Merry Christmas

I thank God for giving us his precious son.  He died for our sins and I am forever grateful. 

I thank you so very much for being loyal followers and I pray that as today progresses and we each spend time with family and friends, that we would share the love.  Tell them how precious they are to you.  Have a very Merry Christmas.

Tonya

Mistletoe Jam

This is my entry for our challenge this week over at Platinum Scraps.  Each designer could complete any project, it just had to be Christmas Themed.  I designed this project with my cousin in mind who absolutely loved herself some Luther Vandross.  Since it was Christmas, what better title than Luther's song, "Mistletoe Jam".  The blue and silver mimics her sorority colors, blue and white.  I can hear her now, go Zeta's, LOL.  Gotta love the greeks.

Anyway, thanks for looking and may God continue to make your holiday season bright.

Three B's: Brads, Buttons, and Bows

Over at Platinum Scraps, our challenge this week is to create a layout with buttons, brads, and bows.  I immediately knew my title when this challenge was issued.  Didn't have the photos, paper, or even an idea, but I think it came out just fine. I challenged myself this time.  My team mates know that I am so afraid of patterned papers.  In 2011, I want to conquer that fear.  I only used solid cardstock as accents.  I love how it turned out.

This is Symone, ha ha, like yall don't know who she is.  But just in case, this is Nana's very first grandchild and my DD and DS never let's me forget that I am the first, her dad, and her and we are rotten.  I beg to differ but eveyone has their own opinions.

Anyway, this is Ms. Symone on her Papa's truck.  Whenever he puts her back there, she just has a ball.  He always has to chase her down just to get her to come out.

Thanks for always being a loyal follower.  Be sure to come and post a link to your project if you decide to take the challenge to complete the three B's. 

Drum Roll Please........

When I announced my blog candy, I intentionally did not put an end time for comments.  I decided I would truly give everyone until the end of the day (today that is).  So I said hmmmmm, let's make the drawing at 11:59 pm in order to give all my followers a chance.  With that said and the time here, I checked and I have a total of 28 comments on my "City of Lights" Layout.  The winner was selected using RANDOM.ORG

the lucky winner is.....

WrinkleFreeDiva said...


Tonya you are the layout queen. All of your layouts seem to just pop off the page with all of the little details you always remember to add. Girl, I need you to give me some tutorials.

WrinkleFreeDiva, you have until 11:59 pm on Tuesday night to email me your cart choice.  If you have the new Christmas Seasonals and would like something else, you may select a cart of your choice valued at $25.00.  Thanks for all of my wonderful friends.

SST Christmas and Countdown to the New Year Blog Hop!

Christmas is coming and so is the new year! To get you in the spirit of the season, the divas of Sistas Scrap Too! have come together for a Christmas and Countdown to the New Year blog hop! There are 17 blogs in the hop, so make sure you use the links below this post to hop to all of the participating blogs. No worries if you miss one, you can always go back! These 17 divas have a lot in store for you. From exquisite creations to offers of blog candy, you will enjoy hopping your way to all of the blogs involved! Don't forget to leave some blog love for the creators -- they love getting feedback on their designs!

My Sketch

City of Lights

84th Annual Christmas Festival

City of Lights

Thank you for participating in the Sistas Scrap Too! first ever blog hop! Remember to visit all of the blogs and leave blog love -- you never know where you'll find candy!! Here is a linked list of all the participating blogs:

 

 

1. Treva's Craft Corner

2. Stampin' Dymonz Creative Space

3. Nubian Crafter NC

4. My {Life}, My {Blog}

5. Step Into Nita's World

6. Sweet Lil Scrapper

7. P-Kaysunshine Creations

8. Sharing My Stuff

9. Yaya Philly Craft World

10. Cassie's Crop Corner

11. M. M. DeZigns

12. Made By Dee

13. Riley's Custom Creations

14. It's A Family Affair!

15. Cuttin' Up

16. Stamping On The Road

17. In Shelly's World

Back to top

Just getting my blog to publish.  Saved it to publish at 5:47 am.  Didn't post and have been trying to figure out what the problem was.  Would allow me to post the unedited photos, but not the edited one.  Sorry for inconvience. 

Blog Candy for one special person.  Leave a comment and I will draw tommorrow.  The candy will be one of the new lites of your choice.

Nana's Big "LiL" Boy

This week at Platinum Scraps we had to create a sketch from gotsketch.blogspot.com.  I will not post the sketch due to copyright agreement between the blog owner.  Here is my take on the sketch.  This is the newest edition to our family.  Mr. Trindan Williams born October 26, 2010.

TFL.

My grandson is here.

Just wanted to share with you guys a picture of me and the newest addition to my family.  Mr. Trindan was born on October 26, 2010 at 10:34 am in Shreveport, LA.  He weighed in at a mighty 5lbs and 4 ozs.  Yeah, Yeah, that's sure is small but big things come in small packages.  Anyway, here goes my rooty pooty.

