My Appreciation Celebration Begins Today!!!

My first Appreciation Package goes to my Faithful Blogees! LOL! Those of you are followers of my blog in any way, shape or form! But you must be a follower of my blog to be a part of this first drawing. The pictures below show most of the items included in this package as well as a video I have posted on my you tube channel, "raggedydoodles"! Of course I couldn't resist adding in a few more goodies!! I just want to say thank you to all of you for your support and encouragement over the past few years. It means so very much to me. I will be announcing the second part of the Appreciation Celebration real soon! Stay tuned!!
Huge Hugz to all of you with much gratitude :o)
Julie
P.S....
My previous 165 blog followers will be entered twice into the drawing as they were my original followers prior to this post :o)  Thanks Everybody!!!

Happy, Happy, Happy Spring Everyone!!

I have so totally missed posting on my blog! I have been soooo busy preparing our house to be put on the market to sell and I am only about half way there!! I am such a pack rat! I have also been busy preparing a few special order kits! YaY! I just luv making my kits and selling my kits so I can make more! As soon as I can stop long enough to really think about it, I will be doing a giveaway of some sort. So, don't forget to not only watch and read but to subscribe to my blog and you tube! I do hope everyone is having a blessed Spring! I hope to be back to chat more real soon! xxox Julie

My Very First Written Tutorial is Completed!!

Though it seems like such a long time since I stated that I wanted to make video tutorials, but it just never seemed to work out like I thought it should. They just didn't seem to be professional enough in my opinion. So, I had someone to ask me to make them a kit for my Vintage Style 8x8 School Album. I thought that I would be able to use the class I had done on Ustream for the instructions for this kit but as I began to watch the recording back I realized that I had made a different sized album than the original I had made. So, I decided to write a tutorial for the album. When I started out I thought I would have it completed within a week tops! But, I actually just finished it up on Friday. I had been working on this tutorial more than two weeks! Any ways it is finished and I really enjoyed every minute of putting it together!! It has bunches of detailed pictures and I also created a few printables just for the pattern! It was so much fun! I am excited to get started on my next one! It is going to be very, very special. For now, I hope that you will take a look at it over in "The Scraps of My Life Boutique!" 
Okie Dokie! Thanks for stoppin' in!
Happy Scrappin' Everyone!
Julie

“Graphic 45 Design Team 2012 Audition"

This sweet li'l 4x4 mini album is made using Graphic 45's "Once Upon A Spring Time" paper line. Find more detail on this project Here.

This is a special 4x4 mini album I made to sell. Special because I designed a holder for it to sit in with velvet jingle bells for the feet! You will find more about this project HERE. 

This is my very first completed Family Recipe Album! The papers are by "Webster's Pages". Although it was a bit of a challenge, I created this stand for it to sit in on my kitchen desk top. I just luv the mason jar tag I created especially for this mini. You will find more details on this project here.

I created the adorable Christmas album below as a gift for my sister. I was so pleased how it turned out for her. I  used Basic Grey's Jovial paper line and stickers.  It contains some of my own hand drawn designs in it such as the snowman with the red top hat on and the snowman peeking from behind the santa pocket with felt accents on his hat and although you can't see it, he is also wearing a scarf! More about this project here.

THIS is one of my all time favorite little mini album's! This little darling is made using the lovely "Domestic Goddess" paper line by Graphic 45! I absolutely luv this paper line and am finding it harder and harder to find. The little mini sits a-top the little stock pot! So cute! You can see more of this little guy right HERE!

Thanks Marlene for the inspiration!

This last album is one of my own designs using the "Lost and Found" by Tim Holtz. There is more details to this project right HERE. Some of the art work used in this album are from PC Crafter.com.

A Christmas Follow Up :o)

Just thought I'd share a couple pictures of the tree AFTER it was finished! lol! You might have to click on them to get a close up.

Looks like someone got an electric guitar from Santa!!

Happy Scrappin' Everyone!

Julie

"We Wish You A Merry Christmas" Kwik Envelope Mini Album or Pt. 1 of 3

Yep! This is what I spent the day doing yesterday :o) Editing and uploading the video, Not making the album. I made it a couple weeks ago. This is part 1 of a 3 part series. Pretty much all I did get done :o( So... I am running a bit behind at this point. And... Monday I took my son Christmas shopping all day. It was fun but it put me a little further behind. How is everybody else's holiday chores panning out??
I hope you all find this project somewhat useful this holiday season. This really is a very easy project to make and it comes together quickly. Let me know what you think by leaving a comment below.
Have a blessed and prosperous day and happy scrappin'!
Julie

Playing Christmas Catch-Up!!

Okay, okay, okay! I know it's been a week since my last post. I have been sick alllll week long, but I still managed to get some of the things done on my list. {sigh} Yes, the tree is still bare and hubby is coming in tonight, but I did manage to get a little decorating done. I have a few pics I'll be sharing with you. I spent yesterday editing three videos for a tutorial I want to post on you tube for everyone of a quick mini album/Christmas card. You can even mail it! I am not quite finished with the editing, but hope to get it up loaded this weekend.

