Doing My Part

My project to de-clutter our home led me to Linebaugh library today. I took 5 bags of decorating and craft books there for the Friends Bookstore book sale on May 15. I delivered 8 bags of miscellaneous items to the thrift store, and I stopped by to see Polly and left a stack of quilting books for her. It felt good to part with these items. I still have plenty of things to clear out, but next week I will purge my scrapbooking supplies for the Sassy Scrapper yard sale (May 7-11).

Speaking of Polly, here is another layout from the May Sassy Scrapper kit. This photo of Polly has always been one of my favorites. She looks so glamourous, like a movie star from the 40's or 50's.

Tomorrow is a big day at Sassy Scrapper. It is National Scrapbooking Day, kit day, and LOTM day. I will be there showing my layouts and enjoying the festivities. I hope to see all of you there.

Sassy Scrapper Preview

I am still purging (as in cleaning stuff out of the house...not the other kind), and there are 8 more plastic bags of goodies to take to the thrift store. As I mentioned in the previous post, I am getting rid of things I don't love anymore....books, gadgets, what-nots, and do-dads.

The layout below is one from the May Sassy Scrapper kit. The photos are of Polly, my half-sister, one of my 60 Influential People. The layout has special meaning for several reasons. Polly taught me to sew when I lived with her during my teen years. She is an incredible seamstress and quilt maker. For years she has made and donated quilts. Many of her quilts went to Katrina victims, and she has donated quilts locally to fire and tornado victims. Every year she also makes lap throws to donate to a local nursing home. I added the pattern pieces to the layout for visual interest and to tie in the title. The flowers were made from lace I dyed. Buttons and straight pins were used to embellish and tie into the sewing theme. The pattern paper is Graphic 45.

Leave me a comment; I would love to hear your thoughts on this layout. See you Saturday at Sassy Scrapper. LC

Beauty, Beast, and Sneak Peeks

This post will be like a variety show....a hodge podge of things going on in my life.

I realized this morning that all it took was a few episodes of 'Hoarding-Buried Alive' to push me into cleaning out cabinets and closets for the purpose of purging. An artsy friend of mine noted that crafty people are often the worse. We tend to hold on to bits of string, bottles of paint, and various other materials with the thought that we will eventually use them on our projects. I have noticed that many of the hoarders on the program mention having craft supplies...yarn, fabric, Popsicle sticks, etc. Last night's episode was a 'scared straight' moment for me. After my first cup of coffee this morning, I began to clean and purge. I have compassion for individuals who are compulsive hoarders. I know several, and they are not happy people. Compulsive hoarding is a beast that is not easily conquered. I want to get control before the beast decides to take up residence in our home.

I decided this morning if I don't absolutely love something I am not going to keep it. Some of the things I put into the plastic bags are perfectly good (a little dusty maybe)...small lamps, books, figurines, country items, but I don't love them anymore. Hopefully, someone will see them at the thrift store, love them, and take them home. It is a win-win situation. I have purged, someone wants it, and the thrift store makes money to help the handicapped.

These bags of goodies are already in the trunk of my car ready to be delivered to the thrift store. While I was loading my car I noticed several of my flowers had bloomed.

National Scrapbooking Day is Saturday. I will be at Sassy Scrapper with the May Sassy Kits. Here is a sneak peek at 2 of the layouts.

Sassy Sneak Peek for Friday

Sassy Scrapper May kit will be available on May 1. Here is another peek at one of the layouts.

Photo Booth Fun and Sneak Peek

One of the perks for me while working at Sassy Scrapper was attending trade shows. Working a show was hard work, but I loved every minute of it. Not only did I get to see all of the new scrapbooking products and meet designers, there were many fun things to do. In the layout below, I documented Brenda and I goofing off in a photo booth provided by Making Memories. After I completed the layout I realized I either had the city or the date incorrect and thought maybe Brenda could straighten me out on the details.*

*I called Brenda, and we decided it was Las Vegas in 2007. Whew, that's easy to change.

The supplies for this layout are from Sassy Scrapper.
Here are the directions:
Sand Coredination paper to reveal embossed shapes.
Cover desired embossed shapes with flower diecuts.
Spray paper with patina Glimmer Mist. Remove flower diecuts.
Using Bazzill flower template pierce flower shapes.
Sew flowers and sew on buttons.
Machine sew black line for pennants.
Cut out pennants and adhere to lines.
Add bows at end of lines using black embroidery thread.
Adhere photos.
Adhere title.

Here is a sneak peek at one of the May Sassy Scrapper layouts.

I'm Back!

One of my 60 influential people called Sunday with a cry for help, so I loaded my car and headed north to Kentucky. I knew the drive to her house would be beautiful, and I looked forward to seeing the 'blue grass'. She lives in the country surrounded by trees, flowering bushes, and flowers galore. I was not disappointed.
I didn't get any creating done, but I did have a fun time with my friend helping her with an upcoming wedding.

Browsing Through the Junque Store

I had a dental appointment today, so while I was in town I dropped off some items at the junk store. While I was there I took a quick look for treasures. I saw several things that interested me but I made only one purchase. For 69 cents I bought a vintage apron kit, probably from the late 60's  (maybe early 70's), considering it has lime green, brown, and orange birds on it. I can remember when ladies decorated their kitchens in those colors. Mushrooms were popular as decorations back then also. My BFF had a macrame' store in Nashville called 'Under the Mushroom'. At that time ladies made macrame' plant hangers with wooden beads, and I can remember brown and orange beads on tan macrame' hangers. While I was looking at the pattern's instructions I read the following, "a gay new apron brightens your kitchen chores". Time passing changes our language as well as our decors, motifs, and color choices.

Sassy Scrapper Sneak Peek

Here is a sneak peek of a layout I designed today.

Fragrance in the Wind

The lilac bush in our yard is in full bloom and its fragrance fills the air.

Sassy Scrapper Sneak Peak

I have been making flowers from lace today. First, I sprayed the white lace with Glimmer Mist and let it dry.  Then I gathered 8" of lace on a piece of thread. After I shaped the lace into a circle I sewed a button on the top for a flower center. I used medium Zots to hold the flowers on the layout.

Made with Love

This card was made using a digital image from
Mo's Digital Pencil . I use Copic markers, an antique doily, and Graphic 45 paper. I purchased the small wooden kitchen utensils at Hobby Lobby. They were a neutral color so I stained them with my Copic markers.

I've been busy designing layouts for Sassy Scrapper. I have 4 layouts ready for the June kit and 3 for the May kit. The papers for these kits are so beautiful! Sneak peeks are coming soon....

Luke 24

"Why do you search among the dead for Him who is living? He is not here. He has come back to life."

I believe these words, and I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ.

We had a great Easter at our house. Mike and I cooked a feast, and Griffin came out to eat with us. Mike and I decided a long time ago that even though we are a small family of three that we would celebrate holidays in a big way. No, we didn't hide eggs, but we did give gifts, cards, and spend time together. Mike and I cooked Griffin's favorite foods, and I even tried a new recipe, pineappe au gratin. The food was good and the company better! Christina went home to Memphis for the weekend, and we missed having her with us. I hope all of you had a great weekend. 

                                                                

Magnolia-licious Ad

I recently learned that a card I created last year will be used in an ad for Magnolia-licious. That ad will appear in CardMarker, Crafts 'n Things, and Magnolia Ink. Since the ad has been created and published I can reveal the card. I feel blessed to have my card chosen to appear in the ads. Thanks, Diana.

Remembering Kyan Alltop

Some of you are blessed
with a very special child
On loan from God to hold
for just a little while.