Nature/Texture - Challenge 4th Week February

Pattern & Texture it's all around us in Nature and all around us in Art. Our Scrapbooks and cards should be no different! Here are some inspiring photos for this weeks challenge. You may be inspired by the thistle or the wood grain or just even the color of the serving pieces. Whatever it is create something Nature inspired this week!

We are of course Scrapping tomorrow and at least there will be no fear of a blizzard since it will be over 40 degrees.....

I think someone is making up camp? I have 1 kit left, beyond that, if anyone is interested.

Hope to see everyone!

Also Don't forget if your participating in Ana's Swap it is due tomorrow as well! Of course Paula we know your an over-achiever! I still have not completed my cards yet!

Holiday Inspriation for Week 2 February

These cookie ornaments are very inspiring. Use the colors or the shape even the snow caps on each to create a project this week!

Don't forget if you don't want to do Christmas your welcome to work on any other holiday!

My Shimmery Project

From last weeks challenge. Not like adding sparkle or shimmer is a stretch for me but I did break out some supplies I never use. My LuminArte paints and painted white and black cardstock with the same colors choosing which I like better for each project is fun. Like here I chose the Aqua on black for the background. I also did the same with Acrylic paint. I stamped the stars on some yellow Heidi Swapp painted on black. I stamped the stars and seaweed(exhaust flames) and cut them out. The stamps are all jusjohanna's Odd Bird Planet and I colored the Rocket with my Copics and cut it out. The moon is the Circle Dot Background cut into a half circle and highlighted with a grey Copic. Rub Ons are Doodlebug.

Can't wait to see what everyone does with Shadows tomorrow night!

Happy Groundhog Day

This weeks Scrapping challenge is to use shadows to create layers on your project. Your shadows can be in photos or with paper, pen, whatever you like.

Hopefully the Groundhog won't see the shadow or ours for that matter.

Photos inspiration by Mata Patne
and Darwin Wiggett
at Better Photo. This site has amazing photography and inspiration check it out! See you on Wednesday!

Wed - Sparkle Challenge

Here is your inspiration for the last scrap night this month.

You can use this as you like but this to me sparkles and shines. So add a little glitz to the page or card you do. Your welcome to use colors and themes as inspiration as well!

Don't forget for all the challenges you participate in this month your name goes in for a prize drawing.

No Scrapping this Week!

It's the 3rd week! So no scrapping! Time off to regroup! See you the following Wednesday!

Last Week's Holiday Challenge

So Marnie challenged us to do something with snowflakes. Here's my contribution. Very simple but cute.

Last Week's Wellie Challenge

Here's the two layouts that were inspired by Marnie's Wellies challenge. While the paper doesn't match any of the Wellies that were in the picture...they are patterns that I think would make wonderful Wellies. Can't wait to see what everyone comes up with for this week's challenge!!

Want a Prize?

Each week you participate in the challenge your name will go into a hat. At the end of each month I'll draw a winner!

2nd Wed. Holiday Challenge

As I mentioned we'll be doing a Holiday challenge the second Wed. of each month. You can change the holiday if you like but the challenges will be Christmas related most of the time to prepare for that holiday. That being said here are 2 pieces of snowflake inspiration. These lights are super cool. And the cookies are most yummy. These are just a jumping off place, a little nudge! Go nuts with color and ideas!

So we are scrapping this the 14th unless the snow stops us for some reason. Hope to see you ready to Rock the Challenge!

From Marnie's "Wellies" Challenge....

I actually did a layout.....the first one in a long time :):):)

Thanks Marnie....it was nice to know that I can still do something larger than an A2 card!

The Welly Challenge

Got 2 layouts done for the challenge! WooHoo. That's 2 layouts so far for the year!

Celebrate 2008

Products used -

PP American Crafts Teen, Cherry Art

Cardstock Bazzill

Sticker Label American Crafts Teen

Sticker Numbers American Crafts

Sticker Word Celebrate Hambly

Buttons Making Memories

Felt Crown Fancy Pants

Rhinestones Westrim

Mesh Ribbon Heidi Swapp

Pen American Crafts

My Littlest Dancer

Products used:

Patterned Paper SIStv Mod Sheets

Cardstock Bazzill

Vintage Hymnal Page

Glitter Die Cuts & Date Label Crate Paper

Glitter Acetate Bracket Making Memories

All from SIStv The Songbird Collection

Alphabet Stickers American Crafts

Flower Prima

Rhinestones Walmart

Stamp justjohannas Odd Bird Planet

Yeah!!

