Power update and what's goin' on for the holidays!

Well, we finally got power back last Tuesday night! How thrilled were we to see that gorgeous power truck show up all the way from Rhode Island! I feel like I've lost a week of my life and that's not good when Christmas is a week away!!! So much to do! It's currently snowing for the 3rd day in a row now but that won't keep me from finishing up the much needed shopping I had to do yesterday. I'm finally in good shape now. With the power back, I was able to make Christmas cookies that I put off due to the storm. I think I made 4 batches! YUMMY! Here's a couple pics...I like to make the cookies 2 different ways - round thumb prints and the traditional Swedish way my Mima used to make them. It tastes the same both ways but it brings me back to when I was little to make them Mima's way.

Give me power!

Ok, I've been stuck now for days in no electricity HELL! Thursday night Dec. 11 was the beginning of a bad ice storm in this area. I've had no power since so I have no idea what's going on in the rest of the world. Dennis just got his hands on a generator which is why I'm able to use my computer. It's now Sunday and there's no end in sight for us. We haven't seen any power crews and even if the town fixed the problems, we are still disconnected from the pole since our lines are sitting on the ground with a tree over them!

Luckily we have an awesome wood burning stove that's keeping us warm. I'm able to heat up food and water as needed as well. Our biggest worry is the hot tub pipes freezing so Dennis has a small propane heater outside keeping that as warm as possible.

What to do with myself? I can't craft in my craftroom since it's in the basement and pitch black! Luckily I just got my laptop back so I'll probably be doing some digi scrapping later. Here are some pics of our icy winter wonderland...

Here are Travis & Kyla's cars cover with one of our lovely birch trees.

View of our dirt road.

Update...Dennis just saw a parade of power trucks from all over New England (CT, RI) nearby...I think they're coming to save us!!!

Ornament making at Pamela's!

Last Sunday I was invited to make ornaments at my friend Pamela's house. She supplied all the materials and made us an awesome lunch of SS's Cowtown Stacy's famous Taco Soup. YUMMY! There were 4 of us all together and we made some really beautiful ornaments using a really cool technique. I'm at work so I'll have to insert that later...hee hee! We used glass bulbs in different shapes. I loved the heart shaped ones that I'll be using to decorate for Valentine's day...Here's a pic...

Ink About It's Stamp of the Month

My doctors and dentists' offices are in Westford so my routine is that everytime I have either appointment (which is quite often lately) I get to make myself feel better by stopping at Ink About It! Every month IAI has a stamp of the month that they sell at a discounted price. December's is a really cute gingerbread stamp from (I forget...I'll insert later). Here's a gift card holder I made last night using that stamp. I added the coffee cup A Muse stamp for the Dunkin's gift card holder and the A Muse Music Player for the ITunes GC holder.

The Happy Holidays, To Go Cup & music player stamps as well as the ribbon are all A Muse.

The white and red paper are Bazzil.

The decorative punch is from Martha Stewart.

The music player is green with glitter.

The gingerbread man is colored with Copic markers (Walnut & light walnut?)

The pink & orange markers on the to go cup are from Creative Memories.

Getting to know me...Christmas Edition

This was a list of questions from a thread on SS...

