Oh, Hello Friend

Hello, hello! I hope that you all had a good Christmas. We had a great Christmas filled with lots of family time and fun. And presents. Lots of presents! Ada is at that fun age where she really enjoys opening presents. She's not to the point of really ripping the paper off - she just likes to pull it off - piece by tiny piece! Maybe she just enjoys the anticipation that brings!

I have a card to share with you today. I used this weeks  sketch #139 from Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenges. Here's a look at the sketch and the card that I came up with:

 

 

It's nice to get back to making something other than Christmas cards! For this card I used Basic Grey's Prism 6x6 paper pad. We've had a couple of dreary, rainy days around here, so it was nice to work with some fun, bright colors. The sentiment is from Close To My Heart and it was part of their National Stamping Month campaign. This is the first chance I've had to use it, but it won't be the last. I love this set!

 

That's it for me today. Be sure to check out the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge blog. They have a design team call going on right now, and their sketches are always fun to work with!

 

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!



Try Stampin Or Not On Tuesday #250

Good Tuesday morning! I am so happy that today is the last day of school before Christmas break! I am ready for those relaxing days with no schedules. The weather still has me fooled. It's feeling more like spring than Christmas, but I will take it! Every warm day we have is one less cold day!

We have a new sketch posted over on the Try Stampin Or Not On Tuesday blog. This weeks fabulous sketch is courtesy of Crystal, and this weeks optional challenge is to use metal on your card.

I still had these papers out on my desk from the last Christmas card that I made, so I decided to make one more Christmas card with them. The sentiment is a freebie from Verve Stamps. It's only available for a limited time, so if you want one go here before December 25th!

Head on over to the Try Stampin Or Not On Tuesday blog to see the beautiful cards from the rest of the design team.

A few reminders - you can use just the sketch,  or just the challenge, or  use them both together. Stamping is also now optional. You have 2 weeks to enter this challenge. You have 2 ways to enter - the Try Stampin Or Not On Tuesday blog or the Facebook page.

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

Let's Celebrate You with Scrapping Everyday Miracles

Hello again! I'm just popping in to share a card that I made using the Scrapping Everyday Miracles card sketch for December.

Here is a look at the sketch:

 

And here is the card that I created using the sketch:

 

 

 

Back in the summer I got a Simple Stories grab bag from Steals.com. When I received it, it was full of a lot of different collections of their Snap pocket style cards.  I don't use the 2x2 squares much in my albums, so I thought they would be cute additions to some cards. I just used one of the 2x2 squares from the birthday collection, and added on the  birthday hat, and I think it made a pretty cute birthday card for someone.

 

Be sure to check out the Scrapping Everyday Miracles blog. They post a scrapbook layout sketch and a card sketch on the first of every month.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a great day!



The Memory Nest Design Team!!!

Hi, guys! I am super excited to finally be able to tell you that I am now a member of The Memory Nest Design Team!

Leslie had posted a design team call along with a sketch we were to use back in November. I always really enjoy the sketches from The Memory Nest, so I thought I would give it a go.

Here is the sketch and the layout I made for it:

 



 

I am just beyond thrilled and honored to be a part of this talented team. Check out The Memory Nest blog today to meet the rest of the team. Our first reveal will be on January 4th.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a marvelous day!

Sketch N Scrap Card Sketch #64

Hello everyone! Happy Sunday to you! I wish I was telling you all about how excited I am for the Christmas break to be starting, but sadly, we are the only school that I know of that is still having classes Monday and Tuesday. I guess that post will come later!

However, I am excited to share the newest card sketch from Sketch N Scrap with you today. Heather has created this fun sketch for us to work with:

I don't know what my deal is this year, but it seems like all of my Christmas cards are black, red, and white. I guess it's the papers that I have chosen to work with - they all seem to have black in them...maybe next year they will be the more traditional red, green, and white!

