Lasting Memories....

Good Morning! Only three days more of state testing, YES!!!! As part of my stress break, I got to create this layout of my Ben from way back in the day. Lasting Memories challenge this week is to scrap using just one photo.  This is a photo of Ben as a third grader! How cool, I teach third grade!!! I loved this challenge. 

Recipe: Patterned papers Sassafras and Echo Park, cardstock- Honey and Sky blue, Thickers, Sassafras frame, buttons and twine from stash.
I can't wait to see how our 1 photo challenge inspires you!

Us...

It is Sunday and that means we have a new challenge up at Lasting Memories....This week we want to see   your take on "Season's Change". I pulled out some photos that Ben and I took 3 years ago at Easter. We took a spring hike in for one mile to see the Beautiful Bad Branch Falls, located here in our home town. This was a fabulous spring day for us! 

Recipe: papers-Sassafras Lass, felt-stash, ink-CTMH
I can't wait to see how you interpret the season's change challenge this week!

Lucky Girl Blog Party Day 2!!!!!

Welcome back to day 2 of the Lucky Girl Blog Party featuring....
Forever Love
January 2011 Lucky Girl Crafts Kit

Want to know where YOU can WIN this Forever Love kit this month? Lucky Girl Craft Kits is sponsoring Sketches in Thyme for the month of January and will be a featured sponsor for Practical Scrappers on January 21.....so play along for your chance to WIN BIG!!!!!!

Filled with tender romance, beauty and timeless charm, this kit is perfect for showcasing the loves of your life, spring beauty and precious moments. Vintage elements take on modern appeal with delicate trimmings, faux postage stamps, metallic rub-ons, and acrylic papers. It's a kit you'll fall in love with every time you take it out to play!

Join us for the next three days (January 1-3) to take a peek at some of the amazing projects our Lucky Girl DT has created to inspire you to create in the new year! There are also 5 chances to WIN store credit, so don't miss out!

So here is my second layout....I used the brads, pearls, and the metallic rubons for some yummy embellishments.

I also used the little envelope with the No. 1 Sweetness overlay tag. Here is a close up of that. I just let be the title of my page.

You are here on the blog hop====>Kim - Emily - Jessica -Natalie Please make sure that you have been to the Store blog too, you don't want to miss the chance to win PRIZES!!!!!!!
Love the kit? You're going to LOVE these specials:

Want to get your hands on one of these amazing kits? There's only a handful of these kits left in the store, so you better hurry!

http://www.luckygirlcrafts.com/

Get FREE SHIPPING anywhere in the U.S. with orders of $40 or more
through January 7th - use code FOREVERLOVE at checkout.
For international orders, please contact me for discounted shipping rates January 1-7 by e-mailing your order to jasafras98@yahoo.com

Save 20% on all current stock of "extras" through January 31 or while supplies last!
Prices as marked. Sale includes past kits, paper packets, ribbons, alphas, embellies & more!

January 7th - last day to apply for our new Lucky Girl Design Team!
Check out the details by clicking here.

Coming soon... weekly Friday Fun Day Challenges, featuring new work each and every Friday on the store blog for you to scrap lift, create & enter to win! Join us for the first one, Friday, January 7th.

I am giving away a LUCKY $7 store credit to one lucky winner of this Blog Party.....
Details....
* Please follow my blog if you are inspired by my work, if you are already a loyal follower (Thank You so much!!!!)leave a comment saying so.
* Please leave a comment on each of the Lucky Girl Blogs along the Blog Party
* Answer this question......
What is your scrapbook goal for 2011? Mine is to scrapbook at least one page a day.

Now, hop on over to visit Emily for more Lucky Girl inspiration!!!!

I'm Back!!!!! Forever Love Blog Party Day 1....

Happy New Year to you all!!!!! I wish you the very best and most incredible new year ever!

Join us in celebrating our latest Lucky Girl Crafts release....
Forever Love
January 2011 Lucky Girl Crafts Kit

Filled with tender romance, beauty and timeless charm, this kit is perfect for showcasing the loves of your life, spring beauty and precious moments. Vintage elements take on modern appeal with delicate trimmings, faux postage stamps, metallic rub-ons, and acrylic papers. It's a kit you'll fall in love with every time you take it out to play!

