My First Job

   Since to day is the last day in November there is new sketch reveal over at Scrapbook Challenges, so today's post will be about the Spelling Bee challenge we did earlier this month. It had to do with your first job. It just seems fitting that my first job had to deal with animals.  

   Since my first job was cat sitting for my neighbors cats I had to use the following items on my page which I just happen to scrap about my first job.

C = cork (sticker)

A= acrylic paint (spatter)

T= Tag (journaling tag)

S= stitching  (hand stitched the arrow)

I=  ink edges (painted the edges of the background paper)

T= tag (used as a photo mat)

T= tag (use ad a layer in the cluster)

E= enamel dot (used by the cork sticker)

R= rhinestone (used on the butterfly)

Supplies: pattern paper (American Crafts, Basic Grey and Close to My Heart), washi tape (Studio Calico), stamps (American Crafts, Close to My Heart and EK Success), ink (Moments), stickers ( We R Memory Keepers, Heidi Swapp and My Mind's Eye), tags (Studio Calico and American Crafts), wood veneer (American Crafts), die cuts (American Crafts and My mind's Eye), journaling card (Project Life), brad (My Mind's Eye), doily (Doodlebug Design),twine (Timeless Twine by Bella Creationz), corner punch (Fiskars), stitching template (American Crafts), trim (American Crafts), pen (Project Life) rhinestone and diy enamel dots.

Here are some close-ups. I love how this layered element came out. I even did hidden journaling. 

   I don't usually do one small photo on a big 12x12 layout but I only had one photo of Lucy and that was taken with a Polaroid sticker camera. The photo was super tiny so I could only blow it up a little bit before it got to blurry.

   I have these huge alphabet stamps that I have only used a few times since they are so big and bold. I decided to use the stamps because "Lucy" was such a bold cat.

2015 Carvings

   Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. Mine could have been a little better. I am currently under the weather and my dog is sick too. Wednesday he woke us up at 4;30 running a muck barking and I saw blood on his mouth. Took him to the vet and was told he had a seizure. He also has a high white blood count which means he has some kind of bacterial infection so he on meds. Plus, since he has been having such a hard time keeping food down he has to have yogurt 4 times a day and pepcid complete pill every time he eats his dog food. 

   Since I think someone should be home with Buster my Black Friday shopping will have to be done from the web. 

   Now, onto the flashback Friday sketch reveal from Scrapbook Challenges. 

   Here is my take on it. I ended up scrapping this year's pumpkin carvings. 

Supplies: cardstock (The Paper Studio), pattern paper (Authentique and Echo Park), washi tape (We R Memory Keepers), twine (Timeless Twine), doily (Doodlebug Design), stickers (Authentique and EK Success), wood veneers (Studio Calico) button (American Crafts), brad (My Mind's Eye), tags (Elle's Studio and Chic Tags), transparency (K & Co.), gem (Queen & Co.)

   Here are a couple of close up shots.  Yes there was a Minion pumpkin. 

  I kept this part short since it is almost midnight as I am typing this and I am waiting for  some of the online sale to start. Sudio Calico and Elle's Studio here I come.

At One Time... - SBC Reveal

   Happy Thanksgiving to all my US friends. Today, is the day where we reflect on what we are thankful for but everyday we should do this. 

Here are just a couple things I am thankful for:

• For my family and friends because I would honestly go bonkers if I didn't have any of these amazing people in my life.
• The amazing people I know in the medical field that have helped me this year with the eye stuff.

   I thought today would be a perfect day to post this past Scrapbook Challenges Flashback Friday sketch was based on sketch #361.  When it made its original reveal I ended up not doing it because (1) I hate double page spreads and (2) I had no idea on what photos I could of used for all those spots. 

   As you can tell, I found the perfect photos to use and the funny thing I had these photos when the sketch made it first appearance. Plus, I think I am learning to like double page spreads since I treat each side as it own pages by changing up the background paper. 

Supplies: cardstock (The Paper Studio), pattern paper (American Crafts, Basic Grey, Echo Park, My Mind's Eye and Fancy Pants Designs), stickers (American Crafts, Jillibean Soup and Studio Calico), washi tape (Scotch Brands), chipboard (Prima), wood veneers (American Crafts and Studio Calico), journaling card (My Mind's Eye), file folder (Webster's Pages), stamp ( EK Success, K & Co. and American Crafts), ink (Momenta), electronic die cutter, cartridge and software (Cricut) and diy enamel dots

   Here are a few close-ups of some of the design elements.

   This is were my family use to live and owned it. We moved from it 16 years ago and sold it because the neighborhood was unsafe. 12 years after we sold it on a land contract we started to find out bad news and was wondering how to get our money from the new owner. We were looking at to losing the property because of taxes and God answered a prayer by sending a guy to our house one Sunday afternoon saying he wanted to buy the contract from us.

