1 Gift done, multiples to go

Yes, I did spend some time scrapping this weekend! Used up some more stash on some existing photos I have wanted to scrap. Very simple photos/layouts but something accomplished and it got me into the "groove" again. So much that I started and completed One Christmas gift... :-)
First up, my Beta really doesn't have a name, last one was Jake so this is Jake too! lol
It was the very first photo I took with my new camera and I was hooked right off.
Scenic Route stash

Now this is a terrible horrible no good very BAD photo of me! lol but I have to scrap me right, the good, bad, and real me... The kids will appreciate it some day.. :-)
My Sparky and Tia (Cat) love each other somewhat amicably... however they both get jealous!
Stash ~ Creative Imaginations ~ Studio 101 Basics.. I have had this paper for about 3 years... imagine my surprize that I finally have a photo to use it with!

Random piece of paper from Fancy Pants ~ Kewl just lying around.
American Crafts ~ Tropical cardstock used for the title cut out with my Cricut Expression ~ Songbird cartridge
American Crafts bird ribbon, random journal spot and button

Which brings me to my GIFT! I saw this at Archiver's as a class coming up, but I just purchased the class kit with my 30% off coupon and made it myself! Love how it came out, and anxious to make another one. All supplies were 7 gypsies except I wanted that Prima Flower in that box in lower left, as I really was not a fan of the patchwork design they had prepared. Ribbon on top was a random piece from my stash.

So all in all a productive weekend was had. I am working on another layout today, not sure if will get it posted but will keep it going Using up stash by Imaginese from last years Christmas line.
Until next time!

Another Month GONE

Wow, its been a month since I put anything random here. Lots of photos to follow, some projects, some random shots of stuff I am loving now.... First up.... Starbucks Passion Tea Lemonade~ YUM my newest find..... but being frugal... ok cheap and wanting to save $$ I discovered Tzao Passion tea, brewed and put aside with a tablespon Splenda tastes just as good at a fraction of the cost... So you do the math.... 1 Starbucks Venti (16oz) $3.10 vs 1 box Tzao tea (at Target $3.29for 18-20 tea bags I don't remember exactly) It takes 2 teabags to make a Venti !!! Ok so if you want to add lemonade - Simply Lemonade at $2.04 at my Target... Still huge savings!! Score one for me... hehehe

Yes I hae been scrapping and just having fun with whatever photos jump out... Here are some Backyard Birds using DCWV stack

Tia with a kit from Making Memories

My Father in law with some random paper from stash and Basic Grey Monograms sprayed with Glimmer mist

K & Company ~ Susan Winget ~ Nature collection fit this Heron Beautifuly..

Working on a Mini book of my 2010 Staycation! Really really want to travel somewhere but $$ just not there so looking for opportunities to find new things here in our own backyard so to speak... First up Italy!!! woooo hoooo I saw the Leaning Tower of Pisa (well a true replica)!

Just loved this view... it is amazing how many "faces" you can find in just random everyday things.

Then onto Chicago Navy Pier This is a special place for me.. it is the first place Kerry took me when I visited Chicago for the very first time 9 years ago... I still love it today! This is the left side of photo album Used the Mammarazzi Paper line by Bo Bunny

This is the right side with journaling of why I "LOVE" it so much.

This carousel is just beautiful... Looks really old but was made in 1995 for the Pier.

We did take a tour on Lake Michigan (another first for us together) I was captured by the young lad with the very Irish brouge trying to get people to take the tour.... :-)

A nice couple took this one for us.. very very rare photo of both of us.

Another day by friend Nina and I toured this Mandir not too far from our home. Just so peaceful and a beautiful place. I used up yet more stash by WRMK Precious Metal line (I truly have had this in my drawer for Years...) lol

Got a bit creative trying to save some space so I made a number of pages using flip ups with another photo underneath and journal spot on back side of the flip.

Just some random paper, but with a Martha Stewart punch :-)

The grounds were beautiful and so peaceful.. really a nice place to visit

Reading like crazy still I currently am into a romance trilogy by Heather Graham The first book was "Ghost Shadow" now reading "Ghost Night" and looking forward to "Ghost Moon"

Highly recommend "The Glassblower of Murano" by Miria Firono, "The Red Pyramid" by Rick Riordan a YA book very good reading.. I like to keep up with what the kids are reading too.

