MyMadkow

Take Courage

I waited a whole year, to apply for the Prima Design Team......and life got in the way!!! I had a few projects finished and pics taken. All I had to do was Photoshop them and send them off. So what happened? Well, I had to work more days leading up to Easter, and.....this is the most important one.....my DD & DGS are here!!!! And we are definitely spending as much time together as we can!! Pretty soon, she'll head back to El Paso.

So.... I thought that I would share my projects with you. Tonight we'll start with ........

Take Courage

 
Used Prima paper, of course, the Madeline collection....it's definitely my fave Prima paper!! Core'dinations cardstock.....love it!! Martha Stewart corner punch around the circle. Here's a closeup.............

 
Lots of Distress Inks, and Tim products, including the Tattered Florals die. Alphas are Cosmo Cricket Tiny Type and American Crafts Thickers. Bling is Prima, colored with a Sharpie.

 
The flowers are cut from the Prima pp, and I added Glossy Accents from Ranger, to mimic the leaves. Almost looks like dew.......my pic doesn't do this technique, any justice. I added a bit of Distress Stickles to the edges of the leaves.

That's all I've got tonight. I'm off to play with Mason, before he goes off to bed!!

Love ya,

Lynne

 

A Few Projects & A Design Team

A few days ago, I received an email from Eve the owner of Black With 2. She had already chosen the new DTs for this blog. Was I disappointed....yes, but not for long!! Why? Well, Eve asked me to DT for her other blog, Scrapbudz Scrapbook Boutique. How awesome is that!!! I am honored to be part of the team!! And I'm definitely joining a very talented group of ladies!!  Thanks Eve!!!!!!

My new position starts on April 1st! It's been a while since I've been on a 'creative' deadline. But I'm totally looking forward to it, and I can't wait to get started!!

I did update my blog, with all of the new team info and blog links. Check out the <----- sidebar. And I will also post the new blinky, as soon as I can get it to work......technologically challenged here!! Please do take some time, and visit the Scrapbudz blogs. I also made some other changes (minor), and I'm planning on changing up my gallery......sometime in the near future.

So, I am going to share the projects that I submitted to Eve.....I'll keep the wordiness short!! LOL as if I can do that!! But I will keep the closeups to a minimum.

Tranquillite

 
Gorgeous papers!!!! The Moonrise Collection....this is one of my fave collections from SEI!!! LOVE IT!! I actually 'saved' it for months, before I finally decided to cut into it!!! How crazy is that? I just thought it was too beautiful to use up! The pic of my DIL, Carol, was printed in sepia on watercolor paper, and then distressed with Vintage Photo Distress Ink. The little black velvet leaves......were flowers from Heidi Swapp......I just cut them apart into sections of two. The filagree butterfly is also SEI. Lace trim is Prima, felt trim is Recollections (see note), the foil border strip is Jolee's & the vintage whatnot is from Glitz.

 
The peach and the black & white flowers were cut from the pp. I made itty bitty flowers with the buttons & sequins that were included in the SEI kit. The bling is also Recollections and the larger leaves are made from one of my fave 7Gypsies paper. I love it so much, that I buy a few sheets everytime I see it!!

Remember

 
I punched a bunch of circles and layered them under the punched (Martha Stewart) circle mat.  You can see the Heidi Swapp black velvet flowers peaking out from under the glimmer misted Prima flowers. I used Basic Gray & Graphic 45 papers. I added a few K&Co and G45 diecuts, as well as some October Afternoon stickers.

 
My title is also stickers from OA. The seam binding is from Bluebird Lane Etsy.  And there's a few odds & ends everywhere.

Forever Happy

 
Love this pic of my DD Ashley....I think my DGS Mason took this pic, when they were at the airport waiting to go back home. I sanded part of the background because I really didn't want suitcases & stuff showing. I then stamped all over the sanded parts, with various Inkadinkado & Anna Griffin stamps. This LO is a bit different then what I usually do. I kept everything in the center to keep the background cleaner. More SEI papers. I used Lumiere paints on the title, which is a piece cut from a Dusty Attic chippy, another from K&Co, and on the the Tim/Sizzix birdcage & bird. 
I love how these handmade flowers turned out. I used more SEI papers....double sided cardstock, and I love the bits of green peaking out. I used a bit of broken china Distress Ink and some Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Mist, and added Recollections mini roses, also misted, to the centers. The leaves and bling are Prima. Bits of Tim Holtz, Martha Stewart pearls, Glitz sticker, and Tattered Angels.

Waiting

 
Pics of Mason are also at the airport...he was totally mesmerized by all of the hoopla outside of the window. I used My Mind's Eye, Prima, Onirie & SEI papers. Bits from Heidi Swapp, 7Gypsies, Sandylion, Martha Stewart, Greenbrier Intl. Distress Inks from Tim & paints from Folk Art

So here's my note...... 

Have you noticed how much more Recollections stuff there is at Michaels now? I was really getting frustrated with this, cause they were replacing the higher end products, such as Prima, with their own brand. Well, about a month ago, I was in there shopping, and they had lots more new stuff from Recollections. Not only more, but better quality, and much, much prettier than what they started with. I really didn't think I would ever say this, but I'm impresssed!! I'll still buy Prima, ZVA, etc, but I'll also get Recollections!! Bonus is that their stuff, is definitely less expensive!! Have you experienced the same thing? And are you buying the Recollections products? Nope, not getting any $$ from Michaels, just wondering if I'm the only one who feels this way.

That's all I have for today....and now it's time for me to go play some more!!

Happy scrapping,

Lynne 

Graphic 45 Projects

 
Hi everyone!! I'm sure that it's no secret that I'm applying for the Graphic 45 Design Team!! Definitely something that I could not pass up. Why? I love their papers! There bold and subdued, wild and sweet. You name it they got it!! Love that I can use them for any type of layout or project, from clean & simple to retro romantic chic, and everything in between!!

