Government Shutdown

"My disapproval in our Senate, Congress and President's current actions is beyond words.  Together you have shown a lack of responsibility to the people you represent.   Collectively,  your inability to COMPROMISE has made our country look like a 3rd world nation with discussions of "government shutdowns". I am thoroughly embarrassed. My expectation of ALL elected government officials is to reach at least a temporary compromise by the end of today.  Please restore my faith in our democratic system.  I pray that our "government" will open their hearts and minds to find a compromise.

(In addition, I find the comment popping up immediately upon opening your website placing the entire blame of a "government shutdown" on "Congress's failure..." unbefitting of a man or woman who holds the title of  President of the United States. A true leader takes responsibility for his or her actions and the actions of those for which he is responsible(his employees).  Please act like the leader the US citizens elected and take ownership of your mistakes, an inability to compromise."

This is the comment that I sent to both US MS Senators: Thad Cockren & Roger Wicker; US House of Representative: Bennie Thompson and President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden.  The comment in parenthesis was sent only to the President and Vice President.  

I am just shocked, saddened, disgusted, angry and the list of emotions continues with our government's inability to COMPROMISE.  Do I like Obama's Healthcare plan?  No.  It has certainly cost me ALOT more of my menial discretionary funds.  Do I think healthcare should be right of each citizen?  i know it costs a lot more to treat someone having a heartache vs prescribing them preventive medication.  Unfortunately, I am beginning to think anything with sugar in it or "fast food" should have higher taxes to help offset the medical costs.  However, it is the 1950's/60's government who introduced "corn syrup" into our everyday diets. 

It is just pathetic that the egos of the men and women in our US government have allowed our nation to come to this mess.  AND SHAME ON US FOR ELECTING AND RE-ELECTING THESE PEOPLE.

Scraplift Yourself

This Challenge from Shimelle's NSD of challenges was to scraplift yourself/your work.  Her blog post can be found  here.  So I chose to scraplift my original layout.   Here is the outcome.  It is about a dinner and scrapping time at a new friends house. It includes the bunny ears napkin ring holder, the dinner menu and the bunny invitation will be on a 6x12 add on sheet.

Use Your Die Cut Machine

This was a perfect and true challenge for me!!! Use Your Die Cut Machine was one of Shimelle's NSD challenges. I have silhouette which I purchase several diecuts during the 1/2 off sale.  It was now time to put into action.  The papers, embellishment are from Echo Park's All About a Boy!  This was also based on SHannon Tidwell from Two Peas in a Bucket.  here is my LO. It is about my son, dressed in his school uniform, backpack on the ground next to him, and my husband, with laundry bag in hand, hunting for a squirrel before we leave for school in the am.  Welcome to my world of country living! 

Create a two page Layout

Shimelle in her NSD challenges, asked us to create a two page layout, which has had much discussion on the Two Peas in a Bucket forum.  Here is my two page Layout.  I actually made 3 so far.  The pictures are of our 2 year old cotton picker, it picks the cotton, packs it, forms the cotton into a semi-large rectangle and spits it out the back.  Sound silly, looks silly but is quite amazing compared to when I was a child and the cotton was dumped into a trailer and we had to jump on it to "stomp it down" so more cotton would fit into the trailer.  Once the trailer was full, the trailer was hauled to the gin to wait in line for the cotton to be sucked out.  AMAZING!!

Use a Divided Page Protector

This was a great challenge because I have ALWAYS wanted to try out Shimelle's 4x6 Photo Love October Challenge at Two Peas in a Bucket.  I just purchased the 8 pocket page protector from 2peas.  So when Shimelle challenged us to scrap with-divided-page-protector, I knew I wanted to wrap up my son's birthday pics with this challenge.  Here is my Layout.  I did combine the 8 page pocket divider with a 6x12 divider too.

Scrapping with square Photos

Shimelle challenged us to Scrap with Square Photos in this (Inter) National Scrapbooking Day.  I used a LO from Lisa Day over at Big Picture Classes. 

My New Favorite Line

Shimelle challenged us to use our "favorite" line on one layout in this NSD challenge.  I just purchased the All about a Boy line from echo park, papers, stickers and journaling card.  I also used up an old Bo Bunny diecut "Boys and their Toys", some raw chipboard, which I covered with Viva Inka Gold w/ MME Bling in middle, Cosmo Cricket Tiny Type Letters, orange vintage Heidi Swapp orange arrow and a newer mistables arrow from Pink Paislee.  Here is my LO.

Use brads and eyelets

This layout is based on Shimelle's NSD challenge use brads and eyelets.  I ended up loving the 3 big brads at the bottom.

