Remembering Dad - Scrapbooking in Melbourne, Florida

We lost my dad five years ago last week.  It seems like it was yesterday, and it seems like a lifetime ago. 

I created this layout featuring my favorite photo of him from when he was a baby in the Navy.  How handsome, right?

This layout was for a design team contest (I was not selected), but I love the layout, and that's what counts.  I hope you enjoy it!

A Couple of Layouts - Scrapbooking in Melbourne, Florida

Hey, all!

Congrats to the winners of the Spellbinders(TM) "To Die For!!" Blog Frenzy!  Oh, you are going to looooove your new toys! 

Thanks again for all of your sweet comments. I wish everyone could have won!  Someone asked about the cupcakes in my post- yes, they were delish!  ha!  They were actually store-bought from Walmart, but heavenly nonetheless! 

I thought I would share a couple of my Spellbinders' layouts that are ready for public viewing - tee hee!  I created these months ago, but needed to wait until they were in the Spellbinders' blog gallery.  Click on the link to see the design team's monthly artwork.  Projects with even more new die templates will show up after CHA next week!

The first layout uses some awesome double-sided cardstock paper from My Mind's Eye.  You can click on the photos to enlarge them.  It's a photo of my son and my dad way back when Alan was around two - probably 1990.  Alan was reading a book and Gramps was reading the newspaper.  Sweet!  So I journaled on a little 'book' that I made with Spellbinders' die templates.  Why not?


This is the first layout I made with the Grand Nestabilities!  What do you think of my 80's perm?  tee hee.  Good GRIEF!!!  And look at Alan's white hair!  I was shocked - I'd always dreamed of having a little dark-haired, blue-eyed baby! But his dad has nearly white hair so I guess I did not have the dominate gene!

This time I made a little vellum pocket behind which I tucked a little journaling tag. 

Oh!!  Here's one more thing to drool over!  Head on over to Michelle's blog to get a sneak peek of just a taste of the bling she's designed to fit exactly on your Nestabilities!  She'll be debuting it next week at CHA.  It looks delectable for sure, and I hear the prices are going to be veeeery reasonable!!!

Talk to you soon,

Good Grief; where have I been? Scrapbooking in Melbourne, Florida

Good grief indeed!

You would not believe the internet issues I have had.  I've been trying to recruit physicians from home but my DSL service is a joke.  Then my e-mail started sending out random spam, so I changed all my passwords.  Including my Blogger one.....which I couldn't remember....tee hee!  My whole life has been a comedy of errors.

Anyway,  here are a few of my Spellbinders(TM) Christmas projects that have been posted on the Spellbinders' blog, so I can show them to you now!

First is a log cabin that I made using several different Spellbinders die templates.  The details are here on the blog.   There are additional photos and I believe a supply list as well.  It was a lot of fun to make!  The scalloped die template would make a great gingerbread house roof, wouldn't it?

I found these awesome papier maiche stars at Oriental Trading Company last year, so I decided to cover it and decorate it this year (finally - ha!)  I used the Nested Hearts die templates as well as Labels Fifteen peeking out from the back.  The paper is retired from Close To My Heart, but any vintage paper would do nicely.  Or take it in another direction by using bright and cheery colors.  By the way, you can find my rose tutorial here.

My third project features a viola made from Labels Fourteen.  And real wood paper - how cool is that!  I colored it with Copic Markers and used Doodle Parts to finish the viola handle and vents.  The 2010 Snowflake die template is covered with glitter.  What a mess I made!

Now, I usually give you all of the SKU numbers, but I am anxious to get this posted.  And I am a bit lazy tonight too.  Ha.  Suffice it to say that you can find all of them here.


I was in Gainesville last weekend to celebrate my son graduating (go GATORS)!  He earned two Bachelor's degrees - one in Physics and one in Astronomy.  He is so awesome!

Well, I'll be  back soon with a couple of more Christmas projects - can you  believe it is seriously almost here? 

Till then,

What's your routine? Plus a Grammy's Love - Scrapbooking in Melbourne, Florida

How do you handle a disruption in your routine?  I've always been a creature of habit - fairly comfortable with knowing what I would be doing each evening after work.....each weekend.  So having some free time off while I'm job-searching changed things up. 

Last week, for example, I had a surge of mojo and created some art nearly every day.  Then this weekend I had a dog-sitting job (my first) with a wonderful little guy named Corky.  I stayed at Corky's house and didn't take any craft supplies with me (can you believe it???).  Then Alan has been home from college for a couple of days, and we fell into our Alan-home-from-college-routine of sitting together with our computers, watching our taped shows that I save for these days and eating takeout.  Watching typical guy shows, but they really are pretty good - Deadliest Catch, Whale Wars, Swords and a new one - Scrappers.  So all of my chick shows have stacked up in a tidy row waiting for Alan to leave.

