Merry Christmas!!

Hope you are having a great holiday season!

(be back after all craziness has subsided)

gretchen

Wanna come??

Check out all the info here at the Scrap Etc. events site.

Elizabeth Kartchner

Jessica Sprague

Margie Romney-Aslett

Jenni Bowlin

coughcoughMEcoughcough

and at least 1 more to come!

If you have been before, you must come back!

If you have not ever been, you must check it out!

It will be worth the trip!

gretchen

So many things to do...

...so little time.

Where does the time go? I am pretty sure the clock moves twice as fast during the holidays.

So I am playing catch up!

Bear with me.

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Lee and I celebrated an anniversary on Monday so I only feel it appropriate to share this layout.

6 years baby!

Sure doesn't feel like that long. But I guess that is a good thing.

Look! He has short hair!

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I am way behind on this one but maybe it is because it highlights one of my many quirks. Ha!

This one I made from the November Scripts kit.

(a good kit this one was & this layout does not do it justice!)

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Speaking of kits, here are a couple of things I made with one of the December collections from Scrap in Style.
This one is called The Girl Next Door and it is on sale now!

I made this layout with pockets to hold all the Christmas cards that I cannot bear to throw away. Here is the layout before I put the cards in it.
I have made another one of these layouts using the December Scripts kit to hold my 2008 cards & I will be posting it along with easy instructions over on the MMM blog later this week.
I will be sure to link it up here too though.


Here's another one with The Girl Next Door collection.
I dug up some old pictures for this one.
Notice the date: 1997.
Don't be jealous of my chubby cheeks.

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If you are in need of some crafty Christmas inspiration, be sure to be checking out the MMM blog this month.
We have been posting all kinds of fun stuff!
Here's a little peek of a notebook I made to keep up with all my Christmas shopping.
I used the December Scripts kit for this and you can see the whole thing here: MMM blog (you may have to scroll down a few posts to get to the notebook).


OK that catches me up for a bit.
Have a great day!
gretchen

True fans

True fans will rush out of a party they drove 4 1/2 hours to attend and make a mad dash to anywhere in the middle of nowhere Georgia that is showing the big game.

True fans will drive and drive and not stop for gas until they are practically running on fumes hoping to make it somewhere in time for kick off.

True fans will take a keen interest in this sign inside of this Citgo in the metropolis of Eatonton, GA.
True fans get really excited to find a 48" flatscreen TV with HD inside a dark, quiet room filled with comfy padded chairs and all the snacks & drinks they could ever eat just a few yards away.

True fans make sure the quiet room does not stay that way for long as they cheer on their favorite team.

True fans partake in a yummy dinner during halftime at the delicious meet & 3 restaurant attached to the Citgo.

True fans hold out hope for a comeback until the last possible tick of the clock.
True fans are pleased with the season that went much better than expected.

True fans are excited to even be part of the SEC championship game.

True fans hope that Tebow gets the Heisman...again. I mean, how can you not route for a guy with Phil. 4:13 on his eye black??!

True fans will route for Florida to beat Oklahoma in the national championship game...badly.

True fans will go buy new crimson t-shirts and are eagerly awaiting next season.

Amen.

and Roll Tide!!!

Can I get a ROLL TIDE!?!!

I think it only appropriate that today I share my latest contribution to the KI gallery and then ask for a favor.

Today is a big day: SEC championship game in the Georgia Dome against a hot Florida team. And I am not just referring to Tebow-the whole team is on fire right now.

Every game Lee has watched wearing a new crimson t-shirt while sitting on our upstairs couch.

And he has become ridiculously superstitious about it this year. See layout journaling.

Well today of all days is his grandmother's 85th birthday and the family is celebrating with her in her hometown just south of Atlanta.

And we will be there also.

Which means that we will not be wearing our crimson t-shirts while sitting on our upstairs couch to watch the game.

Oh, horror.

So I please ask that all Alabama fans cheer extra loudly, wave an extra flag or pom pom, cross another finger...whatever it takes to make up for what the McElveens will not be able to contribute today.

If they lose, we will take full responsibility.

ROLL TIDE!

**Please note: Lee did test the theory a little bit during last Saturday's game by wearing a sweatshirt over his crimson t-shirt and watching part of the game from our bedroom rather than the couch. So maybe there is hope after all.**

Well...

...so much for trying to update this thing twice a week.

It is already December??!! What the heck.

OK quickie rundown of life right now.

1. Thanksgiving was yummy and fun. Had my parents and Stuart at my house Wednesday night then drove to Chattanooga to spend some time with Lee's dad and brother. All leftovers have either been eaten or properly disposed of.

2. I did no Black Friday shopping. But I did brave Sears on Saturday where I walked around the tools/hardware/guy crap section looking like a fish out of water I am sure all to save like $10 on a couple of things that I really have no idea what they even are & hope to never use myself.

