Christmas Gifts

I altered this frame for my Grandparents in-law. I used a 3 Bugs in a Rug line that is super cute!

At a Christmas Bazaar we came across a really cute marker and coloring book bag. We didn't like any of the fabric choices so mom decided to make them for all the grandkids for Christmas out of fabrics that better suited the kiddos.

For Maddy, we decided to do a dolly diaper bag. I absolutely LOVE how it came out!
We bought this fabric when I was pregnant I think and have been trying to figure out what to make with it. This bag was PERFECT!
Mom also used the same fabrics to make my niece a coloring book tote.

Here is the tote she made Peyton.
Of course, using super cute dino fabric!
I absolutely LOVE how these came out. She did a fabulous job! No patterns, just winged it. Can you believe that? I sure wish I could sew like her.

Last Minute Layout

Anyone else still in recovery mode? I feel like I'm just running circles right now! We had a great Christmas and I hope you all did too!

The ever talented Jill created a sketch off of one of my layouts. You can see the sketch here. I used her sketch to create another layout! I decided to scrap a layout for my dad for Christmas. My Grandpa recently passed away and I had this fabulous photo of my dad, his dad and my brother and nephew, 4 generations. It was such a great and special photo.

My apologies for the crooked picture. I used a Fancy Pants line that I LOVE, it seemed to go with the photo really well. I LOVE the burlappy type material I found at a little local store a while back. It adds such a fun texture to the layout!

Well, I hope to scrap sometime soon. I have a lot to get done this week, so we'll see how much time I get! Thanks for stopping by!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

I want to wish you all a MERRY CHRISTMAS! I hope you have a wonderful time with family and friends. I sure plan on it!

This is my Christmas card this year!

I found this super cute free digital card at Memory Makers Magazine. I didn't have the right photo editing program to insert the picture and get the swirls over the top. So my SUPER TALENTED friend Karen created this for me! Thanks Karen!

The picture was taken at my Brother in laws wedding over the summer! The photographer was Senneh Patterson O'Reilly of Heirloom Images Photography. I thought she did a great job!

I saw this on a friends blog, their kiddos wishlists. It made me think about Peytons wishlist. Oh that boy, I tell you. I asked him what he wanted and his comment was 'everything, all those things I told you!'. We'd be out shopping and from the time he spotted something he would be constant jabber. Something along the lines of 'oh, oh,oh...can I put that on my Christmas Wishlist? I've ALWAYS wanted that'. lol...

I'd also like to say thank you to each and everyone of you that stop by! I really do appreciate you reading my blog and commenting!

Peyton's Ornaments, Candybar Snowmen and BAD roads

I took Peyton to an event here called Santa's Workshop. It was a lot of fun, but quite overwhelming. They had a $3 cover charge and then at least 20 booths with a different craft at each that the child could make. We made 3 or 4 before Peyton said he was ready too go. It was very loud and there were a ton of people.

He made a cute little ornament like this one and wanted to make more.
So we made a few to give to Grandmas, Grandpas, Aunts and Uncles. :-)
Aren't these guys adorable? I saw the idea here. They even have a template you can print off so you don't have to draw/paint the face and buttons! Chris needed something for his co-workers, so my mom and I made a bunch of these. The ones I saw had paper hats and scarfs, but we thought the fleece ones would be quicker and easier for us.

We went to my moms over the weekend. I wanted to help her get things in order and to-dos done as she had back surgery on Tuesday. We got a big snow storm that night that left around 8 inches of snow. The roads home were horrible. You couldn't see where the edge of the road was or where the lines were. It was pretty slick too. It took us quite a bit longer to get home. Thank goodness Chris was driving!
Below is a section of road that was through a 'better' section!

Altered Candle

My Sister In Law put candles on her Christmas Wish list. I thought it would be fun to alter one up!

I found this stand and fell in love with it. It was perfect for a large 4 wick candle.

