The Cutting Cafe' Design Team Call

Regina is looking for NEW designers! Check it out on The Cutting Cafe' site! I love working with her printable images and cutting files!!

Scrapping Recipe Challenge #42 & 52 Sketches

Once again, I combined my Scrapping Recipe Challenge from Sketches! {by Tamara} with a sketch from 52 Sketches. This is my layout for Scrapping Recipe Challenge #42, and it's based on Sketch #12 at 52 Sketches . . . 52 Weeks.


The three items that needed to be used on my layout are:

• Stitching or Sewing
• Hardware
• Embossing (dry or wet)

I used FUN Mr. Campy papers, journaling cards, and ribbon from Cosmo Cricket. I stitched used my sewing machine. The fish cluster is heat embossed, and my hardware is a brad trio on the twill ribbon. I cut the journaling card in a circle using my Coluzzle, and I placed that on a Nestabilities scallop circle mat. The photo corners were cut using my QuicKutz. I love the way this layout turned out! Great sketch too! You can click on the layout to see it larger.

I hope you have a great day, and thanks for stopping by!

Happy Birthday Circle Card

Two posts in one day! Please be sure to look at Jessica's monochromatic layout below! I just made this quick card, so I thought I would get it posted! I used wonderful cutting file from The Cutting Cafe'. If you haven't visited Regina's site for a while . . . you need to take a look at what she's been working on!


I used the NEW Huge Happy Birthday Circle Set, and I just LOVE it! Regina has a special going on now. If you buy one of her NEW Circle Sets, you get the Circle Shaped card for FREE! I also used the Circle Shaped Card on this card! The papers and ribbon are Mr. Campy by Cosmo Cricket. I hand cut the card shape, but then I used my Coluzzle to cut the ring and the sentiment circle. I made this card for my Dad's birthday! I usually struggle with masculine cards, but I think this one turned out GREAT!

I hope you have a great day, please check out Jessica's layout below, and as always, thanks for stopping by!

Kids Can Scrap - Challenge #7 - Take TWO!

A couple of days ago, I posted the layout that Emily created for Challenge #7 over at Kids Can Scrap. Today, I'm proud to show you the layout that Jessica created for this challenge! The girls worked SO HARD on their layouts, and I think you will agree that Jessica also did a FANTASTIC job on her layout!


For her monochromatic layout, Jessica set up a photo shoot of LOTS of her favorite GREEN items, including her green nanochromatic iPod! I stood on a chair above her to snap this photo! She used a lot of fun embellishments on her layout, including buttons, Prima Sprites, awesome Making Memories brads, American Crafts ribbons, the Fastenator, and foam stamps. I am amazed at how creative and talented the girls are when they create! Just wonderful!

I also want to tell you about some awesome blog candy! One of my Sketches! {by Tamara} blogging buds, Joanie, is giving away an awesome selection of spring goodies! Check it out on her blog, and enter for your chance to WIN! I hope you have a GREAT day today, and thanks for stopping by!

Wall Hanging

Just a couple of weeks ago, I made a Halloween wall hanging. I really loved the way it turned out, so I decided to make another one for my sister-in-law for her birthday.


I mounted this on the chipboard backing from a legal pad. I used We R Memory Keepers papers and embellishments. The title is felt Thickers. I did a lot of distressing with Making Memories paint. I then used my Cropadile Big Bite to punch through it to add the ribbon. I love the way this turned out! It's a nice thing for Kristine to hang in her house featuring her nieces and nephew!

We got SNOW overnight! It's CRAZY!! Just when you think spring is on its way, BAM, more snow! I hope you are having a great weekend. Thanks for stopping by!

Kids Can Scrap - Challenge #7

The latest challenge over at Kids Can Scrap is to create a monochromatic layout. This is the layout that Emily created!! It's WONDERFUL!


I am so impressed with how creative my girls can be! Emily instructed me on her iPod photos. We were trying to get her hair in the air!! They didn't quite turn out, but we liked them anyway! So, her iPod is blue, blue is her favorite color, so obviously, her layout is very blue! I didn't help with anything. It's wonderful, and I love it! The best part is the blue crocheted flower. She makes those flowers!! Emily, you are quite a scrapbooker!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Birthday Goodness!

I had a wonderful birthday! Wednesday is our CRAZY busy night. We don't have time to be together until around 8:30 p.m. So, we did just a few things last night, and there is more to come in the next day or two! I am one lucky lady! I really am! I live a wonderful life, and I am surrounded by amazing people!

