Something Wicked This Way Comes!

Happy Halloween! This is a favorite time of year for me. Leaves are changing, temperatures are cooling and the air is crisp and clear. And---it's another great excuse for CHOCOLATE!!!


This post features a mini album I created last year. I developed a class around this album and taught it at the "Scrap Shack" a local scrapbook store that unfortunately has closed. I had a great time creating while on the design team there. This was the only independent scrapbooking store remotely near me. I truly miss it!


This is an accordion album that I made from scratch. I wanted to show my students how they could make their own album and thus customize it to any size they like rather than being limited to purchased sizes.
The paper line I used was "Twilight" by Pink Paislee. It was their Halloween line last year. I still love it, and many of the papers in the line can be used in other themes besides Halloween. I find it very versatile.
I used my Silhouette to cut bats, cats, ghost,  the tombstone, and spider webs. I used some brads from the same "Twilight" line as well as some from Melissa Frances. Various fibers and ribbon was also incorporated into the design.


This album has 10 photos, sized about 3.5x5. It features a swinging tombstone with a poem I composed and a pull out insert with photos. There is room for journaling on several pull out tabs. Feel free to use the poem I wrote.



The poem reads:

Sneak a picture

while you stare,

at the ghouls and

goblins if you dare!

Although they all

look a fright.

They only come out

on Halloween night.

So save the memory

for all to see,

because they are

yours for eternity!

Photo insert slides behind one of the pages.

Don't be frightened

don't be scared.

I hope you liked

my album that I

 wanted to share!

Be safe this Halloween!

Gouls Night Out

My house transforms this time of year. It started about 15 years ago as a friendly competition between neighbors. If one neighbor put something new in their yard the others had to retaliate. Through the years it was fun to try to out decorate the neighbors. Now all our children are grown, but we still carry on the tradition.

Some decorations are purchased 

and some decorations my husband cut out of plywood and I painted them.



Ouch....

Maybe this is why we have about 100 Trick-or-Treaters every year!

Fall Mantle

After another recent trip to Hobby Lobby (just love that store) and acquiring some of my favorite candles, I now have a beautiful fall display on my mantle. Since I'm on this white pumpkin kick, I spray painted the pumpkins sitting on the candle sticks.

The candles I use are sold through "PartyLite" My best friend, Mary Crisp is a successful independent consultant with them. They sell the best candles on the market. As their candles burn they actually liquefy, so as they burn down there is no residual wax left. Since the temperatures are still in the low 90's it doesn't quite feel like fall, but inside, it sure smells like fall with scents like ginger pumpkin and apple orchard. Go check out her web-site http://www.partylite.biz./sites/marycrisp

I love the look of my mantle with the soft glow of candle light, I hope you do too.

So Honored

Hannah over at Young and Crafty has honored me today by featuring my "Sew beautiful" scrapbook layout of my mother. Go check out Hannans' blog here http://youngancrafty.blogspot.com/2010/09/scraptastic-saturday.html
Thanks you Hannah

Wishing for Fall

I am ready for some cooler temperatures and lower humidity's. Fall is my favorite season. I love the fall colors, clear blue skies and that little nip in the air. We here in the south have suffered through the worst summer of high humidity, heat index of 105-115 and hazy skies. I know we still have a couple more weeks of summer, but with Labor Day come and gone, I have set my sights on Fall.

I figured if I decorate for Fall it will come---So I made a trip to my local Hobby Lobby ( I was there about 2 1/2 hours) came home and went to work, which really isn't work because I love to decorate. I need to make another trip--still have a few more places in the house I want to give a little touch of Fall . This is what I have done so far.

Can ya tell, I'm lovin' those white pumkins!!!

Welcome to the family

My nephew Josh got married to this beautiful girl in April. Jessie is just as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside. They had an outside wedding at Rye Patch on the grounds of Hopeland Gardens here in Aiken, SC. Two of my brother-in-laws took the wedding photos and I helped by posing the shots. This is one of my favorite.


I used a variety of scrapbook supplies from my stash. The only thing I bought specifically for this layout was the background paper. The color is not true in the photo, it's actually purple. Purple is Jessie's favorite color and she used it in her wedding so I wanted purple on this layout.


The scallop border was made by cutting scallop circles out of two different papers, then cut the circles in half and off set them to give dimension.

Baby on Board !

Another layout featuring the "Clothesline" collection by Little Yellow Bicycle. I absolutely love this line! It has a vintage feel that reminds me of fabrics that my mama used to make our clothes  growing up.

This is another photograph that my Aunt gave my sister Pat and myself when she visited us this past July. It was like Christmas morning when she pulled out several photos featuring my parents in their younger years. This one also includes my two older sisters Pat and Joan. 

While looking at the photos, my brother-in law commented on the '57 Chevy in the picture. My sister Pat and I looked at each other. Wait a minute I was born in 1957. On closer inspection we both realized that I was in the picture too! I'm the bump on mama's tummy. I was ecstatic! I had in my hand a priceless photo of my mama pregnant with me.

I cut the journaling frame and butterfies with my Silhouette.

Scallop chipboard by Mine Minds Eye--"Laundary Line"

Pink pearl swirl--Prima

Measuring tape charm--Hobby Lobby

Number chipboard--misc.