{my utah adventures} part 2

Utah is like the mecca of scrapbooking and paper crafting companies.  Seriously, I would like to spend two weeks there, and just go from manufacturer to manufacturer, and visit them all.  It was a definite highlight of the trip, to visit three amazing companies.  Our first visit was at We R Memory Keepers.  We toured their facility, and had a little lesson on some of their latest tools and products.  Then we got to eat delicious cookies, and do a make-n-take.  They even sent us home with goodies!!!  (Have you seen their new 6x6 washi adhesive sheets? Quite cool!)  WRMK has a new logo, which I am loving.  (The group shot shows the old logo, and the tag and box show the new circular shaped logo.)

Our second visit was to Stampin' Up.  Holy guacamole. . .talk about an amazing building, and amamazing setting.  

{the view from the front of Stampin' Up!}

I LOVE this wall decor.  This is a stamped image that was enlarged, and cut out of fabric, attached to canvases. Can you IMAGINE how much work that was!?

I had to take this pic for my mom. . .she's a Close To My Heart consultant, so she's pretty much competition with SU.  ;) giggle giggle!

At Stampin' Up, we toured their GIGANTIC warehouse and facilities, and got to play with some BRAND NEW product that hasn't yet been released!

Our last visit, on our last morning in Utah, was to American Crafts. WOW. 

I had NO idea that American Crafts produced some of the products they do! We got to see how they make pens and markers. . . I LOVE learning how things are made, and this was totally fascinating to me. 

 {Boxes and boxes of beautiful pens!}

{Learning about how pens are made}

And while we were in town, we also got a tour of THE Paper Crafts offices. (Also the home of Creating Keepsakes, plus the events team that puts on scrappy, crafty fun all over the country!)

{This is the cute eat-play-work room.}

 I probably have a few more pictures, . . .but I'll share it another day.  Thanks again to all the GTG's and editors who shared pictures with me! We all had our phones Instagramming away the whole week!

xoxo

{my Utah adventures!} part 1

It feels a little overwhelming to try and recap my time in Utah.  I'll do my best, but it will probably be totally disorganized, and it will include quite a lot of random thoughts and memories. . . .

are you ready?

I left for Utah on my birthday, and my anniversary.  I was so happy to celebrate with my family the day before.  This was the FIRST time I had ever flown or traveled any distance on my OWN. Completely by myself.  It was sort of fun, although sort of stressful to be responsible for myself!  It was kind of nice to not have to worry about entertaining kids on the plane.  No crayons rolling on the floor, or sippy cups spilling in my lap. 

I met up with the first four of the GTG's at the hotel, (Kimberly arrived shortly after I did) and it was a super fun moment, to walk in and see them sitting there in the lobby.  There were many hugs, but I had that slightly awkward feeling of "I just met you, even though I sort of feel like I know you, and this is so overwhelming, I don't really know what to say!" That all ended very quickly though!!!!  I went up to my room, to find a dozen roses waiting for me, sent from my husband! (He gained major husband-points from the other girls, and from me! What a gem!)

Soon, Jennifer (PC's editor in chief) came and picked us up and took us to her house, where her family graciously sacrificed her home for most of our meetings and brainstorming sessions.  She had it stocked with candy, and soda to help us work hard!  

The rest of the day, and much of the next day was filled with a recap of the past year's issues, plus brainstorming for the coming year. {Eeeks, I have to tell you, I am SUPER excited about all there is to come!}  I really loved learning a lot more about the magazine industry, and seeing how things roll behind the scenes.  I have a much better understanding of each editor's job, and how the whole team works together to form a cohesive unit.  It's pretty awesome what the team of Paper Craft's staff accomplishes together!!! I am so honored to be a small part of it! 

{See? We WORKED!}

{Birthday cupcakes! Heather's birthday was two days before mine!} 

So here are a few pictures of me and all my new-old friends. . .many of them I already considered friends, but man, to HUG them and see their sweet faces in person, and TALK to each of them, was so good for my heart!!!!!

