Nativity Glass Block

I made the nativity scene from the Paper Dolls Cartridge, the star is from the Joys of the Season Cartrdige and the font is Plantin. I ran all of them thru my Xyron and they attached easily to the glass. The star was placed inside the block for a different effect. I also got some fake snow and put a little in at the bottom of the block (it looks like I put a lot in at the angle of the pic but it's actually just a little). I tried twinkle lights - but they just didn't work for what I was going for -but I've seen them look just beautiful in other glass blocks.

Christmas Paper Wreath

I've been wanting to make a wreath like this for awhile - my 5 year old son and I tackled it on Thanksgiving. I purchased a styrofoam wreath (mine is about 18 inches). I then cut about 15 sheets of patterned paper into 1 X 5 inch strips - you get about 14 from a sheet. Mine are not even all Christmas papers - just some greens and reds that worked well mixed in. Don't go too crazy trying to match perfectly - trust me mine don't and they still blend together well! My son stapled the ends together to make a loop. Then I hot glued them onto the wreath working around one row at a time. In all it took about 2 hours!

Christmas Tree Card

More stickles - yup I'm totally addicted!

Deck the Halls

Another workshop card - I love the Stickles on this one and I really love the bow stamp for the ornmanets - a very delicate addition!

O Holy Night

A simple Christmas card we made at my card workshop. We used stickles on the star - I love stickles!

Christmas in July

Another layout using items from The Robin's Nest - I love their glittery products! The journaling stamp is from Close to My Heart - I'm lovin that set for a quick but nice looking journaling area!

Joy

This layout employs my technique - start it - get frustrated - walk away (in this case for days) - come back and finish and be quite satisfied :). I loved getting to use "dew drops" on the tree and love how they turned out for the garland! The paper and dew drops came from The Robins Nest. The frame is Close to My Heart. Their dimensional elements are rapidly becoming a "must have" on most of my layouts!

California layout - Glitz design sketch

This is another one for the Practical Scrappers online crop. It was a sketch from one of our sponsors - Glitz Design - not a big sketch girl - but I loved that this one used 8 pictures!!!

Online Crop Submission

Practical Scrappers is having an online crop this weekend hosted by Kerri. I have never done one before. Being the site owner I'm not out to win anything - but did want to contribute to the fun as I could. This layout is for the Black Friday or Bling challenge...I used stickles like crazy on this thing - all over the flourish, the journaling spot, and the flowers! The Cute title also has glitter in it. The pictures are of Lucy last fall and this fall - it's shocking how much she's grown up when you look at it this way!

Kids Workshop Cards

I led a card workshop for kids the other day - It was nice to have to think simply and just enjoy stamping a little bit. They were for kids that take piano lessons - so I included a music one.

Practical Scrappers - White Core Cardstock

The challenge this week at Practical Scrappers is to use white core or color core cardstock. I went with white core for my first project. I love this layout because I used tulle for the first time and homemade dew drops for the first time. There's something thrilling about using a new embelli for the first time!

Santa XPress

Pictures from last Christmas that I finally got inspired to scrap. I love the black background with the starry look. I used the Boutique Alphabet set from CTMH for my title.

Ribbon Project that didn't make the cut :)

I loved this idea...weaving ribbon using lots of it. But I am just not over the moon about this layout. And that's okay - we can not be thrilled about everything we do! I did use up lots of ribbon, tried a new inking approach, and got to use my Mom's lyrical letters cartridge!

1. Where is your cell phone? purse

2. Your hair? long right now and I am contemplating a cut

3. Your mother? visiting us yay!

4. Your father? hard worker

5. Your favorite food? ice cream

6. Your dream last night? nothing I can remember

7. Your favorite drink? Dr. Pepper

8. Your dream/goal? In high school I said I wanted to be a wife, mom, and servant of God. All of those dreams have come true!

9. What room are you in? I'm in my car

10. Your hobby? scrapbooking

11. Your fear? another miscarriage

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? hopefully still in the same house in Illinois happily raising my children

