Santa's Elf

Thought I would post a Christmas card I made, using the Jolly by Golly line from Cosmo Cricket.
Happy Holidays to everyone!

Creative Cookbooking DT layout

The challenge for next week is cakes and pies. I chose a pumpkin cake recipe. This cake is so yummy, with a crunchy topping.
Perfect for Thanksgiving! There are lots of other great recipes on the blog, from my fellow design team members. Check it out!!

New President!

My daughter was elected president of her sorority and she is just on cloud 9! Last spring she won a top award and now this. Here she is with her award.

Trick or Treat

We had about 10 trick or treaters last night. For us, that's a lot!! I know there are neighborhoods that get 100's of kids - just not ours. Since my husband insists on buying tons of candy, I always let the kids take two or three candy bars. If not, I'd eat all the leftovers!!
I had a little witch hat I put on Chiquita, but didn't get a picture. So here is a shot of her in last year's costume. She is such a good dog to dress up like this! Aaaargh!

Creative Cookbooking Design team layout!

This week's challenge was a Halloween snack or treat. I did a layout featuring Monster Mix, which is a trail mix. Pop on over to Creative Cookbooking and play along. There is a special contest coming up....

Fall!

Some pictures of the fall trees in my neighborhood. I love this time of year!

Latest design team projects

For October:
The Halloween moon is for Moments Recorded. I decided to do something different this time, rather than a layout.
The two cards are for Christmas Cards All Year 'Round. The challenge is to do a mostly pink card, since October is breast cancer month.

new layout

A layout I created from a sketch at Pink Sketches. I've had these pictures of Megan and her pink wellies since her 16th birthday.
All she wanted that year was a pair of Wellies. They were not as popular as they are now and we couldn't even find a pair. Anywhere.
I was so desperate, that when we finally found some at Nordstrom's, I was willing to pay just about anything! Fortunately, common sense said No! and we didn't spend big bucks for some rubber boots!! Megan found these pink ones at K-Mart and was just as happy with them. For a lot less money.

Guest Designer

I'm so pleased!! I was asked to be guest designer on Scrapping Out LOUD this week. The challenge was to design a page using only one motif. I used stars. Check out their blog - they have a wonderful design team and a great challenge every week!

Fall apples

We have been getting the best apples lately! Yummy Honey Crisp and tart McIntosh. Nothing says fall like apples (unless it's pumpkins!)
This apple clock is made from a shape I purchased from an Etsy store called Say it with Letters. They sell custom cut letters and shapes. My husband cut the circle out for the clock, I covered the apple with patterned paper, inked the edges, tied on some raffia and added Prima leaves.

Perfect Weekend

What a busy, wonderful weekend!
On Saturday, I went to stamp club and had a sewing lesson. (Actually, I learned how to thread my new machine!!)
Sunday found me eating cupcakes in Hudson, Ohio, at Main Street Cupcakes. If I could move anywhere I wanted to, Hudson would be on the list! It is a wonderful town, filled with great shops and beautiful homes.
The cupcakes there are soooo good. I had a new one today that I fell in love with: toffee & coffee.
Some of my other favorites are:
pineapple coconut, hazelnut coffee, lemon, pumpkin spice, cup of java and blueberry lemon.
After cupcakes, we went to Archiver's, where I got the new Cosmo Cricket Christmas line. It's so cute and has a very 50's/60's feeling to it.
Anyway, I need to clean up my craft room. It's a huge mess! But what I really feel like doing is going outside to enjoy this glorious weather. I noticed today that some of the trees are already changing. I saw some beautiful red and yellow leaves. And the nights have been quite a bit cooler. Which is fine with me, because I love fall and snow and winter!
Chiquita loves winter too; she likes to snuggle with her snowflake blanket and penguin friend!

Moments Recorded

The challenge for September is to use staples, tape and a page from a book. There is also a sketch to follow.
Check out what the DT made - this is mine. First day of school for my Dad, back in the 30's.

CCAYR

Pop on over to ChristmasCardsAllYearRound and see what the design team has come up with for September. We could do anything we wanted to this month! Make 5 cards of your own, link them up and you may win a prize!
These are my cards.

