In Search Of ....

I am in search of some fantastic kits & ideas for my son's Pirate birthday party. He keeps saying that he wants a Pirates of the Caribbean. I just don't think this is really appropriate for a 6 year old party, maybe for MY 30th birthday ROFL

I bought Penny Springerman's Pirate Kit and Template and Kate Hadfield's doodles as well. I just can't seem to get them to combine into a theme I like. I need a kit more "kiddish" like the colors in Kate's doodles I need papers and some more elements to go with the doodles.

I think that I will attempt this cake:


We will be having a Treasure Hunt of some kind, and I already bought some craft stuff for the kids to do, so hopefully that will be enough. Not sure though. I did score at Joann's after Halloween and I have a bag full of goodie bag stuff that I got 75% off!! I am going to do the bags like these:

So PLEASE help!! Lauren could you PLEASE put something together so I can do the invites and have stuff to scrap the pictures :)

Christmas Movies

I realized today that I haven't watched an entire Christmas Movie all season. The kids and I have started to watch a few of our favorites, but something always comes up and we don't finish them. A few of my favorites that I missed watching this year are:
Elf
The Santa Clause (1, 2 and we started to watch 3)
The Christmas Story
The Nativity Story

New Layout!!

I finished up a new layout last night and I am just IN LOVE with it, so I need to share. Just click it for credits. This is Anthony and Serena on Thanksgiving. Anthony is of course the oldest grandchild and Serena is Adam's newest daughter and the youngest grandchild. Anthony couldn't get enough of her!

It is December!!!

Ok, so December actually started a few days ago, but the countdown to Christmas has definitely started. To help my kids countdown to "the big day" they helped me make a Hybrid countdown calendar.

Here are a few pictures of the painting:



I created the background digitally with Traci Reed's Reason for the Season collection, using mostly Reindeer Games. Then printed it out and trimmed it up. Then used my Mod Podge to carefully glue it down.


After it dried a few hours I used the Modge Podge to cover the painted area of the wood to seal it. Then while I was waiting for that coat to dry I cut out all of the Numbers from Traci Reed & Kristen CB's Upper East Side kit that I had printed out. Then used my Memory Makers silent setter to make the smallest hole possible.

When the calendar was dry I screwed in the 2 small hooks and hung the numbers. Here is the final product!!

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy (late) Thanksgiving everyone. I wanted to share a thanksgiving layout with you, so I did one with pictures of Ellie last year. We have the WHOLE family at Mom's this year so I will have plenty of pics to use this year.


and just for some fun some quizzes from the Sweet Shoppe Blog!!

Your Pilgrim Name Is

Constance Hopkins

What's Your Pilgrim Name?

You Are Mashed Potatoes

Oridnary, comforting, and more than a little predictable You're the glue that holds everyone together.

What Part of Thanksgiving Are You?

Favorite New Goodies

I have been on a shopping spree lately at the Sweet Shoppe! There are a bunch of new designers and they have been putting out SO many new goodies. My paypal account probably doesn't thank the new designers, but am loving everything I got so I am thankful.

Here is a list of what I have purchased from the designers (some was picked up at their personal shops):
Those We Love Collection by Traci Reed
Upper EastSide by Traci Reed & Kristin Cronin-Barrow
Ahoy Mateys by Penny Springmann
A Pirate's Life Template by Penny Springmann
Coconut Creamer by Laura Deacetis
Tumbler Template Trio by Penny Springmann
Pieces Of You Bundle by Shawna, Micheline & Bree
He Loves Me... by Robin Carlton & Traci Reed

My favorite Product though - that I am MOST excited about is this:

after doing 2 Shutterfly books this month I could not bring myself to put together a Full Sized Calendar - and these little mini ones are going to be a hit.

My Favorite Layout

Over at the Sweet Shoppe blog they have some fun challenges and sometimes thought provoking questions for you to answer on your own blog. The next few blog will be from those.

First Up - My Favorite Layout

It is SO hard to pick just one. My styles change and what may be my favorite one minute is over taken by a new favorite. Right now my favorite is one that I did for SUAS but I submitted it to a Magazine Call so I can't post it right now. So here is technically my "2nd Favorite"

I did this layout for SUAS as well, but the journaling on this is very special and that is really what makes it my favorite. When I was scrapping this picture it really occurred to me that I do need to document little moments like this because even though it doesn't look "memorable" now - in a few years when my mom can't walk anymore, it will be a very cherished memory.