Wednesday, December 29, 2010

We love you Tommy! Be Safe!

Working in my Art Journal: Separation


My son is leaving for Army Boot Camp on Monday, January 2nd and I'm feeling a little blue about it.  Please pray for his safe return.  He'll be in for 3 years. 

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Challenge 18 - Make a Triangle

I got the idea for this page from http://debbiehodge.com/.  In fact the photo of the sketch is from her site.  Have fun! Don't forget to embellish it!

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Challenge 17 - Use Photo Corners

Try to use something unconventional if you can to use as photo corners.  Otherwise, kick up your regular photo corners a notch by decorating or embellishing them.  Have fun!!

The Fabulous Filer (I found this online - Isn't it the coolest thing!)

Click here to go there. Or Click here to see the original video link by Sandy Genovese, she used it for another purpose that is really neat too. 

Friday, December 17, 2010

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Art Journaling - Winter Beauty

My Envelopes Page - Challenge 16 of the 52 Week Scrapbooking Challenge

I have to admit, I was totally stuck at first and wasn't happy that I chose "envelopes".  But, once I started with this idea it all came together.  I really like this page.  I cut the envelopes out on my Cricut using the Wildcards Cartridge.  I used Basic Grey's Nook and Pantry paper as the background.  Then I used the BG Nook and Pantry stickers for the lettering on the envelopes.


Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Yummy Granola Recipe!

I make this all the time, it's delicious.  I eat it with some good yogurt.  Just wanted to share it with you all.  Enjoy!  (Soaked oatmeal is better for your digestion)

Homemade Granola with Soaked Oats and Sprouted Flour

Equipment
Dehydrator (optional; sources for dehydrators)
Parchment paper or Silpat baking mats
Ingredients
3 cups oatmeal (not instant)
3 cups warm filtered water
6 tablespoons whey, yogurt, kefir or buttermilk (if you are allergic to dairy, you can also use lemon juice or vinegar)
1 cup dessicated coconut, unsweetened
1 cup raisins or other dried fruit, or a combination
2 cups any combination of soaked and dried nuts and seeds (almonds, pine nuts, pecans, walnuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds — I tend to use whatever I have on hand that is already soaked and dried)
1/2 cup sprouted wheat or spelt flour (sources for sprouted flour)
1/2 cup coconut oil
1/4 cup Rapadura, sucanat, palm sugar, or maple sugar
1/4 cup honey or maple syrup
1 teaspoon salt
1. The night before, set the oatmeal in a large bowl with the whey, kefir or buttermilk and the warm filtered water. Cover with a dishtowel and let sit on the counter or in a cupboard for anywhere from 8-24 hours.
2. The next day, set the oven to the lowest setting (150-170 degrees) or, if you have one, set your dehydrator to the highest setting — around 150 degrees. (Note: I found other recipes online that say you can bake your granola in the oven at 350 degrees or so. I tried this method but it didn’t work so well for me — since you have to constantly turn it, it’s kind of a pain. I preferred just putting it in the dehydrator and letting it go overnight. If you are in a hurry and want your granola right away, you can try it that way — just turn the granola every 15 minutes or so and bake for a shorter period of time.)
3. Add to the bowl of soaked oatmeal the coconut, raisins, soaked and dried nuts/seeds, and sprouted flour. Blend together with a wooden spoon.
5. In another bowl, add coconut oil, sugar, honey and salt. If the coconut oil is solid, melt it in a saucepan on low heat.
6. Pour the coconut oil mixture onto the bowl of oatmeal and blend together with a wooden spoon.
7. Spread the mixture onto cookie sheets lined with parchment paper or Silpat mats. Or, if you’re using a dehydrator, spread onto parchment paper-lined trays.
8. Bake or dry until crisp. Depending on how thickly you spread the mixture, it can take anywhere from a few hours to up to 24 hours. This is another reason I prefer using a dehydrator (also, it doesn’t heat up the kitchen).
9. Break into pieces with your hands and store in an airtight container.
10. Serve your homemade granola with milk, yogurt or cream, and if you like, fresh fruit.

