Hope to "see" you at the crop!!!
SEI Poppy
BoBunny Holiday Cheer
That's just a few of my favorite things right now! There's more but this post would be 10pgs long if I listed everything!!!
I know I've shown these books on my previous blog but someone asked me for more photos of these. These were the autograph books my kids took to Disneyworld last December. I used 7 Gypsies books because I wanted a spiral bound book that I would be able to open and fold over so that the characters could easily sign them. I made these books very simple. I knew that they would be handled A LOT; that they'd be in and out of bags constantly, handled by little fingers, sitting on tables with food during character meals, etc. So I made sure that they were cute yet simple. As you can probably see in some of the photos, there's pen marks (and probably food, too!) on the pages.
I didn't add a ton of ribbon on the wire so that it stayed easy to open. Inside the book I again left it very simple. On each page, I put a simple photo mat on one side and left the other side blank for the autograph. I purposely did not put any embellishments or make each page character specific because I knew that we would see tons of characters (which we did!) and I didn't want the books to be limited to specific ones. Also, the more stuff you put inside the book, the lumpier it is and it makes it more difficult for the characters to sign the book.
As you can see compared to the photo above, the ribbon used to be a little different. What I found was that the ribbon kept coming loose from opening and closing. Next time I won't put ribbon down the front, but just on the wire part.
In both books I left the last 5 pgs or so blank so that I could either let characters sign both sides (with no photo) or add a photo mat later.
I really enjoyed making these for my kids and they did, too. They thought they were pretty special to have the only autograph books at Disney like these ones! I also saved money and they were able to fit more autographs in these books. Don't get me wrong, the books at Disney are cute. But the book Olivia used last time only held 15 photos/autographs and I think cost around $13-$15. Her "mommy made" book held 25 photographs/autographs and the books only cost around $5-7 (plus papers). I think next time I'm going to use my Bind-It-All to make their books.
Other ones, usually the newest ones, sit in a basket in my living room. I like having them out. They make me smile!
Oh, and I got to use these beauties last night. I made homemade spaghetti sauce for the first time and it was really, really good!!! I think I need about 20 tomato plants next year (at least)!!! It was a little more time consuming to make this way but so worth it. I just wish I had more tomatoes to make more!!
Aren't they cute?!! I would have preferred to use the red striped ribbon but I didn't have any. I can't wait to get some of the new SU! designer series paper. I'm thinking...teacher gifts! Yep, in the Christmas mood. I can't help it!
I'm sending this to my step-mom along with this card for her birthday
I know the picture isn't super bright. I took it before the sun was fully out this morning. But you get the idea.
You'd think our puppy would be used to the lizards...and frogs...and all the other critters that crawl around our yard. But when I heard her attacking my blinds I knew there was something outside...and I'd better pull the blinds up before she destroyed them! We've already learned from the bite marks in the dining room blinds. All in all though, she's a good pup. And I can't believe she's almost 2!
On another subject, I decorated this notebook and card for a friend of mine. Hopefully she doesn't read this blog before she gets it :) The notebook came from Target. The papers are Bali Breeze ~ retired from the last Stampin' Up! catalog. Trying to use up some of my papers before I get more. The chipboard flowers were cut with my Sizzix.
And then there's this super duper cute material that I found at Hobby Lobby the other day. I got it on sale and paid less than $5 for all of it. In case you haven't sensed it yet, I love a good deal. I'm always paroosing the clearance racks, sale bins, etc. I very rarely pay full price for just about anything, especially scrapbook stuff and kids clothes. Just wait til you see how much I spent on my daughter's Halloween costume! But that's for a later post...
No offense Publix, but I really don't like running around, store to store, with your big green logo on my bag. I appreciate that you sell these great, eco-friendly bags for just a buck, but I want something a little bit cuter (especially when I take them to the mall!) I'm not sure what I'm going to do with them. I'm thinking just strips of material on the front, maybe squares, I don't know. Anything to make them cuter! So if they turn out cute, I'll share a photo. If not, well, use your imagination!
