Becky Higgins Project 365

I'm guessing by now most of you have heard of Becky Higgins kit of the month, Project 365. It seems to be the buzz on all the message boards with EVERYONE lining up to purchase the kit when it goes on sale Jan 1st. The January issue of Creating Keepsakes dedicated a few pages to the kit with idea's and suggestions to complete the project.

I really like the concept of documenting a year with a picture a day. This will condition me to carry my camera around at all times. There have been countless times in the past I could of just knocked myself for not having it and missing an opportunity. Maybe, too, this will polish my photography skills, gosh knows I need it.

It is a BIG commitment but a challenge I'm up for. I decided not to purchase the kit, at $39.95 plus $11 and change for shipping I felt I had enough stash and scraps to do my version. The picture above shows the sketch I'm choosing to use for each week in the year. I've started my week on the first of the year instead of Becky's suggestions to start it on the weekend before. I will store my layouts in a 12 X 12, 3 ring naked binder (or two). Also I've decided to do 3 1/2 X 5" sized pictures so if I chose to embellish I'll have room.

I'd love to know if any of you are starting this project and what plans you have if you're not buying the kit. Becky has started a blog specifically for this project. I'm excited to start.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

Good morning all. I hope everyone is enjoying a relaxing Christmas Day with family. I'm not sure if you can tell by my picture but this is how I spent my Christmas.

My whole family lives in Michigan and I'm in Texas so holidays are sometimes bittersweet for me. This Christmas my hubby came up with an ingenious idea...Hook up the webcam with the microphone and I could then celebrate Christmas with my family via the internet. This is why I married this guy! My son hooked up his laptop in Michigan and hubby hooked up mine in Texas and WALA...Christmas!

Although the reception and sound perhaps wasn't the best, I enjoyed every minute of it. I was able to watch everyone open the gifts I sent for them. I was able to watch my 2 year old grandson do what 2 year old do on Christmas eve and that was a real treat. The picture is one I took of the computer monitor while we were celebrating ;-)

This is the first Christmas I was able to "spend" with my family in about 8 years. It turned out to be the "bestest" Christmas for me!

Advent Calendar

I am so lucky to belong to the Yahoo Group, Kerrville Croppers. This group is filled with extraordinary ladies. And talented? Oh yeah!

One of our ladies, Sally Davidson, held a class at her church to make this Advent Calendar. Now Sally is VERY talented, check out her blog at
http://sallydavidson.blogspot.com/ or take a peek at her talent here http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5169079 Sally put a ton of work into this class, she cut all the papers to size and brought each and every embellishment for us to use. She outdid herself. There were a total of 12 ladies in Sally's class and I didn't see anyone disappointed with thier end result! Sally you rock! I am so happy with my Advent calendar.

Another Completed Project

I'm so excited that I've accomplished so much this holiday season. This is a cookbook I made for my mother-in-law as a gift. I used a 9x9 BoBunny naked album and went to town. Please see the slideshow towards the bottom of this page. The envelopes in between the pages hold recipe cards or recipe clippings. On some pages I placed pictures and on other pages I added pockets to hold more recipes. Boy, I hope she likes it.

Christmas Cards

First of all I want to give credit where credit is due. The adorable giraffe card was lifted from GinaKDesigns.com. I frequent her blog (and store, that is where I bought the giraffe stamp set) and I'm always amazed at the talent and inspiration I find there.

The Angel and Christmas tree cards were mostly my design though I used the same sketch from GinaKDesigns. Both of these stamp sets are from The Angel Company. Lastly for the Ho Ho Ho card I used stamps from a huge set that my darling sister Sue bought for me from Costco (thanks sis, love you).

I'm back off to my crop room to put some finishing touches on a BEAUTIFUL Advent calendar. I took a class from Sally Davidson to make the calendar (she is extremely talented) and I can't wait to post a picture of it. Hope ya'll are busy crafting too!

Ho Ho Ho

I decided at the last minute to make my Christmas cards. I spent ALL day Friday and Saturday in my craft room (it was terrible but I had to do it LOL) and was thrilled to finish all 30 cards. I will blog one of each design so you can see them better. Heck, what else do you have to do besides read blogs today? Now, to do the notes inside the Christmas cards and the addressing, that's the harder job.

Another Completed Project...

