Summer 2010

We're issuing some awesome assignmentz and challengez at Scrap-Friendzy's Scrap University!! This is my challenge for an extra credit assignment called "Dean's List!" Here's what our Scrap U studentz needed to do to make the Dean's List:

1. Journal as a list!
2. Since summer is ending . . . include photos from THIS summer!
3. Include FIVE OR MORE photos!

Not too difficult . . . right!?! My layout features twelve photos, and instead of it being a Summer Top 10, it's a Summer Top 11!! I totally think of Spinal Tap when I say that! Anyway, I love the way this turned out!

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

Home Economics Challenge!

Scrap-Friendzy just started our Scrap University! It's going to run the entire month of September! Come on by and play along! Today, I posted the 2nd challenge of the month, and it's a Home Economics Challenge! For my challenge you need to add fabric and sewing to your layout! Here are my examples.


This page features denim and machine sewing! I literally cut a pocket out of a pair of shorts that the girls wore when they were younger. I love the pocket design! I also die cut two denim flowers in my Cuttlebug using my Tim Holtz Tattered Floral die. This layout features Jillibean Soup papers, some Cosmo Cricket Lil' Man items, a Jenni Bowlin ticket, and Maya Road velvet flowers. I even added a clothing tag from one of the shirts to the page. Last, but not least, I am LOVING those varsity Thickers for this layout! I used my sewing machine too! Oh, how I love my sewing machine!!


This page features a fabric flower that I created (tutorial is on the Scrap-Friendzy site), and I also added fabric to the edge of my journaling block. All of the sewing on this page is hand stitching. I took some FUN photos of Jessica in June, so I decided to create a Jessica June 2010 page! I love these Bo Bunny papers!

I hope you have a wonderful long holiday weekend! Thanks for stopping by!

Scrapping Recipe Challenge #50 & ScrapCity Peachy Cheap Reveal

This is a multi-purpose layout today! It is my LAST Sketches! {by Tamara} layout, and it showcases my wonderful Peachy Cheap goodies that were sent for the Creative Team at ScrapCity!


First off, I want to thank Tamara for having me on her team! The Sketches! {by Tamara} site was my very first design team! I started off on her card team, and then I became a recipe challenge team member! I've loved every single minute of it! Thanks Tamara! Next, I want to thank the most awesome Brooke over at Peachy Cheap! She is sponsoring ScrapCity this month, and she sent the Creative Team at ScrapCity the most fantastic goodies to work with! I've used a lot of it, and I still have so much left! Thank you Brooke!

This layout is for Scrapping Recipe Challenge #50 where we were to use the following on our cards or layouts:

• hardware
• notebook paper
• dry embossing

The hardware on my layout is the American Crafts photo anchors that Brooke from Peachy Cheap sent to the ScrapCity Creative Team. The notebook paper is from a Making Memories journaling notebook, and the dry embossing is a Cuttlebug embossed sheet of Prima paper. I used other Peachy Cheap products that I've purchased on this layout (I told you, I'm a very good customer!) The patterned paper is My Mind's Eye, the flower is by Petaloo, and the journaling card at the bottom is by Fancy Pants, and I got all of those items from Peachy Cheap! The layout also features Daisy D's rub ons and American Crafts ribbon which were provided to the ScrapCity Creative Team! You can click on the layout to see it larger.

I hope you had a wonderful weekend. We enjoyed the long weekend very much. Happy Tuesday, and thanks for stopping by!

May Peachy Cheap Reveal for ScrapCity!

We have a wonderful, fantastic, spectacular sponsor at ScrapCity this month! It's Peachy Cheap! Peachy Cheap has a deal a day, and once it's gone, it's gone! I am a very good customer, because I LOVE getting a great bargain! Brooke owns Peachy Cheap, and she is the nicest lady!


So, this is one project that I made with the spectacular goodies that Brooke sent for the Creative Team at ScrapCity. She sent very cool Daisy D's rub ons (they are wonderful rub ons!), beautiful American Crafts ribbon, and awesome American Crafts photo anchors. I used all of the items on a layout about ME! I love the way this turned out. I added Making Memories scallop paper, Making Memories notebook journaling papers, Cosmo Cricket Hey Sugar patterned paper, a couple of Primas, two gorgeous Making Memories brads, and some rhinestones. You can click on the layout to see it larger. FUN!



These are the fantastic goodies that I got to work with. I'll be creating more projects this week! ScrapCity has a fantastic Peachy Cheap PRIZE package for the random winner of the May Challenges. If you aren't already a visitor at ScrapCity, why aren't you? We are just a very fun and friendly message board. We love to share thoughts and ideas with each other. Become a member, do a couple of challenges, and see what you think! I guarantee you'll love it there!

Princess and I have been on a long walk, I'm showered and ready to go! Where am I going? Well, Princess needs a bath! I take her to a place where I give her the bath. She does NOT like baths, so wish me luck! I hope you have a GREAT day, and thanks for stopping by!

