Scrappin' Trackside

Unravelled!

2012-01-28T18:57:00.003-05:00

Wouldn't it be nice to have someone make you come unravelled?! (it is!!!)
I think in my case, i'd be a completely naked sheep though at this point! I'm completely unravelled for sure!! I like being in this state though and never want to go back ;)
(just thought i'd pop in and let everyone know that i am alive, well, and happy beyond my wildest dreams!)

real quick like....

2012-01-20T16:29:00.002-05:00

see THIS post ;)
I KNEW if I believed, miracles do happen.

oh...and check out my sidebar....that number just keeps a rising on my weight loss widget! woohoo! im so happy! here is a photo i took of myself as i was trying on new clothes for the gym....because all the old ones were falling down! I had to hold them up with safety pins....lol. No more safety pins!

so yeah...no more safety pins, no more TEARS!

Why can't things just be this simple?

2012-01-14T23:05:00.002-05:00

Seriously?isn'tlove enough??! I thought it was, but well...
Recent events have caused me to start a random thoughts journal....here is a few of what i wrote down today:
how long does hurt hurt?
Life is too short to spend a single second hurting likethis.
yeah.....i can't write anymore of my thoughts. thought i could, but i can't :( they are too painful.

Be Realistic...

2012-01-10T20:21:00.003-05:00

....plan for a Miracle! I know I am ;)
Look at me blogging twice in one WEEK! A small miracle in itself there eh? Another small miracle will occur in the morning when the ship pulls out ....bringing peace, tranquility, and fresh air into my house for an entire month!
I need to add to my resolutions for the year as well....I need to start crafting on a more regular basis! For the past year, all I've done is make stuff for the magazine, I really need to get back into a habit of making OTHER stuff more often. My goal is once a week....to make something just for fun! (if I can actually do this, yes...you guessed it...it will be a miracle!)
I can think of a few other miracles I'm planning....but if I say them out loud, then they won't be miracles when they happen right? What miracles are you planning? Anything good?! Miracles happen every day!!
Thankyou for visiting my blog today!

Girlfriends Matter!

2012-01-07T21:49:00.003-05:00

I am pretty sure right now I have some of the very bestest girlfriends in the entire world! You know, the kind of friends who will do ANYTHING to help you out. Friends who will listen when I want to vent and not try to tell me how I am wrong to be upset. Sometimes, I just need to vent. And my girlfriends...they are the best, because they let me. They even agree with me and tell me I'm right, even though sometimes we all know I may not be making the best decisions....it is nice to just have POSITIVE feedback sometimes, you know? My girlfriends are even willing to go out of their way to help me out in time of need...going above and beyond to make sure I am happy. Yep...those are the friends I have. Just want them to know how much I love them, and how blessed I am to have them in my life! Thankyou ladies!!! You all know who you are!

Happy 2012!!

2012-01-02T18:20:00.003-05:00

Can I just say I am THRILLED that 2012 has finally arrived??! I feel like I've been waiting a lifetime for this year! I am THAT sure it is going to be a great year :) I actually made a list of resolutions too....and put them on a scrapbook page actually! (unfortunately, you will have to wait until the January issue of SNR comes out to see the page! ) Here is the highlights though...
I resolve to:
1. Lose weight and get healthy! This one, I have already started! I have a widget on my sidebar actually tracking my progress ;) And i've actually made more progress than that says, the widget only is tracking from when I signed up for myfitnesspal.com. I've actually lost about 8lbs more than it says! Gym monday - friday, and watching every single thing I put into my mouth! It is working! I also credit being happy....I truly believe that your mood affects your weight. Being depressed for years I think helped me get so fat to begin with...now that I have a positive happy attitude...the weight is melting off ! Check me out...taken on vacation in Florida last week:

2. Be a better mom to my children. With the pending divorce, they will need me even more than ever. I am making even more time for them and enjoying every second I have with them! They are the most important things in my life!

3. Find my FREEDOM! This is a work in progress...alot of factors involved here. In order to do what is best for the children, I have to be a little more patient here. Patience has never been my strong suit! I am working on it....eventually I will be free, and it will be well worth the wait I am sure!

4. Find the courage to ask for what I want. This one is complicated. I'll just have to leave it at that....I need to find some real courage for thsi one though, trust me!!!

Last year, I resolved to cut out all negativity in my life. That worked out ok....for a while. As the year went on, I realized , I may have cut out some important people in my life. By years end, I reached out to each and every one of them, and have mended most of the relationships. For this, I am greatful. For the ones that didn't accept me back, well that's ok. Maybe it is better this way. I'm not losing any sleep anymore, I did what I could and reached out. That's all I can do. I've made alot of new friends this past year and am thankful for every one of them! I feel like I have a GREAT support system, and have developed some strong relationships that I hope will last a lifetime!

I was gonna vent a little about something too in this post, but think instead I will end with something positive instead. This is a piano piece that I recently had the pleasure of becoming familiar with....it is beautiful. I listen to it almost every day. I close my eyes and even have this silly fantasy that plays out in my head when I listen to it ;) Enjoy! And Happy New Year !!!

Baby.....it's COLD outside!

2011-12-12T19:24:00.003-05:00

We have been enjoying some rather nice weather here in Norfolk this past month...and well,I guess I got used to it, because I just realized that all of a sudden it is COLD! In honor of the cold, I thought I'd make something....so I made an ATC for the Wicked Wednesday's challenge #9, Winter Fun! Not that COLD is fun....but well, it is one of my most favorite songs this time of year....!
So here is my ATC...

and here is my most favorite version of the song...

and here is a little something else I made to remind me of my sunshine that I miss so much! baby...it's cold outside! please come back sunshine and warm me up! heehee...!

New Life....New Look!

2011-11-02T21:03:00.003-04:00

In honor of my new life I have started recently, I thought I would change up my blog appearance as well. I have a huge obsession with clouds lately, so this seemed like a good look for me! I changed a few other things that well...maybe you won't even notice!
Since I have been so neglectful of my blog lately, I thought I would share some of my creations. These are mostly things that were created for SNR, and have been published in previous issues, and I would like to share them now.

One of these days I will actually make something NEW, or for a blog challenge again...my good friend Jenn has a new ATC challenge blog...Wicked Wednesday ATC Challenges...I really need to start playing along there ;)
Any-hoo...let me know what you think of my new design ok? I think it suits me perfectly :) and my creations I've had stashed away waiting to share, good? yes? I like the first layout...I can't believe I actually scrapped a photo of myself in the bathtub!
thanks for visiting my blog today!

What Women Want

2011-10-07T08:14:00.003-04:00

After spending the past oh...12 years of my life with a man who has NOT given me what I want, and other recent events....I've been inspired to write about what we DO want. Granted this just one broken girl's opinion, but I can't imagine many women would disagree with most of this. So here you go....this (in my opinion) is what women want from a man.

- in the morning, there is no better way to start the day than a nice 'good morning beautiful'...or something else along these lines. Something THIS simple will ensure that your lady will start her day off with a smile.
- if you are gone to work or elsewhere all day (for 6+ hours away from her) CHECK IN! can be a simple text message, or phone call, whatever...just to let her know you remember she exists. I spent 12 years in a marriage where I NEVER got a phone call or text all day. It's not hard to do...will just take a minute.
-buy her gifts just because. These are the ones that matter the most. Doesnt' have to be anything huge, just something small to show her she is special to you.
- flowers. most women like flowers.BUT not all women like roses! Why do all men go with the standard 'dozen roses'?? find out what your woman's FAVORITE flower is. I bet if you gave her a SINGLE STEM of her FAVORITE flower, it would mean so much more than any giant amount of something that she doesn't care for as much. My favorite is purple or blue irises. I don't think he knew this the whole time.
-While your at it with her favorite flower, find out her other favorite things as well. Let's talk color here. One time, and this was YEARS ago...he actually bought me a gift. Bought me a robe. It was powder blue. I was happy he bought me something actually. Then he opens his big mouth. "they had it in red or blue..." SERIOUSLY?? my FAVORITE COLOR IS RED! I would have really been blown away by the red one...ugh...yeah guys this stuff matters.
-Foods...can you cook? Even something basic. Cook for her every once in a while. Why should she have to do it all? I cook EVERYTHING. Probably years ago maybe he tried every once in a while to cook for me, so i'll give him that. BUT...he has no idea my likes in food! I remember once he hands me a plate of french toast covered in cinnamon. I dont' like cinnamon on my french toast, never have, never will. Had he ever paid attention, he would have known that. IMPORTANT! pay attention to details like this! And if you don't KNOW for sure, don't do it. Do your homework!
-Suprises...suprises are nice. I wouldnt' know just how nice since I dont' know that I've ever been suprised. I always dream of being suprised though...
-take her out. dinner, a movie, dancing, a walk on the beach...whatever. just go out.dont' sit at home all the time. If she is totally enamoured by you...she wants to take you out and show you off ;)
-lets talk social media. since we all know we live in the age of facebook and twitter. Are you on facebook?? I used to leave special songs and stuff on his wall for him, to make him know and the rest of the world know how I felt. Never once did I get anything back. This is important. When we are in love, or maybe just the early stages even of meeting someone new that we are all wrapped up in, we do want the world to know. Leave her a nice note, or picture, or song, whatever, on her wall. Where everyone can see it. This sounds dumb...but it will make her smile from ear to ear, I promise ;) I am a woman,I know it would make my day...we like to show off guys! TRUST ME!

I think that covers alot of bases. I hope this is helpful to everyone. Men...read it.Study it. Do it! Nothing on here is hard to do! Women...if you agree with this, please share this with your men, give them a *hint hint!* Feel free to pass this around, I'd love to help educate everyone on just a few simple things that make the world a happier place. Let's face it...if a woman is happy well, everyone is happy right?!

Please leave me a comment letting me know how you feel about this post. The good, the bad and the ugly. Or if there is something you'd like me to add, there is always room for edits!

My life in song

2011-09-20T19:01:00.002-04:00

I've always been a huge music lover. Music speaks to me. When I hear a song, I relate to it...you know? So much has been going on in my life lately, and I haven't been able to find the words to talk about any of it, so I'm going to use songs.

Issue #1...most importantly, my life at home. It is in shambles, and has finally come to a crossroads. Decisions have been made, soon it will be permanent. This song says it best I think:

This saddens me...but well, the song says it all I think.

Another thing in my life that I haven't been able to find the words for. Maybe seeing the above will help bring some clarity to that other situation, as to why I haven't been able to find a way to deal with it, not that I don't WANT to...just can't handle any additional stress now :( Here is a song for you:

What do I want out of life? This song has always made me cry because it is what I strive for, maybe someday now I will find it:

For now....can we pretend that airplanes in the night sky are like shooting stars?? I could really use a wish right now, wish right now, wish right now....

Bristol Baby!

