I'm giving a whole new meaning to "the early bird catches the worm" this morning.  Not only am I up and functioning at 4:45am, but I'm also being productive.  Working on my blog and then heading to the scrap table to work on a paper angel for Christmas.  In fact, I'm on a roll with Christmas.

It's very rare that I make Christmas cards, but this snowflake idea has been on my mind for a while now.  And, just recently, I've discovered bridal tulle!  I'm loving that stuff.  It's so soft and pliable and adds great dimension.  I'm feeling the need to pick up a few more colors.  I just think that the little bit of tulle tucked into the snowflake gives it just that little something extra!

Well I'm off to the scrap table!  Enjoy your day and find some time to craft!

The holiday season is here and it all begins with my daughter's birthday this Friday, the 16th.  From there on it's all a blur.  I have been trying to get some gifts made this year.  So far I've managed to get two done.  I also hope to get to some handmade ornaments.  Don't be a hater, but I could use a good snowstorm to get me in the spirit.   Nothing like the beauty of freshly fallen snow to remind me of the wonders of the season!
I've been on a roll with shadowbox frames this month.  I've completed three so far.  Here's another that I will use for a Christmas gift.  All it needs is the frame!

Have a wonderful day and get busy on those handmade presents!  Christmas will be here in the wink of eye!

How lucky am I?  Shari sent me one of the Pins for Points that she created for October.  And it was so gorgeous that I knew it deserved a frame.  Isn't this one of the most beautiful cards you've ever seen?  I just love it!

Trust me when I tell you that the picture does not do it justice.  It is stunning in real life.  The layers of boughs behind the angels heads adds incredible dimension.   This will certainly become a treasured Christmas decoration in our home!  Thank you again, Shari.

And remember, each month we will be posting various pins from Pinterest to jump start your mojo.  So what are you waiting for?  Come join us at www.bostonscrapfanatics.com.

In my best singing voice:  It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, everywhere I go ...

But I am determined to honor Thanksgiving first!  I got a feeling the holidays are going to be a whirlwind this year.  I am feeling the pressure to get a few gifts made and have one finished so far.  Well, it's almost finished.  It needs to go into a 12 x 12 shadowbox frame.  I have it on order, and am just waiting for that wonderful UPS guy to deliver it!

It's for a friend that just had a baby boy.  The papers are G45 "Little Darlings" and the chipboard embellishements are from Crate Paper.  That little train just had to win a spot on the canvas!

I'm currently working on one other for Avery's Nana!  I'll post a picture of that one once it's done.  And, speaking of Avery, I'm almost done with her first year book.  I am holding two spots: one for a Thanksgiving picture and another for a Christmas picture.  Once I have those, the album will be completed.  Yay me!  It feels so good to finish a project!

Now on to BostonAreaScrapFanatics news.  We are doing "Pins for Points" again for November.  There are some great inspirational projects posted.  Check 'em out here:  www.bostonscrapfanatics.com  And, this past Saturday was our fundraiser Crop for Cooper.  It was a small event, but we did manage to raise $500. The highpoint of the day was Cooper's visit.  What a nice kid he is!  And a miracle!  That child is walking without assistance, speaking clearly, and showing no physical handicap.  Thank you God.

Well, it's Monday and I need to get a move on.

Have a wonderful day and an even better week!

Well Sandy you certainly left your mark on New England!  In all my 60 years, I do not remember a storm of such proportion here in the Boston area.  The damage left behind by this hurricane was unimaginable. All of our family and friends are safe, and I hope that yours' are as well.  So many were flooded out of their homes and others were evacuated for downed trees and loss of electrical power.  Just a crazy storm.  But we New Englanders are rugged souls and will manage to get through the aftermath of this historic storm.

One positive thing that Sandy brought along with it was time to stay inside and work on some projects.  I finally finished my wall decor project taught by Lynette Carroll at our September retreat.  And now I've got the bug to make another one.  

Here's the one that Lynette taught us:

I love how Lynette worked the little frames into the wall art.  It not only adds interest but also tons of dimension.  Those little white rectangles are holding place for photos.  I have some very old photos of family that I am hoping to put in place.

I am planning one out for a friend that recently had a baby boy.  I will be using G45 "Little Darlings" and I'm excited to get started on it.  

