NERD!

OMG, am I really a nerd?!?!?! Ahhhhhhhhhhh!

MIA

First off, I want to say I'm sorry for not answering anyone... or visiting your blogs for that matter. I've been VERY busy. Read on...

Yep, I've been a BAD blogger. Sooo much has happened in the past month that I haven't found many minutes to do anything. It started out with FIREWORKS galore. Every weekend from the middle of June through the first week August there is/was a fireworks festival somewhere in the Chicago 'burbs... and we visit them ALL! Our weekends have been full. The 4th of July weekend we managed to squeeze in THREE shows! And, because it's finally summer and NICE out, there are festivals everywhere too. So far we've been to Greek Fest (awesome food, fabulous heritage dancers), Kane County Fair (tons of critters, MONSTER trucks, haha), we saw Blondie at Summerfest in Milwaukee, then Joan Jett at Ribfest in Naperville (she's awesome!), and probably a few I can't remember right now. We went black-raspberry picking in the deep woods... can you say TICKS?!?! I had to burn a few off hubby but lucked out myself and got NONE. OMG, parades!!!! There is an endless supply of them recently, the longest being two-and-a-half hours! Of course, the grandkids are loving their summer with all the carnivals. This coming weekend, hubby is going Scuba Diving at a dive sight in Lake Michigan while I hang out on the sailboat (I hate water, but love boats... go figure). Of course there were a few birthdays thrown in there too. Julie turned three... our little special-needs princess. We bought her a tricycle that can also be pushed in case she doesn't learn to peddle. She LOVES it! I sure hope she learns to ride it! And Julie's mom, Amy, also had a birthday!

As if that wasn't enough, right? Well, on July 6th, my youngest son and his SO had ANOTHER premie. Jeremy was born at 1 pound 3 ounces and is soooooo tiny. No photos were allowed in the intensive care, and none of the pictures turned out well when he moved into the NICU because of the incubator reflections. FINALLY, on day eleven, he was removed from oxygen and the nurse took him out for a "sneak" picture. My son, Bob, is extremely excited to have a baby boy and is already making plans for fishing trips and baseball games, haha. I can see that Jeremy will grow up wearing a Chicago Cubs cap for sure! I'll be scouring the internet for sports clothes, haha. Anyway, here he is... scrapped QUICKLY because I need to leave soon to babysit the grandkids so my oldest son can visit the hospital.

Credits
Kit - About A Boy by Vicki Parker - blog "A work in progress"
Journaling Font - Peas Cassie by Rachael Scutt - blog Fonts for Peas
Name Font - Gills Sans Ultra Bold by Monotype Imaging

I'll probably be very scarce for at least another month until things settle down a bit. THEN I'll be able to check my email, if they haven't kicked me off for having full mailboxes, hahaha!

I forgot to post this!!!

Oh my goodness!!! A couple weeks ago I did a Half-n-Half challenge at 3Scrapateers and TOTALLY forgot to post it!!! This is done with a FABULOUS kit by Linda Walton (aka Bon Scrapatit Designs aka bobbysgirlforever) called "Jeanealogy of a Man". Awesome denim and leather textures... I love this kit! I bought Part 1 and created the LO below. THEN we got Part 2, just for participating, and a gorgeous alpha for joining in a chat. I have to say, this is now my new FAVORITE kit (20 papers, 124 elements, plus alpha!). She has such talent! This kit hasn't been released to the store yet but you can find her designs at 3S HERE or visit her blog HERE to find out when it will hit the store (and don't forget to snag her "scrapatits" while you still can). Okay, so this is my "part one" creation... my oldest son, Art, and his daughter (and my oh-so-cute granddaughter), Emma.

Kit: Jeanealogy of a Man and Scrapatizer by Bon Scrapatit Designs/Linda Walton
her BLOG - her STORE at 3 Scrapateers - her STORE at Treasures to Scrap

This past weekend was fun! Friday night we stayed home to watch TV... a relaxing way to start out. I think I was fast asleep by 9pm! Television does that to me though. The phone didn't even ring! How odd... I usually get a call from at least one of my kids!

