10 Things I Love ....

This was actually a challenge for me to do a layout page about myself.  I love to scrapbook my boys and family but to sit down and do a layout about me...that was hard. 

I used Echo Park's paper and Unity Stamps that coordinate with the Echo Park line.  I also used Tim Holtz's bird cage die cut...by the way if you love Tim Holtz you should check out the sale Joann's is having on his metal embellishments...below wholesale.  I ordered way to much last night, but boy will it be fun when that order comes in. I also used some yummy sequin ribbon and chipboard from Maya Road and the pretty numbers are from Pink Paislee.

So today I'm bit and determined to get some more scrapping done as I've been really lazy over the holidays and I need to feel my days off amounted to something...

I hope everyone has a safe and happy New Year and I'll see you next year. 

Divine Noel Swirly Doo's Layout

This is a layout I did featuring my Mother's Antique Christmas Ornament Tree.  No one in the family will help her put it up, as we're all so afraid we'll break one of the precious ornaments.  She claims she breaks some every year, but we still are about to touch it.  I wanted to have a layout of it, as I know one day it won't get put up...or at least it will never be as pretty as when she does it.  The tea pot ornaments are two of my favorites and I also love the bird, so I featured those on the ornament mats. 

Now here are some of the techniques I used on this months Swirly Doos Divine Noel Kit.  First I gold leafed the die cut circle frame.  I printed some paper for the ornament mats on my Imagine (that I still don't think I like) and then cut out the ornament shapes.  Embossed the Christmas tree and then highlighted the embossed areas with my smooch (which I am in love with) It really gave the trees an iron work feel.  Distressed the edges of my paper, made my poinsettias from some prisma flowers and stickles. The edges of my pictures have also been smooch with two colors (bronze and gold) Added a stick pin and some crystals and called it done.  Hope you enjoy and Merry Christmas Everyone.

This layout qualifies for the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp and Show : Vintage

Beary Scraps : Pearls and Gem (green pearls in flowers and the crystals)

Drunken Stampers : Christmas

Yeap, Another Adorable Tag

I told you all I was loving tags this season.  This is one I did for my son's teachers for their Reindeer Tea...so stinkin cute, I loved them.  I would love to see some of your tags you've done for the holidays...feel free to leave a link in the comments and I'll go take a peek. 

Tags, Tags and More Tags

I've really gotten into tags this holiday season, they are so much fun and look incredible on a package.  This is another tag I created...hope you enjoy.

Imaginisce December Sketch Challenge / Shooter of My Heart

I've been having so much fun during the month of December with all the blog hop, days of Christmas and other holiday fest that is out there.  So while I was cruising around I came across this sketch challenge from Imaginisce.  I love the sketch, but I only had two lines of Imaginisce paper, one was Christmas and the other was completely summer...and the pictures I wanted to use didn't really lend themselves to either...so I took their "Snowy Jo" Christmas line and did this non Christmas layout..which was a challenge in and of itself. 

Imaginisce December Sketch

So here is my interpretation

There really is a ton of detail in the layout.  I wove the bottom section to create a pattern of paper that wasn't Christmasy but would blend in with my layout...in essence created my own.  I love Cole's sweet expression in the middle picture...he truly is such an innocent little thing.


Here are a few close up...and be sure to leave some love with a comment about what ya think....

Be sure to head over to Imaginisce Blog to check out their new Garden Party Collection. 

http://www.imaginisceblog.com/

Heartfelt Creations Tag: Needed to Repreive Myself

I thought the card I did earlier this evening was just plum pitiful...so I really needed to work a little a reprieve myself.  I think overall I did with this tag for the Heartfelt Creations challenge over at Joan's Garden. 

I used all types of products including:

Waxy Flax - Close To My Heart

Tim Holtz embossing folder

Tim Holtz distress Inks

Of course...Heartfelt Creations Stamps and die cuts for Spellbinders

One of my new staples : Gold Smooch

Copics

Cardboard Letters from Swirlydoos

and some of primas yummy pearls.

Hope you think a bit more of me after this project than the one before, LOL. 

