Out of Commission

I literally can barely breathe at times. We are all three VERY ill here (and this is round TWO).
I had to leave my retreat early yesterday to come home and take care of my boys (and I was sick, too.. but not as sick as them.. until today. Ugh)

I'll be back with pics from the retreat once I am feeling better.
If you pray, please say a little prayer for the Brannies family tonight.
Thanks

In about 60 hours....

I'll be at my first scrapbook retreat EVER!
I'll admit, I'm swamped. Between all 3 of us being sick, preschool drop off/pick up/errand running and packing for my retreat, I've been too busy to do any layouts or projects for a few weeks now.
But starting Friday at 1pm, IT'S ON, BABY!!!

I can't wait!!

"See" you when I get back!!
:)

Watch Your Effing Language!!

Okay so I'll admit, I am weird about cursing. I hate it when people do it around me.. especially my hubby. He works in an industry around men (white collar, upper middle class men.. not who you would expect) that do nothing but curse constantly and he's picked it up.
And unfortunately, it's wore off on me a bit.
I try SO hard not to curse. I mean, SO hard. Cause I HATE it. I just think there are other ways to express yourself.
But alas, I have succumb to cursing a bit and unfortunately, it wasn't hubby that taught Caleb his first curse word. It was me *sigh*.

When Lynnette first presented this challenge to me I backed out of it. We're allowed one "pass" during our term and this was the one I was going to pass on. It just didn't feel right.
But then I thought about it and realized ya know, scrapbooking, like life, is not just about candy coating things. We need to scrap the good AND the bad. So here ya go.
Here is my WATCH YOUR LANGUAGE challenge.



Check out the challenge requirements and all the awesome work from my fellow DT members over on the CANDY SHOPPE DESIGNS blog :)
The prize is AWESOME and the challenge is being sponsored by Memorable Seasons.. check them out!

In other news, I finally went to the doctor. I had a cold that turned into Strep and a sinus infection. I am now on antibiotics and should be well enough for my scrapbook retreat that is ONE WEEK FROM TODAY!!!
OMG!!!! I am SOOOOO excited but admit that I'm not sure what all to take.
How does one fit an entire scraproom into a small SUV? LOL

Have a great week, ladies!

What I'm currently working on...

Well we are all sick now in the Brannies' household.
Caleb's on antibiotics, Doug goes to the Doctor today and I go to the Doctor on Friday.
But I've still been trying to get ready for my retreat and scrap a few things.

So in addition to a few DT layouts that I can't post here yet, I've been working on these little treat cups for Caleb's preschool Halloween party.
I plan to put each childs name on the "sign", just not sure yet if I'm going to use my Cricut to cut out the names or use rub ons.
Then when I'm all done I'll stuff a few pieces of candy inside the cups :)

I have just a few started and 13 more to make, LOL.. And I don't have enough of this paper so I'll be mixing it up and using different paper.

I'm excited, I think they are coming out cute!!
TFL!!

Be sure to check Candy Shoppe Designs the end of the week for your next challenge. It's a very CHALLENGING challenge, LOL.. tee hee.. I'm such a dork ;)

I love being a Fiskateer

We all have message boards that we frequent. I've been on several and have never really found a true "home" anywhere..
Until I found the Fiskateer board. WOW, these ladies are AMAZING!

I highly encourage you to check out the board and become a Fiskateer. You'll get some awesome rockin' orange scissors and most importantly, make LOTS of great friends from around the world!

See ya over there!

Hi All!
We are super super sick here in the Brannies' household. Caleb came down with a cold Wednesday night and now I feel like a Mack truck ran over me. So nothing scrappy to report (other than I've been selling off my scrap stuff like mad.. WHOO HOO!).
I skipped my monthly crop yesterday. But that's okay because my three day scrappy retreat is in TWO WEEKS!!!!! WHOO HOOOOO!!!

In other news, have you seen the new October Afternoon lines? OMG, LOVE THEM!!! How cute are these farm animals!?!








You can bet I will be getting at least a few sheets of that paper. I have a project in mind for it. YUM!

