Oh....I Am So Excited!

I am soooo excited! I was recently asked by Suzanne, the owner of Flamingo Scraps if I would like to be on her Guest Designer Team for the launch of her online stores "Christmas in July." I don't think she had time to take her next breathe when I said I would be thrilled! I initially met Suzanne from ordering scrapbooking supplies through her previous Ebay Store and now we are great friends on Facebook. So there was no hesitation or delay in me saying "YES."

For our projects the Guest Designer Team would be given one of the two Echo Park "Merry Christmas" paper collections. It would either be the Brights collection or the Traditional collection. I didn't care either way, but was tickled to receive the Traditional collection. I love to start my Christmas shopping in July and the last year or so July has been the time when I started the process of making my numerous Christmas cards. Also many of our local stores are now getting their Christmas displays and decorations out for sale, so the timing on this is perfect. Anything that will get me motivated is a bonus!

For my project I used a 12" x 12" canvas. I started off by using a layer of Gesso with on old paint brush over the canvas and let that dry overnight.

I then cut a 2" strip off each piece of the double-sided 12" x 12" papers and cut them again in a variety of sizes from 5" down to 1/2". I used twelve rolled strips for the tree and one additional square piece for the trunk. Using a narrow paint brush I rolled each piece of paper around the paint brush barrel to get it curled tightly. I then removed it from the brush, and then keeping it tightly rolled, I glued the back edge of the paper closed. I then laid all pieces on top of my canvas in the form of a Christmas Tree and glued them down.

Once it was complete, I laid my full sheet of designer paper over the top of the tree and using my fingers, I found the three edges of the tree and using my craft knife I cut through the paper from the middle of the tree from the top down to the bottom and then along the bottom edge of the base of the tree. I then opened the paper and draped and secured both flaps down to the canvas using two brads to secure the paper.
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I layered two chipboard snowflakes and used another brad to secure them together from the Echo Park Holly Jolly Christmas Decorative Brads pack. (For some crazy reason, I cannot get this pic turned correctly :) )

Afterwards I cut several squares and rectangles to make the gifts and topped them off with several pieces of narrow ribbon.

 I cut the 2013 using two of the circled numbers from the paper collection. I also cut out four circles of chipboard and glued two of them together under both numbers for a 3D effect. On the "Dear Santa" list I used the sticker alphabets and numbers and then hand drew three lines for the list.

I scattered several of the chipboard pieces from the echo Park Layered Chipboard Season's Greeting pack on the canvas.

I added red Stickles on the red berries and then lastly used a dark brown ink to edge the gifts, the green drape on both sides of the tree, the 2013, and the four sides of the canvas.

 

I really enjoyed working on canvas for this project and I LOVED playing with this nice collection of papers, chipboard pieces, and brads. I had tons of  papers and goodies leftover and will use more from this collection on my next post, which will be on July 31st. Please don't forget to check out the Flamingo Scraps blog here to see everyone's creations. Donna Sullivan posted her project yesterday. You can check it out and follow her blog here.

I hope I have inspired you in getting started on YOUR Christmas in July!  Thank you!

Flamingo Scraps

My project for Flamingo Scraps will be live at 8:00 AM! Come back and check it out! lol

School Supply List Already?

One of my friends was just mentioning that she had received her child's school supply list for this year. Really? Is it that time already? It seems like summer vacation has just started and now they are talking about a school supply list? The other day I went into our local Hobby Lobby and they already have fall decorations out and were getting set up for their Christmas display. What? One good thing about school starting back is knowing that cooler temperatures and Alabama Football are just around the corner. We moved to Texas last September and this is my first summer living out West. I know last summer in Fort Worth it was over 110 degrees for almost forty five days in a row. So far we have not experienced anything like that yet, but we have had several days around 105, plus we still have August to get through.. My sister is camping in Iowa this week and she said it has been chilly in the evenings. It was around 47 degrees when they arrived at their camp grounds. Oh man.....that sounds fantastic!

