Cute Indeed

Hello everyone! We had another snow day today and I enjoyed a day full of scrapping! I am here to share one of the layouts that I made - a just for fun, no design team layout!

We've got a month long member crop going on over at Inspired To Scrap.  We have a challenge posted every Monday and every Thursday to help us scrap away the winter blues! For Monday's challenge, Lisa challenged us to use the January 15 sketch from Sketch N Scrap. Since this wasn't one of my assigned sketches, I hadn't had a chance to use it yet. This was the extra push I needed to get it done!

Here's the sketch:

 

I really liked this sketch when I first saw it, and I even had pulled a different photo and papers to use with it. Then, when I started my mission to use up my Love Notes collection from Crate Paper (you can read more about that here), I remembered this photo of Ada from last summer. I have been wanting to scrap it since I took it the end of August, but I just couldn't find the right papers. When I pulled out the Love Notes collection out and it had the black, red, and greys in it...well, I knew I was finally going to get this photo scrapped!

 

After this layout I only have a few full sheets left, and I have to admit that they are not my favorites, and I'm not sure if I will get them used. But, my scraps are almost gone! I had to get creative with some of the pieces for this layout to get it to work! So, I am excited that I am getting so much of this used up! I also finally remembered to pull out my much neglected ephemera containers and get some pieces of it used up.

 

I'm hoping to get another layout or two done before the end of the night...we shall see how it goes!

 

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a great evening!

Hello, Monday!

Hello everyone! I hope your week is getting off to a good start. I've had a pretty lazy morning so far. I'd better enjoy them because we only have a couple of weeks left of summer break. Then it will be back to the school routine. Oh, summer, why do you always go by so quickly?!

I have a quick layout to share with you today. We had a Weekend Warriors sketch class over at Inspired to Scrap a couple of weekends ago, and this is a layout that I made using one of Stacey's great sketches.

The sketch was perfect for using 6x6 papers and scraps. Finally - I used a 6x6 paper pad on a layout! I loved this AWESO{ME} collection from Simple Stories when it first came out, but was late to the party in buying it. By the time I decided I wanted it, it was hard to find! I did find the 6x6 paper pad and the 12x12 Basics paper pack, but no other 12x12 paper or embellishments. This paper pad has been sitting in my stash for a long time. We're talking at least a year if not longer, so I was happy to finally put it to use.

I cut the "It takes some serious talent to be this awesome" piece out of one of the 6x6 cut apart sheets, and you can't go wrong with stars on a boy page, so I die cut some different sized stars from the patterned paper to embellish my layout.

This was a very quick and easy layout and I love the way it turned out. Of course, when you're working with product you love and photos you love, you can't go wrong!

Thanks so much for stopping by today! Have a great one!

Just Saying Hello - Sketch N Scrap #49

Good morning! I am so excited that today is the last day of school for the boys - and it's just a half day! Bring on those long, lazy summer days with no schedule to worry about.

I have a card to share with you today using Sketch N Scrap's May 5th sketch by Kelly Holifield:

 

Here is my take on the sketch:

I loved the big circle element with the sentiment below. I have a couple of ideas for some more cards using this sketch...now if I can just find some more time to play!

This last week we have had a members crop over at Inspired To Scrap. I hosted a game on Thursday called Guess How Many. I posted pictures of items in my scrap room and whoever came the closest without going over would win a little prize from me. What I discovered doing this is that I have a ton of flowers, a ton of washi tape, and oh my goodness, I do not even want to admit how many 6x6 paper pads I have! I mean, come on, do I really need 109 6x6 paper pads?! How did I get so many?

Well, I have decided that this summer I am going to challenge myself to use mostly only 6x6 paper pads on my layouts and my cards. Maybe, just maybe I can put a dent in my stash, and whenever I can add some flowers or washi tape - you guessed it, they will be added, too!

So, for my card I have used the Echo Park - Jack and Jill Girl 6x6 paper pad, and a few flowers from my stash! At least it's a start! I think it will be fun to look back at what I've created over the summer and see how well I did with my own personal challenge!

Sketch N Scrap is having their 3rd Birthday Bash all month long and there have been some awesome challenges every single day! I'm hoping to get a few more done before the deadline. Be sure to check them out!