Join us for the next three days (January 1-3) to take a peek at some of the amazing projects our Lucky Girl DT has created to inspire you to create in the new year! There are also 5 chances to WIN store credit, so don't miss out!

So here is my first layout....I so adore EVERYTHING in this kit!!!!


Kim - Emily - Jessica -Natalie
Love the kit? You're going to LOVE these specials:

Want to get your hands on one of these amazing kits? There's only a handful of these kits left in the store, so you better hurry!

http://www.luckygirlcrafts.com/

Get FREE SHIPPING anywhere in the U.S. with orders of $40 or more
through January 7th - use code FOREVERLOVE at checkout.
For international orders, please contact me for discounted shipping rates January 1-7 by e-mailing your order to jasafras98@yahoo.com

Save 20% on all current stock of "extras" through January 31 or while supplies last!
Prices as marked. Sale includes past kits, paper packets, ribbons, alphas, embellies & more!

January 7th - last day to apply for our new Lucky Girl Design Team!
Check out the details by clicking here.

Coming soon... weekly Friday Fun Day Challenges, featuring new work each and every Friday on the store blog for you to scrap lift, create & enter to win! Join us for the first one, Friday, January 7th.

I am giving away a LUCKY $7 store credit to one lucky winner of this Blog Party.....
Details....
* Please follow my blog if you are inspired by my work, if you are already a loyal follower (Thank You so much!!!!)leave a comment saying so.
* Please leave a comment on each of the Lucky Girl Blogs along the Blog Party
* Answer this question......
What is your favorite embellishment shown in the Forever Love kit (at top of page)?

Now, hop on over to visit Emily for more Lucky Girl inspiration!!!!

Joy....

Today is my December Recipe reveal over at The Moments. I'm calling it "Party Mix". Here is the yummy recipe:

Are you ready for our December recipe challenge? This one is festive and ready to party, here are the ingredients you'll need:

1 cup of something to celebrate (My wedding, which was a Christmas one)
A handful of pearls (flourish and in poinsettias)
A dash of some dimensional liquid (Liquid glass, Dimensional Magic)

Mix all ingredients accordingly, embellish as you please, sprinkle with a little love and share with your scrappy friends!
Serves: a lifetime of memories

Here's a peek at my dish....

I used one sheet of SU! paper from the Deck the Halls stack. The little holly berries are covered with the dimensional magic. I also highlighted the leaves and pine with just a smidgen of stickles.
Then the pearls went in the poinsettias and of course I had to add the flourish.

Here is a peek at what the holly berries look like with the dimensional magic. I just love the effect.

So, what are you waiting for, I know you'll love the Party Mix and want to share your layout or project with us! Please visit, The Moments today for lots of great challenges, scrappy friendships, and tons of inspiration!

Blessings,

A day of celebration....

First, I have a Lucky Girl Blog Party Winner.......
wendipooh13 said...
ohhhh wonderful page!!!! great work.. and winter.. I like it for december and than after that I am ALL ready for spring!!!

December 1, 2010 1:40 PM

Wendi, please email your snail mail addy to me neeneesparks@gmail.com and we'll get your RAK right out to you. Congrats!!!! Thank you all for visiting during the blog party. I hope you were inspired and I LOVED reading all your comments and the answers to your winter questions. Thanks again to you all!

Now, on to the day of celebration. Today at 4:30 pm, I will have been married to my wonderful Honeybee for 14 years. Happy Anniversary, Ben. I could never have imagined how blessed our life would be together. The very best gift that God ever presented me with is YOU! I love you, my Honeybee!

Hopefully, I'll have some new layouts for you to see tomorrow!

Blessings,

On This Day....

This layout is for my Better Scrap newsletter project. I used a bold color palette and journaled on a shaped journal box. The paper, journal box and the big flower all came in one of my past Lucky Girl kits. The other two flowers and the bling are by Prima and the rubons are American Crafts. Those yummy buttons are by Charlene's Button Box.

