Scraps Of Deb

Please follow me on my new blog

2011-09-18T20:06:00.003-04:00

I am starting fresh with a new blog that will encompass much more than just scrapping. I will not be posting on Scraps of Deb any longer, so if you would like to follow me in my new blogging adventure, please click here! I hope to see you all at my new blog.

The Scraps of Life

Creative Scrappers Sketch #168

2011-08-08T14:54:00.005-04:00

Here is my latest page created for Creative Scrappers. This week was the reveal of sketch #168. I had fun mixing elements from several different manufacturers for this page. Here is the sketch:And here is my page:I used October Afternoon papers, BasicGrey flowers, Webster's Pages trim, Studio Calico wood hearts, Pink Paislee chipboard "4", and twine from The Twinery. The solid wood heart under the "4" was sprayed with glimmer mist. Here are a few close up shots:Have you seen the August kits at Back Porch Memories? The Solo kit features October Afternoon 5 & Dime, and the Medley kit includes Little Yellow Bicycle - Sweet Summertime, BasicGrey - Out of Print, and We R Memory Keepers - Travel Light.

Solo kit:

Medley kit:

Both kits are just gorgeous! Better grab yours while supples last!

Creative Scrappers Sketch #166

2011-07-24T22:42:00.003-04:00

Our sketch this week at Creative Scrappers is by Kristine Davidson. We spent a week this month in Gulf Shores, Alabama, and I was so excited to use one of the many pictures I took from our very first family vacation for this sketch. I am sure many more layouts are to come from this trip. It had been 8 1/2 years since I had seen the ocean and beach, and over seven years since we had taken any real vacation, so this was needed. Since we don't travel a lot, we were a bit leery about taking the kids on such a long drive, but they were golden! We bought them portable DVD players with headphones, and I swear we barely heard a peep out of them for the entire 11 hour drive! They were so good, we might just make this an annual event. Lord knows that I don't want to wait another 8 1/2 years to dip my toes in the ocean!

Here is this my layout based on sketch #166:

Thanks for stopping by. Hope you have a great day, and happy scrapping!

Back at Creative Scrappers

2011-07-20T22:56:00.006-04:00

I started out on the Creative Scrappers design team way back when the blog first started over three years ago. I was there for quite a while as a design team member, a design team coordinator, a sketch designer, and a layout kit designer. After so long, I felt it was time to move on to different things. Try my hand at new ventures. I joined the design team at Back Porch Memories. I started my own Etsy shop and began crocheting more. I continued to expand my garden and canning/food preserving. (I spent ALL day in the kitchen freezing corn today, by the way.)

But all of this time, I still had a passion for scrapping. I just didn't have as much TIME for it. So I found myself turning to Creative Scrappers for inspiration when I did have bits of time to do some paper crafting. Then I realized that Creative Scrappers was a part of me, and that it was one of my scrappy "homes" so to speak. So why not apply for the design team again? I was so happy when Kristine asked me to join once again. Thank you, Kristine, for believing in me and for giving me another go around at Creative Scrappers!

So here is my latest debut on the Creative Scrappers blog using sketch #164. I used Fancy Pants Lilac House paper and trim and Prima flowers. I love these pictures of my baby girl all dressed up for her very first dance recital! Here's the sketch and my layout.

It's good to be back!!

A peek inside my craft room...

2011-05-26T14:27:00.011-04:00

Even though it has been a couple of years since we started the remodeling/addition on our house, I am still trying to get my craft room just right. It is a continuous work in progress, but I like how it is coming along. My main criteria in designing my room was good lighting, and I wanted "stations" to accomodate the variety of crafts that I do. I wanted a large table in the center of the room for scrapbooking. I needed a sewing area and a place designated for my yarn and crochet supplies. I also wanted to have space for a computer so that I could hook up my Gazelle, my die cutting machine. I have a large light in the center of the room and track lights on three of the four walls so that I can work in there at all hours of the day and night.

All of my scrapbooking supplies are stored in the white cubes stacked on the wall to the right as you walk in the door.

Most often reached for tools and tiny embellishments are stored in baskets on shelves under my scrap table.

My sewing area. Love, love, love that sewing machine! It is a Brother SE-400 sewing and embroidery machine. You can even download embroidery patterns from a computer onto it. I still have a lot of learning to do with this machine to be able to use it to its fullest capacity.

All of my thread is visible and easily accessible hanging on the wall above my sewing table. The canvas prints and "The Simple Things" sign were all local flea market finds. All purpose thread is on the right, and embroidery thread is on the left.

Sewing supplies, patterns, and fabric are stored on shelves under the sewing table.

Sewing tools that I reach for most often are kept in this silver tray that a friend bought for me in Mexico.

My sweet husband bought me a dress form for my birthday! I love it!! Here she is naked. ;)

And here she is with an apron that I made. It still needs a little bit of work, but not too shabby for my first sewing project, no? Notice that I keep my large rotary cutting mat hanging on the wall when I'm not using it to prevent it from warping.

Some of my favorite yarns are stored in cubbies for easy access and visibility.

A view of the computer area. This is where my kids can usually be found. ;)

I keep jars of flowers on a decorative shelf above the computer. The canvas prints were another local flea market find.

I hope you enjoyed this little tour of my creative space! It is always changing as I add things here and there and rearrange and reorganize, but that is part of the fun of having my own space!

Birds of a Feather June Kit

2011-05-24T08:42:00.006-04:00

I am honored to be featured as one of the guest designers at Birds of a Feather for the month of June! This kit is absolutely gorgeous and just chock full of beautiful embellishments! It features papers and embellishments from Prima's Reflections collection as well as My Mind's Eye, Stella & Rose. Here are some projects I created with this kit.

{Family} - For this page, I used a block pattern with distressed and inked edges as part of the background. I cut out the canvas flower and sprayed it with glimmer mist. Once that dried, I inked the edges and layered a Prima flower on top of it. I love the look of sepia and black and white photos with this kit!

Dad's Girl - I loved the background paper on this page! (It is one of the add ons that can be purchased seperately from the kit.) I used smaller paper strips so that wouldn't take away from the busier background. I cut the canvas leaves and stitched down the center of them. I also machine stitched the circles on the background paper and lightly misted the background with the perfect pearls included in the kit.

Almost 4 - I took these pictures of my daughter the day before her 4th birthday, hence the title. I machine stitched the circles and cut the canvas flowers and flourish and used glimmer mist on them. These canvas shapes in the kit are so much fun to play with!

Hairbow hanger - I had an old KaiserCraft wooden wall hanging that had been sitting in a drawer for years. I pulled it out and used this kit to alter it, and made my daughter a hairbow hanger for her room.

Here is a picture of what is included in this kit. If you are looking for a kit company that features the latest and greatest in the scrapping industry and never skimps on embellishments, the Birds of a Feather is the one for you!

Playing Catch Up

2011-05-23T19:25:00.009-04:00

Finding the time to blog has been difficult to do lately! Between running one kid to dance class and both kids to T-ball, getting the garden planted, and working in the yard now that the weather is getting nice, I just haven't had time to get on the computer much.

I had a great time at the Back Porch Memories crop last weekend. I didn't get to blog about the crop then because blogger was not working. Seems to be a trend lately as I have had so many problems with blogger. If I am going to continue blogging, I may have to look into some different options.

Speaking of Back Porch Memories, I have some layouts and a card to share with you from the May Medley kit.

I would type more, but I don't know if blogger will even post this right. If I can get it to work, I will post a couple more entries tonight or tomorrow, including pictures of my craft room and projects with the June kit from Birds of a Feather!

I have been scrapping...

2011-04-28T22:32:00.011-04:00

I know it has been a while since I have blogged, but I assure you that I have been scrapping. And crocheting. And planning my daughter's birthday party. And shuttling kids to t-ball and dance. And working. Who knew April would be such a busy month?

Here are some layouts I have done recently.

I also wanted to tell you about the amazing kits that Amy has been putting together at Birds of a Feather. This month's kit feature papers from Little Yellow Bicycle's Twig line as well as Jillibean Soup's Dutch Mustard Soup collection. Just look at all of the stuff you get in this kit! And all of her kits are packed with beautiful scrappy goodness. I stongly urge anyone who is looking into joining a kit club to subscribe to the Birds of a Feather kits. You will not be disappointed! We will be having some fun challenges in the forum at Birds of a Feather (aka the Hen House) on National Scrapbooking Day which is Saturday, May 7. There will also be some awesome sales in the store, so be sure and check it out!

I am also happy to report that Crochet for a Cause raised $100 for the Japan earthquake and tsunami relief efforts. Thank you to everyone that purchased hats and helped spread the word about my month long project. Here are a few things that I have been working on for my Etsy shop and some recent custom orders.
I will try to be a better blogger next month! This one just got away from me before I knew it. I would like to close this post by saying that my thoughts and prayers are going out to all of those affected by the tornadoes and flooding that have recently plagued our country. My heart goes out to you all.

Crocheting for a Cause

2011-03-22T22:02:00.005-04:00

Ever since the earthquake and tsunami hit Japan on March 11, I have been trying to think of a way that I could help. My husband has traveled to Japan for work several times, and he has many friends there. The pictures and videos that have been aired on TV are heartbreaking. I cannot even imagine what people there are going through. My heart aches for them.

Many of you know that I make and sell crocheted hats in my Etsy shop. Starting today, and for the next month, for every hat purchased, $20 will be donated to the Red Cross Japan relief fund.
I hope you will help me in spreading the word about this. Please post it on Facebook, on your blogs, Twitter, tell everyone you know!

My Etsy shop
My Facebook fan page

Guest Designer at Making Memories!

2011-03-16T13:52:00.003-04:00

I am the guest designer at the Making Memories blog today! Here is the page I created using the Making Memories Paper Reverie Sienne line. I also have a tutorial there on making the pleated ribbon shown on this page. Click here to see it!

