An 8x8 page for my nieces

I'm working on a small album for my nieces, Gracie (9) and Brianna (5). They love to scrap and wanted nothing but scrapbook stuff for Christmas so, I loaded them up with paper and supplies and gave them a really pretty 8x8 album for their pages.

Here is just a simple little page I made for their album.

I have an abundance of Felt Fusion. I love the stuff. I went through a phase where I hoarded it and then finally realized I could never use it all so I gave alot away. But I still have a bunch left and I just love it. I love how you can take it apart and dress up any page as well as use it as it comes. Queen & Company really hit a home run with this stuff!

Well, as most of you know, I really hate the color purple. But, I love purple FF and used some of it on this little layout of the girls.

It's so pretty (the FF)!!

I love scrapping these girls but I got their Mama into scrapping a few years ago so I really think I need my own little girl to scrap. *sigh*

Maybe this year? Lord willing :)

-10

MINUS TEN DEGREES... That's the temperature right now here in Madison County, Indiana. That's not the wind chill. That is the ACTUAL TEMPERATURE.
The wind chill is -25 below. YIKES!!
Doug and I just got done (mostly Doug) putting plastic on Caleb's window. It's so cold out, there was a draft in there and we were worried he'd be too cold. Well, it's so cold out that the plastic wasn't sticking to the flippin' double sided tape so it took forever. THREE FLIPPIN' HOURS and TONS of packaging tape later, it's done and Caleb's room is all nice and toasty and he's passed out all snug in his bed.

It FINALLY snowed yesterday.. 5 inches. Plenty for playtime for one little 2.5 year old boy. But because of the frigid temps, we can't take him outside to play. I'm praying that this weekend it will warm up yet the snow will stay put and he'll be able to go out and Mama can get some good snow pics. After all, as a scrapbooker, I *have* to have snow pics! Right!? :)

It's 1am. I'm going to catch up on some friends blogs and get my cold butt in bed.
Night night!

.... OHHHHH yeah!!!
I want to tell Heidi and Kate I love ya.. Thanks so much for the blog candy and goodies today :)
And Tracy, I hope you feel better soon, chica!

Please check out the January issue of...

SCRAPBOOK NEWS AND REVIEW DOT COM which debuts this Saturday the 17th.
Three of my layouts will be in it. WHOO HOOOOOOO!!!

"Happy", "Always Skip To Your Own Beat" & "First Kiss as Husband & Wife" will be featured.. I am over the moon excited as I love SNR and LOVE the e-Zine format versus paper mags that I have to store.
This issue will have over 400 awesome projects and layouts for your viewing pleasure.

And check out their February pub calls.. You could be pubbed next!

Sneeky Peeky ;)

Okay so, I guess I'm allowed to show a "sneak peek" at my SW layout.
So, here ya go :)

Also, I will know for sure tomorrow which layouts are being pubbed on Saturday. I'll be sure to share with everyone.

WHOO HOO!

Have a great evening, folks!

Want a $20 credit to spend at Two Peas??

Check this out!! - It DOES work, I now have a $20 credit in my account.
S-W-E-E-T!!!

20 projects = $20.
it's 2009 - a new year and new projects to create. and guess what? we want to see them! even better? we're going to reward you for showing all of us what you've been creating! how's $20 for the next time you shop here at two peas sound? pretty good, right? we've listened to the community's feedback and have made uploading your projects easier than ever before. if you haven't tried it yet, here's your chance to get familiar with it! simply click on the "upload a new project" link in the member gallery drop down menu and away you go!

so here are the details to earn your shopping money...

- when you're uploading your NEW never previously uploaded to two peas projects you must make your layouts public. we want to see what you've been up to, remember?
- be sure to give your project a title and tell us about it in a descriptive paragraph. you know - why you did what you did, why you used what you used, who you were inspired by, etc.
- your projects must have at least FIVE tags associated with them - your fellow peas will thank you as it makes searching the gallery so much easier when you use tags!
- your projects must have at least THREE products related to them - others like to see the exact products you've used.
- your projects must NOT have links to other sites - this includes other stores, blogs, etc. if it is a web address, it shouldn't be anywhere when uploading.

and about that $20 - after you've uploaded 20 projects to the gallery following these guidelines, you'll receive a $20 store credit to use the next time you shop. so ready, set, upload - let's see those projects!
please note that you can only earn one coupon which must be used prior to 2.28.09 and projects must be uploaded between Thursday, January 8th, 2009 12:00 a.m. and Saturday, January 31st, 2009 11:59 p.m. to receive your coupon.

Night!

