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Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Two for Tuesday - More Ornaments

Today's Two for Tuesday is brought to you by the letter C...and also H, R, I, S, T, M, A, and S.

Today I bring you two of the CUTEST ornaments I've seen in awhile...Santa and Reindeer...

These are beautifully created by etsy seller A Casa do Quaxinim:



They seriously make me want to go buy some felt and get sewing!

Peace, ya'll!!

Monday, November 28, 2011

Monday Muse - Bring on the Christmas Ornaments

Today's muse is unexpected and totally cute and something I wish I had thought of.

From the etsy shop of Shop All Things, I bring you Scrabble ornaments:


Now, don't you totally wish YOU had thought of that too??!??!?!

Thursday, November 24, 2011

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!


“But Thanksgiving is more than eating, Chuck. You heard what Linus was saying out there. Those early Pilgrims were thankful for what had happened to them, and we should be thankful, too. We should just be thankful for being together. I think that's what they mean by 'Thanksgiving,' Charlie Brown. “
~Marcie, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving ~

May you be "together" with those you love most and thankful for all God has blessed you with!

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Bowling Pins and Tree Tops - aka How to Make a Turkey Place Card

Counterfeit Kit Challenge Blog posted a really cool challenge to use Scrapbook's Etc's Craft It Forward November project with your November Counterfeit Kit.

My plan was to provide something for the tablescape at my Mother In Law's for our Thanksgiving meal. She does ALL the cooking (I do some sides, but the lion's share of the work is done by her and so I wanted to do something nice!). PLUS she has an amazing table - complete with candles and centerpieces.

I was pretty sure that the placemat idea wasn't going to be where I went, but I toyed around with some ideas and combos anyway. I couldn't come up with anything that I thought would be an enhancement to her table at all.

So, I went another route - place CARDS. And then went even further...WTIH CANDY! Since I chose fall colors for my November Counterfeit Kit, I had the perfect set of supplies already assembled.

This is what I came up with for the final project.

Supplies:
Largest tree top from Maya Road Trees Mini Chipboard set
Kraft Cardstock
Apple Cheddar Soup Milk Printed Paper from Jillibean Soup
Pasta Fagioli Shell Macaroni Printed Paper from Jillibean Soup
Orange Felt
Scrap Red Cardstock
Letter Stickers
Pencil
Stapler/staples
Candy (or bag filler of your choice)
Cello Bags
Adhesive

Using a tree top from my Maya Road Trees Mini chipboard set, I traced "feathers" onto the Pasta Fagioli Shell Macaroni from Jillibean Soup paper. (I actually folded this paper over so that I could cut two at a time from one tracing of the "tree".)



Next, I cut six 4" x 4 1/2" rectangles from the Paper Bag Cardstock.


Using the woodgrain side of my Apple Cheddar Soup Milk paper from Jillibean Soup, I freehanded some turkey "bodies" that were really more like bowling pins.


Then cut some small felt triangles from left over felt (Here's one time being a scrap crap pack rat worked in my favor!):


And then finally, free-hand cut some of those little red dangly thingies from some scrap red cardstock:


Now, for assembly! First, put the red dangly thingie (you like my technical term?) on the bowling pin, in the general "face" area. (this tutorial sounds so strange!):


Put on the orange felt "beaks." I used a liquid quick drying adhesive for that part. Affix a bowling pin to a tree top:


In the bottom right corner of the LONG side (aka 4 1/2" side) of each kraft rectangle, I put a name for each guest.


Then folded them in half, lengthwise:


Place a few pieces of candy in a cello bag, roll the top, place the folded cardstock over the rolled bag and staple to secure:


THEN, put some adhesive on the back bottom (the BUTT) of the turkey, and attach as you see fit to the stapled card, making sure you cover the staple. Mine are off center because I like the angle. Also, I tried eyes on these things and they just looked weird...so, my turkeys are "artistic" and have no eyes.


Kinda fun!



Peace, ya'll!

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Two for Tuesday

I'll be back to show you some interesting things tomorrow for Thanksgiving, but until then, here are two layouts from my November Counterfeit Kit.

