Simple Christmas Card

Time has become something of a rarity since I started school two weeks ago. I can't believe how demanding thing are now that I am trying to balance everything out. So, needless to say, the crafting has come to an abrupt halt. I am relishing the free time I have now that we are snowed in. I cleaned house like a mad woman and now...now I can create. This is a card that I made for some of my mailings this year. Yes, it is VERY simple, but I really liked the tad bit of sparkle:)

Ahhh, and here is a page that I made for Michael's scrapbook. It was so great to play with stamps and ink and my cricut and punches and daubing and...yeah. It was so nice to play for a few minutes. I used Paper Trey Inc. cardstock for this and CTMH stamps ("C" solo, express postage, Frame of Mind, and Star Struck.) Now, I am good for another week...maybe:)

Baby Box

Oh, I love any excuse to make these boxes. This one is for a gal at church that is due in 9 days...I knit some booties and a lil' hat for the new guy. So, this will go perfectly. These are CTMH boxes, Aspen paper pack, CTMH chipboard letters, and Heritage alphabet stamp. The colors are Twilight, Outdoor Denim, and Desert Sand. OH! So cute!

Gift Certificate Holder

This is a card I came up with for an open house gathering I have next weekend. I needed to present the gift certificates available in a really pretty way. So, I used CTMH's Creative Basics Evensong Paper, Colonial White cardstock, a little glitter, and some brads. I love how fast they were to make!! I just have to make 10 more now. Whew!

Bonfire

We had an impromptu bonfire one night while Tom was burning some brush. It was so fun and the boys were in heaven. They found a frog, had some toasted marshmallows, and got REALLY dirty:) These memories are priceless...the unplanned ones. I love where we live. I love that we can do this whenever we want.

Scooter

Scott is such a daddy's boy. He loves learning how to work things. From a very young age he would watch Tom or his Papa work with wood or tractors, etc. This was him learning to ride a bike. Now, with Dallin we just had to work on getting him to go FORWARD on his trike. He could do backwards really well. Then came Michael. We had to tie his feet to the pedals:) Scott, well, he just hopped on, stuck his tongue out, and took off.

Sketch challenge...two versions

I have never participated in a sketch challenge before...so here goes. This is from one of my favorite blogs, inkastamp. I had to do two cards today, so I used this sketch to do both. They both use Papertrey Inc and CTMH stamps and cardstock. The patterned paper is just stuff I have had in my stash forever. This one was for my brother, Ben. He is all the way in Texas, so it is a sad reminder of how far away they are whenever I have to send a card. My boys liked this one...much better than the next one. This one was for a gal that I visit teach each month. She is such a girly girl, so it was nice to get to play with girly purple and pink for once. I have to say that the twill ribbon used here, by Papertrey, is the most luxurious stuff!! It is almost glossy...pretty cool for twill.

Game Boys

This weekend, I got to have a scrap retreat with some of my partners in crime. I stayed only Friday and part of Saturday, but I got some fun pages done. This one is one of my favorites because it shows our everyday life, not some big event. The boys were playing dominoes one day. They were getting along so well. I used CTMH's Seredipity Paper pack for this, along with Little Boys stamp set, Childhood Boy stamp set, Outdoor Denim striped ribbon, pewter accents, and little brads for the domino dots:) I think those are so fun!!

Oooh, I LOVE this paper!

I found this paper on a wild scrapbooking shopping trip that I took with Ms. Katie Lou. I had a friend who lost her mother-in-law last week, so this was what I came up with to send her. I love the black backdrop. It just makes it look so ...can't think of a word...not classy, but maybe classic. I don't know. Anyway, I used CTMH stamps with it and Coluzzle's template for the file folder.

New Family Blog

I have created a new family blog. I needed a place to have my scrapbook and card creations, so that is what this site will remain. The new site for my personal stuffs is http://briggsfamilydays.blogspot.com/

Aaaahh! Christmas pages!

