The Twelve "Tags" of Christmas Mitra Style (which means not a tag)

Jeeze Louise I am one for a tradition. I do believe this is my fifth year participating in the 12 Tags of Christmas over at the Funkie Junkie. Oh goodness. Never once though have I made tags! (I've also never won the prize drawing at the end, so maybe this year it will be me!)

Let's see....back in 2012 I decorated the top of Herb Ox containers. 

Then in 2013 I altered a sample box. 

In 2014 I made icicles.

Last year I decorated punch cups. 

This year I'm working with Vintage Jello cups! Honestly, I went shopping for materials directly after Christmas because I was that pumped up over the 12 Tags....stop back tomorrow to see my first jello cup...I've got two made so far, but I've got to catch up....I believe she is already up to Week Six!

Happy Tuesday!

Happy Non-Birthday Twat for Memorandum Monday

A nice long weekend full of what one would expect perfect fall weather here in New York to be. Just cold enough to enjoy mulled cider, crispy leaves, and a blue blue sky. Good thing I had a slightly longer weekend since I took Friday off to visit my Gram in the nursing home.

She is on floor for peeps that are not really hanging out with us these days but who have gone back into their own minds. I guess it was a stroke or maybe she just got sick of it here but her body isn't ready to leave. They say she sleeps a lot and sometimes talks about her Mom. I appreciate the people keeping her safe and that she still knows the word cookie very well.

Luke had his friend Tommy over to hang and join in the paint ball games on Sunday. These days I don't have to organize much for these sorts of things. I was only asked for invites which I whipped up in about five minutes. I was in charge of the food too, which basically meant figuring out where you could get the best pizza and wings locally. Well, I also made mulled cider. I think the kids thought I said Mold Cider so there was a lot left over, which didn't hurt my feelings. That stuff rocks! He'll be 14 in just a bit so it was an early non birthday. His sister came up with what I needed to have written on the cake. Isn't she sweet?

Well I'm off today to see what kind of trouble I can get into at work. Usually having a day or two off means that there is lots of catching up to do. Hope not!

Also, if you like writing a wee bit each Monday, feel free to come hang with us over at Sian's From High in the Sky blog where she hosts us for Memorandum Monday!

Shabby Gable Box for THE CUTTING CAFE

Oh so much fun to put this box together! I used the new Gable Box Cutting file from The Cutting Cafe. I went big with mine and increased the size of each side of the box to fit the 12 by 12 cutting area. Just cut two out of matching paper! Of course I had to add feet. I used some heavy duty cardboard to attach them and it makes the whole box cool & extra sturdy.

Since I was too impatient to spray paint the feet before attaching them, I used the opportunity to grunge up the sides with a little black spray. Of course I added some gold paint and then glitter.

Right now I'm enjoying my little box hanging out with some other pretty things in my office. I had intended to put a gift in it for a friend, but it was supposed to be for a guy....and then I got all crazy with the flowers....

Guess I was inspired by all those pretty fall colors! Hope you get a chance to try this new file, it's awesome!!!

Happiest of Sundays to you!

Giants 12 tags of 2016-November & One Little Quote

Wrapping up my one little quote of the year with this word. It's funny too since this is the smallest tag of the bunch! Next month I'll be back with a new tag and the whole quote! If I get really crazy, I'll have a way to display them all, but who knows. I have a couple of ideas rolling around in the noggin, but we all know what happens between now and Christmas. All hell breaks lose, we eat cookies for lunch, wear sparkles for weeks straight and get manic about cards.

Lots to see on this tag. Most of it was inspired by Tim Holtz's November tag, but some of it was due to not having the same stuff he has. Which, hello, he has access to everything. ;-) It did inspire me to take out some super old rub-ons and use them, hence that pretty little camera and those gold hearts. Yum!

I did really enjoy his leaf, so had to cut one out for mine. I added embossing to mimic the corrugated cardboard he used. I am thinking I need to find some of those silverware pieces...might work a treat with Thanksgiving pages?

Of course there is glitter on my tag. Even some of that vintage glass glitter. I love what glitter glue does when mixed with something I've inked up, like the edge of that maple leaf!

Fun times! Hoping your Saturday is awesomeness! I'm back tomorrow with something I just cooked up. Waiting for the gold paint to dry and of course the glitter glue!

{2 Much Fun} Off on an Adventure Layout

Ticking a lot of layouts off the list! This past summer was pretty eventful so I have quite the pile of photos I want to scrap! It's getting smaller though! This is good because the Funky Junkie 12 Tags of Christmas Challenge started a bit ago and I need to get caught up, plus there are two more Tim Tags to do, not to mention holiday scrapping! Fun times!

This is a pretty flat layout with an emphasis on glitter! My letters are glittery, that washi tape is crazy colorful, and I used that huge photo to make the page up. We didn't really take a lot of photos so I had to rely on a couple that I did take to tell the story. We really enjoyed the balcony overlooking Greektown.

Love that glittery banner I cut out of some paper for the side. That paper is at least 15 years old? OH my! Love me some stash busting!

Happiest of Hump Days to you Peeps! Hope your day is awesome!

A Puzzle Layout for Another Freaking Scrappy

This month's challege from Anne at Another Freaking Scrappy is:  a puzzle - something that puzzles you, a riddle, use a puzzle piece, a puzzled expression on your subject or a rememberance. Mine fits into both. 

