It's been awhile

I haven't been able to post all week! No scrapping, no posting, no net surfing really. I am just exhausted here lately. We (Cole and I) can't seem to get over this crud we have. We are going on 3 weeks. I am planning on lounging around all weekend in order to feel better. Maybe between naps I can get some scrapping in? Sorry for the dark pics. I am not sure when we last saw the sun :)

Card Positioning Systems Sketh #151
I turned this one sideways.
Supplies
Bazzill CS
Magic Mesh
Prima Flowers
Doodlebug Brads
Luxe Paper
unknown stamp
MS Ink

I did another just for the heck of it!
Supplies:
Graphic 45
lace and buttons from RAK

Scrap and Stamp posted a challenge to use your stash! No problemo. I have a huge stash of stuff!
Supplies:
Prima Papers, Thickers, unknown stamp, Hambly, Zva, MS ink, Glitz roll stamp (the black dots)
cute kids - Sara O's :)

Mojo is a Flowin!

Even not feeling well my mojo seems to be flowing! Trying to rest up so I can head back to work tomorrow. Cole is having a play day with his friend from across the street. So no nap for me today. Two six year olds in the house does not make for a quiet house! Somebody in this house also needs to hit the grocery store. You open the fridge door and moths fly out! We need a little of everything!

This first card is for Mojo Monday Blog . Such talent over there. I literally could spend the entire day visiting their blogs and their visitors blogs. Kind of reminds me of that old commercial where the guy is surfing the net and all of a sudden a message pops up, "Congratulations you have reached the end of the Internet". How cool would that be?

Sketch Week #122
Supplies: Jillibean Soup
Stamps: Hero Arts, Vap Scrap
CS: unknown
Ink: MS
Bling: ZVA
Colored Pencils: unknown


This layout was a blast. It is a layout inspired by the 1980's for Scrap Tiffany Blog. I was 6 in this picture (1982). I was a kid in the 80's. I did most of my "growing up" in the 90's. I still had a blast trying to come up with ideas. I love the checkerboard print, mesh, and bright bold colors. I may find another picture later and see if I can scrap in neon!

Scrap Tiffany #3
Supplies: Piggy Tales, Graphic 45, Magic Mesh, AC Thickers, Sass


This card was fun. I love the rustic colors of blue and brown. This card is perfect for me! My birthday is not until October and I am sure I will give it away before then. I was inspired by the challenge #52 over at The Sweetest Thing. Super cute sketch and card. Thanks for the inspiration.

Supplies: MME
Lace and twine and thread: ?
Ink: Tim Holtz
Punch: Fiskars



This last card was created for Taylored Expressions sketch #98. Sweet sketch and cards there. Adorable store with adorable prices and products. Check them out here. Excuse the dark picture of my card. Starting to lose the light!
Supplies: KI paper
Stamps: Hero Arts, VAP
Flowers: ?
Ink: Ranger

Crate Layouts

Supplies: Crate Paper, AC Cardstock, Zva Crystals, Hambly CS sticker

Supplies: AC Cardstock, Crate Paper, KI lace, AC Thickers

Supplies: Bazzill CS, Crate Paper, Magic Mesh

Early Morning Cards and Other Interesting Things

I love to look at other scrappers creations. I literally could spend the entire day blog hopping and being inspired by others. At the Cards Blog this week the challenge is to use trees or limbs on a card. I never have made a "tree" card. I chose to go whimsical and make a lollipop tree card.

Inspired by: Cards Blog
Supplies: WRMK, FP, MM, ZVA, Fiskars Punch, MS Ink, ? Rub On and Ribbons/Lace

A friend gave me this great martini glass stamp about a year ago. This is the first time I pulled it out. Such a cute little stamp. I may go back and glitter the olives :) Super cute Sketch for challenge #150 over at CPS - Card Sketches

Created for: Card Positioning Systems #150 (I just love their sketches!)
Supplies: Cosmo Cricket, Zva, ?Ribbon, Tim Holtz ink,
Stamp: Glass (Vap Scrap), Words (B&B Stamps)


