Peace, Love and Happiness

Okay... so I lied about you not hearing from me again until next week.  I have been working away on some "Have to" projects but couldn't resist a quick "want to" project when I ran across the current challenge over on the Paper Smooches blog.  It was to use a polaroid or a camera in your design.  I was checking out their FREE Digi Stamps and instantly fell in love with this adorable candy cane heart. I knew exactly what I was going to create.  I don't own a polaroid stamp and couldn't find a pattern online that I liked so I drew out my own.  I have it posted below if you want to save it and use it too for anything! Anyhoo.... I hope you can tell in the photo how I glittered in the red parts on the heart.  It's always fun to pull out the messy stuff.  The sentiment I used on this is also from Paper Smooches and it's called Pretty Phrases.  It's one of my new favorites. 

Okay...... that's all I wanted to share really quick!  I hope ya'll have a great weekend and get to put a dent in that Christmas shopping list!  I will be working on some more design projects as well as cheering for my Macey on the soccer fields all weekend.  She has 5 games!  Happy Holidays!  

 



Christmas Sweets......

Today I will share some Christmas sweets!  Some edible and some not-so edible. Hee hee!  This first insanely fun and cute stack of sugary deliciousness is something the girls and I have been working on the last few days.  And we absolutely plan on making more of them.  I saw this idea on a friend's Facebook page and knew right away I had to make some!  I have a sugar cookie recipe that's been in my family for YEARS that is by far the best one I've ever tasted.... and I have no doubt it's the Almond and Lemon extract that sets it apart from all the rest.  YUM!

Isn't it fun??? And it's so, so easy to make! All you need is a set of star-shaped cookie cutters.  I have a set of four that I found at Hobby Lobby for super cheap. All different sizes.  Made the cookies then iced them and stacked them up!  Then added the little edible sprinkles and balls. I think there were three of each size cookie. anyhooo.... I love the recipe... for the icing too!!! So here it is for you... so you can try it out yourself!

Yummy Sugar Cookies

 

Ingredients:

1 pound margarine

2 cups sugar

3 eggs

2 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. lemon extract

1 tsp. almond extract

6 cups flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. salt

Cream together margarine and sugar. Add eggs and mix.  Add vanilla, almond and lemon extracts then mix.  Add 6 cups flour, baking soda and salt.  Mix together then chill 1-2 hours in covered bowl.  Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 mins.

Icing Recipe:

1 box powdered sugar, 1/3 heaping cup butter or

shortening, 1 tsp. vanilla

Mix all ingredients together and add milk to get to desired consistency.  Color with food coloring as needed. 



 

If you end up baking some.... you'll have to share how you like them!  I've never had anyone say this wasn't the best sugar cookie recipe ever!  Seriously! LOL



 

Okay.... I'm going to be working away like crazy this coming week on some projects for Bo Bunny so you most likely won't hear from me again until next week sometime.  Unless it's some quick Facebook posts.  I'm ALWAYS posting over there! HA!  But I thought I would leave you with something else that's super sweet!  I have a couple of cards in the current issue of Create: Christmas Cards magazine by Northridge Publishing.  It always makes me squeal like a kid at Christmas to see my creations in print so I wanted to share!  I hope you're all enjoying this Holiday season!  Hugs!

 

 

 

 





Lots to Share Today!

Hi again! I know... it's only been a few days since my last post.  SHOCKER right?  HA! I told you I'm changing some things up and it will get back to being super crafty around here!  All KINDS of crafty!  Most of you know I dabble in a lot of things. I have a brain that doesn't shut down. For all kinds of reasons but a lot of which is scrappy-crafty related!  Hopefully YOU will enjoy that part as much as I enjoy sharing.  Okay... this post is gonna be longer than normal for me so I better get to it!

 

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog and saying so many wonderful things about my Winterings Cards.  The lucky winner of the Winterings drawing is........

