Lots of stuff to talk about...

Hello friends!!
We had a great Thanksgiving in the Fennell household! My brother, my Mom and us-perfect! It was relaxing, fun and so nice to see my brother. We miss him terribly and the boys can't get enough of their uncle. I am going to NYC next weekend to pay him a visit with Sherry. I haven't been to the big city in a while, so this trip is long overdue. We are taking off right after i get out of work on Friday. I am driving down.

I am also going to be at CHA with Prima! YAY! I love going to Anaheim and seeing all of my Prima buddies. I really miss them! I look forward to every aspect of it. It never gets old for some reason...and i think it's because of the company i keep. They have truly become some of my dearest friends.

I've got a cute little Christmas ensemble I put together last week. It's a little house from Maya Road that has a cute little chipboard book inside. I covered the house with Cosmo papers and the roof with Vintage Christmas paper. Then the roof is covered in clear glitter as well as the door.

The little book was made into a display with cute cut outs, rosettes, Cosmo papers, and glittered letters. Very simple to make and it looks so sweet on my mantle!

I really need to get more projects up soon for everyone! i plan to make several more projects for the holidays including a couple of mini books. I'll post them as soon as I get them done!

Hope you all have a great week! And try not to stress about the holidays too much....

xoxo Cari

November is here!!!

Is it really November already? I can't believe how fast October flew by, I barely had time to get ready for Halloween. Last week was a whirlwind of chaos-decorate for Halloween, buy costumes, work, Jack had the flu, buy pumpkins, run errands, scrap for Prima and visit baby Gwyn at the hospital with Nic. Jack is fine now and I am ever so thankful that he is. Gwyn is holding her own but with difficulty--I just want her to get better so she can go home with Nic and Jim and the boys. I crashed on Sunday afternoon. I took a huge nap and went to bed at normal time. I am just glad the week is over and it is time to start fresh--a new week and a new month and New Moon! hehe

We have our tickets to go see the midnight premiere and I CAN NOT WAIT! I know-I am a dork! But we have big plans and I can't wait to put those plans into action! I need a girl's night out and I need it now!

OK-so enough rambling about life...
I wanted to share my Bad Girls Bleuprint with you. I hope it inspires you to get out your scrap stuff and your mojo-can't forget the mojo--and create. This is all about vintage. Vintage finds, vintage looks, vintage memories--anything. And because it's open to interpretation-you can make it your own vintage. My layout is brightly colored, not aged like you would expect. It's about my Grandmother's vintage garden with Lilacs. Love them! i planted them in my own garden because of her.
So keep an open mind when creating and see what comes about. It may surprise you....

Create something gorgeous and have fun!

Be back soon!

xoxox

It's almost Halloween!

Hello friends!!!
I am getting so excited-Halloween is almost here! I got busy the other night and whipped up some cards and a project. And my decorations are up, Bryan has a costume but Jack does not. We plan on hitting the store soon--he is so indecisive! It drives me insane. Bryan had his costume picked out and we were out the door in 15 minutes. Jack will take at least an hour at all the stores we go to-- If we make it to the stores.....

Jack is really sick right now. I think he has the flu. They don't test anymore so we can't be certain but we are treating it like the flu. He hasn't been feeling well for a week now. We went in for a well visit last week and of course, now he is the opposite of well.
I am right on top of it, keeping him comfortable. I am hoping to see the light at the end of the tunnel anytime now.....but who knows how long it could last...sigh.

Anyway.....
Here is a sweet little banner I made. I cut out some triangles and covered them with Prima patterned paper. Then, glued down some Frillies, punched out circles and placed them over the flowers. I added the letters and some fun crystal bats around them. I took some centers and adhered them to black cardstock, cut around them and hung them froom the bottom of the penants with wired swirls. I placed black gems along the top with punched out scalloped borders. I tied them together with sparkly ribbon and touile. This looks way cuter in person! But I hope you like it anyway!

