A little bit of 30.....

I am totally inspired by RED still, now that Christmas is gone, that color still sticks with me! So, I am so glad that the colors of Valentine's Day, and all things between Christmas and now, still give me a little bit of my love of Red and PINK! ahhh, extreme, joy!

So, with that, I love the Can't Buy Me Love kit! I love the colors, the whimsy, and the fun feeling it gives! Here's what I did with it....(well, one thing, I have a few more up my sleeve!)

So, I was dashing out the door to go to a party for a sweet friend of mine, and it was her 30th, so we were all supposed to bring 30 of something. So, seriously, about 20 minutes ahead of time, I dipped these spoons, and began the gift-making process!

I had this heart candle/thing, that I bought at Target, either last year or the year before, and I have just used them for the "right" gift! I bought 10!

So, I dipped the spoons, and while they were hardening, I grabbed my January Scripts Kit, and began making the tag! I love these little Jillibean Soup Alphabets, and mixed with the music paper, and a few little accents, this kit was just the perfect match!

So, I made the tag, threw them in a cello bag, and viola! The gift was made!!!

And, a fun time was had by all!!!! What a fun night!!!

Yay Sunshine!

So, the sun finally came out and I was able to photograph the layout I did last weekend with the "Can't Buy Me Love" kit. I love the girlie colors in this kit. You all of course know my deep deep deep love for all things Jenni Bowlin so when I saw the JB in this kit, I was ecstatic!

To make the floweresque embellishments, I halved one of the doilies from the kit and let them peek out from the side of my picture and the side of the cardstock on my layout. Then, I layered on some scallop circle punches and a little something special from my stamp collection. I used the plastic that covers a set of Fontwerks stamps I had and cut out a few of the stamp pictures (they were all circular designs). Then, I heated them up with my embossing gun to make them get kind of sticky and crinkley (I made up that word). While they were still kind of sticky, I dipped them in some Zing Embossing Powder (love me some American Crafts, btw - did y'all know that?), and heated them up some more to set the powder. I secured them to the layout with some brads. I think I'll try this technique again, but maybe with just some clear cellophane this time.

Thanks for looking!

Menu Board

I've been wanting to get better about planning our meals around here (you know, instead of trying to figure out what I'm going to make for dinner BEFORE 4:45?).

I thought maybe I'd be more motivated if I had a pretty place to jot down my plans, so out of (what else?) a Dollar Store metal tray, and the "Can't Buy Me Love" kit, I made this little board.(The two black buttons are from my stash- I glued magnets on the back so I can change out the meal plan each week. The trim that I hung it with is also from my stash.)

I printed the menu plans from here: Unclutter and trimmed them down to size.

Now, does anyone have any good sites they can recommend to give me easy & somewhat healthy recipes? ;) Or you can even just share a recipe/meal idea with me in the comments!

Some Crafty Sites!

I have been itching lately to redecorate a little-- nothing big or anything that would cost a lot, but just a little something to keep it fresh. Something new to look at. So I searched a little and found some wonderful ideas on these blogs. From frames to mirrors to pillows..... I found some of everything! And one blog or site leads to five or ten more! I have found some great ideas. Now I need to go to the thrift store to get some cheap fabulous things to remake for my house!! And I need some time! But a lot of these ideas seem pretty quick, and I am all about that. Happy Decorating!

She's Crafty







The Lettered Cottage





Shanty 2 Chic



One Pretty Thing

This website is FILLED with goodness-- I couldn't just pick one picture to share!! Go see for yourself, then come back and tell us your favorite!



Make it and Love It



Aren't you inspired?? I know I am. Let's see what we can make!!!

We have a WINNER!!

I know you saw that awesome bag I posted last night....and you all wanted it. Margie's, The Girls Paperie line is so adorable, right? Well, did you see what we did to glam that bag up? (Ok, not we, Margie!) We took it back to her booth and not only did she sign it, she glammed it up with some adorable paper flowers from her line!! It is so cute.......

