Photo Freebie

Snag a free 8x10 photo print from walgreens from 3/14-3/17. Use code 1Print and select in-store pick up for a free 8x10 print. My goal is to make 6 by Saturday. 9 Will make me a happy-scrapper!

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Homemade Advent Calendars: Filled with Love!

I finally managed to squeeze in a bit of crafting this weekend. I made Advent Calendars for the kids from mini-muffin tins. Theye are easy to make, but tedious when making three. In hindsite, I would probably make just one, and let the kids share. This would be do-able since this will hold an activity and story of Christmas with about 2 sentences of the story per day, leading up to Christmas. But, alas, they have their own calendars.

I used my Cricut Expression for the squares and numbers. If you don't have a Cricut machine, you could use a 2 in square punch for the smaller layered squares and a 2 1/2 inch square punch for the bottom layer. You can use, and I recommend using, stickers instead of Cricut cut numbers. Another option would be to use the negative image from Cricut cut letters.

Then I used magnet strips. I found these at Michael's and found they worked best.

I needed two packages for each set, and just cut them to size, placing one piece on each corner of the card. If you are not putting candy in the spot, you can probably get by with one piece of magnet for each card. In case I used candy, I wanted the card to be strong enough to hold it in there.

Most of the tasks were easy enough for my 5-year-old to take part in. The hardest was gluing the cut out numbers to each card because I chose a small, skinny font. You can make this easier by using a thicker font, or eliminating the gule altogether with alpha-stickers.

The end result was prefect!

Ten Things You Didn't Know: A Gift for My Dad

With my Dad's 68th birthday approaching at the end of the month, I was debating on buying him yet another war book or yet another Lobster-Gram. With the already-done gifts of clothes, restaurant gift certificates, and other typical dad-gifts,  and knowing that at 68 he has plenty of money to buy all the clothes, books, movies, he wants. He doesn't go out much these days, anyway. I struggled to come up with something that he would enjoy and yet something that he simply could not get for himself. The result was a personal creation of a list of ten things I have learned from him.

I made it into a mini-book and used only materials I had on hand, because A) I am broke untilthe school year starts, B) it was a summer task to use only what I have for all my scrapbooking projects.

This book was inspired in part by a blog post made by a friend of mine where she losted out a blog to her mom {56 Things I Love About You} and in part from the 30-day Photo Challenge from facebook. Day 24 called for a photo of "something I wish I could change" and that would be leaving DC the way I did, 16 years ago. I don't know if my dad ever thinks about that year and I don't know if he knows that I regret hurting him so much with my decision to move back to Massachusetts. 13 years away from the east coast and 2400 miles has taken a toll on my relationship with my Dad, and while we are close today, he seems so remote and so sad when we talk. I feel like I am losing him every day and I wanted him to know these things that I have learned from him whether or not he meant to teach me these lessons. I hope the sentimental gift goes a lot farther than a gift box with a few shirts.

1) You taught me to ask for help.

2. You instilled in me competitveness and a love for sports.

3. You taught me never to start smoking which led to a lifetime of healthy choices.

4. From you I gained an appreciation for the beauty of the dynamic ocean.

5. It meant the world to me that you  travelled to Cohasset for Isabella's baptism and that you came to Arizona to meet your first two grandchildren.

6. {gulp. The big "apology"} I learned in life that there are tough decisions to make and that it is normal to regret those decisions down the road. The choices that are hardest to make are the ones we learn from the most. I regret leaving DC in such a terrible fashion, but I cannot regret leaving because of the path my life has taken since then.

7. I learned that the toughest hands are often the onjes we deal ourselves.

8. You taught me that there is more to a lobster than claws and a tail.

9. You were right. You once told me that yo did not want me to go to Arizona for college because you knew I would fall in love with the climate and meet a guy and stay here forever.  I told you that there was no weather or man that could keep me away from the east coast. Well, I could do without the climate, but the guy was a keeper.

10. I learned from you that broken hearts can be repaired. You taught me to think about what you are saying to those you love.



Happy Birthday, Dad!

Michael's Coupons Galore

If only I had the time to make good and proper use of all these fabulous coupons for Michaels. No matter what your crafting style may be, there's a coupon for you. Check out the loyalty spread here.

Unused Toy Packaging ---> Exquisite Shadowbox

Here's a fun repurposing project that anyone can do. It cost me next to nothing because I intentionally used what I had on hand in my craft stash.

I started with a wood tray that once held magnetic doll pieces.

