I decided I was way overdue for making a card! I used some of my scraps from my Tutorial Thursday project (click here to see tutorial) to make this sweet little card that I'm going to use for Valentine's Day. The paper, chipboard sticker, and Flower Market flower is Prima's Romanitque collection. The clear hearts are by Prima, and the pink lace is My Mind's Eye Blush. I hope you enjoy!
Hi Everyone!! It's Tutorial Thursday time!! Today I'm making a Melissa Frances Oval Stacking Box with the very romantic Prima Romantique collection.
These cute little boxes come in a set of 3. I'm using the middle size box.
First, trace the top of the box on the back side of your paper.
Cut 2 strips out of 8×8 paper that are 1 1/2" wide to cover the sides. I'm using Prima's Romantique 8×8 paper pad.
Adhere the first strip along the side.
Line up the second strip with the first, cover the rest of the side of the box top, and cut off the excess paper.
Adhere the traced cutout from step 1 to the top of the box.
If needed, trim any excess paper, and sand lightly for a nice finished edge.
Ink all the edges and bottom of the box with Distress Ink (I used Antique Linen).
Embellish, and you're done! Easy peasy! I use Prima Lace, Prima Avon Roses, Prima Gillian Flowers, and a BoBunny Etc Trinket to decorate mine!
I thought this would make a great gift, especially for Valentine's Day. Fill it with candy and a small card. Who wouldn't love that?! ENJOY!
This is Part II of "2011 Year In Review." Click here to read Part I from yesterday's post. These are posts from the second half of the year that I picked as favorites. It was tough to choose, but here they are.
TO READ THE ENTIRE POST CLICK ON THE LINK UNDER EACH PICTURE.
JULY 2011
Happy Shabby 4th What's not to love about a shabby project?!
The Art of Scrapbooking Retreat Hosted by yours truly! What a blast! A very memorable weekend.
CHA Summer 2011 Bob & I had the best time in Chicago! We were able to meet lots of great people, watch fantastic demos, shoot some product videoes, and celebrate our anniversary all in one trip.
SEPTEMBER 2011
Little Moments, Big Memories Book Love this mini album!! It started as a personal album for a family trip, but I ended up doing a kit.
Burnt Edge Canvas ATCs Tutorial You know I love anything Halloween. I did a later post on how to use these adorable ATCs on a layout.
OCTOBER 2011
Spooky Haunted House This was a sandcastle mini I turned into a haunted house. LOVE it!
NOVEMBER 2011
Cloth Paper Scissors Pages Getting published in CPS was definitely a hightlight of the year. What a great honor!
Flower Tutorial & Christmas Book Another passion (obsession) of mine, flowers! Great tutorial, and my crazy popular Christmas book that sold out 4 times!
DECEMBER 2011
Week of Ornaments: Day 3 Farmhouse Cute, cute, cute!
Week of Christmas Ornaments: Day 4 video tutorial
Happy New Year, Everyone! I hope you had a wonderful holiday, and spent lots of quality time with family and friends. I had a wonderful Christmas & New Year. I enjoyed every minute of the time I spent with my family, and felt so very fortunate for them.
Now that the new year is upon us, I thought I'd take a moment to reflect on the year past. 2011 was a year of exciting adventures, and growth both personally and professionally for me. It was only January a year ago that I dedicated myself full-time to my business, and wow, what a journey. I can't help but think my poor husband must have thought I was crazy running a scrapbooking business in the middle of an economic recession, but I feel a little like "Field of Dreams"…"build it, and they will come." And, you guys did! I have met so many wonderful people that share my enthusiasm for scrapbooking, papercrafting, and art. The friendships I have formed with people that I have so much in common with has just been the highlight of my life. You guys have forever touched my heart, and I am so very grateful for that.
