Two layouts, two totally different photos of the same boy.

Oh, how I miss my little boy that wore that precious, precious floppy eared hat. Those lips! Those pudgy fingers! I bought that for him before he was even born, and KNEW it would be one of those photos that show up at his high school graduation. I remember the day we had those photos taken at Target in Boise. Three years ago! Then the stoic faced one is from last summer, at a carnival at Grandma's house. I think we were about to have his face painted.

Whateva cards gift set using Unity Stamps

I had these chipboard stars, and decided today was the day they came out of the stash. So I started with those, then knew I wanted to use the little journaling block - I think it's from Laundry Line?? The 'whateva' stamp is the December kit of the month from Unity Stamp Co. I liked that these can be used for 'whateva' holiday you want. Ha. Ha.

Finally some good ol' fashioned scrapbook pages...featuring Unity Stamp Co. March kit

I have mentioned before how great I think the Unity Stamp Co.'s kit of the month is. Well, it just keeps getting even GREATER and the March kit was to die for! There was this cute little fall stamp in there, that I had to add to this layout above. And the journaling block...JUST what I was wanting. I tell ya, there is something in the monthly kit for everyone! And at $25...well, hello, bargain! today I finally bought the distressed dots background stamp. I have loved this one for a LONG time, but I had an old SU! one that I thought "hmm, this works just as well." But, on a trip out to good ol' Crafts Direct, I had to get it. Ah, finally.

Unity Stamp Company tree stamp

The challenge over at Splitcoast Stampers was to do a Unity Card with an oval on it. Since this is my current favorite stamp, of course I had to use it. I've been wanting to get rid of this yellow ribbon, so I made up as many cards as I could with the bit of it. And, I got to photograph it on my new floral frog. (idea courtesy of the famous Dawn McVey, who uses it all the time.)

Kristina's Color Challenge - Happy Birthday 2 U

When i saw Kristina's color challenge this week, I knew the combination looked familiar. I had a strand of ribbon that i'd been waiting to find the right card to use with it. And - wah-lah! I also needed a male birthday card today, so this one is playing double duty.

Contests & Challenges - the results

I enter a lot of contests. It keeps me motivated, and gives me a guideline with which to scrap. I never win, but that isn't the point. Well, it is, but it isn't. I like someone telling me: "do this sketch, use these products, do this subject." I like direction. I do well with structure. No structure = no do well. So here are a few projects that were made for some contests that can now be posted to my album.This was the first time I used the Hero Arts borders stamps. Love them. This layout was for a challenge where you had to use all stamps.

Love these October Afternoon papers - the pink with the red. So fun for winter. I need to print more things in black & white. It really does look great.

this one is a layout that I did about me, and how much I miss the adventure of being a flight attendant. It has a picture from when I visited the Great Wall of China in 2000 while on vacation in Beijing. ALONE in Beijing -- for 10 days -- what was I thinking?!?! I was young, single, so I WASN'T thinking. Those were the days.

This is a little gift box that I made using the Stampin' Up Top Note for the Big Shot. At the time, I HAD to have this die. Used it once. I think I may sell it. The words 'hey, Cupcake' are the new SU! rubons.

It's a Snowstormy Hip Hop!

Snowing, snowing, and still snowing. Up to 8 inches today, they say. So, it is a great day for Unity's Hip Hop Thursday. I made two cards for the challenges:is one was to use light blue. I had just received the'bottoms up' stamp in my $8 grab bag -- 50 stamps! And only 5 of them were duplicates of what I already had. That's pretty good. Here is a stamp from the February kit... and the subsequent card

Mark's Paper Company blog candy

Awhile back I found this new paper company, marks Paper Company.

they just announced a new design team, and one of their members is having a giveaway here: http://notleftstanding.blogspot.com/2009/02/who-wants-to-win-brand-new-collection.html Their papers look great online, so I'm sure they are 10,000 times better in person. I am hoping to find them soon!

You can also find them on Facebook. Man, what did we DO before Facebook? Like, email each person individually?!?! Yeah, that is SO 2007.

October Afternoon card holder

Awhile back my mom said "I'd like something to put cards in. Do they make something like that?" And my brain went "hello! It's the altered box." So, I decided to make her one for Valentine's Day. I used the adorable October Afternoon paper.

(this is a view of the top.)

(this is a view of the front).

You know what this box is from? It is a Bunco kit that I was given awhile back. The only thing the box held was dice - like dice need this big of a box! So it's perfect for my card holder!

A little Jenny Bowlin card

I bought a couple packs of these little 6x6 Jenny Bowlin papers awhile ago, and I've never used them. I decided to use them for a card that I made for a contest. I didn't win, but I love this little color combination, and will for sure have to use these papers more. This was also the first time I've ever tied a bow on cards. Now tht I know how easy it is, I'll have to do it more. I think I'll make a set of these for gifts.

