Can it be???

One layout and two challenges??? Did I really "Get 'Er Done"?

Why yes, it can be! Not only is it one layout and two challenges..... but...... this makes three challenges for the week! What you all say? I know... I'm patting own myself on the back over here! I guess we can say it's been a good week!

I've never participated in a challenge on either of these sites before, but I really like them. I see more challenges in my future! I even did some embossing for this layout. Don't know why I don't do that more often.

At Scrap and Stamp you were to use buttons on your layout and of course a stamp. I always seem to forget I have buttons. I never forget to buy them... just to use them.

Over at Magpie Club the challenge is a sketch. I can't believe this time last year I was saying I didn't like to use sketches and swearing I never would. See what a challenge can do for ya? I think...well I know... I did a little more than the sketch called for with the butterflies and flowers, guess I need to work on that. The staying within the sketch guideline thingamajig. :(

eta: Okay, lets make it 1 layout - 3 challenges. This layout also works over at Practical Scrappers .



I did use paper products from another monthly kit. Yea me again!
All PP- Piggy Tales.
Cardstock for butterflies and scallop circles- Stamin Up!
Scallop Circle stamp and Friends stamp- Stampin Up!
Butterfly Die- by Sizzix from Stampin Up!
Bling - Prima & Creating Keepsakes
Flowers - Prima
Embossing powder- Not sure
Ribbon- Not sure

Think that's got it covered! Wishing you all a great and wonderful weekend!
Oh yea..... it's Friday and no tea or coke/coke products all week! Who'd a thunk it?

Soak Up The Sun

Here's my layout for this weeks challenge over at Scrapping the Music.
While I haven't been able to play along with them lately, I do love their challenges! It's a great site and if you guys haven't checked them out yet, it's well worth your time! This weeks song is "Soak Up The Sun" by Sheryl Crowe. It's a good thing I love that song because I've been humming it for days now!

I thought these pics were perfect. The pics are of Miss Jess and are when she and I went to Florida.

All products used are S.E.I.

Yea! I finally used one, well some of it, of the 50 bajillion kits that I seem to have stock piled. Can I get an atta girl!

Caffeine update: I went all evening without any and then rewarded myself right before bedtime with just a tiny bit of sweet tea... and I do mean tiny. Then had only 2 cups of coffee this morning and now back to water. Surprisingly David is still alive. Not only is he still alive, but he still has all of his body parts attached! I really don't think it's the caffeine I'm missing as much as the sugar in my sweet tea... at least that's what I'm telling myself.

I must get busy! Wishing you all a fabulous day!
As always.... thanks for taking the time to stop by!

One Weekend Two Shots- Part 5

Here are my weekend shots. I've got to tell you though, I'm not loving any of my pictures right now. They just seem to be missing the zip, pow, bang. I'm not sure what my deal is. I know they've had it before and feel sure they will again... but for now it's making me less than thrilled about picking up my camera!
I seem to be having a really hard time figuring out my aperture ... oh who am I kidding, I'm having a hard time with all of it right now. But not to despair..I'm reading everything in sight and playing playing playing. I'll get it figured it out!

Here are my shots from the weekend.
For Saturday's I used two shots. David and I had taken a bike ride (motorcycle) out to the lake in search of an old church... can you believe there wasn't one... anyway, we stumbled upon all of these deer. I've never seen so many at once. There were two groups... and I kid you not in the first group there were at least 15. The group was down by the water drinking and I had David stop the bike to get closer because ... duh... someone didn't bring their zoom lens... So the first shot is of them after I'd spooked them and they were running across the road...the second shot is of these 6 that didn't run across but waited there by the edge of the road. David was driving so slow because he wanted to be able to stop if they darted out in front of us. But these 6 didn't...they just stood there and then as we get parallel with them the little baby got skittish and turned to run. Not only have I not ever seen this many at one time, but I don't remember ever being this close to any either. We were no more than 5 feet from the ones in the second picture. Aren't they just beautiful? Do you see the spots all over the little one. I'm still amazed at seeing all of them. While the lake and woody area is on one side, the other side of the road is full of occupied homes. People were out mowing their yards and there were the deer... just running. I think it was 3 houses down from the deer we saw a wild turkey. We turned around to go back and get a picture of him but it was to late. Then just a few more houses down is where we saw the second group of deer and there were at least a dozen in that group.


