Friday, July 29, 2011

Thank Goodness

Well, the first week of no swim team has been fabulous.  Lots of just hanging around, catching up on chores.  Life is good.  I have been working on projects again.  Which feels good.  Here is one I did of Ainsley.

Pink Paislee Starlight
Of course, some/most of the projects I am not ready to share yet, but you know what I am going to share?  Well, tomorrow, I am taking a class at my local scrapbook store, Scrapbook Island, with Tim Holtz!  

I have met him before and am really looking forward to learning some new techniques.  You know what I bet we are going to learn how to use?  Distress Stains!  And guess what else?  Your Memories Here is going to be carrying Distress Stains, and Kristina is looking for ideas of what colors people are interested in.  
Tim Holtz

Distress StainsAcid free, non-toxic
Fade-resistant dyes
Dabber top with spring valve control
Available in 1 fluid ounce bottles
Available in:Retail - $4.99Min Sell - 
Aged Mahogany
125970
Barn Door
125951
Black Soot
125989
Brushed Corduroy
125968
Bundled Sage
125952
Chipped Sapphire
125953
Crushed Olive
125955
Dried Marigold
125985
Frayed Burlap
125978
Milled Lavender
125992
Mustard Seed
125996
Old Paper
125990
Pine Needles
125977
Pumice Stone
125960
Rusty Hinge
125962
Scattered Straw
125982
Shabby Shutters
125987
Spiced Marmalade
125972
Stormy Sky
125964
Tattered Rose
125994
Tea Dye
125988
Tumbled Glass
125966
Victorian Velvet
125967
Worn Lipstick
125981
You could win a $10 gift certificate just for posting your likes on her blog!  How easy is that?  So pop over and give her your two cents! 

Hugs.

Nancy

Thursday, July 28, 2011

My Last 28th Reveal Day

Yep, today is the last time I will be posting on the 28th for Sassy Lil' Sketches.  Starting next month, the layout sketches will be on Tuesdays, the card sketches on Thursdays, and I will be switching it up on Saturdays.  Please bare with me during this change as you know, I am blonde.  hee hee

Anyway, here is the amazing sketch....


And my take

Crate Paper Neighborhood Collection, Prima and Websters Pages Flowers, Pink Paislee Alphabet

This is Ainsley and her little friend playing in a couple of five gallon buckets...I don't know....they thought it was just too funny to squish the water out.

Pop on over to the Sassy lil' Sketches blog for all the dt takes and to link your take on the sketch.  Great prizes this month from

Paper Sponsor:
225 x 52
The lucky winner will receive a full kit from Tally Scrapper!

Tally Scrapper is having a STOREWIDE sale with 15% off everything with code BIGJULYSALE

Digital Sponsor:
Layouts must be uploaded below by August 5th, 11:59 P.M. EST to be eligible for the July random prize drawing*.

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs.

Nancy

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Water Stamping and Finally, My Kitchen

Hi everyone.  I know, I have been bad.  Not coming around much and all...but I am busy...what can I say?  The kitchen tho is finally done!  woo hoo!!!! 


And I am here and today with a simple technique, water stamping. You will need your distress inks, a blending tool, your stamp, embossing ink, and your project, here I chose to use a tag.
Ink the tag with your ink blending tool.  Remember, add more ink to get bolder, deeper colors.
Apply embossing ink to your stamp.  This will help the water stick to the image.  Mist your stamp with water and press firmly onto the inked background.
As the image dries, you will see it start to fade.

I am using this tag for a birthday present.  I added some gorgeous Marion Smith Vintage Trinkets, a simple Prima flower, and a bit of a Prima flourish as well as a few scraps of paper to my inked and stamped tag.

So, are you ready to see the kitchen?
I so need to clean my windows.  hee hee
my cooking space.  loving having all those burners. 

Wonder if I can get fresh flowers ever week?  hmmmmmm
My coffee bar, you know I love coffee, right?
There are still a few little things.  I am going to add another shelve over the coffee station, at the top.  Don't know what I will put there...maybe more coffee stuff.  Just seems to need to be more filled.  And the hood...well, if you look closely, you can see it is not square.  So it had to go back and we are getting a new one. But soon, I hope.  Anywho.....

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs.

Nancy

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Bunny Love and Some Exciting News

Hi everyone, today I am here with a layout I made using some of the amazing products that were available in last season's Prima grab bag at Your Memories Here.  Have you seen all the amazing Prima goodies being released at summer CHA?  I don't know how I would ever pick and choose which items to buy.  I am so glad that Kristina has taken the guess work out of the process by selling grab bags.


I made this using lots of Prima Marketing goodies, Annalee papers, an assortment of Prima flowers (I misted some mini off white roses with glimmer mist to add more color), a beautiful piece of Prima lace, and finally some gorgeous Prima bling.