The black and white ribbon and the red rhinestone sticks were leftovers from her wedding that she gave me, knowing that I am a crafting freak!

I LOVE the layered flower look, hope she does! :-)

We got a bit of snow last weekend. Peyton and Chris had fun playing in it and they built a snowman, of course, totally outdoing mine! :-)

What do you do with the snowman is built? Why, shoot your arrows at him of course! Haha!

Thanks for stopping by!

Harley Davidson Magnet Board

A while back I went to an actual scrapbook store! This was HUGE for me, it had to have been at least a year or two since I'd been into one! I saw this really cool paper and grabbed it quick! I instantly thought of Chris's Aunt and Uncle! I wasn't really sure what to make with it, but later decided that a magnet board would be fun!

Isn't the Jolee's motorcycle perfect?
I covered the magnets with a piece of silver foily paper I had. The Harley logo was handcut from that same piece of paper and then layered on circles!

I hope they like it!

Thanks for stopping by! I have more projects to share, so check back soon!

Slacker

I've been such a slacker posting on here lately! I just haven't had much extra time, bet thats a hard one to believe huh? ;-)

My mom asked for a new layout for her frame hanging in her kitchen. The last one didn't include Maddy! We both LOVE this My Minds Eye line. Its so pretty and sparkly in real life! I used a sketch off of Your Scrapbook Stash. I didn't have the size scallop punch or border to trace. So I punched a bunch of circles to create the scallop border!

I wasn't sure what to title it, so I didn't. I might add the year in there somewhere. Oh and the photo was taken at my brother in laws wedding this summer. I'm working on getting the photographers name. She was great!

I love the layered flower look with the fun pins. I had a hard time finding flowers in my stash that layered well and matched the paper. I really need to get my hands on some brown flowers. Oh and brown cardstock, you can never have enough of that! :-)

Last night Chris wanted to take the kids out for a drive and look at all the pretty lights! We found a couple houses really decked out. It was so much fun to listing to the kids go 'ooohhh...and aaaahhhh'. But, it was short lived. Maddy got bored and LOUD and we headed home. Peyton saw one of those big blow up things where Santa was going down the chimney and begged and begged to go by it again. All the snow we have gotten lately must have put Chris in the Christmas spirit also as he hung up some lights and went out and built a snowman with Peyton. Me, I was inside battling a headache trying to function!

Some Random Things

Some random things from my past few days:

1. When you have a youngster still wearing pull ups to bed in case of accidents, who also knows how to change themselves. Make sure their pull up is out of their pj pants when you wash them. This saves you from a pain in the a$$ mess to clean up.

2. I am thankful for my crafting ability, as it funded my Christmas shopping this year and allowed me to make many gifts instead of buying them.

3. You can never have too much brown cardstock. I'm out. :-(

4. Recommendation: DO NOT clean your oven on the self cleaning mode when you can't open the windows do to the super cold temps outside. I think I can still feel my eyes burning.

5. I am so grateful and thankful for my on-line friends. You are truly the best and I greatly appreciate all your kind comments, thoughts, e-mails and prayers with my Grandpas passing.

6. Three small words can cause two small children to have a HUGE meltdown at this house. They are 'no more chocolate'.

7. Family is so so so important! I am very thankful and grateful for the family I have and the family I married into.

8. Grocery shopping in a small town sucks. Okay, so does most shopping when your looking for a specific item. I have to say, we have some really neat and fun shops that I really like. But when you are on a tight budget and looking for a specific something on someones list it sucks big time. So does grocery shopping!

Now for a project...

I have used every second I can find to work on Christmas a few Christmas gifts. Since some of the recipient look at my blog on occasion, I can't post them! I altered this little photo album thing for my step Grandma. She was married to my Grandpa for 15 years before he passed away. She is such a sweet woman! I thought it perfect for photos she gets from her grandchildren I don't know and the random photos we give her throughout the year.

