Cattle Congress 2012 Entries and Results!!

What 2 post in 1 nite?!?!? I know, I know.... But hey, I'm on a roll here and do it while it's fresh!

Magic of Oz purse 3rd Place

So yesterday Cattle Congress ended. It's a bigger fair than The Big Four Fair in my community, so I decide since I did well at my fair I'd dip my toe into a bigger pool! LOL! My family and I went on the last day,oh the anxiety of not knowing how I did ALL weeklong!!! First  thing we did was go to the Ag Building where all the Home Arts were displayed along with the Horticulture and Vegetables. So 1st table we went to was the Wood crafting table where my Graphic 45 Magic of Oz purse was on display.....   Yep as you can see there's a ribbon there!! 3rd Place!! Whoo- Hoo!! My 1st "Ribbon" Ribbon!! LOL!!  So let the hunt for the other 7 entries begin!!

Under the Weather card 3rd Place

We crossed the building to where all the Home Art were displayed... It was a great turn out this year they had over 400 entries and it was double what was entered last year!! That is so awesome- That people are out there crafting and are courageous enough to proudly show what they have created! (It took me long enough!!) So the next we spotted was my Under the Weather card.... I spy another 3rd!! Ok this is great, another ribbon!! It's validation that I'm good enough to be here, and I say that in all honesty and humility. I sometimes wonder if what I think I do is as good as what is produced out there in craft/scrapworld... Oh well, I think I'll get over this now....

Beloved Album 1st Place!!!!

Two down Six to go! Oooh! Very close to the card was my next entry!! It was my Beloved Album, and it really is my Beloved Album- I love this album!! I made half of it in a class with Donna Downey and the other half I did on my own and had a great time doing this album- It is my baby! Love, Love, LOVE  this Album!! Its a Canvas Album I painted the- whole thing- everypage! There are iron-ons in it, lace, ribbon, trim, Prima flowers- I will do a post on the album in the future! LOL! Anyways- 1st PLACE!!! Yay!!! AWESOME!! And what do I see in the corner of my picture here? It looks like another one of my entries!!!

Once Upon a Sprintime Music Box 1st Place!!!

Yep it's my cigar box that I remade into a Music Box! Done with Graphic 45's Once Upon a Springtime paper, Prima (LOVE Prima flowers!) flowers, and Tim Holtz box legs (love those legs!). And... YEP! That's another 1st place BLUE RIBBON!!! I'm-a likin this Cattle Congress- fair!! Yay, yay, YAY!! The Music box I bought at Goodwill in Waverly (it was broke) and took it out of its shell and put it in this cigar box. It plays Somewhere My Love- from Dr. Zhivago. The box's theme is overall about fairies. The hunt is still on-going next up is just around the corner..... 









There is my Graphic 45 Alice in Wonderland clock and alas.... it didn't place.... I was kinda surprised at this one- I love this clock but it's a bit on the funky side maybe even a bit fuggly (but I like fuggly things) Oh, well I guess you can't (win) place them all! The hunt continues! The next target isn't far away! 5 down- 3 to go!





The next entry is my Graphic 45 Domestic Goddess Recipe Box. This was a plain wooden box bought at Hobby Lobby in the clearance section- it is broke- one of the post-hinges is broke but I fixed it with a toothpick (I love a bargin)! I was so on the fence in entering this- really on the fence but I figured I'll enter it it's free to enter so why not? I'm glad I did!! WOW!! Another 1st PLACE BLUE RIBBON!! Down to the last 2 entries both of my scrapbooking pages!

As we walked along the displays looking at gorgeous quilts, wall-hangings, and various other items we arrived at the scrapbooking section- really nervous- I know my pages were way simple but they were neat and I liked them... 1st up Dusty and Lorena's Wedding scrapbooking page..... didn't place I love this photo, paper, and the overall colors of this page! but alas, it didn't place but Scrapbooking is just 1 catagory- an overall catagory and you can only win once in each catagory and What's that yep I entered twice in the catagory because the rules were kinda worded wierdly so they let me enter twice- AND here's why the wedding page didn't place......