Use Sprays and Mists

This Layout was created based on Shimelle's NSD challenge to  scrapbooking-with-spray-inks-and-mists/  I hope you can see the "pumpkin" tattered angels drips and mists on the yellow and blue.

Scrapping with PInk

This LO is based on Shimelle's 1st NSD of the day.  Scrap with pink.  You can find the blog post here.
I did use some ephemera, the red tags from our Luv Bug scavenger hunt.

Scrap square photos

My layout is based on Shimelle's NSD Challenge #22  scrap square photos. I also used Lisa Day's sketch as a basis for my LO.

Remember to keep my mouth Shut!

Oh how I want to stay and play (scrapbook), but I opened by big mouth and now I have to go pack for a night of MS State baseball, followed by a weekend of 10 year old travel ball. (Our first game is not until tomorrow at 1:30pm.  We could have spent the night in our own bed, saved $ in gas, hotel, food and entertainment.) We are supposed to go by Tennessee Williams home in Columbus to take pictures for the son's MS Scrapbook, but I am unsure if we will make it in time.  However, we need to go by and see it since my husband retrieved the child from school early!  Why? Oh, Why? Do I open my mouth and speak!?! Note to self:  KEEP MOUTH SHUT!!!!

Using of the Scraps!

I was completely inspired by
 this blog post by Shimelle Laine
 to create the following two layout and five cards.  They are all from one kit which was in my scrap baskets.  In addition, I felt so good about completing after listening to the latest Paperclipping Roundtable Discussion about using scraps and Scraps on Shimelle's blog  I do think this is all from one Bo Bunny collection Kitchen Spice, including several embellishments (flat stickers, brads, aqua letters)  I did incorporate some Prima Flowers, Sassafras Cardstock w/ button flowers and bits and pieces from the stash bowl/bag, etc.  This Layout is about

 me and my friend and how we are alike.  The layout to the left is about one of my son's new chores, weed eating and mowing the grass!  Chores he enjoys.







 I also created three (3) thank you cards from the same papers but included some kraft cardstock.  The ribbon is I don't know.  In addition, I also created a baby boy card for my unborn nephew.  ON the back is an envelope to put a gift card.  The last card at the far bottom is a mother's day card. I also made one birthday card, but plan to use it ASAP so I didn't post.  I LOVE using up the kit and scraps and embellishments that have been "left over" after I initially used their counterparts! 

The Last of St. Valentine's Day (and its old products)

 Once I started using up some of the old St. Valentine's Day, I got on a roll!! Most of these papers are from Bo Bunny's St. Valentine's Day collection(s). I did incorporate a "bit" of the vintage St. Valentine's Day cards background paper from this page.  The tulle is from Christmas packages 2 years ago!  The heart w/ buttons sticker is from Bo Bunny & the other two are from a "goody box" I purchased from May Flaum. This layout was inspired by this sketch by Shimelle Laine.

These two cards are from the Bo Bunny "Love Birds" (i think) collection.  The red CS hearts are left overs from tags I made on my silhouette for my son's class St. Valentine's Day gifts.  The "All U Need is" is a sticker from the same Bo Bunny Collection.  I used some Bazzill Cardstock.  I now have 2 St. Valentine's Day cards for next year!  Yahoo!!  LOVE USING THE SCRAPS!!

St. Valentine's Day School Party

Glitter Girl Episode 65 inspired this layout PLUS the following 2 blogs and their layouts.  Pick 3 background papers to use.  DON'T change them.  Pick 2-3 other PP to used as accents and some embellishments and then JUST CREATE!!! Stop overthinking it!  I have had this valentine background paper FOREVER.  and the mini hearts PP is from an old Bo Bunny valentine collection too.  I did use Pink Paislee's new Secret Crush line for the poloroid frames and "Love Notes" ephemera.  however, the journaling card is from Basic Grey Bittersweet collection.  I was also inspired by Mandy Koeppen's handmade tutorial on Shimelle's Blog.  I cheated and didn't make my poloriods.  Well, why would I when I just bought these and was dying to use them! This idea was perfect for these pictures of my son's 4th grade class St. Valentine's Day party.  I also included a heart doily leftover from a faculty party!  I did use a snippet from Elle's Studio valentine collection.

Birthday Dinner

I really like how my layout turned out.  These are pictures from my birthday dinner, which includes my mother.  It has been SEVERAL years since she has actually been able to celebrate my birthday with me ON my birthday.  This layout is based on this sketch of the week by Shimelle Laine.  I used some very old Bo Bunny "love this" (maybe) line and the top piece, I have no idea.  I used up some old acrylic letters, but included Elle's Studio new St. Valentine's Day line, the journaling card  or is that from Pink Paislee's Valentine line?  I know the arrow & ticket stub are from Pink Paislee's Secret Crush Line.  They all got mixed up on my table.  LOVE THEM Both! 

