scrappy thursday and some exciting news!

Hello everyone! I have tons of scrappiness to share, but first I want to share some exciting news! I am now on the creative team for Ormolu. I can't tell you how excited I am about this!!! Kaitlin seems so super nice and she has some fantastic designs that I am really excited playing with:) I am also really stoked to work with the other girls on the team. A lot of them are designers I greatly admire...this is gonna be fun!

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In other scrapbooking-related news, My Scrapbook Nook is running a *really* awesome special right now. You just commit to 6 months, and you will get the May kit free. Pretty cool, right? HERE is a bit more info...If you are wondering what will be in June's kit, it will feature Lily Bee Picket Fence.

If you do sign up, let me know so I can get a $5 credit, hee hee..no pressure;)

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okay, now onto projects. You know there was a big virtual crop last weekend at the nook and I has sooooo much fun creating and participating in the challenges! Here is what I created:

This was for a challenge to use die cuts, so I pulled out LOTS of yummy Jillbean Soup die cuts/journaling sprouts for this one...

*REMOVED FOR PUBLICATION

This card was made in response to an inspiration photo that was posted. I used the March My Scrapbook Nook kit for this:)

This was for a shaped card challenge. I traced one of the kiddie plastic bowls;) I used the April My Scrapbook Nook kit for this!

*REMOVED FOR PUBLICATION*

This was for a challenge to pick a shape and run with it...can you tell which shape I chose, ha! This was one of my favorite things I produced over the weekend. I am pretty obsessed with the Crate toy box line...Shel, YOU need this. I can totally see you using it for Matt pages.

*REMOVED FOR PUBLICATION*

This challenge was to use at least 5 brads and use a non-human photo, lol. I like this page a lot, maybe because I used the May MSN kit?

*REMOVED FOR PUBLICATION*

I also used the May MSN kit for this one...this challenge was to use white/negative space. I think I am finally on board with the mist thing...I had lots of fun adding little sprays to my layouts.

*REMOVED FOR PUBLICATION*

This card was for a challenge to use cream/white as a neutral, one color in different shades, and one color in little bits for pop. This is one of my favorite cards as of late:)

This was for a layout to layer at least 5 layers of patterned paper. If you know me, I am not that big of a layerer, but I think I stayed pretty true to my style here. Oh, and I finally cracked into my Echo Park Summer Days pack, exciting;) 

p.s. Shel, this is a 12x12 page;)

p.p.s. check out today's echo park blog post to see this layout there too;)

Another page using the May My Scrapbook Nook kit, and this was a sketch challenge.

*REMOVED FOR PUBLICATION*

I also used the May kit for this page. This challenge was to create a page in less than 45 minutes. Being the dork that I am, I timed myself and ended up with 38 minutes and 12 seconds;) This was the first page I misted on for the crop and I think I did too much, but I learned from this and tried not to go too crazy on the other pages. Doesn't A look teeny here? It was about 2 years ago when these pictures were taken.

I made this page for a challenge to use silly or non-traditional pictures. Yeah, I am obsessed with baker's twine...SO? ;)

This was for a challenge to use dots and stripes. I love this picture of K-man. Is he *really* going to be 2 in a week? Still working on freezing time;)

*REMOVED FOR PUBLICATION*

This was another one of my favorite projects I did over the weekend. We had a picture of a quote that we had to be inspired by, and this is what I came up with. I really really like this quote with the picture:) I used the April kit from My Scrapbook Nook for this.
And Candi-I finally used my glittery KI words-go me!!

For this challenge, we had to be inspired by the Into the Wild movie poster. I also used the yummy April kit for this one;)

This was a challenge to lift one of the member's pages that was chosen...I again used the April kit;)

I created this page earlier in the week last week, but it was for my blog post on Amy Mattes Designs, featuring the Happy Digital Clip Art.

This was for a card challenge on the Nook to create a card with a bicycle on it:)
Phew...are you with still, ha ha??!!
Tomorrow I will be playing catch up with a big ole photo friday post:)

wordless wednesday: playing "treat shop"

ten on tuesday

1. I ran 3 miles yesterday. I was just going by the time for the c25k program, but this week I decided to go by mileage, and since I am going to run my first 5k (since high school!) this weekend, I wanted to see if I could do it. It took me 36 minutes and 45 seconds. I am hoping that since I won't be pushing a jogging stroller, I will be able to finish faster than that on Saturday.

2. Aislynn is graduating from preschool this Thursday. Yikes. I guess I better go and register her for kindergarten (yes, I have still put that off).

