Happy Halloween

Hi everyone!  Today is Halloween here in the States and I have to admit I am a bit sad.  Gone are the days of big pre-Trick or Treating parties.  When Brighton and Mackenzie were younger we had a big group of families that we would go out with after a soup supper.  The children always had a great time, as did the adults.  Many of the families had children Brighton's age and now that these children are 17 and up....


 Well, needless to say, these children aren't so much children and now we don't trick-or-treat together.  sigh

Poor Ainsley is left as the only one who is still interested in begging for candy and so we are looking for a new group to hang with.

OK, well...enough of my wistful yearnings for the children to be young again.   How about a project to share?  I made a couple of little treat bags for my niece and sister to celebrate this fun holiday.

I cut the bag out of some Tim Holtz Kraft Core cardstock with my Cricut machine and then embossed it using my Big Shot.  A couple of vintage digital images accented with stickles,  bits of seam binding dyed with Glimmer Mist, and of course some simple Prima Wildflowers and a doily finished my bags.

If only I had time to make 100 or so more I could give them out to all the trick-or-treaters tonight.  Yeah...right!  lol

OK, well.....back to work around here.  Thanks for dropping by.

Hugs.

Nancy

Rainy Monday

Hi everyone!  Sorry I am a little late but I spent a good chunk of my morning covering my patio furniture since it looks like it is going to rain.  Not something I was really prepared for since it is June and rain this time of year is quite unusual in Northern California.

Speaking of Northern California, along with our weather, this part of the country is also known for producing some great wines.  Phil and I occasionally get the opportunity to try wines (I think the nearest winery is only 7 miles, and one of our favorites is just 15). But keeping them straight; remembering which wines we have had and would like to buy, and which we are not interested in purchasing can be difficult.  I decided to create a small wine journal to save our tasting notes and wine labels.

I used my Bind-it-All with the 7.5 x 5 acrylic covers with some older Webster's Pages papers to create this little journal.  I love the acrylic covers.  Not only are they super light weight, but I enjoy playing with the translucent properties.  And, being that I kept most of the goodies on the inside, I can slip this into my purse if we are going out for the evening.

I added a little pocket to hold labels I made to write tasting notes.

And here....a completed page.  Yep, it was a good one.  hee hee

OK, this isn't totally flat...but other than this little flower????

And the lovely trims I tied to the o-wires???

Since I have made this album I have collected a few more labels.  I just need to figure out a better way of getting them off the bottle.  Any ideas?

Hugs.

Nancy

Your Memories Wednesday

Hi everyone!  Today I wanted to stop by and share with you a project I made for Your Memories Here using a fun new die I had Kristina special order for me (remember....she will make special orders for you to!  just ask) and some gorgeous Prima products.

 

I saw this little suitcase die and just fell in love.  The finished project measures 4x3 so is the perfect size for small gifts, gift cards, or....well, I will show you next week.

I covered the chipboard with some Annalee paper before running it through my die cut machine, making assembly very easy.  I then embellished the suitcase with lots of yummy Prima flowers, tiles, chipboard, bling and even bits of Prima packaging.

I dyed some seam binding using a number of different mediums to get a slightly variegated look, including Ranger Distress Stain and Glimmer Mists.

OK, well, back to work for me.

Hugs.

Nancy

Happy Thursday

Oh goodness...I am still trying to get used to the new year.  We are off school until the 9th, and I just can't believe how fast the time is going by.  Of course, the days are filled as I have had my niece here every day while my sister looks for daycare.

Lucky for me, I still have found time to take a few photos of my projects so that I can share them with you.

I think I mentioned that this year I had set up 5 trees in our house.  Yeah, I know it is a lot, some (Mackenzie) even says a bit excessive.  But I loved it and all the rooms were so festive.  Of course, one of the trees in only 12 inches tall and two of them are only 4 feet.....

anyway.  I did a quick and simple layout with a photo from each tree.  I used some older Cosmo Cricket papers and a few odds and ends.  I even used some older gems that I colored using my Bic Mark-its.

Cosmo Cricket Wonder, Melissa Frances card, Prima and Authentique alphabets, Maya Road lace.

I also did a fun, fast page of the plate Ainsley made this year for Santa.  We had quite the assortment of goodies....peppermint bark, spritz cookies, frosted sugar cookies and toffee....I am sure Santa would have gotten some fudge had we not eaten it all before Christmas Eve.

Basic Grey Fruitcake and alphas, Jillibean Soup corrugated alpha, Martha Stewart punch, Seam binding, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist

Here I used some older Basic Grey papers with lots of yummy dyed seam binding.  I used different colors of green as there were so many beautiful shades in the papers. 

Well, I think I hear a two year old calling.

Hugs.

Nancy

Kissing Ball

Sorry I have been MIA, but with the holiday...life has just been crazy.  Did you know that we put up 4 trees?  Yep, I am a bit obsessive.  Not totally tho!  Phil keeps me in check, and even refused to let me put up a 5th tree this year in the office.  Scrooge.  hee hee

As I am sure you know that when you step under the mistletoe you are inviting a kiss; but did you ever wonder where the tradition came from?  Like many of our current traditions, this one comes from the middle ages, but was updated during the reign of Queen Victoria.  I found a detailed story here if you are interested, but here is an excerpt....