I can not lie-this is a card I made last year...lol. But it's really cute and super easy to make. I layered patterned paper piece over the card base. Tied some touile around it and added gems along the paper border. I punched out some circles, stamped a green Madeira image in the center and finished it off with a little bat die cut. Then stamped the sentiment in the lower corner.



And this is a pocket card I made from Prima diecut paper. I used a huge punch for the circle and placed a crystal witch in the center. Then I tied a ribbon around the card, attached a little tag with a small saftey pin and sprayed the whole card with Glacier Glimmer Mist.

That's all for now. I may get some more projects done as Jack rests and if I do-I promise to share! Hope everyone is safe and healthy........and up to no good! haha!

Be back soon! xoxxo CAri

Just returned...and random stuff

Hey friends!
Sorry it's been awhile since I've posted. I just returned from Houston where I worked a retailer show for Prima. Sharon and I had a great time as always-I just adore her! And I met so many fun loving wonderful store owners! I also got to harass Tim even though i wasn't in any of his classes (which he was relieved to hear-LOL!) But I soon made up for that when our make and take table was right next to his-hehe! So-it's good to be home and I need to get back into the swing of things scrap wise. I have so much to do in the next couple of weeks.

AND-I read Twilight over the weekend while i traveled-HELLO! I have been missing out and now I can't wait to get my hands on the next book! Now I know why everyone has been going crazy over the series-I am crazy over it now too! I need to hurry and read New Moon before the movie comes out so i can go with my girls to see it. So now i am officially in love with Edward and there is no turning back-haha!

OK-on to other business besides my new obsession! I have signed on for another term with Bad Girls! And Wendy has so much planned in the coming months but I can't spill yet......
Her kits this month are nothing short of amazing and I had to share them with you--I think you'll love them too! She even came out with a Halloween kit--be still my heart! I love Halloween and this kit is all that! Take a peek!

Attic Treasures-amazing mix of papers, vintage goodies and more! What a perfect kit to dive into after the kiddos go to bed!

And this kit-Windswept Whispers---you could get lost in a fantasy land and never want to go back! Truly amazing mix of vintage papers, bling, gorgeous flowers and all that is left to add is your creativity. Yum!

Last month-I submitted this Bleuprint on Bad Girls and my take on it. I had so much fun with the goodies from Prima and playing around with my photos. I love to layer and this layout was no exception! I hope you give this a try and have fun with it!

Oh and one more thing I wanted to share! At the show in Houston-we had a make and take frenzy going on for the retailers and I thought you might like to see what we did. It's a little clutch, ready to use for just about anything! I folded a Canvas refill page from the Donna Downey collection in half, securing the sides with Fabric Tac. Then i embellished with our e-line crystals and pearls, and finished it with a ribbon. Too cute-right? Someone there also mentioned this would be great to put silverware in with a napkin and place it onto a table setting. How cute for a luncheon or a holiday dinner! It was so easy to make-it takes no time to make a bunch. And there are so many ways to decorate it-stamping, painting, flowers--you name it!

So, that's all i have for now! I plan to share a few more things soon-I promise! No more blog neglect!

Have a good one!

xoxo Cari

Been sooo busy!

Hello all!
I think i have neglected my blog long enough...don't ya think? I started a new job yesterday!
I am now working in Bryan's school as an aide for the first grade team. So far-I love it! And it's only part time which is great since I still have household duties to do as well. And don't get me wrong--I am not one of those Moms that needs to be in the same building checking up on Bry all the time. It just so happened that they had an opening. The High School is bummed since they really wanted me to work there but they had no openings at all. I will miss the sweet sassy teens I got to know last year. I saw Bry today when he came in for lunch as we were walking out to the playground. To his horror-I tried to kiss him real quick on the cheek. He put out his arms as stiff as he could and backed into the wall--haha!! So i guess I won't try that anymore...LOL!

I have also been really busy with projects and here is one I hope will inspire. Sometimes it's nice to take a break from layouts and create projects instead. I created this one and took it to CHA for display.
It's a book purse! I took all of the pages from some boring book Pete had on the shelf that he never read and just used the cover. He'll never know it's gone and besides- I would never think of using one of my books. I lined it inside and out. I used Prima packaging as the sides and covered the seams with trim. The front is decorated with a felt branch, gallery roses, leaves and a bird. The I lightly sprayed the entire outside with Walnut Gold Glimmer Mist for an aged, sparkly look. I punched holes at the top and added ribbon as my handles.