{Susan Opel}

{Heather Campbell}

{being goofy with Teri Anderson. . .the girl NEVER makes a normal smiley face for the camera!}

{Kimberly Crawford}

{Coffee run with Jennifer Schaerer}

{the sweetest sweetheart. . .Cath Edvalson}

I'll take a break and come back in a day or two and share some more pictures!!! We visited some great companies in Utah, did some shopping, and had some serious FUN!!! {Oh. . .and we ATE. and ATE. and ATE!}

{Big thanks to all my partners in crime who shared pics with me!!!!!}

i thank my lucky stars. . . {thank you cards!}

Hey there friends! I have two cards for you today, but I realized I still owe this little blog some pictures and a recap of my trip to Utah, with the Paper Crafts magazine chicks.  I'll get right on that, I promise.  The days have been whizzing by since I got home, and I've neglected the old blog. 

But right now, quickly, while the kids are happily playing with army men AND dinosaurs on the kitchen floor, let's get through these to cards, before the army men and dinos start flying across the room. 

Shall we?

First up - Hero Arts! I was so excited to dip into the funky and fun neon ink pads from Hero Arts.  The colors are so vibrant and fabulous!!!  The Year Round Sentiments, also from Hero Arts is one of those "super practical - keep using it again and again" stamp sets.  But even better than being practical. . . . it's CUTE too! 

 Next up, Lawn Fawn! I used Daphne's Closet 6x6 paper on this card, along with Quinn's ABCs dies.  There is a great accompanying stamp set too, but I used simply the dies for this - and I kind of love it! This is my FIRST set of alphabet dies, and I have a feeling they will be getting a LOT LOT LOT of use!

I created both of these cards on Brilliant White cardstock, from Discount Cardstock.  It's my go-to white cardstock. It holds ink well, and it folds nicely.  It's one of my favorites! 

Okay, my promise to you - many goofy photos from ed board in Utah. Coming soon.  

xoxo

You're Simply the Best {Avery Elle}

I have a quick card for you today, as I am busy recovering from an incredibly fun and productive week, planning, working, and playing with the Paper Crafts editors and Go-to Gals!! I am officially EXHAUSTED! I'll be back in a few days with pictures and fun from my trip. (Although I think there are about a million floating around Facebook and Instagram, if you can't wait!)

I created this card with two great stamp sets from Avery Elle. Handwritten Notes is a brand new set, just released. It is awesome! Talk about a quick and easy card - even for ME, and my easy-peasy tendencies, this is REALLY quick and REALLY easy.  I used beautiful bright Memento inks, from Tsukeniko, and the flower stamps, also from Avery Elle, is from Petals and Stems, 

I'll see you in a few days, sweet crafty friends!!

xoxo

It's a new month! {TSOL}

Happy May 1st! Although I am in Utah as you read this, working hard and having fun with the Paper Crafts magazine editors, and Go-to Gals, I'd like to share the brand new stamps from The Stamps of Life!  The May set has some of my favorite new sentiments, and I am OBSESSED with the fun, friendly font! Hello, My Friend is from the new set, called phone4you, paired with some of my favorite flower stamps, from mums2stamp.  

But I know, what you reallllly want to see is more of the cute new stamp set!!!! 

First off, just the outlines, of this ADORABLE phone.  It is going to be SUCH a great addition to my stash, especially for cards for my girlfriends!  I added some jewels to the dial, which adds a funky fun touch. 

Ever since I got a polka-dotted embossing folder, I am pretty much using it on EVERYTHING. embossed polka-dots are the very best addition to any kind of card. I'm convinced of it!  (And the dotted folder comes in a two-pack with a flowered one that is just as adorable!)

There's an important trick to remember, when you want to put a sentiment right onto an embossed surface. . . and I tend to not plan ahead often enough, so I end up redoing things a lot - STAMP FIRST, EMBOSS SECOND.  Repeat after me (and I'll repeat after myself) STAMP FIRST, EMBOSS SECOND.  When will I learn!???? 

I also used the stamps4fancylabel, and matching framelits die for this card. It's such a go-to stamp set and die set, that I use it over and over again. 

Be sure to head over to the TSOL gallery - the design team will have tons of great inspiration for you to see!!! I'll be excited to look at it, when I return home from Utah tomorrow! 