So here, are my submissions, in no particular order:

Graphic 45 Card

 
A Proper Gentleman Frame

 
Steampunk SpellBinders Die Holder

 
A big Thank You to Arlene at My Butterfly Kisses for this awesome idea!!

Unique

 
Le Romantique

 
 Lil Men

 
Spools

 

 Beach Babe

 
Love Wall Decor

 
Goddess With A Smile Box

 
Grand-mere & Gilles

 
Domestic Goddess Card

 
Life Deconstructed

 
I Wish

 
Precious Mason

 

That's all 15 of them!! Well if you count the spools as one, that is!! I had so much fun making these projects. It's easy when you have such gorgeous papers! And making the Graphic 45 Design Team would be the bomb!! And a dream come true!!!

Love ya,

Lynne

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 

 

The Liebster Blog Award & Migraines

Ugh!! Don't know what's up with these migraines, but since I came back from El Paso, I've had 2 three day stints of these. Bad enough for me to ask my Mom to take me to the doctor's, to get better meds!!! For years, I would only get about 2 'normal' (as if there's such a thing), migraines a year. But this past year has been horrendous!!! I'm getting them more often, and they're lasting a lot longer!!! Definitely NOT fun!!

Needless to say, everything I wanted to do last week, got pushed to this week. And now, well...I def want to apply for the Graphic 45 DT. I've been working my butt off, trying to get some projects done. So, once again, everything is being neglected. Including my poor little blog!! And my normal blog hopping!!

I did get a nice little gift, from my scrappy buddy Denise at Vintage Scrappin......it's the

 
How cool is that?!!!!! This is how it works....if you get tagged with the award, you need to create a post, where you post the Liebster Blog image. Then you choose 3 to 5 favourite blogs which you also link in your post. Simple......

For many different reasons, especially that these ladies are some of the most talented scrappers out there!! Plus, I really miss our Snobby Walrus time!!!

            Birgit at Magic Scraps

            Ilene at What A Bunch Of Scrap

            JJ at One Good Thing

            Keri at Kensington Design

            Ria at Cakes 'n Scraps

Thanks to all of the Snobby Walrus DTs for all of your talents, and willingness to share your knowledge and your amazing projects with all of us!!

And a big THANKS to Denise!!!! for sharing the Liebster Blog Award with me!!

And now, for something scrappy......

Fly

 
For the life of me, I can't remember where I got the GCD paper!! I want to say that it was part of the January Swirlydoos kit, but I'm not sure. Anyways, LOVE this paper. It's really too bad, that this isn't a very good pic of my LO!! Cause it doesn't do it any justice. Long story but I got a taller easel to take pics of my projects, and it's thrown my picture taking off. Doesn't take much, does it?  LOL

I'm continuing on, with my resolution, to use at least one old piece on each project. This one used a bunch of older stuff!! Which is good, cause I just ordered a bunch of new stuff!! As a side note, I used some of Ranger's Liquid Pearls today....OMG!! Now, I have to get these in every color!! They have got to be the easiest dimensional paints I've ever used!!! I seem to have issues with all of the other brands I've tried...they just never look right.

 
I'm finding that I'm getting more 'outgoing' with color!! Using much brighter colors, and opting for higher contrast now. Still love the subdued look, but sometimes you just got to be BOLD. Lots of layers here. Even inked the little hand.....which was a button.

 
The chipboard spinner is K&Co, I layered it over some chippie wings from Maya Road, which I glittered (Martha Stewart). Then layered those over an inked piece of acrylic (packaging), that I embossed with a Timmy folder, and then I tucked in some eyelet lash yarn from Expo Intl. behind it.

I can't decide if I like the way I placed the wings or not. It looked good, when I put the whole thing together, but once I added it to the page, I felt that they were just a little off. Oh well......cause I used my best sticky stuff....and there was no way I was going to take it apart!!

 
Inking older alphas (K&Co) has got to be one of my fave techniques!! Don't forget the Glossy Accents over top! I love how these turned out!! The transparency right below it is Basic Grey.

I just read my post over (my spell/grammar check).....wow!! Really choppy, and broken up. If this was an essay for school, I'd flunk!! LOL   I guess I'm tired, at least that's what I'm going with!!

Back next week with Graphic 45 projects!!!!!!

Til then, happy scrapping!!

Love ya,

Lynne

 

        

Curiouser & Curiouser For Snobby Walrus

Five, count 'em, five days away from Halloween!! That's 30 days left til Thanksgiving, and 60 days left to go before Christmas!! Ugh.......biggest 2 months of the retail year are coming up!! Double ugh.....yep, I work in retail!! Great for sales, but rough for employees. Even harder for management staff....tis the season to get your face ripped off!! It just seems that we can never make everyone happy.....ie. 'you don't have this', and 'you never have that'; 'you don't have enough cashiers', 'I've been waiting in this line for hours' and 'what are you gonna do about it?' Well, let me pull them out of my ass!! Cause that's where I hide them!! Ugh, are people that stupid/crazy, that they actually think that stores hide their employees and/or their products? Okay, I'm done ranting!

Sooooo, back to Halloween......and I still have 3 more projects for Snobby Walrus, to show you!!

Curiouser & Curiouser

 
Love this Pink Paislee paper!! I added a large clear sticker from PP about 1/3 of the way in, on the right side, and then butted my pic against that 'line'. Lots of fussy cutting of the gorgeous papers, from the Halloween In Wonderland collection from Graphic 45. I just love their papers!!! They are def one of my fave companies!! Okay, it's a tie for first place, with Webster's Pages!!

 
You can see a bit of the TA Glimmer Mist, peeking out from the pic. The little dots, are actually part of a stamp set (included in the kit) from PP!!

