Loving cards Post #5

I still feel like crap today.  Had to get up and go to work anyway, since Lynn is on vacation.  He's fishing on the Salmon River for the whole week.  How would it be.  Not that I want to go fishing...just go anywhere.  Preferbly somewhere nice and warm!

Loving Cards Post #4

Next set of five cards. 
Yesterday Danelle and I drove to Idaho Falls to scrap with Robin and some friends.  Chris is trying to earn money to go to Washington D.C. with his history class this summer, so we started out with a breakfast at Applebee's, where the kids were acting as the waitresses.  They got to keep their tips.  Chris brought us pancakes and sausage and orange juice.  At 10:00 we left and went to Robin's house for the crop.  It was a fund raiser for "March of Dimes".  She is a Farmer's Insurance Agent, and they try to be involved with the commmunity and charitible organizations.  It was the first time I had seen Robin's new home and it was fabulous.  Loved the front door and everything inside.  It was a great time.  Danelle and I both pretty much just worked on cards. I didn't feel real terrific, so I didn't get much done.  Danelle made invitations for the Easter egg hunt and some Christmas cards.  They were both soooo cute.  We left about 3:30 and headed home.
Jeff & his dad went for a drive to Challis, but didn't get to see any elk like we did last weekend.  I think his dad was pretty disappointed.  We both had snow storms to drive through.  Ours wasn't too bad...first in Idaho Falls, and then from Fort Hall until we headed west through Pocatello.  Taylor made Robin call us to make sure we were okay.  I thought that was so sweet of him.

Loving cards Post #3

Enjoy. 

Loving cards Post #2

Using up more diecuts and older scrapping materials.  I also am using up some of those card fronts I made to use up scraps.  I just need to add verses in all of them.
Tomorrow morning Danelle and I are leaving early to go to Robin's.  Can't wait to see her and the kids.  It seems like forever since we've seen them.

Jeff's birthday

I just couldn't resist posting about Jeff's birthday.  He's been thrilled today.  He has the whole counter top filled with cards, and we had pizza for the family at Doc's tonight.  It was so much fun.  We had some pizza leftover- enough to send a box with the Jones' and the Gibbon's.  But what fun.  Vern & Reta and Mom came, and then Braquel and Keven, Gary & Danelle, and the kids...except for Mikayla who had a baseball game (missed you) and Sally and their kids.  Jason is gone for the week.  Darin called and Steph called, so Jeff was just so thrilled.  Thank you all for your support and the well wishes and the gifts that Jeff got.

Cards for the day...and longer Post #1

For the next while, I will post five or so cards a day.  I wanted to use up some more of the older scrapbook stuff I had on hand, so I started making cards with my winter things.  I could not believe how many I got.  I'm not even sure what I will do with all of them, but I'm using up the card fronts I had made, using up scraps of paper, using up older die-cuts and things I've had on hand for quite awhile.  I actually thought most of them turned out pretty cute.  So...I will post these and I challenge all of you to try using up some of your older scrapbooking things.  If nothing else, I'll put them in cellophane bags and donate them to different causes.

Ellie's birthday gift

The theme for Ellie's 2nd birthday, was "princess".  I couldn't decide what to do for the wrapping, but finally decided I could do a crown and use some paper that had "princess" in glitter on it.  I thought it turned out kind of cool.  I took a card that someone had made for the exchange that had a crown on it, and said "princess" and just free handed the crown.  Then I put jewels on it.  Used the paper and then tied some netting around it.  I thought it was cute.
When we got to Danelle's, Chelsey made me feel bad.  She said she thought her gift was the best wrapped one until I got there.  I didn't know whether to feel bad that I made her feel bad, or feel wonderful that she thought mine was cuter...um...I didn't mean to make her feel bad. 
The party was fun, and I loved it when Ellie blew out the candles and then stuck her face in the cake...I guess she thought she'd just finish it off.  The other part that made me feel good was when we got there, she wanted to sit by Grandpa and Grandma and drug a chair over to us.  She always acts so excited and happy to see us...it just melts your heart.

March exchange card #4

I had a few more techniques to try, but decided to do this one.  You are stitching the ring on to the top of the embossed flower.  Then I used a dimensional to raise the center that was also embossed.  Everything is embossed with clear embossing powder.  I love how the colors brighten up when you do that.  The hardest part was cutting everything out...my hands got really tired and my palms were hurting by the time I finished that up.

March exchange card #3

My third new technique was to dry emboss something, and then wet emboss it.  This was more difficult than I thought it would be.  If you went super light over the dry embossing with the VersaMark pad, the embossing powder would stick to everything.  I tried using the embossing buddy, thinking that would keep the powder from sticking to the background, but it still did.  So, I'm not sure I really liked this technique.  I embossed it the first time, and then went over it again and embossed it again, and I liked it a little better...at least the dry embossed parts stood out a little more.  But I still don't care for the way the powder stuck to the background.  If anyone knows how to keep it from doing that...please let me know.  I did like the design of the card...and the cupcake.

