My Last Post...

This will be my last post on Create Something Everyday...

I have a brand spankin' NEW blog and a brand spankin' NEW project to go with it! Check out the blog for my new monthly Paper Pumpkin kit night (http://hollystamps.com/paper-pumpkin-sale/) AND my new Pumpkin Project (http://hollystamps.com/the-pumpkin-project/) that will give you instructions on making super-cute Project Life cards out of your Paper Pumpkin kit supplies every month!

Every post and comment that was here is now there. I'll keep this site up for any Pinterest and past blog hop links, but if you want to see new content please visit my new blog by clicking on the image below.

MDS Blog Hop - Hello My Name is Goofball

It's that time again!

Time for the My Digital Studio blog hop. And I'm SO excited that we're welcoming a new member to the hop this week - the mega talented Wendy Weixler! I can't wait to see what MDS goodness she shares with us each hop.

This is the hop where we share what we've been working on in MDS. I've been knee deep in wedding photos this week and thought I'd scrapbook one of my favorites. These kids are so awesome and have so much fun wherever we go - this photo is so them. I love it!

I also love the "Playground" Project Life digital kit. As it's name says, everything in the kit is fun and playful. Perfect for my photo.

I've been working on some big changes for this blog and hope to begin to implement them starting next week, so be sure to check back soon!

Now head on over to Jeanna's fabulous blog by clicking the image below and check out what amazing creation she has to share with you today!

MDS Blog Hop - Looking for Sea Glass

Yay! It's that time again - time for the My Digital Studio blog hop where our theme for this week is "Summer Fun".

I've been on a simple kick lately. And I'm a firm believer that when you love your pictures you don't need a whole lot of "stuff" to overshadow them.

So here's my simple page of our day of summer fun. The only thing I used in MDS is a strip of cardstock and a font (Century Gothic).

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Time to visit the next blog on the hop where I'm sure Jeanna has something amazing to share with you!

MDS Blog Hop - For the Love of the Game

YAY! It's MDS Blog Hop day!
Sorry about the short but sweet post today - my agent sent me revision notes for my latest book so I've got to dive in head first (if I don't come back out of the writing cave in a week or two, please send someone in to find me!)

For the blog hop today we're supposed to share what we're working on (as far as MDS) but I took it a little more literally and MDS'd what I'm working on this week.

I love. love. love. the Downtown Grunge kit. Even after years, it's still my go-to kit for so many projects.

Well, I'm off to take on these edits and whip this book into shape so I'll see you again when I get out - hopefully I'll have a super-shiny new book safely tucked under my arm.

Now head on over and check out my friend Jeanna's fabulous MDS project! I'm sure you won't be disappointed!

Work of Art Envelope

Time for another envelope!

On this one I used the Work of Art stamp set for the watercolor-like "swooshes" under the name and the return address stamp, and also for the heart. The watercolor look uses Soft Sky ink and the 'Grandma' and the address stamp are stamped with Island Indigo. The heart is Strawberry Slush.

I love doing envelopes like this. Seriously, it took me ten minutes tops to stamp the elements and it makes the piece of mail you're sending so much more fun and interesting - don't you think?

Now here's a fun little tip that I always teach when we do lettering in art class. An easy way to center lettering (like I did with Grandma) so that you're not trying to squish the end few letters in because you didn't leave enough space is to write out the word like I did on the right. Then figure out what the middle (or middle two) letter is. If you need to number them to figure that out, go for it. Once you know your middle letter (mine was N), stamp that letter first! Then work your way out on both sides from there starting with either the A or the D.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you're having a wonderful weekend!

Envelopes Can Be Fun, Too!

I've been having so much fun with envelopes lately, thanks to a great group of stampin' ladies who love to make matching envelopes with the cards we make each month. I thought I'd share a few envelope ideas with you today (and I have one tomorrow, too!)

Not sure I've mentioned on the blog yet how much I'm in love with the Positively Chevron stamp. So. In. Love. Good Golly. It's hard not to want to use it on everything!

You know what I love about background stamps? They also look great on envelopes! All you need is a blank label or two to put over the stamped design (for your addresses). On this one I also used the .05 size Project Life journaling pen to do some doodling around the labels to help them stand out a little more. The stamp was just slightly shorter on the one side and left a small white space on the side so I used the new rotary alphabet stamp and stamped SPECIAL DELIVERY down the side to fill the space.

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to come back again tomorrow for another fun envelope idea!

