My Treasures

Spring Break

2009-04-01T11:43:00.000-07:00

It has been so nice to have some time off from school, and to be able to sleep in! I have also had the chance to do some scrapbooking, and get some long awaited tasks done. Here are some of the latest projects I have made.

2009-03-26T17:02:00.000-07:00

Right now there are great Scrapbook challenges at Willow Traders www.willowtraders.com. Today, A Kiss on the Chic scrapbook is hosting with wonderful challenges. I had a chance to check out their site- their kits and projects are BEAUTIFUL!!! www.akissonthechic.com

Creative Therapy

2008-07-21T17:47:00.000-07:00

I am going into the hospital tomorrow am for my first surgery- and I have been a little nervous, soooo I decided to putter around in my craft room. I got out my April Scarlet Lime mini kit and made a card using the CPS #74 sketch.

Page Maps Contest

2008-07-16T09:11:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite websites, Page Maps now has a blog! And to celebrate, Becky Fleck is having a sketch contest. Here is the link if you would like to check it out: http://www.pagemaps.com/blog.php?do=blog&id=5

I loved the sketch, so I decided to enter. The layout is of my friends cutie pie little girl.

Cards, Cards, Cards!

2008-07-12T09:08:00.001-07:00

I loved the May Scarlet Lime mini kit! Here are just some of the cards I made with the kit.

Summer is Finally Here!

2008-07-12T08:54:00.000-07:00

After a very busy end of the school year, and a cool rainy beginning to our summer, its finally sunny and warm in the Pacific Northwest! It has been so nice to get outside, visit neighbors and finally venture into my garden for some much needed weeding.

The kids have so loved sleeping in, and playing with friends and family, as have Mike and I. Quinn is in swim lessons, and is having a blast. He is learning more everyday- and I am sure will be swimming before we know it! Kellie went to day camp the first week of summer and had a wonderful time. She is now spending her time playing with friends. And Ryan is taking tennis lessons, and he is doing great. He is definitely a natural. Michael is working, but when he has time off, he is mountain biking, and he is planning to get out in his boat now that crabbing season has opened.

I have so enjoyed the summer so far- the only problem is its flying by too fast! I finally got into my scraproom to make a couple of layouts and some cards. It was so heavenly to be creating again!

2008-04-03T16:04:00.000-07:00

I can't belive over a month has passed since my last post! Life has been so busy with conferences, report cards and getting taxes done. Thankfully, all of that has passed, and I am now on spring break. I love spring break!

I have started reading Stacey Jullian's new book Photo Freedom, and it is just the book I needed! I have piles of memorabillia, boxes and boxes of photos and school papers, and I was having so much difficulty figuring out an organized system- well she has done it in her book and its something that makes sense so I am going to try it.

My Guest Designer term is now over for Backporch Memories. That was a great experience, and those DT gals over there are awesome!

So Excited!

2008-02-27T14:51:00.000-08:00

I am so excited to be chosen the Guest Designer for Back Porch Memories in March. I entered the sketch contest with the above layout. I loved scrapping these photos of my youngest ds. That was such a fun Halloween night, and I remember thinking I never want to forget this moment! So now I am counting the days until I get my March BPM kit :)

February Break

2008-02-20T07:12:00.000-08:00

It has been so nice to have a couple of days of vacation! Kellie and Quinn are enjoying the relaxed mornings and spending time with friends, and I have been trying to catch up on household project too. Unfortunately, Ryan is on a different school schedule, so he has had to get up early and go to school.

Tomorrow, I am back in class, and the busy schedule continues, but for today, I am going to try and enjoy every minute of my break!

Colorstory

2008-02-17T11:23:00.000-08:00

I love the Colorstory website! http://kimhurst.typepad.com/colorstory/ Each month, a color swatch, inspiration photos, a sketch and and inspiration layouts are posted, and midmonth, a card sketch is posted as well. This is such a great way to use our stash!

The pp and embellies I used for my card came from a 4 year old kit I hadn't touched.

Valentine's Day and Cards!

2008-02-17T11:08:00.001-08:00

We had a wonderful Valentine's Day considering Mike and I both had to work and the kids were in school. Ryan got to go to a retreat in the mountains with his class and sled and snowboard. He had a blast but he was one tired kid when he got home that evening! Kellie and Quinn had parties at school, and enjoyed the goodies and exchanging Valentines with their friends.

Here are some cards I made using the January Scarlet Lime kits.

I finally got out my Crackle paint and used it on the chipboard- very fun!

Back Porch Memories

2008-02-05T16:08:00.000-08:00

I Love Back Porch Memories kits! Here are projects I made from the Jan. kit

Latest Projects

2008-01-20T07:32:00.000-08:00

It has been so nice to find time to create between teaching, basketball games and practice, and being a mom. I hope to get started on Valentine cards soon!

Christmas Cards

2007-12-31T10:42:00.000-08:00

I loved making cards this Holiday season. It was very relaxing to take time out of the busy season and create!

Scrap Projects

2007-12-30T12:37:00.000-08:00

I have finally had time to scrap now that I'm on vacation. I was playing with the December Back Porch kit http://www.backporchmemories.com. I love the colors of the papers and the acrylic stamps are amazing!