Saturday morning, DH woke up and decided to have a garage sale (ughhh) and actually tried to sell all the stuff I had, at one time or another, thrown into the garbage. He is such a packrat!!! He'll save just about anything if he thinks he can make a nickel, haha. After 5 hours and with a profit of about $15, he packed it up for another time. He managed to get the pool cleaned out while waiting for people to come though! I will NOT do garage sales... at least not on the selling end. AND I won't go in the pool with people walking in and out of our backyard. I'm too old to be showing myself to others, LOL.

Then, Saturday night we went to a balloon festival in Elgin. There was tons of food, bands until dusk, train rides and a water park for the kids, and lots of happy faces. It was a beautiful day! About 20 balloonists set up their balloons for the Sunday launch in the park by the Fox River, and at dusk they ALL lit up! It was gorgeous!! But, dummy-me forgot to check the camera bag to see if the camera was actually in there. DUHHHH... I left it on my desk from last time I downloaded the pictures to my computer. I hope they do it again this summer so I can actually get some pics!

Sunday, I got a surprise visit from my oldest son and DIL. Can you watch the kids for an hour? HAHAHA... they NEVER are only gone an hour! But I took them, of course, and we had fun. Tayli kept begging to go in the pool but it was only 69 degrees out (F)... next time. So we ended up playing hide-n-seek. Emma had to get in on the fun too, even if she didn't know the rules! After an hour of running around the house, acting like a little kid, I was exhausted! I guess that's why adults (without kids anymore) don't play later in life... we don't have the stamina for it anymore, haha. They finally got picked up another hour later... and I took a much-needed nap.

Then we went to dinner at Olive Garden with hubby's mom, and hubby's brother and wife. It's one of my favorite places to eat.... the breadsticks are to die for! I had the Manicotti Formaggio, YUM, but my stomach felt it afterward!!! I'm "lactose intollerant" so everytime I have anything with cheese or milk, I DIE! Needless to say, I groaned and moaned almost the whole time at the fireworks we went to later in Cary for CaryDays. Silently though, so hubby didn't have a clue I was feeling like crap. I'd hate to ruin fireworks for anyway, haha. Anyway, that was my weekend... it ended with a bang (pun intended).

Somewhere in all that I actually had time to scrap! Okay, so I started this LO on Monday morning, but it was ALMOST still the weekend! Ahhh Scrap had their Grand Opening yesterday with a ton of freebies and games and sales. One of the freebies was for a challenge, Scrap Happens by Designs by Crazy Diamond and I just had to give it a try... scrapping "everyday life". So I used a template from a different challenge from STChallenges, scrapping with the quote "You can never..." and came up with this. What a mixture, huh? These are some of the many cats that visit us every day. Does anyone know of a farm in che Chicago 'burbs that need some "mice-catchers"?

-- Credits --
Kit: Scrap Happens by Designs by Crazy Diamond
Template: THD_t100 by Trish Heffner (Trish H. Designs)
Fonts: Ravie, Ryan BT, Princess BTN

Fireworks are here!

Busy busy busy. I love this time of year. Every weekend, sometimes twice, there's fireworks in almost every town. Last weekend I talked my oldest son and his family into coming with to the Elk Grove Village fireworks and carnival. I soooo love the sparklies and the BOOMERS are my favorite, though my grandchildren thought the world was exploding and CLUNG to mom and dad, haha. Anyway, this is another challenge LO that I'm finally getting posted. We were to use the template PLUS 3 triangles. I had no clue what to do with the triangles, LOL. I used digiMom's Designs awesome Americana kit (I'll be using that kit a LOT this month I hope if the pics turn out okay). Well, I probably won't be back until after mid-July... it's a busy time of year. Gotta have some WARM FUN! Happy 4th to those in the USA... and for those in the northern hemisphere HAPPY SUMMER!

Credits
Template: EricasTemplate12 by Templates by Erica
Kit: Americana by digiMom Designs
Doodles: doodles-alu-froisse by Lilou
Fonts: Forte, Bernard MT Condensed, Poplar Std

More challenge LOs...

The first week of template challenges is over at STChallenge finally. I got them all done, LOL. I'm not too happy them... why do I have to over-clutter?! Anyway, here they are.

