The 12 Days of Christmas

I am not sure that everybody knows that the 12 days of Christmas are really the 12 days that follow Christmas, not preceed Christmas. The 12 days of Christmas end on January 6th, which is Epiphany. (My religion lesson for the day - lol). Anyway...why am I telling you this? Because over at Apron Strings Designs Yahoo Group, we are having a challenge a day for the 12 Days of Christmas.

I am a little behind (as usual) because I believe today is Day 7. All challenges are due on January 7th...there are points and prizes!

So, here are the first two.

Challenge #1 - One photo - this was an easy one for me - I have been doing one photo spreads lately.






Challenge #2 - Two cardstocks...that's it - no patterned paper - this one just about killed me. I NEED my patterned paper! LOL



If you want to participate - jump right in. You do get more points if you use Apron Strings Kits, but they are not required.

I can tell you four other challenges (I haven't seen 7 yet)

Challenge #3 - Three color scheme
Challenge #4 - Use a bird on the layout
Challenge #5 - Five circles on the layoug (Thanks Lori! NOT)
Challenge #6 - Horizontal photos only

I will apologize for the not so great pictures....it's tough getting them when the weather isn't cooperating.

Come back soon...I hope to have more challenges done before the end of the weekend!

Jan Kit #1

I love the way these layouts came out! They both use the January CropStop.com Crafty Kit - available for purchase today!! Love the pinks, greens & cream in this kit. As I always take the simple approach (Simple pages = completed albums) you don't see a lot of the embellishments that come with this kit, but I assure you, you will!! There are ribbons, chipboard, Jolees, brads!~ You're going to love it all!

I have more to show you, so be sure to come back and take a peek...hope to see you soon!

Cheer Bag Tags!

I believe I previously showed you the bag tag I had made my daughter - as well as many others because I just LOVE making them! They're quick and fun and always bring a smile to my face - I know - small things...lol.

Anyway - my daughter's cheerleading squad did Secret Santa and had a small party. We had made Haley - her recipient - one of those fleece tied blankets that are all the rage (love making those too - have made MANY in the past two years) and for the gift tag - you guessed it - a custom bag tag just for her!!

I will tell you Haley loved the bag tag and the blanket! All is well...

Thanks for visiting! Come back soon....

• Bazzill Cardstock
• QuicKutz dies - cheer uniform, megaphone, four petal flower
• QuicKutz Moxie & Chemistry Alphabets
• KaiserKraft rhinestones

EXCITING NEWS!!

I just recently found out that I was selected to be an Apron Strings Designs Sous Chef for 2009!! I was so excited when Kathy & Lori sent me the email! I can't wait to get started. My first design assignment for them will be using the February kit, so be on the look out for it!

Missed...

This is Mikey.

I love this photo - shows the zest he brought to so many.

His life ended too soon.

The Mojo is coming back!!

I am very glad to say that! I am finally feeling the creative juices flowing once again! I created this layout for CropStop.com. This is for a Charity Auction for literacy. The book will be auctioned off on eBay and all the proceeds of the books - which is every penny - will go to ProLiteracy Worldwide. You can see the first book (lowercase) here. The uppercase will also be placed on eBay although I don't believe it has been listed yet.

The page above is for the uppercase book. So you know, CropStop.com put the call out to scrapbookers to donate their time & supplies to make pages. QuicKutz donated two Mary Jane alphabets for the cause. The total amount the book sells for will go to the ProLiteracy fund. So please go check out the auction and check out the CropStop.com gallery to see many of the other pages that will be in these two books.

Help us help kids to read.

As always, thanks for visiting!

• QuicKutz Chemistry 4x8 Alphabet
  
• QuicKutz 12" Butterfly border die
  
• QuicKutz Mary Jane alphabet (B)

Happy Birthday Amandalyn!

Today - my baby girl is 17. She's my first born, my oldest and will always be my baby. As you can see from the picture, she has definitely grown into a lovely young lady. Okay, so that's my opinion and it might be a little bit biased! These pictures are from her homecoming dance in November.

Have the best birthday ever baby! I love you Manda!!

CropStop Challenge!!

I am this week's hostess for the CropStop weekly challenge!! I challenged the CropStop crew & members to a No Layer Card (no boos, please) and you have to use at least one die cut (CropStop.com's speciality) and ribbon, fiber or cord on your project!

This is one of the Christmas cards I will be sending out this year - it really was easy to make! I made a bunch of them and although this one says Merry Christmas, use the die from the QuicKutz Jolly Limited Edition Set, I also used the the QuicKutz CC Holiday phrases and Rub Ons from the CropStop.com November Crafty kit on others! I really do love the way they came out! The other thing you may want to take note of - there are NO Christmas papers used on this card...and I used scraps to make them!! I didn't need to cut into a full sheet of paper! Diecuts are great for this. It was a great way to use a bunch of my scraps!

Hopefully you have found some inspiration here today! Go visit the girls over at CropStop and I hope you take the time to visit again soon!!

Some Apron Strings Craftiness!!

Every month over at Apron Strings Designs, we get a challenge - I'll call it the Triathalon!

You get two sketches - one for a layout (usually two pages) and one for a card. The way the Triathalon works is you complete the layout sketch (using an Apron Strings Design kit is preferable) and with the scraps - you make the card sketch. It's a great way to be sure you use your scraps when you've completed the layout.

The third part of the program is to Alter the sketch in some way and make it more your own! It's a great challenge and I had missed a couple of months, but squeaked November's challenge in under the wire! (The actually had a bonus sketch in November, but since I completed the Triathalon on the 30th - the bonus just didn't make it! LOL)

• All papers and cardstock are from ASD kit
• Ribbon on silly girl layout from stash
• Silly Girl uses QK Storybook Alphabet
• Zoo Fun letter is Cuttlebug Red Tag Alphabet
• Hi There is from one of the Fall Release Cuttlebug Duos
• All dies are availabe at CropStop.com

Santa's Wish List

Have you been very, very good this year? So that you find a few of your favorite things under the tree, give Santa your CropStop Wish List. Browse our store at CropStop.com

Print out the Wish List Form by clicking on the linkFill in the list and give it to your Santa along with Santas Instructions (they will print full size!)We'll take care of the rest!


Dear Santa,

Shopping is simple at CropStop.com. We have four easy ways to order.

1. Go to CropStop.com. Our search feature takes you directly to the items you want. Just type in an item number or part of the description and we take you right to it.

2. Call 609-972-6850 between 8 am and 11 pm Eastern Standard Time.

3. Email your order to cropstop@cropstop.com and we will invoice you, payable by credit card or PayPal.

4. Mail us the wish list form and payment and we will process your order upon receipt:
CropStop
P.O. Box 1161
Westerly, RI 02891


CropStop has a policy to ship within 24 hours of receiving cleared payment. If you have a Package Peeker and would like a delayed shipment, please be sure and tell us. Need your gift wrapped? Our Holiday elves will happily wrap your gift for a $5.00 fee.

On the left side bar under MANUFACTURERS, click on SHIPPING OPTIONS and choose GIFT WRAPPING. When you click on CHECK OUT, you will find a space for special instructions. Please type in your gift tag words.

Thank you for shopping at CropStop. We wish you a happy and healthy holiday season.

MORE CROPSTOP!

Here are a few more cards made with this month's CropStop.com Crafty kit!! I must say these are not my normal colors, but they are quite elegant!! I love the wooden embellishments from Kaiser. The kit, and extra embellishments, can all by purchased at CropStop.com!

Papers are SEI, flowers and wooden embellishments are both by Kaiser. They are also rubons, ribbons and dew drops in this kit!! The paper is DOUBLE SIDED!! That's always a bonus - don't like one side, just use the other! Love it when you can get more for your $$$$.

The friends card is actually based on Beate's Weekend Sketch from the beginning of November!

Thanks for coming back!! I have some more for tomorrow....

• Fiskars Threading Water punch used on Friend Card
• Marvy Scallop punched used on Thank You card
  
  

I'M BACK!

I think I finally have my Mojo back!! I haven't posted here in almost a month because I haven't created anything in almost a month! It's been VERY VERY sad!!

Anyway - here are some cards from the CropStop December kit!! It's a lovely kit in the colors of blacks, creams, greys, browns and what I would call a goldish yellow.

Everything you see here is from the kit, with the exception of the die cuts/embossing folders, which are noted below.

Thanks for visiting and I do have more to show you, so hopefully I will be able to post tomorrow, if not, by Wednesday the latest!!

• Birds - Boss Kut Die
• Leaf embossing folder by Cuttlebug