Scrapping Recipe Challenge #46

This is my layout for Scrapping Recipe Challenge #46 at Sketches! {by Tamara}.


This week, we were challenged to use the following three items on our cards or layouts:

• Stitching, real or faux
• rub-ons
• a winged thing (bird, butterfly, fairy, etc.)

I used Scenic Route Laurel papers, flowers, alphabet stickers, and ribbon. I used DCWV rub ons for my stitching. I also added a chipboard piece with a bird as my flower center. I journaled on the computer and I used my Coluzzle to cut the circle. You can click on the layout to see it larger.

Have a great day, and thanks for stopping by!

ScrapCity Reveals #2!!

I have a couple more layouts to show you that were done for ScrapCity for February. This kit came from our February sponsor, the wonderfully talented Beatriz Jennings. Beatriz has an online store called Dream Designs. Thank you so much for all of the fun products Beatriz!!

My kit consisted of cool SEI products, beautiful flowers, and fun rub ons! Plus I got lots of extra papers and some great ribbon!

This is the first page that I created! I really wanted to use some of the SEI monogram letters, so the title on this page took center stage. I added a bunch of rub ons to the title strip. I also used two quarters of the flower to decorate the page. I also added ribbon strips. The "girls just wanna have fun" rub on was PERFECT for this page! I'm really pleased with how this turned out!

I then wanted to use the red flower (because it's gorgeous), and I also wanted to use some of the solid papers. This is what I came up with. I love this page! I added four buttons and three rhinestones, but everything else was in the kit. I love the ric rac rub on.

I hope you have a great Friday and a fantastic weekend. I have a huge headache that I need to get rid of! As always, thanks for stopping by!!

Frame Bind It All Journal

Regina at The Cutting Cafe' has done it again. Her designs always have such a "WOW!" factor for me! She just came out with Huge Frame Printable Stamps and Huge Heart Printable Stamps. This is a project using the small inner frame in the Huge Frame Printable Stamps set.


I received the new files from Regina, and I'm so excited, because this frame is so cool, and who doesn't love hearts? So, I cannot wait to work with them!! I really want to use them on some scrapbook pages. However before I get a chance to do that, my youngest daughter and I are looking through an Archiver's ad, and they're showing Bind It All projects. There are going to be some Teresa Collins Bind It All covers coming out, and they kinda resemble the Huge Frame that Regina just sent to me!! So, my youngest daughter and I print out the small inner frame, use it as a template, and we cut cardboard in the same shape. I just used my Xacto knife and followed the design. We then printed the small inner frame two more times on the backside of two sheets of patterned paper. These became the pieces that covered the cardboard for the front and the back covers!! In order to get a flat side for the Bind It All binding, I just trimmed a small portion of the side of the frame. We used a lot of My Mind's Eye on this Bind It All journal.



This is the inside of the journal. Jessica designed the inside. She really likes the natural look of the cardboard. The inside pages are 4x6 index cards. The first sheet is cardstock, and there are some Chip Chatter chipboard letters, a foam flower, and a rhinestone. The inside front cover just has a MME paper strip and a die cut flower. We also added some FUN Heidi Swapp tabs to some of the pages.


This is also MME paper and rub ons. Isn't this CUTE? I just LOVE the shape of this frame, and I think it makes an AMAZING cover for this unique Bind It All journal!! Don't you? You can click on the photos to see them larger. Be sure to visit The Cutting Cafe' and see what else Regina has to offer. You will be amazed at the fun creations that she's made!!

My girls and I had a very fun pajama party last night, and we've been hanging out all day. I hope you're having a fantastic weekend!! Thanks for stopping by!!

Scrapping Recipe Challenge #26

This is my layout for Scrapping Recipe Challenge #26 at Sketches! {by Tamara}.


The recipe ingredients that needed to be used on our cards or layouts were as follows:

• Eyelets
• Rub Ons
• Ribbon

This is a Thanksgiving 2006 layout. It was unseasonably warm that Thanksgiving, and we spent lots of time outdoors enjoying it! I love the photo on the right. That's Dave and my brother keeping an eye on the turkey in the fryer. Wow, was that turkey good! The photos on the other side feature my girls with their cousin, my brother and my sister-in-law, and my parents. Aren't my mom and dad the cutest?

OK, back to the layout! I added a trio of eyelets on the upper right side of my threading water punched patterned paper, and I also added a trio of My Mind's Eye rub ons on the bottom of the same border. The "give thanks" embellishment is from a soft spoken package that I received from Jules. The brown and white gingham ribbon is by American Crafts. The "enjoy" chipboard circle is by Scenic Route. I also added two Autumn Leaves swirl stamps. I wanted to keep the layout clean and simple, because I wanted the focus to be on the photos. I'm pleased with the way it turned out.

Wow, it's COLD today. The snow yesterday was annoying, and more will be here this week. Oh well! It's winter in Chicagoland, and that can be a very rough time indeed! I hope you all have a great day, and as always, thanks for stopping by!!

