{ my secret heart }

2011...the crafty pursuits

This year has brought me so many wonderful creative opportunities and I could not be more thankful. Designing for Elle's Studio, Scrap-Mart, Fiskars, and Jenni Bowlin, plus joining The Scrap Review, have been dreams come true. 

They have challenged me to improve my crafting, incorporate new tools, and learn new techniques.

I have learned to set projects aside until I figure out what makes them complete.

I have attempted to include more color and patterns in my work.

I have punched, stamped, stenciled, and sewn. 

I learned not to fear the die cut.

              

When I look back at some of my favorite projects collectively, it's funny how clear it is that I was obsessed with certain products and tools this year. Circles, grids, that cursive font from the Slice (don't worry, I've retired that one!), and yellow paper were all apparently beloved. Who knew? :)

I'm starting to think about how I want to challenge myself creatively in 2012. Lots of ideas...more crafty pursuits.

Most of all, I am thankful for the friends I have met through the crafting world. They have made my world bigger and brighter.

Mindy

Let's party!

I always enjoy this week of the year. I don't know if it's the anticipation of a new year -- a relatively clean slate if you will -- or the opportunity to reflect on all the memories of the past 12 months that I enjoy. Maybe both.

Today I'm reflecting on my time as part of the Scrap-Mart design team. I've had the opportunity to be part of their team for two years and today is my last post on the blog. It's been a great experience and I have not only appreciated the creative opportunity, but also the chance to meet and work with great people. 

My last project for Scrap-Mart is this tag for a bottle of bubbly. I made the tag with a Quikutz nesting die set, which was super simple. I cut the larger piece from American Crafts Amy Tangerine fabric paper and then cut a smaller piece from American Crafts cardstock.

I added "confetti" that I punched from patterned paper with an edge punch that had a multi-sized circle design. I discarded the actual edge I punched and just used the circles that were punched out of the design.

Then I added alpha stickers for the sentiment and tied to the bottle with a ribbon. Super easy and festive!

I also have two other NYE projects up at Fiskars this week -- party ideas for kids and a memory tree centerpiece project. 

I hope you'll stop by Fiskars and check them out!

Mindy

Holiday sights + sounds

Since I've been a horrible blogger this December, here are some random thoughts on the holidays this Christmas Day.

1. These cupcakes were so cute that they almost convinced me to like red velvet cake. In the end, I still think that red velvet tastes like nothing. But they sure were cute.

2.  Walking into the house every night and seeing the lighted tree makes me ridiculously happy. Happy like a kid.

3. Russell Stover milk chocolate Santas. I know it's just regular chocolate molded into a little Santa and dressed up in a cute wrapper, but there's something about them that taste better.

4. The last few years I have tried to pick up some new seasonal music. This year I have been obsessed with A Very Merry She & Him Christmas. Have a listen.

I hope you are rockin' around the Christmas tree today!

Mindy

The very last minute

In case you are looking for last minute holiday gifts and don't feel like braving the stores, I wanted to share a few ideas from Fiskars. Just get out the sewing machine and be a crafty bee today. :)

First up is my cup wrap tutorial. You can see step-by-step instructions here via Fiskars.

Fabric: Anna Maria Horner; Buttons: Jo-Ann's

These are super easy to make and they would be fantastic with a gift card to your favorite coffee shop. Seriously, you can make these assembly-line style and you'll have handcrafted gifts in no time. I found the reusable cups at a local dollar store, so this can be a very economical gift as well.

Or, how about a fun crafting project with the kids? Keep 'em busy so they don't complain about being bored, right? :)

I love this yo yo pillow project from my fellow Fiskars DT member Tania Willis.

Tania walks you through this project with a great tutorial that you can find right here.

There are tons of great ideas at Fiskars, so stop by and check them out if you are looking for last minute inspiration. In addition, don't miss the ideas for creative gift wrap, holiday gift toppers, and last minute holiday cards.

I hope your holidays are off to a great start!

Mindy

A little Blitzen

Today I'm reviewing the Blitzen line from Bo Bunny at The Scrap Review. I hope you'll stop by and check it out. There's a great giveaway. ;)

I often use bits and pieces from Bo Bunny, but this was my first time to challenge myself to use an entire collection. Honestly I was a bit afraid of all the patterns, but I surprised myself and couldn't be happier with the results. 

Patterned paper, stickers, jewels, buttons: Bo Bunny Blitzen; Punches: Fiskars, EK Success; Maple leaf die cut: Silhouette; Cardstock: Bazzill; Twine: The Twinery; Tape: 7Gypsies; Other: Tim Holtz tiny attacher, vintage typewriter

I had so much fun creating this layout. I've actually scrapped very few of the pictures I took at the Vancouver Olympics and was so happy that this one worked well with the colors in the Blitzen collection (even if it isn't a great quality photo).

The journaling is all about our quest to find those illusive maple leaf mittens. It's a story I didn't want to forget and am so glad that I finally got it down on paper.

What are you waiting for? Hop on over to The Scrap Review and check out the giveaway!

Mindy

Catching up...

