My Favorite Things

Pinterest Inspiration

2012-02-11T08:29:00.001-05:00

We all know we're addicted to Pinterest, so we might as well embrace it and have fun with it! Yesterday, I attended a fabulous Pinterest party where all the invitees were asked to bring food or crafts inspired by Pinterest. As you can imagine, I took on a craft project. :)

This was the inspiration...

and below is my finished project...

I purchased the 5x5 frame, and the chipboard letter from Hobby Lobby. I first misted the letter with Mister Huey's Classic Calico to give the letter a kraft look (instead of gray.) I then traced the letter onto the patterned paper (My Mind's Eye Kraft Fun Day), cut it out and adhered it with spray adhesive. A little inking around the letter and it's done... so easy! I used burlap over Bazzill kraft cardstock for the matting (also using spray adhesive.)

I really love how this little project turned out! Projects like this help me justify my hours spent on Pinterest. Challenge yourself to actually make something you've pinned -- I think you'll find it fun and rewarding.

Connected x2

2012-01-26T09:53:00.001-05:00

It's really fascinating to me how we've all become so dependant on our electronic devices for work, play, etc. I just happened to catch my son playing on two computers one day, while watching television, with ear buds in to listen to a You Tube tutorial! Talk about multi-tasking.

Of course, I had to grab my camera to capture the insanity and I whipped up a little layout to document. I titled it, "because 2 is better than 1" for obvious reasons. My son got the biggest grin on his face when he saw it.

I used Mister Huey's (Bonnie Blue & Pickle) to spray the chipboard number and then popped up the 2 inside the frame. I really love the results. For those of you struggling with mists, this is my favorite way to use them. You can enjoy all the beautiful colors without splatters of ink all over your layout.

I also want to share the cover pages for my kids' elementary school albums. This is such a fun and easy way to showcase those cherished school photos. Plus, I love to see the changes from year to year on one page.

As much as I adore the school layouts, when I look at them, I start to get emotional. Time is passing much too quickly -- I can't believe my son will be in middle school in August. I'll save my tears for another post.

Have a fabulous day and thank you for stopping by.

December album wrap up

2012-01-13T16:36:00.002-05:00

This is the earliest I have ever completed my Christmas album and it feels fabulous! I just wanted to share some of my favorite pages... (you may click on image to enlarge.)

As you can see, I like to keep it simple for December. If I didn't, it would never get completed! :) As much as I love doing the Christmas album, I get anxious to scrap something else. This is my first layout for 2012. I mainly used the Dec. Cocoa Daisy kit for this project. It was fun doing a 2 page layout with a masculine side and a contrasting feminine page.

We have a busy weekend ahead, full of indoor soccer, basketball games and hopefully, a little scrapping! Have a fabulous weekend and thank you for stopping by!

Happy New Year!

2011-12-28T12:01:00.001-05:00

As soon as we arrived home from Indianapolis, I decided to whip up my 2012 calendar. I was so excited to find these fabulous month tags, complete with dates, from Elle's Studio (no more stamping and writing in the dates!)

I love these little calendars, it's a quick and easy way to capture memories throughout the year. Wishing you all a happy New Year and a blessed 2012. ♥

The halls are decked!

2011-12-16T12:22:00.002-05:00

Today's post is for friends and family far away. Since we can't get together in Tennessee for the holidays, I just wanted to share a few pics of our holiday decor. From our house to yours, with love...

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend! xoxo

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

2011-12-09T17:38:00.001-05:00

With all the hustle and bustle of shopping, wrapping, baking, etc., it's important to remember to capture the quiet little moments that make you smile (and that you want to hold on to forever.) Here are a few of those shots I captured in the last few days...

Trying to squeeze some crafty time in during December is really hard, but I've managed to do a few layouts. The first, is a layout I created using Pink Paislee's Snow Day collection. The pics are from last January but they've been waiting patiently for the perfect paper to come along. I think you'll agree that this is it!

The following are the first couple of pages of my December album. (You may click on image to view it enlarged.)

I'm using Cocoa Daisy's December kit, Teresa Collins Christmas Home, along with other things from my collection.

Tonight is Christmas movie night, along with popcorn cooked on the stovetop with real butter! (My dear husband has this perfected!) Wishing you all a lovely weekend!

Christmas Album

2011-11-26T17:30:00.004-05:00

It's the time of year to start thinking about my December album. Last year, I was so excited... I bought an 8x8 album, spent a lot of time getting the cover just right and then completely lost my mojo. I deconstructed that album and just did regular layouts. Looking back on it, I realized the problem was the size of the album. There is no way I can cram all my December pics into an 8x8 album.

