New Project For You!!

Hey everyone! Below is a mini book that I designed that I thought I would share with you It's great for pool/beach photos, or just summer photos in general. I love the look of Cosmo Cricket's papers. They really have a "Fun" summer look to them. This book will hold six 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" photos.















For supplies you will need:

*1 sheet each of Cosmo Cricket Snorkel Papers in the following 3 prints:
Umbrellas, School's Out, and Carbonation
*1 sheet each of Cardstock in coordinating shades of green, blue, red, and yellow
* 1 yard of 3/8" wide yellow ribbon with white dots
* 2" tall stencil letters
* Circle punches 2", 1 3/8", 1", 3/4"
*Scallop Edge punch
* 1 3/8" scallop square punch or similar
* Photo Corner Punch
* Small and large tag punch
*Wavy edge ruler (or you can hand draw the waves)
*Chipboard arrow to trace or you can again draw one
*Crop A Dile or hole punch
*Stapler (I used the Tiny Attacher by Tim Holtz - it is great for ribbons!)
* 12" paper trimmer
* Your favorite adhesive

Start by cutting a 6" x 12" piece of both the blue and green cardstock. Score in half of the 12" side and fold to make them each 6" x 6". These make the pages of the book. The green is the outside cover and the blue is the inside pages. Next cut four 4" x 4" squares from the yellow cardstock and two 4" x 4" squares from the red cardstock. These will be your photo mats.

For the cover, on the front right edge of the green cardstock, punch a scalloped edge. Next, cut the letters from the Carbonation paper using the letter stencils. Use the 2" punch to punch out 5 circles from the Umbrellas paper. Some can be partial circles so they go off the page. Glue everything onto cover.









For Pages 1 & 2, Cut a 1" x 12" strip from the Carbonation Paper. Trace and cut out the arrow, then punch 2 scalloped squares from the Umbrellas paper. Cut the squares in half to make triangles. Use 2 of your 4" x 4" yellow cardstock squares and glue in place as shown.

For Pages 3 & 4, Cut a 3/4" x 12" strip from the umbrellas paper. We will use the back of the paper for the journal strips. Cut the 12" length into 3 pieces: 4", 4 1/2", and 3". Punch varying sizes of circles from the Umbrellas and Carbonation papers. Use 2 of the 4" x 4" red cardstock squares and glue in place as shown.












For pages 5 & 6, Use the wavy ruler (or just draw a wave) onto a 12" strip of the School's Out paper. The strip should be approx. 1 1/2" tall at the top of the waves. Cut into 2 strips that are each 6" long. Punch 2 photo corners from the Carbonation paper. Use the last two 4" x 4" yellow cardstock squares and glue in place as shown.

On the back cover, punch the small tag from the Umbrellas paper and use the back side to write "Made by, then your name". Punch the larger tag from the Carbonation paper. Glue together and staple a small piece of ribbon to the top. Glue to the back cover.

Holding the book together, open it and punch holes in the center folds 1" down from the top and 1" up from the bottom. Thread the remaining ribbon through and tie in a knot and bow on the outside of the book.

This book was originally designed for a group of children, so it needed to be fairly simple, but feel free to add inked edges, 3D elements, or anything else that you can think of. Don't be afraid to be creative and add your own touch to it.

I hope you enjoyed my first little blog project. I plan to do more as I can. Please let me know what you think and I'd love to see your finished projects. You can e-mail me at paperflowers_paula@yahoo.com.

Have a wonderful day!
~til next time,
Paula

New Blog Layout!!!

Hey everyone!! How do you like my new blog layout? I am so proud to say that I did it all myself!!! Those of you who know me, know that I am scared to try anything new on my computer without someone walking me through it because I'm so afraid of messing something up, but I swallowed my fear and went for it - and this was the result. I'd love to hear what you think of it. I think it is easier to read just because it is wider so you don't have to scroll down so much and I made the font a little larger also. I used my Summer Sunrise kit to make the header and I just had a good time figuring it all out and doing it, and I had to share with you my excitement.

On another exciting note, since I am an instructor/teacher at Scrapper's Boutique, I'm getting the priviledge of going to a trade show with Cherie and a few of the other instructors/teachers in October! I'm signed up to take some very awesome classes and will be bringing back all that knowledge to teach new classes at the store in the fall!! I just can't wait! I even got in on one of Tim Holtz's classes - whoo hoo!!! It will be my first time to take one of his classes and meet him and I'm just majorly thrilled.

In the meantime, I'm working on a new class for the store that has to do with flowers and I think you all will love it - so be on the lookout! I really think this will be a popular class! I am also having the 1st Junior Scrappers Club class/meeting on September 5th at 10:00 AM and the Intro To Cards on September 5th from 1:30 to 3:30. Another one that was popular was the Snorkel Mini Album and so we have added a second class for it on Thrusday night, September 10th from 6:30 to 8:30. Be sure to sign up for some of mine, or any other of the wonderful classes at the store.

