I love fresh starts and what better time than the beginning of a new year. It’s time to get rid of some emotional baggage and move forward into a new year with renewed energy.

I don’t make new years resolutions . . . but instead choose one word that describes my vision of the upcoming year.
My word for 2012 is “NEW” - New beginnings, a new outlook and new goals.
Along with that I decided to try a new scrappy/paper crafting technique at least every other week (we’ll see how that goes?!) and post the how to details here on my blog.


Making your own ribbon out of coffee filters:
I saw this idea in a Creating Keepsakes magazine some time ago, actually six years ago. One of those things I always wanted to try and never got around to . . . you know how that goes . . . better late than never. I’ve put my own twist to it and used Glimmer Mist instead of watercolors and gathered it instead of hemming the edges.


1) Smooth the coffee filters out.

2) Spray the coffee filters with Glimmer Mist (or paint them with water colors) and let them dry.

3) Cut the filters into 1” or 2” strips

4) Sew the strips together end to end and trim excess filter and threads

5) Run a gathering thread the length of the sewn together coffee filters and gather the strip

This is a layout that I completed for my  “Use A New Technique Challenge" at MSW this month. I hope you will play along and be inspired to make your own ribbon or try a new technique that you have wanted to try.

The December Sketch at MSW and a challenge:

This is my take on  the December layout sketch at My Sketch World

and this is my take on Nik's Grid Challenge.

December

In December I will be

A baubled bangled Christmas tree

With soup bowls draped all over me

Merry once, merry twice,

Merry chicken soup with rice.

- Maurice Sendak

Thanks to all those who participated in the My Sketch World Blog Hop and thank you for all your kind and encouraging comments!
The winner of the RAK form me (selected randomly) is:
Karen AKA Soccerboyzmom


I used to like Christmas . . . but I’m thinking I like it less every year. I remember the first time I missed Christmas . . . 1991, the year my mother died. It’s difficult loosing someone, especially during the holidays. Christmas - it’s not about what it should be anymore. Actually it’s turned into something that people cry and get upset over. I’ve always loved tradition. But it seems to be getting in the way these days. Randy and I are not exchanging gifts this year. We decided that if we wanted something . . . we could get it ourselves . . . and do we really need any more?
So there is no Christmas tree at our house, no Christmas cookie exchange, and I have not even mailed the few Christmas cards that I made and/or bought. The only thing I have done is bought the grandchildren’s presents and made their teacher’s gifts. Am I grinching out about the whole affair?!


 Teacher's gifts for December:

I found these and they were meant to be humorous but I found them to be . . . well . . . true.

You may be anal-retentive if:
* you eat the M&Ms in color order.
* you fold your dirty clothes before putting them in the hamper.
* you have to have all boxes in the kitchen cabinets facing the same way and in order by size.
* you have all your canned goods organized by type, flavor, and use.
* you alphabetize your spices.
* you organize your closet by color, season, and fabric.
* every e-mail reply that you send has been through a grammar check . . . and you correct the original message.

The term anal-retentive (commonly abbreviated to anal) describes a person who pays such attention to detail that the obsession becomes an annoyance to others. People who are said to be anal-retentive can also be obsessive compulsive . . . and I thought I was just a little over organized!
I would like to believe this is just my nature and that my anal-retentive behavior . . . I mean my over organized tendencies are just ingrained in me . . . but I think they rubbed off on my children.
We were in Florida over Thanksgiving visiting our daughter Jessica and her family. While we were there I noticed that she is very well organized (she has to be with five little boys) and these anal-retentive tendencies have become more apparent. I noticed little things . . . the way the clothes are hung in the closet (very familiar), certain toys are in certain organizational bins, the toilet paper has to be on a certain way . . . you get the picture. I told my oldest grandson Jacob that I was going to make him some tags for his mother to use to help him be more organized . . . he announced that he hated to be organized. Is this really my grandson talking?
Getting five little boys ready for the week is no easy task. To help Jessica out I made these adorable animal tags labeled Monday through Sunday.  Each boy has his own set of tags. Jessica will be able to get their clothes ready and labeled for what day of the week each set of clothes is for. You can never be too organized!

cardstock - The Paper Company
brads - Making Memories
string - hardware
These oh so cute animals were cut using the Cricut Create a Critter cartridge.

Calling all layout sketch lovers! We’ve asked our designers to choose their favourite layout sketch and challenge their partner to show you ways to create fabulous layouts, each with their very own a twist!  Our international designers on this hop are:

My Sketch World 

Ann Jobes

Bev Code

Christa Uttley

Cindy Noesen

Deb Long

Ginni Gass

Joan Borgelt

Malin Rimby

The details:

1. Visit each blog and leave a comment. Read carefully, there may be individual requirements as some designers are offering little prizes of their own!

2. After you have visited each Designer's blog come back to My Sketch World blog and let us know what you thought. Part One of the hop ends Monday, December 5th, 11:59 EST.

