So Unique: pages 4 and 5

This page has SEVERAL layers of Glimmer Mist. Aside from Haunted Shadow that gives this paper it's base color there is a spritz of Pink Bubble Gum to brighten it up, Bronze to add glitter, and Tattered Leather to even out the finish. The original shade of the paper can be seen inside the frame.
The blossoms are Petaloo and the ribbon is stash. The paper is Free Bird and the fame cut from Authentique, Headlines. The title is Authentique, Icons.

This page is A: Free Bird, Blush. The rub ons are Prima and the leaves are Making Memories, Ephemera. The blossom is Imaginisce.

~charity becker~

ATC Challenge

My Scrapping Buddy found this ATC challenge and I'm so excited to enter!!!
http://yourscrapbookplace.blogspot.com/2012/01/where-did-january-go.html
Hope they continue this trend! Here's the ATC I'm submitting, front and back.

Valentine ATC

~charity becker~

So Unique: pages 2 and 3

I'm all Authentique this week! Here are pages 2 and 3 of the So Unique album.

Uncommon 6x6 papers, noteables, and corners from "headlines." K and Company rub ons and jewels.

Uncommon 6x6 paper, corners from "headlines," Free Bird papers for the fence and flowers. Doodlebug Design Twine and Girls Paperie tiny type.

Check out Mondays post for the full album view and front cover.

~charity becker~

Authentique Mini-Album

I received a surprise package FULL of Authentique, Uncommon as a gift. I have been reveling in all the pinks and greys available. Then, much to my delight, a dear friend had a baby girl!!! Out came those pink 6X6's. I noticed my batch of papers had several of the same title, diecut. I decided to combine them and here's what I came up with:

so Unique

In an effort to keep things simple for finals week I will be featuring two pages a day from this album.  Here's the front:

Aside from the Authentique die cut and 6x6 patterned paper there are brads from my stash, tulle from the dollar store, and a scrap of GCD patterned paper. I inked the edges with CTMH bamboo.





And here is the back:

 "You are my favorite."

For this page I used the "uncommon " die cut, free bird 6x6, and fussy cut roses from the Uncommon 6x6 pack. The stamps and ink are CTMH. The ribbon is stash and the banner is from the Uncommon Icons. The stickles are Ranger.





Happy Family

Scrapbook Steals is having challenges all weekend!!! LOVE participating over there. This is for the Keeping it Real challenge, scrap something that ISN'T picture perfect. (http://scrapbooksteals.stealnetwork.com/wp/2012/02/23/on-line-crop-challene-2-keeping-it-real/) My second child doesn't believe in smiling for photos. I have stacks of photos that haven't been scrapped because of the look on her face!

one big Happy Family...almost

The patterend papers here are Crate Paper; Restoration. The flowers are Imaginisce. The alpha is Basic Grey and the tiny type is Glitz Design. The stamps and ink are CTMH.

~charity becker~

Anchors Aweigh

So proud of myself, it's the week before finals and I STILL got this weeks MWM done early!!! Check out the sketch here: http://scrapbooksteals.stealnetwork.com/wp/2012/02/22/xyron-mini-x-mid-week-mojo/  I pared the 14 photos down to 6 and used jute in place of the layered strips on the right side.

Anchors Aweigh

farewell 2 foreign shores

The patterned paper is Restoration (Crate Paper) the alpha is Basic Grey, and the tiny type is Making Memories. The photos and circle are matted with drafters vellum, and the edgs are inked with CTMH chocolate. This is also my entry for this months CE challenge, "use song lyrics on a layout."