This year, I purchased the Holiday kit from Cocoa Daisy and I'm using an 8 1/2 x 11 album. Today, I did my album cover and I'm really please with the results. Deciding on what to use for the cover is always the hardest part for me, but I knew I had to use the snowflake template from the kit.

Here is my kit with a few other pieces thrown in...

American Crafts 8 1/2x11 album

I adhered some Bazzill kraft cardstock to the album and coated with Mod Podge. (I used painter's tape to protect the binder fabric) I then used Glimmer Mist Sand to spray the template. I also outlined the template with a Gelly Roll glitter pen and did some embossing to the snowflakes.

I added a little ribbon along the edge of the fabric, some bling in the snowflakes, stamped the title and here is the final result...

There are so many wonderful ways to document the Holidays -- it doesn't matter which method you choose as long as you DO it! I'd love to see how you preserve your Holiday memories. Post a link in the comment section to share yours!

Our Thanksgiving

2011-11-25T09:27:00.001-05:00

What a beautiful day we had yesterday -- gorgeous weather, yummy food, and the company of wonderful friends. I'm a blessed (and grateful) girl! Today, I'm just sharing a few pics from our fun day.

Today we'll be decorating for Christmas, but first, I must finish my coffee! Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend!

Why attend an on-line crop?

2011-11-19T08:36:00.000-05:00

When I told my husband that I would be "attending" a couple of on-line crops last weekend, he looked at me like I was crazy. I don't think he understands the power of the message boards. lol We no longer have a local scrap store, so rather than cut myself off completely from scrappy friends, I chose to jump in with both feet into some fabulous scrappy sites.
I recently discovered a wonderful site, Cocoa Daisy -- not only do they have wonderful kits, exclusive stamps, etc., they also have an amazing design team, sure to get you inspired

Here are the layouts I completed...

Not only was I inspired creatively, I also met some fun-loving ladies that know how to enjoy life. (p.s. Thanks for all the laughs!) If you're needing some inspiration, you should stop by here!
Have a fabulous weekend, thank you for stopping by!

Too big for trick or treating {almost}

2011-11-07T19:21:00.002-05:00

This was the Halloween that I've been dreading since my dear Son was born. He announced that he was not going to dress up and go trick-or-treating. I'll admit, for one split second I thought to myself, "Yay, one less costume to deal with." But then, my heart got heavy and I realized we were coming to the end of an era and I wasn't prepared for it. I would ask him daily if he had changed his mind and he stood firm in his decision. Finally, on the 30th, I asked him one more time and informed him that I would not have time to run around on Halloween to pick up a costume for him. Without hesitation, he responded, "Yes, I want to go and I want to be a skeleton!" Would you believe we ran into our local drug store and the perfect costume was there, waiting for him to claim it (on sale, too!)

I decided that I needed to make a mini album of all the costumes the kids have worn over the years. Although this may have been the last year for him to participate (I hope it's not!), I now have an adorable mini album that I'll cherish always.

I used the adorable My Mind's Eye Mischievous line for this project. I think it's one of my all-time favorite Halloween collections. It's going to be a busy, scrappy week for me... I'm trying to get all my fall layouts completed and I'm also attending two crops this weekend!

Thanks for stopping by... enjoy these beautiful fall days while they last!

Pretty Paper Party

2011-10-20T09:58:00.001-04:00

The amazingly talented Shimelle Laine is hosting a Pretty Paper Party, so of course, I'm attending! (Thanks for the heads up, Becki!) :) The only requirement for participation is a collection of pretty papers and as most of you know, I've got that! lol

Our prompt yesterday, was to get a collection of papers (5 or so) and to cut them into assorted sizes. What's the big deal about that, you ask? We were not cutting with specific photos in mind! Seriously, that blew my mind; I have been scrapping for years and have NEVER approached a layout without considering the pics! I have to tell you, something happened when I starting cutting into that paper, it totally changed my perspective and how to approach a layout. I ended up with a stack of 10 different patterns, assorted sizes and just started playing with the shapes. It was so freeing... it opened up a creative side to a layout that I've never experienced until then.

I chose to use paper from a Studio Calico kit. I know that sounds like the easy way out, but truth be told, when I receive a kit, I always end up deconstructing it. I don't know why but perhaps I feel "fenced in" or like I'm being told what to use (p.s. I'm not a fan of being told what to do!)
So I decided to really challenge myself, not only to cut up the paper without pics, but also to actually use the kit!

Here are the papers...

Now here is the stack after it's been cut...

Here is the final layout (you may click on images to view larger)...

What a fun and challenging process, I really loved being pushed out of my comfort zone; thanks, Shimelle!

Another prompt we have is to use all patterned paper as our background. It can be one or as many patterns as we like. Here is my take...