I can't wait to see what comes in my next yummy grab bag.

And in other news.......

I have been picked up for another term with Sassy Lil' Sketches.   There are a few changes happening this term.  Starting in August, we will be revealing new Sassy Lil' Sketches on Tuesdays and Sassy Lil' Card Sketches on Thursday. "Switch it Up"  Saturday will premiere on  Sassy Lil' Sketches in August, too!  And guess what?  I am a switch it up Sassy!  I am so excited for this new challenge.  Be sure to check out all the new Sassies and their great designs over on the Sassy Blog and come play with us in our Sassy forums.

I know some of you have been waiting, ever so patiently, for me to get back to food blogging...and guess what?  With the kitchen almost done, and swim season coming to a rapid conclusion, I am feeling the need to share again.  So be on the lookout for more menus and recipes soon.

Hugs.

Nancy






Friday, July 15, 2011

Sorry....

I know, I say that all the time, but really!  I am.  Life has just been crazy busy with the kitchen remodel and the last weeks of swim season.  I have had meetings just about every night and of course there are always a few extra glitches in the schedule.  Just to keep things interesting.

So, before I bore you with all my problems...how about if I share a few of the projects I have eeked out some time for.

First up, using a super cute sketch from my friend Heather...Ainsley!  She loves posing for the camera.  We shot these on the Fourth of July, right before we left to go watch fireworks!  She is growing up too fast.  She loves fashion!
Pink Paislee Starlight, Basic Grey chipboard alphas, Michael's Jewels.
 And here is Mackenzie at the overnighter.  I used some GCD papers that Heather sent me a while back.  They have just been sitting in my stash.  I really need to declutter.  If anyone is interested in coming and doing it for me???  hee hee  I probably wouldn't even know if half of my stuff went missing.  KWIM?  It is a disease!
GCD papers, Maya Road journaling tag, Prima Butterfly, American Crafts title
And finally, Brighton.  Another one of Heather's great sketches.  Brighton loves (or I should say loved, they broke last week at summer camp) those sunglasses.
Fancy Pants It's the Little Things
OK, so there is the scrappy stuff.

Did I mention we are in the home stretches of the kitchen remodel?  Here are a few photos.


The cabinets and granite/marble (the island is marble) are in for these photos.  Kevin even managed to get a bit of the tile in so we could begin to see how it would look. I even managed to fill them up.  Goodness it feels good to be out of boxes.

Of course, I say I am out of boxes...but there are still bunches of them in the garage.  sigh.  Some of for a shelving unit we will need to put back up after paint.  And others are boxes we need to go through and get rid of things.
This is really cool too.  My microwave is in a drawer.  Yep....it is a drawer.  We didn't really  have any upper space to put it, so it is in the lower cabinet.  Very convenient.
I love my new faucet!  So I had to share.

I really should go run and grab some more photos.  The tile, including the mural is in.  The hood is in, although it needs to be replaced as there was a manufacturing error...sigh.  I guess one glitch isn't too bad.

But first....I have got to get back to pushing paper for the swim team.

Hugs.

Nancy

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

What I have been up to.....

Today over at Ideas for Scrapbookers we had a "song title/lyrics" designer's showcase post.   You should head over there and check it out.  Super fun!

I had two layouts today.  The first one was the one of Phil I just completed, and here is the other.
Pink Paislee Starlight, Alphas, Prima flourishes, Making Memories flowers

And over at Your Memories Here, I have a card I made a while back.  This was using a Sassy Lil' Card sketch and the super cute "Hey Sugar" kit from the YMH store.  And did you see?  The YMH store now has gorgeous Prima grab bags on preorder.  The yummy goodies coming later this year look so good!  I know I can't wait to get my hands on one.
Cosmo Cricket papers, Twinery bakers twine, Sizzix flower die, Tattered Angels mist,  Martha Stewart punch, Making Memories Alpha
Well, off I go.

Hugs.

Nancy

Monday, July 4, 2011

Happy Fourth

For those of you in the US, Happy 4th of July!  I am getting ready to head out for some fireworks, but before I do, I wanted to stop by and show you a few projects I have been working on.


My adorable niece spraying Ainsley with the hose.  The two of them were having a great time playing in the yard.  Lili thought the hose was amazing.  Until she fell in the wet grass.
Crate Paper Emma's Shoppe.  Pink Paislee flourishes, American Crafts Alpha.
 And my darling husband.  This is for the sketch challenge over on the Glitz blog.  I had tons of fun doing this one, A fun mix of Glitz papers and Prima.  I even dyed some seam binding to match.
Glitz Designs Papers, Basic Grey Alpha, Prima flowers, centers, alpha, Maya Road pins.
Well, the girls are yelling that it is time to go!

Hugs.

Nancy