August Clique Kits Blog Hop

Thanks for hopping along with the gals from Clique Kits showcasing the Ambrosia kit. Here's the line up for this month:
Look at this kit? This was right up my alley!

August 2015 Line-Up
Clique Kits https://cliquekits.wordpress.com/
 Gia http://www.giaaloha.wordpress.com/
Erica http://ericarosecreates.blogspot.com/
Sophie* https://colorsgalore.wordpress.com/
Sandy G.* http://www.thepinkcamera.com/
Megan www.craftymeggy.com
Emma Pescott http://emslifedocumented.blogspot.co.nz/
Mariah www.fun2scrap.blogspot.com
Cassandra* http://www.thescrapperinme.blogspot.sg/
Donna* http://scrappydonna.blogspot.com/
Aliza* http://peopleofthescrapbook.blogspot.com/
Kim http://kimsscrappyblog.blogspot.com/
Tyra http://justtyra.com/
Karrie cookedupbykarrie.blogspot.com <<<<<< 
Evi ortes http://lifewithevi.blogspot.com/
Hannah https://scrapbookpagesandcupcakes.wordpress.com/

Can you believe summer is almost over? Although here in Texas summer stretches on for
S-E-V-E-R-A-L more months. The August Ambrosia kit was the perfect for our Maui vacation pictures. The Pink Paislee papers are screaming for fruity cocktails and summer pool parties. I'm still hoarding a few pieces. I just can't bring myself to use up a kit all at once; I like to save & enjoy on another scrappy day. (Did you say hoard?)

Speaking of fruity cocktails, my first layout is just that... My hubby and I took in a quick, blissful 3 days to Maui at the end of June.

While we're in Maui, how about 1 more layout from my trip? I was photographing this beautiful plant - no idea what it's called, Bottle Brush??, when I developed the photos I realized I was photo-bombed by a lizard right about at the end of the wood veneer arrow. Cute and unexpected!

August is a bittersweet month for our family. It's summer and who doesn't love summer? It also marks the 5th anniversary of the day I lost my brother, Kyle, to suicide  and 2 weeks later marks his birthday. This year my brother would've been 40 years old. My parents, sister, and some of our dear friends still mark his birthday with a cyber-pizza party. We all make, order or go out for pizza and then send updates to each other on our phones or Facebook. It's our way of remembering Kyle while we're so many miles apart. Here's a throwback photo of my brother with my Mom on a previous birthday.

 Thanks for stopping by! Be sure you check out September's Clique Kit, Capture.

Hop here next:
Evi ortes http://lifewithevi.blogspot.com/
Hannah https://scrapbookpagesandcupcakes.wordpress.com/


Bon Appetit, Karrie

Clique Kits Blog Hop - July 2015

Blog? What blog? Yes, it's been like 3 years since I've logged into you.... I was so excited to share the latest kit from Clique Kits that I just had to dust off my blog to share!

My hubby and I recently had the pleasure of taking a quick trip in to Maui - 3 days quick. It was a whirlwind - spontaneous trip and a long way to go for only 3 days.... but 3 days in Maui is better than 0 days in Maui, right?

For my 1st layout using the Carpe Diem kit was from a yummy little trip to Ululani's Shave Ice in Maui. This ain't your ordinary snow cone. It's was fluffy and wet and juicy and flavorful. I could go for another on the mainland. Mmmm.
Based off the sketch challenge on the Clique Kits Blog

For my 2nd layout, I chose to Go Topless. When in Maui, it's a necessity! I just love the flair in this kit.

Finally, I made a card for my husband's birthday which is 7/22. I'm not really the biggest card maker, but considering very simple cards are $4.99, I figure why not?

So, you should be at the last stop on the blog hop, but just in case you missed any delicious posts along the way. Here's a recap of the blogs -

JULY 2015 Line-Up
Clique Kits https://cliquekits.wordpress.com/
Annelie http://www.swewi.wordpress.com/
Hannah Lemieux www.scrapbookpagesandcupcakes.wordpress.com
Sarah* http://sarahmoore4.blogspot.com/
Sandy G.*  http://www.thepinkcamera.com/
Mariah* www.mariahhechlerphotography.blogspot.com
Donna* http://scrappydonna.blogspot.com/
Megan Blethen http://www.craftymeggy.com/
Kim Allen http://kimsscrappyblog.blogspot.com/
Marcia http://www.onescrapatatime-bymumsie.blogspot.com/
Kat* http://kraftykat9.blogspot.com/
Charity http://www.scrapfaire.blogspot.com/
Taina Cortes http://lifewithevi.blogspot.com/
Tyra http://justtyra.com/
Karrie http://cookedupbykarrie.blogspot.com

Be sure you check out next month's kit, Ambrosia. Oh my gosh - get ready for Maui scrapbooking overload. It's filled with juicy details and tons of pineapple. Did I mention, I had the best EVER pineapple while in Maui? Nothing back home compares. **drool

Thanks for stopping by.