I LOVE doing Christmas pages before the season gets here because it gets me all excited. These are actually from last Christmas...yes, I am getting "caught up" in my scrappin'. I did these pages with all CTMH. I used the new Evensong Creative Basics paper, cranberry and New England Ivy CS, Fair Blossoms stamp set, the Baroque stamp set, and few odds and ends.

Cute Lil Boxes

I made these for my business handouts, but these would also be super for anything little...like the truffles I am planning on making for Christmas this year:) NUMMY! These were very quick to make and required a very small amount of supplies. They only measure 2"x2"x2".

A (deep voice) MANLY page

Is there such thing as a manly scrap page?? Well, I do attempt to do these a few times a year so Tom will feel part of the album:) I usually don't like to visit his job sites because this is what goes on...too stressful for me. BUT, he loves his job and that makes me happy, too. I guess it's all the chainsaws, trucks, cranes, etc etc. I used my CTMH homestead alphabet and the Ponderosa Pine with Brown bag colors also from CTMH. I need to make something pink now.

troubles

I can't figure out what is going wrong with my uploads!! I can post words, but no pictures! Ugh! I am not computer saavy, so what do I do?? Any suggestions?

A Gift for You

Oh, this card is so fun! Yup, that is CTMH's new Sorbet again. I also used Playful flourishes stamp set and the birhtday bash set for the present. I used a lil prisma glitter over the liquid glass to make it a lil special:)

Tea Tin for nummy cookies

My dear cutie friend, Katie likes to challenge me with things to make and this was one of my favorite challenges:) This is perfect for some lil ginger snaps...that sounds sooo good. I used the Sorbet cardstock from CTMH, Cocoa and Colonial White as well. I can't wait to make some cookies to go with this. The best part of this is that lil buckle on the ribbon:)

New Sorbet!!...okay, I DO love it:0

Alrighty, then! I really do like the new Sorbet color introduced by Close To My Heart. It is so versatile. I am using it as a fall color for my next gathering. I made this layout to show what ya could do with the color and some fall pictures. I used Cocoa to go with it. I used CTMH's Nature's Veins and Thing of Beauty stamp sets. This was a fun weekend with my brother and his family when they lived up in Bellingham, WA area. I even got to have TRICKY STIX!! My personal fave!

Paper Backpacks

Well, my youngest started school yesterday. I was pretty sad to see my lil' buddy get on the bus and leave me...all alone:( So, in honor of school starting, I made this cutie patootie backpack from a template I found on Splitcoast Stampers. I had to make it boyish, but it turned out cute anyway. I think I'll stash these away for a test day or something like that. Green is in honor of Dallin...my green boy. I used Olive B&T paper from CTMH, New England Ivy CS from CTMH, ribbon and silver eyelets...oh, and the chocolate Brad, too.

Masculine Birthday Card

I really struggle with masculine cards because I always want to use flowers and froofy stuff on my cards. This one turned out pretty darn cute, though. I just love these balloons from CTMH's Birthday Bash stamp set. I used their Good Times paper...just a tiny bit because it is really busy paper. Hope my brother likes it:)

Pink!

I love the new pink colors from Papertrey Inc. Their cardstock is the best! It is so thick and nice to work with. All of this card is made with PTI, Berry Sorbet and Sweet Blush. I added a few brads for the bling and that was all. I love the clean look to PTI's papers and designs. Very refreshing in a distressing kind of world:)

Mini Golfing and a cool Palm tree

What a fun layout! I get so much more done when I use CTMH's layout books. This one was from Imagine. I spent two days adding lil' things here and there to this one. I used the "Good Times" paper pack with Sweet Leaf, Twilight, and Chocolate cardstock. This mini golf place was inside a building...in the basement. It was soooo cool, but really dark so the pictures were dark. In one of them, there is a palm tree. I added that guy at the end and it was kinda fun:) I also got brave a whipped out my chipboard alphabets and put together that GOLF using sweet leaf ink and Spot On Backgrounds on top. Whew. I got through that okay. I like how we are offering each letter group separately because I can just order the ones I use more of without having to order the whole alphabet again. Fun fun

