Susan's Little Scraps

Where oh Where......

2011-11-01T15:19:00.006-04:00

Are you tonight? What did you leave me here all alone? I've searched the world over, and thought I found true love. You met another. And pthththth. You were gone!

No, no, no...... Ya'll aren't suspended in some crazy time space continuim; wherein you are forced to hear silly Hee-Haw songs. I've just been gone for, like forever!!! And no. I haven't been two timin' on my imaginary peeps either. lol......

I bet ya'll thought I just disappeared for good. haha...... I've had such a busy, crazy month. I have pictures to share; but that will have to wait for later; as I have misplaced that thingy that you plug into the computer to load the pictures into. And since no one had the foresight to realize that one of those picture thingys built into the actual computer would be used like ALL THE TIME; well ya'll just have to wait for the visuals.

Upon returning from the scrappy retreat in Texas; Skeeter was generous enough to share her sick germs with me. I spent three whole days in bed. I ached all over. Even the roots of my hairs hurt. Then I was nice enough to share my germs with Pooh. Luckily the generosity stopped there.

After everyone was done being sick; fall break from school was upon us. And we were off once more for vacation. Just a little trip to Cincinnati for a few days of fun. After vacation; we were again, busy with soccer and cross country; which both just ended this past weekend. I am so looking forward to chilling out for the rest of the year.......really.

I have been in project mode though. I've gotten some things hung on the walls that I've been meaning to get around to. I've also been working on redoing the mill work in our foyer; which is a slooooooowww process. And when I get off work at night; I've been working on a canvas for Buggett's room.

Now about that contest......lol. I swear to you guys.....I am always....ALWAYS...on time for work and parent teacher conferences. So I guess when it comes to blogging and all things scrappy, it seems to be the thing that has to give. I totally have great pictures to show you guys of Skeeter and Pnut picking out their colors.....but again, that will have to wait to until I can find my picture loader thing. Anyway, I can tell you that they DID pick out their colors. I swear it was far easier for them, than it was for me; though. I loved everyone's pick!

And the winner is........dum dum dum........

WTG Lisa! I'll keep ya'll updated as we start to work on the room, get the furniture, and pull all the other elements together! Heck, I might even take you guys to the most fabulous fabric store ever; so stay tuned!!! We'll probably start crack-a-lackin' in January.

So there ya'll have it, guys! I have lots more to share; but most of it is in picture form. So toodles for now! Later Peeps!

Sorry Guys.....

2011-09-28T19:47:00.002-04:00

Today Skeeter was home sick with a high fever and a headache. I want her to be able to help pick her colors, so I'm going to wait until she's feeling better. She spent the whole day sleeping in her dad's Lazyboy. Anywho......I'll have to check in with you guys on Tuesday, when Skeeter is well enough to participate. Sorry for the delay!

I Haven't Forgotten!!!

2011-09-27T14:23:00.003-04:00

Just wanted to let all of you gals who left suggestions that I haven't forgotten about you. I've been super busy getting ready for a retreat this weekend, and running to soccer practice....and games, and then there's cross country practices....and meets, and Pnut turns five today, and orthodontist appointments, and work, and dinners to be cooked, and groceries to be bought, and packing to do, and we won't even get into the whole laundry for six people. I should have something up by noon-ish tomorrow!

Help a Scrappy Sistah Out!!!

2011-09-09T09:42:00.009-04:00

Here's the dealio for realio.....

The scrubby and I getting ready to revamp Skeeter and Pnut's bedroom. Right now it's a cornucopia of funk. The room is beat all to heck. All the furniture is going. Carpet is being ripped out. We are starting with bare bones here, people.

Here's what's what in my crib......

1. We are getting new carpet...neutral color.

2. The bedroom across the hall is a baby/bubblegum pink walls, with turquoise, yellow, and red accents.

3.I am NOT afraid of color. If you've ever been to my house, you would find apple green in my kitchen, oriental poppy in the living room and the foyer, so on and so forth.

4. The room is currently a sunny yellow. I'm not opposed to yellow, but the kids are tired of it. So ixnay on the ellowyay as a wall color.

5. The new furniture going into the room is white......so it'll go with just about anything.

6. I don't do baby stuff or mamby pamby delicate flower girly girl. Go bold or go home, KWIM? So no nilly willy frilly flowers, mmmmK?

7. No purple! BTDT.

My plea to you? Help me come up with a color scheme. Think of your favorite paper lines and post links as examples. I only ask that everyone post something different.

Well what's in it for you? Like/love Mr Huey? If I pick your color scheme; I'll send you a bottle, winner's choice. I'll put it on October's Studio Calico order!

Sorry it's taking me so long to get this updated, I've had an unexpected crazy busy week. Everything should be updated by Sunday evening. And I'll let the kids peruse through the color selections. Winner announced next week!

Lora's pick

Paula's Pick - 5th picture down (hope I got the color combo right!)

Dawn's pick

Melissa's pick....and also this....and this....and this.....annnnddd this...and finally this one.

Lisa's Pick....and this one...and one more

Bauble Yum!

2011-09-05T11:48:00.002-04:00

A few weeks ago, I needed a lil' somethin' somethin' to go with a new shirt I had just bought. Everything I came across was either too matchy matchy, or not nearly fierce enough. What's a girl with a massive junk collection to do? Raid my stash, of course!

Vintage buttons, a discarded ring, alcohol inked beads, and a touch of steampunk for good measure! I used a piece of felt for the backing. I was bummed when I couldn't find my Glossy Accents and had to resort to using my glue gun; so I ended up with a few glue smudges that came through. But a nice result, none the less! Add a pin on the back, and VOILA! Objet d'art fabuleux! (That's fancy talk for fabulous art object, ya'll.)

Tids and Bits: Gears: Tim Holtz; Ring: Glitter; Resin Flower: Making Making Memories; Alcohol Ink: Ranger

Too Dog Gone Cute

2011-08-15T14:08:00.005-04:00

I found this photo when I was cleaning out some files this weekend, and had to share. Skeeter posin' with my little sister Lovey. Although it looks like she's got her in a fierce headlock; she seems to be really enjoying it.

Dear Dad......

2011-08-11T10:47:00.003-04:00

I thought of you the other day. Remember that time when I used to be a grouchy teenager? When I didn't have the minutes in my day to be bothered with anything outside of my egocentric world? Do you recall the incident wherein you were really tired and had asked me to make you a tuna sandwich? And I got real mad, 'cause I didn't want to do it? So I dumped a can of tuna onto a piece of bread, threw another piece of bread on top of it; and then repeatedly pounded it with my fist? And then had the nerve to serve it to you, and say "Here ya go!" ? Remember all that??? I know you do. 'Cause we laugh about it every now and then; and fondly refer to that sandwich as the "Tuna Love Sandwich". "Cause, you know; I had put so much joy and heart into making it for you.

Why was I thinking of this? Well, Buggetts made me a grilled cheese sandwich on the George Forman grill the other day. She was so proud of herself. I heard her in the kitchen, just happily buzzing around like a little baby bee. (She's really growing up now, ya know. She takes a lot of pride in being able to help me in ways that she couldn't before.) Anyway, she happily skipped over to me, plate in hand, grinning like a Cheshire cat; and proudly presented me with a sandwich. A flat one. One that looked as though it had met up steamroller in a dark alley.

The only difference between my sandwich and yours? Her's WAS full of love. But I have to wonder.....do you think her "Cheese Love Sandwich" will still taste the same in say......oh.........five or six years? Can you taste curmudgeon?

PS. I'm still not sorry I beat that sandwich to a pulp. You ate it and liked it. So there.

Hugs and Kisses from your sweet, sweet daughter,

Susie

Memory Maker's Magazine August Blog Bounce...."Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes"

2011-08-09T00:11:00.003-04:00

Hey, Ya'll!!! Thanks for bouncin' in! If you arrived here directly, take some time to check out all the other fabulous participants in the Memory Maker's "Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes"August Blog Bounce by clicking the banner above! If you are bouncin' through, you should have arrived from Francine Clouden's blog. The link for the next blog is down at the bottom of the screen. But don't just rush off, stick around and have some fun with me!

This month's theme was an easy one for me. With four girls ranging in ages from 5 to 15, we are never lacking in changes around here. In fact, I already had my idea dancing around in my head before this month's theme was announced. WOOT-WOOT!!!!

Meet Buggetts; this month's inspiration. She's my almost 11 year old. She's always been the type of kid that was content to play in the flower beds. During previous years she had been known to tote her SpiderWick field guide into the backyard in search of fairies and other creatures. This is the kid that would dig up my back yard looking for bugs and critters. Look under her bed and you would most likely find a box of rocks, a spy notebook, and a jar containing a dead beetle.

This summer, however; I've noticed some changes in her. She seems to be transferring her interest in the mythical and fantastical to book-like adventures only. She's gone from keeping spy notes, to making charts of anything you could ever want to know about giraffes. Gone are the days of insisting that she saw a fairy hiding in the bushes out back. No more going on treasure hunts in the backyard with her magnifying glass. All this makes me somewhat sad; as I have always adored her imaginative flair. Pretty soon she will be interested in things less magical; and like most 'tweens and teens her interests will be more material.

This layout is loaded with goodies! I was able to use my Studio Calico FabRips in two spots! I love this stuff; although I will admit, it had been sitting in my stash since March, just waiting on me to get up the gumption to tear into it.

More FabRips accompanied with a vintage button and twine!

And can I give a big shout out to Mr Huey!!!! I used three different hues: Piglet, Calico, and Orchard. Holla!!!

Tids and Bits: Cardstock: Bazzill; Patterned Paper: Studio Calico, My Mind's Eye ; Stickyback Fabrics: Studio Calico; Alphas: American Crafts Thickers; Button: Etsy (VintageButtonLover); Twine: The Twinery; Mists: Mr. Huey by Studio Calico

There ya'll have it! Thanks again for bouncin' in, and while you're in the neighborhood be sure to bounce on over to the next stop on the hop: Kimber Mcgray's blog!

I Luuuurve Lamp

2011-08-05T23:42:00.000-04:00

In our household we have a long standing battle of the lamps. When we moved into this house six years ago, there was no overhead lighting in any of the bedrooms. So I bought lamps. Like tiny moths to a flame, the Chiklets were drawn to them. If a lamp was around, someone was there to ka-nock it over. Sometimes it was just the bulb that broke. More often than not it was the lamp that succumbed to it's untimely departure.

Then one day the heavens above opened up, and light shined down from the ceiling. I was done buying lamps. Freed from the bondage of the lamp/bulb retail nightmare that I come to bare; I finally had light.

Except there was one problem..........
I enjoy a good book at night. And sometimes the random thoughts dancing around in my noggin must be penned to paper before I can tally my sheep. And for some reason, T-Dog would always get his knickers in a knot about the overhead light being on while he was sleeping. Honestly. If your eyes are closed and you're really concentrating on that sleeping thing, how do you know the light is on? But it's what-evs. I try not to poke the bear when he's trying to get his winks on.

Fast forward a few years. We are in fixin' up mode. New bed....check. New mattress.....check check. New high thread count ultra lux Ralph Lauren sheets.....CHECK! And would you look at that........new, beautiful, sparkly-even-when-it's-not-turned-on lamps. Has Lucite ever looked so luscious? Nay. I think not. Now, let's just hope that Lucite really is indestructible.

Sometimes during the middle of the day, I'll tip toe into my sanctuary just to sneak a peak at their sparkly goodness and shiny lurvlyness. I'd like give a special holla to Mr. T-Dog for giving me the hook-up on the Beacons of Joy!

Purple's Lament

2011-07-30T14:14:00.000-04:00

Last week I promised ya'll a lil' somethin' somethin' purple purple from a butt ugly shirt. Although a heinous color, I was willing to be the bigger person and try to make amends with purple.

Even Buggetts was willing to do her part and stepped up to do some modeling for me. Note the swanky ruffle sewn from top to bottom. Gaze upon the spots and dots. Pay heed to it's luscious soft cotton texture.

This week's experiment was on headband. I thought when I picked this up it was the correct shade of funk; but nay.......it was completely off. No worries, though. I stripped it down and recovered it with strips of fabric from the shirt. I left the edges raw to mimic the raw edges of the ruffle. I then used two layers of complimentary ribbon.

I used a small section of the ruffle and attached it off center. I combined a die cut felt flower with a bit of fabric from the shirt. And to finish it off, I added a button flower center and a smidge of ribbon to the center of the ruffle.

And there it is Chicka's! I have once again taught Purple who's the boss. It has since apologized for talking smack to me.

Tids and Bits: Die:Sizzix, Ribbon: American Crafts

The Tall and the Small

2011-07-21T00:16:00.001-04:00

I love when a photograph depicts differences in dimension; and the picture in this layout happens to be one of my favorites. It's a snap shot of the husband with Skeeter and Buggetts admiring the riverfront. But moreover, sniff sniff.......it's a representation of how they were once really little; especially when compared to their daddy..........

....a moment in time that I can never recapture......sniff....sniff.....

......my little people are growing up........sniff....sniff sniff.........

WWWAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!

Tids & Bits: Cardstock:Bazzil; Patterned Paper: Basic Grey; Ribbon: May Arts; Ampersand: Memeory Makers; Mist: Mister Huey "Piglet"; Ink: Tim Holtz; Alphas: American Crafts; Buttons: Vintage buttons from the stash; Tag: Crate Paper

Purple Shmurple

2011-07-20T16:47:00.001-04:00

Coming next week....some fabulous upcycled projects; made with a really fugly purple blouse. Let's see if I have the skillz to make it happen. Purple's a hard one, girlies!

Bucket Lists and Such......

2011-07-18T13:23:00.000-04:00

I've no idea why this has been on my mind lately. Nothing has happened of late to make me question my own mortality. Maybe it's because I've been so caught up with the lives of others. The comings and goings of my children. The trials and tribulations of work. Maybe just the thought that tending to one's day to day needs is quite different than nurturing one's soul and feeding one's life experience; and has caused me to take a moment to pause and reflect......

Do you ever stop to think about the things on the bucket list in your life? Ideally one's BL should only contain the most serious fare. Right? A list of all one's must-do's to do before one passes on? But are there not all together less thrilling things in life you may want sip from the cup of; but do not necessarily want to devour? Not each and every life experience has to be the "jumping out of planes" type.

I have a few things on mine.

There are the important things.....
Such as visiting Germany. I will not die contentedly knowing that I never got to inhale the breath taking view of Neuschwanstein Castle; or driven through the Black Forest; or partaken in Octoberfest.....just once. Maybe I've seen National Lampoon's European Vacation one too many times; but Germany looks like it needs a visit from lil' ol' me. And let's face it....I'd look badass cute in Lederhosen.

There are ho-hum brain enriching things......
Like reading five hundred or so of the classic-est of classic novels. Are there even that many? I suppose so; but I also know that I could die sublimely happy just knowing that the hair of Lucy's Anne Shirley, did indeed turn to a nice auburn color in the end. And that Jane's Mr. Darcy shall perhaps go down in history as the man that every other man should aspire to live up to.

