an open book...

A perfect day to spread the love, don't you think?  Two things to share today, first up...I was recently asked to share a bit about myself, a little Diagnosis of sorts! 

Wida ... the creator of this interview process, collector of past works and an analytical method that is thorough and so much fun ... has just posted a bit about me on her blog Beachorado today!  She included photos of my past work (boy how products, techniques, materials and time flies by so quickly...right?), my design process and much more.  Here is a little glimpse into what you will find there.

If someone wanted to design like you, what would they need?   I say use what you have and be creative.  If you don't die cut, find ways to create your embellishments using stickers, chipboard, journal tags or freehand cut them yourself.  If you like the look of stitching, but don't have a sewing machine, break out the needle and thread.  It is using a product in as many different ways as you can think up.  Once you get started the ideas will come, believe me. 

The perfect blogger is one who? 

I depends on what you are looking for.  I love anyone who opens up their artistic worlds to the reader.  It is all about inspiration for me.  

What is most important in creating a card?  

Make it personal.  If you love color, simple, layers, ribbon...add what makes you happy and you will make the receiver happy.

 

 

Hop on over to see so much more and read other interviews that Wida has conducted.  Now just a couple of cards up on the American Crafts blog today...it's all about using scraps. 

 

Thank you for stopping in today, taking a moment to check out Wida's blog and that the wheels of creativity and inspiration keep runnin'!

 

Andrea 

joy of card making...

Second post of the day and continuing the card making journey today, now with a little Precious Remembrance post.   This project started off heading in the treat pocket direction...ended up a card.  That happens sometimes, doesn't it?

Using the new stamp set released this month, Thanks, and a sentiment from the Friends stamp set that I {heart} so much!  Make sure to hop on over the blog today.  A couple of new faces to be seen and so many amazing projects to inspire! 

Ok, my schedule is full of creating today...not a problem to have, right?  Hoping there are not mental blocks, good music to sing to and making sure I make the most of the next four hours while the house is quiet.  What is on your plate today?  Wherever you are and whatever you are doing sending smiles and wishing you all one super fantastic Wednesday!

Andrea

queen of hearts...

Is it really Wednesday already? Boy, time is flying by and there is a list of things to do.  Keeping my fingers crossed it rains today and that my cozy craft space keeps me company.  This is post one of two today.  Starting with a little Lily Bee to kick start the morning.  This week is all about love...and oh how I have enjoyed this theme.

I began this card by freehand cutting the heart, added blocks of paper for a quilt effect and backed it with cardstock that I freehand cut a scallop border.  Stamped away and added a banner using pink wire I recently picked up at the craft store.  Also, you may recognize the background cream and pink paper...the stamp set insert from the persnickety stamp set.  I love to reuse it all!

There is something about Valentine's Day and Spring that go hand and hand for me.  Maybe it is all that pink, but in this second card I freehand cut each layer of this flower. 

As I have stated before, this is my type of flower.  No watering and always full of color.  Check out Leslie's gorgeous layered cards as well by checking out the Lily Bee blog today.

On to share more shortly...

Andrea

falling in love...

Have a bit of a crush today on Pink Paislee's new collection, Secret Crush.  All of that pink and red...eek!  Today, and all week long, click on over to Pink Paislee and see how a few of the designers have used this collection by creating a variety of tags and cards.

Be back tomorrow with a few more treats.  Until then, off to check a few things off my list of to-dos, snap a few photos and make the most of today.   Just a little photo of my little man before I go.  He and I spent Saturday at the beach while my hubby took our oldest to the zoo.

It was an amazing day with him.  He stayed still under the sand just long enough to snap a photo.  He couldn't stop laughing.  Now to plan a day out with my oldest.

Andrea

built my house of paper and things...

From modern to vintage, this week has been a mix of projects.  I don't know what I prefer.  I love the romantic, soft colors put together to make a little something like this.  The variety of cream paper, inking the edges of the tags to age them a bit, a little stitching and there is always need for a bit of twine.

