May You Have A.....

(Happy New Year!)

Scrappy New Year!!!

This time of year there is always a lot of buzz on the scrapbooking forums about making scrapbooking related resolutions - setting goals for making a certain number of layouts per month, year, etc.
I really don't believe in doing that because I know I will just be setting myself up for certain failure!
One resolution I do need to make, however, is on updating this site more often! It has been sad, sad, sadly neglected the last few months!
I got some fun new toys for Christmas, plus, I have 3 SB kits that I haven't even touched yet - so there is no excuse!
I'm off to visit my favorite sketch blogs for inspiration right now!
...see you soon! (I hope!)
(hee hee!)

OK - true to my word, here's the first one...

...it had me beating my head against the wall, and didn't turn out anything like what I had in mind, but it's done, nonetheless.
The papers are Prima and K&Co., with Karen Foster rubon, and All My Memories button. Stampinup gold cord. Oh!...and the shaped paper is My Mind's Eye!

Finished the rest ....

...of the calendar pages. Now to figure out how to wrap it....
I got the mini calendar sheets from elle's studio at etsy.com. They were the perfect size for this project! These are just random photos of things we did through the year this year - I tried to get a photo of each family member on their birthday month too.
(See the remaining months in the post below)



May is our anniversary month, and this is our favorite place to spend it - guess you could call this one "Love on the Rocks" Ha ha!






I got a sweet RAK in the mail yesterday from my friend Jaime. She had a challenge on her blog - I forgot I'd signed on for it until I went to read it, and saw the announcement! I can't wait to play with this stuff, it's so pretty! Thanks Jaime!

This week's project *Updated*

I've been working on hubby's desk calendar this week. I made him one once, and since then he expects one every year. This time I got one of these (except mine's for a 6x6 - I don't see that one today...) Usually I do this one (the 6x6 one on the top, where the page and the calendar are side by side) the new one will take up a lot less desk space - I think hubby will be happy.
I've got 5 months done so far - stay tuned, I can't wait to show you!

A little frustrated today, I just lack a couple of finishing touches on a few of the pages, and nobody here in town has what I need! Hubby will be home soon, so it will have to wait until tomorrow. I tried to photograph the pages I have done (my scanner isn't working), but they didn't turn out well. Must not be my day!
....here's a little sneaky of how it will look finished. I thought about tying ribbons across the top, but I think hubby would think that was too "foofy."
Anyway - ta da!

Here are a few of the pages that are done:

Been busy.....

I haven't been posting here much, I thought I show you what I've been doing instead...
We have a tradition of exchanging little goodies with all of our neighbors here, these are the ones we did this year - I've been busy stuffing them and stamping the little gift cards to go on them. (besides wrapping gifts, baking and cleaning!)
Hoping to get some creative therapy soon...
Have a happy day!

More Figgy Pudding

Basic Grey's card contest ends tonight at midnight, so I whipped out a few more Figgy Pudding cards. Melissa Phillips entered yesterday, so that pretty much ends my chances! I'd pull out the big guns, but I don't have any, so here's my best shot:
Good luck everyone!



I'm baaad - I entered 7 cards in this. If I can't wow them with my talent, I'll command attention with sheer numbers! LOL!.....oh, I really need to get a life!

Come Back When You Grow Up Girl....

Today I finished a layout that's been in the works for a while - DD's homecoming dance photos from September. She picked out these Paper Loft papers when I took her to the Scrapbook expo with me a couple of months ago.
That song goes through my head whenever I look at this one because before I could even finish it, she broke up with this boy and now she never wants to see this page again!
My baby's very first heartbreak. Ah well, life goes on!

So, you had a bad day.....

It's been a discouraging, depressing, and even somewhat humiliating day, so I needed some "creative therapy," so the day wouldn't be a total loss. Two more from the BG Figgy Pudding line. Lifted the second one right from the Nov. CK.
Thanks for looking!

As Promised....

Nothing new today, just some better shots of my Christmas cards from earlier in the week (minus the Halloween paraphenalia)
These first 2 are for Lillybean's blog challenge - love her little spot for inspiration! The challenge this time was to:

Create a HOLIDAY card using the following:

1. Chipboard

2. Rubon

3. Buttons

4. Glitter

5. Ribbon

6. And, polka-dots of course!



The rest are just because once I get started with a new batch of Basic Grey papers, it's really hard to stop! LOL! (I so need to work on my photo skills!)



Thanks for peeking!

I'm Back - Did you miss me? LOL

My internet has been down for a whole week! I just hate it when that happens - I get so far behind on everything!
...Haven't really done much scrapping this week, because it's been such a crazy one, but I did finish this layout for a Libby's challenge over at Scrapbook Doodles. She sent everyone some chipboard letters to use on a layout - fun challenge!

