Good-bye, 2008...

Just a few hours left of 2008. We had a little excitement this morning, thanks to the gusty winds (no major damage, but the car will need some body work). Spent the day having lunch with Kent and shopping for a Wii... no one had it, so instead of playing Wii tonight, we'll be watching a movie before our "lights out, glow sticks on, hats and noise-maker crazy dancing" before the ball drops... oh, and that will be the kids doing the dancing, lol! Happy New Year. See you in 2009!

Lazy days and holidays...

Wow, we have been SO lazy the last couple of days! Dec. 23 and 24 were busy with visiting friends, Christmas in the Park, and last minute preparations for "the big day". Christmas Day and "Boxing Day" were spent mostly in pjs, playing with new toys, eating leftovers, napping and relaxing! Today, I think maybe we'll do some shopping, clean a little and start getting back to normal... maybe. Thought I'd share a few pictures from our festivities:




I am working with the Scrapbook Circle January kit, which is such a fun kit. Here's a layout and stay tuned to the blog and the gallery to see more creations over the next week.

Just 2 more days...

'til MY favorite day of this season, Christmas EVE! I'm all about the anticipation, the music, the lights, the family time together in front of the tree... the "before"... give me "Twas the night before Christmas" any day... good memories of Christmas Eves past... good times on Christmas Eve present.

And this year, Seth & Tessa's highlight each day has been opening the advent calendar box of the day... they never forget. Some days they find a joke, some days it's candy, some days it's a note to find a surprise under the tree. But everyday, they can't wait to "open today's box!"




Merry Christmas to you & yours - may your celebration be filled with much love & laughter! Happy Birthday to Jesus and to God be the Glory!

Making Christmas gifts with Unity Stamps

My newfound stamp love is Unity. I love these stamps and I'm getting quite a collection. I'm making Christmas gifts with them. Coaster sets and decorated dish towels.

December is flying by...

Everyday I think I will take a picture and post some of the creative projects I am working on for Christmas... and everyday I think I'll have time to update my Dec. Daily Album... but it's just not happening Daily. I will work on it and get an updated photo posted eventually, promise!

Tessa is SO excited about Christmas this year - 5 is great! She almost single-handedly decorated our tree this year (which is why it is a bit bottom-heavy). If she could have reached the top third, she would have done all of it!

Hello December... let's make this Christmas count!

December 1st and much to do. Many gifts to make, buy, wrap... a tree to be decorated, lights & stockings to be hung, other decoations to put out... goodies to be baked, cards to be mailed, Santa to be visited... but what's really important? I am a "Christmasaholic" and often overindulge in the festivities in many ways (mainly shopping, decorating, and TV special-watching). But how should I be spending my time and resources? This video hit me between the eyes (or in the heart) today.



Here's the web link if you want to read more about Advent Conspiracy. I am challenging myself to make this Christmas count. Will you join me?

Thankful

I am thankful. I am blessed. Here is our Thanksgiving:
Kent & Seth helping with the meal (whew, got a little tight in the kitchen but their help was much appreciated!)

Tessa loved the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade:

So thankful for Dad and that he joined us for our Thanksgivng meal:

And I'm thankful that Tessa helped Kent get up the leaves in the back for a couple of hours on Friday!

Life isn't perfect... there are health issues and everyday stresses in our lives, but we are truly blessed in more ways than I can count... and I do thank God everyday for those blessings.

Merry December Days mini...

Okay, so I have to fess up... I often "combine" projects, challenges, etc. Otherwise, I might never get anything done! So for December, I am combining my December Daily and Merry Days albums into one. Here are some pictures of what I have so far:








For my "cover" I used a lot of things from the Scrapbook Circle December kit (not the acrylic album... had it in my stash). And in the last photo for Dec. 24 and 25, I used a couple of great stamps from Unity (love these stamps)!

Scrapbook Circle December Kit - so FUN!

