It is New Years Eve

....this year we are spending a quiet evening at home! We are having a large dinner at our house for New Year's Day though.

I am really enjoying my time off of work with the girls. Our tree is put away and I am working on cleaning.

I have some scrapping things to share...here are several projects I did using the current sugar kit at Scrapdango

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here is a card I made out of an envelope. I folded the envelope and stamped on the front. I attached the enveloped to a piece of cardstock. The envelope opens up and that is where I put a gift card.

January at Scrapbook Express

Girls, I want to invite you all over to Scrapbook Express! They are having a fabulous contest in January...and the prizes are amazing! Here is a little bit about it: (If you come on over introduce yourself in the forums..and don't forget to tell them "Julie" sent you!

Scrap in the New YearScrapbook Express VS Memories From The Attic If YOU are any or all of these: an avid scrapper, love to share your unique creations, love to chat on the message board and encourage others with praise, then Scrap in the New Year is just the contest for you! Not only will you be playing as an individual, you are playing towards bragging rights for your favorite site! Regardless of whether you are on the winning site, 5 players will win prizes!

Contest starts January 1, 2009 but contest activities are taking place right now! Please join us for a good time and get ready to scrap away the month of January!

December 2nd

Tada Creative Studios papers

December 1st

We had Bunco on the 1st..I won this little snowman in our gift exchange game..I didn't win anything for bunco..but always have fun.

Papers and stamps are Tada Creative Studios

December Daily journal catch up

Okay, so this year...I was really ahead.....my gifts were almost all bought before December came...we decorated the weekend after Thanksgiving.....I took the girls pictures for our Christmas cards...and sent those that weekend too...and best of all my mom took all the presents to wrap for me!!! wooohooooo!!! So this year I decided I would document our 25 days of December. (Course I am going to add all of those things I did before at the back...because it has been pretty relaxing and enjoyable so far....However..I am a little behind on the keeping the daily journal....but I thought I would post what I have so far!

Here is My Cover:

I used Tada Creative Studios Fa la la collection and a stamp from the Twinkly Tidings collection.

This is an opportunity for your beautiful, handmade scrappy gifts to earn you FREE TaDa product! Submit photos of your handmade gifts, made with TaDa products, for a chance to win! Two Grand Prize winners and one Best of Show winner will be awarded.
Specifics:There are two categories in which you can enter: 12 x 12 page layouts OR altered pieces/mini albums. Only TaDa patterned paper and stamps may be used. Extra enhancements, such as solid cardstocks, rub-ons, alphabets, ribbons, brads, eyelets, inks and chalks are all permitted. TaDa’s laser cut cardstock, Pocket Notes, Tag-a-ma-jigs and ScrappiDoodles are all encouraged, but not mandatory.
Prizes:ONE Grand Prize for Page Layout Category and ONE Grand Prize for Altered Pieces/Mini AlbumsEach Grand Prize winner will have their choice of TWO collections of printed papers (one sheet of each within the collection), two Oooh La La Layers laser cuts (color and design of winner’s choice), and two red rubber, cling mount stamps. This prize will arrive in a coveted TaDa canvas tote bag!
The Best of Show award winner will receive one sheet each of ALL ten TaDa printed paper collections from 2007 & 2008 (41 sheets), six Oooh La La Layers laser cuts (color and design of winner’s choice) and six red rubber, cling mount stamps. This prize will also arrive in a TaDa canvas tote bag.
All three winners will be given a unique TaDa CROPPY AWARD to display for all to see!Please submit all entries to TaDa’s Design Team Leader, Tracy Austin at: leusch_austin@hotmail.com

Happy Scrapping!

Christmas gift and more Magistical Memories

Each year I alter those $1 albums from Target/Wal-Mart that hold 4x6 photos. I take out the insert and then just decorate it.

My mom loves this gift...and she would never let me hear the end of it, if I didn't give her one each year. The Magistical Memories owl was absolutely perfect for this. Papers, ribbons, gold stickers, and buttons are all products from Harmonie.


I sprayed glimmer mist on the whole chipboard piece. Then I inked the owl. I used a pen to color the branch and his eyes. Here is a closer look before I added the pen detailing to the owl:

I then used a pen to give the owl feathers and to add a little extra around the circular frame. I rubbed a little stickes glittter onto the body of the owl as well. The chipboard owl piece is all raised on pop dots. I folded ribbon under the brown pattern paper for a fun touch.


Here is a picture of it added under the sleeve of the album:

Another entry for Magistical Memories

Here is my third creation for the 2nd round of the design team call at Magistical Memories. The gallery is rawkin at Magistical Memories. For this layout, I painted, inked, and stamped some images in the background. I distressed the main photo. I ink and sprayed glimmer mist of the fancy frame, scallop plate, and the lil dinosaurs. (which are all Magistical Memories)

The paper, gold sticker, mosaic tiles, ribbon, and buttons are all from Harmonie.