Back Porch Memories March Kit Reveal

2011-03-14T21:38:00.005-04:00

I had the pleasure of working with the Medley kit at Back Porch Memories this month which included products from Little Yellow Bicycle Twig, My Mind's Eye Stella & Rose, and Pebbles Inc. Happy Go Lucky. I had so much fun with this kit! FYI the Solo kit features Echo Park For the Record. Here is what I created this month.

You and Me" layout was based on a PageMaps sketch which will be shown in the upcoming newsletter. "Just Be" was created for the "Layouts in 15 Minutes or Less" newsletter article.

I had a BLAST last Friday at CKC Louisville! I got to meet fellow Back Porch Memories Design Team member and DT coordinator, Alissa! She is absolutely the sweetest thing! We took classes all day together and did a bunch of shopping at the vendor faire. I came home with some new BasicGrey paper collections, some Studio Calico wood veneer shapes, and some fun ribbons and trims. I am kicking myself now for not buying some really cool fabric at the Adorn It booth! It was my first CKC, and I can't wait to go again! Thank you, Alissa, for spending the day with me and for showing me the ropes at CKC! I hope we can get together again very soon!

Back Porch Memories February Kit Reveal

2011-02-10T09:08:00.006-05:00

Back Porch Memories has some beautiful kits this month! I worked with the Solo kit which featured paper and embellishments from BasicGrey's Hopscotch collection. I also used the embellishment add on. Also included in the kit are May Arts ribbons, buttons, metal flowers, and Jillibean Soup corrugated cardboard alphas. Here's what I created with the Solo kit:

Angel
I inked the cardboard alphas with the Cat's Eye pad in the add on kit, and then painted some rock candy stickles (from my stash) over them. I also painted stickles on the butterflies. Photo is by Tracy D. Portraits. Sweetie
I cut out arrows from the patterned paper and used pop dots under them to give them more dimension. I used stickles (from my stash) on the butterflies here too. She
I used the tabs in the add on kit to add some fun to this page instead of just using journaling strips. I made the flower out of ribbon in the kit. Birthday card
I used a stamp from my stash on this quick and easy card. The Medley kit includes papers from October Afternoon, We R Memory Keepers, and My Mind's Eye. Be sure and check out the BPM design team gallery to see what the rest of the team created!

Bloom

2011-02-08T19:39:00.003-05:00

Here's my latest layout for the crop over at Birds of a Feather. I did this one for the gridiron challenge which was to use a grid somewhere on your page. I found an old sheet of grid paper from the Pink Paislee Office Lingo collection, and used it for my background. I sprayed it with some yellow glimmer mist and then added some glimmer glam from the February kit. Patterned paper, die cuts, rub ons, ribbon, and thickers are all from the kit too. Prima flowers and Jillibean Soup stick pins were from my stash.

My Facebook contest is still going through tomorrow night at 10pm EST on my Facebook fan page. Check it out and share my page with your friends to be entered for a chance to win a free crocheted hat of your choice from my Etsy shop!

It's Giveaway Time!!

2011-02-07T22:32:00.005-05:00

Want a chance to win one of my unique, handmade, crocheted hats? Go to my Facebook fan page and like my page. Then click on "share" and post a link on your wall, inviting all of your friends to like my page. Then post a comment under my contest post that you shared the link and you will be entered into a random drawing for a free hat of your choice from my Etsy shop! I have been adding some fun new hats, including some spring hats that are perfect for Easter!Hurry! The contest ends at 10pm EST on Wednesday!

We are cropping at Birds of a Feather!

2011-02-06T13:30:00.005-05:00

We are having a fun crop at Birds of a Feather this weekend, and it isn't too late to join us! There are some really fun challenges and games going on, and you have until Wednesday night to submit your entries for some fabulous prizes! Head on over to the Hen House and join us!

Here is a page that I created for the "What is February" challenge. Did you know that February is National Embroidery Month? Not to mention several other things, but that is what I chose to inspire this page. The pink scallop border is machine embroidered! I had a lot of fun with this page and used primarily items from the Birds of a Feather February kit. I painted a bit of glimmer glam on the page. After it dried, I applied the rub on over that. Then I used a paint brush to flick some glimmer glam across the page. It is hard to see in the picture, but the glimmer glam has glitter in it! It is so pretty!

Supplies used from the Birds of a Feather February kit: Glitz Design papers, Prima flowers, Lily Bee rub ons, Thickers, Tattered Angels glimmer glam. From my stash: Riff Raff chipboard wildflower (painted with glimmer glam), BasicGrey stamps, white cardstock, and pink thread.

So Happy Together

2011-01-23T11:17:00.003-05:00

Here's my latest scrapbook page. I did this layout for the January sketch challenge at Birds of a Feather, and used the January kit plus January kit add ons from there. Patterned paper is Jenni Bowlin. Flowers, crystals, butterflies, and the frame are all Prima. The kraft cardstock, glimmer mist, crystals, and thickers are from my stash.

If you would like a chance to be a guest designer at Birds of a Feather, join us in the Hen House, complete all five challenges posted for the month, and you could be chosen to work with the next kit! Hope to see you there!

Have you seen the February kit at Birds of a Feather?

2011-01-20T14:27:00.004-05:00

It is BEAUTIFUL!! And I just ordered mine! Be sure and check out the extras too! Click here to order your kit for a one time shipment, or here to subscribe for 3, 6, or 9 months. If you subscribe on or before January 31, you will automatically be entered to win the new Webster's Pages Spring Market line plus a few other goodies! Here is what is included in the February kit:

Glitz Design “Love Nest” Collection
2 Sheets “Floral”
2 Sheets “Sky”
2 Sheets “Stripe”
1 package Glitzer Transparent Stickers with Bling

Lily Bee “Lovely” Collection
1 Sheet “Charm”
1 Sheet “Whimsy”
1 Sheet Die-Cut frames
1 12x12 Rub-On Sentiments

Prima Marketing, Inc.
1 Package Lilliput Roses – Lime Cooler

Tattered Angels
1 Bottle Glimmer Glam – Tidepool

Donna Salazar
1 Package 7x7 corrugated board

May Arts
2 ft. Grosgrain Ribbon - Light Turquoise
2 ft. Grosgrain Ribbon - Celery

DoubleMates Cardstock
2 Sheets Glorious Green
2 Sheets Outdoorsy Olive

Mark your calendar and come and crop with us in the Hen House at Birds of a Feather February 4-6. We will be playing bingo that Friday night. There will be fun challenges and awesome prizes! Check out the Hen House for more details!

Absolutely sinful...but my kids are happy

2011-01-19T20:07:00.004-05:00

I remember my mom making these for me when I was a kid. Common sense tells me they are quite unhealthy, but my willpower is defenseless to them. And when the last one is sitting on the plate...you better watch out because elbows start flying, and an all out brawl ensues.

Heat about an inch of vegetable oil in a large sauce pan over medium heat.

Mix up a combination of sugar and cinnamon. I don't measure it. I'm guessing about 1/2 cup sugar and 1 Tbsp. of cinnamon.

Using a can (10 count) of biscuits, make holes in the center of each biscuit.

Once the oil is hot, turn heat down to medium-low and drop biscuits 3-4 at a time in hot oil. Let biscuits brown on one side, then turn.

Toss each biscuit in the cinnamon and sugar mixture. Repeat until all biscuits are done.

Watch the happy faces.

Enjoy!

Beauty.

2011-01-14T23:23:00.003-05:00

I finally cut into my November kit from Birds of a Feather that I have been hoarding for a couple of months. The papers are just so pretty, I had to admire them before I cut them up. I also needed just the perfect picture, and when I found this picture of my daughter, I knew that it was time to use those pretty papers.

Supplies used:

Patterned paper: Webster's Pages and BasicGrey

Flowers, lace, and butterflies: Prima

Alpha stickers: Webster's Pages

Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Walnut Stain

Prima say it in crystals not included in the kit.

Stitching it up!

2011-01-13T20:51:00.003-05:00

In an earlier post, I mentioned my new sewing machine and posted some pictures of fabric and patterns that I had purchased. I finally worked up the nerve to start cutting that fabric and really learn how to use my sewing machine. That machine is amazing! It has tons of stitch functions, most of which I have no idea what they even mean. I did use three different ones on my apron though. It has an automatic needle threader and thread cutter! (It's the little things that make me happy.) I learned how to read a pattern and many basic sewing techniques. I still have a lot to learn! Good grief, there are a lot of rules when it comes to sewing. I played around with my pattern and tweaked it some, and I still ended up with something that looked like an apron! It still needs a bit of work, but I'm happy with how it turned out being my first real sewing project.

Picture is courtesy of my five year old son and was straightened up with photoshop. ;)

Not to be outdone by her big brother, my three year old daughter wanted to take a picture too. Her style is a bit more...artsy... She did capture the finer parts of the apron though. ;)

And a new apron blog post needs a recipe to go with it right? Last night's menu was beef vegetable soup with cheesy potato bread. I used potatoes and tomato juice that I canned last summer in my soup.

Beef Vegetable Soup

1-1/2 lbs. beef stew meat, browned

1 qt. small potatoes, quartered

2 wedges cabbage, thinly sliced

1 small onion, diced

1 pkg (16 oz) frozen mixed vegetables (I use a corn/carrot/green bean/pea blend)

1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained

1 qt. tomato juice

1 can (14 oz) beef broth

1 beef bouillon cube

2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. pepper

Combine all ingredients in crock pot and cook on low for 8-10 hours.

Cheesy Potato Bread

(Bread machine recipe for 1-1/2 lb. loaf)

3/4 cup water

1/2 cup chopped, peeled potato

1/3 cup milk

1/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese

2 tsp. margarine or butter

3 cups bread flour

1 Tbsp. sugar

3/4 tsp. onion salt

1/4 tsp. caraway seed, crushed (optional)

1 tsp. active dry yeast or bread machine yeast

In a small saucepan combine the water and potato. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer about 10 minutes or until potato is very tender. Do not drain. Mash potato in the water. Measure potato-water mixture. If necessary, add water to equal 3/4 cup mixture. Discard any excess mixture.

Add the potato mixture and remaining ingredients to the machine according to the manufacturer's directions. Select the basic white bread cycle.