Thanks for stopping by today and have a great day!

 



2015 Project 50 - Round 2 - #5/50

Pizza Boy and Fantastic Four

Good morning! I am back today with a couple of layouts I made during Inspired to Scrap's June Weekend Warriors class. I love Stacey's sketches and even though I didn't get to all of them during class, I have them printed off for future layouts.

Both of these layouts feature photos of my boys way back when they were little things. I've had these photos on my desk for about the last 6 months just waiting to be scrapped.

 

This first layout is of Shane in 2004. We had just gotten home from preschool and while I was getting things put away, he helped himself to some cold pizza from the fridge. This might not be a big deal for most people, but this was the first time Shane had done anything like this.

I have such a hard time using patterned paper for my base. I love it when I see other layouts using it, but I just feel like it looks busy. But, I am trying to mix things up a bit and try new things and who knows - if I start using it for a base more often, maybe I'll get used to it!

I used some of Echo Park's Scoot collection for this layout. I love those primary colors!

My second layout is of Matthew on his 4th birthday. It took me 12 years, but I finally got them scrapped - at least part of them. I still have pictures of him opening his presents that will go on another layout.

I used Crate Paper's Party Day collection - that I have been hoarding for a while now. I don't know why I am hoarding it because, not only do I have several pieces that I bought at the scrapbook store, but I also picked up the paper pad of the entire collection at Hobby Lobby a while back - so it needs to be used! Thank goodness the majority of the papers are generic and can be used for layouts other than birthday layouts!

There you have it - projects 18&19 of my first round of 50! Stay tuned for a summertime layout of my adorable granddaughter from the 4th of July, and the first card of my Christmas in July card challenges.

Thanks for stopping by!

Backyard Golf {12/50}

Good afternoon! Two posts in one day...I am on a role!

Inspired to Scrap is having another Weekend Warriors sketch class this weekend. $5 gets you access to the class section of the board where you will find great tips and techniques and a total of 7 new sketches. Of course there is a ton of great inspiration from the other class members, too, and did I mention there is an awesome prize?! Things got started yesterday with a pre class sketch, and I actually found some time to get it done!

Supplies used - Patterned paper - grey grid - My Mind's Eye, green stars - Crate Paper, blue dot - Echo Park, enamel dots - Doodlebug Designs, Alphas - EK Success - Golf, EK Success stamps - backyard, Chevron stamps - Sassafrass Lass, border punch - Fiskars.

I really, really, really love  the sketch and I'm sure it's one I will use again. I've had these old pictures of Matthew laying on my desk forever. I think I've had them out for the last two classes and they just didn't make it onto a page. Matthew was 5 in these photos, so yeah, time to get them scrapped!

I used up more papers from my stash and scraps and I even dusted off the chevron stamp and put it to use, too!

Have a great day and until next time!

Week 5/52 Week Layout Challenge

We have another snow day today, so I thought I would take advantage of it and try to get caught up on a few things! This is the layout I made for this weeks 52 week challenge over at Scrappin - N - Chattin.

And here is a photo of the journaling:

I used this sketch from Inspired to Scrap. The only things I changed were the photo sizes and since I had quite a bit of journaling, I hid it on a journaling card behind the photo.

I love these pictures of Shane with Ada. We worried how he would be with her since anytime he hears a baby crying he will tell us, "I don't like to hear babies cry!" He has been that way since he was little. He can hear a kid crying from  across the store - something that most people wouldn't even pay any attention to - and he will be covering his ears like it's the worst thing ever! So, we wondered how he would handle having Ada around. Shane really did not pay her much attention when she was first born. He might have looked in her general direction if she made a noise, but really he just ignored for about the first month. Now don't get me wrong - he is not a fan of her crying, as we will hear him with his big deep voice say, "Don't cry, Ada!" whenever she is crying. And if she is crying a lot he gets really agitated and whoever is closest to him better watch out because they will usually get a punch in the arm. But, he does have his moments like this when he loves her. I love it when one of us will be holding her and he will, out of the blue, walk up and give her a kiss on the top of the head. It's taking him a bit to get used to her being around so much since I watch her while Abby works, but every day we are all getting a little better with our new normal.

Hello!

