A LADIES DIARY ROLL TOP DESK

A few months back I was viewing Jim, The Gentleman Crafter's blog when I saw the most beautiful creation - it took my breath away! Jim had created for Graphic 45's A Ladies Diary paper line a lap/traveling writing roll top desk and Graphic 45 was giving it away (unbelievable)!!!! I immediately posted a loving comment & kept my fingers and toes crossed that I would be the lucky winner . . . well you guessed it, they picked someone else (even though I really believe to this day that they misspelled my name - LOL). . . However, all was not lost, Jim must have heard the million of anguished cries that went out into the universe and he took pity on us and did a tutorial on his roll top desk, which I immediately purchased (YAY) . . . LOL -- I know you can't see it but I have a BIG smile on my face just remembering my excitement on getting this tutorial . . . Soooooooooo without further ado, here are some pictures of the Ladies Roll Top Desk I made using The Gentleman Crafter's tutorial . . .

Now I do need to say that being the crafter that I am I did make a few little changes when doing this desk . . . like I used black chipboard instead of painting regular chipboard black. . . I couldn't find anywhere the Tim Holtz Hitch fasteners so I used black Velcro, nor could I find the Graphic 45 metal door pull so I used a Tim Holtz knob instead . . . I ran the grunge paper through an embossing folder in the Big Shot and oh yes, I used buttons for the drawer pulls . . . see they were just little changes . . . Thank you again Jim for taking the time to write the tutorial . . . That's all for now . . . thanks for stopping by . . . Hugs & Kisses . . . LindaB ***PS*** . . . the top works - it really does roll up & down!!!

A FUN WEEKEND

I spent the past weekend celebrating my birthday with my scrappy friend, Debby McC . . . we had a "scrappy weekend getaway" and it was a total blast!!!! I need to tell you right now that this post has a recurring theme, which is, SCRAPING, EATING, SHOPPING - LOL! It started Friday afternoon when Debby picked me up - I wish I had taken a picture of the inside of her car - we had it packed to near overflowing (left a little room for goodies we knew we were going to bring home) . . . we were on our way south to attend the annual Scrapbook Expo held in Sacramento, CA, but first we had to stop at Ellis's in Marysville to see what new goodies they had in scrapbooking and to eat lunch, oh and shop of course! Then it was off to Roseville to check into our hotel & unload the car. We did some shopping at Green Tangerines, went to the mall (brought a really cute top at Macy's) and went out to dinner at Mimi's. By the time we got back to our room we were to exhausted to scrap (I know, unheard of, but it does happen when you get older-LOL). Saturday we were up bright & early to get into Sacramento to the Scrapbook Expo . . . we had pre-registered so our sign-in time was very short and we got to go to the exhibitors hall and do some early shopping . . . Debby went to her class which began at 10am and I just kept on shopping . . . I did take time out to make the following "Make & Take" layout from the Mon Ami Gabby booth . . .

When I saw the sample for this layout I knew exactly what picture I was going to use . . . this is my granddaughter, Kyra, when she was 4 years old warming up for her very first ballet performance! . . . she loves to dance! Before you knew it, it was time for me to go to the class I signed up for - "Wood & Metal Embossed Mirror" . . . here is a picture of the finished project I completed after I got home (as always, I did make a few changes to the original design-LOL) . . .

After my class I met up with Debby and a bunch of our scrappy friends from up north, did more shopping, went to dinner at The Old Spaghetti Factory, then drove back to Roseville where we did more shopping, picked up dessert from The Cheesecake Factory & drinks from Bev More then back to our room to party hardy!!!! On Sunday I was a little slower in getting out of bed (time change you know-the drinking had nothing to do with it - LOL) but I made it in time for the "free" breakfast. Then it was pack everything, load the car up, head out to do more shopping and drive home broke, but with a fully overloaded car of goodies. As I said it was a FUN, FUN, FUN weekend and I will share with you in future blogs some of the creations I make from my purchases! Looking forward to next year already!!! Well, that's all for now . . . thanks for stopping by . . . Hugs & Kisses . . . LindaB

A SPOOKY GATHERING

Have you ever seen such a scary looking group of scrapbookers? LOL!!! My local scrapbook store, Paradise Scrapbook Boutique, held their 6th annual Costume Potluck Crop on October 27th (tried to post a picture of this group earlier, but of course my picture wouldn't upload -- bummer). . . as you can tell by the smiles on everyone's face (including Jack's) it was a fun, fun, fun evening!!! I can't wait to get together with these women again for the Christmas crop in December!!! Well that's all for now . . . thanks for stopping by . . . Hugs & Kisses . . . LindaB

HAPPY BOO DAY

CARTA BELLA WORKSHOP

On Saturday I was lucky enough to be able to attend two workshops taught by the talented and funny Lindsay Moore of Carta Bella at my favorite scrapbook store, Paradise Scrapbook Boutique. In the first class we made 4 cards using Carta Bella's "Merry & Bright" line and at the second class, in the afternoon, we made a 2-page layout using Carta Bella's "Christmas Day" collection . . . It was not only educational, but there was lots of fun, laughter and food . . . here are a few pictures taken that day . . .

As you can see a good time was had by all . . . Lindsay's mother, Dixie, was even there . . . I am looking forward to when Lindsay comes here again and teaches a workshop!!!! Below is a picture of the 2-page layout I made (with some of my own changes, you know scrapbookers always make changes-LOL) . . . I don't have a picture of the cards I made as I gave those to Karen to pass on to our soldiers overseas as part of the "Operation Write Home" project her store participates in . . .

Sooooooooo . . . that's all for now . . . thanks for stopping by . . . Hugs & Kisses . . . LindaB

A SIMPLE COVERUP

See, the ugly DSL Filter box on the wall . . .

See the simple cover up . . .

Ok so it wasn't quite so simple . . . back in 2010 I made a cute halloween "Bingo Card Wall Hanging" following the directions of Lisa Pace. Love the wall hanging but could never find the right spot in the home for it . . . then the other night I had one of those "wake me up at 3 am ideas". . . I knew exactly how I was going to cover up the ugly DSL filter box and what I was going to use . . . soooooooo the next day I went out & purchased a framed naked stretch canvas (made sure the hole in the back was wide & deep enough to cover the filter box) . . . painted it with black acrylic paint and using scrap paper mounted the halloween wall hanging to the canvas . . . I love it when things I make are not only practical but cute to boot!!! . . . Well that's all for now . . . thanks for stopping by . . . till later Hugs & Kisses . . . LindaB

IN LOVING MEMORY

I would like to introduce you to someone who has been a member of our family for at least 10 years . . . DOS GATO . . .

Dos Gato passed away Friday night. We do not know where he came from originally, he followed in his grandfather (Louie) and father's (the original Gato) footsteps by showing up one day in our yard and adopting our family when he was a young cat. He was the spitting image of his grandfather & father. Dos Gato was a very affectionate cat who loved people and loved to be pampered. He and my husband had a very special bond, as hubby was the first one who befriended him. Dos Gato was always there to greet my husband when he came home from work. I will miss his coming in the house & proudly dropping his latest catch at my feet so that he could receive his due praise-only problem was most of the time the critters were alive. I swear he had a smile on his face as he watch me trying to catch those critters and get them outside. He was such a charater!!! He will always have a special place in our hearts. WE LOVE YOU!!!