I plan to use it to go out to dinner with the girls some night soon!

So thats it for today! i hope this inspired you to go out and make something beautiful for yourselves!

I promise to be back soon with more fun projects!

Have a great day!

xoxo Cari

Some Prima LO's!

Hey!!
Well-I am somewhat settled and getting back into our daily routine. There have been kids here everyday, running in and out-driving me crazy! Popsicle wrappers are everywhere, toys strewn across the yard and bikes have been abandoned in the driveway for me to run over with the car.Yes-things are back to normal. I need to start working on projects, finishing projects and putting some away. But in the meantime, I don't want my blog to go unloved. I wanted to share some more LO's from CHA that I haven't posted yet. At least i don't think I've posted anyway--;)

Paradise City is my absolute fave from the show. I just love the designs and colors. There is truly nothing like it out there...anywhere.
And seeing the DT's LO's in person at CHA was such a treat-they rocked it. Loading them up into galleries and posting online does not do them justice in anyway, shape or form.

These LO's are also in the Prima catalog. I was so fortunate to have them featured in there!!



Here is Bryan running down the beach-loving the freedom!

This LO was created using the Tropics paper line. And of course I loaded it with flowers-maybe too many, but I had fun none the less.

And yes-I've used these photos a million times in the past month or so-but I had to use them here. I think it's time to take more pics of them.

So that's it for now. I will have more goodness to share soon. Enjoy the remaining days of summer---I know I am----in a popsicle wrapper sort of way-LOL!

xoxo Cari

I'm back!!

Hey friends!!!
I've been gone for two weeks-first week at CHA and the second in Cape Cod for a family vacation..and now I am finally home! What a whirlwind it's been! I had a great time getting together with my friends at Prima. I swear-I laugh the whole time I am with them. It was a much smaller group of us this year but we got the job done!! Tami sent me these photos from the booth--thanks girl! I can't wait to see them all again! In the top photo-top row-Donny, Sharon, me, Denny and Adam. Bottom row-Domonique, Siri, Trisca and Diego.

I love being at CHA-it is so amazing to see all of the scrap goodies the manufacturers come out with. I was kicked out of several booths for drooling all over everything. How can they blame me? I was so lucky to meet Niki Sivils, Susan Dupre, Annabelle O'Malley, Lucy Edson, Gayle, Patti Hamil and more! And i got to see some familiar friends-Julie and Kim, Vicki B, Cath Edvalson, Liz and James Hicks and many more sweet girls from all over the world!

The Cape was amazing as always...I just can't get enough of the ocean. I hate leaving when it's time to go. Jack cried as we pulled out of the parking lot to leave. I know he'll have great memories of this vacation.

I promise to post more goodies tomorrow. I am just getting caught up and I feel like I've been on the computer all day. I joined Scrapbook.com today-if you are over there-find me and friend me. I am on there as Cari F

Be back soon!

xoxo Cari

Happy Birthday Bad Girls!!!!

Come celebrate with us and check out our Birthday Bash going on here:
http://wendyrago.typepad.com/bad_girls/

Before I go....

Hello friends!
I am leaving today for CHA and I'll be gone for a week. I can't wait to see all of my dear friends from Prima--I just love spending time with them at the shows! We have an amazing release that I can't wait to see in person. I hope that if any of my online friends are attending-you will stop by and say "Hi"! I love meeting everyone IRL!

I have some layouts to share before I go. This LO I have as a Bleuprint sketch over at Bad Girls, called "How does your garden grow?
check it out here: http://badgirlskits.com/mb/viewtopic.php?f=116&t=8820
I used the new paper line from Prima called Paradise City--amazing colors and patterns to work with. Vintage yet modern. So cool!