3. Everyone who posts a comment on each blog will be entered to win! Winners will be randomly chosen.

4. To receive an additional entry, scraplift a layout and link it back to the My Sketch World blog (in your comment) and tell us what inspired you!

5. Have fun! Be inspired! Part Two of this hop begins December 10,2011.

I use sketches when I’m experiencing scrappers block, need a little inspiration or just want to get my creative Mojo on. You’ll find an abundance of fabulous sketches created by Lucy Chesna at My Sketch World.

I was really excited when my Blog Hop challenge partner Christa picked the following sketch for me to use.

I turned the sketch upside down and made it my own.

And even more primed by Christa’s twist for me, which was to channel my shabby chic fashion to the style of Gabrielle Pollaco (check out her amazing blog). This is what I came up with:

Cardstock - Core’dinations

Patterned paper - BoBunny; Snowfall

Chipboard - My Mind’s Eye and Fancy Pants

Ink - Ranger

Embossing powder - Stampendous

Embellishment card - Fancy Pants

Embossing folder - Tim Holtz

Brads - Making Memories

String - Hardware

To sweeten the Hop, I’ll be offering a RAK, so make sure to leave a comment and I’ll pick a random winner.

November

In November's gusty gale I will flop my flippy tail
And spout hot soup-I'll be a whale!
Spouting once, spouting twice
Spouting chicken soup with rice
- Maurice Sendak

Can it be mid-November already!?

Worked on 3 layouts . . . but can't share them till next month.  Two are for a DT project and one is for a blog hop coming up.
I can however share the November teacher gifts for the grandson's teachers.

We are a multitasking society and I’m a part of it! If I’m having a conversation with a friend I might also be thinking about what I have to do next, the grocery list or a deadline I have to meet.

All the crazy stress of work . . . the phone calls, the mental sticky notes of things I have to remember to do, planning, meetings, etc. I feel like I have to be on top of things all the time. There are days when I feel overwhelmed, emotionally drained and physically tired.
I’ve made a discovery . . . when I take a little time for “ME” I can recharge my battery . . . and that’s why I try to set aside some time to scrap everyday. I find it relaxing and restorative.

The November sketch is up at My Sketch World

and this is my take on it:

I also have a challenge posted:
Create a layout about being {thankful} for someone or something. The word "thankful" has to be in the title.

If you participate in this challenge and upload your creation in the gallery with a link to it in the challenge thread I'll put your name in a drawing for a RAK at the end of the month. Can't wait to see what you come up with.

This is a lo for Colton's album.  His journaling is hidden and reads:
I am thankful for a second chance. For the longest time it felt like everyday was black and white. But now there is color and happiness and knowing that it only gets better has brightened my days. I'm also thankful for the loving and caring ones who have always been there and that have helped me believe that a second chance is real.

I've been thinking about my scrapbooking style . . . I can't really define it.  I'm a little shabby chic and love all things vintage, the tearing and inking and all the fun distressing.  But I can be modern and even artistic
 . . . which is a little outside my box.  After going through my layouts I've discovered I don't adhere to one style . . . I like to mix it up.

On November 1st the new sketch will be up at MSW, be sure to check it out on the blog.  I will also be hosting a challenge and here is a sneak peek of the layout I did for it.  Hope you can join us for a month of fun challenges!

More teacher gifts:

Chicken Soup With Rice
October
In October I'll be host
To witches, goblins and a ghost
I'll serve them chicken soup on toast
Whoopy once, whoopy twice
Whoopy chicken soup with rice
- Maurie Sendak

I can't believe it's almost the end of the month.  I have been super busy at home, at work and on scrappy projects. 
. . . and today I have to finish up the grandsons teacher's projects for October so they can go postal tomorrow.

Here are 3 sets that are finished and ready to be packed up. 
I got the spools at JoAnn's along with the dowel sticks that Randy cut in half for me.  I then painted them with black paint, sanded the edges a little and then covered them with paper from Ehco Park; the Apothecary Collection.  I made the little rosettes using the Martha Stewart scoring board (love that thing!) and attached the letters.

Just a few projects to sahre today.

I created this layout for the October Sketch at My Sketch World.

. . . and then there are so many inspiring challenges this month (as always)!

For Karen's Halloween Card Challenge I created a card for each of my grandson's in FL.

I finally had time to play with my Cricut and the Mini Monster cart that I have had for some time.

. . . and for Jan's Card Challenge I created this birthday card.



With eight grandchildren and seven of them being boys and only one girl I don’t get that many opportunities to do girly girl themed projects. When my daughter Jessica asked me if I could come up with something for her MOPS program I jumped at the chance and knew exactly what I wanted to do. Using my Cricut machine and the Princess Party and the Tags, Bags, Boxes and more carts I created these adorable shoes, purses and cupcake wrappers. Wouldn’t these just be perfect for a Princess Party! . . . I hope they have a royal ball!