It's A Blog Hop!

Decided to jump into my first ever Blog Hop! Willow Traders is hosting one this weekend and since I am ever so curious, thought, why not! Here I go!


I haven't scrapped one bit for about three weeks now for one reason or another, but this past week changed all that, thank goodness! This first one is using the Special Edition Basic Grey Lemonade from Scrap This Kit . These papers look just gorgeous in real life and were a perfect fit for my backyard flowers. Particularly fond of the bee on the echinachea flower.


With the week being extremely hot for our area, Butch and Makayla decided to take a dip in the cool pool as we call it. Yes, we turn the temperature in our hot tub down to 90 degrees and its feels sooooo good on a hot summer's day. And those two with super soakers are a danger to be reckoned with - watch out!


And since I was in a purging mode last night, I took my scraps and made several flowers with buttons and cut border edges with the longer pieces for future use. Yes, I've become a VERY frugal scrapper!



This was fun and I hope you enjoyed your visit with me here at Our Crazy Little World. Thanks for dropping by!

Scrap This Kit

Wanted to give a shout out to my friend Tami Taylor, who has started her own kit club. Tami has made her July debut release for her club, Scrap This Kit, with the delicious papers from Basic Grey's Lemonade and June Bug lines:

Main Kit - June Bug


Special Edition Kit - Lemonade


Each kit is loaded with lots of extra goodies and sell for $30 each. Please stop over at Scrap This Kit and check out the other kit add-ons that Tami has available.

Relay For Life

Once again our Relay For Life event is upon us. There are many different reasons I personally relay. I lost my father-in-law to cancer in 2006, my mother, mother-in-law, Butch's Uncle Billy, my brother-n-law Alan, and my daughter are all cancer survivors. I would like see great steps made towards the cure for this terrible disease during my lifetime. We are on the right track, but more research needs to be done.

So far our team has raised $830 working at a golf tournament and we are determined to reach our goal of $1,500. We each set a personal goal of $150 and time is coming up quickly for me to accomplish that. That said, I came up with a creative way, I hope, for a chance to raise my share and repay you for your generosity.

Click here ---> The American Cancer Society <--- and donate $5 or more to any member of my team. (All donations are tax deductible and you will receive a statement immediately for your donation.) I will put you into a drawing for a chance to win a great RAK! It's my way of saying thank you for your time and generosity!

Thanks! Godspeed.....

Summer sweetness from the oven!

With the abundance of fresh fruits showing up in roadside stands and in our grocery stores, I decided it was time to bake! Since apples or peaches aren't ready just yet - no hurry cause summer ends way too soon! - I went ahead and used bing cherries instead. Not your usual staple in a fruit crisp, but the yummy sweetness of this year's crop is just too good to pass up.

Fresh Cherry Crisp
* 1 lb. of cherries
The longest part of this recipe is pitting the cherries. Don't need a pitter, a sharp knife will do! Just cut the cherry in half, twist slightly, one side will come off in your hand, the other will have the pit remain. Cut around the pit and pop it out. Once you have them all finished, pour and spread in a 10x10 baking dish.

* Mix together the following:
1/2 cup quick-cooking oatmeal
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

* Using a pastry cutter, cut in 1/4 cup butter or margarine. The pieces of butter/margarine should be the size of coarse crumbles:


* Spread mixture evenly over the cherries.

* Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes, times may vary depending on your oven.

Doesn't this look scrumptious!!


Top it off with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped topping! Since I'm trying to shed 20 lbs by January, I had to skip that step. =)

ENJOY!! Godspeed.......

Recycling Old Maps

Everybody wants to do their part to recycle and go green nowadays, seems to be the newest fad, and I just hope people really realize how important it is to recycle and reuse as much as humanly possible. I believe that we borrow this land from future generations and we must try our very best to keep it that way. Ok, off my soapbox. =)

Which leads me to the reasoning behind my babble today. I received this portion of an old map in a RAK I won and decided it would make great flowers. I'm sure you already have all these supplies on hand of some sort, so give it a shot. Did four of these in five minutes, from start to finish. =)

Gather your materials:


Scrunch and ink the wrinkles of the map:


Using whatever you have on hand, punch the map from your larger punch and the inner circle from the smaller one:


Scrunch up the inner circle, flatten, and ink the wrinkles as well as the edges of both pieces of the flower:


Layer pieces, top with a button, and stitch in place:


And VIOLA! A darling flower for your layout or cards!


