Top Favorites of 2011

I'm joining in the fun and reviewing some of my favorite projects from last year.  "Last year" - can't believe we are already saying that.  Since this is going to be a heavy-photo blogpost, I'll keep the words to a minimum.  I decided to select favorite cards from each month this time. 

My Crafty Resolutions:
-As I was looking over my favorites, I noticed that many of them were from PTI's Make It Monday series, where I learned new techniques to try.  My goal is to keep up with those this year (crossing my fingers that PTI continues these weekly challenges!)

-I also noticed that I used bright colors and patterned paper on several of my favorites.  I need to remember that as I sit down to create. 

-I did get published this year!  You can see that card at the bottom of this post.  Hoping I can get published more in this new year. 

-I have several layouts that I submitted to some sketch challenges.  I loved my layouts and need to get back into my scrapbooking.  You can see many of my pages if you click HERE. 


Here we go:

You can click on the link for each month to see the original blog posts. 


January:

February:

March:

April:

May:

  

June: 

July:

August:

 

September:

October:

November:

December:

Published Card:

You can find this card on page 62 of the January/February issue of Paper Crafts magazine!  On sale now!  Run - don't walk - to your nearest newsstand!  Or you can just click HERE and order it and you won't have to run anywhere!  There are some amazing projects in there for Valentine's Day!

I appreciate your sticking with me through this long post - and this long year.  I have made and cherish many online visitors to my site and truly appreciate the good thoughts you all send.

I especially want to thank my blog group, The Paper Dolls.  They know why.  ;)

Thanks for visiting My Happy Place!  See you soon!

Thank you!

This is another set of cards I made as a gift for my aunt.  I had this design in my head all night and needed the perfect patterned paper as my panel.  Because I don't have *any* patterned paper in my house, I had to go and buy some.  When I saw this paper from October Afternoon, it was love at first sight. 

I want ten more pieces - just to look at, because as I said above, there is no patterned paper in my house.  (If you believe that, I have some ocean front property in Arizona for you.)  

Most of the time I let my paper sit and acclimate to my craft room.  This one didn't get that chance.  I had it cut up and distressed within an hour of getting it home.  Now if I could always do that, I'd probably be more productive.  

Here's one of the six cards I made with ^that^ paper:

After cutting the panel and distressing the edges, I put my Big Shot to work on cutting the mats.  More distressing and a little stamping and this card was finished.  I wanted to stitch the sides and I'm glad I did.  I think it adds a nice finishing touch.  The knot is Fine Linen satin ribbon.  I love that color!

Thanks for visiting My Happy Place!

More Hope (There's never enough...)

My aunt told me not to buy her anything for Christmas, so technically, I am doing what she told me to do.  I'm making her as many cards as I can before I have to stop and get things gathered for the holidays.  She will need many cards this year.  Sadly, her daughter, my cousin, passed away at the beginning of the month.  She will need notecards.

I love the word "Hope," and I love this stamp from the Faith and Hope set. The font is beautiful.  (I wish there were a similar sentiment for the word "faith" in the set, but there is not...odd?)

I made a set of six of these last night:

Through the Trees, Faith and Hope stamp sets, Woodgrain Impression Plate (all PTI)

I wanted the strong contrast of color on this one so that the red would stand out.  I considered using Vintage Cream or even Rustic White as the mat, but that wasn't enough.  After stamping everything on the white panel, I ran it through the Big Shot with the woodgrain impression plate.  I almost used the canvas one, and I'm glad I didn't.  Then I adhered the panel to a Dark Chocolate base.

So far I've made my aunt 19 cards for her to use.  I'll share another one tomorrow.  The third set is a total CASE from Melissa Bickford, so I won't post it here.  You can see her card I cased here. (It's the first one.)

Thanks for visiting My Happy Place!

Hope

The card I'm showing today is one that I submitted to the last call at Paper Crafts.  It didn't get a call-back, so I get to share it with you now!

I used the large cardinal from my set from Heartfelt Creations to create a card for encouragement.  I already have this wrapped up and read to give to my aunt.  She will love it.

I die-cut the leaves and ran them back through with the woodgrain impression plate.  I stamped the background with Text Style and inked the edges with 3 different colors:  Tea Dye, Walnut Stain and Pure Poppy.  I think I made this the day I purchased the Tim Holtz distressing tool.  Went a little crazy, didn't I? I added the scallop border and placed everything on a Kraft panel with the woodgrain impression.  I think it kind of looks like he is sitting on a fence.