Again, I used products from my Studio Calico kits. I have now learned to love working with "just" my kits and to scrap without pics driving the design. That's one thing I love about this hobby, there is always something new to learn!

If you struggle using up all those pretty papers or just need some fun and fresh inspiration, come over and join in on the fun here.

Thanks for visiting!

Scrappy Mojo

2011-10-04T17:14:00.000-04:00

Scrappy mojo is a fickle friend, but when it's around, I've learned to run with it because it may not last long! These are a couple of my latest layouts created from challenges...

First up is a sketch challenge from Studio Calico. Here is the sketch

and here is my take...

I used a Studio Calico stamp set and went crazy with ink pads! I also stamped on photos and cut little strips of the pics to stick inside my stamped frames. I love the way this turned out and I would have never dreamed this up if I had not see the sketch!

Next up is a challenge from Norma Kennedy @ For the Luv of Art. The challenge was to make a 8 1/2 x 11 layout, use a paper ruffle, and use yellow for a pop of color. I took a strip of paper and use a Fiskars punch along the edge, I then scored and folded the paper and ran it through my sewing machine. Lots of steps, but so worth the effort.

The downside to hanging out with Scrappy Mojo is that everything else gets put on hold; so I'd better send her away for a little bit so that I can get caught up on other things like dinner, laundry, my son's Open House this evening... you get the idea!

Thanks for stopping by; be on the lookout for our little friend! ;)

My Pie Chart

2011-10-01T09:14:00.001-04:00

We have an on-line crop going on at FTLOA and the first challenge I completed was a pie chart challenge. I thought it would be fun to show my personal computer pie chart... the good, bad, and the ugly! :)

No explanation needed on this one! lol I'll admit, I have a slight addiction to my little laptop. :)

The next layout is from our July 4th celebration. I used Sheri Twing's grid challenge for this and I'm really pleased with the results.

If you have time, come over and join in on the crop!

It's absolutely gorgeous here today (although a tad chilly!) We're off to a cross-country meet today and hopefully a little scrapping this afternoon. What weekend plans do you have? Whatever you do, enjoy your weekend and thanks for stopping by!

It's great to be 8!

2011-09-23T15:38:00.000-04:00

Today, my precious baby girl turned 8! I'm feeling extremely sentimental today, trying to hold on to time and not let it slip away too quickly! I thought it would be fun to do a post of her actual birth day and all birthday celebrations since then. I hope you enjoy this special journey with me... (to see larger images, just click on the pic!)

Now we're off to celebrate with dinner and cake, of course! Hope you have a fabulous fall weekend!

Random Scrap

2011-09-16T08:11:00.000-04:00

Today I'm just posting a few random layouts that I've done recently. Most of these were inspired by challenges at Studio Calico and For the Luv of Art.

Thanks for looking! It's a cool, crisp morning here; I think it may be a great day to scrap! Have a fabulous weekend! :)

Kitchen Eye Candy

2011-09-10T08:46:00.000-04:00

For this month's 10 Things post, I've decided to show some of my favorite kitchen pins from Pinterest. We're getting ready to remodel our kitchen and Pinterest is the perfect spot to find inspiration. Here are ten pieces of my personal eye candy...

I'm drooling just seeing this pics again! If you haven't tried Pinterest yet, you should; it's a fabulous place to catalog all your favorite eye candy.

Have a fabulous weekend! Happy Birthday to my mother (love ya, Mom; you're the best!) Thanks for stopping by! :)

Finally scrapped my little bunny...

2011-09-04T09:46:00.000-04:00

Some of you may remember this post regarding communication between myself and my darling daughter. :) I finally did a layout with that priceless pic and here it is...

Last week, Studio Calico had a challenge to use rainbow colors on a layout and I knew I had to use these pics.

I hope you're having a wonderful holiday weekend. We are finally going to get some desperately needed rain. It's been so dry that the leaves are already falling from the trees (way too early for that here!) As always, thank you for stopping by my blog!

Oh how I love scrappy challenges...

2011-09-02T12:38:00.000-04:00

I used to shy away from scrappy challenges but now I'm completely addicted to them. I love the variety they offer and how they force me to explore new techniques. So many times, while looking on-line or in magazines, I will say to myself, "I should try that sometime" but it seems like I never do it on my own. That's the beauty of an on-line scrapbooking community. Not only is it a great social network, it also pushes me to try new things.

If your scrappy mojo is missing, why not give challenges a try. I think you'll be surprised how quickly the inspiration returns! Here are a couple of my latest challenges:

Inspired by music:

Rolled paper challenge:

The following are more of the cards I made from the Card-A-Palooza challenges.

If you're looking for some fun challenges, try here.

Wishing you a fun-filled weekend; thanks for stopping by!

