Disappointing Sight!

My Earth Day Surprise! (Post below)
She lost her little baby! I found the Dove was missing and the next day found the baby in the garden next to the water feature where the nest was! So sad.....

Earth Day surprise!

I didn't make a LO, Page or card.....But I did find a surprise this Earth Day! I will have to get the pics developed and make a page/LO....Here is what I found!

This is my water feature in the garden box next to my front door. My husband set it up early this year and I had shut it off when I found the water pumping and half had frozen water suspended! Guess someone found a nice spot to nest.

She wouldn't move no matter how close you got. Must be on eggs and all Becky wanted to see was the babies!

A Girl & Her Dog!

Here is a layout I finished and finally put it into my daughter's Album. I have been bad about cleaning up after scrapping lately. I was looking for a certain paper pack I wanted to use and found a bunch of pages in the works or just waiting for journaling.
Sorry about the pic, it was at night so there is some flash on the page. Got to try another during the day!
Here was one that was finished:

Blog Candy

Celebrate Easter with some BLOG CANDY!! Check out Paper Wings

Announce the winner by noon on May 2nd.

A Birthday Card made using the Invite

Of course, I forgot to take a picture of the Invite before I cut it apart! Becky has the party today so I will see if I can get a shot of a complete invite!

But here is what I made using the Invite:

New Page Done! I am so happy with it, BUT.....

I have to wait to show it off......It was a Design Team Challenge. OK, just can't help myself...Hope Deb don't mind....Here is a small hint:

So, the group of these layouts or pages will start showing June 15 on IIG If It's Groovy


OK, I am off to get some things done since hubby came home unexpectedly (He was supposed to have a double tonight) Little housework, clean up and hopefully watch a DVRed show or two!

Card Swap #3 of 2011

Here is my card for the swap. Theme was Easter:

If It's Groovy: Pass the Sauerkraut Cookie Please!

Check out My LO I completed for If It's Groovy - Cookbooking

I love how Deb titled it! If you read my message you will understand more!

If It's Groovy: Pass the Sauerkraut Cookie Please!: "I am so glad Michelle is bringing us a cookbooking layout today! It has been awhile since we have seen one here on IIG...which tells me a lo..."

If It's Groovy Blog Hop - No Housework Day - Winner

My Winner 

for the 

If It's Groovy Blog Hop

No Housework Day

is

JULIANA T.

Challenges from the IIG-NHD Blog Hop, April 7th - 10th

Heather's Challenge on Scrapping The Guys - Completed!

In keeping with the bird theme, create a project (card, layout, altered item, etc) that has a bird on it.

Close-Ups

Journaling Reads: Finally ready to leave the safety of the hospital nest! We are excited and worried all the same, but your all ours!

Journaling Reads:Feb. 26, 2007 - You got lost in your car seat! So tiny the clothes we had didn't fit for pictures. 

7 lbs. 7oz. 21 inches

We started getting ready to leave about 4 pm. After your low-jack devices were removed, also the bands it was 6 pm!

Vanessa's Challenge on Creating Sensations  http://www.creatingsensations.blogspot.com 

My challenge is this:  Out of the list below, pick your five LEAST FAVORITE Spring Cleaning tasks!  Then use the assigned item to create your Layout!  Pretty Easy!  Can't wait to see what you come up with!

Washing Windows - Clear Embellishments

Sweeping - Twine or Fibers

Mop - Ribbon

Washing Walls - Cardstock

Cleaning Closets - TWO items out of your stash that is 6 mo. or older

Cleaning Curtains - Patterned Paper

Decorate for Spring - Flowers

Wash Lighting Fixtures - Bling

Steam Clean Carpets - Fabric/Texture

Clean Ovens - Spritzers or Paint

Freshen Wall Color - Paint or Ink

Tighten Knobs and Metal Hinges - Brads and Eyelets

Wash China - Buttons

Clean Out Kids Toys Bins - Use Circles or Squares

Misty's Challenge on Love to Create http://mistybrune.blogspot.com/

So, are you up for a challenge? I would love to see something handmade on your layout. I love handmade embellies. Flowers, vines, clothes line (HA!) whatever your mind and hands come up with. Shoot me over an email with your creation and I'll post them to the blog when the hop is over! My email ismbrune04@bellsouth.net. Can't wait to see what you come up with!!!

