BLOGGER TEMPLATES AND TWITTER BACKGROUNDS

30 April 2009

Cattitude Is Everything



April 30, 2009

If anyone has ever had a cat, you are all too familiar with this "Cattitude" idea!

My cat Murphy has been my "owner" for nearly 8 years! I got him at only 5 weeks old and he is simply purrfect in my opinion!

My two daughters were young when we got him, and they were tyrants of this poor kitty. They would tie wooden spoons to his tail just to hear the spoon clanging on the stairs as he would run away. They would set up "live cat traps" in the living room, which were nothing more than a laundry basket propped up with that same pesky wooden spoon, and cat treats under the basket.
8 years later, they can't understand why Murphy is so spiteful and mean to them. I always warned them as little kids that they would live to regret their cruel and unusual punishment. They never hurt him, don't get me wrong. His feelings were probably more scarred than anything. He has never forgotten.....anything!

Now as for me, we are best buds. He sleeps with me, snuggled up close so that he can hear my heartbeat. And , he not only sleeps with me, but sleeps completely confined under the quilt. My hubby thought that was the weirdest thing ever when we first moved in together! A cat that sleeps under the covers is just unheard of, I guess!

He answers to many names including Moo (because he is colored like a cow), Moofasa (named after the Lion King!) and Kitten which I yell in the squeakiest voice I can muster!

He has a definite attitude, or Cattitude, and I love him for it, not in spite of it!

Thanks for reading and have a great day!
Stop back soon!
Carol

29 April 2009

How Did She Do That?






April 29, 2009

This is my DH and I.


The paper and circle are plain white card stock that I altered to make it look more "Groovy!

I've never tested this method for it's long term effect on photos or other papers, so use your own discretion if using this tutorial to make paper. I have done it a couple of times in the last year and have not noticed any change in the photos or papers.



Okay, now let's make some paper!






Cut your shape out of card stock or use whole piece. Make sure you put something under the paper such as a towel or piece of card board as food color will stain.



I just hold mine under the faucet for a bit to make sure it is thoroughly wet. Shake most of the water off, but do leave it wet.







You will need food coloring
rubbing alcohol (in a spray bottle)




















Put a few drops of each color of food coloring on paper. It should spread out some at this point when it mixes with the water.

















Then spritz with the alcohol. I use a sponge to dab off the excess food coloring and alcohol. Air dry or use a blow dryer . Do not use paper until it is completely dry.


I call this the Poor Mans Alcohol Ink Paper!



Thanks for stopping by and be sure to stop back again!!
Carol

Imagine The Possibilities


April 29, 2009

It's so important as parents to teach our children to be confident. To believe in themselves. To dream....and to imagine the possibilities! So many children today don't even have a dream. The economy has made it more difficult for parents to put money aside for college. Young girls are getting pregnant before even finishing school. Dreams are put on hold.

I never went to college. Though I had a scholarship to a very good college, I knew my parents would never be able to afford to help me with expenses.

I tell my girls to think...think about what they want to be in life. Think carefully about the choices they make today and how those choices will effect their tomorrows.

And I tell my girls to dream. Not just any dream, but dream big! They can be anything they put their mind to. Any child can with the right mindset.

Just close your eyes and Imagine The Possibilities!


Public Bathrooms

LADIES WILL ENJOY THIS ONE!! Men don't know what we go through!! :)

When you have to visit a public bathroom, you usually find a line of women, so you smile politely and take your place. Once it's your turn, you check for feet under the stall doors. Every stall is occupied. Finally, a door opens and you dash in, nearly knocking down the woman leaving the stall.

You get in to find the door won't latch. It doesn't matter, the wait has been so long you are about to wet your pants! The dispenser for the modern 'seat covers' (invented by someone's Mom, no doubt) is handy, but empty. You would hang your purse on the door hook, if there was one, but there isn't - so you carefully, but quickly drape it around your neck, (Mom would turn over in her grave if you put it on the floor), yank down your pants, and assume 'The Stance.'

