Chicken Scratch

Friday Fill-In and Some Digi Scrappin'

1. The last band I saw live was Trans-Siberian Orchestra last Christmas.

2. What I look forward to most on Thanksgiving is being with family and eating LOTS of yummy food.

3. My Christmas/holiday shopping is no where near being done.

4. Thoughts of hurry-up-next-week-so-we-can-close-on-our-house fill my head.

5. I wish I could wear a bikini.

6. Bagpipes are so awesome to listen to.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to chillaxin', tomorrow my plans include packing up the rest of my studio and Sunday, I want to watch the Cowboys game!

You can play along here. :)

Tonight I made these two digi layouts for my Creative Team at  JessicaSprague.com.

A double-pager. The background paper is from Crystal Wilkerson's November 2009 Paper Collection, the cream colored paper is from her October {Sweet} paper pack, the stitching is from her October {Eye Candy} element pack, and the title is from her November Fall Word Art & Labels pack. (All found at www.jessicasprague.com.) The polka dot papers are a freebie on Crystal's blog. The font is CK Ali's Hand Official and the template is by me.

The papers are from Crystal Wilkerson's November 2009 Paper Collection. The journaling strips are from her November "Journaling Snippets" Collection. The title work, stitching around the photos, and the rounded square shapes are from her November Fall Word Art & Labels pack. The stitching around the layout is from her September '09 Bunches of Borders and the cross-stitches are from her Office Supplies Element Pack. (All found at www.jessicasprague.com.) The fonts are CK Ali's Hand Official and 2peas Graphic Hearts.

A Digital Layout

I created this digital layout this evening for the creative team at JessicaSprague.com.

I used Crystal Wilkerson's Sweet 'n Scallopy Template N.2. The papers and elements are from Jessica Sprague's Aroo kit. The buttons are from Crystal Wilkerson's August 2009 Collection. (All found at www.jessicasprague.com.) The font is CK Ali's Hand Official.

Happy Digital Scrapbook Day!

Today is Digital Scrapbook Day! To celebrate, you can snag this adorable frames set by LiveE Designs for FREE at www.jessicasprague.com. I played around with one of the borders. This photo isn't the greatest (it's a scan) but I couldn't resist using this border and this was the first photo that came to mind. :)

Friday Fill-In

1. Plans and schedules - sometimes I like them, sometimes I don't.

2. I'm happy when things are going well for my family.

3. The last thing I drank was a Dr Pepper.

4. One of the most valuable things in my life is my family.

5. I like extra cheese only on my pizza.

6. Dear November, I can't wait for Thanksgiving, yummy food, and counting my blessings.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to family movie night, tomorrow my plans include a baby shower and Sunday, I want to watch the Cowboys beat Philly!

You can play along here. :)

A Side-Tracked Project

Today while packing I came across a picture frame I bought at a flea market a couple years ago. It was a neat piece but I wasn't crazy about the color (it had a weird speckly orange and black finish - you can see it here in this blog post, about halfway down). So I got side-tracked and stopped mid-packing to go craft. LOL Priorities, right? ;)

First, I spray-painted it an ivory color. Then I lightly inked some of the edges with black ink. I had a magnet I bought at Michael's a while back that said FAMILY. I wrapped some black and tan gingham ribbon around the frame and glued the magnet on top. Then I tied a little bow on top. Quick and easy and then I got back to packing. LOL

 

A simple project but since it's Tuesday I'll go ahead and share at Kimba's DIY Day. :)

Digi Scrappin'

Here are a few more digi layouts I created for Jessica Sprague's design team.

 
Both of these kits use the August 2009 Collection by Crystal Wilkerson (www.jessicasprague.com). The font is 2peas Scrapbook. The Foot Book uses Jessica Sprague's Template #10 (www.jessicasprague.com).

I used Crystal Wilkerson’s Sweet ‘n Scallopy Template N.1. The paper is from her June 2009 Collection; the journal box is from her July 2009 Collection; the buttons are from her August 2009 Collection; the alphas are from her October 2009 Collection. (All found at www.jessicasprague.com.) The font is Century Gothic.

Jessica Sprague has an awesome new FREE class called Holidays in Hand. Registration opens today and the class begins in 2 weeks. Be sure to sign up at www.jessicasprague.com!
 

Kaleigh, Friends, Crafts, and Halloween Fun

Kaleigh

I took Kaleigh to the pumpkin patch last week. I haven't gone through all the pics yet but here's one. Isn't she the cutest? :D
 

And we got her school pictures last week. She's getting so big!

Friends

One of my close friends, Monica, is moving to Colorado. I'm very sad about this but also very excited for this opportunity for her family. Thursday we had a going away dinner for her at a local restaurant.