Julie's Challnege on These are a Few... http://whatisyourfavething.blogspot.com/

Our challenge this weekend is for you to scrap your FAVE COLOR!!! It can be a card, a layout, an altered item... anything you want to make as long as it has to do with your FAVE COLOR! :):):):):):):):):) You have until the evening of April 10th, 2011 at 9PM EST! 


MY Favorite Color Blue! 

Close-Ups

Marci's Challenge on Marci's Scrapping Spot http://MarcisScrappingSpot.blogspot.com

So...I've been thinking about what challenge I wanted to give you all today. What I keep coming up with is that "No Housework Day" or not...some things just have to get done, right? And aren't we blessed to have people in our lives that pick up the slack for us when we need help? It may not be with housework (though it could be.) Maybe the help is at work, or with our kids, or even emotional. But these people are downright irreplaceable in our lives and we love them! 


So my challenge to you is to make a thank-you card. If you send it to the person you had in mind, so much the better! Monday morning I will choose a random winner to receive a set of Zig Chalk Writer pens in lovely pastel colors!

Theresa'a Challenge on Scrapbookers Anonymous http://scrapbookers-anonymous.blogspot.com/

Hello, welcome to our challenge blog. We may just get you inspired to pull out those long lost eyelets, or that never used scrappy tool. So, we hope you come along for the ride... get ready to start using your SCRAPBOOK stash. =) =) Use a minimum of 23 eyelets on your page or card. let's see what ya got!!!

As far as our little blog hop challenge... we ask that you dig into your stash and use a frame on a layout or card.  It can be a premade frame or a frame of buttons, flowers, brads, etc... all we ask is that whatever you use for your frame, that it comes from your stash. Oh, and as always feel free to play along with another challenge for the same project. By participating in our challenge, think of it as a way to clean up your scrapbook stash, one less item to store and take up space... =) You are playing along for a chance to win a UNITY stamp kit called Folk Inspired. If you have not used Unity before, you are missing out. They are great stamps. 

To participate in this HOP challenge and be entered for the prize, link your project up below. You must have your project added below before 11pm EST on April 10th. 

Create a layout or card using a frame. it can be a premade or homemade frame of any kind, using whatever you have in your stash.

OK, Off the work on some more of these Challenges!

If It's Groovy Blog Hop - Washing Machine Catch-All

Welcome to the National No Housework Day Online Blog Hop! 

If you have arrived not knowing until now about the hop, no problem...just go back to 

If It's Groovy

Which is where this hop starts and work your way through. You may find games, prizes, 
projects and how do-you-dos along the path :) We would appreciate it if you sign up to 
keep in touch with us by "following" and would love your comments!

Perhaps you arrived here from Intrepid Thread (Julie's Blog), Great!

Hope you enjoyed that stop and the others so far!!!

Check out my project below!

1) Leave a comment sharing you thoughts, insight, laughs, etc....

2) Answering the 2 questions honesty: 

What is the first thing you think about when you enter a room?

What is the first thing you do after entering that room?

**and you will be in the running for my blog hop prize. 

If you want another chance to win:

**Become a follower of my blog.

We celebrate this national holiday by scrapping today and into the weekend with projects 

that remind us of housework or getting away from it!!! Take the day off, put up your feet 

and let's hop!

Michelle's Blog for If It's Groovy - "No Housework Day"

Here is a quote My Aunt passed on to me, which is so true. If you stop 

and think about it!

"The only advantage in not being too good a housekeper is that your guests are so pleased 

to feel how very much better they are."

