WOYWW #504

Happy Wednesday and WOYWW! My work area is so clean and ready to be messed up again! I've been doing a lot of scrapbooking and trying to finish up my pictures of my Tucson trip. By the time I'm finished, it'll be time for another trip over there!

Here's my desk:

Click on over to Stamping Ground blog to learn more about the WOYWW linkage and while you're there, check out all the desks from all over!
The card poking out on the lower right is the card for the Creative With Stamps February challenge. If you're a stamper, click on over there to join the card challenge. We post a new challenge each month. The challenges are for cards only and must have a stamped image/sentiment or something.

Have a great week!

Bitten By The Bug 2 Announcement

Hey guess what?! I have been selected to be on the Bitten By The Bug 2 Design Team! You know I love using my Cricut and being on a DT gives me the opportunity to expand my projects!

My commitment begins next month, February and I'm excited to make my first project.  Click on over to their site to become familiar with their blog and their challenges. The DT members are amazing and I am looking forward to be inspired by them. I hope you join the challenges too!

Speaking of the Cricut...I was asked to make some zoo animals for a coworker's son's birthday. She only wanted the cutouts so it was an easy job. I made the animals using the Zoobaloo cartridge and the leaves are from the Life's a Beach cartridge. Everything is about 6" except the giraffe which is 8".

I took a last minute photo before handing them over to her and it is horrible. LOL I got a photo box for Christmas and really should have used it. But like I said, it was last minute and I just wanted to snap a photo.

Desert Museum; SIT #355

Another layout of my trip to Tucson. These photos are from the Desert Museum and Day Four of my trip.

The sketch I used is from Sketches In Thyme Kketch#355. Here's the sketch:


And here's my layout:

I only had three photos for this layout but combined them together on a mat to make one big one for the center. The papers I used are from my stash and also a paper pad I purchased for these desert photos. I love the color combination and the sketch incorporates shapes going across the page. I knew it would be perfect to use up scraps from the pad. I also added a cactus that was cut on my Cricut.

Be sure to click on over to Sketches In Thyme to see more sketches, inspiration and layouts!

It's going to be time for another trip to Tucson by the time I finish all these layouts! It's taking me forever. I'm normally on top of my scrapbooking but 2018 put me behind for some reason. My daughter and I are going to a crop in early March so hopefully I'll get a lot done.

TGIF: Thankful Friday #75

FRIDAY! Woo Hoo! I'm so glad to see you. Even though it was a short work week, it is a relief to get another break.

Hubby and sons are on their way to Reno for a Bachelor Party for DS1. Which means my daughter and I will be doing girl stuff with my daughter-in-law.

This week I am thankful for long time friends that have become family. We had a great weekend celebrating a 60th birthday. We ate, drank and danced...a lot.

 Yes, there was live music in the house! The lead guitarist and drummer are friends of ours.

Happy weekend and please leave a comment of what you are thankful for this week!

Vulture Culture Layout

I love following sketches when scrapbooking. It is such a time saver! This layout is using Sketch#357 from Sketches In Thyme. They have multiple sketches per month and offer great prizes.

Here's the sketch:

And here's my layout:

I turned the sketch to the side since I had horizontal photos. The vulture on the left side was cut using the Zoobaloo cartridge. I didn't do much embellishing on this layout except for papers. I love the colors used for these desert themed photos.

Be sure to click on over to the Sketches In Thyme blog to check out their amazing sketches.

TGIF; Thankful Friday #74

This week just flew by! I can't believe it's already Friday and we have a three day weekend! I didn't do much this week because of the weather and the fact that my back was killing me, but that doesn't mean I can't be thankful for something...

This week I'm thankful for my dog. She's such a sweetie and a spaz but she sure does keep us entertained. Nothing specific for why I'm thankful for her, but she likes to snuggle and she keeps me warm.

Happiness is a Warm Puppy....Charles M. Schulz

WOYWW #502

Happy WOYWW! It's time to show off my desk for the WOYWW linkage. If you don't know what I'm talking about, go to the Stamping Ground site and read all about it. Go ahead and check out the other deskers' work areas and projects.

Here's my desk:

Full as always! I just can't keep it cleared off for long. I'm cutting out images from the Cricut to make more Christmas gift tags. I'm just preparing for next year!

