Monday, December 28, 2009

A little creative break...

I hope everyone had a great Christmas (or should I say Christmases??) I think we had the last of our gatherings yesterday. We made it through and really enjoyed our time with family!

Now, as much as I am 'needing' some creating time downstairs, I have to do a little other creating. I have 2 rooms that need to be painted and re-done. I do not like to do that work, but I do like the re-decorating afterwards. Please excuse a little break from me for a few days while I get that work done. I promise I will be back with some photos of what I've accomplished.

I also have some crafting that I plan to be doing in the next couple of weeks, so stay tuned...

Happy Scrappin'

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Merry Christmas!


Merry Christmas everyone!

As I sit typing this, I am ready for the Christmas Eve festivities to begin. The Prime Rib is in the oven, the shrimp is thawed, the potatoes are peeled (just about ready to turn them on), the pies are baked, the presents are wrapped and under the tree...what am I forgetting? Nothing I hope!

Our snow storm has changed our plans up a bit, but nothing we can't handle. So far we maybe have about 5-6 inches of snow and it is coming down again now. They are predicting this to be one of the biggest snowstorms in years. I will feel better when Mom and Norm get here, but other than that, all is well.

I just really want to wish you all a Merry Christmas! Enjoy your time with family and friends making many happy memories ~ just don't forget to take some pictures, too ~ after all, we need something to scrapbook, right? :)

Happy Scrappin'

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

3x3 Ornament Album

Here is a little 3x3 Mini Kraft Album that I created. This idea came from Lisa. She is a very creative consultant that I get a lot of ideas from.This album I made into an ornament for the tree, but you could easily just turn it sideways and use it for an ordinary album. This is also made using the January Stamp of the Month "True Friends."

Here are just a few of the inside pages. You can decorate it however you wish.Happy Scrappin'

Monday, December 21, 2009

Last minute little gifty items

Here are a couple more little last minute gifty items for my nieces. Their Disney Dollars arrived, so I can breathe easy now! Their stockings are finished and now I just had to make a couple more little things for them to take with them on their trip.

Everyone knows that it helps to chew gum on the plane to help your ears pop, right? Well, I think they needed some special Disney gum for the trip. I altered these gum packages for them to take along. I think they'll like them.Then, just for a little fun, I also altered some TicTacs for them to take along. Who doesn't like TicTacs, especially with Mickey Mouse on them.Stay tuned tomorrow for another little 3x3 album I made.

Happy Scrappin'

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Christmas stocking money holders

Do you give money or gift cards to anyone for Christmas? Well, this year I am doing just that for my nieces. Well, they are getting presents, too, but since they are leaving for Disney the day after Christmas, they need a little spending money, too! I am actually 'patiently' waiting for their Disney Dollars to arrive. When they do, I'll be putting them in their stockings!I saw these on Vickie's blog and decided I needed to make some, too. Hers were smaller (for a gift card) but I just made mine bigger to hold money. I didn't even use the "pattern" I just drew it up myself. All you need to do is when you put the patterned paper on the front, leave the top without adhesive to make a pocket to slide the money in. Easy, peasy!Happy Scrappin'

Friday, December 18, 2009

3x3 Mini Album

Here is one last project using the January 2010 Stamp of the Month "True Friends." It is a little mini album that only uses one sheet of 12x12 cardstock to make (plus some scraps of paper).I will even give you the basic instructions for making this album (click on any of the photos to see them bigger if you need to). If you have any troubles, feel free to leave a comment or send me an email and I will help you out. First of all, score and cut your cardstock according to this diagram (score on all blue lines and cut on all red lines).Then just fold it all together (I think sometimes this is called a meandering album...that would be because of the way you meander along and fold it up :)Use chipboard for the covers (I just use cereal boxes cut up-recycling at it's finest!) I make the covers 3 1/4"x3 1/4". Then just cover them with B&T as shown.I used ribbon to keep my album together as shown.After placing the ribbon as shown, add the actual album to the back cover and then glue the ribbon to the top as shown.Then add your top cover. This is how I was able to make mine tie on the side without covering up my front embellishment.Finish the inside pages as desired. I totally used scraps so each page is different. I will just show you one of the inside pages so as not to bore you :) I actually finish all the inside pages before I finish putting the album together, but that is up to you.I hope you enjoyed this little tutorial.

