what i've learned

Hey everyone!  Just wanted to share a layout I created for GCD Studios using the new Lydia collection by Melody Ross today.  This will officially be my last layout as a design team member.  I was asked to continue on with the team for another year but I declined to extend my contract.  I want to free up my time a bit and leave myself open for some new opportunities although I'm not really sure what those are t the moment!  LOL 

 

The Lydia collection is beautiful - I think it might be my favorite new release from GCD Studios this winter.  The colors are so refreshing and fun and the patterns are simply beautiful.

We were given the theme of "lessons learned" to work with for this month - a really great topic but hard to get down on paper sometimes.  The lesson pictured above has to be the hardest one I've learned to date.  I lost my father very suddenly nearly 6 years ago and I still long for the chance to be able to just have one more day, one more hour, one more minute with him.

 

I love the combination of yellow and gray and this line has some of that as well.  It's such a refreshing color combination especially against a turquoise background.

That's it for me today - thanks so much for stopping by! :)

Some more GCD Studios projects ...

Still recovering over here.  As much as my hubby kept up with the laundry, house, etc there's still lots to be done so I'm trying to work my way (slowly but surely) through it all.  In the meantime here are a few more projects I created for GCD Studios booth at CHA using the new teen line Zippity and the adorable Smoothie Shoppe.  Lots of images so sit back and ENJOY!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I had hoped to post some pictures that I took at the show as well but to be honest they did not turn out at all.  I was trying to not use my flash and fiddled with my camera settings and all I managed to do was take grainy, poorly lit photos.  *sigh*  Better luck next time I guess!  :)

I'm baaa-aaack! :)

Hey everyone!  So I made it!  Landed at 5am this morning after flying through the night (left California at 9pm their time) so I'm a bit bleary eyed and definitely sleep deprived but it was well worth it.  This was such an amazing experience.  To see all of the new products and to meet all of the amazing people in this industry.  Just so much fun! 

I did take my camera along although quite honestly I did not take it out as much as I should have or intended to.  I haven't even unpacked yet and need to go through photos and edit, etc but I thought I would share with you some of the projects that I created for the GCD Studios booth in the meantime. 

First up are a few projects I created using the new Homespun Chic collection as well as the Lydia collection both by Melody Ross.  First up is a wooden purse I altered using Homespun Chic ...

 

 

 And a cute little birthday card as well ...

And here is a topiary I made using the Lydia Collection (I think this might be my favorite collection from the new releases - I LOVE the colors of this line!) ...

And another little card ....

Well that's it for today!  I'll be back tomorrow to share some more projects so be sure to check back soon.  :)

Since it's officially December ...

... thought I'd share this paper poinsettia wreath I created using the gorgeous new Christmas Sleigh Collection from GCD Studios.

When I was asked to create a wreath as one of my design team assignments I was super excited ... and then I panicked!  LOL  I really wanted to create the wreath ENTIRELY from paper but did not want to labor over cutting out all those pieces.  All I can say is thank goodness for my Cricut Expression - whew!  After much deliberating I finally decided to have the wreath consist entirely of poinsettia flowers and was able to use a shape on the Accent Essentials cartridge to piece the flower together.

There was still a lot of work involved - each flower has two layers and then punched circles in the middle with gems or buttons hot glued to it - but I absolutely LOVE how it turned out! 

For complete step by step instructions on how to create this wreath on your own head on over to the GCD Studios blog for all the details!

Whoa! 2 post in one day?!?

Maybe this will make up a bit for my lack of blogging this month.  Just maybe.  :)

I wanted to let you all know about a few fun giveaways going on.  First up, head on over to the Caardvarks blog.  They are showcasing the fabulous Artsy Urban Collection by Melody Ross for GCD Studios and I am the featured card designer.  Stop by the blog to see the cards I designed and you can enter for a chance to win some Artsy Urban goodies.

Also the GCD Studios blog is also having a giveaway in honor of Thanksgiving Day.  Be sure to stop on by and leave a comment for a chance to win. 

Artsy Urban from GCD Studios

Not sure if you've seen the new Artsy Urban Collection by Melody Ross for GCD Studios by now but if you haven't you need to head on over to the GCD Studios website to check it out. It's so lovely - the colors, the patterns and the embellishments, oh my! There are just so many fabulous embellishments in this collection and I just can't seem to get enough of them.

I wanted to share this layout that I created with the new collection. A picture of me and my sweet boy Darian. Love this boy so much!


I used all sorts of goodies on this one including some of the die cut borders, chipboard flowers, transparent shapes, and vintage brads.


And I am loving these inspiration cards as well. They have the perfect words for what we want to say but so often cannot find the words ourselves. Love them!


