Circle Journal: Vintage Recipes

I've got new pages to show you but first: In honor of National Craft Month, Gauche Alchemy is holding a giveaway and the prize is a fabulous piece created by Sherry Goodloe from Got Art? so CLICK HERE TO ENTER and tell them you heard about it from me, eh? :D

Now, on to circle journals! This month I got a chance to work on the journal of Kristen from This Homemade Life and her theme was Vintage Recipes. Um hello, love it! lol I knew immediately what recipe I wanted to include, it's one my husband's family has been making every Christmas for generations and I've mentioned it before in my post, I'm Dreaming of a Blog Christmas: Oladyi (oh-la-zghee), which is basically a yeast pancake. These are amazing...*drool*...I wish I was eating some right now...

Where was I? Oh right, so here's what I did for Kristen's journal!

The papers and felty apple are from a past LPS kit and the bread tags I won from the marvelous Julie at Life with the Tucker and Wolek Clan. Sequins, gems, rhinestones, Thickers - you know, my usual what nots. lol

This was so fun to create for Kristen and I hope she likes it! This circle is spinning right along! :D

Have a great day everyone!

P.S.-Toot turns 17 months today! 17 months already?! *faint*

Layouts in the Mist

The fabulous Yvonne from Do More With Less is holding a challenge contest. Basically you create something inspired by the layout in this post and there you go! Here's what I did:
This is one of Toot's one year old portraits. I made a layout using plastic canvas as the backing instead of cardstock (my thought being to hang this on the wall so I left the little display hangy thing on the canvas). I used some old sheet music for behind the picture and button. (P.S.-this sheet music is some I got from the 2-3 lb stack of sheet music I found at a thrift store for $1! *drool*)
The patterned paper is Basic Grey (go me for remembering), Lemonade line I think and I wired on some buttons. I misted with the one lonely mist I have. This is only the second time I've used this mist, the first time being on my Jimi Hendrix ATCs and then after that I lost it and have been "mist-less" since July 2009. lol I recently found it again in a box of scraps (thank goodness I never throw anything away, in your face cleanliness!) and have been searching for things to spray the crap out of ever since...

Anyhoo, there's still time to play along with Yvonne's challenge! She's taking entries until tomorrow so get to gluing! :P Have fun and I'll see you after The Bachelor! :D

And To All A Good Night!

Wow and Christmas is over that quick! lol How was everyone's holiday? We had a very nice day just enjoying spending time together. Toot enjoyed playing in all of the wrapping paper and I enjoyed eating all of the food we made last night. lol Now I get to start working it all off! lol

I made another "gift" layout for some friends of ours. I tell you what, next year I'm making layouts for everyone! lol



I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas! Anyone going to make a list of resolutions for the new year?

A Toot For All Seasons

Hey everyone!

Just a quick post of my newest layout and I have to apologize, this is the worst picture ever! lol But I was in a hurry: this layout is a Christmas present for Chris' aunt so off to New York it goes!

I decided to make her a layout of Toot and picked 4 pictures that represented the seasons:



I totally admit to getting the title from "Grease 2". What? I love that movie! hee hee Thanks for taking a look! I hope everyone is having a fabulous holiday season!

Merry Christmas!

Roller Girls and Glue Galore

Hey everyone! Well last night's roller derby was soooooo much fun and today is Chris' birthday! Happy birthday honey!!! But let's back up a minute: here's some pictures from last night which was the last match of the 2009 Charlotte Roller Girls season. First of all, Toot L-O-V-E-D it! lol

Here's a pic of me and the birthday boy:

Because Toot was with us we did not sit in the "Suicide Seats" which is sitting on the floor.  Think of being in the front rows at Sea World but instead of getting splashed with water you could get a roller girl to the head.

