A New Year

Are you prepared for the New Year? Have you decided on a New Years Resolution (that you will actually follow through with)? Do you have someone to kiss at midnight? Do you have great people to party with? AND most importantly, do you have your champagne (or other alcohol of choice)?? 

For me, the answers are yes, yes, and yes! Plus more yes's for how ever many more questions I asked. I won this lovely bottle of champagne on Sunday at a Christmas party playing BINGO and I was very pleased as I did not have champagne yet for New Years Eve. 

I do have a New Year's Resolution that I think is very plausible for this 2014. Last year I gave up drinking soda. I did it because I started following a blog called "The Londoner". She talks about her "antidiet" and how diet soda is even worse than the regular stuff, and how giving up diet soda can make you lose 5lbs if you don't change anything else in your diet. I hardly ever drink soda now. Maybe one can a month and never diet soda. I have actually been trying to avoid anything with Aspartame in it. Aspartame is an ingredient in many low calorie or diet foods and drinks that is used for sweetening; it has also been identified as a carcinogenic agent. So I try to avoid it. Even some light yogurt contains it! So I also try to look at labels of anything light out there before I buy it. There are many light things that do not contain Aspartame too, but so far all of the sodas that I've come across that are light or diet contain it. But it's okay. I've been soda free for a year, and I've replaced it with water in my diet so it is a much healthier choice. And it has made me aware of the things that I put into my body. Maybe one day I will go organic or actually try to make healthier choices in all aspects of my diet (ya know like cutting out sweets and fats but they're SO good) , but right now I am happy with as far as I have come.

My New Year's Resolution this year can go one of two ways I told myself. One way is a more selfish reason and the other way if selfless. It is more so to get over a stupid fear that I have. I have a fear of veins. Yup, veins. My veins. Not needles, I have no problem with shots that go into my muscle, but I  hate veins. IVs, blood draws, men with wirey veins sticking out on their arms, my veins being touched over my skin. Creeps. Me. Out. So my New Year's resolution is to get over my fear of veins by either: giving plasma at Biolife in which I get compensated or donating blood at a blood drive. I chose this resolution this year because this past June I stuck myself with a dirty instrument at work and had to get bloodwork done to make sure that I hadn't contracted any blood borne disease. However, working at a hospital, they wanted to ensure my well being since many blood borne pathogens can have an incubation period where they don't show up in bloodwork, so I had to get tested for six months. It only ended up being four times, but each time I had to get my blood drawn (from a vein!) several vials were taken so it took more time than I would have liked. And along the way, I kind of got interested in doing lab work. If I were to change professions I think that I would like to try being a lab technician and drawing blood. So if I want to do that I need to get over my irrational fear. 

I gave myself a timeline for my resolution too. If I decide to give plasma, I need to do it by March. I have more reason to do this because I could use another job and you get paid pretty well for just sitting in a chair and having bodily fluids taken from you. However it takes around an hour I think. But if I decide to donate blood, I gave myself an entire year to do that, or I suppose the last blood drive of the year at work. Donating blood takes less time than giving plasma but it's usually volunteers doing it and that freaks me out more. I always hear horror stories of them not being able to find veins and having to try many different areas and that would so not help me. 

 Please wish me luck this new year in completing my New Year's Resolution and I will do the same for you! Have a great New Year's Eve! Stay safe but have fun! And most of all have a  HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas. Happy Holidays.
I hope everyone is enjoying time with their families this holiday season. I am lucky enough to be able to spend it with two families, both days. But be sure to take time to think about the less fortunate this season. Last week my co-workers and I baked Christmas cookies and plated them for the Ruth House, a local shelter for a displaced women and children. They were very appreciative and impressed with the gesture. We ended up donating seven platters of cookies, about nine dozen. :) It was a great feeling knowing that a simple gesture like that could make someone's holiday season better. And we thought it was especially uplifting for these families with children who were displaced this Christmas.
I hope everyone has a great Christmas!!
Thanks for stopping by :)

Santa Belt Place Cards

Looking for a little something to spruce up your Christmas table? I figured out what I needed. Place cards! I originally was going to use berry picks in some way but I wasn't getting inspired by them. But then I came up with this cute idea. Santa's belt! Now, I know that the colors do not coordinate in this picture, but it's the idea that I'm going for here. I plan on buying red felt ribbon and red and green napkins tomorrow so that the place settings actually look like Christmas.