I'm eyeing the dress pattern and fabric I have here on my table, but I think I am going to hold off on starting that until I have a dress form. And a bit more practice. ;)

Greek Chicken Penne and Garden Patch Bread

2011-01-11T20:01:00.003-05:00

That's what we had for dinner tonight. I made the bread in my bread machine, and it was smelling so good before it even started baking. The great thing about both of these recipes is that my kids are eating vegetables, and they don't even know it!

Greek Chicken Penne

2-1/2 cups uncooked penne pasta

1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed

1/2 cup chopped red onion

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 Tbsp. olive oil

2 jars (7-1/2 oz. each) marinated quartered artichoke hearts, drained and chopped

1 large tomato, chopped

1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese

3 Tbsp. minced fresh parsley

2 Tbsp. lemon juice

2 tsp. dried oregano

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. ppepper

Cook pasta according to package directions.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook the chicken, onion, and garlic in oil over medium heat for 4-5 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink. Stir in the artichokes, tomato, cheese, parsley, lemon juice, oregano, salt, and pepper. Heat through.

Drain pasta. Toss with chicken mixture.

Garden Patch Bread

(Bread machine recipe for 1-1/2 lb. loaf)

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup coarsely shredded carrots

1/3 cup tomato juice

2 Tbsp. coarsely chopped red pepper

1 Tbsp. margarine

3 cups bread flour

1 tsp. sugar

3/4 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. onion powder

1/4 tsp. dried basil, crushed

1 tsp. active dry yeast

Add ingredients to machine according to manufacturer's directions. Select the basic white bread cycle. For my machine, I add wet ingredients, then dry ingredients, then make a well in middle of dry ingredients and add yeast to that. I also selected the light crust option.

Serve this with a tossed salad, and you have a complete meal!

Back Porch Memories Member Layout Sneak Peeks

2011-01-09T13:49:00.006-05:00

As promised, here are sneak peeks of the layouts I did with both the Solo and Medley kits at Back Porch Memories this month. Kit subscribers get access to the full pages and coordinating sketches used to create these pages.

The design team will be uploading their creations to the gallery tomorrow, so be sure and check out what they have created with these beautiful kits!

Back Porch Memories has a monthly guest designer contest too, and we are looking for a guest designer for February. You have to hurry because the contest ends tomorrow! Click here for more information on the February guest design team spot. And if you don't make it in time for that one, the new one for March will be posted very soon!

From my kitchen to yours

2011-01-06T20:51:00.005-05:00

Happy birthday to my mom today! The kids and I spent the morning baking this orange lemon cake for her. Isn't it pretty?
Here is the recipe, courtesy of Simple and Delicious magazine.

Orange Lemon Cake

1 box lemon cake mix
1 pkg (3 oz) orange gelatin
2/3 cup water
2/3 cup canola oil
4 eggs

Icing
1 cup confectioners' sugar
3-4 tsp orange juice

Combine first five ingredients. Beat on low speed for 30 seconds, then medium speed for 2 minutes. Pour into a greased and floured 10 inch fluted tube pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes. Cool cake in pan for 10 minutes before removing cake and cooling completely on wire rack.

Combine confectioners' sugar and enough orange juice to reach desired consistency. Drizzle icing over cake when cake is completely cooled.

I also made a family favorite for dinner - hot chicken salad. This is an easy and tasty recipe that can be adapted to your personal preferences. Add whatever you like - chopped celery, diced onions, chopped green pepper, slivered almonds, etc.

Hot Chicken Salad

3 cups cooked, cubed chicken
1 cup real mayo
1 cup (more or less as desired) frozen hash brown potatoes
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 Tbsp lemon juice
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
2/3 cup crushed potato chips

Combine all ingredients except for potato chips. Pour into a greased 8x8 baking dish. Top with potato chips. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-45 minutes.

After dinner and cake, we played a few games of Sorry and LCR.

And here is the birthday girl with two of her favorite people.

Happy birthday, Grandma! We love you!!

Operation Craft Room Reorganization

2011-01-05T22:26:00.005-05:00

Well, I bit the bullet and bought a new sewing table. The old sofa table that I could barely fit my legs under just wasn't cutting it. Based on the UPS tracking information, I knew it was coming today, so yesterday I started a small space clean up which turned into a massive room overhaul. I like how it is coming along, but there are still some things that I want to do. I found a smaller table that matches my scrap table, so that was perfect for sewing! I'm planning on getting a dress form too, but hubby says I have to wait until my birthday for that, so just pretend that is in that empty corner to the left of the sewing table.

I think I am going to put a vinyl quote on the wall above the spool racks and pictures. I found this on Etsy and I love it!

Love the quote itself, but also love Laura Ingalls Wilder, so that makes it extra special. Next on my crafting agenda is learning how to use that new sewing machine and making an apron. Wish me luck!

A few of my favorites from 2010

2011-01-03T22:14:00.006-05:00

I did a post of my favorite layouts of 2009 last January, and it was so much fun looking back at my pages that I decided to do it again this year. A couple of things struck me as I was going through my older blog posts. First, I didn't scrap nearly as much this year as I did last year. The main reason for that was because I started my Etsy shop with crocheted hats, and I was trying to get that off the ground, and trying to make enough hats to put into a craft show in October. That took up a huge amount of my crafty time. Secondly, I apparently have a thing for circles. Lots of circles. Another thing I noticed was that my style has evolved into a simpler, more clean lines type of scrapping. I'm not sure if this was a result of my personal taste or more related to the lack of scrapping time as noted above. Either way, I did create some pages last year that I really do love, and here are some of my favorites from 2010. So that's my scrappy year in review! Hopefully 2011 will be an inspiring one for us all!

Back Porch Memories January Kits

2011-01-02T21:28:00.004-05:00

January kits are up and available for purchase at Back Porch Memories! The Solo kit this month features My Mind's Eye Fine and Dandy Tickled Pink. The Medley kit includes collections from Fancy Pants Hot Chocolate, BasicGrey Marjolaine, and Bo Bunny Crazy Love. I don't know how anyone can choose as both kits are fantastic! Fortunately, I didn't have to choose as I am doing member layouts this month and got both kits!

Solo kit:

Medley kit:

For those of you that may not know what member layouts at Back Porch Memories are, let me give you a little bit of info. Member layouts are available only to kit subscribers. When you get your kit in the mail, there will be a password included that gives you online access to exclusive sketches and layouts all using both the Solo and Medley kits for that month. Using the sketches and layout examples is a fantastic way to save time and use up your kits each month! You get three sketches - two one page layout sketches and one two page layout sketch. We use every sketch with each kit, so you get six layout examples - and with one of the one page layout sketches, we turn it into a two pager to give you even more options! So all total, you get three one page layouts and three two page layouts to get inspiration from.

Tami Floyd was our resident sketch artist, but she has stepped down from the design team to pursue other ventures in life. I will miss seeing her gorgeous work each month at BPM, and I wish her all the best! I have taken over the responsibility of doing the monthly member layout sketches, and I hope I can do it justice! It has been fun this month, designing my own sketches and layouts, and I hope you all like what I have come up with! Look for sneak peeks on the 10th of the month!

I went back out to the flea market today to grab another canvas print to go with my corset prints to balance out the design on the wall of my craft room. Here's how it is looking so far. The empty spool rack looks really crooked in the picture lol. That rack is going to hold my embroidery thread. I don't have any yet, and that is why that rack is empty. I will take care of that soon enough. Just waiting for a sale at Hobby Lobby. I think I am going to buy or make one of those vinyl wall decals with a cool quote or something to put across the wall above the pictures and spool racks. Once I get my new sewing table next week, I will take a pic of the whole area and share it here.

I'm thinking with all of my crocheting and sewing, I might have to change the name of my blog! Does anyone have any creative ideas? I'm still scrapping, but want to incorporate all of my crafts and a bit of my personal life as well into the blog this year. So if you have a suggestion, please leave me a comment!

Start the New Year with a beautiful new kit from Birds of a Feather!

2011-01-01T20:14:00.004-05:00

Have you seen the January kit from Birds of a Feather? It is amazing! It includes papers from Cosmo Cricket's Circa 1934 collection and Jenni Bowlin's Family Tree collection. The colors in this kit are so rich and beautiful. Here's a picture of what in included:

Over at Back Porch Memories, the January kits will be revealed very soon. I am working on member layouts this month which are only available to kit subscribers, but look for sneak peeks on the 10th of the month. I am so glad that I got to work with both the Solo and the Medley kit this month because I love them both!

I am adding a new hobby to my ever growing list and going to try my hand at sewing. My parents gave me this awesome sewing machine for Christmas, and I can't wait to play with it!

My old sewing machine did two stitches, so this one is much more intimidating! It also does embroidery! So I have been spending the last week studying the users manual and buying patterns, fabric, and all of the other things I need to start doing some serious sewing. Hancock Fabrics had these thread spool holders on sale for $14.99 this week. I bought two - one for regular thread and one for embroidery thread.

I am going to start with an apron pattern. I plan on making matching ones for me and my daughter. Here is the fabric I am going to use for that. The white and black damask will be the main body of the apron, and the pink will be used to accent it.

After a bit more practice, I am going to try my hand at making a dress. I found a pattern and some fabric that I fell in love with. I really hope I can get good enough to do this. How cute will this be next spring/summer with some strappy dark brown sandals?

We hit the local flea market today, and I scored some really cool artwork for my craft room. I love these dressform and corset pictures! They are going to hang on the wall on the sewing side of my room. They were less than $5 each!

And these are going in my craft room on the scrappy side. I just love the vintage feel of them. They were less than $3 each!

I will leave you with a picture of the beautiful sunset we had tonight. What a gorgeous end to the first day of the year! Happy New Year everyone!

Back Porch Memories December Kit Reveal

2010-12-10T19:23:00.003-05:00

It's time again for the monthly kit reveal at Back Porch Memories! I worked with the Medley kit this month which featured product from the following collections: Little Yellow Bicycle - Christmas Delight, BasicGrey - Jovial, and Fancy Pants - Traditions. The Solo kit is absolutely amazing too, and includes Crate Paper's Snow Day collection.

