The Simple Life Mini Album, Card, Christmas and New Years Resolutions

Exciting news! I made the Deans List 3.94!!! With that being said, I have been one busy gal...I am taking sometime to create and relax..I made the following paper bag mini album using Michaels paper bags and Basic Grey's Green at Heart collection. These are pictures of a summer family get together for my daughters 4th birthday in 2006. I love how it turned out!

All the tags in this mini!

Christian card, using verve stamps

My mom got me the Winter Frolic cricut cartidge I have been wanting--yeah! I am getting addicted to my cricut...I am starting to save for the Gypsy and the Expression (I love my baby bug but I cant cut certain sizes)

Gold embossed tags I will be using in a future mini to come!!!!

All my started projects I am setting a goal to finish in 2011...

I saw Kathryn's post on started projects over here. I am inspired and feel good that I am not the only one lol! I start things and move on to another project when I lose inspiration or have a new idea...time to finish and clean house. I am outgrowing my apartment. Below are pictures of bins of half projects ( I have 2 rubbermaids in my closet, too) sick!

2010 Achievements:

Dropped 50 pounds!

Ran my first 5k with my family and my 68 year old dad!

Made the Dean's List twice!

My daughter and I exercise together

Working with the MS Society my church gained a $100,000 grant to help more people

I became a volunteer cheer coach for 8 and 9 year olds--so much fun and my daughter loves it!

Got a promotion in my quality department

Lost a few friends :( but gained more positive friends in the process

 and some remained ever so special to me :)

2011 Goals:

Drop more weight

run at least 2 more 5k's and have my daughter join me

Take my daughter to Walt Disney World

continue to volunteer in the community

show more appreciate to the great people in my love

eliminate half done project bins

finish projects completly before starting a new one (at least not allowing more than one bin of half done projects)

adapt a more minimalistic lifestyle by decluttering

complete home fix it projects including my printer

Ok I really dont like resolutions because they hardly work for me, I simply set goals whenever and it works better for me...I make them achievable with a timeframe...here is a personal success of mine. july 29, 2010 I had an appointment to start a process for gastric bypass surgery. I had tried every diet and no luck...I was on blood pressure meds, chiropractor weekly and tired all the time...I met with the doctor and got all the facts. I left that office and read all the side effects. I was emotional and simply prayed. After that something came over me I said, "Sue you are 30 years old, and really have been healthy just not managing very well, you can do this without surgery" I said ok, let me give it one last try, I said if I can try my best and lose 10 lbs by the end of August I wont have surgery. By August 17th I lost the 10 lbs....I worked out daily, switched my diet to a healthy diet whole wheats, no fast food and cut most of the coffee. I got off blood pressure meds that month! I havent need the chiropractor but every few months not weekly! Now 5 months later I am 55 lbs smaller, look and feel great and have done things I always thought i couldnt. My self esteem has dramatically changed from no I cant do that to anything is possible. I still have weight to lose and I know I will do it, my goal is healthy and happy. No fad diets or crazy exercise plans, just a change in mind...I know 2011 will be awesome and I wish all my readers a blessed healthy 2011!

Dont Cry over spilled re-inker

My little girl is so curious, she had to see what ink looks like, well she did and didnt close the bottle...good thing I needed an item from my scrap cabinet...and this is what i found dripping! Red distress ink...eww looks like blood! I had to pull all paper out and clean fast...so much fun--NOT!!!

BTW--second disaster this weekend I broke my sizzix big kick...i heard it crack when I was die cutting...and the plastic craked and handle came off...I had to order a new big shot :(   What a weekend!

New Projects I am finishing up

I have so many half done projects, I decided to motivate myself to finish I will blog about them. Here are 2 of them...I have video of my latest completion coming soon! Here is a Diva purse mini and a sizzix ornament mini....

Happiness Tag Mini

I finished the tag mini, Enjoy!

Tag mini in the works

Hello all!

