A Little Time.... A Lot of Gifts

I took some time today, on Mother's Day, to do exactly what I wanted to. That exact thing for me was, you know- Scrapbook!



I had some gifts that were long over due to finish. I carry a journal in my purse, and when I think of someone that "needs" a card or gift, I put them on the list. Often, my gifts are more than fashionably belated, but I never hear complaints!

I have a friend who bought a new house one year ago (now this IS belated gift). I didn't make it to her housewarming, but have wanted to make her a gift regardless. I think she will still appreciate this, and you will appreciate the bright idea!:

I hunt for scrapbook frames like this at good prices. I recently "scored" and found some for $5.00 (I bought all they had!). I did a 12x12 layout using Veranda (X7119). I used a variety of stamps and techniques including paper piecing (see the houses?). This allows a solid colored stamp to be multicolored. I stamped the house twice, in two colors and then cut pieces from one and put them on the other. Putzy, but cute!

This family name had 4 letters in it, so I did 2.75 x 2.75 squares and mounted them evenly on the page. I embellished from there!

Keep your eyes peeled for nice scrapbook frames, and make a piece of your artwork into a gift for a friend- or for the walls of your own home!

Happy Mother's Day to you, all of my customers and paper crafting friends! I hope you too, are enjoying your day!

Bloggin' A Bright Idea,

Holly

Scrapbooking Promotes Healing

I haven't posted for over one month. That makes me sad, because I know I've been out of touch with you, my scrapping friends. Many of you know that my Dad died unexpectedly on December 14th, that means that most things that I am normally on top of have fallen to the wayside in the past month. I'm updating my blog today, which means I'm coping fine. It's a good sign!

Grief is funny. People manage in different ways, and comfort themselves in different manners. For me, the only thing that has brought me comfort in the past weeks is scrapbooking! I have been making cards, completing pages, creating gifts, organizing photos, sorting thru crafting materials, and even breaking out the sewing machine (for pages and also some impromptu sewing projects) all in the name of grief. Seriously, something that makes me so happy (creating) is the perfect balance to a time that has found me so sad. I keep expecting that I will be "all better" but the sadness still hangs on. Fortunately, my trusty crafting is still there, waiting to soothe me, and soothe me it does!

If I posted all of the creative things I've done in the last month or so, I'd need an extra blog! But, I did want to show you a favorite. This is an accordion album I have made over and over, for different gift recipients. I found the directions on You Tube and they are from a fellow CTMH scrapbooker who calls herself "The Stamp Goddess". Type her name in the search engine on You Tube and you will find tons of neat ideas, very entertaining and educational videos, including one with this accordion album. The thing I like is it is made entirely from card stock. That's it!



For this gift, I decided to make an album filled with positive and inspirational quotes. You know, the ones that are good for your soul. I left the opposite side blank. The person receiving it could add a photo, or a journaling block, or leave it alone.

The design of this book allows you to also add tags inside the middle of each page. I didn't do that for this book, but you'll see in the directions how to do that.

I have been reading quotes about grief, trying to sort out and "diagnose" my own. Here's a good one:

As long as I can I will look at this world for both of us. As long as I can I will laugh with the birds, I will sing with the flowers, I will pray to the stars, for both of us. ~Sascha, as posted on motivateus.com

It seemed to be fitting for where I'm putting my grief, into creating, gift giving, and of course, the soul of all scrapbooking, remembering. For as long as I can, I will do all of that, for both of us (and all of us!).

Bloggin' a Bright Idea,

Holly

Creating outside your box!

One of the most enjoyable things for me about CTMH and my scrapbooking/card making/ crafting hobby, is that the more I create, the more creative I become! Honestly, when I get on a roll making things, the creativity keeps coming, and coming and coming!

This is something that I have enjoyed throughout my entire life of crafting, but is something I particularly enjoy now as I craft with children. This weekend, we took an inspirational trip to Bargain Bill's, a fantastic store with a wonderful crafting area and found some inspiration. We made our family holiday card together, assembly line style with both my daughter's assisting me. We used our Cuttlebug machine to emboss, and the girls were very proud to report they did all the embossing themselves. Here is our card:

After working on cards together, we started talking about other projects we have been wanting to try. We had purchased some supplies, and with a little ingenuity and a lot of patience, here is what we ended up with - Word Rocks:
And if that wasn't enough, (see what I mean about the "on a roll" part), we made some magnet gift sets:
We hope that our family, friends, teachers and other receivers of these wonderful crafts love them as much as we loved making them. They were a memory making way to provide handmade gifts of love for the holidays.

If you need any tips on these projects, just send me an email and we'll help you out.

Bloggin' a Bright Idea,
Holly