Here's what I created with the Medley kit:

Winter Memories

Snowball Fight - This layout was based on a PageMaps sketch which will be featured in the upcoming Back Porch Memories newsletter.

Meeting Santa - This layout will be featured in the upcoming newsletter article, "Layouts in 15 Minutes or Less".

Happy Holidays card

I hope these get you in the holiday spirit! Be sure and visit the Back Porch Memories gallery to see what the rest of the design team created!

Birds of a Feather December Kit

2010-11-19T14:56:00.004-05:00

I am honored to be the guest designer for the month of December at Birds of a Feather! Amy has put together a beautiful kit this month, and it is full of product from Echo Park, Little Yellow Bicycle, Making Memories, and much more!! Be sure to grab your kit now before they sell out! Here's what I created with it:

Be sure and register for the forum (aka the Hen House) to chat with all of the wonderfully talented ladies there and to see the tutorial for the paper poinsettias on my wreath above!

Back Porch Memories Kit, Artist Printers Tray, and Hats!

2010-11-11T20:04:00.007-05:00

It's time for the Back Porch Memories kit reveal again! I had the pleasure of working with the gorgeous Medley kit this month which featured Bo Bunny Olivia, October Afternoon Seaside, and BasicGrey Wander. The Solo kit is beautiful this month too with BasicGrey Pyrus. Here's what I created this month with the Medley kit:
I also wanted to share with you what I did with the 7gypsies artist printers tray that my dear friend, Laura, sent to me for my birthday this year. I love how it turned out, and it looks great on my wall! I'm planning on adding a few more little odds and ends, but here it is for now.

I've also been crocheting lots of hats! I'm filling orders as fast as I can, and I'm also making some plans for some new styles and items in my Etsy shop! Christmas is coming, and my hats make great gifts! I'm also making boy hats now too, so be sure to check out my shop! Here are a few of my latest creations:
Please visit my Etsy shop for more!

You have to check out this brand new kit club!

2010-10-23T20:30:00.003-04:00

I am so excited and happy for my friend, Amy, who has just started a brand new scrapbooking kit club, Birds of a Feather! Check out the beautiful November kit which features papers from BasicGrey's Curio collection and Webster's Pages Wonderfall collection. It is also packed with beautiful embellishments including Prima flowers, butterflies, and lace, as well as Webster's pages ruffle trim and vintage sparklers!
Be sure and register on the message board (aka the Hen House) and chat away about scrapbooking, day to day stuff, and several monthly challenges are posted for you! Amy is also looking for guest designers, so if you want a chance to showcase your talent with one of her beautiful kits, be sure to check the new site out! And you better hurry if you want one of the November kits! There are only a few left!

Back Porch Memories September Kit Reveal

2010-09-10T19:52:00.004-04:00

The September kits at Back Porch Memories once again do not disappoint! The Medley kit features BasicGrey Olivia, Imaginisce Birthday Bash, and We R Memory Keepers Show and Tell. The Solo kit includes Sassafras Lass Indie Girl collection. Both kits have plenty of cardstock and embellishments to create several pages. I worked with the Medley kit this month, and here's what I created.

This was a fun page to make. I cut out the individual balloons and then used my sewing machine to stitch the strings and made a little bow with the ribbon in the kit to "tie" the strings together.

This page was a fun challenge for me. I don't usually do a ton of journaling on my pages, much less risk ruining a page by journaling directly on the page itself. *gasp* But I really wanted to get this story down on paper before I forgot it, and these WRMK papers were perfect for it!

This page was created for the "Layouts in 15 Minutes or Less" newsletter article. The Prima flowers were not included in the kit.

The kit included two cool birthday candles, and I was wanting to come up with a creative way to use one on a birthday card. This is my silly attempt at a layered birthday cake. I asked my kids if they knew what it was, and they had some difficulty identifying it, so I figured I better clarify lol. I used a rhinestone from the kit and some stickles from my stash to create the "flame".

Be sure and check out the Back Porch Memories Design Team gallery to see what the rest of these talented ladies created!

Kit 'n' Kaboodles September Kit Reveal

2010-08-24T13:24:00.004-04:00

The summer months can get pretty busy for me as I always do a lot of canning and freezing fresh food from the garden. I put up about 50 quarts of green beans, 150 ears of corn, a few batches of blackerry and raspberry preserves, 30 some odd jars of peach salsa, some sliced peaches for cobblers, and some tomato juice. I am done for now...until next month when I start on apples. Then I'll be making homemade applesauce and apple butter, and I might even freeze some apple pie fillings too. So, you can see why I needed to take a little break from scrapping, but I am happy to report that I have returned to the design team at Kit 'n' Kaboodles!

The September kit is loaded with goodies from Paper Trunk's Krafty Collection, Girl's Paperie die cuts, The Crafty Chronicle by Donna Salazar, and Smooch Spritz! Here are a couple of layouts that I have created with this kit:

Here's a glimpse of the kit:
I love the versatility of this kit. It is great for both boy and girl pages. I created the paper roses on the first page using The Crafty Chronicle and a technique I saw on Stacy Cohen's blog. I used pink bubble gum and candlelight glimmer mists on that page and on the flowers. That's it for me today! Happy Scrapping!

Back Porch Memories August Kit Reveal

2010-08-10T13:29:00.003-04:00

It's time to reveal my creations with the August Medley kit from Back Porch Memories! The Medley kit was packed with goodies from My Mind's Eye, So Sophie, KI Memories, Enchanting, and Echo Park, A Walk in the Park collections. I also bought the embellishment add on kit which included KI Memories dimensional stickers, Jenni Bowlin vintage buttons, and a Cat's Eye chalk ink in popcorn color.

And FYI, the Solo kit features Little Yellow Bicycle, Boardwalk collection! Be sure and visit the Back Porch Memories design team gallery to see what the rest of the team created!

Webster's Pages plus Prima

2010-07-20T14:57:00.003-04:00

I've been wanting to scrap these photos ever since I took them. I had a package of Webster's Pages Nature's Storybook papers that were just waiting for the perfect pictures. Throw in some Prima flowers, some lace, a Jenni Bowlin stick pin, and a touch of ribbon, and here's what I got:I also wanted to let you know that I'm doing a contest for my Etsy shop. To win a free hat, become a fan of my FB page, HookHappy.etsy.com. Then invite your friends to become a fan. Leave me a comment saying you have invited your friends, and one random person that leaves a comment will win a free hat of their choice, in any size! Hurry! You only have until 9pm EST tonight to do it!

Back Porch Memories Member Layout Sneak Peeks

2010-07-11T14:51:00.004-04:00

You don't want to miss the kits at Back Porch Memories this month! The Solo kit features Bo Bunny Sunkissed papers and coordinating embellishments. The Medley kit includes Cosmo Cricket DeLovely, Bo Bunny Peacock Lane, and October Afternoon Fly a kite, and is also packed with tons of coordinating embellishments too!

I did the member layouts this month. If you are a kit subscriber, you will get a password in your kit to view the entire images of layouts along with the coordinating sketches created by Tami Floyd. Here's a little sneak peek, though, to share with everyone!

I hope everyone is having a great summer! It sure has been a hot one here! Thanks for visiting my blog, and happy scrapping!

Still crocheting!

2010-06-23T14:29:00.002-04:00

A couple of new additions to my Etsy shop.My beautiful model:I'll be scrapping that picture for sure! I love it when I can combine my hobbies lol!

And speaking of Etsy shops, please check out my friend, Leslie's Etsy shop! She makes the most adorable hair bows! I love them!!

My latest Etsy addition

2010-06-18T20:14:00.003-04:00

Here's the hat I just finished yesterday. I love how this one turned out. I've had a lot of people ask me where I get my patterns. The truth is, I just gather some colors that I think look good together at that moment in time, and I make up the pattern as I go. After the hat is done, I type out the pattern so that I don't forget it the next time I need to use it. For this hat, I had a general idea of how I wanted it to look. After a couple of restarts and some quick math, I finally got it to work out.The hat shown here is size 2T-4T, but can be made in any size you need. Check out my Etsy shop for more information and for the rest of my hats!

Whipped up this one today

2010-06-15T20:43:00.002-04:00

Check out my Etsy shop for more!

Some more crocheted hats in my etsy shop!

2010-06-14T14:12:00.004-04:00

Back to my other hobby for a moment! I've listed a few new crocheted hats in my etsy shop!All of my hats are made in a clean, smoke free, and pet free home. They are made of super soft acrylic yarn so that they are comfortable on the head. I can make all of the hats in my shop any size you need from newborn to adult. Just specify the size you would like when you check out.

I would also love for you all to join my Hook Happy Facebook fan page! You can stay up to date on all of my newest listings and styles, and I also do special giveaways and surprises for my Facebook fans from time to time!

Back Porch Memories June Kit Reveal

2010-06-10T14:35:00.003-04:00

Wow! Has it really been a month since I have posted here? I just haven't had much time this month between working, my son's T-ball games, helping my dad build our deck, and working in the garden, I guess. Therefore, I haven't had much time to scrap either.

I did make time to sit down with the June Solo kit from Back Porch Memories which features BasicGrey Max and Whiskers. It is so cute! And versatile too! Not just for pets as you can see!Be sure and check out the gallery to see what the rest of the design team created!

Back Porch Memories May Kit Reveal

2010-05-10T12:29:00.003-04:00

Well, it is the 10th of the month which means it is reveal day at Back Porch Memories! I had the pleasure of working with the beautiful Medley kit this month which was full of goodies including BasicGrey Kioshi, Fancy Pants About a Girl, and Pink Paislee 365 Degrees. Be sure and check out the Solo kit too which features Fancy Pants My Family.

My first page is based on a PageMaps sketch which will be revealed in this month's newsletter.
Be sure and check out the DT gallery to see what the rest of the team created with this month's kits!