WHOO HOO! My Scrap Whispers project is done! And a whole 5 days early. WHOO HOO!!
And I actually like it, I think.
I'll post it as soon as I can. I think I have to wait til this round is done.. The end of the month, I think.
Oh, this is going to kill me! I'm NOT a patient person! LOL

Night all!

Blog Candy and Other Stuff :)

My friend Melissa B has some awesome Blog Candy on her blog.. Go check it out. And be sure to wish her a early Happy Birthday :)

I have been busy busy.. Sorry for not posting much lately. We went to a family get together Saturday night and was there til 2am! And Mr. Caleb stayed up the ENTIRE time and wasn't even the slightest bit interested in sleeping. And boy did he have fun running around with the other kids! Not a single cry from him the whole time we were there. He was SO good.. I am so unbelievably proud of him! (happy cry)

Yesterday we finally took down the tree and all the decorations. I was a little sad to do that. This Christmas was so special and I think the best one I've had in all my 34 years.

I have a layout due Saturday for Scrap Whispers. I am SO unmotivated.. I wish I could say I have it done already but nope. I need to get on the ball. Doug promised me he'd get home at a decent hour tonight so I could scrap :)
I think I'm going to do a Christmas layout.. I have SO many great Christmas pics to scrap :)

As I hinted in the below post, I am being published. I am shocked that it's finally happening and oh SO happy!
I still need confirmation on how many LO's are going to be pubbed. I submitted three and I believe they want all three but I need to make sure.
Anyway, once I get that info, I'll announce it and where/when you can see my work. It will be SOON :)
<------------------ Very estatic. Almost in a daze that this magazine likes MY work :)
So, stay tuned!

And be sure to check out Melissa's blog candy. It's really really good!!

I'll be able to put this little beauty on my blog soon :)

In place of a few of my layouts!

More info to come SOON :)

WHOO HOO!!!!

Want Project 365 FREE??

Go HERE.. And be sure to leave Becky a comment thanking her :)

WHOO HOOOO.. The Green Stack is on store shelves, girls!!!

RUN to your local Joann Craft stores, girls. The Green Stack is finally on store shelves! If you don't have a local Joann's, Joann.com has them on their site as well and they are 40% off! ($11.99). They also have the ultra cute chipboard shapes on sale for $5.99.
WHOO HOO!!!

My cards...

I did these 10 simple Christmas cards for a challenge on the Fiskateers board. The challenge was to get a MAJOR head-start on Christmas card making for THIS year, LOL and make FAST, simple cards.
These aren't my best work, obviously but, each took about 5-10 minutes to think up and create (with the exception of the 4th one down). So, pretty simple.
It will be SO nice to already have ten cards done come November, LOL.
TFL!





This one took alot more time than the others. I love it :)

The ornament on this card was made by someone else. I got in the November M2R kit. All I did was add the brad and the floss. I believe it was made by Paddymack (Shannon). She's very talented and I love her handwriting :)

****************** Also, on a sad note, my Aunt Peggy died yesterday (my dad's side). She died of lung Cancer. She's the second person I've personally known to die from cigarette smoking in the past seven months. I'm sure most of you scrappers don't smoke but if you do, please consider quitting. Do it for your kids, your grandkids. Do it for yourself.
And I'm not trying to be all high and mighty. I smoked for 16 years. I quit cold turkey right before I got pregnant with Caleb.
Trust me, If I can do it, you can do it. I have horrible horrible will power!
Email me if you need support :)

I love spreading the news about candy around...

Here's some great blog candy for you.
This blogger does awesome awesome cards. Check out her candy!

And here's another blogger that does super awesome work! She has some great Valentine candy on her blog :)

I'm off to make more cards.. Be back later :)

So much has been accomplished already this year...

With Mr. Cay Cay.
My little guy has always been afraid of water. He hated baths. At almost 2.5, he still cried when we put him in the bathtub. But this week, he's been very very good at bathtime.. He is actually ENJOYING the bathtub. And here are some pics!!

I couldn't be more happy about this! I just hope he stays like this.. Then maybe this Summer he will actually enjoy the spray park.. unlike last year.

One thing though.. He won't sit down in the water. How do I encourage him to sit in the water without messing up his new found love for it? Do I just wait and let him do it on his own or push it and risk making him afraid of the water again?

Also, Caleb said two 2 and 3 word sentences yesterday!!

"What's this?" was said when his speech therapist was here (out of the blue, no coaxing) and when Daddy got home he asked Daddy four times "Where are shoes?" (he always thinks when Daddy gets home he is going to go outside and get the mail with Daddy, LOL).

Now, I didn't hear the latter but Doug swears he said it so I'm sure he did. As a Mother of a 2.5 year old that doesn't speak much, this is a HUGE deal. I'm very very happy about this.. My day yesterday ROCKED!

