Mar's Scraps

Lovely Day

2011-08-23T22:25:00.003-04:00

My Grammy is staying with us for an extended visit. One of the places she wanted to see again was Cape May.

We spent a couple of hours on the beach. It was an absolutely gorgeous day. And we didn't feel the earthquake either, lol.

Her old house is still there and looks great!
It is relatively unchanged. New paint colors and the pool we had to the right of the house is long gone. She also can't believe how tall the tree in front is now.

Thanks for stopping by!
~Mar

CKC - VF

2011-07-30T23:58:00.002-04:00

Just spent 3 days at CKC Valley Forge. I'll be posting class projects and reviews all this week - still have to finish some of them!

But Guess What ?

Every year, at the Friday night crop, they ask participants to make cards
to go to our service members overseas and they make a contest
out of it. You have 1 hour to complete any card of your choosing using
the card stock base that they provide - this year it was orange.

I won first place!

I guess I can't say "I'm not a cardmaker" any longer. :)

My daughter went up later and took the pictures with her phone so please excuse the quality - she's only 11!

I had no idea what I was going to do. Especially as orange is one of those colors that I don't use often. But I had just picked up the Fancy Pants Love Birds collection pack at a clearance sale. The banner design on the front of the card was cut from a sheet of the paper and then I cut additional triangle from another sheet and used pop dots to add dimension to the card. I had a random paper doily in some supplies I brought with me and the sentiment was also in the collection pack.

Thanks for stopping by!
~Mar

Cape May - FtLoS

2011-07-02T12:21:00.003-04:00

This week at For the Love of Sketches, Donna used the cover of the Beatles Second Album for the sketch inspiration.
I have received a bunch of old 1970's photos that were taken with 110 film and their quality is not great. I scan and reprint all my photos. Photos from a hundred years ago I have no problem with changing the size but these photos shot with 110 lose quality fast! This layout was a fantastic way to get a bunch of these photos grouped together. I'll surely be using it (or a variation of it) again.

Thanks for stopping by!
~Mar

the graduate - SYAO Challenge #7

2011-06-28T22:14:00.000-04:00

I'm still in the 'Scrap Your Ass Off'' challenge at Paper Secret. This is my layout for week 7. My grandad's senior class picture and graduation picture.

Wasn't he handsome?

Thanks for stopping by!
~Mar

My Little Pony - SYAO Challenge #6

2011-06-21T21:07:00.000-04:00

More old pictures of yours truly! For my 3rd birthday Grammy and Grandad got my a pony!!! The papers are from my June Counterfeit Kit.

Thanks for stopping by!
~Mar

Me - SYAO Challenge #5

2011-06-16T21:01:00.001-04:00

This is a school picture of me from third grade. The 'Scrap Your Ass Off' challenges require you to use the specified sketch and at least any 5 out of ten techniques/products specified for the challenge. Since sewing was one of them this week I used this paper that I had in my Counterfeit Kit and sewed directly over the printed sewing.

Thanks for stopping by!
~Mar

Crazy Days - SYAO #4

2011-06-10T20:31:00.000-04:00

I've been participating in the "Scrap Your Ass Off" challenge at Paper Secrets. You are given a sketch and a list of ten products of which you must use five. I used my June Counterfeit Kit to make my layout for challenge #4.

A few photos of my daughter dressed for 'crazy days' at school this past year.

Thanks for stopping by!
~Mar

June Counterfeit Kit

2011-06-09T10:26:00.000-04:00

May was a bad month and I'm glad to be getting back to scrapping and the Counterfeit Kit Challenge! I got as far as making a kit last month but never got it posted or used any of it. I'll just keep it together for now and maybe use it for a future month.

Below is my June kit. The inspiration kit is from a new kit club Burlap & Buttercups.

Yes, once again I've pulled massive amounts of product but I'm hoping to get a lot done this month!

Thanks for stopping by!
~Mar

3

2011-06-04T10:01:00.001-04:00

Megan's third birthday party. So stylish -- she was hot stuff!

This layout was done using this week's sketch over at For the Love of Sketches!

Thanks for stopping by!
~Mar

Pals - SYAO Challenge #3

2011-06-02T23:10:00.001-04:00

I just adore this picture of my Grandad when he was little. I'm not sure who the girl with him is, maybe his cousin. And someone, probably his brother, is in the car if you look closely.

Thanks for stopping by!
~Mar

You - SYAO Challenge #2

2011-05-26T22:26:00.001-04:00

My layout for the second round of 'Scrap Your Ass Off' at Paper Secrets.

This year we got Megan a cell phone for her birthday but we waited until a few days after to surprise her. We always go out to a restaurant on the weekend closet to a birthday and before we did we sat her on the sofa to give her a few little gifts I "forgot" to give to her. I had tucked the phone into the corner of the sofa and while she was unwrapping some Hello Kitty notebooks I pocket dialed her new phone. The look on her face when the sofa started ringing was priceless!

Thanks for stopping by!
~Mar

Goodbye. I'll miss you...

2011-05-25T22:08:00.000-04:00

On Friday morning, May 20th, I got the phone call I'd been dreading. My grandfather died around 10:30 am.

I handled calling some cousins to pass along the news and called my boss to let her know. I was already planning on going to visit Saturday through Monday as I was trying to get down there every couple of weeks. I checked with my Grammy and she still wanted Megan and I to come. She asked about the pictures I had just scanned and did I have any good ones for the memorial service. Of course I said, and I'll take care of that project. I started pulling anything I thought I might want and printed the pictures I had in several different sizes. I still ended up running to Michael's for more cardstock and Walmart for photo printing while I was there.

Here is the finished piece:

I had also taken some of my recent layouts along to show my Grammy and she started tearing up when she saw this one so I also picked up a frame while I was at Michael's and gave it to her.

Overall, we had a good visit. Grammy seems to be handling things well and was expecting another one of her granddaughters to spend the day with her Tuesday and her son to arrive from Florida on Wednesday. My family won't be attending the memorial service this Saturday because we have scout camping and Grammy said not to cancel that. She'd rather we come down again in a few weeks after everyone has left and she's feeling lonely. :( So, Megan and I are planning to go down for a few days mid-June after school is out.

~Mar

1946

2011-05-21T10:00:00.002-04:00

My For the Love of Sketches layout this week features another vintage photo. This is my grandad with some friends and family taken while he was on leave while in the Navy.

Thanks for stopping by!
~Mar

love my 'at - SYAO Challenge #1

2011-05-19T21:05:00.000-04:00

I'm participating in the new challenge over at Paper Secrets -- Scrap Your Ass Off! My layout for the 1st challenge is all about me! When I was little I couldn't say aitches so my favorite hat was an 'at. And I'm told I did not like to go anywhere without it.

Thanks for stopping by!
~Mar

An·ces·tors

2011-05-14T12:16:00.001-04:00

This is my layout for this week's sketch at For the Love of Sketches. Be sure to follow that link to the blog so you can get the sketch, make your own layout and have a chance to win a $20.00 gift certificate to Scrapbook Express!

