why I scrap...

I started scrapping during college and while my skills have improved with time the reasons why I scrap have not- to preserve my memories.  I love getting out the books and remembering all the fun times and reflecting on our lives and the journey.  It is so much fun to share this with my children- THEY LOVE looking at the scrapbooks!  We got out Patrick's scrapbook today since it is his birthday.  I love seeing the twinkle in their eyes as they flip the pages- PRICELESS!!!

These moments make it all worth the time!  I know one day they will have fun showing their children (YIKES!).

So as we went down memory road today I thought I would take you along....and also to show you as with any craft or art form the more you play your style evolves over time.  :-) so no teasing...OKAY!?!

And yes- my oh my have we aged...hopefully well but nevertheless we are getting older.  Poor Josh has a ton of gray hair now which he attributes to the children!  And our sweet Ireland is no longer blonde- she is a lovely brunette.  Amazing to see our journey.....

The kids are now on Spring Break and we are headed for a little vaca with my sister and future brother in law- gotta knock out some upcoming wedding stuff- YIPPPEEE!!!!

I will share one last photo....so I showed Patrick and me then....here is Patrick and me as of yesterday...

I think he is one of the cutest 7 year olds I know- yes I am biased but seriously how can you not eat that face up!?!

Life is good!!!

~Jennifer :)

fun things in small packages!

Oh this basket is so darn cute and easy to make!  My friend Barb shared with me the directions from Splitcoast Stampers and I just had to try it!

I am going up to school today to celebrate Patrick's 7 birthday with his friends- SERIOUSLY how is my sweet boy 7???  His real bday is tomorrow but he insisted we make chocolate chip cookies together and handout to his friends for snack- he loves playing with that Kitchenaid mixer turning it on and off- all about the power tools that one is!  :-)

After dropping the kids off this morning I thought about making this basket as a little gift for his teacher- and of course fill it with some goodies!  The kids start Spring Break this weekend so today is the day I had to get it all pulled together! 

So here are the directions for you to make one or a dozen too!  They would be super cute to put as placecard holders on your Easter Table- great neighbor gift..oh the list goes on and on!

Here is the overview of what you are going to do:
*One 4 3/4" x 7 3/4" piece of cardstock for basket base
*One 1" x 11" piece of cardstock for basket handle
*One 1 1/2" x 15" piece of patterned paper to decorate basket base
*One 3/4" x 11" piece of patterned paper to decorate basket handle
*Scoring Tool
*Scissors
*Adhesive
*Stamps, Ink and additional cardstock to decorate the basket

Step One:
Adhere the patterned paper strip on the center of your cardstock strip. and then
Score your 4 3/4" x 7 3/4" piece of cardstock at 1 1/2" on each side.

Step Two:
Cut the cardstock at the two scored lines on either side of the long length of cardstock.
(if you like you can add two pieces of background and texture paper.  I glued one to the inside of the basket and the other to the outside of the basket.  I glued the pieces and then rescored and cut the slits- up to you....here is the paper I used

Step Four:
On the square ends that fold in to make the basket- place your adhesive and press the basket firmly together

Step Five:
 Now you can decorate your Basket!

As a side note I wanted to share with you that I used 2 stamp sets to create this tag and I actually CUT a phrase Apart!  WHAT?!?  Yes you heard me I cut the image apart!  I love to do this with our clear stamps- gives me more control and if you don't have room for a phrase lengthwise- I want to be able to stack it up!

I used one of my favorite stamp sets- Happy Birthday and that is the one I cut up.  Then I paired it with this month's Stamp of the Month- A Little Everything- another MUST HAVE item and you don't want to miss out on earning this one for FREE or discounted....March 31st is the last day you can snag this awesome set!

Hope you have fun trying out this adorable basket!  I am off to get ready to go give this sweet boy a big Happy Birthday Hug!!!!!

Prepping...

I am prepping for an upcoming Card Class this Thursday at 10:00am. I love this group of active adults- super fun!!

Do you have some friends that would like to get together once a month to create cards? I would love to develop a workshop for you and your friends- I am here to help. Just let me know!

I am busy getting ready for the kids upcoming Springbreak and Patrick's 7th Birthday. WOW! Time is flying bye.....

Close To My Heart Products Used to Make these Cards:

*Wishes- card design book
*Colonial White Card Bases and Envelopes
*Veranda Paper Pack
*Friendship Blessings Stamp Set
*Bronze Brads
*Cocoa and Creme Brulee' Ink Pads

~Jennifer :)

rockin' my thing...

Here is the other layout I created for Scrap n Play this month...counting down the days to see my local PEEPS! Club to Go! Members I emailed you the extra directions today PLUS my extras since I have been having fun creating- love sharing with my Peeps!

Yes I know I don't have pictures and the layout complete but once I figure out the perfect photos for this layout I will be good to go and have so much fun adding the finishing touches!

Speaking of finishing touches- I cannot wait to see what my Scrap N Play members did with their layouts from last month and the extra goodies leftover. Cannot wait for show n tell club style!

We have a lot of fun together and I would love for you to join us...simply email me(craftingdivas@cox.net) and I will get you all set up!

and Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!!!

doing my own thing!

So if you read yesterday's post I hinted that with the paper pack for this month's Scrap N Play I was inspired to do my own thing! I had so much fun playing with the papers and colors in this kit- love how they reverse to a whole different color palette- the choice is yours!

