History

One of the neat tips I picked up was to take pictures of your kids in front of the TV or holding the newspaper when historical events happen. I made sure to do this during the last election. The kids were excited about he whole process and C actually took the pictures at the polling place. The focal picture is of them watching the inauguration live. LOVE that shot :)

I used a retired kit from CTMH.

Thanks for looking,
Julia

With All My Heart

This is the most recent sketch from 2Sketches 4 U.Here is what I ended up with. When looking through my file of inspiration cards, I noticed lots and lots of cards with "paper quilts". That is definitely where I was headed when I started this card.



I once again used CTMH's Key To My Heart paper. I am please with the way this one came out. I think I will give it to one of the kid's teachers with a "Thank you with ALL my heart" message inside.

Thanks for looking,
Julia

Celebrate Good Times

As soon as I saw this card on Stamps, Paper, Scissors Blog, it reminded me of the CTMH Key To My Heart Paper. So, when I started this card, I knew where I wanted to start. Of course, mine never end up looking EXACTLY like my inspiration, but that is OK

I made this card for little girl's birthday.

Pattern Paper: CTMH Key To My Heart
Cardstock: Tulip, Colonial White
Stamp: CTMH B1332 Good Times

Thanks for looking,
Julia

52 "All About Me" layouts

I came across this list of LO ideas and want to make sure I don't lose it :)

1. What books or magazines are you reading now?
2. What is the last tv show/movie you watched & why?
3. If you could have a free plane ticket to anywhere in the world,
where would you go?
4. What's one important value in your life right now?
5. Who was your -----grade teacher/favorite teacher and what did
he/she teach you?
6. Name a character in a movie/TV show or book that you admire.
7. List 5 things about yourself that most people don't know.
8. What is your favorite color & what does it say about you?
9. How do people in your life show that they love you?
10. Have you ever wanted to change your name? If so to what & why?
11. What do you think about technology like cell phones & the
internet.
12. What's the last conversation you had & with who?
13. List 3 dreams for your future.
14. Describe your best & worst personality traits.
15. How did you meet your best friend/significant other.
16. What do you do for fun?
17. What's the best gift you've ever gotten/given?
18. How did you spend your last $10?
19. What's your dream car?
20. Have you ever had a dream come true? Was it everything you
dreamed it would be?
21. What is the last song you listened to & why?
22. How old were you when.......... (you got your driver's licence,
when you got married, had your first baby, moved out on your own, got
your first car......)
23. How has your personality changed in the past 10 years?
24. How many times have you moved in your life?
25. Do you like to cook?
26. Where do you shop?
27. Do you ever feel bored & wy?
28. What's your housework story? (....are you good at it, do you have
a maid, make your kids do it, hubby does it, nobody does it.....)
29. How many pets have you had? What do you remember about them?
30. What's the lst web-site you visited & why?
31. How often do you smile?
32. Who are the most influential people in your life right now?
33. If you could change anything about your life today, what would it
be?
34. How has your daily routine changed from the time you were -----
years old & now?
35. What is your favorite sport to play/watch? Why? Favorite
team/player?
36. Do you have a tattoo? What? Why did you get it/what does it mean?
Will you get more? If you don't have one now, would you ever get one?
37. What was on your last grocery list?
38. Describe the contents of your purse right now.
39. What's your favorite scrapbook supply/tool/brand/technique?
40. What is something you have always wanted to try & why? (on your
layouts or with another hobby)
41. Who is the last person you e-mailed/e-mailed you? (or IM'd)
42. Describe something unexpected that made you happy, worried, sad...
43. How did you start scrapbooking/get your job?
44. If you could be on one make-over show/reality show, which one
would it be & why?
45. Do you watch the news? Why or why not?
46. What newspaper headline effected you the most/do you remember the
most?
47. What's the coolest thing you've ever done?
48. What's something your parents taught you that you've never
forgotten?
49. If you could write your own fortune-cookie fortune, what would it
say?
50. What best song lyrics best describe your life & why?
51. What's in your fridge right now?
52. How are you?

