14 Favorites in 2014

I thought I would pop in today and share 14 of my favorite layouts from 2014. Of course my favorite subject to scrap looks to be Miss Ada (who can resist new baby photos!) but I think I got a good mix of the family here.

Here they are in no particular order:

 

After looking back through the layouts I made this past year, it was really hard to pick just 14! I hope you enjoyed looking back with me. I look forward to everything the new year holds. Have a happy and safe New Year's Eve!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ohana means family

Hello everyone! It's a very cold day in this neck of the woods and I have declared it my "do whatever I want all day" day! It seems like this entire Christmas break I have been on the go and I am ready for a day off!

First of all, I want to tell you that I love challenges! They help to get the ol' wheels to turnin' in my brain. I love challenges - I am just awful at remembering to get them posted by the time they are due. And most of the time I even write them down with the due date - I just forget!

At the first of the year I joined in my Yahoo groups' 52 week challenge. Not so hard to remember this one because if I forgot, I was out! Today I am sharing my week 52 layout with you. It feels so good to know that I made it the whole year and I have (at least) 52 layouts in my albums!

Supplies used - patterned paper - Blue star - Close To My Heart, solid yellow - MME Market Street collection, blue wood grain - KaiserCraft - Off The Wall collection, off white background - Basic Grey - Spice Market collection, yellow with pink hearts and yellow and grey chevron - Studio Calico Snippets collection, Wood veneers - Studio Calico, Alphas - Ohana - Lawn Fawn Cole's ABC's dies, small alpha - Jillibean soup.

We take a lot of family photos around here. A lot. So coming up with titles can be a challenge for me. When I was planning this layout I was having a hard time coming up with a title. Then this line from Lilo & Stitch popped into my head and stuck. My family means the world to me and I love every single minute we get to spend together.

I am also entering this layout in Shopping Our Stash's challenge #182 - Thrice is nice - to use 3 (or more) patterned papers on your project.

I also used this sketch from Let's Get Sketchy - Get Inspired Magazine - Christmas edition.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Merry Christmas!

 

image courtesy of Teri Anderson

 

 

 

I just wanted to pop in and wish you all a very Merry Christmas! I am really looking forward to spending time with my family the next couple of days and making more memories to scrapbook!

Pocket Style Cards

I think I may have a new obsession - an obsession with pocket style cards! Let me back up just a bit.

I really had good intentions of starting Project Life in 2014. I got my title page done, I've kept up with sorting my photos, and I've kept a planner of all that's been going on this past year. But, I just can't seem to make myself start. I just get so overwhelmed.

There's so many choices to make. Do I use a variety of page protectors or go with one design throughout? Will I have enough photos  to do a double page spread every week and if not, what then? And then there's all the cute cards to choose from...how in the world will I decide which ones to use! I know a lot of these questions can only be answered as I go - there's no right or wrong way. I just need to do it and see what works best for me.

So, I am going to start in 2015 and figure it out as I go along. If I have time I will go back and work on 2014 since everything is basically ready to go.

With that being said, I am finally getting around to the purpose of this blog post. I have been a member of the Project Life Card Swap community on Facebook almost from the beginning. Every month they have swap sign ups for PL style cards and every month I have looked but I hadn't ever signed up. It took my good friend, Tina, joining  the group and the swaps to get me to join in the fun. Reconnecting with her has really gotten me excited about starting with this way of scrapping.

So, I signed up for my first swaps in November (a total of 7!) and I really had a lot of fun making my own pocket cards. I think these cards will be so much fun to add to my albums. Now for January I have signed up for 10 swaps. Did I really just say 10?! I must be crazy! But I really do enjoy making these little cards. Now if I can just make myself get started and actually use them!

I am still going to make traditional scrapbook layouts. I just have a lot of pictures that don't necessarily need their own page, but they add to the story. So, I'm going to give it a try. Who knows, maybe I'll try to add a weekly or monthly blog post about my Project Life style scrapping progress!

Thanks for stopping by, wish me luck, and have a great day!

Time for an adventure

Good Monday morning! Christmas break is in full swing around here and I am lovin' it! I can't believe that Christmas is only 3 days away. I still have a few things that I would like to get and I haven't even started any baking. Nothing like waiting until the last minute - it's all I know!

