Time for a New Perfect Pair!

It's time for a new Perfect Pair during this month's special!  When you place your online order of $75 or more today through July 15th, you will receive aFanfare paper packet and the matching brads!  This assortment is perfect for scrapping those 4th of July or summer pictures that you've been taking!

Here's a little of my artwork from Fanfare to inspire you!

Let Freedom Ring

On this day of memorial in America, I wanted to make something special to post.  I made this card to send as an Any Hero letter to one of our soldiers through Operation Write Home. 

I used the following items on this card:

• Fanfare Level 2
• Elemental Level 2
• Dimensional Elements Stars
• American Celebration stamp - July Stamp of the Month (If you like this set and were not able to purchase it, please contact me anyway.  Sometimes I am able to find one.  This is such a perfect set for  Operation Write Home.)

Lasting Memories Challenge #45 with Blog Candy!

I am so happy to be guest designer at Lasting Memories this month! (Scroll to the end to find out about the blog candy!) The challenge this week is to create a mini album with a summer theme.  I think mini albums are so much fun!  It was my sister's birthday yesterday, so I made this a few days ago for her.  With all the baseball that goes on in their house during the summer (well, all year!), I thought this would be perfect for her.  I also liked being able to use Minnesota Twins colors!

I have shown you only one inside page because I made them all the same.  I wanted to leave a lot of room for writing and for pictures.  This little book has 18 pages to fill.  All items used are CTMH except for the chipboard covers.

You can make any kind of mini album that you'd like, and be sure to link it up at Lasting Memories so that you are eligible for the blog candy.    As a bonus, I am also offering blog candy and here are my rules:

• When you've created your mini album for Lasting Memories, then come back over here and leave a comment.
• I will draw a random winner on Sunday, July 10th.

Are you wondering what the lucky winner will receive?  I am giving away a $25 gift certificate to my Close To My Heart website!  Yippee!!  It's always fun to pick out your own product!  I am going to love seeing what you create to store your summer memories!!

Sassy Lil Sketches Reveal!

I am so excited to show you this sketch from Cherie at Sassy Lil Card Sketches! 

I was equally as excited to sit down and create with it!

It was super easy to follow this one.  I created the tag on the banner with my Slice.  Other items used are CTMH Fanfare Level 2 and matching Stickease; Cranberry Waxy Flax, Sunny Yellow Buttons, Pacifica Ink, and a discontinued stamp set Happy Birthday.  These items can be picked up under the Shop Online tab on my website.

Now doesn't this sketch make you want to play along?  The sponsor this month is The Stamps of Life, so you have the chance at an awesome prize!

Happy Birthday

I made a birthday card for my nephew this morning.  I am really proud of myself because his birthday is on Sunday.  It will arrive to him a couple of days early - yippee!!  Now this may sound strange, but I am notoriously late with cards and gifts.  I don't mean to be, but time always seems to slip away, and there I am hurrying at the last minute again.  So you can see why this is an accomplishment!

I used the CTMH Fanfare papers for this card.  My nephew plays baseball in the summer, so I wanted to get a baseball in there.  I found one on my Slice Big Kids card.  I cut it on some of the patterned paper and then adhered it to a white circle.  Of course, I had to sponge it all with desert sand ink to make it look dusty from a ball field!  The ribbon is from the Black Mini Medleys collection, and the stamp is from Happy Birthday (a discontinued set).

I took a look around the yard and everything is so green.  I guess after all the rainy weather we've been having, it should be!  I wanted to show you pictures of a few of my favorite blooming flowers.  The first is a bearded iris.  It has propagated by someone in this area, so it has the most wonderful smell!  I always cut these and bring them in.

And where would be without lilacs?  This is Jerry's favorite fragrance, so when they are in bloom like this, I bring fresh ones in every day.  I should tell you that this is just the end of one of my lilac bushes.  I have a row of 12 that are in full bloom!  When these are done, it won't be long before my white Japanse lilac tree blooms.  That is an amazing smell!

Now if I had to pick the most unique flower in my yard, it would be the trillium.  I planted the first one 9 years ago, and jsut last year it started to spread.  It actually grows new plants, so I guess it took some time.  This is a gorgeous flower, don't you think?

I've been working on a 3x3 card class, too, so when that is done I'll post pictures and give you the details!