I am thrilled that so many of you liked the card and envelope template! Yayayya. Lots of great comments left here and on 4shared. It makes me smile. I have no freebie today...will try to have one again tomorrow.

So...the boys were both home sick with me yesterday. I love them lots...but what ever normal whining happens on a regular basis...when sick is amplified by like 80. And that is just MY Whining...not theirs, heheheheh.

We made a target run late morning for kleenex and cold meds and new shoes for the ever growing boys. When did kid's shoes get so expensive for crying out loud. I looked like crap warmed over and served on a soggy english muffin...so of course I saw two people I knew who talked to me. SIGH. Note to self...but make up on no matter how you feel!

Got a number to get Hayden assessed for his speech....called and left a message.

Finished folding load 87 or so of laundry.

Went to Michaels to see if they had the Cricut tags bags boxes and more cartridge since they are half off. Nope. That thing is hard to find dang it.

Now we are going to veg out for a bit. Puzzles and books. I wish Brandon wasn't gone this week...I don't feel like moving!

Here are a couple layouts I have done.

This was inspired by veronica jennings...I loved her holly jolly layout I saw on her blog...so set off to create a layout.

all goodies used are by Amy Wolff from the lilypad


This one is of my oldest stepdaughter and ppl in her life. I was made aware of a typo I need to fix this evening...thanks karen. I love when ppl tell you instead of letting your print them out!

I used salvaged papers and alpha by Rachel Young (black and red paper black alpha) from funkyplayground designs and the Blossom and Shine collab kit that was made for the members of My Scrapbook Art. Love the kit and those sweet designers!

and this one is for the challenge over at Elemental Scraps using goodies by Jannalynn from the ES Shoppe



Got this off of Mar1anne's blog...thought I should add mine.

What are you looking forward to the most in 2008?
I usually don't think about it too much...but I would like to think of it as a new beginning for my health, my attitude and my marriage.

What are you dreading most in 2008?
Losing 45lbs and trying to clean up my bad habits. I know me and I know it will be hard.

What do you hope to learn this year?
I would like to RE-learn a lot of stuff I learned in school. the science, history math stuff. The stuff that my kids will want me to know one day and that seem to have disappeared from my brain.

What are your goals/resolutions?
once again...I don't normally do that...but this is a new beginning right?

so. to work out again. I used to love it for goodness sakes.
to eat better
to explore my spiritual side
to have a better outlook
get off some of my prescriptions
be more interactive w/ hubby

Do you have any travel plans for 2008?
Girls weekend away in March. Also a family vacation but its not planned yet.

Do you have any significant birthday/anniversary events coming up?

every birthday and anniversary is important to me...you never know when it will be your last. Brandon and I will be married for 7 years in April. I am having a bday in Feb...not a "milestone" bday, but still. I want to celebrate. I haven't really celebrated my birthday since I have had kids. Especially since Hayden's is the day after mine.


What would be your dream event of 2008?
Me getting off all my prescritions and weekly shot

Do you plan to see or contact any old friends/family members this year?
I would like to. I let go of some really good friendships over the last couple of years. Do to my depression and stress. I would like to contact them and let them know I still care and love them.

What do you hope to NOT repeat in 2008 that occurred in 2007?
To not celebrate life and enjoy what I have.

What do you think will be different about yourself come next NYE?
I hope to be more content with myself and life.

here is brandon's ....he said I could post it ;)What a trooper.

What are you looking forward to the most in 2008?
more time w/family

What are you dreading most in 2008?
work

What do you hope to learn this year?
ime management

What are your goals/resolutions?

provide a healthy and hpapy environment for family
finish projects started

Do you have any travel plans for 2008

go to Ich park
diving

Do you have any significant birthday/anniversary events coming up?
no

What would be your dream event of 2008?
win the lottery

Do you plan to see or contact any old friends/family members this year?
no


What do you hope to NOT repeat in 2008 that occurred in 2007
my business mistakes

What do you think will be different about yourself come next NYE?

be healthier, happier and a better husband

I am sooooo taking on this challenge I found on Red Velvet Art's Blog...

Make your own Journal. how cute and creative huh?!?

