Favourite! Like! Adore! Swoon!

Seriously, people. I was taking photos like a mad woman as soon as I had it up on the wall.

And then my camera died. Curses!

But, finally, the battery is charged, and now I get to share with you a project two years in the making.

Here she is...my preeeeeeciousssssssss... (what's the html code for "creepy Gollum voice"?)

So, this is a combination of two deep and dark desires: to find/create a very large piece of art that would more substantially decorate my otherwise-boring living room wall, and to use this funky window thingy that I found at the eco-center 2 years ago and have been carting around ever since.

Now, I've taken some pictures of the process, but listen up. If we're going to be friends, you need to know that I'm hasty and impetuous and usually forget to take pictures of crucial things. Like "Befores". And "Durings". And people who say, "Take a picture. It will last longer," when they catch me staring.

Ok?

Ok.

So. here's the closest thing I have to a "Before." The frame thingy is, apparently, a lightweight grid-frame that would be put over glass to make it look like it has panes. Or "pains", if it's splintery.
I was so excited to discover that this gorgeous Basic Grey "Pyrus" paper line matches the colours in the house we rent. I'm talking excited. With a capital "Eeek".

I cut my papers down to 9.5"x11.5" to allow for a little overhang for each "window". Then, I laid them out over the grid to find a layout that I liked.

I printed some of my favourite photos of us and the critters on my printer, and then mounted them on larger scrap white paper, as they printed 8.5"x11".
I added some quotations I love printed onto more Pyrus paper.
Then I used a $1 role of tacky tape from Ye Olde Dollar Shoppe around the edges, and mounted each piece.
So here's the wall before. Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain! Errr...I mean, to the clutter on the side table (which also got a make-over today. The table, not the clutter. Post to come.)

Boring, right? A total snooze-fest.

ZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzz....Wha? Wait, what were we talking about?

Oh, right.

So I grabbed him by his big fat head and said. "Look man, I'm not going to jail for you, or anybody!"

Oh, wait...uhhh, wrong story. Hehe...he.

Now, this frame thingy doesn't have a hanger on it. And I didn't have any hanger thingys lying around. Good thing I'm resourceful...
...because I ripped this sucker off the back of another picture frame that had a spare.

So here it is!

Doesn't that just look so much more proportional than that wright-iron candleholder?
In case you're wondering (gosh, you're nosy!) here's one of the quotations:
...and here's the other:
Sigh. I think I'm going to go look at it again.

And it cost me next to nothing. Around $10 worth of paper, plus the frame at $5, and then some scrap paper and printer ink.

Seriously, people. Favourite. Project. Ever. (What's the html code for "swoon"?)

I've been thinkin'. No, I'm not kidding. Stop laughing, you.

So I have this layout to share.
It's based on Sketch #119 at Creative Scrappers.

And as I was putting together this layout, I was thinkin' to myself, "Self? You are hungry. You should have had that extra soup at lunch. Plus also? If only there was a way to share this layout beyond your own blog, and also have a little pow-wow with some fellow scrappers. Would that not be the pinnacle of online scrappy goodness, Self? By the way, you look great today."

So that got me thinking. It went something like this:

"Self? What if you could host one of those fun link-parties that you get so excited to link up to when you've done something recipe- or project-related. It'd be fun to have one for scrapbooking. I wonder if anyone else has thought of this? Ouch, my back hurts. I probably shouldn't have tried to move that anvil from the shed last night, but that's the price you pay for moonlighting as a blacksmith. On the plus side, if Wile E. Coyote ever shows up at my door, I'll be prepared.

"I don't think I'd want to use that McLinky link-up thingy, though. The Scottish are getting all the attention in the link-up world. Maybe I can use a Linkish Von Linkerstein. I hear scrapbooking is big in Germany. Aaack, is that a spider? Ohmigawd, ohmigawd, ohmig...oh, wait, it's just a black ju jube. Mmmm.

"I wonder if anyone would want to link up to my little party? What if I held it and no one linked up? That would be embarassing. At least no one would have to see my shame, though. Maybe I could create some fake blogs and link them up so it looks like people are all-so-excited to scrap-party with me. I could leave comments for myself like, 'Ooooh, Teri, that is the very best layout I have ever seeeeeen!!!!!' and 'Wow, you look great today.'

"Wow, Self. You have sunk to a new low. For shame."

So whaddaya think, peeps? Would you link up with me if I held a Linkish Von Linkerstein scrappy projects link party?

