Blog Candy Winner!

We have a winner!Congratulations to Jamie who won the new punch!
Please let me know your address. Thank you, everyone, for jumping in and playing along. I had fun waiting to see who would join in. The winner was randomly chosen.

I have some new things to share. I've been working on this LO for a little bit The photo is of my mom when she was about 10. She is with her aunt, my great grand aunt, in the photo. The paper is from the new Basic Grey Porcelain line. I loved the colors. Some of the cut work has been elevated on pop dots. I wanted the flowers and leaves to have some dimension. Also, I added some absolutely gorgeous paper roses. There are tiny pink ones and then the much larger pink and cream ones. They look so lifelike IRL. I cut the title using the Snow Angel font on pale pink Bazzill. There are also two doilies. One is beneath the larger roses and the other borders the left side of the photo. I treated them with Archival Mist to preserve them.


The Girl Who Became My Mom

This layout is of DS. I absolutely love red and yellow together! I used my scalloped scissors to cut segments of the circles and strips. The ladybug is one of Basic Grey's chipboard pieces maybe from Urban Prairie. It's hard to see, but I pleated the yellow paper strips along the lower right corner before stitching them.


Bloom Where Your Feet are Planted

OK, so DS wasn't always angelic! Look at that face! Does it scream "Trouble" or what? Look at the body language! He was about three in this photo. LOL Son, if you're reading this, we loved you even when you were a pill!


Go Ahead Make My Day

The next layout features a photo that was taken in March. The blooms are from a fruitless cherry tree. Our valley has lots of these trees - almost everyone has one in their yard. For that short time, the colors are perfect! In the background is the St. George Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I chose to use a Bazzill CS background that is embossed with tiny butterflies and has a shiny satin-like finish. I'm thinking that the embellishments and paper is from Basic Grey's Urban Prairie.


Signs of Spring

Lastly, I have some cards to share. I hope you like them!

I needed to make a sympathy card for someone at church. I had this gorgeous paper and thought it would make a pretty card.




The paper on this card is some old Wild Asparagus. I just LOVE it! I guess that's why I had 10 sheets of it! LOL I made the flowers to match and used my Cricut for the sentiment.



I'll have more to upload later this week. I hope you will come back and take a peek!

Thank you so very much for stopping by! I so love it when you do.

XO,

Chris

BLOG CANDY, BLOG CANDY, BLOG CANDY ALERT!

I HAVE ANOTHER PUNCH UP FOR GRABS!

I have another punch just like the one I previously gave away just waiting to go to a new home! I only have four people participating so far which isn't that many. I really would like at least 12 to participate. Here's how to get into the drawing!

1. Go to this link:
Happy Scrappin Scrapbooking

2. Look through the listing of companies. You can view this list by looking on the left side and clicking "Shop by Company."

3. Then, leave a comment in which you share three companies with which you aren't very familiar.

That's all you have to do. I'll wait a bit and then have Random.org select a winner for the second punch! I couldn't resist buying them. They were there - just hanging around, waiting for someone to take them home. The store had just gotten them in! I was lucky to get three of the four they had!


I have been busy working in my scraproom. Here are some goodies to share with you.

The first photo is of an Easter Countdown wall hanging. I used my Cricut to create each circular scene. The base is a muffin tin and the covers are secured using magnetic tape. Inside each muffin tin, you could place some candy or, for something larger, a coupon for that item. You'd start it 12 days before Easter. I threaded ribbon through the hole so that it can hang. Cool huh?


Here are a couple of cards I also recently made. I just love these stamps and have so much fun working with them. I also used Flower Soft where needed. I am sooooo loving this product. I used my Copic markers to color the images.




Now, I have a couple of layouts to share. Can you tell I've been busy? What gets me is this. Why does it take me as long to make a card as it does to make a layout? I don't get it. LOL

Never Lose Your Sense of Wonder

My DH bought this paper for me about a year ago. I figured I should probably use it before it gets destroyed, LOL. When I saw the theme of the papers, I knew EXACTLY which photo I would use. Look at that face!

BUSTED!

Now, my baby is all grown up - well into manhood. I wouldn't want to be his age in this time. It is so very, very difficult for young ones just starting out. He works so hard and is doing well in spite of our country's economic mess. Bless him, dear Lord.

Uniquely You

Son, if you are reading this, feel free to SEND ME MORE PHOTOS TO SCRAP! :o)

Well, if you have any questions, let me know! I may have answers!

Thank you so much for stopping by. I so appreciate your visits. They are a bright spot in my day!

XO,
Chris

EASTER BLESSINGS

I am so blessed. Each day, I give thanks for all the blessings in my life. I hope that each of you have a wonderful holiday! XOXO

We Have a Winner!

I used Random.org to determine the winner of this great punch! Here is the result:
True Random Number Generator
Min: 1
Max: 12
Result: 5

The winner is Liz who had comment #5! Liz, if you will PM your address to me via HSS, I'll get your new punch out in the mail! Congratulations! Thanks to each of you for taking the time to comment. I have a surprise for you...



