Tuesday TOOT!!!

Today's TOOT is that it's my 40th Birthday & 13th Wedding Anniversary (yes, I did get married on my birthday)!

I am so thankful to reach another birthday milestone while sharing it with the LOVE of my life!

Stay tuned...I'm going to be posting a Birthday RAK at the end of the week that will have 40 ITEMS!!!

It's beginning to look alot like....

CHRISTMAS!!! Yes, at our home the holiday decorating has begun. November starts holiday decorating in my home.

Now, I did keep just 1 pumpkin for Thanksgiving :)

Let the most wonderful time of the year......BEGIN!!!

October...Croppin' for a Cure

Hi all...it's me!!

I have been MIA caring for my son during his leg injury that he suffered in July. We are still thankful for all the prayers and kind words from everyone. He is still healing & we are still in recovery mode. I've been trying to scrapbook when I get a moment...but I definitely miss from creating every day...

Thanks to my BFF...I crafted for an entire day!

I was invited recently by Queen Kat  to attend a  "Crop out Cancer" event. For those that know me, I rarely scrapbook away from home & do not like to drive far. But I'm so glad that I went. It was an amazing crop with wonderful door prizes. So, as this is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, please do what you can to support this cause...even if it is just to do periodic breast exams & of course wear PINK!

 An amazing door prize that I did not win...but I did win 3 items in the silent auctions :)

Just me & my BFF who said she did not like this picture.

Layout I completed at the crop of my daughter on her 1st day of 3rd grade.

September Blogger Posts

Not sure if any of you are having similar problems...But I scheduled 7 post this month & none of them posted...

Be prepared for lots of Postings....

Tuesday "Toot"!

Toot...Toot...I am on the Sketchers Design Team! 

I am super excited to be apart of this new Sketch Blog. 

So hop on over & check out our new team.

Our upcoming sketch will feature the below picture of me & my baby girl~

Sketchers DT Call

You all still have time to apply for the Design Team at  Sketchers Blog!

 This new SKETCH blog is DT Call is open until August 22nd. 

All you have to do to apply is to complete a layout based on the sketch.

Here is my take entitled "Storm Clean Up". 

Pictured are my husband & son cleaning up the tree limbs from a severe storm.

Used: Paper- Kraft Cardstock & Little Yellow Bicycle Paradise; Embellishments- Little Yellow Bicycle Paradise cardstock stickers; Letters-Amercia Craft Thickers.

August "Scrap Your Crap" Challenge

This month's Scrap Your Crap Challenge #68 is to pull EYELETS and/or BRADS from your stash. You can use both if you'd like. Since I've streamlined some of scrappy supplies (ie. I'm giving away stash to buy NEWLY released items from CHA) & only found a handful of heart brads. 

I've never used eyelets thus I had none to use on my layout.

 (Shh...I do have a Eyelet setter in my craft room...but I've never used it)

Pictured is me & my guy on our mini summer vacation.

Don't forget to link your project HERE. We'd love to see your Eyelet and/or Brad creations!

VACATION...has ended!

For the month of July (okay & most of June) I've been on a unofficial vacation from my BLOG. For those that are close to me you know that June/July have been super crazy. I have been MIA from my Design Team's & commenting on your blogs.

So, hold on as I catch you up on the last 2 months.

 Me & My guy in New Jersey

KK boy & KK girl entering Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey.

Happy August 1st!

Winner of SOC Blog Hop is......

Nitasha! 

Contact Cheryl L. (chantal626@yahoo.com) to claim your prize.

& the winner of MY blog candy is 

LAURA Life Interrupted by Scrapbooking

Send me an email with your address thecrafydiva@gmail.com.

I thank everyone for joining the SOC Blog Hop~

Welcome to the SOC "Hot in the Summer" Blog Hop! 

We are HOPPIN' from 9am Friday thru 11pmEST Monday.

You should have made your way from 

my BFF's Blog Queen KAT!

If you came here 1st, join us by starting at Tina's Blog.

SOC is offer a great prize.

 To be eligible, just leave a message on each participants blogs & the winner will be announced on Wednesday June 27th.

Now onto the summer fun! 

Below are 2 layouts showcasing my daughter Kassie taking shade from the sun & wearing a favorite summer dress.

I'm offering blog "kit" candy too

...all you have to do is leave a message & become a follower (only if you want too..LOL). I will do a random drawing at 9amEST on Wednesday June 27th.

Now hop over to Papercrafting Paradise with Princess..

May HOLIDAYS!!

This month has 3 of my FAVORITE Holidays....CINCO de MAYO,  NATIONAL SCRAPBOOK DAY & Memorial Day. Here are a few pics from our May 5th Celebration.

 This cake was SO delicious! Love whipped cream icing!

In celebration of Cinco de Mayo, we had a Mexican dinner.

