Winter is Here!

Here in southern NH, we got hit with a major ice storm Thursday night...we had power when I went to bed, but did not in the morning! For the first time in 6 years, work was eventually closed too...first it was a delayed open with instructions to call the emergency line in a couple of hours...then it was extended another hour then another couple...finally the last time I called in, I was informed the office was closed for the day. Good thing! With no power at home, my cell phone was also almost dead...

Anyway, for lunch we decided we would head out and see if McD's was open...it was not...so what next...we went to the Skating Rink...and it was open, was warm and had hot food...so we had lunch. Then headed home for another hour before heading back for our scheduled skating time. After skating we headed to the Mall. T had a great time doing this bungy jump thing they had set up..tried for pictures, but as I only had my cell phone, they were all blurry. but was a good place to waste a couple of hours. We then went to a friends for the night...they had their power back. and the best part was I got to take a hot shower this morning! When I get home again, with power, I'll upload a couple of pictures of the icy trees I took yesterday.

12/3 The countdown begins

I can't believe it's already been a few weeks since I posted...but I have been busy with Thanksgiving, and holiday shopping....tomorrow though, I'm going down to my scrap room to clean up and get working....I need to create some cards for a swap...and to send out for the holiday! I'm so behind.
This is the card I sent last Christmas. Simple but cute...All products used are Close to My Heart-Cranberry cardstock, B&T paper, and the stamp set is Snow Friends...which is still available this year..so check my website link if you are interesting in purchasing.

Some Layouts from a Gift Album I made

This past weekend I worked on greating a gift album for a young friend whose favorite colors are Pink and Purple. All papers used are from Close to My Heart - White Daisy Cardstock and a Level two paper pack called Whoops-A-Daisy. The colors in that package are Watermelon, Hydranga, and Ocean. This first layout also used CTMH Sparkles and I sponged some watermelon and Ocean onto the white spaces to unbright them a little bit.

This page also includes Bling in the form of dots of Stickles and a brass word from a making memories embellishment pack.

Scrapbook Retreat Pictures

As I have posted I went to a retreat this past weekend. Thought I'd share a couple of pictures.
This is Lisa, Me and Beth (Left to Right)
This is the Historical Hotel we stayed in..was very nice!
This is the building we scrapped in...a converted Barn! Can't wait for next year....not only is our group of 5 going again, but my mom and my Sue are going too! So much fun!

My First Digital Layout

OK...here is my first Digital Layout. The digital elements were designed by Michelle Coleman and are part of the Wild Sorbet collection. Pictures were taken by me.
It's a simple layout, but I'm pretty happy with it. Now I get to search for more digital elements to play with...and see what else I can create. Fun Fun!

Home from the Retreat

I had a great weekend, met some great ladies and really had fun. I completed a gift album, a couple of pages for myself and learned some basic digital scrapbooking skills. Thanks to Shirley for taking the time to walk me through it and for giving me lots of digi links to start exploring. and for teaching me some photo editing techniques!

Anyway, was a fun weekend, but I haven't uploaded my pictures yet...so will post some in a day or two...

Scrapbook Retreat Weekend

Today we checked in at Eagle Mountain House for a weekend scrapbook retreat. On the way here, we did have to stop at the outlet malls....what's a Girls Weekend without some shopping!

I'm working on a gift album for one of my daughter's skating friends who is going to her first Jr. National's skating competition later this month. Once I get that done, hopefully sometime tomorrow morning, I will begin working on some of my own stuff. I'll post a picture or two tomorrow, as so far today I haven't taken my camera out.

We have a great room..it's a small suite actually with a separate sitting room, bedroom and of course bathroom. Even has a small mini fridge. The weekend includes 5 meals and the room for 2 nights. The dinner tonight was buffet style and was really good. I would recommend this place if you are looking for place to a get away.

OK...time to add some artwork

I know it's been awhile since I posted artwork...and I have a new acrylic album to post too...but haven't taken the pictures yet... So in the meantime, I hope you enjoy...
I created this Canvas last year for one of my best friends...using pictures I had taken over the year. I used Sonata level 2 paper pack from CTMH, and Big Pink Flowers are also CTMH. I used my cricut George cartridge to cut the brackets and heart. I don't remember where I got the brown ribbon. I also used a couple of tin words...I think they were memory makers, and a vellumn quote from DCWV and miscellaneous rub on words. Sorry I don't remember from what company I got the words from.