This is one hot bag!
Congratulations goes to

halfbakd said...

Absolutely beautiful!!

January 25, 2010 7:49 AM

Send me an email with your addy and I'll get your prize out ASAP!!
lucy@scrapetc.com

How do you organize your stuff?

Do you have a dedicated room for scrapbooking? Do you have to share space with the rest of the family? Do you have to go hide off in a corner to scrapbook while the husband hangs in his man cave?

I find it really hard to organize my scrap supplies. I've had dedicated space and shared space. Both are usually a mess. I've been to several friends houses that had a dedicated space and it's messy, too - so I don't feel so bad. But, then I've been to one friends house who shares her space with her kids and everything is nice and neat and put away. I mean - I didn't see stacks of stuff everywhere like you'll currently find in my space. I think it's because she actually USES her supplies!! I just collect the majority of mine. My current scrap space is in the guest room which doubles as the laundry landing pad, so I drag everything out and it ends up all over the house, in the dining room and the living room. It's a mess!!! Huge and giant mess!!!

I long to have a room that's all pretty and clean and mess free, but honestly, I need a bit of mess in my creative process!! Just a bit.

Here's some spaces that really speak to me - some ideas that I really like - so check them out:

Melissa Gunter - this is full of bright colors and looks very inspiring. I think I lean toward this because you can see supplies - I need to see what I have or I forget all about it! I'm not much for super bright colors in my home, but I do like looking at this space - A LOT!

Becki Wainwright - this is great, too and speaks to the shabby chic side of me - it just makes me think of old vintage-y touches! I think it's the lack of bright colors here that I'm drawn to. Funny how complete opposite rooms still get my attention.

And one more - I like that this is a smaller space and you can see she's still got all her supplies inside her room.

For me, I like to use what I have and not go buy new furniture, so I have some restrictions in my space. But, one day, maybe I'll have a dedicated room again and can really do it up with some Ikea buys and The Container Store! Oh the ideas!! I've always loved January and February because of all the storage containers that you see everywhere!! I love it just can't keep it up!

Oh well - I'm a work in progress!! I found this article and thought maybe it would help me out - 100 reasons to get rid of it - this article was great and not just about crafting supplies - lots of things here we don't think of getting rid of.

So tell us how you store things? Do you have a dedicated space? Do you spread out all over the house like me?

Lisa

Perfect, Simple love

Good Morning everyone!! I was so excited when I got my "Can't Buy Me Love" kit. I immediately had this layout pop into my mind. I'm a country music girl - love it, love the lyrics, love trying to find the meaning of the song. Well, that's for all music, not just country - but country is the easiest to listen to with a little guy in the car who memorizes lyrics super fast!

So this layout title came from the song "Do I?" by Luke Bryan. It's kind of a heartbreaking song, the guy isn't sure if he still makes his wife (or girlfriend, I guess) feel all those things that you feel with new love. My title came from this line - "Remember when we didn't have nothing, but a perfect simple kind of loving? Baby those sure where the days." Those lines made me think about the good ol' days - remember when you first met your spouse/significant other and everything was new and wonderful. Things change as you grow up together and it's really hard to capture that simple, perfect love from so long ago.

When I saw this picture below, I knew it was perfect for the title that had been turning around in my head.



Cole and Kaylee are in second grade together. She is super sweet and a little sassy and spunky! I just love her. (And her baby sister is just as cute, let me tell you) Anyway - she is super sweet to Cole and goes into Mothering Mode with him a bit, too - which I love. She sticks up for him and defends him. He's a pretty emotional kid and things get to him that really wouldn't bother your average 8 to 9 year old. So, I love it when there's someone around who will stick up for him and have his back, so to speak. Kaylee is it!! Her mom has told me several times little stories Kaylee comes home with about Cole. It's just sweet and innocent and this is probably one of the last school years this will happen. At some point, kids get too cool to be friends - boys and girls split apart and the girls stick with their girlfriends and the boys have to be all tough with the other boys. That's what's so sweet about this to me. I'm glad I could capture their friendship and record it for him. He may hate it in the future - ew him and a girl - but hey, right now, it's so sweet - perfect and simple!!