So, the next time you want to discard an old map, think scrapbook materials!! Have a great day! Godspeed

How about another sketch!

Notice how I like lots of photos on a layout? Don't get me wrong, I love the occasional one photo layout, but if its all I ever did, I'd have what looks like a law library in my home! That said, here is another sketch for persons like me. Measurements are included, but can be adjusted to fit your needs. =)


And notice that circle? I just ordered the Sizing Template Jumbo Circle Pattern from Creative Memories and I just love the ease of cutting large circles now! We don't have a CM consultant in this area, so I contacted another scrapper friend at Life Preservers and here is her link if you are interested in retiring your exacto knife: Creative Memories It can be mailed directly to your home! Thanks, Joyce!!

Just a note, this sketch is for your personal use only and not to be used for submissions of any kind. Thank you!

Hope you have a pleasant day! Godspeed

Sketch #3

Took some photos this weekend of my favorite little girl and our dog, Maggie, playing together. Decided that I would use a sketch that I had created a few months back. Here is my Sketch #3:



Just a note, this sketch is for your personal use only and not to be used for submissions of any kind. Thank you!

My mid-life crisis!!

I've always tinkered with the idea of being a redhead ever since Butch mentioned it a few years back. I would pick the stuff up in the store, walk around looking at other things for a bit, and always return it to its rightful spot in the store. Yep, I was a bit on the chicken side, but that's a HUGE change to undertake. You know how life is, you get distracted with other 'stuff' and you let it slide.

I think what has had me thinking about my hair color more and more is the description that some pooh-pooh customer had when she/he complained about something I did/said/didn't give it to them for free ...... who the hell knows! Anyways, that description was "the older lady with the long gray hair and glasses"!! I just about DIED!! WOW! Somebody thinks I should just pull out my cane and forever sit in my rocking chair until my day to meet Our Maker comes!! At least that's what my brain was telling me. I was pissed, and then hurt, and then decided I MUST do something about that. =) Nope, I refuse to let anyone keep this "old lady blah, blah, blah" down for long!

So, alas, I went from this........


..... to this!! Short & sassy!!! Oh, and Butch says to add spicey in there, too!! I love it and think its even put a bounce in my step. =)

It's A GIRL!!

I guess we need to really listen to what the little ones around of us have to say. The only one who had it right was Makayla. She kept telling us the new baby was a girl, but we all insisted it was a boy. She was so stoked when the ultra sound technician announced it was a girl! Her eyes widened and she produced the BIGGEST grin ever on her face! So, now we can get down to the business of painting their room in our home. I told Makayla we needed to wait until we knew, so now that we do, it's PINK thru and thru!! Two tone pink for the walls, pink picture frames, pink boxes for their toys, pink this and pink that! Almost sounds like a Dr. Suess rhyme! =)

Welcome to the family, Ruby Jane, can't wait to meet you!!!

AWESOME RAK!!

Been participating in one of the DT's challenges at Life Preserver's and won this AWESOME RAK from Sandra! OMGosh!! It's just gorgeous and I can't wait to start playing with it. All those pinks and feminine colors must be a sign, as we find out tomorrow the sex of our newest grandbaby!


Thanks again, Sandra!!

Another sketch!

Since I can't really do much right now, I started fussing with a sketch that I can use for my July 4th pics. And what better than to have a 4 pic sketch, with 4"x4" photos for that July 4th layout. Too clever, aren't I!?! Here it is:


I will have my sample layout up on July 5th or 6th. So, if you have time and would like to use my sketch, please do so and link it back here so it can be seen by all those who visit!

Just a note, this sketch is for your personal use only and not to be used for submissions of any kind. Thank you!

Makayla's 4th Birthday!

As I mentioned in an earlier post, my pictures are being held hostage on my media card. I wonder how much I'll have to pay in ransom to get them back? If I can even find someone who can salvage them!