Have a great weekend. I'll be in bed where I belong *sniff sniff*
Love you all,

A Little Share... NSBR

Hey all.. We went to the pumpkin patch today with Caleb's preschool class. I just wanted to share photos and now I need to go b/c I have a friend coming over to scrap.
Have a great rest of the week!

Love ya!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Well LQQKIE here!

I just got an email from MAKING MEMORIES that they saw my "Superstar" layout and they've chose it as one of three projects for the October "New Ideas" section in their gallery. Click here.
How exciting!!! MM is one of my very favorite scrappy companies!

There seems to be some voting going on.. I'm not sure what that means.. If I win something or if you just vote because you like the project. But hey, if you like my layout, please feel free to vote for it :)


Thanks y'all. Have a great Sunday!
Love ya,

Are You "Fashionably Geek"?

Hey girls, Please go check out the Fashionably Geek challenge at CANDY SHOPPE DESIGNS
Enter the challenge and you could win some AWESOME candy from our sponsor this month, EAD Designs.
They have some really cool VINYL rubons as well as tons of vinyl art for your scraproom walls, home decor, etc.

So I'll admit, I was pretty much a geek in High School. I was in show choir, got great grades, etc. So this challenge was for me, LOL.

The challenge rules are pretty simple. You have to use BLACK as your base, some sort of plaid on your layout, WHITE title and an apple somewhere on your layout or project.

Here's my take on the challenge.

(CLICK TO SEE DETAIL)

SUPPLIES:
Background Paper: Fancy Pants, Patterned Paper: October Afternoon. Mix of Detours and Nightlight lines, Cardstock Stickers: October Afternoon, Felt Apple: Imaginisce, Hat Pin: Heidi Grace, Alphas: Thickers by American Crafts, Other: red paperclips.
**A journaling block all about his first day of Preschool is hidden behind the plaid paper and attached using one of the red paper clips :)


I had all this October Afternoon paper from last Fall that I never used.. I thought it was time to get it out. You'll be seeing ALOT of "older" product from me for several months. I am determined to use up my stash :)

That's it for now. Please be sure to go view the CSD blog and check out the challenge. I can't wait to see what y'all come up with!

Love ya,

YUM!

We drove down to south Indy this afternoon to check out a house we might rent and it so happens that the Archivers is less than 4 miles away (uh oh!).
So while my boys went into Home Depot, I went to what I call "Scrapbookers Heaven" :)

I was SUPPOSED to just be there to buy a few sheets of Halloween paper for a preschool project I was asked to do.. But I got sucked into the $1.99 area of the store, LOL.
So I sat my butt down on the floor for over an hour just going through all the bins to see what kind of bargains I could find.

I didn't buy hardly anything but here is what I remember being in the bins. I can't believe some of this stuff is so cheap! Almost everything in the bins is stuff from Winter CHA. Crazy!


They had all four of these Making Memories Paperie spiral journaling books. I use these ALOT on my layouts. Love them!



These Pink Paislee sticker books in 2 or 3 styles.



Making Memories Passport canvas alphas



These Pink Paislee chipboard alphas in brown, blue and pink.
The brown is very versatile.. I won some on the Pink Paislee blog when they first came out.. I love them!


These Pink Paislee chipboard shapes in Fascinating and Enchanting and I THINK, Fetching.


Tons of various Pink Paislee rubons



These Umbrella Thickers were half off. I think they had pink, too.



I also saw some Making Memories felt alphas in green, TONS of stamps and AC mini albums and just soooo much yummy stuff.

I hope this helps someone that has an Archivers near by.
Their $1.99 stock is always changing so if you need any of this stuff, run to your nearest store now. LOL

Have a great weekend!

Well hey there!

Hey everyone.
Things have been crazy around my house. SO many decisions to make that have to be made quickly. I can't go into it right now.. Just keep our family in your prayers if you will.

I do have scrap pages to show you but I have to wait til they post on the Candy Shoppe Designs blog.
And, I decided to keep the album I made for my sister-in-law/baby off here.. I don't want her to see it before she gets it in person, LOL
I'll try to remember to take pics and post them after I give her the album :)

Lynnette is going to be posting winners from some of the recent challenges over on CSD. Keep looking over there.. you could win one of those fabulous prizes! Don't forget there is a Studio Calico kit and a Bad Girls kit up for grabs. Be sure to check the challenges out!

