Today is a gift

TGIF!! 

This morning I'm just sharing another card using the Flashback line from KI Memories!

How fun is this “Smile” washi tape from KI!!?

The base of this card measures 4” wide x 5.5” tall. 

However the banner sticker I used here is wider than 4" & it extends off the edges of the card. 

But don’t worry…this card will still fit in a 5.5”x 5.5” envelope!

:)
That's all I've got!
Have a great day and an awesome weekend!
:)

gretchen

The newest Special Issue from Creating Keepsakes went on sale last week.

For everyone who wishes there was more boy-ish stuff in the scrapbooking market, you will love this issue!

 

You know these special issues are fat anyway so this one is filled with tons & tons of manly ideas for your pages!!

You can check out a great sneak peek of the issue {HERE}.

And you can get a copy of the issue {HERE} or wherever you like to buy your magazines!

*****
Here is one of the layouts I have in this issue.

This one is all about my husband, my little brother Stuart, and their friendship.

Have a great day!
:)

gretchen

Because freedom isn't free

...thank you!

Supplies: Bo Bunny {new} Anthem line

*****
Happy Memorial Day friends!

:)

gretchen

Hi there

Just sharing a fun but simple card today using the Flashback line from KI Memories!

I jumped on the hexagon bandwagon on this card!

 I used kraft cardstock as the base for this card, added a little patterned paper, and then used a bunch of hexagon stickers to complete the background here. 

 I adhered the “Hi there” sticker with foam adhesive to give the card a bit of dimension and texture. 

 And I finished the card off with a few small heart stickers also adhered with foam adhesive.

Thanks for looking!

Have an awesome day!
And happy 3 day weekend!

:)

gretchen

Bella Blvd + Hampton Art

Shame on me for just now mentioning this since it has been going on all week!

Make sure to check out the Bella Blvd and Hampton Art blogs for all kinds of stamping inspiration and fun giveaways!!

Want to see what I made for the occasion??

:)

*****

I have some little goodies I need to give to a couple of friends so I made tags to help decorate the gift bags. 

I used the "So glad we are friends" stamp from the "Sand & Surf" stamp set as sentiments for these tags. 

On this first tag, I stamped directly onto the tag (oh how that scares me!). 

 On this next tag, I first stamped the sentiment onto white cardstock. 

Then I cut the sentiment out and made it look like a small tag hanging from the ribbon. 

Then I made a card! 

I used a stamp from the "Kiss Me" set as the sentiment for this card. 

And it doubled as the center of the flower! 

I stamped the sentiment first onto a sheet of white cardstock. Then I used a circle punch to punch it out. 
I  adhered it to the center of the flower with foam adhesive for some fun dimension.

That's all I've got!

Thanks for stopping by today!

:)

gretchen

A good day 2 U

Happy Monday!

I thought this might be appropriate today.

*****

I've got a card to share using one of the fun swirly, glitter stickers from KI Memories (still one of my favorite KI products of all time!) combined with KI’s Flashbackline. 

These glitter border stickers are just so fun!

I actually cut the sun and cloud just to the left of the sentiment out of one of KI's new applique stickers. I had accidentally torn part of the sticker when I was trying to use it on another project. But it is just too cute (I mean, it is dimensional & it is already stitched!!) to just throw away! By cutting out the sun and cloud I was still able to salvage some of the sticker and use it as an embellishment on this card!

Well I hope you have a good day!
Thanks for stopping by!
:)
gretchen

10 years ago

This coming weekend is going to be a very exciting time for Stephanie over at Bella Blvd.

Her big wedding day is finally just 2 days away!

The design team at Bella Blvd thought it would fun to spend the days leading up to her special day sharing wedding layouts from the entire team.

And not just any wedding layouts, but layouts using photos from our own weddings!

We have all enjoyed traveling down memory lane as we dug out photos for these layouts.

Each designer is also sharing a few tidbits of marriage advice from their own personal experience.

*****
Want to see what I made??!
:)

Aw what babies we were!
:)

Here are a few little detailed shots of the layout.


And here is my expert marriage advice:It may seem silly and unromantic but my favorite marriage advice is this: Get a hobby!

Guys always have hobbies.

A lot of girls I know don't really have one and they sure do like to whine about it when their man is off doing his thing.

This is one of the main reasons I love scrapbooking!

It is my thing!
Husbands and wives don't have to do everything together.

We are each still individuals even when married, so it is good that we have things that we like to do apart.

So get a hobby!

And when your husband says he is going to play golf, you won't bug him about it because you have your own things you want to do!

:)
*****
Happy Thursday friends!
gretchen

In case you missed it...

 Here is the post I had up over on the CK blog.
*****
Have you gotten a chance to really look through the new May/June issue yet?? 
There are so many gorgeous layouts in the June Bride article. There are tons of creative ideas in the Beautiful Blooms feature showing you how to create your own flowers.
I love the pictures and layouts in the clever Blast from the Past article.
I was also really inspired by the Photo Tricks article toward the back of the issue.
It’s is all about scrapping your outtakes!
*****
As I was reading the article, I remembered that I had some pretty funny pictures leftover from Thanksgiving this past year. My husband and I were at my parents’ house for the weekend, and of course I thought it would be a good time to take some family pictures.
Let’s just say that there were more outtakes than there were good pictures from our little “photo shoot”.
But, inspired by the Photo Tricks article, I thought I would scrap them anyway!
I used Persnickety Prints to print  4″ x 4″ photos with a white border.
Then I created a rather simple layout to show off the silly pics!