Studio Calico Sunday Sketch

2011-08-26T20:23:00.002-04:00

Although I've been a Studio Calico kit subscriber for several months, I really haven't participated in the community. Of course, I've been lurking for months but it's always hard to jump into a new scrappy place. I recently met April (owner of SC) at CKC in Nashville and she encouraged me to get on board. So here I am, taking baby steps to get involved... my first challenge.

Here is the sketch:

And here is my take:

Every time I look at this little note, I laugh! At least she was kind enough to warn us that she licked the apples! lol This is such a classic example of Paige's personality; a note I'll always cherish!

Do you like to participate in challenges? If so, come & join in on the fun here. If you're not familiar with their kits, you must check them out!

Have a wonderful weekend!

p.s. I'm thinking of all the people that may be affected by Hurricane Irene this weekend... hoping and praying for your safety.

10 Creative Days

2011-08-10T09:32:00.003-04:00

I'm currently participating in For the Luv of Art's Card-A-Palooza 15 day challenge. So for today's 10 Things post, I'm posting the 10 cards I have made so far. The object of this challenge (besides creating and having fun) is to have a supply of cards ready to use at a moments notice. Therefore, we are not supposed to add the sentiment until we use the card.

Let me say, I am not a card maker by nature (layouts are my fave), but I have truly enjoyed whipping up these miniature creations. The following is the list of challenges and my take on them:

Challenge #1. Use a die cut

Challenge #2. Monochromatic color scheme

Challenge #3. Patterned paper only

Challenge #4. Window card

Challenge #5. Primary Colors

Challenge #6. Mini cards

Challenge #7. Cards that looks like a gift

Challenge #8. scraplift

Challenge #9. use rub-ons

Bonus challenge: Hybrid card using Norma Kennedy's "Joy" digi kit

I guess I can officially say that I am a card maker now! If you'd like to participate in Card-A-Palooza, click here. There are prizes involved, of course!

Today is Shimelle's 10 Things Blog Hop, if you like to see more click here. Wishing you all a blessed and creative day; thank you for stopping by my blog! :)

Back to the Scrap

2011-07-31T11:48:00.002-04:00

Summer break is winding down and I'm really getting into a scrappy mood. I had tons of pics developed, cleaned up my desk and got ready to create and as fate would have it, I drew a complete blank. Don't you hate it when that happens? Anyway, I fought the beast and searched through papers for quite a while before I came across some jillibean soup paper that spoke to me. (Yes, I am a little crazy, but I'm cool with that!)

From that point on, the fun began and I'm quite happy with the outcome. I decided to cut strips from the jillibean paper and found some Pink Paislee stickers to overlay the strips with; I simply adore these little strips! Let me share my newest scrappy obsession with you -- Canvas Corp. They have the most fabulous products: burlap, corrugated sheets, and chalkboard paper (chalkstock) I have some serious love for their stuff. Excuse my rambling; let me get to the finished project.

Have you used any Canvas Corp. products? If so, leave me a comment and a link because I'd love to check it out! Now I'm officially back to the scrap and loving it! Thanks for stopping by, wishing you a blessed week!

My First She Art Girl!

2011-07-27T14:16:00.000-04:00

Several weeks ago I signed up for Christy Tomlinson's She Art mixed media class. Little did I know how much I would enjoy the process! Just watching her videos and techniques got my creative mojo running. The following are some pics of the process.

And the finished project:

Rather than using She Art phrases, I decided to use some words describing how I feel about myself and my life. My kids loved watching my girl evolve, when it was done, my daughter told me the girl looks just like me! (Even though I gave myself really BIG hair!)

If you're feeling inspired or want to check out Christy's classes, hop over to www.scarletlime.com. As always, thanks for stopping by my little blog.

Core'dinations July Challenge

2011-07-09T14:22:00.000-04:00

It's time for another Core'dinations challenge. (BTW, I was the co-winner of last month's challenge! Yay, me! lol

This month's challenge is to create a layout or card using a specific color combo.
Here is the inspiration:

and the following is my take...

I actually dusted off my Fiskars Shape Boss (circa 2001) to emboss the border of the layout. I used a journaling template to emboss my stitch lines for the banner.

Products used:

Core'dinations
Whitewash Wicker Chair
Whitewash Barn Siding
Vintage Collection Sun Coral
Core Color Rivulet
Vintage collection (blue, I can't find the specific name)
Patterned paper: Crate Paper Emma's Shop Quilts
Alphas: Thickers Dots
Sassafras Scripts
My Mind's Eye Lime Twist
Twine: The Twinery

These pics are from two years ago and I could never get motivated to scrap them. Along came this challenge which was absolutely PERFECT and gave me the scrappy jumpstart I needed. Hop on over to the Core'dinations blog and give this fun challenge a try!