Just me with me....celebrating that "It's 5 o'clock Somewhere"!

My Crafty Friends.

Winner is CHAS & a New Child's Play Challenge ....

The winner of my Webster's BLOG candy from Child's Play Blog Hop is CHAS!

Please send your mailing address to thecraftydiva@gmail.com

Now on to this week's 1st challenge of May at Child's Play Challenges.

Create a project inspired by the board game LIFE.

Here is my interpretation entitled "Football Game 4 Life". Pictured is my retired "Flag Football Quarterback" & one of his favorite receivers. This photo was taken 1 week after my husband retired from the game. You'll notice how happy he is now that he is playing for fun.

 Supplies: Kraft cardstock, Little Yellow Bicycle  Get your game on collage paper,

 American Craft Thickers & Recollection boarder.

Be sure to link up your take on this challenge in our May Challenges linky at the top of  the blog HEREfor your chance to be a guest designer with us in July!

Child's Play 1st Blog Hop!

Hello and welcome to Child's Play Challenges first ever Blog Hop!!

You should have made your way from  Janet's Blog .

If you came here 1st, head over to Tiffany's Blog.

Blog Hop runs from April 25th until May 1st.

We have a fabulous gift for one lucky hopper, here's what you need to do to enter:

1-check out each blog along the hop and leave a comment

2-post about the hop on your blog

3-link your post on our special "Blog Hop" linky in the sidebar

4-BONUS!! create a layout based on any of the DTs inspiration items and post that link for a second entry!!

I chose a Basketball as the theme for my layout entitled "Game Time".

Supplies: Echo Park Mini Theme Kit , Paper House 3 D stickers & American Craft "Gift" Thickers.

I am offering up "Websters' Blog Candy" for those participating in the HOP! All you have to do is leave a comment that you are here for the Blog Hop &  become a follower,

I will select the winner on May 1st.

Your next stop is fellow DT Monique

Save the DATE...1st Blog Hop....

SAVE the DATE!!!!

Child's Play Challenges 1st BLOG HOP!!

Scrap Your Crap...April Challenge

This month's  Challenge #64  at Scrap Your Crap is to use PAPER Only! Now, I know all of you have PAPER in your stash. So, bring out those sheets & create something.

I rarely make cards, but had left over Fancy Pants It's the Little Things paper. I cut out words & birds to create this card.

We'd love to see what you come up with using Paper Only!

S:CY Sketch 12-12 Challenge

Ali has created another great Sketch 12-12 at Sketches: Creatively Yours

Here is my layout entitled "Spring is Beautiful" that I created.

Supplies:
Paper-Basic Grey Plumeria
Embellishments-Basic Grey Plumeria diecut cardstock & transparencies, Colorbox Stickerdoodles, K&Company Engraved Garden pack
Letters- American Craft Forest Thickers
Flowers-Recollections Floral Embellishments & Prima Flowers Pinata Petals Mix

Be sure to check out the awesome work by our Guest Designer Deanne Clarke-Saunders and the Design Team over at Sketches: Creatively Yours.

Scrap the Girls...April Challenge

While I was blog reading, I came upon Scrap the Girls challenge blog. Their April Challenge is to use the below sketch challenge in 8.5X11 layout.

Here is my take: "No Training Wheels". Pictured is our 8 year old finally riding without training wheels.

Supplies:
Paper- 8.5x11 Kraft Cardstock, My Minds Eye "Follow Your Heart" by Rhonna Farrer
Letters-Amy Tanterine "Goodness" Thickers & American Craft "Sunrise" Thickers
Embellishments-My Minds Eye "Follow Your Heart" by Rhonna Farrer decorative brads
Chalks: ColorBox "Passion Blue & Chestnut Roan" fluid chalk

Guess who's the March Guest Designer

it's ME!!!

Sorry for just letting y'all know. You still have time to create a layout over at Sketches in Thyme.

Here are my takes on Sketch #71

Titled: Friendship

Used:

Paper: Kaiser Craft Devonshire  Collection, Fancy Pants It's the Little things Collection

 & Recollection Kraft cardstock

Embellishments: Webster Sparklers, October Afternoon Sidewalk Little Flyers

Letters: American Craft Thickers

& Sketch #72

Titled: Words to live by...

Used:

Paper: Kaiser Craft Tigerlilly Collection & We R Memory Keepers Dollies

Embellishments: Kaiser Craft Tigerlilly diecuts, K&Company Brenda Walton butterflies

Letters: American Craft Thickers

Stay tuned for Sketch #73 (which is a double pager...Yikes!)

Challenge #63 @ Scrap Your Crap

Hey all-  It's been hectic the last couple of weeks; but I'd like to thank everyone who played along with our Stamps challenge last month.