My Birthday

This Layout is based on this Sketch of the Week by Shimelle Laine.  I loved the pocket idea she used on this particular LO.  The LO is about my birthday.  The journaling is found in each of the pink pockets, which are VERY OLD! I have no idea who made them or where I got them. The strip of pink/red and hot pink circles is from Shimelle's Best of Both Worlds February kit  And the soft turquoise heart background is from Be You collection by Fancy Pants Designs.  The cardstock embellishments on the envelopes are from BoBunny's Love Birds's Collections.  I also used 2 Pink Paislee's mistable hearts.  I have really been inspired by Shimelle's Best of Both World Kits and her Sketch of the Week.  I sat down last Saturday and made 6 layouts and 5 cards.  I have been able to mix new products (Best of Both Worlds Kit) and old papers!  Yahoo!!  I also used my silhouette to make the yellow index tabs with Love and the heart shape.  FIRST TIME!! 

L&C

I have been waiting for a LONG WEEK for my birthday/Valentine's Day pics to arrive!!  They arrived today!  I put together this layout based on Shimelle's Sketch of the Week, specifically this one,  the week Shimelle presented it on her blog.  I am not much for one picture per LO, but I do like this one, plus I was able to use the same fun papers from her Best of Both of Worlds monthly kit.  I also was able to use some of m new tidbits from Pink Paislee's Secret Crush & Elle's Studio's True Love.  Yea Fun!!  I had to take the picture at night; so sorry for the bad picture.

Fashion Man

This layout is about  Walker's new obsession with name brands, specifically his UnderArmour tennis shoes.  It also has a picture of him with his NorthFace backpack.  Since he wears a uniform (which were new), I did succumb to purchasing 2 "name brand" start of school items.  I used Shimelle's banner sketch which can be found on Shimelle's Blog.  I LOVED this layout!!! It was so fun to make. I included the logo tag from the tennis shoes and some older school themed die cuts and a tiny ruler & chalk board from eons ago.  PLUS, I did get to use a pattern paper from Shimelle's Best of Both Worlds.  She publishes a kit, which can be purchased or not from Two Peas in a Bucket.  I have chosen to purchase some of the items and use alternate pattern papers and/or embellishments from my stash! 

The beginning & the end of the 1st day of 4th!

Ok.  Sticking with the 1st day of 4th grade theme, I created several more layouts based on Shimelle's sketch of the week.  This is the easy peasy sketch. I really liked that this sketch allowed me to get the pics and the story down QUICKLY!  This is about how my son was VERY excited full of anticipation at the beginning of the 1st day of school, then the tired, worn out look at the end of the day as he kicked back in my chair in my office. I did cut off the middle at the bottom, because I did not want to hide the pre-printed "title" on the bottom.

1st Day of 4th Grade

I completed several LOs today using Shimelle's  blog where she has a weekly sketch.  So, I am several weeks below.  This is my take on this sketch  from her blog.  The goal was to use triangle, but I loved how she used chevrons.  I focused on the main events of my son's 1st day of 4th grade.  His new shoes, backback, the official 1st day picture and his new teacher. 
I was excited to use up some older "vintage" style school themed paper.  I used gesso and then red nose reindeer tattered angles to create a red outline.

Shimelle's Sketch of the Week: Daisy Dawg

I guess 4 to 5 months between blogging is going to be my new norm.  I am currently enthralled with Shimelle Lane's creative endeavors such as Starting Points, Sketch of the Week, Best of Both Worlds Kit, The Adventures of Glitter Girl over at Two Peas in a Bucket and her continuous array of guest designers.  And this doesn't even include her plethora of classes.  I am currently reviewing her class Hitchhiker's Guide to Scrapbooking. (A link to the class can be found on her blog to the right.)  It is a great inspiration of how to mix pattern papers, how to extend a 1 page sketch into two pages, how to just get started.  So,  long story I have tried my hand at some of Sketch of the Week challenges.

So here is my version of Shimelle's Sketch of the Week for 01.17.13 (if I read the European date correctly.)  These are 12 pictures I took on the Twelfth of November 2012, representing just an average evening at home with the Daisy Dawg, my now two year old Bloodhound, (which I can hear howling outside at some phantom).  What a bad dawg I have, but oh how I love her. I am NOT happy that the pictures are actually smaller than 3x3.  I am still unsure what I did when I ordered them.

 I just love these pics of her looking through the door to get in, finding a toy out of her box, finding a comfy spot on the couch to chew on her toy, finding a spot next to me or my son or one just to relax, including my bed. BAD DAWG!!   PLUS I was able to use some product given to me 2 years ago!  That felt good!