 

Here's a group shot of the team and refs after the match:

 

They all had cool mean names like "Emmylou Harass" and "Ally Capone".  It was a lot of fun to see the girls play and they are currently recruiting.  Hmmmm...Think I'd make it as a Roller Girl???  LOL  In other news, I played along with a new challenge blog: Nerdy Victorious Scrapbookers. Actually, it was their DT call inspiration challenge but I played along anyway, lol.  (Anything "nerdy" is sure to get my undying devotion, lol)

Here's what I did:

Admittedly I do not do a lot of "me" layouts. I probably should but tend to shy away from it for some reason. But the nerd in me was entranced by the NVS collage on their blog and so here it is! :D This is about as "me" as you can get! lol Anything that I adore is here: pink, vintage, video games, kawaii, collage, bling, Mod Podge. lol Here are a couple of close ups:

I hope everyone's week has started off well, have a great Tuesday! :D

Takin' Care of Business...Told You I Would Forget Something!

Thanks so much for all of the fabulous birthday wishes everyone! I so appreciate it! I've actually been sick the past couple of days which has slowed me down a little (boo! hiss!) but we're getting back on track! I have so many things I want to tell you about (new projects, my day at the Renaissance Faire, Toot's birthday, major happy mail)! I wish I had a project to show you but I'm currently crocheting some different things and crochet does not lend itself to instant gratification (again: boo! hiss!) lol. So instead I have some news from here and there from people getting more accomplished than I:

1. Life Preservers Scrapbook Club is having an online crop this weekend and it's sure to be amazingly fun if the previous crops are any indication. LPS is my online scrappy home and I do hope you'll consider joining us this weekend! We have a lot of fun and the LPS gals are really awesome (read: 100% drama free).

2. There's a new challenge blog on the horizon and this one looks like lots of inspirational fun! It's brought to you by the super Julie and it's called Play Date Cafe Challenge. These are color based challenges with prizes and different hosts every week and it's sure to be a blast so check it out!

3. I took Toot to get her picture taken today to mark her turning 1 year old. I was going to pass but just couldn't stand not getting something professionally taken, I'm such a sap. By the way, did I tell you I caught her eating cat food the other day? Fantastic...

Anyhoo, I won't bore you with them all but here are my two favorite shots:

In other Toot news, I entered her in the Baby Gap casting call and I was going to post a link for you all to see but their site is 100% craptacularly s...l...o...w so I figure I like y'all too much to torture you with the site so...just wish her luck! lol

EDIT: their site seems to be moving faster now, you can see Toot's pics HERE and vote for her too if you wish :D

EDIT II: 4. I forgot to bring up National Novel Writing Month! Anyone feel like writing a novel next month? I think I'm going to go for it! Check out the details HERE!

Let's see...was there anything else? I just know I'll hit publish and then think of 100 more things I meant to tell you! Grrr...Oh well! If I do, I'll be back!

Happy Thursday everyone! :D

Where Were These Hotties When I Was Single?

My guest designer spot at Gauche Alchemy is coming to a close and my last layout is posted on their blog. I had so much fun designing for them and using their fabulous kit.



I Mod Podged pieces of the sewing pattern my kit was wrapped in to the patterned paper and then added some red acrylic paint. I also used pieces from Gauche Alchemy's Wedding Night, Lady Marmalade, Blue Streak and Red mixed media color kits.



You know, I tend to poo poo the 1980's (I think it's due in part to the overdose of Aqua Net and blow drying I experienced) but it's things like this that make me smile...and then thank God the 80's are over. Please to enjoy "Video Dating...80's Style":

Circle Journaling

First day of Fall! First day of Fall! First day of Fall!

WOO HOO! You know what that means...Too much sugar, too much commercialism and too much turkey...I am so ready for this!!!!

*deep breath*

Anyhoo, more of my work with the Gauche Alchemy "Hot For Teacher" kit can be seen on their blog but here it is, live and in person for your viewing pleasure. :P This time I used their fabulous kit to dress up the sign in pages for my Gauche Alchemy Circle Journal...uh...journal:

First the left side:



Every so often, I love using masking tape on my projects...