 
I used Vintage Photo Distress Ink, on the teeny Dusty Attic chipboard frame. Love their chipboard....it's gotta be laser cut, to get such great detail on itty bitty pieces!! And I added another G45 diecut to the backside. Prima flowers, leaves & lace, button is SW.

Though you can't really see it, I also used Glimmer Glam on the leaves & flowers of the G45 paper. A bit of Distress Stickles on the teapot, some Glossy Accents on the title, and a few feathers that I picked up at Michaels.

Brain Food

This next pic is a watermelon, that my DIL, made for Mason's First Birthday/Halloween Party.

 
Is that cool or what? When she was telling me what she was planning.....I really couldn't see it, but she did an awesome job of it!

More PP paper (background), Prima bling, lace, flowers & leaves, which I glimmer misted!! Alphas (purple) are Glitz, also Glimmer Misted, and Making Memories (stash).

 
Candelabra/bird is fussy cut from My Mind's Eye paper....love these!! They are flocked papers....yum! The little bling, is actually a button which I covered in Black UTEE (several times) and then added a rhinestone over top; I colored it with a Sharpie!! I also used a Martha Stewart punch on the Glimmer Misted paper. Ribbon is Fancy Pants.

Halloween Checklist

Love this pic of DD & DGS!! Even if the 'Superman' costume doesn't match!! LOL

 
More G45 paper & MME papers!! I used a Martha Stewart punch to make the eerie fence. This punch is one of my faves from her collections!! The little cat on the fence is another Dusty Attic chipboard, which I glittered up!! Prima flowers & leaves.....more misting! I used a piece of MME as a mat for my pic, which is printed on watercolor paper!

 
It took me a while to figure out how to use the DA chipboard tree.....it's a little big, and it took up a good portion of the page. Finally, I decided to do the un-thinkable......and cut it in 2 pieces!! I Glimmer Misted it with Pomegranate & Raven. It's hard to see the 2 separate colors in these pics. I also used the same process on the Prima leaves.

 
Little orange pom-poms were cut from Prima fringe. I also printed my secondary title on MME papers using Chiller Font. Almost forgot to mention......that, the gorgeous yellow seam binding is from Bluebird Lane's etsy shop!!! You've got to visit her shop, she's got lots of other goodies for sale too!

So, that's it for today. And should you happen to go out shopping in the next couple of months, please remember this.......we (retailers) do not set out to make your shopping life a living hell!! So be nice!! And if you can't be.......then shop online!!

Love ya,

Lynne

Recipe Album

Have you been wondering where I've been? Or what I've been up to?  Yeah, me too!!! LOL.  Actually, I've been reorganizing my craft space. It was a mess, and it was getting to the point where I couldn't find anything. So now everything has a place and a label!!! So much easier now!!

I finished and sent off my Snobby Walrus LOs & project.......like 3 days before it was due!!! Ugh!! I hate it when I do that!! I like to get things done early!! But for some reason, I had a hard time with my project, I just couldn't get anything to work out the way I wanted it...so, I finally decided to make a card!! Not that I have anything against cards, but I just thought that, that was the easy way out!! In my defense, I was just totally out of ideas!! 

Also I've been working on projects for the May DT Challenge at Posh!!! Nini has now added LOs to the challenge. So, we can do a card and/or an LO!!!! Love it......I actually got both done and 6 days ahead of time!!!

And I have been working on my DDs Recipe Album. This was what she wanted for Easter....problem is that she told me like 4 days before!!! Soooooo, I've been scrambling to get it done asap!! Plus I made a few Mother's Day cards!!!

Good thing I'm on vacation, right!!! It's been nice being home!! I'm trying to get my sleeping or lack their off, fixed. It's been an issue since I worked 2 hours away during the Holidays. I have finally given up, and am now taking sleeping pills to try and get my self regulated and on a set sleep schedule!! Hopefully when I go back to work, I'll be okay.

Soooo, I thought that I would share the recipe pages I made with you. Since there's like 6 of them (that I actually took pics of), I will limit the closeups.....else you'll be here til tomorrow, just reading this!!

So here goes.......

 
 
 

and my fave......

My ex-MIL's Banana Bread recipe......it just might be the only good thing that happened in that marriage!!! Everybody loves it, and it always comes out great...moist and tasty!! Naturally everyone always wants more!! I have a co-worker friend who loves this bread so much, that if I make some for him, I have to make two. One to eat at work, and the other to bring home and share with his wife!!!

I really had to work at not over-embellishing these pages, so that Ashley's album could lie flat!!! So these are very simple LOs....not my usual style!! That's okay, it forces me out of my comfort zone....kind of like doing Mason pages.....it's so hard to not put flowers on those LOs!!!! Well, sometimes I do, but I try to limit it, so that his pages actually look like boy pages!!!

I used some Cosmo Cricket & Basic Grey papers on these, with a bit of K&Co & DCWV thrown in. I'm also trying to use up some older embellies that I have in my stash. Gotta make room for more scrappy goodies!!!! LOL......I just ordered some Timmy stuff again!!! Now I want some Dew Drops!! Ouch....... my wallet is hurting!!!

Here's the card I made dor DD...... 

Love this collection from Webster's Pages!!! I ordered this set about a month ago, and it took almost that long before I got it!! That's how backed up they are!! Anyways, I did a bit of fussy cutting & layering of pp, added a Prima flower, which is just too perfect for this paper! And the 'daughter' chipboard embellie from K&Co, again, it's perfect with this paper!!

Soooo, that's about it for now. Will be back in the next few, with my Snobby Walrus & Posh projects.

Happy scrappin'

Love ya,

Lynne

Graphic 45 Guest Designer

Whoo hoo!!! Can't believe it's here already!! It seems like years ago, that I was contacted about being a guest designer for the G45 blog. Okay, so it's only been a few months...it just feels like ages!!! I gotta admit that even though I was very excited and couldn't wait to start on my projects for them, it really did sneak up on me!!!

