home sweet home...

We made it back from our vacation safe and sound this week, and had a terrific visit with family and friends in my home state of South Dakota. I just adore it there, so open and peaceful and beautiful in every aspect! I thought I'd pop in and share a few of my favorite pictures from our trip with you.......

View from the airplane window leaving New York.South Dakota has gorgeous fields of sunflowers. Excuse the blurry pic as it was taken from the car window going about 65 mph, but you can get an idea of how pretty these fields are!

This is Bear Butte, a non-active volcano that is sacred to the Native Americans there. I went to high school only a few miles from here. This was also taken from our car window. =)

We went out one evening to Deadwood with my sister-in-law and my brother (left). Love them so much! On right is myself and my hubby. Thought I better share a pic of me, as I'm not in too many pics these days..hee hee!

We took the girls to "Old MacDonald's Farm", a little petting zoo. Kati really enjoyed seeing all the animals up close. Taylor and Kati petting a cow...

Couple of goats up on the bridge, I thought they looked so happy and sweet up there!

My dad with Kati.

My little fam at Bear Country. The little bears were adorable! See them climbing in the trees in the background...

Here are the baby bears again.
The adult bears were in a separate section where you drive through with your car.

This is Taylor and Kati with my 2 cutie pie nephews at Reptile Gardens. This giant tortoise was over 100 years old and still kicking! (SLOWLY..ha)

My brother with Kati. He's a hoot!

My mom and Taylor while we were out touring one day.

This is my adorable nephew, Eli at the fair...he was so proud of the Donkey Kong he won!

My other handsome nephew, Payton, roasting marshmallows one night at grandma's and grandpa's!

I have so many more, but these are a few of my faves! I'll be back soon to share some new projects too! Thanks for visiting! ~Danielle

Nothing like mom...

Get ready to sit a spell! I have a long post! hehe

Elated is the word...we are leaving tomorrow on a vacation to see my family! I haven't been home in two years...can't wait to see everyone again, tour the beautiful hills and plains, and share it with my girls...the place where I grew up. There are so many things to see in South Dakota and the atmosphere is just so different than N.Y. People are warm and friendly and chat with you in line at the store, you can even keep your car running while you go in to grab something. Ha Life is so much slower out there.

I could sure use a good dose of my mom too. She's my best friend in the whole world and I miss her dearly. I miss being able to just hang out and chat in person and spend time with her. They have been here to visit, but with the cost of plane tickets these days, we can't afford to fly the 4 of us out there each year. So we haven't been there for 2 years. We are all packed and ready for our flights! Seriously, I don't think I'll be able to sleep tonight! :)

Before we go, I wanted to share with you my next card kit that will be available SOON at Create My Keepsake! Papers, chipboard, rub ons and letters are from the new Pink Paislee - Pop Fashion line and they are drop-dead gorgeous in person! You are not going to want to miss this one! If you are a kit member, you'll receive your kit e-mail soon with all of the information. If you are not a member, you can purchase a kit on or after August 15th at CMK under "current kits" and you should see the August Card Kit there. It won't be posted until the 15th, so I don't have a direct link at this time, but as soon as they are available, I can post one for you. If you wish to become a member, click HERE to purchase a membership. Here are the sneak peeks!




Also wanted to share some exciting news....I was asked to be the August Guest Designer for Magistical Memories!! Wow, I love their chipboard and had a blast creating with it! I still have a few things to make when I return, but I wanted to share a few items with you...

The first is a locker mirror that I created for my niece with the Jumbo Scallop Circle. I covered the chipboard circle with paper, stitched a bit, layered it over a 5 inch mirror and added some letters to spell out my niece's name. She requested blues and greens, so I hope she likes it! Papers and stickers are the new Basic Grey - Euphoria line. (A shout out to Lisa from RAH!! Thank you so much for thinking of me!)


This is a fun card made with the Fancy Frames chipboard! Papers are October Afternoon and Sassafras Lass. Love these fun, colorful stickers by Creative Cafe as well!! I thought the little curled paper added to the festiveness. lol

And last but not least..."Happy Day" card made with the awesome Birthday Hat chipboard and a Ric Rac border! It was so easy to cover the chipboard with paper, add a sentiment and viola...a cool card to give to someone special! Don't these papers evoke happiness? Love them!

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog today, and thank you all for the sweet words in my last post...your comments really mean so much to me! I love that everyone is so supportive of each other in scrapbooking. Hugs, Danielle

Love a parade...

Today we took the girls to the "Turning Point parade" here in our small town where the Battle of Saratoga was fought and won and thus was the turning point in the American Revolutionary War 300 years ago. Such a fun sight to see the outfits they wore back then and the fun music they played. It sprinkled rain a bit before it started, but really turned out to be a great day! I think it was Kati's first parade (besides a couple when she was little and doesn't remember).


Afterwards, we toured the General Phillip Schuyler house... who we learned was the 4th in command under George Washington at this time, but started out in the British supply train. He actually led the post-war opposition to the British. It was so interesting to see how they lived back then. George Washington actually stayed in this house when he was visiting. They didn't have guest rooms, but guest beds with canopies, so that was their privacy. Very interesting! We have lived here about 5 years and have never toured the house before. They wouldn't let us take any photos inside the house.

I received word on the Paper Crafts card idol contest and unfortunately my journey has ended. But thank you so much for everyone who came out to vote! I am bummed, but I had fun while it lasted! Here are some of the other cards that I entered during the contest that I haven't posted here yet:

(Patriotic card)

(Friend card)

(Friend card)

I was asked to be the guest designer for Magistical Memories for the month of August, so I'll be back soon with some of my creations! Love their chipboard! Happy Sunday! ~Danielle~