"Life seems but a quick succession of busy nothings." (Mansfield Park)

As I close out the year (Merry Christmas, by the way!!!), it is with a resolution to put the rough year behind me and move on to better and brighter things. So I am rededicating myself to my Dollies (I had taken a two month hiatus and will start the new year back with my gals) and to my crafty goodness... My preoccupation with all things personal caused me to lose my scrappy mojo. BUT this snowstorm that left us with 31 inches and snowed in did a lot to re-up that scrappy drive!

So, rather than wait till the last minute, I decided to start on my "senior" cards for the Class of 2011... For that ONE student who is a follower of this blog, STOP reading my posts from now on, lol! :) You will ruin the surprise! :)

For those of you who don't remember, last year I made individual cards for the graduating senior class... And left myself a three week deadline to make forty six cards. Though I made it within the deadline, that was a painful three weeks, and it stinks when your hobby begins to feel more like work than play! :) SO, I figured I'd start a bit earlier and space it out some more... :)

The first card for this year's class is the one below... It's actually for a young lady that I don't technically have in class, but the stamp, colored in, LOOKS like the kid... :) Isn't it funny when that happens?

This one is being submimtted for Kenny K's final challenge of the Year (distressed), as well as Charisma Cardz' Pearl and Lace Challenge. The Holla Back girl is from Kenny K, and the awesome sentiment is from Create with TLC (I KNOW I've mentioned how awesome Paulette's freebies are!!). Thanks for looking, and I just MAY have some more cards to post before the new year! :)

Baby, it's COLD outside!

SO, I'm inside enjoying a warm home, a toasty oven, a lit tree, and a loving family... what more can I ask for? (Besides more scrappy time!) :)

What about YOU? What are you thankful for this holiday season? My top five are as follows:

5. My friends at Design Dollies... I love them gals...(and dude!!)

4. My job... it has its ups and downs but definitely is a blessing

3. A warm house, no matter where we end up

2. My loving, caring family and friends

1. The ability to freely celebrate Christ's birth!

AND of course, onto the art... I played with a friend's outlines stamps and LOVE the pointsetta effect... Popped up, this card is a doozy...

This one has some stickles around the edges (so I can't send it to OWH!) and a blinged out diamond... AND some blinged out lace effects that I absolutely ADORE!!! :) AND, it's respectfully submitted at my Dollies' favorite digi site, Some Odd Girl for this week's blingy challenge!

"I always deserve the best treatment because I never put up with any other." (Emma)

Hello blogland!! I have been REALLY MIA these days, and am SO missing my online friends... How ARE ya'll? :) I'm going through tons of personal things right now with the economy the way it is (STINKY!!), but I'm praying things turn around soon! In the meantime, I haven't been as crafty as I'd like, but I have been playing around with my stash here and there. :)


Like this little sweetie using 50's Mae (Some Odd Girl) in black and white with beige (in accordance with Robin Funge's challenge at My Partner in Crafting Crime as well as Paper Cutz's Anything Goes challenge!




WELL, that's all for now folks, but please do keep us in your prayers... :) Ciao!!

"There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort." (Emma)

I have been in the biggest funk for the past month or so... And it has affected my scrapping, my health, and EVERYTHING. :( BUT... I made myself snap out of it because I have a couple of baby showers coming up in a few weeks (funny, ever since Elijah was born so many people are being bitten by the baby bug... he's going to have LOTS of friends to play with when he gets older!) :)

SOOOOOO... This one is for my old College friend Rachel, who is having a baby girl in November. I'm SO happy for Rachel--she is going to be such a great mommy and she has waited so long for this blessing! :) AND baby girl clothes are SO much cuter than boy ones! :)

Challenges: Charisma Cardz (Vintage)

And this one is for my darling friends Elizabeth and Aris... Elizabeth and Aris were married on May 16th of this year, and are expecting their first bundle of joy in February... Sadly, I missed the wedding because Elijah insisted on arriving two months early; the DAY before the wedding!!!!