This is my Sunday shot that was taken on Monday... because I was not having a good day yesterday. Anyway, this is the sign and flag out front of the B&B that I see several times a day. I love looking up from my work and seeing that flag. I can't explain it, but I'm glad it's there.


I'm off to see what kind of mischief I can get in. I've got 2 layouts I'm working on for challenges...thinking maybe I found some motivation. Many things to still be packed up (cause Barb said)!! and I've not had one lick of caffeine or sugar for ummmm... 5 hours! Shhhhh, trust me, those 5 hours are major!
:) Have a great day everyone!

Huh? Where'd my water go?

That is what I was thinking this morning.... about 5 minutes til 8am. If anyone knows me, they know I am always running behind. Technically I work 8-5, which means I leave the house about 8:05 if I'm doing good. When I'm doing really good it's 8:03. I'm one of those people that is putting on her shoes as she walks out the door...flying down the steps wondering if I unplugged everything I needed to unplug, turned the a/c up, and did I put on deodorant... so turning off my water at 5 minutes til 8am is a very very BIG deal! Because I never have even 5 seconds to spare!
At first I was like oh man... I was using hot water and it was flowing...then just trickled to nothing... the hot water heater started making this noise and I thought you've got to be kidding me! Just a few weeks from moving and the hot water heater is going to go out! But then I realized I had no cold water! Now I'm screeching.... SERIOUSLY?
I might as well just go to work now.... ahhhh there are people in my front yard...
This man had his head down the hole where my water meter belongs.
I was like You turn off my water???
He laughs and says oh yea...we are replacing the water meters.. you were next... we'll get it back on as soon as we can...
I was like DUDE.. I'm trying to get ready for work here... really at 5 to 8 you are going to pull peoples meters! You couldn't wait until 5 AFTER 8?
He says...you were next.
I said... yea, you said that already!

What are ya gonna do? I'll tell you what I did... I put on my shoes, grumbled all the way to the car and just went to work because I do not know how to install a water meter!

Here's a layout I did a few weeks back. It's when I went to NYC a couple years ago. I think it turned out really cute.
I used some paint and ink with a Tim Holtz mask that Serene gave me. I'm really going to have to use this technique more... I sure do like it. Did a little Glimmer Misting on my flowers to get them the colors I wanted. I'm really happy with this one.


Alrighty peeps! Wishing you all a good day with plenty of water!
As always...thanks for stopping by and leaving me some love. It always makes me smile!

One Weekend Two Shots- Part 4

Hiya Bloggers!

Been a few days since I've posted anything. Guess I've not had much to post about. Haven't really done anything in the last week. Packed up a few boxes. Spent some time with Matt. Watched a little tv.... ok, maybe a lot of tv. Went out and ate Mexican twice! And went to Texas for the day. That still sounds strange saying... I don't think I'll ever get used to "I'm going to Texas".

Here are my Sat & Sun pictures.


Saturday 7/17/2010

My Daddy selling his veggies at Trade Days. I love love love my Daddy's garden grown veggies!


Sunday 7/18/2010

Check out this old stove I ran across. I actually think it's a new one that was made to look like an old one because it is way to shiny! I just thought it was awesome!

Oh poo... I was going to try an upload my pictures in the large format and I just flat forgot! UGH! Maybe next time.

Have a great day everyone!

Weekend shots on Tuesday

Oh wow! It really is Tuesday and I'm just now uploading my weekend shots. It's been a hectic and stressful several days. I'm on the downhill stretch right now. Matter of fact I have an appt at 9am and by about 11am all should be good. At one point yesterday I felt the walls closing in.

For now here are my weekend shots.

The first picture is Saturdays and was at our friends house. We had our 4th of July a week late due to all the rain. Here's part of the food we had to devour.



This is my Sunday shot. My little Kiara. She runs outside and finds herself a sunny spot and just rolls and then lays as is she is sunbathing. And she does this with all this fur. It just tickles us because she does it ever single time!


Well my 9am is here 15 minutes early. Cool! I'll catch up with you guys later. Hope you are all having a great week!

And how's your morning going?