Got a Cat, then a Kitten

A couple of weeks ago, a co-worker was trying to find a new home for 1 of her cats. She was moving and couldn't take the cats with her. Her mom could take only 1....so I volunteered to take the other. She's very sweet...normally....
Then, my daughter's friend had a cat with kittens that they needed to find homes for. She begged me to go see them...so we went last night, and came home with another CAT..well, actually a 6 week old kitten. She is so adorable..cuddly and playful, sometimes at the same time!
Anyway the first cat, Bella, is a bit out of sorts with us for getting a kitten....not sure why as she came from a home with more than 1 cat...but when the kitten, Pepper gets too close, she hisses and then runs away. Or if the kitten isn't paying attention, she "stalks" the kitten...until she is noticed.
But isn't this just the cutest picture...having a kitten is going to be fun...and I'll have some new pictures to scrap....which I haven't been doing enough of lately....I do have pictures, just haven't been inspired...now, that is changing!

Looking for ideas-gifts for goodies bags

OK, next month I am going to a scrap retreat, and I've been trying to come up with some ideas as I signed up to participate in the goodie bags. There are 32 people participating...I was thinking about doing ribbon as I have tons of it...my mom makes fabulous cut and pierced lampshades, and they are trimmed with ribbon. As she gets her ribbon wholesale and in bulk, I get lots of ribbon from her....especially if it's something they no longer use....

Anyway, was trying to think of some why to package the ribbon to go into the goodie bags, and to also include one of my CTMH business cards...so if anyone has a good idea...I would appreciate it.

Hartford CK Convention

I went to the Hartford CT CKC convention yesterday. Mostly just as an excuse to get together with my Friend Tracey whom I haven't seen in over a year. I went with a purpose in mind...to check out Nestibilities dies and see if I could use them in my sizzix...which I can, but I ended up buying the new Big Shot machine as I couldn't find the correct adaptor for my machine, and my machine can't use all the new big dies...so many possibilities! Then I went a bought a couple of clearance Nestibilities and I bought a Quick Cuts die too as it was also on sale...I thought it was pretty cool that one machine could use the dies and embossing folders of so many other products. Can't wait to play with it later today...

Penguins

Do you like penguins an would you like a chance to win a free stamp set?? If so check out http://inkspirations.blogspot.com/ for your chance to win!

Creative Challenge

I've been reading all these blogs that offer challenges, so I want to offer my own challenge. Create a card using using Black, Green, Purple and Orange...and even though I'm choosing Halloween colors, the card may or may not be Halloween related. Add a demensional element, and most importantly, have fun...

Leave me a comment here with a link to a picture of your card! The winning entry will win a CTMH booking stamp set (includes 4 small images) Deadline for entries: October 10th

Car Update

Have you shopped for a car battery lately? over $70 for a decent one....if you need it, which luckily we did not. However, after having having it tested we needed a new starter. Bummer..battery was cheaper, but I did end up getting a decent price on a rebuilt starter and paid $113 instead of $140. And apparently there was a wire going to nowhere, that was hot...and most likely part of the reason the battery was discharging...other than the starter. So anyway, thanks to having a friend who is a weekend mechanic, and paying for the part, the installation cost me a 12 pack of beer.

Oh yeah..and the exciting, but scary part of the day, a few houses down from where my friend lives, a house fire started. Apparently it was electrical and started in the attic...and luckily no one was hurt. The house has a few holes in the roof, and I bet a lot of water damage.

Tonight was GNO....we went to Macaroni Grill for dinner. I ordered the shrimp scampi...and it was very good. Then we went to see "The Women" with Meg Ryan and Annette Benning. Movie was very good, although when Annette's charactor said that she and Meg's charactor had been best friends since college, I thought that was stretching it...A LOT...Annette looks great for her age, but she does not look anywhere close to Meg's age. It was an interesting movie with a fairly good sound track.

OK...fixed it again

ok...switched back to a standard template and regained my blog...I was trying to customize and having no luck...but will try again another day.

Or have my teenage daughter figure it out for me!

9/19 uh oh...I messed up my blog??

Ok...was trying to add a new template, and I think I messed things up! I can't see my recent posts like I used to!

Any advice??

Ramblings 9/17

2 weeks ago my son got his license. Part of me is happy, but part of me is sad, worried and anxious. My firstborn is now a driver. He has his own car....when it runs. So far, it's been insured for 13 days, and it has had a dead battery 4 or 5 times. The first and second times were his fault...but the other times were not. I'm hoping it's a no longer good battery, and not the alternator...I just don't have the money for big repairs, and as he's only been working for 2 weeks, neither does he! So, keep your fingers crossed that when my co-worker who is a weekend mechanic comes over tomorrow, he determines that it's a battery issue! If it's a battery issue, it will be less than $50 to fix...if it's not it could be a few hundred dollars...

