i'm soooo lame...=)

hi there. i'm sorry, no blogging for me lately. I've been working hard on my Master's thesis. it's almost done. I have to write my conclusion and clean up all the citations, check all requirements are met, and then submit for a first proof read to my professor. If all goes well, she will have it in her hands by this weekend. Then, when I get it back I can finish all required changes to ensure I pass. I intend to have this all done by the time I go on a scrap retreat on March 4 - 7. pretty ambitious of me huh? I'm crazy like that.. lol. =) i miss you all and will back to regular programming soon.

Happy February.. tomorrow is groundhog day. I love that movie.. cracks me up.
Toodles. =)

a little Shimmerz for everyone!!!

Hi, Just a quick note... I woke up this morning to an email that suggested i check out the Shimmerz blog for an annoucement. So, I wandered over and sure enough, they are launching some new things for CHA. if you love Shimmerz and want to see what all the excitement is about, head on over to their blog. You'll be glad you did. =)

Take care and I hope to write more soon.

Happy New Year!!!!

i know.. i'm a few days late. I was sooooooooooooo lame this NYE. for one, I've been sick. Starting the day after Christmas, I came down with a scratchy throat. Thought it was just dry. by Monday, I couldn't swallow and it was worse, hurt bad. So, I went to the clinic.. no strep, but had a throat infection. Got some meds, came home. thought I'd get better soon. My throat started feeling better, but I got a cold simultaneously and have been miserable ever since. Night time seems to be the worse. I cough a lot. I feel ok during the day, but kinda lifeless. no energy. I do think the worse is behind me.. =)

so, on New Year's Eve, me and the husband stayed home. watched TV and i was in my PJs by 8pm. and my goal was to stay up at least till midnight.. I had a terrible headache and just closed my eyes for a minute. next thing you know, I wake up at 1:30am. missed the ball drop. oh well. there is always next year.

I haven't created any scrap projects lately... did buy a few things. but, I have plans to try to use my Stash in 2010. If I profess one resolution for this year, it's to not buy as much and to use what I have. I was tallying up my purchases of 2009, and it was very enlightening. my goal is to try to not buy anything new for the first 3 months of the year. I know this will be very very hard because CHA is coming and there will be new product coming out. My will power will be tested. =)

to add something scrappy...
Here is a card I made in the shape of an ornament.. I made it earlier in December. it was for my work Christmas secret Santa. Used my Fancy Pants Happy Holidays paper pack and some matching chipboard.. and a lot of stickles.

And I'm happy to report that last week was the final week in my 2009 P365. It really was an interesting project. Is it for everyone? NO. I can tell ya, I was going along well until about July. In August I missed a lot of days. regrouped, and I finished the year, but it was tough. There will be more empty picture spaces the last half of the year, but I'd say most weeks have at least 3-4 pics, some all of them. I went in spurts. The hard part of this really is putting the pages together. In and of itself not difficult, but time consuming. I didn't have a kit so I made all the journaling cards and weekly page cards myself. Here is a few pictures of it when I first started.. I used Basic Grey's Scarlet Letter paper pack.

This is the inside title page...

This is from week One.

This is week Two.

If you did P365 in 2009, let me know how you did... I only have the album put together through the beginning of May. The photos and journaling need to be added for the remaining. If I'm lucky, I'll have this complete and finished in March of 2010.. =)

Well, I look forward to the new year, lots to be thankful for..
Cheers.

Merry Christmas!!!!

hi there. hope you and your family had a wonderful and blessed day. I did.. =) I worked really hard on Christmas Eve cooking and getting ready for today. I prepped a lot of my food items, and made a breakfast casserole for us to eat in the morning. thought I'd try something new. Pop it in the oven and 45 minutes later, waa laa.. lol. not a ton of dishes, easy peasy. My hubby was actually up earlier than normal so we got an early start to our day. Our dinner menu consisted of.. Glazed spiral ham(customized by my hubby), meatballs, cheesy hash brown potatoes, twice baked Baked beans, broccoli salad, and my famous rollups. my inlaws brought some polish sausage. way too much food. I'm still full.

