Mr. Grinch...

Unfortunately, I don't have much time this morning before I have to head out the door for work. I did want to do a drive by post of my latest layout, though!
I'm sure some, probably most of you recognize this l'il guy. It is Jillian Cassity's son, Alex. She asked him to smile and this is what he gave her! I knew right away when I saw this picture that I had to scrap it! It is just the cutest picture! I used the Echo Park "Everybody Loves Christmas" line of papers on this one. The title just popped into my head as soon as I saw the pic, so I just went with it. I hope she loves the layout!!

I will be back tomorrow to update everyone on our Christmas/Nich's birthday....off to work!

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas...

Christmas Eve already. WOW. I can't believe it. We're headed out to do a little grocery shopping...gotta get stuff to make cookies for Santa! Other than that, it's a stay at home kind of day. Nicholas is bouncing off the walls, as I'm sure most kids are! I remember how excited I used to get when I was a child. Couldn't wait to get up on Christmas morning and tear into all the gifts! I love just looking at the happiness in his eyes every Christmas morning! Makes every second of preparation worth it!

I sat down and scrapped a layout this morning while I drank my coffee. Nothing more relaxing than a cup of joe and scrapbooking! Love it!!! I used Lily Bee papers on this layout. Except for the music sheet...that is Echo Park. The bling is Zva Creative, which my girl, Jillian Cassity, sent to me for Christmas! Love it! The flower is from the "Jovial" line from Basic Grey. The letters are from October Afternoon's "Schoolhouse" line. Thanks for taking a peek!

Not sure if I will get to blog tomorrow or not, as it is Christmas Day and Nicholas' birthday. Yes, he is turning 9 on Christmas Day. Sigh, where has the time gone? So, in case I don't ....I want to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas...from my family to yours!

Much love!!!

You Know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen....

I have been up to my *antlers* in reindeer this week trying to get them all finished! This pic was taken when I was about halfway done with them! I needed to have them done by this morning to take into school for the kiddos! Success!

Took Nicholas to school today to help him give out his teacher gifts. They opened the shadow boxes right away! Huge hit! They loved them! I could just see the look in their eye as they were taking off the tissue paper! Of course they both told me how talented I was...head swell! Love it!

Well, off to get stocking stuffers! Maybe I can finish wrapping gifts today! Keep your fingers crossed!

Until next time....

Oh Christmas Tree...

This may go down in the books as the shortest blog post EVER! But, I wanted to say hello and that I hope everyone is ready for Christmas...5 more days!! Nicholas is so excited! I have to order his birthday cake for us to eat for breakfast on Christmas morning. It is soooo hard trying to still make his birthday special, but I do what I can!

Realized I didn't post a pic of our Christmas tree....so, here it is:Can't wait to scrap Christmas pics!!! Just need to finish the little reindeer I am making for his classmates. Wait, I have a pic of one of those I can share, too:

I got this idea out of a scrappy magazine. Can't take credit for originality! They are just too cute! I decided to use the plastic candy canes instead of real ones...this one they can have them for a long time to come.

Nothing else too exciting to report....this time of the year is exciting enough!!!!

Until next time...

Knee Deep in the Hoopla...

Well, knee deep in Christmas! I have so much to do and so little time to do it! I always say I do my best work under pressure! I am not so sure right now!!!!
At least the tree is up, the presents are bought and a few are wrapped, and my cards are mailed...homemade cards, I must add! I did, however, forget to buy stocking stuffers?!?!? How does one FORGET to buy stocking stuffers? EEK! Oh well, just glad I realized it now. Nich's poor little heart would have been broken when he went for his stocking and nothing was in it.
So much to do, so little time!!!! I'm just telling myself something a wise little engine once said, "I think I can, I think I can...".

I have one of the shadow boxes done that I am making for Nich's teachers. One more to go. Also have about 20 more of the little reindeer ornaments to make for his classmates. I don't NEED to have this done until next Wednesday, so there is still some time!! Wanted to share a picture of the shadowbox I made:These are so fun to make! I saw the idea from someone's blog....so sorry I don't remember who it was now. This is not a Melissa original. It is made from an old book. The covers and sides are glued so that it does not open. Cut out the "frame" part on the cover and start creating!!! I just think they make for an awesome, non-traditional gift for anyone!

Welp, would love to keep on chatting, but duty calls!!!!!

Baby It's Cold Outside...

WOW....holy freezing!!! Not is it only 21 degrees outside. But, the 22 mph winds have the wind chill at 6 degrees! IT IS COLD!!! It has been like this since yesterday morning. Last night, we didn't have power most of the night due to the high winds. It was 53 degrees in our house when the electric came back on. I am not cut out for this cold weather! I love Christmas, but wish it was in the summer instead!!!! Or, maybe I just need to move to a warmer climate!!

