Scrapbooking, Geocaching & our dog, Britt

This project combines two of my favorite activities, scrapbooking and geocaching.  This scrapbook page highlights some of the adventures of our four legged geocaching team member, Britt.

Many members of our family are involved in a game called Geocaching.  Geocaching is a world wide outdoor treasure hunting game using a GPS unit.  The  coordinates are posted on the internet, usually at geocaching.com.  The GPS is used for navigating to the coordinates where the participant then tries to locate the hidden geocache.  It's a really fun activity.  Geocaches are often hidden at a beautiful view point or some other point of interest. Our hunts often lead us to interesting places, historic sites or famous buildings we would otherwise be unaware of. Some geocaches require a hike to reach the cache location.  We often geocache in a family group along with all our dogs.  Our dogs love it. It's the perfect hobby to combine with camping.  We call it geocamping. It's a lot of fun.

Geocaches are often containers filled with trinkets and small inexpensive items for trading.  Cachers are free to trade their own small item for one inside the geocache container. Trading is optional.  Each geocache contains it's own log for the cacher to sign.  The log is then returned to the cache container.  The found cache can also be logged at geocaching.com.

Britt has been geocaching with the family for several years.  She loves it.  She lives for camping & geocaching.  She has her own geocache named, 'Britt's Dog Day Afternoon," hidden in a very dog friendly area of Port Orchard, Wa.

Ammo cans are often used as geocaching containers.  Others, called Nano caches, are  really tiny and sometimes hard to spot.

Dog parks are a favorite place for geocachers to hide caches. 

For anyone looking for further information about Geocaching, please visit the geocaching.com website.  You won't be sorry.


Thanks for stopping by.


I submitted my geohound scrapbook page to the following challenges.

Top Tip Tuesday's -- Challenge #81--It's all about Circles

Divas By Design -- Challenge #44 -- Anything Goes

Scrap Fit Blog -- Workout #72 --Color Inspiration

One Stop Craft Challenge #192 -- Olympics or Sports

A Year in the Life of an Art Journal -- Summertime

The Pink Elephant Challenge --TPE 158 -- Summer

January 2012 Scrapbook page

I know I'm a little late with my January Scrapbook page.  I actually had my two page spread done weeks ago, I just didn't get it blogged.  We had a fairly busy & fun January.  

This is the sketch I followed.  It was offered by Shawn at 'Nuts about Sketches' back in early November for her Week #186 challenge.  Even though the challenge was long over, I love the sketch and used it anyway..

 There was a fair amount of snow in our area.  During our snow, we were visited by a huge flock of  Robins.       They were beautiful. We went to a Pirate's Ball, met a lot of new friends & had a blast.

 We drove up to Mt. Rainier on New Year's Day & spent the day geocaching, partly in the snow. A little later in the month reached our #2100 Geocache. 

I've submitted this layout to the following challenges:

4 Crafty Chicks -- Challenge #79 - 'Anything but a Card'

Crafty Anne's Challenge Blog -- Challenge #60 - 'Anything but a Card'

Paper Crafting Journey -- Challenge #4 - 'Anything Made with Paper'

The Crazy Challenge  -- Challenge #108 - 'Anything Goes'

Party Time Tuesday -- Challenge #57 - 'Anything Goes'

That Craft Place -- 'Anything Goes Challenge'

Thanks for stopping by.

Happy Valentine's Day!!!!

For Don, my soul mate & the love of my life. 

We'll be married seventeen wonderful years in April.

He treats me like everyday is Valentine's Day.

A handmade bottle bib & our favorite wine, 'Hoodsport Rhubarb Wine.'

 I love this bottle bib.  The idea & instructions came from Helen Croft at the 'Scrap a Little' blog.

A fan folded flower & leaves.  A totally fun project.

Wishing everyone a Happy Valentine's Day.

I entered this card in the following challenges:

4 Crafty Chicks-- 'Love is in the Air' Challenge

DYSU Blog -- Challenge #58  -- 'Love"

Fussy & Fancy Friday Challenge -- 'With All my Heart.......'