I am so thankful to G45 for giving me this opportunity!! You all know that their papers are my faves, and even if I use other papers, I try to incorporate a bit of G45 into my layouts. That's how much I love them!! No other paper company has come close to matching the vintage look and feel that they offer. Everytime I look at them, it brings me back to my childhood. Now, THAT was a long time ago!!! 

I really do love G45!!! And I'm not saying that because they asked me to be a guest designer, or because they may be watching!!! Anyways.........., I have already submitted two layouts to them and have two more projects in the works. One is almost done...that is, if I can figure out where to put the darn bow!! Sometimes it's the easy stuff that gives you the most headaches!!

Because no one had the new collections in stock, I've had to use the older papers for my projects. I'm telling you, that I can't wait to get my hands on the new collections!!! Especially 'Le' Romantique', even if there's no 'significant other' in my life!! I could use them for wedding LO's or girlie-girl LOs!!  'On the Boardwalk' would be perfect, since I live in Florida. And then there's "A Proper Gentleman', they would be perfect for LO's of my sons!!! Okay, I want them all!!! My LSS is saying mid-March, but.....I found two online stores that actually have them in stock right now!!! Okay, I'll share!!! For paper packs, go to Eclectic Paperie. And if you prefer single sheets, you gotta go to Scrapbook.com. I really didn't set out to brag on these online shops, and they don't know that I'm doing this, and no, they are not giving me anything in return. I just want everyone to be able to get the new papers!!

Wow, talk about going off track!!! So on with the show....

That's me in the pic, circa 1965!!! I told you I was old!!! I guess that explains the love of all things vintage!!! LOL!! Hey, I gotta laugh!!!

First the background: Going diagonally and at every gold line, I cut the plaid paper (about 5" in, at widest point), so that I could weave (over 2, under 1 & staggered) my black floral strips into it. Every other section is raised. If you decide to do this, use pencils to hold your pieces up....and tape the back (painter's tape)....trust me!!!

Foreground & embellies: Of course, layering & distressing (Tim's...love that man) of papers from several collections. Lace and ribbon from my stash. Brad is BoBunny. 'Time' word stick from TH. 'i wish' is cut from Blackletter cartridge on Cricut....I used 3 layers (1 from pp & 2 from cardstock) to bulk it up.

Here's a closeup, and mini tutorial on flowers & leaves........

Flowers: Go to Tim's blog, find the 12th tag from 2009 12 Tags of Christmas. That's where I got the technique. But....you know that I had to make it my own!! I cut 5 to six 'flowers' (Plantin Schoolbook Cartridge for Cricut users), 3 different sizes, this is for larger roses...then I inked the edges and followed his instructions to make them. For the smaller roses, I used 2 different sizes. These are glued together...and I'm addicted to making them!!! It's unbelievable how easy they are to make!!! I thought about showing you this technique and then decided that he has done a much better job of it, than I could ever do!!

Leaves: Get you a vintage dictionay page (or anything else you want to use). Tear (do not cut) a leaf shape. Scrunch it and wet it. Carefully open it up and lay it on a clean piece of paper. Play with layering the shape until you get a vein running through the middle. Once you're happy with it, place another clean piece of paper over top, and let air dry, or, or for those of you who are as impatient as I am, iron dry. Then run your distress ink pad over top...I used Vintage Photo & Antique Lace.

Now glue your roses in place on your LO. Keep in mind that these flowers are fairly thick...so you might have issues with putting your LO in a protective sleeve.

So, that's the first one!! I wil post specifics & instructions for every one of my projects that G45 features on their blog. Although, it's killing me to have to hold off. No, they didn't ask or tell me to do that, I'm just choosing to let G45 blog readers get a first look, esp. since I'm doing this for them!!

Okay, so there's a bit of 'ME' in there!!!  LOL. I hope that you will visit the G45 blog & leave comments. Not only do I appreciate the blog love, but you know G45 does too!!!! After all, it is about G45 and their gorgeous papers!! Plus, there's always new techniques, and projects from their Design Team, Guest Designers and Featured Artists. Who knows, you could be the next Guest Designer!!!

Okay....one more thing......I'm going to give out a paper pack (22 sheets - 2 of each single page & 2 diecuts) of Le' Romantique (in honor of the month of love) to one person who can give me the correct response to........how many times did I mention Graphic 45 on this post!!! Leave your comment to win!! Will select winner on March 1st. If there is more than 1 correct answer, I will use Random.org to determine the winner.

Okay, back to that bow!!!

Love ya,

Lynne
 

Vermont

It's been fairly warm here on the Treasure Coast, running about 75F during the day.....but my thoughts wander to Vermont and the snow....and my DD Ashley & DGS Mason!!! They have recently moved to St. Albans, and will probably be there for about six months, while SIL is in Basic & Specialty Training. I miss them so very much :( But, I did get pics!!!

Ashley has been having computer problems, and has had to send me the pics that she has taken with her cell phone!! LOL Ain't technology grand?!!! Who would have thought that 20 years ago. Or how about 40 years ago, when I was younger (much, much, much younger)!!! That was when the Easy-Bake Oven was a real marvel, and color TV was just coming into it's own!!!! There was no such thing as home PCs or IPODs, and you listened to music on the radio or you played your LPs & 45s!! And playing games meant being outside with your friends playing hide-n-seek, not Mario Cart on your XBox!! Life was much simpler then!! WOW!! We are definitely living in a new era!!

Got off track a little.....so, Ashley sent me a pic of the snow covered road that she had her first driving experience on. She's a little scared of driving in the white stuff!!! Don't blame her, but she'll get used to it. Naturally, I had to do an LO.......and here it is.........