And the right side where everyone will put their sign in tags:



I made the pocket using packaging from cardstock, covered it in some grading paper from the kit and I then attached it to the page using masking tape. :)



By the way, if you check out the Gauche Alchemy store you'll see tons of newly added materials for you to get your art on! Tons of cardboard, paint, beeswax and Distress Inks. Oh boy oh boy oh boy!

Thank you so much for all of your sweet comments and support during my guest spot at Gauche Alchemy, it's so appreciated! Have a great day everyone!

Got It Bad Got It Bad Got It Bad, I'm Hot For Gauche Alchemy

Well the new kit was announced at Gauche Alchemy yesterday and the theme is "Hot For Teacher". This kit is full of school themed goodness including yearbook pages, grade book pages and tons of fun vintage-y crafty fabness.



And if you were to check out their blog HERE, you may just see a layout from yours truly as I am this kit's guest designer! More things to come but this layout has been posted to the GA blog:



I used the Hot For Teacher kit as well as some odds and ends from the Blue Streak and White mixed media color kits. The left flower and fringe for the journaling block were made from the sewing pattern my kit was wrapped in. (GA has the best wrapping on their kits, its all usable!)



This kit was fun to work with and really stretch my imagination since I have no kids in school! lol But it just goes to show how versatile the kits at GA are, inspiration around every corner!

Thanks to GA for letting me play with their kit!

Tootie In The Sky With Ice Cream...And Lies...

Over the weekend, we had my mom and her best friend of many many years over to play The Beatles Rock Band. Both of them love The Beatles and even came dressed for the occasion (my mom is on the left and the hat her friend is wearing was one she wore in the 60's. Very groovy...)



I of course told them that they had to take at least one picture of them rocking out and this was what I got:



What can I say? I get it honest! Speaking of my mom, she sent me this video from You Tube and I thought I'd share:



I also have a layout to show you. I love the story behind this one: Basically ever since Toot was born, my Granny has been trying to give her sugar. I'm talking cookies, cake, ice cream, didn't matter what, she thought Toot needed to be eating real food from the beginning. Well, I've been able to keep her from giving her anything until we went to her house to celebrate her birthday.

I turn my back for one freaking minute only to come back to the table where Toot is sitting with Granny...covered in chocolate ice cream. When I accused Granny of giving her the ice cream, her response was "I didn't give her any ice cream!" When I then pointed out that my child's face was covered in evidence, she scoffed and gave me some song and dance about "the baby grabbing ice cream and putting it in her mouth before I could stop her." Yeah right...



I used the September kit from LPS which I am totally in love with! I also added some vintage buttons, sequins and of course an arrow pointing out my Granny's shame shame I know her name.



Happy Tuesday everyone!

Circle Journal: My Vintage Bling

So my circle journal is off to the West Coast to meet its first recipient. My theme being "Vintage Bling" I went back and forth about what I wanted to do for my double page layout. I decided to do a boy/girl matching layout using pieces from the Gauche Alchemy red, white and pink mixed media color kits and some vintage ads I found online. The pictures are actually a couple of my family members on hubby's side. I got my scanner hooked up so I scanned them in and printed them out on paper.

All in all, I think they came out pretty well. What do you think?

The left side:



And the right side:



P.S.-The Ronald Reagan ad with him giving cartons of cigarettes as Christmas presents is too funny!

Let The Circle Be Unbroken...(please let it be unbroken!!!)

First of all, I have to thank all of you for your mega sweet comments on my last post. I really appreciate all of your encouragement and just think you're fabulous so thank you from the bottom of my blogging heart!

Today I wanted to share a couple of things I made for the new circle journal I'm doing with a fun group of artsy type peeps over at Gauche Alchemy. I chose to do an 8x8 album and the theme I chose is "Vintage Bling" (I know big shock, right? :P). As a way of signing in, I'm including blank tags for everyone to decorate with a request for them to include their favorite decade. Here is my tag:



I picked the 1950's (another huge shock, I know!) and included my name and why I love the 50's on the back of the tag. I'm also done with the cover sheet for the album:



For the cover I used an old picture and book page I got from my favorite haunt, Sleepy Poet Antique Mall, a few Thickers, some patterned paper the August kit and Basic Grey bling I got in a group buy over at LPS, some ribbon I bought in NY and a touch of the Blue Streak mixed media color kit from Gauche Alchemy. I've still got some more work to do on it before I send it off to its first stop but at least I'm getting somewhere! lol I'm excited for this project and really hope my journal makes it back home safe and sound!