Pictures with Santa

2007-12-30T08:24:00.000-08:00

We get our Santa pictures every year at my favorite garden center. It has been the same Santa since Kellie was 3! After the kids get their picture taken, they choose an ornament, and we all enjoy the beautiful Christmas displays.

Quinn found a reindeer that he wanted to take home!

Thanksgiving

2007-12-30T08:08:00.000-08:00

I enjoyed spending time with family this Thanksgiving- catching up since the last time we were together. My nephew has changed so much since the last time we saw him.

Dinner was so good- one of my favorite meals of the year!

Halloween

2007-12-27T11:22:00.000-08:00

This year, both boys decided to dress up as Ninjas, and Kellie was a pirate. The weather was very cold, so I was more then happy to stay home and pass out candy. Quinn decided to finish Trick or Treating when the bottom of his candy bucket was covered. Then he came home and helped me pass out candy. Kellie and Ryan braved the weather so that they could get as much candy as possible!

The Pumpkin Patch

2007-12-27T11:08:00.000-08:00

We all enjoyed getting out on a mild fall day and searching for that perfect pumpkin. We went to Gordon's on the Skagit flats- our favorite pumpkin patch! I love the surrounding landscape.

Ryan, Kellie and Quinn took quite some time finding the best pumpkin. Michael was in charge of hauling the hefty pumpkins, and I was able to

document the event with my new digital Rebel.

September ilove2create Kit

2007-09-09T13:40:00.000-07:00

I LOVE the September kit! The Daisy D papers are perfect for fall! I love the rich colors- Melynda has done it again!!!

My Design Team Position ends with this kit. It has been so much fun designing for ilove2create! I have enjoyed working with such talented designers.

Card Making

2007-08-23T11:14:00.000-07:00

I have been enjoying making cards this summer! The August ilove2create kit is perfect for card making.

I can't wait until the September kit arrives- The papers are beautiful, and I can't wait to experiment with the Earth Elements!

http://ilove2create.blogspot.com

Family Get Together

2007-08-23T11:10:00.000-07:00

We had a blast camping with family in LaConnor! It was so nice to visit with family from Texas!The cousins had a blast playing together, and the adults had a chance to relax and chat. I hope we can do this every summer!

New Fall Winter Cookie Lee Jewelry

2007-08-23T10:35:00.000-07:00

The new Cookie Lee Fall/Winter catalogs have arrived along with my first order of jewelry,and all I can say is WOW!!! Some of my favorite pieces are in this catalog! Also, now you can view the catalog online http://www.cookielee.biz/tracycatlin

Here are a couple of my favorite pieces.

2007-08-10T09:16:00.000-07:00

I decided to try making acrylic cards, thanks to a challenge from Amy on the ilove2create website. I love how they turned out!

The acrylic came from product packaging I saved- I just folded the acrylic sheets in half. The double sided paper came from the ilove2create August kit.

Happy Birthday Quinn!

2007-07-31T10:04:00.000-07:00

Our sweet Quinn is 5!!! We have had 2 parties for him- one with the immediate family and our friends, and one with grandma and grandpa. He picked pirate 'duckyrations', and requested a new Star Wars light saber, which he ended up getting.

August i love 2 create kit!

2007-07-31T09:45:00.000-07:00

I am in love with the August ilove2create kit! The double sided Rusty Pickle paper is so versatile and colorful! The Radiant Rains (Twinkling H2O's in a bottle) are so beautiful! And The Crafter's Workshop doodling template is so fun!!!

If you would like this kit, hurry and order before they are all gone! http://ilove2create.com/

Fun at the Beach

2007-07-31T08:27:00.000-07:00

We are so fortunate to live by so many beaches!!! We spent the afternoon at Deception Pass, which is probably one of the prettiest places on earth,and Ala Spit, a beautiful place on the north side of the island.

Mike and the kids walked over the impressive Deception Pass bridge, while I waited on the other side.

Then we went to Ala spit to walk along the beach. There were all kinds beautiful shells and rocks. We saw beautiful sea birds- terns, cormorants and different gulls.

Quinn loves to search for crabs! He was so excited when dad turned over the big rocks and crabs were scurrying everywhere!

Kellie searched for beach glass, interesting rocks and shells. Her collection is quite large now!

Ryan was impressed with all the driftwood found at the center of the spit. He was determined to try and build a fort.

Shipwreck Days

2007-07-20T08:45:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow our little town is going to have one big flea market downtown. People come in from all over, and shop the blocked off main street for good deals.

I will be there with my good friend Marlo selling Cookie Lee jewelry. I will be marking lots of items down to entice the bargain shoppers. I hope it goes well- it will be my first public selling event.

On Sunday there will be an antique car show that we will have to check out too.

Finally!!! I Have a blog!

2007-07-17T10:51:00.000-07:00

Today is my birthday- A day to celebrate the past and look forward with hope towards the future. What a perfect day for new beginnings! Not only am I starting a blog, I am also starting 2 new part time careers- selling Cookie Lee Jewelry, and making cards for local boutiques. I am also beginning a new commitment to healthy living (a diet!).

I am absolutely loving summer- time to spend with my family and to get caught up around the house. I have also made a new card series with the Creative Imagination Honeydew paper line, which I love!!!