have a ♥ {Crafty Secrets Splitcoaststampers challenge}

Sweet Marcy is hosting this week's Crafty Secrets challenge. The theme is called "Have a Heart" and projects must contain hearts and Crafty Secrets products. So fun!! You can see more information here on Marcy's Splitcoast post. And be sure to check out her adorable blog too!



My project is a mini 8x8 layout. I just finished an album using Making Memories new soft and pretty paper line called Je t'adore. In the pack you receive a few die cut heart pages which were a perfect layering background for this layout. The bottom layer is from My Minds Eye.



Behind the photomat is a cute little tag stamped with Crafty Secrets Angel Blessings acrylic stamps. I colored these cuties with pale colors - Copics for the face and colored pencils for the rest. I then added a little diamond Stitckles for some eye popping bling. And the little guardian quote is from the same set and just fit perfectly with the little angels peeking from above. The little "love book" in the center of the Prima flower is from Crafty Secrets Little Blessings creative scraps.



And there you have it! Thanks again Marcy for such a great challenge!

xoxo

♥{sweetness}♥

Just a new little mini for you tonight using the Sweetness collection by Pink Paislee and some gorgeous images from Crafty Secrets. This ten page little chipboard album measures 6x6 and is packed full with yummies - so much that it doesn't really "close".


Recipe for Sweetness:
Paper - Pink Paislee; cardstock - American Crafts
Flowers & Pearls - Prima, Recollections
Punches - Martha Stewart
Pins - Maya Road & vintage corsage
Vintage images - Crafty Secrets (Birds & Blooms, Little Blessings, & Vintage Photos)
Ribbon - Offray & JoAnns
Acrylic Rose - Melissa Frances
Other - laces, buttons, doilies, beads
(I'm sure I forgot some things so please ask if there is anything else you would like to know!)





And some close-ups:






These three scraps from Crafty Secrets are my all time favs - I just can't get enough of them!! All three are a great addition to your shabby/vintage collection!

Click on the photo for more information on each set:

Creative Scraps Vintage Photos

Little Blessings Creative Scraps

Birds and Blossoms Creative Scraps

Hope you are inspired!

xoxo

meeps

Here is an altered picture I just finished of my little Meepers (you can click on her to see the textures I added). Her real name is Lilly, but she tends to go by Meeps or Bean depending on our mood and the situation. This ball of fuzz loves to talk - or "meep". She is always at the ready to tell us when she is irritated, happy, mad, sad, or ready to eat. Each morning she is waiting at our bedroom door ready to tell us all about the late night goings-ons in our home and eagerly awaits our arrival after work. This little gal is always at the ready with a story and loves to peek over my shoulder when I am sitting on the couch blogging to all my peeps. So when I turn around - this is exactly what I see! And each time I look at her - she meeps! So I thought I'd share her with you tonight so she can say hello to all of you!

Did I mention she is a lap kitty? Here she is with my husband - her human pet pillow. We have tons of little cat beds for her to use...but she always finds his lap - no matter what he is doing. Tends to make grading papers a little more challenging for him - but makes me smile every time she does it!

New album to share with you tomorrow night! Sleep tight!

xoxo

Crafty Secrets - farm fresh

Happy Monday Everyone!

Today we are featuring our new Farm Fresh collection on the Heartwarming Vintage Crafty Secrets blog. There are two new stamp sets (Farm Chicks and Down on the Farm) and an super sweet double sided Creative Scraps.



Here is a little wall hanging/ornament I made with Farm Chicks. This set is so fun and has so many possibilities - I can't wait to use it in the summer! The backing is a chipboard sheet from Maya Road that I painted off white then inked the sides. I colored the rooster with Prismacolor pencils then layered him on black cardstock. He is resting on an old lace doily and adorned with mulberry flowers. The number ribbon is from France (an eBay goodie). I then looped a red grosgrain ribbon for the hanging. Voila!

Make sure you pop on over to take part in Sandy's giveaway!!

xoxo

i {heart} you

Just a quick little post before the big football games today. We have both a Steelers and Bears fan in our household...fingers crossed that they both meet for the Superbowl! What a showdown that will be! So before I sit on the couch for a long day of yelling and snacking, I wanted to share a little RED color combination of photos I put together to help inspire you. Pictures are from Etsy, Prima, and Cake a Difference. Don't they just make your heart sing?

