HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

I'm taking a few days off in order to get ready for and then to celebrate Thanksgiving with my family! To all of my American friends, have a wonderful Thanksgiving! To all of my blogging friends that aren't celebrating Thanksgiving, I'll see you in a few days! I should be back on Monday. Have a great weekend and thanks for stopping by!

Scrapping Recipe Challenge #25

This is my layout for Scrapping Recipe Challenge #25 at Sketches! {by Tamara}.


The three recipe items that were to be used on a card or a layout were:

• polka dots
• felt
• something sparkly

I used GORGEOUS Cosmo Cricket Hello Sunshine paper, journaling square, and cardstock sticker. I also added some black dotted ribbon under the journaling. The felt piece is around the top of the main photo, and it's by Autumn Leaves. I also added four rhinestones to the corners of my hand-written journaling. I used vinyl Thickers for my title. I am very pleased with this page!

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

Crush Layout and Festival of Lights parade

I've been mentioning all of the fun Game Time Crop challenges that are going on at ScrapCity. I created this layout for The Dating Game challenge. We were to scrapbook about someone we dated, a past love, or a current love. Well, I decided to scrapbook about my 17-year major Crush that I have on Dave!!


I love this man! He's everything to me! I added a lyric from the Dave Matthews Band song "Crush" under the photo. It says, "Is this real or am I dreaming?" I love the way this page turned out, and I noticed that it's all Twilight colors! How appropriate on the weekend of the movie's opening, don't you think? I believe the paper is Creative Imaginations, the journaling cards are by Teresa Collins, and the glitter letters are from K&Company. The little alphabet letters are Making Memories. I added a Prima Sprite with a Making Memories brad. The felt border is by Autumn Leaves. The red patterned paper is Basic Grey, and I used my threading water punch on it.


Here is Emily playing in the parade last night. Wow, it was COLD!!


Here's Jessica! The entire Marching Band did a great job!


Here's my girls! I love these two!!

We're off to meet Dave's family for lunch. Dave's mom is in town from Arizona. Then when we get back home, I really need to pick up all of the leaves in the backyard! I'll probably just run the lawn mower over all of them. It will probably be easier. I hope you have a great day! Thanks for stopping by!!

ScrapCity Blog Candy

Go immediately to the ScrapCity blog and leave a comment on this post for a chance to win a package of Cosmo Cricket Haunted Blackboard!! I have a pack of this, and it's FANTASTIC!!

Do you have some time this weekend to create? If so, come and check out the Game Time Crop at ScrapCity! It is seriously so fun!!

Have a great weekend everyone, and thanks for stopping by!!

Handmade Ornament

So, I was visiting my Australian friends on a message board called Scrapsidaisy. Jules listed a blog link and some examples for this fantastic ornament! I just had to try it. This took MINUTES to complete. Seriously! It is six 2"x2" pieces of paper. A couple of folds on each piece, some double sided adhesive, and that's it! I added a couple of rhinestones and a ribbon. Totally easy, fun, and very pretty!! I used some gorgeous Cosmo Cricket double-sided paper.

So, here are some links for you! Jules found this project on Melissa Goodsell's blog. It's specifically in her Handmade Christmas - Day Two blog entry. There is a You Tube video showing you exactly how to make these. EASY!! I'm going to make some more with the girls!

Well, the girls have a Jazz Band concert tonight, a Festival of Lights parade tomorrow (COLD!!), and we're having lunch with family on Sunday. My mother-in-law is coming into town from Arizona, and she'll be here until Thanksgiving. She's going to FREEZE!! It will be great to see her. So, it's a busy weekend for us. I hope you all have a great Friday and a fantastic weekend!! Thanks for stopping by!

Another ScrapCity Challenge Layout

This is a layout that I created as an example for another challenge that I issued for the Game Time Crop at ScrapCity!


This is a challenge called Double Dare! I double dare you to use pairs of the following items on one layout:

• flowers
• buttons
• brads
• photos
• patterned papers
• stamped images

I think it's a fun challenge, and I love the way my layout turned out! The patterned papers are My Mind's Eye, and the stamps I used are by Autumn Leaves.

I hope you get a chance to check out what's going on at ScrapCity. The Game Time Crop continues all week and into the weekend. Unfortunately, my cold isn't leaving as quickly as I would like it to. It's only 7 a.m., and I could use a nap! Oh well! I actually got out yesterday and got a couple of Christmas gifts! Dave and I are so lucky, because Emily and Jessica never go through the preparation of a huge Christmas list, or the wanting, wanting, wanting. They truly appreciative what they receive. We all are! We really just like spending Christmas Day together being a family! I hope you have a great day, and thanks for stopping by!