Lisa

A little giveaway from CHA!

Our first stop this morning was The Girls' Paperie by margie. Oh, oh, oh I love it! It is beautiful. Honestly, that is an understatement! Her booth was full of energy and spark! She created the most inspiring atmosphere and I did not want to leave. I actually went back several times just for hugs! For placing an order, you got a cute bag! After much consideration, I decided I would give it away here!!!

Do you want it?
All you have to do is comment here or on Facebook!
We will pick a winner tomorrow night!

More Christmas stuff

I'm still catching up on the layouts and projects from the December Scripts Kit. Here's a layout I did as soon as I got my kit, but waited to add a picture until last weekend!!



And here's the December Daily album I made and then didn't take the pictures for:



I made this album back in August and then used my December Scripts Kit to fancy it up a bit. I added stuff from the Bits of Bella all throughout the pages and on the cover. Then added some flowers (one Making Memories and then another out of the cupcake wrapper and then I made one out of a scrap of fabric) on the front cover and tied on my cute cookie cutter to my binder ring!





Since I didn't take enough pictures to fill up for album, I'm using what's left of my kit to make another album with my favorite photos from the holidays!

Lisa

Stupid Rain

So, I have finished one layout and am ALMOST finished with two more using this month's Scripts Kit "Can't Buy Me Love". Unfortunately, it has been gray and nasty today so I have not been able to photograph anything.

So, in honor of this weekend being CHA, I thought I could link up some of my favorite new products....

Let's start with the Brook Collection from Crate Paper. My favorite colors and I LOVE the texture of Crate Paper paper.

Naturally, I have to include American Crafts. Check out that flair. And of course Dear Lizzy is my favorite of this CHA. I told Gretchen to tear it out of Liz's hands if she had to.

I tried to snag pictures of Cosmo Cricket Material Girl and Lily Bee, but there was some file corruption problem. Most likely a PICNIC (problem in chair, not in computer).

What do YOU like?

Can't Buy Me Love- Fashion Inspiration

I, like many scrapbookers, love to find inspiration in the fashion & design trends around me.

However, since my life is pretty much inundated by preschool stuff right now, I keep my eye out on trends with the under 3 ft. set! hehe

I started out with this layout using the "Can't Buy Me Love" kit (with the exception of the addition of the pink cardstock and Glimmer Mist), with the idea of capturing some of Emerson's favorites and quirks at age 4.
If your house is anything like mine right now, I find those dang Silly Bandz EVERYWHERE! I thought it would be a great accent and also be very fitting for her age to include this current fashion trend.
(Those tiny stars, hearts, and dots are from the Jillibean Soup alpha sticker sheet in the kit. I love it when a company includes a few extra little surprises in their products like that!)

Just got my "Can't buy Me Love" kit!

This kit is the cutest! I love it!

I love the Teabag, as a fun little alternative for a Valentine Treat!

And, to top it off, I found this GREAT little Teabag Download! Oh, this is great.


So, use this teabag, and if you want to grab some more, just run to the Dollar Tree, and grab a box of teabags, and wrap them!!!

Great teacher treats and co-worker treats!
Oh, so cute!!!

Valentine Cupcakes!

I love to make cupcakes for my kid's classes at school for their birthday or holidays,and like to decorate them a little-- I am not a cake decorator, and the little tubes of frosting with the decorator tip intimidate me. Give me a simple idea and I am all over it! With Valentine's Day coming up, I wanted to find some cute ideas, and this is what I found: I mean how cute are they! They look a little involved, but I am sure once I get the hang of it, they wouldn't take that long. I found them here.


