Gift Card Holders

I needed some gift card holders, so I just designed some myself! I used Cosmo Cricket paper, paper squares for the tags, and die cut words. These turned out so cute!


I got a bunch of 8x8 paper with my giant TSV kit off of QVC. I used 4x8 pieces, folded them, and I used my sewing machine to stitch them closed! CUTE!! Click on the photo to see them larger. I used a 7 gypsies to/from stamp for the tags. I added some ribbon and a jingle bell!


Here's a photo of the machine stitching! The gift card fits perfectly inside! What do you think? Quick and easy! I have to admit, I'm impressed with the way they turned out!

I cannot believe it's Christmas Eve! Have a wonderful holiday everyone! Much love, joy, and peace to you and your family!! HAPPY HOLIDAYS! MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!! Thanks for stopping by!!

Scrapping Recipe Challenge #29 & The Girls' Kids Can Scrap Challenge Cards

This is my layout for Scrapping Recipe Challenge #29 at Sketches! {by Tamara}.

It was my turn to issue the challenge this week, and the three required elements are:

• really old patterned paper
• naked chipboard
• twill, twine, or raffia

I pulled out the oldest patterned paper I could find. This paper, both the border strip at the bottom, and the main sheet of paper, are both from a QVC Colorbok kit that I got a long, long, long time ago! I think it was called Memories in Minutes or something like that. I think it was purchased in 2002 or 2003? Something like that! The main sheet is colorblocked, and I pretty much just ignored that, and I border punched the other sheet. Old paper looks better when it's border punched, don't you think? The paper is double sided, so I used the solid side to mat the photos. The naked chipboard is by Basic Grey, and I used raffia that I got on a gift basket! So, I recycled too! All of the embellishments are from my QVC Cosmo Cricket TSV that I got. It's got about a million pieces in it! The "silly" letter, the "Hey Santa", the "hang your stockings", and the snowflake trio are all from that kit. The photos are from the first Christmas that we had Princess. Yes, she proudly posed by her stocking!

Next, Kids Can Scrap has a card challenge going on. Emily made these!



Jessica made these! They're such awesome cardmakers!!

Well, it's snowing . . . again! However, at least it's warmer out today. By warmer, I mean, it's 23 outside today. Better than the single digit temps and below zero wind chills we've been having! I'm not sure how much I'll be posting in the next few days. Have a great week! Happy Holidays! Make your holiday season be wonderful!! Thanks for stopping by!!

Christmas Cards Already?

Don't think I'm too crazy, but I created a couple of Christmas cards the other day! I got the 2nd shipment of a QVC Today's Special Value kit that featured Cosmo Cricket. The Christmas kit is just wonderful, and I wanted to dig in and create a couple of cards right away. This is what I came up with.


Everything on this card was in the kit, except for the brads. The kit came with brads, but they are quite large, and I wanted smaller ones to use with the little die cut shapes that I attached to the ribbon. The scallop card is so pretty! I used six precut squares on the card front, and then I attached the diecut sentiment on top. I used a lot of chalk ink distressing on everything. Easy as can be!


Another scallop card, and once again, I swapped out the brads. The only thing not in the kit is the chipboard swirl. I painted it, and then added it to the card front. Again, I did a lot of chalk ink distressing. The ribbon on this card is just gorgeous!

I'm really pleased with the Cosmo Cricket kits that I got from QVC. It's A LOT for the money! I hope you have a wonderful weekend, and thanks for stopping by!

Love Chipboard Banner

Since I had my Cosmo Cricket QVC kit out to make my sketch card that I posted yesterday, I decided to create and hang this "Love" chipboard banner. I backed the pieces in red Cosmo Cricket paper, and then I laced all the pieces together. I added long pieces of ribbon to the ends so that I could hang it below my mantle.


On each circle, I added small photos of us. I really like the way this turned out! If you click on the photo, you can see it larger.


The "L" features Emily, myself, and Jessica. I also added the word "smile".


The "O" features Dave and a small photo of Princess. Above Dave, I added the word "love".


The "V" features my beautiful girls Emily and Jessica. Above Emily I added "all smiles", and under Jessica, I added "sweet". I also added small die cut flowers with rhinestone centers.


