Sketch Challenge Winner!

Thanks to everyone that played along with our latest sketch challenge! From all the lovely layouts submitted, we drew a random winner to receive $10.00 off the Sketchapalooza 6 class coming up in May!

Congratulations to Lisa Harrower Tauzell! (Please email me at feelingscrappy at yahoo dot com for all the details) Here is the beautiful layout she submitted!

Happy Spring!

As you probably already know yesterday was the first day of spring! Is it looking like spring at your house? Spring came a few weeks earlier than normal at my house this, so I had to document what it looked like on the first day of spring. The cherry blossoms and daffodils are almost done. A couple of the rhododendrons are blooming and one is about to (the one that is usually open for Mother's Day!) The photos in the collage below are photos I took in my yard and then used a FREE template from Jessica Sprague to make a fast, fun easy collage. (There is even a tutorial there if you need help getting started).

What does spring mean for you? Lots of flowers in the yard? Baseball gear? Track shoes? Take a few moments to capture your 'spring' photos and create a photo collage or layout. Please share with us by linking through the comments below or on our Feeling Scrappy Facebook Group site.

Celebrate a Woman You Admire!

Did you know that March is Woman’s History Month?

My challenge to you: scrapbook a page about someone famous (or should be) and how she has influenced you. Or scrapbook about a woman you admire; or an influential woman you would like to meet. Be sure to journal about why you admire this woman, or why you would like to meet them, or why you think they should be famous!

Here is my layout:

The journaling reads: In my life there was no one more supportive, loving or protective than my father's mother, my Nanny. I was so fortunate to be the recipient of her determination and unwavering commitment to family. She taught me, first hand, that doing right has nothing to do with being in the majority; if you're going to raise your hand you better do your best; and, nothing is more important than the children you raise. I hope to live up to her example. Every day.

And, if you're a sketch collector, like me, here is one you can use to base your own tribute:

Be sure to share your layout on the Feeling Scrappy Facebook Gallery.

Super Simple Cookies

Delicious, inexpensive homemade cookies made so easy that anyone can do it! And there is no need to wait for butter to soften! You can choose your own gourmet flavors too. The secret? Start with a cake mix. Yes, you read that right. A cake mix.

Cake Mix Cookies:

1 standard size cake mix

2 eggs

1/2 c. vegetable oil

approx. 3/4 c. additives of your choice (chocolate chips, raisins, coconut, nuts, etc.)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Mix all the ingredients together until well blended.

Drop by teaspoons onto cookie sheets

Bake at 350* for 10-12 minutes. Yields about 3 dozen cookies

Flavor suggestions:

Triple Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix and Pecans (pictured above)

Carrot or Spice Cake Mix and Raisins

German Chocolate Cake Mix and coconut

Chocolate cake mix and white chocolate chips

White cake mix and chocolate chips

Give this a try and let us know the flavor you made in the comments section below!

Is that Spring in the air?

I don't know about where you are, but here in Southern Ontario (Canada, outside of Toronto) we can sense Spring is almost here! I am already thinking of planting my pots of flowers and tomato plants; putting out the patio furniture and washing all the windows. I will still have to wait another month or more for any of that to happen.

So, in the meantime, I don't want to waste this feeling of energy and anticipation! To celebrate the departure of winter, I can do things inside to herald the arrival of sunshine and happiness!

My idea of fun? SPRING CLEANING!

What is your favourite thing to do? Do you like to tackle big projects or start small? I go through my entire house, from top to bottom and make a list of all the big and small projects in every room. It is  an overwhelming, but necessary, task. Sometimes, intimidation rears it's ugly head and I find it hard to get motivated so I start with something small. Once that’s done, I always realize it really didn’t take too much time at all and ultimately carry on and get far more accomplished than I expected. It is such a wonderful feeling. Pure bliss.

So, this weekend, in anticipation of Spring, I am going to dedicate some time to cleaning out my bathroom drawers: toss all of the old makeup, expired medications, combine or toss all of the bottles with just a smidge of product on the bottom and give all of my towels a good wash - they're all white, so a good soak in bleach alternative too! I bet (other than the laundry) it will take me less than 15 minutes to get it all done. A quarter hour well spent!

Head over to these sites for great Cleaning and Organizing ideas:

Peter Walsh

Martha Stewart

Flylady

Let us know what you manage to accomplish. I'll be posting my "before" and "after" photos over on the Facebook page. Be sure to check it out on Monday!

New Sketch Challenge!

We have a brand new sketch for you today made by the talented Stacey Curry! Be sure to check out her blog for some awesome creative inspiration. Anyone who completes a layout using this sketch and posts it to our Facebook gallery by next Friday (March 19th) will be entered into a drawing to win 1/2 off our next sketch class! Have Fun! :)

Straight Border Punch on a Curve

Do you love border punches as much as I do? Do you ever with you could make them go around a curve, oval or circle? Now you can! Here is an easy way to do it!

1) Punch your border punch along the full length of your paper.

2) Trim your punched edge, leaving enough width to work with. Mine was 3/4".
3) Clip your border edge between each repeat of the pattern.

4) It should bend and curve easily, but not fall apart.

5) Trim a piece of paper with a curve. (Circles and ovals work as well). 6)Generously apply adhesive to the curve you plan to put your border edge on.

7) Working from the front adhere each section of your punched border edge.
8) Your ready to apply the curving border punched edge to a layout or card.

Completed cards:

I hope you give it a try! Please share your projects with us either by posting a link in the comments here or on the Feeling Scrappy Facebook Page!