Hopes Blog Hop - A card collection

Hopefully as you're reading this, Paul and I are enjoying ice skating morning, noon, and night. I say hopefully for several reasons:

• We have old knees
• We have brand new ice skates (we've been warned by many of the terrors ahead)
• "Hopes" is the Club Scrap kit this month

I also hope that you're enjoying the blog hop this month. I'm a Club Scrap Lite member, and just like last month, the cut-aparts this month inspired me to make a bunch of cards.

I started by cutting two of the tan pieces into 8.5 x 11 pieces of paper.  The wider piece that was left made four tan card panels. The dark brown paper was cut into six 4 x 5.25 panels.

I used the stamps from the Hot Chicks kit to create backgrounds on the panels.  The dotted swoops on the flowers and dotted circles just struck me as coordinating with this kit. I used different combinations of fuchsia, ocean, earth, and tangerine ink on the panels.

Here I used the dandelion stamp.  I didn't like this as much until I put the greeting on it.

I needed one long card for my test application - I'll be dancing the Rhythm Blues, and I have a form to return to the school.  This was also a great opportunity to use my new Envelope Punch Board - how great to be able to make any envelope of any size to fit what I need!

I thought I would use the orange paper at first, but I wanted to throw a bit of a brighter color in to go with the shiny gold paper.  This lovely teal is from the Cyprus kit.

While we're at skating school this week, we'll be working with five different coaches, and the skating community has been very welcoming to us.  I thought that having some cards on hand would be a good idea.

I added some ribbons on some cards, and photo corners on this one. If I had more time, I might have added some dimensional paint, too.

It was nice to have a crafty break before heading on vacation. We're really looking forward to skating, hiking, golfing, and just spending time together. I hope that you are also enjoying the beginning of summer and looking forward to some time together with those you love.

Next on our hop is Wendy Bellino.  If you get lost or just want to start at the beginning, check out the entire group at Club Scrap Creates.

Check back in two weeks to see the second half of my Cape Cod project - my friend loved it!

All Things Paper - the release!

It's officially here, and the All Things Paper book is now available in the US.

Here is my little project that I contributed to the book, along with some Nottingham lace to set the mood.

I love little books for traveling, and the sentiment on the cover is one of my favorite Club Scrap stamps.  I was inspired by travel and maps that I'd picked up at a library book sale, and was curious how I could combine all of these items into a mixed-media cover.  At the time, I was taking some online classes, and I was wondering how I could use those techniques in my bookmaking.

This book is really different than a lot of the craft books out there. First off, it focusses on a variety of paper crafts. If you love paper like I do, you will find something that inspires you.  Secondly, the projects are a step above what you usually see in a book.  They range from quilling to box making (I think the box might even stump Kay!) and everything in between.  Finally, the projects themselves are a work of love.  The photography was done by each individual artist, and Ann did a fabulous job making sure everything was picture- and text-perfect.  Ann has a beautiful eye for selecting work, and has compiled a wonderful selection of artists to show their love of paper.

The All Things Paper blog has a giveaway going today through Sunday - check it out!

As soon as I can get my act together, I'll share some of my favorite projects from the book.  Until then, check it out on Amazon and look inside.  Also coming up soon are our annual anniversary cards!  Nine years and counting...