it's been awhile...

Hello crafters!

So sorry it has been so long... life happens! I have been busy gathering up ideas for a non-traditional bachelorette party, bridal luncheon and crafts with the kiddos! I guess you can say I have been crafting but nothing is finished yet! I can however share some of the goodies from MY LITTLE SHOEBOX's new line UP IN THE TREES! This line was so much fun to play with and I am thankful I still have pretty papers to play with! So many ideas, so little time!

Princess of the Park

My Sweet

Sweet Love Birds

Happy Birthday!

Thank you for stopping by!

Creative Cheers!

CHA with MY LITTLE SHOEBOX...

I know it has been awhile... too long in fact!

This was my second trip to CHA and all I can say is WOW! There are SO many beautiful things that so many talented people put their heart and souls into creating for the show. The ladies on our team are EXTREMELY talented and are just delightful people to spend time with! I needed this trip to refresh, replenish and revive the creative juices that have laid dormant this winter!!!

First, let's start with MY LITTLE SHOEBOX...

there are so many pictures of our booth but I don't want to spoil any surprises!!!

A quick snap-shot of our booth!

Spending time with dear sweet Laurie!!!

{we are practically family!!!}

Helen and Pattie smiling for a picture under the ever-so-colorful glitter alphas!!!

Norine and Shemaine were our booth resident tech team! These two made sure to keep everyone up to date with fun things like samples, pictures, video of random people dancing at our class {wink, wink!}

Pattie and Linda smiling big!

I miss seeing their smiles in person and

I LOVED every minute I got to spend with these two lovely ladies!

Group shot in our booth!!!

We worked hard in that booth but we didn't forget to play a little too!

Spending an evening in Downtown Disney....

A quick trip to Sephora for some snazzy lip gloss!

mmmmmmmmwhahhhhhhhhhh

{kiss kiss}

We had a ball hanging out together, so much in common with so many wise words to live by! Whenever one of these sweet ladies laid down words of wisdom, I picked up my pen and wrote them down so I wouldn't forget. If I was thinking ahead, I would have had them write them down in their handwriting... note to self, save that for next time!!!

As for the rest of the show... WOW!

Crafters, we are all in for such a treat because there were so many beautiful papers, embellishments, mixed media pieces that I just makes me want to do two things for 2012...

1. LEARN TO SEW

2. BUY EVERYTHING!!!

PRIMA pretties...

The EVER SO CREATIVE Debby Schuh and Tim Holtz...

enjoyed spending a little time with these talented people!!!

JILLIBEAN SOUP...

L.O.V.E.

Gorgeous!!!

Having a little fun...

...with the very talented Jen who created this beautiful wreath using mason jar lids!!!

MAYA ROAD...

And then we stopped by the Thermoweb booth to see this friendly face!!!

Canvas Corp...

bring on the neutrals because everything in this booth was stunning!!!

OH MY GOODNESS!!!

ADORE IT...

activate the sewing machine - STAT!!!

Heidi Swapp...

there are no words for the amount of awesomeness radiating from this booth!!!

KRAFT KLUB INC...

They were right across from us so I drooled over this book for 4 whole days!

Note to self: must order ASAP!!!

CHA was amazing...

I am thankful for this opportunity...

I will cherish the memories...

AND SCRAP EVERY SINGLE PHOTO!!!

SUPER DUPER EXTREMELY GINORMOUS THANK YOU TO HELEN!!!

Lots of love and Creative Cheers!

HAPPY NEW YEAR CREATIVE FRIENDS!!!

Hope you all are starting the new year out with a bang... and a table full of new scrappy supplies! This is my first post since the WINTER WONDERLAND ornament challenge and I have to admit that my tree is still up because I enjoy walking by and seeing all those fun pictures embellished! It was a fun challenge and I appreciate everyone's comments and emails!

So... it is officially 2012 which means so many things! I don't know if you are the "resolution" type {I tend to make them and then forget - just being honest!} but either way this new year is a fresh start. I would like to spend more time one on one time with my hubby & our girls, take better care of myself and capture more of our everyday moments with my camera!!!