We are slowly working on our yard and planting some of our favorite flowers and trees. This is something my husband and I love to do. We lived in our house in Alabama for five years. When we bought it new, we asked that they give us a credit on our landscaping budget. We already had an idea of what we wanted in our yard. After four years our yard was finally complete, but here we go again! I think my most favorite flower in our yard are Coneflowers. Very simple, but beautiful. This year I found a white variety that we planted. We also found some Black-Eyed Susan's. We have never grown these, but my sister does and hers are just beautiful.

 

 

I have been on a roll this month making cards. I am the host for a monthly card challenge on one of my Facebook groups. This month our challenge was to make a one layer card. I have never made this type of card before. I have always preferred, like my bed, to have lot's and lot's of layers on my cards, so this was a real challenge for me too. Once I had my card finished, I loved it so much that I ended up making around eighteen of them but using different verses. This was also the first time that I used  watercolor paper and an aqua pen. I really loved working with the watercolor paper. The ink went on so smooth without much distortion to the paper.

 

 

July is also a busy month for birthday's around our house. Mine, my husband's, my Mom's and several wedding anniversaries. I received several beautiful handmade cards this year. One card in particular my Grand said to me "Gamma, don't you wish we could make beautiful cards like this?"

 

My Mom's birthday card

 

My friend's birthday card

 

Well, time to get in bed, I need to stay off Facebook more and remember I have a blog. The poor neglected thing! It has been a while since I have thought about getting on here. Hoping not to treat it so bad in the future.  Bye for now! :)













Valentine's Day

Today was Valentine's Day. For Rick and me, it is one of our most favorite days. He told me he loved me for the first time today, thirty seven years ago. Another special day for us is Mother's Day Eve. He asked me to marry him that night, and then the most important date was September 25th, 1976. The day we said "I do." Rick and I never exchange expensive gifts on any Holiday, but we have always enjoyed our cards we exchange. I cringe when I look and see what he spends on my cards. But, Rick always says not to look and just enjoy the card. Typically I always get two. One is marked "open this one first". It is always a funny and humorous card. The second card marked"open last" normally comes with a tissue because I know I will be crying soon after reading it. Rick prefers not to shop, but he will spend all the time needed until he finds these two special cards. He is a Prince among men. His two daughters and Grands think so too. I was blessed when I met him!

The past two weeks I really have not done much around the house. Two weeks ago I made a mess in our living area with me dragging all sorts of stuff from my scrapbook room to the dining room and kitchen. Piles and stacks of stuff everywhere. I spent almost one full week pulling stuff, taking pics, listing items on my Facebook yardsale page, and then the numerous trips to the post office getting it all mailed out promptly. Then this past week both me and my Baby Grand were sick with a cold, cough, and low grade fever. I think we are now on the mend. Both of us have the residual, annoying cough. But, at this point we know it's on it's way out and we will be back to running at full speed soon. Tonight I had everyone over for dinner. It is always too crazy on Valentine's Day to even think about eating out, plus we all enjoy and prefer a meal at home anyway. But with my house being a wreck, I had to do some cleaning along with the cooking. Also, I let Valentine's Day sneek up on me and I had not taken the time to make Rick's card yet. So, with my Baby Grand here today, we had a very busy and full day together.

I really had no idea or clue on where to start with Rick's card, but I knew I had a long list of chores waiting to be tackled today too and I had to get moving. My priority was making the card. It was Valentine's Day and a day we love to celebrate, so after breakfast I got busy. I used this paper for my stamping. I love PaperTrey Inks papers.Their white "paper basics" is perfect to use with Copic markers. A really nice, smooth, thick cardstock. I have never been disappointed in using it. For my papers I used a retired paper collection from Stampin Up called Love Letters. I totally love these papers and have a nice stash saved. There is not a paper in this collection that I don't love. Here is a pic of the wonderful patterns. My card base and matt layers are Red Riding Hood also from Stampin Up.

For my card I chose two of the stamps I recently bought at the Rubber Stamp Show that was here in Mesquite Texas in January. For my image I used the Sweet Cowgirl stamp from Young Rebel's. With us just moving from Alabama to Texas this past year, I loved the effect of the herringbone DSP along with this adorable little cowgirl. For my sentiment I used a verse from Stampamania.com. I loved these two stamps together.