I have some scrappy stuff to share. I made 8 cards last night. However, I cannot share them yet b/c they are for a contest and I still have a few more to do. I'll share them soon :)

Have a great day everyone!!!!

WOW, have you seen this new line?

Love it!! This matches my wedding dress almost to a "T"!!
It's the new "Love Letters" line by Little Yellow Bicycle. Love, love, LOVE it!! I'm not usually a person that buys Valentine/love stuff but this would be fab for my wedding pics!

My letter "C"

I don't like it so I won't be upset if you don't. But since I was told to post it, I am.

I got the cutest video tonight of Caleb in the tub. And he wasn't screaming!

Instead, he was saying his ABC's and 123's and I got it on tape. It's the cutest.

I can't figure out how to edit his pee pee out of the video though so I can show it and send it to my step Dad for his Birthday (we say Happy Birthday Poppy on it).

Hmmmmm... I'll be up a while, I can tell. I'm determined to figure it out.

Night all!!

WOW! How gorgeous is this!!!

Okay, I admit it. I rarely get excited anymore when I see a great layout.
Now that I've stopped limiting myself to just one message board/gallery, I see them all the time. It's like violence on tv, you get used to it (them), LOL. There's just so much talent out there, it's alot to take in for this scrapper that has been in the dark for years.
But this one caught my eye. BIG TIME!

How absolutely gorgeous is this!!!
Oh how I wish I could scrap PRETTY like this.
Awesome layout, Heidi!

******************

So, my Colts lost last night. I'm sad but, it's not the end of the world. I'm more sad to think Dungy might not come back next Season. I really pray he does. He's an awesome coach!

*******************

I am still working on an altered letter "C" for
Caleb's room. I went back on my anti-anxiety medicine two weeks ago after not being able to sleep for over a week due to worry/panic attacks and I've lost my creativity again. I just cannot make this simple wooden letter "C" look cute. So chances are, I won't show off my work when I'm done. (sad)
I really hope my mojo/creativity/whatever comes back soon!

GO COLTS!!!

Caleb's second 2 yr molar is coming in and he's been a pistol. He won't sit still for nothing and the past few days his hands can generally be found in his mouth at all times. So getting pictures of him in his Colts gear today actually SMILING and with his hands out of his mouth was tough. Not to mention, he wouldn't sit still for nothin'.

I can't wait for the day when this child loves having his picture taken and will pose for Mommy :)

The game starts in five.

GO COLTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A New Project I Started Working On Last Night...

My main goal this year is to lose weight.. For my health and so that I can have another successful pregnancy. So I decided to make a little scrapbook about it and here is the cover.

This weekend, in addition to working more on this album, I am going to alter a wooden letter "C" for Caleb's room.

And, we're going to take our Christmas tree and decor down. I'm sad about that.. I really got into Christmas this year. Oh well, it must be done :)

Have a great weekend, everyone!!

The Blog Candy winners are...

Before Mr. Caleb went to bed tonight he helped me pick the names of my blog candy winners.. He picked Melissa and kept saying RUBY RUBY. Ha ha.. He watches too much "Max & Ruby".. tee hee.
Anyway, Melissa (NJ) and ribenaruby, CONGRATS, you are winners!
I'll get in touch with you soon :)
********************************************************

Also, my friend Kate is giving away a New Years RAK. Go here to enter.

Last day to comment for Blog Candy :)

Happy New Year!!
I wanted to remind you that I'll be drawing two names for blog candy tonight. Please see my post below for your chance to win.

I'll be gone some today. I got a gift card to one of my fave clothing stores for Christmas so we are headed to Indy to do some shopping :)
Have a great day!

This is what I was dealing with yesterday... And, two more days til Blog Candy drawing

Hi all.. Yes, I'm okay. Sorry I haven't been around.
I almost had a heart attack (I did have a MAJOR panic attack) when I received the above property tax bill for 2007.
I've blacked out alot of personal info but you can see that the bill was for $5053.58. The original amount was actually higher ($6233.80) then they took some off because of a recent bill passed by the State for prop tax relief. Still, this bill is WAY off.