More vintage photos! I've got loads scanned recently. This is the other (maternal) side of my family. My grandfather started doing the family genealogy about 30 years ago and was able to acquire many, many photos. I've started to scan all of his binders as many of the documents are becoming quite frail. And unfortunately so is my grandad, he was recently diagnosed with a blood cancer among other things and is not doing well.

Thanks for stopping by!

~Mar

Soar

2011-05-07T12:08:00.002-04:00

Thanks for stopping by!
~Mar

Scout Trip

2011-04-30T17:59:00.000-04:00

It's Saturday and time for a new sketch at For the Love of Sketches. Here is my layout. I used more products from my April Counterfeit Kit.

These are my girls at the National Constitution Center last year. They really liked 'hanging out' with Ben - he always was popular with the ladies!

Thanks for stopping by!
~Mar

Counterfeit Blog Hop!

2011-04-28T00:01:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the April Counterfeit Blog Hop. If you get lost along the way you can find the complete list here.

Our challenge this month was to pick someone from the design team and get inspired by a project on their blog.
I chose Lisa - if you back to her January postings she did a couple of canvases and those inspired this:

Your next stop on the hop is Emily.

Thanks for stopping by!
~Mar

Horseback Rider & Art

2011-04-23T12:37:00.000-04:00

I have two layouts to share with you today.

First is my layout for this week's sketch at For the Love of Sketches.

Be sure to keep checking the sketch blog and get ready to make some layouts - there will be prizes!!!

I have exciting news coming in May! Our first ever month long scrapbook challenge right here at For the Love of Sketches. We have a wonderful sponsor, Scrapbook Express, with a wonderful prize. So be sure to check back for details.

And here's another layout of my daughter at last year's art show at school. Both of these layouts were done using my April kit I did for the Counterfeit Kit Challenge.

Thanks for stopping by!
~Mar

Easter Egg Hunt

2011-04-17T15:17:00.000-04:00

Both of these layouts were made using my April Counterfeit Kit. The first page 'Easter' uses the sketch for the April sketch challenge at Paper Secrets and the second page 'Egg Hunt' was my layout for the April stash challenge at Paper Secrets.

Thanks for stopping by!
~Mar

Ponce, Fountain of Lions

2011-04-16T19:36:00.000-04:00

My layout for this week's 'For the Love of Sketches' sketch number 8!

And using my supplies in my April Counterfeit Kit.

Last summer we went to Puerto Rico for two wonderful weeks. This fountain is in the main square in the city of Ponce.

Thanks for stopping by!
~Mar

Breakfast in Bed

2011-04-10T20:53:00.000-04:00

I used my Counterfeit Kit for this week's For the Love of Sketches layout. I just love the new Stella & Rose papers from My Mind's Eye and Donna and I did not know we were both using the same paper - but we did use the opposite sides! :)

Thanks for stopping by!
~Mar

Rough Week....

2011-04-09T23:02:00.000-04:00

I won the Trifecta this week - Strep, Bronchitis, and an Ear Infection. And it all came on really fast - I had a sore throat just starting when I went to bed Sunday night and by the time I got to the doctor at noon on Tuesday I felt half dead. I'm still a mess but now have enough energy to work a few hours at a time.

Yesterday I was able to pull together my Counterfeit Challenge Kit for April. April's inspiration kit is from Front Porch Kits. I took my inspiration from the kits colors and the birds & butterflies.

The patterned paper in my kit is all My Mind's Eye - I just got some of the new Stella & Rose paper and it's lovely! I've also used various sheets from some of their older lines.

I also threw together a huge assortment of embellishments. The blue butterflies on the left were made from lace cardstock that I layered and added details to with stickles.

I pulled a selection of Bazzill cardstock and some My Mind's Eye kraft paper and a Jenny Bowlin diecut that I missed putting in my previous pic.

This kit seems so small compared to March. I've been getting about 10 or so layouts done each month using my kit so I made a 'mini-kit' of some really fun Bella Blvd papers I got recently - just in case I run out!

And here's my layout I did for LAST Saturday's 'For the Love of Sketches' sketch!

Thanks for stopping by!

~Mar

March Giveaway Winner!

2011-04-01T11:29:00.000-04:00

First, a huge 'THANK YOU!' to everyone who stopped by this month.

I loved reading all of your comments - all 171 of them! When I add comments also left at For the Love of Sketches and the new followers (x2) - I need a number from 1-240!

The high-tech answer is:

The very low-tech way I came up with the numbers to begin with:

And a closer look at the winner...

Congratulations Ruth Ellen!

Please send me an email with your address so I can get your kit sent out next week.

~Mar

Office Girl

2011-03-29T23:25:00.007-04:00

Paper Secrets March Manufacturer Challenge was October Afternoon.

Accck! I'm NOT a big fan of OA/retro.

However, I did have a few sheets of paper I must have received in kits at one time or another. This LO is all OA paper - the only things I added were a button, some Kaiser pearls, and Prima alphas.

Don't forget to stop by the Birthday Bash at Paper Secrets!!!

Thanks for stopping by!

~Mar

Paper Secrets & Another Scrap-lift

2011-03-28T20:59:00.001-04:00

One of the March challenges over at Paper Secrets is to scrap-lift a layout from the gallery.

I chose this layout by Rachel Wohrlin. I had some of these papers on my desk as part of my March Counterfeit Kit and my daughter brought home spring school pictures last week. It was definitely meant to be!

My layout - I love it!

and I honestly didn't think I'd ever use that big die-cut (or even half of it, lol)

Thanks for stopping by!

~Mar

March Counterfeit Kit Challenge Blog Hop!

2011-03-28T00:01:00.006-04:00

Welcome Blog Hoppers!

This is my second month participating in the Counterfeit Kit Challenge and I'm loving it!

This month our kits were inspired by Studio Calico and they have a ton - a main kit and then four add-on kits. I ended up making 4 kits and adding plain cardstock. One kit ('Beachy Keen") I haven't touched at all - I had to reformat my computer this month and I didn't have a chance to go through my backups and pull vacation pictures. Another kit ('Sunshine Flowers') was barely used and some of what is left is going to be added to my giveaway - I just can't see myself ever using the paper. However, I still had plenty to use and I made 10 layouts so far and I'll probably do another two or three before the April Kit is ready.

Our challenge for this month's blog hop was to scraplift ourselves!

I chose this layout I did several years ago. I really liked it then and I still like it! It also had a 'framed' picture that will cover another challenge we had this month. You gotta love a two-fer!

Here's what I did this time. Zabella just 'killed' this toy Thursday night and we had the photographic evidence. The only thing I really changed was that instead of stamping the border this time, I used a decorative tape that's been laying around in a drawer for who knows how long. I had to miter the corners but I love how it looks. I think I'll be using it again!

