Playin' with my new toy...

I finally get to use Plug Ins!!! Someday...Actions...
Here's my Original (above)...
Then add a little "ambiance"...
And, a close up with extra sparkle...I LOVE this little face!
...These definitely look much more detailed up close...you'll have to click on 'em...
(OK, they really don't get that much bigger when you click on them...someone will have to let me know how to do that...)

You get the Idea...

Here's the sampling of my 4x6 desktop frame calendar of the Reavis' Grandkids!
The hardest part was choosing which beautiful papers to use! (Thanks especially to SP, JenW, NancieRJ and Michelle C.!! and to the many more artists that I used odds and ends...)

Merry Christmas!!

Just a real quick "Holiday Hello" to everyone! This is the cover "Christmas Card" to my 4x6 frame calendars I made for gifts this year. They turned out pretty cute, thanks to some of my favorite designers! (SP, JenW,ScrapArtist) I don't have a LO of them yet, so I'll post that after Christmas.

But I just wanted to be sure to wish everyone a "Merry Christmas!"

...what a special time of year this is...to be remembered in our hearts, Every Day.

God Bless You, Every One!

Nothing like a "Tag" to draw One out of seclusion...

Ohh Nancy, Nancy, Nancy....you've drawn me out of my momentary blog escape with a TAG!
This was fun! Thanks...
Trying to catch all the special Christmas shows...Tonight was Charlie Brown and The Santa Clause 2, and my favorite...National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation! Sooo funny, makes me laugh everytime!
Anybody seen "The Holiday" at the theatres? I think I'll have to get some girlfriends together and go...perfect opportunity for a Mommy escape! LOL

We're lucky to have power right now. There's like, 130,000 without...still. This horrrible wind storm we had really did some damage. David even had a tree fall down over a driveway while he was in the house making his delivery! Crazy!

Anyways, here's the tag questions: I promise to write more later...got some cute pics of Lily singing with her little 3 year old sunday school class in the beginning of the big Christmas Play production at church...sooooo adorable! I guess we were lucky to be in the 2nd service, because the 1st one had a big shoving match ending up with 4 kids on the floor! LOL I'll have to see the tape later...

A - Available or single: Happily Attatched to my Hawaiian Hubby!
B - Best friend: Heather, my always and forever "Nerd Friend"
C - Cake or pie: Which ever at the moment is the most decadently rich and sweet
D - Drink of choice: Carmel Macchiato
E - Essential item you use everyday: I'll have to second Nancy, "My computer!!!"
F - Favorite color: Tough one...Greens and Purples
G - Gummy bears or worms: Neither really
H - Hometown: Mount Vernon, WA USA
I - Indulgence: The Jitterbugs drive-thru before going to work, romantic movies
J - January or February: That would have to be FEBRUARY...my lil Lily's birthday
K - Kids & names: "Little One" that I'll have to wait until Heaven to meet, and my little princess, Lily who's almost 4
L - Life is incomplete without? Realizing God's amazing love for us...
M - Marriage date: Pearl Harbor Day! LOL Dec. 7, 2001
N - Number of siblings: 1 brother, Michael, 3 years younger
O - Oranges or apples: Oranges, no doubt about it. (Ditto Nancy!)
P - Phobias or fears: The inevitable deaths of my parents...I know, morbid. But it's always something I've thought about.
Q - Fave quote: One of them..."When in doubt, Improvise"
R - Reason to smile: Because we are sooo blessed!
S - Season: LOVE the Christmas Holiday Season
T - Tag 3 people: Tina, Tiffany, and Paola
U - Unknown fact about me: I slept walked until about age 12...my parents had to put a secret lock on the door so I'd stop going outside!
V- Vegetable you don’t like: Green Bell Pepper
W - Worst habit: Over Thinking/Analyzing!
X - Xrays: My Wrist, to see if it was broken after I thought that I could compete in a faux Tag Team WWF wrestling match with a group of guys...yes, this was only a couple years ago! LOL
Y - Your fave food: Anything with a rich alfredo sauce on it!
Z - Zodiac sign: Taurus

Scrappin Lately?

