Love You Forever

In keeping with the upcoming Valentine's Day holiday, I couldn't wait to create a little Valentine project using this sweet heart-shaped chipboard book. It's one from the group that I purchased from Michael's Craft Store a few days ago. If you haven't had a chance to check these little books out yet, hurry on over to Michael's. They are so easy to work with and so much fun to alter.
A perfect place to keep those special Valentine memories.

The Car Goes Beep

Have you ever been so inspired to create a project that you just can't stop working on it until it is done? That's how I was with this little chipboard car book. I was wandering around Michaels Craft Store the other day and stumbled upon a whole series of new chipboard books made by the companies ColorBok and Crayola. You will never guess what isle they were in----the dollar isle. I was so excited I could hardly believe it. There were several different styles to choose from--little cars, hearts, houses, stars, flowers, scalloped squares and circles. If you don't know me by now, yes I bought some of each design. I started with the car but I can hardly wait to create something fun with the other books as well.

This is the before picture..............

And here is the after...................

This was such a fun project to complete. I loved adding all the little details to this sweet book and I could hardly wait to share it with you. My next project will be the little heart--so look for another post soon.

Mimi's Bake Shoppe

Now don't get excited, I have not decided to open a bake shoppe.....but if I did I would want it to be just like this one. It even has the perfect name don't you think?? My friends and I spotted this new little bake shoppe on one of our many trips to the local craft stores but never took the time to stop in. We would say " One of these days we are going to make time to pop in to see what it's all about". This Wednesday seemed like the perfect day as Joyce celebrated her Birthday on Tuesday and what better way to say Happy Birthday then with a wonderful cupcake!!! With much anticipation and excitement, Michele, Joyce and I all loaded into the car and headed for "Mimi's". When we opened the door we definitely were not disappointed! Shelves full of the most beautiful cakes I had ever seen and a glass counter filled with every kind of baked sweet. I even spotted a delicious looking feta and spinach pie that seemed to be calling my name.

After admiring everything it was time to make some decisions. Well since it was almost time for lunch and there were exactly three spinach and feta pies we decided to sit for a while in the little cafe and enjoy some lunch and a cup of coffee.

Just look at the wonderful lighting and mirror wall!!!!

The spinach and feta pie was amazing as was the Chocolate Mounds cupcake I shared with Michele. There is no picture of this cupcake because well lets face it--- I inhaled it so fast---I just couldn't help myself. Joyce purchased a couple to take home so I took a quick picture of those. Don't they look YUMMY!!

We had such a nice time visiting with each other and enjoying the bakery it was hard to leave. I decided to purchase a treat for later and I just couldn't leave without that cranberry orange scone. Trust me that was delicious too!!! If you live in the Pittsburgh area and are looking for a bakery, you must give Mimi's a try. Here is a link to their website---just click on the picture below.....What a wonderful way to spend the afternoon and to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my special friend, Joyce. XOXOX

Valentine Sweets

Do you love Valentines Day as much as I do? What could be better than a day to remind those dear to us just how much they are loved. Whether they are reminded with a bouquet of flowers, a box of candy, a pretty handmade card or just a simple kiss it's the thoughtful reminder that means so much. There is something about Valentines Day that reminds me of a simpler, innocent time-- creating Valentine cards with paper doilies, glitter, glue and construction paper. I can still remember making my Valentine box to hold those special cards from classmates. Always hoping that cute boy would sign his card with "love". How special those boxes looked covered in aluminum foil and glitter.

This year I decided to start making my cards a little earlier than usual. It's much more enjoyable to take my time and create rather than rush to get them done. Here is a little peek at two that I have completed.

In the next couple of weeks leading up to Valentines Day, I will be posting more about this wonderful day. Before I close this first post I wanted to share two more of my favorite Valentine traditions.......

Pretty glittered hearts......

and these sweet little conversation hearts always make me SMILE

The Bluebird of Happiness

Oh the weather outside is frightful......It has been snowing outside of my window for days. Not a lot of snow just enough to be a nuisance and the temperatures are going to dip below freezing tonight. I so long for the days of Spring. Those sunny warm days with blue skies, blooming flowers and happy chirping birds. It was those very days that became my inspiration for a new series of soldered charms, the bluebird of happiness series. This series reflects the happiness that comes with the sound of each little songbird happily welcoming Spring. The back of each charm has a tiny piece of vintage sheet music along with a thoughtful sentiment. They are all available in my etsy shop---www.mgpscrapbooker.etsy.com
If you are like me you will be counting the days until Spring---only 65 more to go.

Christmas in Review Part 2---Christmas Day

I was determined to figure out how to download the rest of the Christmas photos from my new camera to my computer without any assistance. I am a fairly intelligent person and can usually figure things out. "I CAN do this " I said to myself. I got the instruction manual and read it from cover to cover. I was ready to give it a try. OK so it didn't work the first time, maybe I just misread something. Well when it didn't work the second, third or forth time I set it aside to try again later. When I woke this morning to a snowy day, I thought this would be a good day to catch up on things and to "try again later" Besides five days had past since my last post and before I let things slip by any longer I wanted to share these photos with you. I refreshed my mind with the instruction manual and gave it my best shot. Oh this camera must be broken I thought and gave in to ask for assistance from my husband. I quickly explained to him how I had done everything right and how this camera must be broken. He pulled up a chair and let's just say in a matter of less than five minutes my pictures magically appeared right in front of my eyes---you guessed it on my computer. Oh well from now on if at first I don't succeed, I'll just ask Alex. So without further delay here are the rest of my Christmas pictures.......

Alex and Alex

Alex with his YaYa

Alex with this cousin, Will

Alex and his cousin, Danielle

Uncle John's dog, Ouzo. The perfect name for a dog belonging to a Greek family don't you think.

Ouzo thinks he is a lap dog

A friendly game of Christmas football between Uncle Stephen and Alex

PaPoo and Yaya got Alex a set of weights for Christmas. The rest of us could hardly lift them.......

Uncle Stephen and Aunt Kim

We had a wonderful Christmas day at Alex's parent's house. Enjoying a delicious meal of grilled lamb along with the company of family one of the best things about the Christmas season.