 

Being in such a hurry today, I did not take the time with any shading when coloring the image using my Copic markers. I felt lucky that the card came together as quickly as it did and just moved on, but I was still pleased with how it turned out.

 

My friend Ray Waxman is a Stampin Up Demonstrator and I ordered from her the framelits dies that I used to cut my stamped image. I am a huge Spellbinder buyer and user. I think it is wonderful that more companies are getting competitive and marketing similiar products to the Spellbinder dies. This was my first time using these dies and I just loved them! From there I inked my edges, used pop dots to accent the layers, matted my verse, and called it a day.  

 

 

ENJOY!

 

My Second "Scrap & Dash"

I went to my second "Scrap & Dash" at Scrapper's Boutique on Saturday. Alex, my twelve year old Grand was able to attend too. It was a joy to have her with me scrappin. My five year old Baby Grand begged to go too. She was so sad and upset when her Gamma told her children couldn't go until they turned ten. Hoping one of our local scrapbook stores will have a young children's class this summer.

Susan Liles, who designed this weeks page sent everyone a "hint" that it was going to be a western page. I was sooooo excited about this idea. I have been wanting to do a mini album on our recent move from Alabama to Texas, but didn't know where to start. It has been almost one year since I have done anything other than making cards. I felt kind of rusty with the thought process! We arrived for class and was totally amazed on what an adorable, cute page Susan had created. I just loved it! Everyone was excited and most of the ladies bought an extra page kit to make a double 12" x 12' scrapbook page. This was such a nice page to make. I am so impressed with Susan's work. A very creative gal.

This is not the best pic. Not sure how anyone takes pics of their cards or pages. My lighting is never great taking pics. Oh well. Hopefully you can see the full image of the double page. I have been cloud nine crazy over this layout all week!

 

Here is the left page. She only created one page for our class, but I wanted a double page layout and so I came up with this page. I tried to have the theme flow from one page to the other.

 

Again, not a great pic. Hoping you can click on each pic to get a more close up view. I am just loving making these pages each week. Don't know if I mentioned it, but I really LOVED making these two pages!! LOL







Valentine Page

Initially when I moved here the end of September, my priority and main goal was to unpack. I spent weeks doing that and got everything but a few boxes done. Then we went back for our second and last load in December and filled the garage up again. Most of the stuff from our second trip was both garage and attic items, so not much we need or can do anything with until it warms up. Once we can open the garage door and have more space to move things around a bit and maybe have a garage sale, we can get things better organized. I know Spring is coming, but for now I am so tired of seeing boxes piled up and no room to park our cars.

It is nice to have life settle down some too. I am slowly discovering the scrapping world of Fort Worth and meeting some wonderful, sweet new friends. This past Saturday I went to my first "Scrap & Dash" at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Scrappers-Boutique with my new friend Patti. It is held every Saturday and is on a first come, first serve basis. I would guess she has room for ten scrappers around four tables. This week there were eight of us. Each week she puts out a small rack filled with a new paper collection, a displayed completed 12 x 12 page, individual written instructions, and from there you and your scrappin buddies cut the pieces needed and make your own page. This was both Pattie's and my first time to attend, and we had a blast. The first page I have made in almost one year! Really looking forward to returning this weekend.

This is the example from the store. I never realized there were five 2" x 2' squares along the bottom and I only cut four. Not sure where my eyes were! My page is not 100% as the example because of not having the right type of glue at home where I finished the pages.

I really loved the colors on this page. I would never have thought to use aqua blue along with the reds and pinks on a Valentine page, but it worked beautiful. Then the gray and black both compliment each other.

I distressed my edges. It sure took a long time to get two seperate pages done. I ended up buying two page kits. One for each Grand. 

 I had more empty space along the bottom because I only had four squares, so I added some twine. I also ended up adding my letters in a different space than the example. I struggled with trying to adhere letters to the black lace. My glue did not like the fabric lace. I had more glue on my finger tips than the ribbon and chipboard. 

