Friday Favorites & A Sketch Layout

There was a thread this morning on one of the message boards I frequent about not seeing anything good this time around for the winter CHA releases... I beg to differ. I just love a lot of what I see! Sometimes, I wish I had a scrapbook store, just so I could house all this paper. Even if I didn't use it, I could look at it, touch it.... yeah, you know what I’m talking about.

Wake up and smell the paper girls! There is some BEAUTIFUL scrap goodies to behold!!

Let me just show you this Pebbles Inc line called “So Tweet”...

Tell me those little birds aren’t the cutest?? I just ordered some from Ally Scraps. I can’t wait to get my order in my hands so I can play with it! This line screams spring to me.

You don’t like whimsical birdies? Well, then maybe something more classic is your style... how about this? This company is new to me. Just read about it in CK. They’re called GCD Studios. They have some elegant paper lines. This sheet is from their Paris Nights line... would be great in my “Pink & Black Parisian” style scrap room!!

Those are my 2 Friday picks today. I have no idea where to get the GCD Studios paper, but they have a lot of stuff to chose from.

I also wanted to share my second layout for my DT submission. For this layout, we had to do a layout based on a sketch that Debbie Gaydos provided.

Here’s the sketch:


And, here's my layout. I used the DCWV Greenstack. It's just so fun!!


And, a closeup... I used foam dots on the owl.


The bottom photo in my layout is of the letter box that we found. It’s really fun to go letterboxing. If you haven’t ever heard of it, look here for info.

(All of Debbie’s fabulous sketches are in the Ally Scraps Gallery or on the Ally Scraps blog, so if you need a kick start for a layout idea, jump on over.)

Speaking of the Ally Scraps blog... being on the design team I am required to post on the blog every so often. My first blog post will be March 3. So, check back on Tuesday!!

My last 2 layouts are like polar opposites of each other. I always feel like I don’t have a “style”. Now, whether that’s good or bad, I don’t know. I know it’s been good in my graphic design career, because every client is different, and I am able to adapt to their style. FedEx doesn’t want their driving manual to have flowery things on it, but, the ad for the baby wing in the hospital needs some cuteness. I’m a chameleon of scrapbooking, eclectic, adaptable. I like to try different things. I guess that’s why I have such a varied taste in paper. I love them all!!

Have a great weekend! Happy Scrapping!!

FREE ~ $10 AllyScraps Gift Certificate

I thought that would get your attention!! You can receive a $10 AllyScraps Gift Certificate just for joining and chatting. Yes!! You read that right, just for chatting! We are having a membership drive at the Allyscraps Forum! Just come register on the forum, and then sign in on the Membership Drive check-in thread. That is all you have to do to get started. Post 50 posts on the message board over the next 4 weeks, and we’ll send you a $10 AllyScraps gift certificate as a big HELLO!

What could be easier? The counting starts now, but you can join any time between now and March 23. We’ve got challenges, games, inspiration and you might even make a friend or two (and you get paid to do it)! We hope that after you join us, you'll want to hang out with us. No matter what, your gift certificate is yours to keep.

I hope to “see” you over on the Allyscraps Forum!

Remember I said I had some yummy Websters Pages paper on my desk waiting to be scrapped? Well, I finished up my layout, and I just love how it turned out.

I used 2 sheets of Websters Pages, some Prima Flowers, K& Co. Amy Butler Lotus Tea Box Die-Cut Cardstock Ephemera and some Glossy Accents. I have to tell you that I love that stuff. I've never used Glossy Accents before, but I just love it!! I dotted the spots on the wings of the butterfly with it. The Glossy Accents added shine and dimension, it’s awesome. I also added a few drops on the flowers and it looks like rain drops on the petals. Very cool. (it’s the little things that just tickle me!)

This is a photo of my mom when she was 2 or 3, placing this photo around 1949.


A couple of close ups, I don't know if you can see the Glossy Accents in the photo or not.






I think you should be able to see the “drops” in this last shot.

That’s it for now. Blog ya later!

IRL Meeting & What A Find!!