Lexi's Creations -- Challenge #58

PaperPlay -- Challenge #12  -- 'Love Letters'

Stamp, Scrap & Doodle Saturdays -- Red, White & Pink Challenge

Totally Gorjuss -- Lurve Challenge

A Clown Doll using the Kusudama folding method..........

I made this origami sitting clown doll for my sister's birthday in place of a card. 

It was really a fun project.  I think it turned out cute.

He's made using the Kududama method of folding. 

I used two complimentary pattered papers for the arms, legs, hat & body. I used solid red paper for the collar & a small piece of solid yellow for the hair.  There are little pom poms for the hat, hands & feet.  The only other needed supplies are glue, a needle & thread, a couple of toothpicks and a pipecleaner.

 The head is a wooden bead.

At the bottom of this page is a link to a wonderful tutorial for making this doll.

I submitted my clown doll to the following challenges:

Pile It On -- CHALLENGE #19 -- Funny Bone

Charisma Cardz Challenge -- No cards allowed.

PaperPlay Challenges -- Show us your Style

Scrappy Frogs Challenge Blog -- Anything goes

The Shabby Tea Room -- 'Ruffled Up'

Divas by design -- Our first challenge Anything goes!

One Stop Craft Challenge -- Birthdays

Here is a link to a YouTube video that is a great tutorial for making this clown doll.  I made a couple of minor changes when I made my doll but for the most part followed the tutorial.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

In memory of Terri.........

My closest friend of 20 years passed away unexpectedly in August of 2009.  I miss her terribly & think of her daily. 

 This scrapbook page is in memory of all the fun we had over many, many years while we were raising our kids together.  

We had gone to the Renaissance Faire the weekend before her passing.

I miss you, Terri.

I've submitted Terri's page to the following challenges.

Allsorts Challenge Blog -- Make your own flowers

Paper Play Challenges -- Let's get sentimental

One Stop Craft Challenge -- Spring Flowers

Totally Gorjuss -- Black & one other color

Crafty Cats Weekly Challenge -- friendship

Paper Romance - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by.

Another fun side step card..........

I love this little penguin digital stamp.  I think it's adorable.  I colored them with watercolor pencils & used a blenderpen. 

I submitted this card to the following challenges.  Thanks for all the great challenges.  Happy Holidays.

All Sorts Challenge Blog - Free and Easy - Anything Goes

Creative Card Crew Challenge - Anything Goes

A Spoon Full of Sugar Challenge #133 = Merry Christmas

Top Tip Tuesday - christmas

Crafty Ann's Challenge Blog #30 - 'Anything Goes'

Incy Wincy Designs - Challenge 72 - use NON-TRADITIONAL Christmas colours

A sidestep Christmas card.........

This is such a fun card.  Everyone I have ever sent one to has raved about it.  And.................it's really, really simple to make.

 Love it.

This card was submitted to the following challenges:

Alphabet Challenge Blog - 'H' is for hat

Penny's Paper Craft Challenge Blog #44 - 'Merry Christmas'

Freshly Brewed 2 Week long Challenge 27 - 'Merry Christmas'

4 Crafty Chicks - 'Snowmen'

Creative Belli Challenge #106 - Christmas Embellishments/Papers

Incy Wincy Designs - Challenge 72 - use NON-TRADITIONAL Christmas colours

Digital Tuesday Challenge - Challenge #89 Sparkling Christmas (plus digi)

Crafty Ann's Challenge Blog #30 - 'Anything Goes'

Fussy and Fancy Friday Challenge--Show Us Some Snow!

For anyone interested, there is a great tutorial for making a side step card at Creating Cards with Andrea.

Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday season.

Merry Christmas to all.

A trifold Christmas card. A super fun cards to make.

I think the trifold card is truly one of my favorite cards to make.  I have a rediculous passion for paper and love having the opportunity to use such a variety of designer paper on one card.  These cards are attractive, unique & fun to make.  The ovals were cut using my Sizzix Big Shot with Spellbinders Nestabilities.