I got this recipe from http://www.cheeseslave.com/2009/07/27/homemade-granola-with-soaked-oats-sprouted-flour/

Christmas Tag Swap 2010

Altered Book Flip

Nancy this is for you! 

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Challenge 16 of the 52 Week Scrapbooking Challenge - Envelopes

I wonder how it would look to add envelopes or an envelope to a page.  Using them however you wish, no rules.  Think outside of the box or inside, anything goes, just use an envelope(s).  Plural or singular.

Have fun!!! And see you soon!!

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Art Journaling!

I love to play in my art journal, but I especially love to play in my art journal in the winter!  The paper I was ripping in the video is scrap paper that was used to catch the overspray of Glimmer Mist!  Don't ya just love it!



Eyelets, eyelets, eyelets!!!

I have way too many eyelets! 

I have decided that because of that I am going to make a new rule for myself.  Every page, card, tag and mini album I make will have eyelets on it somewhere until I make a major dent in my supply. 


Friday, December 10, 2010

Some Things Old/Some Things new Challenge #15

Hi Everybody,


Here's my page for Challenge 15 - The background paper and the decorative paper I used were really old, so are the eyelets (does anybody use eyelets anymore?).  For the New Items:   I just purchased the "bling" frame from Archivers last week.  The large black brads are new.  I applied some white rub-ons to the black brads.  I'm happy with the result.  I love digging through my stash and uncovering lost treasures.  I really like the shade of blue in these papers.  I think that maybe I'll use this recipe for a page more often.  I enjoyed it!  Hope you did too!  The Nickel Nook's challenge 15 is done too,  click here to see her page.


Sunday, December 5, 2010

Challenge 15 of the 52 Week Scrapbooking Challenge

Just FYI:  If you're interested in joining in on this challenge we'd love to have ya.  Join in Anytime!  Just leave a link to your blog or youtube channel in the comments below any entry. 

This week's challenge is to use somethings old and somethings new, Have Fun!

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Just for fun!

Went to Archiver's last night with a friend and saw all the new Harry Potter papers, stickers and such, so I decided to make a page using some stickers from the collection.  Because my friends have all read the books and watched the movies and I haven't, they started jokingly calling me the "Harry" virgin.  This is a page dedicated to the "experts" in my life.

WE GOT OUR FIRST SNOW!

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Here's NickelNook's Punch Art Page

Click here to go there!

Here's my Challenge 14 Punch Art Page!

This one was alot of fun!  I saw tons of ways to use punches out there in "web land" and wanted to try alot of them.  But, as I started putting this page together it just developed into what you see here.  I used various Stampin' Up punches.  I know the "marionette" Heron is a stretch, but it did get approval from my Scrappin' Buddies, so there you go!  Can't wait to see yours!

Sunday, November 28, 2010

A Moment in Time

I have to share this with you all...

It was 2:35AM, last night, my dog gets up, pants hard and jumps out of bed, which could only mean one thing, and that is, that he needs to go outside.  I had had all my husband's family over for dinner earlier that day and I was exhausted.  I grumbled with anger and disdain as I crawled out of the warm and comfortable bed, mad at my dumb dog.   As I walked to the bedroom door I put on my sweatshirt jacket and my slippers over my knee length night gown.  Down the stairs, through the darkness, I whimpered, my feet aching with every step as I followed my little dog down the stairs to go outside. 

I opened the door and my breath stopped as the crisp frosty air hit my bare legs and face.  I watched as he went through the door, off the wooden porch and down onto the frozen grass, quickly shutting the door behind him.  I wondered how long I would have to wait for him to come back in.  I saw his breath in the air rise above his head and dissappear. 