Journaling reads: ("Ohh Mommy, Look! This must be where Fairies live...")

(Psalm 139..."...You created my inmost being...I am fearfully and wonderfully made..."

This week with all the snow...and not being able to go to work....was such a nice break! And, I got to do some scrappin'! Finished up Jen Wilson's Meaning contest, and played a little more with SMJ's new kit....so fun! AND I've been designing a 4x6 frame calender for family Christmas presents...really nice to feel like I'm accomplishing something fun.



David and I finally got to have a "date night" last night...the church we go to has a "kids night in" evening in Dec. so parents can go out and eat and shop, or whatever. So we did that last night. I was sooo excited to get dressed up a bit and go out! Dinner...was actually horrible. And the movie that I thought would be perfect for us...romantic, sci-fi, timetraveling..."The Fountain"...was sooooo boring and....eeeuugckkk...I can't think of the proper word...but you'll get the idea if I told you there were strangely a lot of high schoolers there, and it was definitely a movie created to watch "under the influence." What a waste! Oh well. At least we still got to go out. I started getting a sore throat, and this morning...I can't even talk! This is sooo bad!

Be thankful in all things, right? Right.

Especially thinking on this past week with all the ice and snow, and David coming home one day telling me that he had to make a "crash landing" down an icy hill (backwards) into a bunch of bushes with his water truck...when he stepped out at the top, his brakes broke free and he almost was ran over by his own truck! But was able to jump back in and slide it sideways over the ice to steer it away from going straight thru a customers house! Poor thing...he said he "lost his lunch" after it was all over. Good thing Lily and I prayed that very morning for God's angels to guard and keep Daddy today!



Well, hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

We're going to do up all the Christmas Decorations....Yea!!! Love how cozy the house feels when it's decorated....

Did I Mention...SNOW

Wow! When I wished for snow...boy did we get it! Only every few years do we get this much...an apparrently there's more to come! LOL
I couldn't even get to work today...shucks...it was just no fun at all to stay home and play in the snow with Lily and then warm up inside in pajamas as we made cinnamon scones and had Chai Tea Lattes...(hers was light on the Latte, heavy on the milk...but she didn't notice! LOL)
AND I got to scrap some!
Here's a fun view from our back windows....BBQ totally covered in like a foot of snow! And the willow trees were sooo beautiful! Lanne's Poison Apple storyboards are sooo much fun, love 'em!
Then a little crazy snow girlie playin' today...the snow was really coming down, so I did my best!
Oh! If you haven't seen Miss Shabby Jenn's new kit, Pomegranate Street...go check it out...so cute!

First Snow

Oh my goodness...what did we wake up to early this morning, but SNOW!!! Yea! Yea! Snow makes me so happy! Last year, we saw it all around in the foothills, but only got a sprinkling one day and that's it...such a bummer. But this morning, there were a good 5 inches...which melted away by the end of the day, but I don't care! I woke Lily up from her dreaming and told her there was a surprise outside for her and she needed to get her snow boots and mittens on...l'il half-asleep miss groggy head got right out of bed and fumbled around the zillion stuffed animals she sleeps with as quick as she could to find everything that was needed to see this great surprise...
Only took a few pics...but what a lovely way to wake up on a Saturday in the Christmas Season!

Miracles Do Happen!

Just thought I'd share my joy with you...

About a year and a half ago, my NEW hard drive flipped out and I lost about 1000 pictures including our first home, christmas and snow and Lily's 2nd b-day here in Washington. (We were living in Hawaii where my husband is from with his parents.) Well, the other day, I came across a strange disk...hmmm wonder what's on it? It didn't have everything...but it did have a nice variety of all those things!!! Miracles DO happen!

Here's Lily's first snow (she's so little)...and I believe David's 2nd...EVER! Using Nancy's new snowflake brush frames...I'M SOOO HAPPY!!!!

