Eat, Drink & Be Merry

A quick card I started last night but had to wait to finish up this morning because the snowflakes were in my scrappy room and Rob was in bed asleep. I used the sketch from Creatively Yours and flipped it on its side. Love my Bella stamps - I got my first ones in January if I remember right and I'm so hooked on them!!! It's so bad I hardly pull out any of my other stamps unless it is a manufacturer specific stamp! I have so many stamps that are being neglected!!!




Yeah, so why with Christmas so early huh? When I took my Copic class the other day it was at the local stamp store going out of business. I had a discount for taking the class off my entire purchase and since money was tight I wasn't gonna buy a thing. Well, I saw the little sentiment stamp and got it for $2 and some change (normally $7) and knew right away which Bella stamp I was gonna use. The only part I wasn't sure about was the Santa hat - I needed a hat that was proportionate to my Bella girl. I dug through my other Bella stamps and found one of Bella decorating the tree and **DING DING** I would just stamp her, cut out the hat and layer onto my Bella w/a martini in her hand!!!

Thanks for stopping by and Happy Scrappin'!

Does it feel like Spring???

The weather here in Texas has been crazy. One day it is chilly the next is it warm - what the heck is up with that??? Last night we had a storm roll through out of nowhere and it hailed, yep, lots and lots of hail! I got pics and will share them in another post later today as I have to get going somewhere this morning but I wanted to post this card I made last night!

I did this one for the sketch challenge at Mojo Monday by flipping the sketch upright. I also, like you would suspect anything different, combined this with the Penny Black Saturday challenge for Think Spring.



Thanks for stoppin' by and happy scrappin'!!!!

A Week Has Gone By.................

...................and no posts from me!!! Well, let's see...................Last Wednesday morning I woke up with a migraine and a sick kiddo. Yep, Cait had strept throat AGAIN!!! Took her to the doc for RX and for an RX for that migraine of mine - it was worse than I ever remember having one. I finally woke up yesterday, Sunday that is (yeah I know you can figure it out but I'm trying to emphasize the number of days I had that blasted migraine) and it was gone! I've had a mild sinus headache today due to allergies but NOTHING like the migraine I was living with for 4 days!!!

On Saturday I ventured out - headache and all - to a Copic class. I've had these fabulous markers since mid 2008 and didn't know how to fully utilize them with the blending and such. I have tried, and at times I do OK but I wanted to really learn how to use them to make yummy cards like some I see on the internet. I met Jen Del Muro, who was our class instructor for the day, and learned some great techniques that will hopefully let me use my Copics much better - I know my images haven't been horrible. I was looking for a way to reduce how flat they look - give them more depth and a realistic feel (well, as realistic as a stamped hedgehog can be).

We made three cards in the class. The first two are very simple and you don't really see a lot of blending/graduation of color but they were fun and the covered the basics. After those we took a break then came back for a more advanced look at blending. The third card, which is my fav of the 3, uses the 2 and 3 color blending and I just love it - well, except for my splotchiness on the vase but eh, I am working on that!!!










My first attempt at blending is with this card. I took a lot of time on it even though it isn't perfect. I focused on the tires and the jeep for the color graduation this time. I don't want to overdo it with the blending and such on the images especially since I am learning. I figure if I try to do an entire image I'll end up wasting paper because I know I will make little mistakes and then end up trashing the whole thing. So, Jeepy Girl by Stamping Bella was my first venture at using my Copics in a new way.




I also used a sketch by Jen Del Muro - check out her blog for her Saturday sketch challenges.


Thanks for stopping by and happy scrappin!!!!

1 Hour Sketch Challenge

We had another 1 hour sketch challenge tonite at Just Scrappin'!!! I usually love these because they totally challenge me to finish in that hour - I'm probably the world's slowest scrapper most the time!!! Anywho, the sketch we worked with tonite was fab but my heart just wasn't into it - there is a lot going on in our personal lives right now so my mind was elsewhere. Regardless, I got it done and it isn't totally horrible - just by no means near my best!!!



This is Cait when she was a little thang - she loved to be outside helping her Papa doing just about anything. Here he was digging up the dirt driveway to get ready to lay forms to pour a concrete driveway and she decided she was gonna help. She was such a cutie pie!!

Thanks for stopping by and happy scrappin'!!!

Yesterdays

Well, this is the last one I am gonna get done this weekend as I am ready to call it a night!!! I had so much fun with the crop at Treasured Scrapbooking and feel like I got so much done!!!!

OK, this last one doubles for Marilyn Monroe duty at TS and JS!!! I love this pic of me and plan on putting the date on the bottom right corner after I find out from my Mom when it was taken!!!




