I've finally returned

Well, I think I'm back. I've been gone for a really long time, it seems. My camera broke and we just now got a new one. A really nice one too! I love it! It's a Canon Powershot SX130 and we got it on sale on Black Friday. I just couldn't go through all the holidays without a camera.

I made this card for my Dad for Christmas. That's what he asked for, he wanted me to make him a card. He told me he likes ravens, bells, the color blue and 18th century inspired themes. So this is what I came up with. I saw oodles of stamp sets I wanted to buy, mostly from Tim Holtz. My Dad would love his style!

Tell me what you think. This card is definitely different from my regular cards. I need your invaluable input, people!!

:) Alison

New Video!!

My new video is up on YouTube. I tried to upload it to Blogger but had trouble. I'll keep working on it. I had trouble with it on YouTube also so who knows...

Journal for Charity

I was asked to make up some items for a charity event that (I think) is later this month. This picture was taken with my camera phone so that's why it is not the greatest.

I'm also trying to upload a video to YouTube and have had a little trouble. Hopefully it will be up later this evening!

So today is my 35th birthday! I'm not doing much but my DH is taking me somewhere this evening...it's a surprise and I love surprises!!

I'm off to do my mommy duty now...maybe I'll be back later with some cards I am trying to whip up.

A bad photo of some HERO cards I made

I am so bummed I have been having camera trouble for about a month. Of course, this happens now! My baby girl just turned one year old and she just started toddling around without the help of furniture and I try to get pictures and wouldn't you know, my camera is busted?!$&!!

Oh well, I will put that on the "Much Needed" items list. I did take a picture of ten Hero cards I made (albeit a crappy photo) that I put together yesterday. I plan on writing a note inside and sending these cards in a shipment for OperationWriteHome. I'm also planning on hosting a very small card making get together at my home on Sun Sept 12th for some girl time and card making for our troops. I will probably make some card kits with a Halloween theme using my new Mini Monsters cart. I am seriously considering doing something on my blog that day as well since it is a birthday bash for OWH. Would anyone like to join me??

Gotta support our troops!!

Two Layouts

Here are a couple of layouts I've completed in the last few days. I am trying to take better photos of my layouts but this is it for now. I'm going to add my journaling in the next few days.

Enjoy!

'Princess' Single Page LO for Momo's Tuesday Challenge

Here is a stunning and simple LO I made of my youngest daughter for Momo's Tuesday Challenge. I'm working on posting a video of this LO in the near future. I got the idea of this LO from Archivers last summer. I took a picture with my camera phone (bottom picture). What do you think?

Here is another picture of Alicia the Strawberry Pirate.

I have redone my craft room and hope to have a new video of it up later today. I'll keep you posted!

Alicia the Strawberry Pirate

Here is a card I made with Alicia the gorgeous pirate girl from Kratin' Kimmie. I've been trying to get this card from my thoughts onto a card for about 4 - 6 weeks.

As you all know, I'm a confirmed TV addict so I conceptualized this card after an episode of Real Housewives of NY. If any of you get this inside joke, please comment. Even if you don't 'get' the joke, comment. I love to read them!

TFL!

Alison

Hello again!

I am finally back in my little world of reality. We returned home from Hilton Head, SC early early Sunday morning after spending a whopping 16 hrs in the car! It is normally a 12 hr trip but thanks to a 2 1/2 hour wait in construction traffic in NC and several roadside potty breaks we finally stumbled in at 1:30am. Let me tell ya, I felt like a zombie!

I have already made a double LO and a single LO for our vacation scrapbook. I will post pics after I take some with my (new to me) camera. My Mom and I switched cameras because she doesn't like hers anymore. Fine with me - hers is newer and it is a Nikon CoolPix.

Alison

A little note to say Hi...

I've been busy getting ready for vacation...we are leaving Friday for one whole week of beach, sun and fun! There will be 13 of us going, which includes four children under the age of five, two teenage boys, one Octogenarian and a Partridge in a Pear Tree. We will be staying in one large house just off the South Carolina beach. I'm sooo excited!!

I haven't had a chance to do much blog stalking or crafting but maybe I will get a chance today??

