Here's another AMAZING sketch from Karan Gerber at Sketchabilities. Get on over the message board for some exciting changes :)




Thanks for stopping by!

Shawn

I have to share photos of my Old and New cooktop. I can't tell you how excited and surprised I was to get this :) As you can see, this old one leaves a lot to be desired.

Out with the OLD...

and in with the NEW!

This last Saturday I spent with my girlfriends scrapping the day and part of the night away. Here are a few layouts I did.

The next two layouts I completed using my sketches over at Nuts About Sketches :)

I used a Pagemaps sketch for this one :) I absolutely LOVE Pagemaps.

Thanks for stopping by!

Shawn

***Cardabilities***

Birthday RAK Winner

SUZY!!!! - Please email me your info (shawneerie17@yahoo.com) and I'll get your package out very soon.

I start out this post with an awesome sketch from Cardabilities. They are still celebrating their birthday with prizes to be had. So, get over there for further details.




On another note, I celebrated my 37th birthday on Tuesday. 37??? Really??? Where has the time gone? This is a photo I took with my cell phone. This is straight out of the camera phone...un retouched. Angle and lighting is everything. That's all I'm sayin'. I wanted to make sure I actually got a photo...you know...for future reference to see just how bad TIME is to me. - LOL.

I had an excellent birthday. I started the day off with an extra 2 hours with my darling children due to a two hour delay :) Then, my Mother and I went shopping...to several places. Needless to say, I'm not a shopper. I don't enjoy it and if I'm shopping for anything apparel-related...I'm not at all thrilled. It always looks sooooo much better on the skinny hanger. Enough said.

Upon returning from our shopping trip, I made myself the Earthquake Cake that I soooo adore - yum! I whipped up four loaves of bread and proceeded to prepare marinated, grilled elk for dinner, along with cheesy potatoes and salad.

My Mother and darling husband cleaned up after the cake and ice cream. Ahhhh....life is good.

While my parents were pulling out of our driveway yesterday, I was on the phone with Charlie discussing the details of the demolition of our bathroom.

Day 1:

I took everything out of the bathroom, organized and relocated it. I then started ripping out everything I could without Charlie's help. Charlie returned home at around 5:45 and proceeded to prepare the plumbing items for removal. We took out the sink/counter/tub before we ate dinner at 8:30 p.m. We were all exhausted, but happy so much was accomplished.

Day 1 - BEFORE

Day 1 - AFTER

Today's schedule entails removal of wooden walls and whatever else I can get down by myself :) Oh, and just so you know...OLD glue does NOT smell pretty.

Thanks for stopping by!

Shawn

If you're here regarding the cancelled Cardabilities Blog Hop - scroll down for your chance to win the RAK that I'm still offering :)

Otherwise, feast your eyes on this awesome prize that Karan at Sketchabilities is offering in celebration of over 500 followers!

Zip over to Sketchabilities and comment as to what you would do with this kit if you happen to win it.

Thanks for stopping by!

Shawn

***If you're here regarding the Cardabilities (cancelled) blog hop - scroll down for you chance to win the RAK that I'm still offering :)***

Here is the newest Sketchabilities sketch just revealed today. I LOVE this sketch! It is perfect for the snow-related photos...obviously.



Thanks for stopping by!!!

Shawn

Due to technical difficulties, the blog hop has been CANCELLED. We apologize for this inconvenience and hope that you will continue to follow the blog and enjoy the sketches.

I am still offering my RAK, as are some, if not all of the other designers. All you have to do is leave a comment :)

Thank you for patience and understanding.

This blog hop is run a bit differently than others. There is an order for you to hop!

Firstly, Begin hopping to Design Team Blogs as listed at the bottom of each Designer Blog. Your first Hop is over to Karan's Blog. Beware...there is an order for you to follow.

Secondly, For our followers to be considered for the final Sponsor Giveaway, you need to hop to all the Designers Participating in the Hop...On those blogs, you will find a highlighted word in BLUE. Find the highlighted word and leave some feedback. All these highlighted words form a catch phrase about Cardabilities.

Thirdly, You need to comment on each Designer Blog to be considered for each individual RAK the Design Team Members are offering.

