Mackenzie....

Just a quick post to to share a couple of layouts with you featuring Mackenzie.  She is growing way too fast.  Hard to believe she will be a teenager soon.  eeeek!  

Here she is on the day we went snowboarding in Winter Park...well, she went snowboarding.  I skied for a bit then went to get warm and sit in the lodge.  lol  I used a Pencil Lines sketch and some older Fancy Pants papers.  And of course, more of my stickled Cricut snowflakes.  I am so over doing winter pages.  lol

And here she is...just smiling for the camera.  Lots of Cosmo Cricket papers here with bits of flowers and bling.  She really is growing way too fast.

Well, gotta run!  Thursdays have become insane around here with Brighton attending one of the local Junior Colleges.  I so can't wait for him to be able to drive.

Hugs.

Nancy

Valentine's Day

Morning everyone.  I can't believe how quickly Valentine's Day is upon us.  I am still no where near ready. What does one get for a 15 year old boy anyway?

With the help of a few tools and supplies from the Your Memories Here store and a Sassy Lil' Card Sketch, I was quickly able to put this card together.  Unfortunately, I think it is too girlie for that 15 year old boy.  Lucky for me I have a few daughters.  lol

Bazzil cardstock, Prima flowers, lace and patterned paper, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist, Pink Paislee Chipboard, Creative Imaginations rub on, Martha Stewart punch, Cuttlebug embossing folder

I used a bit of Tattered Angels glimmer mist on the mini roses and lace to color them to my monochromatic theme and quickly embossed my card stock with a Cuttlebug embossing folder.  The card came together in a short period of time and I am sure one of my girls will love it.

Speaking of daughters, there are bunches of layouts at Ideas for Scrapbookers today in a showcase of Valentine's themed layouts.  This layout is of the two girls at a Valentine's Day party a few years back.  

Bazzil cardstock, Cosmo Cricket patterned papers, Webster's Pages lace, 3tailscraft chipboard, AC Thickers, Misc buttons and ribbon.

This layout is for a few challenges over at Scrapbook.com and I swear it is straight in real life.  It features a fun owl from 3tailscraft.  The weight of the chipboard was great and took ink, mist, and paint very nicely.  I hope to get my hands on more of it soon.

Well, that is all I have to share today.  I will be back tomorrow with more scrappy goodness.  

Oh, and now to figure out what to do for my son.  sigh  If you have any ideas.....

Hugs.

Nancy

This Weekend was.....

Scraptastic!!!!

I was so lucky to have Jessica invite me to GDT for her fun club Scraptastic.  And I was thrilled to receive the Echo Park Little Boy line to play with.  While my boy is no longer little, I just love the playful patterns and bright primary colors.  The kit came with everything you could want...cardstock, patterned papers and fun embellishments.

The kit came super fast, just in time for me to throw it in my bag and head to a crop over at Our Paper Place!  I got to spend my night chatting with both old and new friends while playing with paper.  What could possibly be better than that?

This first project features photos from a few years ago when we went to Fort Collins for vacation to see Phil's family.  We took the children to a local farm where they were able to play on the farm equipment and pet animals.  They have grown up so much since then.  sigh  Now I can't get them to go to the farm.  Really it is all I can do some days to get them out from their video games.  lol

Did I mention, that we got to Colorado by train?  For some reason, we got it into our heads that travelling by train would be quite an adventure...and it was.  Who knew that train travel was so much fun, so relaxing....as long as you didn't need to get anywhere quick.  hee hee...Really tho...it was very nice.  They had a fabulous restaurant with great food and service, beautiful scenery, movies at night...what more could you ask for?  Well, trains that ran on time would be nice.  lol  We plan to do another train trip some day.  It really was that much fun.  Think next time it will be the Pacific Coast Starlight.

And finally, here is Brighton just a few months ago.  Can you tell how much he enjoys my taking his photo?

And, I still have quite a few goodies to play with later so you may be seeing more of these fun colors soon.

Well, gotta run.  I will be back tomorrow with some fun projects for Your Memories Here and Ideas for Scrapbookers.

Hugs.

Nancy

Monday Monday

Why does Monday always have to come after a relaxing Sunday?  Yesterday was so nice, eating lots of snack food and watching some commercials.  sigh

Well, here it is so I guess this is my day to share some menus and a recipe!  woo hoo!!!!

Monday we had Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese...yummo!!!

Tuesday was Jambalaya in the crock pot...couldn't find my regular recipe so had to wing it...rice came out a little gummy, sigh.

