Friendship Layout and Rub-ons for $1.00

Another quick layout. The picture is of some of my closest friends from the Apples of Gold Bible study and mentoring group. I used DCWV papers, sei chipboard tag, American Crafts rub-on alphabet letters, and the large "friendship" rub-ons, quote, flowers, and swirls are from a package of Karen Foster rub-ons. You can find the Karen Foster Rub-ons for just $1 at http://qbaroo.com/dollarscrapbooking/

Bubbles Everywhere

Yesterday, I went scrappin' shopping with my MIL, SIL, niece, and friend Carrie. It was a really, really wonderful day. We went to Frederick and found the coolest LSS named Scrapbooks-n-More. They had innovative and creative products that I hadn't seen before and an awesome clearance room! I purchased one more bottle of Stickles, some wonderful safari inspired papers and stickers, transparent self-adhesive letters, and the paper and rub-ons I used to make this layout. The paper and rub-ons are from a company called Scrapping Sports and More. The have these entire Young & Active in the Backyard and Young & Active on the Playground lines that are so adorable. You can check out both lines here: http://www.mousememories.com/Young-Active-Backyard-Collection_1114.aspx
Since I had this picture of Jace blowing bubbles, I couldn't resist. The rub ons were extremely easy to use and coordinated perfectly with the paper. I'm very pleased with the final layout. I also used Making Memories rub-ons for his name and the date. I also used my Curvy Cutter for the first time. It is extremely easy to use and made this layout a cinch.

Some More Cards Made From Scraps

Nothing exciting, elaborate, or clever - just basic cards. I've found that I've went back to making very simple, simple cards. (1) I get a lot more accomplished, and (2) It leaves more time for my first true love - scrapbooking. I hope to have some scrapbook pages finished before the weekend is over and I'll post pics of those as well.This last picture is a group of little gift cards that I made using scraps, brads, primas, and stickles. They literally took about three minutes.

Wanna Win Some Scrappin' Goodies?

Leave a comment on this blog -

http://laura-griffin.com/blog/2007/12/28/blog-candy/#comment-5078

Good luck!

I'm In Love With My New Punch

This new corner punch from EK Success has probably been around for years, but I just got one for Christmas and I'm having a ton of fun with it. Here are a couple of cards that I made with it last night. I'm off from work all week so I hope to get many, many cards finished this week, so keep checking out my blog if you like looking. I'm going back to my very simple card making ways and using up lots of scraps, so don't expect anything elaborate.

A Shopping Spree at Crafts2000!

My hubby gave me a shopping spree at Crafts2000 for Christmas. He literally said, "Pick out whatever you want." Then, I went crazy! Check out my loot ~
I picked out two clear stamp set, two rubber stamp sets, a new punch, scallop scissors, seventeen bottles of Stickles, an embellishment tote, ten rolls of adhesive, and the CurvyCutter. Woo Hoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Everything about my Christmas wasn't merry and bright, but this shopping spree did cheer me up and I love Brian for being so generous and sweet.

Details Re: January HappyScrapper Meeting

Hello, Friends!

I hope everyone is enjoying these last few days before Christmas. Although I know this is a very busy time, I still wanted to send everyone the date for our first HappyScrapper meeting for the year 2008.

By the way, next month's meeting will mark HappyScrappers' Second Anniversary. In honor of our anniversary, we are going to repeat our very first theme, "WINTER." A winter theme can include snowman, snowflakes, sledding, skiing, mittens, gloves, blue, silver, white,and so on. Our main dish will be pizza (baked in the oven). Please bring a snack to share, a small door prize, and your scrappin' supplies.

We are going to have a card contest to celebrate our anniversary as well. You may enter one card per category. Have fun! The categories are:

- Winter Card
- Anniversary Card
- All Blue Card (you may add the neutrals of white, black, gold, and/or silver)
- Card for a child
- Card that DOES NOT use a rubber stamp
- Card using decorative edge scissors
- WILD CARD CATEGORY - Anything goes!

I hope everyone will bring cards for the contest. The last time we did this, it was a huge success.