PS - don't forget about the giveaway, on THIS post. you can comment once per day for a chance to WIN!  

Surprises are fun!

So today's the day! I'm off to Utah!  It's going to be a long day of traveling, from Florida to Utah. . . 5 hours on an airplane, by myself (plus a little time in airports!)  I'm not quite sure what I'll do with all that time to MYSELF. No kiddos to clean up, entertain, chase, and keep safe and accounted for.  I have some books loaded on my ipad though, and I suppose somehow I'll make it through the long trip! :)

I'd like to share some fun little projects that I made for my sweet Go-to Gals.  It's funny how you can consider someone a FRIEND, even if you've never actually MET.  It will make the hugs and giggles even more special, to finally see them all in PERSON for a few days!

So for each of the girls, I covered a mini-composition book, using some gorgeous Teresa Collins paper.  I added their initial on each one.

these first two are for kim kesti, and betsy veldman 

for teri anderson, and kimberly crawford

and for heather campbell

I put each one in a cute bag from Whisker Graphics, and added a Teresa Collins tag.  I diecut the girls initials, and clipped it together with pinwheel clips made from a clothespin and a stamp from The Stamps of Life.

To create the pinwheel clips, I covered each with a small strip of patterned paper.  Then I stamped the pinwheels on cardstock and patterned papers. I paper pieced them together, and adhered to the clip with foam tape.  These clips are SO fun to make, and you can even add a magnet to the back for extra versatility. They are great for packages, for paper clips, or bookmarks. {Love making them!}

A lot of people are hunting for teacher-appreciation gifts right about now. . .this is a quick and sweet little project you could put together for a child's teacher too! 

I hope you like them! These were fun little gifts to make for my friends.  I waited until today to show them, because hopefully they are all enjoying their plane flights and not reading my blog! Come on back on the 1st, because I have NEW goodies from The Stamps of Life to share! (It's SO SO cute!)

See ya on the flipside!

xoxo

(project goodies: mini-composition books - Dollar Tree, patterned paper and diecuts - Teresa Collins, Memories, alpha rub-ons - Close To My Heart, aqua letters - Heidi Swapp (Pink Paislee) twine - The Twinery, letter diecuts - Lawn Fawn pinwheel stamp - The Stamps of Life, bags - Whisker Graphics)

PS be sure to check out this previous post, with a chance to win a non-crafty giveaway. Non crafty?! I know - what's THAT!?

Now Boarding!

Hello, hello! Happy weekend! I'm spending the weekend getting ready for the Paper Crafts magazine editorial board meeting in Utah! I leave bright and early Monday morning. . .which also happens to be my birthday. . . which also happens to be my wedding anniversary. . .it's going to be sort of a BIG day!  It will be the first time I've ever flown or traveled like this on my OWN - all by myself. I have to keep reminding myself I am a BIG GIRL and I can totally do this! {Especially since I'll be a year older!}

I am totally and completely excited to meet the girls from Paper Crafts. . . I feel like I know some of them already, after working with many of them for the past almost-5 years that I've been published in Paper Crafts.

The card I'd like to share with you today, features Close To My Heart stamps and paper.  This stamp set is SO much fun, it's called Sightseer - I'm loving it for trendy travel themed cards.

I have a few posts scheduled for while I'm away, so life on the ol' blog will continue while I'm away, and then I promise I'll come back with a great big update on the fun in Utah, when I return! (And in the meantime, I'm sure I'll be on Instagram and Facebook, live from Utah!) 

(card goodies: all supplies from Close to My Heart - kraft cardstock, Outdoor Denim ink, Sightseer stamp set, and Claire patterned paper)

PS - be sure to scroll down to yesterday's post for a non-crafty giveaway!

For the kiddos. . . .

It's Friday! Hooray! I LOVE Fridays, but especially THIS Friday! My parents are arriving in a few hours, for the weekend, and then I am off to Utah on Monday morning!

Today I popped in to share a few oldies-but-goodies, and I have a fun little giveaway too, for those of you with a kiddo in your life. (Or heck, even if you just ARE a kiddo at heart.) 

