Sweet Girl Layout

This is our dog, she is very small as you can see, so I thought I would use her for a challenge at DCWV's Blog that Erin has going on.

The paper for the base of this layout is DCWV Mariposa stack and the solid paper is Mariposa cardstock stack.  This is my favorite stack and don't really like using it because I like it so much.

The flowers are Prima

The butterflies are from a Martha Stewart punch.

 

The leaves and letters are from Sizzix dies.

Thanks for stopping by and have a creative day!

Gloria

Weather Broadcast and Birthday Cards

Here in Texas the weather is very strange, don't get me wrong, I love it here and do not miss the Midwest nor West Coast weather with all the blizzards, snow boots, layers and layers, gloves, hats, scarves, earmuffs and snow up to wazoo.  We started to have great weather, the past two weeks we averaged 75-80 degree weather, this past weekend it went down drastically to the 30's (yes northern states I am complaining!!).  Don't like feeling cold, my fingers start getting numbbbbb (you see, can't even type) and I don't enjoy shivering like my little Chihuahua.  Monday/Tuesday 40's, today 50's, Thursday 60's, Friday/Saturday 70's (that's what I'm talkin about) and on Sunday get this...89 degrees.  So dear northern states can you please stop blowing that cold air down here, thank you very much.

Because of this crazy cold weather I have not been walking (started Feb. 15) I really don't feel like taking a stroll with a sweater, coat and gloves, ridiculous I say.

-----End of Broadcast-----

On to some crafty stuff, here are three Birthday cards I made this past weekend.  The first two are 5.5x5.5, the third one is 3x3 and was used on a gift.  I'm loving these paper flowers.

Hope your day is great!!!
Gloria

Rambling and an Award

Ok...so it's been a while, crazy busy.  You know when you have so many things to do and those thoughts are going in circles in your mind, nonstop, well I have two of those circles/rings going (what am I Saturn??).   And for some reason I don't seam to advance, my brain is racing but my hands are in slow motion.  What I think I need to do is make a list or two or three, for some reason I cannot function without lists, what is wrong with me!?  Don't answer.

On my January post here I mentioned I was going to smile more, well sometimes that is just not possible, hey that's life right (typing this with a smile, true).  So for the month of April (March is almost gone) I picked the word focus,

Well I am proud of me for "focusing" on walking 45 minutes to an hour, 4-5 days per week, started February 15.  Listen this is big HUGE, you see I don't like to exercise (I had to check the spelling on that, that is how much I don't like it), don't judge.  So for me this is life changing.  Now if I can only get to stop eating Doritos, the cheesier the better (drooling here), have you seen the commercial of the two guys where one is done eating a bag and the other guy starts licking the first guy's fingers, well that's...never mind.

Also, I am working on a 12x12 wedding album, this one is very time consuming because you have to work around so many photographs.  When doing scrapbooks without photos it feels so liberating, that is why when I went to my last local crop I completed an 8x8 wedding scrapbook, it's black, gray and pink, will post pics of it soon.

I just received the Versatile Blogger Award from Stacy from Love That Bug, that was so sweet, please check out her blog, she is very talented.

The rules of the Award are to:
1.  Thank the person who sent it to you.
2.  List 7 things about yourself (do you really what to know so much about me?)
3.  Send this award to 15 other bloggers.

So here we go:
Thank you Stacey for thinking of me, from the bottom of my heart.

About me:
1.  The youngest of nine (hence the blog name)(parents had a lot of free time, don't know how with so many kids)
2.  Hate cold weather (good thing we live in TX now)
3.  Love Almond Joy (always feel like a nut)
4.  Always making something (hands never idle, sometimes slow but never idle)
5.  Wish I could talk to dead people (it would be interesting)
6.  Don't like open cabinets nor drawers (my hubby said it's OCD, but last I checked he's no Dr.)
7.  Always wanted a pet monkey (again, don't judge)

This is extremely hard, since there are so many great blogs out there, so this Versatile Blog Award goes to:
1.  Regan at Emora Designs, she is so talented and the sweetest person ever.
2.  Stephanie at  With a Grin, the fun and the sweetness just warms you.
3.  Ivett at  Ivett Carrillo Designs, also talented.
4.  Leslie at Scraps of Mine, yes, cute and talented.
5.  Terri at  TeriBeri's Creations, yes, very sweet.
6.  Regina at  All Things Pretty, so warm and talented.
7.  Carrie at  Greenbean's Crafterole, can make something out of nothing.
8.  Jenne at  Your Fairy Craft Mama,  sweet.
9.  Elsa at  Just A Few Designs, very creative.
10. Elizabeth at  217 Creations, love her albums.
11. Connie at  2 Krafty Girls, check out her etsy shop.
12. Bona at  Keep on Scrappin, she never stops creating.
13. Funny at  In My Mind It's Always Funny, oh the humor and shopping picks.
14. Carrie at  Dittle Dattle, amazing tips and tutorials on transforming a room.
15. Katie at Crafting with Katie, beautiful cards.
I will let each and every blogger know about their award.
Have a wonderful and creative day.  Gloria

Ten Reasons

My husband and I have this thing, that when we ask each other "why do you love me" we always give random answers (because it's sunny today, because I ate an apple...).  So i figured, why not make put real reasons in a mini.  So this is what I came up with for my valentine (hey, it's still valentine's week right).  I blurred out the tickets because it's personal and I don't want to embarrass anyone (uhh me).