Thanks for stopping by

My Little Yellow Bicycle Christmas Cards

I hope I haven't already posted these. If I have, sorry. I didn't take the time to go back and look. Birds of a Feather had a crop the first weekend of December. One challenge was to take one of the three sketches and make a set of three cards, each one being different. The sketch I chose was from Page Maps.

My Brother-In-Law had given me this beautiful Little Yellow Bicycle line last year for Christmas. How cool is that? He went to Archivers and found something for me knowing I love to scrapbook! :-)
I made two of the flowers, the other one was made by the fabulous Patti! She ROCKS! She is so super sweet and sent me a few flowers and a bunch of felt to make some! My friends are the best! :-) Thank you Patti! Oh, and make sure and check out her video tutorial on how to make them here.

I wanted to make these cards for a few special people who I have really appreciated their support over the last year.

On another note, I won't be posting for a while. My grandfather passed away yesterday. He was my last biological Grandparent. :-( He was a great man and I am really going to miss him. I have so much going on this next week and so much that needs to get done that I'm going to put my blog on the back burner for a few days. I have a handful of items I'm working on as gifts that I can't share now anyways.

Thank you to all of you who stop by! I truly appreciate you taking the time to look at and read my blog!

Christmas Morning Layout

I just LOVE this Bo Bunny Christmas line. I don't have much of it left, but wish I would have bought more of it! There is something about the colors being just perfect, the swirls, the circles....love it!

This was Christmas morning last year.

I did lots of stitching, so much fun! I didn't feel I needed any embellies as I had so much stitching. I've been liking the block look I've been seeing quite often lately and gave it a try.
I've gotten into the layered journaling spots look too! These were some Scenic Route ones I had in my stash!

Here is the Little Miss. I was trying to get photos of a few items for my Etsy store and she kept putting her face in front of the camera! haha!
I just LOVE this outfit and am going to be so sad when she outgrows it!

Anyone else still not done with their Christmas gifts yet? Please tell me I'm not the only one who is scared it might just not happen this year. lol...I still have 4 items on my table right now to alter or create. :-0 AND I still need to make something for Peytons preschool teachers.

Thanks for stopping by!

True Meaning of Christmas

I realized yesterday that the 'True Meaning of Christmas' album I made last year is MIA. :-/ I just LOVE the story and had hoped to read it often with my kiddos. I have NO clue where it is. :-( I have unpacked all of my Christmas totes.

You can see more of it here and read the story. Its long, but worth it!

A Sketch and Scrap It With A Song Challenge

AFirst off, you gotta hop over the Jill Sarginson's Blog. She created a sketch out of one of my recent layouts! Boy was I honored!

Next while blog surfing I saw Scrap It With A Song's song this week is Just the Way You Are. I totally struggled with this layout. Really, I should have put it away, but I didn't. I'm not happy with it at all, but I do LOVE the title. The challenge came at the perfect time as I was trying to figure out what to title this layout! :-)

I got more picture uploaded from my camera from our time in the snow. These are MUCH better than the one from my cell phone.

Peyton took off down the street. He really enjoyed making footprints in the snow.

While at the dollar tree they had some pirate costume pieces. I thought if we get another big snow it might be fun to get a hat and hook and make a pirate snowman! :-)

Oh, and one more thing. I saw thin on a blog (imagine that) and thought it a super fun idea. It was called a snowman in a hat. I sure wish I could remember which site it was. But it had all the pieces you needed to decorate a snowman in a hat. The hat was wrapped in Saran wrap with a note attached!

Cosmo Cricket Ornament

The Cosmo Cricket Design Team challenged blog followers to create a ornament. I came across these ornaments a year ago and they are so fun and easy. I thought the CC papers I had would be perfect for them. I'll most likely use them to decorate a package. But then again...I'm really liking them so may just keep them! haha!

I came across a tutorial over a year ago, so have no clue how to track it to give credit.
Aren't they fun? I gave the idea to my mom for the craft night she was coordinating at her school. She said they were definitely the favorite craft of the night! So much so, that she did them again this year!