Molly and Wendy's Halloween did!!! Not only did it place- it got (drum-roll please!!!) 1st PLACE ANOTHER BLUE RIBBON!!! OMG!! NO WAY!!! My Dad (Both my parents were with me) says, "It's the dogs that got you that blue ribbon, they'll do it everytime. They're that cute!" Ha-Ha-Ha!! Love my Dad's humor! LOL!! But also if you notice my Mom made the suggestion that I take off my handwritten journaling or title and re-do it on the computer.... She (my Mom) said, "I wonder if it did make a difference? Great Job, I'm so proud of you!"

So OMG! I think I may just go all out and maybe do it big time and enter the "Big Show" The Iowa State Fair!! I'm overwhelmed with how I did do at Cattle Congress (Four 1st places, Two 3rd places, and Two non-placers)- honestly I was thinking I'd maybe get 1 ribbon and a 3rd place at that!  There were alot of talented people that entered beautiful items, if you were able to view them- I hope you enjoyed them as much as I did and those who didn't get the chance (and live in the area) please go and look at how much talent local people around have.... you might be surprised!

Thanks for viewing my Cattle Congress fair entries I hope you enjoyed a glimpse into what they had to offer and hope you all go next year to see the next year's entries!!

As always,

Have a Scrappy Day!!





Big Four Fair Results!!

Hello all! A little late but just a small post to put up the results of my entries at my local fair- The Big Four Fair!! It maybe small but its BIG with HEART and community PRIDE!


So here they are, my 9 entries and their results!

Magic of Oz purse 1st Place Original Made Item.

Once Upon a Springtime Music Box (remade cigar box) 1st Place Recycled Art.

Vintage Barbie and Friends Collection 2nd Place Collection Other.

Alice in Wonderland clock 3rd Place Crafts Original Idea.

Domestic Goddess Recipe Box 3rd Place Other Than Listed.

Under the Weather Card 2nd Place Crafts.

Molly and Wendy's Halloween 2nd Place Scrapbooking- Holiday.

Beloved Album 2nd Place Mixed Medium.

Dusty and Lorena's Wedding 3rd Place Scrapbooking- Wedding.

So there you have it.... All 9 placed!! Two 1sts, Four 2nds, and Three 3rds!  A great showing! Hope you enjoyed this small glimpse of (my) fair entries!!

Have a Scrappy Day!!

Pinterest!! and what I've been up to!!

Pinterest:

Addictive- um... YESS!!!  LOL!!

So I just pinned 3 of my projects off of my blog here..... ooh and sorry I havn't blogged in awhile... ya know stuff happens and there are albums to be made... ooh another good post! lol! Anyways yes I have pinned 3 of my projects I have blogged about in the past, why?  Eh, I just want to experiment to see if anyone in "pin-world" would re-pin my creations.  I have been doing alot of re-pinning and have recently discovered digital stamps on Pinterest! OMG- I know about digi stamps so why havn't I ever looked on Pinterest for them- idk! But I'll tell you I think I'm making up for lost time!! Also,

Welcome Pinterest viewers- I hope you like my lil blog here!

It's still in it's newish phase and I've not found a good way to remember to blog! LOL!!

So, what have I been up too?  2 baby albums and 2 wedding albums- so now you know why there is no time to blog betweeen scrappin and workin- I still gotta sleep and eat here! lol!!

1) I finished my cousin Dusty baby's album (12x12) and it has left me now, to be filled with wonderful pictures of the cutest baby boy ever!! (biased, yep I am!) I do have pics of the entire album just waiting to be posted on here. (Soon I hope!) 

2) I finished my cousin Amanda's wedding album (12x12) and did a memory box that the album fits in along with whatever else she decides to put in it.  It too has left me! I have pics of most of the album and the memory box just waiting to be posted on here. (Again, soon I hope!)

3)I finished another wedding album (8x8) for Tori (My Sister-in-law's (Terina) Sister). I don't think I have any pics of it I did it in a couple of days and forgot to snap some photos.... :o(

4) Just starting another boy album (12x12) for my cousin Amanda who is having a boy!! By request the album is to have some nerdyness to it! (Break out the Star Wars paper!!) LOL! Pics to be coming soon!!

