You Can Judge This Book By It's Cover

I was up early this morning to take my Dad to an appointment and then we enjoyed breakfast together. What a sweet memory this will make :) He talked alot about his childhood and the foods his mother would prepare....I sat and listened and sort of felt that he was giving me a glimpse of the little boy he used to be. He talked about the Great Depression years, which began when he was one month old. Growing up in those times, he has always had a great appreciation for the simple things, the important things. I think I get that from him. Watching him eat and listening to his stories was somewhat bittersweet, afterall, Dad is 79 years old. I have been blessed by his steadfast presence all of my life.

Yesterday, I made this cute little Fall Memories Book. I bought the chipboard book because it was on sale for 30 cents!!! Who could pass that up? As I pondered what to put it, I realized that I have had a special Fall....being off work and having the time to cook and bake; scrapbook and craft; take long walks and pet newborn puppies; to sit by the fire and talk with my husband and to spend extra time with by son; to meditate on the Great God that I serve. What a blessed woman that I am. That's what this book is all about, just snippets of what this time has meant to me. I have a feeling that in the years to come, I will take it out and reminisce, and with a smile, revisit this special, special time....of falling leaves, carving pumpkins, cool evenings and a warm meal with those that I love the most.

This Week's Challenge

This is my interpretation of this week's card challenge on 2sketches4you@blogspot.com. I love their site always look forward to their cool sketches.

The icy blue and silver JOY card is one I decided to make when I happened upon these beautiful ornaments. I will be sure to enclose a note to remove and keep the ornament for future decoration after the recipient has enjoyed the card. I love to incorporate multiple uses for everything, if possible.

Today is sunny and very cool...my son commented that we have bypassed Fall and went straight to winter. With the snow flurries this week, I might agree :)

Cooool Monday!

We awoke to a coool fall morning here in Kentucky! There is a crispness to the air that hasn't been noticed before. This is my favorite time of year....the chill, the leaves falling, a fire burning, a cup of hot chocolate (with cool whip :), and a good book. Ah....what more could I ask for?

I worked on these cards over the weekend, but had no time to post. Saturday night was date night for hubby and I, Sunday busy with church activities. So I will get them posted today.

My son has a birthday coming up (his 21st!) He has always had a real aversion to "frogs" so I thought this would be a cute card for him. The card does not open, but the lid with the frog sitting on it does, where he will find something 'green' tucked inside. He will get a kick out of it, I'm sure.

While shopping with my sister on Friday, we found some cute wooden die cuts from Provocraft, hence, the ladybug card. I loved it and had a cute button to match in my supplies. Then I just threw together the holly card on a whim. I have several small ornaments and did appreciate the way that the santa added that 3-D effect to this one.

Well, errands to run will not wait much longer, so I will get back to creating later this evening.

May your day be blessed!

Pumpkin Carving

I have enjoyed a rainy October evening with my family. My husband, son, his girlfriend and I have carved pumpkins "on the dining room table." ( My first pumpkin carving EVER in 43 years!) It was great fun and hubby and son's girlfriend are the winners with her carving the pirate and hubby the howling wolves. Son and I were not quite as good with a knife as they were, although I did "paint" a cute face on the back of mine :) I find that the special memories we make are often the simple pleasures of being with those we love the most...then, whatever you're doing, becomes a snapshot lovingly kept throughout the years. This was one of those for me...thanks guys.

Laptop Demise

My 4 month old laptop crashed and died today! Woe is me....I have alternated between recovery discs and manufacturer phone calls all day with no success. So tonight (and for awhile) I am on the old desktop pc....I am so spoiled, when it seems inconvenient to sit at a desk.

I made these cards this afternoon. I still love this awesome shade of green (not your usual Christmas green). I happened upon some awesome ornaments this week, and while I wouldn't use them on my tree...I love them on my cards. (forgive me for the repeat candy tin....I blame it on the computer change...it was not my intent to post it again, it just sorta popped in there when I published :)

Bonus Challenge

I did this card for the bonus sketch on 2sketches4you@blogspot.com . I rarely use purple, but today I happened upon this beautiful embossed paper at a local discount store. (less than 10 cents per sheet.) I love it! I decided to make a small treat can as well and used the products I already had on my worktable. I ended up with a cute can and a matching card...I am all about multiple projects at one sitting, if possible.

