Little C's Weekly Challenge #6... (*Updated)

I tried... and tried...




and tried... and tried again! LOL

I just couldn't grasp a concept, theme and/or idea for this challenge! This sketch is just awesome - it really was a big challenge for me!

I think that the whole circle theme to the sketch is really what threw me off...

I started with the 'Congrats' baby card - I'm not too crazy about the colors I picked. The 'Congratulations Stamp' is a G Studio by Kollette Hall stamp, 'Blue Lagoon' ink is from Colorbox and K&Company stickers and the paper and ribbon is unknown, lol, I bought it when I originally started scrapping and had no idea that knowing where my stuff came from would mean so much.

Then, I tried my 'Wish' birthday card - birthday cards have been my specialty lately; not so much this time. I'm not that crazy about it... it needs something more... I just can't grasp what though... 'Wish' sticker is also from K&Company and unknown papers, lol, again - I use to buy and order stuff and rip it out of its packaging and either use or save it! Now I don't remember who is what, LOL.. learned my lesson.

Anybody with any suggestions???... what could I have done differently? or what can I do to spice these 2 cards up a bit???

Well... at least I gave it a shot :) ...and isn't that what counts the most!

(*Updated post to list the materials I used)

Haunted...

Oooooo... you are going to have to take a look at Cosmo Cricket's new Theme Sets: 'Mr. Campy', 'Haunted' and 'Oh Joy'.... I just LOVE 'Haunted'... I LOVE it!!! I know that some of you have started on their Halloween cards and layouts, I personally still think that it's too early to start thinking Halloween, lol, but I couldn't resist drooling all over this.

Memory Works just made Cosmo Cricket's new lines available as of today!

I am sooo tapped out right now!... but I am going to definitely have to put 'Haunted' on my 'Wish List' of things to try to get after 'the move', lol...

You can take a peek at my website, here's the exact site:
http://margiecortina.memory-works.com/index.mhtml?page=product_list&method=main&view_all=yes&sp=1&category=product&product_category_id=226

Enjoy!!!

2008 Sea Cliff, NY Mini-Mart

Come and join my little sister, Sara, at her first mini-mart at the 39th Annual Sea Cliff Mini-Mart on Sunday, October 5th...

even though I will be in the mist of moving (October 1st is our move-in date), Nicky, Matt, Hubby and I will definitely be stopping by to check our girl out ;)

My sis has been working her butt off with some beautiful scrap ideas and awesome cards!

To get a sneak preview - check out her webiste:

http://www.everlastingscrapsllcbysb.com/home and/or blog: http://swirlorama.blogspot.com/... starting in September she will have her own Newsletter going out - don't forget sign up to get on that list!!!

Grosgrain's Wandering Waif Collection GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

Bravo! to another cute outfit!

Wandering Waif Collection GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

Welcome...

... to my little scrap world!
My little scrap world has slowly been expanding... I am sooo very happy with what I have so far, lol... I am trying very hard to buy things that I am absolutely going to love and use... trying is the keyword here, lol...

Here is my storage area! This use to be my boys changing table...
The bottom shelf is holding all of our pics, albums and some layouts that I have made, the middle shelf is holding all of my paper bins and ribbon, and the top shelf is holding all misc. stuff - like some stickers, my cattys, sketch books, buttons, envelopes and my baby Sizzix sidekick - which was an impulse buy off of ebay, lol, I haven't used it yet except to test it out.
This is were I am scrapping now! I was using the dining room table, but it was a pain to have to clean it up all the time. So now I use a little folding table - I put it away when we are having company. I like having my mat and cutter out at all times, a basket with some cardstock and adhesives and another little basket holding all of the cards I have made so far :)


Here is my box of stamps and ink pads!... those $1 ones really made a difference in my inventory :)

Here is my ribbon box! Minus my new ribbons from England's Raspberry-Ribbons - there is no way that I am mixing those up in this mess! lol

Here is my box of scraps! Not much leftovers - I try to use every single inch of my paper ;)

And here are my 2 corner punches - the rounded corner punch from Creative Memories was one of the very first things I ever bought and I use it ALL the time... I just purchased the Fiskars punch last month and only used it once on a layout - I need to use it more often, it really comes out nice.

