October = the Month of Birthdays!!!

I don't know about you,
but the month of October is the month of birthdays
around my household.
We have a total of 6 that we actually celebrate
and a couple more that I, personally, acknowledge.
What about you?
Which is the busiest birthday month for you?
So, after all my card-making this weekend,
I realized I didn't make a single birthday card.
What a shame!!
That meant I needed to make some:)
So, I gladly used the current 2 Sketches 4 U - Kazan's Sketch #10
for this card for my brother in KY.
Don't know if you can tell, but it's a number 32.
He should love the colors,
being a Gator fan & all (poor thing)
& I didn't even plan that!!

Now this card is another story.
I originally did this one first for Kazan's sketch.
But when I got finished,
I wasn't seeing it......how 'bout you?
Ya seein' it?
Didn't think so.
Anyway, it's for my niece,
who is turning 4.........of course.
And my youngest will also be turning 4,
so I made another just like it for her!!

This last card is for my dad using Christine's Sketch.
Since he's my dad,
I'm entitled to make a card like this for him.
Besides, my family has a history of "funny" cards.
I realize it's plain,
but I'm happy I used the new Cosmo Cricket papers.
I'm really not "feelin'" these papers,
but they seemed to work for this card.

And I'm not done.
Oh darn:)
I have one more to make for another niece.
I actually have one I could use,
but why when I could always make another!!

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Sketch This 68 & Triple the Sketch 26

How I've managed to get so much done this weekend?
I will never know, but I'm not complaining:)
I squeaked in making cards with Sketch This 68.
Another Cosmo Cricket card to match the set.

And a card using Triple the Sketch 26.
Last card in this set.

And to think I have 8 birthdays in October?
Why didn't I make any birthday cards?
*sigh*

A very productive weekend....................

I ended up with an extremely productive weekend.
Not only with my scrapping, but with household chores & family.
How I managed that.................who knows,
but it makes me happy.

The first card I have to show is one I made using Carla's Card Tutorial.
Most of you know I make tons of cards, so why a tutorial?
Well, I admire so many people's work
& often wonder what their tips, tricks & secrets are.
Not that Carla shared any "secrets," but I appreciate her doing the tutorial.

The biggest thing I learned from her tutorial
is how she ties the black twine around the bow
BEFORE adhering the bow.
I had always adhered my bow
& then used glue or a pop dot to adhere my layered buttons.
A great step that will save me on adhesive:)
So, here's my card & I'm really happy with it.

Before tackling the cards,
I was still in my "layout" mode & did 2 layouts.
The first using Sketch This 68.
I needed a sketch like this for these 2 odd pictures.
Might be hard to tell, but my oldest is dressing my youngest
in baby doll clothes!!
The 2nd picture shows my cute fabric covered button I made.
I bought some of the cutest Japanese fabric from the ButtonBoutique.
& immediately went to work making me some buttons!

For this last layout I used Triple the Sketch 26.
I got these Glitz papers from Label Tulip,
and boy were they GENEROUS!!!
I ordered a couple of add-ons this month
and I got TONS of Glitz paper & rhinestones & alpha stickers.
So, I hand-cut the pink designs out for this layout,
and used some Pressed Petal letters I've had forever!!

This last card is just an extra I made
after doing Carla's tutorial & Christine's sketch challenge.
I now have another set to add to my stash.

And I think that's about all.
I am hoping to make a few more things tonight,
but I'm really tired from my weekend:)
I hope you all have a fabulous Monday!

Christine's 20,000 Blog Post Sketch

Found this blog through 2 Sketches 4 U
and she had this sketch posted.
If you get a chance,
check out her totally cute tutorial for a purse/bag thingie.
I ordered some Basic Grey bookplates
and as soon as they arrive,
I'll be making mine:)
In the meantime, I managed to make one card with the sketch.

I have more things to post,
so I'll do that in another post.

Pink Sketch #6 & Pencil Lines 103

I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend?
We are.
The weather is absolutely beautiful!!
Here in sunny Florida, we consider the weather to be beautiful,
as long as there is NO humidity.
It's still hot,
but with no humidity......................WOW!!!
What a difference it makes.

So, I packed up the card-making for a bit.
I've been itching to play with some kits I received,
plus I went shopping & bought a few goodies,
so I've been making some layouts.

