Family layout

I like this layout...a lot...because it used a lot of scraps of one of my favorite paper lines - Basic Grey's Bittersweet line, and because it's not a typical fall layout with oranges & other fall colors. I, however, did scraplift this one from someone (I'm sorry...I don't have a link to it...) almost exactly as their's was - well almost - I changed it to fit my one picture. Also, the picture is like the one we used on our Christmas photo cards this year - we don't get many of the three of us together, so it was a treat to scrap it. Love using pinks & browns for a family layout!!

Here's the Rules:

For Christmas morn', that is!!
1.) Don't get up before 7:00 AM (for our house, that is reasonable...).
2.) Don't open any presents until we all get down to the tree.
3.) Don't whine!!
This is pretty much the guidelines set before we go to bed on Christmas Eve. Thought I should list them, as one day, there will be no need for guidelines.
Merry Christmas to all & to all a good night!

"Warm" layout

A friend of mine requested that I update my blog. Yes, it's been a month since I have - actually over a month. Tis the season!! However, it is especially cold & windy today; it was rainy yesterday; & well, I wish it were summer already - so I wanted to post a layout of pictures from this past summer. It was a pretty good day that day - although, because my husband & I got in a argument, he did not go on this particular outing, and well, even though I wish he had - my daughter & I had a good time & did laugh a lot (this is the journaling "behind the journaling"!!) But, it was so warm that day, & the ice cream tasted so good at the Frog Follies. This was August, because the Follies are always held in August. Plus, I love the bold colors on this layout...it is so hard to scrap bold colors, but I think it works this time. Hmmmm, let me just stare at the pictures a while & see if I feel warmer...

Fabulous Fall layout

Here is my latest layout!! I love the Pink Paislee Amber Road line - and knew when I got those papers that I wanted to use black & white photos with them - it really pops! And well, when my daughter wore bright NEON PINK for our fall photos, I knew I wanted to change the photos to black & white. And this is what we got!! I also added glitter Stickles to the center of each flower to add some sparkle. The first photo is my actual layout based on the latest PageMaps sketch contest, and the next two photos are detail photos showing my title work & my journaling, which is tucked into the envelope. Once again, my latest layout is my favorite layout!

Olives layout

I wanted to share this layout. I LOVED the bright MME patterned paper that Amber from the MME blog sent me - she is such a sweet & very talented person. I immediately found this fun picture that I wanted to scrap and put the PP to good use! Gosh, I think the PP would have gone with any photo almost - it is so pretty. (This layout is dedicated to our favorite Aunt!!)

Normal Day

Saw this on Ali Edward's blog & as I am feeling this way today as well, so I thought I would share it:
Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are. Let me learn from you, love you, savour you, bless you before you depart. Let me not pass by you in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow. Let me hold you while I may, for it will not always be so. One day I shall dig my nails into the earth, or bury my face in the pillow, or stretch myself taut, or raise my hands to the sky, and want, more than all the world, your return. - Mary Jean Iron

Thanking God that my little girl, who is growing up so fast, still loves to crawl in bed with me in the mornings & talk to me about her upcoming day; that she still grabs my hand & holds it while we are walking to the bus stop; and that she still waves goodbye to me after she gets seated on the bus.

3 Generations layout

Wanted to add my latest creation - one based on the latest PageMaps sketch. I somehow missed these Cosmo Cricket papers last year when they came out - and I found them on clearance this year. I grabbed every piece of the line that I could find, and since they are double-sided, I grabbed two pieces of some of them. Since the papers are very home-y (with the faux stitching), I wanted to add home-y embellishments, hence my stitching, ribbon, the little ribbon flowers with the pearl in the middle, & the felt accents. I just love looking at this layout of my mom & my daughter & me!!

MME layout - Every...

Wasn't sure how I was going to use this diecut PP when I first bought it, but then when I began working on this layout, I decided it was just right to use as the background paper. So everything layered on top of that. I've been waiting to do a layout on our favorite Aunt & Uncle, and these colors were just right!