2011-08-31T17:49:00.003-04:00

So, this past week has for sure been eventful!!! We left last Tuesday for a family camping trip in Bristol, TN for some nascar racing short track style! woohoo!! We are on a budget, so it was tent camping and well...it was a bit rough! Check out our campsite:

We did at least eat well all week...lol

check out my kids in their very own tent...they loved it!

Wednesday night was the modified race and truck race...we went! Was my first time at a modified race, was definetly interesting!!! A few pics of mods and trucks...

here is kevin harvick winning truck race..which was first time my kids ever saw anyone other than kyle busch in victory lane!

Thursday was a big day! We originally planned to go to downtown Bristol the street fair, but some of my twitter friends invited us to hang out with them instead and catch the monster truck car crunch later that night....so we did that instead ;)While we were there, we got to meet Jennifer Jo Cobb..

Good THING! While we were at the monster truck thingy, what are the odds they were giving out a ride in teh monster truck driven by no other than my most favorite nascar driver Brian Scott! All I had to do to win was catch a tshirt that was being launched by one of those shirt launcher things. (easy right? lol) So one was being launched, and it was coming my way...i was gonna catch it...until it went over my head..ugh! I saw some guys wrestling over it, and debated jumping in, until i saw that one of them was my husband! ha! he was wrestling some dude for the shirt...and he got it! YAY!!! So...I went and got my wristband and instructions to come back the next day for my ride with Brian! On the way back to camp, we watched the hauler parade...alexis got very excited when Kasey Kahnes hauler drove by...

Friday...what a big day! My big day ;) Seemed like it took forever for it to be time to head over for my big monster truck ride with Brian...lol... but...it finally got here!
First, my kids got to ride in the monster truck with daddy with just the normal driver...

then Brian arrived...*sigh*
and as i was waiting for our time to get on the truck...
couldn't resist!

here is my fav from my seat in the truck:

oh yeah, and i videod the ride!!

After my ride, the kids finally got to meet Brian...this was so exciting for me!

and here we all are:

Nationwide race time...look who's pitstall was in front of our seats...

we had good seats too..check out our view:

guess who won?? kyle busch...lol...alexis was NOT happy...she may have thrown a small tantrum and hid under her chair for a while...

Brian came in 10th that night (woohoo! top 10!) and for some reason, i decided it would be a good idea to do 10 pudding shots for his 10th place finish

(these are pudding shots..yum!)
and this was on top of the million other shots/drinks i had already had after my meeting with brian....i was a little excited...lol)

Saturday started off a little rough...wonder why?! haha!
Cup race day...yay!
Im not as enthusiastic about the cup race sicne Brian races nationwide...but still..it's the cup race! woohoo!

my second favorite #11 car:

kids were thrilled when Brad Kesolowski won (again...not kyle busch!)

post race fireworks:

and then, we would have been heading home teh next day....had hurricane irene not slammed our hometown! Jaime thought that he'd rather go to his parents for a few days in case anything was still bad back here in norfolk, or maybe everyone who had evacuated would all be trying to get home, and well, he didn't want to sit in traffic! So....after a 2 day sidetrip, we are finally home safe and sound, and happy to report, my house is in perfect shape! woohoo!
and...in just less than 2 weeks, i'm going to Richmond for another race weekend...lol...funny how that works out eh?

so that's my fun story ;) happy to be home! and in a few days, i'll have my cell back...yeah, it broke while we were down there (no fault of mine!)

Now maybe someday I will get back in my craft room eh? it's long overdue!
thanks for visiting my blog today!

Latest issue of SNR...and some other stuff ;)

2011-07-26T19:26:00.005-04:00

I told you I had another post up my sleeve...

I wanted to let everyone know about the latest issue of Scrapbook News and Review Magazine....it is chock full of crafty inspiration that I know you all are just DYING to see. Want to see a sneak peek?? I scrapped one of my current favorite pictures for the 'stars' call in the current issue....you'll have to check out the magazine if you want to see what i've done to this:

Also, note that I have added links to the current magazine issue and current calls for submission to my left sidebar, please check them out! I got the idea when visiting fellow staffer Heidi's blog...(which is fabulous i might add!)

I also have a few projects to share from previous issues of SNR..stuff I made many moons ago it seems and have been dying to share ;)

this is a card i made for a previous issue, that i actually mailed to hubby while he was deployed...

and here is a layout i made for a previous SNR issue, featuring Denny Hamlin's mom, and her dog Bristol ;) The photos were actually from the Bristol race last summer (which is coming up again soon! woot woot! family vacation!!)

Thanks for visiting my blog, and remember to check out the current issue of SNR...link can be found on my left sidebar or at the top of this post ;)

Welcome Home USS Enterprise ;)

2011-07-26T17:39:00.008-04:00

Well, I haven't posted on my blog lately, lots of stuff been going on! So I'm gonna start with a post about our recent happy homecoming. Hubby was deployed for 6 months on the USS Enterprise. He came home on July 15...here are a few pictures from our happy homecoming.

i'll start with this one because it is by FAR my favorite:

a few more of the ship's arrival:

Me and my girls waiting..

the girls watching the ship in the distance as it approaches

getting closer...

homeport!

i like this one....look at all the sailors on the phone, calling their loved ones. This is one of the most painful things, seeing them THIS CLOSE and still having to wait until they are released to us ;)

First hugs ;)

so yeah..our family is now complete again ;) I have a bunch more blog posts i need to catch up on, so come back soon! i may even have another one tonight for you! thanks for visiting my blog today ;)
tracey

Follow Your Bliss

2011-07-06T14:25:00.002-04:00

Bright enough for ya? LOL!
This card is for 2 challenges....one is Some Odd Girl Bright and Blinding Challenge, and the other is 365 Cards day 128 Ad inspired....the ad was...well...BRIGHT! That's all I got for now...I'm trying to get a million things done around the house today and doing a little crafting in between!
Thanks for visiting my blog today ;)

the mice are away...

2011-07-02T18:25:00.002-04:00

...so the CAT is at play! The mice being my children and the cat being ME of course...LOL! Yes...my kiddos are on vacation and I am home alone! This has never happened before, it is really ODD! So today, I figured, why not sit down and craft, right smack dab in the middle of the day! So...I looked up some challenges, and made a card:

I found the sketch at Card Patterns...sketch #122...
And the color inspiration at the Play Date Cafe...PDCC88.

I think I will go and make a few more things tonight while I watch the race ;) I've got 12 more days of kid-free time, so...hopefully I get alot of crafty-time in!
Thanks for visiting my blog today.
tracey

you totally rock!!

2011-06-16T21:31:00.002-04:00

Well, I sat down tonight with my friend Celina and cyber cropped fora bit ;) Funny....she got 2 entire layouts done and I am just now finishing my card!!! LOL! Anyways...I made this for a few challenges actually!
1. 365 cards day 105: mega movie monday. I chose to use the colors that were in the movie poster to inspire my card.
2. Unscripted sketches, sketch #110

Now I'm debating if I should stay up and make somethign else...hmm....it is only 9:30...! Maybe...just maybe I will ;)
thanks for visiting my blog today!
tracey

New Special Call at Scrapbook News and Review!

2011-06-02T19:01:00.002-04:00

I wanted to share this call with everyone for Scrapbook News and Review....they are on the hunt for some fresh faces ;) Let me know if you have any questions I can answer for you!

We're Looking for Clean & Simple Scrappers & Card Makers

If you're a Clean & Simple (or its close cousin Modern & Graphic) , we would love to see your artwork. We're looking for Clean & Simple (and Modern & Graphic) scrappers and card makers to feature inside the magazine, on our front page, be a Featured Artist and/or maybe even become a part of the SNR staff.

If this is your style, please submit to this special call. Simply go to our website at www.scrapbooknewsandreview.com and click on Calls and then Special Calls and submit your artwork. You can submit up to 5 layouts or cards (or a mix if you're both a scrapper and a card maker).

Please make sure your images are sized at 650x650, with 650 being the longest side if it's an irregular shape. Any images submitted that are not at least 650x650 will be rejected upon receipt. You do not need to include any supply lists. We simply want to see your work and get a chance to know you!

Thank you and we look forward to seeing your stuff. Happy scrappin'!

Direct Link to the Special Call for Clean & Simple Scrappers & Card Makers

OR....If you would rather just submit to the July calls that are presently available....check it out HERE:

July 2011 Calls

Get Noticed! Get Published!

Scrapbooking

Back to School: Summer may be in full swing, but school time will be here before we know it and what better way to greet it than with pages chock full of school related topics.

Color of the Month – Orange: Fresh, fun and funky, orange screams summer from popsicles and beach balls to sand pails and surfboards and it’s a great color to feature on your layouts. Projects can be of any theme or subject but you must use they must use at least 80% of the color of the month, so think monochromatic color scheme with a couple other colors to balance it out.

Fabric, Fiber & Felt: These three “F’s” rock on layouts of any kind and we would love to see how you use one of them or any combination of the three. Get creative and be sure to provide us with a tip or two on how you incorporated them onto your pages.

Favorite Band/Singer: We all have one or two and while for some they may be just a mild crush or fascination, for others it’s a full-on obsession. Show us your love for your favorite band or singer. Layouts featuring lyrics or song titles will get extra consideration. Please make sure you give credit to the songwriter in your supply lists cause you know we at SNR always like to be on the up-and-up.

Hometown Haunts & Hangouts: Each town has its own flavor and distinct places, so take us on a trip around yours. Whether just one or two or a smattering of your favorite haunts and hangouts, we’re looking for pages that bring to attention the places in your hometown that have special meaning to you.

Numbers: Why should letters get all the spotlight? Let’s give numbers their full 15 minutes of fame.

One Word – Treasure: For this call, we’re looking for pages that include the word “Treasure” in the title.

Shapes – Stars: Big or small, we have a thing for stars and they lend such a unique flair to pages of any theme or subject.

Scrap Your Stash - Ribbon: We wouldn’t be surprised if you have oodles of ribbon hanging out in your stash and we challenge you to use it in cool and creative ways! For this call, please only submit layouts that feature lots of ribbon.

Cards

Clear Acrylic: For this call, we’re looking for cards that either use clear acrylic as the base, background or as the main embellishment on your card.

Fussy Cutting: It’s a popular trend and rightly so. Beautiful creations can be made with simple patterned paper and cardstock and we can’t wait to see yours.

Summer Elements: Balls, Suns, You Name It: If it smacks of summer, then it’s fair game on your cards and they can be of any subject or topic.

Shapes – Stars: Big or small, we have a thing for stars and they lend such a unique flair to pages of any theme or subject.

Watercolors: Show off your mad painting skills! Watercolors are a great way to give a punch of color and we would love to see cards that use watercolors in a variety of ways.

Stamping

Please note that the following calls MUST use stamps. You can’t use patterned paper or embellishments that feature the following spotlight items.

Fruit & Veggies: For this call, we’re looking for cards and other stamped projects showcasing fruit and veggie stamps.

