Mason Family blog

All About Me!!

2012-02-07T18:17:00.000-08:00

I have fell into the trance of SMASH* Books. Well actually it is a Fancy Pants Brag Book but pretty much the same concept. A quick, fast way of recording memories without over thinking it.

I decided to have sections set aside for the things I wanted to focus on. First is Me, My Family, My Hobbies, My Favorites, My Church and I have lots of room to add more.

This page uses some Stampin Up or Close to my Heart that I won at our Crop for The Cure a couple of years ago. It was kinda girlie and I really have not had a need for it until now.

The rest, I used an old line of paper, Daily Grind, from Fancy Pants that I had in my stash to cover the front. I have always loved this line and was just waiting to find the right project. And here this book all about me is super fitting!!! The paper flowers I picked up in the dollar bins at Michaels, I cut the flowers and woman with my Slice, letters and rubons are from the same line of Fancy Pants.

Before the My Family section I started with My Loves. I wanted a place to include my imediate family. I have pictures of Allen and Stephen and some with me and them. And of course little Gizmo!!

Next I start with pictures of mine and Stephen's family. This part is not done all the way, I still need to add my brother's family pic and Stephen's brother's family. But I don't think I have a picture of all of them so I am gonna have to get one.

And it only seemed right to have a special page for each of my nephews. Silly boys!!!

More smashing to come. And I bought the green SMASH book for our camping adventures this spring/summer. I am excited to start that process too!

Project Life - Week 5

2012-02-07T08:17:00.001-08:00

Week 5 has come and gone! I didn't have many pictures for the first part of the week but then the weekend hit and I had picture overload!!! Saturday morning we went to visit Jaime and Tyler. The boys got some play time with toys and Jaime's new iPad. They had a great visit. Then supper time was time to celebrate sister-in-law Jessica's birthday with a fried chicken supper! Man was that good stuff.

Project Life Week 4

2012-01-31T06:39:00.000-08:00

Well it is time again for my Project Life pages. I am really loving this weekly project. This week I decided to use pictures from my Pampered Chef Spring Launch that I went to with my cooking friends on Saturday. It was my first time at a PC event and I loved it. It was so much fun!

Project Life Week 2 & 3

2012-01-23T12:45:00.000-08:00

Stephen's surgery has me behind on my posting. He is doing well and I have now gone back to work. I am doing really good keeping up with my Project Life album. I think the digital process is a little easier, I try to make a point to work on my book on Saturdays since that is the end of my week. So far so good!

Week 2

Week 3

Project Life - Week 1

2012-01-09T06:51:00.000-08:00

Well I broke down and decided to give Project Life another try in 2012. I am going back (need to print 250+ pictures) and finishing up with my 2011 album. But in 2012 I decided to do the Shutterfly digital version. I think that might be a little more convient and handy, not to mention it takes up less space. I am not going to stress myself with one picture a day, I think that is what got me down last year. I am doing more of a week in review. So here is my cover page. I took the picture with my tripod on Christmas Eve while we were having our family Christmas.

And below is my week one 2 page layout, January 1 -7.

Happy scrapping!!

December Daily - Dec 1

2011-12-01T18:39:00.001-08:00

Well it is that time again!! I love this project, it is the one I wait for all year long. And this year I am even on top of posting my pages, wow that never has happened before!!! Thanks to wireless Internet at home I can now blog in my PJs after Allen is sleeping. So here are my pages. Enjoy!!

I started with a set of BIA 8 x 8 covers and painted them with Making Memories Evergreen paint. Then I cut a 12 x 12 sheet of canvas to 7 x 7 and started sewing ornaments and stars. I got the die cut from a free download with the numbers I am using on my daily pages too.

This is the inside cover page. I am going to journal on the sheet but just have not done that yet. My papers are mostly from Simple Stories 25 Days of Christmas that I got at Archivers. Love the deeper colors.

This is the first cover page, just something simple to get it started.

This is December 1st, my pages are two page layouts all throughout the book. some of the busier days I have added extra small pages or the kind that fold out so I will have room for more pictures.

December Daily 2011

2011-11-15T09:21:00.000-08:00

It is that time of year again!!! My December Daily albums are my favorite!! I am so glad I get some time this weekend to finish my 2010 album (just a few minor adjustments) and start on the foundation pages of my 2011 album. You can read more about the concept here on Ali Edwards' blog, I love her she has awesome ideas!!! The premis is that you complete your pages before Christmas so that come December 1 all you have to do is journal and/or take a few pictures of your everyday activities.

I have decided to use the 25 Days of Christmas line by Simple Stories that I got during my last Archivers visit. And I will probably use some of the other Christmas stuff I have left over in my stash. One thing I am not decided on is my cover. Normally I use chipboard of some sort but this year I just am not certain. I would like to use my Cinch to bind it all together if it is not too thick when I am complete. So we will see.

Happy scrapping!!!

Hometown Quilt

2011-10-12T08:55:00.003-07:00

I love this new fabric, Hometown by Sweetwater!!! It is so pretty and the colors just mesh with the rest of my house.

I kinda stole the pattern from a picture I found in one of the Flickr groups I follow. I made some modifications in my version. And am still working on it actually. I still need the ivory sashing on the top and bottom and another row or two of charm packs on top and bottom too. I had to make a run to JoAnn's this week for some more Ivory Kona. Now I have to get caught up on homework so I can finish this up.

This one will be for my bed. So it will be the biggest I have made so far, queen size. Special thanks to my photo helpers!!!

Billboard Quilt

2011-08-11T10:32:00.000-07:00

I have decided to join Oh, Frannson! on her Billboard Quilt Along. Although I have adjusted it to fit my needs. Instead of a full quilt I am just making mine a wall hanging with our last name. I am planning on redoing our bedroom starting with a new quilt made by me. I am waiting on the new Hometown layer cakes by Sweetwater. I love this line, well all things Sweetwater actually!!! But the colors of this line are amazing! They fit right in to the country colors of the rest of my house and still add a splash of blue and yellow. I love it. Can't wait to get my order from Green Fairy Quilts. I am hoping it comes today or tomorrow. So anyway, this is the sketch I worked on last night and finished at lunch. I can't wait to dig in. Just gotta determine if I want to use scraps in the same color scheme or if I want to try charm squares in the Hometown line. Think I will start tonight with sorting my scraps into piles and see how many I have in these colors.

Hello Blog World

2011-07-14T07:39:00.000-07:00

My goodness, where have I been????? I have been busy with life, school and work and have failed misserably at blogging regularly. It really would help if I had a wifi connection at home. I could or at least I think I would post all the time. I don't know really!

Here are a few sewing projects I have been working on lately.

A new table runner for my cousin's birthday. It is three friendship star blocks made from a pink batik.

This is a lap quilt for my mom. She has been complaining every time I make something for someone else that she doesn't have something yet. She mopes around a lot. So I bought two Chrysalis Charm Packs from Moda and made this coin quilt. It actually is from a baby quilt tutorial on Moda's website but I added a few more coins so it would be a little bigger.

This is a baby quilt for a friend of mine at church. I gave it to her last weekend at her baby shower and she loved it. It is using the Cheaper by the Half Dozen pattern and fat quarters from JoAnn's.

This is the first time I have tried the free motion quilting. It was actually pretty cool. But on the day before the shower I had really bad pains in my shoulder (it is a lot of moving and gripping of the fabric when doing the FMQ) so my hubby offered to try his hand. He warned me not to take pictures of him at my machine but he actually helped me out a lot.

This is one of my many work in processes. I am behind on this quilt along but I am trying to catch it up. It is the Synchronized Squares Quilt Along over at PS I Quilt. It is to make a lap quilt. I am using two different layer cakes/stacks from Connecting Threads and wanted to alternate them. But now I am kinda thinking about making some pillows for gifts. I don't know we will see how it goes.