I got this card from my wonderful friend, Missy! I love that she picked out a card for me with lots of texture! There is ribbon on the flower pot, popped up pieces, and felt flowers! This card put a huge smile on my face when I opened it! Thank you Missy!

This card was made by Jessica! Seriously knocked my socks off! Jessica is 11. This card shows what a talented crafter she is! It's just amazing! I told her that I know she really, really loves me, because she used up a lot of the epoxy alphabet that she has!! That's love! Can you believe that she put a pin through the ribbon knot?! I just love this card!

This is by Emily! WOW! I love her color combination and the mix of patterned papers! I love that she stamped and detail cut. She also used my threading water punch and distressed! Plus, there are TWO rhinestone trios! I love this card!!

Dave then "ordered" a card from one of the two talented young card makers in the house. Emily ended up filling his "order". She created this for Dave to give to me! What I love is that she designed a love theme instead of a birthday theme, and yet, the balloons ARE for a birthday! This is cute, and I'm flattered that she thinks of Dave and I as love birds!! Love this too!

This was #1 on my wish list, and I got this last night. I hope to watch it on Friday night. I really want Dave to watch it to see what he thinks. I'm curious if someone who is NOT female and who has NOT read the books will actually like this movie! I'll let you know!

Thanks for all of the birthday wishes yesterday! I appreciate every single one of them! Like I said, I am a lucky lady living a wonderful life! I know that, and I'm thankful for that! Thanks for stopping by!

It's My Birthday!

Hi Everyone! It's my birthday today! I wanted to show you a couple of wonderful cards that I received!

This is from one of my very first blogging friends, Patsy! This card knocked my socks off! Isn't it gorgeous! The colors, the patterned paper, the Cuttlebug embossing, and the clear panel on the front . . . just wonderful! Thank you so much, Patsy! I love it!

Next, this gorgeous card is from my wonderful blogging friend, Chris! Isn't this gorgeous too? I just love it! The card front is so pretty, I love the ribbon, and the scallop mat and sentiment are perfect! I actually sent Chris some vellum flowers, and she used one of them on this card! Last, but not least, I love the dragonfly! Thank you so much, Chris!!

Chris also included a bag of American Crafts felt flowers! I love these! Chris, you are the BEST! Thank you!

I got this gorgeous card from one of my very best friends, Kathy! I love the color blocking and the two-step stamping! This is so pretty! Thank you, Kathy!


So, Kathy was taking me out to breakfast yesterday morning for my birthday, and on my way to meet her, this is what happened. Yep, it's always something! Not a fun way to start the day! Luckily, Dave was at home, and being my knight in shining armor, he came and rescued me! He came and put on my donut spare tire (geez, those things are pathetic!), and he then drove the van back home. I followed him to make sure that the donut spare was fine, and my girlfriend Kathy followed me. We then went out to breakfast near our house. It was DELICIOUS!

That's a GASH in my sidewall. I did NOT hit anything, go in a pothole, or run over anything. Nasty! So, today, my van needs at least one new tire, but I'm sure it will end up with four new tires. If one of my tires was this worn out, I'm sure the rest of them are too. These things happen!! Dave told me that I'm getting four new tires for my birthday!! Isn't he funny? Not quite what was on my wish list!!

So, that's it from me for today!! I'm going to enjoy QVC for two hours today. Lisa Bearnson is on, and I love watching the product presentations. Who knows . . . if there is something spectacular on, maybe I'll make a birthday purchase!! Have a wonderful day, and thanks for stopping by!

Scrapping Recipe Challenge #41

This is my layout for Scrapping Recipe Challenge #41 at Sketches! {by Tamara}. This layout was also designed using Sketch #10 at 52 Sketches.


This week, our three required elements were:

• masculine theme
• metal
• grungy

Those three elements say "Harley-Davidson" to me!! So, I decided to create a layout featuring Dave's '88 Harley Softail. The theme is definitely masculine, the metal elements are a motorcycle brad and a trio of brads that look like Phillips screw heads, and I grunged up the journaling square. Most of the Harley products are by EK Success. I love the way this turned out, and so does Dave! You can click on the layout to see it larger.

I'm getting together with one of my very best girlfriends for breakfast today! It's super windy and it's going to rain all day. I hope you have a great day, and thanks for stopping by!

52 Sketches . . . 52 Weeks - Sketch #11

This is Sketch #11 over at 52 Sketches . . . 52 Weeks. Love this sketch!

