Make It Monday!

Hi, everyone!  Guess what!  I made something!  And boy, did it feel good!  How can one not be inspired by Betsy Veldman's color blending technique she used in this week's video?  Have you seen it?  If not, go to Nichole's blog here, check it out and be inspired!

I'm also linking this card to my blog group, The Paper Dolls, challenge for this week too, which is to create a card to express gratitude.  I have a lot of gratitude for so many people right now.  I could send this card to over 200 people!

Here it is:

I splurged recently and ordered some PTI stamps that have been on my wish list for too long.  Two of the sets were On My Couch and its additions.  I stamped the couch on Fine Linen felt that I die-cut with the matching die.  I blended the wall with Spring Rain, Color Box's Sky Blue, and Enchanted Evening.  The floor was blended with Dark Chocolate and VersaMagic's Sahara Sand.

I also used Betsy's technique on the sentiment panel.  I die-cut a piece of Vintage Cream cardstock with the new Sending You die, stamped the sentiments from Inside and Out: Thank You and On My Couch, tied some Martha Stewart twine around it after blending the Dark Chocolate ink again.  I folded the bottom portion of the panel under - just like Betsy.  Normally, I would cut it off, but I like the look of the fold.

I have made a deal with my son that on Wednesdays and Thursdays after school, we will have craft time.  We pinkie-swore on it, so hopefully the deal will stick.  I hope to get something else done today...anything!

Thanks for visiting My Happy Place today!

New Die Storage

I still don't have a project to share with you, but I do have a new organizational system for my dies.  I've been wanting to do this for awhile, but never got around to it.  No time like the present, I suppose.

Here it is:

It's a magnetic white board!  I have little round magnets on the back of each die, and now I can see all my dies at once.  This way, I won't forget about what I have and can use them more!  The only ones not up here are my Nestabilities. 

I think that if I move them closer to each other, I'll be able to squeeze on many, many more.  And if I need another white board, they are only $24 at Michaels!  I had two coupons to use - a 40% off one item and a 25% off the entire order!  So, I got the board, some magnets and stuff my little one "had to have" for the regular price of the white board. (By the way, the white board is 22x35 inches.)

Thanks for looking!

I'm here...

Well, not really.  I'm out of bed on a daily basis, and I have taken my little one to school every day this week.  I am back in the classroom as of today, and here I am - updating my blog.  That's what happens at my school...my teacher friends all graded my work, entered the grades, made my lesson plans, created the activities, gathered supplies and made my copies.  All I had to do was show up today.  So, here I am. I even have a little make-up on.  Wouldn't want to scare the children, now would I?

People tell you to take it one day at a time.  That's too long for me.  I'm minute by minute here, with a wonderful support group of friends and family.  Our little one seems to be doing fine.  He's listening, following directions and is being very well-mannered.  I'm a little worried - {wink}  He has always been a good boy, but never this good.  He has a few moments of stubbornness, but not nearly as many as before.  He probably knows I'm on the edge.  Family is scheduled to visit me the next three weekends, so I am not short on company...or food.   Good gravy, I have food...and GOOD food!

I have no card or layout to share with you.  I'm hoping to...soon. That requires energy, you know.  Of course you know. 

I received a box of goodies from my blog group, the Paper Dolls.  That should help to kick in some creativity, I hope! They ordered me new things from the last release.  We've never all met personally, but they know me so well anyway.  Everything in my box was on my wish list.  Those gals are mind-readers.  I appreciate the love, cards, food and PTI goodies they have sent.

Speaking of cards...wow!  My PTI forum friends have sent me beautiful, and I mean breath-taking cards.  Each one is so unique, but carries the same message of love.  I feel so blessed to have found such a wonderful community of people. Thank you all so much. 

So, I'm here.  Kind of.  I'll be back soon with something scrappy...and probably crappy. 

In the meantime, this is what I have to look forward to...AWESOME!

