Day 331, Friday, November 27

BLACK FRIDAY!!!! These are all of the ads that came in the paper yesterday. It was tempting to go out shopping...however, I didn't want to go by myself or push through the crowds. We may do some shopping this weekend...but not until there are fewer people around. Usually, we go during the week after Black Friday.

Day 330, Thursday, November 26 Happy Thanksgiving!

John and Stacie are thankful for each other, having jobs through 2009 and family & friends (everyone says that!)

Jim was thankful that his parents are home and doing well, Nate was thankful to have somewhat of a job and I am thankful for losing some weight and getting healthier. We are thankful for our family & friends, too!

Cyndi was thankful for Peyton and Rob & her having jobs. Peyton was thankful for food (as he was shoveling in a piece of pumpkin cake!), thanksgiving, his Mom & Dad and that he didn't have to go to school today! And of course, family & friends.

Day 329, November 25

These boots are made for walking...and that's just what they'll do! One of my little girls at school wore these boots today. She was so proud and they were clippity clopping down the hallway.

Day 328, November 24

So this couch & love seat (you can just see the edge in the lower right corner) is what I ended up getting on sunday after the couches wouldn't go through the door. This couch has two recliners in the ends. The recliner was delivered on sunday, too. It probably is best that it worked out this way...I do love having the recliners in the couch.

Day 327, Monday, November 23

Today was our annual Grandparents Day at school. Students are allowed to have their grandparents come to school and eat lunch with them. They had turkey, dressing, potatoes & gravy, cranberries, corn, roll & butter and pumpkin pie & whipped cream. We had 203 grandparents eat lunch. Our library is always in need of new books, so we have the grandparents Adopt-a-Book in honor of their grandchild. They pay $5 for a label in the book with their name and the students' name. The kids are allowed to check the book out first. We also take their picture to be sent home later.

Day 326, Sunday, November 22

Here is my new love seat for the living room. We bought 2 couches, a love seat and recliner. New furniture is awesome! Well, except that the couches didn't fit through the doorway to the family room!!!! They had to go back on the truck and I had to go figure out new furniture for the family room...before thursday!

Day 325, Saturday, November 21

Taylor Dent played in the finals of the Illinois Challenger today. He lost the match but earned $4,200 and 45 ATP points. I didn't go watch...probably should have...but I did get to see him play on thursday night. Hopefully, he will play in the Australian Open!

Day 324, Friday, November 20

As I was driving to work today, the sun was trying to shine ... but it was way too foggy. I stopped at the park and took this picture through the trees. If you look really close...down in the lower right hand corner you can see the roof line of a house in the background. Those trees at the right are really that squiggly!

Day 323, Thursday, November 19

Taylor Dent is my favorite professional tennis player. I got to watch him play in Champaign tonight! He won his match 6-1, 6-2 and will play in the semi-finals on friday. I have been following him since I saw him play at this challenger about 6 or 7 years ago. Thanks to Jim for going with me tonight and to our friend Byron, who got "bumped" for Taylor Dent

Day 322, Wednesday, November 18

Our Project 365 group is constructing a friendship album. This is my page to go in the book. We were supposed to put a picture of ourself and something about being friends. I used my 50 States cartridge to cut the shape of "Illinois" and the word "Illinois". The scallop square is cut from Mini Monograms. The photo corners are punched from an EK Success punch. The paper is from Hobby Lobby. I used a prima flower, some brads to hold the velumn journaling boxes. I put a heart shaped brad in the location of "Pekin" as I live in the heart of "Illinois". I hope the girls like my "school" photo!

Day 321, Tuesday, November 17

My BFF Cindy was sick on tuesday. This is her empty chair at school. I miss her when she is gone. (Notice in the background on her computer is her favorite hockey player, Jason Lawmaster, who is currently playing for the Lumberjacks!)

Day 320, Monday, November 16

Here is my October calendar. Right now I just have one picture on the page. That is how I got the layout when we did our calendar swap in last January. I may go back and add a few wallet size pictures to the layout. Ericka used the Doodlecharms cartridge to cut the spider....I am not sure about the pumpkins.

Cupcake Card/Box Details

The box lid is constructed by welding the shape to a square in Design Studio. You can use most of the shapes from Storybook. I used a square from George. The flowers are prima. I added doodling around the edges and the acetate is from packaging. The Happy Birthday is Beyond Birthdays.

I doodled and added bling to the Party Time cut.

It's Your Day is from George....I think. I added a bow to this cut. All of the cuts are shadowed

I think wish is from Wild Card.

The tag is cut from acetate...I used the birthday candle punch from EK Success across the top. I painted a bead red and added glitter to it. The It's Your Day stamp is from Stampin' Up as well as the tag punch.