I know, it's a little hard to see, but there IS a road there!!!! Gorgeous isn't it! I do miss the snow (I'm originally from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada), just not the COLD!! I can still smell the crispness that hangs in the air, just before it snows!! Crazy!!

Back to the LO.....I used Basic Grey Halloween paper for the background, the colors were perfect!! I printed the pics (one 8 x 10 and one 4 x 6), on ordinary 110 lb cardstock that you get in any stationery aisle at your Wal-Mart, Kmart, etc. Also used Basic Grey paper for the frame around the smaller pic. I wet smooshed a vintage dictionary page (see 'Loosely Based' post for instructions), and then used TH Distress Ink on the dry page, and edge of frame. I cut 'Vermont' with Cricut and Plantin Schoolbook cart and Basic Grey paper in a midnight blue. I've actually been cutting 1 with PP and 1 with cardstock, to give more weight to die cuts. I could probably use 2 of cardstock, to give more of a chipboard thickness.

Also cut the flower with same cart using Martha Stewart pp. I just started making these roses. Got the idea from the rose that Tim Holtz made for the 12th tag in his 2009 12 Tags of Christmas. It took me a few tries to get this down. Yeah, I'm a little slow, AND, these are from the first batch!! So if I can make these....anybody can!! LOL. Now, I'm addicted!!!! I love these flowers and they really are sooooo easy to make!! Plus, you don't need a die-cutting machine; these can be hand cut from ANY 6 petal flower pattern. Here's a closeup.....

Once I had the flower made, I just layered the 'V' over the smooshed dictionary page, placed these on top of the large pic, and then layered the smaller framed pic over top. I added the flower, some Making Memories glittered flourishes, 2 large crystal brads from Recollections (Michaels brand), and a quote that I made on PC. The rubon (Peace on Earth) is from Anna Griffin.

The quote is "There is nothing so beautiful as the fresh snow, falling from the heavens". The quote and rubon pretty much sum up how I've always felt when it was snowing. Maybe not so much when it was over...you gotta shovel the driveway, dodge the crazy drivers, and then it usually gets colder!!!

Hope you enjoyed this one, and make sure you head over to Tim's place to get the instructions for making those gorgeous roses!!  PS, I'm sure that pretty much everyone who scraps, has already been there, but just in case........that you may be the one who hasn't......check it out!!!

PS, I've also updated the Blog Treasure list for this week (see featured RAK post). Check those out too!!! Who knows, your blog could be next!!

Love ya,

Lynne

Missing In Action?

Really, was I gone that long? Over a week you say? Huh!! Okay, you're right....I have been missing. But not for want. Have been sick...real sick. Ugh!!! It all started last week, I slept at least 22 hours on Tuesday going into Wednesday, that was really weird. I usually only do that on my first day off of my rotation (4 on, 4 off, 12 hour overnight shifts, + the drive time of about 1 hour each way), cause I really need it!!! But this was the day before I even started my rotation. Anyways, I did go in to work on Wednesday & Thursday nights. I just didn't feel right, but I thought well I'm going thru menopause...so that's probably it.

Wrong!!!! Got home on Friday morning, went to bed, woke up at 5pm. It was a real struggle to even get out of bed. I pretty much waited until the last minute to take my shower, and I had to sit down to do that!! Well, things went real bad from there on. Had to call out, I couldn't even stand up never mind drive. The next day was pretty much the same, and I called out again on Friday night. Ugh!!! I hate doing that!!! Yep, I'm one of those people that thinks they can just keep going no matter what....not this time! Anyways, long story short.....I finally got out of bed on Monday afternoon, I even missed Sunday dinner at Mom's --- now you know I was sick!! I finally ate on Tuesday morning, and I had to force myself to do that!!!

Definitely feeling better now. I wouldn't say that I'm at 100%, but better. And you know, I really couldn't tell you what happened, or what I had ..... all I know is that whatever I had, really kicked my butt!!! Just wanted you to know.....cause, I wonder when my favorite blogs aren't updated in the 'normal' time frame. Normal being once a week, some more often.

Last Monday (the 18th), I had started an LO, that I was planning on finishing and posting on Tuesday, needless to say that didn't happen!!! Well, I finally finished it!! And you know, all that was missing was the title and taking the pics!! Can you believe that?!! Crazy isn't it?! I couldn't even do that minute part!!! Oh well.......here's the pic...........

My DIL Carol at wedding reception. She really hates posed pics, but I love this one!!!! I have done at least 2 LOs of this one pic!!! And probably will do more!!!! LOL

Anyways, papers are Webster's Pages (background), BoBunny (frame & flowers). The lace I bought at Vero Scrapbook Store...no idea who makes it. Ribbons are SEI (pink) & Michaels (caramel). Large pink (they don't look pink, but they are!!!) flowers are from Teeters with a K&Co brad. Crochet flowers from SEI, & Velvet leaves from Prima.

Check out the closeup & I'll try and explain what I did!!

Okay, I used a plain (un-embellied) Glimmer Chip frame from the Regal Collection (My Tattered Angels) as a base over the pic. Then I layered a Glimmer Chip Tile frame over top...only I purposely put it upside down. The tiles are gorgeous, but I really didn't want that much of a light color showing thru. You can see the lighter color on the fleur-de-lys, it was just too much against her dress. Then I layered the 2 fleur-de-lys, in the upper corner. I also used Vintage Pink Glimmer Mist on the 2 Glimmer Chip birds, from the Nature Collection. Clear as mud?!!! Okay then!! Oops almost forgot about the key that sits a little below and just to the left of the awning. This is also from the Regal Collection, but aged with Tim Holtz Distress Inks. The title is by Creative Imaginations...not exactly the color I wanted, but it works. The brown paper flowers were cut with the Cricut, Plantain Schoolbook Cartridge with K&Co brads and Glimmer Misted with Pearl.

