All My Life

With Valentine's Day (and my 10 year Anniversary) coming up soon, I thought now is a great time to make a layout about my hubby. It's for my BOM. I know a layout about HIM isn't about ME technically, but it's a book of all the things I love!!!

When I read this week's Charisma Cardz challenge, I thought it would be PERFECT for creating a layout about him. A little bit girly with the heart, but no frill. The challenge this week was to create a layout/card/altered project using ONLY black, white and ONE other color of your choice. Obviously, my one other color was red. The layout title is 'All My Life' which is our wedding song, and the journaling is from the lyrics. I followed a sketch that I have on my harddrive, but no where does it say WHO created it. I'd love to give credit for this fabulous sketch if anyone knows.

Blog Candy....and it's MINE!!!

**CONTEST CLOSED**

see winner here

Whoo hoo!!!! I was going to wait for my 1year to offer up my first blog candy, but the people who stop by and take the time to look at my work and leave such beautiful comments have blown me away! To thank you all so much, from the bottom of my heart, I am offering up these yummies.




Last week was my 6month blogoversary. I also hit 3,000 hits this week. Over 1,000 of them came this month alone! That is so excitingto me! I also hit the 200 comments mark (well flew right past it actually), which is another reason to celebrate! Over 2/3rds of those came in this month alone as well!



So I know you are ready for me to quit my blabbering and tell you all what one of you lucky ladies (or fellas) will win. I figured in honor of the spring that seems like will never come, I am offering up a bright, fun, springy card making kit. Yeah, I know it's still January....a girl can hope!!! You could make TONS of cards with this set, so jump in and play!!

DCWV Premium Stacks-The Glitter Mat Stack
(includes 60 sheets of patterned heavy cardstock with GLITTER)
Studio G Clear Stamps-Spring has Sprung mini set
Studio G Lilac ink pad
3yds Lavender sheer ribbon by Craft Essentials
2yds Turquoise rick rack by Craft Essentials
3yds Hot Pink grossgrain ribbon by Craft Essentials

That could make some lucky card maker VERY happy for a whole pile of cards!! Of course you can also use any of these supplies in creating scrapbooking layouts as well! So what are you waiting for.........oh the catch, that's what you are waiting for, huh? LOL. Well there always is a catch. Read below for rules and guidelines to enter:

• You must post a link on your own blog to my main blog URL (the link to this post will stay at the top). Then you need to come back here and leave me a comment stating that you did it. If you don't have a blog, that's okay. Just share my link with whoever you can. You can CC me (chuckandchristina@yahoo.com) on an email to friends (don't worry, I'm not a spambot harvesting emails...LOL) or you can leave the link to the message board/post you leave.
  
• Become a follower of my blog. There is a easy little link on the right over there if you'd be so kind as to click it. If you are already a follower of my blog....well then congrats, you are one step closer to those goodies. If you don't have a blog, you can still be a follower with a google account.
• Whether you post a link on your blog or share with friends via email or message board, make sure you come back here and leave a comment. Same if you are already a follower of my blog. You need to wave to me from down there because, the winner will be randomly drawn from the comments here.

That wasn't so bad was it? You have until February 13th at 11:59 EST to enter and a winner will be announced on Valentine's Day! Be sure to check back often (if you are a follower now that will be mighty easy won't it...LOL) because the winner will only have 1 week to claim their prize!! After a week, I will draw a new name, and no take backs once I've moved on to the next person...LOL!

Whew...DONE!!!

I was going to try and pace myself and not post any more layouts, but I just had to share. When you work hard on something, you don't care as much that you've made your um-teenth post of the day! LOL! Here is the last layout I am going to do and I am all caught up!!!

My son's 9th birthday layout. I used Sketch 74 from Got Sketch?'s blog. It took a little smooshing to get it to fit on a layout that wasn't square, but I like how it came out. I have had a lot of fun learning layering and opacity in digi scrapping to give the effect of vellum. The sketch also provided me a place for journaling which I've really been trying to add to more layouts. You can see the original sketch HERE and below is my take.

Happy Halloween?