June 6th

Template: No26 by Moriginals
Flower doodle: cc-OSB-Glitter01 by Kymm (creative.chaos)
Buttons: FunkyButtons by Tara Dunstan Designs
Brads & Denim papers: Jeanealogy kit by Linda Walton (Bon Scrapatit Designs) - Store link
Word tags: Commericial use DSM_CDD_Bursts by DigiskrapNMomma - recolored
Fonts: Britannic Bold, Bernard MT Condensed, Annie BTN

June 5th

Template: THD_t99 by Templates N More
Kit: Saturday In The Park by Bonscrapatit Designs (Linda Walton)
Fonts: Impact, Julietrose, Lemon Chicken

Coupla LOs

Just a couple of layouts I did for challenges at the STChallenges googlegroup. You can see the challenges at Twisted Scrapper. Not much to say... or I'm too tired to chat. Either way, here they are.

June 2nd template challenge... I overdid it, as usual.

Template: Template 8 by MOriginals

Kit: Desert Wind - May collaboration kit at Digital-Scrapbooking.org (link to kit)
Fonts: vtks untitled, Saloonkeeper

June 3rd template and color challenge... I like this one. Isn't Emma a clown? She was so tired Sunday night but wanted to PLAY! As usual, click on pics to view larger images.

Template: Racketty Scrappety Template 11 Square by Racketty Scrappety
Papers, elements, words: created by me using "Gettin' Dirty 02 Paper Templates" - Commercial Product by Royanna Fritschmann - STUDIO RA Designs at Divine Digital

Fonts: Bauhaus 93, Cheddar Salad BTN Quill, Bimini, Gills Sans Ultra Bold, Liorah BT, AdLib BT

Well, g'nite!

Gas prices?? Jeesh...

Just a photo of the gas prices... and this was AFTER the price went down about 15 cents per gallon yesterday. And look at the price of diesel! YES, I live in the Chicago area. I can see $5 (USD) coming this summer. I've been busy busy busy, but this week I'm GOING to scrap! I have so many lovely kits I want to play with.

Have a great day

Memorial Day weekend... and 10 random facts

I've been really busy with the long holiday weekend here in the USA so no scrapbooking. It's Memorial Day, to honor those who died in military service, AND somewhat warmer than it was last week. Saturday was finally gardening day and I got so much cleaned up! Sunday was a parade in Dundee, the next town over from me (where part of "Road To Perdition" with Tom Hanks was filmed). After that we went nature hunting! I have some pictures I'm going to scrap soon of the critter we got to see.... I just have to figure out which kit to use, haha! Today is RibFest in Elgin so we'll be coming home tonight with red mouths and sticky fingers. AND tomorrow I finally get to go to the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago! I've wanted to go forever and I finally talked hubby into going (he isn't very adventurous). Anyway, that's my long weekend.

I have some random facts I found about Memorial Day that I never knew before... some that I did:

1. Memorial Day began in Boalsburg, Pennsylvania on May 5, 1866.
2. The official birthplace, declared by President Johnson, is Waterloo, New York.
3. Later in 1868, The date was changed to May 30th so it wouldn't coincide with a major battle date.
4. Memorial Day originally was called "Decoration Day" because the cemeteries, grave markers and memorials were decorated with wreaths, flags, crosses and flowers.
5. It wasn't called "Memorial Day" until 1882 as an alternate name. It's official name wasn't changed until 1967.
6. In 1971, the official date became the last Monday in May... one week later than Canada's Victory Day. This was so it would create a long weekend holiday.
7. In 1911, Moina Michael decided to wear and sell red poppies to honor military veterans who had died. This began the official "Poppy Day" in the United States.
She wrote this poem entitled "In Flanders Fields":
We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.
8. The Indianapolis 500 (car racing) is on Memorial Day, every year since 1911.
9. Memorial Day is considered the unofficial beginning of summer

The photos above are from the parade on Sunday in Dundee. I hope everyone had a great weekend too!

Happy Birthday Atasi!