I've got a few more things to work on; I finally got a chipboard album to do the 'Mason at Seaworld' pics. Wow, that was almost a year ago!!! I've looked at several mini albums, but they all seemed too small. This one is about 8 x 8 and accordion style, made by Anna Griffin. Yeah it's pre-printed chipboard, but I'm going to use my own papers over top!! Plus I got it for $5.99, regular price $14.99, at Tuesday Morning!! Well worth the wait...LOL!!! Now I just have to figure out how I want to do this!!

And I'm thinking a Valentine RAK. I know, we're almost there...but, some people don't purchase their scrap stuff until they've printed their pics....sooooooo....this might work. I will sleep on it. I'm also thinking that if I do the RAK, I will go back to having my readers 'follow' me. I know, I had issues with this before, but that was Typepad. And if I could figure out how to add Google Friend Connect to a Typepad blog....well.....that would be sooooo much easier, cause every blog I visit uses it!! Well, first I decide, then I try to figure out. Anyone with ideas on how to do this, I'd be glad to hear them!!!

Thanks again to all of you for being faithful in your visits to my blog. I do appreciate the time you take to stop by, as well as your sweet comments!!! And don't forget...check out this week's Blog Treasures, and leave them some love too!!!

Love ya,

Lynne
 
 

How Sweet It Is

We just barely got over Christmas, and already everyone's into a full swing of Valentines Day!!! Don't get me wrong....I'm all for scrapping & decorating & crafting for the holidays, but.....I guess that working in retail is turning me into a real Scrooge! So.... bah humbug!! I know, wrong holiday!!! Okay...I'll let it go.

But you know, I'm just as bad!! I just finished a bunch of 'scrappy Valentines goodies' & ' Valentines pouch' to hold all of the goodies for a SWAP at Pages In Time!! And signed up to do another SWAP, this time a kit, which I made into a Valentine/Girlie-girl kit!!

So here's a look at the pouch......

This is the first time that I've worked on 'naked' cardboard!!! It would have been very easy had I not had to disrobe it!!!! LOL! It seems like that took the longest time!! Anyways, I used acrylic paints in white, red & silver. Then used some Tim Holtz Distress Crackle Paint (pink). Then Glimmer Misted the whole thing!! I swear it looked like someone up-chucked on it!! Seriously, it was bad! So I got out my acrylic paints again, and just did a whitewash on top of the whole thing to tone it down. That really improved the piece! LOL! I had already planned on using a doily, but trust me, it did wonders for the pouch!!

My plan was to use big eyelets on the edge and then run ribbon through it. Well, that was another fiasco! Who knew that eyelets (even bigger ones)aren't thick enough to punch through 2 sheets of cardboard! So I left the holes as is, and just laced the ribbon through it. It kind of adds to the grungy look!

If you decide to make one of these, make sure that you do all of your embellishing first!! You won't be able to add anything after you put it together. The cardboard has a mind of it's own, and doesn't bend enough to let you get your hands in there!! As a side note, I attached everything so that the embellies can be used on a layout or card, etc. Everything is just tacked down with thread and then taped on the back.

Here's a close-up of the flowers....

On top of the doily, I tacked down a sheer caramel ribbon, and overlaid it with a piece of beaded garland that I picked up in Michaels' Bridal Department. I had some pink, and I mean PINK!,  Prima paper flowers that I Glimmer Misted in Vintage Pink. They didn't feel beefy enough, so I got out my Cricut and cut some flowers using the Plantin Schoolbook cartridge. For the life of me, I can't remember what paper that is! I tacked those down with brads from my stash. Then I added some Prima velvet leaves, and I did use a bit of glue for those, but they can still be removed easily.

Here's another close-up.....

The "My Valentine" title was also cut with Cricut, but using Stone Script cartridge. For those of you who own a Cricut, do you find yourself going back to the same cartridges over and over again? I sure do! I love a lot their carts, but I do have about 6 of them, that I got back to all of the time. Anyways, I cut it out of the same paper (still can't remember who made it), and also from SEI cardstock. Then layered them together to give the title some bulk.

The butterfly was made a la Tim Holtz's (God bless his soul!) 12 Days of Christmas Tags. I used plain grungeboard, stamped with Versamark Watermark Ink and embossed in Ruby, and Glimmer Misted with Vintage Pink. I glued on a ribbon 'tail' and some Prima bling.

It was now time to start lacing. That was fun too!! Needless to say, I got out my binder clips to hold the whole thing together...remember, the cardboard has a mind of it's own!! I used Martha Stewart ribbon, I've had this ribbon in my stash for about a year now, and am just starting to use it, and I love it!! It has a vintage feel to it, and it almost looks like a fine twill. I was also planning on adding to the grunge look by interlacing with twine, but that wasn't working out too well...so I didn't!

I had the buttons, for the closure. I actually made holes in the cardboard so they would sit flat. Tied a ribbon through the bottom button, and embroidery floss through the top one, and tied it closed like a legal envelope. All in all, I am very pleased with it! I hope that Debbie, my valentine for the SWAP, will like it. If not, well, she can take it apart & use the embellies for something else!!! LOL.

So, that was my first time playing with cardboard, and I love the juxtaposition (barring the up-chuck look of course!) of the grunge with the lacey doily & the girlie pink flowers!! I will probably do this again!

Did you notice that I removed the Erika post finally!!! No, I didn't get an email from her. That's really too bad, because I wanted to send her the RAK. Oh well, not much I can do about that! So, Denise, is next in line for the RAK. Denise, please send me your address at mymadkow@live.com so I can send it to you!!!

Do you like the 'Scrap Juju' button? It was made by Angela Holt, another PIT member. You should see some of the stuff she does!! She also made Denise's blinkie (right sidebar). Check out her blog at http://www.scrapjournalofangelah.blogspot.com/ you'll find all kinds of goodies there, plus, she's having a RAK!!

