Desk Set with Instructions

I craft once a month with a wonderful group of ladies!  Usually one of the group each month brings something paper crafted for the whole group.  Last month a bunch of them brought paper crafty goodies with Easter themes for everyone in the group.  A couple of us decided we needed to do something this month since we didn't bring anything last month.  :-)

The month got away from me, of course, and when the reminder about group night showed up, panic mode set it.  It was then a race to find something quick and easy but fun to make for them.

This is what I came up with:

A personalized post-it note holder - pretty and functional.

It's a quick project that is also useful.  I found this idea on another blog but made it my own.  The original project has a ribbon tied around the top above the post-it note pad but I decided to just put a line of bling on it, just above the monogram.  I love the more simplistic look it gives. 

If you've got a dollar store near you, that is the best place to find the 4x6 acrylic frames that are used for this. 

You can see from the side view how it would sit on your desk. 

I just cut a 4x6 pieces of the Sophia papers - which happened to go so well with the colors of the post-it note packs I picked up.  I opted not to buy dollar store post it notes for this as they never seem to come apart or stick as well as the name brand ones.

Anyway ... slide the paper into the photo frame. 

I then cut mats for the monogram pieces that closely matched the color of the post-it notes.  Mine measure 2.25x2.25 inches.  The monograms are then stamped onto 2x2 inch pieces of White Daisy cardstock and the edges of each piece are inked.  The stamp set I used on this one is the Bohemian Alphabet, which I love.  The swirl (and flower I stamped onto each post-it note pad) is in the same stamp set! Bonus!

I adhered the post-it note pad to the acrylic frame using our Tombow Adhesive, just running a strip along the top of the back of the pad.  I mounted it, leaving a 1/4 inch space along the bottom and right hand side of the frame.  (You could also, maybe, just remove the brown paper backing of the post-it notes and adhere it using the post-it note's adhesive so once the pad is used up, it would be easier to add a replacement.  I didn't think of that until just now, of course!  *LOL*)

The monogram square/mat is then mounted, centered in the space to the left of the pad, using the top edge of the pad as the top border. 

Just add some bling in a straight line centered above the monogram and you're done!  I mounted mine so the bottom of the bling was about even with the top of the note pad.  Well, as close as I could eye-ball it, anyway!  LOL

Inspired by Five ..... (May 8 - 14)

Better late than never again ... lol

Had no problem picking these five projects to share with you this week.  :-)

1.  Bird Notecard by Leisa Hubley at Big Red Scraps
2.  Happy Moments Journal by Aaron at Booth #32
3.  Happily Ever After Card by Debbie Carriere of Scrappin' My Heart Out
4.  and 5.  Birthday Wishes and Create Art Journal by Jeanette Lynton at jeanettelynton.com

I know that's kind of cheating but I loved them both.  :-)  More to come!

New Items Listed in "While Supplies Last" Section

Some fun new items have been listed in the "While Supplies Last" section on the sites of Close To My Heart Consultants .... Here are the ones I noticed this last time around.

1.  Edge Anchors Rustic Collection

2.  Mini Medley Accents Spring Blossom Collection

3.  Mini Medley Accents Shades of Chocolate

4.  Mini Medley Accents Autumn Garden Collection

5.  Heartfelt Whimsy Die Cuts

6.  Soft Suede Pinwheel Die Cuts

Lots of other items are there, too, so check it out.  Fabulous deals to be had.  :-)  (Shhhh.  There's a lovely box on it's way to my house as I type this.... LOL)

May Newsletter

They say April showers bring May flowers.  We didn't get much 'showers' in April but the flowers are FINALLY starting to bloom around here.  :-)

MAY 2011 STAMP OF THE MONTH

The Stamp of the Month for May is so cute and I have come across several creations that make me think I really need this stamp set. 

Yep, I really think I do!  Click on the Stamp of the Month icon on the right to see more details on this adorable set and how you can get it at a discount or even FREE!  My favorite word.  LOL

NATIONAL SCRAPBOOKING MONTH

(May 1 - 31 only)

May is National Scrapbooking Month and Close To My Heart has put a great kit together to mark the ocassion.  They always put something great together for National Scrapbooking Month so I wasn't surprised that I loved this kit so much.  I have one in my hot little hands right now and cannot wait to play.  The colors are great and so me - so is the stamp set that comes with it!!!! 

Click on the above picture to check out the flyer and see how you, too, can get this great kit and what comes in it, regular price or at a discount. 

Just in case you miss it while drooling over the layouts they've included instructions for - the double sided patterned papers in this kit are cardstock weight!!!  Oh, yeah!

JOIN MY TEAM!

If you've ever thought of becoming a Close To My Heart Consultant, now is a REALLY great time. 