Good Morning My Peeps!

Mine is a good morning.... had a headache starting up yesterday around 4ish... but I kicked it's butt! By bedtime it was a dull ache and this morning... why it's just a faded memory! (ok, so I seriously know you can come back and take over Mr. Headache... I'm not thinking I'm in control... I promise... just showing off a little)

My doctor and I talked Tuesday about me taking caffeine out of my life... I'm trying to psych myself up for this, and prepare David at the same time because I do not expect it to be pretty. I'm a caffeine intaker all day long. Coffee, tea, and coke... all day long. So you should all brace yourselves as well.... cause I'm telling you it's liable to get nasty! Plus less caffeine really will help with the headaches... yes momma I know!

I really need to start working this weekend on packing up our extra room. Matt may end up being here much sooner than we thought and I don't want to have to rush through it. Some of you may be going huh??? Matt??? Perhaps I should 'splain some. As David tells me... "you've got some 'splainin' to do Lucy"

Our house is very small and that's the main reason we are moving. It's a 2 bedroom, which there are only 2 of us...but... there's one closet.. well one an a half. I've got so much scrap stuff that I've taken over the laundry room and kitchen. Our spare room is full of guitars...think he has 10... Amps... speakers... recording equipment....everything but a bed. Oh, and my shoes! When the kids come they have no place to sleep... so they don't really come visit much. Plus we want a garage and a few other things the new house will have. The house was David's grandmother, so David has grown up in it. It's really a cute little house and is full of personality. Anyway... Matt has decided he wants to go to college, which is great! So, for various reasons Matt is going to move here and go to college in Lawton, which is about 25 miles away. We are hoping he can transfer with his job to the store in Lawton... they say it should be no problem. He will live in our house and it will be perfect for him! School will be starting about the time we are expecting to close (yes we think it will be before the 30th) and it's just working out so well that you can't help but think it's meant to be. They are checking where Matt works to see if there are openings at the other store and what they might be... and if there is one now I think he is going to go ahead and take it.. rather than wait until next month and run the risk that there isn't an opening. So that's what is going on there... and that really was the short version of the story! See... I do need to get started packing some stuff up!

Well I must get busy. I do believe there are a few things needing to be done. Since we didn't win the lottery last night I should probably do them.

Here are two layouts that I actually had done a couple of weeks ago. I just wasn't sure if they were finished... but I think so.


Bazzill, Stampin Up, Basic Grey, and Graphic 45 papers.
Inkadinkado Stamp; Stampin Up Ink; Sizzix Embossing Folder
Embellies from Prima; Jenni Bowlin; My Minds Eye
Lace from HL

Thanks for stopping by. Seeing you've been here really does give me the wiggles in my chair! Have a fabulous day!

I wanted to add for those who have asked... CJ stands for Circle Journal. It's actually a scrapbook and not a journal as in a writing journal... you get a group together and each of you has a theme for your CJ. You do the first page and then send the CJ on it's way to ... The first person gets it, does a layout on your theme in your book then sends it on the the next person. After the CJ has made the rounds through everyone it comes back to you.... and that's where the circle part comes in. Sometimes though in order to cut down on postage we dont mail the actual album... just do the pages and then send them in to one person to sort. Hope that makes sense.

Emma's CJ Slideshow

And another one done... and another one done! Way to go ladies.
Here are the pages for Emma's circle journal. 3 Favorite Actors/Actresses. I think all the pages are fantastic!

What A Day!

Or maybe what a week! And I'm only on work day #2. You know what I think is the worst about having a day off or a short week... it's not the coming back and trying to get in the swing of things or that stuff piles up while you are gone... it's the trying to put 5 days of work into 4 days. I mean it's just not possible without pulling out your hair or chewing off your fingernails or something drastic! I mean I really understand why we work 5 days a week... it's the only way to get the sh*t done!

Right now I'm trying to get everything together for our insurance audit. The dear people emailed me on Friday afternoon that they'd be here next Tuesday. Friday afternoon I thought oh sure fine...cause I was getting off early and having a 3 day weekend! Today I'm thinking that wasn't so smart! PLUS... this woman told me today that I obviously wasn't very bright... and everyone knew it! A few years ago I might have been like oh yea.... but today I just laughed and hung up on her. Then had to call David and tell him! Gave him a good chuckle too.. which he needed. He's not been having a good week.