I love card challenges and this card was submitted to the following challenges.

Alphabet Challenge Blog - 'H' is for hat

Crafty Cats Weekly Challenge #63 - Your Choice

4 Crafty Chicks - 'Snowmen'

Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge Blog #44 - 'Merry Christmas'

Freshly Brewed 2 Week long Challenge 27  - 'Merry Christmas'

Creative Belli Challenge #106 - Christmas Embellishments/Papers
Digital Tuesday Challenge - Challenge #89 Sparkling Christmas (plus digi)

Crafty Ann's Challenge Blog #30 - 'Anything Goes'

Fussy and Fancy Friday Challenge--Show Us Some Snow!

For anyone interested, there is a great tutorial with instructions for making these fun cards offered by Splitcoaststampers.

Thanks for stopping by.
Happy Holidays.

Christmas cards and flowers...............

I totally love challenges. They inspire me to try new things. They encourage me to use and combine colors I might not consider trying. I love to see what others have done while participating in the same challenge or how they interpreted the same sketch. Sometimes the results surprise me. Sometimes the results are even amazing. Most of all, challenges are fun.

My new passion is paper flowers.  That's what I have been doing for the past several evenings. I love creating them.  The possibilities are endless.

I decided earlier this evening I really need to get to work on my Christmas cards.  I have several done but will need a few more.  I started visiting my favorite blogs looking for challnges I could have fun with while creating my Christmas cards.  I also wanted to be able to use my flowers.  I was really pleased to find several.  There were several 'Anything Goes' challenges this week.  Those are always fun.

Here is my first creationusing my flowers while making a Christmas card.

The bird is a digi stamp colored with watercolor pencils blended with a aqua-painter. The flowers are torn paper flowers.  You can use paper or cardstock to make them.  I love 'em.

I'd like to thank Gabi at 'Such a Pretty Mess' for the fantastic and easy to follow tutorial for these great flowers.  I love her blog. 

I submitted this card to several great blogs. 

Christmas Cards All Year 'Round -- Card size other than the norm.  Must have gold, silver, crystal or pearl.

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge -- Use purple & Silver.

Totally Gorjuss Challenge -- Christmas

Paper Romance -- Handmade flowers

Alphabet Challenge Blog -- 'V' is for vintage.

Charisma Cardz Challenge #38 -- Anything Goes

Crazy for Challenges -- Bling

AiFactory -- Anything Goes

Incy Wincy Designs -- challenge #61-- Anything Goes

Scrappy Frogs Challenge Blog -- Make your own flowers

Tellen's Place Designs -- Bling!!

Delightful Challenges -- Make it Sparkle

Happy Christmas card making.

Thanks for stopping by.

Happy Birthday, 'with love'..........

I made this card 'with love' for my dear Uncle Allen's birthday.  He's a sweet & wonderful man in his 90s. I love him & his beautiful wife, Aunt Judy, very much.

 This little guy & his balloons were colored with watercolor pencils with the help of an aqua-painter.

I submitted this card to the following challenges.

Pile it up--Cute & Charming.

Spoon Full of Sugar -- Spots & Stripes

Allsorts Challenge #71 -- Plain & Simple

Charisma Cardz Challenge #38 -- Anything Goes

AiFactory -- Challenge & Digital Blog -- Challenge #49 -- Anything Goes

Incy Wincy Designs -- Challenge #61 -- Anything Goes.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Willie the Brat.........

I made this layout by following this really fun sketch offer by the 'Sketchy Thursdays' Blog.

.  I submitted my layout for their May 20th. challenge.  This is an extra nice layout.  One of my favorites.

 This is my two page layout introducing Willie, our cat.  Willie loves our dogs.  He truly believes dogs are cool.  The pictures in this layout show Willie having a great time with our two dogs Rebel & Britt.  I don't think the dogs are having as much fun as Willie, but then, Willie doesn't care about that.