Eleanor Roosevelt, "My Day" syndicated column (June 7, 1939)

OK, that is usually what happens when I do an online crop....But since 

this one is actually titled NO Housework maybe I could work on things 

that involve housework. The first thing I thought of was my laundry room. 

I have always thought of making something for those "treasures" you find 

in the wash. Since, I am always finding "treasures" in the laundry. I 

usually just placed these items into a basket that I keep a pair of 

scissors, a pen of two and those dryer balls in. 

What was in the basket most recently?

My husband is an Ironworker; so the most commonly found "treasure" is a 

piece of soap stone. He uses soap stone to mark steel. Other work related 

"treasures" are tips for wire feed & bolts. I used to check his pockets 

before washing until I ended up dirtier than the clothes themselves. OH 

and his work jeans are carpenter style so there was just too many pockets 

to deal with! Since I just wash the work stuff together it is not a big 

deal. Of course, some days are better then others when it comes to the 

"treasures". So, there are other "treasures" such as screws from projects 

around the house, bits and pieces from my daughter's small toys that were 

grabbed out of my 1 yr olds hands before reaching his mouth and list goes 

on!!!!

As anyone knows if they have the laundry duty, finding the coins and bills

are the best "treasure". Too bad it doesn't really pay off in end!!!

Here is my BIG find!

For the Blog Hop I made two different projects for my laundry "treasures" 

one is a bank and the other is a catch all. 

Below is the step-by-step directions.

Washing Machine Catch-All

I used an old tissue box:

Cut two 5 1/2" x 12" pieces of white cardstock. I gently creased the two 

pieces of paper around the tissue box. After, I got the correct fit and 

gave each fold a good crease. Set them aside.

Using another piece of white cardstock I cut a 4 1/2" x 12" piece to make 

the top of my washing machine. I cut out the top to the washing machine 

using the largest Oval from the Spellbinders Classic Ovals S4-110HL. Then 

fit it around the top of the tissue box, gently creased the edges. Figured

out a height I liked for my dials and creased that too!

I cut a strip 4 1/2" x 1 3/4" out of a piece of blue scrap I had. Took 2 

clock faces (1 clear & 1 chipboard) punched holes in the center using an 

eyelet tool. Added 2 Large White brads to the clock faces and attached to 

the blue strip of paper, making my washing machine dials. (A package of 

the Clock Faces are apart of my RAK)

OK, next I attached the top with the hole First! Then attached the front 

to the tissue box and followed with the back.

Using those two pieces cut for the sides attached them. Making sure I had 

a smooth front and the overlap was at the sides of the tissue box.

Finished my basic white washing machine! The top of the washing machine 

was bugging me! It was the hole not perfect and the top blue paper by the

dials. So, I cut a ¼” strip of white paper and attached it to the top edge

and fixed my crooked looking blue strip. I also bend it down to give it a 

little more dimension. I will get to fixing the opening in a minute.

Now, it needed something and a label/saying stating it’s purpose! Since, I 

have a girl and a boy! I used pink and boy ink with my SU Jumbo Roller and 

the “Wash Day” stamp. Fussy cut the stamped images out and attached.

Now, for the opening fix! Of course, I didn’t have a big enough piece of 

scrap in the same blue I used on the top with the dials! But I had some 

Blue Swirl that looked like soapy water. Using Spellbinders Large 

Scalloped Ovals (S4-111HL) I taped my largest and the next one down 

together with Scotch tape. Then cut the paper out and got a border scallop 

and a solid piece.

I attached the border to the top and put the solid piece inside on the

bottom.

For my label/saying I used Spellbinders Classic Paisley cutting one out 

of the Blue Swirl and a smaller one out of White Cardstock. Hand wrote I 

saying that fit and attached.

My finished Catch-All

 Hope you like what I did! Let me know my commenting!

Remember to do the following to be in the running for my blog hop prize!
1) Leave a comment sharing you thoughts, insight, laughs, etc....
2) Answering the 2 questions honesty: 
What is the first thing you think about when you enter a room?
What is the first thing you do after entering that room?

and you will be in the running for my blog hop prize. 