People would take a potato or apple and tie a pretty ribbon around it as a hanger.  Then they would stick sprigs of evergreen, holly and sweet herbs into the potato or apple until it bristled with them.

The herbs in the sweet ball took on the highly romanticized symbolism common to the Victorian area. Simon and Garfunkel weren't the only ones singing about "Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme".   Each of those herbs plus dozens and dozens more flowers, herbs and plants spoke a unique and private symbolic language to Victorians.  The choice of herbs, flowers and boughs could state love, affection, charity, piety and more.

I decided to create my own version of a kissing ball using some beautiful flowers, Distress Inks, and Glimmer Mist from the Your Memories Here store; a bit of seam binding and a styrofoam ball. 

I used Festive Berries from the LE Winter Distress Inks to color each flower from the Prima Wildflowers Pillar. (a handful of flowers was all I needed.)

 And then spritzed them with a bit of Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Mist to give them some sparkle and shine.

 I cut a few holly leaves with my Sizzix....

And inked them with the other two colors of Distress Ink that were in the kit, Evergreen Bough and Iced Spruce.  (hint, a quick fold down the middle, run the fold directly over the pad, and you get a nice vein)

I attached the flowers to the ball using my Helmar 450.

To finish off my project I ran a bit of seam binding across the Evergreen Bough,  and added a Prima Rose.  A few Prima pearls in the center of each flower and my kissing ball was ready to hang.

I hope I have inspired you to create a little holiday magic in your home this season.

Hugs.

Nancy

Happy Fourth

For those of you in the US, Happy 4th of July!  I am getting ready to head out for some fireworks, but before I do, I wanted to stop by and show you a few projects I have been working on.


My adorable niece spraying Ainsley with the hose.  The two of them were having a great time playing in the yard.  Lili thought the hose was amazing.  Until she fell in the wet grass.

Crate Paper Emma's Shoppe.  Pink Paislee flourishes, American Crafts Alpha.

 And my darling husband.  This is for the sketch challenge over on the Glitz blog.  I had tons of fun doing this one, A fun mix of Glitz papers and Prima.  I even dyed some seam binding to match.

Glitz Designs Papers, Basic Grey Alpha, Prima flowers, centers, alpha, Maya Road pins.

Well, the girls are yelling that it is time to go!

Hugs.

Nancy

Hooray for Saturday!!!!

Well, today is Saturday and I finally have a few minutes of piece to upload some layouts for you...I also wanted to share what the living room update looks like!  I am so happy with it...I just love my house (when I am not cleaning it anyway, hee hee).

I can't believe we are done with this room...and just in time!  We begin the kitchen remodel June 1.  I have selected all the materials...now just to have it put together.  4-5 weeks is the estimate my contractor is giving me.  Cross your fingers!  You know I cook every day and not having a kitchen may just push me over the edge.

At least I can spend my time in here while I wait.

Living Room

Stair case

Dining Room

Right now we are using my 6 foot banquet table as a sewing station in the window of the living room.  Ainsley has decided she wants to sew.  Of course, that table will soon become my kitchen, so she better get finishing her projects.  lol

OK, how about some scrapiness....

A few photos of Mackenzie.  This first one is Mackenzie on her birthday.  I don't know what it is with my children but they don't want birthday cake....Mackenzie chose birthday creme brule.  Do you know how hard it is to get a candle into a creme brule?  lol  I used some of my Glitz Designs Love Nest with bits of gorgeous Prima blooms, bling, bird, butterfly, and lace all from the Your Memories Here store.  I spritzed the blue seam binding with Glimmer Mist also available from the YMH store.  The design/sketch is one that my friend Sara made for an upcoming Ideas for Scrapbookers post.

Glitz Designs Love Notes, Prima flowers, bling, lace, bird and butterfly, Snug Bug seam binding, Glimmer Mist

And here is Mackenzie again.  This time at the archery range down the street from our house.  The girls love going over there in the afternoons and trying their hand at shooting.  Brighton used to enjoy it, but all our bows are just too small for him now.  Guess I might need to invest in a new one?  This one is based on a Pencil Lines sketch and using my new Crate Paper Neighborhood collection.

Crate Paper Neighborhood

Well, a few things left on my list today here around the house.  Hope you are having a great weekend.

Hugs.

Nancy

Projects

Over the weekend Ainsley and Brighton had our Zone Championship meet for swim.  So, Phil and they were gone most of the weekend.  So, what did I do?  Well, tons of chores....they never seem to end, a bit of computer stuff (Phil just updated my computer) and  some scrapping!  Yeah me!!!!

The first project I wanted to share is one that I have had laying on my desk for quite some time.  You may remember that I made some memo pad holders by Kaiser Kraft last year for Christmas?  Well, they had come in a pack on 3, and I finally got around to making the last one.  I don't know what I am going to do with it as often happens with these projects, but I am really happy with how it turned out.  I used some older Fancy Pants papers, a bit of Tim Holtz Crackle Paint in Tattered Rose and lots of bits of trims and flowers.  I even tossed in a cameo and frame.

