Blessed Memories Scrapbooks by Karrilee

Feelin' a Little Valentiney!!!

2012-02-02T10:22:00.000-08:00

I blame Pinterest! Seriously... I do!

I have a 16 year old now... which means GONE are the days of making Valentine's and having Classroom parties! (Insert pouty sad face here!) Last year - my husband and I decided to buy single long stemmed roses for our dd and a group of her girlfriends - who were mostly all single at the time! If you have come to know me at all through this blog - you will know that we celebrate Valentine's Day as a family - making sure that our daughter knows that - yes, Valentine's Day is about Romance - but ultimately it is about Love! So - I like to kick it old school - and still make and hand out a few Valentine's Day cards or love notes... I like to make a fancy candle-lit dinner (for 4 - family style!) and make a yummy dessert!

So - here are a few of my Valentine's... I am trying (oh so hard!) to not buy anything NEW - but use up some supplies that I already have on hand - so here is what I have been playing with lately:

Browsing around Pinterest has made me REALLY want to host a party too though... and of course - at 16, my daughter is simply not interested?! sigh... It's probably for the best anyway - as I am OOBER busy right now... I still may throw together a little something just for fun with a few girlfriends... we'll see?!

So - what are YOU doing to celebrate Valentine's Day? Any special plans, crafts, or recipes? Do share!

~Karrilee~

Recycled (Beloved!) Coffee Calendar plus One Little Word

2012-01-25T11:39:00.001-08:00

Aaaah - I can not TELL you how much I LOVE coffee... seriously - I admit it - it is a problem!? I have this one specific calendar that I get for my (coffee-themed) kitchen every year - and while I love the new one - I hate to take down the old... so I have started a tradition a couple of years ago in making cards using the artwork... that way it hurts less to actually toss it!

Here are some of my cards using last years Calendar:

The artist - by the way - is Dan PiPaolo... check him out!

Here are a few Birthday Cards as well:

Lastly - here are the hybrid versions of my first few pages for my One Little Word project! I really like the way they turned out! Can't wait for February's assignment!

Scrap Happy!
~Karrilee~

Releasing my One Little Word

2012-01-10T08:41:00.001-08:00

Hey there...

So I STILL have not gone supply shopping for this little project - but looking through the Gallery and reading this months' assignment/prompt I just HAD to create something! So - yes - I did it digi-style! I do still plan on going shopping and doing it hybrid - some using Photoshop and some using my own two hands!

The assignment for One Little Word this month was to define your word... she gave a few assignments and templates and we took it from there...

Here is what I have done so far:

On another note - I am still awaiting the arrival of my Family Album... any day now! Once I go supply shopping - I will need to get busy on making some birthday cards... and possibly (?) some fun little Valentine's too!? We'll see how much fun and budget) I have at the store!

Scrap Happy!
~Karrilee~

All Caught Up and One Little Word

2012-01-05T13:53:00.000-08:00

I am shocked myself - but somehow I had a few days in a row and I was able to complete our Family Album for 2011... I know?! It's crazy - even for me... since going Digital for our main scrapbook each year, and trying to scrap all my photo's each month (or so) I have been able to stay somewhat on top of things... so after Christmas - with all my fun photo's - I sat down and created Layout after Layout until - well... wallah! I ordered my Digital book on January 3rd!? (I know, right?!)

Thanks to a dear sister... I am joining in at Big Picture and taking Ali Edwards "One Little Word" project. My first pre-class Assignment - pick my word for 2012... or let it pick me! I am so excited to see what all it turns out to mean... but the word that found me was "Releasing"... Each Month we will have a prompt/assignment and by the end of the year - we will have a completed album based around our life in 2012 and the word that we chose! It's not too late to join in... you can sign up the class here: One Little Word

Here are some of my Christmas Layouts... as well as my Cover for One Little Word:

Happy New Year to my fellow Scrappers! I pray your start to 2012 has been a positive one!

I am planning on doing a little digi but mostly old school with this album... which excites me! I truly have missed doing more hands on scrapping lately!

So - that's it for now... I have just received my first assignment for January... off to shop (I know - so sad, isn't it?) and take a self portrait... with doing Digi for so long - I MUST remember to buy adhesive!!!

Scrap Happy!
~Karrilee~

Happy Holid-- Nope - I actually MEAN Merry Christmas!

2011-12-23T12:42:00.001-08:00

I don't know if you have noticed this where YOU live... but I have been noticing how shockingly FEW times I have heard someone say Merry Christmas to me. It's been so few times actually - that I am surprised when I DO hear it! Happy Holidays is safe and that has been spoken out often... but it is so vague. Sure - it includes all the 'winter holidays' but, especially in retail - what they are REALLY hoping we are celebrating is Christmas! While I have been known to light a few Hanukkah candles, and I admit that I have no idea what Kwanzaa even really is - I think most of us, even non-Christ followers at large - are comfortable celebrating Christmas in general. I saw a photo posted on facebook the other day in the same vein as those Black billboards with 'messages from God'... it was bright red and it said:

"I miss hearing Merry Christmas." ~Jesus

EXACTLY what I was thinking!!! So - whether you celebrate the Christs birth - or simply the message of peace and love during this season, I boldly say, I wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

~Karrilee~

And because you KNOW I can't not post some pictures - here are a few more layouts that have helped to get me once again all caught up!

Busy, busy, busy - so that now - I can Enjoy!!!

2011-12-15T09:38:00.000-08:00

It's true... If you have been a friend here at Blessed Memories for any amount of time - you know that I set a 'deadline' for myself to get all things Christmas done by December 10th every year, and almost every year - I make it! Sure - it means that there will be those last few hectic stressful crazy full days right before the 10th arrives - but usually it results in having 2 FULL WEEKS before Christmas to actually be able to chill, unwind, and truly enjoy the holiday season!

This year was no different! Well - maybe a LITTLE different... but I made it! I actually had a few Stocking Stuffer items to get yesterday and so now I am really truly DONE done! No more stores for me! It feels so great! What was different this year was I skipped (gasp inserted here!) the handmade cards and went over to the dark side... yes - it's true... I took the printed photo card approach! I did, however, design the card myself digitally and uploaded it so it IS custom, one of a kind... but it saved us so much time and money... I am hoping next year to get back to making at least SOME of the cards by hand! I did participate in a fun Christmas Tag Swap... I know? Me? A swap? It is a rare rare occasion - but I am so glad that I did it!

Here are a few of the fun tags that I made for the Swap:

Here are a few more Digi LOs I have done... and no - I am no longer 'caught up' but have some fun pictures to scrap from November and December! Maybe tomorrow I will get to enjoy some Scrapping time!?

And, as mentioned, I skipped the individually handmade card route - and uploaded a Christmas Photocard. Here is that card, along with our family Christmas letter!

Happy Holidays 2011

This year we have pulled out Christmas decorations little by little over time, but yesterday we finally finished. As I sit down to write this letter, I must admit – it’s not ‘feeling’ a lot like Christmas to me! Even with the lights on & the presents wrapped, rereading our letters from years past, & the background music of ‘O Holy Night’… the sun is brightly shining – not the stars so much – & it just hasn’t felt like Christmas. This truth got me to thinking of the reality of the Kingdom that is near… even when we don’t FEEL it! I know by looking at the calendar (& all around me) that Christmas is, in fact, upon us & it will do me no good to pretend otherwise! In the same way – while we may focus on politics, world events, health, relational issues, the economy –the list can go on & on – the reality that the Kingdom of God is at hand does not change – and it does us no good to ignore it! We may not ‘feel’ it or see it – but the fact is, it is there – so thinly veiled from our own world – ready for us to reach through & grab hold of… to pull Heaven to earth & share the Love that truly makes Christmas time feel like Christmas! Now, all of the sudden, I am feeling a little bit Christmassy! The very heart of what we celebrate at Christmas time is the extravagant, abundant, incredible Love of God… a simple shift in our perspective can set our minds at rest & loose our hearts to sing! Jesus walked among man & saw the stress & worries that this life can throw at us. He never once discounted the validity of our emotions – however He constantly lifts our heads & calls us to look up… to see Him, and see things from His perspective. Rest in knowing that He is good & that He is for you. Whether you feel it or not – He loves you & the Kingdom of Heaven is nearer than you think! Reach out… grab hold… & share the Love!

Last year I wrote all about how we were anticipating Change… how we longed for it not even knowing what it was that we wanted to be different… & while many things remain the same – many changes have begun! The New Year brought the comforting return of routine – back to school & work & prayer meetings & our day to day schedules. Kaye is involved in DECA at school & took a trip in January & later went on to compete at the State Level. We took a great trip to the Portland area to visit with family, Dave continued to volunteer at The Seasons, & by late March, tennis was in full swing for Kaye. She worked really hard & made Varsity despite missing a few days of tryouts for that DECA trip & from late March through May, we were all rallying around her & the team & loved every match! She did great… she got to move around a bit - playing Singles & a few Doubles matches too & even got her first Bagel win (6-2; 6-0). My friend Robbin & I decided to take an impromptu trip to Boise to visit Darcie – a last minute girls weekend. In May, we went to Seattle to see “Stories from The Shack” & a few days later our baby girl turned Sweet 16! She was thrilled to get her license & a taste of freedom! We also traveled to Whidbey to visit my sister & her family. In June we had more family gatherings at home then Dave, myself, & Lorraine attended a meeting to get more information about SOAR – a Bethel Supernatural School of Ministry satellite school being hosted at 1st Pres. here in town. This was one of the changes that we had been hoping for. When I went to Redding a few years ago, I left part of my heart there & while I would LOVE to attend the BSSM there, to find that God was bringing it here was such a gift! It was not even a question if we would apply… & I was pretty sure God would get us in since it seemed like He was bringing it here just for me! I took a fall and sprained my wrist and also went through Sozo training over the summer – an inner healing prayer ministry. In July we enjoyed great music and friends at the Folklife Festival & Jazz in the Valley too!

In August, we had interviews to attend SOAR & were accepted. We kicked off our annual beach trip by stopping in to see the Niles & Matthews in Clackamas – we had SO much fun! Then we met up with the Parsleys & enjoyed an entire week in our beloved Manzanita! It was WONDERFUL! We came home in time for a new school year to start – for our whole household this time! We also had change in our home in transforming our living room with new carpet & furnishings! I LOVE it… it’s a totally different room… so warm & cozy & peaceful! Dave took a fishing trip before school kicked off. We meet once a week in the evening for a few hours & are absolutely LOVING it! Dave helped out at The Seasons enjoying Pat Metheny live among other concerts & we went on a Retreat at the end of September to get to know our fellow students. In October we took a day trip to Leavenworth and then found ourselves in the beginning of the onslaught of all things college! Kayelyn went to a few college fairs on the west side & ever since we have been getting pamphlets & info from various colleges. Reality is hitting that she is almost a senior & from there – who can know what God will do! We had a magical winter wonderland weekend with friends in a cabin outside of Walla Walla (say THAT one fast!) in November & enjoyed about 2 weeks of ongoing Thanksgiving celebrations with all sides of family to kick off the holiday season! We were thrilled to host family for a gathering in December – lots of visiting, laughing, game-playing, shopping, oh yes – & eating!? It was great! Kayelyn & I went with friends to see/worship with Kim Walker Smith – so good! Yesterday, as I mentioned, I finished up our shopping, picked up our Christmas cards, wrapped the gifts, decorated the tree, & fell into bed exhausted but with a sense of accomplishment! You see – even though it hadn’t FELT like Christmas – my goal each year is to be ‘done’ with all the madness of the holidays by Dec 10th. That way I can actually slow down & ENJOY Christmas – drinking in the true meaning, filling up with Him, & pouring out His Love to all those around me! As I wrap this up – Pandora is playing “You’re Here” by Francesca Battistelli… nothing can make it FEEL like Christmas time faster than a shifted point of view! This song is written from Mary’s perspective! Read on:
“You`re here, I`m holding You so near
I`m staring into the face of my Savior, King & Creator
You could`ve left us on our own, but You`re here
I don`t know how long I`m gonna have you for
But I`ll be watching when You change the world
I look at Your hands, they`re still so small
Someday You`re going to stretch them out & save us all
Noel, noel, God with us Emmanuel.
…someday I`m gonna look back on this
The night that God became a baby boy
Someday you're gonna go home again,
But You leave Your Spirit & flood the world with joy “

Christmas is here, & the Kingdom is near…
Reach out, grab hold, share the Love, & be filled with Joy!
~Dave, Karrilee, & Kayelyn ~

Just For the Sake of Scrapbooking...

