LOAD - Layout a Day Challenge

I have been involved in a challenge this month on Big Picture Scrapbooking. It is to create a LO everyday for the month of January. This has definitly been a 'challenge' for me to keep up with, but so far I've done it!! I thought I'd share my layouts for the first half of the month on my blog! I'm working on my England album, trying to finish it, but I can't NOT do layouts of our sweet grandchildren so there is a mixture of both here! Thanks for looking!

Post-It Holder

I saw these on a website and just couldn't resist giving them a try. They are so cute and incredibly easy! I only had yellow post-its so can't wait to get some other colors. But I wanted to share them here.

Supplies needed: a 4x4 square chipboard coaster (if you don't have any blank ones, go to Chili's and ask if you can have a handful - they'll gladly give you a few!!), patterned paper, coordinating piece of ribbon, binder clip, adhesive, scissors, and a distressing file (good emery board or sanding disc will do!)(sorry - left that out of the picture!!)
Put adhesive on the back of the coaster and place it along the edge of the paper. Cut along sides then snip off the tip at each corner. Be sure you have put the adhesive along the edge so that when you sand it, it won't come up. Take your file and with a downward motion sand along the edges, smoothing and removing any excess paper. Cut a little piece of paper that fits the front flat edge of the binder clip and adhere it to the clip. Tie the ribbon to the clip, put the pad and the clip on the chipboard and you're done!! Makes great little gifts!
This is the website I first saw it on and you can watch the video by going to this website, scrolling down and clicking on the video.
http://chicnscratch.typepad.com/chic_n_scratch/
Enjoy!!

Gaylord Texan ICE visit

While our son and his family were here at Christmas, we visited the Gaylord Texan ICE exhibit. I highly recommend that you put this on your 'TO DO' list for next year. It was well worth the money for a family Christmas experience! Just visiting the Gaylord Texan is an experience within itself and doesn't cost a penny. You can see a video of the exhibit by googling Gaylord Texan. We're all glad that we went but would advise you to dress warm and wear gloves!! They give everyone entering the exhibit a long hooded coat to wear. We had layered clothing on plus our own coats underneath the coat they gave us!! They keep the ice at 9 degrees! It was cold! But FUN!
This is a part of a complete nativity scene including wise men, shepherds, animals, etc.














Here we are under an 'ice arbor'.

2008 IS HERE!! Happy New Year

I can't believe we're moving on into January now. We've finally got most of Christmas put away and I've started spending more time scrapbooking again. I did want to share these ornaments that I made for my grandchildren (well, actually for their mom!). Maybe it is something you'll want to keep in mind for next year. They're really easy and once you get 'one' made, the rest are easy!!


I used the large clear balls, chose a picture and converted it to black and white. Print it onto 'non smear' transparency film. After printing it and letting it dry, I had to cut it into a circle the approximate size of the diameter of the ball. I just used a circle cutter to do this. This is the trial and error part. Roll it up really tight and slip it into the glass ball. It should open up and stand up. If it didn't fit, I pulled it back out with long tweezers. This may or may not scratch the pic. If it does, I just had to reprint it. But you can go ahead and use this one to adjust the size. When you get it to fit right, then put the final picture in, add some snow or whatever you want in the bottom. I tried glitter mixed in with the snow, but the static made it cling to the ball and to the picture and I didn't like the way it looked. You could use sequins or confetti - whatever you want! I put some rub-ons on the outside of the ball. I used rub-ons to put the year and just a little saying like "Little Princess" or "100% Boy". These pics were taken before I added the ribbon to the top. They really turned out cute and I would highly recommend giving them a try! Here are a couple more pics.