I'm lovin'

Randy from Say Yes to the Dress
...a few things today. (No layouts to post but it is so dark when I get home that I have not been able to photograph anything I have gotten done...which is not much).

My parents have been here since last Friday and staying to Sunday. On Saturday, my mom and I made the rounds of M's, J's, and A's and had so much fun looking at stuff and buying goodies. This Friday I took off so that we can spend it together.

My mom is a great cardmaker and we are going to get some goodies from a local spice shop (Penzey's--going to have to look for the D---weed that Cathy Z posted a few months ago from there--LOL) and then I am taking her to the Scrapbook Shop of St. Paul (see link on the side)...where I know she will love it...the decor, the ideas and inspiration are abound and the owner, Rhonda, my dear friend is so much fun to be around.

So here is my today list of "loves":

That my son organized and put on a blood drive at his school today all by himself, and he just texted me that he donated (he had my permission at 16) and felt good doing it physically and emotionally/mentally--I mean, those needles are huge and can scare the bejezes out of people.

I won on the October Afternoon Blog this week...some of their cards...So happy about that, I have NEVER won on a blog before so that was cool.

I love to watch "Say Yes to the Dress'. Am totally addicted and since I have been married almost 16 years, my husband (and myself) are wondering what I would want to spend my time watching it...but I cannot help myself...I think when we turn 25 yrs, maybe I will buy a prettier wedding gown than my 200$ Sears special I bought all those years ago.

I am so lovin' that my parents are here. Hanging with my mom and dad is awesome and I better get my fill this weekend before they head to Texas for 3 months...to see my sister and be where it is warm. My dad hung a HAM radio antenna in my backyard and they are coming over for dinner friday and dinner saturday and a whole lot of shopping/visiting during the day. We are having our family Christmas together Saturday...so lots to love!

Got to get to work. Love and hugs. Lara

Webster's Pages Christmas

I visited the Southern Scrapbooking Expo this weekend in Owatanna MN. I actually did not "visit" it as much as work it with my friend Rhonda, who owns "The Scrapbook Shop" in Circle Pines, MN, on Friday and Saturday. It was quite an event. I met some seriously fun and creative ladies this weekend, and eventhough I am wiped out from it, I was glad that I helped her work it.

Rhonda brought tons of goodies from her store. She brought a paper line that I just loved and have been coveting since she got it in. It was the new Christmas line from Wenster's Pages. It is seriously gorgeous stuff. I could not help myself so I got 2 sheets of it, and inspired not only by the paper, but also by the creative groove at the convention, I went home and created 2 layouts on Friday night, to display at the booth on Saturday.


This layout, includes a hand cut tree from the opposite sheet of the background, of the 2 that I bought. I glittered it up with Stickles and hand cut out the little deer on the background paper so that the deer could be "on top" of the glittered tree.


This layout was with the leftovers of the sheet that I cut the tree out of. Not too much to work with, but somehow, in handcutting the tree, I was able to save the big cream block with the light "Magical" lettering on it. I was able to increase the visibility of it by adding a little Stickles to that too. I made the presents with the back side of the tree paper and put some rubons over the ribbon for a little dimension and to add a Christmas feel to it.

So I know, it is not Christmas, but when one finds such beautiful, inspiring papers, one has to work with them right away. There is no stopping me when I see something and have an idea. I get bit by the creative bug and have to go with it when it happens. Have a great week. Love and Hugs, Lara

Making something out of nothing

the subtitle of this post could also be toilet paper roll stealer. Just a little post about being green (er). See below:



Recently, I have been in the "covering" mood. I want to cover everything. I could chalk it up to being just tired of storing my scraps or just because I like making everything pretty. I got this idea from a label printer at work. One of our secretaries was refilling the label printer and had this nice sturdy cardboard roll. She was just going to throw it away and I had this bright idea to keep it and make something of it.

The cardboard roll posed a bit of a problem though. One could cover it all you want but you could not have a bottom in it. Well, I fashioned a circle about 1/4 inch bigger than the diameter of the base with card stock, cut little slits in the circle, all the way around and then glued the slits to the inner side of the roll. Then I thought, that card stock will not hold up to office tools, such as pens, scissors, and other pointy stuff. So I made a circle with transparency just slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the roll and put messy clear glue all over it and pressed it into the bottom of the roll.

I still was not happy with the inside so I then sprayed the heck out of it with glimmer mist to cover the word advertising that is in the inside of the roll. You can still see the outline, and I suppose one could paint the inside but I chose not to. The whole idea for me is to make it look re-purposed.