Here's what I used to make them:
Spellbinders Ribbon Tag Trio 2
Black cs
Gold metallic ink + gold Sharpie
Ribbon with wire in the edging (to wrap around the sides of the plates-using less ribbon)
Your favorite holiday dinnerware and coordinating napkins

Have a great Christmas everyone. I hope this post gives you some ideas!

Fine and Dandy Chicks

My Minds Eye Fine and Dandy paper line and sticker sheet
Cuttlebug Quilled Daisy
Martha Stewart Picket Fence border punch
Corner rounder

My Oh My

Everything is from the Fine & Dandy-Tickled Pink My Minds Eye paper collection. The stickers, the paper, the die cut. Fleur de Lis Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Martha Stewart Border Punch.

Mother

Graphic 45 baby collection
MY MINDS EYE "mother" die cut
Jewelry charms
1" cream ribbon Cassie Os Brocade Cuttlebug Embossing Folder Tim Holtz Distress Ink- Victorian Velvet

Pink Frames

Here is another old page that I've had in my scrap pile for a while. I'm sorry to say that I can't give you any detail about this page except that I THINK that the background paper is Basic Gray.

I hope that everyone had a great Saturday despite the negative temperatures. Picture This had their Craft Fair today and there were some great vendors there selling awesome stuff that'd be great for Christmas presents.

Also, early this morning I became an aunt!! :) My husband and I now have a nephew!!

Have a great rest of your weekend!

Meadowlark

This is a page I made using the Meadowlark collection from MME. The collection is a couple if years old.

Oh no! The Big 5-0!!

This was made a few years ago after my mom's 50th birthday. I used Moxxie paper, again a few years old, and diecuts made from the Pazzle at the store.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

I hope that everyone has a fantastic Thanksgiving with no drama involved, just a ton of great food to share with your family and friends.

 If you're going out shopping today, stay safe and don't be one of the crazy ones out there trampling people to save some money. If you are going shopping be sure to stop  by Picture This on Friday from 8am-3pm for TIERED pricing. The earlier you get there the bigger the savings!! But that doesn't mean you shouldn't stop by later in the day, there will be other specials going on throughout the day. 

Have a great turkey day. :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Cupcake Daydream

This is yet another one of my favorite layouts. It would be super cute page for a birthday party or a bake sale. Here's what you need to make it:
Crate Paper- The Knit "Memories" 683306
Simple Stories- I Heart Summer "Teal Boardwalk" and "I Daydream" Crate Paper- Pretty Party Chipboard 683005
Little Yellow Bicycle- Natural Wood Tags Tim Holtz Vintage Photo Distress Ink
Spellbinders Blossoms Tags and Accents
My Favorite Things/Dienamics- Mix and Match Banner
Natural Twine

Stargaze

I'm in love with this new line from Pebbles called Lakeside. The store got this line in a few weeks ago and I was lucky enough to be there and of course I had to buy one of each sheet from the line. It's the perfect paper to go with a page if you're scrapping about camping or anything outdoors-y.

Pebbles: Lakside "Stargaze" 7514462
Pebbles: Lakeside "Road Signs" 7514466
Simple Stories- I Heart Summer "Teal Boardwalk"
Lifestyle Crafts embossing folder "Zigzag"
Yellow and black cardstock
White grossgrain ribbon

Spider Lane

I know, I know. You all see Halloween and you're thinking "that is SO last month". I can't help it. I have to post this page; it was one of the samples I worked on at our girl's night. But I made it on October 28th. I already had things I wanted to post through the end of October, it would just be too hard to find time to rearrange my posts and type up this one in three days. EXCUSES. I'm done with them now. Now just look at this page and go make it! Here's the products:
Pebbles "Spider Lane" Tricks or Treats
My Mind's Eye- "The Spider's Web Accessory Kit"
Echo Park- "Dictionary" Chillingsworth Manor
Bo Bunny-Fright Delight Chipboard