2011-11-08T08:40:00.001-08:00

It has been quite some time since I have posted here... and really even longer since I have posted for the sheer joy of scrapbooking!

Business is nearly non-existent right now... and while I would love the income, life has gotten so busy that I really can't complain. Of course - I would MAKE time for clients... but after stepping down from the creative design team I was on and trying to keep up with a new task (attending school) - it had been a long time since I had sat down and scrapbooked just for the sake of scrapbooking!

However- over the past weekend - I 'dug out' some photo's from our summer vacation and started to do a little Digi scrapping. Once I got started - I was on a roll! That felt SO nice... and in the end was so productive! I got SEVERAL Layouts done... I am still behind (snicker if you must!) but I am getting back on top of it all...scrapping my September/October pictures this week!

I did get a Custom card order a few weeks ago from Etsy and I usually have a Christmas time client that I am expecting to call... I would love to be busy crafting again - whether it be Scrapping or cards or invites... but I have decided to enjoy whatever 'free' (ha!) time I find and get back to my love of crafting! I will get 'caught up' on my digi scrapping... I will make some Christmas gifts and Christmas cards... some Thanksgiving Placecards... maybe even try my hand at painting... I have been doing some portrait sessions as well - I love that! I am also hoping to get back into my 'other' desired occupation - writing! I finished my first children's book but am still looking for an illustrator. I am starting to wonder if that illustrator is supposed to be me? That will probably require more schooling/classes and to be honest - I would rather just do the word parts! At any rate - I am finding joy in the thoughts of creating again... it's a welcomed return!

Scrap Happy!
~Karrilee~

Oh - you didn't think I was NOT going to post my Layouts, did you? There is even a few more than this - but this should help you all feel 'caught up' on all our happenings as well!

New Kit... Great Vacation... and Back to Reality!

2011-09-05T20:45:00.000-07:00

Soooo - we are wrapping up Labor Day Wknd and that means an official end to summer vacation, and back to a regular routine! It also means early mornings, bossy schedules, and actual

(semi-enforced) bed times?! That has ALWAYS been my weak point... my girlie is and has always been a night owl! She hates sleep... it is the enemy... there is ALWAYS something better to do! Except - that is - at around 6:30 am on a school day!?

THEN she wants to sleep!? Go figure!?

I got to play a little bit with a new Build A Kit from The Sc

rappy Kat over at Stuff to Scrap. A SUPER fun kit - with lots of goodies/elements for FAIR and Circus pictures! However, our fair isn't for a few more weeks... so I choose to showcase OTHER ways you can use this kit! Here are my two Layouts that I did this evening

(while watching some AMAZING tennis via the US Open!)

Check out this fun new BAK!

We thoroughly enjoyed a full week at the beach this year... went with our best friends again and that is always fun and relaxing. It was hard to come back to face reality this year... just lots of stuff going on! Most of it good - but all of it hectic! The BONUS in coming home was the week long project of redecorating my Living Room! I will post pix soon... it's almost livable again!

Hopefully with the return of routine - I will be more on top of this blogging thing again! Hope to post again soon and just simply chat about life...

Scrap Happy!

~Karrilee~

New Layouts... Summer already almost gone?

2011-08-02T19:14:00.001-07:00

I can't even BELIEVE that it is August already!? It barely feels like Summer has started and now we are knee deep in Back to School ads and Class Schedules... ugh - it's just too soon!!?!

I have not been around much mostly because I have been pretty much One Handed all summer... I went out and FINALLY gave Trail Running a go! I was seriously LOVING it! A few friends from out of town were visiting and talked us into going with them... I was somewhat familiar with the hiking trail and as I said - I was loving the run... just going a nice easy pace -

when all of the sudden, I stepped on loose ground, my footing slipped, and I braced myself with my left hand - snapping my wrist. OUCH!? I am pretty tough - and just thought I was in shock a

bit - and kept walking down the trail. It was not swelling much - but it was starting to throb a bit - and I realized I could make it to the bottom - but coming back up would possibly prove to be a problem. So we managed to yell loud enough to get our big group to turn around before reaching the bottom of the trail. That was in June... we iced it and babied it and did all we knew to do... pretty sure it is just a serious sprain! I can move it all around and bend and grip - but I have no strength in it yet - and certain twists give me shoots of pain still! Of course - I am left handed... and you just never really think of how much you USE your hands until you actually CAN'T? Grocery shopping, cooking/chopping food, pouring, scrubbing, folding... yeah - too bad I haven't been able to ENJOY all this laziness?

Luckily for me - most of my digi scrapping is done RIGHT handed (with the mouse!)

Here are a few of my latest Digi LOs using kits by The Scrappy Kat over at Stufftoscrap.com.

These are using her Kit "Hello Spring":

...and these are using her kit "Birds & Blooms":

I actually have quite a few more photo's - but I have yet to scrap them...

Yes - you read that right... I, Karrilee, am not all caught up!?

Enjoy the moment... ya'll know it will not last!

On another note - head on over to STS and participate in the Featured Designer Challenge... each week, a different Designer will host a challenge! It's a fun way to get you back in the swing of things - you know I will be playing along to get all my photo's scrapped again! You can check it out HERE - and don't forget the HUGE Retirement Sale going on...

Scrap Happy!

~Karrilee~

Summer in Full Swing...

2011-07-01T14:31:00.001-07:00

Happy July! Can you even believe it? It's crazy how fast this summer is flying by!

I got a LOVELY new gift for my birthday in June but have yet to put it to a LOT of great use... my hubby took all my hints (and my dd simply coming right out and telling him what I wanted!) and he bought me a new camera! I loved my old one... it was just a simple digital camera... an Olympus that actually took AMAZING pictures. However, I think I got it maybe 7 years ago and

about a year after I got it, "someone" (above-mentioned dd I suspect) dropped it and broke the latch to the battery cover. So - ever since then - I have been all Ghetto like and duct taped it closed. It still worked great - but I was getting tired of it... PLUS I had the luxury of borrowing my brother in laws nice camera whenever I was asked to take portraits. Well - he moved away and I was left with no options. So - all of that to say I am now a proud owner of a really nice Nikon SLR that I am still learning how to use! I am REALLY hoping to get to learn and capture some great 4th of July shots... we shall see in a few days!

I took my dd out with her 2 bff's and we had a photo shoot... I took the fam' out to the Arboretum and we shot some Roses... I WANTED to take it out on a hike, but got talked into trail running and leaving it behind. Well - I should have insisted on walking and taking the camera because then I would have not slipped and fell, spraining my left (dominant) wrist... which has proved to pretty much immobilize me all week long!

I will update again soon but I wanted to let you all know about the July Build A Kit over at Stuff to Scrap!

It's super cute - a gardening/farming BAK - perfect for summer fun! Here are a couple of Layouts made from The Scrappy Kats offering to the BAK this month:

Check her out here: The Scrappy Kat - July BAK

And here are just a few of my fav shots from my new camera (to date!) :

Scrap Happy!
~Karrilee~

A little Update

2011-06-02T18:17:00.000-07:00

Wow... I can't believe it is JUNE already!? This year is flying by!

I suspect that confirms that I am, in fact, now officially old?! sigh...

I did complete one round of P90X.

I did NOT get the results I hoped for

(no loss in weight & a slight gain in measurements?)

I know - right? However - I am stronger & I am firmer.

I will go again for Round 2 in the Fall

when it is not so fun to be outside

& I will go the P90X LEAN route next time!

Right now, I am attempting the Four Hour Body...

which is basically a Slow Carb Diet.

I am starting Week 2 & we'll see if it helps me to get off this plateau!

Anyway this year has been great - busy, & full of activity

- but not so many photo's - thus - not a lot of scrapping?

I have had a few great client jobs & of course our daughters tennis season

kept us going (& clicking)! I think the lack of photo's is a combination of

really REALLY suffering from camera-envy... & the lack of nicer weather!

That is my story anyway & I am sticking to it!

So - here are the few personal Family Album digital LOs

I have been working on so far this year...

they say a picture is worth a 1000 words -

so - I will let them do my talkin'!

(Hoping to 'catch up' soon!

I have birthday pix & a trip or two to work on next!)

Scrap Happy!

~Karrilee~

Recent Projects & June's BAK at Stuff to Scrap!

2011-06-01T09:48:00.000-07:00

I hope you all made it over to Stuff to Scrap & were able to join in on some of the fun!

There is yet another SPEED SCRAP going EARLY tomorrow morning - check it out:

...& as if that is not enough fun - next up over at STS... a play on America's Got Talent!

"This Scrappers Got Talent" is gearing up to start

& you can head on over to learn more & sign up here:

One final Stuff to Scrap piece of business...

this months Build A Kit is all about Slumber Parties! So fun!

The Scrappy Kat created a super cute Video Game Boys' Night kit

& while I don't have any boys - or gamers - in the house,

the colors just so happened to match great with a

recent photo taken of me & a great friend!

We had 'met' on SparkPeople & became fast friends

- but had never met in person - until last weekend!

Here is the BAK "Boys' Night" by The Scrappy Kat:

I am hoping to come back tomorrow & post some of my own projects

& just blog about my own personal stuff...

like the old days!

Scrap Happy!
~Karrilee~

Stuff To Scrap Festivities - Speed Scraps, Sales, & Fun - Oh My!

2011-05-21T11:26:00.000-07:00

So - I am L-O-N-G overdue in updating this blog both of my own stuff

- & in telling ya'll about all the happenings going on over at Stuff To Scrap

...& let me tell ya - there is a LOT going on right now!

So - I will just post about all the fun you can be having right now - over there...

& update my own projects (soon but) later!

Happy 2nd Birthday STS!

This weekend - there is a great sale on all the BAKs... $1.00 each

- so if you have been thinking of trying out Digital Scrapping for the first time

- this is a great time to pick a few kits & give it a shot!

...& for more fun - today AND tomorrow

there are some super fun Speed Scraps going on!

Scrap Happy!
~Karrilee~

MAY Build A Kit for Scrap To Lose...

2011-05-02T09:57:00.001-07:00

This is a super cute Summer Sports themed kit...

I will add a LO or two soon... but I wanted to share the sale asap!

Enjoy!

Buy 3 or more - and save 50%!!!

Happy Shopping (and Scrapping!)

~Karrilee~

Bunny Trail Kit - so adorable!!!

2011-04-04T15:24:00.001-07:00

I can hardly believe that it is almost Easter time already?!

I know, I know... I realize that this statement alone proves

that I am - eh em... getting old(er)!

Time just seems to be flying by and I have to say

- I am oh so glad that Easter is late this year!

I am SO not ready!

I have no thoughts going on yet of filling Easter Baskets,

going dress shopping, card making, or even the actual Sunday plan...

I should get on that, for sure!

This super cute new Kit at Stuff to Scrap will seriously help

put you in the Easter mood!!!

I know it helped me!

See?

You want to go find Easter/Spring pix

to play with now too, don't you?

It's okay...

Just head over to Stuff to Scrap, purchase this kit,

and scrap happy!

