What's on your list?

It was my turn to post Friday on the Work in Progress Blog. I thought I would share here too!
Girls, if you haven't started dropping hints for the hubby or loved ones, now's the time. Hday..ere are a few new scrappy items you may want to consider for your list.

Martha Punches - a girl can never have too many. I'll pass on the diamonds. Give me good tools.



Elizabeth Kartchner's new book. I haven't bought a new book in ages. I'm getting this one.



Scrapbook Trends - now that Simple Scrapbooks and Memory Makers are gone, I'm left with only CK and Scrapbooks Etc. It is a steep price to pay but there are very few ads and tons of great pages. (Warning! Very  few two pagers in this magazine.)



Epson Stylus 1400 Wow! A large format photo printer for less than $200. A friend has one and I love it! We printed our own 12x12 paper in minutes. (Scan your last piece of  beloved Scenic Route paper and print over and over again!) I want one to be able to print journaling right on the background of my 12x12. I think it would be really cool to print 12x12 photos and scrap directly on those. Now if they could just make an affordable scanner for scrapbookers...


Wood Veneer Sheets from StampinUp I'm so gonna get this. Can you imagine how cool your die cut letters would be?


Paper Flower Kits from the Paper Source. I want to make ALL of them. The poppies are beautiful too.

So what's on your list? Share your ideas below so that we can all add to our lists as well!

Embossing Folders

Ever wanted to learn more about embossing folders? Head on over to 52 Sketches 52 Weeks to see my step by step tutorial! While you are there, take a look around and check out the great free sketches made by Julie.

Lots of layouts to share soon!
Laina

Holiday Season

I can't ignore it anymore...it is time to get ready for the Holiday Season. This will be the first one since 2005 that I haven't had to work retail. Nice. Very nice.

I'm going to do my best to put more effort in the season for my family this year. Decorate the house better, actually bake cookies again, make teacher gifts instead of purchase. I'm no Martha Stewart or Trish Turay :) but I am going to give it my best shot.

First thing - some of my favorite holiday tunes for this blog. Hope you like.

Second - Making these. I had these at the crop last weekend and haven't stopped thinking about them.

Iced Cinnamon Chip Cookies

• 46 Servings
• Prep: 30 min. Bake: 10 min./batch + cooling

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 package (10 ounces) cinnamon baking chips
• ICING:
• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• 1/4 cup shortening
• 1-1/4 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 tablespoon milk
• 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Fold in cinnamon chips.
• Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls 2 in. apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Remove to wire racks to cool.
• In a small bowl, combine icing ingredients; beat on high speed for 1-2 minutes or until fluffy. Spread over cooled cookies. Yield: about 3-1/2 dozen.

And third for today, set your DVR to record "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" on Thursday November, 26 at 8pm. It's one of my favorites. Remember when he makes toast for everyone?

before I skip town...

I forgot to remind you to head on over to 52 Sketches 52 weeks. You still have time to join the fun and maybe even win a prize!

Here is my take on Sketch 45 and 46. Have a fun weekend.

Sketch #44 by Julie Bonner

and my take on the Sketch.

Sketch #45 by Julie Bonner

My take on the Sketch.

Let's talk baseball...

I am off to the Bertram Inn this weekend with my mother and many friends for an entire weekend of SCRAPBOOKING! Wo-hoo. No kids. No cleaning. No cooking. Just paper and glue people. Well maybe some wine and chocolate too.

I'm almost finished with all my summer photos and into most of my fall pictures. I will be really caught up after the retreat. I actually had to "stop" scrapbooking this week so that I would have enough photos to keep me busy.

Here are some of my favorite baseball pages from the summer:

Off to pack WAY too much for the weekend - it's what we crazy scrapbookers do!

umm...

It's not an everyday thing to have your work featured on the CK blog so I think I am entitled to a little SPAZZZZING out today.

thanks for letting me get that off my chest.
L

Back in Business

We made it back from a crazy three day trip to Chicago. I always have fun in that city no matter what time of year. Despite packing the trip full of activities for the boys, I managed to squeeze in a few scrapbooking stores. We were trick or treating in Lincoln Park on Saturday evening on Armitage when we happened upon The Paper Source. Hello! I had never been to one before and enjoyed seeing their collection. (We bribed the boys with their candy bags while my mom and I took a quick peek around. We ended up getting a few of their beautiful paper flower kits to try at home.

On Sunday while the guys were at the Browns vs. Bears game, mom and I headed up to Schaumburg to the Lego Discovery Centre. Coop and Emmitt were in heaven. I would recommend a trip here for anyone who has children that love to build Legos. After several hours of play we again bribed them so we could stop at a few scrappy shops. First was More than Memories in Schaumburg. I would only visit there if interested in stamping techniques. Not much for scrapbookers. Next we headed to Craft Fancy in Arlington Heights. Next to Scrappy Chic in Livonia, Michigan, Craft Fancy is now my favorite LSS ever. Great selection and quality, FANTASTIC customer service, great sample layouts and cute store design. Do yourself a favor, find a reason to go there id ever in Chicago.

On Monday just before we headed home, we stopped by Windy City Scrapbooking. Another great store with something for everyone. I had no idea how big it was going to be. Huge inventory and again, great customer service.

I had to go back to work Tuesday morning so it's been hectic getting everyone back into their groove. I need to edit all of our photos and get ready for the Work In Progress Retreat at Bertram Inn next weekend. One more week and I'll be scrapping for three whole family free days!

Here are my layouts for the November Work In Progress Kit. Lots of yummy warm Nutmeg from Cosmo Cricket.I tried to challenge myself to try at least one technique on each page that I usually don't incorporate.

Dance uses edge distressing, embossing and ruffle paper border.

Brave uses crazy freehand stitching and paper piercing.

My Boys uses paper ruffles and handmade clay buttons.