 

 

This is my finished page. I am really excited about attending this fun class each week. I was wanting to do some type of  "2013 in Review" album for each Grand this year. If these pages cover every Holiday for the year, I might be able to get it done!



Studio J

Want to get your Christmas pictures off your camera and scrapped? It's easy to do at your own pace, in the privacy of your own home. Using our free Close To My Heart Design Software, with just a few clicks, you can have a whole album completed. Here is a recent video from CTMH showing you how easy it is!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaajTQtA-lI

I WON!! YIPPEE

My new Texas scrappin buddy Danna just emailing me saying I won one of the new 2013 CHA prizes over at The Little Blue House here in Keller. I couldn't believe it. I rushed over to their blog and there was my name. Yippee! I won a new Tim Holtz stamp set! Oh boy...oh boy! I was just telling Cathy, my friend in Maine, that I never win anything and she said "enter, enter, and enter." Gosh.....looks like I know where I will be going tomorrow in between visiting the Rubber Stamp Show in Mesquite and then attending my local crop here in Hurst. Oh man....I am tickled pink! Thank you Tracy!!
http://www.thelittlebluehouseblog.blogspot.com/2013/01/winnersand-more.html

Less Is More

"Less is More" is what my good friend Kathy always says, and slowly I am getting to be a believer. There are many yardsale groups on Facebook and Kathy's Alabama based selling group is called Scappers Swap Shop. I have always had a love affair for all scrapbooking, stamps, and card making items, but as I have gotten older, I have become impatient with the distraction of stuff everywhere. The multiple piles all around my feet from my many ongoing projects. My desk, bookshelves, drawers, and cabinets are overflowing with yummy scrappin stuff. Most of the mess is because I have never learned how to put anything back when I am done with it. LOL But, the time has come for a major change. I don't know how many pieces of paper I own, but I spent all day today pulling, coordinating, taking pics, and then posting papers for sale. Initially I was taking pictures of both the front and backs of the papers, but after a few hours, it didn't take long to figure out that I would be here much longer by doing that. Even working for almost ten hours in here today, I only made a small dent in my paper collection. One thing that was very surprising to me, was being able to let it go. I have been a hoarder of paper for many years. Honestly once I got started, it didn't hurt that bad at all. I have plans of working on it a little each day until no more piles and no need for several bookcases and cabinets in my overcrowded craft room. In the end I am hoping to reward myself with one of the nice, uncluttered, spacious bookshelves and desks from Ikea. We have a store not too far from us in Fort Worth. This would make a great Mother's Day gift!

This is what ten hours of long, tiring work will do for you. I sure could use a nice neck massage!

Adding Links

Okay...I have wondered and wondered how everyone adds a "link" to their blogs. You see them all the time and I have attempted to figure it all out, but batting zero so far. Tonight I talked with my sweet friend Cathy in Maine and she tried her best over the phone to help me figure this out. Along the way she also gave me some tips on updating my blog too. Sooooo I am in the middle of playing with all of this, when I really need to be going thru tons of scrapbook paper that I just don't have room for and need to get it sold on Facebook.

 

                I am soooo OCD. Sorting all of my papers by companies in alphabetical order!

Nutty I know!  But I just LOVE paper, It has to be my most favorite thing to buy, that and ribbon.

 

 

 

These few neat pics might make you think my scrapbook room is finally all tidy and organized, but don't be fooled! I have plenty of piles all around to remind me that I need to get off here and get cleaning. Okay, one minute more to tinker on here to try and absorb everything Cathy just told me before I go to bed and then "poof" it all disappears from my tired brain. Hoping this will work for me!  

 

Happy Birthday Audrey!

My oldest sisters birthday is on the 15th. For many years growing up, I was so jealous that Audrey was the "oldest' and that her birthday was in January. She was so lucky to celebrate her birthday first before any of us. I had to wait until July before I could blow the candles out. All I can say now is, be careful of what you ask for. Now I am so thankful to not be the oldest and to also have more months to not hear that I am over the hill! This is a card I made for her tonight. I am not 100% happy with it, but after working on it for several hours tonight, I am too tired to know what it is I don't like. I will sleep on it and look at it again in the morning. I am hoping I love it in the morning.
                                                      "Happy Birthday Audrey!"