Now were on to our March Scrap Your Crap Challenge No #63 we would like to see you use MASKING/WASHI TAPE.

Tapes have boomed over the last year and by now almost every scrapbooking manufacturer compliments their with a roll or two of decorative tape.

It is perfect for those little accents here and there or to be used instead of a paper strip.

Use as much or as little masking/washi tape on your project.

Be sure and comment with a link to your *newly created* project so we can see and comment on them.

 

Here is my layout entitled "Love this Cow".

Pictured is my daughter Kassie with the cow in Virgina, Beach.

Used:

Tape: Michaels Craft misc tape & American Craft Nightfall mixtape
Paper: Basic Grey Out of Print & Bazzill Cardstock
Embellishements: Sassafras Chip Shapes, Basic Grey glazed brads
Letters: American Craft Amy Tangerine Thickers

 

Sunday Remembrance....

Hey all- I'm finally back from my brief hiatus. The last several weeks I've been dealing with the deaths/diagnosis of friends & family who were/are fighting CANCER!

So, today I'm determined to remove all the sadness & move forward with life/happiness & fellowship of family & friends....

Happy Sunday to ALL!

Sketch #7-12 at S:CY

Today the fantastic new Sketches: Creatively Yours Design Team Members

 are going to show you how they interpreted Sketch #7-12.

The sketch was created by Ann Seleshanko and features CS or pp strips, a large focal-point photo, and lots of space for embellies and journaling. Yes-- Ann has drawn yet another versatile and fun-to-use Sketch that will help you make YOUR

 scrapbooking easier and faster - not to mention keep the viewer's eye on the photo(s)!

So, won't you join us by leaving a comment & linking up your layout to Mr. Linky.

Here is my take entitled "Crazy in LOVE".

Used: Echo Park Yours Truly pattern paper, Bazzill card stock, Misc Heart Dollie, Me& My Big Idea Soft Spoken embellishments, K&Co butterfly, Ek Success heart, Doodle Twine Valentine's, Karen Foster Valentine embellishment.

Introducing....Sketches: Creatively Yours Layout Design TEAM!

I'm so honored to have been chosen for the Layout Design Team at

 Sketches: Creatively Yours

The new DT members come from all over the world: from Canada, the US, Singapore, Italy, Latvia, and Australia.

We'd love for you to visit each member of the new S: CY Design Team.

S: CY Layout Design Team

Welcome to S: CY- Design Team Member
Caryn Kidwell!

"Treasure friends"
Caryn's S: CY DT application layout

Caryn's Bio~ I'm Caryn Kidwell. I hail from Maryland. I am married to a wonderful husband of 13 years who happens to be the best flag football quarterback that I know (in my own opinion). I have been blessed with 2 of the most fantastic children (Kyle & Kassie). My family are the reason why I scrapbook. They provide me inspirations for many of my scrapbook pages. I am a diehard Redskins fan! You can always catch me behind a camera taking lots & lots of pictures. My scrapbooking style is just me doing what I love!
Caryn also creates for Scrap Your Crap and Scrapbook Challenges .
WELCOME to S: CY Caryn! We're thrilled to have you with us.

Welcome to S: CY- Design Team Member
Cassie Wiscarson

"Soak up the Sun"
Cassie's S: CY DT application layout

Cassie's Bio~ Hi, my name is Cassie. I have been married to my husband for 9 years and we have a 4 year old daughter and a 2 year old dog. My husband has been in the Army for 8 years in October. I started scrapbooking during my husband's first deployment back in 2005, while we were stationed in Germany. I really love this hobby and share it with all my family and friends. I love to inspire other people with this craft. Scrapping not only makes me happy but it is such a wonderful outlet when my husband is deployed. I usually work with sketches when I scrap, but I also love to change up the sketch to make it my own. My blog is HERE and my pinterest is HERE.
Cassie has had the honor of being a Guest Designer at Frosted Designs blog in June 2011. She is also very active over at Club CK. S: CY is her first DT gig.
Welcome to S: CY Cassie! We're so thrilled you're on our Team!

WELCOME to S: CY- Design Team Member
Elisha Pharr

"5 Years: us"
Elisha's S: CY DT application layout

Elisha's Bio~ Hello Scrappy Friends! My name is Elisha Pharr. I am a blessed wife to my handsome hubby, Jason and momma to my Princess Carley, and my Super Hero Gavin. We live in beautiful North West Alabama, where I own and operate an in-home daycare by day and shuttle my little ones to dance and karate by night.

I began scrapbooking 7 years ago, when Carley was two and I haven't stopped since. I am a former member of the Scrapbookers Clubhouse Design Team and the Paper Piecing Artist Guild. My work has also been featured on numerous blogs, including 3 Scrappy Boys and Inspired to Scrap. As a pre-school teacher with a love for paper, scissors, and glue, it was only natural that I would fall in love with this great hobby! It also makes nap time the perfect time to scrapbook.