Yesterday, I got to meet Debbie Gaydos!! Debbie is a fellow Ally Scraps DT member and only lives about 40 minutes away from me. We met at Panera Bread and chatted over some frothy beverages and bakery goodies. While there, a friend of mine who just happened to be there, snapped a photo of us. After that we headed out to a local LSS, since it's been a while since Deb was out this way. (Hi Midori!)

Here we are at Panera. I had such a fun time yesterday with Debbie, hope we can do it again soon!!


This morning I stopped at Marshalls to look for ledge type shelves for my scraproom. I didn't find any shelves, but I did find this sweet wire dress form! I walked by it... tried to resist "her" allure, but she kept calling my name, and I just had to take her home.

I promptly put her in my scraproom and dressed her up in my ribbons. Doesn't she look purdy?


Here's another shot of my scrap room... it's not finished yet, but, it's getting there. I love my little oasis.


I put up the chandelier today. I'm not sure about that circa 1970's sewing machine... but that will have to do for now. I'd love a new souped up model that doesn't weigh 100 pounds!

As you can see, there's a project sitting on my desk, some Webster's paper and a vintage photo of my mama. It's scrappin' time.

Have a scrappy weekend!!

MEOW ~ I'm an Ally Cat!

I'm so excited and honored to have been chosen to join the Ally Scraps design team! The competition was fierce! Honestly, the 6 finalists were all so very talented. We had to make a layout using a kit that was sent to us. AND we had to use ALL of the stuff that was sent. We were allowed to use 2 things of our own, plus an alpha, I added rub-ons and bling brads.

Here's what I came up with.... and what I was cutting the other day. I cut the bracket edge using my Silhouette. I also used it to cut out the people, and the scalloped edge.

I really loved this paper with the people. It's Kelly Panacci paper (pssst...you can get it at the Ally Scraps store!!)



Here's a close up:


What's nice about this design team, is that it's not a kit club. I will do a layout a week to promote the new products. And I'm so excited because Cathy, the owner, is getting a bunch of CHA stuff in.... oooo, I just love fresh scrapbook stuff!!

The other new design team member is Raechelle Bellus. Congrats Rae!! We will be joining veteran DT members Debbie Gaydos, Morag Cutts and DT Leader Dana DiGennaro.

If you are in need of a challenge, check out the Ally Scraps message board. There is a shaped paper challenge that is going on, and you could win $10 towards a store purchase. How cool is that!! Just check under "Cat Fights", that's where all the challenges are.

That's it for now. Blog ya later!

A Layout & A Recipe

First the layout. This is from when Elizabeth and I went to the Scrapbook Superstation in Butler and met "IRL" (in real life). I used some of the product from that shopping spree on the layout. The Oct. Afternoon journaling card, the new MM green paper, the ribbon is BG I think.


A couple of close ups:


Oct. Afternoon journaling card. I can't remember the brand of the tags. They were on a big roll.


The stuff in this corner is a mish mash of product. I used some bling, the black square button is from Making Memories Halloween line... but the words on it don't say anything about Halloween so I used it. The crocheted flower is from Imaginese, I believe... the ruler is from K&Co, it came in a little box of vinatagy tags and such, the big brad, actually both brads, are from Making Memories.

I had fun with that layout.

Oh, the journaling says:
It was such fun to meet Elizabeth "in real life". We had a really fun time and spent lots of money at the Butler scrapbook superstation.

THE RECIPE
for the Heart Spritz cookies from the last post.

I used a spritz cookie press to make these. I have 2 presses. One is battery operated, and one is a Pampered Chef one with a trigger. I prefer the latter.

Spritz Cookies

1 cup of margarine or butter, softened
1/2 cup of sugar
2 1/4 cups of flour
1 teaspoon of almond extract of vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1 egg

Heat oven to 400°. Mix margarine and sugar. Stir in remaining ingredients. Place dough in cookie press. Form desired shapes on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 6-8 minutes, until set, but not brown. Makes about 5 dozen. 50 calories each.