Pagemaps Layout

Here's my latest endeavor, using the latest Pagemaps sketch. I wanted to do something a little different with these photos, even though...they really are vacation photos. I get tired of scrapping vacation photos AS vacation photos, so I went looking for a title or quote that would be a little different. When I found this one, I knew they were the words that I needed. Funny how layouts don't end up the way they start, but I usually like the finish!!

Time for another post

Yes, I know...but I'm kinda "post-less" lately...been so busy. Madison went back to school on 8/11, and since then it has been non-stop. So far, our family has remained fairly healthy, although many around us are sick. Labor Day weekend was a blur, as we did something everyday, and celebrated Madison's 9th birthday, like, all weekend!! I did manage to get a little scrapping in, and of course, too many scrapping purchases - so much for the self-imposed halt on purchases for a month. Gotta start over on that! Anyway, will share my last 4 layouts for you to see!

Basic Grey Day!

I had the awesome chance a week ago today to spend some class time with my favorite scrapbooker, Kelly Goree from Basic Grey. Man, does she keep it real! I think my scrapbooking style matches her style the closest, I just can't do it like she does - she is awesome!! (But I will keep trying!!) She even says "I don't have time to be sewing on no layouts!" Gotta love that! I was able to take two classes with her at The Doodlebug in Jasper, IN. I was even fortunate enough to win the big drawings in BOTH classes - a 6x6 pad of paper of two of BG's new lines, Eerie & Eskimo Kisses. Thank you for a great day Basic Grey!

Summer

Here it is...the latest layout that I did today, for the latest PageMaps sketch challenge. This is one of my favorite pictures right now - it just says so much to me. I hate that I live so far away from Mom, but I hate it even more to think that my daughter will have a relationship with her Grandma, like the way I did with my Grandma. I mean, I loved her, but I didn't really get to know her. Grandma had very little influence on my life as a "person", but I cherish the memories of the visits we would have with her every summer. Mmmm, maybe I need to add some hidden journaling to my layout! :-)

Mom & Dad

(with picture by Madison!) I wanted to share this layout which I am hoping will inspire. It is from our vacation to Florida this past June. Again, I stitched on the layout, which I've been doing a lot lately. The colors in the picture were so different, but I liked them, so I looked around for some patterned papers to match - and thankfully, I found some. Another sketch by Becky Fleck - this one at BPM's website!

Girl Time

I wanted to add this layout to my blog. Some days it is all I can do, when I look at my daughter, to not get tears in my eyes. She is growing up so fast. Not that I don't want her to grow up, just that it is going by so fast. The layout itself was fun to do with all the stitching, and then gathering embellishments to match the colors. I do love colors!!

Every Morning

I love this layout - in fact, it might be my favorite layout ever...well ok, until the next one I do. (The last one I complete is always my favorite...) But, I just love the colors on this one, and the picture. I took the picture on the way down to FL, and I didn't retouch it in ANY way...I just love it. It is my first layout done with a BackPorch Memories page kit - I just added a few things from my own stash. And the inspiration was Becky Fleck's latest PageMaps sketch challenge. Aww...I just love the feeling of a completed layout...until tomorrow, when that desire to do another one hits!!

Manly layout

OK - I have to do one now & then (a manly layout, that is...), just to keep my man happy & feeling loved. So, I used a Becky Fleck Pagemap sketch to get me going. These were the only pictures I have of Adam turning 45, and his shirt was bright purple, so I turned the pictures black & white to make them more versatile. Boy, I am glad I did...with all that pattern going on, that would have made it worse. But here it is...happy late birthday, honey!!

Basic Grey!!

I love my Basic Grey patterned paper...I have from the time they put out their first collection. 5 years later...I'm still loving it. So, I have created two layouts (scraplifts from...somewhere???). The first I did in colors that I use all the time - pinks & browns, with a full color picture. The second in colors that I hardly ever use - orange, grey & black, with a B/W photo. However, both layouts were about my favorite scrapbooking subject - my daughter, Madison! The fact that I was able to use my new Cricut machine so much on these is a plus too.