Furniture & Home Accessories: For this one, we’re looking for cards and other stamped projects that showcase furniture and home accessories. Cute puns for sentiments are a plus.

Seaside: Whether nautical or beachy, we want to see cards and other stamped projects that use stamps that feature a seaside theme.

Mixed Media

Artist Trading Cards - Americana: Books, maps, paper, documents, relics and even song lyrics can be integrated on your arches. Please note that submitted ATCs must have American ephemera on them. No other cultures will be accepted.

Artist Trading Cards – Strut Your Stuff: Grab your 15 minutes of fame and can send in ATC’s featuring any theme, style or color scheme.

Arches - Bygone Era: There is a world of options at your fingertips with this call. Arches must be reminiscent of days gone by and can be of any subject but most feature imagery or clipart that conjures up memories of the past.

Inchies – Patchwork: The possibilities are endless with patchwork techniques as the background. You can construct inchies with a patchwork background in any fashion and with any theme or color scheme, but your inchies must be ON a patchwork base.

Mini Albums – Strut Your Stuff: The rules are the same as with the altered art call. Anything goes!

To submit to Scrapbook News and Review, go HERE and look for the 'calls' tab at the top!! Simple as that! Hope to see some familiar faces ;)

I made a card!! and a layout!!

2011-05-29T19:52:00.002-04:00

finally! I made something I can SHARE! For the past well...long time...everything I have made has been for Scrapbook News and Review (which if you don't subscribe you should...then you could see all the stuff I have made that I can't post here ;)

the card I have made for the Outlawz Sunday Clean and Simple challenge for May 22...which was to make a single layer card.

the layout is for Tally Scrapper's Leo Challenge...there are a bunch of challenges listed and the layout is for the June 4th one in the list.

So there you have it...I made some stuff! I need to make more...lol!!!
Thanks for visiting my blog ;)

sigh

2011-05-03T20:46:00.001-04:00

DSCN9989, originally uploaded by ladytraceyl.

Im so busy these days...but i wanted to share this picture from last weekend....is it possible to be in love with a photo??? the clouds are so white and fluffy, the sky is so perfectly blue....Brian looks amazingly edible....what a great great photo...I will treasure it forever :)

That is all I have time to share right now...praying I dig myself out of this hole I have dug for myself! Im way too busy these days!!!

Happy Spring!

2011-04-12T15:03:00.002-04:00

Well I've finally made something! Actually I've made a few cards but am too tired to post em all right now so we'll just start with this one. I used a Some Odd Girl digi Bee Tia..which is just SO CUTE! I think I incorporated a few challenges in this one....
1. Some Odd Girl CAS challenge
2. the Outlawz Greeing card challenge for April 11

yeah..that's it...lol! maybe eventually i'll get my other cards posted (before the challenges i did expire! I think one already did..oops!)
thanks for visiting my blog today ;)
tracey

Off to the Races....

2011-03-31T18:20:00.002-04:00

Well...long time no update! Stuff has been crazy around here lately....been doin' some soul searching which is GOOD...makin' new friends which is also GOOD....and well...not a whole lotta crafting! Actually..i have done crafting, but it is all for Scrapbook News and Review, which you can't see until the future issues come out....lol!
Anyways....tomorrow starts my little weekend getaway! woohoo! Hubby has been deployed since January, we haven't quite made it to halfway in his deployment yet, and I am getting a BREAK! The kids are going to visit family and I am headed to Martinsville to enjoy a weekend of pampering and racing! Hittin' the road in the morning right after I drop the kiddos at school....can't WAIT to get on the road!
When I get back I'll be sure to post some pictures and I'm hoping this trip brings me back refreshed and ready to dive back into my life! See ya next week!

excuse me???

2011-03-09T17:02:00.002-05:00

Fierce enough looking???? LOL! I made this with 365 cards day 7, FEELING FIERCE challenge in mind ;) I have also entered this beauty in The Outlawz March 4 copics challenge (sepia or b&w), and club anyas mystery monday challenge for this week!
In other news....Artistic Papercrafting is holding a little croppy weekend this weekend...there will be fun prizes to be won....be sure to check it out this Sat-Sun March 12-13!!! (the link for Artistic Papercrafting will take you to the grand prize for the crop if you'd like a peek!)
Thanks for visiting my blog today !
tracey

2 more cards

2011-03-07T18:25:00.002-05:00

Well....my sunday crafting wasn't HALF as productive as Saturday was! I ended up getting tired and falling asleep! Here are the 2 cards I managed to get done before I was overcome by ZZZZZZZzzzzz's...!

I made this card for the following challenges:
1. The Outlawn CAS challenge for March 6
2. CPS #208
3. Card Making Mama's #16 (green!) --my second and last entry ;)

This card was made for 365 cards, day 5: winter and summer collide. This stamp just SCREAMED to be used for this challenge ;)

Spent most of today cleaning my crafty room...i made alot of progress! threw alot of junk away, which is good...soon i will have the perfect crafty haven and will be able to be MUCH more productive much more often!
thanks for visiting my blog today!
tracey

Weekend Crafty Goodness!

2011-03-06T11:13:00.002-05:00

For the first time in a while, I devoted a big chunk of time to crafting! I took over the dining room table and went to town ;) ( I had to go to dining room so I could watch the races on the BIG TV!) Now most of the projects I made, I can't post yet as they are for future issues of Scrapbook News and Review, or for upcoming challenges on Artistic Papercrating...but I do have 2 that are not for either!! I noticed that 365 cards started a new year, so I decided to go play along over there for a bit ;)

Here is my card for day 1 at 365 cards, it was a white space challenge:

This card is also for Card Makin' Mammas...their challenge was to use GREEN! (please ignore the stain on card, i had rock candy stickles on my hand and well...FAIL!)

This card is day 2 at 365 cards, the challenge was kind of fun...there were 5 prompts:
1. Favorite color---red
2. Fav design technique--distressing
3. fav embellie--flowers
4. least fav color--yellow
5. fav card size--4.25x5.5

so i used these answers to make this card:

I am also entering this card in 2 other challenge.
1. Some Odd Girl--Handmade Elements Challenge--I realize i did not use a SOG stamp, but i really wanted to enter since i made all my embellies outta Wendi Vecchi stamps ;)
2. Gingersnap creations Random Redhead challenge--Crowns

And now I think I will get back to my weekend crafty goodness...there are alot of hours left in the day!
Thanks for visiting my blog today! Anyone notice I redesigned it?? I did this one by myself, took an entire day, but I like it ;)

Taste the Rainbow...sponsored by Bugaboo!

2011-03-03T18:59:00.003-05:00

Who is thinking of skittles right now?? You should be ;) The newest challenge over at Artistic Papercrafting is called 'taste the rainbow' and the prize is just as sweet as candy ! One lucky participant will win 7 digis's from Bugaboo Stamps! 7!!! wow!! One for every color in the rainbow and then some eh?? And that is just what the challenge entails....you must create something containing as many colors as possible....rainbow it up! Here is my creation using 'Scarlette Cafe', a fabulous image by Bugaboo:

So hurry up and come on over and play along with us ;) Lots of fun prizes to be won!!!

this just made my day ;)

2011-03-02T09:59:00.003-05:00

(Brian mentions me in this interview...what could be better??? i luv him ;) (i make an entrance in the conversation around the 8 minute mark)

ok...i can't get the video to work in this post...grrrr....but here is the LINK TO IT!
Im gonna try to get it on my sidebar ;)

This totally made my day, and now that they have put it so i can listen to it again, even better!!!

BIG news!!!

2011-02-21T11:54:00.003-05:00

Just a quick post with an announcement I have been DYING to make for about a week now...
I don't even have a graphic it is so NEW...

I am a new staff member of Scrapbook News and Review!! This makes me very happy ;) I will have more details later on but for now, if you haven't ever been to SNR...you should! There is alot of fun stuff over there to check out!!! Hope to see you there!

Lucky you!

2011-02-18T08:43:00.002-05:00

Happy Friday!!! What better way to start off this BEAUTIFUL day than with a card featuring this FABULOUS digi stamp from Stitchy Bear Digital Stamps! I made this card for our St. Patricks Day challenge over at Artistic Papercrafting, that is sponsored by Stitchy Bear ;) I used this darling stamp called Lizbit....i just LOVE HER! Talk about bringing sassy to a leprechaun eh??! One lucky winner of this challenge will win a 10$ GC to shop at Stichy Bear....cool eh? They truly have something for everyone over there! If you havent' checked out Artistic Papercrafting, you should! It is a small group of extremely friendly gals who like to craft and chat . There is always a challenge to do and lots of inspiration and comradely. Hope to see you there!!! It is a beautiful day here in Virginia today, so I will be out and about soaking it up (until later today when Brian Scott will qualify his car for Daytona and I will be glued to my tv watching ;) Thanks for visiting my blog today!

You warm my heart ;)

2011-02-16T09:09:00.002-05:00

Quick post, cause I gotta go shopping!
This card is for the following challenges:
1. Some Odd Girl : hearts hearts hearts!
2. Artistic Papercrafting: color challenge!
3. Heart 2 heart challenge: show us your heart! ( the hearts and cardstock are CTMH!)
4. 365 Cards: day 350, super sketchy sunday

and that's it! thanks for visiting my blog, now off to the store i go ;)

Party with the Outlawz!

2011-02-15T12:11:00.004-05:00

This whole week, the Outlawz are having a HUGE party! There are lots and lots of prizes to be won!!! I just finished my first entry in the birthday category...check out the cowboy sock monkey ;)

I used sketch #102 from Inspirational Card Sketches to make my card.

I linked the outlawz poster above to the group, so click it and come join in the fun! (or don't, more chances for ME to win! lol!)
thanks for visiting my blog today....hopefully I get more done to post today!

something different ;)

2011-02-11T13:43:00.002-05:00

Considering I rarely make anything except cards and layouts....this was FUN! I made a bookmark because that was the 'early bird' challenge for Some Odd Girl's digi day challenge at SNR. Be sure to check it out!!
You don't think this is the ONLY challenge I am entering this in do you??? (of course not!)
This is also for:
Paper Sundaes #55, 2 or more images
Pixie Cottage #56, sketch and/or ribbon

Hope to get some more stuff done tonight and later this weekend, thanks for visiting my blog today ;)

Smile!

2011-02-07T14:47:00.003-05:00

I made this for this week's Sketchy Thursday challenge. My kids went to their uncles for the weekend (so I could have my scrappy friends come over and get crafty!) and when I picked them up, he gave me this photo strip. They apparently had their first experience in a photo booth with their friend Loden! How cute!!! All supplies are Close to my Heart (of course!) I did alot of stamping on this layout, actually most of it is stamped ;) Here is a close up:

(some spots where it looks like i screwed up stamping, i did it that way on purpose i swear!)

and now i must run and pick my kiddos up from school, mommy craft time is over for today! Thanks for visiting my blog!

Hello Sunshine!