Here's my layout! I love this photo of the girls at their Fall Concert in October. I used DCWV Old World Stack papers, a Fancy Pants card, lots of flowers, Thickers, and music note paper from Love, Elsie. I love the way this turned out.

Emily participated in the regional science fair yesterday, and she is advancing to the STATE level in May! We're so proud of her! I hope you have a great day, and thanks for stopping by!

Some BUNNY Loves You!

The Cutting Cafe' is HOPPING with some awesome NEW Easter printable and cutting designs! You should definitely hop on over there to see what Regina's been up to!!


I finally had a little bit of time to CREATE! I made this card last night, and I think it's adorable and so sweet! I used TWO wonderful printable images from the Easter Printable Sentiments set at The Cutting Cafe'. Both the circular sentiment and the title sentiment on this card are from the Easter Sentiments set. Plus, this set comes with 14 other printable images (16 total) to use for all of your Easter projects! The bunny image is a stamp that I've had for a long time, and I just have to ink it up every Easter! I added some ribbon, a rhinestone heart, and a Making Memories flower that is secured with a Making Memories button brad. You can click on the image to see it larger. CUTE and so pretty in pink!

I hope you have a great day, a fabulous weekend, and as always, thanks for stopping by!

Scrapping Recipe Challenge #40

This is my layout for Scrapping Recipe Challenge #40 at Sketches! {by Tamara}.


This week, our recipe was to use the following on our cards or layouts:

• stars
• staples
• three different patterned papers

Fun recipe! I used brand new glitter Thickers stars and photo corners on this page. I got the Thickers from Cath at Moxie Fab, and they are fabulous! The patterned papers, title block, and die cut flower are from an awesome My Mind's Eye selection that I got at Peachy Cheap. The felt flower and button are Making Memories Noteworthy. This page is ALSO based on Sketch #9 at 52 Sketches! You can click on the page to see it larger.

I can't believe it's been so long since I last blogged! I've just been busy with lots of activities with the girls, the school board battle that I was attempting to fight, and yesterday, I actually did some landscaping work. It was beautiful outside, and today is going to be wonderful too. I have had NO creative time whatsoever! I'm not sure I'll get any today either, but I really hope to spend some time creating tomorrow! I hope you have a wonderful day, and as always, thanks for stopping by!

The Littlest Pumpkins!

I mentioned that Cosmo Cricket had an online class on their blog. I made the fabric flowers and showed them to you yesterday. Well, this is what I did with my fabric flowers!


What I didn't tell you yesterday is that the fabric is from my daughters' Halloween costumes! It's the leftover fabric that my mother-in-law sent to me once she finished their costumes. Now, I'm not sure that I've ever mentioned this before, but my mother-in-law is wonderful, and she made the girls' Halloween costumes for years! I'm talking out-of-this-world, amazing costumes! They were clowns/jesters, Hershey's kisses (these were the BEST costumes EVER!), Princesses, Dorothy and Little Red Riding Hood, 50's girls (complete with felt poodle skirts!), etc. I mean, these costumes are knock-your-socks off costumes! So, every time the costumes were made, there was extra fabric. I have all of the girls costumes downstairs in Rubbermaid bins, folded nicely, with the extra fabric, and the original patterns. I seriously treasure these costumes! So, when the fabric flowers were shown, I knew I had fabric to use, and then it hit me that THIS is what I wanted to make! This is a little wall hanging! You can just see the ribbon at the top where it hangs from.

The photo is an extra wallet print, and the board is about an 8 1/2" square. I used all Cosmo Cricket Haunted scraps that I had left from some Halloween layouts that I worked on. To me, the fabric flowers and the lace (which is from the Dorothy costume) just MAKE this project! I love this!! So, what do you think? Please click on it to see it larger! I'm thrilled with the way this turned out. Very easy, and I'll treasure it always! I should probably make another one for my mother-in-law!

I hope you're having a great day! Thanks for stopping by!

Fabric Flowers

Cosmo Cricket has an online class on their blog, and I decided to give making these fabric flowers a try. I'm pretty happy with the way they turned out, and I know just what I'm going to do with them!


Check out the online class by Natasja. It's very cool! I have got to get my hands on one of those spinner cards! I just love them!! I hope to work more on my project tomorrow! I'll post it when I'm done! Thanks for stopping by!

Scrapping Recipe Challenge #39

This is my layout for Scrapping Recipe Challenge #39 at Sketches! {by Tamara}. If you create a card of layout using this recipe, be sure to link it back to Tamara's site!