This weekend is "Crop for Cooper."  And I'm bringing this project along with me.  I will be sure to post a picture of it once it's done.

That's it for now.  

Happy Halloween!

I don't need to tell folks how difficult this economy has been on families.  I've been very blessed in that we have not been impacted by job loss, or home loss, or financial stress.  Unfortunately, that is not the case for everyone.  Specifically, many years ago (30+) I met a woman online at a craft site called Krafty Kreations.  It seems impossible that it was that long ago, but despite the years and the distance (she lived in Texas) we were able to remain good friends.  Olga has since passed, but with social media I have been able to keep in touch with her family.

Christina, is Olga's granddaughter.  And this is what I found on Christina's FB wall earlier today.  I am posting it here because I am of the strong belief that the meaning to life is people, and to help those we love when they are in need.  If you know me, then you know that I try to live my life accordingly and to share the many blessings that have been given to me.  If this is not the meaning of life, then I truly do not know what is.  

***

Ok Family and Friends , I am going to have a benefit for Rick real soon. He got let go from his job due to his illness. So no insurance to pay for him to see specialists. Going to need your help. I will post when and where soon. If you would like to help, or have any questions, inbox me. Thanks ♥ you guys!! God Bless

And as  a forward to her announcement of the benefit:  Ricky, Christina's husband, was hospitalized last week with what they had originally diagnosed as pneumonia.  After a surgery to relieve the fluid in his lungs, they determined that he had a staph infection in his lungs.  He was in critical condition and underwent yet another surgery.  He is home, but unable to work and in need of more medical attention.  The rest is explained in her FB post.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.  And, please feel free to email me at onlycarol1@comcast.net for her address, should you find that you are able to help out, in whatever way possible.  Thank you! 

Hellooooo Friday!  I'm up and at 'em early today!  I just love when I'm up and functioning (that means highly caffienated) well so early.  I love feeling like I have an edge on the day!

The morning news is on and the buzz is all about Hurricane Sandy.  It appears that she will be hitting us here in the Boston area, it's just a question of how badly.  But the Levesque's are ready - bring her on!  The only last minute tasks will be to bring in a couple of potted plants that are still out and thriving.

So I've been talking about all of the fun things happening on our forum.  I tell you, we have some very talented folks there.  They are kind of like hidden jewels in the sand.  If you've been following the blog, you've seen that amazing Halloween mini that Dawn made for our mini swap!  We are trying to convince her to send it along to G45 for publishing but Dawn's nature is quiet and unassuming and so far she's not feeling the need to take us up on our suggestion!

We also have our Holiday tag swap going on!  Then there's Pins for Points and Tina's weekly Tuesday challenges.  In other words, tons of inspiration for your scrappin' pleasure!

And, let's not forget the Crop for Cooper.  That's coming up quickly on 11/3.  You can email me for details: onlycarol1@comcast.net

I've got lots to do, so I better get a move on before today's early 'edge' is over!

Have a wonderful weekend.  See you soon!

It's another beautiful Fall day here in the Boston area.  Just lovin' this incredible weather.  

Yesterday, we closed down our NH house.  That's always a sure sign that winter's coming.  Even though winter is my favorite season of the year, it just doesn't make sense to pay ridiculous oil prices to keep the house heated and open during the cold months for an occasional weekend retreat.

Hey, there's still plenty of time to get involved in the October fun on the forum.  We have a mini album swap going on, a winter/holiday themed tag swap, Pins for Points and Tina's weekly Tuesday challenge!

Here's a photo of the a-mazing Halloween mini that my swap partner gave me.  It really blew me away - each page more beautiful than the one before it.  And, it's totally interactive - my favorite kind of mini!

Isn't that Boo-tiful!  Thanks to my partner Dawn for doing such an incredible job!

And, this week's Tina's Tuesday included some great free printable journaling spots.  Take a peek:

So handy to have!  Thanks, Tina!

That's about it for today.  Enjoy this fabulous New England Fall weather!

It's Monday and I had a great relaxing weekend and hope that you all did as well.  I got a few projects done around the house - and a little more on the never-ending scrap room organization!  I seem to be on an all white kick lately, and managed to get another layout done for Avery's book.  I'm loving the look of white on white.  I guess I'll have to move on to another color soon, as all of the Christening pictures are done and in her book already.  You honestly don't need much on an all white layout - just the white on white itself lends itself to a certain elegance.