I cannot begin to tell you how passionate I am about creating. It's what I think about when I get up in the morning, when I go to bed at night (sometimes the very wee hours of night), and when I wake up at 2am! To me creating is an introspective process, healing, happiness, joy, and an act of love. Writing isn't necessarily my "thing," but I can tell a story through an art journal page, or mini album. Sometimes I flip through my 12×12 scrapbooks, and think, "Oh my goodness, this is my entire life's story right here on these pages in front of me!" It's so gratifying, and gives me such a feeling of accomplishment knowing that I can reflect back on all of the great moments in my life just by sitting down and opening a few books. Hopefully, when my children are all grown, they too will enjoy and appreciate the time and effort I took in preserving our memories.
It is that passion and enthusiasm that has brought me to this point in my life. I often have people ask me what the key to success is. I couldn't begin to suggest I know the answer to that very large question. However, if I had to hazard some type of guess, it would be 2 things #1 passion, and #2 a heck of a lot of hard work 
On the professional front, some interesting facts about my growing business in 2011. We have shipped to every state in the US, most US territories, and over 20 countries. We've sold over 15,000 products. We started the year with a product offering of 260, and have grown to almost 2000! Our average monthly growth rate is over 20%. We've tripled our server service, become PCI compliant, and redesigned our website to make browsing easier. We streamlined our shipping process to print labels quicker to meet our growing order demand. And, something I am extremely proud of, I am still able to review each order, read comments (my favorite part of order processing), and write personal notes on each order (with only an occasional hand cramp LOL). The list goes on and on….
Since it's the beginning of the new year, I thought I'd take this opportunity post some of my favorite blog posts from 2011. Because I have so many favorites, I thought I'd break it up into 2 posts. Be sure to come back tomorrow for the second half of 2011 in review.
TO READ THE ENTIRE POST CLICK ON THE LINK UNDER EACH PICTURE.
JANUARY 2011
A Card to Start the Day One of my favorite cards, probably because of the mixed media elements, and kraft envelope.
Getting Organized In the New Year, January 6, 2011. I may need to reread this post.
FEBRUARY 2011
Grand Finale Week of Cards I love this card, and made it on vacation at the cabin with the family.
Gypsy Journeys Portfolio One of my most popular kits. I had so much fun designing this kit, and teaching the classes.
Springtime Canvas A favorite project because I LOVE working with canvas
MARCH 2011
Spread Your Wings Mixed Media Album Another extremely popular kit that I ADORE! It's everything I love in one book.
APRIL 2011
JUNE 2011
Birthday Cards I created these as a class for a retreat I held. I keep thinking I really should do a UStream because these are one of my favorite sets of birthday cards I've designed.
Hi Everyone!! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. I spent some quality time relaxing and enjoying my family. It was fantastic!! Here's a glimpse of Christmas morning at our house.
Okay you guys, mark your calendar for the next UStream coming in January. What? Don't have a calendar yet for the new year? Not a problem, we'll be making one!! I simply love this project! It's a portfolio or desk calendar with removable, pre-printed pages. The one shown is the Girlie Blush version, but I'm also offering it in a Boyish Blue and Sunny Sunshine Yellow. Each kit comes with the entire 12×12 My Mind's Eye Lost & Found Two paper collection (10 sheets) that is varnish glittered, brads, trims, prong fastener, pockets, tags, file folder, clips, 6 sheets pre-printed kraft calendar pages (printed front and back), wooden spool ends, and more!!!
2012 Calendar Kit, UStream Workshop Jan. 25th at 2pm (EST)
Create this 12-month calendar with pre-printed, removable pages for 2012 using a manila file folder! Take the pages out at the end of the year, and recycle it as a photo album. Has 2 library pockets with tags, 8-page kraft memo pad, photo flap, and 6 calendar pages printed front and back on kraft paper that measures 8.5×11. Calendar pages are inserted on a prong fastener so that you can flip your pages over each month. Has a tie closure and folds up so you can carry it as a portfolio calendar, or open it up and leave it on your desk. Would make a great Valentine gift, if you can part with it! Kit comes with written instructions. Expected to ship Jan. 10th.
(click here to pre-order now and save 10%)
