Ok so my last update worked let's see if I can get this to work too!

Check out these pictures! Last night Kaleb found out he could read this book all by himself! Yipee! I am so proud of him. And he is so proud of himself. These pictures are from this morning, he was excited, but of course did not want to smile for the pictures. Gotta love 'em. He is reading to Linds and Braden (my daycare guy). He also had time this morn to read the story to daddy. I already have a layout in mind for the pictures. I probably won't get to that today, gotta finish my prepping for my class tonight. Maybe tomorrow I will have a scrappin day.

I also got a great idea for my recipe swap. Thanks to my friend Tory who forwarded a super recipe to me this am. So swappers how does Strawberry Margarita Cake sound??? I got to taste it the other night, delicious!

 
  

YIPEE IT WORKED!!!

Ok I am getting a little annoyed, I have been trying to update this thing all morning with no luck. And when i try and just view my page from my link I am getting a blank blog. Not good! I will try this as a test and see what happens. I have some really fun stuff I want to tell my on line friends about and I can't seem to make it work! Frustrating!

HAPPY NATIONAL SCRAPBOOKING DAY!

Ok so I am a little late, but I had a ton of things going on yesterday.

For NSD I worked at Memories, always a favorite thing to do. I got to teach my picture frame make/take! I had a blast, we were really hopping in the morning. We also had scrappin garage sale at the store, and that was wild. I didn't sell any of my things, but the people who did bring stuff in... Let's just say we opened at 9 am and by 10 there wasn't much left. There should be a few happy participants with lots of scrappin cash! Always a good thing.

I didn't really get to work on anything for myself, so when I came home I was totally in the mood. And I wipped out a couple of cute projects for a special person on Mother's day. Can't post pictures yet,never know who checks this.

Today we are off to mad town to visit with Grandparents in honor of their 65th wedding aniversary. Can you image 65 years together, what a journey. I really wished I could have gotten my hands on some photos of their wedding day. I would have loved to do a special framed page for a gift, but that idea came to late. I am off of make a special card anyway.

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend, happy scrappin!

 The smell of beauty!

This morning after running some stuff down to Memories, I came back into the house and there was such a wonderful scent in the air, fresh flowers. I of course wondered where that could be coming from. Then it hit me, our silly crab apple tree! I have been meaning to take a picture of it. I normally curse the thing, but once a year when it's in bloom, it's breath taking. And the scent is just wonderful. I really do love spring time. I took a couple pictures of some tulips and a few close ups of the blossoms on the tree, now maybe I can come up with an amazing scrapbook page. Christine has a link on her blog for a layout contest, and I would love to put another page together for that. We'll see... 

Ignore i am just trying to re-do my profile pic.

Here are my samples for the paper bag album I am teaching in a couple weeks. I needed to get some creative help from two pea's, gotta love their gallery. I used an example and went from there. I am way into earthy colors lately so these chatterbox papers were so fun to work with. I also got to try out a brand new tool I picked up last weekend. The totally fabulous Crop-a-dile! Have you tried this thing? Oh, it is so cool, if you are even the slightest bit into eyelets you have got to get one. I love it! I hope the ones we have on order for the store are in, in time for this class. I haven't done a cover page yet, still trying to get creative with it. Hopefully that will be done tomorrow so i can turn it in to post at the store.

Silly news to report, I had an ultrasound today and they asked if we new the gender. I said no, but i would love to know so we can figure out what to keep and what to get rid of. Ok so the doctor looks and says in her opinion it's a girl, but she is only 90% sure. Alright cool, then they move around and look again doc says wait a second I think I was wrong that looks like a boy. Then she says well I can tell you for sure it will be either a boy or a girl. How reassuring! At least its not an alien! LOL!!! We go back in a month, and we'll have them check again.

Gotta run Jeff seems to think he needs a snack.


 
 
  

 
 
  

Here is a little page I wipped up today for my tuesday class next week. We are doing the QK stamps, which I totally love now that I have had a number of chances to play with them. This scrappin stuff it's all so addictive. 

Here's the stuff I did at the store last week. The first one is something we are doing for NSD make/take. I think that Dorothy may have altered it a bit, I think she gave me a little too much creative freedom with this one. LOL!! I do like how it turned out and I might just have to buy some blank frames and do these for mothers day.
This one is the make-take from yesterday, I really like it, very simple but fun too! 

