project {hybrid cards}

Several weeks ago, Jessica Sprague offered a free two-week class on her website: Computer Tricks for Cards. I first mentioned it in this post. I worked my way through the first 4 lessons at the time of the class, but never got around to sharing my creations. I still hope to go back and work on the other lessons. I always learn a lot when I follow her classes!

On Day 1, she offered printable cards, but also the template for the same cards. I skipping printing the completed ones and opted to drop in my own papers. I just used simple grid patterned papers. The "HI" circles were already done by her, so I just chose colors that complemented them. Basically, these are digital cards printed out.

Day Two, we did 'Print and Assemble'. All of the patterned papers and elements are digital and were printed. We then used a scallop punch on three strips of papers and I added a piece of ric-rac. I kept my card almost identical to her example.

Day Three: She went into detail on how to use a card template. We added papers to the template (which I knew how to do), used a brush to "stamp" on the flourish and she taught us how to color behind lettering, which is something I'd never done. Very clever! After printing, I added the three pearls and the ribbon flower, which was something else I had never done.

Day Four was a Pop-Up card! What fun!!! She taught us how to cut the card base to create the pop-up element. It's super easy, but I don't think I've ever done it. We printed all of the cute elements, which were digital. I added regular patterned paper (the polka dots), buttons tied with string, and stickles (which are hard to see in the photo). I forgot to photograph the inside of the pop-up card! Silly me.

And I have to confess that I intentionally skipped Day 5 because I didn't care much for the completed card (though I did download the free elements and watched the instructional video).

free-for-all friday {10.2}

I haven't been very good about posting much lately. So, I thought I would do a quick "catch up" post today with some random stuff from the last week or so...


This morning I went to Starbucks and did the "taste test" with their new instant coffee (which is supposed to taste as good as their brewed coffee). For participating, you get two coupons - one for a free large brewed coffee on your next visit and one for $1.00 of the instant coffee. I went ahead and picked up a pack of the instant coffee. The smaller ones are only $2.95 for 3 single packs, but I used my coupon, of course!

Tuesday night I taught a scrapbooking class for the first time in YEARS. I only had four students, but it was still fun. I'm teaching at Oh Scrap! in Charlotte. I am going to try and do about one class a month, and I'm also doing sample projects to display in the store (as time allows). Above are what we created in the Halloween class this week.

I know I'm about a week late, but I HAVE to acknowledge that we beat a Top 5 team last week. GO COCKS!!!! Tomorrow night, we face SC State. It should be an easy win for us, but sometimes these "easy" games end up being more of a struggle for us than they should be. Oh, and it's ridiculous that we didn't get into the Top 25 after beating Ole Miss!

 

I don't have a photo for this last tidbit, but I have to address it. For those of you that know me personally, you know that my company has been in the process of splitting for the last couple of years. Things were finally finalized and bit-by-bit our one company is becoming two. I work in a small office (only 5 of us). One of those is now part of this new company - Jim. I've been with my company for almost 5 years now and we have experienced some personnel changes, but Jim and one other guy (my current boss) have been the constants. Now, Jim is gone. Granted he only moved to the building next door, but it's not the same. It simply sucks. He will be very missed. It's weird to stare at an empty desk (he sits, I mean *sat*, where I basically stare at him all day).

layouts {baby rocker}

this "rocker baby" collection was another set of products for the oh scrap! store. FUN STUFF :)

this was the first layout i did. i totally confess to putting this outfit on coleman and having an impromptu photo shoot just for this product. i edited this photo using the techniques from my class and just love love love how well it matches the papers. used acrylic paint, if you can't tell. journaling says: rocker baby is the perfect nickname for you. at four months old you want to be everywhere - but your body just won't cooperate yet. you are so curious and adventurous!

this started out as a 12x12 page but i just was never happy with it. i finally figure out if i squished it down to an 11x8.5 page, it looked much better. the large title sticker is on pop dots but the dimension doesn't show well in the photo. the tab to the right of the photo pulls out to reveal journaling. this photo was not posed - it was from the beach and he just happened to have on "the outfit". i did some editing to it as well, but wasn't as pleased with the outcome.

i realized i had enough product leftover to make yet another page. i was flipping through my pictures (assuming i'd use another of coleman) and found this picture of me holding colton at the hospital. the colors worked perfectly. there is a sticker tag tucked behind the photo. i adhered it to some cardstock and journaled on the back.

and to use the leftovers...two cards. i hate that this picture came out so blurry because these are actually really cute! left card had some ribbon. and the sticker says "welcome to the jungle" so it'd make a good *new baby* card. the black stuff on the right card is actually two tassles. i like this because it's not baby-specific. both of these cards started out as monogram american crafts cards and i covered up the parts i didn't want and kept the ones i did.

Unrelated, but I also made this sympathy card for a co-worker of Matt's. Very simple, but I like how it turned out.

layouts {diva supplies}

first, a little background...

i contacted a new local scrapbook store about possibility teaching some classes. it looks like i will be doing that in the future (yay!). in the meantime, she gave me some supplies to use for sample layouts. the store is called oh scrap! and it's so flippin' cute!!! if you're in the charlotte area, you have to check it out. the owner, jen, is super nice (and she's at CHA right now so the store will be stocked full of new goodies soon).

this was the first collection. it was fun to work with girly stuff - because i don't get to do it often - but it was also tough to find pictures.

this was the first one i did...kind of cheesy, but the "one hot mama" title stickers inspired me to grab some photos of me as a brand new mama...trying to look cute with a baby attached - ha! The swirly paper is glittery and the photo doesn't do it justice (actually this photo in general really stinks - sorry about that). I also added a few black gemstones that you can't really see. Journaling reads: a little less time & energy to spend on hair & make up - can't quite squeeze into those old jeans - baby equipment is a permanent accessory... but despite it all, i'm still one hot mama"

I didn't want all these girl layouts to be about me, so I borrowed some pictures of my niece. I cut the glitter cardstock to a large 12" circle - very fun! More gemstones on this one. I am going to add some brief journaling on the transparencies.

Thi one is definitely *out there* and very different for me. But I think I like it!!! It all started with the title sticker - Many shades of Me. I measured it and realized I could easily create a grid of 8 photos around it. So, I sat down and started picking out photos that represent different parts of who I am. I learned to "colorize" in that photo editing class, so something made me think to turn the pictures pink to match the supplies. Voila! I digitally added the labels to each photo before printing.

i was determined to use all the supplies, so I made these cards with the leftovers. on the left card, I cut a circle out of the middle and place some glitter paper behind it. then i placed the flower journaling transparency over it and added "happy birthday" with some rubons. on the right card, i used more of the glittery swirl paper, mounted the "xoxo" title sticker on some cardstock. finishing touch of ribbon on both cards. super easy.

layout & cards {birthday}

i did a layout! i did a layout! i did a layout! it felt so good to actually scrap a page last night.

the pictures are from 2005 - a joint birthday celebration for spencer and my nephew. the "happy birthday" was pre-printed on the patterned paper, but it wasn't very exciting. so i outlined it with a dark red pen and filled it in with a glitter pen. printed strip journaling on the computer. added a quote on pop dots and a little ribbon.

afterwards, i made three cards with the leftovers - super simple. the top two came with cut out windows on the front. i put paper there and added a cupcake charm. inside there are birthday sayings. the bottom card came with the scalloped edge and i added the scrap paper, quote (on pop-dots) and the flowers

card {happy birthday}

this is the birthday card my mom made me (several months ago). isn't it just gorgeous?!?! not mention, super fun.