More Letter Chipboard!!

Here is a close-up of the embellishments

Tinkerbell Decor

Here is another chipboard letter project I made for my cute niece, Baby Yvette. Since she was photographed as a Tinkerbell for Halloween I used that picture as my inspiration for the theme. I used her photograph and mounted it on the letter for a personalized and special touch.



Hope you like it Yvette!! Love, Tia Carmen :D

Letter Chipboard Decor

I had passed by the over sized chipboard letters several times at Hobby Lobby every time I would buy something and was intrigued to make one. Since we are in the spirit of giving, I decided to take on the challenge and made this one for my daughter's best friend, Destiny. I was very happy with how it turned out. Here is a before and after picture. Click on the picture for a closer look at the embellishments!


Before
After

"Mr. & Mrs."

There is nothing like the breathtaking feeling and butterflies in your stomach you get when you are formally introduced as "Mr. & Mrs." on your wedding day. That was the feeling I got when I found this ribbon and...my inspiration for this creation.
I made it for my cousin Johnny who got married this past weekend. I wanted it to have two functions: initially a gift card holder, but hopefully a wedding keepsake that would remind them of their special day.
After the gift card is removed(and spent-hee, hee!), a photo of the newly weds appear as a reminder of their love. The photo may be replaced for one of their wedding pictures if they wish-as often or seldom as they want! As in any project I take on, this one also had its challenges. After placing the ribbon on the front cover I wanted the ribbon to symbolize just that. So I searched for a medium with their initials to place in the right hand bottom corner of the card. In the end, I found some chipborad letters I had left from another project. The tough part was for the letters to coordinate with the rest of the color scheme. So I experimented with several chipboard and eventually used a silver ink pad to recolor the letters. I sprinkled some transparent embossing powder and used my heat gun to incrust the powder on the chipboard. The letters don't even look like they didn't match!
The other challenge was to find the perfect sentiment to go with the card. Since I know that Johnny and Susie have been together for years now, I wanted the dedication to reflect their long lasting relationship. I debated on one titled "From this day forward" and "This day I married my best friend". In the end I choose "This day I married my best friend". I felt it was the one that mimicked the feelings they have towards each other.
I really enjoyed making this card. Not bad for making it in only three hours!

Birthday Card in minutes!

This card was so simple to make that even my daughters can do it, well maybe not, but it was easy to assemble. I made it for an adult so I kept it simple. I used a precut stationary card and used my newly purchased Creative Memories cutting system to create the circles. I cut a miniature birthday card as the main embellishment for the front of the card. Then, I used a pre-printed quote piece from Abraham Lincoln as the focal point for the inside of the card and inked the card all around for a special touch. You can make one too...try it!

Pet Homage

My good friend, Mrs. Recio, asked me if I could make her a special gift to give her husband for Christmas. I wasn't exactly sure what I was going to create. But I had an idea....it was to create a display to pay a special homage to their sickly labrador retriever, "Shadow".
After going to Hobby Lobby yesterday to purchase some items for school, I decided to "browse" for the appropriate stickers. After finding the perfect stickers I decided to look for the background paper and found the cutest one that coordinated with the stickers. Soon after that I had also found the perfect frame to display the page I was going to create. Since I was inspired by all these items, I went straight home and diligently worked on the project. I just couldn't resist and finished the gift last night in three hours! I felt like the little mouse in the popular book "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie". One thing lead to another...and as a result got a very simple, yet memorable keepsake for her husband to remember their adorable dog.

Birthday Card

Autumn Card

Thanks for the inspiration, Mrs. Briseno!

Mini Memo Boards

During the summer I participated on an online scrapbooking camp from Creating Keepsakes. I was so happy that I and many other scrapbook lovers were able to join in a week's worth of fun and enticing activities. Among those actvities was an easy memo board idea. So this past week I took those ideas and created three of my own boards.

This one resembles the one used as a demonstration


I made this one for my classroom.



If you would like to try making this project, check out the link at Creating Keepsakes. Enjoy!

A brand new school year!

Summer is almost over and a brand new school year is just right around the corner! Did you set yourself new goals? Did you reflect on what you wanted to change for this year? Was one of them to organize your classroom? Or maybe just add a little flair to your teacher's corner? Well then, this assignment is just for you! What better way to accomplish some of your school goals than to organize your classroom and have a little fun as well! Here's your homework assignment for you to get inspired and kick off the school year right. Don't forget to check this off your homework list! Have an awesome school year!!