Quick Kids Project--Art Binder

2011-02-02T07:00:00.000-08:00

Quite a while back while browsing the many sewing blogs I read almost daily I found a tutorial for an art binder. Lately I have been thinking of something I could make the kids in my Sunday School class for their birthdays throughout the year. I remembered this project. On Sunday I decided to start cutting my fabric for the art binder. I wanted to make one for myself (I am a kid at heart!!!) as a trial to see how hard it would be. I finished it up Monday night after supper. It was very easy and could be easily finished in one day. I picked up a cute sewing notions fat quarter bundle at Joann's just for this project. I was so pleased with how it turned out.

I want to pick up some of the Crayola Twistable Colored Pencils at Wal-Mart this weekend to put in my binder. I don't really like markers but wanted to put them in there for the picture. And I really wanted grid paper in those small pads too so I could sketch out quilt patterns and blocks but I can't seem to find them. I have looked at WM, Kmart, Office Depot and am not having any luck.

One modification I would make to the pattern is adding something to strengthen the cover. It is too flimsy for me. Maybe the nice batting that lays flat or even fusible fleece.

You can find the pattern at Terry Atkinson's blog. Enjoy and happy sewing!!!

Postage Stamp Quilt Top

2011-02-01T06:31:00.000-08:00

I finally finished the Postage Stamp Quilt top on Friday. It was such fun and rather easy to put together. Now, it is not perfect for sure. But that just adds character Stephen says. I still have to order the backing and binding fabric and then I am going to wait until I get my new machine later this month to quilt it. My Brother LS-2000 goes through fabric overload when I try to sew thru that much fabric.

Here is an up close and personal shot. The fabrics are from Connecting Threads and their Canterbury line. It was the first time I had bought from them but I was well pleased. The solid tan is from Joann's. I didn't really like working with it but I guess it will do. I did notice at my local Joann's they now carry Kona solids. I am so happy I don't have to make a long trip to Louisville or Lexington or Florence when I need solids. Yippee!!!

Thanks Rachel of PS I Quilt for a fabulous Quilt Along. It was my first and I had a great time participating.

My Weekend

2011-01-24T08:45:00.000-08:00

Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the weekend.

Allen was off school again Friday after a snow storm came in Thursday afternoon. I guess he was wore plum out because I found him in his room around 4:30.

I worked on the PS I Quilt Postage Stamp Quilt Along most all of the weekend, and I still am not finished. The left stack is my "to be ironed" stack and the right stack is finished. I still have another large stack to sew together. Thankfully I can try to catch up tonight since the next set of instructions won't come out until tomorrow.

I have had this picture in my head for a while now but just forget to take it before Sunday School. It turned out pretty well considering I had my small camera with me and not my Rebel.

PS I Quilt-Postage Stamp Quilt Along-Patchwork

2011-01-21T06:00:00.000-08:00

Well it is the patchwork week at PS I Quilt and the Postage Stamp Quilt Along. (I love that thing!!!) I must admit I was behind on my sewing (last week's assignment). So I had to catch up Tuesday night. On Wednesday I was able to get on task and start my cutting into strips. With more snow expected Thursday and Friday I might be home bound and be able to finish cutting and start the fun sewing blocks part!!!

Project Life 2011

2011-01-19T12:29:00.000-08:00

At the end of 2010, I decided I was going to commit to Project Life by Becky Higgins. This is a commitment to take a photo a day documenting your family through out the year. In reading Becky's blog many have told via comments how they have adapted Project Life to fit their needs. Maybe taking pictures monthly, to celebrate a milestone birthday or first year of marriage. Those are great! I commend them, sure wish I had documented better the first year I was married. But knowing how I am and that I have tried to do this in years past and failed very early on, this is going to be a big challenge for me to follow through. So I broke down and purchased Becky's kit to hopefully hold myself accountable for the entire year.

Here is my PL Cover. I decided to add some family pictures to kinda make it personal.

This is January 1 - 3.

This is January 4 - 7.

This is January 8 - 10. Sorry it is turned wrong. It looks right when I pull it up in Photoshop but Blogger loads it funky! Sorry!!

This is January 11 - 14. Still turned wrong.

This is the beginnng of week three, January 15 - 17.

I hope you enjoy Project Life 2011 through my eyes!

OK, now we are nearly three weeks into the new year and I am right on track. I just wanted to share my first few pages with you.

Birthday Quilts

2011-01-15T08:00:00.000-08:00

I am trying to get ahead of the game this year with my sewing projects. I finished the tops for Gavin and Levi's birthday quilts. I had intended to make these for them for Christmas but it just didn't work out. So I have the tops ready and need to get some backing and batting to get them ready to be quilted. But I am planning on waiting on my new machine I am wanting to quilt them. Quilting with my basic Brother LS-2000 is just too hard. I found the tutorials at The Polks Dot Chair and the fabric at Fat Quarter Shops. My friend Teresa embroidered the boys name on a block so I could sew it in the rows. I think they turned out pretty good.

Happy weekend!!

Fabric

2011-01-14T06:04:00.000-08:00

I sewed some more last night on my strips for the quilt along. I finished set A but I still have to work on set B. I will get those finished this weekend in time for a new set of instructions on Monday.

Here are the fabrics I decided to go with for my quilt along. I changed my mind several times but decided with Canterbury at Connecting Threads. Very nice fabrics. The solids came from JoAnn's yardage and I cut them into the 2 1/2 inch strips.

Here is set A of my week 1 homework. I still have 8 sets in set B to work on this weekend. It is still not too late to join the quilt along if you are interested. Check out Rachel's blog PS I Quilt. I love her blog, great!!!!

PS I Quilt-Postage Stamp Quilt Along

2011-01-13T11:55:00.000-08:00

Sorry for they disappearance in Blogland!! I hope to do better in 2011 as I try to use my blog to showcase some of my sewing projects. I have been quite busy lately on new quilt tops and my very first quilt along.

I will be posting pictures of my fabric choices and my Week One progress on this quilt along tomorrow. I gotta get my pictures off the camera tonight and finish my leg work. But in the meantime you can read more about the Postage Stamp Quilt Along on a favorite blog of mine www.psiquilt.com

See you tomorrow!!!

Weekend Happenings

2010-08-23T10:35:00.000-07:00

This weekend was pretty busy for me. Saturday we loaded up with my two cousins and their kids and took off to the Louisville Zoo. We wanted to go before school started but we just couldn't make that happen. The day began with gray skies and rain. It rained all the way and we were just praying it would stop and clear off. Sure enough, God answers, and it turned out to be a wonderful day. I guess the early rain had scared most people off because it was not crowded at all. The Glacier Run water park area was just right. Not too many kids that you can't keep up with your own but just enough kids that you could find yours when you needed. Here are a few of my favorite pictures.

Posing on the buffalo donated by Buffalo Trace Distillary(where my uncle works).

The coolest blue frogs I have ever seen!

Allen taking a moment to meditate while we were in the gorilla house! Silly kid.

It looks like Kirsten is talking to the ostrich! I just keep hoping the thing doesn't come after us.

The giraffes were pretty active today. All but one was in the giraffe house. We were hoping to see the baby (born 7/21/10) but he was still in the back getting a bottle the trainer said. We waited until the kids got antsy and we even came back on our way out but we didn't see it.

Sunday was church day. I had a great day with my Sunday School class as we continued our discussion on the Fruit of the Spirit. Sunday's lesson was about peace. We focused that with God's fruit of peace we can release our worries over to him! After Sunday School Allen and I headed to Dry Ridge for a Wainscott family reunion. I am gonna share my favorite picture from the event that was taken by my younger cousin, Kirsten. She loves my Rebel XS (who wouldn't right?) and she takes ever opportunity to "steal" it away from me.