 

Sorry I decided to do the drawing a little early because I have a full weekend ahead with soccer, basketball, birthday parties... and much more!  Sooooo.... Lisa P... email me please with your mailing info and I will get your goodies out to you! Congrats girl!  And I hope you'll share what you create with the fun products! 

 

Did anyone happen to notice my blog since you came here last?  I thought it was time for something a little fun and festive! I've been playing around a lot lately with the cute little Instagram photos so I decided to use them in my banner.  Holiday-ish right? 

Which one is your fave?

 

Speaking of getting fun and festive... my home is looking a lot like Christmas.  I'm sure yours is too! One of my favorite things to collect during this time of year is Snowmen of all kinds.  Being born and raised in Arizona where we don't see snow unless we drive 3 hours North... the Snowmen hanging out around my house just makes it feel wintry and Christmas-y even when it's still 74 degrees outside.  I love this little family of snowmen that sits on my bathroom counter.  I was totally inspired by the colors and the glittery cuteness so I made a card using some older lines by October Afternoon. 

 

Here's the card I created after being inspired by this sweet snowman family!

 

 

The fun snowman stamp is manufactured by PaperSmooches and the set he came from is called Swanky Snow Dudes.  Seriously cute!  Oh and for those who might be curious... the snowflakes are punched from a sheet of glittered foam from Hobby Lobby.  The snowflake punch is just the XL size by Martha Stewart. 

Some of you know how much I also love to play with digital scrapbooking.  So I thought I would also share this super-cute snowman card I made a few weeks ago since he fits right in today!

 

 

Okay.... that's it for all things scrappy today but one more thing I wanted to share with you that totally tugged at my heartstrings!  I do childcare here in my home full time and design when I can during naptimes or late at night.  But yesterday one of my sweet kiddos turned TWO so I made her some cupcakes.  Her name is Ariana.  She's a doll.  I have to share these sweet pics I got of her and the chain of events trying to eat her cupcake.  She was soooo happy to have it.  Then.... tragedy struck when the cupcake crumbled all over on the table in front of her.  She was pretty devastated as you can see.  LOL She really thought she wasn't going to get to eat it.  THEN.... once she listened to me and I showed her how she could still eat it.... well... you can see how that turned out. HA! 

 I love kids. They are a lot of work.  A LOT. But they do bring a lot of JOY.  Especially our own. The ones who know how to get on your LAST nerve. But the same ones who know what it takes to turn Mommy or Daddy into mush in a hot second! 

There's nothing so rewarding than being a Mom.

 

Thanks for stopping by today! 

Have a great weekend and see ya next week!

 

 

Winterings Giveaway!

I'm so happy and excited to have the creative time I have now be MY time. To play with whatever I want... whenever I want.  For those of you who have asked about my Monthly Card Kit Club... I'm sorry to say that I've finally retired that creative commitment. I kept that going for three whole years.  And while it was a blast... it was also an insane amount of work. BUT... thanks again to all of you who kept me in business!  Not only did you allow me to keep creating but also helped pay the bills while we were in Mississippi and I will forever be grateful for that!

I am so excited to be able to get back to creating more and sharing more here on my blog. It's been completely neglected over the past couple of years and that's about to change. I also look forward to sharing things that are going on with my family and myself as well.  I can't wait to share some SUPER fun things in the next few months so stay tuned!

Today I want to share a few cards and a tag I created using Little Yellow Bicycle's new line called Winterings.  You can see that collection HERE in much more detail. They were generous enough to send me some products that I could work with and then also give to YOU!  My sweet readers!  Soooo.... after you've checked out these little creations.... be sure to leave a comment by Friday November 30th telling me which one is your favorite and you will be entered into a drawing to win some Winterings goodies from Little Yellow Bicycle!  Winner will be announced on Monday the 3rd of December.   Thanks for stopping by!

 

 

 

 



Happy Holidays School Fundraiser

Hi there!  Thanks for stopping by my blog! 

My freshman daughter, Bailee just made her High School basketball team and is super excited! 

They are having a Free-Throw fundraiser to earn money for the team and tournaments so I told her I would help round up donations for her if she would help me sand and paint!

