New Year's Resolution!

I have decided that even though it is half way through the year - I am going to start my new year's resolution - blogging more!  I will have to admit that I will need to ease myself into this - not too much at one time, but I will try to be faithful to it and make a commitment to provide a blog with some consistency.  I have all these wonderful ideas and crafts and would like them to be shared.  I'm not on Facebook or Twitter so I am a blogger, even though not a very good one.  I love to craft and give them away to see the look on someone's face when they get something handmade.  There is so much inspiration out there that it seems like a waste not to share it!  So to start this new year off right I will share a project I made for my daughter's teacher - a recipe box inspired by Laura from Following the Paper Trail - she does some beautiful projects.  I had each student bring a picture of them making or eating their favorite recipe and then they were all added to each folder and room enough for the teacher to add her own if she likes!

What to do with a rainy day

When it's raining out and your husband is fishing with the boys - not much else to do but scrap or craft!!! I made this necklace yesterday - the inspiration is from Stella and Dot children's line. They want $32.00 for their version! My version? Pearls - $2.50 at Walmart (which made 3 necklaces), ribbon and diamond button I already had, along with the crepe! Cheap and very easy! Love it! There are some other projects I have been up to, but to date I don't have very much time to blog. I will try and post again soon!

Sick . . . of being sick!

So at home this week - both girls are sick - Ella with a eye, ear and throat infection. And Olivia with a cold and cough. So then I got sick with sore throat. It seems like it is never ending! So I am not feeling too bad today, so since I am not up to much - thought I would show you what I have been up to the past month.
Cupcake gift card holders from Fabulous Artsy! I love them! They didn't turn out too bad - will need more practice. I made this one for my niece that lives out of town.

I made this box from Close to my Heart to put the bottom cupcake in - instead of gift wrap.

I didn't make this one with a gift card - just a picture of the girls (her nieces) - I used colors that match her scrapbook room.

It didn't turn out too bad for my first try - but they are a little time consuming.

Thanks for looking!

New life to a lame blog!

So I decided my blog was really lame and who would want to follow it? So I went online and found me a free design. Love it - anything beats what I had. Anyway since I have a new blog design I thought I better have a new post. Me and girls made marshmellow pops - I have seen them on numerous blogs and wanted to try them. I thought I better try them before Halloween to make sure we can get it down pat! It was quick, easy and fun to make! But don't ask for a tutorial - that is where I draw the line for now! Enjoy!!!

What the?!?!?

I can't believe how much time has gone by since my last blog!!! You know how life happens and then my computer was down for a little while. And then we were all sick with the flu and colds, but I think that is all behind us now and we can get settled in to hibernate for the winter. August and September were busy for us - a wedding where Olivia had a blast (her 1st). Her and Ella danced the night away! We also had my uncle's 50th and then we made some time and went to Calgary to Calaway park. And since September was so nice here made a trip to the zoo - a first for everyone. I have been busy crafting and lately have been getting small projects done in order to get instant gratification. I will post more later. One thing at a time!

I'm on a roll!

Thought I might as well post some new layouts I have done in the past couple of weeks. Love them all. I have been trying to make them simple in order to catch up - yeah right! Black and white one was done by Superstore. Love it!

We went to Elmo Live! in August 2008 - trying to fit the many, many pictures I took of the show. Made them all 2x2 - I think it worked out quite well. We had a blast!

Part 2

This is the title page - I chose this title because it was my mom's birthday and mother's day.
Enjoy!

Finally a new post, with a project!

Made from a chipboard album I got at Michael's for $1.50! I'm so pumped - just enough for one for each family member! Added a few buttons and other embellies and you have a Mother's day gift!

A Busy Life

Olivia keeps me busy by making messes wherever and whenever so that I can clean up! She is at a stage right now where she likes to take everything (and I mean everything) out of a drawer, cupboard, etc and just throw it!

And here is Ella - keeping me busy by looking after that hair! We used the straightener on it and now it looks like she is 3 going on 9! Not sure if I like the looks of this! Stay 3 forever - it's a fun age.

Now that I am back at work I am VERY busy keeping up with everything! Trying to keep this hectic life somewhat sane!

Happy Spring!

New Layouts

Since I have self proclaimed this a scrapbook blog, it would probably help if I would post layouts. My sister took these family photos of us in the fall - she is not a professional and I am not really sure why she doesn't start this as a business, but that is for another day. We are all huge Johnny Cash fans and this is our ode to him, as we are all wearing Johnny Cash t-shirts. Even Olivia is wearing a Johnny Cash onesie! I trying to finish scrapbooking the many pictures she took of us.
Enjoy!



We had tried doing our family pictures earlier at a little church just out of town, but we had a "tombstone incident", so we did them at an old church on Ave E North.

Kevin and Olivia.

Holy Blog Batman

So excited! I actually have a follower! Does this mean I have to blog more? I will try really hard to make this blog worth following, I promise!! For now here are pictures of my little gals.