Sleeping Beauty

I mentioned yesterday that I created a layout using the same paper that I used on my "Smile" card. Here is my layout.


ScrapCity has a bunch of August challenges, and one of them was to create a layout featuring someone sleeping. The minute I read the challenge, I thought of this photo of my youngest. This is Jessica at 3 1/2 years old (she's 11 now!) I can remember finding her like this in her little chair. She was totally sound asleep! I used My Mind's Eye patterned paper, a transparency over the photo, Making Memories rub on letters for the title, and I journaled on the computer. I added some Primas too. Isn't that photo the BEST?

Today's the last day before school starts. Both of my girls have a marching band performance at the school for the faculty and staff. After that, I'm not sure what we'll be doing on their last free day. I hope you all have a great day, and thanks for stopping by!

Card Sketch #56

This is my card for Card Sketch #56 at Sketches {by Tamara!}. Take a look at what the other card design team members created. If you create a card using the sketch, be sure to link it back to Tamara's site. You could be a future guest designer!


For my card, I used my Cosmo Cricket QVC Today's Special Value kit that I got a while back. The card base, the sentiment, the photo corners, the red matting paper, and the chipboard flower are all from the kit. I added some ribbon, a brad, and DCWV rub-on border stitches. This card isn't really my style, but it's fun to create something that you normally wouldn't create once in a while!

Have a great day, and thanks for stopping by!

Basic Grey Euphoria cards

I was the July card guest designer at ScrapCity, and Wendy sent me beautiful Basic Grey Euphoria goodies to create some cards. I posted one card that I made yesterday for my sketch challenge, and here are the rest. I love the Basic Grey Euphoria line! Just gorgeous!

I'm still behind on blog hopping. I apologize! There doesn't seem to be enough time in the day! I will catch up with all of you as soon as I can! Have a wonderful Friday, a great weekend, and thanks for stopping by!

Guest Designer at ScrapCity

I had the opportunity to be the card guest designer at ScrapCity for June, and I just realized that I never posted the cards I made with the awesome kit that Jen sent me! It was all We R Memory Keepers "Frenzy". Just gorgeous double-sided papers, and fun embellishments! It was so much fun to make these cards to feature over at ScrapCity.

The first three cards are all 4.25" x 5.5". It's the size I create the most.




The next three are made from 6" x 6" pieces of cardstock folded in half. I love this size, because it fits in those really inexpensive envelopes you can buy at WalMart . . . you know the ones, they are No. 6 3/4 envelopes.

The last two are 3" x 3" cards . . . perfect for gift enclosures.

So, those are my Frenzy cards. Isn't the paper gorgeous? Such amazing double-sided patterned paper!

I had a rough day yesterday. Maybe I'll explain what I mean by that statement in a few days. Nothing to do with family or anything like that, just something regarding me creating, etc. Long story. (In the grand scheme of things, it's minor, but it still made me have a bad day!) Anyway, it was horrible timing for a bad day, because yesterday was actually my one-year blogaversary! Can you believe that? I still haven't decided how I'm going to celebrate my blogaversary. I'll keep you posted. I hope you all have a great day. I want to thank all of you that visit me and leave me sweet comments! You make my day. In fact, you've made my year! Thanks for stopping by!

Birthday Card & Birthday Goodies

I have some birthday goodies to show you, but first off, I'm going to show you a card that I made for my brother.


I struggle with masculine cards, but I think this one turned out OK. I used Basic Grey papers, and some My Mind's Eye rub ons. I always like to emphasize the fact that my brother is two years old than me, so having his age on the front was mandatory! After adhering the "44" rub ons to the ticket punched red cardstock, I distressed the cardstock a little with Tim Holtz corduroy ink. The "Happy Birthday" is a Stampin' Up stamp. I used some brads, and then I smashed them with my Tim Holtz texture hammer. The "stitching" is also MME rub ons. I guess it's not overly masculine, but I still like the way it turned out.


Here are my birthday goodies. My girls picked out TWO sets of the most adorable dog stamps. I love them both. Wow, my Princess pages are going to be styling! I also LOVED the movie Enchanted, so I was happy to receive it on DVD! I can't wait to watch it again!


I helped out with this gift a little!! I found this at Target on clearance for $3.98. It was originally $15. How could I pass that up? It was the only one there, or else I probably would have bought two more for my girls!! I've always wanted one of these craft totes! I love it! I bought it, and then gave it to my husband to give to me. I can't wait to fill up all of those pockets!


I have mentioned numerous times to my girls that I love the French Twist papers, and I didn't have any of them. So, they picked some out for me, and they got me coordinating cardstock to go with them. My girls are seriously the best shoppers ever! I will have a very hard time cutting into these papers! They're GORGEOUS!

I still won't be blog hopping too much until next week. My girls and I are off to Hobby Lobby today to take a look around, and then we need to do something FUN! It is spring break after all, even though the weather isn't cooperating! Have a great day, and thank for stopping by!