Monday, December 31, 2012

12/31/12 - I Love Challenges

Happy New Years Eve to you!
 
I haven't blogged too much lately...
I was on vacation for 11 days and I don't blog much when I am home so I kinda got out of practice I guess.
Well, this is the last day of 2012!
We survived!! Yay!
It has been a hard year but it's over and I am looking forward to 2013 being much, much better!
 
I would like to dedicate my last blog post of the new year to sharing lots of layouts as well as an "obsession"...
 
I'm sure that by reading my blog you have discovered that I love participating in challenges!
Whether they be DT assignment challenges, Blog challenges, or SB.com challenges, I am always eager to play!
I like how they give you different ideas and even sometimes help you step out of your comfort zone.
And for those challenges that don't do either of those 2 things, I find they hold me "accountable" and so I make a commitment to scrap! Since I have been back to the scrapping world I have been more relaxed w/ my work, and I have noticed that I am enjoying the process and my layouts more because of this! I am also getting more done! Back in the day I was lucky to get 2 or 3 done a month. Now I am averaging about 8!
 
Despite it being a busy month, December was a good month for scrapping! And I would like to share w/ you all the layouts I created in December thanks to challenges:
 
 
 SB.Com's Negative Space Challenge
 "Ready To Shop"
 

 
SB.Com's Monthly Sketch Challenge December - Week 1
 "Happy No. 11"
(Used a lot of scraps on this one!!)
 
 
 
SB.Com's Monthly Sketch Challenge December - Week 2
 "Captured"
 
 
 
SB.Com's Monthly Sketch Challenge December - Bonus Sketch Week #1
 "The Cove"
 
 
 
SB.Com's Monthly Sketch Challenge December - Bonus Sketch Week #2
"Early Gift"
 
 
 
SB.Com's December Ooooh Baby Challenge
"Tummy Time"
 
 
 
SB.Com's Round Robin Challenge
"November 2011"
 
The next seven I have already shared but since they were created because of challenges I am sharing them again just to show you how well challenges inspire me to scrap!
 
 
SB.Com's December Scrap Your Pet Challenge
"I <Heart> My Dog"
 
 
SIT's 1st Sketch of December
"Stars"
 
 
SIT's 2nd Sketch of December
"Soft Kitty..."
 
 
 
 SIT's 3rd Sketch of December
"The Taste of Christmas"
 
 
Child's Play DT Call Challenge
"Anniversary Gift"

SB.com's December Hoarders Challenge and Twisted Tuesday's Blog Challenge
"Medieval Times"

 
 
Scrap It With  A Song Favorite Christmas Song Challenge
"Last Christmas"
 
 
That's 14 layouts in one month!!
For me that's really good! :0)
 
TFSB!
Here's hoping you have a Happy New Year and even happier 2013!!!
XOXOXOXO
 

Saturday, December 29, 2012

12/29/12 - Scrap It W/ A Song Christmas Challenge

Hi there!

I know I haven't been around much but I wanted to stop in and share a layout I created for a challenge going on over at the Scrap It With A Song blog.

The current challenge is to use your favorite Christmas Song as inspiration for your layout.
 
My favorite Christmas Song is "Last Christmas" by Wham.
I know, I know, it's a weird favorite, but what can I say...I like it!
What's even weirder is I hate Christmas Music because to me it's so depressing and yet my favorite song is one about getting your heart broken...WTHeck! LOL!
 
I'll admit I had a little bit of trouble using it on a page.  It took awhile before I figured out how to use it, but I finally did it!
Here it is:
 
"Last Christmas"
Journaling: "Because we inherited her at the ripe old age of 10 every Christmas
we worry if this will be Ivanna's..."
(Last Christmas)
 
I realize the journaling is a bit morbid but my doggie is old so it is a real worry we have. :0(

 
I like the page because it doesn't use too much of the traditional Christmas colors on it, I used a lot of really old product, and my cutie pie Ivanna is on it! ;0)
 
I am submitting my entry w/ just a couple of days to spare; it's due on Monday!!
Also they have a DT Call...and yup I am trying out (this is also my entry).
 
BTW - if you're wondering, I do have a favorite traditional Christmas Song...it's "Little Drummer Boy".

Thursday, December 20, 2012

12/20/12 - SIT Sketch #97

Hello All!
I haven't been around because I have been on vacation all week.Yay!
And when I am home I really don't blog much.
I am trying to get ready for Christmas as I am way behind this year!!
 
I stopped by today to share w/ you this week's sketch over at  Sketches in Thyme.
Here it is:


And here is what I did w/ it:


"The Taste of Christmas"
Journaling: "I don't really care much for Christmas as a holiday but I love the yummy treats it brings! 12/12"
As you know I don't do 2-pagers!
But the sketch still gave me inspiration.
 
Interesting tidbit: the letters in my "Christmas" were almost all created from different letters/numbers because I had ran out of what I needed.  The "C" was a "0" the "r" was a "h the 2 "S"s were "8"s the "t" was an "l" and the "a" was a "q".
I hate throwing away letters but most of the time I am stuck w/ letters I don't need.  This time I made it work for me!
 