ScrapCity Challenge Layout

We are having a GREAT time over at ScrapCity. There is an online crop going on right now, and it's not too late to join in on the fun!! The online crop has a game show / board game theme!! The Creative Team issued challenges and games, and this is my example layout for my Hollywood Squares Challenge!


Remember how the Hollywood Squares had the stars sitting in what looked like a very large tic-tac-toe board? There were nine of them in a 3x3 format. Well, I challenged everyone to create a layout using that set up as inspiration. You don't have to section off your whole page like I did, you could actually do a small section of your page, or 3x3 embellishments, etc. Whatever works for you. My page features zoo photos. I stamped some animal images from a Stampin' Up set, and the center title is done using Making Memories letters and three Chip Chatter chipboard letters. This was very quick to put together, and it features 8 photos! Cool! You can click on the layout to see it larger.

If you get a chance, stop by at ScrapCity, complete a challenge or play a game. There are lots of prizes up for grabs! I'm currently running a Name That Tune game and a Scavenger Hunt game. I hope to see you there!!

Well, my cold is starting to drive me crazy. I'm so tired of coughing! Just annoying and exhausting. Hopefully it will be gone very soon! I hope you all have a GREAT day! Thanks for stopping by!!

Scrapping Recipe Challenge #23 and #24

Hi Everyone! I'm having a hard time getting back into the "routine" around here, plus I have a bad cold, so that makes it more difficult! I'm so tired of coughing!!

Anyway, I'm a week behind on showing you my Scrapping Recipe Challenges from Sketches! {by Tamara}. Let me show you Scrapping Recipe #23 first.


For this scrapping recipe, we were challenged to use the following on our card or layout:

• Squares
• Paint
• Punctuation Marks used in a different way (as a design element)

I used square brads, I distressed all of the cardstock with paint, and I used seven question marks that I cut on my Cricut and I made a flower! I was pretty proud of myself for my punctuation mark design element!!

Next, let me show you Scrapping Recipe #24.


For this scrapping recipe, we were to use the following on our card or layout:

• Two photos or images
• Stamping
• Flowers

I had lots of fun stamping on this layout! I used some Stampin' Up alphabet stamps that I haven't used in a LONG time! I also stamped a circular sentiment, a journaling circle, and a very cool swirl! I added lots of flowers, a couple of buttons, one epoxy circle, and a trio of Karen Foster brads. I love this page!

I'm trying to get back in the groove. I'm very behind on emails and on blog hopping! I hope to stop by your blog very soon to see what you've been up to. As always, have a GREAT day, and thanks for stopping by!!

Wow, Fun at Disney!!

Hi Everyone! Well, we're back from our Disney World vacation, and to say that we had fun and an amazing time would be an understatement! It was AWESOME! Here are some fun photos!

That's just a small look at our vacation! We had a great time! Highlights include: Soarin', Test Track, and Illuminations at Epcot, Expedition Everest (MY personal favorite), Kali River Rapids, and the Kilimanjaro Safari at Animal Kingdom, the triple mountain "whammy" at the Magic Kingdom (Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, and Splash Mountain), Downtown Disney, the Lights, Motors, Action stunt show, Rock 'N Roller Coaster, Tower of Terror, and Toy Story Midway Mania at Hollywood Studios. We did so much, saw so much, and had so much FUN! I'm way behind on everything! I have a ton of emails to look at and a mountain of laundry to get done. It's back to reality for us. Have a great day everyone, and thanks for stopping by!!

ON VACATION!

I'll be back posting on either Sunday or Monday. Have a great week, and thanks for stopping by!!

ScrapCity November Creative Team Reveal

I am SO EXCITED to finally reveal my November Creative Team layouts that I made for ScrapCity!!


This layout is based on a PageMaps sketch. I LOVE IT! This is all Cosmo Cricket Haunted. Aren't the claws at the top of the page totally cool?


This layout is also based on a PageMaps sketch. Once again, I used ALL Cosmo Cricket. This time I used Hey Sugar. I just love this page too!


Then, we were asked to create a page about our addiction. Well, my one true addiction is definitely paper crafting, so here you go! I just want to say that I do NOT like the photograph, because I was in serious NEED of both a haircut and a highlight! However, I do love the page I created, and it was really fun cutting into all of my packaging to add my favorite things to my addiction page! In the photo I'm wearing a shirt that says "Scrap Addict", and under the photo, it says, "The t-shirt says it all!" You can click on all three layouts to see them larger.

I really want you to consider coming over to ScrapCity to chat, hang out a little, do some challenges, and most importantly . . . be there for the online crop that starts on the 17th!! It's so fun! Come on! I would LOVE to see you over there!

