1st Blogiversay Blog Hop

Hello and welcome to my first blogiversary blog hop. If you would have asked me a year ago if I would have thought my blog would still be thriving, I wouldn't have had high hopes. I was just a lonely crafter, gathering inspiration from around the internet through these crafty blogs. I've learned so much and have made many MANY new friends.


I've participated in other blog hops, but this will be the first that I am hosting. Each stop along the way has a "secret word" that you will need for a chance to win the prize. After you've hop to each stop, you will need to email me the answer to the "secret phrase". You have until 11:59PM EST on January 6th to enter to win. Winner will be announced on January 7th.


YOU HAVE TO EMAIL ME THE SECRET PHRASE TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THE PRIZE


Prize:
K&Co Smash Book & Accessories

THEME: NEW
Since we will be heading into the New Year, I asked each of the participants to make projects that include something "new". It can be a New Year's project, new baby, new car, new job....get the idea? 


Here is my project:

















I decided to do a layout for the New Year's Eve celebration that we always have. I used Sweethearts for the glasses and Don Juan for the font. The pattern paper came from my All Throughout the Year stack by Karen Foster Designs and is cut at 10 x 10. I used some silver curling ribbon to break the page up and some shine. The blue paper is from DCWV Mediterranean Cafe stack.

Thank you for stopping by, my secret word is: "What's". You next stop is Amy over at Scrap This Save That


Here's the entire line-up, if you get lost along the way:
Natasha: http://craftingwithnatasha.blogspot.com 
Amy E.: http://scrapthissavethat.blogspot.com 
Amanda: http://popperandmimi.blogspot.com
Janet: http://ladyluvbug.blogspot.com/
Lori: www.scrappinmystressaway.blogspot.com
Rexann: http://ibecircled.blogspot.com - due to a family emergency, Rexann will not able to participate. Her secret word is: THE
Lorraine: http://www.glittergluepaperart.com
Heather: http://www.stamp-aholic.blogspot.com


There were two others who, due to illness or other commitments, were not able to participate. I wanted to still share their blogs with you so that you could at least say hi and check out some of their other projects.

Sarah: www.sewsewenchanting.blogspot.com
Lynne: http://slasewcraftiness.blogspot.com


Happy Hopping!

Blog Hop Starts Tomorrow

Hello fellow bloggers!!

I just wanted to quickly drop in and remind you that my 1 year blogiversary blog hop starts tomorrow, Wednesday, December 28th and will run through January 6th. I do hope that you will stop by and check out the wonderful lineup of ladies that will joining me.

Santa was very nice to me and brought me a YourStory and the Live Simply Cricut Lite Cartridge. I will see you all tomorrow, with a project!!

I love a good deal

Last week I was browsing the internet and a few of my favorite retailers. I stumbled on what I think was an amazing deal at JoAnn's. Their DCWV stacks are usually on sale, but I was able to score the following:

• Cuttlebug A2 Embossing Folder-Seeing Spots $2.99
• Cuttlebug A2 Embossing Folders-Tiny Bubbles $2.99
• 12''x12'' Paper Stack-Halloween & Fall $5.09
• 12''x12'' Cardstock Stack-Harvest Gathering $5.09
• 4-1/2''x6-1/2'' MatStack-Harvest Gathering $2.54
• 8''x8'' Cardstock Stack-Nana's Kids $7.64
• 4-1/2''x6-1/2'' MatStack-Harvest Gathering $2.55

Oh happy day!! More paper to play with (even though we are moving into spring). 

Miss A's School Project

Hi Everyone! Man, yesterday was a super day for me. I was nonstop from about 8:30 in the morning until around 9pm. Miss A has a school project due this week on recycling. After debating for about a week on what to exactly do, her dad and her settled on a "scrapbook" about recycling.

To fit the project, I decided to give a paper album a chance. So I did some research on YouTube for a tutorial. Here's a picture of the cover:

I have no idea why it won't rotate

Each page is dedicated to a different type of recyclable item: paper, metal, glass, plastic, and organic. I let her choose papers from my stash and helped her to adhere them to each page. We finished it off by adding to clasps to the front (hey, they're metal) and a little ribbon. If she doesn't get an 'A', I'll be shocked!

We used George and Basic Shapes for the titles. The front cover is cut at 1.25 inches, the inside titles are cut at 1 and 0.75 inch.

Stay Crafty

Meet Me on Monday #62 - Christmas Edition

Every Sunday Never Growing Old will post five get to know you  questions that you can copy and paste into your own Monday post and we can all learn a little more about each and every one of us!!

Questions:

1.Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Wrapping paper! I am the queen of wrapping presents, I really really love it

2.Real or artificial tree?
I was an artificial tree person, until I met my current boyfriend. We've had a real tree for every year for the last 4 years. Love the way it smells. Hate the cleanup!

3.When do you put your tree up?
Ideally, it would be the Saturday after Thanksgiving. In the real world, it usually is about two weeks before Christmas.

4.When do you take your tree down?
Weekend after New Year's

5.Do you like eggnog?
Nope. There's just something about it that makes me want to hurl

6.Do you have a nativity scene?
Nope.

7.Favorite Christmas Movie?
A Christmas Story.

8.Favorite Christmas cookie?
I've never met a cookie I didn't like. As for favorite, hmm, that would have to be these little hazelnut cookies that my mom and I used to made. Man, I should get that recipe from her!

9.Where will you eat Christmas dinner?
At the boyfriend's mother house. She called today to ask us to come by. Thankfully I hadn't bought stuff to make at home yet

10.Angel, bow or star on top of your tree?
Angel, but I've been digging the bows. Maybe next year.

11.Most annoying thing about this time of the year?
Crowds. Christmas is about spreading cheer. Not running people over to get the latest "new" thing. I was in NYC this past Saturday to see the tree and what not. It was so bad! Makes you want to punch someone. I felt like a pinball in a machine.

12.Do you like Fruitcake?
Do people really eat fruitcake? Nope, not at all.

13.What are you most excited about the holidays?
Time off from work!

14.Do you open presents Christmas Eve or Christmas Morning?
We open 1 gift on Christmas Eve to celebrate the German Christmas (which usually ends up being opening all but one), then the rest in the morning

15.Will you still be wrapping presents on Christmas Eve?
Nope, they are all wrapped and ready to be opened

Let it Snow

Good Evening,

Man it's been a crazy couple of days. Yesterday was a pretty awesome day, after a rough day at my 9-5, I came home to the stamps I ordered from JustWordz!! I wasn't expecting them until some time next week and had given up hope on using them for any Christmas cards this season. Alas, there they were!

After getting the clones out the door for Tae Kwon Do, I quickly ran down to the scrap cave and came up with this little guy.





Details:
Standard A2 size card
Snowman cut from Winter Frolic at 4 inches (next time I would do 3.75) on all layers.
Pattern paper is from the big 180 sheet Christmas Stack of Recollections paper from Ms
Solid paper is from my stash and embossed with the Snowflakes Cuttlebug folder.

Stay Crafty

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Meet Me on Monday #60

Every Sunday Never Growing Old will post five get to know you  questions that you can copy and paste into your own Monday post and we  can all learn a little more about each and every one of us!!


Questions:


1.  Tomorrow I'm going to _________?
Work, as usual. I actually really enjoy my job on most days. It just seems that I never have enough time in my day to get everything done.

2.  Pudding or Jello?
Pudding, 100%. Chocolate pudding at that!!

3.  What book are you currently reading? 
The biography of Steve Jobs. I think every generation gets that one person who is so beyond revolutionary and smart. Steve Jobs has been that for us, so I believe. Love him or hate him, you have to admit he was a genius.

4.  What is the first concert you went to see?
Oh man, I think that would have to have been the Coca-Cola Fest back in....early 90s. I do remember that it was: L.L. Cool J, SWV, Jade, Shai, Silk, Shabba Ranks, and another act.

5.  What is your current weather?
Cold!! It's currently 30 degrees. We finally turned our heat on. We try to wait as long as possible because with radiators and gas heat, we don't want to be turning it on and off when Mother Nature wants to make it 60 one day and 25 the next.

Stay Crafty Friends!!

Scrap That Saturday

I spent the day over at Scrap That, a local scrapbooking store that has crops every weekend. Have I mentioned how much I love this place? Not only do they carry great products at great prices, they give you another 25% off for attending the crop. Totally awesome right?

Well today wasn't as crowded as it normally is:





My scrappy buddies, Mary and Valerie, were there so that made up for the emptiness. I managed to get 3 layouts done. I helped Valerie with her paper bag albums and to cover some chipboard. We also helped some new girls learn the cricut. A random customer came in and was buying stuff to make a card. Mary brought her over to me and asked if I would make her one. So I did!





I also gave her my card, in case she ever needs anything. ;-) I've listed this card on Etsy, just because it's so darn cute!

Here are my layouts that I completed:













I fixed the title on this one after I snapped the photo :-D




Stay Crafty

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

A diaper cake for baby shower

So I've been seeing them everywhere, all over Pinterest, Etsy, the blogiverse, etc. The diaper cake. I hate given gifts that never get used or returned, so this was the perfect option. I picked up a pack of newborn diapers ($10), 2 packs of washcloths ($2), some travel sized baby powder and lotion ($4), and a set of binkies ($3).




I rolled each diaper and secured them with a small rubber hairband. Then started making the bottom layer. Once I felt I had it big enough I secured the whole layer with a piece of yarn. Next time I will use a BIG rubber band!! I did this for the next two layers too. In between the layers I placed white tulle.




I rolled each washcloth to look like roses and secured them with rubber bands, then stuffed them around the two top layers.




I tied the binkies around the ribbon. For the topper I used my New Arrivals cartridge and cut the stork at 5 inches twice, flipping one layer. I then cut the baby at 2.25 inches.





Well what do you think? It's not a complete failure, but there is room for improvement.

Well I'm off to try on my holiday party dress and make sure it still fits, LOL.

Stay crafty

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Wanna Be Part of A Blog Hop?

Hey crafty friends,

Just a reminder that I'm looking for some peeps to help me celebrate my 1 year blogiversary!! Any and everyone is welcome to apply, just drop me an email (natashacrafts at gmail dot com) with your blog address. You have until midnight on Saturday to apply. The hop will be on December 28th. Check out this blog post for more details.

Stay Crafty.

A couple holiday cards

Just popping in to share a new holiday card I completed over the weekend. I decided to test out my new Winter Frolic cartridge. I have to say, the snowmen on this cartridge are too cute. I used papers from the Recollections 180 sheet pack available at Michael's.






Thanks for stopping by. Stay crafty.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Meet Me on Monday #60

Every Sunday Never Growing Old will post five get to know you  questions that you can copy and paste into your own Monday post and we  can all learn a little more about each and every one of us!!

Blogging  is a funny thing...we tell our most intimate thoughts for all to read  and yet most of the time I find myself sitting and wondering, "who is  this person!?"  I know them...but yet I don't know them!  I want  to know who the person is behind all those words so I thought of a great  way for all of us to "meet" each other!

Questions:


1.  Monday's are _________?
The most evil day of the week. But then again, any day where you get to have some time off and then return to reality is an evil day. If it wasn't Monday, it would just be some other day.

2.  What is your favorite kind of milkshake?
Eh, I'm not a huge fan of milkshakes. Takes too much to get them through the straw!! However, I do happen to love the banana ones from Checkers (or Rally's)

3.  What monthly bill do you most dislike paying? 
Cable. It's crazy how much you pay for cable/satellite tv. There's never anything on and I've started to notice that you get more and more commercials. Sigh.

4.  How many email addresses do you use on a regular basis?
LOL, well let's see....4. There's my work email, my personal email, my blog email, and my "spam" email. The last one is an account that I use when you have to "sign-up" for stuff and list an email account. So I really only go in there to delete all the emails every month or so.

5.  What color lights are on your Christmas Tree?
Multi and they have like 5 different patterns that they blink on.

Thanks for stopping by! Stay Crafty.

It's the little things

Happy Sunday everyone,

It's been quite a productive weekend. Today I just wanted to share some photos of quality time away from technology. Miss A had never made Rice Krispie Treats in her 11 years of life. So today we changed that!
















Of course she went for the biggest one! He was nicknamed grandpa. Thanks for stopping by. I'll have some projects this week, so please come back by.

Stay crafty!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

SEEKING: Blogiversary Blog Hop Candidates

Hi bloggers,

I just realized that this month (12/28) will be my 1 year blogiversary. So I want to do something special for all of you. Firstly, I would like to invite 6 bloggers to come join me and do a blog hop that final week of December. I know, I know...that's the week after Christmas, but if we start now, we won't have to worry about it.

I want to highlight fellow bloggers who've been blogging less than a year, but I'll accept any blogging level of experience (the more the merrier, right?). Send me an email (natashacrafts at gmail dot com) with your favorite project this year and your blog address. I'll accept applications until the midnight on December 10th. If accepted, I'll need a project from you by December 27th (I haven't come up with a theme yet) so that I can have the post ready for the 28th.

I'm not going to be asking for any special favors like following my blog, facebook, twitter, etc. I will be offering some blog candy and it's up to you if you want to do the same. I can't wait to see the applications!

Stay crafty my friends