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Monday, December 31, 2012

Project Life ~ Weeks 15b-19 (December)

I am about 1/3 the way through my Project Life album...The past 2 months have been easy since I took the Gratitude concept for November and the Daily December concept for December.  I hope the next 8 months are a breeze.

I went through 12/31 with the holiday theme and I probably could do a few more pages with all the decor (and meanings) I have in my house.

Week 15b (part a was in November)



Saturday - Ugly Sweater (according to my kids)
Sunday - Christmas movie Love :)
Monday - Christmas music!
Tuesday - Holiday Barbies

Week 16



Wednesday - Snowman (white) tree
Thursday - Food Donation for work
Friday - Work tree trimming party
Saturday - Got our tree (from Home Depot)
Sunday - Our "pretty" real tree
Monday - Our fake traditional with ornaments from both mom's houses
Tuesday - Charlie Brown tree (White Elephant score!)

Week 17



Wednesday - Parts of my Snowmen Collection
Thursday - My daughter's tree (5th tree in the house)
Friday - Santana Row tree
Saturday - Store Decor while shopping
Sunday - Toys bought for others
Monday - Cards I sent out
Tuesday - Cards we received wall

Week 18



Wednesday - Wreath (made in 1997)
Thursday - Nativity set
Friday - Snowman Nativity set
Saturday - gifts from 1st Christmas Celebration
Sunday - Decor in the Family room
Monday - Christmas Eve at 2nd Celebration--Chaos 
Tuesday - Christmas Day--Kid's loot

Week 19



Wednesday - My Christmas Loot :)
Thursday - Ceramic Tree that belonged to husband's mom
Friday - Outside decor
Saturday - Trip to San Francisco
Sunday - Last Starbuck's red cup of the season
Monday - playing Apples to Apples & Monopoly on New Year's Eve 
Tuesday - My kids with my 3 nieces & nephew...finally getting a picture this season.

Sunday, December 30, 2012

Obsession--Roller Date Stamp


My name is Linda and I am addicted to...wait, haven't I started a post like this before??  ha ha ha.

My latest obsession is Roller Date Stamps.  In 2011, I had 2 and I didn't know why I even had that many.  I had the green SMASH and pink Dear Lizzy.  That was it...that was plenty.

Then CHA 2012 came along and the enablers at 2peas had me drooling over some new Amy Tangerine and Dear Lizzy stamps.  Plus, in August I had just started Project Life and these were perfect to stamp my daily journal cards.  And so my collection began.

Starting from the top:

7. Hello Kitty (at Michaels)

I have a funny story about the Hello Kitty one...it is kinda scary though--ha ha ha.  I guess I should have driven myself to rehab instead of Michaels!  I had gone to Michaels on a Sunday and seen the cool end cap with Hello Kitty stuff.  I like Hello Kitty, but I am not that big of a fan (at least not now--30 years ago, I was).  So I took a picture, flipped through the cute Smash like book and went on my way...well a couple of days later, the ladies at 2peas posted something about the Hello Kitty Roller Date Stamp--what!?!?  Why didn't I see that?  It was lunch time, so I drove the the closest Michaels near my work and all the way over there I am thinking..."what if I missed out?" "what if they are all gone?" "what if I don't get one?"  Seriously, I should have went to the hospital at that point :)  They didn't have it, but they also didn't have that end cap up at that store yet.  So after work, I stopped at the Michaels near my house and searched the store (because they moved the end cap!).  I was lucky and found the stamp.  I have yet to use that dang roller date stamp!  ha ha ha

The Dear Lizzy Studio Calico stamp (center in the photo) was a limited edition stamp that only came with a kit in March 2012 via Studio Calico.  But I had to have it...it says "Happy Birthday" among other things (no, I cannot just write happy birthday--ha ha ha).  So I went to the For Sale or Trade Board at 2peas and someone graciously traded $10 to send me this stamp.  I am one to be frugal and always use a coupon--Roller date stamps run about $5 or so dollars...and I was willing to pay $15!!!!  Serious problem (shaking my head).

Late August, I had pre-ordered the Dear Lizzy 5th and Frolic, the Amy Tangerine Ready Set Go Photo Op, and the Studio Calico Classic Calico 3.  Well they have still not shipped and it is December.  Let me correct that.  So I seen that 2Peas had the Amy Tangerine in stock so I bought that one (again) and finally the online store (I won't smash the company, but I won't buy from them again) sent me 1 of the 3 stamps...the one I had just purchased.  It is now 4 months later and I have not received the last 2.  I do understand the problems the small home business had, but other places have these stamps in stock now.  Anyway, for Christmas, I asked for the Dear Lizzy stamp (which I had seen at my Local Scrapbook Store) and Santa brought it to me :)  The same store should be getting the Studio Calico one soon and I have asked the online company to cancel and refund the rest of my order.

Not making a case that I don't have a problem, Cathy Z and my bestie Liz had instagrammed a photo of the J.Crew Holiday Phrase stamp.  Well they sold out online really quick.  There are a few brick and mortar stores near me, but I was like I am not going to spend $12 on that--I don't need it and it doesn't even have a date on it.  So I thought I finally won, but while my husband and I were shopping at the mall a few weeks before Christmas, I seen J.Crew and thought...hey, why not, I found 1--woo hoo!  I asked the cashier if there were any more for my bestie (and she looked in the back even though there was a line).  But I got the last one :/  I let Santa give this to me as well.

That was it...I was done, (well except for waiting for the Classic Calico one--did I mention that it has an Instagram phrase on it?)

Well a few days ago, the nice enabling ladies at 2Peas let the world know that Target is carrying the cutest American Crafts Valentine Roller Date Stamp.  Since I read that post on Thursday, I have visited 5 Target!!!  The last 2 had Valentine stuff in their scrapbook section, but no roller date stamp!!!  I am frazzled :(

That is it!  After I find those last 2, no more roller date stamps for me! (Please scrapbook companies, do not come out with cuter ones at the Winter CHA, please!)

Thank you for reading and stopping by :)

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Gift Card Holder via Pinterest

Every year, I give out gift cards for Christmas.  Not because it is easy (I mean fighting the mall traffic and standing in those crowded lines isn't easy!), but because it allows the recipient to choose a gift they truly like/want and not have to either return the gift or give it to goodwill.

Normally I just wrap the gift card by placing it in a cute box or bag.  This year, I thought I could make some cards!  So off to Pinterest I went and found lots of ideas.


This idea came from Inking Idaho.


I used white card stock as the base.  Then I dug into my Christmas paper stash and everything else I used are papers/stickers from the Holiday Slab by Rob & Bob Studio (back from 2006!!!).  I rounded all the edges because I am currently into that look.


Here is a peek inside--this is not the gift card that will be accompanying this card--just the only one I had on hand.

Dimensions of the card:

White Card Base- 6.5 x 5
Striped paper-6 x 4.5
Green solid-5.5 x 4
Burgundy/Pink-4.75 x 3.75 (made from the Cricut Elegant Edges Cartridge) Here is the link
Plaid paper-5.75 x 3.75 (made from the Cricut Elegant Edges Cartridge)  This time I only put paper in 1/2 the size of the cut so that the paper fit--you can always just trace and cut the plaid paper without the Cricut machine though. 

One down...(I haven't even started shopping yet--shhhh!)

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

My Christmas Paper Collection

This year, I swore I wasn't going to buy any Christmas paper because I have too much Christmas paper!  But then this beautiful Kraft Christmas Theme paper followed me home from Michaels :)

Even though I have yet to make a Christmas scrapbook layout, I have used the Holiday paper to make some cards and also used it to make albums to store past Christmas cards received.  


Then there was this one time I went through my stash and gave some of the paper (from Christmas Slabs--not the good stuff--ha ha ha) to my niece for her daughter's girl scout troop.



But other than that...it just sits there waiting...wanting to be used.
I had an obsession with the Slabs and Stacks for a while.


In addition to those, I have a few single papers from various collections--aren't they so awesomely pretty!!
Basic Grey-Figgy Pudding & Blitzen
Love Elsie-Noel
Various papers
My Mind's Eye-Be Merry
Bo Bunny-Snowfall (not all that "Christmasy" but oh so yummily pretty!!!!)

I did not add links since most of these papers are so old that they are no longer available to buy.

Like my November Project Life, I plan to combine my December Project Life into a December Daily // Journal Your Christmas format.  Ali Edwards has done the Daily December for years as a mini album, but again, just like November, I don't have time or enough items to take double pictures of every day for an entire month (and why have scrapbook the same thing twice).  So this is my solution.


I tried using up my Christmas//Holiday papers that I had for my journal cards and hoped to not buy any more Christmas paper, but after going through all the papers I had, I was a few papers short of a full month (I mean I can't use the same papers twice, right?)

So I HAD to stop at my Local Scrapbook Store--Scrapbook Island for a couple more sheets.


"Week" 4x6 cards (4 weeks)


"Daily" 4x3 cards (35 cards--31 days, plus 4 date cards)

Now I am all ready for my Daily December/Project Life-December :)  I just have to take some pictures and journal :D

Monday, December 3, 2012

Project Life ~ Weeks 11-15 (November)

In the Blogosphere, there are lots of scrapbookers out there that do a gratitude album during the month of November.  This year, Cathy Zielske did a "30 days of Thankful" on her blog.

Instead of doing a whole other album with daily thoughts/pictures, I have decided just to incorporate my Thankfulness into my Project Life album.  Some of my Thankfuls are silly, but others are serious.

Week 11


Wednesday - (still October) Even though it was Halloween, my kids don't dress up and plus they went to the SF Giants World Series parade!!!!  FUN times
Thursday - Thankful for Online Stores
Friday - Thankful for Corn (my daughter) and No more Braces (us)
Saturday - Thankful for Medical Insurance
Sunday - Thankful for drive thru Starbucks
Monday - Thankful for Daylight Savings Time (because getting home when it is dark sucks!)
Tuesday - Thankful for being American and Voting


Week 12


Wednesday - Thankful for Breakfast for Dinner
Thursday - Thankful for Freebies!
Friday - Thankful for our sense of humor
Saturday - Thankful for my grandma (her birthday!)
Sunday - Thankful for Veterans that keep our country safe
Monday - Thankful for No school days
Tuesday - Thankful for the Internet

Week 13


Wednesday - Thankful for a Home Photo Printer
Thursday - Thankful for my Morning Radio (Sarah & Vinnie)
Friday - Thankful for Target
Saturday - Thankful for My Daughter
Sunday - Thankful for My Son
Monday - Thankful for My Husband
Tuesday - Thankful for my Job!!!  (17th Anniversary here!)


Week 14


Wednesday - Thankful for My Home
Thursday - Thankful for Family (Thanksgiving Meal)
Friday - Thankful for Black Friday Deals
Saturday - Thankful for Leftovers
Sunday - Thankful for My Keurig Machine
Monday - Thankful for my son getting his license!!
Tuesday - Thankful for Small Shops (especially my Local Scrapbook Store)

Week 15 (Wednesday-Friday only)


Wednesday - Thankful for Days off from work
Thursday - Thankful for my husband being able to work from home
Friday - Thankful for Dental Insurance

It was nice to not really have to think of something to take a picture of each day.  I knew at the beginning of the month most of the items on my list, but I just had to fit them into the month. 

My month of December will be similar in that I will just be talking about the Christmas season and not really having to think of things to take pictures of...they might not even be pictures I took on that day! (shhh!!) :D  I already have 20 of the 31 days figured out--woo hoo!

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Adult SF Giants lap blanket

Another finished blanket. This one I started at the end of July. My plan was to make it in 2 weeks for my husband's birthday in August, but it got pushed aside for other projects.

I found the basic chevron pattern online in various places to start the base. Once I began, I realized it was too wide so I just did a sideway chevron pattern instead of starting over.

After 4 months, my husband finally got his blanket :)


Yarn Used: Loops & Threads Impeccable in Black, Pumpkin, & Aran

Saturday, November 24, 2012

My Blanket :)

Last Christmas, I received a gift certificate from my Goddaughter to Joann's.  With the funds, I bought yarn to make myself a lap blanket for my couch.

I used Lion Brand Vanna's Choice (which was on sale--I don't care if it is a gift certificate or not, I always use a coupon or buy yarn on sale :D ) in Chocolate, Dusty Green, Mustard, and Beige.  I really liked the 70's vibe it gives off.

Because I love free patterns, I used a free pattern from Lion Brand called Modern Alchemy Afghan.  I made 2 adjustments to the pattern.  1-because I hate weaving in the ends, I went with 4 rows instead of 2 when changing colors.  2-I wanted a mirror imaged pattern, so half way through the blanket, I went with 8 rows in the middle then changed my colors opposite from the way I did when I started. (clear as mud?  ha ha ha)


I actually finished this blanket months ago and I use it all the time (even in the summer!).  I love it!!!  Thank you, Nicole!!! :)


Sunday, November 18, 2012

Chunky Slouchy Beanie

Last week, I found this cute crochet hat pattern on Ravelry by Polkdot Squirrel.  I asked my daughter if she thought my niece would wear it and she said yeah (my daughter doesn't wear crocheted hats :/ ).  So I bought the pattern at Etsy.


Since I liked the look of the hat on Ravelry, I used the same yarn from Michaels called Loops and Threads Charisma in Off-White.

I usually crochet very tightly, so I used a bigger hook than the pattern called for, but it was way too big.  Then I used the size the pattern called for and it was still a bit big, so I went with a smaller hook.  I thought it was pretty cute--a bit big, but cute.  My daughter thinks it is way too big still--I am not sure if I will pull it back a couple of rows or not.  

I was going to give it to my niece for Christmas, but since she is coming over on Thanksgiving, maybe I will see what she thinks about the size.

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Project Life ~ Weeks 7-10 (October)

Instead of filling 4 more posts of my PL pages, I am just going to put the whole month of October in one post.  I might do this from now on.  My journal cards aren't very elabroate--even though in my mind I wanted them to be, so there isn't much detail to show off.

Week 7



Wednesday - TV-Survivor--Only show we watch as a family
Thursday - TV--Guilty pleasure Grey's Anatomy :)
Friday - Our Favorite Mexican Restaurant
Saturday - World CardMaking Day
Sunday - SMASH Book addition to my addiction
Monday - Failed Crockpot Ribs
Tuesday - Pinterest idea made

Week 8


 

Wednesday - Finished 49er baby blanket
Thursday - TV--Big Bang Theory
Friday - "I Love Yarn Day"
Saturday - Movie--Pitch Perfect
Sunday - TV--Once Upon a Time
Monday - 16 year old Check up
Tuesday - Sick day--Technology to work at home

Week 9


 

Wednesday - TV--Season Premier of American Horror Story
Thursday - Nerd Accountant--Love new Journal Paper 
Friday - Pumpkin Carving at work (lost)
Saturday - Celebrated my friend from elementary school's birthday!!!
Sunday - TV--Revenge
Monday - October birthday celebration with mom and brothers
Tuesday - Take out night

Week 10


 

Wednesday - Instagram Post//Instagram Icon
Thursday - TV--Elementary
Friday - Wanting to get into shape
Saturday - My son's 16th birthday!!! (he just wanted to stay home, play video games, and eat junk food)
Sunday - The SF Giants win the World Series!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Monday - My current Michaels stash
Tuesday - Pumpkin Bread!!!

Lots of TV still...hoping to have my TV guide wind down soon, but it is an easy filler for my days right now.

Friday, November 9, 2012

Project Life ~ Week 6

I am a bit behind posting my PL pages.  But here is week 6.

I have decided to go back and rounding all the edges of my pages, because I like the look better.  

So far, keeping up isn't that hard.  I usually print the pictures once a week, but this last time, I had about 4 weeks of journaling to do--I had the cards in place, but I just had to sit down and write.  Some days I am trying to fill up the space while other days I am trying to squish the rest of my sentenance at the end of the card.




Wednesday-  Spirit week continues Super Hero day--her shoes are Superman too!
Thursday-  Spirit week--Disney day
Friday-  Spirit week Skit--her first time participating
Saturday- We went to a street fair in Morgan Hill
Sunday- Season premier of Dexter!!!
Monday- More tv...Love my Castle
Tuesday- Work "summer" party