Autumn Pennant Banner - Dream Street

This is my other design team project for Scrap Treasures using the Tea for Two line from Dream Street Papers. When these papers arrived, all I could think about was all the luscious autumn colors. I added some ribbons, twill and buttons from my stash. And have I mentioned how much I'm loving cutting felt in the Cuttlebug (Thanks Kana!).
















Speaking of Scrap Treasures, we'll be having a Weekend Cardathon starting Friday, October 5 to celebrate World Cardmaking Day. We'll make cards to send to the troops and lots of cards for each of us to use too. Please check out the message board at www.scraptreasures.com and join us for a fun-filled cardmaking weekend!!

Tami Mayberry Sketch Card

Here's a card for Tami Mayberry's sketch. A quick, fun and nice-looking card, huh? Paper is 7Gypsies, stamp from Michael's, die-cut label holder in my stash.

Di Hickman Sketch

Here's a card using this week's sketch from Di Hickman. The patterned paper is Junkitz, stamps from SU and Michael's, ribbon from my stash.

Triple Whammy Card

I don't think it's any secret that right now I'm into all things glittery. So when Rhi came up with a Sparkle-Y Challenge, I just had to find a way to make time for this one. Then she gave extra incentive for combining challenges from other sites, so I took the Pre-crop Challenge at Inspire Me Card Kits to include a pumpkin shape on a card. Then I used Sara's Sketch #6. Three challenges done with one fun card!!

Autumn Sale at Scrap Treasures

Just a few days left to take advantage of the Autumn Sale in the Scrap Treasures Store. Everything including kits and all the NEW items are 15% off. Check out the Stickles and those new yummy Webster's papers. So much to drool over! And remember there's FREE shipping if your order is over $60. All orders get an entry in the drawing for a $15 store gift certificate. Just use coupon code "Autumn". Sale ends September 30.

Dream Street at Scrap Treasures

Dream Street Papers is the September sponsor at Scrap Treasures. They sent the newly released lines for the design team to play with. You sure can't call it work when the paper lines are so stinkin' yummy!!!

I received the Tea for Two line by Tracy Whitney. My back injury and subsequent surgery pushed me back a few days, but I finally took some time today to play with these gorgeous papers. I have been craving the fall colors - might have something to do with that sweltering summer we had. I had so much fun with this layout!

















I've got another project up my sleeves so check back soon for some more of this dreamy paper!

As If There Were Any Doubt!

I got this from my friend Amy who never seems to blog anymore. (Hint! Hint!!)

What American accent do you have? (Best version so far) Southern People used to hate Southern accents but now everyone wants one.

Click Here to Take This Quiz Brought to you by YouThink.com quizzes and personality tests.

Do you live in Austin? and other Monday Musings

I'm not sure if any of my blog readers live near Austin, TX. But if you do, you need to know that Memory Depot is now carrying A Muse Stamps. Check out Geeta's blog for more information and her class schedule.

Take a minute to read about this family and post a comment on Lori's blog for a chance to win a CD!

Look at this contest! I've never even made an envelope, but what an awesome prize pack!!

I'm wiped out today. I got my husband to drop me off at the office today on his way to an appointment on the other side of town. I ended up being there 3 hours. I promptly came home and took a 3 hour nap! And I still don't want to get up and do much. My mom went back home today, so I should probably get up and tackle the first pile I run into. LOL

And tomorrow starts the new fall season of tv for me! I'll be watching the season premiere of House. Then Private Practice on Wednesdays. Grey's and E.R. on Thursdays. Can you tell I'm a medical show junkie?

One more question for ya'll. I need to get an order together for CTMH. I'm in desperate need of the 12x12 postbound albums. I have so many layouts just sitting in piles or in boxes waiting for a home. But what else do I need? What is YOUR favorite CTMH stamp set??

PIF's and RAK's

Recently, I agreed to join a PIF of handmade items on Shirley's blog. I met Shirley at Willow Traders. She also designs for my long-standing, never-to-give-up scrapbook kit, The ScrapRoom. I just can't wait to meet her IRL one day....and it's gonna happen!! She is coming to Nashville in April for Scrap Etc.!!! This is what Shirley made for me! Isn't it wonderful? She is so talented and I am thrilled to have an original from her in my home. Thanks Shirley! And Linda, Denean and Cindy...I haven't forgotten about your PIF's. This back surgery has just kind of pushed that back a little bit. :(

Also in yesterday's mail was a RAK from another online scrapping friend. I really can't say enough about Linda. She and I follow each other around the internet jumping in on challenges and cybercrops. She is another one that just oozes of talent so I try to follow as close as I can hoping some of it will rub off. And I'll get to meet her at Scrap Etc. too!!! She knew that Addison started dance lessons just a couple of weeks ago so she sent these little goodies with this sweet card. Funny that my husband brought in the mail at the same time Addison was getting ready for her dance class. Thanks Linda!

