With beautiful weather...

you don't get much scrapping done! However, I managed to squeeze in these challenges for the BPM crop with ends officially tonight.

This layout of my DD was for Tara's Rustic Challenge. I loved her idea of using corrugated cardboard, so I went with that and lots of Prima goodies.


This next layout is for another one of Tara's challenges called the "Overkill Challenge" in which you go overboard with an item. I chose to use buttons, but don't think I still managed to put a dent in my stash...lol I've been wanting to scrap these pictures of my Collin for forever. I still can't believe he'll be seven years old in a matter of months!


And then I whipped up a quickie card for my MIL's birthday and added Audrey's Embossing 101 Class Challenge to it. I love stamping and embossing when I think to do it.



We're off to my nephew's 3rd birthday party. That little guy is just too cute and I love getting new pictures of him because he's a ham in front of the camera.
Have a blessed day!

Now that's what I call fun!

I've seriously never seen so much wonderful response to an online crop...seriously (as my son always says...lol) There was so many goodies added to the Back Porch Memories' gallery that it was overwhelming to keep up. Those ladies did GREAT and so did my fellow DT members with their challenge creations.

My only layout challenge was called "What's the Weather Like Today?" You had to create a layout using some sort of weather element on the page.


Next I have two "class" challenges going on that end on the 25th, so there's still time to take part in those and many others on the boards. Make sure to go check them out!
I have a flashcard mini album challenge class:


and then a file folder organizer class challenge still open till the 25th


There are still many challenges going on this week, so stop by and play! Back Porch Memories' Virtual Crop

I participated in a few of the challenges. I wanted to do more, but it just seems time and my kiddos don't cooperate with me...oh, well! They do go back to school tomorrow, so I plan on doing a few more of them throughout the week

For Audrey's "Color Theory" challenge I played with colored pencils, gamsol, and my new Hero Arts stamps -- Love that Bird!


Then I made another card for Michelle's "Better than Hallmark" challenge in which you had to use black and white with a splash of color.
As you can see, I'm loving that new Spellbinders label die I just bought. Can't get enough of it, actually...lol

Then the last one I participated in that is still going on for the week, is Lisa's "Scraplift with a Twist" challenge in which you have to scraplift the person who posts above you -- that was fun! I scraplifted a gal named Sherry and her Rex layout from the gallery. Thanks for the inspiration, Sherry!


I had started on one more, but Collin begged me to take him to Chuck E. Cheese. I just couldn't resist my little man's pleas, so I put down the beautiful paper and walked away. It was hard...let me tell you! But seeing that smile on his face was more important at that moment...paper can wait; right?

So if you read this blog and you get a chance, stop on by and participate in the ongoing challenges. Remember, there's a chance to win a 6-month subscription to BPM as the Grand Prize in it for ya! (Can you believe that!! Paula is amazing!!)

Nighty, night for now!

A friendly reminder!

This Friday will be the start of our Spring Fling crop at Back Porch Memories. Come one come all to play along with all our great challenges and games. Look at what the grand prize will be!

Back Porch Memories Spring Fling Crop
It’s official. Back Porch Memories is having an online (virtual) crop via our message board! You can stay in your jammies all weekend long and we won’t tell.

When:
Noon EST Friday, April 17 – Midnight Sunday, April 19 (with extended deadlines on some challenges and projects until the following Saturday, April 25 at Midnight EST)

What:
A crop to beat all crops! We’ll have plenty of challenges, classes, games and more! Be sure to keep checking this forum for more details, including class material lists (to be posted no later than the weekend of April 10th).

Cost:
FREE!!! Tell all of your friends and be sure to snag our crop blinkie.

Prizes:
Our grand prize? A FREE 6 month subscription to Back Porch Memories Kit Club. WOW!!! Other Prizes include Back Porch Memories Gift Certificates, mini books, embellishments and other assorted scrapbooking goodies.

Make sure to stop on by to join in the fun!

My favorite time of the month!

It's the design team reveal for April's Back Porch Memories' kits. I just love seeing what the other designers do with the Medley and Solo kits.

Here are my layouts that I created for the month using the Solo kit which features the oH So PrEtTy WRMK Tiffany!



See that loopy flower? I learned how to create one from the AWESOMELY talented Jana Eubank. She illustrated how to create one on Noel Mignon's Tips and Techniques Blog.


I got the idea to create one of these cute little card box thingies from the incredibly talented Kimberly Crawford. She showed the one she created on her blog filled with candy treats instead of cards. I wanted to make one for Easter to hold some of hubby's treats. Here's the inside of mine.

You can find the cool PDF or SVG file (used with the Cricut) at The Cutting Cafe along with many other neat items!

Lastly, here's a layout featured in the upcoming newsletter. I took over Jana's Layout in 15 Minutes {or Less} article for the month while she did the monthly member sketches. Fun stuff!


The rest of the uber talented gals' work can be seen in the gallery. Make sure to check it out by clicking HERE
I'm off to chill on the couch as my day at work kicked my butt!

Something to make you laugh

With Easter upon us, I was looking to send cards. Well, I'm running out of time for that, so I came across Jib Jab's ecards. Now you have to pay a subscription fee to use their site when it used to be free. Bummer! But I did figure out a way to download this funny video to share...

April Challenge

It was my turn to host a challenge at Back Porch Memories this month. My challenge is to "mask"! I ran across two packages of unopened Heidi Swapp masks while purging for a garage sale that I participated in. I didn't want to get rid of them, so I decided a challenge was in order. Here's the layout I created with the HS alphabet along with cranberry MM paint. I outlined the letters with American Crafts black gel pen and a yellow Copic marker. Fun stuff!

Baby Shower Bliss!