~charity becker~

Flower Power

I received 7 delightful glimmer mists in the mail last week and started on a project right away. (Check out that post here: http://menemenetekeluniversity.blogspot.com/2012/02/happy-mail.html ) After preparing my background I pulled up Scrapbook Steals MWM Garnet #10 sketch. (http://scrapbooksteals.stealnetwork.com/wp/2012/02/15/my-minds-eye-miss-caroline-mid-week-mojo/)

flower power

For the bracketed shape I traced a dicut I had handy and then used an acrylic stamp over the pencil marks. I stitched around the misted flowers with Doodlebug Design twine. I added a couple strips of GCD paper, matted my photo with Bo Bunny, and inked the edges with CTMH ink. There was still something missing so I inked a white Petaloo blossom with CTMH; Sunset, stacked another white blossom on top with a wooden button and tied it all up with twine. The title alpha is GCD.

~charity becker~

Face 2 Face

The Authentique sketch challenge is one of my favorite monthly events. This months sketch is no exception! I decided to go simple (at least simpl-er) on this one. Find the sketch here: http://blog.authentiquepaper.com/2012/02/february-sketch-challenge.html

Face 2 Face



For my base paper I used Authentique: Gathering (Flourish) which I framed with a Kaiser Craft stamp using CTMH ink. I also machine stitched lines to create texture on the lower half. I framed my photo with A:Free Bird (Comfort) and layered fussy cut elements from A:Splendid (Richness) and A:Journey (Jaunt). I finished up with an alpha from Sticko, number from American Crafts and a dash of Doodlebug Design, twine.

~charity becker~

Imaginisce Flowers

Happiness is to hold flowers in both hands.

-Japanese Proverbs

What could be better then fistfulls of flowers for crafting? I can't think of anything aside from unlimited time to craft with them!
Scrapbook Steals has the most delightful flowers on sale today.

Head over quickly and get a cart full! 

www.scrapbooksteals.com

And while you are there follow the link to the blog and check out my project!!!
 Here's a sneak peak:

Thanks to Lisa and Kristy for inviting me to be a guest blogger! The flowers were SO much fun to work with and my new decor adds such a bohemian flair to my home.

~charity becker~

President's Day

Just a few quotes to remind us of the men we celebrate this day:

"I can never think of promoting my convenience at the expense of a friend's interest and inclination."
- George Washington

"Common looking people are the best in the world: that is the reason the Lord makes so many of them."
- Abraham Lincoln

~ charity becker~

Oh Happy Day

When I was little Mom used to say my allowance was "burning a hole in my pocket"...somethings never change! Now my brand new scrapping supplies feel like they are "burning a hole in my pocket." I've been just "itching" to get at my Sunday Picnic from Webster's Pages. School has been conspiring against me, but in the end WP won. My favorite part of the page? the ORANGE bloomers, of course!

Oh Happy Day 

Here my sweet little girls are enjoying a picnic at Rainbow Gardens in Mayville, ND. One of the most beautiful little parks a person could visit. It is maintained ENTIRELY by volunteers. Get details here: http://www.mayvilleportland.com/?page=parks-and-recreation

For my background I used Bo Bunny; Et Cetera. The Alpha Banner is MME; Lost and Found. The twine is Doodle Bug Design, and the pink ribbon is stash. I inked the edges with CTMH ink. The rest is WP. This sketch from The Paper Girls Challenge check it out here: http://thepapergirlschallenge.blogspot.com/

~charity becker~

Algebra...a different perspective!

It's no mystery, Algebra takes up a great deal of my brain power. But whether you are a whiz at math or a pathetic heap of uncertainty, you'll find humor in this:

This facebook memo via George Takei (https://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=380138642015595&set=a.223098324386295.105971.205344452828349&type=1&theater)

~charity becker~



Happy Mail

There is nothing like gearing up for finals to make you feel like shopping!!!! These delightful scrapping goodies came in the mail recently and I can't wait for my 2-week break to get started.

Flowers featured are all by Petaloo. (Color me Crazy, Velvet Hydrangeas-cream, Velvet Hydrangeas-blue, Chantilly Collection-blue/green). The Mist is Tattered Angels (Brick, Flower Power, Bronze, Sand, Spanish Moss, Perfect Peach, and Cranberry Zing).
Of course I couldn't keep my hands those mists for long. Here's the beginning of a project using the Brick, and Flower Power mist.

