I've decided to make things a lot simpler on myself. I occasionally have a handful of so-so pictures that I don't want to put in a box, but don't feel they are worth scrapbooking. Does that make sense? A prime example is birthdays, I never seem to get any decent pictures of the kids during their birthdays. So I bought some 12x12 page protectors that have 6 4"x6" slots to just insert pictures. I did a single layout of Peyton's birthday and will insert one of those special page protectors right after this one and insert the rest of the pictures. This will make scrapbooking holidays and special events so much easier on me.

Here is a quick gift I whipped up this morning. I had a nut can that was empty and begging to be reused. I covered it with this fun My Minds Eye paper and added a couple buttons to jazz it up a tad. I filled it with some Chex Mix I had just made and gave it to some friends.

I have a really fun layout to share tomorrow. I'm just hoping to get a better picture. It is overcast and making taking a good picture extremely difficult.

This picture cracks me up. Maddy was getting pretty fussy and my arms were tired of holding all 23+ pounds of her. So I put her on my shoulders. That must have been the trick cause in a few minutes she fell asleep like this...

Looking for a way to entertain your kids for nothing? Collect some old formula cans (or nut cans, coffee cans whatever you can find). Gather up all the balls (or if you are like us, a handful of the balls) that are scattered around the house. Then have the kids try to toss the balls in the formula cans. I've also stacked the cans up pyramid style and had Peyton throw the balls at the tower, trying to knock it over. Peyton has had so much fun with this activity!

Bad Blogger!

Man, I have been a bad blogger! This is part of the reason why...

Miss Madeline is starting to crawl! It is so much fun to watch her!
Here is Big Brother cheering her on! I am scared, very scared! I think Maddy is going to give me a run for my money/patience/sanity!

I am so close to having all my Christmas presents done. I hope to put the finishing touches on a couple projects and get them wrapped up this week. I really need to get the Christmas cards addressed and in the mail.


I went in search of a small box and couldn't find one. I got a great idea (surprising I know....haha!) to make my own boxes. Here is the first one I did. I used this tutorial from Helen Crofts Blog Scrap A Little to fold the flower. Super easy and I just love it. My mom liked the sleeve I made for the box so much she asked me to make a few for her for some of her gifts!

A close up of the flower.

Here is one I made for the Christmas Tree mini album I made. I just love these felt flowers from Creative Cuts and More!

I hope to blog more this week. I have another layout done and a few more projects in the works I hope to complete and share!

Thank You, Cosmo Cricket, and Random Bits!

A HUGE Thank You to everyone who has left such sweet comments on my blog! You all put a smile on my face and make me feel special!

A funny Cosmo Cricket story for ya. I have the Early Bird line (papers, stickers and chipboard). I have had them out for a while now as I have been working on a recipe mini album and layout. Peyton has been scrapbooking with me a lot lately. He even initiates it and asks if we can 'scrapybook' (I just love how he says that!). Well I had the chipboard layed near him and he asked if he could have it. I told him that I was using it but would give him some other pieces. Side note, I feel kinda bad, I'm selfish with my Cosmo Cricket, I can't bring myself to share it with Peyton (who by the way is 3 1/2 and is all about just sticking whatever he can where ever he can on his paper). I like my Cosmo Cricket goodies way to much...haha! So a minute or so later after he decided he didn't like the other chipboard I gave him, he got down from the chair and walked away. I asked him, "Are you done already? You don't want to scrapbook with me anymore?" His reply, "I'm done, cause you won't share with me". Bottom lip stuck out, head down, shoulders slumped. Poor little guy just broke my heart and made me feel so bad. Then this morning I had Maddy playing on the ground while I was washing dishes. I heard some crinkling and went to check what was going on. Maddy had grabbed my bag of Cosmo Cricket Early Bird goodies and was pulling them out! Ack! My kids are after my Cosmo Cricket goodies! HELP!!!! I'm going to have to lock the papers and embellies up out of their reach!

Speaking of Cosmo Cricket. This is a layout I finished up this week using their Early Bird line. I used one of Helen Crofts fabulous sketches. I originally started it in hopes to participate in Scrapbook.com's Cosmo Cricket challenge. But I am starting to second guess that and will probably end up chickening out! haha!

I journaled about how Maddy is my Early Bird in more ways that one. She arrived 6 weeks early, she left the NICU a lot earlier than forcasted and she likes to wake up before the sun rises.

We bought our Christmas tree Saturday and decorated it. Maddy was pretty intrigued by it. She instantly rolled over to it and was starting to pull at the needles.
She also thought the ornament tub was interesting. She is getting so close to pulling herself up! She wasn't so successful here. She ended up covered with ornament boxes!