Thanks for visiting!

10 Things/July 2011

2011-07-09T09:08:00.008-04:00

Wow, the last month flew by in super warp speed! I can't believe it's already time for my 10 Things post. This month I decided to post ten layouts that I love. I love them for different reasons, some for the techniques, some for the pics and some, well, just because!

It was hard to choose only ten! :) As always, thank you for stopping by, wishing you a blessed day.

To check out Shimelle's 10 Things blog hop click here.

Core'dinations Challenge

2011-06-14T20:22:00.002-04:00

This morning I saw a Core'dinations challenge on FB and I decided to join in on the fun. The challenge is to journal, use Core'dinations cardstock in a visible manner and to link up the project to their blog. Here is my take on the challenge.

I embossed the Core'dinations, rubbed the heart shape from a die, then etched out PMC with a distressing tool. For the journaling block, I used my paper scorer to make journaling lines.

Products used:
Core'dinations: Dewberry and Whitewash
Patterned Paper: My Mind's Eye Good Day Sunshine
Thickers: Salutations
mini alphas: Glitz Teeny Alpha
My Mind's Eye Lime Twist
twine: The Twinery Caribbean
dies: QuicKutz
embossing folder: Tim Holtz

Thanks for looking!

10 Things

2011-06-10T10:30:00.003-04:00

Today I'm starting a new monthly feature on my blog. This concept was introduced to me by Shimelle Laines's blogging class. There will be many other bloggers participating and I'm looking forward to a good blog hop!

It's 10 things on the 10th of the month. The things can be anything... pics, lists, random thoughts, etc. For my first "10 things" post, I'm going to share an ongoing mini album I'm creating. It's simple snapshots I take every July 4th of my children. I keep this 8x8 album on my coffee table. It's so amazing (and bittersweet) to see how the kids change each year. It's one of my favorite albums.

Wow, can you believe how quickly time flies?! 10 wonderful years of memories. Now let's go out and make some more!

Happy Summer!

Triple C-rated (Creating canvas w/Cricut)

2011-06-08T15:06:00.002-04:00

Some of you may know that I recently acquired a Cricut from a dear friend (you know who you are!) I'll admit, I've been a little intimidated to try it out but I figured rather than let it just collect dust, I should actually use it! Since I only have two fonts, I used my "phone a friend" option and bummed a couple of cartridges. Thanks, T. :)

I started with a pre-primed 12x24 canvas, paints, fabrics, and some patterned paper. I used Heat and Bond on the back side of the fabric to prepare it for the Cricut. For the tree and follow your, I used Core'dinations and patterned paper. The bliss is different fabrics layered on a background of patterned paper. The swing is just twine and a piece of naked chipboard cut down.

Here is a view of the finished project...

I hope this inspires you to dust off the supplies, push out of your comfort zone and try something new! I also had to share what my space looked like when I finished the project. Obviously, I am CRAZY messy when I'm creating!

Thanks for stopping by! :)

Time for a cool change

2011-05-29T19:19:00.001-04:00

After perusing so many fabulous scrap/craft rooms on Pinterest, I decided that I needed a color change in my space. We moved to this house just over a year ago and I was so crazy busy just trying to move in that I didn't take the time to paint my scraproom. My latest color combo obsession has been aqua, orange and brown, so of course I used that palette for my inspiration. Last Thursday, I jumped in and tackled the task. After three days of moving furniture, painting and using muscles I hadn't used for awhile, the job is complete! I'm a little sore and exhausted but it's so worth it. Take a look at the before and after...

I still have a little tweaking to do (window treatments, wall art, etc.) but I truly love the transformation. The color is Benjamin Moore Barely Teal and it just makes me happy!

What colors make you happy and inspired to create? I'd love to hear your favorite color combos. Thanks for stopping by!

NSD

2011-05-07T21:21:00.001-04:00

National Scrapbooking Day is a real holiday to me. I know that sounds a little strange but when there is a day set aside for something that I'm so passionate about, I'm celebrating it!

I had to run a few errands here and there but was still able to hang out and have some fun with my peeps over at FortheLuvofArt.com. Norma, Carrie and the DT did an amazing job throwing out the challenges of the day. Luckily, I have until Monday to get them done but I did manage to crank out three projects.

Thanks for stopping by to take a peek! It's nice to have visitors, especially ones that you don't have to clean up for. :)

Peace. Love. Happy NSD!

My Scrap Space

2011-05-02T16:30:00.001-04:00

Today's post is all about my scrap room and office. Several of my scrappy friends have asked for me to post pics and share my tips for organization, so I thought a video would be the perfect way to do both.

I always love seeing scrap spaces, send me a link to yours and I'll check it out. Thanks for stopping by today!

