Xyron and Imaginisce - Hello Cupcake

There is something just so fun and joyful about the products that Imaginisce manufacturers and their brand new Hello Cupcake collection is no exception.  

1.  Happy Birthday Cards.  The papers made these super cute and simple birthday cards a breeze to put together.

Supplies:  Patterned Paper and Stickers (Imaginisce); Ribbon (Colorbox); Punches and Tools (Marvy Uchida, We R Memory Keepers Sew Ribbon); Adhesives (Homemade Foam Tape; Xyron Mega Runner); Uni-ball Signo Broad White Gel Pen.

Supplies:  Patterned Paper (Imaginisce); Cardstock (Neena); Stamp (Imaginisce, Lawn Fawn); Inks and Markers (Memento; Copics, American Crafts); Adhesives (Homemade Foam Tape; Xyron Mega Runner, Xyron 1.5" Create-a-Sticker); Martha Stewart Scoring Board).

2.  Vivi Turns Four {a scrapbook layout}.  The Hello Cupcake Collection was also perfect for scrapbooking photos from my niece's fourth birthday party!

Supplies:  Patterned Paper and Stickers (Imaginisce); Cardstock (American Crafts, Martha Stewart Crafts); Stamps (Imaginisce, Lawn Fawn, American Crafts); Markers and Ink (American Crafts, Memento, Uni-ball, Tim Holtz Distress Ink by Ranger); Letter Stickers (American Crafts); Punch (Martha Stewart Crafts); Embossing (Xyron Creatopia); Adhesive (Xyron Mega Runner; Xyron 5" Creative Station, Homemade Foam Tape).

I paper pieced the balloon snag em' stamp and layered a few in the top corner for some added interest.

I used the collage function in Picassa to make this photo collage for the layout.  I find that just one 4x6 photo is rarely enough for me.  

And in this photo, you can see how I embossed the entire white background stamp using the Xyron Creatopia.  I cannot even begin to tell you how amazing this machine is!!!!

And since I had such a great time playing with the new Imaginisce products, it inspired me to pull out some of my older Imaginisce supplies to make something new!

3.  Custom Dinosaur Book Plates.  Here are some book plates I designed using digital products by Crystal Wilkerson (available at JessicaSprague.com).  I then print and cut them on adhesive sticker paper using my Silhouette Cameo.  The border strips from the Imaginisce Dino Roar Collection were perfect to finish off the packaging!  I paired these custom book plates with a dinosaur hardback book as a birthday present.

Supplies:  Cardstock (American Crafts); Stamps (Lawn Fawn); Border Stickers (Imaginisce); Adhesive (Xyron Mega Runner); Digital Files (Crystal Wilkerson); Photostop CS5; Silhouette Cameo; Adhesive Sticker Paper.

4.  Potty Chart.  And finally, here is a Potty Chart that I made for Charlotte.  This is our Labor Day Weekend project.  :)  I used papers and elements from the Enchanted Collection, which was one of my first scrapbooking purchases a few years ago.  Hopefully this will help motivate Charlotte to use the potty!  I'll have to blog about the details on my Potty Boot Camp another time!

Supplies:  Patterned Paper (Imaginisce); Cardstock (American Crafts); Stickers (Imaginisce); Stamps (Lawn Fawn); Ink and Pens (Memento); Punches (Marvy Uchida, We R Memory Keepers); Eyelets (Oriental Trading Company); Twine (Twinery); Adhesives (Homemade Foam Tape, Xyron Mega Runner; Xyron 2.5" Create-a-Sticker); Digital Files and Fonts (Samantha Walker, Lettering Delights); Silhouette Cameo.

For more great ideas using products from Imaginisce from the Xyron Design Team, please visit their Facebook Page.  As always, thanks for stopping by!

Thirty-One. Bring it On.

Well, today marks my 31st birthday.  I didn't blog about turning 30 last year.  I was in denial for a few months about that one.  But for 31, I have decided to face it straight on.  

Looking back at this past year, so much of my life has literally turned upside down.  I left my big firm attorney job.  We moved out of our dream home.  I traded credit agreements and mortgages for dirty diapers and sensory boxes.  But, while Justin and I struggled through growing pains in the process, the transition was worth it.  And now, in retrospect, I can look back at 30 and easily name thirty things that I am so amazingly proud of - both big and small.  From celebrating our fifth wedding anniversary to learning how to break down a Maryland blue crab, there is so much that happened this past year that only motivates and inspires me to be positive and optimistic as I turn 31.  Here's hoping that by the end of next year, I can end my list of 31 things I did at 31 still saying that I have no regrets. 

30 at Thirty {a digital scrapbook layout}

Supplies:  Splendid Fiins (Wishy Washy - At the Office, Sew Crafty - messy stitches vol 1); Design by Dani (Boy Crazy Complete Kit); Photoshop CS5

As always, thanks for stopping by!

