Happy Birthday to me!

ETA this post will remain at the top for one week (December 5th) scroll down to see the new stuff.

Well today is my birthday. So what am I going to do? I hope to spend much of the day in my jammies and in my craft room. Danica is like me and likes to sort and organize so she wants to help me do my craft room (it is an absolute disaster!). What a nice thought for her to want to do that - funny thing it was her suggestion which show how messy my room is! LOL
Now I just got the Spring CTMH catalogues here (available January 1st) and I have to say, happy birthday, christmas.... to me. On December 1st my order is going to be a biggie! Wow some fantabulous stuff coming out - CTMH just keeps getting better and better!

I think I will offer a small blog candy in honor of my birthday. Not sure what yet, maybe once I clean I'll find something. hehehe. To be entered I would like to hear what is your best birthday ever. Also post a link on your blog telling others about the candy and link back here letting me know. I will leave this open for one week, so you have until December 5th to get your entry in. I can't wait to hear all about it. For me, I just love that Danica wants to get in and clean with me.

Here is the Birthday Blog Candy:

Chic Happy Birthday

The sketch this week from 2 Sketches 4 You:
For my card I am including the Crazy 4 Challenges challenge - to use some punches. This is also a sneak peek of some exciting new stamps coming up in CTMH! LOVE them! The cake is mounted on foam squares.

Pattern Paper: MAMBI
Cardstock: CTMH
Stamps: Noteworthy, Piece of Cake (Feb SOTM sneak peek); Unity (text background)
Punch: SU!
gems: Hero Arts
ribbon: Wal Mart

Embellished Many Thanks

The sketch this week from Clean and Simple
A Color Challenge from Embellish Magazine:

And my card. I used some very old scraps, yay! All supplies except hemp and text background are from CTMH. This is a sneak peek at a new stamp set available March 2010 (A little everything - March SOTM)

November publication

This is the card that was in the November 2009 Cards Magazine! I even got a 2 page spread- woo hoo!
It was part of this set:


That was packaged like this:

OMG someone pinch me!

I can't believe how much goodness has come my way lately, I am truly blessed and very thankful! I just saw that I was the November winner at Scrapping Out Loud! Happy Dance here!

Schlosser Designs DT!

Oh my another woot, woot!!! I made the DT at Schlosser designs!! What a team she has too, you'll have to check it out.

Some more parent helper gifts

I am almost finished making my parent helper gifts. You saw a couple of these already when I posted the first two I made. Now I have made another one, these are so fun and easy! This is for the JUGS template challenge this week. As stated earlier there are 2 hot chocolates, 2 candy canes, some mini marshmallows and some hershey kisses (kind of for the kids). I will sneak in a Starbucks card for mom. All supplies are from CTMH
The sketch this week from Our Creative Corner

I based this gift package on the sketch.

Woot, woot!

Oh my just checked the Limelight blog and I was one of the picks of the week! Woot woot!

A Man's Best Friend

The sketch this week from The Scrappiest:
I have no mojo lately, not even on my runs, hopefully it will come back soon! Anyhow I managed to pull this together, although not really a favorite, but that is ok, the picture is adorable. Can't wait until Sadie is full grown and still wants to do this! All supplies are from Crate Paper. This is also for the Scrap the Boys Challenge this month - Snips and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails

Hello little guy

This is a sketch drawn up by a little girl named Amy. Sarah is a fellow blogging friend whose little girl made up this sketch. There is a prize offered, so why not play along?
The Color Challenge this week from The Play Date Cafe:

I am seriously lacking mojo lately! Urgh! Anyhow I threw this together for a little guy in my classroom who has a birthday coming up pretty quick and he is always drawing robots in his journal. Mostly CTMH. The robot is on foam squares.

Pattern Paper & Stickers: Tinkerin
Cardstock: White Daisy, Goldrush
Ink: Autumn Terracotta
Robot is cut from the Just Chillin cartridge (Slice) and stamped with Unity Grid background.

