Bad Blogger

Yep, that is me!!! I haven't blogged a thing since the crop - well, I haven't done a thing since the crop either!!! It has just been so busy w/the kids winding down the school year, me winding down the school year and the holidays approaching that I've been in a total Bah Humbug mood!!!

So, what have I got to post about today:

1. How cute are my babies - well, the 4 legged ones??? I just love it - of course DH thinks I'm nutts - I am!!!

Santa's Kitty Elf:



And Santa's Mrs. (Doggy Style):



Neither of them were too happy with their Christmas outfits but I thought they were too cute and of course I'll have to scrap these pics!!!

2. My tag I made at the Treasured Scrapbooking crop a week ago won!!! How cool is that??? I had so much fun scrapping over there I didn't need to win a thing but I did and I was so excited. But, I got my prize and Wowzers!!! Lisa (aka justlisa) outdid herself with the prize!!! Check out what I got:



3. About a week and a half ago I went down to take my Mom shopping after her surgery (she wasn't supposed to be driving) and she traded me sewing machines. I had a nice Singer heavy duty machine but I never sew anymore. I had been talking about wanting to sew on LO's and Cards but just hadn't done it yet so she saw the new Pixie by Singer at WalMart for $49 and bought it to trade me so she can start sewing again and I would have something smaller to craft with. The girls at Just Scrappin' asked me to do a review about it so here it is:

Pixie – The Craft Machine by Singer



OK girls, the newest love of my scrappy life is the Pixie machine by Singer. This can be purchased at WalMart for $49 and it durable enough to sew your toughest layouts and even simple sewing of fabric - I wouldn't try denim or leather on it.

Here is what my new little friend looks like:

My hand, which is an average size hand, to show dimensions:



The pedal, which is the only real downfall for me because it is so small and I'm used to the normal sized pedals:



The power adapter (this thing runs on batteries too):



The 8 stitches it does:








OK the pros:

1. It is lightweight and compact - I'd say it weighs maybe 5 lbs. Due to it’s size I would say it is perfect to travel with and crop. The dimensions are 10 inches in length, 4 inches in width and 11 inches in height – including the carrying handle.

2. You can power this machine with the AC adapter included OR with AA batteries – how much more convenient could that be to crop with?

3. You can sew using the pedal OR with the L/OFF/H switch – L means a slower but steady stitch, Off, well yeah and H meaning a faster stitch. I did not try the auto sew feature as I am a big enough goof using a pedal I don’t need it going non stop on me…..LOL

4. There are 8 different stitches to give just about any decorative edge you would like and you don’t have to switch out stitch bobbins or anything – just turn the knob to the desired stitch.

5. It will sew paper, cardstock and material with ease. I would be leery of using it on thick chipboard, leather or denim even though it says it can handle it. I would hate to break it so I have opted to stick with the thinner materials.

6. It uses standard needles, bobbins and spools of thread – no specialty items needed or expensive adapters to use what you may already have on had. These items are all relatively inexpensive to buy at WalMart if you ever need to replace them.

7. It is purple!!! If it can’t be Pink then Purple is the next best thing for me!!!

8. Singer – enough said. Quality merchandise for years has built a good repuatation for the company so I could easily see them replacing anything if it were to get messed up due to manufacturer defects and possible even human error.


OK the cons:

1. The pedal is way too small for me – it works just fine but my whole foot covers it and I don’t feel as I have as much control as with the bigger pedals. It will take time for me to get used to it and then I am sure it will work just fine.

2. It is plastic so if you were to drop it I would be afraid of what would happen – it probably won’t be long til I find out considering how clutsy I am.

3. There is a small light near the pedal that has an on/off switch but I can not see how to replace the bulb if it were to burn out. I like having the light because the older I get the harder it is for me to see sometimes so when it burns out I maybe duct taping a mini flash light back there….LOL

4. This is the only real complaint I have about it but if I would have read the directions thoroughly (I skim, I always skim) I would have been OK. When you go to change the stitch the needle MUST MUST MUST MUST be in the furthest position upright when you change or it will totally lock up on you every time you start to stitch by about the 3rd stitch. As long as the needle was in the proper position (about 5 times later when I was getting pissed and calling it a POS) it switches just fine so make sure you read the directions thoroughly for any little things that could make a difference in your sewing.


Overall I rate this machine as a great addition to your scrappy tools. It is lightweight and compact enough to take to crops as well as it doesn’t take up a ton of storage room in your scrappy space. It offers a nice variety of stitches for your cards and layouts and also allows for minor sewing projects – again I wouldn’t try sewing anything heavier than a standard weight material especially if you bought it just for crafting purposes. The price is well worth the machine to me at this point and I’m so glad my Mom wanted to trade out my heavy duty Singer for this little girl as I feel I will definitely put it to use and sew on a project very soon!!!

