Use It! Challenge #16

I just love the challenges at Use It! They encourage you to use the scraps and supplies we are hoarding to create something gorgeous!

This week we were challenged by Kay to:

• Use something inspired by nature
• Use polka dots
• Use your favorite embellishment
• Mail your creation to someone special!

Her list was easy to work with as I love nature and polka dots! Here is my card.

For something inspired by nature I added a flower by BoBunny and a chipboard butterfly from Heidi Swapp. The polka dots are on the ribbon and for my favorite embellishment - it had to be a button! Anyone who knows me knows how much I love to add buttons to my creations!!!

I used a stamp from CTMH for the sentiment and Kaiser Craft Pearls on the butterfly. The paper is from MLYB and the cardstock is Coredinations.

I am going to mail my card to my Mom. I think of her often each day and I miss her all the time. It is hard that we are 3 hours apart and I don't get to see her as much as I would like to. I hope my card will remind her how much she is thought of and loved.

There is still time to play along! Just go to Use It! and post your card there. It's alot of fun!

Have a wonderful day!

20 Favorites

I saw this on Lynn's blog and thought it would be fun to play along.

My 20 favorites are:

1. Color - blue

2. Dessert - anything chocolate (seriously!)

3. Smell - patchouli

4. Flower - gerbera daisies

5. Animal - dogs

6. Month - September

7. Beverage - water

8. Pair of shoes - sandals

9. Snack - fruit or M&M's

10. Song - When I'm With You by Sheriff and I Can Only Imagine by MercyMe

11. Place - the beach

12. Fruit - strawberries

13. Hairstyle - straight

14. Piece of clothing - blue jean jacket

15. Store to clothes shop - Cleo

16. Season - Spring

17. Hobby - SCRAPBOOKING!

18. Thing to collect - tea pots

19. Movie - A Walk to Remember

20. Restaurant - Gibson's in Chicago

Your turn. If you play, just leave a message and link in the comments. I would love to see your favorites!

Use It! Challenge #15

This week's challenge at Use It! was brought to us by Rosanne. Her challenge for us was to:

• Use patterned paper scraps that were at least 1 year old
• Use chipboard
• Use paint
• Use a rub-on
• Use foam pop dots

I really enjoyed her challenge and this is the card I made.

I found some Three Bugs in a Rug scraps that I punched circles out of for the flowers. The chipboard stems and butterfly is from Fancy Pants and I used Making Memories paint to give them their color. I also used paint around the edges of the flowers. The rub-on is from Pink Paislee, bling from Kaiser Craft and the ribbon is from my stash. I used pop dots on the flowers and the butterfly. I love the dimension that they give!


This was a really fun challenge - thanks Rosanne! Why not play along this week? Just go to Use It! and post your card. I would love to see your creation!

My Baby Is 16!

Today is the first day of Summer, Father's Day and, most significantly for me, Spencer's 16th birthday!

When your oldest child reaches certain milestones (their first tooth, the first day of school, turning 13, turning 16, graduating from High School, turning 21!) we mark those days with pride and a joy that they are growing up. When your youngest reaches those same milestones it seems to be significant in a different way. That same pride and joy is there, but you know that there will be no one to follow him. It is a bitter-sweet moment.

I am sure that if we could, many of us would freeze time at certain stages in our children's lives. This would be one of those times for me. I have a 16-year-old that is a true joy! He is caring, bright, funny and he has a heart of gold.

Happy Birthday Bud! May there be many more!

Adding Another One

I finished another layout for my scrapbook!

The papers from Crate were perfect for my summertime photos and I had so much fun working with them - especially the large die-cut flower! I also used a journal paper from Fancy Pants for the smaller flower and a chipboard butterfly from Heidi Swapp. Kaiser Craft bling made the perfect flight-path for my butterfly and the ruffled ribbon added the perfect finishing touch.

Thanks for looking!

My First Craft It Forward!

Remember my Craft It Forward post? Well, I was finally able to finish and give away my first project.

I decided for my projects, that I didn't want to do something scrapbooking related - that would be expected. Instead, I pulled out my sewing machine and decided to try making a cute tote bag! I made up my own pattern and bought some really bright canvas material when I was home in Michigan a couple of months ago.