This is the same paper line from Prima. I framed in a photo of Bryan running down the beach-I just love that photo. I added lots of pearls and some gorgeous new flowers and leaves. The back is an embossed transparency they released at the last show.

And then I featured Kate and Bry using packaging for photo mats, and gorgeous new fabric flowers and pearl swirls. Oh..and a new birdie too.

BAD GIRLS NEWS!!! It's Bad Girl's Birthday and we are celebrating in style! Go directly to the Bad Girls blog for details on how you can win $150.00 in prizes...gasp!

Go here for the details:

http://wendyrago.typepad.com/bad_girls/

It's easy, fun and exciting! Wendy always knows how to celebrate in style!

That's all for now friends!

I'll check in soon!

xoxo Cari

Busy busy!!!

Hey friends!!

Hope you're enjoying your summer....I am! But it has been so busy with projects, classes, and getting ready for CHA! I have some LO's ready for the Prima booth and I'll be able to share them with you before I go. I just have to wait for Prima to post them on their blog before I can put them out there. It's so hard to wait and not share all at once.

Their new lines have to be some of my very favorite to date! Adrienne, my sweet friend, has come out with some of the coolest paper lines I have ever seen! So different and so rockin! IOD came out with a gorgeous new line that is so soft, magical and in a color combo that will push everyone outside of their comfort zone--which to me--is so exciting! And the flowers......let's just say-they are gorgeous, fun and so different from anything out there. I don't know how they keep coming up with amazing products every time....but they do! The list goes on and on, but you can see everything for yourselves over at the Prima blog. Too much to mention and I think you'd rather see everything instead of me rambling on about every little thing.....LOL!



Here is another LO I can share! Miss Frankie-the adorable little baby that steals my heart! Holly is so lucky to have such a sweet baby! My dear frined Nic took this photo of her during one of their sessions. Nic-you are becoming quite the photographer!! And thanks for letting me use this pic! MMMwwwaahh! The new paper line is Animal Bash by Adrienne Looman for Prima. I just adore the hand drawn animals and squiggles as well as the colors---LOVE it!

I used a ton of flowers as usual, hand cut out some little animal images to tuck in here and there, alcohol inked the letters to match and layered.....

Hope you like it!





On another note-This is the OA mini i am teaching tonight at my LSS. The mini was a labor of love. Can you say...a ton of pages?? Hope everyone likes it!!

And, last but certainly not least, my sweet friend Jeni B. is teaching a fab class over at Bad Girls! Lots of ideas and how too's using felt! I love that stuff! She is too cute and her classes rock! I think you'll have a blast creating once you take this class.

Here are the details::

Swaynk©

Online Class taught by Jeni Boisvert

July 14th - 16th$

24.95 - Click here to purchase

This technique based class with open your eyes to all the treasures hidden inside your current scrap stash. Together we will transform felt, ribbon, and fabric into adorable accessories and unique embellishments that will be perfect for any outfit or project! We will use found items around your home as well as find new uses for old "doo dads" in the back of your embellishment drawer. No previous sewing skills are necessary to create your one of a kind Swaynk©. If I can make these, anyone can make these. This will be a three part class full of fun and different techniques that you will be able to use to futher enchance your all around artistic skills. I will demonstrate many different looks that you will be able to achieve as well as explore different uses for your Swaynk©. Techniques will be shown by video as well as step by step photographs. Just a few of the items we will make together are page embellishments, rings, bracelets, headbands, ponytail holders, gift toppers, and to bring a little Christmas to July we will also be decorating a Christmas tree! I am so excited to teach this class and can't wait to start making Sywank© with you!

That's it for today! I'll be back soon with more projects and stuff to share!

Have an amaziing day!

xoxo Cari

Prima sneak....

Hey friends!
CHA is approaching fast and I am so excited to see my friends from Prima-love them!
I have been so busy creating projects using their new gorgeous stuff-I think it will knock your socks off! I never seem to get tired of flowers, they add so much to my pages....The dimension is what does it for me I think. Well-I just pour it on, that's how i roll-LOL! Gaudy as ever and I can't stop. I tried to use every single thing they sent me. I still have more to do!