If you want another chance to win:
**Become a follower of my blog.

I won the Recycle Challenge!!!!!

I participated on an online crop - Celebrating Paper Secrets 2nd Birthday
Just saw this post:
The winner of the recycle challenge was...
Crabbing Life by mishodris
Congrats!!


I case you missed the layout. Here it is:

Want a chance to win a huge pile of blog candy?

Want to win the best blog candy ever?

Yes!!!
It's April and it's time to celebrate! Why? Because it's Einat's birthday month and the 1st anniversary of her blog! So, go over to Scrapinit is giving away some gorgeous blog candy!!    

But wait there is more… there will be three more blog candies, each Friday you will have the chance to win a great package of scrapbooking and craft goodies!

Last of the Challenges! Moving on to......

Challenge - Wonderful BD!

My challenge to you is a Technique challenge with the BD Theme of course! So, I dare you to create a BD/Anniversaty layout with the following requisites:
- Grab some of those old BD papers and supplies that you bought and had not use yet!
- Incorporate a handcuted portion(s) of pattern paper
- Use pop dots to add depth to you handcut image(s)
- Use at least 2 different alpha stickers! This is a great time to use those leftovers...
- Remember those stickles or glitter? You need to use them to add some blign to your master piece

Challenge - Sketch

Sketches always help me when I'm in a rut, so I just knew that I had to host a sketch challenge! They're so much fun and you can really get inspiration from any aspect of them!
The little twist with this challenge is to use the sketch and include some sort of celebration theme (since we are celebrating a birthday, afterall)!

So, Now moving onto my card swap cards that need to be finished and the up-coming weekend blog hop.

If It's Groovy

Here is a Snip-it of my Blog Candy for this Blog Hop:

Random Memories: Blog Candy - Giveaway!!

Like this Stamp Set?

Check out this blog!
Random Memories: Blog Candy - Giveaway!!: "Random Memories is 1 1/2 years old today! I thought it might be time to celebrate with a giveaway. I spotted this stamp set from Glitz ..."

Great Deals On Close To MY Heart Products!!!!

Come on and Check it out!
On my website under the side bar. Click on "Shop Online"
Then look under "While Supplies Last"
Great bundles with paper, stickers and embellishments!

SHOP WITH ME! 
I am a new Consultant......MY CTMH modriscoll  

Two more challenges done!

It is so nice to get a good nights sleep and be able to get up before the kids!

I was able to finish two more Challenges from Paper Secrets - Birthday Bash!

One was a Birthday Card using all or some of the colors in their logo:

Here is my card:

The next Challenge was called "Remember When....."

Use your imagination. Twins, 2 Friends, Age 2, Age 11, Age 20, 2 weeks, 2 days... get the idea??!!
The challenge... make the journalling reflect the number 2. It could be a simple journal of the age or number of friends or it could be more 'imagined'... sound challenging??

Here what I did:

Above is my girl sitting inside at the front window!

My Shabby/Chic Card Challenge

Challenge is Shabby Chic Recipe style of challenge. For those who are unsure what Shabby Chic is I have put the definition here as well.

Shabby chic is a form of interior design where furniture and furnishings are either chosen for their age and signs of wear and tear or new items are distressed to achieve the appearance of an antique. At the same time, a soft, minimalistic, and feminine feel is emphasized to differentiate it from regular vintage decor; hence the "chic" in the name.

If you decide to do the layout the following must be used on your page...

• A vintage photo pre 50's must be used.
• Paint
• Stitching
• Distressing
• Pastel Tones

CARD must include the following...

• Paint
• Stitching
• Soft prints
• Ribbon

That was the requirements. Since this was my first attempt at a "Shabby Chic" card. Looking back I think I should have roughed up the heart a bit!

Close-Up

See the Paint, Stitching, Soft print & ribbon.....

I am doing these challenges through Paper Secrets