BUT, I'm so excited for them because this couple is especially close to my heart... I've known them for over fifteen years (scary) and honestly, Aris has been crushing on Elizabeth since day one. BUT it took them about fourteen years to get it together lol... And now they are on the right track! :)

Challenges: Whiff of Joy (Distressing)

Thanks for taking the time to check out my little creations... Please leave some love if you have time! :)

The Birthday Patrol

Melanie's 7th Birthday is right around the corner so we are planning her Spa themed party over the next few days. AND, my homie Kristy od Some Odd Girl created a Special Spa Kaylee JUST for such an event!

So, this week's Design Dollies Elements challenge was to use the Happy Birthday theme in a project. I was able to finish Mel's invites RIGHT on time for this one lol!

Thanks for looking!

"It requires uncommon steadiness of reason to resist the attraction of being called the most charming girl in the world." (Northanger Abbey)

My youngest sister just turned fourteen this month, and WOW, it's amazing to me how time flies... In honor of her birthday (and my dwindling pocket book!) I decided to make her this back to school gift pack using one of my favorite Kenny K images and some Bo Bunny papers I picked up at Scrap-A-Doodle Doo...

So the first piece in this puzzle was the altered tin container that I got for a Queen swap some time ago... It reminded me how much I LOVE to alter things! :)
Then I made these little notecard thingies using ANCIENT lined paper from my Creative Memories days (I KNOW... I hoard things FOR EVER!!). I cut up one of the Bo Bunny sheets and mounted 'em to make 'em look modernized...And then there's the altered composition notebook (again, one of my all time favorite things to alter!!)

And the altered memo notebook thingie (I went to town with the ribbons on the edge...)
And THEN I altered some pens with flower tops and glimmer mist And a laminated bookmark to round the whole gift out.

I have to say, being broke has reawakened my crafty side, lol... Serina definitely felt the love, and although I would've preferred shopping for NEW stuff, using stuff from my super old stash was nice too! :) I definitely think I'll be making similar sets as time goes on cause I think overall I spent like six dollars on the whole gift... Not bad on my budget! :)

The gift pack was made for:

• The Design Dollies color challenge (Black, White, Pink, Blue)


• Kenny K's challenge this week is music (I chose Download Diva cause she's listening to her Ipod, which is what Serina ALWAYS does these days!) :)


• Daisy Doodles has an Anything Goes Digi challenge


• The theme for the Pixie Cottage is "Back to School" (which this giftie was ALL about Serina going back to school and using it there!)


• AND Paper, Scissors, Rocks ALSO had a "Back to School" theme to play along with!

So there you have it bloggers... We are in full swing with Back to School preparations now, and I am VERY excited to be returning to the classroom next week... Melanie starts on Wednesday so I'm hoping to be able to scrap a back to school page for her before the weekend is over! Happy scrapping to YOU! :)

Perspective

I know, I know... it's been FOREVER since I scrapped a page. And my son is already three months old and NOTHING! :) SO, for Kristy's sketch challenge this week, I finally cranked out a page with Elijah as its central feature... (and looky looky... the One Stop Craft Challenge this week is to do anything BUT a card, lol... How true to my life!) The letters on the wooden blocks also make this poage appropo forthe S2G letters challenge (NBF baby!).

Elijah is so much healthier and chubbier and sturdier than he was when he was born! BUT a lot of people who saw his picture on Facebook wouldn't have really understood exactly how tiny he was when he was born at 4 lbs 11 oz... He was so FRAIL! :) So I took these pics, one zoomed in and one zoomed out, to show how really tiny he was in comparison to the chair he was sitting in... It basically swamped him! :) but zoomed in he looks adorable nevertheless! :) (Biased?!)Anywhoo, I'm so grateful that he is growing strong and keeping his head of hair! :) And I have GOT to get scrapping on his pics... and then all of last year's pics that piled up during my pregnancy and lack of mojo! :)

Darcy to Sir Lucas: "Every Savage can dance" (Pride and Prejudice)

LOL, WELL, this adorable little Magnolia is DEFINITELY not a savage! :) I am in LOVE with the Charleston Magnolia (very much "me" in theme...) And I got the sentiment from my new favorite sentiment site, Creating with TLC... She has SERIOUSLY got some amazing freebies, and even more inspiration at the store!
So this week's Design Dollies challenge is to incorporate a recipe of the color RED, at least three Ovals, a flourish, Glitter, and two Patterned Papers. And this week's Just Magnolia challenge is to get sentimental with it... (Did I mention how much I LOVE the sentiments at Create with TLC??)

