A Few More Ever After DT Layouts...

I wanted to share these two layouts I just completed as store samples for Ever After Scrapbooks in Vista!  First, I was given samples from CHA of the new "Nook and Pantry" line by BasicGrey.  I love the vintage feel of the patterns.  It also reminded me of wallpaper you might see at Disneyland... hence, the Disney photos.

This Christmas layout is of my goofy sister and husband (Mary and John) on Christmas Day, 2008.  The paper is Three Bugs in a Rug.. add some distressing, flowers, and bling, and you have it!

Make it a GREAT day and thanks for stopping by!

Believe Word Art - Susan G. Komen donation

So......... here it is!  I created this word art project as my donation to the Ever After Survivor Crop... for the Susan G. Komen Foundation.  The LOVE this shadow box... the door opens from the front and is held closed with a magnet.  I used layers of Rusty Pickle chipboard... covering some with paper and some with Tim Holtz Distress Paint.  The letters are on 3 different levels due to different adhesive that I used. 

So... everyone has extra chipboard letters... here is a project you can create with all those leftovers!  Again, here is the link for more information on Ever After's 24-hour Survivor Crop on October 17th... the second largest fundraiser for the Susan G. Komen Foundation in San Diego EACH YEAR!!!  WOOO HOOOOO!  Survivor Crop Blog

Hummm... Random Chipboard... Susan G. Komen SURVIVOR CROP!

I am working on a project for Ever After's Survivor Crop... the 2nd largest annual event fundraiser for the Susan G. Komen Foundation in San Diego... 2nd only to the Race for the Cure!  Every year I am asked to create/donate something to be auctioned off at Survivor Crop, so here is a sneak peak of this year's project...

... lots of random chipboard...

... all alphas...

... any ideas what I am creating...?

Scrapbooking.com Magazine editor, Jami Peterson, is in charge of the auction this year!!! (Hi, Jami!)  If you have an item you would like to donate, or would like to participate in the event, you can get more information at the Survivor Crop Blog.

I hope to have my project completed and posted by tomorrow... see you back then for the reveal! :-)

Design Team Layouts - Ever After Scrapbooks!

I just completed a few layouts for my monthly Ever After Scrapbooks DT assignments.  I wanted to share these layouts of Anna's first day of Kindergarten (Creative Imaginations) and Chris playing football (American Crafts) that I created for my LSS... Ever After... I LOVE this place!!! :-)

We are getting ready for Homecoming here... and if the Patriots win this week, it will be the first time since like 1975 they have won the first 4 games in a row!!!  GO CHRIS... GO PATRIOTS... GO MOM (to be sure I get everything done in time...)! :-)

And the winners are... BLOG HOP...

What a FANTASTIC weekend!  I had a blast hopping through all my fellow Rusty Pickle Chef blogs and saw some work that made me DROOL!!!  (((HUGS))) to you all for coming and checking me out!  I sure hope you will stick around so we can share inspiration with this AWESOME hobby we all love!

On to the winners...

... I used Random.org to pick the numbers of the winners...

... The winner of the Grand Prize... comments made on the September 18th post... is comment #6... SHARON...
Sharon said...

I am sure your son's girlfriend will love the wall hanging - it is beautiful.So much work!
September 18, 2009 9:58 AM

... and the winner of the "Lucky" package... comments posted about changes to my blog on the September 19th post... is comment #9...  HEATHER MCDANIEL...
Heather McDaniel said...

Well since I am anew follower I went back and read some past blogs of yours! =) But I think that your blog is great! If anything I personally know that there can never be to many posts with LO's and crafts. =) I loooove to see what other people do and to get inspiration. I think you so AMAZING work. I hope that my work eventually becomes as great as your!
September 20, 2009 11:40 AM

Sharon and Heather, please email me at traceylocher@cox.net with your mailing address and phone number so I can get these prizes out to you. 

Since today is my birthday (39... I don't mind sharing... it is just a number, not my state of mind)... I am going to put on a tiara and scrap the day away... then off to an Athletics Booster meeting at the high school...  the volunteer schedule doesn't slow down for any birthday! :-)

Make it a GREAT DAY!!!  WOOO HOOOO!!!

Blog Hop - Post #3... Grand Prize Revealed...

You have been soooo patient!  Not even one person asked when I would be posting about the prize... just tons of comments of support, ideas to improve my blog, and lots of RUSTY PICKLE LOVING!

Yes, I have been a tease for the past two days... making you wait to see what you had a chance of winning...

... well, I really did have a game plan...

... I have put together a Prize Package full of "My Favorite Rusty Pickle Things"... and will be randomly drawing a winner and posting by 10AM (MST) tomorrow, Monday, September 21st... which is MY BIRTHDAY!  You have all made my birthday weekend a PARTY by coming over for a "cyber visit", pulling up a chair and enjoying a drink with me!  (Right, Laura!)

So, without further adeau, here is a list of the prize package worth over $185 retail... and, yes, it is open to international winners, too!