He meandered and took his time, smelling here and there and looking around, doing his duty again and again, like no one was waiting for him. To my dog, he had all the time in the world.  I opened the door and stepped out, my intention was to encourage him back in the house as quickly as possible, so that I could go back to bed.  But, what happened instead, was that I was completely swallowed up by the most beautiful of sounds, an absolutely silent night, so quiet, so peaceful.  The grass had a soft grayish white luster on it, frost, stars so bright they made me worship the One who created them.  I knew I was all alone out there on the frozen lawn, but not alone.  He was with me.  The heavens engulfed me on all sides.  As I stepped through the grass with my slippered feet I heard soft crunching sounds with each new step.  My slippers were warm, but the ground beneath them was so cold and the grass seemed breakable.  Off in the distance I heard two owls talking to each other, whoo, whoo, whoo and then again from a different place whoo, whoo, whoo.  I listened and wondered.  I imagined them perched in their trees.  Oh how I wish I could've seen them.
I began to meander and take my time, just like my dog.  We walked around together, marveling.  I sensed great peace and wonder out there on my lawn at 2:35AM that I didn't want to go in.   I didn't want to leave it.  My grumbling and anger at my dog for waking me up and making me get out of bed, climb down the stairs and wait for him by the door, subsided.   I was now filled with immense solitary reverie. 

There is beauty in all trials, there is great love, and peace in the One who comes quietly and softly into our lives at the most unimaginable of times.  So, I guess it's ok, if my dog wants to go outside in the middle of the night.  I'll eagerly, yet sleepily, remove myself from my warm bed, put on a robe and slippers and I'll follow him outside again, just to grasp what I had experienced this past night and to wallow and wonder in it all.  (Maybe next time I'll grab my camera with me too.)   TYG!

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Friday, November 26, 2010

Cool Ornaments to Make!

These are the coolest ornaments to make! Click Here there is also a very nice video to watch that explains the step by step instructions.  Off to Menards to go get some "wall plates".  Have fun!  And if you decide to make one please share it with us.  Leave a link in the comments sections. TTFN

Christmas Tags


I wanted to show you the back of Cyndi's tags - they're so cute...here they are!

More Christmas Tags

These are some of the tags from our tag swap, there are more to follow.  They're coming in slow but sure.

Here's the NickelNook's Flourishes Page -

Click here to go there

Thursday, November 25, 2010

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

I am thankful for so many things.  Health, family, work, comfort and so much more.  Thank you God!

I DID IT!

I finished two challenges last night, #12 and #13 and here they are.

GRID OF 9 SQUARES (Challenge 12)
AND

FLOURISHES (Challenge #13, Flourishes)


Sunday, November 21, 2010

Here's this weeks challenge! Challenge #13

FLOURISHES GALORE!!

Use as many flourishes on a page that you can.  Chipboard, stamps, flourish paper, punches and whatever else you can think of.  Have fun y'all!!

OOH - OH!!!

Well, I didn't get my page done yet, I started pulling out Christmas stuff and cleaning out closets and created a huge overwhelming mess everywhere.  Why did I do that?  I have to get rid of things, I have accumulated way too much stuff all the way around.  So that's my excuse.  I do plan on getting this challenge done along with the next challenge wednesday night at the very latest so hang in there. 

In the meantime, take a look at Nancy's beautiful results for this last challenge.   Thanks Nancy for sharing it with us.  SYS.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Challenge 12 of the 52 Week Scrapbooking Challenge

Almost forgot to post the next challenge today, so here it is:
Make a Grid of 9 squares.  For an example click here.
The squares can be anything you want, photos, decorative paper, cardstock, whatever...can't wait to see what you come up with.  The size of the squares are your choice.  Have fun!

Saturday, November 13, 2010

I'm in a Christmas Tag Swap!

We're doing another Christmas Tag Swap this year.  We're swapping the 2nd friday in December.  I'm really happy how mine turned out, here they are:

Finally, here's my Challenge 11 - Using frames (I used 7)

Today my scrapping friends and I spent the day scrapbooking in this really nice scrapbook store (that I've never been to before) about 45 minutes from my house.  What a wonderful store, lots of name brands and new stuff too, I went crazy with the "My Mind's Eye" stuff.  I had alot of fun today!  Here's my page:

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Challenge 11 of the 52 Week Scrapbooking Challenge!

