Saturday, March 3, 2012

This is where it started.....

I've been in a serious scrapping rut since the middle of December, and THIS is why! I've re-discovered crocheting :-) Started with a plan to make one Sock Monkey hat for Jessica. I found the pattern here. Doesn't she look sweet!

Since then, I've made around 100 hats.... seriously! I put a couple of my hats on Facebook to sell and ended up getting a ton of orders for them! Others I gave as gifts. I often buy patterns from Etsy, but there's also so many free ones to be found online. Ravelry is another good place to find patterns.

Here are a few of my hats:

Rainbow Sock Monkey from simply2irresistible.etsy.com


Red Angry Bird
I used the beak from the owl pattern, the head feathers from a misc. pattern online that I thought would look good, and the eyebrows from a pattern I found for a red bird plushie.  

This one was for a newborn, from http://www.etsy.com/shop/CuteKidCouture 

Another newborn hat, from simply2irresistible.etsy.com

Found a free newsboy pattern online and modified it to make it Stawberry Shortcake. I think the leaves pattern came from a site online that had free crocheted food patterns. I modified it to make it bigger.

Floppy Puppy from simply2irresistible.etsy.com 

Designed this one myself :-)

Hello Kitty -- found a free pattern online, but then purchased another from simply2irresistible.etsy.com

Designed this one myself, also. Found a pattern somewhere online for small crocheted balls, that I used for his eyes. 

This next one is my FAVE so far! I designed it myself -- one of a kind :-) I might try and replicate it as Jessica wants one.





Thursday, December 15, 2011

Published!!

I can finally say that I have been published! It's kinda exciting :-)

Canadian Scrapbooker picked up this layout of mine, titled "Walking in a Winter Wonderland". It's included in their Winter 2011 Issue.


I used papers by Fancy Pants -- LOVE the Hot Chocolate line! -- and my lettering is from Cosmo Cricket and Basic Grey.

Thanks for looking!

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Missing my Dad

Today is 13 yrs since my Dad was taken from us in a vehicle accident. I miss him always, but especially at this time of year I miss him more.

I so wish my kids had the chance to know him better. My daughter was only 2 when he passed, and my youngest son almost a year old. They only know him through stories we tell. I don't have any pics of my second son with my Dad, and only a handful with my oldest son, maybe one each for the other two children...... sad, hey? Just makes me realize that I should be snapping pics all the time! You never know when our loved ones will be taken from us.

My Dad was an amazing man who taught me so much! He always encouraged a love of learning -- he  was learning all the time, studying to get his electrical license when he was still a young teen. He actually wired the first house in the town he grew up in, at the age of 15! He was also a wonderful cabinet-maker and a house builder..... and a plumber. A jack-of-all-trades, I guess :-) He taught me to try my best at whatever interested me. He showed me the value of hard work and taking pride in your work. He loved his wife, his children and he absolutely LOVED to spoil his grandchildren with candy treats, and lots of hugs and kisses :-)

Here he is at what he truly enjoyed -- installing a set of cabinets. This photo was taken only a few days before the accident.

Some days I can recall vividly when and how I learned of his death. I re-live the days and events of those first few days leading up to his funeral, and I remember the actual funeral service. Everything seems so recent. Then there are days when it seems to be an eternity since he was taken from us. Life changed so drastically and will never be the same for our family.

I so love this poem written by my uncle and read at the funeral. He has a great way with words, I think.

The Cabinetmaker
By Dale Penney

Through the open shop door, you can see him,
In an amber haze of oak dust;
Amid whirling saws and routers-
The cabinetmaker...
Surrounded by the tools of his trade
And a growing stack of rails and stiles
And raised panels.
The re-shaped oak, though bread and butter,
Is, to him the fruit of labor's love;
Right now, to another's eye, just bits and pieces,
But in his eye, a finished work of art.
That half-smile on his face gives lie
That this is work;   
That's contentment - his labor also pleasure;
And satisfaction - in a job well started,
Assured of an end result that meets the designer's standard.
   
....and, now....
The tools lie idle and silent..
The dust has settled...
The cabinetmaker absent from his shop.
His own designer, it appears,
Is satisfied with this project, and has called him home.
Now, here he lies in a finely crafted coffin,
Resting on silk and his favorite wood;
Surrounded by his wife, his children, and theirs;
Quite unprepared to see the once busy hands so still.
There's grief here, and sorrow;
But, that half-smile on his face gives lie
That this is the end.
That's contentment - his soul at rest;
And satisfaction - his children, and theirs, another job well-started,
And assured of an end result that meets the Designer's standard.


Wednesday, October 5, 2011

"Be Yourself"

Here's my layout for the latest ScrapFIT challenge



Check the blog to find out the challenge, and see what the rest of the DT created. Add your layout and you could win this amazing kit from The Paper Bakery


Also, if you notice, I used the kit from Boys Rule -- number 4 from this kit!


Saturday, October 1, 2011

U Did It!

Back again with another couple of layouts using the Boys Rule kit! Let me tell you, this kit is wonderful! I encourage you to check the blog and grab a kit for yourself -- especially if you have boys :-)

I used Luke's graduation photos for this double layout.