I was stuck for an idea, so I went to the Round Robin challenge over at Scrapbooks.com and chose a layout by Ginger to scraplift - sort of killing 2 challenges with one layout!

It's that time...

...To start planning the Christmas cards.
When I saw this paper from the BG Mellow line, I thought that the pretty red & green floral would work well for Christmas - now I'm not so sure....but we're just at plan A - back to the drawing board for a few more ideas before I get serious...

One more quick card before I go to bed...

This is a scraplift (cardlift?) from Melissa Phillips card in the new Paper Crafts "Holiday Cards" book.
...using more stuff from this month's 2jills kit.

I was hoping to do a few more than this today, but by the time I cleaned the upstairs, changed the sheets, made 2 receiving blankets, blew up the vacuum cleaner, and went to my grandaughter's birthday party - the day was pretty well shot!
Hope you all had a good one!
'Night!

2jills Card Kit *Updated

...Just adding another little card from this kit this morning...

I get to be a guest designer on 2jills this month here are some cards from their Oct. card kit:



Loving it so far, I'll be adding more soon!

Just a Few...

Didn't get to play much for cardmaking day, but I did manage to do a few of the challenges on 2jills - here's a couple...



...And this one from a sketch challenge on Scrapbook Doodles:

(Sketch by Lucy Chesna)

Happy National Cardmaking Day!

Happy National Card making Day!
I made this card for a challenge over at 2jills, where I am guest designing this month. It's the first one I've made of this kind - with the slot and the embellishment connected inside the slot with two coins glued together, so it can slide back and forth. A fun challenge for me too!

Flag Book Card Tutorial

Also, for Nat'l Card Day, my friend Lucy asked me to post a tutorial for making the "flag books" such as my album posted below. I will be doing a miniature version that can be used as a card. (I threw this together really fast using supplies from my stash, so forgive me if it's a bit "cheesy" looking! - Use your imagination - anything goes with this!)
The finished card will be 3 1/4" x 3 1/4"

*Special thanks to my Daughter-in-law's sister Amy Larsen for sending me the dimensions for this.*

First of all, you will need:

1) 2 chipboard squares, cut into 3 1/4 x 3 1/4 inch size.
2) 2 (front/back) cover papers, cut into 4 1/4 x 4 1/4 inch pieces. (You'll want to use a light weight paper for this)
3) 2 (front/back) end sheets (for the inside cover)cut 3 x 3 inches.
4) one card stock piece for the folded accordion 9 x 3 1/8 inches.
5) 9 "flag" cardstock strips, 1 x 3 inches. (I've used all black, but it's also fun to use different colors for the different rows.)
6) Embellishments (use your creativity!)

Now that you've cut all the pieces...

1- Assemble covers by gluing the 4 1/4" cover papers to the front of the chipboard squares. Trim corners, and glue down the flaps to the inside.

(I measured about the width of my bone folder, and marked it, so I wouldn't cut too close to the corner.)




2- Fold the accordion strip by first, folding it in half, then at 1 inch intervals.


3- Glue the accordion strip to the front and back covers lining up the edge to about 1/16th from the outside edge of the chipboard. (also, make sure the strip is centered) If you are using a paper with a definite top & bottom design, make sure both front and back covers are right side up!

4- Glue the inside cover pieces in place over the top of the chipboard and the edge of the accordion strip.

5- Glue the "flag" strips in place - first the top row, making sure it lines up with the top edge of the accordion folded paper (you will glue these to the left side of the accordion folds)
I measured and marked where the top of the fold would end so that I would know where to stop gluing!


6- Glue the bottom row of "flags", also on the left side of the folds, lining the edges up with the bottom edge of the accordion.

7- Glue the center row of "flags", centering them between the top and bottom "flags", making sure that this time you are gluing on the right side of the accordion folds.

8- Decorate any way you choose! ....As I said, I just grabbed a lot of old stuff from my stash this time, and it's pretty silly, but you see how fun these can be - they can be anything you want them to be!



****I temporarily removed the photos of the larger album, because I submitted it for publication - I'm sure it will be back again soon....Sorry for the inconvenience!

The dimensions for the larger album pictured below are:
1- Cut 2 chipboard pieces 6 1/4 x 4 1/4 inches (this one is not square.)
2- Cut 2 (front/back) cover papers 7 1/4 x 5 1/2 inches.
3- Cut 2 (front/back) end sheets (inside cover) 6x 4 1/4 inches.
4- Cut 1 sheet for the accordion inside 12 x 6 1/8 inches
5- Cut 9 total flag strips (mine are all black, but you could also do 6 of one color & 3 of another - the center 3 flags would be the different color.)

Enjoy!