Oh gosh, AND while I'm playing with my blog today, I would ALSO love to show ya'll my color creation for Design Dollies this week (navy, mint, and cream)... I'm LOVING the Magnolias, ya think?I am STILL trying to master the Copics and they're SO easy to play with using Magnolias... I got those crochet flowers from a friend a WHILE ago, and have been hoarding them ever since... And the crystal leaves were a find at Scrap-A-Doodle Doo (who is carrying Magnolias now, and I MISSED them!!!). Anywhoo, thanks for looking, and happy scrapping! :)

"There is no charm equal to tenderness of heart." (Emma)

As the summer draws to a close, I'm beginning to feel the pinch of time! I should SO be working on lesson plans and seating charts... instead, I'm trying to make "one last card" every day. :) AND, for those of you who know that I've been working out of my closet and dining room table area... I officially have a scrap space:

SO, the need to craft is even STRONGER now that I have a piece of the basement all to myself (or I should say, for Melanie and me to play!)

And play I have... Tonight's card was made using Some Odd Girl's Tiny Tia (who is beyond adorable and absolutely looks like Kristy's daughter Esme!) for their Ribbons and Rub Ons challenge this week... I totally had fun cracking out an old pack of rub ons that I've been hoarding forever (and now can find thanks to my new space!!)...

Anywhoo... I go back to work on September 1st, so hopefully I'll be able to play a little more before I have to get back to the grind... Happy scrappin!

"Give a girl an education and introduce her properly into the world, and ten to one but she has the means of settling well" (Mansfield Park)

So one of Melanie's babysitters is off to college this week, and I am TRYING to make her a quick gift set to take with her as a thank you for saving my sanity so many times! :) (Her name happens to be Melanie too, which MY Melanie loves!). I will miss her, but I do wish her ALL the best in college! Wow, I feel like I just left college... but it's been a whopping eleven years now (ouch!) since I graduated. How time flies!

This card was made using Kraftin' Kimmie's Clara, for this week's challenge of scallops, buttons, and bling... AND, Anything Goes at Stampin for the Weekend! Thanks for looking!

Gettin Wavy!!

And the summer is almost over!! :( I'm not totally bummed though... I can't wait for regular adult conversation, even if it's with teenagers! :)

This week's Design Dollies elements challenge calls for the incorporation of WAVES into one's project, and I absolutely HAD to play with Some Odd Girl's Kody and a gorgeous sentiment from Create with TLC:

As you can tell, I'm STILL struggling with copics here and there. I liked the way thewaves came out with the distress inks more than with the copics, not to mention my OFF shading... BUT I did have fun making the card, which is half the battle! :)

Also from Some Odd Girl, I played with Magic Mae for this week's color challenge (Orange, Royal Blue and Teal/Aqua) for my niece's birthday card... AND I lifted that sentiment from Create with TLC as well! :)

AND while I am talking about making cards, well... I sold THREE of them at Scrap-A-Doodle Doo! I couldn't believe people would actually scoop them up, and yup... I think the ones that sold were the Magnolia and WOJ 6X6 cards I played with some posts ago, and that just feels down right GOOD! :) I'll be bringing some more over there eventually, but for right now, I'm just BASKING in the glow of positivity... SO, happy scrappin folks! :)

TV Tuesday!!!

