No crafting project(s) today . . .

I'm going to a little Stampin' Up! Make-n-Take shoebox exchange today, at noon. There is going to be ~ 10 of us gals. We each had to make a project, that the others could make and learn. I've cut and scored 12 of those little nugget boxes to take, for my project! I'm pretty excited . . . I'll come home with 9 projects to share with you, tomorrow! After the shoebox exchange, we're going to have a little crop, until 8:00P! WAHOO!

Each of us were asked to bring a snack too. When I went to Tammy's Upper Case Living party, last weekend, she made the most fantastic dip! I asked her for the recipe, so that's what I'm bringing today! I call it Tammy's Lip Smackin' Dip! ('cause it's THAT good . . . trust me!) Thank you Tammy, for the recipe!

1 - 16 ounces Sour Cream
1 block - Cream Cheese
1 package - Hidden Valley Fiesta Dip
1 cup - Cheddar Cheese
1/4 cup - Dehydrated Onion Flakes

Mix together and refrigerate for a couple hours. Serve with your favorite chip or Ritz crackers.

We're celebrating Stampin' Up!'s annual Sale-A-Bration promotion! Starting tomorrow, for every $50 you order (before S&H), you receive an item of your choice from the Sale-A-Bration catalog! How cool is that?! I will upload the link to the catalog, in tomorrow's blog. There are some cute things in this catalog!

Have a wonderful day! Thanks for stopping by the craft room!
Peggy

Address Book Workshop

Theresa, Jenny, and I were talking one day about needing new address books. The old address book we had didn't have anything about an e-mail address, birthday & anniversary dates, or much less . . . cell phone numbers?! A few years ago, I created my own little spreadsheet for the Christmas card checklist, but the problem was the checklist wasn't in the same place as the addresses . . . so I had to do alot of flipping back and forth.

Problem solved! I'm going to have an Address Book Workshop on Friday, February 13th. Yes . . . I realize it's Friday the 13th . . . but hey . . . something good could come out of that day . . . like a finished little address book!

The class is $10 and will include: one 7"x9" book, 12 "naked" cardboard dividers (not decorated), front & side labels (see pictures), and 25 address pages (there are two addresses per page, which also has 5 years of Christmas card checklist). All you need to bring is paper scraps, for your divider sheets (sample photo to right).

If you can't make the workshop, but would like a kit, let me know . . . I'll be happy to ship it to you (the only additional cost would be any shipping charges).

Please RSVP by February 11th. Hope you can make it!

Don't forget . . . there's just a few more days left until the drawing for the "Blog Candy" (drawing is on February 1st). Be sure to comment to any January post and follow the blog, for entries!

Thanks for stopping by the craft room!
Peggy

What a busy week!

I hope your weekend went well . . . it's been so busy around here!

Last Friday, I had the Valentine Workshop at my house. There was nine gals + baby Jackson! The cards and projects came out very well and everyone seemed to have a good time. Are you ready for this? I didn't take one picture! Can you believe it?! It totally slipped my mind, until all the gals were gone! Shoot me! We had two little give-aways. One little composition notebook, that Cara won, and a little candy bar holder, that Theresa won. I swear, Theresa has the best luck when it comes to winning things! She should really consider playing the lottery or something! :o) The weather personalities predicted yesterday a 20% chance of snow . . . my patootie! We had a snow downpour, within a couple hours! We were all downstairs, with one small window, so we never saw it starting to snow . . . didn't even know about it until the first round of gals were leaving. :o( Was glad that everyone made it home safe and sound though. Thank you ladies, for attending the workshop!

Saturday night/Sunday morning was "Cousin Night". Theresa, my sister, and I started this last year. Once a month, we take our boys to each others house for a sleep-over (one month it's at her house and then the next month it's at mine)! It gives the parents a least a date night, every-other month and the boys really enjoy themselves. (L-R: Patrick-4, Jackson-8, Nathan-5, Brent-6)

Sunday afternoon, I went to a Upper Case Living party at Tammy's house. If you haven't been to one of these, it's alot of fun to create, etc. In a nutshell . . . it's colored contact paper that is in designs, that you can put on your walls, mirrors, front door, glass, etc.