Thank you for visiting My Happy Place today!

Snoopy!

I was at Michael's a few weeks ago and ran across a box of foam, self-adhesive Peanuts characters cut-outs.  I love Peanuts - Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus.  Just love them.  So, I bought the cut-outs and figured I'd find something to do with them.  If all else fails, I can give them to my son, right?

I ended up using a few for some cards for my son's teachers.  Here's one:

It was late, so I needed something simple to create.  I cut out the hill from white cardstock, ran it through my Big Shot with the polka dot impression plate and glittered up the edge.  After securing it down, I stamped the sentiment (My Favorite Things) and the snowflakes (Winterberry-PTI) and added a little glitter to the centers of them.

Then, it was Snoopy's turn.

I have a few more cards for you in the next few days.  I hope to get a lot done this holiday!

Thanks for visiting My Happy Place!

Number Line

Last week my son's teacher emailed all the parents a letter about the expectations for 1st grade math facts, and how many facts her students needed to get correct on a two-minute test to achieve an E, S, D, or U as their assigned grade each grading period.  I immediately found a website that lets you create your own math facts test and printed out 3 tests.  My son took the addition "test" for me and did well.  Then we played a Math Smart game for subtraction, which is similar to Dominoes.  Subtraction is harder for him, and I tried to teach him some tricks.  He exclaimed, after awhile, "Mommy, I *need* a number line!!"  He can use a number line at school during practice, but not during the test.  So, I told him we could write a number line the following day, as it was past his bedtime already.  

While he was asleep, it dawned on me...I have number dies...I have cardstock...I have patterned paper.  I'll make my boy a number line!!

It's what all first grade boys want anyway, right?

By the Numbers dies, Boy Basics Frog die/stamp, Tiny Treats stamps (PTI),
Little Boy paper collection (Echo Park)

You may have to click on the picture to get a better view.  I loved working with the Echo Park paper again.  It makes me want all of their collections, but believe me...I already have so, so many.  I love the double-sided paper and how it all coordinates.

I had this sitting at my son's breakfast spot the next day, and I'm happy to report that he loved it.  

Thanks for visiting My Happy Place!

Tuesday Trigger Meets Make It Monday

Here's my other card I wanted to try using the Tuesday Trigger from the Moxie Fab World.  The inspiration photo looks like this:

I know.  Pretty, huh?  You can see the details of Cath's challenge and all the entries if you click here.

I wanted to use Jenn's technique of glitter masking too.  It's last week's Make It Monday challenge and you can get all the details and play along here.

You need to hurry for both challenges!  They end shortly.

So, here's my second card using the Trigger and Jenn's glitter challenge:

PTI:  Hawaiian Shores CS, Hibiscus Burst ribbon

It's the same layout as my other card for the challenge, but this time, I used an adhesive sheet, masked where the ornaments went, and poured glitter all over the sheet.  The I peeled off some of the circle masks, sprinkled glitter, and repeated until I was finished.

Now, I can get the Moxie Fab challenge out of my head, because it's been there all week.

Thanks for visiting My Happy Place!

Tuesday Trigger: Deck the Halls

I loved, loved, LOVED the picture that Cath gave us last week to inspire us for her Tuesday Trigger challenge.  You can click here and see all the inspiration there.  I had lots of thoughts on how to use it, and hopefully I can get at least one more of my thoughts on paper today.

Here's the beautiful picture:

 I loved the colors used for the ornaments.  Some traditional colors with a little bit of non-traditional thrown in.  The shine and sparkle are beautiful too.  I wanted to include all of that in my card, along with the wood grain pattern on the floor.

Here's my card:

You can barely see the wood grain impression on the white paper.  I wanted it to be subtle, like it was in the inspiration photo.  I punched out the different circles, and ran them through my Xyron.  After peeling them off the tape, I pressed them in different glitter and adhered them on the white panel.  The silver beads were an added touch to mimic the tops of the ornaments.

Had fun playing.  Hopefully, I can get the second card made today!

Thanks for visiting My Happy Place!