Mom's Lazy Thanksgiving

Don't get me wrong...I LOVE holiday celebrations and everything that goes with them. I'm always thinking what fun it would be to "do that" or "make this" to go along with whatever festive day it is. But, yesterday at my MOPS meeting, our leader read this hilarious poem by Mariane Holbrook that I got such a kick out of!
Enjoy, and Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Tis the night before Thanksgiving
And all through our house
No turkey is baking; I feel like a louse.
For I am all nestled, so snug in my bed;
I'm not getting up and I'm not bakin' bread.
No pies in my oven, no cranberry sauce
Cuz I give the orders, and I am the boss.
When out in the kitchen, there arose such a clatter
I almost got up to see what was the matter.
As I drew in my head and was tossing around
To the bed came my husband, he grimmaced, he frowned.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
He scared me to death and I thought, "Here he goes!"
He spoke not a word as he threw back my quilt
And the look that he gave was intended to wilt.
So up to the ceiling my pillows he threw
I knew I had had it, his face had turned blue.
"You prancer, you dodger, you're lazy, you vixen
Out yonder in kitchen, Thanksgiving you're fixin."
But he heard me explain, with my face in a pout:
"I'm JUST PLAIN TOO TIRED and we're EATING OUT!"

(Eating out on Thanksgiving always reminds me of the Chinese restaurant with the roasted whole duck scene from "A Christmas Story." Ha!)

I don't care if it's blurry...

Testing out my new Boho Flourish Brush Set from Michelle over at ScrapArtist...LOVE them! And I don't care if my little princess is blurry...these are the REAL moments....

Holiday Finds

I found the BEST magazine yesterday! It's called Country Home Holiday with Matthew Mead. I think they're still working on their website...but WOW! Soooo many great ideas...practical and pretty...and the recipes! Sooo getting this magazine on payday! But, even though I don't have the pretty hanging-from-a-ribbon-chocolate cookie pics from the mag to show you...look what this great site can do! Victor Trading Company make old fashioned cookie cutters by hand using antique equipment...AND you can send in a sillhouette profile of say, the kiddos, and Voila! Instant ornaments! (That you can eat!)

Fall Desktop

Just thought I'd share what a cute little freebie came with the new ScrapArtist Muse Newsletter...isn't this Fall Desktop just the cutest! I had the perfect photo for it too..

Veteran's Day

It 's funny what age brings with each new year, and the thoughts that take up more of our time than they did before. Each year as Veteran's Day seems to just "pop up" out of nowhere, it seems to bring more tugs to my heart than it did before. I am reminded more vividly of the young man of my Father's yesteryear who did more for those around him than some people can hope to accomplish in their whole lives. An Industrious, Handsome, Creative and Kind man who's always had a great adventure tale to brighten the dreariest of days...and wanted you to be a part of it with him. A man who has always been the first to sacrifice...for his loved ones and his country. A man who can stand and say he is proud of what he's accomplished and at the same time be so humble as to tell anyone that he was just doing what anyone else would do...the right thing. When someone asks, "What does being an American mean to you? Are you proud to be an American?"...I can say that being American isn't Government, Democracy, Big and Bold...it's looking in my Father's eyes and still seeing that young man from yesteryear who still believes in standing up and "doing the right thing." That's true America... the America I believe in, because of you, Dad. I've always been very proud of you. I love you, Daddy.

My Digital Muse Quick Photo of the Day

Here's my Photo of the Day for the challenge off of the My Digital Muse Blog!
They sell fresh apple cider out at Gordon's Farms...and this view was on the side of the barn...love the way the ivy acts as a corsage to the window frame..and the "fresh" new sign counters the rugged old barn.

Yeah, Nancy!

My sweet friend Nancy has just been picked up at Plain Digital Wrapper as one of their newest designers!!! I'm sure you all know of her as Belgian Angel...and have seen her incredibly gorgeous LOs! Well, here's a little peek at what you can do with her first kit, "A Warm Blanket and a Cup of Cocoa":
It's on sale right now, so go pick it up!