Today we celebrated Nathan's 1/2 birthday at school. So . . . last night, we were making white cupcakes, white icing, and a red cherry on top of each one! (It's what he requested.) Since his birthday is actually in July, the school celebrates their birthdays during the school year. Nathan felt pretty special today! We then took him to Pizza Shoppe for lunch, a local pizza place with AWESOME pink dressing. We had a fun family day today!

This coming Saturday is a Stampin' Up! demonstrator "playdate". We each are to make one Make-n-Take, for all of us to make . . . this little Nugget Box (in above pictures) is what I'm taking. I got the design off of Angie Juda's YouTube videos. So now that I've decided what to do . . . I've gotta cut and score 12 of them, before Saturday . . . not a problem! :o) I hope everyone likes it.

I told you it was busy around here! I wouldn't have it any other way though!

Have a great day . . . thanks for stopping by my craftroom!
Peggy

Blog Candy . . .

The "blog candy", for this next month is this cute miniature composition notebook. You could keep this, in with your camera, and use it to journal your pictures in . . . so you don't forget the 5 why's on the picture (who, what, where, when, and why). There is a little piece of black ribbon attached to it, so you can keep your place.

All you have to do is leave a comment (=1 entry), on any January '09 posts, or follow my blog (=1 entry). Each time you leave a comment (limit 1 per post), you receive 1 entry. Those of you that already follow will automatically receive 1 entry. The drawing will be on Saturday, February 7th @ 12:00P, using random.org.

The winner will be announced/notified via the blog. You can e-mail me, at that time, with your home address.

Good luck and thanks for stopping by the craft room!
Peggy

I'm on the phone . . .

I just had to share this . . . 'cause it makes me laugh! When our youngest is on his play phone, normally always talking to Aunt TaTa or Aunt Jenny, I ask him, "Who are you talking to?" You know what he does?! He shh's me! Of course this becomes a constant thing, because it makes Mommy laugh! Gee . . . I have NO idea where he picked that up?! :o)

I made some little mini chocolate bar holders, at Cyndi's house the other night. I'm still embellishing them . . . but the holder part is done! I'll post later. It's a little tease for 'ya, 'aint it?! :o)

A friend of mine told me that Target will take something back, without a receipt. I called them this morning, to verify, and you'll receive a refund as long as you've purchased it within 90 days?! They pull it up with your credit card . . . what a deal!

Got some errands to do (yup, Target is on the list), since I'm off at work today. Gonna play this afternoon with some girlfriends, in my 'lil craft room!

Have a great day!
Peggy

Get Well Wishes

I had a wonderful time, last night, with the Cricuteer group! We all got alot of crafting done, the dinner and brownies were delicious, and Cyndi DID remember the tequila this time! :o) It's so much fun to have an evening with girlfriends.

Theresa, my sister, called me this morning. She wanted me to make two get well cards for her. The grandparents, of Theresa's girlfriend, were in a pretty serious accident late last night (along with their 9 year old granddaughter). They hit a patch of ice and ended up upside down, hitting a tree . . . luckily an off-duty police officer was on his way home and assisted them. Their granddaughter very stayed calm and helped her grandparents. The police officer said that she was a little hero. They're pretty banged up, a few broken bones too, but at least they're all still with us!!

Keep them in your thoughts, and prayers, for a speedy recovery.
Peggy

Spinner Card

I was playing, with the spinner card that I saw on Angie Juda's website, and came up with the following card. Turned out kinda cute, didn't it? There is a Stampin' Demensionals between two pennies, so when you move the card back and forth . . . the cherry moves. Not too bad, for my first pass at it . . . huh?

Gotta get my stuff packed up, for tonight! Oh what decisions I have, on what projects to bring to play with?! :o)

Hope you're having a wonderful day!
Peggy

Anniversary Card

A friend of mine and her husband are celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary this month! I sure hope she doesn't peek at the blog, before they get the card in the mail! :o) Gosh, it just doesn't seem possible that we're all old enough to even be married that long . . . does it?! Nah . . .