The "E" features Princess. I added small letter stickers that say "family", and I added "2007".


This is how it looks suspended under our mantle. I "love" it!

Happy Friday! Enjoy your day, have a wonderful weekend, and thanks for stopping by!

Card Sketch #56

This is my card for Card Sketch #56 at Sketches {by Tamara!}. Take a look at what the other card design team members created. If you create a card using the sketch, be sure to link it back to Tamara's site. You could be a future guest designer!


For my card, I used my Cosmo Cricket QVC Today's Special Value kit that I got a while back. The card base, the sentiment, the photo corners, the red matting paper, and the chipboard flower are all from the kit. I added some ribbon, a brad, and DCWV rub-on border stitches. This card isn't really my style, but it's fun to create something that you normally wouldn't create once in a while!

Have a great day, and thanks for stopping by!

Just The Girls and QVC Scrapbooking Day!

This page is another challenge page that I created for ScrapCity. We were challenged to scraplift someone's page. I copied the big circle, the curved title, the photo placement, and the circular arrow! I love the result! ScrapCity had nine challenges for April, I completed them ALL, and I'm happy to say that I just found out that I won the prize for April! Woohoo! If you haven't checked out ScrapCity yet, you should! It's such a fun place to be! (If you check things out, tell them Carol sent you!!)


I used Love, Elsie papers and Lil' Davis chipboard letters. Under the photo, I detail cut some CUTE designs from the patterned papers. I hand drew and detail cut the circular arrow and decorated it with rhinestones. Isn't this a FUN page?

Well, I'm going to be watching a little bit of QVC today. I shouldn't be watching it, because I'll just spend money that I should NOT be spending, but I just love these craft days on QVC!! I'm still having Internet problems, so I sincerely apologize for my lack of comments on your blogs lately! It's so frustrating! Have an awesome Friday, and thanks for stopping by!

Card Sketch #41

It's Thursday, and that means it's card sketch day at Sketches! {by Tamara}. This is my card for Card Sketch #41. Remember if you create a card using Tamara's sketch, be sure to link it back to her site, and you could be her next guest designer! PLUS, Tamara has a call out right now for NEW Card Design Team members! Check out the full details on her site! I LOVE being a member of Tamara's team! It's totally fun for me each week to use her sketches and design a card to be featured on her blog!


I am very pleased with this card, because . . . . I used my NEW Nestabilities!! Woohoo! I used the largest circle to cut the card itself, a scallop circle to cut the sage green card front, and then another circle to cut a mat. I have the Cuttlebug, and I haven't figured out the perfect "sandwich stack" yet, because using the C plate is too thick for me. I cracked a B plate in half. It scared me, it was so loud!! Anyway, back to the card. The papers are My Mind's Eye Wild Asparagus, the stamped frame is a Stampin' Up stamp, and the "thanks a lot" is a $1 Michael's acrylic stamp. I added tiny flowers from a Lisa Bearnson QVC flower kit (I distressed the flowers with ink), and I added some rhinestone centers. The ribbon is a scrap, and I distressed it with ink too. The card and all of the layers have also been distressed with Tim Holtz brushed corduroy ink. I just love this little card! It's less than 4" in diameter. CUTE! You can click on the photo to see an enlarged view of the card.

I have errands to run today. Just lots of miscellaneous things to do! I hope you all have a wonderful day, and thanks for stopping by!!

EDITED TO ADD: I am one of five winners over at Lesli's Dragonfly Time site! Thank you to everyone who voted for my layouts, and thank you to Lesli! There were amazing layouts submitted, and I'm honored to be among the winners. THANKS!!

Thanks Card, Music Thanks, & Goodies!

I'm LOVING my Fiskars threading water punch! I used one of the cardstock pieces that I showed you yesterday to create this card.


I used some gorgeous flower glitter paper that I received in a RAK. I added the blue scallop piece to the bottom, and I add a ribbon border. The felt flower I received from Nicola, I added a flower rhinestone from my Lisa B. QVC kit, and the "thanks" is a $1 Michael's acrylic stamp. It took me just a couple of minutes to make this card, and I think it's really cute!