Thanks for stopping by and happy scrappin'!!!!

Smile

Another one for the Treasured Scrapbooking Crop!!!


The challenge was in honor of Betsy Ross and we could ONLY use red/white/blue - no other colors. I dug through all my papers and the best I could do for a LO was red/blue/cream.........uuuggghhhhh, not gonna work. So, I saw others did cards and altered items so I took a cue from Kim, who is also on the DT at Am I A Scrap Addict - Sketches with how she DIDN'T color in all of the Bella stamp she used. I really loved this when I first saw it and made a mental note that at some point in time I should do this but tonite while trying to figure out this challenge it came to me!!!


So, I stamped my Bella girl in Blazing Red StazOn ink, colored her top/bags with my Garnet Copic, used Frosted Lace Stickles on her "smile" and pants (hard to see in the picture) and then layered her on navy cardstock, onto red/white dotted Scenic Route patterned paper and then onto a navy blue card base and applied a white felt "smile" to the card along with 3 navy blue flowers I made and topped off with pearl bling!!!

Hope you like it!!!





Thanks for stopping by and happy scrappin'!!!!

The Story of a .....................

Another challenge done over at Treasured Scrapbooking!!! I also used another sketch from Am I A Scrap Addict - Sketches as you can see below:





And my take on the sketch:





Thanks for stopping by and happy scrappin'!!!!

Sexy Man

Another challenge for the crop going on at Treasured Scrapbooking!!! This one was a blind challenge where directions were given and you were to assemble a LO w/out seeing a sample. I wasn't too far off from the host's LO on this so I am happy I somewhat followed directions!!!

Now, for the story behind this one:

No, my husband is NOT cross dresser...............ROFL When we lived in Austin and ran a storage facility my son and nephews decided to check out the boxes that someone dumped on property. They hauled them to the back porch because they were full of "nice" clothes. So, Rob was messing around "modeling" them to the house full of people we had (12 or 15, I lost count). I always tell him if he lets me snap the pic it is fair game to be scrapped!!!






Thanks for stoppin' by and happy scrappin'!!!!

Strike a Pose

I love the random, goofy photos I find of Cait on the camera or desktop of the computer. Silly girl - she rolls her eyes when I scrap them but hey, if they are on my camera or my puter they are fair game!!! Wait til you see the one of Rob that I can't show til tomorrow - bahahahahahahaha!!!!





So a funny little story behind this one. I was desperately looking for just the RIGHT sketch to use on this - I love sketches because they always jump start me. Well duh, why do I frantically search when I am on a DT for a sketch blog!!! OMG I wanted to kick myself!!! Then, to top it off I am editing this post now because I didn't even show the site OR the sketch I used...........I am so out of it tonite!!

OK, I used this sketch:



From Am I A Scrap Addict - Sketches!!!


Another challenge for the Treasured Scrapbooking crop this weekend!!! Stop by and join in on the fun!


Thanks for stopping by and happy scrappin'!!!

Lucky in Love

Well, when I got home from Hobby Lobby today I had exactly what I needed to do this layout. I went looking for brown stickers or rub-ons of some kind and I hit the motherlode jackpot!!! I got Thickers on clearance for $1.79 per package and $2.39 per package (normally $4 and $5).

So, this LO is doing triple duty - man I'm loving being able to combine stuff lately!!! It completes the 1 hour challenge at Just Scrappin' , the sketch challenge at My Sketch World and the Maya Angelou challenge at Treasured Scrapbooking!





Thanks for stoppin' by and happy scrappin'!!!!

Black Coffee Anyone?

Hi all!!! Hope everyone's start of the weekend is going well!!! I am planning on scrapping ALL, yes ALL weekend if I get my way - I don't usually but it is a good plan to start out my Friday night with!!

So, I'm playing at the Women in History crop over at Treasured Scrapbooking, if you are not a member you should totally come over and join in on the fun. The challenges are fabulous and the members are great - not to mention Leslie, the owner who is amazing!!!

The first challenge I've completed is a history lesson about Ella Fitgerald. She was an amazingly talented woman. The challenge by Shirley was to scrap a LO and use a title of one of Ella's song. Well, I am using Black Coffee because it fit so perfectly with this pic I have of my daughter from the morning of my friends wedding.



Thanks for stopping by and happy scrappin' - I'm sure there will be more posts tonite and throughout the weekend!!!

