When technology fails ...

OK, so I survived my desktop hard drive failure. I dealt with that ... kind of saw it coming ... the system was over 8 years old, taking forever to load web pages .... constant running of the fan, etc. Lucky for me, my nephew reformatted the laptop my daughter had been using, but abandoned for her new MacBook. So that was great and I spent a lot of time reestablishing my favorites, setting up my folders, recreating documents, filing photos and all that other good stuff we do on our computers ... until .... yup - you guessed it. Nephew thinks it was a corrupt system file. But he did fix it (after many hours on the phone). That is ... until I wanted to change a setting that required a reboot. Ya, you guessed it. No reboot was accomplished. No system repair. No customer support because I'm running a beta Win7 OS. *sigh* Nephew thinks its a hard drive failure. No, I'm up and running (somewhat) by booting off an old WinXP disk. But alllllllll my files are gone. (except those stored on the external hard drive - photos, projects, etc.) However, 'favorites' is a wide open book. All my documents ... vanished. Even my wireless card seems to have gone in hiding - seems my new OS can't identify it (or a whole bunch of other 'devices' for that matter!) So I have many many hours of reprogramming ahead of me. Then, maybe then, I can get back to creating and sharing .. and fun! How did we ever survive without our computers??? I know I'm lost without mine!

*inky hugs*
Ava

Fall is coming fast!

The new Close To My Heart catalog / Idea Book is here! ... and full of lovely scrapbook layouts and wonderful cards for you to make with our quality products! I've been busy working at the LSS and seeing all the new fall products just makes my heart go twitterpat. . . as in Twitterpated, our new fall collection ... paper packs, stickeaze and of course, My Acrylix stamps! My product will be here soon and I'll get to creating and sharing. I have two gatherings to prepare for this month, so I've been cruising for great ideas ... and I think I have just the thing to make. Come back and check it out :)

The Cuttlebug Spot!

is trying to hit 500 followers, and their sponsor, Custom Crops, is offering prizes to help them achieve their goal. Check it out here: http://thecuttlebugspot.blogspot.com/

Good Luck!

Computer isssueeessssssssss. Bleh!

An award! Wholy Scrap!

For little 'ole ME? Gosh, I'm blushing :D Thank you, Liz! Pop in at Liz's blog and have a peek at some cute creations - http://lizfrydavies.blogspot.com/ ... ok focus back to me ..

- I'm honored and thrilled - even though I must say, I feel somewhat of a "slogger" - I've coined a new expression ... slacker/blogger = slogger! How do you like that?? LOL

Seriously, where do the days go??? Here it is another month gone by, and as my daughter pointed out, I have created many things - she's seen them! But I have yet to photograph them and upload them to my little blog. I'm getting to it soon as we return from Canada from my nephew Tony's wedding. I feel it is more crucial that I get his card made!

So - to pass this wonderful award on, I select:

Award Recipients are asked to do the following:

1. Accept the award and post it on your blog with the name of the person who granted it, with their blog address.

2. Pass on the award to 15 other bloggers that you have newly discovered and don't forget to let them know.

http://lisascreativecorner.blogspot.com/ Lisa http://http//www.kathiscreativecorner.blogspot.com/ Kathi http://livelovelaughscrapbook.blogspot.com/ Jena

http://wizardshangout.blogspot.com/ Vicki

http://stampinndahood.blogspot.com/ Terri

http://kjsstamppad.blogspot.com/ Kelly

http://www.memoriesinthyme.blogspot.com/ Kim

http://www.ballisticdesign.blogspot.com/ Nancy

http://www.karenpedersen.blogspot.com/ Karen

http://www.createwithchris.blogspot.com/ Chris

http://nicholeheady.typepad.com/capture_the_moment/ Nichole

http://debbiedesigns.typepad.com/ Debbie

http://www.theinspirationinstitute.com/ Bren

http://scrapinglori.blogspot.com/ Lori

http://www.stampingbella.com/blog/ Emily, aka the original Bella

These are the gals who inspire me ... along with about 100 others! I need LOTS of inspiration!!

I plomise I'll be back with new creations ... and you know I have loads of good intentions! Did I mention I tore apart my entire ScrapRoom (with my daughters HUGE assistance) last week? and it's mostly back together (new and improved layout) but still mounds of 'schtuff' in the hallway that needs to find a home in here or else ..! mmhmm that's right, purge time! Shoot, I shoulda taken photos of the redo. Argh. Ah well, you'll have see the new and improved without the before. Soon. not yet.

Off to work, I go!

*inky hugs*

Ava

It's finally Spring!

There are spring blooms popping up everywhere! Little bursts of color everywhere you look! It is oh so refreshing to see :) Like the little daffodils the bunny on this card is holding!

This was one of my Easter cards:


And this was another:



and this one, too!