Lastly, You will need to put that "catch" phrase together and bounce back to the Cardabilities site to leave your final comment and the "catch" phrase to be considered for the Sponsor Giveaway.

You'll have three days to complete the hop...January 15th - January 17th.

Winners of the DT Blog RAK and the Final Sponsor Giveaway prize will be posted January 20th.

Good Luck, Everyone!

You should have found your way over here from Heather's Blog. If not, you'll have to pop over there first to get what you need to complete this hop ;)



Here is the RAK that I am offering to you awesome HOPPERS!

There is an unmounted Stampin' Up stamp set called Word by Word. It is a background stamp. There is also a couple sets of Thickers, butterfly ribbon, a set of 3D snowflakes, polka-dotted stickers and some craft gems. This RAK is open to US residents...sorry :(

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to complete the Cardabilities Blog Hop for your chance to win RAK's and the Sponsor Giveaway.

Head on over to Karli's blog next :)

Shawn

2011 is going great so far. I've completed my first book this year - The Law of Nines, lost 3 pounds and am getting the house in order. Charlie and I are even discussing some remodeling that is desperately needed. I don't know about you, but I love window shopping at Lowe's ;)


I want to share a layout with you that I posted on Nuts About Sketches this week. This is Blake at his school Halloween party. If you haven't realized by now, I LOVE to scrap Halloween. I'm not sure why. The sketch for this is posted at NAS. It's Week 143.

It's Cardabilities' Birthday Bash!!! I want to remind everyone that Cardabilities is having a blog hop THIS Saturday, the 15th. I'm on the rotation and will have a nice prize. So, be sure and check Cardabilities for further details Saturday :)

Not only are they having a blog hop, but there are sponsored challenges going on the entire month of January. Zip over and check it out!

While you're over checking out the Cardabilities' challenges, click on Sketchabilities for the latest sketch revealed this Saturday. It's beautiful!!!

Thanks for popping in!

Shawn

******DILIGENCE******

I have decided, as many other people have, to choose a word for 2011. My word is diligence.

Diligence is a zealous and careful nature in one's actions and work, exemplified by a decisive work ethic, budgeting of one's time, monitoring one's own activities to guard against laziness, and putting forth full concentration in one's work. Diligence is usually promoted in work places.

Diligence is the act of doing all things efficiently and relentlessly to the best of one's ability in order to achieve success in every endeavor.

This is the perfect word for what I've been feeling the last 3-4 months. It's perfect in the regard that I NEED to have more of it. I've been known to not manage my time very wisely, thus it became time wasted. For years I've told myself that I didn't have time for this, or time for that. Oh, I had time...I just didn't TAKE the time needed to do whatever it was I "didn't" have time for.

Well, it's a whole new year and this year will be the year that I TAKE the TIME to do what NEEDS to be done.

Happy New Year!!!

It is a blessed new year with many great possibilities. I have been looking forward to a fresh start for a while now.

I have many "resolutions" for the year 2011. All of them will help improve my spiritual, physical and mental well-being.

Here are some of my 2011 Resolutions -

1. Weightloss (always #1 for me)
2. Read thru the Bible
3. Read at least one book a month
4. More Organized
5. Less wasted time
6. Keep a clean and picked up home
7. My month in review layouts (12 total...obviously)
8. Make more cards
9. Blog more
10. Insist that the kids keep their rooms clean and more organized
11. Make my bed everyday
12. Create at least 5 layouts a month
13. Drink less pop...more water
14. File paperwork monthly..at least
15. Less yelling at the kids
16. Family Game Nite Weekly or Bi-Weekly
17. Date Nite - Monthly
18. Can more this year
19. Plant flowers this year
20. Spend more time outdoors
21. Entertain more often - I enjoy time with family/friends immensely
22. Spend less and SAVE more

Those are the ones I can remember. This is the first time I've written them down. I will add to them if I think of anymore.

So, here's to a productive NEW YEAR...hopefully carrying around a little less of ME :)


Thanks for stopping by!

Shawn

Here's the Sketchabilities' reveal for December 30, 2010. I loved this sketch because all of the snowflakes. I'm allo about Winter layouts :) I flipped it and added two more photos.

This is my second post for the day, because I just had some great challenges to share! So, be sure to scroll down for more inspiration.

This one is for The Paper Variety.

