Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Exploring new locales

I'm taking a quick break from all the scrappy sharing to share some family pictures. Well, not really FAMILY pictures because not all of us are in them. But there still ones of our family. nevermind....I'm not making sense.

Since we weren't allow to go back to the Y last Tues. because the Y workers mistook spit up for actual throw up, McClain, Sarah Kate and I decided we'd hang around downtown to see what new photo shoot locales were to be found.

First we started out at Rembrandts because everyone needs hot chocolate and a slice of zucchini bread before they strike off in search of that perfect photo location.

She thought she was big stuff getting to drink out of a coffee cup! lol! I've really enjoyed spending time with her lately. Since she's the quieter of the two girls, it's nice to sit and talk just the two of us. Well, I guess technically there were three of us, but he doesn't count yet since all he can add to the conversation is "sna, sna" when he wants more snack.

When we finished our hot chocolate,
we struck off to explore and see what we could find.

While she may be good at talking, SK's NOT so good at smiling for the camera. She'd rather do more exploring! lol! So I got mostly fake smiles from her. But then, what else is new?

Finally we ended up close to our church (because I had a meeting there later in the morning) and I quickly snapped this one, which happens to be my favorite of the day.

And finally a non-fake smile. She really does love her brother so there was nothing to fake.





Monday, August 29, 2011

One way we chill

This summer I tried to keep up with a few traditions, one being that we meet Josh for picnics in the park a couple times a month, and the other is that we spend one day playing in the fountains downtown. It's another way we try to beat the heat.

Caroline, of course, is the one who always enjoys it the most. She really loves it when we do something new, different, and fun. And per usual she goes at it with wild abandon. This layout features a just a few of the pictures I took of her that day. I roughly used a sketch by LG Belarmino that she provided as a part of her challenge for last weekend's Nook crop.




Supplies used: Fancy Pants patterned paper, die-cuts, sticker borders; Pink Paislee twine and orange alpha stickers, American Crafts foam number sticker and adhesive, My Little Shoebox mini alpha stickers

On the home front, this week is shaping up to be a really busy week for us. Lots of volleyball refereeing, hopefully time at the Y, still letting the school routine sink in a bit, and gearing up for the holiday weekend. LOTS to do. But it's a lot of good stuff, things I'm looking forward to doing.

Hope your week is off to a good start! Happy Monday!



Sunday, August 28, 2011

A Learning Curve

There's a new challenge theme up at Paper Issues. This time around the theme is "learning curve". This could mean anything school related, or a lesson you may have had to learn, or what have you. The interpretation is wide open. If you used paper, then you're in. You have until September 15 to link up!

I have a card I made a while back with some My Little Shoebox goodies that has a school/teacher theme.


And of course there's the card in THIS post that I shared last week or so, "Whoo's Ready for school?" I'm excited to say that it was featured on the Northridge Media Create blog this past week (scroll down, it's 3rd from the bottom). That makes me 2 for 2 in submitting to that contest and then getting selected! Since I consider myself a beginner cardmaker, I'd say that's pretty good, right? Right! :)

Anyway, if you have any project that is school or learning related be sure to link it up over on the Paper Issues blog on the Learning Curve post. We'd love to see and leave you some love too! :D

And now I'm off to pick up the house. Why does it get so out of control on the weekends?! I can't scrap until this place is tidied up a little. (anybody else like that?)

Happy Sunday friends!

Friday, August 26, 2011

A flower medallion tutorial

Have you always wanted another way to use those patterned 1/2" strips that come along the bottom of some manufacturers' papers? Well, hopefully this one will be a new one for you. Here I've made medallions out of those strips of "extra" paper.

To make a flower medallion, here's what you'll need: a 1" circle punch, the 1/2" patterned paper strips that come along the bottom edge of patterned paper (the flip side without the skew number), large and small 3D foam adhesive squares(or circles). You'll also want a trimmer and a tape runner.


First, cut one of the borders in 1" long strips.

Place a small 3D foam square at one edge of the strip.

Fold it over in half. A little trick is to lick the tips of your index finger and thumb and run them along the strip so that the paper doesn't crease too badly.

Next, put a large piece of foam adhesive on the back of the 1" circle. It will be the flower's center.
Apply a little bit of tape runner adhesive to the tip of each folded strip and start layering the them around the circle, overlapping them slightly.

