Cardabilities Sketch 12 DT Reveal

Hi friends,
It's the 30th, so that means it time for a brand new sketch at Cardabilities!
Karan is bringing her sketchy goodness with sketch #12.
Here it is:

 Here's my card:

This is a birthday card I made for my TA (teacher assistant) who just turned 17. Poor thing, I've kept her busy doing the dirty work in my class, so I tucked in an itunes gift card. She deserves it!

The deets:
I used papers from Kioshi by Basic Grey. I cut the number 17 on my cricut using the Sweet Treats cart. I love that the letters & numbers on this cart have a little flame on top :) I created a fan fold flower & tucked that underneath it. The cs is Rich Razzleberry & Elegant Eggplant from SU! & yes, I once again went wild with my Viva Decor Pearl pen ;) Hee! Hee! The edges are embossed with a SU! embossing folder & a SU! border punch. Then, I popped a cake button to embellish.

Please stop by the Cardabilities blog & check out the awesome work the DT has created to sketchspire ya! You have until the 15th to play along- so linky it up! We would luv to see your cardabilities!

Thanks so much for peeking today!
Gotta Go!

City Crafter -Flowers & Frills- CCCB24

Hi there friends,
I'm so tickled to be guest designer at City Crafter Challenge Blog for this week's challenge: Flowers & Frills. Your challenge this week is to create a card or project that must include at least one Flower and either some Lace or Doily.
Here's a bit of inspiration for ya:

 It is not a color challenge so you do not have to use these colors, but let this beautiful pic inspire ya :)

Here's my card:

 Side View:

 I used Tim Holtz Tattered Florals die for the rose. I sprayed it with Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Mist to give it a dewy, shimmery look. I also added Rose Leaves to embellish. The ticket is from PTI. I finished it off with satin & sheer ribbon bows held together with a Maya Road pin with pearls & a red bead. 

I know you will rock this week's flowers & frills challenge! It's all those things that make being a girl so fun! ;)

This card is going to my old school chums. On my last day at my old school, they gave me a very generous gift. They were my regular victims recipients of my crafting creations so now I don't know who'll be my new victims... )I mean recipients!!! ;)

Thank you Kirsty, for inviting me to play along this week! I had fun creating this card. :) Please be sure to stop by the CCC Blog to see the DT's fab creations.

Thanks for peeking today!
Gotta Go!

Baby Layout

Hi friends,
I wanted to share a layout I made for a friend. She's part of a group of ladies I crop with & she asked us if we would make a (baby boy) layout for her baby album in lieu of gifts. I thought that would be a great idea- that way all she would need to do is pop her baby pictures on the mats & her baby book would be done!
Here's the double page layout I created for her:

First, I have to say that this is something that looks waaaaaaay better in person. I didn't take good pics of it as I was rushing out the door :( I added a title along the right border after I took the pic :(

Here's a closer peek at the left page:

I paper pleated along the top. I layered, layered, layered patterned papers. (one of my fav things to do- even on scrapbook pages ;) The mat on this page is ready for a 5x7 pic. I added faux stitching along the edges.

Here's the page on the right: again sorry for the hideous pic :(

I added more paper pleating along the edge. This page is ready for two 4x6 pics.

All the papers for this layout were from My Minds Eye Quite Contrary Collection which I have LOVED using on several projects. I'll be so sad when this collection is gone :(

Thanks so much for peeking today. HS is going pretty well. It's been crazy busy getting used to new routines/procedures that come with moving to a new school, but hopefully by the end of the month I'll feel more comfortable in my new surroundings & my life as a HS teacher. I am LOVING that prep period, though!!! It really helps a lot :)

Hasta Luego!

Teacher Gifts Blog Candy Winner

Hi friends,
Sorry to post this so late :( but here's the winner chosen through RANDOM.org
#65

t_lockhart5 said...

What a fun idea for buttons! I have to keep my eyes opened now to see what I can find. All your projects have been so fun. Thanks for sharing. Any the give-away - WOW! I would love to win. Thanks for sharing your wonderful ideas with us. 

Congrats Tina! and thank you everyone for your sweet comments on all the projects for Back to School Teacher Gifts. Please email me your snail mail addy & I'll send these off to ya! Gotta Go!