2011-02-06T11:51:00.002-05:00

Last week, I found an email from SNR telling me that digi day was featuring a company called "Limited Runs". I had never heard of them, so thought I would investigate...glad I did! They have the CUTEST cupcake digis! A huge variety too!!! So...I decided to play along ;) Here is my card I made for their digi day, and of course, I combined a few more challenges in, all listed below!

1. Limited Runs Digi Day on SNR
2. Sketch from Unscripted Sketches, #92
3. Flower Power Challenge in Artistic Papercrafting
4. Color Challenge in the Outlawz

that's it! thanks for visiting my blog today, and for allyou football fans...go STEELERS!!

Too much of a good thing???

2011-02-01T17:50:00.004-05:00

Is there such a thing??? Is it possible??? Well...if it is, I'm getting close to that point ;) In the past week, I've had an overload of all things BRIAN! (yes, I'm about to gush over my favorite driver again!) Last week sometime, he randomly tweeted about some 'special talent' of his that toyota racing had videod and taken pictures of.....hmmm...this had me intrigued. Never did I imagine what I was going to see when the link popped up though....oh wow! Check this out, Brian is ummmmm yeah....talented!

(i don't know how to embed the actual video, they put it on facebook, not utube...but HERE is the link)

This video had me staring at my computer for a while...pressing play over and over and over....we don't even have to go into what was going through my mind ;)

Shortly after the video was posted, this photo came next....WOW!

wow he must have a TON of upper body strength...this is amazing!

So if that wasn't enough to turn a ton of my focus onto Brian lately....today there was a package left by the big brown truck on my doorstep. It was from Brian ;) I had won a trivia contest he had on twitter a few weeks ago, and this was my prize. I thought I was getting an autographed visor from him, and couldn't imagine why it needed such a big box. When I opened it, this is what was inside:

yeah...it's a visor alright...but not the kind i was expecting! i thought he was sending me one to wear, i have alot of visors, that i like to wear to the track, but THIS is even BETTER! It is the visor portion of Brian's helmet! And...it is one he actually wore while racing ;) O-M-G right??? i love this...it is fabulous! My new prized possession! I feel like I need to build a shrine around it...LOL! Brian is the best ;) It makes me happy to be a fan of the most awesome driver ever! *sigh*
just a few short weeks until racing starts again....oh i can't wait! go Brian!!

Fly

2011-01-30T16:42:00.003-05:00

About a week ago I was blog-hopping all of my crafty friends blogs, and I found a post on Kristy's blog about picking your one word for 2011, and scrapping it. I really like this idea, especially since late last year, I had started to make some changes in my life. It was pretty easy for me to come up with my word, which is 'fly'. My layout says 'spread your wings and fly'. This is exactly what I intend to do this year. 2010 was a year of great loss in my life, in many ways. Not only did I lose 2 of my grandparents, but turns out, I had been surrounding myself with so much negativity, I was drowning in it. It was all around me, everywhere. I woke up. And now I am putting my wings on and flying away from it all ;) I haven't broken completely free, not by a longshot, but I now know I am strong enough to fly, fly away. Nothing is stopping me, except for me! And I'm not going to hold myself back anymore!
So there is the premise for my word for 2011....FLY!
Now y'all know I made this layout with a few challenges in mind too right??? Wouldnt' be me if I didn't ;) There are two challenges this is for. One is the Outlawz color challenge, colors are orange, cream and gray. ANother is for Artistic Papercrafting Sketch challenge. Jill got permission from this fabulous blog called Creative Scrappers to use their sketches for our challenges (since none of us are talented enough to make our own sketches lol!)
** and i almost forgot! i had stared at the inspiration collage over at Nerdy Victorious Scrapbookers FOREVER! this layout is also my take on their collage. I used the same collage format, and covered it with butterflies!**
So there you have it. Thanks for visiting my blog today ;)
Tracey

thinking of you...

2011-01-26T13:05:00.004-05:00

I got so caught up in all the anniversary challenges at Some Odd Girl last week, AND getting fun stuff made for Artistic Papercrafting's weekend crop, that i totally FORGOT to post this card I slipped in for Some Odd Girl's regular challenge!!! I made this for their 'let's get embossed ' challenge. I also entered this in a color challenge at the Outlawz (pink and brown!). Thankfully I'm remembering to actually blog this so I can enter it! I'm famous for makign stuff and saying to myself 'i'll just post it later....' and yeah...then the deadline passes!!! So here it is!

Thanks for visiting my blog today ;) I made a layout this morning I'm pretty proud of, but i'm keeping it under wraps for a few more days...stay tuned!
tracey

Final SOG challenges...AND something NEW!

2011-01-23T10:52:00.002-05:00

I'm all done with SOG anniversary week challenges! yay me!!! Here are my final 2 creations. This first one is for the SOG COLOR CHALLENGE, I used the new SOG digi Royal Love:

ANd last but not least is my card for the MINI CHALLENGE. THis card is teeny tiny! I used one of my nestabilities circles to cut it if that tells you anything about the size! I used a digi that i BELIEVE was the very first freebie offered on SOG when they first launched ( I could be wrong, but I think so!)

Well that was fun! I did learn that I am better at coloring people than animals with this one...lol! those frogs....wow they were challenging for me!

On another note! There is a BRAND NEW FORUM in well...forum world! It stems from an old cafe-mom group that was called ARtisitc Papercrafting. Well...the same group is now it's own entity! Check it out!
(i think you can just click the badge and it will take you there!)

Lefora Free Forums

Anyways...Thanks for visiting my blog today, and hope to see some of you at Artistic Papercrafting! (we are cropping today ;)

SOG-elements challenge

2011-01-22T14:13:00.002-05:00

Trying to get all of these anniversary challenges done for SOG this week...my copics are getting a workout! Here is my Elements project. The elements I used are:
M-misting
O-orange
E-embossing

*almost forgot! this is also for the Outlawz copics challenge for 1.21!!!**

Only 2 more challenges left for me to complete! One of them I already have colored, so I best get busy ;) Thanks for visiting my blog today!

my SOG-gy girls ;)

2011-01-20T16:57:00.002-05:00

Today's challenge over at Some Odd Girl was for the KIDS today! I asked my kids if they would like to make a card, and they said they just wanted to COLOR! Nothing wrong with that! They are pros with the crayons! I pulled up my folder of Some Odd Girl digis and let them pick which one they wanted to color!
Caitlyn picked nana-split:

and Alexis picked the turkey (got him as a freebie one month and don't seem to see him listed in the shop anymore!)

They sure had fun coloring ! They are very proud of their little masterpieces ;)

gettin' my SKETCH on!

2011-01-20T16:49:00.002-05:00

I did not one, but TWO sketches from Sketchy Thursday's today! The first one is for the challenge that they posted just today the 1.20 sketch, I jumped right on it!

this next one is for their guest DT spot for next month. I am 100% certain this is not going to win, as I looked at some of the competition and well...WOW! Some of these ladies are SUPER TALENTED! BUT....I thought i'd give it a shot just for fun....so here is my take on THAT challenge:

at least I had fun with paint today, on both projects ;) Thanks for visiting my blog today!
tracey

1 digi, 3 ways!

2011-01-18T14:21:00.002-05:00

This may seem like a challenge, but really it was quite simple....just a bit time consuming making 3 cards for one challenge!!! So...of course, I made 3 cards, using 1 digi (for the Some Odd Girl anniversary week challenge!) AND made sure each card encompassed some other challenges as well! Turns out, this challenge made me quite productive today ;) So.....here are all 3 cards together, using the Some odd girl digi 'big pressie tia'

This first card was my first attempt at coloring in a 'black and white' style with my copics....not sure if it looks ok or not, but I'm also entering this card into Moxie Fab's 'gray is the new black' challenge as well...I am totally digging gray these days!

This second card is a Christmas card ( i know, CRAZY to make a Christmas card NOW!) and I'm entering it into CPS, sketch 201, and The Outlawz, 'show me some red love' copics challenge.'

This last card has GOT to be my favorite. It just turned out WAY better than I hoped ;) Im entering this one into the Outlawz Jan. 11 color challenge (pink, red, white) , and I used the sketch from Card Patterns (sketch 98).

So there you have it! 1 digi, 3 ways! If you haven't already checked it out, you should go to Some Odd Girl this week and help them celebrate their anniversary, I had FUN with this challenge ;)

Enjoy the Ride

2011-01-13T18:20:00.002-05:00

So my box of brand new Close to my heart products arrived yesterday (yay!) and of course I had to play!!! So here is a sneak peek of some NEW products coming next month! I made this card for Skipping Stones Designs blog hop sketch challenge:

The patterned paper I used here is actually available now (from the Wings paper pack!) but the stampset, called 'enjoy the ride' well.....you'll have to wait until Feb 1! ANy-whooo....hubby's ship pulled out today for a 6 month deployment, so I'm doing my own thing for a while! (that means, not feeling guilty about sitting and crafting ;) That's all I got for now, thanks for visiting my blog!

Holiday Magic

2011-01-12T16:10:00.002-05:00

I always do this! I make a layout for something and then forget to post it! Not this week....Im getting it posted right in time! This layout I made for Sketchy Thursday's latest challenge:

That's all I got now, it's almost time to go make dinner ;) Thanks for visiting my blog!

a few cards...

2011-01-11T20:17:00.003-05:00

ok, so now that i have magically found my creative mojo, i just don't wanna stop creating! here are a few cards (with challenges listed below them!) i have made:

This card was made for a challenge on a new site called 'the outlawz', it is today's color challenge! I used a sketch from Inspirational Card Sketches, sketch #97

This card uses Mojo Monday's current sketch, is also for the Outlawz, and i'm entering it into Card Makin' Mama's current challenge which is 'girls just wanna have fun'. AND, I almost forgot, the reason for my bright pink bow! This card is also for Moxie Fab's Color Inspiration: Bright and Bold!

This card is another one I made multiple of to send on the ship for the sailors to (hopefully!) send home to their loved ones! I used a sketch from Get Sketchy, challenge #69.

And...that's it for now! I also have a layout for sketchy thursday, but i'll post that tomorrow i think!!!
thanks for visiting my blog ;)

Moxie Fab--Gray is the new Black!

2011-01-11T13:03:00.002-05:00

I happened upon this challenge over at Moxie Fab a few days ago and have been toying with it ever since! After a few attempts that ended up in the garbage.....I finally think I have perfected it!!! There are 2 different color schemes, but both are accented with GRAY! I made a bunch of these as I am sending them with my husband when his ship deploys for 6 months on Thursday. The inside says 'happy valentines day!' Im hoping he will pass them out to some of the other guys to mail home to their wives/girlfriends (or husbands/boyfriends--there are ladies on the ship too!) At the very least, I SHOULD get a valentine right??? So here are 2 versions of the same card, featuring 'gray is the new black'

I should also note the other challenge this card is for. I got the sketch from Unscripted Sketches (sketch #88) Here is the sketch:

Also, the orange card fits with Basic Grey challenges, #35, dots and spots! it uses a sheet of Basic Grey Sugar Rush paper ;)
That is it for these cards! I've got a few more I have to get posted at some point today, I am in a mood to keep creating though, hate to stop and post!!!

lazy day...