~Karrilee~

A new Kit & some Tennis talk... 'tis the season!

2011-04-01T08:29:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone!

Well - it is true - Tennis season is in full swing - which explains why I have not been around so much lately! Not only do I love to watch it on TV - but of course, my favorite is to watch it Live - especially if my girlie is playing! She made the high school Varsity team this year - so while she is not completely annihilating her opponents this year - she is being pushed and her game is improving with each match! So - to help show off the new BAK "Logan" from Stuff to Scrap, I picked some of her tennis shots from her first Varsity match of the year! This kit screams little boy - especially with the fun word art and all - but I have a girlie - and wanted to show that it works great for girls too! The set is SO cute!!!

Here is a super cute Quick Page set as well:

And a special, just for you:

If you are an expert Digi scrapper, or new to Digital scrapping - these Quick Page kits are so fun to use! Stuff to Scrap has so many fun kits and they are so affordable... happy shopping! Look for a new super cute EASTER kit coming soon!!! (Wishing for Spring here!!!)

Scrap Happy!
~Karrilee~

Are ya feelin' LUCKY?I wi

2011-03-18T08:46:00.001-07:00

Hey there everyone!

It's been crazy busy around here lately but really mostly with just daily life stuff - nothing super exciting! I had a couple of weeks of Jury Duty, our family battled a little sickness (and won!), and tennis season is now fully upon us!

So I have not even had any down time to play around and scrap... but I DO have some fun for

your Digi-Scrappers out there... check out this super fun lucky Collab Kit available over at Stuff to Scrap:

Look at all these Embellies:

and Papers, and Quick Pages, Oh My:

and to help spread a little luck - there is a Sale NOW through tomorrow:

My 'little one' is not so little anymore and we don't have any real solid St Pattys Day traditions... but I DID manage to get a few pictures of her yesterday at her first Varsity tennis match... so I will be scrapping and showing some LOs using this fun kit soon!

What did you all do yesterday!? Anything fun? Share your traditions and if you grab this kit, I'd love to see your work!

Scrap Happy!
~Karrilee~

Freebies, & Sales, & Kits, Oh My!!!

2011-03-01T14:46:00.000-08:00

FREEBIES:

It's true... In my last post, I hinted at a mini freebie kit and I am happy to say I am ready to give this whole Designing thing a whirl! So - this is my first attempt at this, so bare with me... if you are interested in downloading a mini kit featuring some of these papers/embellies:

Post a comment and let me know your e-mail... I will then send you a link to download a mini kit for free! My only request is you post your LOs/projects that you made and give credit back to this blog when you upload your works of art! How fun - I can't wait to see what you all create!

SALES:

Stuff to Scrap is having a Retirement Sale... shop away by going here.

Check out the list of retiring kits!

KITS:

Speaking of KITS, this months Build A Kit is super cute and ready to download!

Go to: Stuff to Scrap - Hello Spring to find this kit and craft away! Even if it's snowing outside (which it IS here today!) - at least we have these fun Springy papers to play with and the more you buy, the more you save! Who doesn't love that? If you buy 3 or more regular priced March BAKs (must be priced at 1.99 and up) you can get them for 50% off using coupon code:

MARCHBAK_BUY3_SAVEHALF.

These are just a few samples of the BAK for March!

Oh My:

Well - the Oh My section is simply an update... life has been crazy the past few weeks - good, bu crazy! We are in the midst of the first week of Spring Sports this week - despite the snow... which makes the Tennis Try Outs extremely tricky! Not to mention that my girlie is going to State with DECA the second half of this week and will miss the final two days of try outs - we are just praying for favor (and sunshine!)... and we know that this is just the beginning! We did manage to head out of town last weekend to Portland for a fun little get away before the madness officially began! It was a great wknd away... full of friends, family, laughter, and good times!

I came home and immediately got extremely sick for a good 24 hours... feeling human again and was just OH SO VERY THANKFUL that I did not end up having to report for Jury Duty yesterday or today... I am in the midst of a 2 week session so I get to call in every day to find out if I have to report in the morning! It is less of a hassle now that the kiddo is older but it's still a lot of sitting and waiting and I am not good at doing either one of those things for too long!

I haven't managed to work on much - but did do these two LOs - when I was really really REALLY longing for nicer weather! I made these with The Scrappy Kat's collab kit called "Forest Friends" via Stuff to Scrap!

I actually have a few cards I have to make this week, as well as new pictures to play with, so depending on Jury Duty - I hope to have some new stuff to post soon!

Hope you are all happy creating and living life!

Spark On!
~Karrilee~

Tweet Sweets Kit Sampler

2011-02-15T08:28:00.000-08:00

Here are some Digi-Valentine's Cards I made for friends

using my new "Tweet Sweets" Digital Kit...

I will be offering a portion of this kit for free soon - so check back

and let me know what you think!

On a different note - we celebrated Valentine's Day last night as a family again!

We have a gorgeous 15 year old girl - who went to school in all black! LOL! She is (mostly) happily single and was surprised to find a LOT of kids featured in all black yesterday! We started including her (and other single friends) in our celebration when she was a preteen. We just felt it was very important to use the 'holiday' as a chance to let her know that while the day is all about celebrating Love - it doesn't have to be only a Romantic Love!

I took her to get a Manicure...

...and we also bought some roses for her and her friends 'from Jesus'...

Then last night, I set the table near our big picture window overlooking the city...

we make it fancy, get take out from our favorite restaurant,

take communion together, and just relax and enjoy the evening together!

It is really nice and I am SO glad that we started this when she was younger...

we didn't get all dressed up this year, thus the missing photo's of PEOPLE - LOL!

We had actually just got done with our P90X workout when Dave came home with dinner

- but the food was all dressed up and pretty!

Hope you all had a Great Day filled with all kinds of Love!

Scrap Happy!

~Karrilee~

Valentine's Day Fun

2011-02-11T09:12:00.001-08:00

OK - I have been doing a bit of Hands On crafting... love to go back and forth from old school to digi! I found these ADORABLE little Heart Ornaments at JoAnns and remembered I had paper to match already - so my plan fell in place and I worked up these super cute

(if I DO say so myself) Valentine's Day cards & a Bookmark too...

What are YOU doing crafty for Valentine's Day? I miss the days of making cards & goodies for my daughters' classroom... now we have a teenager - a single teenager & I am reminded of how God told me years ago to let her know that Valentine's Day is about Love - all kinds... so we'll continue our family tradition of spending it together - loving each other & acknowledging the Lover of our souls! I also plan on sending a single rose to her & a handful of her close friends at school on Monday - with a card that says something like,

"So thankful you are Mine! Happy Valentine's Day! ~Jesus"

Her girlfriends are all single & are not looking forward to Valentine's Day this year - but I want them to remember that they are loved & have someone Who loves them more than they realize!

Scrap Happy - & share the Love, peeps!

~Karrilee~

One Snowy Night - new Kit available through Stuff to Scrap!

2011-02-09T03:30:00.000-08:00

So - here is a super cute new collaboration Kit by The Scrappy Kat and Mommy Me Time Scrapper over at Stuff to Scrap! This kit is so great - love the fun colors and glittery accents...

Sadly - since I am 'all caught up' - I had to 'borrow' these fun snow pictures from a friend! Thanks Amy for loaning me some snow - I know you have PLENTY to go around!

On the 10th (tomorrow) the kits will go on sale for $2 for a week - so check them out at:

Stuff to Scrap - One Snowy Night

C'mon... I know most of you HAVE to have snowy pictures to play with... grab this kit and let me know what you think!

Scrap Happy!
~Karrilee~

New BAK by The Scrappy Kat

2011-02-02T09:44:00.000-08:00

Hey all...

I know I am among the minority of America who is NOT getting slammed by this crazy winter storm! Still - a cup of coffee and a little digi scrapping is calling my name - making me wish for a snow day (which is SO not like me!) but with the sun shining and my list of things to do way

longer than my notepad - I just don't have any crafting time today!

But I wanted to post this super cute new Build A Kit "Adore" by The Scrappy Kat that is now available in her Stuff To Scrap store. I am honored to now be part of her Creative Team and so I got to play with this kit a little earlier... here is my first layout:

I hope to post a couple more later this week!

Here is the link to The Scrappy Kat store at Stuff To Scrap... so you can purchase the kit and make your own super cute LOs - all in time for Valentine's Day!

OK - here is one more from todays Speed Scrap at Stuff to Scrap!

Scrap Happy!

~Karrilee~

A Cute little Flipbook out of Alphabet Soup!

2011-01-27T14:30:00.000-08:00

I decided yesterday that I had PLENTY of "left overs" from the Baby Shower Invitations I made out of the Alphabet Soup line so I made a card, and a little Flipbook to give to the Mommy-to-be as a gift... for whatever reason, I was not thrilled with the invitations I made (mostly because I felt like the papers are more of a toddler/little boy feel and not a baby - but that was all I had available to me at the time.) Anyway - I LOVE this little flipbook! I just hope the Mommy (who is a new scrapper) will actually USE it and put some pictures of the baby in it and show it off!

Here is a little peak:

I also have had the privilege and honor of being selected to be a part of The Scrappy Kats Creative Team. Her kits are super cute and I can't wait to be able to share them with you all! Check back often for samples, freebies, and more! You can check her out here:

http://www.thescrappykat.com/

Lastly - I have been dabbling a bit in Digital Designing again myself and will have a Valentine Kit to post soon... I will have a complete kit in my etsy store soon - but will list a sampling and give away a smaller Freebie kit soon - so check back for that as well! Here's a little preview of that kit:

Like I said - I am just learning my way around this - but Oh My - how fun!!!
Scrap Happy!
~Karrilee~

Caught up again...

2011-01-22T12:39:00.000-08:00

I know, I know - don't hate me because I'm all caught up... hate me - well - how about let's just not be haters, people!?

Here are the final LOs for my 2010 Family Album. This is my first year going ALL digital and now I have ordered my complete book and can't WAIT to have it in my hands!

I believe these pages are late Oct-Dec 2010! (The other pages are in previous posts!)

Enjoy & Scrap Happy!

~Karrilee~

Happy New Year (and all that Jazz!)

2011-01-20T21:41:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

I know, I know - I am just a LITTLE late there... After reading my last post I have to tell you first off that I did, in fact, find my Christmas Spirit! I made my teenage daughter go Black Friday shopping with me on Thanksgiving at midnight... we had a blast, got a ton of shopping done in a

matter of hours - and that seemed to do the trick! In fact, I had so much - er - 'spirit' - that I just took down (most of) my Christmas decorations last week? (I am SO not joking!?)

That client I was getting ready to meet in my last post did in fact end up being a bigger job - almost an entire Album, actually! (That may have helped to put me in the Christmas spirit too!?) So - for my Christmas cards this year - I decided to design my own Digital Scrapbook Kit and use that to print out cards... not handmade hand made - but close enough, right?! I LOVED them!

Anyway - I also was able to finish up our Family Album for 2010 - so I will post those pages here - well - I was gonna but for some reason Blogger is not letting me do that now... I'll do it again maybe tomorrow or next week! I am so excited to order this book and have it in my hands!!!

I just got done making some Baby Shower Invitations for a friend... I actually am really not happy with them - but they are done and I hope the Mommy likes them!? Love the line Alphabet Soup - but it SO does NOT scream Baby Shower... I hadn't been to Craft Warehouse for a LONG long time and was sadly disappointed in their paper selection! I was on a time crunch and just grabbed things that would coordinate and hoped for the best?! (I know - it doesn't sound too inspired, now does it?)

