Friday, February 26, 2010

The Shortest Way To Heaven Is Through A Garden Gate

Hi everyone and happy Friday!  Here is my latest DT project for Frosted Designs. Their challenge this week is to use your own handwriting on your project.  I will admit that I never use my own handwriting on my layouts.  I don't like they way it looks. I was actually quite intimidated about this project.  I thought and thought about what I should do and came up with this garden layout.
I am so pleased with how it turned out!  All of the paper I used with the exception of the fence came from Websters Pages, Nature's Storybook.  I bought the paper a few months ago because I thought it was so pretty and planned on using it for one of my garden layouts.  All of the embellishments with the exception of the scalloped oval and pin, which are by Making Memories, I hand cut from the Webster Pages paper.  I hand cut the fence.  I used a lot of pop up dots and put my Tsukineko Chalk Ink to good use!  I also used my Cricut Storybook cartridge to cut out the frame for the photo. I also did a little stitching with my sewing machine.
 

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Your Smiles Warm My Heart

I just finished up this layout this evening.  I'm not pleased with the way it photographed.   It is way to dark inside, I really needed some natural lighting.  I based this layout on the current challenge over at Stuck On U Sketches. Their current sketch was designed exclusively for SOUS by the very talented Liz Qualman.  This layout features both of my kids from a long time ago.  To this day, I still smile when I look at these adorable pictures of them.  Jeffrey, with his quirky, funny "ham it up" smile, and Sara with her sweet innocent smile.


All of the paper is from the K and Company Ka Zoo paper pad.  I used the Martha Stewart Loop border bunch around the large circle, and added some tiny pink rick rack.  I added some red stickles to the hearts in the centers of the flowers and some purple stickles to the large purple heart, all of which were cut from the paper pack.    I used the following Cricut cartridges, George for the large circle and the picture frames and Doodletype  for the title.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Sunshine Award

When I woke up this monring the first thing I did was let my dog out.  Looking past all of the snow on the ground, I was happy to see the sun shining.  I heard birds singing and for a brief moment I closed my eyes and envisioned that it was Spring!  What a lovely start to the day.
After I had my morning coffee I checked out my blog and was left a loving heart warming message from Nanne, along with this beautiful sunshine award.  She is one of the co creators of Stuck on U Sketches.  She also has a beautiful blog, filled with all of her inspiring creations, rightfuly called Nanne's Creations.  I was so deeply touched with her passing this award on to me.  Her kinds words mean so much to me.
I was also blessed a second time to have this special award passed on to me by Barb, aka Crafty Girl.  Thanks ladies!

Now it is time for me to pass on the love to some inspiring people.

1.  Sandy
2.  Sandi
3.  Denise 
4.  Dawn
5.  Tammy
6.  Andrea

Now, the rules of the award are:
*  Put the logo on your blog or within your post
*  Pass the award onto 6 bloggers who are followers of your blog
*  Link the nominees within your post
*  Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog
*  Share the love and link to the person from whom you received the award

Friday, February 19, 2010

You Are My Sunshine

Well, believe it or not we have had some sunshine here in Maryland the past few days.  It actually reached the 40's today, even though it was quite windy.  The snow is ever so slowly melting!

Here is my DT project for this week's challenge over at Frosted Designs.  Their challenge is to use polka dots and plaid on your project.  I just recently bought the new Song Bird paper pack from Die Cuts With A View.  I absolutely love it.  The layout is of my kids back in 2000.  When I looked through the paper pack I knew that I wanted to do a sunshine layout.
All of the paper on the layout came from the Song Bird paper pack.  The ribbon is SEI and LiL davis.
Photo corner by EK Success.  I found the sheet music to the song You Are My Sunshine on the internet.
I cut the sun out from my Cricut Doodletype cartridge, and the title from Quickutz Studio mini alphabet.

Sunday, February 14, 2010

All Grown Up

Happy Valentines Day to all!!  I enjoyed having some time today to work on this layout.  The sun has been out and we are going through a slow melt with the snow.  Unfortunately there is more snow in the forecast, Monday into Tuesday.  Makes me a little worried, since the weather people are not giving out enough information.  I think everyone is worried that a little snow, will turn out to be a lot of snow.

Here is a layout of my daughter. This was taken several years ago when she was in middle school.  It was her first dance.  I was so excited to see her dressed up!  I'm  sure you can tell in the pictures she wasn't as excited.  She was then and still is now, a "jeans" person.  I based this layout on the current sketch over at Stuck On You Sketches.

I love the paper on this layout.  It is Bo Bunny Love Bandit.  So cute and sweet.  I used the Martha Stewart traditional eyelet lace punch around the corner set, and  lots and lots of Tsukineko chalk ink. The title is cut using Quickutz Marisa alphabet.
The cute little picket fence and butterflies at bought from an etsy shop over at http://angelicascrappenings.blogspot.com/.  Check out her store she has a lot of cute embellishments for sale.
I used the Cricut cartridge A Child's Year to cut out the little girl.  I added some ribbon around her waist and some lace behind the cut outs.
The little roses around the fence are new by Prima!  Love then, so sweet and dainty! The little sign, Sweet Little One is by My Mind's Eye.

