Christmas Resolution

Okay. After a week or so of working on some holiday projects, I have come to realize that I need to make and stick to a Christmas resolution for next year. Don't get me wrong, I love how everything came out, but I am so done! I don't know why I do this to myself. Oh, I know why. So many cute BLOGS!!! Really!

This is something like the way it goes.

Find cute blog. Oh, look how sweet. I can make that. Bookmark. Buy supplies. Start project. The bad thing is around the holidays, there are so many projects that I want to make, that you can't even see my desk top, my coffee table, or even my kitchen counter. I am sure there are none of you who can relate. Right? Thought so.

So, why do I do this every year? Would you believe that when I start out, I actually think it is going to be fun? And it is, for a while, until we get tired of eating Chinese food for the third night in a row, while holding our plates in our hands. No, really!

Well, no more! Next year, I will limit myself. I will only create the really cute stuff. I WILL NOT make treat bags for everyone of my child's friends. Or my husbands coworkers. I will resist the urge to create Tim's tags and Ali's December Daily. I will buy my Christmas cards(gasp)pre-made. I will not bake 12 dozen cookies, 6 dozen cupcakes, 3 loaves of cranberry bread, and 1 sheet pan of peppermint bark.

I will spend all of my free time reading Christmas novels, sipping hot cocoa with whipped cream, watching every Christmas movie ever made, and caroling around my neighborhood. I will no longer be a slave to making really cute holiday projects. To keeping up with all of you crazy holiday making and baking super Moms. Yeah, I am so DONE!!!

Who am I kidding? Maybe I need to start earlier next year. Yeah, that's what I'll do. Maybe there is something to this Christmas in July thing. Just, maybe. Hmmm....

Happy Holidays to you all. And to all, Happy crafting!

Blog Inspiration

Inspired by the blog of Michelle Wooderson, I have created my own holiday, inspiration center. I spray painted a tray with cherry red, added some small containers from the dollar store, and filled it with things that I could use to make Christmas pages, cards, and other projects.

Every time I see my little corner, it makes me happy. Oh, it's the little things. :) So, what inspires you lately?

Sketchy Thursday DT Challenge

This month, I am trying my hand with the Sketchy Thursday design team challenge. I have been wanting to do this layout for sometime now and this sketch worked perfectly to showcase the story without distracting from it with too many elements.

The papers that I used are from the Crate Paper Restoration collection. I punched the butterflies from old dictionary paper, inked them with TH Vintage Photo, and added tiny rhinestones to create the bodies. I used faux stitching to create the butterflies flight pattern.

I typed the text on my computer and printed it directly on to my background cardstock. I left a space so that I could add my Thickers title.

I love the way that this layout came out. Not every story is a happy one, and this is one that I really wanted to remember so that I could look back on it when things are better, and be grateful for each day that I have.

Dye Inks and Diamond Dust

I played around last week with altering flowers and butterflies with dye inks and diamond dust. My daughter's best friend spent the night playing right along next to me. We dyed butterflies, paper flowers, and silk flowers. These are just a few that we did. After they were dried, I attached them to bobby pins so the girls could wear them in their hair. I think the butterfly was the overall favorite.

Finally, I took a class

I haven't taken any classes in a long time, but this one came along and I just couldn't resist. For only $20 bucks, we completed this whole project, including the frame. All embellishments and ink were included. We were given the choice of vertical or horizontal frames and we picked our own paper. We only needed adhesive.

In this class, we played with glimmer mists, diamond dust, transparencies, and stamping. We took plain butterflies, misted them, and then sugared the tops with diamond dust. We then used Glossy Accents and a Fragment charm to create the dangling piece under the tulle bow. And the top left corner is the new Tim Holtz metal photo corners. This class was a great bargain; to good to pass up. And just look how cute it came out.

Kit Club Layout

This month, I was asked to be a spotlight member for A Page In Time. I created a layout using one of the March A Page In Time kits. Each kit includes 3 page packets which is plenty enough to create 2 double-paged layouts each. The kit I used is called "Lush" by My Minds Eye. I love that the letters were included in the packet. Each page kit has a different embellishement item included.

I used the pattern paper to create roses for this sweet layout of my daughter, who had just turned 16. It is not often that I make a layout using just pattern paper, but the background paper just seemed to work with the lattice in the photos.

Happy Birthday

Just like kids, my puppies seem to grow so fast. It is hard for me to believe that he is already 3 today.

Happy Birthday, Cooper James!