So I have been good using up stash... but alas the new CHA stuff just sucked me in...

just purchased the Jillibean Soup ~ Christmas Soup line & Basic Grey ~ Wander

Echo Park ~ Life is Good & Crate Paper ~ Snow Day and Restoration

the girl's paperie ~ on holidy and paper girl die cuts and a couple sheets of their paper.. the banner one and the stripes..

Stamp set by Unity ~ Banners

Martha Stewart punches ~ Cherry Blossom, ghosts, ribbon loops

some Prima flowers and a couple 7 Gypsies trays (these are for gifts!)

I will say that I have gotten a number of these things with coupons $$$ saved.. lol but I really can't not have this stuff right... I mean YEARS from now I might just have the "Perfect" photo and yes I will have the "Perfect Paper" to scrap it... see simple justifications...
Until next time!

Life is just flying by!

Lots of adventure this past month! I can't believe August is almost over summer just flew by. With the economy being what it is we had a "Staycation" lol like so many other people... Oh I spent alot of time reading, gardening, photographing places & things, scrapping, watching tv (USA, TNT seem to have GREAT SHOWS!)

The first two butterflys are from today right in my own backyard!

This Lantana plant has rebloomed late this summer and the birds and butterflies love it.

About a couple weeks ago Kerry and I took a short day trip to visit a Butterfly house in Geneva

there were about 200 inside and these are a sampling of just how pretty they are!

Purple and Orange my favorite colors!

The macros setting on my new camera is automatic and wonderful.

I just thought this one was striking on the walkway don't you agree?

I also spent one of my days off with my friend Nina and we visitied a Mandir (Hindu Temple) it was so peaceful and the workmanship and detail in the Limestone and Teak wook were very impressive!

This is the entrance to the Haveli, it is a Cultural Center. The Teak wood was all Hand carved in India and then shipped here to be assembled.

One of the columns outside

We were not allowed to take any photos inside the Haveli or the Mandir, they even had me surrender my camera!! This Mandir is the Largest in the United States, made of Turkish Limestone and Italian Marble. It was shipped to India to be hand carved and then shipped to Chicago to be assembled!

Fountain in front of Mandir facing the exit

They had topairy sculptures around the gardens. I loved the Giraffe!

Reading list is quite extensive... I really love to read and have a stack of books to get to. Right now reading The Whisper by Carla Neggers. Have today off from work and spending it reading, catching up on blogs and crafting.

Until next time!

Chicago bound

Remember my last posting? I got to test out my new camera downtown Chicago and was duly impressed. Kerry and I took our first cruise on the lakefront viewing the Chicago Skyline from Lake Michigan... wow!

This is the lighthouse and breaker wall along the shore line to keep the waves at bay.

Possibly my favorite place is Navy Pier in Chicago, I love it! I guess the sentimental value is when Kerry and I first started our long distance relationship, he invited me to Chicago and that was the first place he took me to. Navy Pier in December!!!!! Brrrrrrrrr but I loved it...

This little seagull was definately not afraid of me and I love how the shot came out. He was on the pier as we were walking around.

Who wouldn't love this carousel?

Or want to take a ride on this 150 ft ferris wheel?

Or lunch here? We acutally ate at another place Riva Cafe on the Dock, outside seating... it was great to watch everyone walk by...

The same day I got to visit the Leaning Tower of Pisa too!!! Well the replica one built in the sister city of Niles, Illinois it was worth the trip.

Pretty amazing If you ask me.

Ok and this little feathered friend (I now believe it is a House Wren) decided it likes the 2nd floor of my purple house! This little one is actually removing a nail from the house. I can just hear mama bird telling him "not in my nest"! lol

So I do have some layouts to complete, having fun this summer relaxing and reading.. Just finished up How to Knit a Love Story by Rachael Herron another new author found. This weekend is a 4 day weekend for me Woot Woot! I am so excited not sure if we will go far, but I am sure we will do something.. looking forward to more photos!

So here is a photo of my Beta, poor little guy never got a name... lol but takes a mean photo! I loved that my camera automatically set itself to the macro setting and then focused it so I could

get this great shot... double image and you can even see the air bubble!

Until next time!

Thursdays ramble....

Today another hot hazy humid day of summer!! Gotta love summer time, up until this year the heat never bothered me... now NOT so much>>>>> UGH must be getting hormonal with that ole menopause thing! YUCK.... well enough of that drama, moving on.....