I am on the lookout for new and creative goodies to make this year. so you can always point me to fun projects!

have a great day gals

hi there scrap happy people. I am actually blogging again. I am trying to do it more. So....we survived yesterday. It was so crazy here. 60+mph winds, downed trees everywhere, plants, fences and even an airplane were tossed around...yup an airplane. a small sessna that wasn't tied down right. picked up and thrown over a fence into a ditch. We kept our power though lots and lots lost theirs. My inlaws lost their skylight...the roofers obviously didn't screw it on....they only found one screw hole. Geesh. We played tons and tons of games...the boys and I. Pass the pigs, monopoly jr, sequence for kids and uno. We also did lots of paper crafting. I had to keep Hayden's mind of the storm. The lights flickering on and off really started to freak him out a bit. The cats were NOT amused by the whole thing. AT ALLLLLL.

But...all is ok if messy. It slowed down last night and didn't start to storm again till a couple hours ago. Now another break.

here are just a couple pics.

We have this HUGE redwood in our front yard...yeah...I know...a beautiful tree...but way too big for a residential area. anyhoooos. it was spit up at the top...growing two different ways. Well...one hugeeeee part (thing length of my car or more) slammed down with lots of little branches thrown up to 20ft.



my inintended swimming pool filling up, lol



trellis being torn apart and pots of flowers thrown to the right.



oh well...nothing too bad. the worst is the fence that we now have to redo with the neighbors...the posts are shot. sighh.


now..how bout some fun xmas goodies to show off?

my xmas card. I used rachel youngs goodies from funky playground designs

falala mini
we wish you the merriest element pack and foil alpha
and her awesome foil flakes




my little hambones showing off.


Carin wanted to see some xmas gifts that I made...I can show a bit...my other camera card is at my aunt's. ackkkk. I will get it back soon I hope. all my xmas pics are pretty much on there.

here is the front of the gift bags for their teachers.



some goodies we made to put in bags for the office staff, cafeteria gals, janitors, crossing guard, other fave teachers and people at school. the pretzels were inspired by Ms. Gina Miller

bags were decorated with Jingle Jangle Goodies by Jacque Larson and Rachel Young available here.



a shot of all the bags before the last day of school


what the appreciation bag toppers say.



Then I made this paper bag album...it was so fun and easy and looks so great in person.

you take lunch bags. then you stack them horizontally on top of each other...but you swith what side the ends are on each time. so you alternate the opening being on the right, then the left and so on.

then you mark where you want your holes to go, then punch them. (some people like to sew the spine, but my machine would NOT do it no matter how I begged it. sigh)

I then tied the first ribbons to just hold it together.

I used my double sided scrap tape to adhere my layouts on...I made them smaller to kind of frame them a bit. Next time I will ink and glitter the edges I think.

I took cardstock and cut it to fit into the open end pockets and attached ribbons to the first few. then I taped some layouts and journaling on them and put them in.

next I attached my front ribbons and ricrac. Sewed on a button. Threaded embroidery thread through the back to make the tie.

Walllah! They loved it!

for the cover and the pages shown here I used Christmas Cheer and Merry Memories by Bren Boone at Scrapbook Graphics






Now for a goodie for you sweeties. A Card template with an envelope template. I hope you can find a good use for it!



click here to download and make a beautiful card and send to someone who you would like to make happy. We all like getting something other than bills in the mail...make sure to leave me a little hello and tell me how your new year is going.

off to try to scrap a layout before daddy tires of entertaining the rugrats!

hugs and happy scrapping!

hi all. this is going to be a short one....we are having a NASTY storm here! But I wanted to share a great find today!

my buddy Kim Hill's store--CGEssentials--is Three!!!!! Happy birthday! wooohoooooo! and she is having a heck of a sale!!! yayayayay again!


Here is her newest kit, Memory Lane, which I just love. Great colors, wonderful elements and it is so versatile. Heritage, family, baby, boy...all pics will be set off to perfection with it.



Here is a layout I made with the kit



Another of her kits I love is a custom kit she was commissioned to make (yup...she does that too. You can have her design your very own kit!!!)
It is called love and marriage and it is so fun. I love it. and it, too, is versatile.



a layout of hubby and I on our wedding day using this kit.



she has so many wonderful designs...you won't be dissapointed...unless you miss the sale!

ok...off to play another game of Pass the Pigs with the boys. ughhhh. this weatherrrrr!

tomorrow I will show you pics of my poor yard...downed fence, tree, plants and all. wahhhh. will also have a treat for you!

see you then.
hugs and happy scrapping

oh...and miss Jen. I will put up my old templates...soon. I have a little coupon for you...will send it out this weekend for you to pick up that pack.