Christmas in August!

It doesn't have quite the same ring as Christmas in July, but I am too late for that!

Yesterday over the Bella Blvd blog was "What's New Wednesday" where projects are featured using the newest products from Bella Blvd. 

So I decided to play with the new Christmas Countdown line and get a jump on my Christmas cards!

It's never too early to start is it?!

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This is what I made... 

I got a little crazy and threw some yellow into the traditional red & green color scheme!

:) 

Check out {this post} over on the Bella Blvd blog to see more projects using the newest products!

OK short & sweet from me today!

Have a good one!
:)

gretchen

a 2-pager!

Good morning! 

I've got a 2-page layout to share with you today. 

I find that I end up making a lot of 2-pagers because I take too many pictures & have a lot to say about them! 

The page I've got to share with you today is about a trip I got to make out to Utah to hang out with the Creating Keepsakes team back in April. 

I used the "Our Summer" kit from Noel Mignon to make this one.
I really didn't even use a lot of product on this page.
I used cardstock as the background, some patterned paper, chipboard letters for the title, and then a bit of twine. 

Sometimes there is just not room for too much product or else it starts to look too busy!
Here are a couple close up shots of the page...

Ok that's all I've got.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Have a good one!

:)

FYI

2 things:

1) Last week I had a post up on the Creating Keepsakes blog showing a more detailed look at my half-marathon album published in CK's latest special issue called "All About Albums".

My mini album is a 6x6 2-ring binder album that I am using to keep track of the half marathons I have run.

19 half marathons I have run! 

The most recent page I added was a half my brother & I ran in Birmingham this past February. 

Supplies: 6x6 paper pad (DCWV), Patterned paper (Elle's Studio), Die cuts (Bella Blvd, Elle's Studio), Chipboard (Basic Grey)

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Now do me a favor and go check out the full post with many more details over on the CK blog {here}.

And (secondly) while you are over there, go leave a comment on {this post} for a chance to win some loot from My Mind's Eye, Elle's Studio, and Pebbles!

:)
Happy Tuesday to ya!
gretchen 

Don't forget!

Time is a tickin'!

Submissions are due September 10th!

Sept/Oct issue of Creating Keepsakes

I made the cover!!

Well I am not actually on it...not my face anyway.

I mean that I made the layout on the cover!

So go get a copy!

:)

And have a happy Friday!

gretchen

Fun stamping technique!

Hey!
Good morning!

Y'all know I am not much of a stamper so you are probably shocked that I am actually sharing a "stamping technique" today.

Well pick your jaw up from the floor because I am!

Disclaimer: I am pretty sure this is not some earth-shattering, never-done-before technique but I am sharing it nonetheless.

:)

I am going to show you how to make the flower on this card.

I made this card with my "Our Summer" kit from Noel Mignon and in the kit was the teardrop-shaped ink pad that I used.

If you don't have the same ink pad I used, you can also use one of the cateye ink pads.

All you need is a sheet of white paper/cardstock, ink pad, pen, & scissors.

And this is what you do...

1). Stamp the ink pad all over the white paper.
These will be your "petals".
I use 5 petals for my flower but I stamped a few extra so I could choose the ones I liked best.

2). Outline the petals with black pen.
Don't worry about outlining them perfectly.
Sometimes the messiness is more fun!

3). Now cut them out.
Once again, don't worry about cutting them out precisely.

4). Arrange them like a flower and add a fun center!

Done! 

Now you have a fun flower to add to a project!

So there it is...probably the one and only stamping technique you will ever see from me!

:)

Thanks for stopping by today!

You're simply lovely

Just a simple card to share with you today...

{supplies: KI Memories}

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And have yourself a lovely day!

:)

gretchen

A little KI Memories love

I haven't shared any KI Memories stuff lately.

Shame on me!

So here is a layout I made using some of the "Simply Lovely" mini celebrations paper. 

This one is all about our rad team socks that we debuted at a race this summer. 

Don't be jealous!
:)

I love all the bright colors in this line!

I used lots of strips of the patterned papers to add pops of color to the page. 

Hey it's a great way to use up extra scraps that are just lying around!

Alright, friends, that's all I've got.

Have a good one!
:)

gretchen

Bella Blvd Design Team Call!!

Bella Blvd is looking to reload their team for 2013-14!

Check out the Bella Blvd blog for more details!

