April Showers Blog Hop

Welcome to the

We're so glad you are hopping with us today. We've got all kinds of great baby and bridal shower related crafts and ideas for you. You should have arrived here from HOLLI's blog  (http://sunflowerholli.blogspot.com),  but if you just stopped by,  be sure to hop to THERESA's blog (http://scrapsbygracie.blogspot.com) to get started and not miss any of the great projects. Now on with my project. I have quite a few pictures so grab a cup of coffee or your favorite beverage and enjoy! I'm making a 8.5 x 11 scrapbook for my sister and brother-n-laws wedding. This is pictures of the only shower I attended with them.

All of the papers are either from Recollections Seaside or Strawberry Cream 8.5 x 11 Cardstock Paper. I used some of the confetti from the decorations on the tables. My sister, Emily, wore the Bride to Be button and as you can tell it lights up. I added a napkin in the background. We were about 30 minutes late so the cake had already been cut and they'd already started eating. Brian had to work that morning and my mom and I wanted to see the church where they were getting married- the shower was at another church. This shower was at Beulah Baptist Church. His birth parents are buried in the graveyard across the street from this church and some of his aunts/uncles attend this church. His parents died very young- about a year apart- and Brian was 5. He was adopted by one of his uncles. He didn't attend the shower. They got married at the church his parents got married at. I'll have more pictures of the wedding in another post on another day. This hop is all about showers! You can't really see the bow bouquet that his Grandma Elaine made in the above pic, so I included a close-up below. The balloon will show up in another layout below. Their wedding was beach themed and their colors were teal and pink. These papers were the closest I could find at Michaels to match those colors. The sticker- celebrate- is from Mrs. Grossman's Transparent Wedding Stickers.

close- up of bow bouquet

this layout has Emily and Brian's baby/childhood pictures at the top, a candle with confetti that was part of the decorations, the plates with chocolate covered strawberries- that Emily made, and the napkins along with more food
I did all the journaling on my computer in Lucida Calligraphy font.

Here's the balloon again. Juju (short for Julian) loved the balloon as you can see in the top left corner picture. He's a baby of one of Brian's cousins. I took a pic of another candle and more confetti. Grandma Elaine gave Emily the mink wrap to wear over her wedding dress after the wedding. The last picture Emily is opening one of their gifts while Brian holds the bag for her.

I will add who they received these gifts from later.

The top picture is of Emily showing off the watch that Mama Jackie (Brian's adopted mom) gave her.
The bottom picture is of Brian and Emily showing off the luggage that Jackie bought them for their honeymoon.

That's all I have to share. Feel free to become a new follower- followers are always welcome! Thanks for hopping with us today! Be sure to comment on each blog along the way to be entered in today's giveaway for a $15 gift certificate to

http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/scrapsbygracie

Your next stop is JEARISE (http://lorbysworld.blogspot.com). I'm sure she has something amazing to share with us! :)

Here's today's line up:
Theresa ~ http://scrapsbygracie.blogspot.com
Card A Day Challenge Blog Design Team ~ http://cardadaychallenge.blogspot.com
Kim ~ http://katydidcards.com
Anna ~ http://grumpygrandmacreations.blogspot.com
Sarah ~ www.sarahbiswabic.blogspot.com
Sharon ~ http://piece-ofheart.blogspot.com
Holli ~ http://sunflowerholli.blogspot.com
Amanda ~ http://salnclts76.blogspot.com -- YOU ARE HERE
Jearise ~ http://lorbysworld.blogspot.com -- GO NEXT
Alicia ~ http://goldengoddessdesigns.blogspot.com
Enclade ~ www.nanasscrapspot.com
Lisa ~ http://lisaslittlerascals.blogspot.com

Sending Some Sunshine Your Way

I made the following card using the above sketch from Stamp Ink Paper and entering it in the Sketch Challenge. I also made it for a Facebook swap.

The red/poppy cardstock/card base is from Close To My Heart  La Vie En Rose Paper Packet. Jennifer Dykstra is the consultant I buy from, but you may choose another. The polka dotted pattern paper laying diagonal on the card is from Colorbok Signature Collection Hopscotch Double Sided 12 x 12 in Paper Pad. The doily/die cut is from Recollections Color Splash Die Cut set. The 3 stamped images are Julie Nutting Sunshine stamps that I stamped on typing paper with VersaFine Onyx Black Fine Pigment Ink. I colored the doll and the sun in with Spectrum Noir Essentials Professional Colored Pencils. The bling at the top and other pieces on the card are from a Recollections set. The washi/decorative paper tape is from Umi by Elum that I found at TJ Maxx- I can't find it on the website, but you can't say I didn't try! I used Elmer's Craft Bond Glue Stick Pen to adhere everything except the bling down and used too much- that's why the card is buckled. I know the next card/layout I use it on I won't use as much. I'm sending some goodies with it, but will lay a book or something on the card to flatten it before mailing. TFL!

A Day At The Beach

I made this card using the sketch above from Unity Stamp Company.

The paper is from Oriental Trading Company Beach Pack- the umbrella sheet and the red strip is also from the same sheet. The sentiment and the stamped image is Unity Stamp Company Beach Girl. The shells I fussy cut out of a Graphic 45 By The Sea 12 x 12" Collection Beachcombers sheet. The big shell sticker is from a Momenta sticker set that I bought from TJ Maxx. The flip flops and beach ball are actually party favors and double-sided from a Summer set that I also bought from TJ Maxx. The ribbon is Recollections footprints that can be used for baby cards or in this case the beach. I added Studio Calico Gems to both flip flops. I added the shells to the right flip flop because I somehow scraped it and white spots were showing. I didn't have any shells on the card until I saw those spots so the shells helped complete my card to fit the beach theme! I don't have anything on the inside, but I may add a journaling tag inside since the paper is thin and to even out the weight on the inside. I have a few more Unity stamp sets that I can't wait to play with. I tried a few out today, but wanted to make this card and will probably send out to a friend soon. TFL!