I have a snowy layout to share with you today. We haven't had much snow yet this winter, but last December we did! The boys got out of school early on Thursday, December 5th due to bad weather and then they were out on Friday the 6th and all but one day the next week. Those were the earliest snow days that I can remember. Ada was still in the hospital but was due to go home at any time and we were wondering if the roads were going to be safe enough to travel.

Matthew didn't waste any time - he braved the cold and the snow and took the dogs for an adventure!

supplies used - Patterned paper - DCWV - The Christmas Combo Stack - Stamps - Fiskars - Alphas - Doodlebug Designs, EK Success, Punches - large snowflake - EK Success, small snowflake - Marvy Uchida, Scallop Circle die - Sizzix, Bling - Studio G.

 

I am entering this in Lasting Memories #220 - Snowflakes Galore challenge from December 7th. The challenge is to have snowflakes on your layout - either in your paper/embellishments, or in your photos.

 

I also used the December 1st sketch from Stuck?! Sketches.

Thanks so much for stopping by! See you soon!

Christmas Pajamas

Since Christmas is this week I thought I would share a Christmas layout with you! I am awful about scrapping Christmas photos right away. I may have a few photos that I really want to scrap, but for the most part they get put off for another time. Like this photo of the kids in their Christmas pajamas from 2012...and I'm just now getting around to scrapping it...2 years later!

One of our family traditions is to open up one present on Christmas eve and that present is always Christmas pj's. Even though the kids know what it's going to be, they still love being able to open a present. Shane loves opening presents, but is never impressed with "pants and a shirt" as he calls them, but he's a good sport anyway!

For this layout I used My Mind's Eye - 12 Days of Christmas collection. It is one of my most favorite Christmas collections and I think I only have two sheets of the same paper left in it. I'm sorry to see it gone, but happy to know that I used almost every bit of it!

I am entering this layout in Lasting Memories Home for the Holidays challenge - where you are to show a holiday tradition that you do.

I also used this sketch from Let's Get Sketchy - December week 2.

I am also entering this into Scrap and Play's Challenge #15 - Happy Holidays:

The three items that I used are red, green, and a present.

Thanks so much for stopping by! I'll be seeing you soon!

Scrapbook Generation Blog Hop Winners

It's time to announce the winners from the Scrapbook Generation Blog hop that took place on December 1st.


Using Random.org to select the winner,

the Blog Hopper who won is...

Tina Gale - http://tiggersscrapplace.blogspot.com

 Tina please contact Stacey at stacey@scrapbookgeneration.com and she will provide you with the prize (one sketch bundle of your choice from the SG store).

There is also a commenter that won the same prize.
The comment who wins is from Laura's blog http://happinessequalscreation.blogspot.com/ which had 10 comments, the winner is...

 comment #9 Iris.

Iris - Laura should be contacting you about how to collect your prize.


Congratulations, ladies! Thanks for hopping along!

Birthday Girl

Good Sunday afternoon! I hope y'all are enjoying your weekend.  I am pretty excited that this is the last week of school before Christmas break! We are all in need of some time off!

This is so unlike me. I picked up my pictures from Ada's birthday party yesterday and I have already made a page using some of them. I never scrap that fast! Pictures usually set on my desk for weeks (even years!) before I scrap them. But for once I knew exactly what papers I wanted to use and when I saw the most recent sketch from ScrapMuch I knew it would be perfect for these photos. Once I got started it all just came together quickly.

For this layout I used the October Afternoon Cakewalk collection that I have been holding on to forever. Ada looked so cute sitting on her present table before everyone got to the party, I couldn't resist taking a few photos of her.

Here is the sketch - be sure to go to ScrapMuch and check it out:

Thanks so much for stopping by! Enjoy what's left of your weekend!

I'm One!

 

Good evening! This weekend just went by way too fast. We had Ada's first birthday party yesterday and I am tuckered out! Thank goodness there are only two more weeks until Christmas break. I am ready for some lazy days with no place to go.

I have a layout of the birthday girl to share with you today. Abby had taken some pictures of Ada on her actual birthday and I couldn't wait to scrap my favorite one.

