YUM-O!

The waiting is over.......
Here are two of the pages I created for COLOR ME DAISY.


I have two other pages and some cards to show you also -- but be patient. TOMORROW TOMORROW TOMORROW!!!

Oh, BTW, I hope everyone had a delicious and wonderful TURKEY DAY! My kids enjoyed going to Georgia to see their grandparents and even had an early Christmas surprise. I'll have to post some of those pics -- it was a real treat.

Peace.

COLOR ME DAISY

GUESS WHAT?
I am the December COLOR ME DAISY guest designer. I received the kit on Monday and by Monday evening I had created 3 pages. I could not resist the PURE YUMMINESS of the papers and embellishments. Here are a few sneak peeks -- just to tease you a little. ENJOY!!!!!

Rock your VELLUM

Take a look at a page I created recently for a contest. I used multiple strips of pattern paper and clustered embellishments around the photograph. I also ROCKED the vellum on this page. Give it a try.

I know vellum – the very word “vellum” -- can put fear into a scrapbookers heart. But fear not ladies, I will tell you about a very quick and simple way that you can incorporate vellum into your layouts. First, select a plain sheet of vellum. I purchased an inexpensive package from staples and have had it for forever. You will also need embossing powder (I like white), embossing ink, a stamp, and a heat embossing gun. Second, select a stamp that you like and using the embossing ink, apply the image to your vellum. Quickly apply the embossing powder to the moist stamped image. Shake off the excess powder and then use the heat gun to seal the powder. Be sure not to overheat the vellum, as it will easily scorch. Slowly and patiently heat the powder. At this point you are almost done. You can cut out the embossed image (as I have done here) and adhere it to paper or directly to your page. So, there you have it another simple trick up your sleeve.


You have seen this page before -- but it is another example of stamping with embossing powder on vellum.


Cheers,
W-

My MacBaby is all better!

Yea! I was starting to experience extreme withdrawal symptoms without my MacBook Pro. Now, I have it back and I am so relieved.
Well, I have so many images that I have not loaded but perhaps I will start with a few of my favorite Halloween pics.



Perhaps you have noticed my Halloween banner in the background -- it was so fun to make. Here is another pic of it without the distraction of Batman and a Transformer.




I love using my family room mantle as a place to display my scrapbooking-home decor projects. And since Halloween has passed I took down the banner last night and replaced it with a Thanksgiving sign.


This was really easy to make. I found an old board in the garage and my creative wheels started to turn. I covered the board in gesso, then painted it with my Making Memories black paint. I also lightly brushed on some brown, gold and cream paint. I sanded a lot between each layer of paint. Once completely dry, I used my Heidi Swapp "New Orleans" foam stamps. I ended up with a little extra space on the end so I created an embellishment for the right corner. Lastly, I placed buttons all along the bottom because I wanted a splash of color. Easy as 1-2-3!
So the lesson is....look around your home for stuff that you can repurpose or reuse for a scrapbooking or home decor project. If you are anything like most scrapbookers that I know you have a massive stash of goodies just waiting to be used. So break them out and put your creative juices to work.

Hugs,
W-

I voted -- America is BEAUTIIFUL!

We made HISTORY -- all of us together -- one people -- one nation -- one United States of America!

WOW! America is beautiful and I am ever so proud of her today. There are really no words to express my feelings and thoughts. It is overwhelming. I do keep thinking about Big Ma, my great grandmother, who supported and took care of her family in Birmingham, Alabama in the middle of the twentieth century. I know that she is smiling today. She is smiling with me.

To all of you in the USA and around the world -- I believe in the inherent goodness of all people and last night HOPE won ..... we won and I am full of joy.

Now, on a very insignificant yet sad note, my laptop is gravely ill and until I get it back from the repair shop I am unable to load some of my favorit pics. Please wish my macbaby a very speedy recovery.

Be well all,
W-

Pick your own

This summer and fall I have enjoyed picking blackberries, peaches and apples with the boys. I love that in this area we have so many opportunities to "pick our own" produce at local farms (not to mention all of the great vineyards in the area.) The last few trips to a farm we have enjoyed visiting Crooked Run Orchard in Purcellville, Virginia. We picked blackberries and peaches with my mom when she visited us from Atlanta, Georgia. It was wonderful to create such beautiful memories with the boys and their nana.





Just two weeks ago, we went back to Crooked Run Orchard to pick apples with some of our friends. The kids had a great afternoon and, of course, big brother just had to climb an apple tree.

Here is one page I created to celebrate "picking our own."

Be well friends and get out there and "pick your own."

Obama Rally in Leesburg

It was amazing! I took the whole family to the Obama rally in Northern Virginia. We were four in a crowd of 35,000 people. The energy, the excitement, and all the beautiful people standing side-by-side was an incredible sight to behold. There was LOVE in the air -- a feeling of unity and inclusion that Obama spoke to in his presentation. People from all walks of life -- AMERICANS -- gathered together in my part of the United States to show their support for Barack Obama. The crowd was upbeat and positive and Obama's message 100% inspirational. I was proud. I was moved. I was empowered. My boys stood next to me yelling "Yes, we can" and I was humbled by the moment. I am sure my eldest will not forget today and I am certain that I will not.

Peace
and Love to all
W-

Had a great autumnal weekend with the family

What is new with me.....
I attended a training session for Odyssey of the MInd -- a competitive creative thinking/problem solving organization for kids. My eldest and I will participate for the first time this year. We are excited and I think that we will both learn a lot from this experience.

On Sunday, after church, the family and I went to a local pumpkin patch. It has become our annual fall tradition -- and as expected we had a blast of a time. After a few hours at the patch we took a lovely drive to West Virginia. The changing colors of the season always make me catch my breath. The boys fell asleep in the back of the car and hubby and I enjoyed some great quality time together.

I hope that all of you find time to make memories with your families -- Peace and Hugs to you.

Had fun this weekend!

It was nice to have time be creative this weekend. Here are a few of the cards and layouts I created.

I LOVE TO LAYER
I LOVE TO LAYER
I LOVE TO LAYER
and I rarely throw away anything. Even the smallest scrap can be reused.

I tried a new technique on this page -- stamping on vellum. Most scrappers have a stash of vellum but find it a difficult product to use. Perhaps this technique will inspire to play with your vellum. I used my butterfly and bugs stamp on a plain sheet of vellum with my white embossing powder. I layered the embossed vellum over a sheet of patterned paper and quite like the effect. Give it a try.


I used the lovely Papertrunk papers to create both cards. One uses a lot of layering and the other is a simple design that utilizes my square punch. Both were fun to create.

It is FIRST FRIDAY!!!!!

Every first Friday I host a crop for my girlfriends. The girls get together to talk, eat, drink and scrapbook -- no husbands and no children (well mine are upstairs in their beds.) I have been hosting crops for nearly a year now and I always look forward to the evening. Here are a few pictures from past crops.



I am really fortunate to have found such a giving and creative group of women.
Hugs to you all -- and I hope that you have a fabulous fall weekend.