Monday, August 30, 2010

Good news is great news when you can share it with friends!

I had posted this layout last week based on the August sketch  contest over on the Imaginisce blog.
I received an email this morning from Imaginisce informing me that I had won the contest!  I was so excited! 
You can pick from a $75.00 prize package of the new collections, an i-top package or an i-rock package.  Since I have already purchase some of the new collections, I chose the i-rock package.  Can't wait until I get my new toy!

Friday, August 27, 2010

My Sweetness

Well, lo and behold it's Friday already and there is a new challenge over at Frosted Designs.  It's  a Rick Rack Circle Challenge.  I love rick rack.  Have tons of it in all sorts of colors and sizes.  I chose to do a layout of my daughter when she was six months old.  She was just the sweetest thing ever!
This challenge goes perfectly with the current sketch over at Stuck On U Sketches.  Their August 20th sketch is by Liz Qualman over at  My Little Sketch Blook.
The deciding factor in this layout was the strawberry chipboard by Maya Road  which was part of the August kit from Paper Poppy Kit Co.   I used my Fiskars scallop sentiment punch on several strips of paper and covered the strawberry with them. I inked the edges and added some curly wire.
Don't you just love this sweet paper by My Minds Eye!  Perfect for my chipboard strawberry! I hand cut the picture frame from some dotted swiss cardstock by Bazzill and added some Candy Apple Red Glimmer Mist.
Went through my stash and found some flowers and some cute little stuff to add!
A few of the flowers and the cute little owl button I purchased at the Purple Pumpkin.  The beautiful crochet flowers I purchased at Annie Design Etsy Shop
The butterfly I purchased at Michaels.  All I did was add some pearl bling!

Thanks for stopping by!
. . . Debbie

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Oh The Times They Are A Changing . . . Scrapbooking Then And Now

The fourth Thursday of each month I do a DT project for She's A Sassy Lady blog.  While I was pondering over what I should share for the month of August, I was looking through a box of  old pictures. It amazes me how I can look through the same box numerous times, and always end up missing a special picture.  I came across two pictures of my kids riding their bikes when they were little.  I instantly remembered that one of the first layouts I did years ago used these same pictures.  I thought it would be fun to use the pictures to create a new layout and to show how much my style has changed over the past 12 years. 
Here is my new layout:
 I used some Bo Bunny Sun Kissed paper and added some embellishments from my stash.  I added a cute handmade button (green polka dots with a lady bug) that I purchased from Sam at The Purple Pumpkin.
I got two new Cricut cartridges for my birthday.  I used Country Life to cut out the banners and Live Simply to cut out the cute little turtle.
Times sure have changed in the world of scrapbooking.  I can remember the days of cardstock, stickers and wild pattern paper. The whose who of manufacturers were Debbie Mumm, Anna Griffin, Mrs. Grossman and Me and My Big Ideas. Remember their cute little stick people?  The stepping stone for scrapbooking was Creative Memories.  I was introduced into this craft by a CM consultant.  She had made an album at the request of my family for a birthday present for me.  I thought it was the most beautiful thing I had seen in a long time.  I took a beginners class and the rest is history.
Now for the unveiling of my original layout.  This was the fourth  page in my first album.  Bright cardstock and those adorable stickers from Me and My Big Ideas.
My how my style has changed, but at the same time so has the availability of products.  Financially I think I was better off 12 years ago versus present day.  I've thought many times of redoing my original layouts, but then decided to leave themm alone since I scrap to preserve memories.
I would love to see my friends here in blogger land try what I did.  Find those extra pictures.  Create a new layout and then post it along with your original!
Thanks for stopping by!
. . . Debbie

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Sweet People Make My Day Complete!

Just wanted to share a few special things I received today.  As you all know, Monday was my birthday!  I received this beautiful card in the mail today from Beatriz over at Amazing Grace.  Isn't it beautiful!!!! Thanks Beatriz!
At work today my boss took us out to lunch to celebrate my birthday.  When we arrived back at the office I was presented with these adorable cupcakes that my coworker Claire made.  
Aren't they the cutest ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's the special things like the card and these cupcakes that bring a  smile to my face and make my day a special day!
I'm so thankful for the special people in my life!!!

Monday, August 23, 2010

Happy As A Clam Layout and the winner of my blog candy!

Good morning to all!  I woke today up being a little bit older today, as it is my birthday.  I had a lovely  birthday celebration yesterday, as my mom took us all out to dinner.  We ate the Outback Steakhouse and my sister brought a delightfully cute  Mickey Mouse cake.  I was having a great old time until they brought out the cake and I  looked at the candles and saw two big old 5's.  Then it hit me, by gosh I'm turning 55.  For the brief minute I felt old, really old. The discussion among us turned into what stores I'd  get a senior's discount at.  It only lasted a minute though, because in my heart I still feel young.

I just finished this layout last night.  There is a sketch challenge over at Imaginisce and the winner gets a really nice prize package.  My son, daughter, niece and nephews just being silly at the beach!
 
And here is their August sketch which was created by Sarah de Guzman:
All of the paper on this layout with the exception of the cardstock is Imaginisce Splash Dance. I used some paper ribbon that I twisted to frame my large circle, and used some twine to outline my patchwork circle.  I hand cut the clouds and the kite. I added a few zig zag stitches with my sewing machine.

Now on to the winner of my blog candy. . . I used my random drawer, which is my son Jeffrey and asked him to pick a number between 1 and 56.  His response #15. Congrats to Kim!  Please email me with your address so I can get this package to you!  Can't wait to see what spooky layouts you create!

