Happy New Year's Eve!!!

Happy New Year's Eve to you all!  I hope you have a happy and safe day today whatever you do!  I wish you all the best for 2012!!!  

Well, with the new year, comes a new challenge over at Once Upon A Sketch! I do hope you play along with us! :)

The challenge:

Journaling Criteria: Our theme this time is New year's Eve. Journal about your feelings around this time of year, or tell us about your most memorable New Year's Eve. What do you typically do or what did you specifically do this year? Who do you celebrate with? Was there one that was particularly memorable? 

You MUST combine the journaling criteria with this sketch:

My Layout:

At first I was a bit intimidated by this challenge...not exactly sure why, maybe it was because I didn't have any specific New Years Eve photos, but I made a page about how I generally spend it.  Here's my layout:

I used by Cameo for this page!!!  I loved playing with it and can't wait to play more.  See that cute house with the words cut out of it, that is what I cut with my Cameo.  Isn't it cute?  :)  The chipboard I used comes from Imaginarium Designs.  They are an awesome company that is a consistent sponsor over at Once Upon A Sketch.  They even sponsor the design team, so I was lucky enough to get to play with them.  My papers are all from My Mind's Eye.  

Here are some close up's of my layout:

The prizes:

You won't want to miss the prizes you can win...lots of good stuff!

1. The winner of this challenge, as chosen by the Design Team, will win a spot on our Design Team for the month of February. As well as that, the winner will also receive a nice prize from The Craft's Meow:

An in-stock stamp set from The Crafts Meow of the winners choice..

*example of stamp set the winner could choose. 

2. One RANDOM lucky person will receive this prize from Feature Art:

3. One RANDOM lucky person will receive this prize from Vicky Alberto Etsy Shop:

See!!! Lots to win! :)

I really hope you play along with us this!!!! You have until Jan. 14th to upload your entry here. Can't wait to see what YOU do! :)

Have a FANTASTIC day!!!!

Saying Goodbye to 2011

Every year I think the year has gone by quicker than the previous year.  But I am glad to be rid of 2011...it was the hardest year for me yet.  Thank God for my kids...they have been such a blessing.  Anyways...so I am praying that 2012 is a MUCH better year for us.

On The ScrapCake blog we did a post where we all shared layouts recapping the year.  I chose to go in a slightly different direction and created this:

I used the Cozy Xmas collection from The ScrapCake for this layout.  Those letters are stamped with an old set I had from Stampin' Up!, which I am sure they do not sell anymore.

Here are some close up's of my layout:

I hope we all have better years actually, even if your year was super...we'll always take better, right!  :)  

Thanks for stopping in today!!!!  

Have a wonderful day!!!!

My Top Ten from 2011

Isn't it funny how we all have different styles and preferences.  I am about to post MY personal favorite layouts of mine for the year, and you may be think to yourself, "wow...I wouldn't have picked that one", or "you should have included this other layout."  I've said it before, but it's funny how you post a layout that you just love and it gets barely any comments, and then you post a layout that you don't love as much, and everyone else loves it.  Or you submit your favorite layout several times, but it doesn't get picked up.  But then the one that you almost didn't send because you don't like it as much does get picked up.  It happens to me all the time.

There are a few layouts that actually would have made my list, but they are out for publication and can't be included at this time, so if you don't see one of your favorites, then that may be why.

So here are my top ten:

A lot of them are recent layouts...I noticed that last year when I made my top ten too.  I guess that means I am growing and developing more of my own style.  :)

Thanks for stopping in today!  I love seeing your top ten layouts too...so let me know if you've posted them!

Have a wonderful day!

Christmas Blessings

Hi everyone! I hope you had a FABULOUS Christmas and holiday season. :) We have been busy busy busy, as most of the world seems to be this time of year. We were blessed with much time with friends and family and of course many wonderful presents.

My biggest blessings:

(the poor boys have strep though...so they weren't feeling the best this Christmas.)

One of the best gifts I received:

:) Yep, that is a peek at my new Cameo. Can't wait to pull it out of the box and play a bit.