Sooo, this is my little world - growing everyday! I hope you enjoyed your tour! LOL

Michaels $1 Bins....

My sis (check out her blog called Everlasting Scraps http://swirlorama.blogspot.com/), found out who is behind the $1 acrylic and wood stamps that we buy at Michaels...

I never noticed the tiny label on the side of the 4 wood stamps I just purchased about 2 weeks ago...

her name is Kolette Hall and she is one very sweet and busy gal, take a minute to check her blog out!!! http://kolettehall.wordpress.com/what-i-do/

Grosgrain's Silent Auction for NieNie

This is for a very good cause... a fellow blogger (http://www.nieniedialogues.blogspot.com/) and her husband have been involved in a very bad accident... they have 4 beautiful kids... Grosgrain is having a Silent Auction on their behalf... all proceeds go directly to the Nielson Family...

The dress is absolutely gorgeous - have a look and make a bid!!!

Fancy Field Frock Silent Auction for NieNie

2 Sketches 4 You - Laura's Sketch #7

Ok, this is my third card for 2 Sketches 4 You - (see Laura's wonderful sketch)...

Let's see: I used October Afternoon paper and ribbon and Prima Flowers... the stamp I used was one that I found in the $1 bin at Michael's and the buttons are some that I have all jumbled up in a jar, lol... I tried to do something a little different with the ribbon - I wanted it to look like a book mark was sticking up - I'm not sure if I really managed it, lol, it might get cut off...

I love these challenges - they really get you going!

Here's the front of my card:
Here's the inside: (I really enjoy adding a lil' something to the inside of my cards.)

I believe the inside is just as important as the outside... it's the perfect spot to use up the rest of my paper so I don't have much scrap left.

+PLUS+ I have to try to up my game now! My lil' sis has joined the challenge too! LOL, jking!

Good luck sissy!!!

My First Mini-Album... (sorry for the re-post)

Ok, I'm sorry if this is a 2nd posting for some of you, but I messed up on the first one and deleted it... but I couldn't help re-trying to re-post this...

Sooo, here is my mini-book... school's around the corner for us and I wanted to make something to document my Nicky's first week at Pre-K.

I feel that the theme I used might be a bit to old for him - what do you think???
So I may make another one, I forgot that I had ordered some really cute Pre-K paper and stickers from ebay about 2 months ago. LOL, I don't even have that much stuff yet and I am already forgetting what I have!!! I don't know how people who have a whole room or basement of stuff keep track of everything, any suggestions?

Anywho... this whole book is made out of Cosmo Cricket's 'Get Happy' Theme Set, their 'Get Happy' blackboard (black chipboard) and their 'ethan' album... Memory Works made a sketch for us, I used it with a few little tweaks of my own... I really like the way the layout came out - I may use it again for the Pre-K album...

Here's the front cover: Nick loves the dino and the letter N on there - I promised I would do it like that for him... I also promised him his rocketship and car to be in there somewhere, lol....

pages 2 and 3:

pages 4 and 5:

pages 6 and 7 (there's the rocketship): pages 8 and 9:

pages 10 and 11 (and here's the car):

Back - cover:

My Very First Swap Card...

Oh, don't laugh... lol, this is the very first card I ever made for a card swap. Isn't she a beauty?! My sister let me pick through her stuff and then I added my own white paper, white ribbon and flower w/brad (from Making Memories). I made it all myself - all 10!!!

Yes, I made 10 cards to swap. I don't know what I was thinking! I didn't even own a stamp or ink pad at the time!

How was I to make 10 cards?!