This was another one of those cards that I had envisioned in my mind one way and I just couldn't get it to look like I really wanted. It's not that I don't like this card, because I do, it just doesn't look like I had hoped.

I know that this is a super busy time of year for everyone, but I do hope you take some time out to be creative. You have until December 31st to play along with our sketches this month.

Check out the Sketch N Scrap blog to see the gorgeous cards from the rest of the design team.

Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you have a fabulous day!

Flashback Friday @ SBC

Hello again! This is my second post for the day. If you're looking for my Sketches In Thyme post, please scroll down or go here.

Today is Flashback Friday over on the Scrapbook Challenges blog and we have another fun, redone sketch to work with. Here's a look at the old sketch:

And here is the updated version of this sketch:

I still need to add my journaling underneath the title on this layout, but I need to look up a couple of details before I do. It will probably be in the way of journaling strips, since I can't seem to write well with a white pen!

These photos are of Matthew back when he was in kindergarten (and now he's a senior!). Being in school brought a whole new love of snow for him, because it meant snow days! Any day that he didn't have to go to school that first year was a great day!

Be sure to check out the Scrapbook Challenges blog to see how the other design team members have interpreted the sketch. I hope you find some time to play along!

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a great day!

Footloose and Fancyfree SIT #177

Happy Friday! I hope you all have had a good week! Are you all ready for Christmas? We've still got some Christmas shopping to do, so I am sure we will be busy this weekend.

Today is the day that I am featured over on the Sketches In Thyme blog with the week 3 sketch, courtesy of Rochelle Spears:

Rochelle's sketches are always so much fun to work with and this one was great to pair with these photos of Miss Ada.

Ada is a little bit girly girl and a whole lot of tomboy - she likes to look at and buy clothes and shoes already, but she's not afraid to get dirty, either! Back in October we found her a cute little pair of black boots for when it turns colder. Since they are so easy for her to put on herself, she wears them constantly. It doesn't matter if she has on shorts or capri pants, when she wants to go outside she just puts on her boots and says, "Side?". She's always happiest when she is outside - in her boots!

Be sure to check out the Sketches In Thyme blog to see all three of the sketches that have been posted so far this month. If you play along with any or all of our sketch challenges, you will have a chance at winning this beautiful paper pack:

 

Thanks so much for stopping by! Have a great day!

Trimming The Tree

Hello! Happy hump day to you! I can't believe it is already the middle of the week. This week is flying by.

Scrapbook Challenges has a new challenge up today and it's a journaling challenge. For December we are challenging you to scrap about your favorite holiday tradition. What is that one holiday tradition that you look forward to doing every single year?

 

 

For me that tradition is decorating the Christmas tree. This year seemed a little more special.

For the first time in a long time, Matthew helped me and Abby decorate the entire tree. He usually will hang a few ornaments and then he is done. Not this year - he helped finish the job! I think knowing that next year he will be in college just made this even more special!

Maybe the reason I love this tradition is because it is a family activity. Or maybe it's because every single ornament on our tree has a story - whether it be an ornament that the kids made long ago, or an ornament from our annual ornament exchange - every single ornament brings back a special memory!

I based my layout on this older sketch from Stick It Down:



 

Head on over to the Scrapbook Challenges blog to see what traditions the other design team members look forward to every year. I hope you find some time in this busy time of year to get creative and play along with us!

 

Thanks so much for stopping by today and have a wonderful day!

 

 

Try Stampin' Or Not On Tuesday #249

Hello everyone! I hope that you are all having a great day so far. This is my second post of the day. If you are looking for my Feeling Sketchy post, please scroll down or go here.

Try Stampin - Or Not - On Tuesday has a brand new sketch posted today, and it's another great sketch courtesy of Crystal. The optional theme is "the holidays". Use just the sketch, or just the theme, or use them both together!

 

 



I just love this sketch, and I am sure it will be one that I use again and again. I would like to say that I am about done with my Christmas cards, but I really have a few more to make. At least they will all be going close, so they should still arrive before Christmas!