Remember when I told you about my process for Preparing for a Crop? Well, I got a couple of sets of pictures/sketches out to do these layouts. What I couldn't believe was how FAST these two pages went together...I believe they will both be repeats in my collection - perhaps rotated or flipped...hmmmm....

So, first up, Look At Me, Look At Me! This layout is me experimenting with the more artsy style. I like it...but it took a little more work than my usual layout style. And trusting my instincts with a new style was hard too. I kept this layout out a bit before i felt comfortable with it.


Supplies:

Cardstock:
Bazzill in Cheddar

Printed paper:
Memoir Cupboard from Studio Calico
Apple Cheddar Soup Milk from Jillibean Soup

Embellishments:
Trees Mini chipboard set from Maya Road
Paper Tape from the Avignon collection by 7gypsies
Mini Market Stickers in Green and Cream from October Afternoon
Mister Huey’s Mist in Estate Green and Pony


Next is Piano Man...I love these pictures...they may be my favorites.


Supplies:

Cardstock:
Bazzill in Walnut

Printed paper:
Memoir Cupboard from Studio Calico

Embellishments:
Craft Border Stickers from Studio Calico
Elementary Collection Die Cut Stickers from Studio Calico
Alphabet Avenue Letter Stickers in Business Alpha from Arctic Frog

Also surprising in this round, how much layout I can get out of a single sheet of printed cardstock...the Memoir Cupboard piece was used on both layouts...Love when that happens!

Peace, ya'll!!

Monday, November 21, 2011

Monday Muse - The One with the Nativity Blocks

Ok, I'm breaking my only rule - no Christmas til after Thanksgiving.

Truth is, I've got Christmas on my mind. Mostly because our budget, like everyone's, I think, has gotten tighter and tighter...and Christmas will take some planning.

But I digress - normally, I don't do Christmas until after Thanksgiving is DONE...because I LOVE Thanksgiving and doing Christmas earlier than the day after Thanksgiving disrupts my tradtions.

Lets just not even go to the place where I'm not sure where I'm putting a tree this year to keep busy two year old hands from breaking something....planning, I tell you. It will all take planning.

So, back to my Christmas-before-Thanksgiving muse. Its this beauty that I found on Jame's Blog.:


I find it absolutely brilliant in both it's simplicity and its beauty...

How about you? What could you simplify and make more beautiful this year?

Peace, ya'll!

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

TAG YOU'RE IT!

Counterfeit Kit Challenge Blog posted an AWESOME Tag You're It challenge yesterday!!!

For this one, I reached for some plain manila tags and got out my Hot Dog, Pony and Plumb Thumb mists. I used one of my Maya Road chipboard leaves as a mask on the tags.

Then I used a layout by Kim Watson in the latest CK as a sketch base. (unfortunately, i cannot find a link to it). Here is what I came up with:


Cardstock
Paper Bag by Paperbilities

Printed paper:
Apple Cheddar Soup Milk from Jillibean Soup

Embellishments:
Leaf Coaster pieces from Maya Road
Making Memories Felt Letters in Chocolate
Elementary Collection Die Cut Stickers from Studio Calico
Paper Tape from the Avignon collection by 7gypsies
Fashion Sense Felt Shapes in Harvest from Fancy Pants Designs
Bean Stalks Twine in Green/Blue from Jillibean Soup
Ink: Mister Huey’s in Pony, Hot Dog and Plumb Thumb
Hand cut Maple Leaves from various scraps

Ok....so honestly...I'm sort of not sure what I think about it.

BUT I'm beginning a policy with myself where I don't go back and re-do layouts. This one isn't what I dreamed up...but it is what it is. Isn't that how creativity often goes? Your art is what it is in that moment.

There are LOTS of different takes on this challenge. Go HERE and have a look!

Peace, ya'll!!!

Monday, November 14, 2011

Monday Muse - The One with the Orange Picture Frames

Today's muse was found on Traditional Home..

Now lets be honest...my home is far from traditional...its also far from modern, far from country, far from contemporary...what it is not far from is middle class suburban home with two small boys, a full time DAD and trees that always seem to be shedding their leaves on our lawn...