Found this on Shannon's blog, and I just felt like doing it too!

A- Age of 1st kiss: 12
B- Band you are listening to right now: no music happening at house right now
C- Crush: I think his name was Pete, that was in high school, now it's all about the hubby
D- dessert: Anything chocolate is good
E- Easiest person to talk to: My BFF Judy
F- Favorite ice cream: That double chocolate kind with brownie pieces
G- Gummy worms or gummy bears? Love Ju Jus, hate gummie anything
H- Happiest moment: Watching the McDonalds light come on at 5am while feeding my first baby
I- Instruments: clarinet in middle school
J- Junior high: Gompers Middle School
K- Kids: 2 for now 3 by october
L- Longest car ride ever: coming home from o'hare after being gone for two weeks, it really isn't a long drive, but I just wanted to be home so bad it seemed like forever
M- Messiest place in your house: our office/my craft area
N- Nicknames: Nickie, the only people who call me that are my old friends from high school, I went through a phase where I thought i would like to be called Nickie, then I grew out of it.
O- One wish: More time with my dh
P- Phobia(s): Surgery
Q- Quote: I say this to my dh all the time - "Life is not about being happy" yes I am a total pessamist
R -Reason to smile: two beautiful kids and number three on the way
S- Song you sang last: Something mc hammer, lins got into some old cd's today
T- Time you woke up today: 5:30ish this am
U- Where are you: the messy office/craft room
V- Victorious moment: my first day working at our LSS
W- Worst habit: food
X- X-rays you've had: broken arm
Y- Yoga or Yoda: Yoga, never done it, but I would try
Z-Zodiac sign: Libra

ICK!!!

So today has not been a lot of fun. Saturday night (as I am almost asleep), my dh yells out there's something wrong with the computer. I am tired, so I yell back, just turn it off I'll fix it tomorrow. Not what he wants to hear, so he says, no you need to come here. Out of bed I get to find 50+ x-rated pop-ups and our computer virus software going crazy. Great! I let the virus program run all night and this did nothing. I don't know what sickness we got, but it was bad. So today I backed up most of my files and pictures to CD and proceeded to format the hard drive and re-install windows. My internet guy said this will definitely take care of any junk lurking in our pc. So I have been trying to get windows back up to speed and I think I have downloaded and installed the last of the updates and now on to all of the necessary programs we run daily. My back hurts and my eyes hurt from staring at this screen all day!

One little thing I forgot about saving, all of our email addresses and old emails got wiped out. So if you would like to be in my email addy book, please pop me an email and I will add you back in.

That's it for now, gotta go pick up K. I did get some pictures that I want to post, but i gotta get that software back in so it might be a couple days before I can update this again.

Later, ya'll!!

At long last... ALCOHOL INKS!!!

Ok first off I must give credit to the master himself, Tim Holtz, most of what I know about these inky things I learned from him. A few other tips I got from CKU too! I hope you enjoy!

First the necessary supplies

- the alcohol inks (I like to use 2 or 3 colors on a single piece)
- applicator, these can be purchased or you can make your own, to make it yourself you will need a small wood block (I used a left over block from un-mounting on of my stamp sets), sticky sided fun foam, and the grabby (for lack of a better word) side of a piece of velcro. Cut these items to fit your block and layer foam then velcro.
- felt, I buy the sheets from WM and then cut it to fit my block
- something to cover your work surface, I like to use the non-stick craft mat from Ranger. (This is the brown thing we are working on in the example)
- something to ink, again in the example we are using glossy cardstock. You can ink just about anything, I have done metal brads and hinges, clear plastic pieces, mica tiles, transparencies, this stuff will stick to anything.





Now lets get started!
Most important thing to know when you are inking things is how to put the ink on the applicator. Start with the opened bottle of ink and bring your applicator with a clean piece of felt to the top of the bottle, then flip the bottle and applicator over. If you do it this way you will avoid getting ink all over you and your clothing. Good tip! So after you have done the flip give the ink bottle a squeeze and count to two, flip back over and add another color or two the same way.


Now we are ready to ink up our glossy cardstock, take the applicator to your cs and give a little twist with your wrist, then move to another spot, you end up doing sort of a dotting/twisting thing until you have covered the entire area.
Ink, ink, ink!
So after you have a piece all inked up you can add it to a layout, use it as a mat for a picture, use that die cutting machine to make some funky lettering or shape, use it on a card just get creative!