I've started creating with the Scrapbook Circle December kit and it is so much fun! Filled with festive papers from Prima, Heidi Swapp, October Afternoon and BoBunny, as well as Kaiser Pearls, Stickles and the fabulous Prima tape, well, let's just say it is divine! Here are two very different layouts I have done using the kit. The first is of our Christmas card Photo Shoot and all items are from the kit except the buttons and the black "2008".
This second layout was inspired by a challenge at Willow Traders (WWW#4) and I did add some black cardstock, some bling for the Scrapbook Circle Oct. kit, the Thickers, and an antique button I had. I painted the cardstock border with Stickles and "faked" my stitching. This kit is so versatile with traditional holiday colors as well as lots of pink! So much you can do with it! And lots more I plan to do with mine, so stay tuned!

Stories In Hand

Jessica Sprague's free class, Stories In Hand, is simply terrific! She has put so much thought and planning into this class. It is something I hope to use often to prompt my families' stories. I did my binder a little differently, since I had already decorated my little American Crafts album for a class I took at Scrap Etc. in April (it was a great class by Gretchen M. but not an album I felt compelled to complete, so I repurposed my little album... thank you Gretchen!). I haven't done much writing of my stories yet... or even "snorkling" for ideas (I started a bit late due to our trip to the beach)... but I will! And I can't wait to take some of Jessica's digi classes once I get PSE (hopefully for Christmas)!

My best gift ever...

So, Cathy Z's blog contest got me searching photobucket for this layout I did a while ago about the song Kent wrote me as a surprise gift our very first Christmas together. Still need to get that transferred from the cassette to a CD - wouldn't want to lose this precious gift one day when the old stereo dies and we no longer have a cassette player (yes, we are a bit behind... dh does have a portable MP3 player and we only listen to CDs now, but still have a few cassettes in our possession!). Of course, this layout was about a material type of gift... there are obviously many "non-material" gifts that would be higher on my list, but here I was thinking of a present-type gift.

As we approach this season of gratitude and gift-giving, please take the time to make your gifts count... and the best ones do not have to be expensive... the best presents truly are the ones from our hearts. But I won't send the Wii back if someone wants to get me one, lol!

Bad Girls Christmas Workshop

Doesn't this look fabulous?



Wendy and her designers are incredibly talented, so I cannot wait to see what will be created in this free workshop! I'm really just a "lurker" over at Bad Girls every now and then, but I am always amazed at the talent and creativity in the galleries. Can't wait to check it out and play along!

Where I've been...

The beach in November turned out to be wonderful. Lots of sunshine, heated pools & lazy rivers, a cool resort with a terrific game room (Seth now loves playing pool... Tessa's trying to learn PingPong), go cart racing, sand digging, and low enough humidity that my hair did not frizz! Who could ask for a better mini-vacation?

Foliage photos

The leaves are peaking here in our part of NC this week and they are distractingly beautiful! It's hard to keep my eyes on the roads when I am driving! Here are some photos I took this morning:







I am so thankful for God's "paintbrush" this time of the year!

Nostalgic...

As I get older, I often find myself doing somewhat unusual things. Like running back out to the car to get my camera to snap a few photos of these old post office mail boxes. When I saw them, I was immediately taken back to my childhood trips to the post office with my Nanny or great Aunt Madge. They got their mail in boxes like these for years before getting a mail box in front of their home. So I was thrilled to find these at the little country post office where I bought my Christmas stamps. So cool. Oh, and I'm not that old... at least not as old as my dear hubby who is the same age as our newly elected President. Wow, our generation is now in charge. So, I guess I am old enought to feel nostalgic.

Gift Idea

I love scrapbooking, stamping, & crafting... big surprise to any of you reading my blog, right? HaHa... anyway, the truth is, there is not enough time for me to do every creative thing I'd like to do... that's why I love doing these type of "scrapbooks/albums" as gifts. A quick way anyone can record and preserve their memories. I posted these pictures on the Scrapbook Circle blog earlier this week because I used items from the wonderful November kit for the header/journaling pages. The little album is from Hobby Lobby (they have lots and they are a bargain at $6.99!). But for those 5 blog readers who only come here to my little corner of the bloggin' world, here are the pics again:

History

On this Election Day, November 4, 2008, history will be made. I'm not sure when the results will be official: tomorrow, a week or a month from now, but this election will be historic. They all are, really. We are so blessed to live in the USA... where we have a voice and a vote. It's hard to believe that 100 years ago, I would not have been able to vote.

