Another Day in Paradise!

If you are here for the Robert's Imaginisce Giveaway... click HERE!

I hope everyone is staying in and warm from this nasty winter storm that has hit many states! We even got nailed with it here in Dallas! It has been an icy mess! So.... my husband and I decided to get out and go somewhere warm! I will be gone for the weekend but I will be back Monday to announce the winner of the Robert's give away... be sure to come back to see if you are the winner!!

Before I get to my LO, I have to do a Happy Birthday shout out to my daughter Courtney!! She is 21 years old today!!

Today is Thursday which means that we have a new challenge for you at Sketches in Thyme! I pulled out some pictures from our vacation in Maui a few years ago to make this LO...

I really liked the photos and since the papers are already so busy, I decided to keep the embellishments to a minimum! Here is the sketch we are working with this week. It is from Sketchabilities. I liked the clean lines of this sketch so this time I didn't wander too far from it! Jump on over to the Sketches in Thyme blog to see all the amazing projects my dt sisters created!

I have been lucky enough to receive a few awards that I thought I would share with you!
My Cheer Camp LO was selected at Club CK to be highlighted this week!

So now I get this cute little blinkie!!

I also have received two blog awards. The first one is from Janice at Cricutology. She as passed on the Stylish Blogger award to me!

 If you have not been to Cricutology, you need to check it out! She does the best tutorial videos! I have learned a lot of nice tips from her!

Apparently I also have Attitude because my good friend, Sandy passed this award on to me!

Sandy has a blog called Details by Sandy and the title of her blog could not be more perfect! She is the queen of details and embellishments! She has this amazing ability to layer embellishments and her LOs are absolutely stunning!! You need to stop by Sandy's blog and check out her work!! Thank you Sandy for passing this Attitude award on to me!

Since I have received both of these awards before, I am going to make up my own rules!! heehee!! I am passing this award on to all my wonderful followers who have not received them yet! Feel free to pick them up and take them home!!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and I will be back Monday to catch up on all the blogs and announce the winner of my big giveaway!!
Barb  :)

A Little Good News Today!

I am so excited! Would you like to know why?! Cricut had a card contest they announced last week and I thought... what the heck.. why not give it a try! We all know that I am card challenged and I thought it would be a great way to challenge myself! Well... today I found out that they selected my card as one of the winners!! Whooo Hooo!! Here is the card I made....

  We had our choice of  3 carts we were to use... I used Don Juan for this one. We also were to use something from Anna Griffith. The only thing I had was one stack of her paper so that is what I used!! I even got a little crazy and tried out my Cricut Gel Pens for the first time for the sentiment! They worked great and I now know that I should have tried them a long time ago!

Thank you Jinger Adams and Cricut for picking my card as one of the winners from over 150 entries!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!! I hope you are having some quality time with your family and friends and are eating lots of yummy food!! I am celebrating Thanksgiving for the first time in Texas and my inlaws have made the trip from Indiana to be with us! And we have some amazing neighbors who are going to deep fry a turkey for us (apparently this is a big deal in Texas!) It is sure to be a great day!

Even though it is Thanksgiving, we still have a new challenge for you at Sketches in Thyme!! And this week.... we made it super easy for you! It is an open challenge week so you get to pick the sketch you would like to use!! And, if you can't find a sketch you like, you can create your own! Here is the layout I created this week....

I used sketch #131 from Creative Scrappers....

I loved this sketch  but by the time I finished my LO, it really didn't look much like the sketch any more!! But that is okay because I really love the way this one turned out!! This picture is of my darling daughter Lauren when she was about 5 years old! This picture totally captures her spirit! And I love the way the background paper matches her dress so perfectly!! Here are some close ups of the layout....

 I was able to punch this cute little fox out of some coordinating paper! Isn't it darling!?!!

And check out this darling little bird!! I used a border punch to create the edge on the pleated part and my itop tool to make the bird into a brad!! Too cute!

Supplies used:

Paper: Imaginsce (Twitterpatted), Bazzill, Co'ordinations

Itop Tool

Border punch - Fiscars

Cricut - Create a Critter, Everyday Paper Dolls

Flowers - Queen and Company

Alpha stickers - Thickers from American Crafts

And... I am so thankful for the good friends I have made through my blog and design teams! Three of those wonderful ladies have passed this award on to me this week....can you believe I received this award 3 times?! I feel sooooo loved!! I really, really do!!

Crystal was the first to pass this award on to me!! She is such a sweetheart and always takes the time to stop by my blog and say really nice things about me!! And she has an adorable little girl that is usually the star of her scrapbooking layouts!! Her blog is called Crafting for Caitlyn!

Audrey was next to pass this award on to me! Her blog is called Cute and Some... and I have to say... everything on her blog IS cute and some!! She has the best gift ideas and is soooooo incredibly sweet!

And last night, Becky passed this award on to me! She sent me the nicest email that totally made my night! If you haven't been to Becky's blog, Scrappin' Becky B., you need to check it out! Not only does she do beautiful layouts, she has the most amazing recipes!! (I have the Easy Apple Spice Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting recipe on my counter to make!! YUMMMM!!)

So... now that I have accepted this award, here are the rules....

1. Thank and link back to the person (or people) who awarded you this


2. Share 8 things about yourself


3. Pay it forward to 8 bloggers that you have recently discovered


4. Contact those bloggers and tell them about their awards

Well... it just so happens that Kristin (my 19 year old daughter) is home for college break. I asked her to help me with my list of 8 things....this is what she said about me!!

  1. I hate buffets (So true.... knowing that other hands have touched all the serving spoons and food totally grosses me out!!)

2. I can fix just about anything...from broken hearts to dishwashers

3. I have way toooo much clothes and jewelry (Seriously... is that even possible?!!)

4. I have a serious sweets addiction.. and I love to make desserts for family get togethers (very true... chocolate is a major weakness for me!)

5. I love to decorate (Especially around the holidays!! My husband thinks I am over the top at times, but it makes me happy so he leaves me alone!!)   :)

6. I prefer to wear dresses (And finally got Kristin to wear dresses too!)

7. I am always cold... that is why I love this move to Dallas (We just had three 80 degree days that made me very happy!!)

8. My sisters and my mom are my best friends (This is soooo true! I love my family!!)

Now I need to pass this award to 8 blogs.... in random order....

1. Momma Said (Anne)

2. Scrap it Girl (Kimberly)

3. JessicaLynn

4. Gaby

5. Isay

6. Melissa

7. Wendy

8. Kelly

Please visit these ladies and show them some blog love.. and also stop by and check out the three incredible ladies who passed this award to me! Each one is unique and has great things to offer!

I really do feel blessed by all the friends I have made through scrapbooking and blogging! I know I have not been a good blogger this week (with my inlaws in town I am way behind on my blog visits but promise to get caught up soon!) But even though I am not being a good blog friend right now, three of you still thought enough of me to pass me this award, and that really means a lot!! Enjoy your Thanksgiving!!

I'm old and I have an attitude!!!

I don't know about your weather, but the weather here was gorgeous today! It was 60+ degrees and sunny! I love it! I was able to get one LO done today..... and be ready.... it is actually a LO of myself!! yep!! I know I never scrap pictures of just me, but the papers I was using were perfect for my 40th birthday!! Yikes! I am getting old!!  heehee!!

This LO is for the Imaginisce blog November Sketch challenge.  I only used 3 photos... I figured that was plenty!! And (my favorite feature) I framed the middle photo! I took paper that had the stripes and squigglies on it and cut it in strips, folded and cut at the exact angles to create the frame around the photo! Gotta love it!!  :)  I used almost all imaginisce products on this one: Birthday Bash line, irock, and itop tools as well as some rub-ons, stickers and stamp! I also used Bazzill cardstock and the kraft paper was from my stash! I added a little of my own doodling and it was done!!

Apparently I am full of attitude these days because I received TWO of these awards this week!! I love it!! My entire family will confirm that some days, I do have a bit of an attitude!! But that's okay because I think a little attitude makes a person fun!! (That's my story and I am sticking to it!)

The first award is from my good blog buddy... Abusybee!!  Thanks Abusybee!!

 Here are the rules for receiving this award....

All I have to do is tell you 3 things that make me different and nominate 5 blogs. So here I go...

1. I am a germ freak! I can't take it when my kids reach their dirty little hands into a bag of chips! Yuck!!

2. I learned how to stain furniture last week! Yah... I know... I couldn't believe it either!! I stained our built in entertainment cabinet in our great room... and it looks great!! Who knew?!!

3. I love to shop! I know... not a big surprise there!! lol!!

I would like to pass this award on to....

1. Diana

2. Leah 

3. Denise

4. Jocelyn

5. Sheila

I also received the My Blog Has Attitude Blog Award from my dear friend Kim! Thanks Girl! It was so sweet of you to pass this on to me!

This award comes with a fabulous $5 gift certificate from The Digi's with Attitude Store. Here are the directions for this award....

In order to qualify for the $5.00 Digi’s With Attitude! Gift Certificate you must state 3 things that makes you different from everyone else and you must nominate 5 blogs. Lastly, you must display the Blog Award Badge (above) in your sidebar and link it back to the Digi’s With Attitude! Challenge Blog.  

Since the rules were pretty much the same for both awards (List 3 things about yourself and nominate 5 people) I am just going to do it once! (Besides, I would feel bad telling 5 people they get a chance to win a $5 certificate and not offer it to the other 5! I am kind of silly that way!!) I hope you are okay with that! So... all the lovely ladies who I gave the first award to, you also get the second one!! I know I am such a cheater!! Gotta love me anyway!! lol!!  

And before I go, I want to remind you that we have a new sketch challenge going on at Frosted Designs! You can win an amazing prize that our very own Debbie put together!! Hope on over to see all the details!! We would love to have you play along!!

Thanks for stopping by and visiting today!

Barb  :)

 

Some new news, some awards and a new LO/challenge

Hello everyone!! I have missed all of you soooooooo much!! The past two weeks have been very crazy for me! It started off with a much needed 10 day vacation in Myrtle Beach, then we were home for one day and left again for Dallas to start our house hunting trip. While we were in Dallas (in fact it was 30 minutes before we were meeting with our realtor) we got a call from our Indiana realtor with an offer on our home that we finally accepted. (we were back and forth with the buyers since Monday night!!) Soooooo... the good news is, our house is sold.... the bad news is, we have not purchased a new home yet!! YIKES!!  But don't worry, we did find one we liked and are working on making an offer. My husband is back in Texas now and is getting some final paperwork completed!! I will keep you posted if we get it or not!! In the meantime, I am going to be very busy getting things ready to move here.... we have to be out of our house by Aug. 27th!! Boy is the month of August going to fly by for me!! So please forgive me if I am not as active in blog land as I have been in the past!! I am trying my best to balance EVERYTHING!!!!  LOL!!!

So..... I was so excited to return from vacation to 3 new awards!! How great is that?!! You guys really are too good to me!! I feel honored that these three lovely ladies thought enough of me to send them to me!! So now I would like to pass them on to some wonderful friends who continued to stop by my blog while I was away and leave me so many nice comments!!

The first award is the Versatile Blogger Award! I actually received this award from 2 different gals.... the first one was Brenda! I don't know if you have been over to her blog, Rose Blossom Legacies or not, but you must stop by and check it out!! She is on several design teams and once you see her work, you will know why!! Pretty amazing stuff!! Thank you so much Brenda!! And Brenda, I have to admit, I loved reading the 7 things about you... we have a lot in common!!! lol!!!

I also received this award from my friend Lisa!! Who of course is extremely talented as well!! One of the things I like best about visiting her blog, Lisa's Craft Room, is that she has plenty of fun creative ideas besides just layouts and cards!! Lisa... thank you for sharing your talent with us, and thanks for this award!! You are such a total sweetheart!!

Now this is what you have to do:

1. Thank the person who gave it to you.

2. Tell seven things about yourself.
3. Pass the award on to five bloggers whom you think are fantastic.

7 things about myself....

1. I am going to be living in Texas in less than a month!

2. I am one of those weird people who actually enjoy house hunting!!

3. I am definitely a pool person... have to have one!!

4. I am not organized at all and am totally freaking out about everything I have to get done in the next few weeks!

5. I am totally excited that the company is moving us and I don't have to do all the packing... I wouldn't even know where to start!! LOL!!

6. I am pretty excited about only seeing snow when I choose to... no more shoveling walks and driveways!! (If it snows in Texas, I will just wait 30 minutes and it will melt... no need to shovel!!)

7. Everyone keeps telling how hot Texas is... I guess they really don't know me at all or they would know that I LOVE hot weather!!

Now... for the 5 bloggers I am to pass this on to (x2 since I received it twice!!) I apologize if you have received this award already... since I haven't been hopping around blog land lately, I am not sure who has already received it and who hasn't!! 

Angi - Cokie Pop Paper

Li-bee-ti - Creations with Love

Sandi - Soft Side of Sandi

Beatriz - Amazing Grace

Fern - Fern's Creations

Lidia - Breaking Barriers

Kim - Memories In Thyme

Tanya - Random Acts of Krafting

Dawn -Dawn's Craft Place

Carri - Double Click Connections

I was also fortunate enough to receive the Cherry on Top Award from my Sassy scrappin' friend Sheila!!! Sheila runs the She's A Sassy Lady Blog where she allows me to be a guest designer once a month. The best thing about her blog is that you will learn something new each time you visit!! Sheila encourages her designers to give detailed, step by step directions for all of the projects that are presented!! I have learned so many new tips and tricks from reading the posts!! If you are not already a follower, you need to become one!! Click here to see her blog!! Thank you Sheila for this cheerful award!!

Here are the rules for this award:

1. Thank the person who gave this award to you.
2. Copy the award and put it on your blog.
3. List three things which you love about yourself.
4. Post a picture you love.
5. Tag five people you wish to pass this award on to.
Three things I love about myself:
1. I think I am a good wife, mother, sister, and daughter!
2. I have a tender heart... I try to help those in need and lighten the load of those around me when possible!
3. I am a Christian!

I love this picture of Greg and I in Maui... this is "our" place and love to "get away" here!! Looking at the sunset I bet you can see why!!

I would like to pass this award on to:

Leah - Beeing Creative and Feeling Cherry

Diana - All The Day's of our Lifes

Pat - A Scrappin' Nana

Joni - Joni's Stuff

Debbie - Love Life's Little Pleasures

Thanks again to Brenda, Lisa and Sheila for not only giving me these awards, but for your patience while I got them posted!!

Finally.... we have a new challenge for you!! This is my last official post as a design team member for Practical Scrappers!! I decided to step down from the team due to the big move!! I knew I couldn't keep up with all my projects but I will really miss working with the team! I guess now I can play along with everyone else!!

Practical Scrappers is celebrating their ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY this week!! Cogratulations PS!! So, this week is unique because they are doing a new challenge each day.. all having to do with the number one!! For today, the challenge is to use one photo!! That is so seriously simple that all of you should be playing along!! Be sure to link up your projects... we would love to see what you can do!!

This LO is of my daughter and her best friend Abby!! They are so much alike and can play hours together!! In fact, Abby had a sleep over at our house last night!! We are trying to get as much play time in before we leave in a few weeks!!  The LO was made with American Crafts Papers. This LO also qualifies for the challenge at Stuck On U Sketches - Summer Theme!!

Thank you for stopping by and reading this VERY long post!! I love your comments!!

Barb  :)

A new award and blog candy!

Happy 4th of July everyone!! I am really hoping to get a little scrapping done today between company and parties, but in the mean time, I wanted to share these two things!

DEBBIE HAS CANDY!!  That's right!! The generous and fabulous Debbie is offering some wonderful candy to celebrate the 4th! All you have to do is become a follower of her blog and leave a comment!!  You can get there by clicking HERE!!! But hurry..... you only have a couple of days to be entered into the drawing!!!




And.... I am soooo lucky to have met so many wonderful people through my blogging! Everyone is so kind and supportive and I learn so much from each and every one of you every day!! I have been lucky enough to receive this fabulous award from TWO of my friends!!! Now that really makes me feel loved!!!! Let me teel you about them.....

First, my lovely bloggy friend Judy has been so kind to pass this lovely blogger award on to me!! If you have not had a chance to meet Judy yet, you need to go visit her and check out her blog! She is sooooo sweet and makes some of the best projects I have seen! AND she always shares her files and tips so that we can make the projects ourselves!! Not to mention she always gives things away!! Please go visit her and share some blog love with her!! You can get there by clicking HERE!!!  (She also has some great music on her blog!!)

AND I also received this award from my sweet, sweet friend Denise!!  Denise has an amazing amount of talent and is always so kind to visit my blog and share some nice words about my creations!! Her LOs and cards are so creative and fun!! I learn so much from her!! And right now.... Denise is giving away some blog candy!! Please stop by and visit her, follow her and leave her some kind comments!! You can get there by clicking HERE!!


So... here are the rules:
This award comes with a set of rules...


1) Thank the person who gave it to you 2) Tell seven things about yourself 3) Pass the award on to five bloggers whom you think are fantastic...
 
So.... 7 things about me....
1. I am a major beach bum!! Give me a beach and a good book and I am happy!!
2. I LOVE chocolate!! It is my favorite treat!!! Can't get enough of it!!
3. I love spending time with my amazing family!! I am so blessed to have 4 healthy children, a husband who adores me, and parents that are still very active in my life!! Not to mention my sisters who are my best friends!!
4. I like to mow my lawn! I know... sounds crazy!! But think about it... when I am on my mower, the kids can't ask me for anything, and I don't answer phone calls!! Pretty peaceful!!
5. I really, really hate the sight of blood! My son recently cut his hand at work and wanted to know if I wanted to see his cut.... NO!! I am such a baby!!
6. My friends call me Martha Stewart... I love to entertain and everything has to be in matching serving dishes that coordinate with the theme... and I love to decorate for parties!!
7. I am a bit of a dare devil... love to do things like zip lining and exploring!! A little adventure is always good!!
 
 
Now I would love to pass this on! I know the award says to pass it to 5 people but since I received it twice, I am going to pass it on to 10 people!!! I could easily give this to so many more people because I have made so many wonderful friends, but I am going to stick to 10... in no particular order!!
1. Leah - Beeing Creative and Feeling Cherry
2. Diana - All the Days of Our Lives
3. Pat - A Scrappin Nana
4. Joni - Love Life
5. Susan - Paper Daisy Dreams
6. Debbie - Love Life's Little Pleasures
7. Jocelyn - Simply Me
8. Aaron - Scrappin Lils Creative Side
9. Jane - Scossie Jane
10. Sheila - She's a Sassy Lady
 
Please stop by these ladies blogs and share some blog love with them!! They are all so wonderful and sweet!! And thank you ladies for always being so kind and supportive!! I love all the super sweet comments you leave me each day!!
 
Have a safe and happy 4th of July!!

New Blog Award!!!!

I have another blog award to share with all of you!!! My GF Crystal over at Crafting for Caitlyn was sooooo super sweet and awarded me this award!! Crystal... I want to thank you for all the visits to my blog and all the incredibly kind comments you leave!! I am so glad to have met you through blogging!! You are such a sweetheart!!

Okay, rules for this award are:

1. Link back to the person who gave you the award (Crystal at Crafting for Caitlyn)

2. Post where you would like to be in 10 years
3. Give this award to 10 awesome bloggers

Well, in ten years I would like to be settled into a new home in Dallas (I would like to make this one move and then stay put for a bit!!) I would also like to be settled in to a new church, have many new friends, and maybe even be a grandparent!! (Courtney is twenty already so that is a very real possibility... even though I still think I will be too young 10 years from now!!!) LOL!! Our plan also is for my husband to retire around this time so that we can travel a lot!!!

Now... on to the 10 people I would like to share this award with... all of which have fabulous blogs and I draw a ton of inspiration from!!!
Leah at Beeing Creative and Feeling Cherry
Sandy at Details by Sandy
Beatriz at Amazing Grace
Jocelyn at Simply Me
Lidia at Breaking Barriers
Tina at Bits and Scraps of My Life
Sasya at Hand-made by Sasya
Angi at Cokie Pop Paper Boutique
Fern at Fern's Creations
Jessica at Mountain Mommy Scrapper

Thanks again Crystal for sending this award my way!! And for all my blog buddies... sorry I have been a little MIA this week... been home sick and then my hubby was in town because he had to have his Lasik tweaked.. and we all know just how needy our men can be... but it has left me with very little time on the computer the last few days!! I will try to catch up over the next few days!!
Barb :)

Crafting Queen award

I can't believe I have been out of the loop for the past two weeks and totally missed this amazing award!! The Fabulous Queen Sassy Lady ... after searching far in wide in her royal kingdom of crafting...has bestowed this royal award to me!!! Little ole me!! And to make it even more exciting... I am one of the first four she picked to receive this delightful honor!!!! Wow!!

Before awarding this award myself... you need to read what Queen Sassy Lady wrote because it was just way to clever....

Now it is my royal decree as Queen SassyLady to Crown other Royal Crafting Queens..... I have searched the kingdoms far and wide for worthy ladies and gentlemen that share the desire to pass their crafting love and skills to all the subjects in the kingdom without royal fees or taxes and have found these worthy subjects...

To take up your crown the new Queen must link their blog to the sender of this blog and any future Queens they crown. . If you've been crowned, please send an email to Queen Cindy at me at Cre8tveLdy@aol.com and Queen SassyLady at shesasassylady@hotmail.com, along with your web or blog address and the website of whoever crowned you, so you can be listed as a Royal Blogger. (If you need the "King" version of the award, let Queen Cindy know and she will email it to you.)


I hope you will proudly display this award on your site, and I thank you for being such a benevolent Queen or King who is so generous to your loyal subjects!

Queen Sassy Lady... I am humbled and honored to accept this award!! In return, I have searched the entire blogging kingdom and found a loyal subject worthy of this crown... and I would like to award this crown to...

Kim from the kingdom of Memories in Thyme....

Now Queen Kim.... In order to accept this award, you must be willing to....

To take up your crown the new Queen must link their blog to the sender of this blog and any future Queens they crown. . If you've been crowned, please send an email to Queen Cindy at me at Cre8tveLdy@aol.com and Queen SassyLady at shesasassylady@hotmail.com, along with your web or blog address and the website of whoever crowned you, so you can be listed as a Royal Blogger. (If you need the "King" version of the award, let Queen Cindy know and she will email it to you.)

Thank you again Queen Sassy Lady... I am truly honored!! I will continue to work hard to make the blogging kingdom a better place for all the loyal subjects who visit my humble little kingdom!!!

A Sunshine Award!!

Well, I am a little late getting this posted, but a few days ago, the lovely and talented Fern passed on this amazing Sunshine Award to me!! How sweet is she?!! Fern has such amazing talent... if you haven't visited her blog, you need to skip right on over there and check it out!! Her LOs are always amazing!!! The girl knows how to embellish and loves bling almost as much as I do!! Almost!!

Now... I get the priviledge of passing this award on to 12 new people. So.... here is who I would like to share a little sunshine with....

Kaye - Kay's Crafty Place
Sheila - She's a Sassy Lady
Pat - A Scrappin Nana
Jamie - Bits of Paper
Linda - Linda' Crafty Creations
Beatriz - Amazing Grace
Kim - Memories in Thyme
Debbie - Love Life's Little Pleasures
Brenda - Bug-Bitten Disney Fanatic
Crystal - Crystal's Crafty Creations
Debbie - Debbie's Scrappin Corner
Scrappinlil - Scrappinlils Creative Side


Thanks again Fern... I am so happy to have you as a blog buddy!! You are so inspirational and thoughtful!!

So excited... more blog love!!

I just love these blog awards!! They make me feel so special! And my latest one is the Sweet Blogger Award which was given to me by Sandy at Details by Sandy....who I personally think is one of the sweetest  bloggers out there!! Thank you Sandy!! I am truly touched that you thought of me!! Now to pass on the award... I'm not quite sure what the rules of this one are because it was posted with other awards on Sandy's blog... therefore, I am going to make up my own... I am going to pass this on to 5 people and say something sweet about each one of them!! Hee hee!! I really like being able to make up the rules!! lol!!
So... I am passing this on to...
Fern... who has amazing talent and an eye for detail! Your pages are always so beautiful! So inspirational!
Robin ... has a birthday coming up... check out her blog candy!! She is so kind with the comments she leaves!
Crystal...has the cutest little girl... and is always sharing beautiful, girly LOs for me to steal ideas from!
Beatriz...this GF can crank out more pages in a day... but yet they are all amazing and beautiful and full of details!
Kim... leaves the sweetest, kindest comments.... such a sweet heart!

So there you have it.... my rules for the Sweetest Blogger Award!! Thank you Sandy... and thank you to all my bloggy friends who make me want to run to my computer constantly to see what nice things you have said ...and you all inspire me constantly through your posts and projects!! All of you are so amazing!!  Barb :)

So much fun news to share!!!

Wow... I  received two new awards!! (Okay, maybe they are not so new... I just have been too busy doing my house fix-it projects to get them posted before now!) Can you believe it?!  I am feeling the blog love big time!! The first award comes from Sharon at Cards N Greetings. Stop over and check out all the amazing projects she creates!  She is also part of the Frosted Designs team and continues to wow me each week!! Thanks Sharon!!

Now, as I accept this award, I need to do a few things:
1. Give a top ten list of things that make you happy
2. Give a top five list of trivia about myself
3. Share the award with only 5 people and ask them to do the same
4. Link the blogs you choose and link the blog of the person who gave it to you!!

Soooooo...
Top 10 things that make me happy....
1. God... He has been so good and faithful to me and my family this year
2. My hubby!!
3. My children who are growing and maturing every day...
4. Scrapbooking.... need I say more?
5. Family vacations! Love to travel!!
6. Chocolate... can't go a day without it!
7. Spring... warm weather... chirping birds...
8. Summer vacation... I am a teacher after all!!  LOL!!
9. Sleeping in... happens on a rare occasion!
10. Laying by my pool with a Nicholas Sparks book....

Trivia about myself....
1. I am a serious night owl... sometimes I stay up until 2 in the morning and then get back up at 6 to start my day! Crazy... I know!!
2. I have 2 sisters and a brother and a whole lot of amusing stories growing up with them!!
3. I really hate to clean my house... even though I want it clean all the time! I can't stand dust either!!
4. I have lived in Fort Wayne, IN my entire life...no wonder I am soooooo excited about our upcoming move!
5. When I was in school I was a cheerleader, gymnast and on the dance team!

Now to share the blog love with 5 other people.... I am going to start with the entire Stuck On U Design team... I know they get more awards than they know what to do with, but they were the reason why I started my blog to begin with!! And I am soooo glad I did.... I am having so much fun with it! I have made some really great blog friends!! And besides that... these four ladies always seem to be able to find something so nice and sweet to say about my LOs...even when I can't!!   :)  So... I am sending this to....
Leah - Beeing Creative and Feeling Cheery
Sandy - Details by Sandy
Sandi - Soft Side of Sandi
Nanne - Nanne's Creations
And for my fifth person.... I am going to award it to
Lidia (Rainbow) - Breaking Barriers
We have just recently become bloggy friends... and her LOs are stunning!! Talk about serious inspiration and talent!! Wow! If you haven't met her yet... go check her out!

So... thanks again to Sharon for being so kind and sharing this with me!  I loved reading all of the interesting tidbits about her... I hope you enjoy learning more about me!!

And my next award was given to me by Debbie Bakk at Debbie Bakk's Scrappin Corner! How super sweet is she?! Debbie recently started her blog and it is full of inspiration! Take the time to stop by and check it out... I am sure she would love to have a few new followers!!

I know this award is supposed to be passed on to others so I am going to do just that... I am passing it on to ALL of my followers!! All of you have amazing talent and I get so much inspiration from the projects you post daily... so take it!! It's yours!! and since I have received this award before, I won't make you suffer through the list of 7 things about me... I'm sure you have all had enough of that!!  LOL!!

And on to the most important subject.... I know you are all asking... what DID I DO with the winnings from Fern?!!! Well have no worries... I had no problem at all spending that money!! A lot of what I bought was inspired by Fern's pages... they are always so amazing and beautiful and they have the best gem and pearl flourishes and Prima flowers... they are just so gorgeous!! (Click HERE to check out Fern's work) And I am usually too cheap to buy those things because by the time I plan a page I want them on, I have to go to the scrapbook store where they are sooo expensive and purchase them... but when I won Fern's blog candy... I decided I was going to stock up on the embellies I have always wanted... you know, the things you won't always buy yourself... and that is exactly what I did!! So... I turned this...

into this...

One of the things I am most excited about ws the Tim Holtz Paper Distresser!! I was doing all of that distressing with scissors... this is soooo much easier and a whole lot of fun!! Besides the fourishes and Prima flowers, I added some metal embellies like the keys and some K & Company paper embellishments, bingo tags, etc.  My 7 year old was sooo super excited to see the butterflies arrive because she knows they are going on her pages!! Thank you Fern for giving me a scrapbooking shopping spree!! I truly enjoyed it!!

How lucky am I?!! I just received two new awards this week!! I am soooo excited that these wonderful, talented women thought of me!! So... the first award (Beautiful Blog Award) was from Kim. Her blog is called Memories in Thyme and if you have not seen it yet, you seriously need to check it out!! This girl has got some serious talent!! She is on the Frosted Designs team with me, but is also a designer for about 32 other teams!!!! (That might be a slight exaggeration, but I really don't know how she keeps up on all this and teaches too!! Wow!!) Kim... thank you so much for thinking of me... coming from you, this award really means a lot!!

Ok, so the rules for this award are:

1) Add a link and note of thanks to the person giving the award

2) Pass the award on to 15 bloggers whose blogs you have recently discovered that you love

3) Share 7 things about yourself

So... I would love to pass this award on to...
Michelle - Crafty Michelle
Monique - Take Time To Enjoy the Simple Things In Life
Lameka - PGM Designs
Cassie - Casba Creations
Emily - Scrappin Butterfly
Sharon - Simply Sweet by Sharon
Sharon - Cards N Greetings
Amanda - Amanda's Crafts and More
Jennifer - Happy 2 Scrap 4 Life
Gloria - CrafterGM
Hannah - Hannah's Room
Jane - Scossie Jane
Alissa - Craftalicious Caper
Sherri - Love, Laughter, and Creations
Victoria - Blue Jelly Stampin
Now... 7 things about me...Quoted directly from my seven year old daughter!! How perfect is that... 7 things... she's 7... heehee!!
1. I love to scrapbook
2. I'm really nice
3. I am good at spoiling her
4. I make a great playmate
5. I can tell a great story
6. I make delicious lemon bars
7. I like to shop for clothes and shoes!
How funny is that list?! Kim... thanks again for this beautiful award... your awesome!!

And... I said I received a second award!! This award is the Sunshine Award!How great is that?!! This one is from Monique! She has just started her blog but she has soooooo much talent! I am already getting some pretty amazing ideas from her... please stop by and check it out... she would love to have you all as a follower!! Her blog is called Take Time to Enjoy the Simple Things in Life! Lovin' that name!!!
This time... I am going to pass this award on to all my followers because each and every one of them bring me so much sunshine!! I love hearing from all of you!! I would also like to give a shout out to my daughter's new blog...Kids Give Back! I know it is listed under me... but this blog is all about a club her and her cousin Brayden started when they were six years old. We just got the blog up and running and will be spending the next few weeks going back and archiving all the wonderful events they have planned and participated in!! We have an amazing group of kids in this club and they have brought sunshine to many, many people over the last 18 months!! We are so proud of them!! They certainly deserve a Sunshine Award!! You can find their blog, Kids Give Back by clicking HERE!!

Sunshine Award

Wow... I am so excited to receive this beautiful award from Nadya!! It brought a big ray of sunshine to my not so fun day!!! (I have been busy painting a couple of rooms in our house to get it ready to sell before the big move... I hate painting!!) But back to how flattered I am to receive this gorgeous cheery award!! Now, the rules of the award are:

*Put the logo on your blog or within your post.

*Pass the award onto 6 bloggers who are followers of your blog.

*Link the nominees within your post.

*Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.

*Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award.

I wanted to pass this on to someone I have never passed an award to before and to someone who had not already received it in the past few days....I mean after all, isn't it meant to share the love with everyone!?!! I think I am going to easily be able to pass this award on to six ladies who can always find a kind word to share about my LOs... they deserve it!!

Leah
Joni
Pat
Debbie
Sharon
Nanne

Thank you again to Nadya... it was so very thoughtful of you!!

Barb