Monica and me
 

Me, Jo Anne, Monica, and Abby being silly on the horses out front of the restaurant
 

She was supposed to leave early this morning but last I talked to her she was still packing. ;) I hope she gets finished soon! Best wishes for safe travels. I'm gonna miss you so much!!! :(

Crafts

First, this is Kaleigh's trick-or-treat bag I made her. She outgrew her little plush pumpkin she's ToT-ed with since her first Halloween. I made the bag out of felt, hot-glued the edges to form the bag and add strength, and then did a blanket stitch around the edges. I made the candy corn out of felt as well and added the blanket stitch. I sewed on black sequins and beads for a little bling. I hot-glued on the ribbon loops and made each bag handle out of two felt strips that I stitched together and then trimmed with my pinking shears. I think it turned out super cute and Kaleigh was very happy to have a large enough bag to hold more candy! ;)

The bag
 

Close-up of the blanket stitching and sequins/beads

Close-up of the handles and ribbon loops

These are the treat buckets and cards I made Kaleigh and her cousins. The outside two are Kaleigh's and my niece's and the inside one is my nephew's.

I was asked by a friend to photograph one of her friends with her family. She'd been recently diagnosed with lymphoma and wanted a family photo session before losing her hair to chemo. It was somewhat of a tough session since I know all too well the effects of cancer on loved ones. But this woman is AMAZING. Her faith and outlook on this disease is truly admirable. She shared once that she loves zebras because they are the only animal to run into a fire to get to safety on the other side. She uses that analogy regarding her cancer because she's going to fight and run right through it. So I made her this plaque (and card) to honor that attitude.
 

 

Halloween Fun

Kaleigh and her cousins

Making a scary face!

Mommy, Daddy, and our little vampire

I had to cut alot of length off Kaleigh's dress to make her costume. She took the extra fabric and made capes for our dogs' Halloween costumes. Love her creativity! ;) LOL

Buffy

Belle (although you can't see hers as well)

So tomorrow I get busy packing. Just under 2 weeks before we close on our new house and I have ALOT to do to get ready. I've enjoyed a lazy day with my family watching the Cowboys game, playing on my laptop, and eating Halloween candy. We're about to put on a movie and I'm gonna digi scrap a bit. I hope everyone has a fabulous week!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween from my little vampire!

So sweet...

...and so scary, too!
 

I hope everyone's day is filled with spooky fun and lots of candy!

Friday Fill-In

A special Halloween edition of

1. It was a dark and stormy night, and I was snuggled on the couch watching a movie.

2. The library was almost closed so I offered to take the books myself.

3. Rushing out, I left my cell phone at home.

4. Did you hear that? ...I think I heard a howl!

5. Shhhh... don't wake the baby.

6. Trick or treat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to some craft time, tomorrow my plans include taking Kaleigh trick-or-treating and Sunday, I want to spend the day relaxing with my family before I start a busy week of packing!

You can play along here. :)

Another *3am and can't sleep* kinda night...

This is my 2nd or 3rd week (I can't keep track anymore) of insomnia. All the excitement of closing on our first home has my brain spinning overtime, I guess. I lie in bed at night dreaming of owning our first home... of being able to paint/decorate/remodel to my heart's content... to be able to make it OURS. I'm blog hopping countless home decor and craft blogs filing away ideas. I want to do this, I want to do that! Oh, I need this! Must remember to do that! Ooo, that's cute! Awww, I love that! So I sit up all night dreaming and planning and then I'm so tired the next day that I have to take a (long) nap. And that keeps me up all night again the following night and it's a vicious cycle! *sigh* I just need to survive two more weeks.

So since I am up I might as well share some of the ideas I've been filing away... ;)

1. I just recently discovered the blog, Funky Junk Interiors, and I am in love! Totally my style and I want my house to be like hers when I grow up! LOL She posted a dresser redo today and I. love. it. I want one just like it. I'm totally gonna be on the search now for a thrift store dresser and some fun metal numbers.

2. I want a paint sprayer for Christmas. And I'd be perfectly happy if that's all I got this year. ;) Well, that and some paint. I have a coffee table to paint, a kitchen hutch, a chest of drawers for Kaleigh, and that's just the beginning! Lots of painting, distressing, and glazing in my future!

3. My washer and dryer are regular old white appliances but I'm drooling over a pair like these! Our past two rent houses the W&D were either in the garage or a closet. But now I'm getting a cute laundry room and I need cute appliances. ;) When did I get old that instead of new clothes or shoes, I dream about a W&D??? Hubby said I can't get new ones til our current ones quit working. Does he realize what he just said??? :evil laugh:
 

4. I want this chandelier for our breakfast nook/dining area. I found it on a blog (so sorry I can't remember which) and love it. Anyone know where I can find a similar one on a smaller scale?
 

5. I want these crates for my kitchen from Lettered Cottage Home. Anyone shopping for me for Christmas... ;)

Alright, I could keep going ;) but I'll spare you the never-ending wish list of mine. I'm gonna go back to bed and try again at this sleep thing. The alarm clock will be going off before I know it! 'Night!