Look what you could win!!!!

Aww yeah.. Cosmo Cricket is generously donating the wintry Mitten Weather Collection Kit AND coordinating CHIPBOARD! How could you not love that???

The challenge is to draw inspiration from this adorable photo. So many possibilities!!!! I drew from the colors. I could have done a puppy/dog, santa hat or possibly a baby sleeping. Get on over to The Paper Variety to see what the other DT members came up with.

Thanks for stopping by!

Shawn

It's Sketchabilities Reveal Day!!! It always seems like such a long time between reveals. I just love Karan's sketches! This one is perfect for Christmas layouts. I started out by cutting some cone shaped pieces of cardstock to adhere my decorative punched lines to. It was extremely easy, but time consuming. I really like how they turned out though.

Be sure and check the website for other great examples for this sketch ;)




My darling son, Blake covered in gifts. The smile on his face says it all!

Another challnege is up at The Paper Variety. This challenge has so many options. Pick your poison :) I used the top row across. I used my cricut to cut all the snowflakes and the word "love." I used Stickles "Icicles" to create the snow effect.

Our sponsor this week is Tidbitz In Time. Look at this fabulous kit you could win!!! Just complete the challenge and upload by Tuesday for your chance. Zip over to The Paper Variety for details.


I used a recent sketch from Nuts About Sketches to complete this challenge.

Thanks for stopping by!


Shawn

Sketchabilities Reveal

Sponsor Giveaway: - Technique Junkie-The Technique Junkie Newsletter was started in 2002 as a resource for Rubber Stamping Techniques. The Newsletter is published every-other month, featuring 15 or more stamping techniques in step-by-step format.

Each technique has a corresponding pictorial online, and a full page of inspirational artwork by the talented Technique Junkie Newsletter Designers. To date, over 600 Techniques have been published, by far the largest and most extensive library of rubber stamping tutorials available.

The prize would be a Fancy Folds and Motion Paper Crafts CD (Value $17.95) and a one year on-line subscription to the Technique Junkie Newsletter.

*******************************************************

How to Win: Create a card using Sketch #36 and link using Mr Linky, you have until Dec 12 to complete!

*********************************************************************************

Oh-My-Goodness!!!! How could you not totally LOVE this sketch??? This is my all-time FAVORITE!!!



I used a kit from The Scrapping Spot. I cut out my own clouds and used my cricut for the flourish.

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to visit the Sketchabilities' website for more examples of the awesome sketch!

Shawn

Whew! There are a lot of photos in this post :) Hunker down, People! This may take a while :)

I'm starting out with my layout created using Nuts About Sketches Week 137. It's one of my favorites that I've ever created. Be sure and checkout each of the other DT members' creations.




Thanksgiving 2010 consisted of way more food that I'm used to. I usually don't eat that much in one sitting. Needless to say, I will more-than-likely be on a diet starting tomorrow :)

Blake wasn't cooperative at all while was trying to take photos. This is about the only one I got on Thanksgiving.

Ashley and Kaila...

Bethani, Amber, Tyler and Kaila

Bethani and Kaila born 12 days apart.

Kaila and Me

Aunt (Queen) Doreen and Me

Okay, onto the Monday after Thankgiving...Kraynak's!!! They have a gorgeous

Christmas tree display, as well as trains to play with. After we tour the display and play with trains, we head over to Arby's for some grub. It's our tradition. It's what we do. Well, this year there was only 3 kids as opposed to the normal 8. Boy, was that different!

After we had our fill at Arby's (yummy), we headed over to Jo Ann Fabrics to checkout their sales. I bought what I wanted at 40% off!!!

We zipped from Jo Ann's over to Shenango Valley Cinema to see our very first movie in 3D. We watched Megamind. It was seriously cool in 3D. Now I want to see an action movie in 3D.

Now we move on to the real excitement for the day. Nicholas shot his first buck with a 30/30 open sites. Seriously! It is a 4 point, but that's only because the entire other set of horns has been ripped off by fighting (probably). Nick was sure to inform me that the heart wasn't damaged, because it is meat and we do eat that as well. Delicious by the way ;) We are so proud of him!!!

Thanks for stopping by! Check back tomorrow for my newest Sketchabilities creation.

Shawn