Speaking of ornaments...we got our tree over the weekend! I'm very lucky as Chris takes care of the loading, unloading and setting up. He is also a pro at putting the lights on!
Peyton was SUPER excited to start hanging ornaments. Excuse my bad hairdo...I didn't curl it that day, I had it up in a clip til I got a headache!

I figured it easier to decorate the tree while Maddy was nappy. I know we would have broken more ornaments than the one Peyton did had she been awake. She wasn't too sure what to think.

But after she woke up and got some food in her tummy she though it pretty interesting!

Thanks for stopping by!

Christmas Layout

Here is another layout I did for Birds of a Feather. Only problem...I went off my memory for the challenge instead of writing it down and didn't follow all the rules. lol....Its all good though as I like the layout! :-)

I got risky and doodled! Doodling always scares me. I also used my Spritz or whatever its called to spray the snowflakes red. We started the advent calendar last year. My sweet friend Tammy had an extra Christmas Tree shaped advent that she kindly gave to me. I had planned on altering it. But after starting to use it, I realized there was a cute snowman on it when you flipped each box around. So I left it as is! :-) The picture on the left is his ornament for 2009. We had such a hard time finding an ornament we like. I found these ones on Etsy and knew I could make one. I just drilled a tiny hole in the top, screwed in a little hook and tied on a ribbon! Easy peasy and he LOVES it! :-)

We got a decent amount of snow over the weekend! I was gone all day Saturday and Sunday played catch-up with being gone Saturday. So we didn't get outside to play in it til Monday. Peyton had a BLAST! Even though he didn't have snow pants, he still had a ton of fun and rolled and sat in the snow. I haven't been out of town in quite a while, but snow pants are DEFINITELY on my shopping list. Maddy...well...she didn't like the snow. She was quite a pain to have outside. Lots of crying and whining. Then when she was quite, she was taking off her boots and walking in the snow in her socks! :0) She knew how to get her way and go back inside. Haha! We were able to build three snowman, here is the first one. A cowgirl that Peyton calls Puzzly. :-)

Thanks for stopping by!

Kisses Layout

Hello! Guess what???? I have a layout to share! *gasp* I know...its been a while since I've completed a layout! Birds of a Feather is having a Winterfest Crop this weekend. There is still time if you want to pay along. You have til Tuesday night sometime to complete the challenges! Amy ROCKS at challenges! I love them all and wish I had more time to do each and every one of them.

This was for Challenge #3. Amy had a really pretty picture of a cardinal on a post in the snow. The colors really stood out to me so I used that to help inspire this layout.

I also used a sketch from Allison Davis.
I have been having fun using my embossing templates on my cuddlebug. I can't get enough of the polka-dot one.
She has such a great blog! I decided to try something new. :-0 I took strips of paper and distressed them then crumpled them up. I plugged in the sewing machine and sewed them down to a piece of that same paper.
Lots of layering, lots of distressing!
I participated in a journaling spot swap last year and received this cute journaling spot from Lynda!

Thanks for stopping by!

GO BEAVERS!!!

Tomorrow is the Oregon College Football Civil War! Chris's work had a little competition in 'team spirit'. They decorated up their branch and all dressed in their team of choice gear. Of course, we had to have Maddy and and Peyton help with their cuteness. So I put Maddy in her cheerleader outfit and Peyton in his t-shirt and took them down their for pictures. The girls did a fantastic job...everything looked so good!

I was bummed Chris had is eyes shut. It was quite difficult to get the kids facing the right direction let alone smiling.

Can you tell who we are cheering for?

GO BEAVS!

I head out to set up for my Christmas Bazaar tonight! Wish me luck! I'm so so so nervous! This is my first one so I have no clue what to expect!

Another Star Album

I decided to make a couple more star albums for my bazaar. Are y'all tired of seeing bazaar items yet? haha! Its this weekend, so have no fear, I'm almost done with them! ;-)

Thanks for stopping by!