I like aqua.

I'm sure you have noticed that aqua, or "robin's egg blue" or whatever you would like it be called, has suddenly become the "it" color of the rainbow. And truly, I can't complain...as I have found I pretty much love it everywhere I've seen it! Here are some of my latest favorites when it comes to aqua.

(On a side note, many of these images from my my tumbler page. I can't take credit for finding the majority of them!)

Tell me...are you a fan?

(Big Leo Productions)

(Ohdeedoh)

(lobster and swan)

(Curious Bird)

(petit collage)

(Martha Stewart for Macy's)

(design*sponge)

(decor8)

(hd connelly)

(Samantha Lamb)

And just a little fyi...I didn't forget about my mini that I owe you!
I just happen to be out of town right now and don't have the photos! Next post. Promise. ;)

Christmas is right around the corner

I mean how can you avoid knowing that it is almost that time right? All the stores have all but skipped over Thanksgiving and the aisles are filled to the brim with Christmas!! And I have to tell you it makes me so happy! I even snuck in my favorite Starbucks Christmas CD today - and I am ready!


Just to go along with my crazy festive mood, I want to share with you some past Holiday layouts/projects that I have created.

This one was from last year. I loved how the girls had "matching" outfits on (not planned).
Every year I try to make it a point to scrapook our Christmas cards. This one is a simple layout using Teresa Collins paper.
This is a little mini album I made for Alyson's first Christmas. I mean it was tiny - no more than 5 inches tall.

You always have to scrap getting the tree. Although this year I might do artificial. I also had fun including Pink with the red and green.

And a little card with a big bow - perfectly festive right?

I hope these have inspired you. I know they make me want to start my December Daily album!

Have a wonderful Friday!!

Michelle Lanning

Another mini!

I know, I know.  The last two posts I had here were about mini albums. What can I say? I'm addicted to making these little cuties, especially when I have lots and lots of photos.


I started with a Russell and Hazel business card holder I purchased for $2 on clearance at OfficeMax. (I love to shop office supply store clearance sections!) I created the title on the cover using white contact paper, SCAL and my Cricut machine.

To make the pages, I  printed my favorite photos at 2x3. I picked through my box of paper scraps and cut those to 2x3 as well.

To keep the album quick and simple, I decided not to use expensive embellishments. Using clip art and symbols off of the internet, I created icons and journaling that I printed off in black on white cardstock. The symbols were punched with a circle punch and matted in black cardstock with a small scallop Martha Stewart punch.The journaling strips were punched with a Stampin Up punch and again matted with black cardstock.

The entire album cost about $5 to make and took about 8 hours to assemble including printing time.

43 Shopping Days left...

...until Christmas!! Have you started early on your holiday projects this year? I've been working like a mad woman and can't wait to show you a few creations!! This lovely advent calendar is something my dear friend Jen made, and I wanted to share it with you today. You can find it here.

Enjoy your Wednesday!!

Sneak Peek

Just finished packing these beauties...and I can't wait to dig into one myself...

Repurposing Tip...

You know what I did with the coils from the Making Memories journaling spots? I stretched them out, stuck them through a felt Santa hat, and used it as a hanger for a holiday floral display!!

Got any ideas for repurposing packaging? I'd love to hear them!!

Have a great Monday!!

Girl's Day Out

I headed out with Tina and Deb (Tina's sister and our Amish Tour Guide) to Amish country this past Thursday. While most of the color is gone from the leaves, it still was a beautiful drive down...

Deb took us to the Ashery, a place where local Amish purchase necessities in bulk. Man, I was in heaven. I am kicking myself for not taking a picture of my cart! Lots of really cool, unusual stuff. I'll be back, for sure...

On the way back, we had to stop at my favorite shop in Medina...Perfectly Charming. They're all set up for the holidays, and their focus was RED and WHITE. I did some damage. I bought the huge bucket in the photo above, an antique scooter (that will look darling on the porch at Christmas) and lots of antique ornaments. I'll share photos of my finds soon...

Be sure to check out Tina's blog for more pics of our adventure. Those two girls bust me up...:)

Thanks, ladies...it was a wonderful, much needed day out!!

Pie Cupcakes

I'm so going to try these for Thanksgiving...

They're almost too pretty to eat!!

For all you local gals, stop up and visit me and my friend Stacey Dahn at the American Legion Hall (formerly Melody Grove in N. Ridgeville) on Bender Road tomorrow at their first annual craft show!! We'll have a fun mix of goodies to sell, so please say hello!!

Have a wonderful TGIF kind of day...

Yes, I'm a Yankee's fan...

Last Sunday at breakfast, our oldest son asked me why I was a Yankee fan. I started off by explaining that growing up in northeast Ohio, being a sports fan isn't always easy. So while we're fans of the Cavs, Indians and Browns, it is also fine to cheer for another team (because losing all the time gets old...and frustrating.)

I didn't fall in love with the Yankees when I was a kid. I fell in love with Bucky Dent. Man, he was dreamy. Back in the day when there was only 3 channels on the TV, I remember watching him play shortstop for the Yankees when I was 11 years old, thinking that someday, we'd have beautiful children together. I was such a dreamer (and a dork--ha!) I used to run out to the porch to get the newspaper and clip out the box scores. I saved them in a special folder that had all my Yankee memorabilia. (I have always scrapbooked...)

I babysat for my Uncle Dan TEN TIMES for FREE when I was a teenager, because I told him to name his price for a Yankee hard hat he won at a carnival game. I still have it. I tried to give it to our oldest son, and he politely declined. He's a Blue Jay's fan. I told my husband that if anything were to happen to me, that I wanted that damn helmet to be in my casket when I go.

I'll be the first to admit that I don't really follow the Yankees anymore. I enjoyed watching the playoffs and the series, and got into it with the family. It was fun. And you'll notice in the photo above, our youngest son fell asleep while watching them with me tonight. Maybe I'll be able to convert him...lol...

I sure hope they get to experience passion and love of sports as they grow. It enriched my childhood, and I hope it does the same for them.

I think Uncle Dan is going to get a wake up call in the morning...

family mini album

hey there! it's jamie. happy to be here today. i want to share the chipboard book from the november kit::the art blanche maple leaf. first of all, when i initially saw the book in the kit, i thought, "yikes! what am i going to do with that?" which only spurred me to DO something with it. i made a decision not to be intimidated by it. after all, it's only chipboard...in an odd shape...starring at me...all white and everything....but i digress.

the scenic route paper was a good match for a fall/thanksgiving feel. that was my cover as you can tell from the first photo above. i played around with the cosmo cricket icon chipboard pieces for the title. finished the front cover with the fun orange yarn in the kit.

the book is very simple. when opened, the left side is painted manila, and then stamped with leaf images from my stamp stash. i then made a pocket out of vellum, punched a slot from the top, and adhered to the stamped side of the book. then i slipped a journal spot cut from the nutmeg elements paper. i really like the soft effect of the pattern coming through the vellum.

the rest of the book flows the same with the painted and stamped left hand side, and a mix of the graphic45 patterned paper on the right side. keeping it simple so that these precious photos from several thanksgivings past can be the center of attention.

i am sure you can jazz this sweet little book up. i preferred the simple take, but would love to see yours. link us up to your creation.