Be hoppy...

 

Sometimes being "hoppy" takes a lot more effort than it should.  It's been a rough few weeks around here and the snow and cold that are still on the ground (despite the fact that the calendar says that it is the middle of March) are not helping.

 
A little time in the craft dungeon does make me "hoppy".  Doubly "hoppy" in this case.  Fiskateers hosted a mini-crop over the weekend.  I was only able to get 2 challenges done.  The first one, seen above, was a "Kermit" challenge.  In other words, use a frog in your project.  I had to wrap a gift for a wedding shower and had NO wrapping paper besides Christmas.  So, I turned some plain Kraft wrap into something "hoppy".  I used the Fiskars Funky Heart squeeze punch to create the big, dimensional flower. 

 
Since I was digging around in my scrappy stash of goodies and found 2 frogs for Challenge #1, I decided to use the other frog for Challenge #2-Somewhere over the Rainbow.    I used my Fiskars Banner Year XXXL Lever Punch to cut perfect triangles out of these scraps.  Ribbit--little froggy is poking out from behind to wish someone a "hoppy" birthday.

Hope it is warming up where you are and you find some ways to "be hoppy".

~Kelly

Be a stamper...

Sometimes, I get so caught up in the pretty paper, hordes of stickers, embellishments, and assortment of punches and dies that I forget to stamp on my scrapbook pages.  I've just always found it easier to use my stamps on cards than on pages.  I think I get distracted and overwhelmed easily.  I think it comes with being left-handed.

For the page above (which was a Liftateer project over at Fiskateers), this fabulous patterned stamp (from Stampin' Up) makes a vivid background anchor for the photo and glitter star/flowers.  I went back and forth for a long time trying to decide if this page needed "something else", but I couldn't decide what,  so I left it simple.  I like that too.

I used that same background stamp for this companion page, but stamped off some of the ink first to give a lighter impression.  This page, is for inspiration for the 1-2-3 Recipe Challenge going on at Scrap It Girl this month.  Use 1 stamped image, 2 punches, and 3 patterned papers to creat your project and then link it on the Scrap It Girl site for a chance to win a prize (see it here).  For these pages, I think simple is better so as to not compete with the bright, colorful photos from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

So what are you waiting for?  Go!  Go!  Go!

~Kelly

Be surprised...

We had a special treat today...

Snow day

 

 

 

No, I am not scrapping photos from today.  These are from a snow day in 2011.  But just like then, today was filled with snow ball fights, cave digging, hot chocolate, and now Nerf dart guns.

 

Today's snow day, took us all by surprise.  The weathermen had said to expect 3-5 inches, done by midnight.  We are on 10+ inches and here it is still snowing at 3pm.

 

Just like the kids, I like surprises.  Snow days are great surprises.  I hope I never get too old to appreciate them.  I don't think I will.

 

This layout was created for the March Scrap It Girl 1-2-3 Challenge.  Use 1 stamp, 2 punches, and 3 patterned papers.  Let's see your creations!

 

~Kelly

 

Be a light...

Maybe because it is in the name of our parish, Lumen Christi,  but I am drawn to the light.  I always pay special attention to phrases, poems, and Bible verses that contain the word "light".  It is like God is constantly reminding me about light.  Without looking for it, it seems to follow me. 

Today, I made a page about one of the lights in my life.  Actually, 4 lights in my life.  This is one of those moments where they were all happily playing and being silly while they decorated the Christmas tree.  Peacefully. 

I don't always use a full sheet of busy patterned paper for a background, but somehow this seemed to work.  I don't think I've ever created a red and turquoise Christmas page either.  I don't think I've created any page with red and turquoise...it's an interesting color combo.  Somehow it seemed to work.

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.

Psalm 119:105

 

 

~Kelly

Be earth-conscious...

 

The time has come...

I have outgrown my itsy bitsy jar for washi tape storage that I had convinced myself was the only container I would ever need.  But when you walk past the clearance aisle and see "adorable" tape for $1, what is a girl to do?  Ignore it?  I tried. 

 

So, I added 3 more rolls to my collection and now my itbsy bitsy jar is too small.  Empy almond jar to the rescue.  I am recycling and earth-conscious!  One less plastic jar into a landfill!

 

I simply placed strips of tape around the sides of the almond jar.  Ran another strip around the top of the lid and added some alpha stickers that I stuck onto some lightweight cardboard (cereal box--more recycling).

 

Now, I have convinced myself that this is the only container for washi tape that I will ever need.  For now.

 

~Kelly





Be my Valentine...

 

All that time I have spent "Pinteresting" has finally paid off!  I saw this one here, (Iheartnaptime).  My daughter helped me make these for her class, and my son liked them so much, he wanted them for his class too. 

 

Very simple...

We cut out blue circles for the "water" and trimmed the top with scalloped scissors to look like wavy water. 

 

We printed labels that say...

 

Happy Valentine’s Day!

I am so happy

we are in the same “school”!

 

 

We threw some Swedish fish in a plastic sandwich bag and tied the bag with a twine bow.

 

Do you make your own Valentines? 

 I still have to finish the ones for my family.  I'll show those tomorrow (hopefully).

~Kelly

Be simple...

I love a good challenge.  Emma's challenge over on the Fiskateers site is  "Less Is More".  I am certainly guilty of not knowing when to stop.  I have been known to put on one button too many, a flower too big, or so many layers that I can't slide my page into the page protector. 


I saw this as an opportunity to catch up on some thank you notes I need to send.  I punched a Fiskars "funky heart" at the top of the front of the card and then attached a silver heat embossed "thank you" with washi tape.  I punched another "funky heart" out of patterned paper and placed it on the inside, popped up (within the negative space of the cover).

 

On the inside...from the bottom of my heart.

 

Emma, thank you for the reminder...be simple.

 

 

~Kelly