I know it's been awhile. Here are some new things I have been working on.

Here are a few cards and a wordbook I designed with Design Studio.

Sorry it's been so long. We got back from Myrtle Beach a couple of weeks ago and then everybody in my house has taken a turn getting sick since we've been home. It's my turn now. It usually works that way. I'm well while everyone else is sick so I can take care of them and then it's my turn and I am still expected to do it all. I haven't much of a voice left- my own mother didn't even know she was talking to me on the phone this morning. It's got to be bad.

Live well...Laugh often...Love much... -MINI ALBUM-

Here's the mini album that I have been working on all week. I decided to include all of my favorite quotes. The album shape was made with the Cricut and I used my bind-it-all. I used several cartridges to make it... Accent Essentials, Plantin Schoolbook, Happily Ever After, George, Opposites Attract, and Design Studio. I challenged myself and tried to use some of the embellishments I have had in my stash for awhile.

Altered address books from the Dollar Tree and a card

Here is an altered address book that I made from a Dollar Tree find. The sock monkey paper is Bambino from Daisy D's. I got a great deal on it at CKC in Buffalo last month. I LOVE sock monkeys, so I made this one for myself. I love the way it turned out. It's so darn cute!

I had another address book to alter and this is what I came up with. The paper is from K&Co. Love the green and teal colors together. I may make a matching altered notebook to go with this one.

Here's a card and envelope that I made with my Cricut. The lettering is from Plantin Schoolbook. The corderoy brads are Bazzill and the paper is DCWV. The stamp is a Studio G wooden stamp from Michael's.

Well, we survived our Girl Scout camping trip...

The solar ovens that we made from Family Fun magazine.

The screened in cabin that we slept in.

The campfire that I helped make.
Leah roasting her coconut toasted marshmallow.
Leah in our cabin. Isn't she just the cutest?

Leah and I went Girl Scout camping this weekend with her Brownie troop. This was Leah's first ever camping trip and she was a trooper. There were many activities planned and the girls weren't bored at all. The first night we made hot dogs and smores on the campfire- I remembered how to get a fire going and was quite proud of my accomplishment. (I'll post a picture of my beautiful fire.) The meadow was full of fire flies. The girls loved them and wanted to catch them. After midnite there were thunder and lightening storms that went thru all night long. I had Leah climbing the ladder to my top bunk every half hour with her little face in mine telling me that she couldn't sleep. I explained to her that she wouldn't be able to sleep if she was standing up and to go lay back down. That really didn't work and I had to wedge myself into her little bed with her until she finally fell asleep at about 3 am.

The next day turned out to be just fine (except the monster migraine that I had). We hiked and also tried out our solar ovens that we made (found the directions in Family Fun magazine)- the chocolate melted just fine but the marshmallows did not. It was a fun experiment to try though.

We ended up leaving early. My friend's oldest daughter got sick on the first night so she took her home. She came back to stay with her youngest but her daughter really wanted her mom so we decided to go home after dinner. It didn't help that I had a migraine and didn't bring my medicine and we were expecting thunderstorms again last night too. Leah did end up having a great time and wants to do it again.

Photo frame of my girls for Father's Day

I decided that I wanted to use some of the things that I have hoarded. This is what I came up with...

I used:

Autumn Leaves- Foofala paper

Black and White Primas

letter brads- spell out d-a-d

Studio G rubber stamp

Bazzill cordoroy brad

Dollar store frame

Felt bags and cards

I got this idea for the felt bag from Jennifer McGuire on the Two Peas website. I filled the bag with cookies. I thought it would be a nice little treat bag. Leah has already asked if I could make them for her goodie bags for her birthday. (She's planning for the next one already- lol)

The cards are 4x4 and made with the new paisley Cuttlebug embossing folder my friend Cindy sent to me, American Crafts chipboard shapes, Studio G wooden stamp from Michaels, and some miscellaneous ribbon. The "bling" is from Heidi Swapp.

Sunsets at Fort Niagara

This is the time of the year when I love to sit by the water at Fort Niagara and watch the sunset. My mother used to take me and my brother when we were younger and now I am carrying on the tradition with my girls. They love it just like we used to. The bonus is that we live within walking distance. This is a picture that I took of the girls last year wading in the water. I just love it.

School Paperbag album

I made this album for Leah's teacher. I used some Cricut, sizzix, and my BIA. The paper is from the new DCWV Grade School Stack. Love it!

Altered clothespin

Here's an altered clothespin I made yesterday. I found them at AC Moore in a bin for $1 each. I've always wanted to try to alter one and at $1 each I couldn't pass them up. They come in a natural wood tone- I took it apart and painted it white. I even found some of the elusive "skittles" at Michaels yesterday and added a clear one to the center of the button.