But first. . .the cards.

The Stamps of Life came out with these sweet kiddo stamps last year. They work so well with other TSOL stamps, and even my kids LOVE to make little people to decorate with them.  I had such fun making these cards, and since I have a kid-related little giveaway, I thought today was a fine day to share them again. . . .

my rocker chick. . . 

 a sweet boy and his furry friend. . . 

 the cool dude. . . 

 and the best of pals. . . .

And now, the giveaway. . . if you've visited my blog for the past few years, you know I am a member of the Purex Insiders.  Purex, and company friends of Purex, offer me opportunities to try new products, and they give me coupons for free products to share with my friends and blog-readers. (That would be YOU!)  Clearly, this has NOTHING to do with crafts, but like I say. . .when we're not crafting, we still have to bathe kids, do laundry, and clean the house - so why not get something for free!

Today I have coupons for new Dial Kids Body + Hair Wash.  I had the opportunity to try the Peachy Clean scent, and I have to say, I'd like to EAT my children when they get out of the tub! It has a clean, gentle scent and it's a good step up from "baby shampoo."

CONTEST IS OVER! THANKS FOR PARTICIPATING! Okay, so here's the dealio. . . you know I'm leaving town on Monday, so when I get home, I'll draw a winner - on Friday May 3. Okay? So leave a comment, and be sure to leave me an email address or some way to reach you, and I'll choose a random winner to receive a handmade card, and a coupon for a free bottle of Dial Kids!  Feel free to comment once per day on this post! :)

I'll be back tomorrow. . .with something new!

xoxo

"Hey there" gift bag {Whisker Graphics and Avery Elle}

Have I told you lately how I love polka-dots?

Have I told you lately how I love clean graphic patterns?

Have i told you lately how I am obsessed with black-and-white-with-a-POP-of-color?

Hmm, well if I haven't, consider yourself told. :)

Whisker Graphics polka-dotted bag. Adorable. They have super cute patterns, and a huge array of colors. The tiny ones are perfect for gift cards, and these bigger ones are great for gifts, and the medium size is a great envelope, or bag to hold a set of homemade cards!

I paired this black and white bag with stamps and dies from Avery Elle, and some bright and cheery cardstock from Discount Cardstock. 

bag goodies:

Avery Elle Rounded Diamonds stamps and dies, 

Whisker Graphics Bigger Bitty Bag

Discount Cardstock

black jewels - Close To My Heart

ink - Clearsnap

quick and simple thank you cards

I've been so blessed to received goodies from some super generous companies lately, and I wanted to make some cards for them, to show my appreciation.  Plus, I did a little crafty shopping a few months ago, (something I RARELY do) and I haven't had time to get everything inky yet. So, I thought I'd share some product today, that is making me absolutely HAPPY! This first card shows off a SUPER FUN stamp set from Paper Smooches, called I Heart Art.  It's perfection for a card for a crafty friend!  

I whipped up a couple of these cards at one time. They were quick and simple, plus a great way to use up some scraps.  (That paper is Dots and Stripes, from Echo Park.) There's just a little bit of coloring on here, on the easel, and I used some awesome new colored pencils, from Tombow. The Irojiten colored pencils are so smooth - I swear, it was like I was coloring with butter. (Well, not exactly.) But seriously - if you are in the market for colored pencils, I highly recommend these! I have been a Prismacolor pencil girl, for years - and I only have a couple of these Tombow pencils, but they have me craving the whole set!!!  They are absolutely gorgeous. (Sorry. I totally drool over great pencils! It's the art major in me. I can't escape it!) 

Next up, is another quick card, featuring Penny Black clear stamps - AND their paper. This 6x6 stack, called Madison, has bright colors, and cheery patterns.  I am all about BRIGHT and CHEERY so this paper is the perfect addition to my stash! 

Thanks for stopping by! I'll be back in a day or two with some more quick thank-you cards, and to share some more of my new favorite things!

xoxo

(other card goodies: cardstock - Discount Cardstock, twine - The Twinery, blue pearls - Hero Arts, ink - Clearsnap)