Scarlet Lime July Sneak Peeks!

Hey everyone!  As I mentioned a few weeks ago I was so honored to be asked by Christy Tomlinson to join the Scarlet Lime design team on a more regular basis following my June Guest Designer gig.  I've been working with the July kit for the past week and let me just tell you it is GORGEOUS!  Lots of bright colors and fun color combos in this one.  I also had the opportunity to work with the Frugal Fab kit this month as well.  And truth be told I think I might have loved the Frugal Fab kit even more than the main.  It was filled with tons of goodies and included Pebbles Inc papers which of course ya'll know I completely adore.  ;)

The gallery goes live on July 1st but I thought I would share a few sneak peeks with you here on my blog.  The first two images are layouts using the main kit and the second two are from the Frugal Fab kit.  ENJOY!

Be sure to check back here on July 1st to see the real deal!  :)

Pebbles Inc Design Team Call

Hey everyone!  I just wanted to let you all know about an awesome opportunity.  As many of you know I am the Design Team Coordinator for Pebbles Inc.  Pebbles is such a fabulous company to work for and they have amazing products.  We have just posted our Design Team Call for the 2010 - 2011 term.  You can read all about it here.  If you have any questions at all please don't hesitate to ask - I'd be happy to answer them!

Good Luck!  I know I have lots of talented blog readers out there and I really hope to see you apply!  :)

Scrapbook & Cards Today Summer Issue

Hey all!  I have another link for you today.  This time it's for the Summer Issue of Scrapbook & Cards Today. 

You can download the latest issue right here.  It is jam packed with tons of amazing layouts sure to get you in the mood to scrap those summertime photos.  And while you're flipping though the mag be sure to check out pages 36-37.  Yours truly contributed to the "easy, detailed, expert" article for this issue! :)

Studio Tour!

Hey all!  Just popping in quickly to let you know that my studio is being featured over on the Pink Paislee blog.  If you wanna take a peek at where I create and learn a little bit more about me head on over to check it out! 

Collage Press Sketch Contest!

Hi everybody!  Sorry for the long absence between posts - I am still trying to adjust to having the boys home from school all day.  Definitely doesn't leave much time for anything crafty that's for sure!  LOL!  I did want to share with you a layout I created for the Collage Press blog.  We are currently having a sketch contest over on the Collage Press blog (see details below). 

For this layout about my little guy Brandon I used my favorite Collage Press collection Knave of Hearts.  I kept my design pretty close to the sketch which helped me create this layout in no time at all.

My little guy is definitely a mama's boy and I feel so very lucky to be able to call myself his mama and that he loves me the way he does.  I used the "lucky" die cut for my main title popped up with some dimensional adhesive and placed on a journaling die cut.  I slightly overlapped my title block with the bottom of my main photo to help ground all of the elements.  

Since my layout is about love I decided to add a couple of hearts.  I punched these hearts from a few different patterned papers, zig zag stitched down the centers, and folded up the edges for a bit of dimension.

We'd love for you to play along with our sketch contest as well.  To enter simply create a layout using the sketch posted here.  The topic can be whatever you choose -- the only rule is that you must use 80% Collage Press products.  E-mail us a copy of your layout to cpsketchcontest@gmail.com by midnight PST on June 30th, and our design team will choose a winner to be announced July 5th.
The winner will receive a Sweet Shoppe Collage Crafting Kit, which includes patterned paper, die-cuts, two alphas and more! Good luck!

Paper Crafts Gallery Idol - ROUND 3!

Yep that's right folks!  I am in still in the running to become the next Paper Crafts Gallery Idol and as they say I am in it to win it!  The third round of voting is now live - you can vote (hopefully for me!) right here. 

Our theme for the third round was creative uses of ribbon.  For this challenge challenge I decided to use several different colors of grosgrain ribbon and weave them into a pattern. I started with my card base and cut out a house shape from the front. I then got busy weaving my ribbons, securing them from the inside of my card, so they show through the open house shape on front. I wanted to create a bit of whimsy on this card so I added some grass to the front complete with ribbon leaved flowers and a cute little dragonfly secured to the card front with wire (he wobbles around when you move the card). I added my sentiment to a few cute puffy clouds in the upper corner of my card and voila!  