The first page is 'Fun with Rebel.' Rebel is our 14 year old longhaired miniature dachshund.  Willie really does enjoy Rebel. Fortunately, Willie isn't a mean cat.  He's just a prankster.  It's all just a joke.

Britt is our lab/pit bull mix.  She is the best behaved dog ever.  She doesn't have a mean bone in her body.  Willie adores Britt.  Fortunately, Britt has an unbelievable amount of patience.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Scrapping the Girls

This layout is in honor of two of my favorite women.

My daughter and sister.

The pictures include:

My sister, Teri.

My daughter, Tracy.

And.......myself, Jan.

We've been called all of the above.  As a joke, of course.  We do sing alot when we are together.  We can also assume a pretty fair Charlie's Angels pose with guns aimed and everything.

Jan, Tracy & Teri  (bottom right corner picture)

The picture were taken while camping at Rainbow Group Camp near Quilcene, Wa.  We camped there for four days.  It was a blast.

It was a great weekend full of family, friends, camping, dogs & geocaching.

This layout was submitted to the 'Scrap the Girls', First of May Challenge.

"No boys allowed."

Colors allowed: blue, yellow, white, pink & black.

The next page......

This is my second page for my two page scrapbook layout of my daughter, Tracy.  Page one is my previous blog.

The 'Just My Sketches' blog offered this great sketch for their May 1st. challenge.  This challenge is hosted by Deanne Burton of Newfoundland. 

Along with the monthly sketch is a list of five songs.  You choose a song to inspire your creativity on the project.  I chose,  'From a Distance', by Bette Midler.  I used the words 'love' and 'hope' spelled out with chipboard letters.  I pray my daughter's generation can make some improvements in the world.

Here is my layout:

Tracy got those beautiful flowers for her birthday.  This picture is what prompted me to buy this paper for her layout.  They were perfect together.

I also submitted this project to the "Chipboard Technique Challenge" over at The Shabby Tea Room Blog. This is their challenge for week 9. Thank you for a super fun challenge.

It was also submitted to the Stamp, Scrap & Doodle Saturdays Blog Challenge #39, "Anything but a card."

And

The Easy Craft Projects Challenge Blog, challenge #12, "Spring--flowers, baby animals or new beginnings."

 

FROM A DISTANCE
Bette Midler

 From a distance the world looks blue and green,
and the snow-capped mountains white.
From a distance the ocean meets the stream,
and the eagle takes to flight.  

From a distance, there is harmony,
and it echoes through the land.
It's the voice of hope, it's the voice of peace,
it's the voice of every man.

From a distance we all have enough,
and no one is in need.
And there are no guns, no bombs, and no disease,
no hungry mouths to feed.

From a distance we are instruments
marching in a common band.
Playing songs of hope, playing songs of peace.
They're the songs of every man.

God is watching us. God is watching us.
God is watching us from a distance.
From a distance you look like my friend,
even though we are at war.
From a distance I just cannot comprehend
what all this fighting is for.

From a distance there is harmony,
and it echoes through the land.
And it's the hope of hopes, it's the love of loves,
it's the heart of every man.

It's the hope of hopes, it's the love of loves.
This is the song of every man.
And God is watching us, God is watching us,
God is watching us from a distance. Oh,
God is watching us, God is watching.
God is watching us from a distance


Thanks so much for visiting.

My latest scrapbook page of my daughter, Tracy..........

The Magical Crafts Fortnightly Challenges blog offered this great sketch for their Challenge #14. What a great sketch.  I liked it the moment I saw it.

I had this beautiful sunflower designer paper I bought especially to do a layout of my daughter, Tracy.  I decided to used this sketch for Tracy's layout.  Here was the outcome.

I think it came out great.  I loved working with this sketch.  I'll use this in the future for other layouts.  Thanks for a great challenge.