This first is for Pink Sketches #6.
At first, you might not see the sketch,
but instead of my photos going vertically,
I positioned them horizontially
and hopefully you see the rest.
I really did try to tilt my photos at first,
but the "clean-line" scrapper in me wouldn't let it happen:)
The rub-on flourishes are by Prima,
and can I just say how wonderful they are?
I actually didn't even have to use a rubbing tool.
I put them on the paper, rubbed over the image w/my fingers
and that was it!!

This 2nd layout is using Pencil Lines 103 sketch.
Not only do I adore these pics of my brother & my neice,
but I love these colors together.
I got the Prima flourish rhinestones in a kit.
I would never have bought them, as I think they're a bit pricey,
but let me just say I LOVE them!!!

I'm throwing this last one in,
as a "Yes, I can scrap without a sketch." layout:)
Love the vintage feel & look to this one.

And that's all I have for now.
Ashlyn has been at birthday parties all day.
3 to be exact!!!
So, I'm nursing a 2-day migraine,
while Camryn is coloring & doing puzzles.
Hoping to do more scrapping sometime this weekend,
but I think the outdoors might win us over!!

Laura's # 9 Sketch - Take 2

As mentioned before, I did another card using the
2 Sketches 4 U - Laura's #9 Sketch,
and here it is...............................

Didn't realize I made both of them "thank you" type cards,
but I wanted to make a Fall one & this fits the bill.
I also made 2 additional cards to go with my SEI set.

And here is the complete set of all 6 cards,
which I think I'll put in my Etsy?

Otherwise, I think I'm done with cards for awhile.
I want to work on some layouts
and maybe a few other altered Christmas projects?
The weather is beautiful here in Sunny, FL,
and I can tell Fall is in the air.
Have a great Thursday everyone.

2 Sketches 4 U & CPS #83

I'm here & quite alive:)
I had a wonderful weekend to boot.
My sweet hubby raced in a bike challenge,
so he was out-of-town Fri & Saturday.
So, my parents picked both girls up from school on Friday
and I didn't have to get them until 5:00 PM
Saturday afternoon!!!!
It was very refreshing to have time to myself.
Shop..............uninterrupted
Scrap............uninterrupted
Sleep............uninterrupted
Uninterrupted...............ME!!!
I started Christmas cards & ornaments.
I think I made around 20 cards?
None of them were cookie-cutters,
So, I consider that a good bit done!!

Today I managed to get 2 Sketches 4 U - Laura's Sketch #9 done.
This card will be part of a set using these SEI papers.
I don't like my stamped sentiment,
so I'll probably do another with this sketch:)

I also used the current CPS #83 sketch.
Once again, this matches the SEI set.
I do like how this one turned out,
especially the beautiful, orange & gold $1.00 ribbon
I found at Michael's!!

This is just another one I made using the SEI.
When I went shopping Friday,
I picked up $13.00 worth of trim!!
I can never get enough of beautiful trim.

And here is an ornament I made using a 2007 Christmas pic.
2 years ago, Jenni Bowlin had a Limited Edition kit
that showed how to turn this Basic Grey nameplate into an ornament.
I decided to make more for each year
so I made a few changes, which resulted in more embellishing.
The "merry Christmas" was stamped on an acrylic block,
backed w/Basic Grey papers and glittered the edges.
I also painted a Maya Road chipboard flourish gold
and glued it to the back.
I will simply put an ornament hangar at the top
so it will adorn my tree this year.
Sorry I was too lazy to actually dig one out & hang it up:)

So, I have been busy,
not only with making cards & ornaments,
but with helping out at Ashlyn's school.
She's really loving having me in her room helping out the teacher!!

That's all for now.
I did get a new kit in yesterday,
so I'm hoping to dive into it tomorrow!!

Have a happy Wednesday!!

CPS 82 & monkey pictures:)

It all started with monkey pictures!
Sometime in 1992 or 1993,
we can't remember,
we acquired 2 Tamarin monkeys.
Why...........you ask?
Well, isn't that what all pet store owners do............acquire monkeys?
So, last night Ashlyn wants to take a picture of the monkeys to school.
Thus, the quest for monkey pictures was started.
I was able to find pictures of husband,
but Ashlyn wasn't goin' for that:)
and I never found the pictures?
BUT, I tell you about the monkey pictures because of what I DID find!
I found a bag full of Twistel & a package of Waxy Flax!!
Remember that stuff?
Ya........................good times!!
I also found a revolving remote control caddy.
I was going to Hobby Lobby to purchase one to alter
and low & behold..................I found one..........hehehehe!!
Anyway...........monkeys...........who would have thunk it?