May KnK kit reveal part 2

2010-05-02T09:33:00.005-04:00

Here's the rest of my reveal with the May kit from Kit 'n' Kaboodles. Papers are Pink Paislee Bayberry Cottage and Prima Flights of Fancy. Butterflies and buttons are Jenni Bowlin. I did a little distressing and some machine stitching on this layout. Mother's Day is coming up, so I created this card with the kit. Don't you just love that pleated ribbon made by Pink Paislee? Hope you all have had a great weekend!

How about a little My Mind's Eye?

2010-04-28T15:11:00.003-04:00

I love this company. They seriously cannot go wrong with anything they do! I was lucky enough to get some of the beautiful Life Stories line from a Secret Santa swap in December from my KnK pal, Chelle. Thank you, Chelle! Tami and Cheri's manufacturer challenge was the perfect inspiration to stop hoarding these papers and actually use them! Sometimes paper is just to pretty to cut up right away. ;)

Kit 'n' Kaboodles May Kit Reveal

2010-04-24T09:23:00.003-04:00

I know I mentioned before how much I love the May kit from Kit 'n' Kaboodles, but it is worth repeating. This kit features papers from the Pink Paislee Bayberry Cottage and Prima Flights of Fancy lines. The butterflies are from Jenni Bowlin. Here are two layouts that I have created with it, and more are soon to come!

Today and Always:This is the page that I showed sneak peeks of below and described some techniques with Smooch Spritz.
(The design of this layout was inspired by a Creative Scrappers sketch.)

I Hope You Dance:Check back soon to see what else I have created with this kit! I can't seem to stop until it is all used up!

KnK's May Kit and Fun with Smooch Spritz

2010-04-17T22:50:00.002-04:00

Have you seen the May kit at Kit 'n' Kaboodles?? It is a total beauty, and designed by out very own Pam Bennett! It is loaded with Pink Paislee and Prima goodness, and I have been having so much fun with it!Check out this little cutie that comes in the add on kit!This was my first experience with Smooch Spritz, so I was interested to see just how it compared to Glimmer Mist. As I sprayed a little bit on a scrap piece of paper, my first observation was how vibrant the color was! And it is a little thicker, and not watered down. A little bit of this stuff goes a long way, so don't let the size of the bottle fool you!

I then decided that I wanted to do something a bit different with this stuff rather than just misting my background paper like I often do with Glimmer Mist. I wanted to put this stuff to the test. I pulled out my acrylic stamps, sprayed a little pool of Smooch Spritz on a piece of plastic, and used it like ink to stamp some flourishes on my page!Then I decided I wanted to do some stitching on my page, but I didn't have the right shade of DMC floss. Problem solved with Smooch Spritz! I cut a piece of white floss to the length I needed, wadded it up a bit, laid it on plastic, and sprayed it with the spritz, dying it the perfect color for my page! After letting it dry overnight, I was ready to start sewing!So, I guess I'll add Smooch Spritz to my list of must haves in all colors! Fortunately, Gerri-anne will be adding many more colors to the store very soon! I hope you like my sneak peeks and my little scrappy experiments! Check back soon to see the rest of my page!

A little bit more with the April KnK kit

2010-04-08T09:44:00.005-04:00

Still having fun with my Gazelle and the April KnK kit! And I just can't resist those cute banners. It is becoming a bit of an obsession!
Have you seen the April kits at Back Porch Memories?
Solo kit:Medley kit:
I'll have sneak peeks of the member layouts to show you with these kits this weekend!

KnK April Kit Creations

2010-03-27T10:25:00.004-04:00

I am loving this beautiful April kit from Kit 'n' Kaboodles! It features papers from Prima, Little Yellow Bicycle, and Bo Bunny, and they all coordinate beautifully together! I've also been having fun with my new Bosskut Gazelle!

For my first page, I used the Gazelle to cut the paper flowers and the loopy borders. I used rub ons from the kit to add the date to the top right corner of the page and the butterflies. I love the lace trim and the flower stick pins in this kit too!
I am also loving the latest trend - banners! I've been seeing them on pages created by some of my favorite scrappers like Jana Eubank and Virginia Tillery, and I couldn't wait to give it a try. I used my Gazelle to cut diamond shapes and then folded them over some DMC floss to create this banner. I think you will be seeing more of these on my pages soon! They are so much fun!That's it for me today! I hope you have a great weekend and happy scrapping!

More hats for sale in my Etsy shop!

2010-03-15T14:48:00.003-04:00

I have listed a few more crocheted hats in my Etsy shop! All of my hats are made with super soft acrylic yarn in a clean, smoke free, and pet free home. I make all of my hats as they are ordered, so please allow 3 weeks to receive your order. I also take custom orders too!

Don't forget to join my Facebook Fan Page! That's where you will find updates on new items, and I've already done a few giveaways! I'll be doing more giveaways and special offers only to my Facebook fans again soon! I'm giving away a free hat to a random fan for every 100 fans I get!Check out my Etsy shop to see more! And tell all of your friends about it too!

A little bit more with the KnK March kit

2010-03-14T08:01:00.003-04:00

Here are a couple more pages that I created using the beautiful March kit from Kit 'n' Kaboodles, featuring papers from Shabby Green Door's On the Wings of a Dream collection.

Just Chillin' at the Park: This page was a scraplift of a page by my friend, Laura. She issued a fun challenge in the forum to choose one of her layouts and scraplift it. You can see her page here. Here's my take on it:This Man is Her Hero: A piece of 12x12 white self adhesive canvas was included in the kit this month. I used a piece of it to mat my photo on this page, and then unraveled the edges to give it a worn fabric look. I have been scrapping a lot of older pictures lately. Hopefully my kids will get out of their run from the camera phase soon, and the weather gets nicer so we can get outside and get some new pictures!

Back Porch Memories March Kit Reveal

2010-03-11T08:58:00.003-05:00

The March kits at Back Porch Memories are beautiful! The Solo kit features papers from the Reminisce Unwritten collection. They are so vibrant and fun! The Medley kit includes Upsy Daisy Vogue, My Mind's Eye Quite Contrary, and Cosmo Cricket Garden Variety. I had the pleasure of working with the Medley kit this month, and this is what I came up with:

Be Happy
Adore.
A Wii Bit Obsessed (This layout is for the BPM newsletter article, "Layouts in 15 Minutes or Less")
And here's a birthday card I whipped up. I used the mini bags that came in the kit to make a pocket for a gift card.Be sure and check out the Back Porch Memories gallery to see what the rest of the incredibly talented design team created!

My scrap space - a work in progress

2010-03-06T22:10:00.003-05:00

As many of you know, we finished our garage last year, and added on to the front of the house, creating two new rooms plus another much needed bathroom. The finished garage space has become a play room for the kids which I love since their toys are now out of our living room! The new addition is my craft room, again removing all of that stuff from the living room, so that now we all have our own space for everything! I finally have furniture in my craft room, but nothing on the walls yet, hence, it is a work in progress, but I wanted to share some pictures of what my room looks like so far. I bought the trestle desk from target.com, and I am completely in love with it! I still want to get a braided rug and a new chair. The chair I'm using actually belongs with our dining room table. My sewing table is an old sofa table that I bought several years ago and had stored in the basement for a while. I bought the white Jetmax cubes 1/2 off at Michael's. Good lighting was a must have, so in addition to the light/fan in the middle of the room, we added track lighting to three of the four walls. I'm instantly happy when I walk into this room! I can't wait to get some things up on the wall to make it even more cozy. I'm still tweaking it and rearranging things and getting it just the way I want it, but it is so much better than the tiny corner of the living room that I was creating in. So there you have it! A peek into my creative space! I hope you enjoyed this little virtual tour!

Bunny Hop Crop Today and Blog Hop!

2010-03-06T03:00:00.005-05:00

Kit 'n' Kaboodles and Creativity Boutique are teaming up today for a day long crop on the KnK message board. The fun starts at 9am EST. Challenges, games, mini classes, and prizes are on the agenda! We would love for you to join us!

If you are visiting my blog for the Kreative Kaboodles Blog Hop, the word you are looking for is:

croppin'

I'm all about making this easy lol. Next up on the blog hop is Jules. To get to the beginning of the blog hop, go to the Kreative Kaboodles blog for instructions. Happy scrapping!

March KnK Kit Creations

2010-03-04T04:00:00.001-05:00

If you haven't seen the March kit at Kit 'n' Kaboodles, rush over there now and check it out! Kudos to my fellow KnK design team member, Amy, for designing this month's gorgeous kit! This is my first experience with Shabby Green Door products, and I can definitely say that it won't be my last. I am in love! Here's a layout and a card that I whipped up with this kit:I created the layered flower by spraying the different layers with glimmer mist. I punched butterflies out of the transparent sheet music paper and used the beads as the body of the butterfly. I sort of draped the rest of the beads around the picture, creating a butterfly trail.I did a little cut work for this card, and I stamped the sentiment across the banner. I used glimmer mist again on the flower. That's it for me today! I hope you all have a great day! Happy scrapping!

Back Porch Memories February Kit Reveal

2010-02-09T19:36:00.003-05:00

Back Porch Memories has more gorgeous kits for you this month! The Solo kit features papers from BasicGrey's Sugar Rush collection. The Medley kit includes papers from American Crafts Letterbox, BasicGrey Origins, and Fancy Pants Frosted. Both kits are stunning and chock full of fun embellishments! I worked with the Solo kit this month, and here's what I created:
Be sure and check out the BPM gallery to see what the rest of the design team created! These ladies have amazing talent, and you don't want to miss their projects with these kits!

A little more Lily Bee

2010-02-08T08:17:00.004-05:00

Still playing with the February kit from Kit 'n ' Kaboodles! Here are a couple of layouts and a card that I made.I hope you all have a great day! I'll be back in a couple of days with some more layouts to share with the Solo kit from Back Porch Memories featuring BasicGrey Sugar Rush!

Oh, and here's another hat I have listed in my Etsy store!

Check out my new Etsy store!!