If you would like to teach a technique or show off a project at our next meeting, please let me know. We all love to learn from each other.

JANUARY 12th is the date of our next meeting! Please RSVP no later that January 5th. This is very important. It helps me plan the food, tables, chairs, and goody bags. You may RSVP by sending me an email or giving me a call. The first to RSVP will win a prize!

I love you all and hope that you have a blessed Christmas holiday.

On My Christmas List . . . . . . .

What's on my Christmas list this year?

1. Safe travels for Brian and I and all of our friends and family that will be traveling.
2. A peaceful and joyous celebration with family
3. Stickles
4. A Stampin Up Ticket Punch
5. Ornaments for my big tree

Baby Cameron Has Arrived

For those of you that know Veronica, I wanted to pass along this most exciting news. Baby Cameron has arrived! He weighs seven pounds, three inches, and looks just like his Dad. The delivery and labor went wonderfully and everyone is happy and healthy.

HappyScrappers - Save the Date!

This post is for the current members of HappyScrappers. Our January meeting date is scheduled for Saturday, January 12th, from 10 a.m. until whenever. I haven't thought of a theme yet. If anyone has any ideas, let me know. Please RSVP no later than January 5th, 2007. We will be having pizza as the main dish.

Greetings, From Charleston!

I'm currently sitting in the Business Center of the Charleston Embassy Suites. I'm here for a conference at the Civic Center. This hotel is so incredibly nice. Although I will be working, it's still going to feel like a mini vacation.

I stopped on the way down here to visit my college roommate and friend, Tracy and her family. Once I'm home, I'll post pictures. I really enjoyed playing with her kids. We played with Little People, had a tea party, constructed towers from Legos, and of course played with Strawberry Shortcake dolls. We colored, made an imaginary raft, and played with temporary tatoos. Tracy calls the kids monsters, but they are seriously some of the best behaved kids I know. I contribute this to the fact that Tracy and her husband Kyle are amazing parents that are teaching them respect and right vs. wrong, raising them in the church, and generally living a good, clean life. I wish Addie would come spend an entire week with me in the summer, but she isn't ready to leave her mom for that long just yet. One day.

Now that I'm here in Charleston, I'm not quite sure what to do with myself, to be honest. I'm so used to doing, doing, doing, that it's hard to just relax in the room. I know if I put on my jammies and found a great Lifetime Movie Network film, I would probably fall into some much needed sleep within minutes. However, the big mall is calling to me with it's candy shop, book store, and West Virginia specialty shop. They have a fitness center here in the hotel. The treadmill is calling my name, but I am pretending not to hear. :)

I miss Brian very much. I'm sure he has been watching archery videos and The Outdoor Channel 24 hours a day since I went on my road trip. The thermostat is probably down to 50 degrees and I imagine that he has been eating McDonald double cheeseburgers for dinner every night. He misses me, too - but he can't deny that he loves being able to watch several hours of uniterrupted hunting videos every night. Men. They are so funny. I have the best one, though.

Don't forget to say your prayers ~ The Lord hears them all - big and small.

Top Ten Best Selling Books of All Time

This is just some useless information. I tend to fill my brain with trivia all of the time. It's as if I expect Regis to show up in my living room at any time asking me questions worth one million dollars.

Anyhoo - the list:

10. In His Steps: What Would Jesus Do?
9. Valley of the Dolls
8. The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care
7. The World Almanac
6. A Message to Garcia
5. The McGuffey Readers
4. The Guinness Book of Records
3. American Spelling Book
2. Quotations From the Works of Mao Tse-tung
1. The Bible

A Season of Thanks

I have so much to be thankful for. The Lord continues to bless my life with precious experiences, people, and opportunities.

This Thanksgiving, I'm most grateful for:

1. My husband, Brian, and our marriage. I fall more and more in love with him everyday. When I don't think it's possible to love him even more, God reveals to me something else about him that is endearing. Brian is my best friend.