I'll be back next week. I've got another project to work on, hoping to get it done over the weekend.
Have a great weekend, everyone! Hope it's dry and sunny where you are :)
Love,

Our New Home...

We are hoping to move to Kansas City. But that's pretty much a pipe dream b/c of this economy. So Greenwood it is!
I love Greenwood. Doug and I talked about moving there years ago.
I am excited to be moving but so sad at the same time to leave my local friends and scrap girls. But I know that I'll still be able to go to the monthly crops.. it'll just be a drive, LOL.
And I know that this is the best move for our family right now. I think I am most excited that Caleb will be in a WAY better school system :)


View Larger Map
See up there where it reads Anderson/Pendleton? That's where we live NOW. We are moving about 60 miles south to Greenwood.
Much closer to Indy.. shopping.. excellent school system called Center Grove ..
And here's where the Archivers is.. tee hee

View Larger Map

Just some recent stuff that makes me smile :)

Enough said.

Model Aeronautics Museum.. notice his name on the plane.

33 pounds down, 17 of those on this awesome program.

We're moving soon. It's bittersweet, We're leaving our first home.. the home we built for US. My first mortgage, first HOME, Caleb's ONLY home.
But we're moving to a top school district, closer to Indy, an Archiver's right down the road.... Need I say more? LOL

Let's Get to Hoppin', Ladies!

Would you love to win a kit from the awesome Studio Calico?? I know I sure as heck would!
Well, you CAN! Just by hopping with us!

Your mission is to complete the Blog Hop Challenge over at CANDY SHOPPE DESIGNS.
Each of the Design Team members will give you one step that you'll need to complete the challenge. And here is mine:
STEP 7- Add ribbon to your layout somewhere, somehow. It can be 1 piece, 2 pieces, etc. As much or as little as you wish and yes, fiber, lace and pom pom ribbon count :)

Here is the layout I did for this blog hop challenge. I used light green lace to the left of my photo. I just LOVE lace and I LOVED scrapping "girlie" again :)




What could you win for following Step 7 and the other steps on your project? Check this out!



This Lollipop Guild kit from Studio Calico contains:

PROJECT: ATC Stamp (Studio Calico); ATC Tin - Measurement (7gypsies)
EMBELLISHMENTS: Stamp Alphabet Rub-ons (Hambly); All Mixed Up Overlay (Hambly); Just Chillin' Girl Mini Papers (12 sheets)(Making Memories); Just Chillin' Girl Glitter Die-Cuts (Making Memories); Vintage Style Loomed Yarn Flower Cut-Outs (Kitschy Digitals); Chandelier Crystals (Heidi Swapp); Word Keys (3)(Tim Holtz); Ducks In a Row Wild Cards (October Afternoon); Blush & Rouge Bling (Basic Grey); Pink Medium Pom-Pom Trim (Maya Road)

How awesome is that!! You don't know how much I love Studio Calico kits. I wish I could win this one myself!! LOL :)

So what do you do next? Head back on over to Candy Shoppe Designs for the rest of your instructions.
And have an awesome day!!

Hey Hey Hey!

First off.. Let me just give a holla to the Indianapolis Colts! You ROCK!!!

Secondly, check out Candy Shoppe Designs on Wednesday the 16th.. We're having an awesome Blog Hop, I can't wait!


Yesterday was my monthly crop. And I was a total slacker. I didn't get much done, I was laughing my butt off all day. I mean, literally laughing SO much.
I worked on an 8x8 album I'm making for my soon-to-be niece, Princess Sage.
I'll show pics from that in a day or so, I'm still finishing up on it. But that's all I did.. ALL DAY. LOL

Thanks NJS girls for making me laugh. I loooove you all! And I can't wait to spend 3 whole days with you next month at the retreat! WHOO HOO!!! :)

Speaking of the retreat, I need cardstock.. BAD. Like black/brown/red/blue.
Anyone know of a store that has some on sale this week? I checked out HL's sales ad, it stinks this week.
So if you know of something, please email me or comment. Thanks chicas!