I finally got around to photographing and posting them! I just love the bunnies in this stamp set - and coloring them with my copics was easy as can be. DEETS: CTMH My Acrylix Bunny Love stamp set, Sweet Pea B&T papers, Lilac Mist and Key Lime cardstock, Prisma Glitter, Pink Organdy Ribbon, Rhinestone flower sparkles, Lilac Mist ink, Copic Markers, Spellbinders Scalloped Circle, Square and Lables One Nestabilities, Threading Water border punch, Martha Stewart's border punch, misc. polkadot ribbon.

OLIVIA - framed!

Last month, I happened upon a post by Jayma Malme on the Consultant's bulletin board. She had posted some examples of her artwork featuring a "name in a frame" - well I thought this was a great idea for a gift for my daughter's birthday. So, I made one! I wanted it to compliment the colors in her room and found a perfect match in the papers from CTMH's Key To My Heart (special promotion back in January). The frame is from Michaels (on clearance!) and the inside measures just a tad under 8x10. Once I did the math (ugh!) the rest was easy - just sorting the squares around until my eye was happy. Olivia loved it and it is displayed in her room :)

Thank you, Jayma, for the inspiration!

DEETS: CTMH My Acrylix E-size "Baroque Alphabet" stamp set, Juniper ink, Tulip cardstock, B&T papers from Key To My Heart pack, Tokens from Connections Club Rewards, Sparkles rhinestones, white Just Blooms, Colonial White cardstock (for base). Ribbon, button and some bling are from my stash.

Happy May Day and New IDEA BOOK for Summer!

Happy First of May, everyone! It's New IDEA BOOK release time!
New papers .... mmmm yummy! New stamp sets ..... the gotta-have-it list just keeps growing! The new embellishments ... fabulicious! Oh and the ideas for you to recreate will keep you busy til the next book comes out! So, what are you waiting for? If you would like a copy of our latest Idea Book/catalog - email me at wholyscrap@yahoo.com
*inky hugs*
Ava

A Happy 18th Birthday!

My baby turned 18. YEARS. And this is the card I made her :) The card was inspired (and almost completely lifted) by one made by the awesome and always fabulous Vicki W. http://www.wizardshangout.blogspot.com/ The colors I used (CTMH Tulip, Sorbet, Juniper, Colonial White) were inspired by the colors in Olivia's room. -- and they just happen to be the colors in Color Challenge#2 last week at http://www.kjsstamppad.blogspot.com/ ( I don't know how to do the insert link here thingy! LOL) Maybe some kind soul will teach me? Leave a comment and I'll email you - thanks!

Man I feel OLD. We watched old movies on DVD last night. Wow we were so young once. Where did the time go? And Gosh - those kids were all so darned CUTE! They're all grown up and graduating, getting married, having babies of their own. Time sure flew by. I feel a sudden need to go watch 'The Lion King' ... the Circle of Life ...

*inky hugs*

Ava

A day .. A Week .... A MONTH!!

Yup .. a MONTH! That's how long it took me to get here. Is that pathetic or what!?! But the good news, dear blogsters, is that I come loaded with photos!! Yes, my battery got charged! (I won't talk about how I could not find the charger for days -- that's a whole 'nuther issue!) and in the meanwhile, there were 3 birthdays to celebrate (my own sweet 'baby' Olivia turned 18!) and Easter too. It's been a busy busy month :)

Card deets: All Close To My Heart­­­ materials: Emporium paper pack, including "creative basics" version, Garden Green, Colonial White cardstock, A Birthday Wish - My Acrylix™ stamp set, Twilight ink for sentiment (sentiment is not CTMH), Cocoa ink for image, copic markers for coloring image, Cuttlebug 'houndstooth' embossing folder, Spellbinder's Scalloped Rectangle Nestablities, random buttons from my stash, embroidery floss and scrap cardstock. Image and scalloped frame are popdotted.

Well, I'm going to add the rest of the photos a little bit at a time, so come visit me again soon. I 'plomise' it won't be another month gone by!

*inky hugs*

Ava

Fallen off the Blog Wagon

Oh my poor neglected and abandoned blog! I am in complete awe of those who blog on a regular basis ... you must be very organized indeed to accomplish all that you do. Between my family caretaking, my jobby, my other jobby, and minimal housekeeping, I have had little time for cardmaking and scrapbooking for myself, and none at all for my blog.
Sometimes it seems everything that needs doing is like a dominoes game ... My neice had a baby boy, so I need to make a card. Several hours later, after processing through piles of paper, stamps, inks, die-cuts, stickers, ribbons, buttons, stickles, brads and the assorted tools to create with I have a lovely card -- and a big pile of stuff that needs to be put away. Well, I want to post a photo of this card, but first I need to charge the camera battery. While it's charging, I'll clear off a counter to prop the card on. There's a bunch of stuff that doesn't belong in this room ... while I'm in the laundry room, I'll put on a load of towels. Hmmm, the sheets need changing ... back upstairs, oh yeah, I was going to fill up a box to go to Goodwill ... geez now I have no black shoes to wear, I'll have to go out and buy a pair. While I'm out let me stop at the grocery store to pick up something for dinner, cuz you know I forgot to take meat out of the freezer. Back at home, I remember the towels are still in the washer. And the stuff is in piles on the counter. But the groceries need to be put away. Oh my ... is it dinner time already? Then of course, the kitchen needs to be cleaned up after dinner. And the husband would like to talk to me about his day. Someone is bound to need help with their homework. And the dog would like to go outside. The dominoes have all fallen down. All I wanted to do is make a card and post a photo on my blog. How did the day get away from me???

