Justin Bieber - That Should Be Me ft. Rascal Flatts

So I'm up early this morning making Easter cards and scrapping a bit. This is what
I'm listening to. Honestly I would have never have thought I would be a Justin Beiber
fan but since its with Rascal Flatts.....great mix.

~Flashback Friday~Rick Springfield Cruise

So this Flashback Friday is a few layouts of my cruise in 2008.

My best friend Corrina received 2 cruise tickets to

"Rockin' the High Seas with Rick Springfield"

for her birthday and I was lucky enough to go!

I love 80's music but didn't realize what a fan I was of Rick Springfield till the cruise. I mean who doesn't love to sing along to Jessie's Girl. He has a huge following..Who knew? 

OMG he rocks! We rocked. It was a blast. 

  It was crazy fun..... 



Miami skyline...
Carnival Cruise Ship "Destiny"





First stop South Beach...



2nd stop ... KeyWest...oh yes..cocktail anyone? Not enough time there..

thats ok I made it  back but thats another Flashback Friday...lol 



 



3rd stop Cozumel..there was a concert there and everynight on the ship.
I will be posting those layouts soon. 



He literally hung out with everyone the whole time...He was getting a bit tipsy here..

He's quite the fan of wine we all found out!

~Good Morning~ coffee, chat & scrap

I got up extra early this morning, on my 3rd cup of coffee and not particularly excited to be going to work today so here I am..........
Thanks for all the awesome comments everyone has been leaving! I'm having a blast checking out all the blogs I am now following. Everyone has their own unique spin on scrapbooking or crafting in general...not to mention the photography and writing. I love reading it all! I hope you're all enjoying my blog too.
Keep the comments coming!

SWEET!!I found a fun giveaway on DL.ART. Check it out here! Its her 300th Follower Give Away!

Ok its time for me to get busy! I have to get my layouts prepared for the Friday Flashback that my sister @ LoveLeighScraps hosts each Friday. Its great to bring out some of the old layouts you loved and/or don't get to see anymore. Its also fun to just show off some of the your work and appreciate the memory. I crack up looking at how I used to scrapbook compared to now.
Gotta go...have a great day!

~Sunday Brunch w/the Girls~

Ok..I have been on blogger all morning. Already missed the planned grocery shopping and breakfast so now I have to get ready for lunch with my sisters. We haven't gotten together in sometime so I'm really looking forward to it...may even have a cocktail or 2.

Its supposed to be 75 or higher here today and that is really bizarre since we just had 30 degree temps last week. Crazy but makes me want want to get into "Springtime" mode. Our cherry tree is budding. Its beautiful even when the leaves fall...The pink flowers blanket the grass like little pink clouds...

  

Link Up Party~

Good morning bloggers! I'm on my 3rd cup of joe and finally back online. Most of you probably don't know that I have Rheumatoid Arthritis (known as RA) which is why I don't get to post as much as I'd like to. This past month has been quite exhausting and hard as it mostly affects my hands and wrists. I'm feeling pretty good today so that being said I am about to do some catching up....on blogging and scrapbooking!
I found this awesome idea put out there by Kristal @ GettingCricky. Its a Link Up Party. Her site is absolutely adorable and cute. I have to admit that I checked it out many times this morning. I have a cricut which I don't get enough use of.  That will no longer be an excuse. I have found idea after inspiring idea from cricut users that have linked up through her link party. Isn't that just a fab idea??? I'm doing my best to get to everyone today...this may take some time! So I hope you will link up and check out some of my layouts. Comments much appreciated. Enjoy!
   
1. Follow everyone's blog in the Linky Tool
2. Leave a comment
3. Add the link below to your blog post
4. Get ready for lots of new blog friends!

better late than never miscellany monday!

So I really love the idea of miscellany monday and am trying my darnedest (is that a word; didn't want to swear) to remember to post on time. I will make this quick!