 

I used the sketch from the December sketch challenge over at Scrappin-N-Chattin and I'm also using this for my week 49 layout for there. Only 3 more weeks to go - I think I'm going to make it!

I used up a few more scraps from my scrap box. I seriously need to use bigger scraps on my layouts. At this rate I could make layouts and cards just out of my scrap box for a good 6 months and still have scraps left over! At least I have made it a habit to check the scraps to see if there is anything I can use before I cut into a new sheet.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a great week!

Scrapbook Generation December Blog Hop

Good morning and welcome to the Scrapbook Generation Blog Hop for December. You should have made your way here from Lori's blog. If this is your first stop, you might want to start at the Scrapbook Generation blog and then hop through each link.

Supplies used - Patterned paper - Echo Park - Little Boy collection, Pebbles (You are awesome and striped), chipboard embellishments - Simple Stories, alphas - Doodlebug Designs (you truly are), Lawn Fawn - Finley  alphabet die, gold metallic thread - DMC.

For my layout today I have chosen a sketch from the new Sketches for Christmas book.  I love that I can take a sketch from a Christmas sketch book and use it for something else. I sometimes have trouble thinking outside the box on these things. If I see a sketch with Christmas samples, I want to make a Christmas layout, but looking through this book I can see so many ways to adapt the sketches to make them work for whatever layout I am working on.

Since this was a two page sketch and I only used the right hand side of the sketch, I needed somewhere to add my journaling. For this layout I just added it behind one of the photos.

You can find the SG sketches in their books and as downloads in the Scrapbook Generation store,  There are four free sketches every month in case you wanted to try it out. You can find a link for the November free sketches here.

Next on the hop is Cicily. Check out her beautiful blog to see what she has created. Be sure to leave a comment on each blog and one lucky commenter will receive a free sketch bundle of their choice from the store.

The winner will be drawn on Monday, December 8th which leaves you one week to leave a comment.

In case you get lost at any point, here is the list all the blogs
Scrapbook Generation blog - http://scrapbookgeneration.blogspot.com/
Ruth - http://scrapmachine.com/
Steffanie - http://steffanies.blogspot.com/
Devra -  http://mycreativeview.blogspot.com/
TinaGale - http://tiggersscrapplace.blogspot.com
Lori - Http://savingmine.blogspot.com
Lori S - http://loriannie670.blogspot.com
Cicily - http://www.pinkdalmatianscrapper.com
Pamela - http://reflectionsofmyartandsoul.com/blog
Katy - http://scrappinkaty.blogspot.com
Laura - http://happinessequalscreation.blogspot.com/
Lyne - http://lynnseverydayideas.blogspot.com/
Penny - http://pennyscraps.blogspot.com
Laureen - http://mybusyscrapbookinghands.blogspot.ca/
Casandra - http://casandra-scrappinbliss.blogspot.com/
Sharlene - http://inspirationstationbysbe.blogspot.ca/
Corrina - http://anotherthingoffthelist.blogspot.ca/

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a wonderful day!

Nana's Girl

Oh my goodness! How can this be? It surely has not been a year since this little sweetie came into our lives! Ada is now a big one year old! She is crawling, even starting to say lots of different words, getting so close to walking, and is developing such a sweet and ornery personality. I was so happy to see that Abby had posted this photo on Facebook this morning.

Over the Thanksgiving holiday she started saying nana. I'm sure she's just learned a new sound, but since she's not even thought about calling me Mimi, we're going to go with Nana instead!

So in honor of this little one's birthday, I thought I would share a layout that I made this weekend of me and her on Thanksgiving day.

Sorry in advance for the poor picture quality - the photo was dark to begin with and the paper just wants to look washed out, but you get the idea.

I used sketch #420 from Scrapbook Challenges for my layout.

Thanks for stopping by and be back soon!

Hello Friend

I have been in quite a card making slump here lately. I'm not sure why, but I just haven't had the card mojo going. Seriously, this is the first card that I have made in months, and I usually really like making cards - they give me that quick creative fix when I don't have time for a layout! Anyway...Jan over at Cookin Up Creations posted a card challenge at the first of the month using this sketch from Freshly Made Sketches:

 

 

Here is what I came up with:

I used the super cute Pink Paislee Switchboard 6x6 paper pad and ephemera pack. I just love that telephone die cut!