This collection should be in your Michaels store by now (I know as of 2 weeks ago mine had bits and pieces and were expecting the rest shortly). Thanks for stopping by!

November My Scrapbook Nook Kit and GCD Studios Sketch Contest

The November kit from My Scrapbook Nook features the Audrey Collection from Lily Bee. Truth be told this is actually the first time I have ever used Lily Bee products. The papers are really pretty, the colors and patterns are rich, and the rub-ons are just fabulous!

I created this layout as part of a class at My Scrapbook Nook (a monthly feature in the forum). You can see all of the step by step photos and instructions here if you'd like to play along.


Lots of fun add-ons available with this kit (like the chipboard letter and gold studs you see below both from Prima) ...



I'll have another layout from this kit to share soon so be sure to check back with me.

In the meantime don't forget to enter into the sketch contest currently being held over at the GCD Studios blog. You can win lots of fun goodies! As always, thanks for stopping by! :)

a whole week ...

... without a post. So sorry I've been a bad blogger. I have actually been super busy this week with scrappy assignments but of course it's nothing that I can share just yet. Don't you just hate when people say that, I know I do! ;)

I did make this Halloween tussie mussie for GCD Studios recently. I hope it's okay to share as it hasn't been up on their blog yet but I'm gonna share it anyways just cuz I wanna! LOL!

I think tussie mussies are so fun and pretty easy to make. You can customize them for any season or holiday and they look so cute hanging from your door.

Of course I will admit that this tussie mussie is now empty since those chocolates were just too darn tempting to leave well enough alone. :)

Come see who our new designer is at GCD Studios!

GCD Studios has some really BIG NEWS to share about NEW product and our NEW designer! Here's just a little sneak peek of some of the goodies in this fabulous new collection ...

If you want to see ALL of this new collection and play along for a chance to win some of these brand new goodies head on over to the GCD Studios blog stat!

More GCD Studios and Grafix Projects!

Hi Everyone! We are wrapping up our GCD Studios and Grafix blog party this week and I wanted to share the rest of the projects I created using these fun products.

These first two projects were created using Grafix Shrink Film and GCD Studios Schooled Collection. Let me just say this - if you loved playing with shrinky dinks as a child then you will LOVE this shrink film. It was seriously so much fun! I simply traced a clip art image onto the shrink film, colored it with my Copic markers, baked it in the oven and voila! Adorable little accents for this teacher's thank you card and mini composition book!



For this next project (and keeping with my teacher theme) I used Computer Grafix Films. These films are computer printable and allow you to add images, text, etc as an overlay to any project. I altered this simple wooden frame I picked up at Michaels with the GCD Studios Schooled Collection and then added a quote to the opening using a printed Grafix Film. A cute little pencil, twill, and chipboard heart and you have the perfect gift for a teacher!



On Friday there will be a giveaway for $100 worth of GCD Studios and Grafix products. Be sure to visit the GCD Studios blog to get all of the details. Thanks for stopping by!

GCD Studios and Grafix Blog Party!

For the month of September GCD Studios has paired up with Grafix. Grafix offers tons of great "do it yourself" art materials perfect for all sorts of paper crafting projects. All week long you will see lots of projects from the GCD Studios Design Team using various Grafix products. Then at the end of the week be sure to visit the GCD Studios blog where you will have a chance to win $100 worth of GCD Studios and Grafix goodies!

For my first project I created an altered flower pot perfect as a thank you gift for a teacher. I used Grafix Create Your Own Rub-Onz to add my quote to the actual flower pot. The stems of the flowers are actually pencils wrapped with grosgrain ribbon and my flowers are cut with my Cricut Expression and use papers from GCD's Schooled Collection. Add a few buttons as flower centers and some ribbon and this sweet gift is complete.



I'll be back on Thursday to share the rest of the projects I created so be sure to check back with me then. Thanks for stopping by!

GCD Studios Giveaway!

Head on over to the GCD Studios BLOG and enter to win an AMAZING KIT! One lucky winner will receive the entire Yearning kit from Scrapbooking from the Inside Out! Just leave a comment and you’ll be entered into the drawing. The winner will be announced on Friday. Good Luck!

Also check out Caardvarks they are having a blog hop sponsored by GCD!

We hit a few bumps ...

... but I think we'll be okay. Darian was a trooper this morning and was all smiles until the big bus pulled up. He was hesitant to get on and as soon as I turned my back to walk away the tears started rolling. Thankfully our bus stop is packed with kids and my neighbor's little girl Katie who is in third grade sat with him on the bus. I'm sure once he got there he was fine but separations are always a little hard for him. That prompted tons of tears from Brandon who kept saying that he missed his brother which of course did not lead to an easy drop off for him at preschool. It'll be okay, right? (somebody please tell me it will get easier!)