Can't wait to show you the finished project!!!

~charity becker~

How Does Your Garden Grow

Kristy Lee's most recent Mid Week Mojo sketch was a 2-pager with 12 photos. I didn't have quite so many, but I did find 6 of my sweet girl taken with her flowers over one summer. Her Petunias did so well we had a difficult time convincing people they weren't Geraniums!!!

For the these layouts I used MME kraft as a base and Echo Park:Victorian Garden for a pop of color. The flowers are Imaginisce and the twine is Doodlebug Design. The alpha is Girls Paperie and the brads are Spare Parts.

Find Kristy's sketch here:  http://scrapbooksteals.stealnetwork.com/wp/2012/02/08/we-r-memory-keepers-funfetti-mid-week-mojo/

~charity becker~

Looking for Love

Happy Valentine's Day!!!!

My favorite holiday has arrived! Today I want to share the fun my children and I have looking for heart shaped fun in the world around us.

Love is a:

Sugar Frosted Corn Flake

Love is a:

New Leaf in Spring



Love is a:

A Baked Potatoe on a Cold Day

~charity becker~

MCM #70

Kristy at Scrapbook Steals never ceases to amaze. Here is my take on her most recent card Sketch. She used Pink Paislee: Nantucket with octagon shapes. I don't have a paper with Octagons or a matching punch so I had to go with circles. Of course I grabbed the newest addition to my stash, Authentique: Uncommon. The 6x6 pad has paper with concentric circles that I trimmed to match the octagon layout.

I layered the Uncommon with Gathering and Blissful for an all Authentique card. I even punched out 6 tiny gold flowers from Free Bird to embellish the circles. The alpha is Thickers and the flower centers are Stickles.

And the card is for my dear Mama who turns 60 this month! May the Lord bless you every day of this new year in your life, Mom!



~charity becker~

you're one of a kind

Having some fun with my new Uncommon 6x6 pad and Noteables. I also used my Sew Easy, straight stitch for the first time! I envisioned the banner with more of a swoop, but I like the visual it presents as is.

This card for my ex-History professor. I thoroughly enjoyed Courtney during my term in her Roaring 20's class. When I saw her after Christmas break she seemed just as happy to see me again. I suggested breakfast together on Fridays and a new tradition was born. We meet in the computer lab and munch on fruit and scones while she prepares her lesson plans and I go over homework for the day. It's the perfect way to seg into the weekend.

~charity becker~

boys at play

Mid Week Mojo time again! This sketch by Becci Manies. Check out the post here:
http://scrapbooksteals.stealnetwork.com/wp/2012/02/01/my-mind-eye-love-me-mid-week-mojo/

I've been dying to play with my new Sew-easy and banner head and this sketch gave me the excuse. The banner head was a little difficult to use, but the result? WOW! I also used Unity Stamps for my playground embellishments. The papers are all CTMH as are the inks. The alpha is Thickers sewn down with some lime Coats and Clark.

~charity becker~

Guest Blogger: Japanese Writing

Last week on T-rex day at my school I learned Japanese Writing. We chose how to spell the words by the way they sounded. It was a blast!

This red one says " ANNALYS " .

The green one says "CHARITY HOTRUM " , and its green because that is her favorite color. The paper next to it is the alphabet.

This one says "ANNALYS JOY BECKER". The one next to it is numbers and punctuation marks.

 ~ANNALYS~ 

Everyday Poetry

Webster's newest releases have me happy and ready to buy lots of paper. 'Bout the only thing better than buying new release collections is winning it all! This week Webster's Pages has their new release, "Everyday Poetry" up for grabs.

