I {heart} SPCC Color Combos!

Well, I'm a bit delayed in getting this posted to my blog this week...you know, sometimes life just won't allow for scrappy time!

I was thrilled to find out on Monday that I was chosen as the winning entry for SPCC Color Combo #7!!! Thanks so much Samantha!!! Can't wait to try out the Elmer adhesives that are headed my way!

And I also recently was a winner of some Basic Grey! I was randomly chosen as a winner on the Kenner Road blog! A 6x6 Basic Grey Lemonade paper pad & opalines arrived in my mailbox on Tuesday! These are so fun! & perfect for card making :0) Thanks Kerry Lynn! Your kits look amazing...I just drool...

Here is the SPCC color combo challenge for this week:

I decided to create a card again...I am just having so much fun lately with that! Plus, I was needing a special anniversary card :0) & here's a card sketch that I came across on Diana's blog (go check her out, because her card is AMAZING! Love her flower technique!!!)

The sketch is from 2 Sketches 4 You:

There is a $100 gift certificate up for grabs at 2 Sketches 4 You for JustRite Stamps this week! Hurry, go get a card made!!! :0)

So here's my take on both challenges:

As you can see, I didn't wait long to use some of that fabulous Basic Grey Lemonade! I got as close as I could on the "Dusty Durango" color...I think mine is a bit darker, more like rust, but it works! The Happy Anniversary sentiment stamp is from a Stampin' Up set - Great Greetings and I used Stampin' Up ink - Cameo (it matched the Dusty Durango almost perfectly!). I created the stamped circle image using a Martha Stewart stamp from the Heart & Flowers set and then cut it out...a really fun set that I haven't used much yet, but I am definitely going to be playing with it more! The Stampin' Up ink I used was More Mustard.

Here's a close up of the button/flower/sentiment:

Supplies:

Sketch from 2 Sketches 4 You

SPCC Color Combo #8

White card base - unknown

Cardstock - unknown

PP - Basic Grey Lemonade - 6x6 paper pad

Martha Stewart Heart & Flower clear stamp set

Stampin' Up Great Greetings sentiment stamp

Stampin' Up ink - Cameo & More Mustard

Fiskars Threading Water Border punch

Flower & button - unknown

Embroidery thread & machine stitching

Thanks for stopping by! Take care!

Happy Birthday, MOM!

I have really been into creating cards lately...maybe because it's usually a smaller & quicker project than a layout, but still oh so fun???


My mom's birthday is today! Happy Birthday, MOM! Love you! & so I just HAD to (yeah, I hated every minute of it) make her a very special birthday card!

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Note to MOM: If you don't want to spoil opening your card and it being a surprise, then I suggest you DO NOT scroll down :o)

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I found a few CardMaps at PageMaps and finally settled on this one as my inspiration:

I had received a wonderful prize of scrappy goodies from Danielle a while back & I had really been wanting to use the Prima Flowers, so I thought this card sketch would be perfect! I also just used bits & pieces of scraps from the fabulous July kit @ Scrapbook Circle! If you haven't checked out this monthly kit club, you really are missing out!


So here's the birthday card for Mom:

I LOVE how this card turned out! It is so bright & happy! I think my Mom will love it! :0) Here's a close-up of the cute Prima Lollipop Punch flower: (thanks Danielle!)

and a close-up of the folded & stitched stem I created using the ever popular Cosmo Cricket Early Bird Sunrise paper from the July kit @ Scrapbook Circle!





and finally a close-up of the birthday sentiment by Stampin' Up; I stamped it onto the kraft cardstock using Stampin' Up Old Olive ink:




Supplies:

June CardMap @ PageMaps
White pre-folded card - unknown
Bazzill Kraft cardstock - July Kit @ Scrapbook Circle
Cosmo Cricket Early Bird - Farmers Market & Sunrise - July kit @ Scrapbook Circle
Sassafras Vintage Yummy - Darling Dear - July kit @ Scrapbook Circle
Creative Memories - Green pp
Prima - Lollipops Punch flower
Stampin' Up - Old Olive ink & birthday sentiment stamp
Tools - Sandpaper & sewing machine


Thanks for stopping by! Take care!

I wasn't about to let that die cut card get the best of me...

Well, I'm back with another card created for SPCC Color Combo Challenge #7. I encourage you to play along! Everyone is super sweet & it is really fun to go see what everyone is creating!


Here's the combo:

If you read my previous post, I ATTEMPTED creating a die cut shaped card, but had a major mental block & gave up on it. But, not to be a quitter, I was determined to use the diecut shape!!!

