Spotlighting TOMMY in July

I'm hosting my monthly WOTG workshops in July using Tommy papers.  I love how these layouts turned out - since the colors in the Tommy papers are basically primary colors, these layouts would be perfect for anything from birthdays, Fourth of July, water pictures, vacation pictures to Disney...endless possibilities.

I used Tommy to scrapbook my trip with my friend Shari to Chicago's Navy Pier after we attended our Regional Celebration.

 (Click on any image to enlarge for more detail)

Products used:

G1058 Tommy WOTG Scrapbooking kit

including  Z1824 Tommy Assortment and Z1680 Dimensional Elements Stars

D1576 Home of the Brave (Let's Get Patriotic campaign stamp set)

Inks: Cranberry, Desert Sand, Outdoor Denim

Flip Flaps: 

Z1747 Small Assortment

Z1726  6x6 Flip Flaps

Z4114  4x6 Flip Flaps

On my Chicago Navy Pier layout, I used several different sizes of Flip Flaps (4x4, 6x6 and 4x6)...I don't have pictures of them open. I guess I will have to edit this post after Convention to show the layouts with flip flaps open...I love how Flip Flaps will allow you to add a few more pictures to a 2-page layout without creating another 2-page spread.  My titles were cut from the Artiste cartridge font.

The Happy 4th layout uses the Home of the Brave stamp set.  The Home of the Brave stamp set is just one of 3 stamp sets in our Let's Get Patriotic campaign in July. I thought it was perfect to celebrate Independence Day.  I may not have any firework pictures to include in the layout this year, as Colorado is already "on fire" with all the forest fires currently burning.

It's CONVENTION TIME!!!

WooHoo!!! Today, I'm sharing the Convention gifts I made for my team and adoptees who are attending Convention with me.  Since we are in Orlando, and plan to enjoy Disney World while we are here, I knew I had to have a Minnie Mouse theme to my gifts!

My Minnie Gift Bags

These gifts were so easy to make...that is if you have the Artiste Cricut Cartridge.  Want to know how to make them...here are the measurements!

Gift Bag = Artiste, pg.32, 3-D object, cut at 4-1/2"

Bow = Artiste, pg.55, Accent 3, cut at 1-1/4"

Ears = Artiste, pg.48, Card, cut at 3" (cut 2 for her ears)

That's basically the "body" of the Gift Bag...then you can embellish to your desire!

I embellished using a strip of Cranberry cardstock that I scalloped using our Corner Rounder, also included some Slate Washi Tape.  I added some Shimmer Trim just below the Cranberry cardstock, I also used our Glitter Paper to add some "bling" in a scalloped circle behind the monogram stamp.  I added a monogram to each persons gift bag...monograms are a great way to personalize any gift! Each monogram is sold separately for only $2.95 each!  I'm collecting them all.

Inside are fun size m&ms...one for each day of Convention.  A girls gotta have some chocolate!

Hope they enjoy these little gifts!

Black Forest Fire, Colorado Springs, CO

Colorado has been suffering from a severe drought for several years now...last year we experienced a devastating forest fire with the Waldo Canyon fire which soon became known as Colorado's most destructive forest fire in our states history.

Just two short weeks ago, on June 11th, 2013 a forest fire began to burn, much closer to home...this time in the Black Forest just northeast of Colorado Springs.  As I drove home from work, not knowing what was happening just a few short miles from my backyard, I witnessed a HUGE plume of smoke in the southern skies.  I had several texts and voicemails from friends on my cell phone wondering if I was affected.  As I drove home, I received the location of the fire, and indeed it was only about 5 miles from my house as a crow flies.  Here's what I saw when I got home:

I knew homes were being burned, as the forest is populated with many homes you just can't see from the road because the forest is so dense with trees.  It was heartbreaking to watch your community go up in flames.  The following day, the winds picked up pushing the fire closer...and eventually we got the reverse 911 call and we were under mandatory evacuation orders.  Wednesday evening we were escorted out of our neighborhoods by the sheriff's department.  We were out of our homes for 4 days.  Thankfully, we had a home to return too...by the end of this firestorm, 511 homes were destroyed and 2 lives were lost...making the Black Forest fire Colorado's most devastating fire.  Although the fire is currently 100% contained, it is still not fully extinguished.  

I am nervously anxious to have to drive through the Black Forest in the weeks or months to come.  I've seen many videos posted online, and can't get through them without tears welling up in my eyes.  I know our community has become stronger, and may those that lost everything...every single memento of their lives up to that day...have the strength to get through such loss.  I can't even imagine!!!

Artiste + ArtPhilosophy + Later Sk8r = ONE AMAZING WORKSHOP!

I'm hosting this birthday card workshop in July, designed by fellow consultant, Vicki Price at The Price of Paper .  Vicki taught her workshop to our group of consultants during a team training...and I couldn't wait to share it with my stamping friends!  Be ready to be amazed!!!

Card #1

Card #2

Card #3

Card #4

Card #5

Card #7

  Card #8

Card #9

Card #10

Card #11

Card #12

Card #6

Supplies used:

X7167B Later Sk8r Paper Packet

Z1806 Green & Blue Epoxy Bubbles

Z1808 Outdoor Denim Chevron Ribbon

Z1817 Washi Tape - Slate Polka Dot

B1419 Joyful Birthday

B1417 Perfect Fit - Birthday

INKS: Outdoor Denim, Slate, Pear, and Lagoon 

Thanks a BUNCH card with A Flowering Bunch

It's JUNE...time to share my June Stamp of the Month artwork.  

My card uses the card pattern from Wishes, Simply Said, and the Tommy paper packet.  The finished size is 8"x3.5".  I also used our White Chalk marker to "stitch" the top and left side of the card 

(much easier than actual needle and thread!).  

I've already had several requests asking how I created the flower...looks complicated, but it's not!  

I was inspired by this pin on Pinterest.  

Here's how I did it:

I cut several hearts (pg.26, <Heart1>, cut at 3/4") from the Art Philosophy cartridge, 

and a flower image (pg.32, Accent 3, <2>, cut at 2") from Artiste that coordinates 

with the Flowering Bunch stamp set. 

Fold or score each heart down the center.

 Join 3 of the hearts together, making clusters, then continue to make 6 clusters of 3 hearts.

Attach each of the clusters to the flower Cricut image.  I used the separation of the "petals" on the Cricut image as my guide to line all 6 clusters up evenly.

 Add an embellishment of your choice to the center of the flower, to hide the middle where the points might not line up perfectly...all imperfections are an opportunity for embellishment! :-) 

That's it!