LMAO!

This is my first born - my baby - and I am going to frame it somewhere to remember, the beginning of a new era...

I haven't come too far yet... I still only own 1 whole acrylic stamp set with a few wooden singles on the side. BUT - I now know what a Staz-on ink pad and just bought one last week.
Oh!... and thanks to my new friend Scarlette (whom I met at a scrap meet) - she told me what copic markers are - lol... seriously, we were chatting on the phone about different scrappy things and I just had to ask - I had no clue. I kept reading about them over and over on a few blogs and kept thinking 'what is a copic marker and what makes them sooo special'... lol. Now I know, thanks Scarlette! ;)

My Memory Works Catalog...

Here's what my catty looks like now! LOL... a lil' scary... each color tab means something different. Ummm... I think that the purple tabs 'is what I need' (lol), yellow is what I have and orange is my 'still thinking about it' (which means I'll need it if I don't get it - Right? ha, ha!)

The Memory Works catalog runs from '08/'09 - there will be a supplement catty coming out in October '08 listing new/additional items...

For a limited time - my catalogs are for free! So, if you would like one - just email me your request with your address! It's that simple :) As of November 1st they will be $3.00.

I know that most people (myself included) don't like to have people selling things and shoving it in their face every 2 seconds... I promise to try not to be or become one of those peeps. Just taking a moment to spread the word and every now and then a quick reminder :)

Thanks for reading!!!

Oh Well....

I tried :( ... I guess I was a little too presumptuous with celebrating my 2 week anniversary, lol...

Hmmm... sorry lil' sissy, but you were 29 minutes late in commenting, lol, but maybe I will think of something for you!

My only commentator is DEFINITELY getting a RAK/Blog Candy (I'm not sure - what should I be calling it, lol)!!! YEAH!!!

Toni of WhimsicalThoughts said...
"Whoo hoo, Congrats on your 2 week anniversary!" on August 22, 2008 7:55 AM

Thanks so much for all of your sweet thoughts and encouragement Toni!!! Please send me your address (I promise that it will not be share with anybody!) - I would love to send you a little something-something for being so nice :)

Thanks to all who took a peek in the last 2 weeks! I really do appreciate it!!!

SURPRISE!!!... Happy 2 Week Blog Anniversary to ME!!!

Oh my!... tomorrow will be my 2 week Blogging anniversary! 2 whole weeks already!!! LOL, I cannot believe it! I am sooo very addicted already. I really didn't think that I would get into the whole blogging-world, but I did!

I'd like to thank my hub, boys and family for having the patience to put up with me when I took a lil' too long to get things done around here. I know, I know... I have to manage my time a bit better around here; and I promise them that I will do my best. Who can resist these 2 lil' boogies? They are happy that their Mommy is so happy ;)

Ok - onto the SURPRISE!!!...

Soooo, to celebrate my 2 weeks anniversary... the first 2 people who comment and link me to their blog (and I will do the same) on my 24 hour Friday anniversary... you 2 lucky peeps will get a free copy of Memory Works catalog AND... a little mini-blog candy to go with it! Something small, lol, I'm just starting out and it's only a 2 week anniversary people - I can't go crazy yet!!!

Thanks to all of you and good luck!!!

Grosgrain's Apple Orchard Overalls Giveaway...

This takes me back to my ol' baby pics... it is such a cute lil' pair of overalls - and - this time it is for a girl or boy...

Apple Orchard Overalls GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

I Finally Got Mail!!!

My first goody stash!

Loooooooooooook at what I got in the mail today!!! -----> I got ribbons and buttons from http://www.raspberry-ribbons.com/index.htm ! They are located in West Sussex (I believe that is in England - please let me know if I am wrong...)

Looooooook at how pretty! Brown, Orange and Blue... perfect colors! I am soooooooo going to be hording these ribbons/buttons for a long time. This is going in my 'you have to absolutely deserve this' stash. I'm not messing these babies up anytime soon.

