Party On..........with friends

Granddaughter had some of her Play Group friends and cousins over yesterday for a little birthday party. It was so fun to watch the little ones mingle. A talented musician came and played her guitar for 1/2 an hour while the little ones played various instruments with her. I was videoing the day for my daughter so didn't get very many still shots; darn.  I'm hoping to get some from daughter's good friend: the stylish Miss N.

They had a group cupcake smash & eat and each child opened their gift from the Book Gift Exchange.

Here are a few pictures:

Ready for her friends to arrive.

All excited they are here....

Little shakers for each of them.

Granddaughter's Music Class Teacher arrived and she loves her.

Friends and family.

ohhhh; Granddaughter giving a friend a hug.

Shy friend.

Toy attack.

...frosting is not bad tasting. Her Great Aunt made the bib for her.

Youngest cousin in the crowd. 

After the party was over we worked on invitations together. Son in-law joined in and we were done putting them together in 3 hours. I will share as soon as I write down the Cricut cartridges I used.

All the birthday prep and celebrations have been fun but I'm glad I can now get back to my normal Creating and start working on layouts again......and get my house back in order. Have a good day all.

Granddaughter's 1st Birthday

On Granddaughter's birthday a few days ago we were caring for her and had a fun day. A few intimate family members came for dinner and to celebrate her.  I want to share some pics taken throughout the day. She went thru quite a few outfit changes; as you'll see.

Just before her mommy left for work she woke Granddaughter up so she

could be the first one to wish baby "Happy Birthday". She's in her sleep sack and pj's here.

 

...out of sleep sack and dusting the floor.

....had her bath and first outfit of the day on. She's riding her horse and

having her baby doll give the horse kisses.

....outfit number 2 and all ready for company to come.

"aw shucks: I know I'm cute in this birthday tutu"........

outfit #3; now let's get the party started.

...giving her cousin a hug.

...baby is "so big". I read that book to her 5 times a day.

...."did Annie Oakley have to wear a tutu while riding?"

"Mommy robbed me of my birthday shirt...where's my bib?"

Grammy made a cupcake out of jello with frosting on top.

It was a fun and loving day with you dear Granddaughter.

Ribbon, ribbon and more ribbon

I love ribbon for making cards and for embellishing Scrapbook layouts; and have quite a stash of it now. Trouble is I don't remember to use it often enough - and when I do...heaven forbid: I don't always have the shade or kind that I feel would go with my layout or project. One of the reasons I've stocked up on ribbons is because I don't want to have to run to the store for each layout/project/card I make - but I did have to go shopping for some when I created two mini-albums recently. Solid colored ribbon was needed for them and I ended up buying a roll of many solid colors.

"Ribbon" is in my Personal Inspiration Container which I blogged about Here;  but I want to use it more often than once in every 25 layouts/projects. 

For fun I'm going to blindly grab a piece of ribbon and use it as the Springboard Inspiration for a card or a layout: OR: I could close my eyes and grab a piece and find a way to use it on a layout I'm already working on........ hmmmm; maybe not: I'm not that much of a gambler.

I have some great ideas for using ribbon on my cards and layouts so watch for them coming up.

This is all my pretty ribbon hanging on the back of my scraproom door.

I hang them with the Ribbon Ring system.

I just purchased this cute ribbon to use on a layout featuring my Granddaughter's

birthday party as the theme for it is Cupcakes. 

Gave a good day and weekend all.

Invites in the works...and my birthday

It's my birthday today and hubby gave me pink roses...my favorite. He is taking me out to dinner tonight and I'm thankful for that. I'm also thankful that I was with my children for dinner last night at Granddaughter's birthday celebration.

I want to share my most favorite 'birth story' about me that my Mom shared - (I've never put it in writing before).  I was born before people could find out what gender their unborn child was. Mom and Dad had a son already and hoped I was a girl; as did my close and loving Aunt.  Mom told me as soon as a nurse came into the waiting room to announce I was a girl and perfect my Aunt immedietly ran out to the closest department store and bought a cute little dress for me. She wanted to be the one to buy my first dress. Mom said her sister gave her the box to open two hours after I was born, and the dress was pink...hehe.  Mom didn't care that my Aunt bought me the first dress I owned..she loved her sister so much and knew how happy she'd be also. That same Aunt bought me my first formal dress 14 years later - I picked yellow.

I'm in the process of making some invites....can't share yet; but decided to be brave and share a glimpse of yesterday's work in progress. Any of you who 'create', repurpose, remodel...know that creativity is not usually clean and neat. I have a patient hubby and truly doesn't consider 'it' a mess...."it's not a mess hon, just you being creative." Isnt' that nice...yes.

 

My Expression machine ran for 4 hours yesterday....I love that machine and the Gypsy. A Gypsy is worth the money it cost ($89) just to have access to all the Cricut cartridges I own...they are all stored in it; and it's designing ability...I have fun with it.

Have a great day all.

Easiest Cookies Ever!

I needed to take a treat to a meeting last night and my time was short so I turned to my Easiest Cookie Recipe....really;  these are so so easy and fast. They are made from a cake mix and are always a hit.  The most popular ones are made from a Chocolate cake mix with Chocolate Chips in them. Next popular are the ones made from a Yellow cake mix with Butterscotch chips in them.

Recipe:

1 boxed Cake Mix
6 oz.  Chocolate or Butterscotch chips
2 eggs
1/3 C. vegetable oil (I use Canola)
1T water

Slightly beat the eggs by hand in a bowl. Stir in the oil and water and then add the dry cake mix. Mix with a large spoon by hand until blended. Add the Chips and stir for about 30 seconds.  Drop by tablespoon fulls onto a cookie sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes in a preheated 350 deg. oven. 

We like our cookies soft so I take them out when the cookies looks slightly wet still. I think there is a learning curve with that because ovens and baking sheets are different in each household.  My husband will eat them anyway but nearly raw or overly burnt....he really is easy when it comes to food; thankfully.

Glass plate is made by Fenton Art Glass Co.

and the pattern is called Priscilla; made in the 1980's.

Ready to go on the baking pans

Glass plate is made by Fostoria Glass Co.,

and the pattern is called American.

Have a good Wednesday. I'm playing with Granddaughter today;

It's her Birthday....she's our gift.

Look who turns 1 tomorrow.....

.....my cutie Granddaughter.  We've been blessed with and by her for a year now...time does go quickly.

She's gone from this:

Taken the day after her birth, (on my birthday).....what a fabulous present I got.

To This:

She is feeling her first tooth.....She walks now and it's so darn cute to watch her.

Happy Birthday dear sweet Granddaughter. I'm so glad I get to take care of you tomorrow; on your first birthday. You light up our lives and

reflect the joy we have for you. God Bless you always.  Love Grammy