A reminder before I go: I'm always looking for more Craftoholics to interview so if you're interested, be sure to read this post and e-mail me! :D

See you all tomorrow for another Fab Five!

Odds and Ends

While feverishly trying to finish up some projects for swaps I'm doing, I found a couple of things I haven't shared yet...

A couple more pin-up ATCs:



This is a double page layout I did for a challenge contest at LPS (click for larger):



Can you believe August is practically over?! September brings our 2nd wedding anniversary and then comes October when Toot will turn one year old and I will turn thirty-*signal lost* years old...Time is flying!

Life At Random: Hats, Times Square and the Smartest Kit Club Ever

Hello all!

I hope everyone has had a fab-u-lous weekend so far! We're heading off to a friend's house for dinner but before we go, I had some fun stuff to share!

1. Gauche Alchemy is having a contest to name their brown mixed media color kit so click here to add your amazingly awesome names to the entries! Also, everyone that comments (whether you suggest a name or not) is entered to win the brown color kit so go go go!

Speaking of Gauche Alchemy, I've decided that they are the smartest kit club in the world. Why is that, you ask? Click here and then scroll down but keep your eyes on the right hand column...go on, I'll wait!

*humming*

You're back! Did you see, did you see?! If you didn't, I'll just tell you why they're so smart right after our new segment called *drum roll* "Fun With Hats!"


"Arrrr matey! Me be a pirate, searching the seven seas for rum and Johnny Depp! Arrrrrr!"

"Am I Russell Crowe yet?!"

"Um yeah...I'm totally not doing this..."

Yes, we loved living it up at the FAO Schwartz store while we were in New York City! Have a great night and I'll see you all back here tomorrow for a new Craftoholics!

P.S.-Gauche Alchemy asked me, moi, yours truly to be a guest designer for one of their fabulous kits! See, told you they were smarties! Mmmmmm...Smarties...

If I Can Make It Here, I Can Make It Anywhere

Hello hello everyone!

Well, we made it to our destination and I am currently in lovely, exotic, fabulous Bronx, New York. Yes, yes that may not sound all that fabulous BUT we are within one single bus ride of Manhattan which IS ultra fabulous and I've been having a grand time observing what makes a Manhattanite-Socialite woman (at least in appearance). I've broken it down into 4 easy steps for you to recreate at home if you too would like to look like a "true" (read: rich) NY woman:

1. Big huge sunglasses

2. Short flow-y dress, either long sleeve or strapless.

3. Hair to be either in a ponytail at back of neck or long, straight and parted in the middle.

4. Mega flat sandals (yes, unfortuntately the "gladiator" look is upon us) OR super high heels in tropical colors.

And there you have it! Easy peasy, yes?

I will have loads of pictures to share when I get home next week, including many of Toot shopping at the finest boutiques 5th Avenue has to offer and a picture I took of two doors with "Lucy" on one and "Desi" on the other which turned out to be dressing rooms of some someones shooting a movie....hmmmm....

In other, craftier news: I was the July Guest Designer for QTea Kits!

"What?? You can't be serious Maggi! They have the cutest embellishment kits ever!"

"Oh but I am serious my shocked friend, someone was actually smart enough to add me to their design team for a month, it's madness!"

You can go here and here to see what I did for them and to tell them how awesome I am (just kidding! No, I'm serious...nah, just kidding! Maybe...) or you can just scroll down to see my creations with their July kit. This is an Australian based kit club that specializes in vintage-y embellishments you can use in any sort of craft and they are loads of fun:

Holy crap, I made a card!