The challenge was to scrap a birthday that was significant. That was easy for me. On my 26 birthday, the love of my life asked me to be his wife. Without that life changing gift, I would not be the incredibly happy woman I am today.

r.i.p.

Welcome to a fun day!!! Over at Frosted Designs we were sharing some Holiday Treats! Our sponsor is Purple Panda. We were given some fab little images to play with. I know I wanted to use the spooky "rip" image. So I created a little goodie for my Honeybee!

Side view of the pretty glass jar. This used to be a candle jar....I love it

I used scraps from the DCWV Midnight Spell papers as the background for the image, added a couple bats, some Halloween ribbon and the cute little tag is finished.

This is the top view of her candy jar. I used a felt embellishment and some Halloween trim to finish off the treat. Oh and my Honeybee found it last night....needless to say, I doubt he'll have any candy left by Sunday!

I hope you'll check out the rest of my fabby Frosted sisters. There are some spooktactular projects for you to browse today! I can't wait to see what you create!

Blessings,

My Honeybee, cooking????

Time for another challenge at Better Living through Scrapbooking.

October Challenge #4 is a Recipe Challenge:
Criteria:
October Challenge #4
“Favorite Recipe Challenge”
Create a page showcasing your favorite recipe that you received from your mother, grandmother, or other relative or family friend.
Chose at least 2 of the following:
1. Include a photo of yourself preparing the dish, or a photo of the completed dish.
2. Include a photo of the person who gave you the recipe.
3. Make a copy of the original recipe, or hand write the recipe on a card and include it on your layout.
4. Use cardstock as your background, but ink, stain, paint, or color-spray it to make it unique.
5. Use a shape punch or border punch somewhere on your page




Sponsored Supplies Used:
Cardstock: Discount Cardstock "Kraft 80# 12x12"
Stamps: For the Luv of Art, "Heart stamp set"
Stamps: Plaid All Night Media "Spatter stamp"
Papers and embellishments: Gauche Alchemy "Acme Mixed Media Paper Crafting Kit"
Paint: Plaid "Apple Barrel: "Barn Red"
Adhesive: Plaid "Mod Podge: Paper"
Adhesive: Plaid "Mod Podge: Dimensional Magic"
Adhesive: Plaid "Pop dots"

Additional supplies used:
Papers: Graphic 45 "Hallowe'en in Wonderland"
Inks: CTMH "Cocoa"
flower: Recollections
Alphabet: Making Memories "Noteworthy"
Punch: Creative Memories

Criteria I used:
2. Include a photo of the person who gave me the recipe
3. Make a copy or handwrite the recipe on a card and include on the layout.
4. Use cardstock as your background, but ink, stain, paint or color-spray it to make it unique.
5. Use a shape punch or border punch somewhere on your page.

Techniques used:
Once again I let pant be my distressing inks. I used a barely dampened sponge to put barn red all about the edges of my Kraft cardstock. I used an old sewing pattern to give character to the cardstock then stamped and distressed with paint.

I really enjoyed scrapping this page. My husband loves to cook! His favorite comfort recipe is Unkie B's Vegetable Soup! Now I have this in his handwriting to pass down for generations to come.

Please be sure to visit Better Scrap for more inspiration from the Better Scrap ladies!
Blessings,

So Thankful....

Good Morning,
Today is my day to host the challenge at Frosted Designs! I'm choosing my favorite time of the year at my theme, fall! I love this beautiful season and all the glorious color it brings! Now, fall also includes that spooktactular time of year that kids love, Halloween. You can show us your fall/Halloween projects.
I chose to scrap this photo of the love of my life, my sweet Honeybee!

This is an 8X8 for his little book. We spent the perfect day together and I so wanted to document this day and my love of fall and my best friend, Ben!

Stop over at Frosted Designs today to see what the rest of the Frosted Designers have to inspire you in this challenge!
Blessings,

Better Scrap Blog Hop is HERE!!!!

