The challenge was to create a "title topper" and "accent" using the Notebook paper from Close to My Heart and any current Close to My Heart product. I needed to make 20 of them for an exchange. I was also challenged by the fact that I only had one "notebook paper pack" This is what I came up with. I was pretty pleased with the results. The "u" is an alphabet solo. For a personal scrapbook page I probably would have used one of our dimensional elements aka a chip-board letter. . . . but I didn't have twenty of those. . . so I stamped and cut out these. I considered several designs as you'll see by the other pictures.

Volleyball

Just in case you think I've given up on paper crafts all together. . . here are some simple giftbags that Kristine and I put together as part of our senior night gifts.

I used my volleyball stamp set to decorate the tissue paper and a few strips of paper. I also used a Quick-kuts volleyball die and a cuddlebug diecut as well. It was fun!

More

Well, I copied this design off of someone, and I can't figure out who to credit. . . The only bit of originality was that I used a sponge dauber to make my green background for the saying and the black matt with the brad is slightly different than the origianl.

Can you tell that the bottom piece of sweet leaf card stock is scored? On a similar card I sanded it and that looked great too.

Inspiration

Inspiration. . . it's a beautiful thing. . . I really don't think I have an original thought in my head. When I start a new stamping project . . . I check out what other people are doing first. Lisa Steig is one of my favorite blogs to go lurking. Here is what she came up with. . . as you can tell, I loved her color combination. . . In this card you'll notice that I was inspired by Lisa's color combination and Kathi's lay out (last link)

http://lisascreativecorner.blogspot.com/2008/08/another-treasure-life-card.html

Kathi Carlson is my hero. . . and she doesn't even know me!
http://kathiscreativecorner.blogspot.com/2008/08/harvest-moon.html

Here are some more of her "treasure life" art work; http://kathiscreativecorner.blogspot.com/2008/08/treasure-life.html

OK. . . . . these are the same patterns, but with the new Creative Basics kit . . . to be available September 1st in the Autumn/Winter Idea book. The stamp set is from the Just Because Card kit.

National Stamping Month

I was pretty excited when I received my "Just Because" card kit. The pre-cut papers were convenient to use and I loved the finished results. I took the time to draw up a cutting guide so that I could make similar cards in different colors. These cards were made with a piece of Background Texture paper from the Simple Pleasures paper packet , a piece of Cocoa Cardstock, and some Bamboo cardstock as well. I used Cocoa, Bamboo, and Twilight inks. I used Liquid glass to accent the hearts.

Volleyball Stamp set

I'm not 100% happy with the blue around the edges. . . but I like the volleyball net with the school initials across the top. . . . I'm sure I'll be using that net on many projects.