Panama Jack line:  12 sheets of paper, Green Alpha Stickers, and Quote Coupons - This is my favorite of the new lines!

Pop Star:  13 sheets of paper and Trim (listed below) - Until I went back through my projects, I had NO IDEA how much I have used this line!!!

Princess Bride:  12 sheets of paper, Tag Set, Quote Stickers, and Quote Coupons - This is one of my ALL TIME FAVORITE Rusty Pickle lines!!! 
Pirate Princess Paper Pack:  Paper, buttons... oh, la, la!  Everyone is a little bit "Pirate!"

Addams Family Mini Album Kit:  Directions and everything included - Designed by my good friend and fellow Chef, Miss Libby!

Beautiful and Quaint Flourish Rub-ons - Rusty Pickle's rub-ons are THE BEST!  They go on like butter!!

Monogram Chipboard Alphabet Set - The PERFECT size!

ABC Circle Brads - My new favorite alpha brads... I used these on Nicola's dorm gift!
Waterfall Chipboard Album - One of the newer albums and I just LOVE this one!
Acrylic Scalloped Album - I have used this album OVER AND OVER!
Tag Album -  Could this BE any cuter!?
BUTTONS: Black, white, and Panama Jack combo packs - I LOVE MY BUTTONS!
oh... and TRIMS:  Under the Stars and Pop Star

Here are a few examples of things I have created with the products listed above...

 

Thanks so much for playing with me this weekend and checking out my blog and Rusty Pickle creations!  I hope you will keep stopping by... the light is always on for visitors!!!  Make is a WOOO HOOOO kinda day and I'll see you in the morning with the names of the winners! 

Rusty Pickle Blog Hop - Part 2...

... HOLY COW!  I am sooooo excited by the amount of scrappers that have come through my blog in the past 36 hours!  SERIOUSLY!  I am working on contacting each of you personally to thank you (if you are linked to your blog or email!) 

In the meantime, I am doing a 2ND RUSTY PICKLE PRIZE...

... please be sure to post a comment on the original "Blog Hop" post, just below this one...

.. to be entered into the 2ND RUSTY PICKLE PRIZE... I am asking for honesty here...  I want your honest opinion of my blog... I know I have chilled the drinks and put flowers in the bathrooms, but I am serious... I would like your comment on my blog... what can I do to make it better!?  I already have a few ideas, but I REALLY WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!  My family won't give me any critizism, so I need you to help me out!  Above is a picture of the prize you can win (winner drawn randomly... YES, open to INTERNATIONAL posters)... post a comment on this post with a comment about what I can do to improve my blog... and be sure to also post on the post below for my main RP prize... oh, and did I say that I was a TEASE!?  I will be posting a picture of the prize for the main post... but, you will have to come back and check in the morning!

In the meantime... here are a few pics of my youngest daughter cheering at her older brother's football game last night... for the first time in over 15 YEARS, we have won the first 3 GAMES OF THE SEASON... YES...Chris Rocks... but, can little Anna Banana she BE any cuter...?

Rusty Pickle BLOG HOP... and PRIZE ALERT!

Welcome to my little internet home... I've spruced up the place for you, set out some snacks, and put fresh flowers in the bathrooms.  Pull up a chair and make yourself comfy and hang out for awhile! 

I have two projects to share with you today... and, oddly enough, they are both gifts!  The first project is for my son's girlfriend, Nicola.  She will be leaving to move into her dorm at UCRiverside this weekend and I wanted to give her a personal gift to help her deal with homesickness.  This word art project was very simple and a lot of fun.  I purchased the letters at Michaels, painted the sides with Tim Holtz Distress Paint (I LOVE THIS STUFF!) and covered the letters with one of my new favorite lines, Rusty Pickle's "Panama Jack!"  The letters are connected with a 3' piece of electrical wire (yes, my husband is an electrician)... Jeff twisted the ends of the wire to give it a nice finished look.  I have Pop Dots at all the connections between the letters and the wire to help keep the letters from sliding around on the wire.  Then, time to decorate!  Have fun and add whatever YOU like... buttons, flowers, bling, or ALL OF IT!  Note about the pictures, I backed them with plain chipboard to help give them a stronger foundation.  Oh, and those DARLING clips are from Office Depot!  Patterned paper, buttons, trim, circle alpha brads, circle walnut tag... all RUSTY PICKLE!

Nicola has been in Palm Springs with her family all week, so she hasn't seen her "dorm-warming" gift yet... I sure hope she likes it!

This second project is a layout I created for our vet!  The newest member of our family is Puppy Abby and in her first 4 months of life, we have gotten to know our vet very well!  Abby is our first family pet and I had NO idea who to take her to see.  I went to check out the Mohnacky Animal Hospital and see if I liked the place and the staff.  As I went to the front desk to check in, I noticed a scrapbook... full of layouts created by the staff of their patients and thank you letters from their clients.  I just KNEW I was in the right place!  They asked me to create a layout for their album... so here it is...   The paper is my FAVORITE from Rusty Pickle's "Pop Star" line... I use this paper all the time!  The "Too Cute" coupon, walnut circle tag and buttons are also Rusty Pickle.