A couple other techniques that are fun to try.
Ink up the back of a glass side by dripping ink on the back and spreading with a toothpick, then use your heat gun to dry and move the ink around. Glue your inked glass piece onto white cardstock with sparkly stickles for a fun look.

Monoprint (this was taken from Tim's class at CKU Chicago): This must be done with the non-stick craft sheet. dot small amounts of ink onto craft sheet and then place glossy cs (glossy side down) on top of ink puddle and twist until cs is covered. I like using the Metalic inks with this one. It is messy, but gives a very interesting and different look from the finished sample.

You might also find "Blending Solution" on the shelves with Alcohol inks, this is used to soften the colors, you can add it to your applicator or put it in a spray bottle and spritz your completed project for a lighter look. Money saving tip, regular rubbing alcohol will do the same thing as the Blending solution too!
Clean up - use rubbing alcohol to wipe down your craft mat and hands, it will take most of the ink off with ease.

I hope this gives you the push to get out there and try these alcohol inks, I love em! If you have any questions, just leave me a comment.

Wowee, Zowee, what a day! I worked at the scrap store today, my favorite place to be if you must know. And it was a great day, except for the fact that I am so not used to being on my feet for 8+ hours. Ok so I am not a slug at home, but I just find more time to sit, like every hour or so when I check e-mails, LOL!!

La, ti, da on with the good stuff. I put together a very cute make/take for this coming Monday. If you're in the area stop and make a cute get well pocket card. Then I had my creative juices challenged... I needed to create a peice for NSD make/take, Dot gave me instructions to use some blank frames with Sweetwater paper and do what I want. First I love, love, love Sweetwater paper so YIPEE, and next I totally have the altering bug. So this was a super assignment. I will have to take my camera into the store tomorrow and get a pic for you guys, I really like how it turned out.

The kids had a busy day too, Lindsay had pajama party at school and then went to a Build-a-bear birthday party. All I can say is hat's off to Molly's mom, nine 4 year old girls went to BAB. She said they all did great and that everyone had a great time. I know Linds did, and she loves her new bear.

Kaleb got to play at a new friends house after school and well if you have kids you know that toys at someone elses house are always the coolest. He was very excited and had a great time too.

Tomorrow is another busy day, Kaleb has an "interview" with the possibility of being photographed for a future Lands' End catalog. I am excited, I sure like the way he looks in pictures, but I am biased. I have to prep for my class on Saturday and do the trip to the doctor to make sure we are all healthy and happy. I just realized that I also have some alcohol ink stuff that I wanted to get on here. Maybe tomorrow, I hope no one is holding their breath.

Ok so I let my updating go un-done for a few days, it has just been a little wierd around here with Jeff home. But today it is back to normal!!! Jeff is back to work and the kids are in school and it's just me the computer and a bowl of fresh pineapple! Can life get any better??? Ok so the the little thing excite me, but in the end all the little things make up the big things right?

Back on track, for those of you waiting on a little alcohol ink instructional it is coming. I need to take a couple pictures to go along with the notes, but if all goes well today I will have it for you later!

So what has been going on while I have been gone. Jeff and Kaleb did not have such good luck at the turkey hunting. From what dh says the area he hunts has been hit hard with weather and disease and there are just not the number of birds there used to be. They still had a good time, Kaleb got to play hookey from school all day wednesday and then for the mornings on Thursday and Friday. He really loves hanging out with daddy, but I do think he was happy to sleep until 6 this morn and not get up at 4.

Lindsay and I did the garage sale thing on saturday. We found some clothes for her and a couple things for K. I looked at baby stuff, but I am not ready to get anything yet. A friend of mine had a sale at her house and I took a box full of stamps and other stuff over. I made out pretty good, the box was a whole lot lighter when I brought it home and I had a pocket full of cash.

This week I get to work at Memories on wednesday, way excited about that! I always have a blast when I work, and I get to catch up with some friends I don't get to see all that often. Maybe I will even have time to work on some scrappin.

I'm off to do archery stuff, I really need to do bills, but it is to nice today to sit at the computer for hours so I will do it tomorrow (I think it is supposed to rain). For now it's just a couple quick phone calls and then 90210 mixed in with the laundry and then I am taking a walk! Yippee a walk all by myself! I like taking the kids but that stroller just keeps getting heavier.

