Life goes back to NORMAL~

Christmas has come once again~ I hope all my family and friends had a wonderful time. Kerry and I went to inlaws Christmas Eve and spent our Christmas day relaxing.

I got this wonderful metal trash can all decorated/painted up by my sister in law! I love it, it is to hold some of my bird seed. I can't wait to use it, but wanted to photograph for friends to see.

rotating around the can

another rotation

one last rotation

The top cover.

I also found my envelope templates at the last minute and made a couple "pillow boxes" for treats, will have to remember these for Valentines day and Next Christmas, so easy, so fun, sooooo many compliments! lol

Papers are LYB Christmas Delight! Free hand bird, MM ribbons, random brown twine

stamp = not sure who to credit, have had it for a few years now and label is worn off.

Same papers, stamp, ribbons totally different look! I see so much versatility with Valentines Halloween, Next Christmas!!! etc.. I used a smaller template and made a tiny note card to insert inside for a coworker (no photo) and used the box as the envelope She LOVED it.

Possibly the whole worlds favorite Christmas/Winter paper line. Snow Day by Crate paper, I'm in love with it. I made a ton of cards using it, for thank yous and various occasions - maybe photograph some later.. But this little box was picked up at Walmart, painted and decorated the top. I spy something cute and little going inside? Or just looks cute sitting on my shelf. :-)

We had snow for Christmas Eve.. it was so pretty this morning too. I have been watching the birds at the feeders all day, BlueJays, Cardinals, Downey Woodpeckers, Juncos, Mourning Doves, Ginches, Sparrows, and I now Have White Breasted Nuthatches (a couple weeks back I had spotted Red Breasted ones too) I'm trying to attract some Tufted Titmouses.. we shall see....

Aglimpse of my tree this morning.. Kerry and I really didn't get much for each other, we both tend to get stuff all year, but since I LOVE Christmas so much (kerry not so much!) lol we do a few trinket things..

Prime rib has been cooking allllllll day, smells so yummie I think its about time for dinner. Looking forward to blog hopping this week to see photos from my friends and there festivities. I am anxiously awaiting some photos from my sister Cindy of Christmas Eve with family at my Dad's last nite. So sad that I work retail and have not spent a Holiday with my family in 8 years... breaks my heart, but I will go on. Hoping 2011 allows me to go home for the Holidays. I really miss it. Love and Peace to all!

Until next time!

Happy Saturday!!

The first snowof the season, that accumulated to anything! It's actually still lightly snowing at 11am!

I spy something RED!!

These little critters love my feeders as much as my birdies

Peaceful pond, notice the snow on the rooftops of my birdhouses?

No pictures to prove it (yet) but I had 3 Blue Jays today in the trees feeding. I have has a solitary Bloe Jay for a bit now... wonder if they are family??? lol

It's beginning to look alot like Christmas at my house. I love these trees don't you? They are actually supposed to hold Christmas cards at the top, but I just loved the way they fit on my entrance wall and left them! Scored them at Home Goods a couple months ago I just love Home Goods, so many great finds.

I did decorate my tree early this year first time ever it was up before Dec. 1st, that ususally has been the "tree day" in my home.. I guess I am so thankful to have a home and place to put my tree up that I wanted to enjoy it as long as possible. To me the best gift I have recieved this year has already come, when my dad surprised me with a stopover visit.. I am so blessed to have my dad with me still I love and miss him everyday!

I love this Christmas Cactus. It was a gift from my friend Marcia many years ago, probably 10! I have moved from Massachusetts to Illinois with it. The counter it is on suits it perfectly for blooming every year since I recieved it, a beautiful reminder of a great frienship!

Snowmen are cute and fun! I just love this tea lite candle holder I got a number of years ago, it is one of my decorations that just make me smile everytime I see it and stays up long after Christmas.

Not truly a Christmas decoration, but hangs up all year. I change out the ornamental hangings to meet the seasons. This time of the year it's birds what else... lol They are actually a set of 3 I recieved from sil for Christmas one year.