Okies - well I'd better get to bed so I can actually get up in the morning. I think I'm having as much trouble getting back into the school routine as the kids are. And I have to take Hercules to the vet in the morning, so I hope that we will get some good news. Have a good nite and . . .
~til next time,
Paula

Wonderful Saturday!!

I had such a wonderful time at the Crop For The Cure event on Saturday. It is going to help sponsor team A New Day and they did a fabulous job with putting on the event! I wish them the very best with their fundraising and walking. We had 2 delicious meals catered in (which by the way were also donated - thanks to those generous restaurants) and I got to see and talk to so many people that I have not seen in a long time. I really had a blast. I got to sit with Bobbie and Jody, and Joni got to stop by our table once in a while. I worked with my Copic markers (even tho I don't take the class until this coming Saturday) I wanted to play anyway. I think I got to where I was doing pretty good - but I definitely need that class - hehe - and I'm looking forward to it.

Kaylee started school today and I can't wait to pick her up to see how it went. She was a little nervous because she didn't know hardly any of the kids in her class and all of her really good friends she had made over the past years were all in other classes. I know that she is a sweet girl and will make new friends, but trying to convince her of that is a whole other issue -so we'll see how it went in a little while. :) Zachary was so funny today. He went with me to drop Kaylee off this morning, but later in the afternoon, he kept running through the house and then asked me if Kaylee was hiding in her room. He was so upset that he couldn't find her and I had to remind him that she was at school. I think he really misses her. He will start school next week and then we can all start getting back into the routine.

That's about all I know for now. Take care and have a wonderful day!
~til next time,
Paula

Can't Wait For Tomorrow Morning!!

Or I guess I should say this morning - hehe! Yes - it's after midnight and I'm supposed to get up at 6:30 AM to get ready for my big scrapbook day - Crop For The Cure!! I'm just so excited I can't sleep. I already have everything packed up and by the door ready for Miss Bobbie to pick me up. I know it is going to be super fun! I'm getting to sit with Bobbie, Joni, Jody, Rose, and I know I'll see a lot of other people that I haven't seen in a long time. I just can't wait - it's almost like I'm a kid at Christmas!

Also - I made a page "About Me" for Cherie to display since I'm one of her teachers for Scrappers Boutique and I can't wait to hear the feedback on it. I worked on it for about 5 hours and did more 3D stuff than I think I've ever done on a page layout - but I LOVED making it! I'll have to take a photo of it to post for you so that those of you who can't attend can see it and tell me what you think. :)

Ok - well - I'm going to try to get a few hours of sleep!! I'll be sure to tell you all about it when I get back! You all have a wonderful weekend too! ((HUGS))
~til next time,
Paula

Last week of summer for the kids

Well - it's the last week before Kaylee starts school and then Zachary starts the week after that. We have started working on getting back into the bedtime routine and are planning to have lunch with Robby at his new office before the end of the summer.

I have been working on my samples for my next classes at the Scrappers Boutique and I'm soo excited about them.

I am starting a Junior Scrappers Club for kids 8 and up. We will be meeting once a month on a Saturday morning, and I will be teaching them how to scrapbook on their own while they are creating memories of their school year. The cost will be $20 per month and there is a one time starter kit that is about $30 (which includes the album, refill pages, etc.). We will be making about 4 pages at each class. The first class is September 5th from 10:00 am to Noon. I have the sample of the cover and the first 4 pages at the shop now, so be sure to stop by and check it out!

Also on September 5th is the Intro To Cards Class 1. It is from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM. We will be making 4 cards in the A2 size using 4 different folding techniques. We are using the Spread Your Wings papers by Three Bugs In A Rug. The cost of this class is $20 and I know we will have lots of fun!

I'm hoping to get some photos of the samples up here soon. If you would like more information about any of my classes, feel free to e-mail me or contact Scrappers Boutique at 817-503-0777.

That's all the news I have for you today. I hope you too are enjoying the last week before school!
~til next time,
Paula

P.S. Be on the watch for a paper mini book project that I am planning to post soon! I will have photos and instructions as well as a supply list. Keep checking back. :)

Dealing with it as best I can and class info :)

Well - no good news in regards to the rings. I'm just going to have to resolve myself to the fact that they are gone and I will not get them back. I never thought rings could be something that I could get so attached to - but they had such a story behind them and meant so much to me. They were sort of like my security blanket and now they are gone. But I'm trying to move past it. All my saddness and worry won't bring them back, so I have to try to get out and concentrate on fun things. Hercules seems to be responding to the medications pretty well. He seems to be breathing easier and is not coughing as much (which should mean that some of the fluid is coming out of the lungs). The medicines will not cure anything, but hopefully will put him out of any pain and give him some more time here with us. Not a day goes by that I don't look at him and think it could be my last day with him and just love on him and cry with him. This is the part of having and loving a dog that is soooo darn hard. Ok - as you can see - I'm still struggling with it, but I'm really trying to move on.