Glitter Masking

I admit it.  I was skeptical.  The Make It Monday video that Jenn did this week was inspiring, but as I sat and watched her, I thought that there was absolutely no way I could do this technique.  Then others were talking on the forum about how they were having problems.  I thought it was a lost cause. But tonight, I came home and found some mojo and made this!

Turning a New Leaf, Double Ended Banner dies (PTI), Sentiment (My Favorite Things)

I used waxed paper as the mask and it worked like a dream!  If you are skeptical too, I want to encourage you to just try this technique!!  It's fun - and very sparkly!  I would have never tried this if it weren't for the video!

Here's a close-up:

Sparkly!

Thanks for visiting My Happy Place!

Starbucks Birthday

Oh, that Betsy - she gets me every time.  I loved her video for this week's Make It Monday - and her card was jaw-dropping beautiful.  I would have liked to mimic the very card she highlighted for us, but I don't have the stamp set she used - or the skills.

Luckily, I needed a birthday card for my sister-in-law.  She's addicted to Starbucks coffee and I don't blame her.  If I had to get up and get to work at the early morning hour that she does, I'd be at Starbucks every day.  She orders a "Grande Non-fat Latte with Whip."  Non-fat WITH  whip.  Yes, she appreciates the contradiction too.  

Here's her card - early - I might add.  Score one for me!! (Our birthdays are 6 days apart and I already have my present from her, so technically, she wins the early race!)

Mat Stack 3 dies, Inside and Out: Birthday, Woodgrain IP, Starbucks wrapper!!

Can you guess what is tucked inside?  I'll give you a minute...

Thanks for visiting My Happy Place today!  Sorry I'm not more frequent with my posts.  Laundry, dishes, cleaning, teaching, cooking, Hawaii 5-0, sleeping...

Happy 29th!

I'm the youngest of 3 sisters.  They are much, much older than I am - like 3 and 5 years older.  I like to rub it in as much as possible.  Birthdays are the best time to do that, right?

PTI: Big Birthday Wishes, Numbers dies, Medium Scallop die, Wonderful Words die

This is my middle sister's birthday card.  (She's NOT 29!)

Here's the inside:

Hero Arts: Curly Alphabet

She has to come and see me to get it, along with the present that is sitting here for her.  I would tell you what it is, but then the secret would be out!

Thanks for visiting My Happy Place!

The Cardinals

I haven't participated in the CAS-ual Fridays challenge in awhile, and loved this week's challenge along with the design team's samples!  (Waving at Dana and Laurie!!)  You can see the challenge and participate if you click here.

My friends will wonder what has gotten into me when they see this card. After all, the St. Louis Cardinals beat my beloved Rangers in the World Series.  And it was hard to take.

But this is a thank you card for one of my friends that went to the series to cheer on HER beloved cardinals.  She brought me back a World Series shirt, which I thought was very sweet.  

So, I used the beautiful cardinal stamps I recently received from a friend, and tried to make a casual card.  It's hard to make a casual card with beautiful stamps.

I created the background with the baseball from Have a Ball, the small star from Star Prints and the smallest star from Fly Away.   The background technique is highlighted for this week's Make It Monday challenge.  

Thanks for visiting My Happy Place!

Cardinals...

I love cardinals.  Unless they are wearing baseball uniforms, and then I really just kind of like them.  I'm a die-hard Rangers fan, and last week broke my heart.

But the birds - the cardinals - I love.  They have a very special meaning to me, but I won't go into that here.

My friends know the meaning of cardinals to me and have given me various gifts - pillows, pictures, cards, earrings, shirts - that have cardinals on them.  For Halloween my friend, Tanna, gave me some cardinal stamps from Heartfelt Creations.  I immediately inked them up and made her this card.

Heartfelt Creations:  Cardinal Family, PTI: Mat Stack 3 and leafy border dies

This is the largest of the 5 birds in the set.  He was very easy to cut out, although there are dies for the stamps also.  Eeek.  Didn't really need to know that, now did I?

So, this was her thank you note for the beautiful stamps with beautiful meaning.  If you only knew...

I have another friend that is a huge St. Louis Cardinals fan and she went to Game 6 and 7 last week.  She brought me a championship shirt back from her trip, so I plan on making her a baseball theme card with these stamps. I'll post it when I'm finished!

Thanks for visiting My Happy Place today!