***NOTE*** I do not work for Singer so this review is totally unbiased - just what I think about it from my brief stint at using it so far!!!

4. I finished off this term with a 4.0 again!!! I am so thrilled!!! I haven't rec'd my final grade in my composition class but I have had a 100 throughout the course so unless she decides all of a sudden she doesn't like my work I figure my final will be in the mid to high 90's which will easily keep me at my 4.0 GPA!!!! Oh yeah, I got a certificate for my first term that put me on the President's List!!!

5. My sweetheart of a friend Aymee nominated me for the "If Life Hands You Lemons, Make Lemonade" blog award. I really appreciate that she thinks so highly of me - she knows I love her to death and admire her work as much as she says she admires mine!!! So, on with the blog award:



I will have to work on this as I have so many blogging friends that I love to stalk and some that aren't friends yet but I just admire so much so it will be a hard decision to make!!! Maybe I'll take the chicken way out and leave it open to everyone who visit's my blog - I know if you are all like me you visit so many blogs and don't always remember the ones you saw stuff at that you really liked (I really need to learn the art of making lists of all the fab bloggers out there) so you would love to nominate everyone!!!


Other than that, nothing going on. Just preparing for Christmas which will be pretty quiet around here. I'm making home made chili on Wednesday and just can't wait - I love me some chili!!! Right now I'm catching up on message boards and working on a LO at the same time - yeah I try to multitask but I get sidetracked so easily!!!

So, if I don't get a chance to say this:





Happy Scrappin'!!!

It's that time again!!!!!!!

I so love the 2nd and 16th of every month!!! It is when I get to share with you all my DT work for Am I A Scrap Addict - Sketches!!! It is also when I get to be inspired by all my fabulous team members work as well!!! I've been really blessed to work from Deanne's sketches this year as well as with all the wonderful DT members. I look forward to a bright and even more creative New Year and hope you will all come and join us for the sketches. Did you know that we don't just have card sketches?? Deanne also has a layout team that reveals twice a month too!!! Layouts are revealed on the 1st and the 15th and cards on the 2nd and 16th!!!

So here is the sketch I got to work from this time. I loved the whole thing but for some reason it stumped me!!! Three card attempts went into the trash before I finally got one that I just didn't hate!!! LOL I am so picky and critical of my work I know but sometimes things just don't work together!!!

OK, I'm shooshing now and showing you the sketch!!!



And now for my card:



Material List:

PP = I think it is Rusty Pickle - all I had was a small piece left so I can not remember for sure!!!
CS = Misc from stash
Ink = Tim Holtz Distressing Ink Faded Jeans
Chipboard Letters = Heidi Swapp
Image = I can't remember and I can not find the stamp right now!!! LOL It is either Inkadinkadoo, Stampendous or Stampabilities as I bought it at Hobby Lobby!!!


So last night was my last official gotta be there class. It went well and I'm really excited for the term to be over so I can have a few weeks of nothing to do!!! This term really stressed me out but things should get easier from here!!! My final in one class was a paper I've been working on step by step over the last 9 weeks with the class and then I ended up doing more research to strengthen it up yesterday. I submitted it and am waiting on my grade which will be out by Christmas she said. In my other class I have 3 exams today and then finished my final project for that class which was analyzing medical charts, pulling out terms that the average person wouldn't know, breaking them down into their basic forms of prefixes/root words/combining letter/suffix, defining them in medical terms, defining them in laymen's terms and then writing a 500 word "script" over the findings of the medical chart to explain to the patient exactly what procedures he had done in words that would not confuse him!!! That one almost killed me but it is done - I was a few words short but oh well, ding me for points because I can only BS so much before it starts sounding stupid and I'd rather it be clear and concise and a few words short than jumbled with a bunch of filler words.

So, after my exams today I can relax til mid January when I'll be taking anatomy and physiology and introduction to software (that class will be a breeze considering I'm pretty proficient with computers and software, thank goodness!!!).

Anywho, off to shower and get my day going since I slept in today - that bed was way too snuggly warm with the weather being cool here, just wish it would snow!!!!

Thanks for stopping by and if you decide to give one of Deanne's sketches a go definitely post a link to your creation from this sketch for me to see!!!

Happy Scrappin'

Finishing up......................

......................with what I'll get done for the crop at TS. A lot of fun and scrappy progress this weekend!!! Thanks to Leslie and the DT girls over at TS - my dear friends Cristal (aka Pinky) and Cherrie are the reasons I headed over there but met some really fabulous ladies there. I was a member there about a year ago (my username never got deactivated) and quit going due to some turmoil between a member (who I thought was my friend) and whoever but it had nothing to do with me but because I trusted this person and thought she was my friend I left. Well, I wish I hadn't. The ladies at Treasured Scrapbooking are just fabulous not to mention the owner, Leslie. I'm so glad I stopped back in this weekend and plan on hanging out even more now!!!

