Butterflies...

A friend wanted me to make her a frame for her grand daughter. She wanted it to be "girly". Well this is FUN for me. Especially since I have two boys - and they would certainly not appreciate it if I made them something girly! I had picked out some paper, and was all set to go. But then I "accidentally" found this paper! My mom had to run to our local scrapbook store - and I went a long for the ride. Didn't need anything - but of course I had to look around. That is when I found this paper. Fell in love with it right away and knew that it would be perfect! The frame came out sooooo cute! So good in fact, that she ordered two more for Mother's Day presents! Woo Hoo!

I loved the paper so much I went back and bought some more. I had this little box that I have had a while... and just didn't know what I wanted to do with it. Well - now I know! I cut out extra butterflies and "popped" them up. What fun!
Until next time...

We are like butterflies who flutter for a day and think it is forever.
-- Carl Sagan

Winter Formal

Ryan and his friends all went to the high school's Winter Formal. They all had a blast - of course! There were several friends that went together.
The guys are all being funny!
What?!?! Texting, texting, texting! Does that not crack you up?

January Stamp Camp

Tonight was Stamp Camp. My good friend Jeanne Ciolli creates the projects, and then about 14 people came over and we stamped, laughed, ate, stamped and laughed some more! These are the cards that we stamped. We made 2 of each card. Aren't they the cutest cards!? We have so much fun. We have been doing monthly stamp camps, believe it or not, for like 4 years!! I am lucky that Mal doesn't mind a whole bunch of women coming over and taking over the downstairs once a month. :o)

Jeanne is amazing. She always comes up with the best projects for us all to do. It is our creative little get together! Check out her blog to see some other projects!!


Tomorrow is Sunday - and for once I don't have anything going on! And I have Monday off, too! I am hoping to play in my craft room. I have the scrapping bug big time! I have several little projects that need to be finished. I have several shows that I have taped and need to watch. And supposedly rain is coming to our area. I want it to rain... rain... rain. I want a super rainy, cool weekend.

So, cross your fingers for rain for me!!
:o) Until next time....

Michaels Contest

Michaels is having a contest called "Handmade Holidays". You are supposed to make something (gift, holiday decoration, etc) for under $20.00. So, I decided what the heck!! I entered a Disney frame. So, now people can go in and vote! If you get a chance - go check it out.

http://www.michaelscontest.com/uploads/3101

This is the frame that I entered. If you get a chance, check out some of the things in the gallery. There are some great ideas there!

Blanket Day!

I know that it has been quite some time since I posted. I would love to tell you some great story about traveling around the world... but alas... I have just been SO busy! I mean, seriously busy! I have to say... I am really looking forward to the Christmas break!

This past weekend we had "Blanket Day". Several friends wanted to make blanets, so we all bought material and met up for the day. It was the PERFECT day! It was cold and rainy! (YIPPEE) A perfect day for making nice, soft, warm blankets, don't you think?? WE had hot sausage soup for lunch - and pizza for dinner. We made a total of 16 blankets!! Here are some pictures from our blanket adventure!
We had 2 tables set up. Everyone took turns cutting, tying, working at this table, working at that table, etc., etc.

Here is a picture of all the blanets we made!!

Ahhhhhh! So cozy!!
:o)

Home Coming Dance

Ryan went to his first dance... his High School's Home Coming Dance. He went two of his other friends (Kyle and Liz) and their dates. They met up with lots of other friends at the dance. Ryan said that they had a blast! And he was even a dancing fool! I think I only went to one dance, in junior high. And all the guys were lined up on one wall and all the girls on the other. No one would dance! Now-a-days, everyone is decked to the nines... and everyone dances! What fun!!

Doesn't Ryan look awesome!?!
Ryan and his date Alaine.

Ryan's best friend, Kyle, and his date.

The three couples... They all looked so handsome/beautiful... Ahhhhh...

I am so glad that they all had fun. It is so much fun to see Ryan enjoy life. I love that he loves to have fun. He has the best smile... and the best personality. He is such a charmer! I am so proud of him.

Snowflakes and butterflies

As usual, life seems to be cracnked up a knotch or two lately. This week is no different! Of course, if it the kids activities that seem to have us running! Taekwondo Monday and Tuesday. Back to School nights for each school, Wed and Thursday. Friday is Taekwondo testing. Trevor is testing for his brown belt. Ryan has doctor's appointment on Friday. Then Monday we start all over again... and get to add the orthodontist appt! Does it ever end?!?

Little by little I have been working on the butterflies and snowflakes for my friend Deborah's Christmas tree. She is part of the Mother Goose Guild. They do this fundraiser for CHOC (Children's Hospital of Orange County). Her theme this year is butterflies and snowflakes. These were all chipboard. With a little paint, patterned paper, die cuts, glue and glitter... the butterflies took flight! They are coming out so nice!

Skull Candy

No - I am not talking about head sets! hehehe I was given some digital graphics. I have to tell you - I am not too good at the digital thing. I do get it! I have played with some digital graphics, etc. And it can even be tempting sometimes... But I walk in my craft room - that is FULL of paper, scrapping and stamping supplies, die cut machines, cutters, dies, etc., etc., etc. And I think - what would I ever do with all this stuff?!? But I think there is room for digital and traditional! This week I was asked to be a guest designer for Stamp, Scrap & Doodle Saturdays. The skull below was one of the graphics I received. So, I created a little skull candy!

Snowflakes

Hi everyone,

I know that it has been a little while since I last posted. I have been busy - just like all of you - with the end of summer stuff... school shopping, school paper work, back to school, school supplies, etc., etc. But alas... the kids are in their 2nd week of school and are starting to fall into that all too familiar school routine. I, too, am hoping to get back in to that "normal" routine. Although, I ask.... what exactly is the normal routine?

A friend of mine, Deborah, is part of the Mother Goose Guild. Every year they decorate Christmas trees and they are auctioned off to raise money for CHOC (Children's Hospital of Orange County). This will be Deborah's 20th year decorating a tree. This year, I am lucky enough to be able to help her make some decorations. Her theme this year is butterflies and snowflakes. Here are some of the snowflakes. Each of these are about 5". The original piece is just plain ol' chipboard. Each was decorated with paint, patterned paper, and glitter. Each side is different.

The snowflakes below are smaller. They came in little packs of 3 chipboard snoflakes, the biggest one was about 3", with each one smaller. I decorated each one then layered and popped each layer up! They came out so nice!! now I want to make some for my tree!

I will try to post the butterflies I have done later on... They are looking pretty cool, too!
:o) Erin

Long Beach, CA (Shoreline Village)

Last Friday we packed up and headed down to the boat in Long Beach. Mal had some work he wanted to do. We met him down there... brought steak, etc., for BBQ... and just hung out. The weather was absolutely amazing!! It was perfect. It even got a little chilly in the evening - which was awesome since it has been so dang hot lately!

So - a few pictures that I took... Here is a view from the shore.

Trevor brought his friend Kevin. We went walking around Shoreline Village. The jazz festival was setting up and started later that night.


The sunset was so pretty... and taking pictures at that time of day is so much fun! This is a picture of Trevor....
and a picture of Ryan... Love the silhouettes!
We all had a great time!
:o) Erin