DT- Coner Bookmark

Hi there friends,
Today, I have really easy project- that if you haven't tried- you really should! It's soooo super easy & practical! It's a Corner Bookmark.
Here it is:

The Deets:
To begin, I was inspired by the little fleur de lys-type design on the pattern paper. So to coordinate, I embossed the cardstock with the Fleur de Lis Cuttlebug Embossing folder (luuuuv this design!) and also used a coordinating punch along the edge. The patterned paper is called Cosmo- Urban Cosmo by Prima and I also used a strip of the Colony- Urban Cosmos Prima Paper.
This is what Cosmo looks like:

I cut out 1 of the elements to create the focal point of the bookmark.
I added a 2 Prima flowers layered together (Mini-Rose & Hydrangea). I tucked a couple of Rose Leaves on the sides as well. To finish, I simply added a few Prima pearls. Could not be easier!
Here it is in action:

It is marking the page to one of my fav Rachael Ray recipes: Bacon-Wrapped Meatloaf Patties with Pan Gravy and Sour Cream-Tomato Smashed Potatoes. That's a mouthful, huh! I do NOT like meatloaf. It looks like a hot mess & I can't stand it. So when I saw this recipe, I thought "If anyone can get me to at least try meatloaf again- it's Rachael Ray." So I followed her 30 minute meal recipe (which always takes me an hour & a half to make) & it was absolutely delicious---> brought a tear to my eye ;) This recipe can be found in her 365: No repeats book. (If you'd like the recipe, just let me know.) I've made about 8 different dishes from this book & they all have been superb!!!

If you'd like to make this super easy bookmark, you can find a tut---> here and all the supplies used to make this bookmark can be found at the YMH Store---> Here.

I'm sorry I haven't posted the winner of the Back to School Candy :( I'll do that tomorrow :)
Thanks so much for peeking!
Gotta Go!

Cardabilities Sketch 11 DT Reveal

Hi there friends,
Today, I'm helping to reveal Sketch #11 for Cardabilities. :) yay!
Here's the sketch:

Here's my take:

I decided to really step out of my normal style & DISTRESS!!! --->Since "distressed" seems to be my life right now, LOL! I used old stuff from my stash that I've neglected to use.
The Deets:
The jean pocket is a retired SU stamp (Pocket Fun) I stamped on Denim paper & cut it out. The flowers come from a set from Heartfelt Creations called Posy Patch Garden Delights. They're actually part of another image (flowers in a watering can) but I just wanted the flowers so I cut them out & popped them onto the pocket. They're colored with Copics, I added 3D Crystal lacquer to them, & finished the middles with my Viva Decor Pearl pen in gold. The sentiment is hard to see, but it reads, "Fill this Day with Joy."- from a PTI set called YOF: Sweet Peas.

Be sure to stop by the Cardabilities blog to see the amazing work the rest of the DT has created to sketchspire ya! We have some new DT members, and I'm sure they would be glad to get some luv ;) Don't forget you have until the 30th to link your creations. You bring the cards & we'll bring the luv!

I'll be starting with my HS kiddos today so I hope my first day goes well :) Wish me luck, won't ya! Oh, & guess what? Remember my whiteboard magnets I was so excited to use? Well, the white board at the HS is not magnetic :( so I won't be using them anytime soon-  tear, tear :(
Thanks so much for peeking today!
Gotta go!

DT- Birthday Concentration

Hi friends,
Today I have a super simple little project for ya- the simplest I've ever come up with! Do you ever look at your DP & aren't sure how you want to use it? Me- pretty much every time I pick some up :) This time it actually came to me like a flash. I had this super cute DP from Imaginisce called All Kinds of Happy & i asked myself, "Future Mrs. Depp, what could you do with this paper?" I had a birthday card to make for a little girl- but a card wasn't calling my name. Then I thought of making a game out of it! Concentration is the name!

The Deets:
I took my 2" (XL) circle punch & punched out around the happy birthday to create disks:

I ended up with 20 disks/cards 4 each of 5 different images. (I had a few leftover to decorate the packaging ;) That's it! Now, you're ready to play!!!

So, do ya want to see how to play??? GAME ON!!! You first...
Mix up the cards & put them in 4 rows of 5. (You'll notice that this paper is double sided so that makes it work even more perfectly!)
Now you pick 2 cards & turn them over.

