My October Giveaway!!

Good morning!! I know it's the last day of September (well, on my side of the world anyway), but due to the busy state of my blog these last couple of days and the ones to come, I figured this would be the best day to reveal to you my October giveaway!! I'm really excited by the overwhelming response to my September giveaway (which is open yet until midnight tonight!!) and truly look forward to having some lucky individuals to send some goodies off to :). You can look forward to the announcement of my winners sometime within the next week ;)~!

SO!~ let's get to it...HERE is my OCTOBER GIVEAWAY:

(sorry for the glare on the right-hand side!!) What we have here is a nice little mix of treasures! I'm giving away the entire Prima "Tea Thyme" paper collection, a bunch of Prima resist canvas pieces, a mix of flowers from Manor House Creations, Prima, Green Tara, and others, Melissa Frances sprigs, Scrap FX chipboard pieces, MME brads, MLS tiny type, Glitz stickers, KaiserCraft wood flourish frame, various journal tags/titles/die cuts/etc., trim, ribbon, some of my favorite paper doilies~ something for everybody!!

Here are some closeups:

Lots and lots of fun stuff to play with!! And if you've never entered my giveaways before~ you'll find it's really easy to do so! All you have to do is just make sure you're a follower of my blog and then enter your info using the Inlinkz tool below. Easy, huh?? As always, my giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY as I love to spread the love world-wide, and you have until midnight CST on October 31st to enter. I will then choose my winner using random.org within the week that follows!

AND~ of course I love to offer up a bonus giveaway! If you'd like to be put into a SEPARATE DRAWING for a random pack of CHIPBOARD, share this giveaway on either your blog, Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest~ then come back here and leave a comment with a link to where you shared!

The best of luck to you and thanks for supporting my blog :D~!

Scrap FX Reveal #2 & #3!!

**Just one day left! Enter my September giveaway HERE, and check in tomorrow for my October giveaway~!!**

Good afternoon! I hope your weekend is going well- it's a GORGEOUS day here and I'm planning to take the kids out this evening for some fall pictures before the leaves are all gone. We had a great birthday party last night for DH and some of you were interested in the recipe for his Chocolate Chip Cookies Surprise Cake~ well, you can find the amazing recipe HERE!! He requests this for his birthday every year as he's a yellow cake AND chocolate chip cookie fanatic- and finding this recipe just seemed too perfect for him :). I hope you enjoy it too!

I'm here today to share with you my last two project for the month of September for Scrap FX. We played with the "animal" theme this month, which I know appeals to lots and lots of you animal lovers out there! Here's my project, as seen on the Scrap FX blog...

I have owned various animals throughout my life from horses to cats and dogs to shrews, bumblebees, birds of all kinds…but almost always, we had chickens. My sister and I used to dress up our chickens in doll clothes! I’ve had a special connection to them all my life and currently have a very interesting and diverse flock. Almost all of my chickens are of different rare breeds and I own both standard and bantam (miniature) size birds. This summer, I let several different hens set on eggs. We hatched out a couple different sets, and the two darlings in my layout were from the second set, with a mother hen who was a little slow to take to her duties. Thankfully I’m a great “mother hen” myself and took care of the babies until the mom was ready. Luckily since then, she’s turned out to be a great mom and I’ve really enjoyed having these fuzzy little guys around .

"Feathered Friends"

 I don’t normally leave chipboard raw, but here I thought it worked really well. The only chipboard piece I touched up was the title…

I used some bisque liquid pearls and glitter to accent my “Feathered Friends” title. The beautiful “Ruffled Feather” I placed underneath and thought it was just so beautiful as it was .

This intricate “Birdcage C Vine” piece was the perfect addition to my layout. I love it! Just a couple teeny little liquid pearls and a resin bird and I was set.

I couldn’t not use one of these “Feathers“. Just settled in amongst my flowers seemed right. I allow my chickens to free range here (meaning they are not kept in their coop all the time- only at night), so they’re all over the place, all day long- and you can bet I find feathers everywhere!!