Hello all! :) Tuesdays mean another chance to play along with the Elements challenge over at Design Dollies, and this week's challenge is to use a TV theme song as inspiration. I have been LOVING "How I Met Your Mother" since its debut, and although I don't get to watch it every week, it really is a funny show... Now granted, the song's theme song (Hey Beautiful) works for the TV show well, it also worked well for the title of this card:

To make this quickie baby, I FINALLY whipped out some Crafty Secrets stickers I had been hoarding for well over a year... so be prepared to see more of that kind of girly vintage theme in my work soon, since I'm TRYING to create a matching set... I'd like to box em up either as a gift or a theme for sale at Shabby Chic (the store I'm TRYING to secure a consignment at!). I've already got a handful up for sale at Scrap-A-Doodle Doo, and I'd love to get some more of my items out there so I can keep up my habit... in this economy, it's getting expensive to pay for my paper addiciton! :) Thanks for looking!

A brand new Sponsor for August!

Check out this week's Elements Challenge over at Design Dollies and play along with our Friendship theme for a chance to win a Basic Grey Card Kit sponsored by Scrap-A-Doodle Doo!!! The challenge was to create a project in honor of Friendship day (which was August 1st, who would've thunk??)

For my card I whipped out the Java Bellas (it's been TOO long, my friends...) and I colored them in with Distress inks (my NEW favorite medium... Copics are proving to be harder than I thought!) :)
The sentiment is very Jerzey Girl, no? (Perfect since I'm obsessed with the Real Housewives of NJ... that Kim G is a PHONEY! And I am BEYOND tired of Danielle!! BUT it was great to see Dina again this week! I think I miss her!) :)

So there you have it... come out and play with the Dollies for a chance to win an adorable prize pack from my favorite LSS, Scrap-A-Doodle-Doo! AND check out the Scrap A Doodle Doo Blogspot to see what we're up to while you're at it! :)

"There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort." (Emma)

And as much as I'd like to stay at home all day making cards, I have to go shower and pick up my youngest sister for a while... BUT Melanie and I started the day making cards (and playing with our new "Handsome Oakley"... on whom Melanie has admitted she may have a crush... I totally lifted the idea of pairing him with Willow with coffee from Jacqui over at the Whiff of Joy challenge blog, and I LOVE how it worked so much that he's definitely going to be "paired" more frequently!

I used this week's sketch from The Pink Elephant to play with this coffee inspired card.... So I think I'll have to stop at Starbucks on the way from Serina's! :)

Thanks for looking!

Doll Hop Winner and your LAST chance! :)

Thank you to ALL of you hoppers out there who took the time to play along with the Design Dollies this past weekend! We all genuinely had a blast learning about you as you learned about us, and we definitely felt the love!! :)

I guess my quiz was a little trickier than I originally thought, as I had NO winners for that one, but my "All about Me" winner is... Aleisha! When you get a chance Aleisha, email me your addy and I'll post your prize ASAP! :)

This week's Elements Challenge at the Dollhouse was a Recipe challenge, asking players to include:

• The color Baby Blue
• Ink (and lots of it!)
• Masking (to get the masked effect)
• Newspaper print, or some sort of paper with words (like the cool dictionary papers they have, or just lots of words, kwim?)
• Stripes

And here's what I came up with as an example:(Can you tell I'm STILL working on my thank you cards???). So come over to visit the Dollies and play along for your last chance to win our awesome prize back from Scrap Attack! Hope to "see" you soon!!

"Woman is fine for her own satisfaction alone" (Northanger Abbey)

Ok, so maybe I didn't make this TOTALLY for my own satisfaction, but I AM pretty happy that I FINALLY have Magnolia stamps of my very own, lol! :) I'm thinking of starting a shabby chic line and maybe peddling my wares across town to try and actual (gasp) sell some... I saw some handmade Cricut cards at the Flower Shop in town recently, and, well, I figured if she can do it, so can I! :) So wish me luck...

This one was made using the Friday Sketchers sketch and is my very first entry for the Just Magnolia challenge site as well!

The Dollies are Taking you on a Hop through the Dollhouse!

Hello there!!! Welcome to the final destination at a Dollilicious "Hop through the Dollhouse"!

If you've just finished being SO glam you can sweat glitter from Nicole's blog, then you're right on track. If you've just bumped into the hop by accident, head on over to the Dollhouse and start at the beginning... you'll come back here eventually! :)

This weekend we are inviting ya'll to get to know the Dollies just a little bit better... Especially since we've been blessed with the BEST Design Team members that have ever graced a keyboard... or scrap page! :)

By now you should have met two of the three founding members of Design Dollies, and you should DEFINITELY have gotten to see some of the sheer talent displayed by our amazing design team! So now, a little bit about me...