Of course, my hubby doesn't understand. He told me that 'instead of waiting 2 weeks for this goody bag to come all the way from England, I should have just gone to the dollar store - there's no difference'... MEN!!! they just don't get it!

Sheesh!!!

2 Sketches 4 You - Kazan's Sketch #7

Here's my take on Kazan's Sketch from 2 Sketches 4 You...

I never really get to do anything girlie around here, soooo I had to give this card a lil' girlee feel to it...

The flower paper is from Paper Pizazz (Retro flowers and Retro daisies), a My Mind's Eye Rub-on and Doodlebug Jewels.

2 Sketches 4 You also had a bonus sketch this week... this is what I was able to put together. I used those Doodlebug Jewels again. I'm going to have to try to get some more of those. They added sooo much more to my cards.

I know, I know... more Happy B'day stuff! LOL, I guess I love that holiday the most! But I did give everyone a break with Kazan's Sketch...

Little C's Weekly Challenge #5...

Little C's theme is a 'wrap around card'... I am not sure if I made my card right to qualify, but I had so much fun making it! It's all paper that I bought ages ago and a rub-on from BasicGrey. I'm still stuck on my own theme: Happy B'day People!

LOL!!!

I can't wait 'til the next challenge!!! Thanks Jen!

Happy B'day to....

EVERYBODY! hee, hee...

Happy B'day was the theme for these cards...

This was a very easy and quick project for me - you gotta love anything that is quick and easy, wink, wink!

This is BasicGrey's Cupcake Theme Set with stickers... Memory Works had a consultant kit made up for us, but like everything with Memory Works, everything can be purchased however way you wish. BasicGrey's Theme Sets usually come with 8 12x12 patterned cardstock and a 12x12 sheet of cardstock stickers. You can always add the matching chipboard stickers and rub-ons. I really liked BG's rub-ons - they have to be one of the easiest I have ever worked with...

I know, I know... I'm still new, but I've tried rub-ons in the past and some just wouldn't work for me and it got sooo frustrating that I would end up throwing the whole thing away.

Anybody have any tips as to how to get non-rub-ons to rub-on???( ha, ha - that sounds funny!)

BTW... Memory Works has brought on BasicGrey's 3 NEW Theme Sets: Off Beat, Eva and Ambrosia... go and take a drool over them on my website... http://margiecortina.memory-works.com/ ... go on and take a look - nobody will know that you peeked!

P.S.... lol, if you look closely at the pic - you can see my Nicky in the background trying to get his Superman figurine in the pic too, lol, while Matt was busy trying to dance to a song from 'Lazy Town' on Noggin... they are my little silly-gooses!

Garden Party Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

She kills me every time she posts a new dress...

You definitely have to take a peek at this one:

Garden Party Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

Awwww...

My Nicky, he's 4 1/2, wanted to make a pic for all of us to see... he is a bit ahead of the calendar at the moment: he made a copy of a pic that he saw in my Hallmark magazine... this is a 'poonkin' (pumpkin) with a ghost and a mouse... isn't it the cutest thing you've ever seen?!

Nick wanted to be like mommy and "hang-up a drawing onto the computer" (like hanging it up on the fridge)... awww, isn't my baby sweet!

I promised that I would 'hang-it up' for him after he went to bed... you know the minute he wakes up he is going to ask to jump up on here and check it out! Breakfast first!!! lol... it is the most important part of the day!

AND... of course, we cannot forget my lil' guy Matt, he's 2 going on 50, lol... he will not, under any circumstances, let his older bro keep all of the attention to himself! "Share Nicky! Share with ME!!!" He made a 'poonkin' too! LOL... I love my babies!!!

I DID IT!!! I FINISHED MY 1st PROJECT!!!