 

Head on over to the Try Stampin - Or Not - On Tuesday blog to see the gorgeous cards from the other design team members. I do hope you will play along! You can enter over on the blog or on the Facebook page, and you have 2 weeks to enter.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by today! Have a fantastic day!

Feeling Sketchy #135

Hello everyone! Happy Tuesday to you!

I have the newest sketch from Feeling Sketchy to share with you today. Our sponsor for this sketch is Polkadoodles. Here is the sketch:

I pulled out my embossing powder and my heat tool and went to work! I don't do a lot of heat embossing and I'm not sure why, I always love the end result. I love the look of the white snowflakes on the kraft cardstock.

Be sure to check out the Feeling Sketchy blog to see the gorgeous creations from the rest of the team, and to read more about our sponsor and prize.

Thanks for stopping by! I will be back soon!

Flippin Fun with SBC #462

Hello again! This is my second post for the day. If you are looking for my Use Your Stuff reveal, please scroll down or go here.

Today is sketch Monday over at Scrapbook Challenges,  and we have another great sketch for you to use!

 

When I saw the sketch I knew I would be looking for photos that were in a sequence, and when I came across the photos of the kids on their new trampoline, I thought they would do the trick!

We got the kids a new trampoline for Easter in 2012, and they could not wait to get started jumping on it. That plus the fact that I had a new camera and was wanting to try out the action setting, meant there were a lot of photos taken that day! All Matthew wanted to do was flips, and he was pretty good at it, too!

Be sure to check out the Scrapbook Challenges blog to see the rest of the design team's take on this sketch. There are so many beautiful layouts, I'm sure you'll be inspired to play along!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Use Your Stuff #203 - Christmastime

Good Monday morning! It's hard to believe that the weekends can go by so fast! Monday always gets here sooner than I would like!

The good thing about Mondays is the new challenge is posted over on the Use Your Stuff blog! This week Shirley is challenging us with the theme of Christmastime! There are a lot of ways to interpret this, so have fun with it!

I chose to do another Christmas card. I still have several I need to make and mail, and luckily, all I have left are ones that are close to me, so they should still arrive before Christmas!

I used Echo Park's This & That Christmas collection for this card. I seriously only have 4 full sheets and a few bits and pieces left of this 6x6 paper pad. I am going to be so sad when it is all gone! I absolutely love this collection.

I also used this weeks sketch from Retrosketches - #194. Here is a look at the sketch:

 

I always love their sketches each and every week, but this will be the first time for me to actually join in on one of their current sketch challenges. They have a ton of beautiful sketches so be sure to check them out!

Be sure to check out the Use Your Stuff blog to see how the other design team members interpreted Shirley's challenge.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog! I will be back soon! Have a wonderful day!

Stick It Down Card DT

Hi everyone! I am just popping in to let you all know that I have been asked to join the Stick It Down Card Design Team! I have been a follower of Stick It Down since the beginning, and I am super excited and honored to now be a part of the team.

Head on over to the Stick It Down blog and meet the rest of the team! I hope that you will play along with us each month!

Lasting Memories #272 - He Is So Silly

Happy Sunday everyone! I hope that you are all enjoying your weekend. We have been having such warm, beautiful weather - it's hard to remember that Christmas is less than 2 weeks away! It feels more like spring out there! The weatherman is saying that by the end of the week we will be back to normal highs of mid to upper 40's. That's not too bad, and maybe it will really get me in the mood for Christmas!