Isn't the little dress cute? It's an origami pattern!

And, don't forget, we have some fun challenges going on at www.bostonscrapfanatics.com.  This past week, Tina's Tuesday challenge was inspired by the Presidential election.  Can't wait to see what folks come up with for that one!

Whoa ... has it really been two weeks since I've blogged?  Tsk tsk.  I really do need to get better at that! Especially because there is so much fun going on at www.bostonscrapfanatics.com that I want to share with you all.

First off, our "Pins for Points" challenge continues with Shari in the lead.  Here's a peek at her latest pin inspired project:

And, she drew her inspiration from this sketch which I had pinned on one of my Pinterest boards.

Yes, it's that easy.  I post a pin from a member's board and your challenge is to create a project that is in some way inspired by the pin.  It's a great way to actually make use of the pins that we spend so much time perusing!

We also have a tag/ATC swap going on.  Here's a peek at one I've completed for the swap.  The theme is holiday or winter.   Being that I love snow, this was an easy idea for me to pull off.

So, whether from the Boston area or not, it's a great time to head on over and join the forum.  We have lots of activities for everyone!  I truly do hope you'll join us.

Those that know me know that I love love love to play with paper and alter things - anything.  Here's my latest fun project.  I have no idea what I'll do with it, but it was mad fun to create!

I'm off to work on a skull head next!

I guess this cooler weather has me in the mood for Halloween!

And, as always, come on over to the forum to play.  We have a fun inspirational challenge going on "Pins for Points."  But hurry, because that will end at the end of October!

The forum is back up and running - THIS IS A GOOD THING.  The gallery however is not.  Crazy stressful weekend!

On a brighter note, look at what Shari created from Pins for Points.  She drew her inspiration from this:

And created this:

Yet another beautiful piece, Shari.  Just love it.  The detail is amazing.  Thanks for playing!

What a day!!!  In trying to fix the issues with the forum, I crashed the entire board.  I am waiting anxiously for our host to restore it.  Can I just say how stressful this has been?  OMG.  I hate that I cannot manage my own website - totally frustrating!

In the meantime, the fun over at www.bostonscrapfanatics.com continues with Pins for Points.  Here's a Pin that inspired me ... I just love the layers and the shapes and the colors!

Here's what I did with it:

I just love when I can use up old papers and embellies, don't you?  This is an old Basic Grey "Autumn Leaves" pack that I've had for ages now!

Well let's hope the forum is back soon.  See you there!

The fun has begun with Pins for Points.  Check out this pin:

and now check out what Shari did with it!  Adorable, Shari.

There's so much inspiration on Pinterest and now we're putting it to good use.  Come join the fun at:
www.bostonscrapfanatics.com.

Keep an eye here for more awesome projects from the BASF members!

Well it's officially October!  I have no idea where September went, but I welcome the change of seasons with the cooler weather and the beautiful colors.

For those of you that visit here and would like to get to know us better, we have a fun challenge going on over at www.bostonscrapfanatics.com.  Being that so many of us are hooked on Pinterest, I've decided to turn it into some fun.  Now you know you have pinned and pinned and pinned away.  But have you actually ever gone back to those pins that you just had to save because they were so full of inspiration and apply them to a project?  Chances are, like the rest of us, you haven't.  Soooooooooo we've introduced Pins for Points.

This is how it works:  Each month, at random times, I'll post random pins.  Your challenge is to take the pin and use it to inspire you to create something.  A layout.  A card.  An ATC. An altered project.  The choice is yours.  Post a picture of it to the appropriate thread by month's end and earn a point.  You can earn one point each time you take a pin and use it to inspire a creation by you.  And, after you have posted it to the thread, if you RAK a member with it, you can earn an extra point.  At the end of the month, the person with the most points wins a prize.  It's that simple.

So, if you are wondering who we are, come on over to www.bostonscrapfanatics.com and join in on the fun.

Hope to see you there!
Carol

Just a quick update to let you all know about an important and fun event.  BostonAreaScrapFanatics is hosting a fundraiser for Cooper Griffin.  100% of the proceeds will go to Cooper's family to assist with expenses related to his recovery from a traumatic brain injury.  You can read more about Cooper here:

http://www.eagletribune.com/haverhill/x1289991800/Friends-jump-in-to-help-Haverhill-boy-hit-by-car

Contact me at onlycarol1@comcast.net or sue_clarke@hotmail.com if you have any questions.  We would love to have you join us to make this a successful fundraising event.  Thanks for considering it.

