Happy Birthday!

I made the following card using the sketch from Sketch~N~Scrap for a 7 year old little boy in my Sunday School class who's birthday is today. I gave him the card yesterday and he loved it!

The card base is Recollections A2 Cards. The only difference in my card and the sketch is I didn't add an extra image. I thought the paper was busy enough that it didn't need anything else. I also couldn't find any of my smaller Happy Birthday stamps. The PP is from My Mind's Eye Boy Crazy 6"x 6" Paper Pad- both pieces. I decided to cut the vertical strip like a ribbon to make the card look more masculine. The Happy Happy Happy Happy Birthday stamp is Stampabilities  Happy... birthday stamp that I bought at Hobby Lobby and I used VersaFine Black Onyx Fine Pigment Ink pad to stamp it on a piece of typing paper and then put it on a piece of light green Colorbok Deluxe Textured Cardstock Paper and fussy cut it with some decorative scissors. The orange & black enamel dots are from my stash that I boughr from TJ Maxx around Halloween- I can't think of the name of the collection right now.

I added a small journal square to the inside from the same My Mind's Eye Paper Pad. The little boy I made the card for loves to draw and has a great imagination! That's one of the first things I noticed about him when he started coming to my class 2 years ago! I hope you can try to play along with this sketch! The deadline to enter is January 31! TFL!

Growing in Unity Blog Hop

Welcome to another Growing in Unity Blog Hop! Please be sure to stop by Unity Stamp Company to see Angela's 60% off Birthday Sale and to see all the stamps that Unity has to offer.

I used the above sketch from Scrap Much and am submitting the following layout in their Sketchy Friday Challenge.
	I used Creative Memories Rock Grunge 12 x 12 Additions kit to complete this layout. The arrow striped PP behind the photo is from Craft Smith Watercolor 12 x 12 in Watercolor Paper Pad as is the title- Sunshine in the sky and the rainbow diagonal striped strip behind it. The orange and gray spots are also from the Creative Memories set as is the strip behind the best guy ever stamp. The green paper behind the I love that you're funny stamp is from Colorbok 12 x 12 Deluxe Textured Primary Cardstock Pad. I chose "A smile is the beginning of peace."- Mother Teresa stamp because we're both smiling. This picture is of me and my little brother, Tyler, taken with my cell phone as we're riding in the back seat with our parents to the Farmer's Market in Raleigh, NC, this past Halloween. I chose the sunshine title since the sun is glowing behind us. I used VersaFine Onyx Black Pigment ink on all 3 Unity stamps. The best guy ever and I love that you're funny stamps are from Totally and Utterly Amazing May 2013 Kit Of The Month and the Mother Teresa quote stamp is from a Unity grab bag I won. I stamped the Mother Teresa quote on a piece of scrap paper from the Craft Smith Watercolor pad. Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of the hop! Up next is Corrie and I'm sure she has something awesome to share!
	Amanda Rhodes   http://salnclts.blogspot.com/--- YOU ARE HERE!
Corrie Wagner	http://corriescrafts.blogspot.com/
Pam Stang	http://mustangcreations.blogspot.com/
Katie 'Salley' Schneider	http://katherineshandmadecreations.blogspot.com/
Natalia Cazals	http://eatseemake.blogspot.com/
Kapree Clark	http://kc-consultant.blogspot.com/
Deirdre Smith	http://glitteredroses.blogspot.com/
Sheryl Kemper	http://igottacraft.blogspot.com/
Cynthia Olheiser	http://stampinalaska.blogspot.com/

Calendar Tag Album

I made this tag album for a swap for a group I am a part of on Facebook. The tags are Recollections 24 pack tags that I found for $1 at Michaels- they had different colored stripes around the sides, I chose the pink ones. I used various paper pads from my stash for each month. I used Tombow Aqua Liquid glue on the first 6 tags and it kept making the tags buckle up. I have a Scotch ATG, but the tape was jammed. I was looking at Pinterest this week and found a tutorial on how to fix it- How to Fix Your ATG Tape! I was so happy after I got it fixed and going! :) I love Pinterest!! The diagonal striped ribbon is from 3 Girl JAM. 3GJ is going out of business so Julie had a close-out sale a few weeks ago. I believe some of the ribbons are still available, but you might wanna check with 3 Girl JAM Facebook to find out. 

