"You Cheer Me Up Award!"

Wow! Thanks abunch to Michelle at Michelle's Tidbits, for nominating me for this award! I am so glad to know that I am able to cheer someone up, because there are so many people that cheer me up on a daily basis!! It is a real blessing for me to get this award!



Here are the instructions for the award:
"If you are a recipient of the "You Cheer Me Up" Award, please find the blogs that cheer you up, copy the code to post on your sidebar and pass Ethel and Lucy across the blogosphere. You can use what cheers you up in your post, or copy this one, but please send your award receipients back to the original post on "A Nice Place In the Sun" to get a copy of the award code, post the image and read the instructions. I want to try to maintain a page of original and ongoing award recipients, so feel free to let me know if you've received an award when you pick up the image code."

Now, I would like to nominate a few of my blog friends:
1. Rochelle, at Impressions
2. Lauri, at Paperville
3. Beth, at BoScraps Creativity
4. Lisa, at Us 4 Vol Fans

"Bloom Where You Are Planted"

This is one of my 'seed packet' cards that I made for my booth in April. I wanted to make some cute, quick little gifts for Mother's Day coming up, and I thought seed packets would be perfect!

I started with library pocket cards, that I found at Hobby Lobby. Since they already had the 'pocket' for the seed packet to slide down it, I thought I'd decorate the front to look like a flower pot. I just used brown cardstock and sketched out a flower pot large enough to cover the front. (The rim and base are two separate pieces) Then, I adhered my ribbon ends to the back of the base, and tied it around the front, before adhering it to the pocket card. Once in place, I adhered the rim so that it would be flush with the top of the 'pocket' and come down alittle over the base.

The adorable garden lady stamp is from The Angel Company. I colored her in with Prismacolor pencils and also used a blending pencil. I think she is just too cute!! My dear friend, Linda, let me borrow this stamp set. Thank you, thank you!

I've also included a picture below of the whole thing tied up in cello. I was able to use the watering can stamp, from the same set, to tie on as an accent. I'm making about a dozen of these for my booth in April.

"Floral Clipboard"

This is another clipboard I decorated for my booth in April. I love the coordinating patterned paper by SEI that I found to use. I think it is a great color combo.

Across the middle, I used a khaki shade of Offray ribbon, which I think tied both patterns together great!. Across the top, I was able to use misc. ribbon in shades of sage, burgundy and cream. I really like how it turned out -- it looks so fresh and fun to me!

"Mailboxes"

I'm back working on items for my booth in April. I decided to decorate a couple mailboxes today. One is done in baby patterned paper and the other in TN Vols patterned paper.

I really think these make fun gift ideas. Just fill them with goodies and they're ready to give! I've posted pictures of both mailboxes below:

"I've Been Tagged"

Hi, everyone! Hope you had a great Easter! I enjoyed the Easter service at church, then ate waaaay too much at my dad and stepmom's afterward! LOL

My gal pal, Rochelle, at Impressions, has tagged me! I have to list 7 random things about me, so here it goes:

1. I owned a scrapbook store, with my mom & sister, for a little over 3 years.
2. I love to eat Jelly Bellies while I craft.
3. Before I owned the scrapbook store, I was a Legal Secretary for 7 1/2 years.
4. I love to smell someone grilling outside in the spring/summer.
5. I am addicted to the new TV show New Amsterdam.
6. I am finally finished reading all 13 of Nicholas Sparks' books.
7. My favorite foods are Mexican and Italian.

Now, I would like to tag:

1. Michelle at Michelle's Tidbits
2. Beth at BoScraps Creativity

"Some Kind of Wonderful"

I ran across this 12x12 layout this morning, and I just had to stop and take a minute to reflect. Do you ever come across photos of your child(ren), even if it's not that old of a picture, and take a minute to reflect? Well, I'm one of those kind of people that can pretty much remember everything about a picture of Alyssa, like when it was made and/or what was going on at the time. (I think it's a little bit of my OCD showing!) heehee

Anyway, this is another one of my layouts that is several years old, but ever time I see it, I always remember doing it and how please I was with how it turned out. Like many others, this is one of my favorite photos of Alyssa! She is definitely some kind of wonderful to me!!

"Coaster Calendar"

I decided to make a coaster calendar and attach an additional decorated coaster, with ribbon, to make it stand up. I've seen several different styles made, some with pictures, others with quotes.

I found this gorgeous cream paper with Christian words in brown all over it. So, I covered my coasters with it and matted my calendar and scripture in solid brown cardstock. I also used brown satin Offray ribbon to tie the coasters together.

I've made this for my sister, Kim, for Easter. So, hopefully, she's so busy that she'll not be able to check my blog before church in the morning! heehee

"More Easter Treats"

I got the inspiration for these great Hershey stick holders from my gal pal, Rochelle. She has complete instructions for them on her blog. She always has the neatest stuff posted!!

I made these for my niece and nephew, Lauren and Craig, for Easter. Since they've gotten abit too old for me to fix them Easter baskets, I thought these would be something neat to give them.

Thanks for the inspiration and directions, Rochelle! You rock!

"Easter Order"

This is an order I just finished up this evening for my sister, Kim. She's going to fill them with the chocolate bars. (Because I have a tendency to eat up all the chocolate!) LOL

I know what you're thinking.....man, she's done alot of these chocolate pouches lately, but I can't help it, they make such great treats to give out. Plus, you can decorate them for any occasion!

Kim wanted the pouches to be pastel, for Easter, and the gorgeous stamps used on them are from The Angel Company. The cross and 'He is Risen' are separate stamps, I just combo'd them up for this.

I have to thank my dear friend, Linda, for letting me borrow this set. She's always so good to share!

