Photo Tray

I’ve had this photo tray from 7 Gypsies for quite some time. As I came across a little of this and a little of that (trinkets) I put them aside. Just this week I had enough time to arrange and re-arrange (because that’s part of my creative process) the little treasures that have special meaning and remind me in some way of each family member. This little tray is hanging in my kitchen and each time I see it , it sparks fond memories of FAMILY.

Mango Slaw

For me, growing up in the 50’s was a great peaceful, satisfying time. My childhood was a time of Ozzie and Harriet, leave it to Beaver and Father Knows Best. My family, like most families I knew, always sat down for meals together, including breakfast. We were expected to be on time, help serve, clear and clean up. We were also expected to participate in the table conversation. Sunday midday dinner was served in the dining room. We wore our church clothes and used the best china. We all ate the same food, no special menus or diets were considered. We certainly understood that we needed to “clean our plates” and if we balked the “starving children of the world” were quickly mentioned. Many of my fondest childhood memories are food related . . . my mother canning surplus fruits and vegetables for instance. I loved watching her assembly line. There was a big freezer in the basement and my mother froze the excess garden harvest. I can remember my mother trying out new recipes found in the Sunday newspaper.

Well I don’t can or freeze the excess garden harvest . . . we don’t even have a garden. But I love trying out new recipes. When our children were little they use to look through my home and garden magazines and pick out recipes that they thought looked good and/or interesting and we would try them. Some of those recipes have become family favorites (Strawberry Cheese Delight) and some were never to be made again (Sausage Casserole).

I still like to try new recipes . . . some are keepers and some are never to be made again. One of the keepers is this Mango Slaw recipe - easy to make and delicious too!

Mango Slaw

4 cups of cabbage & carrot slaw mix

1 cup mango, peeled and diced

1/4 cup red onion (optional)

Mix together

Make the Dressing

¼ cup mayo

1 T cider vinegar

1 T sugar

¼ t salt

Mix well & then mix with the slaw mixture

Serve & Enjoy

I substituted the cabbage and carrot slaw mix with a broccoli slaw mix.

Scrappin The Same Photo

One of the questions on the Croppin Paradise forums this week was - Do you ever scrap the same picture more than once?


Yes . . . and that’s an under statement! With my daughter having 4 boys there are a multitude of times when they are all in the same photo. I complete an album for each boy every year and that means scrapping the same photo four times. I can’t bring myself to use the same layout or design for these photos . . . somehow that would be cheating lol! When I received the Easter Morning photos from my daughter to scrap I was in awe:

1) because the boys look so stinkin cute!

2) I’m wondering where she gets the energy to get 6 people up, feed, dressed and out the door for church and

3) I had to decide on a paper line, embellishments and a design for each layout.

So . . . here is what I came up with.

I completed these two layouts for a DT assignment at Croppin Paradise.

I used the Fresh Print Clothesline papers from Little Yellow Bicycle for this layout and thought they worked perfect for this boy page.

The Jenni Bowlin papers were the perfect match for this black & white photo!

First Birthday's

A child’s first birthday party . . . is it really for the child or for the parents for surviving that first year? After celebrating 4 first birthdays I’m not sure if the milestone was greater for the children or for my daughter and her husband lol! First birthdays are an important time for any family and to remember the day I created a layout for Elisha’s album using the oh so FUN Apple Jack papers from Sassafras available in the Croppin Paradise Store.

I think the pinwheels added that extra playful touch to the layout and this is how I made them:

1) I cut my paper for the pinwheels into 2 inch squares.

2) I then cut on the diagonal of the squares, toward the center of the paper 1 inch.

3) I placed a glue dot in the center of each square.

4) Then I folded every other point to the center of the squares and secured them on the glue dot.

5) Adding a brad to the center gave the pinwheels a finished look.

These little pinwheels are so easy to make . . . add a few to your next layout.

Blog Hop and Jenni Bowlin Reveal

Happy National Scrapbooking Day and Welcome to the Croppin Paradise Blog Hop!
Visit the friendly forums, be inspired by the awesome projects in the gallery and check out the yummy supplies in the Croppin Paradise Store.


