Papercraft Haven and More

     When you start your projects - do you just jump on in and start creating - or do you painstakingly plan each of the projects that you make?  I do both - sometimes the inspiration starts with one part - and other times it starts with planning it all out!  As you do plan things out, it helps by making sure each decision doesn't affect any of the other ones!  If you start by asking these questions - you can make the perfect project each and every time!   Is the project for you - or someone else such as a gift?   Title - do you have a specific title in mind? Colors - do you have specific colors in mind? Photos - are they themed or not themed?   Paper - is there a specific paper line you want to use? Embellishments - do you have specific embellishments you want to use?   Sketch area - in order to sketch out idea.   Swatch area for color selection Shopping list area.      Some of my projects start with...

**If you are here for the 12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop - please see the next post - but make sure you check out this post too!!!** Welcome to the "Christmas" Blog Hop!! We're so happy you could join us for this super-fun hop showcasing cards, layouts and projects that feature everything wonderful about Christmas!!  You'll find an array of ideas throughout the hop -- From decorations to gift ideas and more, we hope you'll enjoy each and every project along the way!! This is a TWO-DAY hop, so be sure to catch both days for maximum ideas (you can find the entire line up for both days here -  We can guarantee LOTS of SPARKLE and SHINE for this Ho-ho-holiday event... So let's get hopping!!  You are at the beginning of the hop - so lets get started with today's hop!!!   For the hop today, I'm sharing part of my Christmas photos and how I do the entire Christmas photos I take.   For this first set of layouts - I do a pocket page to put...

     Welcome to Ashley's Glamorous Side of Scrapping Anything BUT a Card Blogaversary Blog Hop - if you are here from Susan , then you are totally in the right place!  However, if you just happened upon my blog, then you have got to go back to the beginning which is Ashley , because the beginning is always the best!!!       Ashley will have a few sponsors for this fun hop, so make sure you start with her blog first and leave comments!!!   And last but certainly not least...Happy Blogaversary Ashley, I hope this is a great day for you, I know you have worked hard on your blog and it really shows girl!!!    Now, here is our line-up for the day, in case you get lost along the way!!!   Ashley -  http://theglamoroussideofscrapping.blogspot.com Ellen -  http://cardmonkey-business.blogspot.com Misty -  http://mbtreasurista.blogspot.com/ Liz -  http://decadeofscrap.blogspot.com/ Teresa - ...

When I first looked at this sketch, I was not sure what to do with it - and then I grabbed these pictures and went to town!!  I hope you enjoy my idea -  The pictures were taken this summer in Citrus Heights, California on a trip to see my kids and my mom.  I wanted a page I could frame, as this is the 3 generations - my mom, me and my daughter, and the other one with my son.  I started with the background paper, from a pack of paper I purchased on clearance at Michaels.  I then chose two more background papers to create the look I was achieving.  I did not want the background paper to be right in your face - so to tone it down, I used the red and green.  For the green part, I used a Martha Stewart border punch, in which I have totally fallen in love with!  I matted the photos and then simply added the title at an angle to create visual interest!   Great sketch, make sure you go to Simply52 Designers  and send us a link to your...

Welcome to the "Trick or Treat" Halloween Blog Hop!! We're so happy you could join us for this super-fun hop showcasing cards, layouts and projects that feature everything fun about Halloween!!  You'll find an array of ideas throughout the hop -- From decorations to gift ideas and more, we hope you'll enjoy each and every project along the way!! This is a TWO-DAY hop, so be sure to catch both days for maximum ideas (you'll find the entire line-up below my post)!! We can guarantee LOTS of treats on this hop (and maybe a few TRICKS too)... So let's get hopping!!   We have a WONDERFUL Grand Prize for one lucky hopper today -- A Gift Certificate for Sweet Stamping Treats !!  To be eligible, please visit each "Blog Hop Stop" and leave a comment!!  One random winner will be chosen on Friday, October 21st (giving you plenty of time to finish the hop)... For more details on what you could choose if YOU are the winner, please be sure to...