OK, girls, don't be disheartened. I have another punch and it could be yours! Here's how to get into the drawing!

1. Go to this link:
Happy Scrappin Scrapbooking

2. Look through the listing of companies. You can view this list by looking on the left side and clicking "Shop by Company."

3. Then, leave a comment in which you share three companies with which you aren't very familiar.

That's all you have to do. I'll wait a bit and then have Random.org select a winner for the second punch! I couldn't resist buying them. They were there - just hanging around, waiting for someone to take them home. The store had just gotten them in! I was lucky to get three of the four they had!

I have something fun to show you, but I can't show you until Tuesday, April 14. I made something really, really cute! I just can't show it prior to my Happy Scrappin' Scrapbooking Design Team Upload Day. You'll have to come back to see it!

Here are some cards and layouts to share. What do you think?

I made this card for my DH. He asked me to buy this stamp because it reminded him of himself so many years ago! Isn't that sweet? I used watercolor pencils to color the images. I used octagonal Nestabilities as well as machine stitching.


I am so in love with a new product called Flower Soft Here, I used purple on the chipboard piece on the left side of the LO. In Spring, our desert is rich with these Painted Lady Butterflies (Cynthia Cardui) which are migrating northward. For so many years, I would order them while they were in their chrysalids and hatch them in my classroom so that the children could watch their metamorphosis. It was always exciting when a chrysalis would start to shake. There was always a student who was watching and then alert the class. We'd watch the butterfly emerge. Sometimes, they would come out with deformed wings. The children would always be so sad because they knew the animal was handicapped and unable to fly. Those butterfly watching vigils are a cherished memory of my teaching career.


Here is another card using Flower Soft. I just love Forsythia bushes and decided to turn this stamped image into one!


This following card looks so much better IRL. I don't know why the colors are so off. Can you see why I love Flower Soft?It just gives so much dimension. On this card, I used two colors of ink and two colors of Flower Soft.


My two cutie pies! I got to use up some older paper, LOL. I got the swirls by tracing some grungeboard shapes. Looks cool, huh? The flowers are layered and elevated so that they are up off the page.


The last LO is a series of shots taken some summers ago while we were on the Oregon Coast. My heart will always be there. I have such treasured memories of our many summers there. On this LO, I chose to cut up portions of KI Memories Lace Cardstock. I added some green rhinestones to provide some sparkle.


Well, there you have it. I've been busy and will have more to share next week. Until then, my treasured blog lovers, stay safe, have a wonderful Easter, and love your children.

XO,

Chris

MORE BLOG CANDY!

OK, it's not fabulous blog candy, but how would you like a brand spankin' new EK Success Notebook border punch? I'll even mail it to another country! You can't beat that! Here is what it looks like -


I will even mail this where ever you are - in the States or outside the States! Come on - take a chance! It's a great punch!

The contest will be open for a little while to give others a chance to check in and give it a try! Here's all you need to do.

1. Go to this link.


2. Look through the New Arrival section (See menu on left side of page) and determine 3 things (in all) you'd like to
have from pages 1 - 5.

3. Then, leave a comment below telling me what three things you'd like to own.

That's all you need to do! I'll use RANDOM.ORG to determine the winner. The winner will need to contact me via e-mail so I know where to send the punch!

How's that for blog candy? Please tell your friends to give this little contest go as well!

I'll be back later. Thanks for stopping by.

XO
Chris

My Genesis Trimmer is On Its Way!

I thought they forgot about me. I thought the state of the economy may have closed the company. I just couldn't believe it when I got my e-mail telling me that my Genesis Trimmer was ready to ship! I ordered it in February of 2006! Each one is hand made and comes with the most wonderful reputation! I ordered the 16" size with the edge light. I can't wait to give it a try! I hope it is everything everyone says it is! Here's what it looks like. Cool, huh?



Today, the temp was in the 80s. Ewww! That means it won't be cool here until November. This is the time of the year that I dread.

Last night, we had the window in our bedroom open. I could hear a coyote barking not too far in the distance. There is a river about a 1/3 of a mile (or less) from our home. I think the animals go there at night to drink and, in some cases, feed on others. The coyotes have been active as DH heard them the week before last. He said he could hear a group of them yapping their hearts out. Behind us, is a rock mesa. We live just above its base. My friend lives a couple of streets away, and she was awakened that night by their yapping, too. She figured they were on the mesa as she can't hear the river from her home. It is such a treat to hear them!

Here are some new LOs to share. I hope you like them! I'd love if you commented so I know what you thought.

This layout was done is light beige and grey. I love this photo and its colors so much that I decided to pick them up on the layout. The large alphas are pewter metal while the smaller ones are grey MM rub ons in the Beach font. Down the right side of the photo is machine stitching which I did in silver metallic thread. It looks so cool because it gives a touch of sparkle. The grey strips were punched with a border punch. The flowers are all grey and tan as are the buttons. I added journaling to the raw chipboard swirly.