Don't forget to follow my blog & leave a comment on the post for your chance to win my March Kit Giveaway! You can find my original post with all the details by clicking the Kit picture at the top of my blog.

The next blog on the hop is Stacey's.
If you get lost along the way you can return to The Counterfeit Kit Challenge Blog.

Thanks for stopping by!

~Mar

family

2011-03-26T15:20:00.003-04:00

I just finished this layout for a mists and stencils/masks challenge over at
Paper Secrets.

I first painted over the design on the paper with a permanent masking medium so I wouldn't affect those areas with the colors I was going to add. Then I placed a large Prima mask in the center and sprayed over the area with daffodil Glimmer Mist and then in the upper left only with seaglass GM which made a fade to pale green.

I used Prima craft flowers, which I stamped a random design on with walnut stain Distress Ink, and then sprayed with coffee & frost GMs. I used small copper brads for the centers.

I also made the butterfly. It's why this layout took 2 hours to do, lol! One of my 'other art' supplies is india inks. I have several 'scrappy' uses for them, one of which is painting. They can basically be used like watercolors.

Here's a short picture tutorial on the butterfly:

It's Prima Mistable canvas. It was already stamped with several images (they are just outlines, btw), I cut out one butterfly. (I'll probably ignore some of the images and make what I want using the reverse side)

First, I sketched in the details with a marker. These didn't need to be exact as they will end up covered by the inks and painted on again at the end of the process. I used black ink for the body and blended with the blue near the body. I then worked out farther with pure blue.

Closer to the edges where I wanted a brighter blue I began blending the blue ink with white ink - yes there really is white ink, you just can't get it for your printer, lol. I added a darker band of blue near the outside edge.

When I finished the blue on the wings, I painted the detail lines again with black ink.

Then I used white ink to highlight some areas.

To finish it I spread Diamond Glaze over the entire surface. Then I floated a heavier coat of glaze over the body and flocked it.

Thanks for stopping by!

~Mar

Snow Day

2011-03-25T13:12:00.001-04:00

Trying to use up the March Counterfeit Kit!

I used this page maps sketch that is the March Sketch Challenge at Paper Secrets.

I gave the sketch a turn and used a slightly larger photo for the top one. I love how it turned out!

Thanks for stopping by!

And remember it's only a week until I announce the winner of my March Kit Giveaway! You still have time to get more chances. :)

~Mar

Pony Girl

2011-03-19T22:34:00.000-04:00

My layout this week at For the Love of Sketches is a very old pic of me & the pony I had as child, Pearly May.

I used a mirror image of the sketch to create this.

Once again, I used my March Counterfeit Kit, Tweet Spring. I started working on this a couple of weeks ago and had cut the circle out of the lace cardstock. I later used the remaining piece of the lace cardstock on my school girl layout so there was only a tiny bit of waste!

Thanks for stopping by,
~Mar

nap time

2011-03-16T18:26:00.000-04:00

The patterned papers were from my main Counterfeit Kit. And I got to use some of my oldest products on this one. Those are turquoise Making Memories snaps in the felt. I bought them (and eyelets) in just about every color at least 5 or 6 years ago!

Thanks for stopping by!

Tater Peeling

2011-03-13T18:54:00.000-04:00

Why yes! I did use my March Counterfeit Kit for this layout. :)

Megan loves mashed potatoes and doesn't like stuffing. So, now she gets to peel the taters for holiday meals.

For holiday meals I always make potato filling (I cheat & use instant in these as you can't tell because of the other ingredients) and either cornbread & sausage stuffing or oyster stuffing. Megan doesn't like any of those and just wants real mashed potatoes. Thanksgiving 2009 she was finally old enough to start helping. Peeling the potatoes is her job now!

A close-up of the crinkled dictionary paper flowers I made.

If you haven't made these before they are very easy. Just cut some varying sized circles from thin paper. Wet them well with Glimmer Mist. Crinkle them up while they are wet and when they dry, stack and glue the circles. You can use anything for a center!

Thanks for stopping by!

Zeke & Meg - For the Love of Sketches (#3)

2011-03-12T12:29:00.000-05:00

Donna's posted the newest sketch on her blog ~ check it out!

Here's my layout. I used my 'Sunshine Flowers' Counterfeit Kit for this one. I'm not a big user of yellow but I love that checked paper! The pictures are of my daughter Megan with our dachshund boy Zeke shortly before he died. Poor girl saw the layout and it made her cry. :(

I love the clean design - just a few extra cuts and inking - but it really lets the photos stand out!

Did you know what you could win just for dropping by and leaving a comment?

This kit and more could be YOURS!

Check my posts from March 6th or the 11th for details.

Sing and a Free Kit!

2011-03-11T23:57:00.000-05:00

I made this layout using my March Counterfeit Kit - Tweet Spring.

I don't think I'm going to have a leftovers from that one!

There have been some really great tutorials posted on the Counterfeit Kit Challenge Blog over the last few days and I'm hoping to try one or two this weekend! If you haven't seen them yet, go check them out. My favorite is the awesome metal flowers Sherri made from a soda can.

Now for the FREE stuff!

This is what I've come up with so far for my kit giveaway - I may find more to toss in, lol!

In case you missed the post last week - here's how you can get a chance(s) to win:

Each post of mine in March that you leave a comment on gives you a chance - 1 per post.
If you also go and leave a comment over on Donna's 'For the Love of Sketches' blog where I design layouts for her sketches you get a chance - 1 per post.
If you use one of the sketches to make a layout yourself (be sure to leave a link on Donna's blog) you get 2 chances!
If you become a follower of my blog - 2 chances. A follower of Donna's also - another 2 chances.
Yes, I will include comments that have already been left!
Yes, I will ship to an international winner! :)

Just click March in my archive on the left and all the eligible posts will be shown!

Thanks for stopping by!

Music Maker

2011-03-08T20:37:00.000-05:00

Another Counterfeit Kit Challenge layout! You can see my March kits here.

I snapped this picture at Megan's spring concert last year when she was in fifth grade. She started playing the violin in 3rd and then the flute in 4th. She usually has 3 performances each year for each instrument and we NEVER see her. She's always in the center and between the music stands and the conductor we're lucky if we see the top of her head. She really needs to practice more and get 1st chair! Last spring they performed a piece where the different instruments each had a turn standing up while they played - we finally saw her! (btw, we've had two orchestra performances & one band performance so far this year and we haven't seen her again, lol.)

I used the die-cut My Mind's Eye paper from my 'Tweet Spring' kit. I slapped some green paint on the area where I was placing the picture. I slid my journaling tag under end and then just outlined the pic & tag a few times to make it stand out more. I looped and stapled ribbon and pom-poms along the bottom of the picture. I used Making Memories shimmer stickers and placed the title in one of the swirls - I just love how that turned out! There were some little hearts with the alphas so I turned those into music notes for my tweeting birds. :)

If you haven't already heard about my giveaway please see Sunday's post for details by clicking FREE KIT!!!
I've pulled out a bunch of paper and I'm going thru embellishments next! I'll have a kit pic up by Friday so be sure to check back!

