Halloween Eve is here

Is everyone ready?

Candy bowls stocked?

Pumpkins carved?

I'm in quite the festive mood today

(despite having three kiddos with the sniffles!)

They are all happily watching

Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas

(one of our favorites)

and I am enjoying my coffee and about to read some blogs! The two older kids are out of school, parent teacher conferences :)

I kept Roman home because of his sniffles and sneezing.

He was very sad, his school was visiting the Waterford Ladies Home today

Each year for Halloween the Montessori children visit the ladies and make Halloween cookies with them

Koby & Mia loved it when they were at Montessori and Roman couldn't wait until he was old enough to go

(You have to be 4)

I explained to him that the elderly ladies have a much harder time getting better from a cold than he does. I would hate to get one of them sick!

He's still peeved at me but he will get over it.

I think we'll just have our own cookie party here at home today!

This week was the Book Fair at our school

For me as a child, the Book Fair was almost as good as Christmas!
I would save for months so I could buy all the books my little heart desired

Koby and Mia did the same thing, it really tickled me!

I made them each a bookmark for their new books:

Back view:

I told Koby that if his best friend, Kole, wanted one that I could make him one also Instead he came home telling me that Kole wanted one and he promised them to the rest of his class as well! Eek! Maybe I'll have them done by Christmas?...

I want to share a Halloween banner that I made using

the Spiders Web line by My Mind's Eye.

I had so much fun making this!

Isn't it a great piece for the mantle?

Don't you love the little skeletons?

Or "Bone Daddies" as Roman calls them LOL

Thanks for stopping by today!
Here's wishing everyone a SPOOKTACULAR Halloween!
(and good weather vibes to all of you!)

58 days until Christmas!

Well Jolly by Golly!
Can you believe there is only 58 days until the BIG day?

Guess that means you better start on those holiday cards!

Here is the next Bored Housewife Card Club class, "Snow Day"

I will be teaching this class at The Scrapbook Workshoppe

on Monday, November 30th @ 7:00 PM

The cost is $18 and kits are available!

All papers are Cosmo Cricket from the Jolly by Golly line

Don't you love them?!?

Speaking of this paper, here is a layout I made using them

These photos are from Christmas Morning 2006

Mia wanted a Baby Alive so bad and was absolutely thrilled when

Santa brought it!
The poinsettias are new from Prima, talk about beautiful!
I also used some of the Jolly by Golly chipboard and stickers

This is a little project I meant to share with you

but it was buried under 2 other projects!

That never happens to any of you though, does it? ;)
I used the new Nook & Pantry line from Basic Grey on this

It was made for a challenge using "Inchies" over at the AMM anniversary crop

Last I have a fast but cute layout I made with Sassafras Monstrosity!

I have lots to do today and a sick little one...

Thanks for stopping by!

Zoot suit riot- COSTUME REVEAL!!

How was your weekend?
Mine was a lot of fun, between teaching a class, our Halloween party and a baseball tournament, I was pooped last night!

I think I went to bed earlier than I have in years...9:00!!

I know you have been waiting to see my costume selection...

Well wait no longer!
Now first I want to tell you, this wasn't my original costume choice.

I was going as June Cleaver and Mike was Ward Cleaver...

until the dress I had started to "dry rot" and had a huge hole in it!

I was so disappointed

We threw this look together the day before luckily...

Note to self...never wear a wig again!
Talk about itchy and uncomfortable!
Fuggedaboutit.
Here is my friend, Leslie and I.
She was Robin Hood :)

Speaking of costumes...

This little guy has been in his everyday since we purchased it

Here he is watching TV in it yesterday...

the kids were on the floor romping around and I actually got them to sit still for a moment!
Wonders never cease :)

Crush took 1st place in the tournament this weekend

Here are the boys telling your they're #1!!

(My guy Koby is 3rd from the left, with no front teeth)

Sorry I don't have any scrappi-ness to share

I taught my Glimmer Mist album class on Friday night and it was a doozy!

Promise to have some new stuff to share in the next few days though

Have a wonderful Monday!

Sneak Peek at my Christmas cards and Friday Faves!!

Happy Friday, everyone!

Are you excited for the weekend?

I am!

We have baseball tournaments and a Halloween party

I can't wait for the party, I love dressing up!

I won't reveal what my costume is but I will give you a small hint... I will be wearing a dress

I know, that's a dead giveaway, right?! :)

I have been busy creating with Cosmo Cricket's new "Jolly by Golly" line

I just love it! They never fail to hook me with each of their lines, I can't think of a single one I don't like!

Here is a fun layout I did last night

I misted the whole paper with Frozen Lake Glimmer Mist

I also outlined all of the swirls with Stickles in "Diamond"

(one of the best colors Stickles has in my opinion, so versatile!)

I won't share all of my cards quite yet but here are 2 teases!




Now for my Friday Faves

I'll do 5 this time :)



1. Silly little boys.

Roman is obsessed with SpiderMan
Everyday when he gets home he takes his clothes off and into the SpiderMan costume he goes!
He has walked into numerous walls with that mask on his little head
(hey, at least it has holes for him to breathe out of though!) LOL



2. Design team calls /Submissions

I have entered a few lately and I am bound and determined to make one!
Although the "no's" are disappointing I feel that I get better with each passing day.
I truly believe that by the end of 2009 I will be on a design team of a brand that I love.
I won't give up!



3. Uggs

I broke out my Uggs today for the first time this season
Putting them on are like seeing an old friend again
I would love to have about 5 more pair...



