Another Week

Phil and I had a fun overnight jaunt to Houston, Cypress to be exact.  We went to the Premium Outlet Mall.  It was a pretty nice little mall, with some pretty good stores.  Thankfully, not too good so we didn't come back poor.  I bought a Juicy Couture outfit and a Coach wallet and key chain.  Phil bought some shirts and jeans, and we bought Britton some shoes and a pair of shorts.

Speaking of Coach, I about went into a coma at that store.  I like the Coach brand to begin with. However, I'm kind of cheap.  I only buy on sale normally.  Over the summer, I bought a new Coach bag at the Marine Exchange in Arlington.  I was so excited, because it was about $70 cheaper than retail.  At this outlet, they were 20%-50% off the outlet price (which was about $30 cheaper than retail).  I was a happy happy happy gal.  I ended up not buying a bag since I had only bought one 7 months ago.  I am trying to save money and buy less, especially stuff I don't need.  I was good.

Here are some layouts I did over the weekend for the Scrap-Tastic American Idol crop, where I also found out I'm a finalist in the American Idol Contest.  This will be fun...I love all things American Idol, particularly when it is scrap related.  This crop was good.  I have dug out some papers I haven't used that I've needed to, and have been putting out some quick layouts.  I have been happy with how they turned out though.

Rockin' my 13th Birthday

This is for a scraplift challenge

LOVE IS

The Challenge was to use the lyrics to the John Lennon song Love as inspiration and acrylic paint.  This one is kind of crazy for me.  I had some Carolee's Love paper I cut up, I used my Wal-Mart doilies that I painted and embellished and then used the words to the song for the journaling.

HAPPY

The challenge here was to take a picture of two pieces of patterned paper, cardstock, a pen, chipboard, one picture and acrylic paint and letter stickers.  Then the challenge was to make a layout with those things only.  Here we go.  This was scary because I used paper for my Winter Wonderland Class.  Thankfully, I had some extra of both pieces of patterned paper. 

DOWNTIME

Music Challenge-Use Metal (my brad), Unique handwriting (I journaled by hand), Stars (the paper has stars in the chair), Ink (I inked the edges), Chipboard (thickers)

WASHINGTON D.C.

Hollywood Challenge-use two different kinds of bling.  I stickled my chipboard in yellow & green to make it mimic the paper and used glitter thickers.  I also have a glitter sticker in the bottom right corner

CLOSER

The challenge was to use three different song titles

Bluebonnets

The challenge here was to scrap about a friend using hearts and flowers

Quick Little Saturday Update

Just a quick update.  Last night we went to dinner with the Clarks for my mother-in-law's 78th birthday.  A good time was had by all.  I  made a really good chocolate cake from my Hershey's cookbook.

Phil and I are headed to Houston in a bit for a belated Valentine's celebration, but I wanted to participate in some Scrap-Tastic Cyber Crop Challenges before we went.  Here are a few photos from it.

I Love Family Photos

Have a great weekend.

Winter Wonderland

I have been knee deep in my Winter Wonderland book.  I was going to use pictures from Colorado, but decided to use pictures from our one snow day instead.  This is not typically how I would do acrylic, but I am loving it.  Here is my completed cover.

This is a Prima acrylic album.  The cover was painted white around the edges, then embossed with silver and silver stickled around the edges.  The back was lined with patterned paper.  I used a rub on in the top right corner.  I had a snowflake ornament, that I used the snow stuff you can buy at Michael's, so it's very dimensional.  I sprinkled glitter on it then sealed with Glossy Accents.  I stickled and layered my prima flowers and attached them.

I am documenting this week in pictures...following my routine...focusing on things I love...whether I just love or love to hate.  I have not felt very much like taking pictures, so I need to get on the stick.

Yeah American Idol...so happy with the top 3 tonight.  The dude Michael from Jasper made it through.  I can't tell you how happy I am.

Hello Tuesday

Today started off with a bang.  The alarm either didn't go off or Phil didn't set it or turned it off or something, but we overslept.  We woke up at 7...he got ready so fast and flew out the door in 5 minutes...I had a little more time, but I was late...of course.

I have not felt just so well.  My stomach has been a little upset for the last week.  Nothing agrees with me and I've just felt icky.

I had a pretty decent day with nice clients, this is always good.  I had to go to the grocery store at lunch, which is so my favorite thing to do, particularly in heels.  Then, ate lunch at my desk, searching medical stuff on the Internet.

I had to leave work a few minutes early to go get Britton from track practice.  I did not realize that he was needing to be picked up from the high school.  Now, trekking all over Lumberton is no big deal unless it is 5:00 and then the traffic is horrendous.  It took me 10 minutes to go 2 miles.  

Phil had a work dinner, so Britton and I have hung out making spaghetti and watching American Idol.  I'm pretty excited since Michael Sarver, our hometown boy is singing tonight.  We will be voting as soon as it's over. 

I am taking the Winter Wonderland Class at A Million Memories.  Here is what I've done so far.  I am a little behind but will catch up.  

Here is a layout for a challenge at A Million Memories to use up your leftover letters.  I could do 18 challenges for this with all the leftover letters I had.  This is this weeks Pencil Lines sketch.  I made the bracket out of my letters.  To make the colors work a little better, I inked them up.  I used some of my new Graphic 45 papers.  I just love them.