Thanks again for stopping by and happy creating!

~Mar

school girl & a giveaway!

2011-03-06T19:11:00.003-05:00

I made this layout using papers from my 'Tweet Spring' counterfeit kit. I distressed the photo by sanding the edges and then inking them. I had the scrap of pink paper on my desk from a project I did a few days ago and the brown print below that is the reverse side of the paper I matted the photo with.

Technically, this is my second my second layout using the kit but I can't share this first one with you yet. Donna won't post sketch #3 until next weekend! And speaking of seconds, this is the second layout I've done using sketch #2. You can see the sketch and my first layout for it HERE.

As an incentive to check it out and because so many of you were so kind with your comments and love the kits - I'm going to make another kit and give it away!

I'll be working on it over the next couple of days and will post a pic on a future post. This giveaway will run for the entire month of March. Here's how you can start working on your chance to win!

Each post of mine in March that you leave a comment on gives you a chance - 1 per post.
If you also go and leave a comment over on Donna's 'For the Love of Sketches' blog where I design layouts for her sketches you get a chance - 1 per post.
If you use one of the sketches to make a layout yourself (be sure to leave a link on Donna's blog) you get 2 chances!
If you become a follower of my blog - 2 chances. A follower of Donna's also - another 2 chances.
Yes, I will include comments that have already been left!
Yes, I will ship to an international winner! :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Insane. It's just insane!

2011-03-05T16:39:00.002-05:00

I'm talking about March's Counterfeit Kit!

There are 5, yes you heard that right.

FIVE KITS.

This month's inspiration is from Studio Calico. There is a main kit and 4 add-on kits.

I've made up 4 kits and then added some additional cardstock and embellishment items. The inspiration kits are really not my style. So, rather than woodsy I've tried to keep my kits just outdoorsy. So instead of tree bark and squirrels, I'll be more birds and butterflies. And my papers may be a little brighter overall.

Kit #1 - this is a little larger than the others so we'll say this is

the Main Kit.

Bella Blvd - Family Tree, Growing Up; Pink Paislee - 365 Degrees Collection, Daydream; Prima - Whisper Collection, Sigh; My Mind's Eye - LL, Coastal Comfort, Cuddle Dots; Pink Paislee - Fetching, Rugged; Basic Grey - Sugared, Sweetheart; Prima - My Mommy and Me; My Mind's Eye - LL, Coastal Comfort, Chesterfield Print; My Mind's Eye - Life Stories, Accessory Sheet; My Mind's Eye - LMM, Celebrate, Party Dots; My Mind's Eye - LMM, Hello Beautiful, Butterflies; Hambly- Screen Prints, Out on a Limb; the 2 smaller scalloped pieces are Lily Bee - French Couture; also 2 Fancy Pants - Glitter Cuts, Large Purple Swirl & Label Flourish; 2 packs of Making Memories - Paperie brad combos in Mocha & Greenhouse; plus 2 miscellaneous journaling tags.

The first of my 'add-on' kits - I am calling it 'Tweet Spring'.

My Mind's Eye - Abbey Road: Stomp 'Rock On' Tadpole; 'Round & Round' Scenery; Whirlybird 'Best Friends' Tweet Tweet; Lucky Me 'Hello World' Lucky Lime; and the die cut is Whirlybird 'Sunshine Girl' Birds of a Feather. The other two patterned papers are Prima - Signs of Spring. The floral die cut is KI Memories - Pop Culture, flower child pinata. There is one journaling spot from MME Abbey Road and the other three are Colorbok - Friendly Forest. Basic Grey - Green at Heart Canvas Tags and another pack of Making Memories Paperie brads in Poolside round out this kit.

The second of my 'add-on' kits - I am calling it 'Sunshine Flowers'.

The Girls' Paperie: Cabbage Rose (Rev. Yellow Check); Green Brocade (Rev. Small Pink Blossoms); Shabby Flower; Vintage Travel; Vintage Patchwork; and Bella Blvd - Plastino ,Bermudas. Die cut papers: The Girls' Paperie, Diecut Wallpaper and My Mind's Eye - Jacy & Jill 'Cute' Beautiful Blossoms. Making Memories - {note}worthy Journal spots, Delaney; the small die cut pieces are also from The Girls' Paperie. There are two Prima Vines - Summer Carnation Lemon & Thistle and another pack of Making Memories Paperie brads in Rouge round out this kit.

The third 'add-on' kit - I am calling it 'Beachy Keen'.

The papers are all Scenic Route from the Grafton line: Maxwell Avenue; Wharf Street; James Street; Tyson Street; Kraft Spinner; and Kraft Surf Leaf. KI Memories - Bloom Frosty Lace Cardstock, twirl hazard. Tattered Angels - Bingo Boards and Calling Cards, Beach. Two journaling spots from Colorbok - Friendly Forest and two miscellaneous pieces of chipboard borders.

I also pulled a selection of Bazzill cardstock, a bunch of journaling spots & tickets, Fancy Pants felt shapes, and Tattered Angels chipboard pieces.

I did not pull a lot of embellishments for these kits. It took hours just to go through all my papers (hey, I'm working on using it up!) to pull these and photograph and blog. I will be adding alphas, flowers, buttons, bling & ribbons as I need them. As always, this kit club retains the right to make substitutions! :)

Please check out my previous March posts to see the final layout I made with my February kit, the left-overs of that kit and some other layouts I did for my friend Donna's new sketch blog. Thanks for stopping by!

Cake Boss - For the Love of Sketches (#2)

2011-03-05T13:29:00.000-05:00

As I mentioned a few days ago my friend, Donna, has started a new sketch blog! She'll be posting a new sketch each week and I plan to create a layout using each week's sketch. Please go check out her blog and while you're at it please follow both of us. :)

This is my layout for this week's sketch!

Megan loves to watch 'Cake Boss'. So when we were in NJ for our holiday trip to NYC we had to stop at Carlo's Bakery. Nearly 2 hours waiting in the rain just to enter the shop.

February Leftovers

2011-03-04T23:38:00.000-05:00

This is what's left from my February Counterfeit Kit.

My original kit supplies can be seen here.

All that's left is:

the hunt - For the Love of Sketches (#1)

2011-03-03T21:28:00.003-05:00

One last layout form my February Counterfeit Kit! I'll post my leftovers tomorrow.

Also I used a sketch! My friend, Donna, has started a new sketch blog! She'll be posting a new sketch each week and I plan to create a layout using each week's sketch. Please go check out her blog and while you're at it please follow both of us. :) This is sketch #1. Did I mention she's using vintage advertisements to inspire her sketches? This sketch was inspired by a Max Factor ad featuring Judy Garland.

This layout will be one of three or four covering Megan's birthday. I wanted to make her birthday a little different this year so I hid all of her presents and gave her clues to solve in order to find them.

