LilyBean Paperie

Happy gas....

hehe---any ideas what I've been doing today?

Let's just say, that I have a new love in my life and he is my dentist----and then, let me say that I have been terrified of dentists in the past----so much that I get ill when I need to go for a check-up.  Today was different---I kept saying to myself while lying there snarfing up the glorious happy gas that I loved my dentist, I loved my dentist, I LOVED my dentist---never have I said that---this little old man will retire before I see him again I'm sure---but it was so pleasant to have met him and his gentle ways and ohhhhh yes---the happy gas.

Now---as I still feel like I'm floating a bit---let me try and get a few things posted for you without chatting too much---never know will come out of my mouth after today.

I'm flinging myself into a contest with Basic Grey---I'm such a sucker for a good challenge---so, these cards were created for it.  You must go check out the gallery as there are some of the most delightful creations there.

 

Tomorrow, we are off to the mountains to cut a tree and cut wood for winter---I've been looking forward to this for a couple of weeks now.  Then--I'll decorate the tree and my home for the rest of the day and hopefully get it done so we can sit back and enjoy.

I promise to post pictures of the trees I'm working on.  I'm in love with one that should be finished Saturday---it's just sweet and shabby and woodsy---I wrapped the center with "Sparkle Lights"---they are so wonderful----they are just very gentle and subdued and twinkle in such a way that it adds so much interest and life---only the center is done this way---I've wrapped grapevine around it---just because I'm addicted to that stuff and use it all of the time--then it's got white berry garlands wrapped around it---thus the shabby comes in---cute rusty metal ornaments---some silver bells that are kind of worn, red berries, and now, I've just got to wrap some Styrofoam balls with fabric scraps to add a touch of homespun stuff, then I should be ready to take pics. 

And...I've decided to sell my cards---I just need to get things going in that direction, but I'm not going to hurry---so when it happens it happens.  In the meantime though, if you see something on my blog you love and want to purchase, send me a note and I'll put it aside for you.  I really would like to have my holiday cards up for sale so you can use them for Christmas and whatnot---but it may not happen that quickly---but they are available.

Gosh---this chatty chic on the gas needs to go do something.  I'm off to putter around.

Chat soon---have a great day tomorrow!

Melis

All is calm...

Just woke up from my nighttime nap---I love it when I accidentally fall asleep while tucking Sierra in bed---sweet times that won't last much longer I'm afraid.

Lots I'd love to share with you tonight---but not much I can share at this point---hopefully soon.

Here is my second assignment for CreativeXpress this month.  My challenge was to create 2 heart-shaped Valentine cards using my Cricut, Provo Craft Grazioso paper collection, dimensional embellishments, and non-traditional colors.  This was a super fun assignment---and I LOVE my Cricut Expression---if you're still trying to make up your mind about one of these---let me help you---get it, get it, get it.  Did that help?

And, I seem to be in the stamping mood lately---I'm such a rookie when it comes to stamping---but I sure enjoy it.  I made this card using some of my favorite papers from Melissa Frances, and a new stamp set from Basic Grey---love their stamps. 

For any of you in search of the felt bags from Provo Craft---the only place I can find them online for you is here at CreativeXpress---they actually are offering a Felt Bag Crafting Kit---which allows you to create 3 bags with lots of the fun, felt flowers and leaves.  They're on sale now too. 

And....I'm tossing around the idea of selling my cards as I have oodles here at home.  Before I do though, I'd really appreciate any feedback you may have regarding whether of not this is some things that interests you---I'd love to hear what you have to say as I'm thinking this through.

Hope you all had a wonderful Monday.  This week is so crazy but is packed with things I love.  I decorate Christmas trees every year at out store---and just sold one this weekend for a good $250---now I have 2 more requests and need to get those done---I really enjoy this and the fact that my little girl comes with me and plays right at my feet or follows her daddy around while he works---I love getting to work with him and helping him however I can.

Night.

Melissa

Oh by GOLLY...

I'm in the mood for this Holly Jolly season---I just knew it would happen.

Got to think of some fun 12 Days of Christmas gifts.

Need to bake, bake, bake.

Need to cut a tree and decorate.

Need to remove the pumpkins and corn stalks from the porch.

Lots of things to get busy doing---but I love it.

I want to thank Arla for helping me redesign my blog header---isn't she wonderful!  I just adore what she came up with---and she'll do it for you too if you're interested---I can't believe she didn't start ignoring me after all of the requests and changes---but she was very patient. 

Just a few random cards today. 

This I made for the Sketch This Cards blog.

I used lots of WRMK here, my favorite Melissa Frances products, and the journaling stamp from Close to My Heart.

This I created just for fun and for a challenge at 2 Peas.

Lastly, this card was created for Card Positioning Systems---our sponsor this week is the sweet and adorably fun Crafty Secrets. 

Time to go play with Sierra---a trip to the park, working on her ABC's, and hopefully some snuggle time---she doesn't like this much anymore---but I can't get enough.

Happy Saturday!

Melis

101 reasons why I love my husband...

1.  he's adorable

2-  he saved my computer

3-  he's soooooo patient with me and my lack of computer savvy-ness

4-  he's adorable

5-  he saved my computer

I shall end there for tonight---you get the point--love this man.

Quickly posting a little something I just made of my sweetheart---she and her daddy are the biggest blessings in my life and I would not be the same person without their sweet presence and love making me be a better wife and mommy everyday.

This was one of my projects for CreativeXpress this month---I'll post my other project in a bit---but since winter seems to be on it's way here and my fingers are a bit numb as I'm typing tonight---I'm in the mood to share this with you.

And.....if you need a little beauty tonight...jaw dropping....gasp-out-loud beauty----check out my girl Linda's blog---but make sure you're sitting down.  Needless to say---I'm so thankful for her and her amazing, creative gift!  Love ya!

Melissa

Utter devastation....but Happy Thanksgiving!

hehe.....while I am trying to laugh at the situation, deep inside I want to cry like a baby.

My computer has crashed---everything seems to be gone and lost---so I'm chatting with you today from my parent's house to let you know the dealio.

I'm sorry I didn't get the Pumpkin Chocolate Brownie recipe to you earlier---but here is the one I used and it's YUM---I topped it off with cream cheese frosting---but chocolate frosting would be really YUM too!

http://www.verybestbaking.com/recipes/detail.aspx?ID=473

And...nothing to share today since my images are all gone, gone, gone---other than I hope you all are having a wonderful, wonderful day today whether you are celebrating Thanksgiving here in the US or just having a sweet Thursday in other parts of the world---I'm thinking of you all and am grateful for each of you!

Chat soon---say a prayer or two for my computer--I could use a miracle right now.

Melissa

Not feelin' it...

Have a chance to go cut a Christmas tree tomorrow---and I just can't do it---last year we had ours by this  time---but it's balmy and beachy here I tell ya---I think I'll wait til after the feast and then we'll see what the scrooge in me decides to do, haha.  I really do love Christmas and the decorating of course---and ya know Alan Jackson has been singing in my kitchen every night---something about Let it Be Christmas and Santa Claus is Comin'---so I'm not totally scrooging.  Turkey first---then the tree---how about it?

Just a quick little diddy tonight then I'm off to bed.  My last Provo Craft assignment for the month.  I had to create using a Coluzzle product and very generic supplies---that Coluzzle stuff is neat---have you tried some?  There are a bit of Cricut goodies to spy on here---the holly berry, and Cricut cardstock as well.  And...I'm a sucker for stitcheries--so I had to stick a bit of stitching on here somewhere too.

How about tomorrow I post the Chocolate Pumpkin Brownie recipe for you?  I'm starting to slur so I know I could make a terrible mistake and ruin your brownies---so check back in a few.

Have a great night!

Melis

Sweet Sunday smells...

My cinnamon rolls are rising, my Chocolate Pumpkin Brownies are baked and frosted---my little one's tummy is full and she is happily playing for few until bath time---so here I am---love Sundays!

Here are a couple of Provo Craft projects for this month.  The first is a Home Decor assignment---I used my Cricut Expression to cut the scallops and holly berry leaves.  Then just added ric rac, flowers, buttons, and some fun Rob & Bob felt trim to top it off.

And, the second project was a freebie---so I chose to work with the Provo Craft Felt Fashions---gonna have to make a fanny load of these for my nieces for Christmas---so easy and fun!

Well....I can hear my time is up---hope you're all enjoying your Sundays!

Melissa

Gimme a "C"....

How about some cookies tonight!

Cowboy Cookies

1/2 cup margarine

1/2 cup Crisco

3/4 cup brown sugar

3/4 cup white sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

2 cups flour

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. baking powder

1 1/2 cups oatmeal

1 1/2 cups chocolate chips

1 cup coconut

1 cup walnuts (optional)

Cream together margarine, Crisco, and sugars.  Add eggs and vanilla.  Combine flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, and oatmeal.  Add to the creamed mixture.  Add chocolate chips, coconut, and walnuts, if desired.  Drop on a cookie sheet.  Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.

Now, put on your stretchy pants, because you can't just eat one of these---they're YUM!

Enjoying some gorgeous Making Memories Christmas stuff here---can't resist any of it!

Well...gotta get to some un-fun Saturday chores---then I can relax and have fun tonight.

Hope you're all enjoying your Saturday!

Melissa

Home to me...

So thankful for my tiny little house tonight---love that it's warm, old, weathered, and loved.  Love the way it smells like cinnamon---tonight pumpkin and cinnamon :)---love that it is filled with soft words, a sweet little girl to remind us to be more gentle and kind, and a hard working husband who comes home to play each night.  I'm just so happy for what I have been blessed with.

Today was the first chilly day we've had---more than sweater weather, but still didn't keep us from the park.  Sierra and I go everyday, and it's an old park with a BIG, steep slide that she is much too tiny for.  So she asks me to take her over and over.  Lately we've been pausing at the tippity top, with her sitting on my lap and we look at everything around us.  Smoke coming out of chimneys, golden leaves on the mountains, trains passing by---I just love our little tradition and realize that it will probably fade soon.

Tonight I'd love to share some exciting news and some cards I made for a couple of my favorite card blogs.

The first card is for the Card Positioning System blog.  You must try this sketch---so sweet.

I love this vintage sticker from Rusty Pickle, and the die cuts from My Mind's Eye---the paper is from Making Memories, and the scroll die cut is a Cuttlebug die from Provo Craft.

The second card is for the Sketch This Cards blog.  Janelle was gracious enough to let me come back and play after I took a little break---boy did I miss it!

The old book page is torn from Little Women---found this little treasure in some things from a past Lime Tart kit---and the paper and tree are from Creative Imaginations. 

Now....I get to share some news with you---still pinching, or more like slapping myself about this one--hard to believe it's happening to little old me.

The second book authored by Sherry Steveson for F&W Publishing is
entitled " The Scrapbooker's Embellishment Handbook" and will feature
17 categories of embellishments filled with out of the box, cutting
edge ideas. The contributors of this book include; Judi
VanValkinburgh, Kimber McGray, Suzy Plantamura, Melissa Phillips,
Jamie Harper, Rita Weiss, Cindy Tobey, Janet Ohlson, Katrina Simeck,
Stephanie Vetne. This book will not only offer never seen before
ideas but will also contain a never before seen idea book feature
involving taking an ordinary layout and showing you how to take it to
extraordinary in 2 steps using embellishments. This book is currently
in development and will be released early Spring 2009.

So....there it is!  So excited and humbled to be part of this.  Thank you Sherry!

It's time to get to work for me tonight.

night.

Melis

Mustering...

My word for the day---I like it even if it's not a word.  You know----mustering up energy, mustering up a little more energy, and then mustering up a bit more energy to top the day off, haha.

So....I've been mustering, and have a little bit of ooomph before bedtime.  Just wanted to share some full images of my Lime Tart projects.  You can see all of the DT gallery HERE!  Truly a delight. 

  I made this for my sweetheart---I just love him and the sweet relationship he and our little girl have---it just warms me through and through.

And...a layout...shocking I know, hehe. 

And...one card...I'll stop with this so you can venture over to the Lime Tart gallery for more. 

It's a sit down with some chocolate and a soda to sip while you're browsing for a bit kind of gallery---promise.

I'm off to muster up a bit more energy for one more project tonight.

Hope you had a wonderful day!

Melissa

Hey Sugars...

Just a little note tonight---A new card kit of mine featuring the Hey Sugar line from Cosmo Cricket is now up for grabs at The Scrappy Gourmet---I created 8 cards for this kit---for sure one of my favorites yet.  Hope you'll stop by.  Here are a few peeks and you can check here for all of them.

Have a great night!

Melissa

I should be...

doing a few other things at the moment---but I'm indulging in some "me" time for about 5 minutes---set the timer, haha.

I have to speak in church tomorrow and I should be writing my talk---

I should be putting away the left over Chicken Noodie Soup---

But, here I am...what should YOU be doing right now?  Remember I won't get mad---I'll support you 100%. 

I hope you don't mind some older than the hills stuff tonight, as I can't post anything new just yet.  I believe I've waited long enough after these have been published to put them on my blog. And...stay tuned for my most favorite picture EVER  at the end of my post...

---here is the grand finale, hehe.

A self-portrait by Sierra herself---I let her play with my camera from time-to-time, and crack up when I run across something like this---I will NEVER delete these as I think they are so darn endearing.  I didn't show you the up-the-nose shots just in case you get queasy about those things.

Anyway---I love her....to pieces.  She's snoring softly upstairs, so it's time to go sit in front of the fire and plan my talk---wish me luck.

The topic is charity, and I truly am grateful for opportunities to speak as I learn so much about how I want to be and how I'd like to change.  I'll share the first thing I ran across earlier today that I want to include in my talk.  "Charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.  Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth.  Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things fail--but charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever;  and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him." 

Goodnight!

Melis

Bittersweet...

Hi everyone!  How is Friday treating you so far?  Hopefully life is good.

I'm having a great day---I LOVE great days.  Yesterday was another wonderful day.  A day I have been fearing, but one that needs to be faced nontheless.  I knew there would be a day when my little one would have questions about how she came to earth----and I knew that yesterday she was old enough to understand a bit about her adoption story---so I shared it with her, and it was good for me to be reminded how very lucky we are to have her. 

Speaking of the little lady, here are a few projects I've made with her as the star of the show of course, haha.  I can't show you the whole sha-bang right now---I created these for Lime Tart using the November Full Tart---it's too dang pretty---I was afraid to start cutting into my papers (Rouge d  Garance)---but good glory, it was fun once I got over the initial shock.

I think I'll be able to post more of these around the 12th---stay tuned.

Let's see....what else do I have to tell you?  Any of you interested in locating Prisca's Cote Scraps paper and products can check here.  She said she hasn't found a US website yet where she can sell her things, but she mentioned this site that sends product out of Europe and France. 

Yesterday I had such happy, make me jump up and down emails---can't tell you how excited I am.  My first acceptance from CK---HOLY MOSES!

Also...check out this delicious cookbook---I bought it for myself as a little Christmas treat.  I LOVE to bake, so this will be FUN!  Do you love cookbooks too?  I think they are glorious---very addicting.

Well...gotta go--my time is up.  Have a wonderful day!

Melis

Thankfulness...

One of the many things I love about this time of year....the emphasis on being thankful.  I'm already feeling it---the desire to be more grateful and appreciative for my family and my many blessings.

So....today I am thankful for...my husband.  He works so hard and was up early stacking and splitting wood just in case we need it.  My little girl who has brought a depth of love I have never felt into my life.  And, I'm thankful for my family---all of them and their wonderful examples----I learn something from them all. 

I can't remember if I've shared these before or not.  I made these for this last Melissa Frances CHA booth.  Everything is new---the beautiful wood letter blocks, and Mulberry Hill Vintage Autumn papers and cardstock stickers.   And...I've been itching to play with my fun stamps from Kim Hughes and had a minute last night.  Piggy Tales, Chatterbox, and WRMK paper, Wright's tea-dyed twill tape, and Colobox fluid chalk.

I hope your day is as beautiful as mine today---we are still in the high 70's here---it's so perfect!

Chat soon!

Melis

Ta-Da......

Sorry for the delay in posting the winners.  We've got some adorable little cousins here playing today---and they've just helped me draw the winning names.  So.....congrats to:

Dani

Kristy

Cindy

Shanna

Pat

My goodness--- I really, truly was blown away by all of your cards---this was the funnest challenge yet.  Winners, please send me your addresses and I'll ship you out a little something I have made.

Thanks so much for playing.  We'll do it again really soon!

I quickly wanted to share a project I made for the Paper Crafts Room to Room issue.  This is one of my faves---and I'm happy to have it back in time for the holidays as I'll be using it to decorate my own little house. 

If you'd like a copy of this fun issue, you can check here to start shopping.

I've gotta go.  Thanks for making my day girls!

Melissa

silly me....

why in the world did I ever think I could get away with the combination of a 4-year old and a college football game.  Yep...this was me....toting my child all the way down the stadium, from just a few rows down from the tippity-top of the stadium mind you, all the way around the stadium because our seats were cleeeeear on the OTHER side, and then approximately 1/2 mile back to the car, up and down the stairs and twisty-windy thingies they have at BYU----all because she was terrified once we finally got her into the game after going through the above process once before, haha.  I'm rambling, I know...I'm still trying to recover.  Who the heck knows who won...I dunno....I'm the mommy...the pack horse...the nurturer, blah, blah, blah.  She hated it---I guess that's all I needed to say from the beginning, huh?

I did have fun though----I slept in the car A LOT...I got to grocery shop in a real grocery store....I ate food not prepared by ME....and I was able to spend time with my little fam...smiles, tears, screaming, and all, haha.

OK----I'm boring myself, so let me just say your cards are THE BEST!  I was so happy to come back and find so many to look through.  They are all so beautiful---each and every one of them.  I will be sending out more than just one little old goodie---I'll pick winners in the morning.  So, if you are still up and at 'em....keep creating and link me!

Here are some more cards I made a while ago for Creative Cafe----tasty, tasty, stuff I tell ya.  LOVE the colors in the Lucky Collection, and I love the clear stamps too--just all so much fun to fiddle around with.

Happy Sunday everyone!

Melissa

I'm outta here...

I'm heading to my old stomping grounds in the morning---BYU campus, WAHOO---Go COUGS!   My little fam and I are making the journey to watch a football game---dunno who they're playing---don't understand football---I just go for a fine wiener and to cheer for the blue and white team, haha---so have a great weekend and keep those cards coming!

Here are a few sneak peeks of my October assignments for CreativeXpress----I'll show you the rest the end of November.

Have a great weekend!  Oh, and for those of you who inquired where to bur Prisca's Cote Scraps paper---I'm working on it.  I hope to hear from her soon with more details for you.

Melis