{Hoppy} Birthday Party Themes - Easter/ Bunny

I am constantly amazed by the creativity and hard work that parents (moms, especially) are able and willing to put into throwing their kids the most amazing, fun, and beautiful birthday party celebrations.  It's even better when I get asked to help make some of the amazing paper products that tie the party together. 

Yesterday, my dear friend Laura hosted this super cute Hoppy Birthday Party for her two kids.  I don't think I've ever seen Charlotte so excited at a birthday party before!  There were bunny tails, bubbles, Easter eggs...everything was beyond adorable and kid friendly.  Here are all the details...

Banner.  Laura hung this bright and spring-y "Hoppy Birthday" banner right at the entrance of the community center to welcome the guests.  I cut the banner pennants to look like eggs to echo the Easter theme. 

Supplies:  Patterned Paper (We R Memory Keepers - Hippity Hop); Ribbon (American Crafts); Cricut (Create a Critter); Font (Elephants in Cherry Trees).

Laura also made this adorable photo banner that strung across the counter with the "adult" favors. 

Table Decorations.  Laura put together these vases filled with jelly beans, peeps and marshmallows to decorate the tables throughout the community center. 

She also printed and framed this Easter subway art print from eighteen25.

Food.  Sugar galore!  There was bunny themed food everywhere and it was delicious!  Charlotte especially loved the bunny bait (which kept her so quiet I got a bit worried for just a second).  I also made the food labels by hand stamping and coloring these adorable bunny stamps on white cardstock and mounting them on patterned paper.

Supplies for Food Labels:  Patterned Paper (We R Memory Keepers - Hippity Hop); Cardstock (American Crafts); Stamps (a muse, Lawn Fawn); Other (We R Memory Keepers Corner Chomper, Copic Markers).

This cake was delicious - a classic chocolate and vanilla cake from Katrina's Bakery in downtown Newport, RI.

Laura made these cute utensil rolls.  Just brilliant!!

Favors.  There were favors for both the adults and children.  Adults got bottles of local Delaware beer adorned with some favor tags I made using Photoshop and my trusty Silhouette Cameo.  The kids got bags filled with pinwheels, sunglasses and other goodies that they also used to fill with Easter eggs later during the party.  

Supplies for Favor Tags:  Patterned Paper (We R Memory Keepers - Hippity Hop); Digital Files (Bunny Silhouette - Lettering Delights, Font - Bosshole).

I also made these bunny ear props that the kids played with while running around outside.  SO CUTE!!!

 

 

Supplies for Bunny Ears:  Cardstock (American Crafts, Core'd'nations, Martha Stewart); Digital Files (Lettering Delights).

Laura also created these adorable carrot party hats and bunny tails.  I nearly died watching all the kids run around while wagging those cotton tails!

Activities.  The kids were busy the entire party blowing bubbles, searching for Easter eggs, beating up all the dads...

Birthday Boy and Girl.  And to end this post, here's a photo of the perfect birthday girl and boy. 

Laura, thank you so much for letting me be a part of this special celebration!!!  And to everyone else, as always, thanks for stopping by!

Project 100 Update:  92 down (I'm counting all the projects I made for the party as 12), 8 to go.

Birthday Party Themes - Blueberries for Sal

I love parties.  I love birthday parties.  And I especially love birthday parties that are centered around a book.  I've shared these creations on the blog before but wanted to show you how my super creative and talented friend, Jenni, put it all together for her daughter's "Blueberries for Sal" themed birthday party.

Invitations.  I created this invite that Jenni was able to just print at any online photo store (i.e. shutterfly, snapfish, costco) on matte photo paper.  There are also online companies that can print these digital files on cardstock for a pretty reasonable price (i.e. overnight prints, shutterfly). 

Banner.  Blue gingham, tin pails and yellow "2"s became recurring themes throughout the party and this banner set the tone nicely.

 

Food.  I think that everything and anything with blueberries was served at this adorable birthday party.  I'm talking homemade blueberry pie, muffins, scones, cake, blueberry lemonade spiked with vodka...YUM!!  Jenni made the food labels using blue gingham patterned paper, white cardstock, and little bucket images that I made to match the other party decor.

The bakery was able to match the bucket image.  How adorable is this?!  And may I say that the cake was also delicious!

Jenni's created this sweet food labels.  And the table spread was so gorgeous - especially with accents like this galvanized metal tiered stand.

Blueberries galore!

Charlotte certainly had her fill of blueberries.  :)

Games.  There were games and activities planned throughout the party just perfect for all the little toddlers - a stamping/ art station, story time, a present unwrapping game, and this super cute activity where each child got to "pick" their own special blueberry.  Cuteness overload.

Birthday Favors.  Each guest left with a jar of local Maine blueberry jam (!!!) and the kids got a tin pail filled with some of the birthday girl's favorite goodies - stamps, bubbles, stickers.  I just love how the favors looked with the tags I made.