Thankfully, I did print some off this past week and here is one with her pink cowgirl boots and sitting pretty atop one of her favorite horses on the farm:


Can't believe this little one is already 4 and just getting so mature. Isn't there a way to slow down time, just so we can enjoy them a little bit longer in their innocent years? Happy Birthday, Sweetheart!

Oh, the things that happen.....

Well, I'm starting to feel like my ole self again, a bit on the "foggy" side but managing to get myself around just fine. Saturday we got rear ended while sitting at a stoplight and I ended up with an ambulance ride to the ER.

It started out being such a fun day, out to breakfast with the kids before heading off to Makayla's dance recital. She was such a Little Princess and did such a fabulous job. =) Ya know, I'd share some pics with ya, but it seems my media card is refusing to let me have any of them and gives me this nasty card read error! Just thankful other family members have some and they are willing to share!

So after the recital is over, Butch and I head out to visit a couple scrap stores where I pick up some CC Early Bird (ADORABLE!!), and a few sheets of the OA Road Map, again ADORABLE!! The colors on these papers are so bright and cheery, and can't wait to find just the right pics for them. =)

Once Butch makes a quick stop at his cigar shop, we head home. We were both thinking of how thirsty we were and that we should pull into one of the fast food places on our way home for a soda. WHAM!! We get nailed at the light! I jolted forward and it felt like someone hit me with something hard in the back of the head! Instant headache and thought I was gonna barf!

Here come the cops, a firetruck with the paramedics, an ambulance! All this commotion is going on while Butch is being occupied by the cops and I'm getting hoisted on a body board, strapped in so tight, and hauled away! Ambulance rides SUCK!! They are the bumpiest things ever! If I wasn't injured before, I was once I got out of that thing!

Yes, I'm fine, in a bit of a fog, still a bit sore, but this too shall pass. =)

Simply Obsessed July Kit!

I think I'm gonna be in scrapbook heaven next month with this bright and festive kit from Simply Obsessed! Features Basic Grey's Lime Rickey and its just too yummy!


Also anxiously awaiting the announcement of the new Design Team for SO and its bound to be a fantastic set of ladies. I just love their work and another big push for me to join this club. They are so interactive with the members and to me that's ever so important.

Back to waiting!

The Birthday Girl!

Last night we celebrated Nicole's 31st Birthday!


And after cake and ice cream.....


....they settled into a grueling game of Chutes & Ladders.....


......where Nicole came out the victor!!


HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NICKIE!!!

Speaking of layouts......

Just want to share a few that I've done in the past few days. Makayla and I went on our weekly walk to the wetlands and she decided she wanted to play in the flowers that are so pretty this spring:


All of a sudden, Little Missy decided she has had enough, cops me an attitude and refuses to smile or even look at the camera. She puts this tub in front of her face and exclaims "no more picture!" Guess she told me!:


And I still can't believe this darling little one is turning 4 next week!! Not possible, just not possible!!

Life Preservers August Sneak Peeks!

How is a girl to choose?? They are all fabulous! Wish I could get a picture to post, but here's the link so you can check them out! So many choices - Bo Bunny Calypso with Basic Grey Lemonade Featured kit, Crate Paper Orbit Alternate kit, Marks Paper Company's English Garden Mini-kit, a new card kit with a selection of Collage Press' beautiful papers, and the Project kit is from Paper Trunk's Socalite with some darling flowers by Prima and sweet looking Say It With Pearls! Don't forget to check out the ribbon add-on and, woo-hoo, that stamp set is adorable!

Sneak Peeks!

I love that Von gives us a chance to get involved in the decision making process of which kits we'll receive AND especially that we get to see them so much earlier than other kit clubs!! And just wait till you see what Life Preserver's design team does with these papers!! Its MAGIC!!

Oh, BTW, wipe your chin, I can see you drooling! =)

Tootin' My Own Horn!!

Holy Snikies, look where I found myself this morning!!!

Scrappers Lifeline

And I even created my very first sketch for that layout!! Speaking of excited!! WOW WEEE!!!

National Donut Day!

Yep, it was! Dunkin Donuts was giving away free donuts to anyone who bought a drink, and Krispy Kreme was handing them out for the asking, no purchase necessary. It all started back in 1917 when the Salvation Army felt the soldiers in WWI needed a pick me up. It was established that the first friday in June would be National Donut Day.

