Check It Off with Erin Condren Life Planner

Poor Lesley, you would think after three years of me hanging around, she would get tired and tell me to go away. Well, that must not be the case because she asked me, Becki of the Happy Card Factory, if I would showcase some of Annie's Paper Boutique stamps in different planners. Guess that means I will be rolling in and out a Friday or two this year. 

For May, I decided to start with the "Check It Off" set with my Erin Condren Life Planner. I wanted this set to springboard my "Planner Fridays" as I think it is the most versatile of all APB stamps. It is the best set to start with if don't own many stamps for your planner. Let me show you why.

First off, let me say it is a bit nerve-wracking stamping in your planner for a post. I am not the most skilled stamper in the world or the best speller. So, if you mess up a certain date, you can't get a fresh sheet of paper as with making a card. Please excuse the white-out mess in the side panel. Apparently yogurt is a hard word for me to spell. :/ I debated leaving it and letting you all think I didn't pass 3rd-grade spelling or fixing it. I should have gone with the former. I figure you guys are used to that by now with me. Anyway....we shall proceed.

If the "Check It Off" set is the only planner stamps you have, you will still have organizing bliss. I use a part of it for every box in my Erin Condren. The dot/line combo was made with Erin Condren in mind. It is a perfect fit in the weekly boxes as shown here. Since the May theme is pink and pool, I used Sea Breeze chalk ink by VersaMagic. It's a little light, but love how it matches. The dot/line stamp is great for making a to-do list. I have a problem. I love to write stuff down just so I can check it off. The set comes with a six headings. The "To Do" was used here on a blank sticker I made to cover up each heading that is in the weekly pages in the Erin Condren.

The middle "day" box I always use for work-related plans. Since Monday is Memorial Day, I shall take the whole day off and do no work (yeah, right). Hey, it's in the planner, it has to happen! Monday also happens to be my payday. To mark it, I use the small teardrop in the corner and add the dollar sign. The bigger teardrop is used the same way, but to mark when my husband gets paid. He gets the big teardrop because his pay is much bigger than mine. The teardrops are cool because they can be used a lot of different ways. This is just one.

Page flags seem to be all the rage in the planner community. That's why "Check It Off" comes with 8 different flag styles. I'm sure you can find a favorite! Like the heart checklist for my "important" section. This is a little different than my to-dos. My to-dos are more of a chore list, whereas the important stuff goes down here. Things I really need to get done that day, that I try not to push off another day like laundry. Remember when I said that I like to check things off my list? Well, this set even comes with a cute little checkmark. I know I will enjoy the holiday, so I got that taken care of already.

In order to make use of the bottom lined area, I cover up the ticker tape area with a blank sticker strip. That way I can use another one of the awesome banners. The small light banner is skinny enough to mark my dinner menu here. Then the lines at the bottom become really useful for my and my family. That don't ask, "What's for dinner?" anymore. They know to just check out my planner.

Ugh, my dreaded white out. haha, As you can see, I use the "goals & notes" area to keep a running grocery list. That way there is no losing the list. My watercolor label is a nice size to cover up and change the use. Along with the sets "shopping" and "task list" stamp. I did mask out the "task", so I could just use the "list" part. While not specifically made to for the lines here, the heart checklist grouping fits pretty well. It's great because I get to check more stuff off. Are you seeing a reoccurring theme here? "Check it off" should be tattooed on my arm.

This is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to this great planner stamp set. Pick it up and see for yourself. I'm sure you guys can come up with lots of different uses and amazing ideas to be a better organized you. Thanks for stopping by and be sure to share your planner pages on Instagram. Don't forget to tag @HappyCardFactory and @TheTrendyGal. We'd love to see what your creations!

Twine Tic Tac Toe Valentine card

Hello again.  It's Becki from Happy Card Factory and this is my last time this month as a guest designer for Trendy Twine! It was much fun and I enjoy Lesley and the ladies. I am not joking when I say they are craaaaaazy.  That's OK because I love them and their twiney creations. I feel right at home.

I didn't leave any needles sticking out of this creation, but almost added a wooden stake. I was going to use it for an arrow. It just took up too much room and looked very busy, so I decided no pointy things on this card. I need to be less dangerous in my crafting.

Cherry Cupcake, Grey Licorice, and Twisted Teal were the twines of choice on this card. I love how teal and red go together in some of the Christmas decor, chances are it will look good for my Xs and Os, right? My grid is a off a tad bit, isn't that the great thing about homemade? Imperfection says I love you. At least that is what I tell the recipients of my creations. hehe

I topped my card off with a sentiment from A Jillian Vance Design. It is from a retired set that the name escapes me now. I thought the xoxo would look good with the tic tac toe board. What do you think? Let me know in the comments. I also want to thank Lesley for allowing me to guest design for my favorite twine company. You are the best!

Don’t worry there's still time to craft those Xs and Os! Annie’s Paper Boutique {home of Trendy Twine} has lots and lots of goodies for your Valentine crafting. Make sure you stop by the store even if you aren’t in the market for more twine.