Last weekend, my friend Atasi had a birthday party. We celebrated at North Beach and had a blast (if you have one nearby, you gotta go)! Free food, balloons, cosmic bowling, sand volleyball, dance floor in one room and awesome band in another, a mega-huge mega-alcoholic drink for the birthday girl AND open bar for the rest of us for three hours! At the end of the night, everyone danced to work off the alcohol for almost TWO hours before I'd let anyone actually drive, haha. Anyway, I made a LO using MOSTLY a new kit Kristine (WenchdGrafix) made... AND I won it for picking the name, King's Carnival (wheeeeeeeeee... it was free!). Here it is! Happy Birthday Atasi! And thank you Kristine! Click image for larger view.

Kit Wenchd Grafix' King's Carnival
Swirlies are from Carjazi-Wenchd Collab Kit
Bows, flowers and stitching from WenchdGrafix' Plum Pudding Kit
All of the above credited to
Kristine Pocock of Wenchd Grafix
and Diane of Carjaziscraps
Letters and frame swirlies glittered using Tara Donovan-Kostyrski for Moo Two Designs – CU Glitter Metalics and recolored by me
Font is Forte

It's Monday... and I just figured that out!

Where did the weekend go? I woke up this morning looking for hubby but couldn't find him. It didn't even dawn on me that he'd be at work... I thought it was SUNDAY! Well, I finally figured it out when I turned on the TV at noon and the daily soaps (ugh) were on half the channels.

Okay, so now it's late... almost 4:30 p.m. and I NEVER blog this late. But, since I've been trying to come here at least twice a week, I thought I'd better come and at least post the next "challenge" LO that I did. These... again... are two of my grandchildren, Tayli and Emma. The picture is a couple months old but hadn't scrapped it yet... I dunno why! Anyway, I was visiting Digital Arts Cafe and found that they had opened a forum that I didn't know about... AND that they had a fabulous new welcome kit called No Milk No Sugar! Needless to say, I had to sign up! And of course there's a couple challenges... one to do a LO and the other for a Quickpage Exchange. I first did the quickpage and decided I actually liked it, haha. So I did the LO using the QP! I actually won a $5 gift card for the boutique too!!! This is SECOND thing I won today... second thing I've won EVER in scrapping!!!! The other is from Kristine but I don't have that yet, LOL... that's for another day when I can brag, wheee. (Here we go... going off subject AGAIN). Anyways, here's my LO and if you want the QP you'll have to join the DAC Forum and create a QP for the exchange, hehe. (Or wait until after June 19th when the exchange is done... maybe I'll post it here) Click image for larger view.

Credits
Kit - Digital Arts Cafe Team - No Milk No Sugar
Fonts - Calligraph421 BT, Bickham Script Pro Regular, Bradley Hand ITC

That's it for now... almost time to start dinner... CIAO!

Dandelions.... and a LO

Yes, it's that time of the year! I have them in my yard even though I used the supposedly effective Scotts Turf Builder Plus with Weed Kill, haha. Maybe the dandelions are growing heartier than in previous years, because it's always worked before. Ah well, in a month I can spray again.

Speaking of dandelions... Vicki, made a gorgeous scrap kit called Dandelion Dreams and I was playing with it last night... and came up with the LO below. Go check it out on her blog, "A work in progress", along with all the other fabulous kits she's created. Click image for larger view.

Dandelion Dreams kit by Vicki at A work in Progress
Font is Johann Sparkling ITC

Lookie... COWS QP freebies!

The first thing I thought when I saw Kopperhead's Kit called Cowlicks was that I HAD to do something with it. I live NOWHERE near a farm but I love the country look and decided to play. I just got permission from her to share these QPs I made BUT you have to go check out her totally FREE kit on her blog too at 100 Things (Maybe More) and leave her some lovin'... those are MY terms, haha. While you're there, check out all the other great kits she has! She's been releasing a kit a week, a bit at a time. This week she's sharing a beautiful kit called Beachside Bride.

Okay, here's the LOs I created... the cows pics were soooo stolen from Google's image search (I have no cows in my area). Click HERE grab the free QPs (without the cow pictures of course)!!! Click on the pics to see them larger.

If you snag, please leave some lovin'! I'd love to hear from you if you stop by. Have a great day!

Blogthing... Flipflops!

I found this interesting! My DREAM is to live in San Diego!