And look at these:


Adorable! I am not sure what they used for the hearts, but I am thinking of using chocolate hearts, or even cutting a fruit roll up into heart shapes and using sweethearts on top! I need to check out the Valentine's Day candy aisle and see what I can come up with. I found these here , along with a ton of other wonderful ideas! If you make something, please share it with us. We would love to see what you can do!

Bliss

We had so much fun in San Diego, CA last week! I did not want to come home. It is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. Connor and I had the whole day on Friday to just explore. We went on a whale watching tour.....super cool and then we spent the afternoon in Coronado. It's an isthmus...not an island. You have to go over a huge bridge to get there, so, I guess the part that connects it to the mainland is under water! We LOVEd it there! It would have to be the perfect place to live. We walked through the streets, in and out of shops. So many cute shops! Then we headed to the Del Coronado. Wow, it is so beautiful there! We went straight to the beach. I took my boots off. You know how much I love sand! OH, I love it! There were surfers in the water, so many people taking pictures, plenty of people just soaking up the sun. It was pure BLISS! The sun was perfect for shadow pictures and we took several! I love these......this was my favorite!

Can't Buy Me Love

This kit is full of LOVE! So, you CAN buy it! :) This kit does have a very romantic feel to it. I love the vintage Jenni Bowlin papers, the music note paper, mini doilies....so many little touches. There is even a key wrapped in twine. I have mine on a chain around my neck. I should take a picture of it. I have been meaning to add a few beads and haven't done that, yet....tomorrow, right? ha
Here is a picture of all that is included in this kit. This one is sold out. I know, I know, I keep talking about opening it up for new subscribers. I am getting it all ready to do in March. If you are interested, you can go ahead and send me an email. Lucy@scrapetc.com. We are planning a few contests for the re-launch. Lots of fun prizes, too! Oh yeah, I was going to show you a picture, wasn't I???The design team came over Friday night and we talked and talked about all the great things we are going to do for Scripts this year. It's going to be so much fun and I really hope you will all be there to join us! Be watching this blog for daily posts! We are all getting in on the fun and you are going to have so many ideas....you won't know what to do next!!

I did a layout with this kit.....I need better light to take a picture. I will work on that and have it loaded by the end of the day! Have a great one! It's my sister's birthday......
Happy Birthday, Nicole! I love you!!

Have you seen these blogs?

I thought I'd share some blog links with you today. I know that several of these were passed on to me from friends so I thought I'd do the same!

This blog - U Create - has links to other blogs with wonderful ideas and tutorials. I think have of my starred items in my Google reader are from this blog. The bad thing (if that's possible) about this blog is each post leads you somewhere else, so you know - you'll be adding that to your blog reader, as well!!

Here's a few of my faves:

Burlap Magnets
Gathered Pillow
Burlap and magnet Board

Did you know burlap is IN? It is!

Here's another I really love - The Idea Room - there are so many great ideas here for decorating - and she's done one whole blog post on valentine ideas! You better believe I'm going to buy some candy canes at Michaels tomorrow (they are 25 cents a box) and make the first thing she has shown here!!

I have about a million more blogs I read on a daily/bi-weekly basis and seriously I bookmark and star them like crazy. I'm not sure what I would do without my Google Reader.

So, what blogs do you love for home decorating ideas?

How do you keep up with all your blog reading?

Lisa

Finally getting around to those Christmas pictures

I've taken forever to get any Christmas photos on a layout. I just haven't made it a priority until this weekend. I was inspired after spending an evening with the Scripts girls!!

Here's a layout I started at Wrappers Delight 2.0 with my December Scripts Kit (and finished yesterday).

The lighting isn't that great on the first one - but this close up shows a few details, in good lighting. It was too gloomy today to get good photos.

Here's another that I just finished up last night.
And I don't think I've ever gotten this many pictures on a layout before!!