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? I love both! Depends on the gift and how much time I have.
2. Real tree or artificial? I love a real tree but I'm really an artificial tree girl at heart. I like to put the tree up on Thanksgiving and I hate vacuuming tree needles.
3. How many trees do you put up in your home? One...although Kyla has a tiny one on her vanity.
4. When do you put up the tree? Thanksgiving.
5. When do you take the tree down? After New Years when I get my energy back to put all the decorations away.
6. Do you like eggnog? Not really. Depends if there's booze in it.
7. Favorite gift received as a child? I always loved my XMas presents. I can't single out just one
8. Favorite person to buy for? This year...Travis...I have a really great idea for a gift and I'm having fun purchasing it.
9. Easiest person to buy for? My girls...they always give me a list.
10. Do you have a nativity scene? I have 2. One is really old from when I was a kid and the other is a new Jim Shore Scene that my Mom bought me last year.
11. Angel on the tree top or a star? Always a star...
12. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? That's not a nice question.
13. Favorite Christmas movie? Christmas Carol for nostalgia's sake...National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation to laugh my ass off!
14. When do you start shopping? I pick up a couple little things during the summer with full intention of getting it done early and then don't do anything else until after Thanksgiving. Someday I'll learn. I used to be close to finished at Thanksgiving but since I work full time now, those days are over. I LOVE internet shopping!
15. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? I have only regifted small Yankee Swap type gifts
16. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Cookies!
17. Lights on the tree? Of course! White ones...no multi color or flashing!
18. Favorite Christmas song? Ring Christmas Bells.
19. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Christmas Eve at home...Christmas day day at Mother-in-laws.
20. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Sometimes.
21. Are you a day after Thanksgiving shopper? Never used to me but Dennis has dragged me out of bed the past couple years.
22. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Eve with my family...Morning with kids and hubby.
23. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Crowds at the stores and traffic.
24. Favorite ornament/tree theme or color? RED is my favorite color any time of the year.
25. Favorite food for Christmas dinner? We do simple. Italian Meatballs, calzones, etc.
26. Do you go to church Christmas Eve or Christmas Day? Yeah...I used to...
27. Family tradition? It's not Christmas until my sisters and I play "The Partridge Family Christmas album". I know...sad.
28. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail
29. How many cards do you send out? Less and less every year. Probably about 30 or 40.
30. What do you want for Christmas this year? Nothing...saving for a new kitchen. Home Depot cards would be great!
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Happy with Digi!

I've been scrapbooking digitally since September and I've actually gotten ALOT of pages done. I love it! No mess, all the papers and embellishments are in my computer, I can go back and change layouts whenever I want and there's tons of free stuff out on the internet so it is actually cheaper! Now that I have all these pages done, it's time to take the plunge and start thinking about printing some of them out. Yikes! I tried printing one of them out last month (check previous post) and although I liked the page, I didn't think about glossy vs. matte. I printed it out on glossy paper and it was just TOO SHINEY! Put a gloss photo in a glossy page and it's really hard to see the page. Ok, 2nd try...I uploaded 10 12x12 pages (including the glossy one I already did) to Costco Photo Center on-line. Ordered them in lustre (double checked to make sure I chose the correct option!) to be picked up in the Nashua NH store where I shop all the time anyways. Why Costco? Much cheaper than other's I've found and no shipping charges since I go there anyways. Costco 12x12 prints are $2.99 each.

Dennis picked them up for me yesterday when he went to pick up our monthly restocking of TP, paper towels & ketchup. They came out great! I'm so much happier with these prints! Lustre is the way to go and I must stay that I'm very happy with my digi-skills. Yes, I'm still a beginner and I know there's much more to learn but I get better all the time. All that really matter is that I like it anyways. Here's a layout...

This layout was created using the Creative Memories Disney Hannah Montana set. Although Jessy HATES Hannah Montana , this is a great little set and can be used without any reference to HM.

December Home Page Contest Entry

Here's my first attempt at entering the A Muse Addicts forums Home Page Contest. This is my interpretation of what makes me warm & fuzzy during the holidays... LOL!

Stamp - A Muse "Holiday Shoppper"

Sentiment - A Muse Holiday Greetings II Clear Set

Card - Memory Box (cut square)

Paper - A Muse (Kitchen Grass)

Bazzill (white & Green)

Bling - Hero Arts Jewels

SPOILER ALERT - Holiday ATC Swap

Here are my ATC (Artist Trading Cards) for Pamela's A muse Holiday ATC Swap. All stamped images are A muse stamps. These are my VERY FIRST ATC cards so be gentle...