Anywho, here are the last 2 things I finished up - I still have 1 LO in progress on my desk but hubby is heading to bed and since there is no door on my scrappy space I need to shut it down for the night.






I hope you all wre able to get some stuff done this weekend as well!!!

Thanks, as always for stopping by!!!

Happy Scrappin'

Did I mention...............................

.................that I was having a busy scrappy weekend???

OK, so what have I not posted to show you??? I have a couple items still in progress so they'll come later if I get them done but I've managed to finish 2 ornaments for challenges at Treasured Scrapbooking so here they are!!!!




Material List:

PP = BG
Flower = Prima
Ribbon & Buttons = Misc From Stash



Material List:

Chipboard Ornament = BG
CS = Bazzill Bling
PP = Making Memories
Stickles = Silver Ice
Ribbon = Making Memories
Beading = Wright's
Tulle = Misc From Stash

And a bow we made, have I shown this already??? Boy I can't remember so here it is again if I have!!!



Material List:

PP = Basic Grey
Flower = Prima
Brad = Paper Studio

Right now I have a tag I am working on and I want to do a card and LO challenge for sure too - I hope I manage to get them done!!!

Thanks for stopping by and..................



Happy Scrappin'!!!!

More Scrappy Fun

The weekend is just flying by with all the scrappy fun I've been having. As I mentioned in the prior post Treasured Scrapbooking has been having an online crop this weekend and it was has been so much fun!!! Wow, the challenges have all been so great!!! In addition to the previous posts work I have completed the following:

Erin's Blindfolded Recipe Challenge:



Material List:

CS = Bazzill
PP = SEI
Flowers = Prima
Letters = Thickers
Chipboard = Bo bunny, Making Memories
Buttons = Stash
Ribbon = American Crafts & Stash
Gems = MAMBI

Aimee's Gift Card Holder Challenge:

outside:


inside:


Material List:

PP = Heidi Grace
Stamped Image = Hero Arts
CS = Bazzill Bling
Snowflake = Cricut Cart JoTS

Tracey's Gifts From the Heart Challenge:



Material List:

Jewelry Cording, Clasp & O Ring
Domino
PP by Making Memories
Krylon Sealant
Hero Arts Gem Stones

Hope you enjoy!!!

Thanks for stopping by and looking!!!

Happy Scrappin'

Busy Weekend

The weekend has just started but I've been busy busy busy!!! Our son had a friend stay over last night so we had a ton of fun with that and I scrapped!!! I finished up one challenge for JS and a couple for over at Treasured Scrapbooking where they are having a fun filled weekend crop!!!

Here is my LO for JS. It actually fills the spot for 2 challenges when I started it for Cee's challenge and then it ended up filling Cristal's as well. I don't typically like to do double duty so I have plans to do another for Cristal's but for now, I am doing double duty with this LO!!!

Cee's Challenge - Use "All I Want For Christmas" in your title

Cristal's Challenge - A LO using snowflakes and bling

My LO:



Material List:

PP = Making Memories
Ribbon = Making Memories
Brad = Making Memories
Cardstcok = Misc From Stash
Flower = Prima (my new ones from my SS)
Stickles = Gold
Chipboard Snowflake = Basic Grey
Bling Snowflakes = Icons MAMBI

Journaling:

Even though money is tight this year all I could ever want is you!!! Funny faces & all!!! I love you baby!!! K- 12/08


I had a little help while trying to snap a pic too:



Now over at TS the holiday crop is full of great challenges. The first challenge that I decided to take on last night was Cristal's ornament make'n'take. She did this in steps to teach us how to make the ornament and well, I have never been known for my patience with reading directions and it showed with the first ornament. Now the first real clue I had that the ornament was NOT right was the fact that I had 2 extra pieces left over!!! HA HA HA!!! The second clue was it sat like a bowl on my desk. Of course I hadn't looked at the pictures of Cristal's completed project as of yet but knew something was not right and decided I was gonna give in and look. Boy howdy was it NOT right!!!

Here is my first attempt at the ornament:



That thing is just hideous!!!

After taking a look at Cristal's I could see where I went wrong and decided to give it another shot!!!



Much, much better!!!

Material List:

PP = Basic Grey Figgy Pudding
Stickles = Frosted Lace
Pearl Brad = Paper Studio
Crystal Beading = Wright's Creative Classics

The next challenge I played in was a make'n'take from Julie. She gave us a wonderful Christmas gift of two digi card templates so we could insert our own pictures!!!

Here are the pics from last Christmas I used in mine:

This first one is my daughter, Caitlin. Last year she had this elf hat she wore EVERYWHERE and on Christmas she made a little get up that made her look like a little elf!!! She had so much fun and I got so many good pictures of goofy faces!!! I put "Just Elfin' Around - Caitlin 12/2007" as the title under the pic!!!