Okay, so I'm still behind...but only 2-3 more layouts to go and my digi album is up to date. Of course that is until I take more pictures! LOL. I just finished this layout for this week's Creative Scrapper's challenge. They are some of my favorite pictures of Kate. Even pouting and being kind of a brat, she is still so stinkin' cute. The original sketch is found HERE and below is my take on it. Of course I expanded it to a landscape page rather than 12x12, but I absolutely love it :)

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Next up is the layout with the pics I took of the kids this Halloween. I've been trying to journal more and tell more of the story when I scrapbook. I know I can look at this picture and tell that they were Spider-Man and Snow White, but I may forget the little details like the rush we had to find ANOTHER super-hero because Nick just HAS to be a super-hero EVERY year and Katie begging Daddy to be a dwarf. This layout was my take on LAST week's sketch from 52 Sketches...52 Weeks. If you haven't joined...do so stat. She has AMAZING sketches!!! I know I'm a few days late and I will try to get on this week's sketch soon. Below is my take, but make sure you click on the blinky below it to check out the site that I got the awesome sketch from :)

Of course they're digi =)

Anytime you see a landscape layout on my blog I can almost guarantee it's digital. I have been working on my landscape digital album for almost 6 months now. It's getting there, but funny how scrapbooking is a never ending project. Everytime I THINK I'm caught up, Christmas sneaks up on me or one of those kids goes and has a birthday ;) LOL.

Here are three digi layouts I created for my DVD slideshow I've been putting together....stay tuned to see them scrapped for my paper/scissors album. These were both done on ScrapBlog.

2 more .... I'm on a roll!

I told you all I wasn't done yet. I knocked out two more cards before my daughter had enough of the feeling crummy and wanted cuddled. There are perks and downfalls to kids home sick.

First I made a birthday card following the sketch over at Mojo Monday. It was a super cute sketch so I had fun with it. I am using the leftovers from a birthday layout I created a few months ago still. I was going to ditch them, but once I started making cards from the leftovers of the set I couldn't stop. HERE is the original sketch and here is my take:

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I knew as soon as I saw the awesome cards that the design team over at 2 Sketches 4 You I was in for an awesome sketch. Boy was it HARD to think of a way to incorporate that sketch into my supplies I had left. In the end it may be one of my favorite cards :) It always makes me happy to be able to incorporate a little bit of bling and these little self adhesive gems from Michael's was JUST the bling I was looking for! I'd love to have found a lime green set, but my goal was to use from my stash so clear it was!! I'm still pretty pleased with it :) HERE is the original sketch and below is my version which follows close enough I hope :)

Blog Candy Alert!!! .....

...but hurry it won't last long! Paper Trunk Blog is having a little fun today while the bosses are at CHA!! So hurry over and join in the fun. =)

A fun little tag for a fun picture =)

I was tagged!!!! Twice actually =) By Cathy and Amy. In this fun little tag, you need to go to the 6th folder of your pictures and select the 6th photo and show it off then explain it a bit.

The 6th folder in my pictures is labeled 'Wedding' and it's my parents wedding pictures. Now I should explain a bit because the picture is of my kids and most would say, how were your kids at your parents wedding. Well, it's actually my father FINALLY marrying my step-mother after over a decade. So they truly have been my parents, regardless of their marital status. Just a clarification ;)

The 6th photo is one of my favorites that I'd forgotten all about! My son (8) was the best man and stood up (getting past debilitating stage fright at first) and delivered a heart warming speech about his 'Pappy' and 'Noni'. Then Katie (my 4 year old daughter) prompty took the mic and announced that it was time for everyone to have some toast! This picture was snapped with her little chocolate covered smirk at a job well done and my dad reaching in to grab the mic and my son covering his face in complete and utter embarrassment. LOL

If anyone wants to give this a try (come on it was FUN!!!!) consider yourself tagged!!! Make sure you come back and leave me a comment that you posted so I can come by and see =)

Crazy for a challenge

I absolutely LOVE challenge blogs. I don't care if you're vying for a goodie, or just trying to beat your record for cards made/pages scrapped in a sitting. A challenge gets my creativity flowing like nothing else. Today I managed to get two cards done participating in two such challenges. By the way if you are looking for a challenge, check out the bottom right of my blog, there are links (click on the blinkies) for all the ones I participate in regularly.