Stitched I Love U Valentine by Guest Designer Becki

Hello again, it's me Becki from the Happy Card Factory, the really old DT member. haha I am so happy to be this month's guest designer for Trendy Twine! I can't tell you what a joy it is to design for Lesley again as it was one of my favorite teams to be on. With great excitement I said yes when she asked me to throw together a couple of projects this month. Lesley may have just needed to fill a spot, but I am thrilled none the less. ;) I hope she is pleased with my stitched i love u valentine card.

There are many uses for twine, but most are secondary, in the background type as package or bouquet wrap. I really wanted to have Trendy stand on it's own. Twine just says love and Valentine to me for some reason. Glad I got asked to design for January so I could use Cherry Cupcake. It is one of my favorites since red is my color. The pink just makes it extra scrumptious.  With this twist, depending on the other colors you pair it with it could be bold or soft.

To accomplish this card, all you need to do is lightly sketch your sentiment and take a needle and poke holes every couple of centimeters over craft foam. Thread said needle and back stitch with the twine.  Yes, I left my needle on there and put just a touch of glue. I know most of you are not going to give your needle away. I just didn't have a stamp to use and didn't want to hand draw it. Those are definitely two better options than losing a needle.

Don't forget, Annie's Paper Boutique has lots and lots of goodies for your Valentine crafting. Make sure you stop by the store even if you aren't in the market for more twine. I know I often pick up her glassine bags and mini kraft tags even though you don't see them on my blog often. I have a tendency to become a hoarder with anything related to Trendy Twine. 

Getting some goodies from the store? Great, show off your crafty side and enter this month's challenge. Details are all on the "current challenge" tab up at the top menu!

Wet Your Whiskers

Hello all from the Happy Card Encouragement Factory. I have a little inspiration for your Father's Day gifts today with a bit of Twisted Teal and The Alley Way Stamps.

Can you guess what I want my hubby to do with his 'stache? LOL It may seem like a kind of lame gift, but we go through a lot of shaving cream and razors around my house with three guys. I'm pretty sure one of the boys will take it from their dad before the day is over.

On another note, take a look at the May Specials going on right now. Get the mini set of three colors for $5.50 or pick up a full spool or two of Tickled with Teal or Twisted Teal for $7.95. Then get to crafting! ;)

Twine Hair Pretties

Hello, hello, it's Becki from The Happy Card Encouragement Factory back again with (well, what I think anyway) a super cool way to use my favorite twine in the world. Lesley challenged us to make flowers with her lovely twine and that's exactly what I did.

If you would like to see the cutie-patootie that was my unconventional model and how I made these adorable flowers, head over to my blog and check it out. I won't have a full blown tutorial right now, but I will give the supplies and a few links. Before you head over there, pick up the four colors I used here so you can be all set to make your own  - Lemon Tart, Grape Fizz, Orangesicle, and Twisted Lime.

Also, don't forget about the April Challenge: Spring into Spring. Please try and enter, you just may win a fabulous twiney prize. :) Trendy Twine also has a great sale on the color of the month:

Lemon Tart

Pick it up for just $7.95 this month.

See you on the flip side!

Happy Spring

Happy Spring, everyone! I am happy it is Spring even though it still feels like Winter. But to get into the mood I made this delightful watering can. With the paper, cheery Lemon Tart twine, and seasonal stamp from Unity, this makes the perfect gift to stuff some candy in (maybe some of that leftover Easter candy you didn't finish). Like there is any left at our house. hehehe

Just love the Lemon Tart twine? Great! It's on sale all month long for just $7.95. Make sure when you get your order to enter the April Challenge. You could win some nice goodies.

Thanks for stopping by the Trendy Twine blog today! If you would like to see a few more pictures, head over to my blog, The Happy Card Encouragement Factory. Cya!

Trendy Twine Suncatcher

Hello, it's Becki from The Happy Card Encouragement Factory back with a slightly different twist on twine. I made a set of mitten suncatchers with my new favorite - Watermelon Taffy! Cool, huh?

I am sorry about the pictures. I wanted to take them hanging in the kitchen window, but sadly, no sun for us Ohioans for a few weeks. So I had to hang them on my lightbox with a second light shining from behind the drop cloth. I know they don't show these mittens in their best light, but I really wanted to show everyone how cool they came out. Totally different!

If you would like to know how I made them, I have a tutorial up on my blog. Check it out and thanks for stopping by! 

Rocking Horse Gift Bag

It's Becki here from the Happy Card Encouragement Factory once again!  I can come up with some catchy titles, eh?  LOL  It gets hard thinking of clever names for your blog posts after about a year of blogging, so I say go with what you know.  :P And I know rocking horses.  Especially ones for little boys.  You know the ones I am talking about too.  They are pretty much destroyed by the time the first boy gets done with it that you have to buy another one for the second child.  Thank goodness no little boy will get a hold of this one.  I'm pretty sure his mommy will keep it from him.

See how I used the spotlight twine - Chocolate Sprinkles?  I just love how the tail and mane turned out.  I am soooo not going to tell you that was the longest part of this project.  Ooops....guess I just did.  If you would like the rest of the supply list or another close-up picture, check out my blog.

Don't forget you still have a few days to enter the challenge and win 50 yards of this yummy color!  If you don't have time and just want to purchase it, you can find it at the store.  Grab it while it's on sale.  Have a great day and happy crafting!