She is back in Phoenix:(

Jen headed back to Phoenix today. She was just not hear long enough!! And we even got an extra day and a half because she got so sick. I wish she were closer!

Sketch a Thon at Scrap-friendzy!

http://www.scrap-friendzy.com/index.html

Christmas Traditions

As a mom, I strive to maintain traditions - whether it is dying Easter Eggs, pumpkin hunting or the many Christmas ones we have. This year every thing seems to be falling apart! I did not want to cut down our tree until my daughter was home from grad school. So we waited until the 21st. We planed for our son to get out of work early and we would all carry on the tradition of  chopping a tree. Early on the morning of the 21st our son calls. Ends up, he cannot leave work early plus he is sick! So now I am still back to the dilema of not having the entire family there. So I decide that he should come home after work and we will all just get a pre cut tree at one of the stores selling them. I have decided I will be ok with that. After talking to him, we realize he really just needs to be in bed so he odes not come. Now the questions is to wait for him or go with just the 3 of us. My husband took the dog for a walk while we were getting ready to go. He comes in and tells us to follow him. We have 3 acres of property and he found some evergreen trees. Seems he really was not willing to give up cutting our own. So we found this one and I actually love it!

Scrap-Friendzy Girlfriend of the Month!

Head on over to Scrap-Friendzy and see who is the Girlfriend of the month!!!

http://scrap-friendzy.blogspot.com/2011/12/girlfriends-of-month.html

Yes - that is me!

Hounds tooth Inspired

Moxie Fab World had another challenge

http://www.moxiefabworld.com/2011/11/card-creations-get-inspired-week-get.html

I hope  Cath doesn't mind but I did a layout not a card.

Goofy Boy

Rob decided to teach the dog a new trick! He put a treat in his mouth and tried to teach the dog to take it from him. I have a pic of them with a dog cookie and it looks like they are kissing:) Here he is with the other treat.

Sketchy thursdays

Loved this sketch and here is my take

Turkey Day

We had a full table filled with new friends who joined us.

We had so much food! I am still eating leftovers.

Rob shared a moment with the dog! Such a goof!




















We missed having Jennifer here!

Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger

This week's Tuesday Trigger was red and rustic

http://www.moxiefabworld.com/2011/11/tuesday-trigger-red-rustic.html



Here is my  take on it

Another sketch challenge at Shimelle.com

Here is another ketch from http://www.shimelle.com/paper/1301/scrapbooking-sketch-of-the-week/

This one shows us a great way to use those shaped papers!  Rob has his last two wisdom teeth out in September. Of course, I had to take his picture at the Oral Surgeon's office. The last time he was so funny and loopy as he was coming out of the anesthesia. This time it was like he didn't even have any.

Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger

Check out the Tuesday Trigger at Moxie Fab World. Each week Cath has a color or pattern or something to get those juices flowing.

http://www.moxiefabworld.com/2011/11/tuesday-trigger-fall-is-in-bag.html

Here is my take using these colors. Sketch is from jillibean  Soup Blog

Been busy

I completed  the sketch layout on Lily Bee Blog

Moxie Fab World Random Challenge

When I saw this challenge to use buttons I knew right away what I wanted to do.

http://www.moxiefabworld.com/2011/11/365-cards-week-random-fun-challenge.html

My sisters and mom have been completing button projects all summer. So I dug around my button basket to find all the green ones. I knew I had to make a Christmas tree.

A Christmas Gift

My sister visited me a couple of weeks ago. Every day she grabbed the paper and did the crossword puzzle. I had no idea she liked to do those. Since I never do them, I thought I'd save them and do something for her for Christmas.

I went through a collection of used books I have and chose one. This one is about 9 " x 10" and has a hard cover. The pages had photos of children and quotes on pretty background paper.

I started gluing - adding papers and embellishments to the puzzles. Each page is different.

I think I will have 30 or so pages when it is done. 

I think she will be surprised. 

I will take a picture when I finish the cover. 

Nov 6 _ Friends

I am thankful for friends who encourage me to play with my artistic side. My twin sister got all the artistic talent but I still like to  give it a try. I feel happy when I am playing. I made this Cat Collage for my mom. Her cat sits on the table and watched the hummingbirds outside the window.

Nov. 5

I am thankful for simple moments like this when Rob stops by. Bandit is so happy to see him and snuggles right up!

Grateful - November 4

Thankful for quiet time on the lake! It is the time of year when few people are out!

IT's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

I saw Birch Bark candles in an ad for Pottery Barn. My sister has a frame and a mirror like that so I thought candles would be a perfect gift for her. I peeled  bark, glued, and added decorations.

