Halloween Fun

The challenge this week on Heart 2 Heart Challenges was o create something with a Halloween theme. I've had these letters for a couple years now. This seemed like a perfect opportunity to have some fun with them. I used Hooligans papers and the little felt monsters. The other stickers were some I'd had from SEI.

A couple close up shots.

Here's a few fun Halloween cards:

This one keeps coming up sideways--sorry. I used Hooligans papers and Little Spooks and Thriller stamps.

October Word Puzzle stamps and Grown With Love.

This one I made a while ago. The spiderwebs are from the Happy Haunting set, and are embossed in white. The witch is from Little Spooks.

Another older card. This used the Happy Haunting set.

I hope you have a fun, safe Halloween. The kids are looking forward to trick or treating tonight. None of us are looking forward to getting up for school tomorrow!

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

First Day of School--Studio J layouts

I LOVE Studio J, Close To My Heart's digital scrapbook program! It only takes minutes to create gorgeous, fun layouts. Plus, with the new membership program, each 2 page layout costs only $6.50, with free shipping on 4-20 layouts. I ordered 5 this morning.

While digital scrapping will never fully replace paper scrapping for me, I love the ease and cost of these digital layouts. When I purchase a layout, I also get a JPEG file to share. I also love that current and older paper packs are on there. Which means I can even use Studio J to plan paper layouts to see how they will look before I create them. I can even add coordinating embellishments to the layouts after I receive them for more of a 3-d effect.

These are a couple layouts I did of the first day of school. The paper pack is an exclusive digital only Studio J pack. To play with Studio J, be sure to visit my website: http://www.moments2treasure.myctmh.com/ It's free to try. You pay for the layouts you want to purchase. Be sure to check out membership packages for an even better deal.

Brendan:

Austin:

Pumpkin Patch Fun

Saturday afternoon, we headed to Linder Farms to the pumpkin patch. We were hoping to get an hour or two between storms. Luckily, we were able to stay over three hours before the rain started. Some highlights were the Boise State corn maze, a hay ride, bounce houses, rides, finding pumpkins, and enjoying hot chocolate and donuts in front of a bonfire. It was a great afternoon. We loved that Grandma, Papa, Uncle Taylor, and Kaitlin could join us!

I love fall and all the fun picture opportunities it brings. I hope you'll indulge me and all my pictures. I can't wait to scrap all these!


Climbing the hay bales.

Playing in the corn

Checking out the map to find our way through the corn maze.

Inside the corn maze

Child of the corn...goofing around in the corn stalks.

I thought the clouds looked neat over the corn--a storm brewing. Now I can see a face, and it's a little unnerving.

Fun with Grandma and Papa

A family pic...a rare thing :)

The guys (minus Brendan)

Say pumpkin!

On the hayride.

Bren's pumpkin

Austin's pumpkin

H2H Embossing Challenge

This week's Heart 2 Heart challenge was embossing, which I LOVE! I used clear embossing powder on glossy white paper. I sponged using Crystal Blue, Indian Corn Blue, and Outdoor Denim. Stamp sets I used were Twas the Night Before Christmas, Holiday Trinkets (snowflakes), and Magical Season. I wish I would have more time to play, I would have created even more cards using dry embossing and vellum embossing.

However, we've had a crazy weekend that included the pumpkin patch and shopping for Halloween costumes on top of cleaning and organizing. Plus Friday will be the end of the quarter, so I'm trying to catch up on grading this weekend. Darn crazy life!

Tomorrow I'll be posting some of the fun pictures from the pumpkin patch. I love fall and all the fun photo opportunities it brings!

H2H Challenge Fall Theme

This week's challenge on Heart 2 Heart Challenges was to create a project using leaves or trees. Fall is my favorite time of year, so I knew I'd love this challenge. I've had these pictures we took 2 years ago sitting here waiting to be scrapbooked. I could never find the paper that was "just right." Then Close To My Heart came out with the Olivia papers and I knew they were perfect. I used one of the layouts from the new Magic book, and presto--a new favorite layout :) I used the Timeless stamps from the Workshop on the Go, as well as Rustic Alphabet and Doodle Alphabet.

Christmas Cards for Operation Write Home

I've been working on cards for a card party a friend is hosting on Thursday. We will be making cards for soldiers in Afganistan. We'll be making cards at Moxie Java on Five Mile and Overland from 3 until 8:30 this Thursday, if you want to stop by :)


Papers: Jingle; Stamps: Festive THoughts and Holiday Trinkets; Snowflake punch: Martha Stewart.


