First layout of 2012!

I am SO excited because I actually made a layout yesterday!! I didn't realize this before but I haven't actually created a layout since OCTOBER. :( That is so sad to me and totally unacceptable. I started this hobby because I wanted to find a beautiful way to record memories for my family and not doing anything along those lines for 2 months is NOT the way to do it, ugh! That will definitely not be the case this year though because I've joined a year long challenge at my Scrappin-N-Chattin group called the 52 week challenge. It's something we did last year (that I failed at, sigh) and have decided to do again this year (and I will noooooot fail again!). All you have to do is create one new layout each week with a few guidelines. It's as easy as can be, as long as you make it a priority, which I plan to do! So, here is my first layout for the year, and the first for the challenge...

Supplies: Fancy Pants Love Birds Collection - In Love, Bunches Of Love, Strips, Bracket Die Cut Paper; Craft Smart Ink - Chocolate Brown; Colorbox Chalk Ink - Rose Coral; Ali Edwards Studio AE Stamp Set - This One; Fiskars Scallop Sentiment Border Punch; Fiskars Heart Punch; Martha Stewart Heart Confetti Punch; iRock; iRock Clear Gems; BoBunny Ooh La La Alphabet Stickers; CK Jot Computer Font
*Inspired by the 12/27/11 Sketch (#31) at Frosted Designs

Isn't that just the sweetest?? These pictures were taken when Emily (who is now 12) was only 8 months old! I love scrapping old pictures because they bring back so many memories. :) I'm also excited about this layout because I used a brand new paper collection that was gifted to me by a friend for it. We have a sweet lady in our group named Carol, who we affectionately call the PPP (Pretty Paper Police, lol!), who encourages us to use our newer paper collections and not save them for "one day". I'm loving it! I have waaaaaay too many collections that I haven't used a single sheet of paper from and I want to change that so I'm counting on Carol to keep me on my toes this year. ;)

Thanks for stopping by today! I'll be back soon...

Top 10 Favorites of 2011

Well, hello friends! Long time, no blog right? I'm really sorry it's been a few weeks but on top of December being a crazy month, I've been sick and really not all that crafty. I did want to jump on and do a top 10 favorites of 2011 blog post for you though! I've seen a few bloggers doing it this week and it's really neat to see what people love most out of what they've created all year long. Hopefully someone out there will be interested in seeing some of mine. ;)

I'll start with layouts first...





















And now for some favorite cards...





















And last but not least, some altered items and minis. I've had alot of fun with these this year!





















So there you go...my top 10 favorites post for 2011. I hope you enjoyed this trip down memory lane with me and I hope I have some new work to show you in 2012 very soon!
Have a Happy New Year my amazing friends. :)

Merry Christmas! (TPV)

Gooooood morning my sweet friends! First of all, let me say that I am SO very sorry that it's been so long since I posted. I have been creating some things, but I've been super busy and just haven't had time to get pics of them and do posts. Hopefully I can work on sharing them asap. ;)

Ok then, now it's time for me to share the latest challenge over at The Paper Variety with you! This challenge can be done in sooooo many different ways and I promise that it will be super easy for you to play along too! Check it out...





How fun is that?? I took the challenge as the perfect opportunity for me to create a cute little Christmas card for a friend of mine and I hope she'll love it! :)

So do you think you wanna play along with us this week?? If so, create and upload your project by next Tuesday at noon EST, and you'll be in the running to win this awesome prize, which is a My Minds Eye Kraft Funday collection!!



You know you want to get your hands on that. ;) I can't wait to see what everyone creates! Make sure you head over to TPV's blog to see what all of the designers did...you'll be inspired for sure. ;) Thanks for popping in today!

Super cute minis! (TPV)

Good morning! I have a project to share with you today that I did for the latest challenge over at The Paper Variety...






Supplies: Basic Grey Paper; Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Walnut Stain; Ali Edwards Stamp Set - It's In The Details; Fiskars Butterfly Punch; Martha Stewart Butterfly Punch; i-Rock; i-Rock Clear Gems; Crop-A-Dile; WRMK Eyelets; Elle's Studio Binder Rings

This is a fabulous challenge! I love photo inspiration because you can get so many ideas out of one thing and definitely make it your own each and every time. For my project, I took inspiration from the amazing colors in the photo and I absolutely love how these adorable little mini's turned out. ;)

So how about you? If you're feeling inspired by our challenge and create a project and upload it by next Tuesday at noon EST, you'll be entered to win this amazing prize...



How perfect is that?? You could use it to buy yourself some new goodies at any store that you love. You can't beat that!

Make sure you hop over to The Paper Variety's blog and check out all of the other DT member's projects because they're amazing!! And thanks for stopping by today...I hope all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving tomorrow!

Grateful Journal & Some Exciting News!

Well good morning friends!! I have some super exciting news to share with you today and it is that I am back on the DT over at The Paper Variety for the rest of the current term! I couldn't be more happy about it. :) So, I have a new challenge to share with you today which is...