My home also suffers from bare-wall syndrome. I don't know if its from years of renting, an inability to CHOOSE artwork for myself and my family or the fact that I'm a commitment-phobe when it comes to putting holes in the walls. Whatever the root cause, the walls tend to be bare...ugh...

So...I LOVED this idea...becuase...well...because even though my walls are bare, I seem to have accumulated picture frames along the way. Odd, right?

AND there is so much to love about this muse that can make it an inspiration for scrapbooking, decorating, party planning...pretty much anything. Oh. And I love the orange/aqua/chocolate combo.


What would you do with this muse???

Peace, ya'll!!

Friday, November 11, 2011

Thank you, Veterans!

These tidbits were found on the Christian Science Monitor:

1. Vietnam War
Vietnam War(1964-75): Many of the 8.8 million who served in uniform were draftees; 7.6 million are alive today.

2. Korean War
Korean War(1950-53): Often called "the forgotten war," it finally had a memorial dedicated to it in Washington in 1995. Of the 5.7 million Americans who served, 2.7 million survive.

3. Operation Desert Shield/Storm
Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm(1990-91): America's first encounter with Iraq's Saddam Hussein involved 2.3 million military personnel, of whom 2.2 million are still present

4. World War II
World War II(1941-45): America's most massive mobilization involved 16 million men and women, of whom 2.1 million are still alive.

5. Global war on terror
Global War on Terror(2001- ): Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have involved 1.4 million military personnel.

This is from an article by Rod Powers that you can read in its entirety HERE:

Many Americans mistakenly believe that Veterans Day is the day America sets aside to honor American military personnel who died in battle or as a result of wounds sustained from combat. That's not quite true. Memorial Day is the day set aside to honor America's war dead.

Veterans Day, on the other hand, honors ALL American veterans, both living and dead. In fact, Veterans Day is largely intended to thank LIVING veterans for dedicated and loyal service to their country. November 11 of each year is the day that we ensure veterans know that we deeply appreciate the sacrifices they have made in the lives to keep our country free.

In 1947, Raymond Weeks, of Birmingham Ala., organized a "Veterans Day" parade on November 11th to honor all of America's veterans for their loyal and dedicated service. Shortly thereafter, Congressman Edward H. Rees (Kansas) introduced legislation to change the name of Armistice Day to Veterans Day in order to honor all veterans who have served the United States in all wars.

In 1954, President Eisenhower signed a bill proclaiming November 11 as Veterans Day, and called upon Americans everywhere to rededicate themselves to the cause of peace. He issued a Presidential Order directing the head of the Veterans Administration (now called the Department of Veterans Affairs), to form a Veterans Day National Committee to organize and oversee the national observance of Veterans Day.

Congress passed legislation in 1968 to move Veterans Day to the fourth Monday in October. However as it became apparent that November 11th was historically significant to many Americans, in 1978, Congress reversed itself and returned the holiday to its traditional date.

For my father, my uncles, my cousins, my friends, my co-workers and those whom I may never meet...thank you for your service to our Country.



Peace, ya'll!

Monday, November 07, 2011

Monday Muse - The One with the Balloons in the Desert

Today's Muse comes to us from photographer Kani Polat. I actually saw this photo as a contest entry for National Geographic..

But after investigation, I'm just stunned at the photography that Mr. Polat does...its just beautiful.


This is a muse of juxtaposition.

What could you do with this?

Peace, ya'll!

Sunday, November 06, 2011

Counterfeit Kit - November

In case you missed THIS POST, I’m Guest Designing this month over at the Counterfeit Kit Challenge Blog.

The inspiration kits this month are amazing kits from Scraptastic Club.

They have two full kits to choose from for counterfeiting this month plus two add ons…I chose to Counterfeit the Autumn Splendor kit plus add on.