I hope you prayed and voted today. I voted last week. And I have to admit, as much as I feel privileged to vote, I will be glad to an end of all the phone calls, media ads, junk mail, etc. And I will continue to pray for our President, Vice President, and other officials, whomever they may be. Lord, may America bless you!

Unablia, wuper, phout...

Okay, there is no way I can commit to blogging every single day in November, like some of my online bloggin' friends are going to do. But, I can try to do better and maybe blog every other day? So for today, I'm sharing some of my favorite "blog security words" (or "blords") that I've been jotting down. Some of them could make fun and interesting words, don't you think? Here are a few of my favs and my own personal definition that I have "assigned" to them, lol:

Unablia: the inablility to blog or create everyday, even when the desire exists

Wuper: Super WET fun, like in this silly photo of my kids (layout to come later):

Nozore: a night of uninterrupted sleep; the condition where a spouse's snoring or a child's bad dream have not pre-empted a full night of rest.

Pente: a position in which one finds that they have gotten stuck and are unable to free themselves from such predicament (as illustrated by my son here).

So now I have a little challenge for you. Here are a few other "blords" I have jotted down. Take one or two and define them. Or find a few of your own and share them with me. I think we should start our own little dictionary and who knows, maybe we'll discover a new word! I mean, hey, my son swears he made up "ginormous" (he was saying it a long time before I ever heard it on TV or saw it in the print media, lol)! Share your "blords" with me and maybe I'll choose one especially good "blordsmith" to receive a little RAK from me!

zoincel

phout

dogisti

hester

(Oh, and if there is already a name for these "blords", please share it with me so I can correct my post. I'm pretty out of the loop technilogically (no facebooking here), so it's quite possible I've missed this somewhere.) Have a great first Monday in November!

Welcome November!

Lots of fun last night... they love going to our church's Fall Spectacular for games, candy, pony rides, rockwall climbing, hot dogs and cotton candy! And then around the block for Trick-or-Treating. This photo doesn't really show off their costumes at their best, but it does seem to encompass the weekend. Hello November!

Hip Hop Boo...

So, Thursdays are now "Hip Hop" days for me - can't wait to blog hop over at Unity. The designers are so talented and I'm always so inspired. There are also wonderful specials each week and today, we get our first look at the fabulous November KOTM (page down in today's Unity blog post) - Wow, I can't wait! And there is always lots of fun in the Splitcoast forum all day on Thursday!

Here's the layout I did using my Scrapbook Circle November kit, a Unity stamp and a few SU stamps:

So, Hip Hop BOO this wonderful Halloween week!

Cards & a layout link

Made these cards for the MOPS moms at our church to make tonight (love the MS dripping goo punch for icing on a cake!). Found the shutter at a thrift shop today. Have seen several folks, including my online scrapping friend Jamie use one as a backdrop and just had to try it!

Oh, and that third layout I did with the November Scrapbook Circle kit, well you'll just have to go over to the Scrapbook Circle blog to see it :o)

Have a nice Tuesday!

Scrapbook Circle Nov Kit & WWW

So, I used my Scrapbook Circle November "Fresh Squeezed" kit for a few layouts this weekend during the first ever Scrapbook Circle Boo Bash:

I did one more layout, but you are just going to have to wait until Tuesday to see it (unless you go browse the Scrapbook Circle photo gallery). The first layout here, "my BEST year" was also done for the WWW challenge over at Willow Traders (Weekly Wednesday Willow challenge). Come by every Wednesday for a new challenge posted by a different "willow"!

Come Crop with Us at the "Boo Bash"!

Scrapbook Circle is having our first ever online crop this weekend, Oct. 24-Oct. 26! Come join the fun in the forum where all the challenges will be posted Friday morning, so you'll have all weekend to complete them! There will also be games... lots of ways to win! And don't forget to be checking the blog regularly for new tips, ideas and projects! The November kit with Basic Grey Ambrosia and Collage Press Jackson Lodge will be posted Oct. 25! Hope to see you there!

