Love Bug Challenge at Creative Cutter Room

The first challenge for 2011 is up for Design Time Thursday at Creative Cutter Room

I have entered it using these 2 cards for Valentine’s Day.

Go on over and take a look and feel free to play too!

Here are my cards: (keep in mind I am NOT a card maker)

   

“Owl” Tell You About It!

I have to share with you that I love owls. I do not know why but I do.  Maybe it is a flower power 70’s thing.  The 70’s were my early formative years.  So maybe in those years an owl inspired me.  Was it the owl that said, “Give a Hoot, Don’t Pollute”  ?  Or maybe the owl that was asked, “How many licks does it take to get to the middle of a Tootsie Pop”?  Oh, this is reaching a little further back.. there was some sort of crazy owl in shows like “The New Zoo Revue”  or even “H.R. Puff ‘N Stuff”.

So as a Cricut owner x 3 (Baby Bug, Expression and Imagine")  I have decided I need cartridges with birds and/or Owls on it.  I have to find an excuse to use these.  I will admit some of these cartridges just weren’t necessary and I will be really reaching for reasons to use them.  Really, how many phrases with the word “OWL” in it do I want to use?

For Christmas, a friend of my mom’s got my 3 children some crafty gifts. She is always so sweet to remember them witch such wonderful and creative things.  So out comes one of my owl cartridges to make a thank you note for her.

Here it is!  Straight from my Cricut Imagine nonetheless! 

I made this with my Imagine, as I said.  I used the layers function and the owl body is 2 layers plus the wings and his tummy and peak are popped up.  I added a little of the new color from Stickles called True Blue.  The words are hard to see clearly but it does say “From Owl of Us”.  It is also in 2 layers with True Blue Stickles.

The card base was a box of miscellaneous cards from DCWV (Die Cuts With a View).  There is a pattern or solid color on each card front and back.

I added some organza ribbon and a strip of white and polka dot blue ribbon and attached with my tiny attacher.

I don’t show the inside but it is just a blue cardstock stamped with the word “thanks”.  I then faux stitched the border with my white paint pen.

Thanks for looking and “Owl be back!”  soon with more of my creations!

Creative Scrapbooking Divas Extended Timeline for Blog Hop! You can still win!!!

Hello followers!  Our blog hop has been extended thru January 31st.  Please play along for your chance to win some great prize packages!

I am re-posting the original post here.  I hope you will play along!

Welcome to our Creative Scrapbooking Divas Holidays in Review Blog Hop

You probably came from CSDivas a.k.a. Creative Scrapbooking Divas site where I was first on the list.  You can see the full list there, but for now, on to my challenge!

My layout is about Christmas Trees and Decorating.  I am proud of our Christmas tree because we have had it for 15 years.  We love having a white tree.  Our kids started decorating about the time they turned 3.  They are now nearly 10 and 13.  This last year, one of the twins decided to take pictures of her sister decorating the tree.  I really loved the shots she took, even if some of them were a bit blurry.  I saw the opportunity to use them in a layout.

Here is my layout:

Some of my favorite techniques featured in this layout are:

On the left page I used lightbulb buttons for a string of lights and white Flower Soft to simulate my white tree.  I also used my Cricut for my title. I used the Winter Frolic cartridge and cut it in grey as a shadow, inking the edges with Tim Holtz Distress Ink and then coordinating pattern paper for the main title and then added Stickles.

For the right page I used lace behind the tree die cut.  I used the Winter Frolic cartridge to cut the tree in white and inked edges with Distress Ink and then cut again with coordinating paper and inked edges with Distress Ink.  I also painted the star and tree trunk with Smooch; used Flower Soft for the snowy effect; buttons with Stickles for ornaments and present buttons.  I overlapped the tree die cuts just slightly and then used the inked edge of white paper to do my journaling.

The printed paper I used was from the Holiday Collection from Echo Park.

I offer this layout as an inspiration, rather than a challenge actually.  I hope you will do at least one of several choices:

• Use multiple photos
• make a one or two page layout about decorating – either for Christmas, birthday or any such special celebration
• scraplift one or both pages of my layout – remember, it is somewhere to start- you can turn it side-ways, upside down, etc.
• use an embellishment that is at least 10 inches tall – this can be a single item or a cluster of items.  Ribbon does not count.   Should be a die cut or flowers, buttons, brads, etc.

