I should be...

My list of to do's is quite full this morning, but had to pop in to say have a wonderful weekend and I will be back Tuesday with a few new items to share...at least that is the plan for now. Don't forget to post of comment HERE for to enter my current giveaway.

I don't know if you have ever dove into your stamps and notice just how many sets come with hearts of all sizes and designs. I did just that yesterday and decided I would challenge myself to use a variety of hearts, die cut labels and sentiments to create a set of tags.

On the tag above I used a heart border stamp to create the background, layered die cut labels with my sentiments and used a heart punch to add the two red hearts to the right. This tag is probably my favorite. I used the sentiment as my stamped background, layered die cut labels, used a small heart to create the blue accents on the scallop label and used a die cut for the hearts.Finally, I used this heart from a Maya Road stamp set to create a floral background and the stamped hearts on the die cut labels. I used the "i love you" sentiment on the label and cut out a little floral scroll from My Girls Paperie paper scrap.

I used a variety of paper scraps I have all with the same colors in mind with each tag. So I challenge you to pull from your scrap bins, dig into your stamps, put to use those die cuts and start creating. You may be amazed by how many different ways you can use a heart.

Hope the sun is shining where you are today like it is here and I will be back next week to share more. Don't forget to enter the giveaway on the previous post if you haven't already. Thank you for stopping by!

Andrea

wrap it up...

This morning as I pulled myself out of bed I kept thinking...clear my schedule, wrap the blankets tightly around myself and just stay in today. If only making that one decision was that simple. My parents are due to arrive tomorrow for a long anticipated visit and the cleaning and prep work has only just begun. My craft supplies will soon be on lock down and I am rushing to finish a few more projects to share over the next couple of weeks. Today I get to share the card created for the new release over at MelJen's Designs.

I used the Lovin Turtle digi and Papertrey Inks banner border die cut to complete this card. I used a 4" square piece of paper, stamped the sentiment, added the small strip of paper to the bottom and attached the felt around the square to create a frame. I then sewed it onto the larger 5" paper and stitched the little x's around the frame to create just a little more detail and keep the frame in place. Once complete you are ready to attach the paper piece to the front of the card. Easy to do and gives the card a soft touch.

Before I go...a giveaway as promised before Valentine's Day is upon us.

Just leave a comment here by Monday, January 31st and I will randomly draw a winner.

Thank you for stoppin' by...now to go create a little more before I am cut off (oh, the sadness). Have a wonderful day!

Andrea

how much I wish...

...that I could pick more than one winner for the Creations by AR giveaway. Since I couldn't...the winner is MAISIE SPARROW. Congratulations and don't forget to contact me at andreascreativepapertrail@hotmail.com to claim your gift!

Although I had this little box cut and ready to assemble for the blog hop I focused much of my attention on the basket and ornament. Here is what I came up with for the heart box.

Love the new templates and just let your imagination take you.

So to announce the winner of my giveaway...congratulations JACILYNN. I have chosen a second winner for a little valentine card pack...CHERYL. Please contact me at andreascreativepapertrail@hotmail.com with your information so I can send these out soon!

Andrea

oh my goodness...

Life gets a little crazy, and slightly boring, when you lose your internet and phone for more than a couple of days...but I am back. Due to this glitch I am a little behind on posting my project for the Creations by AR blog hop. Since many of you left a comment on my previous post I will use this to pick a winner. Please forgive the delay, but here is my project. Don't forget to check out all of the amazing templates she has in her shop which are perfect for the upcoming holidays!
The tag was created from the January release of Whimsie Doodles Valen-tine tags collection. The template used is the Heart Basket...which is oh so cute! The little fabric flowers were created by just hand cutting layers of circles in varying sizes and stitching them on. Simple and perfect if you have tiny scraps of fabric that shouldn't go to waste...no die cutting required!

I created this heart ornament using the small heart as a pattern from the template. Cut the heart slightly larger and embellish and sew away.

I am rushing a bit today, but I will be picking a winner from my giveaway, Creations by AR hop and will be back tomorrow with a special new post.

Off to have a nice lunch with a friend and pick up my boys before the rains settle in for the evening.

Andrea

a step in the right direction...

It is not that often...ok, never...that I am able to share the love to crafting with friends. Last night, held at my favorite local scrapbook store, I attended a crop with a few mommy friends and had a blast. As part of my new year "resolution"...not that I ever really make them...I decided that I was going to jump back into scrapbooking which would hopefully remind me to take more photos of my always growing little men. So I thought I would share my first two layouts and say that I LOVE SCRAPBOOKING!
The one difficult part about scrapbooking is using entire sheets of paper that may be your favorite with zero scraps remaining, but sometimes it makes the layout turn out as imagined. After a fun evening with the girls I am back to card and tag making for a few new hops and releases to come. Here is one I did just so I could use this purple paper and felt that is so beautiful...
Don't forget that today is the last day to enter the giveaway HERE. The next giveaway is going to be up within the next few days so make sure to come back and visit me.

