the creative closet by cindy lawrence

Together Is the Nicest Place to Be

Hey everyone~

It's time for the monthly scrap sketch challenge from My Favorite Things.  This month's sketch is super-cute!  Check it out:

Fun, isn't it?

I began with a 12x12 sheet of a gray-blue textured cardstock.  I then added pretty patterned paper layers made from Kaisercraft's Pickled Pear collection.  I love the colors in this collection!  I chose to keep my layout pretty clean and simple, so the photo would remain the star of the show. :)  The circles were die-cut with the Circles 1 and Circles 2 STAX Die-namics dies.  The flourishes are the Leaf-Filled Flourish Die-namics, Large Leaf-Filled Flourish Die-namics, and Sentimental Flourish Die-namics dies.

I mounted the photo on Jellybean Green cardstock, and more of that blue-gray cardstock.  I then rounded the top right corner for added interest.  The photo itself was printed in a sepia tone.

The sweet little flag in the upper left corner was made using Fishtail Flags Layers STAX, a bit of patterned paper, the date stamps from , and Jellybean Green ink.

The sentiment flag at the bottom right corner was made using Fishtail Flags STAX, Jellybean Green ink, white string, and the Button Border Die-namics.  The semtiment is from My Favorite Sentiments.

There will be a random draw from all the participants who have uploaded their scrapbook pages to the Splitcoaststampers Gallery using this month’s keyword MFTScrap6. One winner will be chosen and will receive a $15 gift voucher to the MFT Boutique. If the winner used MFT stamps, they will receive $ 5 in bonus bucks, for a total of $20.  You have until noon on Monday, April 15 to play along.

Thanks so much for stopping by, friends!

~Cindy

Supplies Used:

MFT Scrap Sketch: NYC Carriage Ride

Hey everyone!

It's time for the monthly Scrap Sketch challenge from My Favorite Things.  This month's sketch is quite a unique one.  Check it out:

I decided to scrap a moment from a fabulous weekend our family recently spent in Manhattan.  We took a leisurely carriage ride through Central Park, and enjoyed it immensely. :)

I began with a Kraft cardstock base for my 12x12 page.  I swiped Kraft, white pigment, and brown inks down the page to give it a wood grain look.  I layered a 9-1/2" square sheet of red patterned paper, and then strung the photos and die-cut elements onto a couple of Hemp Cord strings.  

I used the following Die-namics on my page: Accent It - Flags and Tags, Jumbo Fishtail Banner STAX, Jumbo Banner Day STAX, Poinsettia, Button Border, Mini Tabs Foursome, High-Rise Alphabet Upper Case, and High Rise Alphabet Lower Case.  The stamp sets I used are Document It - Right This Way, Document It - Captured Memories, Document It - Days and Dates, and Journal It - Top Ten.

Here's a detail shot:

I stamped the "captured" image in Wild Cherry ink, and the date in Kraft ink.  "Bucket List" and the arrow at the bottom were also stamped in Wild Cherry ink.

This detail shot shows the Poinsettia Die-namic element, which was created with Wild Cherry, Sweet Tooth, and Lemon Drop cardstock.  The "NYC" letters were die-cut out of Sno Cone cardstock, and a Wild Cherry cardstock button made from the Button Border Die-namics was added to dress it up.  The button was tied with a bit of Hemp Cord.

This detail shot shows the Mini Tabs Foursome die-cut with a sweet Wild Cherry cardstock button tied up with Hemp Cord.  I added sweet mini clothespins to hold the photos and elements on the lines.

To play along with the challenge this month, simply follow the sketch and upload your creation to Splitcoaststampers using the keyword MFTSCRAP5.

There will be a random draw from all the participants who have uploaded their scrapbook pages to the Splitcoaststampers Gallery using this month’s keyword MFTScrap5. One winner will be chosen and will receive a $15 gift voucher to the MFT Boutique. If the winner used MFT stamps, they will receive $ 5 in bonus bucks, for a total of $20.  You have until noon on Monday, March 18 to play along.

Thanks for stopping by!

~Cindy

Supplies Used: 

MFTSCRAP3: Smile!

Hey everyone!

It's time for MFT's monthly Scrap Sketch Challenge.  I am SO enjoying scrapbooking again...just wish I had time to do it more!  

Today's page is a 12x12 page featuring my 15-year-old son, Nick.  He was looking down at me from a tree in this photo, and I love the way it turned out.