Onto CPS 82
I saved about 10 Prima Painterly plastic containers.
Why?
Well to alter.............one day................in someone else's lifetime,
just not my own.
It ended up like this..................................

Please excuse the bad photos, it was hard to photo & keep the true coloring.
This IS a card though
On the backside I will print our Christmas greeting.
I used pictures from last year,
and will replace after I do our Christmas photo shoot for this year.
I will also find some Christmas ornament hooks
so they can be hung from the tree.
These will only go to immediate family,
as I won't be shipping these!!
Anyway, when I saw the current CPS sketch,
I immediately pulled these out.
Unfortunately, they will all be different
because I don't have enough supplies to make them all the same*sigh*

So what are you up to today?

2 Sketches 4 U - Kazan #9

Happy Monday everyone!
Hope you all had a productive weekend.
Along with some Christmas cards I made, we went to my niece's bday party.
Otherwise, a very relaxing weekend.

Here's my take on 2 Sketches 4 U - Kazan's #9 sketch.
Sorry for the "wonky" coloring.
I've been playing around w/the settings on my camera,
more specifically my White balance.
I get tired of my pictures turning out so orange when I take inside pics
So, I experimented with some of the different White balance settings.
They still don't look right, so I should pull out my owner's manual:)

So, the other day a friend asked if I had any "extra" birthday cards laying around.
Me.........the scrapper...........the cardmaker
had NONE!!
So, I made this one to start my "extra" birthday card pile.
but the pile won't last long,
as we're getting into our busy bday season.
In the next month, we have 5 birthdays,
so, this card will go to someone!
Using some more "scraps" on my desk for this card.

That's all I have for now.
Working on an idea I've had for awhile.
Hopefully I'll be able to post later tonight!!

Pink Sketch #4

So I can finally breathe.
I love getting custom orders,
but I totally stress over them.
I worry they won't like it and that keeps my creative juices from flowin'
So, I was asked to make something with this quote, shadowbox & pictures.
and after a week of "stressing,"................I LOVE how it turned out,
but I'm worried they won't like it.
It's for their "brother."
Too girly, hu?
Yep.......that's what I'm thinking, BUT
in my defense, they are giving him another shadowbox
filled with hunting stuff!!
So, how does this fit into Pink Sketches #4?
Well, it's NOT a 2-pager,
but it is 16 inches across,
& I immediately thought of this sketch when I started the project.
So, I molded it into my own, but used it as my "spring-board."
It's hard to see, but my butterfly is layered & embossed.
I used an iridescent embossing powder
& on top of this Prima paper, it turned out beautifully.

So, now that I'm finished with this project,
I plan on working on some Christmas projects.
I have so many tins I can alter for gifts
& Christmas cards are always good to have around.
We also have my neice's bday party this weekend.
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!!

PaperCrafts Holidays Cards & More Volume 3

I am sooooooooooooooooo friggin' excited.........all over again!!
Here is the Button Christmas tree I made!!
Right on the FRONT cover
of Holiday Cards & More!!!!
WOW!!!
I know if you go to PaperCrafts website, this is a "Preorder."
Not sure when it starts shipping to stores & such?
I "thought" they said it was for October,
so maybe soon!!

Otherwise, staying busy.
I started my Bible Study Fellowship class today.
Pretty excited about this as well, since I get to see
ladies from last year & my sister will be coming this year.
That makes me really happy!!
And, I'm also working on a shadowbox that someone asked me to make for a gift.
I think I want to make some Christmas cards too.
I haven't even looked through this mag yet & I'm in the Christmas mood.

Hope you're all having a wonderful day!!

CPS 81

I don't take the girls to school on Tuesday.
On Wednesdays, I have to take both of them,
so, I made an agreement with William that he would take them on Tues.
This gives me more time to catch-up on the computer & drink coffee:)
Because I get to have 45-mins more sleep on Tuesdays,
I stay up later on Monday nights.
We were all dragging butt this morning.
But, I stayed up last night & did CPS 81 and a layout.
I haven't photoed the layout, but here's the card.
I picked up some scraps from the desk to put this together.
I see people saying they do this all the time, after doing a layout.
I, honestly, never have.
Boy..........talk about easy and I love it:)

Not much else planned today.
I'm actually going to lunch w/a friend.
Something I don't get to do very often.........without kids:)
Hope you all have a blessed Tuesday!!