13. Where were you last night? helping at a church fundraiser

14. Something that you aren't? perfect

15. Muffins? pumpkin

16. Wish list item? a nice trip to celebrate our 10th anniversary and a new couch

17. Where did you grow up? California

18. Last thing you did? work on practical scrappers

19. What are you wearing? jeans & a sweater

20. Your TV? on too much :)

21. Your Pets? two dogs Leah (beagle) & Mickey (brittany)

22. Friends? precious

23. Your life? too busy but full of blessings

24. Your mood? content

25. Missing Someone? today's not a good day to ask :(

26. vehicle? Montana

27. Something your not wearing? earrings

28. Your favorite store? Archivers...even though it can be way too expensive it is inspiring

29. Your favorite color? red

30. When was the last time you laughed? at Lucy this morning

31. Last time you cried? Yesterday

32. Your best friend? Ben, Wendy, mom

33. One place that I go to over and over? Casey's to get a fountain drink

34. Facebook? love it

35. Favorite place to eat? I love a lot of places - let's say Ted Drewes for ice cream!

Practical Scrappers Ribbon

I made this layout with an idea in my mind and it went a whole different direction. The stickers are from Hobby Lobby and Michaels. I cuttlebugged the squares in the background. The ribbons are all from Hobby Lobby too. I love this fall picture of me and kiddos...how about that for scrapping a pic that isn't even two weeks old!?!

And the leaves came down

I love leaves and trees and autumn. I love doing autumn layouts. This was a blast! I also got to use my new EK Success border punch - love it too :)

First two Punch Projects

The challenge this week at Practical Scrappers is to use punches. Since I get to see all the work early I always have the chance to see what's been done and what hasn't (as far as types of things used and ideas). I usually try to create my projects with that in mind. This layout was actually done about a year ago - but I added to it. I don't usually alter layouts - I like to see my progression. But I really loved how I used that fancy square punch on this one. So I decided to use it but bring it up to my new standards :) Between the punch and pleating it turned out very formal - but I love it!

I had this candy corn in my stash forever...and I am so glad I didn't use it for something else. I just like looking at this cute little card. I used a corner punch for the slit look in the corners.

Boo

I made this card to fit the Practical Scrappers Challenge of Office Supplies. I love those googly eyes! It also fills the Pile it on Challenge for Halloween.

Card Workshop Cards

These are the cards we made at my card workshop last week. The first one is a CTMH design but the rest are somewhat original :). The last one was inspired by Jessica from Practical Scrappers.

Swing

This week's challenge at Practical Scrappers is to use office supplies. I altered the paper clips to have flowers on them and used staples to put my ribbon down. There is a video on Practical Scrappers telling you how to make these altered paperclips.

Altered Paper Clips Video

This video shows you how to make altered paper clips. I am posting it here first to try it out before posting it to Practical Scrappers :)

A couple more A Child's Year Layouts

Piggies

I created this using the A Child's Year cartridge. A collection of photos of Lucy with her great pigtails!

Lace Cardstock Cards

My card for Practical Scrappers. I cut out the butterflies and layered them (front and back side). Very easy to do!

Pool Play

This one looks as good on camera as in person (see below for explanation!). I had fun putting this layout together and making the pics all fit in the circle. I cut the circle out of my lace cardstock - so I have some leftover to use on a card or another layout! Didn't intend to make it look like the sun - it just kinda happened that way!

Family Fun

I am always amazed how some layouts look really great online and others are just in - person layouts. This one is not done justice by the camera. I love love love this layout in person! Aw well - is uses lace cardstock for Practical Scrappers and has lots of pretty dimension to it.

Ready - Aim - Fire

A really simple layout - done just for fun :)! My two boys having a water fight with each other!

Picking Hawberries

How about this cheery layout! And four pics on it too! This was from strawberry picking last spring. My mom was actually there too - but I scrapper her pic with the kids in another layout. I found the strawberry embellis at Michael's for $1.00 last week and knew just how I would use them!!! I have had the background paper for at least 3 years - probably even longer! Hooray for using it up! I used Storybook for the flourish and Opposites Attract for the letters. Lucy calls em "hawberries" so I thought I'd document that!

Blog Award

My new friend and fellow Practical Scrapper, Kim, gave me this award. I've enjoyed getting to know Kim through our scrapping! She's unbelievably talented - you need to check her out!


Here is how it works....
*Say thank you and give a link to the presenter of the award
*Share “10 Honest Things” about myself
*Present the award to 9 other bloggers whose blogs I find brilliant in content and/or design or to those who have encouraged me
*Be sure to tell the 9 bloggers chosen that you are giving them the Honest Scrap award and provide the guidelines for them.
Here is my list of honest things: eeek...

1. My back has been killing me lately!

2. I have two beautiful children who I cherish and love spending my days with.

3. I grew up in Los Angeles and now reside in a town of 100

4. I am hooked on soda - I wish I could stop drinking the stuff!

5. I love pumpkin pie

6. My husband and I have been sitting on an extra mortgage since we moved 18 months ago - that will hopefully be gone on October 20th!