If you get a chance, scroll down to the post below and check out the YouTube video. I got a new tripod and a stand so I was experimenting with different video angles. I'd love to get your opinion. You can leave a comment on the blog post or on the YouTube video. I'm trying to do better with videos. I love to do them but know I have so much to learn - and - the only way to get better is to actually do more. LOL

Have a great week!

Gift Tags & A Survey

Even though the holidays have passed us by, I'm still working on Christmas gift tags. I received a couple of orders of my 12 Days of Christmas Tags from my series so I'm putting bags together and making more. When I do the series, some days I only make three or four and others I make a ton. It depends on the materials I use and how much of it I have.

One of my Desker* friends mentioned that she was making her Christmas cards now since she had all the Christmas materials out already and I thought that was such a great idea and I decided to run with it.

But now, I need your help:

I got a couple different phone stands for Christmas and I'm testing which is best for filming. Check out the YouTube video below and leave a comment either on the video or here and let me know which angle you prefer.

The adorable gnomes are from Fun Stampers Journey. I could kick myself because I hesitated on purchasing them and when I finally decided to do it, they were no longer available. I don't know if they are coming back, but luckily my friend did purchase them and sent me some stamped images. It's wonderful to have stamping friends - thanks Karen!

The nutcracker tags are from recycled materials. The gold background is a thin cardboard piece that was the backing of one of my Christmas gifts - HAD to save that! And the nutcrackers are copies I made from a postcard I received in the mail. I just "prettied" them up a bit.

The last part of the video "sort of" shows some other tags I made. I cut down a regular card into skinny cards; decorated the front and stamped "to/from" on the inside.

Here are some photos of the finished tags.

Thanks for your comment! I hope to make more YouTube videos this year so subscribe to my channel "Dorlene Durham" so you don’t miss any of them!

*Deskers are the people who participate in the WOYWW linkage that Stamping Ground hosts every Wednesday. Check us out!

TGIF; Thankful Friday #73

TGIF! This week I am thankful for Face Time. How wonderful it is to be able to "see"people no matter where they are. My mom is deaf and being able to see her and have a conversation over the phone is amazing! Whether she's near or far, we can see her anytime we want.

Technology is an awesome thing!

Your turn...what are you thankful for this week? Leave a comment below and have an amazing weekend!

2019 Command Center

Can you believe, we went from this (my corner):

To this:

To this:

Our desks are definitely filled with stuff, but the layout of the room is so much better. A lesson we need to learn is to clean/clear as we finish projects. I’m not sure if we’ll ever learn that!

Check out the Command Center Tour video too!

WOYWW #501

Happy WOYWW! Last week I shared a photo of my newest addition to the Command Center and this week, there are more changes. I removed some things and added some things all with the hope to better utilize my space. I'm still working out the kinks but this is allowing me to take more things off my floor and under my desk.

Here's some photos:

I think organizing a craft room is a never ending project, but I do like the current changes. I really need to start making labels for my containers and drawers so I know what's in them.

Since it's Wednesday, be sure to click over to Stamping Ground to join the WOYWW linkage and check out other desks! While you're there, leave a comment or two - I know I appreciate comments and my desker friends do too!

Super Mario Kart Birthday

I made the cutest treat bags for my nephew's 6th birthday next week. He's having a Super Mario party and believe it or not, my sister actually gave me a week's notice!

Here are the treat bags:

I bought these white "lunch" bags at Hobby Lobby. They were 50% off so it was perfect. The bags are 4.5 x 9". I added the first layer of red/green and then the blue cardstock on the bottom half. The overall straps were cut at .75 x 4" and the buttons were a 3/4" circle. I only covered the front of these bags. The letters were cut with my Cricut using the Mickey Mouse Font cartridge.

I also cut some mustaches and full faces of Mario and Luigi all per my sister's request.

Happy Birthday Joey!

TGIF; Thankful Friday #72

Well, it seems I missed a couple weeks of this series. I was busy living life and celebrating the holidays. Which leads me into what I'm thankful for this week.

I had to return to work this week, but I'm still grateful for the new year and another new year of possibilities. I got an ETSY order the week of Christmas which is a great way to end 2018!