And then there's just the willy-nilly-silly.....
Grand and great practical jokes to play on the kids......like taking the kids on a walk in the woods while I have secretly instructed the husband to take a similar walk in the same woods wearing a BigFoot costume. Mind you, not to be done in a scary way.....but more like a "BIGFOOT DOES EXIST!!! I KNEW IT!!!!!", kind of way. He could walk within eyesight several times; just far off enough so they would not realize it was him in a costume. And just imagine the adventurous tales they could tell their friends and the "What I Did Over Summer Vacation" essays they could write......

I think out of all three, although all important; I shan't die happy unless I fulfill the last one. After all, just knowing that I created a hilarious memory for my children to look back on would be enough for me to die laughing.

And just what's on your BL? Hmmmm???

Memory Maker's Magazine July Blog Bounce "Vacation"

2011-07-12T01:05:00.000-04:00

Hey, Ya'll!!! Thanks for bouncin' in! If you arrived here directly, take some time to check out all the other fabulous participants in the Memory Maker's "Vacation" July Blog Bounce by clicking the banner above! If you are bouncin' through, you should have arrived from Lain Ehmann's Layout a Day. The link for the next blog is down at the bottom of the screen. But don't just rush off, stick around and have some fun with me!

I can't think of a better vacation than a cruise. It has everything! Food, sun, drinks, water, breath taking scenery.....it doesn't get any better than this. I've been on so many that they should make me an honorary captain. But then again, if I was steering the boat we might end up in the Bermuda Triangle. Then I wouldn't be able to bring you this fabulous layout! I think I'll just stick to slinging back the boat drinks and soakin' up the rays. Afterall, I went to play; not work!

Layers! Layers! Layers! I luuuurve to layer different papers and elements! With a little orange for a pop of color to boot!

I like adding the unexpected. What's more fun than a flower die repurposed as a sun? A bottle cap center, of course. :)

Tids and Bits: Cardstock:American Crafts; Patterned Paper: October Afternoon, Fancy Pants, My Mind's Eye, Crate Paper; Sticker Borders: Crate Paper, Pink Paisley; Stickers: October Afternoon,Studio Calico; Sparkle Buttons: Dear Lizzy; Sticky Back Fabric: Studio Calico?; Ink: Tim Holtz; Alphas: American Crafts; Die: Sizzix; Bottle Cap: Budweiser + Spellbinder's Wizard

So there you have it folks; thanks for stopping by! And while you're in the neighborhood; please bounce on over to Melissa's Blo g by clicking on the button below.

Kid Quote of the Day.........

2011-07-08T23:59:00.000-04:00

Pnut: Mommy, I like that thing. It pokes holes.
Me: Yes, I like it too.

Pnut, age 4; on admiring my Crop-o-dile BigBite. She's a future scrapbooker, fer sure.

Eye Don't Know About You, But....

2011-07-06T23:35:00.000-04:00

Eye am really digging Skeeter's new shades.

They say that the eyes are a window to the soul. Eye'm just glad that she found a set of eyes as big as her heart is. Although eye wish she wouldn't wear them when she's napping.

Guess What !?!?! Guinea Pigs only have.........

2011-07-02T00:43:00.000-04:00

just two nipples.

Did I Google this? Yes. I did.

Did I find out way more information about mammal animal nipples that I will possibly ever need to know? Yes. I suppose so.

Why would I ever look up such a thing? Meet Chewy, or Francis, or ButterCream; depending on which kid you'd be askin'.

She's been hangin' around these parts for a few months now. My kids handle her so much, that she now will let us lay her on her back and rub her belly. The Chicklets became a wee bit concerned about her, when a further belly inspection yielded only two nipples. She was sans four teats; according to my in house experts. So I just had to get to the bottom of it; as little inquiring minds want to know.

And do you know what else?
1. My sources tell me that even male whales have nipples......blink.....blink,blink
2. There is a certain species of bat wherein the male even puts his nipples to use. Ew. [insert chirping crickets here]
3. Given the number of times I found this question asked; there are entirely too many people asking questions about animal nipples on the interweb. Fo real. No diggity. No doubt.

Double ew.

Memory Maker's Magazine June Blog Bounce.......It's a Guy Thing!!!

2011-06-14T02:21:00.000-04:00

Hey, Ya'll!!! Thanks for bouncin' in! If you arrived here directly, take some time to check out all the other fabulous participants in the Memory Maker's "It's a Guy Thing!" June Blog Bounce by clicking the banner above! If you are bouncin' through, you should have arrived from Lisa's Life in Flip Flops. The link for the next blog is down at the bottom of the screen. But don't just rush off, stick around and have some fun with me!

This month's theme was all about the guys. I chose to use a picture taken a few years back, of my dad and one of my kids. He is forever making my kids smile. In this picture, he had found a funny looking tomato in the garden; and was sharing it with Buggetts. She's smiling ear to ear, holding a tomato that's almost as big as she is.

I don't usually do minimalist style scrapping. And blank space bothers me. I tried a while back, and just didn't seem to pull it off. But I thought I would try my hand at it again. You see, I'm all about the embellies. Whether it's flowers, or ribbon, or flowers, or buttons, or flowers, or bling, or flowers....... I still feel like this is missing something.....maybe the tag should have been shifted a little, or over lapping.......See if I were to put a little bit of this and a little bit of that; well you'd never know that it needed anything. But then again; the way I usually scrap; it would have everything. Hmmmm.....I really need to rethink this whole "less is more" thing. Who ever came up with that; just didn't have any stuff.

Tids and Bits: Cardstock: Bazzill; "Patterned Paper": Tag from Studio Calico kit; Paint: Plaid; Tag: Amy Tangerine; Mist: Mr Huey; Alphas: American Crafts Thickers

So there you have it folks; thanks for stopping by! And while you're in the neighborhood; please bounce on over to Lisa Pace's Blog by clicking on the button below.

Memory Maker's Magazine Blog Hop......Remember When

2011-05-10T11:42:00.001-04:00

Hey, Ya'll!!! Thanks for bouncin' in! If you arrived here directly, take some time to check out all the other fabulous participants in the Memory Maker's "Remember Me" May Blog Bounce by clicking the banner above! If you are bouncin' through, you should have arrived from Lain Ehmann's Layout a Day. The link for the next blog is down at the bottom of the screen. But don't just rush off, stick around and have some fun with me!

This month's blog bounce theme was "Remember Me". And although I don't exactly remember me when I was this age; I thought the picture was appropriate. I'm thinking that I should have my mother write a little somethin' somethin' on a journaling card to complete it. I'm sure she remembers the day I was born a lot better than I do! Geeze, do I even qualify to have my own heritage album page? Yikes!

Wasn't I the cutest, furriest little critter you ever set eyes on? Note the way the velvet trim echos the teensy ribbon in my hair. And don't I look cute lying there beside flowers cut with a Tim Holtz die?

Tids and Bits: Cardstock: Stampin' Up!; Patterned Paper: Making Memories, K&Co, and others; Die: Tim Holts for Sizzix; Brads: Making Memories, K&Co; "Flash" Card: 7 Gypsies; Trim: May Arts; Button: Etsy

Thanks for bouncin' in! Ya'll be sure to visit the Memory Maker's Blog by clicking on the button below!

Memory Makers Magazine April Blog Bounce......Blooms!

2011-04-11T23:48:00.000-04:00

Hey, Ya'll!!! Thanks for bouncin' in! If you arrived here directly, take some time to check out all the other fabulous participants in the Memory Maker's "Blooms" Blog Bounce by clicking the banner above! If you are bouncin' through, you should have arrived from Stamping with Melissa. The link for the next blog is down at the bottom of the screen. But don't just rush off, stick around and have some fun with me!

This month's theme was "_____ Blooms", and I don't think there's a better way to kick off Spring and blooms; than to use Making Memories new Dilly Dally line. Full of springy colors, fun flowers and even a little blingy bling; this line has a little somethin' somethin' for everyone!

For your chance to win the Dilly Dally line, "spring" on over to Memory Maker's Magazine, where they're giving away this fabulous Making Memories Dilly Dally prize pack!

Here lately, I've been all about green. So I was really diggin' on my background paper. I'm usually a cardstock background only type of gal; but this green sheet of patterned paper was just hankerin' for me to have my way with it. And it really meshed well with all my springy cardstock and the rest of the papers in the Dilly Dally collection.

I was really in the zone when it came to bustin' out flowers; and I put my die cutter to work. I punched a little bit of everything prints, florals and matching solid cardstock. It was fun to piece together flower bits from varying dies. I've been jones-ing for some new flower layer dies; and after spending the day making little pretties, I've got it even worse.

And dontcha just love that little yellow lovely? It screams Spring; bright and new!

Tids and Bits:Patterned Paper: Making Memories; Cardstock: Bazzil; Brads: Making Memories; Paper Rosettes: Making Memories; Dies: Tim Holtz for Sizzix, and Sizzix; Rhinestones: Micheal's Crafts

Thanks for bouncin' in! Be sure to visit Francine Clouden's blog, by clicking the button below!

Fruit, Felt, and Fabulousness.....Oh My!

2011-03-25T17:07:00.000-04:00

If you know me, then you know when it comes to scrapbooking, I'm all about the texture. Visual and touchy feely. If only I could make my pages scratch-n-sniff, I could tap into a whole other level of my artsy-fartsy-ness. But for now, I shall just settle for my little slice of mental fruitiness.

Pnut started school this year. We took these shots on her first day. I was way sadder than I thought I was going to be. I've always been one to set the kiddos free when it was time. But she's THE baby. I'll just stop there. 'Cause anything that I say after that is going to sound like wah-wah-wah-wah. Just me crying and blubbering about opening a new chapter of my life and hers........sniff.......sniff sniff.

I couldn't decide which up close and personal picture to show you, so I'm giving you both. And while you are busy double-dippin' in fruit, felt, and fabulousness; I'm just gonna skip on down to the bottom so's I can leave you with all the Tids 'n Bits! Thanks for nose-pokin' around here! Later Peeps!

Oh - and can I just say....about the title...Pththththth. After I completed it; I read it over and over again. And maybe I'm just over-analyzing it; but school is important. Therefore, no one is too cute for it. On the other hand; Pnut is just about too cute for everything, so the title sounded like she's just not cute; which is totally not the case. Ughhhh......do you ever do that? Oh well, what's glossy-accented is glossy accented.

Tids And Bits: Cardstock: Bazzill; Patterned Paper: K&Co; Felt Flowers: every company that ever made felt flowers - so there!; Felt Stickers: K&Co; Alphas: American Crafts; Punches: Martha Stewart, Stampin' Up!; Pre-threaded button: Fancy Pants

A Little Birdie Told me.....

2011-03-21T12:24:00.000-04:00

Hey Ya'll! A little birdie told me that orange suede would make an excellent bird abode! I found a brand new pair of orange suede pants at the "G" a while back, and thought they would be excellent for repurposing into some embellies.

This is a snippet of a layout I did at the Texas retreat. I used my peep, Lisa's birdhouse Sizzix die, and then inked around the roof and bottom with Distress ink. I had to go over it several times to get it as dark as I wanted it. I absolutely loved working with the leather and can't wait to use it more. Can you say head bands or some layered flowers - or maybe some more obscure die cuts like the bird house? Expect the unexpected - Chickas! It adds an interesting texture element that you don't normally see in scrapbooking.

Today's scrapbooking lesson? Think outside the box - always! Later Peeps!

Tids and Bits: Leather: salvaged; Cardstock: Bazzil; Patterned Paper: Cosmo Cricket; Brad: K&Co; Alphas: Melody Ross for GCD; Die: Sizzix; Punch: Stampin' Up!

Memory Maker's Magazine March Blog Bounce......Favorite Treat

2011-03-07T23:59:00.000-05:00

Hey, Ya'll!!! Thanks for bouncin' in! If you arrived here directly, take some time to check out all the other fabulous participants in the Memory Maker's "Favorite Treat" Blog Bounce by clicking the banner above! If you are bouncin' through, you should have arrived from Kimber McGray's blog. The link for the next blog is down at the bottom of the screen. But don't just rush off, stick around and have some fun with me!

For my favorite treat I decided to pick something that everyone in my house loves. PAN-A-CAKES! Iffin' it were up to my kids, we would dine on pan-a-cakes every night of the week. Yummy, delicious, warm-yo-belly pan-a-cakes. The best part of pan-a-cakes? When you are a naughty, naughty chef and cook them in butter. No, not pseudo-wanna-be butter but the real dealio, straight from the udder butter. Then you get those lil' crispy crunchies around the edges. Ooooo doggies! Nothin's better. Wanna go gourmet? Throw a lil' fruit in the batter, sprinkle a lil' powdered sugar sweetness on top. Great; now ya'll have gone and made me hungry.

And just how cute is this lil' apron? Doesn't it make you just want to go all June Cleaver and start bustin' out some serious house work in some serious high heels? Doesn't it stir some inner craving to mass produce lime flavored Jello molds? Well no need to clutch your pearls girlies. If you survived Home Ec, you too can make one!
Tids and Bits: Cardstock: Stampin' Up!, Bazzil; Patterned Paper: Cosmo Cricket, October Afternoon, K&Co; Ribbon: Offray, Cosmo Cricket (red twill), Yellow ruffle salvaged from a blouse ;) ; Felt bits: American Crafts; Pancake image: Melissa Francis

Thanks, Ya'll for stoppin' in! Be sure to visit Lain Ehmann's blog, Layout A Day, by clicking the button below!

Sunshine Happiness

2011-02-24T15:04:00.000-05:00

Ya'll Ready for a feel good layout? I had a blast putting this one together. I've been in luuuurrrve with this cloudy American Crafts paper since I got it. It goes perfectly with happy children and a sunny day at the park.

My only disappointment with this layout is that I didn't have a full picture of Buggetts going down the slide. I had to use a pic where the top of her head was a little lopped off, but she took one for the team and it still turned out cute!

Can you say strategically placed butterflies and flowers? Sometimes I get a little adhesive happy and then decide to move things around. I originally had one of the kids placed at the top of the paper, and then later moved her down to the bottom. When I moved her it smooodged my paper and I had to go with emergency bits and pieces to cover it up. Oh well, they fit right in with the theme.

Tids and Bits: Cardstock: Bazzil; Patterned paper: K&Co, American Crafts, Basic Grey; Chipboard: DCWV; Foam: Funfoam; Felt: Fancy Pants, K&Co; Brad: My Mind's Eye; Ink: Martha Stewart; Pin: Fancy Pants; Dies: Sizzix leaf and Hello Kitty Tree

Putting things into Perspective......

2011-02-14T23:20:00.000-05:00

This is a picture of my oldest daughter.
This masterpiece was done by her little sister, Skeeter.
Pause to feel the aura of wind whipped hairs.
Become enraptured by the dazed and glowing eyes.
Note the sharp and snarly teeth.

Me thinks the two of them need some real QUALITY time together.