I will have a RAK for a random entry.  You just need to : of course register as a member of the Diva Site, become a follower of my blog and submit your entry to Ann's HIR Challenge Entries  and leave a comment here.

Be sure to make that comment here so I know you entered. You will need to tell me which of the choices you used in your entry.  Your name will be entered once for submitting the entry and then once for each of the choices that you used.  That gives you a possible 5 entries for  my prize!

But as a reminder, once you finish your creation, please make sure to upload it in this link: Ann's HIR Challenge Entries

Thanks for stopping by. Please become a follower of my blog and leave a comment here even if you don’t submit an entry.

Please check out all of the DT’s Pages before you start working on your creations.  WE ALL want to hear from you.

You will continue from here  to our next DT blog to see her amazing creation: DT Alecia's Blog

As I mentioned before, we have some amazing prizes for 2 CSDivas members!

Here are the pictures:

 

To be eligible to win any of these  prizes, you need to:

1) Be a CSDivas Member. Register to be a CSDivas member here: Creative Scrapbooking Divas

2) Upload to the proper discussion challenge.  Each of us will have a Discussion for our Challenge,   Mine is:  Ann's HIR Challenge Entries

3) Due date to submit entries is Monday 1/31, 2011 5pm EST!

Now, let's continue to our next DT blog to see her amazing creation: DT Alecia's Blog

Please go visit one of my favorite new Disney Craft Blog!

This blog is awesome and it is even more awesome because it is 2 of my favorite things – Disney and Scrapbooking/Paper Crafts/Cards.  Please go visit Disney Dreamer Designs  as she celebrates her 400th follower.  In fact she is over 500 now!  She has some blog candy to offer.  Just do this- become a follower, leave a comment and mention this event and give away on YOUR blog!  Thanks and have a great day!

The Holidays in Review Blog Hop Has Been Extended!

Please play along with our blog hop and submit your entries by Wednesday, Jan 19.  Each of the Design Team Divas have their own place for you to upload your entries.  Mine is at Ann's HIR Challenge Entries

Please comment here or on my blog dated January 16 and post your creations at my link.  And please comment here even if you don’t play along.  I love to know who has been visiting me!  (and feel free to become a follower too!)

 

On another note, I did a sort of double duty thing on my post here in our blog hop.  I am also submitting it to  The Pink Stamper Blog Hop     I had to wait to post it there since I needed to post it here first.

Thanks for visiting!

Again, here is my layout:

The Creative Scrapbooking Divas Blog Hop Starts Here Today!!!!

Welcome to the HOLIDAYS IN REVIEW  CSDivas Blog Hop!!!

 

Welcome to our Creative Scrapbooking Divas Holidays in Review Blog Hop

You probably came from CSDivas a.k.a. Creative Scrapbooking Divas site where I was first on the list.  You can see the full list there, but for now, on to my challenge!

My layout is about Christmas Trees and Decorating.  I am proud of our Christmas tree because we have had it for 15 years.  We love having a white tree.  Our kids started decorating about the time they turned 3.  They are now nearly 10 and 13.  This last year, one of the twins decided to take pictures of her sister decorating the tree.  I really loved the shots she took, even if some of them were a bit blurry.  I saw the opportunity to use them in a layout.

Here is my layout:

  

Some of my favorite techniques featured in this layout are:

On the left page I used lightbulb buttons for a string of lights and white Flower Soft to simulate my white tree.  I also used my Cricut for my title. I used the Winter Frolic cartridge and cut it in grey as a shadow, inking the edges with Tim Holtz Distress Ink and then coordinating pattern paper for the main title and then added Stickles.

For the right page I used lace behind the tree die cut.  I used the Winter Frolic cartridge to cut the tree in white and inked edges with Distress Ink and then cut again with coordinating paper and inked edges with Distress Ink.  I also painted the star and tree trunk with Smooch; used Flower Soft for the snowy effect; buttons with Stickles for ornaments and present buttons.  I overlapped the tree die cuts just slightly and then used the inked edge of white paper to do my journaling.