This is my finished tote and Lynn W. was the (I have to say - very happy!) recipient.

Lynn had lent me some Jodi Picoult books and when I returned them I put them in this tote. I even gave her a thank-you card that I made!

It feels good to be crafting in different ways and it feels good to give something I made to a special friend. I am looking forward to deciding what my next Craft It Forward will be! It could be another tote - or possibly something different. Hmmm....

Use It! Challenge #14

It is time for a new challenge at Use It!. As I was the winner of Challenge #12, I was asked by Rae to set up the challenge for this week.

Here goes:

1. Use pink (I am a girly girl and I LOVE pink!)
2. Add scallops (with scissors, a border punch, die-cut paper, etc.)
3. Add a tag (just for fun)
4. Enjoy the creative process as much as the finished card!

This is my card.

The ice cream paper from My Minds Eye was my inspiration! I used BoBunny Double-Dot cardstock and a Fiskars border punch for the scoops of ice cream (how yummy!) and BoBunny ribbon. Then I used a stamp from CTMH to create the pattern on the cone. To finish I used Crystal Lacquer on the scoops and cone and inked everything with Vintage Photo Distress Ink. The inside of my card says, "I hope you have a triple-scoop day!"

Why don't you join in by creating a card this week using my challenge? Then hop over to Use It! and post a comment. I would love to see what you create!

Country Gardens

I finally made it out to my favorite nursery last week to pick up some annuals for my garden. St. Jacobs Country Gardens is my great little find. It just opened a couple of years ago and it has become my favorite place to go in the spring. It is actually a small nursery by most standards, but it has a quaint charm that I look forward to visiting each year.

Like most nurseries in the spring, the rows and rows of flowers with their stunning colors, almost takes my breath away! With all the flowers neatly lined up and with hundreds of hanging baskets overhead, I feel like I have stepped into a magical place. I usually walk through the door and just stop for a moment to try to take it all in and then I proceed to walk up and down each and every row to make sure I don't miss anything.

This year I took my camera along. The thought of taking pictures was almost as exciting as buying my flowers! I am sure some people wondered who I was and what I was doing - but I was in my own little world of photo opportunity.

In addition to the flowers, they have a delightful little area with all sorts of unique items.

Everything from gorgeous planters...

to brightly colored flower pots...

to a bright orange watering can (how cute is that?)!

They say that God is closer to one in a garden than anywhere else on earth. I don't know if that is exactly true, but being in a garden and taking in all the colors, the varieties and the details of the flowers, certainly is one of life's sweet delights. It is easy to get lost in the wonder of God's creation when you are surrounded by such beauty and the intricacies of each flower.

We should all try to take the time to stop and smell the roses... or the geraniums, or the petunias, or the impatiens! It does a soul good!

Use It! Challenge #13

The Use It! challenge this week was to:

• Use scraps only!
• Add bling
• Use a die-cut
• For a bonus - use 4 different patterned papers

I took up the challenge and created this card.

I used MME Bloom & Grow papers (4 different ones!), added a die-cut tag from the same collection and finished the challenge with some Kaiser Craft bling.

The ribbon, buttons and 'hello' stamp were from my stash! Why not join in the challenge at Use It! to make a card of your own? It is a lot of fun!

Crop for the Cure

I had the wonderful pleasure of attending a special fundraising Crop for the Cure yesterday. It is always great when you can combine your favorite hobby with a good cause. Thanks to Tracey for putting on a fabulous day and for raising over $2200.00!!

Carolyn, Audrey and I met up with Karan and Shelby and we had a great time sharing inspiration, products, stories, chocolate and lots of laughs! It was 12 full hours of scrapbooking fun and it was a very productive day!

The first layout I completed was based on a sketch by Karan Gerber. You can find her sketches on her sketch blog, Sketchabilities.


I used papers and brads from the fabulous new Traveler line from My Little Yellow Bicycle. This line is amazing - the colors are awesome and the papers are gorgeous. The chipboard letters are from Maya Road and I used Glimmer Mist to color them. I did a lot of hand-cutting of the flowers and leaves and I love how it turned out!