MDS Blog Hop - Dad Selfie

I love my dad!
He's always doing something funny or goofy to make me laugh. We had a birthday party for my youngest daughter last weekend and when I put my camera card in my computer to download the photos from the party, this selfie was on it. Of my dad! Hilarious! He didn't know he was giving me ammunition for my MDS Blog Hop Father's Day page! (thanks, Dad!)

This is such a super fast page, here are the few supplies you'll need:

Background Paper
Downtown Grunge

Embellishments
This & That Retro Fresh
Staple & Stitching
Gold Sequins

Be sure to keep following the hop, next you'll see what project the fabulous Jeanna has in store for you! Just click the 'next' button below!

MDS Blog Hop - Love Page

This week for the MDS Blog Hop we're sharing what we've been working on. It's the end of the school year so I'm doing everything EXCEPT for MDS. (Unfortunately!) But I did come up with this quick, simple page to share with you today. My friend, Abby is getting married this summer and I have a lot of wonderful engagement photos I took of her with her (future) hubby, Zac.

Here's my supply list!

Background
Designer Series Paper - Glimmer - silver

Embellishments
Neon Notes - flower 3
Staple & Stitching - Staple
This Makes Me Happy - flag
This Makes Me Happy - pool party and dots
Nobody's Business - white frame
Blossom Builders Rhinestones - 7mm Blushing Bride

Stamps
Everything Eleanor
Moments Ago


Be sure to keep following the hop, next you'll see what project the fabulous Jeanna has in store for you! Just click the 'next' button below!

MDS Blog Hop : *heart* This Page w/ Project Life

Welcome back to another week of the My Digital Studio blog hop where we share some fun digital projects. This week we're working on projects about Mothers. This theme is near and dear to my heart for two huge reasons. There is no doubt in my mind that God put me on this Earth to be a Mother to these two amazing little girls. I take this job very seriously and hope I'm doing alright with it. They (and their daddy) are definitely the loves of my life.

I'm LOVING playing with the new digital versions on the Project Life Everyday Adventure kit from Stampin' Up! and wanted to try the cards in a non-pocket page way. The hexagons at the bottom and the top of the picture are just the 2x3 cards blown up big and turned on their sides.

This was a super-fast and easy page to make, just add a few cards, some stitching and the heart this stamp.

Be sure to keep following the hop, next you'll see what project the fabulous Jeanna has in store for you! Just click the 'next' button below!

Super-Easy Digital Handwriting

I've had a few people ask me lately how I added my signature to my watermark and to my blog posts. Technically I use a digital drawing pad instead of a mouse with my laptop and that's how I made it. BUT since then I've found a super quick and easy way for you to make your own which doesn't involve you spending $100 on a drawing pad. In fact, it won't cost you anything if you have a tablet.

If you have an iPad, I use an app called "Paper" by FiftyThree . It lets you draw with your fingertips (not your nail - don't want to scratch that screen!). Here's the fun part. The more pressure you put on the screen with your finger, the thicker your line will be. The less pressure, the thinner. And it's so easy to use! It gives you different "albums" to use and there are many pages in each to play around with. Don't like what you made? Use the eraser tool to erase it! There are many colors, too. As you can see, I used it to write the word 'Love' for the card in my daughter's album. Once you have the app there are other more complex tools you can order but I've been using for a while and I've never had to purchase anything.

See that little box with an arrow button in the middle of the X and the + at the bottom of the screen? That's the button you press to share your creation when you get it just how you want it. That share button will let you email it to yourself. With this one I just emailed it to myself then uploaded it to my favorite photo processor.

Now I have a neuromuscular disease that makes my fingers and hands tremble so normally my handwriting isn't the best. It's kind of shaky and not very smooth. But see the 'Love'? I did that! Even with my shaky fingers! It takes whatever you write and makes it SMOOTH. Awesome, right?

But what if you have an Android tablet? Unfortunately, Paper by 53 isn't available for Android, however I have heard of a similar app called Bamboo Paper that IS available for free in the Play store and iTunes. I tested this app out, too and it works a LOT like Paper by 53. Only this one lets you pick your pen size and has more colors available (and cuter ones!). But as far as writing goes, I found the Paper by 53 App slightly easier to get the look I wanted. Either way - there are two fabulous free options that will let you get your own handwriting digitally into your scrapbooks or on your blog!

I've had a few people ask -- the Project Life card used on my page above is from the Stampin' Up! Everyday Adventure kit and you can get one by clicking here. Just go to PRODUCTS at the top, then SHOP NOW and all of the Project Life items are on the left side. :)

Hope you have fun!