2010-02-05T20:24:00.005-05:00

I am very excited to announce that I am now selling crocheted hats on Etsy! My grandmother taught me to crochet when I was in the 4th grade, and I am so happy to be sharing my creations with all of you! Please check out my store here. My store name is Hook Happy. I thought that was kind of cute and catchy LOL.

I have four hats listed right now, but I plan on adding many more designs once I get them done. I just couldn't wait to get started! I can make the hats listed in any size, and I can change colors based on your likes and needs. All of my items are made in a clean, smoke free, pet free home. All hats are made with super soft acrylic yarn, so that they are very comfortable on the head. Here are some samplings of what you will find in my store:If you are on Facebook, I have started a fan page to keep people up to date on my latest creations, and I will be offering Facebook fans special deals and even having giveaways from time to time. I'll be doing a giveaway to a random Facebook fan in two weeks! Click here to become a fan! I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am about this, and I hope you all will support me in this new venture!

Don't worry, scrappy friends! I'm still scrapping too! I have a some new layouts to share with you very soon!

KnK February Kit Creations!

2010-01-24T13:14:00.003-05:00

I came home from work on Friday and found out that my February kit from Kit 'n' Kaboodles had arrived! This is the one that I designed, so I was dying to see it in person. These papers are even more beautiful in real life than they look online! The colors are so rich. I dug into my kit last night and came up with these two pages:

Family of 4:

Pretty Ponytails:On this page, I painted a section of the grunge paper with Smooch ink which is in the add on kit. Once that dried, I stamped it with the Stampendous stamp included in the add on kit as well. Then I cut out the heart shape and tied one of the 7gypsies mini keys to the chain and draped it over the heart. I love the shimmer of the Smooch ink and the look of it on the grunge paper! I'll be back soon with more projects using this kit!

Kit 'n' Kaboodles February Kit

2010-01-19T09:51:00.001-05:00

I had the pleasure of designing this month's kit at Kit 'n' Kaboodles! I hope you all love it as much as I do. It features paper from Lily Bee's Audrey collection.Also included in this kit:

Lily Bee Audrey die cut sheet
Jillibean Soup black alphabeans and journaling sprouts
Jenni Bowlin Adore bingo card
7gypsies mini keys
Tim Holtz grungepaper
American Crafts chain and connectors
Prima flowers
Stampendous Love Chain Class a' Peel stickers
Bazzill cardstock in Berlin and Steel Blue

Be sure and check out the kit add ons here. Gerri-anne has posted two beautiful projects with this kit already! Be sure and visit the gallery often to see what the rest of the design team creates this month!

January kits at Back Porch Memories

2010-01-15T21:01:00.005-05:00

Have you seen the January kits at Back Porch Memories? The Solo kit features papers from Sassafras Lass' Monstrosity line. The Medley kit includes Pink Paislee Cupid, Bella Blvd. Honey I'm Home, and Sassafras Lass Amplify papers. I love both kits! And lucky for me, I got both of them this month! I did the member layouts based on Tami's awesome sketches. You have to be a kit subscriber to see the sketches and layouts I created, but I can give you a little sneak peek if you are interested.Be sure and check out the gorgeous creations by the rest of the design team right here.

A couple more KnK January kit creations

2010-01-10T11:19:00.003-05:00

Here is another layout and a card with a coordinating envelope that I created with the January kit from Kit 'n' Kaboodles. I have to admit that this kit was a little intimidating to me at first, with its bright, bold colors and large patterns, but I ended up loving it and everything that I made with it, and I loved the challenge of scrapping a little bit outside of my comfort zone.
Be sure and visit us over at KnK and check out what the rest of the design team created with this beautiful kit! And the reveal of the February kit is just in a few days, and you don't want to miss it!

My favorites from 2009

2010-01-01T14:56:00.007-05:00

Happy New Year! I've seen a few other bloggers do this, and I thought it would be fun to look back at the pages I created in the last year and post some of my favorites. So, here is 2009, a year in review, from a scrappy perspective:

It's been such a fun year doing design team work for Back Porch Memories, Kit 'n' Kaboodles, and Creative Scrappers, and I truly cherish all of the friendships I've made along the way. I love having a hobby that is so full of caring and supportive people! I hope that I've been able to inspire a few people along the way. Let's hope for more of the same in 2010!

Kit 'n' Kaboodles January Kit Creations

2009-12-23T14:54:00.003-05:00

2010 is right around the corner, and at Kit 'n' Kaboodles we are ringing in the New Year with a funky, fun, bold kit featuring paper from Paper Trunk's Socialite collection! This kit is so much fun with all of the vibrant colors against the black cardstock and accents. I challenged myself to sort of think outside of the box and do some things that I don't normally do with this kit. Here are a couple of layouts I've created with it so far:
I hope everyone has a wonderful and safe Holiday season!

Back Porch Memories December Kit Reveal

2009-12-11T14:41:00.003-05:00

I received the Solo kit from Back Porch Memories this month, and it was loaded with papers from Lily Bee's Vintage Poppy line, Making Memories vintage buttons and stamps, and much, much more! I also bought the embellishment add on which included Lily Bee Vintage Poppy flowers, Little Yellow Bicycle rub ons, and Making Memories vintage trims. Here is a look at what I created with this kit:
Be sure and check out what the rest of the design team created this month by clicking here. While you are there, be sure to take a peek at the gorgeous Medley kit this month too! Happy scrapping!

Kreative Kaboodles Holiday Blog Hop

2009-12-06T09:00:00.002-05:00

Welcome to the Kreative Kaboodles Holiday Blog Hop! If you came from Chris' blog you are heading in the right direction. If you came from somewhere else, and want to start at the beginning of the blog hop, go to the Kreative Kaboodles blog and start there. Be sure to become a follower of the Kreative Kaboodles blog to be entered to win a prize!

For my handmade holiday gift idea, we will be making a set of coasters! With the holidays fast approaching, many of us are looking for quick and easy, inexpensive gifts for people on our lists. Why not take your scrap supplies and whip up these handmade coasters? They are perfect for coworkers, hostess gifts, and stocking stuffers!

You will need:
(4) 4x4" squares of glass of plexiglass
(4) 4x4" squares of thin cork
Mod podge and a foam brush
Patterned paper
Scissors or paper trimmer
Craft knife and cutting mat
Bone folder
Ribbon
Paint a layer of mod podge on the back of the glass.Cut a square of patterned paper slightly larger than your glass square and adhere it face down to the back of the glass square, so that your pattern shows through the glass. Smooth out the paper with a bone folder.Once the mod podge dries, turn the glass over and trim off the excess paper with a craft knife.
Paint a layer of mod podge on the back of the coaster and adhere a cork square to the bottom of the coaster. Once mod podge is dry, trim off excess cork if necessary with a craft knife.
Here are all four coasters to complete the set:
Stack the coasters and tie them together with a pretty ribbon. Personalize your gift by including your favorite recipe for mulled cider, eggnog, or hot cocoa.I hope you enjoyed this tutorial! Please leave me a comment, and then hop on over to Jules' blog to see what kind of cool holiday gift idea she has for you!

More KnK December kit goodness

2009-12-04T09:15:00.003-05:00

Here are a couple more layouts that I did with the December kit from Kit 'n' Kaboodles. I loved the blues and reds and all of the glitter in this kit!Yes, Chloe is wearing most of her hot chocolate, but look how happy she is!

Be sure to check back on Sunday, December 6th as the KnK and Creativity Boutique design teams are joining forces for a blog hop! Each design team member will post a handmade holiday gift idea. You won't want to miss it, and rumor has it, there may be a prize involved! The fun starts on the Kreative Kaboodles blog at 9am EST.

Farm Girl

2009-11-29T16:42:00.003-05:00

In the process of moving my stuff into my scrap room and reorganizing everything, I found paper and things that I forgot I even had. That led to the evolution of this page which uses a hodge podge of papers from Cosmo Cricket, Graphic 45, and Sassafras Lass. I also had an urge to do a bit of stamping since I had also gone through and reorganized all of my stamps. I used a really cute leaf sprig stamp that came in a set that my friend, Laura sent to me as a RAK a while back. I added a few Prima flowers and called it done!So rereading what I wrote above just makes it sound like I just whipped up this page, but I was struggling with picture placement and design as I'm not used to using so many photos on a page, so I decided to sketch it out before I did the page, and this sketch is what I am using for the sketch challenge at Kit 'n' Kaboodles this week. I would love to see what you do with this sketch, so if you use it, please post it for me to see!

The Best That We Can Get

2009-11-24T14:24:00.003-05:00

Last night, I sat down in my scrap room and did something that I haven't done in a long time. I created a page just for me. It wasn't a design team project or a submission for a contest or anything like that. It was just something that I wanted to create just because. Being crammed into a corner of the living room was stifling my creativity. Now I have the freedom to move, to breathe, to CREATE! It is amazing what a difference that has made. Here's what I came up with:
My page is based on this week's Pencil Lines sketch. As soon as I saw it, I knew I had to do something with it. Paper, stickers, and bingo card are October Afternoon. Glitter flowers are Petaloo. I also had fun with some Glimmer Mist! I'm headed back into the scrap room while the mojo is flowing and the kids are still napping!

A couple of creations with the December KnK kit

2009-11-24T00:27:00.004-05:00

I put my new scrap room to good use this week with the Kit 'n' Kaboodles December kit. Here are a couple of my projects:

Believe in the Magic of Winter layout:Snowflake Banner:Closeup of snowflake banner:I loved those cute little vintage Santa images, and I thought this was the perfect way to use them! Both of the kids are old enough to be really into Santa Claus this year, so they were very excited to see this project.