Supplies: Riddersholm Design (paper), Pink Paislee (paper, stamps, chipboard heart), Glitz (stamp), 

Melissa Frances (crepe paper), bird house, stick pins, glass beads, safety pin, twine, button, ribbon, crochet flower

Although I love create this style of project...I am also in love with bold, bright and colorful projects...

Thank goodness we don't have to choose one or the other...the greatest thing about creativity! 

Andrea

PS...Found this bird house at Michaels for one or two dollars when their wood products go on sale.  Amazing finds, especially when this is so large ( approximately 5" x 9" x 10")  with a tin roof and everything.

time to party...

Today I am going to take a few moments and get inspired reading the new issue of Simply Handmade Parties!  With my eight year old having a birthday party coming up I am sure I will find some great ideas inside...

Andrea

wrapped up...

Over the years my wrapping skills have declined, but my craftiness...throwing together some of my favorite products to create a pretty, frilly package...I can do that!  So today I am sharing with you a gift bag that is full of layers, color and Precious Remembrance.

 

I began with cutting two parts of the bag using Papertrey Ink and stitching up the three sides.  Used layers of Pink Paislee packaging (from Secret Crush...remember to use it all), My Mind's Eye embellishments and created a shaker box effect on the front.  I have had a set of chipboard buttons in my stash for some time by Love Elsie and love them for this project!  Created a tag to add to the top of the gift using PR's Thanks stamp set and sentiment strip at the bottom using PR's Friend stamp set.  A bit of crepe paper border and pom-pom trim and it is complete! 

So, before I go for today, the winner of the Precious Remembrance stamp set from last week is Sherri!  Make sure to send me your address to send this set off to you.  Also, Monica B was chosen for the vintage buttons!  

This is the second post of the day.  My Lily Bee project is posted below.

Andrea

P.S. - I absolutely love my sister and mom and the amazing talent between them.  Wanted to share a couple of lovely items in my mom's Etsy shops featuring a few of their handmade and vintage items.

 wool handmade flower hair piece

handmade beaded wine glass rings

vintage vanity collection

a bit chilly...

 

There is something I miss about the snow.  I remember those days growing up in Oregon when it would snow.  It was then we would open up the curtains and just cuddle up with a blanket by the window and watch the snowflakes gather...just waiting for there to be enough to pull on the cold weather gear and head outdoors.  Then, as an adult and work responsibilities, things changed and the enjoyment wore off a bit....ok, a lot.  But, being that it is chilly today, our sofa full of blankets and my little men curled up before heading off to school...it kind of feels like winter still here in Florida minus the snow of course.

This week over at Lily Bee, you will find a few winter wonderland projects that will keep you busy indoors.  To gather ideas for today's cards, I headed to Pinterest.  Found a card that had a cute little hat on it and wanted to make my own.  The hat and pom-pom I handmade, used LB index journal cards for my background paper (I love the subtle patterns), stamped a few snowflakes and heart and printed out my sentiments.

The second card uses a variety of stamped images, punches (Epiphany Crafts) and cardstock LB bag of bits buttons from the Victoria Park collection.  I recently changed up my thread in my sewing machine to pink...perfect for all of those Valentine's Day projects in the works.  I will be coming back today to share a Precious Remembrance project as well.  Stay tuned.

Andrea

in every way...

Yes, the weekend is here and so much creating happened here in my craft space...how about you?  A little Valentine project in the works, a few fun days playing around with my Cricut Expression and find more treasures among my crafty stash that I can't wait to use.  Have you rediscovered something amazing in your stash? 

Using a bit of Pink Paislee's Secret Crush (in love with it), Crate Paper chipboard stickers (which I can't seem to get enough of at the moment), Studio Calico's wood pieces, Pebbles paper and a felt flower you can make HERE.

Then off to create a paper piecing card using a bit of a vintage doily, tulle, Pink Paislee papers and embellishments and of course Crate Paper again (love the butterfly!).  Using two vintage black buttons I had a giveaway for last week. 