So glad to hear we are going to have challenges. I love a challenge. I was afraid I'd forgotten how to scrap but it's all coming back to me. Here's a few layouts I did today. Don't know if you can see but all of these photos are from Christmas of 2007. Only a year behind (I think)!

January Challenge - Week 1

Getting Motivated for a New Year Here! Dianne is right we need to get this blog going again. So to that end we are Scrapping Wed. of course and I have a challenges for you!

Pick your favorite welly and make a card and or layout inspired by it. I figure by the end of the day we'll wish we had our favorite pair if we need to go out of the house so why not!

Remember for 4 more months we will not be scrapping the 3rd Wed. since Dianne and I are in that Marker Club/Class at Craft Fancy!

Also everyone check out Karen's CM weekend the end of this month. She said I could go on just Friday so I'm checking to make sure I'm not doing other banquet prep the night before and I'll be there!

Looking Forward -------The 2nd week of each month will be a holiday preparedness challenge. I know everyone is sick of Christmas so feel free to substitute your favorite holiday. But the goal is to have your holiday cards, tags, projects and gifts done for next year before the holiday arrives. So get those projects organized for next weeks challenge!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year Everyone!
I think that we should give this poor Schnockered Scrappers Blog another try......it's a new year...and it deserves another chance....:) What do you think?

This Poor Blog....All Alone.....

!

........with no one to talk to!

We've got to start treating this blog better...or it's going to run away from home.

I'll make it feel better.....it can fill the plastic eggs for the Easter Egg Hunt.....that would make ME feel better! (You know how it works...one candy in the egg...one candy in my mouth and so on! :) )

Happy Easter Schnockered Scrappers!

Tonights Challenge

Use 2 stamps, or more on a Project. Any 2 you would like!

And Just a Couple More.....

There were huge amounts of amazing food at the cookie exchange...everyone brought something terrific to try...and I tried everything.

I did stop eating long enough to take a few pictures of

all of us enjoying the feast. (And these photos are just of us devouring the appetizers...we got to the dinner itself a bit later!)

A Little Bit More Christmas.....

A few more photos of the Cookie Exchange that I thought you'd all like to see.....The first is Marnie's beautiful table set for our dinner. The second is her lovely Christmas tree...and the third is all the cookies packaged and waiting to come home with us.

Silver & Blue

Ok so tonight's challenge is to create a project using Silver or Grey and Blue along with a bit of metal. Neutrals will be allowed of course. The project can be a Card, Layout, ATC etc. There will be a 30min time limit, we'll put the timer on the table and go to town! Everyone that plays along and completes their project within the 30min will receive a little prize! You know Silver & Blue!

So pack your bags appropriately!

Happy New Year - Jan Photographs!

Happy New Year All! Hope Everyone has had a wonderful Holiday Season!

It's time to get back to the business of taking pictures and scrapbooking! So here is small list of things to photograph and scrapbook this month!

-Kids coming in from the cold enjoying Hot Cocoa! Lots of whip cream and/or marshmallows are a must!

-Snowball Fights and Fort Making includes piles of snowballs ready for action.

-Completed snow art. We currently have a village of snow people some completed in our back yard!

-Sledding down hills and ultimately falling off the sled - see Dave's black eye! I did get a great action shot of his face hitting the snow!

- Kids tasting snowflakes!

-White white snow with some color to offset it ie. snowman's clothes or kids outerwear.

-Sunrise in the winter you don't even have to get up early!

-Snow covered trees

-You can also catch great shots in late afternoon as the moon comes out to light up the snow

-Boots and mittens drying by the fire

-A row of completed snow angels

I'm sure there are more but those are some ideas to get you started.

Check back for the Wed. Scrapping challenge this week. We'll do a quick challenge at the begining of our get together tomorrow night with the challenge! And we'll share here later in the week!