"Easter Layout"

I was asked several years ago to teach a class on paper-piecing, and since it was close to Easter, I had everyone make this bunny. This is a 12x12 layout I did to incorporate the paper-pieced bunny. Using this layout, I wanted to, not only show his completed size, but how easy it was to incorporate him onto a layout.

My layout, here, ended up being rather simple, but I loved this photo of Alyssa and her Dad before church on Easter morning, so I made that be my focal point of the page.

Even though this simple layout was from several years ago, it is still one of my favorites!

"Easter Class Treats"

These are class treats for Alyssa to take to school Thursday for Easter. They came together pretty quick. Each holder has a roll of Smarties candy inside. The template for these is the same as the one I use when I make my lipgloss and chapstick holders.

To make these, cut the cardstock at 3 1/2 x 6 1/2, then scored at 3 and 3 1/2. Then, fold over at the 3 1/2 score and cut 2 slits (about an inch apart) inward to the other score line. When you open the holder, you will need to 'pop up' the slot to slide your candy through. If you wish to tie it together, I use the SU slot punch.

I posted a picture of the inside below:

"Birthday Gift"

I never get tired of making these little band-aid tins from Provo Craft. They always turn out so cute! I decorated this one for my neighbor's daughter, Amber, who's having her 4th birthday party this afternoon.

She loves Dora, so Alyssa and I got her a little 'combo' gift set of coloring book, crayons, stickers, and mini gel pens (included in her tin) together as her gift. I hope she likes it! Amber is so little and precious that this tin is just the right size for her to carry around!

"Saturday's Crop"

Today was our monthly scrapbooking get together. We meet the 3rd Saturday of every month from 10am to 10pm and always have a great time. Some get alot accomplished, while others (especially me) spend most of the time visiting! heehee We just enjoy this time together! Today, I decided to get my camera out!

We all work on a little bit of everything....some scrapbook; some stamp; some are painting or mod podging something....whatever their project is for the day! I usually spend this day every month catching up on my scrapbooking, however, today, I had stamping to do for Easter projects. Also, I had to leave early, so I tried to really make good use of my time today! (Jennifer will laugh at this!)

Speaking of projects...I just had to take a picture of this to share with all of you! My dear friend, Jennifer, spent the morning decorating this clear paint can into an Easter basket for her daughter. It turned out adorable!!! I only got a picture of one side, but the other side had her name on it. Jennifer is also make one for her son that will look the same. She did a great job!!

Even though I had to leave early, I enjoyed my time with everyone!! I am usually the free live entertainment for the day! heehee I was able to get stamped and cut what I needed to, so I can finish up my projects at home. I, also, was able to enjoy a great lunch and fellowship with a really good bunch of friends!!

"Penny For Your Thoughts"

This post is especially for my dear friend, Pam. It is Alyssa's pressed coin collection from Disney World. I was treated to lunch today by Pam (thanks, again), and I forgot to bring this to show her.

Since she and her daughter, Lily, will be leaving for Disney next week, Alyssa wanted her to see the pennies she collected on our trip. Alyssa loved getting the pressed pennies at Disney, and she just knows that Lily would love to collect them, too!

"Easter Treats"

Hope you are not tired of seeing my chocolate bar pouches, because I love making these as treats!

I've made these for the ladies in the office, along with the Principal and Vice-Principal, at Alyssa's school for Easter. I tried to use a variety of pastel papers, but I threw a brown in, because the Vice-Principal is a guy.

I love the scripture stamp by Stampabilities that I got to use on the front. It reads "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the ALMIGHTY" Psalm 91:1 (If you click on the picture, you will be able to read the stamp clearly)

"Chocolate Moose"

Hi, everyone! Meet Riley, the Moose! Isn't he too cute?!? I CASEd this idea from Lisa at Shabbychick Junk. The acetate container came from Creative Cuts and More, and is filled with Junior Mints, hence the title...chocolate moose...heehee.

I'm going to make these "Chocolate Moose" holders up for my booth in April. I think they would make a cute little gift, especially for a guy!

The Riley stamp is new from Hanna Stamps. He was released at the 1st of February, and I just had to have him, mainly so I could do this project. I colored him with Prismacolor pencils and blended with gamsol and a stump.

"Teachers' Easter Gifts"

These are the Easter gifts I've prepared for Alyssa's teachers. We found these resin crosses at Wal-Mart, and I let her choose which ones she wanted and for whom.

I've enclosed them in cello bags with iridescent filler and added a topper. The gorgeous Easter stamp is from The Angel Company and is borrowed from my dear friend, Linda.

I noticed this morning, that my craft 'to-do' list has gotten pretty lengthy, so I'm going to be busy, busy. I'll see you again later today!!

"Post-It Note Key Chains"

I CASEd this neat idea from Angie at Chic n' Scratch. They are post-it note keychains. I, actually, ordered one from her, and after I got it, I just knew I had to make some because they were so adorable.

Here, are just two I've done, but I'm going to make up several different colors of these for my booth in April. They are the perfect size to have in your purse and/or car for a quick note.

Thanks, Angie, for such a cute idea!!

"Decorated Peppermint Patties"

These are some of the peppermint patties that I've started decorating for my booth. The possibilities with these are endless! I haven't decided on how I'm going to present them to sell, but when I get closer to the time and get more completed, I'll post them again!

"Mini Autograph Book #2"

Here is autograph book #2 for Miss Lily for her Disney trip in a couple of weeks. Since we want her to get tons of autographs, we thought she needed more than just one autograph book! heehee

This is another Paper Reflection mini spiral memory album. I covered the front with pink cardstock; left-over purple patterned paper from my Disney trip; and, a gorgeous sticker of all the Princesses. I then tied coordinating misc. Offray ribbons on the spirals.

Now Lily is set to go have a blast and make awesome memories!!!