3. My car wouldn't start last Thursday. Waaaah. It was a bad coil(?), now it's something else. I miss it though. It is much much easier getting the kids in and out of that than Shaun's 2 door Acura Integra.

4. In searching for a lemon loaf recipe, I found a few other things I want to try, like this blueberry crumb cake recipe, cream cheese pound cake, and lemon blueberry cupcakes. This is the lemon loaf I am planning to try.

5. My sister is moving back to this area!!! YAHOO! I am so excited, as well as K+A!! Aunt "Bwin" is back!

6. I am excited and a little nervous about the summer. We will just have to get in a routine...and I am thinking about filling a box with little crafts or things to do for when boredom sets in.

7. Kieran is definitely getting to that terrible two stage. That boy wears me out. He is go go go every waking minute. And danger danger...the other day while I was making lunch, I look over the bar and he has climbed up on his high chair...that boy makes me nervous.

8. I scrapped *a lot* this past weekend. I made 17 things during the nook's virtual crop, so scrappy thursday will be a big one.

9. Photo Friday will also be big since we were going out of town 2 weeks ago and last week on Friday, blogger was acting up BIG time.

10. Can you tell I was having a hard time coming up with 10 things?! I am going to go make some popcorn and veg in front of the tv...

make it monday: zucchini bread

For awhile I have been wanting to try zucchini bread. I found some zucchini on sale and decided to finally do it. I used this recipe by Smitten Kitchen, but I adapted it slightly to make it a tad healthier.

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Zucchini Bread

(makes 2 loaves or 24 muffins)

3 eggs

1 cup unsweetened applesauce

1 3/4 cups of white sugar

2 cups grated zucchini

2 tsp vanilla extract

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour

3/4 cup of whole wheat flour

3 tsp cinnamon

1/8 tsp nutmeg

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1/2 cup dried cranberries

1/2 cup raisins

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.

2. Grease and flour two 8×4 inch loaf pans, liberally. Alternately, line 24 muffin cups with paper liners.

3. In a large bowl, beat the eggs with a whisk. Mix in applesauce and sugar, then zucchini and vanilla.

Combine flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, baking powder and salt, as well as dried fruit.

4. Stir this into the egg mixture. Divide the batter into prepared pans.

5. Bake loaves for 60 minutes, plus or minus ten, or until a tester inserted into the center comes out       clean. Muffins will bake far more quickly, approximately 20 to 25 minutes.

Enjoy!

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This is Aislynn's last week of school...so excited about that! We plan to experiment in the kitchen a lot this summer...I have big plans in finding the very best blueberry muffin recipe and I would also like to try a lemon loaf...any recommendations?

creative scrappers sketch #156

Hello!! As most of you know blogger was acting up for a few days...so that's why I have been missing, ha ha (well, and scrapping my little heart out at the Nook). We will get back to regular scheduled programming soon:) First I have to share another creative scrappers sketch, #156:

This was a really fun sketch to work with...so many possibilities. In the end, I took it pretty straight forward and came up with this:

How I love that picture of K:)

Some detail shots:

Make sure you check out the other creative team pages...love how what everyone did with this sketch! Also, if you want a chance at the generous prize Scrapbook Sussies is offering up, you just have to link something created using sketches 154-157 to Creative Scrappers by May 31st. Have fun creating!

ten on tuesday

1. The May kit from My Scrapbook Nook is here and it is luscious...as in Basic Grey Hello Luscious. The kit is sooooo pretty and as soon as I finish a page for a dt assignment, I am diggin' in. Is it just me, or does brand new BG paper smell really really good?
2. It's time for Creative Scrappers to have another creative team call. I am keeping my fingers crossed to stay on for another term...I have so enjoyed being on the team and absolutely love the sketches! I love every Sunday seeing how differently we all interpret the same sketch.
3. Oh, and speaking of My Scrapbook Nook, there will be a virtual crop May 12-15th. I am really looking forward to it. During kid bedtimes and nap times I will be over there playing along!
4. I had a layout picked up for the summer 2011 issue of Scrapbook & Cards Today, which was especially exciting because this is my first pub with them. I also got 2 happy e-mails tonight requesting a card for Northridge Publishing's Create: Holidays Idea Book and a layout for October Scrapbook Trends.
5. Okay, teacher friends...Aislynn is graduating from preschool next week (I save the sap for then *wink*)...so what do I get her teachers?
6. My favorite current thing Kieran says is "ho me Mama" or "Mom ho me." ho me=hold me. I love it.
7. I started week 9 (the final week!!!) of the c25k program today and I ran 30 minutes straight! What a wonderful journey this has been....so glad I have finally found an exercise program that I can and will stick too!
8. I am going to have to get into a routine when A is out of school. I won't really be able to run when she is home (right now I go while she is at school and I push K in the jogging stroller). That means I will need to do it before the kids get up...who is up at 6 a.m. CST that wants to text me and tell me to get my butt out of bed? I will repay you in scrappiness or cookies or something handmade:) I guess I should mention that I set my alarm, but I have a really bad track record of just sleeping until I hear kiddies.
9. I have been getting daily e-mails from Southern Savers and have started to pick up on some couponing tips. Don't worry, I am not going to turn into one of those extreme couponing ladies...I don't really need 93 bags of croutons or something like that, but it is kinda fun saving some money. The only problem for me is that a lot of the coupons are for processed/packaged foods and I have been trying to only buy it when necessary. Most of the money I have saved was on cleaning stuff, sunscreen, etc.
10. I think I am gonna go eat some frozen yogurt now...