My Sunshine

2011-02-13T11:40:00.000-05:00

I love this picture. I also love this day. The kids were out for springbreak. Although we didn't do anything extravagant; my little mini me's still had a fab time going to the park, seeing a movie, visiting their grandparents, and eating at Pizza Hut. The day we went to the park, it was super sunny and super windy; or as Pnut likes to say, "It's very shiny outside!". In this picture of Skeeter, I was trying to get her to smile; but the sun was shining in her eyes and the wind was whippin' her hairs all around. At least she thought it was funny and embraced the moment for what it was.

I've had a pack of Fancy Pants felt for almost two years, and have barely used any of it. And then I saw that sunshine, and knew it would go perfectly with my theme.

Overly embellished, as usual. I think I hit on just about every texture out there. Later Peeps!

Tids and Bits: Cardstock: Bazzil; Patterned Paper: K&Co; Felt Bits: Fancy Pants, Queen&Co, Dear Lizzy; Paper Flowers: Prima, K&Co; Bling: Reminisce, Making Memories; Crocheted Bits: Dear Lizzy, Salvaged; Bling: Reminisce, KI Memories; Butterfly: Colorbok; Metal Flower: Making Memories; Alphas: American Crafts; Flair: Dear Lizzy; Plastic Flowers: American Crafts; Journaling Tag: Boxer; Rub On: Fancy Pants

Memory Makers Blog Bounce..... "Who Do You Love?"

2011-02-08T00:06:00.000-05:00

Hey, Ya'll!!! Thanks for bouncin' in! If you arrived here directly, take some time to check out all the other fabulous participants in the Memory Maker's "Who Do You Love?" Blog Bounce by clicking the banner above! If you are bouncin' through, you should have arrive from Lisa's - Life in Flip Flops. The link for the next blog is down at the bottom of the screen. But don't just rush off! Hang out with me for awhile!

Lil' Pnut, my youngest daughter, becomes fascinated with the funniest things. We were just about to leave church when I caught her standing over the A/C vent, mesmerized by the way the air poofed out her skirt. Moments like this make me wish I could be little again. Or at the very least, stand over a vent with a skirt on. I mean, you have to agree; that looks like fun!

This layout offers a little bit of everything. New, old, salvaged; it pretty much has it all. The sheet music was from a vintage swap that I hosted on the Memory Maker's forum. I used Mod Podge on my patterned paper background, layered it with the sheet music, then gave it one more coat for good measure.

And see that big shiny beauty? That's an earring, who's mate was lost a long time ago. The crocheted bits were snipped from an old table runner that had seen better days.

I used Rit Dye mixed with a little alcohol for the rose. Instead of saturating it, I applied the mix with my fingertips. I wanted to get enough on there to just highlight the texture of the fabric and give it a light blush.

Tids and Bits: Patterned Paper: 3 Bugs in a Rug; Cardstock: Bazzil; Buttons: Jenni Bowlin, and random buttons salvaged from clothing; Brads: Lost and Found by MME; Black Trim: purchased at Hobby Lobby; Pink Trim: Lost and Found by MME; Fabric Rose: Offray; Alphas: American Crafts; Hat Pin: ColorBok; Metal Tag: Making Memories; Journaling Tag: 7Gypsies; Large Rhinestone: salvaged; Crocheted Bits: salvaged

Thanks, Ya'll for stoppin' in! Be sure to visit Lisa Pace's blog by clicking the button below!

Dog Tired!

2011-02-06T22:46:00.000-05:00

Let me just say, this house has always been a pet free zone. It's not that I don't like little fuzzy wuzzies; it's just that it was just that every time I've turned around over the past fifteen years, I've been popping mini-me's out the babymaker. There has just never been a good opportunity to introduce a furbaby into the fold.

We have, however, lent our sitting services out from time to time by taking in the varmints of friends when they traveled. There was the time that we watched those two hamsters. Skeeter, 4 yrs old, picked them up; one in each hand and announced proudly, "I LOOOOVE these hambbbsters!". Did I mention that she was kind of squeezing them? And that their teensy beady eyes were starting to bulge? Or that they maybe shed a few hamster size tears? And then there was the time when we watched a dog (who shall remain nameless) of a very important person (who shall remain nameless, as well); annnnndddd.... he kind of, sort of ran away. Only to be found an hour later in a neighbor's back yard with about five other little furry critters that looked just like him. It was like he had found the Shih Tzu mother ship.

But we've come a long way, and learned many lessons through our adventures. And get this, people still trust us enough to ask us to keep their furry best friends. It's a great opportunity for us to get a gauge on how well the kids would do with a pet. How responsible they would be at the ages they are now, teaching them to be nurturing, and the difference between hugging an animal and squeeeeeeezing them. A coworker of the scrubby had us watch his dog from time to time; before he moved away. Ellie would stay for about a week each visit. And to say the little people in this house loved her and that she loved them back; would be an understatement. She would play all her doggie games with them, would sleep at their feet on the couch, she would even let Pnut put a blankie over her and tuck her in for naps. This dog was rotten; really. We miss her dearly.

I had been wanting to experiment with my heat gun for a while. I put that suckah to the test with a heat embossed border. I wanted the stamped images to look a little rough and tad sloppy, as I thought it would lend itself to the retro look I was going for. And see that black and white plaid flower? That, my dear peeps, was once a pair of pants. I found them at the thrift store. And, well since I feel it is my duty to see that no one wears plaid pants, EVAH!, I took them out of circulation. Social persecution is never a good thing......I did some civvies challenged person out there a service..........really..........okay, so I'm speaking from personal experience....just no hatin', okay? The eighties were hard on all of us.

Tids and Bits: Cardstock: Bazzil; Patterned Paper: Cosmo Cricket; Crocheted bits and and plaid fabric: salvaged finds: Ribbon: American Crafts, Heidi Grace, Cosmo Cricut; Library Card: Boxer; Rose Trim: Offray?; Alphas: Melody Ross for GCD; Die: Sizzix; Paper Flower: Making Memories; Stamps: Basic Grey, KI Memories, and Autumn Leaves

An Homage to My Snowy Friends

2011-02-02T11:09:00.000-05:00

While my peeps to the north and the south of me are virtual snow cones; I'm sorry to say, my dear followers, that there is nary a flake to be found 'round these parts. At least not yet. And I'd like to keep it that way, thank you very much.

But my scrappy sistahs, please know that I am thinking of you today. I dedicate this layout to all of you freezing cold chickie babies! I took these pictures last season. I waited so long to use it because I was going to try to edit that flake right off of Pooh's nose. In the end, I just couldn't get it like I wanted it; but s'okay. That flake helps tell the story.

Very rarely does a layout come together this easily for me. The ribbon, the paper, the big flake, the Thickers; everything just flowed all at once. None of that desperate searching for just the right thing. Ya gotta love when that happens! I used two different colors of Polymark paint to soup up my Thickers with ice and snow. I heart me some sqeeeeeze paint, Ya'll!

Tids & Bits: Cardstock: Bazzil; Patterned paper: Martha Stewart, DCWV, Chatterbox; Ribbon: American Crafts, Offray; Alphas: American Crafts; Paint: Polymark; Snowflake Punch: Stampin' Up!; Stamp: Autumn Leaves; Giant Snow Flake: Courtesy of the loot basket from the Texas retreat, made by Kelly.

Potable Quotables

2011-02-01T11:17:00.000-05:00

"I'd rather live my life being absolutely ridiculous, than being absolutely boring."

Not sure where I heard it, or who said it; but I feel certain that they were talking specifically about me. Is there a quote that defines you? Please share!

Sometimes There are No Words

2011-01-31T11:45:00.000-05:00

Funny, lil' Pnut was just playing bingo with her sisters when I snapped this shot. She just looks so serious; guess she plays to win! This is another layout I did at the Texas retreat. More of that yummy delicious Melody Ross for GCD paper too!

I had so much fun doing this page. See that little crocheted bit? That's right! It came from a sweater. If you were there, I was the nutty broad rummaging through the cabinets looking for tea and vinegar. Nothing, and I mean nothing, is ever safe around me. Everything has crafty capabilities, Ya'll! I cut a slit along the edge of the roses and slid my matted picture in. I do this quite a bit when I have a piece of paper that calls for it.

Tids & Bits: Patterned Paper: Melody Ross for GCD, DCWV, Making Memories; Ribbon: Making Memories; Paper Flowers: Making Memories, Prima, Heidi Grace; Plaid Fabric Flower: Cut from a pair of Madras print shorts; Chipboard: Melody Ross for GCD; Purple Plastic Flower: an earring from the hosts at the retreat; Vintage Buttons: Mostly from Don over at Memory Makers! Thanks Don!

Sister Love

2011-01-29T10:08:00.000-05:00

Best friends? Worst Enemies? It's always a toss up with these two. So when this photo op came along, well I had to take advantage of it; sometimes days like these are few and far between.

One of my fab friends gifted me with this lux Melody Ross paper kit. I very rarely ever use kits, because a lot of times I find that they can tend to have a Garanimaly kind of feel to them. but this kit had a lot of variety, a lot of color, and a good range of embellies. This paper really jived with my vintage buttons. Recognize that flower? That's right chickas! That granny sweater is the gift that keeps on giving. Miss Lora gave the lil' flower some power with a spritz of Glimmer Mist; which I had never used before, but definitely plan on getting a bottle or two!

The Deets: Cardstock: Stampin' Up!; Patterned Paper: Melody Ross for GCD, old school Chatterbox, DCWV, Making Memories; Alphas: American Crafts; Flowers: Prima, Heidi Grace; Bling: KI Memories, Reminisce; Crocheted Flower: salvaged from a granny sweater; Brads: Basic Grey; Punches: Stampin' Up!; Chipboard: Melody Ross for GCD; Metal Tab: Making Memories; Stickers: Melody Ross for GCD

Who's That Lady???

2011-01-28T14:20:00.001-05:00

Ever need a diecut of a certain somethin' somethin', and just can't find anything that speaks to you? Maybe you are looking for an image that's just a little more custom made than anything that's out there. I know there are some that hand cut like nobody's bizznass all the time, but I very rarely do. I've just never really liked my results.....'til now. I think this turned out rather cute, if I do say so myself.

Lil' Pnut has been wearing this fabulous orange dress for a couple of seasons now. It is an absolute favorite of hers; so much so, that I plan on turning this garment into some sort of pillow when it no longer fits. Complete strangers are always complimenting her on her orange dress. People who know her will sometimes ask why she's not wearing her button dress today. She is all smiles when she wears it too. But if you ask me, I think she's the head turner, not the dress. But I've been known to be a little biased too; after all I made the kid, not the clothes.

The deets: Cardstock: Stamping Up!, Bazzil; Patterned Paper: Cosmo Cricket, KI Memories, making Memories; Buttons: Making Memories, Gymboree, and tons of others; Flocked Chipboard: Pressed Petals; Alpha Dies: Sizzix Curlz; And a special thanks goes out to the Isley Brothers for my title.

Later Peeps!

Bam Pop, Ya Don't Stop!

2011-01-27T12:22:00.000-05:00

Since my blog has been sans pics lately, and you're probably getting tired of all my dramatics; I thought I'd play catch up with some of the layouts that I've done within the last few months.

I'm a huge fan of Bam Pop papers. Bam Pop papers are the perfect marriage of pop culture and comic book goodness. Blending delicious colors and images, they are the ultimate in pop coolness. I admit, it took me a long time to work up the courage to start using it. The papers are so interesting to look at. And well, having the perfect picture to go along with them is a must. Given that they are chock full of color and images, I felt that a black and white photo was in order. And what better subject matter than kids and marshmallows! Eat it up, Ya'll! But be sure to come back for seconds!

I first featured the Ninguins in this post. But just in case you don't know about Ninguins, they are badass ninja penguins. Want a real life Ninguin of your own? It's just a click away.....They have actually made these into cute lil' stuffed critters. Get yours today!

What goes good with marshmallows and Ninguins? A big phat helping of felt, or in this case "phelt". I used Polymark clear glitter paint to jazz up my clouds!

Can I get a "Hollah!" for Dear Lizzy? Little girl cute transformed into cartoon crafty!

What? You want the deets? Cardstock:Bazzil; Patterned Paper: Bam Pop, K&Co; Ribbon: American Crafts; Alphas, Chipboard Hearts, and Fencing: American Crafts; Chipboard Wings: Colorbok; Felty Clouds and Straight Pin: Fancy Pants; Brads: Basic Grey, Reminisce, K&Co, FancyPants, Felt Sunshine: Queen & Company; Threaded Buttons: Fancy Pants, the others were salvaged from old clothes; Inks: Stampin' Up!

The Young and the Scrapless....Episode2

2011-01-26T11:51:00.000-05:00

You know the drill....Click the lil' arrow on your left to set the mood. And if you missed episode one click here.

Previously on The Young and the Scrapless......
We were just about to find out Susan's fate. Did she succumb to Michael's menacing ways? Did she fall into Timmy's tempting trap? And is Joann still weaving a wicked web?

After being set up to take a nasty fall in her kids bathroom........We find our favorite characters at the local hospital........
Husband: Doc.....is she going to make it?
Doc: There are mild complications from her shingles on her stomach. But we have administered an IV to her big toe and the nurse will be attaching the heart monitor to her foot.......
Husband:....gazing at Susan: Darling! I can't loose you! Not now! You are half way through your shopping addiction detox....you've come so far. (tears filling his eyes)...You can do this..... WE can do this!....... (head falling on pillow, grasping Susan's hand....)...........
Doc: I have more bad news. I'm afraid she may never scrap again.
(camera pans to close up to Susan's foot....and then to a single tear falling down the cheek of her husband).......

Yesterday, I brought ya'll up to speed regarding the demise of my bad shopping habit over the past year. I do feel that I succeeded in many areas; only shopping when I traveled, special occasions, the CKC vendor fair.
But there were other areas that I feel like I didn't do so good.....

Cheats: Although few and far between, there were a few. But I can count them all on my hand! A spool of ribbon, three cards of self sticky bling (these were fifty pennies each), a package of lil' metal bits that I scored for a buck, and finally I bought a pack of Basic Grey Woolies a couple of days ago. Oh, and there was that Stamping Up! order......um yeah.....but, but........you don't understand. Most of it was ink. And that's like a raw supply or tool. Alright. there were two boxes of brads, some crocheted flowers, and cardstock. But over the course of a year, that's not bad shopping wise. Oh....and the chickens, don't forget them.
HomeSpun Goodies: I wish I had purchased more Sizzix flower dies and done more here. I've got a drawer full of clothing to recycle. And while I did make some cool stuff, I didn't accomplish all I had hoped.
Mojo: So just in case you're out of the loop - I came down with an evil case of shingles on my stomach; only to followed by a supah nasty sprained big toe. Really, all I wanted to do for months was sleep on the couch. And most of the time, that sleeping involved some sort of ice pack on one area or another. And although I recaptured some of my mojo when I went to Texas for the retreat, it seemed like it was off and on for several moths following.
Blogging: I really wanted to keep up with this. Posting my experiments as I went. Between my injuries and blahness, I didn't. And to me, that's a fail. I did make some goodies and layouts. But just tossed them in the completed pile when I finished them. Which, if you think about it, is really ridonkulous. Why do all that work and not share it?