Butterflies and t-shirts: Kristina's Challenge, finally!

I haven't gotten back into my scraproom since we've been back from our 10 day trip to Wisconsin. Can I tell you how much I missed my scraproom -- my hands itched. One day, I took Zack and we went to Michael's just to feel normal. And then we went to Joann's, because that is what we always do when we're at home. Go to one, then the other. And, I found 40 packets of beaded fringe on sale - hurray for a sale - which will make lots of new frames. I am almost to my goal of 400. If you are in Minneapolis, I am going to be at the Canterbury Show. I have so many new fun fabrics - yes, they still are not on Etsy, but go there, add me as a favorite, and check back soon to see the fabulous Paper Miniskirt Fabric Picture Frames. On to the cards...I did this one for Kristina's Color Challenge. While I had the extra colors/paper, I decided to do a few more:

This is from the Unity Stamp Co December Kit Of The Month. I just got the February kit in the mail today. Can't wait to use that deer! (see photo below). I still can't believe it's only $25 a month for a stamp club. Wow. They are fantastic. And every month they send you a coupon for a future, separate order. They MAKE you buy more...dang it. Their style is so shabby chic, it is forcing me to come out of my square, nice and neat comfort zone and do some things more shabbily. Still working on that. This next one was inspired by one off the Hero Arts website, using Kristina's colors:

Then I dug out my Gina K stamps which I haven't used in forever - I'm still not ready to put away pink and Valentine's stuff...guess that comes with having a boy and never getting to use it...so I used the Basic Grey to make this card for my neighbor who is pregnant. She doesn't know what she's having, but I decided to make it a girlie card anyways. Don't forget to add Paper Miniskirt's page to your Facebook favorites!

Black and white and pink and red - October Afternoon

I love this line from October Afternoon. I never would have put these papers together - and I certainly can't take the credit for choosing them to go together. They are the back sides of the paper. Amazing! I love the pink with the red.

These pictures were taken awhile ago - back when it was warmer out - as in, above zero. It was the last time we got out to play. Zack and I took a sled to the park and within seconds of getting out of the car he was grabbing snow to throw at me and flopping down on the ground to make snow angels.

Do you ever have one of those products where you just KNOW you are getting your money's worth?

But since I NEVER pay full price, aren't I always getting my money's worth? I purchased this Martha Stewart butterly stamp awhile ago, thinking "but I have a boy...how can I use butterflies?" Ah, but I do! I have used this little ol' punch so MUCH. I love it! Am I butterfly overdosing?

Everything except the chipboard heart 'home' and vine, which are both Amy Butler, is from a kit from Scarlet Lime. The rest is SEI. Love this line. The kit is from September or October, and I've been hoarding it. Of course. Another product that I feel crazy good about is the rub ons in this layout. I bought a pack of them at the Hot Spot at Archiver's. I though it was two sheets, and the amount of vowels seemed adequate for the $1.99. When I opened them up, to my surprise, they contain FOUR sheets - a full upper and lowercase set - with extra vowels and extra r/s/t/l/n's as well. Huge value! Now I really regret not buying two. They are Heidi Swapp.

This is a photo of our woods in the fall; the journaling talks about how I can't imagine living any where else, and how much I hope we don't have to sell our house.

My Supah Hero

If you have a boy, you get it. Boys just....do their boy thing. The noises. The crazy sounds. The make-believe. Turning every thing into a gun or an army guy. So, I had to do a layout on what Zack said the other day. This Spiderman costume has gotten me my moneys worth. (Purchased the day after Halloween 2007 at Target. Half-price, of course.) Last week he says "Mom....hey mom....get me my Spider man costume. I want to save the day. I'm a supah hero." How can I NOT scrapbook something so sweet?! And in the picture on the far right is him saying something he says ALL the time "loook at my muscles mom...look at my big muscles." (only he says it Muh-sohs.)

I had a little strip of the Amy Butler paper - the grey and white circles -left from another layout . Doesn't it look great with the blue? I love it. The little row of stars is from some Jenny Bowlin stuff I've been hoarding.

2 Sketches 4 You card of the week - embellished fabric flowers

I follow this sketch website, 2 Sketches 4 You, and actually got the card completed within the time frame this week. I love these colors! The fabric is Amy Butler...i punched them with my flower die on the Big Shot, and sewed the button on. The vine on the right is Amy Butler chipboard. Butterflies are punched (still in the butterfly mode), pink paper is Stampin Up! and the green polka dot is the backside of October Afternoon's winter collection....forget the exact name, but I love it! And, if you like the fabric flowers, I have several sets for sale here, with many more that still need to be uploaded as soon as I get the energy to be on Etsy for a long stint at a time. It's way too fun to make them, but photographing them and entering the listings isn't as fun. If you could just come over to my house, I'd show them to you! Or, you can see me at the craft show in Minneapolis and Chicago in April. Find info on all that here.