Happy New Year!

If you haven't seen the website...it is up and our January kit "Spiffy" is up for sale! Yippee! If you haven't had a chance to check it out, it is a must! I had so much fun playing with this kit. Here are a few of the projects I made with it. Aren't the Heidi Swapp ghost clocks just the best? I also used her journaling spots to make a funky scalloped edge around my photo.

I tucked a loop of polka dot ribbon under the edge of the photo also, which I thought was perfect for my snow themed page. I also love the look of the chipboard letters staggered (using upper and lowercase mixed together.) The Heidi Swapp ghost clocks are 6 inches in diameter just to give you an idea of what they are like in person.

I finished it off by adding a funky hand stitched border to one corner of the page. It's definitely "freehand." LOL.

This is my silly "resolutions" page. I had the idea to use the journaling spots in a circle with the title placed in the middle of it. I used magazine ads, an old calendar and a few googly eyes to make it what I had envisioned. I also cut a circle from a photo of my blog because I want to remind myself to document the "details." I added the bread tag just for fun. I was going to journal next to it that another resolution of mine is to reduce and reuse, but I ran out of journaling spots. I could have added another ring of circle journal spots though to accommodate all of my resolutions. Is there anyone else out there that feels the need to make a million resolutions? Or is it just me...I could make a very long list I think!

The palm tree is from an old calendar and the number "13" is cut from the fabric in the kit. It isn't significant really, but you could use the number of resolutions that you were making for your page. As I said though, I'm sure I would have more than just 13.

This one is really simple and totally uncomplicated. Some of my layouts are like that, where you are just using the pictures and the story without many embellishments.

I used cream colored paint to outline the 5X7 picture here and on the opposite page as well.

I still may go back and add a little embellishment here and there. I do that from time to time. Sometimes a page just doesn't quite look complete.

I LOvE that blue car paper by Glitz Design. It is one of my all-time favorites! I am going to go get some more scrapbooking done tonight. The kids are already in bed and totally exhausted from staying up way later than usual last night. Hope you all had a safe and happy New Year's Eve. I started the first day of 2009 with a prayer asking God not for things and blessings for me, but for me to be a blessing to others. I wonder just how that perspective and attitude would change the world, if we tried to put others before ourselves. I'm excited to see just what's in store for 2009! I pray it's your best year yet!

Newsletter time!

Freehand Scraps Newsletter

Happy New Year!! Just wanted to send out a quick newsletter to thank each and every one of you for your support of Freehand Scraps! We are so excited, as we begin 2009, to provide monthly kits packed with products, ideas, and inspiration. It is my hope that each month when you receive your kit from Freehand Scraps that it puts a smile on your face...how could a box full of scrapbooking goodies not? LOL. So here's to a wonderful year ahead, we wish you all of the best things that life has to offer!

I am beyond excited to share with you our January kit "Spiffy." I love, love, love the colors and funky elements included in it. I have so many projects (other than my gallery) that I am working on with it, that I am sure I will use every single piece of it! This color combination of gray and yellow and blue is just one of my favorites right now!

You are also getting an exclusive wool felt cloud that was handmade for each of your kits. It is just about the cutest little thing I have ever seen! And finally, this newsletter just wouldn't be complete without me sharing a little peek at what will be in our gallery this month. Get ready to drool. (Isn't our design team amazing!?) This is a layout by Celeste Smith...love it!
Another little peek of my gallery.
Make sure to check out the whole kit and all of the designers inspiration tomorrow at 8 a.m. CST. See you then! Happy New Year!

Lots to share...

We had such a fun holiday! I was overwhelmed with just how good life is...how many blessings I have...and how much love I have received! Here is a picture of the kids and I on Christmas day, it's one of the only ones that has all 3 of us in it. I am always behind the camera, so there aren't many of all of us together.

My mom made Chloe a darling stick horse, which she had been wanting. It's name is "Flower"...and isn't it too cute?! Chloe is in love!
Tanner got a boat-load of animals and has been in heaven ever since!
This is my sweet sister-in-law Ruth. This was her first Christmas in America...and we were lucky enough to get to spend it with her. She is going to be an awesome mother someday...my kids adore her. And she is the dominoes champion of all time!! Maybe someday when I grow up I will be as good as she is...maybe. But I doubt it.

And finally, here is a little sneak peek of my January gallery. Our new kit "Spiffy" will be up for sale on the website the 1st at 8:00 a.m. CST. So be sure to check back for that. I have so much more that I want to make with this kit...it is just so much fun! This is a page I made about my resolutions. Which is always a good topic to start the beginning of the year off with!

I will share some more peeks in the next few days! Hope you all had a beautiful holiday and that you have a great day!

Merry Merry!