I was happy to see my Purple bird house that bil made me is now home to some little birdies....
I grabbed my new camera (still figuring it out for focusing.. it has a stabalizer that is more sensitive than my last camera) but I snagged a photo of I believe a finch, lol it was removing a nail which was supposed to be the "perch" but they made their own. Will post photo when I get to it..

Working on a couple layouts, figure I will continue doing them and then post together!
Reading ~ The Worst Case by James Patterson
Heading to library to pick up a hold and request some new ones.. Maybe lunch out at Qdoba..?
Off work 4 days WOOT!! Kerry buzy with folks and Dr. appts :-(
Maybe a trip to City for something fun?
Need to win the Lottery..... don't we all?
Until next time!

Already July

So we all know time flys right? but this year is just whizzing by!!!
I have been so busy with my outside time (gardens, birdwatching etc.) that my poor ol scrapping and bloggin has been neglected.

I did complete a layout today, will photgraph and post tomorrow... I have been reading alot also, just finished up Magic Hour by Kristin Hannah a must read! I loved it, started The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown, was on the waiting list FOREVER at the library. Tonite a trip to Borders brought me lots of new books to put on hold. I love reading so much, but the cost of purchasing said books gets over the top, so I scour the book shelfs and write down authors and titles... then head over to the fantastic libraby and put a hold request on them. :-)

On Father's Day my SIL brought her puppy "Summerland" over... she is adorable huh?


I did make a splurge this week and purchased a new point n shoot camera!!! Woot Woot.... I can't
wait for it to arrive. It is an Orange one :-) Canon PowerShot 14.1MP movel SD1400IS I really wanted to upgrade, but a DIgital SLR is still a bit out of the price reach right now... so I know this one will keep me happy... I was able to get it online at Target, it was on sale, and I used my discount and rewards points and scored a huge savings. Actually made it so worth while.. Now stalking the front door every day!!

A couple of the new Cricut Lite cartridges were a must have a tad pricy but Hoot 'n' Holler and Meow had my name written all over them.. So far they are exclusive to Walmart, hoping the price goes down a bit. I saw a couple more would consider.. It's time for me to start Christmas gift making so these could come in handy.

Until next time!

Summertime Beauty

So where is the summer going? It is happening so fast, I can barely keep up with it! I love being outside in my yard, enjoying nauture and the gardens. I really miss blogging and keeping this updated, but soon summer will be gone and there will be time to blog then.
I have the pleasure of a hummingbird again this year. They are one of God's amazing creatures. I am totally mesmerized by these little guys. Here is a shot of one enjoying my Bee Balm :-)

and the baby birds are so cute around the yard and the bird baths. This bird bath attracts the most action in the yard, we added some small river rocks in it to make it more shallow and accessable to more birds. They all love it but I think the Robins love it the most. They are so much fun to watch shakin and shimming and just getting cool! Here is one of the young ones

Let's not forget that I have a multitude of feeders and go through hundreds of pounds of seed a year. I tend to by it in 50 lb bags. So always happy when my Cardnials come to visit. I actually have been getting a Bluejay(no photo yet though!) he is attracted to the peanuts I got for him.

I love that my hens and chicks flowered this year, I have never had one flower and it's still blooming too :-)

And just so everyone knows I have gone off the deep end... Trix Swirls not just for kids! lol I have been snacking on these colorful bites... great color combos for summertime huh?

I found a romance author Barbara Freethy I like. Read these books, Suddenly Summer, On Shadow Beach and In Shelter Cove. They all represent a small coastal town called Angels Bay and feature some of the same characters.. Good Summertime reads....

Still creating a bit not much focus on it right now, but keeping eye out for ideas and need to get photos (recent ones) printed out.. Will create as summer rolls on and post.

I really need some vacation down time, and a road trip... hopefully I can get Kerry interested in checking somethings out next month.. as June is about done.

Until next time!

Fun with Kraft

Most of you know I scrap multiple photos for family members and always try and make them different depending on who they are for.
these for Jennifer's album

these for Josh's album

Joshua's album

and one for Mom!

above were using Kraft paper and random buttons, burlap twine and Kraft kuts by Fancy pants for the pattern papers, stash used up!

Combined DCWV paper stacks for this one Songbird and Flower Shower. Love how it came out simple yet classic style for me.

Today's reading is by Karen Hawkins called "Lois Lane tells All" a fun romance.... catch you laters.

Until next time!