I used shades of yellow, blue, and gray for my page, which are not necessarily colors I would usually put together; but I do believe it works here.  I used several MFT Die-namics on my page, including the new Open Hexagon Borders, Accent It - Cute Cameras, Insert It - 3x4 Insert, High Rise Alphabet Lowercase, Fishtail Flags Layers STAX, Lead the Way, and Accent It - Flags and Tags.  I stamped the grid pattern from Journal It - Graph Paper Notes on X-Press It Blending Card with Lemon Drop ink.  The fun captions from Document It - Captured Memories were stamped with Memento Danube Blue ink.

Below are a few close-up of the page details.

I had great fun creating my page.  Now it's your turn to play along!  Here's the sketch:

There will be a random draw each month from all the participants who have uploaded their Scrap Samples to Splitcoaststampers using the monthly keyword. Two winners will be chosen each month and the winners will receive a $15 gift voucher. If the winner used MFT stamps, they will receive $ 5 in bonus bucks, for a total of $20. Check out the FAQ – MFT Scrapbooking Challenge on the MFT Forum if you need any further info on this challenge or help on how to upload your sample to the gallery.

To play along this month, simply upload your creation to the Gallery at Splitcoaststampers using the keyword MFTSCRAP3 for a chance to win one of the two monthly prizes.  

Thanks for stopping by today, friends!  Have a fantastic day!

~Cindy

Supplies Used: 

MFT Teasers: I Scrapped AGAIN!

Hello friends!

It's day two of My Favorite Things Teaser Time!  I'm especially excited about today's sets because they got me to make another scrapbook page...WOOT!  I must say that I enjoyed making this one MUCH more than the one I made a couple of weeks ago...and it took me a lot less time too.  As much as I like to add lots of layers to my cards, I do believe I am a clean and simple scrapper.  I really like the photo(s) to be the thing that jumps off the page, and all the elements to lead your eye right back to the photo(s).  I think I achieved that here...yay!  Of course, it doesn't hurt that the subject is pretty stinkin' cute. ;-)

I used Laina Lamb's new Journal It: Graph Paper Notes and Document It: Captured Memories stamp sets, as well as the Document It:  Days and Dates set from last month's release.  I just love how well Laina's sets work together.  I don't think I would want to be without one of them!

I used quite a number of Die-namics on my page as well, including the brand-new Winter Rose, Sentimental Flourish and Accent It:  Cute Cameras Die-namics.  Other Die-namics used are the Insert It: 3x4 Insert for the graph paper image, the Lowercase High Rise Alphabet for the main title, the Designer Labels STAX 1 for the "..picture is worth a thousand words" header, and the Accent It: Flags & Tags for the date & "photogenic" labels.

The base of the 12 x 12 page is a neutral gray-green color, and I layered it with Sno Cone cardstock and pretty patterned papers from Basic Grey.  I added a small strip of Sno Cone Grosgrain Ribbon to the graph paper accent, and fashioned the flowers out of Bubblegum and Sweet Tooth cardstock.  The inks I used are Ranger Fired Brick, Iced Spruce, and Tumbled Glass.

Here are a couple of detail shots for you:

Sigh...that face just melts my heart.

I had such fun with all of these fun details!  Isn't that little Polaroid-style camera sweet?  That's the kind of camera our family had when I was a kid.  I have fond memories of watching those pictures develop right before our eyes. 

Here are the details about the upcoming release:

• You can attend the New Release Party on December 11 from 8-10 PM EST HERE in the MFT forum, where you can WIN PRIZES!
• The MFT release, including all new stamp sets and Die-namics, is on December 11 at 10 PM EST.  You'll find all the newest products HERE at release time.
• The guest designer contest is going on now!  Check out the forum for details on how YOU can win over $200 in stamp sets and Die-namics.
• If you'd like to see all the teasers for today, please click on over to the MFT Blog NOW.  Be sure to leave comments as you go for the chance to win one of 2, $10 gift certificates given away daily.  The winners will be posted on December 11 just before the release party, on the MFT blog.

Have a fantastic day, friends!

~Cindy 

Supplies Used:

MFT Scrap Sketch: Yes, I Scrapped!

Yes, that's a scrapbook page you see up there.  It has been a looooong time since I've made a scrapbook page...shockingly long.  I used to scrapbook on a fairly regular basis, and just fell out of the habit.  So, when My Favorite Things began their monthly scrapbook sketch challenge, I jumped at the chance to start up again.

