I love the sketch at Freshly Made Sketches this week.  Lately, I find working with a sketch is helpful.  My cards seem to come together faster, and with less stress. Yes, I said stress!  Tell me you've all experienced that feeling?  You're trying to put together a card/project to post.  The dog is barking, the timer just went off on the dryer, your daughter is wanting you to look over her school project, the dishes are still sitting in the sink from dinner, then your other daughter (who's away at college) is blowing up your phone with text messages!  Secretly, you think "thank goodness my husband is working late tonight!  Yes, sometimes there's stress.

Now I know why I've been using more sketches lately!

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If you are looking for some sketches to try, Pinterest is a great source.  Also, in a previous post, I listed some of my favorite sketch sites.  You can find that post here.

Supplies:  Stamps: Hero Arts and My Favorite Things (Sentiment)  Paper: Carta Bella 6x6 paper Pad - So This Is Christmas  Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black  Accessories: Snowflake and Label, and scallop border Die Cuts - My Favorite Things, Spellbinders, Copic Markers, Bling, Baker's Twine and Ribbon.

One-Layer Wednesday (OLW 122) ~ Hearts

Happy New Year!  Before I jump into this weeks challenge, I'd love to hear what craft/hobby resolutions you made this year (stamp, scrapbook, etc.).  It's fun to share, beside who else wants to hear about your creative accomplishments, but your blog buddies?

I’ve made two this year.  First, my blog, it desperately needs attention and, second, I have scrapbook projects I need to complete.  As with any goal or resolution, you have to have a plan. I have to admit, the planning process took time, but I feel it was well worth it.

I look forward to hearing your resolutions.

Alright, now for this weeks challenge.  Create a card using hearts or a heart, whatever your heart desires!

For my card I used a new Hero Arts Stamp & Cut set (borrowed from a friend).  It's an Archiver's exclusive.  This set comes with four heart images and a matching die. Very sweet!

OLW 122 Rules:

1. A one-layer card is defined as a single layer of card stock folded in half. No other layers of card stock allowed!
2. Make a card with hearts/heart. Please remember to keep embellishments to a minimum!
3. Upload your card somewhere online and link to it using the InLinkz button on the bottom of this post. If you link to your blog, please make sure the link goes to the individual post, not to your blog's home page.
4.HAVE FUN! That's really what it's all about.

Supplies:
Stamps: Hero Arts & Papertrey, Ink (sentiment), Paper: Stampin'Up Whisper White, Ink: Papertrey Ink Pure Poppy & Memento Tuxedo Black, Accessories: Stamp-A-Ma-Jig, Hero Arts Diecut

Thanks for stopping by.

One-Layer Wednesday (OLW118) ~ Snowflakes

Welcome to this weeks One-Layer Wednesday Challenge. I'm glad you stopped by! This week we are going to keep the "snow" theme going with Snowflakes.  I'm challenging you to create a card or tag using snowflakes (or just one snowflake, if you prefer).  Now, if you don't have a snowflake image you can use a snowman!  I can't wait to see what you come up with.

Here's mine:

OLW118 Rules:

1. A one-layer card is defined as a single layer of card stock folded in half. No other layers of card stock allowed!
2. Make a card or tag with snowflake/snowflakes. Please remember to keep embellishments to a minimum!
3. Upload your card somewhere online and link to it using the InLinkz button on the bottom of this post. If you link to your blog, please make sure the link goes to the individual post, not to your blog's home page.
4.HAVE FUN! That's really what it's all about.

Supplies: Stamps: Hero Arts & Penny Black, Paper: Stampin'Up, Ink: Memento Danube Blue and Summer Sky, Accessories: Stamp-A-Ma-Jig, Red Sticky Tape & Prisma Glitter

A Card and a Printable Birthday Calendar

Have you forgotten a birthday lately, a special birthday?  Well, I did!  I couldn't believe it.  I forgot my grandfather's birthday. That's not me.  I'm the one in the family who would remind others (my grandmother and my mother) of upcoming birthdays.  Now, maybe I forgot my grandfather's birthday because I talk to him on the phone (he lives in another state) just about everyday since we lost my grandmother two years ago.  Another reason I forgot his birthday could be the stressful year we're having.  Everyone has stress in their life, right?  So just deal with it!  Didn't someone say that stress can kill you?  I'm thinking they may have something there!  I know I've mentioned in the past I have two teenage daughters.  School started Monday!  So now I have two teenage daughters in high school.  One is a freshman and one, a senior!  Need I say more?

First, let me show you the belated birthday card I made for my grandfather, and then I will share with you my plan for never forgetting another birthday again!

My grandfather is a recently retired college professor and a writer.  I thought the Hero Arts typewriter image would be perfect for the sentiment I had in mind.  Did you notice the sentiment?  It was computer generated.

I'm a list maker.  I need to write things down.  That was the answer (how I wouldn't forget another birthday again).   I needed to make myself a birthday calendar!  With my birthday calendar (that I decided to make), I would know each month what cards I needed to make and/or what birthday gifts I needed to purchase.  Perfect, problem solved.

Excited about my birthday calendar project, I started with Photoshop then quickly went to Excel.  Who was I kidding?  My little computer whiz (my younger daughter, Katelyn) was at school.  This project would take me forever without her.  Then I realized, if I "just Google it Mom" (something Katelyn tells me frequently), I might find something I could use, and I did.  The Project Girl has a free printable, birthday calendar.  It was just what I had in mind.  I also found The Organized Home has a great birthday/anniversary calendar (a free printable too). 

If you've found yourself in this same situation, or just want to become better organized, I know you'll find these printables very useful. I have!

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Supplies: Stamps: Hero Arts (image), Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Paper: Stampin'Up Whisper White, Bazzill Red, JillibBean Designer Paper, Printer Paper, Accessories: Spellbinders, Twine, Pop Dots