TTFN,

Alison

Six cute cards

I made this card a few weeks ago to send to a friend for her birthday in July

The sentiment is hard to see in this pic but it says 'You're a Hoot!'

I'm going to enter this card into Momo's Tuesday Challenge.

I was able to accomplish so much yesterday in my craft room - How Fun! The girls and I have been going to our church's Vacation Bible School and when we get home they are all nice and worn out. Yesterday they both napped for THREE hours and had no problem going to bed later.

Yea for Mommy!!

Cute, creepy, simple card

Here is an image I downloaded and LOVE. I saw this girl on the Canadian Nickel's site and wanted to use her on a card. This was a very quick and easy card. I used all scraps. I think I might enter it into The Burtonesque Dolls Tuesday Challenge.

5 x 5 Easel Card

Here is an easel card I've been working on for awhile. This image is from Digital Delights, check them out HERE

I created this card when I was hit with the inspiration stick. As you know, I am a Huge TV fan and the more drama the better. Well this year I've been following the Real Housewives Series on BRAVO. I enjoy the drama especially since I don't work outside the home, it is the only time I get the outrageous drama (which is really a blessing, believe me, I know that). So, I digress, what you really need to know is I am a huge fan of Bethenny Frankel. I really like her and her sense of humor. She has a new show called Bethenny Getting Married? and I was inspired to make her a card. So, without further ado...

What do you think? I colored the image with my new Bic markers. I added Glossy Accents to the heart and black Stickles to the belt on the dress.

Busy Start to the Summer

Well, I have been off and on with my blog since the beginning of June. I haven't had as much time to post as I would like but I have been stalking all of my favorite blogs.

I'm the type of gal that likes to explore different aspects of a hobby and that is the same with papercrafting. Right now I'm a little obsessed with Digi Stamps and coloring images. I don't have any Copics but I do have some SU! markers and a set of Bic Markers that I'm using.

I have a card in mind that I want to make with a pirate theme so I began my search for a crazy pirate chick. After much stalking and searching (and a little help from my friends) I found a great stamp that I ordered from All That Scraps - The Kraftin Kimmie Alicia the Strawberry Pirate which you can see HERE. Now this is not a Digi but that's OK - this stamp is an unmounted grey rubber stamp and I can hardly wait to use it! Now I just have to get some EZ mount foam...

When I was in search of my crazy lil pirate chick I enlisted the help of two amazing bloggers that I love - Nicole and Marlene. Go right now and check out their blogs which are fantastic!!!

Nicole is the Canadian Nickel and super talented! I've fallen in love with the Digi's she uses from Tiddly Inks. You can visit her HERE

Marlene is 'Disguised as a Grownup' and pee your pants funny, especially if you like snarky and sarcastic (which I do). Visit her HERE

OK go off - be inspired and creative and I will have some pictures and hopefully a video for you shortly!!

Alison

I received a Blog Award!

I'm so excited! I received this blog award from Carri at DoubleClick Connections and like her, I received this Sunshine Award a few months ago from Momo. At the time, I was very new to blogging and didn't know what it meant. Now that I do, I am super excited and flattered. Visit Carri's cute blog HERE and Momo's outstanding blog HERE

I am awarding five bloggers this sunshine award and would enjoy it if they would give five other bloggers this award.

Janis at http://pausedreamenjoy.blogspot.com/

Lisa at http://bylisac.blogspot.com/

Gigi at http://thecricutbug.blogspot.com/

Stephanie at http://lovetocreatecards.blogspot.com/

Jessica at http://scrapobsesswithjess.blogspot.com/

Check out each of these blogs for fun ideas and creativity, you won't be sorry!! :)

Alison

OK so I'm Back!

I have been missing in action all week. Since the kids are out of school we have begun our jam packed summer break. We went to a semi local amusement park Thursday, a wedding last night, a four hour church membership class this morning and a Graduation Open House this afternoon.
Since I've been home, I've tried to get caught up on my bloggy friends. I was able to enjoy Momo's June Bug Blog Hop! You should check it out HERE it is a bunch of fun.

Hope you are all able to craft and have fun this weekend.