Winter White Card

So, you see there are a lot of challenges right now using an all winter white color scheme...so I thought I would give it a try.  Do you have any idea how hard all white cards really are?  This is my first attempt and I think I'll need to keep trying....just not loving this card, but I hope it will inspire you to give an all white card a try...it really is a challenge.

This card qualifies for the following challenges.

At Joans Gardens : Heartfelt Creations
Flourishes : White
Charisma Cards: Sketch
Simon Says Stamp and Show : Holiday Greetings
Spoon Full of Sugar : Christmas Card
Paper Play : monochromatic
Stamping Sisters in Christ : White with a splash of red

Heartfelt Card Challenge

So there is some light snow on the ground today, so in my book that equals = stay in and craft :).  This is a simple card I did using Heartfelt Creations Sunflower stamp and Nestie Die / Blossom 2.  Don't you just love the way the two work together to create an easy but stunning flower. 

This card qualifies for the following challenges:

Simon Says Sketch Challenge
Stamp and Create : Holiday Card
Joans Garden : Heart Felt Creations

Plenty for Twenty..Just in time for the Holidays

This is the season that it's time to give and sometimes get. During December if you place a $20 order on my website for anything...you'll get a FREE D Size retired stamp set from Close To My Heart.  Corporate will hand pick you a special set and include it with your order free of shipping, tax and handling...they'll just throw it in as a gift to you.  WOW...the retail value of the stamp set is $22.95, so how can you go wrong. 

Click Here to head over to my website and check out all the goodies we have to help you complete your holidays layouts or even cards.  You'll fall in love for sure. 

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me  (lorileng@bellsouth.net) ...Hugs, Lori

Everybody's Doing it: Tags , Do you love a challenge/

Challenge: Make it Sparkle



So you have to admit, tags are so darn hot for the holiday season, right?  You can check out Tim Holtz's blog everyday and see so many new techniques that he teaches using tags...and you can play along with various challenges for blogs using tags. 

One that you have to go check out if you haven't already is SWIRLYDOOS. First I think their store is amazing, I mean amazing.  Their gallery has great inspiration on it, forum is a lovely place to chat with other papercrafting lovers and their blog is sure to keep you up on everything.  This month on their blog they are running the 25 Tags of Christmas.  Everyday they have a different challenge to make a tag, and link it back to their post.  They choose a winner by random generator and everyday someone wins ones of these fabulous prima christmas ornaments boxes, valued at $29.95.



I encourage each of you to jump into the festive season and start playing along.  It's super easy, inspiring and FUN! and you might just win.  I've included some of the tags I've made for the contest so far...it's just on day four so you have plenty of time to get on board and discover SWIRLYDOO'S.




Challenge : Monochromatic Red or Green





Challenge : What does Christmas Mean to You

Challenges These Tags Meet:
Creative Inspirations : Christmas Gifts
Wild Orchid: Victorian / Tag 3
Creative Inspirations : Christmas Decorations no cards
Fussy and Fancy : Anything but a card
Bunny Zoe's Crafts: Anything but a card
Really Reasonable Ribbon: Anything but a card / Tag 1 or 2

Close To My Heart December Blog Hop : AMORE

Welcome to December's Close To My Heart, Stamp of the Month, Blog Hop!  What a mouthful, LOL.  If you just joined us from Judy's blog then you're on the right path.

This month's stamp set has so many versatile uses and with Valentines Day right around the corner, it's a must.  I random stamped the back of my card using the top portion of the larger heart.  The sentiment is from this collection.  The flower was made using the stamp set too.  I just took the smaller heart and used the top third and stamped it in a line along the edge of a piece of cardstock.  Then I cut out the scalloped edge and added some cocoa ink to the edges with a sponge dauber for depth.  Next I punched out a circle from my CTMH circle punch and started working the flower.  With a heavy drop of glue in the center of the circle I twisted and folded the scalloped border into a rose.  Once I had it completed the shape I wanted I held it in place for a minute or two for the glue to set...and bang...I've had an adorable flower.  I added some mocha opaques to the center and you had a beautiful embellishment.  You can easily do this for your card or layout. 

If you would like to pick up your AMORE stamp set for a discounted price or even free...feel free to check it out on my website http://www.lorileng.myctmh.com/ or email me lorileng@bellsouth.net for more information.