You got...

 a cake and a cupcake. Awww, sorry that's not the same.
My turn...

a cupcake & a cupcake! A matching pair!!! I keep those cards & go again...

confetti & confetti! Another matching pair!!! So we would continue playing until I had won... er.... someone wins ;)

I'll share how I'm gifting this next week---> same bat time, same bat channel! Hope this inspires you to take another look at your DP. You can find this paper & the coordinating stamps, paper, & accessories at the YMH Store.

Friends, you may not be seeing me for a while--- I have some news for ya. As you know, I teach 3rd grade. Well, I got a phone call from HR at my district letting me know that (due to low enrollment at my school) I'm being transferred to another school. Buuuuuuuuut... not just any school.... a HIGH SCHOOL!!! Because in addition to having a multiple subjects credential, I also have a single subject credential in Spanish. Since they needed a Spanish teacher & I was being displaced & had a Spanish teaching credential---> I was being sent to the High School. Have I taught High School before? No. Only what I needed for my credential (student teaching). I have taught elementary for 15 years so this will be a huge change for me. But I HAVE a job still & have to remember that. Tomorrow is my last day at the school I've been to for 10 years and I'm sad. I leave behind the best colleagues & friends I've ever known. I leave kiddos I've had for nearly 2 weeks. Monday I have to pack up my belongings, Tuesday the district movers will move my stuff to my new school and Wednesday I start at the HS. By the way, Back to School night is Thursday. We'll see how that goes! LOL! I have a job... I have a job... I have a job....

Anyhoo, thanks for peeking today.
Gotta go!

Teacher Gift: Whiteboard Magnets

Hi Ya Friends!
Today marks the last of teacher gifts for this year. I hope you've found at least one idea to tickle your fancy :) Today's project is super easy, super functional, & super cute. This is something I created for myself :)

After 6 years, I FINALLY got a new whiteboard in my classroom. The last one wasn't even a real whiteboard- it was that slick material used for bathroom showers---> seriously! Well, my new real whiteboard is also magnetic which is a big plus- no more taping things to my whiteboard!!! It's so much easier & faster to use magnets- so that's what inspired today's project.
Here it is:

These are whiteboard magnets for holding up charts & anything else I want!

It all began with these buttons:

I happen to be a button maniac- I luuuuuuuuv using them on cards & projects. So when I saw these (at 50% off at JoAnns) I had to snatch 'em. They're pricey- but using a 15% coupon + the fact that they were on sale made it easier on the wallet. I didn't know what I was going to do with them at the time, but I think I found a perfect way to use them :)
I removed the shanks with my button shank remover:
(If you don't have one of these, you seriously need to have one! They remove button shanks like butter. They can be purchased at JoAnns as well.)

It's kinda hard to tell but the top button has the shank removed & the bottom one doesn't. Once the shank is removed, the back is flat & ready to use.) Be sure you remove the shank away from you as those little suckers can go flying!

Then all I did was add 2 cardstock circles & adhered the button with craft glue dots. I adhered a circle magnet to the back. I recommend these heavy duty circle magnets instead of the strips because these will hold charts in place. If the magnet is weak & thin, the chart will just slide down the whiteboard- and back to the tape you go!

These are mine, but if I was gifting them, I would do this:

I created a mini-Pizza box.

I made a little whiteboard to decorate the lid cover from photo paper (it has that glossy, whiteboard look- you could also use glossy CS) and the frame from silver CS. I resized this chart of the pledge of allegiance & used micro pop dots as the "magnets" which I colored with a red Sharpie. I think this might give a hint as to what's on the inside:

The magnets! You could make dividers for each, or wrap them in tissue paper.
I used buttons, but you can use punches, die cuts, stickers- anything you'd like!

For today's gift going into the Teacher Bag o' Gifts is:

A set of Martha Stewart writing pens! I mean every teacher needs a set of great pens & these are GREAT! There are 4 black pens in different size points & 2 are permanent- for writing on different types of surfaces. They write like a dream- well done, Martha!

Don't forget to leave a comment at each teacher gifts post for more chances to win! Each comment you leave for each post gets you more chances to win :)

Here's a recap:
Teacher Gift #1: Teacher's Trio Companion
Teacher Gift #2: Welcome Back(pack) Teacher
Teacher Gift #3: Note Holder
Teacher Gift #4: Student Info Folder
Teacher Gift #5 Whiteboard magnets -you are here :)

Here is the total prize package:

The Greeting Farm: Teacher Anya Rubber Stamp

  The Grade School Stack

 Cutter Bee Scissors

Tim Holtz Design Ruler

Martha Stewart Writing Pens

Phew! That's 5 Teacher Projects, 5 fab prizes, only 1 lucky winner. The winner will be chosen through Random.org & will be announced on September 15th. Eligible comments/entries will close on midnight PST September 14th.