Thanks for looking,
Julia

Pig Day!

One of the highlights of 3rd grade is reading Charlotte's Web and Pig day. Each child (with the help of a parent) makes a clay piggy bank. Mom and I had lots of fun helping C makes his little piggy. Isn't it cute!

Thanks for looking,
Julia

New Catalog Sneak Peek

I know I say it EVERY time a new catalog comes out, but CTMH did an AWESOME job with the new catalog that is set for May 1st release!

I am very excited to give you some sneak peeks of the new paper kits...shhhhh! Don't tell anyone ( wink wink)

This lovely artwork is from the new BACK COUNTRY kit:

This one may be my favorite: ANIMAL CRACKERS

MOON DOOGIE is perfect for those summer themed paper crafts:

TINKERIN' is very cute!
Look how sweet the BELLA kit is!

Thanks for looking, let me know if you want to be added to my customer newsletter or if you want a catalog :)

Julia

Tickled Pink

This is a preview of the special kit that Close To My Heart put together for National Scrapbook month. It is called "Tickled Pink". I comes with a D size stamp set GLITTER paper as well all sorts of other goodies. You can earn this kit valued at $34.95 for FREE when you order just $60 in stamps. That is one sweet deal! This offer is only good until May 31.

I can send you more details if you are interested , so let me know.

Thanks for looking,
Julia

Cupcake Class

The kids have been wanted to take a cake decorating class for a long time. We can blame Ace Of Cakes for this obsession. So today, they took a cupcake class at the local Michaels. It was an adults class, so I was there to supervise and assist, but they did most of the work by themselves. It was a 2 hour class and they are pleased with the results. They are already asking when the next class is.

Thanks for looking,
Julia

Today

Another FABULOUS swap page from Amanda E. I have had this one for a bit. I was so pleased when I found these pictures matched this LO so well.

Thanks for looking,
Julia

WHY?

Why cant we get the kids to sit still when we want to take pictures? Maybe it is because the "old folks" set such a poor example!

We were celebrating Thanksgiving and James was laying on the carpet. Not sure what came over me...but I pounced on him! Oh my goodness. It did not take long before MOM joined the fray.

Needless to say we laughed and giggled and rolled on the floor like fools. Thank goodness Cat took pictures.

Anyway, it may explain why we were unable to get a" cousins" shot this year :)

I used CTMH's Magic Moment's paper kit.

Thanks for looking!

Julia

Jedi Birthday

I have been taking the supplies for this LO from crop to crop to crop since June of last year. I had GRAND plans to use Cricut's Paper Dolls Cartridge to create a Jedi Robe for the is LO. But,I could never figure out what the rest of the LO would look like, so I gave up. No cool Jedi Robe for this LO.

I did however use the color scheme on the sign in this picture to come up with the colors used on this LO.

I am glad I got it done...if you can think of how I can add that cricut robe...please let me know.

Thanks for looking,
Julia

Wish

I wish you could see how pretty this card is! The pattern on the purple paper is glittery, the blue paper is metallic, and I used pearl Create-a -Shade paint from CTMH on the flower too. It has subtle BLING :)

This card is based on the sketch challenge over at 2sketches4 you(Laura's Sketch #21).

Thanks for looking!

Julia

Happy 4 U!

Whoo Hooo! I am on a roll. Two weeks in a row I have been able to participate in the 2Sketches4U challenge.


I used scraps from CTMH Rough and Tumble Kit, plus some odds and ends that I had.

This card is based on Kazan's sketch # 21 shown above. I rotated the sketch for my card and am happy with the results.

This was going to be a birthday card, but ended up going in a different direction. I love when I set out to do one thing and end up with something so totally better then I first imagined.

Thanks for looking,
Juia

Thank You Card ( Laura Sketch 20)

I am very happy with how this card came out. As soon as I saw Laura's Sketch 20 on 2sketches4You this week, I knew that I wanted to make a it a "flap card" Here is what it looks like open:
Papers: CTMH Notebook
Stamps: Simple Stitches,Say It with Style
Flower: Petaloo


Thanks for looking,
Julia

Bloom

I created this card for the 2 Sketches 4 U blog. It is Laura's sketch # 19 I follow this blog EVERY week, but this week I can participate.