My Latest Read

2010-07-28T08:11:00.000-07:00

For our 12th anniversary (end of June) Stephen bought me a nook. What is a nook you might wonder??? Well it is an electronic book reader made by Barnes & Noble. I download my books onto this reader and pack it with me anywhere. I just love this little thing! Saves me from having all kinds of books piling up in my house (no room in the inn), my nook will hold up to 1500 plus is expandable through a mini SD card. I have read several books on my nook. Right now I am reading book 2 in the Sister of the Quilt Series by Cindy Woodsmall.

Such a good series. I commonly read Amish stories written by Beverly Lewis. She is a great author but this series is different in that it tackles hard and sometimes awful things that happen in life. I won't spoil the story because I really want to encourage you to read this series. There are three all together.

Hurry, go to your nearest libray or download this series to your nook or Kindle or iPad. What ever you prefer!!!!

Gotta go read during lunch break!!!

Doggie Quilt and a Pillow

2010-07-23T06:37:00.000-07:00

I finally finished the small quilt for Gizmo. But it is not completely finished I need to put on the binding around the outer edge. I hope to complete that this weekend then I will take some pictures of Gizmo with the quilt. Hopefully cuddling and not chewing!!!!

Last night I finally made time to cover two pillows I had bought at Wal-Mart for $6 each in the new back to school sections. I had bought some UL fabric and wanted to make more of a cover that could be removed when it is dirty. So I thought about it for a bit and made an envelope type cover using a pillow sham from my bed as a guide. I made two of these, super easy and fast!!

Fabric Update for To Do List

2010-07-09T10:21:00.001-07:00

I just got back from my lunch break trip to JoAnn's. I found this super cute fabric for a little quilt for Gizmo. I also got a print with neutral paw prints on a light tan color (couldn't find it online). I am working on a design in my head and can't wait to get started. Since we finish up VBS tonight and have the closing ceremony tomorrow, and we are visiting the Schneble's Sunday afternoon I kinda doubt I will have time to work on it this weekend. But next week for sure. And it surely won't take too long since it won't be too big.

Have a great weekend!!!! Happy Sewing!

My Sewing To Do List

2010-07-09T06:10:00.000-07:00

Not much to post about today so I thought I would share my sewing to do list. I have a new app for my iTouch (Task PRO) that I have been using to keep up with all my crafty things I want to do.

1.) finish the quilt I have started for Allen. I have made several 9 patch block sections but I still have a ways to go. And he keeps bugging me too.

2.) I just found a pattern called "I Spy". Yes, it is just like the game we all played as kids. Allen loves that game. So I have decided to make both Allen and Levi a small I Spy lap quilt before vacation next year. One they can have in the car to cover up with when they get cold and play I Spy when they get bored. Now I have to start getting some novelty fabrics together! Another excuse to go to Joann's and raid the $1 fat quarter bins.

3.) I also decided I want to make a small quilt for Gizmo. Yes a quilt for a dog. He loves sitting in the rocking chair in the living room and I have an old throw in the chair for him to cuddle with but every good dog needs his own quilt. So now I have yet another reason to go to Joann's and look for some dog print fat quarters.

Now off to shop! Happy weekend!!!

Quilted nook Case

2010-07-08T04:36:00.000-07:00

Ever since Stephen got me a sewing machine for Christmas I have been a sewing addict. It is so relaxing and it is satisfying to complete a new project. My to do list is quite long now that I am out of my school classes for the summer I am trying to complete as much as I can. My latest project was a case to keep my new nook so it won't get scratched while it is in my purse. I found this idea on Moda's blog and just loved it. But since I do not have an iPad I just adjusted it for my nook. I love how it turned out. I used the Plume charm pack by Moda. I cut the charms in half making a 2 1/2 x 5 rectangle then placed them randomly making two full rows. I then had to cut a few of those in half making 1 3/4 x 5 rectangle because I was afraid I would not have enough fabric after my seam allowances were used. The inside is fuchsia fleece to protect from scratching. I added a Velcro top closure to keep the nook safe from sliding out. Enjoy!!!

Happy Birthday America!!!!

2010-07-07T04:52:00.000-07:00

I pray everyone had a wonderful Fourth of July! Ours was fun filled as usual. We attended Debbie's annual cookout. We enjoyed time with friends and family, good food, pool time and great fireworks provided by Elk Creek Winery.

Levi had a great time celebrating the 4th. But he had to turn in early so he would not be cranky for mom and day on the next day.

The kids love swimming in the pool and it was so hot that it was a great way to cool off. They floated, swam, dove for sticks and rings, and even squirted each other with water guns.

Levi really wanted to get in on the fun!!!

This was the first time taking firework pictures with my Rebel. I got lots of shots but only a handfull of keepers.

This one is great with all the color. Too bad I don't have a better zoom, maybe next year!

Until next time, be safe blog readers.

Welcome Back

2010-07-06T06:15:00.000-07:00

I have been away for so long!! So sorry of that too. Life just gets so busy and with no internet at home it is quite hard to post regularly. Today I am posting a picture for the Quilt Swap I am in over at Two Peas. I am part of the black, red and white swap, I choose a pattern called Tilting Four Patch. I had so much fun making these blocks and I can not wait to get the rest back and see what everyone made and then put it all together for a new quilt to snuggle with at home!!! I hope to be back soon!!!!

Christmas Catch Up

2010-01-07T06:12:00.000-08:00

It has been quite a long time since I blogged last. Well, I have a lot to tell you about. First, I am still working on my December Daily album. We are expecting a big snow today so I am hoping to get it finished in the next few days. I only have three or four days left to complete. I will post more photos on that later.

Sure hope everyone had a great Christmas and a safe New Year. For Christmas I got a few scrappy things. A new Slice Design card, extra adhisive for my Slice, some stickers, Making Memories paint (been dying to try that stuff) and a sewing machine. I have not used my Sewing machine for scrappy purposes yet but I have made a couple of quick and easy quilts.

This is a baby quilt kit I bought a long time ago when Jessica (SIL) first became pregnant. I intended to work on it at home and sew together at Granny's house on her machine. Well I cut out the blocks and pinned it all together and that was it. So it didn't take me long to get my machine out on Christmas Eve night and start working on it. I had it done in no time. Then I got a little froggy and decided to start on another one. I made a trip to JoAnn's Fabrics (my new favorite store) and bought some Charms and Jelly Rolls (quilter terms for 5 x 5 inch precut squares and rectangular strips). I had so much fun sewing this together. I am very proud of it. i went up to Granny's Monday night and she helped me bind and back it. Turned out so pretty. I can't wait to get to JoAnn's soon to get more supplies to make another one.

The last order of business is the items from the Jingle Swap that I received before Christmas. I love to read blogs, one of them I follow daily is Just Jingle. She is great and she has wonderful content. Little scrapping, crazy funny rambling, and great little treasures she finds. Anyway I became part of a swap. I was partnered with Marilyn from Hawaii. I have had so much fun talking with her via email and building a new friendship. Hi Marilyn!!!! Here are some photos of the items in my package. There are two things that are missing. One is a great Hawaii calander (it is at work on my cube wall) and a plastic canvas santa that hids a Hershey Kiss in his mouth (I packed it away before I remembered to take my picture). Part of the deal was to include at least 2 homemade items in your gift, there had to be 10 total, $20 or under.

Here are the items before I opened them.

Look at all the goodness!!!! Great towels with hibiscus flowers on the end, croched dish rags, santa pin, recycle bag, jingle necklace, extra kisses and a tin of magnets. Each magnet has a different picture on it. Most of them are different seasons I think. I ended up using them to hold the Christmas photo cards that I received on the back of my front door.

I love these ornaments. They are so cool! I had already packed these away too but took a pic for my December Daily album.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!!!

Day Eight-December Daily

2009-12-09T12:39:00.000-08:00

Of course this would be the month that my Canon photo printer chose to act up, right?? Well I took several pictures and chose the one I wanted to print, it was a vertical print because I thought it would look best on the page. Well as I was viewing the pictures on my laptop I changed the view of the picture so I could see it correctly on the screen so I guess messed up the format and my printer could not recognize the picture. Nothing but a blank screen on the printer. Anyway, I was not able to finish my layout and take a picture to post today. I am gonna have to have the picture printed at Wal-Mart this weekend. But I do have the picture to show you.

Here is Allen, in his comfy PJs, reading the book Charlie Brown's Christmas as we watch the cartoon on TV last night. He was amazed that the TV was following the book.

Happy Wednesday!!

Day Seven-December Daily

2009-12-08T11:10:00.000-08:00

This one is a little hard to see because it is a Teresa Collins transparency sheet so there is lots of glare from my camera flash. I decided to journal about the Christmas ornaments we got for Allen this year. Each year I get a new ornament for him according to what he is into. Last year was soccer. This year he just had to have the Louisville Cardinal ornament at Wal Mart one day. We also picked up a new ornament while vacationing in Myrtle Beach this summer. Allen's ornament is the cute little moose that is playing a video game while listening to his iPod, just like Allen! The red ornament is a disco ball he got from his Mamaw. He loved that thing so of course she gave it to him.

December Daily Weekend Catch-up

2009-12-07T10:43:00.000-08:00

I am back from the weekend of activities with pictures to post of my December Daily 2009 album days 4 - 6.

Day 4 s a picture of Levi. They came down to our house for a night of Little Ceasar pizza.

Day 5 is pictures from Christmas with Stephen's mom's sisters. Each year they get together the first Saturday of December for lunch. This year it was at Phyllis' house and we all had a great time!

Day 6 was Allen holding Levi at Brian and Jess' house last night for some pictures by the tree. This page is a transparency iwth a black flourish so you can see Day 8 behind it.

I am not sure what Day 7, Monday, will be. We did have our first snow this morning but it was too dark when we left the house for school to take a picture and of course it is all melted now. I might have to take some pictures of Allen's ornaments from this year and journal about our ornament tradition. We will see if anything else comes to me before I get home.

Happy Monday!!

Day Three-December Daily

2009-12-04T05:36:00.000-08:00

Day three is complete in my December Daily album. Here I decided to print 4 pictures out on one 4x6 sheet. I got home last night and found my Jingle Swap package on my doorstep!!! Yippee!!! Marilyn had sent it early and it makes me sooooo happy! I opened the box and Allen wanted to help me open the presents so I let him. While he was in the middle of opening I decided to open the card. Opps, should have done that first! Marilyn wanted me to start on December 15th and open one gift a day. Allen had already opened two packages, the pretty seashell ornaments made in Maui and a jingle bell necklace. Marilyn, I promise we won't open anymore until December 15th!!!!

Our other pictures were of Allen writing his Dear Santa letter. This letter is for school but will be published in the News Herald in a couple of weeks. They were due back to school today so we had to work on this last night. This is the first time he has written it all by himself. I am so proud of him. I am reducing the size of the letter and gonna place it in the envelope on the right side so we can always look at it.

Day Two-December Daily

2009-12-03T05:18:00.000-08:00

Well, I got my Day 2 page completed late last night. While we were watching Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Stephen and Allen fell asleep. So of course I snapped a picture! No sleep for me however, I was busy working on my research paper that is due Friday. Hope to have it finished tonight and that might be my picture for Day 3, we will have to see how it goes.

Day One-December Daily

2009-12-02T05:30:00.001-08:00

Well here we are, at day two already. I completed my album last night and put it all together and even took pictures (pardon the dark pictures, it was late when I finished). But first here is my Day One page. I took pictures of our decorated tree and a couple of extra decorations around the house. (I will save some more for another day) I printed the pictures out on my Canon Selphy printer in the 2-up format and cut them apart with my MM Trimmer.

The santa is a fabric wall/door hang that I ordered from a Lilian Vernon catalog when Stephen and I first married (I also have a scarecrow). I hang this on our front door every year. Allen loves it.

Here is the cover page to my album. It has a clear 8x8 acetate cover over it to protect it. I bought a pack of jingle bells at Hobby Lobby on Black Friday and tied them to the binder clip with some red cord I found at JoAnn's. And also a couple of epoxy tags from the MM Mistletoe collection.

Here are days 6 - 26 with no pictures of course. Yes I did decide to go to the 26th because that is when we are having Christmas with my mother and I wanted to include that in my book as well.

Looks like I forgot pages 7 and 8 but 7 looks just like 6 above just reverse. And you can kinda see 8 under the page 6 picture. Follow that???

Day 9 is a flocked page by MM. The red part of the poinsettas are flocked. I also included a 4x8 polka dotted acetate page but I can move it anywhere. It is for days I have lots to say or lots of pictures. I will probalby move it to the weekend because that is when we are busiest.

Day 11 is a die cut page cut to 8x8 with a felt embelishment from AC, left over from last year. Day 12 is 3x3 squares of different patterned paper I used. I will either use a 3x3 journal block or picture that day too.

Day 13 is a large tag with some bling. I will probably journal on that day. The white space of day 14 is for a 4x6 picture.

Day 21 includes a tag and a homemade pocket that I cut using scraps of the flocked poinsetta MM paper. The tag will slide all the way down but I pulled it out for the picture. Day 22 is a flocked page also, you can't see very well but there are white snowflakes that are flocked all over.

Day 24 has 3-2x3 blocks of patterned paper as a border along the bottom. I will probalby put a picture or collage on that day. Also included is another 4x8 acetate for extra journaling or pictures.

Day 25 folds out to include more paper to journal or picture space.

This is the back of the album. Just 3 scraps of patterned paper glued on. I would like to do something here to dress it up but I am not sure what. We will see what comes to me.

Thanks for looking and check back tomorrow for a completed Day 2 page.

It's December Already!!!

2009-12-01T07:23:00.000-08:00

Wow, it has been a long time since I posted last. Sorry about that! I can not beleive it is December 1st already and time to officially start my December Daily album. I can not wait to get home and take my picture. I think today's picture will be of our Christmas tree. We put the tree up Saturday but it is too pretty not to include in the album, and such a part of Christmas! I also have to finish the last few days of December. I am making a run to Memories A La Mode today at lunch to get some last minute supplies. I need some cardstock to use as my base. And I want to see if they have any new pieces of the Mistletoe line in since I was last there.

Check back tomorrow for a pictures of December 1 page and discussion of what my December 2nd picture or journaling will be.

Birthday Rewind

2009-11-17T06:20:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was awful busy to be my birthday. There was no relaxation or birthday party. Kinda sad once you get older really! Monday is my only night for classes at KSU, but the quiz I thought we were having was cancelled. That is a plus. I got home late and there was no supper cooked for me but I did get to spend the rest of my night with my family so I guess it was a good birthday after all.

Allen takes a break from playing his Nintendo DS to have a picture taken with me. It was a challenge to get him to pause his game but I finally got the picture.

On Sunday we had Thanksgiving at my grandmother's house. It also serves as a birthday dinner for my cousin Michelle and me. My other cousin Jason's girlfriend has a neice that sells these wonderful necklaces for her school. She brought them to Thanksgiving so we could see them. They are made by African women in Uganda. They use recycled papers cut into strips and roll them up real tight and paint a clear coat over them so they will stay together. The ladies string the beads on the necklace and sell them as their only source of income. You can read more about them here and even buy your own. I really love the patchwork quilt tote! I so love my tote bags!!!! I think they are great and am so glad I bought one. Each box comes with a card that tells a little about the woman who made your necklace's story. I bought the long necklace that can be worn long, doubled, trippled or even as a bracelet. Super cool!!!!

Happy Birthday to me!

2009-11-16T09:59:00.001-08:00

Well 33 years ago today Teri Stivers was born. It won't be too special of a day, I have class tonight and a test even. Just another day when you get older. I will be back tomorrow with some pictures.

December Daily 09

2009-11-06T06:22:00.000-08:00

I was finally able to take some time last night before Grey's came on TV at 9 PM to start on my December Daily album for this year. I am pretty happy with it so far. I complete pages 1-7 but only took pictures of 1-5 because 6 and 7 were transparancies and the flash on my camera with the kitchen table light was a little more that the picture could take, it didn't turn out at all. I will have to redo it this weekend when I try to finish the album. And I am not finished with the cover page either, it needs something else but I am not sure what. Without any further adu here you go . . .

Day one begins kinda simple but I still like it.

Day two is a patterened paper from Making Memories Mistletoe line.

More Making Memories for day 3.

Day 4 is just green cardstock with some trees cut out of the same patterened paper.

Day 5 is Making Memories patterned paper with some chipboard buttons and a circle with the defination of cherish.

To make my daily numbers I punched circles out of one of the Making Memories patterned papers and then added some Creative Memories sticker letters from my stash.

Enjoy!

December Daily purchase

2009-11-03T10:09:00.000-08:00

Wow, two posts in one day. I must be crazy!!!!

I just got back from Memories A La Mode (my LSS for out of town blog readers). While there I found the perfect line to make my 2009 December Daily mini album. You can read more about Ali Edward's idea behind the December Daily mini album here. But in short it is a mini album (mine will be 8x8) that documents your family's Christmas holiday. I start mine on the first day of December but others start with Thanksgiving. My album will mainly use the new Christmas paper from Making Memories called Mistletoe. So very cute with the classic reds, greens and white. I am so excited I want to start on it tonight have a birthday party to attend, so I might be out of luck. At least I will get the stuff out of the bag and play.

Click here to see my 2008 December Daily album.

Halloween Pictures

2009-11-03T07:51:00.000-08:00

Well it is now the third day of November! Wow how the time flies by! The holidays will be here before you know it. I am slowly collecting stuff for my December Daily album and hope to work on it this Saturday before going to my sister-in-laws for my mother-in-laws birthday supper. Hopefully scrappy pictures will follow the first of next week. But to hold you over here are some treats I made for my Sunday school kids at church. Allen called the "Firecrackers". All I used was an old cardboard toilet paper roll covered in black tissue paper and tied at the ends with orange ribbon but first stuffed with candy. Then I covered with Halloween patterned paper, I used Heidi Grace. I think they turned out pretty cute!

Halloween and Trick or Treating has come and gone. Allen dressed up as an army commander. Instead of driving around and trick or treating he decided to go to our Fall Fesitval at church where we had trick or treating in Wheatley, trunk or treating in the parking lot, games, supper and lots of fun!!! We both had a great night and I was super tired by the time we got home.

Have a happy Tuesday!!!!!

December Daily

2009-10-26T09:44:00.001-07:00

I am so excited to start my December Daily album for 2009. Started by Ali Edwards this idea documents the 25 days leading up to Christmas either by journaling or photos. My album will be a combination. Ali has posted her first tip of the season on her blog www.aliedwards.typepad.com. More to come on my blog as well. I have the album I will use, an 8 x 8 Mixed Media book by Fancy Pants. Now I have to decide on patterned paper and cardstock.

Haircut and a Movie

2009-10-19T11:14:00.000-07:00

Well Saturday finally came and so did Gizmo's first haircut. He was getting so shaggy that you could barely see his big ole eyes under all that hair. But $30 later and he is shining like new money! Such a pretty boy!!!!

The groomer put on the cute little Halloween kerchif but of course he didn't keep that on long! he had it untied in no time.!!

Second on our agenda for Saturday was taking Allen to see Where the Wild Things Are. It was such a good movie! After reading some posts online I was afraid it would be slightly scary for him but it wasn't. It had a great plot (like the book) that kept you interested for an hour and a half. It followed the book pretty well, of course they had to add some things to make it last so long, but it was not too far off from the book. The costumes for the monsters were awesome, so lifelike!

Wild Things

2009-10-16T11:11:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow mom and I are taking Allen to see Where the Wild Things Are. This is the movie that is based on the children's book of the same title by Maurice Sandak. A very wonderful book. We discussed it in my Children's Literature class last semester. I don't remember it as a child but after my literature class I fell in love with it and have read it to Allen several times. So once I heard of the movie, I knew we had to go. We have been counting down all week long.

I will be back next week with a review and new pictures of Gizmo's haircut! Have a great weekend!!!

Halloween Mini

2009-10-15T05:25:00.000-07:00

So I finally got to work on my Halloween mini album last night. So much fun. I had so many different MM Spook Alley embellishments that I didn't know where to start.

Here is my messy table for my small project! I got a few pages started but it is not totally finished yet, might be a nightly thing for the rest of the week. Here are a few of the pages.

Allen as a deer hunter in 2005.

Thomas the Train in 2006.

Lightening McQueen in 2007. It is so fun to see how much he has grown and changed through his short 6 years. More of the album to come! Happy Thursday.

Coming Soon!

2009-10-14T08:10:00.000-07:00

Not much to say today. I am hoping to work on a little scrapbook project tonight after supper is finished. Allen is so excited to help me. Since my scraproom is so messy we are going to have to move it to the kitchen table. I ordered a Making Memories Halloween album kit from Two Peas last week and finally got my pictures printed. My trip to Archiver's with Jessica provided me with several embelies to match MM Spook Alley line. I love it, I can wait to work on it tonight. Will real work ever be over???? Here is a sneek of the kit, I will post the finished project soon. Happy Wednesday!!!

Little Monster Contest

2009-10-13T06:08:00.000-07:00

I have entered Allen's Halloween picture from last year in a contest at the local radio station. Froggy 104.9 FM is having a costume contest for little ones under 13. The picture with the most votes will win a 110cc four wheeler from a local shop, and three or four runner's up will recieve tickets to the Monster Jam coming to Freedom Hall in Louisville. Please help us win! Click here to vote. The picture on this post is the picture I entered, just scroll down toward the bottom and click the radio button under his picture Allen D and click vote. No registering required! Thanks!!!!

Family Fish Fry

2009-10-12T07:26:00.000-07:00

Saturday was the Mason's family fish fry. It was a beautiful, wet day. There was no rain but plenty of left over water that made for soggy grass or mud really. The evening started with the men cooking the fish and taters! Yummy!!

Look at all that hot lard! It was good stuff!!! The kids had a great time playing in the back yard. They loved climbing the apple tree and tossing the football around. Some of the kids even chose to stay in the cow lot with all the poooo.

Gavin even came out for the festivities before it became too cold. He slept most of his first fish fry. Poor little fellow, missed out on some good food!

We ended the night with a hayride before dark. It was super cold but the kids had a great time. I actually believe the adults might have had a better time as the kids were cold and scrunched up in the wagon. Anyhow, it was a wonderful night with family and friends!

Couple of Updates

2009-09-18T13:03:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post before the weekend. Gizmo is beginning to warm up to all of us. He actually will come around for us to pet him. He really loves his mamma and gets very excited when I come in the house from work. Of course, who wouldn't! I took him to the vet last Saturday and he got a clean bill of health. Doctor K said he looked great, maybe a little thin but that will get better when he get comfortable with us and begins to eat regularly. Here is a recent picture of him. Isn't he precious!

Allen is really doing well at school. Since he is in the first grade he has began to have spelling tests. He has gotten 100% on both for the past two weeks. I am very proud of him. Tuesday he was sick and I had to stay home with him. Had a very bad cough and congestion on Monday night that nearly scared me to death. I was so afraid he wouldn't be able to get his breath while we slept, I slept with him on the couch just to reassure myself. Wednesday was Favorite Sport Team day, he wore a Louisville Cardinal basketball jersey I got from my buddy Melissa. Thanks Melissa, he loves it!!!

New Baby

2009-09-10T13:19:00.000-07:00

I just occurred to me yesterday that I had not blogged about our newest family member. What was I thinking????? A couple of weeks ago Stephen, Allen and I drove south to nearly Lake Cumberland to get a new dog. I found an ad in the Lexington Herald for a 10 month old Shih Tzu puppy. I had been wanting one and Stephen finally said yes so we made the journey. Since he was 10 months old and not a true little puppy he is quite shy of his new Mason family. He has a certain corner of the living room where he likes to "hid". After a couple of weeks we are all finally adjusting to our newest pet.

Meet Gizmo!

New Craft

2009-09-09T09:24:00.000-07:00

I have had this project in my head for a while now. I have been trying to figure out how to follow it all the way through. You see it involves sewing and I have not sewn since high school home ec. While I did love that class, I have not sat at a sewing machine since that class ended. But I have been coming up with crafts I would like to make that involve a sewing machine. Before going out and purchasing one I decided to try out Granny's machine and see if it all came back to me. Well maybe not all at once but I think it could all come back eventually! I did have to rip out a couple of seems that I messed up but in the end I think my creation turned out pretty good. Now I have to make mom one, since she is pestering me.

Sorry for the terrible picture. But I made my own pattern to cover a composition notebook with felt and decorate with my own hand made embellishments. I have been packing the book with me at work so I can write all my thoughts through out the day. And when I am done with that book I can just slide it out and replace it with a new one to start over in. Happy Wednesday!!!

Kindergarten in Review

2009-08-19T07:44:00.000-07:00

Here is the latest Layout for Allen's school scrapbook. I dedcided to combine several events in on layout by making a Kindergarten in Review page. It turned out pretty good. I entered it in a contest over at Two Peas, Celebrate the Seasons. They provided the sketch and we scrap a summer event.

Sorry about the orangy cast to it, kinda dark in my living room the night I finished and took the picture. I used my Becky Higgins School Kit from Creating Keepsakes to complete it. The pictures starting at the top are him in the computer lab (his favorite activity), his friends at Christmas time, his friends on the playground, singing Christmas carols at the Smith House and his impersonation of Abe Lincoln. Bottom row starting at the left he is working on a family Christmas tree, giving Mrs. Smith her Valentine's Day gift, getting his birthday spanking from Mrs. Smith, his sun he created for Nanny during the music concert at school, and Mrs. Smith at her baby shower given by the kids.

Happy Wednesday!

BoBunny Sketch

2009-08-15T17:49:00.000-07:00

Today I finished up my sketch challenge over on Bobunny's blog. I really liked how it turned out. I used BoBunny patterened paper, ribbon and sticker letters, the red cardstock is American Crafts, white cardstock is from Crafts Etc and the floss is DMC. You can't tell the details real well but I stitched around the number one in a green floss.

Thanks for looking and have a great rest of the weekend!

School, Legos, A Flower and A Baby

2009-08-12T06:13:00.000-07:00

Shew, that is a lot of things to cover today but off we start. This morning was the first day of school at Owen County. Allen was not ready to get up and get started this morning. He said his bed was so warm and toasty! I managed to take a few pictures last night so we wouldn't be late this morning. He is such a big first grader!!!

Have a wonderful year Allen Dale!

Friday night we had a new nephew to be born. Gavin Charles entered the world at 10:33 PM (I think) he weighed 8 pounds and 2 ounces and 21 1/4 inches long. Such a cutie!!!

After visiting our new nephew we went to Wal-Mart to get some school stuff. Allen found a new Lego set he just had to have. He loves his legos. Sits and plays with them all the time. Now he can put the sets together all by himself. He loves them!

I took this picture last night. I was walking around the flower bed while the boys were playing basketball (with a soccer ball) and found this lady bug nestled inside the flower. I ran in the house to get my camera, I know a photo op when I see it!!!

It's Finally Friday!!

2009-08-07T07:12:00.000-07:00

Well I am so glad it is Friday!!! But being the second weekend of August that means we have to drive in that crazy 127 Yard Sale mess. Oh my the drivers are crazy! I am glad this is my last work day so I can just get home and not have to drive in the crazy!!!

Allen and I went to Luke's 9th birthday party last night. It was a good time. He was saving up his birthday money for a new laptop! Good luck.

Wednesday I had to bake and decorate another baby shower cake. This one was for Sarah at work, her shower was Thursday afternoon. We decided on a fun beach theme. It turned out pretty neat I thought. I took off work early Wednesday and still stayed up till 10 PM to get it and 23 cupcakes finished.

The results of the Bo Bunny Design Team came out today and I did not make it but I will keep trying and maybe one day my stuff will be published. I am excited to see the new teams designs and to keep following the blog. They will continue to have challenges that I will participate in too. There is a sketch layout that is due next week that I am gonna work on this weekend. I would like to start on my vacation album too. So I am off to create!!!

A Layout, A Card and Levi

2009-07-28T04:47:00.000-07:00

I got to spend some time in my scrap room last night working on a couple of weekly challenges for Bo Bunny http://www.bobunny.blogspot.com/. It was nice to have an hour or so to get my creative juices flowing.

My layout is of some pictures I took of Allen riding his bike last night. He has this new thing where he loves to "drift". Ride down the road real fast then come to a quick stop by using his brakes and sliding on the pavement. Crazy boy. This is for the orange challenge.

I used all Bo bunny papers, American Craft letters for the title with some colored dots on them to tie in all the colors of the orange paper, and the brads are unknown (they have been in my stash forever).

The get well card I made is for the Bo Bunny weekly sketch. This card was super fast and a good way to use up some of those scraps in your box.

I used scraps of Bo Bunny papers, Bo Bunny paper flowers, unknown brad (again in my stash), Close to My Heart stamp and card and ink is by Staz On.

Now to Levi. I have decided to document both of my new nephews first 12 months in a scrapbook. I am taking pictures every month to show their progress and growth and to journal the little things they learn to do during that month. This is Levi's first month picture from Saturday, July 25. He sleeps, eats and has a lot of gas! Aunt Tee loves you!!!

My Bo Bunny Submission

2009-07-25T16:20:00.000-07:00

I am finally finished. After a couple of nights of hard work and a harder time with my computer, I am ready to submit. My laptop is not working for some strange reason. This frustrates me greatly, but I am using Jessica's camera and computer to submit my goods. Here is a sneak peak! Wish me luck.

Preview

2009-07-24T09:58:00.000-07:00

I started working on a new scrapbook layout to submit to a new Design Team for Bo Bunny. They have amazing papers, stickers and tons of cool embelishments to match. The winner or winners will be designers for one year. I am guessing their creations will be published online (their blog and web) an even sale ads. I think it is really cool and once I heard about it from the message board on Two Peas I decided to try it out. So I worked on my layout last night and have to finish my card and altered item tonight. I will take a picture to post next week. Not a full picture of the items but just a teaser!

Happy weekend!

My Weekend

2009-07-21T09:34:00.000-07:00

Since I was not able to participate in Scott Kelby's Photowalk this year I want to share the pictures I took on Saturday of my findings at the Game Farm in Frankfort. Allen loves going there to walk around and watch the animals. This trip we found out there were trails we could walk, so he wants to go back and hike. So we will, just not sure when. Here are a few things I found interesting.

Some pretty purple wildflowers we found.

I was pretty impressed with how my camera captured the water as it came down from the waterfall. This picture was taken from inside a little walk through area looking out.

Allen loved the water of course, typical boy! I think these pictures are pretty neat.

Allen staring at the bears. The animals were very active Saturday because of the weather. It was abnormally cold for KY weather in the middle of July.

Baby and Scrapbooking

2009-07-01T07:38:00.000-07:00

Allen is enjoying his new baby cousin and wants to go visit Levi just about every night. Here Allen is holding him on Saturday afternoon after they came home from the hospital.

I have be taking part in the Challenge of Me scrapbook class over at http://www.bigpicturescrapbooking.com/ at only week one it is a very fun class and totally about me. I was assigned to scrap a new size album, 6 x 12. I have been interested in this size and have enjoyed scrapping it. It is so quick to cut a 12 x 12 page in half and go with it! This week has been "My Life", I have documented stuff about my habits, my music and where I find fulfillment. Here are a few of the pages just to share. I can't wait for week 2 to start tomorrow.

This is my section title page. This LO was the first time I tried hand stitching on paper. It was pretty easy and I love how it turned out.

This page is about the fulfillment in my life. I tried to focus on my faith, church and God for this page. I need to take a picture of my church for the top left page. Thought I had one but could not find it last night, very aggrivating!

My Habits-I wrote about a few of my bad habits in my house. A messy scraproom, dirty dishes in the sink and the clean whites in the dryer that I HATE folding!

My music-This page is one I have been wanting to do for quite some time. I took a couple of pics of my iPod and journaled about some of the artists I currently listen to. Fun!

Introducing Baby Levi

2009-06-26T09:52:00.001-07:00

He is finally here, 9 days early. My newest nephew, Levi Bryant arrived June 25 at 4:13 PM. He weighed 8 pounds and 4 ounces and he was 20 inches long. Both mom and baby are doing well. He is so precious and I just can't wait to get my hands on him tonight!!!

Here is Allen Dale getting his first peek at his new cousin. This picture is sooooo cute.

Happy Weekend!

Vacation 2009

2009-06-23T09:21:00.000-07:00

Well, vacation has come and gone. We went to Myrtle Beach last week and came home on Friday. It was a great trip and time away from everything but hard to start the work week again yesterday. I would rather be sitting on the beach enjoying the view. But . . . I guess we had to come home sometime. All Allen wanted was a turtle. He saved his money from his kindergarten graduation gifts he received just so he could take on vacation to buy a turtle. He was so excited to get it, all the nagging was worth it when we saw his face light up!

Below are a few of my favorite pictures I took.

Tuesday's Nature Pictures

2009-06-03T06:24:00.000-07:00

Last night there were storms in the area. Stephen and I sat on the front porch watching them form in the southern part of the county; while Allen sat inside the house scared to death. It was really quite an amazing show lots of lightening and loud thunder. No major storm when it finally made it to Owen County. Here is a picture I shot from the front yard.

Before the storm Stephen watered my flowers so I took the opportunity to try taking some pictures of my newly opened Tiger Lilies with my Rebel.

Tomorrow is Allen Dale's graduation from Kindergarten. I am saddened that my baby is growing up but happy for him too. He is so excited! He will be getting some awards too. I will check back in with some pictures in a couple of days.

2009-05-29T05:29:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was Beach Day at OCPS. Allen got to wear his new Land's End swimwear that we got him for his birthday, it is for our upcoming beach vacation in 15 days. He looked so cute!!!! He had a good time. They even ate lunch on their beach towels and watched a movie too.

This next picture is a photo of my favorite rose bush. Stephen and Allen gave me this bush when Allen was just a tiny little baby, on my first Mother's Day. I love it. The buds finally opened up and started to show their big pretty salmon colored petals.

Have a happy weekend!!!

Holiday Weekend Catch-up

2009-05-27T07:00:00.000-07:00

It was a nice long holiday weekend for me. It started on Friday. I took off work to go to the Louisville Zoo with Allen on his first school field trip.

We had a great time. It was super hot and very crowded! But good. I took Jaime's zoom 75 - 300mm lense to get some closer pictures! And wow it did a wonderful job! I gotta get one of those and soon.

When we came home it was so hot and humid, Allen wanted to get out the new Slip N Slide. So he had some fun with that!

Saturday Allen and I went to Dry Ridge that AM to get some groceries. On our way back we stopped at Mrs. Smith, his Kindergarten teacher, to see her and her new baby girl! So cute!!! Saturday night we had a cook out at GG's house for Papaw's birthday. We had a great time and the kids played so well together. Happy 77th Birthday, Papaw!

Sunday was church as normal then we had Sunday naps (a must at our house!). For supper we had a cookout with Brian and Jess and some smores! Much fun!

Monday was a lazy day. It rained off and on so we did not even leave the house! Allen stayed in his PJs all day long. Here he is riding his bike Monday evening in his PJs.

Allen went back to school yesterday and Stephen and I had to go back to work. But I did go into school for a couple of hours. Allen was awarded the Rising Star Award for his hard work and good scores on the grade testing a couple of weeks ago. He received a trophy and today he goes on a limo ride to DQ for lunch. He is so excited! I am so proud that he is doing so well academically. Great job baby!

Thursday's Thoughts

2009-05-21T05:14:00.001-07:00

Isn't this the cutes little picture of the boys? We went to the Schneble Bed and Breakfast last weekend. Stephen and Buddy put in their new pool liner while Jamie, me and the boys went to Lexington on Saturday to play around. (AKA get my camera) I took this picture on Friday with my old Canon point & shoot. They had been running around the house and Allen Dale got hot so he took his shirt off, Tyler then decided his needed to be off too. We put on one of the 100 movies would would watch for the next 24 hours and I just had to snap this picture!

Soccer Days

2009-05-20T06:44:00.000-07:00

With only two more games left the soccer season is quickly coming to a close. Allen's team played the orange team last night. Even though his team lost they came very close several time to scoring. This is his first season being in the bigger U8 league. Most of the other kids are in first or second grade and are much more skilled at working together. While Allen's team has been together since they started two years ago, they are still trying to get the teamwork thing down pat.

I tried out my new Rebel last night. I was pretty impressed with its preformance. Here you will see Allen kicking off the ball after the orange team had just scored one of their two goals.

Happy Wednesday!!!

I'm Back!

2009-05-19T10:49:00.000-07:00

Sorry it has been such a long time since my last post. I have been pretty busy and it has easy to forget to post or just flat not make time to do it. I am pledging to be better at blogging in the future.

As summer nears Allen is about to finish his first year of school. Kindergarten has been much fun and he has learned so much. Thanks Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Beckham for teaching him all he knows! You both are great!!! We will be making our way to the Louisville Zoo on Friday for his first field trip. Even though we are frequent visiters of the zoo he is so excited!!!

We will be going on vacation to Myrtle Beach in just 24 days. We can't wait!! We are going with our good buddies, the Schnebles! We will have so much fun and come back with many pictures and stories I am sure!

I got a new Digital SLR camera this past weekend. Took the plunge and purchased a Canon Rebel EOS XS, I love it! I just can't wait to learn how to use it to it's fullest potential. Jaime, Patty and I will be taking a beginner's class soon to teach us all we need to know.

Happy Thanksgiving from the Mason's

2008-11-26T09:53:00.001-08:00

Allen wanted to dress up as a Native American for school yesterday so Monday night after class I had to scramble around to make a costume. After a quick trip to JoAnn's and some help from Stephen this is what I came up with. He was pretty proud of it I think. Have a great Thanksgiving!!!

December Daily

2008-11-26T09:25:00.000-08:00

I have been absent for quite some time. Sorry about that I have been pretty busy with work and school. The semester is coming to a close and I have several projects coming due so I am trying to work on getting those finished. I have had a little time to do some blog reading. In doing that I found a great holiday idea by Ali Edwards (of scrapbook fame). She suggests creating a mini album to document the first 25 days of December sort of like an advent calender. Since the hard work of making the book is already complete her concept is to make you stop and enjoy the holidays. So I finally have mine finished and took pictures last night. Here they are. I used Scenic Route 8x8 chipboard for the front and back, American Crafts Patterned Paper, American Craft cardstock, some Creative Memories cardstock and some Bazzill too. The snowflake transparency is by Hambley and the red polka dot felt is Creative Cafe (I think). I used Making Memories sheet of advent numbers so they would all coordinate. The ribbons are a variety of several companies American Crafts, Joanns brand, Offrey and probably others I am forgetting. I will add pictures, journaling and American Crafts embellishments as I put the book together. I hope I can remember to take at least one picture each day, so if you see me snapping don't pay any mind!

I added the white envelope so I can make a copy of Allen's letter to Santa and put in the envelope. I will decorate the envelope too but I am still thinking on what to do for that. Plus I can move the envelope to a different date and take a picture of him putting the envelope in the mail or something.

The transparancy is below, this was my first time using one. I love how it turned out.

I used my Fiskars Threading Water punch for day 8.

Day 12 and 13 are not quite 8x8 in size. I thought I would mix it up a little, plus the paper I wanted to use was not big enough to fit.

Day 16 is made of 2 inch squares of some of my scraps, gives the quilt look.

The trees from day 19 you might see on our Mason Christmas cards. These were some left overs I decided to use.

The back cover has the same patterned paper as the front but it is plain, no designs on it yet. Not sure if I will change later or not. Hope you enjoy!

Halloween Treats

2008-10-29T08:18:00.001-07:00

It has been quite a while since my last post. I am a slacker. One of bad benefits of not having the internet at home. Having to rely on the public library stinks. With school two nights a week I don't get over there too much. Anyway, Halloween is coming so I made little treat bags for Allen's class. I am volunteering at his school tomorrow to take them. I cut orange and green tents from WorldWin papers. On one side I pasted the cute Halloween paper from Doodlebug and on the other I stamped pumpkins and the words "Happy Halloween" and let Allen sign his own name. I thought they turned out real cute. Enjoy!

School, Cards and More

2008-09-25T09:45:00.000-07:00

So it has been a long while since I have blogged (how bad of me!). Allen is settling into his new routine of school. So far he seems to like it, even the homework. His favorite part of school, other that recess of course, is computer lab day. This is part of their daily activity schedule (PE, library, music, and computer lab). I rather enjoy the book orders. That was my favorite part as a child and now is no different. Kinda crazy I know but I enjoy looking through the order form and searching for books with him that he will like. On order this week is a National Geographic book about Sharks.

Here are a couple of new cards I have made recently. I am beginning to try my hand at card making. They are so pretty on the CKMB but mine are not quite up to par but I will get there one day. The black one was for a friends mother who had back surgery. The card stock is CTMH, patterned paper is Creative Memories, ribbon is by the Paper Studio at Hobby Lobby and the epoxy tags are Making Memories. The bouquet of flowers was for a friend at work who had surgery. The stamps were Autumn Leaves (flower) and CTMH ("get well and tag). The card stock and patterned paper was Creative Memories. The fiber was the Paper Studio also.

Until next time, happy blogging and scrapping!

Teri

Back to School Bash

2008-08-06T08:51:00.000-07:00

I have been scrappin a little and trying to clean my room up a little more but it is a slow process. Here is a layout of Allen during Spring soccer games.

The Back to School Bash was held last night in conjunction with the Kindergarten orientation. Allen was so excited to go and finally meet his teacher and see his new room. His teacher will be Mrs. Smith for his Kindergarten year and her aide Mrs. Beckham. His room was very nice and full of colorful posters and charts. He had a wonderful time exploring all the stations with his new classmates. Now we have to get his Curious George backpack all packed up and ready to go for next Wednesday. I told him that is our chore for tonight, packing and labeling all his stuff.

The Alan Jackson concert was great! The tickets had us sitting on the first base line near the dugout. We could see the stage pretty good, it was set up in outfield. It was overcast and cloudy that night but it never did rain us out. Can't beat that for free, right?

I'm a Winner!

2008-07-22T11:43:00.000-07:00

Well here I was driving home from work yesterday and the radio station I listen to, Froggy 104.9, came on the air with a contest-be caller number 7 to win two free tickets to see Alan Jackson in concert July 30 at Applebee's Park in Lexington. After they told the phone number I dug around in my purse for the cell and finally found it and started dialing. After 4 or 5 busy signals it started to ring and ring and ring, I was beginning to think no one was going to answer but they did. "Hello caller number 7, you win", wow that was in my ear! What I am the winner! This is awesome, I have never won radio contests before. Cool! I get to pick up my tickets tonight on the way home.

2008-07-21T09:19:00.000-07:00

Thursday night we took Allen to the Owen County Fair. Boy was that interesting. I actually had Allen and Corey (our 6 year old nephew with a broken arm). They really were good and had a great time riding the big boy rides. Allen's favorite was a roller coaster that went in circles and had small hills that it went up and down on. It went forward for a while then backward, and the blaring music gave me a headache by the end of the night because that seemed to be the only ride the boys would ride. They would get off only to circle back in line and get right back on.

I don't have any new pictures to post yet but I have been up to a lot of stuff since my last post. I stayed home from work on Friday to start on my scrapbook room. Stephen gave me the go ahead to convert our spare room or "Holly's Room" (my cousin and live in baby sitter summer of '05) to a scrap book room. So I painted my old baby chest and another chest I got from my mother Olympic's Cosmic Blue and I still need to get some new hardware for both of them. I completed that part of the project and now I am working on organization. Boy, who knew that would be so hard! Stephen is right when he says I have too much junk. So I am cleaning out and reducing my stash for Jaime's neighborhood yard sale. I sure wish I could snap my fingers and have it all in the perfect place, but it didn't work! I have boxes of stuff piled in my scrap room, down the hallway, in Allen's bathroom and the ever growing yard sale pile in the living room floor. Please no visitors this week.

That is about the only things I can think of happening this weekend. I better get back to working, I need to grab some lunch before going back to work. I am enjoying the quite of the library. Hopefully I can post some pictures soon. I did take a before picture of our messy room, that will show you the level of difficulty that I faced in my challenge.

Till next time! Happy scrappin'!

Slip-N-Slide

2008-07-16T07:22:00.000-07:00

Allen has discovered the Slip-N-Slide. I remember hours of fun with this as a child myself, wow that makes me seem old. He played on his cousin's Slip-N-Slide at their Fourth of July cookout and was hooked. So while he was shopping with his Nanny last week he convinced her to buy him one. He loves it and begs to play with it when Stephen and I get in from work.

I have taken off work this Friday to start my big clean up of our spare room. Stephen has given me the go ahead to make my very own scrap room. I am so excited! I have such high hopes of this room, I sure hope it turns out ok. I will post pictures as soon as the project is complete. I plan to paint two old dressers (something I have never done before), organize my stuff for easier scrappin' and decorate using my work. So we will see how long it takes and how it turns out.

Until next time!

My Favorite Hobby

2008-06-26T08:51:00.000-07:00

I wanted to talk today about my favorite hobby . . . scrapbooking. This is the art of creating a classy layout for my family pictures for current and future generations to see. This is a huge creative outlet where I can "let loose". You can make your layout as fancy or plain as you want, that is just what I do according to my mood. It is my creative freedom.

My favorite tools I would recommend to a new comer are my Creative Memories personal trimmer, Close to My Heart coordinating paper, ink and stickers, my Cutter Bee scissors (super sharp), Fiskars photo splints, my Cricut Personal Cutter and my Creating Keepsakes magazine.

I would encourage every one to start small and try attending a class for beginners at your local scrapbook store. They are wonderful resources! Above is a recent layout I created on Tuesday while I was off work and found my "groove". You also see the first mini book I created for a friend after she returned from a cruise last week.

Take the plunge and try it for yourself, you never know you might like it!

Welcome!

2008-06-19T09:22:00.000-07:00

Welcome to our first blog. The Mason's are made up of Stephen, Teri and Allen. We live in north central Kentucky in a rural area. I love my small community it really is great. The picture above is of Allen and I on Easter Sunday 2008. Isn't he the cutest!!

This is going to be such fun I can hardly wait. I got the idea to start our own blog after seeing so many on the message board I am beginning to become addicted to. I love the Creating Keepsakes website and just found the message board. I have been reading daily a few of the posts. Many of you have your own blogs so I thought this would be a great way for me to communicate to fellow scrappers.

I have so many ideas running in my head. I will post more tomorrow, maybe, if I can get the ideas all together tonight.

Happy bloggin' and scrappin'.

Teri