This line is everything that is classic spring. From the images to the colors to the perfect embellies this line has it all. And so can you! Follow this link to get the details!
 http://websterspages.typepad.com/webstershome/2012/02/win-everyday-poetry-the-whole-collection.html

~charity becker~

Sweet Surprise

I happily rushed to my mail box this afternoon when I saw that a package had been left for me. MUCH to my very great delight I received a surprise package from Scrapbook Steals!!! The entire set of Authentique Uncommon came tumbling out of the package when I loosened the seal.

I can only assume it is from my Secret Swab Buddy, but until she confesses I can't disclose ANY names! So let's just say I am thrilled and waiting to hear who I get to thank for such an "uncommon" gift!

 ~charity becker~

Everyday Joy

Valentine's continues to creep closer and I wonder what WILL I make for hubby this year. The plain-er the better, he feels. Well, I don't DO plain. So here's my compromise.

YOU...are my everyday joy



My inspiration was this month's Authentique Card Sketch.(http://blog.authentiquepaper.com/2012/02/february-sketch-challenge.html)

I used Authentique Free Bird (Delight) and Gathering (Reminisce paper, diction, icons and green petite type) for my paper. CTMH (brown bag) ink and a brown Sharpie for faux stitching.

~charity becker~

Break Time

School has been crazy, the weather has been miserable, and the kids, no wait they are ALWAYS wonderful! ;) Let's just say I SERIOUSLY need a break. But that's a good think since we're headed out to a Bed and Breakfast this weekend, thank's to the Craig's list genie. It happened like this...

Hubby bought new furniture for Christmas, a recliner for him and a chaise lounge for me. Unfortunately that means my Italian Antiques have to move to the play room. Hmm, will they last more than a few days there? I'm thinking NO. So I put them on Craig's list. A B&B e-mailed with a trade offer. We bring the furniture to their place in Grafton and we get the Turret Suite. So, I looked up their web site:
http://bedandbreakfastattiffanys.com/turretsuite.aspx
Yep, that sounds like a dream come true.

Here are the chairs and couch they traded for:

The pictures don't do them justice. The upholstery is in rag's and the paint is peeling. You can see a bit of stuffing falling through on the right side of this picture. At least these beauties will go to someone who LOVES to refinish furniture.  The new owner's just bought a second B&B to furnish. Can't wait to see what they come up with next! 

~charity becker~

Lost and Found

When MME's introduced their Lost and Found collection I knew it was for me. I'm still in love with the glitter and classic MME images. Last February I participated in the sketch challenge at MME with this entry.

The Journey

Although I didn't win the contest this card remains my favorite of all time Valentine's. Maybe it's the glitter, maybe it's the black and white with spicy upnotes of red, maybe it's just 'cause Lost and Found still has my heart. 

~charity becker~

Winter ATC's again...

Just a quick post (logerithims got me down so not sure what I'll have to say for the next few days!) to show you a few more of my Winter ATC's.

Mostly WP; Holywood Vogue on these. I used stamps and ink by CTMH as well as stamps by Glitz Design and silver stickles.

The additional ATC's can be seen here: http://www.menemenetekeluniversity.blogspot.com/2012/01/winter-atcs.html



~charity becker~

Key to my Heart

Authentique, Tim Holtz, Dusty Attic, Glitz Design, MME, Stampendous, sounds like I've been to CHA and lived to tell about it! But really, that's just the ingredient list for this sweet little valentine card.

I bought pastel heat embossing powders from Stampendous and had some fun playing with them. First I chose some Authentique:Blush and Delight from the Free Bird series. After a little layering I stamped a heart onto my card center and embossed with pastel pink powder. Then I inked (with Ranger Big and Bossy stamp pad) the Dusty Attic keys and embossed with the same powder. I strung the keys on twine and draped it all over a line of brads.

For the inside of the card I used a CTMH stamp and the same color of powder I heat embossed it all onto a piece of Free Bird: Delight, then layered that onto a final piece of Blush. I was going for simple yet classy with this one. With the help of Authentique and heat embossing powder I reached my goal!

~charity becker~