I also submitted this project to the "Chipboard Technique Challenge" over at The Shabby Tea Room Blog.  This is their challenge for week 9.  Thank you for a super fun challenge.  I love working with chipboard.

It was also submitted to the Stamp, Scrap & Doodle Saturdays Blog Challenge #39, "Anything but a card."

And  

The Easy Craft Projects Challenge Blog, challenge #12, "Spring--flowers, baby animals or new beginnings." 

 

Thanks for stopping by.

Today is our fifteenth wedding anniversaery.......

Since we have a variety of activites coming up in the near future, Don & I have agreed not to spend money on eachother for our anniversary. Still........ I wanted to do something more for him than just the everyday card.

We have a wall in our bedroom that needs something. I have not found just the right wall hanging for this spot. Our bedroom is done following the beliefs of Feng Shui. Our room is painted tan with off white trim. Calming, skin colors. Our bed is not in direct line with the door. Most things in the room are in matched pairs. We have matching nightstands with matched lamps and candles. Our pictures are hung in pairs and depict marriage and happy couples. No TV, exercise equipment, mirrors, large plants or pictures showing unhappy, solitary or alone images.

For fun, I decided to try making my own wall hanging. Instead of giving Don a card, I made a scrapbook layout of our wedding and framed it for the empty spot on our bedroom wall.

It's a 16" x 20" frame. Here is how it turned out.

April 7th., 1995

And........I still adore him.

Happy Anniversary, honey.

I'm using this layout for the 'Just My Sketches' April challenge hosted by Deanne Burton.

I chose the song, 'A Moment Like This' by Kelly Clarkson.

'I'm Amazed by You'

Here is my layout for the March 1st. 'Just my Sketches' challenge. This challenge is hosted by Deanne Burton of Newfoundland. Thank you Deanne for a great challenge.

This challenge is a little different. Each month Deanne posts sketch challenges for two scrapbook layouts and two cards. She also lists the titles and lyrics for five songs. The challenge is to choose a song and then tie the song in with the sketch while creating your card or layout. You can use the song title, theme or a stanza from the song. It adds a new spin on the scrap/card challenges. It's fun.

The song I chose was 'Amazed' by Lonestar.

Here is the sketch and........

below is my layout.

"I'm amazed by you."

For my husband, Don. I adore him so.

Thanks for stopping by.

'Time'---Our boy has grown up.

Here is my layout for the March 15th. 'Just my Sketches' challenge, hosted by Deanne Burton of Newfoundland.

The song I chose is 'Time' by Hootie and the Blowfish.

Here is the sketch.

and......my layout.

The first picture is Ryan's first birthday. The one with the guitar is recent. Ryan turned 18 on March 16th. He'll be graduating in June. He's almost the perfect kid. I love him.

Thanks for stopping by.

'Just my Sketches' March card challenge

This is my card for the March 15th. 'Just my Sketches' card challenge. This challenge is generously hosted by Deanne Burton of Newfoundland.

This challenge is a little different. Each month Deanne posts sketch challenges for two scrapbook layouts and two cards. She also lists the titles and lyrics for five songs. The challenge is to choose a song and then tie the song in with the sketch while creating your card or layout. You can use the song title, theme or a stanza from the song. It adds a new spin on the scrap/card challenges. It's fun.

This cute 'Barnaby the bunny' stamp came from Digital Delights by Louby Loo. I colored him in with watercolor pencils. He's a cutie.

The song I chose is 'More Beautiful You' by Jonny Diaz.

This is the sketch.

and......my card.

The inside.

Thanks for stopping by.

Christmas Cards All Year 'Round--March challenge

Here are the five cards I submitted to the 'Christmas Cards all Year 'Round' March challenge. This challenge was hosted by Deanne Burton.

I absolutely love this monthly challenge. It motivates me to get my Christmas cards made early and it's always fun.

This months challenge was to create five Christmas cards that were predominantly green and also includs a snowman. The green is for St. Patrick's Day in March.

All five cards were completed by March 19th.

Thanks again, Deanne, for a fun challenge.