The recipe for this week's challenge was issued by ME!! Here are the three things that needed to be used on a card or a layout:

• a button trio
• the color black
• a punched border

My layout features Basic Grey Dasher papers, alphabet stickers, and die cut tags. I also used half of a black scallop Bazzill sheet of die cut cardstock. The buttons are by Autumn Leaves. The sparkly ric rac came from the Target $1 spot. My punched border was created with my threading water punch. I also added some rhinestones. I really love this layout! You can click on it to see it larger!

Wow, we've had a lot of rain! It can stop now! I need to do some cleaning and hopefully some crafting! I hope you have a great day, and thanks for stopping by!

Moxie Fab!

Glitter, vinyl, and puffy, oh my! I want to give a huge thank you to Cath over at Moxie Fab!


Cath has an awesome blog called Moxie Fab, and she constantly has postings with amazing photos, creative color combinations, and interesting bits of information. Her blog is really inspiring, and I visit it often! I comment on almost all of the posts, and she does giveaways all of the time! I was fortunate enough to win one of her giveaways, and will you just look at what she sent to me! I got FOUR packages of Thickers! Who doesn't LOVE Thickers?! I have a couple of packages of alphabets, and I love them, so I am just thrilled to receive Thickers I've never even seen before! I cannot wait to break open the packages to use some of these! Thank you so much Cath! I really appreciate your generosity! I hope everyone had a great weekend! Thanks for stopping by!

More ScrapCity March Reveals & Cool Online Class!

The last couple of days, I've been showing you what I created for ScrapCity for March. Our sponsor this month is Charlie at Crafter's Alley. She sent us some fun Core'dinations cardstock, a sanding block, and lots of Primas. We had a lot of fun using these products! Thank you again Charlie!


Here's another card that I created. The Core'dinations cardstock is very nice. It's has a canvas-like texture on one side. I love the effect after lightly sanding. You can click on the card to see it larger and to see how the sanding block subtly removes the color. Very pretty. I used my lace doily punch, and I also love the effect of lightly sanding over the punched edge. I added a couple of stamped images, one lovely large Prima, and a glitter Making Memories brad. I really like this card!

Now this layout is just too cute! First off, it features a photo of my girls and my niece on Christmas Eve in my sister's basement playing pool! I featured a full sheet of Core'dinations 8 1/2 x 11 cardstock. I placed it textured side down on my ScorPal, scored lines in 1-inch increments, and then folded and sanded those creases. I then threading water punched both long sides of the paper and lightly sanded over all of the edges. I love how this paper matches the felt on the pool table! Check out the photo mat! I sanded heavily to remove almost all of the red color on the threading water punched edge. I think that looks very cool! I added three primas, and mounted it all on a wonderful sheet of Jack's World Cosmo Cricket patterned paper! The title is Thickers, and the final touch is a trio of rhinestones at the top. I love this!

Cosmo Cricket is doing a COOL free online class starting on Monday! I definitely don't have all of the materials, but I'm definitely going to check it out! Natasja has such a wonderful voice, so it's a pleasure to listen to her instructions!! I need to find some fabric in the basement, because I do NOT have Cosmo fabric, and I will eventually seek out and buy a spinner card, because they are so cute, and I think MY project will just HAVE TO have one! So, get some materials together if you're interested. I cannot wait to see how she makes those fabric flowers!

Well, I need to get a layout finished! I'm cleaning my scrapping area too! Scary job!! I hope you have a great day, and enjoy the rest of your weekend! It's raining here . . . perfect time to be creative! Thanks for stopping by!

Seeing Green at Cosmo Cricket!

Julie Comstock, owner of Cosmo Cricket, asked her blog readers to send her some GREEN projects! Well, I sent her two, and how fun to see them BOTH on Cosmo's Blog! She's asking people to vote for their favorites, but I'm NOT asking for your vote. I don't like the voting thing . . . it's too much of a popularity contest! But, you can head over there to see some cool projects! I'm sure you'll recognize my wonderful girls featured on BOTH of my layouts!

More ScrapCity March Reveals

I have two more projects to show you today. These were both created using products from Crafter's Alley. Charlie is our ScrapCity sponsor for the month of March. One of the things that she sent to our Creative Team member is Core'dinations cardstock, and we all had so much fun creating with this cardstock!