This post will remain at the top until Saturday, October 2. Please scroll for down for new posts.
Good Morning,
Today we are having our first blog hop at Better Living through Scrapbooking! You can go here to start from the beginning. If you have come to my blog from Kas, you are in the correct place! Our task today, show you our favorite style, introduce you to us. Well, if you follow my blog on a regular basis, you already know that my Honeybee is my everything! So I just had to scrap him!

I used some of our sponsor, Discount Cardstock Midnight Black #80 12 X 12 cardstock to mat the photo. I also used some of our October sponsor, Plaid, pop dots to lift the flower and leaves up. Instead of inking things up, I went with some Plaid White acrylic paint, and also used some Mod Podge Dimensional Magic on the Thickers (SO).

All other papers, flowers, ribbons, pins, Lucky bingo card, and butterfly are part of the Lucky Girl Craft Kits.

I really had fun expressing myself in this layout. I think that I am really loving to dry brush the edges of paper with white paint as much as I love inking them! I also share how I adore using pretty flowers, ribbons, and pins on my layouts.

Better Living Through Scrapbooking has a fabulous prize pack up for grabs, thanks to Plaid! We will be giving away a Mod Podge starter pack, plus a selection of FolkArt paints, stencils and some Extreme Glitter! This prize pack is worth $50 retail, and will be awarded to one blog hop participant that comments on ALL of the blog posts during the hop.

I'll be giving away this fabby RAK on my blog as well! This is a darling little chipboard Kaiser Craft mini album. Be sure to follow my blog if you are inspired by my work, leave your comment here by noon on Saturday, October 2. Winner will be announced with my Better Scrap post on Sunday, October 3.

Now you are off to visit the ever so talented Katie. While there, leave her lots of love!
Here is a complete listing of all the stops along the hop:
BetterScrap
Angela
Beth
Brenda
Candy
Chelsea
Kas
Kim------you are here :-)
Katie
Michelle
Blessings,

Crazy 4 You....

Better Living Through Scrapbooking September Challenge #3

“Holiday paper challenge”
Use holiday-themed papers (Christmas, Halloween, Easter, 4th of July, etc.) to create a non-holiday themed page layout or mini album.

Choose at least two of the following prompts:
1. Use photos that are at least five years old.
2. Use punches or a die-cut machine to hand-make embellishments or letters out of patterned paper for your page.
3. Use pop-dots to give 3-D dimension to an element of your page.
4. Use numbers in the title of your page.
5. Use rubber or acrylic stamps somewhere on your page
Here is my layout....I hit them all and used the Sketches in Thyme Challenge 15 sketch for this one.....

Oh how I love this sketch!!!!

I so enjoyed this Holiday paper challenge. I loved putting my wedding photos to this yummy Graphic 45 paper. I really challenged myself to use each of the criteria on this one!

So here goes, I used two photos from my wedding, almost 14 years ago!! Next, I used my Cricut Expression George and Basic Shapes cart to cut the hearts, and the Cherry Limeade cart for the title. Then I used pop dots to add some dimension behind the hearts. I put a 4 in my title, and used rubber stamps for the stitching above the hearts and for the journal box.

Techniques used, I love to use my distress inks on the edges of my papers. I also used my Cuttlebug to emboss the circle element and the hearts. Then I spritzed them with some Pearl Glimmer Mist.

Supplies used:
Cardstock: Discount Cardstock “Really Red 80# 12×12“; Papers: Graphic 45 “Christmas Past Collection: Carol of the Bells, We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” “Hallowe’en in Wonderland”; Adhesives: Plaid Pop dots; Stamps: Close to My Heart “Simple Stitches,” Scrappy Cat “journal box”; Ink: Close to My Heart “Chocolate distress inks”; Color spray: Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist “Pearl”; Ribbon: Scrapgoods.com; Tools: Cuttlebug and “d’vine” embossing folder.

Hop on over to Betterscrap to visit my scrappy sisters and see how they can inspire you to use some holiday papers in a fun out of the box way!

Blessings,

Double Reveal Day....