Working on Christmas cards and some gifty crafty things today.. Wrote out the first group of cards last night, and trying to finish them up this weekend.. Monday hopefully will be mail the card/gift day, I love to get things done early and concentrate on ENJOYING the holiday!

Just finished "Postcard Killers" by James Patterson, he has to be my all time favorite author, I am never dissapointed. Started "Deception" by Jonathan Kellerman. If I didn't have so many projects running in my head I would be stuck in my chair reading all day... but alas I am up and about, hehehe but still in PJ's just thought you would want to know.

Until next time!

Crafty creations

Can you stand it! Another post in same day from me lol
I've been busy scrappin and crafting using up stash, ok and purchasing some newer stash but then I am a paper hoarder....... :-)

Woodpeckers love suet and my feeders.

Summertime flowers ~ first time I had either of these bloom nice surprise

Lazy kitty

Butterfly Weed in my garden with a nice bonus surprise!

The best photo I have scrapped this year!!! Love that Dad visited me and I got a great shot in my front yard for proof. Love this man he is definately my Hero, taught me everything I know and is the best dad ever.... Love you and miss you lots!

Until next time!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hope all my bloggin / scrappin friends have a wonderful Turkey day with your families. Take lots of photos! I'm going to inlaws this year as mil was not feeling like coming here. So Kerry is cooking turkey over there! Told him call me when ready... lol

I have been scrapping and card makin like crazy here. Lots of photos/layouts completed using up stash and some newer products too. I should take photos and post, but just haven't, maybe todays post will be the lucky one.. we shall see.

Went to Circus last night with good friends from work. We had a blast, can't wait to scrap these photos.. I think a Circus mini is in order don't you? Those I have uploaded to FB, but I will post some here. We had awesome seats, and all access tickets, meaning we could go right down on the floor before the show and interact with the performers.. so we got some great photo ops! Awesome score for scrapbookers huh?

She was the cutest little clown~

with the biggest feet! lol

The body benders~ OMG~~ these girls were contortionists.. amazing movement.. I just hurt watching them!~

The Torres Family~ 7 dirt bike riders in a cage.. was fun to watch.

The newest addition to the Circus ~ Baby Barack with his momma Bonnie.... so cute, and very hairy little one.

Until next time!

Surprizes are the best things.

No photo today, but I will get one tomorrow or 2 or 3... lol
My dad came to visit me the first time since I moved here 8 years ago. I was not expecting anyone, and Kerry came to the craft room and said you have a visitor. hmmmm I never get company figured it was my sil with puppy..... NOPE , it was my DAD... he was stopping in on his way back from stepmom's grandsons wedding in Iowa, I never knew he was even drivin out for that... So I scrambled to get tomorrow off and will work thurs this week. Looking forward to a couple photos tomorrow and a few more hours visiting before he heads on back to Massachusetts. gotta LOVE IT
Until next time!

And the STASH goes Down!

So remember my Old photos use up stash challenge to myself? I have been working on these and happy with the results.
This is my niece Sarah, she always was dancing in her party dresses. I used to make all her dresses when she was little. And I believe at 13 she still has them all in their attic, my sister Carrie had a hard time passing them on.. so who knows.
Dance ~ Used Junkitz again, pp's and stickers. Random buttons and New Jillibean courrageted letters.. love em.

Some old DCWV paper stack, Scenic route stickers and journal spot. Daisy D's buttons and Halloween ribbon for Josh's book

And one to record and recognize my Mother in laws battle with breast Cancer!

Bazzill basic card stock, Basic Grey Bittersweet pp, Quickutz Storybook font alpha for "Cure"

random mini brads and stick pins. Celebrate it ribbon from Michaels, Fancy pants flowers with Michaels recollections pearls, Scenic Route "make a wish" sticker, and New Unity Vintage Banner stamps!!! o I am loving this stamp line.

