Happy Heart Day

14 days and its the most romantic day of the year! Well Valentines day for kids is just FUN! ;-) Check out these super cool shirts my nephews made.... My sister doesn't think she is naturally crafty or creative BUT she does a lot better than she thinks! These are awesome Amie! Bryson (age 4) thought they were way cool until Carter (age 6) decided he was 'over' it! ;-) LOL OKAY- here's your recipe on making these cutie patootie shirts! · Draw hearts on freezer paper and cut them out to make your own heart stencils · Iron on the stencils to where you want the hearts to be on the shirt · White fabric paint and spray to decorate · Hang up to dry for an hour · Wa-lah!

Look at 'em go!

BROTHERLY LOVE..... They are ALWAYS like this huh Amie?!?! ;-)

OMYGOSH- is that a wii remote in his hand?!!?!?!?!? I think its time to get ALL our boys together for an intervention!

Oh my Sweetheart Oh my Sweetheart

Okay okay- so its actually - "Oh my Darling" BUT you get the point! Check out the NEW paper packet "sweetheart." If you don't have your hands on this Awesome new Spring/ Summer book yet- let me know! It goes 'live' tomorrow and you can view it on my website then at http://tonyamccrary.myctmh.com/, but I would be happy to get you the hard copy! the artwork in this book is so creative and gorgeous! I will guarantee you get some fresh ideas from it!

Workshops!

This months workshop is Sweetheart! It includes 22 pieces of paper, These super cool black shapes, and the STAMP set! Don't worry if you cant make it to an actual workshop- the Kit includes a full color step by step guide to make the layout and cards! Including the cutting guide! Love how the workshop kits make it so easy.. You get the stamp set and you have plenty of leftover paper for other projects!

Use liquid applique to make these cool puff dots!

I cut a slit behind the photo so my journaling will actually 'hide' behind it if I want to !

What happened to Feature Fridays?

I ran out of features! LOL- nah- I just gotta get back started on them.. But for today- Here is a gift giving idea... One of my favorite ways to give gifts are to give a bunch of 'smaller' items in a cute container.. Here's how you can do it by being creative and saving $! BUT still giving a good and thoughtful gift! BUY in BULK! This may sound 'non-personable' but I have a big ol box that I keep random gifts in... (especially around Christmas time) it has baby albums, Bath n Body Works, photo frames, etc... Below is basket of bath items I got at Sams. the whole basket was $18.88. Break it apart and use each piece seperately! It had about 10 items in it so for $1.88 each item plus some handmade cards, and maybe $5.00 starbucks gift card- You've got yourself a pretty good lil gift for a thank you, a teacher, or something like that! Dont forget some candy or mints to toss in the bottom of the gift bag or cello bag! ....oh and I kept the bath salts and the basket! LOL

Stamp on the envelopes to make them match!

Check back Monday for a "Sweetheart" of a WEEK!

Sweetheart of a DEAL!

This paper is SO precious! Its mostly cotton candy with tulip, baby pink, and some black! So pretty! Below is cotton candy, baby pink, and white daisy!

In this picture you can see where I added some liquid glass and glitter glue. I wanted to keep it simple but Ive been on a liquid glass kick lately!

I got the idea for this card from our NEW idea book.... (BELOW) If you don't have this book yet get in touch with me, and Ill get one to you! It is FULL of beautiful ideas for scrapbook pages, layouts, cards and paper craft projects!!!!

A Magnifico' Card!

I love brown/blue & brown/pink combos. Here was a quick card I put together using the 'base & shade' technique from yesterdays post. You can make the most simple card so cute by adding those sanded lines! So easy! CTMH's cardstock has a white core so when you sand it pops through. Put your cardstock on your trimmer and score with the embossing tool. flip over and sand on the raised side.

I added some liquid glass to the flower petals to make them shiny. This looks awesome in person.

Stamp up a sentiment in matching ink and add some ribbon - Wah-lah! Card in 5 minutes!

Check back tomorrow to see what I did with the pink flower, and to get a sneek peek at "Sweetheart." Sweetheart is a brand new paper pack in the new book that we will also be doing our February Workshops with!

Base and Shade Stamping

Base & Shade Stamping.... If you follow Jeanette's blog then you've seen this already.. (http://www.jeanettelynton.com) It is SO pretty! Our idea book includes several stamp sets ideal for "base and shade stamping," which allows for great layered looks. This is a favorite of mine. It's a D size stamp called "Something Splendid." (just realized the photo is upside down!ha)

Stamp the “shade image." (its the part with the MOST color) When you’re working with base and shade looks, start first with the lightest “generation,” then add darker images on top.