If you join Close To My Heart during the month of May, you get your Consultant kit at 50% OFF.

That is an amazing deal.  Your Consultant kit would normally be $140 (CAN) but can be yours for only $70.  Everything you need to start your home based business and lots of great product as well. 

And there is more ... Join Close To My Heart during May and as well as the 50% discount on your kit, you will get one of the National Scrapbooking Month kits (a $38.95 value). 

Interested?  Click on the "Join My Team" icon to the right to join now. 

Inspired by Five ... (April 24 - May 7)

I am covering TWO WEEKS this time around since I am behind (and only had four selections for the week of April 24-30).

For April 24 - 30:

1.  Cards by Jeanette Lynton, CTMH founder on jeanettelynton.com
2.  Sympathy Card by Lisa Stenz of Lisa's Creative Corner
3.  Birthday Card by Leisa Hubley of Big Red Scraps
4.  Birthday Card by Vicki Wizniuk of Wizard's Hangout

For May 1 - 7:

For this week I had NINE items saved and really had a hard time narrowing it down to just five.  :-)

1.  Chairs to you card by Aaron of Booth #32
2.  Notecard Box Set by Lisa Stenz of Lisa's Creative Corner
3.  Thank You card by Dena of Stampin' Mim
4.  Purse Card Set by Vicki Wizniuk of Wizard's Hangout
5.  Thank You card by Vicki Wizniuk of Wizard's Hangout

I hope you enjoy these creations as much as I did.

April DT Projects

These ladies amaze me month after month.  How about you???

For April, I gave each of them papers from the Sophia Level 2 Paper Pack (X7131B), Blush Buttons (Z1370), White Daisy Ric Rac, Pearl Opaques (Z1336), and Hollyhock Ribbon from the Hollyhock Ribbon Collection. 

Their challenge was to create something, anything BUT it had to have a minimum of two circles included in it.  I think they went above and beyond  with that part of the challenge.  :-)

Here are Nikki's creations.  A plethora of cards that are super cute and bright and definitely would bring a smile to anyone who receives one. 

Here is Irma's creation for the month. 

An uber cute Easter treat holder.  She also used the March Stamp of the Month, Sensational Season, inside and out.  Adorable. 

For May, I have given them papers from the Miracle Level 2 paper packet as well as some of the Kraft borders.  I forgot to write down the rest so it will be a surprise to me too once they've completed their May creation.  LOL  No challenge for them for May, though, but it will be a layout that they will be working on. 

Inspired by Five ..... (April 17 - 23)

Better late than never!  :-)

In no particular order, here are some projects that really popped out at me this week:

1.  Clean and Simple Thanks card by Leisa at Big Red Scraps
2.  Level 1 Layouts by Christine at Create with Christine
3.  Sympathy Card by Lisa at Lisa's Creative Corner
4.  Happy Birthday card by Ruth at Stamp Off, Eh!
5.  Celebrate card by Vicki at Wizard's Hangout.

Have a fabulous day!

Inspired by Five ..... (April 3 - 10)

Better late than never ....   :-)

1.  April Showers Bring May Flowers Card at Lisa's Creative Corner
2.  Card Set with Box by Vicki at Wizard's Hangout
3.  Baby Steps card by Judy at Just Judy Designs
4.  Vintage Sympathy Butterflies by Julie at Paper Pleasing Ideas
5.  Friendship Card by Andrea at Sunny Stampin'

March Challenge Winner!

The person who won the March Challenge for the stamp of the month set, Sensational Seasons, is Kathy!

Congratulations, Kathy!  Drop me a line or FB me on a convenient time to get it to you.  :-)

The Groom

Here is the layout I did for the March Challenge that I  posted HERE.   The first picture is the sketch I chose from the ones listed on PageMaps and the second is the layout I did.  I turned the sketch 90 degrees right to better accomodate the photo.

I don't really care for the end result - it's not what I had envisioned when I started this layout.  It's done, though, and it's time to move on.  LOL!

My photomerge in Photoshop Elements blended the layout funky so I just took a picture of the layout in the end so it's not the best 'true to life' colors since my camera does NOT like taking photos indoors.  It's still better than the scanned version, though!  :-)

Anyhooo.... I combined the March Challenge with the one I gave the DT ladies ... I used Bliss and incorporated green into the layout.

Supplies Used (All CTMH unless otherwise noted):

Cardstock: Garden Green, Grey Flannel

Patterned Paper: Bliss Level 2 Paper Pack

Inks/Markers: Garden Green, Grey Flannel

Punches: Fiskars

Ribbon: (Basic Grey)

Chipboard:  Irresistables Villa Chipboard Die-cuts

Staples: (Office Depot)

Letter Stickers: (Basic Grey - Perhaps)