Celebrate Us

While browsing my favorite blogs this morning I came across this week's sketch at

Mojo Monday.

Someone has an anniversary coming up,

{It's me!}

so I grabbed the always gorgeous

Country Boutique 6x6 pad from Fancy Pants Designs

and went to work.

Washi tape from Freckled Fawn and Michael's.

Those cute little hearts are fussy cut from the paper.

And I got that sweet gray and white twine form Walmart. WALMART!

{My son had a gift card burning a hole in his pocket,

so I had no other choice than to take him there.}

Computer generated sentiment cut with one of my favorite dies

from Spellbinders' Ironwork Accents set. 

Thank you, Mojo Monday, for helping me get that card out of the way!

Hopefully it earns more than a passing glance from the ol' ball & chain.

Negative Space

White space, or "negative space" is loosely defined as ...

 “that portion of a page left unmarked: the space between graphics, margins, gutters, space between columns, space between lines of type..”

I've seen this intimidating trend and drool over the results.

Always thinking, "No way I could do that!"

Well, apparently I can do that.

Not half bad, eh? 

Perhaps I cheated a little since the background is patterned.

Thoughts?

I do admit it was hard to walk away, but I'm happy with the results.

The title was fun, too, and somewhat different for me. Love the mix of elements.

(My goofy son at the dog park, climbing trees.)

Hidden journaling tag. I tried to place it on the actual layout, but it was too distracting.

Thanks for stopping by!

Product Information:

Queen and Co. {Wild Things Pathways} Side B

Echo Park Dots & Stripes Collection Kit {Candy Shoppe}

My Mind's Eye : Follow Your Heart {Be Amazing} Honey Blue

Pink Paislee {Portfolio} Ephemera

Jillibean Soup Label {Days of the Week}

Doodlebug Doodle Twine {Tangerine}

Sizzix : Tim Holtz Bigz Die {Tiny Tabs and Tags}

Mister Huey's Color Mists {Calico White}

A New Look!

I've decided to make my blog more simple and streamlined, that old format was getting on my nerves.

I've been wanting to change it for a while, I just couldn't figure out how to delete that CBOTB template.

I'll stick to paper, computers definitely aren't my strong suit.

I hope you like it, I know I do!

And since no blog post is complete without a photo here's a cute one for your viewing pleasure:

I'll be back tomorrow (TGIAF!) with a foray into negative space.

Cherish (Lifted, part 2)

Welcome to part two of my lifted projects for October.

{You can find part one here.}

There are many challenges each month over at Scrapbook.com,

this particular one involves scraplifting some of the work shared by other members.

The catch is - you don't choose what you're going to lift, someone else chooses for you.

The amazing layout that was picked for me to lift is galaxies away from my comfort zone.

It's by Corrie and can be found here.

After a lot of messy mistakes, some hair pulling, and a little bit of swearing here's my interpretation:

I went with an 8 1/2 by 11 layout as opposed to a 12x12 and I have to admit I like it A LOT.

You will be seeing more of these from me!

I stamped plain white cardstock with watermark resist ink,

sprayed with Fireworks mists (you have to hold it vertically to get the drips!)

and then threw some gold embossing powder over that.

Embellishments from Sassafras are a perfect match

and the Smash stamp is a fun little touch.

The simple title is a rub-on that I adhered to white cardstock and fussy cut.

It's funny, I tell my kids all the time not to be afraid to try new things and finally I have started to take my own advice. I'm SO glad I tackled this technique, it's really a lot of fun.

What new things have you tried lately?

Mojo Monday #262

Mojo Monday has a really great sketch this week!

I liked it so much that I made several cards,

here are a few of them:

Portfolio Collection by Pink Paislee

Halloween papers by Colorbok

Prima North Country

Just the boost I needed today,

my card pile is starting to overflow.

Thanks for stopping by and have a FANTASTIC weekend!

Sketches In Thyme DT call!

It has come to my attention that Sketches In Thyme is having a design team call.

{Thank you, Doreen!}

Click here for more info if you'd also like to give it a shot.

Here is their fabulous sketch:

And my interpretation of it:

Wish me luck! And good luck to you if you're trying out, too!