Not really much to update here, nothing much is going on. We had a nice Easter, dispite the rain. It rained from 4:00 am (this is the time Jeff gets up for Turkey hunting, which he just hit the alarm and went back to sleep after hearing the rain) until about 6:00 pm. This was the first year we could not hunt eggs at Grandpa's. I wonder who was more upset Grandpa or the kids??? Looks like we are doing an after easter hunt sometime this weekend.

Jeff is on vacation this week so my schedule is all goofy, amazing how an extra adult in the house makes everything wacky. The kids really like having daddy home, except that Kaleb thinks he needs to stay home from school and just hang out with daddy too.

Good Friday sure was great! We started the day with dentist appointment for K, Lins and I. Not my favorite thing to do, but one of the necessary evils. No cavities, which I think is a miracle based on the number of times that my children actually brush there teeth. And my baby is getting big boy teeth, K has two 6-year molars coming in on top. He still hasn't lost any baby teeth, but they figure by fall the bottom front two should be ready to come out. I don't really care, I kinda like his little teeth.

After the dentist we met aunt Judy and Austin for lunch at Ella's Deli, such a fun place for little and big people both. I took K and Lins on the Carousel, Lins rode a horse all by herself! Kaleb is still not so sure about any type of ride, so we just rode in one of the stationary seats. Next we were off to the zoo! Along with 100's of other stroller toting moms. We had to drive around the zoo twice before we found a place to park. But what do we see after getting out of the van, geese! Kaleb thought this was the coolest thing, I think cuz they are not in any sort of cage and we could get pretty close to them.

Here is what happens when you let your son take pictures with your camera, I down load the pics this am and what do I see six pictures of a hot wheels. They weren't really bad pictures either, but now what to do with them??? Just another reason why I love my digital.

I have been sitting in this office all day, I really wanted to get out for a walk, but we really needed to get our taxes done. Yep we wait until the utter last second, it is just my nature. But they are almost done, just need some numbers from Jeff and e-file here we go. YIPEE!

One more last second job calls, the kids have been after me all day to color eggs. Now seems like a good time.

Zoo fun 

Riding Ella's Carousel 

Crazy! 

Hail - 2 1/2" Diameter! 

Check this out! 

I have heard of golf ball size hail, but never experienced it. Tonight I experienced it first hand! I am here at the computer emailing a friend and I here my husband coming up the stairs and then I hear what sounds to me something like glass breaking and I think what the @#$ is dh doing. I run out of the office and the guys are just looking out the window in awe as we are pelted with these monsterous balls of ice. We have a plexy glass type roof over our back porch and as they hit that the sound is just deafening, I was almost in tears and Lindsay was really scared too. It only lasted a few minutes but Jeff's truck has at least two big dents and we didn't bother to check the van yet. Tomorrow morning after the sun comes up we will see what else is damaged. But we have the pictures and some soveniors in the freezer.

Well today was de-cluttering day at our house, my mom came over to help and well we got through the kids room. Feels like we should have done more, but it was pretty nasty in that one room. Lots of bags for goodwill and lots of bags for garage sale. We created a little space, but not enough for a new baby. I have lots of work ahead of me before September. Somehow I always manage to make things work out so I'm optimistic.

Yesterday I did get some scrapping done while the munchkins napped. I have an almost completed CKU album, just some minor tweaking left. That makes me feel really good, cuz this album is all for me! Also got some projects done for a class I am teaching at the end of the month. I am doing a Quickutz class and we are using all kinds of the new stuff, I a doing a card with the icing rub-ons, a card with the new quickstampz foam, a silly little tag and a 12x12. Last night I got one card and the tag completed. but I have the page and second card all sketched out, just need to put the materials together. I may just post them here when it's all together.

Kaleb is feeling better today, so I think we have avoided the nasty 5-day fever thing and that means our trip to the dentist tomorrow is a go. After the dentist we are going to catch up with a friend and hit the zoo! Wow this week of spring break has really gone by fast! It really has me looking forward to summer vacation.

Well all for now, I wish everyone a wonderful Easter weekend, take lots of pictures!

What a day!