So, once again it's been awhile since I blogged. This little sweetie has been keeping me busy!

 

I am watching sweet little Ada when her Mommy goes to work. It has cut into my scrappy time - but I don't mind at all. She's just giving me more photos to work with when I do have the time!

I have once again joined in the 52 week layout and card challenges over at Scrappin' -N- Chattin' this year. So, I should get at least one layout and one card done a week. We are already on week #4 and I have learned to make the most of my scrappy time on the weekend in order to get these done.

The prompt for the card challenge this week was to make a birthday card. We have lots of birthdays coming up in February and now I have this card made for my aunt when her birthday rolls around on the 15th.

supplies used - Patterned papers - My Mind's Eye Quite Contrary Jack and Jill 6x6 pad, stamp set - Close To My Heart B1417 Perfect Fit Birthday, ink- Close To My Heart - Juniper, 1 1/4" circle punch - McGill.

I came across this blog post yesterday using this sketch from an older Freshly Made Sketches challenge, and I thought it would make a quick and easy birthday card.

I love how quickly it came together and I know I will be using the sketch again! I am also linking this up to The Memory Nest's Crafty Creations link up.

For my layout this week I made a layout of Ada. Abby and I had taken some photos of her on Dec. 30. I can't believe how fast that first month went - and in just a few short days, she'll be 2 months old! She changes so much every single day.

supplies used - Patterned Paper - Doodlebug, Silver Stardust paper - Making Memories, bling - The Paper Studio, Word strip - Elle's studio, Alphas - "simply" - Close To My Heart B1416 Keyboard Upper, "Sweet" Close To My Heart - Houndstooth  Irresistibles, doily.

Deb, over at Inspired To Scrap has a fun challenge this month called One Page, One Pic Wonders and I decided to play along. Her challenge was to use a 12x12 paper for the background, a 10.5x10.5 paper to layer on top of that, 3 - 3.5x3.5 squares, and one photo - any size. For the first time in a long time I did not use a sketch. It took some playing around with the squares, but I like the end result.

Once again this year I am using up my stash. I'm not on a complete spending freeze, but I'm not buying a lot until I get some of what I have used up. I have had that solid and plaid paper for at least 10 years and the dots and stripes since 2005. Yikes! It is time to get it used up!

I am also going to try my hand at Project Life this year. It's a little intimidating, but I know once I get started it won't be so bad. I have a planner and so far am keeping up with writing down everything, and I have the photos I want to use printed for these first 4 weeks. I just have to make the time to get it done! Hopefully I will soon have some Project Life spreads to share with you. Ada helps to make things a little more exciting around here!

That's all for now - thanks for stopping by!

Beach Bum

Here is my first layout using my June SYS papers that I have picked for this month. There is a new Weekend Warriors class going on over at Inspired to Scrap this weekend and this layout is based on the first sketch. I love Stacey's sketches and I love how this layout turned out!

These are some old photos of  Matthew from one of the first times we took the kids to Pomme de Terre Lake. He had so much fun playing in the sand and water. Gotta love that little pudgy belly!

I also made a Father's Day card using this collection, based on this sketch from Clean & Simple Stamping's sketch #243.

It's still early in the month, so hopefully I'll get a few more projects done using this stash!

Everyday is an adventure...

I signed up to host one of the challenges this month over at Inspired to Scrap . Since February is the month of love I want you to:
scrap about someone or something that you love
it needs to have 4 squares - these can be paper or photos or both
3 round embellishments
at least 2 mixed alphas
at least 1 heart somewhere on the layout, and
paper strips - these can be journaling strips or strips of paper.
Here is what I came up with:

supplies used: Love Note 6x6 paper pad - Fancy Pants, cardstock - CTMH, stamps - D1548 Whoo's Your Valentine, D1472 Simple Memories, D1495 You & Me, It's Your Day CC1020 - CTMH. scalloped border punch - EK Success, alpha stickers - October Afternoon

 

In January, Scott and I celebrated our 23rd anniversary. Gosh, I can't believe it's been that long! A lot of things have happened in those 23 years which makes the title oh so true - Every day is an adventure with you!
I found this sketch from Heather over at Scrappy Sketches. I used the Love Note 6x6 paper pad from Fancy Pants for the squares, stamped some hearts and that cute little owl on some circles for my round embellishments, my title is a mix of a stamp and some letter stickers, and my strips are my journaling strips.  If you have time and want to play along, come on over to Inspired to Scrap and check it out. There's always something fun going on!