In this position your aging, toneless thigh muscles begin to shake. You'd love to sit down, but you certainly hadn't taken time to wipe the seat or lay toilet paper on it, so you hold 'The Stance.'


To take your mind off your trembling thighs, you reach for what you discover to be the empty toilet paper dispenser. In your mind, you can hear your mother's voice saying, 'Honey, if you had tried to clean the seat, you would have KNOWN there was no toilet paper!' Your thighs shake more. You remember the tiny tissue that you blew your nose on yesterday - the one that's still in your purse. (Oh yeah, the purse around your neck, that now, you have to hold up trying not to strangle yourself at the same time). That would have to do. You crumple it in the puffiest way possible. It's still smaller than your thumbnail.

Someone pushes your door open because the latch doesn't work.. The door hits your purse, which is hanging around your neck in front of your chest, and you and your purse topple backward against the tank of the toilet. 'Occupied!' you scream, as you reach for the door, dropping your precious, tiny, crumpled tissue in a puddle on the floor, lose your footing altogether, and slide down directly onto the TOILET SEAT. It is wet of course. You bolt up, knowing all too well that it's too late. Your bare bottom has made contact with every imaginable germ and life form on the uncovered seat because YOU never laid down toilet paper - not that there was any, even if you had taken time to try. You know that your mother would be utterly appalled if she knew, because, you're certain her bare bottom never touched a public toilet seat because, frankly, dear, 'You just don't KNOW what kind of diseases you could get.'

By this time, the automatic sensor on the back of the toilet is so confused that it flushes, propelling a stream of water like a fire hose against the inside of the bowl that sprays a fine mist of water that covers your butt and runs down your legs and into your shoes. The flush somehow sucks everything down with such force that you grab onto the empty toilet paper dispenser for fear of being dragged in too.

At this point, you give up. You're soaked by the spewing water and the wet toilet seat. You're exhausted. You try to wipe with a gum wrapper you found in your pocket and then slink out inconspicuously to the sinks.

You can't figure out how to operate the faucets with the automatic sensors, so you wipe your hands with spit and a dry paper towel and walk past the line of women still waiting. You are no longer able to smile politely to them. A kind soul at the very end of the line points out a piece of toilet paper trailing from your shoe. (Where was that when you NEEDED IT??) You yank the paper from your shoe, plunk it in the woman's hand and tell her warmly, 'Here, you just might need this.'

As you exit, you spot your hubby, who has long since entered, used, and left the men's restroom. Annoyed, he asks, 'What took you so long, and why is your purse hanging around your neck?'

This is dedicated to women everywhere who deal with a public restrooms (rest??? You've GOT to be kidding!!). It finally explains to the men what really does take us so long. It also answers their other commonly asked questions about why women go to the restroom in pairs. It's so the other gal can hold the door, hang onto your purse and hand you Kleenex under the door!

28 April 2009

Girls


April 28, 2009

It's great being a girl. Girls have the versatility of being a girly girl one minute and a tom boy the next!
It's like playing a great game of T-Ball and taking off your helmet to show off your cute new pink hair bows! Or lounging around the house in your favorite sleep pants and over-sized t-shirt while still making sure that your makeup looks fresh and newly applied. Yep, it's great being a girl!

This layout features three of my favorite girls, besides my daughters of course, doing what they do best.....being girls! These three are so much fun!
From left to right are Charly(niece), Ashley(their cousin)and Ruby(niece).
They are a scrapper's dream! Not only are they very photogenic, but they are always taking pictures! There is never a lack of inspiration when you get them together!

The layout was done with a combination of Far East paper by DCWV and plain white card stock. The white card stock was inked to match the Far East paper using teal, yellow and hunter green ink. The flower shapes are inked as well in rose. The flowers are the same hand made flowers I featured in an earlier post. On the curve are rhinestones,(all hand set, one by one!) although they look like plain white dots in this picture. The frame is inked using leaf stamps in various styles and colors. The white swirl was cut on my Cricut.