 Supplies:
Photos printed at Persnickety Prints.Patterned paper: BoBunny Press and and Glitz Designs; Stickers: Fancy Pants Designs and Webster’s Pages; Decorative tape: KI Memories; Photo corners and adhesive: Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L; Pen: American Crafts.

Thanks again to all of you who left me comments over on the CK blog!

Have an awesome day!

:)

gretchen

Do you have boys??

Or do you need some boy-ish stuff to scrap with??!

If you, you should check out this great giveaway over on the

CK blog.

They are giving away the "Hey Boy" line from Basic Grey and the newest Special Issue from Creating Keepsakes called

"Scrapbooking Boys & Men".

That issue goes on sale this week!

So go leave a comment for a chance to win it!

:)

gretchen

Thanks for your comments!

A big THANK YOU to all of you who left me comments over on the Creating Keepsakes blog last week!

I do appreciate it!

Now will the lovely Jean Bullock please email me your address.

Because I picked your comment (from the ones left on this post here) as the winner of a little "thank you" prize from me!

*****

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

9

Timestamp: 2013-05-13 12:04:53 UTC

*****

And the 9th comment was this one:

Jean Bullock said...

I commented at CK. Loved the layout. You two are so cute.

May 8, 2013 at 10:41 PM

*****

My email address is gretchenmcelveen at yahoo dot com.

Thanks y'all!

I am have another post on the CK blog in June so we will do it again then!

:)
Happy Monday!

gretchen

Playing a little catch up...

I have a couple of cards that were up on the Bella Blvd blog yesterday...
*****
I have a cousin who got married over Thanksgiving weekend.

The wedding was in Rhode Island and we could not make the trip. Confession: They just celebrated their 6 month anniversary and I have not yet sent a gift.

So the inside of this card says, "Happy 6 month anniversary!" and I have a gift card to include.

Better late than never, right??!

I used a bunch of the new Bella Blvd stuff and tried to make the card extra cute so that hopefully she won't be too mad that I am sending it so late!

And one more...

Many times when I am kind of stuck in a rut, I go back and look through my albums or box of cards for a little inspiration.

I usually can find something that will at least help me get started on my next project.

Like this card, for example!

 I started this card with the intention of using the same design as I used on the "Congratulations" card above.

Obviously, it evolved into something completely different!

I still need to pick a winner from all of you who left me comments over on the CK blog.

I haven't forgotten!

Be back soon with that!!

:)

Happy Friday!

gretchen

National Scrapbook Day WINNER

I hope y'all had a fun National Scrapbook Day this past weekend!

Want to know who wins the loot from the giveaway here??
:)

With a little help from Random.org...

*****

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

2

Timestamp: 2013-05-08 12:19:27 UTC

*****

That makes the winner:

Jen D. said...

Love the layout here. It is very inspirational. Happy National Scrapbooking Day!

May 4, 2013 at 10:13 AM

*****

Congrats Jen!!

Email me with your shipping address and I will get your prize out to you ASAP!

{gretchenmcelveen at yahoo dot com}

*****

Happy Wednesday folks!

gretchen

Blogging at CK today & you could win some loot!

I have another post up on the Creating Keepsakes blog today!

Here's a little sneak peek for ya...

But what I need you to do is head over there and leave a comment for me.

:)

Then if you do, come back here and tell me that you did.

And I will pick a winner from all those who left comments and send them a box of goodies!!

So go now and leave a comment!!

And don't forget to leave a comment on the post below (well it's really 2 posts below) for a chance to win some more goodies!!

:)

gretchen

Speaking of National Scrapbooking Day...

You should really check out the CK blog because there are lots and lots of chances to win some loot!

And you can still leave a comment on the post below for a chance to win here!

:)

Happy day!

gretchen

Happy National Scrapbooking Day!! + a GIVEAWAY

For the occasion there are fun things going on over on the Bella Blvd blog all day long!

All of the design team members have made an "All About Me" layout and they are being shared throughout the day.

*****

My layout today is all about my love for bikes. 

For the longest time I have been a runner & thought spending money on a good bike was silly. 

Well if I ever actually told anybody that, 

I am eating my words now!

:) 

Here are a couple of close up pics of the layout. 

All the supplies here are Bella Blvd except for the black cardstock (DCWV), bling (My Mind's Eye), and the bike stamp (Fancy Pants). 

*****
OK let's do something fun!

How about a little giveaway to celebrate!

All you have to do is leave a comment here & I will pick a winner on Monday.

The winner gets this loot:

This prize pack includes crochet flowers & baby blooms from Bella Blvd, canvas brads from Cosmo Cricket, cute buttons from Fancy Pants, fun straws & pearl blossoms from Queen and Co., washi tape from Freckled Fawn, and burlap alphas from Little Yellow Bicycle. 

It's all great stuff!!

Just leave a comment for your chance to win!

*****

Happy National Scrapbooking Day!
:)

gretchen

Bella Blvd WAREHOUSE SALE!!

Calling all you Bella Blvd lovers or lovers of new product to play with!!

Y'all need to get in on this!

Go {here} to claim your box before they are gone!!

Happy Friday to you!

:)

gretchen

*****

P.S.

Tomorrow is National Scrapbooking Day!

And you might want to stop back by here because I have some stuff to give away!
:)