I Am...

loving  the family photos we took while at my in-laws over the holidays

enjoying having a puppy in the house even if he has decided paper is delicious and sneaks them from my recycle bin anytime he thinks he won't get caught



freezing in the sub-zero temps we have had all week, and it's continuing into next week

listening to an audiobook, ... by Wilbur Smith

watching Covert Affairs season 3 and Justified season 2...while I scrap, knit and run, not all at the same time

knitting two projects - a hat as my on the go project and a gift baby blanket (shhh don't tell)

prepping for the start of a busy season

organizing the boxes and boxes of papers I have purchased to be made into kits, there really isn't enough hours in the day
  
plotting ways to simplify and streamline my business, this would mean more kits available!

January Bazzill Bulk Buy

A Bazzill Bulk Buy is an opportunity to stock up on Bazzill cardstock at a reduced price.  New to my cardstock bulk buy?  Here's the scoop...

• You will receive 60 sheets of cardstock, 5 sheets each of 12 different colors.
• Price includes tax and shipping to me.
• Price is for local hand delivery only - It does NOT include shipping to you. We can meet up or deliver at an event (check my schedule here).  Cardstock will be available for delivery at Scrap-A-Way Waltham (Feb 5).
• Mailing from me to you will be actual USPS cost, $10 in a priority flat rate box. I can fit 2 orders in a box.
• Order Deadline is midnight, Sunday 1/11. 
• Payments in advance by check are appreciated or cash upon delivery.  No CC's or paypal please.
• Does not apply towards prizes or rafffles at crops if you take delivery and pay me at an event.

The cost of this month's buy is $25.  Email me (sluvs2skrap at yahoo dot com) to purchase, please include # of buys, payment method and delivery location.

Sneaky Sunday

For Cool Crops Nashua, I have a really neat layout class called Spicy Social. This is the layout to scrapbook your social media photos - your selfies, your foodie pics, your favorite instagram pics, and the list goes on. There's even a "been there pinned that" embellishment. Layout is a 2 page spread and cost is $10.

If you can't make Cool Crops Nashua, I will have extra kits available for purchase at the rest of my events, until sold out.

Pinterest Fave Five

1. 25 Must Make Freezer-safe Meals
February and March are super busy crop months for me and having a few of these meals in the freezer will be a life-saver. I plan on getting a bunch made and ready for Feb/Mar.

 2. How to Pack for Cold Weather like a Boss
What a great idea for packing for a trip. I've always been a light packer but this is even better. I've used the one for summer before and loved it. Will be using this on our Annual Florida trip (typing this ahead of our trip).

3. Blow a Frozen Bubble - Not looking forward to super cold temperatures but know it's inevitable. The only thing to do is to try to enjoy it and I'm hoping to talk all of my boys to head out to try this, if only for a few minutes.

4. Snow shoeing - I have been wanting to try this winter activity especially since skiing and snowboarding don't appeal to me. I'll let you know how it goes.

 5. I have plenty of winter photos to scrap and will definitely be looking to this list for ideas.

Tuesday's Challenge: Use Your Scraps

Lesson #3 was on using up the bits and pieces of scrap paper in your stash. I dug out some strips of Christmas paper and threw this layout together using a Scrapbook Generation sketch. I even managed to dig up matching stickers and alphas. A few strokes of Clear Wink of Stella, white souffle pen and my favorite black journaling pen and I had myself a layout.

How do you use your scraps?

Flashback Friday

11.07.2009 - Setting up at the Scrappin' Sista's crop in Plymouth MA. 2 crates, a pegboard, a spinner, some baskets and the trusty bucket of Bazzill. My how I've grown...I would not be where I am now  without you and your support. Thank you!!!

The best part about my job is hanging out for the weekend with you...chatting, laughing and hearing the stories behind the pictures. The stories, that is what it's all about, isn't it? Sometimes, I'm guilty of just trying to get the pages done or getting my hands on the latest and greatest, and need to remember the reason I started scrapbooking and my business in the first place...preserving the memories. And in order to do that, I also have to take the time to make the memories. With that said, blogging will be sporadic for the remainder of the holiday season and I will be back at it for Cool Crops Nashua.

Didn't Even Make It

I tried to get into this project. I really wanted to make a 30 Minute Ornament Wreath for under $20.

It took a couple of trips to the stores to find shatterproof ornaments...finally found them at Big Lots.

I forgot to buy the wreath form...and finally made it out to the store today to buy one.

An hour ago, I pulled everything out and CANNOT find my hot glue gun. Ugh! It has been a while since I've needed it and I did re-do my craft room. Question of the day: If you were a hot glue gun, where would you be hiding?

