Gettin' Busy Y'all

 My long weekend was too short, but then again I don't ever remember a time when I said, "whew that was just enough time off of work, I can't wait to go back!", lol.  I didn't do everything that I had hoped but I did get a couple of layouts done. First up is my take on Brenda's monthly sketch challenge on her blog.

This is a photo of my daughter and her boyfriend that I have been wanting to scrap for a while. I decided to do an 8x11 layout (thanks to my bestie Mika). I used Simple Stories Snap from my Scrap-room kit. The colors are so much fun!

Next is a sketch from the my scraps and more sketch blog. They have some really great sketches that spark my creativity.

This is a layout of my four nieces, two generations.  I love these girls!

Finally, I tried the first sketch of the month over at Paper Secrets. Unfortunately I did not finish it on time to enter the challenge but I love the way it turned out.

This is a layout of my oldest daughter on her 16th birthday. I made the tickets myself using my Papertrey Ink die and stamp set. The papers and embellies are from the Prima Doodle Deux collection.

Bieber Fever

My six year old baby niece decided that she wanted a Justin Bieber party for her birthday (which was later changed to a skating party, Batman party, or a sleepover/makeup party - I mean she is six so it is hard to make up her mind, lol). With both of my girls being almost grown I was very happy to help out. I made "microphone" cupcakes, that I put in a pink "boombox" display box made pretty pink and purple cupcakes, and made some fun party bags that included blow-up microphones, colorful hair extensions, and rock star makeup. She had a good time. 

Reveal Day, Including the Winners

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Sketch~n~Scrap blog hop! I am especially appreciative of the warm and touching comments on my layout about my Aunt. I could just hear her reaction in her Southern accent and it literally brought tears to my eyes. Then on top of everything I didn't make becoming a follower a requirement yet so many of you became a follower anyway and I was so excited that I have included another surprise prize for all of my (new and previous) followers that left a comment featuring the Good Life.

But wait before I announce the winners I want to remind you that there is a new sketch up on the Sketch~n~Scrap blog. Here is my take on the sketch. You have until the end of the month to upload your take on the sketch to be entered into the monthly giveaway

AND NOW THE WINNERS ARE.............

The winner of the Valentine's Day prize, selected by random integer is -

Scrap Steph said...


A great layout to honor a special person; what a motivation for me to get busy scrapin.

And the winner of the additional prize for my followers is =

Toneisha B. said...

I love your layout! You can feel the love and warmth it it! Gorgeous colors you chose as well!

Ladies please send me your snail mail address via email at tmikmik@yahoo.com and I will send your prizes postal right away. I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Happy Valentine's Day Blogland!

I am soo very excited, I can just feel the love in the air! Today is the last day for the blog hop and I will be announcing my winner first thing tomorrow morning, I promise not to have you wait too long. I am so appreciative of all of the wonderful and heartfelt comments left that I will also have a special surprise so make sure yo ustop by tomorrow. We will also be revealing a new sketch tomorrow and I know you don't want to miss that. So I hope everyone is having a great day,m the weather is beautiful here in Sunny Philly and if you love the one you want, then love the one you are with :) Before I leave I saw a post about your celebrating your wedding song for Valentine's Day and here is ours - "Nothing Has Ever Felt Like This"
Lyrics :

[Rachelle Ferrell]

Oh Lord, what do I do to deserve you?

Heaven knows, I'm not like you

I'm not perfect

When he sees, will he leave?

Or will he stay anyway (Anyway)

[Will Downing]

Oh Lord, what can do to deserve her?

Heaven knows, Lord knows I'm only human

Can this be, someone truly for me?

Or is it a cruel fantasy?

(Chorus)

Nothing has ever felt, like this

Nothing has ever meant the whoooooole world to me

Nothing has ever been this good

Nothing has ever been this right

Nothing so sweet, In my life...

