Happy Halloween!

Boo!
:)

Just in the knick of time, the October newsletter from Bella Blvd is ready and available for you to download now!
It is full of awesome inspiration AND there is a giveaway at the end that you don't want to miss!

Click {here} to download the newsletter.

If that link doesn't work for you, see if you can get to the newsletter from {here}.

*****
Have a happy and safe Halloween!
:)

gretchen

A closer look...

Hi!
I thought it would be fun to show a couple extra details of my Christmas layout that is in the
Nov/Dec issue of Creating Keepsakes.

{by the way, that small circle on the bottom of the front cover is a little blip of my layout. booyah! cover girl! hehe)

*****

The assignment I was given was to create a Christmas layout using "subway art" for the title and/or journaling.

How fun!
Here is the layout I made...
{click on it to see it larger}

(As seen in the November/December 2012 of Creating Keepsakes magazine. Copyright Creative Crafts Group. Posted with prior permission from the publisher)

 To get started, grabbed some subtly lined patterned paper.
I have issues keeping things in straight lines so I thought the lined paper would help me out a bit.

And it did!
Then I chose a central word to use for my title.
"Christmas" seemed an easy enough title and I used the big chipboard letters from the Bella Blvd "Christmas Wishes" line.

I added my "Christmas" title around the center of the sheet of lined patterned paper.

And then from there I just decorated around the title.

I used a bunch of stickers, chipboard pieces, and brads.
I added bigger words first and then filled in the gaps with smaller stickers and chipboard embellishments.

I adhered some of the stickers with foam adhesive to give the layout more dimension.

This was a fun little creation!

One more thing...

Creating Keepsakes is offering a cool, free download of some subway art that you could use on layouts or cards.

Fun, huh?!

Click {here} for your free download!

*****

Thanks for stopping by today!
:)
gretchen

It's getting spooky up in here!

Well it's not really all that spooky...yet!
:)
But it is all about cards over on the Bella Blvd blog today and I made a couple of Halloween-y cards for the occasion.
*****
 I still love Bella's Too Cute to Spook line!

And the new orange stripe designer tape is a perfect compliment to it.

I used black cardstock as the base for this card.

Because it is hard to write on black cardstock, I added white paper inside the card (so I can actually write something to whoever I send this card to!) and then decorated it a bit to make it fun!

How cute is this ghost from the Too Cute to Spook Chipboard Icons?!

I pulled out my big circle punches to create a small background for the ghost on the front of the card.

I also used the circle punches to help decorate the inside of the card.

OK that's all I've got for now!

I hope your Halloween is going to be fun and spooky!
Happy day!
:)
gretchen

New Issue!!

The Nov/Dec issue of Creating Keepsakes goes on sale today!!

Here is a fun sneak peek of the issue...

Open publication - Free publishing

*****

Here is a very tiny version of the layout I have in this issue.

{click on it to see if it gets bigger}

Supplies: Patterned paper (Bella Blvd, Lily Bee Designs), Stickers (Bella Blvd), Chipboard (Bella Blvd), Adhesive & Pen (Creative Memories)
*****

This makes me excited that Christmas is right around the corner!
:)
Now go get a copy of this issue for yourself!
Happy Tuesday!
gretchen

A "Kiss Me" layout

Yay!! It's a Bella Blvd layout by me!
I've made several cards already and now here's a layout with the new Kiss Me line!

I am loving this new line!

The colors in the picture on this layout (that is my husband with his brother and sister with their grandmother) are pretty neutral so it was easy to match up with the colors of the Kiss Me patterned papers.

I cut out a strip of chevrons from a sheet of patterned paper to use as a border underneath the picture.

The patterned paper behind the picture and journaling is actually the Bella Blvd Sophisticates "Oyster" patterned paper- it coordinates perfectly with this line!

And I couldn't resist fussy cutting a few small flowers from to add just below the journaling.

Thanks for stopping by today!
Happy Monday to ya!
:)
gretchen

Kiss Me projects!!

For the next few days there are going to be all kinds of projects using the new Kiss Me collection up on the Bella Blvd blog!
And I am going to share some of the things I have made here too!
Get ready to love this new line!

I did a lot of fussy cutting on this card!

Playing with a different sized card here...