5) Starting a baby girl album (12x12) for Tori. (afore mentioned) Only stipulation: No Pink!?!? I don't know how I'm gonna do this! But I love a challenge! Again, pics to come!

6) It's fair time soon in my small community and that means getting entries ready for the fair!! I'll be taking a few of the projects I have posted on here along with some others I havn't! Wish me luck- I entered only one 2 page layout and recieved 2nd place! Here's hoping for a 1st place!! 


So I'll say so long for now I gotta get back to the baby album(s)!! LOL!!
Come back and maybe there will be some awesome pics of the albums I've done recently!
Till then-
Have a Scrappy day!!

Packing for Scrapping!

Morning all!
Topic for the day is:

Packing for Scrapping!!

So most of us probably have done this and more than once I suspect.... Packing for scrapping either for a class, crop, or a retreat.  This is my procedure while packing.

So first depending on whether its a class, crop, or retreat is deciding what will be worked on..... or needed to take for the class situation. 

Classes:

Most of the supplies are provided and/or you will have a supply list of materials need to buy.  I usually use my smallest scrapbooking rolling tote for classes that I need to bring materials to.

Things I always take along:

-paper trimmer (Fiskars)

-my small detail sicssors (Fiskars)

-steel edge corkbacked ruler

-a glue runner (Glue Arts Pro Glider)

-craft knife (Tonic Studio's retractable)

-Beacons 3-n-1 glue (Absolutely a MUST HAVE!!)

-Drinks and snacks (if allowed) (Fanta orange pop, Mike n' Ikes, and Cool Ranch Doritos!)

Day/Nite Crop:

Depending on if its an all day crop or just a 6hr nite crop can really change what you will take to work on! Lol! I used to take too much and didn't work on 3/4th of it!  But I liked the choices of what to work on sometimes... Sometimes it was taking up time deciding what to work on and moving this and that outta the way.  Now I make myself only take what I need to get done first. Yes, this does take away my choices but I'm also getting my tasks done and not taking un-needed things along that just basicaly are taking a ride my car and I'm lugging to the crop.

I have all my projects in those hard plastic 12x12 cases. Deping on how big or small I they're either in small Art Bin or Iris case. I love this system! I just grab the case I want and slide it into my big rolling tote. I can fit 2 Iris cases and a small Art bin case in the front section and the back is reserved for my other supplies.  I have a crop in style shoulder bag that has only my cardstock in it. This way I know I have all my card stock with me at all times! 

Things I take along:

-project that needs get done 1st (this includes all the paper, stamps, embelishments, trims, etc...)

-my inks (liquid chalk-Color box & Tim Holtz's Distress Inks)

-ink blender tool and extra pads (Ink Essentials)

-punches edge &/or regular (if wanted/needed)

-extra glue for my glue runner (Glue Arts Pro Glider)

-Cricut Expression (take only if there is'nt one provided or if the one provided is to be used alot)

-Cricut Cartridges in an Art Bin (which ones I take depends on what will be there to use or not there)

-extra page protectors (if my project is album based)

-Album (if project is album based)

-Xyron sticker maker (small cut-outs are hard to stick down!)

-Copics (if needed/wanted)

-Crop-a-dile and eyelets (if needed/wanted)

-treats to share (I like to do this! Cookies and cupcakes are a fav to bring!)

-my idea book (book I jot down ideas and sketches for my projects.)

Retreat:

Almost a no-holds-barred situation... lol! But no, like the day/nite crop I'm still containing myself I will bring 1 to 2 projects to do depending greatly on how big the 1st project is. What to bring is my two previous lists and maybe adding my other small rolling tote for the 2nd project if it won't fit in my huge bag.

Things I take along:

-my laptop

-clothing! lol!!

-camera (my cell phone has an awesome camera but you never know when you'll need a regular one!)