Yep, I wasn't lying! Only 50 calories. I sprinkled the red sugar on before baking. Also, use a really old gritty cookie sheet. The cookies do not stick to the smooth teflon cookie sheets, and you'll have a hard time getting them out of the press. I also tried using parchment, but, the cookies wouldn't stick to that, so the older & grittier of a sheet you have, the better.

Enjoy! Have a great day!

Friday Favorites & Happy Valentine's Day!

So many yummy products have been popping up since CHA. I found a few things that I wouldn't mind adding to my stash.

These Prima Pebbles.... are so stinkin' cute!

And, these new chipboard alphas from Pink Paislee. I love their sticker alphas... but, I'm addicted to chipboard alphas! Move over Thickers!

I made some Valentine's Day cookies for my kids. Bonus for me, only 50 calories each.


Happy Valentine's Day!!

Love is in the air....

Only a few more days until Valentine's Day....what did you get your honey?

I made my honey a card. I tried to make it look masculine.


I used the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder on the LOVE word. I drew the word LOVE in adobe illustrator and cut it out on my Silhouette. You could do something similar without the fancy cutter. Just print out the letters LOVE separately, then trace them onto a piece of cardstock in the position that you want, then cut out, and emboss. My card is 5x5. The dotted red paper is from K&Co.

Here's a close up of the heart, it's a Heidi Swapp chipboard heart and I took my Xacto knife and distressed the edges a bit.


And, the inside.... this was so super simple to do. I just took an American Crafts Remarks Sticker, the letter U, and then 2 AC bracket stickers... so the card reads LOVE {U}.


I'll write something in it a bit later just for him ;).

Have a great week! Blog ya later!

Can I just say....

I'm loving my camera! Even though it's freezing outside, actually, it's BELOW freezing outside... I'm playing with my camera on inside stuff, which is harder because the lighting can be dark.

I made a batch of chocolate chip cookies this morning for the kids' lunch. Then I set this shot up, and just love how it turned out. It's my current favorite photo.



I'm working on a layout, but I can't share it just yet.... seeing that it's in pieces. I cut a bunch of stuff out last night using my Silhouette. I don't know why I don't use that more often for projects. I cut the coolest edge out, sort of like the edge on the Sassafras Lass papers. I cut a practice sheet, and it even made my ugly practice paper look good!

Happy Friday!!

Happy Groundhog Day!!

Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow today.... it's official 6 more weeks of winter. LOL! Darn groundhog! ;)

We had quite a scare on Thursday with Matt's dad. He went to the ER and they discovered he has congestive heart failure. It's not good, but it does sound way worse than it is.... what I mean is, people can live a long, long time with it. It is a condition in which the heart can't pump enough blood to the body's other organs. His feet were swelling and his stomach. He had a lot of fluid. I'm glad that his wife Barbara insisted that he go to the ER. He didn't want to, he knew they'd make him stay, and he didn't want to miss the Superbowl.

We went to see him on Saturday. He looked pretty good. They let him out on Sunday, and he was able to enjoy the Superbowl at home. What can I say, Pittsburgh Steeler fans are a bit fanatical! Willing to risk life and limb to see them play!

And what a nailbiter it was! Here are my boys.... they both look so nervous.


It was a fun game. So glad that the Steelers won, 'cause I have a happy hubby, and that's all that matters in my house! LOL!!

I managed to do a layout and also this mini accordion album. My friend Theresa has 6 girls. Yes, 6 girls. They are 11, 9, 7, 3 and 1 year old twins! They're all so cute. I thought she could put this on her desk while she homeschools them all!

I took my camera up and took lots of pictures of her kids. It was fun. I just LOVE the babies. So cute. They're at the fun stage, starting to walk, getting into everything... did I say fun stage? LOL!

Close up of the cover:


Front side shot. I left a blank journaling card so she could write some things on it:


The inside with all her adorable girls:


A close up of the babies:


And, here's a closeup of the ticket.


That's it for now.

I need to work on my Project 365 album. If I do these last 2 weeks, I'll be caught up. I can't believe I've stuck with it this long!

Have a great week!! Blog ya later!