Graphic 45 Monday

I am LOVING this new Graphic 45 paper - An ABC Primer Collection!!!!! Can't you tell??!! I am totally obsessing and have made 3 projects today alone. Sketches4all is having their Sketch a Thon and these are made from Sketches #3, #4, and #5. I am really having fun trying to keep up with the sketches. There is only 1 sketch challenge posted each day so it is pretty easy to do. Don't forget my sketch #2 challenge is going on there right now too and you can enter until September 25th!! Go join in and you could maybe win the RAK!!

I hid some journaling under a photo on the layout. I don't normally do that but I have on the last two layouts I have made. I guess I am just trying to mix it up a bit.

Book club in San Francisco was a blast!! It has been awhile since I have been able to go and they have added two new members. These girls were so much fun and added some lively discussion. We read two books so there was a lot to talk about. The weather was pretty nice and it was fun staying with my friend, Jan and getting caught up with her.

I have a sick kid home today. My son, Jesse, has a little temperature and was feeling bad. Of course, after I gave him a little Tylenol his temp came down and he is sitting in my scrap room playing video games...so I bet he could be at school!! ha Oh well.....better safe than sorry right??

Well, I need to go fix some Ramen Noodles for the sickie and his sister...LOL Have a good Monday!

Sweet Sisters Waiting for the Bus

The Sketch-a-thon is still going on over at Sketches4all. A sketch a day will be posted for about 2 weeks. Here is my take on the pre-sketch a thon challenge that Michelle offered. She used a lovely Liz Qualman sketch for inspiration. I kind of used it loosely. I used some paper from K & Co. I fussy cut out that swirl and those leaves and then embossed them for dimension. I cut up a sheet of Graphic 45 for the A,B, C's and the tags.

My sketch challenge posted yesterday and you have until the 25th of September to get it done. GO check it out!!

I love being inspired by sketches. Do you?? What is your most often used starting point for doing a layout? Sketches tend to be my first starting place, photos second and a fun new technique third. What about you?? SHARE!

This will be short because I am off to Oakland, CA to visit my girlfriends and have book club. I hope you have a wonderful weekend!!

End of Summer Sketch-a-thon at Sketches4all

Sketches4all is having a Sketch-a-Thon and it technically starts today Friday, September 9th!! (there was a pre-sketch-a-thon sketch challenge posted yesterday) There will be 3 main prizes and most of the DT will be giving away prizes on their individual sketch challenges.

My sketch (sketch#2) posts today and the challenge ends on September 25th. I will be giving a RAK to the winner of my challenge.

Here is the sketch I have chosen and here is my example layout. I like the simplicity of this sketch. You can go clean and simple or go crazy with it. I used a photo of my kids on the first day of school this year. I'm not sure why I throw them against that ugly wall every year but what can I say? lol

I hid a journaling card under the photo and kept my layout pretty clean and simple. I used paper and embellies from Pink Paislee - Old School.

Now it is time for you to go check out the Sketch-A-Thon and hopefully enter MY challenge!!

Scrap Our Stash September Grid Challenge

Hi guys, I'm back. Miss me?? I've been kind of busy with kids, school and I have been trying to read two book club books because I am flying to San Francisco this weekend for my book club.

We used to live in San Francisco for a long time (11 years) and even when we moved to Sacramento I stayed in book club and drove down. Now that we have moved to Las Vegas (3 years ago) I am still in the same book club and just fly in when I can. (sounds crazy I know, but it is just an overnight trip and I get to go see my girlfriends) It is usually a really fun time and it has been awhile since I was able to go. ANYWAY, they picked two books this time and I have read one but am only part way through the 2nd one. Luckily I am a fast reader so should get it finished before I leave on Saturday.

I am on the DT over at Scrap Our Stash and their challenge for September is to use GRIDS. I tend to be a symmetrical scrapper so this was right up my alley. I was inspired by a layout I saw on Write. Click. Scrapbook that was made by Christa Paustenbaugh. Her layout totally got me circle crazy!!