This week, I started a new eating plan...trying to make a lifestyle change and eat healthy and lose the extra 60 or so pounds that I should lose to be healthy. I'm on my 4th day...and feeling good so far. But then again the first week or two is always the time when people try their hardest...so if I'm still feeling good and sticking with it at week 4 and 5....then I will know I can stick with it long term. So wish me luck!

9/10 Perfect Day LO

this layout is made with Perfect day level 2 papers from CTMH. The letters are Rub-ons, the larger set is American Crafts, but I forgot who made the smaller letters. The chipboard elements are also CTMH.

The layout design is from Becky Fleck's Page Maps...adjusted a bit for my pictures.

9/9 Final day of Scrap Challenge

OK..you saw 2 of the 4 steps. Here is the final page. Day 3 we had to add the title using 3 diff papers and some other special element (I used liquid glass) Day 4 we had to add journaling and any other finishing touches we wanted.

9/7 OCC Challenge

This weeks challenge was to make a funny birthday card for Amy Sheffer one of the designer's at that site. Well, I've got the funny saying....so here goes...Happy Birthday Amy, hope you like your card!

9/7 Day two of layout challenge.

today we had to add fibers or ribbons to at least 3 places, mat and add photos of at least 2 different sizes and add an embellishment of some type to the focal point photo. I also added my title, but I think that is part of tomorrows challenge...but not sure.
close up page 1

page 2

9/6 projects and challenges

On the consultant boards, a woman has been posting a challenge each week, this is the 3rd week, but the first time I've participated. The challenge has 4 steps and she lists a step each day...so I thought I would share here what I am doing. Todays challenge was to create the base pages with 3 or more patterned papers and 2 cardstock colors. Then we had to put a file folder decorated with Ribbons and a picture somewhere on the page. So here is what I have done so far:















I used Evensong Paper from the level 2 paper pack, Cranberry ribbon and topiary fibers.

She also posted a card challenge: Create a Christmas card, using a line from a favorite carol and you can't use Green or Red as your colors. Well, I colored a bit with Red, but I used Outdoor demin and White Daisy as my colors. The card also had to contain 3 embellishments, I used Ribbon, photo hanger and mini white daisy brads. Here is my card for that challenge:















The Stamp set used was Magical Season. All products used on both challenges above are CTMH.

Now tomorrow I'm going to start on the funny birthday card challenge posted on Our Creative Corner's Blog as well as work on Day two part of the Layout challenge.

9/5 - Another day, another Card

I was looking through Cards, gifts and more magazine (new publication by papercrafts) and found a card submitted by Michele Boyer and duplicated using CTMH products. I used: Paper Garden Floral patterned paper and Purple, Purple Pansy and White Daisy Cardstock, both distressed with chocolate ink to tone them down a bit. The stamp set is Treasure Life, the September Stamp of the Month.

Labor Day - End of Summer Sorta....

funny how labor day always feels like the end of summer even though technically we have a couple more weeks. My kids went back to school last week. 8th and 11th grade. They both had pretty good first weeks.

So yesterday we went to York Beach ME for the day. Was a great day to be there, so thought me and my friends and a few thousand other people...We got there at high tide, and it was very crowded. There was a great sea breeze, the water was frigid cold, but the sun was bright and everyone was in a good mood, so it was a great day. Today we spent the day at a friends house for a BBQ. It was another beautiful day...with lots of sun.

The card above, is for another OCC challenge...which was to create a birthday card. So here is my entry. I scraplifted the design, but forgot from which site...I'm sorry to whomever that I haven't included you name here...but I'll edit this with the name when I find it!

Again, all supplies are Close to My Heart. Paper was from the Sonata Level 2 paper pack: Chocolate, Lilac Mist and Buttercup cardstocks and the pink andsmall flower patterned papers. The stamp sets are Birthday Bash for the present and the Card Sentiments set. Lilac Mist Ink, Blush and Hollyhock inks.

Hope you enjoy!

8/24 Another Card Challenge

i{heart}2stamp posted another sketch challenge...so here is my version. I'm happy with how it turned out.

All supplies are CTMH except for the ribbon and the stickles. Paper used is Perfect Day available September 1st and the stamp set is Friendship Blessings.

Another Card- from sketch

well, I was surfing the Blogs I enjoy and came across a challenge that was due today...unfortunately I can't find the challenge now to enter my card...bummer for me...but thought I'd post it anyway. They provided the sketch and it was up to me to get creative. Hmmm..with late nights watching the Olympics, not sure how creative I was...but here goes...All supplies are CTMH except the flower, brad and twisty tie embellishment. The flower is a leather/suede, and not sure who makes them as they were gifted to me, not in a package, with the brad. the twisty tie is from I-Candee. Paper used: Colonial white, desert sand,crystal blue and honey. Inks: desert sand for distressing and Cranberry. Stamp sets: Heart Throb (December Stamp of the Month, not yet available), and Kindred Spirits.