 In fact, it's likely I wouldn't have scrapped these photos without the challenge! I even pulled out some super old paper that "worked" because I needed something nutty. I ran with using the word in my title. Back around Christmas time last year I was puzzled when I ran across Luke working on a science project in my kitchen using sand, plaster, and a huge can. It was typical weather here, blustery and miserable outside. Thankfully the following day it was warmer so they could test the forge in the garage!

Here's a close up of my journaling and the big magnifying glass that I fussy cut out of some paper.

The little copper vellum leaves really are pretty & worked nicely with that silky rose I've had in my stash for ages. In all it was great to get these photos done and dusted!

Hope you get a chance to hang with us!

Tea, Roses, and Buffalo Wings for Memorandum Monday

Winter is trying to claim a foot hold here in New York from blessing us with a cold, wet, and rainy fall to dropping frozen bits on our heads. The fact that I spent a couple of days early in the week in Buffalo, a place not known for a mild winter just reinforced the idea that it is now officially sweater weather, which also means time for cider, pot roast, and tea. Lots of tea. I've spotted quite a few roses trying to give us one last hurrah before the flurries. This one was spotted along the fence on a block that the Habitat peeps at Buffalo are busying populating with their houses. Some local company has offered matching funds to help them develop a nice neighborhood for their employees. Sounds like a match made in heaven although one wouldn't mistake Buffalo for heaven, although the wings do rock there.

This pretty little bloom is hanging around the side door at the next house we're working on. The house suffered a fire this past winter due to a hard freeze that burst a pipe that put water someplace it shouldn't go. Right now it's a shell of a house, but I'm looking forward to making it a home for someone very soon! More on that soon!

On the home front the trees have given up the very bright reds and mellowed down to some burgandies. THE MAN took a trip up to look at the canopy with the drone. So pretty!

Our house is right over that green sign in nearly the middle of the photo. Aren't those trees pretty! They aren't so pretty when you are raking leaves in the rain. ;-)

Well, it's time to head into Monday. Lots of things planned, one of them may involve moving a couch with roses on it...they are better in a garden vs. on a couch, in my opinion!

Join me in thanking Sian for hosting us on Memorandum Monday!

Sweet 16 Layout with Swan Lake Close to My Heart paper

What a fun day! Lexi just turned 16 a little more than a week ago and we let her stay home from school mainly because we needed her! We did all kinds of things that day! She got her own bank account, signed up to get her passport, took the test for her learner's permit, and also went to an epic dinner complete with singing at the end and Italian donuts with chocolate.

Totally love that that gold is such a thing these days in scrapbooking. It makes me happy when it shimmers! As you can see, lots of journaling on this page!

Totally loving this Swan Lake paper pack from Close to My Heart. Some very strong colors for the fall but they really pop! I've just about used up the whole kit, which is how I like it!

Happiest of Wednesdays!

Hello Herkimer Layout

Spent a little time this weekend getting caught up on some photos from camping this summer. We had a mostly rainy weekend so it was best to spend it inside. Did totally make me miss camping!

Enjoyed making a little flower cluster and love those two swans! They came with a Close to My Heart kit and I thought they looked like Lexi and Luke sitting there in the quarry. It was so hot that we really didn't spend a lot of time diamond hunting. I think the quarry was mostly played out anyhow.

I wanted to use up that acrylic "love" so used some journaling to explain how we felt that day! I think it's kinda cool!

Happiest of Tuesdays to you!

Kitting and Cleaning for Memorandum Monday

Goodness gracious...saw some photos around Facebook earlier today of northern NY and they had a little bit of snow already! Guess maybe that is what put me into the Christmas mood to start making cards! Well, that and I have a card event to go to in a couple of weeks. We need to bring card kits with us. By the end of the day, we'll have all our Christmas cards done! Can't wait!






































So spent the day cutting and kitting. Well, after of course I went grocerying and vacuumed the car. No point in taking photos of that!

In case you are counting Lizzy Hill, three cards down! I ight be gaining (a little).

Happiest of Mondays to you! We're off to Buffalo today for some training for a couple of days, but lucky for you I've got autoposts set up!

Waving over to Sian From High in the Sky who hosts us for Memorandum Monday and also who likely hasn't had snow as of yet, I hope!

Supersized Hooters & Chocolate Kisses for THE CUTTING CAFE

This time 'round at THE CUTTING CAFE we're working on projects for cancer awareness. I of course choose one that involves pink and boobs (glitter and gold paint too) because all those things are epic. I also super sized it 'cause that is how I roll. Why not MORE chocolate kisses?! This box is from the BREAST CANCER HERSHEY KISS BOX SET - TEMPLATE.

In fact, it comes with these little circles that you can put on the bottom of the kisses. I used one of those images to cut out that super cool super sized Hooter!

A proper box of course needs a crystal knob to match the crystal owl eye balls. And why not pink flamingos.....

Crystal Feet and a glittery ribbon with more flamingo washi.

Love how this project turned out! Fly on over to The Cutting Cafe to check out that file! 

Borders & Bording Layout of Lake George

When we were in Lake George this past summer, Aunt Connie set Luke up with a paddle board. We weren't sure how he would do, but he took to it like a duck to water. Good thing 'cause there was a float full of pretty girls watching.

Can you see him there and the float full of girls? Yeah, had to scrap these photos using a photo collage! Couldn't leave out the "story" told by photos!

It's a pretty flat page, but that wood washi tape, some red sequins, and a few stickers really worked well for some bling. That paper is a new paper packet out for Fall from Close to My Heart, but I think it works well for a woodsy layout too!

Happy Hump Day to you! I'm off to work on a house!