Group #1

Group #2

A muse weekly challenge #69 - Old Meets New

I'm posting this card again and by itself because it fits into the A Muse weekly challenge. It has stamps from one of the new Tree clear sets and an older sentiment stamp that I borrowed during a scrapping retreat.

A Muse me!

Last Thursday night I was lucky enough meet and take a class with Julie Ebersole and Linda Carnell of A Muse Art Stamps. They came all the way from Seattle, WA to teach classes on the east coast! Linda is lead designer and owner and Julie is the creative teams director. Here's a picture of Pamela, Linda, Julie and I infront of the A Muse display at Ink About It. I took the Cupcake class and of course in turn purchased the new A Muse Cupcake clear set (among other things). I LOVED IT!

...here's an example of how Pamela and I had an "a-ha" moment one time after a card class at Ink About It. The challenge has always been how to take cards home without smudging the perfectly placed stickles and other wet things we so lovingly and creatively decorate our cards with. One night driving to Pamela's house after class we put our cards on the visor of my truck. Why did we never figured this out before?! I had told Linda and Julie about this and promised a picture...here you go! These are two of the cupcake cards we made in the class that night.

Stamp of the Week #41

Here's my card for the SOTW #41 in the A Muse Addicts forum. The sleigh is from the "peace and cheer" clear set. I don't actually have the set but I have the wood block sleigh from the set.

Cards from my SS Retreat

I'm away at the 3rd annual New England SS Retreat. I've been digi scrapping here and there but I've been making alot of cards! Here are a few examples...

This card is made with the A Muse "Chair Line" stamp and colored with Copic Markers. Patterned paper is A Muse and the card is Memory Box.

This card is stamped with Memory Box "Elegant Reindeer", Basic Grey "Figgy Pudding" paper and Memory box card.


I love the new stamps I bought recently that I used on this card...
Amuse "Retro Rectangle", The Cat's Pajama's "Fill'er Up", The Cat's Pajama's "Cheers", Glitter stack card stock and an A Muse "Black Asterix reverse" card.

This is just another card using the same stamps as the last one.

This card uses a couple stamps from the A Muse clear set "Trees #1" and an A Muse sentiment stamp "Thinking of You". The brown patterned paper is also A Muse and the card is Memory Box.

Here's my Thanksgiving card for this year. The Turkey stamp is A Muse and it's colored with Copic Markers. I also used pre-made cards, (I forget the brand) and glitter. The sentiment is A Muse. The tag shape was made with Stampin' Up! punches.

A Muse Challenge #68 You're Sweet

Here's my attempt at the newest A Muse challenge...



A Muse - Gingerboy Stamp

A Muse - Sweet Holiday Wishes Sentiment Stamp

Basic Grey polka dot paper

Black Bazzill paper

Memory box card

I double stamped the sentiment in two colors so it looks too blurry...I'll be changing that!

Stamp of the Week #39

Of course, as usual, I'm a little late...Stamp of the week #39 was for the Party Time Clear Set. Here's my card...

A Muse Party Time Clear Set - Fondue

A Muse sentiment - What's cookin'?

A Muse card - Swiss Red Asterix Reverse

Swimming with Dolphins

Dennis and I were so lucky to have the opportunity to swim with dolphins when we were in Bermuda this week! His company took us on a 5 day amazing trip packed with excursions. I think this was our favorite for obvious reasons.

Raised Frame Card

Here's my attempt at a raised frame card. My SS girls and I saw a cute one at IAI last weekend so I thought I'd try my own.



Bazzil Paper
AMuse Pumpkin Stack Stamp
Watercolor penicls

First Try!

Here's my first try posting a digital layout. It was a pretty simple one of me and my mom.

CNY9

I went on a SS scrapbooking retreat to Hamilton NY in September. I had a blast! I drove down with Pamela (5 hour ride) and spent Thursday nite thru Sunday afternoon with a great bunch of women. The area is beautiful and picturesque http://www.whiteagle.com/. I got so much digital scrapbooking and downloading done! All I need is some uninterrupted time away and I accomplish so much! Here's a group pic of the New England girls who attended...