The clues shown on this page are:

"Where dishes get neat after we eat." the dishwasher
"Where work gets done but also fun." the desk in my office - used for work & scrappy play!
"I can be spied where monsters hide." under the bed, of course - and a Webkinz monster was the gift,lol!
"The more I dry, the wetter I get. I'm usually purchased as a set." towels - her gift was hidden under them in the linen closet

Counterfeit Kit Challenge Blog Hop!

2011-02-28T00:01:00.014-05:00

Welcome hoppers!

The challenge for this hop was to make a card or layout inspired by this sketch from 'Scraps of Darkness' - the same site that inspired our counterfeit kits this month. I'm such an over achiever with this kit, I made one of each!

A Valentine's Day card:

I took the gray cardstock frame by Little Yellow Bicycle that was in my kit and covered it with Ranger's Distress crackle paint.

And a layout:

Another vintage photo. This is my grandfather and his sister circa 1919.
I Glimmer Misted, Glazed & Glam'd the white card stock flowers that were in my kit. Also, I did pull one more item from my stash (I do that when I buy kits too) - A Kaisercraft wood flourish which I painted white and sprayed with a touch of the Glimmer Mist I used on much of the layout.

Thanks for stopping by!

The next blog on the hop is Dawn's.
If you get lost along the way you can return to The Counterfeit Kit Challenge Blog.

Ninja Girl!

2011-02-26T16:12:00.000-05:00

Megan's Halloween costume for the 'Monster Mash Bash' at school was a ninja girl. She had fun doing her kung fu moves for us. Yes, it's my Counterfeit Kit again, lol!.

A Valentine!

2011-02-14T12:04:00.002-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day!

A card made from my Counterfeit Kit

Howdy Pardner!

2011-02-13T00:12:00.000-05:00

This is the companion layout to the 'Visiting Santa' layout I did a couple of days ago. My dad dressed in his cowboy finest, lol! He wasn't sure if he actually got this for Christmas or his birthday but said it was all the same as he always got ripped off in the gift department since his birthday is the 26th of December.

Thanks for looking!

My Grandparents Wedding

2011-02-12T16:18:00.000-05:00

Here's my 'love themed' layout!
Also using my Counterfeit Kit and another vintage photo. This is my paternal grandparents on their wedding day in 1948. I will be adding names and date on the journaling tag.

Visiting Santa

2011-02-11T12:22:00.001-05:00

I'm loving this kit for getting some of my old b&w photos scrapped. This is my dad and uncle visiting Santa. I think it would have been 1953. I made the poinsettia: cards stock, Stickles & Glimmer Mist!

So far I haven't done any Valentine's Day/Love themed layouts with this kit but I'm working on one!

My Dad!

2011-02-07T20:48:00.000-05:00

This is the first layout I've made using my February Counterfeit Kit!

I used the Prima stencils as stamps with the Distress paint. I wanted to use the hot air balloons on this layout because they had a kind of circus-y feel to me. It's hard to tell by the picture here but the front of my Dad's outfit has a little circus bear riding a bike across a tight-rope embroidered on it.

** Please note: I photo-shopped out the journaling on the tag as it contains his full-name, etc.

February's Counterfeit Kit

2011-02-05T16:58:00.021-05:00

The Counterfeit Kit Challenge for February has been posted and the kit club featured this month is Scraps of Darkness you can see the main kit and all the add-on kits here.

I love the look of this kit! My kit is going to be a lot like it with the big exception being the lilac colored items. I'm going with blue instead.

My Main Kit Counterfeit!

Paper:

Little Yellow Bicycle - love letters, Black Damask flocked
Chatter Box - artsy.licious, Fine Flocked Paper in Kohl
Little Yellow Bicycle - love letters, Love Song
Prima IOD - Pulse Collection, Tagged
My Mind's Eye - Laundry Line, Flirty "Lil Girl" Smocking Paper
My Mind's Eye - Bella Bella, "Bellezo"
Prima IOD - Coquette Collection, Trinkets
My Mind's Eye - Lost & Found, Portobello Road "Family" Brocade Paper
My Mind's Eye - Laundry Line, Sundress "Heirloom"
My Mind's Eye - Holly Jolly, "Holly Berries"
My Mind's Eye - Lost & Found, Portobello Road "Boy" Dapper Dots
Creative Imaginations - Narratives, Journal Poppy

Embellishments: I'll try to return and list these too. In the meantime feel free to ask!

Prima - Say it in Pearls with Flowers, cream
Jenni Bowlin - Bingo Card, Love
Making Memories - Glitter Deco Brads, Antique Silver Gem
Pins are Fancy Pants pins that I 'fancied up'
Making Memories - Glitter Brads, Black & Silver
Prima - Velvet Brads, Black & Heart
Prima - Leaves and Flowers (Ameruse, Duchess Mix)
Making Memories - Charmed Frames, Square Scroll
Making Memories - Mini Shimmer Alpha, Silver Metro
Heidi Swapp - Playing Card
Flowers - ???
Assorted Ribbons
Fancy Pants - 'Ledger'-style tag came from a full sheet of various tags
7 Gypsies - Post Card
Prima - Felt Hearts, partial from a package
Tattered Angels - Antique Key, Silver
My Mind's Eye - All Other Cards/Tags

And since money is no object when you shop your stash, I've got ALL the add-on kits too, lol!

Cardstock: It's all Bazzill but I don't keep track of the colors.

Color: I just so happen to have those same stencils!

More Embellishments: I'll try to get a list of these put together too.

Now I need to pull some photos and get to work. I can't wait to see what challenges they come up with and what the other participants choose!

Flowers!

2011-02-04T21:02:00.003-05:00

Look at the cute box I made to keep my flowers in!

The Kaiser Kraft All Purpose Box.

Stealing and Counterfeiting

2011-01-31T20:13:00.001-05:00

In ‘celebrity’ scrapbooking news this week there was quite a brouhaha on some sites about a popular “artist” – that title is questionable at best and her site should be named “Simply everyone I can steal ideas from not Me” - who copied a Fossil purse design and than decided to sell product based on that design.

You can be inspired by another’s work and create your own item based on that but you can’t copy it and then pass it off as your own. Well, I guess you can – but be prepared for a shit-storm!

Anyway, that all led to my discovery of a new blog “Counterfeit Kit Challenge”.

Each month they’ll post a kit being offered by one of the kit clubs and challenging themselves and readers to make up their own inspired kits using that stash you already have. And then they’ll post challenges so you actually USE it!

How cool is that? I can’t wait until they post February!

I know what I did last summer...

2010-07-24T22:40:00.000-04:00

...and this one too! A pool wasn't on our 'must have' list when we were looking for a house but boy are we so happy we ended up with one! Whether it's a quick dip after work or an all day pool party, our pool is a major part of summer.