Thanks SO MUCH for stopping by!  But before you stand up and stretch your legs, I have a challenge for you!!!  WARNING... PRIZE ALERT... PRIZE ALERT...

...at the end of the Blog Hop, Sunday, September 20th, I will be randomly drawing a winner... from WHERE will I be drawing this winner of this AWESOME RUSTY PICKLE PRIZE...?  Sign up to be one of my "Followers..." the link is located on the right of my blog.  Once you sign up, make a comment here on this post and you will be entered into the drawing.  If you are already one of my Followers... (I LOVE you guys!), just put a comment on the post and you are all set!  Come back later and check out pictures of the yummy prize package... and leave more comments... it is a party all weekend... I'll keep your chair ready for you and the drinks chilled! :-)

Now, off to the next stop on the Rusty Pickle Blog Hop!  Check out my buddy, Pamela Young's blog... her "World of Scrap" is going to knock your socks off!!!

IT'S COMING...

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT!?

... the RUSTY PICKLE BLOG HOP is coming to town THIS WEEKEND!  It all starts on Friday, September 18th at 3PM... be sure to check back here, leave a comment on my "Blog Hop" post, and be entered into the drawing for a GREAT prize full of Rusty Pickle goodness!!! 

See you tomorrow for all the details... fun project inspiration... and the prize info!

OGHS 47 - Crawford 6! GO PATRIOTS!

Week 2 of the 2009 Season and the Patriots are doing GREAT! Even the North County Times noticed the difference in this article in Saturday's paper... "New Orange Glen Crushes Crawford"

A post by friend Dan Kirksey inspired me to share a little story with you. I graduated from Mission Viejo High School and was on the Varsity Songleading team. Mission was a POWERHOUSE in just about everything and they continue their great football tradition by still (20 years later) being ranked one of the top teams in the NATION! Sports seasons ROCKED at Mission because we won (A LOT), school spirit was TOP NOTCH and EVERYONE was PROUD to be a Diablo! Back then, I used to feel sorry for the kids that went to Laguna Hills High School... they were the "Orange Glen" in our district... good school... good kids... but they couldn't compete with Mission, El Toro, Capo... the "Big Boys" in town. I wondered how anyone could be excited about their school when they would almost always lose their competitions.

Looking back at those feelings of a teenager... they are pathetic. And what is even more pathetic is that in the past, I have seen (and heard) those same exact feelings coming from so many of the students and community members about our beloved OG... HOWEVER... things are changing and that change started with the excitement and confidence of our former principal, Ochoa... and his momentum has continued to roll thanks to awesome coaches, teachers, administrators, and the INCREDIBLY HARD WORKING KIDS that have "Bought In" to the fact they are strong, they are talented, they are PROUD PATRIOTS and are now being competitive!

I can tell you now, as a PROUD PATRIOT MOM, that there is NOTHING like watching a team play and fight with all their hearts on the line... and bring home a win!!! The football team... filthy and sweaty... standing at the sideline after a hard fought win... standing right in front of their parents cheering from the stands... and SINGING AT THE TOP OF THEIR LUNGS the OGHS Fight Song... there is nothing better!

This was a 3PM game at Crawford, so Jeff was able to get some FAB pics of Chris (#88... same year I graduated from Mission!) and the rest of the Patriot team! GO OGHS!!!

OGHS WINS SEASON OPENER... AND CHRIS MAKES HIS 1ST VARSITY TOUCHDOWN!!!

WOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOO! Could a Mom be ANY PROUDER!? What just KILLS me about Chris (#88 and the Patriots are in Blue) is that he has only been playing football for 2 YEARS!!! His first year (Freshman year), he was injured after 3 games and out for the rest of the season... those were his FIRST 3 GAMES EVER PLAYING FOOTBALL!!! Sophmore year... Chris played Varsity and was named 2nd Team All League Tight End... Junior year... FIRST GAME OF THE SEASON and Chris is now playing Tight End AND Linebacker... and made his FIRST TOUCHDOWN!!!! (Again... WOOOOO HOOOOOO!)

Here in San Diego, our local news station, KUSI, has a special "Friday Night Lights" show every Friday night through football season called "PPR... Prep Pigskin Report." Our new tradition is that after every football game we RUSH home to watch the PPR and see the 30 second replay of the OGHS game... usually there is not much on our team... but THIS WEEK, THE WHOLE REPLAY was of OGHS... and CHRIS' FIRST TOUCHDOWN is on there... as well as teammate Kevin Donnellon and Dana Walker... the PATRIOTS were AWESOME this week!!!

Click on the thread title above to see the video of the PPR spot on our team... and hope you enjoy the other pics of the first game of the season!!!