Wow was yesterday a busy one, I had two extra little people for the day and boy was I hopping. I had just enough time to make archery calls in the morning and then I don't think I sat down again until I went to bed. I did try and update this thing but for some reason it wouldn't let me in. Guess the computer knew I should really be concentrating on other stuff.

I taught a class last night too. A little bit hectic and frazzled but I think everyone enjoyed themselves. I was planning on five students and ended up with seven that always makes things a little hairy. We used the alcohol inks to create a fun and colorful 12x12 page, at the end of class both of my hands were covered in ink! Gotta love that!

Today should be a little slower, Kaleb got me up at 3 am, complaining of a belly ache, he had been coughing on and off and I think his tummy muscles just hurt from all that, but when I went to snuggle with him I realized he had a scorching fever. Yeah sickness around a holiday, that is common for my world. We are without the daycare kids today and off to the doctor later this morning. Hopefully he doesn't have the wonderful ickyness his cousins had the last couple weeks, high fever for 3-5 days I just don't have time for it! I really should tell you how lucky we are, the last time K was sick I think was when he was teething. My kids rarely get sick (just sometimes around a holiday), I am one of the luckiest moms out there. Maybe that is why I don't deal with it so well. Maybe they will give him some meds that make him sleep the day away and I can scrapbook? Always look on the bright side, right?

Off to clean up for the doctor,

Nicole :)

Just another manic monday, ohh, ohhh...

Well maybe its not so manic as it could be, but we had an icky night and I so don't feel like doing anything! I had to force myself to get out of bed and shower when all I wanted to do was just hide under the blankets. I think I have hit a depressive low and I feel like I need to clean out all the clutter, but I just don't know where to start. I called my mom and she is going to come over and help me go through the kids room and get rid of some excess. I guess I feel like I just can't do anything because there is just to much to do. Anyone else ever feel that way??? I can sit and make mental lists of all the things I need to do and I think why aren't I just doing it, but I can't seem to do anything! Ick! Am I lazy, I don't think so, maybe just under-appreciated???

I better move on to brighter things, don't need this to end up being my depression outlet!

It looks like the weather is going to be good today and I am going to take the kids on a short walk to the post office and bank this morning. Maybe we will pull the little picnic table out and eat lunch under the sun. Yesterday, Kaleb and Lindsay managed to pull out most of the outside toys (or is it junk?) from storage. Of course this was after I had told them not to do it. But they did manage to get it all picked up and put in relatively out of the way spots to make the yard look less like a playpen before bedtime. It is amazing what a little "Dad" threatening will make children do.

Yikes it's almost 9:00 and I still have two little people in jammies, gotta take care of that.

Lotz a eggs 

found one 

Brrrr 

I am stuck at the computer!

Guess I have time to update the blog today, I am stuck at my computer! Well really I am stuck watching my printer. I am helping my boss at the LSS with some wedding invites she is doing, I am printing 225 of the actual invite wording. And well they have to be perfect so I sit here and watch each one come out and make sure my printer is doing what it is supposed to.

We did have a much more exciting morning. It was the local easter egg hunt put on by our Jaycee's group. It was way cold (34 or something horrible like that), but the kids had a great time. I heard the organizer saying last year they only got 60 kids, this time around I think there was closer to 150! What a sight! I told K and Linz that they could pick three eggs and then stop. They both stuck to what mom said and they ended up with great treats. Now to scrap these pics! That would be my new thing taking pics and scrapping them instantly. I already got the new Karen Foster Easter paper and stickers to work with. Now if only my pc desk had enough room on it to use my paper trimmer...

Just talked to DH, his luck at the archery tournaments seems to be holding steady. Not that he is having bad luck, he is doing great, but again this was a big money shoot and he ended up in fourth place with winnings paying out to third. Rotten turn of events, but what can you do. With Jeff there is always next weekend!

To my scrappin friends I was also on two peas while printing and if you need to see a completed SHE album there is a thread with a link on the GS brd. It is an amazing album, beautiful pictures and even more heartfelt and beautiful journaling. Check it out.

I'm Back!

Ok so 90210 was a little lame today, but I still love it! Hee, hee!

I am so excited I just got the mail and what to my suprise I got pictures from CKU! Yeah they are so cool I am so looking forward to scrapping with them tonight. Now to find some papers and stuff.

