Works of Heart

Lots to Share!

Been busy creating this month!

The first layout is one I did for my "My Favorite Things" Challenge that I posted over at Kits & Pieces for Week 6 of their 8 Week Survivor Challenge.  My challenge was to create a layout with the following:

* non-horizontal title (vertical, in a circle, whatever... just not straight across the page
* stitching (rubons, thread, no-thread, pens, whatever)
* a decorative edge(s)
* chipboard
* plus one of the following embellishments: buttons, flowers, bling

The new May Kits at Kits & Pieces will be available tomorrow.  I created several layouts using the Happy Day kit which features the new Basic Grey Celebrate papers, Cosmo Cricket blackboard chipboard, Prima Crystals, MM Journaling Book and more.  I LOVED working with this kit.

The first LO is about our obsession with Scrabble when I go to my sister's house.  These pics of my mom & niece were taken last Christmas.  Added a little stitching and tried a fun layered effect for the title.  Also a little "hybrid" going on with the photo collage along the top.

The next LO is about our fun trip to the MN State Fair each year.  This year was especially fun because my sister & her 4 kids joined us.  Even better, it was my nephew Sam's birthday the day we went.  As we were singing Happy Birthday to him in the Food Building while we ate ice cream, a local news anchor came by and we got a spot on TV.  Fun!

Lastly is a LO that's totally outside my zone.  I wanted to create a random/funky no-photo LO of just all the things going on in my life this month.  The concept was good but the execution was not LOL!  Oh well... maybe next month I'll try again and have better luck. ;)

Oh, and one more... this one using the April kit from It Kit Studios.  Another one from the State Fair last year of my nephew pitching.  He's got an AMAZING arm for a 12 year old!

Thanks for stopping by to see what I've been up to!!

Now... baseball season is starting and I'm not sure I'm ready for the CRAZY schedule.  Both boys are on traveling teams this year and there's only one of me... not sure how that's gonna work?!!  I may not have much time for scrapping this month. :P

Have a GREAT day!! ~Christine

Sharing "A Walk in the Park" Kit Projects

Sharing a couple of DT projects for the My Kits & Pieces April kit, "A Walk in the Park" featuring Prima Caliope papers, Fancy Pants felt, MM 5th Avenue button & blossoms... gotta say I LOVED this kit top to bottom!  So very ME!!! :)

The first project is a mini-album that I'll be giving to my sister as a thank you.  The base is one of the expansion clear albums (LOVED the flower shape!).  Also included are some felt pieces from the Fancy Pants felt pieces expansion.  Virtually everything else except for a couple brads is right out of the kit!  Great job on this one Rosy.  

Oh... and the journaling is actually the lyrics to the Watermark song, More Than You'll Ever Know... fit so perfectly everything I want to say to her.  She surely has picked me up more times than I can count.  She is such a blessing in my life.  Thank you, thank you, Cind!

   

The next project is a layout about my niece (really, 2nd cousin, but who's keeping track? ;) using the same kit.  Yummy Bazzill Ruby Red cardstock, more of the Caliope patterned papers, AC Thickers felt alphas, and used a Fiskars border punch to create the border.

Swing by My Kits & Pieces & say hi on the message board... come see what we're up to!  Lots of great discussion and inspiration. :)

Celebration Tray!

Sharing a project I did for Creative Memories that is in the March Featured Projects section.

 

Didn't this turn out cute?  I just love these new papers... so kitchen-y and cheery, from CM's Primary Power Palette Collection.  You can find complete instructions here.  Check out the rest of March's featured projects too.. lots of great inspiration for cards, pages & home decor items.

Also, for those who have asked, you can see more photos from our Yellowstone trip out in my Picasa album here: Yellowstone Photo Album.

Have a wonderful Easter!  He is risen indeed!

Lots of News to Start the Year!

Wow!  Been a busy week!

On Wednesday, I accepted a freelance designer position with Creative Memories!  Yes, you heard right... the one and only Creative Memories!  They are branching out, wanting to move a bit into mainstream scrapbooking and I am so excited to have been selected as one of their new freelance designers!

This is one of the sample projects I created for CM.  This is an unfinished wooden frame from Michael's.  I painted the edges then covered with CM papers.  Added a few buttons & ribbon, used a CM quote sticker in the window & a CM alpha diecut sticker for the initial.  I really like how it turned out!