I love them all and had such a great time! I'll see you guys in November in Jackson, NH!!!

Here is one of the cards I made while in NY...

I love this card I made for a SS Card Swap for the Winter Group. I used a Cuttlebug folder for the embossing and borrowed this great tree stamp from Pamela. The ink is Kaleidecolor and I put glitter on the tree to look like snow glistening.

I'd love to show you one of the many layouts completed but I'm too computer stupid to figure it out yet.

I've entered the DIGITAL world!

I've switched over to digital scrapbooking as of a couple weeks ago! I LOVE IT! I went to CNY9 (scrapbooking retreat) with my laptop and card making supplies and learned so much! Thank God, Pamela has a computer brain or I'd still be lost trying to figure out how to upload all the tons of FREE digital kits that are out there. I still have alot to learn but CM Storybook Creater + is very user friendly and a perfect place for me to start. I have Photoshop on my laptop but I think it's totally over my head at this point. I've made so many layouts so now I need to learn how to get them printed. (Hint, hint...Pamela!)

Middlesex Cty Youth Safety Camp

My sister had a great find this summer...FREE CAMP! Turns out the Middlesex County Sheriff's Department offers a free safety camp every summer. Different towns go different weeks. Of course where I live doesn't participate (damn boonies) but my sister's does! Jessy slept at her cousin Devyn's house for the week of camp and the two of them were bussed to the camp every day. They supplied lunch, a hat, t-shirt and had a really cute graduation ceremony on the last day. Unfortunately we discovered this camp a little late since it's only for ages 9, 10 & 11 and they're both 11. The two of them learned lots of do's and don'ts with safety, visited a police station and fire station and did lots of other stuff while having alot of fun. Jessy also learned how to bug your parents until they put on their seatbelts...alright, that's a good thing. This pic is of the two of them at graduation.

Frosty Fun

Boy, I wish this picture was better because I love the way this card came out. It's mostly old CM paper that I never use, a cute little stamp of the month stamp I purchased at IAI a couple months ago, Kaleidescope Ink, stickles & the sentiment stamp is AMuse. I used the Silver stickles on the Ice Cream so it sparkes really cute.

Glitter Cards

I took a fun Glitter Card Class at Ink About It last week. These are the 4 cards we made. My favorite is the butterfly card. I love the colors and the stamp! I can't say that these are my favorite cards I've ever made but I learned that I can do alot more with glitter than I realized. Of course I came home COVERED from head to toe in glitter!

My package from down under...

On Scrapshare I joined a Sister swap for the first time. I wasn't really sure how it worked but I thought it would be different and fun. I ended up being paired with someone in New Zealand! Wow, that should be interesting... We were given a word, I think it was BLOOM and we could do whatever we wanted with it. We had to send at least 5 items though. It could be one for each letter in BLOOM, 5 items that represented the word, or totally go in our own direction and ignore the word. It's really anything goes. We tell each other a little about ourselves and our scrapping styles and voila...packages get sent! I'm really not that picky, I only did it for fun but I was thrilled to get this package in the mail yesterday! Christmas in July! I opened it this morning because I got home late last nite...

LizCNZ sent me the coolest stuff! I should take a close-up but the plaque in the front is going in my scraproom...it says "I'm scrapbooking, take a number". The colors match my room perfectly! I love it! I love the little altered book as well and everything else she sent. How very generous and creative of you Liz! Thank you!

I need to take some close-up pics later. I wish I had taken a pic of the package I sent her. If I do this again, I will.

Cards I made today!

Pamela came over this morning to stamp and make cards with me. I think she brought everything she owns! I'm thinking she'll be more likely to choose a project to bring with her next time. LOL! We had a ball trying new stamps. We had both bought some new Amuse stamps during Amuseapalooza (sp?) last week. I love the new sleigh stamp I bought and made a bunch of Christmas cards with it. The card itself is Amuse and I also used some velour paper, gold glitter and one of my new Copic Markers that cost WAY too much. I love the way they came out!