2011-01-09T19:02:00.002-05:00

I decided to be lazy today and stay in my pj's all day and maybe do some crafting. Well...didn't turn out too good, or maybe I"m just THAT good at being lazy, I was too lazy to even get anything accomplished! In an entire day, I managed to get one card done. There was an attempted second card, but well....I'm chalking it up to 'wasn't meant to be'....(yeah, it was BAD!)
So here is the card I did manage to make, and a list of challenges I managed to multitask into it:

1. Paper Sundaes #51, circles
2. Let's ink it up #8: anything goes
3. Card patterns, sketch #97
4. Crazy for Challenges #69, color inspiration

thanks for visiting my blog today...back to being lazy! got a few more hours left in the day!
tracey

Sketchabilities, sketch #38

2011-01-05T19:17:00.003-05:00

Hope everyone had a happy holiday. I have been absent, haven't felt very crafty lately, been super busy, just haven't been able to sit down and dig in! I saw this sketch on sketchabilities though and may have found some creative mojo ;) Here is the sketch:

and here is my take on it:

All supplies are Close to My Heart aside from the 'hang on to your' stickers! Im amazed I was able to use THAT MUCH CTMH! Anyways...let's hope the mojo is back to stay! thanks for visiting my blog today ;)

Cards from tags, Days 6 - 9

2010-12-13T18:52:00.002-05:00

So Tim is done with the tags, but i'm still chugging along making them into cards!!! Here are my takes on day's 6, 7, 8 and 9!

my Day 6:

Tim's Day 6 tag:

my Day 7:

and Tim's Day 7 tag:

my day 8 card:

Tim's day 8 tag:

and this may be my fav...my grandma has given me all these fabulous old baubles and i never want to use them! I dug them out for this card....(i'll probably end up giving her this card!)
My day 9 card:

and..tim's day 9 tag:

only 2 more to go! i've royally screwed up #11 at this point, which is why i took a break to post...lol! thanks for visiting my blog today ;)

Tags to Cards...Day 10

2010-12-10T12:07:00.003-05:00

Well....today's Tim tag just BLEW ME AWAY! I think it is my favorite by far!! And while I know mine isn't as fabulous at Tim's....I REALLY like how it turned out!!!!! I used a CTMH clear card instead of recycled packaging, as well....right now I dont' have any packaging on hand! Here is my card:

and Tim's 12 Tags, Day 10:

and...here is what my desk looks like since i haven't cleaned it up this week..haha!!! and this doesn't even show the little table off to the side that has even more on it!

i think i need to clean this up now so i can backtrack and work on the rest of the tags...not sure which one i'm gonna tackle first!

Tags to Cards..day's 1 and 4

2010-12-09T14:28:00.002-05:00

So I finally went back and tackled day 1....it was just so complex looking and overwhelming!!! Anways...here is my day 1:

and here is Tim's 12 tags, Day 1:

And here is my Day 4...which I also skipped...this has got to be the least favorite one I have done...Tim's looks amazing...mine...not so much lol:

and here is Tim's 12 tags, Day 4...much nicer than my humble attempt!!!

I hope I can get caught up soon, i've really fallen behind now!! thanks for stopping by ;)

Cards from tags, Day 3 and 5

2010-12-05T17:10:00.002-05:00

So i've been skipping around a bit here...doing the 'easier' ones....lol!!! Here is mine from today:

and Tim's tag: (12 tags, day 5)

And here is my take on Day 3:

and Tim's tag that inspired it: (12 tags, day 3)

That's all I got now, i'm having fun doing them....making 3 or 4 of each, so i have some Christmas cards to mail out eventualy! thanks for stopping by ;)
tracey

Cards from Tags....Day 2

2010-12-02T14:51:00.003-05:00

Well...I did it, I really did it! I spent some time today crafting!
Every year when Tim Holtz does his tags, I want to play along. Sometimes I get a few of them done, but I never know what to do with the tags then. So I decided to adapt them into Christmas cards this year, (since I haven't barely made ANY Christmas cards!) Today, since I was feeling so down (see this post for more info) I decided it was time to start the healing process...and what better way than to make something. This is my adaptation of Tim's '12 tags of Christmas, Day 2'. His tag is below here:

Yes, I know mine isn't as fabulous, but I actually like how it turned out. I made 3 of this card, and well...I can add them to the very small pile of Christmas cards I have made now. Next, I will tackle his day one tag....that one is a bit more complex...I had to start small ;)
Thanks for reading my blog today ;)
Tracey

Update

2010-12-02T09:58:00.003-05:00

I know I need to update my blog, but so much has been going on lately. Quick recap just so y'all know I'm still alive.
I had surgery on my arm on Nov 9. Had a 4 inch incision made at my elbow of my left arm on the underside. It still hurts and it is hindering my ability to be crafty! I did some stamping the other day and just to pressure of pressing the stamp down was painful :(.
Aside from that....ugh...so much loss around me. It is just bringing me down, I know i am feeling sorry for myself, but this has just been a bad year for me. I feel like I've lost so much. Between people passing away and well...other personal losses, just a bad year. Just this morning, my Grandma passed away. Im 35 years old, and at the beginning of this year, i had all of my grandparents still living. I've always known i was lucky to have had them all with me for so long, but I've also known that one of these years I was gonna have a REALLY BAD YEAR. I guess this was it as I lost 2 of them this year. I've suffered a few other personal losses recently as well...not real good for the crafty mojo.
So anyways...I'm still alive, just feeling sorry for myself. And don't worry, my own self pity is plenty, I don't want anyone else to feel bad, just wanted to give an update of why my blog has been sitting here dormant for so long. I'm gonna make an attempt at doing SOMETHING crafty at some point. I haven't made my Christmas cards yet, that isn't good. Starting to wonder if I'd be better off just buying them this year, or not mailing any. I know Tim Holtz has started his 12 tags and that makes me feel like crafting...if only I could make myself sit and do it. Anyways., I hope everyone else out there is well and enjoying the holiday's. Im gonna try to turn my frown upside down and count the blessings that I do have, like my 2 beautiful girls and good friends and get outta this funk and return to the land of the living ;) Have a great day everyone!

FF#51 at the Shoe!

2010-10-15T13:11:00.002-04:00

This weeks challenge at If the Shoe fits...SCRAP IT! is up and running! The challenge this week is a holiday for all holidays, which means, pick a holiday and make something! You can pick any holiday you want! I chose Christmas for the simple reason that I got a box of Close to my Heart new stuff in the mail yesterday and couldn't wait to play with it! I used the new stamp set St. Nick and the Mistletoe paper pack (love that paper, possibly one of my fav packs!) So hurry over to the Shoe and play along ;)
i am also entering this card in a few other challenges:
1. Heart to Heart challenges: leaves and trees
2. 365 cards day 224, super sketchy sunday

that's it! thanks for stopping by and don't forget to visit the Shoe!

PC#40: sketch and/or stitching!

2010-10-13T12:40:00.003-04:00

Happy hump day everyone ;) Wednesday means challenge day at the Pixie Cottage! Today's challenge features a guest sketch by Hazel:

AND/OR stitching....which means you can do the sketch, use stitching on your project, or both! For mine, I chose to do both. Here is my DT sample featuring this adorable digi image by Artish
called Autumn Raking.

I'm also entering my card in a few other challenges:
1. Paper Sundaes #39: a change of season
2. Cupcake inspiration #80
3. Charizma Cardz #40, autumn colors
4. Stamp scrap and doodle saturdays: halloween or fall project

That's it for now ;) remember to go to the Pixie Cottage to see the rest of the DT's fab projects for challenge #40! Oh, and thanks for the get well wishes, sadly, I'm not feeling any better, actually thought I was getting better last night until I woke up even worse today :( which is why my post didn't go up first thing this morning, i had to retreat right back to bed after taking kids to school...and i will be headed back there as soon as I'm done here.
tracey

Fashionista Friday #50 at the Shoe!

2010-10-11T18:07:00.002-04:00

A new challenge went up at the Shoe last Friday, and well...I'm just getting around to posting this now ;) I've been sick as a dog for the past few days, cant' wait to hit my pillow today actually. Anyways...the new challenge at If the Shoe fits...SCRAP IT! is to use distressing on your project! For my card, I decided to use a Pixie Cottage image, Spooky Tree Background by Sandra Hammer and emboss on it so I can play along with the rest of the team over at Pixie Cottage as well ;) ( had to go out of town last weekend for a death in the family, so I was unable to submit for DT). I think I'm rambling now.....the gist of it is this:
1. FF#50 at the Shoe, DISTRESS! ( you have until thursday night at 9pm to get this done!)
2. sketch/embossing at the Pixie Cottage (you have til tuesday night at midnight to get this one done)
there you have it....and now to get my kids ready for bed so i can head taht way myself...i hope this flu/cold goes away soon, it is interupting my crafty time ;)

a bird sings...

2010-10-08T17:18:00.002-04:00

I made this card for a few challenges, which are listed below!

1. Verve WCMD sketch 1
2. Stacey's Stamping Stage, act 50!

I used a fun verve set that my bff lesley gave to me ;) just LOVE the swan! Anyways...thanks for visiting my blog, I have a few other posts to do, just have been slacking in the posting department!
tracey

it's official...

2010-09-26T20:11:00.002-04:00

...i've been published!

yes...one of my cards is in the issue that just came out a few minutes ago. It is in the buttons section ;) i'm so giddy!

Play Date Cafe #48

2010-09-26T18:33:00.002-04:00

I found this challenge blog...the Play Date Cafe while blog hopping the other day, and was inspired! This is the photo from which to take your inspiration:

I chose to use the colors crushed olive, chipped sapphire and pumice stone from the tim holtz distress inks for my card ;) Pair those colors with some studio 490 stamps by Wendi Vecchi and voila... a card is born! Anyways...that's all I got for now....super tired and trying desparatly to stay away for the premiere of Dexter later tonight! Thanks for visiting my blog!
tracey

Pixie Cottage #37, fun and games and sketch!

2010-09-22T08:10:00.002-04:00

Wednesday once again! There is a new challenge up at the Pixie Cottage this week! As always, we have a sketch, and the theme this week is Fun and Games! Use the sketch, or the theme, or both!!! Here is the sketch:

And here is my card, using the Digital Stamp 'catasticat kite' by artish!

My card is also for a few other challenges!
1. Stacey's Stamping stage, act 48
2. cupcake craft #109: Transport ( travel by kite!!!)
3. papertake weekly: animal magic

That's it for now! Be sure to stop by the Pixie Cottage to play along and see what the rest of the DT came up with this week!
thanks for visiting my blog today!
tracey

Sometimes, it actually works out!