Days Til Christmas

The sketch this week from Card Postitioning Systems:
I used it as the front of my countdown calendar. I got the idea for this Calendar from Leslie, she used chipboard coasters (4"). I made mine 6". This is also for the Caardvarks Color it challenge. I haven't colored something in for awhile. This is also for the Paper Cutz Challenge - get this "Anything Goes" - so I could enter anything I make this week really. But I will probably just enter this one. I kept it pretty simple as I am going to be using this in my grade 1 class. I did mount Santa on foam squares, use liquid applique and glitter on his fur, a real pompom for his hat and I painted his boots and outfit with Shimmerz. Oh and I realize that the red circle and green panel are backwards (ie should be the other way around so Santa stands out), quite honestly, I just used some scraps and because it is for at school, I didn't really care!

The inside, very simple.

Cardstock: CTMH
Stamps: CTMH (Spot On, Journalling Jots, Friendship Alpha), PTI, Whipper Snapper
Markers: Copics
Ink: CTMH
Letter Stickers: Making Memories

March Calendar Page

The sketch this week from Unscripted Sketches:
The sketch was perfect for the picture I wanted to use for the March page of hubby's desk calendar gift. Yay another page done, only 2 left!

A Card PatternsHello

The sketch this week from Card Patterns:

We are once again sponsered by Sherrod Studio and I so love this Friendship stamp set. The flowers are gorgeous! I chose to only give this one a touch of color (pink of course). The flower is mounted on foam squares.
Cardstock: CTMH
Pattern Paper & button: PTI
Stamp: Sherrod Studio
Letter Stickers:: American Crafts

Some Floral Doodle projects

Limelight Papercrafts has a sketch challenge
For my card I used some digital paper from Card Making Printables called Floral Doodle, which by the way is free if you sign up for their newsletter. I also used the Cute as a Button ekit for the buttons (they look so real! - these would be good for those cards that have to go in the mail). The stamps are a sneak peek for some new CTMH stamps in our Spring Catalogue. Stay tuned for more!

Here is another project with the scraps from my pattern paper (I printed it up as a 5 X 7 sheet). I used the Timeless Template from PTI, tag is from Card Making Printables and the stamp is another CTMH sneak peek!

Gratitude =joy and a hybrid card

The sketch this week from Get Sketchy:
Over at Get Sketchy we are sponsered by Craft Pudding and the winner of this weeks sketch gets a free stamp set. Come on over and play. The bonus challenge this week was to have an Autumn themed card so I paperpieced the Giggle Grove trees from Unity in some fall colored Fancy Pants paper. The trees are also mounted on foam squares for some dimension - my favorite things on cards and layouts - texture and dimension!

To see all the participants in the Unity Friends with Flair for today, start at Angela's blog and then hop away. If you find the hidden blinkie and make a comment you can win a bunch of free stamps!


Now for my other card. I am just heading off to work but had a few moments this morning so I whipped this up for Beate's sketch.
I used my Retro Kitsch and Cute as a Button kits from Making Handmade Cards. I love this as I don't need to worry about hoarding as I always have a supply of pattern paper and buttons on hand as they are digital! Too fun! I printed the pattern paper, buttons and tags up on CTMH White Daisy cardstock and it looks perfect! The plain cardstock is CTMH.

I decided to make a dangling tag.

Here is the flip side of the tag.

There, now I have another masculine card on hand! Now off to work!

Peace Joy Noel

The sketch this week from Our Creative Corner:
I played with my Vintage Ornaments again. I used liquid applique and glitter on the ornaments and mounted them with foam tape. I have scented this card with Candy Cane Card Scents.

Cardstock & Ink: CTMH
Stamp: PTI
Slice: Words & Expressions

Silly Me!

Ok, you know you have too many stamps when...

I ordered a duplicate stamp set from PTI - Limitless Labels. I already have one and I by accident ordered another one! If anyone would like to buy it from me the price is $22 and includes shipping. I will take paypal. just email me at: laurelseabrook AT shaw DOT ca

ETA - pending - SOLD

Featured!

Wow, happy day! I just found out that I was one of the winners on Pile it On and I am so pumped, I was featured in the Cosmo Cricket Idea gallery for some of my cards and layouts! They are here and here! Woo hoo!