I painted the entire front and all sides, using acrylic paint from Michaels. I picked the shade Rich Brown because it was on clearance for $2.99 and the other shades of brown were regular price. I left the back unpainted to remind me of my repurposing! You can find trays like this already painted and prepped by 7Gypsies for $25 or so, but clearly there's no need to spend that much money when you have the same product cluttering your toy room.

I let the tray dry overnight and then attacked the embellishments in the morning.

I then cropped pictures from my travels to London, Dublin, and Paris, and used mementos from these travels as well as miscellaneous scrapbooking embellishments to adorn the various slots of the tray. I don't have any pictures of the process of doing this, but it was simply trial and error in terms of deciding what pictures to place in each slot. once I had all the pictures in place, I filled the remaining slots of the tray with the vintage  embellishments that were bigger or more elaborate.

I used glue dots to adhere all the pictures and embellishments and I used a rub on to detail the edge of the tray with an appropriate quote.

I attached a ribbon to the already existing holes at the top of the tray by simply tying large knots on the inside of the tray after stringing the ribbon through the holes. The ribbon came off a box of chocolates years ago. I kept it knowing I would one day have the perfect use for it's charming vintage appeal.

The end product is a shadowbox that details some of my favorite memories from my travels that I can display in my home for years to come.

Everything from the tray to the ribbon that it will hang from were repurposed. That makes me even more proud of this little project! I could almost say that this project was a profit of $2 if you consider the $5 gift card that I won from one of the contests at MMU's Retreat.

And just for giggles, I swagged 7Gypsies Wood Trays and came up with this tray for $19.99 + s/h off scrapbook.com

Now, if only I could muster up the energy and patience to tackle some of the other repurposing projects that are waiting for me in the garage!

48 Hours Just Isn't Enough

I am finally recovered from my 4th Scrapbooking Retreat. For those of you unaware of this little sect of culture, I joined 59 women who have a serious love for photographs, crafts, and scrapbooking at Making Memories Unforgettable's (MMU) annual Scrapbooking Retreat. This was our third year at the Starr Pass Resort and my 4th retreat with MMU.  I joined my best friend Maureen and together, we look forward to this event every year and count down the months, weeks, days till the event. This year the theme was Candy Shoppe and there wa splenty of sweet treats to be had. I tried my best to stear clear of the sugar. In order to make this a productive retreat I pledged to be better prepared and I worked late into the night for the 3 weeks prior to the retreat to prep layouts and projects. It definitely made a difference. I never really sat there with that glazed look on my face because I knew I had projects waiting and ready to go. Here's how the weekend played out {in pictures, of course}.

The door prizes and decorations were perfectly sweet!

Friday night featured a scrumptious dessert bar...

but it wasn't all sweets either.

Mini grilled cheese and PB&J's hit the spot at 10 pm!

My 8 feet of scrap space. It's an organized mess!



Saturday and Sunday featured amazing soup and salad bars.

Maureen and me after 48 hours of scrapbooking and a collective 6 hours of sleep over the two days/nights.

A shot of all my finished projects!

48 hours of crafting/scrapping

17 completed layouts

1 shadowbox

1 card

1 3D Letter

8 completed Scrabble games!

It was an awesome weekend and I can't wait for next year's retreat.







Free Collage Print from Walgreens

Walgreens Photo is once again offering up a FREE 8×10 Collage Print! Just head on over here, click on the banner advertising this promo (like the pic above) and create your collage print. Use coupon code 1FREEBIE during checkout. Plus, choose in-store pick up and you’ll score FREE shipping! *This promo code is valid through Saturday, June 18th.

In addition to the free 8×10 Collage Print, you can also Buy 1 11×14 Collage Poster and Get 1 Free with the code 1FORDAD at checkout (valid thru 6/18). Plus, you can snag $10 off any photo order of $20 or more (excluding 4×6 prints) with the code CELEBRATE at checkout (valid thru 6/18).

Get a 2nd FREE Collage!
Earlier this morning, I shared an on-line code where you can get a FREE 8×10 collage print at Walgreens.  Well, Walgreens just announced on their Facebook page that you can get a SECOND code!   Here is what they shared on their page:

To get your second FREE 8×10 Collage Print, text DAD to 21525 and sign up for Walgreens Special Offers Text Alerts today! You’ll receive a second coupon code in your first text!
Message & data rates may apply.

Free Scrapbooking Software Download

If you have been itching to try digital scrapbooking, here's you chance to try it for free!

Now through May 12th, get a FREE Download of Scrapbook Studio Software when you “like” Wondershare (the software makers) on Facebook.

You will recieve a redemption code in your email within a few minutes and can download your software right then.

Scrapbook Studio is a digital scrapbook creation software.  It lets you design highly detailed photo books for professional printing or to share online with friends and family.