Come work with ME!

Scraptacular! is looking for local artists and teachers! If interested call the store: 440.934.4939

christmas day

We had a nice and quiet Christmas morning - the kids started opening presents at 8 a.m. and then we dug into breakfast! The usual Oyster Stew and Egg Casserole, YUM! Spent the rest of the day watching movies - so nice!

basement update...

for those not on my list..

Here is my Christmas card! I put my Stampin'Up stamps to good use this year! I love the pic of the kids and Bella - I took it over Thanksgiving in VA. These really went together fast!

I finished my "Believe" book, it's ready and waiting for those Christmas pix.

To do this week:

Buckeyes

Chocolate Dipped Pretzel Rods

The Joy School Christmas party is at my house on Sunday - that should be fun. Can't wait for Mom&Dad to get here Friday! I also am doing Jacob's school party on Friday, O JOY!

decking the halls...

The cards are done - finally! Now I have to concentrate on wrapping up the shopping! Found the coveted WII system - now looking for a few last minute gifts. Starting my "Believe" chipboard book by BO Bunny, so that after Christmas I can throw the pix in.

ho,ho,ho

It's that time of year again - with any luck my cards will be in the mail tomorrow!

Busy Month!

We had a great Thanksgiving in VA - the weather was mild and the food was good. While there we saw Fred Clause with Vince Vaughan - soooo funny. Took the kids playing in my parent's leaves, notice they have TONS!

Working on the Christmas cards - ugh! Almost done and should be ready to mail next week. Not even finished shopping either! But at least the house is decorated...

Finishing touches on the basement - will post pix soon, we love it and our new T.V. is just like being at the movies! We've dubbed our basement - "CineMarchant"! I'think I'll get Lexi on that for me with some vinyl lettering!

my owl & the karate kid & the witch

Sophie loves animals - so when she spotted this owl costume she had to have it! It is Hedwig from Harry Potter, of course Jacob wouldn't cooperate and be Harry Potter! We were Halloweened Out! this year. We had Trick-or-Treating at Rob's office (3 floors of candy), Joy School party, Kickboxing Daycare party and a 2nd grade party! By the time Halloween night came around we were sick of the whole thing! Don't forget about our little witch~

basement unveiled

Here are some basement pix! A few more finishing touches (like a drop ceiling, ha) and we will be finished! My craft space will get cabinets on the wall behind my project table, uppers and lowers and also a counter, for even more space! I have two pendant lights that will hang over my table as well! The family room space will get bookshelves and the two poles will get boxed in when we do the shelves! Can't believe Rob hasn't run out to get his t.v. yet!

jacob's baptism

Can't believe that he turned eight on the 11th! In our religion you are baptized at 8 - and he was on the 13th! We had lots of family and friends attend, it was really a special day for him. He listened intently as all his grandparents bore their testimonies and we had Teri Hinckley and Kim Delap give talks. After the baptism he chose Dave & Buster's for dinner, fitting end for such a spiritual day, ha!

P.S. love the tennis shoes, Jake, how did you get those past me!

slacker blogger

What can I say...been BUSY! Our basement is nearing completion - carpet was installed last week and the baseboards went in on Monday! Now all I have left to do is paint the baseboards and some touch-ups here and there and then we're moving in! My craft room furniture arrived from Pottery Barn, just waiting on one last piece, the cubby bookshelves. My sectional arrived, now I'm waiting on my two leather club recliners! My craft room has been moved down, just need to organize before I can take pix, HA!

The kids are ready to go, minus some much needed organizational furniture, which will have to wait until I find something I like!

Had a busy weekend, family in town for Jacob's 8th birthday and baptism. It was nice to see everyone! I've got lots of pix to post, hope to catch up soon! Pictures from our hot and steamy clam bake on October 6, it was almost 90 degrees! Fun candy corn cookies Sophie and I made, just tint sugar cookie dough with orange food coloring, cut out with triangle cookie cutter and dip ends into melted chocolate!

after 1 month...

Bella likes her doggy bed! When we first got her this little bed, she would just play in it with her toys or bones and then fall asleep on the floor BESIDE it! Now it is her favorite spot. We enjoy her every day, she really fits our family well.

The basement is nearing completion, FINALLY! Rob will sand the ceiling and I can put a final coat of paint on this weekend. Then the baseboards and door frames will go up and it will be ready for carpeting. Furniture arrives October 9 and family arrives October 11! Cutting it close!

