Getting Ready For The Holidays

Wow, I haven't posted in quite awhile.  This last month has been really hectic around my house.  I recently sold my Cricut Expression so I could buy the Silhouette Cameo.  My new machine should arrive this week.  I am anxiously awaiting this machine so I can get crackin on some more Christmas Ornaments and Decor for around the house.  This machine looks to be a little more complicated than the Cricut.  I will have to watch some how to videos on it.  Hopefully I will conquer it without a problem.  I will certainly share my creations with all of you as I make them.  But, while I've been waiting for that I have been making some Ornaments with my Big Shot Pro and some chipboard this week.

Webster's Pages Giveaway.

Webster's Pages is having such a great giveaway.  They are giving away staff's favorite items.  Go check it out and enter to win.  Beautiful Stuff.  http://websterspages.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8354ebd2869e201539278c1e8970b-pi

Not Rachel Ray Giveaway.

Today I received a package of True Citrus Products from www.notrachelray.com.  Not Rachel Ray was reviewing these products on her blog and was also doing a giveaway for the products as well.  So I left a comment to take my chances.  Believe it!  I was chosen to receive the products.  You can also check out these products on www.turecitrus.com.  They are great to use in cooking, baking and beverages.  As I am a person who likes to pack her lunch to take to work I thought the drink packets were just perfect and they are made from 100% Natural Ingredients to boot! I'm truly liking my winnings.  Be sure to check out Not Rachel Ray's web page and tell her Kathy sent ya!

Thankful Tussie Mussie for Charity

I've just completed this Tussie Mussie for Charity for a swap that I am participating in over at Lil Scrap of Heaven.  The theme was Thankful, so I used fall colors of course!  I just love the deep colors of fall and this project reflects that.  For this project I used poster board to form my cone and mod podged it with a piece of Decorative Paper, which is different from basic Scrapbook paper.  These decorative papers usually come in 20" x 30" sheets and are sold individually.  It is called Marbled Momi Paper - Red Orange Volcano. 

I also used a pumpkin spray and a fall leaf spray (which I used embossing powder on the leaves to glitz them up), and a pretty bow to finish it off.  I used the same ribbon to make my handle, which I braided.  Thanks for checking out my creation.  Happy Fall Everyone!

Bang Bang Shrimp by Fake Ginger

Last night I made this Bang Bang Shrimp and they were delicious to say the least.  They were fast and easy to make.  I've had the ones from Bonefish Grill and these are just as good.  Go over to Fake Ginger and check out her blog and other delicious recipes.http://fakeginger.com/2011/10/02/bang-bang-shrimp/comment-page-1/#comment-49615

Look Who's Having A Blog Candy Giveaway!

Scrapgirl is celebrating two years of blogging!  Be sure to check out her wonderful blog here:http://scrapgirl-angie.blogspot.com/2011/09/candy.html

Halloween Witches Hat

Since Halloween is just around the corner I have been working on some related Halloween Crafts.  Today I completed an Altered Paper Mache Witches Hat that I had found at Michaels.  I used the DCWV Midnight Spell Paper Stack.  This is a collection of gorgeous papers in all the favorite Halloween Colors.  I loved how it turned out and wanted to share it with everyone. 

My First Scrapbook Job

Hi Everyone!  I've just completed my first scrapbook job for a customer.  Such a great gift and way to preserve memories.  With all this technology around us today, this has become a lost art.  It feels good to bring joy to someone.  I love seeing the reaction on their faces when they open memories.  Anyways, I hope Tanya is happy as she is coming by today to pick it up.  I just wanted to share some of the pages with you.  Suggestions are always welcome my way, so I can improve.  For the front I braided some Red, White and Blue Ribbon and wrapped it around the binder that Tanya provided.  Her husband is retiring from the Navy and she is giving this to him as a gift.  So some are patriotic themed while others are St. Patrick's Themed as his birthday fell on St. Patty's Day.  Thanks for letting me share my work with you!

I'm a Blog Candy Winner! Can you Believe it?

Yesterday I was informed that I won some blog candy.  Wow, I've never wow any blog candy before.  This is awesome.  Terri over at Two Pink Peas was sponsoring this blog candy giveaway, and such a nice lady she is too!  Thought I'd share a picture of my blog candy with everyone.  Yeah Me and Thank you Terri!  Be sure to check out Terri's blog at http://www.twopinkpeas.blogspot.com/, she would love for you to visit!  Thank you Terri!

Altered Halloween Candle

Costume Jewelry Piece to the Top of Candle Lid

Spider Bling All The Way Around Entire Jar and a Cute Tag!

Fall is in the air and Halloween is just around the corner.  I love this time of year.  The fall colors are just gorgeous.  I also love the Halloween colors.  I'm participating in a Halloween themed candle swap over at Lil' Scrap of Heaven and I made this altered candle for my partner Kristina.  I hope she enjoys it.  I usually make my own from scratch, but instead I chose to use this store bought jar candle.  I really used a lot of bling on it, but it just made the candle so pretty!  On top of the jar I use a piece of costume jewelry I found and attached to the lid using a button on the bottom.  I distress the Recollections tag with Tim Holtz Distress Ink  So Cute!!  Now I want one!

