Recipes for a Successful Marriage

A friend of mine recently got married, and as I threw her a small and intimate bridal shower, I thought it would be fun to give her a little book of guidance on married life.  And it was an excuse to use some of Stampin' Up's delicious Domestic Goddess DSP.  This little book of guidance included recipes from every person that attended as well as all the marital advice that was given as part of the bridal shower festivities.  Here is what the final product looked like:

 Isn't that DSP just delicious?  I know it's only one little section you are getting a peak at, but I have found that finding cute domestic themed paper lines are hard to find!

And here is what the little bad boy looks like all set up:

As the marital advice was appropriate for the setting but not appropriate for all audiences, I am not sharing that portion of the book with you.  That portion simply had the advice printed on 2.5x3.5 sheets of paper that were then adhered to additional DSP cut to the size of the sheet protectors.

Supplies:  Pattern Paper (Stampin' Up! Domestic Goddess -Retired); Ink (Tm Holtz Vintage Photo); Embellishments (Little Yellow Bicycle); Die cut (Spellbinders); Misc (WRMK 5x7 Cinch Sheet Protectors, Zutter Bind-It-All, Chipboard)

A Modge Podge Mini Album

If you hang around here long enough, you have probably noticed that I like to reuse things, a lot.  And I like to use things up, a lot.  I am a NO WASTE kind of girl.  Well a little while back, I got tired of my desk looking like a craft hurricane.  You know what I am talking about, when you can't see the top of your desk and you have like bucket upon bucket of random scraps.  I decided that I wanted to do something about that.  So, I made this little guy:

 This mini is made from the acetate backing that acrylic stamps come on.  I change the storage when I get them, but never through away the acetate sheets - mainly because I have to waste anything.  The sheets were not trimmed or anything, they were used as is.  I wanted this little bad boy to be quick and easy to assemble.  Everything in this mini was pulled and adhered as is from my scrap box or from my desk, no trimming or nothing. When I was done, I had put a little dent in my scrap paper boxes, and nearly cleaned off my area in sections.  I am still working on putting photos in and haven't finished the title yet, but you can see how it's coming along.  Here are some photos of the inside pages:

Once I completely finish this bad boy, I will post photos, but I thought I would share a little something that I have been working on.  And to be honest, there is another one of these bad boys coming.  A Modge Podge Mini on steroids.......

Baby Card

Today I thought I would share a card I made with you.  This card was made for one of my professors who recently had a baby.  We all chipped in and got her a gift, and I made the card.

I had to admit that I have NEVER made a baby card before....... but I got this brand new stamp set from Stampin' Up! that I just had to have.  The overall card is 8.5x5.5 on the account of over 60 students signing it. Thanks for stopping in!

Supplies:  Pattern Paper (DCWV, unknown); Stamps (Stampin' Up!); Cardstock (Stampin' Up!); Ink (Stampin' Up!, Tim Holtz Distress Ink)

MAS Sketch Challenge

Real quick post today.  Recently, Mini Album Scraps posted a new sketch challenge.  The posted sketch can be found here.  If you wanna play along, please come and join me at Mini Album Scraps.  And this is my interpretation:

I have been working on doing some mix and matching of patterned papers to stretch my own skill really.  And this was my first attempt.  I must say that doing masculine layouts is hard - given the nature of scrapbooking being more female dominated..... and then adding mixing and matching......  I came to the conclusion that I needed more scrapbook paper!  in a masculine theme of course!  That's it for today!  Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:  Pattern Paper (Basic Grey; DCWV); Cardstock (Bazzill, Recollections); Dies (Spellbinders)

Man vs. S'mores

Last summer for my husband's birthday and our anniversary, we went out to my families cabin.  I had been dying to have some s'mores, and spent the whole week previously talking about how I was dying to have them.  The whole time, I could not understand how my dear husband was not excited about s'mores.  Well, once we got to the cabin and started the fire he started our conversation with "I have a confession to make."  At that point, I was thinking "what is he going to drop on me?"  To which he stated "I've never had a s'more."  I was floored!  He had no idea what a s'more was, how to make one, nothing.  And being the scrapbooker I am, I had two thoughts 1) this was a momentous moment in our marriage, I mean seriously, how did he get to 29 years old and not have a s'more and 2) this is totally photo worthy.  And here is what I came up with:

The first Marshmallow that my loved one "roasted" he more like crispified, and then he lit it on fire and flung it as far as he could, you know, Denis the Menace style.  I thought it would be fun to reflect this in the layout so I ran the edge of the smaller mallows through my Versamark and then dipped in some Tim Holtz Distress Embossing Powder in  Black Soot.   It gave it that perfect crispy look that toasted mallows get.  For the title, I used some Foam sticker letters from Pink Paislee in brown and white.  The white ones I then colored with two different shades of ink to get the gradient effect.  I did this with the marshmallows as well.