An 8x8 layout:

And these next three are from my 3x4 altered book:

Not too bad for my first sort of Design Team work ever I think.

Anyhoo, I am checking my e-mail and have been so loving hearing from you all! I haven't been able to get to any of your blogs, BOO, but will try my best to catch up when I get home!

I hope everyone's having a great week!

Say Say Say

Gauche Alchemy is currently having a contest to name their pink kit! So put your thinking cap on and make your suggestions here! Tell them I sent ya! (I helped named the blue kit, "Blue Streak" yay me! lol)

Update "Christmas In July" blog party:

Wow, have you seen the list over to the right there? I was praying I'd get 5 people to party with me this Saturday and we're over 40 now! That is so awesome! Thanks to everyone that's going to celebrate Christmas with me this weekend. Please make sure you actually post on Saturday if your blog is on the list! (You of course have the option to post your party on Friday if you'd like to get a head start!) If you've decided that you will not be able to participate please e-mail me and I will take your name off of the list. If you want to be on the list and do not see your blog, please e-mail me ASAP! I've tried to make sure I have everyone listed. katamommy at gmail dot com

If you cannot host a party of your own, I hope you will join us on Saturday and party hop your fingers off! A little birdie told me that there will be loads of giveaways (including one from yours truly), yummy food and who knows what else so don't miss out! One last note, I'm taking sign-ups until Friday night so it is never too late to sign up! (Well, unless it's Saturday...then its too late. :P)

This week's challenge over at Cinema Saturday Creative Challenge Blog was to use an unexpected element in your project inspired by Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. (They pick a different movie every week, fun!) Luckily you are able use inspiration from any of the HP movies because I decided to make a page in my 3x4 altered book using my movie ticket from the new movie and a magic wand made from a toothpick:



I think this little book is finishing up, I'm running out of room! Luckily, I got the best idea yesterday after visiting one of my muses, DustJacket Attic so look for a new project coming soon!

The crop at Life Preservers Scrapbook Club was a blast although I did more chatting and game playing than actual scrapping...oops! lol Oh well, here's a couple of mine from the crop anyway:




Have a great Tuesday everyone!

It's My Party, I'll Collapse If I Want To...

Well I must that say the 2nd Annual Mad Tea Party hosted by the fabulous Vanessa at A Fanciful Twist was a ton of fun! I'd never been a part of a blog "party" before (which is really where you make a post for the party's theme and then visit everyone else's "parties" on their blogs) and I happened across Vanessa's blog and thought, "What the heck!" and signed up.

Then I was nervous because I knew I couldn't create a post half as fabulous as hers (have you seen it?!) but then I remembered that I had all of these pictures from my bridal shower and honeymoon and I figured I could pull it off. Speaking of pictures: some were from Disney World, some were from my "Alice in Wonderland" themed bridal shower and the shoe pictures were of an artistic window display I saw in New York City.

So Saturday morning I woke up and decided to start visiting the blogs of those people that signed up. They were listed in alphabetical order and by the time I got to the "C"s, I knew I was in trouble. I thought about stopping but then I thought about all the people that put so much work into their party posts (and believe me, they did!) that I knew I had to visit them all. They had giveaways, stories, pictures, videos, music, history of the story itself and of course pictures of Tim Burton's upcoming Alice movie. EVERYTHING! It was amazing to see all the different takes on a "Mad Tea Party".

I was trying to figure out why I was having so much giddy fun visiting everyone's party and this was my conclusion: I felt like a kid again playing make believe. It was so fun to comment on someone's blog and say, "Oh my that tea was delicious!" and "I'll have another biscuit, thank you!" It brought me back to all that time I played tea party when I was younger and it was a delightful (yet exhausting) day!