Successful Cookie Exchange

The cookie exchange was wonderful this year. We had a wonderful time eating and drinking. Ana made a pork tenderloin and everyone else made the sides and/or appetizers! We had Chicken Pate, Ramen Salad, Fruit Salad, Mushroom Salad, Carrot Souffle, Zucchini Casserole, Corn Casserole plus little smokies and Appetizer Extraordinaire. Some lovely wine and lots and lots of cookies to taste for dessert. Everyone had their cookies done up pretty! It really was a wonderful evening!

These are the cookies:

Dianne - Jan Hagel

Randi - Peanut Blossoms

Yvonne - Biscotti

Renee R - Egg Nog

Ana - Choc. covered Carmel almonds

Paula - Chocolate Yummies(I put my recipe in a safe place! I call them this)

Renee L - Assorted

Marnie - Ricotta

Maybe Dianne will share more pics of the cookies I know she had the camera out! I'll be emailing additional pics to everyone look for them soon!

TODAY IS THE DAY!

Cookie Exchange day! Hopefully everyone is about ready or making last minute touch ups! I know I'm in prep mode for every one's arrival. I finished cleaning up from the party I had Sat. so now I can hostess another one. In case your still in a crunch for ideas check out this Hallmark article on packaging! See you tonight! The wine glasses are ready! Put your party hats on!

Ok, Love the idea I found here at the Oh Happy Day Blog! It would be a lot to do it individually for 12 cookies but an envelope filled with cookies would be super cute!

Well the day is almost here!

Scrappers Wrapping!

There are some cute/creative ideas at Rocky Mountain Hobbies gallery for Christmas Wrapping! Some of these could be converted to cookie packaging just add a little food safe/storage product! Run over and take a look you just might find some inspiration!

Starting to Wrap it Up!

Here at Southern Living are some very creative packaging ideas for you cookie exchange cookies!



This wicker bird cage is way toooooooo cute! I also love the tea cup! Maybe for a little nibble?

Chocolate Dipped Post!

So you want a super easy way to make a fabulous cookie? Check out Kraft Foods for instructions how to dip Nutter Butters, Chips Ahoy and Nilla Wafers. I'm sure you could expound upon this list to anything in the cookie isle and have a fabulous looking tray of cookies in no time!

Don't forget only 5 more days until the cookie exchange!

Don't want to bake?

This is my favorite cookie company Dancing Deer. All-Natural you can sometimes find them at Whole Foods around here. They have the best Molasses Clove Cookies chewy and crunchy all at the same time. There is a tin filled with yummy shortbread! Then there is Snickerdoodle, Ginger Almond Cherry and Chocolate Peppermint the list could go on and on! You can't go wrong here! Everything is always beautifully packaged and shipped without delay!

Ok my mouth watered!

When I saw this recipe for Raspberry Almond Shortbread Thumbprints! OMG!!!!! I'm sure you've been to All Recipes by now! But I couldn't help but send you back once again it sounds too good!

Now we should be planning our baking if we are in fact baking our treats to be exchanged so here's a link to a great source for kitchen gadgets just in case there is some sepcialty pan you depserately in need of Chefs has a vast collection!

Hope your Holiday Happenings are going well!

30 Days of Cookies

Check out Good Housekeeping's 30 Days of cookie recipes! There are a bunch of good recipes here!

See I would eat them all and my hips would be bigger than my house! YIKES!

YUMMMMMM!

Brownie Thins! YUMMMMMY these are adorable and there packed just beautifully! Makes me very hungry!

Check out the Epicurious site for many more lovelies!

Don't have time to make Cookies?

How about a candy like this Microwave Peanut Brittle? Or Pretzel Turtles! Yummmmm All Recipes has an entire section on Candy as well as Cookies!

You can even finish up some gifts with Homemade Food Gifts they have a section on that!

Online Cookie Swap Great Ideas!

Food Network is hosting an Online Cookie Swap! This is where you share you swap your ideas/pictures online for everyone to partake in. There are some Wonderful ideas! Check it out!

Wrapping Organization

There are some very handy ideas here at this site for wrapping all sorts of gifts. Home Made Simple

Christmas Related

Not really cookie related but a great source of decorating ideas to get you in the spirit of the Holidays!

Renee sent me this link! WOW tons of cookie recipes from Mrs. Claus herself!

Creative Cookie Packaging Ideas

Check out this site for creative cookie packaging ideas. I personally love the Martini glass idea! Why didn't I think of that?