Frugal Friday

This layout is featured over at Scrap Our Stash for their Frugal Friday tip. I used the paper insert from a package of Prima embellishments on the right side of my photo. It was already 4 inches in height, so I just cut it down to the length I needed. It already had a pretty scalloped edge, so that added to part of the design. You could also use this space for journaling if you wanted to.

If you create something using this idea, go over to Scrap Our Stash and submit it to Kathy. I would like to see what ideas you can come up with for recycling items.

Sweet Sixteen

It is so hard to believe that my beautiful, baby girl is sixteen today. We took a few photos after school while she was playing her guitar.  Her party is on Saturday, so I will take more then.

Happy Birthday, Peanut!!!

Scrap Our Stash Challenge Layout

I created this layout for the Febraury design team challenge over at Scrap Our Stash. This month's challenge was to use 10 of something on a layout or project. In the layout below, I used 10 flowers along with 10 brads. The title was stamped, cut out, then I pen stitched around the edges. It is a very simple, linear design which is what I am accustomed to creating.

So, head on over to Scrap Our Stash and take this month's challenge. Submit your entry to be showcased on our blog.

Special Valentine Challenge

Come join us for our Special Valentine Weekend Challenge over at Scrap Our Stash blog. Just send a picture of your Valentine or Love project along with a brief description to scrappinpsycho@live.com. Your project does not have to be a new project - the only guideline is that it must have something to do with LOVE or VALENTINES!

Each entry will be posted on the Scrap Our Stash blog. Entries must be received by midnight on February 14th. On the 15th each of the Scrap Our Stash Design Team, and Guest Design Team members will cast a vote for their favorite. Then the top vote getters will be posted and readers will be able to cast their votes for their favorite. All votes must be received by midnight on February 28th. The top vote getter (winner) will be announced on March 1st and will be given the opportunity to be a Guest Design team member for the month of April.

Entries will be posted starting at 12:01 AM on 2/13/10 and will be posted in the order received. So, get those entries in now!

Be sure to come back and see everyone's projects and then after the 15th to cast your vote for your favorite.

Sick Days

As I have been battling with illness lately, I was reflecting on how we as women deal with being sick. Since we have so many others things on our plate, do we really take the time we need to fully recover? How many of use just push on and still do everything and more that we really need to do instead of taking care of ourselves?

I came across these photos last week that reminded me of a time last year when I came down with a cold and really had to take a few days off and let my family take care of me. I must say it felt kinda good. They brought me magazines and kleenex, kept me medicated and hydrated, and they cleaned the house to boot. I created this layout to remind me that sometimes it is okay to take the time to care for myself, but also, that there are times when I need help and I should be grateful that I have people here who want to take care of me.

And while I really do hate being sick, I must admit that the time above, it really wasn't so bad.

February Scrap Our Stash Design Team Challenge

This month, over at Scrap Our Stash, the design team's challenge was to scrap using 10 of something. It could be brads, pictures, flowers, or squares as in my layout shown below.

I created this layout to celebrate my precious puppies second birthday complete with "pupcakes" from a local bakery. (yes, they are spoiled just a bit. lol!) I cut the photos and pattern paper into 3x3 inch squares. I then glued them down on a 10x10 mat. I painted a chipboard letter, then pop-dotted (is that a word?) a few embellishments for added interest.

So come on over and take this month's challenge. I look forward to seeing what you come up with.

A little brag about Him

As he is approaching yet another birthday, I am feeling a little sentimental and figured I'd blog about him a bit.

I know that many woman feel that their dh is the best, but mine really is. He always makes sure that I have gas in my truck. He does the grocery shopping so that I don't have to. He mops the house once a week because he doesn't want me to have to do it. He also does tubs and toilets when I need a extra hand. We cook together on weekends, and he does the dishes. When I had surgery on my hands, he fixed me a pb& fluff sandwich, wrapped it up and left it on the counter so that I could have lunch.

He wakes me every morning at 6:00a.m. to take my first dose of medication for the day. My coffee pot is set and ready to go when I get up. He always kisses me goodbye and calls me at lunch to see how my day is going.

There is so much more that I could say, but I will end it at that. I don't want to make anyone sick with all of my sappiness. I just wanted to add that with his birthday in just a couple of days, I really do hope that all of his wishes come true. Because of him, mine have.

Happy Birthday, love. I hope it is a good one.