Some challenges and some cards

ETA I always get asked about my Card Scents. The are basically essential oils that are made for cards - love them! I used to get them from All That Scraps but they don't carry them. I have since found them at Sassy Design Studio, who have a good selection - so yummy, you do need to get some!
The sketch this week from Inspirational Card Sketches:

Jeanette's Color combo:


My card. Are you tired of these leaves yet?! All supplies are from CTMH. I scented the card with Autumn Card Scents.
The sketch this week from 2 Sketches 4 You.
The Color Challenge from SPCC:


I went very simple on this one.

Dad

The Embellish Color challenge:

For my card I was totally inspired by Tiffany's card. Although I love the tie in the CTMH June Word Puzzle I don't think I had ever used it so Tiffany gave me that inspiration, thanks Tiffany! I used a Unity Background stamp, other than that all supplies are from CTMH. The sentiment is on foam squares. This is also for the Practical Scrappers stitching challenge.

Halloween 2009

The sketch this week from The Scrappiest:

Head on over to The Scrappiest and play along there is a fantastic prize up for grabs!

For my layout I also incorporated the Scrapping out LOUD challenge to include numbers on a layout. Easy for this one! The pattern paper, die cuts and brad are from Pink Paislee. I also used my Slice to cut out the title, bats, webs and crow so fun! the crow and the largest bat are on foam squares. I can't believe I have scrapped a 2009 Halloween picture already! Usually I am a whole year behind!

Mommy to be

The sketch this week from Stampingbella - I haven't played in awhile and sometimes it is just fun to make a Bella card!
Again the JUGS colors:


My baby boy card. Now I can put the scraps away I did the baby boy card that I wanted to try with these colors! I pop dotted Bella tummy for dimension (she is also on foam squares). All paper is from CTMH (some is very old!). Stamps are: Stampingbella and PTI (retro background). Ribbon is CTMH, pompoms are from Stampingbella

Many, many thanks

The JUGS challenge this week is a color challenge, great colors, and they want a thank you card. Now that was a bit of a challenge for me!

Not sure about this one! I so wanted to make a baby boy card with these colors but the JUGS challenge was to make a thank you card so I did! I kept lots of white because there is a lot in the picture. I CASEd this card from Dawn's blog, just love the sketch. It is also an entry into the Paper Cutz challenge and I will enter it in the Trigger Tuesday as well because of the clean and simple look. All supplies are from Close to My Heart.

Simple Fall Thank you

The sketch this week from Unscripted Sketches:

A Color Challenge from Our Creative Corner:

The Tuesday Trigger from Moxie Fab:

My card. I incorporated Dawn's Tag Challenge again - a tiny tag again. Perhaps I'll try a nice big tag soon! This is also for the Paper Cutz Challenge - a thanksgiving theme.I used textured cardstock to mimic the feel of linen. All supplies are from CTMH except the ribbon.

Thankful for Family

This is the sketch this week from Card Patterns:

A color inspiration from the Scrap Shotz Blog:
Card Patterns is once again sponsered by the Sherrod Studio. I love this couple, they are so cute!

I used my Cosmo Cricket Everlasting paper. I like the Harvest feel it gives. My card is done way early, our Thanksgiving in Canada is in October so I am ready! Hehehe

Scenic Route Christmas

My third post for today, whew!

The sketch this week from Inspirational Card Sketches:

The Color Throwdown challenge this week:
And for my card I used up some more scraps! Love it when I do that. I also incorporated a tag for Dawn's Inspire Me Challenge

Pattern Paper: Scenic Route
Cardstock, Ribbon, Buttons: CTMH
Stamp: Hero Arts
Cricut: Joys of the Season

Tiffany Girlfriend

Dawn has another color challenge aren't the colors beautiful!

This was a great challenge because I love the colors and it got me to use some of my WRMK Tiffany paper scraps. I am also entering this into the Hero Arts trimmings challenge. The stamp and gems are from Hero Arts, ribbon PTI and punch Marvy. The sentiment strip is on foam strips.

Mr & Mrs.