Friday, February 12, 2010

Everybody Loves A Clown

Hi everyone!  It is so nice to see a blue sky and some sunshine.  I live in Maryland, and this past week we were hit with two major snow storms, which dumped 50+ inches in my area.  Thankfully, I had finished my project before the snow hit.  Believe me, all I have done for the past week is shovel snow.  Here is my DT project for Frosted Designs. Their challenge this week is to use stars on your project.  I found this picture of my friend, dressed up as a clown for Halloween a few years ago.  I then remembered I had pictures of my kids from mothers day back in 2000, when they painted their faces up to look like clowns and put on a little show for me. I definitely wanted to use a circus theme on this layout.My pictures didn't photograph very well, seeing as we have had so much bad weather and very little sunshine lately.
The paper is from the K and Company paper stack, Wild Saffron.  For the top of the layout I cut out strips of red and white paper, inked them with some chestnut roan ink, and then used some large scalloped scissors I found at the dollar store.  I used several Cricut cartridges, Storybook, George and A Child's Year.  The frames are by Mind's Eye, and the balloons were cut using a Quickutz die.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Snow Update

Well we made it through our second massive snow storm here in Maryland.  The past weekend brought us 30+ inches.  We finally dug out of that one and was hit by another one Tuesday through Wednesday.  This storm brought us another 20+ inches.  That is a total of over 50 inches snow in less then a week.  Yesterday's storm also brought strong winds and a lot of drifting.  We are getting ready to head outside and start the process again of digging out.  I have a kind person who plowed us out last Sunday and is on his way over now to plow us out again.  As soon as I can, I will post some pictures.  Just want to let you know that we are all okay.  I am so tired of the snow!

Saturday, February 6, 2010

I Am So Ready For Spring!!!

Boy were we hit hard, and I mean HARD with snow.  It started snowing yesterday around 10:30 in the morning.  A light, pretty snow.  By evening it was coming down hard, and it continued all through the night.  Woke up this morning, looked outside and OMG!!!  And it is still snowing as of 3:30 pm.
This is not the greatest picture as I took it from the inside.  It is hard to tell how much we got in total snowfall.  The local news channel reports that the area where I live got 30 inches.  It was and still is very windy outside and there are drifts every where.  Here is a picture of where our cars are parked.
For all of you snow lovers here are some more pictures:
At the end of our driveway, between the drifting and what goodies the snow plows left us, there is about 5 feet of snow. The picture above is my son.  My poor dog will be confined to a long leash forever.  The snow is so high around the fence, that I'm afraid she might get courageous enough and jump over.
Now I'm sure that the most  you you have seen my garden album.  Well here is my garden.  Oh how I wish it were Spring, and I could stand out there and see the signs of life on all my plants.  Instead I look from my window and hang my head in frustration over all the snow.  I am waiting for my neighbor across the street to come plow us out with his tractor.  That won't be until tomorrow. Even after that, we still have to get our cars out.  

Ok, I've done my complaining.  Do I feel any better?  I guess a little.  Send me some warm wishes, as I need them!

-Debbie

Friday, February 5, 2010

And They Call It Puppy Love

Hi everyone!  This is my DT project for the new challenge over at Frosted Designs.  This week's challenge is a valentine project using no pink or red.  Had to think awhile on this one.  No pink or red?  What to do?  I came across these pictures of my dog Zoey with my son and daughter.  The next thing I knew a title popped into my head.  The next step was to find some paper.  That took some time.  All of it was "old" stuff.  Feels good every time I use up some of the old stash.  Then everything fell into place.  I love the layout!
The paper I used is by Scribble Scrabble and SEI.  The frame by Karen Foster.  The cute little calendar came from Die Cuts With A View Farmers Market pack.  I used lots of stickles on this one, orange, yellow and cinnamon.  I cut the title from my Cricut Lyrical Letters cartridge.  Cut each letter three times, then layered them to give it a chipboard effect.   I  then covered them with cinnamon stickles.  The cute little butterflies I cut from the Paisley cartridge and the flowers from Walk in My Garden. I also used the Martha Stewart Loop border punch and Fiskars scallop border punch.  The adorable puppy and most of the little hearts are K and Company Ka-zoo. The  x's and o's are a Martha Stewart punch.  I used my sewing machine again.  Lovin the stitching! Added lots and lots of pop up dots for added dimension, and inked a lot of edges.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Strawberry Shortcake

Good evening everyone!  Well we escaped the snow last night.  Only ended up with 4 inches.  Now I am waiting for the big one which is to start Friday and go through Saturday.  Have heard that we could end with 20+ inches.
Here is a layout I just finished of my daughter 5 years ago eating her favorite, Strawberry Shortcake.  I used the current sketch challenge over at Stuck On U Sketches.  I also am putting this layout in the current die cut challenge over at Practical Scrappers.  I used my Cricut Machine to cut out the large circle  using the George cartridge and also Street Sign  to cut out the title.

All of the paper on this layout is from Die Cuts With A View Farmers Market pack.    I got adventurous again and used my sewing machine on this layout.  I am beginning to feel more comfortable using it on paper.
I found the cute little signs on the internet. 

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Snow, Snow, Snow!

Surprise surprise, it's snowing again here in Maryland.  We already had 6" on Saturday, and here it is Tuesday night and it is snowing again.  The local weather station forecasted 3 to 6 inches.  It started around 5:00 and from the looks of it I would say we have already gotten 2 inches.  It is suppose to snow through the night and end sometime around 7:00 in the morning.  Given what has fallen so far, I would think 3 to 6 inches would be  a blessing.  Then to top it off there is another storm that is to hit us Friday night into Saturday.  They are calling this one a "major" storm.  It has been a COLD, snowy winter.  I think a lot of us have the winter blues and I know I am so ready for Spring!