The Common Teasel

This was a quick challenge based layout. The background card stock is a deep green. The colors on the Creative Imaginations paper are deep green, tan, and white. I used a punch to create a lacy border on the photo mat. The alphas are Thickers and the buttons are from Bag-o-Buttons.

Spring Treasure

We had the lovely opportunity to celebrate Valentine's Day at a fondue restaurant called The Melting Pot. Ladies were given a gift bag which contained a camera, a chocolate scented candle, chocolates, a pen, a stuffed animal, and a couple of other things. The chocolates were in the heart container seen in the layout. The shredded foil strips were also in the heart as well as the bag. I took the menu and reduced it. Then, I took the bag, cut it apart, and applied adhesive to the remaining piece by running it through a Xyron. I chose to add the best photos taken that night. It was a four course meal with a cheese fondue, salad, main course fondue (shrimp, beef, chicken, veggies in a boiling, seasoned broth), and chocolate fondue with fruit and baked treats. We had so much fun! I wanted to remember the event and chose to scrap it.

The Melting Pot

Thank you for stopping by! I love having you visit and hope you will return. Please share my blog with others. I'd love to see my number hit 6,000! You can help! LOL

Take care and be well!

XO,
Chris

BLOG CANDY, BLOG CANDY, BLOG CANDY!

Congratulations to Annita in Denmark who was the 5000th visitor to my blog! Oh my gosh! I had no idea how the number was running until earlier today when I uploaded my most recent photos!

Annita, you have won a Martha Stewart border punch! WTG! I hope you like it. Please send your address to me and I will get it into your box!

Congratulations! Thank you so much for leaving such a nice comment, too!

XOXO,

Chris

"Funner" is NOT a Word!

I cannot believe that a day goes by when I don't hear someone use the pseudo word "FUNNER!" Who is teaching that this is a word? Whomever you are, STOP USING IT! My gosh! They are using it as a verb. OK, here are the three principal parts of the verb FUN - fun, more fun, most fun. That's it! I am hearing it on TV, in stores, and reading it on blogs. Maybe it is a regional thing. I don't know. All I know is that when we hear it, my DH and I just groan! OK, enough. (I just had to get that off my chest - or mind)

I am so sorry I have been so delinquent on my blogging. I have been really busy. During the month of February, at Happy Scrappin' Scrapbooking, we had a sketch-a-thon. We had sketch after sketch each week to use as a guide for layouts or cards. I was having vision issues, but managed to get a ton of stuff done! Then, I need to make sure my DT uploads are ready by the second Tuesday which is also the same day lovely gals from my church come to visit. I like to have something ready for them each month, so I've been working my heart out!

It is beginning to look like spring outside. Our fruitless trees are just ready to show their blossoms. The temps are in the 70s. It's going to be another LONG summer - they always are in the desert.

I have some layouts to share. I hope you like them, too. Here they are.

Granted, happy little bees flying around on the paper is not quite an age appropriate match with the photo, but I just HAD to use this adorable paper. It is one of the first papers I bought when I started scrapping a couple years back, LOL. I saved it because it was too cute to cut up. Well, I gave in and cut it up only after I realized I had four sheets of it, LOL. There is lots of layering on this LO of DS. I miss you, Son!


Bee-You-Tee-Ful You

These are my two guys. We were out to dinner at a great restaurant that is no longer here. There was a horrible reflection off the background because of some metallic fibers, so I chose to print it in black and white.

This paper is My Mind's Eye which is available at Happy Scrappin' Scrapbooking. You cannot tell from the photo, but the large owl in the upper left is three-dimensional. I purchased four of the owls, cut them apart, and they placed them layer upon layer with pop dots separating each layer. It looks great IRL. Also, the branch in the lower left is part of a transparency which I cut and turned sideways. This new Penny Lane line is fantastic as so many parts work well together. Check it out!

Birds of a Feather

A few years ago, when our son was still living at home, we were under the threat of snow. Our DS asked me how he would know that it is snowing while he was in bed. I explained to him that it will get very, very quiet outside. Well, at 1:30 AM, he came into our bedroom and woke us up to tell us there was a lot of snow outside. DH told us to get up and get dressed. We drove around Las Vegas until 5:30 AM just having fun in the snow and looking at all the different features of the city covered in snow. We weren't the only ones at the park at that time of the morning, either! Wherever we went, there were others out and about! It is such a fun memory. This is snow falling in the beam of the Luxor Hotel. The journaling is on the large tag under the photo.

The alphas in the title are all the metallic aqua blue if the "S." They reflected the light of the flash. Sorry about that! Also, the felt snowflakes are covered with a thin layer of silver fabric. I added matching snowflake brads and gems.


Snow Much Fun

I just couldn't get the colors of this LO right when I took the photo. The green did not like the camera. This is one of the designs I did from a sketch. I just had fun!


My Sweetie

Thanks so much for stopping by! I'll have some cards to upload tomorrow!

I am so glad you've visited. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask!

XOXO,

Chris