I know that I have been MIA, but I have a valid reason why. If you are following my posts, you know that I cleaned my scraproom so that I could take out my new sewing machine and play. Well, I went to the store to buy fabric to do a project and oh, my. I am completely out of control. I keep trying to think of reasons that I need to go out that way so that I can make a quick stop at the fabric store. I thought I was addicted to pattern paper, but the possibilities with fabric are amazing. I had taken a fabric class for scrapbooking a few months back, but I never got around to getting to actually trying any of it.

I am so enthralled with sewing that I have put scrapping on hold. I had to make myself clean up the sewing space on Monday and take out some photos and scrap stuff to do a few pages. Here is one of the layouts that I did this week.

Every year, we do the gingerbread house thing, but my daughter has no clue as to what I do to make this happen, so I wanted to document the process of the before and after. I like how it came out. Lately, I have been into the block design. My last few layouts have been in this style. I'll try to post more of them next week. Right now, I need to go. I think that I hear the fabric store calling. :)

Finished!!!

I finally got motivated late Monday night and Tuesday to get this room done. I have organized every inch and all I have left to do is print some labels. Here is some pictures of the finished closet and room.

It really was difficult to purge down this time. I am glad that I only do this once a year. It was a major job, especially with the stamps, but it sure does feel good to start fresh again. Now, I just need to find some time to play with that new sewing machine. :)

Scraproom Update

Okay, so not much progress was made today. It was just overwhelming, and I wasn't quite sure where to start. I did get the stamps sorted and organized into individual drawers, but that's about it. I'll have to try again later and see is I can get more accomplished. I need to go from this:

Into this:

To get to open and play with this:

So, I do have the motivation, just not the inspiration. I guess that is what happens when you have too much stuff. I can't even believe that I admitted to that, but it is true. What is on the tables are just the stuff for one side of the closet. I haven't even begun to empty the other side yet. I was trying to do it one side at a time.

Wish me luck!

Weekend Update

This weekend started early since we didn't have school here on Friday. We spent the day shopping and bracing for a pretty cold weekend. Something we are not quite used to.

On Saturday, my husband and I cooked all day to prepare for the upcoming week. It was also our 22nd anniversary and he surprised me with a beautiful necklace from the Shared Heart collection @ Zales and a box of chocolates. I ask you, what girl wouldn't be happy with chocolates and diamonds? I think I'll keep him a little bit longer. :)

Tomorrow begins my annual purging and cleaning of the old scraproom. This morning, I set up two tables in the middle of the room to put stuff on. Then I started pulling everything out of the closet and taking inventory of what containers were needed.

After, I needed to go pick up my new sewing machine, so we decided to visit my in-laws and have lunch with them. We also stopped to see my Dad.

Before heading home, we went to Wally World to pick up some drawers to house my rubber stamps. I had them on custom made shelves, but the dust was getting to be too much. (And yes, I do dust often.) So I am switching to a shallow drawer system. I"ll have to see how that works out.

I don't plan on getting much scrapped this week, but I do hope to finish cleaning by mid-week, so that I can try out my new machine on something.

I'll try to post later on this week of my progress; if I can get to my computer. LOL!!!

Another layout

After the holidays, it felt good to get back to scrapping, except for the fact that the creative juices aren't flowing that good. I think it is the cold weather. I am not used to it nor do I like it very much. I function better in warmer temperatures. Sadly, this layout below took me an entire day to complete and it is not even something I really am liking, but here it is anyway.

(Sorry, the photo isn't that great because I took it indoors. It is already starting to rain here.)

Every year, on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, my daughter and a group of friends get together to make gingerbread houses. We have been doing this ever since I can remember. As they get older, they playfully compete to see who gets an invite or not. I always try to allow enough space for 10 kids. This year, we had a few absentees and late arrivals. If I don't take photos right away, then I won't get any. Once they start, I am usually running around, getting icing and such for them. So, unfortunately some kids are missing from the pictures this year.

I don't think they realize how much these memories are going to mean to them later in life. Right now, it is just fun and games. I hope they continue to do things together and be there to support each other. They really are a great bunch of kids.

January Design Team Layout

Our January challenge at Scrap Our Stash, was to scrap something you received from Christmas past or present. Since I got a Cricut E for Christmas, I decided to try it out on this layout.

I used the Accent Essentials cartridge to cut out the vine on this page. I used the "fit to page" feature to create it to be 11 inches tall. I just love how it came out. I can see a beautiful relationship forming between me and my E once I get to play with it more.