Cricut Expression for Schools

I was so very happy to be able to nominate L.P. Vaughn Elementary School in Natchitoches, LA  for the Cricut Circle Expression Giveaway.  My cousin teaches kindergarten at the school and she knows how much I love my E, Gypsy, and all things Cricut. 

I had been telling her to remind me of the date to register because I so wanted her school to have a shot.

Here she is with her machine.  We actually cut a few images yesterday off the Plantin Schoolbook cart.  I had never even seen the Roly Poly image, but now I am sold on it.  LOL.  See you find so many new things daily with your Cricut.

Thanks Provo Craft for all you do.

Matthew 11:28

This week over at Platinum Scraps we completed our second challenge with the Basic Grey "Vagabond" line.  This paper actually had to grow on me but now I seem to like it.  Below is the card I made using the "Aged and Confused".  TFL.

Perfect Paradise

This week over at Platinum Scraps  each designer had to complete a layout of their choice using the Basic Grey Paper line Vagabond.  I decided to scrap a few of my pictures from Jamaica..  I cut several 2 by 2 squares out of the Vagabond line and place them strategically throughout my layout.

TFL.

A Girl's Best Friend

This week over at Platinum Scraps each designer had to create a layout from the following sketch from Got Sketch.  I took some photos of my darling granddaugther Symone and our dog Deuce.  Hint, Hint, he's a Saint's fan as well.  Naw, anyway, Symone worries him to death.  I know if he could talk, he would say "Calgon, Please take Symone away".  She tries to ride him, pulls his tail, wants to eat his food and drink his water, then turns around and slips him food and allows him to sip her sippy cup when Nana is not watching. 

She got in the clothes basket then of course he had to follow.  We call her smile, "The Evil Smile"  and she put on a big one. 

To my dear friend who tells me to drift away from the Cricut sometime, this one is for you.
TFL.

The Sketch

My Take



Platinum Scraps September Card Challenge

I can't think of the artist who says this, I think it is Shekinah Glory but don't quote me, lol anyway they say, "Well, It's About That Time".  Truly for me it is.  The last several months have been really rough and the one thing that gave me comfort; scrap, I could not even due.  But thanks be to God, I am back.  I won't say I won't get down, but I certainly hope that I will be able to recognize what is happening and go into attack mode.  Anyway, thanks for all who continually lifted me and my family.  We are forever grateful.

This week over at Platinum Scraps each designer had to give their take on the following sketch.  The sketch can be found over at http://gotsketch.blogspot.com/

Here is my take.  For the life of me, I could not get this yellow paper to photo well.  I will try outside tommorrow.  Hope you like.  This is a card of encouragement.  TFL.

Recipe:

Card size 6 X 6 cut lenghtwise

Stampin Up Flower Die

Martha Stewart Punch Dolly Lace Trim

Stampin Up Cardstock

Verve Sentiment Stamp

Cricut Cartridge Storybook

William McDowell

I have shared my faith with many of you in the past.  I want to share another jewel that I have found.  Recently my girlfriend asked me did I have a cd by William McDowell.  I did not and wasn't sure what he had released either.  You see I love music but dont' keep up with names and artist.  LOL.  I am usually like girl did you hear this song.  She will say yes, you have that cd. 

Anyway, I would encourage each of you to google this young man and listen to his cd.  "I Give Myself Away" has me in tears each time I listen to the song.  He speaks about how each of us have gifts but if we don't use them, we just take them to Heaven and they are worthless. 

I encourage each of us, to dig deep and use what God has given us.  There are lives hanging in the balance.  Click on the link below to hear the song. 

I Give Myself Away

My desire this year for myself and my family is that we would stand up boldly and express our love for Christ. 

Platinum Scraps Sketch Challenge

My take on the sketch over at Platinum Scraps

4th of July Themed Challenge

Here is my entry for the 4th of July Themed challenge over at Platinum Scraps. I selected all of my cuts from Provo Craft's Independence Day Seasonal Cart.

Front View

Back View

Next Top Saints Fan!

My daughter loves Tyra Bank's show next top model.  Well, I have just taken a picture of the next top Saint's Fan.  My darling granddaughter Symone wants to throw her hat in the running.

In an exclusive interview with Symone, she had the following to say, "Ok, excuse the slobbering.  But I am in the running.  Just ask my Nana.  She is my number one fan".

"Our Shining Star"

Hello blog followers.  This week over at Platinum Scraps we were challenged by PkaySunshine to use our Cricut and create a project that had a star from any cart.  I decided to feature my dad in his younger days, and I do mean younger.  I love how it turned out.

