erin terrell clarkson [etc]

Birthday Card Share

A dear friend of mine is having a birthday today, and I wanted to wish her a very happy one! What better way to do that than with BasicGrey's Hopscotch line? 

Here is a side view. I bent the stickers slightly in the middle, to lift the butterfly wings off the background:

I always try to add something cute to the card interior:

Finally, I used my leftover scraps to create a gift card insert (since I already had the papers out on my desk):

Happy Birthday, Danni. I hope it's a happy and healthy year for ya! Lots of love, ~e

SBE Contest and a Christmas Wish List

Scrapbooks etc. has a new photo and idea sharing feature, which they are debuting with a contest - and a chance to win $100! That's the proper way to introduce any new feature, right? ;o) Here is a link that tells all about it: Scrapbooks etc. Photo Faves + Contest. Best of luck to those who enter, and I'm looking forward to seeing all of your great layouts, cards, and storage ideas.

If you're friends with me on Facebook, you may have already seen this, but I just wanted to mention that the sweetest little girl in the world became a teenager today:

She's very excited about being thirteen!

As usual when the weekend rolls around...I'm in the shopping mood. Here are a few things on my current wish list. If you've seen any must-have items, be sure to link them in the comments. I love "virtual shopping" almost as much as the real thing!:

Scrapbooking stuff:

Noel Rub-ons from Making Memories (absolutely, 100% LOVE these)

Noel Advent Calendar Rub-ons from Making Memories

Hip Chip Alphabet Stickers from KI Memories

Silhouette Digital Cutting System (a perennial on my list!)

 

For me:  

MacBook Pro MC371LL/A 15.4-Inch Laptop from Apple (mine died this year. boo hoo!!)

Gift Certificate from Francesca's

Luminous Aqua Flower Chalcendony Gold Earrings from Layla Grace

Shine On Earrings from Layla Grace

Itty Bitty Hearts Initials Necklace from Layla Grace

Erin Condren Custom Day Planners from Tiny Prints (So in love with the colors. I wonder if I would actually stay organized because it is so pretty I'd want to write in it on a daily basis?)

 

For Daisy:

Cowboy Boots from Cavender's (What can I say - she has crazy taste in boots!)

Adorable Dress from Abercrombie Kids

Another Adorable Dress from Abercrombie Kids

Leopard Ivory Ruffled Pettiskirt from Layla Grace

Striped Sweater from Justice

 

Also love, but don't know who I would buy it for:

OiOi Weegoamigo Blanket 5 Little Ducks from Layla Grace (I just discovered this website, if that isn't obvious!)

 

Have a great weekend! ~e

Happy Birthday (the collection)

If you've been keeping up with me this week, you'll know I've been using one specific punch ("Happy Birthday" - a border punch by Martha Stewart Crafts) and I've created a birthday card each day. My goal was to get some use out of the punch, because it's a fairly expensive one. I happen to buy birthday cards pretty often, and I have to say I've noticed greeting cards aren't exactly *cheap* either. (Since when does a card cost $4.00?!!!) I figured this punch would pay for itself if I even created just a few cards from it. Now that I know how easy it is, I'm sure I'll be using it all the time!

Here is my group of cards for the week:

I love how colorful they are! I was trying to figure out which one was my favorite, and I think it's the one with the polka-dotted background. That one just stands out the most in the grouping (plus, I love polka dots!):

Here is the card I created for today:

I used the border punch as it was intended: I created a bottom border for the card. The balloons are traced from an old template (made by ScrapPagerz). I added foam adhesive behind the balloons to give them a little extra lift. To create the strings, I trimmed very thin strips of cardstock, then wrapped them around a pencil to give them the spiral shape. I like the extra bit of texture it adds to the card:

If you're interested in the Happy Birthday punch, you can click HERE to purchase it from 2peas or HERE to purchase from Scrapbook.com. I like it a lot, now that I've gotten my money's worth out of it. Even better? Now that I have these cards created, I can copy the basic design and whip up a new card at a moment's notice.

Have a great weekend! If you happen to need new supplies, I received these Michael's coupons in my inbox today. I'm not sure if the link will work for everyone, but it's worth a shot: Michael's Coupons

Happy Birthday (stripes)

Here is my Happy Birthday card share for the day.

You just never know when inspiration will hit. Can you guess what inspired my striped card? :o)

Happy Birthday (dots)

Continuing on with the third in this series of birthday cards, I've created another one using the Martha Stewart "Happy Birthday" punch. Hopefully this shows just how versatile punches can be. 

For this card, I used a 1" circle punch and the same "Happy Birthday" punch I've been using.

Even though it may not look it, this card is the most difficult one I've done so far. I punched the "Happy Birthday" sentiment and used a craft knife to trim the words from the border. Then I tried to adhere each letter to the card and that was the difficult part. :o) I used adhesive, but I think it would have been much easier to use a glue stick or a Xyron machine. Oh well, it's a lesson learned for next time. The letters do look neat when trimmed away from the border.

Click HERE to see yesterday's card or HERE to see the first one. If you're interested in the Happy Birthday punch, you can click HERE to purchase it from 2peas or HERE to purchase from Scrapbook.com.

Happy Birthday, Cupcake ;o)

Continuing on with the birthday theme this week, I've created another card using the Martha Stewart "Happy Birthday" punch. Click HERE if you'd like to purchase the punch from 2peas or HERE to purchase from Scrapbook.com

For this card, I used the punch to create a quick border to run along the bottom edge of the card. I backed it with hot pink paper so it would really stand out, then I created a cute cupcake to accent the card.

I added brads as the sprinkles, and I used a Making Memories Word Fetti sticker as the candle. Pretty easy! Hope you like it. I'll be back tomorrow with another one. Although I can't promise WHEN tomorrow, since I'm having to borrow the wi-fi connection at my gym just to post this... (that darn "dog chewed up my cable" excuse again)

Happy Birthday (Card Share)

I'm always running out to the store to pick up last-minute birthday cards - which is ridiculous knowing how many card-making supplies I have around the house. This week I'm creating a stack of birthday cards so I'll have them around when I need them. I do this every so often, but it seems like I run out of them pretty quickly - I guess we have a lot of birthdays to celebrate (a good thing!).

I'm going to use a Martha Stewart "Happy Birthday" punch on all of them, just to make things quick and easy (my card-making motto). Click HERE if you'd like to purchase the punch from 2peas or HERE to purchase from Scrapbook.com

I love this punch because it's great for creating borders, windows, and layered looks...and more!  On the card below, I created a window using the words "Happy Birthday". I also placed pink cardstock over orange cardstock for a  fun layered effect.

 

Here is the full view of the card:

Something to Celebrate...

If you just arrived here from Wendy Bretz Designs, you probably already know there is a group of girls wishing a very special person a very happy birthday. Help me out as we wish the super-talented Laura Vegas the best birthday ever!

Laura is one of my closest and favorite friends, even though we've never actually met in person. Isn't the internet great? Otherwise, how would a girl from TX and a girl from California get to be such close pals? I'm sure we'll meet up one of these days (and I vote it's in Cali!). In the meantime, I can always count on her for a laugh, for good advice, or just to be able to ramble about my day (she's a great listener).

So Laura...

...one of the sweetest girls I know deserves to have the sweetest birthday ever, and I hope it's a great year for you! :o) Hopefully you have Starbucks in hand as you're reading this. Cheers. ;o)

Next, be sure to check out Jen Gallacher's birthday wishes for Laura. When you're finished checking out all of the fun birthday cards for her, stop by Laura's blog and leave your own birthday comment for her...I'm sure she would love it!

Today also happens to be another very special day for two people who mean the world to me...it's my parent's 45th anniversary! If you read my last post, then you'll know today is even more special, because my dad is doing well and is going to be able to go out tonight to celebrate the big day. Pretty amazing for someone who was in the ER exactly a week ago today. Happy Anniversary mom and dad! Love you!

supplies for card listed below:

Pink Paislee Starlight Collection "Shooting Star" (large star): Purchase HERE from SB.com or HERE from 2peas.

Pink Paislee Starlight Collection "Spark" (blue background): Purchase HERE from SB.com or HERE from 2peas.

Pink Paislee Starlight Collection "Shine" (ledger bottom border): Purchase HERE from SB.com or HERE from 2peas.

Pink Paislee Starlight Collection Stickers (large yellow and blue flower, small yellow circles with stars): Purchase HERE from SB.com or HERE from 2peas. 

1" circle punch (for blue tone-on-tone circle just above yellow border): Purchase HERE from SB.com or HERE from 2peas.

Large circle punch (to punch title on blue "Shooting Star" paper: Purchase HERE from SB.com or HERE from 2peas.

Dimensional Adhesive: Purchase HERE from SB.com or HERE from 2peas.

Let me know if you'd like for me to email the "Make a Wish" title to you so you can use the same one (click on "email me" below my photo in the upper left-hand corner of this page). Print it on the blue "Spark" paper and punch it out with the large circle punch, then place on card as shown.

Today is my Favorite Day of the Year

It's Daisy's birthday.

Not to get mushy or anything, but my life changed forever on this day 12 years ago. She is the most wonderful blessing in my life, by far. I don't want to embarrass her too much, so that's all I'll say.

Wait...

I guess I wouldn't be a mom if I didn't embarrass her a little, right? Here is one of my all-time favorite layouts of Daisy. These photos are from 2000 and they definitely show off her fun personality. Not too much has changed in the past 9 years since I created this layout. She is still "Miss Hollywood".

 

This layout appeared in Creating Keepsakes magazine, but I don't have the particular issue in front of me. The photos make me laugh every time.

It's also interesting to see how my scrapping style has changed through the years. 

On a completely unrelated note: is anyone scrapping Halloween photos? I have Halloween goodies to give away. Post a "Happy Birthday" comment below for Daisy and I will draw a name on Sunday night.

*Edited to Add: I'm having another giveaway on Friday, so be sure to check back then!*

Sneak Peek: Birthday Shopping Album (you know the drill by now...)

Getting tired of these sneak peeks yet? I hope not, because I have another page to share. This is one of the interior pages of the album:

I must say, adding all of those little confetti dots to the edge of the circle is a bit time-consuming, but I do like the end result.

Here is a view of the entire page:

These pages look a bit blank to me (and maybe to you, too, if you are familiar with my style), but I want to add a lot of the details once I have the photos in place. For example, I know I will add some more yellow accents on the left-hand side of the page to balance things out. I may add more pink on the right-hand side. I'm just not sure how I'll do it yet -- whether through journaling strips or embellishments. It depends on the photos somewhat, too, because if I print them in color I don't want the album to appear to "busy".

In other scrapbook-related news, I wanted to congratulate my friend Laura Vegas for the news she announced in this post. Way to go, Laura! I'm so sad we'll be working for competing magazines. But I'm still happy I'll have the opportunity to see lots of her work, as well as the designs of all the other talented ladies. I remember getting boxes of product like that waaaaay back in the day when I won CK's Hall of Fame contest (10 years ago?!) and it is a bit exciting to have that much scrapbook related goodness all in one place. Congrats again, ladies! Hugs ~e