Valentine Update

Just a small update with some pictures from Britton's party.   But first...a layout

NAP TIME

We were trying to get a new photo for my new Love Frame

This is what 13 looks like

Sleeping Boys

The birthday party

HAPPY VALENTINE'S BIRTHDAY BRITTON

Happy Birthday Little Man!!!!  13....WOW.  I am so proud of you and the young man you are.  I am so glad you had a great birthday party. 

I need to upload some photos from the party and of you on your special birthday.

Happy Valentines to my sweetest Valentine.  He sent me some beautiful roses yesterday and he and Britton got me some bath and body stuff and two movies (romantic of course)-Grease and Say Anything...I am so excited.  We took Britton and his friend out to eat and to the movies.  They went and saw Mall Cop and we saw Confessions of a Shopaholic.  It was so good.  I read the book a few years ago and just loved it.  

All in all a great Valentines.

My new comforter came in yesterday.  I bought some pillows and candle holders, etc over the week.  It is looking so good.  I will snap some pictures once we have our artwork hung.  I have ordered some pictures and am shopping for a mirror.  It is coming along so good.

I didn't get any scrapping done today.  I hope to do some tomorrow.  I need to work on a spring time banner for the living room...maybe I'll do one for St. Patrick's day...we'll see.

Valentine Countdown

For us, Valentine's Day is all about Britton and his birthday.  Yup...he's going to be the big 13--A teenager!!!  He is growing to be such a fine young man.  Phil plans to take him out Saturday and talk to him about manhood and what it means to be a man.  I am so happy I married someone so interested in being such a wonderful father, and he is.  I just admire him to no end.

I have been scrapping away with my AMM February kit.  I just loved it, and only have a little bit of paper, ribbon and the rubons left.  It was just so much fun.  

Here are a few more things I've made since the last update.

LAZY BONES

Annabelle loves to sleep...she loves to sleep on top of the couch.

You Hold the Key 2 My Heart

This is for the Scrapbook Deals 4 U website.  I loved this week's challenge and my kit worked perfectly.

Weekend Scrappies

As busy as this weekend was, I got a little scrapping time in.  After the funeral, we took the boys to the mall and looked for bedspreads, and ate at Logan's.  Britton got a haircut and a new hat.  After we got home, I got a little more scrap time in while Phil and Britton watched a movie.

My Love, My Valentine

I made this using my February AMM kit

I am digging my new crackle paint.  This is the metallic

I Love You More than Pink Frosted Donuts with Sprinkles

I made this using February AMM kit.

Laundry Love

Made using the February AMM kit

Happy Birthday Card

This was made for Phil's Aunt Mary...she turned 80

I mainly used Graphic 45 scraps.  I loved this paper so much, I couldn't part with it.

Bungee

I made this using a 2 page February Page Maps sketch 

After church, we went to Kohl's and found the bedspread we wanted, but they didn't have the size we needed.  I figured I could find it online when I got home, and thank heaven they still had it.  So, in a few days, this is what will be coming to my house:

I will need to find new lamps, draperies, and pillows...I didn't buy all the accessories so it wouldn't be so matchy matchy.  We rearranged the furniture and will be having some pictures developed and framed.   I need to take an updated picture since the painting is completed.  Our room is looking so good though.

Biggest Scrap Loser Contest

I decided to participate in a contest to use up my scrap stash at scrapbookdeals4u.com.  It's been fun.  Here are my 4 layouts so far.

SNOW ANGEL (week 2)

BENTLEY (week 3)

TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME (week 1)

FOREVER LOVE (week 4)

Thankful for Restful Weekends

I am so happy it is the weekend.  I have had a rough week. After working last weekend, making two trips to Lufkin for a rough Court week, creditor meetings, etc., I am happy for a restful weekend.  Mr. Maida, Sr. died this week so I attended the vigil last night and will attend the funeral today.  He lived a long life, but funerals are always a sad thing.  He was a sweet man and I hope he's hanging out playing cards in Heaven.  Frank has done really well, but I know how sad their family is.

I have been able to scrap a little bit this week.  Here are a few layouts.  I completed an Annabelle album this week.  Here is the last layout for it.

Stinky Dinky

This is one of my many nicknames for Annabelle.  I used some of my new Forrest Friends paper and some scraps from my stash.

I am also working on my 2008 year in review album.  Throughout the year, I did monthly calendar layouts from a tutorial I got from A Million Memories.  I am going month by month and doing a layout with pictures for each month to coordinate.  I am up to the month of June.

Smile Right

As I said before, Phil has been painting our bedroom.  Our furniture has been moved out and about trying to get everything done.  We moved our comforter and pillow shams into the living room and set it in the chair.  Bentley has thought it was cool to snuggle into the covers.  It was so cute, we had to snap it (and one of Annabelle too).

I guess that is all for now.  We are keeping Caleb this weekend so we'll have boys to entertain. Have a lot to do to get our bedroom finished up this weekend.  I have to do some comforter shopping and shampoo the carpet.  I will snap some photos when I am done.

Have a great weekend. 

I have been scrapping away.  I haven't shown much lately though.  Here are a few recent layouts.  As busy as I've been with work, amazingly I have had a little scrap time

Snow Day 

this was from the one day of snow we've had in 10 years. 

I like how this one turned out

Lucky Strike

this was a layout from a recent family bowling night

Landscape

My 2008 month in review book...layout from May

Best Buds?

This is not my favorite, but a little layout with Bentley and Annabelle

Speaking of Annabelle, she got her hair cut...really short.  I would have liked it a little longer, but she's sassy and cute.  As usual.  She was so cute last night snuggled up in Britton's jacket.

That is all for now...gotta get to bed...have to go to Lufkin for Court in the morning.