The layout of the Criss-Cross card is (I think) my new found favorite. I just love playing with colors and patterns, for it. I also found the new "champagne" Versamark ink pad at Archiver's. (Yes, Stampin' Up! gals sometimes do shop elsewhere!) I've always loved the Versamark ink pad + this has a bit of shimmer/glitter it in too! Bonus!! I used the new "Goody Goody Gumdrop" hostess set too!

The "Cricuteers" are getting together tomorrow night, for a evening of scrapbooking and chit-chat, at Cyndi's house. I just gotta tell 'ya something funny . . . first off . . . let me tell you that Cyndi isn't much of a drinker. The last time Cyndi had us all over, she got a couple of those HUGE containers of the pre-made margarita mix. After a few hours of scrapbooking/drinking, we were thinking that the tequila really wasn't effecting any of us?! Well . . . Cyndi didn't read the fine print, at the bottom of the jar, where it said to "just add tequila"! We all got a pretty good laugh out of it . . . maybe I should bring one of those little airplane bottles, of tequila, with me tomorrow night?! :o) We'll have a good time . . . nothing like a night with the girls!

Congratulations to Niki and Billy, on 25 blissful years of marriage!
Peggy

Valentine's Workshop

Oh my gosh . . . guess what came in the mail today?! Terry thought I purchased some bricks! Oh me, oh my . . . I got the new Stampin' Up! Spring/Summer catalogs! There are some awesome new stamps and great ideas in the catalog! If you'd like to pre-order one, they are $5/each (+S&H if you need it mailed). Oh my gosh, wait until you see it! It'll definitely make your socks go up-n-down! :o)

Want a sneak peek of what you'll be making at the Valentine's workshop on January 23rd? Here are the planned cards/projects that you will be making: Ghirardelli Square Chocolate Holder, Criss-Cross Card, Loads of Love Truck, and 2-4-6-8 Acrylic Box. Price of the workshop is $10 or you can make 2 sets of everything for $18.

Hope you have a wonderful day!
Peggy

Small Composition Book

Well . . . I know it's not Tuesday, but I was too excited and couldn't wait!

I was watching some of Angie Juda's videos the other night and saw that she'd covered a small composition book. I was at The Dollar Tree store tonight and long and behold, I came across these 'lil guys there . . . so you know what I did?! Yup, you've guessed it! I've CASE'd it and here's what I came up with . . . it sure was alot of fun and easy!

If you get a chance to watch her videos, do it! She's a very talented gal and you'll always learn something! Watching the videos does become addicting though . . . so consider yourself warned!

I'm going to draw a name, of one of the gals that come to my Valentine's workshop, on January 23rd. The name drawn will win this 'lil book. Good luck ladies!

Hope you've had a wonderful day!
Peggy

I've been having so much fun, searching blogs! I'm now following some wonderful, and uplifting, blogs! Have you searched before? It is SO much fun . . . to find others creativity and see what they write about. I just started clicking on a friend's blog followers and then clicked on her followers, etc. I had a blast reading blogs!

A friend/co-worker got engaged, over the Christmas holiday! I created this card, to mail to her and her fiance' . . . hope they like it. I've been trying my hand at Gamsol . . . which I can honestly say that I like better than using the Aqua pen! Thank you so much, to Peggy M., for showing me how to color with Gamsol! LOVE IT! Take a look at her blog, if/when you have a few moments . . . she's very talented!