We're so happy you could join us for this super-fun hop showcasing cards, layouts and projects that are All About Fall!!  You'll find an array of ideas throughout the hop -- From decorations to gift ideas and more, we hope you'll enjoy each and every project along the way!! This is a TWO-DAY hop, so be sure to catch both days for maximum ideas (you'll find the entire line-up below my post)!! Before the leaves change color and fall... let's get hopping!!  We have a WONDERFUL Grand Prize for one lucky hopper today -- A $25 Gift Certificate for Designs On Cloud 9!!  To be eligible, please visit each "Blog Hop Stop" and leave a comment!!  One random winner will be chosen on Wednesday, September 21st (giving you plenty of time to finish the hop)... For more details on what you could choose if YOU are the winner, please be sure to visit our sponsor: For the hop today, I've created a fall layout that can be tweaked with different colors - or anything r...

     My main thing when I am scrapbooking, is I want things to match.  Alphabet templates can help you save money - by using them for your titles on your scrapbook pages, on papers that will match your layout - instead of having to run out and find a set of stickers to match!  With the above example, I used pattern paper for the top of the letters, and then matted the letters on a sheet of the pink background paper!  I then cut each letter out individually, making sure to have enough room on each side for the word.  By using alphabet templates, you don't have to worry about not having enough of a certain letter, or running out when you are in the middle of taking care of something!  By using patterned papers that match, or come in a kit - you can be assured to have the perfect matching items for your project!          One thing I like to make sure to use is fine tip scissors - to be able to get into the finer areas ...

Front cover of mini album Hey Friends! Welcome to my blog! and I am kicking off a new series starting September 12th called the Faith Verse Series that I will put on  my  blog every Monday...but for today I wanted to show you what it is about...I and my guest designers are going to give you their favorite verse and tell why and then create something with that verse in it. I hope you are blessed and encouraged on your spiritual journey as you go through this hop with some talented ladies...I am so blessed by their friendship and stories. If you came here from Tammy then you are in the right place...lol...but as you go through here is the lineup in case you get lost you can always come back. Don't forget to give the bloggy love. There will be a prize from Kristal Andrews her Faith Stamps and some other embellies and ribbons from others that contributed to the Grand Prize! and  you have to comment  but you are not required to be a follower but it sure...

     One thing I love to do is read... I do book reviews for Simply Stacie  - and have loved reading since I was just a little girl.  Being the youngest, I would sit and watch my mom and dad read book after book...seems the rest of us girls got that same gene!!!         For this layout, I used one of my favorite color schemes, blue, wheat and ivory...  I made the paper piecing of the books, out of scraps and a marker - various heart die cuts and punches (totally taken from My Creative Companion 2).....and then pictures of my books to complete the look.   Supply list:   2 sheets wheat cardstock  2 sheets blue cardstock 1 sheet Ivory cardstock Alphabet rub-on's  Larger alphabet item (chipboard or thick letter) for the "I" Various die cuts and punches Black marker Directions:   Step one:  Take the blue sheet of paper, trim 1" from the side and bottom of the paper.   Step two:  Trim t...

    This layout represented a time in my life where I was truly happy - a place that I loved to live... my favorite you might say, thus the title.  There are times where, when I scrapbook, it starts with the title, or the picture, or the papers that I use first...before anything else.  Then the entire layout just comes out, as if by magic at times!!!  My projects are often-times designed in my head - thinking constantly about how I want the project to look, or writing down specific things in relation to the item I am working on.  Sometimes my projects take off in a direction I never thought about, but it turns out good anyway...        My favorite color is pink, this was my favorite time in my life (until recently anyway), and my daughter and her blessing dress that my mom made.   Your challenge for the weekend - is to find your favorite photo of yourself, and make a layout of it...  Life changes at the drop of a hat, where ...

     A while ago, my sister Allison and I were talking...about procrastination....this conversation helped me to see this trait in ME....and it needs to change!!!  So Allison, I thank you - not only for the past amazing 5 months...of you sharing your life with me, and loving me and making me the person I am today..but for being the influence on me that you are.         The gifts you have seen all week, the card, the gift bag, the framed page, the birthday book and the mini album you see here - are what she will get for her birthday!  I have had so much inspiration that I couldn't stop making things - so thank you for giving me reasons to scrapbook again...I look forward to making many more projects for you!!!   I hope next week that you have an awesome week...  You see, we lost my dad on 8/5/04 - 3 days after my birthday, and we buried him the day before Allison's birthday...so we both have bad memories of this time period. ...