Layout-The View

I don’t make a ton of layouts, but every year around National Scrapbooking Day I make a point to create a few layouts.

I love the challenges A Cherry on Top has for National Scrapbooking Day, and it’s fun to challenge myself to participate in as many as possible.

This year I created nine layouts, which is definitely a record for me!

This one wasn’t actually for a specific challenge, but I did make it in May.

Normally, I share these layouts over the summer, but time has definitely gotten away from me.

Better late than never, though!

Here is another one I made:

Supplies: Patterned Paper and Stickers: Echo Park; Puffy Stickers: Elle’s Studio

I spent a lot of time sitting in this spot watching my son pole vault last spring.

It was so much fun, and I didn’t mind the gorgeous view in the background. We sure live in a beautiful place!

That’s it from me today, but I will be posting more layouts in the future.

Have a great one!

ProCraftinator’s Club Hop November 2025

Today I am sharing my cards for the ProCRAFTinator’s blog hop on Instagram.

You can follow me on Instagram here.

The ProCRAFTinator’s Club hop is for those of us who hold Ph.D’s in procrastinating! This monthly card hop is hosted by @createwithkas and @touchofmagik and we’re (finally) creating with any kit, class, camp and more that we signed up for.

We’ve dusted off those monthly subscription kits, online classes, and camp boxes that we didn’t finish! On the 2nd Monday of each month, we’ll share our creations, and you can follow along with us at #theprocraftinatorsclub!

I definitely have enough credits (a.k.a. kits) for a Ph.D. and decided to join in the fun this year! 🙂

For today’s cards, I used products from three different kits.

I used one 4×6 journaling card, two 3×4 journaling cards, letter stickers, and a plus stamp from the Studio Calico April 2016 Film Club kit:

I used puffy star stickers from the Studio Calico July 2023 Keep on Shining Traveler’s Notebook kit:

I used a stamp from the Studio Calico October 2014 Underground Card kit:

I also used some older patterned paper from my stash, as well as my Mickey and Minnie dies.

Here are my cards:

Supplies: Patterned Paper: Echo Park; Dies: Spellbinders (Mickey and Minnie), Lawn Fawn (large stitched rectangle), Elle’s Studio (small rectangle); You’re the Best Stamp: MFT; Journaling Cards, Letter Stickers, Puffy Stickers, Stamps: Studio Calico; Enamel Dots: Keep It Simple; Star Punch: EK Success; Pen: The Paper Studio; Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

I used the following from CutCardStock.com: Pop Tone Black Licorice, DCS Red Pepper, DCS Putty, DCS Yellow Jacket, 130 lb. Cougar White, and Tombow Mono Multi-Purpose Liquid Glue.

That’s it for today-have a great one, and feel free to come join us on the hop!

I am entering these into the following challenges:

A Cut Above November Challenge

Neglected Stuff November Challenge

Card Monday-Christmas Card Day 2!

Today I am sharing a project for the CutCardStock.com IG Influencer Team.

You can follow me on Instagram here.

Today is day two of my Christmas card series!

For today’s card, I wanted to try something more masculine.

A lot of the time I make cute cards, which aren’t always the best for the hubby to hand out to his co-workers or friends. 🙂

I am pretty happy with how this one turned out, and I even managed to use a journaling card from an old Studio Calico kit while I was at it too.

It’s always nice to use up old stuff!

Here is my card:

Supplies: Patterned Paper: Echo Park (stripe), Studio Calico April 2016 Film Club Kit (teal); Dies: Scrapbook.com (snowflake), Elle’s Studio (scallop); Stamp and Die Label Sentiment Set: Waffle Flower; Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

I used the following from CutCardStock.com: Pop Tone Black Licorice, DCS Silver Glitter, and Tombow Mono Multi-Purpose Liquid Glue.

That’s it for today.

Have a great one!

October 2025 Books

pin and picture found here

Today I am sharing the books I read in October.

Here are my 2025 reading goals:
1. Read 250 books. This includes the books I read to the kids, audiobooks, and anything I read for myself. 149 READ
2. Read twelve self-help/education books. 7 READ
3. Re-read twelve books. There are so many good ones I have been meaning to re-read, so this is my goal to help with that! 20 READ-DONE!