I started kickboxing again after a 2 month vacation, which I will NEVER take again! I had to start all over with the sore muscles - but after my 2nd week I'm getting back in the swing of things. Jacob started TaiKwonDo (is that how it's spelled?) - we have the same instructors! He loves it, can't wait to post pix of him in his suit. Sophie is LOVING Joy School and is learning a lot from it. Our next big decision around this house - what to be for Halloween??

Martha's Vineyard

Thought I would post a few of my favorite pix from Martha's Vineyard! Seriously wanting a house there, maybe I can afford one when Rob retires, ha... We spent most of our day in Edgartown, shopping and eating of course!

basement and other updates

We are moving right along with the basement. The walls have the primer coat (took 6 hours to do the entire basement, including the bathroom), now I'm just waiting for the ceiling to be finished so we can texture that. Furniture was ordered and will be delivered October 9th! Hopefully we can get carpet installed the 1st week of October. I'm keeping it simple, I got a tailored sectional and two reclining leather club chairs. I'd like to get the kids furniture from PB Kids, that will have to wait until after Christmas. I want a desk included with cubbies for baskets and cabinets for them.

School is going great for Jacob, he loves his teacher. Sophie is in her 2nd week of Joy School and is LOVING it! There are 4 total moms in our group, we rotate teaching weeks, which means I only teach 1 time a month! She goes Tues/Thurs and it is HEAVEN for me!

The scrapbook store is keeping me busy, even more as we are heading into the "scrap season"! We get new products in daily and as always we strive to find the most unique papers and embellishments. My favorite new product is my Cricut carrying bag. It is just the right size for slinging on my arm! Now I'm anxiously awaiting Becky and Alie's new books, they are on order!

lovin' hambly

Scraptacular! is now carrying Hambly! I love these products, the rub-ons go on smoothly and the transparencies are amazing! Here's a little sample that I did for the store-

iron finds at Costco

While I'm anxiously awaiting the completion of my new craft room - I've been shopping! Costco had these hanging iron baskets w/ stand for only $39! So easy to put together, getting it out of the wrapping is tricky! The best part - the baskets come off! Can't wait to fill her! Picked up the magazine rack for my latest craft mag. issues! We are sanding and maybe I can finally paint next week!

first day of school....

Yeah!!! Jacob was so excited to start school today (and so was I)! We were all anxiously awaiting the bus, even Bella!

happiness is...

My new album class: Happiness Is... is September 29, 12-5 p.m.
A complete 8 1/2 x 11 American Crafts Modern Album! I used Scenic Route papers and embellishments. 20 pages, album included - $65
In other news, Hambly arrived today at the store, can't wait to make those samples!

back by popular demand

My Heritage Class - September 12, 6-8 p.m., Cost is $18

We will be making 4 12 x 12 layouts, see sample above!

my new fence

Our new fence was installed last week by Rob with lots of help from our neighbor Mike! I just love it - adds so much interest to the backyard. After vacationing on the Cape, I had to have tons of hydrangeas - so the fence is lined with them.

We will be sanding the basement this weekend and hope to paint next week~ then comes the ceiling and carpet! Can't wait to organize that space...

celebrity spotting

While vacationing on Cape Cod, my parents and I took a ferry over to The Vineyards (Martha's). It is a gorgeous island, packed with beautiful homes and beaches! While we were shopping along the docks we ran into Ray Romano (Everybody Loves Raymond), his four boys and his wife! What a treat - we even got to hear his funny voice! A bonus since Mom and Dad loved his show! We also ran into Brian, the news anchor for Fox & Friends morning show!

More vacation photos coming...

6 days & counting...

Packing for our trip to Cape Cod next week - so ready for a vacation! This year we are venturing out to Martha's Vineyard for a day, booked our ferry to make sure we actually go! Can't wait to check out that little island and hoping for some great photos. Definately stopping in at the Black Dog, check it out here: www.mvol.com !

Mom & Dad are coming along too! My 3 aunts and grandparents will all be in town as well, looking forward to catching up.

Going to be spending some time in Boston too, stopping by the Boston Temple and maybe the aquarium.

Basement will be sanded and painted AFTER my vacation, so more photos of that to come.

basement after days 7-9

We have a working bathroom!! And the drywall is ready to be sanded! All that's left is to hang the doors and then I get to paint - the last thing will be the drop ceiling. Thanks to the Master Carpenter Steve, oh and Rob too.

dream basement...

My brother-in-law, Steve has been here this week busting out our basement. He and Rob have been woking hard. I will finally have a new, larger craft space! The kids will have an awesome family room too!

4th fun

We spent the evening with our sweet neighbors! Sophie loved fireworks this year - and the sparklers were a hit.