Next, my daughter Emily created this card last night. She's in the jazz band at school, and during her last performance, a professional group that her teacher performs with performed after the school's jazz bands performed. They were excellent! I totally enjoyed seeing them! Anyway, the teacher suggested that the kids send "thank you" notes to the jazz band. What a great idea. So, she gave them a specific member to make a note for, and this is my daughter's note for a man that plays the saxophone in the group. The background paper, the "you rock" stamp, and the star stamps are all Love, Elsie. The treble clef and the music note are also stamps. The "thank you" is from a Stampin' Up set. I used the threading water punch on the bottom of the music note paper. It's subtle, but it looks good.


Next, can I just show you some goodies that I received from my most wonderful blogging friend Kristy? Kristy is so talented! I admired a flower that she embellished on one of her scrapbooking pages. She told me that she added some pearls to the tips of the flower. She then told me she was sending me some of the pearls from Australia! Who am I to argue? Not only did she send me the GORGEOUS Kaiser pearls, but she sent me other goodies too. Kristy . . . you are the BEST!


Here's a close-up view of the pearls, some FANTASTIC ribbon (the photo doesn't do the ribbon justice -- it's all just amazing!), some die cut felt (love it!), and a beautiful card! Kristy, what can I say, you overwhelm me with your generosity! I am so fortunate to have such wonderful blogging friends! I am very appreciative! Thank you!!

Well, it's supposed to warm up today, and I really need to take Princess for a bath. This will be interesting! Princess has long hair, so I do not bathe her at home in the tub. It would be a MESS! I take her to this fantastic local place where you wash your own dog, and then, you just leave the mess behind. The tubs are waist high, so it's actually really easy to give them a bath, and there's no bending over a tub. So, that's the first thing I need to do this morning. Princess does NOT like the water, and I'm taking her by myself, so I'm thinking I'll be getting a bath in the process! I hope you have a wonderful day, and thanks for stopping by!

I Missed You MORE!

This is the card that I gave Jessica when she got home. Here's the story behind the card . . . Jessica and I have gotten in the habit of trying to "top" each other with how much we love each other. So, I will tuck her in at night, tell her I love her, and she'll reply "I love you more". I've repeatedly told her that she couldn't possibly love me more, because I gave birth to her, I'm older, I'm larger, and she is a part of me, so clearly, I love her more. She then tells me that she is younger, she hasn't met and loved as many people as I have, so she has more love to give, and there is a huge part of that love just for me. Hhhmmm, that's logical! But, of course, I still love her more!


So, now the front of this card might make sense! I clearly missed her MORE! When I gave her the card, she said, "no, you didn't", but on the inside I had already written, "Yes, I did!" Ha ha -- score one for MOM! Just a simple card with the sentiment done on the computer, a striped patterned paper scrap (My Mind's Eye) from my desk, and ribbon. The flowers, the chipboard center flower piece, and the flower-shaped rhinestones are from a QVC kit. The really large flower and a vellum flower are folded in half so they would fit on the card front. Just a fun colorful card for Jessica's return!

I have tons of errands to run, a birthday party to go to, another birthday to celebrate tomorrow (my Dad's!!), and cards to make right now! Have a great weekend, and thanks for stopping by!

Card Sketch #38

Thursdays are card sketch days at the Sketches! {by Tamara} site. Here is my card for Card Sketch #38. Don't forget that YOU can be a guest designer at Tamara's site. Just make a card using the sketch, link it back to her site in the comments section, and you just might be selected as the next guest designer.


I used a gorgeous sheet of double-sided patterned paper from Scenic Route Paper Co. I cut my front panels, but then I cut them in half again, and alternated the pieces to make more of a patchwork card front. I used a large flower from my QVC kit. I stamped the "thanks a lot" with a $1 acrylic stamp set from Michael's. I then matted it, and used it as my flower center. I like the muted tones on this card.

Thanks to everyone for all of the sweet comments yesterday sympathizing with my sadness over having one of my chicks out of the nest for a couple of nights. I cannot believe how worried and sad it makes me. I will be in a much happier mood tomorrow! I also want to thank you all for your wonderful comments about Emily's card! She enjoyed reading each and every one of them, and she sure did have a BIG smile on her face when she was reading them! Thanks! Have a great day, and thanks for stopping by!

Tennis Anyone?