If you follow me regularly you probably know that my hubby and I went on a special vacation with our friends, Denise and Chris, this summer. Well as you can probably guess I have a ton of photos I want to use and with this layout I was able to use 10 of these photos!!
Woo hoo!

I used Echo Park paper and spritzed the heck out of it with Glimmer Mist. I punched out about 25 circles and then used the same size punch on my photos. I pulled embellies from my stash and voila! LOVE IT! It brings back such awesome memories!! If you are inspired by this layout there is still plenty of time to join in on this Grid Challenge at Scrap Our Stash.

And guess what else?? Sketches4all is having a Sketch-a-Thon and it officially starts tomorrow on the 9th of September but they did post a pre-challenge sketch today so if you want to head on over and get started you can. There will be some prizes for individual challenges and there will be a grand prize. More details to come.

My sketch challenge for this sketch-a-thon posts over there tomorrow so please go check it out.

Crafter's Companion has the most adorable Pop Corn the Bear stamps are launching today along with a companion CD-ROM. I just got a few in the mail yesterday and they are super cute! And they are all pre-mounted rubber stamps using the EZ Mount system and the best part is they come attached to a labeled binder page. This was such a brilliant idea!!! You are going to want some of these sweet bears! Go check out the fun projects that the DT are coming up with using these stamps over at the Crafter's Companion Blog. They will be posting a new creation every day!

Now it is time for you to rush off and check out things out!! Have an awesome day!

Two New Projects!

Happy Saturday! I've been lucky today because I have been able to scrap. Denise and I are trying to get our scrapping mojo back by picking sketch challenges and doing them together (well she is doing hers in CA and I am doing mine in NV but we are doing them on the same day). We picked a gorgeous sketch from
My Creative Sketches Blog .

I decided to do a back to school page of my dd. All the kids got ready really early on Monday and there was time to kill before the bus arrived. So the 3 younger kids and I played outside in the front yard and I took a few photos. Here is one of her sitting on the porch. I loved the colors she was wearing and when I got a Mystery Box from Cosmo Cricket it had these papers in it that totally worked perfectly. (at least I think they do)

Pretty much all of the stuff I used was from this Mystery box from Cosmo Cricket. I got so many cool things!! YUMMY!
Here is a photo of what I got except I forgot to put the 3 mini books in the photo. A black heart, house and rectangle shaped one with scalloped sides. I am so stoked by all these awesome goodies!! I am totally addicted to Mystery Boxes. Yes, I am that girl who buys grab bags or anything mysterious. lol

I added some rubon florishes next to the green card stock flourish for the challenge at Frosted Designs Blog. I love how they look together. I added some twine from my stash and some Stickles for sparkle. What do you think? I think it is cute. Especially the photo! lol

Next I used some scraps, from a layout I made yesterday that I can't post yet, to make a tag for Michelle's Tag Challenge at Sketches4All. Her challenge was to use scraps and punches. Perfect match. I had these scraps sitting on my desk and I just got some new Martha Steward Punches for my birthday that I have been dying to use....

The paper is from Pink Paislee - Hocus Pocus. I got it for a great price at Scenic Route. I love to shop there. I used ribbon from my stash some rubons from Basic Grey - Olio. I like how the rubon tree behind the punched fence gives the tag dimension. And the punched MS Bat on the circle punched Moon do too. I like it and now I think I might either make another layout to add it too or put it on a card. I haven't decided yet.

I need to work on two DT projects this weekend too but it was sure fun to just make something or fun. Next I will do my Crafter's Companion project I think. By the way, they are having a HUGE sale at Crafter's Companion Store.!! You can save an additional 20% off your order now through September 6th. NO coupon code needed. So if you are thinking of getting any of their awesome stamps or if you have been wanting a higher priced item or just want to shop go check them out!!

Okay, I need to go fix dinner. I'm sure you will hear more from me this weekend. Hope you are having a good one.

Crafter's Companion September Challenge

Have I mentioned how I am stuck on Easel Cards right now?? I am constantly making them. I am just loving them so much!

