The 28th...

I had every intention of posting yesterday.  But life got away from me....Do you ever have one of those days?  I am working on a set of cards for the Cricut Circle monthly challenge and being that the month is almost over I really need to get busy.  Not like I know what I would do with a Cricut Cake...but I do so want it!  lol

You know what I have been busy with tho?  Scrapping my adorable niece.  And this sketch from Sassy Lil' Sketches was just perfect for this photo I had.

I used my kit from Inspired to Scrap for this layout.  I had tons of fun inking those gorgeous papers from Pink Paislee and House of 3 and I loved the way Stacey mixed the papers with My Minds Eye.

Don't forget, you can link your take on the sketch at the Sassy Lil' Sketches blog for your chance to win a prize from one of our sponsors.

Our paper sponsor

Our digitial sponsor

To be eligible for the January prizes, your layout/card must be uploaded via Mr. Linky below by February 5th at 11:59 PM EST.

Specific rules regarding Sassy Lil' Sketch challenges can be found our "SLS Rules" page.

*The paper prize is open to US residents only.

The digital prize is open to all US & International residents.

Well, back to the grindstone.  It is going to be a busy weekend.  

Hugs.

Nancy

The Day Before a Holiday

Here I am madly trying to get caught up around the house before tomorrow's holiday.  Thanksgiving here in the US.  We are headed over to my sisters for the afternoon feast and then the craziness of the Christmas season here will begin.  Cutting down our tree, decorating the house, Black Friday shopping, planning our visits to friends and family....Oh, and this year I through in a crop because my friend Sarah is opening her new scrapbook store, Our Paper Place.

So, here it is, the day before the madness ensues and I am trying to get a bit ahead.  Tomorrow I have a post up at Inspired to Scrap detailing some fun ideas for gift card giving this holiday season. And Sunday is the reveal for Sassy Lil' Sketches.

Well, and I really wanted to share these with you.  I hope you all have had a chance to catch the sale at Catch the Moments Kits. (Oh, remember if you haven't, it's still not too late)  I got the fabulous papers from the Jolly Kit, some Thickers and brads from Devon and couldn't wait to dive right in.

So....

Echo Park Paper, Custom dyed seam binding and lace, Prima Flowers, AC rose brad, tag and Thickers

American Crafts Papers, Thickers, Rose Brad, Echo Park Thickers, Custom dyed Seam Binding, Webster's Pages Roses. Sassy Lil Sketches Sketch.

American Crafts Papers, Thickers, Making Memories and Maya Road sheers. Custom dyed seam binding

Sorry about the terrible photos, but it has been pouring rain and icy cold here the last few days.  I did some fun custom colored seam binding for these.  If you would like a tutorial, you can check out the post I did yesterday on Ideas for Scrapbookers.

Scrapbooking all the fun photos from last Christmas is making me want to dig out the decorations and get busy so......

I hope you all have many things to be thankful for this weekend.

Hugs.

Nancy

Gift Giving

Every year we try and make at least a few handmade gifts for friends and family.  It is sometimes a bit of a struggle to come up with new ideas that are simple to make and that the girls can help with.  This year I thought...why not some notepaper sets.

For Each set you will need
1 12x12 sheet of cardstock
Coordinating patterned paper and embellishments
1 small notepad (I like the white ones)
1 post it note pad
1 clear pen

First cut the 12x12 sheet of paper to 8 1/2x12 for the notepad, saving the 3 1/2 x12 for the post it note holder.

You will score the large sheet of paper at 5 1/8 inches, then at 5 3/8 and then again at 10 1/2.

Fold your paper at all the score lines.  With this size paper, you will have 1 1/2 inches at the edge for a little pocket.  This pocket could hold receipts and other little goodies.

 To form the pocket, glue just the top and bottom section of the paper.
Adhere the notepad to the inside of the card stock and embellish as desired.

For the Post it Note holder.
Cut the 3 1/2 x12 cardstock to 3 1/2 x  6 5/8.  Save the scrap for the pen.

Score this sheet of paper at 3 1/8 and 3 1/2.

Make your folds, and adhere the post it notes to the inside, embellishing the front as desired.

Finally, for the pen.
I used a clear pen from the local office supply.  Cut your paper to 3 1/2x 7/8.  Use the end of a paintbrush or other small round tool to help roll the paper lengthwise.  Unscrew bottom of pen and insert paper roll.  Super simple.

Hope you enjoy making one of these desk sets.

Hugs.

Nancy

Goodbye Weekend, I Enjoyed You So

Such a great, busy, busy, weekend.


As you can see, the blog redesign is done.  Hope you like it!  The house is clean! The laundry is done!! The refrigerator is stocked with lots of yummy, nutritious foods!  Woo hoo!!!!  The children had a great swim meet...even tho it was only in the 60s and raining.  And, best of all.....


SCRAPPY TIME!!!!!


Here are a few layouts I made to share.  These were all scanned instead of photographed because, as I said, it is raining, so no good light.


First we have Mackenzie at the pumpkin patch.  She wasn't just thrilled to go, but...it makes me happy so she does.  hee hee

Basic Grey Mellow, Miscellaneous buttons and flowers, Tim Holtz Distress Inks, Prima Lace, Glimmer Mist, Page Maps Sketch 

And, you can tell that Brighton is just thrilled to have me snapping his photo!  lol

Scenic Route and Fancy Pants Papers, Basic Grey Felt, Miscellaneous Buttons, Tim Holtz Distress Inks, Thickers Alphabet 

And finally, my adorable niece.  This one is for the weekly challenge over at The Color Room.