4. School Pictures

My kids got their school pictures back this week
I remember how excited I used to be to get mine back!
Cutting them up and exchanging with friends was the best
Last night I helped Mia with hers,
it touched my heart to see how excited she was



5. World Series!

I am rooting for the Angels, let's go in there and
show these damn Yankees what's up!!
(Wish my KC Royals were there but that's a whole other post)

LOL


Tell me one of your "faves" from this week!
Have a great weekend

Collage Press Love...

Hello there

How is everyone's week going so far?

I can't believe it's already Wednesday

Have you been creative today?

I have been playing with Collage Press "Knave of Hearts" and "Sweet Shoppe" papers

and here is what I came up with!
I just love their designs, so fresh and unique!

I can't wait to get my hands on the new Christmas line from them, "Joy Ride"

Here is a little cupcake card, simple and sweet!

A layout of Roman and I

One of Miss Mia on her first day of Kindy

another card

and this is my favorite layout...

I used a bunch of buttons and did some stitching

Here is a paper mache book I altered

I used Tim Holtz distress paints in Concord Grape, Spiced Marmalade and Black Soot

I topped it off with Glimmer Mist in Graphite to give it a aged but shimmery look

The bling around the 31 is Heidi Swapp, it was clear but I changed it to orange with alcohol ink!

If you look closely you can see the crackle effect on the photo

I used the new Tim Holtz Rock Candy...love this stuff!

The chipboard key and lock are Maya Road, papers are Knave of Hearts

If you are familiar with CP you will see a small piece of Grayson Hall on here as well!

Thanks for stopping by and visiting me today

I have been busy working on Christmas cards so stay tuned!

Happy happy Saturday!

How is your weekend going?

We are busy busy busy but having lots of fun!
Last night we took the kids to Spooktacular at Powell Gardens

It was pretty chilly but we enjoyed ourselves despite the weather

Without further ado, I give you, Billy Mays, Hamburger Montana and SpiderMan.

This is the first year they have had free reign over their costumes

(I know shame on me)

and I am so amused at their choices!

"Billy Mays here!"

The Best of Both Worlds (just on a sesame bun)
Spectacular Spectacular SPIDERMAN!
And here I am on the trolley with my brood :)

Today we played in the "Monster Bash", a Halloween themed tournament in Kansas

We had to be there at 8 AM and it was an hour away, and fittingly enough it was colder than a witch's tit!

In May we went to one of their tournaments and were comparable to the Bad News Bears

I am proud to say that today we were UNDEFEATED!

GO CRUSH!

There were lots of spooky decorations and the kids loved it

Afterwards we went for pizza at our favorite pizza place, Tim's Pizza

Tim, the owner is such a great guy,

the kids love to watch through the glass as he makes our pizza!

Over at A Million Memories there is a Big Anniversary party going on!

I will be honest, I never quite "got" what an online crop is but now that I have officially participated in one, I love it!

Stacy Cohen gave us a sketch challenge and here is my take on it:
(I used the new MME Colorful Christmas line that I won on the MME blog!!! I just got it on Friday and can't wait to make more fun things with it! Thanks, Amber!)

Then we did a Mystery Layout challenge with Lucy Edson and it was so much fun

Every 15 minutes she gave us instructions on what to do next

Here is what I came up with using the new Basic Grey "Eerie" line

(I feel a little silly making a layout of myself called "Hot Mama"

but seriously, I had just given birth like 2 weeks before this photo was taken!)

If you have a minute drop by AMM, the challenges are great

and they are doing tons of giveaways!

Wish us luck tomorrow, we will play in the championship for the Monster Bash

Don't tell anyone but I think it's in the bag

;)

Have I told you that I love Glimmer Mist?

My local scrapbook store, The Scrapbook Workshoppe,

got the new Tattered Angels Chip Tiles in yesterday

and I just could not wait to create something with them!

I came up with this spooky accordian banner:

added some cobwebs and spiders to make it extra spooky!

up close detail
on the moon and gate I used a white and gray crayon for resisting
I also used Tim Holtz distress embossing powder in Black Soot on the gate under the birdmore detail

Overall, I'm pleased with the way it turned out
I can't wait to try the other Chip Tiles!

Fall has come to Missouri, although it feels like an early winter!

It has been rainy and blustery for the past 2 weeks, not a ray of sunshine!
I don't mind days like that here and there but after a while it gets depressing.

I took some photos yesterday just around my yard

Autumn is my very favorite season.

Speaking of things I love...

How about a "Thankful Thursday"?

1. My babies.

They are so precious and dear to me

Everyday I look at them and have to pinch myself

How did I get so lucky?

2. Thanksgiving.

Can't wait for this day to come!

I am already "researching" recipes for my turkey

Each year I try a new recipe/technique.

In the past I have done brining, maple glazing, and the old standby Herbs de Provence

3. Good Friends.

Yesterday my friend, Tina, and I got to sneak away and scrap together for a few hours

She shared all of her Studio Calico exclusive papers & stamps with me

I was drooling! I have never subscribed to a kit club before but their things are too fun.

So retro-mod!

4. A wonderful Man.

I truly don't think there is a greater man, husband, father

or coach better than Mike!
He is selfless in every sense of the word and knows how to

make me feel like a million bucks.

He surprised Tina and I yesterday while we cropped and brought us lunch.

What a guy!

5. Entertaining pets.

My house is full of them

Between the 6 lb poodle and 70 lb poodle

who are constantly at each other's throats,

the "stray" turtle we rescued and the 200 gallon saltwater aquarium

I have enough to keep me entertained...and crazy. ;)

Life is good,

no,

Life is GREAT.

Enjoy your Thursday, friends.