Now it's time for the creativity to continue...HOP ON OVER TO LAURIE'S BLOG and see what wonderful creation she has imagined up for you.  Also please be sure to leave some blog love if you enjoyed this post...it's always nice to get feedback.

Thank you Heartfelt Creations

A couple of months ago I was so blessed by Heart Felt Creations...I won their whole monthly line for leaving a comment on their blog. I was so pumped and then came vacation, Halloween and now Thanksgiving...can you believe I'm so horrible that I hadn't made a thank you card yet with the beautiful stamp set/ and nesties they sent me.  So tonight my project was to make a long overdue card. 

These are the challenges this card qualifies for:

2Sketches4you : Sketch

Flower Soft : Thank you

Simon Says: Snow

Stamp Something : Thank you

A Spoon Full of Sugar : Anything Goes

Paper Take Weekly: Cut it out

Alota : Christmas

Crafty Catz: Christmas

Craft Your Day's Aways: Texture

Crafty Creations: Christmas

SNOW

This is a layout I created using My Mind's Eye new Christmas Line " Dear Santa".  I cut multiple snowflakes using my good ole Cricut and then folded and layered to create a 3-d snowflake.  I then used Diamond Dust to the edges of the paper, snowflakes and some of the embellishments to add that snowy sparkle.  I adore the picture I used for this layout.  It's of my husband and our youngest son several winters ago...and I thought it was so cool the way the snow really shows up in the picture.  It looks like it was some type of effect I added using the computer, but it isn't.  This was the actual picture.

Close up of 3-d Snowflakes

Diamond Dust added to Chipboard Letters

I hope everyone is having a blessed Thanksgiving and are getting to be with loved ones....don't eat to much turkey :)

Exploring Websters Pages

I've loved Webster's Pages Paper for some time, but just it's just been one of those lines you tend to save instead of breaking it out and using it.  So with the journey I'm on to really explore my scrapbooking skills, I thought...now is the time to use that paper up...and so I've started.  This is the first layout I've done using Webster's Pages and I love it.  Once you get past the whole...don't cover up anything beautiful...then you'll find you have a wonderful creation with lots of layers.

Detail of Layered Ribbon and Handmade Flowers

This layout qualifies for the anything goes challenge over at Beary Scraps.

For My Friend...Pavlo

This is a layout I did for a friend of the family...Pavlo.  He is such a wonderful person and moved here from the Ukraine several years ago with his wife, brother and children in tow.  Recently his mother passed away and he and his brothers flew back home to attend the funeral.  It really struck me how difficult it would be to loose your parents and be a world away.  I'm so blessed that I can drive down the road and be at my Mom's in five minutes.  So I started thinking what could I do for them...I was going to bake something, but their wives are some of the best bakers you would ever want to meet...so not such a great idea.  A card just didn't seem enough since I hold them in such high regard...and then I thought I would make a memory scrapbook page that I could frame and they could hang up in their shop...a reminder of their sweet mother who raised such strong Godly men.  So this is what I presented them with and I think they loved it. 

I used some of the Pink Paislee Parisian Anthology and Tim Holtz Distress inks as the base page.  Then I water distressed...something new I'm so LOVING...Prisma flowers were used around the picture...OH and I did use the new Photoshop Elements 9 to do a little doctoring to the picture.  Really this is just layers upon layers with paper, sewing, flowers, embellishments and more than anything LOVE.  I truly have been so blessed as of late by SwirlyDoo's, they have inspired me to really take my scrapping to a new level and I believe it shows.  Many of the products I used you can pick up at Swirlydoos and do be sure to check out their gallery also.

Lessons Learned Layout

This weekend was crazy and though I wished I had lots of time to craft, I didn't.  My husband loves to put up our Christmas decorations before Thanksgiving...so you guessed it, I spent majority of my weekend working on Christmas. 