I’ve used a tag from the “Tags, mixed cream” pack to create a tab for my hidden journaling. These tags are of different lengths and widths, making hidden journaling a snap on any layout!

Next I have a card for you!

"Forever in my Heart"

 I know that this “Forever in my Heart” title was meant for a layout about a the loss of a pet, but I thought it would be a perfect sentiment for a sympathy card. I’ve painted it with gesso and then used a script stamp and distress ink over top. The pretty scroll piece beneath my title is actually snipped from what I had left of the “Gates A, large (scrolls)“, used in part on a layout a while back. I definitely love getting the most out of my chipboard and here’s just one example of how to do that!

Scrap FX Chipboard Used:

 Ruffled Feather

Feathered Friends

Tags, mixed cream

Birdcage C Vine

Feathers

Forever in my Heart

Gates A, large (scrolls)

Other Materials Used:

• Prima Marketing "Rondelle" & "Almanac" Patterned Papers
• Manor House Creations & Prima Marketing Flowers
• Prima Marketing Resins & Bling
• Inkidinkido Stamp
• Prima Marketing Script Stamp
• Tim Holtz "Frayed  Burlap" Distress Ink
• Mr. Huey's Mist
• The Crafter's Workshop Mask
• Martha Stewart Texture Effect
• gesso, tulle picks, doily, seam binding

Thanks for stopping in~ I'll be back tomorrow to reveal my October giveaway!! See you then :)~!

September Prima BAP & BITW "Story"

**For my September giveaway, please go HERE**

*~* This is my second post today! I'd love it if you'd scroll down to see the altered project I created for Webster's Pages~ but if not, that's cool too; just glad you stopped by!*~*

Hi again everyone! Proud to report that the cake is in the oven and the kids have their cards done for my hubby's golden birthday today! So successful SO FAR in the birthday preparations :D~

But as I mentioned this morning after posting my Webster's Pages project, I am back again to share with you a layout I completed yesterday. I've been in a real funk these last couple of weeks with scrapbooking~ just haven't really created something I LOVE~ and if you've ever been in a dry spell like this, you know how miserable it can be. I just haven't felt like I've expressed myself creatively the way I generally like to. And I think it has a bit to do with the stress of my internet issues these last two weeks. When I'm stressed, I just can't be creative. But thankfully, I got a package in the mail yesterday from C'est Magnifique, with plenty of brand new goodies~ and there's just nothing like new product to get that mojo moving!

And it's been a full month at least since I've created something that was non-design team related. So I decided to tackle the September BAP sketch from Prima, as well as the "Story" challenge from Bird is the Word. There are just a couple of days remaining in each challenge, and I felt very strongly about doing both.And though this project took me quite some time (I was just unsure of myself throughout the process), I must say that I'm pleased with what I came up with. I really just scrapped from the heart~ despite the issues I had along the way with this project (let me explain as we go...)

"Your Story"

Now, this photo was a bit of a mess from the start! I had just put the kids down for nap, got an idea for this page, went to print this photo of my dear little girl Aspen running after her brother at the gravel pit- and upon printing I was reminded that I needed to change my color ink (which I have stored in a tub in my boys' room!)~ so the colors were just really bright, reddish, and just way OFF. But I didn't have the option of going into the kids' room so I said HEY- LET'S DO THIS, lol. The Prima Firefly collection actually seemed to fit the colors of my weird photo~ so I grabbed a sheet and away I went!

You might notice that my photo is a little grungy. Well, another mistake by me. I painted gesso all over my paper and around my photo. It looked TERRIBLE. So I tore the photo off of the ruined paper and thought the messy photo actually looked okay by itself. I just had to find a new background paper- and this one actually worked out so much nicer than the first, so it was okay!

My hidden journaling :). I strongly believe in honesty when it comes to the journaling on my scrapbook pages. I want my kids to know everything- and I wanted my daughter to know her story. If interested, it reads "Aspen, you are not actually my 3rd child, but my 7th. I went through much loss & pain to get you- but you were SO worth it! And though you are technically #7, you are #1 when it comes to my daughters as you're my only one! You bring so much love, laughter, and sunshine into my life. All the pain of the past just washes away with your smile. You were worth the wait. You were worth the losses I suffered. You.Are.Loved."