3. I am still running. Stuck at 16 miles and battling a bit of knee pain (but only on long runs really). I might have to do something drastic like give up Dr. Pepper completely until I get to 20. Geez, B, you are putting pressure on me.
4. Uh, the marathon is in like 5 weeks. crap.

5. ROOOOOOLLLLL TIDE ROLL!!
6. Bye, bye Tommy.


7. I have been scrapping. Will share more later. But I did post this little tag album I made last year (or maybe it was the year before) over on the MMM blog.

8. I am sleepy. And I am trying to get more sleep lately. But only until January 11-then I will go back to my night-owlish ways. It is interfering with my scrapping time.

On that note, I am out.

Good night.

gretchen

I should be cleaning...

...but instead I am blogging.
The rest of the week looks to be crazy which means I do not know when I will be able to update this ole blog again (and I am trying to be better-like 2 updates a week-yay me!).
So instead of unloading the groceries I just bought or moving clothes from the washer to the dryer since I just heard the washer buzz or cleaning up around here since the 'rents are coming tomorrow, I am choosing to update you with some things going on in the scrapbooking world.

Priorities, people, priorities.

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First order of business: Scrap in Style's November collections.

There are 2 of them: the Songbird & the Homebody.

I got the Songbird full of October Afternoon, Basic Grey, new SIS MODsheets, cool ribbon, etc. etc.

Wanna see what I made??

Check it out:

I don't say this about every collection but this one might be my favorite (even though I am still quite fond of that Kelli Crowe collection that was SIS's first ever!).

And there is a great deal if you are wanting a collection: Buy both collections and you get free shipping and buy the Homebody (not pictured) and get a free class by Martha Bonneau with that collection.

Both collections go on sale tomorrow (the 25th) so get 'em while they are hot!

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Next order of business: Last Friday's "Focus On" over at the KI blog.

The topic was "Giving Thanks".

I made a couple of cards by cutting up one of the new Sheer Delights and throwing in some epoxies from the Grateful line of a couple of years ago, brads and epoxy alphas from the newer Bloom line, and ribbon from the new Festive line.

Check out the blog for some awesome stuff from the other girls on the team!
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Final order of business: I have another post up at the MMM blog.
And because I know you will go look if I mention it, I posted a layout with my brothers in it over there.

Check back there after Thanksgiving too if you are in need of some Christmas inspiration!
We have a bunch of Christmas stuff planned for the month of December.
And I got my hands on the hot December Scripts kit that I plan to be making a bunch of stuff out of!
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Happy Thanksgiving friends!
Eat lots of turkey (& green bean casserole!).
gretchen

It is starting to look alot like Christmas!

YAY! It is almost Thanksgiving and that means Christmas in just around the corner.

I have always been a big Christmas person but for some reason the last couple of years I have been a little weird about it.

Maybe it is the trying to be in 100 places at once to make every member of the family happy and therefore having no time for just us.

Maybe it was only having 1-2 days off work for the holidays.

Who knows.

But this year I am feeling a little different for some reason and I am already excited about the season!

Thus the random Christmas post in the middle of November.

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Anyway, I got this in a little email from Lisa; then saw that Katie posted it on her blog and thought that was fun.

So I am copying.

And including some random Christmas projects from years past just because I am in the spirit.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? I love to wrap, preferably while watching a Christmas movie.
2. Real tree or Artificial? Real all the way. Bring on the mess!
3. When do you put up the tree? The day or 2 after Thanksgiving.
4. When do you take the tree down? After New Year's...but the first time we got a real tree a few years ago, we left it up until well into February because we didn't know what to do with it. And in Alabama that is normal.
5. Do you like eggnog? Are you kidding? Drinkable eggs. Never.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? Probably my cabbage patch doll or a scooter.
7. Hardest person to buy for? My dad and Lee's dad
8. Easiest person to buy for? Lee...the guy has a million hobbies. And when in doubt, I can still walk down the toy aisle and find him something.
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? If I sent some I would send them via snail mail.
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I hate to put these gifts in the "worst" category but my grandparents on my dad's side are notorious for awful gifts. Like, I got a sweatshirt once that said "World's Greatest Dad." And I got some granny panties. And my brothers were still getting Micro Machines well into high school. They may have given bad gifts but they did leave us with hilarious stories that we will be telling forever. I see a scrapbook page in the making.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Home Alone
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Usually after Thanksgiving but I have already done a little this year.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? I am sure I have but I can't remember specifics. Oh wait! Those granny panties ended up at a couple of lingerie showers. hehehehe!!!
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Green bean casserole
16. Lights on the tree? Big tree in colorful lights; small tree in white
17. Favorite Christmas song? Oh Holy Night
18. Travel at Christmas or stay at home? Usually travel
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Doubt it
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Morning
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? the needing to be in 100 places at the same time
23. What theme or color are you using? green and red
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? we do a repeat of Thanksgiving dinner with ham instead of turkey usually
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Good grief I would love a 12x12 scanner. But I do not think they exist for a reasonable price. I have wanted one for years. Realistically, I would like some new dishes. How boring am I!!?