Also wanted to share my latest entry for the Jen Wilson Meaning contest...it's to portray "her wild side". I think these pics of Lily do the trick! LOL

My Little Pirate Princess!

Yes, my l'il 3 year old wanted to be a combination Capt. Jack Sparrow, Miss Elizabeth Swann, and a Princess....so, I present:

The Pirate Princess!

Sneak Peak... Here's a little hint at something I've been putting together for Fall. I decided to put Fall and Halloween together. Still working on the finishing touches...but it's really turning out cute! Should work with a lot of photos, so stay tuned for a little fun freebie coming soon. Have a super fun and SAFE holiday! ..and don't let the bed bugs bite!

Yeah...I got to scrap!

This is one of my favorites from Juntungen Farms and Gardens. What an incredible place! They have acres and acres of formal gardens to tour...20 ft. hedges made into elaborate mazes...just like being a princess touring the grounds of her castle! I think we spent 3 hrs there! They are only open to the public like, 4 times a year so....I took advantage. Big bummer though...my batteries died right off, so I baby-ied it for mabye a dozen pics and that was it!!
I'm trying to work them into storyboards for later...so stay tuned!

Elaborate Quote

I'm sure everyone by now has heard the quote:
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure."

I've always loved that! But, it wasn't until the other day at MOPS (Mother's of Preschoolers) that we were given a copy of the whole quote. It talks to us women about how we sometimes don't feel right, or think it's OK to really...shine, or be great at something. It might be frowned upon for looking like we think too highly of ourselves. Not that modesty is a bad thing! Of course there's attitude and outlook with everything. But...listen to this:

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous. Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that's within us. It's not just in some of us, it's in everyone, and as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people persmission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."
~Marianne Williamson

Wow...
God, you are soooo good! Love that!
Hope this inspires all of you,
Becky

OHhhhh SANTA...Are you Listening?????

I reeeeeaaallly need a scanner for Christmas! (and a Wacom Tablet too by the way...) LOL
It's just that I find so many cute things in magazines that I'd love to share...and can't. (sigh)

Ok, over that...for now. Still haven't got to see Marie Antoinette yet. I'm very determined. The weather has really changed this week...cold and wet and windy. Getting down to the last of the leaves..."bye bye, my beautiful leaves..." but not before some great pumpkin patch pics from last Saturday...what an incredible place! I'll post some LOs in the next post, but here's a little tease of the "Bird Hotel" as we liked to call it, while I'm off to work!
See ya!

OK...epiphanies(sp?) come in strange ways...mine? I just had the light turned off for awhile!
LOL I didn't realize until someone brought it up to me that I hadn't enabled the comments on this blog so that others besides blogger users could leave one...so "Thank You " for turning the light on... Also, since I am HTML delinquent and just recently (a month?) was able to put my own banner up...I somehow made it so that when I post, any pictures all go to the top and all writing goes to the bottom. You know, instead of posting how I wrote it with the pics in between wording?? So...trying to figure that out. I know it has to do with "post-titles" because I was told I had to delete anything with that to have my own banner work...if you can give me some advice, I LOVE it! Onto other things: I'm a huge movie-goer...and can't get to the theater once (or twice) a week like I used to be able to before Lily came along...and can you believe not one, but THREE new movies start today that I REALLY want to go see!!! "The Departed", "The Prestige", and I'm DYING to see "Marie Antoinette!" Who else is with me?? The scenery and Beautiful Dresses...oh my goodness! Ok, better go...I've got some finaggling to do if any of this is possible this weekend! Bye bye

Yes, I'm alive...

Been sick for a few days so the blog gets neglected...hopefully I'm getting over this nasty thing! But! I did get a little treat this past week (and am now just being able to play with it!) Lanne's Storyboards! Yeah! I'm so excited to have some...
So here's my first attempt...and please know that I'm a little medicated! LOL

Fall and Sunshine...

Really quick! I finally got some Fall pics of Lily in the Park. What a relaxing and absolutely fun day...one to keep locked in the ole Mommy's memory.
Still working on them, but wanted to post a couple quick ones before work.
Enjoy!