2. My mom. She's always there for me when I need advice or just someone to listen. She gets me - really gets me. She understands that when I am having one of my emotional meltdowns that it is best to walk away and leave me alone for a bit. She understands that I cry easily and that I wear my heart on my sleeve and she's never made me feel bad about being that way. My mom has always been my biggest cheerleader. She's always believed in me and my goals.

3. My other family members. No family is perfect - mine is no exception. We have our fair share of dysfunction. However, I'm grateful to have a family. I know people who don't have any family at all and might be celebrating Thanksgiving all alone.

4. Last, but certainly not least, I'm thankful for my friends. I have some incredibly wonderful friends that I know I could call any time day or night and they would be there for me.

Take some time to thank God this Thanksgiving...... not only for the turkey, but for all of the non material joys in your life that can't be bought.

Quick and Easy Treat Bags

I used to get very particular with the papercrafts I was working on. I was very hung up on what everyone else might think about the way they looked. Then, I had a "light bulb moment" and decided to just do what makes me happy. These little treat bags weren't complicated and didn't take six hours or 40 different supplies. They took only a few basic supplies and about 15 minutes.

My SSC Ornament Collection

In my opinion, the ornaments are some of the most difficult items to display. If you leave them in the boxes, they take up a tremendous amount of space. However, if you take them out of the boxes, the majority will not stand on their own. So, I deboxed them (but saved the boxes of course) and asked Brian to hang this wrought iron holder for me. He suspended the entire thing from the celing and even put the ornments on it for me. He's such a loving husband. I don't know too many men that would spend a half hour of their life doing such a thing. He really didn't want me to take his picture because he said, "It's not gonna look manly at all." I couldn't resist.

It's Not Just Another Day

Veterans Day.

It's a special day. A day that remembers not only the signing of the Armistice, but it's also a day that Americans should take time to honor and remember the heroes that sacrificed their lives in order to protect our freedoms. It's also a time to remember those currently on active duty.

Whether I agree with President Bush or his Congress and the decisions they've made regarding the war in Iraq, I do support our troops. I pray for them and their families. I pray that the situation will be resolved quickly and that they will come home safe.

Would you like to send a care package to some troops? I have done so, with the help of a website that allows you to search for a unit based on branch, area, etc. Just go to www.anysoldier.com and look for details. Most of the items that the troops request are very easy to find here. Again, we take so much for granted.

So, as you get the day off from school or work tomorrow, tell a veteran thank you. Remember the true meaning of this national holiday. And pray.

The Perfect Way to Spend a Cold, Rainy Saturday in November

1. Don't shower. You aren't going anywhere. Who cares if you stink.
2. Play Christmas music. Loud.
3. Make hot chocolate. Add an insane amount of marshmallows.
4. Vow to not answer the phone today.
5. Wrap Christmas gifts.
6. Shop on Ebay.
7. Eat Candy.
8. Don't answer the doorbell when it rings. (Refer to #1)
9. Read something just for fun.
10. Pray that you'll be more productive tomorrow.

Oh....My.....Golly!

I cried today when I opened my mail - but in a good way. They are happy tears, no doubt. My Secret Berrykin has already managed to go far beyond any expectation I could have possibly held. I received the following artwork (original hand drawing) and a CD of the signature pic of Nachokins and her pet, Tortilla. Nachokins is my nickname in the Strawberry Shortcake collecting community and so it's very personal and special to me. This generous gift also included a turtle in the drawing. The turtle is my favorite animal because it reminds me to stick my neck out for other people. I'm so in awe of this amazing gift! I'm at a loss right now for the right words to say. Everything about this drawing is so perfect and so me. Brian took one look at it today and said, "Hey - that's you!" The artist, Sara, actually made the characters face and hair to look like me -- I'm not sure if that was on purpose or not, but it makes it even more special. I honestly can't think of a gift I've liked more since Brian bought me a Banana Twirl a few years back.

THANK YOU SANTA!

Starting A Faith Book

The thought of creating a Faith Book Scrapbooking Album has intrigued me for some time now. I've been collecting supplies and jotting down ideas for about six months. Today, I finally started. I've decided to do my Faith Book in sort of an illustrated journal style. It won't include many, if any, pictures. Instead, I hope to fill the book with scriptures, memories, stories, and images that tell my faith story. These are pictures of the cover, title page, and first journal page. Once completed, I think this album will be the most personal project I've ever made.