On the fitness/weight loss note - I am still on a plateau - and I am more sick of writing about it than you are of reading about it - I ASSURE you! I hit the wall in April of 2009 and quit losing... I have tracked and worked my butt off (NOT literally unfortunately! LOL!) - and nothing?! So - two weeks ago - I jumped in despite my better judgment and I have started the P90X program! OH MY WORD?! It is kickin' my butt.... I am sore pretty much anywhere/everywhere on any given day... I am determined to stick it through and feel stronger already. I refuse to weigh in or measure obsessively - but I will stick with the DVDs and see what happens!

Tomorrow, after my workout - I will have the GREAT PLEASURE of having NO bossy list for the remainder of the day and plan on chatting online with the Sisserhood (and distracting them as they work!)

Scrap Happy and Spark On!
~Karrilee~

Seriously? It is 'that time' already!?

2010-11-18T09:05:00.001-08:00

I don't know what it is - but I think I am broken?

I used to be that annoying organized happy holiday shopper who was mostly done with her gift buying by August... I would ooze Holiday Spirit by mid-November and have plenty of Cheer to spread around all through out December! But the past two or three years, it seems to be harder to come by! The gift buying doesn't START until mid-November now, and the thought of decorating, buying gifts, making cards, and holiday baking just stirs up visions of exhaustion and dread, instead of sugar plums and whatever?

Part of it is that my girlie is not so little anymore and that makes buying too far ahead of time difficult! She has her own income and if she really wants it - she can save for it and buy it herself - plus her 'wants' are more expensive now too! On my side of the family, she is the youngest - other than a precious new edition (my Great Niece - literally, my nephews' daughter!) On my hubbys side, we have lots of little ones - mostly boys, which I am not so great at buying for... part of it also is that my lifestyle has changed... I am more active and focused on health and fitness which is a good thing - but it does tend to lessen the drunken love of holiday traditions that are often built around food!

It didn't help that in the past month or so we have had to pay apx $1000 in car repairs on both cars... plus this year we have had a lot of family dysfunction/drama on display for our Thanksgiving plans! Yeah - my favorite holiday has finally been tainted! I knew this kind of thing happened all the time - but we'd never really had to deal with it... not fun! I finally got a glimpse of why people actually dislike the holidays. Sad... I am hoping that attending a few Holidays Bazaars, going Black Friday shopping, and decorating the house for the holidays will stir up some sort of Christmas Cheer!

Soooo... other than THAT stuff - I really am doing great! Our little family took a weekend to go spend with my sister in Walla Walla and had a nice visit... and then my Honey and I got to go on a quick little get away with friends last weekend and we had an AMAZING time! I will not post those pix as I hope to Digi Scrap them soon and will just write about that trip then! (Assuming I will remember that I even HAVE a blog and will update soon! LOL!) I have a meeting today with a client from last year! Just when I think I am going to officially close the business. Of course - she said she only has 2-4 layouts for me to do, but it is still work. I am hoping she will have more than she thinks - or I can show her my digital designed books and she may be interested in doing some of those for the holidays! If I am going to keep the business going, I will need to update my site and add new prices and options such as digital work.

I have made a few cards, and done a few more digital layouts for our family album...

Another major change since my last update is that my kiddo is driving?! What?! That's right... I now have a daughter who wants to drive ME around everywhere we go! Who would have thought that she would prefer driving with me than with my Honey? Turns out I am more laid back and give her more positive feedback... he tends to have a constant monologue going full of teaching moments and instruction. She needs both - so I have decided that the weekends, nights, and snowy days are HIS turn! That seems fair, right?! Here she is:

...a happy, happy girl!

Lastly - I am still running... but not training or staying as consistent as I was. I tend to need a race to be training for to keep my running 3-4 days a week... and I know if I want to run a race longer than 5-8-10K I will need to run longer, AND more often. But I have taken the past two weeks to really switch up my workout routine. I gained about 6 pounds over a period of three weeks (out of town trips, family gatherings, etc!) and have lost that gain but am STILL stuck on this plateau... I cannot seem to get out of the 170s! It's getting crazy!? So - I decided to add new activities and switch things up with my workouts - some of them are lighter in cardio and some are heavier - but it's been fun! I left the house yesterday to go for a walk... I was dragging in energy and just thought I would walk for a couple of miles and that may wake me up a bit. So - about five minutes into my walk, I decided I wanted to run a bit... and about 4 miles later I was done, dripping in sweat, made GREAT time, and felt incredible!

...after a great impromtu run! I am still amazed that I not only CAN do this - but that I actually enjoy it! I have to remind myself - especially as the holidays approach, that even if I never lose another pound - I am so much stronger, healthier, confident, able, and energized now than at any other time in my life... all the workouts and tracking foods is worth it! I never thought my daughter would be in MY closet, looking to borrow clothes... now, once I get off this plateau (and I WILL get off it eventually!) - I will be able to raid her closet too!

So - my question to you... what holidays gifts are you MAKING this year? (I'm looking for great ideas!) and how are you feeling as the holidays approach?

Spark On & Scrap Happy!

~Karrilee~

5K, Fun cards, & Flipbook Project (with Step by Step instructions!)

2010-10-15T16:30:00.000-07:00

OK - Here is an update of sorts...

I led the Sisterhood of the traveling Crops Chatroom Project today and you can guess what it was! Yep - another Flipbook! I had, after all, those Homecoming photo's to use!!! Here are step by step instructions:

Here is a list of Supplies needed:

1 (12x6) SOLID Cardstock for your COVER (Scored at 2.75” & at 3” on ea edge)

3 (12x5.75) Cardstock for the INSIDE FLIP PAGES (Scored at 3” on ea edge)

2 (5.75x5.75) Cardstock for COVER PANELS

1 (12x5) Cardstock for CENTER FOLD OUT PAGE (Scored at 4” & 8”)

2 (5.5x5.5) Patterned Papers to decorate FRONT & BACK COVERS

4 (6x6) Coordinating Patterned Papers used to decorate/embellish pages

Misc Die Cuts, Tags, Flowers, Stickers, etc to embellish

Step 1:

Score COVER 12x6 at 2.75” AND at 3”... and fold both score lines on each side to form a Square shape. (Your edges will NOT meet in the center!)

Step 2:

Score each 12x5.75 FLIP PAGES at 3” on each edge and fold in to form a square and the edges WILL meet on these paegs.

Step 3:

Score the CENTER FOLD OUT PAGE (12x5) at 4” and 8” and fold accordian style.

Step 4:

Adhere FLIP PAGES together by adhering the MIDDLE Flip Page flaps to one of each of the other Inside Flip Page flaps.

Step 5:

Adhere CENTER FOLD OUT PAGE to center Flip Page.

Step 6:

Fold Pages all in to each other so you have a Square. Adhere the flip Pages – gluing the BACK of the CENTER Page to the INSIDE of the opened COVER – center to allow the scored flaps to fold over and cover the Flip Pages.

Step 7:

Adhere (5.75x5.75”) Cardsock squares to outside flaps to form COVER pages.

Step 8:

Adhere 2 (5.5x5.5) Patterned Papers to COVERS.

Step 9:

Use remaining papers and misc embellishements (and Photos of course) to decorate as desired!

Step 10:

SHOW IT OFF! No one will believe how easy it really is!

Here are a few Birthday cards made with my newest Cricut Cartridge... so fun!
I got to have my Link fix... he is just getting so big - and I can't TELL you how much he LOVES playing with rocks!!!

and lastly... an update on the SUN CITY 5K...

Let me give you a brief story... I waited to officially sign up to run this race until last Wednesday! I wanted to get a bit further into the C25K program, to be able to go and run the route at least once, and to see what the forecast for the race day was going to be! I ran the course with a fellow Sparker on Wednesday, and we timed ourselves at about 37 minutes. A little up from last year - but still under 40 and I decided if the weather report looked good - I was up for it! I came home, checked the forecast, and sent in my registration. Then, last night - just on a whim, I checked the Runners/race website to see about time for pre-registered runners and while I found no info on THAT - I did notice that the TIME of the race changed from noon to 9:20am and, for more fun, the weather forecast changed from blue skies and sunshine to rain and rain!? Oh man... so not what I signed up for! But - I decided I normally run in the morning anyway - and I CAN run in the rain, I just prefer not to! So - my Honey came with me, I got my bib and warmed up, hit play on my new Fast Playlist, and started my run! The skies threatened rain but only let out a few drops and then the clouds began to give way to patches of blue skies and it was PERFECT running weather!

In the end, I crossed the Finish Line with a new Personal Record of 33:12... that is just under 11 min miles... 3 of them in fact! It's also 4 minutes off my time from last week, and over 2 minutes off my time from last year - when I had been training longer and more consistently! I really WANTED to make it in 11 minute miles but didn't tell anyone because it just seemed really ridiculous! I mean - after having to quit running due to an injury in March, and just picking it back up a few weeks ago - I was feeling realistic at hoping to come in under 40 minutes. Once I cooled off and refueled, we walked around through our local Farmers Market and my Honey bought me these GORGEOUS flowers... my little 'bonus' reward...

My main reward: Once again - meeting a Goal - and how!

Spark On & Scrap Happy!
~Karrilee~

Flippin' again...

2010-10-01T16:53:00.000-07:00

OK - I am flipping out again for these super fun, super cute, quick project Flipbooks!

Have one more to do - with all the Homecoming pictures - but I need to (yes, NEED to!) go get some paper first! I HAVE paper, sure - but I have downsized so much that I don't have a lot of stock on hand and I want it to match perfectly - so off to the craft store tomorrow for me!

Here is what I made today though - using supplies I had on hand...

This first one is for my niece - this is her first baby!

This one is using many of the same pictures - but it's for my sister - a first time Grandma!!!

So - what have YOU been working on?
~Karrilee~

New Journals...

2010-09-17T13:28:00.000-07:00

Just a quick update here to show off my flash of Creative inspiration... I wanted to try a little project that I missed on my Sisserhood Team - some quick and easy Magnets... (Thanks Amy - super fun project that I think I will be making more of SOON - since I now have a HUGE bag of clear glass stones?!)
I also wanted to make a few more altered journals for a few upcoming birthdays... and since it is Fall and all... the colors were calling out to me...

I am hoping to work on a few Digital LOs this weekend - but I don't have too much to work on right now... not that I am complaining of course! I will be doing a fun candle project tonight and will add that to this post when it is completed! Yay!

Well - here are the candles - so cute, quick, and easy:

And here is the one Digi LO I was able to finish today:
Scrap Happy!
~Karrilee~

I {heart} Fall!!!

2010-09-11T14:36:00.000-07:00

I know... if you have 'known' me for any length of time, this comes as no surprise to you!

I LOVE Fall... it's my favorite! Sure - I also enjoy Spring, and Summer - but Fall... well, he's got my number! There is something so Romantic about him... and while I wouldn't mind having a longer summer... and I DO love living in a place where we get four distinct seasons, Fall is always a welcomed change! All of a sudden in the past week, Fall has been following me around! He shows up in the cooler, crisp morning air, and shows off a little when I drive through the orchards to drop my girlie off at school... his cologne is all around me, and at night... well - let's just say I also LOVE Hoodies! I have even started to run again this past week! The cooler weather was just BEGGING me to go for a run! I injured myself in March and stopped all together for months... so I am starting over slowly - but it felt great!

So - again, a month has passed... I would say the second biggest change in my going Digital has been my more infrequent posts here! The first would be the cash flow savings! At any rate, I did manage to do a couple more digital LOs and a few cards too... here is what I've been working on:
I am off to the craft store today (after the US Open, of course!) to buy up supplies to make some more Journals, as well as supplies to make some Magnets, and a Candle project I hope to learn next week! Also trying to think of a fun, somewhat easy, inexpensive Fall project to lead in October - so if you all have any great ideas - let me know!