I started with the white cardstock base that I had previously cut using my Cuttlebug & the largest Spellbinders Nestabilities Classic Scallop Circle die. It measures approx. 4 inches across. I let the die hang over the edge of the card fold, so that when cut, it would create a hinge at the top.


Here's "BLOOM where you are planted":




I have to say that this is one of my favorite recent creations...something about it just makes me SMILE :0) I think it the fun scallop edge & the yellow cardstock...it just screams SUMMER!!!


Here's a view from the top so you can see where it hinges...




& finally a close-up of the flowers. I cut them from a K & Company Wild Saffron tag using an exacto knife, then curled the petals to create some dimension & finished them off with a Kaiser pearl in the center of each!



and a project just isn't complete for me without a little bit of stitching!!!

Supplies:


White cardstock base-unknown
Spellbinders Nestabilities Classic Scallop Circle Large
Bazzill cardstock-yellow (May kit @ Scrapbook Circle)
Sassafras Vintage Yummy-Memory Lane (July kit @ Scrapbook Circle)
K & Company Wild Saffron Tag pad
Kaiser-Chocolate Pearls
Autumn Leaves Rhonna Farrer-Swirls clear stamp
Stampin' Up ink-Old Olive



Thanks for stopping by! Take care!

Gotta love a challenge...& a photo from Iraq!

So my creative juices started flowing after I read Claude's card challenge on the Scrapbook Circle blog today...& I couldn't wait to get home & make SOMETHING, ANYTHING! LOL! Plus, I love playing along with Samantha's SPCC Color Combo challenges!!!

SPCC Color Combo Challenge #7:

I have to admit that when I first saw this color combo, I wasn't quite sure what I'd do. That OLD OLIVE was throwing me for a loop!!! Guess that's what the challenge is all about, right? To force yourself to step outside of your usual...outside of the box!

So, as Claude instructed I dug around in my scraps of pp's from the July kit @ Scrapbook Circle. Then I dug even deeper into my stash & decided it was just about time that I actually use the HUGE foam alpha's that were part of the Creating Keepsakes KOTM "Mix It Up".

& here's the fun, FUNKY & perfectly colorful card that I came up with:

You wouldn't believe where I started on this card...I have long been wanting to try a die cut shaped card, so I used my largest Nestabilites scallop circle and cut a white card, leaving a bit at the top to hinge. Then I cut the olive green scallop you see on the card above. Then I just looked at it for what seemed like....FOREVER....hmmm....now what??? I just couldn't come up with ANYTHING!!! So I set aside the really cute die cut card for a future project :0)

Supplies: Sassafras Vintage Yummy-Pleasantly Puzzled & Darling Dear & Kraft cardstock(from the July kit @ Scrapbook Circle!!!), PP-Creative Memories, Foam alpha-Creating Keepsakes KOTM "Mix It Up", Alpha stickers-K & Company, Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder, Nestabilities scallop circle, machine stitching, Stampin' Up ink-Tempting Turquoise (this was the closest I had to Bermuda Bay!) and I used it to ink the white foam alpha.

Now for the photo from Iraq! My nephew, Jay, is currently deployed in Iraq. He proudly serves in the Navy for this wonderful country of ours! I may have lost count, but I believe this is his 4th tour of duty...he ocassionally emails my sis-in-law and most recently he included a photo! He says he is home sick & ready to get home. It's looking like November.

Looks like a big sandbox, huh? A really HOT one! I know that he would appreciate prayers & happy thoughts sent his way!


Well, that's it for tonight! I have a book that is calling my name...


Thanks for stopping by! Take care!

I think I will need a few more days...

to recover from Fowler Threshing Days activities! Too many late nights! I got a NICE nap in this afternoon, but I'm feeling like that may not have been enough! LOL! We finished the week out with a Dodgeball tournament on Thursday night (@ which I helped sell concessions), a volleyball tournament on Friday night (@ which I helped sell concessions) and then a full day of activities on Saturday, starting with a parade & ending with a street dance...lots of summer fun!!!


I have a quick layout to share tonight & then I think I will be enjoying the cool evening air on our back porch...


This layout was inspired by yet another sketch contest at the PageMaps blog. Up for grabs? A $50 gift certificate to EAD Designs!!! Here's the sketch:




I rotated the sketch and came up with "YOU & ME":




This layout didn't come together easily for me. Probably because I really wanted to use the My Mind's Eye background patterned paper 'cause I think it's really cool...but maybe I should have used something else??? Anyhoo...in the end, I'm happy with the layout & I LOVE this photo of Joel & I.

Supplies used: (It was fun to dig into my stash & used some old with some new!)