I wish I could wear jeans to work. It would make my day start so off much better. For some reason, its always easier to find something to wear with a good pair of jeans..even my shoes look better with jeans. With jeans I don't stare at the closet for a half an hour hoping something will change miraculously!  NO...with jeans it seems to work out just right.

Today Lover Unleashed by the fantastic JR Ward comes out! This is my favorite paranormal series; the characters are just so delicious.  Just purchased it on my Nook from Barnes and Noble......Yes I'm looking forward to sitting down to some badass Vamp romance.  I recommend this series to all!

9th in the series-Can't wait to start it.

   

Do you cut coupons? have a Kroger card? I'm not a fanatic but I try to save when I can. Check out http://www.shortcuts.com/. Once you sign up, you can load coupons onto your card and save at the register. Even if you have a paper coupon of the same item, the electronic coupon applies too. Double the savings! 

I think thats it for me...need to catch up on my DVR backlog. 4 weeks of Kourtney & Kim Take New York ..don't laugh...they crack me up! 

~A Scraptastic Weekend~

So last weekend my sister and I made our way out to Camp CoBeAc in beautiful Houghton Lake Michigan for a long relaxing weekend of scrapbooking...This was our first time to a Scraptastic event. It was nicely done though I will say the cabins were pretty rustic! I was shocked at first but it was fine; we were very comfortable and would consider going back. Its in a prime location-there is a McD's on the corner and a fabulous craft store called Arnie's on the opposite corner. I was lucky enough to win the door prize, a $50 gift cerificate to Arnies, so of course we went shopping first thing Saturday morning!     

I only completed 6 pages but was able to finish up a few others I had previously started so I feel good about what I accomplished. My problem is I spend a lot ot time staring at my pics and reminiscing...then I stare at my page for an hour trying to set up my layout. My sister is much more productive than me; she gets in a zone and blows through her pages. I am envious...but I guess thats why we're all different!

The theme of our weekend was "BLING" so I used lots of glitter and sparkle embellishments. I really like how the pages turned out. I used stickles for the first time...AWESOME..I am happy with the results.  

These layouts are of my niece Shelby at her 17th birthday party. 

I won a Girly stamp set at the crop too and was able to use them on this layout.

Blog Candy!

I just won my first blog candy! Woohoo so fun! I happened to be checking out one of my favorite blogs by Laura @ The Stampin' Soldier earlier this week and entered. Being new to blogging, I had no idea about blog candy so I entered. Not sure what I've won but it doesn't matter; now I'm a winner and tickled to death about it. You should also check out her Etsy Store. She does great work. Her cards are beautiful and fun!

Flashback Friday-intro to CTMH

♥ So I thought I'd share some layouts of the hubs and I ♥

I want to say it was around 2006 and it was my first time using CTMH paper and stamps.

My sister and I were diehard Creative Memory users when we first started scrapbooking.

One day my sister met a CTMH consultant at work who shared a catalog with us.

We were skeptical but intrigued and no way were we going to get into stamping!

Well we had a home party and the rest is history.

We love CTMH.

I love paisley!

 I look at it this way...just like makeup and clothing...you have to try all kinds to see what you like the best.   There is so much scrapbooking stuff out there..I can't find enough or buy enough! LOL

 

I love flowers too!

I remember cutting out these letters and saying "oh hell no"!



My first blog hop! card making....

I just entered my first blog hop and it was so fun! I've never been to one and was expecting to see some scrapbook layouts but it was all cards. I don't have any experience with card making but have seriously been contemplating it for the last month or so. I was floored at the detail and effort that I saw. So fun and pretty and beautiful. Such creativity!! I have scrapbooked for years and cards were never something I aspired to do but after jumping from site to site and seeing all the cool ideas out there...I am feeling quite inspired. I have all the supplies for the most part so that will make it easier to get started. And how nice it would be to have a card on hand for any occasion that might arise?? 
All the ladies in the blog hop did fantastic work..You should check it out! The blog hop goes till Friday midnight. Check it out here courtesy of Your Next Stamp.

Flashback Friday....