There is a new challenge up over at Lasting Memories today. The theme for December has been "Funny Holidays" and today's challenge is celebrating National Ding a Ling Day! Here is a little more about this holiday:

Date When Celebrated : Always December 12Today is  National Ding-a-Ling Day, a very special day to "Ring your Bell".  Nope, we're not talking about the Salvation Army Bell Ringers, standing with their bells and kettles, outside of every store in the country. On National Ding-a-Ling Day, you should brace yourself for bizarre and crazy behavior, from all of the people you encounter today. Even normally conservative people have been known to go a little crazy on this day. Some people say this is a day for wackos, lunatics, and others who are off their rocker. We say, it is simply a day to cut loose, act a little weird. What do you do to celebrate this day? Be ever vigilant to the ding-a-lings that will come out of the woodwork. Ding-a-Lings will be everywhere: on the road, on the street, in stores, and even in your house! We suggest you get into the holiday spirit, and become a ding-a-ling yourself......But, please do so for just one day.  
For the record: Ding-a-Lings and Ding Bats are not quite the same thing.
"National Ding-a-ling Day"

Our challenge to you is to make a layout about funny people, things comedic, anything funny. Or switch it up and scrap about a funny holiday happening (such as elf on the shelf).

Now if we are all honest, there are times when we are all ding a lings, so this shouldn't be too hard of a challenge! And when you have kids, well, there's a good chance that they can act like a ding a ling on a daily basis!

These photos are of my oldest son when he was about 4 or 5. I know - bad scrapbooker not having the date on the back of the photos! I do remember this day, when he decided he needed to clean his ears and then thought it was pretty funny to walk around with the Q-tips stuck in his ear, like a crazy robot! And of course this was back when he liked/wanted me to take pictures of him when he was being silly! He still knows how to put a smile on my face - every single day!

I used this fun sketch from December 4th at ScrapMuch? for my layout:

 

I added in just a little bit of hidden journaling on a tag behind the photos. I also used Simple Stories 24/7 collection - it had the perfect word stickers for this layout!

 

 

Be sure to check out ScrapMuch - they have fabulous sketches every Friday, and you have until the 29th to join in!

 

Head on over to the Lasting Memories blog to see what kind of ding a lings the rest of the design team scrapped about!

 

Don't forget - I am offering up the prize at Lasting Memories this month. All you have to do to enter is to join in on any or all of our challenges this month. You have until the 26th to link up your layouts for a chance to win this super cute paper pack:

 

 

Thanks for stopping by today and have a wonderful week!

 

 



 



Sweet Baby Girl

Hello everyone! Happy Saturday! I am so glad that it is the weekend. I have been battling a terrible cold this past week, and I am ready to take it easy for a couple of days.

Today is the day that I am featured over on the Sketches In Thyme Project Life Style blog with the second sketch for December. Here's a look at the sketch:

And my card based on it:

 



I am slowly working on Ada's first year album. At this rate I may have it done by the time she goes to school! I really am enjoying going back through those first photos of her and getting all those details down for her.

Be sure to check out the Sketches In Thyme Project Life Style blog to see all of the different takes on these sketches. I am sure you will be inspired! Remember, you don't have to use your cards on an actual pocket page, you can use it on a traditional layout as well.

Kim is offering up a fabulous prize this month. All you have to do in order to have a chance to win is to play along with any or all of our sketches this month. Here is the prize for December - a fun pack of White Pines flair and a pack of White Pines complements - perfect for those holiday photos:

 



 

Thanks for stopping by today! Have a great day!

All Is Calm, All Is Bright

Hello everyone! I'm just popping in with a quick card to share with you! I'm still working on my last few Christmas cards for this year, and I'd better hurry up because it is getting down to the wire here!

I'd come across this sketch from Nacho Average Challenges that they had posted yesterday, and I knew I wanted to use it right away. Here is the sketch:

 

And here is my card:

 

 

I loved the simplicity of the sketch and I wanted to keep my card simple as well. My biggest challenge was finding a sentiment or something to go inside the circle! I think over the next year I will be adding some more Christmas stamps to my stash!

 

Check  out the Nacho Average Challenge blog - they have some really fun challenges posted every Tuesday! You have until Sunday, December 13th if you'd like to play along with this sketch!