2010-09-12T16:35:00.007-04:00

So here I am standing on pit road on Friday....anxiously awaiting just a GLIMPSE of Brian Scott....

I was tweetin' back and forth with him, he knew I was there, and he gave me a time and place! I was a nervous wreck sitting there waiting for him to come out....seemed like every driver under the sun came out while I was waiting except for Brian...

there was Trevor Bayne....( i almost fainted when i saw him for some reason...weird!)

and justin allgaier...

Jack Roush...

Kenny Wallace...

and then....what to my wondering eyes did appear? But Brian Scott pulling up in a golf cart ;)

It was like I had known him all my life....just having a nice conversation...

I gave him is box of Lucky Charms...which was actually a box full of well....lucky charms! (horseshoes, lucky ducks, lucky bracelets...etc.)

why yes tracey, i'll be happy to sign this fabulous shirt you made...

and while i'm at it...let me sign the other one too ;)

the meeting wouldn't be complete without a fabulous picture I can plaster all over every social network I am a part of, and print out and plaster my house with right? (scrapbook page will be next ;) )

But there's more! I had passes to driver introductions later that night....

Brian's better side??? (who agrees?!)

and then he came out on stage...(*sigh!*) I got to give him one more 'good luck!' before he got into his car....which apparently was not very lucky :( car broke early in the race (grrrr!)

Moving onto Saturday....I had passes to the Victory Lane Chase celebration through Sprint. I had a USS Enterprise hat I decided to give to Denny...and of course, he didn't show up to the celebration :( But, y'all know me...im persistent! As they were shuffling us out of the Sprint event, I saw Denny's mom.. I asked her to give Denny the hat for me...she told me to sit on teh wall and I could go over to Victory Lane with her (even though we really weren't allowed!) noone seemed to notice me sprint across the infield to victory lane..see?

mad handoff of the camera to hubby (who always manages to angle the picture so i look the absolute FATTEST)

I gave Denny the hat. He said thankyou, and I don't remember what else, I was so nervous they were gonna boot us lol! I asked him for a pic, which hubby also took....not the best picture, but I can live with it, he did his best under the circumstances!

So there you have it....sometimes, it really does all work out right? And Tracey lived happily ever after the end.
(until I woke up this morning and found out my cat has run away...go figure? can't have my cake and eat it too right? hopefully he comes home soon!)

Pixie Cottage #35--sketch and furry friends ;)

2010-09-08T06:26:00.000-04:00

School has finally officially started, and my kids are both in school, I'm trying to get more organized and have my blog posts done ahead of time! Of course...as I'm typing this I am about to fall asleep and it is only 6:30!! First day of school and me and the girls are exhausted! Anyways....the post isn't gonna write itself (but wouldn't it be cool if it would??) so I will press on...

This week at the Pixie Cottage we have a super awesome sketch, and a theme (furry friends!). You can do either/or or both! I chose to do both this time. Here is the sketch:

and here is my card:

I used the Pixie Cottage Stamp 'to you from us' by di carubia. I made my card with a few other challenges in mind too! Let's hope I'm awake enough to remember all of them...here goes!
1. 365 cards day 190, color scheme....here is the color scheme:

2. Shirley's 2 girls: animals
3. paper romance challenges: furry friends
4. a spoonful of sugar: animal crackers
5. stamp something: something cute!
6. my time to craft: 106, jewelled

ok, i think i did it, and i didn't fall asleep on my keyboard. now head over to the Pixie cottage and see the rest of the DT's fabulous creations!!!
thanks for visiting my blog today
tracey

Friday I'm in Love...

2010-09-07T20:08:00.008-04:00

....one of my most favorite Cure songs EVER! And a fitting title for my post. This is the story of the quest that began a year ago and will HOPEFULLY end this Friday, September 10.
Last year, early in the year, I picked Brian Scott as my fav truck driver. First time I saw him was when he won Dover...not sure why, I just decided I liked him. (who am i kidding, he's HOT!) I was so excited to go to Talladega in the fall and see him race live at the Truck race. And then I found out there was a truck drivers autograph session...sweet! I was so pumped up (and nervous!) to meet Brian. I even made him a card (as I have been known to do on occasion *wink*). We got to the autograph session, went through the line.....and no Brian :( we went through 3 times (some of the guys thought it was funny...lol) hoping he would show up late, as a few other drivers did...but still no Brian.

Todd Bodine (above!) was nice enough to offer to give the card to Brian for me. I don't know if he ever got it, but I did the best I could! Anyways...I enjoyed watching Brian race at least...he did well until he got wrecked :(

That ended the quest in 2009....it began again in May at Richmond....my next opportunity to be at a race where Brian was racing. I got close...REAAAAAAAAL close....but not close enough.....remember the 'so close...yet sooooo farrrr away' picture?

yeah...it looks like i was close which i WAS...but it is loud down there....Brian couldn't hear me.
A few weeks ago, I went to Bristol. Trip happened so suddenly, and i didn't have pit passes, so there was little hope for me getting to meet Brian there. I really enjoyed watching him practice and watching the crew make adjustments to the car, and the race....wow it was amazing! But still no meeting.
Bristol:

love it....2 guys under the car!

Moving on to this weekend...
Not that birthdays matter at this age....but my birthday is sept. 14. Nationwide race is Sept 10. I'm going to race by myself as a gift to myself ;) Not that I dont' like going with other people, but noboday else wants to sit on pit road all day and just watch the cars and people. I thrive on the sound of the cars, even the smell is like a drug to me! I LOVE that at richmond, i can go down on pit road and watch practice and qualifying going on around me...it is euphoric! So I will hit the track bright and early Friday morning all by my lonesome and just indulge myself. I plan on hitting pit road the second they let me on at 11am and parking myself for the day. Will the elusive Mr. Scott cross my path? God I hope so! I have decided on the black shirt:

simply because well...it is more flattering to my not so flattering figure. A girl wants to look good right? Even a full figured one ;) (i'm working on fixing that too!) I even have a gift to give to Brian, I must say it is probably one of the more clever things I have come up with and can't wait to give it to him....here is a sneak peek at the outside (there is alot more fun stuff on the inside! and no it isn't JUST a box of cereal)

Why have I compiled this post comprised of stuff that most people who know me already know??? Well....when I was at Bristol, I ran into Jeff Gluck at his tweetup (meeting for people on twitter) and first thing he asks me is if I got to meet Brian yet. Haha..i'm infamous for that (should i be proud? probably not lol). I told him of my plans at Richmond and he agreed it is a good plan. I suggested maybe I need a campaign or something....'help Tracey meet Brian' ;) So this is my attempt at a campaign. I will probably post the link to this post around in an attempt to spread the word. And then I will go to the track on Friday and wait and hope! If you happen to be at the track and see the girl in the homemade black Brian Scott shirt with what appears to be a box of cereal in her clear backpack...come say hi and wish me luck!

i need your help!!!!

2010-09-06T10:32:00.007-04:00

**EDITTED....I ALTERED THE BLACK SHIRT!**

Ok my blogging friends, I need your help! Richmond is coming up this weekend and I just cant WAIT! Recently, I have designed a few shirts by getting crafty on actual shirts....stamping/ironing/attatching bling! And now I have 2 that I really like and can't decide which one to wear on Friday! Keep in mind, I am 99.9%sure I am going to get to meet Brian Scott on Friday, so he will see whichever of the shirts I choose. Granted....the white shirt, I sent him a picture of the design before I made it, when I asked his permission to put his name on a shirt, had to make sure it was legal and all ;) He said he liked it, but now I'm starting to get a bit nervous about actually wearing it in front of him! I don't know....decisions decisions!!!! I really like the white one, but, well...black is more slimming than white! The black shirt hides my tummy a hell of a lot better than the white one! Help me out where, which one do you think I should wear???

** NEW AND IMPROVED BLACK SHIRT--YES, I PAINTED ON IT!**

Just leave me a comment saying the black one or the white one...i appreciate y'all taking the time to help, this is stressful! thanks!
tracey

a crafty day!

2010-09-05T20:53:00.002-04:00

Well, my brother in law randomly asked if he could take the kiddos overnight this weekend....I said...SURE! So kids are gone! I went shopping earlier, and then got crafty! I managed to get 3 cards done, which is good for me in one day! Here is what I accomplished:

This card is for:
1. 365 cards, day 187, Friday FAvorite:card inspired by your favorite food or drink!

This card is for:
1. 365 cards, day 188, divide and conquer!

this card is for:
1. 365 cards, day 183 digging deep! i used: 2 patterned papers i've never used (from basic grey nook and pantry), 1 item 6 months old: the lace, embellishment i've had for mor than a year: the chipboard butterfly, stamp i've had for more than a year and never used...the sentiment!
2. Doodle Palace: sketch challenge
3. Stacey's Stamping Stage, Act 46
4. Simon Says: Pearls and Lace
5. Fab and Funky: #38, living in a material world
6. cute card thursday: challenge 128: material girl
7. Pile it on: #35 layers

alrighty then! Denny just lost his engine in the race, so now I am not the happy camper i was when I started this post....so with that, i'll call it a night. Thanks for visiting my blog today!
Tracey

ur so sweet!

2010-09-03T22:43:00.002-04:00

I was trying to find a way to use this super cute Cosmo Cricket paper I had sitting around for a while, possibly to take to my LSS All About Scrapbooks for display purposes (im on the DT there!) And then I saw the GDT sketch for Sketchy Thursday's...and i went from there! Granted....I am sure there will be a gazillion fabulous other entries for the GDT spot...but heck, might as well give it a try right????? So here it is!

Caitlyn sure does look sweet here doesn't she??? Haha...it's all an act!! Anyways...thanks for stopping by and visiting my blog today!
Tracey

Fashionista Friday #46 at the Shoe!

2010-09-02T23:11:00.003-04:00

I know, I haven't posted the Shoe challenges in a while....bad blogger! So I'm making sure to get this one in....there is a new color challenge over at If the Shoe fits....SCRAP IT! You MUST check this out! We haven't been having many participants in our color challenges, and I'd like to see this change. Here is this week's color pallete:

and here is my interpretation of the colors:

You do not have to use copics, we just use the copic chart to select fun color combos! My layout is done entirely with Close to my Heart papers....from the Perfect Day line...isn't it pretty??? Now come play along at the Shoe with us so this color challenge isn't a bust! I'd hate to have to say goodbye to the color challenges...they are some of my fav's to do! Thanks for visiting my blog today!
Tracey

Genuine Beauty

2010-08-25T16:38:00.006-04:00

Well, I took these fabulous pictures of the girls last week, and wanted badly to scrapbook them! I saw a challenge on Simon Says Stamp and Show that was well...challenging! The challenge was to do something in the style of Tim Holtz! Normally....this wouldn't be a problem...but I had never attempted a layout in this style! The picture seemed to fit the challenge though, so I gave it a whirl! Here is what I came up with:

I don't know if I did Tim justice...but I did my best! And now I think I need to go back to cards for a bit...this was stressful! LOL! thanks for stopping by!
tracey

Scaredy Cat!

