Friday, July 29, 2011

Floral Lane

How 'bout a couple of projects using Pebbles Inc.'s new line Floral Lane? It's what I've been working with lately. This first one is using my new favorite photo of Caroline. (I think I have a "new favorite photo" every single week.)




I made my own embellishments for this one--the pinwheel button "flower" is really a refurbished American Crafts pinwheel, but the other "flower" I did all on my own with a border strip (don't you just love that Pebbles gives you that little extra pattern down there by the sku #?!) and a circle-punched piece of patterned paper.

And then this next one is one I made as a part of a Facebook challenge at Birds of a Feather. The challenge was to make a "baby girl " card with a pink elephant on it somehow. So here's what I made.


I used my Cricut for this one--the Birthday Cakes (elephant) and Martha Stewart All Occasions (eyelet doily) carts.

So that's what I've done so far with Floral Lane. I've got another one in the works, but it's not quite ready just yet.

So what have you been working on? Going to scrap any this weekend? I am!!! And with a dear friend too! I can't wait!!!

Well, Happy Friday everyone!

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Sweetness

Still catching up...I HAVE been scrapping but just now finding the time to photograph, edit and post. So here's another one.

A while back Jillibean Soup posted a sketch contest using one of Julie Bonner's sketches. And while I didn't submit my layout for the contest (due to lack of time for said photographing, editing, etc.) I DID participate. Just in my own timing. ;)

Here's Julie's sketch:


Which, btw, I still LOVE working with Julie's sketches even though she's not doing them for 52 Weeks, 52 Sketches anymore. That was a fun team to be on.

And here's my take of it:



I used the "Spotted Owl Soup" collection and chose to expand the circle and make the go top to bottom down the page. And I moved the title and journaling just a bit too. Funny how even when I use a sketch, the paper and photos seem to have a mind of their own. But that's part of the process that I love too!

Well, thanks for letting me share. I'm starting to get back in to a scrappy groove again and it feels nice. :)

Happy Tuesday!



Monday, July 25, 2011

A scrap share!

So how 'bout we start off the week with some scrappiness? I know it's been a long time. So how 'bout a share?

Last night I was up late by myself, so I popped in Harry Potter The Deathly Hallows Pt. 1 (in preparation to see Pt. 2) and opened up my stash of Echo Park. Can I tell you how GOOD it felt just to sit and scrap and relax? I completed these first 2 layouts by the time the movie was over.

"Summer Reading at the library"
Products used: Echo Park's "Summer Days" patterned paper; alphabet, border,
and cloud stickers; American Crafts purple pen


I absolutely LOVE the bright bold colors of Echo Park's "Summer Days" line. Not only do they match so well with the girls' summer outfits, but they also make me happy just looking at them. This LO is based off of a the July sketch over at My Scrapbook Nook. I adapted it a little so it was more "me" and also went for journaling that looked like it belongs in a yearbook. A scrapbook album is a yearbook of sorts after all. So I drew lines to each picture and told what I loved about it or why it was special. I like how it turned out and will be doing it more in the future. ;) Since this was a rare flat layout for me, I didn't take any close up shots in case you were wondering.

"Ballet Buddies"


Products used: Echo Park's "Country Drive" patterned paper; paper strips;
journaling spot; floral, label and alphabet stickers,
American Crafts pink pen and 3D foam adhesive,
Wilton doily, Glimmer Mist, and Martha Stewart butterfly punch.


Created with EP's new "Country Drive", I think this might be my new favorite layout. I love these two pics taken at the girls first day of ballet. Sarah Kate was FINALLY old enough to take classes with Caroline, which was a big deal around our house. I tried to reflect that in the journaling, "Sisters, best friends, and now ballet buddies, you two are quite a pair! Ballet has become your favorite way to play, both in studio and at home. It doesn't take much to get you dancing!"

And these last two layouts I did a while back but I thought I'd share them too. I used "For the Record" for both of them.