First, I just want to say, I hate it when the weather and my work hours do not cooperate and I need to take layout pics inside! arrrgh!

whew, I'm better now. AND I made it to Round 4 in the Miss Scrap-tastic Contest! This is my sketch challenge layout.

Another Miss Scrap-tastic entry...

2010-07-18T20:20:00.001-04:00

Round 3 .....your hobby, your passion, what you love to do. The only rule is you MUST use fabric which can include ribbons, bows, twill, felt, lace, anything fabric.

I'm going to use this as a title page for a scrapbook that has just two pages about each place I travel to - just a little overview. I need to get traveling!!!

The Dreaded Interview Round...

2010-07-11T20:06:00.001-04:00

I am a study in contrasts, LOL!

Round 2 for Miss Scrap-tastic:

Journaling:
(around edge)
I am loving, loyal & trustworthy. I am a mother, wife & friend. I am intelligent, confident & successful. I am hardworking yet fun-loving. I am artistic and logical. I am afraid of spiders but enjoy public speaking. I love to read & do word puzzles and sudoku. I love casual,comfy clothes but pretty shoes & shiny, sparkly jewelry. I love scrapbooking & photography.

(around picture)
● I am a little weird & eccentric. I am a lot sarcastic.
● I love to travel and explore new places.
● I love to host parties and show-off my cooking talents.
● I do VOICES. All my pets have different voices. I can mimic people - I can do the best prank phone calls! :) And I love to tease my daughter with my english accent.
● Surf & turf. Hot Wings & Beer.

PR wildlife...

2010-07-05T22:48:00.000-04:00

We saw this little guy while we were at El Morro. We called him Bean because his injured tail looked like a string bean.

This is my entry for Round 1 - we had to use the 3 main palette colors and then only other colors that were included on the design board.

PR rainforest...

2010-07-01T23:01:00.000-04:00

While we were driving through El Yunque, this waterfall was right next to the road.

Miss Scrap-tastic 2010 Contest

2010-06-28T21:39:00.004-04:00

We just got back from spending two wonderful weeks in Puerto Rico. This was our view for 4 days from our beachfront cottage in Isabela.

Another contest has started at Scrap-tastic. So I am using this as my entry layout.

And yes, that photo is my screen saver both at home & at work!

Hmmmmmmm

2010-04-25T19:48:00.000-04:00

I think I see cobwebs.

Making Whoopie

2009-10-25T20:28:00.002-04:00

Pies!

(stop that snickering, lol)

Instead of the usual chocolate with vanilla creme I love the fall variation - pumpkin cake and cream cheese filling. Oh so good!

Walking the Dog

2009-10-24T14:26:00.001-04:00

More pics of Megan and Zabella. Zabella justs loves 'gofer walks'!

Puppy Love

2009-10-22T14:22:00.000-04:00

I always take photos of Megan each year before she leaves for her first day of school. This time Zabella wanted in on the photo shoot so Megan held her for a few photos and these are my favorite.

Crazy Girls

2009-01-24T22:29:00.001-05:00

Gabe came over this afternoon. They had tacos for dinner and spent a lot of time working on "The Crazy Show". Gabe spent the night and tomorrow they'll both go to her house.

We got our Stinkin' Badges!

2009-01-23T21:26:00.001-05:00

Megan had an early dismissal today so we went to the Valley Forge service center to pick up more cookies and purchase the badges we've been working on.

And another pile of cuteness!

2009-01-22T20:23:00.000-05:00

And they call it...

2009-01-21T16:01:00.000-05:00

Puppy Love!

Congratulations!

2009-01-20T18:23:00.000-05:00

Miles of traffic.........

2009-01-19T21:19:00.003-05:00

...an overturned vehicle. That is why it took an extra hour for me to get home from work tonight.

Family

2009-01-17T22:03:00.000-05:00

We went up to see my grandmother, uncle, and aunt & uncle today. We are always running around so much at Christmas we wait until the new year to get together. This year was later than usual as we re-scheduled due to bad weather.

2009-01-16T20:50:00.001-05:00

I was looking for info on school closings (we are having very low temps) and I stumbled on an article about elementary schools in my old district closing because a new 'mega' school complex was built within the district. I checked further and sure enough, my old elementary school closed after the 2007-2008 school year. We went up to the school so I could take pictures and I described the building layout and all the changes to the recess equipment - they took all the 'unsafe' things away long ago - to my daughter.

Kibble

2009-01-15T19:47:00.000-05:00

Flashback!

2009-01-14T22:47:00.000-05:00

I was cleaning out some old files in my office at work today and I found these pictures of Megan when she was 2 and 3 years old. So cute!

Sales girl!

2009-01-13T21:42:00.000-05:00

Look at all those orders!

Megan continues to impress me each year with her confidence in selling cookies.
I was amazed the first year when she asked her "scary" (rumors abound, such as she was in the army and brings grenades to school, lol) Principal if she'd like to order. Btw, she did buy 2 boxes.

This year she even sold cookies to the lunch ladies and one of the janitors!

mmmmmmmmm Big Salad

2009-01-12T20:04:00.000-05:00

Dinner.

They came from outer space

2009-01-11T20:02:00.000-05:00

Today we made aliens!

Snow Play!

2009-01-10T22:45:00.000-05:00

Our first snow of 2009. (I'm not counting last weeks ice)

It was only a couple of inches but Megan had to go out and play.
She had fun using a cup to build a wall.

It's Here!

2009-01-09T14:12:00.000-05:00

I was working in my home office and heard the back porch door close. I went out and found a delivery.

My Project 365 Kit came today. Everything looks great and I can tell it will be quick & easy to assemble. I'll probably add a few more embellishments as I go, but I have a huge stash to choose from! Now I can start printing my pictures and putting them in the album.

Uggggggggh.... all that paper....

2009-01-08T21:53:00.000-05:00

Today's picture. My desk at the office. Still working on year end for multiple accounts.

Whatcha got in there????

2009-01-07T11:29:00.001-05:00

My purse was getting heavy again. Time to clean it out.

It's that time again!!!

2009-01-06T11:23:00.001-05:00

More changes this year. They are making it even harder to sell. I needed to place my order last year before the girls were even allowed to start taking pre-orders. And there are NO RETURNS. At $3.50 per box and only $.50 profit per box for my girls, every box not sold will take the profit from 6 others!

Toll Increase

2009-01-05T21:48:00.003-05:00

Well it was my first day back in the office in the New Year. When I stopped to pay my toll this morning I was surprised to find it went up twenty cents. It is now $.95 each way on my commute and that's only for 10 miles on the turnpike.

Cleaning ~ Linen Closet

2009-01-04T21:31:00.001-05:00

The linen closet has been a mess for a while. There was even a box of stuff in there that we put on a shelf when we moved in and I'd only been in it once or twice since then. Oh yeah, we bought the house 10 years ago this March.