So now he's home at his other home in Gainesville, and I'll be back to the studio tomorrow - yippee!  And back to looking for a job, trying to find affordable health insurance...you get the idea.



Here's one of my Spellbinders(TM) layouts that you can find in the Spellbinders' blog gallery.  This is my mom (isn't she cute!) and my baby's first college graduation from BCC.  I used some lace that my mom gave me from her old scraps, as well as sheet music she gave me (for the fan and the flowers).  Click on the image to enlarge it.  These are my two most favorite people in the world!

So how do you handle a routine disruption?  Do you still manage to slip in a little craftiness, or do you dive completely into the disruption and start anew when things settle down?

My family - I was once a teenager! CTMH Scrapbooking in Melbourne, Florida

I nearly lifted this layout directly from a fellow CTMH consultant, Lisa Stenz.  She is amazing!  Hers was so beautiful that I couldn't see much sense in changing it.  Of course, it's MY family photo - tee hee!  I think that we all coordinate well with the paper except for my mom and Jeannie. 

I am the huge one on the left.  I have always been the biggest!  Sigh.  Some things will never change, I suppose. 

Until later,

Rock Star! CTMH Scrapbooking in Melbourne, Florida

How about this cute little rockin' girl?  I paper pieced her clothes using another pattern from "Rock Star", the same paper on the card base.  Did I show you the acrylic album I designed with this paper? 

Here's a layout of Alan on graduation day.  Doesn't he look happy?  My handsome young man.  Love him so much!  His next graduation will be this winter from University of Florida.  Who knows how many more he will go through before reaching his goals.  He studies so hard!

Here's one more card with the same paper.  Now, all of those little swirly circles on the top layer are actually stamps!  I love how easy it is to match and coordinate the inks with the papers....so nice!  And those little circles....don't they remind you of a Spirograph?

Okay, am I showing my age now, or are Spirographs still around?  Surely one of the greatest toys ever invented.  Good grief....we went through reams of paper playing with that thing.  Who would have known that just a few (ahem) years later (ha ha), I would be playing with acrylic stamps that mimicked those same spirally images?  Fun, fun, fun!

Did you enjoy your weekend?  Silly question......I wish my life away waiting for my weekends!

Peace out,

Cute Baby Layout CTMH Scrapbooking in Melbourne, Florida

Do you ever look at something in a catalog and think "Ehhh...maybe not so much.".   Well, that's what I thought when I first saw the Caboodle paper packet in the CTMH Idea Book.  Then I ordered it and saw it IRL - va va va VOOM!  Love it and use it...can't stop using it! 

I lifted this layout but it was worth coping, don't you think.  I wish I had a better photo, 'cause it looks better IRL also.....ha!  

The filigree charms are sponged with white pigment ink which is then rubbed off, leaving the charms with a subdued, vintage look. 

The little chipboard hearts come on a whole page, different sizes...some funky like these and some curvy, traditional Valentine hearts.  They're covered with some of the paper - easy peasy!

Of course, my favorite part of the layout is my baby!  Alan.  I am the luckiest mom in the world.  My 22-yo baby.  I loved that little outfit sooo much.....so soft and sweet.  He was the cutest baby I have ever seen!  So adorable.  Can't wait for this college semester to be over.  I miss him!

Beach Bunny! CTMH Scrapbooking in Melbourne, Florida

Here's a pretty picture of a pretty girl!  This is Emma, the daughter of my ex-husband's niece.  So I guess that makes her Alan's second cousin?  Who knows.....I just know that she is sweet and funny and absolutely beautiful.  Her parents are insanely incredible...what a lucky family!

I have to apologize for just being too darned sleepy to go back in there and take a better photo.  Aren't these Topstitch papers the best?  They flip to blue and brown, so they're great for boys too.  I also used these papers on the two cards here.

Are you watching the Olympics?  My boyfriend Apolo Anton Ohno is soooo cute, isn't he.  He wishes I was there....but alas, I must stay here and bring home the proverbial bacon.  I know that he understands.

Sigh.

