Vacation Mojo

Last week the kids were on Spring Break.  The sun was shining all but one day, so we spent most of the week outdoors.  It was wonderful, but I did miss my craft room.  This morning after the kids went back to school and hubby to work I headed to the room to play with the new Mojo Monday sketch.

MM#341

There's nothing like a good sketch to really get your mojo flowing.  :)   Here is what I came up with.

The paper pack I used made coordinating the patterned papers easy.  :)  

Tomorrow I will be back with a new sketch for the Stampin' Celebration mid-month sketch.

Need more tips and ideas for using patterned paper and sketches?  I have a lesson up in the StampNation forum right now in the Patterned Paper Classroom to help you out.  Not yet a member?  Clicky for more information.  

Supplies:
Paper: Classique Elegance 6x6 Bundle - (Authentique),  Basic Black, Smoky Slate (SU)
Stamps: Tea Shoppe (SU)
Misc: 1 3/4" Circle Punch, Artisan Label Punch (SU), Stitched Scallop Borders (Lawn Fawn), Silver Embroidery Thread

Spring Break

This week my kids are on Spring break, and I am taking the next 4 days off to be with my family.   Hopefully I will get some crafty time in, but I probably won't be posting on the blog.

I'm popping in today to show you a picture that a friend of mine from high school posted on Facebook today.   (TBT or Throw Back Thursday)  That's me on the left, and my very photogenic friend on the right.  We could almost be sisters we look so much alike.

 
Then she posted another picture from our graduation with all 3 of us.   The one in the middle is the person who posted both of these.  It's funny to see this as my husband and I prepare for our son to graduate in a couple of months.   Seems like it's only been a couple of years ago.  The outfit I was wearing in the photo above was his favorite.  Now we are married and our son is the age I was when we started dating.   Time flies when you're having fun.

Thanks for taking this walk down memory lane with me.  Do you like discovering old pictures you didn't know existed?  Has anyone ever posted or sent a picture of you?  

Patterned Paper & Sketches

Hello, my name is Heather and I am a "pretty paper" hoarder.   (I can hear you echoing "hello, Heather".  :)

Actually, since switching from scrapbooking to cardmaking I have been much better about using my patterned paper.  It goes a lot further on cards than on a scrapbook page.   Getting over the first cut is the hardest part.  Once you cut that 12x12" piece into a 4 x 5.25" rectangle and see how much pretty paper you have left for other cards it becomes easier to just use it.

Have you ever tried to use up a paper pack making only cards?  You can make a ton!   Now that we are over the fear of cutting into that paper, let's talk about how to actually use it.   That is what today's lesson in the StampNation classroom is all about.

Patterned Paper & Sketches

...and I am the teacher.  Scary, I know, but at least your teacher speaks from experience.    

All week long different teachers will be showing us how to use patterned paper on our cards.  Yesterday Allison Cope had an awesome tutorial on paper piecing showing how to use both traditional and digital stamps to achieve this technique. I chose a lesson on sketches, because I LOVE SKETCHES.   They do the hard work for you.  

In this free class for StampNation members I will show you how to break down a sketch and make it work with your own supplies.  We will discuss layering patterns on top of each other, achieving contrast and balance.  

Not a StampNation member?  What are you waiting for girlfriend?  Members get access to all areas of the classroom, gallery, videos, tutorials, and so much more.  You can check it out and quit your membership at any time.  

Masculine Monday ~ Stenciled

There is a new challenge on the block and everyone is playing in it.  Have you heard?  Last month was the debut of Virginia's View Challenge and she had 359 participants!!!  Wowzers, that is amazing!   She is back with her second challenge this month to use stencils.

VVC#2 Stencil

  Stencils are hot in paper crafting right now.  They are so easy to work with and they don't take up much space in your craft room to store them.  You can use them in so many ways.  I'll probably enter this challenge more than once this month, but for my first card I decided to use ink with my stencil.