I challenge you this week to use 3, 5 or 7 chipboard frames on your page.  The number will determine the size of the frames, if they are large frames then only use 3, but if they are small use 7, it's up to you.  Use them to frame a unique embellishment, or a photo or possibly even some decorative paper.  Can't wait to see what you create! Have fun!

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

My Challenge 10 Results - Stamped edges

This page went together really fast!  And it was easier for me to put together, there was a nice flow of creativity going on.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Here's NickelNook's challenge 10

Click here to see Nickel Nook's challenge page for "stamped edges", It's lovely!  Thanks for playing along Nancy!

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Challenge 10 of the 52 Week Scrapbooking Challenge: Stamped Borders


Stamped borders.  Use any stamps to create borders on your page.  Have fun!!!

Stamped borders.  Use any stamps to create borders on your page.  Have fun!!!

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Challenge 9 Results: Using Sewing Notions instead of SB embellishements

Well, here's my page.  I had a hard time getting started with this one.  I did not know where it was going but all in all I do like how it turned out.  Yeah, on to the next one!!

I love this photo of my parents and "the kiss" and I'm especially happy to showcase it in this special way.   Thanks for stopping by.

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Challenge 9 of the 52 Week Scrapbooking Challenge

Ok, so here's this week's challenge, instead of using typical, made for scrapbooking embellishments, use sewing notions, fabrics instead.  Have fun!

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Challenge 8 Results

Here's my page for the Grid Technique.  This was really cool to do.  And I love how it turned out. 

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

A New Project

Here is a new project I've been working on lately.  My "peeps" and I started mini albums for journaling about the Names/Character of God.  They are going to be A-Z organized.  Here I have "A" finished.  I had to go through the album and put sticky notes down to be sure I have enough room. 

I used Basic Grey's "Origins" paper and embelly's.  I made the album according to the instructions generously shared here at Follow the Paper Trail on You Tube (thanks Laura). 

I was going to use my Cinch to bind it, but I couldn't get the sections into the machine so I hand punched them.  Then I realized I didn't need to punch them at all, so now that I had holes in it I decided to weave ribbon through them. 

Anyway, I'm enjoying how it turned out.  Here it is...







 

Thanks for stopping by.

Here are some links to some more 52 week scrapbooking results...

Nickel Nook's Challenge 8 - Grid Technique

And

Adriann's Doodling Page

Lovely pages ladies!  Thanks for playing along with me!

Friday, October 15, 2010

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Challenge 7 results


For this challenge I decided to do a 2 page layout.  These are the products I used: stickers, buttons, ribbon, string, flowers, brads, rub-ons, decorative paper, cardstock (in 3 colors), an eyelet, liquid glass (aka glassy accents), a marker, and a date stamp.  Pfeww! That was fun and I like how the pages turned out. 

Sunday, October 10, 2010

52 Week Scrapbook Challenge 7! Use as many products as you can...

Product challenge - use as many products on one layout that you can. (ie: punches, rub-ons, stickers, die cuts, ribbon, buttons, run the gamut, etc) Have fun!

My October Card Swap Card

This swap we were to make a double gate card, here's mine...

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Recently Working On...

Hey Everybody,

Here is another book that I recently picked up called "Page Patterns: Just Plain Simplicity (Volume 1)" (Amazon).  This book has alot of fun sketches in it, Plus, alot of places to make your own sketches.  I love this book too! 
Here is the sketch I used...

Here's my2 page layout...



Recently Working On...

Hey Everybody,  Here is a fun page I made using the new Becky Fleck Page Maps book (Amazon).  I love this book because the maps are easy to understand and very do-able for me.  There are nice index cards in the back of the book that you can take out, put a binding ring on them and they're ready to go with you to a crop.  I  Love it! 

This is the map I used for the following layout I made.


Here's the layout I made.