Thought I'd share another layout with you all, since I haven't posted for a little bit. This layout uses Pink Paislee (including more of the freebies I was talking about in previous posts that I found on their blog).

Here are the close up's:

I weaved a bit of paper, played with layering the same paper on paper, popped some up, and whitened my wood pieces (love their wood pieces!).

Well I really hope you had the best Christmas, but also got some moments to just breathe and relax. I'm looking forward to getting crafty, because it seems like forever since I have. :)

Have a wonderful day!!!

And the Winner is....

Are you guys waiting for something? I didn't forget. :)

So the lucky winner of the collection of papers and die cuts from The ScrapCake is.....

Congratulations! Shoot me an email to pamelacy@msn.com and I will get this out to you! :)

Thank you to everyone for all the nice comments.

I am thinking I have more to giveaway soon! ;)

Have a wonderful day!

Collection Collision

Hi everyone! Can you believe it's almost Christmas? Are you ready for it?

Today I am sharing a layout that I made for the BasicGrey blog. I was challenged to use two different BasicGrey collections....I love combining collections.

Here's what I came up with:

I decided to combine two of my favorite collections: Little Black Dress and Picadilly. I thought they went together perfectly, a little neutral with some bright colors.

I created my background with my square punch. I swear, my circle and my square punches are the only ones I seem to use anymore. I just don't usually think about my punches (and my punches are all old). But my good and faithful circle and square punch get pulled out often. I actually should challenge myself to create more with my punches. How often do you guys use your punches?

Anyways...here are some close up's of my layout:

Don't you think the two collections look great together?

Well thanks for stopping in today! :) I'll be announcing the winner for my blog candy in the post below TOMORROW. So you still have time to enter if you haven't yet. :)

Spellbinders Series: Making Cards with Large Dies **AND GIVEAWAY**

Nope, didn't drop off the planet...just been busy. :) I'm sure you all can understand. It's just a busy time of year.

So today I am going to share with you how to make cards using the large dies from Spellbinders. This is my last post for my Spellbinders series. If you missed any of the previous ones, here, here, here and here.

So, using the Grand Labels One dies:

I made this card:

Isn't it fun! I love making shaped cards and these large dies make it so easy. All the papers and the cool wood shapes are from Pink Paislee. Some of them were freebies that I printed out...they were giving them away on their blog, and I think you can still get them, so head on over. :)

And using the Creative Book Pages Dies:

I made this card:

Those adorable snowmen is another piece I picked up as a freebie from the Pink Paislee blog. I printed it and cut it out. Again, all the papers are from Pink Paislee.

Well thanks for stopping in today! And I wanted to offer a giveaway. Think of it as a Christmas present for one lucky reader. :)

Here's the giveaway up for grabs:

It's a bunch of papers and die cuts from The ScrapCake! I love love love their papers, and I just know you will too!!! And I know they can be harder to find, especially here in the States. So now is your chance to grab them...and for free! :)

And here's how you can win: Leave me a comment on this blog post. :) It's as simple as that.

I will also offer extra chances to win by doing the following:

• If you are already a follower of my blog or have just become one, let me know. Just leave another comment on this blog post letting me know that you are a follower (old or new) and you will automatically be entered in for another chance at the giveaway.
• Share this giveaway on a blog, facebook, or another website. Leave me another comment on this blog post with a link to where you shared it and you will automatically be entered in for another chance at the giveaway.

Hope you are enjoying the season and getting much accomplished as well as spending good time with family and loved ones! My kids are off school til the new year and I am excited to have them home. :)

Again, thanks for stopping in!

A Christmas Layout :)

Hi everyone! I have a new Christmas layout to share with you today! :) It uses the awesome Nordic Holiday collection from BasicGrey. Actually, it was a 6x6 pad of paper. I thought of fun ways to make a 12 x 12 layout with a 6 x 6 papers.

I just sketched out that design and then used it as a template to cut my pieces. This is the kind of layout that is great at using some of your scraps. :)

Here are some close up's:

And in case you've missed it...BasicGrey is doing their 25 Days of Christmas celebration here. (Hint: there's freebies!)

So that's all for today! Hope you have a wonderful day!