This weeks Sketch from Get Sketchy - are you up for it?!

We are sponsered by Pink Persimmon - such fun stuff! Hop on over and check them out! The Get Sketchy winner will receive a $25 Gift Certificate to the Pink Persimmon store - you gotta play!

I had fun with this card. I used some yummy new paper (for me anyways) from GCD Studios called Paris nights - isn't it fabulous! I incorporated the CARDS challenge - a big ribbon bow, the Our Creative Corner challege - postcard inspiration and of course I used some more fabulous Unity stamps it all went together so well!

To start at the beginning of this weeks Friends with Flair hop from Unity go to Angela's blog and there you will find all participants.

Happy Mother's Day

My third post today and I have worked on 4 report cards, and saved our bunny (our puppy got ahold of her and hurt her - poor thing).

The sketch this week from Kitchen Sink Challenge:

When I saw this inspiration on 365 Card Challenge
and this Vera Bradley purse in the Clean and Simple Challenge on SCS
I knew that I wanted to use this beautiful Anna Griffin paper on a card. The sketch and the Hero Arts trimmings challenge were perfect!

Triple Play Love

I am at home sick today, but the meds are working so I had a bit of energy so I played. Now I'm going to try to work on some report cards. This is my second post for today.

The Challenge this week from Frosted Designs is a sketch challenge:

The Play Date Color Challenge:
For my card I also incorporated the Hero Arts trimmings challenge - this card is made up of mostly scraps or trimmings!
Pattern Paper: SEI
Cardstock: CTMH
Stamp: Hero Arts
Pearls: Hero Arts
Ribbon: Michael's
Cricut: Indie Art
Cuttlebug

Chic Office Ensemble

ETA I made this set for the November PTI Guest Star Stamper - Best Use of Previous set - didn't win but at least I have another gift made. Oh and I have tried doing report cards the last couple of nights but we have to do it on a web based program - my laptop won't work at home (not sure why - it used to) and the program won't load on my home computer! GRRRR

Well I told you I love the notepads from PTI! I made this ensemble for my neice, she is 20 and I don't have a clue what to get her! I used CTMH Cardstock and PTI stamps (Damask Designs, Take Note, In Bloom, Mega Mixed Messages) and of course the 'From the Desk of' Timeless Template. I was also going to cover a frame to go with it then I remembered I had picked up the one in the picture for 25 cents last year - woo hoo!

The Ensemble
The contents
The notecards that I posted last week.
A custom made desk pad. It measures 5 X 7. I cut a bunch of printer paper and stamped them for a customized pad (this took a long time - but worth it). To bind it all together I used 2 sided sticky tape and then covered it with a strip of cardstock.
Of course a notepad!
The inside:
Wow what a week of notepads hey! Truth be told I made the Tea Set and this set all in one day last week (remember me saying I had blisters from stamping?!) - along with a couple of DT assignements. Whew! Thank goodness for scheduled posts. I am sure that I am working on report cards right now ;) (if not I should be!)

Tea Time Desk Set

Remember these tea tins and these notecards? Well I put them all together in a template from PTI (From the Desk of) to make a Tea Time Desk Set for my friend. This uses one of my favorite PTI stamp sets, Tea for Two along with the stamp set Take Note and the fun new Notepads. I am loving altering these notepads - yes I stamp on every page.

The set

The contents
The notecards
The notepad
Inside of the notepad
The tea set

Altered Notebooks

On my last PTI order I ordered the new notebooks, love them! and the new Take a Note stamp set. I finally put them to use to make some notebook pads. The great thing about these is that I made a pocket on the inside of each one to hold a corresponding gift card for the recipient. I did stamp on each page of the notebooks!


This one is for my MIL who loves to garden.
Inside
This one is for my friend who is a quilter.
Inside
Finally, I will give this to a fellow teacher who helps me out a lot.
inside
Most supplies are from PTI. Some cardstock, ink and ribbon from CTMH

Parent Helper Gift Packs

I am so lucky, I have 4 parent helpers that come into my class once a week. I have made up these little gift packs for them (I have 2 more to make). Inside the packet (I used the Lollipop Along timeless template from PTI) I have 2 hot chocolates, 2 candy canes, some Hershey kisses and some mini marshmallows (kind of for the kids) and I will sneak in a Starbucks GC (for mom). I hope they like them. All supplies are from Close to My Heart except the acetate. I will enter this in the Crazy 4 Challenges acetate challenge.

