Coloring In My Jammies

Let me start by saying that yesterday (Saturday) was a perfectly dreary day in Houston....cloudy & overcast...threatening to rain all day....OK, after enjoying it so much on my birthday I did say I was going to start calling it "lounge wear" instead of pj's or jammies.....and that I was looking forward to the next time I could stay in them ALL DAY scrapping of course!  Well that day was yesterday and I spent the day COLORING!  I am among the world worst at collecting and never actually using.  Yesterday I decided it was high time I actually USED some of these beauties.

The first image is from the CTMH stamp set "paperdoll" if you would like to purchase it from my CTMH website CLICK HERE.   
***soon to be featured in a "Kits by Carolyn" ***

I had also accumulated a nice sized collection of adorable digi images from the amazingly generous & talented Anna @ Cuddlebug Cuties you can visit her blog HERE.  I choose "Bethany" as my first "cutie" to color. 

So without further delay (I have been informed by the hubster that I can NOT stay in my "lounge wear" again today since a run to SAM'S is on HIS agenda) here are my first attempts at coloring "people" with alcohol markers. When you click on the images below (anywhere except on the floating "P") it will take you to my still under construction gallery for all the details and recipes.

Soon to be featured in a "Kits by Carolyn" - Check back OFTEN!

"Bethany" from Anna @ Cuddlebug Cuties - Isn't she just PERFECT for our "not so little anymore girls"?

Blog Lovin'

I just found an awesome tool to help me keep up with all the blogs that I want to follow.  I am hoping this will make it MUCH easier to know when one of the super talented ladies I am stalking....er....I mean following post something.  I will be giving bloglovin a try and let you know how I like it.  If you would like to join me for the test run then won't you please Follow my blog with Bloglovin

I will be putting a "follow me on bloglovin" button on the right sidebar very soon but in order to get my blog verified I needed to put the above link into a published post (so they could find me) lol.

Sneak Peak...

National Scrapbooking Day/Month (May) is just

 around the corner and I for one CAN'T wait to get my

 hands on the special that CTMH has coming our way!

More details will be coming, but NOW is the time to

 start dreaming.  During National Scrapbooking Month

 CTMH will be bringing us this gorgeous "Dream Pop"

 paper packet bursting with sweet summer flavors 

that you are sure to find delectable!

CTMH Cricut Cartridge Challenge

  I just found a new blog challenge site that will challenge all of us to use our CTMH Cricut Cartridges (Art Philosophy & Artiste) more often and more effectively.

  I plan on playing along and hope you will too!  I just added a new link to the left side bar so that you will easily be able to find the link long after this post gets covered up.  If you do play along with this challenge (or any of the others that I have linked to on the left side bar) I would love it if you would post here in the comments section to let me know.  Oh, and don't forget to leave me a link so I can go check out your artwork!

LOOK what I found!

I recently completed my collection of Spectrum Noir Alcohol based pens (a MUCH less expensive version of Copics).  I was browsing around on the internet looking for free images (both digi stamps and coloring book pages) that I could use to practice coloring on.  Then I happened upon this amazingly generous artist, Anna Stillwell.  She designs and shares  

Her drawings are just adorable and I can't wait to get out my new markers and start playing.  I am so smitten I have even posted a link to her March Madness Giveaway

on my sidebar in hopes that I might be the winner of all those goodies!  You can check out her blog Cuddlebug Cuties here, and you can find her on

pinterest here.

"For Always" Display Board Swap

I signed up for a display board swap for the new Spring/Summer 2013 Idea Book. The first paper pack that caught my eye was "For Always".  This post is all about what I have created with "For Always"....so far!  ENJOY!

This is a group shot of all the items I have created using "For Always"....so far!