My Style

Well, Cristal at Just Scrappin' challenged us to scrap basically our style - nothing fancy, just what we feel is our standard. Since I tend to vary from LO to LO it was difficult for me to pinpoint what my style is but looking at the LO's I've done since the start of the year I saw a few things: lots of flowers, minimal pics (rarely more than 2), bling and lots of patterned paper. Another thing that has become more me is working from sketches - they really do give me a starting point instead of me sitting around for hours staring at the pics and papers trying to figure out what the heck I'm gonna do. So, I found a sketch that I totally loved over at Creatively Yours this week and I used that sketch to help me scrap my style!!!

Tell me what ya think!!!




These pics are of my Mom back then and now - I left the journaling spot blank as I want to get a better time frame of the first pic and some thoughts from her to include on it!!!

Thanks for stopping by and happy scrappin'!!!!

Shape of Me and Other Things

I got a layout done tonite too!!! Go me!!!

The title of the layout is "Shape of Me and Other Things" which is the title of a Dr. Seuss book. Julie over at Treasured Scrapbooking challenged us to use a title of one of his books for our layout. I also used this to complete 2 other challenges - yep, triple duty. I did it for my All About Me challenge/book we have been working on at Just Scrappin' and the sketch challenge at Pencil Lines - which by the way was the first time I played at Pencil Lines but I totally loved the sketch!!!

So, I'll stop yappin' and let you see what I did - now keep in mind, I don't typically use yellow on layouts (or cards to think of it) and I decided this month for my AAM LO I wanted to challenge myself to use yellow. My secret swap sister, Rox-Ann, hooked me up quite well don't ya think? Most of the stuff on the layout was in my package this month - I think the little felt flower, the butterfly w/gems and journaling strips were the only things I provided!!! OK, OK I'm shooshing!!!



Tell me what you think - yes, no, maybe so, don't ever scrap again Karen - be honest, I can take it!!!

Thanks for stoppin' by and happy scrappin'!!!!!

Yummy Sketch

OK, I promise this is the LAST card using this paper - at least for tonite!!! LOL

This card is for a challenge at 2 Sketches For You using one of the fabulous sketches they provide weekly AND for the challenge at Papertake Weekly.





It's a very simple card - much more simple than I had intended but about halfway through it the papers just really got to me and I had to make myself finish this card!!! I might do another for these 2 challenges since I'm not totally satisfied with it. Off to work on 2 layouts that I need to get done!

Thanks for stopping by and happy scrappin'!!!

Nature & A Sketch

Another card done - I'm on a roll!!! LOL

OK, I used the sketch at Penny Black and the Nature theme from My Time to Craft to do this card! Yes, I'm using the same paper on all 3 cards so far today but I am purging/downsizing my scrappy stuff so it requires me to use things or give/throw it away so I'll use it til I'm sick of it then I'll give/throw it away!!!




Happy Scrappin'!!!

I Won!!!

I'm so flippin' excited!!! I hardly win anything but today I found out I won over at The Cuttlebug Spot for the Serendipity card challenge!!! YAY ME!!!

Here's the card I made:





Thanks for stoppin' by and happy scrappin'!!!

True Friends

Another card done - woohoo!!!

This is for the sketch challenge over at Mojo Monday!!!





Happy Scrappin!

Poppin' Good Time w/Matching Envelope

I completed this card challenge for the House Mouse & Friends blog challenge using the sketch provided - I just love this little image!!!




Thanks for stoppin' by and happy scrappin'!!!

No Internet

uuuggghhhh!!! Yep, no internet this past weekend!!! I never realized how ADDICTED I was to the internet and my scrappy sites til I couldn't get on them!!! I finally talked to my friend Cristal and she gave me a list of challenges to work on since I couldn't get online for any of them!!!

These all fill LO requirements at Scrap Freak for the weekend Birthday crop - which I didn't get to upload them in time for prizes but at least I got stuff done - as well as challenges at Just Scrappin' for our month long birthday celebration!!!














Kids are on Spring Break this week so my son has a friend over with another possibly coming over and Cait has a friend over so I have a house full of teenagers - drinking may begin soon!!! LOL Seriously though, I plan to scrap the week away with the girls and listen to the boys play video games. I'd rather they be with me than on the streets getting into trouble!!!

Thanks for stopping by, Happy St. Patrick's Day and happy scrappin'!!!

Serendipity Challenge

OK, my sweet friend Aymee is on the DT over at The Cuttlebug Spot and this weeks challenge was to do a Serendipity card - check out Aymee's blog for more info on how to make one and make sure you hop over and play along at The Cuttlebug Spot as well!!!!!

So, I combined this card for 2 challenges - the Serendipity challenge at The Cuttlebug Spot and then one of my favorite card challenge blogs, Penny Black Saturday Challenge Blog - I love love love PB stamps which is why this is one of my fav blogs!!!

