Create Something Everyday Challenge & other ramblings

Whew! It's been a busy week and I've neglected the blog. We're right in the middle of the Beach Party Online Crop at Scrap Treasures. If you haven't checked it out yet, come on over for lots of fun challenges, games and chatter. Georgana Hall (owner of Adornit/Carolee's Creations) joined us tonight for a celebrity chat, and she is so much fun! We'll be cybercropping until Monday night at 8PM Central Time.

I do have one layout to share. It was inspired by an ad I found, and I hope it shows just how much I love this little guy.


















I also made a commitment to an online friend earlier this week that now I'm going to post here....for accountability (and maybe you'll want to join me!). For the month of September I want to create something every day! It might be a card or it might be a LO, but I really need to make the commitment to spend time creating on a daily basis. It's my sanity saver. So....are you with me?

There's still plenty of time to win some yummy cardstock Here! Don't miss out on this chance for what is otherwise known as the "Little Black Dress" of scrapbooking. Hope your Labor Day Weekend has kicked off on a good note! And I hope you'll join me on the first day of September ---that's TOMORROW!! --- to be creative.

100 Posts - Time for some Blog Candy!

This is my 100th post to the blog. I had been racking my brain to think of something to offer in celebration. And the perfect thing arrived in the mail today!

I've subbed to Simply Cardstock monthly kits off and on several times since they started offering monthly cardstock kits. Renee has always delivered top-notch customer service. Last week, I had my very first *problem* with a shipment. I was missing six sheets of the 8.5x11 cardstock. I emailed Renee and asked her if she could just include them with my September kit. I told her I was in no hurry, and that I didn't want her to have to pay shipping for 6 little sheets of cardstock. Today I get a package from her -- an entire Strictly 8.5x11 Selection! That's 48 sheets of Bazzill in colors like Asparagus, Harvest and Orange Crush.

So I'm splitting it with one lucky reader! Leave a comment on this thread by midnight on Monday (9/3). If you mention this on your blog, include the link in your comment and I'll put your name in twice! Next Tuesday I'll randomly draw a name to win 24 sheets (2 sheets each of the August colors) plus this month's matching treat --- a pack of Simplicities Die Cut Flowers by Deluxe Designs. You can check out the Simply Cardstock website to see exactly what's up for grabs. And don't forget to check back next Tuesday to see if you're the lucky winner!

And thanks Renee! You rock!

Scrap Treasures Beach Party Online Crop

The Scrap Treasures Beach Party Cybercrop starts this Thursday, August 30. And we'd love for you to join us for the games, challenges, door prizes, and chatter! What could be better on a Labor Day weekend than a scrapping, online beach party??? At least we won't have to fight the bugs and sand.

A Pre-Crop Challenge is already posted HERE!. I hope to get pictures up tonight of the mini-kit to be given away for this challenge.

I've been making so many more cards

since I found Allison's blog. She is absolutely amazing keeping up with all the tutorials, challenges, sketches and giveways. And very often giving her readers a peek at her own artwork and personal life! Be prepared though....make sure you have a few minutes before you visit her site. All those links and you could be lost in blogland for a while.

Thanks Allison for all you do!

Beate Sketch #16

I love working with Beate's sketches. Her work is so inspiring. Here's my take on this week's sketch:











Patterned paper is MME Magnolia, the sentiment is Michael's Studio G and that awesome flower stamp (layered with a pop dot) is a Scrap Treasures custom stamp included with the August kit.

I'm afraid it's now time to put away all the scrappy stuff and actually pay attention to the laundry, cleaning, and grocery lists that are calling my name. I could sit at my scrap table all day....and probably should with all the deadlines I have coming up. But I'm afraid my kids need clean clothes and food this week. :)

Di Hickman Sketch #4

I used this sketch to finish up my third card for Lori's challenge (see yesterday's post). Lori sent me the stamped image on the right side. Ribbon is from my stash, sentiment is from one of the SU All Year Cheer sets, and I am LOVING my scalloped square punch.

CPS #27 - Making Memories Thank You

This is my first stab at a CPS sketch. And in case you're wondering, I'm no where near organized enough to be working on thank you cards for Christmas. But remember that big prize I won from Making Memories last month? This card is headed to Jenny Weston for sending so many yummy goodies. The ribbon, paper poinsettias and poinsettia rub-ons are all from the brand new Christmas lines. The patterned paper and thank you rub-on are older MM products.

Strange to be thinking snow when we were still in triple digits today!

This card is headed to Lori for a challenge I'm working on for her. The two bottom layers are stamped images Lori sent to me. I used Janelle Richmond's sketch and completed my very first attempt at emboss resist for the sentiment. Added some Heidi Swapp bling and one of the new Making Memories paper snowflakes.

Using the Scrap Treasures August kit

Here's my first DT layout using the August kit from Scrap Treasures. There is alot of hand stitching on this layout. I even remembered how to do a lazy daisy stitch, and it's been years - maybe even decades - since I did hand embroidery. The stamped flowers are layered using pop dots for dimension.


















Check out all the creations by the design team Here!

Quandrant paper has always baffled me!

You know those papers with 4 quadrants of 6X6? Well...what if I want to cut it 8x3? I don't know...it's just one of those things I've always had a mental block about. But I've found a way to use these babies up!!!