And to honor the occasion, Makayla and I made donuts! Didn't want to take the 30 minute trip to and from Krispy Kreme, so we did this:



Maybe not the most perfectly shaped donuts you'll ever see, but it sure is a heap of yummy goodness!


And it looks like they passed the taste test, no complaints from these two! =)

Scrap time!

This past weekend, it was a hot one for us in the Pacific Northwest. Don't get me wrong, I definitely welcome the warmth of the sun, but I'm not a snake living in the Arizona desert either!

So, we went shopping for a couple super soaker type water guns and had a great time getting cooled off! Here is a layout of two of my favorite people having a blast with two photos that sum up the fun:


And a few more pics to share:



Thank goodness for patio doors!

Happy June!!

Wow! I can't believe this year is almost half over. And June is pretty full of special happenings for this particular family!

Let me see, Father's Day & Nicole's birthday are on the same day this year, and Makayla will turn four and wants a pony party for her birthday. She has mentioned that no boys are allowed, so Papa and Daddy have to sit this one out. FAT CHANCE!! She will also have her dance recital this month and I can't wait to see her all dressed up in her little tutu and being such a girly-girl! She does like her nail polish and lipsticks, but the majority of her playtime is outside in the dirt with the rest of the neighbor kids riding bikes and getting boo-boos. =)

We will also be getting into full swing with our fundraising for our Relay For Life team, "It's All Relative". We worked at a golf tournament and in return they gave us all the proceeds. It was a huge success, as we raised $705 for the American Cancer Society. This was our third year hostessing the tournament and each year it just keeps getting bigger and better!

And I'm suppose to be getting some scrapping done in the midst of all this?! We'll see!! Godspeed.

My 1st Sketch!

I've been participating in a crop at Simply Obsessed this month and one of the challenges was to create a sketch and then do a layout based on your sketch. I can't believe how easy it was! Created my sketch in Word using the shapes provided in the program:


And my layout! Here is Butch and Makayla on her third birthday last year. Since she's almost four now, I'd better get a move on, don't ya think!


Used the Cosmo Cricket Hello Sunshine collection. I wish I could take credit for that cool looking circle scroll combo, but it came in a kit that I've had sitting here for almost a year. OOPSIE!!

And once I get this Photomerge thing figured out on PSE7, I'll be scanning my layouts. Thought I had it down, but OH, NO!! Any pointers for this not so savy user?

I took the plunge!

I have been eyeing another kit club for some time now and today, I did it!! Simply Obsessed has had adorable kits and I just couldn't resist any longer! The June kit is packed full of Jenni Bowlin and paired perfectly with Graphic 45.


For a six month subscription it's only $26 per month - that includes the shipping! - so a girl can't go wrong!

Homemade Card Kit

I never realized just how easy it is to assemble your very own card kit! It was a challenge over at Life Preservers kit club and I knew I had to give it a shot.

Just take a few scraps of coordinating cardstock and pattern papers, add some ribbon &/or buttons, and viola, the perfect mini kit! Just add adhesive, a few alpha stickers, and some ink when you're ready to play!


And the end result:


I think I may have started a whole new thing for myself! Thanks Von!!

Another sketch!

I am just lovin' these sketches! This particular one I did of Butch's Grandma June with his Mom, Aunt Mickie, and Uncle Billy. I believe it was taken at her 75th birthday celebration. I will be framing this one, so I placed it on a 12 x 12 cardstock base with coordinating color.

Layouts!

Remember that free sketch class I was telling ya about? Well, Susan has come up with some nice and easy sketches to get us in the scrapping' groove. Here are the first two with my layouts:

National Scrapbook Day.....

..... was yesterday and boy did we have FUN! Butch decided that we needed to treat ourselves so we headed into town to do a bit of "want" shopping. While he visited the liquidation sale at Joe's, Makayla and I went to Craft Warehouse to pick up a few sheets of cardstock.

Well, well, well! Look what we found!! A Make & Take mini book! We both made one and Makayla did all her own inking, tearing, placing embellies, and the only help from me was cutting that little tree on the cover and helping to line up the paper to the chipboard squares.




She was so proud of herself!! And we had a blast. You're never too young to start. =)