Name: Adina Medina (definitely God's sense of humor when picking my husband!)

Location: Jersey Baybay!

Stats: Married 8 years, with two beautiful children (Melanie, 6 and Elijah, 2 months)

Hobbies: SCRAPPING (duh) and more recently card making!

Misc: I have a love for all things vintage and girly. The more glitter and frill, the more "me." I also have a crazy shopping addiction that is NOT helped by my position on the Design Team for Scrap-a-Doodle Doo!

In honor of this Dollilicious Blog hop, I'd like to invite you to take a little quizzie poo... :) If you get all the answers right, you'll be entered for a chance to win THIS prize pack (Cricut NOT included lol!):Ok, so here we go... Check out the Dollie Banner at the top of this post and use the NUMBERS above each dollie as your response to the following questions (for example, if I were to ask "Which Dollie MOST looks like Leah L'Orange, you'd answer "Dollie #1"):

1. Which Dollie wishes Puerto Ricans could be Southern Belles? (hint, look CAREFULLY at this Dollie's layout, and it's there in her journaling!)

2. Which Dollie launched her own ODD Digi Stamping company (with AMAZING images, may I say!)

3. Which Dollie hails from Sweden and LOVES Scrapping Dolls... (Ironic, isn't it??)

4. Which Dollie had to sensor the drink title for her favorite alcoholic beverage (hint, it consists of 2 Parts Butterscotch Schnapps and 1 part Bailey's Irish Cream)?

5. Which Dollie lives in the same state as I do?

6. Which part-time Californian part-time Norwegian Dollie just started scrapping again this past April?

7. Which Dollie is a Philipina Pediatrician?

8. Which Australian Dollie is in SERIOUS need of a good album since she NEVER puts layouts into one...

9. Which REPEAT DT Dollie is a retired Biochemist turned stay at home mom?

REMEMBER, I don't necessarily want the Dollie's real name... I want you to use the numbering system at the top of the post to show me which DOLL representing the Scrapper is the one being described...

And FINALLY (geez, Adina, do you REALLY need us to work??) I'd like YOU to play along (as always!!) with the Dollies... Link up YOUR own "About Me" creation via Mr. Linky below, and I'll put your name into the pot for THIS prize:

(That's right, I've got TWO stashes ready for ya!!)

Your "About ME" page should include some journaling with at least five things that are uniquely "you" and should be uploaded before 10 PM EST on Sunday, July 25th. Winners for both candies will be announced at the Design Dollies blog on Tuesday, July 27th. If you have ANY questions, feel free to email me!! :)

"My idea of good company is the company of clever, well-informed people who have a great deal of conversation" (Persuassion)

And when you get Melanie and Gianna together, well, you're definitely in for a LOT of conversation! This layout was done for the Scrapbook Challenges ning group I recently stumbled across... the challenge was to lift a page of the week layout and make it your own... And it DEFINITELY helped me get some scrappy mojo back in my life! (And use some old Basic Grey papers that have been lying around FOREVER!! I seriously have a paper addiction... as I dug through MASSIVE amounts of paper, I realized I probably don't have to shop for paper for the next two years... do you think I can hold to that though?? I have GOT to get scrappy so I can USE that stuff!!)...

Rainy days...

It's raining something terrible out here in Jersey, which is a PERFECT time to stay home, nap, and play! :) The napping part won for MOST of the day, but I did manage to finish up one card, the FIRST with my new copics (just Mae's shirt and pants were with copics, the rest were water colors)... I'm still working on getting a collection of markers together but for now, they ARE fun to play with!