Thanks for stopping by...
Now don't forget to stop by SIT and show us what you can do!

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

12/19/12 - 2 Challenge Entries

Hello there!
Today I am sharing a layout I created for 2 challenges:
  >> Scrapbook.com's December Hoarders Challenge -
    The challenge is to use items that you have hoarded for at least a year.
    My layout contains the following items I have had...
    For over 2 years:
    >The BG paper
    >The large white tags
    >The red journaling sticker and
    >The black rub on numbers

   For over 5 years:
   >The yellow picture mat paper
   >The title letters
   >The vellum gold trimmed tag stickers (on top of the large white tags)
   >The red buttons
      
 >>Twisted Tuesday's current Challenge -
     Must create a tag or create something w/ a tag on it
     (My layout has 4 tags on it)
     Also share something you love to create w/

In my case it is my black zig marker.  I use it on every layout because I like to outline my layers to make them stand out. In fact if I don't outline, I don't feel like my layout is finished!
 
 
Here is the layout:
"Medieval Times"
Journaling reads: August 4, 2012: Joseph and Madison took a trip to Medieval Times w/ Madison's Girl Scout Troop. It was their first time there. Our knight didn't win."
 
That's all from me today!
TFSB!
 

Saturday, December 15, 2012

12/15/12 - DT Call: Child's Play


There is a Design Team Call going on over at the Child's Play blog.
It is a blog I just discovered a couple of months ago and since I really enjoy being on a DT and I like the challenges the CP blog offers I figured I'd try out.

The application challenge was to create a layout based on the toy below:

Fisher-Price Pull-a-Tune Xylophone from 1957
Here is how it inspired me:

"Anniversary Gift"




I very rarely create layouts w/ a white background, so already they are inspiring me! :0)
If you're interested in trying out also, the DT call is open until December 31st, 2012.
Thanks for stopping by and if you try out, good luck to you!

Thursday, December 13, 2012

12/13/12 - SIT Sketch #96

Hey there! Ho there!

Thanks for stopping by.
Today I'm sharing with you the newest sketch up at "Sketches in Thyme".
We have 3 sketches a month: 
 > sketch 1 is "interpreted" by Team A
 > sketch 2 is "interpreted" by Team B
 > sketch 3 is "interpreted" by both teams

I am on Team A and as this is the second sketch of the month I'm technically not assigned to it, but it just happened to be the perfect sketch for a pic I wanted to scrap. Love when that happens!

Here is the sketch:

 

And here is my take:


"Soft Kitty..."
 
How many of you are "The Big Bang Theory" fans?
Well, those of you who are will recognize the "journaling" underneath the pic. It's the lyrics to the "Soft Kitty" song Sheldon likes to have sung to him when he is sick. I love the show and the song is cute! I'd seen the images, such as the one I used with the lyrics and kitty pic, on the internet before so when it came to scrapping another cute pic of our kitty I thought it the perfect "embellie"! I googled "soft kitty lyrics" and choose "images" and a plethora of options came up. I chose my favorite and printed it on cardstock and then cut it out and wha-lah, the perfect accent for my page! (And doesn't that kitty look a lot like mine?!)
 
 
I love the internet! For a scrapper it opens up a whole new world of product. If you can't find an image for your project in a store...you can usually find it online. This is the 3rd time I've tried this technique and I'm always happy with the end result!
 
As you can see other than the pic and my homemade embellie I only added a few bits and pieces to the layout to finish it off. Sometimes you don't need much to make a cute layout!
 
Oh, also, I used the scraps from my last SIT sketch layout on this layout. The  large teal strip of paper is a leftover from the same 12x12 paper I used on the last layout and the strips of hexagon patterned paper going across the middle is the flip side of the scraps I had leftover from another 12x12 paper I used on my last layout. That is the fastest I have ever used my scraps!!

Now it's your turn!
Come visit SIT and show us what you can do!

Thursday, December 6, 2012

12/06/12 - SIT Sketch # 95

It's Thursday!
That means it's time for another Sketches In Thyme sketch!
Whoot, whoot!

Here is what we have for you this week:



 
 
And here is my example: 
"Stars"


 I used a kit I bought over at SB.com that I just couldn't resist, especially because they were having a sale and I had an additional percentage off coupon!
Here is the link to the kit I bought if you want to know more about what products I used:
(I'm awful at listing products!)
 
So yeah, I took a break from using old product...just a little break.
I'll get back to using my stash again soon.
That will be a neverending goal.
(Oh! The pink piece going through the middle of the layout is old...very old! I got it from my scrap box. Also the gem I used is old...so at least that's something!)
 
Okay it's your turn to show us what you can do w/ the sketch.
Use old or new product...
Paper or digital...
Layout or card (or if you can make it work, another project)...
Whatever you want!
But whatever you do make sure you link it to the SIT blog: SIT (#95)
 
If you are chosen as one of the "Top 3" you win a Guest Designer spot on our blog.  Also up for grabs is the following yummy prize:
 
 
 
So what are you waiting for?!
 