Going UP

Another quick post before I have to pick the boys up from school. It looks like our spring like 70+ degree days are over for awhile. The cold front is moving in with lots of rain and storms. I hope it lets up a bit while I'm out getting the boys!

This layout was made for Deborah's Fast and Fabulous challenge over at Inspired to Scrap. She has done all of the hard work for us this month with giving measurements and even a sample to follow. I pulled out some really old My Mind's Eye papers to use on this and even though they are old, they still make a cute layout. I also pulled out some old photos of Matthew from 2007...before he had glasses, before he was a teenager...where has the time gone? I can remember this day like it was yesterday!
Thanks, Deborah, for helping me to get another layout done!

Snow Day!

Not really! We have been really...lucky so far this winter. The kids haven't missed a single day of school due to snow and what little bit of snow we've had has been no more than a dusting and gone in no time at all. Part of me would really like a little bit of snow. I mean if it's gonna be cold we might as well have some white stuff, but I know I would get tired of it really fast, too. It is only January, so there's still time. I guess we'll just have to wait and see. I was going through some older photos last week and came across these of Matthew and Shane from 2008.

supplies used - cardstock - CTMH, Patterned Paper - Merry by My Mind's Eye , Stamps -CTMH -E1014 Posterboard Alpahbet, D1480 Snowflakes, bling - Studio G.

Lu had posted a fun challenge over at Inspired to Scrap this month called, "A Sketch and A Six Pack". You were to use the sketch provided and 6x6 papers on your layout. I had found this paper pad from My Minds Eye back before Christmas at Michael's and knew it would work great for these photos and this challenge. I stamped my title and a few snowflakes, added a little bling to the snowflakes and journaled directly on my layout. That is something I don't do often because I am always afraid I'll make a mistake and have to redo the whole thing! The journaling says, " Matthew loves it when it snows. He could play out in it for hours if we let him. Shane is not a fan of the cold. He'll "tolerate" it for a few minutes, then he's ready to go back inside where it's warm. One thing they both love is a snow day. No school = 2 happy boys! photos - Jan. 2008"
Until next time...

Happy Halloween & a layout!

Happy Halloween! I cannot believe that tomorrow is November 1st and we are getting ready for another round of 30 in 30! I tried the 30 in 30 scrapbooking challenge back in September and ended up finishing 24 layouts (22 actually got uploaded). I think that may have been a new record for me since I am kind of a slow scrapper and I have a few other projects that I am working on. That's what makes the November edition of 30 in 30 so great. We are not limited to only scrapbooking - any papercrafts are going to count. That means all those cards and Christmas gifts that I would like to get started on will count. Maybe I'll actually get 30 projects done this month!

The September 30 in 30 really took it out of me! I have not been productive at all throughout the month of October. I've done a few layouts for a client's album and I participated in Scrappin' - N - Chattin's 24 hour challenge (didn't make the deadline on that one - darn it!) and I signed up for the Triple S swap challenge over at Inspired to Scrap.  Basically  we were to cut a total of 20 squares out of 3 different colors of cardstock, in 4 different sizes with the largest being 2 inches. I really wanted to do something like the inspiration layout they had posted because I really loved it, but I just couldn't get it to work. I worked with it and fretted over it for days...weeks is more like it, until I came up with something I liked.

 

 

Stacey sent me the orange, green and tan squares to work with and I added in a dark brown, too. I ended up cutting some of my squares into triangles for my arrows, then added 3 stacked squares on the diagonal under the photo. This photo is of Shane back in 2005 at Bennett Springs and is one of my all time favorite photos of him. I also based this layout on a sketch from My Scraps and More. 

I am pretty happy with the end results, even if it took me forever to finish!

Layout #17 - All Star

I've done quite a bit of scrappin' over the weekend, but I'm still nowhere near being caught up with my 30 in 30 challenge. It's a good thing I have another online crop at Inspired to Scrap this week to try to get caught up and finished with this challenge!
Here is my #17 layout. I used the September sketch from Artful Delights for this layout about Matthew.