Santa was really good to me. My hubby got me a new ipod classic. my last one died a quick death when it fell into the toilet at a scrapbook weekend crop.. =) i tried to revive it but it didn't make it. i also got a new Pandora necklace. can't wait to customize that with some beads. me and the hubby are now relaxing and watching a movie.. Angels and Demons.

I hope this day finds you well...

a little of this and that...=)

hello my friends. =) Watching "Elf". are you ready for Christmas? I am, i think.. i'd like to buy my hubby a few more small things. we shall see if the planets align and i find what i'm looking for.

I was suppose to leave tonight for the Mayo Clinic in MN.. my mom is having surgery. it got postponed so here I am... I was prepared for the 12 hr car ride by bringing the last two Twilight books.. I read the last 2 on my way there and back so I'm thinking I can finish the series this trip.

I'd like to share some layouts I completed over the weekend. First, I found I new challenge site.. called Challenge Masters. I found something right away that I was drawn to. it was a BOM challenge to do a layout on what I was GRATEFUL for. here it is.

I used a paper I had from Creative Imaginations.. backed the tree in Best Creations bling paper and used some vintage accents.

I also completed two Design Team projects for Scrapbooking and Crafting Friends. This month you were to use stitching on your layout.

This one was faux stitching around the edges of the layout.. I used Figgy Pudding papers from BG and a sketch from Dec PageMaps.

and this one is actual hand stitching underneath the photo using a Bazzill template. I scraplifted this from the Nikki Sivils blog. Michelle, the designer, did a fab job with this paper line. it is too cute. i, of course, added a few of my own touches

and lastly, this is a layout using KI papers, i used my Shimmerz Mist on the kraft paper. love it. I used another sketch from Dec PageMaps.

So, what are you asking Santa for this year? I had my family Christmas party this last weekend. It was fun. I got a new Pandora charm, a Spice rack, and a very pretty wall decoration for my home. I'm not really fussy. I love any gift I get. of course, scrapbooking stuff is always a plus. =)

I'm not sure I'll be back posting before Christmas..
I hope to be back soon.

Holiday Festivities

Hi there, I just got home from work. My coworkers and I went to lunch to celebrate the holidays. We drew names and had secret Santas. It was fun. I haven't done this sort of thing in ages. I got my SS a cute thermal purse tote from Thirty One with her initial monogrammed on it. I love it. I want one now. I got a cute Lolita martini glass ornament with the shopaholic theme on it. WAY TOOOOO CUTE!!! have you seen these glasses? They are hand painted and oh so cute. I got my husband the musictini last year. It's retired now. They are not just decorative, you can actually drink out of them. not the ornament ones but the full size ones.

On my SS present, I added a handmade ornament card too. It turned out really cute. I made the card in the shape of an ornament. I have a crappy pic of it, I'll see about uploading it.

Now, I'm waiting patiently for my husband to get home so we can head out. Our friend is running for congress or senate, not sure now, but it's his political debut at a local restuarant. Should be fun and interesting. =)

I get to crop this weekend again.. can't wait. I'll have more stuff to share then.

See you soon.
T

Playing Catch up.. =)

Good Day.. I've been meaning to get caught up and do a little blog hopping.. it's been tough, but here I am. I'm cleaning the house, watching some Q, and playing on the Internet.. =)

First, I need to say thank you to Lori and Cassandra for blessing me with the following blog awards. I'm so honored that you would pick me.. *blush* =)

Cassandra, thank you, thank you..

To keep the love going, if you are given and accept the award, you must do the following...

1. Copy picture and post on your blog
2. Thank the person who gave it to you and link to their blog.
3. Write 7 things about yourself we don't know:

• I LOVE Dt. Mt. Dew
• I do not have any kids of my own, I have a step son who is 16.
  