First up is this week's 2 Sketches 4 You challenge. You can see the original sketch here and below is my take on it. I had fun with the foam pop up double sided sticky squares to make the flower picture stand above the grey and black mats. The "I Thee Wed" sentiment is also popped up. I used all solid cardstock from my stash for the rest. I also used my favorite Swiss Dots Cuttlebug embossing folder and Threading Water punch!!

Next, I went over to Mojo Monday for help making a Valentine's Day card for my hubby. This is my first time making him a card, but he is my biggest fan, so I really wanted to try this year! I also have resolved to use up my own stash of embellies for card making rather than shop for more stuff to pile in my scrapping space. These weren't a perfect match for the cardstock, but he's a smart enough man to not mention it. LOL. See the original sketch here and then my take is below. I used black fiber with silver flecks in it to tie a glittery chipboard charm to the top and the hearts at the bottom are the same glittery chipboard.

Recycling cards?

I had to create a congratulations card for a challenge on my group. Boy did I struggle with it. I wasn't really in need of a congrats card at the moment so all the typical themes (grad, baby, wedding, etc) just didn't jump out at me. I decided to go with a generic congrats and started rifling through my ziploc of old cards that I save to 'recycle.'

That's exactly what I did here. The original card front was the striped pattern with the blue flower and foil embossed outline front and center. I cut out the flower and turned it sideways so the stripes would be going in a different direction. I glued a blue Skittle to the center of the flower for depth. I used a portion of the original card as the top and plain white cardstock embossed using my Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folder. A simple Threading Water punch in metallic silver to bring out the silver foil in the stripes and flower outline and voila......recycled into something new!!! I also used light blue ink to stamp the word 'congratulations' on the botton since this IS a congrats card. I don't like it one bit though. I've come to the conclusion that stamping is NOT for me.

Blog Candy Alert!!!

I have a blog candy alert for you...and it's a good one! :) Well, if you are a Cuttlebug fanatic you sure will think so. I just love sharing blog candy I come across with you because who doesn't love a chance to find a new inspirational blog and a chance to win a goodie ;)

Without further ado.............

Ann over at Craftroom Creations is offering up an awesome prize. A Cuttlebug embossing/cutting folder!! Whoo hoo!!! So if you are interested in a fantastic thing like that then get on over there and check her out! Details are found on her blog.



Also up for blog candy are a whole mess of goodies! So get your booty on over to Three Clover Designs and check out what she has up for grabs. While you are at it check out the archives of cards. There are some fantastic ideas shooting forth from that blog!!!!

Cuttlebug Challenge #14

I am so excited to be able to participate in my first Cuttlebug Challenge!!! I have followed it for weeks and now I can finally jump in. Yay Santa for bringing me a Cuttlebug! LOL.

The challenge this week is to create a card using your favorite folder. Well, I only own two (Divine Swirls and Swiss Dots) so you'd think it'd be an easy choice right? Not so much. I settled on Swiss Dots because it jumped out at me first. I am still new to card making, so I'm figuring it out slowly, but I think I've come to the conclusion that I don't care for stamping. Maybe that just means I'm rotten at it. LOL

I used a piece of white cardstock for the base and for the Threading Water punch. Another new toy!! I embossed the solid black cardstock from my stash with the Swiss Dots folder. The ribbon is from Hobby Lobby and that adorable 'love bug' embellishment is from a swap created by Kellie Holt.

I'm back!!! And I brought cards =)

My holiday from blogging lasted way longer than I anticipated. My laptop bit the dust and I just got it back today! I have been having major withdrawals to say the least! I did manage to get a few cards done and thought I'd share my favorite. Enjoy:

The paper is from the clearance bin at Michael's so I don't have a brand. The flowers are all cut from my cuttlebug. Buttons from my stash....and what a stash it is. LOL

Blog Candy over at craft-o-rama

Yay for blog candy! I always jump on the opportunity to share a fabulous blog I come across and when they are giving away goodies, it just makes it better. Check out the blog over at craft-o-rama and make sure to peek around some...there are lots of great things to see!!!

Craft-O-Rama