In honor of the cold weather, I am posting my latest layout:
This was one day last week. Nicholas was so excited to see a few snowflakes falling from the sky. It was only flurries, but he couldn't have cared less! He loved every second of it!
Made with Crate Paper's "snow day" line! Love the bright, non-traditional colors of this paper collection!

Until next time....

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year...

And, the busiest time of the year!!! Holy Moly. Sometimes you just want to be able to sit down and kick your feet up for a few moments!! But, the craziness must go on! I'm done with my cards--handmade 43 of them! Woohoo! Tree is up and decorated. Gifts for Nicholas are bought. Teacher gifts are almost made. Little giftie for Nich's classmates are just about done. I'm getting there, I'm getting there!

Guess I don't have a whole lot going on right now other than all the preparation for Christmas! Nothing is popping in my head as a must tell. Of course, I can't leave without sharing some scrappy stuffs. Here are three of the layouts that I've done recently:
This layout was made with Echo Park's "Little Boy" collection. The airplane paper was PERFECT for this pic of Nicholas making a paper airplane! This layout was also made with Echo Park's "Little Boy" collection. I threw in some of the MME "Alphabet Soup-boy" collection as well. This was Nicholas when he was just a baby. Gotta love that "popper" hanging out of his mouth!

Lastly, a Christmas layout. This is Nich on Santa this year. The Bass Pro Shop gives a free 4x6 pic of your child on Santa every year! Score! The line was long, but well worth it for a free picture. Plus, I think the Santa is very "real" looking. Used MME "I Believe" collection on this one. Love these papers!!

Well, I guess it is tata for now...or TTFN as the cool kids say! Hope everyone is getting all of their stuff done for Christmas!! It's only 14 days away!!!!!!

It's Been Awhile...

Well, she's back. Anyone miss me? And, I thought what better than to start off with song titles for my blog posts again. Who guessed it? Staind. They put on a good show. I saw them with Nickelback (swoon) in 2007. Anyway...this post is not about music.

So...I took a hiatus from my blog. Obviously. Not really an intended one. Just sort of happened. Kind of like life just happens. Like Ferris Bueller said..."life moves pretty fast. you don't stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it." Oh, so very true! Can't believe it has been 2 years since I've blogged.

Where to start?!?!? Well, I'm still scrapping. And, still loving it. Think I have definitely found my style within the past year or so. Still love paper. Lots of paper. Layers and layers of paper. Everyone always asks who my favorite manufacturer is...I don't have one, I have many! Love alphas, love inks and chalks, love glimmer mist...just love all of it!!!

Had something super-dee-dooper happen to me a few weeks back. Posted a layout in my scrapbook.com gallery (as I always do). It's a layout done with the awesome "my friend birdie" line by Nikki Sivils. Well, I ended up getting a comment from Julie Tucker-Wolek. She wanted to know if I would e-mail her my layout for her to showcase on the Nikki Sivils blog! Ummm....yeah!!!! That totally made my day (week, month, year...)!!! I couldn't wait to wake up and check out the blog on the day she said it would be there. Sure enough, it was just as promised. Here is the layout that is being featured on the blog:

These papers just seemed to be made for my picture! I just love the little birdies! I used stickles on them to make them all sparkly and shiny (:

I've been working on a ton of Christmas cards lately. I need to send them out! Here are 3 of my favorites that I made:
This one was made with Bo Bunny's "Noel" line. Love, love, love the vintage look to these papers! I used glossy accents and diamond dust on the poinsettia (Prima).

This card was made with Echo Park's "Everybody Loves Christmas" line. Love the whimsical Santa! I used glossy accents and diamond dust on him, too!
And, lastly...this card was made with Lily Bee Designs "Christmas Town" papers and chipboard buttons. Used some glimmer mist and cat's eyes chalks on this one.

I have many more cards, but these are just a few (of my favorite things...lol). I think I am just about done making them. Now to address all of them and get them in the mailbox.

I still have quite a few gifts to make. I have both of Nicholas' teacher gifts to make. I am also making my family's gifts this year. For the teachers, I am making shadowboxes out of old books. Love the way they turn out. Not sure yet what I will make for the family. I'll figure something out. That's the beautiful thing about being crafty...you can always come up with something!

I am off work tomorrow (woohoo)! I think I will start putting up the tree while Nich is in school. He will not help with any of the manual labor part, anyway. He just likes to put on the ornaments. I am hoping to find some scrappy time, too! My girl, Jillian Cassity, sent me a HUGE box with our Christmas pressies in it! Of course, mine was all scrappy stuff! Can't wait to play!!!!

Well, it is getting late....and I am getting sleepy and silly. Before this post begins to not make any sense, I will sign off. I will check back in tomorrow....hopefully with pics of a decorated Christmas Tree!

Until next time....