Speaking of everyday moments... you know that pile of "Must Scrap These" photos... well, here are some fun, new layouts using the DESTINATIONS line using pictures from that pile.

STORYTIME LAYOUT:

This layout was 100% inspired by the picture. Our family loves to read and the idea of making a mini-3D book using foam board and the bright papers and cardstock stickers just made my heart happy! I made sure to create a bookmark made of ribbon because we wouldn't want to loose our place in the story! I used a few of the role-up flowers along with the flag banners for the leaves to add additional dimension to the layout. The journalling was done using the a few of the icons which were popped using Therm-o-web's 3D Zots and of course the Mini Alphas and Glitter Alphas. I love this layout on the TRIP OF A LIFETIME Circle Scallop paper!!!

Journalling using the MINI ALPHAS, fussy-cut icons and CARDSTOCK STICKERS

A close up of the handmade story book from foam board and DESTINATIONS papers

THIS GIRL LOVES SUNGLASSES LAYOUT:

Let me start by saying this photo makes me laugh hysterically! I know you don't know my oldest whom I call our Desert Darling, however she is so the opposite of what this picture shows. She is kind, she is friendly, she ALWAYS has a smile on her face... never a growly-bad-to-the-bone look. To say the least when it came time to edit pictures I knew I had to scrap this one!!! I used the "B" side of the JOURNEY paper as my backdrop and then layered a newly-punched "B" side of the HAPPY HOUR strip of paper to the right of the layout. I really liked the look of the turquoise diecut rolly flower undone so that was added in the upper right corner. I used the punch out clouds - My Little Shoebox is known for their clouds and personally I can't get enough of them - to round out that same corner. I layered the picture on white cardstock {TIP: if I don't have white cardstock handy, I go to my scrap pile and reach for the My Little Shoebox Circle Scallops since their "B" sides are white} and then again on the "B" side of the SOUVENIR paper. The SPARKLE GLITTER ALPHAS and MINI ALPHAS make up the title along with a hand-cut heart out of the polka dot journalling tag on the POSTCARD paper.

An upclose look at the homemade paper rose and journal tag

SWEET ADDISON LAYOUT:

For this layout I wanted to highlight the bright-happy red and pink combination of this line. The HAPPY HOUR and SIT BACK AND RELAX papers are so pretty when they are layered together and then there is a pop of the fun turquoise color! I hand-cut the journalling tag off the POSTCARD paper and then layered it with the photo and the "B" side of the HAPPY HOUR paper. I added a few of the flowers from the diecut sheet and then added a homemade role up flower using the "B" side of the SOUVENIR paper. Making the title was the fun part... I like to stretch myself sometimes and I was trying to come up with a way to use all the fun icons on the JOURNEY and POSTCARD papers.

A closer look at ADDISON spelled out using random pieces within the DESTINATIONS collection... do they look familiar???

Here is how I made the letters to spell out ADDISON:

A = made from the triangle flag on the diecut sheet

d = flipped the "parking" sign to make a lower-case "d"

I = turned the "do not enter" sign to make the "I"

S = fussy cut out 2 of the "U-turn" red arrows and then turned them over to use the "B" side and connected the arrows to make an "S"

O = fussy cut out the "60 mph" sign and then layered it with white cardstock to create a white border

N = fussy cut the letter "N" off of the "ONE WAY" sign on the POSTCARD paper

Thank you for stopping by today!

Wishing you and yours a very happy new year!

Creative Cheers!

Winter Wonderland Ornaments... TWENTY-FIVE

Merry Christmas!!!

On the 25th of December it is time to reveal my final ornament using the WINTER WONDERLAND collection from My Little Shoebox. I have had so much fun making all of these and appreciate your sweet comments and emails! For this ornament I used the #25 from the COUNTDOWN paper and embellished it with Vintage Photo Distress Ink and Stickles. The journalling is the chorus from one of the Christmas songs the girls have been singing non-stop!

