KinderstampO December Tag Swap

So my tags are almost finished -- just have to bling them up with ribbon! Love the PINK in all of them - in honor of Robyn, My Pink Stamper!! They'll be heading off in the mail in a few days! Be sure and check out Jessica's blog at Kinderstamp-O for awesome blog candy and information - http://www.kinderstampo.com/

Let the Baking Begin

The house has smelled wonderful today with cookies baking -- chocolate chip, oatmeal, pecan cookies! Gotta get to the grocery store for more basic supplies. We're having an open house here at the parsonage in a few weeks - I've got peanut butter balls, nut balls, total cookies, and various other sweet breads to start. YUMMY!

Thankful for Blessings

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving - celebrated Thursday at Mom's, shopped Thursday night and Friday, got Christmas lights on house and started decorating inside, on Saturday went to dinner (yummy steak and ribs from the Mesquite Pit) and to the movies (saw Unstoppable - definitely heart pounding), worked on our Kinderstamp-O December tags, took a relaxing walk around the neighborhood and just had a great time hanging out with each other.

Chick 2 - aka Katie - December Tags for Kinderstamp-O

Katie completed these absolutely precious tags for Kinderstamp-O's December tag swap -- notice all the PINK in honor of Robin, My Pink Stamper (we've followed her blog and projects for a long time now)! Love these tags!!!

Happy Thanksgiving

So very much to be thankful for this year -- Mom was cured of cancer!!! -- Joe, Katie, Jason & I have remained in good health -- Katie will be graduating from college next month -- Jason has a precious son -- and we have a grandson Tripp, whom we adore! Life is GREAT!

Texas Box Company goodies

Yea -- I scored big time at the Texas Box Company in Mineral Wells - 2 large boxes, 4 med boxes, 2 large tins, and 3 large sheets of paper - all for around $3.00!!! Going to use the paper for cards and other crafts! Love it!

Sweet Little Flap Cards

Your message goes on the inside small card with an embossed backing attached. (blue card inked before being embossed) These are then just slid into an envelope and ready to be sent. I adore the tiny message space - just makes this a sweet little card.

My October Tags have Arrived

I absolutely love my Halloween Tags -- they just arrived on Saturday. It's so fun to see the different styles and ideas everyone has for doing the same project! Now looking forward to getting my November tags!!!

A Thanking We Will Go Blog Hop Give-Away Winner!

It's time for my give-away for all those who left such sweet comments about my project for my daughter -- DD even left the very last comment herself (I'll treasure it forever!). Thanks again go all of you for participating in our blog hop. Jess, at Kinderstamp-O always has fun projects lined up so be sure and stayed tuned to her blog as well!

Random.org has selected lucky #70 as the give-away winner – Shelly who said...
"What a wonderful idea for your daughter. Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful project!" You'll be receiving a couple of sweet little gift packs great to share with neighbors and co-workers, in a gift basket or as little take home goodies at an open house (yummy hot chocolate and warm, comforting hot tea bags). I’m also including a brand spankin’ new Tim Holtz Distress Ink – Walnut Stain stamp pad – great for giving projects that vintage-y look!

Shelly, I’ll be contacting you by e-mail for your mailing information so I can get your package to you.

Thanks again to all for hopping with us!

Don’t forget, we’ll be showing more projects again Dec 11-12, It’s a Small World Blog Hop, again sponsored by Kinderstamp-O with lots of blog candy to give away!!

Ta-Da - Thanking We Will Go Blog Hop Give-Away Time!

It's time for my give-away for all those who left such sweet comments about my project for my daughter -- DD even left the very last comment herself (I'll treasure it forever!). Thanks again go all of you for participating in our blog hop. Jess, at Kinderstamp-O always has fun

Special Thanks

Thank you to all for your sweet, sweet comments on my project for the Thanking We Will Go blog hop! I had so much fun and hope you did too! Remember, tomorrow around noon (CST) random.org will be picking a winner and I will be sending one of you some 'get ready for the Christmas season' goodies! I so appreciate all of you choosing to follow my blog and look forward to visiting all of yours as well!

I'm in another upcoming Blog Hop hosted by Kinderstamp-O called "It's a Small World" , Dec 11-12 - there should be some amazing projects from around the world posted and we hope you can all visit us again!

Blessings to all as we prepare for this Thanksgiving season - wishing you and your family joy & peace!

A Thanking We Will Go Blog Hop !!

So here’s my project for my first blog hop – “A Thanking We Will Go” hosted by Jess over at Kinderstamp-O.

When thinking about all I have to be thankful for, after my Lord, Jesus Christ, family and friends are always at the top of my list. I have a wonderful husband, awesome daughter and son, precious grandson, and an amazing mother! I am truly blessed!

Our family is especially blessed and thankful right now for our daughter Katie (aka Chick 2) who will be graduating from college on Dec 17th. I decided to make a little mosaic tribute board to show her how proud we are of her. She’s all about vintage so these colors are perfect. She has grown into a beautiful young woman with a servant’s heart for others. SURPRISE KATIE!

For the base of my project, I cut off the backing board sheet from a paper pack (great way to recycle) - then used Mod Podge to glue down each paper sheet and picture and then swiped a top coat of MP to give it that finished, almost leather-y look.

This project provided me lots of opportunities to practice Tim Holtz’ distressing techniques (which I love). Inked up my Argyle Cuttlebug folder and embossed various papers to add even more texture. Various ingredients include: chipboard shapes, s.e.i. embellishments, Prima flowers, Versamark stamp pad, clear embossing powder, distress inks, and Tim Holtz’ Tiny Attacher (love it).

