Happy Monday!

Just a couple of things to share today. This first project was my contribution to the Pink Paislee blog this month. The blog is awesome. And the design team is always posting new projects. So check it out if you want to see some great Pink Paislee stuff.

Anyway, I used the negative space from the die cuts to make this. I knew that it would be a great frame for some photos. I added lots of other embellishments including stamps, stitching, die cuts, jewels and chipboard. Then I glued the frame onto the green paper. I painted a canvas and adhered it to that. Finally I added some paper strips along the side. Here are several shots...






This next project is one that I did recently using an old photo of my mom, Albert and I back in 1970. Here's the journaling: Family excursions for the Gervais family always included a stop at Howard Johnson's. In 1970, we drove from Long Island to Mexico City. Stopping at the orange roofed motels is one of my most vivid memories of the trip. I loved the pool, the ice cream and the blue and white checked waitress uniforms.







I used a variety of patterned paper to give it a 70s feeling. I stamped on the felt and did lots of stitching, too.

This is one of those pages that I just love because of the topic (and the fun products, too). I plan on hanging it up in my scraproom.

That's it for today. Thanks for stopping by!

Roughing it Up

I just love distressing! Lately, it seems like a lot of what I do has roughed up edges. I used the Close to My Heart edging tool to do it. Then I curl up the pieces and scrape along the edges with my fingernail. If you haven't tried roughing it up, give it a shot. It gives projects a shabby, vintage feel.

Here's my roughed up card for CPS this week. This was a really fun sketch. I love looking at what the other designers and readers come up with, too.





Thanks for stopping by! Have a great day!

Cards

Here are a couple that I made this week. This first one uses the Pink Paislee Office Lingo line. I wanted to make it look like one of those cute wooly caps. To make the bottom of the hat I added some trim from Joann's, folded some paper and added Queen and Company felt. The flower on the top is also Queen and Co. felt.





This is the card I made for Melissa Phillips' first challenge over at the Pursuit of Craftyness blog. You can check it out here
So I think I get an A for effort but and F for following directions!
I read the challenge and thought you had to pick ANY card for inspiration. So, I chose one of Melissa's that I love. Here's a link to her gorgeous card. I used a beautiful tag that I received from Cindy. Isn't it gorgeous? It's from Antique Paperie. I tried to link it, but couldn't access the website for some reason. Anyway, I just love her tags. I added some MM and Fancy Pants paper, and the chipboard flower is Melissa Frances. I sprayed glimmer mist and added glitter to the felt and attached the black felt flower to the chipboard using a felt brad that has been covered with Stickles.





That's it for today. We've been out enjoying the nice weather this weekend, so I don't have much else to share.

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by~!

Emma's

I love the 15th and the 30th of each month. That's when Cindy puts up the projects at the Emma's Paperie blog. Wow, I'm just blown away by what the team did this time. You have to go and check it out here.

Anyway here are my two projects. The first was one that we had to use ribbon or trim on. I used the new Kaitlin trims from Crate paper and created this card.



To make the flower, I cut a circle from the patterned paper. Then I cut small strips of ribbon, made loops and adhered them to the circle. I added layered die cuts to the center and adhered a chipboard circle on top. I used the ric rac as the stem and added more trim to the die cut leaves.



This is my second project. I used one of Cindy's scalloped boxes and a bunch of Fancy Pants 'Celebration' papers. The transparency on top of the box is also Fancy Pants. I used a FP die cut butterfly for the card. I just love all of the bright colors in this line!





Well, that's it for today. Thanks for stopping by!

Pursuit of Craftyness

They say when one door closes, another opens. I have always believed this to be true. Sadly, the Paper Salon design team is no more. The company that bought Paper Salon's parent company decided that they didn't have the need for our team at this point in time. So, rather than pack up our bags and go our separate ways, we've begun a new venture. Our bond goes well beyond the ties of Paper Salon, so we decided we will stay together and craft together as a group. Hopefully, we can share our ideas and offer some inspiration. We decided to do this via a blog called The Pursuit of Craftyness. Check it out! We'll be doing sketches, hosting challenges, offering tips and sharing what we love to do best - Paper Crafting. I'm kind of biased, but I can honestly say those girls are all super talented and I'm excited to have a place where I can go and see their work. Kind of like a one stop shopping deal.