What Your Flip Flops Say About You

You are a warm, friendly person who simply enjoys life. You don't complicate things for yourself. Life is too short! You have a super optimistic attitude, and you have figured out how to be happy. Everyone wants to know your secret... and it's a lot more simple than they might think. Your ideal warm weather place: San Diego

The Flip Flop Test

Just a couple more LOs

A couple more challenges done... not well mind you, but done! These two are for the forum at Scrap Orchard. For some reason, I have a really hard time with challenges!

The first one is the "Cherry Pickin'" Technique challenge. We were supposed to pick out something from a photo and highlight it... so I picked my darling granddaughter, Emma, to be PICKED ON! This was from the last sleepover... she found my Harry Potter stash of "stuff" and I snapped the pic, haha. I HATE that Nuk-y in her mouth, but the picture is cute nonetheless. Click pic for larger image.

Napa Valley kit by Pineapple Plantation Designs
Fonts - Harry P, Parseltongue
Template - Rose McDigitals RMcDD_STMega2_78

This next one was an Ad Challenge at Scrap Orchard and I chose some pictures of one of my "other" daughter's wedding. It's also for the color challenge at Little Dreamer Designs blog. I thought her dress was GORGEOUS... but she wore TENNIS SHOES that had the word "Bride" embroidered on it, haha. Love it! Click pic for larger image.

Pink paper by Fei - FEIstuff_rayoflight_solids
Fonts - Riesling, MsMadiROB
CU Glitter in font - THD_GP2 by Trish H Designs at Templates 'N' More
CU bow - Amy Watson, Amy W. Designs

That's it! I'm off the cry and moan about my migraine, haha. I'll be back with more challenge LOs soon.

Another challenge LO...

This morning I tried doing another challenge (you can find it HERE), this time at Divine Digital. Here again, I used pics from this past weekend of the three girls, all my daughters. (Read THIS post to read about our "reunion" We had to use the word BLOOM somewhere in the LO and I couldn't figure out how else to use that word with these! Anyway, here's my attempt...

Credits
In Bloom Kit by Cyndi Wetmiller/Wetfish Designs
Fonts used are VTKS REFUSED and Sputnikk

HAVE A GREAT DAY!

I've been tagged....

Wow, two posts in one day!?!?! That's a first!

I have been tagged by Vicki - you gotta love this lady! She designs beautiful kits and is so friendly! I actually have an online friend in England, woohoo!! It's amazing to me that you can "meet" people from everywhere in the world.

Here are 7 random facts about me:
1. I wanted to be an architect when I grew up. (I made it through drafting class but I'm NOT an architect)
2. My ears have been pierced six times. I'd probably get them pierced again if I thought I could afford more earrings (I have very sensitive ears so have to buy the "good" ones).
3. I am not religious but I think spirituality of some kind is very important in this world.
4. My favorite colors are black.... and black. Okay, other colors too if they go with black.
5. I can watch my favorite show on tv and read a book at the same time AND know what's going on in both, but only hear half of what people say to me (aren't I multi-talented? haha).
6. I think bald men are sexy. (Howie Mandell and Will Smith... love 'em)
7. I am a pack-rat but hide it well. I have "stuff" stashed in some of the strangest places.

Whew, that actually took some thought!! OK, so now I get to tag the following:

Kay comes by and leaves me great comments once in awhile... you're tagged! Besides the fact that she makes some beautiful kits, she is creating a beautiful heritage album on her blog that I love! Go look!

Elisa is another that has come by to comment on my LOs. I love her creations too and visit her often to see what new and exciting things she's working on. You should check her blog out!

And last but not least, I'm tagging Kristine, hehehe... as if she doesn't get tagged enough! I stalk her daily on her blog (not really stalking, I guess, haha) and love her digi-kits (I used one of her kits to make my header). Besides that, she's an awesomely funny person and love her to death. Tag, you're it!

Of course, if you're reading this, they YOU are tagged too!!! Let me know if you accept the tag so I can come visit!

A strange Sunday...

I woke up yesterday, Sunday, assuming it would be a normal day, doing laundry, watching movies and relaxing. But noooooooo! At about 4pm I got a phone call.... not one you get normally and totally unexpected. Not unpleasant... just not "usual".