Finished up another gift for my best friend Rosa, another 7gypsies not postin here as she occasionally checks out my blog to see what I am up to and I know If I post she will have that sixth sense to look.. lol

Remember last Christmas my Cockatiel laid eggs? oh dear I think shes gonna do it again.. Honestly I tried not to LOVE her tooo much.... Shes acting like shes going to do it again. So stay tuned for further developments on that front.

Finished "Fragile" by Lisa Unger and loved it, definately would reccomend this one!

Need to grab my Passion Tea Lemonade (homemade knock off of Starbucks) and head to store and library. Hope you all have a great day, and thank you to anyone who takes time to check out my blog and leave comments.

Ilove hearing from you all!

Until next time!

New Month = New Layouts

Stash, MME Wild Asparagus
7Gypsies tag, Paper Studios brad, Quickutz owl with WRMK stash paper! total stash project :-)

Stash~ Bazzill cardstock ~ Pink Paislee Vintage Moon sticker and chipboard border ~ kraft
journal tag kraft kuts by Fancy pants ~ DCWV title block another full stash project :-)

Bazzill cardstock~ Junkitz Christmas paper and Gift sticker ~ celebrate it ribbon bow on present~ stash, New Jillibean soup journal tags Chestnut Soup Christmas

Finishing up another layout with stash today :-) somehow using up older photos is making me dig and use up stash, I should continue on this pattern as I do have plenty of Older photos and stash to work with.... I mean who doesn't Is anyone truly ever caught up on scrapbooking? I started in 1998 and have no way put a dent in photos I have hangin out in my closet... but I so feel that working with them I am accomplishing something good, I hope my family will treasure these for their lifetimes.. I have been trying to fill up some post binders for Jennifer, and Sarah, Josh to send them off for Christmas.. Probably will keep Josh's as I am not sure he is ready to be responsible for them. But I know Sarah and Jennifer will love having them.

Finished up my book "She's gone country" FUN read~

Starting another one today "Fragile" by Lisa Unger starting off great.... should hook me in and be one of those I can't put down books.

So Trick or Treat went well here. Kerry handing out candy since I had to work :-(

we had 3 pieces left in the bowl... yes 3! but then again I didn't purchase oodles of candy, its so expensive these days, and I didn't want tons left over. No halloween photos to scrap :-( sighhhh

hope everyone got some great shots.

Until next time!

Still Crafting~

Finally using up more stash!! I have been scrapping a group of old photos I came across on my vacation last week. Along with the memories I have been able to use up some stash!
Christmas photos for my nieces album
MME papers tags = stash
LYB~ ornaments and word memories, and blitz ~ new
JBS~ joy tag new
and I have discovered I like embossing templates, = New Tim Holtz Alterations textures Holiday Words
White cardstock ~ American Crafts

My sweet baby girl at 3 days old!

MME ~ Wild Asparagus line, and tags ~ stash

Quickutz alpha ~ Katie I love this font!

Bazzill shimmer cardstock and random brads.

Another layout with the Unity Vintage Banner stamps!! I totally love this set!

Pokemon Princess = Stash MME Laundry line exclusive paper pack to Archiver's for the pattern paper

Random mini brads and buttons

American Crafts Cardstock

Fiskars circle punch with Making Memories tiny alpha stickers

I have another layout on my table to finish up using stash also. It's such a nice feeling to finally be using these products. I really need to concentrate more on just choosing a photo and then digging in stash to see what works with it. Problem is these new papers that come out just scream at me in the store.... pick me pick me... lol

Finished reading "A Secret Kept" by Tatiana DeRosnay... she wrote Sarah's Key which I was enthralled with and think everyone should read. This newer book just was not as good in my opinion, I figured out the "secret" fairly early, and then just felt I needed to finish the book to see how it played out.. really not going to be on my reccomendation you MUST read list... lol but to each is own.

Started a new one "She's Gone Country" by Jane Porter so far its enjoyable... light reading. The library called has somethings on hold, so I am off to return and check out new reads! Wonder what is in store.

Work tonite... UGH I really need to win the big lottery so I can stay home and craft/watchbirds/blog/check out facebook/ and do it all over again..

Until next time!