This is their Autumn Splendor kit:


I just love the tones and totally went with my first inpspiration - Orange, green, blue, Chocolate and LEAVES. Here is my version:


My kit contents are:

Cardstock:
Bazzill in Cheddar
Bazzill in Parakeet
Bazzill in Walnut
American Crafts in Blue Jay


Printed paper:
Morning Glory from Websters Pages
Memoir Cupboard from Studio Calico
Memoir Love Bird from Studio Calico
Memoir Linen From Studio Calico
Botanico Trees from Chatterbox
Tres Jolie Oui Oui from My Minds Eye
Apple Cheddar Soup Milk from Jillibean Soup
Pasta Fagioli Shell Macaroni from Jillibean Soup


Embellishments:
Jillibean Soup Apple Cheddar Cardstock Stickers
Fashion Sense Felt Shapes in Harvest from Fancy Pants Designs
Trees Mini chipboard set from Maya Road
Bean Stalks Twine in Green/Blue from Jillibean Soup
Green Banner sticker from Pink Paislee Hometown Summer collection
Perfectly Pleated border in Kiwi from Bazzill
Paper Tape from the Avignon collection by 7gypsies
Die Cute Label stickers from Studio Calico
Bristol Alphabet Stickers in Chestnut from Scenic Route
Craft Border Stickers from Studio Calico
Elementary Collection Die Cut Stickers from Studio Calico

Scraptastic Club’s add on looks like this:


I had a little chant in my head while I assembled the contents for my counterfeit. "letters and leaves, letters and leaves!" Here is my take:


Contents for the add on are:

Cardstock
Paper Bag by Paperbilities
Vanilla by Bazzill


Embellishments:
Mini Alphabet Stickers in Sunrise from MLS
Alphabet Avenue Letter Stickers in Business Alpha from Arctic Frog
Mini Market Stickers in Green and Cream from October Afternoon
Petite Type Square in cream and brown from Authentique
Chocolate Ruffle Wraps trims from Bo Bunny
Plain Leaves chip board from Scenic Route
Leaf Coaster pieces from Maya Road

Scraptastic Club ALSO happens to be the sponsor this month over at Counterfeit Kit Challenge Club. They are giving away a $20 gift certificate to their store. All you have to do to be entered in the drawing is either join the blog hop or comment on the blog hop over at Counterfeit Kit Challenge Blog...it's that easy! The blog hops will be on November 27th and 28th.

Now, to get creating with this kit! I feel like maybe a Pumpkin Spice Latte, a good fall movie (maybe You’ve Got Mail or maybe Dead Poets Society?), and some scrapping are in order!!!

Friday, November 04, 2011

DIY Washi Tape Tutorials

I'm totally in the counterfeit mode right now...

There are a lot of reasons for this: I'm in super-frugal mode due to living on a tight budget with Christmas on the horizon, I'm totally jazzed about being challenged to do things myself (have you ever looked at something and thought, "I could do that"?), AND I'm Guest Designing over at Counterfeit Kit Challenge Blog this month...all of which has me searching for DIY projects and ways to use what I have to make what I want.

I'm totally in love with paper tape or washi tape...you will see it in lots of my home-made kits and also on my layouts. But frankly, it can be a little pricey for my budget.

So, I went in search of DIY tutorials...seriously, I found TONS! Here is a little collection some of my favorites:

Becky Fleck has this tutorial on the Scrapbook and Cards Today blog:


Anneliese of Aesthetic Nest posted a sweet version with scanned fabrics:


There is an awesome version using wrapping paper posted on Just Something I Made (and who doesn't have loads of wrapping paper around???):


And finally, I found a great video tutorial from Papertrey Ink that has my mind just zooming with ideas:



This is just a smattering of what I found...I'm so excited to give some of them a try.

Have a BEAUTIFUL weekend everyone!

Peace, ya'll!

Thursday, November 03, 2011

Heard at Our House - Noah's Newly Minted Vocabulary



My little guy is in full acquisition mode when it comes to words, these days…

Some of his expressions have grown new meanings. For example:

I hunree – means the usual, I’m hungry, but apparently also means “I see you have M&M’s and I’m going to pester you until you give me one.”

Jaydee – He’s started to call his brother Jayden, rather than just Jay…he regularly wakes his brother up by bursting into his room, yelling “Hi, Jaydee! Hi, Jaydee!”