Can't get Enough of the Olympics

I love watching the summer Olympics...the gymnastics, beach volleyball, swimming and diving. So great that Phelps won 8 Gold medals! Wish we had more gold in gymnastics, but I guess we shouldn't be greedy, when considering sportsmanship, but....

Anyway, as I haven't been able to drag myself away, I haven't done any crafting this week. I shouldn't use that as an excuse as I do have a TV in my scrap room, but not the same as my HD TV upstairs.

Go USA!

Birthday Cards-Scraplifted

OK...so a couple of weeks ago on the CTMH artwork board I saw this card I liked and the poster referenced a Blog she got the idea from...so, this is actually a card idea from the Blog of Pickled Paper Designs, who I think mentioned she had lifted the design from someone else.

I used All Close to My Heart products except for the rub-ons and sticker letters. Supplies: cardstock in Star Spangled Blue, Cranberry, Clover Meadow, white daisy and Bamboo, a retired B&T paper, inks in Star Spangled Blue, Cranberry and Clover Meadow, colonial white waxy flax, accents: brads, spiral clips and eyelets in Cranberry and last but not least, liquid glass (to make the balloons shiny looking)

Hope you enjoy!

Sorry for not posting pictures

My Photoshop Elements isn't working and I can't upload my photos from vacation...so...can't upload artwork either...bummer for me.

I will hopefully have this resolved soon and will update with some pictures.

From Burlington Vt

Me and the kids arrived today for a short visit. Taylor is skating tomorrow in a competition. So we decided to come this way a day early and go visit Ben & Jerry (well, the factory anyway! hehe) We did the factory tour, which was neat, had a small sample, looked at the gift shop and the dead flavor graveyard. After that we went to hotel, checked in and hung at the hotel pool for awhile. While at the pool the girls meet another girl who is competing tomorrow. Was a nice afternoon!

We just got back from Church Street...what fun that was. It's a mall and a bunch of stores and restaurants on .....wait for it.....wait for it....Church street. The cross streets have traffic, but Church street is foot traffic only. We saw a few street performers. The best was a juggler who worked on a balance board and juggled knives. We also saw some break dancers...they were ok, but not great, a violinist and a one man band...I took some pictures, and when I get home I will upload a few.

We ate at a restaurant called Sweetwater's. They had a great haddock sandwich and Yum-o sweet potatoe fries...mmmmm....Brett had a burger that he said was very good too. Then after dinner after deciding that Champlain Valley Chocolates were too expensive for our budget we went to Ben & Jerry's again...for ice cream....

Now it's time for Bed....I'm exhausted...not so sure about the kids....

Busy Weekend

it was a busy weekend, but not creatively. I was helping one of my best friends move. Tonight is their first night in their new home. It's a nice house with a great 3 season room off the back. I think once they settle in and get everything unpacked they will love their new home.

I got the fun part of unpacking and organizer her new scrap space. It's a built in bookcase with a table set next to it. I think I did a decent job setting it up, and hopefully after a week or so she will be able to take some time to herself and go scrap for an hour or so and enjoy the space. Don't think it will happen this week as there is still a lot of unpacking to do.

Anyway, tired tonight...but ready to get working myself on some stuff, so hopefully will have some new artwork to post.

Birthday Party-scrapbook style

well, today I did my first scrapbook birthday party for 6 11-12 year olds. They had a blast and each book reflected the personality of it's creator. I think for all of them it was their first scrapbook, and I think for a couple of them it's the start of a new hobby.

I wish I had started scrapbooking when I was a kid or even as a teen...instead of waiting until I had kids...even now, as much as I love it, I'm not prolific with it...I have tons of pictures and events still to do. I need to work on scheduling time in my scrap room and just sit and work...and let some of the other things wait!

Sounds just like a parent doesn't it?

Yea! Celtics!

we won....I'm so happy...and now I can start going to bed at a normal hour again! As happy as I am I am looking forward to getting my normal 7-8 hours a night instead of 6 hours a night!

And the analysts all thought this would go to game 7....I knew that we would win it tonight. it's so cool to see that Pierce, Garnett and Ray Allen all finally get a championship not to mention how great Rondo and Perkins Played....it seriously was a great team this year and I'm happy on behalf of the team and all the loyal fans.