We got a bunch of new towels for Christmas so I decided that the closet would be cleaned out and rearranged before they got put away. Here are the before and after pictures. I filled a large trash bag and took out some of the older sheets to put with our camping gear. Tomorrow I'm buying new hampers.

And check out the lovely pepto-pink paint in the closet. The bathroom was papered with a lovely matching pink & silver wallpaper when we bought it. (insert puking smiley here)

1st Time...

2009-01-03T21:14:00.001-05:00

... Roller Skating!

Megan was invited to a birthday party at a skating rink. We got her started and left for a couple of hours. When we came back she was doing pretty good at staying right side up and she loved it!

Her dad never skated much but I used to go all the time when I was a teen. Every Friday evening I'd walk 4.5 miles to the other side of the city and skate all night until my mom picked me up around 11:30 when she got off work. I checked out the rink I used to go to online. I think we'll have a birthday party for Megan there this year. We're kind of old-fashioned in regards to big birthday parties - we don't do them, lol. The last one was when she was four. This year she will be ten.

O Tannenbaum....

2009-01-02T20:51:00.005-05:00

...sorry but it's time to go.

And a couple of my favorite ornaments. I love those birds!

Candy Cart!

2009-01-01T20:41:00.000-05:00

I had one of those things happen today that just has to be the pic of the day!

I went to the grocery store this afternoon to pick up a few things. Near the entrance was a shopping cart full of candy with a sign on it the said $20 for everything but the cart, lol. I went past, in through produce and then thought I'd either better call my husband or never mention what I'd seen. I go back & call him on my cell.... "What are you waiting for? You're buying that."

You can't see them in the pic but there were 60 Reese's peanut butter x-mas trees.... those alone were worth the $20. Among other things there were 9 bags of the fun size Milky Ways and they don't even have holiday packaging?
We picked out a bunch to keep, some will go to my girls scouts and then I'm taking the rest to the women's shelter - 88 boxes of mini gingerbread cookies will be a few days of snacks for the kids there.

A Picture a Day....

2008-12-31T15:01:00.000-05:00

This is as close as I'll get to a New Years Resolution.....
This year I plan on taking a picture of something each day. Sometimes it will be memorable and other times just little pieces of my life.

Happy September!

2007-09-04T21:21:00.000-04:00

Kids are back in school and I'm getting busy with volunteer stuff again. We had our first Girl Scout meeting today. Anyone want to buy some nuts/candy or magazines? lol And you thought we only did cookies! Also, have an APT (Assoc. of Parents & Teachers)meeting in the morning.

In scrapbooking news.... I am so excited, I submitted a layout to the Basic Grey gallery and it was approved!!! I sent in another tonight so I hope I get lucky again!

Some of the single photo layouts I've done this year....

2007-08-22T19:50:00.000-04:00

Someone on one of the message boards I frequent was asking if single photo layouts were as popular as they appear to be based on some of the online galleries. I would guess that one at of every 8 layouts I do is a single photo. Many of those are portrait photos but others are just photos that have extra meaning to me and I want to showcase those on their own.

And while I may have only one special photo on one page the facing page may have half a dozen photos! I don't think I have a number that I use more often than others.

Anywho here are several of the single photo layouts I've done recently.

Oh, and just to be different, the facing page with 6 photos!

Thanks for looking!

#@$%^#@()!

2007-08-21T13:02:00.001-04:00

uggh!

So I've been sick. Strep again. I get it every year or two... should have my tonsils out but not going to happen.... not at this point anyway. Felt like poop all week-end. Really wasn't up to going to work yesterday and was waiting to get an appointment at the Drs. BUT I have two new people that I need to make sure have enough work to do, especially as I had already scheduled Tuesday off.

I did get an appointment at the docs and the drugs are working, feel a 100% better today so I should be nearly back to normal by tomorrow. But for now, I think I'll go take a nap!

A bunch of Layouts!

2007-08-18T14:01:00.000-04:00

I'm taking a sketch class at Feeling Scrappy. I love using sketches when I get bogged down and I really like the site and want to show my support. We've been having a great time and the class has been done really well.

These are the layouts I've done so far...

Using a supplied sketch...

Using a supplied sketch BUT having to turn it...

I had to find a layout done by someone else, create a sketch and then make my own lo.

The sketch...

My layout...

I had to find an advertisement in a magazine, create a sketch and then make my own lo.

The sketch...

My layout...

And I'm getting those Disney pics scrapped!!!

Sunday, Sunday

2007-08-12T14:17:00.000-04:00

Finished this Altered Canvas today!

I made one a while ago with the intention of hanging it in my office at work but I liked it so much I left it hanging in my office here at home. So, I now have one for work too!

I'm Backkkkkkkkk!

2007-06-20T11:58:00.000-04:00

Did you miss me? lol :)

DD and I returned from our 10 day trip to Disney World late Monday night. We had a fantastic time. She is 7 and this was her third trip in as many years (DH and I first took her for her 5th birthday). She even enjoyed Splash Mountain. "That was awesome, Mom!" We were lucky enough to get Dream Fast-Passes and we went on a second time.

When we go as a family we usually stay at a resort outside the World. This trip DD and I went economy and stayed on-site at the All Star Movies resort. The rooms are small but plenty of room for us (my mom even joined us for 3 days and it was fine) as we don't spend much time in the room except for showering and sleeping.

I'll be posting more details and layouts as I complete them this week ~ I'm not going back to the office until Monday! woohoooooo

Happy Memorial Day!

2007-05-28T11:39:00.000-04:00

I did finally finish the wedding album on Wednesday/Thursday (I think it was just after midnght, lol). It is 154 pages.

My friend was thrilled and called me Friday to say the Bride's mother and sister were both astounded too. I'm sure I'll hear more about it at work tomorrow!

Uggh, work. I have a ton to get to today. And the next 10 days will be horrible, I'm sure. I also have to deal with a 'problem employee'. Bad timing.

I still have to finish our autograph books for our trip too. Animal Kingdom and Character Meals are done. One side is for a photo of DD with the character and the facing page is for the character to sign. Here's a pic of what I'm doing this time ~ I try to change them each trip.

Hopefully DD's interest in autographs is over before I run out of ideas, lol!

2007-05-16T23:12:00.001-04:00

How has a week passed already?

I am getting ready to go on vacation in 24 days!!! My DD and I are leaving June 9th and going to the happiest place on earth ~ Disney World. :)

I have only 10 more 'in the office' days at work and I am totally stressed.

Anyway, I soooooo need a vacation.

"The Rotten Cantaloupe" or 'My Grammy Knows How to Swear!?!'

2007-05-09T22:16:00.000-04:00

This is a long story and I'm going to make it longer by setting it up a bit.

My parents were very young when I was born and divorced by the time I was 7. My mother's parents, Grammy and Grandad, were a huge part of my life and I would visit with them for extended periods of time. [Note - I am extremely lucky to have both of them still, they are 83 now (Grammy has a birthday on the 27th) and I wish time and distance didn't stop us from seeing each other more often than we do.]