This second one is my parents last year in front of their Christmas tree. My Mom had been really sick the prior 14 months so we were really blessed to have her still with us. This year I am going to get another pic of them in front of our tree as it will be the 3rd year in a row I've gotten my Dad to get up and take a pic like this and since Mom just had surgery a week ago I am very thankful she is here again this year with me!!! The title on it is "Joe & Barbara 12/2007"



The next challenge that I played along with was an easy one!!! We were given a list of things and we were to interpret the list as we saw fit and post pics!!! This was fun - I dug out some cute pics of ours and filled each category. If you wanna see this one you'll have to come join us at Treasured Scrapbooking!!!

OK, I'm off to work on my DT card that is due today. I don't know why I put it off this time til the last minute but I did. The sketch is fabulous but very much a challenge to me this time around - I've trashed 3 different tries at it, which is why I am now at the last minute trying to finish it up!!!

After my DT card you will find me playing over at TS so come on out and get some scrapping done!!!

Happy' Scrappin'

Sketch Challenge

I'm hosting another card sketch challenge over at Just Scrappin' with a sketch I made up specifically for the site. Have you joined us yet??? If not you should definitely stop by and see what is going on. Even though it is the holidays and we are all busy you still gotta take a little time out for yourself and scrap so get on over and check out the challenges we have going on this month!!!

Here is the sketch I made:




And here is my card for it:




Material List:

Cardstock = Bazzill
Patterned Paper = Fancy Pants
Image & Sentiment = PCS
Flowers = Prima
Gems = Iconz
Copics = C3, RV34, YG03 & B32
Stickles = Fruit Punch, Waterfall, Lime Green & Frosted Lace

Thanks for looking!!!

Happy Scrappin' all!!!

The eyes are the window to the soul.........

................there is a story behind this LO but I'll just let you appreciate the LO for what it is.




Journaling:

What do you see when you look into these eyes?

I see compassion, love, beauty, happiness, hurt, anger, sadness, strength and friendship. These eyes are me.

Beyond the eyes I am a physical being but there is so much more to me than what I look like, how much money we have or where we live.

Why is it so hard to get past physical beauty and see the person inside?

Love me for me and look into my soul!


Material List:

PP = Kaisser Scrapbook
CS = Misc From Stash
Letters = Cuttin' Up Cricut Cartridge and Thickers
Flowers & Ribbon = Misc From Stash

Thanks for looking!!!

Happy Scrappin'!!!!

1 Hour Layout

Tonite at JS we had another one of our fun 1 hour layout challenges!!! Cristal posted a sketch for us to work from and everyone got busy!!! I really love participating in these as it gets me moving on a page rather than all the procrastinating I do!!!

Here is my page:



Forgive the poor lighting - it is night here and nowhere in the house had the right light for snapping a good photo!!!

Materials list:

Cardstock = Bazzill & Coredinations
PP = My Little Shoebox
Ribbon = Misc From Stash
Letters = Cuttin' Up Cricut Cart

Thanks for looking!!!

happy Scrappin'!!!

Sick.......that is me!!!

Last Thursday my Mom had surgery for a clogged artery in her neck. She is doing well even with the 6 inch gash in her neck!!! I am just so relieved that everything went smoothly as the doctors were really worried she would have a stroke so they put her under very slow and brought her out even slower. She is home and taking it easy and I am gonna go see her this weekend to take her shopping - nothing keeps my Mom down when there is shopping to be done!!! LOL

On Friday I woke up sick. Coughing, aching, stuffy head and fever sick. I stayed in bed the biggest part of the day and then rinse and repeat on Saturday. Sunday I got up a bit and today I've been up the biggest part of the day but I am really worn out right now and ready for bed.

I have a list of scrappy stuff to get done in the next couple days but I do need to mail out two things. First my secret Santa recipient over at JS - I can not wait for her to get her goodies, I hope she likes it all!!! Then, a touching tribute we've decided to do. A dear friend of ours, Nikki, has been facing an enduring battle with her 4 year old little girl who was diagnosed this past April with DIPG. I've posted here about her before asking for prayers and positive thoughts for this family. So, Cristal at JS suggested we make an album from pictures off the site Ellie has and then send the album to them for Christmas. I had intended to make several pages but with getting sick I managed to finish one with another in mind just not sure if I have the uummppphh to get it done. Cait did two pages as well that I need to take pics of but here is my first page to send:

Pint Size Picasso



Sorry for the poor quality of the picture but it was storming here tonite and today I didn't even think about taking the picture until the clouds started moving in. I hope you like it!!!

OK, off to work on my DT card, a couple challenges from JS and maybe another page for Ellie's album!!!

Happy Scrappin!!!