And here is another image of the card front.  I think you can really see all of the texture and depth the ribbon adds in this photo.

I added a few fun details this card such as the ribbon leaved flowers and the little flying dragonfly.  You can see detail images below.

So now I need your support again!  Please visit the contest page here and cast your vote for my "Welcome, Neighbor" card.  If you voted in the last round you do not need to register again but simply sign in to the contest tool.  If you did not vote in the previous rounds you will need to register with the contest tool by visiting this link and following these easy steps:

    1. You’ll need to register with the contest tool to vote, so first go to the “Registration” tab.
    2. Once you’ve registered, then click on the “View Entries” tab.
    3. Once you select your favorite card, click on the “Vote” tab. (Make sure you’re really sure because you’re only allowed one vote per voting round!)

The competition is getting fierce as I am up against some seriously talented ladies who created amazing entries.  I need your help to move on to the next round and let people know about this third round of voting.  Voting for Round 3 will end at noon (MDT) on Thursday, June 24. The results will be tallied shortly after and the Top 5 will be announced on Friday!  Thank you SO MUCH for all of your support - I could not have gotten this far without you!  :)

Paper Crafts Gallery Idol - ROUND 2!

Hey everyone!  The second round of Paper Crafts Gallery Idol is now live - you can cast your vote (hopefully for me!) right here.  Our theme for this round was masculine cards incorporating items found in the garage (either actual items or images of such items).  I went the literal route with this one and included nuts (of the nuts and bolts variety) on my card.  To hold the nuts to my card I stitched them to punched cork circles using green baker's twine.  I thought the cork added even more texture and dimension and was also another material you might find in the garage. 

I carried the texture and dimension into my sentiment by using these really fun cork letters by Making Memories.  I wanted to use a really bold color scheme to further the masculine feel of my card as well.

So now I need your support again!  Please visit the contest page here and cast your vote for my "simply nuts about you" card.  If you voted in the last round you do not need to register again but simply sign in to the contest tool.  If you did not vote in the first round ... shame on you!  LOL!  Just kidding!  You will need to register with the contest tool by visiting this link and following these easy steps:

    1. You’ll need to register with the contest tool to vote, so first go to the “Registration” tab.
    2. Once you’ve registered, then click on the “View Entries” tab.
    3. Once you select your favorite card, click on the “Vote” tab. (Make sure you’re really sure because you’re only allowed one vote per voting round!)

As some of you may know, my hard drive crashed this past weekend and I lost everything including all of my email contacts.  I am limited in my ability to let people know about this second round of voting so I need your help in spreading the word.   Voting for Round 2 will end at noon (MDT) on Thursday, June 17. The results will be tallied shortly after and the Top 10 will be announced on Friday!   Thanks so much for your support!  :)

Happy Birthday Laura!

SURPRISE! Carla and I decided there was no better way to celebrate your 40th birthday than to gather 40 of your friends and colleagues for a birthday blog hop!  So sit back and relax my dear friend (hopefully you're sipping some Starbucks right about now) and get ready to be showered with birthday cards and greeting from around the web.  :)

There is so much I can say about our friendship Laura - you truly are one of my BFFs - so I decided to share just some of the things I love about "us" ... 

• I love that scrapbooking brought us together but it is only one of many things that keep us that way.  
• I love that we "talk" daily - either by phone or by email - and that it feels weird to both of us when we don't get our daily dose.  
• I love that your kids know all about me and my kids and my kids know all about you and yours even though we live on opposite coasts.  
• I love that when I said I wanted to go to CHA this past January you were willing to take the time off from work to go with me.  
• I love that you took me to my first In N Out burger and literally paused to watch me take my first bite with a huge smile on your face.  
• I love that you are a procrastinator and I am a "get 'er done" gal but we totally get that about each other.  
• I love that you know I have a weakness for powdered mini donuts and I know how you order your Starbucks (5 pumps coffee, 4 pumps mocha).
• I love that I can talk to you about trivial things just as easily as I can talk to you about the serious stuff and I know you're listening just the same.
• I love that you continually encourage and inspire me to be the very best that I can be - not only in the scrapbooking industry but as a wife and mother.