Bon Appetit, Karrie

High Times

Turkey Day has come and gone, wish always puts me in the family mood. (And I'm trying to avoid all the crazy hub-bub around the shopping centers!) Here are my in-laws when they came to visit a few summers ago. We headed to the top of the Sears Tower, erh Willis Tower.

Design based on Sketch #234 from Creative Scrappers.

And here's what I came up with... (I used a bunch of goodies from a My Scraps and More kit swap www.myscrapsandmore.com )

Thanks for looking, have a great weekend!
Bon Appetit, Karrie

Holy Scrap - Snap!

I know what my next scrappin' purchase is going to be - the entire collection of Snap! products from Simple Stories.

As life gets more chaotic, I'm finding it necessary to find ways to scrapbook, but still be creative yet quick. Snap is the perfect combination of creativity, funky & quick!

Love, love, love! Click on this link & you'll see what I'm talking about!

Simple Stories - Snap



Bon Appetit, Karrie

Lookin' Forward to this Picnic!

Bon Appetit, Karrie

So, as you can see I'm really active on here, but that needs to change

This layout is based on a sketch from My Creative Sketches and also a stamping challenge from The Scrap- Room, my latest addiction!

I'm a city-slicker, but I do have a guilty pleasure of loving the Demolition derby, not sure why. I guess it's the smashed up cars, the loud music and engines and perhaps the mud flying around through the stands. And of course, it's just fun hangin out with my hubby outside during the summertime!

http://www.scrap-room.com/

Vintage Fashion Plates

Here are a couple more cards I made from my "Grungey Valentine" kit for Counterfeit Challenge. I'm quickly depleting my supplies (this is a good thing - but admittedly sometimes bittersweet! :) )

As a tribute to my Grandma & Grandpa A - who will be celebrating their 68th wedding anniversary tomorrow 2/14- a layout about "Numbers". I painted the background pp with white paint, then "took off some paint" with bubble wrap. I did a variation on the glass bauble tutorial from Counterfeit challeng w/ the Tim Holtz fragments (from stash). Everything from my Grungey valentine kit.

Thanks for looking - enjoy the day!

Bon Appetit, Karrie

Kyle - will you be my valentine?

Kyle, you've been gone just over 6 months and I miss you all the time. I hope you've finally found the peace you couldn't find here on this Earth. xoxo little brother.

I just love this awful ruffled shirt you found at the Goodwill, and much to Mom's dismay wore to your high school graduation!! LOL

Layout inspired by one I saw in the Two Peas gallery.

Bon Appetit, Karrie

Grungey Valentine

Happy Saturday!! ~ My sweet Valentine, Paul, and I have been living 4+ hours away for over a year now (due to his job), with what appears to be no end in sight. I miss him dearly, BUT do you think I could get my Valentine's card in the mail on time? NOPE. Em.bar.assing!

(Sorry hon :) )You girls will see it before he does ~

I also whipped up a little something with some really fun papers from Scarlet Lime, that I've been hoarding. I also included a cheap dress pattern from a garage sale ($.10), assorted thickers & Cosmo alphas, Pink Paislee tape, left over Glitz scraps, Tim Holtz bingo sticker. I came across this cute "ephemera" trunk show ad from an old Scarlet Lime kit. Everything from my Counterfeit Kit, except that little trunk show ticket.

Thanks for lookin' Good lookin'. I'm a new blogger, please follow me, if you you'd like. More mayhem is sure to ensue!

Bon Appetit, Karrie

Counterfeit Kit Challenge

Hey Girls,

So I came across a new challenge blog to get my scrappy mojo rolling again. http://www.counterfeitkitchallenge.blogspot.com/ The pretense is - you create your own kits from your stash based on an inspiration kit (provided). What a novel idea, since I'm real long on kits these days! It puts a fresh fun spin on old goodies you already own!

Inspiration kit:

And here's what I came up with - all from my stash- called Grungey Valentine. It's filled with Tim Holtz, Basic Grey, Glitz, MME, Jenni Bowlin, and some other goodies. Lots of the papers aren't even 12 X 12 any longer, but I need to use 'em up! Loads of bling, and alphas. I didn't include cardstock, but I'll use kraft, black and white from my stash to round out the kit.

Inky & Messy Stuff Add on: Included are 2 mists, white paint, twine, ribbon, lots of stamps, pleated ribbon and a dress pattern.

Bon Appetit,Karrie

Glitz Design

I just love the look of grunge with flowers and Glitz Design doesn't disappoint. Check out this new line for Spring. You'll love it, and don't forget to sign up to win the collection!

http://glitzitnow.blogspot.com/

Bon Appetit,Karrie

It's been 3 months...

Since I've posted anything to this lonely blog. I promise to do better. I'm getting my scrappy groove back and I hope to share my latest creations. Stay tuned....

Bon Appetit,Karrie

If we can get through this year....

One year ago (this Sunday), I married the man of my dreams. It's been a roller coaster this year, with hubby working out of town and the untimely passing of my brother. Let me tell ya, if we can get through this year, we can get through anything.