So I am going to lay this project to rest and not even go there. It is no longer a 30 minute project nor is it under $20. And I have no clue where the hot glue gun is hiding. 

 I'm thinking I should have just bought an ornament wreath while I was at Target today. I came home and @Targetdoesitagain rubbed it in on Instagram with this...

I am not heading back out to the store *insert foot stomp*...except maybe I should return those ornaments and the wreath form. 

OR maybe the next time I hit the craft store, I should buy another glue gun and get a head start on Christmas 2015!!! Hah! How is your Christmas crafting coming along?

Tuesday's Challenge: Punches & Dies

We were asked in class #2, what about using your punches and dies with patterned paper? So I decided to use up my stash of patterned paper (and layer!) using punches and die. Looking through my stash of punches and dies, I don't have that many and this challenge was harder for me. I didn't quite make the challenge but I did use my circle punche, wood veneer pieces and even some washi tape.

I scrap chronological albums for my boys. As a time saver and not to waste a good layout design, I make a duplicate layout using different photos. I am looking for photos that tell "their" individual story. The layout above will go into Jori's scrapbook and tells of his favorite meal, lobster. The layout below will go into Darin's scrapbook and it has photos of him and his shenanigans in the aquarium.

Do share your take on using punches and dies with patterned papers!

Pinterest Fave Five: Christmas Edition

'Tis the season and I am looking forward to no events in December. At the top of my want to craft list are these beautiful decorations, tags and DIY gifts.

1. Lights + Xmas card display...what a great idea! And it would be so easy to do this with command clips.

2. An ornament wreath...this would be so pretty on my front door. Now where to find shatterproof ornaments in bulk?

3. Christmas Minute to Win It games...looks like a blast. Now I'll just have to plan it and talk the family into playing some silly games!

4. "Oh Deer" tags (I couldn't find the link, it was just an image)...looks super easy and cute. I'll have to dig through my stamp stash to see if I have the right one. If not, I'm sure I have other stamps I can make something up with.

5. Ring dish...looks super easy and made with sculpey plus a little paint. Looks like a fun weekend project and would be even better if I can talk my boys into it.

What do you have up your sleeve for Christmas crafting?

Thankful

Thankful for your support.

Thankful for girls' weekends.

Thankful for this crazy hobby we call scrapbooking.

Thankful for your friendship and those late night conversations.

Thankful for a husband and children that get it.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!!!

Weekend Wrap-up

Great times as always with the Cool Crops Crew. Boycotts and cancellations aside, it's never quiet or dull at an event. It's even better when you get to hang out with friends and chat the night away.

I am going to take a few days away from the blog since it is the holidays and we have family visiting. Happy Thanksgiving!!!

I Am...

listening to an audiobook, Shadow Woman by Linda Howard

knitting a cowl for my dad and cutting really close to my deadline

wearing hand knits almost daily now

training Diego to "wait" and walk on a leash, he walks...I just would like him not to try to trip me up every 5 minutes

loving having older kids that can help around the house

enjoying an extra helping of apple crisp plus ice cream

deciding to skip working out this weekend

working my last crop of 2014 this weekend

planning classes, Make-n-Takes and layout kits for 2015

shopping for ^ classes, Make-n-Takes and layout kits

looking forward to a visit from my brother-in-law and his family for Thanksgiving

anticipating some down time for other crafty pursuits ie. knitting and general crafting

taking next week off from blogging

grateful for your support of my tiny business

wishing you and yours a Wonderful & Blessed Thanksgiving

Nailed It: Hah!

IThis week's Nailed It definition would be that I managed to cook, do laundry, work, work and work some more. I also managed to keep the cats and puppy fed, watered, and exercised (does puppy chasing cats count?). It's been crazy busy...I know I keep saying that...but it is what life is right now and I don't see it slowing down. Some weeks are a little less crazy and I manage to fit in some fun things and/or experiment with a new recipe. These past few weeks haven't and I have nothing for today. I have some projects in the works and recipes in queue, but nothing completed. C'est La Vie!

And since a post isn't a post without a pic, here's one of what's happening daily around here :(

Tuesday's Challenge: Letters

I signed up for an online class a month ago even though I knew I would have time to participate fully. But the content was good and I figured I could work on my own pace at a later time. The first lesson was on using up letters especially on how to use up your letters. I finished reading the lesson and watching the videos...and couldn't wait to put a layout together. I've been trying to scrap these pictures for a while now and it's done. What better way to use up letters than a quote title? Bonus...a Dr Seuss quote for a layout about a visit to the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden.