Other than that... we are adjusting to Back To School routines and schedules. It's strange having a high schooler - in the past week alone we have gone to 3 girls soccer games, and two football games - and my girlie is not even a Fall or Winter athlete?! Her sport is, of course, tennis! (You can tell by all the Digi LOs!) So that means if we are not off doing something important, we are sitting in front of the TV watching the US Open! LOVE it! What a great tournament! And as if Fall was flirting with me enough... my dh mentioned that he was looking into costs of going to the BNP tourney in March! Don't know if it will actually happen - but, yeah... he was feeling a little jealous I think! LOL!

What are you all up to!? What are you current craft projects?
Scrap Happy & Spark On!
~Karrilee~

Update WAaaaaay Overdue!

2010-08-08T09:03:00.000-07:00

I know, I know - it seems as though I have completely forgotten that I even HAVE a blog - not to mention several! Life has been hectic and busy and great all at the same time and that has resulted in my not sitting much in this computer chair, in front of this screen for very long!

I have not forgotten you - my people - (all 4 or 5 of you! LOL!)... I just kept telling myself that because I had not really been crafting much - I had nothing really to share with you all. Of course - I share more than just my projects here but since I had not really created much I didn't feel the 'need' to update here! However, I have been missing the regular posting - the weekly or bimonthly review of what has been going on in my life - so I am hoping that I will return to a more regularly schedule program here at Blessed Memories Scrapbooks as well as with my other blogs! Of course, I have another few weeks before we hit back to school and a fall routine - so I can't make any promises at least until I have a more routine week in play with Fall!

Still - we have had an incredible summer so far and I just wanted to share a little... post some photo's, and yes - upload the latest cards/LOs I have worked on... so here goes!

Well- since my last post we have gone to the beach with friends... had a Luis Palau Cityfest in our town... gone to Boise, ID to visit friends... had family visit here... gone through a breast cancer scare with my Mom (praise God she is cancer-free!)... and last week I finally 'cashed in' on one of my 40th birthday presents!

I have made only a handful of cards... and I have been working a bit more on some digi LOs for our 2010 Family Album. I have been enjoying my Wii and specifically my Wii Fit Plus and am looking forward to the new Zumba Wii game in October... I have fallen out of the Gym routine with summer but jumped back into it last week and have felt SO much better! I am still determined to get out of the 170s by the end of summer... I get oh so close and then go on vacation and have to work twice as hard when I return! We have plans for the next several weeks as well... so once we are officially back to school - I am hoping that will help!

Here are some glimpses of my latest crafty creations...

So what about you all? What are you up to this summer?! Are you working on any fun projects? Have you taken any fun vacations? DO share... I miss hearing from you all!

Scrap Happy and Spark On!
~Karrilee~

Summertime... and the Livin' is easy...

2010-06-24T15:02:00.000-07:00

OK... it is FINALLY beginning to feel like Summertime around here!

I live in a desert... literally... and last night was the first night I was able to sleep with my window open and wake to that divine morning summer breeze! We have had RAIN and COLD for weeks on end? It's been crazy! I have been waiting and waiting for summer to arrive and I am Oh So Happy at her appearance! While Fall is my favorite, Summer is a close second!

I realize I have neglected my blog... trust me, ALL of them have suffered! Life is good - and busy, and sadly not really including a lot of Scrappy things as of late, thus remembering to Update here has slipped down towards the bottom of my To Do List!

Most of my faithful readers know that this year is a Test Year for me. I decided to NOT do ANY old school scrapbooking and would do our entire 2010 Family Album digitally. I have worked on a few pages here and there, but I haven't really done too many. I think the last pages I did were from April. Yes, it is true - I am behind. I know - Laugh, point, snicker in satisfication... I am now (insert gasp here) - one of you!? I am just kidding! Well, at least mostly just kidding!

My sister recently moved away, and we took some time to go visit them at their new place... that was a full fun weekend...

...Whidbey Island...

My other sister came HOME for her birthday and we had a great time celebrating with her...

Russillo's on Track 29 - YUM!

The Birthday Gang... an old church reunion of sorts!

Out at The Depot for Dinner with my Sissys!

One of our best friends' daughters graduated from High School AND from College...

Dave, The Graduate, & Me at her Graduation party

The Girls playing Ninja Assassin!

We took a long weekend out of town with a couple of couples who we vacation with regularly - it was much needed and Oh so relaxing...

and then, of course, I entered a whole new decade... it's true! I finally turned 40!
I had a GREAT day... I am not one of those people who get really upset about age or getting older... I am honestly in the best season of my life right now! I have never been happier, healthier, and more secure in who I am! I got to sleep in a bit and relax with my girlie! My Mom stopped by and hung out with me and spoiled me a bit... as it should be on my birthday, right? She and my Dad got me these GORGEOUS roses (plus some other stuff too!)

In the afternoon, my girlie and I soaked in some sun while sharing her iPod and just relaxing together. My Honey came home from work and SHOCKED me with giving me my gift... you have to know, he is The Absolute BEST Hubby in the world, except for this one tiny thing - he is not so great at gift giving! He tries, and I love him for that... his cards are always perfect - but the gift part - not so much! Lucky for him (and me), the gift thing is not as important to me as it is for others so it's not a big deal for us. So - all of that to say - he got me the Wii AND the Wii Fit Plus.

...Now - I have been hinting at and saving for (unsuccessfully) this for a LONG time... somehow, it seemed as though I was the only one in our family who really wanted it. So - he came through big time! A super sweet surprise! After that, we headed out to dinner. I suspected maybe a few others to surprise me there and I was right... it was not a huge gathering, which was perfect! Just a few couples that have been friends with us for years - a nice dinner at Santiago's - a local Mexican restaurant! Yum! It was great... we wrapped it up with an 'night cap' at Starbucks! Nice!

I also had a great Lunch out yesterday in celebration with some girlfriends (which coincidentally ended in coffee at North Town as well!) What a blessing to have such wonderful friends and family! Both of my birthday meals, I completely forgot about taking photo's!? I know, right?! Sad... this is a side effect I think of NOT scrapping all year? I just am not so much always thinking like a scrapbooker?! It seems, however, that I am turning into a tiny bit of a Foodie... THAT I will remember to take a photo of?! Here are some samples of my 'gourmet' lunches this week...

Chicken Artichoke Medi Salad!

BLTA on Dill Rye!

Spicy Black Bean Veggie Burger with Swiss, Peppers, and Avocado!

Salsa Turkey Burger, Roasted Asparagus, and Tossed Salad!

So - while I have missed some primo scrapbook photo op's, I am definitely living a bit more in the moment... drinking it all in!

I am sad to say that this very weekend is my Sisserhood of the Traveling Crops Retreat weekend in PA. Sadly - I am not among them! We decided to have it in the same location as last year, and I just couldn't talk the fam into another 'family vacation' to PA this summer? We didn't even really get to see much of PA - but still? We also knew that we wanted to head to the Beach this year, and to Boise to see friends, and we have to pay for Driving School for our dd this summer, not to mention a few other mini vacations to see family. All of those trips add up and we just couldn't swing airfare and hotel stays too! So - while my July is booked solid with super fun vacations that I am OH So excited for, this weekend I am a bit sad to know that the majority of the Sisserhood are gathered together in one place without me! Sure... I know my awesomeness will be missed, and it just won't be quite the same... but that doesn't really make me feel much better! I did, however, mix up a Bucket of Fun, and I plan on Skyping my way into the Retreat at some point just to be included! =o)

I did play with a few self portraits for June... after my lunch out with the girls in my new dress and jewelry... not that you can actually SEE how cute it is!? Oh well...

So - what all are you working on? I need to do a few more cards soon... and I will need to start doing a few more digi LOs to help me get caught up again! Maybe I will do that while I am Skyping the girls this weekend! What about you? What's on your agenda for the weekend?

Scrap Happy!
~Karrilee~

ScrapLifting again...

2010-05-28T16:41:00.000-07:00

OK - well - inspiration has left me this week... after not feeling so great off and on all week I decided I really did want to create SOMETHING! It didn't hurt that I realized that I have a graduation to go to next week and actually NEEDED to make at least a card... however, I was coming up with nothing! So - a friend sent me a link to the ever helpful Scrapbooks, etc website with a gallery of grad card ideas! I fell for the very first one! I liked a lot of them - but I have been having this thing with butterflies as of late - so it was a no brainer! Of course - I am not buying supplies if I can help it - so I had to tweak it a bit with what I had on hand! Thanks Michele for the helpful ideas and reminding me that I do, in fact, own a Cricut!?

Here is my version...

Not much else got accomplished today... French Open is on and as always, tennis grabs my attention when it is on TV - because, well - it's so rarely on!? I hope to get back in the crafty groove soon... what have you all been working on?

Scrap Happy!
~Karrilee~

Flower Pot Cards

2010-05-21T19:22:00.000-07:00

Hey all...

Well - I thought I would share a few pix from our daughters' birthday dinner... she picked Red Robin and we gave her that adorable little gift Card holder with the iTunes card, and the Starbucks card, and - oh yes - the Driving School Course pledge! She was a happy happy girl!

Today with the Sisserhood, my sweet deer friend De led us in another ADORABLE project - the Flower Pot Card! Oh so fun... Oh so Easy (I promise!)... and, as you can see... Oh so Adorable!

I'm off for now...
Scrap Happy!
~Karrilee~

A Busy Month for Birthdays (& other Card Occasions!)

2010-05-10T13:56:00.000-07:00

Wow... we have a LOT of Birthdays in May... and throw in Mother's Day, and then a few "Blank Inside" cards and I was a busy, busy crafter last Friday! I pulled some inspiration from an issue of B&Gs "scrapbooks, etc." - I forgot how much I LOVE that magazine!? I haven't done a lot of scrapping this year hands on (but all digi) so it was nice to get out the supplies and play a bit! I have one project unfinished... but completed all my cards on Friday and one project!

Here is what I was able to create:

LOVE the Birthday card/Gift Card Holder... so fun!!! Sssh - we haven't given it to her yet - so she knows nothing of the gifts - we're taking her out to dinner tonight and she'll get to open it then! I am sure she will be so excited! Anyway, I also LOVED being hands on again... uh-oh!? I better find another project or two or I will cave and give in on my idea of going all digi this year?!

Scrap Happy my friends!
~Karrilee~

P.S. While my girlie was at school - I got to play a little in her room too... this is what she came home to:

Gotta love a Chalkboard Wall!!!
~K~

National Scrapbook Day = A Great Style Mini!!!

2010-05-01T16:08:00.001-07:00

Wow... I can't believe it's true - but it is! I hadn't done any hands on old school scrapbooking since early January of this year! Since my goal is to do this years' family album all digitally - I just haven't printed any photos at all! I have played a tiny bit here and there doing a few LOs
digitally but the only hands on crafts have been cards. Yesterday during my online chat with the Sisserhood of the Traveling Crops, I decided I wanted to make a little Mini featuring the photo's from my day spent with Ruby Gettinger! They gave us little Goodie bags at the Season Finale and I wanted to use the mini bag and fit the scrapbook inside... while (shocker!?) I didn't get much done yesterday - I did manage to finish it up this morning! I love it!

Here's a look-see:

Don't forget... Ruby's season finale is tomorrow, Sunday May 2nd, on Style Network! It is a 2 hour finale and MAN is it good! So powerful and emotional and insightful... as an added bonus - there will be some Yakima footage as well and who can know but little ole' me may be spotted as well!? I don't know for sure - I am just sayin' - wherever she was, there we were! LOL! So there IS a good chance?

Scrap Happy!
~Karrilee~

Hello, Ruby Friday...

2010-04-24T17:16:00.000-07:00

Yes - it's true... Friday, April 23rd, 2010 was officially RubyTown, USA day in my hometown! She arrived the day before and had a full day scheduled on Friday!