Paul, I love you to the moon and back. Without you on my side, I would not have made it! I wish for happy days in our future.

Bon Appetit, Karrie

AFSP: National Survivors of Suicide Day - Saturday 11/20

AFSP: National Survivors of Suicide Day


As many of you know, I recently lost my sweet brother to suicide. I've never cried so much in my whole life and I've never felt this much pain. We're still trying to piece together what happened and there are lots Whys?? Our family will never be the same without Kyle. Unfortunately, we're not the only family to have experienced such gut-wrenching pain. Every 16 minutes somebody dies by suicide, leaving families to make sense of it every 17 minutes.

If you are a survivor, or you know somebody that is, I encourage you to look into this event. If nothing else, there is a lot of good information on the website http://www.afsp.org/ that could help save other families from going through this agony.

Sincerely,Karrie

Blog, what blog?

I know my devoted 10 followers are wondering what in the world happened to me? :P You know life just gets in the way, summer comes, work takes over etc... and the blogging gets pushed to the back burner. I have been scrapbooking and chit-chatting on message boards (maybe that's where all my time goes!), but just not posting to my blog.



This layout is a self portrait of DH and I on my 40th birthday in the back of a cab in Chitown. I saw this cool technique - and for the life of me I can't recall what blog I saw this - where you put blobs of paint at the top of a piece of paper then clip it to the inside of a box and douse it with water to create a streaky flow of paint. I then created my own white mist and sprayed that all over. The matte has been embossed with my new Cuttlebug. Why did I just buy one?? I love it.

Thanks for looking have a great weekend.

**Swoon, the new 7 Gypsies collection

The gypsies have been traveling the countryside long enough.... and they're posting sneaks of some new goodies, well worth the wait. I heart 7 Gypsies.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5lXygFkanc&feature=player_embedded

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday - Already??

I just put out the blog address to my friends and family. Jump right in and make yourselves at home. The blog is pretty much all scrapbook related, but I might spice it up a bit and through in some recipes here and there. I'm just getting the hang of blogging, but I thought it would be a good way for some of my inner circle to see what I'm up to since distance is great.

This layout is for the last of LPS challenges. This assignment was to use a sketch (provided) and use a recycled piece. My recycled piece is the plaid fabric and the off-white piece with the grommet on the bottom. It's from an upholstery sample that a/ we never purchased and b/ we obviously never returned. I also reused some Prima packaging under the photo and I ripped part of our wedding invite for the round "tag" on the bottom. TFL and have a great Sunday.

Here's a close up of the tags and the grommet.

Why do I scrap? NSD Challenge

Why do I scrap? Honestly, I scrap for me. We don't have or plan on having children, so I'm not really sure what is going to happen to all these scrapbooks once I pass on, but all I know is that I don't want to forget all the great things (and some not so great things) that have happened in my life. It's my love story to Paul. Plus I really love the paper!

I'm excited I just discovered one of my Cricut cartridges has this cut banner shape. Hello homemade banners!

Happy National Scrapbooking Day

Isn't it totally awesome that there today is a holiday recognizing scrapbooking? In my book everyday is National Scrapbooking Day tee hee!! So grab your photos, adhesive and trimmer and let's celebrate!

I've been busy working on layouts for Life Preservers Blog Hop and Scrapfit. For LPS, each of the DT doubled up to create 4 challenges. I've accomplished 2 thus far. The first one, was to create 2 Mother's Day cards - one for your Mom and one for somebody who is like a Mom to you, using 2 sketches (Thanks Sharon & Rhonda). Here's my take on that one:

Next, I hopped over to Laura Lee and Gabrielle's blogs where the challenge was to use NO patterened paper. (GASP!) 5 different kinds of ribbons and 5 flowers (which my flowers are kind of fudging it I guess, do rubons, the photo itself and a paper border count as flowers? You be the judge. (Ummm, yeah I know the photo is not straight, I realized that and it was too glued down to move it... chalk that up to creativity, I guess!)

Then, I hopped over to Scrapfit to do their Use your Stash Challenge. I had no trouble finding loads of stuff in my stash for this layout.

Lastly... I made some cards for Lisa J's weekly challenge - make 3 cards and send at least 1 to somebody that could us a little pick me up. Easy peasy.

Thanks for looking and have a great weekend. I still have more challenges to do, so stay tuned.

Fred & Ginger, we are not!

This was a difficult challenge for me - 2 pager! (ugh... I don't really do those anymore) and NO title?! What?? Every page needs journaling and a title IMPO! Check out Scrapfit's blog for their latest "Scrappin' Exercise!" (I used Page Maps as inspiration for both pages)

I apologize for the worst photograph - I just couldn't get these photos to turn out!

Journaling reads:

8 weeks of dance lessons

4 left feet

$160 spent on lessons

2 people that can't wait til the wedding hype is over

1 very patient instructor

LOTS of memories

TFL and have a great weekend!