Staci Shuck

Out with the old....In with the New!!!!

To celebrate the new year I literally move alot of things OUT and replaced it with a new cleaner look....not necessarily new things!  Specifically 4 garbage bags full of old!  Great feeling I must say and I am looking forward to starting 2011 in a clean workspace that should make getting things finished alot easier!  We can hope!  Had to get the cleaning done today (the 30th) so the cooking can commence Friday for the New Year's Day dinner!  Pretty pleased with the outcome...still lots to do but it's a start!  Also have a few more layouts to share.

First...a 2 page layout using the December Sketch from Sweet Peach Crop Shop on one of the pages but not on the other.  Notice this is 2003!!!!  But it's done!!!!! Next up a close up of the Tea Time page and another layout using the same Sketch from the December Challenge done by Trish at Sketch Inspiration. 

Last but not least some before and after pics of my mess... and a short video to ring out the old!


 

Tomorrow brings the end of 2010, lots of cooking, cleaning and preparing for New Year's Day dinner and...if all goes well...lots of creating in my cleaned up craft space!  Happy New Year everyone!

Sketches and Pickles!!!!

Quite the combination I know...and NO...I am not pregnant!!!!!  Just trying to multi-task and get as much done as I can before the mayhem begins again!  Got a few more layouts done...photo of one for now...this time I used Sketch #156  from Trish at Sketch Inspiration....needed some variety so went searching for more Sketch sites.  This is a great community and I finished 5 more page layouts and using my scraps did some cards and big journaling tags too!  It's all in the name of progress! And my version....(better photo later...I took this in the darkness of my craft room at 1AM this morning...just  a little off!)

If you need a good cup of tea....I suggest Teaforte English Breakfast...had a cup while doing the page and it was delightful!  More examples of this sketch to follow as well as a few of the December sketch.   Now for the Pickles....there is absolutely NO connection between pickles and sketches...yet that is...I will be doing a page about pickles in the future though!  I began preparations today for our New Year's day dinner....grocery shopping, cleaning, washing dishes....you know the drill...also on the list was "Pickle Prep".  Mom is the queen of making pickles and has tried many recipes...they have all been good but I have never ventured to make them myself until now!  Tasted these..... 
thinly sliced morsels at Christmas eve dinner and was immediately hooked on the crispy, crunchy texture and the sweet and tangy taste.  I responded with a "these are gooooood" and mom said "7 minutes in the microwave"...she is such a smart lady!!!!  So I ventured into "pickleland" yesterday and did 2 sweet batches and then created my own "dill" version.  Hope there are some left for New Year's Day dinner!

Happy Thursday!

The "Between Week" is upon us!

Hope you all enjoyed the Christmas holiday and are now preparing your resolution list for the New Year!  This week, what I call the "between week", is another busy one!  Full of birthdays, basketball tournaments, a Penn State bowl game and....prepping for our most favorite family meal New Year's Day...full of mashed potato's, sauerkraut, pork, hotdogs, sausage stuffing, baked apples and lots of luck for the new year!  Can't wait for the leftovers too!

I'm also working on the "de-hoarding" and "organize-clean-up" phase of my crafting space.  Lots of progress but it's a little deceiving so no photo's of that space yet.  I've emptied 2 boxes and 5 bags though and I've completed several projects that were unfinished so progress is coming along...just a little slower than I'd like.  I'm committed though...actually maybe I should be committed - officially LOL!...to the big clean up so I sneak in that room as often as I can. 

To help with the "use my stash" part of the clean-up process I returned to using the sketch method.  This is really a "grab and go" kinda method for me at the moment.  If the color works, it fits into the spot I need it to fit and it's within my reach...I "grab it and go with it"!  So here is the sketch....

the December Sketch Challenge over at Sweet Peach Crop Shop.  I changed things up a bit, rotated the layout a few times and the best part...I completed 5 layouts in about 4 hours.  Did I say...I USED MY STASH TOO!  So happy about that!  More to come later.  Here are my Sketches...
Loved working with these microbeads...they've been hiding in my stash for a few years...found'em!

Jason will be so glad I'm sharing these photo's of him...hard to believe this silly boy is 6'4" now.

Happy Tuesday!

Staci

Happy Wednesday!

It is Wednesday, Hump Day and today felt alot like a day when everyone was playing catch up from Monday and Tuesday but also trying to get a start on the weekend!  VERY, very busy and in the midst of it all I was glad to take a minute and actually breathe and snap a few pictures.  Have to share some surprises that have been waiting for me this week...another special part of this season...It's Secret Santa time!!!!  Monday....this.........
was waiting for me...Yummy lemon bars!!!!  They were delish and they had the cutest message....      I returned the favor yesterday with some of my favorite chocolate chip layer bars!  My poor secret santa didn't realize they were for him though.  I managed to get a picture of both surprises! 
Today was a very Warm gift too...photo to follow tomorrow!  Really want to craft but no time till the weekend!  Did finish this felt wreath
over the weekend and love the way it turned out.  These are as addictive as making those lovely paper flowers that Miss Stephanie taught us at Inspired last year!  Once you make one...there's no turning back!  On the up side...creating the wreaths is helping me put a huge dent in my "hoarding" stash!!!  I think a new video is in order this weekend!