make it monday: foot print butterfly painting

Aislynn and I did a fun craft a couple weeks ago and I wanted to share:) It includes putting paint on your feet and she was a little concerned because she didn't want to get paint on the floor, but I assured her I would not let her walk around with paint on her feet;)

First gather up your supplies...white cardstock, a pipe cleaner, paint (colors are your choice...Miss A had to have rainbow colors), a paint brush, a hole punch or scissors, tape, and wipes or paper towels to clean up the piggies.

Fold your cardstock in half and open it back up. Then paint the bottom of your child's foot and stamp it down right next to the fold on the paper. If you paint the right foot, you will need to stamp it on the left side of the fold and if you do the left foot, you will need to stamp it to the right of the fold. After you stamp the footprint, fold the paper in half and rub over the paper. Open it back up and you have a butterfly. After the paint dries, you can add a hole with your punch or scissors at the top and bottom of the butterfly, right on the fold mark. Snip about 2 inches from your pipe cleaner and thread the long part through the hole. Tape the ends to the back of the cardstock. Weave the small part of the pipe cleaner at the top of the long pipe cleaner and fold it up into a V for the antennas. 

Ta Da!

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I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend and all the Mama's out there had a Happy Mother's Day! I have lots of pictures to share from the last couple weeks and I'll get them all edited and up her eventually;)

scrappy thursday+a winner!

We have a winner for the papers...

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

1 

Timestamp: 2011-05-05 20:28:54 UTC

which is ...

KariAnnS said...

http://eighteen25.blogspot.com/ is my favorite craft/project blog.

http://karenrussell.typepad.com for photo inspiration

http://stephaniehowell.typepad.com for everything

5/02/2011 12:25:00 PM

Yay Kari!! I love those blogs too;) 

And thanks you guys for playing along, I discovered some new reads, yippee!!!

Now on to scrappy Thursday...I spent most of the week working on this mini album with the April My Scrapbook Nook kit. I originally had a different idea for scrapping these pictures from our New Orleans trip, but I procrastinated so long and then I got this kit and the colors were perfect for the pictures:) I was totally inspired by this tutorial by Amy Tangerine on the American Crafts blog:)

That's all for now...I do have a card I made but I can't share it until next week;) What are the plans for National Scrapbook Day? I will be out of town, so I will be looking forward to seeing what all my girlies make;)

wordless wednesday: at the beach

ten on tuesday: right now

I saw this fun little project Willette is doing and decided to participate. So for this week's ten on tuesday, here are ten things that are our "right now."

1. I really, like really need a pedicure.

 2. The first thing Miss A does when she gets home from school is watch Martha Speaks.

3. Kieran leaves a trail/mess wherever he goes.

4.  Sometimes he takes a nap, other days he resists or we just aren't home and miss the boat for nap time.

5. Loving homemade granola...

6. I am really really procrastinating putting this gigantic mountain of laundry away...anyone want to come help?

7. Loving Aislynn's artwork...this is a picture of a kid crying with a circle/line to remind us not to whine;) I really need to take that utility bill and go register her for kindergarten.

8. Need to send back Shaun's contacts after they sent him the wrong ones twice. Another thing I am procrastinating...

9. I love when it's flip flop season:)

10. My scrap stuff is in our bedroom, but I mostly leave the essentials on the bar in the kitchen so I don't have to pull it out all the time;)

Don't forget about the giveaway;)