The best part about making this layout today was the fact that I spent the day scrapping with my sister . We don't get many chances to hang out between kids, errands and life itself, so today was extra special! So often, I scrap alone, so it's a nice change to have someone to talk to! And best of all....it's with someone I adore so much!

Thanks for visiting my blog and don't be shy....come back soon!
Carol

Fe-Mail With Attachments


April 28, 2009

Hi again!

I had so much fun getting this picture! I used a mirror to get the double "me" effect. Of course while I was at it, I had to take a couple of "fun house " looking ones! Those will be in upcoming layouts I'm sure!

This layout looks a lot more complicated than it was. I used several different punches to get different dimensions. The corners are torn off and replaced with a lace punch border by Martha Stewart. Then I just added a small piece of tan card stock to finish the corner.
the top "Fe-Mail" circle started out as a lain circle that I punched using the medium daisy punch. Punching at different angles gives you a great detail addition. The bottom circle is punched with the small flower punch. Though the flowers are touching, I left enough card stock attached to keep the center from falling out.
The filmstrip was printed from a picture I found on the internet.
The swirls were cut with my Cricut.

The idea behind this particular layout is to explain how my camera had become an extension of me. It travels with me everywhere and I am completely lost when I don't have it. I truly believe all scrappers are photographers as well. We know what shots we need to tell a certain story and we learn how to get those great shots! I'm constantly taking pictures, much to the dismay of some, looking for inspiration.
I think if I weren't such a huge scrapbooker and was able to work, I would become a professional photographer. There is such a sense of satisfaction when you get that perfect picture.

Thanks for reading my blog and I''ll see ya'll next time!

27 April 2009

April 27, 2009

A nearby town has an annual weekend celebration called The Maple Syrup Festival. This year, it rained the entire weekend including Sunday, the day of the parade. My Husband and I drove our truck in the parade. We followed a float made by an area daycare. The little girl in these pictures was riding on the float and was soaking wet by the end of the route. Her expressions spoke volumes about her feelings toward the inclement weather...don't rain on my parade!

Thanks for visiting my blog and stop back real soon!
Carol

A Mother Is.....

April 27,2009

Hi All!!

This is a layout I posted for a challenge on the Pages In Time site. The layout simply had to have something to do with Mothers whether it be your own mother or you as a mother, mother in law or just someone you think of as a mother.

For me personally, being a mother is the best job in the world. I never knew I could fall in love with someone at first sight until I had my girls. I tell them all the time that they are the reason Mother's Day means anything at all to me. Without them, it would be just another day!

So, I dedicate this lo to my girls for letting me be their Mom!

April 27 , 2009




HOW DID SHE DO THAT?

This is the swirled circle frame that I have become known for over at SB.com!

These are very versatile and can not only be used for circles but straight lines for frames as well!










They are very easy to make and only require the swirl punch shown here.




Here's how it's made!


First, cut out circle. The circle can be any size depending on how it will be used. For frames, make sure it will fit around the picture. If you plan on placing it behid a photo, just make sure it is big enough to show.




Next, you will turn the swirl punch upside down. This makes it easier to see what you are doing! Place the punch as far into the paper as it will go. This will ensure that your circle stays a circle.

Next, you will start punching, making sure that each swirl touches the one next to it. It doesn't overlap, it just touches it like it is pictured below.



To complete you circle, just punch the entire way around. When you have punched around the entire circle, the middle will simply fall away and you will be left with a frame like I have pictured below.



Thanks for visiting my blog and have a great day!

Carol

CAROL'S CORNER

Good Morning All!

Do any of you go to Garage Sales or Yard Sales? If you do, I'm sure you've stumbled upon some very good deals on craft items. There is always someone out there thinning out their inventory of papers or stickers.

But if you go to a garage sale only looking for the craft items, you may have missed out on a great find!

Did you know that little kids clothing has some of the cutest little buttons on them? Have you ever taken a peek at some of the more vintage style clothes and found gold buttons, perfect for your pages? What about a small colored zipper?
If you find these items...well what a steal!! These items can cost a fortune at craft stores, but may only cost you 10 cents at a yard sale! Clothing items have some of the cutest embellishments on them.