I did manage to get one layout done...which was better than nothing.  This is a layout of my great grandmother who really was the example of a women for my Mother, sister and I.  She was the greatest in so many regards...she even was a early scrapbooker, with things like keeping napkins from an ice cream parlor visit to remember the occasion.  You have to understand she was born in 1900 and grew up during the depression so she really knew how to value things and what things to value...an important lesson I think so many of us miss today.  Well I'll step down from my soap box, LOL and hope you enjoy my layout.  I used a sketch from the My Minds Eye Challenge Blog along with some of their yummy papers and the journal note.  I am LOVING photoshop Elements ...and did some creative work with my pictures. The smaller flowers I created with MME paper and a Bazzil rhinestone button.  I water distressed the edges and also used my paper distressor tools for the edges of the floral diecut and Tim Holtz's distress inks.  Of course I layered some of my Swirly Doo goodies in also...the flower edging rosettes ribbon, Petal loo black flower, and that killer cameo.  As beautiful as I think this layout is, it fails in comparison to my great grandmother.  I wish you all could have known her. 

BE STILL...SWIRLYDOOS

I've found the greatest little store that I just love...SWIRLYDOO'S . You have to check them out.  They offer monthly kits that they have such an eye for putting together various manufactures products that really lend themselves to artistic projects.  They have tutorials and a gallery that is sure to give you tons of inspiration...Here is one of the four layouts I did over the weekend. 

The three larger flowers were all made by hand...and I love the overall look.  I also did some major water distressing to my paper and just think the overall effect is great. Some of the products I used for this layout were

My Mind's Eye Paper

Prima Flowers

Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist

Songbird Cricut Cartridge

Felicity Paper Pack from Close To My Heart

Bazzil Cardstock

Websters Pages Rhinestone Buttons

Flourish Accent : Close To My Heart

Dusty Attic Chipboard (OMGOSH..LOVE IT!!!)

Tim Holtz Distress Inks

Tiny Type Stamp Set: CTMH

and Photoshop Elements 9 to doctor my photo of the LowCountry Sunset.

Happy Birthday Day Greg!!!!

Today is my sweet husbands birthday. So far, he is having a GREAT week...he got to meet Olivia Newton John on Tuesday night and trust me, he has been on cloud nine ever since.  He even got to take a picture of her, so as long as he doesn't frame it and put it beside our bed, he's safe, LOL.

Here is his birthday card I made for him...I used my new Imagine ( still making up my mind if I like it or not) Graphic 45 paper, My new large spellbinders, Tim Holtz embossing folder and a little creativity.  I hope he like it.  More than anything I hope and pray for him to have a blessed year to come...

I know he doesn't read my blog much, but if he does....Greg...I love you and Happy Birthday, oh and you'll get your card tonight, LOL.

What's in Your Heart?

This is one of my favorite layouts I've done in quite some time...I love the picture of my four year old kneeling at some old church steps, I love black and white photos, I love the products I used in the layout...but more than anything, I love the meaning.....What's in your heart?  The more I study and grow I realize whatever is in your heart will come out of your mouth and actions...and that is what others will see about you.  So I have to ask, What's in your heart? I always hope and pray that people will only see love and kindness from my heart and also the same from yours.  

This layout uses a ton of Tattered Angels products, My Mind's Eye Paper, paint and glimmer mist screens, Martha Stewart punch, 3-d foam tape (of course)  and a lot of imagination. 

November's Stamp of the Month Blog HOP!

Yeap, it's that time again...Close To My Heart's monthly blog hop featuring the stamp of the month.  This month's stamp is sure to be a favorite go to, as it's all about Thank yous ( a little Thanks)...we always need those stamp sets.  This hop is so amazing as it features over 60 current Close To My Heart consultants and their creative juices and  takes on what to do with this stamp set...Talk about inspiration!!!!  So you probably just hopped here from Melinda's Blog...Welcome, let's get on with some artwork. 

I wanted to do something a little different so I designed a wine tag for this month.  The flower was created by cutting and burning ribbon...stay tuned on that one as more instructions will follow in future posts. I distressed  the edges and base of my tag with Close To My Heart's sanding kit and if you don't have one of these, you should.  The base paper I used is Olivia which is perfect for the fall season.  The overall base for the tag is a page from our dimensional chipboard album that I cut down to a tag size. It created a sturdy base with some decorative flair. The sentiment was stamped and then highlighted with the matching marker in cocoa ink.  I  added a stickease sticker that has so much class and a few mocha pearls and it's done. It's a simple project but adds such a punch to a bottle of sparkling cider or wine.  Especially with the holidays approaching and hostess gifts being something we have to consider, I hope you consider this quick but elegant idea.