Amor!!!

I am back from vacation (it was awesome & I took a lot of pictures!) & want to share a layout I did right before we left. I entered it into a LSS kit contest...$5.00 got you a package of assorted matching scrapping goodies; then you make a layout using only those goodies, and if you turned the layout back in for the contest, you got your $5.00 back. Well, how can you lose, right? I got a page done & got my $$ back, and had a chance to win a gift certificate to that store. Well, I didn't win the contest (it was a popularity contest anyway...but it was fun!) but I did get picked as the layout of the week at BackPorchMemories.com for last week after I downloaded it to their gallery. No prizes, just the happiness of knowing that my layout got picked & some great feedback from the other scrappers at BPM, which is awesome!! So, without further delay, here is my layout:

Going on vacation to FL

Can't wait!! Leaving Friday, June 5th (my BD!) & getting back on Sunday, June 14th - will answer emails then!! Hasta lavista baby!!

A Father's Love

Here is a layout I did for the latest PageMaps sketch contest - I can't wait until the new contest and the latest set of sketches are posted each month...I'd had these PP's for awhile, waiting for the right subject/pictures, & I thought these were appropriate. I went crazy with the glitter on this layout. I covered some chipboard with it, and then I sealed it with Glossy Accents. Then, I made my little birdie with stamps, added some glitter, sealed it, and then added the eyelets. Finally, I added a heart brad, covered it with glitter & sealed it too. The glitter definitely goes with my daughter's attitude - very diva lately! :-)

Love the bling!

Wanted to add a layout that I recently did...I got this page kit from Shabby Pink Designs and have been saving it until I got a picture that I could turn into sepia-tone. So I finally got this picture of my DD playing around, turned it into sepia, and put together this kit. I love the colors of this kit, plus I love the bling...sooooooooooo much!! My daughter...what a dear!!

Pagemaps Spring Card Contest

I have a friend who is getting married, and she is having a "spring" bridal shower. So I decided to make her this card. Her colors are lavender, therefore the purple accents!! I think the flower PP in the corner helps make it feel more spring-y, and more elegant at the same time. Plus, I love those little blingy brads. It is a tri-fold card, which opens up, and I will put a gift card inside. I decided to enter it into the Pagemaps Spring Card Contest. Congratulations Sheila!! We love you girl!!

Misc. stuff on my brain!

Well, I have been blog-negligent, among other things, but for here, that is the priority. I have been super busy with work (which is also my church) and I have loved every minute of it. But some things were neglected. The family, laundry, cleaning, grocery shopping, scrapping, the blog(s)...but I am slowly catching up. I want to share one of my latest layouts that I am proud of. Somewhat not my style, but I love how it turned out. The journaling says "A daughter may outgrow your lap, but she will never outgrow your heart." That sums it up lately...my girl is getting so big!

P.S. I was so excited to win the Grand Prize over at BackPorchMemories!! A free six-month subscription to their page kits. I have been stalking their website and love what I see, so I am excited to get a chance to create with them!! Thank you BPM!!

Weekend Crop

Since I can't crop with my sista's of SISF this weekend at their retreat, I am going to spend the weekend cropping with BackPorchMemories - wontcha join me??

Sweetness Layout

I did this layout based on a sketch from the PageMaps blog. Again, I just love Becky's sketches...so current, so usable, so versatile!! The theme had to be "What's On My Mind", and I went with what I think everytime I see this picture. I am just so proud of my daughter, and the person that she is becoming, so I wanted to express that. Plus I love using the floss that I've had for so many years, and get to use again!! (The little metal tag hanging from the button says "smile".)