My Day in Photos

2011-04-27T16:51:00.003-04:00

See more photos here.

Challenge Addict

2011-04-26T17:43:00.003-04:00

I have become so dependant on challenges from fortheluvofArt.com; that I wasn't sure I could still scrap without one. I will always be a fan and participate in the challenges but today I decided to scrap solo!! It took a few minutes to get the mojo flowing but it eventually came back to me.

I've been so excited to use this line (My Mind's Eye Fine & Dandy.) I ♥ all the patterns & colors. Here is what I came up with...

Thanks for looking!

What do you do to get your scrappy mojo running? :)

A Mother's Prayer

2011-04-23T09:57:00.003-04:00

Dear Lord,
Please give me the grace, energy and patience to nurture this wonderful, challenging, headstrong and complex female child you gave to me.
Amen.

This has been my mantra lately in regards to raising my daughter. Sometimes the contrast between sugar and spice is too much to bear. Yesterday, just before we dyed Easter eggs, she had a major meltdown.
When I said, "Let's brush your hair so you won't look like a rag a muffin in the pics." She heard, "You can't wear your bunny ears." I guess this is a sign that we both need to work on our communication skills. lol

In the end, it all worked out and we dyed the eggs and had a great time. I just wanted to share a few pics. If you enlarge the pics you may still see swollen eyes as evidence of the meltdown. :) If you have a minute, I'd love for you to answer my poll. Thanks for stopping by!

How do you handle the highs and lows of raising children?customer surveys

Good Times

2011-04-21T21:23:00.003-04:00

This is a layout I created today and I love it because this is a true depiction of our everyday life. My children have always love to make forts (when they were little, they called them, "Cool Houses") and when they made this one, I grabbed the camera to capture the fun. It's moments like this, that I want to remember always!

For this layout I used Pink Paislee's Hometown Summer Collection. Thanks for looking!

Fun button project

2011-04-01T13:54:00.001-04:00

When I saw Jen Jockisch's idea for using up buttons and brads, I was instantly inspired to create one for myself. It's fun and therapeutic to do a crafty project like this. I made this to put in my daughter's room. The thing I love about this project is the versatility. You could make this neutral or masculine just by changing button colors. Here is my take... tfl!

2011-01-28T16:54:00.002-05:00

When I saw the My Mind's Eye Fine and Dandy collection, I had to have it all!! This is my first layout created with the Tickled Pink line. I think I love this line so much because of the amazing, bright colors. It makes me forget that we're smack dab in the middle of winter! :) TFL!

Surviving Snow Week 2011

2011-01-14T13:58:00.004-05:00

How to survive being stuck in the house for a week? Crafting, of course! Here is my latest creation. You can tell I was completely crazy because I actually brought out my sewing machine and also hand-stitched my paper!! I created this layout for the weekly challenge at For the Luv of Art. The challenge was to use packaging in the layout; I used my all-time favorite, Prima! TFL!

Let it Snow! (I don't think so!)

2011-01-14T09:21:00.007-05:00

Has this been a crazy winter already or what?! I had a feeling when we had a snowfall in November that we may be in store for a winter to remember and my hunch was correct! Our kids have missed a whole week of school due to the latest snow storm. On the bright side, we've been able to stay up late, sleep in and I've been able to do some crafting (always a good thing!)

Today, on the Core'dinations blog, a card I made is being showcased (Thanks, Ellen!)
I will admit, I made this card before our latest blizzard; I'm not feeling the love for the sentiment anymore. I am, however, excited and honored to be on the blog because I LOVE Coredinations!! You should hop over to their blog, it's filled with inspiration and creativity. TFL!

http://www.coredinations.com/index.php/category/scrapbook-blog/

Happy New Year!

2011-01-02T10:10:00.006-05:00

Every year I make calendars to give to the grandparents and I also make one for us to keep. It's so fun (and bittersweet) to go through the calendars and see the changes in the children and to remember special moments captured throughout the year.

I just wanted to share our 2011 calendar. May your 2011 be filled with peace and happiness, Happy New Year!

Journal Your Christmas Dec. 1st

2010-12-01T19:30:00.004-05:00

I basically just took my blog post from earlier today and used it as my manifesto for Shimelle's Journal Your Christmas class. Here is my album cover along with my manifesto page. TFL!