So this Flashback Friday goes back to when I first started scrapbooking. Everything was very basic...the colors, the shapes and look at all the white backgrounds...can you say boring! My style now is totally different...not so much basic as simple with lots of color & pop.
I've thought about re-doing the pages but there are 
so many more pictures and albums to do....

I think I'll just keep them as they are and enjoy what used to be.    

I remember thinking long and hard about how to place the pics......very creative..LOL. 

I was big on adding borders to the sides!.............of every page!




No mats at all...I mat almost everything now!  



!!!!Cracks me up!!!!

blog challenges?? help!

I am on a mission this weekend to find blog challenges. I'm looking for challenges that are realistic and not too difficult. Its amazing the ideas my fellow scrappers have out there. I would love it if you could comment and suggest your favorite challenge blog. I could really use your help!  

I did find a challenge I think you all might find fun! Birthday Sundaes

Here's a little something about the new challenge blog:

Birthday Sundaes is a weekly challenge blog beginning March 20, 2011. The goal of Birthday Sundaes is to build up those birthday card stashes! Types of challenges Birthday Sundaes will be hosting are color, supply, recipe, inspiration & technique challenges incorporated into birthday themed cards. There is blog candy too!  


On that note: I've never made cards before but with the blogs I've been viewing yesterday and today..WOW! So much creativity and such detail. It appears many use their scraps to design these beautiful creations too....that is fantastic! So today I plan to make my first (birthday) card! Wish me luck! 

Flashback Friday....

So here is my Flashback Friday. My sister at Loveleighscraps came up with the idea to keep me scrapping and motivate me to scrap more often. I have a tendency to scrapbook only a few times a year. I'd love to be scrappin' daily but unfortunately work and daily life get in the way. She would argue that she finds the time and has a kid to boot.....well I have a husband don't I??? LOL.

This layout is of Lucas, my nephew, when he was 8 months old.
Its one of my favorites.



I used Creative Memories oval cutters,
CTMH stamps, grommets and inking.
I still haven't mastered how to display my photos
and pages perfectly but I wanted to show some of the detail close up..



Flashback Friday in progress....

I'm just so busy checking out other scrappin' blogs that I'm not gettting to my own blog and posting my Flashback Friday. Oh the idea is there....I just haven't shared it yet! Check back in a bit☺

In the meantime...I just found a new blog called Wee Memories. Absolutely AWESOME cards and ideas. Such a cute name and they are having a fun giveaway. You can check it out here.

Something new for me... I think maybe I should make some cards this weekend! 

my short & sweet miscellany monday......

1.This will be a quick one as I am super tired and have a long day ahead of me tomorrow. Another day another dollar as they say☺

2. SNOW GO AWAY....51 degrees on Friday...Woke up Monday to 11 inches of snow...UGH!! Regretfully I have no pictures of this.

3. Do you still love the 80's? I'm still lovin' some Rick Springfield! Rocked his cruise in 2008. AWESOME!!



Arrived in Miami




Walked along South Beach



Spent the day in Key West...great place! 





Then partied in Cozumel w/Rick!.. 

4. No American Pickers tonight....what a bummer! Did you see the last episode when they decorated William Shatner's new home?? They did a fantastic job.

5. I hope you've enjoyed this post and have a wonderful week!

Challenge #24-Cricut and/or Die Cuts

Ok so this is my first challenge! My sister recommended I start doing challenges to keep me scrapping more often. Since I love using the cricut...this one was perfect for me. This is a Lasting Memories challenge. Their site rocks because its all about scrapbook layouts.

I did this layout with the Cricut Stamped Cartridge using the Smooth feature. I think it has a nostalgic fun feel to it.

As a toddler.Lucas loved playing with Uncle Ed's pinky ball. Funny thing about it,
my husband bought one for Lucas but he only wanted the old one.  

     

~Flashback Friday~

So as I'm sitting here drinking a glass of Blackberry Merlot...I'm trying to figure out what I should post this Flashback Friday.....hmmmm...Well these 2 layouts happened to jump out at me!