As always, thanks so much for peeking today.
Gotta Go!

Teacher Gift: Student Info Folder

Hi there friends,
Hope you're enjoying this beautiful Labor Day Holiday (those of you here in the states).
Today, I've got another teacher project for ya. It's something I use in my classroom & love! I use it to jot down quick notes on students while teaching & working with them. I love it because I have info on my entire class in one organized place.

It's very easy to do & uses basic office/school supplies.
You'll need: 1 file folder, 5x8 index cards, & some tape
Here's the cover:

For the cover, I used the Simply Charmed Cricut cart to create the notebook page. (OMGoooosh, this cart is awesome!) It's got the cutest images that cover every holiday & major event throughout the year. If you love Doodle Charms, this is the cart for you! I deleted (hide/contour) the little smiley face that's on the page so it would be the blank notebook page. I cut out the letters from the Varsity Letter cart. The cute image is Teacher Honey from CC Designs. To finish it up, I added a little hand paper clip to the top corner & pen details along the edges.

To get started, you'll need to adhere an index card beginning at the bottom of the folder with a piece of tape as shown:

Then add the next one the same way lining it up with the red line- adding a piece of tape to cover the card & the folder. This will create a tab and will allow you to easily flip a card & write your note.

Continue the same way:

until you reach the top:

You will use 11 cards --->This gives me 10 spaces for students & the top page is there just to hide the info for the first student from sight (privacy).

Do the same thing to the other side. If you have more than 20 students, you can use the smaller index cards in the same way.

All that's left to do is write students' names on each tab.
Like this:

I usually do 1 side for boys, 1 side for girls & in alphabetical order by first name- that makes it easier for me to find a student.

Sadly, these gorgeous examples of the male specimen are not in my class- they are just examples. Plus, in my class, Johnny would come first :)

Huh? You haven't heard of Alexander or Joe??? (I KNOW you know my Johnny---> emphasis on the --->MY<---. Well, Alexander & Joe are THE hottest vampire & werewolf found on HBO's True Blood. So... now you know I'm Team Eric & Team Alcide!!! How can you ask a girl to choose???

WARNING: THE FOLLOWING IS NOT INTENDED TO BE VIEWED BY PERSONS WITH HEART CONDITIONS, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, OR WEAK KNEES. VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.

Meet Alex: AKA Eric- oh so cool!

Meet Joe: AKA Alcide- oh so hot!

Swoon...These guys rule! speaking of which... that brings me to today's prize going into the teacher bag o' gifts:

One of my most fav tools- Tim Holtz Design Ruler!

Hope you like today's project & the little extra eye candy I threw in there! ;)
Thanks for peeking!

DT- Cotton Candy Anyone???

Hello my friends,
It's been a crazy, busy week! I started with my new school kiddos & I think that after 15 years of teaching, THIS is the group that's gonna drive me to drink! LOL. Ok... just kidding---> I hope! :0  I still have a couple more teacher gifts to share- I haven't forgotten :) & the last 2 ideas/gifts, are practical & cute, IMHO ;)

Today, I have a card I have been dying to make! I saw the card style on SCS & fell in love, but it looked a bit complicated so I didn't rush to make one. Dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb... duuuuuumb! This card is a 10 minute card (if that)- SOOOOO easy, & super fun!- Luuuv it!
Here's my card:

Most of the cards I saw were ice cream parlor cards, & I was going to do that since I had this cute Sundae Cone Snag' em stamp.

But seeing the "cone" reminded me of the paper wrap on cotton candy- so that's what I went with :) I mean any chance to play with fun flock must be taken, right?!
Here's a peek of the side:

I decided to really make them pop by coating the ice cream part with glue & adding the flock to create the cotton candy look---> and FEEL too :) I cut a slit into the CS & tucked them in so they would be more 3D.

Design credit for this card style is given to Lorri Heiling and a video tut can be found---> HERE. Note: You'll need a card base that's 4 1/4" x 11" scored in half (5 1/2"). It's not mentioned on either blog that I saw, so I thought I'd let you know.

Thanks so much for peeking today! Remember to grab the Snag 'Em stamps at the YMH store.
Hope your weekend is yummy :)