Hi and welcome to my blog. I hope you enjoy your visit.


When I first set up this blog I called it Life Keeps Surprising Me but, since it has now become more about papercrafting, I changed the name to be more reflective of what is going on here.

I am so appreciative of those who have elected to follow my blog and I love to read comments that have been left here for me.

Thanks so much for dropping by.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Merry Christmas

Sorry to have been so neglectful here. December has been a busy month for all of us but I don't seem to be as well organized as most of you. I see that others keep up with their blogs. My friend Kristal posts almost daily while being super creative AND sharing with everyone via video tutorials. But then, she is young and amazing.

I finally made some Christmas cards. Some time ago I had ordered some American Crafts Glitter card stock from Kim Bush at Cutters Creek (she's one of my favorites). The card stock is absolutely gorgeous, so much so, that I then ordered AC Metallic card stock, also gorgeous. Those of you who know me, know that I have issues with using patterned paper and specialty card stocks. I love looking at them and thinking about how I'll use them but I have a hard time actually cutting them. Crazy, I know. I mean, I can always buy more, right?

I finally used a sheet (okay 1/2 a sheet) of the glitter cs! I made 4 cards with it, 2 each of 2 variations of a stair step card. Here they are:

I also made a couple of cards using a stamp set from Gina K Designs, I think its called Joys of the Season. I CASED the design from her video on StampTV. I'm not much of a stamper and I had loads of trouble with the stocking. I tried conditioning the stamp but still couldn't get the ink coverage I wanted. After a dozen or so stamped images, I just went with it.
These next 2 cards were made using my Cricut and the "packing tape"  technique. There are several good tutorials online on this technique.
Well, now I'm off to pick up birthday gifts for a couple of grandkids. We have five, yes, FIVE, December grand kids plus multiple Jan & Feb birthdays. An expensive time of year for us. LOL

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Look at this!

Look what Royal Things is giving away:

just click here for a  chance to win this cart

Monday, November 15, 2010

More blog candy

You've got to check out the blog candy being offered here. Taylord Concepts is the name of the blog and Erika has some lovely creations posted. Be sure to check it out.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

blog hop

Visit this blog for an opportunity to win some great blog candy and learn about Operation Write Home, a wonderful organization that sends handmade cards to our service men and women. Check it out here

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Happy Halloween

I love Halloween. I enjoy seeing all the little ones (and not so little ones) dressed in their costumes. Halloween is just so much fun! here are my latest Halloween projects:


Friday, October 22, 2010

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Welcome to our Team's Homepage

Welcome to our Team's Homepage

Saturday night we will be attending the Light the Night Walk in Augusta, GA to benefit the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society. Our youngest grandchild, Molly, has Leukemia and will be the Honored Hero at Saturday's walk. With prayers, excellent medical care, and lots of luck, she is doing really well. Please click on the link above to visit our Team Molly-Pop home page, read Molly's story, and, if you are so inclined, please make a donation to the LLS in her name. Any amount will be deeply appreciated and will go to help other youngsters with blood cancers.

Thank you.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Catching up (cont)

Well, here are my layouts for the 2006 reunion:



Catching up

For the last couple of weeks I have been working on an album for DH's reunion of folks who were stationed together in Turkey. Their first reunion took place in 2000 and I had scrapped up to the 2003 reunion which I had started but not completed. The album remained that way until about 2 weeks ago.

We leave for the next reunion later this month and I would really like to have the album up to date by then. We always have a large display of memorabilia in the hospitality suite and the album has been part of that since 2004.

Here are some of the pages I've been working on: 



I have just completed 2006 and have started printing photos for 2007. The biggest issue is that there are over 100 photos to choose from for each year and over 100 attendees. I don't want to leave anyone out so I have a terrible time picking out photos to use.

Friday, August 27, 2010

Scrap'n for Fun: Blog Candy from Brenda

Check this out!!!!

Scrap'n for Fun: Blog Candy from Brenda: "Blog Candy! Life is good, don't you think? Ups and downs - all of it - and still life is good! Because I am feeling particularly blessed,..."