   I double matted the center photo to make it pop and plus it was the best photo I found of the building online.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. 

November Pattern Challenge

   This month's pattern challenge over at Scrapbook Challenges is all about the elegant damask. I loved this pattern at one time so much that I used it almost on everything. Once I depleted my stash of it I ended up mixing in more patterns in my design muscles.

   When the team was assigned this challenge I knew I wanted to do it because I still love the pattern but to my surprise I found out I had to really scrap the bottom of the paper pile just to find some scraps for mini paper pads. After this page my stash has gotten even smaller, I now just have a 2"x5" scrap left of a damask print.

Supplies: cardstock (Die Cuts With a View and The Paper Studio) pattern paper (Glitz Designs, My Mind's Eye, and Simple Stories), doily (Doodlebug Designs), washi tape (My Mind's Eye), file folder (My Mind's Eye), journaling card (My Mind's Eye).

   This page is not fully complete. I don't have the journaling done because I still have to ask my mom who is the guy in the photo, I am pretty sure it is my great grandpa Frank but am not sure. 

Catching Up Reunion - SBC #455

   Over at Scrapbook Challenges I ended up doing the sketch #455 but it never made it to the SBC blog's post, so I want to share it here with you even though it is over a month from the reveal day. 

   I ended up scrapping almost the last of the Bid Red One reunion pictures of 1990s WWII gathering.

 Supplies: cardstock (The Paper Studio), pattern paper (My Mind's Eye and Simple Stories), stickers (American Crafts, Glitz Designs), doily (doodlebug Design), wood veneers (Studio calico and Maya Road), flair (Basic Grey)

   Since I didn't have enout letters in one color family for "catching" I mixed it up. 

Farmers Blooms - SBC #460

   It is the start of a new week and for like most people this week is going to busy. It is a tad busier for me since today is my dad's birthday.

   Today's Scrapbook Challenges sketch reveal is #460. I love the starburst in it. 

   For this page I knew I wanted to use a bright photo.   There is not much of a story to the flowers just something my dad wanted to pick up for my mom at one of the many Farmer's Market outings this summer.  

 Supplies: cardstock (The paper Studio), pattern paper (Echo Park, My Mind's Eye and Crate Paper), washi tape (My Mind's Eye and Doodlebug Designs), stamps (Studio G and EK Success), chipboard (Prima), die cuts (Basic Grey), stickers (Basic Grey and American Crafts), ink (Momento and Close to my Heart), sequins (Studio Calico), gelato (Faber-Castell)

   The starburst was a little tricky to master but thanks to washi tape it hides all wonky cuts and pen lines. 

    I first started this on a white sheet of cardstock but I started adding all the embellishments and papers I was hating that stark white. I ended up taking some flower stamps and stamped it in three different inks. Then took gelatos and colored the background paper. I think it turned out great and was a perfect way to turn a page I was not liking into something that is so cheery,

Very Thankful

   That is how I felt leaving the eye doctor after Friday's appointment. I was nervous about going the reasons can be found here. 

• I had a $145 bill for the lens I lost and had to pay for the replacement so I was thinking it I wad going to paying $290. To my surprise there was no cost. I don't know how that happened but I was so surprised. 
• The other thing is that I don't have keratoconus in my right eye, the data was typed wrong into the computer, instead of typing os (left eye) it was typed in as ou (both eyes).

   The vision was not good with the new contact, I could only read the second line on the chart, which I found discouraging until the optometrists said that the prescription in it was too strong. Before having the surgeries done I was in a +11.00 prescription now it will be about +1.00.

   The fit still needs some work since I felt like I could pop the lens out when I blinked but the comfort of it was good, I could almost forget i was wearing it and that was for not wearing them for about five months. That was something I didn't think could happen since none of the previous lenses did that, only the right eye did. Plus, I was not getting a glare in it, first time that never happened.

Thanksgiving Prep

   Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Like many people this day involves a lot of cooking. This week I decided to do some of the things that would make my life easier since I have a birthday already to do on Monday. Today's foodie post is going to be about how I have been prepping for Thanksgiving and give you some of the recipes that I have did this week for it.

   On Tuesday, I made the bread for stuffing. My favorite recipe for bread making is found in the Kitchen Aid stand mixer manual. You can find it here on page 49. 

   On Thursday if was time to do the crusts for the cheesecake and pumpkin pie. This is the first year of making these ahead. First, I made a graham cracker dough (recipe can be found here). Cut the recipe in half for one cheesecake or do like I did and make half of it into crackers. I make my own crust because I always burn the crust if I use all ready made crackers. To remedy that problem I just roll the dough out on some wax paper to the size of the pie plate. When it is do the desired thickness and size I just roll the paper and crust jelly roll style, wrap the roll in foil and place in a freezer bag.
For the pumpkin pie crust I just used my favorite crust recipe that has never failed me. Can be found here. I rolled, wrapped and froze it the same way as the cheesecake crust. Now I just have to take them out of the freezer Tuesday night so I can make the desserts. With either of these crusts I don't pre-bake them before adding the filling.