The papers I used are from CTMH Emporium Creative Basics.

The flower is made of strips of paper folded for dimension. I am glad I got to make this card.
I cut the letters using Jasmine on the Cricut.

Thanks for looking,
Julia

Your a Star

I got to play with my Cuttlebug. I discovered you can emboss chipboard!!! Thanks to Jenn M for letting me borrow her Swiss Dot Folder. I am on the hunt for my own at the moment.

Anyway, I made a card for Cuttlebug Be Inspired # 15 challenge.

I used CTMH Baby Pink and White Daisy. The chipboard stars are from American Crafts. The rest of the goodies are from my stash :) I also used heat embossing for the sentiment and stickles on the white stars.

Thanks for looking,
Julia

Stampede

This was a page kit put together by Becky Harding-Dixon. I love how the colors match the colors in my pictures. The kids had fun at this Boy Scout function. Archery. BB guns, rock walls and rope courses filled the days activities.

Thanks for looking,
Julia

Giraffe Altered Tiles

I am on a bit of a Giraffe kick at the moment. I got a Giraffe print purse for Christmas and I am loving it. So, it was no surprise when I bought a pack of Giraffe print napkins on Clearance at Target. I would use them for something...someday.

Well, low and behold I found these nifty tile sets on clearance at Big Lots. 4 tiles and the metal holder for 50 cents! They even have cork on the back. I snatched them up and said. "I will use those for something."

I got home and put the two clearance deals together!

I painted over the Christmas designs and then decoupaged the napkins on to the tiles. I think the creases would normally bother me, but since it is an animal print, I think it makes them look cool!

Thanks for looking,
Julia

My Treasure

It is hard to tell from this picture that I used the map paper from the CTMH Route 66 paper pack. Who knew I would use it on a pirate-y page?

We had Disneyland passes for almost a year before I bought them them ears. Don't you just love to "MEAN" pirate faces the kids make. Makes me want to pinch those pirate-y faces and smooch'em... ( I am sure that is not the reaction they were going for!)

I got all fancy and heat embossed the buckle and coins...

Thanks for looking,
Julia

Laugh Or Cry? page 1 and 2

When David took these pictures of K. before and after a "spa day" birthday party, I did not know what I should do: laugh or cry. Here is my little SIX year old all dolled up with curls and glitter and look at her poses... WHAT!!! She can not be looking at the camera like that...It is just not right. Stop it..stop trying to be such a big girl!

PS..I used my new Cuttlebg to emboss the Colonial White squares. This paper is from Close To My Heart is this the Exclusive Key To My Heart Paper from this months special... PERFECT match to K's outfit.

Julia

My Cha-Cha Nails

I was in the holiday spirit when I got my nails done yesterday. So, I splurged and got a bit of gold detailing!

Lots of fun!

Julia

Making Fishing Flies

Thanks to Uncle James, Christopher was able to learn how to make fishing flies. In typical Christopher style he made a chart comparing his fly to Uncle James's sample.

I used CTMH Its a Guy Thing kit.

Thanks for looking,
Julia

Remember this:

I can claim this LO as my own. I had fun using gold embossing powder...

I used the CTMH kit called note book for this LO.

Thanks for looking,
Julia

In Your Eyes

I wish...Oh how I wish I could claim responsibility for the LO...but I can not. This is another SWAP LO. I am sad to report that this once excellent swap group has fallen apart.... but wont stop me from using this BEAUTIFUL LO. Amanda E...you are one AWESOME scrapper!

The only part I added was this picture, the matte it is on and the title.

I snapped this shot of my kids on my lap quite by accident and LOVED how it looked.

Thanks for looking,
Julia

What Have I Done

Christopher wanted to make his jack-o-lantern a chef. What could be scarier than a jack-o-lantern that has cooked a pumpkin pie? Sick...I know.

Have a happy Halloween everyone.
Julia