This is what the front should look like.

This is how the finished flower medallion will look.
Other patterned paper looks good too. Here I cut 10 strips that were 1/4" wide and used the same process to make this one.
And here it is on 2 different finished projects.

So there's another way to use those fun extra strips. Thanks for letting me share!






My favorite layout

My favorite layout of last weekend's Nook crop was the one I made for Stacey's challenge which was to be inspired by Elizabethan (think Shakespearean) fashion. Items like corsets, layers of ruffles, high neck shirts, etc. Being totally inspired by that challenge, I ended up doing my own kind of fashion layout but one about the everyday fashion as seen in our household. Dress up fashion. This one uses a picture of Caroline and Sarah Kate that I took last February. They were dripping literally of ruffles, feather boas, beaded necklaces, and fancy crowns. The pic couldn't have been more perfect for the challenge.

Everyday Life


Supplies used: Girls Paperie pp, die-cuts, sticker borders, sticker words; Martha Steward butterfly punch, Pebbles Inc. glittered candy dots, Kaisercraft pearls, Clearsnap ink, vintage lace, "broach" and plastic flowers from my craft supply

Now that we have one going to school, I kinda miss the klip-klop sound of plastic heels running through the house. SK still dresses up, but she's good at playing quietly in her room. There isn't anyone to chase her. I'm so glad that I caught this moment in time in picture form, because it not only brings back (mostly) fond memories, but I hear their laughter and playful chasing in my head all over again. And isn't that exactly what scrapbooking is supposed to do? THAT's why this is my favorite layout from the crop. The sounds and memories it brings back. ;)

Hope you all are having a great Friday and have a happy weekend too!

Oh and in case you're wondering, volleyball went well. I missed a call or two and at my pre-game coaches/captains meeting you could TELL that I was nervous. But I'm glad I'm doing it. It's fun in it's own special sort of way!

Happy weekend!



Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Hello Sunshine!

Here are two more cards I made for this weekend's My Scrapbook Nook crop. I used 2 different versions of some SRM stickers that say "Hello Sunshine". And since the challenge was to make a sun or sunshine related theme, I chose to use some of my Fancy Pants "Beach Babe" stash.

Here they are as a set,
one more masculine than
the other.

Hello Sunshine #1
Photobucket
In addition to the supplies already mentioned, I also used WRMK chipboard, Kaisercraft pearl, MME rhinestone bling, and American Crafts adhesive. (Have I mentioned how much i love their foam squares?!)

Hello Sunshine #2
Photobucket
Also used: Bazzill CS, Pink Paislee twine, Basic Grey button and again AC adhesive

And so there ya have it. 2 more cards I made this weekend. For anybody starting to keep count, that's 3 I've shared so far with several more to go! :)

On a more personal note, today I'll referee my first volleyball match. Yea! I'm a little nervous, but I'm hoping it'll all come back to me once I get in the gym.

If you've followed my blog for a longer time, then you'll know that I used to coach volleyball. I LOVED it! Then McClain came at the very beginning of last season, and I had to step down. There was no way I could keep up with a newborn AND a practice/game schedule. And so this year I decided to try my hand at reffing. And let me tell you, it's a whoooole other ballgame. I know it's the *same* game, but it's SO SO different. I have more respect now for other people who ref. (and I feel a teensy bit guilty for "letting them have it" more than I should have. ;) ) So anyway, today's my first day. Hopefully what they say about payback isn't true this time around. ;)

That's all I got.

Happy Wednesday!





Saturday, August 20, 2011

Group Hug!

I'm still playing along with the challenges over at The Nook's virtual crop this weekend, and I thought I'd share this little piece. It makes me happy to look at it. One, I love the children in it. It brings back a happy memory. I also love the colors, the big bold flowers (that when I saw the preview of them from CHA pics this paper was an absolute MUST). And also the stitching makes me happy. I tried stitching with twine this time around.


Supplies used: Basic Grey pp, doily stickers; Jenni Bowlin vellum butterflies; Pink Paislee twine; Bella Blvd. chipboard alphas; Cosmo Cricket mini alphas; Kaiserkraft pearls

Side note: Now that I've played with some Foldies, I feel like all my flowers need to be popped up just a little. ;) You could say I'm a wee bit addicted. Not as badly as someone I know though.

