Happy National Scrapbooking Day

Saturday (May 2) is National Scrapbooking Day. Do you have special plans? Check out your local scrapbook store - they are sure to have a special crop or class for you to join. No local store? There are TONS of online sites and blogs that are having special giveaways or online crops. Get out your favorite photos, papers, the glue stick, Stickles, ribbons...the whole stash, and GET BUSY!!!!

My handy husband (who loves me lots) added a Subscription link on my site (left side) - be sure to add your email to get updates from my site. Here's some incentive to do:

In honor of National Scrapbooking Day, I am having a scrapbook supply give away. To enter, leave a comment here on my site and Subscribe to my posts using the "Subscribe" box to enter your email address. I'll have a photo of the prize posted this weekend and will hold the drawing on Monday, May 4. Good luck! (You won't be disappointed with the prize, I promise!)

Wonderful News!

I got wonderful news last Thursday night - Scrapbook News and Review is going to publish my "Cut the Cake" card in their May issue, available May 16. This is my first published project, and I am so excited! You may have seen the card posted here last week. I had to remove the image until the magazine is available. I'll repost with a link to the image when it's available next month. I'm so proud to have accomplished this goal. Now I'm still working on a design team...

What a weekend!

We drove down to Houston Friday night after work. I spent all day Saturday at the CK Convention, then had dinner with a friend that I haven't seen since she moved back to Houston a year ago. It was so nice catching up! Sunday was our niece's Christening, so we spent the day with family, and then drove back home.

Now back to CKC: I bought lots of Prima and Stickles, and some Rusty Pickle, Queen & Co, and Thickers! Of course, my favorite finds are the discounted supplies. Yes, they may be from last season or last year, but will anyone know that the pack of buttons that I bought for $1 aren't the newest design? I doubt it. Will anyone figure out that I'm scrapping with $1/pack rhinestones? Who cares!!! The Vendor Faire was actually smaller than I expected - about a third of what I've been to at the Great American Scrapbook Conventions - but I was happy with my purchases.


One of the hot items was the canvas kits from QuickQuotes. I did their Make-n-Take and walked away with a completed canvas layout that I can display in my home, after I add photos of the nieces. It's actually a small decorated canvas (on the lower right) adhered to a large 12x12 decorated canvas. I bought a "Love" canvas kit to make later.

I took a class on flocking. It was a beginner class, so I didn't learn a lot of techniques, but did make a couple of layouts using the Creating Keepsakes kit and Doodlebug flocking.

Keep your eye out for more projects using my new supplies. I can't wait to get busy on them!

Home Paper Bag Album

My sister and her husband recently purchased their first house - it's an adorable "Cape Cod" in South Jersey. I got to see it for the first time when I visited for Easter. I made this paper bag album for her to fill with photos as they make memories in their new home.

I love making paper bag albums, and they are pretty easy to do. For instructions on putting the album together, google "paper bag album tutorial" and find the instructions that fit your style. Basically, you stack a few brown lunch bags, fold them in half, and oila! a paper bag album. You can stitch up the fold to extra support, or just punch holes and use binder rings to hold the pages together - this is my preferred method since I don't sew.

Then, you start layering on your papers, embellishments, flowers, titles, etc. Make sure you leave room for photos!

I took some photos of my sister's house when I was there, which I'll add to the album. I'm also leaving some pages open so she can add her own photos as she lives in the house and adds more of her "personality" to it.

Cut the Cake

In addition to the CK Convention in Houston (woo-hoo!), this weekend is my brother-in-law's birthday. I was in the mood to create some "saucy" birthday cards, and here is one of them.

I used Making Memories Sabrina paper, a piece of sheet music from an old French lesson book, and a vintage image of these adorable children. I made the "Happy Birthday" banner on the children's table and hung it using some sparkly baker's twine. I used my old-school Dymo label maker to create the title: "You're not getting any younger -- Cut the dang cake already!"

Christening Card

This weekend, our niece Angela is being Christened. We will be the proud Godparents. I made this card to go along with her gift.

The sentiment inside reads:

Please God...

Grant this little child your love

As each new day appears,

Grant her parents guidance

And wisdom throughout the years.

Smile down upon this Christening

And in your loving way,

Let your presence gently bless

This little one today.

Here's what I did:

I inked the edges of the card base using Versamark Cinnamon ink. I hand stitched dark grey embroidery floss around a piece of Basic Grey Sultry paper (Whisper). Before applying the paper to the card base, I added a pink ribbon layered with vintage lace to the paper.

I added Prima Nursery Tales flowers, a vintage button, and a butterfly cut from layered newspaper using a Martha Stewart punch. (I stapled the layers together in the middle.) I added some Crystal Stickles and Glossy Accents to the butterfly and flower.

I stamped the bird and branch onto vellum using a Tim Holtz Urban Grunge stamp and Tim Holtz Walnut Stain distress ink. I cut out the bird and branch and adhered it using spray adhesive. (This is the only adhesive that I've found that is completely transparent under vellum.)

I printed the verse onto vellum and ahered it using spray adhesive.

Texas Bluebonnets

Today we took a drive to Ennis, TX, the Bluebonnet Capitol of Texas. We saw fields full of the bright blue flowers. As a single flower, they aren't much to look at. But, get an entire field full of 'em and you've really got something. I was surprised to discover that they have a beautiful scent. The wind was blowing enough to perfume the air with their light flowery scent - very delightful!