I believe I was 14, I was staying with them for most of the summer. They both are members of the Lions Club and the club was having a big picnic at the park. Now, I am not lucky when it comes to games of chance. And as you will see, even when I do get lucky, things go terribly awry.

Grandad had gone over to the picnic earlier to help set up. Grammy and I drove over later. They had music and food and BINGO. Uh oh, a game I am not destined to win. However, there wasn't much else to do, so I picked some cards and proceeded to play. Now let me tell you there were some NICE prizes to be had. It seemed like everyone around me was winning and they were down to about a dozen more prizes when the unthinkable happened.

That's right, I actually had B-I-N-G-O! Woooweeee, look at me - I am a winner!

So I go up (remember I am a 14 year old girl) and the man calling the numbers gives me my prize. Yep. Cantaloupe. Two huge cantaloupe. Grammy had accompanied me up to the prize table, and she spoke up and asked if I couldn't have something else. Nope. Not for me. I am not a winner after all. I am a loser, a loser with two 5-pound cantaloupe. Oh, and did I mention I don't even like cantaloupe - it makes me ill.

So at that point Grammy and I had both had enough of that picnic. We took the cantaloupe, Grandad would eat it, and left. We're driving home and Grammy starts saying how she's never liked that man and he's nasty and she "hopes his pr*** rots off in hell". Wha-what?!
When did Grammy learn how to swear?

Being a teenager is soooo funny. I was absolutely shocked and even scandalized that MY Grammy knew such a word.

And those cantaloupe. Grammy cut them open when we got home (she was going to clean them up nice for Grandad). They were rotten inside. Just like that man.

:)

Art Show!

2007-05-09T21:50:00.000-04:00

My DD's school art show was tonight. The walls were just plastered with art projects the kids have done this year. Each student had 5 or 6 pieces displayed - that's a lot of art to look at!

Kids are so creative. I was reminded of a quote that a scrappy lady I know has as her tagline...
Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up. Picasso

My DD is in the second grade and they learned about Picasso's art this year. Her class did Picasso inspired witches and this is hers. (Her witch was actually picked to be on the 'Monthly Masterpieces' board outside the cafeteria!)

Wow, what a week-end!

2007-05-07T20:00:00.000-04:00

Friday was the grand opening crop at Feeling Scrappy. Those ladies did a fantastic job. I was away much of the afternoon but while I was there everything moved along at a nice pace and they had a great mix of challenges, games and general questions. They worked great together as a team and the two design members only started on April 30th!!! Kudos to you all.

I won a game and completed a few of the challenges and was therefore entered in the prize drawings. I just found out this afternoon that I WON one of the prizes!! I'm getting an AMM Tote-ally Cool Scrapbook Bag ~ can't wait! (It sooooo beats a rotten cantaloupe - I'll save THAT story for another day!)

Saturday I spent the day at a Girl Scout camp doing my cabin camping and outdoor cooking training. I actually had a great time. It was a small, friendly group of Brownie troop leaders and the trainer was enthusiastic and really taught us a lot - and made it fun! Later this month I do an overnight for tent camping and I hope that training goes as well.

Sunday I worked on a bunch of the challenges for the Feeling Scrappy crop. This is one I did for challenge #4 BOM - A Favorite Thing....

Lot's of compliments on the delicious looking pizza (and the LO). So, here's the basic recipe.
I triple this recipe and make Eight 9-inch pizzas.

Thin Pizza Crust

Preheat oven to 500F

.25oz pkt of active dry yeast
1/4 tsp granulated sugar
3/4 cup 110 degree water
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
pizza sauce (we use Ragu traditional sauce)
cheese and toppings

Dissolve yeast and sugar in water; allow to rest about 10 minutes. In a separate bowl combine flour and salt; add yeast mixture and mix well - use a heavy spoon or your hand like I do. Turn dough out onto a floured surface and knead for 2 minutes. Press the dough onto a lightly oiled pizza pan. Add sauce, cheese and toppings. Bake in 500 degree oven for 10 - 12 minutes.

To make the buffalo chicken pizza: saute diced chicken breast meat with 2 or 3 tablespoons of Texas Pete buffalo style chicken wing barbeque sauce; take a few spoons of your regular pizza sauce and add three or four good shakes of Tabasco, spread on crust; add cheese, I use a mozzarella and cheddar mix; top with the buffalo chicken. I also usually add some thinly sliced red onion and pre-cooked bacon slices.

2007-05-03T23:40:00.000-04:00

So, one of my friends commented that I should be glad DD chose the violin over the drums or the accordian!
I don't think I'd mind the drums too much.... I know how to play them, so that could be fun. I'll share a little secret with you, something that I've always found to be completely hysterical... my dad played the accordian as a kid!!! Boy do I wish I had a picture of that.

I didn't get any pics tonight though. It was packed, I was surprised at how many people showed up. Though in retrospect I shouldn't have been. We are in a fairly affluent district and families here are very appreciative of the arts. Our elementary school, K thru 4, has over 700 students - there are 2 other smaller ones in our district too. Also, I found out that they don't start any other instruments until 5th grade.

I did this layout tonight ....

... it's for a challenge at the new site I've started hanging out at Feeling Scrappy . There's a great group of scrappers over there and they will be starting classes soon ~ sounds really interesting and exciting!

Mmmmmm, dried meat!

2007-05-02T20:51:00.000-04:00

My boss's husband makes beef jerky. I just got a batch today and I can't stop eating it! It's salty and slightly spicy and ripping your teeth into it is so primitively satisfying.

My daughter has decided to take up the violin starting next fall. She'll be in third grade. Only lessons for strings start in 3rd grade, is that because they are harder to learn than brass and woodwinds? Her school also requires all students to learn to play the recorder in 4th grade. Though I don't know if they skip that in favor of another instrument, I'll need to ask someone about that. Tomorrow night we go and get her 'fitted' for a violin. I thought they only came in 2 sizes - I was wrong. I hope she learns to make music quickly. I dread the 'cat in heat' sounds I know I will undoubtedly be subjected to. But I am already picturing the scrapbook layouts I will create. I hope they don't mind me taking pictures tomorrow night, lol!

So, I'm going to start a blog...

2007-05-01T22:07:00.000-04:00

... I think.
I'm aiming for writing 3 times a week, we'll see.

I want to working on journaling to help me with my scrapbooking. I'm feel I am lacking in that department, a title and a line or two about who & where and that's usually all I do.
I've been working on a huge engagement/wedding book for a friend for months. I wanted to be done by now but this book is easily going to a hundred pages. It's very odd as with the exception of my friend (a relative of the bride) and her family I don't know these people. Of course this means I don't have to journal, lol! I'm getting bored though and I'm going to try to wrap it up this week-end if humanly possible.
I really want to get back to 'my' scrapping. I have a ton of pictures ready. I also have an idea for a book of 'Things to Make You Smile'. I want to start doing one page a week and posting those here.