Ten Reasons Why I love You...

By the way he got a kick out of it.
Gloria

Valentine Card

Happy Valentine's Day!!!  Hope it's been sweet for you.  Mine has been, too sweet actually.  Why didn't anybody make vegetables the staple for this celebration instead of chocolate and candy...it's like Halloween all over again!

I am so ready for warm weather, it's been wickedly cold (freezing) here in Texas.  We moved from the East Coast to hot weather and what do we get...single digit weather, zero wind chill.  But finally this week will be in the 60's and 70's, thank you very much.   This weather report was provided by...makers of the following product...ok I'll stop.

On to the real post, this card was for my valentine, I made it with the Cricut, finally getting more use out of this machine.  It's simple, but made with loooove (mush).

There is also a mini, but I will post those pictures tomorrow, so stay tuned.
Gloria

Two Cards

These are a couple of very simple cards that I made last year.  One was for a wedding and the other, unfortunately, was for a funeral.

Hope you've had a wonderful day.  Don't forget to create.
Gloria

Goals for 2011

I was going to name this post New Year's Resolutions, but you know how every January we have the same resolutions, then here comes December and we realize that the year is over and then we feel disappointed...you know what I mean.  Well this year I am approaching it differently, at least it won't hurt to try.  My resolutions are going to be goals, but on a monthly basis, that way I'm not overwhelmed.  These will be divided into 3 sections:  Inspirational, Organizational and Crafty.  So if I work on things on a monthly basis I think I will be more likely to stay on track and give myself a bit more time to accomplish what I want.  Does this make any sense?

Inspirational:
A lot has to do with a positive attitude towards life.  You see I am generally positive when it relates to someone else, if you come to me with a problem, I can see the solution.  But I am usually negative when it relates to me, eventually I can get over it but it might take a while (all those "ifs" floating in my head).  Therefore in January I will always look for the positive in everything and everyone, don't worry I'm not going all spiritual on you.

And I am going to smile more, what? yes, a simple facial expression by spreading the lips to the side and an upward position.  Seriously, I am starting by doing it as many times a day as I can, regardless of what I am doing or feeling.  Smiling has its benefits, it changes your mood, it's contagious, it relieves stress, it boosts your immune system, etc. (gotta love Google just type Reasons to Smile).

Organizational:
A cluttered home/room is a cluttered mind (this can also be inspirational, don't ya think). Tackling this part on a monthly basis is a definitely can-do, no matter how big or small the project is.  So for this month I am cleaning my makeup/lotions/medicine cabinets and dumping everything that is caked, expired, changed color or have not used in months.  Just love the feeling of accomplishment after cleaning and organizing.

Crafty:
This is another thing I love doing: creating (also inspirational, I see a pattern here).  It can be making a dish, blinging a frame, a mini (so cute, love 'em!), or just making a card.  For January I am making a 12x12 wedding album with lots of photos, the biggest one I've done was a 10x10 you can see here.  Also, completing a 2-page monthly layout for my Project Life by Becky Higgins, she has a simplified style and is amazing, check her blog. 


Bet you thought this was a regular crafting post, don't worry I will continue to post my creations.

Christmas Minis

I know it has been a while but I tend to want to do so many things, specially during this season.  The following are 2 of 4 minis that I gave.  Not sure where the paper is from, because I've had this 4x6 unmarked stack for a while, they are from 3 different Holiday collections.

 

 

 

There will be another post soon on the other two.
Gloria

Costume Party

Last weekend we had a costume party, this was our first time hosting one, and I have to tell you it was a lot of fun.  Everyone was required to wear a costume, (no if's, and's or but's), well you would be surprised to know that everyone complied.  

This is a week late but I wanted to post pictures of some of the decorations and goodies that I made.  Can't wait to do it again next year.

 Spiderweb cupcakes

Ghostly goody bags

 Framed images were cut from my cricut and free-hand

  

A couple of centerpieces

Halloween trees

 

 A spiderweb here and there from a not so small creepy-crawly

 

And since I was a witch, here is my Witches' Brew

 Gloria