PP-My Mind's Eye-Out & About No. 1 Tiny Dots Paper & Front Porch by Traci Sims-Perfect Plaid, Sassafras-Serendipity-Owl Pals-Flirtation

Alpha-Sassafras cardstock stickers

Journaling strips-K & Company Wild Saffron Tag Pad

Paper Flowers-My Mind's Eye-Graceful

Button-American Crafts-Romance Flair Love

Ribbon-Offray-Sheer Petit Dot brown

Ticket-Making Memories-Vintage Findings

Rubon-Fancy Pants Delight (May kit @ Scrapbook Circle)

Card-Fancy Pants Delight (May kit @ Scrapbook Circle)

Journaling pens-American Crafts & Creative Memories

Ink-Stampin' Up-Chocolate Chip

Tools-Date stamp, sewing machine, Fiskars border punch

Thanks for stopping by! Take care!

P365 2009 * POTD * 7.15.09

Mission: Project 365 2009

Task: Take a "Picture of the Day" everyday

Goal: Create an album that documents a snapshot of everyday life

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Last night...

It's 11PM

Yes, 11PM...why on earth was I not already in bed?

Joel suddenly realizes that he is hungry...

AGAIN!

There he is in the kitchen...

trying to fish a dill pickle out of the pickle jar.

What is it about the dill pickle?

I'm not a huge fan,

but some kids (& adults) just go crazy for them????

ANYWAY...

I suddenly realize that the POTD has NOT, I repeat, NOT been taken!

This is not good.

Not good at all.

MOM: Hey, Joel...I haven't taken our POTD.

JOEL: (standing at the fridge with a rather large dill pickle hanging out of his mouth, turns to me & he's like): Take my picture already...(but he doesn't actually say that because of the dill pickle...)

MOM: Ummm...Joel, I'm not taking your picture with the dill pickle stuck in your mouth.

So....

He poses for me

I snap the photo

I review it

MOM: Joel, this is actually a really good picture of you!

He takes a look

MOM: You are really cute!

He walks away, with a funny grin/smirk on his face...

Knowing just how cute he really is...

He's gonna break hearts someday, huh?

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P365 * POTD * 7.15.09

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

[note to self: in the future, prior to taking photos in the kitchen, do the dishes first]

It's a crazy week around here...a sweet award & a layout to share!

I'm LOL about my blog entry titles lately...seems so random...guess that is what happens when LIFE gets crazy and you have lots to share :0)


The small town that I live in has a big celebration every year called "Threshing Days"-the original idea behind it was to celebrate after the wheat harvest! Beginning a week before the actual celebration, we start having nightly events. Night golf, movie night in the park, flag football tournament, potluck in the park, night swim, dodge ball tournament, volleyball tournament, & so on! Lots to do!


Here's just a couple of fun pics:



The above photo was taken @ the park on movie night...& yes, it might be considered a little bit red-neckish, but we don't really care! LOL! My nephew rigged up this old wheat truck several years ago with a "big screen" attached to the side of it. He uses a projector to display the movie on the "big screen"...it works like a charm! We had beautiful weather & a great family movie "RV" starring Robin Williams. I had forgotten just how funny that movie was!



& here's my guys playing flag football! They put together a high school team, but were definitely outsized by the rest of the "adult" teams...I think they had fun anyway?

Now for the blog award! I have rec'd this award before, but it is always such a sweet surprise to be honored by a blogger buddy! I rec'd this ONE LOVELY BLOG AWARD from Kristin. She really has a great blog with challenges & such (scrappy goodies up for grabs too!) so you really should go check her out! Thanks Kristin! Now, I am supposed to pass this award along to some newly discovered blogs...I have found some great blogs thru the SPCC Color Combo challenges. Here's a few of my faves: Raechelle & Amy! Go check them out...they have great blogs & are very talented scrappers!

Here are the rules:

1) Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award, and his or her blog link.

2) Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you've newly discovered (sorry but I just don't have time to pass it on to 15!!!)

3) Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

& finally a layout that I want to share! I created this layout for a guest design team spot contest at Back Porch Memories using the PageMap provided. I love entering this contest because you have a chance @ being chosen to guest design, plus you have a chance to win a scrappy prize! Well, sad to say, I didn't win either. LOL! But, the bonus for me is that I created a layout that I absolutely adore...I can say that, can't I??? :0) It's of my DH & I (for some reason, we hardly ever have our picture taken together, so for me, it's priceless!)

19 years:

the journaling:

the embellies close up:




Most of the supplies used on this layout came from various kits @ Scrapbook Circle. I am loving their kits...go check them out! You won't be disappointed.