Deb

Rockin Open House and Squirrel-y Felt CTMH Scrapbooking in Melbourne, Florida

What a great day today turned out to be! It was my Fall/Winter Open House and crop, and it really rocked! Harmony, Karrie and I had 35 people attend - wooHOO!!! I'll post more about it tomorrow, along with photos. Stephanie was the grand prize winner - she won EVERY single Stamp of the Month for 2009!!! Awesome! Can't wait for you to see how happy she was ;-)

Here's a layout that I need help with! I've been going manic-crazy over these Heart-Felt Diecuts. I love the tree, flowers, buttons and squirrel, but not crazy about my photo and white cardstock section.

Should I remove the lower left portion of the photo that is outside of the scalloped circle? Should I change the color of the white cardstock? Should I put a frame or flowers around the photo, or a mat behind it? Please give me your ideas - I know it's not right but I'm too lazy to try to figure it out - tee hee!!!

My beloved Dodgers beat the nasty Giants (BOOO!!!) last night 10-1! And they are on tv again tonight at 9! You've gotta love MLB network!!! Happy happy me.

Can't wait to hear your thoughts on this poor little page....

Sweet dreams,

Deb

CTMH Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! CTMH Scrapbooking in Melbourne, Florida

Welcome to Close to My Heart's monthly Stamp of the Month (SOTM) Blog Hop! Woohoo!!! This time there are over 60 gals participating with dozens and dozens of great ideas to use September's Stamp of the Month, "Treasures".


I really love these silhouette stamps. You can dress them up with embossing, use them with first- or second-generation stamping to create your own B&T (background and texture paper)....the possibilites are endless!

This time I decided to pull out the old heat gun and emboss the largest image from the set with White Embossing Powder. In fact, I used a lot of different techniques and products to make this page of my baby! HA! If you are a reader of my blog, you are aware that my baby is now 21 years old. tee hee. Well, I have just started scrapbooking, so I have a lot to catch up on!


This layout is my own design using HeartFelt(R) Whimsy Die-Cuts (LOVE them)! The Buttercup frames as well as the cute little bug (Dragonfly? Butterfly? Plain ol fly?) are from these Die-Cuts. It is hard for me to refrain from using them on everything!

Here's a closeup of the embossed flower (dandelion? Good grief, I am brain-dead tonight!). There are several different sizes in the set, as well as the precious sentiment that I have inset into one of the new Dimensional Elements brackets (inked with Pansy Purple).


Now, here's a closeup of my baby!!! I did some edge distressing on the photo mats, added some hemp (I've gone through so much lately!) and gave the bug a pair of Colonial White Waxy Flax antennae. Remember, you can click on any of the photos to get a larger view.

Now, who would have thought that a frilly, girly girl paper like Bella would work with a little boy photo? I really liked the whimsical feel as an accent to the fly-away feel of the stamped image. I think it works!

Have you looked at the brand new Winter 2009 Idea Book yet? It went active today, September 1! Check out your consultant's website to view it, or see it here. Want to own this Stamp of the Month yourself? Ask your consultant how, or e-mail me for details!

Now, hop on over to my friend Nancy's blog for some more ideas on using "Treasures"! See you tomorrow,

Deb

Moon Doggie LO - Alan, Grammy and Gramps CTMH Scrapbooking in Melbourne, Florida

Good grief.....I haven't posted since Sunday! Where does the time fly? I have been quite busy at work this week, which seems to translate into exhaustion in the evening - ha! Can you relate? I'm sure you can.

I love this picture of Alan and my parents. He was just a babe in arms, about a year old. We lived in Charleston (SC) and spent a lot of time on the road visiting my family here (home in Florida). We finally moved back to Florida when he was four years old, but in the meantime I was trying to make the marriage last. Well, I guess I didn't try hard enough. So here we are twenty years later.

Does this white-haired tot look like a future astrophysicist? Click on the photo to see it larger - he is so precious! I know that you also have certain photos that just make your heart sing. This is one of those photos for me. Of course he is only wearing a diaper. He would strip at the drop of a hat. If he reads this, he will killlllll me! But I remember one such event rather clearly. He was not more than 2 or 3 years old. My mom and my sister Jeannie had driven up to see 'the baby' for a few days. Alan was the first grandchild (of only two - I did my part!). So we decided to go shopping. Now I can't remember the name of the store...it was one of those Walmart impersonators - sort of like the Bealls we have now here in Florida.

Well. it must have been a particularly hot day. Or perhaps Alan had just had enough shopping with three grown women. Can you blame him? Well, whatever the reason.....we were walking down the aisle, looking at 'stuff', pushing a cart (to carry our purses, of course!).....when all of a sudden, Alan stops drops his shorts and promptly begins trying to pull them off over his little tennis shoes (a side note - do you call them sneakers, tennis shoes.....what else???). Before we could stop him....RIP! Off comes the diaper! This is why they made velcro disposble diapers, right? So that our babies can embarrass us in the middle of the store! Good grief!