At first I was going to make this a OLC (One Layer Card), but in the end I just couldn't do it.  ;)  I just had to layer is on a center panel and add some enamel dots.

Supplies:
Stamps: Key Moments Everyday Life (CTMH), Gorgeous Grunge (SU)
Ink/Colors: Sahara Sand, Smoky Slate, Basic Gray, Crumb Cake
Misc: Diamond Stencil (Memory Box), Lost & Found Enamel Dots (MME)

Scrapbook Sunday

How long has it been since I posted a Scrapbook Sunday?   Probably almost as long as it has been since I have scrapbooked.  Life has been busy and something had to go.   Lately though I have been having the urge to work on my albums again.

To help me get a jumpstart I have signed up for the Inspired to Scrap Weekend Warrior Sketch class.  It's no secret that I love sketches.   Stacey Lokovic is an awesome sketch creator and her talented team always inspires me to reach higher.



The class is only $5 and it is designed with the busy scrapbooker in mind.  Hopefully I can at least pull out my pictures and create something.    Would you like to join me?  Clicky for more information.  

Sew Saturday ~ April Goals

Finally a Sew Saturday post that doesn't have a pile of jeans in it.  :)  I will give you a jean's quilt update though.  I've cut half of the backing squares out and ran out of my flannel fabric.  A trip to the fabric store will have to happen before I can finish.  Oh bother.  :)

Wednesday was our quilt guild meeting.  Almost every month we meet there is a block of the month challenge.  The blocks are turned into charity quilts.  This month was a circle applique block.

Isn't that a fun, colorful block?  I made a really cool discovery while trying to come up with circles.  In fact I thought it was so cool that I grabbed my camera and shot my first "sewing tip" video for you.  :)

***Note- you may need to visit my blog to view the video above.  Simply click on the post title "Sew Saturday..." above and it should take you right to this post.

Next month I am going to see if I can use the acuquilt cutting templates in my big shot.  I just need to figure out the correct "sandwhich" and I'm sure I will be able to.

April Goals

Here we are in April.  That means it's time for another goal setting party on A Lovely Year of Finishes with Melissa and Shanna.   April promises to be an EXTREMELY busy month with travel, baseball, Spring Break, Easter and more.   At first I was just going to try my hardest to get my picnic quilt finished, but then I went to my guild meeting and got this fabric.

The guild is participating in a Metallic challenge and the quilt needs to be finished by the first week of May.  Yikes!  That means I need to make this my goal and find some time to get in my sewing room.

I've decided on a pattern.  (mostly in my head, why do I do that?!!!)   All I need is time and some metallic thread.  I have a couple of other fabrics I think will provide nice contrast.  I may switch them out when I head to the fabric store to pick up more flannel, but the 4 main prints above will be included somewhere in the quilt.

Wish me luck.  My goal is to turn this pile of fabric, or at least the main mettallic fabric given to me, into a quilt top by the end of this month.   It may not happen, but I have to try.  :)

Friday Fun Day!

This week Simon Says Stamp challenge blog is celebrating their 5th year of challenges with a birthday card challenge.  :)  Happy Birthday SSS Challenge!!!

 
You have plenty of time to play along and wish them a Happy Birthday for a chance to win a present yourself.  ;)

Wishing you many more years of challenges and inspiration!

Supplies
Paper: Sew Lovely (Carte Bella), Pool Party (SU), Pink Pirrouette (SU)
Dies: Happy Birthday Extravaganza (Memory Box),  Heart Rainfall (Simon Says Stamp Exclusive Die)
Misc: Crystal Effects (SU)

Casual FUN + Blog Hop Winner

It's Thurdsay.  Are you ready for a sneak peek at the new StampNation challenge this week?   There's lots of exciting ground to cover today, so grab your favorite beverage and enjoy.

 First up, an announcement.  The winners were chosen from last week's blog hop and one of the randomly chosen commenters came from my blog!  Can I get a Woot-Woot?!!!