Here's a picture of my new scrap table! I can't even begin to tell you how much I love it! I'm thinking about giving it a name, I love it so much LOL. I got it at Target, and with 15% off and free shipping, I just couldn't pass it up. I love the shelves under it for easy access to my most frequently used supplies. The picture really doesn't do this table justice. I love how big the work surface is! I can spread all out now and actually see what I have! I'll post pictures of the completed room once we have the trim done and curtains hung. Reorganizing all of my stuff has been a nightmare, but I think I finally have a handle on it. I'm hoping to get some more furniture/shelves for storage soon. I also have a couple more layouts with the December kit to share with you soon too! I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

KnK December Kit and a Sketch Challenge

2009-11-17T07:32:00.000-05:00

The Kit 'n' Kaboodles December Kit was revealed last night, and boy is it GORGEOUS! And loaded to boot! Papers are from SEI's Winter Song collection and Bo Bunny's Snowy Serenade Limited Edition. Also included in the kit are SEI sparkling frost die-cuts, a wood cardinal flourish, peel off sticky snowflakes with glitter and flock, and core'dinations cardstock!The add on kit will be available in the store on November 18th, and trust me when I say, you will definitely want to snag one of those too! Be sure and visit the KnK design team gallery throughout the month to see what we have created with this kit.

I'm also excited to announce that on the KnK message board we are hosting regular sketch challenges to jumpstart your mojo! Every other Friday, I'll be posting a new layout sketch. On the other Fridays, a card sketch will be posted by Creativity Boutique. These are just for fun, but since this week is our first one, I'm offering a RAK to a random person who completes the challenge and posts it in the forum! Deadline for the RAK is midnight EST, November 27th. Here's the current sketch:Come on over to the forum and check it out! More information on the sketch challenges can be found in the Sketches part of the message board. Hope to see you there!

Back Porch Memories November Kit Reveal

2009-11-10T13:08:00.003-05:00

I worked with the gorgeous medley kit from Back Porch Memories this month which was packed with goodies from Crate Paper, Bella Blvd, and We R Memory Keepers! I also bought the add on kit this month. Be sure and check out the November design team gallery to see what the rest of the team created with both the Medley and the Solo kits.

Farm Life:That Hat: (This layout is based on a Becky Fleck sketch which you will see in the upcoming BPM newsletter.)Close up of tag in pocket tucked behind pictures:Play:You are amazing card: (measures 4x4")

KnK November reveal part 2

2009-11-06T07:46:00.003-05:00

Here are the rest of my layouts with the Kit 'n' Kaboodles November kit. I actually even did a two page layout, which is very unusual for me. I loved this kit so much that I had to order all of the coordinating add on papers too, and they are all just gorgeous! This Little Yellow Bicycle Autumn Bliss collection is simply stunning, and I just can't get enough of it. This is one of those collections that I plan on using up until there isn't a scrap of paper left.I also have in my hot little hands the KnK December kit! I can't spill yet what is in it, but suffice it to say that it is beautiful! I've never been so excited to scrap winter/Christmas pictures! Be sure to check the KnK homepage on November 16th for the reveal of this gorgeous kit! I'm sure I'll have to have all of the add ons for this one too.

KnK November kit and one more Nikki Sivils layout

2009-10-23T06:48:00.003-04:00

If you haven't seen the November kit at Kit 'n' Kaboodles, you really should check it out! It's a beauty, and includes papers from Little Yellow Bicycle's Autumn Bliss line which I just can't get enough of! I've already ordered all of the add on papers from that collection. Here's a quick and easy layout that I created with the kit:I also have one more Nikki Sivils layout to share using the Victoria's Street line. I had this layout in mind for a while, but needed a picture of the outside of the house, finished. So I took a picture last weekend, and when I went to print it, my printer was out of ink, so I had to print it in black and white to get the layout done. I'll probably replace the picture with color pictures now that I have some ink. These papers were perfect for our remodeling project!
The tree is Riff Raff chipboard, and I added cinnamon Stickles to the heart leaves. That's all I have for now! I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Back Porch Memories Member Layout Sneak Peeks

2009-10-17T09:12:00.005-04:00

The October kits are now available at Back Porch Memories, and they are both fantastic! If I had to choose one this month, I don't know which one it would be because I love them both! Fortunately, I didn't have to choose because I did the member layouts this month, so I got both kits anyway! I got to work with Tami Floyd's awesome sketches, and boy do they spark some creative inspiration! Only kit club members get access to the sketches and to the member layouts, but I can show you some sneak peeks...Here are pictures of the kits. Hurry and get yours now before they sell out!
Solo kit:Medley kit:

Nikki Sivils

2009-10-16T20:55:00.003-04:00

Creativity Boutique has Nikki Sivils papers in stock! I was lucky enough to get my hands on some of the Victoria's Street papers, and I'm having so much fun with them. Here are a couple of layouts that I've created, and I have a couple more projects in mind for this weekend.Be sure and visit the Kreative Kaboodles blog to see what Amy, Pam, and Chris created with some of Nikki's other paper lines!

I also got my November Kit 'n' Kaboodles kit today, and just wait until you see it! Gorgeous doesn't even begin to describe it, and I can't wait to dig into it! Keep an eye out for it to be revealed on the KnK home page tonight or tomorrow!

A little bit more from KnK

2009-10-09T09:50:00.004-04:00

Here are a couple more projects that I created using the October kit from Kit 'n' Kaboodles. My layout was based on a sketch by Kristine Davidson for Creative Scrappers. I really wanted to show off the versatility of the Core'dinations cardstock in this kit, so I did a lot of tearing, sanding, and distressing with my projects this month.

Making Brownies layout:Hugs card:Hope you all have a great weekend!

Kit 'n' Kaboodles October Kit Reveal

2009-09-26T08:52:00.003-04:00

We are playing with some gorgeous papers from Scrap Within Reach and 7gypsies this month at Kit 'n' Kaboodles! The purples and greens in this kit are gorgeous, and we are also playing with Core'dinations cardstock too! This cardstock is so fun! This is my first time playing with this stuff, and I have been ripping, sanding, and distressing like crazy! Here are a couple of layouts I have created so far with this beautiful kit.

Someday Her Prince Will Come:Adorable:Have a great weekend!

Workmen

2009-09-20T10:25:00.003-04:00

Here's my page for Sketch #70 at Creative Scrappers this week. I used Graphic 45 papers, Prima Say it in Crystals, 7gypsies mini keys, and misc. chipboard letters from Hobby Lobby that I inked with red and black distress ink. Journaling reads: "Nothing makes Caleb happier than spending the day working with Grandpa. He calls Grandpa every morning while eating breakfast and asks Grandpa if he is coming over to work with him. Caleb and Grandpa spent a lot of time this spring working on the electric fence. I'm so glad that Caleb enjoys spending time with Grandpa, and that Grandpa is teaching Caleb everything he knows."

My new craft room is coming right along. Bill is laying the floor today! All that will be left is trim work, and then I can start moving in. I have been spending the weekend packing up all of my scrap stuff in preparation for the move. I'll post pictures when I get it done. Hope you all are having a great weekend!

Happy Anniversary!

2009-09-14T23:31:00.003-04:00

Happy Anniversary to my husband, the most wonderful man in the world! Anyone who will put up with me for seven years has to be someone special! I created this card with the September Medley kit from Back Porch Memories. Papers are Pink Paislee Amber Road and Bazzill cardstock. The sentiment is an old stamp from my stash. I love how these papers can be used for a masculine card or layout.

I posted an update on my craft room here. It is painted, and the electric work is done. Hopefully, moving on to floors this weekend!

Back Porch Memories September Kit Reveal

2009-09-11T21:46:00.004-04:00

I loved working with the Medley kit from Back Porch Memories this month! It was jam packed with products from Pink Paislee, SEI, and My Mind's Eye. Here are the layouts I created.

Making Applesauce:
(This layout was based on a Becky Fleck sketch which you will see in the upcoming Back Porch Memories newsletter.)Best Friends:Tell Me a Story: (This layout was created for the newsletter article, "Layouts in 15 minutes or less")Be sure and check out what the rest of the DT created this month by clicking here.

Teething Bites

2009-09-06T13:54:00.003-04:00

I couldn't get that title out of my head the whole time I was working on this page for Sketch #68 at Creative Scrappers. Our sketch this week is by the owner of Creative Scrappers, and my friend, Kristine Davidson. For my page, I used Cosmo Cricket Early Bird papers and chipboard stickers, Prima Say it in Crystals, Doodlebug letter stickers, and lace trim. To add a little bit of flair and some more red to the page, I used a scalloped border punch around the top and left side of the kraft paper and added the red cardstock border. Be sure and check out the Creative Scrappers blog to see what the rest of the DT created!

KnK September Kit Reveal Part 2

2009-09-05T07:56:00.003-04:00

Included in the September kit from Kit 'n' Kaboodles is a Heidi Swapp Invisibles chipboard piece. This thing is so cool! It is all white, but you can see a design embossed on it. That design resists coloring mediums like ink and glimmer mist. I used coffee shop glimmer mist on mine. I sprayed the whole piece, and then wiped away the excess with a paper towel which revealed the design. I wanted more of a vintage feel to the page, so I used some papers and items that weren't in the original kit, but everything on this page can either be bought in the KnK store or was included in a past KnK kit. I really like how these Invisibles look, and I need to get some more and play with some more mediums to create different looks!Here's a simple little card I made using the September kit which included these cute ladybugs. I've heard that ladybugs are supposed to bring luck, so I created a "Best of Luck" card. I took the lady bug apart and sprayed the wings with red glimmer mist and painted the body and head with black paint. That's all I have for now! I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

A Cherry On Top Guest Creative Team Member

2009-09-03T14:16:00.004-04:00

That's what I am for the month of September! I had the pleasure of working with gorgeous papers from the K&Co. Fall line. Everyone at ACOT is wonderful, and their gallery is full of amazing pages by so many talented scrappers. I am honored to be a part of the team this month! Thank you all for having me! Click here to see the full article and to learn a little bit more about me! Here are the pages I created:

Cream of the Crop
Our Little PumpkinThanksgiving '08

Kit 'n' Kaboodles September Kit

2009-08-26T13:31:00.003-04:00

The September kit at Kit 'n' Kaboodles is such a fun one! It features papers from 3 Bugs in a Rug Butterfly Kisses collection. Bright, bold colors with whimsical butterflies, dragonflies, and ladybugs are the theme here. It is perfect for those hot summer days. Here's what I've created so far with this kit.