The card slides down inside the cupcake.

Here is the tag out of the cupcake!

Day 319, Sunday, November 15

Yep, that's me....clutching my purchases. I spent 15 minutes in Archiver's....so many new scrapbooking products....so little time!

Day 318, Saturday, November 14

Luke and Trisha got married today! We went to Iowa to attend their wedding and reception. The bride was beautiful and the reception was fun! I hope they have many happy years of marriage!

Day 317, Friday, November 13

Happy Birthday, Cindy! She is 52 on saturday....she doesn't look like 52 to me! I made her a birthday card in the shape of a cupcake and a box to store it in. I used my cricut design studio to make the lid to the box. (Storybook and George) The box bottom has 4 different birthday related phrases on the sides. Of course, the colors are purple and green. She really liked the cupcake.

Day 316, Thursday, November 12

Project 365 has brought me a whole bunch of new friends. We are making a friendship album and I volunteered to make the title page. I used a map of the United States that I found on Google. I liked the green and mountains and some of the cities that we all live in are listed on the map. This page is a 6x6 so there isn't a lot of space. I cut the car from Paper Doll Dress Up, the cricut head is from the Store Front cart (thanks Missy), the road and sign are from Going Places. I hope my Project 365 Cricut friends like the title page that I constructed for them!

Day 315, Wednesday, November 11

I didn't have to work today because it was Veteran's Day. I am thankful for the all the soldiers who have served in the armed forces to protect our freedom.

Day 314, Tuesday, November 10

I had my "annual" doctor visit today. Dr. Olt is my doctor. She gave me an antibotic for my sinus infection.

Day 313, Monday, November 9

I drive past this Native Illinois Prairie Grass everyday on my way to work. Lots of little wild animals live here while the grass is tall. In the spring, the fire department will burn the prairie grass and let it grow to this height again.

Day 312, Sunday, November 8

Today the temp got up to 77 degrees. We were in the car doing errands. This is definately not normal November weather.

Day 311, Saturday, November 7

Happy 28th Birthday, Nate! He is holding the card I made for him. I got the idea from Ginny Thueson on the Cricut Message board. She is an awesome card maker and her card was very pretty. I couldn't make it "very pretty" for my son, so I made it look real. I used the turtle from Walk In My Garden cartridge...welded it in Design Studio, shadowed and layered to match. Cuttlebugged the body with swiss dots, cuttlebugged the shell with mosiac, punched the brown layer with the swiss cheese border punch, inked it all with Distress inks...added some bling for toenails and some doodling, too. Close up pic is below...

Day 310, Friday, November 6

I am late posting this card swap pic from monday night, however I haven't had time to photograph all the cards and post the pictures. These cards are made my the "Chirpin' Chicks" who are a very talented bunch of card makers! Our challenge this month was Winter or Christmas cards. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

Cindy made this card. If you look really close...you will see the words are on the inside of the card and there is an acetate window just above the ribbon. This snowman stamp set is one of the first sets that she bought when we first started doing stamping with Stampin' Up!

Becky made this card...it is a never ending card. There are four sides to this card. As you open the card it keeps changing until it returns back to this view. It is an amazing card...and no one will be receiving this card...it is mine forever!

Darla made this card...used the Pooh & Friends Cricut cartridge. Lots of sparkle, very pretty card!

Jackie made this card. She used an old book page for the background paper...clear embossed it and inked it. Looks really neat in person. I think the mittens are from Winter Woodland. She cuttlebugged them, too.

Ericka made this card...used Doodlecharms for the light bulb and Stampin' Up papers and stamp. Martha Stewart branch punch, too! Too cute!

Jen made this card...used Winter Woodland. It opens up to say Happy Snow Day....see next picture. I just love the jingle bell...it has a snowflake for the opening!


Krista made this card...used the Winter Woodland cartridge. It is a "step" card. It fits in a regular envelope, but it is 3D. All of the trees are cuttlebugged and sanded. She used coordinations paper for those tress. Just lovely!

Linda made this card...her embossing is the best. It is a joy fold card. The star pulls up from the top of the manger scene.

Krista's Momma made this card...I'm sorry I can't remember her name right now. She used Doodle charms to cut the snowman and cuttlebugged him with swiss dots and the snowflake folder for the background. She hasn't been making cards very long...


Kim made this card...it looks sooooo elegant. She used the Martha Stewart punch, Cuttlebugged the background with the snowflakes folder, modern label punch, word window punch, ornament stamp set and punch...I think she gets the prize for using the most punches on one card! lol

Yvonne made this card...what a great idea to make an after Christmas thank you card. When this card is open the thank you and presents are on the inside and there is an opening to match on the front of the card.