I hope this helps all of you out there wether you attend or are thinking of attending a scrapbooking activity. Its always fun to be with others that enjoy what we do.  I always come away with something more than my accomplished projects- ideas, friends, encourgement.... alot!  Oooh warm fuzzies all around!! lol....

So comment on what you do- maybe you have an idea that I could incorporate into my own!

Have a scrappy crafty day!!

Excited? Um, Like, YA!!!

Hey All!!
What a beautiful day!  The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and I just realized Prima has a design team call out!!  Whoo- Hoo!! Lol!
Looks like May 15th is the deadline! This is soo Awesome!! Oooh happy Scrapper dance- oh you all have one I know it- Its the dance you do when you get a great deal on a scrappy shopping trip or you just so excited about an upcoming crop trip/ scrap class... yep that one... Its close to the OMG!!! I just got to talk to Tim Hotlz dance! LOL!! I think I was in a daze the rest of that day!   Anyways..... Hmm choices, choices......

Upcoming fun stuff:
Larks and Loons Retreat!!
Yep those awesome girls @ Backroads Plum Crazy are hosting thier annual spring retreat at the Dairy Barn Bed and Breakfast!!
Im looking forward to the seeing the girls who attended last Oct's retreat! Oh and all the yummy food Donya makes and the great make and takes theyll have for the weekend! Yay!!
Here's the link to the retreat details:
 http://backroadsplumcrazy.blogspot.com/p/spring-fling-retreat.html

One of my favorite Scrapping Shops- Yep I divide my time between what I see as my 2 "Home" stores (Im so lucky I have 2 great stores with such great people that work in them!) so close living in such a small community! So check out their pages too!



2nd table full and 3rd almost full!



Meanwhile, on Garage Wars... lol.... Ugh.... I got really sick after last Sat. in the garage.  It was so windy and alot of people were spraying in their yards and in nearby fields trying to get it all sprayed before the rain we were to get last week.  I'm really susceptible to the chemical weed killlers, pesticides, and fertilizers... they just so lower my immunitys and I was unable to get out of bed Sun. morning after that... what a week- I am feeling alot better- Im hardly weezing anymore and only coughing every so often- just my ears are still totally plugged but every now and again they'll pop when I swallow so Im hoping they'll clear soon!! So I'll show what was accomplished last Sat.... This Sat was inside work as there was no way I was going to be out in the garage in that cold!

Also here are the finds of last week too:





A hamburger from McDonalds- Stolen by someone- I bought @ a thrift store!

My Tribble! and a tribble handbook I luv the tribble Star Trek episodes!!

and 2 I Dream of Jeanie bottles- these are real alcohol bottles just like the one they painted and used on the TV show- not reprodutions I have 3 of them the 3rd is in the basement somewhere.....

On the Wedding album front I have 3 pages done, and another semidone its just not decided what page it'll be...

Done are:

The Grooms page

The Bridesmaids page

The Groomsmen page

I might post them later today, later this week, or after my weekend retreat! lol!  I'll be mainly working on the Wedding Album at the retreat!! Yay!!

Have a crafty/ scrappy day Ya'll!!

April Showers bring Garage Cleaning???

Hello all!! Yep its me! Ha, Ha, of course it's me! 

Here's what's been going on in my world!

1) Finishing a Baby Boy Album for my cousin in New York!

2) Starting a Wedding Album for my cousin in DesMoines! YAY!! (something other than a baby album!!)

3) Getting stuff together for a Baby Album for my aforementioned cousin in DesMoines! (boy or girl? hmmm.....)

4) Cleaning in and out my garage!

5) Getting ready for a garage sale!!

6) Moving garage sale stuff up from the basement to the garage.

First table in my garage to be filled with stuff for my upcoming sale!

Been alot of stuffed burned (10 bags) and 1 pickup load sent to the dump so far!

Now after all this garage work is over I will be getting my craft room done!!  I haven't had the time or materials to start on it since I moved into my house almost 5 years ago!  All my craft stuff was just "put" in there willy-nilly and its so unorganized. I have most to all of my scrapbooking stuff upstairs in my spare bedroom and some in the dining room.  It's starting to over run my living areas so something needs to change here and I need some breathing room again. 