Spring Card

Here is a card I made with my new favorite stamps from Stampin Up - the set is called "A Flower for all Seasons". I plan on using them to make my end of the year teacher appreciation gifts later on in the year, but for now, our challenge was to make something Easter-y (over at the Stamp Something blog!!) So, here is my take, with tulips that always signal that Easter is near. I will be sending this one to my mom. Of course, I used leftover scrap patterned paper, and then I stamped the imaged & chalked it. I haven't done that in forever. Come on in Spring!! (I think we're supposed to get some snow showers tomorrow, what is up with that????)

Sketch Card

I've been wanting to use my glitter a little more, so I got brave with this card. It is based on the sketch challenge on the Stamp Something blog this week. I really liked how it adds a special touch to my card, but...it still gets all over everything. That never changes. Got two April birthdays, so I made two cards.

Birthday card

Here's a birthday card I did (OK, I made 2 of them for my March Birthday friends, so I hope you don't see this on my blog, but if you do...act surprised anyway!!) for the Stamp Something Blog challenge this week. The challenge was to use something "favorite". And for me, I have been using the Chloe's Closet line from Making Memories lately, and just bought some flowers/buttons to go with it this morning...so I made the cards from their journaling shapes. Love those, but don't think I will ever use all of them, so I think using them on cards is a great way to get some pattern, color & great shapes. Hope they like the card!!

Imperfection is Perfect!

I loved this quote when I saw it, then I had to scraplift an idea that I saw in an issue of CK from a year or so ago...so I did it for this week's Stamp Something challenge - which was to stamp something 3D. That spooked me at first, & then I realized I do it all the time - just like this...which I was so inspired that it took me about an hour to do...that's all. (I gave it to a friend at work!!)

I Adore You, Mom

I did this layout a couple of weeks ago. I've been missing mom a lot lately, just want to feel her touch & here her voice in person. So I was inspired to do this layout. And I wish Mom & Madison could know more of each other.

Celebrating 11 years!

Here are my projects for Valentine's Day/11th Anniversary. Picture #1 is of the combined project - a homemade stamped card & a matching coupon book.
Picture #2 is a closer picture of the front cover...
Picture #3 is a picture of the inside of the coupon book...LOVED LOVED LOVED using the Basic Grey Bittersweet collection (all this made with just one piece, so I've got the rest of the pack left to play with!!

Happy Anniversary Adam!!

The Look

This is my latest scrapbook page, based on the latest PageMaps sketch. I love da Pagemaps!!! Although this photo is more than 3 years old, I've been waiting until the right moment to scrap it. This was it. The layout came together so fast - it only took me, like, an hour to do it. For those people that know me, I can be a slow scrapper...most layouts take 2 or more hours...but this one - only about an hour or so. (Photo by Jason Fobart, Atlanta)

Cupcake Card

Our challenge this week on the Stamp Something blog was to stamp something "birthday". Although I've stamped many a birthday card, I wanted to do something a little unusual this go-around. And since I had the time, and the inspiration!!, I made a card in the shape of a cupcake. I handmade a cupcake template, found my papers, and went to it. The reason I stamped "Always" on the front is because of the saying on the inside. I hope my Mom likes it, even though it's PINK!! Not her favorite color!! :-)

"No Stamping" Card

Over at the Stamp Something blog - this week's challenge was to make something with NO STAMPING...apparently they think that is a challenge - HA!! My challenge to DO SOMETHING with all my stamps, so that I can justify the expense. I digress - so I made this card using a technique that I saw over at Scraplove.com. I am giving it to a friend for her birthday tomorrow, and she is an artsy person, so I think she will love it.

More Christmas Creativity!

Told you I was busy during Christmas!! I made this actually during my vacation on Thanksgiving week to give to my Mom. Then, life got in the way, and I never got it to her before the 12 days were supposed to start. Then, I realized, you know, Mom's not really all about the Christmas holiday anyway, so I've decided to keep it & relive it every year. I think it was meant to be, because I would never had made it for myself. All patterned papers are Making Memories, ribbon is American Craft, and then a whole bunch of stuff I already had. The last page is for a picture that I will put in there from the year. Thanks for looking!!