Supplies:

PP-Cosmo Cricket Early Bird-Apron Strings
PP-Cosmo Cricket Early Bird-Farmers Market
PP-Sassafras Vintage Yummy-Memory Lane
PP-American Crafts Craft Fair-Elenore Battington
Bazzill Edges in Lime
Fancy Pants Delight notebook journaling page
Jenni Bowlin mini calendar & chipboard button
American Crafts Flair button-Love
Paper Flower-Kaiser
Silver brad-Making Memories
Sassafras-Retro card
Marks Paper Co-Printable Patch (journling spot)
American Crafts-Remarks Mumbo Jumbo's alpha-brown
Martha Stewart-Flocked Alpha-brown
Fiskars Border Punch-Threading Water
Date stamp
Stampin' Up ink
Creative Memories-journaling pen


Well girls...(& guys?) that's all I have time to share tonight! I have a layout that is begging to be finished... :0) So hopefully I can ignore the house chores that are calling my name & get some creative time in!!!


Thanks for stopping by! Take care!

another card created from "Vintage Sunrise"

Ok...I just can't get enough of the wonderful July Kit "Vintage Sunrise" from Scrapbook Circle! I have had SO much fun playing with the patterned papers! :o)

"My Best Friend"

These bright colors just put a smile on my face! Of course, I just had to do some zig zag stitching and sanding...but I also re-used the packaging from the Making Memories Puffy alpha...the color was perfect & who doesn't love polka dots??? I just ran it thru my Cuttlebug using a scallop circle die.


Here's a close up...I haven't done hand stitching for what seems like forever...just had to add a little to this flower!






Thanks for stopping by! Take care!

Doing a little happy dance!

Today's post is definitely going to be RANDOM...so, now that you have been warned...let the fun begin!

Why are we doing a little happy dance @ our house? Well, a certain young man, age 14, successfully passed his written driving test on the 1st try...AND...passed the driving test as well...so he officially has a farm permit tucked away in his wallet!!! I tell ya, I was NERVOUS for him & he told me tonight he thought he was going to throw up...hate that! Anyway, he texted me a photo and his smile was bigger than DALLAS! Just made my day! I had to take a few photos when I got home too...I was going to post the photo with license too...but then decided maybe I should crop that out...a 14 yr old doesn't need his identity stolen :0)

Rec'd a fun little surprise in my inbox tonight...a super sweet blogger buddy (you know who you are) is sending me some ribbon...out of the kindness of her heart! Another reason for a happy dance! THANX a BUNCH!!!

I recently threw my "hat" into a sketch design team call. I didn't get chosen. It's hard not to get your hopes up. I'm kinda bummed. But it's not the end of the world. I'm so lucky to get to scrap at all, so life's not too bad. Besides, here's the layout I created & I think it's pretty darn cute (that's all that matters anyway!) Some of you that follow my blog will wonder who the heck this cute little girl is because, well, I don't have any cute little girls in my house! It's my niece's daughter...isn't she just adorable???

"just the cutest little...water baby"

a close up of the title & journaling...gotta love AC Thickers!

and here's the fun circles that I cut from Cosmo Cricket Snorkel-Umbrellas. I sanded the edges and ran a fun zig zag stitch thru them...

Supplies: Green cardstock-unknown, Cosmo Cricket Snorkel-Boardwalk, Umbrellas & School's Out, Fancy Pants Delight rubons, AC Thickers Daiquiri foam letter stickers, Daisy D's cardstock stickers-Arrows, K & Company Wild Saffron-Tag pad (journaling strips), Stampin' Up Black ink, Martha Stewart journaling pen, Fiskars border punch, Favorite Findings buttons & embroidery thread. (The pp & rubons were from May & June Scrapbook Circle kits!)

and last but not least, this is on my wish list...I really NEED one for my backyard...I keep thinking they will go on clearance...

That's it! Told you it was random! Take care!

Today @ 10:11:12 & Write.Click.Scrapbook & SPCC!

Wow! What a title today, huh? LOL! Talk about a smorgasboard of good stuff!!! :0)

1st up: Today @ 10:11:12! Do you ever visit Just Us? Elizabeth Kartchner's blog is one of my favorites...she is just so fun...so talented...so inspiring...so perfect! & yes, I blog stalk her! So her goofy DH came up with this idea that we should all take a photo today @ 10:11 am or pm and then share them...well, I was @ work, so I just took a quick photo of my work space...ya, kinda boring...but that's what I was doing! Note the GIANT Diet Pepsi. yep. gotta have it.

Next: Write.Click.Scrapbook

Another site that you must go check out! Lots of inspiration! Lots of fun stuff! & the challenge this week is to create from this sketch:

So I decided to create a card using the above sketch and SPCC Color Combo #5:

So here's my "HI" card:

Thanks for stopping by! Take care!