And on Thursday, I accepted a spot on the My Kits & Pieces design team!  I was a freelance designer for Rosy last fall, and now I'm thrilled to sign on as a regular!  Thank you Rosy!  The new site and message boards will be up soon, so keep checking in!

It's been a busy, scrapbook-y weekend too.  I worked on some projects for Memory Makers for the upcoming Ask The Masters 3 book due out this summer.  Love the LO I created!  But you will just have to wait for the book.;)

Last Monday night, I enjoyed Ryan's 1st 6th grade band concert.  Dang, I was AMAZED at how well my new camera/lens setup worked in a concert setting!  I took these pictures at 800 ISO, NO FLASH!!  The extreme close-up at full-out 300mm zoom no less!  I have never been able to take pictures at concerts before... sooooo exciting to get decent pictures even sitting near the back. :) 

Ryan is the french horn player... he's taking after me as I used to play french horn too. :)  I must say, I was VERY impressed with how well they sounded!  HUGE leaps and bounds since 5th grade.  Way to go buddy! :D

 

Tomorrow is my birthday (yay!)... nothing planned to speak of.  Probably just cake with the boys tomorrow night.  Oh, yeah... and Grant and I are starting piano lessons... tomorrow!!  I'm very excited about that!  We got a beautiful (!) Yamaha Clavinova CL240PE digital piano for Christmas (thank you Dad...again!!!).  It sounds amazing... it actually plays and sounds like a grand piano... such a beautiful sound filling the room!  Can't wait to learn to play!

Hope you're all enjoying a fruitful and "scrappy" New Year!! :D  ~Christine 

Pics taken with my new camera!

Downloaded my pics from Christmas and I am thrilled seeing them on the big monitor!

This one of my Dad was the very first shot taken with the new camera.  Love how soft the light is and how nice his skintones came out.  I actually think this is the nicest photo I have of my Dad.

And these taken without flash of the beautiful table my sister set for Christmas dinner.  (Yes, that's her in the background :)

These pictures of the horses taken outdoors in the magical Christmas snow.  The first is taken from fairly close in.  But the second two shots are taken from quite a distance ... the third is at full 300mm zoom, no tripod even... can't believe how sharp everything is.  The VC (vibration control) is awesome!

This last one is my niece and nephew.  The colors came out so nicely even against the all-white background.  LOVE this camera/lens setup!  So fun to just snap away. :)
   

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU Dad!!!  I'm grinning ear-to-ear with joy over this new camera!!

Pinch Me!!!

Pinch me!  Pinch me!

OH. MY. GOSH!!!  My Dad got me one of the brand-new Canon 40D's for Christmas!!!

With a Tamron AF 28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 VC (Vibration Control) lens!!!

I am just giddy over it!!  I've had my Nikon D70 (which I've LOVED) for 3+ years now and just recently have started considering upgrade options.  I was looking at the new D80 as I couldn't afford much more than that.

So getting this new Canon 40D has just blown me away!  It is SO much more camera than I could ever have gotten myself!  Granted, I will need a couple new Canon lenses now, but dang!  This camera is AMAZING!

I played with it a bit on Christmas Day taking indoor snapshots of dinner, opening gifts, etc. and it is absolutely incredible in low-light!  HUGE improvement from what I'm used to.  Also took some winter scenery shots and even with the high-contrast "white" snowy pictures, the contrast and color is spot on.  WOW!  I feel like a kid in a candy store... rediscovering the magic of photography all over again!

I'll share some pics as soon as I get them downloaded.  WOW!  Just WOW!!!  THANK YOU DAD!!!

A belated but VERY Merry Christmas to you all!! ~Christine

Happy Belated Thanksgiving!

Oh my heck!  How did an ENTIRE month go by since I last posted?!  Egad!  Will someone e-mail me next time I slack so long?  Please?!!

Life... rolling along.  Lots going on.  Been in training for work all week last week and the week before T-Giving (C# & ASP.NET for you geeks out there ;).  Had to drive an hour+ each way to the training center... ugh!  Sure made me appreciate my 25-30 minute drive that I sometimes complain about. ;)

And Thanksgiving was wonderful!!!  Spent some time with my brother & sister-in-law and also with my sister & her family.  Lots of yummy food & fun family time too.  I LOVE Thanksgiving!!

