Welcome to Day 2 of this year's 25 Days of Holiday Cards. We all love Anna Griffin's designs and this years Holiday Trimming Card kit available at HSN is loaded with so many beautiful ways to dress up your Holiday Cards! Here's a card I created using this fantastic box of card making goodness.

Merry Christmas 

The Holiday Trimmings Card kit makes creating your holiday cards quick and easy. With so many beautiful coordinating embellishments and patterned paper options, you'll be able to several cards in a very short amount of time.

Last year at my weekly coffee group we had a blast creating some cards from last year's set. 

Here's a few photos

Anna always says "it's a party in a box" and it's true. What a great idea for hosting a Holiday Party...kids included!

Thanks for stopping by for Day 2. Thank you for your sweet comments. i really do enjoy reading them..

See you tomorrow with Day 3

{S}

25 Days of Holiday Cards

Hello friends. It's that time again! Are you ready for my Third Annual 25 days of Holiday Cards? If this is your first time visiting my blog, I started this fun look at 25 ideas for Holiday Card making in 2011! 

 I hope you'll enjoy checking in with me every day starting today and leading up to Christmas Day! Each day I will be sharing a new handmade card featuring some beautiful stamps, paper, and embellishments from various manufacturers. This year I have a few giveaways to share so make sure you stop by daily so you don't miss your chance! I'd love it if you subscribe to my blog so you don't miss a post but it's not required.

Today's card features patterned paper from Heidi Swapp's Believe collection I picked up at Michaels.

I love all the patterns in this 12x12 stack and you'll be seeing of my designs I created using this stack. Other supplies I used: twine from The Twinery and a Lil' Blossoms Lacey from Punky Sprouts. Misc: Spellbinders circle and scallop circle die and Stampin Up scallop border punch. Red foam Glitter Letters by Creative Imagination. Bling by Recollections.

If you have any questions about the products I used or where to find them, feel free to leave me a comment. I am always happy to answer any questions you may have.

Thanks for kicking off my 25 Days of Holiday Cards with me today. I hope you'll be inspired to create some of the cards I'll be sharing for your friends and family!

{S}

Stamp of the Week Sunday

Hello friends! Thanks for visiting today for another Unity Stamp Company Stamp of the Week reveal. Today I also kick off my 25 Days of Holiday Cards 2013! Come back after 10am pacific time for that post please. 

Now back to this week's Stamp of the Week...

Light in the Heart 

I love this image! It's so fun. Here's what I was inspired to create...

Supplies: Patterned paper Dear Lizzy 5th & Frolic by American Crafts, Spellbinders dies, Martha Stewart iridescent yellow glitter and Unity Stamp Co. SOTW #100. Misc: bling

For more creative inspiration make sure you visit Unity's Stamp of the Week Pin Board over at Unity's Pinterest page.  Now you only have one week to claim this cuteness for your own. 

 

Hurry over to this page to find out how you can sign up to have some Unity Happy Mail in your mailbox each week!

 

Have a creative day!

{S}

Unity {Thanksgiving} Thursday

Hello Unity friends! Happy Thanksgiving to you all and thank you so much for visiting the Unity Team's blogs today. Make sure you start at the Unity blog.

I'm so thankful for many many things today. 

My family, my health, and my children are at the top of the list. 

So today I am sharing a card I created using a perfect sentiment that expresses my feelings from one of my favorite Unity/Jillibean Soup Co-Branded sets, Apple Cheddar Soup.

So Thankful

Dies are a great way to make quick cards. I used this flourish die by Anna Griffin to create my card.

Here's another fun Co-Brand by Bella Blvd/Unity Stamp Co.

Stayed tuned for a really great sale at Unity on Monday! Here's a sneak...

 Enjoy this day with your families, enjoy the food, laughs and memories! 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Now head on over to Thienly

Stamp Of The Week Sunday

Hello friends! Thanks for visiting today for another Unity Stamp Company Stamp of the Week reveal. 

Here's a look at this week's stamp...

 

 

Tomorrow is Today's Dream

 

I loved this image the moment I saw it. Here's what I was inspired to create.

 

 

One of my stamping sisters, Amy Tsuruta inspired me to dig out my Basic Grey Persimmon collection to create with for this card. Make sure you stop by her sweet blog. I promise there is plenty of eye candy!

For more creative inspiration make sure you visit Unity's Stamp of the Week Pin Board over at Unity's Pinterest page.  Now you only have one week to claim this cuteness for your own. 

 

Hurry over to this page to find out how you can sign up to have some Unity Happy Mail in your mailbox each week!

 

Have a creative day!

{S}

Brown Thursday!

Hello friends! It's another fabulous Unity Thursday and I hope you've enjoyed all the amazing samples of the new releases today. If you didn't start at the Unity blog, then head over there so you don't miss all the fabulous eye candy the Unity team has created for you. If you have been following today's blogs then I am the last one on your stop.