Here is a card using a new technique I saw on Scrapshare. I inked the 4 squares with SU! Stamping Spots. I never really thought to use them this way. It's a great way to use stamps you don't want to spend all the time coloring in. I love the look. I used Pamela's Cuttlebug Embossing folder for the dots.

Amuse Challenge #47 What a Trip!

Here are the cards I made for the Amuse Challenge #47 - Cards inspired by summer vacation. The first card is using my favorite Amuse stamp "You Rock" and the surf board I forget what company it's from. The second cards stamps are all Amuse.

Goals for the week

My goals this week are...

1. Get ready for Kyla's graduation Party
2. Finish as much of Kyla's HS scrapbook as possible
3. Take Dennis out for his birthday on Thursday
4. CLEAN MY HOUSE!

Class of 2008!

Kyla's graduation was last Friday! It was held at Fitchburg State College. Surprisingly it didn't feel as long as Travis' last year. The superintendent wasn't as long winded and the passing out of diplomas ran very smoothly. As usual, the kids were throwing around beach balls during the ceremony and the teachers were totally unamused. I think it's funny and figure, it's their graduation, let them do what they want! It was great and her party is next weekend.

Here's the family...

I love this picture with Dennis and Kyla. Daddy's little girl is growing up!

After graduation was the NMRHS lock-in. AKA Project Graduation. All the graduates have the opportunity to go to the high school for an all nite party. They have to be at the school by 11pm and once they're there, they are locked-in until 5am. It's a great way to keep the kids safe. There's so much for them to do, tons of food, prizes, games, hypnotist (Kyla got hypnotized apparently), etc. She had a ball. Here's Ky and one of her best friends Jared enjoying themselves...

More San Deigo trip.

These are the 4 incoming Regional Venturing Presidents. This was taken at the Venturing booth in the exibit hall. They had to man the booth during the convention when they didn't have other required meetings/luncheons/dinners to attend. From left to right...Caitlyn (Central), Matthew (Western), John (Southern), Kyla (Northeast)They had to be very adult and professional and were expected to behave in a certain manner. Once in a while they just had to be teens!

Here's Kyla at the Northeast Region Luncheon where she presented the outgoing president with her leadership award. It is part of the passing of the torch. Next year Kyla will receive it when the meeting will be in Orlando, FL.

Me and Kyla at the luncheon. I was so proud of her!

San Diego

Well, I guess it's about time I posted in my blog again. I've been so crazy busy and Kyla and I had our trip to San Diego, CA. It was quite a trip and very eye opening regarding her new Venturing position. Here's a picture of Kyla's swearing in. She's the 2nd from the right.

With her is the rest of the Venturing Youth National Cabinet. What a great group of young adults! She had a great time and I think all the kids bonded really well. They'll see each other again in Texas in July for training.

Northeast Region Venturing President!

I am so very proud of Kyla. She has just been awarded the position of Northeast Region Venturing President and will be a member of the Youth Venturing Cabinet. This is one of the highest youth Venturing positions in the country and is a huge honor and responsibility. For those of you who may not know, Venturing is a program within Boy Scouts of America. We are off to San Diego for meetings and her swearing ceremony in May. She's very excited! She will also have to travel to Texas this summer and attend many regional events that she will be invited to. This is the picture that will be on the Venturing website. I'll post a link to the site when it's published.

Rite of Passage

Dennis and I gave Jessy tickets to see her favorite singer for Christmas...Avril Lavigne! The concert is tonite and Kyla was nice enough to take her. I think it's only fitting that the big sister take the little sister to her first concert. That's the way it was in my family. I'm the oldest and I took my youngest sister Christine to her first concert. It was sooo long ago, I think it was a Poison concert. Yikes...flashback! They're there as I type this. I hope they're having a great time. It's moments like these that I hope bond them. Here's pics of them before they left.