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! ;)

Creative Therapy Catalyst #95

Hey everyone! I am so happy that I got to take part in Creative Therapy's Challenge! :) I have wanted to take part in these for so long now. I found them through one of their artist scrapbookers, Dedra Long, who is one of the most gifted scrapbookers on the planet! Her work has been published and is beyond gorgeous....I would LOVE to see her work in person someday. A girl can only dream! ;)

Anyway-the catalyst for this week was: "What is something you struggle with?" At first, I was thinking, THIS IS A HARD THING TO DEAL WITH FOR THE FIRST CATALYST I AM DOING!!!!!! Then I thought and focused and came up with a layout idea that I thought I may like and then I went with it.

This is what I came up with:

The title is: There's always gonna be an uphill battle.

I then remembered there was a song that had those words...I just couldn't remember what it was called....Then it hit me...."The Climb" by Miley Cyrus. So then I looked for lyrics on the web. I started reading and realized I was right, that line was in the song. I then decided to read the song and started to cry...the words explained everything! I loved it!

Here are those words:

The Climb (written by J. Alexander and J. Mabe)

I can almost see it

That dream I'm Dreaming

But there's a voice inside my head saying

"You'll never reach it"

Every step I'm taking

Every move I make feels

Lost with no direction

My faith is shaking

But I gotta keep trying

Gotta keep my head held up high

There's always gonna be another mountain

I'm always gonna wanna make it move

Alway gonna be an uphill battle

Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there

Ain't about what's waiting on the other side

It's the climb

The struggles I'm facing

The chances I'm taking

Sometimes might knock me down

But no, I'm not breaking

I may not know it

But these are the moments that

I'm gonna remember the most, yeah

Just gotta keep going

And I, got to be strong

Just keep pushing on

'Cause there's always gonna be another mountain

I'm always gonna want to make it move

Always gonna be an uphill battle

Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there

Ain't about what's waiting on the other side

It's the climb, yeah

There's always gonna be another mountain

I'm always gonna wanna make it move

Always gonna be an uphill battle

Somebody's gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there

Ain't about what's waiting on the other side

It's the climb, yeah

Keep on moving, keep climbing

Keep the faith, baby

It's all about, it's all about the climb

Keep the faith, keep your faith whoa.

Now for the completely personal part. I had to write these struggles on my layout. I was wondering.....Am I ready to do this? I think sometimes we think that if we don't say or write our insecurities, worries....our not so "shiny" aspects of life that they don't exist. That is so not the truth. I thought that way and I couldn't have been more wrong.

So here is my journaling: Insecurities- my weight- ( I joke about it, but it kills me when I look in the mirror) my skin- (I have always had BAD SKIN, but was hoping once I was in my 30's- it would be nice and clear). how I kiss (told you this was deeply personal)- (This isn't my hubby's fault, but I worry constantly about this.) I'm very critical about my cooking- (Even though everyone tells me how good it is, I always feel it could be better.)

Worries - financial- ( This has been a struggle for me for a while. I am one of those "I need it now!" types. Health- (I have fibromyalgia, but I refuse to let it control me.) my kids- (I worry about how I am as a mom.) my hubby- (I worry if I make him happy-ALL THE TIME!)

Addiction- -Sometimes I feel like a cigarette--I have been able to say, "NO!" for a few years now. Shopping- this is actually an addiction.

Depression - After being diagnosed with it 2 years ago-it is still a struggle.

-I am always wanting to be successful at my art.

- I want people to enjoy me and my work.

What I used: I bought pretty much everything , except the Jolee's paper roses from Mountains of Memories and More...not only is Jeanie my friend, but she is an awesome person and her store is great! :)

Both the blue patterned paper and the cream part I wrote on are from My Mind's Eye, Bella Bella Collection. For the title, I used a chalk template from (Ben Franklin) by TheCraftersworkshop.com. I used chalks from Pebbles Inc. to chalk the templates (also the edges of the lyrics). The butterfly is Glimmer Glass from Tattered Angels. The larger flowers are from Jenni Bowlin (I got them from my friend, Jayne's webstore and the smaller ones are from Making Memories Vintage Findings Collection (Michael's), Bazzil cardstock for matting.

I really hope you all enjoyed this! : )I did! :) Thanks! :)

HUGS, LOVE, KISSES Layout and what's been up! :)

I am still in desparate need of getting better at blogging. I really do a lot of different projects and I really would love to be sharing them all with you. So, without further adeiu, I would like to share a layout that I did for the Tattered Angels DT call. I didn't get on the team, but I have also decided that I really need to enjoy what I do again! :) I was trying out for so many design teams that I forgot to have fun and love what I am doing. :) When I would get rejected..I took it personal and thought it was because I wasn't good enough to get on. When in reality, I am just not what they are looking for. AND....I will not comform what I do to match what people think I should be making or designing. TAKE ME AS I AM------is my new motto! :) Not to worry though, fans of my famous, IT'S ALL GOOD, motto...I will still use that! :)

So, here is: HUGS, LOVE, KISSES!

What I used: Basic Grey Bittersweet 12x12 patterened paper, cardstock stickers and journaling tag. Tattered Angels Glimmer mists, Glimmer Chips, and Glimmer Glass. Bling from Michael's. Memento Marker Pens. Lace from Michael's $1 bin!

I will also be getting better at taking multiple pics of layouts that I have added dimension to. :) I wasn't able to with this layout, but it was also one of my first layouts like this that I have layered dimension on. :)

Pieces of Me

A few weeks ago, I was reading my daily blogs and came across this, at one of my daily reads at Lain Ehmann's Blog. :) She is doing a list of 5's lately. I love it....almost always I am inspired by Lain and what she puts on her blog. She has put everything on there from books she wants to read to exercise equipment she wants to get or really likes. :)

Well, in her 5 Fave's for August 17th, she had put 5 things that make her smile. :) At the end of the blog post, she asked what makes us smile. Almost IMMEDIATELY...I was inspired. I wanted to do a Mini-Album that SHOWCASED all that makes me smile on a daily basis. :)

I had read a couple days later, on Facebook, that Tattered Angels was having a Design Team Call. Since, this is quickly becoming a way for me to follow my dream...I decided to try. I had some small canvas that I thought would be wonderful to try to create on and I had been wanting to explore what I could do with Glimmer Mist. So, I got out my acrylic paint mediums that I had from when MOS (Moumtains of Scraps), my old (now retired) web group that I was a part of, when they had a challenge for all of us to try to use paint on our layouts.

So, there I am Resin Sand, Gel Medium, and Sculpting Paste in hand and some Glimmer Mist that was begging to be used. :) With the mixtures I made, I was able to apply 6 different colors to the canvas for the book. :)

Then it was time for me to use my Tattered Angels goodies that I have been DYING to have a good reason to use. Yes, I can be a horder of all things scrappy at times...but I felt I found the perfect showcase to use all of the stuff I had! :)

This is what I came up with! :)

The Library Pocket is filled with EVEN MORE of my fave things!! I put blogs, food, drinks, books, etc! :)

The last page reads: "When life seems to be draggin' you down that things will always get better and......It's All Good!!

I will have the list for everything used very,very soon! :)

Finally my House of 3 Project!!!! YAY!

Ok.....it has been a week around here! :) We have been spring cleaning, crafting, battling illnesses, etc., etc.! LOL! I was even sick if you will believe that! Of course, as Garth always says, "You are always sick for only a day!" I can't help it....good genetics (Thanks Dad!) and the fact that I may very well have a garlic garden in my system! LOL! Poor Sasha is still sick and just pitiful! :( Nobody does sick quite like her! She is our resident princess in our home and so sweet, but lately she has just been hurting so not herself. :( I am hoping she is good this week or I am homeward bound.

Anyways- I got my House of 3 book done and love it! :) I am thinking of doing some as gifts and actually just using the fork and spoon page that has yellow polka dots on it for a cookbook gift! This kit is so versatile and I love it! :) Thanks Heidi, Rhonna, and Janet for creating such a fun project that literally is worth every dime! :) In posts below this one I go through some of the products used, but not all of them.....I was just on automatic creative pilot! LOL! I used Grundgeboard, perfect pearls mist, Stampin' Up's embossing template, my BIA, Teresa Collin's chipboard charms, ribbons from Michael's, My Mind's Eye rub ons, Tattered Angels Glimmer Chips, and some word charms from Tim Holtz (the real name escapes me right now).

I am also getting ready for Lain Ehmann's LOAD (Layout a Day) for May. :) I will post more on that later....definitely something that is GREAT for inspiration for getting a jump on scrapping! :)

Nona and Sasha (June 2007)

See how behind I am?! LOL! Miss Sasha will be in 3 months and she is almost as tall as my mom!! LOL! Sorry MOM! ;) If any of you know my mom..you know that she is a very short lady! :)
What I used: DCWV- Garden Party, Tattered Angels' Glimmer Chips (butterfly, Nature Rouge), Perfect Pearls Mist- this was homemade using Ranger Distress re-inker and Pearl Ex Powders (check out Tim Holtz Demo on Perfect Pearls Mist at: http://www.timholtz.com/demos.html), Tag is from Avery inked with blending foam (Ranger) with CTMH inks (taffy, pink carnation, and cocoa)..the technique I used for this tag is demoed by Tim Holtz in the Distress Ink Stamp Pads part of his demo videos at: http://www.timholtz.com/demos.html, American Crafts- brown cardstock for matting, Tim Holtz (idea-o-logy)-Keyhole and brads, Studio G Stamp- Flourish