With that said, this page took me a crazy-long time to make.  I knew I wanted to use the Simple Stories Handmade Holidays patterned papers, and our family photo from last Christmas, which I'm not so sure is the best combination I could have chosen.  It's certainly busier than I would like; but there comes a point when you just have to walk away.  I really should have taken a picture of my studio after I was finished making this page...what a mess I made!  In the end, I am glad I did it, and look forward to my next scrapooking adventure. :-)

It did help that I had a great sketch to work with.  I flipped it on it's side for my page.  Here's the orignal sketch:

Below is a close-up of the word flags I made with the Fishtail Flags STAX & Fishtail Flags Layers STAX, Darling Dots stamp set, a white pigment ink pad, High-Rise Lowercase Alphabet Die-namics, and Jellybean Green cardstock.  I sponged the edges a bit with my Tim Holtz Brushed Corduroy ink pad.

I made the "family" sign with the High Rise Lowercase Die-namics die, Jellybean Green and Kraft cardstocks, and little circles made from the left-over pieces from cutting out the Jumbo Snowflake Die-namics die.  To get the wood-grain effect, I swiped pigment white, Tim Holtz Brushed Corduroy, and Jellybean Green ink across the paper. 

The large snowflake was made with Kraft cardstock and the Jumbo Snowflake Die-namics die.  I stamped the month and year with Jellybean Green ink and the Document It - Days and Dates stamp set.  I added some vintage glass glitter for a bit of sparkle.

The little snowflakes were made with Kraft cardstock, vintage glass glitter, and the Let It Snowflake Die-namics dies.  The ribbon you see in the photo is MFT's Kraft Grosgrain.

The photo was mounted on Whip Cream cardstock to make it stand out from the rest of the page.  I added a Whip Cream die-cut made with the Framing Flourishes Die-namic below the photo.  The tabs at the top were made with patterned paper and the Fishtail Flags STAX & Fishtail Flags Layers STAX Die-namics dies.

I think that covers everything!  Stop by the MFT Blog for all the details on the sketch challenge and how you can WIN some fabulous MFT goodies!

Thanks for visiting with me today, friends!

~Cindy 

 

Supplies Used:

Wonderful Girl

Hey Stampers!

Thank you all sooo much for your heart-felt comments and e-mails regarding yesterday's post.  I feel just like I got a great big {hug}!  Y'all made me CRY again! :)

Since I just returned from my trip to Florida, went right back to work the next day, and have been frantically preparing for an overnight retreat (Stamping Around New England) that I am teaching at tomorrow...I didn't stamp anything new for you again!   I do have a sample that you probably haven't seen yet, though.  It's another one of my Artisan Award submissions.  That's my sweet Abbi in the photo.

All supplies are from Stampin' Up.  No supply list again today...sorry.  I am off to bed with my swollen ankles (why does that keep happening???), to get a gooood 4 hours sleep before I have to get back up again. 

My goal for today...be thankful in ALL things!  God is good.  Oh, yes He is!

Have a fabulous Friday, friends!

Hugs~
Cindy

A Perfect Day for Apples

Hey everyone~

Happy Labor Day to fellow Americans! :)  In honor of apple-picking season, I thought I'd share this scrapbook page that I made.  It's another one of my Artisan Award submissions for SU.  Apple picking is a big deal here in New Hampshire in the fall.  Our family visits an apple orchard that has over 50 apple varieties...yumm!  It also happens to be an incredibly beautiful place to visit.  As you can see, I have gotten some terrific photos there! 

I'm short on time today; so I'll skip an actual recipe for the page.  I will tell you that all supplies are Stampin' Up.  It's hard to tell in the photo; but the chipboard letters were polka-dotted with a white gel pen and then covered in Crystal Effects to make them shiny.  The apple "brads" in the top corner are actually rub-ons that have been punched out with a 1/2" circle punch and popped up on Dimensionals...easy peasy. :)

That's all from me today, folks!  We spent last night in Chattanooga, TN and are driving back to Virginia today. 

Have a fantastic day!

See you all tomorrow!

Hugs~
C

Sing a Song

Howdy folks!

Well, how about that?  I have a scrapbook page for you today!  I don't scrapbook NEARLY enough; but I really enjoy it when I do.  It brings me such joy...I don't know why I don't do it more often.

This is a bit of an unusual layout for me; but I was having fun experimenting.  The photo is my sweet Abbi girl doing her favorite thing in the whole wide world...singing. :)  She has a lovely voice, and we keep saying we're going to get her some voice lessons...gotta do that one of these days.  She would love it!

The background on the page is simply designer paper from Stampin' Up's brand-new Urban Oasis designer paper pack.  I added lots of chipboard and the tiniest bit of stamping.  All of those little hearts on the circle and the "with love" in the bottom corner are from the Yummy SAB set (if you can believe that).