Here is one of the LO's I made recently and it looks familiar-right? A LO about my blog! I used Adrienne Looman's new line -Paradise City, New Butterflies (swoon), Pearl Vines, Fairy Ring and roses. Then I added Walnut Gold Glimmer Mist to the whole thing-concentrating on the letters. I let it pool up on the chipboard letters and dried it that way. I love the result!
I can't wait to share more soon-it's killing me to keep them under wraps!


And i have a dumpster diving story to share in the near future. I can't go into details right now because a certain someone reads this blog and she can't know until after her surprise. It's an adventure that caused Sherry to break pieces off of a Rescue Mission crate....Ken is in serious trouble right now :) LOL!
be back soon!
xoxo Cari

Stuff!

Hey friends!!
I hope everyone had a great weekend! We had a fabulous time at the lake-it was so nice to see the family and spend time with the kiddos! I have some great pics I'll share with you later....

I wanted to say a big Thank You to some of my friends that commented on here about the Cosmo Cricket call---you guys know how to make my day! I am so lucky to have great friends from all over the world!

Needless to say-I didn't make the final cut but that's OK-I am still happy I got the chance to try.
And the finalists are all amazing! They have a tough decision to make! I am so happy for the girls who made it-especially Heidi and Amy! Good luck girlies!

I have been busy creating new LO's for Prima. Their new releases are amazing! Once I get the OK from them-I'll start sharing! They have been posting all of the new releases on the Prima blog--go check it out!
http://prima.typepad.com/

So in the meantime-I'll share some cards I made recently.
This card was made using the Rebel Line by Adrienne-she rocks! I also used some prima packaging and swirls.

Then I got out the burlap and made a few cards with it. I just love this stuff!
My good friend Joanne Smith has been creating her own stamps--they rock! I used a couple on these cards. I just love her sentiments and style. She gave me a couple more that I can't wait to use on some LO's. They are so cool!
Here is a link to her blog, which she seriously needs to update!!!! LOL! But if are interested in her stamps you can go there and e-mail her. http://joannessmith.blogspot.com/

This first card I used an A Muse sentiment but the other two are from Jo.

Like I said before-I'll be back with some new stuff to share....it's so hard not to!

xoxo Cari

A collection of my favorite projects, some new, some familiar

Hello friends!!
I hope you are enjoying summer so far-I certainly am! I love having the boys home with no schedule-we are having a great time! I have a freezer full of popsicles, a huge supply of band-aids, a few bottles of sunscreen and a dirty tub...heehee! They are so dirty when they come in at night from running around in bare feet, playing games and remnants of food from whatever they ate that day. So the tub has taken a beating....LOL!

So-how do you like the new look of my blog? Pretty schnazzy-right? I learn more and more each time I mess around with it. Shabby Blogs is the best-just love their blog accessories-it was so easy! Which, I am all about easy these days.

Another bit of news-I am trying out for the Cosmo Cricket DT. I absolutely LOVE their products! I am very excited to try, even though there will be a ton of other amazingly talented designers trying and there are just a few spots...eeeek! I am just glad I found out about it before the deadline--somehow I've missed it every year. And I just found out about it yesterday! So that alone makes me very happy....They asked that you post your best work on your blog and forward it to them. Easy-no prob! But how do we know what our best is? I just decided that I would post some of my faves and I whipped up a couple of things with the new Early Bird papers they just released. I really tried to post a variety of projects using all kinds of different lines, layout sizes, minis and more.

This line from Cosmo Cricket is soooooo fun to work with. I just adore the bright colors mixed with a bit of shabbiness--these are some of my fave color combinations!

I was also able to squeeze out a little set of cards. Don't you just love the toaster and tea cup?

This is a set of cards I created for a stamp event this past spring. I love stamping-I need to do it more often!

This is a night light I created for a workshop for Bad Girls last fall. I used a box that my Prima flowers came in and went to town. Kate uses it now--she loves it!

This is a mini I recently made. I needed to get a new family mini going with updated photos. It turned out so sweet.