2010-08-25T14:34:00.002-04:00

DSCN0340, originally uploaded by twilson1424.

Well, I just found out the Karen'sDoodles has a Facebook page! Sweet! They even have a challenge going on...which is to use this adorable image on a card! So....here is my entry! I am also using this for this week's Sketchy Thursday challenge. The sketch was actually a card sketch so it worked out! Oh yeah...and Simply Scrapping Crafts Week 3 color challenge as well! Thanks for stopping by and if you are a Karen's Doodles fan be sure to check out the FB group here!
Tracey

PC#33 Sketch and/or Back to School!

2010-08-25T09:48:00.003-04:00

New challenge at the Pixie Cottage today! YAY! Today's challenge is a sketch, and/or a theme of 'back to school'! I chose to do both on my card using the Pixie Cottage stamp Hoo Loves You . Here is my card:

Head over to the Pixie Cottage to see the rest of the DT's fabulous creations....you will be sure to be inspired! Thanks for visiting my blog today!
Tracey

ps....so I went to Bristol last weekend, had a GREAT time, and am hoping to get a post up sometime later today with the highlights!

photo shoot in the backyard!

2010-08-17T18:49:00.002-04:00

I was hanging pictures in my house today when I realized...I haven't had the girls portraits done since they were babies! SO.....I made them put dresses on and took em outside to do my own! Here is the GOOD ones...Alexis didn't cooperate for her own, but she has school pics from last year, so it will be ok! I am gonna print these and hang em up, in my eyes, they are just as good as professional ones for free!

total randomness!

2010-08-15T18:12:00.003-04:00

I've made a few cards this weekend, guess I outta post em! I'm famous for making cards/layouts and then forgetting to actually POST them! So here are 2 of them at least for now and their stories....

1. You Color my World

I made this card for a few things....first, it was digi day for Some Odd Girl over on SNR Card Universe yesterday, and this was for challenge #1, which was RAINBOW color scheme. I got the sketch from Simply Scrapping Crafts, Stamp and Scrap August Challenge #2. So why everytime I look at this card do I think of Brian Scott? It's like the card is BEGGING me to mail it to him ;) He totally does 'color my world'....dare me to mail it to him?

2. hi!

I also made this for the Some Odd Girl Digi Day, the challenge was BOWS! I had to use 2 bows, I struggled, so I overlapped them! I also threw in a 365 cards challenge here too....day 167 Blog Inspired! So, I took the colors from my own blog and made a card!

I can't even focus on this post...i'm living in lala land apparently again today ;) It all started this morning when I awoke to find THIS :

@ladytraceyl can't wait to see it. Perhaps u should head our merchandise department because I've been trying all year to get them to design shirts!

Just the THOUGHT of this makes me all giddy ;) Granted, I know he is just being nice, does the 'can't wait to see it' imply I will be seeing him at Richmond? He is replying to me saying I will have my Brian Scott shirt that I designed back from the place I sent the design to get screenprinted in time to wear to Richmond (sept 10, yay!) Who knows...but I am praying I get to meet him in person then, would be the BEST bday present for me ;)

Alright, I've gotta snap out of this haze...it isn't healthy ;) THanks for visiting my blog today and bearing with my insanity!

A World of Thanks...

2010-08-11T15:52:00.002-04:00

There's a new challenge at the Pixie Cottage today! yay humpday right! For my card, I used a brand new Pixie Cottage stamp,Pumpkin Bench by Sandra Hammer and well....I stuck to the sketch ;) The challenge today is to either use the sketch, OR do a fancy folds card, OR both! I guess I wasn't clever enough to do a fancy fold with the sketch! I also combined my card with Stacey's Stamping Stage, act 42, which was well....the fun fall colors on my card! Here is my card:

Be sure to go to the Pixie Cottage today and check out the challenge...let me just say the rest of the DT..WOW! They were much more clever than me and created some fantastically beautiful fancy folds!!!
thanks for visiting my blog today!
tracey

a weekends worth of cards

2010-08-08T19:22:00.003-04:00

I got to sit down for a bit this weekend and actually found a bit of inspiration! So...I made cards, a few actually. I have a few bdays coming up really soon, so that lit a fire under my butt to get to creating! So....here they are (challenges listed below each card!)

Amelias Bday card
1. Simply Scrapping Crafts August Week One Color Challenge
2. Little Red Wagon: Circles, Circles, Circles

Karen's Bday card
1. Pennys Paper-Crafty Challenge Blog-Challenge 35, Anything goes!
2. ColourQ challenge #44
3. 365 Cards: Day 156: Card Recipe 2
4. CYDA: Challenge 1: favourite things ( i love red, and coloring with copics!)

1. Cute Card Thursdays--challenge 124, whateva!
2. 365 Cards: Day 155, Card Recipe

1. Stamp, Scrap and Doodle Saturdays: no images
2. 365 Cards: Day 157, Card Recipe 3

PageMaps Challenge

2010-08-04T22:27:00.004-04:00

I was talking to my friend Karen today telling her about the fabulous Close To My heart paper clearance sale going on on my website today ( <---shameless plug for www.traceylwilson.myctmh.com ! ) , when she told me about a challenge on the PageMaps blog. Check out the prize for doing this sketch:

So, I couldn't pass it up, and figured I better do it now before I forget!!! So....here is my take on the challenge:

That's all I got for this one!! I'm just happy to be getting my vacation scrapped....slowly...lol!
thanks for visiting my blog!
tracey

Sorry about that!

2010-08-04T22:10:00.002-04:00

I bought this little guy from Karen's Doodles a long time ago and am finally using him!! Isn't he just adorable???? Challenges listed below!

1. Karen's Doodles Challenge Blog: challenge 22, anything goes
2. 2 sketches 4 u : sketch #58
and that's all i got for this one! thanks for stopping by!
tracey

PC #30, guest sketch and BLUE!

2010-08-04T09:50:00.002-04:00

I think I have officially lost track of days this summer....lol! But, a new challenge at the Pixie Cottage tells me that it must be Wednesday ;) Today's challenge features a sketch by guest designer Jacqui Dennis, and the color blue! Do the sketch, the color or both as I have chosen to do! Here is the fabulous sketch:

And here is my interpretation, using the Pixie Cottage stamp Hannah with Butterflies by Sandra Hammer

I included a few other challenges for this card too!

1. PC #30, guest sketch and blue
2. Stacey's stamping stage, act 41
3. Pile it On #30, butterflies, bugs and bees!
4. Dutch Dare, #83, anything goes!

Now head over to the Pixie Cottage to see what you can do with the sketch, and check out the rest of the DT's fabulous creations! Thanks for visiting my blog today!
tracey

Howdy!!

2010-08-03T17:44:00.002-04:00

WEll, I told myself I would spend the whole day crafting today, yet I have only managed to pull out one little card! I must be super slow ( and prone to distractions ;) )! Anyways....here is the card I have so far, lets hope I can get some more done after dinner!

Howdy! Featuring digi image from Digi Doodle Shop

challenge list:
1. 365 Cards, day 154 Super Sketchy Sunday
2. Fab N Funky #33: buttons and bows
3. Digi Doodle Shop's Best: punch or cut me! ( i cut the circle/scallop w/ my nestabilities using cuttlebug)
4. Charisma Cards #30, something with a tail

Thanks for visiting my blog today, off to dinner then hopefully more crafting!

the Present....

2010-08-01T23:04:00.003-04:00

I meant to get the rest of the sketches done from 365 for this past week today and well, got caught up cleaning, watching the race, etc....and only got this one done by the seat of my pants! So....here it is, day 153, saturdays sketch from 365 cards!

this card uses all Close To My Heart Supplies....the paper is from the Grace patterned paper pack, Stamps are all from a brand new set (coming soon! ) called the present. Thanks for stopping by and I hope I got this in on time to be considered for the top trio (fingers crossed!)
tracey

off to school we go!

2010-07-30T22:08:00.002-04:00

I think this card is part wishful thinking on my part that it is september and both of my babies are off to school, leaving me alone in the house for the first time in over 5 years! anyways....i actually made this for a few challenges (listed below!)

1. Our Creative Corner: color challegne
2. Simply Scrapping Crafts, july week 4 color challenge

thanks for stopping by!
tracey

a few CTMH creations...

2010-07-29T19:12:00.004-04:00

I have been selling CTMH for a few years now, and well....I have let it go to the backburner! I need to get my business back on it's feet, and to do that, I have to start creating stuff! So.....I used some fab CTMH stuff to create cards for challenges!!!

This first one is for Simply Scrapping Crafts July color challenge for week 2. It features some brand new CTMH goodies that you can't get until September!!! It will be well worth the wait though...aren't they adorable??

This next one is for a blog called Heart 2 Heart challenges, which features CTMH! The colors were vineyard berry, creme brulee and blush! **I TOTALLY FORGOT, THIS IS FOR 365 CARDS, DAY 148 MONDAY SKETCH TOO! ADDING THIS NOW, SORRY I FORGOT TO ADD THIS CHALLENGE ORIGINALLY WHEN POSTED! IM SCATTERBRAINED THESE DAYS LOL!**

Thanks for visiting and if you are interested in anything CTMH, feel free to email me at twilson1424@gmail.com! I don't have a website currently for CTMH, but am happy to send u a current catalogue!
tracey

Clean and Simple...Cosmo Cricket style!

2010-07-29T17:27:00.003-04:00

I just LOVE cosmo cricket....it may be one of my fav paper brands actually, I'm always asking in the store if they have any new CC! I was trying to combine a few challenges, so I went to my fav paper!!! Challenges listed below the card!

1. 365 cards day 150, wednesday sketch
2. Moxie Fab: clean and graphic
3. simply scrapping crafts:stamp and scrap week 4
4. Let's Scrap: August Cosmo Cricket challenge

thanks for stopping by!
tracey

a few cards...

2010-07-27T22:13:00.004-04:00

I've recently made a few cards.....and havent' posted them!!! Here they are!

challenge list:
1.365 cards, day149, tuesday sketch
2. digi doodle shop's best: anything goes!
3. raise the bar: challenge 28, distress ( i inked to distress!)

1. 365 cards: day 147 super sketchy sunday
2. digi doodle shops's best: anything goes!
3 stacey's stamping stage: act 40

and with that , i'm tired....so off to bed!!! thanks for stopping by! i have a few more that didn't make this post, hopefully i get to them tomorrow!
tracey

Live Inspired...

2010-07-21T22:21:00.002-04:00

After today's activities, this evening called for some crafty time!!!!! I scoped out a few challenges and got busy! This card features all CTMH products and is for several challenges (product list and challenge list below!)