Phew!  Life has been a bit of a whirlwind since returning from our retreat.  I still have to get back to everyone that's emailed me, and I will do that, honestly.

Since returning I've started a new job, Mic has had surgery and I've begun renovations in my kitchen and upstairs at Eligio's apartment.

I've managed to get one layout done and that's about it!  I still need to finish up my "Unforgettable Memories" canvas from Lynette's class.  And, speaking of that, on Tuesday of this week, Lynette emailed me a set of complete step-by-step instructions.  If you would like a copy, email me at onlycarol1@comcast.net and I'll send you a copy.  I do hope that those of us that haven't finished our projects will do so.  I cannot wait to proudly display mine in my Living Room.

Enjoy the crisp air and fall colors.  We'll chat again soon.

So far, week one on the new job is going smoothly.  I really am enjoying the folks I work with.  Of course, there's always something new to learn and that's a bit stressful, but I'll get it soon enough.  As internet-connected as I am, there's so much I know nothing about.  I need to familiarize myself with Google Voice, Google Documents, a website based email and a host of other stuff.

Thank God for relaxing moments in my scrap room.   I've been wanting to try to create a quilted-look background and because I don't sew it's been a challenge trying to pull off the right look.  Here's what I've come up with so far:

I scored the cardstock, at an angle, in one inch increments.  Then I folded it on the score lines, inked those edges and added some knots.  I am pleased with how it came out!  Not bad for a woman that is sewing machine phobic!  Of course, I had to keep checking in with my friend, Shari, to ask her about the knots (wasn't sure if they were knots or bows) and placement of them.  All in all, I like the end result.

Fall is in the air, and I LOVE it!  I am so enjoying this cooler air!  And with Fall comes some awesome opportunities to play with paper.  There's layouts, home decor, Halloween decorations, etc.  Look at what our Shari found in her web travels.  It's an awesome template to create a witch's shoe.  Love it!

http://www.skiptomylou.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/witchshoe.pdf
http://www.skiptomylou.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/witchshoeinside.pdf

Just click to open and print.  I am hoping to find some time to play with it myself.  I love free printables.  Thanks, Shari!

Well it's Wednesday and I think it's safe to say that I am fully recovered from our weekend Retreat.  I was overwhelmed by all of the positive responses that I received from all that attended.  And as requested, I have reserved the Inn again for 9/27, 9/28 and 9/29, 2013.  Most thought it would be an awesome weekend, a little later in the year, so that we could enjoy some of the Fall decorations and foliage!

Let's see - what other news do I have to share with you all.  Oh, we are having another weekend away in February.  The dates are 2/15, 2/16 and 2/17.  This time we will be escaping to the Staybridge Suites in Burlington, MA.  I will be working out the details in the next few days and will post them sometime soon.
(Can't wait to see everyone again!)

A very special thanks to Mishe for the awesome job she did on the letterboxing clues!  Our own Becki Warshow was the first one to return with all of the letters stamped.  Congrats Becki!  So glad you played!

And, that Grand Calibur was won by a newcomer to our events - Sally Cook.  I was so happy for her as it was something that she really wanted!  It's funny how those things work - Sally had but one ticket in the  pot and Frances had 18, yet Sally won!  Congrats Sally.  Enjoy!

Also, thanks to those of you that took the time to FB me, or email me or message me on the forum to tell me how much you enjoyed yourself and how you felt it was a well run event.  I really do try and it's nice to hear that folks appreciate all that goes into hosting a weekend retreat!  I am committed to hosting events that are not only fun but affordable!  So thank YOU all!

As usual I got very little done.  But I did manage to finish Maria's haunted house/mini book for the swap over at www.bostonscrapfanatics.com  However, I forgot to get pictures of it for the blog, but I'm hopeful that Maria will take some and forward them to me!  Maria? LOL

I also managed to get one layout done - just one! It's another to add to Avery's first year book.  I hope you like it!  I loved the photo and knew it needed to go into her album.

Well that's about it for now.  Chat with you all soon!