Papers: Mistletoe Creative Basics; Stamps: Peace on Earth and Timeless.

Papers: Aspen; Stamps: MAgical Season and Festive Thoughts.

Stamps: Boutique Alphabet, Holiday Trinkets, and Peace on Earth.

Backwoods Birthday Cards

Here's a couple masculine cards I made. I never seem to have enough birthday cards for guys. I used Backwoods stamps and Back Country papers. I like the simple, rugged look for men's cards.

More Cards Using A Sip

I can't get enough of this stamp set! The first card uses Aspen papers with A Sip and Festive Thoughts stamps. I love this card, but it is not loving me today! I've reposted this picture three times from two different places, and it STILL wants to come up sideways. Sorry.

The second card uses Serendipity, an old promotion set of papers, with A Sip. I also used a few felt snowflakes I picked up somewhere. Trying to use up some of the older stuff I have on hand.

H2H Challenge--Birthday Cards

I decided to work on some kids birthday cards for this week's Heart2Heart Challenge. I used Reach for the Stars stamp set, Stardust papers, and Prismacolor pencils. I'm hoping to make a few more birthday cards later, but we'll see how the day goes.



We took the boys roller skating yesterday. They had gone over the summer with their camp, and they've been begging us to go again. It was the first time I've been on skates in years. It was fun, but I'm definitely feeling it today :) Poor Brendan is even worse off. His elbows and knees are covered in bruises. He fell every few feet, but refused to take a break or stop. It paid off, though. By the end, he was going around a couple times without falling. I'm sure we'll be going back again soon. Next time, I'll remember the camera!

Mistletoe WOTG

I love these Workshop On the Go kits because all I have to do is follow the directions, and I end up with beautiful cards. The kit comes with: Mistletoe paper, Timeless stamp set, and Mistletoe Level 2 Brad assortment. I did change a few sentiments on some of the cards, but other than that, these are the cards from the kit.

I used the contents of the kit, plus Christmas Scripts, Peace on Earth, and a little Liquid Glass.

Afternoons and Coffee Spoons

I have been enjoying my day of solitude. A little cleaning, a little creating, and catching up on the TV shows I've missed the last couple weeks.

When I got the new catalog, I knew I HAD TO HAVE this set A Sip). I love the cup, the spoon, the sayings. The best part? The set is only $7.95! For this card, I used Aspen papers. I embossed the spoon in silver, and used Liquid Applique for the whipped cream. I also swiped a little bit of coffee groups from the grinder and sprinkled them on before heating the applique. The result? A yummy card that smells like coffee. Even though I don't drink coffee, I love the smell :)

Light the Night 2010

Last night we participated in the Light the Night walk for the second year in a row. If you aren't aware, they raise money and awareness for Leukemia and Lymphoma. Last year, we did it with Austin's class. Earlier this week, I got an email about it, and Austin was adamant that we do it again. He said it was fun and it helps those with cancer, so we should do it. How do you argue with that.

This year, it had even more meaning for us. This past year, my cousin Jenn was diagnosed with Leukemia. So this year we walked for her and the millions of others battling cancer. In the last 15 years, our family has been hit hard, and it is very emotional for me.

A few stories stood out as we were on the walk. The first was the lady next to us in a wheel chair wearing a surgical mask. She is currently undergoing treatment and wanted to be a part of the walk. A football team, probably around 13/14 was all walking together. The mom of the boy carrying the survivor balloon was next to us. She was saying how even though this marks nine years, it still brings tears to her eyes when she thinks about how close she was to losing him. The last was a boy probably around 14, wearing a survivor shirt. Walking with him were two of his friends who were wearing "Top Fundraiser" t-shirts.

I hear the statistics and think of my own family members who have fought the battle. Seeing the faces last night, hearing their stories, seeing the people with the stickers and signs honoring friends and family members, reminds me that every number is someone's loved one. Each number is someone undergoing treatment, someone doing their best to put on a brave face and fight. To see the faces of so many survivors brought tears to my eyes. Seeing so many come out and support the cause was a moving experience. I will always be willing to devote money and time toward finding a cure. I just wish I no longer had to!

Brendan not to sure about the threatening thunderstorm. Luckily, it never did reach us!

As for today, I have the day off, and the boys went to Tumble Time for the day--woohoo! I've been doing laundry and cleaning, but now it's time to break out the stamps and get inky :) Hopefully I'll have some fun goodies to post later!