Just wanted to check in really quick and wish you all a very MERRY CHRISTMAS! I hope more than anything that you are surrounded by love this Christmas season. There is nothing better!
Just wanted to let you know that we won't be doing any shipping until after the holidays. So if your subscription is going through or you make a one-time purchase, I will send those kits out to you next week! I'm sure you'll have lots of beautiful memories to document and loads of photos to scrapbook in the near future. Yeah! Maybe you'll even get a head start on your pages over the holiday break...that's my plan! I am so thankful to each and every one of you for all of your support of Freehand Scraps! Happy Holidays!

It's the most...

Wonderful time of the year. Really and truly. I have just been soaking up the season, spending some quality time with family and friends. The kids put on a Christmas production this morning at church that melted hearts. It was the story about Martin the shoemaker by Tolstoy. If you have heard the story then you know how touching it was. It was so good to see everyone. SO good. I love this time of year. Love, love, love it. My mom and I are busy every night after the kids go to bed wrapping and creating and sewing and laughing and talking. (That is the real gift I will take home with me!) She just inspires me so. I must remember to take some more pictures from around her house of all of her cute holiday decorations. I also am going to take some time to document some of the special memories we are making this year. (I will have to post a picture of what she hand-made for Chloe...it is so cute!)

This afternoon we took the kids ice skating! Yes, it was a big undertaking (and I FORGOT my camera...how is that possible?) But the kids had a lot of fun, and they were totally tired out tonight. There was another mom on the ice who was laughing with me about how much work it is to basically carry your kids as you try to keep them from breaking limbs. I definitely got my cardio in for the day! I think my back will be feeling it tomorrow. No, I KNOW my back will be feeling it tomorrow. LOL.

Well I'm off to get some more wrapping done. Hope you have a beautiful night!

Winner, winner chicken dinner!

Okay, I have never said that in my entire life...but it sounds fun anyway! LOL. I am excited to announce the winner of the giveaway. I have been meaning to post a little picture of exactly what you'll be getting. (A little late huh?)

Don't I have a cute model to pose with it? That is my sweet niece Halle and she picked the winner! I had her pick a number between 1 and 10!

So the winner is Traci! I will get your cute prize out to you this week!
I have been traveling to spend Christmas with family. I narrowly missed an ice storm and lots of snow and if you saw my car, you would know that is a very good thing. So if you emailed me in the last two days, I will be getting back to you asap. I hope you are all having an excellent day!

Freehand Scraps Newsletter!

Freehand Scraps Newsletter

December is flying right out the door, as time seems to go into hyper-speed right before the holidays! Here’s hoping that you are having a few small moments to sit in front of a cozy fire with a warm cup of cocoa and savor this magical season! You deserve it!

If you haven’t had the time yet to order your December kit “Decked Out” you are missing out! It is such a fun kit, with loads of personality! The Freehand Scraps design team has done it again this month with their inspiration overflowing in the gallery. I am so very excited to show you a little peek at what is in store for January. I am loving this kit! “Spiffy” will be for sale Jan. 1st at 8:00 a.m. CST. (Trust me it will be "Spiffy!")

Look for another newsletter around the 1st! Here at Freehand Scraps we are wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and holiday season, and a blessed and prosperous New Year! Thank you to all of our wonderful customers who are the heart of our business!

The winning photo...

It isn't this one...even though I like it. (What woman doesn't love shoes!!!?) LOL.

Every year it is always such a pain to schedule a photo shoot...what location? Who can I talk into playing photographer? What to wear? Inside/outside? Include the dog? You know how it goes! My good friend Christy took our pictures this year and was so sweet and patient as I drove all over downtown looking for a good backdrop with good texture. Here is a collection of what she took...I liked them all, but I don't think some of our relatives would have really appreciated a shot of our feet! LOL. That one is just for the scrapbook! Can you guess which shot was the winner? I have decided to do a little giveaway...it is Christmas afterall right? All you have to do is leave a comment here guessing which picture was the winner and I will send off a great little All My Memories wallet to your front door!

Picture #1

Picture #2

Picture #3

Picture #4
Picture #5

Picture #6

Check back soon for a winner and for our mid-month newsletter!

My Little Cinderella

So here is a little peek at what I accomplished last night. We ended up at the local coffee shop to crop, but that's another story! Oh, and I forgot my January kit...minor detail! LOL. But we had a great time, and I always have so many things with me it was fun to grab some pink and play! We headed back to my house early and ended up staying up late chatting and creating!

A little thank you for someone...

This swirly clear card is from our December kit "Decked Out!" I love how it is so versatile. I am thinking of making a mini-album and using this card as the cover and backing of it. (Good thing I had extras of these. I have so many ideas!) I will share some gallery sneak peeks next week! So be sure to look back for that. Have a great weekend!

