One of my layouts from the weekend...

Here is a gift idea for you, bath salts, a candle and soap:

Where have I been....

remember the post I made about a weekend crop at Art Freckles? Well I have participated in a few on-line crops before, but I have never seen so many goodies given away as I did at this one. I won this one for just changing my avatar to a spring/Easter one:

There were so many challenges, games, classes, and make n'takes that would of kept me busy for at least a week. Take a look at one of the larger prizes given away:

and that is just one of many large prizes that were given away! Another prize that was given away was a kit of the month.

Ok, this has to be a record for me...

this will be my fourth post today. I wanted to visit my friend Sharon's blog before closing this computer down for the evening. Well guess what she had on her site, more blog candy. Click on Phoenix for your chance to win this package full of goodness!

Do you want to crop this weekend...

well come on over to Art Freckles for a fun online crop!

Do you love blog candy...

I sure do. Found this yummy candy. Click here for a chance to win.

Good luck everyone!

What have I done...

I have a full-time job during the day and for the next 8 weeks I am teaching a class at a local college, but it is an online course. Why you ask, because I do like teaching and love to use the extra money for our vacations. Last year was the first time the class was offered online and it was so time consuming for me. There were a few Students who were quite the challenge. So far this year it is much better. I set up a time for all of us to meet face-to-face and I would recommend that to any Teachers out there that are teaching an online class, it makes all the difference in the world.
I did manage to do a layout this past weekend. This one is for you Bailey!

Remember those explosion boxes...

well check this blog out for a different version of one. Click on magic for a great tutorial.

Now this is one smart chickie...

I was browsing the web recently and came across a link for these: ribbon rings. I though, "Wow, these could work for me" as I'd been looking for a way to store my loose ribbon for a while. THEN I thought, "hey, I could probably MAKE these"!!! And the rest, as they say, is history!

Make your own ribbon rings tags for ribbon storage

Materials:
Clear plastic (I used packaging plastic. These pieces here were Heidi Swapp packaging);
Scissors;
corner rounder;
1/4" hole punch;
rectangle punch (you know you have this somewhere! I dug mine out from the closet, top shelf);
Sharpie or other permanent marker;

1. Naturally as with any project that requires multiples - MAKE A TEMPLATE! I did this one from thick cardboard (which you could use instead of the clear plastic. I will say that for SHEER ribbon I'd make them out of cardboard/chipboard. I think the sheer ribbons may snag on the plastic when punched.). Mine measures 2" high x 1.5" wide. The punched parts I eyeballed. Once your template is made, trace around the shape using Sharpie.


2. Using scissors (don't use your best scissors!) trim around the edges. You could use a paper trimmer but scissors work fine for this small size. And I think cutting the plastic would dull the blade, hence use old scissors.


3. Round the corners using a corner rounder punch. I was surprised how easy this was!!! Maybe it would depend on the thickness of the plastic but this was easily thin enough to punch. (do this over a trash bin, and wear eye protection! - trust me those bits fly EVERYWHERE!)


4. Punch hole in top of the tag. Simple enough, yet tougher than the corners! I found it best to wear rubber gloves, to give me more leverage on the punch. Probably easier with Cropodile? (I think I'm the only crafter in the Universe without one. I simply refuse to buy one when I have tools that already do the same job. See, frugal!)


5. Ok this part takes some time. Depending on the width you want for your ribbon to thread through, punch the rectangles. On mine the "holes" are 7/8") so I needed to punch 3 rectangles across for each 'hole'. Start at one edge and punch, move in to centre as far as you can (slightly overlapping) and punch again. (again, do this over a trash bin and wear eye protection!)


You should have TWO punches on one side, and the tag should look like this


6. Flip the tag over and punch the opposite side, lining up the punch with previous 'holes'.


7. VOILA! The tag is done. Thread your ribbon through, put on a ring and you have your own ribbon rings for zero $$!


8. Repeat making as many as you need. Slip the rings onto a loose binder ring, hang on a hook and display in your scraproom! This is my first set hanging to the left of my scrap table. I plan on adding more to this ring (I also have bigger rings - bought from dollar tree), and putting another hook or two along the wall. Definitely helps to SEE your ribbon. Plus I can write the manufacturer of the ribbon on the tags!

