My Adventure....

The whole adventure started last year.  Every year I study the Iditarod with my classes while we read Woodsong by Gary Paulsen. It's kind of a weird fascination with me since I hate being cold and am not much of an outdoorsy girl!! 

Then a couple of years ago another teacher's husband hooked us up with a musher, Tom Roig of Valley Road Outfitters, who had attempted the Iditarod twice. Sadly he was unable to finish both times and finances have kept him from going back! Well now he comes in every year and talks to the kids about the Iditarod and dog sledding in general. Let me tell you he can captivate an entire 6th grade of about 150 students for 1 1/2 hours. It is amazing. 

Last year when he was in to speak, he mentioned that he had started these dog sled trips during the winter. He thought it would be great if I gave it try. Now keep in mind - not a nature girl and hate cold weather.  But...my best friend (who happens to also be named Melissa) and I decided it could be an adventure of a life time so we sent in our deposit.  

As the time came closer and closer, I really questioned my decision. What was I thinking? ME on a dog sled - seriously??? But I knew I had to go especially since the teacher's husband who introduced us to Tom said I would never do it.  Had to prove him wrong, right??

So last weekend, my best friend and I headed up to Newberry, MI on the Upper Peninsula of MI.  It took us about 9 1/2 hours to get there but it was so worth it!! We even drove across the great Mackinac Bridge which I had never done before. It was an absolutely gorgeous drive!!

Now keeping in mind my aversion to the great cold outdoors, I can honestly say I LOVED IT!!! I even wiped out twice - it took me a little to get the whole inertia thing down.  You need to turn into the curves with the sled even though it feels like you are going to fall over.  But both times I fell I got up and back on my sled and kept going!! I even managed to avoid a spill one other time - not bad for a city girl!!

We spent 2 1/2 hours and did 13 miles with 14F on Saturday. On Sunday we went out again for about 2 1/2 hours and this time we did 17 miles!! Temps were a bit higher around 25F!!  The quiet of the trails and the sound of the runners on the snow was AWESOME!! For the first time, in many months my mind was quiet and I was just able to be!!!

My Team and Me - Schwana, Laney, Duke and Danger

My Best Friend and her team -

Our fabulous guide - Tom                           

That's me out in front of my friends team - you can barely see me!!

I fell in love with it which utterly amazed me.  I'm not sure I'll ever get to do it again since it is so far away and a lot of money but I will never forget this adventure!!

As always thanks for stopping by!! Hope you have a wonderful week!!

Blessings and Hugs!

PS - Making Hungry Jack Pancakes with Coke instead of water makes them fabulous!! I do not like pancakes but these were DELICIOUS!!

{ippity} Tuesday - GHWI Challenge #12

Good Morning all!! I'm thinking about making Tuesday my {ippity} day!! I just find myself using their stamps so much that I want to share them with a few unity images thrown in.  I can't wait to receive the new release because they are ADORABLE!! Have you seen them - if not get over to Aletha's Get Hippity with Ippity Sales blog and check them out. I think you need them!!

The Get Hippity with Ippity Challenge #12 is a sketch one. I personally think I'll be using this sketch quite a bit!!

Remember you have until this Saturday January 14th to enter the challenge.  The best part is you don't have to use {ippity} stamps but you have an awesome chance to win some.  You do get double entries though when you pull out those {ippity} sets!! :-) The prize is your choice of a set from the Get Hippity with Ippity Sales blog!!

After looking at my card again I realized I left off the extra corner swirls -- oops!!

I used the following set available at Aletha's blog - Giggles x3

All the papers came from the April 2011 Taylored Expression Key Ingredients kit. This seems like the kit that just keeps going and going!! Taylor's kits are just packed with goodies to use, I've lost count of how many cards I've made using just this one kit!

I also want to remind you that we have a fun little Get Hippity with Ippity Group at The Crafters  Cafe !! We have a card game happening there which is easy peasy to join. All you do is post any cards (they do have to be cards only) you've made using {ippity} or unity stamps for a chance to win!! And prize you ask??? - well  it's any $6 set off from Aletha's sales blog!! Remember all the new release I said were awesome, well they are $6 sets!! So come on and join the fun!!

Finally, I'd like to enter this card in the following challenges -

Crafty Cardmakers - No Floral Embellishments'

Lexi's Creations - Anything Goes

Make It Monday - Always anything goes

Stamping and Creating - Anything goes

Birthday Sundaes - must have birthday sentiment

I'll be back soon to share some other projects that are in my brain and I need to get out!!

Thanks so much for stopping by!! Many blessings and Hugs!!