Prima Paper, Pearls and Flowers, Glimmer Mist, Pink Paislee Alphabet

And, in other news.....


Today is reveal day at Sassy Lil' Sketches.

Don't you just love this sketch?  Be sure to play along for your chance at some fabulous prizes from this month's sponsors.  

November Paper Sponsor

November Digi Sponsor

And, it looks like the class I am participating in at Inspired to Scrap is going to be free!!!  Lots of great holiday ideas for free!!!  Can't beat that price.  So, if you haven't checked out Inspired to Scrap yet, head over and see all the great holiday projects.  And, Stacey has the cutest kit available featuring some Pink Paislee and My Minds Eye papers.

And finally, Catch the Moments Kits is up to 94 followers!  Check out Devon's new blog to see the beautiful things she has available in her store now.  And help us get to 100 followers!!  Also check out the new challenge blog Scrap the Moments.  I need the rain to stop and then I have the perfect photo op for my challenge layout.

Well, I should probably get back to the fam.  Sneaked out of the movie to check in here.  See you tomorrow with my menu and a recipe.

Hugs.

Nancy

Wednesday Again

Well, it is once again Wednesday and life is busy, busy, busy.  I am working on some fun projects for and upcoming Inspired to Scrap class.  This is a 15 day class starting November 12, full of fun and festive holiday ideas.  Each day has many different projects, videos, and inspiration from the talented design team.  Be sure and pop over and check it out.  Sorry, can't share anything quite yet.


I do have this to share tho.  I have been taking the children to the pumpkin patch since they were babies.  And, I refuse to stop.  Such fun photos.  Here is one of my favorites of Brighton.

Basic Grey Ambrosia and Basics, Prima Flowers and Bling, American Crafts Thickers, Tim Holtz Distress Ink

This layout is being featured today at Ideas for Scrapbookers in a designer's challenge.  Lots of great distress ink inspiration.  Be sure and check it out.  


Hugs.


Nancy

So Excited

I am so excited to announce that I am a guest designer on a new site, Inspired to Scrap.  The site has kits, classes, and a fun forum and gallery.  The site is practically brand new and there is a ton of talent over there.  I will be guest designing in November.  You should for sure check it out!  Stacey has some fun tutorials and free classes going on right now.


Let's see, What else has been going on.....


I made a few projects.


You may remember that my dh had to skip his birthday this year because we had to push Ainsley's birthday sleepover to his birthday.  hee hee....Well, we finally got him his own cake. 

 The Color Room Palette.  Basic Grey Origins everything else.  

Ainsley riding the mechanical bull at Phil's group picnic. She and Mackenzie must have ridden it a dozen times.  So much fun.

Basic Grey Lemonade papers, Prima flowers, Pink Paislee Title

I loved this photo of my good friend Michelle's neighborhood and really wanted to scrap it.  So....Well, it is on its way to her now.  You may have seen this on the Ideas for Scrapbookers blog.  It was one of my "mist" examples.  I masked the leaf paper, the Prima felt and the title letters.

 Basic Grey Archaic, Tattered Angels Glimmer mist, Maya Mist and felt trim, Prima flower leaves and felt border, Making Memories journal tag.

Here is Mackenzie at Phil's company picnic.  The bull, the petting zoo, it really was a super fun afternoon.  I used one of my good friend Heather's sketches.  You should totally check out the post at Ideas for Scrapbookers.  You could win a prize from Scraptastic.  A super fun kit club Heather designs for.

American Crafts Dear Lizzie papers, trim and chipboard.  Prima Flowers.

School and swim and ballet are keeping us crazy busy!  So.....Gotta run.


Don't forget, if you won a prize, please email me your shipping information so I can get your goodies out to you.  Ainsley and I have been having a great time kitting.


Hugs.


Nancy

Gift Card Giving

This is a copy of the class I helped with at Inspired to Scrap.  For a list of all the design team members holiday posts, be sure to head over there.

I don't know about you, but for some reason I don't just love giving a gift card for a holiday or birthday.  It seems so ...well, I guess I am just old fashioned.  Don't get me wrong, I love getting them, but.....Because of that, I like to make something more personal to hold the gift card in.

This year I came up with a couple of ideas for holding the gift cards.

You may have seen a few of these paper trees around.  They are super easy to make.  I started with a foam cone shape from the local craft store.  I decided to mix it up a bit by cutting a slit in the bottom of the cone so that I could insert a gift card which I had placed in a binder clip.  The blinder clip provides a stand for my tree and allows for easy removal of the gift card.  I covered the cone with rectangular scraps of paper approximately 1 1/2 inch by 1/2 inch.  I curled the edges, and starting at the bottom worked my way to the top, layering each piece in a spiral fashion.  After adhering all the paper to the cone I added bits of bling flourishes I cut apart.  After the gift card is removed, you still have a fun, festive, holiday decor item.

The next gift I made was for those coffee shop gift cards we are all so fond of getting and receiving.  I hand cut the card from a template (which I have included here) and decorated.  The card can stand on its own and I thought it made the perfect theme gift.

 And finally, a money holder.  It is the perfect size for bills, a chocolate bar, savings bond, etc.  I have attached a template for this one as well.

Well, off to maybe get some fun things to go inside of these.

Hugs.

Nancy