This one was made using the sketch from DRS Designs. The thank you sentiment was used to fit the challenges at Critter Sketch Challenges and at Clearly Inspired. Thank YOU for looking! :)

"What wild imaginations one forms where dear self is concerned! How sure to be mistaken!" (Persuasion)

This weekend was digi day at SNR Card Universe, hosted by my Dollies Kristy and Leah, as well as the rest of the Some Odd Girl crew... SO, I gave up on fruitless house cleaning (who am I kidding anyway?) and played with some of the gorgeous Mae digis that I have been DYING to color in... AND Melanie cracked open my new Magnolias for some crafty designs...

My mini me stole the show though...And she's SO proud of her first "layered" card:(as well she SHOULD be!!)

Melanie's card above and mine below were made for the sketch challenge hosted by SOG during digi day...Either way, we had TONS of fun playing together and only wish we could've finished MORE items before the crop ended! :)

"A large income is the best recipe for happiness I ever heard of." (Mansfield Park)

And since I have NO income this month, lol, I am going to have to stick to scrapping/card making for MY source of happiness! :)

Making me VERY happy these days is when I stumble across blogs that help me get that creative urge up and moving... LIKE Create with TLC, where you can get TONS of freebie Digi images and Sentiments, as well as some larger collections in the Store...

AND one of the more recent freebies was a vintage style cooking up kinda image, and well, you KNOW I had to snag it and pair it with some Graphic 45!!! :) Thanks for looking!!

SO, there's a challenge going on at Create With TLC if you like the digi image, (sentiment came from there too!!) and it's running until tonight, so head on over there and snag a copy to play along!! :)

Java Queen!

Have you SEEN the new Whiff of Joy City Girls release yet??? RIGHT up my alley... I'm currently brainstorming an ode to Starbucks card using the gorgeous "Willow with Coffee 2 go" but in the meantime, I HAD to play with her using some Bo Bunny papers and Prima flowers (for the Flower Power challenge at Magical Crafts!) that I purchased from Scrap A Doodle Doo... AND the sketch from this week's Whiff of Joy Challenges helped kick me in gear... As well as all the distressing (because I can't cut ANYTHING straight these days!!), per the challenge at One Stop Craft Challenges!

Thanks for looking and happy scrappin! :)

The dollies are at it again!

And with a sponsor this time!! Check out this week's elements challenge, which calls for you to use a song as inspiration (something relatively new, since 1990)... AND enter your projects for a chance to win our very first sponsored prize from Scrap Attack!

My entry was the VERY first layout I've created since FOREVER... and featured my darling Melanie with my "baby" sister Ashley at her college graduation... it's weird to see Ashley all grown up, when I still think of her at Melanie's age. Actually, there's a LOT about Melanie that reminds me of Ashley when she was a wee tike...

Red, White, and Blue!!!

It has been a SEMI scrappy week this week as I try to reestablish some sort of normalcy in my crafting... I worry though, that my creations lack a certain something because of my extreme exhaustion! I think I need to find a crop where I can be inspired by others while trying to regain my mojo! BUT, here's a patriotic card inspired by Kraftin Kimmie's sketch this week and Alice in Wonderland's color combo. AND I'd like to wish everyone a Happy and safe 4th of July!! :)

A little bit of sparkle...

FINALLY, we are moving into some sort of "normalcy" with the baby around... and set times where he is DEFINITELY sleeping and I have some sort of energy!! I even got to make three cards today, which felt GOOD! :)

This one is a sparkly creation using Kaylee and made for Melanie's BFF's birthday on Saturday... The pinks and glitter and glimmer and foil are ALL girl and ALL Melanie and Gianna! :)

Some Odd Girl's challenge was to use some sparkle... WELL, with sparkly foil paper, stickles, bling, glittery black paper and glimmer mist, I THINK I addressed THAT requirement! :)

The Pink Elephant also asked for the colors Pink and Black (PERFECT for these two girls...) AND I used a sketch provided by Mojo Monday... AND if you're stumped out there, be sure to check out the Design Dollies for inspiration and weekly challenges on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays! Happy scrapping!

"Behold Elijah is here" 1 Kings

Arriving about two months early and weighing in at 4 lbs 11 oz, Elijah Andrew Medina made his appearance on Sunday, May 16th at 9:19 AM... Because he's a little tyke, Elijah is still in the NICU for a few more days, but he's been doing so well...