Created for: fun :)
Supplies: Prima, Making Memories, Webster's Pages, Crafty Secrets, Crate, Jenni Bowlin, Tim Holts



So after making cards I was messing around on Stumble Upon and I came upon a great site/article instructing you how to take a nap. What a wonderful site full of useful information. Maybe I will go and practice my napping skills this afternoon :)

Lazy Saturday

I love Saturdays! I have no plans to get out of my pj's. Cole loves these days also. He begged to put on clean jammies after his bath instead of getting dressed. I have spent the day cleaning, munching and scrapping. After this post I am going to add napping to that list :)

Created for: Fun :)
Supplies: MM,RM, Bazzill, AC, Zva, Glitz, SU

Created For: Fun :)
Supplies: PP, Hambly, MM, Thickers


Created For: Card Patterns
Supplies: Graphic 45, SEI,
Stamps: Hot Potato and Printworks

Scrapping Sick

I am pretty sure that I will never be getting the H1N1 shot ever again! I have been sick all winter long. Cold after cold and and sinus problem after sinus problem. I am sick yet again! It doesn't seem to matter how many vitamins, how much water and rest I get. One day good the next day BAM! One good thing about being sick all the time this winter is that my scrapping time has increased (I dont' feel like going anywhere). Here are two more layouts I did this week.

This one is for a challenge at Dirty Scraps. Dirty Scraps is a challenge blog where you scrap the good, bad and ugly. The first challenge is to scrap a pet peeve or annoyance. I scrapped my son having a "moment" on an other wise glorious summer day and my annoyance with him.

The journaling reads: As I remember this was a great day. Beautiful weather, TBall game, park visit and frozen treats. All it took was me saying that one word, NO, to turn you sour. Then the pouting and whining started. Seriously I love you and would do anything for you but at this moment I am NOT liking you too much. I can see the feeling is mutual! I will attempt to be the grown up and not stoop to your 5 year old level but ...pbttttttttttt.........


This was just for fun :)

I love me some cards! This one was inspired by CardPatterns: Sketch 46 Challenge. There is some great work over there!
Supplies:
Inkadinkado Stamp
the pps are from my scrap pile (? OA, MM?)

This card was made for Rose-D's Challenge #62. I think I will give this one to Cole for Valentine's Day. It has a certain little boy feel to it.
Supplies:
Crate Paper
October Afternoon
Rubber Stampede

Haiti Earthquake Disaster Response

Donate now to help. I am not in any way connected to any of these agencies, but I know they are seeking our assistance to help with the Haiti Earthquake victims. Please be generous in your contribution so that the agencies may assist in restoring safety, hope, and basic needs for our fellow human beings and our animal friends.

Red Cross
http://www.redcross.org/

Unicef
http://www.unicef.org/

World Concern
http://www.worldconcern.org/disasters/haiti-flooding.htm

Doctors Without Borders
https://donate.doctorswithoutborders.org/SSLPage.aspx?pid=197&hbc=1&source=ADR1001E1D01

The Salvation Army
http://www.salvationarmy.com/usn/www_usn_2.nsf

The Humane Society
http://www.humanesociety.org

The Kennedy Family
Steve, Jennifer, Cole, Betsy and Alice

Milestone

You can't tell from this picture. This is a before picture. This is the picture of a first loose tooth. A very excited little boy working like the dickens to get it out! I am sure that soon we will have an after picture.

Excitement was not his first reaction this morning. Fear and worry were the first. That first pain after biting into his morning cinnamon toast about shot him through the roof. Once I figured out what was going on and we explained the "rules" he was all about losing it! I have a feeling it is all for the $$$$.

I remember losing my first tooth. It was barely hanging there and my folks were tired of messing with it. My Uncle Terry took care of it for me. Despite all the kidding I have finally forgiven the man :) Maybe I will send Cole to him! Stay tuned for the after picture.

Cards for Challenge Blogs

I got an invite from Sandra Farrell over at Stampin' Royalty to try out their new challenge blog. The theme was Happy Birthday. I have a friend who has a son having a birthday so I thought I would give a try at making a card for a teen boy. Something that proved to be difficult for this girly girl! I kept wanting to add ribbon, lace and buttons. I held myself back :)

I used this weeks sketch from Card Positioning Systems for my card. I love this sketch. It can be very simple or you can layers. I see me using it many times in the future!