Note: the clear tubes holding the Hershey Kisses are from Impress Rubber Stamps

Busy Bee

The sketch this week from The Scrappiest:

Be sure to come on over to The Scrappiest to play along there is an awesome prize up for grabs and Liz's sketches are always so fun to work with!

The challenge this week for Practical Scrappers is to use Acrylic Paint. What a great challenge! I have a ton of acrylic paints in my craft room as I used to do decorative painting (kind of miss it!). At least I am using it for something now! I painted some bubble wrap to create the effect of a beehive honeycomb. I would love to see what you do with acrylic paint. Finally, the There She Goes blog has a challenge to incorporate stitching on a card or layout - my challenge would be to not use it!

I LOVE this layout - am I allowed to say that?! Danica was in her halloween costume waiting to trick or treat and decided to do some homework (on a Saturday night!). I thought she looked so cute that I had to take a picture. She really is a busy bee, always doing something and everything she does, she does it well - proud mom here! She is either doing homework, practicing an instrument (she plays guitar and clarinet), running, playing with her pets, planning a party - I could go on. I never have to tell her to do anything. She even told me she likes to get homework then she has something to do ( if she doesn't have homework, she does her own research reports!). I included the Scrapping Out Loud Challenge of hidden journalling telling about how she is our busy bee and we are proud of her!

I used my cricut to cut out the bees and then I fun flocked them.

Pattern Paper: October Afternoon, Jillibean Soup, Close to My Heart
Cardstock: Close to My Heart
Cricut: Walk in My Garden, Plantin Schoolbook
Stamp: Papertrey Ink
Ink: CTMH
Chipboard Letters: Basic Grey
Fun Flock: Doodlebug

November desk calendar page

The sketch this week from Sweet Sunday:

It was perfect for another page in hubby's desk calendar that I have been working on (well, haven't even looked at it since the pages I did in the summer). I have 3 pages left to do.
Pattern Paper & Buttons: Bo Bunny
Cardstock & Stamps: CTMH

Clearly Winter

Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge:

For my card (which I whipped up quickly and with little mojo!), I incorporated the Crazy 4 Challenges (use acetate - I have acetate snowflakes and a clear card base), as well as the JUGS challenge - embossing (I snuck in some embossing on the snowflake). I scented the card with Candy Cane Card Scents and didn't put a sentiment on as I may use it as an after Christmas Thank you card. All supplies are from CTMH except the punch (Marvy) and the acetate snowflakes (Heidi Swapp) and clear card base (Shortcuts)

Happy

Here is the new Challenge from Butterfly Crafts:

I want you all to take a few minutes to think about the things that make you happy! I know we all have so many of them. Your challenge is to do a layout on the things that make you happy! It could be one thing that makes you happy or many. It could be as simple as your cup of coffee in the morning to the sweet smiles of your little children. Go for it! What makes you happy!

We are sponsered by Studio Calico and look at this yummy prize! You just have to play along!


Here is my layout, I used an old Creative Scrappers layout, my Scrapshotz kit full of Jillibean yummies and some Unity stamps - so fun!

Just be

ETA I just saw that I was one of the adorable M's favorites, how flattering! Can't wait for her next sketch, she is one talented little girl - must take after her mom!

This is the sketch from Card Patterns this week:

We are sponsered by the fabulous Gina K. Check out the Card Patterns blog to see what is up for grabs!

For my card I also incorporated the Frosted Designs challenge - bling.I never tire of this Sabrina Making Memories paper - pink black and cream - yum!
Cardstock, Ink and Gems: CTMH
Stamps: CTMH; Studio Calico

Tranquil Thanks

The sketch this week from Inspirational Card Sketches:

The color challenge from The Play Date Cafe
For my card I also incorporated the Pile it On Challenge -to include a leaf, and of course the Paper Cutz challenge to include a stamped image (how easy is that!). All supplies are from Close to My Heart.