All of my flowers here were purchased through the C'est Magnifique store. Leslie has a great variety- and if you're a kit subscriber, you can choose to have all of your store purchases shipped to you along with your kit at no extra cost- that includes Internationals!!

 I really love this quote. It's from a Tim Holtz stamp set I purchased recently, and thought it went quite well with the theme of my layout- and suited perfectly for the journaling spot on the Prima BAP sketch:

I've been hoarding this gorgeous "Window E Tri Ornate" piece from  Scrap FX for quite some time now...just looking for the perfect project on which to use it. Well, I had to let it go to this layout as it just seemed to work! I simply painted it white and then stamped over it with some distress ink and the same Tim Holtz quote stamp I used alongside my photo.

Thanks again for stopping by here. As I forewarned, I have lots of projects that all seem to be posting around the same time so I'll be around quite a bit in the next few days. I'm also planning to reveal my October giveaway on September 30th, which is also the last day to enter my September giveaway!! 

See you again tomorrow- take care of yourself  and have a fabulous weekend!! :D~

Webster's Pages "Royal Christmas" Altered Frame

**For my September giveaway, please go HERE**

Good morning!! It's Friday morning here and it's my husband's golden birthday. Once again, I've found myself scrambling at the last minute- I've literally done NOTHING to prepare and I feel so awful about that! BUT~  it'll get done before he gets home as I always pull through in the end :). I plan to make his most favorite cake, which is called "Chocolate Chip Cookie Surprise Cake"- it combines his two most favorite desserts (he is NOT a dessert person, so his preferences are very limited): yellow cake and chocolate chip cookies. It uses actual chocolate chip cookie dough inside of a yellow cake- sounds weird, but it's actually quite good!

But anyways! I'm here today to share with you an altered frame I created using the new "Royal Christmas" collection from Webster's Pages. I picked up this double frame at the Recycling Center (our town's version of a thrift store). It is an old wooden vintage frame with one side meant for a picture and the other side was a mirror. I thought it would be perfect for this shadowbox idea I had rolling around in my head!

"Royal Christmas Frame"

I'm a huge sucker for Christmas decorations, and I'm excited to add this to my collection. It has that "elegant Christmas" look that I love~ Royal Christmas is elegant to a "T"!!

As always, there are TONS of fussy cutting opportunities with this collection. I had a blast just cutting away and seeing how each piece could fit into my project. I tried to include all of the rich, beautiful colors available in this range on this frame- from the bold red to the royal purple to the gorgeous green...

 So many places to add bits of bling and gems...

 I even used trim remnants to hang up some ornaments :)~!

If you haven't yet snatched up this collection for yourself, you should definitely do so!! Christmas is FAST approaching and this line is one you're certainly going to want to have in your stash for scrapping those holiday photos.

Products Used:

• Royal Christmas Collection Pack
• Royal Christmas Collection Pad
• Royal Christmas Trim Card
• Pinwheel Florettes
• Miscellaneous Bling

 

Other Products Used:

• Ranger Liquid Pearls
• cheesecloth, seam binding

**And don't forget the Sprinkles Craftbox!! The October one has just been revealed~! Take a look HERE**

Have an awesome day~ will be back a little later to share yet another project with you~!!

C'est Magnifique October Kit Reveal!!

**For my September giveaway, please go HERE**

Good afternoon!! I actually fit in a bit of personal scrappy time today~ but of course didn't get finished in time to be able to take a picture so I should be able to share that with you tomorrow :). So today I wanted to make sure I got on here and post the October kit reveal for C'est Magnifique!! I created five layouts with this kit (one of which you've already seen). Here are three more of them!:

"Wish"

I really love the range of colors this kit provides. As my oldest son gets older, I like to stick with more masculine shades for his layouts, and the blues in this kit are perfect for a page about him! There are also some great fussy cutting opportunities with these papers, which I've done here to create a border behind my photo.