My Stampin Up! Catalog arrived. Oh it is full of yummy goodies and I've already got post it notes all through it! I need to remember that in a few weeks I shall be packing up my scrap room and moving not to mention that we are going to be looking for furniture and other household delight items. But last night while I was looking through it I was just dreaming up all this stuff to make to decorate with. Then I realized that I need to make something for our realtor because she has just been so helpful. Plus I really like her and just want to do something for her. So, I'm brainstorming for that.

While I was getting ready for work yesterday morning I had a panic thought... wondering how on earth I think I will be able to go to the retreat in Sept. What if my scrap stuff isn't unpacked? What will I take? I'm thinking that when I start to pack up my room, I'll just go ahead and pack my totes for the retreat. That way it's packed to move and it's packed to go to the retreat. Sometimes I just amaze myself at how smart I am. That silly woman just thinks I'm not bright! Ha... showed her!

Ok, I've got to get out of here. Think I have a busy evening on schedule for tonight. David is going to be playing guitar and I see scrapping in my future. How perfect can that be?

Here are my pages for Ms. Emma's cj. Your 3 favorite actors/actresses. As you can see I couldn't pick 3. I probably would have even picked more than 5 but it's only 8x8 pages so no more pictures would fit.







Bazzill cardstock & flowers. Creative Memories printed paper and letters. Stampin Up stamps, punches, and ink.
You can't tell from the picture but I did punch out some clear packaging stuff and stamp it. I'm not sure it does much for me.

Ok, have a great evening everyone. Thanks for stopping by! :)

One Weekend-Two Shots-2-B

It was pouring rain most of yesterday... David and I spent most of the day curled up with these. It is rare that you don't find one or two books in the living room at David's chair or beside my bed.

One Weekend Two Shots-Part 2

A common sight at our house on the weekends is to see one of David's golf caps laying on the couch... at the ready for him to grab as he heads out the door to the course again.

Ain't No Sunshine When She's Gone

Ain't no sunshine when she's gone.
It's not warm when she's away.
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
And she's always gone too long anytime she goes away
And I know, I know, I know, I know, I know,
I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know,
I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know,
I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know

I KNOW THE SUNSHINE NEEDS TO COME OUT!
There's not even a hint of the sun. It's all rainy, dreary, an wet. Doesn't look good for the outdoor 4th festivities. Although David's out playing golf... wait oh yea, nothing, not even snow stops him!

It started raining about 30 minutes after I got off yesterday. I came home and wanted to get my flower beds weeded and mow where we park. It'd rain and it'd stop and it'd rain and it'd stop. Finally I stopped before someone called the people with white jackets on me. How redneck is it to be mowing your yard in the rain? But hey, I did get one flower bed weeded... it looks good I might add, and I did manage to mow where we park and right next to the street! Yard just looks silly now!

Below are a couple more pages for mom's album. I'm making some progress here! I think one of the pages I've already posted over at the Memory Makers Forum, but I haven't the first one. I did lots of stuff on the first one...just couldn't seem to stop.
Lots of butterflies coming up from the fountain. The flower cut outs and kids at the fountain, along with some of the paper used is Webster's. That paper just has so many possibilities. I used a Big Shot die for the flourish and butterflies. Some Stampin Up ribbon on both pages. Creative Memories and Graphic 45 paper. Felt flowers by Maya Road and paper flowers are Bazzill.




So, I've been thinking.... really really thinking and even though I told myself I would NOT get the Sizzix Pro Machine..... **sigh**.... I think I really want it. At first my thoughts were who on earth would want to cut a shape into a 12x12 page... well hello! While I know I can do it with the cricut... it's just a pain... would be so much easier to grab the die and zip it in the machine. I don't know for sure... I still need to think about it some more. David said well I think if you want it you should get it... I'm like uh huh, he must be wanting to buy new sticks or something! But for now, I'm pretty much on another self-imposed spending freeze. Tuition for the boy will be next month... then the move.... so we shall see. Just know that the seed has been planting and is starting to grow like a weed!

Have a great Saturday everyone. I hope you enjoy your 4th and stay safe.