I just love this LO of Bry. He just goes and goes! I cut cardstock around the swirls-they really pop on the LO!

This is my layout I did for Pencil Lines last year. The sketch was so awesome and I decided to create and 8 1/2 x 11 from it. I did the same trick with the swirls.

This is a Paintable LO I made for Prima when the clears came out. I painted it with alcohol inks and backed it with Kraft paper. Isn't Josie's daugther so pretty?? This baby layout is a recent one I did for Prima. Lots of layering and sweetness going on here. This is one of my very faves to date!

We are in the tween years with Jack. This paper line was perfect for this age. I stamped a brick pattern a bunch of times onto black cardstock and embossed with silver powder. I cut then out into seperate rectangles and layered across the page.

This was too fun! Bry looks like such a tough guy on his ride. I layered strips of paper with the photos-I just love how it turned out!

Halloween is one of my fave times of the year-there is no wonder why I love this LO! I stamped, used felt embellishments and layered it all with flowers. I would never have thought I would use flowers on a Halloween LO but I did--and it works!

And last but not least-the happiest kid on the planet! Having a blast at the beach! The photo is slightly out of focus but I don't care--it still says it all!

So-that is it my friends! Do you think I chose enough?LOL!! All of these layouts are fun, bright, and they make me smile. I love them all for different reasons... Thanks for taking the tour with me!

I'll be back soon with more goodies and new projects I am working on...

See you soon!!

xoxo Cari

A work in progress...

I am updating my blog and making it look a little prettier...
I'll be back soon with more pretties and cool stuff!!!!
Hope you are all busy creating gorgeous projects!
Be back soon!
xoxo Cari

Hey all!

Whats all this you ask???

I wanted to pop in and share an amazing class going on over at Bad Girls!

Jen has created a class that shows you how to print photos onto...well-just about anything!

Aluminum Foil, Tags, Tapes and more! The results are beyond amazing and it's so cool to learn something new-right?

Even though the class was posted already-it will be available for a month so you can purchase the class and check it out at your own leasure. It's also posted in stages which is nice. You can take in a little bit at a time to play and practice as you go. Jen is there to answer any questions or concerns you may have.

Here is the info:

Alternative Photo Printing

Online Class taught by Jen Matott

June 15th -17th
$29.95

Class Description:Are you bored with regular photographs on photo paper? Do you long to add more texture and interest to your artwork and pages? This in depth class is for you! I will show you how to print photographs and images onto alternative surfaces. Basically, any surface that will fit through your printer is free game! I will walk you through from simple photo editing to getting the most effective image from your printer. Forget the traditional way of using photographs... this class will have you recycling materials, playing with digital techniques and using media in a whole NEW way!!! I will share my secrets to printing on ribbon, metal, transparencies, and even sandpaper! You will not find this class anywhere else except on Bad Girls! Join me for a fun and addictive technique class!

Go here:
http://badgirlskits.com/classes.html

You will also see a new class posted by Jeni Boisvert

Photoshop Color Pop

Amazing things you can do with the program!!! I totally need this class!

She is so talented and I love that she is sharing it with us!

Photoshop Color Pop!

Online Class taught by Jeni Boisvert

June 25th - 27th$25.95

-Class Description:This super simple and fun hands on approach to Photoshop is a great starting point for beginners and intermediate users that want to bring their work to life! I will guide you along using Adobe Elements 7. I will share with you some tips and tricks that I use, as well as some of my "secrets" for getting custom color and having it do what you want it to do for the look and feel you are going for! Photoshop is as limitless as your imagination, and this class will open up a whole new world for you. You will learn Color Enhancements, as well as other looks for your photos such as Vintage, Color Splash, Color Wash, Black and White looks. We'll learn about blending modes and layers, as well as a cool trick for working with layer masks in elements that are otherwise only available in higher versions of Photoshop. We will also be making fun banners and blinkies! This Class includes a private forum as well as video instruction and a downloadable .pdf file. As a special bonus you will have access to some custom downloadable papers and brushes made exclusively for this class!