 

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

 





Try Stampin On Tuesday #248

Good Tuesday morning! I hope you all are having a great week so far! We have had such beautiful weather for December. High's in the mid to upper 50's and sunny...usually we're in the 40's and there are more cloudy days than sunny it seems. I'll take all of these pretty days as long as I can get them!

 

The new sketch is up over on the Try Stampin' On Tuesday blog today. This week's sketch has been created by Crystal, and I love it!

 

 

Isn't this a fun sketch? Our optional theme this week is to use snowflakes on your card. 

 

I had really planned on stamping and embossing snowflakes on the panel down the right side, but when I came across the Crate Paper Bundled Up paper pad and saw these papers, I really wanted to use them! I did do some stamping on my card - in the way of my sentiment!

Head on over to the Try Stampin' On Tuesday blog and see the beautiful cards from the other design team members. I hope you find some time to play along! You can enter either on the Try Stampin' blog or on the Facebook page.

Thanks so much for stopping by today! Have a great day!

Scrapbook Challenges #461

Hello again!

I am back with the newest sketch from Scrapbook Challenges, and it is another fun one!

 

I just love everything about this sketch and I'm sure I will be using it again!

 



 

I have had these photos of Matthew for a long time and for some reason I just haven't got them scrapped. I am so glad to finally get them all down on a layout! Abby had the day off from school for parent/teacher conferences, and we took advantage of it and went to the park! Ah - these were the good old days when Matthew was happy to pose for pictures for me! 

 

Be sure to check out the Scrapbook Challenges blog to see what the other design team members have done with this sketch.

 

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

Noel - Use Your Stuff #202

Hello friends! I hope that you are getting a good start to your week. We had a busy weekend filled with my granddaughter's second birthday party and visiting with family. We had so much fun, but I am looking forward to slowing down this week!

 

The new challenge is up over on the Use Your Stuff blog today, and Amanda is challenging us to use stamps on our projects.  

 

I am still working on getting all of my Christmas cards made. I just have a few more to make, and with things getting busier all the time, I'd better be making them sooner rather than later!

I found this stamp set from Momenta at Michaels a couple of weeks ago and couldn't wait to use it. I am not a big stamper, so images like this where you really could use more than just one color, are sometimes a challenge for me. I really would have liked to have stamped the Noel in black and then had the holly leaves in green, but the holly leaves are so tiny and I just didn't feel like trying to cut them out and make a mask, so I just stamped it all in green. I guess I need to invest in some good markers so I can just color parts of what I want!

Head on over to the Use Your Stuff blog and see the projects from the rest of the design team. I hope that you have some time to play along with us this week!

Thanks for stopping by and I'll be back soon!

Happy Birthday with Feeling Sketchy #134

Hello again! I'm back with my second post of the day. If you are looking for my Sketch N Scrap reveal, please scroll down or go here.

Feeling Sketchy has a brand new sketch up over on the blog today. It's another fun sketch to work with.

 

 

The sketch shows a tall and skinny card, but I chose to do a standard A2 card. I loved the stars on the sketch and though it would make a fun birthday card. I used Simple Stories DIY Boutique 6x6 papers for this bright and cheerful birthday card. I added a thin strip of washi down the side. I love this smaller size of washi!

Head on over to the Feeling Sketchy blog to see the projects from the rest of the design team and to read more about our sponsor, Dee Dee's Digis.

I hope you find some time to play along with our sketches this month!

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a great day!

Sketch N Scrap #94 - TXT U L8R

Hello everyone! Happy December 1st! Can you believe that 2015 is almost over? Are any of you going to be documenting your December? I always have good intentions, but I just haven't gotten one done. I'm going to attempt it this year, so we will see if I can get it done this time around!

December 1st means a fun new sketch is up over on the Sketch N Scrap blog. Today's sketch is courtesy of Heather.

 

 

I have had these photos on my desk for a while - I guess just waiting for the right sketch!