Peppermint Fudge Anyone?

Becky Higgins has posted a recipe & Pictures for Peppermint Fudge on her blog that look very very YUMMY! Check it out!

Also Clearbags now sells food grade bags if your in search of envelope type bags and shopping bags etc. etc. They have great prices and quick turn around!

Recipes & Tips

OOOOH I found this website TipNut there are recipes and clever craft creations including an oragami box that might be good for cookies depending on the size!

Check it out!

Banner Issues

So I'm working on the template and banner. I created this banner but can't seem to make the title go away! FAR FAR AWAY!As soon as I figure it out it won't look quite so WONKY! Sorry!

Frugal Cookie Packaging Ideas

Check out this site for some Frugal Packaging ideas for the cookie exchange.

Also check out this cool wine cork wreath! What a great gift idea! Not that that has anything to do with cookies! But it's fun!

Cookie Exchange

I've emailed the cookie exchange details to everyone! Be sure to check it out! December 19th 6:30pm

Are you looking for a cookie to make? Check out this link to All Recipes there are tons of good ones here! The Coconut Jays look very yummy! I'm making a Ricotta cookie I found the recipe there as well!

Be sure to check back for more tips and ideas!

Dipping Toes

Here I am, dipping my toe into the blogosphere. A year ago I would have said, "Not Possible!" After all, why would I need to blog? But then again, two years ago it would have been laughable to suggest that I would spend my days knitting, going to places like Joann's, swapping most of my busness magazine subscriptions for craft, design and decorating publications. I was a Serious Business Woman with Serious Goals -- to provide Serious Strategic Solutions to my clients. But after several life altering events and a Serious Look In The Mirror, I realized none of that was fun or lucrative anymore.

To pass the time while I thought about the "what nexts" . . . and deal with my mother's stroke recovery as well as husband and father both fighting bladder cancer . . . I began to knit again. And if the adage of doing what you love means anything, since I LOVE purses, they seemed like the logical thing to knit.

Besides regaining some of my sanity (much more work to do on that front still), the entrepreneuer in me woke up. So I dipped my toe into trying to make this a business.

One year later, so far so good. (But, not without help and support -- Marnie and Dianne if I haven't said thanks recently, I'm saying it now.)

And then one night this summer I asked if Marnie would mind if I came over during the Wed night scrap or crop or whatever it is called. It would be a toe dip -- and I'd probably not become a regular. I knit but it doesn't matter. There it's not about the end point -- it truly is about the journey.

And tonight I'm putting another toe in the water (or perhaps the whole darn foot) when I go over to Marnie's for a little Card Making 101.

It may take a village to raise a child. I do beleive that. But it takes a lot of toes that have walked where you are going to walk to stand on your own two feet.

We are lame

But Randi is coming to save us from being sooooo very lame! I've invited her to post! Can't wait to see what she shares!

Snockered Scrappers....Come and Visit!!!!

I'm so glad that we have an Schnockered Scrappers blog....now all we need are some bloggers in it! :):):)

Paintings by Paula!

For information on how to purchase the art you see here! Contact.................

Ok so last night we broke out the paints paint brushes and paper! Can you tell it was like ART Class revisited! Very fun and non stressful play time! Here are Paula's works of art! Some to be uesd a background paper some to be used in her soon to be newly painted kitchen!!! Clever Clever girl!

It's Not You It's Me! Dear John!

NO Sorry just kidding!

Ok so this Wednesday we will be painting background paper do not wear your best clothes! I'm putting out some cool supplies to play with!

See you then!

Is It My Mouthwash?

Or my deodorant? Where are you scrappers???????

Where have all the Schnockered Scrappers gone?

Come out....come out.....!

Great Day

Got a beautiful Anniversary card from Marc today. It just kills me that he spent $4.99 on it he needs to ask one of my scrapping friends to make one and pay them instead. He liked the card I made him last night at stamp camp. So far our anniversary has been great. We slept in until 10 and then I made us cinnamon rolls. He has spent the day working in the basement and I spent all day making my April Christmas cards. I've attached a picture. I LOVE THEM!! I'm so glad I bought that stamp set...I don't think I'll ever get tired of it. So many possibilities. I just ordered our pizza from Giordano's and we are going to sit down and watch the movie "Click" with Adam Sandler.