I recently made one for my Crafter's Companion September " Fall Theme" Challenge example. (Wow! What a mouthful!! LOL) I used some of my new fall Imaginisce paper I purchased recently in Oklahoma at my favorite LSS, Paper Arts. I really love it when I am in Oklahoma and can go in this store. She carries a ton of really cool NEW stuff! And if you wonder where I get my Tim Holtz goodies well wonder no more. She keeps the TH goodies stocked up with all the newest and most gorgeous items. (as you can tell from my giveaways!)

Anyway, I made this Easel Card and I used a Popcorn the Bear stamp - Someone Special from Crafter's Companion. I colored it in with my Copic Markers. I really enjoyed working with all these yummy luscious fall colors. They are giving away a Clever Cut 5 in 1 Paper Trimmer to the winner of the September Challenge and all you have to do is use a Crafter's Companion Stamp and the "fall theme". Easy Peasy.

I wish I could enter so I could win a Clever Cut 5 in 1 Paper Trimmer! lol (I'm SO not kidding! ) Go check it out here.

I have all my kids at school right now except for my little one who doesn't go to school on Fridays. She still hasn't even woken up this morning!! And it is almost 9am. I think I will try to find something fun to do today. Just us girls. Maybe go to the park or the library.

Are you ready for the weekend?? (a long holiday weekend for us folks here in the US) I certainly am. I would love to spend the whole weekend scrapping but that won't happen. lol So maybe I will spend it in the pool with my kids instead! What are your weekend plans?? I would love to hear them.

Happy Friday!

Christmas Treasure Box

How about a little Christmas in August??! Last weekend when my bff, Denise was here visiting she suggested making treasure chests off of the The Ultimate Crafter's Companion Advanced Construction Techniques DVD together. She brought her Crafter's Companion Ultimate Tool and I whipped out mine, we popped the dvd in the dvd player and got busy. It was a blast! I love to watch Sarah on the DVD's because she does awesome tutorials but man is she fast! LOL We kept the remote handy for pause and rewind. ha

Denise decided to make her box in some really luscious purple papers and added a ton of bling with gorgeous lace and flowers. It turned out really gorgeous. You can see it here.

Neither of us made traditional "pirate" treasure boxes as you can see. I decided to make a Christmas themed treasure box. I am always needing small decorative containers to give away at Christmas. And this really fits the bill.

I have had this fun "stocking" paper that I have really been wanting to use and that was my starting point. I made the box itself out of Core'dinations card stock and following the step by step instructions on the DVD were a snap. I added clear bling which I then colored with my Copics to match perfectly. I used a snowflake punch I have to make the snowflake embellie and then added a small white snowflake from my stash to the top of it. My favorite thing was the snow I "made" under the snowman by putting down Glossy Accents and pressing my new Stampendous Shaved Ice into it. So easy and so gorgeous in person! It was just the most perfect finishing touch. I can't wait to use this stuff on other projects. I can just see all the fun ideas!!

Now don't you think this would be the perfect gift for a teacher or a friend?? You could fill it with candy or homemade cookies. I know I plan to use it for one of my children's teachers. My kids make these yummy candies to give out each year that would be just the right thing to add inside. And guess what? I am going to share the recipe with you! (lucky you!!) ha

Ingredients:

Mini Pretzels

Rollo Candies (unwrapped)

Pecan Halves

Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Layer cookie sheet with pretzels. Put a unwrapped Rollo on top of the pretzel. Bake in a 200 degree oven for 10-15 minutes until the candy starts to gently melt. (Don't let it get too melty!)

Remove the cookie sheet from the oven and immediately top each Rollo with a pecan half. Lightly pressing it down into the softened chocolate candy. Let your treats cool and then eat or package them to giveaway.

Doesn't that sound super easy?? And they are super yummy too. I always get asked for the "recipe" when we give them out. You could even type up the recipe and add it to the box.

Remember there is still time to join in on this months Crafter's Companion "Thank You" Challenge at the Crafter's Companion Challenge Blog. (today is the last day) There is an awesome prize and you could be the winner!!

And finally I am going to leave you with a photo my two littlest kids waiting for the bus. I just thought it looked so sweet how my son was holding his sister's hand to keep her safe. Happy Wednesday!