Another contest...I think I'm addicted :o)

Last summer I discovered Back Porch Memories...& though I haven't ever ordered any of their monthly kits...(I'm on a scrappy budget, darn it!!!) I have admired them from a distance! :0}


Anyway, Back Porch Memories has a monthly layout sketch contest in order to choose their Guest Design Team member for the upcoming month. The best part about this whole PROCESS is that none other than Becky Fleck's PageMaps are the inspiration for the contest! I've said it before & I will say it again: I LOVE PAGEMAPS!!!


The catch to this contest? You can't reveal your layout entry anywhere else during the period of the contest....so, if you want to see my layout...you have to go HERE. I'm really pleased with it & I can't wait to share it on my blog & in my online galleries!


Hope you are enjoying your 4th of July!!! Take care!

Celebrate!

I hope this finds all of you either enjoying your holiday weekend...or getting ready to! I am lucky enough to have a 3 day weekend! Whoo Hoo!!!


The small town that I live in has quite a July 4th celebration...this year our church youth group is serving a meal of hamburgers & hotdogs & the fixin's as a fundraiser. We have one more deposit to make on our upcoming trip to Kansas City for NCYC in November 2009, so we hope to do well at the meal! :0) Then the summer baseball teams will play ball and @ dark, our volunteer fire department will put on quite a spectacular fireworks display...I can't wait...that's my favorite part! Though I can't stand to be near fireworks in general...they kinda scare me!


My dad is turning another year older today (Happy Bday Dad!) so I thought I'd better make him a card...plus it was an excuse to play! This card is not masculine at all...in fact...I might be a little embarrassed to give it to him...but I think it turned out so darn cute! I was going for the red, white & blue theme in honor of July 4th...





Supplies used: White card base & royal blue cardstock-unknown, PP-The Paper Studio, Journaling spot-Cosmo Cricket Early Bird-Elements (from the July kit @ Scrapbook Circle), Chipboard bird-Creating Keepsakes KOTM-Mix It Up, Stamp & Ink-Stampin' Up. I also did a little bit of sanding & machine stitching.


I have been hoarding the TONS of chipboard that came in the Mix It Up kit from Creating Keepsakes...I figure it's about time to use it!







Thanks for stopping by! Take care!

"Vintage Sunrise" full of possibilites...

I am having so much fun creating design team layouts & projects with the July Kit from Scrapbook Circle! This kit has some of the fabulous Cosmo Cricket Early Bird pp's along with a little Sassafras thrown in too! & they coordinate so well!


A while back ago I found some Making Memories Flip Frame albums on clearance at Hobby Lobby....at the time, I thought they would make great mini albums for Grandpas & Grandmas. I pulled one out of my stash tonight and decided it would also make a great little "all about me" album. So far, I only have the cover done...but was totally inspired by the very cool Cosmo Cricket Spinner Card "Spin the Bottle" that was included in the July kit!

Isn't this fun!?! If you look closely, the green/white polka dot background is actually from the packaging of the Making Memories Puffy Alpha! LOVE it when I find something to RE-USE!!!

Supplies from the July Kit @ Scrapbook Circle:

PP-Cosmo Cricket Early Bird-Cherry Pie & Elements, PP-Sassafras Vintage Yummy-Pleasantly Puzzled, Sassafras Cardstock Stickers-Sweet Treats, Making Memories Puffy Alpha-brown, Polka dot/green packaging from the MM Puffy alpha, Bazzill Edges in Lime (June kit), Cosmo Cricket Spinner Card-Spin the Bottle.

From my stash: Offray ribbon-Sheer Petit Dot Brown, Fiskars border punch, sanding & machine stitching.

Okay...I'm tired...tired of fighting Blogger...just tired...thanks for stopping by! Take care!

SPCC Color Combo #4

I'm having so much fun playing along with Samatha's weekly color combo challenges! Go visit her blog & get inspired!!! Here's the SPCC Color Combo #4:





Some of my favorite colors! & so very summery!


So I chose some very recent photos, & some very FUN scrappy supplies and put together...


"funny Bone"

and a close up of the Sassafras cardstock sticker, Jenni Bowlin chipboard button & the gorgeous Kasier Rhinestones!

Hidden journaling tag...I ran out of room so I had to come up with something!!! :0}

and a closeup of the tag journaling....

This layout is full of goodies from the July kit @ Scrapbook Circle! You really need to check out Lisa's kits....they are AMAZING!!!

Thanks for stopping by! Take care & here's to wishing you a safe & happy July 4th weekend!!!