Don't you always have students asking you (in the middle of your lesson) "I don't have a pencil!", "I can't find my pencil, teacher." or "I need a pencil-I don't have anything to write with." My solution to this nuisance is- having a pencil cup with pencils for the students to get one when they need one without interrupting the lesson or the class. Well, I found this pencil cup holder for a dollar. It was the perfect size and width to hold some pencils in my classroom. After looking at it for a while, I thought - Why don't I cover it in theme paper? Luckily, I found the perfect sheet to go with it! I had my doubts about it working with the ModPodge because it had a pourous surface. Good thing it worked even though it was a messy project! My eldest daughter liked it so much, she wants me to do the same to their pencil cup holder! So I am. :)



School Days Container

I never make anything for myself, but I had a great idea to decorate the jar that one of my student's gave me last year (it was filled with candies that I didn't even eat!) I personalized the jar with fun foam letters and will make its home on top of my desk. I plan to use it to hold student names for raffles. Maybe a word jar I learned about in a summer workshop I attended last month. The possibilities are endless. This container can have many uses...use your creativity! What will you come up with?

Sea Shell Shaped Album

This is one of my most challenging projects. The challenge was not that I didn't know how to scrapbook it. My challenge was: How am I going to "bind" the album? I had to really think about how I was going to bring all the beautiful pictures in a unique and one-of-a-kind mini album that depicted the couple's beach-themed wedding. I had already saved some items from their wedding such as the raffia, starfish, and small seashells. I wanted to place all the pictures on an oversized seashell I had seen both at Hobby Lobby and Michael's. When I didn't find the solution, I moved to plan B - to make an 8x8 album. Until I purchased this month's issue of Creating Keepsakes (tips and tricks section) and...found the answer right in front of my eyes!! As simple as the solution was, I could not come up with the idea myself. All I had to do was - drill out the holes in the album "spine". Yes, it was that simple! So, I went back to Hobby Lobby and purchased the seashells. Then I had my husband, Charlie, help me do the drilling and voila!-- The album cover was designed.

I used the raffia and small shell to attach everything together. I had wanted to use the jump rings suggested in the magazine, but saw that it would be hard to flip the pages. So what better way than to attach everything with a simple, yet original object from their wedding decor. I topped the seashell with the starfish that was used to accentuate the guests tables. The items I had saved from the wedding also added a special touch to the album.




Needless to say, it was hard work, but I loved making and recreating their beautiful and touching wedding. I plan on using the same idea to make our beach vacation album.

Accordion Album

It took me two days to make this little project. My idea for this project was to showcase and highlight parts and events of our vacation. I created it as gift for my husband's cousin family as a token of our appreciation for their unconditional hospitality. Thanks for the inspiration to create this album!

Front Cover

The velum pocket stores a tag with a special message for our gratitude.

Front View-opened

Back View-opened

Showing accordion effect
Back View

Wild Gifts

Before hosting a Lingerie shower I decorated these gift items which we would eventually give the soon-to-be bride.

I decorated the paint can and purse with zoo animal themed paper.

Finally, I placed all the gifts inside the containers and used shrink wrap to seal them.

Random Card Project

I found this cute blog and bookmarked it for future reference. Then I needed to create a birthday card to hold a gift card and found this perfect sample. I utilized that same sketch but changed its theme. I also used the gift card as the tag rather than making one. I punched a hole through and tied two ribbons around it. The bottom image is my version of this random card project.

This is the sketch I used as a guide.

Thank You Card

Here is a diferrent take on thanking somone. The reason behind this creation is that I wanted to depict the reason why I was thanking the person. In this case, the recipient had helped in building the girls' playhouse. To show our appreciation, we gave him a gift card from Lowe's. I choose a theme paper that resembled a real blue print and found the cutest stickers to go with it. I just loved the letters in the shape of nuts and bolts. Don't you think so? The best feauture about this gift card is the brads in the shape of a screw. When I first saw them at Cropper's Corner- I just had to buy them. It looks as if I had actually used a screwdriver to put them on the corners! Click on the picture to view it up close.


A different variation you could use this card for would be for Father's Day. Or a just because to your "Handy Man" or Mr. Fix It".

Baby Shower Gift

Here it is! On one of my previous posts, I had mentioned that I had made a gift card for a baby shower and I searched my computer files and luckily-I found it!