Have a great week.. I'll be back for sure on Wednesday!

Get ready to hop!!

My little guy is all about hopping these days. What about you? Do you like to HOP?

Well, on Sept 16th Candy Shoppe Designs will be sixteen days old. So that calls for a celebration!

CSD will be hosting a SUPER Sweet 16 Blog Hop Challenge and you're all invited. Bring your friends, too. Spread the news :)

And check out this tiny sneek of the awesome blog candy you could win!

How YUMMY is that!?!?

Now, start spreading the word. You don't want to miss this!

Hi Ladies (and gent)

I hope y'all have a wonderful Labor Day weekend!
We have no plans. Hubby took Caleb to a free model airplane/aeronautics show today while I scrapped a layout for the CSD design team.
I scrapped "girlie" again and I actually really really love my layout!
But I can't show it yet.. Stayed tuned.. it'll be posted in about 10 days :)

My 12 hour crop is next Saturday. I can't wait!! My brother and his wife just found out they are having a baby girl (who will be named Sage.. how cute is that!) so Aunt Jenny is making the baby her very first scrapbook album. And my sister in law asked me to make her a picture frame or two for the babies' nursery.
So that's what I'll be working on at the crop.
I'm excited!!

Well, have a great rest of the weekend/holiday. If you have time, check out Candy Shoppe Designs. There are several challenges going on right now and each challenge you do this month earns you a point towards the grand prize from the Bad Girls Kit Club :)
Later taters!

Check this out!

Do you love altering items? How about clipboards?
Check out this awesome challenge at CANDY SHOPPE DESIGNS!
Remember, each challenge you do earns you points and at the end of the month you can win the grand prize of a BAD GIRLS kit!! Yum!
See ya over there! :)

Striptease 101, baby!!!

Check out Candy Shoppe Designs today.. There's lots of Lollipop Girl lusciousness goin' on!!!
And.... a new CHALLENGE!!
And an awesome SKETCH!!! :)

Here's my take on the STRIP TEASE challenge....

(click to see detail)

I was so worried when asked to do this challenge.
We were given a color palette that FREAKED me out: GIRLY colors.. hot pink and purple!
But I worked through it and I love my layout! And my "strips" are strips of lace on the top of the layout and under the photo along with a strip of paper folded accordian style under the pic.

Supplies Used:
Pink Shimmer Cardstock: Paper Adventures
Patterned Paper: Making Memories
Foam Alpha Stickers: American Crafts Thickers
Flowers: Prima & Imaginisce
Butterfly: Prima
Bling: Hero Arts
Others: Waxy Flax, Lace (unknown)

TFL and please take the time to go over to the Candy Shoppe Designs blog and check out the work of my fellow Design Team girls. Each one is SO incredibly talented, I know you'll love what they've come up with!
While you're over there, join in on the Striptease challenge or some of the other challenges for your chance to win a kit from the BAD GIRLS kit club!


Peace & Love,

MY AWESOME NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So anyone that knows me knows I can't keep a secret. So for several weeks I've been DIEING over here to tell you that I was asked to join the AWESOME, FREAKIN' COOL new Design Team for CANDY SHOPPE DESIGNS.
A Challenge blog with AWESOME sponsors (this month is the BAD GIRLS kit club.. how flippin' ROCKIN' is that!!!).
And my fellow Design Team members? Well, I don't even feel like I belong beside them, their work blows me away!

You HAVE to go check out their (and my) work over on the CSD blog.
And check out the AWESOME prize this month.. A kit called "Postcards From Paris" from the fabulous BAD GIRLS KIT CLUB.

You know you want it. Sooooo, Go play!!!

Dang I'm excited about this!! LOL

For our first assignment we were asked to create an "All About Me" layout using our new Lollipop name.
My hubby actually chose mine.. I'm "Candy Apple Red".
Fits me to a "t", don't ya think?
Here's my layout >


It's way more themey than I'm used to doing but, I like it.

TFL.. Remember, head on over now to Candy Shoppe Designs to become a "Sweetheart Girl" and then get your groove on doing the first challenge. Have fun! Can't wait to see what y'all come up with!


Peace and love,