First here's just a little reminder of the amazing Sale Unity is running this week!

Today I am creating with a fabulous Brand New Sentiment kit.

I haven't posted to my blog lately because I have been away from my home everyday. I can't really touch on why right now but it has thrown a wrench in my search for a new daycare baby to replace my previous one that went onto Pre-School in September. It always seems that just when I think I'm finally going to get ahead, something happens and I am right back to struggling to get by again.I know many people are feeling that way these days too. If you are, you're not alone. We just have to keep on keeping on right?

So when I was looking at each of these beautiful quotes, deciding which one I wanted to create with, this one stood out for me.

I love how a simple statement can inspire you and this set has several beautiful statements...

GOOD THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN

I just love that, and I have to believe it. I hope good things happen for you too friends!

Now before I go, don't forget to leave your comment! I really do enjoy reading them but also because

this week's prize is pretty darn amazing! 

Have a creative day!

{S}

Sometime just saying Thank You isn't enough

Hello friends! Hope you are having a great weekend so far. Since Thanksgiving is fast approaching, I've been seeing so many thankful posts on Facebook and it got me thinking about how we say Thank You today. Most people do say the words, "Thank You" in their daily lives. I know telling someone Thank You is the easiest way to show appreciation but I must admit, I really enjoy receiving Thank You cards.
Then I started thinking to myself, how many Thank You cards do I send? Not nearly enough. I also realized I really hadn't imposed that practice on my kids either. Kinda silly since I am after all, a crafty Mom.
So thank you to all the people posting what they are Thankful for on Facebook! I am making a point to teach my kids to make their own Thank You cards more often.
We started today in fact with a card for Lily's Nana, who gave her an adorable Halloween themed Barbie a few weeks ago. (better late than never right?)

Here's a look at the {little hands} Thank You card by Unity Stamp Company.

 And my little crafter hard at work.

 And her finished Thank You card!

I love that this stamp is easy to adapt to any occasion! Right now this stamp and others from the collection are 50% off! To see more of the {little hands} collection, visit the Unity Stamp Company website!

Have a creative day!

{S}

Happy Veteran's Day!

Happy Veteran's Day friends. Today I am honoring our Veterans with this card created with We R Memory Keepers Red White and Blue collection

Thank you to my Grandfather, Father, Husband and all our Veterans for their service!

Thanks Soldier

Albums Made Easy Monday will return next Monday. Today is all about our Veterans!

Enjoy your day!

{S}

Stamp of the Week Sunday

Hello friends! Thanks for visiting today for another Unity Stamp Company Stamp of the Week reveal. 

Here's a look at this week's stamp...

 

Simple Snowman Joy

 

Here's my sample with this jolly little fella!

Supplies: Patterned paper October Afternoon Make it Merry collection. Misc. buttons and snowflake.

For more creative inspiration make sure you visit Unity's Stamp of the Week Pin Board over at Unity's Pinterest page.  Now you only have one week to claim this cuteness for your own. 

 

Hurry over to this page to find out how you can sign up to have some Unity Happy Mail in your mailbox each week!

 

Have a creative day!

{S}

Moxie Fab Thanks! Blog Hop

Hello friends! I am #204 on this amazing Blog Hop honoring Cath and if you made it here from Wanda Cullen's blog, I am so delighted that you did!! 

I can't think of Cath without smiling. From the first time I met her with Susan Opal at Summer CHA 2010, I absolutely thought she was Moxie Fab! 

I have loved taking part in her Tuesday Triggers, Moxie Fab challenges and more. She has inspired me to create some of the most beautiful cards I have ever made and try techniques I had never thought of dabbling in. A real highlight for me was being asked to participate in the Moxie Fabber of the Week feature! I loved this weekly feature because it was so much fun to learn about so many creative women that I had not happened upon or ever visited their creative blogs. 

Here is my card for Cath.

Supplies:  Sentiment from the Here's my Thoughts Sentiment set by Unity Stamp Co. Paper and embellies are from my monthly Simon Says Stamp Card kits. Misc: is the gold glitter tape.

Thanks for all the inspiration and your friendship Cath, you really are dear to me. I wish you all the best in the next chapter of your Moxie Fab life! 

Now I am sending you onto Lydia Fiedler!

Announcing Crafty Creations with Shemaine

I'm so please to announce that I am not offering classes in the El Segundo are for card making and other crafts. I have been wanting to teach locally for some time and found a space to do so at my local library. If you are local I'd love to have you at one of my classes. For information on upcoming classes please like my business page on Facebook Crafty Creations with Shemaine.

Here's the information about November's classes. Feel free to email me with any questions. I hope to see you at a class!