Looking for the HappyScrapper Card Contest?

In order to vote for your favorite card
click on "September" in the links on the right side of this page.
Get your vote in by October 31st!

My Secret Berrykin Rocks!

There are other crazy adult women out there that collect Strawberry Shortcake dolls and merchandise from the 70's and 80's. That's right - I'm not the only one! I belong to an online community of SSC collectors called Strawberryland Town Square. Every year, we have a Secret Berrykin gift exchange for Christmas. This year, my Santa got a real head start on the Christmas season. I received my first berrykin gift this week. Pictured here, it is a vintage SSC and Angel Cake 3-D Glass Picture. I've been wanting this particular picture for about two years now, so this was an exciting gift. I haven't a clue about the identity of my Secret Santa, but I have a feeling that it is someone that knows me well.

Thank you, Santa! You rock!

On a side note, taking a picture of myself was REALLY hard. Also, this photo shoot didn't include any professional makeup or hair artists or any make up at all for that matter. :)

Sometimes.....

.....

Sometimes I wish I didn't live so far from my immediate family and my friend Tracy. I take that back. Instead, I wish I had a private jet and could just fly over to see them in 30 minutes or so, have dinner, and fly back home again.

I love the life that Brian and I have built here together. I wouldn't change a thing. With that said, I wish there was a magical way to see my mom, dad, brother, sister, Aunt Irene, Uncle Don, Tracy, and a million other people that I love more often. It's not the other side of the world, I know, but sometimes it feels like it.

Frustration = Productivity

I came home from work today and was totally frustrated, annoyed, tired, and in a generally stinky mood. So, just to give my mind something else to do, I sat down to make some cards. I cranked out these two cards in like 20 minutes. That is super fast for me! I don't really like the pink and purple one but I love the Sunflower one. I was trying to capture this time of year - the beginning of fall, but with many remnants of summer, too. I embossed the sunflower blue and sponged the edges with a dark green. All of the papers were from my scraps stash. Both of these cards feature Stampin Up stamps - Spotlight and Give Thanks. Now..... who am I going to mail them to?

Playing With My New Word Window Punch

I am in love with the Stampin' Up! Word Window Punch. I used it to create the little tabs that you see in both of these example cards. I punched out the rounded corner shape and then cut it straight on one end. On the rounded end I added a brad. The jeweled Making Memories brads are really nice and come in quite an assortment of colors. You can find them just about anywhere for $2.99 a package. You can also see from the pics that I'm putting my Cuttlebug to good use. There are some new embossing folders for the Cuttlebug, but I can't seem to find them. I have to get my hands on the Paisley one because I can't wait to create some cool cards with it.

Online Shopping for the Bargain Divas

I think I'm going to do a bunch of my shopping via online this year. With so many websites offering shipping discounts or free shipping, the deals are better than ever. I thought I'd share a few links to some good deals I found on Amazon with my fellow Frugal Frannie's out there:

Here and Now Monopoly Game:
http://www.amazon.com/Monopoly-Here-Now-Limited-Edition/dp/B000ETRD9I/ref=pd_ts_t_1/103-8300803-8151858?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games

Stir Fry Pan:

http://www.amazon.com/Pinzon-11-Inch-Stir-Fry/dp/B000G806BY/ref=sr_1_19/103-8300803-8151858?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1192485386&sr=1-19

Mercy Me, The Christmas Sessions CD:
http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Sessions-MercyMe/dp/B000AA304I/ref=sr_1_1/103-8300803-8151858?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1192485716&sr=1-1

What to do with a big 'ole wonkin' stash of scraps?

Here are a couple of cards I made last night while Brian watched football. I've been making so many cards out of my scrap paper and leftover cardstock from scrapbooking projects. I can't bear to throw away any pieces that are larger than 1 inch square. So, suffice to say, I have a big 'ole wonkin' stash of scraps!
By the way, if you haven't already, please scroll down and vote for your favorite card in the HappyScrappers contest.