Another Sketch challenge card

I took a few minutes last night to work with this sketch from Jen del Muro. PP is Cosmo Cricket - even the little "F" cardstock sticker. The ribbon was in my stash. I just love this color combo. Thanks for the sketch Jen.

Beate Sketch #20 and #18 to catch up!

I've quickly beocme addicted to Beate's weekly sketch challenges. I needed a quick birthday card so I used Sketch 20. Yes - I've had the paper forever...but the KMA Dirty Laundry paper is still fun for me! Stamp and glitter from Stampendous. "Make a Wish" ribbon was part of a customized kit from The Scrapbook Club.

It was two weeks ago today that my back landed me in bed. Hard to believe I've been mostly in bed for two weeks now. The good news is that I'm getting around more every day. But I never got a chance to work with Sketch 18. It was one I definitely wanted to try, and I need to make a boatload of Thank You cards right now. I love the design, and it will be so easy to mass produce! Stamp is from Inkadinkado and is available in the Scrap Treasures store. Paper and fancy brad from 7 Gypsies. Used my Mega scalloped cirlce punch and a paper piercer around the border. I think I'll be using this sketch for many many cards to come! Thanks Beate!

Announcing the new owner of the Believe stamps!!

Sorry it's taken me so long to get around to this today. I had to watch all 3 hours of scrapbooking on QVC and not buy anything. LOL

But I used Random.org to generate a winner for the new Believe stamps from Papertrey Ink. And it generated #7!!!

That makes the winner Angel Wilde!! I just love reading Angel's blog every time it pops up in my Google Reader. I've only been following her blog for a couple of months, but I've always been impressed by her calm and generous spirit. Congratulations Angel! Email me your address and those stamps will be on their way to their new home!

Victoria's Card

Check out Tuesday's post for more details, but this card is headed to Victoria in Texas.

I started with this great sketch from Carla.

Used my new Little Lady and Paper Tray sets from Papertrey Ink. I don't know if you can tell but the black cardstock is embossed using my new Cuttlebug Spots & Dots folder. The fabric paper with the ladybugs on it has been in my stash forever. I used red stickles for the ladybug's eyes and black stickles at the end of the antennas. So this card is definitely a mix of the old and new. I know the color-matching could be "better", but no bending, twisting, lifting has limited me to supplies I can reach easily. I hope it will brighten Victoria's day.

Don't forget! Today is the last day to post a comment HERE for a chance to win Believe, one of the other brand-new holiday releases at Papertrey Ink! We'll be picking a winner tomorrow!

Not going anywhere soon

Things went very well at my post-op visit today. I was given a back brace. The surgeon thinks will help me feel more confident as I move around. I had found myself panicking over the slightest little movement terrified I am going to screw up what they just fixed. However he also said that 30 years ago I would still be facing one more week in the hospital...and that for one more week I need to behave like I am in the hospital. Short walks, no lifting, no bending or twisting, lots of rest and enough pain meds to keep me comfortable. He'll take the stitches out next week and then give me instructions on starting therapy, but nothing for the next week except those short walks.

So...since I'm stuck home, I thought it would be fun to see all the places I have been. I saw this on Shirley's blog, and after seeing where Linda has been decided to make my own map. Gives the impression that I'm pretty well-traveled even though I never feel like we go anywhere new. Most of my journeys came during my childhood and during my twenties when it was so easy to just pick up and go. It also didn't hurt growing up on the East Coast where within a two-hour drive you could be in any of 4 different states.



create your own personalized map of the USA
or write about it on the open travel guide

I really hope I'm able to have something to share with you tomorrow. My new stamps from
Papertrey Ink arrived today, and Addison and I spent a few minutes playing with the ladybugs in the Little Lady set. Maybe I'll get the oomph to actually finish a card and figure out a way to upload it.

Tuesday Findings

Finding that the day AFTER surgery isn't quite as wonderful. Still many many times better than before the surgery, but I'm sore and stiff and do need pain meds after all...although not nearly as much as I was taking beforehand.

Finding myself compelled to join in this effort for Victoria. You can read about it on Courtney's blog and get a chance at some great blog candy. You can also use the same card to enter for Angel's blog candy and Beate's Freebies.