This wasn't really planned though - all those tiny photos! I ordered some pictures from Shutterfly - some deal for 50 prints and then I got 20 for registering with them. Got my photos in the mail last week and there was an index photo with all these teeny tiny pictures - two photos actually and I thought it would be fun to do something with all these small pictures and here you have it.

How are you doing on those Christmas photos and layouts?
I have one more layout to post when the sun is shining!
OH!
And I have two already done with the January Kit.
It is SO SO cute! I really love it!
I can't wait to do a few more things with it.

Want a hint about the January kit?

I'm think LOVE is in the air. Super McDreamy Love!

Later!!
Lisa

Delicious!

My friend Virginia, is a wealth of information, and so, lots of time, when I need some crafty info, I give her a yell!!!

Well, one particular day, I was at her house....and we were swapping a few ideas, and here's something that she showed me, and if you are like me, well, this might just change your life!!!

Delicious.com

You see, it's a bookmark site!!! You can save all of your bookmarked items there, then tag them, then have them at your fingertips whenever you need them!

No more google searching, no more going back through TONS of items on your google reader!!!

Ahhhh, life is good!!!

You might want to wait to do this....

but how cute? I saw this here. Which directed me here. This looks like a fun blog to hang out in! I would love to make one of these lampshades. I think I will wait until we are cleared of this nasty, cold weather! I would hate to cut up and hot glue one of my warm sweaters! I'm pretty sure I would love to sit at this little table and be creative, too. I mean, look at those cabinets and notice the vase that is covered in a sweater!! Who needs to learn to knit? Wait until February and buy up some sweaters marked down to nothing! Yes, this looks fun.....

Christmas Layouts, part 3

Our family Christmas! Since we were out of town for Christmas, we celebrated early as a family. I used Lucy's idea of the Christmas tree, but I used small pictures instead of paper.I added ornaments and decorations. The only thing not from the kit is the bling and that came from my stash. I also used a label maker. The picture is not that great, but it is too cold to go outside and take a picture! :)

December 2009 Memories

I did not attempt a December Daily album this year (like Britney & Katie did!) , but I did want to create some sort of mini album recording some of my favorite Christmas pictures.

I used a card from the November Scripts kit to create the cover for the album, then I folded and cut several interior pages (folded just like a card and nestled with each other) from kraft colored cardstock. I punched two holes with my Crop a Dile and threaded some hemp through them and tied them to hold them all together.
I covered the inside page with some of that lovely glittery polka-dot paper! Super cute!

My Silhouette machine came in handy to add a few fun die cut touches.
I alternated punching & tearing the edges of the 'pages' of the album. I like the touch it adds!
I think backing the hole in the gift tag with the red text paper added a cool look.
I used a bit of masking tape, here and there, to the album to add to the "handmade/haphazard" feel of the album. ;)
Thanks for looking!

Christmas Layouts, part 2

The pictures from this layout are from our trip to Florida. It makes me happy-- all my family together- sisters, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews and my Mom and Dad.

I love Christmas Cards!!!

Before:

I love them so much! I love checking the mail everyday! I love watching my friends kids grow up each year! I love the creativity of the photos and the cards!!!

So, I started in 2000, keeping the photocards.

That was "back in the day" when they weren't too trendy. I think that year I got 5 or 6 photo cards. I put them in one large frame...collage style. I did the same thing in 2001 and 2002, but then, I was getting more photocards than I could fit in the frame.

So, then I started scrapbooking them (sort of).

So, here's what I did with this years!


I used my December Scripts Kit, and I made a "cover page"....then I used the Bind-it-All, and bound it on the side! Now, I have a little flip album from 2009! I love it!!!



I will put it away, and bring it out next Christmas, with all of the cards from Christmas' past....and go through it all over again!!!!

Ahhh, I love my photocards!!!!

Christmas layouts, part 1

I did 90% of this layout in the car during the trip back home from Florida! Next time, I will bring a lap desk or something!