Be sure to check out the rest of the Croppin Paradise Design Team Members blogs for some fantastic reveals.  Make sure to leave a comment on each blog to be eligible for some great prizes!
The next blog is Nubia's

I simply adore all things vintage and when I saw the Jenni Bowlin Homespun Collection, the Banner Stickers, the Embellished Butterflies, the Bingo Cards and Vintage Style Sew-On Buttons I knew I had found some whimsy treasures to play with.



Here are two layouts I created using the Jenni Bowlin supplies available in the Croppin Paradise Store.

Faith

Vacation

NSD

Did you know?




The first National Scrapbooking Day was celebrated the first Saturday in May in 1994. Scrapbooking over the course of the last decade has become the nation’s fastest growing hobby.

For me scrapbooking is more than a hobby . . . it’s a passion!

Scrapbooking is a way for me to let my creative self out and I find it very therapeutic too.

So in honor of NSD Croppin Paradise is hosting a blog hop this Saturday and I hope you’ll join in the fun. Be sure to check out the message boards, visit the design teams blogs and view their new reveals, leave some comments for some awesome prizes and shop for all the latest and greatest supplies in the CP store.

The Tent

When we went to Florida two weeks ago (has it really been that long!?) I made my grandsons a hanging canopy for their bedroom. I saw the idea in a Family Fun magazine (don’t remember which month). Anyway, I thought it was such a cute idea . . . I just made an improved version. I covered the Hula Hoop with fabric and then made adjustable straps out of Grograin ribbon and some buckles. I found fabric shower curtains (on sale) that matched their bedroom decor perfectly and attached them with shower curtain rings. What a fascinating place to curl up with a book to look at, canopies are somehow magical and enchanting.
Of course Randy had to find a stud in the ceiling (no easy task) and do all the manly work. The little guys might need one of these for outside under the carport too :)

adjustable straps

returning to the daily grind

Our vacation in sunny Florida was wonderful!

Returning from a vacation is never easy for me . . . it seems like it takes forever to get back into the swing of things at work and this week was no exception!

Today I was thinking . . . How do people decide what career to pursue? For some it is a matter of a skill they possess, for some their families have decided for them, and for some people it is a desire in their heart. I use to dream of growing up and running a children’s orphanage so I could nurture and educate abandoned children. (Maybe I watched too many Shirley Temple movies.) Regardless, from my experiences I have learned that appropriate discipline, hard work and having fun are all a part of learning and teaching. To me, being in the early childhood field is not only a career, but it is a quality that is imprinted in my heart. I feel blessed and fortunate to have my job. Maybe by next week I’ll be back into the routine of the daily grind??



Have you put your “Woolies” away yet? Don’t! Well not your Basic Grey Woolies that is. Be inspired by these cards and some others posted on the CP blog.

Home Decor

If you’re a scrapbooker the use of your supplies needn’t be limited to album layouts. I’ve been busy using my scrapbooking supplies for some home décor projects. The result can be a unique design that matches your décor and style completely. My daughter is decorating the boy’s room in a navy, red and white baseball theme. I made each of them a personalized picture using my Cricut and the Baseball Cart.

I also altered a cookie sheet turning it into a magnetic message board using the BasicGrey Origins line which coordinates with her kitchen perfectly.

 Banners are in and the latest décor rage and oh so fun! They are inexpensive to make and can add a little swing of style any where. I had all the supplies so I also made her a matching banner. As soon as I get all of her items done . . . I’m starting on my projects!

Give Aways and A Deal a Day

Time is ticking . . . You need to head on over to the Croppin Paradise Blog and register as a follower. Make a comment and say hello and tell them “The Gov.” sent you. I can’t believe the Give Aways this week! Check out the details.




Everyone loves a great deal and I have found a few places that offer just that. Make sure to check out these sites for the deal of the day - a different one every day!

Crop Chocolate

Flowers to Flourishes

Scrapbook Steals

February Layouts

I had so much fun designing with the BoBunny Persuasion line from Croppin Paradise!

heart - wove pieces of ribbon together and taped to cardstock, cut a heart shape out of pp and sewed on top of ribbon and cardstock, cut around heart shape and attached to layout with pop dots

Sneek Peek

I'm so excited about the reveals coming at Croppin Paradie!  I thought I'd give you a Sneek Peek of my layouts.

Basic Grey Origins

BoBunny Persuasion