Dallin 2nd Grade

Dallin is my oldest. He takes great pictures for the school people. He is always making the funniest faces in all my photos, though. So, this was fun to do because he is smiling normally:) I used the Route 66 paper pack from CTMH for this (Cranberry, Moonstruck, Bamboo) I also used their stamp sets"Legendary Moments", Solo "2", and the new Chocolate Alphabet. I embossed with our white powder. It ended up kinda plain in the upper right hand corner, but I'm okay with that:) Repeat after me, Karen, "empty space is not a bad thing"...:)LOL

Fourth of July Layout

Mom and my friend Kim came over on Friday to play a little. We were trying to figure out what was wrong with Kim's embossing supplies because she hadn't been able to emboss. We tried her ink pad out and finally decided that it was the embossing ink pad itself that was not working well. She tried mine, CTMH's, and it worked wonderfully. We had fun doing some very sparkly and flashy fireworks for these pages. I used CTMH's Outdoor Denim, Barn Red, Colonial White and Desert Sand. We did a ton of distressing, which felt great since I have been avoiding it lately. We especially loved the way the Outdoor Denim came out. Plus, I am always a sucker for the wanescoting look. Now to download some pictures to add:)

Family Picture 05

I don't like scrappin' large pictures. I find it much easier to do several small ones. BUT, this will make the front page of my 05 album, so it needs to be big:) I am surprised at the colors I ended up using. It turned out more playful, which fits my family better anyway. I used CTMH's Heavenly Blue, Sunflower, Barn Red, and Dutch Blue for this layout. I also used my cricut to play a little. I love the word "family!" Then I added our name in the Homestead Alphabet and date in the Sans alphabet stamps from CTMH. A few brads and TADA!! All done. Never mind the little coloring of yellow done by some sweet, talented, wonderful child across my picture!!!! Ah, well. I'll laugh about it someday:) Whattayado?

Any suggestions??

Help!! I am submitting this card to corp. and I am really uncomfortable with it. I think I am done with it. I had some flowers out to add to it, but I think they make it too busy. Then I got out some buttons to add...still too busy. Without them, I feel like it is missing something. Then again, I think I have just been staring at it too long.:)

Lost Teefers

This page was made with my new finds from my adventure with Katie a week ago. She "drug" me to some scrapbook stores on the other side of the sound that I never would have found otherwise. It was so fun and I found so many things to try. My goal was to find boy stuff. I didn't do very well at that. This was pretty close though. These were American Craft papers that I matched with CTMH's Olive and Crystal Blue cardstocks. Then, I topped it off with my gift of Making Memories ribbon. I LOVE RIBBON!! I need to pace myself with that stuff. Aaaahhh.

You're Peeking!

Scott is my youngest and silliest! He likes to pretend that he's asleep. Michael and Dallin will say, "You're sleeeeeping!" He then pops his eyes open and laughs. I finally caught it on camera. This page uses more of my FAVORITE CTMH colors, Lilac Mist and Buttercup. I also had to incorporate my FAVORITE stamp set, Spot On Backgrounds:) I love my cricut for the moon and stars. So fun. And, yes, I did daub the edges of the moon, stars, and medallion. I gotta get back to my daubin' roots!! It is such a relief:)

Logan is one

Logan is my nephew. He has the most incredible blue eyes and dimples!! This page was made with SU's Boho paper packet and their now discontinued District ribbons. I LOVE their ribbons. I am so proud of myself for using such a strong and potent orange:) Whew. That was a tad stressful, but I love the color combo. Funny thing is that my brother (Daddy of Logan) loves orange and has given me courage to use it. Thanks Tom!!

Oh, those silly Boys

I just love this picture because it shows my boys vastly different personalities. Dallin, in the back, is so cautious and careful. Michael thinks everything is "pleasant" and smiles 99% of his life. Then, there is Scotty. He just attacks life full force. He has more fun and gets more excited than anyone I know:) I love the silver embossing on the Outdoor Denim CS stars. I also used Holiday Red again. I think I am officially over my dislike for that color. I used CTMH's July Word Puzzle and the Lucky Stars stamp sets. Yes, this is still 2006, but I am moving right along. I hope to get to 2007 pictures by October for our scrap weekend.