Fun Days

I created this layout for a challenge on the Cricut Messageboard in the general chat section titled Sistas Scrap Too.  This challenge also answered one that I had given in the same thread.  The requirements for my challenge were to (a) use something blue ( paper, brads, buttons, ribbon, etc), (b) use brads, and (c) use buttons.  Since these photos were taken in beautiful Jamaica, what better use of color. 

The sketch is a part of our weekly card/layout challenge on the same thread.  PKaySunshine pulled this sketch from pagemaps.  TFL.

The Sketch

My Take

Recipe

Cricut Cartridge: Life's A Beach

Quickutz Letters: Spotlight

Brads & Buttons

Platinum Scraps - Dry Embossing Challenge

Here is my entry for Platinum Scraps.  This week each designer was free to design any project, they just had to use dry embossing.  I made a card for my Daughter for her Daddy for Father's Day. 

Happy Memorial Day to all of our men and women serving in our armed forces.

 Recipe:

Papertreyink Paper:  Enchanted Evening and Spring Rain

Nestabilities: Scalloped Circle, Classic Circle, Ribbon Tag

Cuttlebug Embossing Folder: Spots and Dots

Papertreyink Stamp:  Father Knows Best

Father and Son:  A Child's Year

Graduation

Here is one picture of my baby at graduation!  Outside the coliseum with Kennedi Symone being his little mini me.

Fun in the Sun

This is part one of my layout challenge this week over at Platinum Scraps.  We received our second sponsor some time in the month of April. 

Thanks again to Rick over at http://www.3bugsinarug.com/index.asp for graciously accepting my request for sponsorship and sending out paper from the Little Chicks Collection for each designer to try.  I just love the paper lines from this company.  This collection was designed with an Easter Theme in mind but I actually used mine for a beach layout of my son for "Senior Skip Day" at the beach or shall I say our man made beach that is.  LOL. 

We all didn't receive the same paper sheets so each product was different.  Here are a few samples upclose of the papers I received.  Some of the lighter colors are hard to view with the picture but believe me, it is beautiful paper and good, heavy cardstock that happens to be double sided as well.

After I had submitted my project to the design team, I was not satisfied, so I did like a fellow scrapper told me a long tiime ago, "make it better".  So photo two is my redo.  I  matted my blue piece of light blue piece of paper to a darker one.  It did nothing for me just that plain sheet of light blue.  I added stickles, white arms to the chair, chalk to the ball, and added a darker shade of brown to bounce off the lighter shade for the sand, changed the title and repositioned it.  Almost all of the elements except the seaweed have now been pop dotted.  LOL.  That word (pop dotted) sounds funny when you say it in your mind.  Anyway, enough, I hope you like.  TFL

"Chicks Rock"

"Follow Me"

Little Chicken

Design Team Submission

"Fun in the Sun"

 

"Take Two"

Just BEE Cause

This week over at Platinum Scraps  we did a card sketch challenge.  Each member had to take the following sketch and create a card.  This card is for my husband.  Sometimes, we all need to know that we are loved and appreciated, just because.  

The Sketch

My Creation

and the Court!

Here is page one of a two page layout I completed for a challenge over at Platinum Scraps.  This week's feature was the Free for All (FFA).  We could create whatever we wanted, it just had to feature images from the Forever Young Cartridge.  The other page features the Queen.  So once complete, it will read, "The Queen, and the Court".  I ran out of pearls but will post sometime this week.  Yeah, Yeah, I am shakin my own head.

He Picked The King!

I used our layout challenge over at Platinum Scraps to create a layout for "Uncle".

At King of Hearts Tuxedo Rental, each person is guaranteed to receive a discount off his tuxedo depending on which card he draws.  The card everyone wants is the King of Hearts.  Not only did Uncle select the King, but the very next day he received his papers officially stating he had been admitted to the University of Louisiana at Monroe.

He was on cloud nine.  No one could burst his bubble.  I am so proud of my baby.

The Sketch

My Creation

My Baby is All Grown Up!

Some people say they love having an empty nest.  I am not sure that is all it is cracked up to be.  My baby is finally growing into a young man.  I need to stop fooling myself, he is already that.  Here are a couple of pictures that were taken today of him before Prom, (his senior prom).  For those of you who know and love me, yes, I am crying.  Have been for months now.  But I promise you they are tears of joy.  I know that he has to leave but boy do I hate to see him go. 

Crayon Wreath

I originally saw this wreath on the Cricut messageboard and knew I wanted to make one for my cousin.  That was in August, well needless to say the time has flown by and school is almost out but better late than never.  Thanks to Jenny for this wonderful creation.  This was the second time I have used the Cricut Markers and I must say I do like them.  I heat embossed my ruler and the scissors to give them a shiny effect.  TFL.

Supplies:

Crayola Brand Crayons

Stampin Up Clear Embossing Powder

Hot Glue(didn't like and will try to find another type of adhesive)