Monster Mash

I know. I'm posting another Halloween page. I swear it's the last one, at least for a while. But again, I gotta post it because it was a sample for the store. Well that and it's super cute. Here's what you need to make it:
TPC studio Monster Mash Haunted House
Cuttlebug Oriental Weave Embossing Folder
Parisian EK Success Punch
Bo Bunny- Fright Delight 12x12 chipboard
Black and yellow cardstock

Geranium Layout

The PT Posse had a scrap night at the Green Haven Retreat located behind Picture This at the end of October. The place is amazing. Its such a beautiful property and so relaxing. We had food and drinks and hot tub time as well as an entire day/night of creating. I was able to get several sample pages done for the store. The following is one of them.
Webster's Pages- Citrus Squeeze "Picnic Party #US 2057D"
Cuttlebug Polka Dots Folder
White, Papaya, Deep Blue, and Dark Graceful Geranium cardstock

Happy 90th Birthday Grandma

Today is my grandma's 90th birthday!! I made a banner for her with Spellbinders Nested Lacey Pennants and Large Standard Circles.

Damask Gem

SUPPLIES:
Spellbinders labels 18 die
Zva gems
Studio G stamp- happy birthday
Yellow paper flowers
Cream grossgrain ribbon
Canvas Corp Coral & Ivory Damask Reverse paper

Party Glasses

This is a nice and simple card. I used a Memory Box die called party glasses to cut a silhouette into the front of the card. The inside of the card is stamped with a Riley stamp that says "It doesn't matter if the glass is half empty or half full. There's clearly more room for wine." I finished the card off with a black bow tie on the front of the card.

Wine Cards

Here are two more cards that I made with the wine paper from out there scrapbooking. The first card has the Inkadinkadoo stamp I've previously used. The second uses a Studio G happy birthday stamp as well as Spellbinders Inverted Scalloped Circle die.

Coral Damask

Supplies:
Lemon drop cs
CANVAS CORP Coral & Ivory Damask Reverse paper
SPELLBINDERS Labels 18
MARTHA STEWART branch punch
Paper flowers
CANDIES
Daffodil LIQUID PEARLS
Cream grossgrain ribbon
STUDIO G stamp

Glass of wine

Today was the Bus Trip at Picture This. They are so much fun but a lot of work and it gets a little crazy. It seemed like everyone had a ton of fun, everyone bought lots of goodies. But after a day like today its time to curl up on the couch to put my feet up and have a drink! This card matches the mood perfectly!!

Supplies:
Profit green cardstock
White luster cardstock
RILEY "glass half empty" cling stamp
OUT THERE SCRAPBOOKING Bottle of Wine paper
LIFESTYLE CRAFTS Zig Zag embossing folder
SPELLBINDERS Labels 18 die

Washi Tape Girl's Night

Okay, this was a fun card to make. I bought the wine paper (out there scrapbooking "bottle of wine) that's behind the film strip washi tape and am having the hardest time using it. It's such a busy pattern. The "the ladies are going out" stamp from Inkadinkadoo went well with the wine paper, that much I knew, but it was boring so I added strips of the washi tape on both sides of it. Then I kept adding it because I really liked the look of it; you can see through the filmstrip to the wine.  I think the card works well with the theme of Ladies Night.
Wine and a movie anyone? ;)

Birch Trio

This is one of my favorite dies of the season from Memory Box: Birch Trio. I love it cut out of Papers Best product #bb01 ( realistic birch tree paper) and paired with Pacific Blue cardstock. I added a little black twine from The Twinery and it finished the look. A vertical stamp on tge right would look nice if you wanted a more complete look but I was unable to find any in my stash or at the store that suited the card to my liking.

Cookie Cutter Tree Card

I used a diecut from a multipack of shapes from American Crafts "Holibery" for the tree, Christmas themed Washi Tape, twine, and Echo Park Paper "Vintage Santa".

