February Shenanigans

Continuing my walk through of my 2015 album, this is the layout I made showing our big cousin's weekend with my sister's kids.

I am blessed that my sister and I were able to have our children so close in age. They are the best of friends!! When I go away for my weekend crops, I'm lucky that I can drop my kids off at my sister's house until my hubby comes home on Saturday and since they love it too, I'm guilt free for some Mommy-only time! :)

CTMH scrapbooking layout using Chantilly (retired) paper pack and "Live Laugh Love" stamp set.

I had only small scraps from my Chantilly paper pack (retired) but I love how simple this layout turned out to be. I used negative space in the layout to provide "mats" for the photos on the left and since the base layer was White Daisy, I was able to journal directly on the page. A little stamping from the "Live Laugh Love" stamp set and done! I was hoping to be done with this paper pack but I have a few tiny scraps I can use to make some cards. A good problem to have I guess! :)

I'll continue my walk through next week, there are still lots of pages to share! I'm going to spend the weekend with my Close to My Heart team at a weekend retreat so I'll have even more to share! ;)

Happy crafting!
Stephanie

Joyful Stars Blog Hop: Anything Goes: Mother's Day Card

Hi and welcome to the new Joyful Stars Blog Hop. Each month this blog hop will have a different theme and this month Anything Goes! All projects will feature Close to My Heart products which you can obtain from your consultant. If you don't have a consultant contact any of the participants in the blog hop (pick me! pick me!) for more information.

If you've come from Crystal Davis' blog, you're on the right track. This is a circular blog so jump in here and follow it till you come back.  For a complete list of blogs participating, check the bottom of this post.

If you're new to my blog - welcome! Stay and look around before jumping on to the next blog (or Follow me so you can see my new posts). I look forward to getting to know you!

My entry today is the card I made for my mom for Mother's Day.

 I mixed my paper packs {gasp!} and used "For Always" and "Chantilly" scraps with black and white daisy cardstock. I used "Perfect Fit - Mom" stamp set and black and Blush ink. I used the 2 1/2" scallop punch to make a scalloped circle that I sponged the edges in blush ink. I stamped the outside image in black ink and the "MOM" in blush. CTMH's clear acrylic stamps and blocks make it so easy to line up multiple images the first time!

I layered my scraps using a 1/8" border based on the smallest scrap I had so no fancy measurements on this one. A simple, quick card I made with scraps I had on hand. And because it's handmade, it's made with love! All for the "World's Greatest Mom" - mine! :)

If you're following the blog hop, you're off to my friend Elizabeth's blog - you'll love her! See you next month!

Joyful Stars Blog Hop Complete Listing 

(these are links to their blogs not to their blog hop posts)

Joyce-joyfulcreations.blogspot.com                                     

              Joyce Houck

Kristascraftycorner.blogspot.com                                       

               Krista Hershberger

nickiehoffer.blogspot.com                                              

                   Nickie Hoffer

creativelyartsygallery.blogspot.com                                    

               Nancy Brown

stephanielovesscrapbooking.blogspot.com                                

         Stephanie Brown

craftingwithcrystal.blogspot.com                                       

                 Crystal Davis

lavendersagedesigns.blogspot.com                                       

             Stephanie Huber

ejoym.blogspot.com                                                     

                     Elizabeth Mindermann

scrapbookgirl2.blogspot.com                                            

                  Betty Locco

stampandscrapjeanie.blogspot.com                                       

             Jean Murphy                

 craftyschemings.blogspot.com

              Meridith Hainsworth

 byheleng.wordpress.com

           Helen Gullett  

A friend's Chantilly card

Back in April I participated in my upline's team swap featuring Chantilly cards. I showed you mine here.

Today, I want to share with you one of cards I received that blows my mind. My friend Arlene Zimmerman created this card and her artistic skills astound me!

Her card is a simple design using a strip of the Chantilly paper with a flower and vine cut using Artiste but what gets me everytime I look at this card is her stitching!

 Arlene used colored pencils to highlight parts of the stamped image in the background to complete the card.

Isn't it awesome?! I love this card and have it hanging on my inspiration board. I would love to try stitching on my artwork but while  I lack a reliable sewing machine right now, I lack the vision of it. I'm hoping once I try it I'll like it and will be able to get more creative as my skills improve. Until then, I look at Arlene's dreamy card.

Special thanks to Arlene Zimmerman for letting me share her card on my blog.

Chantilly Card

I participated in my Team's Chantilly card swap for April and I'm actually quite happy with how it turned out. There are a few things I will add to do it for a class but it's quick, simple to assemble and cheap to mail: everything I look for in a card! *Smile!*

I am seriously in love with the glimmer tape! I am adding sparkle to everything now!