Birthday Girl.  Jenni ordered the birthday girl this adorable shirt.  Makes me wish I had an embroidering machine and could actually sew.  Charlotte was clearly envious.  :)

If you want to read more about this Blueberry Birthday Party, please visit Jenni's blog.  

As always, thanks for stopping by!

The One With Some Cards

It seems like the scrapbooking has taken a break this week for some card making.  Lots of things to celebrate - babies, engagements, birthdays...

1.  Addie B Designs Baby Cards.  Here are three custom ordered baby cards inspired by those amazing baby bibs, burp clothes and head bands made by Addie B Designs.  

"Welcome Baby Violet" Card.  Supplies:  Patterned Paper (My Mind's Eye); Cardstock (American Crafts); Stamps (Lawn Fawn); Letter Stickers (Cosmo Cricket); Floss (We R Memory Keepers); Die Cuts and Flower Embellishment (Sassafras); Digital Files (Lettering Delights).

"Hey Little Miss" Card.  Supplies:  Patterned Paper (Imaginesce, My Mind's Eye); Cardstock (American Crafts, Walmart); Stamps (Lawn Fawn, Unity Stamps); Letter Stickers (October Afternoon, Echo Park); Floss (We R Memory Keepers); Brads (Oriental Trading Company); Digital Files (Lettering Delights).

"Welcome" Headband Card.  Don't those gorgeous headbands also make the perfect card embellishment!  Supplies:  Patterned Paper (Imaginesce); Cardstock (American Crafts).

2.  "Engaged" Card.  This is a simple, happy engagement card with some bold Valentine's Day  colors inspired by this card.  Since these cards were so easy to make using my new Silhouette Cameo, I went ahead and made three! 

Supplies:  Cardstock (American Crafts); Embossing Folder (ProvoCraft - Swiss Dots); Digital Files (Silhouette Store - Jamie Koay).

5.  "Happy Birthday, Captain" Card.  Finally, here is a sailing-themed birthday card specifically requested by Justin.  The concept is that you're looking through a porthole to see the boat sailing away.  

Supplies:  Cardstock (American Crafts, Walmart; Core-dinations; Bazzil; Martha Stewart); Stamps (My Cute Stamps); Digital Files (Silhouette Store - American Crafts, SnapDragon Snippets LLC).

Whew!  That was a lot of cards!!  Thanks again for stopping by and for all the support with this blog and the new etsy store.  It means the world to me.  And just for kicks, here's a little peek at how we ship our homemade creations to people all over the country!  

This was our shipment of Owl Hair Clip Greeting Cards to my fabulous friend (and founder of Beyond Jack and Jill) in California.

And here is our custom designed snowflake banner ready for baby Fiona's birthday celebration in Maryland!

Project 100 Update:  30 down, 70 to go.

Holiday Crafting

Before Thanksgiving sneaks up on me, I wanted to share some holiday craft projects.  

1.  Happy Thanksgiving Banner.

I made this beast using my trusty Cricut.  I cut the leaves from the "Feels Like Autumn" set at Lettering Delights.   The turkey is from the Create A Critter Cricut Cartridge.  To tie the banner together, I used some pretty bakers twine.  Here are some close-up photos.

The banner is hanging up in the living room.  Every time Charlotte sees it, she says "happy" and giggles at the turkey.  That alone makes this project worth it.

2.  Paper Pumpkin

I made this paper pumpkin just a few minutes ago using the "Threaded Pumpkin" file from Lettering Delights.  I didn't have the energy to scrapbook a layout but wanted to do some crafting before.  I'm sure Charlotte will tear it apart as soon as she sees it in the morning.  But I think it's pretty cute.

3.  Muffin Tin Advent Calendar

I've been wanting to make a muffin tin advent calendar since last year and I was shocked at how quick and easy it was to make.  First, cut out 24 squares in a solid colored cardstock that are 2.25 inches square.  Second, cut out 24 squares in a patterned paper that are 2 inches square.  

Paste the patterned paper onto the solid cardstock.  Embellish as you please.  Since I used papers and embellishments from the Imaginisce Little Helper collection, putting everything together was so simple. 

Finally, add adhesive magnetic strips (you can get them from Walmart or Michaels) and voila, a super cute and easy advent calendar! 

I'm planning to write out a Christmas/ Holiday activities for our family to do each day.  Hopefully this becomes a time honored family tradition.

4.  Snowflake Birthday Banner

And finally, here is a birthday banner I made for a friend.  Her daughter is turning one in early December and the party theme is snowflakes!

Hope everyone is doing well and getting ready for Thanksgiving!!  We're heading down to New Haven tomorrow for the Yale-Harvard game.  Not sure if we'll actually watch the football game but I'm sure we'll stumble onto a tailgate or two!

Boola Boola!