From the Flower Add-On:
Manor House Creations: Sublime - Aqua
Wild Orchid: Beehive Blossoms - White
Prima: Bel Canto - Lavender

From the Embellishment Add-On:
Prima: Typo Zipper Pulls

From My Stash:
My Mind's Eye: Floral Stamp
Martha Stewart: Border Punch: Optic Dot
doily, book page, gesso, stamp ink

"Hope"

I went all girl with this one- with just a touch of grunge! For such a happy photo, I knew I had to do something fun. So I just let loose with some misting and masking, and added plenty of texture .

From the Flower Add-On:
Wild Orchid: Beehive Blossoms - White
Prima: Bel Canto - Lavender

From the Embellishment Add-On:
Prima: Typo Zipper Pulls
My Mind's Eye: The Sweetest Thing Lavender Brads

From My Stash:
gesso, cardboard, stamp ink

"Waiting"

My little Gunner loves to go berry picking with me. In this photo he is patiently awaiting the handful of raspberries I picked for him, and as soon as they're in his hands he's shouting "berries!!"~ way too sweet. So the fabulous berry stem from Scrap FX just seemed to suit this layout, with just a hint of flowers and pops of color against my neutral background.  

From the Flower Add-On:
Prima: Lyrique - White
Wild Orchid: Aster - Navy
Prima: Bel Canto - Lavender

From the Embellishment Add-On:
Prima: Typo Zipper Pulls
Want2Scrap: Frilly Flourish Swirl - Silver
American Crafts: Thickers - Forest - Vanilla

From My Stash:
Prima Marketing: Burlap Leaves
doilies, book page, gesso, stamp ink

And here's a look at the kit. If you don't subscribe to the C'est Magnifique newsletter, visit the blog HERE and sign right up! You will be the first to receive sneak peeks and the kit reveal!

"Last Kiss of Summer"

Ruby Rock-It (Australia)

(**We've got Scrap FX chipboard and Manor House flowers on board!! I know many of you have been wanting to get your hands on both- well, here's your chance!)

Both add-ons for this kit have sold out, but as the full kit was just revealed today, there are still some kits available for purchase HERE. Additionally, there are some individual items from the kit and add-ons available HERE. And to make sure you never miss out on a kit, see how to join HERE!

As we close in on the end of the month, things are going to be quite busy here at my blog- so just bear with me- lots of reveals, my giveaway, etc.~ busy, busy, BUSY!! So you'll be seeing lots of me over the course of the next week~ I put in my request ahead of time for your patience, lol!!

Hope you're all doing well~ see ya tomorrow!! ;)

Manor House Warehouse Sale This Weekend!!!

**For my September giveaway, please go HERE**

You're NOT going to want to miss out on this one- Manor House Creations is having a HUGE Warehouse sale THIS WEEKEND~ here's the details as posted on the MHC blog:

Yes that’s right…we are getting ready for this MASSIVE ‘once-off’ opportunity to purchase an amazing pack of MHC flowers from our Spring, Summer and Autumn 2011 collections and you can…

SAVE SAVE SAVE!

Spoil yourself for Christmas this year !

Here’s just a sample of what’s in the box.

Now I know you’ll want to know how much you’re saving and how much you get…..well let me tell you.

There are 20 packs!

Yes, 20 of our flowers packs from our 2011 Spring, Summer and Autumn releases. Normally they retail between $5.50 and $7.50, that’s over $120.oo worth!!! But for a short time, they are a lot less than that!

Just AU$45.00 for all this.

I can’t tell you how wonderful it would be to have this arrive in the post! An absolute FLOWER-FEST!

SO …when is it?

For 3 fabulous days, it starts THIS WEEKEND!

Don’t miss this once a year offer to SAVE SAVE SAVE!

STARTS SATURDAY!!!! (29th)

*** International orders welcome – shipping will be charged at actual cost for overseas orders (usually between AU$12 – $22)***

***Australian postage – flat rate AU$6.oo ***

The link to our shopping cart will be posted on Saturday.