I say exhausting because all together I visited over 200 blogs. Of those 200+, I left comments on every one that had a party post so in the end I left 163 comments all together (yes, I counted, lol). And I didn't want to just copy and paste the same thing so I wrote something original on each one (other than the invite to come to my party of course). I wanted them to all know their creativity was appreciated and enjoyed. The only think I grew to despise by the end of the day was word verification, LOL. And thank you to everyone who commented at my party! I appreciate your sweet comments so so so much! I have to say, it was totally worth it and I'm already thinking of what I'll post for the 3rd Annual Mad Tea Party! lol

Anyhoo, I loved the party so much that I was kind of thinking of hosting my own...BUT I would need some people to party with me! Is there any interest out there for a blog party around here? Any theme ideas? I was thinking of maybe "Christmas in July" or ??? Talk to me people!

In other news, I finally bit the bullet (Chris' discount through his job helped me take the plunge) and bought this magazine:



This is "Marie", a Marie Antoinette inspired mixed media magazine by the same company that does Somerset Studio. I love these magazines! They are expensive but so inspiring! While at the bookstore I also got a biography on Elizabeth Taylor to add to my collection. I think I need to add some more males to my shelves, poor Sidney Poitier is surrounded by chicks at the moment! lol

I do have one thing to show you today (I was able to get some creating in between all the blog partying, yay me!). Another layout of Toot this time. I was going for a "shabby chic" sort of look. I'm still trying to find my own style and hopefully I'm getting close. lol



The paper is from the May kit at LPS, the vintage looking embellishments were from a RAK I won a few months ago and the crochet flowers are from Paper Blooms.




I can't stand just gluing or taping buttons on my projects so I sewed the buttons onto the ribbon, lol.

So who caught The Bachelorette??? Please tell me I'm not the only one that thinks Jillian has gone off her nut! Let's dish!

Have a great day everyone!

This Is An All Skate, Everyone Please All Skate!

Holy smokes, I actually finished a layout! *pause for much needed patting on back*



I made this using some of Toot's six month portraits and the June kit from Life Preservers. Everything was from the LPS kit except for the too sweet gingham ribbon (which I got in a thrift store grab bag), some fabulous crocheted flowers from Paper Blooms, the brad in the middle of the other flowers is one I got from a Target $1 pack and the butterfly trails which I made with Stickles. And speaking of the butterflies:



Aren't they adorable?!?! I got these from Paper Blooms with the flowers and am so in love! They are so teeny weeny and cute!

Oh right, I almost forgot! Remember last week when I mentioned the 1940's movie "The Fleet's In"? Well looky what I found on Etsy:



This is some sheet music and the bottom one called, "I Remember You" is a song from "The Fleet's In"...I found sheet music from the movie! Woo hoo! I promptly bought them (there were 3 different sheets all together) on sale for $3.00...mine now!

I also discovered a couple more things at a local thrift store. Sidney Poitier's book (for $1.00, hello! And isn't he so dreamy? I love "To Sir, With Love" *sigh*), an Algebra textbook from the 40's and an old copy of Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm and another 10 cent pattern, this one is a 50's apron pattern:



I also got a sweet little polka dot scarf and thought about posting a picture of me wearing it but let's be honest here...Toot is ten times cuter than me and she agreed to model it for me so...



I'm working on a couple of other projects, including altering a wood mirror frame I got from Michael's and I'm attempting to work on canvas again after staying away from it for a few years. (I should try and find some pictures of my "paintings" to show you. I have quotes around "paintings" because I stink at it but somehow kept a few of them. lol We'll see how brave I get this week...)

And now for the "shout out" portion of the blog:

1. Don't forget that Melissa is giving away some fun Disney blog candy! Check it out here!

2. Chris wanted me to thank you all for your nice comments on his first Father's Day. He also wanted me to apologize for posting a picture of him with no shirt on, but I refuse to apologize for it. I like the picture...*rowr* :P

3. Look what Mo gave me!

Thank you so much Mo!!!

4. Through her generosity project, I received one of Frieda's fabulous ATCs for my very own! I almost fell out when I saw the envelope! Frieda is so talented and so inspiring! I'll be sure to post a picture of it next go round, the light is terrible at the moment and I want to make sure I take a good picture of it for you to see...

So with that, have a great day everyone!