Sneak Peek!

Well, I am in a good mood for a lot of good reasons.

1. I got 2 big boxes from Basic Grey just now...loving it!

2. I am going to crop tonight with my friends! (It's been too long!)

3. It's Friday! (That's a no-brainer)

4. I get to share a sneak peek of our January kit with all of you!

When I saw that Heidi Swapp cobalt blue alphabet, I was in LoVe! So I designed a kit around this color scheme. I love the way it turned out! It would coordinate well with wintry photos because of all of the blue, but would also work for so many other occasions! I am going to get to play with mine tonight at the crop! I just need to get some photos printed really quick. Off to play!

Have a super, wonderful, fabulous weekend!

Mac & Cheese

I had a little help in the kitchen tonight. She is completely obsessed with helping me cook these days. Every night when I cook dinner she drags her chair into the kitchen to "help." I made a yummy soup recipe, but the kids don't like it at ALL, so she made Mac & Cheese. My mom taught me to cook at an early age, and my earliest cooking memory is of making Mac & Cheese. Which just happened to be my favorite food back then. (It's no wonder my kids love it!) I will definitely have to document this in my scrapbook.
So I thought I might share the soup recipe that I made tonight...it's my moms' recipe and it's delicous!

Lynn's Famous Sausage Zuppa

brown 2 lbs. italian sausage (we like one hot and one mild...drain and set aside)

saute one medium onion in 2 tbls. margarine in the bottom of a big soup pot

when carmelized add 1 46 oz. can of chicken broth

peel and slice (bite size) 2-3 carrots

dice a few sticks of celery (i even use the tender top leaves)

add carrots and celery to the broth and cook for 15 min.

meanwhile clean and slice (bite size) several red potatoes. leave skins on

add potatoes to the pot and simmer until tender

add sausage and 1 box or small bag of chopped spinach

thicken the broth by adding a little flour/water mixture (say 3-4 tbls. flour and 1/2 c. water) now look at the soup to see if it needs more liquid. you may want to add milk (my 1st choice) or more chicken broth.

last...season to taste with a little salt & pepper & chicken boullion

In Freehand Scraps news I am going to share a little sneak peek of our January kit tomorrow so make sure to check back for that! I am going to a crop tomorrow night and hope to get a jump start on my January gallery. Can't wait for a night of cropping!

Teacher gifts...

I was trying to come up with teacher gifts this year that were creative. I know the kids teachers, but I don't really "know" them...does that make sense? I don't know what they like/dislike and I know the kind of gifts that I got as a teacher. Well, it wasn't that I didn't appreciate those things, but how were those parents to know that I am basically allergic to almost all lotions? I had more bottles of lotion and bath salts than I knew what to do with. Maybe there were a lot of Mary Kay consultant mothers?? I don't know. I also did not need one more teacher/apple/chalkboard themed gift...although I do know plenty of teacher who loved that sort of present! So I was trying to think of something inexpensive and something that most women would appreciate. I saw these beautiful poinsettia plants and thought they were perfect! All they need is some cute paper wrapped around them (I was thinking of something with a scalloped edge) and a creative tag or card for the finishing touch. And the price was only $4.50! Perfect! I had at least 3 women tell me on my way out of Walmart how beautiful they were. The best part is that I get to enjoy them at my house for a week or so, until it's time to give them away!

I'll have to share pictures of how they look in the end, right now they have a very ugly plastic wrapper on them! They would even be pretty sitting on an antique china plate. Hmmmm...lots of ways to get creative with these.

Have a wonderful night!

Monday madness!

Is it me or does your to-do list double the first few weeks of December? I have been creating and wrapping and shipping and Christmas card making now for weeks it feels like, and I am still not done. I took some time this weekend to shop without the kiddos, and every other person in my surrounding area must have had the same idea, because the lines were outrageous! At two of the stores I finally just put my items back and headed out the door. I refuse to wait for more than 30 minutes in a line. I guess that makes me an impatient person, huh? Or I like to think of myself more as a time manager...meaning, I know when it's wasting my time to stand in a line for that long all to buy a $5.00 stocking stuffer! LOL. But then I just take a deep breath and think about enjoying this holiday season. I know I can't enjoy it while I'm standing in line at Michaels! And I am bound and determined to enjoy every precious moment of it.

I had worked on getting some handmade gifts finished this morning, (I can't share them yet, but I will soon!) when Tanner walked into my office complaining that his ear was really hurting. My kids only get ear infections about once a year, but for some reason neither one of them has ever complained about their ears hurting. So now you can picture what our day was like around here. Doctor, pharmacy, McDonald's (makes everything always feel better) and chocolate doughnuts.