The early bird gets the worm...................

and that is sooooooooooo true.
I dread waking up at 5:45 every morning,
but I have come to love 7:45 when I am leaving the school.
Yes, the morning traffic is there, but going the other way:)
I love the time before 9:00 am.
Something about 9:00 makes me think the world is finally awake.
Until then, I feel like I'm the early bird getting the worm.
So, first thing this morning, I went to check out the latest
2 Sketches 4 U - Laura's sketch #8 & the Bonus sketch.
Loved both of them & was able to tackle both in the peace & quiet of the morning.
This first card will go to my niece, who's bday is Wednesday.
Hopefully she's still having a princess party:)
Pulled some older supplies for this & I LOVE when I do that.

This next card was fun.
Loved the Bonus sketch & I'm really, really into white lately.
Bright colors too.

And over the weekend, I got some layouts completed.
This makes me really happy.
For some reason, I feel my style is changing a little.
To what?
I have no idea, but it seems fresher?
Maybe it's the white:)
So, here are 3 I completed & I must say I love them all.

And that's all I have for now.
Not sure what else I'll get done today.
Here's hoping you have a wonderful Monday!!

Pink Sketch #3 ~ Bonus sketch

So.................I managed to do the Pink Sketch #3
and they emailed a Bonus sketch.
I love the sketch & did this layout.
Another "therapy" layout since the loss of our kitty.
It's been 3-days since we found him
and Ashlyn is still not over it.
Bandit was her cat.
She picked him out herself & he loved her.
She really, really misses him
and after reading the journaling on this layout,
she started crying again.
It keeps breaking my heart over & over.

At one point I thought I had "over-done" the layout,
but I'm happy with all my elements.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!!

Scrapbooking Therapy.......................

what would I do without it?
Some of you know that on Wednesday,
we found our sweet, 5-month old cat, Bandit,
dead on the road.
Not a good thing to wake-up to.
Lots of tears that day..................LOTS!!!!
It made me print off pictures I had taken of him.
But it seemed too strange scrapping about the day we got him,
on the day we found him dead.
It helped though.
So, I pulled out some of my favorite American Crafts papers
and used CPS Sketch 61 to do this simple layout.
I was always finding Bandit in the strangest places....sleeping.
But isn't that what cats do?
I did another layout, about the day we got him,
but it was a "lift," so I won't be uploading that one.

After 2-days of thinking & crying about Bandit,
I'm finally feeling motivated to scrap.
I just haven't even wanted to be home.
So strange that we got so attached in such a short time.
This morning I managed to do both sketches from 2 Sketches 4 U.
This week they posted Kazan's Sketch #8 and a bonus sketch from Christine.
The first is using Kazan's sketch.
I'm really lovin' these blues & oranges together.

This 2nd card is using Christine's bonus sketch.
I bought this 8x8 paper pad while in NC and love it.
I'm keeping every little scrap:)

That's all for now.
What are your plans for this weekend?
I'm thinking the girls are going to get some grandparent time,
which will leave me free to scrap.
I've been keeping up with house-cleaning all week.
So, not much to do there.
I hope you all have a wonderful Friday!!

CPS #80 & the RAK winners!!

Thankfully Hurricane Gustav was not as bad as predicted.
It made for some great scrappin' time for me though.
I managed to get 3 layouts & 2 cards done yesterday.
CPS is celebrating 80 weeks of sketches.
This week we could pick our own sketch
And make a card & another project.
So, for this layout, I used Sketch #9.
These are some "not-so-great" pics,
But I wanted to scrap them for Camryn to remember.

For this card, I used Sketch #13.
Maybe I was supposed to use the same sketch?
I don't know, but I didn't:)
I love these colors together.
They make me happy.

I've already got papers & more pics pulled.
I'm feeling inspired lately & want to get more done.
And I especially love all the product I'm going through!!

Now...................on to the SEI "Ally's Wonderland" RAK winners.
I told you I don't get too many viewers,
So, the 2 lucky winners are Kristie Morrison & Sarah
I'm going to send each of you a set of the SEI papers.
So, if you girls will send me your mailing addy,
I'll get the papers out to you!!

Thanks again for visiting me!!