I'm dropping in today to share my Memory Works post from last Friday...hence Inspiration Friday on Tuesday :-)  So, Inspiration Friday on the Memory Works Blog is all about the Design Team members sharing their projects to spark some creative juices.  This week, well really last week, I shared two recent projects.

This first project is a photo tray by 7 Gypsies, adorned with Simple Stories, Maya Road, Tim Holtz and American Crafts Thickers.  I love mini spools and wanted to incorporate them into a project so I wrapped them with some Simple Stories ribbon, Twinery Twine and May Arts brown check ribbon and hung them like a banner in a upper corner of the tray. 

See the white swirly around the 4x6" photo in the upper left corner of the tray??  Well, that is a Simple Stories transparancy and isn't it cool!  They add a nice affect to your photos, especially in the tray.  I created the rosette using Tim Holtz Rosette Dies, which I just love. 

Now, look at the brown swirl that spans across the four tray windows.  That is a single, large brown flourish sticker from the Simple Stories Life Documented stickers.  I love these flourish stickers and it was very easy to make it span across the tray windows.  All I did was lay the sticker flourish on top of the tray and decided how I wanted it placed within each of the tray windows.  After deciding on my placement, I used my EK Success Honey Bee scissors, which are coated with teflon, to cut the flourish accordingly.

Now for my second project this week.  I'm a big Simple Stories fan and love the Baby Steps line.  I have to confess, most of my layouts over the past 3 months have been about our new baby girl, Abby.  She was born November 14, 2011 and I'm getting a great start on her 1st scrapbook album.  Plus, when babies are this young they change so much, so often. 

Ok, so here you'll see a 12x12 Baby Steps patterned paper for the background, and more Baby Steps little flash cards throughout the layout.  I did use some of the 6x6 Baby Steps pad too {see the little flashcard in the upper left corner}.  I hand cut my banner pieces and added some Doodle Bug Loop Lou Pink Alpha Stickers & American Crafts Fabic Alphas for my title "Welcome Home Abby."

I cut a large flower in half and used it on my layout also.  I wish I could remember what vendor the cool flower came from.. sorry!  Mommy brain is in full effect here!

Well, thank you for stopping by again.  I'll be posting on the Memory Work Blog again THIS Friday for more inspiration.  This time I'll be showcasing one of my favorite lines from the current catalog  See ya Friday!

Love is in the air..

Hello all!  It's been a very busy February so far... a Leap Around the World Blog Hop with Let's Scrap, back to work full time and our daughter Sari turns 5 this Wednesday with her party on Saturday!!  Yikes, when do I sleep??! 

Any-hooo, here's my Memory Works Consultant February Challenge project!  I'm also playing along with the My Mind's Eye Blog this month... so much inspiration over there!!  I used the MME "You" themed challenge sketch for this layout.  Here is our little Abby in her Baptismal gown a few days after her actual Baptism.  Taking these pictures on her special day was impossible, plus, sometimes I like a good excuse to dress her up!  Makes me seem not SO picture crazy. 

I used lots of My Minds Eye products here, with a touch of this and that.  Check out the product thumbnails below, which are direct links to where to buy!  Don't forget that I'm your Memory Works consultant too :-)

Here's the MME challenge sketch.

Here's my take.

*  Besides the products shown above, I also used some burlap to cut 2 banner pieces, Recollections Pink Pearl Flourishs, corrugated cardboard with white acrylic paint, Tim Holtz Lavish Trims (white rosettes), Making Memories heart shaped silver brads and a misc wood word "Angel."

Thanks for stopping by today!  I'll be sharing some of my Let's Scrap Blog Hop projects soon!