More Magistical Memories....

So I am sooo excited to be in round 2 for the design team selection over at Magistical Memories. There is some serious talent in this round, and I am having so much fun creating using the chipboard. Here is a layout using My Minds Eye pattern paper that I received from Scrapbook Express. (They have awesome customer service...not to mention fabulous products and great prices) I also used a fancy frame and 3 folk stars from Magistical Memories on this layout. I inked them and then added stickles around the trim.

Lots of creations to share

Today is the kit reveal at Scrapdango. I made this layout with the sugar kit. I did add in the potty people chipboard from Magistical Memories.

I also made this wall art piece to hold my girls artwork. I was inspired by something similar in Creating Keepsakes magazine.

More bulbs...

Today I am going to show a bulb I made using rub-ons.

This is another quick and easy gift.

I like to make special ornaments for my girls each year. I try to pick a theme of something they are into at the time.

Sydnee is into princesses and particularly tinkerbell. I made 2 bulbs for her.

For the first bulb I just put some beads, buttons, and gems in the bottom of the bulb.
Then I used rub ons around the outside and finished it off with a ribbon:

For the second one, I filled it much the same way. I used rub ons for her nickname and then I added a crown gem sticker on the opposite side. It isn't the best picture, but I tried to take it so you could see both sides. In the ribbon trim, I added a crown and heart ghost shape that I put a little gem on. I mixed ribbons with soft fibers for the ribbon treatment at the top of this ornament.

Enjoy!

Gather your clear bulbs and create with me!

Gather your clear bulbs and settle in. I have lots of fun, easy, and inexpensive ideas to make some neat keepsake ornaments. I will be posting different ideas to decorate them over the next several days. (some of the ideas I have found other places...todays is one I saw at 2 peas awhile back, but I don't remember who the creator was...sorry.)

I will be starting with transparencies. I am going to apologize now for the poor pictures...these aren't the easiest to photograph. The weather was yucky this weekend so I couldn't get very good outside light shots...so I had to use the flash inside..but you get the idea at least.
For these you will need:

transparencyclear bulbglitter, beads, or gemsribbon treatment
I took the picture I used for our Christmas cards and made a copy of it on a copier. (so it was in black and white) Then I ran a transparency through to transfer the picture on.

I then used my coluzzle circle cutter to cut the picture in a circle. I added some beads to the bottom of the clear bulb. (You could also use glitter or gems) This will help keep the transparency in place.

Gently roll the circle photo up and slip it through the bulb opening...it will spring into place. It is important to use a transparency because the paper will not spring back into place it will remain bent and curved from the rolling.

Add the ribbon treatment to the top of the bulb...and voila...a great keepsake ornament to remember the year by.

I gave this to my husband from the girls.

I also made this one of our Saint Bernard that we lost last October as a keepsake. Here are my samples: (sorry for the photos)



This is so simple and inexpensive!

Tada is having a contest!

You have scrappy gifts to make for loved ones for the holiday season? Why not enter them in a contest to win scrappy prizes for yourself?? The gift is theirs and the image of the project to be sent to TaDa! Easy-peasy!

Find info about TaDa Creative Studios here: http://www.tadascrapbooking.com/

Find all contest details here: http://www.tadascrapbooking.com/Cropportunities.pdf

Deadline is December 15th. Send entries to me at: leusch_austin@hotmail.com Looking forward to seeing all the entries! Good luck and happy scrapping!!!

Super Excited

I made it through to the second round design team call at Magistical Memories. Their chipboard is fantastic. There are 27 girls in the second round. We all will have to use all the same MM chipboard to create some designs. 9 from the list will be chosen to join the team. I am super excited!!!! Congrats to the other girls too!

It's November already

Wow, where does the time go. Our littlest daughter, Shay, has just had a bad bout with her asthma. She didn't get to go trick or treating, but at my mom's church they had a "trunk or treat" and she went to that. She is only 21 months old....I am amazed at how fast they catch on. I really hope that she doesn't go through what she went through last winter again. She was sick all the time. Do we ever stop worrying about our babies?

Here is something I have recently done:

I used Tada Creative Studios Tea Hee Hee line.

I am in round 2

We need your votes!!! Come and help us decide who should move on to Round #3 of YMBD's "So You Think You Can Scrap" Contest! Click HERE to view the submissions and cast your vote!