This photo is from his 2008 Coach pitch baseball season. I have so many of his baseball photos that I really need to get scrapped - so at least this is a start! I used the Fancy Pants Little Sport collection and I love it! I'm sure I'll be using every last scrap of it that I have.

I'll be posting several more layouts in the next couple of days - trying to get the pages that I've made this weekend posted before I get too far behind.

I was featured!

I got an email from Let's Scrap on Monday telling me that this layout that I made using their 9-12-12 sketch was one of the featured layouts! (Click on the photo for a larger view.) I was so excited! This was the first time that I have participated in any of their challenges, and then this was a featured layout! How cool! I was also able to enter it into the pre Sept. Challenge #3 over at Scrap-Friendzy. That challenge was to use at least 2 different border punches on your layout and I used a total of 3. And lastly, it was also made for Deborah's summer vacation challenge over at Inspired to Scrap. We were to make a layout about what we did over the summer. I thought the last hoorah of summer for us would work for this one!

This is my #5 and 6 layouts for the 30 in 30 challenge. I love that a double page spread counts as 2! This layout is about our Labor Day fun at Bennett Springs. We decided to take the kids down to Bennett to walk the trails and maybe let them get in the water. Shane loved it! With the drought this year, the river was pretty shallow. I think at the deepest point where we were at it never came much above their knees. Shane would not hardly let go of Abby's hand (it was a little slippery!) and there were a couple of times when I thought they were both going to go down! I absolutely love the big picture of the 3 of them holding hands. It means so much to me to see Abby and Matthew taking care of their brother. (More on that in another layout!) 

This time we walked a different trail than the one we normally walk. It was really pretty and in places got really narrow. Shane never watches where he's going. He's either looking straight ahead or all around him. Scott just happened to turn around and grab his hand - right when Shane stepped off the side of the trail and about went into the river! I thought for sure the fishermen were going to have to "fish" him out of the water, but Scott was able to pull him back up and out of the hole. I'm pretty sure we heard a couple of the fishermen give a chuckle! 

It was a really fun day and a perfect way to spend the last summer holiday!

Easy Peasy Half a Lemon Squeezy

A couple of weeks ago I participated in a swap challenge over at Inspired to Scrap. We were to send half of  a 12x12 paper, cut down into 3 pieces, and a flat embellishment to another participant. Then we were to take the half sheet that we had left over and use it with whatever they sent to us and make a layout. I was afraid when I picked out the yellow-orange paper that it might clash. (There are a lot of different shades of yellow!) Deborah sent me the yellow floral print paper to work with. When I saw it, I knew I was going to cut the papers into squares and put a little distance between them with a couple of other colors mixed in. I used a picture of me and my oldest sister, Kim, along with the embellishment that Deborah sent. I really like the way this turned out, and it pushed me to use colors and papers that I probably wouldn't have picked to go together.

He has it...

Supplies used: Patterned Paper - Fancy Pants, Basic Grey, Echo Park, Punch - EK Success, Alphabet stickers - October Afternoon and KI Memories

Here's another layout made for the sketch class over at Inspired to Scrap.
I have had these photos of Shane just beggin' to be scrapped for a couple of years now - that seems to be the going thing with me for this class - older photos - at least I'm finally getting around to them. Shane used to love to ride with us on the lawnmower, and when he was younger it was sometimes the only way to get him to take a nap. Then he took a spell of being afraid of the mower - running in the opposite direction with his fingers in his ears. On this particular day, he wanted to do it all by himself - no help from anyone - so, Daddy let him drive around the yard on his own. Of course Daddy was right there in case he needed him (and the mower was not engaged!). He did a pretty darn good job for his first time driving!

1 in 88

Stacey has another sketch class going on over at Inspired to Scrap this month and of course I had to take it - she always has such great sketches! This layout is my take on sketch #7. I figured since April is Autism Awareness month, that it was about time I made a layout about it. The strips on the puzzle pieces are statistics about autism.

