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