My Monday Morning Greeting

This is how I am usually greeted on Monday morning when I pick Ada up from Abby at the school. I just might think she doesn't care for me, but that pout usually turns into a smile pretty quickly!

I feel like I am patterned paper challenged when it comes to using a pattern my background. I guess I'm just too used to using a solid color (and usually that solid color is a neutral color) background. I  feel like my layouts are so busy when I use a patterned paper! But, I am trying to add a little variety to my pages.

I loved the Vintage Bliss collection from Simple Stories when it first came out, but at the time I didn't have much use for a girly collection, so I just picked up a couple of pieces of it. Now that Ada is here, I am kicking myself for not getting more! I did pick up the 6x6 paper pad of it a couple of weeks ago at Hobby Lobby when they were 50 percent off and I just may have to go back and see if I can get another one! I used a sketch from Scrapbook Generations - Sketches For Scrapbooking, One Page sketches - Vol. 1, and was able to use a variety of the papers from the pad.

I'm sure this is not the only layout I'll have of Ada's pouty face - it's just too darn cute to not share!

Scrapbook Generation Blog Hop

Good morning and welcome to the Scrapbook Generation Blog Hop for March. Thank you for visiting my blog.  You should have found your way here from Mandi's blog. If this is your first stop, you might want to start at the Scrapbook Generation blog and then make your way through each stop.

For my layout I used a sketch from the June 2013 downloads - Boys/Father's Day bundle.

In keeping with my vow to use up my stash, I used some older Dear Lizzy - Lucky Charm papers on this layout. And to make it even better, all of the strips but two are the cut away strips from the paper. Which means I still have a lot of this paper that I love left for other layouts and projects.

I've been seeing a lot of cork embellishments lately, and while going through  my stash I found a piece of cork paper that I have had for a good 10 years and never used. I pulled it out along with a couple of heart punches and made my own cork embellishments. I just love using up some of that older stash!


You can find the SG sketches in their books and as downloads in the SG store, and there is a free one every month in case you wanted to try it out.

Next on the hop is Cassie. Be sure to check out her blog and see what she has done with a Scrapbook Generation sketch. 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, March 10th, so you have 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/
Louise- http://madeatnumber27.blogspot.com.au/
Tina Gale - http://tiggersscrapplace.blogspot.com
Steffanie - http://steffanies.blogspot.com/
Devra - http://mycreativeview.blogspot.com/
Melissa - http://www.scrappyjedi.com
Lori - http://savingmine.blogspot.com/
Mandi - http://www.mjskraze.blogspot.com/
Lori S - http://loriannie670.blogspot.com
Cassie - http://allsmilesandsunshine.blogspot.com/
Katy - http://www.scrappinkaty.blogspot.com
Stephanie - http://craftyholidaygirl.blogspot.com
Isbaha - http://isbahashome.blogspot.com
Corrina - http://anotherthingoffthelist.blogspot.ca

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

Bear Hugs

Last week was a busy week for me, so I am enjoying getting to spend some time scrapping this weekend! I was able to get my layout for the 52 week challenge done already and the weekend has just started! I had this sketch from ScrapMuch? printed off and was hoping I would get around to using it before the end of the month.

And here is my layout:

I used a couple of pictures of Shane with the bear that he won at school the day before Valentine's day. The journaling is hidden behind the photos and it says:

Imagine my surprise when Shane walks out of school the day before Valentine's Day with this big, red teddy bear. Mrs. Boyd let me know that FCCLA held a contest that week where they hid paper hearts around the school. Whoever found one got a prize. Shane was lucky enough to find one and this bear was his prize. I do believe he likes it!

I really wish I would have had my camera with me that day because he came running across the parking lot with his famous half smile that he only has when he is really, truly happy. Luckily he was okay with me taking his picture with it when we got home.

I have joined up with the 50 Projects facebook group to help me stay committed to using up my stash! This will be my 7th project for this first round. I used up some old Sassafrass Lass paper and some MME Collectables paper.

Time to get off of this computer and see if I can get another project done! Thanks for stopping by!

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.

A Couple Of Cards

While I still had my supplies and scraps out on my desk from my last card, I decided to make a couple more cards. This time I used this sketch from Try Stampin' On Tuesday for both of these cards.

I loved this sketch the minute that I saw it - what can I say - I am a sucker for those banners and love them stacked on top of each other!

supplies used - Patterned Paper - My Mind's Eye Quite Contrary Jack and Jill 6x6 pad, Cardstock - Kraft - Close To My Heart, stamps - B1417 Perfect Fit Birthday,C1429 Party Pennants,  D1548 Whooo's Your Valentine, ink - Stampin Up - real red, Close To My Heart -black,  Colorbox - Chestnut Roan chalk ink.