He's a regular parrot, so we hear a lot of words one time as he's copying somebody else...But he’s also added considerably to the words in regular rotation:

Air Dayee go? = Where did Daddy go? Not to be confused with:

Air Jaydee go? = which is a search for Jayden and

Air Mommy go? = Which is often said when I'm RIGHT in front of him...so, apparantly I'm invisble.

I Core Coo Cah – this means I color Coo Cah….which leads me to another regular:

Coo Cah = Mickey Mouse…why, you ask? Well…if you watch Mickey Mouse Club House, you know they say, “Miska, Mooska, Mickey Mouse.” Do you see it? Mooska and CooCah…Yea, I know…it took us forever to figure it out too. The other characters of the show are :

Meee Coo Cah = Minnie Mouse

Days Duh = Daisy Duck

Don Duh = Donald Duck

Goo = Goofy and

Goggy = Pluto. This can also just mean Goggy. If you ask him what a Doggy says, in his best glass shattering high-pitched voice he says ,"UHF! UHF!"

Jisssss = Juice. He LOVES juice…its like baby crack.

SHISSSSSS = not to be confused with Jisssss (see above) this means shoes.

I POOP – I don’t think this one requires translation

MEESH! = Please! He has good manners.

BYE BYE!!! – Again, this needs no explanation…however, he says it over and over again from the time I put on my shoes in the morning…which makes me feel like he WANTS me to leave….which makes me wonder just what kind of fun my boys are having without me after I’m gone. He also regularly says this to random strangers in Walmart as we walk by...that's my little social butterfly.

CARRRRRSSSS = Cars…like Lightening McQueen and Mater.

Shishy = Fishy...usually in the form of Goldfish, but sometimes he means Nemo and sometimes he's just commenting on some fish he's seen.

I Go COOL! = I go to school. Little mister LOVES school.

BAAAA PAAAA = Back pack = he knows he needs a backpack when he goes to school.

Geen = green. Unfortunately, everything is “geen” so far…we’ll work on that. At least he's recognizing that its a label for an object of some or other color...

Ai-yahn = I want...this can be followed by any number of things, not all of which we are exactly sure about just yet....

NO! – no explanation necessary for this one either…but does anyone know why they say NO for EVERYTHING!?!? Even when they mean “yes”?

And finally, when we show him a picture of himself and ask him “Who is that?” He replies, “BABY!”

If we say “Who’s the baby?” He says, “I BABY!”

That’s right! He’s the baby!

Wednesday, November 02, 2011

Been Caught Stealing

Did you see my mug shot???

Its over HERE

That's right....

Stay tuned for more on THAT little subject.

I can't wait to show you!

Peace, ya'll!

Tuesday, November 01, 2011

10 for Tuesday

Not that you want to get to know me any better…but blogging is one of those things where I can capture what is going on RIGHT NOW…

So…this is a list of 10 things about me just right now in my life…

1) I read magazines backwards. Editors are VERY good at flow in magazines…I can get to the end of a magazine all too quickly and not even remember what I read. So, I start in the back and read the articles and look at the pictures in reverse order. I just see more that way.

2) If I had stayed married the first time, I would have been married 19 years. Which I definitely don’t feel old enough to be. If you’ve ever met my 2nd husband (that feels weird) – my amazing blessing from God – you know I’ve got the most amazing husband...and we’ve been married a lot less than 19 years and have two kids under 6…which makes me feel a WHOLE lot younger…most days.

3) There are currently only three colors my hair has never been: jet black, green and purple.

4) Dr. Seuss just might be my favorite author ever.

5) I secretly wish I lived on a farm.

6) I also secretly wish I lived in the dead center city in a loft with an open floor plan.

7) Appearantly, suburban living in the two-story traditional home isn’t my secret wish…although it includes a secret wish that has already come true – two kiddos.

8) I’m a design tv and blog junkie…some days it just blows me away that my home is still mostly contractor beige.

9) Fall is my favorite season because I love how everything looks spicy and smoky and golden and aged. And I like pumpkin spice lattes.

10) The only time I’m ever really alone is when I’m in the car on the way to and from work. For the most part, all other times in my life, there is a child around. Its kind of weird.

What about you? What is SO you right now?!?!?