This is everything you get with this month's stamp set (16 stamps). The set retails for 22.95, but contact me and I"m happy to tell you how to get it discounted or even free...plus this month you can get an additional stamp set free with $100 order...that's $46 free in stamps with $100 purchase...just in time for holiday gift giving. 

Now it's time to hop on over to Judy's Blog and see what amazing creation she had come up for you this month.

Please be sure to leave a comment and /or follow my blog if you like my work.  You can also check out my store at the following link: Shop Now

Have a great month and remember it's the season for giving thanks...

Cricut Circle Monthly Challenge

I am just barely getting my entry in for the Cricut Circle Club monthly challenge - but, here it is! I used Wall Decor and More for my flower and "create" and then for my scalloped matting, I used French Manor (the first exclusive cart for Cricut Circle members).

One of My Favorites!

This is one of the layouts we did while in Utah on the Spa Get Away and it's one of my favorites...it has such a contemporary feel with the graffiti look (that's how I refer to this style, LOL).  I adore the over all effect and love the little hinged secret that reveals the journaling and another picture.  This layout is featured in the new Magic book...so contact me today to get your copy. 

Want 3 CTMH Stamp Sets FREE ?

Now is the time to start getting those holiday wish lists together and really get a TON of goodies from Close to My Heart.  During the month of November you can really make out a like a bandit with the Give a little MORE promotion.  For every $100 in product that you purchase you'll get not only the free stamp of the month that is just adorable...give a little thanks....but you can also choose any A, B, C, or D stamp set from the current Fall/Winter Idea Book for FREE.  (excludes stamp of the month, personalized and E size stamps)

So for $100 worth of product you could get up to $45.90 free in stamp sets...that is quite a savings...but you know the more I've thought about it the more I want to make it even more lucrative for you ...

PINKCLOUDSCRAPPERS EXCLUSIVE SPECIAL

so as my own personal special I'll also throw in a D size stamp (22.95 value) set (my random pick) for you also with every $100 purchase...Now that's almost $69 in FREE stamps...what a way to welcome in the Holiday Season.

Also if you have multiple orders of $100...then you will receive the promotion double but we'll also enter it as a gathering...so you'll get at least $25 in free select product for free too! and maybe more depending on your order. 

So if you have some holiday money coming in from loved one or relatives or you just want to treat yourself now is the time.  The promotion starts as of the 1st of November and will go until November 31st...so be sure to email me today or place your order online at my website.  I will be mailing out the stamp sets from me direct, so orders will ship separately.  Also it would be best to email me before you place your order in case you qualify for hostess rewards.

All free products are subject to tax and shipping charges.

Give a Little Thanks....November Stamp of the Month

Funky Fun Halloween Tag

This is a tag I created for Halloween, that really heads towards the eerie side.  I made the roses with crepe paper that was dragged through tattered angels and then rolled into the roses...after the shape was formed I used some of the new glitter glaze from Tattered angels and dripped the red on the edges to form the blood look.  The base of the card uses the Alice in Wonderland Graphic 45 Halloween paper, though it's a little hard to see it under all the layers.  I pleated some paper on the edge to add more texture and dimension and used on of Tattered Angels chipboard tile for the gate piece.  There tiles are wonderful as they have some dimension so I colored and then sanded and then colored more to get that multi-color look.

I loved exploring techniques with this project.  I'm really enjoying trying to think outside the box and this one for sure fits that bill.....

Scrapping Doors?

As many of you know I adore the lowcountry of S.C. and try to spend as much time there as I can.  This is a layout I did with pictures of some of the different doors you'll find as you walk the Battery in Charleston, S.C.  With all the history there I couldn't help but think of all of the people in the past that had walked through those doors, what happened in their lives?  what all have those doors seen?  It's fansinating to me and fun to imagine. 

I really distressed and built up this layout out with the handy dandy 3-D foam tape and my edge distressor that you all know I LOVE.  I also used tattered angels to give a sparkle to the page.  Really the basic layout is just layers and layers distressed and built up to give some a great overall effect.  It really has so much more depth in person that this picture does it justice.  