I was talking on the phone to someone as I rushed into Target the other day and the person on the other end commented that I must be very busy. I inquired why and she said that my lack of blogging implied that I was preoccupied. Indeed. 

Well, I am trying to catch my breath this week. To start, here's another project from the December JBS Mercantile kits. 

This layout combines the main and artisan kits. I also added in a Jenni Bowlin chipboard alpha and paired it up with the October Afternoon sticky key stickers for the title.

I used the mask in the artisan kit to stencil in a couple of the squares. The Jenni Bowlin Weather Vane paint dabber was the perfect color and tool for this task!

I love how all of the different elements from the kits came together on this layout. It's one of those layouts that just makes me happy when I look at it. :)

I hope you are enjoying the holiday season!

Mindy

Did you see these?

Did you see the announcement that Fiskars is teaming up with Jenni Bowlin to create a new line of punches? You can see all of the details here.

I am loving the new designs and can't wait to try these out! Here are a couple of my favorites. 

I'm starting to see new products pop up here and there which makes me think that it's nearly time for CHA-Winter sneaks. That's the time of year that really might even top Christmas for me. :)

Hope you're having a good day!

Mindy

New tunes

It's been a really long time since I blogged about music. Perhaps it's been quite a while since I heard any new music that I really loved. 

I heard this song last night via my Monday night guilty pleasure --Hart of Dixie on The CW. Seriously, it's my favorite new show and I can't even deny it.

As soon as this song is available on iTunes I'm going to download it and listen to it about a million times. In the meantime, I'd like The Lumineers to come to my house and sing just like in the video. Do you think they are available Friday night? :)

Are you listening to anything you love right now?

Mindy

Scrap-Mart Holiday Blog Hop

I'm kicking off the Scrap-Mart Holiday Blog Hop today, so I hope you'll stop by the Scrap-Mart blog and check out what's going on this week. There's great inspiration and fabulous prizes to be won starting at 9 a.m. today (Dec. 5)!

If you're stopping by via the blog hop, here's a complete look at my holiday mini-album. To be honest, I am a past December Daily failure so this year I'm going with a smaller album that isn't dependent upon a daily update. I'll be using my album as way to capture events and memories from the holiday season.

The album is an October Afternoon mini that I picked up on vacation over the summer. It came with a chipboard cover and ledger papers inside and was originally spiral bound. I actually took out the spiral and then misted my covers with Studio Calico white and shine mists. I covered the spiral holes with ribbon that I sewed on to the chipboard.

I die cut the title with my Silhouette using an Ali Edwards image. If you don't know how to convert an image file to a die that can be cut on the Silhouette, Ali Edwards just posted a great video tutorial on her blog.

My foundation pages are alternating pieces of patterned paper and ledger papers that came with the album. The patterned papers are all from the fabulous October Afternoon Holiday Style collection.

I am also using the Technique Tuesday December Daily stamp set by Ali Edwards for this album. I love the combination of sentiments and numbers in the set! I stamped one of the sentiments directly on this canvas star by Canvas Corp and added embellishments from October Afternoon.

These are just my foundation pages, so I haven't added pictures or journaling yet. I'm leaving plenty of room for both! :)

I also want to capture favorites, such as my favorite holiday music this year. I plan to add that on this set of pages. Isn't that record from the OA Miscellany set awesome?

I'm kind of in love with these pages. That multi-colored stripe is fantastic and the shopper sticker look great together!

I couldn't help but bedazzle her hat!

I actually mounted the sticker on cardstock and cut it out to give it a bit of dimension. 

This OA paper with the city scene on it is one of my favorites! I didn't want to separate the scene so I actually kept it together and made it into a fold out.

I added in a canvas heart from Canvas Corp on my last page along with a glittered chipboard bell from the OA Miscellany set.

Now I'm inspired to start celebrating the season so I have something to document. I hope your holiday season is off to a wonderful start!

Mindy

Getting ready for the hop

It's on the verge of snowing here, so this seems like the perfect day to share a wintery card. And if I don't get busy, I fear that I will soon be dashing through the snow to get my holiday shopping done.

Cardstock: American Crafts, Bazzill; Patterned paper: October Afternoon; Stamps, die cuts, buttons: Papertrey Ink; Ink: Papertrey Ink, StazOn; Corner rounder: Fiskars

I picked up the plaid paper from the October Afternoon Sidewalks collection at CKC this fall when I was shopping at the Scrap-Mart booth, yet never imagined that it would work so well for a wintery card. But I love the combination of plaid with the vibrant Pure Poppy and soft Spring Mist inks from Papertrey.

Speaking of October Afternoon, I am working on something very fun with the October Afternoon Holiday Style collection to share during the Scrap-Mart Holiday Blog Hop next week. I'll be kicking off day one Monday and the hop will run through the 10th.

These great companies will be participating and I've heard that there's going to be some prizes involved. :)

Boss Kut
October Afternoon
The Rubber Cafe
Canvas Corp
Heartfelt Creations
Want2Scrap
LaLa Land Crafts
Sizzix
JustRite Stampers

Come back Monday to check it out!

Mindy