Theresa (my sister), Tammy (Theresa's friend), and Jenny (friend of mine) all came over yesterday and we had our day of female bonding . . . AKA: Scrapbooking. Tammy and Theresa made alot of little Ghirardelli Chocolate Holder, that we'd found on Angie Juda's website. We used the Love You Bunches Bundle stamps. Tammy and Theresa were pretty busy makin' these last night! I think they came out cute . . . I hope they're not already sick of making the 'lil holders, 'cause they're going to be making another one @ my Valentine's class on January 23rd also! :o)

Theresa and I are putting together a recipe book, of our favorite recipes. Alot of these recipes are our Mom's recipes, who passed away in 2004. We're making them into 5.5"x8.5" scrapbook pages (with protective covers). These pages are turning out pretty cute! We split up the recipes, so that she would have one original of one recipe and I would have the copy . . . and then I would have the original and she would have the copy. Although we both miss her immensely, it's the little things (like seeing her handwriting again) that makes you feel so comforted and warm. Here's one of my favorite pictures of our Mom (AKA: GiGi), holding our oldest son.

A small piece of advise . . . find out how your Mom (or Mother-in-Law) fixes your favorite family recipes and take a picture of the two of you making it! It can be something that you can pass on the generations to come.

Hope you have a wonderful week!
Peggy

Youngest's Halloween Page Finished!

Happy Monday to you!

When I finished this page last night, our youngest was already asleep! He got to see it when he woke up this morning.

He gave me a BIG hug and said, "thanks Mom" . . . you know, that's the way to start your day off right!

I was reading in the Parent & Child magazine tonight and they had an article, "Beyond Cheese". It's about how to "Add style and elegance to your family photos with these easy professional techniques" . . . by Carolyn Buchanan. Thought I'd share them with you.

1. Fill the frame. Many of us shoot from the same distance when we try to capture our kids at an event . . . move closer.
2. Go flash free. (Say that three times!) Most cameras allow you to override automatic settings and most do well in low lights.
3. Try high and low. Changing your angle on the subject can dramatically improve your photos. It's a good idea to get down on their level.
4. Say something new . . . leave out the cliches' behind. Instead of saying "say cheese", try "show me what's in you've got in your hand."
5. Snapshot spontaneous portraits. Look for moments when your kids are sitting still, preoccupied with something else.
6. Find your focus. Lead the viewer's eye directly to what is important.
7. Don't shoot for perfection. Take the time to make mistakes and experiment.
8. Be aware of background. Cluttered and busy backgrounds wreck pictures because they draw your eye away from the subject.

Just wanted to share. Thanks for stopping by the Craft Room!
Peggy

Halloween Scrapbook Pages

Hey there! I hope you're new year is going well . . . I've been scrapbooking to no end lately!

I started our oldest son's page, on the green color, and then I was going to add some Cricut die cuts on it . . . but then I had an epiphany! Back in September, I had been to another SU Demo's house and she'd done this Frankenstein. As you've seen that Theresa (my sister) and I have come up with alot of things to put this 'lil Frankenstein guy on . . . well now . . . he's on a scrapbook page! I then made the mummy scrapbook page, for our youngest son's Halloween school party page. All I need to do is print off the pictures and add them. WAHOO! Another holiday scrapbooked! :o)

Our sons saw the Dracula picture, out on SplitCoastStampers, so maybe we'll have to do another page . . . maybe the one on the actual date, before we went out Trick-or-Treating?! :o)

I was so proud of them, I just had to share it!
Peggy

December Promotion Winner

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I hope you had a wonderful and safe New Year's Eve! I'll tell 'ya how much fun I am . . . I fell asleep on the couch, before 10:00P! I woke up @ 12:04A, wished Terry a "Happy New Year", gave him a kiss, and went to bed! Our oldest son stayed up until 11:45P and then crashed on the couch too! Poor Terry!

Well . . . we had our drawing, using random.org, and the winner is . . . . drum roll please . . . congratulations to Theresa D., of Raymore, MO! Theresa won the Doodlecharms paper + 2 rolls of Terrifically Tacky Tape! Congratulations again Theresa!

I created all of our January birthday cards (9) + a thank you card. Here's pictures of the cards.

I have to share this website with you, that I'd read about on Stacy Julian's website (Scrapbook Memories guest hostess). You can listen to FREE music, while on the computer! Go to Songza . . . it's alot of fun to go through the playlist. Funny how music can be our own little scrapbook! Listening to some of these songs sure did bring back some great memories!

Wishing you, and your family, have a very happy and prosperous new year!
Peggy