First Rangers Game

Wow!
Sorry for my long pause in blogging.  I was running low on time and effort last month, apparently.  Ending the school year, planning for summer, and working on finishing a stack of books got in my way of scrapbooking and cardmaking.

I'm committed to finishing some layouts.  I'm behind in my scrapbooking and have a few layouts in my son's pre-K album to complete and all of his 1st grade year to work on.  Looking forward to reliving those memories!

Here's what I did today:

All-Star Team, Have a Ball, Mat Stack 3 stamps, Mat Stack 3, Layerz, Seeing Stars, By the Numbers, Fillable Frames Block Alpha dies, Woodgrain IP (all PTI), Corrugated Letters (Jillibean)

This was my son's first time to go see our beloved Texas Rangers play. As you can see, he had a blast.

Thanks for dropping by My Happy Place today!  Don't give up on me; I'll be back!

Baby Boy!

I know.  You can hear crickets on my blog lately, right?  There are crickets chirping around my crafting area too!  It's been busy and it isn't even the last month of school yet - almost though!  And believe me, I'm counting down the days this year.  Last year, I was dreading it.  This year - I'm more prepared. 

We did get some good news from a friend, however.  And that's who this card is for.  One of my colleagues is expecting a baby in September.  He and his wife just found out last night that it is a boy.  Which is great - because the card I was making for the little girl didn't turn out how I wanted it to and ended up in the trash can.

Here's the one that didn't end up in the trash:

Bundle of Love, Scattered Showers (PTI), Patterned Paper (October Afternoon)

I cut out a circle from the patterned paper to create the hills for the stork.  After stamping him, I outlined him with a light gray Copic marker.  Popping up the baby blanket and adding the cloud gave me some depth and texture I think the card needed.  I need to use patterned paper so much more.  I really did buy it to use.  Need to do that!

Thanks for visiting My Happy Place today!

Lee Anne

I'm Published Again!

A few weeks ago I received an email from an editor at Papercrafts Inspiration magazine asking if I would be willing to have one of my cards that she saw on my blog published in her magazine.  It's the card you see HERE in this post.  

So, you know.  I thought about it for maybe 2 seconds before agreeing to send her an image to publish.  She sent me a copy of the spread today and here's the portion where my card appears in the May issue (soon to be sent out to all the subscribers in the UK:)

It doesn't really do the entire spread justice, so you will have to run out and buy this magazine as soon as possible.  I've heard it's popular in the UK and that Joann's does sell it.  You can also visit several of the other blogs that have published cards in this same spread when the editor includes the links to them on their website HERE.  You'll recognize several of the names - one of them is in my blog-group,, The Paper Dolls one of them organized a blog hop for a sick friend, and one of them is on the design team of a favorite company of mine.  It was an honor to be published next to these talented women. 

Thanks for visiting My Happy Place today - which is happier than usual!

You Are My Sunshine

CAS-ual Fridays has a great challenge this week!  They challenged us to create a card or project based on a song.  You can see all of the details and participate if you click HERE or on the graphic above. Being a child of the 80's - I have many, many songs' lyrics memorized.  You know - useless information stored in my brain.  But the one song that I used for my creation wasn't an 80's tune at all.  It's a lullaby I have been singing to my son since he was born.  We've added beats and kisses at special times in the song as he has grown up and it's a nighttime favorite of ours:

Sunshine die, Fresh Cut Grass die (MFT), Smitty's abc's (Lawn Fawn), Little Bitty Bird, Canvas Impression Plate (PTI)

For this card, I stamped everything first and then ran it through my Big Shot to get the impression on the white panel.  After die-cutting the sun, I ran it through my Xyron and dipped it in some prisma glitter.  I added a few gemstones to the grass and the tree to give a little sparkle to this Spring card. 

If you've been around here awhile, you know that I'm a member of a wonderful group of ladies known as the Paper Dolls.  We try to challenge each other each month just to keep together and support one another.  This month's challenge is "Spring Bling."  I'll post this card over on our blog to share.  You can see our blog and enter in Renee and Suzanne's contest if you click HERE.  (psssst...there's a prize!)