Can you tell I luv flowers?! lol! Oh yes, there's more but I'm not finished yet. So...
 I pulled out my bread machine and made some banana bread a couple days ago. Why mention it? Well, because I used to make homemade bread by hand every week for my family! And I baked quite a lot as well, but over the past few years I have done hardly any baking at all even at Christmas time. So, even though it is with a bread machine, I am happy to feel like baking and even cooking again! I hope to do my "baking shopping" this weekend so I can start my Christmas baking this coming week. I have been craving some Russian Tea Cakes! Yum! I have made them almost every Christmas since my daughter was little. She's in her mid 20's. The past couple of years I started making a decadent filled cookie recipe from Martha Stewart's called... Ooops! I'll have to get that for you later. I can't seem to find it on her web site right now. So! What are you baking for Christmas this year?? I'll put a linkie below so you can share it with us and even a picture as well!! Christmas IS a time to share right?! Okay everybody, be safe and try to enjoy your Christmas shopping, baking, and decorating, as well as all of your friends and family.
Happiest of Holidays to You and Yours.
Julie

This is a pic of some snow cream I made last year when my grandkids were here!

Today I didn't seem to get a whole lot done. I have done some Christmas flower arranging, making some bows, and hanging some of the florals on the walls as well. I have glitter strewn all over the place! I was going to hang the greenery on the stair banisters but my greenery for that looks a little sad. Hmm, maybe it's time for some new greenery! We'll see....
I have added my daily December posts to my Pinterest page! I am still quite green to this really cool site but it is totally fun! I will take some more pics in the next coupl days for you to see.
Until tomorrow :o)
Julie

On the First Day of Christmas...

My true love said to me, "You told me not to fix the tree!"
I am already pooped! I have been wrestling with the Christmas tree for hours! We have a 12 foot artificial tree with too many plugs to connect and I have "never" put it together until today! Me and my ingenious ideas! I told hubby, who is out of town, not to connect the four sections of the tree together, thinking it would be easier to shape the branches! NOT!! Well, the important thing is, all of the lights are connected and working! (right now at least.) My son even had to help me out with the top part of the tree. By that time I needed a shower AND some serious coffee! Thank you son!! Whewh! Glad that part is over with, Now to decorate it.
I also put my vintage looking white garland up around the front door as well, while I was taking a breather from the tree. lol! It is so pretty. I think my matching wreath got left up in the attic...   Sigh. That will wait until tomorrow. {smile} Now, off to find a Christmas theme for my blog!
Happy Decorating!!
Julie

Here it is! Yum, Yum, Yummy!!!!

Okay, okay, I am one week behind. Last weekend was a _______!!  but! I did make those lucious Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars this past Saturday! My Sister, Barbara came up to visit. Her hubby had to do some repair work on the house from the hurricane we had this year, and Barbara and I did a little scrappin'! I had such a wonderful time being with her it was so much fun! So, while hubby went to get bar-b-que for our dinner I made this yummy-licious recipe that I mentioned in last week blog post and all I can say is, YUUUMMMM!!! They are absolutely delish! I did take a pic before baking it. I almost didn't but Barbara reminded me so I did. And then I took a pic of the finished product! Doesn't it make your mouth just water?! I had always been intimidated by the thought of making cheesecakes, but not any more!! A few years ago I successfully made a wonderful raspberry cheesecake but I haven't made one since. So, when I saw this recipe and found out that it was by Paule Deen I thought, oh yeah, I can make that! So I made this wonderful dessert in no time flat! I do have a couple of hints for you though if you are interested in creating this wonderful dessert yourself and also I did use a different size and type of baking dish. I used my large, square corning ware dish to make this in. The recipe does have nutmeg in it. At first I didn't like the idea of nutmeg in cheesecake but was I ever wrong! The only form of nutmeg to use for this recipe though is freshly ground nutmeg. You can buy the whole nutmeg nuts in the spice section of your favorite super market, especially at this time of year. So.... tip #1 *Use Fresh Nutmeg. Tip #2 is, I think I will use a little more oats in the topping next time. I really liked the flavor and texture it added. #3 I did reduce the use of butter in the recipe both in the crust and the topping. #4 I think that next time I will try my hand at home made caramel sauce. However, if you are in a real pinch for time, you can do like I did and use the wrapped caramel candies with just a bit of water in the microwave. I find that those caramels are definitely not nearly as good as they once were so next time....
Thank you Paula Deen and thanks to all of you bloggers who blog your delicious creations with the rest of us! I am no longer intimidated by CHEESECAKE! ;oD  Got questions? Just ask!
Okay! Back to scrappin'!! Thanks for stoppin' by!
Happy Fall!!
Julie

Ohhh YUM! As I was browsing the net this morning I came across this Yummy-licious recipe for Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars! on Lily Beans Paperie linked to The Girl Who Ate Everything's Blog who adapted the recipe from Paula Deen. I just had to share it with all of you especially those of you who luv cheesecake, Autumn, and apples as much as I do!!! The original recipe is on the Food Network channel by Miss Paula Deen! Go check it out  you won't be disappointed. I plan to make it this weekend! Let me know what ya think!
Happy Baking!
Julie