We are selling these CUTE wood snowman Christmas ornaments just in

time for the Holidays!  Perfect teacher gifts or to put on top of your packages

and of course your Christmas tree!  This little guy measures just under 6" tall not including the wire hanger.  He's $10.00 shipped!  You get one with every $10.00 donation so you can purchase as many as you like!  Please email me if you have any questions.  shannavineyard@gmail.com 

Click on the PayPal "Buy Now" button below to purchase. 

Thanks so much from Bailee AND myself and Happy Holidays!

 

  

 

October Card Kits

This is my LAST official month of doing the monthly card kit club.  It is something I've been contemplating for a while now but couldn't pull the plug because I just love it so much.  But now that we are moved and settled in.... life has been kicking me in the butt!  My childcare is in full-swing now, thank heavens, and I need to be available "after hours" for my family. My girls are growing up at lightning speeds and I just don't want to have any regrets.  I hope that makes sense.  Anyway.... on a fun note.... because I won't be doing the card kits that have been taking up any extra "creative" time... this means I get to "play" for fun and "make things" like I used to!  LOL  So that part I am looking forward to when life allows for it.  Probably nap times. :)

 

Sooooo.... here's my last Peek ever of the monthly card kits.  October. it has three fun Christmas cards in it.  I love them.  I'm thinking I should have about 6 extra kits this month.  If you want one then please shoot me an email.....  shannavineyard@gmail.com   Thanks!♥

Fun Signs

So I made this for my cute friend Kaci who lives in Mississippi.  I'm thinking that my other MS and Texas peeps..... heck.... my "Southern" friends might want one too! I can do different colors. Only $10 shipped!! I just added them to my ETSY shop.  I can do all kinds of sayings as well.... I will be adding a lot more to the shop over the next few weeks!  Thanks for peeking!

 

 

September Card Kit Peeks

 

Here's the peeks for the September Card Kits. There's a fun Halloween one in this month that I LOVE. Not sure how many extras I will have this month since I had many more subscribers last month but let me know if you want one since

it's first come first served.

Thanks bunches!

August Card Kit Peeks and gettin' Crafty!

Dude!  it's a hundred different kinds of crazy at my house.  Good kinds of crazy......

But crazy still the same. 

My oldest daughter Bailee found out on Friday that she made the Freshman Volleyball team and I am soooooo over-the-moon excited for her!  I've ALWAYS looked forward to being a volleyball MOM!

I've also been insanely busy trying to get my house in order and every last thing out of boxes.  Almost there.  Not much left.  But I've been working like a Mad Woman on simultaneously getting the front room of our home turned into the "play room" for my child care.  It's coming together in a big way with lots of fun little details. 

One being this.........

I cut out a HUGE piece of wood and then sprayed it with several coats of chalkboard paint that I picked up at Hobby Lobby for three-something after their coupon.  Once I got the board sprayed I went to work adding the red scallops and blue stars which I also cut out and painted.  I found a cute little metal yellow bucket at Hobby Lobby and used that to store the eraser and chalk.  This fun thing is secured to the wall in my playroom now where it can keep my kiddos entertained for hours.  I love it!

Okay...... for my card kit members.... I'm so sorry about the delay in getting August's kit peeks posted!  Refer to reason above for excuse #233.  Hee hee.... 

So here they are and I should have about 5 extra kits this month if someone wants to try them out OR even order two of them.  Thanks so much!

Checking in!

Well Hi there!  How in the world has it been this many weeks since my last post?  Time is whizzing by!  Girls camp was a blast and we got moved into our new home.  Now the kids start school on Wednesday...... Mi Vida Loca!!!  My Crazy Life!  LOL 

I just wanted to let all my Monthly Card Kit Members know that the August peeks will go up on Wednesday sometime.  Sorry for the delay! 
Hope everyone is well! 

Hugs!
Shanna

Chris Bukowski and Gerard Butler.... YES!