I have a couple of other songs and ideas strumming around in my head, so hopefully, I'll be back soon.  Thanks for visiting My Happy Place!

Market Street Stamps Block Party

It's time for Market Street Stamps' block party and I'm really excited to share my card with you.  I realize it's out of season, so I'll just let you think that I'm a really organized person who thinks ahead....way ahead!  The truth is that I do have several sets of Market Street Stamps sets, but several of them are background sets and several are Halloween sets.  The ghost just screamed out at me as I was looking at all of my Market Street Stamps.  I'm dreaming of a huge order someday in the near future.  Don't worry - I have my list going!

Here's my card for the block party:

Sweet Spooks (MSS), Fancy Flourish die (MFT), Picket Fence die (PTI)

After die-cutting the picket fences, I rubbed Kraft ink on the Woodgrain impression plate and ran it through a die-cutting machine so that the die-cut resembles a worn fence.  I like the worn look that it gives.  Then I punched out a circle from the gray cardstock, and punched punch again to create the crescent moon. I wanted to add some spooky trees to the card, so I cut two flourishes and adhered them in opposite corners to mimic bare tree branches. I love it when I can use my supplies for unexpected things!  After stamping the CUTE ghost, I cut him out and colored in the cheeks.  I ran him through a Xyron sticker maker face down, and then poured glitter on him for added sparkle.  I used pop-dots to adhere him in front of the fence.   

 

I hope you are able to play along with the Block Party this weekend.  You can get all the details and see more entries if you click HERE.   

 

Thanks so much for visiting My Happy Place!

Gift Box

I'm very excited about this post tonight!  There are several pictures, so please bear with me.  You may have read this post the other day about a sympathy card I made for a dear friend of mine whose mother passed away last weekend.  I was going to insert a gift card for her into the card until today.

One of my colleagues received a gift card from a student packed in a pretty little box.  When she showed me the box, my wheels began turning and I knew that I could make it myself.  Which I did - as soon as I could after school.  Here's the box:

LOOK what I made!  I know.  I'm a little dorky - but I'm very excited about it.  I took some pictures as I was going along.  Of course, a die would be a lot more convenient for this, but I imagine the die would be very large because I had to start with a 12x12 piece of patterned paper.  8.5x11 wasn't large enough. 

I carefully took apart the box that my friend received, traced around it and cut it out.  Here's what it looks like:

After I cut out the pattern, I had to score it on the correct lines so that it would fold correctly.

Added some adhesive and folded along the score lines:

Carefully pushed in on the ends as I was closing the box:

Inserted the gift card and folded in a little more:

(I grabbed this card to show the box here.  I have a different card for my friend.)

Here's a side view of the finished product:

As I did for the sympathy card, I'm entering this project to this week's challenge at CAS-ual Fridays - using BOLD black with BEAUTIFUL pastels.  You can get the information and see all of the inspiration here. 

Thanks for visiting My Happy Place today and sticking with me with all of the pictures!

Play Like a Girl

Here's another one for this week's CAS-ual Fridays challenge - using black with touches of pastels - the bold and the beautiful.  If you want to play along and see the wonderful inspiration, click here. 

I wanted to do something a little different and out of my comfort zone.  I love the Clean and Simple style which is what I mostly gravitate to - but I like to add some details or embellishments if I have time.

I ran the soccer balls through my Xyron and then dipped them in Prisma Glitter to give them some sparkle.  I wanted the GIRL to pop out, so I printed it in pink, matted it on some pink cardstock and popped it up with a pop dot!
 
I already know where this card is headed - to my good friend who is a soccer nut!

Thanks for visiting My Happy Place!






ETA:  Funny enough - this card also qualifies for this week's Make It Monday - which I just discovered!  Great timing!  You can get details here.

Bold and Beautiful

CAS-ual Fridays has a great challenge up this week - using pastels with black/white - which is, I agree, a challenge.  I don't usually combine the beautiful Spring pastels with the bold color of black, and there are several samples at Casual Fridays' blog if you want to play along here. 