I saw this card and immediately knew I was going to case it. I needed a quick thank you card (don't I always???), so I pulled out a piece of this, some Bazzill, my Stampabilities "thanks", and a button and thread in my stash.

Easy peasy....cute....and solves my dilemma over how to use this paper.






And just who is this card for? Denise - the new owner of Scraphype. I won this kit in a giveaway she held for her debut kit as the new owner of this club!!! I'm so lucky!

{Pay It Forward}

The whole idea is paying it forward, just like the movie Pay it Forward. Only we are doing this scrapping style.
What happens is the first 3 people to comment to this thread will receive a RAK from me of a handmade item. It could be anything that I make for you. Then you promise to blog about it too and then do the same thing to the first 3 people that leave a message for you and so on and so on.
I would really love to see this go a long way.
So who is going to be the first 3 to leave a comment on this post. If you are one of those 3, please leave your email address in your comment (unless I already have it) and I'll email you to get your mailing address. Then I will mail you something real soon.

And just for Linda: What's Your Celtic Horoscope?

You Are A Fig Tree

You are very independent and strong minded. A hard worker when you want to be, you play hard too. You are honest and loyal. You hate contradiction or arguments. You love life, and you live for your friends, children, and animals. A great sense of humor, artistic talent, and intelligence are all gifts you possess.

What's Your Celtic Horoscope?

An Easy Card

I needed to send a couple of 4x6 photos, but those won't fit in an invitation size envelope. The only other envelopes I have at the house are the No. 10 letter size envelopes. So I made this card to send with the photos. So super quick and easy, but I'm giving the dimensions so I can reference back to them in the future.

1. Cut orange cardstock 8.5" X 7.75". Score in half.

2. Cut brown cardstock 8.25" X 3 5/8".

3. Cut patterned paper approx. 3 5/8" X 3.25" (Mine is a little taller in the middle since I cut out the flower shape on the patterned paper).

4. Adhere patterned paper to top half of brown cardstock.

5. Adhere ribbon along lower edge of patterned paper.

6. Layer a couple of flowers and attach with a brad on the lower left edge of the ribbon.

7. Use diecuts, rubons, or stamps for sentiment and place in lower right corner of brown cardstock. I used my Blossom Quickutz font with the orange cardstock.

8. Adhere brown cardstock to the card front, and you've made a quick easy card!

Now we're in Kindergarten !

It's a big day here! Today was Addison's first day of kindergarten....if you consider it a day with a 10:30 dismissal. Everything went very smoothly this morning. She was so excited! Addison already loves her teacher and the student teacher. The first thing she told me when I picked her up was "I didn't even get in trouble!" So I guess we can consider the first day a real success. We went to Red Lobster for lunch and to the mall to exchange a few school clothes. Maybe we'll make that one of our back-to-school traditions.

Beate Sketch #14

I was the lucky winner a couple of weeks ago on Marie's blog. She sent that yummy Basic Grey Infuse paper and fiber AND one of the cutest cards I've ever seen!! I decided to break into those goodies today for Beate's Weekend Challenge. And pssst....don't tell Marie.....I'll be mailing her this thank you card this week. *wink*

WOW! August Kit from Scrap Treasures

Look what I got in the mail today!!! I cannot wait to start playing with this kit. LOVE LOVE the custom made stamp and acrylic crown. And the scalloped ring book! If only the laundry, cleaning and getting ready for school would wait!!!

This kit will be available to ship on August 15th. Pre-order yours now and get either of the past kits (June kit or Mini kit, while supplies last) for 35% off! Pre-order here.

The Design Team is working hard on preparations for the Cybercrop later this month. Mark your calendars now for Aug. 30 - Sept. 2. It's going to be a blast. C'mon over and join us at Scrap Treasures.

Nothing better on a HOT day!

It reached triple digits here today. So I spent my day taking dips in the pool, playing in the sprinkler, and helping momma clean.














But the perfect ending to a hot and busy day was some yummy chocolate ice cream!!!

Thank You Making Memories!!!

It was a very early Christmas present when the FedEx guy brought a box to our house Friday afternoon! The prize pack for being the lucky winner from the Making Memories blog prize! So much yummy stuff - even tied up with a pretty ribbon! Chipboard shapes, foam stamps, stickers, rub-ons, trims, paper holly leaves & snowflakes with brads, and the most beautiful jumbo pebble brads!!! I love ALL of it!





















If it weren't 98 degrees outside, I'd be itchin' to start working on some Christmas projects!

Thank you MM!!!!

Happy Mail & Case-ing Lorri

It's always nice to come home from a not-so-wonderful day of work and have happy mail waiting. Today I got some Heidi Swapp goodies from the July LO challenges at Paper Popsicles. Not only did I get four more pages done for my scrapbooks, my name was drawn to win these goodies. Thanks Melissa!



I also wanted to share a card I cased from Lorri. I've been wanting to bring out the glitter, and her card gave me the inspiration. I'm not crazy about the colors I picked from the ribbon. Or does that sound like an excuse to go ribbon shopping and try it again?

Wube is Sew Cute!

Wube was the July sponsor for Scrap Treasures. These papers, cards and die-cuts are so easy to work with. Here are the projects I finished for the DT. The Sew Cute paper collection is available in the Scrap Treasures store.