Well, this just shows how weird I am....
These are some of the photos I took outside the market the other day.
I was just mesmerized at how beautiful they were...the colors are amazing! (These are completely unretouched!)

Hence, I give you...

Produce Art!

Well Girls! Here's my 1st mock-up business card for my friend Amy...I like how it turned out, but I'll still design a couple more so she can get different ideas. Just HAD to use Heather Ann Designs pink stud chain...it's gorgeous! I'm going to try and convince Amy that it would make sucha statement if she would put some scalloped edge pink cardstock underneath it, with maybe a ribbon attached....and a magnet on the back for refrigerators??? Anyways...let me know what you think before I get them printed! LOL (I'm off to get Cold Medicine of all things! AAggghh! )

Starting to get excited....

Today after work we met up with my hubby, David, and went to...COSTCO!
The scary store where all your $$$ just disappears! LOL
But anyways, it was so cute to see him excited about showing me ideas for Christmas.
You see, David has to have ideas...or basically he just might not even bother to go find gifts at all...
And what did he show me, but a really cool 560 piece Heidi Swapp scrapbook set with alllllll her really cute chipboard and acrylic pieces in it with a blank book AND too much more to mention...for $19.99! There were only 3 left...so he got it NOW! I'm so excited and so proud that he found this himself...but now I have to wait until CHRISTMAS to open it! Ahhhggg...torture! (I'd show you a pic, but he's already hidden it!) LOL

So excited! My neighbor came over and asked me if I'd design her business cards for her new Bakery business that she wants to open....she's a Pink Frou Frou Bling Bling sorta gal, so this will be fun! I'll post my mock-ups when I get them done.
Have a GREAT Weekend!
(I think we're gonna take Lily to go see "Open Season." It looks pretty funny.

Becky

Wow! What a day....migraines are NO fun. But, I am feeling better. It was so beautiful this afternoon that I took Lily to the Riverfront Park. No Camera....just playing in the sunshine, with my l'il Sunshine! Nothing like a beautiful Fall day, breathing in fresh air....and playing Princess' with Knights in Shining Armor defeating monsters in the Magical Forest...to make you feel better! LOL
Sorry, no pics...just imagination.
But! What did I find today on sneaky Shabby Miss Jenn's blog???? She finally opened her own boutique! Shabby Miss Jenn Designs! So Cute. So Sweet. And Soooo talented, that girlie! So be sure to go check her out.
Ok, short but sweet...gotta go! LOL
Becky

Phew! Finally finished my Jen Wilson Meaning#4 LO...
It's from the Skagit Valley Family Farm Festival this past weekend. Lily couldn't believe that she fit into the tire of such a HUGE tractor! It was sooo much fun...pumpkin bowling, hayrides, and BBQ corn on the cob...what more could you ask?

Lily and Mommy Adventure Day....

I love just going out and driving around to find something new...Sunday, Lily and I found this great Alpaca and Antique Farm...and they had a new flock of babies! What luck! They're called a Cria. And they make the sweetest little humming sounds...
Well, here's a few of the many pics taken
Enjoy!

Target Alert!

How cuuuute are these photo albums and notebooks! Go to your local Target store and pick them up in the $1 section. They're the thicker, puffier kind. Love 'em!
I just downloaded pics from this weekend: A 1929 Steamtrain ride birthday party, and a special Mommy and Lily adventure day...so excited to tell you about what we found! But you'll have to wait until tomorrow...I must be off to work... sigh...

Shabby Princess is having a SALE with new releases!!!
What BEAUTIFUL products she comes out with. I just bought the calender kits, and if you spend $10 in the store by Sept. 24th...you get her new Wishy Washy kit for FREE!!! I think that's my favorite right now! I love chocolates and taupes...

Finally Back!

Still lots to learn with setting up and running this site...but at least I think I've got a handle on things now. I was so frustrated with blogger that I just stopped for awhile...LOL
Just got back from the first MOPS meeting of the new year. This year's theme of "Finding Ourselves" and "Breathing our own Fresh Air" sounds really cool! My leader is really nice and laughs a lot...and our table name is.."Alpine Meadow." So exciting!
The new issue of Kids Rooms magazine has some really great ideas! I found two new fun shops to visit... Twelve Timbers and Craft Cuts. They make Beautiful wood letters! And the latter company customs orders them...you tell them what size, font, paint, etc.! So Neat!
Glittered Letters (above)....Sooo Adorable!

Well, off to do something sooo exciting...Laundry! LOL
Leaving you with a new LO from my Freebie Kit at ScrapArtist. Go check out all the AMAZING free kits going on right now because of their Apprentice Designer Contest. What a Bonus for Everyone!

Aren't little girls' rooms fun??? I get "giggles" just thinking about what I can do next....
This is an old white dresser I'm working on...drawer front done, now what?? And I love the material for her curtains. It's a pale green toile that I put thick wire edge lilac ribbon on top to use as tabs. Then I thought, " I don't want them to just ...hang." So I tried gathering up the middles and pinning a decorated wooden butterfly...so "glittery!" I love the way it gives the impression of the shape of a butterfly all itself! Anyways...need a way to kind of connect the two panels together when I have them fully closed....something velcro? But can't show or be ugly when it's open...Any ideas? Please send them over!
Have a WONDERFUL Day!

(sorry...I can't figure out why it keeps turning my 1st picture sideways...)


Here's a couple of ideas, Girlies:
I LOVE the $1 bin at Target, don't you?
Well, I thought that
these clear checkbook/coupon file folders would be perfect to insert your favorite paper into to covers, then embellish to make a 7 pocket little album, or a 13 pocket birthday/anniversary/whatever card holder..????

And then, I saw the cutest little mini dresser at Michaels', and thought "wouldn't this make a cute 5 page album, with the pages lining the drawers???" I'll have to work on that next week maybe...sounds too fun!

Also, (oh my goodness!) I LOVE this next idea...so sad that it was too time intensive for me to get it done for my Shabby Princess submission... but, I'll have to show you tomorrow the materials for my new Shabby Velvet Purse! It's Taupe shiny striped velvet with glass beaded handles, green and pink ribbon trims and a HUGE realistic pink Peony...and it'll have a plastic 6 x 6 inch front cover to put a fav LO in to display on the go!
Can you follow all that?? LOL I'll just have to get it finished!
Bye for now...

Altered Project # 8...winding down for now, guys! Whew! Lots of cramming this past week!
This is probably my favorite piece...if I had to choose one! I bought this 1/4 inch chipboard clock at the dollar store like, 6 months ago, but hadn't done anything with it yet. Then all of a sudden...INSPIRATION!
Just painted over the ugly pic on front, transformed a piece-a-cake album page into a clock face, added numbers, ribbon...and my one little piece I'm so proud of (because I made it myself!) is the little button cherries that sit on the centerpiece hands. (The background paper for this LO is from the very talented Jen Wilson.)



I thank the Lord everyday for giving me the desire to create. It gives me so much joy, and I hope that it passes on to each of you.
Becky

Altered Project #7! Ok...this one was from Mother's Day (a gift I made for myself! LOL) It was an idea from Heidi Swapp that was in the June issue of Home Companion. (I love that Magazine!) Anyways...you sew together the pages so that each side flips up to reveal the next page. I really enjoy the painting and sanding part of the project too. Hope you can see it clearly enough in the pics...I love it, and it's proudly displayed on my kitchen table...
(ps. Shabby wood background page is Gina Cabrera...forgot in the credits...)

Altered Project #5: "Lily" Corkboard
Wow! Lots of detail went into this one...I loved designing the digiscrap papers for the letters...Gina Cabrera has such a cute kit over at The Shabby Shoppe!
Another great find...Wooden Corkboard at the Dollar store! Yeah! Love that!
Also, I like the idea of putting colored paper underneather clear flat marbles to make push pins...or magnets.
Ok, better get back to work!
Becky