On a related note, if you are in the market for some really good outdoor/camping/hiking themed papers, I suggest you run to your nearest Michaels and get the SEI Outdoor Adventures paper pack. I love it.  That s'mores paper that you see on my layout it's from that pack as is the manly plaid.  I'm thinking of going and getting another pack.......

Supplies:  Sketch (PageMaps); Cardstock (Stampin' Up!, Bazzill); Patterned Paper (SEI Outdoor Adventures); Ink (Stampin' Up!); Alphabet (Pink Paislee); Tools (EK Success, Fiskars); Other (Tim Holtz/ Ranger Distress Embossing Powder)

Easel Card Box

A while back, Mini Album Scraps had a uStream show taught by one of the members (Deann) on how to make an easel card box.  I LOVED the idea of a card and a box of candy all in the same package.  I am unsure of the size the original template was supposed to make, but I altered it to a 12x12 piece of cardstock.  I made this one for Mother's Day, I know it's May, but a share is a share!

The pocket holds the place for the sentiment, and I used the new Stampin Up!  Sizzix Famelits for the sentiment/image and the window in my box.

Supplies:  Cardstock (Unknown, Bazzil, Stampin' Up!); Pattern Paper (Chatter Box); Stamps (Stampin' Up! Blessed Mother - Retired, Paper Trey Ink); Ribbon (Unknown); Ink (Stampin' Up!); Die Cut (Stampin' Up! Sizzix Framelits)

Introducing George and Friends

I'm just gonna warn you ahead of time, this is a super bragging about my goodies and my family post.  If you're not interested, skip down to see what my new fun toys are.  If you're interested in the story, please continue reading.  A few months ago (we'll say oh in February), my dear, sweet, thoughtful hubby bought me one of these:

His name is George.  I shall call him George, and he will be my George.  I only name tools that I am very very fond of.   Seriously.  And at this point I am going to take a moment to brag about my husband, who is a super awesome Michael's couponer.  My husband and I have been doing long distance the last year, and while I was up visiting him, he took me to Michaels - I like to go to Michaels and just look around.  While I was in there, I spotted George (when did Michael's start getting Spellbinders?).  I was so excited - George has been on my wish list for every birthday, christmas, anniversary, and other gift giving holidays for over two years.  But as you know, George and his close relatives are expensive with a retail price of $149.00 before tax.  Hubby said "Don't you have a coupon for Michaels?"  To which I stated "Well I don't think they apply to the Spellbinders."  While I feverishly checked the coupon exemptions and found out Spellbinders are not exempted from the coupons!  Score!  But, Michaels didn't have a coupon that week.  To which hubby then said "Don't you have a 50% off coupon from Joann's?"  And the LIGHT WENT ON.  My husband is a GENIUS, I mean seriously, I taught him well.  It was moment of pride, over riding pride.  So, I got my early, very early present, for $75.00 including the tax.  If you've been thinking about a Grand Calibur, wait till there is a coupon and then hit Michaels up!  Seriously.  It's May when I'm writing this and I am still beaming with joy at my husband's genius.  And so show you he has even more genius, fast forward to April.

My birthday is in April, and this year, my brothers asked my husband, rather than me, about  what I wanted for my birthday.  Side Note: Although I got my George in February, I wasn't able to play with him until I got some Grand Nestabilities - and time (my dear sweetie was aware of this).  A few days later I got a call from my brother that went something like this:

B:  So I talked to (husband) about what you wanted for your birthday.  He said you recently got a new tool but none of the supplies to go with it.  

M: Yep. He got me George.

B:  Who is George?

M:  A die cut machine.

B: Oh well, either way, we were wondering what you need in order to be able to use your new toy.

M:  Well there are a few things.

B:  Send us an email with the things that you want.

And this is what I got in the mail:

  

I was super stoked and totally not expecting all of that!  I have not had a chance to play with them yet, that is coming up shortly.  My husband is a genius.  And my brothers - best birthday gift ever.  Aside from my Madonna and Vangelis CDs.