Happy Scrappin'

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Veranda cards

Here are a couple of cards that I created using more of the new Veranda paper pack and the January Stamp of the Month "True Friends."This card uses the back side of the B&T from the first card. I just love how versatile the paper is. It can be feminine or masculine depending on your needs. I used some textured cardstock and sanded it. I love that look.Here is a close up of the stamping I did. I used the bracket image to stamp a border. I also used the vanilla cream ink and stamped it on the vanilla cream base. It is hard to see in the picture, but adds that little extra something so easily.Tomorrow I have some Christmas programs to go to at 2 different schools. I can't wait! One of my nieces even has a solo in hers. I am so happy to be off work right now to be able to enjoy it all!

Happy Scrappin'

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Veranda Sneak Peek

OK, so I am not completely ready for Christmas, but I got this wonderful big box of new CTMH goodies that I just HAD to play with! You understand that, right?? Well, it's true! If you don't understand it, then maybe this blog is not for you :) LOL!

I just had to play with some of my new goodies and offer you a little sneak peek into what is in store for you come January 1st when the new Idea Book goes live! This is the Veranda paper pack. I love it! Even better, I see myself doing some artwork for the walls of my upstairs hallway, too. I already have the paint to re-do that space and wouldn't you know that the browns and greens will match perfectly!?! I love when that happens. (Sorry the picture is a little crooked...not sure what happened there.)Sorry...off on a tangent again...back to the layout. Not only does it use new paper, but it also has the new January Stamp of the Monthand in addition to that is also has some new Just Blooms Paper Flowers on it! Don't you just love all these sneak peeks. I promise, as soon as January 1st rolls around, you can get your hands on this new idea book too. Just leave me a comment here or send me an email and I may even be able to get one into your hot little hands a little earlier *wink*wink*If you happened to notice the new special on the side of my blog, you already know that you can get some new products and also get this fabulous Felicity Collection for FREE from now until the end of January 2010! Check it out, you won't be disappointed!

Happy Scrappin'

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Christmas gift tags

I took advantage of the snow day yesterday and made some simple gift tags in the morning and then proceeded to get all my Christmas presents wrapped (at least all of them that I have at the moment).

Here are the simple tags I made. It really only took me about 1/2 an hour to make them all, but they will serve the purpose.Here is our tree this year with the presents under it. I had a tough time decorating the tree this year-it just wasn't the same, but I made it through. Thank you to all our wonderful friends and family for their love and support! Without all of you, we would not be doing so well!Happy Scrappin'

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Christmas cards

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas... OK, it's a good thing you can't hear me sing, because I can't carry a tune!

I have been trying to post this all day long, but I guess maybe the snow has put a damper on my blog posting, too :) My internet wasn't working for just a little while today. Who knows what the problem was...I blamed it on the snow. We got a lot of that white stuff last night. It really blew hard all night, too, causing lots of huge snow drifts! As long as I don't have to go to work, I love it!

I just love all the Christmas cards we receive this time of year, especially the handmade cards and the ones with the photos on them. My Mom decided to make her own cards this year. Wow! Just look at he card she created! I am so impressed. Of course, if you know my Mom, you also know that she likes to putz with little things. This card is definitely putzy, but gorgeous. Great job, Mom!This card is from my friend Lynn. I love her design, too!Alright, I better get back to wrapping my Christmas presents (I am almost finished). It is a great day to stay inside and get that done.

Happy Scrappin'

Monday, December 7, 2009

A weekend of Gratitude

What a wonderful weekend we had! I cannot even begin to explain the depth of our gratitude.

