Sketching Tile

I was rummaging around our basement when I saw our pile of extra tiles.  They're 12x12.

"Hmmmmm" I said.

I often sketch my layouts on a 12x12 piece of paper.  A paper company gave me a whole bunch that was actually "scrap" in their minds.  But after 8 years of using it, I'm almost at the bottom of the bunch.

So I had an idea with the tile.

If you use an easy erase marker, it will wipe off easily with a baby wipe.  Not sure how this will work for me in the long run - I need to dedicate a space for it - and space does not come easy!

But I'm gonna try and see.  :)

Have you seen this post?  I love seeing Amy's work! So creative!

thanks for visting!

Lovely Season, Lovely Kit, Lovely Beginnings

(download me here)

It's a beautiful day here in CT!  I wish you all a very merry Christmas!

Does the start of a new year invigorate you?  Does it inspire?  I am so ready to start the new year.  There are a bunch of scrappy ideas turning around in my head that need a new beginning to come to life!

Does the New Year inspire your crafting?

A lovely, lovely Jenni Bowlin kit is waiting to be revealed.  Jill called it "perfection" - and she's so right!

It's funny, but parts of the kit remind me of some of my favorite things. Sooooo, here is a Jenni Bowlin Mercantile January kit hint . . .  as illustrated by some favorite things in my house . . . . 

My favorite pitcher - I stole it from mom.

LOVED this mirror when I saw it - I really need to clean it though!

Our fireplace did not have a mantel.  I picked this one out from United Housewrecking many years ago.

A favorite platter from dear sil.

My everyday dishes. LOVE them. Bought with the money I got from a very profitable tag sale!

Ceiling tins decorate my sunroom wall. Got these at Brimfield a couple of years ago.

Do you see a pattern here? LOL!  The kit is LOVELY!

I've been meaning to blog about this girl.  If you're a scrapper, you know about Kolette.  I can't really say that I'm "friends" with Kolette.  Maybe "acquaintances" is a better word.  But it is strange how our paths crossed.  Kolette and Jason's life has affected me.  You meet them once and you know how amazing these people are.  I think about Kolette almost every day and am wishing continued and improved health in 2011. 

Thank you for visiting and sharing your projects, thoughts, and comments with me!  Looking forward to sharing in 2011!

Quick Gift Idea

Here's a quick gift idea that's cheap, fun to put together, and can be modified and used over and over for many different occasions.

Michael's stores are selling these little acrylic turn-able boxes:

and Jenni Bowlin mini Bingo Cards fit into the sides of the box PERFECTLY!

For a quick and easy teacher's gift you can combine the School Days Mini Bingo Cards with school supplies you think the teacher would love and use for a sweet little gift:

Can you imagine this filled with all those cute decorative pencils teachers give as "rewards"?

Or for a gift for another scrapper in your life, how about using these mini bingos:

with scrapbooking supplies?

Or how about these party mini bingos:

with a bouquet of lollipops?

 I used the mini Christmas Bingo Cards with some sprigs of berries and a JBS butterfly to make this sweet little arrangement:

I LOVE stuff like this.  Where the possibilities are endless - simplicity and creativity rule - and you don't have to spend a bundle to do it!

Thanks for visiting!

"Auntie The Nerdy Scrapbooker" Rocks It

OK, I don't usually like blowing my own jazz saxaphone  horn, but I think I came through on this one.  :)

Dear brother and dear sister-in-law called me to make invitations STAT for my dear niece.  They were having a Rock Star party and they wanted concert ticket invites.  Dear brother sent me some ideas like this:

and I was in a panic!  It was late - they needed them that night - I worked all day - I wasn't feeling well - and man . . . THESE LOOKED COMPLICATED!

But I'd do anything for these guys . . . so . . . I studied and looked . . . and the pink one was calling my name . . . "make this one auntie" . . . "she'll love it" . . . and I realized it wasn't that hard at all! 

Look at the pink ticket and you'll see that it is just a collection of squares and rectangles in 4 colors: white, light pink, pink, and bright pink.  Once I figured that out, it was easy peazy!  And although I loooooove my computer, I'm no digital genius.

I used PSE.

You make your squares and rectangles:

Add that computerized-like text:

The pixelated type text is Pixelmix and the bardcode type font is aptly named Barcode font.  The little squares on the side of the white square is the period character from the font Orator - I think that was installed on my computer.  I just kept making "periods" until I found something I liked.

Then I added all the specific info and other stuff to make it look like a "real" concert ticket:

Graphics to wow it up a bit were right from the "shapes" in PSE:

and to dress it up and really make it special, I added some photos of dear niece:

How cute . . . and really easy in the end! I think for one little moment, Auntie the nerdy scrapbooker, was a rock star! LOL!

Have a GREAT GREAT weekend!

If you have some Jenni Bowlin mini bingo cards, I have a great easy gift or decorating idea for the holidays - coming soon!

And I do think that Gallery Updates for the Jenni Bowlin Mercantile December Kit are being added tonight - take a look - the stuff is incredible!  I think I should have 5 projects in my gallery when the updates go live.  Should be tonight.

And did you see what Jenni is doing on her blog?  Yikes! Take a look at what she's doing with rub-ons, JBS Dabber Paint, and some tape!  So inspiring!

Thanks so much for stopping by!