Challenges:
1. Stacey's Stamping Stage Curtain Call Color Challenge: Act 39
2. Friday Sketchers, sketch 111
3. Stamp, Scrap and doodle saturdays: animals

supplies:
CTMH level two paper pack: passages, My Acrylics stamps: Live Inspired, CTMH ink in garden green, new england ivy and cocoa, CTMH cardstock in Cocoa

thanks for visiting my blog today!!
tracey

God works in mysterious ways...

2010-07-21T16:00:00.004-04:00

As some of you may know, I am in the middle of a move. Here is a little background....
A few months ago, I was contacted by my landlord and told that they were going to sell the house and when could we be out...huh??? So, we put our names on the waiting list for base housing. We were able to move into new house on June 28, which is when we started moving. WE couldn't afford movers, so I have been moving slowly in the back of my car. We got a uhaul one day for afew hours and got all the furniture. Last week, I finally got the rest of the stuff out of the house, and was working on cleaning/repairs. It has been in the 100's everyday and that hosue has no airconditioning, so it has been a nightmare! I have to drag kids everyday, and it is just not fun. We have to be out by end of month, so I kept on pushing. Until today. When I pulled up today with a list to do (clean bathrooms, refrigerator, take down wallborder...etc...) I was not able to open front door. This is odd. There is nothing in there to be blocking me...hmmm... When I finally got it to open, I was greeted by such devastation, I think I had a small heart attack! The ceiling had collapsed. OMG....check this out:

WOW. So I called my landlord, who came over immediatly. What does she say??? 'oh...this has happened before....we were aware that the heating coils in the ceiling could cause this to happen...' OMG!!! and she let us live there??? What if we had been there? What if they hadn't told us they were selling the house??? OMG...Im still shaken up by the thought of it. I am thanking God that we didn't live there and that it happened when noone was in the house. I have now been relieved of the rest of what i was going to do in the hosue. It is unsafe. Who knows if any of the other ceilings will fall! The heat outside caused the coils to heat up and kablooey! THere are still 3 other rooms with this system in the ceiling! So, I packed up my cleaning supplies, and 2 good friends, Linda and Andrea helped me get my fishtank loaded up (the fish are all dead now i think, they didn't make the trip sadly ).
I just thank God that this happened the way it did. Thank God for us moving out when we did, and for us not being there when this happened. And thank God for sparing me the rest of the work in the house! Now we just have to finish the garage, which will take one day only if hubby is home to help, his ship pulls in friday, so we will go this weekend and finish up, and noone will enter that hosue! I have to go shower now to get all the fiberglass off of me....that stuff is horrible and seems to be stuck to my skin!

under construction....

2010-07-20T20:34:00.002-04:00

please excuse the appearance of my blog right now...don't know why, but I decided it was time for a change! my blog may seem a bit dis-con-bob-u-lated while i figure this out!!!
thanks for your patience ;)

Shades of Blue....(and green!)

2010-07-19T21:06:00.002-04:00

I'm sooooo worn out of moving, so I decided to make my DT projects for the store (All About Scrapbooks) for August today as a much needed BREAK! The theme for August is MONOCHROMATIC! This scares me....lol! I like to have lots of color in my layouts, and it is hard to use all of one color only! I think I did ok though....I did 2 single paged layouts, one in all Blue, using Basic Grey (max and whiskers), and the other in green using October Afternoon (Fly a Kite). I used sketches for both of them that I found on Pencil lines sketches too! One is the current sketch, the other was from a few weeks ago! So here they are, my monochromatic creations:

Thanks for visiting my blog today! Back to the reality of moving tomorrow :(
tracey

Finding Inspiration in a Layout Challenge

2010-07-18T20:57:00.004-04:00

The other night I was browsing for some inspiration, since I had worked all day and just REALLY wanted to sit down and craft ;) so I went to Moxie Fab!! I found this challenge, to find inspiration in a Layout to makea card! I remember reading this in the lastest issue of Papercrafts....so it was fun to get to play along !!! Here is the Layout I was challenged to find inspiration in:

And here is what I came up with:

I used the pattern of the horizontal stripes of paper in the Layout, and chose a CTHM paper that had a similar pattern. I also placed the clouds in similar places to where the semi-circles are on the layout, and then added ribbon in the same way. I know the card doesn't look much like the layout, but it is my take on it!!! All supplies used are CTMH!
Thanks for visiting my blog today!
tracey

365 Cards, day 138

2010-07-17T19:58:00.002-04:00

well, i'm just a LITTLE bit behind on 365 (lol!) but I had time last night to sneak one in! This is for day 138: create your own! Challenge was to chose one thing from each of 4 categories....I chose gingham, red/green/yellow, 2 brads, and circle!

Hoping to get some more cards/layouts done in the future, I feel so out of it with this move!!! Thanks for stopping by today!

PC#27, sketch and triple play!

2010-07-14T10:05:00.002-04:00

Good morning!! There is as new challenge over at the Pixie Cottage today that I managed to get done somehow in between moving boxes ;) Today's challenge features a fabulous sketch, and a challenge to 'triple it'. This just means, add embellishments in groups of 3! You can use the sketch, or do the triple play, or both as I did!!! Here is the sketch:

And here is my card, featuring the Pixie Cottage Stamp Forever by Artish!

Head on over to the Pixie Cottage to play along!
Now back to our regularly scheduled moving already in progress :(
Thanks for visiting my blog today!
tracey

PC #25, sketch and paper piecing!

2010-06-30T11:08:00.002-04:00

Just a quick post here to tell you about the new challenge over at the Pixie Cottage!!! This weeks challenge is a sketch and/or paper piecing!!! Here is the lovely sketch you can use this week:

And here is my take on the challenge:

I used the Pixie Cottage image Barney in the Spring by Artish, and paper pieced his flowers!!! Be sure to check out the rest of the DT samples this week....you are sure to be inspired!!! And now back to packing/moving....yes...i have been loading my car a few times a day now all week and there is a still a TON to do...I won't be gettting crafty anytime soon sadly :( Thanks for visiting my blog today!
tracey

where have i been???

2010-06-27T23:33:00.003-04:00

i'll give ya a hint......

more to come later...just got home today, caught up on a little bit of internet stuff, but our big move starts tomorrow, so, i need to get some sleep!!!

Pixie Cottage #23

2010-06-16T10:01:00.002-04:00

This week at the Pixie Cottage, the challenge is a sketch and 'make mine patriotic' (sketch posted below!)'. I used the sketch and the colors red white and blue!! You are free to use the sketch, OR the patriotic theme, OR both! Have fun with it!!! Red, white and blue are not colors I generally use together alot, so this was a challenge for me, but I think it came out ok in the end! I used the Pixie Cottage Stamp Cookie and Caboodle with Roses by Di Carubio. I also included a few other challenges with my entry!!! Here is the list:

1. Pixie Cottage #23 (DT sample!)

2. Paper Playtime #3 , Red, white and Blue
3. Daring Cardmakers: the world is your oyster
4. Crafty Annes Challenge Blog: #16, fly the flag

That's it! Now head over to the Pixie Cottage and check out the rest of the DT's devine creations!!! Thanks for visiting my blog today !
tracey

found this....had to post!

2010-06-15T09:39:00.002-04:00

i'll be adding this permanently to the bottom of my blog i'm sure, just had to post it here for now so I don't forget!!!

yesterday, i 'chatted' with Brian on twitter a little, and I told him I wouldn't be able to see the race this weekend due to we will be driving to Disney....he told me he would miss me cheering for him! *sigh*

doesn't get much better than that!

sketchy thursday for 6.10

2010-06-13T18:27:00.002-04:00

Well, I had gotten so far removed from making LO's that I forgot about all the fun LO challenge blogs out there! Sketchy Thursdays was always one of my favs, so I went to check out what they had up their sleeves this week....and....i went to work! Here is my take on this weeks sketch (sketch below!):

so glad to have made a LO again! I think I will make some more!!! Thanks for stopping by!
tracey

PC#22: Fathers day/guest sketch

2010-06-10T16:58:00.002-04:00

I'm a day late and dollar short with this one....but better late than never!!!

The new challenge this week at the Pixie Cottage features a fabulous sketch by Donalda from Enjoying the Journey! Here is the sketch:

Since I didn't make a sample this week, I thought i'd share Donalda's! She used the Pixie Cottage stamp Hannah with Butterflies and created this beautiful card using her own sketch!

As an added bonus/twist this week, you can add the theme 'fathers day'...OR you can just make a fathers day card! Sketch/theme or both goes for the challenge!!! Be sure to head over to the Pixie Cottage and check out the rest of the DT samples as well...they are truly inspiring!!!

Happy Birthday Caitlyn!!!

2010-06-09T23:35:00.002-04:00

Well, my little girl is turning 4 today!!! I cant' belive how big she is getting! In September they will BOTH be off to school!!! wow!! So here is the card I made for Caitlyn's bday, and being that I craft, well, i HAD to incorporate at least ONE challenge right??? I made this using a stamp from Some Odd Girl...i just LOVE this stamp...super cute!!! and I'm entering their blog challenge as well, it is a sketch this week!!! and now, im off to bed cause well, it is late and Alexis is sick and who knows if i will have to be up all night taking care of my baby!!! Happy Birthday to Caitlyn! Hope you dont' get sick too for your birthday!

365 cards, day 97: supersize it!

2010-06-05T13:55:00.002-04:00

I'm very proud to post today a card that my 2 daughters helped with!!! When I saw the challenge over at 365 today, it instantly gave me an idea...we are going to a party for one of Alexis' friends tomorrow and I knew I needed a card, this was jsut perfect! So....I stamped the card (which measures 8.5x5.5!) and handed it off to Alexis and Caitlyn to color!! They did a lovely job didn't they??? I think Nikkie will love it!!! Oh...and this card also is another sample for our challenge over at the Shoe this week...(which i haven't posted here yet...oops!) The theme over at the Shoe is 'down on the farm'....this card is about as far down on the farm as you can get!!! Thanks for visiting my blog and be sure to leave some love for Alexis and Caitlyn's first 'published' card!!!

for you...

2010-06-04T22:55:00.002-04:00

So I saw this newer Stampin' Up set recently and just wanted to use it!!! With money being tight, i asked a friend of mine if I could borrow hers... I just LOVE hummingbirds! Which is why this card fits well with 365 day 95...it's so YOU! This card is me with the hummingbird on it!!! I also used SSC color challenge 1 for the month of June here!!! I really like this card, hope it means my motivation is coming back!!! Maybe I need to pull a 'late night' here and keep going! Thanks for stopping by!
Tracey

Time to Celebrate!

2010-06-04T20:29:00.003-04:00

a card I have been working on for days now....not sure i really like it, but, well, it is what it is!!! this card is for a few challenges:
1. 365 cards day 91 sketch
2. SSC: wacky wednesday challenge 1 for june
3. color throwdown #95
and now hoping to actually make one or two things...i'm just so unmotivated these days....i think FB has sucked me in...