I went to a crop at the church in North Richland Hills sponsored by Jody and Joni. It was a lot of fun and I was able to see and catch up with some friends I had not seen in a while. My daughter, Kaylee went with me and she was making her paper piecings that she sells on a shelf by the register at the Scrapper's Boutique - along with other gift ideas. She also came up with a name for her little business . . . drumroll please . . . . . Kabugg's Krafts . I thought that was very cute and now I need to get her some little business cards made up. :) Tonight she made a paper pieced bear and a card - both of which were some of her best work yet. I'll try to take photos and post them here for you to see.

I worked on my cards for the Intro To Cards class that will be September 5th from 1:30 to 3:30 PM. It is a total of 4 cards. We will be going over sizing of cards/envelopes and different folding techniques. The papers are sure cute with lots of birds and it's going to be a lot of fun!!! I hope you will consider joining us. I've also been hard at work for the start of the "Junior Scrappers Club". This is a club that meets monthly to make layouts and decorate an 8 1/2" x 11" album during the school year. I am very happy with how the cover design turned out as well as the 1st two pages - can't wait for everyone to see it!! I just have to finish the 3rd and 4th pages and then I can show you a photo and the sample will be available to view and the Scrapper's Boutique. The 1st 4 layouts will be the first class and it is also September 5th, but from 10:00AM to 12:00Noon. The 2nd class will be in October and we will be decorating the cover and an additional 2 layouts. Both the Intro To Cards and Junior Scrappers Club Samples should be there by next Tuesday evening.

Tomorrow I'll be at the Scrapper's Boutique to teach the kids Snorkel Board Book Class. Adults are also welcome. I believe there are still a few spots available, so call Cherie at the shop to sign up!! It starts at 1PM.

Well - it's late here and I'd better get to bed. I'll be back soon with some photos for you. I also have a project that I'm working on putting up here on the web special just for my blog readers. It's a mini book that I thought was a cute one - so keep checking back. ;)

Hugs to you all!
~til next time,
Paula

Sad - VERY sad weekend!

Hey everyone!

Sorry it has been so long. We went on a long road trip to visit all of my family in Oklahoma and Kansas and had a great time.

I have some good news. I will now be teaching classes at the new scrapbook store, Scrapper's Boutique, and am very excited about that. My first class is a mini book class designed for children and adults ages 8 and up. It is an 8" x 8" board book done with the Snorkel papers by Cosmo Cricket. It is this Saturday, August 15th from 1:30 to 3:30 PM. I hope to see some of you signed up. :)

On a sad note, I have decided that I need to close my digital design website, and I will no longer be designing in the digital community. I took the summer off and have just realized everything that I have been missing out on with my family by being so tied to the computer. I will still be designing for Memory Mixer by Lasting Impressions and Daisy Trail by Serif, but won't be on any other sites for now. After August 20th, Paula Phillips Designs will be shut down, and that blog will have to go down also, so I'll be back here to hopefully be a better blogger - hehe.

Now for the awful news. This weekend I had my new wedding rings stolen. I know that they aren't just "lost" cuz I ALWAYS put them in the same spot every time that I take them off and all my rings are placed in a certain order EVERY time (this is just another of my type A things) but when I went to go somewhere the next day, my wedding rings were gone, but nothing else had been disturbed. The other rings were in their exact spot right next to where my wedding rings should have been. There had been a company come into my house to do some work, but I have known them for a long time and just don't want to think that they could have done it. I just can't imagine what happened to them. I have turned the house upside down and they just simply aren't here. They had to have been taken. It's the only scenario that makes sense. I remember putting them in their spot the night before when I arrived home around midnight. My kids have NEVER EVER touched or messed with my jewelry and they both have told me very emphatically that they didn't touch them. Not to mention that I was in my room most of the morning before the workers arrived, and my kids weren't even in there much at all. It just makes me sick. I don't think we'll ever be able to replace them. It was a very original set and the company where we bought them is no longer in business. Not to mention that I had saved and worked like crazy to get the money together to get this new set because my old set had problems and could not be fixed. I don't know if we will ever be able to save enough money to even get something close to replacing them. With the money I saved and trading in my old set - the new set was my 10th anniversary present. I am just heartbroken. Then - it gets even worse. The rings disappeared on Friday, then today (Sunday) I woke up to my older dog Hercules coughing like crazy and having a hard time breathing. We took him to the ER vet and have been told that he is in congestive heart failure with fluid on his lungs and possible kidney failure happening. We have him on medications that hopefully will help him live comfortably a while longer, but his heart has already enlarged and is pushing against his trachea. It's just not good. We may only have a few months left with him and I just don't think I can take any more of my heart being ripped out. I'm trying so hard to not just fall apart, but every time I think of anything, all that can pop into my mind is that my wedding rings with all their meaning to me are gone and now I'm loosing my dear Hercules too. I just ask that you all pray for me and my family right now. I know that we will get through this and I'm praying for the Lord to give me some comfort and help me understand. I know everything is part of his plan, but it's times like this that you just wish you could have a glimpse at that big picture so maybe it wouldn't hurt so bad right now.

Well - I'd better try to get some sleep now. Thanks for listening to my rants. Hopefully next time I post, things will be looking up. I hope you all are well! ((HUGS))
~til next time,
Paula