And good luck if you decide to apply!!

:)

gretchen

Any Project Lifers out there??

Well then check out {this post} over on the CK blog for a chance to win some of the latest Project Life goodies on the market!!

Running mix

Hi!

I've got another layout to share using the super fun "Our Summer" kit from Noel Mignon!

There are a couple of cute "musical" papers in the kit so I thought it was time to do another "running mix" layout!

Just for fun, here are a couple of ooooooold layouts I made about the music I was listening to at the time.

Hey, quit laughing! 

They aren't too bad!!

:)

Man I loved those funky chipboard letters!

{do you remember the Love, Elsie line from KI Memories?? LOVED it! still hoarding some of it actually}

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And now I think it is time to do a more up-to-date layout!

:)

Apparently I still love strip journaling.

That hasn't changed in 6 years!

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These chipboard Thickers from American Crafts are rad!

The size is smaller than a lot of other Thickers and that comes in very handy sometimes.

And I love the "cork" look!

I am loving all things Elle's Studio these days!

Well I am really loving die cuts, tags, and journaling spots these days and Elle just happens to make some of the best around!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Happy Wednesday!

:)

gretchen

Pinterest Inspiration

Good morning!

Today is a fun day over on the Bella Blvd blog. 

All the projects over there are inspired by Pinterest!

This is the image from Pinterest that a few of us were given to work with...

We were to take this image and make something inspired by it!
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Let me show you what I made!

Unlike this cool piece of inspiration, I didn't use strips of washi tape to create the background of this card. 

Instead I used different strips of patterned paper and a border sticker to create a similar look. 

I couldn't help myself...I wanted an excuse to play with the new Bella Blvd goodies!!

Here is a different view of the card...

For this next card I was inspired by the large initial in the middle of the gray background. 

I cut the "&" out of a sheet of one of new patterned papers and used it as the central focus of the card. 

Then I added the "u" and "me" stickers around the ampersand. 

Then I cut the hearts out of a different sheet patterned paper and used them to embellish above & below the sentiment.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Make sure to check out the Bella Blvd blog to see several more cool projects inspired by Pinterest!

Have an awesome day!!

:)

gretchen

Challenge: Writing letters home

Hi! 

It's time for the second challenge of the day over at Noel Mignon's Summer Camp!

Get excited!

When I went to camp as a child I looooved when the mail came everyday. 

I loooooved getting letters from home.

And it was a really good day if I got a letter & a fun care package!!

Score!

So here is your last challenge for the day: 

Make a card and then actually give it to somebody!

Make somebody's day with a handmade card!

Then put the card in the mail, slip it in your husband's car before he goes to work, leave it on the desk of a co-worker, slip it into your child's lunchbox, etc.
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Here is what I made for this challenge: 

My grandmother just moved to a new home so I am going to send this to her as a little "welcome to your new home" happy!

I used the "Our Summer" kit from Noel Mignon to make this one.

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It's not too late to get in on the fun over at Noel Mignon's Summer Camp!

Join us over on the Facebook page!

:)

gretchen

Challenge: Archery

Good morning!

It's my day to post challenges for Summer Camp over at Noel Mignon!

YAY!!

It has been an exciting week so far!

And it is only Wednesday!

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One of my favorite activities at camp every summer was archery.

Was I any good at it??

Absolutely not!

I was terrible in fact.

But it didn't matter.

I signed up every year!!

So my challenge to you this morning is an archery challenge:
Use arrows on a layout!

Here is the 2-page layout I made for the challenge:

I don't know how much of a "challenge" this is really.

It's an easy one for sure!

Arrows are all over the place right now!

Hint: If you have the "Our Summer" kit from Noel Mignon you are all set!

There are lots of arrows in this kit:

arrow embellishments, arrow patterned paper, even arrow washi tape!

It's not too late to get in on the fun over at Noel Mignon's Summer Camp.

Join us over on the Facebook page!

And thanks for stopping by today!

:)

gretchen

More birthday cards

Hi!

I've got a couple more birthday cards to share with you.

I like to keep a stash of cards like this on hand because you never know when a birthday is going to sneak up on you! 

So I used some of the new KI Memories to build my stash! 

OK short and sweet from me today!

Don't forget that Summer Camp over at Noel Mignon is going on this week!

Join us!!

Have an awesome day!
:)

gretchen