My N.S.S. is the Best Evah!

My mail man came to the door today laden with packages. The smallest of all was the best one ironically! In it was the ENTIRE collection of the new Distressed Stickles!!! OMG!!! Sue you are the BEST evah!!! Thank you so very very VERY much!!!

A Visit From the Jolly Ol' Elf Himself

Santa visited us last night and it was a wonderful evening! Trinity was extremely excited and radiated holiday glow! Her girlfriend Kennedy was here to share the magic. Although she had far less to say, she was in awe of the Big Guy and delighted with his surprise visit. Here's to you Santa and THANK YOU for all the joy you bring us!

Happy Feast of the Mass Consumption

From the Hills Welcome Wagon to all of you in the Blog-o-sphere, a very happy, safe and filling Feast of the Mass Consumtion.

"Sweet Dreams"

Clearing out my stash yet again and finishing up a class kit from one of the first classes that I ever took. She looks like an angel when asleep and is so happy in the other photos!! These photos are from Spring of 2006. I marvel at how much she's changed and grown!

All About Me - The Letter R

1.) Rambuncious
2.) Red-head
3.) Rowdy
4.) Ready
5.) Risky
6.) Rough
7.) Realistic
8.) Respectful
9.) Regimented
10.) Real

Where Did October Go?

It has been a whirl-wind month this October. All three of us have been sick and at different times. Birthday parties for Trinity. Paul and I celebrating our wedding anniversary. CKC for me, which was one heck of a tactical operation in child care. Story time, preschool and playdates. Cousins Pumpkin Carving party and all sorts of other fall fun! Halloween at the Sodder's house with the family. Ok. So that's where the month went to! It was a great one filled with memories and lots of fodder for future pages. Until then please enjoy this photo of Trinity from the Cousins Pumpkin Carving Party! Happy Fall Y'all!

Good Eats ~ Spring 2006

I just finished this one up today. I've been putzing with it for over a week trying to shake it up a bit from the original (at left) but only found a few things to change to it. Its a solid layout that really didn't need much added. I can't recall who the artist was, but its an old kit that I've had stashed away for ever from the early days at Scrapbooker's Dream.

One cool thing is that I added were some vintage recipes for the print on the layout that had belonged to Paul's grandmothers. They were odd pages that had just been accumulated here and there over the years. I then used some Heidi Swapp "Ghost" letters for the title after painting them. I used my Fiskars "Threading Water" punch too on the photo mats, and the EK photo corner punch also.

CKC KC

What a great weekend! I took only 3 classes this year and have to say that they were all FABU! Worked for a scrappy friend in her booth on Thursday and Saturday. We worked hard but had some fun and lots of laughs! Met up with some old friends and heard some good news. Met new faces from familiar places. Good times. Great people. Memories to scrap.

I've Been Hit! Or Is That Tagged?

Christina tagged me this week in a Blog post of her's. So here I am playing along!

RULES:
1. Link your tagger and list these rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
4. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Hmmmmm. This could be interesting. So should I be introspective? Silly and sarcastic? Let's see how this rolls.....

1.) I'm originally from Massachusetts and as much as I miss it some days I don't know that's I'd ever want to move back there. Maybe if we didn't have the whole issue of money to consider. but its just SO MUCH more expensive to live there than here.

2.) One of my favorite things to do is get up before the sun rises and comb the beach. All you hear is the surf, sand and not even the gulls usually yet. Its just you and the ocean, and she's sharing her treasures with you.

3.) Art is important to me. Be it through music or scrapbooking or whatever. Its a critical part of my life and experience.

4.) If I could do it all over, I would've gone to college and law school. It was one of the first things that I really wanted to do, but I had no support at home to achieve such things.

5.) I will make sure things are different for Trinity. I try not to re-live life through her, but I do know what not to do from what my parents did. She will have more than I ever had and will always have the love and support of her parents.

6.) I'm not a religious person. Which isn't to say I'm anti-religion, its just not for me. I don't believe, but I don't dismiss your right to think whatever you want. KWIM?

7.) I love the Red Sox and I believe that they gave me at least 20 new white hairs over the last two games. I can't wait until Friday night when we meet up with the Rays for the Pennant race.


And here are the list of victims, (I mean taggers) for the next go around:

Karen

Laurinda

Lisa

Melanie

Sarah

Shelby

Vicki

Summer Nights Memories 2006

Finished this layout last night and wanted to share it. Its another kit that I modified from the gals at ScrapJammies. On the right is what their sample looked like.

As usual I changed up the layout and added things here and there. For the title I used three Cricut cartridges, Mickey Font, Mickey & Friends and Opposites Attract. It was tedious to thread all the buttons, but I think its those little details that make a difference. Ink is Nick Bantock's Vermillion Lacquer. You can find links to these products on the left. Thanks for looking and feel free to leave a comment or any questions!

Mardi Gras Crop

Here's a layout that I just finished last night. JenC helped me out with creating a custom cut file using Design Studio for the jesters hat that I used as an accent in the title. The origins of the layout are from a ScrapJammies kit that I totally changed up, as usual. Title font was created using Cricut Design Studio and the Alphalicious font. Papers and embellishments are all from K&C's "K'ology" line.

It was a super fun day and some great memories with some people who left a mark in my life. Thanks for the memories and the moments.




Close up of the journaling:



Close up of the slider:

Uncle Jay Explains The News

This guy is right up there with John Stewart of The Daily Show when it comes to sarcasm and humor, but his presentation is just well, F-U-N-N-Y. If you haven't yet been to his website you need to make a trip over there. Every Monday Uncle Jay gives us another new story, broken down in terms my 4 year old can comprehend, but alas some adults still won't be able to get it. Its worth the trip there. This week's segment is worth the trip.