[Rachelle Ferrell]&[Will Downing]

RF->I know, you treasure me

WD->And I, I know, that I'm the only man you see

RF-> It's a living love with you

WD-> I love my life with you

Both-> We'll share a life together

I love you right now and foreverrrrr OH

(Chorus)

Nothing has ever felt,quite like this Oh No

Nothing has ever meant the whoooooole world to me

Nothing has ever been this good

Nothing has ever been this right

Nothing so sweet, In my life...

[The Break Down]

[Rachelle Ferrell]&[Will Downing]

RF->Nothing, has ever been this good before

WD->And nothing has ever felt this right before my love

Both->Ain't nothing, ain't nothing ever been so sweet

WD-> Oh I need you

RF-> I need you boy

WD-> And I want you too

RF-> Baby hey ey ey

Both-> Nothing, nothing this good

RF->Hey I love you boy

WD->I love you too

Love and Blog Hop!

Welcome to the first Sketch~n~Scrap Blog Hop "Love grows where the heart is...", including a bonus sketch! Become a follower of the Sketch~n~Scrap blog for a chance to win (or if you are already a follower, leave a comment on the main blog letting us know). And for a twist - there is a special phrase for you to decipher along the way so make sure to collect the bolded words on each person's blog (hint - visit everyone in the order they are listed). Once you have completed the phrase EMAIL it to sketchnscrap@gmail.com, for another chance at the grand prize! Don't delay, the blog hop ends on February 14th and winners will be announced on February 15th.

If you have come here from Crystal's blog, then you are on the right path, If you have lost your place you can go back to the main blog here. So without further ado here is my take on the sketch.

This is a layout of my Aunt that passed away August 2012. I would say she was like a mother figure for me but she was sooo much more than that, she was my friend. I could talk to her about anything and I mean ANYthing and she always offered sage advice. In her prime she was fun to hang out with and was a big flirt. So with the theme of "Love grows where the heart is...", my heart can't grow any larger than for the love that I have for my Aunt Bert. I use to stress when using a sketch to get my layout to look exactly like the sketch but now I can look at a sketch purely for inspiration and get my layouts done even quicker.

Webster's Pages Girl Land papers and embellies, Silhouette cuts

As a special treat I am offering a little blog candy of my own.

Basic Grey True Love 6x6 paper pad, K&Co pebbles, 12 yd baker's twine, studio g stamps, wooden thank you stamp, pink bling, mini photo frame, and a box of sweetheart converstation candy

Just leave a comment here for a chance to win (you don't have to become a follower of mine but I would love it if you do and if not now maybe you will in the future).

Next along the hop is Amy with a layout and inspiration I am sure you will love. Thank you for joining us!

Delay of Craft Penalty Call

This is the only thing that I got done this weekend, uggh! This week will be better right?



Bo Bunny Crush Pattern Paper
Maya Road Eye Chart stamp
Karen Foster Push Pin sticker
Studio G glasses stamp
Misc Ribbon and bling



Alas, the end of the work week..........

And I should be looking forward to the weekend right? But for some reason I am in a kind of blah mood but just in time I have been blessed with a couple of pick-me-ups!

First, this morning I had enough time to stop for some of this -

Now to be honest I am not much of a coffee drinker. I use it primarily to jolt my system back to life maybe once or twice a month. For some reason I haven't had a truly restful sleep in the past two days so this was very necessary today, lol.

Then I found out that I am the January winner on Rochelle's blog! How cool is that?!!?!

I entered more challenges and contests this month than I can remember and it is a double reward, because I am getting more craft work done and getting some pretty cool supplies too!

And on top of all of that today is reveal day on the Sketch~n~Scrap blog!

My layout features some self-portraits (a rare thing for me) that I took last year on my 41st birthday. Even though I didn't do much that day I was so happy and at peace with my life. In that moment, everything was perfect.  I would sure love to see your take on one or both of the sketches this month (here is the February 1st sketch) -

 you can win a cool prize and who doesn't like being a winner!

So I am off to check out all of the new February challenges and to line up my work for the weekend. Happy Superbowl weekend - go Eagles! (oh yeah they barely made it through regular season, sorry just wishful thinking). Go Ravens!