This was a fairly easy project to complete – the challenge was picking coordinating papers and getting them cut to good sizes to fit the board. I could easily see picking out Christmas-y papers and making mosaics for family as gifts. Hope you like.

Here’s a sneak peak at my give-away that will put you in the holiday spirit! Just be sure and leave a comment and become a follower. It’s that easy! Make sure to leave info in your comment on how to contact you in case you’re a winner! Random.org will generate a winning number at noon on Monday 11/15 (CST).

Thanks for stopping by. Hope you’ve had a great time at the HOP!

In case you missed anyone, below are all the crafty sites to visit:
Jessica - http://www.kinderstampo.com/
Alex - http://www.youhadmeatcraft.com/
Cheryl - http://www.cheryl-gibson.blogspot.com/
Debbie - http://www.craftydeb-ddscrafts.blogspot.com/
Iva - http://www.ivarai.com/
Jessica Baker - http://www.thatzuneek.blogspot.com/
Kimberlee - http://www.kimme-thelifeofaprincess.blogspot.com/
Linda - http://www.krazyquilling.com/
Liz - http://www.lizspaperloft.blogspot.com/
Madison - http://www.www.funkycards.blogspot.com/
Martha - http://www.dreamofcrafting.blogspot.com/
Meighen - http://www.scrappin3rdeeschik.blogspot.com/
Nicki - http://www.canadiannickelscrapn.blogspot.com/
Shelley - http://www.heartstring-designs.blogspot.com/
Sigrid - http://www.lovescrapreflect.blogspot.com/
Vickie - http://www.twochicksonalimb.blogspot.com/
Jessica - Kinderstamp-O - http://www.kinderstampo.com/p/thanking-we-will-go-blog-hop_12.html

Challenge at More than Favors

So this challenge is all about colors - specifically blue and green (two of my favorites). These colors definitely make me think of nature! Our trip to Lake Tahoe was certainly full of blues and greens; from the mountains to the water. I love trying new ways to embellish my pages so for the title I used the Cricut George & Basics Shapes cart (set on 'charm') and some wire and silver beads. I really like how the beaded wire adds an extra element of texture to the page - even similar to ropes used to tie boats to the dock. The glitter adds a touch of sparkle representing water. Tearing / inking / and using scalloped scissors on the photos and background mats also adds an element of rustic. I use hidden journaling a lot on my pages so that the pics take front-and-center stage. This was a magnificent place to be.

Tim Holtz Grungeboard Workshop at Cat's

So this is the grungeboard I made at Cat's Creations (my favorite SB store). We used Ranger products and learned some really cool techniques! This is where I met my friend Jessica, aka Kinderstamp-O -- she is a really crafty lady and I look forward to getting to participate in all crafty blog activities. Katie was able to be here and make one as well. We had a great time. Thanks to Nanci Holtsford, a great teacher who helped make our class a lot of fun!

Blog Hop Alert!

Be sure and 'tune' in this Saturday, November 13th, for the "A Thanking We Will Go" blog hop hosted by Kinderstamp-O! Lots of great projects and candy to boot!

Tripp's First Halloween

So as I was creating Halloween pages for my own kids (who are way grown by now), I'm remembering the one I created of my grandson Tripp's first Halloween in 2007. He's still the cutest little pumpkin I've ever seen! Used my Cricut to cut the letters. I also used hidden journaling a lot in my layouts so I can get more on the page!!

Question of the Day on Kinderstamp-O

So the question of the day is: How do you store your ribbon? Well my DH made a really neat storage rack (if you could call it a rack) out of a flat piece of wood trim where he then attached 5 dowel rods standing up onto the wood base. It holds anywhere from 50-70 ribbon spools depending on their size. I really like how i can just pull it next to the project I'm working on, pull out the desired length and cut, then just tape it back up. It's about time for him to make me an additional one as I'm starting to collect more spools in drawers!

Halloween Tag Swap on Kinder Stamp-O

Had so much fun making these tags for the Halloween Tag Swap hosted by Jessica at Kinderstamp-O! Can't wait to get my tag exchanges to see what others have done. Really had fun at Jess' Live U-Stream last Wednesday -- lots of cute tags were shown.

Circle of Love

Our wedding rings definitely tell a story as neither one of us are wearing our original rings -- they were lost at different times and places (mine were eventually found) -- such heartache at the time! While we each have beautiful rings now, the memories of those precious original rings that we worked so hard to pay for is bittersweet.

I used transparent embellished sheets to 'frame' the pictures and journaling (found at Michaels) and did a little embossing. Pink and maroon were the colors of our wedding.

Jason's Christening

I know I'm creating pages for my 'kids' way after they've grown (he's 25 and she's 27), but it's sure wonderful going through and sorting all the pics out and reliving precious times! I can't imagine being able to keep up with all the scrapbook stuff when the kids were younger -- I so admire those of you who keep current on your books. I do have the time on my hands now so it's a real joy to create these precious keepsakes.

Blog Hop Alert!

Be sure and 'tune' in next Saturday, November 13th, for the "A Thanking We Will Go" blog hop hosted by Kinderstamp-O! Lots of great projects and candy to boot!

Chick 2 - aka Katie -- graduating!

Katie will be graduating from Texas State University on December 17! We are so proud of her and excited for new beginnings!

Heartfelt Greetings

The ladies and I from church had a great evening creating cards for our church family. We have so much fun at our get togethers. We will gather for our next meeting on December 7 - again here at the parsonage.