Alison

A Beautiful Thank You Card

I won a giveaway!!

OMG I am so, so excited! I won a cart giveaway from Meighen's blog!! I have never won anything before so I am totally geeked!!! I won the Very Merry Tags seasonal cart. YIPPEE! Can you tell that I am super excited?! LOL



Check out Meighen's blog (so cute and she's super talented) HERE

Also her YouTube is Meighen21. Go check her out!!

Super Geeked,
Alison

My Entry for Momo's Tuesday Challenge

Here is a picture and a video of the card I made for Momo's Tuesday Challenge which was a color combo challenge. I planned this card out before I put it together which is something I rarely do. Usually I just throw everything together after I cut something out with my Cricut.

Leave me a comment and tell me what you think. TFL!

Alison

Card for Jayme

I don't know Jayme but I ran across Lisa's blog http://www.bylisac.blogspot.com/ by way of http://www.canadiannickelscrapn.blogspot.com/ and she is doing a wonderful RAK for her sister who has terminal lung cancer. Lisa requested all of her card making friends create a card with a frog image to make her sister smile. (No get well sentiments, please).

I used my froggy and lily pad from CAC and had so much fun making this card! I used stickles on the pink cheeks and the little froggy eyes. I inked around the frog and the pp with my old olive classic ink pad. I printed the sentiment on the computer and punched it out with my SU! scallop oval. The frog is cut at 3 1/2 and the lily pad is cut at 2 3/4 (I think). My card is pretty similar to Canadian Nickel's card b/c I really liked hers and did not have anything else that was froggy.

If you would like to participate just go to Lisa's blog for the info. This was a lot of fun for me and I'm sure you would enjoy it too!

Alison

My Latest Project

Here is a video of a few things I have been working on. Leave me a comment, I love to read them!

Enjoy,
Alison

Birthday Card

Here is a birthday card I made using some of my new pp from my swap partner, Carri. I just did this card quickly while my baby was napping.

Enjoy!

If you don't have something nice to say, Just say 'Satchels of Gold'

Well, this post comes to you from a melancholy, contemplative, acknowledged TV addict. Two of my favorite shows are ending....LOST and Law & Order. I understand why they are both ending, I do, really. I haven't watched the series finale of LOST yet, of which I have been a loyal fan since the beginning. I'm nothing if not unfailingly loyal. I haven't decided if I will record and watch Law & Order later or watch it in real time.

I'm pretty bummed about the way L&O is ending. I just keep telling myself it will be going out the same way it started, unassuming and 'real' with no closure, alot like life, really. If there is one thing I've learned in the last decade it is this...Life goes on. No matter if your grieving, ecstatic, loyal or in my case, melancholy. So, that will be the way L&O goes out.

Now, I'm left wondering, what will temper my summer TV addictions. I watch all of the Real Housewives and plan on watching Bethenny's new series. I'm going to need something gritty and procedural to temper these reality shows that are my 'guilty pleasure'. I just thought of a show that will help with that this summer...The Closer.

Right now I'm obsessed with the song Home by Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros.The more I listen to it the more I like it. It makes me feel happy so I think I will play it continuously to help with my TV sadness.

**For those of you that don't watch Real Housewives of NY, the title of this post refers to a quote from the latest episode of that show. It's completely out of the blue and hilarious. **

Please leave me a comment, I love to read them! Especially if you are bummed by the farewell of two of television's iconic series'.

Patriotic Card

I made this card and plan on making several more. I am going to mail this card to a friend of mine that has served two tours in Iraq, she is a remarkable person! My husband was in the Army before we met and got married. I am tremendously grateful for the sacrifices our troops have made so I can live in a free country!!

I found this stamp today at HL for $8.99. I went looking for a Patriotic stamp, I love the SU! stamp set featuring the soldier bowing his head but knew I wouldn't be able to order it and get it in the mail very quickly. SU! is quick but not that quick...

Hope you enjoy this simple card.

TFL!

Hedgehog Card

So I used my hedgehog I cut this afternoon on a birthday card. Here is the video for the card.

Enjoy! TFL!

Hedgehogs and Dinosaurs...