Birdwatching

I love watching the birds through my window! I am blessed to have such a great view and work hard at getting different birds to visit. Yesterday I had my cute little "Red Breasted Nuthatch" visit the feeder again, these are common in IL, and I used to have plenty back in MA but this little one appeared about a week ago and has been coming by daily. As you can also see I do have a frequent visitor "Mr. Squrriel" I really don't mind them visiting for a bit (I mean they need to eat too right?) but when they park at the feeders and gobble all the Special Attraction seed, I say enough is enough and shoo them away!!! lol

I also have a solitary BlueJay who visits. I have been trying to catch him on photo for a bit and finally was able to, not the best photo but I'ts proof!!! lol

And this beauty came to visit today, stopped twice on my bird baths, (GREAT photo OPP MISSED) ugh... but he did come back and I caught this one. I know all Gods creatures need to eat and I am ok with the cycle... but it has to be "to go"~ no dining in!~

Reading "Eight Days to Live" by Iris Johansen, really enjoy her work. Summerland went home today, was fun to have a puppy around for a bit.. I have another layout of my niece Sarah almost complete should get it finished up and posted today/tomorrow. Some rain this morning made it easy to stay inside and read. Sounds like rain in forcast for tomorrow too.. we shall see, as my vacation comes to a close this week I have to say it was very Crafty... but still no Halloween cards made... lol

Until next time!

On a Roll

Loving me some Unity stamping... I just love this banner stamp set! Scrapping with stash - the Unity that is new... lol Crate Paper Lemongrass and Prudence papers,Bazzill and kraft twine. Photos are of my daughter Jennifer taken a number of years ago.. I found them and just needed to scrap them. Lots of older photos being scrapped this week.

Again Crate Paper ~ Lemongrass and Prudence pp, random ribbon and Bazzill cardstock

More stash and old photo... BoBunny Love Bandit line for pp stickers, and Owl cut using Cricut Cartridge, Give a Hoot I had this pieced together already in a small stash and found it works just great with this paper line.

I need to make some Halloween cards and some sort of treat for co~workers too, but having so much fun with older photos they are just keeping me scrap happy!Dog sitting Summerland for a couple days shes a good dog, kinda a barker (not used to that) but I'm having fun with her anyway. She will be the subject of a mini album for my SIL for Christmas. How can you not love this face?

Well off to look at more old photos, they are just screaming to me Scrap ME Scrap ME!!! lol

Until next time!

Layouts and Cards

Busy Busy Busy today..... First layouts are the scraps from the last 7gypsies frame
Unity Stamp border~ I am loving this stamp and the border/banner trend
7gypsies tag (preprinted)
Jillibean Soup~ Journal sprouts
Random buttons from stash, Ribbon May Arts and kraft colored twine
All I need now are photos, the first one will hold a 4 x 6 or 2 smaller 2 x3's
second one is sized for 4 x 6


A couple cards utilizing more scraps

I found this photo of my daughter Jennifer at 2mos old with my MEME (her Great Grandmother) taken in the 70's. Got to love the furniture pattern! The sofa was a hand me down from my parents when I got married in '75 :-)

I am loving 7gypsies right now can you tell? Got to love the manila tags printed
Random buttons from my stash, American Crafts cardstock from the Autumn collection
I was diggin in basement stash and came up with the slide holder and acetate word "Generation" how appropriate huh?
When I was in Joann's the other day they had this fabric quarter on sale for .99cents..... and I had to have it, loved the colors as it reminded me of fall, but when I started on this layout I knew I had to incorporate it somehow... all that is left now is to Journal.

I really should be making Halloween cards, but I do have some other photos cropped and just itching to get worked on... sometimes I find my greatest inspiration comes from the older photos I have so many and will never get them done, but keep working on them.
I am so loving my Fall Vacation.........
Until next time!

And The Vacation Rolls along~

Hello Blogland Friends

Really been a relaxing vacation so far.... Yeahhhhhh :-)
Day 3 produced another 7 gypsies frame for my middle sister.