Looks Like Christmas

I came upon these felt ornaments quite by accident yesterday and fell in love with them! I adore the unusual shade of green on them and immediately came home and raided my paper stash searching for a match. I found it in the christmas striped paper. (I love it when a plan comes together.) I also found the shade of green on a small tin, and Amber, expanding on your idea, I made mine a "tin of encouragement." I placed words or phrases on each tag and decorated them. It was great fun. I especially like my second card with the Merry Christmas tag tucked into the tree. The card is solid and does not open, so instead of stamping or stickering on the card, I added the tag and loved it. I have noticed such a change in my design styles over the last couple of weeks. It is a wonderful thing to be inspired! Thanks to those of you who are my inspiration.

Card Challenge

This is my card for the 2sketches4you@blogspot.com weekly challenge. I love their site and am constantly inspired by their sketches. (thanks Amber for introducing me to them :) I visited a local scrapbook store yesterday and found these cute papers....I love the spice colors ! I am feeling poorly today; must have caught my son's virus. My theory is "if I can hold my head up, I can scrap!" I have a Christmas design on my mind today....will try to get to it later.

Beautiful Monday

It is a beautiful Monday morning...the sun is shining, frost is on the ground, the air is crisp and the puppies are growing :) I woke up this morning with these two card designs on my mind, so immediately after breakfast, I went to the scraproom and viola! These were made with Miss Elizabeth pressed flower papers and random embellishments. I am thankful to have the time and space to create...the simple things....priceless!

Fantastic Fall

It is reaally Fall here in my neck of the woods. Today is very cool and overcast with a hint of moisture in the air. (I have built our first fire in the fireplace today and am baking brownies and making fruit pizza...my home feels and smells wonderful !) The squirrel has played in my yard for two days. Yesterday, he worked tirelessly harvesting walnuts from our tree (as pictured) and hiding them in all of his secret places. With all of our dogs, I can't believe he would risk it. We must have special walnuts indeed :) I have been creating treat cans again, my favorite is the blue which says "time for hot chocolate." I have a special holiday recipe to fill this one with. Those of you who know me probably have edible treats coming your way this holiday season.

I have been visiting 2sketches4you, on advice from Amber, and love their site. I actually created two cards to enter their Design Team Challenge. (My first attempt....my fingers are crossed.) Have a great day!

In the Box

Today I have worked on this cute gift box kit from Colorbok, called "Let It Snow." These were so simple to put together and I love the glittery embellishments. I have my workspace covered with things I have ideas for, but can't seem to find the time to get started this week. Maybe the weekend will slow things down a bit :)

Rainy Thursday

Okay girls, I finished my small tin. I decided to go with a Christmas Memories Photo Tin. I used pics that were not quite good enough for albums past and super cropped them to fit here. I made my pages accordian style and added tiny embellishments and stickers. I think that this would be a cute idea if you have small children; you could do one a year at christmas or birthday and have several keepsakes by the time they were grown. I can't wait to see yours :)

New Ideas

Sometimes you just have to laugh at yourself. I thought that I had rotated my cannister creations on my camera, but apparently not! You get the idea, though. These are pringle cans, turned gourmet popcorn containers. I am going to make my white chocolate/almond gourmet popcorn and fill these as small "I'm thinking of you gifts." I love the idea and the possibilities are endless. They are soooo easy to do, and make quite a statement, don't you think? For my scrapfamily challenge girls; I have already picked up a few tins prefilled with yummy treats for us to work on after we finish our small tin challenge. ( I would like to see those completed by Ber's next visit, because I have PRIZES for you both.....what fun this is. ) My mind is leaning toward the holidays and I have so many ideas to try. Happy Tuesday!

Beautiful Monday

What a beautiful Monday it is! The leaves are vibrant, the sun is shining, the temperatures are perfect and I am blessed. I threw together a two page layout this morning of Fall happenings around my house. Everything used was from the Harvest Page Kit from Imagine That with stickers from Miss Elizabeth's Fall Flower Collection. Yesterday, I made individual fruit pizzas for our church fellowship dinner. They were delicious as well as pretty and were quickly gone! (The highest compliment at a potluck...and empty pot :) The family pic was snapped in my favorite spot on the church grounds. I love the leaves and trees. (I also took several for a couple of other families; just can't pass up a good photo shoot.) I have also included a teaser of my "tin challenge"...my niece, sister and I are all doing this project to see what different ideas we can come up with. I issued the challenge, so I guess I will have to buy a prize for the winner ! :) What fun. I haven't decided whether mine will be a "gift card tin," a "christmas card tin," or a "photo tin." The options are endless. Have a blessed day.

Beautiful Day!

I haven't been very creative for a couple of days :) I did enjoy a nice visit with my family at Ber's yesterday. (Thanks Ber, had a great time!) Today has been busy with church activities, with more to follow this evening. I am posting a couple of sweet puppy pics. They will be 3 weeks old tomorrow, and all hoping for a good home (hint,hint :)