I am working on this MME tag mini album...I am loving it! I just wanted to show an idea I came up with its a neat fold out using one long envelope. I folded into 3rds and used my TH edge die. Cut the top to create pockets for 2 tags and covered in paper and clipped closed....I love it! Not super thick but adds more room..

Beach Crop Challenge #3

This challenge was off of a sketch....

Here is my take on it when Bri was three ( I think lol) Making memories page kit was used.

My First Vintage Mini

I used Making Memories Vintage Findings collection...I am really pleased on how this turned out...I hate to give it away...so looks like I need to do another...yay!

I finally got one....

I finally order my first cricut! I couldnt resist the deal over at http://www.customcrops.com/ the original cricut was only $50 bucks! I got a few cartridges for only $25 a piece...orders over $100 have free shipping....I am so excited!!

Purple Butterfly Mini

I made this mini for a woman at work...I included just a few pics...enjoy!

Money saving flower tips and a package recieved!!

I wanted to show some embelishment money savers...if you have any please share. I put my self on a scrap buyong freeze to accoplish my financial goals, so every penny counts. Hope you enjoy!



I got this gorgeous mini in the mail, I love it! I met Regina on youtube and we both expressed some negative experiences we had with swaps- so we decided to make a positive ending swap. Regina is so talented and co-founder of http://www.craftcravingchicas.blogspot.com/.

My First Digital Scrapbook

I give my review of Creative Memories software and printing, I love the outcome!

Custom Brianna Chipboard Album

Kit swap

My voice is so awful, my nose is stuffed but I am just overjoyed but what I recieved!

Life on the Scrapbeach Jan Virtual Crop

BG leamonade collection, prima flowers, ac flair (chic)

I used pearl glimmer mist on the prima flowers

BG urban prairie collection-bird is a chip sticker

I used stichles, pearls and glossy accents on this gorgeous butterfly on this paper

Colorbok christmas collection, used perfect pearls on paper, distress all edges with tim holtz distresser and gold versamark ink, prima poinsettas, glass (merry christmas) pepple from target.

Here are my challenges 1, 2 and 3...there's still time to participate, all entrys by 9 pm mon night (eastern time)...http://thescrapbeach.ning.com/. I love this scrapping community!

New mini--"B" adorable

I wanted to use up some kits I have hanging around...I also had some baby pics of my daughter, this really was a fun, fast project! Enjoy!!!

Happy 2010!

I set some personal goals on my other blog http://sweetandsassysusie.blogspot.com/, I need to add some scrap goals on my scrappy blog.....

1. I will write a list prior to going to the store and try to just stick to that list, or set a $$ amount for extras, like I am going to allow $5.00 for extra finds and thats it. I find I accumulate too much "cute findings" and get home and have no coordinates or dont use them. Or I find a deal and stock up and have way to much of one paper line and get bored.
2. I will use up or get rid of my old stash, I have so much from way back in 2003! I hear stickers go bad so its time to use em up or get rid of. I tend to use other accents than stickers anymore, I was a sticker queen before!
3. I will save money on buying the extras so I can save for a cricut expression, I really want one. I am short on cash and space, so I need to clean out and save!
4. I will finish one project prior to starting the next, I must have 20 half completed projects...I get easily bored or a scrappers block and I start another project....No more!
5. I have to stop stocking up on deals, I must have 20 packs of thickers because they were $2.00 at big lots this summer....I know eventually I will use them but I am short on space so I need to stop, its a sickness really!
6. No more swaps, I have put some major effort to make sure I hold to my commitment and that waht I send is a nice gift. I have been in three this year and got burned everytime--I am jinxed or something! The first one I got 2 months late and it looked like they just threw it together, the kit swap still has not come from november and the halloween swap I spent hours making something I would love and nothing on return. I would rather spend the time and money on my own stuff!

Ok thats all I can think of now, besides if I try to set to many goals, none of them get completed. Sooo baby steps, first change is the grocery list to the crafts store.....