Homemade Popsicles.. yum

With it finally summer and the weather feeling somewhat like summer the kids love eating popsicles. I hate buying the sugar loaded popsicles so this year I thought that making our own would be healthier and maybe a bit cheaper. So when I was at Michaels a few weeks ago I spotted some decent popsicle containers in the $1 bin... Awesome score So I picked up 6 with different color ends. What's cool is they even have a straw attached to the part you hold it at so the kids can easily suck up any juice. hehe

Here are some photos of the kids enjoying the popsicles they made.

These are made out of Strawberry Yogurt. Just spoon it in your popsicle containers and freeze for a few hours. They taste smooth and creamy and they are healthy...

I love this one... Joshua didn't even notice Rocky going in for a taste. LOL

These were made out strawberries and mango cut up and put into the popsicle containers then filled with white cranberry peach juice. Let freeze for a few hours and enjoy. The kids love these and love that the fruit isn't totally frozen and easy to eat.

Summertime summertime...

It's finally Summertime Summertime... hehe You know that song "Summertime Summertime" by Nocera??? man it brings back memories plus I'm sure I just showed my age as that song came out in 1986.. I was just a teenager... hehe Anyway I heard that song today on the radio as I sat on the back deck talking to Miranda and her boyfriend. ahhh the memories. lol Ok so enough about that, but I do have to talk about summer a bit more. I simply adore all the colors of summer. Teal, pink, green, orange and so much more... ahhh color is awesome. What is your favorite color combo of summer so far???

I love teal and pink but then again I love Orange and green.. Oh and you can mix in yellow with both of those. lol
The June Paperie kit from The little shabby box is filled with great summer color papers. Here is a card that I created from the kit that shows off some awesome summer combos.

Products used:
Kraft paper
7Gypsies & The Girls Paperie Pattern papers
Paper Trey Ink buttons
Ribbon
All items are from the June "Paperie" Kit from The little shabby box

Thanks for looking and I will be back tomorrow to show you my sketch book... hehe If you love the colors on my card you will love the colors on my sketch book. hehe Plus a little peek inside. hehe

Welcome Scavengers...

Start of Summer Scavenger Hunt

Clear Scraps is kicking off summer with a scavenger hunt that will take you through our design team members blogs. On your way, you'll find out something interesting about each of us and if you make it all the way to the end and collect all your clues, you'll get entered in a draw for a nice prize package from Clear Scraps!


Start here at Clear Scraps Blog


You don't have to necessarily go in order...but when you're done, you should have answers to 9 questions that are posted on the Clear Scraps blog. We'll run the scavenger hunt from Monday June 21 (First Day of Summer!!) until Friday, June 25. Winner will be announced the following Monday.


Good luck everybody!

Happy Fathers Day...

Today is Fathers Day and I so miss my dad. I miss being home as I don't get to see my dad often enough. Maybe for a week every 3-5 years. This photo was taken the last time I was back home visiting 3 years ago.

It's funny to look at my dad next to Noah (my son) whom in this photo was only 14 and he was already taller then him.. See that is one of many things my father and I have in common. We are both short although I am not quite 5' my dad is only 5'2 ... hehe We both need a step stool to reach the top of the fridge, the top shelf in the cupboard, A little boost to get into the truck. However we never had a problem seeing eye to eye. hehe We both love seafood, hot things, an ice cold peach soda. No one else in the house liked it but we loved it. hehe I remember him making Horchata, hot coco and orange tea for us in the winter time before school and when we got home from school to warm us up. I loved his hot rice cereal in the morning as well (kind of like oatmeal but with rice.) yum The best was listening to him tell stories of his childhood. They were always a great laugh and I find my self telling my kids these stories. hehe Dad I love you and miss you and look forward to seeing you this Christmas if everything works out.

Today my children got to tell this amazing man Happy Fathers Day. He is my hubby, my best friend, the father of my children and my soul mate.


This morning the boys came in early in the morning whispering to each other whom is gonna wake him up first or how they should wake him up etc. As hubby lays there pretending to be asleep with a little grin on his face. They jumped into bed with lots of snuggles and tickles. lol I love listening to all of them laugh. There were gifts given and lots of talk about summer. New bed times are officially in place. New chores and so much more. Plus hubby got some great coupons from the kids which I know he will be using. lol

A few simple cards

This month I have been playing with the June "Paperie" card kit from The little shabby box. I simply adore all the papers, embellishments and the kraft paper is my favorite. This kit is packed full of great things that any card maker will use.


Here are a few of my cards. Aren't the colors great? I simply love teal and pink together. hehe


Thinking of you card I added some gems that I had laying on my desk. It's simple but I love how the kraft paper makes the teal and pink pop.


Thinking of you card I added a few Kaiser crafts pearls to the center of the butterfly and a couple gems..


Thanks card I wrapped the rose stem around a pencil to spiral it as I didn't like it just straight.


To get your hands on this kit jump on over to The little shabby box. Check out the blog to see more cards from the fabulous design team.

I hope you have a great weekend.

Butterflies and Cards oh my...

Right now I am just loving using butterflies as embellishments especially on cards. They are just that something that changes a card and gives it character. If that makes sense. I just adore them and I love putting embellishments on them as well. Like pearls, gems, buttons and so much more. So after punching lots of butterflies with my handy dandy Martha Stewart butterfly punch I got busy working on this weeks sketch at 2 sketches 4 you. I simply love all of the sketches they put together.

Here is this weeks sketch
Here is my take on the sketch.

Products used:
Kraft cardstock
DCWV Linen Closet pattern paper
Kaiser Crafts Pearls
Pebbles rub-on sentiments
MS punch
Ribbon

Thanks for looking... I'll be back tomorrow with more cards using the fabulous card kit from The little shabby box.

Simply Handmade June/July issue...

It's almost June and Simply Handmade June/July issue is available for purchase... I simply adore this magazine and all the others that are put out by the same company... They are filled with great projects and more. You can find My Baby Boy Mobile in the pages of this issue. I haven't submitted in a few months but I have sent in a lot of projects for the Dec/Jan issue so keep your fingers crossed for me that they like something and want it. hehe I have also started to submit some of my cards to Cards Magazine. So again keep your fingers crossed. I heard it's hard to get in that one.


You can click the photo to see it bigger and read the directions. It's totally simple to create.

Hugs

Green and Orange + Craft paper...

I love the colors Green and Orange. I love creating with those colors a lot. I also have a great love for Kraft paper. I just love it soooo.... So today I created with green, orange and Kraft paper. swoon.. I also decided to threw in some fuchsia for good measure.hehe Plus the great part is I used up some scraps from projects I did last week to make a card.Today I used this weeks sketch from 2 sketches 4 you. I just adore it and I love there site. They are celebrating there 2 year mark. woot woot So here is the sketch that Kazan put together. Isn't it awesome...


Here is my take on the sketch using the fab green, orange and kraft colors...

Here is a side view to see my butterflies ready to take off.. hehe

Products used:
Kraft paper
American Crafts Butterfly pattern paper
Scrap Within Reach Green pattern paper
American Crafts Ribbon
Making Memories mini alphas
Paper Trey Ink button
Tim Holtz Crushed olive ink (love this color)
pearl bead strand (Michaels)
twine

Thanks for looking... I'll be back tomorrow with some more Alice in Wonderland cards... swoon

The little shabby box...

The May kit at The Little Shabby Box is stunning...

See I told you it was... It's full of Prima products and vintage lace and much more. A little birdie told me that there are a few kits left so act fast if you have been on the fence about this one.

I have been hard at work creating and creating and creating with this kit... There will be a card load this weekend so be sure to keep an eye on the The little shabby box blog... To see what all the designers have been doing with their kits.

Speaking of designers the new design team at The little shabby box was announced today.

Marcie Morgan
Celeste Brodnik
Kim Faucher
Elisa Kammerdiener
Danielle Wycough
Scarlett Salamone
Tereza Crump

looking forward to continuing working with these gals and looking forward to getting to know and working with the new additions.

Brothers...

This month all the designers for Scrap Within Reach were asked to work with a couple sketches. We had to do one layout and a fathers day card. Although I can't show you the fathers day card just yet... My layout was posted on the Scrap Within Reach blog so now I can share it with you... Here is the sketch I chose to work with for my layout... You can see the other sketch and more layouts from the DT on the Scrap Within Reach blog.



I flipped the sketch and moved a few elements to different spots. I really love the way it came out.

Products used:
Scrap Within Reach "Paper Boy" pattern papers
Tim Holtz old paper distress ink
Scrap Within Reach "Paper Boy" cardstock stickers

Here is a simple B-day card I did using a few scraps left from the layout...

I'll be back tomorrow with another project and some photos...

A Creative Monday ...

Wow today I have been scrapping all day long. I got a lot of assignments done that I can't show you just yet but will as soon as I can. Once my assignments were done I checked out the new card sketch at 2 Sketches 4 you for this week and got busy making a card... Here is the sketch...

Here is my card...

Products used:
Cardstock - Craft from Joann's
Pattern Paper - Melissa Frances
Ribbon - American Crafts
Pearls - Kaiser Crafts
Butterflies - made from Martha punch with doodlebug sugar cardstock
Button - Paper Trey Ink
Twin- May Arts
Alice in wonderland Image

Here are a couple close up's.

I will be back tomorrow with a few more cards.

Happy Mothers Day...

I have been so busy this past week and was so glad to have a day of relaxation... The kids were just great today. Miranda my soon to be 16 year old cooked dinner as today is hubby's Monday and he is at work... I so hate when he is on Mid-check (military for nights... lol) She cooked steak, steamed veggies and pasta in creamy alfrado sauce. It was yummy and she is turning into a good cook...

I wanted to share a mothers day card that I made using products from the Carnival Ride line from Scrap Within Reach...


I hope all the mom's out there had an amazing day... I'll be back with more projects and a step by step tutorial later this week.

Hugs

Clear Scrap Blog Hop...

Welcome to the Clear Scraps blog hop!

We're so excited you joined us this weekend to help us celebrate all our Moms and the women who play a mothering role in our lives. If you haven't started at the beginning, you may want to go back to the Clear Scraps Blog and start there.

Here is my Mothers Day Project... I wanted to do something a little different and decided to take a few different products from Clear Scraps and combine them into one project. I came up with this little basket of goodies.... I love working with Acrylic and using different techniques so this was a fun creative project to do....

Products used:

• Clear Scraps XL Bird Shapes (small one)
• Clear Scraps Decorative Frames
  
• Clear Scraps Scalloped Circle Frames
• Scrap Within Reach "Urban Garden" Pattern paper
• Ranger Dimensional Pearls
• Ranger Alcohol Ink (stream)
• Staz-On ink (Cherry Pink & Timber Brown)
• Vintage Book pages
• Vintage ribbon
• Glitter Butterflies (punched from Martha Stewart Punch)
• Vintage button
• Kaiser Crafts Pearl
  
• Aqua Ribbon (Michaels)
• Strand of pearl beads (Michaels)
• Cricut Cartridge (tags, bags and boxes)
  

Here is the blog hop line up...

Irene
Cristal
Rita
Tonya
Elisa (You are here)
Grace *go here next*
Cathy
Back to the Clear Scraps Blog

Make sure to leave a comment on all the DT blogs, then go back to the Clear Scraps blog and let us know you did, and you'll be entered into a drawing for a $25 goodie bag of acrylic from Clear Scraps. We hope you're inspired, both about acrylic, and about making something special for the "Mom" in your life this weekend.

To all the moms... I hope you have an amazing Mother Day...

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoyed my project and all the DT Projects along the hop...

ATC cards & contest info...

Today I bring you a couple ATC cards that I made... This is my first time making ATC cards and let me tell ya these things are so super fun to make... They are basically just little pieces of art... I so love ART... hehe

Products used:
Clear Scraps ATC Acrylic cards
Vintage music paper
Crafty Individuals stamp by Magenta
Viva Decor Glass effects gel in teal & olive and teal pearls
staz-on black ink
My little shoe box small alphas
Helmar vellum adhesive spray

Products used:
Clear Scraps ATC Acrylic cards
Vintage book paper
Inkadinkado rose stamp
Viva Decor glass effects gel in carmine, teal and crystal clear
7gypsies rub-ons
Staz-on black ink
Helmar vellum adhesive spray

Here is a closer look at the rose...

Instructions...
Take clear backing off of one side of acrylic and spray it with vellum spray.
Once the spray goes from a milky color to clear place paper on acrylic.
Trim off extra paper
Turn over and remove clear backing off the other side of acrylic
Using staz-on ink up your stamp and stamp your image
Once dry start applying your Viva gel (I used a paint brush)
Once dry embellish your ATC card more if you like.

I just love how vivid the colors are and the way it looks like stained glass once it's dry.

Ok so now that you want to make some little ATC cards of your own.... Clear Scraps is having a super easy contest and you can win some Acrylic... All you have to do is sign up to be a follow of their blog or facebook... If you follow them on both you have 2 chances to win... How awesome is that. Ok so go to the Clear Scraps blog and click to follow....

Card and DT call...

If your a card maker then you need to check out the DT call at The little shabby box... The site is still a newer site but it's moving along nicely. The Spring Fling kit is simply amazing. Here is my latest card using the Spring Fling kit and this weeks sketch from 2 sketches 4 you...

First here is the sketch.. I love the simplicity of it.. hehe

Here is my take on the sketch...Products used:

• The little shabby box "spring fling" kit (cardstock, pattern paper & pattern chipboard)
• Inkadinkado Rose stamp
  
• Papertrey Ink button
• Colorbox ink
  
• ribbon (michaels)
• twine

I'll be back tomorrow with another project and a super easy contest going on...

Happy Birthday Dad...

Today is my dad's b-day... This photo was taken a couple years ago but I just love it. I love how Noah at only 14 was already taller then my dad. lol I love his white hair, his love for life, his laugh and how he acts all tough but when it comes down to it he's a big ole softy... I'm a daddy's girl and I'm proud of it... Here's to you dad...


This is a quick digi layout... I don't play with digital stuff all that often but I have projects on my desk and the kitchen table is also being used as I have been designing cards for my card class at Scrapville... Stay tuned for some peeks of them later this week...

Thanks for looking.

Easy Peasy Recipe pockets & cards

I had some older cards that I picked up in the $1 bin at Michaels and they have sat and sat in a bin just waiting for me to do something with. They were totally cute and I couldn't help but to buy them and so glad that I did because they totally made this project...

I used my handy dandy Purple Cows Laminator and placed a card in one of the 6x6 lamination sheets with the top of the card all the way to the edge so when it is laminated it would still open and create a pocket. Once laminated I embellished each pocket and have them ready for a recipe card when I attend a pot luck or share a recipe. I also laminated my recipe cards after I wrote down the recipe so they are easy to wipe off if I splash something on them. I am thinking about punching a small hole in the top left corner and putting them on an O ring and hang them from a t'cup hook on the side of my cabinet.

So I like to give things away so if you leave a comment by this Saturday the 24th I will add your name to my handy dandy hat and pull out a winner on Sunday morning. That winner will receive a set of these cards (un-laminated unless you want them laminated then let me know) with some matching ribbons and recipe cards. If you sign up to follow me (on the right sidebar) I will add your name to the hat twice.

Thanks for looking and I will be back tomorrow with some cards...

I heart Clear Scraps Deco Shape...

I have been creating a lot with Clear Scraps lately. Getting lots of assignments done and some extra's to send in for submissions on a few magazine calls. Here is one of my latest layouts using one of my favorite Clear Scraps XL shapes.

I created the background using Staz-On teal and brown inks and Tim Holtz Blending sponge tool.(click photo for a closer look)

Dab your sponge tool into your ink and dab on your acrylic several times getting different shades of your ink. Once you reached the look you like switch to brown ink and dab just the ends of your acrylic. It's super simple to do. Let it dry for a few minutes then start your layout.

Products used:
Clear Scraps XL Deco shape
Staz-On Teal and Brown inks
My Mind Eye pattern paper, die cuts, tag and overlay

Thanks for looking and I'll be back tomorrow with another project...

Tuesdays Cards...

Here are a few cards I made using some left over odds and ends I had in a drawer in my desk.

Products used:

Couture Cardstock
October Afternoon die cuts
American Crafts rub-on (thanks)
ColorBox ink

Products used:
Couture Cardstock
October Afternoon die cuts
American Crafts rub-on (thanks)
Ribbon (Michaels)
twine
Paper Trey Ink button

Thanks for looking.

Lola is 2...

Wow I can't believe it's been 2 years since we rescued little Lola... Here she is with her brother Rocky and Joshua a few days after we found them. They were covered in fleas and Lola fit in the palm of my hand. We spent an entire day picking fleas off of them and bathing them and making sure they were eating well.



Here is Lola a week ago. She is still little but thinks she is super sized. lol She has one heck of a personality and well ya gotta have one with her ears. hehe
I'll show a layout later this week of Rocky... Tomorrow I have cards lined up to show you... Now to eat some dinner and do a couple loads of laundry.

Till tomorrow...

April Simply Handmade...

Someone at my hubby's work brought in a copy of April/May Simply Handmade magazine to see if he knew the person with his last name. LOL Our last name is not very common and is hard to learn to say and spell. So when someone knows the name they always wonder. lol So hubby told him that it was his wife and all about my addiction to paper and fabric and everything in between. So of course the man told his wife whom was excited to find out that someone with the same addictions lived near by, or in this case an hour away. lol I have been busy and then not feeling well so I hadn't had time to post this until now... I just adore Simply Handmade magazine and all the different mediums you get out of one magazine and I am simply honored that they find a few of my things worthy enough to print in their magazine. Here are my Ipod/cell phone cases in the April/May issue.


You can click on the photos to make them bigger and read the directions on how you can make these. I use my Purple Cows 2 in 1 trimmer to cut my felt and fabric. It cuts it like butter.

Here are a few closeups of them.


Thanks for looking and I will be back tomorrow with some cards...