OMG!!! I finally did it!!! I finished my first official project! From start to finish - I did have a lil' help from Memory Works - they pre-made a consultant kit, but don't despair!... everything shown can be purchased separately... The Lunchpail is from Basic Grey! (only $16.00) - it comes with 6 cardstock tabs, 12 pieces of cardstock, 40 self-adhesive mini-chipboard, and 18 page protectors.

Here's my lunchpail:




The first tab is a Doodlebug Design...
The second tab is Nellie's Garden Theme Set from Pebbles, Inc.

The 3rd tab is Sweet Branch Theme Set from Crate Paper.

The 4th tab is a Dream Street Design.

The 5th tab is Spring & Summer Theme Set from Autumn Crafts... and last is the 6th tab! A Rusty Pickle design using part of their Pop Star Theme Set.

It took all week trying to find time to complete my lil' project... but I am always so hesitant to start my projects - I'm always afraid I am going to mess them up, lol, but I promised I was going to share one of my projects by this weekend!

P.S. - LOL, Sorry about the busy,ugly tablecloth, I didn't think to take it off since it was sooo late last night when I finally took the pics, lol...

2 Sketches 4 You - Laura's Sketch #6

This is my first card for 2 Sketches 4 You - (see Laura's sketch)

I used a bunch of scrap stuff that I had leftover from a project I've been working on (that I hope to share with you all sometime tomorrow)... each piece of paper, comes from a different company and the ribbon/buttons are misc. stuff that was just lying around. The lion is from my new CTMH stamp set (the only set that I still own, lol).

My card does not compare to the majority of other cards entered into the challenge, but it's mine!... and I am sooo proud of my lil' lion card :)

I hope to at least get a few comments *hint, hint*

It wasn't my fault!!!

OMG! I found out last night that it wasn't me who messed up the camera!

My hubby finally fessed up...
he was messin' with it - he was taking silly face pics of himself, I guess he was really bored, lol. He claims to have started pushing buttons at random to see who did what and then he broke it! lol... see, the truth always comes out in the end - ha, ha, ha... let this be a lesson to all of those that try to hide things from their wives!

So, now that I have my camera up and running...
I am working on a few projects that I purchased from Memory Works. I wanted to post pics of them for y'all. I should have been done by now, I'll see what I can do... hopefully by the weekend I can share at least 2 of them.

'til next time!

Summer by the Lake Swimsuit GIVEAWAY!!!!

This is such a cute swimsuit! I wish I could sew and make stuff for my boys...

Nothing compares to Kathleen's creativity!

Summer by the Lake Swimsuit GIVEAWAY!!!!

Little C's Weekly Challenge #4...

I did it!!! I made my card!... I created this card for Jen's Little C's Weekly Challenge #4!

My fist challege ever! I'm sooo excited! This week's challenge is to create a card using a sketch that one of the creative team members created (Maria).

I used paper that I bought when I first started getting involved with scrapping: Debbie Mumm and KaiserCraft paper, some scrap plain papers, my new CTMH "Life's a Jungle" acrylic stamp set with Color Box 'Cocoa' ink and colored pencils. It was so much fun coming up with the whole theme and colors. I love these little monkeys sooo much... (you are going to probably see them quite a bit).

Jen's challenges are pretty unique - it's actually not that hard (I was able to actually make one and finally post it, lol). . . she has a challenge each week, starts on Tuesdays and they end on Sundays. She will give out a prize for the lucky winner. It's a great way to get motivated and get creative. Who knew that while having fun you can try to win some really cool stuff at the same time! Love the idea Jen, thank you!!! Unfortunately, I do not have any of Little C's products (yet!)... I'm still a newbie - one day I will have all that I dream and desire!

Please comment on my 'Top Banana' card... this is the 2nd card that I have ever made on my own from start to finish (my first card using a sketch)... I'd love to hear what y'all think!

'til next time...

P.S. - I just wanted to add the inside of the card too... I don't think it is a requirement for the challenge, but I couldn't resist using up the rest of the paper...