Here is my first card for the POC blog. I used American Crafts paper, Doodlebug buttons and KI Lace Cardstock.




That's it for today. Thanks for stopping by!

Crazy Week

The week of birthdays has been a hectic one! Seems like when it rains it pours!!!
I couldn't even get into my scraproom until this morning. I created something cute that I can't quite share yet, but it goes along with a fun little announcement. More to come on that later.

Anyway, here are a couple of things I CAN share with you. The first is my CPS card from this week. We did Hybrid cards! This was a lot of fun to do. I printed Prima Hybrid Papers (Rue88) and the frame is from Prima Hybrid, too. (Gem Silhouettes) I printed it on a transparency. Then I assembled everything together like a regular
card.





This next card uses Queen and Company felt along with some MM Garden Party goodies. I added lots of Stickles to the felt. I just LOVE glitter.

That's about it for now. Hope you have a wonderful weekend. Thanks for stopping by!!!

5 Years Ago Today...

Five years ago today, I became a mother. It was the happiest day of my entire life! I have been teary all day. I can't believe my baby is five. Everyone says the time flies by. Boy, does it.

He had an exciting morning. He woke up to a new bike - his first two wheeler! (He wouldn't give up that tricycle forever!). Fran decided he needed a scooter, too. So he got a Razor. Both of them had balloons tied to them and he was thrilled to see them as he walked into the living room. He rode the bike from the living room, throught the kitchen and into the dining room several times. We went outside in our PJs, too. He's such a happy camper. Today we'll have lunch at Burger King with Fran and dinner at Perkins with my mom. Can you tell he picked the places??? Yes, he's spoiled, but that's what happens when you have two parents who adore you. I figure if I'm good to him now, he'll be sure to visit me in the nursing home one day. ;)

Here are a couple of old layouts. They are the first two that I did when I started scrapping his albums four years ago. They certainly aren't fancy or trendy, but I have looked at them over and over again. They are what scrapping is all about.

Here is a 2 pager of me exactly 5 years ago today. I started getting teary eyed as I looked at this one again. Seeing my dad there breaks my heart. He loved Ryan to death and would have been just thrilled to be with him as he turns 5. Twenty months was just too short of a time to have them together....




This one was a lift. I wish I could remember who did the original, but my 40+ year old brain doesn't work so well anymore. :) The layout highlights our birth announcement. I love the photo of him. He was 2 weeks old.




So, that's my walk down memory lane.

Here is one I did this week. I've scrapped the photos before, but I just love them. I used lots of Pink Paislee and Queen and Company on here. The quote pretty much sums up motherhood. Our angels are never out of our thoughts.....






Well, enough sappiness for one day. ;) I'm off to bake cupcakes. We'll be taking them into school and I'm going to spend some time with him there.

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!

Thanks, Mom!!!!

Well, today is my birthday. ;) And being a mom, I know how special this day is to mothers who relive every second of the day they gave birth to their child. (well, at least I do!) So, in honor of my birthday, I dedicate this post to the most wonderful mother in the world, Blanca Gervais. I am so blessed to have been born on this day, 29+ years ago to the most caring, generous, smart and loving mom ever. Thank you, mom, for the gift of life and for all you've done over the years to make every day of it so wonderful. Love you!!!

This card is for you. It's a new Pink Paislee card that I made. Love the Office Lingo line. I also added some Collage Press paper, pom poms, glitter and stitching.




I woke up to two beautiful cards today. One from Fran and one from Ryan. Ryan also gave me a wonderful 'mom' frame. We'll have to take a cute picture to put in it. We're going to be heading up to Philly soon, so I can hit Utrecht Art Supply and get some Copic markers - my birthday gift. Fran thinks I'm crazy. Who gets markers for their birthday? ;)

So, thanks for stopping by! Have a great day! (I know I will.)

Rubons and Stickles

Don't you just love rubons? There are so many out there today and they are just so much fun. One of my favorite types are from October Afternoon. On this card I used the rubon as the main element of my card. Then I added some small sequins and some Stickles to it for dimension.



Speaking of Stickles, I used some on this card, too. I added them to the felt for some sparkle and shine.



Thanks for stopping by!