Supplies: Cosmo Cricket - The Boyfriend: Art Appreciation
Stamp: Stamp Craft
Ink: Ranger (Nick Bantock Prussian Blue)
Sketch: CPS Card Sketches #149


This card was made for Mojo Monday Week 121 challenge. I loved this sketch. I really loved getting out my chalks. I bet I haven't used them in a year! I forgot how messy they are. I had to grab more white cardstock after smudging up my first pieces :)

Supplies:
American Crafts - Craft Fair
Ribbon/lace - unknown
Ink: Tim Holtz
Flower Stamp: KI Memories
Sentiment Stamp: unknown (? Stamping Up)
Chalks: Pebbles Inc
Bling: Zva Creative

Mojo Monday

Sorry for the dark pic. I was ........taking the picture in the dark :). I stumbled across the Mojo Monday Blog and thought I would give this sketch by Teresa Kline a go.

Supplies:
MM, Bazzill, TC, TH, SG, PC

Sick Day

Not feeling 100% these last two days. Nothing worse than waking up with a headache. Hopefully this, whatever it is, passes quickly. I spent most of the weekend taking down Christmas. How sad and depressed that makes me feel. I have never really decorated for Valentines day but I think I may start. I will have to search the web for some ideas. If you find any post me the links! Thanks.

Here is what else I have done with the weekend.

Love Card: PC, JB, Crate, SEI - created for
Cards Blog


Friend Card: Crate, AC, MM, ME

Love Card: CI, BG,7G

Layout: BG, Crate, HS, PP, CI, KC, TC - Created for
Mission Create

Layout: Hambly, BB, LYB - Created for
Amy's Creative Treasures - sketch challenge

Is it weird that I associate people with colors? When I meet a person for the first time I imagine them as a color. I love color. One look at the inside of my house and you would realize that I am not a beige type of gal! I am not sure when I realized that my peeps were colors. As I have looked back over my scrapbook pages I have noticed that I scrap my peeps in the colors that I associate with them.

I associate my son with green - natural, full of energy and life. My hubby is brown. Like a comforting teddy bear or a tempting piece of chocolate ;). I see my Best Girl as burgandy and that symbolizes tradition and steadfastness. My Mom is Bearcat green and it signifies home to me. My Dad is blue, a safe and comforting color.

It has been cool to look back and realize what colors and emotions I associate with who. Hey! I think I feel a scrap page coming on!

Hi Ho Hi Ho. It's Back to Work I Go

Good morning! It has been a busy am around here. Up and at em. 2 loads of laundry done and the downstairs bathroom cleaned. I have to clean that one daily (those of you with little boys will understand). We are supposed to get some snow sometime later this week. I would rather not. I was posting on The Last Call site that I was hoping that I would wake up tomorrow and it would be 80 and tropical! A girl can dream can't she. Well off to see what is going on in the blogging world. Did you see my scrapping mojo returned!!!!! I have some new kits coming and like a kid a Christmas I will be waiting impatiently for the postman to arrive :)

On the diet front. I am gagging down some low sugar oatmeal (I don't think I will ever love the stuff) and an apple for breakfast. I took a salad with turkey and some fruit for lunch, crackers and cheese and yogurt for snack. That should save me some money and some points! Back to my wonderful oatmeal :( Have a good day folks.

I Made More Pretties!

Mostly CC

MME, PP, CC, BG, AC

I Made Something Scrappy!

I got inspired today to make something pretty! Here is the site that inspired me. I made my album out of this years Christmas cards. I filled it with the pictures of friends and family that I received in the mail. Very cool project.

I used acrylic sheets and cut them down to fit my largest card. My Big Bite easily punched through the holes. I then used a hodge podge of Christmas goodies in my stash. Viola. I quick and easy album.

Well That's a Smack in the Face!