 

I did a mix-n-match style of letters including some of my super old Scenic Route letter stash. Love how it came out.

Your challenge - use a quote for a title and mix-n-match those alpha letters!

Weekend Wrap-up

The weekend officially starts after 5 on Friday, right? And spending 30 minutes in Burlington Coat Factory plus 2 more hours at Sky Zone with a DJ playing really loud music waiting on 4 boys counts as a date night, right? That is what we did Friday night...me knitting and listening to a book on tape, him reading his kindle...with some conversation thrown in and shaking of heads at tween/teen shenanigans.

Saturday there were practices, grocery store runs, dinner out plus some shopping. In between all that, I stole a few moments here and there to go through my piles of layouts and put them into albums. There were also plenty of kit and class layouts that just needed photos. Having a photo printer on hand made it easy to print what I needed to fill the photo spaces.

Sunday, we had an early morning hockey game, breakfast, mass, a walk and some more time in the scrap room.

I guess you could say it was a nice and relaxing weekend minus the coughing (me), grumpiness (kid that stayed up too late the nights before early hockey times), busy-ness (him) and puppy watching (other kid with no homework or anything pressing over the weekend).

Sneaky Sunday

It has been a very productive week - THREE new layout kits designed and will be available in store next weekend, Cool Crops Hyannis. They're also available by mail...just send me a message and I can get them mailed out to you.

Autumn Adventures - just because everyone has fall photos that need to be scrapped. 2 page layout for $10.

My Guy is perfect for all your boy adventures. It is 4 pages for $20.

And I couldn't leave out the girls. Authentic has the perfect pink, black and cream paper line called "Pretty" that I couldn't resist. Coupled with some Prima flowers and you have this pretty combo. 4 pages for $25.

Lots more kits in my queue...check back next Sunday to see what I have in store for you.

Flashback Friday

Going way back to 2008...I attended my first weekend crop. I was finally ready and thanks to Jean for pushing me in that direction. If I remember correctly, we pooled our inventories (I had very little) and bought a booth. You may see some familiar faces...anyone know them? and yes those were the days we scrapped at round tables. Also, anyone recognize the location? Didn't look back after this crop and am looking forward to many many more!

Nailed It: Homemade dog treats

I'm almost afraid to tell you that this happened last week. I baked homemade dog treats for Diego. I had 3/4 cups of leftover pumpkin from the breads and was unwilling to toss it. I found this recipe on pinterest and gave it a shot. And since I happened to have a pumpkin shaped cookie cutter in the junk drawer, they're also pumpkin shaped!!!

I halved the recipe since I only had 3/4 cups of pumpkin puree and didn't know how the cookies would come out. I used quick cook oats and needed all 4 tbsp of water to make the dough pliable.

It was super easy though, in my opinion, the cookies are hard. Diego doesn't seem to mind and eats them with gusto! Do you make homemade treats for your pets? Care to share your recipes?

Tuesday's Challenge: Scraplift a layout

I came across this layout on pinterest and loved the use of circles on the layout. Nichol Magouirk does an awesome job with her layouts and this one is no exception. My challenge this week was to scraplift this layout.

Here's my take on it. I stretched it into a 2 page layout and copied the circles. And just as I did last week, I killed two birds with one stone. I got part of a layout kit designed AND a two page spread for my personal album with this challenge. Love how it came out using Echo Park's All About a Boy paper line.

Weekend Wrap-up

THANK YOU to the Cool Crops Cromwell PJ crew for your support and a wonderful weekend. There is never enough time at a weekend away...I would have loved to check out your wonderful work...next time!

And thanks for not missing me too much when I left the crop to watch my boys compete in their flag football league championship game.

They lost but played their hearts out. It was a cold windy night and the best team came out ahead.

Sneaky Sunday

I've been super busy and managed to put out TWO new layout kits. The first is a soccer 2 page layout for $10. It comes with a handmade title and some fancy cutting work.

The second layout kit is a camping themed 2 page layout for $10. It takes 7 photos and has the cutest bear cut-out ever!

Around Here

October has come and gone...oh my! Around here life is full. Everything is in full swing. Lots of practices and games for the boys. Freezing cold mornings for me at my corner. Crops...lots of them lined up for the season. Daily walks with a reluctant walker. Layout kit and class designing in full force including a Christmas Mini Album. Hockey season started and my kid looks so big on the ice. Beautiful fall sights everywhere. No more braces in the house! And a wonderful Halloween.

photo taken by my passenger and younger kid on the way to School Newspaper club

photo taken by my passenger and older kid on the way home from football practice

Aircraft carrier and Vince Wilfork of the NE Patriots for Halloween