To make the chipboard letters and flower shiny, I coated them with Crystal Effects.

Yesterday turned out to be a rather unproductive day...just was feeling very blah.  I really hate those days, don't you?!  I'm hoping for a more energized (and therefore more productive) day today! :)

Have a good one, my friends!

See you tomorrow!

Hugs~
C

Life Is Good

Hey everyone~

Today I have a couple of Stampin' Up samples for you.  I have more CHA pictures; but I'm just tooooo tired to load 'em up today.  I will have some for you tomorrow though!

This first sample is made with SU's new Good Friend stamp set.  It's a little funkier than I usually do; but I had a goal to use all of the stamps in the set, and these images seem to lend themselves well to some funkiness. :)

Here's the recipe:

Stamps:  Good Friend

Papers:  Whisper White, Basic Gray, Sahara Sand, Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze, Designer Paper

Inks:  Basic Gray, Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Sahara Sand

Accessories:  1-3/8" Circle Punch, Kiwi & Baja Striped Grosgrain, Dimensionals

This next sample is a 6x6 scrapbook page of my daughter, Abbi, when we were in Panama.  It's a super-simple page that anyone can do.

Here's the recipe:

Stamps:  Good Friend

Papers:  Basic Gray, Whisper White, Designer Paper

Inks:  Kiwi Kiss, Basic Gray

Accessories:  Word Window Punch, Kiwi Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Kiwi Designer Buttons, Rub-Ons

Okay, that's all folks!  I am completely worn out, but having a truly fabulous time at CHA!  I had my picture taken with Jane Seymour today...can't wait to share that one with you!

Have a wonderful Tuesday!

See y'all back here tomorrow morning

Hugs~
C

New Stampin' Up! Sneak Peek!

Happy Monday, friends!

Today is the very first day you can place an order from the brand-new Stampin' Up Spring/Summer 2009 Catalog!!!  There are some really  great new products in this catalog!

I have a couple of samples to share with you from the Good Friend stamp set.  I will admit that it's not my favorite set in the world (I much prefer detailed outline images).  However, I was able to make a few projects with it that I am pleased with. :)

 

For this card, I not only used the new Good Friend set; but I also used the brand-new Delicate Dots designer papers...so pretty!

Here is the recipe:

Stamps:  A Good Friend, Fundamental Phrases

Inks:  Bashful Blue, So Saffron

Papers:  Sahara Sand, Whisper White, Delicated Dots Designer Series Papers

Accessories:  Soft Subtles Buttons, Linen Thread, Bashful Blue Taffeta Ribbon, Piercing Tools, White Gel Pen, Word Window Punch, Dimensionals 

 

For this next card, I went with more of a girlie look, using some more brand-new designer paper.  This paper pack is called Bella Birds...how appropriate, right? :)

Here's the recipe:

Stamps:  Good Friend

Inks:  So Saffron, Chocolate Chip, Pink Pirouette

Papers:  Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Bella Birds Designer Series Papers

Accessories:  Wide Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon, Sponge Dauber, Crystal Effects, 1/4" Circle Punch, 1-1/4" & 1-3/8" Square Punches, Dimensionals 

 

This is a very simple 6x6 scrapbook page of my sweet daughter, Abbi.  I wanted her picture to take center stage; so I added very little else to the page.

Here's the recipe:

Stamps:  Good Friend

Inks:  Pacific Point

Papers:  Pacific Point, Whisper White, Good Morning Sunshine Designer Series Paper (more new paper!)

Accessories:  Filigree Brads, Ice Rhinestone Circle Brads, A Perfect Day Rub-Ons

 

This is the last project for today.  It's a little basket box, made from a template that I found on a blog long ago...and cannot remember for the life of me where I got the pattern.  So, if you know...please do share, so I can give proper credit!  It showcases another pattern from the Good Morning Sunshine Designer Series Paper, and one that obviously works very well with the Good Friend stamp set!

Here's the recipe:

Stamps:  Good Friend

Inks:  Pacific Point, Chocolate Chip

Papers:  Whisper White, Good Morning Sunshine Designer Series Paper, paper shred

Accessories:  Stitched Chocolate Chip Grosgrain, Pacific Point Striped Grosgrain, Sponge Dauber, Sticky Strip, Dimensionals

I hope you've enjoyed today's little sneak peek into the new SU catalog!  It'll go live at 2pm est TODAY!  I need to narrow down my wishlist...for sure!

Have a wonderful Monday!  ...AND Happy Martin Luther King Day to you all!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Hugs~
C