A Few of My Scrapbook Pages

I thought that I would share a few of my scrapbook pages from the retreat.  They're still lacking the journaling, I save that until I get home.  All four layouts are pretty simple and I didn't realize until now how many layouts I did on the white page itself, which makes for a lighter book.

These spreads are from our 2010 Western Caribbean Cruise.  I started this album in 2010, sad, I know but now I am finish with the album after I journal.

I love this spread.....15  (4x3) pictures, what a way to summarize a trip!

 This spread is another favorite (I think it has something to do with the colors) take one large circle and cut it in half then add a rectangle across the two pages with ribbon. 

I will pour out my thoughts to you,

I will make known to you My teachings.

Proverbs 1:23

Blessings to all~
Carla

Happy Halloween

I left a  few surprises for my spooky little goblins this morning.

Tea cookies from Riley's bakery, yum!!! If you live in the BG area, then you know just how good these little cookies are and my goblins loves them. 

Then I got a little creative, not really, but I thought this was an adorable Halloween treat using Tic Tacs?? Brilliant - and it's got it's own packaging, how simple is that!

You can get the free printable at Somewhat Simple, as you can see they have more then just the Jack-o-Lantern Seeds.

Aren't they cute??

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!

Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in Heaven.

Psalm 119:89

Blessings to all~
Carla

A Little More Fall

I am not sure about you but September flew by for me and here we are just days away from the end of October! We had a tease of warm weather or what some people would call an Indian Summer during the middle of October.  I will say that I certainly enjoyed the warmer days but now I am afraid we are getting ready to see the temperatures that do not agree with my body, the days were the wind is chilling.  I am not my any means a cold nature person at all.  I guess old man winter in right around the corner.

At the beginning of Fall I decided to dress up my galvanized buckets that hold my mums on the front porch.  I used my cricut to cut the words "welcome fall" out of vinyl.  I love the simple touch that it added to my buckets. 

Another Halloween decoration share before Halloween comes and vanishes.

I made this Halloween plate last year, actually I've made several, between friends and gifts, it's one of my favorites.  It takes the longest to make because of the different fonts but I love the colors and how fun it is. Notice my little FAT black cat, I am not a cat person at all, even when it comes to Halloween things, but I just adore this little FAT black cat that I received in a "BOOED" packaged about 9 years from my neighbor, isn't he cute!!!

"Then you will call, and the LORD will answer. You will cry for help, and He will say, "Here I am!"

Isaiah 58:9

Blessings to all ~
Carla

Ticket Stub Box

Over fall break, the four of us went and saw Taken 2 at the movie theater, which was just as good as the first.  After paying for the tickets, Courtney mentioned to Phillip how she needed her ticket stub because she saved them, which I knew.  Then, like a lightning bolt it hit me, what I had seen on pinterest.  Yes, I am addicted to pinterest!!!  So that Saturday, Courtney and I decided to get a crafty and make her a shadowbox to keep her ticket stubs in.

We checked out ALL the links on pinterest and looked at the different ideas, you had your cheesy ones, the cute ones, the "REALLY" ones and the extreme ones.  They all had different sayings on them, that's when we came up, with ours....

We wanted something that she could keep forever, that would not be tacky in say 10 years if she still wanted to display it then. 

We purchased a shadowbox from Hobby Lobby and cut a 3" x 1" slot at the top of the box so that she could easily drop her ticket stubs through the slot.  I paint inside the slot black.

Then with my cricut I cut out the saying "Memories," with silver vinyl.   We thought about "Admit One," which most of the pins on pinterest say, but Courtney, being different, thought that "Memories" better suited her.  Oh and we place the word "Memories" on the outside of the box so that no matter how full her box is, you will always see the word, "Memories."

It was really and easy project, except for the cutting of the hole and Phillip helped us with that one.

…everyone called by My name and created for my glory.

I have formed him; indeed, I have made him.

Isaiah 43:7

Blessing to all ~

Carla

New Shelves with Fall Decor

  Finally, I have my shelves!!! Thanks to my Hubby!!!

 I have a 5 foot wall in between my dining room and my kitchen that is basically a walkway, so you really can't put furniture there or it seems crowded.  I've had in my head for some time to hang two three foot shelves on this wall.  I didn't want floating shelves, I already have those in my living room and I really wanted something that was made out of wood, real wood, so I could paint them  and change them up if I desire and they would last.  So this past weekend my hubby made them and painted them, I was as tickled as a kid in a candy store!!!

As you can see, I mainly used my Fall and Halloween Decorations as a quick fill on the shelves, I may just change out the seasonal items until at least after Christmas.  You never know about me, I may change it up tomorrow. ha!

My owl is new to the my Halloween decor this year, I fell in love with him the moment I saw him.  He's different from the everyday jack-o-laterns, witches and ghosts.

I found this Halloween Subway Art here and printed it at my local Sam's for less then two dollars.  The cute little pumpkins my MIL made several years ago, I have several of these pumpkins in different colors, fabrics and sizes through out the house that she has made.

I like my sign and in fact I am thinking about making a December 25 for Christmas in green and red.  I really think I should :)

Prior to hanging the shelves I took down this mirror that was, well out of  it's place on this wall since the day I hung it there but I did just because I really had nothing else to put there at the time and no where else for the mirror. 

                                    

What I had not realized though was that everyone seem to use it, so I found this cute round mirror to hang with the shelves. I love the color, however it's not really the right color for this area. I think I made tone it down just a little with some white paint but still let some of turquoise show through.

Happy October!!

In Him all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden.

Colossians 2:3

Blessings to all ~

Carla

A Little Organization

It's been a while since my last post and I won't go into all the reasons why I haven't posted but the MAJOR one has been the increase of my migraines.  For the ones of you that don't know, I've battle with migraines since a car wreck in 2006. I average one migraine every 7-9 days and it usually last about 3 days with meds.  Recently I have had two within the last month that last 7 days and now they are occurring every couple of days.  So I really haven't gotten a whole lot done and have been well let's just say depressed.  I see my neurologist on the 18th, that's the earliest he could see me.   Anyway enough about that!!!

Let me just say I love to organize and if I had the time and the money, I probably spend it reorganizing my whole house, but for now I will settle of finding things like this one at my friends yard sale on Saturday.  I even told her what she could do with it before I bought it.

 I think I may have to splurge and purchase at least one more for our Kool-aid, unfortunately it will not be a $1.00.  Ha!! It feels so good when I declutter an area, I love it!!

I will exalt you, my God the King;

I will praise your name forever and ever.

Psalm 145:1

Blessings to all~
Carla



Cricut Time

Last night, I was able to spend a couple of hours in my scrapbook craft room, yes I've realize that I need to change the name of my room seeing how I spend more time on other craft projects then scrapbooking.   I purchased this ceramic plate at TJ Maxx for hardly nothing.  I love the shape of the plate so I added Phillip and my monogram to it in a beige, as of right now my plans are for it to go in our master bedroom, which is in need of a mini-makeover. 

 These are clipboards I made for a friend's kids.

 I love what you can do with vinyl and the cricut.  I made several of these Spartan clipboards for the guidance office last year.  Oh and don't you just love the capital T on my friend's inital, makes me want to put a T on something at my house.  Ha!!  Yes, I love making things for friends.  I get that honestly from my parents.  There's a true joy there when you make something for someone and you can see the appreciation that they have for what you have done.

Hope everyone has a wonderful Labor weekend!!! 

May the name of the LORD be praised.

Job 1:21

Blessings to all~

Stepping Stones

Remember that 19 inches of concrete that they had to bust through for the deep end of the pool. Well, because of that rock, we now have these awesome stepping stones. I will say that the first one there that looks like Africa or if you look at it side ways it looks like Kentucky. It weighs close to probably 600 pounds. It is so heavy that the three of us couldn't lift it. We rolled it from the back of the yard up to the house on PVC pipes sorta like what the Egyptians would have done years ago. Yes, it took us forever, but was worth it. 

If you're wondering, the bare dirt to the left will be filled with rock and plants as soon the fence is put up around the pump.  These stepping stones lead you to the pump and to the side gate.

Trust in Him at all times...pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge.

Psalm 62:8

 
Blessings to all~

Took a Plunge....Splash!!

YES.....We took a BIG plunge this summer and it has made a BIG SPLASH in our backyard!!!!  After 7 years of being members at the Southland Family Pool, we cashed in our membership and decided it was time to make a SPLASH in our own backyard.  Actually we had been contemplating it for a year or so but finally it is DONE and I will say once they got started, WOW, did it happened quickly!!!  What a backyard makeover!

Beginning of Day1 (June 14th): Nothing but flat surface when you look out from the back of our house, standing on our covered patio.

Side picture of our yard, before the dig!

 The first dig...keeping our fingers crossed that they do not hit ROCK!!!

Shortly after lunch, we'll you guessed it.....they hit ROCK......19 inches from 8 feet and they hit ROCK!!! We had two choices: 1. stop and make it a 6 foot pool which would still require adjustments to be made since the pool has already been dug and sloped for 8 feet, meaning rock would need to be brought in, ha! OR option 2. rent a jackhammer that would attach to the excavator and hope that they could bust through the ROCK.  I will say that the hole diggers were dedicated they work a LONG day in the HOT sun trying to make it through to 8 feet.  This is where we ended up on the first day.

End of Day 2 - All walls are up and the footer is poured.  They were able to BLAST through the 19 inches of ROCK, now the kids will have their diving board. 

End of Day 3 - This morning they came and finish the floor of the pool and put the liner in.  Both Phillip and I were at work and believe it or not both kids slept through all of it (after spending all of day one and two watching the process the choose the most interesting day to sleep).  Jonah work up around 1:30ish and they were starting to fill the pool.  Can you believe 3 days and we are this close to have a pool full of water??

Day four - we went to Holiday World so I didn't take any pictures plus all that happened that day and day 5 was filling of the pool which was a slow process and laying of pipes (boring). 

End of Day 6 -As you can see by the end of day 6 the gravel was around the pool and it was filling. 

End of Day 7 (1 week) - Courtney makes a splash!!!  Yes, that is dirt in the pool.  Because it was so DRY, every time the wind blew, clay dirt blew right into the pool.  Something we had to battle with until we got the sod laid.  One week after they started and the kids are swimming, unbelievable!!

The following week was a slow week as far as progress.  We had to wait on the inspector, then the electrician, but the water was cool and the little amount of time that the workers were there did not keep the kids out of the pool.  I am standing where the grill area is going to be looking out over the pool, which is off of the patio at the back of the house.

Two Weeks: Pool deck is done!  Hard part is the kids had made plans to do nothing but lounge in the pool on this day.  Had to keep everyone including the the four legged fury guys running around the backyard.

As you can tell by the picture below we are pretty much done, with the exception of the mound of dirt and one more small project, well maybe two.  Two weeks after the pool was started during record high temperatures, we spent the weekend laying sod, 4 pallets.  We were about to die, it was so HOT!!!!  That following week we had nothing but record high temps and NO rain but thank the Lord we are now seeing rain which the new sod and our water bill is appreciating.

   

"The LORD is good to all: and His tender mercies are over all His works."

Psalm 145:9

Blessings to all~

Orange Juice Cake and Cake Carrier

Here we go again.....this is what you get when you mix creativeness, vinyl and a cricut machine.  I made this cake carrier two years ago and use it all the time.  I have since made several for gifts and for friends including the rectangle ones that holds cupcakes, the possibilities are endless.  By the way the reason mine looks like it does right now is because of what is inside it......

.....a fresh out of the oven Orange Juice Cake.  This is one of those cakes that my family can not wait until it comes out of the oven.

 Here's the recipe, just in case you're interested:

• 1 butter cake mix  (just the mix)
• 1 regular size box vanilla pudding (just the mix)
• 1 cup orange juice
• 1/2 cup oil
• 4 eggs

Mix all ingredients, pour into a bundt pan that has been sprayed with flour baking spray.  Bake for 50 minutes at 350 degrees.  Once cake is done poke holes in cake (I use a large serving fork) and pour the glaze over top and let cake set in the pan for 30 minutes. (no longer)

Glaze (boil for 2 minutes):

• stick of butter
• 1/2 cup of orange juice
• 1 cup of sugar

Hope you and everyone that indulges in your cake, enjoys it. 

"O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory above the heavens."

Psalm 8:1

Blessings to all~

Vinyl and my cricut

Spent some time this morning in my scrapbook room working on a couple of projects with my cricut machine and some vinyl.  Let me just say one thing if you have a cricut machine and have not tried using vinyl then you have no idea what you are missing out on.

The first thing that I added my decorative touches to was this tin utensil holder for a friend.   She said that she purchased it on clearance last season at Dillards and thinks it was for holding glass bottles not knives, spoons and forks, which is what she has been using it for.  It really turned out cute.  If you're wondering it is brown not black dots with the white.  I wouldn't mind having one for myself.  too cute!!!

My second project and the rest of my morning projects were for me.  I've decorated lots of buckets over the years but this one is going to be kept on the covered patio so that sunscreen and bug spray is within reach outside and no one has to run inside for that stuff.

Now this project I did not do this morning but thought I would share it since tomorrow is Father's day.  I did this back in the winter.  The plate is from the dollar store.  I made several of them , one for almost every occasion to switch out on this cookbook stand in my kitchen.  That is were my next project comes into play.

This white plate I picked up at TJ Maxx last summer and I've been wanting to do something with it but wasn't sure what.  I thought about using it as a dry erase board but wasn't too crazy about the idea. Then I was coming into the problem of having nothing to put on my stand during the occasions when I didn't have a plate, so this is what I came up with.  I'm pleased with it.  Not to sure if I love the font, haven't used this cricut font too much.

Hope everyone has a great Saturday and a wonderful weekend.

God's way is perfect. All the LORD's promises prove true.

Psalm 18:30

Blessing to all~

Getting Ready for Summer

Let me just start by saying we went about purchasing a patio set all the WRONG way but it truly turned out to be the best decision (shopping wise) that I have made in a long time. Ha!! We've been looking everywhere for a patio set.  We did not want a glass top or chairs with cushions. 
Last Sunday after dropping Jonah and Courtney off at church camp, Phillip and I did a little shopping in TN.  We found everything that we were looking for except for a table.  On Monday, Phillip and I rode to Amish outdoor furniture store and look what we found.....

From the moment I saw it I knew it would be a match if it was black.  I offered the guy a little less for it then he had it marked at, which is something that I normally don't do.  But I ended up getting it for a bargain and couldn't wait until I could attack it with black spraypaint.

It is a really heavy table.  I can't wait to get it all together. 

Oh and the shape of the base, I love!!!! 

Phillip was so sweet and spent an hour putting the chairs together for me this evening.  I was a little anxious to see how they would look with the table.

Sadly, I didn't get a picture of the finished project on the chairs.  Since we are still working on our backyard project, we put the chairs and the table in the garage for the time being BUT at least they are READY to be used once we finish the backyard project.  Yes, this is the summer of projects :)

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Blessings to all~

Carla