Now this isn't to say mine are as nice or neat as the pre-made ones, and yes they do take some time to make (especially considering I need a TON of these! But I made 12 in about 20 mins, assembly line style). But for me the FREE factor far outweighs all that. Plus I'm reusing, recycling, and reducing landfill waste!
Thanks Di Hickman for this wonderful tutorial!

A new look and a give away...

at G.C.D Studios! Check this out and entire paperpack! Click on GCD for your chance to win! Better hurry, ends March 16th

Have you ever heard of ...

Abbamania ? We went this past Sunday evening with some special friends of ours, Teresa and Al to see them at a local college. While we were waiting for the concert to start, this is what we got to experience, photo taken by Al:

it was 5 miles south of the college. Needless to say, the show started late. The security herded us into a hallway, mind you I do not like tight spaces and also afraid of storms, not to mention tornadoes. What an experience! Thank goodness it was a weak storm and did not do any damage to the college.

Another yummy givieway

if you would like a chance to win these goodies, hurry on over to Callista blog and enter by 5 pm Friday.

Also check out my post below!

Still dreaming of a Slice...

and still trying to talk myself out of buying one. I have a revolution and a cuttlebug, so why would I want a Slice? You tell me. Would you like to have a chance on winning 1 of the 2 that Danielle is giving away on her blog? She needs 2000post on her blog before she will give them away, so won't you help a girl out and post your 5 comments everyday for the next two weeks to meet the goal and have a chance to win. Just click on Danielle and post away! Even if you are family and friends who stop and visit my blog and do not leave post and don't even know what to do with a Slice, enter and I would gladly take it off your hands!!!

EDITED: My friend Sharon won one of these Slices, congratulations Sharon!!!!

Where did these people come from...

well I was looking at some old photos over the weekend and found this picture. This was the 1st professional photo we have of us. We were married in 1981! Wow it only took 12 years to get it accomplish!

I realize I am rushing a bit...

but I am so ready for Spring and along with Spring, comes Easter! Just wanted you to get in the mood for Spring! It was a challenge I took on at Live,Imagine,Creative A great way to use up some of your scraps!

"Shout Out To SheetLoad"...

is a monthly Ezine with tons of great ideas in it, check it out here
Here are few of the sneak peeks for March



Click here to have a chance to win one of the awesome Fiskars border punches below, either the Uppercrest or Apron Lace by March 31st.

Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps...

$50 gift certificate blog candy...

Click on Sassy for a chance to win this yummy candy! It's runs through March 18th.

Want to join me in an online crop...

Mother Goose visits Scrap My Memories

Friday, March 13th 6 at 6:00 pm EST - Sunday, March 15th at 9:00pm EST.

We will give you until Monday, March 16th, 11:59pm EST to upload your completed layouts.

The Design Team is busy at work with Mother Goose, The three little pigs and Goldilocks to bring you a fabulous weekend of scrapbooking fun, games, lots of chatter and ofcourse lots of prizes too

So, don't forget to mark your calendars.

10,000 hits blog candy..

and no this isn't mine either, but someday when I grow up to be a big girl in the "blog" world I will want to celebrate also!

Click here, she is giving away to three lucky peeps!

100,000 hits blog candy...

no it is not mine, but someday I know it will be!

Click here for your chance to win these awesome goodies!

Found another yummy RAK...

click here

Are you feeling lucky, want a chance to win...

a pot of gold, click here

I do adjunct teaching at a local...

college and classes begin soon and I am suppose to be updating the material today! Do you really think I wanna do that when I can scrap, but I must. I have the day off and I set a goal that I would get all the material ready for the class. OK, I really need to do this. I am gonna do this day. Have I talked myself into yet, well maybe. Here are a few cards I made yesterday, I am trying to improve on my card making skills.

December 25th...

is not today, but yesterday it was! Take a look at what I was working on:

I am almost finished with the album from our trip in December, what a great feeling!
We also went to a birthday dinner for my niece and nephew and my Sis's mother-in-law. Can you believe this scrapper had her camera ready and waiting to take with her and she forgot it. My Sis will be sending me some of the photos from the dinner and I will share them with you at that time. We went to a Japenese restraurant, yummie! Happy Birthday Heather, Dave, and Alice!