I am also participating in a few book-related challenges this year:
1. The 2025 Audiobook Challenge, and my goal is the “Binge Listener” level (20-30 audiobooks.) **I decided to change my goal to the next level up “My Precious” (30-50 audiobooks.) 27 READ
2. The 2025 Netgalley and Edelweiss Reading Challenge, and my goal is the silver level which is reading and reviewing at least 25 books off my Netgalley list (I have 38 currently.) 18 READ, 21 REVIEWED
3. The Craving for Cozies Challenge, and my goal is the “Famished” level which is 26-50 cozy mysteries. I have done this challenge the past two years, and it was a lot of fun, so I decided to do it again. 16 READ

A few formatting notes for my book posts:
1. I have inserted pictures as well as Amazon links to the books I enjoyed most for the month so that it is easier to read more about each book if you are interested. Hopefully, your local library system will carry most of these.
2. If I completed a more detailed review of any of these books, I included a review link after my comments.
3. If a book is not available yet, you will see the publication date in parenthesis after my comments.
4. I have rated each book using a bold numbered star after each comment.

The rating system is as follows:
*5-This book was so good, I either bought it, or think it is worth buying. I am pretty picky about the books I buy, so this is as good as it gets!
*4-This book was worth reading, but not necessarily worth buying-look for these books at your local library
*3-This book was just OK. I wouldn’t need to read it again.
*2-Don’t bother
*1-There probably won’t be any of these, because if it was THIS bad, I wouldn’t finish it. 🙂

I read and reviewed quite a few books this month, which was nice. None were new favorites or anything, but I am glad I found some time to read.

Here are the books I read this month:

1. Dietrich Bonhoeffer: In the Midst of Wickedness by Janet Benge-read aloud to the boys, good *4
2. A Berry Festival Fiasco (Kylie Berry Cozy Mystery #13) by A.R. Winters-good *4
3. Now I See Winter by Mac Barnett-good *4 (4/7/26)
4. Now I See Spring by Mac Barnett-good *4 (4/7/26)
5. Now I See Summer by Mac Barnett-good *4 (4/7/26)
6. Now I See Fall by Mac Barnett-good *4 (4/7/26)
7. The Armchair Detectives by Matt Dunn-OK *3 REVIEW
8. Skunk and Badger by Amy Timberlake-good *3
9. Cozy by the Fire(man) (Letters to Mrs. Claus #4) by Lindsay Rochester-I liked this one! *4 REVIEW
10. Cobweb Christmas by Shirley Climo-OK *3
11. Red and Lulu by Matt Tavares-good! *4
12. Apple Tree Christmas by Trinka Hakes Noble-good *4
13. Sunrise Summer by Matthew Swanson-very interesting *4
14. The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan (audiobook)-good as always *4
15. Vanishing Legacy (Elite Guardians, Savannah #1) by Lynette Eason-good *4
16. A Berry Terrible Truth (Kyle Berry Cozy Mystery #14) by A.R. Winters-I liked this one *4
17. A Mistletoe Mix Up (Letters to Mrs. Claus #1) by Bella Greene-good *4
18. Egg Marks the Spot (Skunk and Badger #2) by Amy Timberlake-good *3
19. The Christmas Reboot (Letters to Mrs. Claus #5) by Leah Busboom-didn’t love it *2 REVIEW

This month I read one book to the kids, and I read/listened to ten books just for me. I read eight picture books to myself for review.

For the year, I have read seventeen books to the kids and sixty-nine books just for me. I’ve also read sixty-three picture books to myself for review.

Well, that’s it for today. I will share my November books the first Tuesday in December.

Card Monday-Christmas Card Day 1!

Today I am sharing a project for the CutCardStock.com IG Influencer Team.

You can follow me on Instagram here.

Today is day one of my Christmas card series!

Can you believe it’s that time already???

Here is my card:

Supplies: Dies: Spellbinders (penguin), Hello Bluebird (background); Stamp: Hero Arts; Other: Tree Die

I used the following from CutCardStock.com: Pop Tone Black Licorice, Pop Tone Tangy Orange, DCS Red Pepper, Basis Blue, Lessebo Amazon, 100 lb. Cougar White Smooth, CTI Glama Translucent, Star Dream Metallic Gold, and Tombow Mono Multi-Purpose Liquid Glue.

That’s it for today.

Have a great one!

I am entering this card into the following challenge:

A Cut Above November Challenge: