Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Scrapbook Circle reveal {free printable}


This kit from Scrapbook Circle is amazing! It's the December kit, and it is called Note to Self


There will also be a limited-quantity Holiday kit if you are interested in the holiday papers.


And don't forget to stop by the Scrapbook Circle blog for the FREE downloadable printable, Giving is Good.


Thanks for stopping by to see what's new at Scrapbook Circle! It's going to be a great December. 

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Birdie congrats card


Hello! Just stopping in to share a quick card with you. I have been using a lot of rub-ons and border punches on my cards and tags lately. I love the simple, clean look they give.


Thanks for stopping in! I hope your week is going well so far.

Monday, November 28, 2011

Miracles this holiday season

I am happy to be partnering with Scrapping Everyday Miracles this month. And to show my support for the season and their Christmas Inspiration Week, I'm sharing a 20% discount off your total purchase at my Etsy shop. The code is MIRACLES20 and is good until December 11. 

I'm still taking custom orders on blooms, cards and tags, so please don't hesitate to convo me with your order ideas.

Here are some of the fabulous holiday items in the shop currently.









Thanks for stopping in today. And I hope you have a chance between now and Dec. 11 to use the MIRACLES20 discount code for 20% off my shop. Happy Cyber Monday!!!

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Falling leaves


Hi all! Hope your Thanksgiving weekend was a fantastic one, if you celebrated. I'm sharing with you one of the many creative things I was able to get accomplished this long weekend. 

This page was made with what is left of my November kit from Scrapbook Circle. The December kit is right around the corner, but I can't stop using the November one. It's perfect for these fall pictures!


There is a challenge at Scrapbook Ninjas and the theme is Falling Leaves. These pictures of Nate playing with the giant leaf pile this year were perfect for the theme. If you have a page you want to play along with, send it to Jennie today.

Thanks for stopping in to see my page—I really appreciate it!

Monday, November 21, 2011

Holiday tags


Hello there! Hope you're having a wonderful start to your week. Here in the States, we have a short work week for the Thanksgiving holiday. I even have a Pot Luck luncheon at work on Tuesday, so my week is looking chock full of fun. 

These pictures are the holiday tags that I made for the La Bella Mela gift shop in Brockport. These tags as well as some of my Blooms, cards and hair accessories are now for sale locally at the shop. 


I had a blast making these tags this past week. It really got me in the holiday spirit, and now I can't wait to celebrate. Start the holiday music!




Speaking of local ... Don't forget about the Small Business Saturday pledge this weekend on Nov. 26th! Here are a few shops in the Rochester area that I recommend:

La Bella Mela Boutique
The Village Scrapbooker
Ivy Thimble Quilt and Gift Shop
Lift Bridge Book Shop
Shops on the Ridge (Craft Co-op)
Liberty Hollow

Hopefully, I've given you some ideas for places to visit this Saturday even in your neighborhood, if you don't live near Rochester.

Thanks so much for stopping by to see my holiday tags! I really appreciate it. Have a great week!

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Sketchy Thursdays {lil dunkin boy}


It's Sketchy Thursdays time again! Wow, these weeks fly by. This week's sketch is made by Heidi and sponsored by Lindy's Stamp Gang. They are so graciously giving away 2 prizes for this challenge because you have 2 weeks to play along!

I also used my Scrapbook Circle Nov. Harvest Festival kit to make the page. I love how the page goes from black and white to a burst of color at the end. I'm really happy with how that turned out.


Nate is my little weekend buddy since Dad works so many weekend shifts. Because of this, Nate is no stranger when it comes to stopping for coffee during our errands. Of course, he usually gets juice or chocolate milk, but when Dunkin came out with their Iced Hot Chocolate he begged to try one. 

He looked so cute with the big Dunkin cup, I just had to snap a picture. 

I hope you'll get a chance to play along with Sketchy Thursdays for this challenge. Can't wait to see what you make, and remember, you have 2 weeks this time to play along!


Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Cards on a Wednesday


Can you tell what I've been up to lately?! Lots of cards here this week. And this is the end of them—for now.

This first card I brought to my husband's aunt this past Saturday. She'd just had heart surgery and we went up to the hospital to visit. She looked great, and I know she's well on the road to recovery.


This second card is for a birthday for a very dear, close friend of NextStepU's. Every year I love to make the birthday card for Connie. She's been with NextStepU as a client and partner since the beginning, and we just love her.

Thanks for stopping to see my cards today. Tomorrow is Sketchy Thursdays! See you then!


Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Cards for a Tuesday


Continuing my love for cards made with kraft from yesterday, here are 2 cards I made this past weekend. 

One is to celebrate a retirement, and the other is for a groom to celebrate his upcoming wedding. I sure hope he thinks the car graphic is manly! I was going for masculine with this, but in the end, I really love how clean and elegant the black and white with kraft looks.


Thanks for stopping to see my blog! I was happily making cards all this past weekend, and I'm so glad to be able to share them with you here.


Monday, November 14, 2011

Warm winter wishes {multiplied by 80}


Today I'm delivering on the largest custom card order I've had so far, and this is the cutie holiday card I made ... times 80! 


I'm pleasantly surprised by how easily the assembly line came together once I figured out the best way to get it set up. One evening I cut out all of the mugs and candy canes (both dies from Papertrey Ink), and then stamped each one. 

While those were drying, I cut and scored the cards. Next, I started the process of gluing everything together. After a few days, I was all done. Whew!



Now I'm working on a large holiday tag order I received from a local boutique. I am loving all of this holiday goodness!

Thanks for stopping by to read my blog today. I really appreciate it!

Friday, November 11, 2011

Small Business Saturday {Nov. 26}


Shop Small. It's going to be HUGE!

When I saw this, I knew I needed to step up and make the pledge. I sure do hope you'll join me!

First there was Black Friday, then Cyber Monday. Now there is Small Business Saturday on Nov. 26th, a day dedicated to supporting the small businesses that fuel local economies and invigorate our communities.

Show your local pride and help fuel the economy when you support the businesses that mean the most this holiday season. When you pledge to Shop Small on Small Business Saturday, Nov. 26 you'll have the chance to win one of 100 $25 American Express® Shop Small Gift Cards.*

Join the movement: vocalpoint.com/SmallBizSat


*No purchase necessary. Open only to legal residents of the 50 U.S. & DC, 18 years of age or older as of the last day of the month prior to the date of entry. Void where prohibited. Ends 11:59:59 PM ET on 11/14/11. See Official Rules, which govern, for details.


Thursday, November 10, 2011

Sketchy Thursdays {kindergarten}


Happy Thursday! Here is my latest page for Sketchy Thursdays. The sketch I made is up and ready to go for you to play along with us.

This week we are sponsored by the cute-as-a-button Etsy shop,
Bananafishstudio. Make sure to stop by to see all of the details about the sketch and the prize for the week.



I made this page using the Harvest Festival November kit from Scrapbook Circle. Such a fabulous Fall kit. I love the colors and all of the patterns are amazing! Just when I think scrapbook paper couldn't get any better—wham!—it does!


I finally had the chance to scrap the last of the pictures from the first day of Kindergarten. These are from the Parents' Day. It's hard to believe that he is already so self-sufficient when it comes to getting to and from school all by himself. 

He's already so attached to his a.m. bus driver, too. She was on vacation for a few days, and he thought the whole school was closed. (LOL!) When she came back, he was so happy that when he got on the bus he screamed her name with a huge grin on his face. Makes me feel good that he's having such a great experience so far.

Thanks for stopping by to see my layout. I hope you'll have a chance to play along with us at Sketchy Thursdays!

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Holiday crafting {on pinterest}

I am making quite a crazy large board for holiday goodness at Pinterest. I began to think about what I will actually be able to make, use, give, etc. Here are some of my favorites that I really want to find time for.


Before I get to into the Christmas decor, I want to get some jars like this for the table in the kitchen. I think they match my style well and will add a nice look to that space.





HAVE to make these with Nate. I know he'll love them! They even seemed fairly easy using pieces of toilet paper rolls for the bodies.


These are adorable! And I have so many wooden spools hanging around from my crafty scrounging at the craft/antique shops. 


I'm gonna do it! I'm going to make some of my own bows this year. Yep ... let's see how it goes. :)

Hopefully I've inspired you with some holiday goodness. Or possibly (and more likely) sent you into a full panic about how little time we have left to create for the holidays. Follow my Pinterest boards for more inspiration, and I'd love to follow you, too! 

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Sponsoring Miracles




My little Etsy shop is sponsoring the Scrapping Everyday Miracles Challenge #10.


CHALLENGE #10: Nothing speaks of God's miracles and blessing more than nature. God created a world full of wonders and they are all around us. In the Bible Jesus says that if the people stop singing God's praises even the rocks will cry out… Luke 19:40 (NIV) "I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out." Your challenge is to find His miracles in the natural world and what they mean to you. It could be through a beautiful landscape or the amazing intricacy of a flower. Open your eyes and camera to the created world around us. You may be surprised at what you find!

Scrap Twist – Re-purpose something to use as part of your layout. It could be a piece of vintage ephemera or an ad from your junk-mail. Or parts of packaging  or other "non-scrapbooking" supplies. Get creative!



Please create a layout or project that deals with nature and uses the scrapping twist of re-purposed stuff. Link your project on their website by November 25th for a chance to win the $10 Gift Certificate to my Etsy Shop or a guest DT spot!  


Here's a digi page I whipped up as a sample. Obviously I'm not playing for the prize, but I wanted to show my support and play along.


The quote in the journal spot says, "I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion. —Henry David Thoreau" Isn't that just so true?!


I hope if you have some time you'll be able to play along. 


(Digital Sources: Jessica Sprague downloadsAimee Harrison Design Studios, Sassy Designs, Michelle Underwood for Two Peas in a Bucket)

Monday, November 7, 2011

Snowman tag



Hello! I had a few moments to myself this weekend, so I whipped up this cutie snowman tag to play along with a few challenges.

The tag is for the Scrapfit Workout #55: Tis the Season. They are looking for holiday tags to help us all get into the holiday spirit.

The other challenge is at CropStop's blog, #44 Create a Snowman. So I did—I made a snowman. :) Isn't he adorable?! 


I used some of my Papertrey Ink goodies on this. The snowman die and the stamps. The "To:" and "From:" are from last year's Papertrey Ink holiday fillables stamps that go with the jar die.

Thanks so much for stopping by to see my snowman. He's doing a good job of getting me in the holiday spirit. 

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Attitude of Gratitude {GDT Challenge}


This month for the GDT Challenge at Sketchy Thursdays, we are celebrating an Attitude of Gratitude run by our very own DT member, Tessa Buys on her blog

In addition to using this month's challenge sketch, you are also asked to make a page that reflects what you are grateful for, thankful for ... you get the idea.

Make sure to stop by the Sketchy Thursdays site to see all of the details. You have until Nov. 19th to play along to be considered for the December GDT spot as well as the shop credit from Precocious Paper.


My page reflects how thankful I am for the one-on-one time I get to spend with my son. I know we are bummed that Daddy works such a crazy schedule, but we definitely make the best of the time we have together that is just the two of us.

And this time of year is perfect. We love the festivals and the family-friendly activities that are in our area for the fall season. It really is something I am extremely grateful for.

My page is also digital. Which is great because today is National Digital Scrapbooking Day. If you are a digi scrapper, there should be some great download deals out there today, so go huntin'! I know I will.

I hope to see you over at Sketchy Thursdays playing along.

Digital sources: Sir Scrap A Lot, Sassy Designs

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Sketchy Thursdays {Halloween}


Hi there! I'm here to share another Sketchy Thursdays page with you. My sketch is ready for you to play along with over on the blog. And this week's prize from Paper Issues is fabulous. It's a little bit chilly. And snowy. :) You have to stop by and check it out!


I made this page using mostly my Hallow's Eve kit from Scrapbook Circle. Now that you've taken those Halloween pictures, you know you are gonna want one of these kits for your pages!

That adorable little girl with Nate is the most fabulous Madison, who I know I have mentioned here before. Nate and Madison are becoming quite the couple. I'll go ahead and say she's his first girlfriend since they have gone on so many dates already. :)

These pictures are from when we went trick or treating in the mall on the Saturday before Halloween. We met up with Madison, her mommy, baby Luke and his mommy, and had a fun little afternoon.

Thanks for stopping by to see my page today. And hope to see you over at Sketchy Thursdays for your chance to win the Paper Issues prize!

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Polkadot Door {November challenge}



Welcome to the November hop and challenge for the Polkadot Door! I am happy to be joining Rebecca, Sarah and the rest of the ladies for this month's challenge.

Here is this month's inspirational photo. Perfect for November, right?! Such a great time of year to stop when given the opportunity to and reflect on the past year and all we are grateful for.


Here is what I made for this month's challenge. I was drawn to the word "grateful" and the food aspect in the images, as well as the colors in the tag in the bottom corner. 




I hope I've given  you some ideas for what you could make to play along with us at Polkadot Door. You can hop along to the other ladies, too, and see what they made.

Diana (you are here!)



This month's challenge is sponsored by:

 Abbey and Ellie is giving away a prize package of their gorgeous items to the bloghop winner. 

 Hydrangehippo is providing a HUGE give-away for the featured designer of $50 to their etsy shop! This Etsy shop has lots of fun scrapbooking embellishments and kits.

Scrap Eco Chic, who will be providing the prize for the Challenge winner which is a $10 Gift Certificate to their Etsy shop.

Thanks for stopping by to see my blog post today. I hope to see a few of you play along with the Polkadot Door. Have a fabulous rest of the week!