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

12/05/12 - Clicking for Breast Cancer

Hi there!
A really quick post.


In case you haven't noticed, on the side bar of my blog there is a "Breast Cancer Click Every Day" button.
 
The Breast Cancer Site
 

If you haven't been doing so, I ask that when you come and visit me that you please click on that button. It literally only takes a second and each click helps fund mammograms.
My mother is a breast cancer survivor so the cause is very dear to me.
But even if I didn't have that connection to the disease, I still think it's important to help in the fight against breast cancer, or any cancer for that matter.
 
If you're worried about it being a scam, I have been doing it for years and have never had a problem.
I have an automatic e-mail sent to me from the breast cancer site to remind me to click and it has a link to their site so that I can do so.
 
Also, I went to Snopes.com to see if it was legit before "committing" myself and they assured it was.
Here is the link to Snopes that explains it: Snopes Breast Cancer Clicks.
 
Thank you!

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

12/04/12 - Ivanna

Lately I've been thinking about the things in life that make me happy.
There are actually a lot of things, but this morning when I walked into my office and saw my doggie's and kitty's food and water bowls, I smiled.
That seems strange, I know.
Well, maybe not so much...
I mean if you have Fur-babies, you know how much happiness they bring to your life!
And mine do, very much so!
I have shared lots of pictures and some layouts of my, ::ahem:: I mean, my daughter's kitty Panini.
But I don't think I have shared many of my doggie Ivanna.
Crazy because she is MY baby!
Funny thing is...
Until I inherited Ivanna, I never even liked dogs!
I always considered them dirty, yuck!
I was very much a cat person.
But when Ivanna came into my life that all changed!
I love her soooo very much.
She is my Best Buddy and I couldn't imagine life w/ out her!
We are literally inseparable, as she follows me everywhere!  Even when I'm too busy to actually interact w/ her, she is near me. For example, when I scrapbook, she sits on my chair, behind me and sleeps. She's so funny!
She came into my life 3 years ago at the age of 10.
I know this means she doesn't have that many more years left. :0(
I have been trying to make her life as happy and comfortable as possible and at the same time trying to enjoy as much time with her as I can.
Another funny thing...
even though I have had her for 3 years I have never had my picture taken w/ her!
So a couple of weeks ago I had my son take a pic of us and I scrapped it:

"I < Heart > My Dog"


I love how it turned out and I will cherish it always!

(BTW - I didn't plan on making a monochrome layout...it just turned out that way!)

Monday, December 3, 2012

12/03/12 - December Daily

Good Morning Friends!
 
It's officially December and that means Christmas is almost here...Yikes!!
I still need to do more than half of my shopping.
I am not a big fan of Christmas...
Let me re-phrase that... I like Christmas, I just hate the shopping part.
That part completely stresses me out!
So every year I seem to put it off, and put it off, later and later.
This year I REALLY put it off!
In fact, if it weren't for my husband, I don't think we'd have as much done as we do!
I have my kids' gifts, and as far as I'm concerned, that's all that matters.
I really don't feel like I should have to buy presents for anyone else.
And I don't need presents because I buy myself whatever I want whenever I want it.
I'm an instant gratification kinda girl!
So this time of year sucks because I can't buy what I want because I have to make sure to have options for others to buy me gifts.
Just one year I would like to say : "Nobody, buy me anything...and I will do the same"
Again, except for my kids...my kids get presents!!
Honestly if I could take the presents out of the equation I would LOVE Christmas!!
Okay, okay, enough of that.
On to other things.
 
This year I am trying to complete a December Daily album.
I'm hoping this will help make me enjoy Christmas more than I have in the past.
My version is going to be a very "watered down" version.
It's my first time and I don't want to stress myself out!
I bought myself a photo album that holds two 4x6 pics on each page.
The top slot will hold the pic, the bottom will hold the journaling which I will write on a 4x6 piece of holiday paper. 
That's it!  No bells and whistles. 
Can't get any more watered down than that!
As I said it's my first time and I want to start easy.
I want to focus on the pics and the journaling not on all the "pretties".
 
I started a little "early" w/ my December Daily.
Mine should probably called "December Daily w/ a few November Pics Thrown In".
I took pics when we picked out our tree, and when I started drinking egg-nog, and then having a "red-cup" drink from Starbucks. They were all taken in November.
At first I thought I couldn't include them because they were taken in November and this is supposed to be "December" daily. But I read over on the SB.com boards that some people call there's a "Countdown to Christmas" album and document ALL the holiday related events regardless of when they took the pics. 
If I go that route, that means I CAN include my November pics, Yay!
I'm so silly though...
I mean I don't know why I thought I couldn't include them, after all there are no rules in scrapbooking, right?
 
Anyway that's all from me today!
But before I leave I have to share one pic because I think my blog looks too boring w/ just words, LOL!
 
Peppermint Mocha Latte from Starbucks, Yum!

03/27/23 Planning with Urban Journal Season Ink

My printer was having issues and I fixed it but during the interim I was not scrapping and lost my mojo ::le sigh:: But I've still been ...