I finally got all of my Christmas cards out in the mail today...which was an accomplishment in itself! I had ordered the Creating Keepsakes Kit of the Month card kit and had pre-assembled the components...but Becky Higgins (who designed it) is one thorough lady and so they were a little more complicated than I would have liked, but they turned out cute in the end! I included a Christmas letter which I haven't done in a few years (but I always love it when other people include one with their card.) Another thing I did for the first time this year was send a Christmas card to a recovering soldier. I had gotten an email with the address of where to send it to, and thought it was a great idea. It may really touch someones heart even if they got one card from a stranger. I addressed it inside, "Dear Hero," which to me pretty much sums it up. I can't possibly know what whoever receives that card has been through, but I do know that I am eternally grateful for my freedom and for the opportunity to live here. And the fact that they put their lives in danger, and make so many sacrifices, like not spending Christmas with their families, so that I can spend it with mine...well that is honorable! So I will share the address here, and if you think of it send someone a card or have your kids send them a picture they have drawn, all it would cost you is a stamp! It's really the little things that brighten peoples day. Like today picking up Tanner's prescription at Walmart we were standing near the bakery and the poor lady working there was swamped, but she saw my kids patiently waiting for their free cookie and hurried over to give them one. Tanner told her "Thank you, and Merry Christmas!" and all of the sudden her face lit up because of his kindness. It's the little things I tell you, the smallest, tiniest things, that don't cost you a thing to give, that make someones day brighter.

Here's the address if you want to send a card (or two!)

A recovering American Soldier

c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center

6900 Georgia Avenue NW

Washington D.C. 20307-5001

As we left Walmart, I gave each one of my kids a $1 dollar bill and had them put it into the Salvation army bucket as we left the store. So many times I am trying to tell my kids about doing nice things for people and thinking of others instead of ourselves. What better way than to show them how to do it! They both had the biggest smiles on their faces, because when you do something good, it makes you feel good! And once again it gave me another opportunity to teach them about the less fortunate, and how even a little bit of time or money can make a big difference. Hope you had a blessed Monday!

TGIF...

We had a fun night tonight...it started with McDonalds for dinner (not my 1st choice, but the kids LOVE it!) And then we got to go on a horse-drawn carriage ride through the frosty winter air. Brrrr. It was just beautiful seeing the reflection of the moon on the freshly fallen snow. So quiet and still and peaceful. I took a few pictures but it was pitch dark so they aren't the best quality. I'm going to share them anyway!


Unfortunately I think Tanner is going through the "cheese ball" smile face. Just in time for all the pictures I'll be taking this month....great!

Our horse "Thunder" was giant and the kids loved it!
I had one more thing that I just had to share. I found this little video while I was catching up on my blog reading last night. I love this! It absolutely hits the nail on the head for me concerning my perspective on the holidays. BUT for some reason blogger is fighting with me about uploading it...and I have tried 3 times! So here is the link. It's called the Advent Conspiracy and it is such an awesome message! Make sure you check it out. Have a wonderful weekend!

Decorations!

Here's some holiday goodies around the house...did I mention how much I love this time of year?

These are my Ali Edwards inspired advent boxes. I made these last year and my kids looked forward to opening them each day. Instead of trying to fill them with MORE presents, I decided to fill most of them with small ornaments that they can add to their Christmas trees each day. Of course I had to add a few pieces of candy and toys. But I like that this is becoming another family tradition! The great thing about these boxes is that you can paint them any color to match your other decor. I had to add a few stickers also, just for some visual interest. My kids are also being introduced to the written numbers along with the number symbol. (The teacher in me likes that!) So they are learning at the same time, and talk about good motivation!

Here is yet another Ali Edwards inspired idea...the button trees! Seriously...could they be any cuter? I had so much fun making these, and decided I liked them so much that I made them for gifts last year. I am thinking of trying my hand at a few Styrofoam balls covered in buttons as ornaments. I also love the look of them using only white/off-white buttons. So darling!

Isn't that old red deer great? She was an antique store find last year, and I just didn't get to enjoy her for that long, so I was super excited to pull her out of the box this year! My "HO, HO, HO" blocks are also a favorite and could be made easily with felt and a blanket stitch. The Santa's are connected with a piece of string to the inside of the pocket, so they don't get separated.

And the last little picture is of my red wooden boxes that my dad made for me several Christmases ago. They sit on my kitchen counter. My mom brought me those darling stacking cups for a little Thanksgiving present. (Thanks mom, you are the best!) Aren't they the cutest things ever? Oh Anthropology I miss you! Add a little green mini sized tree and you have added a winter/holiday touch!

Okay, this post must officially come to an end since I have said the word "cute" at least 20 times! Hope you have a great night!