Ruby Gettinger has her own reality TV show on the Style Network and if you have not yet watched it, you are missing out! The idea was hers in the beginning and so she got a camera, and had her friends Jeff and Georgia follow her around in hopes of making a documentary of her weight loss and journey to healing. Somehow Style heard about it and approached her to turn it into a reality TV! Yakima, WA won the online contest to have Ruby come to town and give a sneak peak of her Season Finale which will air on Style on May 2nd! When she started out, Ruby weighed 716lbs... to date she has lost over 400lbs - doing it the hard way... eating right, and exercise!

She is so inspirational and charming... with her southern drawl and the love that spills out of her you can't help but fall for her! She's adorable and we were so 'e'cited' to see her! She made us all oh so 'hacky'!

Soooo... Friday morning I headed out to North Town Coffeehouse and waited for her arrival! Yes, I know - the sacrifices I make so I have a life to blog about for you - the people! So - I got my red leaf cran-apple iced tea and scored a nice chair... and called my friend to let her know I was there and waiting. Before I know it, my friend is calling me from outside the building and she is saying to come out - they are talking with Ruby... so much for getting there early and scoring a chair?! So - I go out and actually manage to get a few minutes 'alone' with her! God is good...

Here she is - with Foxy (of course!) and her nephew Jim (and a Style Network rep):
So Lana, Shana, and I got to visit with her, hug on her, and tell her our stories...

She's such a hugger!

Me, Ruby, & Foxy!

Tellin' her my story...
(80lb loss & then a YEAR long plateau-
& how she inspires me to keep going!)

(Another hug comin' on! Yay me!)

(this is her 'new boyfriend'! LOL!)
...then she was ready to head inside -
but first, she had to film an intro for her show...

After we saw her at North Town, we all headed over to The Lunch Box and grabbed a quick bite then walked over to Gilbert Cellars to see if she was still there. She was - but mostly everyone else had cleared out so we hung out for a bit there and then split up for a few hours.

I reconnected with Shana, Lana, and Grandma (...their friend Ruby Sue showed up as well while we were waiting in line) at The Majestic, where they were giving a Sneak Peak of the Season Finale! I am a fairly new fan - only catching the last several episodes, and catching up via YouTube & Hulu over the past couple of months but there were people there who had literally been with her throughout her entire journey! I won't say anything about the finale other than it will not disappoint!

She is so stunning in person... her charm and joy and the love of God just exude from her and she literally stayed to hug every neck and chat with every person there! She asks questions, and really listens and hears... she does not take this international platform lightly - she knows that this is so much bigger than her!

One of my friends Lana had a pretty funky zipper necklace on and Ruby just loved it... well - the Lord told Lana to go buy her one - so while we split up - the girls all headed OUT of TOWN to buy it and were able to give it to her after the show when we all went to chat with her. She was so blessed - and I am SURE she will be wearing it soon!

Shana had the great idea of giving her an autographed bottle of I Can't Believe It's Not Butter butter spray, too! LOL! She loved that... it just cracked her up!

We said our goodbyes feeling sorry for her because the theater still had a ton of people waiting and we headed out! We decided we NEEDED food so we all went over to Applebee's and ordered a late dinner. We get our food and are almost done eating when who walks in? Ruby! LOL! She came right up to us and started chatting like we were old friends... we joked that she'd have to stop stalking us... every where we went today - there she was! It was sort of freakin' me out a little! LOL! She was like, "Ya'll gotta come to Georgia - we'd have SOOoooo much fun!" Oh... we would!

So - a few behind the scenes things...

We talked with her about Denny... oh we talked to her! LOL! She knows... she completely knows how he is and she gets him... she will always love him and he will always be a part of her life!

She kept joking about her new boyfriend... some local Yakima guy who was hanging around... every time she would say it he would blush a bit! She whispered to me that she was just jokin' - "but look at how cute he gets when I say it..." He told her he was taking off at North Town and she was like, "Now how can this be a date, if ya'll keep leavin'?" Too cute!

Jim was AWESOME... he was the keeper of Foxy and E! recorder among many many other things! He was great to have there!

She told us how the whole thing even got started (which I mentioned above) and she is seriously aware that this is a God thing! She knows it is helping people to change their lives - including herself! She is amazing...

The 'crew' with her all had to wear "Team Ruby" T-shirts at the theater, and apparently the one she calls "Bossy" was a little grumpy about it! LOL! She never did introduce him with a name - just, "Oh this is Bossy... he's SOooo bossy, ya'll!? Do you see how bossy he's bein'?" When she mentioned he didn't like his shirt - we decided it would be a great idea to have her sign it, then we'd all bid on it, and he could take it off! LOL!? (Hey - it was a brilliant idea!?) Ruby LOVED the idea... but Bossy was not goin' for it... unless he got the money - but that just made it seem dirty somehow?!

Lastly - what struck me most is how genuine she is... she is so transparent, and really - that is what makes her show work! The only things we don't know are the things SHE doesn't know... and she is on a journey to learn the truth. I know from the people lined up to greet her and the stories I heard yesterday - there are many on their own journey to truth - and Ruby is helping to pave the way!

Here are a few more pix of the night! Enjoy!

Ruby's Arrival at The Majestic

Talkin to a packed house!

Me & Ruby - we're both so hacky!

My friend Shana & Ruby

Ruby Sue (from NC) & Ruby (from GA)...

Lana & Ruby
(see Lana's necklace!? She bought one just like it for Ruby
because Ruby thought it was so Sexy! LOL!)

In the right corner there... yeah, that is "Bossy"!

Here she is with her 'favoritist' autographed bottle of butter spray! LOL!

Scrap Hacky, Ya'll!
~Karrilee~

Wedded Bliss and a Return to Routine...

2010-04-15T10:10:00.000-07:00

Hey there... it seems I have fallen out of the Blog Update habit!? Sorry about that! I guess I have really not been crafting too much and so I haven't really had a lot to share here so I just keep pushing it down the list of things to do!

The only 'crafts' I have done lately are the two cards I made for this month for birthdays...

Still... I did want to check in and let you all know I am still here. After my Dental emergency I was just getting back on track with workouts and eating right when I injured one of my knees while running. It was nothing major - but it did cause me to be sidelined from cardio for several days all together. Last week I slowly added about 3 workouts of low impact aerobics and some elliptical work outs. This week I am on track to fit in some longer walks outside, tackling some hills too. I went out yesterday and it was so sunny and nice - it was hard NOT to run - but I stuck with my program and just walked! I was out for over an hour and came home with no knee pain at all, so that was encouraging! I need to head out today too - but I am trying to wait out the rain... it looks like I may just need to put on a hat and jacket and brave the wet anyway!

Last weekend, on the tail end of my restricted workout week - I was out of town for a family wedding where I had little to no control of my food choices. We were actually staying with the bride and groom and her parents graciously provided food all weekend long! It was my nephews' wedding and we LOVE his Bride and her family. They are vegetarians and actually the food choices were not too bad - other than those blasted Costco Poppyseed muffins for breakfast... and, of course, the Wedding cake!? We also got to go to Sweet Tomatoes for the Rehearsal Dinner. OH MY!? I had never been to one and I fell in love! However, just because it is a Salad Buffet doesn't mean it is all healthy! I think I did pretty good though... in fact, the one dish that I fell IN LOVE with, I found the recipe for online and revamped it to be a bit more SparkFriendly... I made it last night and uh-oh if it isn't delish AND EASY!? Rats?! Here it is:

Summer Lemon Tossed Salad with Spiced Pecans
Oh yeah... YUM!!!

The Wedding itself was easily one of -if not THE- most beautiful wedding I have gone to! From the colors (purple - shocker!) to the venue (Lakeside Gardens, in Portland, OR) to the Bride and Groom, the music* and ceremony to the reception and toasts... perfect! Oh - the '*' by the music - yeah... the Bride's Father was not only walking her down the aisle - but also officiating the ceremony and he just thought - "Hey - why not sing too? ...and if I am gonna sing - why not sing "Butterfly Kisses" to my daughter on her wedding day while staring at her at the altar!" Sure... why not?! Wow... powerful! I mean - I used to cry to that song when it was on the radio back when MY daughter was only 3 or 4... Tara - the bride, was in tears before she ever made it to the end of the aisle and onto the arm of her Groom. Then, her Daddy started singing Butterfly Kisses to her. WE were all a mess - not a dry eye in the venue... he made it to the third verse (you know - the part where it says, "She'll change her name today. She'll make a promise and I'll give her away...") before his voice cracked and wavered a bit! The whole ceremony was great... enough laughter and jokes mixed in with Scripture, prayer, and sentiment! Here are a couple of shots from the day:

We came home via White Pass so we could stop and see the Tulip Fields - but somehow they were - um - missing? I'm not sure if we missed them all together or what - but at least the show garden was still in bloom and open...

So - we came home and I weighed in... after my dental issue (which I am still needing to get that crown on sometime soon!) I weighed in at 173... then went up to 175... then went to the wedding and came home and weighed in at 179... those dreaded numbers in the range of that plateau!? Ugh!? However, I weighed in yesterday and am back down to 175... so I am feeling back on track... ready to add back some cardio and track my foods and power my way through to get back to a losing streak!

My Tennis girl is still undefeated so far! She played a GREAT match yesterday - it was a rematch of sorts! Her first ever competitive game was played against this girl at the Tennis Club tourney... that match was a 3+ hour match... they were so evenly matched that they would play Ad in and Ad out back forth forever... and get to tie breakers at the end of each set! Kayelyn lost that one in the third... however, yesterday she won in two straight sets. There was a tie breaker at the end of hte first set - so it was not a blow out at all... but it was great to see her overcome! She has another match today against one of the major local rivals... and then an all day match on Saturday! I need to head out for a walk this morning - in the rain, apparently! Just hoping and praying that the rain passes so it won't interfere with the match this afternoon!

Once again - I am ready for change! Bring it on!!!
~Karrilee~

Downtime = Digi time!

2010-03-18T17:30:00.000-07:00

What a week I have had!? Not all bad, mind you - but so not all good?

I had a part of a filling come out and thus started my week of unplanned appt's and downtime! Not fun! I was on a liquid diet for a few days until I could get in to see a dentist. We do not have medical insurance of any kind - so I am sad to say we have not been to the dentist for way too long. It seems I spent a lot of time at the dentist as a kid - and then, well - having to go back yesterday stirred up nerves and anxiety that I didn't realize I had. Then, it turned out the tooth required more - shall we say - in depth work to fix and I came home last night extremely sore and exhausted. After days of not eating much, and then feeling pretty much like crap - I just went right to bed. Took a couple of Advil at some point, and went BACK to bed again! I think I finally got up around noon today! The soreness is quickly going away and yet I am still hesitant to eat much. The filling is in, but the dentist wants to do a Crown on top of it. He doesn't think the filling will stay long term without one - and I did NOT just go through all of that to have to do it again!? Yeesh?!

Anyway - two good things came from this week:
(1) I am down 5 pounds! Sure - I know it's because I am dehydrated and not eating - so it may not last... but it was nice to see a kinder gentler DIFFERENT number on the scale finally!

and (2) I found a bit of time to play around with some Digi LOs! I have decided to do an all Digi book for our Family Album this year, but I hadn't actually DONE any pages yet! So - with all the time not working out (due to no energy!) and not eating (LOL!) I managed to get several LOs done...

Here's what I have played with so far:

I am feeling a bit better... have hopes to eat real food soon... and trusting God will cover the cost of all this unexpected dental expenses!

Scrap Happy and Spark On!
~Karrilee~

MMmmm - Coffee!!!

