Another publication!

Hey everyone! I have to let you know about this awesome new online class I've signed up for. It's hosted by the one and only Christy Tomlinson (swoon!!). She is sharing videos each month explaining her crafty goodness, and I can't wait until I can watch the first video (hopefully that's on the docket for tonight!!). Check out the link to the class here!

This is a project published in this month's Hobby Lobby's Stamping, Stationary, and Scrapbooking Magazine. It was super fun and easy to make, especially since Glue Dots® were holding everything together!
My biggest suggestion for making cards or scrapbooking pages that coordinate but still have a ton of interest is to use papers out of the same stack. You're guaranteed a finished product that stands out from the crowd! I used The Celebration Stack by DCWV for every paper on this card!

I used a lot of stitching on this card: around the blue cardstock, and adding a little detail to the top of the pennant banner. The candle is a paper straw that I cut to size.
I added a little depth to the center by cutting out the same shape that was already on the card and adhering it with a Pop Up Glue Dot®. The Happy Birthday banner is also popped up to match the depth of the paper straw.

No birthday party is complete without a party hat, so I made one of those, too! Using a piece of cardstock from the same paper stack, I made the base of the hat, using Continuous Glue Lines® to adhere the edges together. I made a pom pom from some old yarn to stick to the top.






I was already feeling pretty high on the creative totem pole, so I went out on a limb and decided to sew some crepe paper for the bottom. I wasn't sure how my sewing machine would tolerate the fragile paper, but it went through like a breeze. I stitched a straight line down my folded paper, then used my fringe scissors to cut the edges.


 So I know for a lot of you creative, crafty folks, a magazine publication isn't the biggest deal in the world, but to me, this is huge!! I can't bring myself to actually give this card to anyone for their birthday...maybe some day I'll get over that, but no time soon!

Mom + Me = Love

Here's another page that I did on my scrapbooking weekend last October. Like I said in yesterday's post, I was trying to get a bunch of older pictures finished and onto pages, including these from my daughter's birth.
I came across a sketch from Creating Keepsakes that I followed for this layout. I love the two completely different patterned papers working together here. I've said it [a million] times before, and I'll probably say it [a million times] more: using paper that comes from the same paper pack takes the guesswork out of figuring out what 'goes'. Too matchy-matchy isn't my style, but getting unique papers to coordinate makes a page work!

 Here's a close up of that fabric flower. I love it!! My mother, who totally knows my style, bought a ribbon of these fabric flowers (joined by a mesh-type backing) from Stampin' Up!. I LOVE THEM! I used the Stampin' Write markers and colored it with the brush tip. Completely customizable and pretty!

I've been on a doily kick for quite some time now, stealing them from under cups at restaurants (classy, I know! LOL!), buying any and every style I can get my hands on! I used them on this page for not only visual interest, but journaling spots, as well. I didn't want my journaling to be too bold on the page, so I used a soft colored marker to write in my text.


Whew! Two days of blogging in a row! Someone call a doctor...I might have a fever!!

I'm alive. I promise!

Wow.

A two month hiatus.

Seriously?!
Whew!


The holidays around here went quick and were super busy, but we had a great time visiting family out of state and close by, as well. The kids had a great time all month with their special elf friend, Chippy (Elf on the Shelf).

Back in the middle of October (sheesh...that was a long time ago!!) I went to a scrapbooking retreat with my great friend, Kasey, and my mom, Marty. It was just us, a big house with ample space, and our crafty supplies for three whole days! We had a ton of fun, and I'm really excited to be able to set something up again soon!

While I was there, I got a TON of layouts done. I went back to when my daughter was born (she's almost four now...lol!) and got a bunch of those hospital pictures done. Feels good to get things finished!! Over the next few days, I'll be posting about random pages I got done while I was there. I didn't take the time to write down paper packs and designers, so I hope no one minds!

I played with a million different layouts to fit all 11 pictures, a title and journaling on the page. I love how it turned out!

This is a page that had no kids on it...I think that's a first! Before we moved states, we tried to have pretty regular game nights with our friends Scott and Jennifer. It was always a hilarious time with lots of food, laughs, and usually at least one of us making a food of ourselves. The night of these pictures, we were playing a game called Quelf, which lends to our crazy antics with the very nature of the game.

The title is a mixture of three different Thicker styles.

Here's to hoping for more regular posts!!
Happy New Year!

Glue Dots 20/20 Blog Hop

Welcome to the Glue Dots® Blog Hop! If you need to start from the beginning, click here!

First, I would like it to be known that for the first time in over 11 years of marriage, I HAVE WON!! It really did help that my son played up the 'puppy dog eyes', pushed out his lower lip, and begged, but our Halloween decorations were put away, immediately followed by bringing out the Christmas decorations!! I've always been made to wait until the day after Thanksgiving to begin decorating, but it looks like the "kids are only kids once" talk worked!!! He's just lucky that we always get a live tree, or that would be up, too.

Needless to say, Christmas, decorating, and gift giving is in the forefront of my mind right now! While I'm always up for a good Christmas time sale or bargain, there are times when nothing matches a handmade present.

With this blog hop, we're focusing on handmade gifts that are inexpensive - under $20, and can be made in 20 minutes or less.

My project for this hop is a pack of greeting cards, complete with envelopes. I love when I get these as gifts, because sending a handmade card is never easier than when you have a stash on hand.