I then picked out some pretty papers that I have some of, with embellies, that I thought might look nice, and better yet, be able to use the scraps for something besides cards. The first one I made is the one with Bo-Bunny "No place like home one".

I have since branched out. The short squat one is a duct tape roll, that I found empty under my son's bed when I cleaned his room last week. I thought this was more shallow and could be used on a desk, holding paper clips or something like that.

The final one is the key to the toilet paper roll hint above--the one with the Daisy D's Paper and the 2 Prima flowers on it. At my LSS, they have these large TP dispensers in the restroom and when the roll is empty, it yields a nice large roll to make this project. I did ask the owner, my good friend Rhonda, if I could just take it, and after she looked at me funny, she said yes. {I think she will be the FIRST person to get one of my "green" projects--after all, she paid for the TP, roll and all}...LOL

The best part of it was that when I visited the store yesterday afternoon was at the right time, and the roll was empty again. I took that roll, which she said of course "by all means"...and made a comment about how she went through so much TP when she has Friday night crops. Not so good for her, but good for me. He-he!

So that is my rendition of making something out of nothing. I would like to put a disclaimer in here though, I will NOT be visiting many restrooms, taking paper rolls out, UNLESS they are empty. The whole idea is to be aware of your surroundings and if there is a good opportunity, take it. I hope I get beyond the covering everything phase, and move on to scrapping something once in awhile, but until then, keep your eyes peeled for empty rolls for me! LOL Love and Hugs, Lara

Over-The-Top Cards

I have wanted to do a post about over the top cards for quite some time. I have viewed some pretty amazing cards over time, online and in magazines and I would love to be that creative but alas, everytime I try to make them over the top and amazing, it falls short, in my opinion. I have tried to just put it out there but never quite get to the amazing card, but I gave it a shot with these 3. TFL.





Cardstock: Stampin' Up; Patterned Paper: Cosmo Cricket; Letter stickers: American Crafts; Metal Charm: Making Memories; Paper lace: Doodlebug Design; Glimmer Mist: Tattered Angels; Jewels: Heidi Swapp; ribbon: craft supply

So there is my rendition of the Over the Top cards...pretty simple, but the best I have got. I wish I could put them out there, but I guess I just have to think, would all that stuff actually fit in an envelope anyway?!! LOL! Love and Hugs, Lara

recent layouts

Just a little layout marking my daughter's first Homecoming dance. She was all excited to go and it proved to be a good time for her.
Patterned paper: Lily Bee; Prima: Flowers; Stamp: Stampin' Up; Letters: American Crafts; Flower center stickers: Making Memories, Michaels; Brads: unknown; Butterfly sticker: K and Company; Date sticker: American Crafts; Rubons: Creative Cafe; Ribbon: LSS.



Just a little Cosmo Cricket goodness and most importantly, some precious pictures scrapped of my son with his Great Grandparents.

Patterned paper, chipboard, journaling spot: Cosmo Cricket; Ribbon: craft supply; Liquid glass: Close to My Heart


This is just a layout of my dear daughter, showcasing how special she is!
Patterned paper: Lily Bee; Chipboard: Pink Paislee; Sticker, Foam letters: American Crafts; Rubons: Creative Cafe, Making Memories; Lace: Joann's.

Hello November--Goodbye Halloween for this year!

Everyone is recovering in this house from the past week. I, in my post-cleaning craze and putting on a Halloween party to teenagers, to having more teens sleep over in one weekend than ever before, am shot. DD had 5 kids over for the party, after having a friend stay over the night before and DS had 3 boys come over yesterday, go to a Halloween party at his girlfriend's house and then Hubby went and picked them all up at 1am and those boys stayed over. I am shot.

I have ONLY got groceries and picked up from last night's party, dealt with DD breaking up with her boyfriend and just being worn out. I think it will be fun to get back to work tomorrow. This past week of staying at home has got me tuckered out.

I always guage my stay-at-home vacations on what I accomplish as I know it is hard to get it all done during the week when there are other things I need to do like eat, sleep and work. SO for this week: grocery shopped several times, cleaned (gutted) 2 teens' rooms, cleaned my entire house, did oodles of laundry, made a calendar for a class at the LSS, made many cards, made 4 layouts and drove teens here, there and everywhere, oh, and handed out candy to the masses last night while hosting said Halloween party. I would say that I got a lot accomplished and tonight, supper is hot roast beef sandwiches, and I am going to kick back and watch the Vikings game--got to see them kick the Pack's bootie. SO I am signing off.

The pictures are of the many costumed teens we had over last night. Teens...hmmmm, such interesing costumes.

I really liked blogging more this week and hope to catch it several times every week. Love and HUGS, Lara