I was able to use up some Stash... Who out there remembers Teresa Collins' Junkitz Line going back to 2007 now ya all... lol I loved this Christmas line Homespun Holiday... and given the fact that us paper hoarders always get at least 2 or more pieces of each design I had plenty left to make this, Create a layout page(thinking ahead with blank spot for photo/photos) and a card so far....Will post later when photograph.
I will admit I needed to purchase some of the preprinted 7gypsies manila tags, and the Joy and Merry Christmas buttons. I have some Jillibean soup in here and the Cut Christmas tree is a Unity banner stamp turned upside down.. Random ribbon from Michaels Celebrate it line
I must say once you get an idea these little frames suck you in and you just roll along........

While at Joann's I found the cutest reuseable bags... I have really been good about these, and with so many out there on the market I hope someday plastic bags at the grocery/retail stores become a thing of the past!! I know other countries have been doing this for years, why is the US so lacking in somethings ahem... like common sense...... and so great in others like.... the land of opportunity?????
Finished my book, now to look at bookshelf and see whats up next... thing is there is usually no shortage of books to read here only shortage of time! I can spend hours in a book store writing down titles and authors and hours in the library putting them on hold and scouring the shelfs. I should have known from my "Trixie Belden" & "Bobsey Twins" days this would be a lifetime adventure for me.. A good book has entertained me for many hours and days of my life would I change it.. NOT EVER... and to know my dear daughter Jennifer has this habit of mine also warms my heart.

Until next time!

Hello Vacation ~

I'm so excited to start my Fall vacation off with a beautiful day. Sunshine and warm temps!

~First up a couple layouts I recently completed using up some Scenic Route stash, the butterfly was a photo from my sil garden last year.

I wanted to utilize this color photo from last Christmas of Kerry's family, this is the same photo I used in the 7 gypsies frame for his sister. Using up last years stash by Imaginiese, random ribbon and Jillibean journal sprout.

This was last weekends view of my neighbors tree, I can view it from my patio in my back yard, I am so glad I took this shot as this weekend it is bare!

Summer pots, filled with mums make me smile. I am happy I got 3 different colors makes them shine!

Here is my next Christmas gift I completed today for my youngest sister... go me.!! I used NEW stash... lol the paper was from The Little Yellow Bicycle Christmas line. Random snowflake buttons, some stamping and I got that little snowman angel hanging from the ribbon at Michaels.

Currently reading "Poison" by Sara Poole a new author, it is a tale of the Rennasiance and has me hooked into it. Plans for this week to read, scrap, make Halloween treats/cards and another 7 gypsies frame this one a Christmas theme for my middle sister.

Newsflash~~~ I have the best husband ever.... he just walked in with a Pumpkin Blizzard from DQ!!!! woot woot I'll be back soon, going to enjoy my treat!~

Until next time!

TGIF!!

What a long week it has been for me. Nothing drastic, just that Friday took foreva to get here... lol

I have been reading : Whiplash by Catherine Coulter

Death Echo by Elizabeth Lowell

Ghost Moon by Heather Graham

and a stash of books to plow thru from the library. Weather today was 80 degrees, its the middle of October, I wish this could last for rest of year but I truly know better. Before long it will be a much different view out my windows, but for now this is one of the beauties of nature I get to see A Downey Woodpecker, I have both males and females that visit... :-)

Remember my bird houses from earlier postings, well the little birdies are checking them out again, looks like they might be looking for shelter against what they know is coming!

I was blessed to see my first "Red Breasted Nuthatch" here in IL.... this week, hoping it returns again so I can get a photo of it.. and I am still chasing that illusive Blue jay photo.. Funny thing is for years I really admired the birds but never had a desire to photograph them but they are such a part of my life now I want them all captured in my scrapbooks.

I am hoping to get some cards (Halloween/Thanksgiving/Christmas) done this weekend, and maybe another present... looking for inspiration everywhere. Thanks to all my great blogging buddies, I do not have to look far. I do have a couple layouts done will share photos later

Until next time!