Ho Ho Ho banner

Here is a quick little banner that I made for a secret santa swap. The letters are from my Plantin Schoolbook and the snowflake border is from my new Martha Stewart punch. And my favorite white Uniball pen, and some American Craft plaid ribbon finish it out! Happy crafting! Pin It

Merry Christmas-My digital card

Wow! Can you believe that Christmas is almost here?!? I usually make paper cards to send out with a family picture, but time was a factor this year. Between making presents, work, and all the holiday hustle and bustle, I had to give up making hand made paper cards. I was looking at some of the pre-made templates, and I decided that I could make something just a cute with Photoshop and some digi scrapbook paper. I found an awesome site for digi scrappers , Design House Digital. They have some awesome kits, and the free kits are just as nice. I love the fact that I can use these digi papers over and over. It's not as hard to make a card with Photoshop, but it does take a little to get used to. I checked out some YouTube tutorials to refresh my memory. And I got a lot of compliments on my card. Although, it just may be my cute little guys in the picture that everyone likes!! Merry Christmas to you all!! I hope you have a wonderful holiday and a very crafty new year!! Happy crafting!! Pin It

Yeah!! I finally figured out what was wrong with my layout!! Stupid HTML codes, lol!!!! I am working on a couple of projects this week. I need to start my Christmas cards, and I still have some handmade gifts to start/finish. What are you working on this week? Any gifts you are making? Happy crafting!

I am not sure what is up with my blog layout, but I am trying to fix it!! Anyone else having this problem???? Very annoying!! I am also having a problem with my mojo!! Trying to do anything with paper right now just doesn't feel right to me. I haven't gotten out a single piece of paper in months. I have been sewing, embroidering, and crocheting. (Baby beanies, burp cloths, bibs, headbands!) I know that my interests go in circles, but I haven't ever gone this long without scrapping something. Hopefully I will be back to it soon. In the mean time, I will add some pages so I can post what I have been doing. Who knows, it may lead to a new blog, new title, new everything!! Sometimes change is good! Thank you for hanging with me during my last few posts. And if you see my mojo, please send it back to me! Happy crafting!

A couple of months ago, I made a birthday book for a friend. I loved the BoBunny so much, I saved the smallest pieces of scraps. The September challenge at Scrap Our Stash was to do a project with a grid. Since most of the scraps that I saved were too small for most projects, this was a great use for my scraps. I painted a canvas the same pink that is in my craft room. And then I glued my scraps into a grid pattern. The M is cut from my Lyrical Letters Cricut cartridge. I added a couple of coats of Modge Podge to protect it. These colors match my craft room really well, and it looks great hanging in there. Happy crafting!

Working on projects for my 25 Days of {homemade} Christmas gifts.

I can't believe that it's almost time to start making some homemade Christmas gifts! Last year's projects were so much fun to make and I have started planning for this year. There will be some new projects this year, and some returning from last year. If there is anything that you would like to see made this year, or any tutorials for certain projects, please let me know! I would love to work on some stuff that my readers are interested in!!

I hope to also post 13 Days of Halloween projects. I have the some new DCWV halloween paper that I am looking forward to using!

That's what is on my to-do list right now. Maybe I should go get started!! Happy crafting!

Halloween Blocks

Here is another project that I finished up for a birthday gift. Halloween blocks! I loved how these turned out and I think that I need to make a set for myself!! I started with some blocks that my husband cut for me. Some of the craft stores carry wooden blocks, but you may not find the exact size that you want. Then I sanded and painted them black. After the paint dried, I sanded the edges a little to distress it. I used Modge Podge to glue some paper on the front of the blocks. The paper was from a Halloween kit that I bought from Target a couple of years ago! I sprayed some Glimmer Mist on the paper before I added the embellishments. The rub-ons are part of the Target kit. Most of the die cuts and letters are cut from the Happy Hauntings Cricut cartridge. For the skull, I used Indie Art. To protect the rub-ons and the die cuts, I covered the front in a couple of coats of Modge Podge. These blocks are cute and easy to make. You can make them for any holiday or even your last name. I think that they would look cute on the mantle!

Altered Can

I altered this can for a swap on the Cricut Messageboard. I had signed up for it because I made one during my 25 Days of {homemade} Christmas Gifts. I had a lot of fun making it, and filling it with all kinds of little goodies. I used some scraps of Making Memories spring line. And that gave me a lot of color choices for the flowers. For the flower centers, I used some bling and a clear epoxy circle. The punch is from Martha Stewart. I added ribbon the pull tab on the top. If you would like to see the instructions on how I made this, click here! I hope that my swap partner enjoyed it! And this fun little project may show up again on this year's 25 Days of Christmas! Happy crafting!

My Layout was featured on the Scrapbooks, Etc Facebook page!!