First...Stamp a lighter color (or second generation of same color) and stamp shade stamp (the 'outline' stamp) over base stamp in a darker color. Here I have used Crystal Blue and Pacifica. Not only is it gorgeous BUT its so FUN!

Be creative with your matching up the colors! This is honey and black! Wouldn't sunny yellow & black be cute too with some little bees flying around it?

STAY TUNED TOMORROW to see what I did with these flowers!

Creative Girls!

I know every consultant thinks their club girls are the best right?! Well mine truly are! LOL I absolutely LOVE it when they will share a picture of something they've created at home! After all that is what your scrappy friends are for! SHARING our crazy love for this stuff that non paper crafters just would NOT understand! :-) Look how cute this 'chore chart' is that "Mrs. Shawn" made?!!??! Shawn has definitely put her cricut to use... I wish I made myself use mine more...

PAPER BAG ALBUMS!

Since I've been a consultant I have heard of these 'paperbag albums.' Finally I asked for some instructions.. Turns out they are VERY simple. Not sure if I done them exactly like they are supposed to be but it looked good to me! :-) You take 2 paper bags (lunch sack size) and fold them in half... Punch 3 holes and tie 'em up! Decorate! Done! :-)

So when I first started this one- i just wanted to see what it was and work with it a bit. I stamped up the front kinda girlie and used WINGS butterfly papers... Then decided to put my lil boy in it! HA- So its girlie - but its ok- hes little! LOL

These are PERFECT kids crafts and can you imagine how CUTE they would be with those WHITE lunch paper bags!!! with red hearts all over for valentines! Too cute!

Stickease and vineyard berry ribbon!

stickease!

More stickease! These are great for leftover stickers!

Stickease and Juniper ribbon!

FRESH SALSA

I love fresh Salsa! I think its the cilantro! ;-) I cant get enough of it in there! lol Below is a pic of a winter salsa recipe I found. This was actually kinda thrown together from 2 different recipes. Now while this isn't as AWESOME (haha) as my watermelon salsa it was still pretty good! I have to admit why I made this. I have been seeing everywhere how GOOD avocado was for you and I have NEVER tried it! Never... not even guacamole. Well its not bad.. LOL That's all Ill say... no.. just joking. It was pretty good! I would eat it again!

In this recipe: Red onion (just a tad to taste), cucumber (very important- cool & mild taste), green pears (very important- adds sweetness), lemon and lime juice, pinch of garlic salt, ( i like a lot!) cilantro- FRESH! - i also like a lot of this. And of course.. Avocado! Chop it all up and mix! Serve with tortillas chips. I had to tweak mine until it was all exactly like I wanted. If you try it - try equal parts everything (except onion! - less onion!) and just add more of what you like. I added about a tblspoon of sugar as well b/c I was out of pears and I wanted it sweeter! OK- so funky lil recipe but I loved it!

Me and my "Perfect Day"

Made this card for a dear friend and thought I'd share it with you. It is very simple! Anytime you make a sympathy card or a solemn thinking of you card..... the more simple the better. I think the colors of this one might have been a tad on the flashy side for its purpose, but maybe not.. Anyway- Perfect day is on my website for purchase for $5.00! Holy cheap paper Batgirl! Is it okay to buy just one more at that price if you already have like 5 'perfect' packs of it sitting in your scrap room?! SURE! Just like Stamps are an INVESTMENT!!! You can pass that up! LOL

COOKIE TIME!

Love me some Somoas!!! Make your favorite girl scout some thank you cards to hand out to all those people who ordered cookies from them!!! So fun!

Still working on Christmas Layouts?

MEEEEE TOOOO! :-) Actually these are pictures from last years Christmas! yikes! I just love this mistletoe paper pack that I decided to one more layout for last years too! The tree stamp below is "a timber" for only $7.95! So cute!

New Years Resolution!

So you know how you end up spending LOTS of time looking at photo albums as you are trying to be productive like cleaning or re-organizing? You run across it and HAVE TO look at it! Well we thought we would get all our photos out and browse them in between the Christmas to New Years break... didn't happen so Ive made it an unofficial resolution! Just drag a bunch out - sit in the floor and start turning those pages! It's really great if you have small children because you can tell them about great grandparents they didn't get to meet or old pets you had, etc...

Check out these four! Mom and Amie might kill me but mine is bad too! Funny thing - I don't know that even Scott has seen some of them- it was FUN!

NO man!

As Will would say because he isn't using his "s" sound! LOL Every morning now its "wook its no!" (look its snow) :-) Love this "all decked out" snowman stamp! You can mix n match hats, scarves, arms, and all kinds of snowflakes! So cool! LOVE LOVE to emboss snowflakes!