Blessing Abound

As we start to head into the season where we really stop and count our blessings...I have so many to name.  One of my blessing was winning a trip with Close To My Heart, where I was flown out to Utah and treated to a weekend of pampering and scrapping...How awesome is that. 

This is the first page of the album we created on our scrapbooking spa retreat...I love it!!!!!  Everything is perfect and it certainly was a day to cherish.  Can you believe the mountain views that we woke up to every morning. I loved the controlled detailed sanding on the edge of the cardstock and I also loved the reinker effect that I created using a stipple brush and a little jar of reinker.  It's a beautiful layout that the artists at CTMH designed for us and it just seemed to be crying out for me to add this picture.  How could you not cherish a day like that?

A Tattered Angels Layout

I adore Tattered Angels and if you have tried it yet, you should...you just have to jump in and make the plunge.  This is a layout I did using Tattered Angels to create the background page.  It was a plain piece of cream colored cardstock at the beginning so you can tell how much T.A. adds. I also created the flowers from some grunge board and T.A.  I also burned the edges of my page, sort of a fun distressing technique if you make sure not to burn the house down.  I actually went out on my front porch at 10pm at night and did it...I'm sure my neighbors think I'm nuts, LOL. Hope you enjoy.

This project qualifies for the following challenges:

Beary Scraps / Glimmer Mist

Let's JUMP FOR JOY !!!!

As many of you know Fall is my favorite season so let's Jump into it....but get you some extra rewards in the process.  Now is the time to hold a live Close To My Heart or online catalog show...during the month of October every gathering that is held and reaches $450 in sales jumps to the next level.  That means $20 extra rewards money for select product and could mean even more half price items...it's so easy to do so why not reward yourself?  Online idea book shows are so easy...just send me an email, I'll shoot you out an invitation you can forward to all your friends near or far to join in the fun. When they place their online order, you'll get credit towards your gathering...it's easy, simple and fun and everything is shipped direct to each person door...so you don't have to hassle with cleaning your house, get orders out to people or even getting dressed on your party night, LOL. 

It's the perfect season to hold a gathering as so many are starting to make projects for the holidays  ...so why not benefit from something you are already going to be purchasing.  I also have some wonderful online tools to help you spread the word , educate and get everyone excited about your show and Close To My Heart.  

Contact me today to set the date for your gathering as the calendar is starting to fill up. lorileng@bellsouth.net

Here is an outline of the Hostess Reward Program



When Gathering sales reach The Hostess Rewards jump to Hostess Rewards + Options jump to

$1,050 or more $220 or more** in free select product 4 items in the idea book 50% off

$950-$1,049 $200 in free select product 4 items in the idea book 50% off

$850-$949 $180 " " 4 items " "

$750-$849 $160 " " 4 items " "

$650-$749 $140 " " 3 items " "

$550- $649 $120 " " 3 items " "

$450- $549 $100 " " 2 items " "



** For each $100 in sales past $1050, add an additional $20 in free select product

* Additional tax and shipping/handling may apply on Hostess Rewards.

Read more...

Land of Oz



Cole with the Scarecrow on the Yellow Brick Road

We had such a great time this weekend at the annual "Land of Oz Festival" in Beech Mountain, NC.  Years ago there was an amusement park on top of the mountain called "Land of Oz" and if you were a Wizard of Oz fan, it was a must.  The park closed in the early 70's and many thought that was the end of that.  But little did many know majority of park still stands.  In fact a neighborhood has now been built around it and the residence walk the yellow brick road for daily strolls or exercise;...how cool is that.  Every year they hold one weekend where they open back up the park and you can go explore the "Land of Oz" with characters, props and lots of food and fun.  During the year you can rent out Dorothy's house and explore the park by yourself if you'd like.  We did that last year and it was a ton of fun, but there is nothing like seeing all the characters milling around to bring that magic.  Here are some of the pictures from this weekend...Hope you enjoy.

After face painting he blended right in








Daddy and Cole with the Gang



View from the top of Beech Mountain



Cole and his Uncle Larry



He acted like he was scared of the witch .ya think?

Winkie Guards

Part of the views along the yellow brick road