You & Me

I was so excited about doing this page because this photo has such a special meaning to me. When I first met Sam, after his show, we had this picture taken. You would think we were already in love. I see the perfect love we have when I look at this, and it is...so for week #35 I used the layout from www.52sketches52weeks.com to give me direction. The patterned paper is by K & Company. I cut a circle ring from George and used a trim that is little velvet flowers strung together. I found it in a sweet little quilting store in Alaska. I hand sewed black seed beads in the center of each flower. I cut the hearts from nestabilities and embossed it with "damask" by Sizzix. You & Me was cut from Lyrical Letters. The birds are metal charms I hung by eyelets and ribbon. The journal tag is a stamp that I heat embossed. I also sewed some beads on the tag. I inked around most everything with a black cat's eye. I am really pleased with this page. I will use it to start the album I have been meaning to get going on. Lots of romantic pictures from the early days of falling in love with my amazing husband. My heart raced constantly and he still gives me goose bumps just thinking about him. I love you Sam, you are my everything!

Sewing Projects....

I know I have been blogging about my scrap booking cards and layouts but today I want to show off my first two sewing projects made with my new Singer 2010 Sewing Machine. I researched what kind of machine I wanted that was affordable but realized this was such a huge range of features compared to costs and companies. When HSN featured this model complete with lots of accessories I decided to let this be "the one". I will admit I have second guessed my decision several times. Getting use to all the bells and whistles has not come easy for me. My first project was these pajama shorts. A very simple pattern. I decided I would just start with something really easy and I am glad I did. It had been so long since sewing any clothing item I was nervous about sizing. I knew the measurements don't really give an accurate description of how the actual item turns out when completed. So I went on the cautious side and used the larger size. Well lets just say they are REALLY comfortable! I love the owl patterned fabric and laugh at how things that were popular in the 70s have become popular nearly 40 years later? As for the second project I decided to make this apron. Everyone that knows me will not be surprised at my selection of black and hot pink for my colors. This too was an easy pattern but I ran into a serious problem with my machine tension when I rethreaded my machine with pink thread for top stitching the ric rac. I spent hours trouble shooting the problem. I finally gave up last night about 2:30 am. I decided it was one of those times I needed to step away and come back when I was rested. I even searched the web for help. I re-threaded it, filled a new bobbin, tried different settings and just was ready to toss it out the window (OK not really but had decided I would probably have to mail it back in cause I had a lemon) when I finally found my problem. There is a VERY specific way you have to load the bobbin thread and once I had that done it started sewing like a charm. So now my apron is finished and I am really happy with it. I will now have to make one for Thanksgiving and Christmas and probably all other holidays because we all know how much I like to decorate for the holidays. And there are so many different cute apron patterns. How about aprons for the chihuahuas? Naw, nobody likes little hairs in their food! ewwwww :)

I got my new Singer sewing machine! Oh Yeah!

My first layout created with my new Singer sewing machine. I got it yesterday after pacing most of the day for UPS to arrive. It took me a while to figure out how to use it. I was beginning to wonder if I had made a huge mistake getting a computerized machine. But once I figured out what I was doing wrong it was like a whole world had opened up. There is over 1000 stitch functions and I tried out this cute little butterfly boarder. I also ruffled the same ribbon to the left of the photos. I really liked how it turned out. The base page of cardstock was a just a textured piece that I stamped butterflies with CTMH purple pansy ink. I did the title and journaling spots with my computer and added Doodlebug glitter as an accent. The photos were taken of Emily, my beautiful 18 year old step-daughter. She graduated high school in May and visited for 2 weeks in July. Her dad and I really enjoyed her company and hated to see her go. I know her dad doesn't get near enough time with her now that they live in different states. She calls me her Texas mom and I always think of her as we share the love of not only her dad but butterflies. I shot these photos at the Bay City Nature Park where I have most recently discovered thanks to my good friend Bj. I took a photography class there and love how deer seem to be pretty comfortable with being photographed. This was based on week #34 from www.52sketches52weeks.com which I only joined four weeks ago. I am really enjoying the inspiration I get being challenged to create a new layout each week. Now I have myself in the conflict, do I sew or scrapbook? Somehow I will find time for both. Stay tuned as I will surely sew lots of clothes for my sweet chihuahua daugthers! I love my life.