Have you ever passed the toys section of the yard sale , thinking to yourself that there couldn't possibly be anything useful there?

How about a Scrabble game? The letter tiles are very popular on pages right now.
Or maybe a Spirograph? Do you remember those? They make the coolest designs that can be used for framing a picture or just adding some flair to a page!
And then, there is always Barbie. Her little accessories would be perfect for use on pages about fashion or beauty.

And then there are housewares. Just the other day, I went to a garage sale and noticed a small wine rack on a table. It was made of wood and had three dowels that ran across the top of it to support the bottles. Well, being a non drinker, the first thing that popped into my head was a ribbon holder! Of course I bought it, and after a few modifications, it became my new ribbon rack! The best part is, I paid 50 cents for it!
Storage containers are also important to any serious scrapper. Housewares are the perfect place to find jars and plastic containers to hold all of your embellishments! Ball canning jars are perfect for storing flowers, not only because they hold a great deal, but they are also a very pretty and colorful addition to any scrap space.

Always keep your eyes open for odd items too like tie racks (perfect for ribbons),
dowel type paper towel holders (perfect for ribbon)
over the door organizers (perfect for flower storage and punches)
tins (perfect for storage and for decoration)
old style cassette holders (perfect for ink storage)

And last but not least...tools! Every guy has to put something in a garage sale, so it may as well be those extra little pieces parts that are left over every time they put something together! But that's great for us!
A garage sale is a good place to look for hinges, sandpaper,washers,dowels, hooks and other scrappy embellishments.

So, the next time you decide to take a weekend and hit a few garage sales, remember to keep your eyes open for the unexpected great find!

If you hit the jackpot and find something really cool, drop me line and I'll add it to my next post so my other readers can be on the lookout too!

Thanks for visiting my blog and stop back real soon!

Carol

26 April 2009


April 26,2009

Tracks Of My Tears

It rained all day yesterday. By the end of the day we had gotten
3 1/2 inches! I stood on my front porch last night hoping to get a picture of the lightning that was electrifying the night time sky.

However, it wasn't the lightning that caught my eye. Drops of rain were falling from the bottom corner of the flag that adorns our front porch. I watched it for quite some time before finally raising my camera to see if I get a good shot. After several attempts I finally got the perfect one! The drop of rain just hanging there moments before leaving the fabric.
That's the story of getting the great shot!

The real story that I want to share with you happened moments before that drop of rain fell. Moments before adjusting the lighting and positioning myself at just the right angle.
The moment that inspiration hit me. A title, a layout, a concept and words started to float in my head!

The flag appeared to be crying, mourning almost.

Our nation is in such trouble these days that morale is at an all time low for most people. People are down with little hope, especially here in Michigan where our Auto industry is suffering. Sometimes, when things get this bad, the only option is to cry, whether it be people that make up this great country, or the flag, the symbol of our country.
All I could picture at that moment were millions of people symbolized by the flag crying at the same time creating a drop of rain !
I know,kind of deep, huh?!

I worry though. I worry about the future and what it holds for my girls. Will there be jobs for them? Will they be able to survive?

The tracks of my tears are the same drops that fell from the flag.
I hope all that made sense!

Thanks for visiting my blog and stop back real soon!





April 26,2009

Erica has some very effective expressions while we are taking pictures. This look in particular was due to the fact that the sun was in her eyes and I was taking too long to get the picture. It may have been a difficult photo shoot, but the pictures were well worth it!


About the layout:

Cardboard has become a staple item in my scrap room! I keep any boxes we get. By tearing the very first layer off, you get a really nice effect. At this point, you can leave it bare, stamp it, paint it, whatever you choose. It's a very versatile product.