Online Creative Classes & Crops - love them!

I'm so excited to be taking Dina Wakely's Art Journaling class over at Debbie Hodge's "Get It Scrapped" community. I have taken a bunch of Debbie's scrapbooking classes (which are wonderful). This morning I also signed up for a free class to start Nov. 9 over at JessicaSprague.com: Stories in Hand.

We're also having a fun crop over at the Scrapbook Circle forum this weekend, Oct. 24-26. Please come join us for a "Boo Bash" where we'll have LOTS of challenges, prizes, a few games and tons of fun! All the challenges will be posted Friday morning, giving you all weekend to scrap and create! It will wrap up Sunday afternoon, so mark your calendars!

Under the willow tree at Willow Traders, we're going to start WWW: Weekly Wednesday Willow challenge where each week a different "willow" will post a new challenge. We'll inspire each other and have a lot of fun creating together. Be sure and check it out!

Now I'm off to pull out some gesso and acrylic paint... can't wait to get started on my Art Journal!

Highly anticipated & greatly celebrated...

Tessa is 5! She has been so excited about her birthday. To be 5 like most of her friends... to have her first "kid party"... to have Grandma here for her birthday... so many reasons... and wow, did we celebrate! Ever read the Berenstain Bear book called "Too Much Birthday"? We almost got there. Thurday the 9th, actual day, was the "school party" (and I'm so sad that those pictures disappeared into a black hole). Friday was an "off day" since Dad got stuck in Maryland. Saturday was the "Creatures & Critters" kid party with 13 5-year-old friends, lots of crafts, games and face-painting. Sunday was the "family party" with Grandma, Uncle Ken, take-out Chinese, cake & presents. Happy Birthday, sweet Tessa!

Busy week...

Although this layout is true, this week I have a lot of housecleaning to do since that darn "Housekeeping Fairy" has yet to make an appearance. With Grandma coming to visit and Tessa's "Creatures & Critters" 5th birthday party on Saturday, well, let's just say it's time to focus on the house. I have loved creating with Scrapbook Circle's "Share the News" Oct. kit! If you have a minute, check out the Idea Gallery - fun stuff! And join us Oct. 24-26 for an online crop in the Community!

And I'm so excited to have won a stamp set from Unity this weekend, over at the fabulously talented Heidi Sonboul's blog. I'm still working on my WCMD cards, but hope to get some finished today! Happy Monday!

Hello October... and a challenge

It's October 1! Wow, love October... crisp fall days, blue skies, multi-colored leaves, Tessa's birthday (she's so excited), Halloween... fun fun month!

Today Stacy Julian posted a GREAT challenge on her blog: Give Yourself a Present. Go read about it. I think it's a super idea. I'm already snapping pictures this morning (ahem, have a feeling I may take more than 10... but I promise to weed out the best 10 that most capture my day or our lives NOW... 10-01-2008). Will be fun to see the changes in a year.

Here's a layout that very much captures who I am today and this year. I used the fabulous Scrapbook Circle Oct. kit (and you can check out more designs in the gallery today and in about a week even more):

September is flying...

I can't believe how the days (and months) fly by... especially after school is back in session! I am finding it difficult to get as much done as I'd hoped once the kiddos went back to school. Tessa's "little" Kindergarten meets every day from 9-1, and of course Seth's schedule is different (8-2:30), so lots of time spent in the car (or van), I'm afraid. We're finishing up a fun LEO (layout every other day) challenge over at Willow Traders. The layout above was done for Challenge #11, a "Non-Scrappy Inspiration challenge" and it was inspired by a Target ad. Used one of my new favorite stamps from Unity on it, too. And a digi label by Andrea Victoria from Paula's new Hybrid challenge over at Get It Scrapped. And just wait, Scrapbook Circle's October kit is going to be fabulous. Here's a peek: Scrapbook Circle Blog.

Hip Hop Thursday!

I'm getting really addicted to Unity stamps and Hip Hop Thursday! Today, I made 2 cards for challenges. I have signed up to receive the monthly kit (starting with Sept.) and I'm so excited!