Hopefully I will get back into making cards more often and actually send them out instead of holding onto them. I think that just may be one of my new years resolutions - to actually send out the cards that I make!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!
Thanks for stoppin

This Smile...

I can't believe it, but I am still going strong in the 52 week challenge over Scrappin-N-Chattin. Back in October I had almost decided to pull myself out of the challenge. It was getting harder and harder for me to get my weekly layout done and it was starting to stress me out. Then Sandi posted that there are only 4 of us left in the challenge,  I still have a pass that I can use, and the prize is $180! Yeah - I think I can make a layout a week for the rest of the year for a chance at that!

Here is my layout from last week.

This is one of the photos from Ada's 11 month photo shoot. She had Pop's and Uncle Matthew acting like goofs behind me, so of course that made her one happy girl!

I used and old piece of My Minds Eye paper for the background and the die cut quote is from the same collection. I used my favorite new alphabet dies from Lawn Fawn for "This Smile" and October Afternoon's mini market letters for "is contagious", and I love those little heart puffy stickers that I used for the dots. I believe they are from EK Success.

I'm sure you'll be seeing more of these photos soon!

Thanks for stopping by! Until next time...

Who's That Girl?

Happy Saturday! It's definitely a cold morning here in the Ozarks, but no snow just yet! Looks like a great day to stay inside and keep warm!

Today I have a layout using an old photo of Abby on Halloween in 1998.

This photo makes me laugh every time I look at it. Jenny had found these goofy glasses somewhere and we all had a lot of fun trying them on to see how we looked. I think they are the perfect accessory to Abby's Halloween costume! I love the way that Matthew is looking up at his big sister in the corner of the picture. I don't think he's too sure that he likes those glasses on her!

Thanks for stopping by! See you soon!

I used Bella Blvd's Trick or Treat collection and this sketch from October from Let's Capture Our Memories.

A couple of layouts to share

My goodness it is quite cold here, and there is even talk of snow over the weekend. Snow. Really? Already? At least it sounds like it's not going to amount to anything.

As I said in an earlier post, I started my second round of 50 projects the middle of October. I had debated on making myself a smaller goal, but for now I am sticking with 50 and hoping to reach it a little faster than my first round.

I have a couple of  Ada layouts to share today. First up is her 10 month layout.

 

 

I've done a pretty good job with keeping up with her monthly layouts. I have just a few of her early months that I need to go back and scrap, but not many. I have a feeling her album is going to be quite full!

 

This next layout I am not that crazy about. I think I just should have turned the photos to black and white because all the colors in the photos just make it busy feeling to me. At least it's another memory documented and sometimes you just can't love them all!

 

That's it for now - thanks for stopping by. Stay warm and I will be back soon. 

 

LB & Shane

Good Tuesday morning! It looks like the cold weather is moving in to stay for a while. 70's yesterday for highs and today the high is mid 30's - brr! At least we're not getting snow like some places!

Today I have a very special layout about my Dad and Shane.

Anyone that knows Shane, knows that he is not much for company. He usually just stays in his room playing video games or watching his movies. On this particular Saturday he was quite social. Dad had stopped by for a visit and it wasn't long before Shane came in and sat down right beside Dad. With no prompting from anyone Shane said, "Love you, Grandpa". Not just once, but a couple of times! I could tell it really surprised Dad and it made him so happy to have Shane communicating with him. Little moments like this are what we live for!

Thanks for stopping by and stay warm! Until next time...

A few more of my favorites...

...from my first round of 50 projects. These are all Ada layouts, but in my defense, the boys have decided that they don't like to have their picture taken, so Ada layouts it is!  In no particular order:

Thanks for stopping by and see you soon!

Four of my favorites!

I am back to share 4 of my all time favorite layouts (so far!) with you. First up is this layout of Miss Ada:

I made this layout for a challenge over at Cookin' Up Creations. The challenge was to use a not-so-great photo and I think it was even a scrap lift challenge as well. I used the super cute Special Delivery collection from Pebbles, and this is probably my most favorite layout yet - even with the blurry photo!

Next is a layout about Matthew.