On the blog note, I'm thinking about doing a more subdued background for mine. There's one that I really like at Itkupilli (*cute n cool * blog stuff). Why do I want to do this? Well, I find that the background with all of the pics, buttons and blinkies, is just a little too much. Anyways, I'm not sure, but don't be surprised if I do. But.....I will have to try it out on my 'test' blog first. I have learned the hard way to make any big changes, there first!!!

Well, I gotta go, I have a great idea for a LO. I just haven't had the time to do it yet, with work and getting my SWAP stuff done!

Love ya,

Lynne

Only 3 Shopping Days Left!

So glad that I am off until late Friday night!!! It's going to be a rough few days in my store! But that's retail for you! Once again...glad I am off!! Of course that means that once I go back, I will be doing lots of clean up work...oh well!!!

I've been doing a bit of blog (s)hopping in the last couple of hours, check out what I've found:

If you love the 'bombshell/goddess look of the 50's & 60's, you're gonna love Ink Cut & Fold by Mrs.ETaylor.

Between Naps On The Porch is chock full of inspiring ideas for decorating your home, and great tablescapes.

For those of you who visit Pages In Time, Elegant Scrapping on a Boot Strap Budget will be familiar to you. If you love lacing on your LO's, you need to check out Carol's blog!!

This is Pam Colosimo's blog Fairy Rocks & Things. You MUST check out this blog!! Her creations are out of this world gorgeous!! No wonder she's a "Bad Girl"!!

Then there is Gerrie Jhonnic's Queen of Grunge. Gorgeous tags & cards. 

I've added all of these to my favorites!! I will now have to update my blog list.

And now, for something completely different........

I have 2 new layouts for you, and neither of them are Christmas themed! The Christmas ones will come after Christmas!! Duh. Gotta have pics first!!! LOL. I do have older pics that I could use, but I haven't pulled them out of storage, so.........this is what you get................

First up is 'Mr. Bunny". You're gonna think this is crazy, but yes HE is a HE, though you wouldn't know that from the layout!!! Check it out:

Here's a closeup of the flowers:

 And the title:

I used Webster's Pages Vellum over SEI paper (Christmas Mint Collection). I actually attempted some stitching, via 3 little cross stitches in each corner!! So proud of myself!! LOL. Hey there has to be a first time for doing something new!! The title (which is a little crooked) and the pebble, are from Prima's Nursery Tales Collection.

The flowers are hand-made by moi. I punched circles and scallop circles (Marvy-Uchida) from Jenni Bowlin Studios paper. Then I scrunched the paper, opened it up & sprayed with Tattered Angels' Chocolate Covered Cherries (scallop) and Creme de Rouge. I scrunched them again, opened them up (carefully), sprayed again, and let air dry.

The next part was sooooo easy! I was looking for leaves, needless to say I didn't have any in cream or white. What to do? Well I do have some SEI velvet papers; so I punched small and large circles out of velvet paper, & I re-inserted my circles about 1/2 way into the punch (twice), and voila... 2 leaves!!! If you haven't purchased some of these papers, you definitely gotta do it!!! I've embossed, punched, misted, etc these papers. They are so easy to work with, and you're gonna love the colors!!! Check them out at ShopSEI (go to shop online and then specialty papers. Reasonable prices too!

Next, I added some great feathers from Michaels. I found these where they keep their dried flowers, it's a big bunch and they are glued together, but I just pulled them apart (you can't see that part). And put in some of my own pins...now those pins didn't photograph very well. I took about a dozen pics, and all of them turned out the same.....so....the red beads, are actually more like the color of the dark pink flowers on the WP vellum, and they are not as transparent as they look in pic.

I'm very happy as to how this LO turned out! And it is an homage to Mr. Bunny, who has gone to the great carrot patch in the sky. Funny story...my daughter Ashley and her friend Sonya, purchased him together, while they were stil at home. After Ashley moved out, she brought Bunny with her, but the dilema was that he just wasn't happy!! As it turns out, he missed Kevin (my son); so we took him back into our house, and lo and behold, Mr. Bunny was back to being his old self. He would follow Kevin everywhere, he'd go sit with him on the sofa and watch TV. When Kevin wasn't at home, all you had to do was ask Bunny where Kevin was, and he'd go hop up onto the exact spot on the sofa where Kevin always sits, and then he would search for him!! Crazy!

I know, long post! Here's the second LO.............

My son Dan, is an avid Airsoft blogger, player, online shopper, etc. He has always loved military uniforms (mainly camos), and playing 'war' & 'hide and seek' games, so I had to do a LO of him at an airsoft game!! 

I used papers from Webster's Pages and 7 Gypsies. The tickets are from SEI. The flower, alphas, & chipboard are from K&Co. I've used lots of rubons(my new faves) from Bobunny and MME. I purchased the tag at Staples (a big bunch for few $) and then cut off the top of it. I used Distress Inks and Tim Holtz stamps to embellish it. Here's some closeups....

Again, I am very happy with how it turned out. Of course, if I wasn't, I probably wouldn't show it to you!! Duh!!!!! Sometimes I really amaze myself with how I think and feel! Really crazy at times! I guess that explains more of my title!

I probably won't be blogging much in the next few days, except to announce the winner of the "Twas A Rak" contest. Hoping that prizes get here soon!!! I ordered them about 2 weeks ago!

I want to wish all of you a Very Merry Christmas!!! Hoping that you have a wonderful time with your family and friends. Have some spectacular food & wine. Get great gifts (scrap stuff is always good), and enjoy and savour every moment! And if you have the time....stop in to check out those blogs I mentioned!!!

Love ya,

Lynne

Thanksgiving, Turkeys & I, oh My!