My fails were not really big fails, unless you count the blogging thing. But, most importantly, I saw my goal through and broke a really bad habit along the way. I now analyze EVERY purchase I make now, big and small. I'm more focused on putting my dough into organizing my negatives, developing pictures, and purchasing a few tools. It very rarely ever occurs to me that I should even pop into a craft store, unless I need glue or something; and of course, NEVAH without a coupon!

Oh, and if you're still curious if there was something going on with Timmy, Michael, Joann, and me, well.....not really. I bought a pair of Timmy's scissors by Tonic, a couple ink pads, and a few of his embellies in Texas. But, nay. No love child to speak of, unless you count all the fab things I made with his products. As far as Michael and Joann are concerned, well they are currently in a love triangle with all of you guys!
Oh, and don't expect an episode three. 'Cause, yeah..... this is starting to get REALLY dumb. And the drama I already have in my life doesn't need over embellishing with crazy story lines that revolve around the life of famous scrap industry people and craft stores. Peace out Homeskillets!

The End of an Error...um....Era

2011-01-25T09:57:00.000-05:00

Wait. Before we begin.....you MUST click the lil' arrow on the box to the right. I can't, for the life of me, figure out how to add the music so it plays automatically. So ya'll set the mood for me, alright? Do it!

Setting: In a tiny town, nestled in beautiful Kentucky scenery; we find Susan. A short, round in all the right places, mother of four, wife to tall, dark and handsome Troy. Having dedicated her life to caring for those around her, she found herself caught up in a world of scrapbooking. Indulging her habits, she would spend time with Michael and Timmy and dare I say it? Joann. (Geeze, don't look so surprised! Just shhhhhh!!!! and listen)......Scandal soon ensued, and in a effort to reclaim the uncluttered life she once knew she set upon a journey. There were tears. There were break downs. There were Stickles in her hair. And yes. There was heart break. As we join Susan, our tale unfolds at a year end struggle with a scrappy shopping addiction. Did she pull herself out of the depths of despair? Or will we find her, sitting all alone surrounded by chipboard and paint? Did she succumb to crafty temptations? We now join the program, already in progress.........................

I know, most people post about their year's end at, well....the end of the year. But since I seem to be running on a scrappy fiscal year....here goes!

On January 30, 2010; in a effort to curb a mean shopping habit, I took on what I thought was an impossible task. If you're memory is lacking, check this post. They say it takes about six weeks or so to break a bad habit. And once I settled in, it wasn't really that bad. The goal was to mainly scrap from my stash. I did allow myself to shop on special occasions - CKC, when I traveled, and a few raw supplies (glue, fabric, and such) to finish projects. Also, I wanted to test my skillz and see just what I could make myself. Grab your coffee, Chickas! I've written a novel.

I feel that I succeeded in some aspects, and failed in others.
Cardstock: I went from having three Cropper Hopper vertical files, down to having one. - Success!
Patterned paper: While all the paper ho's out there sat and watched with their mouths agape; I did a crazy purge, happily getting rid of a good chunk of my stash. When I purged, I weeded out doubles, triples, and quadruples. I also got rid of some REALLY homely stuff from my early years. Success!
Chipboard Shapes: I've always had a love hate relationship with this stuff. I adore it, until I have to store it. And WHY do manufactures think that I need six of the same thing. Not a wise purchase for me....at all. I kept a sampling of what I liked, and sent the remainders to a good home.
Chipboard letters: What started out as a tiny basket, grew into a small three drawer obsession. Morphing, then into a giant tub problem. Although I've kind of gotten away from using these, I made one last valiant attempt to use it up. I did four layouts, trying to mix and match fonts. I thought that if I could make a large dent in the pit, then I would allow my alphas to remain in my scrappy family. I used 54 letters - and still you could even tell that I had touched them. And lets face it, if you know me; you know that I am a Thickers gal. These will soon be leaving the nest. Buh-Bye alphas! Any takers out there? Success!
Bits and Pieces: You know who you are. Buttons, teensey metal bits, lil' rubber embellies, plastic arrows, charms, paper clips, blingy orts....shall I continue? I'll be the first to admit it. I had a REAL problem here. There was nothing like the high that I got from going into a store and finding a bargain on some little random embellie. Or using a coupon to acquire the latest and greatest, only to have it sit in my stash and stare back at me. Blink.....blink..blink. Or what about finding that oh so special liquidation sale, wherein I could give someone $75 buckazoids, and they would gladly send me all the stuff they could stuff in a box, plus forgo the shipping. NOTE TO SELF: there's a reason it didn't sell! Check -yo-self honey!; and put down the credit card. NOW! Success!
Stickers: I've never had a real problem here; well maybe at the beginning. But for the most part, it's a non-issue. All the fugly ones got purged into the treasure box for my kids to use for school projects. Success!
Thickers: Okay. I know what you're going to say. But I tried. I did. Then Biglots had them for $2 a pack. But you know what? I get true joy and pleasure out of using these. I love them. And they never go unused. Evah! Success? I think so; but my brain is a little warped at times too.
Ribbon: I cracked. Once. And made one teensy "illegal" purchase. Gimme a break, I was just getting started. On the whole, however, I used bunches from my stizzash. And there's still bunches left. But I luuurrrve it all. I don't think I would part with any of it.

Where are all the fails, you ask? Tune in tomorrow, when we find out if Susan made a purchase. Did she really use that orange suede for any thing creative. Will Victor leave Nikki for Susan? Oh, wait. Wrong soap........Will her husband leave her for stalking Timmy and bearing his love child? Is Joann still a part of her life? And remember......Like sands through the hour glass....... These are the Days of my Scrappy Life. Bwahaha!

Chicken!!! It's What's for Dinner!

2011-01-24T17:10:00.000-05:00

Look what I found, my Peeps! Basic Grey Chicken party favors. Courtesy of Big Lots, for - check it....One dollah! Hollah! Don't ask me WHY I bought these. I mean, first of all, how often do you find chicken party favor boxes? And secondly, do you need any other reason? I think not; as these little ladies speak for themselves.

I'm in a hurry! But I'll leave you with this......

BWWWWOOOCCCKKKK! Later Peeps!

PS. Here's a great place for all your chicken quote needs!

NEEDS.....

2011-01-21T17:38:00.000-05:00

I need new Graphic 45 paper, new ribbon, Primas, Sizzix texture plates, Tim Holtz fasteners, another bottle of Glossy Accents, a spool of wire, Distressed Stickles, a few Packages of Thickers, a bottle of Elmers, some , ooo ooo some more paint, a teensy Kewpie doll, some vintage buttons, a hat pin, a handful of vintage bottle caps, beads, twine, a ginormous key, a lil' dinky key, a binder clip, UTEE, a heat gun, a crocheted doily, a couple packs of Grundgeboard, some lace, thread, sewing machine needles, anything Jenni Bowlin, a trip to the flea market, a bolt of canvas, a tube of rhinestones, five bottles of Glimmer Mist, a few coupons, an easy button, some tequila, and a shot glass. There. That should do it.

I Ain't Misbehavin' ......this time

2011-01-20T14:50:00.000-05:00

Soooooo.......I was out running errands this morning and I had it on good authority from this gal that there was major Basic Grey being spotted at Biglots. Aaaannnnndddd welllllll since I had to go there anyways to pick up crackers (and, can I say that NO this was NOT an excuse. I go there every two weeks to buy my little lovlies thier crackers.) I thought I'd check to see what my BL's had to offer. I was not let down either! They had BG Sugar Rush journaling cards and doilies. There were BG Sugar Rush stamps and ribbon too. They even had evil rub-ons. Then there was my personal favorite, the BG Woolies. Oh, and ooooo....ooooo...oooooo.....AND they had twenty piece packs of Bazzil cardstock.

Wellllllll......when I wasn't looking the journaling cards jumped into my buggy. Then the Woolies stealthily snuck in after them and snuggled up next to their friends. After that a Doilie fell in. And I'll be darned if that Bazzil cardstock didn't hide itself under the Spongebob Squarepants Cheeze Nips.

Okay, have I mentioned that my shopping freeze will end on JANUARY 30th???? So I contemplated this purchase. I hemmed and hawwed. I nixxed the journaling cards. There were five each of five different designs in the pack. I think I would get tired of using them. After that, I considered the Woolies. Out of all of them, I only reeeeeallllly liked the felt cupcake. Paying three buckazoids for only liking one thing.....nope. I put that one back. Next was that Doilie. It had a lot going for it. Cuteness? Check! Cheap? Check! Intricately cut? Check! But in the end I put it back on the shelf. It had, after all fell into my cart. At this point, it was not looking good for the dynamic duo of BL's and BG. The only remaining offending item was the Bazzil. Twenty sheets for five bucks. Back it went. I've been switching my plain cardstock purchases to Stampin' Up, as it is a heavier weight and holds up better to all the junk I put on my pages.

So see??? Today was not an epic fail! I have ten more days 'til my self challenge is over with. But I'll just tell you right now, if they had had any BG epoxy brads, I do believe whole heartedly that I would have been toast, fer sure! And Thickers? At Big Lots? Fuggedaboutit!!!!

All Together Now......

2011-01-19T00:29:00.000-05:00

Can I get a collective "Awwwwwwwwe"? Birds, owls, trees, mushrooms...... Just looking at my bloogy revamp makes me giddy! Any minute, I fully expect sprites and brownies to pop out and join me on my great blogosphere quest. Que the fairy dust, Chickas! Momma's on a roll!!!!

Oh, and did I mention that I'm back my Peeps!!! Although I really never went anywhere of note. Can you believe that I haven't blogged since September? What the heck??? Life just caught up with me, I suppose. Oh, and one of my kids broke the screen on my camera....again. So there was no picture taking for me for a while. I reckon' I just threw my hands up and surrendered. I let the spawn dance circles around me while I tried to bury my head under the laundry. They strong armed me into making warm soup for their tiny bellies. They forced me to put HighSchool Musical Tattoo Band-Aids on their boo-boo's. One of them even had the gall to ask me to wipe their butt! Oh, a mother's work is never done. It is a labor of love, indeed!

Toodles my Peeps! Check back soon, I've got scads of creations to creatively share!

Note to Self.....

2010-09-23T11:12:00.001-04:00

When traveling long distances to a crop, it is not necessary to pack every brad and button that you own. Nor must you pack twenty different types of adhesives. And lug five reams of paper across four states.

P.S. There is, however; no such thing as too many Thickers.

Wanna See My FunBags?

2010-09-22T00:32:00.000-04:00

Well, I've already showed ya'll the junk in my trunk. So is anyone really surprised that I'd want to share my funbags too?

Back at the beginning of the summer I saw this cool Vera Bradley overnight bag in a magazine. Dare I say, it was lurrrrve at first sight? Well I was not going to rest until I had it. It was the perfect blend of orangey goodness; with a hint of turquoise mixed in. Plus it's laminated; which is a good thing, since I can be a real klutz. I knew it would be mine. It's a rare thing for me to splurge and buy myself something really nice, but with a very special scrappy trip coming up, well....I was not going to be denied.

Then I went in pursuit of an orange purse to match. Does anyone have any idea just how hard it is to find an orange purse. Yes, I could have taken the easy route and just ordered a matching Vera Bradley purse. But I had a vision in my head, and well a quilted bag just wasn't cuttin' it. Fast forward through many shopping trips to many stores.......there was no orange beauty to be found. Enter this supah orangey shiny bag from the Gap. I fell in love with this bag as soon as I saw it. And although it's not designeresque, who fargin' cares. It's orange and I lurrrrve it. It's like a ball of sunshine hanging from my shoulder. I don't think I'm gonna take it on my trip though. It's just too big. BUT........

I found this little cutie. It harkens to my inner hippie artsy side. Cue the waa-waa guitars and drag out your bell bottoms! I feel like I'm wearing a piece of art. And although there's no painting involved, I feel very "Bob Ross happy little trees" toting this. What's that? It's not orange, you say? Well, what it lacks in juicy Orange Juliusness, it more than makes up with vintage-y funk. Just call me Macrame Momma. Speaking of Macrame......do ya'll remember those weird macrame owls from the '70's? Was I the only one that was a little creeped out by them? I can still see their freaky wooden bead eyes in my sleep. Just sayin.....

Kid Quote of the Day......

2010-09-21T15:56:00.000-04:00

A pretty little dove walked across the sidewalk while Pnut was waiting for the bus.

Pnut (in her teeny tiny Pnut voice) : "awwww....isa chickin'. It's so cute. "

I was already feeling sorry for the dove because it was all by itself; but then to be called a chicken on top of that. HA! These are the moments when you wished you had your camera.

What da....

2010-07-26T00:13:00.000-04:00

Where my bloggy background at? Feels like someone stole my draws and hung them from the flag pole when I wasn't lookin. Dang.

Oh Snap!!!

2010-06-12T17:41:00.000-04:00

Just a few random snap shots of the family at the park, sans one kid. Not sure where Buggetts was that day........
And not the best quality pics either. Sometimes my camera seems to have a mind of it's own.

Pooh and I posin'. She's still tryin' to teach me how to take self portraits. Glad we were able to for go the over-injected-with-collagen-painful looking-Angelina Jolie pucker lips and the cow eyes for this one.

Here's Skeeter practicing her danglin'.

Yes. I am the mother of Chicken Little.

And I did indeed marry this man. For blogging's sake we'll call him T-roy Jam and as I recall we met at a bar. Although he didn't seem this weird when he found me. Just remember ladies, "Will you be my friend?" is not a good pick up line.

Later Peeps!

'Sup, Ya'll?

2010-06-11T16:02:00.000-04:00

Hello my dear followers. So I'm guessing everyone has been wondering where I've been. I would love to be able to tell you that I've been on a two month 'round the world scrappy expedition; that I've been spending quality time donating my talents to the betterment of mankind. But alas, it is not so. I have fallen into the shameful abyss of Blogger MIA-ers. I have spiraled down a lowly path of laziness and complacentness. Mojo-less and bored. Dare I say it......paper had become just that - Paper. sigh..............

Buuuuuut.................. I'M BACK!!!!! Mojo and All!

In the next few days I'll be taking you on a ride through a time machine of pictures and things that I really should get around to scrapping, but was busy doing instead. So stay tuned Chickas, it should be an interesting week. :)

Kid Quote of the Week.....

2010-04-13T12:19:00.000-04:00

"Twinkle, twinkle, little star........E-I-E-I-O!!!"

courtesy of Pnut, age 3

Say 'Ello to My Leeeetle Friend.........

2010-03-31T12:07:00.000-04:00

Iff'in you were lurking around the MM boards back around Christmas time, you would have read my rant about not getting the only thing that I asked for for Christmas. And if you weren't around, well I'll bring you up to date. I wanted a pair of sock monkey slippers. They were in an ad at Target. The scrubby and the kids set off that weekend to nab said slippers. Anticipation building as the big day approached. Wrapping paper torn. Taped box ripped open. I think there was some heavy breathing thrown in there too.