"The Littlest Coach"


Products used: Echo Park's "For the Record" patterned paper, doily and mini alphabet stickers from the "Merry Christmas" line, and label,
Pebbles Inc. plastic brad, Maya Road stick pins and mini ticket stubs, Martha Stewart butterfly punches, American Crafts Thickers, pen, and 3D foam adhesive, Clearsnap ink, Bella Blvd. flowers, Prima sequins

Older pictures but a sweet story that still needed to be told. It's about SK and Josh and a moment they had at his softball game. She waddled right over to him, grabbed the bill of his visor and got eye to eye with him before going off is some toddle gibberish no one could understand. I thought it was so cute! I glad I was able to capture the moment.

"Donut Day"


Products used: Echo Park's "For the Record" patterned paper, borders, stickers, labels, and journaling spot, Creative Charms brad,
American Crafts Thickers and 3D adhesive foam, Oct. Afternoon sticker letters, Prima large flower

And this last one captures a fun little summer outing we took last month. Krispy Kreme had "free doughnut day", so I loaded up the kids and went to have a treat! The colors of "For the Record" were too perfect and I loved adding little bits and pieces of embellishments and journaling spots to help the layout come together.

Well I guess that's enough of a scrappy share for today. But I've got more. I promise! So check back with me later on this week for more scrappy goodness!

Saturday, July 16, 2011

1st Birthday Bash!

Today we had McClain's birthday party and all the family was invited. Here are a few pics from today as promised.

I chose to do a little bow tie theme with red, blue, aqua, and green which of course is my favorite "boy" color scheme.

I did a decoration for the front door. For some of it I used my Cricut Expression and the Birthday Cakes and Martha Stewart All Occasions cartridges.
I made the bow and topper for the cake and cupcakes, or assembled it rather. Some parts of them were pre-made. ;) Just taking the Sandra Lee "Semi-homemade" approach. wink.




Arranged a banner across the mantle. I got the idea from Susan Weinroth. She did her pictures in black and white, but I really like color even if it does look busy.
And then I made this thing, I don't really know what to call it, to go around McClain's high chair. It was fringed crepe paper and 3 pennants, 2 with bow ties and one with the #1.

Mr. Man had a wonderful time! He dove right in to that cupcake, shoving fistfuls of it in his mouth and then sucking on all his fingers (all at one time) to get the icing off. It was quite cute, if I do say so myself.

And then we opened presents. This was slightly chaotic with all the kids here (most of the cousins were able to make it, including the just-turned-two-years-old twins). But once Mac was able to play with his toys (ahem big sisters tried to take over), it was sheer delight!
And along the way his onesie got tossed into the washer. Too much icing to be salvageable at the moment. So he continued the party in his ALMOST birthday suit.

And that's as much as I've been able to edit in the last hour or so since the party. LOTS more pictures, but these do it enough justice so that you get the picture.

Happy 1st Birthday Little Man!

Friday, July 15, 2011

Happy Birthday Baby Boy!

Today my baby turned 1. It was a bittersweet day for me, I LOVE this age. In fact I'd say that 12-18months is my favorite "stage". But a part of me hates that we're leaving the "baby" year(s) behind. He's our last, so I've tried all year to soak it up and make the most of all the milestones. I'm sure you're tired of reading about how I don't want my "baby" to grow up. And today he's one. The year has gone by so quickly! Here's a glance back. sigh......
















I've yet to take a 12month "official" photo of him. And tomorrow (Saturday) is his party, so I'll have some more pics to share after that. But can you tell he's loved?! I made it my mission to have pictures of HIM, the 3rd and last child, because Josh is the baby of their family and there's not nearly as many pics of him. I tried to make sure that wasn't McClain's case. (As if I needed an excuse to take more pictures! lol!)

Anyway...Happy Birthday Baby Boy! You're loved beyond what you can comprehend, and more some!