Here's another card that I created featuring the cardstock! This cardstock is wonderful in the Cuttlebug. I embossed the card front, and then lightly sanded the raised image. Such a pretty effect! The scalloped circular sentiment is from The Cutting Cafe'. This image comes from the All Occasion Circle Scallop set. LOVE IT!! I cut the sentiment and the mat both with my Coluzzle. I added a gorgeous Prima (also from Charlie at Crafter's Alley!) with a Making Memories button center. Ribbon was added to the bottom of the card front along with a rhinestone trio. I love the way this card turned out!


I also created this fun layout! The paper, "summer" card, and large die cut flower are all by My Mind's Eye. I got all of this MME from a great value kit at Peachy Cheap! I am loving Peachy Cheap! Awesome deals of the day! I used the Core'dinations cardstock to make my title and my photo frame. The photo frame is strips of paper, and the title is QuicKutz. I embossed all of it in my Cuttlebug and lightly sanded it. I added a trio of bright Primas next to the "summer" card. The layout also has Making Memories brads and a trio of rhinestones. Love it!

Happy Friday everyone! It's already 50 outside, so I will be taking a long walk with Princess. We have some rain coming, but at this time of year, that's to be expected. Don't forget to set your clocks ahead before you go to bed on Saturday night! Have a great weekend everyone, and thanks for stopping by!

ScrapCity March Reveals!

The Paper Creative Team at ScrapCity is revealing their March creations today! We have an amazing sponsor this month! Charlie, at the Crafter's Alley, sent us wonderful Core'dinations cardstock, a selection of Primas, and a sanding block. This was such FUN stuff to play with! Thank you so much Charlie!


I created five projects . . . two layouts and three cards. Here is one of my cards. The Core'dinations paper is wonderful in the Cuttlebug with the large embossing folders! I embossed the whole card front, and then I lightly sanded the embossed image. I then printed two of the "A - Z Is For" printable stamps from The Cutting Cafe'. I love these printable stamps! I cut them out with my Nestabilites, and then I sanded the embossed edge of the scallop circle. CUTE! I added a sheer ribbon, tied a bow, and then I sewed on a Prima with a gorgeous Making Memories button center. I really love the way this card turned out!

Well, I'm off to check out vacuums today! Everyone is telling me to get a Dyson, but in Consumer Reports, there are at least ten other vacuums that got a better overall rating. I need to check some out today. If you have a vacuum that you really like, let me know!! I hope you have a great day, and thanks for stopping by!

Scrapping Recipe Challenge #38 and The Cutting Cafe'

This is my layout for Scrapping Recipe Challenge #38 at Sketches! {by Tamara}, and I also used the blank calendar printable stamp set from The Cutting Cafe'!!


The scrapping recipe challenged us to use at least the following three items on our card or layout:

• a calendar or numbers
• 3 ribbons
• staples

I thought this was a really FUN challenge, and I got to use a new printable stamp set from The Cutting Cafe'!! I love the blank calendar set that Regina designed!! The blank calender with the days of the week, the number, month, year, and the two sentiments ("it's your day" and "happy birthday"), were ALL printed from the blank calendar set! Check it out, it's awesome! I used some fantastic My Mind's Eye papers that I got from Peachy Cheap! If you don't already check out the daily deals on Peachy Cheap, you definitely should! Awesome site! The three ribbons I used to make the ribbon loops are by American Crafts, and I attached them to the matted photo with staples. The matted photos are mounted on another great MME patterned paper sheet, and I punched a border down the side of it with my threading water punch. I added a silk Prima and rhinestones. You can click on the layout to see it larger. I added some rhinestones to the crown right above the calendar too. I'm thinking now that the upper right part of the layout is a little plain, so I just might decide to add an additional title.

I hope you have a great day, and as always, thanks for stopping by!!

New March Challenges

Happy March 1st! I am anxiously waiting for spring to arrive! The March Challenges at ScrapCity will all be posted later today! Here is my March Card Challenge at ScrapCity, "This month, I would like you to use a journaling paper (ripped right from the journaling book) on your card. Now, if you don't have a journaling notebook, you can use a journaling stamp, a journaling card, or a journaling die cut." This is my card example.

I have my card base (black), my card front (pink), and then I added the journaling paper. It's ripped right from the book. I added some ribbon, a flower stack with a button center, and I added my sentiment with those wonderful tiny alphas! Everything is by Making Memories except for the ribbon! I also added a rhinestone trio. I love the way this card turned out!

I hope you have a wonderful day! Thanks for stopping by!