December

2010-12-01T08:49:00.002-05:00

December. How can one word evoke such warm, cozy, and wonderful feelings and at the same time make me feel anxious and stressed? I know I'm not alone with these mixed emotions; the secret is to find balance. For me, a list helps to keep me in check and to stay organized. So this year, in addition to my December errand/chore list, I'm making a list of a few of my favorite things to keep me calm, relaxed and enjoying this Holiday season. After all, shouldn't we be enjoying this wonderful season? :)

My List

1. Listen to Christmas music
2. Make and drink hot chocolate (loaded with whipped cream, of course!)
3. Sit by the fire and play board games
4. Watch Christmas movies
5. Bake treats and deliver to friends
6. Scrapbooking (you had to know this would be on my list!)
7. Play in the snow (hopefully!)
8. Drive around the town to see Christmas lights
9. Treat myself to Starbucks anytime I'm near the mall
10.Be sure to tell my family & friends how much they mean to me and that I love them.

FLTOA Recipe Challenge

2010-11-24T08:44:00.004-05:00

Yesterday, I had the honor of hosting the weekly challenge @ www.fortheLuvofArt.com. When I received the Nov. kit, I knew it was perfect for this, the challenge is to use a recipe on a layout. I knew instantly what I wanted to do... our favorite cookie recipe.
Every year we bake several batches of these, don our Santa caps, and deliver to our friends. It's so much fun to take a little time and spread a little Holiday cheer.
Since I can't deliver these to all my online friends, I hope you take the time to make a batch of these delicious treats and feel the love from our house to yours.

"Seasoned with Love" Nov. kit

2010-11-16T16:43:00.003-05:00

My big day is finally here... my first time as guest designer at FTLOA. I received my "Seasoned with Love" kit yesterday and for a minute, I was FROZEN with fear/creative block. lol
I quickly recovered and dug into the kit. Today, Renee Lamb posted a challenge to do a layout without any photos (that is a BIG challenge for me!) So here is my take on the challenge. TFL!

Cherished Photo

2010-11-07T22:23:00.004-05:00

To me, every photo I take is a cherished memory. Unfortunately, I have very few pictures of my mother as a child. This is one that I love because my Grandmother actually gave me the original. I've really only scrapped since my children were born and I haven't taken the time to go back and document my history. This layout is my first "heritage" type layout. I used the gorgeous FTLOA Oct. kit and I'm thrilled with the outcome. I'm now inspired to go back through old family photos and create an album with them. TFL!

November Surprises!

2010-11-07T08:56:00.004-05:00

What a week of surprises this has been...

First, I was asked to be the November Guest Designer for my favorite scrappy site. www.fortheLuvofArt.com! I'm very excited, honored (and a little nervous!) This will be my first time doing something like this but it's good for me to step out of my crafty comfort zone. I can't wait to see the kit and start creating!

Another crazy surprise this week was the weather. We had a blast of chilly, windy weather sweep through and brought with it our first snow flurries of the season. I've lived in this area now for 16 years and I believe this is the earliest dose of winter weather I can remember. I hope this is not a preview of things to come! Although it only lasted a few minutes, it was BEAUTIFUL and I wanted to share some pics with you. It's too bad I didn't have my children dressed in adorable winter wear, it would have been a great Christmas card photo op!

How can it be November already?!

2010-11-01T09:21:00.007-04:00

When I turned my calendar this morning, I nearly flipped out. How can it be NOVEMBER already?! I know we've been busy with projects around the house, building a barn, landscaping, etc., but I feel like time is moving at the speed of light. As we now approach the crazy, busy, wonderful Holiday season, I need to remind myself to STOP and enjoy each little moment.

I've been doing a little scrapping and creating everyday and was so surpised that I finshed 20 layouts in the last 10 days! Just want to share a few of my favorites. TFL!

Scrappy Goodness

2010-09-25T11:25:00.004-04:00

I just wanted to share a couple of layouts I've done recently. Ellen S. from For the Luv of Art recently challenged us to use stitching on a layout. I enjoyed the challenge so much I decided to do more sewing with the fabulous papers from the Sept. kit. Thanks for looking!

4 cakes and a girl

2010-09-25T09:51:00.003-04:00

Is there such a thing as too many birthday celebrations? No, according to Paige. In the course of 6 days, she had four birthday cakes. I'm afraid this sets us up for many years of great expectations on her part. lol I just had to share the pics!

More HHI mini album

2010-08-09T17:35:00.004-04:00

The top shot is a layout I did for a challenge @ For the Luv of Art. The rest are a few more detailed shots of the mini! TFL!

Hilton Head Mini album

2010-08-09T17:28:00.003-04:00

I purchased a mini album months ago with the intention of using it for beach photos. I'm not typically into mini's but I must say that I really enjoyed this project and I'm happy with the result. Thanks for looking!

Hilton Head

2010-07-19T08:27:00.005-04:00

We just got back from our family beach trip and it was fabulous! This was my first trip to Hilton Head and I must say, I LOVED it. I just want to share a few of my favorite pics.