   The only thing I can do before I do a lot of the cooking on Wednesday is do a deep cleaning of the stove and oven. Luckily, my brother helps me on this.

A September Story - SBC #FBF

   Congrats you made it through another work week and just a few days away before we all celebrate Thanksgiving, while if you are in the United States. 

  Today is another reveal day for an updated version of a sketch #225 on Scrapbook Challenges. 

   Here is my take on it. This was a perfect sketch to use to document my parents wedding anniversary they recently celebrated. 

Supplies: cardstock (Die Cuts With a View), pattern paper (My Mind's Eye, Cosmo Cricket and Inkado), twine (Timeless twine by Bella Creatioz), tags (Elle's Studio and Chic Tags), stickers ( My Little Shoebox), wood veener (Studio Calico), doily (Doodlebug Design), stitching template (American Crafts), gwms (Queen & Co.), Journaling card (Project Life and ?), mist (Heidi Swapp), stamps EK Success), pen (Project Life), and ink (Momenta)

   The title are card was given to me by a friend a few years ago. Thanks Heather M. I stitched the 35 with a pink and green twine since the 35th weeding anniversary colors are coral and jade. I just ended up writing "anniversary on the card since I knew stamping would have been hard to squeeze in such a small area. 

   For the journaling I did it hidden since the day of the celebration I wrote it on a project life card. One important tip to do before you do any stitching be sure to remove the hidden card. I might have stitched the card into the layout when I did those arrows. I had to take the stitching out, remove the card and restitched it. Since the holes in the card were not that noticeable I left as is.

Getitng Ready

   December is fast approaching and for me it is a busy time creating and capturing memories. This is my fifth year of documenting my December in a daily album. Every year, my album base is different, I have had them bond with split rings, 3-d ring binders, and even did my own binding with cardstock. This year's album is going to held together with a wire spine. I deconstructed a Fancy Pants brag book.

  

   Today, I am going to walk you through my kit I created and give you tips on how to have you album completed after the 25 days. 

   First step is to create a kit, since I have a small stash of Christmas embellishments I basically pulled everything in this kit.  I have stickers, chipboard pieces, twine, sequins, tags wood veneers, doilies, washi tape and die cuts. 

This year I decided to use stamps for the numbers for the days. For the journaling spots I did something different than previous years. I normally, use tags I cut out or Christmas journaling cards but this year I am challenging myself to use some basic design cards from My Mind's Eye. I have a nice big stack of these so I want to make a dent in the pile.

   I already decorated my foundation pages and stamped the day on the lined page. I used almost all my Christmas paper stash on this album. I have Heidi Swapp, American Crafts, My Mind's Eye and the Paper Studio. Since nothing is bound yet I can choose any day page for that day. Since the paper is rather thing in these books I doubled up the pages so they had a nice feel to them. I just glued the extra pages that were in the book together so I didn't have to worry about having to cut out the holes for the binding wire.
   One thing I learned about the stamping thing. Make sure you are wearing your glasses so you do end up stamping the Thursday on all the Tuesday pages.

   In my album foundation I have photo sleeves, blank journaling pages, decorated pages, and some kraft split pocket pages (these I will use to slide recipes in), and my decorated covers.

   To keep everything together and ready for me to use at the end of each day I used one of those huge freezer bags to hold everything. I found out last year this was one thing that helped me to succeed unlike two years ago where I failed big time, that album has hardly any journaling. Another thing to do is make sure you print the photos everyday so you don't put it off. If you can't print from home just make sure you take good notes so you what was each photo was about.

   I hope this has helped you to decided to rake the Dec. Daily plunge. You don't need one of those expensive kits to document you holiday celebrations. All this stuff I had in my stash so I spent nothing for this.

Thankful for You Card - SBC

   This month over at Scrapbook Challenges a new type of challenge is being introduced. It is called Recycle It, that is when you take one of the three old sketches and use it for a different type of project with a specific theme. This month's project's theme is "Gratitude" and the project type is a card. 

   Two of the sketches were ones I had created scrapbook pages of (423, and 437). I knew I wanted to use #437 since that sketch was so fun to use the first time around. 

Supplies: pattern paper (Crate Paper), journaling card (Project Life), stickers (My Mind's Eye, Basic Grey and Echo Park), sequins (Studio Calico and Tree House Studio), washi tape (Scotch Brand), spray ink (Tattered Angels), sewing machine (Singer) and thread.

For the cute little banner sentiment block I just cut out a journaling card in to the shape, add the "you" since the rest of it was already printed on it and ran the pump stick that is inside the spray mist along the edges. I was originally was calling this card done without the stitching but it looked incomplete so I had to add it. now I am happy with it.