This is another layout that I submitted for guest design team consideration. It is designed after the same sketch that I used on the bowling page that I posted a couple of days ago. I really LOVE these photos of my girls from when they took tennis lessons!


I used some of my papers from a Lisa Bearnson kit that I got on QVC. The border sticker at the bottom is from the kit too, as well as the large flower. I created the title on the computer, and I mounted it on the large flower. The brown flower on the right is a Prima, a small flower from the kit is on top of it, and then there is an epoxy sticker from the kit as the flower center. The scallop edge at the top is a piece of Bazzill die cut cardstock. As I said in my journaling, "Look out Venus and Serena . . . Emily and Jessica are coming after you!"

Spring break is over, and that aways makes me sad. I love when my girls are home. It's a horribly depressing day with the weather too. It's humid, rainy, and gloomy. Yuck! I have tons of cleaning and organizing to do today. Have a great day, and thanks for stopping by!

Baby Love!

I love when a challenge fits in with what you NEED to make! Caardvark's current challenge is to make a baby card. I'm so excited with how this turned out!

I used my NEW Tres Jolie papers that I got from QVC. The "baby" title, the plaid paper, and the cardstock scallop border sticker on the bottom of the card front are all My Mind's Eye Tres Jolie. The "welcome little one" is a stamp from Riveting by Stampin' Up. I just got this stamp set from my friend Jana! I used my Coluzzle to cut the circle, and I mounted it on a Cuttlebug ribbon slider. The ribbons are from Michael's. I pulled out some alphabet beads, and I added "Brayden" on a piece of wire, and I sewed it to the card front. I used four new buttons that I just got from Laurie! One of them is on a new Prima (also from QVC). I added a little safety pin to the blue ribbon knot. I just LOVE the way this card turned out! It's for my husband's cousin. Her and her husband are expecting their first baby, and their shower is at the beginning of March. They know they're having a boy, they're naming him Brayden, and they are so excited! We're excited for them!

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today is my mom's birthday! She doesn't have a computer, so she won't see this, but I still have to wish her a Happy Birthday! My girls and I stopped by to see her yesterday for her birthday. My girls have their musical competition day today, so we won't have a chance to see her today.

I want to mention that I'm way behind on blog hopping for all of my blog friends and for my SBS2 sisters. I'll catch up with all of that later today and tomorrow.

I just have to share this link for our local newspaper. Princess is the Pet of the Week! Wow, as I just typed that, I realized that it sounds like a Hugh Hefner Playboy kind of thing! Nope, she's a different kind of pet!! We're going to be campaigning to get her to be Pet of the Month for February, and then our ultimate goal is for her to be Pet of the Year! Why? Because it's fun, and we love her! We think she's worthy!

Last, both Wendy and Patsy tagged me for the middle name game. Let me give this a try! My middle name is Joan.

J - Joyful, Jovial (makes me sound like Santa!)
O - Outgoing, Outspoken, Optimistic
A - Appreciative, Ambitious
N - Nice, Noticeable

My girls helped me with my words! Since my middle name has four letters, I need to tag 4 others to post their middle name on their blog, and they need to use all of the letters to describe their personality. You must list one fact about yourself beginning with each letter of your middle name. (If you don't have a middle name, use your maiden name). Make sense? So, I'm going to tag: Alex, Jules, Kristy, and Nicola.

Last, but not least, WOW, did I get the goodies from the big brown truck yesterday! My QVC TSV came. It's a wonderful Cosmo Cricket package. I hope to dig in today and play with it! It's gorgeous! Then, I got My Mind's Eye Tres Jolie . . . beautiful! Last, I got Lisa Bearnson's Bling It On kit. It's nice too, and it comes in a storage tin. I LOVE when things come in their own organizational container! I hope to PLAY later today and tomorrow! It's like Christmas all over again over here. I really need to stop buying, but the QVC values make me crazy. You get SO MUCH for the money. The Cosmo Cricket was $30 something plus shipping. I'm not sure you could go in a scrapbook store and get the two 8x8 albums with the storage sleeve box for $30, and that's only one small part of the kit! Yes, I'm justifying my purchases, but I just can't help it!

Thanks for stopping by! I'll be by to visit you all very soon! Have a great weekend!!