Right now I'm working on some cuts from CAC (surprise). Here are some pics. CUTE!

Alison

New Video on YouTube

I posted a new video on YouTube showing a couple of cards I made with CAC to use up some old patterned paper I have. My Channel name is ScrappinAli1. Leave me some comments, I really appreciate them!

Alison

Tuesday Challenge

Here is my card for Momo's Tuesday Challenge due by May 18th. It is from the Create A Critter cart cut at 3 inches. The phrase is cut at 1 1/2 i think. I added Stickles to the inside of her ears and her little bow tie.

TFL!

Alison

My first swap!

I joined a swap over at Momo's blog for 10 cricut cuts and it has been so much fun! Here is a video showing the cuts I did for my partner Carri.

The card is very simple and it is for my daughter to take to a birthday party on Saturday. Hope you enjoy.

TFL!
Alison

I'm finally back!

I've been so sick with a temperature and sore throat all week!! I got sick on Sunday (Mother's Day, wouldn't you know it) and today is the first day I've felt half way decent.

My Mother's Day gift was.....drumroll....the Create A Critter cart!! Woohoo!!! I'm so excited. I got it in the mail on Saturday but I've been so sick I haven't worked with it at all but that is about to CHANGE. I'm gonna wear it out this weekend. Lol.

I also joined the swap that Momo is hosting and I'm excited about that. The swap is for Cricut cuts so I thought that would be really cute and fun to participate in.

I've gotta go so I can get caught up on all my friends YouTube videos. I've missed all of them this week...I'll probably be up late into the night...Oh well at least it's Friday!

Alison

Today is an important day at my house!

Today is my stepson's 15th birthday!! It is very hard to believe he has grown up so quickly! He had just turned six when I met his Dad and was eight when we got married. He is such an amazing person. I do enjoy watching him grow up though it is a little bittersweet. Also, he is getting his braces removed today, can't wait to see his new smile!

My youngest daughter is nine months old today too! I told you it was a big day at my house LOL. I've been home with her since she was born and I think the last nine months have FLOWN by. It didn't seem to go so quickly with my 3 1/2 yo. That seems funny to me because I went back to work when she was three months old. You would think it would have gone by faster...

I'm very excited because last night I got to order my Mother's Day gift! Guess what I ordered....drumroll....Create A Critter cart. I ordered from MemoryMiser.com and the cart was 39.99 with free shipping!! I'm so excited!! You should check out the website if you are interested in ordering any Cricut carts. They are VERY reasonable and offer free shipping with any order over $34.99 (Cont US).

OK it is off to bake cupcakes for our birthday celebration!!

Alison

Momo's NSD Challenge

Here is a card I made for my Dad, it is one of the few masculine cards I've made. I really like these owls. The owl is cut out from the Storybook cart and the paper is a 12x12 piece of Kaiser Craft I picked up from Archiver's. It is the same piece of paper using the designs from the front and back. I still have enough left over to use on a scrapbook page or another card.

TFL!

Alison

I started this card last night and was able to finish it this morning. I really like the way it turned out. It reminds me of the 'country charm' or the 'primitive' design style. I think I will give this to Nanny (my grandmother). She likes this design style and I will be seeing her this Saturday for a girl's day. I'm very excited about that!! Hope you enjoy.

TFL!

Alison

MPS Challenge #4

I bought the From My Kitchen cart about two months ago and I really like this cart but haven't used it except one time. I cut this cupcake (Pg 61) at 3 1/2 inches and used my Xyron to add glitter to the cherry (a technique I learned from Momo). It was a fun card to make! Hope you like it and thanks for looking. I love to read your comments!!

Alison

MPS Challenge #1

I made this card with my mother in mind because she is such a great seamstress. She made alot of our clothes growing up and now makes my kids clothes. That comes in very handy! This pp is from the Cosmo Cricket Material Girl 6x6 stack. Oh and I found some hemp at Meijer (couldn't make it to Walmart) and really like it! Thanks for the ideas Mary and Momo!! :)

MPS Challenge #2 - Getting Scrappy

Here is my entry for the MPS Challenge #2. The pears are cut at 1 1/2 from the Serenade cart and the letters are cut from the Opposites Attract cart.