Yes, I need to get organized. But first I need to find the time! you know, years ago, I actually bought a 'book on tape' titled "How To Get Organized When You Don't Have The Time". I didn't have the time to read listen to it. And I haven't been able to find it since.

OK, so today - I blogged. Tomorrow, maybe I'll post that photo!

to all of you who missed me -- I'm still here :) and I've been lurking on YOUR blogs!
*inky hugs*
Ava

Babies and Birthdays and Weddings Oh My!

Danica's best friend, Kassidy, got married last weekend, so of course I had to make a card. Lucky for me a wonderful artist and CTMH buddy, the fabulous Ms Vicki posted a lovely card that inspired me to (almost completely) scraplift. I believe the original is posted on Vicki's blog (see link list at right) and here is my version.

The only changes I made were that I used Technique Tuesday's Eiffel stamp set for the ampersand (inked with Grey Flannel, then overstamped with Platinum Planet), and CTMH Elegant Script stamp set for the Mr. Mrs.(in black), and also CTMH Curly Sentiments (in red) for the inside sentiment which reads: Wishing you the Best, today, tomorrow and always. Also, I ticket punched the corners and added the red sparkles and used Holiday Red organdy ribbon on the bow. And of course, the background texture was achieved with the Cuttlebug embossing folder 'Textile'.
I hope you likey and thanks again to Vicki!

My neighbor was blessed with a baby girl a month ago, so I made her an 8x8 scrapbook and a set of cards she could use as either thank you's or announcements. This is the card:

CTMH Sweet Pea paper pack, Flower Child and Express Postage stamp sets. Colors are Baby Pink, Key Lime, and Amethyst.
She liked them so well she asked me to make 30 more! (I'm getting on it, Susan, I really am!)

Last but not least, I jumped on the Stamping Bella bandwagon. I am sooooo addicted to these little beauties - they are so versatile and FUN! This card goes out to my buddy in Ohio who will completely understand the sentiment on the front

(I know my photography skills stink, so I will type it out: Stamps: $6457.33 Supplies: $7872.58 handmade card: priceless) Truer words were never inked! LOL
CTMH Boom Di Ada paper pack, marker inks Barn Red, Taffy, Grey Flannel, Hollyhock, Blush, Sweet Leaf; Cardstock in Hollyhock, Garden Green and Buttercup. Garden Green Bigger Brads, Hollyhock grosgrain ribbon.
There are many more bellas to come ... I've only put a dent in my Bella Wish List. I am going to play enabler now .... www.scrappingbella.com. You can thank me later. LOL
Well I've got 10 more cards to make tonight to finish a swap I joined. Better move it! G'nite!!
*inky hugs* Ava
ummm ya, I don't know if the last two cards got rotated in photobucket, or what, cuz they look like they's lyin down to me! grrrrrr Hopefully it will correct itself cuz I rotated and saved twice! arrrrrrggggggh photobucket!!!!!

And so the month of May comes to a close ...

I cannot believe how quickly the month has flown by. Several birthdays this month ... school activities winding down ... graduations ... cookouts / bbq's ... 80 degree weather followed by 40 degree weather ... (seriously, what is the deal with that????) a brand new puppy for D&P ... a brand new baby for the neighbors next door ... who can keep up with all this activity!?! And of course these events all merit some sort of papercrafting, whether cards or gifts or scrapbook layouts! Well I need to get the camera out and document some of the creations which have resulted - I have a lot of catching up to do!
So here's a card I made for a very kind teacher who gave of her talent and time to make a CD of the music Olivia will use for her Jazz Choir audition. It holds a Starbucks Gift Card inside, hence (who still says 'hence', besides me???) the title "Thank You ... a Latte" 5x5 card
Twilight, Bamboo, Cocoa inks; B&T paper from Simple Pleasures pack, Cocoa, non-CTMH beige CS, vellum; May08 Stamp of the Month "Say It In Style", Coffee Shop, Spot On Backgrounds, Simple Stitches Stamp Sets; Scalloped Oval Nestabilities; Brown polkadot organdy RibbonFX. Steaming coffee cup mounted on scalloped oval is pop-dotted for dimension. And the inside has a little pocket to hold the Starbucks Card.
*inky hugs* Ava