Also managed to hand-make 80 Christmas cards over the past week or so.  Still need to get the envies addressed & sign them all, but the assembly line work is done at least. :)  I'll share a sampling here... all just variations on a theme using Basic Grey holiday papers, Art Warehouse stamps (kinda hard to see the white ink stamped on the red velvet in the scan) & a few jewels.  Fairly simple, but as time-consuming as I'll go when I'm making 80. :)

   

Oh!  and I have a TOOOOT to share!!!  Can't tell you much about it, but got a special assignment from CK last Tuesday for the March 2008 issue!!!  Yippee!!! :D :D   Here's a little sneak peek. ;)

 

Enjoyed the first big snowfall of the season this weekend at my sister's house... played a little Scrabble, drank a little hot cocoa... love hunkering down with family during a storm.  And the boys even got to go snowmobiling today!  They were THRILLED!!!  I so wish I'd have gotten pictures.  Bummer. :\

I have to share yet about our 21st annual "College Girlfriends Holiday Party" on Friday night too!!!  Always a BLAST!!!  But need to download the pics yet, so will hopefully do that in the next day or so.

I promise not to be so delinquent this month, even with all the holiday preparations... I promise!

God bless your day!! ~Christine

Card and Altered Business Card Holder

A couple projects to share today!

The first is an altered business card holder that I made for my niece for her Confirmation this past Sunday.  Isn't this the cutest?  From Target! 

Inside each of the plastic card holders inside, I inserted my own cards.  On the front of each card was one of God's promises to us and on the back was the verse that tell us of His promise.

My hope is that this is small enough for her to carry with her to always have a reminder of God's love, and to offer encouragement during the tough times.

The other item I'm sharing is a little Thank You card I made for my pastor for Pastor Appreciation Day/Month this past Sunday.

  Pastor Dave and his wife have been such an incredible blessing to the boys and me.  Pastor spent 100+ hours working on my house over the summer, he and his wife opened their house to the boys and me when we needed a place to stay, they have given us so much support and prayer throughout the past two years.  I cannot even express in words, and certainly a card is not enough, to share the incredible thanks and gratitude I feel for them.  THANK YOU PD & B!

Our pastors work tirelessly to serve His kingdom.  Make sure to let yours know you appreciate him/her!

Thanks for stopping by!  God Bless. ~Christine

Toot! MM Editor's Pick!

Remember I shared awhile back about our Thanksgiving in August?  And I told you that you'd have to wait for the November Memory Makers issue to see the layout I created about it?

Well, I just got my November issue and guess what?!  Cool beans!  I'm the Editor's Pick! :)  Here's the write-up online about why the editors chose it.  I have to admit it feels awfully good to hear all their positive comments about my layout.  Definitely makes my heart smile. :)

Been busy otherwise... trying to keep up with school and church activities.  Anyone else find it hard to manage all the paperwork that comes home in backpacks?!  Excited to be getting back into the Word this fall with two Bible studies... one a study of the book of James and the other a Beth Moore women's study.  Good stuff!

Been scrapping some too but for assignment so can't share yet. ;)

Have an awesome day & thanks for stopping! ~Christine

"Joy" Canvas

Sharing a project using my June "It Kit" papers with the 10x10 canvas that Kelly L. sent with the October kit that just arrived Friday.  (Awesome, AWESOME kits!)  Kelly suggested using the canvas for a quote frame w/a woven background using leftovers so I took the challenge!  LOVE how this turned out! 

The quote is a perfect reminder that God is always with us.  Sometimes we expect only to see him in the big things and forget to see him in the all the little things around us.  The papers match my new bed/bath decor and I plan to stand it on my dresser as a daily reminder.

Thanks Kelly for the awesome kits!  And the awesome idea!!  TFL! ~Christine

Lots to Share!!

I am honored to be one of the Featured Designer at My Kits & Pieces for October!  Been busily creating using the yummy Harvest Moon Kit.  It includes some of my faves... patterned papers by Daisy D's and Paper Trunk (a new manufacturer!), AL buttons (can't seem to get enough), AC Thickers foam stickers (my first time using them and I must say I LOVE them!).  I also got to play with Maya Road chipboard album and some uber cool Paper Trunk border stamps!

First LO, Auburn Beauty, uses a combination of both DD's and PT papers.  Cut the semi-circulat design out of one of the PT papers to create a fun frame for the focal photo.  And used the PT border stamps to create a fun edge on the page.  I really like how this one came together.

