It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas...

We put up the Christmas tree and all of our decorations yesterday. I'll have to say that decorating with the 5 kids has become much more productive since they have gotten older. They actually worked together and helped Kevin assemble and decorate the tree while I unloaded all of my Santa collection in the curio cabinet. Everything looks beautiful. Even though the weather has been pretty warm here in KY, it is beginning to feel a lot like Christmas in our home.

I created a holiday card and layout for the site, Ch{all}enge Masters. If you are looking for a challenge, you need to come over and visit. This site has it all. Challenges for cards, altered projects, and layouts of every kind. It is fabulous and the gals are so talented.

Have a wonderful week and create something for yourself :)

It's a Good Day...

Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday shopping have gone well. Yes, I've missed some sleep, but I can't wait to see the smiles on their faces Christmas morning. That makes it all worthwhile.

I also got fabulous news today. I was invited to join the design team at ScrapTiffany! ScrapTiffany is a wonderful weekly challenge blog. I'm so excited to be designing with this incredibly talented group of ladies. Please, come on over and join in on the celebration.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I've spent the evening making some goodies for tomorrow's Thanksgiving celebration. We are traveling to Ohio to spend the day with family. I made one of my favorite sweets, Mom's Apple Crisp. I love how the delicious smell of apples baking fills the house. Here is the recipe:

4-6 Large Granny Smith apples

8 graham cracker squares

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup rolled oats

1/2 cup flour

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 cup butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Peel, core and slice apples. Prepare enough apples to fill baking dish full. Finely chop graham crackers. Combine crumbs, sugar, oats, flour, and spices. Add butter; mix well. Spoon mixture over apple slices. Bake 30-35 minutes or until apples are tender. Serve with whipped cream or ice cream. Delicious when drizzled with caramel :)

I've been spending time sifting through recipes and watching Martha Stewart for baking tips. It has put me in the mood to create something to decorate the kitchen. This week, I created this altered wall hanging. It was created for a really COOL challenge at Scrapatale. The challenge was to create a project using household junk or a candy wrapper or a child's toy. I used puzzle pieces and a can lid. I love the results.

Enjoy the long weekend and give thanks for your blessings.

A New Moon

I am such a Twilight fan! Kevin and I watched New Moon Friday night. It was fantastic. What's not to love...a romantic love story, a gorgeous vampire, a hunky werewolf? I loved it all. I channeled my love for all things Twilight and created this layout for the latest challenge at Candy Shoppe Designs--Team Edward vs. Team Jacob. Of course, I am totally Team Edward :) I used the latest fabulous sketch from the Sketchabilities blog. Stop by both sights and check out the inspiration.

One of my fav stamp sites is Pink Persimmon. Their stamp sets are gorgeous. I love searching through the design team gallery and drooling over the projects they create. I created a card for the sketch challenge going on over at their blog. I love that little birdie stamp by Inkadinkado. It is a birthday card for my mom's big day tomorrow. Happy Birthday, mom!

Quiet Time...

Nothing helps me relax like creating in my craft studio. I had such a productive evening last night working on design team projects and some holiday goodies. I love the November sketch chosen for the My Mind's Eye blog challenge by Anam Stubbington. I created this layout, "5th Grade", with a great photo of Jennah taken when school started. These patterned papers in the MME Academy collection are fantastic and covered in glitter. I also used strips of alphabet letters taken from a vintage spelling book I discovered at the thrift store.

This layout was created for a call at Nerdy Victorious Scrappers. Isn't that the coolest name for a site? I used great patterned papers and stickers from Cosmo Cricket in the March 2009 Label Tulip kit.

Next on my agenda, an altered snowflake wallhanging for a challenge at Webster's Pages. Gorgeous holiday patterned papers...need I say more? I'll be sure to share it with you soon.

Have a wonderful evening.

Adornit Blog Hop

Welcome to the Adornit Blog Hop! We're here to bring some holiday cheer. Please, start at the beginning of the hop if my blog is your first stop. I don't want you to miss out on any of the merry goodness. The link to the beginning is here: Adornit Blog Hop

I loved creating this Holiday Birdhouse. I purchased it at a thift store (one of my fav places) a few months ago. This will make the perfect holiday gift for one of my loved ones. I think I'll surprise her with it in the beginning of December to enjoy throughout the month. I used beautiful patterned paper by My Mind's Eye and Scenic Route, my fav circle punch by Fiskars, inks by Tsukineko and SEI, chipboard by Magistical Memories, grungeboard by Tim Holtz, paint by Delta, stickles by Ranger, lace, buttons, and felt pieces. A little bit of this and that.

I punched circles in 3 different patterned papers and layered them to create the gingerbread roof. I absolutely love working with chipboard and grungeboard. It adds dimension to any project and is so versatile. I decorated mine by covering with patterned paper, inking, painting, distressing, and applying Stickles.

Have a great weekend and please continue to the other stops on the blog hop.

Your next stop is to Kate Blue's Blog

Sweet Treats

Today is the first day of Adornit’s Christmas Blog Party! They are going to “Make it Merry” for the next five days with holiday inspiration, projects, challenges, and, of course, PRIZES!

Today is CHRISTMAS CARD day. They have some great samples, and, of course, something fun for you to do – the 30-Minute CARD Challenge. Here is my sample. I just love Christmas cards!
I used patterned paper by Webster's Pages, Pearls by Prima, Fiskars punch, Versafine Ink, a Hero Arts stamp.

I had a great time creating these fancy candy bar wrappers for a teacher's luncheon at the middle school. So simple, but so pretty. What can't chocolate be fancy and tasty :) I used patterned paper by Reminisce and Cosmo Cricket. The beautiful photo squares are also from Cosmo Cricket. I then added a heart shaped doily, some ribbon, and a glittery butterfly.

This is a project my 10-year old son created last night. He is so creative...and he still likes to spend time with his mom :)

The Adornit Blog Hop starts on Friday! I'm on the list of blogs with special holiday projects to share with you. Be sure to run over to Adornit to get in on the entire week of great activities.

I want to share...

I must tell you about my very favorite blog. LilyBean's Paperie, by Melissa Phillips, is just fantastic. Not only does she share her wonderful, heartwarming crafts, but she lists all of her supplies and instructions. Today, she has an absolutely gorgeous Homespun Christmas Journal tutorial, just in time for the holidays. Yes...I'm going to create my own this weekend. I love the idea of recording family activities for the 12 days leading up to Christmas. Stop by and visit Melissa's blog, check out her nonstop creativity, and say, "Hello!". I love to read her posts about her daily crafting and her wonderful little daugher, Bean. Enjoy...and create something for yourself today.

Before I go, I have to share the latest photo of my 5 kiddos. They are bigger everyday!

Coffee, anyone?

Join us this week at Lotus Paperie for an incredibly fun challenge...use a coffee filter on your layout. I had a blast with my coffee filter folding, spraying with glimmer mist, and creating a cutesy flower. Lotus Paperie is also on the search for the next design team. Come on over to the forum and read all of the details. They are a great group of gals!

Tons of Scrapbook Fun...

Have you visited the Paper Secrets forum? It is a great site with lots of scrappy inspiration. My friend, Kristi, is having a wonderful giveaway this month. Come on over, visit, and join in on the fun.

http://papersecrets.friendhood.net/ps-challenges-contests-f34/ps-member-giveaway-ends-11-15-t571.htm#2028