Some of you have seen me mention Parker before. I discovered Parker's website a few months back while blog browsing. Once I saw his cute little face I found myself checking his site a few times a week to see what he was up to and how he is doing. In case you have not visited his site, Parker is a little boy with special needs and mounting medical bills. While I don't know what it's like to have a child with needs like his, I do know first hand what it's like to have unexpected medical bills. Two years ago I did not expect to end up in the hospital for a week, nor did I expect to spend months recovering and the added stress of medical bills that seemed to end up in my mailbox every week. So ever since I have discovered Parker, I have felt the need to help him and his family. And what better way than through the scrapbooking community!
I know, you're probably thinking it's too early for Christmas cards. But hey, when you get a new stamp set you have to play with it, right?! And I am determined to get all my Christmas cards, shopping, school gifts, done before December. I'm usually pretty good about being ahead of things but I got a bit behind last year.
In this card I used 4 of the images, stamped them in black, chocolate chip and always artichoke. I added Liquid Applique to Santa's hat and beard, red stickles to Rudolph and the gingerbread man, and green and gold stickles to the Christmas tree. Then I popped them all up with pop dots. I think this one is my favorite.
And here's a really simple one cause frankly, sometimes you just want a simple card!
Are you sensing a favorite color scheme?! For some reason I was in the red/brown mood today. I'll have to mix it up and make some more cards with different colors tomorrow :)
I added some dimensional glaze to the drops on the paper to make them look like water droplets. I think this is one of my favorite layouts :) My daughter was only 3 1/2 yrs old in those pictures and she *loved* taking a bath in my tub. We'd put a bunch of bubble bath in it and turn on the jets. The bubbles would be overflowing!! Plus, it was a way for me to get ready and keep her occupied at the same time. Worked out well!
Oh, and check out what was waiting in my mailbox today. How cute is that scalloped edge!! And the big brown truck should be stopping by my house again today with some Stampin' Up! goodies! They came out with a cute new scallop border punch that I can't wait to try. And, of course, the new Sizzix dies ~ yes Sizzix. Can you believe it?! I love that SU! is getting more into scrapbooking.
I worked on some pages today but unfortunately I ran out of light to take pictures. So I'll have to share those tomorrow. But I will show you the frames my hubby made for my son's room. They're all finished...
These are the posters I mentioned that I bought when we went to Gatlinburg last month. You have no idea how hard it is to find bear posters! (I mean, ones that don't cost a fortune). I got these ones for $3 each. I bought poster frames on sale at Hobby Lobby for $10 (for both) so I could use the glass for the frames. The wood was leftovers we had in the garage and the stain cost less than $4. So my son has custom framed "art" for $20. Not bad! Especially considering the frames I really liked were $24 a piece (not including the posters or the glass). And they look so cute in his bear room!
Before I had a little boy I always thought it'd be more fun to have a girl. They have cute toys, cute clothes and cute rooms and all the "girly" stuff that goes along with it. But being the mom of a little boy for over 4 years now has taught me that boys are just as much fun! Good thing I have one of each!
I'll be doing a lot of that this week!! My Studio Calico kit comes today (yay!!) And my new Stampin' Up! goodies come on Wednesday. So I'm anxiously awaiting the sound of that big brown truck coming up my driveway. Til then I'll share with you a few other non-scrappy creative things.
Here's the new frames my hubby made for my son's room. We just redid his room with a bear theme (he has a big boy room now...sniff, sniff). I found this adorable quilt set on sale at Target and Ben & I just couldn't resist! I found some bear posters while we were in Gatlinburg and since my hubby had some scrap wood laying around he made the frames for me. And they look very woodsy, just like I wanted :) Thanks sweetie!!
And check out these cute bracelets my kids made for me yesterday. I swear, give them some beads and string and they'll be busy for hours!! (not too many things do that to my kids!!)
