Monday, January 31, 2011

{ Someone Cares }

Well, here we are. January 31st, 2011 already! I can not believe that it is February already. Wow! But on a positive note? I managed to complete my goal of 8 books this month. Woohoo for me. But onto the next creation...
This was the first card I made at the January Calgals night. Nothing too exciting. I originally had put a Chocolate ribbon on the bottom, but it sucked! I changed it up when I got home and this is what I ended up with. I love the sentiment...stamped it off of Nancy and not too sure who makes this one...the card is just okay.
Thanks for stoppin' by...off to start book #9!

Thursday, January 27, 2011

{ Holiday Happiness }

Happy Thursday All! I finished book #7 last night, so here I am this morning with another card for you all. Here is another Christmas card and yes, it was another image that was sitting in my stack of colored images. I just added some stickles to Santa's hat and voila! I quite like this one. I believe the dp in the first layer was some dp that Allison had given all the Calgals at Christmas. I love this image...HighHopes...so, so cute.
If anyone is interested in my book progress thus far, be sure to check out my 100 book challenge post...link at the top...The Maze Runner was a great book and I highly recommend it! You can click on the links and they will take you to my Goodreads page with my reviews on each book.
Well, I am off to hopefully get my pegboard up today and start organizing my stamp room. I am feeling pretty lousy today though...so we will see.
Thanks for stoppin' by...

Monday, January 24, 2011

{ Thank You }

I really do need help with those post titles, eh? Oh well...book #6 was completed today, so here is another creation for ya.


Again, this is an old image that was in the 'binder' of colored images. I used an old Mojomonday sketch for my inspiration...not sure which one though. I picked up a small notebook recently and hope I can maybe keep track of the sketches I use and supplies too. That's the plan, but whether it actually happens remains to be seen! As far as this one? Fluffles is the main image and I used some old SU dp. A quick and easy one, but I like it.

Well...I am off to begin book #7. I am hoping to read 8 books this month and I think I should be able to finish them.

Thanks for stoppin' by ... happy crafting and happy reading!

Saturday, January 22, 2011

{ Surprise! }

No, I have not finished book #6 yet. I do have a few extra cards done, so I thought I would pop in and post another creation for you. Here is a very simple one, but I love it. This was an old image that was colored and in my big binder of colored images...the Calgals all know about my binder! Anyway...a quick and easy bday card to have on hand.




















I had a fun evening out with the Calgals last night...even though we were missing 3 of the girls. I actually managed to finish 3 cards! Shocking for me. I usually have great intentions and then spend the night coloring and not actually creating!

I had a date with my oldest today. We went to see Harry Potter 7 pt1. It was great. I was a little worried that it might have been a bit too much for her, but she did fine. We are both looking forward to pt 2!! I got the series for Christmas and she has started reading them. She should be finishing up book 1 this weekend. I am so happy that she loves to read. I am so thankful for books, like Harry Potter, that have opened her up to a love of reading. Speaking of which...I was wondering if anyone out there with an ereader could give me their recommendations. I have read so many reviews on each and every brand name. I have no idea! I am really looking for a no frills...cheaper...ereader. Something that is user friendly. Any thoughts?

I should be finished book 6 in the next day or two, so I will be back with another card too.

Thanks for stoppin' by...

Thursday, January 20, 2011

{ Christmas 2011! }

I finished book #5 today and here is card #5. My first Christmas card of 2011!!




















This is a very simple one, but I had the image sitting on my table and decided to go with it. It is quite a large image, so not a lot was needed. I like it.

Thanks for stoppin' by...onto book #6...;0)


Tuesday, January 18, 2011

{ Another Change }

Hey everyone...sorry for changing the template again. I loved the other one, but it was just not user friendly, or at least not Tracy friendly. Hopefully this one will work out better for me. What do ya think? I will stick with this one for the week and see how it works out...

Sunday, January 16, 2011

{ Just a Note }

Me again? This is almost becoming a regular thing again? Almost. ;0) I finished book #4 today, so that means card #4...
I was looking at my wall of cards I have received from other crafters and saw a tent card and decided to make one. This image was sitting on my table, so it was a quickie. I am not thrilled with the flower...needs to be a bit bigger, but it was all I could find. I really need to invest in some more flowers. Most of the ones I have are either small or hugh.
Thanks for stoppin' by...I am off to start book #5...

Friday, January 14, 2011

{ Happy, Happy, Happy }

How's that for a post title? It's true though. I am 'Happy' with my new blog template. I am 'Happy' with book #3 that I finished today. I am 'Happy' with some of the new online finds I have been browsing tonight. And I am 'Happy' to be papercrafting again. Although, I do need to get crafty this weekend so I have a few on hand...only have one more after this one!




This image was sitting on my table, so I thought I should use her. I am pretty happy with the way this one came together. I used up some flowers that have been sitting in my stash for sometime and now that I have revamped my cardstock and DP it is SO much easier to find something.

Thanks for stoppin' by...I am off to start book #4!

Thursday, January 13, 2011

{ Wow...I'm not as dumb as I thought! }

I actually figured some of this stuff out...all on my own! I am not the most computer savy person in the world...I fake my way through most of it...but I think I got this template figured out...sort of. I still can't get the tabs at the top to work with this header...but I am okay with the way it is now. Hopefully my next post will be worked out as far as the photo placement and size. I don't really feel like going back and fixing any of the old ones...so you will have to deal with those, sorry. I really love this new template. It's called Magic Tree...kinda where my mind is at right now...my own little magical world...

{ New Template and massive headache!! }

Just wanted to let you all know I am working on this new template. I love it...but it is just being a big pain in the butt right now. So please bear with me while I try and figure it out...or scrap it all together!!

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

{ Card Post #2 }

Told ya, I would be back...you didn't believe me did ya? Did ya? ;0)

Are you lovin' the post title too...sorry can't much more creative than that today. So here it is...

















I know, I know...another book related creation...I happen to like it. What do ya think?
Another new Nestie I got for Christmas and some old DP I had laying around.

Thanks for stoppin' by...

Sunday, January 09, 2011

{ some happy music }

I promise to be back in the next few days with another card. Honest! It's done and photo is now taken, so I promise.

Just wanted to share some music with you all today. I started working out on the treadmill again last week. Here are a couple of my favorite workout songs...and just so happens that these two songs always make me think of a few of my favorite books too!! ;0)


Enjoy!

In Your Light by Ed Kowalczyk



Real Life Fairytale by Plumb




Saturday, January 08, 2011

{ Some Happy Finds }

Good morning all! No not another card...or book...quite yet, but soon...I promise. I do want to share some finds with you though. I have been browsing Etsy again and just wanted to share some cool stuff...well, I think it's cool anyway. I highly recommend taking a look around Etsy sometime. You can find the coolest stuff. I actually got some of the things I found there before Christmas as gifts. Take a look at the yummy prezzies I got...

First off my
Clockwork Angel pendant!! I read the books and then found these amazing items. I am still looking for the perfect chain/ribbon to hold her, but I love her...something so completely unique.
































Second was my Jace ring! What more can I say, really. The inscription says 'I have belonged to you'.


































and thirdly was these cool Mortal Instuments/ Infernal Devices book charms...so very cool.


























Yes...I was spoiled. ;0)

Here are some other cool finds that I have found on Etsy in the last little while.

A very cool Fairy Wish Door Lariat Locket...


































The Magic Kingdom Art Pendant...




























Spiral Design Circle Glass Tile Pendant


































Steampunk Owl Book of the Wise...





































Be sure to check out the links I provided to see all the other amazing creations by each of these artists. That Steampunk owl may have to find it's way to my finger soon. ;0)

Happy browsing...


Wednesday, January 05, 2011

{ First card of 2011! }

See I told you I would be back. You didn't believe me did ya? Did ya? Okay so here it is...the first card of 2011...


Maybe not one of my best. It's okay...maybe a little too much white for me. I used a new Nestie I got for Christmas and the image was an old image I snagged off of Shannon at one of our Calgal evenings. So for those of you that commented. Here is the first card post to go with my first book post...happy? Back soon with some more for ya...hopefully. ;0)

Monday, January 03, 2011

{ 100 Books in a Year Reading Challenge 2011 }



As you all read in my last post...I read 71 books this past year. Well, I am determined to read more this year. Today I found this challenge hosted by Book Chick City and decided to join in. So in addition to my list on Goodreads I will be keeping track on this post. So if you want to see what I am reading head back to this post at anytime to check it out. If you want to join in...head on over to Book Chick City to see all the details and join in the fun!

1. Firelight by Sophie Jordan

2. Beautiful Creatures by Cami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

3. Beautiful Darkness by Cami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

4. The Giver by Lois Lowry

5. The Princess Bride by William Goldman

6. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

7. The Maze Runner by James Dashner

8. Fallen by Lauren Kate

9. Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

10. Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer

11. Marcelo In The Real World by Francisco X Stork

12. We Have Always Lived In The Castle by Shirley Jackson

13. The Dead & The Gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer

14. This World We Live In by Susan Beth Pfeffer

15. Black: The Birth of Evil by Ted Dekker

16. Drought by Pam Bachorz

17. Torment by Lauren Kate

Saturday, January 01, 2011

{ Welcome 2011! }

Happy New Year to you all! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Years. Christmas was crazy busy around here as usual, but New Years was pretty quiet. I just wanted to pop in and say hi. I promise to be posting much more in 2011! I don't have anything crafty to post just yet. I have spent the past few days organizing my stamp room. I got some Pegboard for Christmas and hope to get that up soon and do some more organizing. But my room is now clean and workable, so I hope to have something new to share with you all soon. I have been doing a bunch of crocheting during the month of December though, but sadly I did not take pics of most of it. I will post something new I made for my youngest though.

I do want to post something I saw on someone Else's blog though...not crafty, but book related. You will be seeing craftiness and book related posts in 2011...just to warn ya. ;0) I was shocked to see on my Goodreads status that I had read 71 books this year! Okay not as many as some of the book blogs I haunt...one had posted an astounding 250 books read! Wow! Okay 71 of those were audio books, but still!! Wow! So here is my list with my star rating if anyone is interested and looking for some new reads...you can go onto Goodreads and type in the title to find out more about the book...

1. The Shack by William P Young (5 stars)

2. The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown (4 stars)

3. Altar of Eden by James Rollins (4 stars)

4. Angels & Demons by Dan Brown (3 stars)

5. American Gods by Neil Gaiman (1 star - could not finish it)

6. The Alchemyst by Michael Scott (4 stars)

7. The Magician by Michael Scott (4 stars)

8. The Sorceress by Michael Scott (4 stars)

9. Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix (3 stars)

10. Among the Impostors by Margaret Peterson Haddix (4 stars)

11. Among the Betrayed by Margaret Peterson Haddix (4 stars)

12. Among the Barons by Margaret Peterson Haddix ( 4 stars)

13. Among the Brave by Margaret Peterson Haddix (4 stars)

14. Among the Enemy by Margaret Peterson Haddix (4 stars)

15. Among the Free by Margaret Peterson Haddix (4 stars)

16. Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin (4 stars)

17. The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly (4 stars)

18. Airborn by Kenneth Oppel (3 stars)

19. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater (5 stars)

20. Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt (3 stars)

21. The Angel Experiment by James Patterson (4 stars)

22. Schools out Forever by James Patterson (5 stars)

23. Saving the World and other Extreme Sports by James Patterson (5 stars)

24. The Final Warning by James Patterson (5 stars)

25. Max by James Patterson (5 stars)

26. Under the Dome by Stephen King ( did not have enough time, but plan to read this one again soon)

27. Lament - The Fairie Queens Deception by Maggie Stiefvater (5 stars)

28. A Member of the Family by Cesear Millan (5 stars)

29. Graceling by Kristin Cashore (4 stars)

30. Fire by Kristin Cashore (3 stars)

31. Marley & Me : Love and Life with the Worlds Worst Dog by John Grogan (5 stars)

32. Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C Wrede (3 stars)

33. Searching for Dragons by Patricia C Wrede (3 stars)

34. Calling on Dragons by Patricia C Wrede (3 stars)

35. The Dark Divine by Bree Despain (5 stars)

36. The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E Pearson (5 stars)

37. The Book of Awesome by Neil Pasricha (2 stars)

38. A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick (3 stars)

39. The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness (5 stars)

40. The Ask and The Answer by Patrick Ness (5 stars)

41. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (5 stars)

42. The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield (5 stars)

43. Fang by James Patterson (3 stars)

44. If I Stay by Gayle Forman (3 stars)

45. Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman (4 stars)

46. The Necromancer by Michael Scott (4 stars)

47. The Timetravellers Wife by Audrey Niffenegger (1 star, could not finish this one!)

48. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (5 stars)

49. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (5 stars)

50. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (5 stars)

51. Stolen: A Letter to my Captor by Lucy Christopher (4 stars)

52. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare (5 stars!!)

53. Life of Pi by Yann Martel (4 stars)

54. Linger by Maggie Stiefvater (5 stars)

55. City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare (5 stars!!)

56. Sea by Heidi R Kling (3 stars)

57. Wake by Lisa McMann (3 stars)

58. The Dangerous Days of Daniel X by James Patterson (1 star, I could not finish this one...horrible!!)

59. Fade by Lisa McMann (3 stars)

60. The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting (4 stars)

61. Gone by Lisa McMann (3 stars)

62. Unwind by Neal Shusterman (3 stars)

63. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (4 stars)

64. City of Glass by Cassandra Clare (5 stars!!)

65. The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff ( 4 stars)

66. Ballad : A Gathering of Fairie by Maggie Steifvater (4 stars)

67. Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare (5 stars)

68. Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness ( 5 stars)

69. Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl ( 4 stars)

70. Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride (3 stars)

71. The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon ( 4 stars)

Looking back there were some very good reads! I think my most favorites and ones that I would recommend to ALL would be...

1. The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare - City of Bones, City of Ashes, City of Glass

2. The Infernal Devices series by Cassandra Clare - Clockwork Angel

3. The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins - Hunger Games, Catching Fire, Mockingjay

4. The Wolves of Mercy Falls series by Maggie Steifvater - Shiver, Linger

5. The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

6. The Chaos Walking series by Patrick Ness - The Knife of Never Letting Go, The Ask and The Answer, Monsters of Men

If you have a list of reads or just some you would recommend, I would love to hear them!!

Back soon with some craftiness for ya!