I hope you all had a fabulous New Year and continued health, wealth and happiness for 2019!

Your turn...leave a comment on what you are thankful for this week or let me know your New Year Resolution.

I stopped making resolutions along time ago, but I do hope to increase my ETSY store and work on organizing the Command Center.

Paper Pad Party #4 with RTS

The right side of the second two page layout for the Recording December/Paper Pad Party challenge that I’m doing with RTS Scrapbooking. If you haven’t heard of her, check out her YouTube channel for lots of inspiration and to watch/learn more about the faux December Daily layouts.

Close Ups of the embellishments:

This is something I really want to continue during the year. I didn’t think I’d remember to take one photo a day but there were plenty of days when I struggled taking ONLY one photo a day.

I still haven’t decided how I’m going to journal the pages since I do want to note why these particular photos were taken - you know, the why/where/what. Stay tuned, I’ll post all four layouts (or the two 2-page layouts) when they are done, done.

WOYWW #500

Happy WOYWW 500th post! Wow! Each Wednesday, you can share your work area and peek into others' around the world. What a great idea and something that Miss Julia started and continued 500 weeks later! Click on over to Stamping Ground to read all about it.

Here's my desk this beautiful Wednesday morning:

And the newest addition to the Command Center:

New tv!

I finally had a chance to do some scrapbooking over the holidays and this spread is one of the many of my trip to Tucson Arizona back in April.

I ordered another shelf for behind my work desk and hope to organize a bit more back there.

Don't forget to click on over to the Stamping Ground and check out the other deskers!

Remembering 2018

Happy New Year! It’s been a fast and exciting 2018 and I’m looking forward to 2019 and what it will bring. A recap of 2018:

This year I opened an Etsy Shop, IG account and was on three Design Teams. I truly enjoyed being on new design teams but am also glad to take a break from them. Quick Quotes was only a year commitment and the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog is closing at the end of 2018. I will continue to use my Cricut and use Quick Quote products like I have in the past so nothing much will change on those except projects will be on my timeline.

I do want to add more items to my Etsy Shop and will have more time to create items since I won’t have the commitments any longer. I’ve sold items, but I know I could do more.

In 2018, I also started junk journaling and LOVE every minute of it! Be sure to click my label of “Junk Journal” if you are interested in seeing any of my pages. I also started following specific people on YouTube. Hey, which reminds me that I also posted public videos on YouTube myself. My channel is under my name, Dorlene Durham. I need to get better on filming, but that is a learning process and something I have to remember to do since most times I start a project and then say, shoot, I should have filmed it! LOL

My DD and I also make many, many changes to our craft room...The Command Center. It is so much better organized. We have lots more to do but with the addition of a tv was a daring move. I say that because when it’s on, it’s hard to continue to craft. LOL I’m looking forward to watching my favorite YouTubers on the bigger screen!

I hope you continue to follow my blog. It keeps me inspired to do more projects and challenge myself to new and different things.

Happy, happy New Year to all of you! I wish you all health and happiness!

Happy New Year 2019! CWS Challenge

Happy New Year! I hope all your holidays were merry and bright. They were great at my house. I spent about four days on and off in the Command Center and it was wonderful. Hubby bought a new tv for our bedroom so our small one ended up in the Command Center. Yup, I’m never leaving!

The challenge at Creative With Stamps for January is:

Creative With Stamps is teaming up with Double Trouble (https://doubletroublechallenge.blogspot.com/) this month so also include either one of the THING 1 or THING 2 challenges below when making your card. The challenge at DoubleTrouble will run from the 7th to the 20th.

Challenge #19 - Let the Troubles Begin
THING 1 Trouble Maker wants you to use an embossed or patterned background and use a stamped or digital image to bring in something "Warm and Cozy" for these long cold January Winter days.
THING 2 Double Dare reminds you when you're feeling sad to simply remember "Your favorite things...whiskers on kittens...warm woolen mittens..." and then you won't feel so bad.

If you have included something to keep you warm in the winter you can link up your project HEREto Creative with Stamps and you will receive an additional chance at the Double Trouble Random Draw.

My card includes both THING 1 &2 challenge.

Be sure to click on over to the  Creative With Stamps site to enter the challenge and be inspired!