And doing more fussy cutting!
:)

Pul-lease take note of how the sentiment above is spelled...

f-a-v-e

That is "fave" with an "E"!

Not "fav" without an "E"

like soooome people think it is spelled!

Case closed.

I win!
:)

OK I digress...

One more card for ya!

OK now go check out the Bella blog for more fun inspiration and projects using this fun new line!

TGIF!
:)

gretchen

NEW Bella Blvd: Kiss Me!

OK pay no attention to this ugly blog...still working on it!
BUT instead venture over to the Bella Blvd blog where the brand new Kiss Me line is being revealed!

And make sure to leave a comment over on the Bella blog for a chance to win some of this fun collection before you can even buy it!!

*****
Here's a simple card I made using some of the Kiss Me patterned papers and stickers.

If you love chevrons, you are going to love this line for sure!

OK why are you still hanging out at my disaster of a blog??

:)
Go over to the much prettier Bella Blvd blog and check out the new stuff!!
Hurry up!!
:)

gretchen

While this is under construction...

...let me re-route you to the Creative Memories blog where I have a post up about how to create your own chevrons using the Creative Memories Square Maker (aka square punch).

{Products used: Creative Memories "Dream" patterned paper and layered stickers}

That blog is a lot prettier than this one is right now!

Check it out!
:)

HOLY CRAP!!

this is what happens when i am bored at work during lunch.

i start thinking i am smart enough to tweak my blog and change the look of it.

oh lordy!

now it is U-G-L-Y!

don't worry, i will find somebody really smart enough to fix it!:)

KI Update

OK have any of you been wondering what is up with KI Memories??
Did you see hear that they were bought by Hampton Arts?
That happened back a few months ago but even since then they have been a little quiet on the crafting front.

Well I am excited to tell you that KI has a brand new line out and it is on sale now!
The new line is called "Flashback" and it is an incredibly cool line!
There are fabulous new papers of course along with new glitter and cardstock stickers, FILM STRIP lace cardstock (swoon!), cool clear stamps, and LOTS of other fun stuff!
I am dying to dive into the box of Flashback I just got!
The brilliant Shannon Tidwell posted a layout over on the Hampton Arts blog last week so {check it out} for a peek of how cool the Flashback line is!

Until I get to play with Flashback, here are a few things I have been making with some other KI products...

 I made this card with the fun Hot Date line. 

I added a 2x3" pocket to the inside of the card to hold a gift card.
These small pockets are the perfect size for gift cards!

Here is a simple layout using the Over the Rainbow collection.

I love KI's swirly glitter stickers!
They might just be some of my favorite products of all time!

And here is one more card using the Hot Date line.

Isn't the heart Puffy so cute??!
:)

Here's a little peek inside the card too.

Yay for the return of KI Memories!!
Projects with the new Flashback line coming soon!
Happy Monday!
:)
gretchen

Happy World Cardmaking Day!

Happy day!!

It's a fun one for us crazy card makers!

And you know there are all kinds of events going on in the paper crafting community to celebrate!

Like over on the Bella Blvd blog, for example...

There are 14 hours of inspiration going on and all kinds of fun giveaways!

Make sure to check it out!

And of course I have a card to share in honor of the day...

I used the "Baby Girl" line from Bella Blvd to make this card to take to a baby shower in a couple of weekends. 

Have a great day and go make some cards!
:)

gretchen

I am feeling Fall!

Oooooh I can feel a bit of a chill in the air! 

I am loving it!

We've got Halloween around the corner and then Thanksgiving will be here before we know it.

And I already have a card ready for it!
:)

I made this one using the new Thankful line from Bella Blvd.
I cut the turkey out of the Cute Cuts sheet.

So cute!

Thanks for stopping by and

happy Fall y'all!!
:)
gretchen

Same team, new term!

Today officially starts the new term for the Bella Blvd design team. 

And I am so excited to be a part of it for another year!

So whether you like it or not, you're stuck seeing my cards for another year!

:)
Yippeeeee!!

Like this one, for example, that I made using Bella's Thankful line...

And this not-so-birthday-ish card using the Birthday Girl line...

Introductions of the new Bella Blvd team members will be up on the Bella Blvd blog all week.

Make sure to check out all the creative talent over there!

And have a very happy Monday!!

:)

gretchen