• I met my husband at work almost 13 years ago
• I'm a procrastinator
  
• I have a great memory, it's like a steel trap. I can remember crazy details that awe my friends. *wink*
• I'm late for most everything, unless it involves scrapbooking. heehee =)
• I use to smoke and wish I still did.. i just know how bad it is and it really stinks, literally.Blah!
  

4. Choose 7 other bloggers to pass the award to.

• Scrapbooking my Life
  
• A Day in the Life of Sessy
• Scraps of Life
• Pruts
• Finally Scrappin
  
• Divine Inspirations
• Stuff and Things
  

5. Link to those 7 other bloggers.

Lori, how do you find the time. Thanks sooooooooooooo much..

In order to accept this award, I had to answer the following questions and award to 5 bloggers. I can do this.. see below.. =)

1. Where is your cell phone? Counter
2. Your hair? Long
3. Your Mother? Agnes
4. Your Father? Gerald
5. Your favorite food? Chinese
6. Your dream last night? Scarey
7. Your favorite drink? Caffeine
8. Your dream/goal? ambitious
9. What room are you in? TV
10. Your hobby? Scrapbooking
11. Your fear? Suffocating
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Working
13. Where were you last night? Lea's
14. Something you aren't? Cranky
15. Muffins? Blueberry
16. Wish list item? Scraproom
17. Where did you grow up? Michigan
18. Last thing you did? Cooked
19. What are you wearing? Pjs
20. Your TV? QVC
21. Your Pets? Schanuzer
22. Friends? Crazy
23. Your Life? Busy
24. Your Mood? Indifferent
25. Missing Someone? Yes
26. Vehicle? Saturn
27. Something you're not wearing? jewelry
28. Your Favorite Store? Target
29. Your favorite color? Pink
30. The last time you laughed? Yesterday
32. The last time you cried? Yesterday
33. One place that you go to over and over? Work
34. Facebook? Yes
35. Favorite place to eat? Home

I award this to these 5 bloggers.

• Christine's Digital Scrapbooking Corner
• Blissful Place
• Treasured Memories
• Psychotic Ramblings from a Serial Scrapper
• Everyday Moments
  

In order to accept the blog award, just copy the questions and add your own ONE WORD answers! Then award it to 5 others. Simple!

I really always have a hard time picking.. I love so many blogs, I must follow 100 of them.. so much talent and ideas.. scrappers are some of the most creative, caring people and they love sharing their ideas and techniques.

Well, my Internet time is almost up. I think one of my New Year resolutions is to reduce the time on the Net and Facebook. It's such a time gobbler, and I neglect things.. important things, where I could be getting things done. I need to think that through and figure out how I can balance these things in my life.

I'm off to wrap some Christmas presents.

Cheers and Hugs.. and till next time.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

every where you go... =)

I love this song. One of my many Christmas favs.



It's my Ringback tone right now.. I think I'm officially in the Christmas spirit. Today I spent a wonderful day with my friend Lea. We made holiday rice krispy treats, molded into shapes, dipped in chocolate, and then for the finishing touch, candy sprinkles. such a fun treat. everyone loves rice krispy treats, don't they? Then, we went to see New Moon again... sigh.. just as good as the first time. although I would have liked to watch Twilight again prior.. just gets you in the mood, ya know??? We completed our day with dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings. I love the Parmesan Garlic and my new fav, the Asian Zing.. yummmm.. we had grand ideas of possibly cropping after dinner, but i think we pooped out??? I did at least..=)

I did get to crop on Friday night... and wait till you see my holiday gift can. I got the idea from the latest ACOT crop. Instructions can be found HERE.. the sky is the limit on what you can do with these things. I love it even more after making my own..

Here is the finished project. I used some Reminisce Frosted papers, MM glaze paint, modge podge, zip dry glue, and some fun garland ribbon..

So, what do you think of my little penquin??? It will be stuffed with gift certificates...Pop the top to get the goodies that are inside. this was really easy.. you need to try this project.. start eating some fruit and soup.. If you have a Pampered Chef can opener, it will make taking the bottom of the can off sooooo much easier. no jagged edges too.

While working on the gift can, I put together a layout. It was perfect because i needed to keep busy while waiting for all the glue and paint to dry on the can.

This is from last years Christmas at my brother's house. Chaos and fun when we open presents. =) I used my Snowy Jo papers and my Crafter's Workshop template to make the die cut shapes.

All Wrapped Up.....
Sketch from 52 Sketches... this site is closing at the end of the year.. I will miss it.

I have the bug and wish I had more time to make fun holiday projects... If you have a Cricut, this web site is posting fun projects..

CHRISTMAS WITH THE CRICUT

And TIM HOLTZ is doing his 12 TAGs of CHRISTMAS again... wonderful stuff.

I hope you are enjoying the holiday season as much as I am.. =) See you again soon.

Are you recovered from Thanksgiving and Black Friday????

I am.. =) I hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving with family and friends. We cooked a 20lb turkey and all the trimmings. Had my inlaws over.. I tried a few new items this year. coleslaw using Zehnder's coleslaw dressing and their buttered noodles.. the coleslaw turned out great. I used my new 9 cup KitchenAid food processor. that thing rocks. it's like a ship getting ready for take off... i got mine from QVC and in Black..

and the buttered noodles were ok.. lesson learned on those. i got the wrong size noodles, should have been the medium noodles, not the wide ones. oh well..here is a pic of the aftermath.. all the dishes.. blah =)

then, after relaxing and having Pumpkin pie, we met up with our friend Dan's family for bowling at Bay Lanes. i haven't bowled in years. it was fun.

I didn't have any intentions of going out for Black Friday, but I decided to go out to Michael's and my LSS.. I got a ton of stuff, their organization cubes were 55% off.. only $13 bucks.. it was a steal. so, I started my collection.. and bought a few Christmas gifts... this is a pic of my stash.. got a cute holly edger, some holiday ribbon, brads, felt, and I got the Fancy Pants Vintage Valentine paper collection.. it is soooo cute. and a bunch of other stuff... can't wait to play.

oh.. and my new MM carousel

this is the make n take I did at the LSS... a Sizzix rep was there and we made this cute card. love it.. =)

So, I splurged a little on Black Friday.. it was fun.. then, came home to eat some leftovers. had a hot turkey sandwich.. then we went over to our friends house, drank some beers... my favorite is the Mich Ultra Pomegranate Rasberry.. yum...stayed out too late...

and that leads us up till today.. I woke up feeling crappy... decided I would go to Joann's this morning.. I didn't really see anything that really grabbed me, but I did pick up a few things to make some cute holiday projects with my Tim Holtz alcohol inks and clear glass ornaments. check out this tutorial HERE.. they are so cute..

If my energy level increases, i plan on getting the tree out and decorated.. I'm almost done with my holiday shopping too.. most of it done online.. takes the stress level out of shopping.. and I'll try to get some crafting done too. =) gosh.. so much to tell you all.. I think i need to update more often..

see you soon.. toodles..

Turkey Day is almost here...

are you ready? seems I was just talking about Halloween. time is a flying.. =) I had plans to post some stamps to give away, but just didn't get around to it.. sorry. I still have them. maybe as a holiday giveaway..

well, my scrappy mojo found me.. i think. I finally completed a layout that has been work in progress for over a month... it's of my doggie. I used a Sketch from 52 sketches...sketch #39.. and I used some of my BG June Bug for the first time. love that paper.

Lucky Dog

And, then... since I broke out of my shell this morning.. i did this layout for Challenge #1 over at the ACOT crop.. i've been lurking over there.. figured I'd jump in now that I've broke my mojo in. hehe.. =) the challenge was " Show us what you think of when we say START!". this is how I start my work day. I used Sketch #44 from 52 sketches on this one.

Kick Start

And on a side note, I went with some friends to see New Moon on Thursday at midnight.. that was fun. we went early to watch a viewing of Twilight. It was so good... now to finish the rest of the books before the other movies come out..

Oh.. and thanks to Lori for giving me a blog award. I will post that later.

Thanks for stopping by. I'll see you again soon.. =)