March exchange card #2

Here's my second technique that I had never tried before.  Making your own buttons.  I found this on Split Coast Stampers and was sort of interested and really only did it because I needed to use a technique I'd never tried before.  I didn't really think I'd like it though.
You start by punching several layers of scrap papers.  I used a 1" punch.  Then you glue 5-6 together and let dry.  I left a color on top that I actually wanted to use.  Then you sand the edges, you can stamp on the top or use patterned paper to match your card or layout.  Then punch your holes...I used my cropadile.  Then cover with crystal effects or whatever brand you use.  Let dry, tie with floss...wow...I was actually impressed with them.  I think I'll be doing more of this technique. 

March exchange card #1

The theme for March was to do some new technique that you have never tried before.  That's hard for me, because I always try something when I see it.  But I went on the internet and found a few things I'd never tried before, which was fun.  I always like trying something new.
This technique was to paint with stickles.  So, you start with the lightest color, and then pull it out with a paint brush.  Then you put a darker shade in the center.  It didn't turn out too bad.
I'll post another card, #2, tomorrow.

Challenge for retreat

This was another layout I did for a challenge for our retreat.  The theme was "tradition", and I scrapped our family reunion.  I explained that we hold it the same weekend every year so everyone knows when to schedule their vacations.  We never do the same thing, but holding the reunion is a tradition that I love.  We take turns planning it by family, and it's always a great time.

My curly hair

This was a challenge for our retreat.  Scrapbook something from your childhood.  I believe this is my 2nd grade school picture.  The story I told, was how mom thought something was terribly wrong with me, because she would wet my hair and comb it, and within a very short time, it would just be flying all over the place.  She finally figured out I had naturally curly hair.  Most of the time I felt like it was a curse.  I hated it growing up, because the style was long and straight while I was in high school.  Girls wore soup cans to bed to straighten their hair or ironed it.  I couldn't do anything to get mine straight.  Now, after all these years, I still have curly hair, but not nearly as curly as it was back then.  And...now...I almost wish I had it all back!  Never satisfied....

#12

I think this is the last layout I've finished from the kits I had ready for the last retreat.  A few huh?  Anyway, these are some photos I took for my Photoshop class.  It was fun to use the old cabin at Danelle & Gary's place for a backdrop for so many photos.  It's perfect.  What cute kids huh?

Just another layout for today

Opps.  Looks like my ric rac was already coming undone when I took the photo.  Sometimes, glue dots don't work as well as I would like.  It really seems like they used to stick better.  And I know they aren't old...I just bought them.  Oh well.  This layout was on Mother's Day, 2010.  I had just gotten my new camera the day before and was anxious to take lots of photos.  As you can see, Robin was using it a little too.
Ellie loved the blocks in my bookcase, and would play with them.  Hitting them together.  Danelle kept telling her no, and she would just smile and keep doing it.  Sometimes, she would bang them together and then look up at Danelle to see if she was going to scold her.  The second page, was Danelle throwing her up in the air...and then Ellie spit up...right into her mouth.  So lucky to have the camera!

Layout #10

Here's a layout of Robin and the boys.  A couple of the photos were taken at my house, and Robin provided me with the rest.  I'm always so grateful that she shares photos with me since I don't get to see them all the often.  She has been coming down a few times a year though, and that's just wonderful!

A new toy!

When I was in Boise a couple of weeks ago, I went to the Paper Cottage.  It used to be my favorite scrapbook store in Boise.  However, after I'd already been to Archiver's and found some new papers and things, I found the Paper Cottage seriously lacking.  They hardly had any paper and ribbons left, and had moved everything into about half of their original space.  I was really disappointed.  I don't know if they're going out of business, or if they are just cutting back, but I couldn't believe it. 
They did have some folded flowers like the one above, and they told me they used a Martha Stewart scoring board.  They didn't have one, so I ran over the Craft Warehouse, and they did.  I tried making one, (the above is my first) and it's a little harder than it looks.  First off, the patterned paper tears quite easily when you try to score it.  Also, they told me they scored in every other dip, which is what I did.  It seems a little close by the time you fold it all up, but it does work.  I used one of the paper buttons I made for the center...I should have tied some ribbon or string through it.  I was just trying to glue it on there to hold it, and didn't really think of what it was going to look like.  I figure I'll just glue another center over that to cover up the holes...no big deal.

Just another layout

Last year we held the annual Easter egg hunt at our home.  It was cold and the weather was pretty crappy since it was early, but we still had fun.  You can see the kids were all pretty cold.  The adults went out and hid the eggs, (and believe me...we have a ton of them) and then the kids went out to hunt them and collect the goodies lying around in the flower beds and on the lawn.  If you can believe it, they missed a few.  I found some clear into July when I was trimming some bushes, tucked way down inside of them.  It was pretty funny.

#8 Layout

This was a 4-wheeling trip last spring, when there was still plenty of snow...I forgot I had 4-wheel drive and didn't shift into and got stuck...and lots of water in the creeks.  I got off and took photos, and then everyone had to go back across and try to come through faster so they could splash water all over me.  It was a super fun day.  I'm usually the only lady only, but this day Steve (Jeff's brother) did bring his daughter and son-in-law with him.