This is a close-up of each month and a quick view without taking so many pictures! I used different papers to coincide with holidays or seasons of each month. I can't wait to see the tag album I receive from my swap partner! I hope I've inspired some of you to try to make one. I almost forgot, I found the calendar printable from Clean and Scentsible on Pinterest. Who doesn't love Pinterest for inspiration?! I know I said that already, but it's true! ;)

Please come back on Sunday as I will be the first participant with a blog hop with Unity Stamp Company! I'll also be watching football- go Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos!! I'm hoping this is Carolina Panthers' year to win Super Bowl 50! :) TFL!

Birthday Card Sketch Challenge

I made the following card based on the sketch above- Sketch 262- from My Favorite Things. You have until Jan 12th at noon to play along if you'd like!  I made this card for my Dad's birthday coming up the end of this month. I'm going to Raleigh, NC, today to meet my sister at David's Bridal for a wedding dress fitting and since my dad lives in Raleigh as well I decided to give him his birthday present early. I bought him a #1 Dad coffee mug from TJ Maxx- work. I always get him a gift card and the coffee mug is cheaper and can be used as many times as he likes. Anyway, back to the card. The card base is Recollections A2 cards. The 4 strips are from American Crafts Dots & Stripes 6 x 6" paper pad, the Happy Birthday stamp is from Close To My Heart Remembering Your Birthday, and I used VersaFine Onyx Black Pigment Ink to stamp it. The sticker is from my stash- I lost the original packaging. The blue background paper is from Authentique Paper Gathering 6 x 6" paper pad.

TFL and have a great day! 

Christmas Cards SMASH entry & GIU Winners

For the past 3 years I have put the Christmas cards I received in my SMASH books. This is the K&Company Eco Green SMASH folio. I couldn't find a pocket in my stash to put my cards in so I improvised! I used an envelope that I received one of my Christmas cards in, cut off one end, and glued the flap shut to make the pocket. :) The paper I added is from Recollections Rainbow Jingle 8.5 x 11" Cardstock. I put the cards that were bought from a store and sent by my friends in the pocket. I wrote 2015 in the corner with Creative Memories Round Basic Red Marker, I added American Crafts Green & Red Dots and Red Stripes Washi tape on the sides of the pocket. All the stickers I used are Sticko Christmas Ornament stickers.

On this side of the two page spread I put the 3 handmade cards I received and attached them with brads. The ornament border at the bottom I made using my EK SUCCESS ornament border punch and used my Xyron 1.5" Create A Sticker to attach it- I found it in my SMASH book from last year.  I moved the cards so you could see the background paper that is part of the book and to make sure the brads will hold the cards.

Now it's time to announce my winners from my Growing in Unity week from last week.
The winners are:

Denise Bryant

Sue Downey/Sue D

Please leave me your e-mail address in the comments ladies and I will get back with you. Congrats! TFL and I welcome comments from everyone about the SMASH entry! Have a great day! :)

GIU Day 5

Welcome to 2016 and Day 5 of Growing in Unity! I made one more card to share with you.

The card base is Recollections 4.25 x 5.5"A2 card. The paper I used is actually one sheet of Authentique Paper Classique:Elegant 6 x 6" in paper pad. I cut around the newspaper articles and fused the blue/opposite side of the paper to the other side of the card. The Express Yourself and the dress form stamps are part of the Unity Stamp Company May 2013 Totally and Utterly Amazing Kit .The Month. I used VersaFine Onyx Black pigment ink to stamp them. I used decorative scissors to cut around the Express Yourself stamp. I matted the dress form stamp to a piece of Recollections Butterfly Wings 6 x 6" cardstock. The washi tape is from Oriental Trading Easter assortment. The polka dot brad is Martha Stewart Crafts Modern Festive Fabric Brads. The lip stick sticker is from Creative Memories Delight Fashion Diva 12 x 12" Paper Additions.

I decided to use the Fashionista sticker from the same collection on the inside. Happy New Year!! I've enjoyed this week and will be choosing a winner soon. You could be a winner! TFL!