Well, you have to laugh. And we had a good laugh, even at the time. I always said that he was good for hours of free entertainment. And he still is. He can be so silly sometimes. I just love that kid!

RECIPE:

Paper: Moon Doggie Paper Packet, Sorbet , Indian Corn Blue and Tulip CS (CTMH)

Other: Heartfelt Die-Cuts, Journaling Spots

Sweet dreams,

Deb

Artful Inkables Black, White, Red Layout Scrapbooking in Melbourne, Florida

Happy Sunday! Sunday is my official posting day for the Artful Inkables Design Team. And this is my first challenge post!

We will each be hosting a Think INK Tuesday challenge during our DT term. This layout is designed with Joy's Black, White and Red challenge in mind. Now, how can you go wrong with Black, White and Red???

I am so excited about this layout. It is a totally new style for me, and I am lovin' it! Wheras most of my scrapbook pages in the past have been structured and sort of 'square', I 'felt' (pun intended....I kill myself!!! HA!) inspired by CTMH's HeartFELT (HA!) die cuts to go with the flow and move into a new era of scrapbooking fun! I have to tell you, I was so tempted to line up all of the cardstock, make the sizes the same, etc. I suppose I could have gone a little more nut-so, but this is a first step!

I'm highligting Artful Inkable's cute, cute, CUTE new stampset, Fun & Friendly. Wait till you see it here! Every two weeks one of the Design Team members will host a challenge of their choice. Each INKgirl will present their take on the challenge (this is mine), but you get to play along! You'll have two full weeks to complete the challenge and add your link to the home post over on the Artful INKables Blog to have your entry counted!

Now. Here's a closeup of the stamped image. It reads "True friends leave footprints on your heart". Now, how precious is that! Think of all the uses - scrapbooking, cards, gift tags, labels for homemade goodies.......I thought it was perfect for this old, old photo of my sister's birthday party back in Wise, Virginia. I am the short, fat one (still am...tee hee), second from the right as you look at the photo. Teresa is four and-a-half years older than me. I have no clue who any of those girls are. Wouldn't it be cool if one of them was a crafter and followed my blog, saw her picture and jumped around and screamed? How cool would that be? I won't hold my breath - HA!

RECIPE:

Stamps: Fun & Friendly (Artful Inkables)

Paper: Silhouette My Reflections, Tulip, Black and White Daisy CS (CTMH)

Ink: Black (CTMH), White Souffle Pen (Sakura)

Other: Heartfelt(TM) Whimsy Die-Cuts, Just Blooms Big Blooms, Black Bigger Brads (CTMH), Threading Water Border Punch (Fiskars)

So head on over to the Artful INKables Blog for the scoop and a chance to win! You are not required to use AI stamps, but gosh....why wouldn't ya! You have until Monday, August 31, midnight Pacific Standard Time to link your creation. A winner will be chosen Tuesday, September 1, 2009 to win a GRAB BAG of AI STAMPS!

Good luck, and have fun!

Sweet dreams,

Deb

The photo is old and so is the layout! CTMH Scrapbooking in Melbourne, Florida

Friday night - my favorite time of the week!! WOOHOOOO!!!! We had the most horrific thunderstorm and lightning here tonight that I have ever seen in my entire life. No kidding - my entire life! The lightning flashes were constant - it was so scary!!! I am not one to be afraid of storms, but this was spooky. There were tornadoes north of here. And the television went out RIGHT in the middle of my DODGERS game! You know I don't get to see them often, but this weekend they are playing the Marlins. Since I live in Florida, I generally get the Marlins broadcasts so..........WOOOHOO!!!!

Don't you just love this photo of my baby? My baby is almost 22 yo - ha! He was the cutest baby I ever did see (I may be slightly prejudiced - but I digress). I made this layout last September but I don't believe I posted it anywhwere. I really love it! I used the packing foam that comes in our CTMH orders to pad the squares, then 'quilted' them. I used the "Gloria" stamp set to create some stained glass pieces with embossing powder, markers and Liquid Glass. Then added our Fabric Tags and a few rub-ons.

I really need to get back to doing some serious scrapbooking. I have been doing a lot of cards lately as I have the opportunity to place some in a local coffee shop. So much to do! My scrap room is a disaster area!!! I would post a photo if I could get in there to take one. HA!

Well, it's back to the Dodgers for me. Wish us luck!

Thanks for stopping by and sweet dreams,