For this layout I used the Imagine book- love, love, love it! It felt so good to get the layout books out and sit with the leftover paper and create something uniqe and different! I will have the instructions for my Scrap N Play Members as well as my Club to Go gals too! For my club members please keep in mind that I created the first layout in the guide and the first set of 6 cards but I have used up all the extra papers to create this layout and one other one. :-)

The technique for this month is scissor distressing. I love the look of this since our paper is white core- just gives a subtle extra edge of dimension. It is even fun to do on your photos- don't be scared it is a COOL thing! And speaking of photos...I need to have this one photo enlarged to 5x7 and then the layout will be complete! I am so impressed with myself that I did my journaling! LOOK OUT...I am on a roll! :-)


I am looking forward to seeing my peeps and seeing what fun things they have created since our meeting last month! Remember to bring your artwork/completed pages and/or cards to share and get a "happy" from me! It just feels so good to share!!!!!

~Jennifer :)

Be you!

I am looking forward to Scrap N Play this Friday with my peeps! We are playing with the You Rock Paper collection. This first layout was PERFECT for Patrick's 4th Birthday pictures!

Are you interested in having layouts completed each month? Scrap N Play or Club to Go are perfect for you! You will get 2 12x12 double layouts created each month with paper to make more or you can make 6-12 cards with instructions I provide each month with club! If you are local we meet the 3rd Friday of each month- 10:00am or 7:30pm! Or you can play with me via Club To Go- your kit is delivered right to your door each month! Simply email(craftingdivas@cox.net) me for more information or to be added to my newsletter so you can keep up with all the fun that we do!




And stay tuned for my next layout- I am mixing it up and created a SUPER FUN layout for you to choose beyond the two set choices!

~Jennifer :)

ps- just a reminder you can click on the pics to see them larger. :)

Sweat Shop!

That is what my hubby has been calling me for a week and half as I crank out 100 thank you cards! I was hired by a local elementary school's PTA to do Thank You Cards for their big basketball tournament/fundraiser event. I had fun making these cute little buggers and even more fun showing my friend how EASY it is to stamp! I had her stamp the thank you line on each one- easy peasy! Then we met up to punch a hole in each corner, place ribbon through the hole and wrap around a water bottle- we did that 100 times! We had quite the assembly line going and had so much fun chatting together- made the time go bye quickly. So that is what I was up to at the beginning of the week. Today I got my newsletter all done and sent to my fabulous customers! And I had every intention of cleaning the basement up and organizing my Creative Space but nope that idea came and went quickly it seems. There is always tomorrow- right?!? Because I need to get ready for my Scrap N Play date which is quickly approaching on March 19th- cannot wait to see my creative buddies!



To make the Thank You Cards Here is what I did:
*White Daisy Cardstock cut 4x8 folded in half to make 4x4 card
*Juniper Cardstock cut 4x4 and then distressed with distressing inks- have you used these? LOVE THEM!!! they are a MUST HAVE!!!!
*Autumn Terracotta Cardstock cut 2 3/4 x 3 3/4 (distressed too)
*White Daisy Cardstock cut 3 1/2 x 2 1/2 (distressed too)

D1279 Shootin Hoops Stamp Set(retired) and D1361 Thank You Stamp Set( ONE OF MY FAVS)
with black and orange terracotta ink pads.

~Jennifer

Balance....

Balance is something that I think I try to strive for each day- don't we all struggle with this is some way? One of the things that I constantly give up when I fill like my scales are being tipped to one side too much is exercise. I know this is not the right choice but it seems like when push comes to shove it is the one thing that I axe easily without thinking. I will confess I do not enjoy it- it adds more to my day it seems. The mere fact that I have to come home and get dressed again and try to attempt to have a decent look for the day- ugh- by the time that is complete is like almost noon and I feel this HUGE sense of seriously what have I gotten done in my day. I know on so many levels that exercise is good and that it is needed and all the things that I whine and make excuses for are just trivial BUT this has been my mantra since the kids have been born- TOO HARD TO FIT IN!

Well....I am working on changing this. I read some where that if you make something a routine for 40 days it becomes apart of you- well we are going to give this a try. Which might mean that I don't blog as much as I use to, or have a clean house all the time, or get as much "play time" in as I want. But I will be doing something for me that I hope transcends in my life in a lot of positive ways. I would like to have at least 2 days a week that I do Yoga at the studio- I so enjoy it and I come home feeling so much better. The past two weeks have been great and even my instructor is happy to see I am TRYING to change my bad habit. I am looking forward to the weather improving and all the salt and sand from the storms disappearing so I can go ride my bike- I LOVE MY BIKE and love taking bike rides with the kids!

Today I received the layouts that I did on Studio J! I had lunch with a girlfriend and she is seriously hooked and chomping at the bit to be able to play! I promise you- the release date for all customers is coming SOON!!!!!! I am so hooked on this and again NEVER EVER thought I would!!! I think this way to create will help with my BALANCE issue in life and I know it will help SO MANY more and get SO MANY others hooked on creating special keepsake albums for their families! Another thing that I discovered that I love about Studio J- it FORCES me to Journal!!!!! When I create my own layouts- a lot of the times I will say oh I will come back and journal...well I have pages and pages that STILL need to be completed!

So enjoy these pictures and I know you will be amazed that yes this was created and printed out!!! CRAZY COOL!!!!








~Jennifer :)