The second LO I created, called Happiness Is, uses mostly Daisy D's.  I painted on the back of the transparency behind the journaling to allow the journaling to more readable while still letting the pattern show through.   Flowers on a boy LO... yeah it's ok in my book. ;)  Found this old photo yesterday and it made me a bit teary -- I can't believe how short ago this was and yet how much the boys have changed.  The journaling talks about how important remembering is and how important it is to feel and document our emotions through scrapbooking.  (Oh yeah, and how much I MISS having a toddler around my ankles lately. :(

Lastly, is the mini album I created.  I used one of the Maya Road Rolodex-style chipboard albums.  Very fun format!  The album shares some of my favorite memories and photos from our fall daytrips the past two years.  And tried something a little different with the journaling and wrote a little haiku-like poem (5 lines) for each photo. Was a fun exercise and I really like how it came out -- easy to ready but sharing quite alot of info at the same time. I will definitely use this journaling technique again.

You seriously need to check out My Kits And Pieces for really great kits.  The other kit offered in October is the uber cool new American Crafts papers.  Very fun!!  TFL! ~ Christine 

My Angel, My Sister

My twin sister, Cindy, is truly my angel sent by God above to walk beside me through life.  I don't know how (or even *if*) I'd have gotten through these past couple years without her. 

I cannot even begin to tell you how often she's "been there" for me. 

How many times I've cried on the phone to her. 
How many times she's sacrificed personal priorities to help me out instead. 
How many times she's encouraged me and uplifted me.
How many times she's prayed for me. 
How many times she's gotten me through the "overwhelmeds". 
How many times she's made me laugh until I cry. 
How many times words aren't even necessary because she already knows what I'm thinking.

People often ask what it's like to be a twin and I usually respond "I don't know, what's it like NOT to be a twin?"  And the truth is, I don't ever WANT to know what it's like to be without my twin.  At this point in my life, she is probably the ONE person I could not life without. 

I wanted to have a picture of my sister of her to put on my desk at work, so I created this frame today.  CI Bare Elements 12x12 frame; Fancy Pants Designs patterned paper, chipboard & stamps.

Thank you, my dear, dear sister.  You inspire me in sooooo very many ways.

Pure Joy

Just finished up this layout.  Created a real challenge for myself because I wanted to enter 2 contest and don't have time for more than one layout.  So.... I used the sketch here for the createmykeepsake.com contest and used all Fancy Pants products so I could also enter the PubCalls Fancy Pants contest!

This is the result... kinda crazy for me but I had fun with it and I think it's a solid entry into both contests. :)  Photos are by the uber-talented Sue Thomas (thank you girlfriend, you are AMAZING!)TFL!  ~Christine

The Last Room To Be Cleaned... My Scraproom!

My scrap room has been the default dumping grounds during the past 2 months of cleanup/fixing/getting ready to list my house.  So yesterday I finally tackled it!  It feels soooooooo incredible clean and inspiring now!  I'm totally loving and can't wait to scrap on my nice clean desks. :)

Here are some pictures to prove to myself that that job that I've been dreading for the past year is finally DONE!!!

Can't wait to see the next creation out of my new space!  I'm feeling like I need to enter the Fancy Pants blog contest! :D

Happy scrappin' ladies!

2 Play!

A layout just for fun. :)  LOVED this photo of my little Grant with the neighbor's new puppy! Soooo darn cute! Grant's head is a bit cut off, but I still love it and I was able to arrange the elements so that you don't notice so much. Yay for arrows & red embellishments. :) 

Inspired by a sketch at www.pagemaps.com.   Thank you Becky!

This is IT!

Just joined my very first "kit club" and can I just say that I love IT!  The club is called 'IT Kit Studio' and Kelly Lautenbach runs it... LOVE her style so much.  And her first kit did not disappoint!

The inaugural June Kit contained K&Co Amy Butler, Collage Press, Hambly, Bazzill & yummy(!) ribbons.  Isn't it yummy?

I played with IT today and created this fun layout about the flowers my Dad always sends me on Mother's Day and at Christmas.  He is such a dear... makes me feel so loved. :)

The layout came out a bit busy because I forgot to leave space for the journaling til the end... but oh well!  Love it anyway. :)  Played with beads & flowers on this one.  Fun stuff!

Was a busy, busy weekend this weekend... birthday parties, jewelry parties, girls night, church picnic, etc.  Thankfully I enjoy the social scene so it was all good. :)

Have a fabulous week everyone and God bless!

To The World

Posting a LO I did today for the CMK "UN"Birthday Becky Fleck sketch contest. 