Good night

Go Celtics

Watching game 5 and hoping for another big win on the road....slow start again tonight, but there is always hope as game 4 showed us! I think Kobe wants to single handedly spank our butts. It should be a good game, either way...we only have to win 1 of the next three games, and seeing how 2 of them are in Boston the odds are in our favor.

today has been a lazy day so far...spent the afternoon watching a movie with my daughter. I was going to go work on a couple of layouts for next weekends workshop, but never made it downstairs to the work room...so will have to work on them after work Tuesday and or Wednesday. I need to start being focused...I would like to work on catching up with last years pictures that I didn't scrap, making more cards and coming up with some ideas for my kids crafting club.

It's Already June

I cannot get over how fast time seems to fly. It's been 2 weeks since I last posted...

At the scrapbook expo, I ended up missing 2 of my classes due to stabbing myself in the leg with my exacto knife...the lid had fallen off of it and when I picked up my bag....my leg was in the way...3 hours and 3 stitches later...

We went out for a great seafood meal at Tinker's in Manchester, NH...great food. I treated myself to lobster...figured I had earned it after my ER trip! LOL...any excuse to indulge!

I haven't uploaded any of the pictures I took that weekend but here is another of my projects. I made this card as in invitation to my mom's birthday/retirement party. She didn't totally retire, just retired from working for other people. She and my dad still have their lampshade business, in which she designs, cuts, and paints the lampshades that they sell.

Having Fun at the Creating Keepsakes Convention!

We had so much fun yesterday at the convention....shopping, creative classes and cropping. We took a Latest and Greatest from Basic Grey and got to use 4 of their new paper lines. We also took Canvas Ala Cart from Quick Quotes and created a 3 panel canvas wall or desk art...depending on how you put them together. Both were very fun classes. The instructor from the Canvas class was very funny and very good!

I'll post pictures when I get home.
Got to go hop in the shower for another day of 3 more classes, some shopping and more cropping!

Random Thoughts

Watching game 4 of the playoffs-Cleveland vs Boston....I'm a Boston fan, and not a fair weathered one only. I've been watching them for years, and am very happy they made playoffs.

My best friend flies in from Texas on Thursday. We are spending the weekend with my local best friends at the Creating Keepsakes Convention in Manchester. We are doing classes, crops, shopping and of course eating! Can't wait. It's been a year since Sue has been here. Although we talk often, I miss seeing her! I am also looking forward to having 3 kid free days....love my kids, but can really use the break!

Speaking of my kids, they were very thoughtful for mother's day. I got a new sterling silver, cubic zurconia necklace. Very pretty, from both of them. My son made me a cookie bouquet in his culinary class. The cookies were very good. I shared with the kids...as they were 4 very big cookies. I also got 2 blue spruce trees and a crafting seat cushion with storage pockets. I'm a lucky woman this week!

Happy Mother's Day

Just wanted to wish all the Moms and moms to be a happy mother's day. I'm happy that here in the Northeast it is at least for the moment Sunny outside. I hear the birds chirping, my flowers are blooming and my wind chimes are occasionally ringing, what more could a person want!

Take some time today to notice and appreciate the beauty of today!

Good day, although not creative

well, today was a busy day starting with Taylor skating test sessions. She passed her pre-juv moves and her preliminary freestyle. She's moving on up!

My son is in driver's ed now. I have to take him out driving, which can be a challenge...I am often white knuckling it...he's getting better, but some things take time...like sharp corners...and not hugging the edge of the road or being too close to curbs...but he is starting to get it.

Plus he got his braces off this week and he turns 16 in twelve days...I can't believe how time flies...seems like just a few years ago he was learning to walk and I was dreaming of the days he would drive!

Sharing more artwork

This is one of my favorite current layouts although I haven't finished the journaling yet. Still....
You know when you have a good layout that you really like and you want to say something that will let the person know and remember just what this time in her life meant to me and hopefully to her...so, I'm still composing, and hopefully soon will commit my thoughts to paper.

This was created with Silloutte papers from CTMH, flowers from unknown source, letters from title cut with my Cricut- Opposites Attract cartridge.. Red cardstock is CTMH

My new blog

Welcome to my new spot! As today is day 1 and I have lots of setting up to do. So check back soon and hopefully I will have some interesting artwork and thoughts to share!

Just getting started

What a way to start Sunday morning...creating a blog...when I really have goals of cleaning up my living room and working on a scrapbook for a friend. But I have to start somewhere, so here I go.

Here is an altered composition book. The paper-Lets's Get Together and stamp set-Delight in Everything and chipboard flower are from Close to My Heart. The composition book was bought at a local office supply store.