Nacho Average Challenges

Good Monday Morning All!

I found a new challenge blog (to me) while cruising looking for sketch ideas.  It's called Nacho Average Challenges, and my card today is for their current sketch.  I really love a sketch challenge to help get card ideas going.  This was a really fun sketch, clean and simple lines but plenty of ability to jazz it up, too.  Clean and simple-my favorite kind of card.  In fact, we may be using this sketch in my next Stampin' Club night.

Here's their sketch:

Here's my take:

I have to say it almost never happens that I use just one set for a card, but the Truly Grateful stamp set from the holiday mini made that possible for this card.  I love the wood background stamp done here  in Soft Suede.  I can see it as a focal point for lots of cards to come.  I stamped the wheat bundle in Crushed Curry, and added some Sweater Weather designer series paper in Tangerine Tango.  These colors really say fall harvest don't they? Then I added a piece of Burlap ribbon for contrast before adding the flag and greeting.  A good Thanksgiving card, or even a thank you for that friend or family member you've been meaning to send a note to.

I hope today is the start to a great week for all of you!  We have only one weeknight soccer game this week, and this Sunday will be my Spooky Banner class.  Wish you all could join me.  See you tomorrow!

Happy Grandparents' Day!

Happy Sunday Out There!

Today is a special day--it's Grandparents' Day.  I was just saying to my husband on our way home from the cabin last night how blessed I feel to still have all of my grandparents in good health.  It's really fortunate--they are all in their 80's, still living at home, both grandpas are still driving and they can get around and do the things they love to do.  Not only am I lucky to have them, but my boys are certainly lucky to get to know them, too.  Here's a picture of the 4 of them yesterday:

Marlene, Betty, Willard, and Dale Fish Lake 9-7-2013

In addition, we are fortunate that our parents live close enough to build those special grandparent relationships with our boys.  Mitch's mom and dad live here in town, and my mom and dad are only a couple hours away, so we get to see them often.  I love that the families each bring unique traditions to our boys--it's so fun to watch our parents love Alex and Jack.  Here's a few random ones I had on my computer.

To all of you out there who have your grandparents around-give them a call or a hug today.  If they aren't, remember them and tell someone a story about what you loved about them.  For those of you whose parents are grandparents to your children--show them some love today.  Thanks for stopping in!

Favorite Pinterest Finds

Happy Saturday Everyone!

I haven't had much crafting time this week.  We were out of town and got back Monday, and we had 2 soccer games, a middle school open house and a first day of school!  Wooo!! That is a lot in a week. So, I will set aside some time for crafty posting tomorrow afternoon-laundry can wait, right?

Instead, I thought I'd share some of my favorite finds from Pinterest lately.  I tried two crockpot chicken recipes that were fabulous, and who doesn't love a good crockpot dinner on a busy night, right?  I hope you enjoy them as much as we did here.  (Tip: the chicken taco meat made a great base for a Tortilla Soup, too!)

Crockpot Chicken Tacos;  For these I just used frozen chicken breasts and threw them in.  Worked out perfectly.  These had great flavor, and I made tortilla soup with the left overs using a recipe I had, but there is a recipe for that on this link.

The second crockpot recipe we've tried lately is for Shredded BBQ Chicken.  I love these sandwiches with a slice of cheese and a spoonful of coleslaw on top on a good bakery bun.  This recipe was definitely a keeper!!

Lastly--fall decorations are just around the corner.  Here's a few of my favorites I'm thinking about for this year.  Hopefully you found something inspiring in this post today.  Thanks for hanging with me while I get life back on track here!  Have a great Saturday.

First Day of Middle School

Hey Readers!

Busy couple days here at our house...the first day of middle school was today for my oldest son.  I can't believe he's old enough for that already.  Seems like it was just time to get on the bus for Kindergarten.  He had a great first day and is excited to go back tomorrow.  I just put together this page in My Digital Studio using the First Day download (only 2.95!!)  Some elements from the Daring Adventures and Grunge stamp sets.  

Thanks for checking in!  I'll be back this weekend with some crafty inspiration.  Hope you have had a good week.  :)  

Clean and Simple 256

Good Tuesday Morning to all of you!

Did you have a good holiday weekend?  You got to see a little bit about mine in my last two posts.  I got to squeeze my niece, got some park time in with Scout, her sister Lily and Ladybug (my parents' two black labs), went to a block party and got to see a friend from high school and capped it off with the Morris tradition of the State Fair.  It was a great weekend for us and we are already looking forward to the next time we get to visit my parents and pick apples with the boys.  (I sense a cute scrapbook page or two coming on!)

For today's sketch I needed something clean and simple to ease back in to creating this week.  It just so happens that one of my favorites, Clean & Simple blog has this fantastic sketch featured on their blog this week.  You can check them out here.

I knew right away what I wanted to do.  I am sending this as a little day brightener in the mail this week.  :)  Leave me a comment and let me know what you create today.

Thanks for stopping in!  Hope you have a great day!

The Great Minnesota Get Together 2013

Happy Labor Day Monday Readers!

A tradition in my family has always been to go to the MN State Fair.  It started out that it was me and my Dad, then my sister joined us after we went a few times, and finally my Mom decided to come and see what all the fuss was about.  We have been going together as a family for about 17 years.  During that time we have added my husband and 2 sons, Emily's husband, and next year my niece will get to go for the first time.

This year the weather was perfect.  It was in the mid-70's and overcast.  Although, with the perfect weather (after a week or better of 90+ in the Twin Cities) came the crowds of people.  I've never been at the Fair where it was so crowded even away from the Midway and the food buildings.  Turns out, it was the record high of people at the MN State Fair.

Here's a collage of just a few moments of our day.  I hope you are enjoying your weekend with your family and friends!  Thanks for stopping in.

Happy 1 Month Birthday

Happy Sunday All!

I hope you are enjoying your Labor Day weekend!  We are having a good time with my family.  I forgot to post yesterday the cute page I created for my niece's 1 month birthday.  It has been so much fun having a little girl to love in our family.  I love that My Digital Studio helped me create this page really quick with pictures I pulled and saved from Facebook.

Without further ado....here it is.

Enjoy your bonus weekend day!  Check back in tomorrow to see my photo collage of our trip to the MN State Fair--a Morris family tradition :)