Scrappin' Sanity........

Happy Birthday to Kelle...

 

She is a sweetheart and today we are celebrating her birthday by going out to lunch and a movie.  She is getting some acrylic crack Papertrey Ink stamp sets from their latest release from me.  Happily, they are sets I like too and I know she will let me borrow them.  It's like a present to me, too!   

The card is made from BasicGrey paper from a 6x6 pad....love those things!  I can cut into pretty paper to make a card without worrying about waste like I do with a 12x12 piece.  The doily is from the cake decorating section of Michaels and the ticket stamps are Papertrey Ink.  Button, twine and rhinestones are supply items (aka 'stash'). 

I sort of made an acrylic card that works!

 

Don't you just love this Girls Paperie paper?  I also added a sticker border (the glittery flowers) that is Doodlebug Designs (from good 'ol Hobby Lobby, also know as Hob Lob or HoLo!).   I am also addicted to all the colors of little rosebud flowers you can buy at Michaels (Recollections brand).  The big butterfly was cut on my cricut.  Here is a shot of the inside, which is where my troubles with making acrylic cards comes into play.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for stopping in today....see you tomorrow!

Playing with Cosmo Cricket Circa 1934 paper.

I loved this paper from first sight, and played around with it recently to make some cards.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I thought this paper line would be good for masculine cards and layouts, but as these cards show, it certainly isn't confined to a manly look.  Also used in these cards are a Tim Holtz rosette die, ribbons from stash, seam binding from SU, stitching, little rosette flowers (thanks Felicia!) felt die cut flowers,  and stickers from the Circa paper line.

Thanks for coming by today!

Happy Valentine's Day to you.

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This was made with SU paper (from last year), a SU sentiment stamp, and hearts punched out (SU punch) and stitched onto the white base layer.  The little hearts are brads I've had forever (Making Memories, I believe).  I hope your day today is LOVEly!

 

 

This is the catch up post.

 
It's picture heavy and wordy and non-crafty.  Feel free to move on and come back tomorrow for a card!

 
These girls are growing up, and I think know I am suffering from  PRE-empty nest syndrome.  Is there such a thing, you ask?  Well I am sure there is and it has its grip on me.

Kelsey - girl on the left.  Age 19. Does not live at home.  Works 2 jobs.  (Boys and Girls Club until the end of the year, now for HRDC with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance progam, and the Deans office at MSU-B).  Graduating from college the end of April with an accounting degree.  Is in the midst of applying for graduate school, to get a Phd in accounting.  (Applying to Texas A&M and Univ of Alabama).  Wants to be a college professor.  Wants to live in the south, away from cold and snow.  Plans on taking all sections of the CPA exam this summer.  If she does not get into graduate school, wants to move to the south to work for a year and then re-apply. 

Kaitlyn - girl on the right.  Age 17.  Will graduate from high school this May.  Has been working 2 jobs - as a server in the dining room of a restaurant and a weekend feeder/walker/cleaner at a vet.  Here she is on Christmas morning.  (I went with her to take pictures help.)

 She left the vet job at the end of the year, and worked her last day at the retirement home this week.  She starts a new job at Outback tomorrow.  She has a boyfriend, does volunteer work, and keeps up excellent grades.  She will be attending Montana State Univ this fall and wants to be a nurse.

 

 

 

 

My point is both girls are extremely busy.  I just kind of lurk around the edges of their lives, being there to listen, feed them, offer advice  keep my mouth shut and listen some more,do the occasional hem job on a new pair of jeans, take them to lunch once in a while, watch a movie on DVD  with them when they can spend a little time relaxing.  I hear the clock ticking and the days slipping away toward fall, when things will really change around here.  So I hang around and wait for them to need something from me (rare) or have some down time that maybe we can spend together.

One of those down times was between Christmas and New Years. I took Kaitlyn and her friend Chelsea to Moonlight Basin for a day of snowboarding.  They did their thing and I sat in the lodge in front of the huge windows and watched the snow fall and did stuff on my iPad.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We spent the night in Belgrade, and it was such a joy to be able to hang out with such fun and truly nice girls.

Here is something else that went on.....Kelsey and I (aka the demo divas) ripped out the carpet in our living room, dining room and hallway right after Christmas.

 

Here is a good shot of the mess, and the condition of the oak flooring that was hiding under the carpet:

 

We had dust and mess and furniture in the kitchen, entryway, hallway, and bedroom.   As well as the book shelf contents, the decorations and wall things, and the curtains.  Jim is the original Mr. Do it Myself, and I thought after spending a week on his hands and knees he would be ready to turn the job over to professionals. But after getting 2 bids, which were exactly the same, and about as much as the cost of new flooring, he thought he could do it himself.  And with the help of his summertime employee, they did a beautiful job.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now we have plans for re-facing that brick wall, moving the fireplace up and putting in a gas insert, and adding a mantel and hearth that one can sit on. 

I also had a wonderful weekend with friend Tanya, scrapping from Friday night to Sunday afternoon.  Her mom kindly let us use her lovely home while she was out of town.  We each make 1 dinner and 1 breakfast and had a great time scrapping away, watching a movie with her girls, and going to her youngest daughter's gymnastics meet. 

Finally, I am having a great time helping friend Melinda with her new business - scrapkit studio.  I get to work with gorgeous paper lines and great chipboard albums.   I get to help pick out paper lines, select themes for the albums, and put together albums.  I send my version to her, she takes what she likes from what I've done, adds her own beautiful work and ideas,  and then puts together the final sale version. I hope you can go here to check out the blog , sign up for the newsletter, and maybe even find a kit or two you will want for your own.  There are some amazing and fun kits coming up!

Well, that's the highlights. of the past 2 months.  I will be back tomorrow with out regularly scheduled programming!

 

 

Can we talk about CHA?

CHA time (January and July) is, for me,  like diving into pictoral CRACK.  I stalk the websites and devour the pictures of new paper lines, punches, tools, and endless embellishments.  If I were ever able to attend the actual show (long a dream of mine, and who knows...it just might happen someday!) I would probably act like an over-excited, sugar-rushed child on Christmas Day.  I've settled down some what now but feel like sharing what I loved and is on my wish list.  And yes, I know I said this is the year of using stuff I have.   I would have to go back and re-read my post, but I don't think I made the foolish and rash statement that I was not going to buy anything new!  Without further ado....here are my favorites:

CRATE PAPER -  Portrait Collection

CRATE PAPER - Emma's Shoppe

    

MAYA ROAD -

 Ledger Tansparencies

 Sew Cute Chipboard in a larger size

 ATC size chipboard shadow box

ECHO PARK - For the Record

 

MEMORY WORKS - Destinations

COSMO CRICKET  - Social Club and Salt Air

 

OCTOBER AFTERNOON - Five and Dime

PINK PAISLEE -  Daily Junque and Hometown Summer

HAMBLY SCREEN PRINTS - Washi Tape

And the ever favorite BASICGREY - Hello Luscious, Sweet Threads, and Life of the Party

WE ARE MEMORY KEEPERS -  Lucky 8 Punches

 

 Notice a theme of sorts?  There are some bright colors up there, but mostly it is vintage and shabby.  Be still my fluttering heart!!

So what about you?  Did you find any must-haves from winter CHA -11?  Anything really light a creative spark and just make you want to go make something?