A penny for your thoughts...

So, in case you didn't see my post last weekend...my local scrapbook store, the one I design for, is closing. It was quite unexpected and I am at a loss for where I will get all my great crafting goodies now. :( Last Saturday they let the Design Team come to the store, while it was closed to the public, to pre-shop the closing sale. It was soooo sad...everyone was just walking around not knowing what to buy or how much and not having any fun at all because the reason we were shopping and getting a good deal was because our favorite store was closing. I did of course buy a ton a stuff but when new products start coming out, especially after summer CHA I know I will be wanting some. So if you have an online scrapbook store that you shop at I would love to hear about it! Ideally it would carry My Mind's Eye products and have reasonable shipping.

Okay, now I do actually have a card to share with you all today too. I used the 'With a Cherry on Top' kit from Caffinated Cropper.

I thought this card turned out nicely with a kind of picnic/fair feel to it. Isn't the paper and banner cute?! The cork that is included in this kit can be punched easily. I used my scalloped circle punch on it without any problems. The little red rhinestones are not part of the kit...those are Taylored Expressions tiny twinkles which I love! :)

Check out Amy's blog if you are interested in purchasing this kit and to see lots of inspiration by her customers and design team too!

Water, Earth, and Sky

Hi there!

I wanted to share my latest Etsy Treasury with you all. It is a combination of many shops, colors, and things I love...hope you like it too!

You can click HERE to check out the treasury close up along with links to the shops.

Have a great day!

Eat your Veggies!

Who knew vegetables could be so cute?! Cosmo Cricket and Bee Things definitely did because they both created some amazing products centered around happy veggies! And I was totally inspired by them both this week! Cosmo Cricket is the sponsor this week for the Etsy Inspired Challenge and they generously gave me the Garden Variety crafting kit to play with. I have been having fun with the kit all week but this is the first card I created using the Tossed Salad paper and I think it turned out pretty cute! :)



Wouldn't this be a fun card to give to a gardener?! I was inspired to create my card after I saw this adorable grocery bag by Bee Things. Now who wouldn't want a fun bag like this to take to the grocery store?! And remember...it was Earth Day earlier this week and reusable grocery bags are a wonderful way to make a little change that will greatly help our environment! :)

Cosmo Cricket and Bee Things have both generously donated a fabulous prize this week!

All you need to do for your chance to win is:
- Check out Bee Things and find an item that inspires you.
- Create a project of your own based off the inspiration and link it up to the Etsy Inspired Challenge Blog by Friday, April 30th at noon PST.

Be sure to check out the rest of the Design Team too!

• Ashley
• De
• Emily
• Heather
• Jackie
• Joy
• Lori (April Guest Designer)
• Savannah (April Guest Designer)
• Shannon
• Tiffany

Hello!

It has been a busy week around here...soccer practices and games, running errands, and getting ready for a garage sale. I did find some time earlier this week to create a card for the Moxie Fab World sketch challenge. Here is what I came up with using the adorable Little Boy Blue collection from My Mind's Eye.


Isn't that owl cute?! I like how my little frame turned out...that great felt ric rac is American Crafts.

So, I have to tell you all that I am super bummed because this morning I found out that my local scrapbook store, the one that I design for, is closing. It has been around for 14 years, they always have the latest goodies and fabulous staff, and I was so looking forward to being a part of their team for many years to come. Designing for them this past year has been wonderful and I have completed so many more layouts than I ever would have on my own. It was a bit of a shock to hear this news because there really wasn't any indication that this might happen...they just ordered TONS of products from CHA that are still rolling in, they just sent out new design team packets two weeks ago and everything. I guess the owners are retiring which I am sure is a great thing for them but I will be so sad to see this store and these people go. I don't even know if there are any other decent scrapbook stores in the area.

If you have an online scrapbook store that you love...one that carries all the newest products at reasonable prices/shipping, I would love to hear your suggestions!

I'll be back tomorrow to share my Etsy Inspired Challenge project and you are going to want to play along if you're a Material Girl (*wink*)!

Spreading the Love!

One of the things I love so much about card making is the joy it brings to others. I know my family and friends always enjoy receiving a special handmade card in the mail...it's such a nice surprise to find in a pile of bills and junk mail! :) Although I also know that sometimes us card makers have a stack of cards just sitting around. When was the last time you sent one of your lovely cards to someone? The owner of my local scrapbook store that I design for is on a mission this month to send at least one card each day to a friend or family member...isn't that great?! I think I might have to take on this challenge myself!

Last night I took some time to work on the new sketch for 2 Sketches 4 You. I really enjoyed working with this sketch and used some of Crate Paper's great Season Collection to come up with this card:

I love the colors and worn look of this collection. My center mat was created using some of the cloud paper and several chipboard pieces as well as a little turquoise ric rac. The half circle is actually a rainbow...doesn't it add so much more to the card than just a regular plain colored circle would have?! I love when something as simple as turning an embellishment on its' side can make such a difference in how a project looks.

I think I will be sending this card to my grandma in California along with a few great pictures of the kiddos!

I hope you all are having a wonderful day! I actually went to the gym this morning (yeah me!) and am looking forward to a quiet afternoon with the boys.

If you want to play along in the 2S4Y challenge you have until Saturday...click HERE for all the details.

It's gonna be a Bright, Sunshiny Day!!!

This morning I woke up to beautiful sunshine streaming through the windows...I love a nice spring day!

So I thought I would share a little sunshine with you all too! Here's a treasury that I created last night:

I just love the warmth and happy feel of this treasury! Click HERE to see the treasury up close and discover the great shops that sell these items.

Now, for those of you who don't know...Etsy has just released a new treasury called treasury east. If you have never been able to get a main treasury, then treasury east is for you. Treasury east allows anyone to create a treasury at any time and the treasury never expires. Now it is currently in the beginning stages and many people think that there should be limits, expiration dates, etc., which I completely agree with because otherwise there eventually will be thousands of treasury easts and really who is going to bother to even look through them? But for now you can enjoy creating your own treasury anytime you like...check it out here. If you still want to try to snag a main treasury because you think that's part of the fun, now is also a good time to do that because fewer people are waiting around for it. Click here to see my tips for getting a main treasury. (Just a note: I think the main treasury is still currently getting more views/exposure since the treasury link from the front page goes to it)

The other day I did try out Treasury East and created a fun rainy day collection...I guess I am inspired by weather lately! :)

Click HERE to see this treasury up close along with links to the shops.

Okay...I hope you all have a wonderful day! I am going to enjoy some outside time with my boys, run a few errands, and finish up my design team projects!

Saturday Night Special!!!

Every Saturday on Etsy there are tons of shops that participate in Saturday Night Specials. And tonight I am joining the party!

For tonight only...technically through tomorrow morning (6 am PST), I am offering 10% off your entire purchase from my Etsy shop, Capturing Creativity.

I have lots of new cards, embellishments and creativity kits in stock, so pop on by and find some goodies for yourself or for a friend! :)

To see a list of the other shops participating in Saturday Night Specials, click HERE.

(If you are looking for my Etsy Inspired Challenge post, please see the post below)