7. I love DVR - my favorite show right now is Flash Forward

8. My sons favorite thing to eat before school is green eggs

9. I am surrounded by some incredible stay-at-home moms for friends and count my blessings every day that they are in my life!

10. My hubby and I will celebrate our 10th anniversary this year - and as soon as we sign those house papers I am going to start planning our getaway to celebrate!

Lucy Bed

I would like to have gotten a picture of this outside - but it is raining and there is no end in sight! I did this layout with The Cuttlebug spot challenge in mind...but it also qualifies for Frosted Design and Pile it On too :). Apparently I am in challenge mode! Actually I think I just need some inspiration on where ot start! And for all the complaining I did about the scissors - I used them on my flowers (inspired by Kerri!).

These pictures are from the first night Lucy slept in her big girl bed. She loves to say "Dats Lucy bed" so I thought it would make a perfect title!

Chicago

I have to say that I think I'm tired of decorative scissors...I don't need to use them again for awhile :). This was my last project for Practical Scrappers this week. I used the Going Places cartridge and Route 66 paper set from CTMH. It came together pretty easily!

Decorative Edge Scissors Card

How much fun did I have making this card? It was a blast!!! The flower is made just like the layout from last week - inspired by Sandy. I layered my scalloped rows and popped them up to give them a ruffly look.

This one was done for Practical Scrappers but also qualifies for Pile it On, The Cuttlebug Spot, and Frosted Designs challenge.

Swimming Girl

This is one of my layouts for the challenge this week at Practical Scrappers. We are using decorative edge scissors this week...a challenge I am not excited about! This layout is another one of my "miscarriage layouts." These pictures of Lucy are from the day I started to miscarry - dreadful memories to bring back - but how could I not scrap that cutie in her bathing suit :)? This also qualifies for the ABC Challenge of emboss, Frosted Design of flourishes, and Pile-it-On 3D challenge.

New Fan of Transparencies

Let the record show that before this week I was not a fan of using transparencies. After making a few cards and using them in my cuttlebug - I've changed my mind! I already decided that for the next card workshop I host I am doing a transparency card :).

I really love both of these projects. I especially love the colors I used on the layout and the picture has some of my favorite people in it! It's a pretty simple layout - but sometimes we need simple right!?!

Snow

I've gotten into the habit of scrapping just one picture at a time. I like doing it that way because it allows for you to do a lot on the layout-but I don't like it because I have zillions of pictures and I want to make sure I'm telling the whole story! So I've been trying to be conscious of doing multiple picture layouts too. I did this layout with some of our goofier snow pictures from last year - mom making snow angels with Timmy - the kids and I having snow ice cream - fun silly times!

Thank You Transparency Card

I've been having lots of fun with transparencies this week. I am loving making the cards out of transparency! For this one I had Lucy put her painted handprint on. I put the pink paper on the inside of the card as well as the letters. I then added some rubons and bling to the front around the hand. It was all inspired by a card I saw Jennifer McGuire do.

Transparency Layout

This layout was tough to do, mostly because I have been sick all weekend. I'm not thrilled with the result...I'm hoping I'll like it more when I get outside and take a picture of it (inside pics make me crazy-but what can you do when it's windy and rainy out!!!) I did it-new picture is up-I am always astounded by how much better a picture looks outside!

Here's what I do like about this layout: I used really unusual colors for me and the transparency I used I have had for years!

Summer of Pooh Bear

As I have discussed before-my Lucy loves Pooh Bear and all things to do with Pooh Bear. These felt flowers fit perfectly with Pooh Bear and the whole layout came together perfectly. I love this layout and had so much fun doing it! I used my Cuttlebug on the clouds. I also used the Pooh & Friends, Alphalicious, Sports Mania (the grass), and Storybook cartridges.

Practical Scrappers: Felt Layout

This one is out for publication with SNR

I had very little felt in my stash to use for this challenge, so I bought a pack of felt flowers. Turns out I must have really liked them because I have now used them on 4 different projects :). And the projects came easily and were fun to do! So, yes, you will be seeing a lot of felt in the next few days.

I also am going to be doing a review of the company Crabby Crow Cartridge Rentals...I just got the Pooh & Friends cartridge in the mail, so I will be going crazy doing lots of Pooh stuff! I am sooooo excited. Check out Practical Scrappers in a few days for my review!

Weekend Contest at Practical Scrappers

This is my take for the sketch contest on Practical Scrappers this weekend. Obviously I'm not entering the contest-but wanted to complete the sketch anyway! I am not good with sketches-Ang and I sat there a little dumbfounded last night as we both tried to complete this. It definitely made us think outside our normal box!