So my sister and I have been debating.  I told her I thought that Bachelorette's Chris Bukowski looks A LOT like Gerard Butler and she thinks I'm CRAZY! LOL  Tell me I'm wrong! 

Seriously.....  what do YOU think????

July Card kit Peeks

I can't believe I totally spaced getting these peeks posted!  The kits are getting shipped tomorrow and I have a few extra so if you'd like a kit this month just shoot me an email.  shannavineyard@gmail.com    Next week we head to girls camp and then come home and move into our new place in Gilbert.  Life is a little busy right now. Hee hee..... Happy Tuesday!



Our Family "Business"

My sister asked me to come and give a 15 minute mini-class at her church last night about organization.  While it could take hours and hours to talk about this topic…. I chose to focus on a few things that are going to help my family once we get into our own home.  (Which is soon! Yay!)

A few months back I was pinning some things on Pinterest and saw something that instantly appealed to me and my long-time hatred of trying to stay on top of the kids with the “chores” around our house.  I was inspired by THIS.  I LOVED the idea of using time cards. While this idea I stumbled on was designed to be used with toddlers I instantly went to work modifying it to fit my big family with children of all ages. 

The thing I love about this concept is the analogy between the home and the workplace.  I can’t wait to sit my family down and talk about how our family is like its own little business where Mom and Dad are the “bosses” and they are the employees.  We all have jobs to do in order to make sure our “company” is running smoothly and is profitable.  Profitability meaning --- there is joy and love and happiness in our home.  That it is organized and taken care of and everyone is learning to be responsible for themselves and their belongings. 

I found these old shutters and painted them to make them work as a time card holder which I will mount on the wall.  Each family member’s card will have their photo on it and will list what specific “job duties” they need to perform each day before they can “clock out” or go to bed at night.  Then... when they get up each morning they "clock" back in for the day. 

One area on the card will have a space to change the weekly chores or “zones” assigned.  Everyone’s card will have the routine type things listed like, prayer, scripture study, pick up room, laundry (if it’s their day), exercise, brushing teeth, etc….. I did ours based on our family’s needs.  Here's a close-up sample of one of the cards.....

I will also talk about how when the company (our family) is profitable and everyone does their part then the employees will get bonuses or rewards for their hard work. 

I’m sooooo excited about this system because once I laminate the time cards then the only thing I will have to stay on top of is changing out what “zones” each child has for the week using a dry erase marker.  Zones is something we will talk about too.  Those will be assigned areas of the house if that makes sense.  And Momma will be able to quickly glance at the wall and see who is still "working" each day. 

Sounds great doesn't it??? Easy enough?  HA HA!!!! I will have to give you an update on this in 6 months so you can see how well it's working.

Operation Ribbon and Flowers Two

It's THAT time of year again friends!!! I'm getting the craft kits together for over 180 young girls to create at Camp Lo Mia in Pine, AZ next month! I am looking for donations of flowers and ribbon of all kinds and colors. This is a sample I created of what the girls will be making. The girls will have fun picking out ribbon and flowers from the items YOU donate! I am putting together a scrapbooking prize that is valued at over $75.00 retail.... If you make a donation you will have your name added to the drawing which will be held on July 18th!  Please email me at shannavineyard@gmail.com to get my mailing address. I need all donations by no later than July 16th. 
Thanks soooo much!

 

I'm really excited to be one of the Camp Craft Leaders this year

and be at camp with my girls!

SPLASH!

You are absolutely going to love this new line from Little Yellow Bicycle!!!

It's called.... SPLASH!!!

I'm in love with it!  Such a perfect collection for every kind of "summer" photo.  Whether you're scrapping pool pictures, fun times at the Beach,

or even just playing in the hose in your backyard...

this line is sooooo stinkin' cute and will make your summer photos shine!

Here's the layout I created using Splash. 

The darling photos were taken by my sweet friend Becky Thalgott

who is super talented. 

Click here to go to the LYB Blog where you can see some other awesome

samples using SPLASH!!!!  You have to have it!