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And an early Merry Christmas to ya!

gretchen

A challenge and a tag

So I have this week's challenge over on the KI blog.
My challenge to you is simple: make a 2-pager!
This is the layout I made for it. Ahh, I love good product.

So grab your favorite KI products and play along with us if you are so inclined.
Link me up to your layout in the comments here or on the KI blog because I want to see what you can make!

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In other news, Katie tagged me last week to tell 6 random things about myself.

Ha! These are always funny...

1. I go cheap when it comes to make up: Covergirl from Wal-mart. One of these days I am going to break down and get some real make-up from Clinique or something. I have been saying that for years.

2. I love candles. They are all over my house. They are my go to home decor item. But I do not like vanilla scented ones.

3. I learned what EPCOT stands for & want autism is by reading the Babysitters Club books growing up. Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow thank you very much.

4. I met Lee at a college retreat in Gatlinburg one Christmas after spending the entire summer before on the same beach project in Panama City with him. The only thing he remembers about me from that summer was that I was the girl who had to go home for a little while because she got mono. The only thing I remember about him was he was the guy in the pool making fun of the book we were supposed to be reading that summer while I was reading that very book in a chair next to the pool. It is a wonder we ever got together.

5. Excellent sweet-craving fix: open a box of brownie mix or muffin mix; pour some of the mix into a cup; add water to desired consistency; indulge. Delicious.

6. Contrary to what you may now think about my cooking skills due to info in #5, I am always in charge of the dressing (aka "stuffing" if you are not from the South) at Thanksgiving and Christmas. And that too is delicious thanks to my Mimi's recipe.

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Have a great day!

gretchen

Catching up

Long time no post.

So I am playing catch up here.

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I've got a couple layouts to share using Scrap in Style's November collection called the Night Owl.

How nice of them to name it after me.

That layout is based on this sketch that I did for the online crop happening over at SIS this weekend. Play along if you would like! Make a layout using this sketch, post it at SIS, and then link it up on this thread. You will have a shot at winning some goodies from me.
Here is another one using the Night Owl collection.
The layout is nothing outstanding but I really wanted to document some thoughts about this year's election.

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I know I have more to talk about but that will have to be for another post, sooner rather than later hopefully.
Katie has tagged me so I need to do that.
Katie, Virginia, Brittney, and I had a booth at the craft bazaar at Virginia's church yesterday & I've got a couple of leftover items that I might try to pimp out here.
Tomorrow is my day to do the the challenge over on the KI blog so I will be sure to share that here also.
Oh I do have another post up here so check it out.

Until later...gretchen

Leftovers

YAY! The weekend was fun!

You can see some pictures here.

Shame on me-I did not take 1 single picture.

And I call myself a scrapbooker...pitiful!

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I've got some leftover class kits from the weekend...5-6 I think.

You get kits for all 3 layouts for $30.

And I have a few individual kits of the Halloween and Christmas layouts that will sell for $10 each.

Call the store and tell Lucy what you want: (205) 985-9323

Halloween

Thanksgiving

Christmas

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Let me see if off the top of my head I can remember everything you will get in the class kit.

- Instructions with color pictures of the layouts

- All the patterned papers you see here (papers are from My Mind's Eye & My Little Shoebox)

- Die cut sheet from My Mind's Eye (for Halloween layout)

- 1 box of chipboard monogram letters & 1 pack of ribbon with 6 different ribbons from My Little Shoebox (for Thanksgiving layout)

- 2 brown buttons & photo corners (for Thanksgiving layout)

- 1 pack of white glitter LAX thickers & 25-30 red brads from American Crafts (for Christmas layout)
- 3 glitter die cut stars (for Christmas layout)

I know I am biased, but I think the products you get with the class are worth the price of the class.

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Happy Monday!
gretchen

TGIF!

Today was my Friday because I am taking off tomorrow to be here:

I will be teaching a couple of classes and hanging with some of my most favorite scrappy people.

Ah, good times.

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I've got a few things to share.
These are my projects this month for My Little Shoebox.

I love the flowers and bright colors in this line!

I am not feeling too chatty. That is probably why this blog has been neglected all week.

I think a weekend of scrapping will do me some good!

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Have a great weekend yourself!

gretchen

Amen

Good weekend

The weather is beautiful.
Alabama beat Tennessee...badly.

I hung out with my husband alot and that was nice.

I did some scrapping (and I will share those layouts later).

Jr. is running the top 10 in Atlanta as I type this.

I managed 15 miles this morning & even though I feel pretty much like crap right now at least I did get the miles in.