When I'm not scrapbooking, I enjoy getting lost in a good book, cooking all those recipes I've pinned on Pinterest, and spending quality time with my family. My husband and I both love to sing and are active in our home church, Hackleburg Community Church. Jason plays bass in the youth band and I fill in on the Praise and Worship team from time to time. Jason is also a T8 Level Paraplegic from a spinal cord injury he suffered in a car wreck at the age of 16. We enjoying visiting with others with spinal cord injuries to encourage and give them hope of a normal, positive and productive life.

I am beyond thrilled to be a part of the Sketches: Creatively Yours Team and look forward to the next 6 months of sketches, inspiration, and fun!! Thank you Ali and Ann for the opportunity. Feel free to visit my little corner of the web HERE. My pinterest is HERE.
WELCOME Elisha, it's so FABULOUS to connect with you through S: CY!

WELCOME to S: CY- Design Team Member Kelly Smith

"The great button debacle of 2011"
Kelly's S: CY DT application layout

Kelly's bio~ I’ve been “scrapbooking” and making art all my life in one form or another but was only introduced to “industry scrapbooking” in 2005. I love to work with my hands and to create works of art in food, fabric and paper. I love photography and believe that a good photograph can tell a great story and is the beginning of a great page. I am addicted to preserving memories and building a heritage that will last for generations to come.

I have been married to my best friend since 1983, we have three children who are all grown and gone from home. Our two sons are married and my favourite topics to scrapbook have to be my two adorable grandchildren. In early 2011, my husband and I adopted an energetic little dog who also appears on many of my current layouts. Other than him, I am an empty nester.
My style is constantly evolving but to me the story is key. I’m a story-teller at heart and journaling is a part of every page I do. My style covers a range from clean and simple to shabby vintage chic to grungy. It all depends on the story that begs to be told. I love my sewing machine and when I’m not sewing on my layouts, I’m quilting. I am very passionate about leaving these stories and quilts for my children and their children as a tangible legacy.
My blog is HERE and my pinterest is HERE.

Welcome to S: CY Kelly! It's wonderful to have yet another Canadian gal as part of the Blog!

Welcome to S: CY- Design Team Member
Julie Lakose

"Spunk"
Julie's S: CY application layout

Julie's Bio~ Julie LaKose (aka hisglorygirl) comes from Iowa, the "heart" of the USA! She has been scrapbooking for a little over ten years. She is inspired by her husband, family, Jesus and just everyday moments, in general. She finds that the process of scrapbooking helps her document beautiful memories, preserve moments for her children and discover who she really is. Scrapbooking is also a place to express her love for the written word. Just like her habit of thrifting, she loves mixing vintage and new scrapbooking items on her pages and projects to create a finished product as unique as her everyday outfits. You can find Julie's Blog HERE.

Welcome to S: CY Julie! Already loving the 'positivity' you have brought along with you!

Welcome to S: CY- Design Team Member
Tammy Pyette

"Our little monkey"
Tammy's S: CY application layout

Tammy's notes re: above LO~ The source for the scrapbooking elements on this page is: http://www.promos4digiscrappers.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/6229/sort/2/ppuser/65

Tammy's Bio~ Hi Everyone! My husband and I are raising our family on about 6 acres of wooded land in the middle of nowhere on a "mountain" in Nova Scotia. I'm homeschooling our 4 little Monkeys, so our days are full of "the 3 Rs", lots of cuddles and lots of laughs. I have a small portrait studio, which seems to shrink as my children grow. Still, photography remains one of my passions, so I take a ton of photos of my own family. I build my SB pages digitally within about a month of making them- Usually with one baby on my knee and another one reading to me from a historical fiction novel. Multitasking, as always. Here's the link to Tammy's Facebook page.

WELCOME to S: CY Tammy! Love the digi-scrappin' knowledge you you bring to the Blog!

Welcome to S: CY- Design Team Member Yati Dali

"T is for Thankful"
Yati's S: CY application layout

Yati 's Bio~ Hi! I'm Yati, from Singapore. I’m a FTWM with 2 beautiful daughters; a 4.8 years old and 3.5 years old who are the main subjects of my pages.

I started dabbling with scrapbooking in 2006. Only in 2007, when I had my first daughter, did I become obsessed with scrapbooking.

I wanted to record, capture and preserve all the precious memories of our life together… our journey…. the ups and downs.
My style of scrapbooking usually depends on the photos that I wanted to scrap, what kind of feeling/story I wanted to portray through my layouts. Every time I complete a project/layout… I feel a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction and it always makes my day a better one! The link to Yati's blog is HERE.

Welcome to S:CY Yati! It's awesome that you've brought your style to our Team!

Sketches: Creatively Yours Design Team