All my pictures are missing

When I checked my blog last week, I found out all my pictures had disappeared.  I am working on tracking down which memory card has them.  I am so bad about moving them off the cards and onto my computer.  Hopefully I will have them reposted in a few days.

Finished the Outhouse Mini

I found the cutest mini album to make for my Dad for his birthday.  I wish I had the talent to make these patterns myself.  Since I don't have that kind of talent,  I am sure glad someone else does.  The pattern for this can be found at:

http://myscrapmenagerie.blogspot.com/2012/09/outhouse-mini-tutorial-is-here.html

I had fun putting this together.  The "wooden boards" were a bit time consuming but they turned out wonderful.  The directions called for putting an additional color of distress in over the darker ink, but I didn't have the lighter color.  I still like the way it turned out.

 Front of the Outhouse.

 Back and sides of the Outhouse.

 The mini inside.

 I love the way she did the pattern for the inside.  It adds so much.

I only showed the full family pictures and the pages with my boys on them.  Since all the pages are basically the same, I didn't want to display my nephews without permission from my siblings.  All of the boys are either gamers or phone addicts or both so this paper is perfect.  One side has controllers from most of the game systems all the way back to Atari and the other has different cell phones on it.

Perfect for my Dad

Well, I did the huge mini for my Mom, but felt like I was leaving my Dad out.  While surfing the net, I found the perfect mini for my Dad.  I think he will get a kick out of it.  I found an outhouse mini tutorial.  You can check it out here http://myscrapmenagerie.blogspot.com/2012/09/outhouse-mini-tutorial-is-here.html.  I can't wait to start on this one.  Hopefully when I get home this evening.

Video of Album for my Mom

This is one of my first Youtube videos.  Please keep that in mind when you watch it.  Hopefully I will get better with filming.  Thanks!

Ordered a new Big Shot

Well, I finally found a brand new Big Shot I was willing to order.  I love getting a great deal and can usually only afford new machines when I find a great steal.  I found a Big Shot on Amazon.com for just a few pennies under $45.00.  Yes, that does include shipping and taxes.  Okay, so it has the free super saver shipping.  That takes a few days longer, but it's free.  According to the website, I should have it by the first of September.  Woo Hoo!  My old Big Shot still works, just not like it used to and the squeaking is very annoying.  Maybe I can take it back apart and work on it again after I get my new one.  It never hurts to have a spare.

I am so a craft supply hoarder.  I need to do a destash on my facebook page.   

Embellishments for Mom's Album

So I have been working on the embellishments for the family album for my mom.  I have quite a few added to the base pages I posted not long ago.  Tim Holtz was definitely the way to go.  Thanks to everyone from the Frugal Scrapper Yahoo Group for the suggestions.  I used Wild Orchid Crafts flowers and some Stampers Best Stamps as well as some Tim Holtz stamps.  The Sizzix dies awesome.  I love them.  I am very happy with the way this is coming together.  I made rosettes with my Martha Stewart score board and topped them with buttons for the sister pages and Tim Holtz gears for the brother pages.  I still need to add the names and come up with some pictures.  Lots left to do to finish this.  I will post the full album when I finish it.  Until then enjoy pictures of the embellishments.

Well, I guess that's it

My Big Shot is still not "right".  I got the new crankshaft and installed it, but the slipping and squeaking is still happening.  Makes me so sad.  I guess I will continue to use it until it is totally dead and then maybe get a new one.  My husband has been asking what I want for my birthday next week.  I might get him to get me another one.

Unrelated to my Big Shot dying on me, I am having one of my mover and shaper dies replaced by Ellison/Sizzix.  The small camera die came apart on me.  I haven't heard of anyone else having the problem with it.  Parts of the die actually came out.  They asked me to send pictures, so I did.  Then they asked for my mailing address and told me they were sending out a replacement die.  I have more Sizzix dies than I want to admit to.  Loads of original, bigz, extended cut, small sizzlets, medium sizzlets, sizzlet strips. small green dies, yellow dies, and pro dies are sitting on shelves in my craft room.

Base Pages For My Mom

I have finished the base pages for the Family Album for my Mom.  Now to collect enough pictures to make a nice presentation.  I have been working on embellishments for the pages.  The pages for her and her sisters are easy for me to figure out, but the ones for her brothers are harder.  Most of the things I make are aimed more toward women not men.  I have been using my Tim Holtz Alterations dies to make the embellishments for my uncles.  I have also been using stamps to make a few.  I still have to make tags for all the hidden pockets this album holds.  I just love this design by Kathy Orta.