Creative Scrappers Sketch #66

2009-08-23T09:01:00.003-04:00

We had a really fun sketch to work with this week at Creative Scrappers by Karan Gerber. For my page, I used Lily Bee, Crate Paper, and Pink Paislee papers, Riff Raff chipboard sprayed with glimmer mist, Paper Studio flowers, and American Crafts Thickers. Click here to see the sketch and what the rest of the design team created. It is another week of fabulous reveals!

A new sketch for you

2009-08-16T13:38:00.003-04:00

Here's a new sketch that I created which is sketch #65 at Creative Scrappers this week.Click here to see the gorgeous pages that the design team created using this sketch! I love seeing what people create with my sketches, so if you use it, please leave me a link so I can check it out!

Back Porch Memories August Kit Reveal

2009-08-10T09:28:00.004-04:00

I worked with the Medley Kit this month at Back Porch Memories which was full of gorgeous papers from October Afternoon, BasicGrey, and 3 Bugs in a Rug. I loved this kit, and I bought the extra papers and add ons as well. I already showed you a sneak peek with my Beach (towel) Bum layout below. Here are two more layouts and a card that I created with this kit, and I have another layout in mind that I hope to work on this week.

Mini Golf (based on a Pagemaps sketch which you will see in the upcoming newsletter)
Silly GirlYou're So Tweet CardBe sure and check out the August DT Gallery to see what the rest of the team created!

My Favorite Layout to Date

2009-08-09T11:16:00.003-04:00

Here's what I love about Creative Scrappers. A new sketch is posted every week, and these sketches are amazing. They always get the creative juices flowing. This week's sketch is no exception. Here's my take on Sketch #64. I used a hodge podge of papers on this page, including Pink Paislee, Graphic 45, Webster's Pages, and October Afternoon. Flowers are Prima and The Paper Studio. Bling is Prima Say it in Crystals. Alphas are American Crafts and Doodlebug. Thanks for looking, and be sure and check out all of the other fabulous pages by the Creative Scrappers Design Team!

Beach (towel) Bum

2009-08-02T21:22:00.005-04:00

Have you seen the August kits at Back Porch Memories? They are gorgeous! The Solo kit includes BasicGrey's June Bug collection. The Medley kit includes BasicGrey Lemonade, 3 Bugs in a Rug Spread Your Wings, and October Afternoon Cherry Hill papers. I have the pleasure of working with the Medley kit this month, and I had to have the embellishment add ons too which included BasicGrey Lemonade chipboard stickers and October Afternoon Cherry Hill wild cards. Here's a sneak peek at what I have created with the Medley kit:Check out these fabulous kits!
Solo kit:
Medley kit:Be sure and check back on the 10th for the rest of the reveal!

KnK August Kit Reveal

2009-07-30T09:16:00.003-04:00

Here's what I created with the awesome August kit from Kit 'n' Kaboodles. We worked with Luxe Designs Ecology line.

Two pager: A Day at the Zoo:
By Myself: (Took the picture crooked, so the whole page looks crooked LOL)Corn on the Cob:Altered chipboard house. This little house comes in the kit! Isn't it cute?The only things I added that weren't in the kit were the Thickers and buttons. It's hard to tell in the pictures, but I left more white space on the one page layouts because that white cardstock has a gorgeous embossed swirl pattern on it! A bunch of the KnK gals are in Orlando this week for CHA, so I'm sure we will be seeing a lot of fun new products being added to the store and in upcoming kits very soon! I can't wait to see what they have in store for us!

Congratulations to the new Creative Scrappers Design Team!

2009-07-24T08:09:00.003-04:00

Congratulations to the new Design Team at Creative Scrappers! Kristine and I are very excited about the August-October term! Click on the names below to view their blogs.

Carol Antrim
Michelle Crawford
Patti McCarthy
Jamie Harder
JJ Sobey
Martha Rice
Tara Orr
Amy Gaskins
Rita Vergara
Noemi Prive
Ashley Smith
Anna Koziarek
Debbie Nicholas
Mia Montalvan-Castrillo

Join us at Creative Scrappers on Tuesday, July 28 at 8pm EST for a two hour ad challenge! You could win a set of clear stamps from our sponsor, My Stamp Box! I hope to see you there!

Cosmo Cricket Girl Friday and KnK August Kit

2009-07-19T10:24:00.003-04:00

I've been hoarding these Cosmo Cricket papers for a while now, and these fun pictures that I took of Chloe swinging upside down gave me the perfect excuse to use them. I created this week's sketch at Creative Scrappers and that's what I used for this page. Here is my page for Creative Scrappers Sketch #61 Along with Cosmo Cricket, I used Heidi Swapp and Imaginisce flowers, American Crafts Thickers, and misc. lace and trim from Hobby Lobby on my page. I did a lot of distressing and inking on this page too.

I also want to give you a peek at the August kit at Kit 'n' Kaboodles. Doesn't it look fun?

Back Porch Memories Sneak Peeks

2009-07-11T21:11:00.004-04:00

I had the pleasure of doing the member layouts at Back Porch Memories this month. I got to play with both the Solo and Medley kits, and I created six layouts (3 one page layouts and 3 two page layouts) with some fabulous sketches by DT member, Tami Floyd. If you are a BPM kit subscriber, you will be able to access the sketches and all of my layouts with the username and password included in your kit. If you aren't a kit subscriber, what are you waiting for? These kits are fantastic! Here are some sneak peeks of what I created...

I Love That Face

2009-07-05T10:07:00.003-04:00

Here's my take on Creative Scrappers sketch #59. This week's sketch was created by Kristine Davidson who also redesigned my blogs this week! Thank you Kristine!

For my page, I used Fancy Pants Summer Soiree papers, Tim Holtz Grungeboard that I covered with Stickles, Bo Bunny border sticker, and Doodlebug alpha stickers. Don't forget about the Creative Scrappers DT call and the One Picture, Many Pages contest! Deadlines are quickly approaching!

KnK Reveal Part 2, Creative Scrappers Sketch #58 and Design Team Call

2009-06-28T14:12:00.006-04:00

As promised, here are a couple more projects that I whipped up with the July kit from Kit 'n' Kaboodles.Sketch #58 was revealed at Creative Scrappers today. I created this sketch, and the design team did a fantastic job with it! A very inspiring reveal today, indeed. Be sure and check out what they created using this sketch!Don't forget, Creative Scrappers is having a Design Team Call! Be sure and check it out!
I'm off to go clean up my mess from the KnK July kit, and I'm going to make another mess with the July kits from Back Porch Memories!

KnK July Kit Reveal, CS Contest, BPM Sneak Peeks!

2009-06-27T07:43:00.005-04:00

I have been having so much fun with this kit! I probably say this every time, but I think this is my favorite one yet! Here is a layout and a mini album that I created using this kit. I have a couple more projects to share later using this kit too. It is just one of those kits that you have to keep creating with until you use up every little bit!Did you see the picture I used for the layout? That is the picture that is being used for the One Picture, Many Pages Contest at Creative Scrappers. This is really a fun contest! All you have to do is click on the link to the forum and print out the picture. You can alter it any way you choose. For example, I made mine black and white. Create your page any way you want, and email it to Kristine by Thursday, July 9th. After the contest is over, Kristine will post all of the pages, and participants will vote for their favorite layout. There will be two winners, one for favorite layout, and one random drawing from all participants. The winners will receive a prize from our sponsor this month, My Creative Scrapbook! Click here for all of the details. I hope you will join us!

Sneak peeks are up for July kits at Back Porch Memories!
Solo kit:Medley kit:
Stamps:Hope you all have a great weekend!

Creative Scrappers Sketch #57, Design Team Call, and the KnK July Kit

2009-06-21T07:32:00.004-04:00

Sketch #57 has been posted at Creative Scrappers! Click here to see the sketch and what the rest of the design team created. I kept my page pretty simple since there were so many pictures, and they were a little busy with some bold colors. I used Crate Paper Lil Sprout papers, and cut out the little trees and animals on the bottom of the page and attached them with pop dots to give the page some dimension.
Creative Scrappers is looking for a new Design Team! Click here for details on that. The term starts August 1 and runs through October. If you love working with sketches, this is the team for you! Submissions are being taken now through July 8.

Have you seen the July kit from Kit 'n' Kaboodles? It is GORGEOUS! I'm having so much fun playing with the new Webster's Pages Sweet as Cherry Pie and Cosmo Cricket Early Bird papers! There's also some awesome embellishments including Bo Bunny chipboard, buttons and bling, and stickers, Cosmo Cricket chipboard, and some beautiful lace trim!Check back soon to see what I've created with this kit!

Back Porch Memories June Kit Reveal

2009-06-10T08:07:00.004-04:00

I had the pleasure of working with the Solo Kit at Back Porch Memories this month, and it was full of My Little Yellow Bicycle Zinnia papers, glitter chipboard stickers, and brads, GCD Studios glitter alpha stickers, My Little Shoebox ribbons, Bazzill paper flourishes, and Stickles! Here's what I created with this gorgeous kit:

You are my Sunshine
Bloom & Grow
Baby Doll
This page was also based on the sketch at Creative Scrappers this week.
Precious MomentsFriends Always cardBe sure to stop by at BPM to check out what the rest of the Design Team created!

KnK June kit second reveal

2009-06-08T13:06:00.003-04:00

Here's a two page layout and a little card that I whipped up with the June kit from Kit 'n' Kaboodles.Wait until you see what is in store for July at KnK! I've seen a sneak peek of the kit, and it is amazing! You won't want to miss it!

Back Porch Memories June Kits

2009-06-04T20:46:00.001-04:00

Have you seen the June kits at Back Porch Memories yet? The are gorgeous! The Solo Kit features papers from My Little Yellow Bicycle Zinnia line. The Medley Kit includes papers from Scenic Route Garden Grove, BasicGrey Lime Rickey, and Cosmo Cricket Early Bird.

Solo Kit

Medley Kit

StampsI am working with the Solo Kit this month, and I am loving it! Here is a sneak peek layout that I've created. Check back on June 10th for the rest of my reveal!