And then there was this:
[click]

Yes. that's right. You are seeing a pair of bubblegum pink, weird-looking monkey, monkey slippers. Very much not the sock monkey variety.

Well, I only talked about it once on the boards; but my poor co-workers had to listen to my ranting for a week, plus the occasional griping ever since the actual Sock Monkey Slipper Fiasco of '09 took place. "Everything I do for them, and I can't even get a pair of sock monkey slippers, arrrrggggghhh!"; has now become my mantra whenever I am annoyed with the family.

Now for the good stuff. Let me introduce you to my new friend Scrappy Bubbles. Scrappy 'cause that's how I roll; and Bubbles, 'cause that's what they call me 'round these parts. My dear friend Fay made her for me. Complete with an embroidered ribbon tied around it's neck. And check that cool hat with the homemade flower on it. Fay even attached a little heart bobble on her chest. And how 'bout that bell on her tail? 'Cause, like, nobody wants to be sneaked up on by a sock monkey, right? And my favorite part???? Que the ZZ Top Legs song.........'cause this sexy stuffed simian has them.

Right now, you are probably asking, "What IS this weird attraction to sock monkeys? And does she secretly own one of these?" The answer is: I have absolutely no idea. Other than the fact that each hand made one is unique as the person who made it. And just like people and dear friends, there are no two that are alike. And well, the most obvious thing is that it's homespun, baby! Oh.......And no. I don't own one of those. Geeze........... I've had four kids, gimme a break, I'm not in any shape to wear that!

Now for a little history lesson. Here's a linky if you're interested in how the sock monkey got it's start. Ya know I'm always happy to edu-ma-cate others with all my useless, random, pop culture knowledge! Peace out, My Peeps!

Granny Sweater Gets a Spanking

2010-03-17T09:00:00.000-04:00

I totally heart reinventing things. Check out this supah ugly sweater that I recently found at the "G". Doesn't it make you want to break out the doilies, eat warm cookies and hear stories about walking to school in the snow, uphill, both ways? When I came across it, I knew that it had to come home with me and fulfill it's destiny in scrappy heaven.

I've really been givin' mega love to crocheted flowers lately. Not only could I give new life to those lil' flowers, but I scored some sweet pearlies too! So with a lil' snip snip, I ended up with 24 flowers and a good haul of beads too. All for a measly $2.50. But wait! It gets better...............................

..............I broke out the big guns on this one. That's right, baby. The red Rit dye. Although I didn't look at the fabric content before I performed sweater surgery. I feel pretty certain that there was probably some polyester in it? I couldn't get them to hold a rich red color. Or maybe I'm new to the ways of the Rit? But salmon's a fab color too! And yes, ideally you would want your flowers to be made from crochet thread. But for the price, yarn was a sacrifice I was willing to make!

So take that granny sweater! Don't mess with the artiste! And don't everyone run out to the "G" all at once, cause I'd hate to see any of ya'll get in a tug of war with a lil' old lady over a sweater. Later Peeps!

Would someone please.......

2010-03-12T10:21:00.001-05:00

inform the blogger spellchecker that cardstock, Bazzill, scrapbooking, supah, papah, Thickers, and anything that I put an apostrophe after; are, indeed, all actual words? They keep harrasin' me with that little red squiggle line, doubled up with that mean yellow highlight. Thank You. That is all.

My Lumps. My Lumps. My Lovely Scrappy Lumps.....

2010-03-10T12:17:00.002-05:00

I've officially tackled something I've never done. I love those cool mini albums, but I've always been kind of skeert of them. Why my trepidation, you ask? It's the lumps, my friends. Rather, the EXPOSED lumps. I'm still nervous about this one. Not "I just gambled away the mortgage in Vegas nervous" or "I woke up in the monkey cage at the zoo this morning, now I'm having that Planet of the Apes moment I've always had nightmares of" nervous, mind you. But more like, "I have four touchy feely little girls" nervous. I'm thinking about reworking it into an actual 6x6 mini album. But then I loose that cool "I get to use lots of ribbon" ribbon effect. Sighhh.....

So if you read my last post, you know that I was a naughty, naughty gal; and went against my own word and bought a kit. Ribbon, cardstock stickers, and paper. It had the perfect makings of stash surplus. But have no fear!.......... My lumpy mini album is here! Now I'll just let you browse at your leisure. See ya down at the bottom!

So here's everything that's left. there are 2 6x6 pieces of paper and some eensy weensy bits. not bad, 'specially for someone that already has too much unused, "needs to be made into an actual project" stuff. Still worried about those lumps, though. And I'm not gonna leave the supply list this time, Chicas. 'Cause, ya know, it would be like supah long! If'n yer eyeballin' somethin' ask me in the comments, I'll hook you up! Later Peeps!

Kid Quote of the Week........

2010-03-10T07:37:00.000-05:00

Riding in the car to the grocery store.......

Skeeter: Mommmmy?.........Are rabid squirrels real?
Me: (???? long pause ?????)....... Do you mean, are rabbits and squirrels real?
Skeeter: No. Are RABID squirrels real?
Me: (snickering to myself)..... Um, yes. (????????)

Now just how do you answer a question like that? Our backyard is full of squirrels. That's all I need, a kid with a rabid squirrel phobia.

So Easy, a Baby Could Do It.

2010-03-09T00:19:00.000-05:00

This post involves a bit of a confession, I must admit. About four days before CKC rolled around, I took my teenager shoppin'. She was dying for a new pair of jeans and wanted to go to TJMaxx. While she was in the dressing room, I browsed the home goods section, 'cause lets face it, TJM's has the BEST stuff. Where else can you snag an orange Le Creuset tea pot for $25 bucks? Or an All-Clad pan at half off retail? Or how 'bout supah fluffy discounted towels from my man Ralph?

What? That confession? Oh, did I digress? Sigh.....So this confession is a twofer. I bought a page kit. There. I said it. I will own my transgression. I will wear it like a scarlet letter. So before ya'll give up on me, here me out. First, let me say that I walked in with that CKC dough stuffed in my purse. I should have left it at home, I know. Secondly it was a KIT. I never buy these. Evah. I've even gone so far as to post on the MM forum, that I stay away from them. Page kits can be so Garanimally, not enough mixin' and matchin' for me. But here we are Ladies. I own one, at least I did. But now, it's just about all used up. Take a look, and tell me that you would not have fallen in luuuurve with that paper.

Here's a layout that I did. Hence the "So Easy A Baby Could Do it" line. I didn't use any extras (just some vinyl Thickers from my stash) , not my usual style. But with a picture like that, well who needs all those supah fancy embellishments? The scrubby is STILL blarbing about me buying that picture, but there was no way I was leaving that studio without it. And get this....the paper line is called Heart Attack, by We R Memorykeepers.

The rest of the paper and stickers have gone into a mini album that I'm vigorously cranking out. Hopefully it will be ready for sharing at the end of the week. The great thing is that the way it's going, it looks as though I'm not going to have anything left. That's right Chickas, nothing from this kit will be left to rot in my stash. And that was the whole point of my spending freeze right? Right? Not to accumulate more stuff?
oh.....btw, i bought two packs of thickers at biglots too. Later Peeps!

Oh Happy Day !!!!

2010-03-08T11:38:00.000-05:00

Melissa recently passed the Ten Things that Make Me Happy award along to me. I love this kind of thing. It makes for really great fodder for future layouts. So here's my list:

1. Peaceful weekends by myself; where I can scrap all I want and get caught up on all the chick flicks. There's just something about pulling the kitchen table into the living room and setting up camp for the weekend!

2. Creating something out of nothing. Finding a new form of art to apply to my scrapping; wherein I tap into my inner Bob Ross.

3. Children that aren't trying to constantly trying to kill one another. To say that I like it when my kids get along is an understatement.

4. Breaking out into dance when people least expect it. "Shake, shake, shake yo money ma-kah! Just. Like. You were shakin' it for some pa-pah! Took. Your momma nine months to make ya! Might as well shake what ya momma gave ya!"

5. Finding a really great bargain on something that I need or want.

6. Discretionary money, lots of it.

7. Old fashioned countrified meals. Home fried chicken that's got a perfect scald on it, with a side of mashed taters and gravy, and creamed limas. Can you say yummmmmmmmyyyyyy???

8. Vacations.

9. Scrappy packages in the mail. Anything from RAKs to Sizzix's Tuesday Teasers to the Cricut Fairy. I likes it all!

10. People that can appreciate my odd humor. I'm constantly worried that people have no clue what I'm talking about.

Now I'm supposed to pass this on to three of my other peeps! I'm sending this along to Lora, Staci, and Lisa (if Serene doesn't get to you first :P)

Later my Peeps!

Those Silly, Silly Girls...........

2010-03-06T19:42:00.000-05:00

Have you ever tried to get four kids to smile all at once? When I said "Say Cheese!", this is what I got. Although it was wacky, I felt I had captured a moment. I finally got them developed and I thought these babies would be perfect for that Basic Grey Mellow paper I had been hoarding for a while.This is one of the layouts that I did at the CKC crop this past weekend.

The paper I used for the tree was home spun by a dear scrappy friend, perfect for the vibe I was trying get get across! Looking back, I realize that I forgot to add some ribbon too. Oh well, that's why I have a camera. The more pictures I take, the more ribbon I can use!

Supplies: Patterned paper: Basic Grey Making Memories, and BoBunny?(not sure about that spotty paper); Cardstock: Bazzill, Orange by Sondra; Metal title: Pressed Petals; Buttons: Making Memories, SEI, Gymboree; Dies and punches: Sizzix - Hello Kitty line, Martha Stewart

The After Party

2010-03-03T17:23:00.000-05:00

So after I departed the big event on Saturday, I still had some scrappy dough in pocket, and the urge to spend it. Not sure why, guess you could say that I was in the zone. And I guess, technically, I wasn't at CKC anymore. And I guess, I was sort of breaking my own rules. But it WAS CKC weekend. right? I was good, I skipped Hobby Lobby. Drove by Mike's. Kept on truckin' past the mall where Archiver's is. But then there was Tuesday Morning, which is right on my main road home. From what I had heard from other TM scrappy shoppers, I knew that TM's hadn't gotten in anything good this week. Compared to a few weeks ago, when they got in that phat Cosmo Cricket box. I felt like I was safe.

I behaved. Sort of. No major crazy purchases. I found these cool pop dots. Great for glittering the tops and sticking the bottoms. With these fab diamond shapes, I'm thinking some sort of ray of sunshine, with a mix of orange, yellow and gold glitters. Saving them for the kids summer escapades. PLUS, I can use the "leftovers" as regular pop dots. It's multifunctional! You'll also see those K and Co. screw brads. I don't really care for the little circles they are in, but those are easily removable. Just thought they were a cool addition to my stash. I mean, I can alter brads and everything. But can't make them look like screws. So I had to have them.

Soooo, it my last post, you heard me whining about not being able to get that Dear Lizzy ribbon. The collection that had the rosettes. So here's my solution:

I plan on altering this in some manner. Maybe a little ink, or some sort of stain. Maybe I should invest in some Glimmer Mist? A tinge of pink on the ends would be nice. Or maybe tea staining? How would you alter this fab stuff? All suggestions are welcome!

Arrrrrgg!!! Take a Look at Me Booty!!!

2010-03-02T10:20:00.000-05:00

No it's not national "Talk Like a Pirate Day". It's "Susan Scored Some Major Booty this Past Weekend and is Sharing With You Day". So everyone knows that I've been on an essentials only spending freeze. If you've been keeping up, you also know that I was going to allow myself to splurge at the CKC vendor fair. So get comfy. This is a long one, chickas!

For what it's worth, I did go in with a game plan. No willy nilly shoppin' for me! Well, maybe just a little. Ya'll know I fly by the seat of my pants!

First off, I was looking for some vintage images. Anything from Victorian to the 1960's. We swung by the Graphic 45 booth, and I ended up passing; even though I went there with a major purchase in mind. Their Boardwalk line has been calling to me. Not sure why, but I just wasn't feeling it that day. But when I found these vintage labels at another booth, I went nuts. And I'm sure that Melissa thought I was a crazy lady when I shouted "Groovy Diner Collection?!?!?!".

Also on the vintage-y side, I picked up these journaling tags from the Paper Loft. I passed on these last year, and kicked myself as soon as I made my way through the fairground gates; the point of no return.

Not sure if these count as vintage like, but I scored these groovy library cards. They remind me of being a kid, when you actually had to put your scrawly handwritten name on them to check out a book. I first spotted these in use over on Lisa's blog; and when I saw my partner in crime holding them in her hand, well I just had to find out where she saw them hanging! (Side note - I tried explaining to my oldest what a library card was, and I got a prompt, "I KNOW WHAT A LIBRARY CARD IS MOM! GEEZE!"

Secondly, I HAD TO swing by the ScrapSource booth. I snatched up some fab finds there last year, and I wanted more. I got a couple sheets of SEI paper for .20 each, SEI and Fancy Pants rub-ons for buck a sheet. Then there was the FancyPants embellie pack. I wanted this last year, but passed on it. It has some cool metal bits in it, which I've been lacking in my stash.

Next I wanted Some Dear Lizzy boot-ay in a major way. Score! I went nuts on this stuff. Let me just say that I'm a suckah for anything that's American Crafts, and when I saw all the Elizabeth Kratchner stuff over on Lora's blog, I knew that I had to contribute to the cause. This line of goodies is right up my alley. With four girls constantly providing me with cute pictures; this stuff really speaks to me. I picked up some of the super cute papers and loads of embellies; including these fab crocheted flowers and little felties. Sadly, they did not have the ribbon that goes along with this line. You know the pack. It's that supah cute ribbon with the pink rosets. I have something similar, but that's another post.

I also swiped up some of AC's Adobe line. It's not everyday that you find paper with little forks and spoons on it. (Kind of makes me want to scrap that fried cha-hicken that I cooked on Sunday!) And just take a gander at that felt toaster. You know you want it too!

Here's the rest of the loot. Just some odds and ends. A few fab die cut papers from the soon to be defunctoid Rusty Pickle. Some journaling tags. Some little flowers. (I needed these..... really, I did.) Also I grabbed up some Cosmo Cricket sheets. The tag type, cause they were chock full of vintage-y goodness. Some freebie paper, from some KOTM club that I didn't want to join; but the paper spoke to me. (oops! I forgot to post that pic.)

Lastly, is the loot that I didn't score.

I've been on a mad search for some stamps that resemble passport stamps. Not passport books, mind you. But the stamps that you get IN your passport. This was a no go. I have a special project that I've been working on, and I needs these in a bad way. I have some ideas in mind for improvising, so we shall see.