• Autism now affects 1 in 88 children
• 1 in 54 boys
• Boys are 4 times more likely than girls to have autism
• More children will be diagnosed with autism this year than with AIDS, diabetes, and cancer combined
• Autism is the fastest growing serious developmental disability in the U.S.
• We live with autism everyday

I made this layout after Scott had posted a picture of Shane and his thoughts on Shane and autism on Facebook. He was able to say what I struggle to say about autism, so, the journaling behind the picture is from Scott.
This is what he had to say:
This is my son, Shane. He was diagnosed with autism between the ages of 2 and 3. He may never have a best friend or talk to his friends about how gross girls are in the first grade. He will probably never have a first kiss or a high school sweetheart. He will probably never proudly drive his new car or truck to school to show it off. He will probably never ask a girl to the prom or slow dance with the girl he always had a crush on. He will probably never get married or know the joy and pride of having children. He will probably never hit the winning basket or homerun in a ballgame. Shane has autism and may never do these things, but I know that there is an incredible boy inside held hostage by his autism. Unable to express himself or show his true potential. I say he MAY never do these things because I hope and pray daily that they will find the cause and cure for autism.

Stayed tuned because I am determined to get my thoughts and feelings on autism and how it affects our family down on paper.

Home Decor Project

So, it has been ages since I have posted anything here on my blog. I blame it all on our crappy computer that needs updating, but won't let us update. Maybe one day I will invest in a new one!

Anyway...
I was asked to be the guest blogger today over at Inspired To Scrap , and decided I would share here as well, so here goes -

I am going to share a quick and easy home decor project that can be made with things that you already have and you just might use up some scraps in the process. I saw the idea for this here and thought that it was really cute, and decided to make one of my own.


Here is what you will need:

a frame - I am using a 12x12 frame that I found at Michaels. It originally cost $24.99, but it was on sale for 40% off, plus, I had a coupon for an additional 25% off, making the final cost $11 and some change.

1 Sheet of cardstock - for the base

scraps of patterned paper

2 inch square (or shape of your choice) punch, die cut machine, or your paper trimmer

embellishments

small photos

Here is how I made mine:
First, I took all of my photos and paper scraps that I was going to use and cut them into 2 inch squares. I chose to cut mine into squares, however, you could use circles, hexagons, or any other shape that you like. After I got all of the pieces cut, I used my charcoal chalk ink to distress the edges of my papers. Then I arranged all of the papers and photos in a grid on my background. This took a little time for me to get it just the way I wanted – lots of rearranging!
When I had it the way I wanted, I adhered it to the background cardstock. I embellished some of the squares and left some blank. How much you want to embellish is totally up to you.


There you have it -a quick and easy home decor project. I think what took me the longest was getting the arrangement of the photos and papers just the way I wanted it.

Layout for sketch #5

This is my layout for sketch #5 over at Inspired to Scrap. I think that this page may just be my favorite of the pages I have done so far. I love these pictures of my boys from the summer of '08. Once again these photos were laying in my "photos to scrap" pile, and I just hadn't done anything with them yet. I also dug down in my stash of patterned paper and used a piece of Karen Foster paper from 2002! Why do I hoard papers?!

supplies used: patterned paper from Fancy Pants and Karen Foster Designs, Cosmo Cricket alphas, and Fiskars border punch.

I still have a few more layouts to share, and I'm hoping to finish a couple of layouts that I have started before the deadline tonight. I won't get all 17 sketches done (there were 2 bonus sketches), but I do have half of them done which is really good for me!

Until next time...

Sketch 3 and 4 from Inspried to Scrap

This is the layout that I made for sketch 3 over at Inspired to Scrap. I had a ton of pictures from this spring when we got the slip n slide out for the first time. Matthew loves the slip n slide and could play on it all afternoon if we would just let him!
The journaling says:
Matthew demonstrating his mad skills on the slip n slide. Feet first, head first, on his back, ending in a pose - he can do it all!

supplies used: Echo Park patterned papers, Thickers alphabet.

This next layout is for sketch #4. I've been going through my older pictures lately and I'm finding a lot that I haven't scrapped yet that I really love. So what better time to get them done than now. These pictures are of Shane and his Daddy playing back in 2004! Goodness how time flies!



supplies used: Carolees Creations patterned paper, EK Success alphabet and border punch.

Thanks for looking and I'll be back a little later.