Albums Made Easy Monday

Hello friends! It's hard to believe that Halloween came and went so fast this year. I hope you had fun with your littles. I had so much fun with my daughter but Friday I was totally beat from Trick or Treating. Those kids can go and go right?

So in today's post I am wrapping up using the Bewitched collection from We R Memory Keepers. next week I'll be featuring our Fall collection, Harvest.

 I thought it would be fun to make a shaker insert from one of the die cuts in the Bewitched Albums Made Easy collection.

 First choose what you want in your shaker

Next I cut a cellophane bag at the corner a little smaller than 3"x 4" so that the bottom and side were sealed. Then add the goodies inside that you want to use and use adhesive to seal the open side and top.

Then I used foam dots and place the shaker in the center and cover the top with the same die cut.

Here's the finished card. I added some washi tape and a fussy cut a snippet from another journal card with my Tiny attacher. (If you don't own this handy little tool from Tim Holtz, I highly suggest you use a coupon and purchase from Micahels, I love this tool!)

And here's how it looks in the Albums Made Easy page protector with some of the 4x6 and 3x4 inserts.

I hope you'll give today's technique a try and link up your posts if you share what you created on your personal blog or forum. I'd love to stop by and see them!

I love creating with the Albums Made Easy collection and hope you are gaining some useful tips and ideas from these weekly posts.

Please tell me what you think about today's tip. I'll be choosing one lucky commenter to win a mix of these Albums Made Easy inserts from the Bewitched collection.

 If you have any questions about the Albums Made Easy system, feel free to leave a comment and I'll be happy to answer them.

Have a creative day!

{S}

Stamp of the Week Sunday

Hello friends! It's Sunday and time for this week's Stamp of the Week reveal!

Mind & Beauty

 

Such a beautiful and delicate stamp right? Here's my sample.

I used my last Paper Posies kit for this card. So sad that Michele has decided to close the kit club down. It was one of my first Design Team gigs and I have loved being a part of the team.

For more creative inspiration make sure you visit Unity's Stamp of the Week Pin Board over at Unity's Pinterest page.  Now you only have one week to claim this cuteness for your own. 

 

Hurry over to this page to find out how you can sign up to have some Unity Happy Mail in your mailbox each week!

 

Have a creative day!

{S}

Unity Thursday : Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween friends!  What a fun day for Unity Thursday right? Ohhhh do we have some great sales and new releases for you today so make sure you visit the Unity blog so you don't miss a thing! 

Let's get to it!

For today's post I created with the October Sentiment Set: Halloween Chatter. I wanted to share some Albums Made Easy (We R Memory Keepers) insert ideas.

I used the stamped images along with the Bewitched collection from We R Memory Keepers and added my photos and here you have it!

Next up is this beautiful image!

I really loved coloring this image. I had to add the Eyelet Outlet Butterflies, they seemed perfect.

Thanks for visiting me today! Now I am sending you on your way to Thienly!

Albums Made Easy Monday

Hello friends! I'm back from my weekend teaching at Stitch Craft and Create Live in Charlotte NC and had a wonderful time. If you have never visited Charlotte, I highly recommend it. The city was so beautiful and clean. I enjoyed eating at some fabulous restaurants and walking around downtown Charlotte after my classes.

I was really excited to teach an introduction to Albums Made Easy and share some ideas for adding your own style to the journal cards and inserts. We covered some tips like using your scraps, utilizing stamped images like the ones shown in my samples from Unity Stamp Company's monthly SMAK kits, die cut images, washi tape and more! Here's is a look at the Album Pages we created during the class with the ever so popular Chalkboard collection.

Here's a few snaps from class! 

Friday morning

Saturday Morning

 

 

It was really nice to meet all these sweet ladies. I enjoyed creating with you! Special thanks to my volunteers. I really appreciated all of your help!

Now for last week's winner of the Bewitched inserts

Pamela Payne said...

I love this tip. I have some pretty paper in my stash that would work great like this. Thanks for the money saving tip!

October 22, 2013 at 12:53 PM

Congratulations Pamela! Email me your address at shemainesmith22@gmail.com and I will get those in the mail to you.

Thanks for stopping by today! I'll be back next week with a new AME tip!

Stamp of the Week Sunday

Hello friends! Thanks for visiting today for another Unity Stamp Company Stamp of the Week reveal. 

Here's a look at this week's stamp.

 

 

Holiday Joy Christmas Tree 

 

 

Here's my sample with this adorable image.

 

 

For this card I used some Basic Grey patterned paper, a delicate doily, large button and some twine. I loved creating with this image. 

 

For more creative inspiration make sure you visit Unity's Stamp of the Week Pin Board over at Unity's Pinterest page.  Now you only have one week to claim this cuteness for your own. 

 

Hurry over to this page to find out how you can sign up to have some Unity Happy Mail in your mailbox each week!

 

Have a creative day!

{S}