Just love the blue tulle.  Found it on a trip to the fabric store recently in the returned/cut fabric bin.  You can find some amazing finds at an amazing discount.  Before I go.  Therm O Web is feature winter and wedding projects this past week and sharing a bit of my projects that were used for CHA.

 

 and lastly, the papers flowers I showed last week...

Enjoy your weekend...

Andrea

sweet Valentine...

It is quiet here today.  Gearing up for a four day weekend with my little men and the approaching rain/cold weather.  One thing I know, I will be surrounding myself with some of my favorite products and working away in my craft space for a bit today and tomorrow.  Today's project is post on Riddersholm Design, using the paper collections Bello Pastello and Happy Party.

Created gift boxes using my Cricut Expression (and the Cricut Craft Room which is amazing!) and a few dies from Quickutz and Papertrey Ink.  Hand stitched the felt hearts, added a little crepe paper party trim and found some pink tinsel.  The vintage images and Valentine's Day tags have been among my craft supplies for a year or two and thought they went on together perfectly.

Don't forget to enter the stamp set giveaway on my blog HERE.  What will you be creating today?  Remember to dig in your stash and use something that you haven't used in a while.  It is always so fun to rediscover these special little pieces.

Andrea

funny faces...

Hello out there!  What a week of fun.  Taking a look through all of the new products and CHA pics.  The new stamp release from Precious Remembrance.  Stacks of Riddersholm Design papers are all around me as I whipped up a few Valentine themed projects last night.  All is happy here...how about you?  Today I am sharing with you my Create it Wednesday layout for my Precious Remembrance post.

I have been loving the scrapbook thing lately and this one is full of love for my little man.  He is currently in the stage of posing and being goofy when a photo is snapped...and what better way to show off his missing front teeth than a big ol' smile.  The layout began with stamping a variety of PR border stamps vertically, using the paint splatter stamp and rings from three sets (Positive Thoughts, Christmas and Thanks).  Piled on embellishments from Ready Set Go by American Crafts, a couple of stamped hearts from Positive Thoughts stamp set and added paper borders using American Crafts Soho Garden and Simple Stories summer paper.  Topped it off with the "funny faces" from Pink Paislee's alpha stickers.

Don't forget to enter to win a stamp set on the post below from Precious Remembrance by Saturday if you haven't already.

Tomorrow I will be sharing my Riddersholm project with you with pastels and lots of pink...

Andrea

thanks...

It is release day at Precious Remembrance and so excited to share another amazing set with you!  This new set, "Thanks", is a perfect addition to an already amazing collection of stamps.  Perfect for Valentine's Day too!

Over the weekend I wanted to find a felt pattern, spring themed, and came across this easy and adorable finger puppet bunny found HERE.  I used the supplies I had on hand to create this little cutie then found some unused packaging from Pebbles to create a gift set.

Make sure you check out the Precious Remembrance blog today for more amazing projects as well as the rest of the month using this new set!

 

Thanks Stamp Set

And what would be a Precious Remembrance debut without a little giveaway...right?  All you have to do is to leave a comment here on this post by the end of this week, Jan 19th at midnight and I will pick on winner to receive this PR stamp set...

Enjoy your Monday!  Maybe a little felt bunny and new stamp set are in your future?

Andrea

P.S.  I forgot to mention the winners of the vintage buttons.  Congratulations Monika and Kate E.  Monika, please send me you address at andreascreativepapertrail@hotmail.com so I can send these out to you.  Kate, your buttons are on their way!  Enjoy ladies.

until tomorrow...

It will soon be Monday, and maybe you have heard...Precious Remembrance is releasing a new stamp!  This is just a peek at what is to come.  Can't wait to share...but, I must.  So make sure to come back here tomorrow to see the set and the complete project.

Also, have you been making the rounds to see all of the new amazing products coming from CHA?  Here are a few of my favorites...

Pink Paislee:

American Crafts:

Lily Bee:

See you back here tomorrow...

Andrea