Card 1

Card 2

Card 3

Card 4

Card 4 - close up

Card 5

Card 5 - close up

I kept with my 'one paper pack' routine with these cards. They all coordinate without being too matchy-matchy. For this pack, I used the Glitz 6" paper pack Color Me happy. I loved this pack because there are two neat pages that allow this to be a project under 20 minutes:

fotobella.com

Pages like this are built-in sentiments, which is a huge time saver, if you ask me! The straight lines allow you to use your paper trimmer to cut these out in a hurry.

Another time saving hint? When you use sprays or mists, place doilies onto your craft mat. While you're spraying your project, they get some of the overspray and are easily stored away, all ready to use (I used them on Cards 2 and 3).

Easy way to mix it up? Use Pop Up Glue Dots® to add some dimension to your cards (used on Card 4 and 5)

Cards are really easy to package up, too! Stack them with their envelopes, tie a pretty ribbon around them, and you're set! You could even throw stamps onto the cards to make it that much easier for the recipient.

My pack of cards and envelopes was $0.99 at my favorite paper supply store, the paper pack was $2.99 (love those 40% off coupons!!), the ribbon to tie it all up was $1.00 for the roll, and the few ribbons I used on the cards were $0.99 for a sample pack. Total: $5.97! Score!!!

Side note: I can see my mother making me a stack of cards, all stamped and addressed back to her...she's great at subtle hints like that!! lol!!


Now that you're finished at my blog, leave a comment with your favorite card, enter our giveaway, and hop on to the next Dottess!

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Glue Dots Blog

Danielle

Dawn

Donna

Erin  (you are here!!)

Grace  (go here next!!)

Jessica

Joy

Samantha

Smitha

Meet the Dottesses!

Erin's Favorite Things

I can't even put into words how excited I am to be joining the Glue Dots® Resource Team for a third term!! I have been given so many phenomenal opportunities to expand my horizons and to stretch the boundaries of my creative box. Three years of Glue Dots® also means three years of this blog!! I started this blog to be eligible to apply for their design team, and I never, in a million years, even thought I'd be picked, let alone be doing this for a third year. 

I'm really excited to share a little bit about myself with you in my list of Favorite Things!

Favorite adhesive: I'm going to assume 

you know this, but it's Glue Dots®!! LOL!

Favorite type of Glue Dot: 

Strong tie between micro's and 1" lines. 

I use them both like they're going out of style.

Favorite paper company: Another tie - 

Crete Paper and Basic Grey. 

Favorite online craft store: Scarlet Lime

Favorite brick & mortar store: Hobby Lobby. 

They always have the best clearance section!

Favorite color: Olive green

Favorite movie to watch while crafting:
Wonder Man (It's an old Danny Kaye movie. Don't ask me why...so random, right?!)

My camera: Canon Rebel

Favorite snack while crafting: I'm usually too
zoned into what I'm doing to eat (so crafting is kind of like a diet!)

Favorite clothes to craft in: One rule - no buttons, snaps or zippers.

Favorite artist to follow: Christy Tomlinson

Favorite place for inspiration: Pinterest (follow me!!)

Favorite subject to scrapbook: my family

Top 3 Blogged Projects:

-You Are the Light of the World

-Ghoultide Blog Hop

-A Mixed Media Weekend

So that's just a little bit about me!


Glue Dots® is having an awesome giveaway for this blog hop, and all you have to do is sign up below! I hear you get a brownie points for following me on my Twitter page, and you can also follow me on my Pinterest page, and, most importantly, here on my blog!! Leave me a comment telling me what your favorite Glue Dot® product is and a link to your Pinterest page so I can follow your crafty goodness, too!!


Here's our awesome giveaway!! You have until 12am CST on 10/31/13 to enter, and the winner will be announced on the morning of the 31st. Good luck, and thanks for stopping by!!!!

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Dawn Barrett

Donna Budzynski 

Erin Bullock

Joy Dickson (go here next!)

Jessica Griffin

Danielle Hunter 

Smitha Katti 

Samantha Taylor 

Grace Tolman

Glue Dots Blog 

12x12 paper - You Have Met Your Match!!

I've been taking some time to organize, clean and purse my stash lately. It feels great!!! I sat down one night last week and sorted through ALL of my 12x12 paper. Stacks, loose and scraps...all of it. I came to the conclusions that a) I'm a smart shopper, b) I am very unorganized, and c) I have way too much paper!!!

I decided I'm a pretty smart shopper, because I always say that to get a page or card to easily coordinate, use papers from the same line. They'll match without being 'matchy-matchy'. This being said, I have a lot of loose 12x12 that I want organized together. I've gotten a few lines that are sent in a plastic bag, seals at the top, kept together and organized, but I also have a lot that's sent loose. 

I mentioned to my Dad that it would be fabulous to be able to find plastic bags at the store that were at least 13x13 to be able to hold all of my paper lines, and what did he find?!

YEA!!! So they're Hefty brand 2.5 gallon bags that measure 14 3/8 in. by 16 in. I'm sure there are other brands out there that carry 2.5 gallon bags, but these are the first I've seen!! They even have a zipper at the top for easy transportation. I'm headed to a scrapbooking weekend with a great friend and my mom in two weeks and these will be PERFECT to get everything there in one piece!

Now to get that stack of papers into these bags...wish me luck!!!

A Quick Fall Teacher Gift

I'm a sucker for $1 bins, and I spotted a pack of Fall foam pumpkins I couldn't pass up! A quick change of the cardboard top, and you have an easy Fall gift for the favorite teacher in your life!

I added a Fall rub-on from Karen Foster Designs, some Fall leaves, and a few buttons stuck on with Glue Dots.