Thank you, Nichole!

I've only known about Papertrey Ink for a few short months, but in that time I have come to look forward to the monthly countdowns very much.  The PTI countdowns are like nothing I've ever seen from any other company.  Full of inspiration, excitement, and paper crafting art, the countdowns are simply amazing, and, I know a lot of work for the designers and Nichole Heady, part owner of PTI.  Without Nichole's hard work, none of it would be possible.  So, to Nichole, who probably doesnt get much sleep 5 days (probably much more than that!) a month, I thank you for all that you do.  Your work makes me very happy and I constantly scan your blog for ideas all month long.  Although I do not have a lot of money to purchase everything that I want at PTI, I thoroughly enjoy the countdown every month and dream of one day being able to buy more. 

Nichole, you are amazing.  Please know how much you are appreciated and how much your work is loved!

Sincerely,
Laura Isham

A Gift from my Boys

My kids go in streaks with certain foods.  Sometimes they will eat 2 bananas a day, sometimes they refuse to eat any.  Well, it was one of those weeks when they wouldnt eat any.  So, I had a bunch of brown bananas on the kitchen counter begging to be made into banana muffins. 

I usually wait until the two little boys go down for their nap before I  bake.  But, last Thursday I was feeling ambitious and decided to let the boys help make the muffins.  They loved helping, and the mess wasnt even that bad.  I have to remind myself that even if it takes a little more time to include the boys on projects (like baking), they enjoy helping out and are so PROUD of themselves when they are done.  So, my new goal is to include the kids on more projects.  It really makes the project more fun even if it takes a little longer.

So the boys wanted to give some of their hard-made muffins to their grandparents who their dad was taking them to visit while I had to work.  I packaged the muffins in a fun gable box from Papertrey Ink, and here it is:

I used the retired set from Stampin' Up called "I'm Here" along with Stampin' Up Real Red Satin Ribbon.  The sentiment was made on the computer since I didn't have a stamp that worked for the occasion.

I wasn't going to post this project because I thought that it was a little "loud" with all the primary colors, but my husband insisted that it should be posted.  So, here it is.

Here is a view of the yummy contents: 

These muffins are just made from the banana bread recipe from the Better Homes and Garden checkered red and white cookbook that I think everyone must own! 

Isn't that Papertrey Ink gable box great?  It is the large box that you can purchase here.  It easily would have fit a dozen muffins, but since my husband ate half a dozen by himself, I only put 8 in it. 

Thanks for stopping by. 

Papertrey Ink August Blog Hop

This isn't only my first Papertrey Ink Blog Hop, but also my very first blog hop of any kind!  I am very nervous, but also very excited!  I just hope I don't disappoint.

I loved this challenge.  In fact I liked it so much that I finally got around to starting my blog!  Yep, I started this blog so I could participate in this challenge.  And, this is only my second blog post.  I hope this is the first of many challenges and blog hops in the future.

Well, enough talk and on to the project!

Oh how I LOVE the new Papertrey dies!  I happen to layer all three dies/die set that I ordered this month.  They are so easy to work with and layer so nicely.  I've seen Mat Stack 4 layered with so many other Papertrey dies on other blogs and gallery photos.  It is just so versatile!

Here is a close up of that tag I created with Mat Stack 4 and Places Please dies along with 2 of the wonderful leaf prints dies tucked behind.  I didn't order the leaf prints stamp set to go with the dies because I think that the leaf dies are so beautiful by themselves.  (But that stamp set is still on my wish list!)

The ribbon behind the tag is just some ribbon I found at Michaels in the ribbon aisle.  A great find, since I use it all the time!  The ink and paper are from a competitor since I didn't have any "fall-y" PTI card stock.  (Its on my list for next month)

One final view from slightly above.  This view shows the scalloped top a little better that I created with my Fiskar border punch.

Thank you so much for stopping by!  I really had a good time with this and can't wait to continue this blog and participate in future challenges.  By the way, my husband took the pictures since my photography skills have much to be desired.  If you saw the picture in my very first blog post, you know what I mean!

Happy hopping!

My First Post!

Well, I've made the leap into blog land!  I have no idea what I am doing, I don't have very much interesting things to share, and I don't have a lot of time to invest in this endeavor.  But, I want to give it a shot and I want to participate in blog hops, so here I am! 

My projects are usually simple since I don't have a lot of time to paper craft.  I am very inspired by the blogs of the chicks listed to the right.  They are all so talented!  It is so much easier to CASE than make my brain actually work and be creative.  Don't worry, when I CASE, I will give credit!

I have a project that I decided to share that I created a while ago, just to get the ball rolling.  Hope you enjoy it!

(Now I have to figure out how to import a photo on here!  Yikes!  I may be in over my head!)

Well, I obviously figured it out.  ;)

Okay, I made this for my husband's cousin who had a little girl way back in January (I know....I am really bad about taking pictures of my projects!  Mostly because my camera is not very good (asking for a new one for my birthday in December) and because I don't have much natural light in my house.  (If I really get into this blog thing I will have to invest in a better light source!)  So, I do apologize for the picture quality.  I will work on doing much better in the future!

This card is all Stampin' Up products.  I have since discovered the wonderful Papertrey Ink, which I love.  I still love my Stampin' Up, too, so you will see projects from those companies and many more!  I'm not a monogamous stamper!  Haha!

Well, I'll be back soon to participate in Papertrey Ink's blog hop coming up of the 25th.  Details are here.  See you then!