I'm off today.  I feel that you shouldn't have to work on your birthday.  No cleaning is on the schedule.  Today is a day for me and I plan on working on a few layouts.  I have two DT projects due this week and I need to get them started.
Thanks for stopping by!
. . . Debbie

Sunday, August 22, 2010

The Sweetness of Summer

Ahh, the sweetness of summer . . . sunshine, warm days and for me my garden!   There is nothing more rewarding then the beauty of a flower or should I say flowers?

I used the August kit from the Paper Poppy Kit Co. filled with bright and colorful papers from Cosmo Cricket Delovely and Jillibean Soup.  I used their August sketch and their August challenge which is to scrap what you love about summer.
Unfortunately yesterday and today there is very little sunshine, so I apologize that my pictures are not as bright as they should be.

Everything on this layout is from the kit with the exception of the bling and the cute little fence.  I found the fence at Michaels.  All I did was add a little paint.
Thanks for stopping by!
. . . Debbie

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Surfer Boy

Hello everyone, it's Thursday and there is a new sketch over at Sketches In Thyme! I had a lot of fun working on this layout.  
I found this adorable picture of my nephew along with my daughter and niece at the beach   He was only two in this picture and it was a big deal for him to catch a ride on the boogey board!
This week we are using another great sketch by Helen Croft over at Scrap A Little.

All of the paper I used on my layout comes from the Fancy Pants Rusted Sun Collection.
Please take the time to stop on over at Sketches in Thyme to see what my fellow Mavens have created this week!
Thanks for stopping by!
. . . Debbie

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Vogue

I came across this picture of my grandmother and fell in love with her dress.  I'm not quite sure when this picture was taken.  If you click on the picture you can see more of the detail.

I based my layout on the sketch over at Stuck On U Sketches.  This sketch was designed by Leah Schaeffer, one of their design team  members.
I decided to flip the sketch and based my layout on this:
This layout gave me the opportunity to dig into a lot of my embellishments and I had a lot of fun adding all the different elements to the page.  I used ribbon in place of the strips on the sketch.  I wanted to mimic the ribbon tie on my grandmother's dress, and decided to tie a ribbon around the picture. Paper by Scribble Scrabble and Graphic 45.  Flowers and flourishes by Prima.  Laser die cut by Dusty Attic.  Metal embellishment by Making Memories, title American Crafts.  It's hard to tell, but I stitched around the brown polka dot paper with my sewing machine!  It's gets more use now with my layouts then it ever did with sewing!



Thanks for stopping by!
. . . Debbie

Friday, August 13, 2010

Be Happy!

It's Friday, thank goodness and time for a new challenge over at Frosted Designs!  I'm hosting this week's challenge which happens to be a recipe challenge! 
I've given a list of ten of my favorite elements I like to use in scrapbooking:  punch/punches, felt, buttons, glitter, ribbon, flowers, birds, butterflies, pink, blue or purple and a banner.  You need to pick at least five from the list and  incorporate in your project.
I love how my layout turned out!  Love all the fun bright colors and the cute pictures of my kids back from 1992.  I used paper from Sassafras Lass Nerdy Bird collection and was able to use all 10 of the ingredients from my recipe challenge.
The pink felt and fabric flower and the adorable mushroom button I purchased from Sam over at the Purple Pumpkin.  I've bought several embellishment kits from her and love all the neat little goodies she creates.  If you haven't been by her blog, stop by and take a look!
Please take the time to head on over to Frosted Designs and see what the rest of our Design Team has created. Would love to have you join in on the challenge!
Thanks for stopping by!
. . .  Debbie

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Lots To Share - A Layout, Some Awards and Some Blog Candy!!!

This post is lengthy, so please bare with me as I have lots to share!
It's Thursday and you know what that means --- a new sketch challenge over at Sketches In Thyme!
This week we have a sketch by Helen Croft over at Scrap A Little
If you have not been by her blog, you must take the time and visit her.  Besides her wonderful sketches, she has a lot of great tutorials and a wonderful design team!  We would love for you to play along with us at Sketches In Thyme.  Please stop by our blog and link up your layout and see what my fellow Mavens have created!
I love the picture on my layout. 
 
It is of my son and his two little friends back from 1991.  We had gone on a long car ride and the three of them fell asleep.  My son Jeffrey is the one with the blankie stuffed in between his legs.  When he was little, blankie went everywhere with him.  When I look at the picture it reminds me of little ducks in a row, hence the title I chose.
All of the papers I used on my layout are by October Afternoon.  I did some stitching with my sewing machine, a little distressing and some inking.
I stamped the clouds on some cream felt, using some new stamps I just got from American Crafts.
I recently received two awards and I want to thank my wonderful friends who thought of me.  The first is the Cherry On Top Award which Barb over at Crafty Girl passed on to me.
The second award is the Versatile Blogger which I received from Li-bee-ti, my friend from afar over at Creations With Love.

Thanks girls, you make me feel special!
Now on to the blog candy . . . My birthday is this month and I thought I would give away some blog candy.  I was out shopping the other day and found these new Halloween paper pads by Die Cuts With A View.  Love the paper, so bright and colorful. I threw in a bunch of goodies - stamps, a punch, ribbon, buttons and all sorts of embellishments!
 All I ask is that you become a follower if you aren't already, and leave a comment.  I'd love to have some new friends!  If you want you can post this on your blog and spread the word.  I will draw a winner on my birthday, which is
August 23rd!
Thanks for stopping by!
. . . Debbie