Glad it's over!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love Thanksgiving. I love spending time with my family! I love food! It's the beginning of the season for me. This is when I start getting the house ready for Christmas! Usually, I put up my tree right before Thanksgiving. For some of you, that may seem a bit early, but I love it so much that I want all the decorations up early, so I can enjoy them that much longer!

Not this year!!! It's November 30th, and I haven't even started!!! Dan & I are talking about maybe tomorrow! Ugh! So why so late this year? Well, I work in retail!!! Let me explain......

Worked 8pm to 8am on Thanksgiving eve; went home & slept a few hours. Got up and got dressed. Went to my Mom's for dinner - I was only there about 2 hours. Stuffed myself!!! All the food was great. Spent a little bit of time with the family. My aunt Jackie and Uncle Andre were there - so good to see them again! Then drove the 45 minutes to work! Thanksgiving!

I started my shift at 8pm. Ugh!! Had to get the store ready for Black Friday. Ugh! Round about 2am, the place was packed! You could barely move down the aisles. Everybody was trying to sneak into the 5am stuff!! Ugh! Most people were pretty good about not touching, once you told them, of course! But, then there was the turkeys who thought they were special!!! You all know who you are!!!! "I was just looking", "I'm NOT taking anything", "Everybody else is doing it", "What difference does it make, I still can't buy it til 5am"!!!!! Ugh! Thank God for the Police Officers that were in the store!!! By 5am, we were about 30 people deep at every register! So I spent the next 3 hours trying to help out our cashiers. It was definitely not fun! Ugh! So I drove the 45 minutes home and attempted to sleep for about 5 hours, only to have to get up and go back in to clean it up! Turkeys!

If you were in any store on Black Friday, you know how bad the stores were trashed!!! Ugh! Nothing different at mine! Throw seven trucks full of freight on top of that mix, and you know what Friday night was like for me!!! And you know, people came in to the store looking for the 'sale' items that night, and they were expecting to be able to pay the 5am to 11am prices at 10pm. NOT!!!! Our store is still trying to recuperate from that fiasco! Yep, that pretty much sums up how I feel!!! Finally ended my shift rotation on Sunday morning. Had to shop, print some pics, and drove home. Slept about 4 hours, and got up to spend time with family. My parents decided to do Chinese food at my house! Ugh! I like Chinese food, but I would rather have slept! Although, once I was up, I was okay! And we did get to play some games......Apples to Apples, Pictionary, etc. We had a good time. Then I got to get more sleep. I!

Sooooooooooo, it's Monday. I've got a lot of things to do. Including mailing out my ornament for the 2009 Bloggers Ornament Exchange...yep, I'm running late! Definitely want to do that again!!! Making ornaments for the tree and special decorations for my house, are probably my favorite things to do! I've always been a 'crafts/dec' person. Scrapping is in the top three, but I'm more of a newbie to that. Here's a pic of the ornament I made......

I used SEI's Winter Song papers, Tim Holtz distress ink and grunge board, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist in Pearl, Martha Stewart Crystal Fine Glitter and Making Memories glittered flourishes. You know that I had to make a card to go with it!

This is probably one of the first cards that I've ever made - I think I attempted some last Easter...they were okay. Nothing special that's for sure! I'm hooked now!!! It's kind of like making a mini layout. I've already started making my Christmas cards, and I will definitely make more for other Holidays!!! In the background, are the pears I'm supposed to give you a tutorial on!!! Not gonna happen this week either! I promise, I will get that post up soon!!!! 

I had so much fun making the ornament and card(s) that I'm even thinking about starting my own ornament exchange for next year! Will definitely have to start planning soon!!!!

I realize this is a long post, and that most of it, is me complaining, and that I left out a lot of stuff (especially things that happened at my store - don't want the head honchos breathing down my neck!).....but, I'm glad that this past week is over!!!! I hope that your Thanksgiving was filled with family, friends, good food and lots of love - not the turkeys I spent time with! Oh My!

Love ya,

Lynne

PS Don't forget to leave a comment on the RAK post!!!! Santa's got a good thing going on!!!!

 

Layout Marathon or Bored & Can't Sleep!

Okay, so I have to go to work tonight...8pm to 8am. I haven't slept all day, though I've tried. Figured that I would do some stuff, so I took pics of a bunch of LO's, and some Home Dec stuff. Played around with cropping, etc. and decided I would do a mini marathon since I still have about an 1 hour before I have to start getting ready. Not gonna leave a bunch of comments, just pics. Check out my albums too, got lots of new pics in.

Graphic 45 & 7 Gypsies papers. Faux silk flowers & lots of bling!

Beautiful pic of Mason, taken by Kevin, the photographer. This is from about 8 months ago!

Mason at Grand-ma Pam's this past spring! Of course they recycle!!!!! LOL. MyMadkow Bingo card!

Another pic taken by Kevin. Look at those chubby cheeks!!!! Mason was 1 to 2 months old, so almost a year ago! Very simple LO, turned out very elegant!

Does he look pissed or what?! Too funny. He really wasn't....just in mid something (can't remember exactly if he was grunting, or sniffling) at the time. Love the Winnie the Pooh Felted stickers. I saved those for almost a year!!!

Love this Layout!!! Nothing else to say about it.

One more, and we'll do it again another day!!!

This is my son Dan. Dan loves to dye his hair. Dan's hair doesn't like hair dye. Dan's hair changes to wonky colors, that are inexplicably not on a color wheel!! Just kidding! But, everytime he dyes his hair, it turns out weird, and he has to dye it back to his original color. I have no photo of what this turned out like, but suffice it to say that it looked like a pumpkin threw up on his head! Poor Dan! Hope he doesn't see this, he'll definitely be upset with me. Not good! He's already grumpy cause he's quit smoking about a week ago!!! Oh well. Gotta go. See you soon!

Lynne