Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree Blog Hop (I have BLOG CANDY! See how you can win!!!)

Welcome to The Beautiful Life and the Rockin' around the Christmas tree Blog Hop! If you've come from visiting Jenny at Crazy about Cricut, you're in the right place!

If you've just happened across my blog and would like to play along with our fun hop, you can go to Totally-Stamps and start at the beginning. Go http://www.totally-stamps.blogspot.com/.

The theme of this blog hop is ROCKIN' AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE. Each blog has created a project. Be sure to visit each blog for inspiration and fun BLOG CANDY.

Michelle- http://totally-stamps.blogspot.com/
Susan - http://itsmesusanp.blogspot.com/
Carol - http://cardstockscissorsandglue.blogspot.com/
Jenny - http://crazyaboutcricut.blogspot.com/
Kathy - http://kathy-thebeautifullife.blogspot.com/ (THIS IS ME..WHERE YOU ARE NOW!)
Debbie - http://craftydeb-ddscrafts.blogspot.com/
Misty - http://abusyplace.blogspot.com/
Iva - http://ivarai.com/
Bonnie - http://ascrapabove.blogspot.com/
Nana - http://youniquereflections.blogspot.com/
Laura - http://lauraleesdream.blogspot.com/
Marianne- http://paperorfabric.blogspot.com/
Christel- http://onescrappinsista.blogspot.com/
Rebecca - http://rebeccasaylor.com/
Carol N - http://stampincarol.blogspot.com/
Kee Kee - http://life-is-scrap.blogspot.com/

Amy - http://amychomas.blogspot.com/

JD - http://jdscricuteering.blogspot.com/

For you all I did a fun little project using my cricut and a canvas.

My fun little project! ;)

I made a video that I am sure will be an exclusive because I am afraid it is a little long for my youtube channel. But I couldnt get itto load. Sorry guys :(

But I used a 6x8 canvas, Making Memories Specialty Glaze in Sky, Cricut Cart Trim the Tree, Bazzil Cardstock (dark and light browns), Mod Podge,  resin sand (liquitex), White Acrylic Paint, Crop-a-dile BIG BITE, Wired ribbon, something to stir the resin sand with and spread it on, foam brushes, snowflake charms.

Now, would you like some CANDY??? Of the crafty kind? I am giving away a Basic Grey tabbed/ milk chocolate chipboard album, a pack of 4 acrylic frames from Making Memories, some Tattered Angel Chipboard shapes that are wintry, Ice Crystal Cuttlebug folder and die, a card of ribbon, a pack of 2 6x8 canvas boards, large brads from the 7gypsies Zanzibar collection, and a fun little candle that smells like cinnamon buns.

My Blog Candy Giveaway!!!!

 All you have to do is : 1: Leave a Comment (make sure to leave an email addy so I can contact you if you won.) and 2: If you want to UP your chances...become a follower of mine. You will see a spot of that on the left hand side of my blog. I will announce the winner here at my blog on Monday Evening. Thanks so much! :)

Now you need to go to the next person in our fab blog hop: Debbie at: http://craftydeb-ddscrafts.blogspot.com/ .  HAVE FUN! :) Thanks for stopping by. :)

Oooh...some Jillibean goodness! ;)

Well, now that the Jillibean New DT call is over...I can share what I made for it. Now, I didn't get picked, but I will try next year.....I am sure that the ladies picked are AWESOME! :)

There is ONE thing I HATE about DT calls though. I always want to share what I make...I am always crafting and I really do want to share everything I do. I understand why the rules are the way they are, but still; it would be nice to be able to share what you make. ;)

Ok...enough of the SOAP BOX! ;) I am here to share tonight.

Here in Great Falls, since we have lost our only local scrap store (MOMS-which is on-line only now) we can't get any of the not so heavily distributed goods and fun lines that are out there. We can go to Michael's, but they carry the much seen and used companies (Making Memories, American Crafts, Martha Stewart....but are now starting to carry some MME too) and although I love these companies...I like my smaller companies too. :)

Ok...now for the projects. The only Jillibean Soup products I have are the patterned papers and the journaling sprouts. I also only have the papers from her "soup"lines: Minestrone, Black Beans, and Talk Soup. I am hoping that an old store I used to frequent with some old friends in Helena, The Memory Trail, carries Jillibean Soup OR I hope Jeanie gets it in at MOMS.

So, #1 is a LO I did of Sasha with pics that were taken back in 2008. I love these pics! :) I did some work in PSE and changed the colors to sepia. The Jillibean papers I used were: Minestrone, and the flowers were cut out of some Black Bean. The "Take Note", "Look at Me", and the "Happiness is" Journaling and embellies are from the backside of the Minestrone paper. I also used a Jillibean Soup journaling sprout. For other stuff...I used Doodle Bug Designs bling..I think it was black beetle. I also put a Jolee's (I think) Coke Bottle cap on it to finish it up. SUCH A FUN LO! :)

#2 was a LO I did a couple of months ago and sent into Kimber at Jillibean Soup and never heard anything about if she would use it as a reader submission or not...so I am gonna share it. Now, I did share this one on my Facebook page a while back, but now it is on MY blog! ;) This pic was taken in 1978 of me as a baby. ;) The Jillibean papers I used were: Talk Soup (Cup of Yak), the butterflies were cut out of Minestrone (Cup of Leek) and of course the flowers (I love these too much) were from Black Bean. Seriously, is Jill not the best? Love Jillibean. I popped up a lot of the paper embellies I did. I also Stickled the butterflies...so pretty! ;) The last thing I did was spray some lace with some Tattered Angels Coffee and Sandy Beach Glimmer Mists and edged some pieces of paper with my Fiskars Border Punch. I put on some 7gypsies numbers on there (78) and the little rounded rectangle journal spot is from them also.

Last but certainly NOT least is a LO I did of my bestie and I! :) Bex and I made some Divinity Cookies in December. These are super easy and so delicious it will make your head spin. Without getting too much here---your mouth with BURST with happiness! ;) Ok, so for Jillibean stuff I have used the journaling sprouts: one was brown on its own...the other I had to sponge applicate with some Antique Linen Ranger Ink. Then I, of course had a "Dec" journaling sprout on there. I am not sure what the patterned paper is called....if any of you do...email me: 3bears@bresnan.net. I cut the rolling pin and hand mixer out of some Bazzill Dotted Swiss cardstock with my Cricut using the From My Kitchen Cartridge. :) The "Baking Besties" title was actually from Miss Elizabeth's foam letters and I colored them with my Rich Cocoa Memento Pen/Marker. The "Together" and "Memories of the Heart" stickers are from 7gypsies. :)

Thanks so much for visiting me today! ;)

My Best Friend (Layout)

Ok, so at the end of October, Jeanie gave me some 7gypsies stuff to work with and I was at a loss of what to make (I always have so much going on!). BUT....The Vicotira 8x8 2-sided paper scrapbook pack..is SO ME! :) I love the feminine designs and the vintage-y feel of it. :) I never ONCE thought I would be a "vintage" girl, but Jeanie and Stephanie Howell--not to mention Miss Jenni Bowlin have all inspired me in this area. When you have inspiration--it is hard not to love what you are looking at. :)

So, here is a story of this layout- The picture was taken in August of 2006. We went on a camping trip with my parents...that could have very easily been a nightmare. At the time, my mom had just gotten her transplant 7 months before and was still very hard to be around at time (now this has all changed...LIFE really has a way of turning itself around and showing each of us really matters....PRIDE isn't one of them!). Jon was around 7 and still in a not so "wanting-to-listen" mood most of the time AND he was a little boy and little boys are a little wild. :) BTW-we didn't have our little princess yet...that would happen in June the following year. ;)

We made the most of it and Garth and I have ALMOST no pics together since having children. :) So, while having breakfast, I had my camera right in front of me and then decided to take some pics. I am one of those people, now, that has almost perfected (at least for me) the art of the picture without a photographer. I am the only one that usually takes the pics so I have had to learn this if I want to be part of things in a pic and I don't have anyone to help me. :)

Ok, so I should probably share a little bit of me with you. Like most of you, my husband is my best friend. We have been through everything together (you have NO idea--and NO adultery isn't one of them--I am not, nor is he, that type of person) and are closer now than we have been...ever. :) When I hear this song, by Mr. Tim McGraw...it really touches my heart and I really feel like the words explain what I feel. :) It is one of my faves! :) So, here are the lyrics...do they touch you too?

My Best Friend- Tim McGraw

I never had no one-I could count on-I've been let down so many times-I was tired of hurtin'-So tired of searchin'-'Til you walked into my life-It was a feelin'-I never known-And for the first time-I didn't feel alone.

You're more than a lover-There could never be another-To make me feel the way you do-Oh we just get closer-I fall in love all over-Everytime I look at you-I don't know where I'd be-Without you here with me-Life with you makes perfect sense-You're my best friend- You're my best friend, oh yeah.

You stand by me-You believe in me-Like nobody ever has-When my world goes crazy-You're right there to save me-You make me see how much I have-And I still tremble-When we touch-And,oh, the look in your eyes-When we make love.

You're more than a lover-There could never be another-To make me feel the way you do-Oh we just get closer-I fall in love all over-Everytime I look at you-I don't know where I'd be-Without you here with me-Life with you makes perfect sense-You're my best friend-You're my best friend

So, here is what I used: 7Gypsies- Victoria 8x8 Scrapbook paper pack, Memories 97% sticker, Ranger Glossy Accents and Vintage Photo Distress ink pad, popdots, Memento marker (for journaling)