We were told when we built in this subdivision we had a TAX ABATEMENT (only on our home, not on the land itself) for three years. Basically, the first year nothing was due on the land, the second 1/2 of taxes and the 3rd year 3/4 then it would go up to the full amount which was around $2400 a year for our home/land.
Since we've lived here (May 2006) we've only received one bill for $30 something. We paid it, no big deal. I thought things were okay. We filed the abatement and homestead credit paperwork shortly after we moved in, we were sure everything was okay.
Til yesterday.
Anyway, long story short.. Because of some state property tax issues this past year the treasurers office here was running a full six months behind in getting the bills out so they were in a hurry as people have to have the info by TODAY in order to use them on their taxes. So because they were in a hurry, they did not properly apply our credits.. Nor did they have record that we should receive them!!! (sadly, this seems to be typical in the city government here).
But thank God, we had the receipts showing we filed for them. I am ANAL about keeping receipts and thank God I am!! LOL
Our friend and neighbor two houses down that got a bill for over $7k is not so lucky as he cannot find his receipts so we are praying that he finds them.. They just had a new baby and it would devasting to have to pay that amount.
Anyway, so Doug and our neighbor went down there first thing this morning, they accepted the receipts as proof and we now owe only $332.36 !!!!!
We will owe more in May (1/2 of a year) then again in November but it won't be anything horrible like the above number.
Another problem with this bill is that our mortgage company got it before we did and they paid it already so now they are jacking our mortgage up over $500 a month. So we have to get that all worked out and fixed but that's okay.

Anyway, so that's where I've been.
Oh the joys of paying bills and owning a home! LOL


Also, only two more days to comment for the blog candy drawing below :)

A layout and some cards :)

Here's what I worked on this weekend:

A simple Christmas layout. Just something cute for Caleb's Christmas album. There is hidden journaling behind the bottom photo mat:



More thank you cards for friends:

I've been working all day on trying to upload my messy scraproom video but You Tube is SO not cooperating for me today. Hopefully I'll be able to post it later.

If not, have a nice night, girls :)

Go here for more awesome blog candy

My friend Melissa is giving away more cool stuff. Go here to check it out :)

OMG.. How hilarious!!

Do you have an hour or two to...

help out a mother of three that just found out she has terminal Cancer by making her pre-made layouts? (and adding her to your Prayer list)
Please GO HERE if you are willing to help.
I personally just finished up making her three layouts tonight. It's so rewarding knowing that you are helping someone out.. Even someone you don't know at all.
Please join with me and help this family out :)

Blog Awards and last Blog Candy of the year!!

I received two awards today from the fabulous Sue. Love them! Thanks chica!

The rules are I must pass them on to five bloggie friends.
So let's see..

Jenn's still on vacay...

Hmmmmm...
Jenny Boone
Heidi
Robin
Beth P
Bethie J



Okay, so now that I know we are staying home this week and am not so busy, I'm offering up your chance for more BLOG CANDY.
I'm going to split it up this time and give away to TWO people.
All my Blog Candy/RAK items are NEW and some are from the fabulous FISKARS which makes the awesome Cloud 9 and Heidi Grace products :)
Here's what I have for Blog Candy:
1 package We R Memory Keepers "White Out" Blue Bird flocked lace

1 5x7 mini scrapbook - blue flowers with white inner pages
1 package CK rhinestone hat pins (greens)
1 package Cloud 9 "Christmas Is..." Epoxy Word stickers
1 sheet Cloud 9 "Christmas Is..." Cardstock Thought starter stickers
1 package Marcella by K "Butterbean" Chipboard alpha
1 Karen Foster "Giggles" word rub-on
1 acrylic owl stamp from Stampendous
1 acrylic calendar stamp by Imaginisce
1 acrylic Lucky Duck stamp set by Inkadinkado

and some odds and ends...

Leave me some love (comment) on THIS post for your chance to win and link this blog candy post to YOUR blog and let me know in your comments you did so. Also, in your comment tell me what Blog Candy item you most prefer to receive and if you are one of the winners I'll try to accomodate.
If both winners list the same item then I'll have to figure something else out, LOL.

I'll use an online number generator on Friday January 2nd to pick the two winners.
Good Luck!!

Check out this awesome Fiskars blog candy!!

Go here for a chance to win some awesome goodies :)

Anyone need help vacuuming your house?

I have the perfect little helper for you :)

He's strong and can move a canister vac all over the house.
He's mindful of monsters and makes sure not to vacuum Elmo..
AND, He can count one through ten (listen carefully to the 2nd video.. it's too cute!)

Caleb vacuuming 1 from Jenny Brannies on Vimeo.


Caleb Vacuuming 2 from Jenny Brannies on Vimeo.