All In A Day's Work

So I was cleaning my house and a light bulb went off - since we don't have our 4th level complete which will hopefully one day soon will be a playroom - I decided since we spend most of our day upstairs in the kitchen and living room that I would paint the back of my cupboards with magnetic and chalkboard paint. It was really easy and only took me a day. Hopefully one day soon we will also be getting rid of these cupboards as well (since they are only 30 years old)! This is the before picture:

And this is the after. Please let me know what you think. It is not quite complete. I have to install the rods I purchased from Ikea - one for a roll of paper and the other with containers on it to hold chalk, crayons and what not!

Project 365

Here is my version of the project that is taking the scrapbook world by storm! I scraplifted a digital version of it from 2 peas. Once I got a template down and organized - it is easy, I just add my pictures every week! I plan on giving it to my husband for Xmas.

Keep blogging!!

So I started this blog to show my scrapbooking and arts and craft creations and so far out of the few posts, I have done none. I guess I will make this my belated new year's resolution to post more often and my creations. I always look forward to other blogs in order to get inspiration!
Take care,
Tara

Food For Thought

Have you seen this list? It's making the blog rounds. I thought I'd play along. You 'bold' whatever you have done so far on the list. If you play along too I'd love to see your answers so let me know!

1. Started your own blog

2. Slept under the stars

3. Played in a band ....at school

4. Visited Hawaii

5. Watched a meteor shower

6. Given more than you can afford to charity

7. Been to Disneyland /world

8. Climbed a mountain

9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sang a solo

11. Bungee jumped

12. Visited Paris

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch

15. Adopted a child

16. Had food poisoning

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

18. Grown your own vegetables

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France

20. Slept on an overnight train

21. Had a pillow fight

22. Hitch hiked

23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill

24. Built a snow fort

25. Held a lamb

26. Gone skinny dipping

27. Run a Marathon

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice

29. Seen a total eclipse

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset

31. Hit a home run

32. Been on a cruise

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors

35. Seen an Amish community

36. Taught yourself a new language

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

39. Gone rock climbing

40. Seen Michelangelos David

41. Sung karaoke

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant

44. Visited Africa

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight

46. Been transported in an ambulance

47. Had your portrait painted

48. Gone deep sea fishing

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling

52. Kissed in the rain

53. Played in the mud

54. Gone to a drive-in theater

55. Been in a movie

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business

58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia

60. Served at a soup kitchen

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies

62. Gone whale watching

63. Got flowers for no reason

64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma

65. Gone sky diving

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

67. Bounced a check

68. Flown in a helicopter

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial

71. Eaten Caviar

72. Pieced a quilt

73. Stood in Times Square

74. Toured the Everglades

75. Been fired from a job

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

77. Broken a bone

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person

80. Published a book

81. Visited the Vatican

82. Bought a brand new car

83. Walked in Jerusalem

84. Had your picture in the newspaper

85. Read the entire Bible

86. Visited the White House

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating

88. Had chickenpox

89. Saved someone's life

90. Sat on a jury

91. Met someone famous

92. Joined a book club

93. Lost a loved one..unless this is to mean imediate family, then no..but haven't we all lost someone we love?

94. Had a baby

95. Seen the Alamo in person

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake

97. Been involved in a law suit

98. Owned a cell phone

99. Been stung by a bee

100. Read an entire book in one day

Hello - anybody out there?

Well I started this blog, but I can't seem to use it to it's full potential. If anybody is out there and knows how to personalize and link to other blogs please let me know!!! Mine is so boring and lame right now!
Thanks

Pro Rodeo

Here are some pictures of our first rodeo! We got some free tickets and decided to take our oldest daughter on a "date." It was lots of fun - I had never been to a rodeo either! Ella is turning out to be quite the cowgirl!

My babies

My husband Kevin of 7 years. Been an item for 11 years - yikes! Hard to believe that! He is still just trying to get use to the fact that he is the only male in the house! 2 girls, a mother-in-law and I have 3 sisters that are forever "just stopping by." He is a good man, with paitence galore!

Here are my girls with grandma - Ella loves spending time with her grandma at her home in Wynyard. Grandma spending half her time here with us makes for very special bonds!

Here is a glimpse into my life right now. My Ella Gray - who goes by many names - Ellie Smellie, Elle, Shirley (for Shirley Temple), Curly and the list goes on. That hair - we have already had some good fights - all I want to do is brush your hair - forget the really cute bobbles to put in it! Yes, her hair is a separate entity all it's own.

My sweet Olivia - named her after my childhood idol - Olivia Newton-John. I don't care what anybody thinks! Lets just say I had to convince my husband! I sweetened the deal by using his dad's name for Olivia's middle name - Bryce. He passed away a couple of years ago.

Welcome!

I read many blogs almost daily, so I thought, why not start my own to share? I am not sure I have the computer know how to keep up, but I'll try!