Enjoy!  10 day and counting!

Hugs!

I've said it before....

Where DOES the time go????  Can it be that 13 days have passed since I posted last???  Oh my...and as my students remind me daily...today there's only 11 more days until Christmas!!!!  and...NO, I am NOT ready!  But I am as ready as I'm going to be and that's okay with me!

So sit back, relax, sip some coffee or...well, whatever you'd like to sip and I'll get you caught up!

Hmmm...I'll go back to Dec. 2nd...and my December daily journal...I did finish it!  Here's proof....
and I LOVE it!  Thanks you Stephanie Ackerman for sharing this wonderful project with us and the magic that goes with it!  My book is full and I'm journaling and taking photo's and adding little pieces from each day!  Look forward to doing one of these every year for the holiday but just may have to do one for the entire year!!!  I'm working on that idea!!!  Stay tuned.  Next up was the decorating of the Crismon tree at church!  I was so happy to place this wonderful Crismon...
created by Stephanie, on our tree at church!  Has a special place on the tree and in our hearts! First weekend in December is alwasy a busy weekend. The 4th we set up the Nativity Display that featured over 100 different Nativity sets collected by members of our church.  This year I displayed...
this Willow Tree set and 2 others including this "Black Bear Nativity" -so cute I just had to have it!
Also this weekend is the annual craft bazaar at the local community center and the Garden Club Festival of Tree's!  Busy...Busy weekend.  Mom did a wonderful living wreath that was perfect fo the decorating the mantel at the Historical Society building where the Festival takes place.  She did a great job as usual...take a look...
I just love it and of course want one of my own!!!!  Maybe she can teach me!!!  I'll keep my fingers crossed!  These events are annual events for the this weekend and they make it a very special weekend too.  The Christmas parade comes through downtown, Santa arrives officially and the lights are lit down through town... so pretty when it's dark and even prettier when it snows!!!  This fella...(sorry I  can't get him turned)
is hanging just outside the store and has been around for quite a few years.  Another tradition to record in my Countdown to Christmas book!  Last week was busy decorating gingerbread houses at school...love what the kids do...their creativity and interest has come through in their designs...I'll be posting finished project pictures of them later. Just look at this box of candy
for decorating....so much sugar!  Lots of graham crackers, pretzel rods and ice cream cones too...and I love this roof
...using Non Pariels with red,green and white sprinkles.  More to come with these...they finish tomorrow and judging follows! Had a wonderful crop this past weekend at Grove's.  I am so fortunate to be blessed with such a great group of people to create with.  They are family and I love spending time with them.  They worked VERY hard and completed tons of projects
...had our traditional crop cookie...Mallomar's and shared some other snacks too.  Floodie, aka Tootie brought some delicious pumpkin bread...my favorite and Trikka shared some homemade thin mints too.  Sue worked on her December Countdown to Christmas book too...she is so creative!  We all signed her tag to prove we were with her at the crop on the 10th and 11th
...such a very cool idea!  I was able to finish my Christmas Cards...
FINALLY...it's only taken me 9 years...yes...9 years ago, 2001 I started these cards....found them in my "hoarding mess" and well, I can cross that project off my list...they are done and will be mailed out this holiday!  I WILL GET my HOARD cleaned and organized!  I WILL DO THIS!!!!!  I think that brings me up to date..feeling very blessed and thankful for the little I have accomplished!

Hope you are enjoying the season and staying warm too!  Stay tuned!

Hugs!

Staci

 

Happy December 1st!

Let the season begin...officially!  As usual I'm a bit behind...just a bit...but...so be it!  As I said yesterday...time to move on!  It was a "zoo-ish" (sorry Webster's ...not sure if that's a real word or not but it should be!) kind of day with heavy rains, major flooding, school early dismissals, more rain, more early dismissals, leaks all over the place, a lake forming in the backyard and then it ALL turned to SNOW...YES...SNOW!!!!  Only in Pennsylvania!  A great way to start my first entry in my  "Countdown to Christmas"  daily journal!  Only problem was...I hadn't started my journal yet!!!  GO figure!  I know you are not surprised!  But never fear...exhausted as I was I made sure I did that first page (after I found my "stuff" in my "stash") and off I went.  "Voila"  page one complete with journaling...photo taken...just need to print it and add it!  IT WILL BE ADDED!  Have to add a snowflake, raindrops and a few other symbols of the day as well but I'm feeling good! 

Hope you had a great start to your daily journal and hope your day wasn't as "zoo-ish" as mine!  Stephanie Ackerman  has a limited number of the kits available with a private blog to go along as well.  Check out her side to order yours!  It's NEVER to late to start...I'll ALWAYS be at LEAST 1 step behind you!!!

Many, Many thanks out there to the wonderful people who helped me through today, troubleshooting, covering and filling in.  Couldn't do it without you!

Happy Dec. 1st!

Finally the completed page...minus the picture.  That will happen!  Again...Happy Dec. 1st!