If you read about my challenge to meself (right here) to create 8 layouts with this kit, these are the 2nd and 3rd layouts



Thanks for looking!

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Football Online Crop at the Sisterhood

Just reminding you of an online crop at the Sisterhood of Scrap. We're having fun with FOOTBALL, even though there are many of us who can't stand the game, and know very little about it! LOL Myself included :-)

Here are some of the challenges posted:

RUNNING BACK --  I want to see some type of "running" stitch on your layout. Can be real or faux

GRIDIRON -- For this challenge it is only fitting to use a "grid" of some sort on your playing field!

PIGSKIN -- For this challenge, I want to see a layout using Kraft/brown cardstock as your background paper PLUS you must show some sort of lacing technique.

 

TACKLE -- Let's see some "piling on" with this challenge. Layer your paper, or layer embellishments.

Check the forum for more challenges, games, and see the awesome prizes that are up for grabs! You have until midnight, Oct. 2nd to upload your projects.

NEW Scrapbook Kit club!

I was lucky enough to receive a kit from this new Scrapbook Kit club called Boys Rule. For anyone who has even been a kit subscriber of other kit clubs, you've probably noticed that they are often geared towards girls :-) Not this kit!

I received in my Big Boy kit:
Lucky 7 Factory Vintage Perfume double sided papers as follows
2- Star Dust
2- Fragile
2- Crazy Crayon
2- Photo shoot
2- Eco dress up
2- Eye exam
Basic Grey Oxford Element sticker sheet
Maya Road Wood Alterable Buttons
American Crafts Confetti Serenade puffy chestnut alpha
Creative Imaginations off Road Epoxy Stickers
Creative Imaginations fishing epoxy stickers
Webster’s Pages Ladies and Gents buttons and twine
Hero Arts Twine – 2 feet
Wooden Stars – 1 cut out and 2 solid
Crafters Workshop 6x6 template –mini bricks
Adirondack Paint dabber - espresso

I am challenging myself to creat EIGHT layouts with this kit, plus an assortment of cards. Think I can do it?! Check back over the next couple of weeks to see if I can meet my challenge.

Here's my first layout:

Don't forget to check out the Boys Rule blog! Kits are not too expensive (around the $30 range) and I know you'll be pleased with the wonderful selection of products!

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Reveal AND a blog hop!

Welcome to the ScrapFIT & Sketchy Thursday Blog Hop!  We have joined up with Sketch Thursday this week to offer you a really tough workout!  You will need to use this sketch

  from Sketchy Thursday and combined it with our Workout #52 - F is for Friendship -Friends are the family members we pick out by hand. Lets dedicated this weeks layout to a special friend(s).  
Here's my layout:
Since this is a special joint workout there are a few prizes up for grabs!  
You can win this Halloween kit from our ScrapFIT sponsor Paper Issues  by linking your layout to the Mr Linky on the ScrapFIT blog
Be sure to visit all of the FITgirls blogs and comment on their Workout because one lucky random winner that leaves on comment on every FITgirls blog will be get this prize kit! You can get to each girls blog by clicking on their photo at ScrapFIT.  

Once you do that be sure to head on over to Sketchy Thursday  for a chance at winning a prize from their sponsor and another chance at a prize from commenting on the Design Team blogs! 
This workout will end on Wednesday 9/21 an the winners will be announced on Thursday 9/22.  We hope you will play along and remember you still have until the end of the month to play along with Workout #51.  

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Time for the mid-month reveal at ScrapFIT!
 
The challenge was:
Workout #50- Be Inspired By A Book!
I love books, especially kids books! They are great for little minds and they can also be great to spark your crafty creativity! Use the book cover below to inspire your next layout! Use the design of the cover, the color or the vintage vibe – be creative!
 
Check the ScrapFIT blog to see the book cover.
 
Here's my layout. I just love this pic of Devin helping Benjamin with his necktie. Benjamin was heading off to cadet camp for 2 weeks -- certainly an adventure!
 
ScrapFIT has a wonderful sponsor lined up this month! Check out Precious Paper!
"Tessa creates new a 'sampler' of product each month! Each sampler has is own unique flower, ribbon and colors! For this workout she offering one lucky winner this sampler!"

I hope you'll check the blog and see what the other FITgirls have created.... and be sure to enter your project before August 31st, for a chance to win the sponsored prize!

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

First workout at ScrapFIT!

So excited to be part of this first reveal at ScrapFIT! The challengewas to "put a banner on it".

This was my take on the challenge. The photos were a bit dark, but I really wanted to use them; took these last summer when our youngest went off to Air Cadet Camp for the first time.

ScrapFIT has a wonderful sponsor lined up this month! Check out Precious Paper!
"Tessa creates new a 'sampler' of product each month! Each sampler has is own unique flower, ribbon and colors! For this workout she offering one lucky winner this sampler!"

I hope you'll check the blog and see what the other KITgirls have created.... and be sure to enter your project before August 31st, for a chance to win the sponsored prize!