The Frugal Scrapper falls in "LOVE" at CHA

Well, not really "in love", but definitely in awe, lol. I was fortunate enough to be invited to the 2009 CHA convention in Anaheim last week by Ever After Scrapbooks which is located in Vista, CA. I have been leading EA's TNT (Tips 'n Techniques) Book Club for almost 2 years now, so Camille (EA's owner) invited me to CHA to assist with choosing some of the new items EA would carry. My assignment was also to do some make 'n takes in order to bring new tips 'n techniques to the TNT group.

I have to say that other than seeing and trying some really great new techniques, the highlight of my time at CHA was meeting Tim Holtz...whoo hoo!!! I just LOVE Tim Holtz's style and was just thrilled to meet him and participate in his make 'n take which of course was great!

I also got my picture taken with him and thought I'd share it with you:)

Enjoy!!!!! (I just want to sit next to him and absorb all of his creativity into my head!!)

A HUGE Thank you to Camille and http://www.everafterscrapbooks.com/ for inviting me to CHA!!! I had a blast!

Cards, Cards, and more Cards:)

I found a new Card Sketch site and couldn't resist the temptation to participate. I liked the sketch because it gave me inspiration, but was not so cluttered that I couldn't use my imagination to put my own spin on it.

If you like to participate in card sketches AND you are looking to be selected for a design team, go on over to http://cardpatterns.blogspot.com/ and give their sketch a try. I believe the deadline for submission is tomorrow which doesn't give you much time, but if you are a procrastinator me, this may be enough time for you:)

Now I need to get back to making some pages:)

Have a Scrap Happy Monday:)

Lori McCausland

Frugal Scrapper Extraordinaire:)

Just a few more cards...:)

Once I got this Rusty Pickle paper line out to make one card, I was on a roll, lol...I had won this package of paper as part of my prize for placing 3rd at the San Diego Scrapbook Expo layout contest last August.

Since I tend to be a "paper hoarder", like many other scrappers, I had not used this paper until today because I thought it was too "pretty", lol. With Easter right around the corner, I figured I better get started on using it now. I have plenty more left to use on layouts (and I have very cute little subjects to scrapbook, too:)

With this in mind, I'm sure you will see more of this paper line in upcoming posts:)

Since I spent a good amount of time yesterday re-organizing some of my stash (namely, my embroidery floss and buttons) I was able to make good use of my stash on these cards.

Here's to hoping these cards inspire you to create....and use your stash...

Until I create again...enjoy:)

Lori McCausland

Frugal Scrapper Extraordinaire:)

MDC Challenge

I made this card for two challenges:) One was for a challenge on http://mdcchallenges.blogspot.com/2009/01/thursdays-challenge.html where the challenge was to:

"For each card you may: Not use Nestabilities or Cuttlebug. Can use one patterned paper, cardstock, one embellishment, and two stamps, one of which must be a sentiment."

I hope I didn't disqualify myself, though...I realized I used ribbon AND buttons...I should have used a strip of cardstock instead of the ribbon, I guess.

The other challenge was on http://ymbd.blogspot.com/2009/01/january-card-class.html. This was to follow a tutorial and make a card.

Thanks to both Mothers and Daughters Creations AND Your Memories By Design for these great challenges:)

This crazy LIFE

I've been wanting to scrap this photo since we took it last fall. My husband and I feel so blessed to have made friends with Mark and Diana since moving to CA. They are originally from Ohio, we are originally from Philadelphia. We each have three children. We moved to CA around the same time (in 2005). We love to do the same CRAZY things, lol! While on a bike ride around Mission Bay, we decided to take this funny picture...our original plan was to look like the Monkees (remember that show?)...anyway, I think we look more like...ready, set, GO to laugh and live "This crazy Life".

We have such a blast with them:) Thank you, Mark and Diana for helping to make our time here in CA SOOO much fun:)

Go ahead y'all, go out and live "This crazy LIFE" with passion!

