Panoramic Sugar Eggs

    At my home Easter begins weeks before the Easter bunny starts picking out colors for his eggs. In my mind the joy of Easter consists of granulated sugar and meringue powder. My husband doesn't appreciate the endless crunch of sugar on his shoes, or the way the kitchen and dining room seem to disappear under the assortment of icing bunnies and chicks, but he has learned to tolerate it with a smile. I KNOW that he loves me just in the sweet way he puts up with how my obsession transforms our normal simple home life for 4-6 weeks every spring.

    I remember with fondness the time my sister, Nani invited my girls and me to her home to decorate sugar eggs for the first time. I think my mom may have made a sugar egg once or twice while I was young, but the craft had not become a common activity. I certainly had no clue to the awesomeness of this art and how it would effect my spring every year after that. In 2012 over sixty eggs were molded, carved and decorated in my home. I do NOT do this alone. I mostly do the molding and carving by myself, but the decorating is accomplished by people aged five to one hundred. With adult supervision even the youngest kids are successful at creating masterpieces with royal frosting and frosting decorations. It is usually the adults who need a bit of prodding before they realize the Picasso with in them.

    Decorating sugar eggs has become a fun way for me to meet my neighbors, new friends and to share a unique activity with people of all ages in my life. The beauty and creativeness is boundless. I have learned that it is important that I take a picture of the artist and egg before they leave my house. I don't think we ever took a photo of Brandon's bunny spacecraft. I kick myself over that one every year. The hours spent preparing shells to decorate are spent in anticipation of what surprises and masterpieces will magically be created with sugar and water. Some of the best masterpieces are the enduring friendships renewed and made. I certainly love the magic of sugar eggs!

    P.S. The next few weeks will be predomitely spent with sugar instead of paper.

Amanda's Surprise

I wanted to do something fun for Amanda for Valentines. Bruce and I decided to give her money since she is working on completely paying off her student loan by May 1st. But how do you make cash special and memorable? With lots of sentiment and pretty stuff, that's how.

It was easy for me to gather some cute things left over from a recent project. In a very short time I had streamers hanging from her bedroom door frame. I stapled money, doilies, cute sayings, little notes, paper hearts and cute stuff to the ribbons. Amanda will love it! I can hardly wait for her to come home and see her special valentine surprise!

True Love Valentine Banner

I was so expired by Echo Parks Love Story collection that I just had to create a Valentine banner with the pretty, pretty paper. I worked on it little bits at a time. I camped out on the floor of the living room playing with paper while my hubby watched Grey's Anatomy. That show drives me crazy- real people do not act that way! Really? They are so unprofessional in the workplace. Just the fact that they operate with jewelry on and talk about their personal problems during procedures which should receive their full attention is mind boggling. I watch with my hunny only to be with him and sit on his feet while I cut, glue and embellish.

I am happy to say that my crafting mess is off the living room floor. It just moved to a long table in the front room where seven of my grand kids made valentine treat boxes yesterday. I just might leave the table up so Amanda and I can 'smash' this weekend, and then I have neighbor girls coming over for an activity on Monday. (The mess never seems to disappear completely). Yes! I love playing with paper.

I promise- I loaded this picture rightside up.
I even attempted it twice. Who knows?

Embellished With Lots Of Love

. . . and with lots and lots of lovely embellishments. Is there a point where too much becomes great! I sure hope so, since that was my goal for this particular page. I was going for a gushy amount of love and sentiment. There are over fifty embellishments if you count each rhinestone, ribbon, paper, rub-on, silk flower, card, saying, brad, tulle, and metal do-dad that made it's way onto this page. OXOX



Scrapping is so much fun!!!!

Do you have a favorite over the top page you have done?



More Random Pages



I have some of the strangest people in my family. Could the strangeness be genetic?
I appreciated how the rub-ons I used actually fit the personality and theme of my pictures.
Chad is definitely an 'unforgettable' guy. Love him!



Sam is a mischievous little guy whom I am privileged to be his Grandma.
I smiled the whole time I was creating this page.  The varied patterns and colors
in this paper collection inspired the use of several extra details. I love using
multiple embellishments and techniques on one page. Here I was able to add die cutting,
flocking, epiphany bubble caps, rosettes, fibers, banners, metal, fussy cutting
and fan folding all on one cheerful lay out. On the back of the paper
I have noted the things Sam likes to do at this age.  



Jon is my oldest grandson. He has many awesome qualities
which I have documented on the reverse side of this fun layout.
 The bright designs and patterns match his bright personality.



This page was so much fun for me to do. It was one of those projects
 I had out for several days as the inspiration came and I played with the paper
 and tools on hand.  I love creating with paper and art mediums.  Here I used inks,
paint, glaze, mist, floss, brads, lace, die cuts and little pointy scissors. The creativity
and process makes me very happy. I absolutely LOVE playing with paper! 


What products inspire creativity in you? What tools and mediums make you happiest?
Share your link, I would love to see the masterpieces you are making!

Love Karen

Happy Colors!

How could I resist the adorably cute "Family Ties" paper collection from Pebbles? Well, I didn't resist. Plain and simple. I purchased several papers and the package of 'chips' and dashed home and made these two cards in about 15 minutes. Now all I need to do is write some happy sentiments and get them sent off in the mail. And I have the perfect shade of green envelopes to put them in. Now wouldn't that brighten your day to receive a cheerful note in the mail? It would mine!

I challenge you to take a few minutes today and write

something nice to a friend or family member.

 Let's see who's life we can brighten today. :)

Happy Thoughts! Love Karen

Pretty, Pretty Crate Paper

I just want to share really fast this beautiful card I designed using paper and cardstock embellishments from the 'Paper Heart' Crate Paper collection. Who will be the lucky recipient of this pretty card?

. . . and the inside is so sweet. I even left some space for a personal love note.