The printed paper I used was from the Holiday Collection from Echo Park.

 

I offer this layout as an inspiration, rather than a challenge actually.  I hope you will do at least one of several choices:

• Use multiple photos
• make a one or two page layout about decorating – either for Christmas, birthday or any such special celebration
• scraplift one or both pages of my layout – remember, it is somewhere to start- you can turn it side-ways, upside down, etc.
• use an embellishment that is at least 10 inches tall – this can be a single item or a cluster of items.  Ribbon does not count.   Should be a die cut or flowers, buttons, brads, etc.

I will have a RAK for a random entry.  You just need to : of course register as a member of the Diva Site, become a follower of my blog and submit your entry to Ann's HIR Challenge Entries  and leave a comment here.

Be sure to make that comment here so I know you entered.  You will need to tell me which of the choices you used in your entry.  Your name will be entered once for submitting the entry and then once for each of the choices that you used.  That gives you a possible 5 entries for  my prize!

But as a reminder, once you finish your creation, please make sure to upload it in this link: Ann's HIR Challenge Entries

Thanks for stopping by. Please become a follower of my blog and leave a comment here even if you don’t submit an entry.

Please check out all of the DT’s Pages before you start working on your creations.  WE ALL want to hear from you.

You will continue from here  to our next DT blog to see her amazing creation: DT Alecia's Blog

As I mentioned before, we have 3 amazing prizes for 3 CSDivas members!

Here are the pictures:

First Prize

Second Prize

Third Prize

To be eligible to win any of these 3 prizes, you need to:

1) Be a CSDivas Member. Register to be a CSDivas member here: Creative Scrapbooking Divas

2) Upload to the proper discussion challenge.  Each of us will have a Discussion for our Challenge,   Mine is:  Ann's HIR Challenge Entries

3) Due date to submit entries is Tuesday 1/18, 2011 5pm EST!

 

Now, let's continue to our next DT blog to see her amazing creation: DT Alecia's Blog

It’s almost blog hop time!

 

 

 

The holidays are gone and this year we want to help you document your holidays and why not 2010!

CSDivas Design Team Members create awesome challenges specially for the occasion and some of them are offering individual RAKS besides the 3 Grand Prizes we have at CSDivas! 

New to blog hops? Not that difficult, here is what you have to do:

1)Hop among the 7 blogs to see what each talented DT created, take note of the challenge.

2) Create your project.

3) Once finished you need to upload your entries at the CSDivas Challenges Threads. 

So come back here after 9 a.m. central on Sunday, January 16!

Sorry–I Forgot About My 10 Award Recipients….

Here are the blogs I am sharing my award with.  Some are just genealogy blogs and some are just craft blogs and some are both.  I enjoy all of them and hope you will consider paying them a visit.

 

 

The Scrappy Genealogist

Somewhat Simple

The Idea Room

The Armchair Genealogist

Those Old Memories

Before My Time

Bayside Blog

The "You Go" Genealogy Girls... Grannies on the Go!

Craft Lady

Saturday's Child

Hurray! New Followers AND a Blog Award for me!

For the last year I have mainly been blogging about my life as a scrapper.  What many of you don’t know about is my life as a genealogist.  I have been working on my family history for over 7 years now and am almost obsessed with it as much as scrapping.  Too bad for my hubby, cuz it would have been cheaper if I would not have discovered scrapping 3 years ago!

I've received the Ancestors Approved award from Homestead Mommy at Footsteps Past  Thank you so much!  Ancestors Approved was started by Leslie Ann at Ancestors Lived Here.
I'm suppose to share 10 things about my ancestors that have surprised, humbled or enlightened me and share this award with 10 other bloggers. 

Ok… so I will share those 10 things with you now!

1.  My paternal great grandfather worked in the bicycle shop with the Wright brothers in Dayton, Ohio  he also knew the Patterson of Wright Patterson Air Force Base.