Wow, what a ride:)

Lori McCausland

Frugal Scrapper Extraordinaire

Trash and My Stash Paper Flowers

As most of you know, I've been obsessed with making my own paper flowers lately. Since I haven't seen these flowers on-line anywhere, I thought I'd share the instructions with you:)


The supplies shown above (along with some "junk mail" trash) were used to make some awesome paper flowers that I used in a layout (shown at the end of this post).

These flowers were made as follows:

• Punch 6-8 circles using scrap paper from your stash
• Fold the circles into a "cone" shape as shown below
• Distress the folded edges and rounded top of circle (these are your petals)
• Apply stickles (or some other glitter glue)...in addition to adding the glitter, the glue adds substance to the paper that helps to mold the petals
• Once petals are molded, place on paper, spacing as desired
• Add a button or another circle punch to the center

For this flower, I also used a flower technique I found on Leah Fung's blog. She has alot of great ideas, so feel free to visit her here: http://www.leahfung.typepad.com/


This is the layout I completed using the flower I made. Notice I also made a smaller one for the top of the page. I just took each circle I punched, cut it in half and folded the edges back to make a rounded triangle. The rest of the instructions are the same as above.

Enjoy:)

Lori McCausland, Frugal Scrapper Extraordinaire

Exciting News:)

I'm very excited to share that two of my layouts are being published in the January issue of Scrapbook News & Review e-zine...whoo hoo!!! (I'm saying that alot lately, lol). The issue will be available on January 17th. You can visit their site and sign up for their e-zine at: http://www.scrapbooknewsandreview.com/joomla44/index.php

I like the e-zine AND all of the free links to challenges and information from this site.

I've also got a card I created recently in the BasicGrey.com gallery. You can visit their gallery at: http://www.basicgrey.com/catalog/idea_gallery.php?PHPSESSID=fe81fccfad42b63864a3d4f17cc1512b

Enjoy:)

Lori McCausland
Frugal Scrapper Extraordinaire:)

January Dine-O-Mite Recipe, whoo hoo!!!

It's finally time to post the next Dine-O-Mite recipe, whoo hoo!!!! This recipe will be due on Monday, February 16th. Please post a comment to this post with a link to your completed project. Then just look for my "reveal" that will be posted by February 18th. I include a link to all entries through this post so it will be easy to see how everyone "mixed" the recipe:)

Remember if there are at least 8 comments to this post with links to completed projects by the due date, I will do a random draw for a "most wonderful" RAK:) (limited to entries with addresses in the US only please).

Link to the January recipe is here: http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp23/frugalscrapperphotos/TNT%20DINE-O-MITE%20Recipes/JanuaryDine-O-MiteRecipe.jpg

With this in mind, feel free to share this post with all of your scrapping buddies!!

Have a "Blast".

Sincerely,

Lori McCausland, Frugal Scrapper Extraordinaire

December Dine-O-Mite Recipe Reveal:)

Well...it's FINALLY time for the reveal of the December Dine-O-Mite Recipe:) Boy, this seemed to take a really long time to come around, lol. As you remember, the time frame changed for the reveal so that the TNT members (LSS Book Club) would not get an early reveal on my "vision" of the Dine-O-Mite recipes:)

I want to THANK EVERYONE for perservering with this month's recipe. As most of you are aware, I had a little problem remembering my left from my right as I wrote the recipe for December.

After a few revisions, I think all of the left/right issues were resolved. I'm happy to say that for now, I am still successful knowing up from down (at least on the recipes, lol).

As you see, I had to do two "visions" in order to give a better idea of what to do...in the "The Graduate" layout, I even took the liberty to "alter" the recipe a bit to accommodate the size of the photos.

In any event, a HUGE thanks to all who particpated.