I had a picture of Peyton helping decorate the tree, but it won't upload for some reason. I'll have to try it in the next post. Lately he has been such a goofball. I ask him to smile for me and this is the expression I get.

And someone please tell me that it is normal for a 3 1/2 year old to not like to wear pants. I swear all of the pictures I have of him at home he isn't wearing pants! haha! I can't possibly have the only little boy who doesn't like to wear pants!

Peyton was dying to go out into the snow. It was so darn cold I only let him be outside for a little bit. Here he is, too excited to stand still for a picture. Isn't his hat adorable? It was one of my moms great finds on our last shopping trip!

The weather station I use said it was -1 this morning but that it felt like -14! That is DANG COLD! I am not tempted in the slightest to go outside. My truck as sat in the same spot since Saturday! We've started letting Sedona inside at night. I felt so bad leaving her outside even thought she had a bed and house.

Design Team

Wahoo! I am beyond excited to share with you that I made a design team! This will be my first one. I am honored that Helen Croft has chosen me to be on her Scrap A Little's Design Team! Check it out here.

Check out the other Design Team Members:

Kristie Coleman

Veronica Trias

Bev Code

Fon Mee Chung

I thought I'd share the other magnetic board I made again. This is my favorite of the two. I love the Cosmo Cricket Early Bird line. I am hoping to decorate my kitchen (when we buy a house) with this line as my inspiration!

I have been working away on Christmas presents. Since the people they are being made for look at my blog, I'm not going to be posting them til after Christmas! So I don't have a whole lot to show these days!

I hope everyone had a great weekend! Man is it cold here! Feels like we are in the midst of an arctic blast! I am so excited! Remember that site I mentioned a while back called Ideas for Scrapbookers? Well, yesterday they featured one of my layouts using their templates on their blog! **WHOOP WHOOP** Check out their blog here.

Here is a project I made a while back. It is a magnet board. These would make fantastic Christmas gifts and are so so so easy to make. It was a sheet of metal (I found at a craft store, but haven't checked building supply stores yet). I covered it with paper and made some magnets for it! Easy as that!

Her eis a closer up of the magnets. They are larger glass pebbles (the type you see in the bottom of fish bowls and flower bowls). I used a liquid glass medium to glue the paper onto the back. After that dried I glued a little magnet on the back.

Just a quick layout I did of my brother-in-law and his super cute and sweet girlfriend. Oh, can't forget Jackson. He is the best dog ever! Peyton just LOVES him!

I have a few pictures to share too! This is my other brother-in-law with Maddy. The other picture is his super cute and sweet girlfriend with Peyton. Can you tell I just LOVE their girlfriends....they are keepers for sure! Peyton was so excited to be able to see his Uncle Coco and Amanda.

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you stop back soon!

Card Box

My StepGrandma's birthday is Friday. I have been making her cards as I know she likes to write cards. I came across a great tutorial on how to make a card box at Paper Popsicles.

It has two drawers that pull out. I was able to put 4 or 5 cards in each drawer.

Here is a view from the top. Since this was a last minute idea, I kept it really simple. This box was SUPER easy and fun to make!

Lisa Falduto does a lot of work using Cosmo Cricket (the best Scrapbook Company EVER). You should check out her blog: Paper Fashions. She is doing a fun giveaway. All you have to do to be entered is to leave a comment! Check out her blog for more details. While your there, take a peek at some of her work. She has TONS of beautiful inspiration on her blog.

Tree Album

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We sure did. We were able to spend it with both my family and Chris's. My parents took off the next day so we ended up with all the leftovers. Boy did that bum me out! lol...

I've been trying to work hard on getting a few Christmas gifts made. My grandparents are so hard to buy for. So I have resorted to making them mini albums and giving them pictures of the kiddos! I've seen layered tree albums on line and thought they were pretty cute! So when I saw Christmas Tree Mini Albums in the dollar section at Michael's I was pretty darn excited. I cut each page to a different length to give it the layered look. I used some yummy MME paper and odds and ends of embellies that I had. I wanted to keep it fairly simple. If you click on the picture it should make the picture larger. Sorry for the dark pictures.

Peyton loves to wear his hats that Mema (my mom) knitted him. He rarely leaves the house without one on. He's also been wearing his sunglasses a lot lately, even inside! I think he is so darn cute! Of course I'm not biased right?

Miss Madeline is getting quite active. I'm a little scared about having a Christmas Tree this year. haha! She was so cute playing with this toy. She kept looking in the mirror, trying to give herself kisses and touch her image in the mirror.