Have a wonderful weekend and hope you cature many smiling moments today!

Andrea

love and a little dust in the air...

If you haven't entered the giveaway here make sure you do before Saturday evening. I have been avoiding the dreaded task of cleaning and after the paper storm has subsided today it will be time to move on to tackling the dust. After a few days of creating like a mad woman...really I have let everything else go...I am here to share one project that came to me last night as I lie awake in bed...

Using sweet lace heart and little layered flowers from MelJen's Designs.

Thank you for allowing me to share my project today and don't forget to join in my giveaway on the previous post. Have a new giveaway in the works which will include a few felt flowers to add to your project possibly.

Hope this Wednesday finds you well and enough procrastinating and I am off to clean.

Andrea

give, give, givin' it away...

The sun is peeking out from the clouds today, the boys are off learning something new at school and I am allowing myself a day of "whatever". Just a quick card share and on to the important stuff...

So I am here to allow ME to send one of you this little package of goodies pictured below. This will be the first of many as I spend this year celebrating those around me who make me smile each and every day. All you have to do is leave a comment on this post and I will pick one winner on Saturday, the 22nd.

Off to do something with this crazy hair of mine before others see me.

Andrea

a scrappy kind of day...

Oh how I have been having fun today...thankfully the rain has been falling outside and allowing us to hang around the house in our pj's for a change. I have been enjoying crafting once again...thank goodness. It is something I can get completely lost in and enjoy every minute. I rediscovered this little fox die cut in my binder of Quickutz and forgot how adorable it is. Perfect with the Whimsie Doodles rubber stamps!

This cupcake actually comes from Every Other Day rubber stamps by Whimsie Doodles (currently on SALE!). If you take just the top of the hot air balloon it makes for an yummy embellishment. I also used it for the first mini card on this post.

I have been wanting to do a more elaborate banner card and think it turned out as expected...on my second go around today.

Some supplies used: Have Cake, Every Other Day and Stich'ems rubber stamp sets from Whimsie Doodles, wrinkle ribbon from Prairie Bird Boutique, and a few stamp sets from Papertrey Ink.

Tomorrow I will be posting the giveaway. Hope to see you back here then!

Andrea

boys will be boys...

that's a fact, at least in my house. Pulled out our sandbox yesterday, poured in two bags of new play sand and brought out the beach toys. Two hours later the boys finally wanted to come back inside as the sun was going down. They laughed, played a little on their own and had fun getting messy.
Hop on over to join in the Whimsie Doodle Challenge this week "Boys Will Be Boys". Couldn't resist using this adorable digi "Toadly" from the January release.

Be back tomorrow with the MelJen's Designs release and a giveaway or two!

sweet and simple...

Just looking for a "little" something to send my grandmother today just because and created the following mini card set...

Making this a short post as I am working on something for a giveaway this week. Check back soon!

Andrea

when life gives you...

...paper and stamps, create...create...create! Hoping your weekend was filled with many happy moments. Today was a day to pile my papers what seems like a mile high on the dining room table and dive in. Play to my "hearts" content...

Used little apple worm and heart from MelJen's Designs.

Used sweet lace heart from MelJen's Designs.

Just two more cards to share with you...

Off for a quick walk with my terribly bored child, who is tapping my on the shoulder as I type. Back to share a special mini card set on Tuesday and maybe I should actually put together a giveaway as I have promised.

Andrea

you just have to...

Can't seem to bribe, reward, encourage enough to get the kids out the door with a smile most mornings. It is a daily task that is getting quite old...and they are just in the beginning stages of their education. Boy do I have a long road ahead of me. There must come a time when it becomes fun for them....right? At least that is what I am holding on to at this point. For now we get through the grump and still manage to get out the door each day. Today was one of those days and then I remembered one special event today that I have been preparing for for the last few weeks....Whimsie Doodles release day! Yes, this is exciting for me since I couldn't stop creating with the new amazing digis and finally found my creativity once again. The kids are off to school and it is time for me to post, craft, sit back and enjoy the three hours of quiet.

*****************************************************************************

It Is JaNuArY 5tH: TiMe FoR nEw ReLeAseS! YiPpEe!!

GOOD MORNING WHIMSIE DOODLES FANS! It is the 5th of the month (my most favorite time!) and we have some fantastic new images to share with you today and they will definitely help you get your Whimsie Doodles fix.

Using Valen-tinies, a little Prairie Bird Boutique wrinkle ribbon and ticket stamp from Nikki Sivils.

Using Valen-tinies and Prairie Bird Boutique wrinkle ribbon.

Be sure to visit all of the Doodlelicious Diva blogs today to see what they have created with the new images-- you won't want to miss all of the Doodlelicious eye candy!
AnDrEa
aLiCiA
JoY
MeLySsA
NiKkI
sHeRi

*****************************************************************************

More to come so stay tuned. Now I am off to be a busy bee and clean :) Enjoy your day and thank you for stopping by!

Andrea