Killer Quiche

Someone recently asked my for my quiche recipe. I originally got this from a friend's aunt, and have to say that its super yum-o. Its not truly crustless, but its got the best crust. Let me know how it works for you!

Drama 101

Here it is. A tutorial for the Cricut (or any) Message Board. Some are already so well versed in the subject they could teach it, but a refresher never hurts.

Drama 101

1.) Post your thread in the wrong topic.

a.) If its a prayer request that you want, make sure you don't put in the "Prayer Request" thread so you can garner all the attention that you can get.

b.) Write OT as a preface to your thread title so you admit to everyone that the rules don't apply to you.


2.) Start a drama thread.

a.) Demonstrate just how much of a hypocrite you can be, but never admit it.

b.) Sit back and watch others run to your side and perpetuate the cycle.

c.) Loudly proclaim that you "hate drama." Don't worry it doesn't have to be true. That never matters.

d.) Point out just how much your opinion must be stated, but leave no room for anyone else to state theirs.

e.) Make sure you post on every drama thread to come across the MB to show just how much you "hate drama."


3.) When faced with facts, deny all.

a.) When challenged on your stance, don't mess with facts, figures or direct quotes. They just get in the way.

b.) Resort to name calling or finger pointing. It will surely feed the drama thread.

c.) Bring out the "block button" card. Show just how above it all you really are, and make sure that everyone knows that you use it and on who.

d.) Know exactly what that person is talking about, that you supposedly blocked. Refer to this as divine intervention.


4.) Create an alternate ID

a.) When facing voices of dissent attack. It doesn't matter if they are correct. See 3a.

b.) You can't sully your own ID. You can't let people can't know the real you. So say it and don't you dare own it.

c.) Stalk the voices of dissent until the thread is removed, or until the time when reality breaks in.


5.) Send negative PMs

a.) Send PMs to people that you disagree with or simply do not like.

b.) See 4b


6.) Play the victim

a.) When things aren't going the way you want them, pull out your "Victim Card." Tell others how you've gotten hurtful emails or PMs but never show them to others.


RECAP:

Facts don't matter.

Deny all.

Sit back and watch.

Spooktacular!

I got the base of this decoration, a Making Memories chipboard embellishment earlier this year on a freebie table at a Swarm that I was at in Iowa. From the moment that I saw it I has spooky visions and boo-tiful notions dancing in my head. So here's what I came up with!

If you have any questions on the materials or methods just ask!

More Figgy Pudding Goodness

Got the final (I hope!) batch of Christmas ornaments done today. Here's they are for you viewing pleasure!



Materials are in the list at right. Let me know if you have any questions!

TFL!

Blog Over-Haul

Completed a huge blog over-haul today. Hope you like the changes!

Showcase Blog of the Week

Ok so Gracie is totally going to give me a big head if she doesn't quit. But I have to admit I am very honored for her to share this distinction with me!

On her blog she posted some of her fave pics of my work. I thought in turn I'd share some of mine in a slide show that you can view below. Also on the side bar are some of my layouts as well. Some of my work is original, while others are spins on kits/classes/ideas that I made all my own. If you ever have a question please just ask. Thanks for looking and please leave a comment won't you?

This is a 6x6 chipboard album made with Chatterbox papers from the Parlor line. Embellishments are from Chaterbox, K&Co and Cactus Pink. Original art by The Scrapping Pampered Chef (yup dats me) from 2006.

This is "Les Joures Passe" a 12x12 double layout and detachable bag book. Papers by K&Co and Karen Foster. Embellishments by Chatterbox, K&Co, 7 Gypsies and more. Original art by The Scrapping Pampered Chef (yup dats still me) from 2007.

Scrappy Goodness

Have I ever told you how much I enjoy Craig's List and Freecycle? If not let me tell you now, that I adore them! Its a great way to get rid of thing you don't want anymore with out just dumping them into the landfill. You can find everything there and most times you can find goodies for next to nothing or even (dare I say it!?) free!

I got some pretty awesome goodies this week from a local posting. I got a 6 foot tall, five foot wide, pine corner armoire and a 6x4 foot book shelf for FREE! Now those of you who know me, know I have more house than furniture but I just couldn't say no! We went to get a porch glider for Paul. When we got there it was already gone but the shelves were there. I couldn't come home empty handed could I? Hee hee hee.

The armoire is in the garage right now serving up some much needed storage space. The bookshelf is helping me keep my scrappy grove going. Paul was the one who actually suggested that I use it for my scrap stuff in the living room. Are you as stunned as I am? So here it is keeping me in my compulsively organized glory. Did I mention it was free?

I even managed to get some layouts done this week too. I was able to gather with the girls for some scrappy good times on Wednesday. We laughed, ate Chinese food and yes, we cropped too! I was having a devil of a time trying to get this layout to click. Then through the magic of Primas and girlfriend power it finally came together. The base of the layout is a kit from ScrapJammies. I just love their stuff!

Everything Cricut Design Team

A Cricut Sister asked me to be a member of her Design Team recently. She cajoled me into it and I'll be serving as a "Contributing Member" as I don't have bunches of time to craft right now. None-the-less, I'm honored that Gracie asked me to be a part of her group. So here's a link to all the wonders that the girls are doing. Stop by for a lookey-loo and leave a comment or two won't you?