Good Morning,
Today is a busy day here on my blog. We are having a photo inspiration challenge at Frosted Designs....Didn't Diana choose a beautiful photo to inspire us?

I chose to use this darling little "Ms. Birdie" digi image from Robyn's Fetish Digital Stamps, our sponsor this month.

My papers and bling are Hobby Lobby, the flower, button, and ribbon are from stash. I used a ticket left from my August Lucky Girl kit for the title...I have a coworker who is having hard time getting back into the school/home routine. I"m giving this card to her to remind her to trust herself and know that God has a plan for her as an educator.....
Please hop over to all my Fabby Frosted sisters and let them know that they inspire you!
*******************************************************************************
Day 3 of Lucky Girl Blog Party.....

Didn't I tell you this kit is scrummy? I love this sheet of paper! It was just perfect for this older photo I have of my Honeybee! I only used ink on the gorgeous gold paper. The green photo mat is the Prima packaging recycled! Aren't these blooms and bling to die for?

Lucky Girl Savings:
FREE SHIPPING on any order through September 15! Use the FREESHIP code at checkout.
In with the old, out with the new sale on June & July kits! June kits available for just $24 and July kits will be sold for just $26. Visit our sale section to take advantage of these savings and MORE!!! *winkwink*

Lucky Girl Scrappy RAK giveaway:
One Lucky Girl from each blog in the party will win a packet of scrappy treasures - a mini inspiration kit filled with an assortment of ribbons, embellies, rub-ons, etc. for playing along during September 1-3.

Here is how to win my scrappy RAK......

Follow my blog if I inspire you.

Leave a comment each day of the blog for a chance to win, leave three comments, get three chances. Here is you question for today....Have you ever created a mini ablum with a fall theme? My winner will be announced on Saturday, Sept. 4 by 5 pm...

Now, hop on over to visit my Lucky Girls and be inspired by their dazzling projects! You are headed to Emily next.

If you want to go back to the beginning, click here!

Blessings,

I adore you....

Good Morning,

Today I'm sharing a layout of my sweet Honeybee! I love how this one turned out. My Practical Scrappers sister, Erin, designed this sketch for our weekend crop....

don't you love it, visit Erin and tell her how you do....

Here is what I came up with....

All papers, inks, stamps are CTMH, the blooms are Prima, the pearls are Kaiser, the bling is from Hobby Lobby and I used stickles. The little ticket is from the Lucky Girl August kit...

Have a terrific Tuesday!

Oh, by the way, we actually had 65 third graders show up on Monday. I have 21 in my homeroom, there are 2 more third grade teachers in my team. We team teach and call them all ours. I teach on reading group, 2 writing groups, and all social studies....It was a great day!
Blessings,

C-E-L-E-B-R-A-T-E.....

Good Morning,
Today is another day to celebrate! We will be celebrating all week at Practical Scrappers, it is our one year anniversary!!!! I'm so delighted to say that I've been a part of this team since the very beginning! Love ya Christine and Ang!!
Our challenge will change each day this week. Today we are featuring projects showcasing our number one favorite product.

This is my darling honeybee when he was in third grade....
I'm featuring my favorite supply item, ink! If you follow me, you know I ink everything.....
Today is also the second day of our big August Blog Party at Lucky Girls!!!! Everything on this page, except the cardstock and ink is from the Old School kit. Don't you LOVE it?

To help spread the word about Lucky Girl Craft kits, Jessica is offering 25% off two kits or, for her subscribers, you'll receive two free bonus kits - one valued at $15 with the shipment of the August kit, and one valued at $25 at the end of your annual commitment!
Use code BUY2SAVE25 at checkout for the two kit promo
Subscribers, just include a note with your order telling me you want to take advantage of the BONUS KIT!

You know we can't party without prizes!!!! Click here to enter the main Lucky Girl Prize drawing. To enter my Blog Party Prize, please follow my blog only if you are inspired by my work, leave a comment on this post telling me your favorite "Old School Memory". My winner will be drawn on August 4.
Now you are headed to visit all of Jessica's scrappy yumminess! Be sure to give her lots of love!!!