I have been having so much fun with this!

updates

We have had a change in schedule with our family. My husband has been working 2nd shifts since we have been married. It has worked out well for the girls, because he has been Mr. Mom in the mornings, and I have them at night. We spent family time on the weekends. Anyways, now that Sydnee is in school, he doesn't want to miss out on any of her evening things so he has been looking within his company for a 1st shift position. ONe opened up and he got it! WE are so excited to have him home every evening!

I have a little gift card holder card to share. I used Tada Creative Studios Twinkly Tidings paper line and the snowflake stamp is from them as well. I embossed the stamp in the circle. I did this for the challenge at Caardvarks. The challenge was to score a project. I scored the crease in the card, I also had to score all the flaps of the pocket before I adhered it onto the card.

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Fun Mail Day!!

Wooohoooo, I came home from school today to a happy mail day! I received the new Magistical Memories chipboard releases...really love the trees and dinos. I also received my design package from Tada Creative Studios. Yesterday was a great mail day too, I received my papers and stamps from Harmonie. Here are some projects I have done since my last post too:

papers and embellies from Scrapdango.

Papers from Rita Marie.

new papers and chipboard from Harmonie.


I made this Kaiser clock for a Christmas present.


Papers by Tada Creative Studios and Fancy Pants

Crazy Week

Wow! I am back to work. I have a wonderful class of 5th graders. I am teaching 2 periods of math and 2 periods of social studies. I love both of those subjects.

sob...sob....My first born, Sydnee, started Kindergarten this year. She is loving it and has a wonderful teacher. The first thing she tells me each day off the bus is..."I was on green all day again, Mommy!"

Here is a picture of her waiting for the bus.

I was also contacted for a layout for an upcoming Memory Makers idea book. I am super excited for this one.

Scrapdango has the new Sugar and Spice kits for September up. Here are a few things I did with the sugar kit.

Winner!!!!

I received this wonderful email from Toni at Magistical Memories saying she picked me for her rak. (I and 2 others were picked) We get some of MM's new releases designed by Toni. Check it out here. Thanks so much Toni!!!!

Tonight we are going to the Blueberry Festival. It is the local festival in our town. The girls, especially Sydnee is sooo excited. She loves to ride the ponies!

Also, I thought I would share that Carrie at Scrapdango is looking for a Guest Designer for October. The designer will get one of the full kits. Here is what You have to do:

Carrie writes:
I can't believe we are almost through the summer! We are in a 3 digit heat wave here in Oregon and I am thinking about all those fun summer activities that we do during the summer. BBQ's, camping, swimming, vacations! We are looking for our October Guest Designer and your challenge is to create a layout about how your family celebrates the good times of summer.

Your layout needs to have ALL of the following:
*At least 1 photo*4 different colors on your layout
*At least three different pattern papers
*Journaling....everywhere! (Mmmmhhhh, be creative with this!)

The winner will be using our October featured Sugar or Spice kit!Oh yes, there are always

RULES:Must be a new layout created for this contest.
Please upload your entries to the October Guest Designer section in the Gallery (look for it soon).
1 entry per personDeadline for entries is 08/31/08Winner will be announced shortly after thatIf you have been a Guest Design Team member on Scrapdango in the last 3 months you can't try out again this time.
• To be considered, your participation on the Scrapdango forum is required. We want to get to know you, so come on in and say hi if you are new to Scrapdango and just make sure you have at least 90 posts and your layout uploaded by the deadline to be considered. Please note: only legitimate posts will be considered in reaching the minimum 90 posts.
• We will select one winner from the entries who will serve as Guest Designer for October.

Guest Designers responsibilities:
• prepare and submit designs using an upcoming featured Scrapdango kit. GDT members will do 3 layouts (1 must be a 2 page layout) and a 4th project that can be either a layout, an altered item, or a couple of cards.
• featured on the Scrapdango Blog and Forum• participate in planned activities on the Forum during your featured month (such as run a weekly DT challenge/crop/contest/game. )
• Daily posting on the boards (QOTD/SQOTD/LOTW) GDT members would be responsible for 1 week of these.
• Leaving praise in the gallery
****anyone living outside the United States may apply as well; however, they must pay the difference in the shipping costs if selected.

Anniversary tomorrow

Don and I will be married 11 years tomorrow. He has something special planned but won't tell me...only thing I know is that we are taking the girls to the sitters around 3pm. Sydnee is sooo cute, she told me today she didn't want to go to Ree's she wanted to go to the "anniversary." Kids say the best things!

Anyways, as far as scrapping goes, I just recently made this 7Gypsies album. I did a page for each one of us and then I made calendar pages in the back to list important dates. I was pretty happy with how it turned out.

August 1st....kit reveal day at Scrapdango

On the first the designers at Scrapdango get to reveal their kit designs. Carrie has the most awesome kits! I am fortunate enough to work with the sugar kit. Here are some of the designs I did this month.