***Please find the slide show of this book toward the bottom of the page***

I like when it's chilly outside because it motivates me to do something constructive inside like scrapping.

Here is a book I made for my son and daughter-in-law. For the last past few Christmas's I have followed a theme of the 12 day before Christmas for my son's gifts. Last year I made a 2 page layout that hangs with 12 pockets on it and in each pocket I slide a gift card for them. This year I took a different twist and decided to do the 12 days AFTER Christmas. In each of the pockets of this book I put a note card inside a decorated envelope with instructions on where to find their gift for that day.

I always enjoy crafting these Christmas gifts and I know my son enjoys getting them. Here is a peek at this years creation...

Happy Fall

***Note Please find the slide show of this project at the bottom of the page***

It's been awhile since I've posted but the good news is I've been crafting!

We spent 10 days up in Michigan in both October and November which gave me tons of photo's and great scrapping inspiration.

My DARLING sister (the "bestest" sister anyone could have) took a BoBunny recipe book class at Archiver's and bought me this kit (complete with instructions). Yesterday as I was contemplating a gift for our Thanksgiving Day hostess I came up with completing this kit. I am pleased how it turned out and thought I would share it with ya'll before I give it away.

My creative sister took this same book and reworked it to fit a cookie recipe exchange she is doing next month. Her recreation turned out wonderful! It only takes a couple of hours to complete the book and I think this would make a great gift for lots of people on my gift list.

Leon's 30th Birthday

Last month (August 11th) my son Leon (who lives in Michigan) celebrated his 30th birthday. I decided to give him a surprise birthday party. Planning started long before in February when I booked my airline flight to Michigan. I can't believe we were able to keep it all a secret! Leon didn't even know that I was coming for a visit, that's how under wraps we kept it.

I wanted to share just 2 pictures with you from that day. The one is Leon's initial surprise reaction when he came down the basement (we had the party at my Mom's house) and everyone yelled surprise. The other is a pic of me and Leon. We had a wonderful time and we created a ton of memories some I will hold in my heart forever and the rest I will scrapbook.

One More

Okay, I just couldn't resist posting this card. I love the way it turned out, very simple but cute! I used The Angel Company stamp set, Just Dream and I colored the image in with markers. I'm not sure you can tell in the picture but I used Star Dust Stickles on the wings. I kept the background simple by using the cloud paper. In person this card is so soft. Well, this is card number 4 for today, can't quit yet.

Busy Again

It's been awhile since I've blogged, in all honesty I keep forgetting (darn that menopause!).

I have been busy crafting lately though. I'm still making a card a day for my Mom and I have surpassed the 70 mark (last time my Mom counted). I usually spend Saturday and/or Sunday making about 7 or 10 cards and then during the week I can spend my free craft time scrapbooking.

The Angel Company recenting released the new catalog and fall supplement and it is jammed packed with WONDERFUL stamp sets! All my new creations are using TAC stamps.

Here are 3 cards I made today. I know the bunny one looks like Easter and I'm sure that is what the set of stamps is meant for but I liked it to much to pass it up. If you'd like the recipes for the cards just drop me a note. I need to get back to my room to make some more.

Moose Me?

Here is a favorite card of mine. I recently found the wonderful shopping site of Hanna Stamps and fell in love with the large collection of moose stamps. Being from Texas my first purchase, of course, had to be the cowboy moose.

I used my Cuttlebug (again) to emboss the paisleys on the blue cardstock and then I complimented that with the paisley printed paper. I colored the moose with markers and colored pencils. The sentiments I also bought from Hanna Stamps and the inside of this card reads "I'm moosing you". Too cute to resist!

Just Because

Here is the most recent addition to my collection. This card was a bit more labor intensive than others but I'm pleased with the way it turned out. I used my Cuttlebug to emboss the squares, can't get enough of that Cuttlebug. So many card samples lately have been made in the 6x6 format and I find myself following suit. There are two drawbacks to 6x6 cards, one is the increased cost in postage (it cost me .59 to mail) and the fact I have to make my own envelopes and I don't get excited making envelopes. I do use Envelope Companion to create my envelopes but I still find it time consuming and less than exciting.

Card A Day

These pictures were taken at my Mom's house of the cards I've sent her.