Okay -- so that isn't the best title, but it describes the fun we had. Dang! I forgot how much work a party can be and especially when it's at a hall on the other side of town and you have to pack EVERYTHING in your vehicle to take with you!! I managed and so did my sister-in-law, Rose. Rosie was a great help and I'm so thrilled she helped with the shower. Thank you, Rose!!! My sister was beautiful -- it's the baby glow...hee hee...and she received a lot of presents. She so deserved this day and I'm glad we could give it to her.

Here are a bunch of pictures to share from the shower and goodies I made for it.

The marquee sign display...too cool! I stood in the freezing rain waiting for this sign to rotate so I could finally get a picture.


Jennifer made a deliciously beautiful cake -- yellow and cherry chip...mmmmmm!!


I made these little decorations which were easy and cute! Here is where I got the idea from :D


My busy sister who can't sit still and hates to have her picture taken...ugh! LOL
See what I mean...



A diaper cake I made for a gift. Hey, I finally realized what I could use that big ole tag I bought ions ago for...lol


My sister and Gabby reading a homemade card from my sweet Marisa. Seriously, her words choked everyone up!! My sister actually teared up reading what Marisa wrote. I have to get my sister to read it to me again so I can copy it down. She made me proud with that one!!


Gabby LOVES skulls and was delighted to get this t-shirt from Marisa and I which I purchased online from here. I blinged it up a bit at the bottom. As you can see, the minute the gift opening was over, she had changed her outfit and put her new t-shirt on...love that kid!!

And lastly, here is the baby book I worked on for what seems like forevah!! LOL Actually, I took more time collecting supplies and thinking about it than actually working on it. I still owe my sister a few more pages, but I had decided to give it to her at the shower rather than wait. You can click on the picture to make it larger and please excuse the poor shots. I forgot to take pictures before wrapping and therefore had to take them after the shower in poor lighting...ugh!



And may I just say that I am utterly and completely EXHAUSTED today!! As I type this I'm still in my pajamas and loving every minute. My brain has been on overtime a lot this past week and needs a break, so I'm taking it...lol

Desktop Calendar and more

WOO HOO!! I finally finished this project and I couldn't be happier. My biggest goal this year was to finish projects I started and so far I've done pretty good with this goal.
Here are all the pages which adhere to a picture frame with book rings -- super easy and fun! Each little calendar flips up so I can put a picture from that month underneath. I think when the year is over, I will bind it.


I also created this layout last month for a contest at Creative Scrappers. We all had to use the same photo given to us which was of a pretty northern Canadian scenery of shanty houses on a lake. Well, I didn't win and I knew when the contest was over I would replace the picture with another. So I used this photo of my kids taken for our Christmas cards. Love how it turned out!



Okay, that's all for tonight. I'm still working on some stuff for my sister's baby shower which is at the end of the month. EEEK! Time is running out! LOL

OH! I almost forgot to mention that you all need to write this down to make sure to come by and play. My fellow design team members and myself will be hosting a crop on April 17-19 with some fabulous prizes given away by the wonderful Paula -- love her! I'll make sure to keep reminding you all
Love this blinkie that Audrey made for the crop!

Almost a whole month...

since I've posted!! Yikes! Maybe I just decided to wait until I had some goodies to post...ya, that's it!

First off, I wanted to show you the gorgeous kits from Back Porch Memories. The Solo consists of the awesome CC Lil' Man


Here is the Medley and HOLY CANOLI!!! This kit was the one I received and it was so darn inspiring to me! Seriously, I couldn't stop scrapping with it. Usually, or should I say lately, it takes a lot to push me to go and scrap just because there's so much other stuff going on. Yet, I couldn't stop with this kit. I actually cranked out SIX, yes 6, layouts and a card. The CC Snorkel has me feeling all summery and wanting it to get here fast! The MME Penny Lane Chloe with its little owls is has a gorgeous combo of colors and I can't say enough about the BG Marrakech. I was on the fence about this paper when I first saw it being debuted. However, after using it this past week I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!


These are the sweet little stamps for the month:
I actually took the plunge and went out and bought a few Copic markers to color these stamps. A local art supply store carried ALL of them, and it was so hard to constrain myself not to keep picking up another one! I used them the other day and they are FABULOUS!! They colored like no other marker I've seen -- seriously!

So on to my DT layouts for the month:








Here's the link to look at the rest of the creations from the talented gals at Back Porch Memories: March DT Gallery

Thanks for stopping by! Peace out!

Happy Valentine's Day!!

First let me start you off with a delicious chocolate sucker that I made

Then I must show you that silly little girl of mine who absolutely loves to dress up with accessories for every holiday. She went to school yesterday with all her gear on...lol She ROCKS!!


And then here's a little something I've started working on for my sister's baby shower. I saw this cute little treat on Two Peas and had to make some. I've wrapped most of the bags of popcorn and then decided to jump over to producing a final project to see if I liked it. I do! The "hip pregnant mama" is a digi file that I purchased from Designer Digitals. I wanted a stamp, but I talked myself out of it because I knew I'd only use it once and that wouldn't justify the cost. Here I paid only $1.75 for the file and after using it 40 times, I think I can justify that. Plus, with a stamp I'd have to color them in and that I will not do...lol

I have so many ideas for this baby shower that I need to get in gear!! That's what I promised myself from now on -- less computer time and more constructive time!

Well, I hope you all have a wonderful Valentine's Day and share it with someone you love. My hubby got grandma to take Collin for the night and Marisa will be at a birthday sleepover, so we're going out!! WOO HOO! Where I don't know yet, but I better get to making some plans. I know he didn't go that far and if I leave it up to him we will be walking the aisles of Lowes again

to you all!!