Photography

I love taking pictures of just about anything.  I'm not a professional at it, but I don't do so bad.  I especially love flowers, birds and butterflies.  Most of the time you will see my love of these transferred into my crafts.   I saw this beauty on my Latana just the other day and snapped this picture and thought I'd share it with all of you.  I just love nature and the beauty that God has bestowed on us.  Enjoy!

Time to Sow New Seeds

Well the garden has come up and time to plant for the fall and winter months.  I think I will grow various varieties of lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, and cabbage?  I love salads and fresh is always the best and of course you can always just cut what you need.  Fresh Spinach Salad is a great one too, with Mushrooms and Red Onion then topped with a Hot Dressing made with Bacon (the grease too), Green Onion, Sugar and Vinegar.  Yummy!!  Can you tell I love food?  Have you also ever noticed that when people tell you of places they have visited that they not only tell you what they saw, but also what they ate while there.  Food is like the universal language!  So stay tuned for my fall and winter foodie favorites. 

Mini For Baby Sophia

Front Cover

Inner Page

Paper Bag Tab Insert

Back Side of Paper Bag Insert

I was getting in a hurry toward the end cause I had to be at the shower today, so the last few pages just got some basic stamping!

Today I attended a Baby Shower of good friends of my DB Thomas.  Baby things are always so precious don't you think?  I love seeing what's new out there for little ones and ooh and awe over them.  Back when my kids were born I don't remember things being so pretty.  I chose to make the new mom to be a Mini Album for her soon to arrive baby girl which she has named Sophia.  Such a beautiful name.  I can actually say tho that my gift was the only gift that was passed around for all to see.  Made my day!  So, I thought I'd share a few pictures of  the pages here with you.  I had to rush to finish it after these pictures and then off to the shower I went.  I finally bound the mini with binder rings and used ribbon for the tie closure.  What fun creating something mom will treasure and can pass on to her daughter Sophia one day!
 

Clean Up Day After Irene!

Well Irene has come and gone.  Now the cleanup begins.  She left a tree down in our yard that fell over from the neighbors yard, it was about 60 feet in length.  Isn't it funny that they now have no responsibility for said tree!  I'm pooped and my DB Thomas did most of the work.  :-)  We gave away the wood as my new craft room is now in the room where the fireplace is at.  Wouldn't you know it, the property across the road has no debris on it.  Hey honey, can we move across the street?!  

Only my roof has one itty bitty shingle torn.  Yeah!!  So happy since this roof was just put on this spring. 

Birthday Card with Matching Gift Tag

My Niece and Nephew's Birthday is coming up.  They are twins, turning 28 this year.  Wow how time has flown by.    I've finished the one for my niece and with the left over scraps from her card I made a gift tag.  They are both just basic/simple in design.  Sometimes I think Simple is just more!  I used the Authentique paper line "Uncommon".  Beautiful paper line if you've not tried it yet.   Now I'm waiting for Hurricane Irene to roll in.  Keeping everyone in my prayers!

Two Pink Peas: Two Pink Peas Giveaway Is Open.....

Two Pink Peas: Two Pink Peas Giveaway Is Open.....

Journal For My Son

Back Inside Cover

Front and Back Cover

Front Inside Cover - Went happy with the red ink!  LOL

Basic Inside Pages

Inner Page

Inner Page

Inner Page

This project took a couple of weekends to make, but I have finally completed the journal I was making for my son.  He is away at college at the Merchant Marine Academy.  I don't think he is quite the journal type, but maybe this will inspire him to consider it, or maybe he can jot down lyrics in it since he is also an avid guitar player.  I never made anything guy related to this extent and this was a tough one.  I'm always putting flowers and bling on my creations.  I did make him a recent birthday card, but that was much easier.  So, I picked out the few mannish papers I had and this is what I came up with.  I even question should I put a title on the front or just leave it as is?  :-/ 

Tired Of The Same Old Burgers??

I wanted a quick meal the other night and decided on hamburgers.  But then I didn't want the same ole same ole as they say.  So what did I do?  I took some cilantro chopped it up put in the burger meat (1lb) also I added some salsa (maybe a 1/4 cup).  Of course no recipe is complete without garlic, which I added.  Salt to taste.  I like cilantro and as you can see by the picture I added plenty (a big handful).  :-)  The burgers came out wonderful!  They had that smokey deep flavor of the Cilantro and seasoned just right!  Yum Yum!!  Sorry I didn't take a picture of the cooked version, we ate them all up before I thought about it! 

Wow, What A Busy Week

It was a busy week for me.  I started back to work, working now in a Extended Recovery Unit at one of the local Hospitals.  Yep, I'm a nurse by trade, who would like to be a Crafter Extraordinaire (and make a living at it).  :-)   Before I went back to work tho, I finished up some canning of various things from my garden.  Now, I'm kinda over it!  I canned Tomatoes, Bread & Butter Pickles, Hot Pepper Relish, Pepper Rings, Eggplant Caponata, and of course my all time fave "SALSA".  Can we say Tired Now!  :-)  All in days work, right?  I just thought I'd share photos with you all some of my kitchen creations.  Enjoy!