                                      Trying to get everything I might need in one place

                                                      My most favorite paper punch

I always keep a fresh baby wipe or two on my desk. When I am finished with a stamp and don't want to take the time to clean it, I will lay the stamp facedown on the baby wipe. It will keep the stamps moist in order to make the cleaning afterwards much easier.

 I thought this stamp was so pretty when I bought it last month, but I found out tonight that it is almost too large to use on a regular sized card

               I hope she likes her card. Going out in the mail tomorrow. We will soon find out.

Triple Time Stamping

Okay..I found a card that I love making. Would someone please get me off this three layered kick? These cards are so easy to make and I love the finished effect of the card. Makes it look like there is more to the card than there is....I like that! Anyway here are my two cards. The thank you card was for everyone that placed a Close To My Heart order with me in December and the Happy Birthday card was going to be for my sister, but decided I would make a small handfull for my Mom instead. She was just in the hospital......again, and made the comment that she missed sending out a few birthday cards being away from home. I still have a few more ideas before I am done with making this card. The only downside of it, is the card taking a lot more paper than a normal layered card, but it sure is worth it. this card. Enjoy!

Love This Card!

I just love this pretty card. I am a huge card fan. It can be a very basic, simple card or one with lot's of nice layers. You just know when you like something and I love this one. One of my friends said something a year or so ago and I have never forgotten. She said she likes lot's of layers on her cards like she does on her bed. Enjoy!

ROLL TIDE ROLL!

It was on the news yesterday that the Alabama Crimson Tide football team landed in Miami for our game scheduled for Monday night. A lot of excitement and money riding on this last college game of the 2012 football year. Alabama VS Dotre Dame. I have always liked and pulled for ND, but not this game. Pulling for my Bama boys in their crimson and white. I am not a huge sports fan, but I love college football. More specific, Alabama Football. Can I get a big ROLL TIDE ROLL! Bust em Bama!

 

 

 

Yikes...How Do I Use This?

My husband just bought me a new Nikon for Christmas. I didn't ask for a new camera, but it has been something he has wanted to get me for a long time. I remember when our oldest daughter was born, we couldn't afford even a cheap camera. Other than her monthly pics at JCP the first year, we don't have that many of her until she was around two. My youngest daughter played basketball in High School and I took dozens and dozens of pics of action pictures of her in the gym. I spent a small fortune on buying and developing 35mm film. Always hoping for a great shot, but I only have a small handfull that are clear and bright. Most are dark or blurry. Very disappointing. Both daughters played softball in high school and thank goodness they played outside in the sun. I have tons of nice softball pics. My only complaint is the zoom factor back then on my camera. Not much of one, but over the last ten years cameras have come a long way. I have several in my collection to prove it. LOL My last one I bought has an amazing 30X optimal zoom. I have some really great pics using this camera, but......a lot of blurry ones too. If the lighting is not so-so you end up with a lot of blurry pictures. Anyway, Christmas morning I opened up the most amazing camera and cried like a baby, thinking about all of the pics I would have if I had had this beauty years ago. But...I am very thankful I have it now and with two sweet Grands living within five miles of us, I can have a field day taking pics. My husband also signed me up for some classes for the camera. I am really looking forward to them. Who had time to read a manual?

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

Wow...less than two week from Christmas. Have I finished my shopping? The correct question should be have I started my shopping. I have a few things bought, but for some reason I just cannot get into the mood this year. I have my youngest Grand done and almost finished for my other one, but almost nothing for my husband, kids, or parents. I guess I will get out there tomorrow after making a list and get it done. Just so much to do around here since our second trip to Alabama earlier this month when we totally finished emptying the house. It still has not sold, but that is another depressing story for later. Our garage here is over flowing. You may have some walking room, but that is it. Most of the things we just brought home was attic stuff. Half ours, half our kids. Our girls both have said they don't want any of their things, but I am not giving it to them to throw out. I will continue holding it until they change their mind.