Oh, I've been busy!!

Yes, it's that time of year. Summer is officially over and school has begun! Between getting ready for school, sending my daughter back to college (empty nest time again!) and doing my design team projects, I've been busy! I have had a little scrapbooking time and this is a layout I did with a sketch from Nuts About Sketches. Love the Cosmo Cricket papers!

Blog candy

There is a fabulous prize giveaway on Stacy's blog:
http://www.scrappineverydaylife.blogspot.com
Check it out!! Stacy does wonderful cards and layouts!

Mom, you're so funny!

I think my little Chiquita looks like she's laughing in this photo!! She loves to carry her hat toy (at bottom of photo) around - she trots all over the house with it, looking for a hiding place.

SPCC color challenge

The color challenge for this week was light yellow, pink, purple and brown. I made this card for a third birthday.

At the Museum

Rocco had such fun at the Children's Museum. Aren't the huge Lego blocks cool?!! I'd love to play with them myself!

Love using the QuicKutz dies! This owl is one of my favorites! It gives me the paper pieced look without having to find a pattern or make one up on my own. This is done in BoBunny paper.

August challenge

The first challenge for August is up on momentsrecorded.blogspot.com
Check out what our design team came up with and then play along!

August Christmas card challenge

The August challenge is up on the Christmas Cards All Year 'Round blog. Use hot pink, orange, yellow and lime green to create your Christmas cards. If you make 5 cards with this color combo (can be 5 different cards or 5 of the same), you could possibly win a prize! Head over to www.christmascardsallyearround.blogspot.com and see what the rest of the design team came up with.
I did the three cards above.

Cincinnati

A year ago in August I was in Cincy at the Stampaway Convention. We made sure to visit the famous Skyline Chili. If you've never had their chili, it's really different. They put cinnamon on it and it's much soupier than regular chili.

Fresh Colors!!

Got these peppers at the local farm market and they are such vibrant colors! Told my family that I had to take a picture before we ate them.

Young Love

This layout is of my mother and father, circa 1940. Dad said he fell in love the first time he saw Mom. I love this picture of them - so young and in love.

SPCC Color Challenge #7

Color challenge this week is to use Bermuda Bay, Old Olive and Summer Sun. I made this card by punching a scalloped circle into the blue card. Then I put the yellow flower inside the card. The flower shows on the front; when you open the card, you see the entire flower, including the stem and leaves.

Paper used is BoBunny. I just love their sweet and pretty pastel papers!

Summer beauty

My hydrangeas are blooming and just beautiful!! The colors range from pink and purple to a blue color.

Cincinnati

I've always loved this picture of my daughter on a trip she took last year to Cincinnati. Love the pink and green color combo she's wearing - so soft looking.
Well, I used Bo Bunny paper, flowers, brads and chipboard and I think these papers have just the soft & feminine look that I was going for!

SPCC challenge!

This week's colors at SPCC were chocolate chip, kiwi kiss, rich razzleberry and baja breeze. I don't usually have the SU colors and so I look through my stash each week to find something similar. I am finding papers I forgot I had and also using up stuff that I bought thinking I would use it "someday"...
On my layout, I used the brown lace, letters and background cardstock for the chocolate chip color, the shaped paper for the kiwi kiss color (green), the blue mat for baja breeze. The ribbon and ink on the chipboard bird are actually rich razzleberry (from a friend).

The journaling reads: " Christmas 2002 brought the best present ever! We were at the pet store, "just looking", and we saw a tiny little chihuahua.
She was only two pounds and so lovable; we had to have her. We brought her home and our little Chiquita has truly been the gift that keeps on giving. She loves us and we love her."

CCAYR - new challenge

There is a new challenge posted on the Christmas Cards All Year 'Round blog. You are to use one stamp in three different ways on three different cards.
On the first card, I crumpled up Saran wrap, picked up some ink on it, and pounced it on white cardstock. I used blue, purple and copper. Then I stamped Santa with black ink.
For the second card, I stamped Santa with Versamark ink on kraft cardstock and then went over the image with chalks.
The last card is an image transfer of Santa. I inked the stamp with red ink, covered it with a piece of 2" masking tape, pulled it off the stamp and laid the tape on kraft cardstock. Then I quickly removed the tape from the cardstock and had a reverse image of Santa. The words got reversed also, but I don't mind - I like the collage type look that it makes.