We took many pictures by the lake and outside of a generous farmer's house. It was a beautiful sight and I hope to go again next year.

Antique Alley

This weekend, we are going to one of our favorite semi-annual antique/junk/yard sale shows - Antique Alley. It's 15 miles of country road between Cleburne, TX and Grandview, TX. (You can continue the extra 10 miles on to Maypearl, but it doesn't seem worth your while.) People set up in their front yards, cow pastures, church parking lot, wherever there is space.

I'm hoping to find a good stash of "treasures" to include in an upcoming Scrapbook Kit that I want to put together for all of my scrappy friends.

If you're able to attend, I highly recommend this sale - I've always found unique things at bargain prices. Here's a link to the general website: http://www.antiquealleytexas.com/
Here's a link to the woman who started the sale (she has the best cow pasture locations for rent at the show): http://www.whippfarm.com/

Happy Easter

I hope you have a beautiful Easter Sunday.

I'm spending time with my family in NJ and helping to prepare our Easter feast - of course dessert is the most important part!

I'll get back to my regular posts late in the week. I'm taking some time off to spend here and visit with my family, especially my quickly-growing nieces.

What Do You Get...

...when you cross a WWII B-17 bomber and a scrapbooker's husband? A mini book all about his adventure, of course!

I love making mini books. They are pretty quick to make, and if you stick to a single theme and style, come together fairly easily. I created this grungy mini book for my husband to commemorate his recent ride in a restored WWII B-17. He had a blast!

I used a mini album that I already had, then added crackle paint and embellishments to the cover. I made little "danglies" to hang from the rings. I distressed and inked each page, then added some stamping, distressed cardboard and chipboard, and random embellishments throughout.

He loved it, and now has something special to remember his trip.

Take a look at some of the inside pages:

(click to see a larger image)

I left some blank areas so he can add journaling later. (He looked at me like - what the heck is "journaling"?)

mmmmmm....sweet potato casserole

I don't have anything crafty to share today, but should tomorrow.

In the meantime, here is a recipe for the best sweet potato casserole. I found it in a magazine a couple years ago and we've made it for every holiday since. I'm planning to make it for Easter. It's super easy, and super tasty. Enjoy!

Whipped Sweet Potato Bake
45oz canned sweet potatoes, drained
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
3 cups mini marshmallows

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Beat sweet potatoes, butter, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg in medium bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended.

Spoon into lightly greased 1 1/2 qt casserole dish (I just use a 2-qt). Top with marshmallows.

Bake 15-20 minutes or until potato mixture is heated through and marshmallows are lightly browned.

Altered Notes Holder

Here is a true junking altered project. I found two old metal graters for 50 cents each. I wired the two together, and then I started layering on bits and bobs I had in my stash.

One side has a mini notepad held in place with a large clip. I tied a piece of measuring tape printed ribbon to the clip. I added "NOTES" with Scrabble letters across the top, and then tied on a beautiful brown bow from a scrap a ribbon.

The other side is my favorite! I dangled a chandelier drop from the metal at the top. I layered a vintage crochet doily behind an old photo of two sisters. I held these on using a clothespin that I embellished with some text from an old school book. My intent is to change the photo out when I want something "new."

Then I added the feather that I found in my yard and a velvet flower that I pieced together, topped with a button and a rhinestone.

This piece was a lot of fun to put together. If you make one, please share a photo with me!

Bird Nest Necklaces

I made three wire bird nests the other day. They are pretty easy to do, once you get the hang of holding that little wire in place while weaving.

The copper nest has turquoise jasper eggs. I added a turquoise ribbon as the necklace to match the eggs. They stand out so well against the copper.

The sterling silver nest has peacock fresh water pearls. These are my favorite color pearls. I've used them in some pearl strand necklaces in the past and they look stunning.

The small silver metal nest has light blue fresh water pearls. This pendant is smaller for a child.

Each pendant has a loop for stringing on ribbon, a ball chain, or whatever necklace you prefer.

I'm hoping to make some larger nests to use on my altered projects... Stay tuned!

A Busy Weekend

We had a busy weekend! We took our Little Brother to Six Flags on Friday night and had a great time. We spent all day Saturday at the Canton flea market. If you're ever in TX during this once-a-month market, it is a must see. Here are a few pics of my loot.

I bought an old chippy door to try to fashion into a headboard for our bedroom remodel and a metal box that appears to have been used as a ballot box at some point. Now it's holding books and magazines in my living room.

I found a few little bits - some rhinestone buttons and little bells - that will eventually find their way onto some project.

Tomorrow I will post photos of the bird nest necklaces I mentioned last week. I also have another altered project to share.

Spring is a great time to be creative - winter is slowly creeping away and you can feel the invigorating warm air that helps get the juices flowing!

I'd rather be an April fool...

...than a year-round idiot. That's my bit of wisdom for the day.

It appears that Spring has finally arrived here in North Texas. We've seen some glimpses of it for a few months now. But I'm hoping that the hail storm we had the other night was our official signal of the end to winter.

We had a little sparrow couple build a nest in our birdhouse this past weekend. Soon, we'll have baby birds calling their mama for food. The birds inspired me this week - I'm working on some wired birds' nest pendants that I will share with you later in the week.

For today, I have another altered art piece. This one was very easy. I found this old photo still in the display card while junking in Oklahoma. I added some vintage lace pieces, wired on some beads, and added the letter charms to spell "FAMILY." I added more wire so I can hang it on our armoire in the living room.