2.  my paternal great, great grandfather fought in the civil war.  He was from Pennsylvania and oddly enough was a guard in Rock Island at a Confederate prison on the island during the last 100 days of the war.  How cool is it that 120 years or so later I would marry a man who is an engineer at the Rock Island arsenal and works in the building where the museum is.  My great, great grandfather is in a picture on the wall there in the museum

3.  I really never expected to get far in this whole family history thing. I only searched ancestry.com on a whim.  I thought that since I lived in Iowa and my relatives were from Ohio I would never find anything.  boy, I was sure wrong.

4.  My paternal great great great grandparents were either Amish or Mennonite. They were from Lancaster Pennsylvania.

5. while there are hardly any Stauffer (my maiden name)families where I live it is not the same in Pennsylvania.  evidently, the Stauffer  families that came to Pennsylvania were invited by William Penn himself.

6.  I am this close…. to becoming a member of the daughters of the American revolution because of Stauffer soldiers. I have to narrow down the exact one and how he fits in my tree.  the problem is that the Stauffer people sure liked the same names and it is really getting confusing for me.  Who ever thought there would be two Hiram Stauffer’s and they would both be from Lancaster County And both married to ladies named Mary. there may even be some on my mom’s side when I dig a little deeper.

7.  I found a picture of my paternal great great grandfather on the internet.  there were some antique photo online people who were selling it. they found it in a Springfield, Ohio antique store.  He was quite short.  and here I always thought that the height in our family came from the Stauffer side.

8.  My maternal great grandparents were both born in Ireland.  and my other set of maternal great grandparents were born in Germany.

9.  my grandpa’s only sister (with 5 boys being raised by the parents), who was quite a bit older than him, was raised by her maternal grandmother who owned a hotel in the early 1900’s in Ohio.  She made the society column of the newspaper quite often with things like where she went on vacation or who’s party she went to.  the Sapp’s were quite the society people in those days.

10.  My mom had a cousin who was a twin and he died at the bombing of pearl harbor during world war two.

 

Join Creative Scrapbooking Divas for a Holidays in Review Blog Hop–January 16, 2011

 

 

RSVP at Creative Scrapbooking Divas Holidays in Review Blog Hop  and play along with us!

Never played in a Blog Hop before?  Here are the details:

- On January 16th, we will create a link of 7-8 blogs for you to visit.

- Each blog host will have the next blog link as well.

- You will be hoping blog by blog, checking the hostess creation and challenge and leaving a comment on each blog.

- Write all the challenges or the challenges you want to complete and begin creating your projects.

- When you are done, upload them to your CSDivas gallery and post a picture in the Blog Hop discussion that will be created for each Design Team member (blogs hostesses).

- Each blog will have specific guidelines for wining a RAK (if there is one) but your comment and entries with your project pictures will give you tickets to win one of the 3 prizes!

Hope it's clear!  Let us know if you need more information...

Happy New Year!

Hello followers.  We are 8 days into the new year of 2011 now.  How is it going for you?  Have you made any resolutions?  Have you broken any yet?  I know, it is so easy to say “I Am going to do this…” and then somehow the days pass and a year goes by and “I just never did do that!”.  Jokingly I started saying, “I resolve to not make any more resolutions.”  That may be the only resolution I have ever kept!

Seriously, make them goals instead of resolutions.  Set some of your goals really high and aim for them.  Don’t be discouraged when you don’t make all of them, at least you tried.  Make some of your goals easy to achieve, cuz after all, you need to see some progress or you won’t want to pursue the easy ones, let alone the lofty ones.  And set some goals just a little bit out of reach and really give it your all to make those.  Those will be the the “warm fuzzy” goals that will just make you feel so proud and happy.

 

Here are a few of mine:

Getting up at 6:30 a.m. and staying up all day without napping and then going to bed at a decent time.  (ok it is 2 a.m. as I write this – how do you think I am doing?)

Exercising on the Wii Fit and also with the Just Dance game EVERY DAY

Being on time.  I was born late and have been late with everything ever since.  2011 will be the year that I fix that.  I will even take an improvement – lets say only 5 minutes late instead of 15!

I want to start a scrapbook custom made business and also teach some classes in scrapbooking, and other paper crafts.

Tell me what some of your goals are and how are they going?…..please leave a comment.