And then there's the new Melody Ross stuff. I love Melody Ross. If you're a woman in the know, you'll remember her from back in the day. She's the chick that started up the Chatterbox company. (Here's a really good blog post about her.) Huge fan. HUGE! Yes, this stuff was there. No I didn't buy. Before I go on, let me just say that I KNOW it cost $$$ to set up at these shows. And I KNOW that this stuff is brand spankin new. I get it. Also, Kudos to GCD for really stepping up their game by working with this cool designer. But, talk about overpriced. Sorry, but two bucks for a sheet of paper (even though it's got those cool lacquered be-yotches on it), a little too rich for my blood. Not to mention the upwards of ten buckazoids they were asking for some of the embellies. Can ya'll say ouch? So Melody and her rockin' Homespun Chic Chicks will have to wait. For now. I will have you. You will belong to me. Just later, when you go on clearance.

So there ya'll have it. I'll be spending the rest of the week in scrappy spending detox. I'll be jonesing on the Melody Ross stuff, but I'll be okay. I'll scrap my way through it, and I'll live. I'll put on my big girl panties and bide my time until we go on vacation. I'll behave 'til then. Baby steps. Baby steps. Baby steps. ;P

CKC Crop

2010-03-01T07:27:00.000-05:00

Any time anyone has ever said that they pack way too much stuff for a crop, I've always just kind of blown it off, and thought, "Pssshh, they just don't know how to pack." Well I now get to join the ranks of those who over pack. Girlies, ya'll saw all that junk in my trunk! I probably could have just taken my tri-fold organizer and my tool caddy and been just fine. I did use my side kick once to punch out a tree, but never got around to punching out those titles. I've always been one who needs to have all her stuff right in front of her, lined up. Thickers in the Thicker pile. Ribbon all nice and neat in the CH ribbon box. My CH files of scrap paper at the end. Die cutters lined up in a row. You get the idea. I never realized I was so OCD about it all. Or maybe I'm not, I just don't want to have to root through my bag. Or look to my left, or my right, or look under a pile of stuff.

Would I go to a crop again? Most definitely.
1.) Especially if it means getting to meet my imaginary friends. :)
2.) Strangers love to talk to you when you dump a bag of chocolate in the middle of the table.
3.) In some ways it was easier to concentrate sans kids. Even though there is a lot of chatter going on, it's a different kind of chatter.

I do think I would leave the XXL at home, though. Maybe concentrate on getting the bones of my page put together, and finishing up titles and journaling at home. All in all, it was a a lot of fun. Probably could have gotten more done had I planned a little better. But then again, maybe not. I'm sure Melissa is still looking for her ear that I talked off.

Just a Little Somethin' Somethin'

2010-02-27T00:30:00.000-05:00

that I meant to post today, but didn't get around to.

I do heart my kids, BTW. It's just been one of those weeks.

Here's Yer Sign.....

2010-02-25T13:44:00.001-05:00

Hey Melissa! Wanted to be sure you could spot me easily. Just look for the total wing-nut with this sign on her XXL tote!

The Junk in My Trunk

2010-02-24T12:02:00.000-05:00

No. Not that trunk. This trunk. What kind of website do you think this is anyway?

I don't have mad packing skillz, so I thought I'd share this with all my Peeplets. I'm getting ready to meet up with Melissa for CKC Louisville. Seems like I've been time challenged all week. I have managed to get my page kits all together; and whenever I pulled everything I needed for those, I would throw the coresponding tools into the trunk. now just look at this mess...... dum. Dum. DUM. (feel free to click the link, and then click again! HaHa! I keep that linkie on speed dial in my house!)

Needs major organizing, don'tcha think? And I can't decide whether or not to take my scraps. I love them, but they do take up a bunch of room. Maybe I can live without them, for just one night. Maybe I'll just take a few? It's like picking a favorite child.

And check this daddio out! I bought this at last year's CKC. It's a crop page organizer from Memories to Go. Not sure if that's a company that's still around, but thinking maybe it's now defunct 'cause I only gave $5 buckaroos for this bad boy. It's a trifold flat carrier, that has BOUNCHES (yes I spelled that right!) of 12x12 pockets.

I was able to fit three to four page kits on each pocket-y page of the portfolio. (BTW - Try saying pocket-y page portfolio three times fast.) Plus there was room for all my tids and bits. I'm only showing you two, 'cause blogger.com hated me today; and I gave up on loading all those pics. But you get the idea-r.

I got a lot of page kit planning tips from this cool chick's youtube video. Although, she packs WAY more into a kit than I would, she has some good pointers and tips. And it's total eye candy inspiration. Enjoy! I'm off to see if I can get all that junk in my trunk in order.

Oh, and when you leave your comment, please tell me what YOU pack when you go to a crop. and just how many bags, totes, rollers, etc you drag along. This should be an interesting post! Later my Peeplets!

I Cracked !!!!

2010-02-20T09:54:00.000-05:00

I dare any of you to say that you would have passed up this ribbon. Yeah, that's what I thought. Okay, now I'll behave..........'til next weekend. :P

Save the Drama For Your Momma...........

2010-02-19T23:52:00.000-05:00

Why is it, every time I have to get up with the kids in the morning, I get this? This kid is balled up, lying in my kitchen floor.......and this is twenty minutes after I got her up.

Me: "Buggetts! Get your clothes on."
Buggetts: "BUT IT'S COLD!!!!"

Although I totally feel her pain as I am not a morning person either, this is ri-donk-u-lous. I think I'm going to start having her get dressed BEFORE she goes to bed.

Kid Quote of the Week..........

2010-02-18T12:00:00.000-05:00

Pnut's hair was in a bun on top of her head with little curls framing her face.

Me: "Oh Pnut! Your hair looks so pretty. Did Pooh do that for you?"
Pnut: "Oh yes. It's very whoopsie!"
Me: "Whoopsie?"
Pnut: "Yes. It's very whoopsie!"
Me: "Well I very much like it."
Pnut: "Yeah, I know."

Pnut age 3

The Urge to Purge

2010-02-16T23:22:00.000-05:00

So if you read my post here, you'd know that I was starting to feel the burden of owning stuff. You also know that I have gone on a self inflicted spending freeze of sorts. But when I see this, this, or this; well, I get a case of the I want that. Like really bad. Like "gnaw on my nails" bad. Or "curl my toes" bad. Or "LaLaLa....I don't see you" bad.

In an effort to make myself feel better, I decided to part with some of my paper. I know....right now all the paper ho's out there (not you guys) are probably saying; "Girlfriend needs to put down the crack pipe. Now!" But let me 'splain. I will NEVER use the same sheet of paper four times over. Maybe twice, but that's pushin' it, honey. I use my scraps with vigor, and there are very few that I am not happy to see the end of. You know, like: I've used you well. I will miss you. But I've grown. And this relationship is just not working for me anymore. (Think Swiffer commercial, only with scrappy paper, instead of a mop). I parted with some doubles, and all triplets and quadruplets. This was the easy part, as I only had a handful of stacks. I bid farewell to a lot of paper that I bought years ago. You know; cutesy poopsie baby bottles and the like. Then there was the SEI Simple Sets. Will someone please tell me why I ever bought this stuff? All in all, I got rid of the equivalent of a Cropper Hopper's full. I am now feeling quite liberated, thank you very much. And when I say I got rid of it, I mean "Elvis has left the building!", the very same day that it was pulled from the stash. Given to a newbie scrapper to do with as she pleases.

I also made myself reorganize all my babies. I've always been a sort by manufacturer kind of gal. I've, in fact, always prided myself (for some strange reason), with being able to look at a sheet of paper and tell right away who made it. Now everything is sorted by paper type. Stripes, spots, flowers, etc.. I even have a special file for all those aged solids that manufacturers seem to think you need. I'm hoping that all this effort will encourage me to use my stash more efficiently. Kind of like making the old new again. The only manufacturers that I didn't mess with were my holy grails of paper: My Basic Grey and my old school Chatterbox. And honey, don't you mess with them either. Or I may have to go Bon Qui Qui on you. "Securitay!"....... Later, my Peeps!

Tricked Out Tool Caddy

2010-02-15T11:50:00.000-05:00

Check it out, Ya'll! One of the Peeps and I are getting ready to go to the CKC crop. And here I sat with nary so much as a box for my tools! Yes I could have just gotten a Totally Cool carrier or one of the other many knock offs, but then, how could I have made it my own. I was really looking for something more on the wide variety, rather than tallish. I found this shower caddy at BL's for just $5 bucks. Woot-Woot! When I saw it, I immediately was reminded of some phat AC ribbon I had sitting in my stash.

I have all my adhesives, inks, some glitter, pens, markers, rulers, and stapler in here. And there's plenty o' room for more. I plan on throwing a few of my fave punches in there for good measure.
Come heeeeeere my dah-link. Let me run my fingers through your luscious grosgrain. Let me caress your sweet satiny softness. Oh Lovah...J'adore votre joli burpleness. "Zoot Alors, Vous êtes excessifs!", you say? Well, we are coming off of Valentines day and I luuurve scrappy thingies. Geeze.....
And no, my Homies. This is not a purple caddy. It's kind of a cross between burgundy and dark pink, with a little brown thrown in. Burple, if you will. But if you've kept up on your Frenchie over the past twenty, you'd know that already.

Warm Flowers for a Cold Winter

2010-02-12T09:15:00.000-05:00

I had a very special order arrive from Sizzix. (Isn't every scrappy order VERY special???) Anywho - I'd been wanting some flower dies for my new Wizard. I lucked out last week when I found quite a few on sale....just $4 buckazoids each! Yeah Boyee! - just picture me scrapping, wearing my viking hat and a clock around my neck - FlavaFlave style. I've just having this itch to crank out some felt somethin' somethin's, and here they are. Complete with whimsical stitchin' and all! A friend, who saw what I was working on said,"Gray? But it's a flower." To which I replied, "They are winter flowers, sheesh."

I got some great pictures of the Chicklets this week in the snow, and I plan on using these babies on one of the LO's. I feel all warm and fuzzy just looking at them. They're better than a Snuggie!

Dies used: Sizzix Originals: Sunflower #2, and Sunflower #3
Just a little secret - this pink flower here is not symmetrical because it had a place where I had to cut the stem off. But that's S'ok, 'cause I planned on layering them anyway! We'll just hide that and act like it doesn't exist. Shhhhh......

Gettin' it together.....

2010-02-09T14:54:00.000-05:00

I've taken on the daunting task of getting all my photos organized. I started this last year, and just kind of let it go after a while. I'm needing to get all those digital photos transfered to disk and then to the hard drive that my dad donated to the cause at Christmas last year. I thought I'd share last year's BIG project, in hopes that it will boost my motivation.

I was a film user until just a few years ago. So you could imagine the mess of negatives that I had lying around. And, when I say they were lying around, I mean they were EVERYWHERE. I had them in drawers, boxes, and baskets. And not all of them were in the photo envelopes they had come in. Saying that it was a mess is putting it mildly. So my solution was to get an ordinary 3-D ring binder. I bought a bunch of negative sleeves from Hobby Lobby (and yes, there is some debate as to whether this is archival-ly correct, but it was this or a big box with them just stuffed in disarray.) The hard part was organizing them all. I spent spare chunks of time here and there sorting them out, and sliding them into the sleeves. The binder is divided up into categories, such as: Holidays, Roadtrips, Babies, Birthdays, etc. There are some sub categories too if I was able to decipher from the negative the actual event. I tried to do this chronologically the best my memory could serve me; AND did this all without a light box, so I'm surprised I did not go blind doing it.

Ya'll know I couldn't have any kind of album and not soup up the cover. Who wants boring?
That's some old school Chatterbox paper on there, with some Queen and Company plastic flowers.

Here's the binder's innards. As an example, I have a category for trips to the pumpkin patch. Then I tried to divide it up by year. If I have a disk that corresponds to the negatives, I put that in the front. If I have any pictures that correspond, they come next.

And lastly, I put the negatives behind those.

I still have about forty or so negatives left to sort, but I've come a long way from where I started. I'll probably have to get another couple of binders too, as this one is super full. My ultimate goal is to have all my older photos organized with their negatives; and, eventually, get the negatives transfered over to disks. I'll say in another couple of years I'll be done. :) As far as my new digital pictures go, I'm looking into something like Stacy Jullian's Library of Memories; but that's another blog post altogether. Peace out, my Peeps!

Pseudo Thickers......part one

2010-02-03T01:25:00.000-05:00

Do you ever look for random things around the house to put into the die cutter? I have been craving a little fake Thicker action, and plain ol' cardstock was not gonna get it. Momma wanted somethin' shiny. And you know the saying; "What Momma wants.....Momma gets". Then my sleepy eye caught that roll of Aluminum foil sitting on top of the fridge. Everyone knows you can cut aluminum foil with a die cutter, but it's way too flimsy to use, once it's punched. So I adhered it to cardstock, then punched it out. Boo-Yah! Pseudo Thickers! Okay, so they're not as thick as Thickers, but then they're not as thin as cardstock either.

And here's a little somethin' somethin' for you to kick around too.........how about dressin' those suckas up with a little alcohol ink???? Awwww yeah, now I've got you attention, hmmmmmm? Hope you aren't reading this late at night, cause you might be up late pondering the possibilities. Nighty night, Peeps!

Alpha Dies: Sizzix Curlz; Cardstock: Bazzill; Aluminum Foil: Great Value :P

Mad Flower Skillz

2010-02-01T12:49:00.000-05:00

Okay Peeps! Late last night I came across a great tutorial for making your own flowers. Here's the linkie, you can click on it as long as you promise to come back. The tutorial advised to use a six petal punch, but didn't have one. And yes, according to the rules, I can buy new tools. But Mike's around these parts aren't usually open at 1 am. So I improvised, check it out my homies. That Sizzix die is the standard one that comes with the Sidekick. Sorry for the poor picture quality and the shadowing, my new camera comes next week!!! Woot-Woot!

They are very dimensional, so I'm not really sure that I would use them on a LO. They would be great on an altered goodie, maybe a paint can or use as a topper on a gift instead of a bow?

Patterned paper: DCWV, K & Co,Chatterbox (old school), Love Elise. And look at that one made out of ledger paper, just in time for some tax prep inspiration. :)

My Rules....or....How I'll make myself cry around mid September

2010-01-30T23:54:00.000-05:00

Okay, my scrappy peeps. So I've been mulling over this shopping thing for a couple days. If you don't know what I'm talking about...click here. (K? Now we're up to speed?) Trying to come up with a set of rules for myself that I can live with. I've spent two days sorting, purging, reorganizing, and taking inventory of what I have. I've gotten stuck on the paper......but that's OK, maybe as my stash dwindles down it will be easier sort out what I don't really want. And who knows, maybe at the end of the year I'll have done it by process of elimination. Here are the rules of my self imposed torture:

1. My only purchases will be for photo processing, adhesive, tools, and raw supplies (paint, ink, powders, page protectors, binder rings). and these items will only be bought on an as needed basis. For instance I'm learning a new technique and need a special ink or powder to complete it. But NOT, "Hey I feel like blowing twenty buckazoids on Perfect Pearls today! Don't know what the heck to do with them, but at least now I gots me some!"

