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. :)

Jeanie D's Christmas Goodness! :)

Hey all! Did you know I have a really good friend in the Digital Design business? Her name is Jeanie Dickinson and she has her own design name now...she is Jeanie D's Designs. :) I am beyond proud of her and she keeps me really happy with sharing her digi goodness with me. :) She has a vintage, yet whimsical feel to her work. I also love it because it is beautiful, yet clean. :)

Anyways- She was designing a kit a couple nights ago (She is gonna be a part of a HUGE Blog Hop here - that is where the details are.) and had the papers done for it. I LOVE THE PAPERS! :) She sent me a lot of them, but the two that got me so far are the burgundy Merry and Bright and the music sheet paper. I used them on hybrid projects for right now...BUT be on the look out for some digi layouts from me using this paper..I also think I am gonna use the paper for some Christmas card swaps I am in. :) Everytime I look back at the file..I see something else I can work with and really for me the only other digi designer who has been consistently making me do that is Katie Pertiet. :)

I will say that Jeanie has evolved from a paper creator to a wonderfully creative digi designer. Love you, Jeanie! ((HUGS))

So, here are my projects.

Full View

Close up view

For the wall hanging I used: Jeanie D's Designs Merry and Bright digital 12x12 paper, all ribbon and lace from Michael's, I did spray the outlining ribbon/lace with homeade glimmer spray and some Shimmerz Spritz mists, Tim Holtz Idea-o-logy clock face and spinners, Stamper's Anonymous Santa Stamp, Ranger Distress Inks, Blending Foam

Card

For the card: Jeanie D's Designs Music Sheets paper in 12x12, Chatterbox (Brown Brad), Basic Grey (shiny green brads), Mulberry paper, Recollections (Kraft Card base),Shimmerz Spritz Spray, TAC Christmas Stamp, CTMH (flourish), Fiskars border punch, Nik Bantok stamp pad (Van Dyke Brown)

I should say that I sized what I needed in PSE 7. :)

Thanks for looking. :)

Our Beautiful Tomboy Layout! (My Rare Flower)

This is a plumeria! Is it not beautiful?!?! It is AND it is also rare. Especially one this beautiful!

When people think of 3 year old little girls. They think of princesses, pink, having fun doing gorgeous hair dos, and probably the start of dance class. Funny enough, about 5 years ago, I felt the same way. :) I wanted a "Little Princess" of my own. I wanted her to be blond and blue eyed. :) I wanted her to have beautiful lips. I had dreams of putting her in dance classes and a closet full of PINK! :) Three years ago, that very prayer was answered. God sent me this gorgeous girl.

Blue eyes and BLOND, CURLY hair! :) I was in love the moment I laid eyes on her. Suddenly the 2 miscarriages and months of not getting pregnant seemed to be ok, because I was BLESSED with what I wanted! :) RIGHT?!?!?!

Well, let me tell you something. God always has a way of letting you know he is in control. :) He gave me the beautiful blond girl with the blue eyes. BUT....that is where it ends. HA! I have a three year old little girl that would rather be IRONMAN than a PRINCESS. She would rather wrestle and run and get dirty than dance. As for doing her hair????Even when she lets me and it looks perfect...she hates it. She lobes having her hair down and nothing done to it. And you know what??? I am SO ok with that! :) I definitely have a RARE FLOWER. I am so proud of her and she is (along with her Big Brother) one of the best things that has ever happened to me. They are my reason for getting up in the morning and breathing. :)

So now for the layout. :) I love catching these types of moments between Garth and Sasha. She loves her Daddy so much and if you ask anyone in the family....he is so in love with her. He really didn't put her down for the first year of her life. His mom would get so frustrated with him when we would go over for dinners. Garth made it a sport to be able to do everything with one hand. He cherished her and didn't want anything to touch her. LOL! And we wonder why she didn't walk until she was 16 months old! HA!

Anyways- These moments will always be cherished to me. :) They are something I hope I can remember even when I am old and senile! ;)

Here is the layout!

This was a rub-on for K &Co that I HAD to use on this one! :) TeeHee! :)

I just loved this tag from Ali Edwards for Designer Digitals. :) The journaling says: Date: February 5th, 2010.

Memory:  Oh my goodness, Sasha! You make your father and I smile with your "tomboy" ways.  We just LOVE that you are not the usual "girly girl".  You have always loved any type of Sport Helmet (football, hockey) and this day you saw Daddy's hockey gear in the laundry room. Daddy put his helmets on you and you really, really ENJOYED yourself! Of course, we weren't complaining at all!

Also from Designer Digitals I used this "Simply Sealed- Daddy's Girl" stamp by Katie Pertiet. :) I really went a little hybrid for this project! :) I love it! :)

What I used: 12x12 Patterned from WeRMemory Keepers (MVP Line), Basic Grey (Marrakech) for matting, DCWV Textured Cardstock for matting, American Crafts Thickers, K & Co Rub-ons (Cherish and You are so beautiful to me), heart bling (I am never sure where I get my BLING!), also not sure where I got my black jeweled brad. ;), Ali Edwards "It's all in the details" Tag from Designer Digitals (edited on PSE 7) and Simply Sealed Daddy's Girl digital stamp by Katie Pertiet for Designer Digitals.

Thanks for reading! :)

Decorating the Tree!!! LOL!

Hey everyone! This is the beginning of April and yes, I am going to bring you a layout of Miss Sasha from the Christmas Season in 2008! :) That must tell you how BEHIND I am here in my Creative Studio! :)

I actually started this layout as part of my project portfolio (not sure if this is what it is called, but it makes me feel important! HA!) for the BBTB2 DT. I still am not sure yet if I made it or not, but I was a little late finishing this to get it into the call, so I am gonna share it on here anyway! :)

Do you NOT LOVE when little people (aka ->BABIES/TOTS) do things for really the very first time? I simply adore it. It is so fun to just sit and watch them in their little worlds just discovering what life to them is all about. :)

So, here is Miss Sasha at 18 months. Do you NOT LOVE that curly hair?! It just cracks me up! :) She was quite intent decorating the tree and giving each ornament its own, individual time before putting it on the tree.

The journaling reads: This was the 1st year you really got into decorating the Christmas Tree, Sasha! I loved the look you had on your face as you gazed at each ornament!

I used Stampin' Up 12x12 cs, Basic Grey (Figgy Pudding) for the two patterned strips and the stickers for the title, some scrap paper for the trees that were cut out with my Christmas Cheer Cricut Cart, the corner flourish was cut from the Storybook Cricut Cart, the white tag is from Martha Stewart Crafts.

Thanks for stopping by!

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. :)

My Layout for the "Love Me Some Basic Grey" Contest!

I love Basic Grey! :) I know most of you are thinking, "Kathy, seriously, you love EVERYTHING!" and, yes, this is true...just look at my Scrap Studio (a term from a friend) and you will see that I am not prejudice when it comes to what I use! :) BUT...Basic Grey is in my TOP 5! :)

So, The PageMaps Blog , is having a contest with a skecth from Miss Becky Fleck and I decided to do it. Heck, I am doing LOAD anyway, so why not?!

So, I will be showing Becky's Sketch and then my layout! :) I will also be putting what I used also! :)

What I used: Bazzill 12x12 Cardstock: Lilywhite

Bazzill: Dotted Swiss

Little Yellow Bicycle: Baby Girl Safari (Clear Cuts embellies, journaling block, cardstock stickers, and patterned paper)

Crafter's Square Beaded Trim

Creative Imaginations: Sonnets (cherish 12" sticker)

Thanks for looking! :)