I could go on and on but you've got lots of other blogs to go through so let me end by saying Happy Birthday my friend - may all your birthday wishes come true!  If you'd like to visit Laura's blog and share some birthday wishes with her you can do so here. 

As you know Sarah Klemish doesn't have a blog but wanted to join in on the hop as well so you'll find a card and message from Sarah posted below ...

Laura -  To my beautiful, talented and creative friend!  I hope you have a wonderful birthday and that you enjoy 40 as much as I did! :)  Thanks for always being so inspiring, not only as a scrapbooker but as a mom!

Your next stop is with Carla so hop on over and see what she's got in store for you!  :)

And just in case there are any broken links along the way here is the entire list of participants in the celebration ...


Lynn Ghahary
Sarah Klemish *posting on Lynn's blog*
Carla Tarabus
Sara Rossi
Sierra Renter
Deneen Cook
Heather Ruwe
Cindy Leibel
Wendy Bretz
Erin Terrell Clarkson
Jen Gallacher
Mary MacAskill
Wendy Sue Anderson
Kimber McGray
Suzy Plantamura
Jennifer McGuire
Suzanne Sergi
Summer Fullerton
Becky Olsen
Doris Sander
Laura Toriello
Jennifer Johner
Wilna Furstenburg
Nichol Magourik
Maggie Homes
Deena Wuest
Jill Yegerlehner
Karen Nuce *posting on Jill's blog*
Jennifer Harkin *posting on Jill's blog*
Sarah Hodgkinson
Paula Gilarde
Melanie Blackburn
Kim Moreno
Kim Arnold
Juliana Michaels
Ingrid Danvers
Aly Dosdall
Becky Williams
Jenny Weston

Paper Crafts Gallery Idol - I need your vote!

Happy Monday! Today is a big day as voting for the next round of Paper Crafts Gallery Idol is now officially open.  We were given the theme of "Creativity Heals" and asked to come up with a card based on this theme.  I decided to create a get well card using some gorgeous papers from the Kioshi collection by Basic Grey.  One of the things I love most about this collection of papers is the nontraditional color scheme of soft pinks, blues, purples and yellows mixed in with such a strong neutral as black.  The papers are all so pretty without being your typical prints and florals.  And that is exactly what I wanted for my get well card - something that was soft and beautiful but with that extra punch of color that made you say "wow!"

 
I created the layered flower embellishment using my trusty scallop circle punches and some die cuts and stickers from the Kioshi collection.  And can I just say that I love the purple in this collection.  Purple is definitely not my typical "go to" color - I mean let's face it I have two boys and there is not a speck of purple to be seen in my house (hee hee!) - but paired with some yellow and blue with a punch of black?  It really makes a statement.

And here's a closer look at the cute little butterfly on my card.  It's actually a sticker that I popped up with some dimensional adhesive and used two tiny black buttons threaded with some yellow floss to create its body and antennae.

Okay so here is where I beg and plead for your help.  ;)  In order for me to move on to the next round of this amazing contest I need your votes.  In order to cast your vote for me you will need to visit the contest page HERE.  Once you are there you will need to follow these easy steps to register and vote:

1. You’ll need to register with the contest tool to vote, so first go to the “Registration” tab.
2. Once you’ve registered, then click on the “View Entries” tab.
3. Once you select your favorite card, click on the “Vote” tab. (Make sure you’re really sure because you’re only allowed one vote per voting round!)

Hopefully you'll decide to cast your vote for ME so that I can move on to the next round of competition.  Voting begins today at 12 noon MDT and ends on Thursday, June 10th at 12 noon MDT.  I really appreciate your support and would love it if you would let your friends and family know about this fun contest as well.  Thank you!  :)

TGIF!

Whew!  What a week it's been between doctor's visits (yep, Darian *still* has strep and we are now on round 2 of anitbiotics) and just general end of school craziness.  The boys start summer vacation exactly 2 weeks from today and there is a lot to be done between now and then.  In some ways I'm looking forward to not having to rush out of the house in the mornings to get to the school bus, etc but I know that after a week or so the novelty will wear off and I'll have 2 very crazy little boys on my hands that will need to be entertained.  Eek!

I did want to share with you the last of my projects for Scarlet Lime this month.  This layout uses papers from Studio Calico's newest release Documentary.  I LOVE the colors of these papers especially the yellow ... I'm a bit obsessed with yellow these days and I have no idea why. 

I played off the circle pattern of the patterned paper for both my title treatment and my embellishments.  And I had a lot of fun with my punches!  I LOVE punches.  I may have a slight addiction to my punches.  I have A LOT of them and seriously want way more.  ;)

I hope everyone has a great weekend.  Looks like it's going to continue to be hot and humid here in NJ so I'll be looking to stay cool!  :)

expecting

Happy Wednesday everyone!  Although I have to say it's not so happy in the Ghahary household this morning.  Mostly because I think Darian might still have strep.  Again.  We *just* finished his 10 days of antibiotics this weekend and yesterday he started complaining about a tummy ache and headache - the exact same things he complained about when he was first diagnosed with strep two weeks ago - and sure enough he has a low grade fever as well this morning.  So no school for him today while I wait for the doctor's office to open and see if I can get him in there for a sick appointment and another strep test.  I am so over the boys being sick.  Actually it's been mostly Darian.  And apparently so is he.  Poor thing was so distraught yesterday that he couldn't play in his tball game last night.  He was crying and saying "I don't want to be sick!  Why can't someone else take a turn being sick?!?" And then he proceeded to try to blame it all on his brother who hasn't been sick in months mind you.  Pretty typical.  ;)

Well on to happier and scrappier things for now.  This next layout I created as the guest designer for Scarlet Lime this month was a lot of fun to make mostly because I got to play with my new 3D rose die from Sizzix.  hee hee!  My baby brother (okay not so baby - he's 31!) and his wife Regan are expecting their first baby in July.  And they're having a little girl - YAY for another little girl in the family! 

The colors of this layout are not your typical little girl colors especially with the splash of blue but I think that's what I like so much about it.  I created a trio of roses with my new Sizzix die (seriously folks this die is SO well worth the money if you like creating paper roses - so easy to use!) and did some fun sewing and misting as well. 

I punched a bunch of flowers using my Martha Stewart Chrysanthemum large punch and laid them on my background cardstock before misting with orange Maya Road mist.  I then added some yellow stitching to the flower centers.

Well there you have it!  I have one more layout to share tomorrow that I created with this kit.  But for now I'm off to play nurse to my sick little one.  Thanks for stopping by! :)

Scarlet Lime June Guest Designer

Hey everyone!  First let me just say a big ol' THANK YOU for all of the congrats and well wishes on the Paper Craft Gallery Idol news.  I am super excited and will be relying on you guys come voting time!  hee hee!  I hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend.  The weather here was perfect and we spent lots of time just hanging out with friends and family.  The puppy even took his first swim (although quite hesitantly).  Let's just say that Buddy is definitely NOT a water dog! ;)

I was so honored when Christy Tomlinson asked me to guest design for her kit club Scarlet Lime for the month of June.  Her kits are always packed with all sorts of interesting goodies and it felt really good to just dig in and create. 

This layout was REALLY fun to create because of all of the misting.  The photo is one of my current favorites of Darian - I love the way the sun is shining behind him and just illuminating his face.  And I have to say the journaling was a little tough to write but important to document nevertheless.  Darian truly is a sweet soul - he is so very sensitive and caring of others and it sometimes leaves him vulnerable to the shall we say "not so nice" ways of other boys his age.  We've struggled with this a bit this year and I swear at times my heart just breaks into tiny pieces for him.  But I do know that his sensitivity will only make him a better man one day and for that I am grateful.

The patterned papers I used on this layout are all Scarlet Lime exclusive.  The colors were just perfect for this photo.  For my background I simply used an 8.5 x 11 piece of kraft cardstock that I misted with 3 different colors to help play up the colors in the patterned papers.  I then laid some vellum on top that I had printed with my journaling and did some hand stitching in a grid pattern for even more visual interest.

And here's just another picture of the background with the mist.  To get those fun splatters instead of a finer mist I just unscrewed the top of the mist bottle and shook the nozzle a bit on my paper. 

Well that's it for me today.  I have more Scarlet Lime layouts to share with you this week.  Also you may or may not also be seeing my Scarlet Lime creations on a more consistent monthly basis.  Just sayin' is all.  ;)