Layout-based on single pg layout on page 100 of the new idea book (Reflections: Triple Play – Over The Top)

Background – slate cardstock

Mats – daisy white, ruby, & black

“ribbon strips” are  ½ x12 inches then each is cut in half and then staggered at different lengths on each side

Black Tulle Ribbon – Z1798

White Doily – Cricut Artiste – Accent 2, the #1, @ 3”

3 bulk sparkles

The red heart is hand stitched using DMC 321 size 8 thread, you can use any stitching template as a guide

(I laid the tulle & the paper ribbons down BEFORE I DID THE STITCHING)

Stamps Used:

February SOTM “Home Sweet Home” – S1302A

“Love Doily” – B1418 – stamped in white daisy on slate cs then heat embossed with clear

The sentiment on my "For Always" layout is from the February SOTM "Home Sweet Home" S1302A

hand stitiched heart accented by 3 sparkles

Close up of the cricut cut doily and the stamped & heat embossed doily "Love Doily B1418" - stamped in white daisy on slate cs then embossed with clear.

 4 ¼ x 5 ½ CARD:

Background – Pacifica (should have been lagoon!) embossed with the cuttlebug dotted swiss folder

Perfect Fit – Birthday  - B1417 stamped in black memento heat embossed in clear for the center

Fabric Circle – cut fabric into 3” strips (on the 14” side of the piece of fabric – you will end up cutting about 2” off)

                        Fold in half length ways so you have a long strip

                        Do a loose running stitch along the raw edge through both layers and gather into a circle

                        I added a couple of stitches on the back side to hold the circle closed.

LIQUID GLASS!!! To hold the fabric to the paper & to hold the circle topper to the fabric

3x3 Pinwheel Card:

For The Base – cut white daisy at 9x3”, score vertically at 3” and at 6”

Now you will score diagonally across both outside squares (both diagonal score lines will be in the same direction)

Fold the two side sections over the center section on the vertical score lines

Fold each outer section back on the diagonal score line  (cover these 2 outside squares with patterned paper; refold on the same lines)

Stamp sentiment on the center square then stipple with desert sand using our black stubble tool

May SOTM – Pinwheel – S1305A, stamp one large, 1 medium, and 3 small pinwheels (I glitzed mine up)

Stack the pinwheels as shown being careful to only adhere on the outside portion of the fold

Opaques Adhesive Gems (black) – Z1335

pinwheel card with the top flap open

pinwheel card with both flaps open

I based this card on a make n take that I did at the Pasadena Stamp & Scrap Fest.  When I got home and started to recreate it I realized that it is 15” in length! Which left me with 2 choices (piece it together to get the length) or (make it smaller, which Tamathya Jenkins did.  She posted her version on the CTMH bulletin board and on her blog.  In addition to pictures, she has posted an excellent photo tutorial on her blog dated Jan 21.  BUT,  I wanted to put the wedding cake on the front of my version which left me with the option of piecing it together to get a card that is 15” long when opened fully.

For Always Bulk – cut 2 – 5x12 strips, glue them together vertically, cut a bit from EACH END – keeping your “joint”  centered.

Score @ 2.5 & @5 vertically

Score an X on each side (crossing over the 5” vertical mark on each side) and creating a diamond in the center of your card

Black  card stock 3.5” square for base on front

Desert Sand card stock 3.5” square for the journaling block on the back of the card

Desert Sand cardstock 3.25” square embossed on the cuttlebug lightly inked with black

Cake pieces stamped on col. White (I first stamped into black and cleaned MOST of it off and then into my versa mark pad resulting in a just slightly dirty image that showed up better than just the clear versa mark) I then heat embossed using clear powder.

Bow, Col white ink on black also heat embossed with clear

The Happy Couple – D1539

I decided to add a sentiment to the back of the card (I decided it needed a place to sign your name) using "The Happy Couple" D1539

The Spring/Summer 2013 Idea Book

It's BEAUTIFUL

It's ALL NEW

and...It's HERE

the Spring/Summer 2013 Idea book

 call, text or email me about getting your FREE copy

pick up your copy today or I will mail you one ($5 shipping) 

After you have gone through the book (probably several times) and made your wish list of all the goodies you just can't wait to get your hands on - contact me about getting some (or all of those goodies) for FREE by hostessing a gathering