Busy, busy!

I can't believe were halfway through October already. I am not prepared yet for Halloween - mentally, that is. But I am very proud of myself - I actually finished reading a novel yesterday. It was on my "goal" list for the summer. (Sounds silly, I know!) And although it's technically not summer, I still finished it and loved it. How I've missed books! Since my daughter was born, I've been much too busy to spend that kind of time on myself. Now that she's four and doing some more on her own, I've had more time. Anyway - I read "Here On Earth" by Alice Hoffman. It's a bit dark, but the story is set in New England and really makes you feel the fall. I enjoyed it.
Here's what else I've been up to. This is a shape from the illustrious Deb over at Say It With Letters. It was so much fun to make and really only took me a short time. I love how "fall-y" it is. :)

And here's some of the many layouts I've been making - not all of them stellar - but since I just scrap for myself it really doesn't matter, now does it? :)



Also cut up some fabric tonight - don't ya love these colors for a little quilt? I do!

Bling, bling!

Look what I made this morning. Isn't it cute? It's going to be for my daughter's room since she's such a diva. We had fun adding all the bling! The back had a hang hole but I covered it with paper and now we can use both sides. I drilled holes in the top and just ran wire through it - it's so easy to paint and alter. And, I just got all that beautiful purple paper (My Mind's Eye - Bohemia) and I can't stop using it!
The shape came from my good friend, Deb, at Say It With Letters. You should check out her site - she has the coolest shapes, kits and finished products and even an etsy shop.

Blog Slacker

I have been such a blog slacker lately. But our summer has been so busy! My good-looking hubby is painting the house and in turn, I get to spend every waking hour with the kids (and non-waking hours too, I might add!). Not that I don't enjoy it - but both of us are pretty exhausted. The house is going to look great when it's all done, too - I can't wait!

Here's some layouts I've done recently. They're all 8x8's. I love having my new studio all to myself! I am so much more organized. I don't get more done, necessarily, (ha) but I do have fun doing it!

Crafting Goodness

So I got together again with my favorite friends this week for our monthly crafting night, and each of us had brought surprises! I think women enjoy giving each other gifts. I know I do! Look what my bestest friend Deb gave me from Say It With Letters .

It was a plain shape and I altered it. So cute and so girly! I love anything with a scalloped edge! I'm going to hang it in my daughter's room. She also gave me some other shapes seen below. My sister gave me some other fun things to create with! Thank you girls!

Then we all tried our hands at making fairy jars. It was a fun project but harder to complete than all of us thought. We were all so quiet and intent on our work. But I think they turned out cute - don't you? We're going to try again in the future to perfect this craft - we all enjoyed it so much!

Has anyone else created a fairy jar? If so, comment and leave me a link - I'd love to see what you've done!

Summertime

Just one picture for today. We've been so busy doing lots of summer time activities. We just got back from camping yesterday. First time for my kids - they both did very well, I think. But now we're happy to be back in our own beds and out of the pine needles!
We've also done lots of other things we've always said we'd do. And there's still more on the list! I am so grateful to my husband who has allowed me to stay home with the kids and spend our summers together. It's a sweet life!

8 X 8's

I bought myself a new 8X8 album recently and have since been creating layouts for it. Here's a few I did this week. I love doing small size layouts. So much quicker! (And can you tell that I am loving those American Crafts felt flowers? They're on every layout!)



And here's a picture of the final swap gift I received from Sonda at Self Addressed. Isn't it beautiful? It's a tea tray, but I think it functions just as well as a scrap tray too! I also told her I think it might be a good margarita server. Eh, Deb? Anyway - here's a pic of the front and check out the sides with the rhinestones! I love it!


Only five more days of school! Yipee!

Swaps and Scrapping Goodness

So - since I can't seem to blog on a daily basis, I have to save everything up each week, photograph it all, and then post it here. But it does make you realize how much you've achieved in one week!
And this week just seemed meant for papercrafting - even if the weather was so beautiful outside. I just had to make more time to cram it in. But I am getting awesome pictures outside now with all the flowers and trees in bloom.
Here's a peek of a layout I did about my Mom - we took these pics on Mother's Day. Of course I have the best Mom and had to do a page about her!

And my sweet sister who is also my neighbor!

Here's part of what I got in a Secret Pal swap I'm doing with one of my kit clubs. Aren't these wonderful? She personalized each one with my kids' names and even made photo mats for their pictures! So adorable!

And speaking of swaps, I participated in this "Bird Tag" swap organized by Speckled Egg. Isn't this the most beautiful thing? Especially if you're into birds - like I am. The picture really doesn't do it justice and my tag was so blah compared to all the others - but now that I know I can bend the rules a bit, I'll do better tags in the future! (I didn't know I could put so much 'junk' on them! Lovin' the junk!)

Here's a layout of my daughter I did this week too - I love this photo of her and her new dollar store umbrella!

And last but not least, I thought I'd show you this really cute wire tree thing I got for five bucks at a consignment store. I have been hanging all my little taggy things on it and it they really look cute. Makes me want to always create more stuff!

Hope you all have a wonderful Memorial Day!

Tag - I'm it!

