Award, Challenge, Award, Sketch, Award...

Good morning! I've been on a roll recently and really wanted to get a couple of things done, but first things first. Wow, I've been awarded the same award by 3 different people within the last week and I am thrilled and appreciative.

This is the award that is spreading like wildfire out there in blog land and its because there are SO many incredibly talented individuals out there in Blog Land. I just have to say that I love this thing we call Blogging.

So the first person to award me is Catherine aka Miss C of Confessions of a Scrapapholic. I first met her via the Cricut mb and have been hanging around ever since.

The second person to award me is Michele from I am Derby and I "met" her via the PTI mb. I was lucky enough to win some very fun blog candy way back when (I guess it wasn't that long ago), but anyway, another talented artist and busy working Mom!

And finally, I just got awarded by a new friend Sandra over at Scrapbooking Sandra! We share a love for Close to my Heart products!

Thank you to all of you lovely ladies! I have to compile a list because I want to pass it on, but I need thinking time so I don't pass it on to those who have just received it anyway!!
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Here is my Stamp Something Scrapbook Challenge. Yup, you heard it here - the challenge was to do a layout which I do, but for the most part, I keep it very simple. I am WAY behind in the scrapbooking department and I guess this challenge didn't help in that respect, becasue I scrapbooked a page for me. I have a secret though... I guess its not a secret if I write it down, but nothing on the page is glued down. I am not doing a 12x12 book for myself, but I did decided to do a 9x9 for my own personal enjoyment about the things that are about me or what I want to record, but the requirement for the challenge was not to go smaller than 8 1/2 x 11. So, I will shake my layout apart and reconstruct onto a 9x9 later. To be honest, I enjoyed the 8 1/2 x 11 size - who knows maybe I'll switch some day.

So, here's a bit of history about my page. I love coffee like many of you. Luckily, my hubby loves coffee just as much. A while back, he purchased a very fancy espresso machine and he makes me a vanilla latte first thing every single morning. The deeper meaning of the latte and the machine is that he loves me and takes care of me. I always get the first one and he always makes them for me when I ask. I rarely use the machine myself - he makes them SO much better than I do. Its amazing what a cup of joe can represent...

I wanted to show you the details on my brads. I have had some CTMH rub ons for a while and haven't even touched them, but wow I was impressed with the way they rubbed on :) I really like the way these brads turned out.
Recipe:
Cardstock: Chocolate, Cocoa, Vanilla Cream, Brown Bag, Crystal Blue (CTMH), PP: Caprice Level 2 (CTMH), Ink: Chocolate (CTMH), Brilliance Coffee Bean, Stamps: Smell the Coffee (Impression Obsession), Other: CTMH Brads, CTMH Rub Ons, Cricut Jasmine Cartridge, SU! Photo Corner Punch, Chipboard, Misc Ribbon, CTMH Clear Buttons, Scallop Punches, Nesties, Computer

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And finally, here is my sketch card for Caardvarks. I did Laura's sketch earlier and this one follows Kazan's. My inspiration for this card comes from my oldest son. For some reason, the twins have decided that they want to sleep in Hunter's room. He has a bunk bed and the night before last they slept on the bottom bunk. To be honest, they did very well. Hunter then later told me that he got up twice to help one of the boys go potty and I thought that was especially sweet of him. Then last night, again the boys wanted to sleep in Hunter's room. Well, after everything was said and done, all three boys ended up on the top bunk. We tried to separate them, but none of them would wake up enough to figure it out.

Usually, Hunter is very apathetic towards the boys and it warms my heart that he would be so considerate enough to let them squish themselves in with him. Sooo... thus my card today.

The duck is from a set called Cute Critters (one of my favorite sets) from CD Dollar Stamps. New releases are coming out on the 1st and the DT are having sneak peeks every day. The list is on the side bar so check em out! Anyway, after seeing this card by Nancy, I was inspired to keep my duck white (in my case all white). I tried to incorporate all my color outside the image. Again. I used those CTMH rub ons to accent my card. I also used a CD Stamp set called Too Sweet to make my polka dot background.

Pheww... sorry this was a loonng post, but I guess I had a lot to say :)
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I do have one more thing to add and then I'll be done I promise!! I just wanted to say that if you made a little favor box from my tutorial or on your own casing it, please leave me a post 'cuz I would love to check it out.

Thanks for stopping by.