It's official spring break has now started! I get to spend an entire week, every day, all day with 6 kids! Yes I am a little too excited, can you see the sarcasim in my type??? But truely I am excited it means that I only have to get one person up and out of the house in the morning (lovely dh) instead of four. So it sort of is a break for me. We do have a couple of fun outings scheduled and the weather looks as if it might even cooperate with us.

Bye!

TGIF!!!

Yeah it's friday! Gotta go watch my guilty pleasure, 90210! Yes I grew up in that wonderful era when Beverly Hills was the coolest! It's on SoapNet daily and well sometimes you just gotta do something for yourself right???

Back with more updates after the show...

spring flowers 

spying 

Random thoughts...

It is way past the time I am normally in bed, but I guess CKU really got me going. I worked on two layouts for the store tonight and I didn't want to stop until I had them "done". As scrappers we always feel that done is a hard thing to get to, well I do. I go over and over my pages and think what could I have done better, does it need anything??? I am never really satisfied with my work, but who is???

You be the judge...

This one's for you Christine...

Ok so I made it though CKU! In case you don't have a clue as to what CKU is well it's three days full of scrappin fun put on by Creating Keepsakes magazine. I met some wonderful ladies there. First my totally amazing dorm mates from the Croppin Commandos! Love ya all and can't wait to get together again. I sat with a wonderful group in my Album track and hopefully I will have some pictures to post soon. And a special thanks to my driving buddy and roomie Melissa!

I came home with mostly (just need to slap down some pictures) completed albums. One 12 x 12 (from my album track, special thanks to Anita for a great time), one 8 x 8 recipe album (thanks Mary for a great swap), and seven mini books from make n take day and my other classes. I didn't have a class that I didn't like and I am counting the days until I can do it again!

I think I finally have things in order at home, Jeff isn't the best at handling things when I am not here, but I love him still. Yesterday I designed a great page for my technique class I am teaching next week, and I have a great accordian card that I made for a class in a couple weeks. Check out the store blog for pics.

Jeff took the day off yesterday and well I got the most amazing pictures of him playing games with Lindsay and Bradon. This is just so rare a moment, I am so proud that he took the time to sit with them when he had so many other things he really needed to do. Moments like that make life so worth it! Now if I could only find my camera I would upload the pictures...

Off to balance the check book and then maybe take the kids for a short walk before lunch. It is a wonderful day here the sun is shining and I need to be out!

Later!

Nicole :)

Hello, hello!

Well I am home from Vegas, actually we have been home for almost two weeks, but I am finally getting back in the swing of things. I really need to settle down and just be home for a while, but that is so not happening anytime soon.

So what has been happening, I had a wonderful time in Vegas really wished I didn't have to come home. It was sunny and 70's (above normal even for Vegas this time of year), and what do we come home to cold and snow! Ick! Jeff participated in three archery tournaments all of which he did wonderful in, but somehow just missed the prize money in all three. I am very proud of him and I did manage to take a couple pictures that I may just scrap! LOL!!!

Last weekend I got to meet three of my CKU dorm buddies and my roomie. We had a cropping get together in Madison. It was a blast to meet them, they are all wonderful, creative ladies. CKU is going to be amazing and I can't believe that it is only a month away now. Better get to work on my album track homework.

This past Friday and Saturday I went cropping again with friends and again we had a blast. I didn't scrap any photos, but I got two CKU swaps completed, what a weight off my shoulders, but alas I still need to do that homework, maybe next weekend. Oh wait I am working at the store next weekend, stop in and see me if your in the area!

Later!
Nicole :)

Just wasting time...

Ok so i have a million and one things to do before we leave for vegas on Wednesday and here I am updating my Blog cuz I just don't feel like doing anything!

I did accomplish one important project that I must say I am rather proud of. Many of you know that kaleb is in Kindergarten, well they make a big deal about the 100th day of school. They have a party and do all kinds of things having to do with 100. So we need to gather a 100 of something for K to take to school tuesday, yep this tuesday is the fabulous 100th day of school! So I get to thinking and as much as K likes archery and the outdoors I think well Jeff must have something small in that shop. But then the Ah Ha moment happens, we must have at least 1000 pictures of deer from various hunts and way to many "trail" cameras. So we count out 100 pictures yesterday and now what to do with them. Can you guess it, I must scrap them! I decided on the simplest of books a 6x6 with one picture per page that way the kids can count em and stuff. Well in a little less than a day I have scrapped 100 pictures of deer. Granted there are no titles, no journaling, very little embellishment, it really is a simple book. But I really like how it turned out, and now Kaleb will always have a special book full of deer that he can check out.