Finding another great giveaway from Making Memories. I couldn't be lucky enough to win another big prize so soon, so you might as well take a shot at it. ;)

Finding more great challenges I hope to find time for:
Carla's sketch due Oct. 1
Challenge #1 at Method Playground due Sunday 9/23

Finding that Cuttlebug has new embossing folders coming out!! Take a peek here!

Finding myself accidentally deleting things in my Google Reader I meant to save for future reference like this project I want to make "someday": Kristina Werner's File Folder Tag book and Tutorial.

And finding new blog "friends" from all your comments!! Thanks to everyone who takes the time to leave a message...and don't forget about the awesome stamp set I'm giving away HERE!!!!. Still a few days left to get your entry in for this Papertrey Ink set. I think I will be stalking the mailman tomorrow. :)

Sharing Today's Discoveries

Sorry there are no pictures to share. I'm using a laptop borrowed from work, and all my picture editing software is on the desktop. I really wish you all could see the most beautiful flowers the partners at my office sent....so big and beautiful and full of those yummy fall colors. My back surgery went off wonderfully! Hard to imagine that a mere 12 hours ago I was in so much pain the narcotics barely touched it. Now I'm able to walk around with absolutely no pain except the soreness where the incision is, and the only pain reliever I've needed for the last 9 hours is an ice pack. I'm determined to take it easy on the lifting, bending, and twisting to let the disc heal for the plain simple reason that I never want to go through this again.

I might have invented a new gift-receiving occasion....the SURGERY PRESENT! Right before they wheeled me in the OR they told me they would go out to the waiting room and grab my husband to give me a hug and a kiss. My husband is NOT a good waiting room person. Sitting around doing nothing would have driven him crazy AND probably every else in the waiting room. The local JoAnn's is only a few miles from the surgery center. When I told them I didn't think he'd be out there since I had given him with a list of things I wanted from JoAnn's, the nurses thought that was a great idea! So for my surgery present, I got a brand new Cuttlebug and 3 embossing folders. I can't wait to use it and be able to give some of my cards a new "ummph!"

I still haven't caught up on everything in my Google Reader today, but here are 2 things I don't want you to miss:

My very good friend Linda has some great blog candy, so go pay her a visit.

And a very cool challenge on the KI Memories blog! Sew on a Layout for a chance to win some goodies.

Desperate Measures

September was supposed to the month to create something everyday. Instead, this is my eighth day in the bed. Too many inspiring blogs and galleries and one awesome Bad Girls Kit in the mail today pushed me over the edge.












So I remembered a very old QVC card kit that still needed assembly of 15-20 cards. Everything is pre-cut, all brads and ribbons included, easy to follow instructions. So I'm not getting up and down searching for the right embellishment, and I'm not using much of my own creativity, but I am sitting here making cards! And that will be one less unfinished project taking up room in my little scrappy space. *BIG SMILE*

Don't forget to leave a comment on yesterday's post to be in the drawing for a brand new Christmas stamp set from Papertrey Ink. I got an email that these are being shipped to me Monday!!

My Goodness!! 1000 Hits - time for Blog Candy Celebration

I just happened to come check my blog tonight....right when that counter said 1000!!!. Even though I've had this blog a long time, I never put a counter on it until July 20th. It really amazes me that my little ole blog would have 1000 visits in less than 2 months!

So...what can we do to celebrate? I can't get out of bed to even go see what goodies I have stashed away. And even if I could, I can't upload them since I'm using a borrowed laptop without my picture editing software. Guess it'll be time to go shopping for some blog candy....and I'll be hitting the PaperTrey Ink site later tonight for the reveal of their new Christmas stamps, so maybe I'll just pick up a little extra something while I'm there.

You can check back tomorrow....hopefully I'll be able to put an image up of whatever goodies I find.

So post a comment here on THIS post...and I'll draw a name next Friday!

And if anyone knows Ida Faye...tell her I'm still waiting for her to email me from the cardstock giveaway earlier this month.

EDITING TO ADD:

I can't figure out a way to post the picture, but I ordered the newly-released Believe set of acrylic stamps at Papertrey Ink. Isn't that Santa so cute??? And you can check out the designers' gallery here!. Just in case you'd like to even more of this set before you take your chance to win, check out Nichole's blog entry.

I didn't fall off the earth.....

But some little twist Saturday morning dropped me to the floor...and I've been in bed since then. I fought this disc (the L4/L5 one - whatever that means) all summer. I even cancelled a surgery scheduled in August when I started feeling better. But it's not showing any signs of getting better on its own this time and I've rescheduled my lumbar discectomy for Monday. So I'm in bed - with a laptop loaned to me from my office. My husband has been an absolute saint taking care of all of us. My mom arrives tomorrow - additional troops for the weekend seem like a good idea, huh?