We're leaving on vacation tomorrow!! I will be back posting on either Sunday or Monday. Take care, and as always, thanks for stopping by!!

Softail Springer - Sketch Challenge

I have an awesome layout to share with you today!!



I issued the November Sketch Challenge at ScrapCity, and I created the above Softail Springer layout based on this amazing November PageMaps sketch! I really love the sketch, and I am thrilled with the way my page turned out! The November Challenges at ScrapCity are just fantastic!!

For my page, I used awesome EK Success Harley-Davidson products. The diamond plate background paper is embossed and very cool! I cut the title on my Cricut using the George cartridge. It was such a fun page to put together, and I just love that photo of Dave on his Harley! You can click on the photo to see it larger!

I have lots to do today! I hope you have a wonderful weekend, and as always, thanks for stopping by!!

ScrapCity Crop!

I am so excited! ScrapCity is having an online crop from November 17th through November 24th. The whole crop has a game show theme, and the entire Creative Team has been coming up with game show challenges and fun games to play. There will be lots of fun prizes! If you haven't already become a ScrapCity member, why haven't you? It's such a fun site!! I guarantee you will love being there, and you will be inspired! So, please join us!


I'll see you there!! Thanks for stopping by!

15 Years!

My husband and I are celebrating our 15th Anniversary today!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO US! I would do it all again in a heartbeat!

My youngest daughter took our birthday sign, and made it a Happy Anniversary sign! Isn't that awesome! Thanks Jessica! I love it!! By the way, our mantle is empty because I just took down all of the Halloween decorations. It's not normally like that!!

Have a great day, and thanks for stopping by!

What A Night, I WON, and Guest Designer!!

What a night for the U.S. I voted yesterday, and I watched a lot of the election coverage. I heard a little excerpt this morning of a part of Barack Obama's speech, and it really made me smile. He was thanking his daughters, and he told them "I love you both so much, and you have earned the new puppy that's coming with us to the White House." Now, isn't that the cutest thing ever? No matter what, no matter who, I really hope that the economy will be on an upswing. John McCain's concession speech was very gracious. I was very impressed with it. The United States is an amazing country, and I'm honored and privileged to be an American!

Next, I want to tell you all that I am so excited! I WON the Paper Crafts Magazine "Name The Editor" contest! Thank you if you voted for MY entry. Kelly will now be known as "Online Editor Extraordinaire", and I truly think it's a great title for her! You can check out the post announcing ME as the winner. I am just thrilled! I am one of the luckiet bloggers around! I know that, and I'm overwhelmed about that! I truly hope that Kelly likes her new title!!

Last for today, but certainly not least, I am happy to have a guest designer! Emily created this page for a challenge at a NEW site called Kids Can Scrap! Yes, they can!

The first challenge at the site was to create a "You" page. Emily worked on this yesterday. She did an amazing job! Emily LOVES to type, and she did her journaling on the computer. She included her signature, which I thought was a GREAT touch! I just love this, and I'm so proud of how much time and detail she put into it! LOVE IT!

I also want to tell you about some blog candy at Becky's site. Check it out! Becky is so sweet, and she has two of the cutest boys you'll ever see! Well, I'm taking Princess for a bath today. She's a stinky dog! Just kidding, but she does need a bath! It's always a struggle, because she does NOT like baths! I hope you all have a great day, and thanks for stopping by!

Scrapping Recipe Challenge #22

It's Scrapping Recipe Challenge day at Sketches! {by Tamara}, and this is my layout using Scrapping Recipe Challenge #22. Be sure to check out what the other design team members created using this awesome recipe!


The recipe this week was to use the following on a card or a layout:

• 1-2 designer papers
  embossing (dry or wet)
  the use of a charm as an embellishment

If you use this recipe, be sure to link it back to the Tamara's site! I really loved this recipe, because I heat embossed, and it was so much fun getting out my heat gun! I forgot how fun and amazing heat embossing is! I used Basic Grey Motifica papers, tags, and alphabet stickers. I used my threading water punch, Lil' Davis chipboard letters for the main title, and a Stampin' Up stamp for the "genuine article" circular image under the title. I cut the image out with my Coluzzle. The large flower and the small flower are also from a Stampin' Up set, and like I mentioned, I heat embossed them. I used copper embossing powder, and I then detail cut them and attached them to my page with brads. At the bottom of one of the photos, I added a Doodlebug plastic charm that says "together". I'm THRILLED with the way this page turned out! I love it!

I slept in a little today, because the girls do not have school. It was awesome getting some extra sleep! I'm off to shower and then VOTE! I hope the line isn't too long!! I hope you have a great day, and thanks for stopping by!