No I am not talking about the sub zero wind chill (though that is pretty brutal this morning). I am once again talking about my weight. I stepped on the scale this morning and wasn't shocked. I could tell by my favorite jeans that things were not going to be pretty. I am at my heaviest since I was pregnant with Cole. Notice I didn't say after I was pregnant with Cole. I said SINCE I WAS pregnant with Cole. So what should I blame? Mom's good cooking, work stress, Mommy stress, financial stress, winter weight.............myself.

I know that the problem lies within. Some has to do with stress and stress eating but the rest doesn't. The rest has to do with complete boredom and being lazy. We were concentrating so hard on financial freedom that we strived to eat cheap! Eating cheap is not always healthy. Dieting is not cheap! Fresh fruits and Veggies this time of year where I live is $$$$$. There has to be a way to eat healthy, yummy (choking down yogurt and oatmeal is not my idea of yummy) and at a low cost.

I will be working on finding sites that will help me organize my budget and my eating. I also need a place to be accountable for what goes in my mouth. I have a paper food journal. I carry it in my purse. I got out of the habit of tracking. I did well when I was on Weight Watchers and tracked everything I ate. Maybe I should hoot up with them again. Spark People is free and always a pretty informative place. You socialize, track and get educated at the same time. I found it hard to track on their site but love the exercise tips and food tips.

This is going to take a plan. It will be a team effort. Little does the man of the house know that he is getting ready to go on a diet! Maybe I can drag some others on the journey with me? Any takers?

New Year. New Diary/Planner

One of the things I love about a new year is getting a new Diary. For those of you who know me know that I am a pretty organized person. Noting makes me happier than a place for everything and everything in its place. I am not psychotic about it. I don't have anxiety if things are out of place......it's more of a gasp and then an "oh well" reaction :)

I have been searching on and off for the last week or two for "just the one" Diary. My organization tool for my thoughts. It has a few requirement.
1.) fit in my handbag (not hard since I adore huge handbags)
2.) monthly view for event/life planning
3.) daily note pages (for the diary part)
4.) address pages (b/c I yet have figured out how to program it all in my cell phone)
5.) budget pages (to keep track of my scrapbook spending - per Steve's request)

It seems pretty simple (to me anyhow). But finding all these things in a little attractive package was difficult. So yesterday after lunch with Kim (I had a great time by the way) I hit yet another Boarders and found "the one". I did the happy dance and grabbed the last copy (I guess everyone else has the same standards as I). Nothing beats bringing it home and cracking the spine and inking it up. While it is a place for my thoughts I also record family thoughts. I secretly hope that after I am long gone my grandkids and greatgrandkids will enjoy reading about us!

Happy New Year!

For I am about to do something new. See I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland. Isaiah 43:19.

Happy New Year from the Ville. For the last few years we have had Christmas in the Ville on New Years Day. It works better for everyone's schedules. This year Gramma and Grandad have a house full of little boys who like little boy toys.

So did you make New Years resolutions? I do but they never stick! Take a look at last years promises. So this year I will make almost the exact same promises.

1.) Journal more
2.) 1 Layout a week
3.) 3 Cards a week
4.) Gym 3 times a week
5.) Take my lunch to work
6.) Blog more

I saw a friend post part of this Mark Twain quote on FB. I thought it was fitting for this post!

New Year's Day--Now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual. Yesterday, everybody smoked his last cigar, took his last drink, and swore his last oath. Today, we are a pious and exemplary community. Thirty days from now, we shall have cast our reformation to the winds and gone to cutting our ancient shortcomings considerably shorter than ever. We shall also reflect pleasantly upon how we did the same old thing last year about this time. However, go in, community. New Year's is a harmless annual institution, of no particular use to anybody save as a scapegoat for promiscuous drunks, and friendly calls, and humbug resolutions, and we wish you to enjoy it with a looseness suited to the greatness of the occasion.
- Letter to Virginia City Territorial Enterprise, Jan. 1863

Here are some pictures of boys and their Christmas toys!
Sammy and his trucks.

Jon and his Nerf gun

Jeff and his spy listening device

Steve and his night vision spy glass.

Cole and his laser guns.

Lucas and his laser gun.


Here are the boys opening their gifts.




Three silly boys (dirty faces and fats lips-boys will be boys).