The picture is actually mounted on a piece of cardboard to lift it up and give it more dimension. Then I was able to adhere the jewels on the underside of the picture.
This was also my first attempt at making paper roses! I'm not sure if they are done right though. I used the same method as if I were making ribbon roses. First, I cut strips of red card stock and crumpled it up. It twists and bends much more easily. I started by rolling the edge of the paper really tight to make the bud. Then I simply twisted the paper around the bud until I achieved the size rose I wanted. The tinier rose buds are made the same way, but instead of twisting extra paper around them, I stopped at the bud. For the stems on the buds, I used florist tape and just rolled it into a long piece. Because it's already sticky, it hold together very nice.

The flower border opposite the roses was cut with my Cricut.
I decided to use my Scrabble letters for the Title rather than stickers or chipboard. The wood texture of the tiles fit perfect with the look of the cardboard.

I've been experimenting with flower folding the last couple of days. I'm not using any instruction manuals, just my imagination to create something new and different. I'm having a lot of fun with it too.

It's important, in order to keep the cost down, to use those little scraps of paper and find new ways to make things. I can't always afford the name brand supplies (though I wish I could), and making as much as I can on my own saves a lot of money.

Thanks for reading my blog and I hope to hear from you real soon! Have a great day!
Carol

25 April 2009


April 25, 2009

For my DH birthday this year, we all went in together to get him the Perfect Gift. We found this autographed Pittsburgh Steelers helmet signed by Lamar Woodley! He was so excited when he opened it!
Last year, for our first anniversary, I bought him tickets to a pre season game between Pittsburgh and the Carolina Panthers. He had always wanted to attend a home game in Pittsburgh at Heinz field, so getting the tickets were a no-brainer!
I never thought anything would out-do the tickets, but I think the helmet was pretty close!


The small picture in the scalloped circle is a picture of Lamar Woodley, during the game we attended!

Thanks for visiting my blog and stop back soon!

24 April 2009

Pretty Girl





April 24,2009

This is my Pembroke Welsh Corgi named Daisy. She is such a cute little dog! I may be a little biased though!

This layout has some more hand made flowers on it that I wanted to walk you through. These are really easy, but do require a couple of punches.

Here is a close up of the flowers!






Here's what you need :
Whale of a Punch-Retro Punch
Martha Stewart Snow flake Punch
Paper- thicker cardstock works a little better for this project



First, punch out two flowers. you can use the same colors or use different ones for contrast.
Then punch out a snow flake for the flower center.




Next, pinch the petals of the flower together as shown below.
Do this to both retro punched flowers.





Next, add a little glue ( hot glue gun works well) to the bottom flower.
Stack the pinched flowers on top of one another.
Glue the snowflake in the center and you're done!
Thanks for visiting my blog and I hope to see you again real soon!

Beauty In Motion

This is a layout I made on April 23,2009 of my daughter. The flowers are hand made by me. Here is a close up of the flowers.


To make them, I started with 7- 2 inch by 2 inch squares. I folded the square corner to corner into a triangle. Then I folded the points down to the first fold line as shown. Then just fold it in half.



This is what the finished piece should look like. After folding all seven pieces , I used a hot glue gun to glue them together. I glued all the folds together. When you have glued the last piece on, stretch it out to meet the first piece and glue it together. You should now have a circle finished flower!


And viola...the finished flower! Add a button or raffia or ribbon (too tall for a brad), to the center.



Thanks for reading!

Welcome to Boot Scraps!

Being a stay at home Mom doesn't pay very well! What makes it even tougher is trying to have a hobby that can get rather expensive at times.
I love to scrap, but refuse to go broke doing it! I try to make the most out of the supplies I have and am constantly looking for new ways to scrap more economically. I am lucky enough to have a great husband that supports my hobby. He has supplied me with my own scrap studio, a lap top, Cricut machine, Sure Cuts Alot and all of the supplies I need to continue my hobby. It's difficult these days to be a one income family and still have money left over to afford a hobby. I consider myself very lucky!

I hope to share some of my cost cutting ideas with you and I hope you'll feel free to do the same.
Thanks for reading and have a great day!
Carol