Splash Supplies:

Makin’ Waves
Aqua Chevron Stripe
6x6 pad
Felt Stickers
Cardstock Stickers Favorite Pieces
Cardstock Stickers Fresh Verse
Clear Cuts Shapes
Fabric Favorites
Deja Views Summer Clear Cuts Words
Deja Views Clear Word Stickers

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great day!♥

Fit by Forty

Lots of "ME" changes going on over the next year. I'm bound and determined to "take care of me" the way my body needs me to. I WILL BE FIT BY FORTY. I am motivated more than ever as my girls are finally at that age where I can "play" with them but now that I've let myself go I can't keep up. Soooo... that's my goal. FIT BY 40. I made this tonight after being inspired by the quote. Love it and adding it to my fitness journal. Here goes!!!

Spellbinders Giveaway Winner!

Hey there!

I TOTALLY spaced posting the winner of the big Spellbinders giveaway yesterday!  So sorry!  We've been celebrating my Macey's 13th birthday.  I was following 5 teeenagers around the mall all day and was ready to crash by the time I got home.  Hee hee...

Anyway.... thanks for all the sweet comments.  I wish I could give something away to every single person.  *sigh*  But I CAN make one person super happy!  I drew this person's name....

Renee said...

"I love the 3d flowers, but all the projects are great!!"  

I will email you and hopefully make your day!  Thanks again everyone!

♥♥♥♥♥

June Card Kit Peeks

Hey there!  Here's the June peeks of the card kits I promised! 

I'm not exactly sure yet how many kits will be available this month so if you'd like one please shoot me an email at shannavineyard@gmail.com   I am also accepting new members to my kit club so if you want to be guaranteed a kit every month then you need to let me know. 

For those of you who are wondering what this card club stuff is all about you can read the details here.  I'm excited about keeping it going.  It will be three years this October and it's been a ton of fun!

Enjoy the rest of your holiay weekend!

Card Kits.....

For those of you who were members of my Monthly Card Kit club or those who would LIKE to be..... I've decided to go back to doing them again.

The response from deciding to close up shop was seriously overwhelming! I'm shocked and grateful and humbled that ya'll loved my kits so much.

I will continue to work through the issues of not having my own space temporarily to keep bringing you the kits.... If you were on my list before then you will probably hear from me. But it certainly can't hurt to email me at shannavineyard@gmail.com to let me know you want back in! Anyone is welcome! And the June peeks will be posted on my blog in the next few days. Have a great weekend!

Spellbinders Giveaway

Now that we are deep into 2012 and my Design Team term working with Spellbinders was offically over in March.... I thought it would be fun to look back on lots of the projects that I was able to create for them throughout 2011 and early 2012.  Because they used our projects for different reasons, we weren't able to share or post our creations on our blogs until they appeared in the Spellbinders Idea Gallery.  And because I wasn't very good at following up on them.... that means I get to share a lot

 of them in one big post here! 

Soooooooo..... I thought it would be fun to post some of my favorite projects and hopefully hear what yours are!   Leave a comment telling me which project is your fave and you will be entered to win the big Spellbinders giveaway.  See what's included at the bottom of this post! 

Thanks for stopping by!

I love love love Spellbinders and all their products!  They were insanely generous with us and I will always be so grateful for the fun opportunity I had!  But seriously... I have so many fun dies now that I won't possibly use them all.  That's why I've gone through my collection and have decided to give a bunch away to one lucky winner.  All of these dies may or may not have even been used.  And if they were used.... it was only a very few times.  Leave a comment telling me which of my projects shown above is your favorite by Monday, May 28th and you could win all of this valued at over $400.00 retail:

Jewel Goddess

Classic Ric Rac

Mix'd Media Playtime

Bitty Blossoms

Hexagon Pinwheel Top Box

Donna Salazar's Creative Book Pages

Donna Salazar's Creative Book Pages Two

Lacey Squares

Floral Flourishes

Fleur De Lis Accents

Fleur De Lis Squares 

Good luck and thanks for stopping by!