And He even knows how to spell his name. "C-A-L-E-B - Caywub!!!"
(he doesn't do that in these videos, he did it tonight just out of the blue for Doug and I)

And here's a little card I made tonight.. Real fast and easy using some little personalized thank you notes I bought for super cheap off Etsy. I loooooove Etsy!
This card is going somewhere special this week along with a little token of love.. tee hee hee ;)

Okay so, help me out here, girls. (please) tee hee
This is the wall above Caleb's bookshelf. It was cute "as is" with just the train and other vehicles but I REALLY REALLY wanted to try out the red QK vinyl I've had for a few months so today I made some cute little wall words using the vinyl, my Expression and SCAL.
But it looks "off" to me. I feel I need another "transportation" sound word on the right side, between the airplane and the top of the train.
What word do you suggest and how do you spell it? Doug and I haven't been able to come up with anything that we actually know how to spell, LMBO ;)

Also, I'm not sure if I showed you yet but here is a 2 piece wall hanging I bought on eBay a few months ago for Caleb's room. I *heart* it.
If you want the name of the seller, email or comment and I'll get you her info. Her work ROCKS and it's VERY reasonably priced!
Anyway, thought I'd take a pic of that while I was taking pics of the other. TIA :)

ETA: Caleb's new horsie is named Happy the Horsie... tee hee. And, Caleb can now climb up on Happy by himself. Guess he got sick of having to come get Doug or I whenever he wanted up on Happy, LOL.

Hoawse Hoawse.. Daddy-o, Hoawse!!! Now!!!

Caleb's Mimi in Texas bought him a rocking horse for Christmas.. A TALKING, SINGING rocking horse (the horses' mouth even moves!).
Well, he looooooves that thing SO much but is still a bit too little to get up on it on his own so SEVERAL times today he would say "Hoawse Hoawse" over and over again (Horse Horse) and he would come pull on our fingers/hands and drag us over to the horse to give him a ride. It is SOOOOOO freakin' cute, let me tell ya!
This is then followed up by Caleb saying "happy happy happy!", LOL.

Mr. Caleb was definitely spoiled this Christmas.. We all made sure of that. But I think his most favorite toy is the "Hoawse".. Check out that darling face.. Isn't he just the cutest!




In other news, my homemade cinnamon pancakes turned out decent. Even Caleb gobbled up a few bites.
And Daddy got a new 32" LCD TV and some great gift cards, Mommy got some stuff for her Cricut Expression, some new slippers, two Yankee candles, a gift card to her fave clothing store and the first two books in the Twilight series (I've already read them from the library but wanted my very own copy for me to KEEP since I'm obsessed with them, LOL).
It was a great Christmas. And it was actually FUN with just the three of us. We ate good food, played with Caleb a ton, talked to long-distance family on the phone and watched a few good movies.
I don't think any of us could have asked for a better day :)

I hope your Christmas was blessed and I can't wait to see pictures from all of you. Have a great rest of the night!
Jenny


ETA: Two more pictures. Here Caleb is right after we got him out of bed this morning. His jammies are hand me downs from his cousin Ryan. SOOOO cute! And the tool workshop/center was his big gift from Mommy and Daddy. He loves it.. Especially the drill.. I think we're going to go through batteries like crazy with that thing! LOL
And an FYI.. I'm not sure why Caleb's hair looks BROWN in the first pic. In reality, his hair is very blonde. Hmmmm.. Time to break out the Photoshop, I guess. tee hee

It's 2am....

And Doug and I are STILL up putting Caleb's Christmas presents together!!! Luckily Caleb decided even though he was put into bed at 10pm that he would play in his room until 1:15am! So lucky for Mommy and Daddy, he won't be up til 11am or noon so we'll be okay on sleep :)
I have NO CLUE why he wouldn't go to bed. He had NO sugar tonight and he didn't have a poopie. It's almost like he was waiting for Santa or something.. Too freaky. Especially since we don't talk to him about Santa. It's like he knows today has special meaning or something and he didn't want to miss out on anything, LOL.

Mimi Marsha sent him a cool rocking horse.. That thing took over two hours to put together. But once Caleb sees it in the morning, it's going to be so worthwhile. We didn't realize this but the horse's mouth moves and he talks and SINGS while riding him. How cool is THAT!!
Then we assembled the Black & Decker tool center we bought him. That's almost done then Doug and I are going to bed. Finally.

We let Caleb open two presents tonight. One from his cousins in TX and one from Mimi Marsha. He got a Thomas the Train interactive book and a Little Tikes tool set. He was SO thrilled with both!














Mommy also got to open her presents from Daddy and Marsha (Doug's Mom).
Check out what I got!!!!!


My sneaky husband bought the above on ACOT and had it shipped to our neighbors house!!! Sneaky boy! (but definitely a good idea as I am also very sneaky and have been known to peek, tee hee).
I'm over the moon excited. I'm going to spend part of my day tomorrow cutting chipboard and vinyl with that new blade. WHOO HOO!!!!!