Another Get Sketchy Flair!

The sketch this week from Get Sketchy:

We are sponsered by Soft Pencil digital images. These images are so darn cute and print up perfectly! Love them! This time I decided to color rather than paper piece (gotta get my use out of those copics!). Now the dog doesn't really look as gimpy IRL as it does in the photo - must have been my photo altering (brightening etc,) I didn't notice it until later. Come on over to Get Sketchy for your chance at the fabulous prize.

The papers are the Animal Cookies paper from CTMH. The sentiment is from Unity.
Here is another Unity Creation. I just got this plaid background and couldn't wait to ink it up! I used the Card Positioning Systems sketch for this one. I kept the design simple. The pattern papers are Jillibean Soup - so fun! I believe the apple is from Hodgepodge of Happiness.
Now to see all the participants on the Unity Friends with Flair hop start at Angela's blog.

OMG, so happy!

I just got a card picked up for the April 2010 CARDS magazine, woo-hoo what a week this has been so far! On top of that my grade ones are being fabulous - the other teachers are jealous of my fantastic class!

Some more scrap notecards

Man did I do A LOT of stamping and crafting today - I think I have blisters on my hands! LOL! Most of the projects will be posted next week (Report Card time -trying to get ahead on my posting). I did these little notecards with some of my scraps. Simple and easy! The sentiment tag is on foam strips.

Cardstock & Ink: Close to My Heart
Stamps: PTI
gems: Hero Arts

Just a Note gift cards

Just playing with some scraps today:

Pattern Paper: Amy Butler
Cardstock: CTMH; PTI (Kraft)
Stamps: Tea for Two, Just a Note (PTI)
buttons: PTI
fiber: stash

Happy Mail

A few weeks I won this on Laura Craigie's blog. I was expecting a Nutmeg mini deck and perhaps a couple of other things. Look what I received in the mail today! Lucky me! Thanks Laura!

Wow!

OMG I scrolled farther down on the Moxie fab blog and look what I saw!!! What a week this is starting out to be!

A super Tuesday!

Wow, it just keeps coming, I am so happy! I was featured on Cath's Tuesday Trigger today, for this card! Doing the happy dance!

Elegant Wedding Wishes

The sketch this week from Just Us Girls, which had me stumped for a few days.

Tonight my card just fell together so quickly! I was done in about 1/2 hour, gotta love that! I incorporated the Clean and Simple Challenge on SCS - white with only one other color (I chose gray). I love how this turned out. Now if only I new someone who was getting married.
Pattern Paper: MAMBI
Cardstock, Ink and Pearls: CTMH
Stamps: Unity, SU!
Punch: Marvy
Ribbon: Michael's

Top Trio

Wow, what a great week it has been so far! I just saw that I made Top Trio over at 365 Cards! What an honor! Doing the happy dance here. It was for this card, now that is rockin'!

Won't be like this for long

The sketch this week from The Scrappiest:

Remember to come on over to The Scrappiest to play along. A great prize is up for grabs for November!

I have wanted to do a layout based on Darius Rucker's song "It Won't Be Like This For Long" for awhile now. I had these pictures of the girls snuggling with dad while watching movies and then Liz gave us this sketch - perfect! I also incorporated the Scrap The Girls November Challenge (scrap with blue, red, orange and white). The Sassafrass papers worked perfectly not only for the pictures but the color challenge. The stamps are from Close to My Heart. The House stamp is our November Stamp of the Month and you can earn it for free! Check out my CTMH website for more details. Most of the Pattern Paper came in one of my Studio Calico kits.
Pattern Paper: Sassafrass Lass; Bo Bunny; Pebbles Inc; Basic Grey
Cardstock: CTMH
Stamps: Around the Block, Grown with Love, Treetops
Ink: Cocoa, Black, Clover Meadow and Tulip
Letter Stickers: Jenni Bowlin; American Crafts
Hemp: CTMH
Stickers: Sassafrass