Happy Scrappin'

Lori McCausland

Frugal Scrapper Extraordinaire:)

Just my stash and my new Cuttlebug Embossing Folders:)

O.k., so I finally succombed to the Cuttlebug craze that has surfaced recently and I bought two Cuttlebug embossing folders...I have the Big Shot that works on EVERYTHING, so I thought...why not jump on board since I only had to purchase the embossing folders, lol...

Boy have I been impressed...my friend Gloria who is the Cuttlebug expert at http://www.cropstop.com/ recently shared some cards she made using the Cuttlebug embossing folders with mulberry paper. Boy were they AWESOME. You can check them out here: http://www.cropstopcommunity.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=69&t=651&start=0&st=0&sk=t&sd=af=69&t=651&start=0&st=0&sk=t&sd=af=69&t=651&start=0&st=0&sk=t&sd=a. You will be amazed:) Anyway, I was rummaging through my craft stuff today and came across some fabric I've had for AGES! I thought....hmmmm, I wonder if fabric will work like the mulberry paper technique...

I gave it a "shot"...you know in the Big Shot:) Well now I feel like a "Big Shot" because it came out great! Whoo Hoo!!!! (I did rub a little white ink over the embossed areas so they would be more visible.) Anyway, this card was made using this technique.

Since one of my many New Year's resolutions this year is to send more cards, one lucky recipient will receive this awesome card:)

Enjoy!

Lori McCausland
Frugal Scrapper Extraordinaire:)

Just the trash and Tamara's stash!

I found this project at a website I visit frequently called Your Memories By Design http://yourmemoriesbydesign.ca/ . This project definitely fits in with my "Just the Trash and my Stash" section of my blog, so since I've had some creative block in this area recently, I thought I'd share this awesome project with you:)
Tamara used some beer coasters, ribbon, patterned paper, ink, and some glue to make this really cool pen/pencil holder. She used her bind-it-all to punch the holes in the coasters, but she says a crop-o-dile or hole punch would also work.

Kudos to Tamara from Germany for posting this great project:)

The complete instructions can be found at the link below.

http://yourmemoriesbydesign.ca/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=2497&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=

Enjoy:)

Life thru the eyes of a Child

Ahhhhhhhhh, Life thru the eyes of a Child...that is my focus for 2009. I have learned sooooo much about life since becoming a Grandmother (Mema to my grandkids)...

You know, when you are raising your children you don't have time to just sit back and observe them because you're too busy....well...being a mom:)

Since becoming "Mema", I've taken the most wonderful role in my grandkids life...having fun, being carefree, playing...REALLY playing, teaching (the fun stuff:).

I have to say, I really think I've learned so much about life "thru the eyes of these children"...how to notice the little things (and I mean REALLY little sometimes, like that teeny weeny piece of dirt they find in the carpet, lol). I've also learned how to laugh again...now I do know how to laugh, but I mean REALLY laugh...for laugh's sake.

Shown above is a layout featuring my grandson, Dominic. I have to say he is SUCH a joy to be around! In this layout, we were patiently waiting for our turn to see Santa. I just love the photo of Dominic looking thru the window at Santa as he waited for his turn to sit on Santa's lap.

How do they say that on the commercials?....Priceless:)

Take a moment to look thru the eyes of a child...trust me, it's worth it:)

Lori McCausland
Frugal Scrapper Extraordinaire:)

What an AWESOME start to the New Year!!

My tradition since moving to CA is to go to the beach at midnight and put our feet in the ocean...corny as it seems, I love doing it every year:)

Of course, everyone with me says there is no way they will put their feet in the cold water, but I know that if I can get them to the beach, they will follow my lead, lol...

As you can see, this year was no different:) Unfortunately, after a great evening just walking around Carlsbad and soaking in the festivities, the fog rolled in...which is the reason for the spots on the photo...it did make for some interesting photos, though...

As we went to leave the beach, I caught this photo op of Dan and Stephanie and just couldn't pass it up...eerie, but sooooo cool! The light behind them is from a street light.

Happy New Year!!!!