Papertrey Paper Dolls Blog Hop

Hi there!  Are you having fun hopping along with the Dolls?  We are happy to have this hop so that we can get to know each other better, learn about favorite styles, colors, techniques and to share a little something that we made in honor of what brought us together last year - Papertrey Ink - PTI.

Our theme for the Blog Hop is PTI.  In each project you see, we have used something that starts with a P, something that starts with a T and something that starts with an I.

I was able to get two of my ideas completed and ready for our hop.  Here's my first one:

 

How does this fit into the theme?

P = Patterned Paper (Turning a New Leaf from PTI)

T = Turning a New Leaf stamp set, Twine, Tea Dye Duo

I = Inside and Out: Thank You stamp set and Impression Plate (Woodgrain)

My second card is a little more Spring-y:
 

How does this fit into the theme?

P = Plum Pudding cardstock, ribbon and ink

T = Tags for Spring

I = Impression Plate (Linen)

Here's a little bit more about me:
-My PTI forum name is - Lee Anne (I got lucky!)

-Where am I - I live in Texas.

-My day job - I'm a middle school science teacher.  (There are several teachers in our group!)

-My family - I just celebrated my 10-year anniversary with my wonderful husband, and we have a 5-year old son who keeps us running around. I grew up the youngest of 3 girls.  My older sisters still try to boss me around, even though I'm 40 years old now.

-When I discovered PTI - I discovered PTI between the February and March releases in 2009 and made my first purchase in March.  I purchased Wishing You and Flower Garden in my first purchase and they are still some of my favorite sets. In fact, last summer I did a tribute to both sets.  I want everyone to love both of these sets!

- How long I've been a Doll - Last year, about this time, the forum was really busy and several blog groups were forming.  I decided to join with this one, and I filled the last spot available.  Again, I got lucky! It's a great group.

-Favorite PTI products (besides stamps) - I'm loving the dies that PTI comes out with, and the cardstock is like no other!

-Favorite PTI stamp sets - That's tough!  I love Every Day Button bits for it's whimsical nature, Flower Garden for its versatility, Turning a New Leaf for its background building ability, and Tiny Treats Valentines because it can be used for almost anything!

-Favorite PTI color - Pure Poppy

-Favorite PTI color combo - Hibiscus Burst and Spring Moss

That's all from me today!  Make sure you leave a comment here before you leave so that you can be in the drawing for the stamp set we are giving away.  You are on your way to Laurie Beth now.  What a treat!

If a link doesn't work or you get lost along the way, click HERE to retun to the Dolls Blog!

Are you going to play along and link up a project with our PTI theme?  We'd love to see what you do. Link up on the Dolls blog for a chance to win a gift certificate.   

Thanks for visiting My Happy Place!  Come back soon!

Paper Dolls Challenge #31

This card is for my blog group's challenge from a couple of weeks ago.  I'm trying to catch up!  Laurie challenged us with:

1.  Use a flower set, if you have it Papertrey Ink, Year of the Flowers set.
2.  Use a designer paper.  If you don't have any, make your own. 
3.  Use at least three different colors.

I love to paper-piece the flowers from PTI's Flower Garden set, so I knew that was the set I was going to use.  I don't own any of the Year of Flowers sets, and quickly turn my head away when I see someone create something fabulous.  And I scream, "No, No, NO...I don't want that set!"  We'll see how long I can keep it up.  

Here's my card:

I love that patterned paper.  All of it is from Bo Bunny and was part of a free pad I received at Archivers.  I've never used it, because I have a problem using my patterned paper. (I'm on Step 2 of the 12 Step program for this.)

I cut out the flowers and leaves by hand but would not mind a die set for Flower Garden!  (LISA JOHNSON- are you reading this?) Who am I kidding...she's not.

Here's the inside:

Come along and play with the Dolls on our challenges.  We'll have a new one this week AND we have a big BLOG HOP planned to start on March 9th.  Fun!  Click here for our blog and join the fun!

Thanks for visiting My Happy Place!