Supplies: Sassafras Lass Count Me In Paper - Multiply & Polka Polka; Colorbox Chalk Ink - Chestnut Roan; Craft Smart Ink - Choloate Brown; Papertrey Ink Stamp Set - Happy Trails; Ali Edwards Stamp Set - Family Is; Martha Stewart Butterfly Punches; I-Rock; Jolee's Hotfix Jewels; Crop-A-Dile

I knew as soon as I saw what the challenge was that I wanted to do something having to do with the word daughter. Having two of them made that very easy, lol! ;) I ended up creating this grateful journal which I'm planning to use to write letters in for both of them. I do that already when I journal on layouts, but I like the idea behind this because I don't have to worry about having a picture or story to go along with my words and I think it will be very freeing for me. I hope that my babies will love it one day!

What about you? Do you have a project in mind that will go along with this week's challenge? If you do and create and upload your project before next Tuesday the 15th at noon EST, you'll be entered to win this fabulous prize!!



You know you want that yumminess so go for it! ;) Also, be sure to stop by The Paper Variety's blog today and check out all of the DT creations for this challenge because everyone made some amazing things to share with you. Thanks for popping in today and sharing in my excitement!

Some of my recent cards...

Good morning and Happy Halloween! I wanted to share a few of the recent cards I've made with you today...

This first one was made with the October kit from Artful Delight and is actually my very last DT project, which makes me SO sad! I've really loved being a part of Leeanne's DT for the past year and it will be a big change now that I won't be anymore. I still plan to play along with the sketch each month though and try my hand at winning a kit! ;)




Supplies Used From The Artful Delight October Kit: BoBunny Et Cetera Paper - Stamped; BoBunny Double Dot Cardstock - Coffee Stripe; Bazzill Clear Self-Adhesive Jewels; Flower
Other Supplies Used: Papertrey Ink Cardstock - Vintage Cream; Tim Holtz Ink - Walnut Stain; Ali Edwards Stamp Set - Sentimentally Ali; Fiskars Butterfly Punch

This next card was inspired by a challenge in my scrapbooking group Scrappin-N-Chattin, which was to include leaves on your card. It was simple for me since I had a gorgeous flower left over from my September AD kit and it already had the leaves attached! It worked perfectly. ;)




Supplies: Crate Paper Farmhouse Paper - Cupboard & Accent Cuts (From The AD September Kit); Crate Paper Emma's Shoppe Paper - Playhouse; Colorbox Chalk Ink - Chestnut Roan; Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Walnut Stain; Ali Edwards Stamp Set - Sentimentally Ali; Flower (Made by Leeanne - From The AD September Kit); Misc. Button

This last card was another challenge at Scrappin-N-Chattin and it wasn't as simple to do and was actually a bit of a challenge for me! I've made cards before with pockets on the inside but never one on the front. I just thought it over though and once the idea for this design came to me, I absolutely loved creating it! I think this is a great way to have the gift on the actual card and then have the inside for your message. I'm thinking these would rock for Christmas! :)




Supplies: BoBunny Gabrielle 6x6 Paper Pad; Colorbox Chalk Ink - Chestnut Roan; Craft Smart Ink - Chocolate Brown; Skipping Stones Designs Stamp; Martha Stewart Circle Cutter; Martha Stewart Butterfly Punches; I-Rock; I-Rock Clear Gems

Ok, that's it for today. I have a busy day ahead of me, which includes trick-or-treating with my munchkins! They are a vampire and princess this year...should make for some awesome pics together, right? LOL! Have an awesome day!

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I'm entering these projects in the following challenges...

~ Hello Card ~
CAS-ual Fridays - Sketch
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes

~ Thank You Card ~
Card Patterns - Sketch
Wee Memories - Buttons, Brads or Bows

~ Beautiful Birthday Card ~
BoBunny - Sketch

Just Precious

Check this out people...I'm doing another non-morning post! What is this world coming too anyway, lol? ;) I've been scrapping today and finally got a layout done for the sketch challenge over at The Paper Bakery. It's their very first sketch and when I saw it, I knew I wanted to play along and since it's due tonight I had to get my booty in gear!




Supplies: October Afternoon Thrift Shop Paper - Great Find, Near Mint & One-Of-A-Kind; Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Scattered Straw; Fiskars Upper Crest Border Punch; Fiskars Heart Punch; Fiskars Butterfly Punch; Martha Stewart Heart Confetti Punch; American Crafts Lullaby Thickers - Charcoal; Basic Grey Buttons
* I apologize if the pictures are dark or if the colors are a little off...the sun has already gone down so they're the best I can do for now!

This is actually my third attempt at the sketch this week, lol. Do you ever do that? I knew what pictures I wanted to use right away because I had these from our beach vacation last Summer and looooooove them, and there are just the right number for the sketch so it was perfect! The papers though? Not easy to decide on at ALL. It just took me a little while to find the right ones I guess, although I should have known to pull out my October Afternoon all along! You can never go wrong with some October Afternoon friends, believe me. ;)

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great night...

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I'm entering this project in the following challenges...
The Paper Bakery - Sketch
Wee Memories - Buttons, Brads or Bows