Here's my card - tell me what ya think!!!



I'm hoping to get a few more things done tonite so be on the lookout tonite or tomorrow!!!

Thanks for stopping by and happy scrappin'!!!

One Hour Layout Challenge

Just got done with our one hour layout challenge at Just Scrappin' - man, this one was harder than I thought. I started out in one gear and ended up switching mid layout and had to rethink things and ugh.....but, it is done!!!



Definitely not my best work but not the worst either!!!

Thanks for stopping by and happy scrappin'!!!

One Last Layout

It's 3:15 AM and I should really be heading to bed since we have eye doctor appointments tomorrow but I had to finish up one more LO tonite!!! This is for my BFF from high school Julie - this is one of the pics from her wedding this past Saturday! I'm gonna get a frame for it and give it to her next week when she drops off her daughter to spend Spring Break with Cait.



Thanks for stopping by, happy scrappin' and goodnight - officially this time!!!

Scrappin' Fool

After being mojo-less for a while, I feel a groove and am having a blast with it!! I've been pulling triple duty with my LO's completing challenges from the weekend crop at From Here 2 Scrapternity and the monthly challenges at Just Scrappin' and Treasured Scrapbooking. I know it isn't as many LO's as I need to be doing but as long as I only use one challenge from each site I don't feel too guilty about making each one do triple duty!!!













I'm working on one more right now and hopefully will have it done before I go to bed!!!

Thanks for stopping by and happy scrappin'!!!

Weekend Doing's

Well, I haven't done much this weekend except witness my BFF from high school say "I do" to her soul mate. It was a beautiful ceremony and was good to see a few people I hadn't seen in years!

Before we left the house I had to get a couple pics of the kids because they were both "cleaned up" for the wedding - poor Rob had to work.

Here is Ms. Cait - she is doing an ad for McDonald's coffee it looks like:





And Dyl looking real handsome:




And here's a slide show from the wedding:

Thanks for stopping by and happy scrappin'!!!

DT Reveal & LO's That I Can Share Now

Sunday was the reveal for my DT spot over at Am I A Scrap Addict - Sketches!!! I mentioned before we are now going to just one reveal per month so on the 1st of each month you'll see my work but make sure you stop by on the 15th as well as Team 2 for De will be revealing then!!! So you are still getting 2 sketches for LO's and 2 for Cards each month!!!

Here is the sketch I worked from this month:



And my card:




And some LO's that I've done this last month for the Treasured Scrapbooking We Love Our Members Contest . We weren't allowed to show them except on our blog (yeah I know I could've shown them but chose to wait til we could post them anywhere) until the contest was over. The winner should be announced this week!!!!


Week 1:

Our first challenge was to work from this photo Valentine setup:



and we had to use the title "Life is Like a Box of Chocolates", a pair of wings, 3 hearts, a bow and only the colors red/pink/brown/white or cream





The bee was stamped in timber brown to stay true to the color scheme.




Week 2:

We had to use one of the categories from the teleflora website that classified you as the type of girl you were for flowers as the title of your layout, only one photo, you had to be in the photo, 10 flowers, journaling about why you are the type of girl you chose on a journaling card. I chose "The Girl Who Has Everything" as I feel I have been truly blessed with the things in life that matter!!



Week 3:

This week we had to use part of all of the lyrics from Moonlight Serenade by Glenn Miller and something that had been in our stash at least 6 months



Week 4:

Final challenge was this ad inspiration:



along with at least 3 photos, stamping on the LO and at least 5 eyelets/brads.



Even with sickies in the house I managed to get a little done in February!! I was hoping for a better start to March but Cait is sick again - she stayed home from school again today and sounds just horrible. If she isn't better by tomorrow off to the doctor again but I'm hoping it is just a cold.

Thanks for stopping by and happy scrappin'!!!

Rick Springfield

OMG OMG OMG!!!! All I can say is OMG!!! What an excellent show he put on!!! Rob and I took our kids (17 and 16) and our sons best friend (15) and had a blast!! The kids loved it and said he rocked!!! Of course Rob and I thought he rocked too - he put on an amazing show - I can't say ENOUGH about the show he put on!!! I got a few pics but they aren't the best. I took Cait's camera instead of mine and it doesn't have a very good zoom. I also got a 7 second snippit of him singing - if I can figure out how to link it here I will!!! OK, here are the pics!!!







In this one he jumped off the stage onto the tables in the audience and walked all through the audience:



And, lets see if I can figure this out, hhhhmmmm how to link a video:




Did it work???

Thanks for stopping by and Happy Scrappin'!!!!