Basic Grey

Wow, I am so excited! Had another layout accepted in the Basic Grey gallery!! It's one I did of Rocco, using the new line called June Bug.
Going to a crop this Sunday at Archiver's. I am planning on doing pages for a fat book swap I'm in. The theme is Birds. I have an idea in mind; when I get my prototype done, I'll post it. I'll also spend my crop time visiting, eating and shopping!! Aaaah, life is good!

Archiver's Trip

Had a great day - went to Archiver's scrapbook store (about an hour away from where I live). I love going there!! Went with my husband, who made a tee time as we were on the turnpike. He dropped me off at the store and said, "Can you hurry?"
I couldn't believe it!! I was planning on an hour (or more!) - time to leisurely look around. Nope - so I had to power shop!!
I managed to grab quite a bit, but felt so rushed. They always have such good deals - the $1.99 Hot Spot, which is bins and bins of bargains. Plus a sale area. Plus all of the regular good stuff.

I did get some beautiful Bo Bunny paper! Their papers have such soft, pretty color combinations. But I also have some Bo Bunny paper that will be perfect for a Rocco layout. It's more bright and colorful and I know just what photo I am going to use....

Color challenge #5

This week's color challenge at SPCC is such a beautiful combination of colors! Melon Mambo, Bermuda Bay, Soft Suede - even the names are yummy!
This is my entry for challenge #5.

Big basket!

I know it's only July, but I had to get a new phone and long story short.... I found this picture on my old phone. It was taken at the Longaberger factory store in Dresden, OH, last December. Christmas in July, anyone??!

Happy Fourth of July!!!

I love this holiday!! It has always been one of my favorites....
I remember twirling around with sparklers in my hands when I was little. (Never got burned!)
Above are two vintage 4th of July postcards.
Enjoy today!! I am going to a picnic at my sister's and planning on eating a lot!

SPCC color combo #4

The colors for this week's challenge were bright and summery. I was going to stamp a card, but then I got this picture of Rocco. He is in a toy car at the mall and it has the exact three colors of the challenge: green, yellow and pink!! It was meant to be used this week, so I did!

CCAYR July challenge

The July challenge is up on the Christmas Cards All Year 'Round blog. This is my card and below it is the Santa I used. I took it from a vintage postcard. Try the challenge - it's fun!!

I'm excited!

Wow, I went to the SPCC blog this afternoon and found out I won the third color challenge with my bird card!!
I am soooo excited!
Next week's colors are up: yellow, green and pink. Very bright and summery! Give this blog a whirl - you'll like it!!
Also, for the mixed media lovers, check out KC Willis Studio Retreats blinkie on my blog's sidebar. She does some wonderful work and classes are in beautiful Colorado.

SPCC color challenge #3

The challenge this week was to use lilac, green and chocolate chip. My card is lilac and green, the ribbon is lilac and the bird is chocolate chip.
I also made a gift container. I used green and lilac scrapbook paper and fit it inside a medium-sized paint can (from the craft store). Then I cut a flower from the paper, inked it with chocolate chip ink, punched a hole and tied it to the handle with chocolate chip ribbon (to use as a gift tag). I cut a circle from the paper and covered the top of the lid.

Rocco layout

What a cute little guy! He's so full of adventure and always on the go!!

New layout - just because

A new layout using the Wisteria line from Basic Grey. I love their paper and can hardly wait for their two new releases this month: Pink Lemonade and June Bug - what cute names!!

2nd SPCC color challenge

This is the layout I did using the colors celery green, rose and close to cocoa.
It's my daughter on the beach in Florida. I love how happy she looks!

SPCC color challenge

This is a layout I did for a color challenge over at SPCC. Colors to use were: bright blue, so saffron (yellow), old olive and chocolate chip. Each week there will be a new color challenge to follow. Try it, you'll like it!!
Their address is: spcolorcombos.blogspot.com