So this morning, I get home and check out Facebook. I was just scrolling down, and catching up on, and then something catches my eye. I look at a picture and I think to myself "that looks like my layout." I look a little closer and I realize that it IS my layout!!! One that I had posted in the Scapbooks, ETC gallery a while back. But there is my 22 Days layout as their Monday Morning Scrapper Spotlight! You can check out their Facebook page here. I originally did this layout for a Scrap Our Stash Challenge. It was to do "THAT" layout. One that you had been putting off or couldn't finish. When these pictures of my twins were taken, it was a tough time. We knew they would be in the NICU, but you always worry how they will do. And for 22 days, we did. These pictures always reminded me of that. So I decided to scrap these pictures. I loved how it turned out, and it has become one of my favorites from this year. I am so very excited that Scrapbooks Etc. featured it and said such nice things about my layout! I knew there was a reason that they were my favorite scrapbook magazine!!! Happy crafting!

Back to school!

Hi all! I just wanted to write a quick note to let you all know that I am still here and still creating! I have been busy over the summer, well, a little busy and a little lazy!! The boys and I had a fun filled summer and we tried to just enjoy it and go with the flow! Now that school is back in session for us, I am hoping to get back to the craft room and make up for lost time! I just finished up a can swap, (those pictures still need to be uploaded!) And two more projects are on my work desk right now!

I have recently started pinning on Pinterest and I have a ton of projects that I want to do!! If you haven't been on Pinterest, be careful, it's very addictive! It's very good for my creativity, no so good for my productivity!!

I also just got a new MacBook Pro. I am still learning how to get everything loaded onto my computer and use it! Everyone says that Photoshop on a Mac is wonderful. I haven't gotten that far yet!

I also am now a licensed Zumba instructor!! Besides crafting, it's my other passion in life!

So that's some of the stuff that has been going on here! I hope your summer was as fun as ours! Happy crafting!

Cubs- Layout-17

Since my oldest son played for the Cubs this spring, this month's challenge at Scrap Our Stash was perfect for scrapping his baseball photos!


I cut the strips of paper from scraps from his last baseball layout that I did, plus an old scrap of paper that was from a 4th of July collection. I machine stiched around the edges with some red thread. I used some Cuttlebug embossing folders to make the stars and then just fussy cut around the embossing. The title is cut from the Cricut cartridge, Sans Serif. I added some red staples, and some red and blue brads to finish the page.

This summer has been crazy busy for us, so I hope to catch up on some layouts My boys will be going back to school soon, so maybe I can get back to posting on a regular basis! I have alot of projects that I need to get started on! Happy crafting!

Birthday calendar/book.

Here is a project that I made for my friend Crystal. I made her a perpetual birthday calendar/book. I used some of my favorite paper, the BoBunny Petal Pushers line. I love this paper with all the wonderful colors. And since Crystal loves polka dots, I was able to use lots of the BoBunny dotted papers too. I also was able to use alot of my favorite embellishments on the pages too. Lots of beads, and an altered bottle cap, paperclip, and scrabble tile!

























This book measures 4x9, so I could get three pages from each 12 x 12 sheet of paper. I used most of the scraps for the title pages. And what I had left over, I am using to make a badge holder album. Look for that post soon! Happy crafting!

Artists- Layout 16

When I first saw that the June Challenge at Scrap Our Stash, was to use something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue, I thought "I've got this!" But boy was I wrong! I had the hardest time finishing this challenge. I changed pictures two or three times, pulled apart a layout, and then redid it all! I decided to just go with what I have finished, but I may mess with it some more later!
My something old is the Lime Rickey papers by Basic Grey. Something new is the baker's twine that I received as a RAK. Something borrowed is the layout. I found a sketch in an older CK magazine to follow. Something blue is my background, Glimmer Mist, and ink.

Next month's challenge is to use the colors red, white, and blue. Hopefully that will be a little easier! Happy crafting!

Quick and Easy Father's Day card

I made this card late last night, thinking that I needed to go ahead and make my dad a card so I can mail it to him. I am not usually a card maker, especially masculine ones. So I stuck with safe colors and a simple design. I used Street Sign for the letters and the printed paper is from Hobby Lobby. You can't see it in the picture, but the edges are distressed. I outlined the card and added some brads before I attached the card front. Easy peasy! Happy crafting!

Copic markers are buy 3 get one free at A Cherry On Top!

If you have an addiction to those little markers, this is a good deal! Buy 3 at $6.49 and get one free of equal or lesser value. They have the regular markers, sketch, Ciao, and the wide markers. To save on shipping, buy some other goodies while you are there, lol!! Promo code is Copic. You can check it out at A Cherry On Top! I hope to get a chance to go through the colors and pick up some that my local stores don't carry! Happy crafting!

Projects that are on my desk!

Whew! After a week on vacation, it's taken me a week to get back into the swing of things.