TFL!

Alison

Flamingo Card

HI everyone and Happy NSD! I created this card pretty quickly for Robyn's challenge over at http://www.mypinkstamper.com/ This is my entry for challenge #12. I cut these flamingoes at 3 1/2 inches (the image on the left is with the flip feature). Serenade cart was used (of course).

I haven't been able to do much by way of creating today b/c my BFF drove up to see me and my family. We've been BFFs since tenth grade and let me tell ya, it was soooo good to see her and catch up. I have the most amazing, beautiful BFF!! She looks great too. She has lost 42 lbs since October...woohoo! Now it's my turn to lose some weight, I would like to drop about 20 lbs.

You should check out Mary's blog http://www.cardztv.blogspot.com/ and Momo's blog http://www.madebymomo.blogspot.com/ for some fun activities and inspiration. I want to get some hemp from Walmart to try out too.

I hope you all had a great day and if you were able to create and craft then good for you!

Alison

Perfect Pear

This is a card I created last night that really kicked my butt! I picked out all my colors first. Then I cut the pears from the Serenade cart (surprise). For the life of me I could not put it together. I had all the elements I wanted but it just wasn't flowing. Originally I cut the phrase out of a different pattern but they looked too busy with the AC pear pp so I went with a less busy green pp for the phrase. Eventually, I had to walk away from it b/c I was getting so frustrated! Does that ever happen to you?

So, I looked at this card again this afternoon and was able to look at it with a fresh eye. This is what I came up with. What do you think?

I'm so excited to read your comments and now I have a few more followers. Thanks to all who are following me and commenting! I haven't figured out how to reply but I appreciate your comments so much!!

So excited about tomorrow! My BFF is coming to visit in the morning then all afternoon I am going to craft. Woohoo!! I'm sure my room will be a mess by the time the weekend is over.

Enjoy!

Alison

My first video!!!

I'm being very brave and posting a video on my messy scrap room. Just so you know, my daughter says "Mama!" I can't lay down!" I asked her to lay on the couch and watch Tinkerbell in lieu of going upstairs to her bed and taking a nap. Enjoy and let me know what you think of my first video.

Love to read your comments!!!

A great big thanks to Momo for putting my blog on hers. I've got some followers and comments and it's just the best feeling in the world! I really loooove reading your comments. It totally makes my day.

I have only been a SAHM since August when my second daughter was born. After my oldest daughter was born I was off work for three months, then went back to my job as a banker. My pregnancy with my second daughter was very challenging for me physically. I started having pain and contractions around 32 weeks then was put on bedrest the first day of July '09. Bedrest is one of the most difficult things I've lived through (physically). It is so stinkin' boring, you can only read so much, watch so much tv, etc. I hadn't found Robyn (my pink stamper) or anything like that yet. If I had, boy, the time would have passed much quicker. My daughter was born Aug 6th when I was 38wks along. She is a wonderful baby and I would definitely go through it all again to have her and let me tell ya, that's saying something. Haha.

Anyway, since being home with my girls, I've had a hard time adjusting to a more domestic life. I can't fathom how I got anything done when I was working full time and being a mommy. There is always something to do. A great friend did warn me that the second child changes things. Totally true! Change is good though, right.

So, this is a long, long post, huh!! I might have to give a prize to anyone that gets all the way through it...LOL. The blogosphere gives me some socialization which I totally need and miss from the work place.

Please continue to comment, it really does mean alot to me!! :)

I decided to take the plunge and record a video of my messy scrap room. It gets so messy when I'm creating. Is that how it is for you all? My camera is old especially by today's standards. I got it for Christmas '06. That's pretty old! It's a Kodak and it gets the job done for now. The video is going to show you my messy craft room then I will record another video of my clean scrap room. I have to wait until my husband gets home to help me a little with some of my uploading issues etc.

I can be pretty tech savvy but I do need some assistance and he's a computer geek so that's helpful. I'm very blessed with my family and friends!