Unfortunately, I am in need of a sympathy card, so I took advantage of the Bold and Beautiful challenge to make one for a dear, dear friend who lost her mother this weekend.

Rolled Rose and Fancy Flourishes dies (MFT), Sending You (PTI)

I have a few other ideas spinning around in my head for this challenge, so I hope to get to them soon. 

I guess this will also qualify for PTI's blog hop going on today today - which is full of yellow.  You can see all of the inspiration if you click here . 

Thanks for visiting My Happy Place!

For Janelle

 Today several blogging friends and I are getting together to let one of our own know that she is in our thoughts and prayers.  If you don't know Janelle, you can read about her and see her beautiful blog here.  Her husband, Ken, has been updating us recently, and I wanted him to know how much we appreciate that. 

I wanted to brighten Ken and Janelle's day with a bright card!

I know the struggles that Ken and Janelle are experiencing and want to let them know that my thoughts and prayers are with them. 

Thank you for visiting My Happy Place!

Happy Birthday, Kim!

We are celebrating our blog friend, Kim's, birthday today.  You can see her blog, Cupcakes, Cards and Kim  and awesome creations if you click here.  I've just recently met Kim as she joined the blog group I belong to - The Paper Dolls - and she already has inspired me with her wonderful creations.  I hope she has a happy, happy birthday!  Here's the card I created for her:

My Type (Hero Arts), Sending You, Heart border die (PTI)

Thanks to Joyce for organizing the blog hop to honor Kim.  You can hop along with this list here.  You may need to scroll down if you are hopping a few days from now!

Joyce
Cathy
Jeanne
Jessica
Kara
Katie
Laurie W.
Lee Anne<--you are here!
Marybeth
Michelle
Renee
Sharron 

So, HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Kim!  I hope you celebrate with style!

Thanks for visiting My Happy Place today!

Hello Friend

It's no secret around here that one of my favorite sets is Papertrey Ink's Life designed by Lisa Johnson.  I've used it here, along with a mini-set from Think Big Favorites to stamp on canvas.  Papercrafts Magazine recently had a call for submissions using natural materials like wood and canvas.  I submitted this one, but it didn't get picked up, so now you get to see it.

I combined two colors of twine around the bottom and tied a bow through a natural wood button.  I really need to go and pick up several more packages of those buttons because I love them.  

I'll share some of my other rejected cards this week.  Stay tuned!

Thanks for visiting My Happy Place!

MIM-Glitter Buttons 2

Here's one more for this week's Make It Monday.  After this, I either have to:
a) finish the laundry
b) clean the house
c ) take a nap

d ) all of the above

We'll start with C first.

I used the cherry stems from Every Day Button Bits on this card and the sentiment from Fruit Fusion.  For the mat, I cut it from a spellbinders die, embossed it and then brushed some Spring Moss ink over it with an ink blending tool.  That left the white mat as a border.  The patterned paper is from AMuse Studios. 

Here's a close-up of the glitter buttons.  This time I used Diamond stickles as the glitter.

Thanks for visiting My Happy Place!

Naptime!

MIM-Glitter Buttons

This week's Make It Monday is all about glitter buttons.  Ashley taught us 3 different techniques to add glitter to buttons to add a little sparkle to our projects.  I don't have any spray-on adhesive, so I tried to use liquid glue instead. 

I stamped the flower trio from Blooming Button Bits in Raspberry Fizz ink and the leaves in Spring Moss.  I found enough Spring Moss buttons for the centers and 'glittered' them up. 

While they were drying, I sewed the flower panel to the Raspberry Fizz polka dot paper and stamped my sentiment on one end of a double ended banner die cut.

I was not a fan of Raspberry Fizz until recently.  I think it is one of my new favorite PTI colors. 

I have another project to post in a bit!

Thanks for visiting My Happy Place!

PTI Day 10 - Interactive Cards

My, oh my. 

Nichole and PTI really have a lot going on today and I was thrilled - and a little overwhelmed - by her post and all the DT's.  Inspiration overload!  I had to go back to each blog about 3 times today to take it all in.