2. I'll shop when I travel. LSS's are hard to come by, as are vacations; so I think it only fair that I treat myself on these rare occasions. And really, how many party naked beach t-shirts does any one gal need to own anyway?

3. I'll learn to make more of my own embellishments; thus I leave myself open to buying tools, as this is supposed to be an inner growth experience. (Don't you like that? Inner growth experience. Kind of Zen and peaceful) And no, I ain't gonna run out and buy a cricut. Ya'll know I'm a Sizzix Gal!

4. I will attend CKC and drop a few Jacksons; this kind of falls under #2. I mean it's not like I have the big dogs in my back yard every weekend. And not going would be beyond my scope of discipline. Any anyways, it's like a month before my birthday. Oh, and we don't have an LSS 'round these parts. And, and, and.......yes I'm trying to justify this, but you know your scrappy arse would be there to if you lived only 20 minutes away.

5. I will NOT be buying paper or any kind of bling or embellishments. My only exception will be the free card stock from Archivers. Cause you know, it's free and, well, it would be stoooopid not to. Hmmmmmm.......maybe I can send the husband in to get it for me???? I don't think they can suck him in, as his will power for not diggin' through that AC ribbon box at the checkout, is much stronger than mine.

6. And and absolutely NO MORE CHIPBOARD!!! I think this is why feel so overwhelmed to begin with. I have more of that junk in my scrappy trunk than I had in the backside of my old maternity pants. And honey, I was as wide as I am tall.

So there you have it my little Peeplets, don't be afraid to speak of your shopping exploits in front of me; I will live vicariously through you. Just don't go wavin' spools of American Crafts ribbon in my grill, 'cause that's just plain wrong.

Tired of Stuffing my Stuff...........

2010-01-28T12:33:00.000-05:00

Sigh....I've had to move my scrap stuff once again. Pnut (3) was keeping her sisters awake at night. So we felt it was in every one's best interest that she have her own room for now. That being said; I have moved my stuff yet once again. This moving fiasco has been a thought provoking experience.

Do you ever feel like you have too much scrap stuff? I feel really burdened by all that stuff. It's everywhere, and at the same time it's no where. Meaning there are things I have bought that I can't find. It's frustrating and aggravating. I was thinking back to the simple days of my scrapping when I didn't have a lot of loot. Did my lack of choices make it easier for me to scrap? Surely back then I was under the assumption that it made my thought process more difficult. It kind of bums me out when I look over my stash and I see things that I bought three years ago still sitting there, unopened.

It's with all this in mind that I have made a decision about my shopping. Knowing that I can usually thrive under a challenge, I have decided to issue one to myself. For the next year I have decided that I will not be buying anything. I know, I know; shame on me for not stimulating the economy. My only exceptions will be photo processing, adhesive and a few tools; but no paper, bling, embellies; and most importantly NO MORE FLOWERS! I will make due with what I have, and see what creativeness this brings forth. Hopefully I will not be punching out Styrofoam hearts from meat trays this time next year. Likewise, hopefully I won't fall off the deep end next February and blow my entire tax return on scrappy goods. I'm going to spend the next week or so logging what's in my stash. I'll share all this with ya'll so you can follow me on my kooky journey. I'll also be coming up with a list of rules for myself. I think my only downfall will be buying ribbon, as I am addicted to AC ribbon; and also CKC is coming to Louisville. Not sure what I'm going to do about that yet, as I had been planning to go. But upon looking through my stash I see that I have things I bought at CKC LAST year that I still, sadly, have not used.

Just tired of having so much stuff, I mean does anyone really need 3000 sheets of paper??? Okay, don't answer that. All of you are biased, I'm sure. :) Peace out, my fellow Chickies!

Kid Quote of the Week............

2010-01-28T11:13:00.000-05:00

Sitting on the couch watching Harry Potter with Skeeter:

Me:..... I think you should name your first baby Hermonie. I like that name.
Skeeter:..... What? Who's Monie?
Me: ..... Not Monie. Hermonie. She's Hermonie. The girl on TV.
Skeeter:..... No. Who's Monie?
Me: ..... Her. (pointing to the girl on TV) She's Hermonie.
Skeeter:..... WHO'S MONIE?!?!?!
Me: ..... um, nevermind. :)

Ms. Lovey.........

2010-01-27T10:44:00.000-05:00

After using a sketch to do a layout yesterday, I was super jazzed about doing some more. So I hopped over to the Page Maps site that Melissa had taken the last sketch from. I had so much fun I just kept scrappin' til the wee little hours of the morning. I took this design from the Basic Grey maps, and would you lookie there, a little BG paper too! I think the Urban Prairie line is probably my all time favorite fo sure. And check it!!!! I used three different ribbons!!! Woot! Woot! Oh, and still no journaling, 'cause the Pen Bandit is still on the loose!
This a picture of my Mom and her new baby. She is just so stankin' cute! Just want to grab her cheekieswoos and give it a wittle smoochie poo cause her's just so pwecious! Den, I want to wub it's widdle belwy. Mwwahh! Mwahh! Mwahh!

Oh you're still here????? blink.........blink, blink.

Anywho, when I came across this last night, I thought it would be perfect for some fun stuff. Don't cha just want to eat her up!!!!!

Cardstock: Bazzill; Patterned Paper: Basic Grey, Color Bok; Cupcake: Color Bok; Puppy, white letters, cb heart, and green ribbon: American Crafts; yellow ribbon and blue ribbon: cosmo crickit; Buttons: SEI; Rub on: Autumn Leaves; little blue letters: Making Memories

MM Layout Sketch Challenge Week Three

2010-01-26T14:28:00.000-05:00

I usually don't do use sketches when I scrap, can't really recall the last time I used one in fact. But this time, feeling like my mojo was creeping away from me, I decided to participate. This was lots of fun! Now I'm ready for more! I left off my journaling for now, as someone has run off with yet another one of my pens.

Cardstock: Bazzil; Patterned Paper: Chatterbox; Buttons: SEI; Big Brads and felt: Queen & Co.; Plastic flowers: American Crafts; Letters: American Crafts Thickers; Ribbon: Cosmo Cricket; Ink: Timmy; Paint: Polymark; Pin: FancyPants

Another Funky One.....

2010-01-25T11:42:00.000-05:00

Pretty much just more of the same, but just thought I'd share anyway. I did more layering of paper this time. And that big patch of blue is buggin' me. It needs a little somethin' somethin'. Anyways, not in the mood to chit chat today. So here ya go, have a lookie loo............

Credits: too many to mention, I think the kitchen sink might even be in there somewhere...... and yes, those ARE 3's for my E's - cause I have mad alphabet skillz.

How Much is too much....

2010-01-22T10:55:00.000-05:00

I am constantly in awe of art journals. Love to look at them, love to see them being made on Youtube. Inspired by them, and all the kitsch I looked at the other night, (thanks Lora!), I give you my scrapbooking take on it.

A while back I started a series of pages devoted to all the funny pictures my oldest takes of herself. Puckered lips and all. She likes to picnik her photos. All her little friends are in to doing it. So I stole them from her and loaded them all onto a disk, and trotted off to WallyWorld to have them developed.

I was disappointed with how some of them turned out. I guess when you Picnik, they resize the picture. Anyway, some of the words she had written on the pictures got cut off. What to do, what to do....... So I did something I swore I would never do. I cut my subject completely out of her background. I have mixed feelings about this. I feel like you can miss some of the story by removing the background. For instance when you look at a picture taken way back at the turn of the century, doesn't the house in the background lend it's hand to the feeling and emotion you get from the people in the picture?

So back to the layout....I arranged a mishmosh of these photos, and added some paint and flair, lots of it. Then I mounted it on a piece of cardstock. This was so much fun to do. It's kind of tacky and over the top, but I think I totally captured what I set out to do. Enjoy!

Random Thoughts............

2010-01-20T11:59:00.000-05:00

Why is it, that little Pnut demands that I cut the crusts off off her sandwiches one day, only to turn around and demand that her sandwich be made with the heel the next? Isn't the heel like 80% crust?

Ugly Paper Challenge.....

2010-01-19T13:56:00.000-05:00

Who doesn't have ugly paper in their stash??? Blink....blink, blink...... (insert crickets chirping here).....

Okay, so whether you admit it or not, I'll at least fess up. Let's just say that I have a few, and purple is the WORST! Just......there are no words. Ugly doesn't even come close to describing how I feel about purple. So when Sondra over at Memory Makers asked what you would do if someone made you use an ugly piece of paper, I took it upon myself to issue an ugly paper challenge. Here's my contribution.

I started off with this:

Sorry Making Memories, I like 99.9% of your stuff, but this is gross.

And this is what I came up with. I spanked that purple paper and taught it a lesson I don't think it'll forget. Ripping - check! Sanding - check! Inking - check! Painting - check! Okay, so I know in my MM post, I said that I would Modge Podge, but I'm still recovering from all the fumes from the other night. I even threw in some purple embellies for good measure too! there, that should teach you purple! You are messin' with the wrong gal!

Cardstock: Bazzil; Patterned paper: Making Memories, KI Memories; Paint; Making Memories, polymark; Plastic and foam embellies: American Crafts; Photo corner: Colorbok

Help!!!!

2010-01-19T11:46:00.000-05:00

Trying to make a few changes around here.....So can anybody tell me how to add a Feedjit to my blog? Geeeez I stink at this stuff. Every time I try to add one, I always end up pasting someone else's. Arrrggg.

You don't tangle with Wonder Woman.....

2010-01-18T12:42:00.000-05:00

Well many of you have heard me speak of my "Wonder Woman project" from time to time. This was supposed to be a Christmas present for a co worker, but the more I worked on it, the more frustrated I became. I have lots of 'sperience altering notebooks, but this one gave me much grief. My friend lurrrvvves Wonder Woman in a major way, so I thought how cool to make him a one of a kind item for his collection. Sigh.....First problem, finding decent, bright WW images. I finally settled for a WW sticker book. Now I'm not one who is much for stickers, so I was kind of bummed right from the start. I was pleased with the paper covering, just cardstock on the outside, and some lighter weight paper on the inside. My engines got revved up when I found cool WW'esque ribbon at Mikes. Well, the stickers did not want to stick, Ok Martha makes great glue. Problem solved. I had planned on embossing the stickers with clear embossing powder to make them pop a little more, but they kind of turned an ugly dingy color. Start over.....Modge Podge! Yes, that was the answer. I had never used it before, and boy does a little go a long way. After it dried, I had a little trouble getting the cover to stay on. Not sure if it was the notebook, or I might have been high from all the Modge Podge fumes. But after giving the binding a good workout, I was pleased enough.The ribbon went well, BTW totally diggin' on the stars. Okay, so I know WW's bloomers are blue with white stars, blah, blah, blah. I don't think any of us on here are WW purists so who cares, right? And Wonder Woman, so sorry I tried to mess with you. No need to use your Lasso of Truth on me, it won't happen again. Now please excuse me while I go look for my invisible airplane, I forgot where I parked it.

Cardstock: Bazzil; Patterned Paper: MME (you can't see it, cause it's on the inside and I didn't want to bore you with all that); Stickers and images: DK publishers; Sticky stuff: Martha Stewart Glue, Modge Podge; Star ribbon: I totally forget - but Mikes sells it on those lil' teesy spools; Solid ribbon: Offray; Ink: Inkadinkado; Paint: Polymark

Rollin' with the Punches.....

2010-01-17T11:29:00.000-05:00

When the scrubby asked me to pick up a couple of birthday cards this weekend, I just took it upon myself to make those babies. Okay, okay...... So I had to purchase a new punch to use, but it's all for the cause, right? I picked up this MS cupcake punch, but alas it was not the one I really wanted. I wanted the one that Mike's sells, the one that comes with the stamp too. Cause we all know that embossing makes it better. But, I was in a hurry, and didn't have time to run over to Mike's, so I settled.
His niece was turning 15 this month, so I made this card for her. Complete with 15 cupcakes, one for each year. (Okay, that was just an excuse to keep playing with my new toy, but I mean who wants just one cupcake. Ever. So what if they are made out of paper, they are still super yummy!) And let me just add one tiny little side note before I slap on the credits below, that green paper.....I bid you farewell..... I have loved you Junkitz. I am sorry they don't make you anymore. You have been a member of my scrappy paper stash family for many years now. You will be missed. Who says it's only paper. Sheeeesh. :)

Cardstock: Bazzill; patterned paper: Making Memories, K and Company, Junkitz; Ribbon: Heidi Grace; Ink and Punch: Martha Stewart; Buttons: Who Knows, I have jars and jars of them. And just look at the square one I used, 'cause I'm just quirky like that, and it's how I roll. :)

A new year, a new attitude..........

2010-01-15T08:44:00.000-05:00

I've decided that there are things that are no longer worthy of my anger and frustration. I will deal with life's crap as it it dealt to me. Getting angry about things that I can't seem to change does my absolutely to good. My passive aggressive nature has been my down fall one too many times. When I come home after work and I see all the crusty dishes from dinner, I'll just do them; then and there, even if I'm up until 2 am. I will feel better in the morning to see that things are in order; AND I'll feel like tackling the day with a better attitude. Getting frustrated because it took an hour to do a work sheet with my first grader who has issues does no one any good. If the husband starts his morning griping about the laundry lying in the hall floor, I'll take it down and throw it in the wash. We'll do our homework as soon as we get home. The kids will pick up their room before they watch TV or get on the computer. These are the cards that I have been dealt, and that is that. I've determined being prepared will be the key to my happiness. No more rushing to get things done. Kids lunches will be packed the night before, clothes set out. I will start dinner at four instead of five. I don't have that attitude at work, so I will not have it at home. When I'm there I just go with the flow. They don't call me Bubbles for no reason. Harboring feelings of anger and frustration at the husband and kids is toxic. And I'm done with it. Pphhhtthththt. So there LIFE, stick that straw in your juice box and suck it!

The busy life of a three year old......

2010-01-14T10:12:00.000-05:00

7:00 am - wake up and make sure the Sissies get on the bus on time
8:00 am - watch two episodes Caillou while I munch on a baggie of Cheerios and suck down two sippie cups of milkie
8:45 am - put on my first set of clothes
9:00 am - help mom disassemble a shelf
9:30 am - look for boo boos
9:31 am - show all my boo boos to Mommy
9:45 am - see what's goin' on in the kitchen, inquire about snacks
10:00 am - see how many times I can say Mommy in an hour span
11:00 am - make sure Mommy gets a nutritional lunch of plastic pizza and rubber hambergers
12:00 noon - play peeping tom with Mommy while she takes a shower, make sure she knows that she has bewbies.
12:15 pm - get in the bathtub for a quick rinse off
12:16 pm - watch TV in the buff
12:20 pm - get dressed for the second time today, Doesn't she know that everyone deserves naked hour? Sheeesh.
12:21 pm - help Mommy take pictures for her blog, make sure my face makes it into at least half the shots
12:30 pm - eat a peanut butter sandwich, making sure the old lady cuts the crusts off
12:45 pm - change subject when Mommy starts yammering about a nap
1:00 pm - tell Mommy she needs to go find my Sippie cup
1:02 pm - find a hiding spot for the clothes I just took off; if I'm wearing them, how can I admire my Lil' Ponies underwear?
1:15 pm - show Mommy how to blow zerberts on my arm
1:20 pm - check out the kitchen again, try to find where She hides the good stuff
1:30 pm - get caught
1:35 pm - sing my special rendition of "Jingle Bells"
1:40 pm - see how many questions I can ask before I run out of breath
1:45 pm - pass out on the couch - technically this is not taking a nap if I'm not in bed.
3:00 pm - greet the Sissies at the door, make sure everyone on the bus sees me in my underwear
3:05 pm - look for something to fight over with my Sissies
3:06 pm - snatch a handful of Sissie's Cheez-its
3:06 pm - school my Sissies in the art of the pecking order - this should fill up the rest of my afternoon and evening. :)
-

Button Button....who's got the button?

