It's begining to look a lot like Christmas

It's about time for me to update my blog - I don't have any recent layouts photographed so, I decided this one of Niko at 2 would work.  He is soooo into Christmas.  So un-like his daddy.  He went to bed thinking about the candy he's going to get from the Advent Calendar tomorrow morning - now if I can only find it in all the Christmas stuff that is yet to be unpacked...

I'm so excited my baby sister and her family are planning on coming to Texas for Christmas.  It will be so much fun to share Christmas and Austin with them. 

Better get busy unpacking those boxes!

Later,
Kathy

Genuine Sweetie

This is Madeline, my Genuine Sweetie (or as Niko says - well almost).  This was a picture of her at Crowe's Nest farm last year.  I completed it for the Pagerize This Challenge at Scrap Our Stash.  I wanted to keep with the circle and the scallop idea Christy had going on her page - and I just happened to have this scalloped circle paper!  Thanks Christy for the inspiration.

It's not too late for you to take the Pagerize This Challenge.  See how you can submit your page and be eligible to be chosen as the next Pagerizer in the Pagerize This Challenge at Scrap Our Stash (link above).

My weight loss in Watermelon

Not only did I want to share my layout - which I am very proud of... I also wanted to share the story behind it. 

I started dieting on March 21st - and then 10 days later joined Weight Watchers.  On May 2, 2010 I had lost 14 pounds.  Niko and I were at the grocery store - and he wanted to buy a watermelon.  When I picked this one up - I noted how heavy it was.  Niko suggested we weight it.  It weighted 14 pounds.  There was no way I couldn't buy that one at that point.  As a true scrappinpsycho - I was already thinking this would make a great layout. 

Of course when we got the watermelon home - I had to have Niko take a picture of me with the watermelon - and I also had everyone who came in contact with the watermelon - pick it up and see how heavy it was!

My next leighout (get it) - is me with my youngest grandson - I've now lost my weight in Jonathan. 

This was my Show N' Tell Sunday at Scrap our Stash. Check out all the details on how you can share a Show N' Tell at SOS.

My favorite Halloween Joke!

I only have about 2 jokes I can ever remember - and this is one of them.  It still makes me laugh everytime I hear it. 

Why don't warlocks have babies? 


Because they have HALLOWEENIES!

I Always Want 2 Remember

For Scrap Our Stash the October Challenge was to do THAT project.  This was the layout I had in mind when I came up with the challenge.  This had been a page I had been wanting to do, knowing I needed to do, but not really knowing how to do it.  I thought long and hard - made several attempts at the journaling - and then I was finally able to come up with this layout.  It is about a special time my sisters and I spent with my dad before his Alzheimers took him from us (not physically). The pictures are not very good - but the most important part was the journaling. I'm not big into journaling - but knew that this was important to capture my memories of that special time.

Do you have a THAT project that you have been putting off?  Well maybe you need to take the challenge. Hurry over to Scrap Our Stash (link above) and check out the October Challenge.   The challenge ends at 6 PM on October 31st.

We got our miracle!

LeAnn had her surgery on Tuesday - but once they were inside - they could not find a hole!  I believe that we rec'd our miracle.  I'm sure some will look at this as a medical error - but anyway you look at it - she has a healthy heart - praise God!

Now she continues to face the blood disorder - and is a long time from delivery - but God is good.  

Thanks so much for your prayers - Please continue to pray!
Later,
Kathy
 

We need a miracle

 My 32 year old daughter, mother of my 3 and 4 year old grandkids,  is facing some major medical issues, and could really use some prayer.  She has experienced what is now finally being diagnosed as mini strokes.  Praise God, through a conversation with a Dr. at my son in law's clinic - it was determined that it would be a good idea for her to see a cardiologist and a neurologist.  Today, after having a sonogram of her heart - the cardiologist informed her, that she has a hole in her heart - and that her husband insisting that she see a cardiologist, probably saved her life.  The good news would be - that this is what is causing the problem and that it can be addressed - but that is not all of it.  The battery of blood work that the neurologist ordered, indicated that she has a blood disorder - in which her body is building up antibodies that can cause blood clots, stroke, and miscarriage.  She has already suffered two miscarriages over the past 2 years.  

This was a draft of a post that I started  about about 8 weeks ago.  We are now at the point that LeAnn will have heart surgery tomorrow morning.  This will lesson the risk of stoke by a small percent - but must be done - despite the fact that she is 14 weeks pregnant. She will remain on the blood thinners throughout the pregnancy - and for at least 6 weeks after the baby is born.  She will have to be induced at least 2 weeks early in order to be able to take her off the blood thinners before the birth. 

So, like I said, We need a miracle.  Please lift LeAnn and her family up in prayer at this difficult time. 

Thanks!
Kathy

First Scrap Book Page

Guess who did his first scrapbook page?  If you guessed Niko - you were right.  He did it all by himself - including the title.  He's very proud of himself!

Madeline at Sweet Berry Farm

Here is my feable attempt at "pagerizing" Joni from Scrap Our Stash.  I loved the idea of using the white paint to soften an otherwise busy paper.  But didn't feel real successful.  This is definately not what I was going for - although when I look at it now, I like it a little bit better than I did when I was working on it.  In the future I plan to soften a paper that I have already chosen - trying to find the right paper to soften was crazy!  I actually stamped the title - which I don't usually (never) do - but I was so not liking the page that I didn't want to waste any more time on it by cutting a title.  Joni's is a great layout - mine is a cheap copy!:D

Do you want to play?  The Pagerize This Challenge ends tonight at midnight.  Follow the SOS link above - and submit yours.

It's Official

Here is the Scrap A Little Design Team announcement.  Wow! What a talented bunch - I'm honored to be included - even if it was kinda by default!

Guess I'm not totally CRAZY!

I got word this AM that I was selected for the GDT at Scrap A Little!  I just love Helen's sketches - I'm very excited!  More later!

Am I crazy or what?

I decided I just didn't have enough to do - so I'm submitting these layouts to Scrap A Little for their Design Team Search.   Link on over and you'll see what I mean.  I doubt whether I have a chance, they have such a talented bunch over there - but decided to give it a try - seems how I love Helen's sketches and need a little more motivation in my life.  So cross your fingers!  You never know - stranger things than this have happened before. 

How can I miss when I have such great subjects to scrap? 

Ready 4 Summer

This is my layout for the September Border Punch Challenge at Scrap Our Stash.  I used the Fiskar's Wave Punch to create this layout of Niko.  It was actually a lift from the Two Peas in a Bucket Gallery! 

Now it's your turn to take the border challenge.  So head on over to Scrap Our Stash and see all the details in the September Challenge post. And don't forget the other 2 challenges that are also going on right now at SOS - the Pagerize This Challenge and the Frugal Friday Tip Challenge. - Come play along.

Link to a Great Blog Give Away ...

and interesting tutorial re:  products from Elmer's Glue!  Check it out HERE.

I'm Tops!

Just got word that I was chosen as one of the top 3 at Frosted Designs.   Whoo Hoo!

Frosted Design Quote Blog Challenge

Family runs deeper than anything else.

When I saw that Frosted Designs was having a quote challenge - I thought no problem there - I use a lot of quotes (it's easier than journaling).  I loved the simple clean look of this layout by  Erica from the Frosted Design Team.  So, I just combined the quote challenge, lifted her page, and used the faux stitching tip from a Scrap Our Stash Frugal Friday Tip by Pinky and this great picture of Ryan and Niko.  

This was a very simple page, but I really like how it turned out.

Later,
Kathy 

My Submission for the Pagerize This Challenge

Niko's 1st Day of First Grade 

I did something I don't usually do - I Pagerized Myself!  I really like this layout - so decided why not create it again with First Grade.  The only problem is - the big letters are Foam Thickers - which I do not have enough of to spell out the word grade... So, I can either leave it without the word grade - or I can buy new thickers (not) or I can use a different font - and just cut out the letters.  Not sure which to do.  What do you think?

This is for the Pagerize This Challenge at Scrap Our Stash.  The challenge ends at midnight tomorrow!  So be sure to get your layout in.  I will be announcing the winner on the 13th.  See all the details in Pagerize This Challenge at Scrap Our Stash.

Catching Up

It's been a while since I've blogged here.  I don't have a lot to blog - just that:
my fingers are now numb - at least they don't hurt much - but they are almost worthless!
I lost another .8 per WW - so I'm at - 32 pounds overall!
I have actually been scrapping!  I have a goal to spend at least 15 minutes in the Asylum each night.  Either organizing or scrapping - I've been mostly scrapping.  Just making myself go in there motivates me to do something scrappy.

That's all for now!
Later,
Kathy

To Sum it all Up!

Garage door

Fingers

OUCH!

Niko's Birthday - 2009

Indulge by Kathy

Niko's 6th Birthday - 2009

This is one of the layouts I completed at the retreat this past weekend.  I really liked the way these flowers turned out.  They are actually just 3 different size circles, then I spritzed them with water, and crumpled them up. Then when they dried I inked them with distressing ink.   this layout is made from all scrap paper, except for the background sheet!

My inspiration was the August Flower Challenge at Scrap Our Stash.   Check it out!