I hope so. Otherwise, I have a tonne of fake blogs to create.

3 birds, 1 stone.

1. I got to scrap this adorable picture of my niece and nephew spontaneously holding hands to walk down a hallway together.

Aaaand, all together now: Awwwwwww.

2. I got to use up some stickers from a previous Paper Poppy kit that aren't typical of my style.

Aaaaand, all together now: Yesssssssss.

Wait, that one's just me? Oh. Uhhhh, right.

3. I created an entry using sketch 121 at Creative Scrappers.

Hoorah! Don't worry. I know that one's mostly just exciting for me.

I won!

Thank you, Kelly from Ensemble Paper Arts!
I love my blog candy so much, I didn't even put make-up on my coughing-aching-fever-didn't-bother-to-get-properly-dressed-today face before I took this photo!

My new Distress crackle paint has probably been infected, y'all. I'd stay away.

This is my brother,


Jeff has profound mental and physical disabilities and lives at home with my mom. He's one of my best friends, and one reason it's hard to live so far from home.

Today, Jeffrey turns 37. So of course, I sent him a birthday card.

A star for a star.

Tomorrow, Jeffrey's going to wheel in the Terry Fox Run, a national run for cancer research. I am so very, very proud of him.

So today,

And tomorrow, good luck in the Run, Jeff!

(If you are able, and you feel so inclined, please consider pledging TEAM JEFF or another participant in the Terry Fox Run!)

No-bake Haystack Cookies

Ok, so the title isn't catchy, but it does the trick.

I had a request from Frances to share my recipe. So I thought to myself, "Self, these little pieces of heaven certainly are too good to keep to yourself."Seriously. Drool.

(Speaking of drool, you should go and check out Frances' unbelievable scrappyness. Don't worry. I'll wait.)

...


...


Oh good, you're back.

Here's the recipe:

In a medium-sized pot, combine 1 1/2c white sugar, 1/2c butter, 1/2c milk, and 1/2c of cocoa powder. Bring to a full boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. (Seriously. Constantly. This would just as soon burn as look at you, as my mother would say.) Remove from heat and stir in 3 1/2c quick oats, 1 c coconut, and (optionally) 1/2c slivered almonds. Drop rounded tablesoonfuls onto wax paper and cool to harden.

If you're us, then you throw them in the freezer so you can eat them sooner.

Enjoy. Maybe while you're reading Frances' blog.

Linkin' up at Tuesdays at the Table and Tasty Tuesdays!

Could this be a new blog thing?

Wordless Monday. What do you think?

Ok, so I know it's supposed to be "Wordless Wednesday", but it was worth a try.

Seriously. I got nothin'.

Except this card!


Yay!

Ok, so this was for a baby shower.

But I can pretend it's a "Yay, you finally have a scrappy project to post on this 'scrappyness' blog of yours!" card.

Yay!

Suddenly I'm all domesticated.

Wait a minute. That makes me sound like a wild horse or something.

Anyway, it's true. This weekend, I've made:

haystack cookiesfocaccia breadand a pumpkin harvest loaf.

Mmmmmmm.

Plus also?

Behold!
I have discovered that I love fall. Like, freaking L-O-V-E it. Who knew? The smells, the colours, the new-ness. Around here, that's not a necessarily a common sentiment, because fall means that winter is coming, and winter = -40 degrees Celcius. But there's just something so comforting about it.

See? Sooo pretty.So I really wanted to put that love on my front door. To proclaim to the world, "I love fall and you naysayers can kiss my autumnal wreath."
Except that an "autumnal wreath" sounds all hoity-toity-Martha-Stewartish. Normally I'm not about that, but if it's paired with a phrase a little more bad-ass, I guess it's not so bad.

***Editor's Note: Since this is my first-ever floral wreath, I was really lucky to be at Michael's with Adrienne who helped me figure out how to put this together! I basically just cut the smaller stems from the main stem, arranged them on the grapevine wreath ($4.99 at Value Village!) and wove in the ends of the flowers since I didn't have a glue gun.

One bonus of using those long stems and cutting them apart is that you get to put the "branches" in the garbage. So not only do I look all domestic with my door all decorated and my house all warm-smelling, but it looks like I still had time to take care of a little light pruning in the yard.And with the leftovers, I made a little baby wreath. But where to put it?
Maybe the back door. Wow, a wreath where no one but us will see it. I really am domesticated.

And maybe a little hoity-toity-Martha-Stewartish.

Linkin' up here: