Sweet Baby Girl Layout

Hello!  Well I finished a layout!  This is huge considering the fact that I've been very out of the swing of things lately.  If you missed out on why, visit this post.  It is my turn to host over at Bitten by the Bug.  This week's theme is "baby."  All you have to do to join in is to create a project with a baby theme.  I needed a little motivation to get going on my baby girl's first year album.  She'll be two next month.  This layout will go in her album as the first page.  I really love how it came out!

Her birth announcement I ordered from Shutterfly was my inspiration for this whole layout.  I found it, and I knew exactly what I wanted to do for the layout.  I love it when that happens.  I need all the creative help I can get lately.  This new baby is draining me.  I'm looking forward to that so-called return of energy that is supposed to come along with the 2nd trimester.  I'm still waiting on it!

The word cuts came from Gypsy Wanderings.  Aren't they so beautiful and elegant?  The scalloped circle is cut from Elegant Edges.

The pacifier is cut from Baby Steps.

I love the announcement, and it already has all her birth information on it.

The pattern paper is Teresa Collins Chic Bebe Girl.  Gorgeous!

The solid cardstock is Recollections.

I'm also entering this layout in this week's Fantabulous Cricut Challenge #195 Mix and Match and My Craft Spot #124 Polka Dots.

In other EXCITING NEWS...

Friday we had a "Snow Day!"  I think it was more like an ice/sleet day, but hey when you are 50 miles from the Gulf coast, this is a big deal!  I haven't seen it where the ice lasted all day since I was 17.  My kids were so excited.  Now we have had it where it actually snowed and lightly covered all the ground before, but that doesn't usually last long.  It was so strange to look out my window and see "white" collections all over our flower beds and on the rooftops all day long.  My poor plants aren't doing so well. Here are some pictures:

Eating snow...

Some News and Survival Mode

Well it has been about 7 weeks since I was really active on my blog!  Why the long absence? 

Well, my life changed dramatically right before Thanksgiving...in a good way with a little setback along the way.  My husband and I found out we are expecting our FOURTH child.  Saying that still shocks me.  If someone would have told me 8 years ago that I would have four children, I would have never believed it.  We feel blessed beyond measure!  It was such a struggle to get pregnant the first time.  We went through 2 miscarriages and months of nightmare fertility medicine.  But we finally had our first baby girl in February 2007.  It has been a wild ride since with no other fertility issues.  Again, we are blessed!!!
However, with pregnancy for me comes horrible morning, noon, and night sickness.  My poor husband has had to do mostly everything the last 7 weeks.  Sometimes I literally could not sit up because I would have to run to the bathroom or the nearest trash can.  If it wasn't sick, then I was passed out from exhaustion like no other pregnancy before.  I did manage to work; however, I am fortunate to have an easy job working for my husband.  It is not demanding, and I was late and sick on most days.  Looking back, I'm glad I had that to try to get my mind on something other than I how I felt.  
My kids have been such great sports.  They know that with a new baby Mommy sometimes gets very sick.  Our little one, who is almost 2, is such a daddy's girl anyway, so she has really been fine with him doing everything for her.  
So needless to say, this has been a time of survival mode for me.  I have been able to do the essentials in day to day life to get by and take care of my family, but I'm pretty ready to start feeling like myself again.  I am 13 weeks right now, and I usually start feeling better around 14 weeks.  
Crafting, obviously, was put on the very very back burner of life.  When you don't feel good, there are no creative juices flowing!  I slowly feel myself having more of a desire to get back at it though.  My hubby got me such awesome crafty things for Christmas, and I have a brand new Silhouette still sitting in a box!  I know...how could I?  I just have to feel really good to learn something new.
I hope to be posting new projects soon for Bitten by the Bug 2.  Thank you design team ladies for being patient with me and giving me the time I needed to get better!
Until then here's a little picture to share:

Birthday Card with a Number

Hey everybody!  Long time, no blog right?  Well I have a pretty good explanation for my 7 week hiatus, which I will share with you tomorrow.  But before I get to that, I wanted to share with you a project I made for the latest Bitten by the Bug 2 challenge.  A card was an easy way for me to get back into the swing of things.  I must admit flipping through my stacks of paper was enough to get me motivated again.  

For this week's challenge, all you have to do is create a birthday card with a number on it.  Just make sure you tell us what Cricut cartridge you used.  

This card is for my oldest daughter's 7th birthday coming up in February.  

That cute polka dot paper is from an 8.5 x 11 Recollections stack at Michaels.  It is called Rainbow.  It has tons of cute and colorful girly patterns.

Supplies/Details:

Card Base:  Papertrey Ink Plum Pudding cut to make a 5 x 5 card

Recollections Rainbow Pattern Paper Stack

Cupcake cut-Sweet Treats-4 in.

"7"-Cricut Craft Room Basics-cut to fit inside of heart

Sentiment-My Pink Stamper Simply Sweet Occasions

Recollections glitter-Fairy Dust

So I hope you'll join us for the challenge!!  

Let It Snow Christmas Card

Hey Everyone!  This week we have a super easy holiday challenge for you over at Bitten by the Bug 2.  Michelle has selected for us to create a Christmas card using a Cricut cut.  So many possibilities for this one!  

I chose to go with a snowman since I just love snowmen, and we are always wishing for snow down here in Louisiana. Every now and then the conditions will be just right, and we will get snow.  I promise we are all like a bunch of kids outside when that happens!  So exciting!  So I made my Christmas card with one of my Christmas wishes for every year: Let It Snow!

Supplies:

Winter Frolic for Snowman cut at 3 inches

Mind Mind's Eye -Merry 6 x 6 pad

Papertrey Ink cardstock

Recollections cardstock

Peachy Keen -Happy Lashes Assortment

My Craft Spot-Christmas Banner Sentiments

My Craft Spot-Arched Ribbon Banner Die

Carribean Bakers Twine

We hope you'll join us this week over at Bitten by the Bug 2!!

And if you are doing some last minute planning on what to make for Thanksgiving, I have some great ideas on my food blog:

15 Thanksgiving Menu Ideas

You're a Turkey Challenge

Hey everyone!  It's time for a new challenge over at Bitten by the Bug 2!  For this week, Melanie is asking everyone to create a card or project with a turkey on it!  I was totally in the mood for this challenge!  I say we give the poor little turkeys some extra last minute attention before Christmas creeps around the corner!
For my project, I decided to do a layout for my son's album.  I used Create-a-Critter 2 and Simply Charmed.  I also used my favorite leaf from Everyday Paperdolls.  

My most difficult time with this layout came with leaving enough room for 8 photo mats!  I know that's a lot of pictures.  I have serious issues with only picking a few to showcase on a layout.  But I got it to work and was still able to get a good size title and several cuts!

Don't you just love that orange chevron?  It came from a scrapbook store and I don't have any other details other than that.  I just knew it would be perfect for the tree!

Check out my quick video:  (must be viewed from my blog or YouTube)

Supplies:

Simply Charmed-Tree and Pumpkins

Create-a-Critter 2-Turkeys and Acorns

Everyday Paperdolls-Leaves and Sign

Recollections-Solid Cardstock

Green Pattern Paper and Orange Polka Dot-DCWV Bewitched Pad

Orange Chevron - local store

"Gobble" stamp-Scrappy Moms-A Holiday to Remember

Stampin Up Chocolate Ink

So we hope you will join us this week over at Bitten By the Bug 2!!

I'm also entering this layout at:

Fantabulous Cricut-Animal Crackers Challenge

Exploring Cricut-Count Your Blessings Challenge

Craftin Desert Divas-Thanksgiving Linky Party

Cards TV-Happy Harvest

2 Creative Chicks-Challenge #8

And if you are looking for some good pies for Thanksgiving, head on over to my food blog and check these out:

Fudge Pecan Pie

Chocolate Silk Pecan Pie

and my personal favorite...

Mississippi Mud Pie

White on White Christmas Tags

Hello Everyone!  It's time for a new challenge over at Bitten by the Bug 2!  This week is very unique.  Julie is challenging us all to make a "White on White" Christmas-themed project.  I admit that I was a little intimidated by that one!  But I just LOVE how my Christmas tags came out!  

I knew immediately that I wanted a little pop of color somewhere on the tag.  I had two ideas in mind, so I made them both:)

For the pink snowflake ribbon tag, I knew I wanted a "snowy" tree, so I added some snow Recollections glitter.  

For the red tag, I added the glitter to the star.  

Just curious, which do you like best??

I really hope you'll try this week's challenge!!  

I've also included links to my tag creations in the Craft Room and Gypsy:

White on White Christmas Tag-Cricut Craft Room File
White on White Christmas Tag-Gypsy File

Supplies:

Cricut Cartridges:  Elegant Edges and Winter Frolic

Cuddle Bug Divine Swirls Folder

Paper Studio Snowflake Folder

Papertrey Ink Cardstock

Recollections Glitter

Snowflake Ribbon from Michaels

Striped Ribbon from Hobby Lobby

And if you're looking for something EASY to make for supper this week:

Over on my food blog, Diary of a Recipe Collector, I show you the recipe for these

Skillet Covered Burritos

Football Challenge

Hey Everybody!  It is time for another Bitten by the Bug 2 challenge!  This week, our leader Susan, has chosen a Football theme.  Our challenge is to create a man project with football in mind.  

Well, I'm from Louisiana, and we are big Louisiana State University fans.  I decided to make my husband a coffee mug to support the Tigers.  I think it came out pretty cute!  

FYI:  "Geaux" is Cajun slang for "Go."  :)

I used Plantin SchoolBook.

I used my gypsy to turn and weld the letters on "Geaux Tigers."

Supplies/Details:

Plantin SchoolBook-LSU cut at 1.18 in.

Plantin SchoolBook-Geaux Tigers -cut at 1 in.

Yellow vinyl

I purchased my vinyl from CricutVinylSupplies.com.  It came in super fast!

If you are intimidated cutting vinyl, don't be!  It's actually easier to work with than paper.  I have another post with detailed pictures on the steps to cutting with vinyl.  

So we hope you join us at Bitten by the Bug 2 for this weeks challenge!!

And if you need an idea for a great Sunday dinner, on my food blog you can check out these Farmer's Pork Chops.

The whole meal bakes up in a casserole dish starting with layers of potatoes and onions, while the pork chops cook on top.  So good!