Ada and I do a lot of waiting when it's time to pick the boys up from school. To help pass the time she usually comes up front with me and goes through my purse. It just amazes me that at this age - she wasn't even 15 months old in these photos - she can unlock my phone and start dialing numbers. I'm sure it won't be long before she can text for real!

I used the Pebbles From Me To You collection for this layout. I just love those old rotary dials and I cut out the speech bubbles from another paper from that collection.

Head on over to the Sketch N Scrap blog to see the layouts from the rest of the design team.

I'm so glad that you stopped by today! Come back soon!

Lasting Memories #270 - Holidays at Home

Hello everyone! I hope that you have had a great weekend. Sadly, our nice long Thanksgiving weekend is about over, but I have truly enjoyed every minute of it. 

 

It is almost the start of a new month, and that means a new set of challenges over at Lasting Memories. Our theme for the month of December is Funny Holidays and our first challenge is, "National Roof Over Your Head Day".

 

Here's a little more about this fun holiday:

Date When celebrated : Always December 3
Today is  National Roof Over Your Head Day. It is a day of appreciation for the things we have, starting with the roof over our heads. For most of us, a roof over our head signifies living in a house that protects us from the elements, keeping us warm, dry, and cozy. Unfortunately, not everyone is as lucky as you and I. There are many homeless people right here in our country. Some people live in a cardboard box on the street...... literally. There are millions of people around the world who live in poverty or disaster areas, and do not have a home to keep them comfortable and safe. Spend a few minutes  being thankful that you are not homeless, and appreciating your roof and home today. Also make a contribution to a homeless shelter, so others can come in out of the rain.
Happy National Roof Over Your Head Day!

Now, our challenge to you is to scrap about your home or someone else's home in general, or switch it up and scrap about your home during the holidays.

I have chosen the latter - to scrap about our home during the holidays.

 

 

I knew from the start that I wanted to scrap about how our home was decorated, but then finding pictures of everything was hard! Apparently I don't take pictures of all of our decorations each year and we have yet to decorate this year, so I had to go back through my photos of the last few Christmas's to find everything I wanted to show. I guess this year I need to be sure to get a picture of everything!

 

My journaling is hidden behind the pictures, but it basically just says how decorating for the holidays is one of my favorite things to do. I love getting out the decorations and reminiscing about when and where we got them. My favorite thing to decorate is the tree. We only use ornaments that the kids have made over the years, or ornaments that we've received during our annual family ornament exchange. It's so fun to remember who got what ornament, or to see what grade the kids were in when they made one. It is a trip down memory lane every year!

 

Be sure to check out the Lasting Memories blog to see how the rest of the design team have scrapped about this fun holiday.

 

I am offering up the prize this month, so for each challenge that you play along with, you will have a chance to win this:

 



 

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a blessed day!

Flashback Friday #184 @ Scrapbook Challenges

Hello everyone! Happy Black Friday to you! If you were one of the brave ones that headed out early for some Black Friday shopping - kudos to you! I guess I'm not much of a shopper, because I went a couple of years and decided it was not for me! Too many not so nice shoppers, and I rarely came home with what I wanted, so now I sleep in and almost always find what I was looking for, for a good price anyway.

Anyway, today is Flashback Friday at Scrapbook Challenges and we have a fun sketch that has been updated for you. If you want to see the original sketch, check out the Scrapbook Challenges blog. Here is a look at the updated sketch :

The great thing about this sketch is that it is great for scraps, or for a 6x6 paper pad, which is what I used. I wanted my layout to have bright, fun colors and the Simple Stories DIY Boutique was perfect for it.

These photos are of my daughter at her 20th birthday party. I can't believe that was 5 years ago! She was home from college for Labor Day weekend, and as you can see by the smile on her face, she loved that she got presents!

Check out the Scrapbook Challenges blog to see the layouts from the other design team members.

Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope that you have a wonderful weekend!