2010-03-06T19:02:00.000-08:00

Yep - it's not a big secret - I LOVE coffee! My kitchen is decorated as a coffeehouse and every year I get a great Cafe themed calendar to hang... but it's always a little sad to say goodbye to the last years' fun! Well - I decided I would 'go green' a little and make myself a set of fun coffee cards... to send to some who can't share a cuppa in person! Here are some of what I made:

I also made a few Birthday cards and thanks to Alicia from my Sisterhood group, I tried my first attempt at a few Wiper cards! They were really fun:

Other than that - we have been IMMERSED in high school tennis! Wow?! Our dd has been taking lessons just for fun for several years now but had never played competitively... we were encouraged to sign her up for a Junior Championship tournament at the local Tennis Club before her try outs started. So last wknd we signed her up - and she played her first ever competitive match - it lasted over 2 HOURS... wow?! She lost the last set 5/7... nut they were both exhausted! Her second match was the next day and she won it in two straight sets. The next day she played the other top seed (in the JV division!) and lost to her. But - she came in 2nd place! Not too shabby! She was so sore and had three new blisters - one for each match! And then - Try outs for high school tennis were every day last week (and today... and on Monday which is a no school day!?) She already knows she made the JV A team - she was not wanting to make the Varsity team because most of the returning players are seniors and they are all really good - so she would be forced to play doubles most of the time... so she was thrilled. They will get their ranks on Monday I think - she is pretty sure she is #1... maybe #2. We'll see if she is right! Besides the EVERY SINGLE DAY of practices from now until the end of MAY - the real shocker is the COST!? Wow?! We only have one kid?! HOW do you guys who have three or more even AFFORD to have your kids in sports!? Oh my?! We had to pay for a Sports Physical ($40)... she needed a tennis skirt and shirt and - um - a 'real' sports bra - for the Tournament ($140)... we need to pay an extra $30 for insurance and Dave just lost his coverage from work and we haven't found anything we can afford yet - but it's the law that they have SOMETHING... we have to pay a Pay to Play fee of $70 to the school. Her uniform (which is one skirt and one top) is $100... there is also a required $32 sweatshirt, plus 'optional' sweats and shirts ($28). That is all before the season actually STARTS... which will include traveling so that will add up too!? Whew?! At least now we will know for next year! Next year she will be on the Varsity team which will cost more and include more fun things like District and State!? Yeah... that's gonna cost more! But - it will be worth it if she is loving it... and if it will get her a scholarship - which is what is driving US! LOL!

Besides that - I am back on track with my running... I have stayed consistent in running over 4 miles 3x's a week for the last 3 or 4 weeks! I want to work up to 6 or 7 before I start training for the 5mile Clear Lake race... that one is up in the hills - and will - well, have some serious hills!?

We are experiencing some SERIOUS Spring like weather here lately... which helps with the consistent running!

Scrap On... what are you guys working on?
~Karrilee~

Happy Heart Day...

2010-02-15T09:00:00.000-08:00

OK - so I am a day late... but that is because I couldn't really post my photo's until Valentine's Day - and well, I really didn't find time to sit at the computer yesterday!?

First off - I got to buy gifts in a SWAP exchange with my Sisterhood of the Traveling Crops team on Spark! We did this last year - and it was so fun! Of course - the added bonus to doing it this year is that most of us were able to meet in person and spend some time together over the summer last year - so drawing names and buying specifically for a 'Sisser' - so fun! The funny part is Denice got my name... and I got hers! So - I didn't take pix of what I got to send to her - but as I was shopping I definitely had her in mind and then, I bought some paper and embellies to do a LO of my own in and realized I HAD to make a card for De using it too! I couldn't show it beforehand - but now that she has it in her little hands - I can show it here:

So - here is the LOOT that she lovingly sent to ME:

Oh yeah... that is a Bucket of FUN, baby!!! (Filled with not only Bucket of Fun contents - but TONS of other goodies too! Goodies like acrylic stamps - SO CUTE! Some fun coasters, Glimmer Mist, Scents for card making, etched mirrors, some fun Valentine's Day embellies, and some awesome Cricut shapes too!)

So - between De's box, and Kay's unexpected gift of a GORGEOUS frame and some liquid pearls - I was taken care of on Valentine's Day! As a bonus, my Honey got me the perfect card, with the perfect note written in it, a single Yellow Rose, and the new Lady Antebellum CD!

I also had fun making a few cards for all of my "Sissers" again this year... who says we have to grow out of sending Valentine's? Not me... I love it! Here are some of the fun ones I made this year:

Here are a few other fun cards I have made... playing with my Cricut and new Sweethearts cartridge - I LOVE it!

Well, my Monday meeting is starting so I must wrap this up...
Hope you all were celebrated over Valentine's Day and know that you were made very well aware of how loved you are!
Scrap On!
~Karrilee~

Workshop Done... but not worth it?

2010-02-03T10:21:00.000-08:00

Finally - I can breathe a bit... well, after Saturday that is!

Last weekend was my Trio of Love Workshop out at Selah High School for their all day Crop fund raiser. I led a workshop last year, doing a Valentine's Flipbook and it was a huge success! I had a blast, the ladies all loved it, and it was profitable in more ways than one!

So, when I was asked to do it again, I jumped at the chance! I found that I really do enjoy teaching in all forms and we all know how fun Scrapbookers are anyway! The idea came to me quickly to do a Squash album. When I was playing around I also found a mini treat basket and had enough scraps left over to make a matching Valentine's Day card! Wallah - project done! A three piece 'set' for Valentine's Day - A Trio of Love! The sign up (which was a bit down from last year) and then the fun shopping was next! After that - was the hours and hours or prep! It SHOULDN'T have taken so much of my time - but I know how difficult it seems to be for some to score and to figure out how to fold and assemble the Squash albums... so I did literally almost ALL of the work for them. Yeah - sucked up my time and ate away at my profit really! Then - I get there... I had 12 sign up - 10 show up - and only 8 pay!? So - all in all... I have 5 Kits left over (for sale - $10 ea!) and at this point made a whopping $17 profit - divided up into apx 6.5 hours of shopping/prep/class time and that averages out to $2.62 per hour! Nice?! (Um - not really... that was sarcastic!) Insert tired, weary sigh here! It IS a fund raiser... and I really DO enjoy the teaching part and the creating part too... just not so sure I will do it again next year? (Someone remind me of this post around December, OK?!)

I did manage to make a few birthday cards the other day while prepping for the class... used up some shapes from a Cricut Swap I did last year... pretty cute!

I have more cards to work on on Friday... My goal this year is to make all the cards (Bday/Anniv) on the first Friday of each month... in theory this will help me to be better at actually sending them out ON TIME this year?! We'll see!?

I continue my training for a 4 mile race that is on Saturday. I walked it all last year and came in at 67:08. I did the course yesterday to practice and I came in at 49:13. Hopefully on race day I can beat that time! I'd love to take off 20 minutes from last years time? I am running now - but do walk a little still - haven't quite worked up to 4 miles straight yet! I am a SLOW runner... but I have my goal in mind and my sight is set on completing it at least under 50 minutes - in 45 would be great!? We shall see!

Once the race is over... I hope to continue to run and train... there is a 5 mile race in June up at Clear Lake that I want to do... apparently some killer hills on that one too. I am pretty sure there will be a 5K or two in between - so that should help keep me motivated!

Anyway - I am off to create some Valentine's cards and sip on MORE coffee...
Scrap Happy - and let me know what you are working on!!!
~Karrilee~

Getting all caught up!

2010-01-23T17:02:00.000-08:00

Well - I have been a busy girl... and FINALLY was able to sit down and do some actual hands on - old school Scrapping this week! It was great! I still have one more LO to complete and then I will be, once again, all caught up! (I know... I know!?) I had my Scrap Happy monthly Crop on Thursday and printed out our Christmas photo's and grabbed some paper that I had on hand... no buying supplies for me right now as I am TRYING to use up what I have! Well - I SAY that - but I did ACCIDENTALLY bought some Bo Bunny Valentine papers?! Oops?!

Anyway - I scrapped our Christmas photo's and realized that I need to scrap our Family Portraits still - and then I will be 'Done done!' I am planning on only doing Digi LOs for this year for our Family Album! We'll see if I can stay strong... I may be asking for photo's to scrap just to feed my obsession?! ( I said MAYBE!?!!?)

So - here are my latest LOs:

And yesterday on the Sisserhood Chat - Vi led everyone in a great little Clipboard Craft - and while I wasn't able to play along - I did make one this afternoon just so I wasn't left out! I made a matching altered journal to give as a gift... so fun!

Scrap On!!!
~Karrilee~

The Bootcamp Craziness, The Spark, & The Collage!

2010-01-08T16:27:00.000-08:00

Aaaahhh...

The Holidays are officially over! I only know this because of the PILE of Christmas decorations that are hiding my dining room table! I know, I know - it's already well into January - but my week was CRAZY and I just had no time to UNdeck the halls! Today I decided I would at least get so far as to make huge piles that will somehow FORCE me to do the rest over the weekend?! (At least - theoretically the fam' will be home to help me lug the boxes up and down the stairs?!)

After Christmas, I decided to join up with the January Spark Your Body Bootcamp. I did one last January as well... the only thing that I remembered was that I didn't really lose any weight - but I thought I would give it a try again... what I didn't remember was how freakin' SORE I must have been!? Yeah - and I had this brilliant thought on DAY THREE?! Well - we are almost a week into it - which means only 3 more to go! After I signed up - but before it started, Millie died. Yep - she bit the dust!? Dave is trying to fix her - but she is not really interested in the idea! I was forced to pull out Evil Ellie!? We HATES her?! She is mean - and she KNOWS that I prefer Millie - so her jealousy just makes me have to PAY!? That - and she is all Touchy-feely with me?! Less now that there is - well - a little less of me - but I have to pay attention or I get sore for all sorts of bad reasons?! However, already - I am down two pounds?! I haven't been able to say that literally for MONTHS and MONTHS?! So - I may have to hates her a little bit less... at any rate - I am in it to win it... well - to lose it really!? I am refocused - and determined!

I am refocused and fired up - partly due to the basic New Year/Resolutions/I HAVE TO DO THIS... and partly thanks to the new book I am reading: The Spark! Yes - I know - shocker?! But this site has helped to change my life - and while part of the book is really review - there are some things in there that I had forgotten about - like the importance of Goal setting... so in line with the book and the site - I decided to sort of rethink where I am headed - and make some new goals! I also went back and actually DID the Visual Collage that you are supposed to do in the beginning! I sort of thought it was a bit New Agey and didn't do it then - but now - with this plateau - hey - if it will work - I will try it! So - here is my "Visual Collage" (that we are just calling a digital layout?!):

So - a few of my renewed goals are to reach that goal weight - which is not set in stone but includes at least another 30 pounds?! Once I get there - if we haven't already bought it - I am gettting a Wii and a Wii Fit Plus! I want one SOOOOoooooo bad... it seems I am the last one on the planet without it! (I know this is not true... trust me - I DO have SOME perspective?!) At any rate - that is a major reward I have lined up - along with that 'must have' Little Black Dress. I also want to take a trip to the beach - preferable the CA beach - but I won't be too picky! We didn't get a chance to go in '09 - and I missed it so much! The roles I want to step into this year are to be a Runner, to actually learn how to and to play Tennis, and to continue to press through and finish up the books I am working on! One of the things they tell you to put on your Visual Collage is what you want to look like... well - I am not so into porno or staring at photo's of women - but, uh - I couldn't find any that I wanted to look at. So - I searched out some old photo's - and while I KNOW I will never look 15 again - I can see myself again in these photo's! I can foresee the return of at least part of that physical shape - but more importantly - I can foresee the return of that confidence...

Another one of my goals is to be better at sending out birthday cards - ON TIME?! So - the plan right now is to make the months' worth of birthday cards all made on the first Friday. We'll see if I can keep it up!? Here is what I made for this month:
Now - I need to get to work on scrapping our Christmas photo's... of which somehow I was not really IN any of them again!? Oops?! Anyway - I am off to scrap...