ANYway, just wanted to pop in and say Group Hug everybody!

I'll be back with more scrappy shares later this week. ;)



Friday, August 19, 2011

Mama's Boy

So it's about time I shared some scrap happenings, so here's a little preview of what I'll be up to this weekend.

It's the Scrapbook Nook's Midsummer Night Virtual Crop, where all the challenges are based on Shakespeare. Sounds fun, huh? I've already completed 2 challenges! Woohoo! Of course it's not too late to join in. You can find it here and be sure to tell them I sent ya. (Not that I'm competitive or anything. Ha! ;) )

Here's the layout I made today based on the early warm-up challenge. This was a challenge to find inspiration in the Nook gallery and use it to inspire a work of my own.

Supplies used: American Crafts kraft cs, pen, and Thickers; Girls Paperie pp, brad, and ruffled circle; Maya Road wooden buttons, MME label stickers; BG blue button; Oct. Afternoon red sticker letters, Tattered Angles mist

The journaling reads, "Oh baby boy, you've stolen my heart! Your big bright smile, wet slobbery kisses, and sparkling blue eyes have done me in."

So that was my first challenge, and then I also participated in a card challenge. I'm starting to like making cards more and more. I like that they're quick and easy (usually) and I can use up my scraps and pieces of my stash I've had laying around for a while.

Challenge # 3 (the second one I've completed) is called "What's in a Name". The challenge is to create a card incorporating what we conventionally think of as "feminine" with what we conventionally thing of as "masculine". It's is sort of a flip flop type of challenge.

Supplies used: Bazzill cs, Jenni Bowlin journaling label, American Crafts pinwheel, Pebbles chipboard owl and pp, Oct. Afternoon red sticker letters, Pink Paislee brown sticker letters, May Arts ribbon, Glue Arts adhesive

I chose to make a Back-to-School card because that's this week's challenge on Northridge Media's Create blog, ON WHICH, by the way, I had a Happy Birthday card featured this week! Yea me! (See it here) So I plan on submitting this card in hopes that I can go 2 for 2.

Well, that's all I've got for now. Hope you all have a great weekend!



Thursday, August 18, 2011

1st day of school photos

I thought I'd share these here for family story preservation purposes more than anything else even though I'm a day late in posting them. Those of you who've seen these on Facebook, sorry for the re-post but at least here you'll get the narrative too. ;)




For the first day of school Caroline woke up early and got dressed. As in, she was up, dressed and waiting for me in the kitchen before my alarm went off. hehe! She said she "was afraid she was going to be late" and didn't want to be on the first day. So cute!


When we got there she walked way ahead of us, calling over her shoulder for us to hurry up! WE (Sarah Kate and I) were trying not to mow anybody over with Mac in the stroller. But I guess that was beside the point. Anyway, she found her way to her classroom without any assistance which was a concern of mine.


She knew exactly which one was her desk, sat down, and looked up at me like this. Her expression is a mixture of "I'm okay" and "I'm really nervous". I could tell that she wasn't really sure what to expect next. But apparently she did really well.

Other tidbits of note:
*She fell asleep against a brick wall while sitting in carpool. (I thought the teachers were kidding when they told me that, but nope. It's been confirmed.)

*The first words out of her mouth when she got in the car were, "SOO, what'd I miss?" I guess she thought we were having a party all day or something without her.

*She then proceeded to tell me about her day--extra emphasis on sitting in the lunchroom with its foldy tables and benches as well as the Kindergarten scavenger hunt around the school.

*She made a friend but didn't know her name (and still doesn't a day later!)

Overall, a great 1st day! At bedtime she told us, "I get to be a Kindergartner again tomorrow!" I'd call that a successful day! :)




Tuesday, August 16, 2011

One year later...





One year later:
*Everyone has more hair. Ha!
*We have an any-day-now walker.
*We have a Kindergartner as of tomorrow morning.
*We still play dress-up and Little House on the Prairie
*I'm still cleaning up spit up. And it still doesn't smell pleasant.
*The girls still love to play with their brother--baby toys are the best kind! Didn't you know?
*They still make each other laugh.
*They still argue and bicker too.
*And most importantly, craziness still ensues! But I wouldn't trade it.

Yep, that sounds about right!