Smiles and Fairies

I seem to have completed more than I thought I did at Archivers. Here are a couple more layouts that I did finishing tweaks to last night. I still have to do some journaling on them, but I always tend to leave that until the very last moment.

In other news I just joined the Live Pink community of Pink Paislee. Pink Paislee is a new line of scrapping items. Very bright and eye catching papers, letter stickers and stamp sets. Check them out. If you join, I would be proud to add you to my list of friends.

Scraplift Challenge - COMPLETE

I recently completed a scraplift challenge posted by Jen of Studio Calico. I was given the opportunity to scraplift any of her layouts. Before the challenge I had planned on one day lifting this layout of hers, so when the challenge was made I basically already knew the one I was going to lift. This is Jen's layout:

This is my rendition:

Let the Games Begin...

I was tagged by Jill. Well, I am so honest, that when I read this line on her blog: I'm not sure who has been tagged so if you're reading this and have not been tagged, consider yourself tagged! I considered myself tagged. :o)

THE RULES
You must post the rules before you give your answers.
You must list one fact about yourself for each letter of your middle name.
Each fact must begin with that letter.
If you don't have a middle name, just use your maiden name.
After you've been tagged, you need to up-date your blog with your middle name and answers.
At the end of your post, you need to tag one person for each letter of your middle name. (Be sure to leave them a comment telling them they've been tagged and need to read your blog for details)

• A - Arby's was my first employer and the first job I ever got fired from. Before you start thinking I was stealing cash or something even worse, please know I got fired for wearing a yellow sweater. Yes, you read that correctly.
• N - Nick is the name of my 10 year old nephew. He is named after his grandpa, Nick, a.k.a Don, so called Nick because his last name is Nichols. Add an "a" to that and you have Nicholas. Our family has an odd thing going with names. Here's another:
• N - Names in my immediate family all begin with D - Denise, Dana, Danny, Dee and Don. Oh and our middle initials all begin with an "A" and our last names all begin with an N (even my married sister). Put this all together and it spells my brothers name, DAN. Yeah - I know - how cute.

Thank goodness for short middle names! As Jill said her in blog, so I say in mine: If you read this and haven't been tagged, you now should consider your self tagged.

Aleida Caught Me...

and now I'm it. Ummm...we're talking Blog Tag. I can't run. I never stood a chance. LOL! So here goes:

Favorite Sites:
Oh good lord...I have never met a website I haven't liked. Well...I could have blocked out the memory of some. Hmmm... Off the top of my head, right now I dig the following:

• Studio Calico
• Etsy
• Donna Downey
• Scrapgal
• Bits & Pieces
• eBay

Challenge Favorites:
Sometimes just completing a layout I like is a challenge, so can I count me? OK - I haven't done a lot of challenges. I actually have been just introduced to them and did one for each of the following:

• Method Playground
• Scenic Route Paper Company

Guilty Pleasures:
I don't let myself feel too guilty about things, but I probably should in regard to the following:

• Scrapbook supplies
• Stamps
• Ben and Jerry's Chunky Monkey Ice Cream
• Pier 1
• Pottery Barn
• Buying art off of ebay
• Scrapping with my cousin, Cindy, at Archivers - not so much a guilt thing though
• Kozy Shack Rice Pudding

Babysitting Favorites:
If I had kids, I would assign the following people in charge of my charges:

• My friend, Jen, who has the best sense of humor and has raised two AMAZING boys
• My sister, Dana, who is fair and knows how to play like a kid
• My mom, who claims to want to be a cookie baking grandma and yet doesn't bake. What's with that?

Creative Favorites:
My imagination. Kidding. I would fill this blog completely with names, because I see creativity in everything.

• Basically, everyone at Studio Calico
• Donna Downey
• Suzi Blu
• Danita
• Campbell's soup labels.
• Kidding a little about the last one, but labels, magazine, etc. are often a great starting off point.

Clothing Favorites:
Anything that doesn't cling to the voluptuous curves of me. I hate anything that binds. If it does, it's gone within a minute or two. My favorite item right now would be:

• My Skecher slip ons, because I am too lazy to bend over and tie my shoes
• My 99 cent pair of gloves bought from Target. Cheap and thin - perfect for a little warmth and still having the capability to wear them while using my camera.

Now who to tag - that is the question. I choose:

• Penny, who I recently "met" via the 365 Photo Challenge.

and

• Greta, who should live next door to me.

I completely understand, if either of you would rather not play. :o)

Thank You, Lisa!

I recently participated in a Valentine's Swap with the members of Studio Calico. We were each assigned a swap buddy and then given a listing of their likes, wants, needs, etc. I was paired up with Lisa C. and once I had her listing (survey) I was off and running. I love to shop for gifts and scrapbook supplies. Combine the two and I am in HEAVEN! My box is complete and on it's way to Lisa. This is the nerve wracking time. Gosh - I hope she likes what I choose. Cross your fingers!

Today I am in complete awe over the wonderful box full of goodies I received from Lisa. First of all, this is the box I came home to find. Isn't that the most amazing packing tape you have ever seen? It was hard to cut through that to open the box. I didn't want to destroy it. I tried to hold off and not open it until Lisa received the box I sent her, which is set to be delivered on Wednesday, but I couldn't. It was too tempting having the box in the house. :o)

Upon opening the box I found that it was stuffed completely full of goodies. My heart started racing. It was like Christmas morning. I was so excited. Here's a photo of everything Lisa choose for me:


You can't tell from the above photo, but there was a massive amount of patterned paper. Here's a little sample of each:


The box was loaded with treats. Chocolate and more chocolate. This heart tin is filled with chocolates that are each covered with stamped (?) stickers. What a great idea! I cannot wait to make a few of these to give out on Valentine's Day.


Thank you so very much, Lisa. I am so excited to use all these items. You choices were perfect and I am utterly amazed at your generosity. I am awestruck. Thank you...thank you so very much!

Boo to You, Dude!

A week ago my cousin, Cindy, and I spent a whole Saturday from opening to close scrapping at Archivers. The above is one of the layouts I did during that time. It just needed a bit of tweaking and I finally found the time to do so this morning. The layout was made using Studio Calico's November kit, Johnny Appleseed with a black cat (Provo Craft) thrown in for good luck. Hmmm....good luck??? All that is needed now is journaling, which will revolve around the title. My nephews and niece like to sneak up and try to scare me. They always yell Boo and I always respond by saying, Boo to you, dude. It just a bit of nonsense.