What are you all working on? Do Share!
Scrap Happy!
~Karrilee~

Sneak Peak

2009-12-29T17:41:00.000-08:00

Hey there...

Well - I promise an update regarding Christmas and all things festive soon... but the main gift we gave our daughter for Christmas this year was a Room Makeover... so - since purchasing the paint on Saturday - we've been painting... and painting... and painting...

I forgot how time consuming painting is... but we did it together and had a blast...

We need to replace the outlets with white and of course - she needs to 'unpack' her things again and hang some things on the wall - but other than that (oh - and the second coat of Chalkboard paint on the wall) - we are done!

Enter sigh of relief and exhaustion!

Here's a couple of sneak peaks:

Scrap Happy!
~Karrilee~

Blast from the Past

2009-12-16T13:21:00.000-08:00

Well - being 'all done' early does have it's bonuses - some of which are creating projects for the sheer fun of it!

FIRST - I ended up making a card and frame (with photo included - taken during a Senior Portrait session!) for a friends' b'day... I missed her b'day but figured since she was suffering in Hawaii she wouldn't really NOTICE - still, I wanted to do SOMETHING... this is what I came up with:

THEN - since that didn't take too much time on Saturday (and my dd was working NON-STOP on a couple of school projects, and dh was 'out' - at the Mall I suspect - all day) - I made another Starbucks Mini for dh's birthday! I picked him up a new Starbucks Travel Mug and some Starbucks coffee - so I thought I would just stick with the theme... here is the finished product:

LASTLY...
I sent out all my Christmas cards/letters with a Family photo and my "Sisser" Vanessa got it and her hubby thought he went to school with my 'twin'! Vanessa's blog showed a yearbook photo of my 'twin' which in turn created a conversation with all of the Sisserhood of the Traveling Crops about how fun it would be to see photo's of each other from back in the day! So - not only a yearbook or Senior photo, but a baby photo of ourselves, and a Wedding Photo or two! How fun! I hope all of them play along!

I didn't have many BABY photo's - I was pretty sick as an infant, not expected to live! I wanted to find the one of me in the hospital with all the tubes on me - but I must not have that one... Anyway, here are a few of me as a toddler, a couple from school, and a couple on my Wedding Day!

Enjoy my Blasts from the Past...

My Mom & I... circa maybe 1971?

The Three Sisters: Kimmy, Karinna, & me!

Classic Family Pix from the early 70s!

Junior Year - 1987

Senior Portrait

Wedding Day - 1992
(yeah - he LOVED me! LOL!)

Our small Wedding Party
(Jack, Kevin, Dave & I, Karinna, & Kim)

Don't forget to play along!

Oh - since I promised not to upload to facebook before she could see them - here are a few pix of my girlie going to her first formal dance! (She and Allison - going with a group of girlfriends... Mom says, "Amen!")

Merry Christmas!
~Karrilee~

As my "deadline" quickly approaches, my lists get bossier?!

2009-12-09T08:41:00.000-08:00

Wow... What a productive few weeks I have had! It was seriously looking extremely doubtful that I would meet my December 10th Deadline - especially since I hadn't purchased ONE thing as of Thanksgiving Day!? Well - we got a good chunk of it done on Black Friday, and I have managed to chip away at the rest of the list since then! I give MUCH of the credit to Tracy - from the Sisserhood! She came up with a Thread on our Team Page for our daily To Do Lists... while the lists HAVE been really Bossy with me - I have been lovin' the productivity! (Thanks Tracy!)

I am done with the buying part, but am not quite done with the making part... (and I still have a little of the wrapping part to finish up!) Here is a peek at what I have been doing (altered notebooks. journals, address books, and frames):

This is my neices' favorite Quilt:

...and this is the Dry Erase Board I made her:

I'm pretty happy with it! The Dry Erase pens are attached using velcro! So fun! I also made Digital Scrapbooked Calendars for my side of the extended family... here are a few samples of that:

I was asked to take a few portraits for a friend and decided that since I would be out and about anyway - I was going to make my little family come with me and bring along my tripod and timer/remote... unfortunately - this plan all transpired on Sunday after church... gorgeous blue skies - but wow?! FaREEZING cold wind - and lots OF IT!? Still - I managed to get several great shots of our friends for them - and we got quite a few Family Portraits of our own! We don't even really look THAT cold in most of them! Here are a few of our fav's:

Yeah - see?! There is that -3 degree Wind Chill... and THIS was our last shot!

Oh yeah - turns out those size 12 Levi's were not just a fluke... I bought those grey skinny jeans on Saturday - and they are a size 12 too! So - yay me! I also bought the outfit Dave is wearing for his birthday on Saturday - and then realized how well it would match for family portraits - so I gave them to him early... and Kayelyn got new digs as well - but managed to rip those jeans when she hoped down after that last shot! Sad day!

Anyway, I seem to be right on track... I am working on a few more items and then planning on wrapping it all up tonight! I do have a couple of birthday gifts to pick up for my Honey (since I accidentally GAVE them all to him on Saturday?!) - his b'day is the day after Christmas - so I will do that tomorrow and will be officially DONE done ~ ...all by December 10th!

(UPDATE - I am DONE done! It's true! I made it! Whew?!)

So - how are you all doing?! What are you working on? DO share!
~Karrilee~

I survived...

2009-11-28T09:15:00.000-08:00

It's true.. I survived the planning stages for the Workshop I am leading in January... I survived Formal Dress shopping with my girlie... I survived a Thanksgiving Hike in the pouring rain... I survived Thanksgiving dinner... I survived Black Friday shopping - and left overs... & so far, I have survived this holiday weekend with no one asking WHEN I am going to decorate for Christmas? LOL!

Normally it is the day after Thanksgiving - but with all we had going on this weekend, I had quietly decided I would do it slowly through out the week next week... I need to really clean up my scrap/family room in order to prepare the area for the tree - so that means I need to get busy with that because I am still needing to START the crafting process for the remaining gifts I have to do. I have purchased (nearly) everything on my list that I am purchasing. Now all that is left is the handmade gifts... so hopefully I will begin tackling that this week or next weekend! I am confident that I will meet my deadline of Dec 10th!

Last weekend I worked on a few samples for the Workshop I am leading in January at a Scrapbook Retreat... I am pretty happy with what I came up with... now to pick Valentines papers and price it all out to make sure I am making a profit... Here is what I came up with. I call it a Trio of Love... It's a three piece Kit that will include supplies to make a Valentine card, a Coaster Squash Mini, and a Treat Basket... so fun!

So - on Tuesday one of my 'skinny' friends gave me a pair of her jeans that didn't fit her. I seriously doubted that they would fit me - but I loved her for even thinking it... after she left I cautiously tried them on... Levi's - I haven't worn those since high school I think? While they are a bit long... they fit GREAT - and they are a size 12! Nice!
Then again - I haven't tried them on since Thursday!? It's been great incentive to stay on track this weekend!

Wednesday I took my dd out to shop for a Formal dress - she has the Ninth Grade Formal in a few weeks and decided to go with a group of girlfriends... so we met up with one of her friends and her Mom and had a great time trying on dresses at SEVERAL stores. We narrowed it down to two... actually bought one - brought it home - then wasn't so sure about it... here are the choices:

On Thursday I had the bright idea of making that Canyon Loop hike an annual Turkey Day event - so we went out in the pouring rain to attempt it! Of course - when we started it was barely misting... we went about 45 minutes in and we were nearly halfway... so the decision to either go all the way or turn around seemed hard... but knowing that the climbing part was on the other side and it was muddy and raining harder, my hubby and I chose to turn around and jog back, while my sis, my nephew, and my Dad all braved the full loop (and took about another 1-1/2 hours in deciding that?!) So - we were WET when we made it back to the car... didn't take many pictures as it was cold and foggy and - well - wet... but here are a few:

We had a great low key relaxing Thanksgiving at my Mom's... we all pitch in with the food and that meant that it was almost all Spark Friendly... which is nice! We ate and visited and just hung out! I - of course - made them all write on our placecards... and yes, endured the mocking! One day they will remember it all fondly! LOL! I did not, however, bring games over... I usually get mocked for wanting to do that as well - but it turns out - without them - everyone seemed a little bored and the evening broke up much earlier than usual?! (No one would admit to missing the games though! LOL!)

For some INSANE reason - after all the questioning-the-dress-decision from the day before, I mentioned the POSSIBILITY of going out on Black Friday to try on the other dress. You see, the "other" dress was the one my dd fell in love with... and I vetoed... let's just say that with her undergarments that day - her - uh - cup runneth over. So we agreed to get up STINKIN' EARLY and go back to try it on and see if they had a different size. There were only one or two of that particular dress - so we didn't want to risk it being gone AFTER the mad rush in the morning! So - at 4am we were up and getting ready... headed off to Macy's and waited in line (in the rain) for a few minutes. It wasn't too bad... the line was not crazy long and the people were nice enough. We knew what we wanted so we went directly there - grabbed the ONE dress and asked if they had it in back in other sizes. We find out that this particular dress was a special order and so they only ordered that one dress in that one color in that one size... the same dress/size obviously that she tried on two days before that I had said an enthusiastic NO WAY to!? Still - we decide to try it on sans undergarments and - wow! That made all the difference! It looks GREAT and she is one happy happy girl! She loves it... I am praying it is not really $80 and we head to check out - where there are NO LINES?! It rings up $36 - Score! So - in heading back to the car, I say yet another INSANE statement: "Hey - that was fast, and we're up - why don't we just run to Target to get the boys toys that are on sale there and then head home?" She's happy - she has 'the' dress - so she is game! We pass Starbucks - because the plan is to go in, go out, and go back to bed while it is still dark! Yeah - you can guess... we barely got IN to Target because the check out line had already wound around the store twice and was almost blocking the entryway... we went right to what we wanted - and found a shorter line near Electronics and got right in line... it was 6:04am. We wait... and we wait... and we inch forward a tiny bit... and we wait some more! Many people bailed our line - only to return and say the OTHER line is just as crazy - it is moving but it is still slow - and people are more irritated over there... they actually NEEDED the Security Guards in that line. So we stay... and wait! Turns out the registers keep breaking... the scanners are not working... everything has to be input by hand.. and suddenly - there is ANOTHER line that is trying to merge in with ours from a different aisle?! It was crazy... we kept wondering if it was worth it for the six items in our hands... we kept looking longingly at all the pretty holidays Starbucks cups walking past us... TWO HOURS LATER we left the Target building!? Crazy!? My girlie is SO DONE with Black Friday shopping! Her first and last experience with it! LOL!

We came home in time to NOT go back to bed - but to get ready for company coming over... but at least that would mean COFFEE! After that - we headed out to see Blind Side... I cannot more HIGHLY RECOMMEND this movie! It is a MUST SEE and it is SO GOOD! We all three loved it! We actually attempted to go with my whole family - but they have no concept of time and thought we were crazy to go so early!? They didn't make it in - so they had to go to the next showing - which simply meant that while they were watching the movie - I was GLORIOUSLY napping! In the evening, we headed over to our friends' house and played RockStar and Wii games all night - it was fun!

Today - well - this morning is slow and lazy - as it should be! Then we'll head over to my in-laws for the Apple Cup game and our own belated Thanksgiving get together with them! I WAS going to try to take Family Portraits today too - but I am hoping to do that NEXT weekend and take some other shots for other fams as well - just make it a huge photo shoot day!? Still trying to plan out some outfits for us and think of some fun 'unexpected' poses/places to shoot!

So - how are you all doing? Did you survive the crazy weekend as well? Did you score on any great deals on Friday? Did you remember to take photo's at Thanksgiving? (I forgot again?)

Hope all is well...Scrap Happy and Be Blessed!
~Karrilee~

PS - Here is my Happy Girl in her Winning Dress:
Now to buy shoes... and decide on hair and makeup... oh the fun!