Yep as you can see it really needs help! I have a floor loom (my moms), 2 shelving units in dark brown, a section of old kitchen cupboards, various small shelves, 2 sets of wooden towers, 3 rolling table carts, a white wicker bakers rack, and a stand that was built for a scroll saw- will be my cricut's home! There is stuff in here that is so not supposed to be too!

So EVERYTHING in my craft room is being moved out so the walls can be painted! I'm a firm believer in thrifting and am a cheap person at heart- I'll spend money on what I can't get cheap!  I bought 2 gallons of Bher Premium paint at St.Vincent DePauls thrift store for $2.50 a gallon 1 is full the other is 3/4ths full. One is eggshell the other is satin both are a pale mint green- so pale that you'd need a swatch of white to see they were green! The 3/4ths gallon is getting a pint of sage green glaze added to it to darken the color (I got the pint at another thrift store-Trinkets n' Togs for a $1.  LOVE MY GREENS!! That is going to be on my fire brick exterior wall (foundation wall) it will be painted on with on of those two-in-one rolller kits to make a mottled sponge painted effect on the wall (Paint roller kit Brand new $3 at Trinkets n' Togs).  The Interior walls will be wall papered with-you guessed it wall paper from a thrift store! $1.50 each for 3 big rolls and $1 each for 2 roll of border paper! It's a cute paper of crafty witches in light and medium lavenders.  I have 2 rolls of the checkerboard lavenders and 1 or the lavender and pink striped accent and 2 rolls of the crafty witches with trees border!

My cute wallpaper!



I have a couple of big old shelving units that are from the 80's I might paint them in one of the green colors probly the darker but I don't know yet, they are a dark wood veneer now might just see how they look with the paint and paper job. I also have a old "built in" kitchen cabinets in there too! They will be painted! in the darker green color it's only about 4ft of cabinet 2 upper doors with shelves above and 1 lower and 3 drawers beside it. After the paint and paper job comes the linoleum for the flooring!  My mom got these for me at either a garage sale, thrift store, or an auction- all I know is they (6 rolls) were cheaply bought and its some of her contribution to the craft room!  The Lino looks like light hardwood flooring and should add some warmth to the room! Then before I start to move things back into the newly done craft room the pool table thats out in my garage has to come downstairs through the craft room into the spare bedroom that will then become the pool table/game room! It'll probably be on it's side for awhile till everything is put back into the craft room and organized at the same time! Then the pool table will be set up and ready for some fun billards playtime! 

Whew, lotta work to be done but the outcome should be awesome!!  My goal is to have a craft room where friends can come and crop with me and have fun too! My basement has a full working kitchen too! Gotta work on that basement bathroom.... Oh yes and it's already been deemed the froggy bathroom! lol!

Last fun tidbits:

A few treasures I have found cleaning in my garage!



So here is my WalMart Associate of the month mug, Wicket the Ewok, and my first pair of scissors Wonder Woman!!

Y'all have a Crafty Day now!! LOL!

March Challenges!

Hey all!
So I didn't make the cut for Graphic 45's design team call but- hey I did try and had fun making my projects! The participents who went on thier projects are amazing- you should really take a look at them!

So on with the show- While I watch the design team call list for a call that suits me I'm gonna participate in some challenges on various blogs! This is my first challenge posting! Yay!

Im posting for:
Really Reasonable Ribbon Challenge- RRR43
Hiding in My Craft Room Challenge- HIMCR36
The Crafty Purple Frog Challenge
Sassy Studio Designs
Everybody Art Challenge

Cardstock: by K&Co.

Flowers: by Prima- Tattered Angels Glimmer misted (Key Lime Pie)

Stamp: The Greeting Farm (Rain Snow Shine)

Sentiment: Autumn Leaves (Stampology)

Cricut Lite cartridge: Lacy Labels

Ribbon: from my stash name unknown

Copic Markers

Cute isn't she? I so love green! Its my color one of these days I'll show that- & my growing obsession with crayons...... Comments welcome! Just maybe not about my idiosyncrasies! LOL!!