He has really entered into that age of not liking to have his picture taken, so I was ecstatic to get this photo of him on the 4th of July. I just can't believe that he is 16 - almost 17! It seriously does seem like he went to bed a little boy and woke up a young man - and I am so proud of the young man he is becoming.

Next is a layout of Shane. I have had these photos laying on my scrap desk for over a year, waiting to be scrapped.

I loved our walks going in search of the perfect rocks to throw in the water. I am so happy to get this memory documented!

And last up for today is a layout of Abby on her first Mother's Day.

I love everything about this layout - the colors, the design, and especially the photo of my two favorite girls!

There you have it - four of my favorite layouts from the last few months. Thanks for stopping by and I hope to see you soon!

Hello Again!

My goodness - I have taken quite the hiatus from blogging! I really didn't mean to let it go this long, but life has been busy. I had good intentions of blogging now and then, but the time to sit and write up a post just never seemed to be found. -And then I got so overwhelmed with just how much I wasn't sharing, that I just quit. I needed a break. Now I am back - hopefully a little more  regularly - and ready to share some projects.

I finally finished up my first round of 50 projects the first part of October and will be sharing some of those projects as they are some of my favorites. I am still working on using up my stash (that seems to be a never ending challenge!) and besides the basics, like cardstock, adhesive, and the occasional roll of washi tape, I haven't bought much of anything. I am reserving my right to treat myself to new product for finishing 50 projects, for when I can actually go to Scrapbook Generation and peruse their selection of goodies!

I have started another round of 50 projects (mid October) and am hoping to stay caught up on posting those projects over the next couple of weeks.

The boys are well into the second quarter of the school year and both are doing great. Shane is going on outings with his para and really enjoying them. Matthew made the first quarter honor roll and really seems to enjoy his classes.

Miss Ada - the main reason my time is so limited - is getting so big and doing so many things. She is now crawling, walking along and around things, and being the boss to everybody. I cannot believe that she will be a year old at the end of the month!

So there's a quick update of the last couple of months. I'll be back soon to share a  layout or two.

Scrapbook Generation September Blog Hop

 

Good morning and welcome to the Scrapbook Generation Blog Hop for September. I hope you all are enjoying this long Labor Day weekend. You should have made your way here from Lori's beautiful blog.  If this is your first stop, you might like to start at the Scrapbook Generation blog and then hop through each link.

 I have chosen to use the free double page sketch from the June edition of Create magazine for my layout. You can download a copy of this sketch here.

My granddaughter turned 8 months old on July 30 and I got a little carried away taking pictures of her. Can you blame me? She is pretty darn cute and lucky for me, she is a pretty willing subject, at least for now! This sketch was perfect for me to get quite a few photos on one layout.

I am still working on my 50 projects, (I'm almost there - this is 42 of 50!) so I went through my stash, and mostly my scraps, to make this layout. I used some old Jillibean Soup, Echo Park, Cosmo Cricket, Fancy Pants, and Close To My Heart papers. I wish I could say that it looks like I'm making a dent in my stash, but I have a lot of paper!

You can find the Scrapbook Generations sketches in their books and as downloads in the Scrapbook Generation store. There are four free sketches every month in case you want to try one out.

Next on the hop is Katy.  Check out her blog to see her beautiful creation and be sure to leave a comment on each blog. One lucky commenter will receive a free sketch bundle of their choice from the store.

The winner will be drawn on Monday, September 8th which leaves you one week to leave a comment.

In case you get lost at any point, here is the list all the blogs
Scrapbook Generation blog - http://scrapbookgeneration.blogspot.com/
Steffanie - http://steffanies.blogspot.com/
Ruth - http://scrapmachine.com/
Cassie - http://allsmilesandsunshine.blogspot.com/
Devra -  http://mycreativeview.blogspot.com/
TinaGale - http://tiggersscrapplace.blogspot.com
Lori - http://savingmine.blogspot.com
Lori S - http://loriannie670.blogspot.com-------you are here!
Katy Taylor - http://www.scrappinkaty.blogspot.com/
Cicily - http://www.pinkdalmatianscrapper.com
Corrina - http://anotherthingoffthelist.blogspot.ca/

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!