I also created a second layout using the Traveler line. I had taken a picture of my nephew with his new truck last year and I knew that someday I would find the perfect paper to complement it.
The license plate paper is so much fun to work with. It is a full sheet of printed, glossy license plates that were really fun to cut apart, distress and pop up on my layout.

The next layout I did was based on another sketch from Sketchabilities.

I created a really pink, girly layout (yay - pink!!) with papers and embellies from Breaking Free by MME.


It is funny how we pick up things from other scrapbookers. From Carolyn, I have learned that a layout is not complete unless the edges of your papers are inked! So, needless to say, I use alot of ink on my pages. It makes such a difference - everything is better defined and it just adds so much detail. Vintage Photo Distress Ink is my all-time favorite - I use it on everything.

Karan has taught me that scissors are my best friend. You should hand cut at least one thing to add to your page and you will be amazed at how it looks. On the flower above, I took a plain flat die-cut flower, cut in-between the petals, folded them, popped them up with foam adhesive and it looks fabulous! I have found that taking the time to do just a little bit extra on your page will take your page from average to amazing.

I almost got a fourth layout done, but I ran out of time. And, as I am still trying to finish up the accounting work I have to do, it might not get done as soon as I would like. But then again, I will need to take a break from the calculator once in a while - right? I promise to post it when I am done.

I Won!

I was up early this morning trying to organize my photos for some cropping this weekend and when I checked my email I had a message from Rae at Use It! Challenges stating that I had won this weeks challenge! Woo-hoo!

I have really just started making cards, so this is very exciting for me and it is a great incentive to make many more. Thanks Use It! You will be seeing lots more of me!

Use It! Challenge #12

This week's challenge was to:

1) Use some old chipboard
2) Use buttons
3) Tear some paper
4) Optional: machine or hand stitch
5) Have fun!


I made this card using scrap paper from We R Memory Keepers, Scrap Within Reach and MME, an old chipboard flower that I sprayed with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist, some BoBunny ribbon, a sentiment stamp from Elzybells and a button and floss from my stash! I even did some machine stitching since my sewing machine was out from a layout that I did recently.

I really had fun making this card, so I met all the requirements!

Have a lovely day!

I ♥ Faces - Week #21

This week's photo challenge at I ♥ Faces was either a birthday photo or a pet/animal photo. I chose to enter into the Pets category and I picked this picture that I took of my sister Dianne's cat, Mariah.

She is just the sweetest, most curious cat and I have always loved this photo. I am keeping my fingers crossed on this one!

You can see all the other great entries at I ♥ Faces.

Have a wonderful day!

If Anyone Asks...

I really am working from home today. The fact that I have been on the computer checking out blogs, on the phone talking to my sister and taking pictures of the cookies my son made yesterday, is only because I am trying to psych myself up for the job ahead of me.

You see, my background is actually in accounting and I do the bookkeeping for my hubby's business. I still have lots of year-end posting to do and that is why I took today off. But, as it is not my favorite thing to do, I have been procrastinating. Somewhere over the past 24 years that we have been married, the more 'creative' side of me has emerged and the more 'critical' side of me has taken a back seat. So when it comes time for bookkeeping all I want to do is scrapbook, or blog, or garden, or just about anything else!

The reason I was taking pictures of the cookies my son baked, is because I wanted to share them with you!

This chocolate chip cookie recipe goes way back to my maternal Grandmother and is still my absolute favorite. They are a crispy, chewy cookie loaded with chocolate chips and walnuts. And yes, I have had three of them already today and it is barely lunch time!

I have decided to share this recipe with my blog friends so you can make them for your family. I know my Grandmother would be pleased and I guarantee they won't last long!

Chocolate Chip Cookies

3 cups Crisco shortening
1-1/2 cups plus 6 Tbsp. brown sugar
2 cups plus 2 Tbsp. white sugar
3 tsp. vanilla
1-1/2 tsp. water
6 eggs

Combine the above ingredients and beat with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.

6 cups flour
3 tsp. baking soda
3 tsp. salt

Mix dry ingredients. Blend flour mixture into shortening mixture. Add 1 cup chopped walnuts and 1 package chocolate chips.

Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes. Enjoy!

(Note: This recipe makes many dozens of cookies - great for freezing. You can cut it in half or even thirds for a smaller quantity.)

I am off to my debits and credits now... I promise!