Love this Photo

Each summer we drive by this strip of land where a farmer plants massive fields of sun flowers. When Jen was home for labor Day I insisted we stop and take a photo! These are Jen's fave flower!

Sketch from http://www.shimelle.com/

November 3

I am grateful for the little things -- a cup of hot black coffee in the morning. You can keep those fancy coffees whipped up with creams and sugar! Just make mine black!

A Thank you Card

I was looking for card sketches and found this wonderful site

http://cardpositioningsystems.blogspot.com/

Here is a thank you card I created using CPS 242

November 2

I was outside enjoying another sunny, warm afternoon. The milkweed pods have opened and are scattering in the field.

It's November and I am Thankful!

It's November and time to give thanks and be thankful! I have so many things to be thankful for - a wonderful family, a roof over my head, food to eat and the list goes on. I am going to take some November photos and document some of these things.

November 1

I am thankful for warm sunny days in November in Michigan!
The past two have been quite nice. We have a chandelier in the front hallway which makes rainbows on the wall when the afternoon sun hits.

Scrap N Patch

There is a blog giveaway going on over at 

http://scrap-n-patch.blogspot.com

Here is the prize! Head on over there for a chance to win!

VOTE!!!

I have a project over at the Craft E Corner Halloween Project contest. It is my album Our Little Goblins which I have posted here a few days ago.

Please visit their facebook page
http://www.facebook.com/CrafteCorner

and look at the top row of photos for the picture of my album and then leave a comment.

I appreciate your support!!!

Wanna Win Webster's Staff Favorites?

Webster's Pages is offering someone a chance to win the Staff's faves!! Check this out!

http://websterspages.typepad.com/webstershome/2011/10/wanna-win-websters-staff-favorites.html?cid=6a00d8354ebd2869e20162fbcfca36970d#comment-form

Pagemaps Studio Purge Sketch Contest

I love Pagemaps sketches and there is a contest over these using this sketch

This was perfect for scrapping last weekend's pumpkin hunting photos!

Love those Pink Paislee papers!

Halloween Album

I LOVE making mini albums! I won Pink Paislee's Phantom last week and thought about getting out the old photos and making layouts. Instead I used an acrylic album, which I have been wanting to try and made an entire album! I added shaped pages which I made out of papers. I used the stamps, brads, papers, and stickers from this line!

Webster's Pages

Webster's Pages has these wonderful books

They are photobooks with such beautiful backgrounds and designs! They will amaze you!

Check them out

Here is a link

http://mynoveltree.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=143&category_id=30&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=69

THANK YOU PINK PAISLEE

Pink Paislee hosted an event for World Card Making Day on Saturday. There were 7 challenges, each for a different type of card. Since DH was golfing, it was a good time to play along. Seeing great inspiration and trying something new was enough but... there was also the chance for prizes. I did not win any of the random draws but.............

Look at that! I get a special prize!! I am overwhelmed and surprised. As a consumer, I want to thank manufacturers who offer chances to win prizes and drawings. I cannot always get the latest or greatest but sometimes I can win it! I appreciate this so much!

Just gotta Share

Love Bella Blvd?????

Check this out - such cute stickers!!

Bella's Mid-Release #3: New Miniatures Stickers

Bella Blvd is adding to it's Miniatures Cardstock Sticker collection! We have two new designs to share with you today, both of which will also start shipping on October 24th. While our two new collections, that were just revealed today, are both limited edition collections, the new Miniatures Stickers will be a constant item in our product lines!

The Sophisticates products by Bella Blvd have quickly become one of the industry’s favorite go-to collections. It’s been selected as one of the Top 10 New Releases of CHA, featured in Creating Keepsakes Latest & Greatest column and more! The everyday collection is sure to expand soon. To jump start its expansion are two new Miniatures cardstock stickers. Card Sentiments are perfect little additions for your greeting card creations, and the Family Miniatures will add the finishing details to your everyday projects!

Scrap-Friendzy Birthday Bash

I will be here!

Perfect Little Pumpkin

I have had this paper mach pumpkin sitting in the basement, half painted for several years. I decided to give up on the painting and paper it instead! I cut a pumpkin paper into strips and mod podged it! Added a few embellies and now I have a cute little pumpkin!  

From this.........................

 to this....................................

Doesn't have to cost a Lot

I made this cute travel album for a friend. But, I hardly spent any money! The album is actually an old kid's board book and the travel paper was 99 cents at Goodwill!