Ole-Talk

Top 10 Posts for 2011

As 2011 winds down to a close here are the top 10 most visited posts this year on Ole-Talk:

#10 - Scallop Alfredo Pasta

#9 - Margarita Cupcakes and New Tool

#8 - Ladybug Cupcakes

#7 - My Handmade Book

#6 - Sunday Silhouettes (Little Miss Sunshine Card)

#5 - Gerald the Giraffe

#4 - Adventures in Ducky Cupcakes

#3 - Ready for Journal Your Christmas

#2 - Cupcake Decorating Tips by Margie

#1 - Sunrise at Cherry Tree Hill

Interesting mix of posts for 2011.  Seems like cupcakes and how-to/tips are popular!

Check out Francine's Sneak Peek of her Class for True Scrap II

"Hello! Today I want to talk a little bit about my class for True Scrap II: The Spawn - Spray Inks De-Mist-ified. In the class I'll be showcasing tips, tricks and techniques that simple scrappers, like myself, can use to add an artsy touch to their pages. Of course anyone, simple scrapper or not, can use the techniques I'll be showcasing!"

via francineclouden.typepad.com

Click on the link above to get all the details on her blog.  I am planning to sign up for this event and I am really looking forward to Francine's class.

Peek at What I am Working On

Just to keep you on your toes here is a peek at what is currently on my scrap desk...

Will share once more once it is completed!

Mission Accomplished!

I am so happy...I have finally finished my living room..well at least for now.  It only took me three years...lol!!!  The final piece that was missing were two side tables for my lamps. 

(Ignore the cat beds...I forgot to move them before taking the photo but then again I guess this is a true representation on my living room)

When we moved in we had this great idea to refinish two tables that we brought with us to match the new living room colors.  We got all the supplies we needed and then everything just sat in my basement for the past three years. 

Once I realized that was not going to happen I started to look for tables that would coordinate with the existing coffee table but that also turned out to be a frustrating exercise.  Then my brilliant husband (he does have his moments oh and all the art work on the wall was done by him) said why don't you just buy a full set for the living room area and move the existing coffee table to the TV area.  Now why didn't that occur to me. 

So that's what I did and now my lamps have a home and my living room looks complete (although a sofa table may look really good behind the couch). I still need to add some more photos and I want to make something for the shelves that are on the side tables but all in all mission accomplished. 

I love it when a plan comes together.

Random Sunday Shots

As I was puttering around in the sunroom yesterday I braved the overcast 62 degree weather and got these few shots from the back yard.

Scraproom Closet Reorg

Yesterday I decided to tackle the closet in my scrap room.  It had turned into a dumping ground for anything I could not find a place for.  I figured it would take me about an hour to do...but as you know the best laid plans and all that.  I forgot to take a photo before I started to move stuff but here you can see an idea of what it looked like before plus all the crap that I moved out of it as I started to reorganize.

Four plus hours later this is what it looks like.

I am so happy with the results.  I can now see and easily get to all my crochet, knitting and sewing stuff and I was also able to move some other crafting stuff that I don't use often into the closet as well.   The hope is that now that I can get to eveything much easier that I will actually strat using it more.   Here's hoping!

Winner of Blog Anniversary Giveaway

Thanks to all who stopped by and all who left a comment.  The winner of the giveaway is

Melissa:

"melissa said...

Happy blogiversary! I just found your blog, but so far I love everything about it! Great design and content. Looking forward to coming back!"

Congrats to you!  Melissa please e-mail me and let me know what color you would like your clipboard accented with as well as where I should send it.

Thanks!

Been Blogging for Five Years!

Happy five year anniversary to me.  Can you believe that is has been five years since I started this blog.  I started over at Blogger and then made the decision to move my blog over here to Typepad after my sister told me about it (she also helped me to make the move - thanks sis).

As part of my anniversary celebration I thought that it would be great to get to know my blog readers a bit better. So leave me a comment telling me where you are from, what you like best about my blog, and what you would like to see more of.  If you leave a link to your blog I'll stop by and say hi as well.

And of course what is a celebration without goodies...so on Saturday I will choose one random reader from all the comments and send them an altered chalkboard clipboard accented with the color of your choice, plus some chalkboard labels cut with my Silhouette, because we all know how much I love to use that machine (smile).

Thanks to each and every one of you who take a few minutes out of your busy day to stop by and read my blog.

It's a Wrap

Is it just me or have you found that there has been an influx of creative gift wrap ideas floating around the internet these days.  I started to notice it during the holiday season last year.  Maybe it has always been out there and I am just late to the party.  Anyhoo I have been obsessed with collecting gift wrap ideas on my pinterest.  Only thing is when am I going to use all of these wonderful ideas.  Maybe I'll just start wrapping empty boxes and using them as decorations around the house.  Or maybe I should start a new weekly or monthly series here on my blog highlighting all the awesome gift wrap ideas I am loving.  Food for thought!

The Story of the Uncompleted

I don't know why I decided to take an inventory of all my uncompleted projects but I did and here's what I found:

Knitted scarf - humm winter is almost over so maybe this can be put back in the to be completed pile till later.

Crochet afghan - I started this like 4 years ago and I really, really want to finish it.  It would be good for cool afternoons outside in the spring, summer and fall so into the finish asap pile.

Journal Your Christmas 2010 album ( a Shimelle Class) - I started this with the 2009 class (got the cover and day one completed) then picked back up in December 2010.  Did much better and got as far as day.  However I am really not in the mood to do Christmas stuff and this class does repeat every year so back in the to be completed pile with you.

Art Journal - This was for Learn Something New Everyday (LSNED) another Shimelle class (I love her classes by the way) that I was really determined to complete on time but as they say...the best laid plans.  I really enjoyed playing with paint and just going with the flow and I at least want to get the backgrounds completed and I can always add content as I am inspired.  Think this will turn into more than just a LSNED art journal.  So into the finish now pile you go.

Altered Cigar Box - I can't remember the story behind this one lol.  Really need to finish it though...finish pile(?)

I also have some frames that I want to use to frame some Silhouette cuts, Polaroid photos from home that have been sitting on my desk waiting for me to make a mini book with them and...well you get the picture.  So now that the days are finally getting longer and warmer (knock on wood) I am hoping that I will find the inspiration to finish these projects as well as work on some new stuff.

So what's on your list of uncompleted projects?