First - I pretty much want all the Movers and Shakers dies that are coming out.  I have a hard decision to make, however, because last I looked, my money tree was a victim of the Texas drought. 

Sad.

Nichole's contest today is to create an interactive card.  I had this idea rolling around in my head all day, and I have to say - I'm pretty happy with it. 

For those that follow me - you know my time is limited, so I keep things pretty simple.  Dies, patterned paper and impression plates allow me to dress things up a bit and that makes me feel a little better about the simplicity of most of my cards.

Here's the ONE I was able to complete after work, dinner and playtime today:

I used a small circle punch for to create the end of the path.  Then I cut them with a craft knife to create the rest of the path.  I COULD NOT find my coasters for the life of me, but luckily had a little cardboard to use for the kite support.  I needed a smaller circle for the sandwich of cardboard, so I used one of the centers from the Sunflowers die.  You use what you have, right?

After I finished cutting my path in Blueberry Sky cardstock, I stamped the sentiment from Up, Up and Away in Versamark and heat embossed it with silver Zing.  Then I ran it through my Big Shot with the polka dot impression plate, cut out the clouds and stamped them with Polka Dot Basics 1.  After adhering those, I cut my kite from Echo Park patterned paper, added the silver twine for the tail, and attached it to my cardboard sandwich. 

It really does move around easily and I can't wait to get the real dies to make this project even easier!

I hope you liked my card.  I have to find the right person for it!

Thanks for visiting My Happy Place!

Lee Anne

Day 9 Butterflies and Leaves - #5

This is another card for Nichole's challenge on her blog today.  Using leaves and butterflies.  "These are a few of my favorite things!"

This one uses a huge butterfly - that I don't use nearly enough!

I used the same color scheme as I did on a previous card.  Since all the stuff was already out, it made it easier!  That background is from Tin Types!  It's my favorite of the 3 stamps in that set. 

Hoping to be back soon! Thanks for visiting My Happy Place!

Day 9 Butterflies and Leaves - #4

I'm back with another post for Nichole's challenge to use butterflies and leaves on a project.  

I needed a tag for a gift basket for one of my friends that was having a hard time, so butterflies and leaves seemed to be a great choice for comfort.  I know that they make me happy.

Here's the tag:

Pure poppy.  My favorite color. And it's not "just red" as my sister claimed it to be.  The little swirls on that butterfly are so beautiful. 

I know it's been a busy place around My Happy Place lately!  That's what an anniversary will do for you!

See you back here in a bit...hopefully!

Day 9 Butterflies and Leaves - #3

Nichole continues to inspire with her post today and butterflies and leaves are some of my favorite images - as you can see! 

After stamping the background with Tin Types, I used the emboss resist technique for the leaf images in the background.  I cut a window out of the main panel with Fillable Frames #1 and stamped and colored the butterfly in the opening.

A little Spring Moss twill - one of my favorite colors - finished the card!  I'm very excited that PTI is releasing Spring Moss felt!!

Thanks for visiting again!  Be back soon!

Day 9 Butterflies and Leaves - #2

I'm back again with another project for Nichole's challenge today.  We are to use leaves and butterflies together on a card.

From what you will see today, you would think I have enough of both of those.  But after looking carefully at the prizes listed - I only have 2 things.  I need more...clearly.

Here's my second card for today:

I used Butterfly Dreams for this one and colored in some pearls with sharpies.  I love Terracotta Tile and don't use it nearly enough!

Thanks for visiting again!  See you soon...most likely!

Day 9 Butterflies and Leaves

It is Day 9 of the anniversary celebration at Papertrey Ink.  Nichole challenged us today to create a card with butterflies and leaves.

Which is funny.  Because I am a sucker for most butterfly stamp sets and most tree or leaf sets.  So the fact that she introduced both of these together only tells me that I should own them soon!  It's fate, no?

Here's my first card for the challenge:

Bright, huh?  The butterfly is a chipboard one that was in my stash and the leaf stamps are from Turning a New Leaf - stamped in Versamark on Raspberry Fizz.  The sentiment is from Handwritten Notes.

I'll be back soon with more!

Thanks for visiting My Happy Place!