Here's my little man on his first day of Kindergarten ...


And my last GCD Studios project for the month of August. A quick and easy card I put together using the Vintage Boy Collection.


Thanks for stopping by! :)

One down, one more to go!

First day of school that is! :) My little (big) boy had his first day of preschool today and the report was great. According to Brandon he loves his new school. According to his new teacher Miss Flora he was (and I quote) "very well mannered and polite." Really? Brandon? Not that I'm not thrilled to pieces to hear that kind of report but my guy Brandon loves to exert his inner three year old now and again with fits of "no" and other unpleasant toddler phrases. Glad to hear he kept it in check for school and just saves all that sass for his mama. Hee hee!

Here's a photo of my boy ready to conquer the world of ABCs and 123s ...


And how 'bout a little crafty project while I'm at it. I know I said I had more GCD Studios projects to share so this one is a layout I created using the Morning Glory Collection. That little girl in the photo is my sweet niece Una - isn't she a doll?


Thanks for stopping by! :)

Happy Monday!

Happy Monday all! Although I have to say I'm feeling a little bit sad today. That's because both my boys are heading back to school this week and while it was hard (oh so hard at times) having them home all summer long with no naps (our first summer without them) I will miss them both dearly while they are gone. Darian will be heading off to Kindergarten on Thursday but before that Brandon will be going to his new preschool Little Village on Wednesday. I'm excited but incredibly nervous for them both. I know they'll do fine, right? (quick someone tell me they'll do fine! lol).

Okay so I thought I would share another GCD Studios project today. This is another layout I created with the new summer release Vintage Boys.


And oldie but goodie photo of Brandon that I decided to rescrap from an older layout that just wasn't doing it for me anymore - I'm allowed to do that right?

...

I used some Making Memories Canvas Alphas for my title. Love the look of these! I was able to find all the letters I needed in colors that coordinated with my papers from the Passport and Fa La La collections.

I'll be back tomorrow with some more projects to share. Thanks for stopping by! :)

Buddies

Just wanted to share a quick layout I created using one of GCD Studios new summer releases Sunny Days. This is such a fun collection that just screams sunshine and happiness!


This is a recent photo of my boys with their cousins Ollie and Una during our family vacation in Ocean City this past July. Aren't they the cutest?!?

I have a few more GCD Studios projects to share that I created this past month so stay tuned for more posts in the upcoming days. Thanks for stopping by! :)

So how about a GIVEAWAY!

Now that you've seen all 4 of the new collections from GCD Studios how would you like to own them? Yep, I thought so! LOL All you have to do is visit the GCD Studios blog between today and Sunday (by 12pm PST) and leave a comment. The winner will be announced on Monday along with our Guest Artist for August. Pretty cool right?

And I just want to say THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for all of the wonderful comments you all left on my blog these past few days. You definitely know how to make a girl smile! :)

GCD Studios Blog Party - Day 4

Hi everyone! Today is the last day of the GCD Studios Blog Party! By now you probably all know the drill - be sure to start your blog hop over at the GCD Studios blog and then just follow the links to each of the design team members. Leave some love along the way especially at the last blog on the list for your chance to be entered into a random drawing to win the collection of the day.

Today we are featuring the Morning Glory Collection. This is such a pretty collection with a great mix of blue and yellow (my favorite color of the moment). With so many great shades of blue in this collection it made sense to scrap some more photos from our Ocean City vacation. This is my oldest son Darian - he was FEARLESS when it came to ridin' the waves!


Now hoppity hop along to see what Sherry has created with this collection.

GCD Studios Blog Party - Day 3

Hi everyone! Today is Day 3 of the GCD Studios Blog Party! Be sure to start your blog hop over at the GCD Studios blog and then just follow the links to each of the design team members. Leave some love along the way especially at the last blog on the list for your chance to be entered into a random drawing to win the collection of the day.

Today we are featuring the Sunny Days Collection. Another FABULOUS collection with lots of bright colors and fun patterns that just scream summertime. I couldn't wait to use this layout to scrap some photos from our recent vacation to Ocean City.


Hop on over to visit Beatriz and see what she's done with this collection!

GCD Studios Blog Party - Day 2

Hi everyone! Welcome to Day 2 of the GCD Studios Blog Party! Be sure to start your blog hop over at the GCD Studios blog and then just follow the links to each of the design team members. Leave some love along the way especially at the last blog on the list for your chance to be entered into a random drawing to win the collection of the day.

Today we are featuring the Party It Up Collection. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this collection - those polka dots are just so much fun and the colors are great! Now on to my layout using this collection. This is my friend's daughter Mary - isn't she a doll?


Now head on over and visit Sherry to see what she has done with this collection!