If you are one of the winners be sure to email Catherine at catherine@catherinepooler.com to get your free month of membership started.  See you both in the forums.  :)


Are you ready for more exciting news?  We have two new guest designers joining us in April  Allison Cope of  Your Memories and Amy Kolling of Stamp-n-Paradise.  Both of these ladies have more talent in their fingertips than I can hope to find in my entire body.  I'm excited to see what inspiration they will bring to StampNation.  Be sure to stop by their blogs and leave them some love.

Now for that sneak peek I promised.  It's a super FUN challenge sponsored by CAS-UAL Fridays Stamps, a fun, edgy and trendy stamp company.   The stamp set I used for my challenge card was Woot-Woot!  Totally appropriate for today, don't you think?
 

You can see the full card on StampNation in the challenge forum. I wanted to show you more from this fabulous sponsor so I made a card just for today using my personal favorite stamp set and die from CAS*UAL Fridays Stamps, Love Notes and Heart Note Die.  

To bring a little bit of the adorable note stamp into the card I clear embossed the space behind the heart. It's subtle, but really tied in the sentiment to the backdrop.  Little sequins from #prettypinkposh above and below my heart note die add just the finishing touch my card needed.

Have you had enough fun for one post?  One more little tidbit for you.

CAS*UAL Fridays is offering up a $25 gift certificate to one participant in this week's challenge at StampNation!!!!   All you have to do is make a fun card and post it to Challenge 123.  What would you get with $25 at CAS*UAL Fridays?

  

Welcome Spring ~ SC77I

It's a new month and time for a new Inspiration photo at Stampin' Celebration.  You're going to love using this photo collage to jumpstart your creativity.

SC77I

So many wonderful elements to draw from.   As I was creating this card Spring was finally in the air.  Don't you just love the way the air smells on a cool evening in early Spring?  I just had to pull out the stamp set I bought in December and have been waiting months to use.

As you can see I was inspired by all three pictures.  The flowers along with a touch of green in the photo on the left, the fuzzy tan bunny in the top picture and the lace/trim wrapped around the eggs in the bottom picture.  Not to mention the colors.  There was just a hint of rose on one of the eggs so I pulled that in on my butterflies.

This was a fun card to make.  I think my bunny needs a little more dazzling diamonds, but he's still super cute.

Now it's your turn.  Head on over to Stampin' Celebration and see how the rest of the design team interpreted the challenge and then show us how it inspires you!

Supplies:

Stamps: Easter Blessings (The Craft's Meow), Gorgeous Grunge (SU)

Paper:
Ink: Pistachio Pudding, Crumb Cake
Misc: Interlocking Creative Die (Penny Black), Various Ribbon & Trim (SU)

Celebrate SOG

***Note- Today is the last day to enter to win the StampNation & Some Odd Girl blog hop.  Clicky if you missed that post.  It's going to be something to celebrate.

This morning I decided to play in my stamp room before doing any other work.  A great way to start your day, don't you think?  I came up with this card for the Retro Sketches challenge.  Unfortunately the colors are really off in the picture.  I need natural light, but it's a gray morning here in SouthWest Washington.

rs#108

There was a little strip  of the balloon paper on my table as I was cleaning up so I decided to add it to the inside of the card.

This card will be going into my OWH box, so I tried to keep it pretty flat for mailing.  The "Celebrate" sentiment is perfect because it can be used for any kind of cerebration and not just birthday.

Supplies
Stamps: Everyday Smiles (Some Odd Girl)
Ink: Gumball Green
Paper: Birthday Basics DSP (SU), Basic Gray, Very Vanilla

Reminders
Today is the LAST DAY for Sale-A-Bration.  Be sure to order early so you don't miss out.

Today is the last day for StampNation members to use their 50% off coupon code for the Basics & Beyond class.

Today is the last day of the design team blog hop with Some Odd Girl, Kristy.

Today is the last day of March.  April starts tomorrow and that means it is almost my birthday month!  YAY APRIL!!!  :)