Elegance Made Simple

One thing I love about what I do as a Close To My Heart consultant is the network of people I am blessed to interact with on a daily basis.  Other CTMH consultants, consultants from other paper craft companies, crafters who just love what they do.....just a plethora of inspiration.  This morning I sat down to combine ideas from various contacts and came up with a simple card that I just adore it's sense of elegance.

I used two colors (Saddle Exclusive Inks by CTMH and Cocoa cardstock, also from CTMH) in addition to the card base which was Colonial White.  OK, so how did I do this?  Well this is what you do:

Take your 5 1/2" x 4 1/4" card base and pressure emboss it using  a Sissix embossing folder.  I used my Sissix Texture Boutique

Then roll a rubber brayer in ink color of your choice ( you might not want to use a pigment ink with this project).   Now here is the fun part.  You can either roll the brayer over the inside of your embossing folder OR directly over the raised portion of the embossed card.  Be gentle and be sure to clean your folder with a baby wipe when you are done.

Then embellish...done!!!!!  See?  Told you it was easy.....I would like to make note that I got this idea from Sharon Cline who is an awesome Stampin' Up rep I know from my area and who taught us this technique at a crop we were at in February.  I couldn't wait to try it !!!!

OK, now you try it and have fun!

~Danielle

Happy Color Challenge Tuesday!

Hey, everyone, happy Tuesday!  I am so excited to play along with Leslie Germain over at The Memory Nest along with her team and many other paper crafting peeps as we took the "color challenge".  This is the card I created using the color scheme given.

Here I used some retired CTMH patterned paper AND some current as well (Miracle and Chantilly).  The stamped sentiment is from the April Stamp of the Month and says "You're Tweet".

I love the way the colors flow together. With Topiary Green, Chocolate, Sweet Leaf, and Crystal Blue, whatever you create is sure to be a hit!

Thanks, girls, for having me play along. It was big fun and I look forward to the next challenge!

~Danielle

Where is Spring? Using This Time Wisely!

So today is my first day off from work (I am a teacher) as we are supposed to be enjoying Spring break.  This is what I woke up to.......

Ummmmm....not very Springy (just sayin').  So I decided to look at the glass as being half full and got to catching up on my scrapping.  I must say, I got quite a bit done.  Take a look at two of the layouts I did.  They are already to adhere my Easter pics!

Even if the weather outside is just plain stinky...the beautiful "Chantilly" paper brings me hope that Spring weather will arrive soon.  For your very own pack of Chantilly go here.  You will even find coordinating stamp sets, fabrics and embellishments.  Let me know if I can help you.

~Danielle

April Classes Posted! Giveaway!

Happy Saturday!!!  Day #1 of Spring break and I couldn't be happier....I am posting April's scrapbook and card classes today that way all who may want to join us have time to plan.  April is a big month-lots going on including the "Cropical Paradise" scrapbook event at Loudoun Valley Community Center on April 20th.  I am so looking forward to hanging with some great girls and cropping the day away!  Ok, so here goes.....

Our featured paper this month is "Buzz and Bumble".  Here is what our pages will look like for the scrapbooking classes

All you need to purchase is the "Buzz and Bumble" paper pack ($9.95) and the "Buzz and Bumble" My Stickease Assortment ($4.95).  Both can be purchased here.  Please allow 10 days for delivery.  Now here are the dates and times of classes:

Thursday, April 4th @ 6:30p
Thursday, April 11th @ 6:30p
Monday, April 15th @ 6:30p
Thursday, April 25th @ 6:30p

Please email me and let me know what day you would like to join us.  Are you long distance and would still like to complete these pages?  That is totally OK!!!!  I can send you your very own kit with paper pre-cut and instructions for $25 (which includes the cost of shipping and tax)  Just contact me and we will get you all hooked up.

Now for card classes....pics will be posted soon so keep your eyes peeled, but in the meantime, here are the dates for classes:

Tuesday, April 9th @ 6:30p
Thursday, April 18th @ 6:30
Tuesday, April 23rd @ 6:30p

With all that said and done...I have a giveaway going on as well!!!!  The first 10 people who make a comment to this post get entered to win this adorable "Quick Cards-Bumble Bee" stamp!  It is absolutely PERFECT for creating your very own handmade cards.  You have to comment to qualify!  Winner will be announced March 31st! 

So there you have it....let me know if you have any questions at all.  Hope you can join us.  Let's create together!

~Danielle

Sweet Card! Love Chantilly!

Here is a super quick card I made using some of the scraps I had left from my Chantilly paper pack....did some layouts with a couple of my peeps last night.  Here are some that we did with our Workshop on the Go kit....

More embellishments and "titles" to come once pictures get placed.  Great paper pack with lots of color options!  Click here to order your own Chantilly paper and accessories!!!! 

Feeling Renewed!

Hello, everyone, and let me preface by apologizing that I have not posted in awhile.  I have been working on some changes (all good) some subtle and some more intense...LOL.  So now that all that is done, welcome to my most recent post.

I have been super busy (and that's the way I like it!) between teaching full time, taking care of my little peeps at home, and sharing my love for scrapbooking with some pretty great people!  I have had the opportunity to help out some "community helpers" by helping organize some local crops this year.  I am truly blessed to be given these opportunities.  For example, I was able to bring some scrappers together to benefit the "Stop, Drop, and Crop" event at the Hamilton Safety Center.  What a great day with awesome ladies!  Harmony Hall was a wonderful venue and I thank them for giving me the chance to help! As a "make and take" I used Close To My Heart's "For Always" to show the girls how to create a beautiful page.  To embellish, we added some paper flowers that I cut from the Cricut using our Artiste cartridge and we rolled using the Quilling Tool.  Here is how they came out

Here are some other layouts I made using the same paper

I am beginning to plan the make and takes for the next upcoming crop which is scheduled to be on Saturday, April 20th from 8a-7p at Loudoun Valley Community Center.  I have to give a HUGE (and I mean HUGE) " thank you" to my team for all their help and support with these events.  I couldn't do it without you ladies!!!  Thank you, Chrissy, for getting out the word, sharing your creations, and always being willing to help any way you can!  You always go above and beyond and you are appreciated! Ursula, for always making me laugh, asking for local help and support, gathering your scrapping peeps to join us, and giving tons of ideas!  Emily, for always being up to scrap, coming to our events, and looking at all our scrappy mess ups in a positive light!  Michelle, thank you for joining us whenever you can and always picking up where we left off when we get together!!!  That's what it is ALL about!  We have lots of surprises in store for all at our Cropical Paradise in April!!!!  If croppers register by March 20th they get the early bird special and get in for $25.....AWESOME!!!!  After March 20th, registration goes up to $35 per person...but I guarantee you will think it is well worth it!  All early registrants get extra tickets to put towards door prizes (one of which is a brand new Polaroid 300 camera with 2 boxes of film!)...so excited!!!

Next up, I am also currently in talks with another countywide organization in the hopes I can bring the art of scrapbooking to the younger peeps of the community.  More on that after my final meeting with them on the 29th!  Fingers and toes crossed!

Ok, so stay posted for more information coming your way about all the upcoming classes and events for the Spring.

Keep crafting!
~Danielle