And The Winner Is...

Connie! Please email me your address at ehallgren@comcast.net so I can send out your goodies. Thank you all for becoming followers. Stay tuned for lots of new creations, I've been a very busy gal ;p

A Valentine's Day Blog Hop!

Welcome to the Valentine's Day Card Blog Hop. If you didn't arrive from Cassie's blog, www.allsmilesandsunshine.blogspot.com  please follow my link and to begin at Amanda's blog www.lovejoypaper.com My multi talented friend (the Amanda of above) sent  us each an envelope of "bits" to make a card. The only stipulation was to use at least 50% of the product she provided. I started as soon as I opened the envelope! Slow is my middle name when it comes to scrapping, card making, and crafting in general so I figured I'd better start ASAP in case of "crafter's" block :) Surprise of all surprises...I was done in an hour. So unlike me!

Supply list: Cardstock: Stampin' Up; patterned paper: My Mind's Eye (stripe and floral glitter), Crate Paper (pink scallop), Pink Paislee (diecut); sticker: K & Co.; twine: The Twinery; chipboard hearts: Paper Trey Ink; ink: "Smooch" by Clearsnap, Colorbox (chalk ink); adhesive: Tombow, 3L; misc: Modge Podge.

The chipboard hearts caught my eye and I rummaged around in my stash for something to cover them. A trio of Smooch inks, the ones that come in a cute little nail polish like bottle, were perfect. A coating of Smooch and some sparkly Modge Podge later, they were set aside to dry.

The small scalloped circle was cut with the Mini Monograms Cricut cartridge. I wanted it to resemble a doily so I punched holes in each scallop with my Cropodile. The only items not from Amanda are the "My Valentine" sentiment sticker and the scalloped pink floral paper.

If you would like a chance to win this adorable paper pack from Echo Park, then become a follower of my blog and leave a comment telling me what is your favorite Valentine's candy. I will very scientifically select a winner (all names will go into a hat and my wonderful assistant Mariel will draw a name) on February 5th, 12 Noon EST. Winner announced that night!

Thank you for taking the time to check out our creations, I hope we inspired you today! Your next stop on the hop is with the talented Laura (aka Moonirl) at www.happinessequalscreation.blogspot.com

Beauty...

I love everything about Fall except that it precedes Winter! There is so much beauty to be found. Pumpkins, changing colors, crisp air, warm days and cool nights, Halloween, and I could go on & on :) This layout  highlights my daughter but is really about God's creations and how beautiful they are. I found this sketch on the Scrapbook News and Review site and didn't finish it in time to submit it. The sketch is by Emma Straface.

I'm in love with this My Minds Eye collection, Stella Rose. Such beautiful, saturated colors. Aqua is one of my favorite colors right now. The flowers are punched, sanded, then layered with the crocheted flowers and a brad. Misted the doily to tone down the white.

Cardstock: Bazzill, Bo Bunny; patterned paper: My Minds Eye; chipboard letters: Basic Grey; crocheted flowers: Prima; punches: E K Success, Martha Stewart; brads: Making memories, Paper Studio; pearls: Kaiser Kraft; die cutting machine: Cricut, Provo Craft ( Home Accent, Storybook cartridges); circle cutter: Coluzzle, Provo Craft; spray ink: Tattered Angels; pen: Sakura; adhesive: 3l, Therm O Web, Tombow; doily: Wilton.

Last night was Matthew's first time wrestling at 285lbs. He has lost almost 50 lbs since the start of wrestling season. He discovered the competition is much stiffer. He went from 2-0 to 2-2. I could see he was bummed and my heart hurt for him. It was easy to see the other wrestlers were much more experienced and older. He has a lot to learn and the willpower to do it!

Mimi's 1st basketball game was at the same time, unfortunately they were in different cities :( Daddy & Grandpa went to her game. I'll catch her 2nd game on Monday. Her knees are all floor burned, poor baby. Apparently her body can't keep up with her feet :) This is her 1st year playing basketball too. I just keep reminding them both that practice is the key.

The rest of my day will be spent with Grandpa Joe, first at the pacemaker clinic and then to his internist. The bonus is that I get to make a trip to Hobby Lobby and possibly a scrapbook store. Yea! The "Families" special edition from Cricut Magazine is out and there are 5 of my layouts in it :)) Check it out!

Beep! Beep!...I'm On a Roll

A cardmaking roll that is. Last week I got a wild hair up my ....well you know the saying, and made little stacks of patterned paper, cardstock, and matching embellies from my stash with the intention of making a bunch of cards. I'm proud to say I've whittled the stack down to about half. It is a really satisfying feeling to use up my old stash. My plan is to replace it with new yumminess.

Isn't this car adorable! Great for a little boy birthday or just because :) 

 Patterned paper, sticker: Echo Park; letter stickers: American Crafts; button: Basic Grey; diecut: Cricut (Storybook cartridge); punch: E K Success.

I adore this line from Echo Park, such bright happy colors.

Cardstock: Bazzill; patterned paper, stickers: Echo Park; diecut: Cricut (Stand and Salute cartridge); corner rounder: E K Success.

 My favorite of the bunch, isn't that birdie the cutest! The last two cards were inspired by a card I saw in Papercrafts Magazines Card Creations vol. 7, page 53 by Lea Lawson.

Cardstock: Bazzill; patterned paper: Echo Park; stickers: American Crafts; rubons, chipboard frame: Making Memories; punch, corner rounder: E K Success.

The kids are blissfully sleeping in, unaware they are having a "snow day", the rural roads are covered in a layer of ice with rivers of water on top. The temperature jumped from 18 degrees to 40 degrees and we actually had a thunderstorm last night. Weird! They say it's going to drop back down and snow again later today. I'm home on a low census day. Thought I was going to get to see Mimi's 1st basketball game of the season but foiled by the weather. Grrr.

A nap and maybe some scrapping are hopefully in my future, after I clean the tornado that is my scraproom up!

Fountain of Fun

My sister and niece came to visit last summer and we made a trip to downtown Saint Joseph. The unfortunate part is that they were here because my great uncle passed away. Saint Joseph is a resort type of town about 20 minutes away and the town that I commute to for work. They recently revamped a park by Lake Michigan and added a play fountain and carousel. The carousel is a restored one from an amusement park that was there in the 60's.

We made a day of sightseeing while the kids rode the carousel, did chalk art, swam in Lake Michigan and played in the fountain. When I say kids I mean Grace & Mimi, Matthew just rode the carousel and swam.  He's a cool teenager now you know. There will be more layouts from this outing in the future :)

This layout was created for a Creating Keepsakes sketch call. It was near sunset and the lighting was golden. I love these photos of the girls playing like little kids. They were so funny, trying to hold each other under the spray and get each other in the face.

The orange circle reminds me of the setting sun. Used some Prima flowers for a mask and used Smooch spray ink over them.

Pattern paper from Fancy Pants, chipboard letters and camera are K &Co.

Recollections glitter dots and Fancy Pants buttons.

Love this look on Gracie's face and Mimi's evil grin behind her. Such cousin love :)

It's a beautiful sunshiny day here in Michigan, a rarity in the winter. A foot of snow and 18 degree weather can't dampen my happiness to see the sun! Mimi is looking over my shoulder and Matthew is singing in the shower, they are hoping to go sledding. I want to get a day of scrappin' in, because I'm on call for twelve tomorrow and we know how that goes...