Yard Sale Violations!

I woke up this morning with my usual Saturday yard sale excitement. After my extremely large Strawberry Shortcake finds last week, I wasn't feeling optimistic about finding any of that sweet girl, but I was hoping to find some resell items for Ebay and maybe some rubber stamps.

What a bust!

I visited about twelve sales today. The first two were in my neighborhood. The first one did have a cute little NWT baby boy outfit that I picked up to donate to the Crisis Pregnancy Center. The second one hit on one of my biggest yard sale pet peeves. Nothing, and I mean nothing was priced. Violation! If I could write Violations and assess fines for such yard sale sins, I would. I did purchase two new SSC books there for 25 cents each. They had several Fisher Price Little People sets that I might have been able to put up on the 'Bay, but alas, no prices and I didn't have time to keep asking. There was also a small child there that kept following me around and annoying me to death. Another Violation! The next nine or so yard sales I visited were overpriced, nonpriced, smelled like smoke and/or cat pee, or were generally full of nothing useful. Violations all over the place!

I Am a Determined Shopper!

My plan is to finish my Christmas shopping before November 27th. Yep, that's going to be my personal goal. Last year, I procrastinated far to much and I found myself wrapping gifts the night before we had to leave for my parents house and then again on Christmas morning. I've already purchased, wrapped, and tagged some things, but I have some shopping left to complete. One holiday tradition that my family has started, and I absolutely ADORE, is the "yard sale Christmas." We give each other items that we picked up at yard sales, auctions, or flea markets. Last Christmas my parents gave me an entire box of vintage SSC goodies. I was thrilled! So, the majority of my shopping is for Brian's family and a few very close friends. I'm hoping to post evidence of my goal achieved, via a posted picture of me and all of the gifts wrapped and tagged on November 27th......less than 60 days away. Oh my!

My Hubby!

He looks ridiculous and cute to me all at the same time. :) (Btw, he doesn't have long hair at all. The grapevine wreath on our front door makes it look that way!)

Please Vote For Your Favorite!

The following are all cards that were completed at the September HappyScrappers meeting. Anyone reading my blog is welcome to vote for your favorite card by simply posting a comment with your vote. The winning card will receive a prize during our October meeting (and bragging rights of course!)













"So Kind"





















"Celebrate the Little One"















"Home Again"
















"Give Thanks Pumpkin"




















"Happy Birthday Flowers"















"Happy Birthday with Lambie from Frannie"

An AWESOME Yard Sale Day!

I found this yard sale completely by accident and I'm so happy that I did. I was driving by the campus of James Rumsey Technical Institute and noticed that there were people and cars everywhere. Then I saw the magic words written on a sign ...... YARD SALE.... I whipped my car around at the next wide spot in the road and found a great parking spot.
As you can see from these photos, there were tons of vendors and shoppers.






























The two pictures above show my favorite finds of the day. On the left, is a Strawberry Shortcake and Apricot tin that I bought for 50 cents. This woman had a table and about ten boxes filled with strawberry themed items. Sadly, her mother, the original collector of all that sweet goodness, passed away in October. This sweet lady was selling what she could bear to part with. She took my name and number just in case she runs across anything else SSC. I thought of my friend Claire while I was shopping this lady's both because she had everything you would need to decorate a strawberry themed kitchen.
On the photo on the right, you see the woman who made my yard-sale huntin' strawberry shortcake lovin' heart skip a beat. The vintage SSC stove/sink combo and refrigerator belonged to her 26 year old daughter when she was younger. She sold me the set for $20!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She was also extremely kind and helpful in helping me take the stove hood off so I could fit it in my taurus. I've decided that I really need a truck for all of this yard sale madness!
I only went to one other sale today and it was also a good one - albeit it not as huge. The first two pictures I posted show everything else that I bought today, with the exception of a Longaberger basket tree that I purchased for $10. I plan to resell the jewelry box and jewelry. Everything else is a keeper.