Alison

Three Trees Card

Not sure how I feel about this card. I cut these trees out at 2 1/2 inches from the Serenade cart a few days ago and couldn't figure out how I wanted to use them. I really like this piece of tree paper from American Crafts Blue Skies. I had to go to SCS to get some inspiration from a card sketch. I cut the tags from the Celebrations cart at 3 inches. I wanted this sentiment to relay a 'thinking of you' type message. As you can see my sentiment is CROOKED. Oh well, contrary to popular belief, I'm not perfect...hahaha. You can't tell from the pic but the first and third tree are popped up.

Well, I guess it's off to bed I go. Big day for me and the girls tomorrow, well not really but morning is fast approaching. Off to dream about various Cricut cuts :)

Alison

Jump on the train...

Here is a toy we have that reminds me of the adorable circus train card Momo made a few days ago. Check out her blog (under blogs I follow on the right side) and her You Tube channel (madebymomo). She's just so much fun to watch and she is sooo sweet!! Actually, all of the blogs I follow are led by very talented and very nice people!! Check 'em out and I'm sure you will enjoy and be inspired.

Alison

This is the first time I've made a 'business' size card. It was inspired by Momo's circus train card that is sooo cute. I used the Serenade cart to cut the butterflies. I'm really hooked on this cart and this hello stamp from the SU! hello again set. I tried to get the illusion of movement with the butterflies, hopefully I achieved that. Hope you like it and thanks for looking!

Alison

Made by Momo's 1st Challenge

First, let me tell you, I looove watching Momo's videos. I stumbled across her YouTube channel looking at someone else's channel. I checked her out because she goes by Momo which is kinda unusual and it's what my kids call my mother in law. Momo is so inspiring, fun to watch and funny. She has inspired me to save up and buy the Create a Critter cart.

I whipped this card up pretty quickly and wanted to use my stamp 'I'd go out on a limb for you' but lo and behold I can not find it anywhere!! DH and I looked through my entire scrap room. You all know how time consuming that can be, especially considering this is a rubber cling stamp about the size of a half dollar!!

Momo's first challenge was to create a card using an animal. I decided to use my Cricut and my Serenade cart which I'm in love with right now. I have used this bird cut a few times and really like it. Well, since I couldn't find my adorable 'limb' stamp I decided to use a simple 'hello' stamp which I really like too. It is from the SU! set called Hello Again.

TFL!

Alison

Here is a card I made this afternoon. I really wanted to use this cling stamp by Stampendous and so I found this cute bird and branch on my Serenade cartridge. This card just came together really well, IMHO. Most of the cards I make I just think are OK but this card I really like.

Card for SC275 Challenge

This is a first for me, posting a card and participating in a challenge. We'll see if I can figure out how to post this to the gallery over on Splitcoast Stampers...

I've been so busy lately and haven't blogged at all. It is still very new for me to update my personal blog. Everyday I check my favorite blogs and You Tube videos and I have so much fun keeping up with them!

Last week was our Spring Break and we had great weather. The girls and I played outside and did some Easter activities. We colored eggs, well, I colored eggs and the girls kinda watched. We colored with sidewalk chalk and enjoyed each other.

I've been having problems with my Meniere's (an inner ear disease that causes extreme vertigo) and have been bedridden about three times in the last seven days. I am scheduled to get a shot in my eardrum on Thursday. Hopefully that will help. I'm anxious to get that over with and on the road to recovery. I loathe being bedridden and completely dependent on others to take care of my family.

TTFN!

Listen to Mellow

Getting ready to go work on cleaning and organizing my scrap room. I was going to wait until Maisie went to sleep but it seems she might not...I don't know, I might be distracting her by 'playing' on the computer. She will be going to sleep late and probably won't go to sleep very easily tonight.

One of the most exhausting things about parenting a Pre K child is getting them to bed and to sleep. It seems lately it is such a struggle for Mae and I'm not sure why. I don't think she is to the point of no longer needing a nap because she is so grouchy and whiney if she doesn't get it. It's very frustrating at times.

Going downstairs, hopefully the kids will nap...ttfn

Right now Maisie and I are listening to my 'High Energy' playlist. I just gave her a bath and she is dancing around naked as a jaybird, well she has her apron on. I need to go downstairs and make her a peanut butter & jelly sandwich for lunch.