Sweet Sixteen Birthday

My niece is turning 16 next week! She's the second-youngest of the 9 cousins and this only makes me realize how quickly they've all grown up! I sent her this birthday card, and I hope she doesn't get a peek at my blog before the card arrives in her mail! Oops I think the photo is kind of crooked... I do seriously lack in the photographic skills department :-/

I used my Cuttlebug to emboss the Pink Carnation CS, ran the heart block paper thru my corrugator (after stamping the 16's in the blank squares), hand cut the cupcake base and frosting shapes, painted the frosting with CTMH Pearl Create-A-Shade paint, added colored rhinestones with a dab of crystal Stickles, the cherry on top is a larger acrylic rhinestone with a stick of black CS. 'Sweet' sentiment from Girly Girl, '16' from Doodle Alpha My Acrylix™ stamped in Crystal Blue ink. Precious Paisley background paper, mounted on a generic orange piece of CS, clear sparkles at the corners, all mounted on a 5 x 6.5 White Daisy card base.

Off to make some baby cards for my neighbor who just delivered a girl last week! Busting out the Petite Scalloped Circle Nestabilities that just arrived! YAY! Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

*inky hugs*

Ava

New Close To My Heart Catalog/Idea Book!!

Yay! It's time to share the new book with you! There are many wonderful new papers, stamp sets, and embellishments - I've been playing already! You can see the whole catalog online from the company website http://www.closetomyheart.com/ (then click on 'products')
The May Stamp of the Month "Say It In Style" is a must-have set of over 40 sentiments (yes, forty!) all in one set perfect especially for card-makers! http://www.closetomyheart.com/stamp_of_the_month.aspx

Something to Crow About

Remember that cute little guy from 1995? Well he's in college now - and last month he informed us he did well on his mid-terms. So I sent him this cute little rooster card. Inside it reads: Congratulations on your grades - that's something to crow about!

CTMH Free Spirit B&T papers, Autumn Terracotta brads, Technique Tuesday stamp set for the rooster and sentiment (I stamped him with Star Spangled Blue, and used markers in Autumn Terracotta and Sunflower.) Swiped the focal point mat with Cocoa.

When he got the card he told me his roommates think I have way too much time on my hands! the nerve!! Oh and ya, never heard the expression "something to crow about". Does that make you feel old? It did me!

*inky hugs*

Ava

Best Buddies

I'm feeling nostalgic today, so I pulled out this layout of my son and my nephew from back in the good ole days (1995) when we lived in Northville, Michigan. These two young'uns are only 6 months apart in age, and though we lived miles apart, they were best buddies growing up. They are also sons of twins ... ya they look like their moms! No confusion there! LOL

I used CTMH's Imagine book for the layout map, with changes to accommodate photo sizes. Some CTMH CS and Daisy D's papers from the School Days pack (I altered the striped paper with Moonstruck stamped lines to create the plaid, and also added blue dots to the multi-dot pattern) My Acrylix™ Stamp Sets used: Genuine Fun, Solo B, Atomic lower case alpha. Inks used: Cranberry, Moonstruck and White Daisy (pigment)

Lots of other goodies from my misc. stash include button, embroidery floss, white alpha rubons. I did a bit of distressing with my CTMH tool as well as swiping with ink pads. It's so much fun :)

to the right, to the right ...

Well, lookit me! I managed to add links to my favorite blogs! YAY!
You will love them -- sooo much creativity! Soooo much inspiration! Warning: take a bathroom break, then grab a snack and a beverage, before beginning to click on the links. You will spend some delightful time browsing :)

Enjoy!
*inky hugs*
Ava

My very first blog/post

Well this is me jumping in without testing the waters with my toes. It's sink or swim ... or with any luck, at least float. This is going to be a strictly trial by fire process, so please bear with me as I learn by doing and excuse my oopsies as I go.

I have been lurking and admiring the work of many bloggers, whose blogs I hope to link to mine at some point, somehow. So if you happen to stray upon mine, you'll at least have the benefit of finding theirs!

OK so enough babble ... I expect you'd like to see something a little more creative. So here you are, my very first blogshared piece of scrap.

'Ur sweet' is a standard size card with matching envelope. CTMH Ink Colors: Holiday Red, Kiwi, Black.

Textured CS: DCWV stack, CS: Holiday Red, White Daisy. Sizzix dies: Girly Girl alpha. Gingham paper: retired CTMH. Mini-brad and ribbon - from my misc. stash.

My Acrylix ™ Stamp Sets: Random Thoughts, Girly Girl, Spunky Greetings.

Gosh, I have so much more to learn. But for now, I'll have to be content with my first post.

*inky hugs*

Ava