Happy New Year!

Tonight we mark the end of 2008 and begin our new adventures in 2009. I always make time to clean and organize this time of year as most of us try to do. But first, I need to put that tree and all that Christmas fanfare away...ugh!..

I have been busy scrapping holiday/winter layouts and I thought I would share a few product faves with them:
This layout is from the Dec. AMM kit-Loving that Jenni Bowlin Crepe Ribbon and the Holiday Bingo Cards--'08 was definitely the year of that BINGO card!
You just gotta love that Anna Griffin holiday paper from last year. I wish her paper lines were easier to find. The only major presence she really has is on QVC. I added some tinsel ribbon from last years Making Memories Halloween line and glittered a Jenni Bowlin birdie.
This layout took a while as I handpainted the chipboard letters and houses and then added some puffy paints to create the frosty snow look. I also used some of the MS gingerbread felt that I got in Michaels and painted them as well, to give them the look of little cookies.
In this layout I used some My Mind's Eye papers and embellishments and added some Pink Paislee green apple Pixie Dust. Birds were still very hot this year as we all know...
Finally, this layout came from the Studio Calico Dec. Kit. I added some of my own frilly paper twirly thingies. Love the American Crafts Flair and those Silver MM alphas!

Well, that is all for now..I just want to wish everyone a wonderful 2009 and can't wait to see all the creative inspiration you ladies give me in the coming year!
Happy 2009!!!

Gingerbread Wonderland...

It has been somewhat of a tradition to visit the "Gingerbread Wonderland" at the arboretum by my house. Every year, they put on a display of gingerbread creations made by local schools, clubs and families.
It is so neat to see all the adorable little houses all lined up.





I am always inspired to create my own gingerbread house after visiting, which I made yesterday with a little help from my 3 year old:


Here is the finished product:

I used one of those Wilton kits (no, I am not going to take the credit that I baked the gingerbread myself, but I did assemble the house). I think it came out pretty good for an amateur, that is..

Lastly, I made a couple of layouts. One using my old Basic Grey Mellow paper:
This one with the AMM Dec. Kit:
And this one with some Christmas paper from a My Mind's Eye paper pad that I picked up in Michael's a few weeks ago:


That is all for now..Must get started on my holiday baking..well..maybe tomorrow..

Christmas Decorations and some layouts

Hey there! I have been busy doing a little decorating for the holidays and thought I would share some pictures.
My tree: I finally got a tree skirt after winging it with fabric pieces for 8 years..I love the Martha Stewart holiday items at the "K" and picked up this felt lovely on sale..Love it..
Some of my favorite ornaments:

I am a sucker for all things cutesy and characters I loved from childhood like Hello Kitty, Strawberry Shortcake, Sesame Street.

Below is "Olive-The Other Reindeer" trying to sneak a sip of my Hot Chocolate and then there's my little penguin Wallflower from Bath and Body Works that lights up and has a glitter bubbler just like those vintage Christmas treelights..Adorable!
I made the little banner under my mantle using a Maya Road chipboard star mini album.

We had a "Big" snow last Sunday..(Can't you tell??)
Isabel had to get out on the deck and make a snow angel..


Lastly, I did a couple layouts recently, but I have a few kits that I am waiting to dig in to..I have been slacking because I needed to get some pictures developed, which I Finally just ordered...
I finished up this Pink Paislee collection:

And I have been digging these large scalloped circles lately:


That's all for now..Have a wonderful Thursday!

December is here..

Happy Holidays! December is here..
We had a nice Thanksgiving with the fam.


Now it is time for Holiday shopping, decorating and sending cards.

I finished mine using these adorable Hero Arts owl stamps and my Marvy Uchida punches. I so love that scallop and the circle punch! Now, comes the task of addressing and sending them out.


I haven't done a lot of layouts lately, but did a few finishing up my Oct. Bad Girls kit.



I am currently working on a chipboard garland for the holidays that I will share when it is completed and I am waiting for some new kits in the mail. Other than that, I am going to try and work on a couple of layouts this week using my stash..

Have a wonderful week!
Lauren

Happy Thanksgiving a little early..

From my Little Turkey to yours..

There is quite a stomach bug going on. Isabel got sick and then, of course, I caught it..Hopefully, Steven won't get it for the holiday..Luckily, Dad's always seem to escape these things..

I finished my Halloween layouts and thought I would share a couple of my favorites and which products I liked using the best this year.

Loved these K&Co. glittery Die-cuts---Great value for the $$.
Digging the My Mind's Eye Halloween papers this year with those Crafty Secrets vintage drawings.
Love that Martha Stewart "Fence" punch (at the bottom)
Can't get enough of those holiday-themed Prima crystals and studs!

Lastly, I thought I would share two more Studio Calico November Kit layouts:


Love the blue/brown color combo.


Wishing everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving with their friends and families!!

So many projects..So little time...

It is so hard to believe that Thanksgiving is in exactly one week, although, with all this chilly weather..it seems like Christmas. I must get my head together about everything I need to get ready for the big Turkey day. My computer got a bad virus so everything needed to be reloaded which is why it has taken me so long to post. Sorry!!

I had to get some more supplies yesterday at Michael's to work on my holiday cards. I will resume working on them once I finish all of my Halloween layouts that I am working on this week.

Since my last post, I completed some layouts from the Studio Calico Nov. Kit.
Here are a few:


I also have been working on my Nov. Bad Girls kit which is full of lots of browns and muted colors. I love this type of "Shabby Vintage" style with Black and White and Sepia photos which is what I used on most of my layouts with this kit.


I haven't been doing much scrappy shopping since I am saving for my LSS's "Black Friday Clearance Sale".
I know that they also got some new products that I want, so I am "trying" to be good until then...
That's all for now..Talk Soon!

Sorry, Mr Blog..

I really haven't been intentionally ignoring you, but my computer has been on the fritz, so I have had very limited internet access. I'm sorry..

I picked up some of the new BG Urban Prairie the other day and made this layout:

I think that these colors are so pretty, but when I look at them, I think Spring..So..I may pick up a couple more papers just to hold on to for the Springtime. This time of year, I am much more into the browns and oranges of Fall like in this layout:

I finally used this piece of Sassafras paper that I had been holding onto for a while..I really live the combo of Black/White/& Yellow.

Lastly, I got my AMM November kit the other day and made a few layouts:

Love this combo of the reds and turquoise, but I have to say, I struggle with that My Mind's Eye glitter paper. It is so pretty, but I have a hard time getting things to adhere to it.

That's it for now..I am currently working on my Holiday cards which I will share soon. Have a wonderful weekend!