Mmmm...Strawberries and Polka Dots

Oooh, I love strawberries!! Putting them with polka dots from CTMH's Spot On Backgrounds polka dots was almost too much:) I made a bunch of these cuties to go with people's orders when they come in. "Thank you Berry much!" I used CTMH's White Daisy and Holiday Red Cardstock and Papertrey Inc's Garden stamp set. Fun Fun! Now I am off to attempt a project worthy of submitting to corp. Our unit is going to do this as a team this next month. Whew, we'll see what I can come up with:0 I am excited to see what everyone creates.

Fun In the Sun

Wow, I'm all the way up to August of 2006! I'm making progress. :) This layout was so fun to do, especially right now while it is summer. I used CTMH's Citrus Leaf textured cardstock, Sunny Yellow, Ocean, Sunflower, and Topiary. This page is a bit busy, but it is the first page in my 2nd album for that year...so, it has to make a bold statement, right?

Spring Friendship Card

I had such a fun weekend!! I finished a huge program for church and was able to see the final result of months of sewing costumes! It was so amazing! I also had a gathering on Saturday and met some hilarious ladies. I made this card with them. It is with the colors Breeze, White Daisy, and Kiwi. I did NO daubing...I know...shock!! I still want to, but I will resist the temptation:) I used 5 different stamp sets...ugh, no simplicity here.

Happy Cake

Whew!! I just finished a huge cake for a friend of mine. WOWZERS it was a time comsuming cake. I baked for two days, then decorated for 7 hours!!! I don't want to see or smell cake for a long while. It was fun to play with fondant. I really loved the way that the top layer turned out. The bottom layer wasn't so swell, but it worked. I just really want to learn how people cover square cakes with fondant. I was at Albertsons getting stuff for dinner tonight and saw a fondant covered square cake...with perfect corners!!! Someday...

Cherries...finally!

I have been looking for a cherry stamp for a long time. I was looking through some older stamp sets and found one that I already had!! It is in the CTMH's Random Thoughts set. It also had a cute lady bug and vase of flowers that I played with...but the cherries are still my favorites!! This color scheme was on a card I was admiring...Barn Red, Heavenly Blue, Garden Green, White Daisy, and Black. This card had a ton of layering and matting...It sure makes a difference. The lovely ribbon is from my dear friend Katie....THANKS!!! It has been sitting on my desk for months, so it was happy to finally find a home.

Girls Camp Cake

Today I am heading up to Girls Camp to see my girls. I am so relieved to not be there this year:~ I have enjoyed just visiting in the daytime. I made this cake for tonight because it's bishops' night and they always get a special treat. I experimented with banana cake...hope it's good.

Bagpipe Birthday

For my DH's birthday two years ago, we had a friend come over to play his bagpipes as a surprise for Tom. He loves the Scottish culture and bagpipe music. So, it was an incredible surprise for him. The kids were amazed at the technique, too. For this page I had to use CTMH's Holiday red, which I usually don't like. BUT, the colors of the shirts in the pictures wouldn't let me use any other red....I used CTMH's Delightful Alphabet, Birthday Bash, and July Word Puzzle stamp sets. I also used some hemp and waxy flax to tie the tag on. Other colors were Outdoor Denim, Desert Sand, and Colonial White.

Summer cards

I had so much fun making these cards from CTMH's From Me to You card kit. They are so bright and cheery!! I am glad that they let us make 2 of each so I can keep a copy of them:) These colors just make me smile! aaahhh...the little things in life.

Fathers Day Pages

Well, I finally put together the Fathers Day pages. I taught these last month at a workshop. So, we took some family photos on Fathers day and put this all together. I love the tie that the boys "decorated" for Tom:) I used CTMH Indian Corn Blue, Buttercup, and Cocoa. I really loved the quote that I found on a Papertrey Inc. stamp... I don't like the way the photos are showing up on the site. My next job is to make some kind of photo box to take better pictures in. Anyway, here they are...