If you haven't popped on over at Crafty Secrets blog you simply must! Sandy is sharing all of the new products coming out next month and they are just amazing! You will also see many gorgeous samples made by our Design Team - I am so blessed to be part of such an amazing group of talent!

Now for those Superbowl Munchies...

(courtesy of the Food Network)

Ingredients

• 3 russet potatoes, scrubbed
• 4 slices cooked bacon, crumbled
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 3/4 cup Cheddar
• 1/2 cup barbecue sauce, warm
• 1/2 pound pulled pork
• Sour cream, for topping
• 2 tablespoons snipped chives, for garnish

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Bake potatoes on middle rack until fork tender, about 1 hour. Remove from oven and let sit until cool enough to handle.

Bake 4 strips of bacon on a small sheet pan in the oven for 15 minutes. Crumble bacon when it's cooled.

Preheat grill to medium heat.

Cut potatoes in half, lengthwise, and spoon out the flesh, leaving a half inch shell.

Melt the butter in saucepan and add minced garlic. Brush potatoes with the butter and garlic mixture. Flip over and butter the bottoms.

Place potatoes on grill and cook until crisp, about 4 to 4 1/2 minutes on each side and remove from grill.

Divide the cheese, barbecue sauce and pulled pork among the potatoes. Top potato skins with sour cream, crumbled bacon and chives for garnish.

Buon Appetito!!

xoxo

shabby whimsy

I am so excited to share my new mini with you! I think it was my favorite to create so far. This chipboard album measures 6x6 and has bracketed tabs on each page. This little lovely is so full of goodness that I had to use thick satin ribbon as the binding. It is loaded with shabby flowers (mostly Prima) and lots of yummy vintage ephemera. The designer paper was my inspiration for this piece and it blended just beautifully with three of my favorite Crafty Secrets Creative Scraps (Little Blessings, Birds & Blooms, Sew Nice).

I do have this little piece of heaven for sale on eBay here where you can see MANY more pictures.






Ooo and don't forget! Crafty Secrets is showing a ton of new products this week! Bop on over to Sandy's blog to see all the wonderful goodies soon to be....

Thanks for poppin' in!

xoxo

a night of photo fun

{before}

Tonight I started out with a new little mini album I've been planning, but ended up on the couch playing with my new Photoshop program. I think I'm finally getting the hang of a few tricks and trades. It took a lot of reading and fiddling - layering and tweaking - but the effects are so cool! I played with different textures and layers tonight. This "after" image has about eight different layers of different gradients, hues, etc. Very vintage and fun!

{after}

I can't wait to play with my soft and shabby pics!

Night!
xoxo

off to see the wizard

If you haven't already seen our first CHA sneak peeks on the Crafty Secrets site, I have a little eye candy just for you! Here are two new acrylic stamp sets that will be available in February called "The Wizard of Oz" and "Wonderful Pig". Aren't they just delightful?

The Oz set is chock full of vintage images sure to melt your.....heart :o) Design Team artist Pam Hooten has quite a few beautiful projects showcased on her blog. Click on her name to be whisked to Oz in style! Here are a few samples to make your heart sing:




Sandy also has a list of amazing tutorials on her Monday blog post that are sure to get your creative juices flowing! Also, check back each day for more sneak peeks on what Crafty Secrets has in store for you!

Thanks for looking! Stay tuned tomorrow for a few more peeks!

xoxo

i'm blushing

Just a little sneak peek of a little mini album I finished using gorgeous papers from Websters Pages. I just love the blushing pink hues of the Lullaby Lane collection. This mini is chock full of fairies and angels and I think was my favorite to create so far. I posted this little yummy on inspireME but will not show the entire album until Wednesday. Evil I know!



I'll be working in the library on this dreary cold night - wish me luck on the drive home. It is getting icy out there!

xoxo

tiny heart pockets

I've been waiting to use these adorable little pockets from Martha Stewart for some time now and finally got my fingers on them! They are such a perfect size to fill with treats for loved ones on Valentine's Day. And the frosted vellum paper gives a soft, romantic feel with the bold, bright reds.

I adorned these delicate pretties with vintage images from Etsy - generously rubbed with a little Tim Holtz distress ink. They are wrapped with baker's twine and pretty red binding just and ready to be filled with Valentine yummies! Pearlized hearts or vintage buttons finish the look. I added some spicy Red Hot candies for the lucky recipient!

This project is available HERE on Etsy.






Hope everyone is having a fun, relaxing weekend!

xoxo