Alright that is enough sharing for today, later!

Nicole :)

Here it is my recipe swap page! It's ok I guess, I thought oh an 8 x 8 page I will have so much room to play with. Well I didn't! I needed to fit a picture of me and some personal info, well I couldn't find room! So you will see there is a twill tape flap, and the recipe opens and here is where you will find my picture and info! I am into the hidden elements lately. Solid papers are SU and Bazzill, and the patterns are Junkitz (love em). I really like the little touch of the paper clip, what do you think? And of course the chicken is QK, gotta have a little QK on everything right???

Nicole :)

CKU Recipe Swap 

I'm Stuck!

Well I decided to take a break and surf the web for awhile and figured I could add some updates to my neglected blog. I have decided that the people that have time to make notes on these things daily are either way into diaries and journals, or they have no lives. LOL!! Me I have never been big into diaries or journals so I am amazed that I am still working at keeping this up to date.

Ok, so I really like to make lists, not that it helps me get anything done but I wanted to make another one
Here's what I need to get done before CKU
- Start/Finish Recipe Swap for Albumn track group, This is what I am taking a break from at the moment. I had this fabulous idea in my head and it is just not coming out like I planned, but I think I feel that way about most of my layouts

- Create Baby Girl card for another swap

- Create 6 x 6 page about ME for Dorm group, this one will so be the hardest, I mean I have to come up with a picture of myself that I can put on a page, what have I gotten myself into???

- Finish picking out pictures and making journaling notes for my albumn track, can you believe that I already have a few pictures selected! I think that I am going way off the beaten path for this one though. Instead of using pictures from one single year I am just going to choose the ones that mean the most to me and work with pre-designed ideas from the instructor. Yes I have completely given up the idea of cronological scrapping. It really has freed me and I LOVE IT!!!

List done.

On another note...
I am participating in a Secret Sister thang for CKU, way fun! I sent my sister her little gift a week or so and there was a wonderful thank you note on our yahoo board. She was so greatful I almost wanted to cry, I felt like I had really made someone's day it was just unbelievable! I can't wait to send her out her valentine gift.
Then today I got my gift, wow! Can you believe someone who doesn't even know me got me a pack of Bazzill, an entire set of MM magnetic stamps (way cool!), flower embelishments (if you know me you know I am a flower freak), a valentine nik/nak (small and cute, I love it) and chocolate! I am so glad that I joined this group, these scrappers are so wonderful, to anyone out there if you don't scrap you should, you are missing out on some of the most wonderful friendships you can make.

Ok I better get back to my recipe page, maybe if I can put something half way decent together I will post a pic for you all to see.

Later! Nicole :)

Wedding Card Swap 

Wow, long time no blog...

Just incase you wanted to know what has been happening in my neck of the woods here goes. I am way to busy! I know so is everyone else, but really wasn't it supposed to slow down after the holidays???

Ok, so I feel a little like a jet setter lately, Jeff and I returned from an Archery Trade Show that took place in Atlanta, GA on Jan 8th, that was fun, sort of. It's a trade show and nine hours a day in a confrence center is not the most exciting time. Plus our hotel was a disaster! Never stay at the Super 8 in downtown Atlanta! And that is all I will say.

Next up we are going to Vegas the begining of February. This will be fun! I love Vegas! If I could go every year I would. Our first trip to Vegas was for our honeymoon, and we will be there for our 7th aniversary this trip. I am planning to take Jeff to a resturant called Lawry's. They serve Prime Rib with all the fixin's and well lets just say that the whole dining experience is that an experience. I know Jeff will love it and I am so excited!

On to the crafting world news, I have been busy signing up for swaps with my CKU friends, I may have gotten myself in over my head, but oh well! I have a class at Memories this weekend, I am very excited about! We are doing all things that have to do with a heat gun! Five very fabulous cards! I am also trying to start thinking about getting my homework done for CKU, but it's just thinking. If you don't know me I am a deadline queen and well the deadline is still 70 days away! LOL!!!

I'm gonna post the wedding swap I am working on, I like it, hope you do to!

All for now! :)