Wednesday was chili, which is a family favorite and an easy dinner to make since it is just a big dump.

Thursday we had the scouts over for PLC so Phil picked up pizza.  Teenage boys and pizza just seem to go hand in hand.

 Friday night we had Pioneer Woman's Cowboy Calzones.

Well, the pasta is on the stove for tonight.  Baked Manicotti. I wonder if I could get away with adding spinach to the filling?  hmmmmm, It would be so good, but I am afraid the children would protest.  Well, time will tell.

Until then, enjoy my favorite recipe for chili.  As a Texan, I know that this recipe has gone off and been ruined with the addition of beans.  But, the children like it that way, and since they are Californians.....

Beef and Bean Chili

2 pounds ground beef
1 lg yellow onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
15 oz can pinto beans, rinsed and drained.
2 14.5 oz cans diced tomatoes with green chilies
6 oz can tomato paste
2 3.5 oz cans diced, roasted green chilies
3/4 cup beer
2 tsp. chili powder
1 1/2 tsp ancho chili powder
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp dried oregano
salt to taste

In a large soup pot over medium high heat brown the onions and garlic.  Add in the ground beef and cook till meat is no longer pink breaking up any clumps.  Drain off the fat.  Add in remaining ingredients and cook for 1-2 hours on low.

Told ya....it is just a big dump.  hee hee

Well, I have so many projects to share....I promise to be back tomorrow with some scrappy goodness.

Hugs.

Nancy

Thursday means....

Well, that besides my life being crazy, it is my day to post over at Catch the Moments Kits.

I have two layouts today made with the fabulous grab bags that Devon has available at the Catch the Moments.  These grab bags are such a great deal.  Less than 50 cents per sheet and such a gorgeous selection of American Crafts paper.  You can even request certain lines.  These are from the Dear Lizzy Enchanted.

First up, Mackenzie.  I used lots of flowers and pearls to highlight my photo.  This is her waiting to see Woody at the California Adventure Park just a few months ago.  Why is it that waiting doesn't seem to be so bad when you are at Disney?

 

For this layout, I decided to really let the photos and the papers shine!  My adorable niece.  Ainsley gave Lili and older baby doll and carrier.  Lili just adores it!  She has such a good time carrying the baby around and will even share the occasional bottle.  hee hee

Well, off to my crazy busy life.

Hugs.

Nancy

Happy Groundhog Day

I hope today the groundhog told you what you wanted to hear.  I know that we in Northern California are already seeing spring with temperatures nearing 70.

I have a post up over at the Your Memories Here blog today and I wanted to share here as well.  If you aren't familiar with the store, you definitely want to check it out!

I have had this little box sitting on my desk for ages, and with Valentine's Day coming I thought it would be perfect to fill with little chocolates for my loves.  (aka children).  And maybe later with some of the new gorgeous Prima trinkets that I have pre-ordered from the store.

I used some beautiful  Prima paper and lots of blooms and pearls to embellish the box.  I was really surprised at how quickly it all came together.  Of course, it is hard to go wrong with flowers and pearls.

To help the white flowers blend a little better with the papers, I used a quick spray of Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist; just enough to "age" them a bit.

Now all I have to do is make some chocolates to put inside.  hee hee  Or maybe I should just hold on to the box myself.  hmmmmm

Hugs.

Nancy

Valentine's Day, Already?

It is hard to believe that 2011 ins't just upon us, but it is already February!  Tomorrow is Groundhog's Day and I know that many of you are desperately hoping the little guy predicts spring!  I can't imagine how many of you deal with those icy temperatures.  I know I am cold when it dips down into the 50s.  hee hee

Oh yeah...Valentine's Day.  I have been working on a few cards and other goodies for my little darlings and thought that I would share.  Please forgive me....I am not a card maker.  Any helpful hints on taking photos of these in the future would be greatly appreciated.

I made the card and the little tin for Ainsley using some papers from the Catch the Moments Grab bag.  The tin is holding some small treasures she received for Christmas.

American Crafts Dear Lizzy papers, letters, brad and trims.  Maya Road Trinket Pins. Prima Marketing flowers

This card I made with a sketch from Sassy Lil' Sketches.  I think I will be sharing this one with Mackenzie.  I also used some of the grab bag papers here.

American Crafts and Fancy pants patterned papers, Twisted Papers vintage image, Prima Marketing flower, Websters Pages trim

Well, I need to get some more cards made...this time for the men in my life.  And maybe a few other projects.

Stay warm and safe.

Hugs.

Nancy