Blessings,

my everything...

Good Morning,
Today is Friday, and that means a new challenge reveal at Frosted Designs!!!! I love this week's challenge, it is to scrap with song lyrics...
Well this was a no brainer for me, my honeybee absolutely loves Lifehouse's Everything! He sings it to me all the time, even more so now that he is having to work in PA. So the title for this one was easy!!!!

I used up scraps from my June Lucky Girl kit to create this page. The flowers are Prima and Bazzill, the bling is Hobby Lobby and the button & twine are from stash. My punch is Fiskars and the rubons are American Crafts. Ink and pen are CTMH.
Don't forget you will have an entry for our July prize package if you play along this week! Prize picture is posted on my sidebar.
Go visit my fabby Frosted Sisters, as I know you will be inspired to scrap a song lyric!
Blessings,

Us....

Good Monday Morning,

Today is a quick post. It is Monday and that means a new challenge at Practical Scrappers!!!!!! We have winners from our border punch/decorative scissors challenge. Our Top 3 are Andrea, Sarah, Kendra, and our winner is Angie. Congratulations ladies, you created some awesome projects this past week!

Our new challenge is to use animation or cartoon in your project.

I had this Sassafras paper that was just perfect for this challenge. The clouds, rainbows, and mushrooms are such fun and yummy papers for the photos I wanted to scrap. I also loved all the color, I can get trapped in the muted subtle colors sometimes. I think everything about this layout is reflective of the fun we had the day these pictures were taken.

Want some more inspiration? Visit my DT sister's all week, they have lots of fun for you to browse. While there, leave them some love.

We are being sponsored this week by Digi Doodle. The winner will receive three digis!!! As always, you will have until 5:00 EST on Saturday to link up. I hope to see you join in the fun this week!

Blessings,

Punching at Practical Scrappers and a Sweet Birthday....

Good Morning,

I hope you all had a wonderful Mother's Day! Today is Monday and that brings a new challenge for you from Practical Scrappers. This week our stash supply is to pull out your punches and get punching! But first, here are our winners from the sticker challenge, Leah, Yukkie Jenny, Carrie Ann, and the grand prize winner....Kiser B. Congrats, and thanks everyone for joining us this past week. As always, your projects rocked!

I tried to make my flower from punched circles. This was fun and I think it turned out pretty good. I also used a square punch for the background, added a small scalloped punch to that and then finished it off with the dainty border punch. I had so much fun on this card. It was my MIL's card for Mother's Day. I finished it off with some stickles, Kaiser pearls, and clear embossed the mom. Be sure to visit my dts sisters this week, as they all have some incredible inspiration for you and leave them some love.

On to the birthday card, today is also my Honeybee's birthday. It is going to be a crazy day. We begin testing today and he usually works until 8:30. So, I'm cooking his favorite dinner and we'll celebrate at home. I love you, Ben, you are my everything!

Have a marvy Monday!
Blessings,

Weekend Fun....

Good Morning,
I'm sharing some photos from our fun Easter weekend. On Saturday, Ben and I spent the day hiking to Bad Branch Falls. It is a beautiful waterfall located on one of the highest mountain ranges in Kentucky. We hiked in just a little over a mile on a rugged and rocky terrain. It was so worth it. We had been in to different parts before, but never to the falls.
Here's a couple photos for you.

Isn't this just beautiful! We were blessed with the perfect day!

On Sunday, the little kids came to go to church with us. We all attend church with my Gran on Easter. That is one Sunday she wants the family to attend the same church. I always get to help the kiddos color eggs while "the grown ups" are getting the dinner finished. Here's a couple of Easter fun photos of my two blessings!

This photo was taken outside the church. My little man was not into the picture taking mood.
These two are the kiddos coloring their eggs. Jon-Christopher didn't mind sitting picnic style to do his, but Ashlea wanted a table.

Don't forget to come back tomorrow to see what is new at The Sisterhood!

And Practical Scrappers is being sponsored by Creations by Penny this month! This week's winner will get 5 digis!

Blessings,