Here is what should be coming up soon for you.

This month's challenge at Scrap Your Stash is to use "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue." It doesn't have to be wedding, or you don't have to use all the "somethings". If you would like to use up some of your stash and play along, check it out at Scrap Your Stash

Also my friend Caitlynsmommy (from the Cricut Messageboard) has a birthday this month, so her project is on my desk and almost finished! I can't wait to share this one with you. It is a first for me.

Caitlynsmommy also inspired me to make a badge holder mini book. She started a swap and I thought "Now why didn't I think of that!!" So I headed to Hobby Lobby and found some badge holders. A few scraps and it's almost finished too! I just need a theme to go with it!

And since I just got back from vacation, I have over 200 photos to scrap! I took lots of photos of the boys and I can't wait to show you some of the great photos my new Nikon took!

Ok, lots to get to! Happy crafting!

Mother's Day Brunch-Layout # 15

Here is my layout for the May Flower Challenge at Scrap Our Stash. I used up a few of my printed paper scraps as the background. I originally made this layout to submit in another challenge for National Scrapbook Day. I really liked the layout, but the subject was not about something that I wanted to put in my scrapbook, (what would you do if you won the lottery). So I took it apart and re-worked it with the picture of me and my twins at their pre-schools Mother's Day Brunch.




I made the crepe paper flower white and then sprayed it with my lime green glimmer mist.
I was also able to use up some flowers, pins, and brads that I had gotten in some swaps!






I will definately put this one in my scrapbook. Happy crafting!

Make your own bakers twine!

Baker's twine is showing up in everything lately, but it's hard to find and it's not very cheap! I wish that I could say that this was all my idea, because I love that I can make it with stuff on hand. But I saw a video on YouTube by UKmaryanne and followed her directions.


First start by protecting your ruler. I wrapped mine with a piece of cardstock and then taped it off. Next take some white cotton yarn and wrap it around your ruler and slide it together but don't let it overlap. Use your Copic, ProMarker, Prismacolor, or another marker to make lines on the yarn. I tried a Sharpie, but it didn't put out enough ink to soak through to the other side of the yarn. My Copic worked great.



Once it's dry, unwind it and it's all done! It's not a perfect match, but I love the fact that it's free! Happy crafting!

Game Day- Layout 14

I had so much fun over the weekend at A Cherry On Top! They had sooo many challenges, twenty to be exact, classes, games, and lots and lots of awesome layouts uploaded into their galleries! I was able to complete the drink carrier class, one fast scrap challenge, and two layout challenges in between playing games, baseball games, and Mother's Day activities!

I finished this one for Challenge #5, use all caps for your title. A pretty easy one, and since I was inspired to use these pictures, I had to make them fit into a challenge and this was the easiest to do.

My oldest son received the game ball on opening day. And one of my favorite kinds of photos to take is one with a small aperture, a small depth of field. I had my son hold out the baseball so it is in focus and he is blurry along with about fifty other people in the background! Once I saw the photo, it went straight to the top of my "to scrap" pile!!

I used some Fouth of July papers since I didn't really have any Cubs stuff, but it works and I was able to use up some of my stash! The baseball die cut might look familiar. I had a couple left over from the baseball goodie bags that I made for opening day, so I used it on the layout. I have some more great pictures from ball season, so I am sure you will see more of these colors! Happy crafting!

Altered Drink carrier-NSD project!

My first National Scrapbook Day project. I altered a drink carrier into a tool caddy. I used my leftover paper from last month's counterfeit kit. If you would like to view the tutorial from A Cherry On Top, here is the link. Happy crafting!

National Scrapbook Day!

Tomorrow is National Scrapbook Day. I will be celebrating at A Cherry On Top They have contests, online crops, challenges, prizes, and a sale going on all weekend. What more could you ask for?!? Hope you will stop by and check it out! Happy National Scrapbook Day and happy crafting!

T-Shirt beach bag!!!

I have been so excited to share this project with you!

This bag started out as a $3 shirt that I found at the Goodwill. I loved this shirt when I found it, but it was not the right size for my boys. It is an Aeropostale shirt that was in great shape for a used white shirt! I bought it not knowing what I would do with it. But I quickly decided that I needed to turn it into a bag.

Since knit would stretch too much if I put anything inside it, I picked out a cute yellow polka dot material to line the inside. Originally the print on the shirt was way up on the neck, so after I added some bamboo handles, it was a little higher up than I would have like to have it. I should have added some extra fabric to the top so the design would be lower, but I didn't think about that until after it was finished. I cut out the Aeropostale out of the shirt and made it into a tag inside the purse.

Since then, I have found a Lucky brand shirt and a couple of others that I plan to make into more bags. I may list this one on Etsy, but I'm not sure I can give it up! Happy crafting!