They are of my 2 favorite subjects-AJ & Lucas; my nephews. They take the best pictures. On the first layout I tried new techniques for the first time. I used the CropADile and started inking. Both were a nice touch. Inking is awesome and makes pages and pics pop.    



This is AJ. He's 8 yrs old now but I believe he was 6 at the time of these pics. We were at a relatives graduation party and he was ecstatic to be in the pool. Love water pictures.



Lucas was 5 in this picture and he loved his Curious George; wouldn't go anywhere without him.I love
how he's holding George and the way his hand is splayed.  

Flashback Friday!

So these layouts were done at a scrap weekend hosted

by Mobile Memories in Gaylord Michigan at McGuires Resort.

My sister and I try to hit a couple weekend retreats a year.

You can see her layout on the right at LoveLeighScraps. 

Crazy weather that weekend! It was sunny and dry (not a drop of

snow anywhere) the day we arrived and 2 days later

it was blizzard like conditions.  

This layout is a picture of my niece Shelby. I love the colors used in this layout. I used embossed paper (from Creative Memories) for the first time and felt flowers. PRETTY! 

This is my nephew Lucas and my Mom (ChaChi). I used to worry about putting ribbons and flowers on my nephews pages but I just said to heck with it...I love it & the Xyron..lol. 

miscellany monday!

• Why haven't I set up the Wii yet? I couldn't wait to get it and now that I have it....its sitting in the closet!
• With all the snow coming our way...I need to get my nephews out and take some SNOW pics...I love snow layouts; I have none.!! Auni @ LoveLeighScraps does lots of these. 
• I'm wondering right now if American Pickers is on tonight..REALLY? I can't believe I told that. I love that show but its our secret..I would never tell my husband!

• I am excited to be blogging. I seriously couldn't wait to get home and see who stopped by.  
• I just painted my nails and I hope the polish isn't getting ruined from doing this post.    

Up early.....

So I've been up since about 4:30 this morning thinking about my new scrap space I am going to create. I've been checking outs lots of blogs and ideas. It's so fun & inspiring reading & seeing other crafter creations. I want my own room (little or big) to get away to. There are so many good ideas out there. I may even document my progress.

What do you like best about your space?

Flashback Friday

So this is my first Flashback Friday! My sister at Loveleigh Scraps called me last night to make sure I was on track to do this.

I'm still trying to figure out how to show my layouts online. I did these pages a few years ago of my mom and aunt in Key West. I love the color scheme and love love the flowers! Flowers and ribbon are my favorite embellies. I use them whenever I possibly can. 

Tigerfest in the D

So I still haven't posted any of my layouts! I even committed to Flashback Friday with my sister and failed..UGH! I will get the hang of this. I just ordered a book she suggested on blogging by Tara Frey-Blogging Bliss for Crafters..Thats what got her started.

I will have some great pics/layouts to post of Tigerfest. What is that you ask?? Its the beginning of the Detroit Tiger baseball season when players and fans meet. There are autograph signings, free givaways, tours of Comerica Park lots of meets and greets. I went with my family: husband-Ed, and stepkids-Rachel and Brad. It was a good time. VERY VERY cold but fun.

My husband loves his Tigers! We finally finished off the day at Fishbones in Greektown, then headed home where I changed quickly in to pjs and took a nap.

Scrapbook Saturday - need some speed!

So going with my sister and the bestie to an all day scrapbook event..should be tons of fun and hopefully I'll be productive. I have this ridiculous habit of getting there, feeling overwhelmed and not knowing where to start. It usually ends up that everyone has completed pages and pages while I've only done 2 or 3..I think too much..Each trip I vow it will not be that way! Time will tell....

The plan is to finish my Rick Springfield (remember Jessie's Girl or Dr. Noah Drake from General Hospital) cruise album...love it but sick of it. Need to move on to other special moments, trips and happenings....from like 2009 & 2010. Yeah I'm a little slow at this....I better start printing the pictures..... night!

P.S....I'd love some scrapbook tips.