I've been procrastinating this week about blogging because I've been soooo busy! My life has changed dramatically since the weather warmed up. No longer am I allowed to sit for any amount of time - I must now be chasing kids and cats through the mud, pulling red wagons, going to baseball games and pushing swings. But I'm not complaining! :)

I've been doing a lot of creating lately - not all of it good - but still creating.


And then I received some wonderful things in the mail - here's a picture of one of them that I got from Mel at Little Melfie's Studio .

Look how wonderfully she wrapped it and even included a little tag too!

Oooh - I just love pretty mail! I also have to tell you Mel that I bought this not only because I love your style but also because when I was little - my Mother would ask me to fetch something and I never could remember! So it was almost as if you made it specially for me! A perfect Mother's Day gift to myself and I love it - especially the colors!

I've been tagged by Mel and Kelli. So here's my 7 unusual facts about myself.

1. Not a big secret - but I am a neatnick. I pick lint up off carpets and polish my sink. I make the beds every day even though no one ever sees them.
2. I ended up marrying the man I loved in college even though then we went our separate ways and had lives with other people. Somehow we came back to each other and are together today. I think it was meant to be.
3. I can't function each day unless I create something. Even if it's bad, I still have to do it - even for five minutes.
4. I have a magazine problem. I subscribe, I buy them at the grocery store, I buy them at scrap stores. I am running out of room to store them!
5. I had the most relaxing - awesome time today with my sister and parents. I feel totally comfortable with them there like no where else on earth. Thanks, Mom and Dad.
6. I don't know what I would do without my best friend. She's been gone for a week and I miss her!
7. I am going to quit my job tomorrow and no one knows yet but my family. Wow! :)

Thanks everyone - now let's see who else I can tag??

Deb
Maryfrances
Lisa
Julia

New Cards

So I just got some great new stamps and have been having a ball using them all week! They're from Just Johanna and they are so cute! There's lots of birds (which I love) as well as sentiments, frames and more. I can't wait to go back and get more! Check them out!

Ooh - and I forgot - I've also been tagged by Kelli. I haven't forgotten! I'll try to post my responses this week!

Rainy Days and Mondays

So I'm finally switched over to the new Blogger. (I think!)

School is cancelled again today - first it was a two-hour delay - now it's officially cancelled and my son is thrilled! We've had a nasty storm again here in New England. And I just saw a fire truck go by - that's never good. Hmm... Ahhh - now I see why - they've blocked off our road again because the brook has flooded and the water is coming close to the street. It's already flooded into three yards. Two years ago we lost one of our bridges and they always fear we'll lose them again. Gotta love New England!

But here's some things I've been working on lately - some fun 6x6 layouts - I love them because they're so quick and easy. Plus I get to utilize my new fun scrap supplies!

Now off to assess the flooding.

Weekend Fun!

This weekend was another busy one - but fun! Friday night I had my much anticipated "Chica" night where I get together with my favorite people and craft. We made some awesome spring banners -- I'll try to post pictures of that soon. Then on Saturday, I had my other favorite group of people over - my family. We celebrated my Dad's birthday. He turned 70 this year. We had lots of great food and cake, and lots of laughs.
Here's a pic of what I got done creatively this weekend. Hope you have a great day!

My Kind of Week

So - look at all the fun stuff we've been up to this week. Yesterday C. and I went on a girlie shopping adventure. Had to scope out these new shops that Carole told me about before all of us make the trek out! Look at these pictures of the wonderful Black Swan in Peterborough! The Black Swan . The colors took my breath away! This whole section was just Vera Bradley bags - it was so pretty. The rest was flowers, birds, candles - pure girlie pleasures!
Then it was on to Temple to Kindred Spirits. Kindred Spirits . My kind of stuff - primitivie country! Just loved it - and they were having a 20% off sale! Can't beat that! I got two little signs there.


Then - the day before that, C.'s grandmother came over to have a tea party with the kids! She brought hats and gifts for everyone, and even a cake. We had pink-iced cookies, red zinger tea, and a general all-around good time!

Laying it out

So, I've been a bit of a scrapaholic lately. I just can't seem to stop! But I have all this awesome new paper coming in lately and it's really inspired me to do more. The first layout is done with the new Scenic Route paper from the "Laurel" line. I love the bright colors and all the birds! I have always loved birds and I love the fact that these don't look so cartoony. Is that a word? I've done about five 12x12 layouts this week and about three small ones too. Somebody stop me! No - don't! :)

Hurry Up Spring!

So I made this little sign to hang on my fridge or somewhere at eye-level where I'll see it daily to give me strength. It's really a crock! Spring has most definitely not sprung here in New England! It's bitter cold outside and there's lots of snow on the ground. But I thought maybe if I displayed this spring would get the idea...

And this is a book I'm working on for an upcoming swap. I'm having fun using my KISS Scrap convention goodies and my trusty old BG paper. I just love the bright colors.
Okay - time for bed. I had guests for dinner tonight and I'm tired out. Hope you all have a nice night.

Productive Late Nite Wednesday

Everyone is asleep here except me - and I got a lot of scrapping done! I realized that I hadn't yet touched last month's kit from Self-Addressed so I set to work using it up! Scrapping is a lot easier when someone else has already coordinated things for you!
I haven't taken many good photos lately - so I used some I already had, which was nice. But it made me realize that I need to go on a serious photo shoot soon so I have more fodder for my pages!