Get Hippity With Ippity Challenge #12

Hi y'all!!! Today is my day to post some fun inspiration for our latest Get Hippity with Ippity Challenge #12.  This week's challenge is a sketch which is another goodie from Aletha!! So let's get on with it -

Couple of quick reminders 

• You have until January 14th to get your entry in.
• You don't have to use {ippity} or unity stamps but you get your name in the drawing twice if you do.
• You need to be a follower of this blog
• The prize is a set of your choice from the Get Hippity with Ippity Sales Blog

The Sketch -

My card -

I used the Devoted set which can be found here and looks like this - 

The other supplies: All papers came from the Taylored Expressions April 2011 Key Ingredients Kit

                               The swirls from My Favorite Things - Vintage Flourish Die-Namics

                                The die cut shaper is a spellbinders label (can't remember which one)

I'd also like to enter this in the following challenges:

Heart Song Inspirations - Anything Goes

Incy Wincy Designs - Anything Goes

Make it Monday - Anything Goes

Paper Creations Ink - Die Cuts or Punches

The Pink Elephant - Anything Goes

As always, I am very grateful for each my followers as well as those who just stop by to see my work!!

Many Blessings and Hugs!!

Scrapbook Journal 2012 First pages

Being on Christmas Break has made for lots of crafty time and I've enjoyed it so much!! I'll be honest and I'm sure lots of other people feel this way too - not looking forward to returning to work tomorrow.

I signed up for a year long class with Stephanie Ackerman from Homegrown Hospitality - Scrapbook Journal 2012.  I tried doing Ali Edwards class last year but was a drop out. I'm certainly hoping to do better this year.  I committed to using only the stash I have on hand. Heaven knows I have plenty.  

We set up our binder (I am using an old American Craft 81/2 x 11 album)  before class even started by cutting up lots of paper and putting in monthly divider papers. So today I did my first January assignment - I created my January Title page. Our theme for the month is Honesty and let me tell you it's definitely something I need to be focusing on right now!! :-)

Now for the page about me.  I've kept quite a bit of the journaling private because there is a lot of things happening in my life and I'm just not comfortable sharing them at this point. It's under both the My Truth flap and the bracket can be pulled out from the January title card.

Well that's about it for now. Stop back tomorrow for my Get Hippity with Ippity post. The new challenge started today and you can find the info here. 

Thanks for taking the time to come by!! Many blessings and Hugs!

Join the Fun at The Crafter's Cafe December Open House

Finally found some crafting time!! I decided I would play along with the gals at The Crafter's Cafe December Open House.  They are offering door prizes every day, games and lots of fun challenges. Here are my entries 

Birthday Card - Sponsored by Robyn's Fetish Digital Stamps

Image - Bugaboo

All other Supplies - Taylored Expressions Dec 2011 Key Ingredients Kit

Thank You Card - Sponsored by Jelly Park Friends

Image - Jellypark Friends (a freebie at the challenge)

All other supplies - Taylored Expressions Apr 2011 Key Ingredients Kit

Inspired by - Sponsored by Make It Crafty

   afor this one we had to pick someone else's card to be inspired by and I picked the wonderfully talented Kristina Deyette

Image - My Favorite Things

All Other Supplies - Taylored Expressions April 2011 Key Ingredients Kit

Thanks so much for coming by!! I hope you'll try and join the fun at The Crafter's Cafe.

Many Blessings and Hugs,

More Christmas Projects to share!

I can't believe how quickly this week is going by and I still haven't had much crafty time. Honestly, it's not been so much a lack of time but rather a lack of mojo!! I am really hoping to spend the next couple of days getting that mojo back!! :-) 

I wanted to share a few more Christmas gifts I made this year. All 3 were created from the templates from My Time Made Easy. 

As you can tell, I LOVE creating 3D projects. Well this turned out to be a bit more of a problem this year. 2 weeks before Christmas our PC crashed and with it died my SCAL software.  Of course, I hadn't backed it up.  Many of you know about the whole Provocraft issue - suing Craft Edge and now they can't sell it anymore.

Since, I never used my cricut with cartridges (I only have about 5 of them),  but only used it to cut SVG files I was pretty much out of luck!! Well I decided to buy myself an early Christmas gift and bought the new Silhoutte Cameo. I also bought the upgraded Designer Edition software but couldn't make it cut the templates to the right size. Then I bought SCAL3 and while the files still aren't importing at the right size, I am able to resize them to work! It's an extra step or so but at least I'll be back in business with making my projects!! Oh yeah - this time I already backed up my SCAL software!! :-) I am seriously considering selling my Cricut Expression since I won't use it with cartridges. I have to admit I basically don't even know how to use the dumb things!!

OK on with the projects!!  This one is called the Flapper. We filled it with candy and candles!!

The is Fresh Popped also filled with candy and candles!

Take Time

Thanks so much for stopping by today!!

Many Blessings and Hugs,

PS - Don't forget about The Stamping Boutique blog candy here. 

Blog Candy Alert

Just wanted to share the chance to win some awesome blog candy at The Stamping Boutique's blog!! Look at this --

Now get over there and enter to win!!