Soft Fall layout

In the month of November I love to take photos of the kids outside with fall leaves. I had photos of my kids that I took at a local park and I thought that these colors would be perfect for a soft fall layout:


I loved the creamy soft colors mixed with black. I also took inspiration from the angled ceiling, so I brought that into my layout by handcutting several angles, and adding a fun handstitched print to one of them.

Here is my layout that I created for GCD studios:



and an up close photo of the tree that I created using my Slice:


I added texture to the leaves with my Sizzix and added buttons from the Sweet Surrender collection, and candy dots from the Fun House collection. For a fun playful look.

I used papers and buttons from GCD studios Sweet Surrender collection

and papers from GCD StudiosAnimal Crackers for boys collection


and elements from the Fun House collection

The giving acorn

To help celebrate Thanksgiving this month, I thought that it would be fun to create a new tradition with my family. I decided to make a table decor project that my family could use to help share what they are thankful for.

The giving acorn:


The project is a paper acorn stuffed with leaves. Each family member takes a leaf and writes down what they are thankful for. Then we take turns reading them during dinner.

To create the acorn, I found a photo of an acorn on the internet, printed it out, and used it to make a template.

I cut two acorns out of pattern paper and glued the edges the sides and bottom together. I kept the embellishments simple, by just inking the edges and adding a swirl pattern that I fussy cut out of pattern paper, and buttons. I used my Slice to cut out different sized (and shaped) leaves.

Here is a photo of the acorn with the leaves:



I used papers from
Donna Salazar's antiquities collection
and buttons from the Sweet Surrender collection.
I hope that this project inspires you to create a new tradition with your family.

Today is worth remembering with Epiphany Crafts!

Hi everyone,
I wanted to share with you my November Design Team projects that I made for Epiphany Crafts.
First up is an album that I made using chipboard pieces from GCD studios.

Today is worth remembering album

*technique: I used my Crop a dile tool to punch holes into my EC bubblecaps, then I hung them from the album with jump rings and chains.

Here is a closeup of the detail:



I used:
Glitz: Vintage Blue collection papers, Dance in Sunshine collection paper and die cuts
Crate paper: Farm House stickers, random collection border stickers
Epiphany Crafts: round 25 shape studio tool, round 25 bubblecaps
GCD Studios: chipboard album, chipboard pieces
Tim Holtz: Hardware
We R Memory Keepers: Crop a dile tool


Next, is a fun card that I made using beautiful papers from Authentique's Free bird series - Fair weather collection.

I'm so glad we're friends card


I just love the bright vivid colors in this collection, mixed with the brown and cream flowers from Epiphany Crafts. It makes the perfect combo for Fall.

supplies:
Authentique: free bird series fair-weather papers
Epiphany Crafts: round 25 shape studio tool, round 25 bubblecaps, brown and cream felt flowers
feathers: (Craft supply)

Thanks for stopping by!

official design team call is up...

Hi everyone,
just wanted to let you know that the official DT call is up on my friend Suzy West's blog.
You are not going to want to miss this opportunity for an amazing company!

sharing this per Suzy West:

I'm going to make this easy for ya. Here's what we are looking for:

DESIGN TEAM CALL!!!!
I am looking for 20-25 design team members (some will also be company educators) to join my 2012 team. The main product is embossing powders but there are other products such as stamps.
I'm looking for happy positive designers that can create projects of all kinds: cards, layouts, and mixed media projects.

Requirements:
--each designer will commit to a 12 month term.
--Each designer will commit to creating THREE projects a month: There should be at least one layout and one card. I would like to see a variety of different book projects from each designer every so often. If you were to create a book project that would equal out to three projects for the month.
--You will create a HOW TO blog post ONCE in your 12 month term. We will assign you a date.
--You must have an active blog to promote our company and willing to share at any of your social medial groups.
--You may be asked to create for our trade shows so projects would need to be shipped. (some projects may be kept for future shows)


Benefits:
--each designer will have their bio/picture on our website.
--each designer will receive products every quarter.
--each designer will have the opportunity to DEMOnstrate at their local scrapbook, stamp, and or craft store and receive an hourly payment($ will blow your mind!) PLUS 10% commission of ALL sales. (will explain more to those that make the team--awesome plan!!)
--teaching classes at your stores will be encouraged and we will help provide you with the products that you need!!
--Payment will be given to all projects approved for the trade shows.
--All classes and demos that you create will be advertised on our blog to help spread the word!!

How to apply:
--Send your application to psajfamily@aol.com
--Include: Name, address, phone number, and email address
--Include your personal blog and a link to where we can see your work.
--Tell us about yourself and why you want to be on this team.
--Attach three of YOUR favorite projects (Please make sure the pictures are not HUGE)
--Please include a list of all the teams you are on or have been on. (You DO NOT have to have dt experience but if you have some please include)
--Please include if you have a local scrapbook/stamp/craft store that you can demo and/or teach at OR if you are a traveling teacher.


Please note: You can not be on another company team that sells embossing powder.

The call is NOW open and will remain open until November 27th. I will announce the new design team on December 1st. Those that are picked for the team....first assignment might be CHA project!

Thanks everyone!!! Looking forward to seeing your application!

Hugs,
Suzy West
Marketing Coordinator, US territory


sounds like an amazing opportunity, huh? If you have any questions, please let me know and I will do my best to answer them for you. All applications should be sent to Suzy West at: psajfamily@aol.com
thanks and good luck!

Gina

What Veterans day means to me.

In November 2009 my family taped a news special with our local tv station News 10 to help raise awareness about PTSD in the military. For those of you that don't know our story. Frank is in the National Guard. He was sent to a heavy combat zone in Afghanistan in 2005 and did not return until 2007. When he returned home, we went through a honeymoon period where everything seemed fine. But as time went on the psychological effects of war began to take a toll on him and as a result effected the whole family. (I have a link to the video, but it is not letting me upload it here. So it can be found on my FB page).

My husband took the time to seek out help for his disorder and did not let his pride get in the way. We worked together to find the right combination of doctors, counselors and meds, so that we could get the help that he needed. I am proud to say that 2 years later Frank is doing great and we are getting ready to celebrate our 13th wedding anniversary on Monday.

We know first hand what it feels like to be without him and we consider ourselves one of the lucky families to have him back.

Kalee took this photo with Daddy's army boots last night. She always gets sentimental about Veteran's day.


I recently created this layout about his deployment using papers from GCD studios and washi tapes and overlays from Hambly.


Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to take the time to hug a Vet today :)

fun with fun house...

Hi everyone,
Hope that you have been enjoying a wonderful crafty week. My week has been busy dealing with lots of legal issues resulting from the renter that destroyed our rental property. It hasn't been fun, and at times I have felt like crying and giving up but I am determined to keep my head up and pray for a good outcome. With that being said, I haven't had much time to craft this week, so I thought I would post some recent projects that I have finished using the fun house line from GCD Studios.

Doggie Mama:

The chevron print is so in right now, and I just adore this paper!

Fashionista:

When I saw these photo of my niece Sophia, I just knew that that it would work perfectly with this line.


I love the fun embellishments in the Fun House line - esp. this cute banner! You can pick up the whole Fun House collection here.

That's all for today, thanks for stopping by!