I love how quick and easy both of these cards were to make!

Until next time...

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!

Introducing Ada Grace

 

Little Ada Grace arrived at 2:22 a.m. on Saturday, November 30 - 23 days early.

Abby had been having trouble with her feet swelling and when she went to her doctor's appointment the day before Thanksgiving, her blood pressure was on the high side. Her doctor sent her to the hospital to have her blood pressure monitored for a few hours. They went ahead and sent her home so she could have Thanksgiving dinner, but she had to be back to the hospital at 4:00 on Thanksgiving day for an ultrasound and check of her blood pressure.

When we got to the hospital her blood pressure was really high. Like 160 over 110 high. On Friday the doctor on call diagnosed her with preeclampsia and said they were going to have to induce labor in order to keep Abby and Ada safe. Things moved really quickly from this point on. When they broke Abby's water she had dilated to 2-3cm. 45 minutes later it was time for baby!

Little Ada Grace came into this world weighing 4 pounds 15 1/2 ounces and she is 18 inches long and perfect in every way. She did have to spend a week in the NICU because she couldn't keep her body temperature up and her bilirubin count was a little high. But, she is home now and both she and Abby are doing great!

Being a Grandma is going to be so much fun!

Scrapbook Generation Blog Hop

Welcome to the SG Blog Hop for December, if this is your first stop, you might like to start at the Scrapbook Generation blog and then hop through each link.

This is my first time participating in this blog hop and I am super excited! My Scrapbook Generations sketch books are the first thing I reach for when I start a layout. They are a great starting point and make it easy for me to get a lot of layouts done. The layout I am sharing today is based on one of their downloadable sketches from November 2012.

And a shot of the journaling:

You can find the SG sketches in their books and as downloads in the SG store, and there is a free one every month in case you wanted to try it out.

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog! Next on the hop is Elizabeth, 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 draw on December 9th, so you have 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/
Michelle - http://ownerofchanel.blogspot.com/
Steffanie - http://steffanies.blogspot.com/
Stephanie - http://craftyholidaygirl.blogspot.com
Devra - http://mycreativeview.blogspot.com
Isbaha - http://isbahashome.blogspot.fr/
Tasha- http://tashascreativejuice.blogspot.com/
Pamela - http://reflectionsofmyartandsoul.com/blog
Brenda - http://roseblossomlegacies.com
Sharlene - http://inspirationstationbysbe.blogspot.ca/
Louise- http://madeatnumber27.blogspot.com.au/
Brenda R ~ http://granddivasscrappyplace.blogspot.com/
Cassie - http://allsmilesandsunshine.blogspot.com/
Lori - http://loriannie670.blogspot.com/
Elizabeth - http://ejoym.blogspot.com
Mandi - http://mjskraze.blogspot.com/
Cicily - http://www.pinkdalmatianscrapper.com/
Laureen - http://mybusyscrapbookinghands.blogspot.ca/
Janelle - http://stillscrappinlettersize.blogspot.com
Melissa - http://www.scrappyjedi.com/
Corrina - http://anotherthingoffthelist.blogspot.ca/
Lindsey - http://www.scrapping-by-the-sea.com
Nicole - http://www.lovemesomepaper.blogspot.com/
Tina Gale ~ http://www.myscrappyideas.ctmh.com

Wet and Wild Fun

Today is a dark, dreary, cold day and since I'm a summer lovin', hot temps and sunshine kind of girl, it's hitting me hard! So, I thought I'd share a summery layout. I signed up for the Photo Arrangement Replay class (from Scrapbook Generation) that was going on over at Scrap N Yap last month.  I had bought the class a while ago and never did anything with it and I thought this would be a great way to get it done.I thought it would be easy to keep up with, then life happened! But I did get this layout done in the first week. I just never took the time to upload it to boards.

Once again I was able to use scraps from my stash along with some old photos of Shane (from 2002) on this layout. This was his first experience with the slip n slide, and he loved it! His favorite thing to do was to sit in the little pool of water at the end and wait for Abby and Matthew to come on down!

Ah, summertime - I miss you already!

Challenge YOUrself

There is a new challenge blog called Challenge Yourself that is starting up. Their first challenge will be in December and here is a little about them:

We challenge YOU to make it a goal to snap one picture a month with the ones YOU love and scrap about it!  It doesn't matter what you look like.  It's time to get out from behind the camera and start including YOUrself if those pictures!
 
I've been better lately about handing the camera over to someone else once in a while so I am the pictures, too. Now I just need to start scrapping them and this challenge blog sounds like it will help me do just that!

They currently have a design team call and giveaway going on, so head on over and check them out here.