The Bright Church

This card is an elegant one fitted for those on your Christmas mailing list that have religious views as well those that don't.
I used Cuttlebug's "kassie o's brocade" embossing folder, Memory Box's "country house", Spellbinders Standard Large Ovals, and gold twine.

Starry Night Sleigh Ride

This card was challenging because the sleigh die I used was hard to find something that went well with it and didn't clash or not make sense in the background. I bought the die last year but this was the first time that I had even used it!
Supplies:
Cheery Lynn Christmas Sleigh b140
Reminisce "out of this world" space buddies 12x12 paper
Memory Box Country Landscape

Magnificent Pine with Poinsettias

I LOVE this paper and this die. The turquoise color for Christmas is amazing and this tree is so beautiful. There are four components to this card: Memory Box Magnificent Pine die cut out of pine green cs, MME Mistletoe Magic "mistletoe" paper, EK Success "jewel" edge punch on white cs, and your choice of liquid pearls and stickles (I used white opal, platinum, and xmas red)

Matchbox Giftbox

This project is one that I worked on for the store for the Christmas Extravaganza, the idea was from Leann. I used  Memory Box's new Matchbox die which cuts out two pieces: the box form that you fold for the structure and the decorative outer part that you fild around the box. It was a little hard to figure out at first but once you realize how to put it together its easy. The flower is cut out from a Cheery Lynn Poinsettia die. White grossgrain ribbon was added around the box. The paper I don't remember what it is, but there's a lot of it at the store yet (sorry I didn't save the strip at the bottom for this ), however the second picture is of both sides if that paper if you're interested.

Birds of Sky and Earth

This is an extraordinarily easy card to make. I made six from one sheet of 12x12 imaginisce 400041. Its not as cost effective as the glittery snowmen cards from a few posts ago, but it does make for a very pretty card. I also used ice silver metallic cardstock and textweight for the card base and the bird. The die for the bird is Cheery Lynn "birds of heaven and earth". The tree I cut out of green mirracard using Memory Box "flowering Christmas tree".

Wreath

This is a super simple card to make. All I used was the Martha Stewart Branch punch (you could also use Cheery Lynns die that has multiple branches) and some pine green paper, memory box's sitring bird die, and some red stickles. Assemble!

Red and Green Tree

This is a super easy card to make. I used my Spellbinders Nested Pine Trees to make this. I just cut it out of the center of green cardstock, stuck it on red cardstock, and stuck that on a white base. The stamp is an old Amuse stamp that's no longer produced but I believe Memory Box makes similiar stamps.

Sentimental Thank You

This is a thank you card I sent to my new aunt and uncle thanking them for our wedding gift. It's one of a few that I made similiar. I used Pebbles Family Ties line "Mother" for the yellow and the butterfly paper is BoBunny Country Garden "Country Garden Glimpse", White Opal Liquid Pearls, Spellbinders Large Standard Circles, and Just Rite "Just a Note" 1-5/8 borders and centers stamp set.

Holy Cheap Christmas Cards

So yesterday I decided to buy this adorable glitter snowman paper because it was the last sheet and I figured it'd make for some easy cards. Boy was I right!! I got 6 cards out of this and they only ended up costing 38 cents per card. And two simple steps to make. I think this will be the way to go for future mass quantity Christmas card making. :)

White Luster CS
Best Creation "Just for You" #CW004
Impression Obsession cling stamp C5520

Thanks for sticking with me through so much Christmas cardmaking!! Its my favorite type of card to make.  I have lots of ideas for fall brewing in my head though, so as soon as I get to making them I'll be sure to post them. Plus, next to Christmas, Halloween is my favorite theme for cardmaking!!

Thanks again for stopping by.
Have a fantastic day!

French Pastry Doiley Die

New product! Just in today Cheery Lynn French Pastry Die. Also new, Scrapbook Customs Vineyard Picture paper available in the "Wine" section of the store. (Wine not included).

I cut my diecut out of white linen paper so it mimics a real doiley and cuts out really easily.