Blog Candy being offered

Check out this Blog Candy being offered over at:
http://paperinkcolor.blogspot.com/2010/08/hi-friends-tgif-how-about-time-for-blog.html

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6_F9GKVXDd1csq0JpM_ESVyLaRewOLE1P-CvSQrYsciKbTO-Zz88ExUI1WAsmyX9ftIvxReHqaiMbL5023TuWvebFpYhJ-FrMBagcoGXsw63_RR5gZIWKyTJZpAeLQp4pFGFIEuSpV9s/s400/blog_candy_paperinkcolor.jpg

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Crop Challenge

This past weekend I participated in a "cyber-crop" and our challenge was to create layouts representing various states. I did layouts for Vermont, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire and North Carolina. I enjoyed the challenge very much and I think I will try to do some more states.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Arps and Craps

Our son Eric and his family spent the weekend with us. He has 3 girls, Emily, 9; Abigail, 5; and Molly,3. The girls love to visit my craft closet and, as Molly says, do "arps and craps."
They are content to spend hours drawing, stamping, cutting, and gluing. Molly loves to make cards for everyone, Abi loves to make "Artist Training Cards" (actually artist trading cards) and trade them with her sisters. Emily enjoys card making and scrap booking. I think she was 3 when she did her first scrapbook. Of course, Nana (me) enjoys crafting with all of the grandkids.

I recently completed a scrapbook page for each of our granddaughters, Madison & Allison. Madison had a part in her middle school production of Annie, Jr. and Allison had a dance recital.


Now, I need to get to work on an album for my Mom. I plan on doing circle pages that will fit into a decorated tin. I really need to get busy on it because she will arrive later this week.

Monday, July 26, 2010

Card Shower

I am going to be making a card (or more) to send to a member of one of the online groups to which I belong.

Some time ago, Kristen posted a request to have cards sent to her daughter, Hailey, for her Sweet Sixteen birthday, a card shower. Now that Kristen is laid up for awhile due to some surgery, Hailey would like to return the favor. Below, is an email I received from Hailey:

Thanks!
If you would like to post it on your blog that would be awesome! I would love to see this get REALLY big! Please feel free to pass it on. My mom really needs something like this to help pick her up!
Hi!
Thanks!
The address is:
Kristin Keller
PO BOX 65
Alverton, PA 15612
Hailey

If you are so inclined, sending a card to Kristin would be much appreciated.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

....................Some new cards

 
I made this waterfall card using patterned paper from Die Cuts With a View, Nana's Kids, some card stock scraps, ribbon I received in an embellishment swap, a Martha Stewart lace border punch, and some Martha Stewart butterfly stamps that I got in a great deal from Crafty Steals. I colored the butterflies using some glitter gel pens. Its hard to see in the photos but the paper has glittery effects as well.

I made this card using a stamp resist technique I saw on Stamp TV with Gina K. but I changed it up a little bit. I used a linen textured paper as Gina K did and I love the way it looked.  I first stamped butterflies (the same MS stamps mentioned above) using a VersaMark stamp pad. I let those images dry and then stamped some more butterflies. I embossed those using UTEE but next time I think I'll use clear detail embossing powder. I went over everything with 3 colors using a sponge dauber. The VersaMark images that had not been embossed look like shadows while the embossed images really stand out. I'm going to try this technique again using flower stamps next time.

Monday, June 28, 2010

..........Denise has blog candy

          http://lalasworldblog.blogspot.com
click on the link and visit Denise's blog. She does fabulous scrapbook layouts so I know you'll enjoy looking around her blog. Here's the blog candy she is giving a chance to win:

Sunday, June 27, 2010

...............5 K Fun Run

          I finally scanned and uploaded the scrapbook pages I did for the Fun Run. We seriously need to buy a new CPU for the desktop computer. It took forever to scan and save the pages.

The pictures follow this post so don't forget to scroll down and look at the older post.

This is the first 8 x 8 scrapbook I have ever done and it was quite a challenge for me to get all the photos that I wanted to use scrapped. I am used to working in a 12 x 12 format. Anyway, I'm pretty happy with the results and will be giving the original album to Mary & Mike Alcorn to save for Matthew.

Thanks for looking,
Bonnie

...........................The 5 K Fun Run

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

......................I Won!!!!


SCRAPBOOKING DREAMS CARDS  had a giveaway and I won!!! This is my first blog candy win and I am so excited! I can't wait to receive the punches. Thank you so much Patty!