Fancy Pants Papers, Prima Flowers, pearls, bling. Maya Road flower (pink rosette), American Crafts frame, Webster's pages trim and cameo, Tim Holtz ink and paint, Jillebean Soup and Jenni Bowlin stick pins

 I also found the time to do a few layouts.

Fancy Pants Papers, Target pink snowflakes, Cricut white snowflakes, Diamond Stickles, Seam Binding dyed with Tattered Angels Starfish, Unkown ball trim, Tim Holtz inks 

This one is based on a pagemaps sketch I had lying around.  I love these photos of Ainsley.  She had so much  fun in the snow.  If only it hadn't been so cold.  Lots of Fancy Pants here too.  I am trying to use up some of the stash to make room for all the new things that will be coming out after CHA!  That is my beautiful niece, Caitlin, with her on the tubing hill.  Such a sweet girl.

And finally....

Bazzil Cardstock, Crate Paper patterned papers, stickers, chipboard, rub ons, Graphic 45 button, American Crafts Thickers alphabet.

Mackenzie on Christmas morning.  (sorry about the photo, need to clean my window, hee hee).  Another pagemaps sketch and lots of yummy Crate paper.   She got the new Nook Color and just loves it!  She is quite the avid reader so it will come in very handy.  We can even download books from our local library!  And, with the new she can browse the internet and play games and such with the Android apps.

Well, Gotta run!  Swim team meeting tonight!

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

Food, Fun, and a Winner!

Thanks for all the fun comments on the new menu/recipe part of my blog.  I really enjoyed reading them all.  I look forward to sharing more recipes, menu ideas, successes and failures...yep, failures.  I had a big one this week!  lol  Be sure and check back on Monday to hear all about that!  lol  I also wanted you to know that my menus and recipes are not necessarily going to be quick and easy.   While I like simple as much as the next girl, that isn't my main focus.  I want something that can be held for hours so that people can come and go...so for our big salads...that means lots of chopping, and for sauces and soups, that can mean hours of simmering.  I know it isn't for everyone, but it is what works for us.


Speaking of us, life here seems to be moving at 100 miles a minute.  Life is good, albeit crazy.  Earlier this week I submitted my Special Bond layout to my gallery at Webster's Pages and was thrilled to find my layout chosen as this weeks banner.  


And speaking of banners....I made this for the Cricut Circle blog monthly challenge.  The challenge was to use the shadow feature, some type of embellishment on the die cuts, patterned paper and celebrate creativity.  I chose to make a banner...surprise, surprise, for my friend Heather.  I love making projects, but I just don't have room for anymore.  

Cricut Cartridges - French Manor, Forever Young, Christmas Card, Plantain Schoolbook, Serenade Solutions, Making Memories papers, Prima pearls and gems. Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist on seam binding.

And finally, a winner.  We had 7 comments on the post about the new menu Monday.  Ainsley drew the name, this time from my camera bag and pulled.....

Heather!

Well, off to get a few things done around the house before bed.  Swim meet this weekend.


Hugs.


Nancy  

Just a few more days...

...till we start back to school full time.  We have been busy trying to get our books and materials organized and our activities firmed up.  We have been hard at work getting Brighton enrolled at the local Junior College, his enrollment at a new online school, and his books and materials for his online classes,   I don't remember it being this hard when I was a kid.  But of course, I wasn't home schooled.   sigh  It is times like these that I think it would be so much easier to have the children in regular school.  But, here we are, about to begin year 9!  Wow!!!  I can't believe I have been homeschooling this long.

Brighton got his wisdom teeth out yesterday and hasn't really been feeling his best which brings out the total nurse in me.  Making mashed potatoes, going out for yogurt and ice cream and running up and down the stairs to make sure everything is ok.

So how have I been spending my leisure time? Scrapping!!!! You are probably asking...what leisure time? lol...Well, I am overwhelmed with it all and need a break occasionally....So, when I have a few minutes, I scrap!  That, and I took over 1500 photos while on vacation, some of which I just love and the mojo is running strong.

Here are two that I did earlier this week.

This one comes from the sketch and color palette this week at The Color Room.  I love a good sketch and I loved the photos.  The color palette was perfect so it came together really quickly.  A bit of Prima bling, lots of Prima flowers, and some Maya Mist.  What more can a girl want!  lol

This one of course has the photos of our house after it was tp-d.  Yep, gotta document the good and the bad, and I guess it is kinda funny...unless you are the one spending 3 hours cleaning it up.  Special shout out to my neighbors Richard and Aimee who came over to help get the last bits from high in the tree!  They were life savers with their extension pole.  This one is based on a PageMaps sketch.  I used a bit of seam binding to make the "toilet paper" and some beautiful Echo Park papers. 

Well, I think I hear responsibility calling.  So that's all for today.  I have another layout here on my table drying to share tomorrow, so I promise to be back then.

Hugs.

Nancy