This picture was the last one taken of our family together in California. I look at this photo as the calm before the storm... and we have been so very blessed in all the ups and downs our family has experienced this year!

The poinsettia was made from the large flower punch from EK Success and then trimmed the petals to be a bit more pointy. Stickles and pearls were then added to make the flower sparkle!

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

Creative Cheers!!!

Winter Wonderland Ornaments... TWENTYFOUR

Merry Christmas Eve!!!

It is the 24th day of December and with so much yet to do this post will be kinda short. This ornament is really pink... pretty in pink!!! I love this rolly flower from the 3D Diecut sheet and with a little shimmer {courtesy of Martha Stewart's Glitter and Glossy Accents} this flower really sparkles!

This photo was taken this summer in NM. Our youngest daughter had just torn her favorite blanket and Grandma Helen was quick to mend her tears {and her blanket} with her love and a few stitches.

The flower was made using the EK Success Punch and then the journalling was done with PEPPERMINT Mini Alphas & CHERRY PIE Glitter Alphas. I distressed the petals with a burgandy-ish ink and then layered them with Glue Dots.

Thank you for stopping by and wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!!!

Creative Cheers!

Winter Wonderland Ornaments... TWENTYTHREE

Good morning all!

The sun is shining, the girls are up and full of energy... and I am trying to keep up! Today is the 23rd of December which means only two more days before the real celebration begins. This ornament was made using the GUM DROP LANE & COUNTDOWN papers, the 3D Diecuts, PEPPERMINT Mini Alphas, SNOWFLAKE Glitter Alphas, Stickles, Vintage Photo Distress Ink, Buttons, Lace and Twine.

This picture was taken this summer in NM at my parents anniversary party. It was such a great time getting to see all those friendly faces that my parents have spent so much time with over the years. We are extremely blessed and spending time with one another is the true gift!!!

I love the stripes on the 3D Diecut flag so after distressing them I adhered them together {points pointing toward each other} and then secured the newly created "bow" with a button.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Creative Cheers!

Winter Wonderland Ornaments... 20, 21 & 22

Yeah, so we have been busy again!

It is that time of year...

As I went to upload my photos on Monday I had taken so many of the girls recital, trip to ABQ, cooking making, etc. I just had too many pictures and my poor MAC couldn't handle it. Well, in all fairness to my sweet MAC {who I love so dearly!} it is my fault for having 25k+ pictures on iPhoto. Before you ask, yes they are all backed up... I just have a hard time parting with the visuals! Don't worry, I am working through and editing which is something I should have been doing from day one... but I am still learning! Now, onto the ornaments...

A little bit about 20:
The picture for this ornament shows what has become Wragge Family Tradition... After all the gifts are opened and the wrapping paper covers the floor, we round up all the loose pieces and then create a leaf-like pile with them and then have the girls lay in the wrapping paper to take a picture. I love this tradition... my husband not so much. Either way, the pictures always come out hysterical, the girls have so much fun jumping in the paper and eventually we clean up the wrapping paper mess!

The stickers for this line are so very much fun to play with!!!

A little bit about 21:
This ornament is STICKLES happy... I mean I covered this puppy in Stickles! They just add so much sparkle to the snow and it creates a fun textured look! I hand cut the heart for journalling and then used a rolly flower to embellish it. The Vintage Photo Distress Ink makes the border and defines the edges of the leaves.

This picture was taken this summer in Arizona. These two stick together like glue and the tender moment between them just made my heart melt. They truly love eachother - they are sisters - but they know what buttons to push and when!

A little bit about 22:
This is one of 38 ornaments I made for the teachers, women in our bible study and our Rams Kid's Camp teachers. They are a different take on last year's however they turned out nicely and made a wonderful gift paired with hot chocolate and marshmallows!

I saved one of the ornaments for myself, because I wanted to remember what I made this year for presents. It is always fun to go back and see what you have created before and to see how much you have grown creatively.

Thank you for joining me today!
Looking forward to seeing you next time... hopefully tomorrow!

Creative Cheers!