so there i was : December 2013

Sunday, December 29, 2013

@13 | Paper Smooches

Greeting crafters only a couple more days of 2013 and I thought I would squeeze in a few more projects before I close out the year. This layout features stamps and dies from Paper Smooches.

(Supplies Used: Bazzill Cardstock, Patterned Paper Elle's Studio/Dear Lizzy, Wood Veneer Stars Studio Calico, Inks Luxe Memento/VersaFine, Stamps/Dies Paper Smooches, Enamel Dots My Minds Eye, Hemp Twine, Corner Rounder, Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher, Silhouette Cutting System and fonts)

Yup it's official my kids are both teens and this is about as good as it gets for photos around my house. But I have to tell you I wouldn't have it any other way because these is so much personality packed in my daughter's photos lately.

Have a great and fabulous day. Happy Crafting

Summer signature

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

December Paper Smooches Blog Hop

It's Pep Rally week and we are here today to share a sampling of the Paper Smooches January release with you! TEN new stamps and EIGHT new dies will be available to purchase at 12:01am, Eastern time...on January 1st. It's CHA (trade show time) so the release is extra-big! You will find them HERE

To add extra fun to our blog hop...we are offering up a prize!

FOUR winners will be chosen at RANDOM from any of the design team blogs and the PS Blog

The prize - a $25. gift code to choose what you like at the PS online store.

Just leave a comment on any of the design team blogs listed below or the PS blog for your chance to win! (you do not need to comment on all blogs to qualify but it increases your changes)

You have until midnight MT on Sunday, December 29th to leave a comment.

Please check the Paper Smooches blog on Monday, December 30th to see if you are one of the FOUR lucky winners.

To increase your chances of winning:

Tell us that you Facebooked about our blog hop

Tell us that you Tweeted about our hop

Tell us that you posted on your blog about our blog hop

(which means that you have up to three extra chances to win on each blog)

(Supplies Used: Bazzill Cardstock, Paper Smooches Stamps Captured Moments/Headlines, Paper Smooches Dies Cardbooking, Inks Memento Luxe/VersaFine/ColorBox, Jillibean Soup Black Alphas, Misc Circle Punches)

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you had a wonderful very Mery Christmas and Happy Scrapping!

Summer signature

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Out Sick

Be back soon.

Summer signature

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Scrapbooking those not so great photos | Jillibean Soup

Happy Thursday crafters. I thought today I would talk a bit about those not so great photos you might have sitting around. You know we all have them those often blurry photos where your subject isn't looking at the camera. For whatever a photo might be considered poor you still might have a story to tell. So you know what tell that story and move past your need for perfection. These are your memories including their perfections.

I created this layout last month for Jillibean Soup. This really wasn't about telling an important story. I fell in love with the quote/title and knew it really fit my son. The photo isn't blurry but my subjects aren't looking at the camera.

(Supplies Used: Bazzill Cardstock, Jillibean Soup Patterned Paper/Alphas/Wood Flags/Stickers, Hemp Twine, Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher, and Veteran Typewriter)

Yup it's official I am totally addicted to the whole quote/title thing. I've been using them on my layouts for quite some time and I really can't seem to stop myself. I even have a whole Pinterest board devoted to them titled "words to scrap".

Thanks for stopping by today. Happy Crafting!
Summer signature

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Just Married | Lily Bee

Happy Wednesday crafters. Have you taken a look at the new collections from Lily Bee yet? I have a layout featuring the We R Family collection to share with you today. I recently posted this on the Lily Bee blog on Throwback Thursday. Throwback Thursday is when we do something using the idea of "old". You know like older product, technique or even photos. I went the old photo route since I love pulling out the retro prints.

(Supplies Used: Bazzill Cardstock, Lily Bee Patterned Paper/Stamps/Enamel Stickers/alphas, misc inks, DMC floss, Circle Metal dies Technique Tuesday, hemp twine and font Veteran Typewriter downloaded from the internet)

I am kind of obsessed with circles right now. This look I have been creating on many of my projects isn't created with a Silhouette (although you could easily do it that way) instead I used a circle die from Technique Tuesday and punched my desired pattern. I think this is a great option for creating backgrounds for those of you who do not have digital die cutting machines.

Thanks for stopping by today and happy crafting

Summer signature

Sunday, December 8, 2013

#whatsfordinner

Happy Sunday. Here's a peek into this weeks #whatsfordinner menu ...

Chickpea & Sausage Minestrone

Slow Cooked Ragu

Skinny Chicken Cordon Blue

Chicken & White Bean Enchiladas with Creamy Salsa Verde Sauce

Shrimp Pad Thai Lightened Up

Peanut Butter Cup Blondies

Cranberry Bliss Bars

I made the chickpea minestrone a couple weeks ago and it was wonderful. I was hesitant about the chickpeas but the kids loved them. The cordon blue is a family favorite I will serve it with skinny mashed potatoes and a vegetable. The enchiladas are a recent find. I love this recipe it's not too fussy with tons of flavor. My daughter hates beans but love this. I will serve with cilantro lime rice and a vegetable. I am doing a little baking it's not my favorite. I find baking too be fussy. I have already tried to make the cranberry bliss bars, it was an epic fail. I thought I would try one more time to make these they look so yummy. Wish me luck. I made the peanut butter cup blondies to take to a cheer event last week. They were very popular so I thought I would make them for the family.

Stay warm and I hope you have a great week!

Summer signature

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Available today the WINTER issue of Scrapbook & Cards Today

Happy Friday. I am super excited today is the winter 2013 Scrapbook & Cards Today reveal.

So in honor of the winter release I thought I would share a layout from the fall issue. This layout was featured in the "what's next" column. This is usually a little peek at what will be in the upcoming issue so it's appropriately a winter layout.

(Supplised Used: Bazzill Cardstock, My Minds Eye Patterned Papers/Washi Tape/Enamel Dots/Stickers/Decorative Brads, Jillibean Soup Alphas, Hemp Twine, Jenni Bowlin Black Alphas, Wood Veneer Studio Calico, Ink Versafine, Corner Rounder We R Memory Keepers, Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher, My Favorite Things Polaroid Die, Black Pen Sharpie and font Veteran Typewriter)

I hope you have enjoyed this layout from the fall issue of Scrapbook & Cards Today. Don't forget if you ever miss an issue they are always available to download for free at our website.

Have a safe and glorious weekend.

Summer signature

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Happy Halloween | Jillibean Soup

Happy Hump Day! I know it's December but I have a Halloween layout for you today. I created this layout using some of my favorites from Jillibean Soup. I love that you can mix these patterns up and use them in a whole new way. Most of the prints I used on this layout came from the Happy Camper Stew Collection (one of my favorites).

(Supplies Used: Bazzill Cardstock, Jillibean Soup Patterned Paper/Clear Stamp/Label Stickers/Polaroid Frames/Alphas/Flash Cards, My Minds Eye Enamel Dots, Flair American Crafts, Studio Calico Wood Veneer Embellishment, Chic Tags Teg, Hemp Twine, and font Veteran Typewriter)

I love Halloween but I didn't get a chance to pick up any of my favorite collections so I created this whole page from non-themed Jillibean Soup products. It's kind of fun to challenge yourself to create a themed layout from your stash. In the spirit of the holidays why not challenge yourself to reach into your stash I bet you can find some red and green patterned paper to create your next Christmas layout.

Happy Crafting

Summer signature