Product Information

Canvas Corp {Black & Kraft French Script}

My Mind's Eye {All Is Bright}

Glitz Design {Laced With Grace}

Bo Bunny {Et Cetera}

Pink Paislee Ephemera {Portfolio} and {Vintage Vogue}

Studio Calico Huey's Mask {Hexagon}

Tattered Angles Glimmer Mist {Coffee Shop}

Black and White Twine {Queen and Company}

Tim Holtz Distress Ink {Pumice Stone} and {Barn Door}

Tim Holtz Distress Stain {Picket Fence}

Spellbinders {Ironwork Accents} and {Blossom Tags & Accents}

October Afternoon Washi Tape {Witch Hazel - Mesh}

Lifted

Happy Hump Day!

Here to share another Christmas card

which is also for a challenge over at Scrapbook.com.

You can find the card that was chosen for me to interpret here.

You've seen these cute little trees all over Pinterest, haven't you?

So fun, I dressed this one up with Stickles, Liquid Pearls, and some twine I found in the garage.

A little fussy cutting of some gorgeous MME makes perfect little banners.

You'd think copying a card would be easy, but it's not.

It is fun though, trying to do the original card justice.

Thanks for stopping by!

Product Information

My Mind's Eye {All Is Bright}

Spellbinders {Postage Stamp}

Studio Calico {Hexagon Mask}

Tim Holtz Distress Ink {Crushed Olive}

Stickles {Frosted Lace}

Liquid Pearls {Champagne}

October Afternoon {Witch Hazel Washi Tape}

Martha Stewart Punch {Deco Fan}

No Tricks, Just Treats

It's Tuesday and time for another fun challenge at

Party Time Tuesdays.

This week we'd like to see anything but a card!

This *adorable* image courtesy of

Robyn's Fetish is the perfect focal point

for these Halloween treats:

I've had these tubes from SRM for almost a year.

They were one of those things that I saw and HAD TO HAVE.

{I do that a lot.}

They've been sitting in a box mocking me for months,

so when this challenge presented itself I decided to silence them.

Check out  the Party Time Tuesdays blog

for this week's sponsors and to link up your project.

Remember, NO CARDS this week.

Be sure to add our button to your sidebar to be eligible for prizes!

Product Info

Clear Tubes {SRM}

Mark Mummy Digital Stamp {Robyn's Fetish}

Crinkle Ribbon {3 Girl Jam}

Misc. Halloween paper and candy {Target}

Pink Paislee *Portfolio* mini cards

There's a challenge over at Pink Paislee

to {Make it Mini}.

So I grabbed my Portfolio 6x6 paper pack and

Portfolio Ephemera and went to work!

Aren't they cute? They measure 2 3/4 by 4 1/4 inches.

The perfect little "pick me up" card!

I'd also like to share a super WCMD deal on envelopes - 

250 envelopes for $9!

Stop by Yesterday's Echo for details.

WCMD with Paper Issues!

RUN, don't walk, to Paper Issues' Facebook page

for a fun World Card Making Day giveaway.

All you have to do is upload a card 

(that you create today) to their page.

4 random winners will receive a $20 gift card 

to the Paper Issues Store!

Here's my entry featuring Prima's North Country: 

When you stop by their Facebook page, tell them I sent you!

Good luck!

*Click here for my previous post featuring Saturated Canary for Party Time Tuesdays.

Use those scraps!

I know I've posted about scraps before.

I just can't seem to part with leftover bits of paper unless they're smaller than my smallest punch.

Well, because of that minor quirk I have lots and LOTS of scraps.

So I made some 3x3 note cards:

 Cut your scraps into one inch squares.

Punch two opposing corners with a corner rounder

and arrange like so:

 (I've seen this pattern everywhere and really wanted to try it. So easy!)

I know what you're thinking.

"Yes, Melissa, those are cute. But what would I do with them?"

Little thank you notes.

Attach to a gift for a baby or wedding shower.

Use them on a layout for hidden journaling.

Birthday gift tags.

Party Invites.

So, pretty much anything you'd use a bigger card for.

These are just "fun sized".

Oh! And the envelopes?

Easy to make, too. If you have a Martha Stewart scoring board

(if you don't have one, you should probably get one)

you'll score a piece of 5 1/2 x 5 1/2 paper at 2 1/4 on all sides.

Using the envelope template, of course, so your paper is on the diagonal.

Fold up and seal.

Use that ugly paper that's been sitting in your scraproom for 6 years to make the envelopes.

Since you know you can't throw that stuff away either!

Why Didn't I Think Of That?

Seriously.

This is the easiest gift card holder you will ever make.

Found it here:

Andrea Walford

The only thing I did differently is the tab closure.

I don't have a word window punch,

so I scored at 1 1/4 and 2 1/4 and used my trusty old scissors to make the tab.

Easy peasy! 

And, I didn't even cut myself once with my craft knife!