Friday night started out with us having dinner at a friend's house. Bob and Sam are wonderful host's and some of the greatest friends we could ask for. We had fondue there. That was a first for us. The steak was amazing! We are now looking at getting a fondue set so we can do it at home! I seem to remember one of these sitting in the cupboard at our house growing up, but I do not remember ever doing it. Maybe Mom and Dad did that on one of the many weekends that us kids were at Grandpa and Grandma's??? :)
Sam is the world's greatest quilter. I was in love with her studio at their cabin. It was like walking into a quilt shop (of course, my crafting area rivals any scrapbook store, too, I guess). I would love to learn to quilt someday, but I just do not have the time with all my paper crafting that I do right now. Well, just imagine our surprise (and delight) when she presented us with our very own quilt that she made for us. It is GORGEOUS and I LOVE it! Isn't it beautiful?Then we saw the tag she sewed on the corner. They knew both of our kids and so this little tag is so very precious to us. She wants us to 'use' this quilt, not leave it sit. Oh, we will use it, alright. It is so warm and comfy! Thank you Sam and Bob!

Then the gratitude continued on Saturday. The mailman rang the doorbell and left a package at the doorstep that was too big to fit in the mailbox. I was on the phone with my girlfriend at the time, but had to open it right away. I didn't think I ordered anything, what did I get from Bobbi Jo? All I can say is WOW! I immediately had tears in my eyes and pretty soon I couldn't even talk on the phone anymore (good thing my girlfriend totally understood-I think she cried, too). See, Bobbi Jo had seen on my blog the altered cookie sheets that I had made. She had her grandchildren over and they were going to make some as teacher gifts that day. Her and a couple of the granddaughters were looking back at my blog to see how I decorated mine. Her girls started asking questions about my kids. Bobbi explained it to them and they right away asked her if they could make one for me. She said, of course. This is the product of their generosity. They did a fabulous job and I am truly grateful. I even taped the note Bobbi Jo sent along with it to the back as I want to keep it. It is truly precious. Thank you so much Bobbi Jo, it is a treasure that I will keep forever!

Saturday night was spent with some more wonderful friends. We had an absolutely wonderful time! Sunday came and I spent it with my club girls. I already showed you our December club pages. I had a great time again. Thanks ladies!

Happy Scrappin'

Saturday, December 5, 2009

This year's Christmas Cards

My Christmas cards are all done and in the mail. Whew! It's a lot of work, but I sooo enjoy it. Making a handmade card is very gratifying. I also really love when my friends and family enjoy them so much! That is what it's all about...the giving.Once again this year, I found the perfect stamp set to use on my cards. It is called Angel Sent. How fitting for me to use this year. It says, "Angels sent from above, please protect the ones we love." I used this card pattern before and once I found this little stamp set, I knew this was the perfect design for this year's card. Many of you will be receiving it in your mailboxes soon. The rest of you...I guess this version will have to work for you :)Happy Scrappin'

Friday, December 4, 2009

Altered picture frames

So, here is what I was downstairs making the other night. I have been planning to make these for quite some time now, but finally got a little spare time to do it. I made some similar to this after our son passed away (click here to view one) and now finally got some made for our daughter, too. There is one for me and one for each of her grandparents.I just went to our local liquidator store (Bargain Bill's) and bought some fairly cheap wooden frames. It is so easy to add you own paper and embellishments to them to customize them to fit your needs. I love how you can personalize them.This was Rhonda's favorite paper pack (gee, it was a western themed paper...can't imagine why she would have like that one :) Of course I had to put one of her many horse pictures in it. See the embellishment on the right hand side with the star on it? That is actually one of our My Pages Talk Voice Recorders. I was able to capture Rhonda's voice and put it on her frame.These are such a cool thing. They would make such a cute Christmas ornament-decorate it and hang it on your tree or they are small enough to fit on a scrapbook page if you want, too. You can record whatever you want on it. Just imagine...your children singing happy birthday, a Christmas song, a new babies heartbeat...the list goes on forever. I love these little things. The neat thing about them is that even if the battery goes dead, it won't lose the voice you recorded. Just replace the battery and it's still there. Cool, huh? You can find them here.

OK, off to finish up my Christmas cards...

Happy Scrappin'