You see after my Dad died in April my Mom found herself lost. My sister and son who live close by visit her but for me, living in Texas, I too wanted to do something to lift her spirits. I came up with this idea to send her a homemade card a day. It has been about 45 days since that first card arrived in her mailbox and she is totally loving it. I have had such a good time challenging myself to keep the creative juices endlessly flowing and my Mom has a new hobby, stalking the mailman. These pictures are of her kitchen louver doors where she hangs her cards and once the door is filled she takes off the "oldest" card, puts it in a shoebox and replaces it with the new one. This has been so fulfilling. If you happen to know someone who may be lonesome try this, it is wonderful!

We're Back...

Jeff and I have just returned home from a trip to Albuquerque New Mexico. Jeff bowled in the Nationals Tourney up there. Although he didn't win any big money bowling and I spent to much money at the casino we still had a wonderful time.

I managed to find one of two scrapbook stores in Albuquerque called Memory Lane. They had an awesome selection of stamps and of course all the latest and greatest supplies. I picked up a few "must haves" while there.

Now it's back to scrapping and cardmaking. Prior to going away I had been on a quest to make and mail my Mom in Michigan a card everyday. I have succeeded in doing this for the last 30 days and Mom is so enjoying it. Mom even sent me a book of stamps because she didn't want me to run out LOL. While I was away my sister took over so Mom wouldn't miss a thing. My plan for the weekend is to get in my scrapbook room and replenish my card inventory so come Monday morning I can get right back on track.

Hope all of you are enjoying the 4th of July relaxing with family and friends.

Another Post

I guess I should have waited before I posted for today because there's more. Can you tell my work schedule has been light lately? I've been spending a lot of time in my scrapbook room.

This techinque idea I also swiped from a blog and I wish I could give credit to the blog I found it on but I don't know which one. The card base (paisley) is embossed using the Cuttlebug folder. I inked the Cuttlebug folder with craft ink (Stampin' Up!) before embossing a piece of glossy white cardstock. Then I used a baby wipe to manipulate the ink (remove some and "distress" a bit). How cute is that? The Cuttlebug folder cleans up shiny as new using more baby wipes.

I'm not sure if this technique will work with regular cardstock but it's on my list of things to try.

Happy 4th Of July!

I really like the way this card came together. I used a sketch from poeticartistry's blogspot (great blog site) and just ran with it. I stamped my stars, then cut them out and put them on the carmel cardstock. I also used a pop dot under the center one. The decorations on the star are Stickle drops, red Stickles on the blue star and blue Stickles on the red star. Three little sparkly brads finish the card off.

I've Been Busy!

I've been spending some time in my scrapbook room lately. I bought a few new stamps and couldn't wait to try them. I seem to be on a western theme, imagine that. I recently bought a set of Copic markers and these cards display my first feeble attempt at using them. So far I'm not thrilled with the markers but I'm reserving my opinion until I learn to use the darn things correctly.

The layout here is an assignment for a Big Picture Scrapbooking class I'm taking. I couldn't resist posting it cuz it's just so cute. The class is called The Bakers Dozen and so far I'm really enjoying the simplicity and quickness of the layout assignments.

Hope all is well on your side of the world.

New Additions

Okay, so here I am to blog today but it's not about cards or scrapping. I'm so proud of our new additions that I had to share. This is of course "baby season" at the ranch and these little guys are what I look forward to every spring. These are Fallow deer and aren't they the cutest things ya ever did see?

Back To Scrapping...

I've invested in a new toy, the CuttleBug. Recently I came across a website where they use the CuttleBug to make some awesome embossed cards. These cards are quick, easy and best of all FUN! The picture isn't the best, it's not really easy to see the details in the embossing. On the pink flower card I actually sanded the flower after embossing it. Needless to say I LOVE my new toy.

If you decide you just have to have a CuttleBug too or some embossing folders check out creativexpress.com for the best prices on the web!

I haven't been around in awhile as I spent most of April in Michigan with my family. My Dad died on April 15th after a grueling battle with prostate cancer. I will always miss him but it is a comfort to know he is in heaven and finally pain free. I love you Dad, leave the light on for me.

Happy Valentine Day

Here is a card I made for a swap. The stamps I used are both from Stampin' Up!. The large background stamp is Soft Swirls and the smaller stamp is from A light Heart set.

After stamping the background I colored in the hearts with markers and also I stamped the "love you" after inking the stamp with the markers.