I have been making a few Christmas cards. Only a few compared to the almost fourty I need to mail out. I bought a kit from Close To My Heart. Pears and Partridge. It is so beautiful, but....it is all still in the package waiting to be made. I don't guess they will make themselves. If I was still holding my class in Alabama, they would have all been done in class. Oh well...here are a few I have been making.

 

This card took me almost two days to make. Of course added to that was having my two Grands here, a band concert, and going out to dinner. I guess I had a total of four hours each day to figure out this card and make it. All I had to go by were a few pics and a list of the punches she used. No assemble directions. After finally finishing it, I quickly made two more within an hour or two. So much easier the second time around!

 This was Alex's first band concert. She is in the "Beginner Band" They were awesome for only playing together for less than two months. 

This is my oldest daughter, my SIL Jeremy, and Baby Grand, Madison.

 



My Poor Blog.....

My poor blog. I have severely neglected it these past few months. Facebook has taken over my life and I just love it!. It is so hard to remember to eat or feed the dog with my fanny stuck to the chair all day. If I didn't have to go to work in the evening, I guess I would stay in my PJ's all day with a Diet Coke in front of me and Frazier reruns playing on the TV.

Our house still has not sold. We have changed realtors also and that has not helped. The first realtor had our house for almost four months and only showed it one time. Everyone told me, even my sweet Momma said it was time to change. She is a very nice woman and sells a lot of houses, but just not ours. I hated to do it, but it was a business decision. The realtor we have now has shown it many times, but still nothing. We lowered the price and she said it's priced to sell. The house is 100% show ready, but not sold. Why..why..why? Grrrrrrr.

September is almost here and school started back in our area this week. I sure do miss these days with my girls. Loved the "First Day of School" pictures. I am hoping my daughter remembers to take some of my Grands when they start school next week in Texas. My oldest will be in the 6th grade and the "little one" will attempt 4YO Preschool again. Ashley tried to get her in the same program in the Spring, but they required for Madison to take a nap. She refused, and told her Mom she was not going back after the third day. So we will see how things go this year. The little Stinker!

We had a great summer. My two daughters, two Grands, and me went to Orange Beach for a short beach trip. It was wonderful! We all love the hot sun, sand, and seafood. A month later my youngest daughter and I flew to New York to celebrate my Mom's 80th Birthday and then drove over to Michigan for a Close To My Heart Gathering for my baby sister. It was my first Gathering and I was pretty nervous worrying if something would come up that I could not take care of or get stuck while  placing orders on the computer. But everything went great and Brenda had a really wonderful turnout. She qualified for so much free stuff that she had a blast making lists of what she wanted to order. I think she is hooked on our nice stamps and inks. The same two things that got me loving Close To My Heart products too!

Here are a few pictures of some projects I have been working on. I just love making cards and scrapbook pages. I also "might" be having one of my cards published in the Hobby Lobby quarterly magazine. I submitted two cards, they requested on of them. Not 100% sure it will be used, but from everything I have been told  I think it is a go.

I am now a Close To My Heart Consultant

I was talked into it....sort of. I think Close To My Hearts beautiful papers, inks, and stamps really sold me on signing up. I am totally in the dark with what is expected of me, but I am willing to learn. I will be focusing using CTMH products for my weekly card class. Up to this point I have used a variety of other companies products. Here is a video showing our current promition; Dotty If you are interested in placing on order, please let me know.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SF0pDo8guKM&feature=player_embedded

It's Offical

Well, after a long, drawn out process, I finally have our house on the market. It really could have, should have been listed back in December, but I have been dragging my feet on doing this. It's sad, but I just don't want to leave my home, friends, and life in Alabama. But lately, I have really been missing seeing my husband and know it's time to move on. Rick and I had talked of moving to Texas after we retired in five to seven years,  but our plans were changed after learning his boss/owner was terminally ill and sold the company. So, life goes on. But my heart and home will always be in Alabama.