Before I say anymore, I have to tell you a short story about me. Actually it's a longgggggg story but I'll make it short. When I was married to my first husband, we were going through extremely bad financial times. I was the only one working so things were really tight. Besides that, I just happened to be extremely fertile and just kept getting pregnant!!! Well, rather than trying to raise a handful of kids in a poor household, I contacted my lawyer and asked him to find a family who couldn't have children... this being after my first two children (my boys). In 1980, I gave Jessica, a newborn, up for adoption. After that things got better and my ex got a job. Within a year I had another daughter, Laurie, who we kept because finances were much better! Welllllllll, shortly after that, I was the only one working again.... and of course I got pregnant again (I swear, he only had to LOOK at me)!!!! The day I found out, I contacted my lawyer again, and had a family ready and waiting right away. Lisa was adopted to another family who had no children. Before anyone asks, YES it was hard to do emotionally, but NO I had no afterthoughts... I always thought they'd be better off with a "stable" family.

Well, a few years back, Jessica found me and my ex and brothers and sisters. It was a fabulous reunion! We all met up and talked and questioned and..... let's just say, it was surprisingly nice! What gorgeous kids I have (yes, I'm prejudiced in that respect)!!!

Now back to yesterday's phone call.... LISA CALLED ME!!!! She explained that she was my daughter and I think I shrieked! I know I woke my cat up for sure, haha. A couple hours later, I met her and her boyfriend, Mike, at the mall and things just progressed from there. Yes, it was a little awkward, but it was fabulous! Jessica and Laurie had planned on searching for her awhile back, but I had no information as to where to start. Anyway, she's GORGEOUS! About 45 minutes later we were on our way out to see my kids (that I raised) and she got to meet EVERYONE except her biological father (my ex). I think she was probably extremely overwhelmed... after all, she just found out she had 4 brothers and sisters.

And I got some pictures!!! I just HAD to! I have several but I scrapped one right away... this picture is of ALL my kids (nope, there aren't anymore running around out there!). Lisa, the "new" one, is wearing green. And that was my Sunday night. I can't wait to talk to her again! Click image for larger view.

Created using Urban Grunge kit by Cinzia Loosemore
You can find this kit and more HERE at DigitalFreebies

A new LO....

Wow, it's been awhile since I blogged... I'm sooo bad. But I'm here with a new LO.

There was another challenge this month at Boo's Blossoms and I had to play. We had a sampler kit to work with from Booland Designs and it's amazing all the different looks we achieved!! Go check out all the great LOs HERE! Our goal was to scrap what our spring meant to us. Well, I finally got a picture without winter coats... as close to spring as I could get. In the Chicago suburbs, flowers haven't budded, trees are bare and the rivers are all very high from the melted snow and tons of rain we've gotten lately. Here's what I came up with.... my granddaughters again (go figure, haha). It's hard to tell but they are both holding GREEN leaves!

Kit used is Spring Passion Sampler by Boo Silva at Booland Designs
LO based on DSG April Template by Carena (Digital Scrap Girl)
Alpha is from BoolandDesigns Spring Passion Kit by Boo Silva - buy the complete kit here
Leaves are Wyvern's Gold Wrappers by WyvernWench, Sue Irish, SAS Member,

cropped and recolored by me.
Journaling font is Tekton Pro - it can be found here

On another note, I found out I'm going to be a grandma AGAIN!!! My younger son has informed that they have a baby boy due in late August! These are the parents of our princess, Julie, so we are very much hoping there won't be complications this time. I can't wait!!! A GRANDSON!!!! Woohoo!

That's it... cya!

I type how fast?

LOL... I've never known my typing speed. It's been AGES (years and years and...) since I took typing in high school ON AN OLD FASHIONED, NON-electric typewriter and I think I was at about 20 words per minute then. I guess keyboarding is a bit easier, LOL. NOT where I want to be... I'd rather be faster (like maybe 120 wpm, haha) but here it is! I found this great test on the internet to test your speed and accuracy. Fast and easy... only 60 seconds! If you want to check your own speed just click below.

55 words

Thanks to everyone who has left me a comment or message. I really love reading them (HINT HINT Mom & Dad)! I try to answer all of them if you leave me your email or blog address. Have a great day!