July 4th Celebration

2010-07-05T10:51:00.005-04:00

Wow, what a busy and fun day we had. We went to Sunday School, grabbed some Chinese food for lunch and came home to prepare for our cookout & fireworks extravaganza! Paige & I made the Flag Cake from Ina Garten's cookbook and it was a huge hit! :)
As usual, my hubby put on quite the fireworks display. Some friends from our old neighborhood stopped by to watch with us, so it turned into a fabulous evening for us and especially, our kids!

She did it!!!

2010-07-03T22:04:00.002-04:00

We had our POD delivered Thursday and with it came Paige's bicycle from storage. She wasn't ready to learn to ride her bike last summer but this year was totally different. She got on and with a little help from Daddy, she was riding all by herself in about 20 minutes. It was so thrilling to see her little face light up with her accomplishment. This morning she was up and dressed by 8:30 ready to hit the road. Way to go, big girl!! :)

FTLOA fabric challenge

2010-06-28T14:49:00.003-04:00

This week @ For the Luv of Art, the challenge was to use fabric on a layout. Other than ribbon, I've never used fabric so I thought I'd give it a whirl. This happens to be one of my all-time favorite fabrics so I was thrilled when I was able to use it for my Easter layout. Of course, I had to drag out the sewing machine, but once I got started, I actually enjoyed the process. I may have to add fabric to my list of scrap necessities. Thanks Carrie F. for the inspiration! :)

World Cup Fever!

2010-06-18T09:10:00.005-04:00

In honor of World Cup Soccer, I thought I would post some of the latest pics of my soccer guy! This boy lives and breathes all sports, but soccer is his game!

Even though I can't stand the noise from the vuvuzelas, we'll still be watching Team USA in just a few minutes!

2010-06-17T19:40:00.003-04:00

I just received my first kit from for the luv of art and I must say, I'm loving every bit of it! Since the opening of this new on-line store/community, I have rediscovered my passion for scrapbooking. It's a great place to chat, be inspired and of course, shop! Thank you Norma for creating such a fabulous scrappy home! :)

Breaking Ground

2010-06-11T14:57:00.004-04:00

This week is ground-breaking for our new barn!!! The kids & I purchased a new shovel for the ceremonial scoop of dirt. Seeing the grin on my husband's face as he drove the tractor around, reminded me of a story my daughter wrote in class this year. The first two sentences are, "A man is a boy. My dad is a man." No truer words have been written, this man is a boy at heart, that's one of the things I love about him!

Back to the Blog

2010-06-11T14:35:00.003-04:00

Okay, it's been awhile since I've done this. A lot has happened in the last year and blogging just kept getting pushed to the back burner. A brief recap since my last blog...

In October, we happened upon a beautiful piece of property that just spoke to us & said, "Welcome Home!" Of course, we had to sell our existing house first (which meant taking a few weeks to get our home in tiptop shape to sell.) Keep in mind, all this was being done during the holiday months. Trying to keep the house pristine during the holidays was rather taxing! lol Luckily, we received an offer in January and moved in February.

Now we're settled in and loving life! It feels wonderful after all these years of searching, to be able to sit back and enjoy life. We have tons of projects we'd like to do but we're content knowing this is the place we were searching for so long.

Favorite Halloween Pics

2009-11-03T19:38:00.003-05:00

2009-10-23T13:41:00.003-04:00

The arrival of Fall has awakened my creative spirit. There is nothing as inspiring as fall colors, falling leaves and our annual visit to Brush Creek Farms to get my crafty mojo running. It was so chilly last weekend, we had our first fire. Bring on the cool weather and all the wonderful things that come with it! :)

Moving On

2009-09-07T22:05:00.002-04:00

Okay, my mourning period for CMK is over... time to move on!

I just wanted to post my latest layout. Daddy's sweet Valentine with her very own tulips.

Goodbye CMK...

2009-08-30T10:14:00.007-04:00

Tomorrow the CMK site will be closing. I'm so thankful for the inspiration & friendships I found there. I know I'll be getting involved in different scrap communities, but I'm not sure it will ever be the same as my first scrap home.

The journaling reads:

Who knew winning a newsletter giveaway would open a wonderful, new world to me?! A community of beautiful, caring women with a love for each other and for all things scrappy.

Thank you Lisa, Design Team and the whole CMK family. You've all been so supportive & I've been inspired by each & every one of you. Even though CMK will not be on-line, it will continue to live on through our friendships & love of scrapbooking. I'll miss CMK... after all, you were my first scrappy home.

It's official... I have my own blog!

2009-08-23T21:16:00.002-04:00

Even though embedding the slide-show took about a week, I finally conquered it! Oh to be a computer geek.

Back to School

2009-08-17T21:44:00.001-04:00

Here are some of my favorite back to school pics of the kids.

2009-08-17T17:45:00.001-04:00