2010-01-13T12:42:00.000-05:00

I do!!!!

Just got some scrappy loot in the mail! Happynscrappin'.com was having a sale on their SEI products, so I scooped up these little beauties. Just two buckazoids each!!! Woot-Woot! I love love love SEI buttons. Sigh.... They are so smooth and pretty.....nice sized holes for putting floss through ('specially if you can't find a needle). And just look at the pretty 'lil tubes. I'm now feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. Which is a good thing, since there's still three inches of snow on the ground outside! BTW - that first one in the picture is my favorite - see all that orange????? It's like a scoop of sunshine!

Left to right: Oasis, Holly Lane, Windsor, Alpine Frost, Chick-a-dee, Madera Island, Jolie Chocolate, and Poppy

ordered at www.happynscrappin.com

Doin' my heat gun dance

2009-11-19T12:29:00.000-05:00

Go Susan! Go Susan! It's your birthday! (No not really) I'm just really stoked because I finally scooped up a heat gun. I don't know why I waited so long to snag one of these. I've had embossing powders sitting in their special little cubby on my embellie shelf, for like fo evah. My crafty space has officially turned itself into a mad scientist laboratory. Bwha-ha-ha!!!! Take a lookie at what I cooked up.......

I needed a thank you card for a friend so I whipped this up. I embossed letters, flourishes, and flowers on the buttons. Still getting the hang of it, but I'm already addicted. The buttons turned out pretty well, bet I still need practice.

Patterned paper: Chatterbox, Paper flowers: Colorbok, Flourish stamps: Basic Grey, Flower Stamps: KI Memories, Letter stamps ???

Ears or Feet....you decide

2009-11-14T16:22:00.000-05:00

Last night I was feeling super crafty! So feeling inspired by this BamPop paper, I threw together this little cutie. Disassemble notebook....check! Glue....check! Paper....check! Ink....check! Reassemble notebook....check! Ribbon heaven....ahhhhhh....check! Little doodads for fun....check!

Nine year old know it all....sigh....check.
Buggy takes one look at it and says, "Ooooo it's cute. Why is it upside down?"
Crap. Talk about taking the wind out of my scrappy sails. In all my scrappy fervor, I put it together with the paper going in the wrong direction. "Those are ears, right?" "No, Mom. Those are feet."

Paper, BamPop; Chipboard accents, American Crafts; Plastic Star, American Crafts; Ribbon- American Crafts, Target Dollar Spot, Making Memories, and Offray.

On the Move......

2009-11-06T13:42:00.000-05:00

I've been busy this week movin' my scrap stuff around. For the last two weeks I've had nothing but tears from the nine year old every night. Something has gotten her spooked....something about ghosts and such. Sooooooo......I decided to move her in with her sister and take my scrap space back. While some might say it was all part of my evil plotted plan to get my room back, I say I would never stand in the closet and rattle chains all in the name of everything scrappy. (or would I.....Bwhaaa-ha-ha!)

So here it is. It's not much, but it is mine!!!!! I have one wall with all my stizz-uff. I still need to hang my MM Embellie shelves and bring my table up for the other side of the room. It's all kind of a hodge podge of mismatched furniture and bits and pieces.......maybe one day I can get that Expedite or some more JetMax!!!! I can dream, can't I????

The black boxes sitting on top, hold most of my chipboard letters. The jars hold all my flowers.My paper is under that - mostly sorted by manufacturer. The JetMax with the drawers hold raw chipboard and more chipboard letters. (I had a serious letter problem for a while.)

I use the cabinet for albums, stamps (which I don't have a lot of), stickers, etc...

My box for tools, inks, and adhesive. I'm missing some stuff...I know I have a circle cutter here somewhere and more scissors and more adhesive and.......

Basket for chipboard frames, notebooks to alter, and things that won't fit anywhere else. And that QB book????....I thought I could use that in an album about my antics with my BFFs. :P

More chipboard, Ya'll!

I use the shelf on the end for pictures, punches, my Sizzix stuff, all my ribbon, and anything that comes in a flat pack.....gotta love those Thickers! The small binders down at the bottom have odds and ends that my kids have brought in over the years.....nice and sorted.....scrap ready.

The box I use for all those goodies that come in flat packs. Thickers, alphas, evil rub-ons, tags, and journaling blocks. There are also some pictures and a few other thingies in there that are waiting to be sorted and put away.

Punch drunk! The box holds my Sizzix dies until I hit the mother load and have to come up with something new.

Here's the fabric I bought eons ago for my window valance. One of these days......

Well there you have it girlies......It's not much or over the top. I've really cut back on buying this year. And if I don't there's something I want or need, I try to alter something else to get good mileage out of my stuff. Now I just got to get the Scrubby to help me move my table in here this weekend. I've got Christmas presents to make and times a tickin'!

Take a Lookie-loo at my Lootie-loo

2009-11-04T09:15:00.000-05:00

I found these bad boys at Wally-World last night. I thought that maybe the fall ones would be on sale with Halloween over with now, but even the loops and dots were on sale too! Yeah me! Unfortunately my pictures did not turn out as well as I thought, but just click on the picture to get a close up. Each pack includes the edge punch and the corner punches. Are you ready?????? Hold on the your girdles girlies........$5 each!!!!!!! That's like $2.50 per punch!!!!!!!!

These are the Scallop Three Dot and Loop punches........

And here are the Spiderweb and Leaf punches!
Now run over to Wally world to scoop yours! Hopefully they have them marked down for you too! BTW... I checked online and they are still $20, so no luck for you cyber shoppers! Peace out!

You know you're a scrapper when......

2009-11-03T10:03:00.000-05:00

you find foam hearts stuck to the inside of your dryer. :)

Swine Flu Movie Review

2009-10-30T09:01:00.000-04:00

When my oldest daughter generously shared her germs with me, I found that I had a lot of time to catch up on my movie watching. Around here, I don't get much time to watch the old boob tube. So I thought I'd throw together a list of movies I watched while I was on LOA. Some were good, and some should have never been made! Bare in mind some of these have been out for a while so it's most likely that you've probably seen all these. Here we go - here's my two cents............

Martian Child - John Cusack - Weird man adopts weird kid who thinks he's an alien. Really good movie that you can watch with the kiddos.

Margot at the Wedding - Nicole Kidman - woman goes home to attend her estranged sister's wedding. It's only redeeming quality is Jack Black playing a degenerate. - Don't waste your time. - this movie sucks butt. Please don't watch this, you may become even more ill.

The Proposal - Sondra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds - A "Lets get married so they can't deport me" movie. Very cute. The best chick flick I've seen in while - very funny! From the window.....to the wall.......

Away We Go - Mia Rudolph, John Krasinski - A pair of 30 somethin' screw ups are trying to get their crap together, baby on the way. dull, but endurable. Not the worst Indi character study I've ever seen.

Ghosts of Girlfriends Past - Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner - Man ho McConaughey learns the err of his ways after his past catches up with him. Served up Charles Dickens style complete with three ghosts at bedtime. Entertaining yet predictable, although he slept with so many women you can almost feel the STDs in the air.

He's Just not that into You - Ginnifer Goodwin, Jennifer Aniston - Desperate girl can't find a good man, until she quits listening to her gal pals, and starts listening the friend of a guy she dated. Everybody else has lots of problems too. Good watch!

Adventureland - Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart - Cute movie about a broke grad student who takes a summer job at a theme park and falls in love. A little slow, but not the man movie I thought it was going to be; although there was a lot of doobie smoking going on.

Knocked Up - Seth Rogan, Katherine Heigle - Hot girl has one night stand with guy who's been swimming in the bottom of the gene pool. Good watch, but might possibly be tied with Good Will Hunting on the F Bomb scale.

So there ya have it - the do's and don't of movie watching while you have ye olde pig flu. Enjoy!

An Art Lesson....or...Go! Go! Art!

2009-10-26T12:43:00.001-04:00

Little Buggy presented me with this the other day. Lately she has been into keeping a journal about life's little odds and ends. She wrote this one about art; complete with a diagram. Although full of run on sentences, I thought it was quite amusing. Her enthusiasm reminds me about how I feel about scrapping.

Just do a little click-y to enlarge! Go - Go Art!

When Pigs Fly

2009-10-24T21:23:00.000-04:00

I'll be back soon for your entertainment. Coming up......Swine Flu Movie Review.

Happy Birthday Buggy!

2009-10-21T12:35:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was Buggy's ninth birthday! She patiently waited all day long for her gift, as we were waiting for everyone to be home at the same time. Ain't she cute?!?!? Ain't she happy!?!?! That doll almost looks like she's smiling too!

A Hard Dose of Reality.....

2009-10-19T15:16:00.000-04:00

Braces for one kid......
oh, and then there's the college education......
oh and weddings.......
oh and I have four girls......
excuse me while I go barf.

one tiny call later.....

Thank the Lord above I have good a good dental plan. Panic attack over. Everything else will fall into place............. but damn the dentist who started all this. :)

Kid Quote of the Week

2009-10-19T08:11:00.000-04:00

Me: "Skeeter, take those sandals off and put on your socks and sneakers."
Skeeter: "But my toes have been very hot lately."

Scrappy Magic

2009-10-16T12:56:00.000-04:00

So you've scrapped. Day after day. Week after week. Year after year. And what do you have to show for it? Oh sure. you have lots of great layouts. Lots of memories captured and filed away through your photography, and your arsty fartsy art work. But what is the by product of all that creative insanity?

SCRAPS!!!!!!
Well, they don't call it scrappin' for nothin'. I've heard tales of scraps just thrown in a bin, never to be seen again. Don't you know that you gals are sittin' on scrap gold out there? I use mine for everything, every time.

Journaling tags - check!
Sizzix - check!
punches - check!
You name it. I've done it with my scraps.

How do I keep these babies from taking over, you might ask? Well, just take a lookie - loo below!

I use two cropper hopper vertical files for this. A big one for those big scraps. And a little one for those little bits. I keep them all - 1" and larger.
The smaller ones, I organize by color and drop them in file folders - the pocket type.
The larger ones are divided by color and separated by dividers. I do, however keep my larger card stock scraps separate; at the front of the file.

Save those strips too! I clip these together with one of those fat paper clips.

I keep these files on my scrap desk, ready to go. Scrappin' green just pull out the right folder and start pairing them with your inspiration paper! Boo-Yah! Scrappy Magic!

FaceBook Fotos

2009-10-15T09:30:00.000-04:00

What is it with these crazy kids these days? They are always making faces. You know the ones. they pucker their faces up like they just swallowed a spoonful of lemon juice. My oldest spawn seems to be obsessed with making these faces for her self portraits. All I can do is laugh.....and scrap it. I recently printed off all her silly pics for an album I'm working on entitled....FaceBook Fotos. I'm sure she'll look back on these times fondly one day when she watches her own spawn make these faces. Enjoy!

FaceBook Fotos......Cardstock(Bazzill), patterned paper (Colorbok, Love Elise, pink - unknown), paint (Making Memories), Ribbon(Making Memories, American Crafts), Clear Letters(Making Memories), Scrabble letter(unknown).

Vacation......Part Two

2009-10-08T09:15:00.000-04:00

I'm on a boat, and
It's goin' fast, and
I've got a nautical themed Pashmina Afghan....
I'm king of the world, on a boat like Leo...
If you're on shore then you're sure not me-oh!
"The Lonely Island" (by A.Cherrington, Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, Jorma Taccone)

Sigh..... now that I've got that outta my system, and since my last vacation post was so long winded, I'll make this one short and sweet.

In this segment, I thought I'd just share some random photos of the boat. We cruised on Royal Caribbean's Enchantment of the Sea. It wasn't the biggest boat I'd ever been on, but bigger doesn't always mean better either.

Here's the boat. This was taken when we stopped over in the Caymens. They don't have a port, so they "park" out in the water and you take a ferry in.

Here's my mom and I posin' in the dining room. Pretty schmancy, eh? I'm constantly surprised by the places that they let me get into.

This is a picture of one of the walkways on the main deck and the sun was just right for this shot. The big round "building" that you see past the walk way, was the disco bar. I behaved though......after all, I had my mommy with me.

There was this really cool walk way on the main deck that had windows in the floor. As you can see, down below is the ocean blue. Looking at the ocean under your feet as the boat is moving is a little unnerving; but I persevered and captured this picture for your oogling pleasure.

And finally, here's a shot of me relaxin' on deck. I turned a really nice shade of dark pink that afternoon. Damn those drinks of the day!

Now for your viewing pleasure, quick grab the popcorn!

I'm such a dork. But I've never been accused of not knowing how to have a good time. I could have dropped it like it's hot, but I thought I'd spare your innocence. BTW, one of the disco girls with the afro pulled me out there and made me do it. (I had met her earlier in the day; she ran the scrappin' make-n-takes. Isn't it nice to have peeps in the inner circle?)

Ignore the last 15 or so seconds, my mom was running the camera and put it down. And I couldn't figure out how to shorten it. And sorry about the sound quality.

Watched it now? Aren't ya ready to come party with me?

Coming soon.....My adventures in Cozumel.

That's Hot

2009-10-07T08:43:00.000-04:00

Ever scrap older pictures???? Like pictures from the 1970's, think butterfly collars, bell bottoms, blue eyeshadow. Pictures that were taken with roll film and really crappy cameras? Snap and shoot and hope for the best!

While browsing through some of my mom's old photographs I came across this picture. It always makes me smile because I don't remember my mom looking like this. Ever. But a kid's perception of their parents isn't always on the mark; and most kids think that their parents are old. Even when they are only in their twenties.

So anyway, I made a copy of it, cleaning it up as best I could. I dug out the grooviest paper I could find and got to scrappin'. Check it out!

One Hot Momma: cardstock:Bazzill, patterned paper:My Mind's Eye, paper flower:colorbok (thanks carrie!), chipboard letters:making memories, chipboard flowers: chipchatter, plastic flowers: American Crafts, Letters: Sizzix - Round-a-bout, Exclamation mark: American Crafts Thickers