This LO is about my brother, Forrest. [Love you to pieces bro!]  He is my biggest fan and supporter, and he's one person I can always turn to for a pick me up. He's all the way in California, though, which is sooo hard sometimes. He's a WORLD away. Scenic Route pp & diecut, HS chipboard alphas, 2P Tasklist font, Bazzill, BG rubons (stars), Pot Dots under the arrow TFL!

NEW Altered Purse - Wooden!

I love making the paper mache purses, but decided it was time to try something new.:)

Went to Michael's a month or so ago and came upon the cutuest little wooden treasure box.  Well... it wasn't *entirely* cute.  The box itself was cute, but it was covered with this obnoxiously ugly plaid "plastic".  Still, I could see its merits and I adored the cute little closure.

My mind immediately started pondering the potential of this cute little box and when I found the PERFECT little purse handle, I knew it was meant to be.:)  So I brought it home and went to work!

This is the final product!  Total cost about $8!

Here are the steps I used to create it:
1. Whitewashed all the wooden parts to give it a more shabby chic & less "perfect" look
2. Sanded all the "plastic" areas to give it more "teeth" for decoupaging
3. Used Plaid Royal Coat decoupage medium to cover the ugly plasticness with some of my most favorite Daisy D's paper
4. Added a few yummy Basic Grey rub-ons to give it a little more character
5. Covered the entire purse with two coats of polyurethane to seal it and give it a little shine
6. Drilled two holes in the top with my Fiskar's craft drill and attached the handle
VOILA! 

That's it!  Simple enough... took just over an hour (excluding poly dry time) to complete this ever so cute little spring purse .  I'm sure Michael's still has these little boxes.  I'd love to see what you create with them!  I'm always looking for inspiration and I know there are alot of amazing artists out there.  Post a link to your creation.  Either wooden boxes or purses or whatever fun altered-ness you've created!  Inspire me! 

Thanks for reading my blog!  Have a most wonderful and blessed day!

Catching Up & Sharing!

Been waaay to long since I posted.  Sorry 'bout that. 

Went back to Eagle River, WI for a surprise 70th bday party for my Mom 2 weeks ago.  It was AWESOME!!  My brother flew in from LA (smooches Fest!) and my sister & her family drove over too.  My cousins were there... SO. MUCH. FUN!!!! 

Mom was definitely surprised and, VERY unusual for our family, EVERYONE showed up at the same time!!  Let me tell you, that never, ever, EVER happens.  Except for Mom's bday party. :)  Love ya Mom! xoxoxo  Happy Birthday!

The other highlight of the weekend was snowmobiling!  After the big snow storms that had gone through the upper midwest the week before, the riding was incredible!  Not may people on the trails in March and the trails were smooth as silk.  We rode sleds to breakfast, dinner and lunch. :)  The one morning on our ride to breakfast, it felt like we were in a snow globe... giant snowflakes falling all around us as we maneuvered through the forest.  Just gorgeous.  And seeing the caravan of sleds with family in front of me, I thought 'this is what life is about".  Times shared together -- away from the rest of the world.   I'm ready to head back for more.. 'cept spring is here (and I'm ok with that :).

Oh, and Forrest, here is that uber cool pic of you that I was telling you about.  I just LOVE it!  Can't wait to scrap this one... waiting for just the right inspiration to make it perfect (ha!).  I used one of the very cool (and free!) b&w filters from Optik Verve Labs.   Check them out.

Fast forward to today... decided to make up the cute Bare Elements jewelry box that I bought awhile ago.  I need something in my bathroom to keep all my jewelry, which is presently in a mess on the counter.  Looking through my stash for the perfect green to match the paint in my bedroom and I came across one of Rhonna Farrer's 1st lines which has been patiently waiting for the perfect project. :)

 

I put felt on the bottom to keep it slightly raised up off the counter in case of spills.  I thinks it's going to work out great!

Man, I love this art of scrapbooking and paper arts... so many good things you can do with it. :)

Glad to be sharing again.  Have a GREAT day everyone!

Gotta show ya!

Sharing what I created today for my office at work... isn't it cute?  I'm so looking forward to having thse awesome photos displayed where I can see them all the time.  The photos were taken by my good friend (and AWESOME(!!) photographer), Sue Thomas.  (Thank you dear!!)  Basic Grey Lily Kate papers, chipboard letter & bookplate; Prima flower; Chatterbox chipboard (pink) & Michael's ribbon.  TFL!! :)