I took on a different media approach for this particular design. I stamped the title and the images inside. I then used embossing powder to raise them. This adds a tactile feeling to the card. I also inked the edges on the inside of the card to draw the eye to the center where the baby poem is positioned . Other embellishments I utilized were: buttons, brads in the shape of a button, and fibers.

My Fabric Photo Display Board

What scrapbook room is complete without pictures, right?



Close up view

On the wall




After going into my Assistant Principal's office one day, I expressed to her that I LOVED her photo/message board. I asked how she had gotten the perfect school colors on it and she told me she had done it herself! I was very impressed and since my room was "in the works" I decided to make one myself!

One day during our Spring Break, I purchased all the materials I needed to coordinate with my room's color palette I had chosen. It was very simple to make and it's a perfect and easy way to show off your favorite pictures. Plus, you can display other special items or memorabilia for a meaningful collage. Either way, the board will add a beautiful element to a wall. And since the photos just slip right into the ribbons, the display can be updated or changed easily and anytime!

Supplies used for this project:

1 20x20" board (larger if desired)
2 yards of material
3 different colored ribbons
1 square size batting
Decorative Tacks
Staple gun
Hanging brackets

Fold out Thank You card

This one I am proud of. It took some tactful planning and precise measurements to create. I am happy to say that I like the way it turned out.




I had seen a fold out card on a Disney book and I thought it was definitely one I'd had to try to make. I thought to myself-"I can do this!" With the picture in my mind I vizualized what I had seen on the book.

It didn't come out right on my first attempt, but it was not a total loss. The first template I made came out short for the card to fold all the way from the front. Using that same cardstock I traced the sections that came out right and then scored the paper closer in length to allow it to "close" correctly. It did! So here's what I did.

Supplies used:
1 4x6 photo - cut to size
1 12x12 colored cardstock
2 patterned papers (that coordinate)
Stickers
Flowers
Ribbon
Chipboard flowers
Brads
Photo Corners
1 A7 Envelope (fits 5x7 card)

Basic Instructions:
Cut your 12x12 paper to size (kind of like a fat "T")to make the fold out from the bottom and score. Fold and iron out with hand or tool. Measure paper to cover middle section only. Use other paper to cut two pieces for top and bottom and glue. Place 4x6 picture on the bottom portion of the card- where the fold will occur and fold up before you close your card. Embellish with ribbon, chipboard, stickers, flowers and dedicate your thank you card by hand or type it- and print!

Birthday Card from scraps

I love it when I can make these because it's a no-brainer. I just use paper scraps from my left over pieces box (which I don't like to get rid of-and now you know why!).

I got this idea from Scrapbooks Etc. I cut the pieces to size and embellished with a tag sticker. I bought the tag sticker from the Dollar Tree as a birthday set. Inside I pre-printed the birthday greeting and finished it by adding another flower sticker.

Luau Birthday Card

This is a card I created for my co-worker's son for his "Luau" Birthday celebration. Cute, simple and to the point. Simply took out some scraps from my stash and mounted some stickers and ribbon. And Done. Nothing to it.

My own little space

After Charlie's Dad had closed the garage and decorated his own "work shop" space, I was left with a small enough room to hold my washer & dryer and small storage space. After a converstation with Charlie, I shared my thoughts on the future of the small space left between our garage and the door that led to the inside of the house. I wanted this room to serve two purposes- a laundry room and a place to store my scrapbook supplies (that I stored in the dining room). As soon as we received our income tax we began purchasing the supplies needed to begin this project.
After my father-in-law dedicated many tidious and countless hours working on my little space (which took about a month) it began to take shape and eventually morphed into a space I never expected to ever have. It actually turned out better than I expected! My Scrap Room- as I like to call it now-has become one of my favorite places to spend time in. Between the Spring Break and Easter holidays I've already dedicated countless hours in it. I got so inspired that I already finished one album and six pages. I am so proud of myself! I hadn't scrapped for a while so this is a big accomplishment for a scrapbooker. Needless to say I will be scrapbooking in my little room during the summer!
I want to say thanks to my Father-in-law for his artistic carpentry, my brother-in-law, Jerry for the electrical wiring, my second brother-in-law, Bobby, for wiring my Direct TV, and my husband for supporting my love for scrapbooking. Thanks you guys!!! And yes, I will be making a page about my new little space!

Here are some before and after pictures.