Have a great Saturday!! :)

Christmas Tree Lights

Here is one of the few Christmas cards that I made for our Extravaganza at the store that I CAN share with you today. I forgot that the tree die that I used was discontinued because Spellbinders comes out with a new Special Edition Christmas Tree die for each year. Stamp: Stampabilities "Merry Little Christmas 02 Paper: MME Winter Wonderland "at home" Dies: Spellbinders Nested Pine Trees and Ribbon Tag Trio 2

Golf Birthday Card

Here is that second card I promised you made with the same materials plus a few more. Here's the list again:
MOXXIE in the bag
MOXXIE hole in one
Spellbinders Standard Large Circles
Spellbinders Standard Large Ovals
Spellbinders Lacey Nested Pennants
Cuttlebug Polka Dots embossing folder
Dienamics Fresh Cut Grass die
Tim Holtz Walnut Stain distress ink
Pick with loop end

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY!

PS
I realized that I have some Christmas cards that I CAN share with you soon!

Stop back soon to see them!

Happy Belated Birthday John

     Yesterday was my older brother's birthday. I didn't get around to making him a card until today even though I've had the supplies to make it for a couple of weeks. Its been a busy couple of weeks for me though.

    I've been working at the store in the morning and then at the hospital in the evening. Plus I participated in the Dirty Girl Mud Run in Milwaukee this past Sunday. It was tons of fun. I've been working a lot of weekends as well and we've had work done on our bathroom. Now we're getting a new road so the construction around here is going to last for a while. I'm not very excited about this since we have no driveway or cul de sac so I've been parking down the street on a hill. And I tell ya its hot out around here so  not having a garage is making me sweat as soon as I get into my car-it gets so hot sitting in the sun.

   I finally have had some time to create, however I can't share most of my projects with you until the end of September after Picture This's Christmas Extravaganza because the projects I've had time to work on have all been for that event. But don't worry I will post them! I have 11 cards so far so you'll have a lot of posts to look through. :)

   I'm going to try and get caught up with more projects so that I don't have another 4 month hiatus from blogging. Then I can keep the blog up to date for you guys.

   I'll stop blabbering now and tell you about the card I made for my brother's birthday (now for next year). 

The background paper is Moxxie "hole in one". The grass is the back of that paper cut out with Dienamics Fresh Cut Grass die. The happy birthday stamp is no longer available but is stamped on Spellbinders Nested Lacey Pennants in Walnut Stain distress ink by Tim Holtz on Worldwin Medium Coffee Brown cardstock. The golf ball is cut out of white cardstock with Spellbinders Standard Large Circles and embossed with Cuttlebug's Polka Dots embossing folder. Everything is adhered onto Worldwin Deep Creamy Cocoa cardstock.

   Stop by again soon to see another card made with these materials!

Thanks for stopping by!

Another Journal

Here is another journal made from MME paper.
The craft fair wasn't very busy for us but I did manage to sell almost 30 cards!

Manz Craft Fair

Today is the Manz School Craft Fair from 9-2. My mom is selling Watkins and I've got some cards, journals, and scrapbooks for sale. Come out and support us and the PTA today!

So Sophie Journal

Today I went on a rampage making books out of these binders I acquired a while ago that I contimyually mention. One of the ones I made I used MME So Sophie line. I really like how this one turned out. I hope it sells tomorrow at the craft fair. 

Oh, Bob

Bob is my girl cat if you all remember. Her favorite past time is chasing her tail, sleeping, and looking out the window atop her ottoman. Today, though it snowed, there were still birds outside playing in front of the window. The one that Bob loves to look out of. She looked very angry that they were in her line of sight.

And then she noticed that I was taking pictures of her...

So she wanted to play.

Ain't she cute??

Have a great day!

Shane's Birthday

So I am FINALLY posting pictures from Shane's birthday. 

Bob was helping me decorate with balloons.

This is my first attempt at frosting the cupcakes that I made. Reminder, do not cut hole too big to fit a frosting tip in, it will be pushed out by the weight of the frosting. 

Second attempt! Much better.

But I did run out of frosting because I wasted a bunch from that first cupcake.

And these are my Cupcake Tags that I made a while back in March for these cupcakes.