My Grandma's art

When I read the Heart 2 Heart challenge to incorporate a recipe into a project, I thought of the recipe card I have in my grandma's handwriting. It's not a recipe I make, but I treasure it because she wrote it out for me years ago. A page idea began to develop as I thought about how my humble little grandma showed her creativity in her cooking, sewing, and quilting. She passed away on July 4, 1994, and I miss her so much! This page is a tribute to how much she loved us and how she showed it.

The layout is based on the following Mojo Monday sketch:

Love the Big Brown Truck!

Guess who came to my house -- the man in the Big Brown Truck! He left this beautiful big box filled with new Autumn/Winter CTMH goodies! I was at work when it arrived, and it was not fun to wait until I could come home to open the box and check out all the new fall products. Have I mentioned that I {heart} the Big Brown Truck?!

Here's a peek at the new colors. I'll be hard at work during July and August, planning fun workshops and making beautiful artwork to share with you! Now where did I put that "Magic" book?

How many cards in a Level 2 Paper Packet?

In my "other" job, I coordinate training for new sales reps in the call center in which I work. With up to 100 new hires each year, I'm always trying to find creative ways to make them feel welcomed. Last year, I purchased a Level 2 Paper Packet (Emporium) and a value pack of card bases and envelopes and decided to see how many cards I could make from one paper pack.

Would you believe that I got 86 cards with this paper pack and only needed to add three extra sheets of Colonial White cardstock and a few envelopes? After I used up the card bases, I cut the solid cardstock into card bases. The cards are pretty simple, but the new hires love them and seem to appreciate the thought that goes into making them. Our entire "welcome team" signs the cards, then the cards get tucked into a first-day welcome folder. The price comes to around 35 cents per card (including an envelope!). See how far you can get your paper pack to stretch!

Heart 2 Heart - Anything but a Card!

I'm squeaking in under the wire with this week's Heart 2 Heart challenge. It has been a busy week since getting back from vacation and convention, so I decided to share what I made for my convention roommates. I wanted something they could use to remember the trip. These cute frames were plain to start with and were just crying out for some of the darling Cherry-O papers.

I tinted some of our white Ceramcoat paint with chocolate reinker to paint the edges. When the paint dried, I distressed it further with ink directly applied to the edges. Using Mod Podge, I applied the paper (after flipping the frame over and tracing the outline on the back of the paper). After it dried a little, I distressed the edges of the paper with ink and applied another coat of Mod Podge to seal the paper.  After tying ribbon around a few places and adding the "Convention 2010" flower embellishment, I was done! The center of the flower is a Designer Brad put through the holes of a button. A little cherry stamped in the corner of the gift bag tied it all together.