Wiper Card (yes, strange name)

This is a card I found the instructions and tutorial for from Splitcoaststampers. It originally was from Stampin Up. I had a hard time wrapping my head around the whole "wiper" card name. I would just call it a pop up maybe but the concept is really cool and has given me all kinds of ideas and variations. I started by using the scraps from my layout that I made yesterday for 52sketched52weeks. I really liked the color combination so this helped get me started. The instructions were fairly easy to follow. The pop up has to stay within a certain area to keep it from showing when the card is closed. Other than that you could do all kinds of things on the pop up. I have already started some other cards because once I got the basic measurements figured out it is a bunch easier to make multiple blank cards. The card base is 4 1/4 " X 8 1/2" . You get one card from a piece of 8 1/2" x 11" piece of card stock. This will fit in an 4" x 5" envelope. I not sure about the protocol on putting a link to the tutorial but if you go to www.splitcoaststampers.com and get it from their site, reference #172.

Hopefully Sam, my sweet husband, won't see my blog before I get this card mailed to him. He is in Alaska and I sure do miss him. I had gotten the owl stamps and the sentiment with him in mind. Hope you enjoy!

My Newest Layout Of My Children

All I think that needs to be said is are they adorable or what? I really enjoyed this layout. Once again I created it based on a sketch from www.52sketches52weeks.com. This is week 33 and I had decided that I would use one of my favorite pictures I have of my children. I took this and about a million others trying to get the perfect shot to use for our Christmas cards last year. It

was at this moment that I figured out what gets their attention for the camera. It is a squeaky hot dog! It and any other nice and noisy toy will take their eyes right in its direction. It has made taking their pictures a whole bunch easier. I use to have lots of pictures with one looking at me and the other off in another direction. Also there were lots of their butts as they turned and darted off. All I want to do is capture their precious little faces so I will always have them preserved for enjoying. Now they don't seem to mind and actually I think they kind of like it! I tell them all the time to "be nice to your sissy!" They play fight and sometimes just plain FIGHT but before long they are curled up kissing on one another. They are the best of friends and I am really glad we have both of them. And spoiled I don't think is a strong enough word, maybe adored and cherished might say it better. Sam and I both love them like crazy!

Our Beautiful Phoenicks

This is my layout for week #32 for www.52sketches52weeks.com . I just recently joined and L O V E this site. Great people that are not only very talented but nice! They encourage each other and share their scrap secrets. I hope to keep up and just wish I had found it before 2009 had started. If you haven't visited the site you need to check it out. They have tutorials for different techniques that have me fired up to try some new and different things. Thanks Julie Bonner for your creating this wonderful site.

As far as my layout I would mention the new punches from EK Sucess and Martha Stewart. They are called "punch around the page". This loopy punch is two different but coordinating punches. You start by punching your corners and then use the other to punch and repeat your straight sides. I have a feeling there will be many more of these as people will love them. With my enormous stash of papers I actually just purchased these from JoAnn's with their 5 sheets for 95 cents sale this week. The camera didn't capture the finish of the paper but it is very shinny/glossy . It is a two sided paper although I didn't use the reverse. I really enjoy being able to make my journaling strips on my Epson printer since I can use various fonts and sizes plus even choose the color of the ink. Ever since I started doing this I have a hard time just hand writing my journaling.

Our Pearland Yahoo Scrap Group is meeting at my house on Saturday. I am excited to see everyone (those who are willing to make the big drive to the "country" right Rachel???) lol One of the positive things about hosting is not having to haul my stuff or drive. The other is it motivates me to do a little extra cleaning. OK, more like actually cleaning for a change! Isn't that saying "a clean house is a sign of a sick mind?" I really look forward to stuffing my friends and sharing my goodies.

Kassie's New Glasses

This is my 20 year old daughter and her new glasses. She is spending a week with me (and using the heck out of my laptop). My scrap group that I meet up with put the challenge for this layout from 52Sketches52Weeks.com I think this is #31. I choose this photo as it shows her beautiful eyes and how sweet she is (at times). I used a stamp set from CTMH that I was anxious to use. I love pink, black and green together. The background paper is black bling and the scalloped circle is from mylittleshoebox. I used my cricut cartridge Jubliee. I loved the way it is a slim font that doesn't take up a lot of room. I used the shadow feature to make my letters stand out. I guess sometimes I need that competitive nudge to get me off my butt to get a new layout created. Thanks Isabel for that nudge! Now I am anxious to do more.