I am planning our trip to Disney for the marathon in January and that is always fun.

We are going out to dinner with friends tonight.

I cannot complain.

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Enough of my rambling.

How about a layout!

This is another contribution for the KI idea gallery.
Man, I still love being a part of this team!

(think Abominable Snowman...hehe)

And because this layout probably does not make sense without the journaling, read this:

Sightings such as these are extremely rare.
And rarer still is seeing 2 of these nearly extinct creatures on the same day (with a camera handy!).
Normally mysterious and elusive, the Alabamable Snowman came out of hiding on this January morning

in the small town of Helena, AL.
His appearance was as quick as it was rare and with a slight increase in temperature the hairy creature was gone.
But not without leaving the citizens of this town captivated by his presence.

I used the new KI glitter lace cardstock on this layout along with KI cardstock stickers, hip chip label holder & alphabet letters (I peeled off the pattern on some of the letters & painted them the color I wanted), and good ole brads.
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That's all I've got!

Have a great week!
gretchen

Guest designing

YAY!

I got to be the official guest designer for Scripts this month!
When I heard about all the goodness going into the October kit, I jumped at the chance.

It is full of Prima, Cosmo Cricket, Little Yellow Bicycle, Heidi Swapp, American Crafts, and Hambly and chipboard, brads, tulle, bling, and velvet scalloped ribbon, etc.
Good stuff, I tell ya!

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So that means I have some stuff to share with you.

This is a crazy layout with some older Halloween pics.

I posted this door hanging with step-by-step instructions over on the Memory Makers Masters blog last week.

Feel free to check it out and make your own!

Here is a closer look.

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I love the versatility of this kit because even though you can create some cool Halloween stuff with it, it is not a "Halloween" kit really.

All of the patterned papers are double-sided which open up all kinds of possibilities!

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Here is a layout about my mom and brother.

The back of this green Cosmo Cricket paper here is a more "Halloween-y" print but this green side can be used for anything!

Purple and green are such a fun color combination!

(the green on this card is the backside of the orange Prima paper used on the "Boo" door hanging)

Here is another card with the same basic design.

There is an article in the November CK about a trend using ruffles in scrapbooking.
I could not resist trying it on this card with the tulle from the kit!__________________________________________
And check it out: Scripts is open for new subscribers now!
And if you subscribe, Lucy will throw in the September or October kit for free.

That's a sweet deal if you ask me!

Check out the details here.

Have a great day!

gretchen

I am here

I survived the manager's meeting last weekend.
But because my employer took my weekend away from me, I am playing catch up this week.

I am here but with nothing too interesting to discuss at the moment.

Well, except maybe the mild heart attack I suffered this evening when the Tide left their offense in the locker room at halftime and nearly lost to Ole Miss.

Good grief.

I do have another post up here.
Do check it out...it is more interesting than this one!

Have a great weekend!
gretchen

Check it out!

I have a post up here on the Memory Makers Masters blog.
It is a little Halloween door hanger that I made using the October Scripts kit.

Do check it out!

Sorry so short but I have to catch a flight to KY for our annual managers meeting...over the weekend...ugh.

Have a good one!

gretchen

Sneaky peeks

Just want to quickly share some sneak peeks of the class I am teaching at Wrapper's Delight the weekend of

November 7-8.

I am really excited about this class!!

I am excited because it is a layout class and I think layouts are what I do best!

And I am even more excited because there are some awesome companies helping to sponsor this class!

My Mind's Eye

American Crafts

My Little Shoebox

And I heard from Dymo today and they are going to send me some of their new and improved caption makers for us to use also!

I am calling this class "Holiday Trio" because we are going to make 3 holiday layouts: Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

Everybody has pictures from these holidays so what a great way to get some of them scrapped!

You will walk away with 3 completed 2-page layouts.

But to take the class you have to come to Wrapper's Delight!
So check it out and come play with us!

It is going to be a great time!

Have a great weekend!

gretchen

My apologies to Jr. Nation

This is very, very hard for me to admit.

But I am afraid it is all my fault.

Jr. used to dominate at Talladega.

Since he started full-time in Sprint Cup racing in 2000, he has won at 'Dega 5 times.

In a total of 18 starts here, he has 7 top 5 finishes and 10 top 10s.

(yes I realize it is sad I know these stats)

But he has not won a race at this super speedway since 2004.
And it is time for me to come clean.

Lee and I started going to races in the spring of 2005.
We have been to 7 of the last 8 races.
In 2 of those races Jr. wrecked (not either his fault, please note) and in another 2 races he blew an engine (stupid DEI).
His highest finished has been 7th and that was in the race we missed.

I hate that it has come to this but it feels good to get it off my chest.
My sincerest apologies to all of my fellow loyal Jr. fans.

I must just make him nervous.
:)