But...no creating for me. The closest I'm getting to that is all the inspiration I get from reading all the crafty blogs out there. I have my Netflix queue filled and my rx for pain meds by my side....so things could definitely be a whole lot worse.

If you're creating something today, post a comment with a link so I can at least take a peek. :)

Day #7

I am SOOO deadline-oriented. Both of these were challenges due by midnight Friday. And yes...I uploaded everything before the clock struck 12, but I'm just getting around to posting here.

The first was a challenge at 2 Scrappy Chix Designs to use Beate's tutorial for faux postage. I'm not totally happy with this card, but I love the technique and I'll be trying it again!













The second was a challenge to scrap a layout about one of my birthdays. I used a sketch from the Gettin' Sketchy blog. This was almost two years ago when a little 3 yr. old was not about to let Momma's birthday pass by without a birthday cake! It revived a tradition that we had neglected for several years, but she was right. Birthdays ARE to be celebrated! And in thinking through this layout I've become determined to embrace the celebration from now on and no longer pretend it's just another day. After all....the number of times we have to celebrate birthdays is a finite number. I need to remember to take the time to appreciate it.

Day #6 - Family Fun

Day #5 - but nothing to show

I've gathered papers and supplies for 3 challenge projects all due Friday!! But no time today to ever sit down and create. Maybe I'll get a chance to finish one of them tomorrow. Otherwise, Friday night is going to be hectic.

Today was our first ZooBabes class at the Nashville Zoo. It's a six week series of programs for little ones in the 18 mths. - 2 yrs. range. They had a craft, storytime, and an up-close visit from a couple of animal friends. The opossum is Georgia, and she was so gentle and sweet curled up on the instructor's chest.


















More excitement this afternoon when we spent at least an hour buying pink ballet shoes and a black leotard. Addison starts taking dance classes this Saturday. She looks so adorable in her new dance clothes. I can't wait to get a picture of her.

Day #4 - Last of my August kit for Beate Sketch #17

I just barely had enough scraps from the August kit at Scrap Treasures to make this card for Beate's Weekend Sketch. I thought the Michael's Studio G clear stamp worked perfectly with the Cherry Arte Princess paper.

The winner of the yummy cardstock!

Sorry everyone. It's been a whirlwind to get dinner, baths and now the last kid is in bed. But I did have my daughter draw a name before she went to bed. And she drew:



Ida Faye!!!

Ida Faye - please email me at vaughnrh@yahoo.com with your mailing address. I'm actually heading to the post office tomorrow, so I hope you see this post.

And I'm hoping to be back later with something I've created. Wish me luck!

Day #3

3 days down - 27 to go! Of course, it's so much easier when you don't have to worry about alarm clocks and getting up for work.



I did finish the mini-album of Addison's first day of kindergarten using the August kit at Scrap Treasures. Addison is thrilled with it. I have a feeling it's going to get a lot of handling, which is fine. It's hers...and I can tell it makes her feel special to have a book just about her. It's 16 total pages, so if you want to see more of it, check out the gallery at Scrap Treasures.







I also did a scraplift challenge for the Scrap Treasures cybercrop. The journaling is a note she brought home from preschool. These pictures are SO less than stellar, but they matched the Cherry Arte Princess paper perfectly...and it's a memory I want in my album. This uses up almost all the scraps I have from the August kit. I *think* I have just enough to make a card, but that will have to wait until tomorrow.


















Just a couple more hours to sign up for the cardstock giveaway. I have a long work day tomorrow, but I'll post the winner tomorrow night! Hope everyone had a nice Labor Day weekend. It sure is going to be hard to go back to work in the morning.

Day #2 - Create Something Everyday

I've gotten so busy tonight finishing up a chipboard album I almost forgot to post this card! This was for a specific supply challenge at the Scrap Treasures cybercrob. The challenge was to make a card or tag using a given list of supplies....nothing more and nothing less.

Wish me luck! I'd really like to finish this mini album before I sleep.

Create Something Everyday - Day #1

At least I didn't fizzle out on my self-imposed challenge the first day! I finished a challenge layout for the Beach Party crop at Scrap Treasures. We are having so much fun this weekend. Tonight we were able to chat with American Crafts designer, Kelly Purkey. She is so cute, and went the extra mile to chat with us in spite of her computer problems.




















Then I did a really quick pocket card challenge for 2 Scrappy Chix Designs. This card was so fun and easy! And was just perfect for Addison's 5 year old friend who had a party today!