I am a Reminisce "Featured Fanatic"

Check out the Reminisce blog at http://reminisce.typepad.com/reminisce/ to see a project of mine featured using their Monkey Adventures line!  The line is so cute and perfect for some photos of my 2 monkeys jumping on the bed.  You can see my layout here.  Hope you like it!  Check out the rest of the cute lines they have available, I love "Celebration Series" which has paper and embellishments for luaus, fiestas, casino photos, etc.  Each line has various pattern papers and tons of cute embellishments.

I am the March Guest Designer at Cherry Blossom Studio!

Hey!  Someone out there likes my scrappin' enough to ask me to design for them...well, only enough to have me create layouts for 1 month.  But heck, I am honored and super thrilled!  You can see the announcement on their BLOG.

Cherry Blossom Studio is my friendly neighborhood scrapbooking store.  They sell the latest and greatest goodies, offer great classes in scrapbooking, photography and even Photoshop!  Plus, they have HUGE scraproom that you can meet up with your pals in an scrap the day away!

Here are some layouts I got to create for them to display in the store:

First up, some layouts using the new Stella and Rose collection from My Minds Eye.  This was my favorite collection to work with and those doily stamps are to die for!!!!

My Minds Eye also came out with the Sunshine Day line that I did a few layouts for.



Here's one using the Peep line from We R Memory Keepers.  So cute!

Here's another Easter layout using the "Some Bunny Loves You" line from Reminisce.  I used the name of the line for my title!

Here are a few more layouts using products from Reminisce.  Are those monkeys not the CUTEST????

Caution.  The next 2 layouts include picture of me back in 1993.  Please don't leave comments in which you ridicule me for my big hair.  I've punished myself enough in the past 18 years!!!







And finally, a layout using the School Spirit collection from Crate Paper (one of my fave manufacturers).

I also made a display board using the totally gorg-waaaa "Gabrielle" line from Bo Bunny.   But, alas I could not scan it so I can't share with you here but you can go see it at Cherry Blossom Studio!  It is gorgeous and all you need to do is follow so super simple instructions.  If you aren't as in to scrapping as I am you can use this kit to make a beautiful (and personal) home decor piece for your home or a a gift.  Here is the link to it on the Bo Bunny site if you want to check it out.

OK - I know that was a LOT of  layouts I just threw down on y'all.  Thanks for stopping by and sticking through the whole post!

Scrapbook Circle Weekend Warm-up Challenge #3: "On the Grid"

The latest challenge over at Scrapbook Circle is to create a layout that incorporates a grid.  I'm never thought I was grid kind or gal, but that's what's great about taking on a scrappy challenge.  It gets you out of your comfort zone, gets you trying something new.  And guess what?  I ended up loving the layout I made and it has a completely different look than the rest of my layouts!

I've been working away at scrapping pictures from a Vegas Vacation.  I always take a ton of pics while I am there since there is so much amazing eye candy to behold!  But working them all into layouts gets a little difficult.  The grid layout formula worked great with a bunch of 2.5" x 2.5" pics of random sites.  I got nine photos on this layout without it looking crowded of giving me a headache when I look back on it!

If you are looking for a great kit club with some fun challenges, check out Scrapbook Circle.  You can see they challenge HERE. 

Thanks for stopping by!

My Happy Place

Just checking in with a little crafty share for you!  I made this altered frame/sign for my scrap spot.

I started with a natural wood 8x10 frame that broke (the "kickstand" in the back broke off).  Using latex paint and crackle paint, I altered it look like something a little more interesting.   The all I did was create a scene using the "Sun Kissed" line from Bo Bunny.  I stuck the letter (American Craft Thickers) on  top of the glass for dimension and hot glued the little butterfly to the frame.  Super quick and easy, but so cute I smile everytime I look at it. :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Weekend Layouts

I spent a few hour scrappin' with a couple of friends this past Saturday at Cherry Blossom Studios.  They just got in several new lines from CHA so I shopped and scrapped.  Plus they were running a great promo on Tattered Angels Glimmer Mists (spend $50 get a 4 pack of Glimmer Mists valued at approximately $28 for FREE), so I shopped some more!

Here are the layouts I created.

First is a layout using the new "Gabrielle" line from Bo Bunny.  This line is beyond gorgeous!  It's vintage without being too vintage and feminine without being too feminine, so it easy to use for all sorts of photos.  Plus, the line has a ton of available embellishments.  I purchased the rubon's, bling and layered chipboard.  The letters of from the American Crafts (Dear Lizzy Thickers).

The next 2 layouts are from the circus we went to last November.  Graphic 45 just came out with the "Le Cirque" collection which worked great with the pics.

Thanks for stopping by!

Renaissance Festival

Our family loves going to Ren-Fest every February/March.  So much in fact, my husband and kids have been 3 times so far and are planning on 1 more visit before the lords and ladies move on to another town.

Here are some photos of our time there last weekend:

 The day started with a little face painting.  Ty chose the spider...

Carter chose the dragon...

They both loved the Sea Dragon ride.  I felt sorry for the poor guy that has to push kids and their parents all day long...

Can't miss a chance to have our picture taken with a real pirate!

Working out their aggression renaissance style...

Trying out for Ye Old Jousting Team...

 If you've never been to a Ren-Fest, I highly suggest especially if you have kids.  Those without kids will enjoy it too.  They have beer served by wenches and some of the best people watching!

Scrapbook Circle Weekend Warmup Challenge #2: Alter Your Alphas

Since I was lucky enough to win the first challenge at Scrapbook Circle, I thought I would give challenge #2 a whirl.  To qualify, your layout must alter an alpha from its original state and use a past SC kit.  I am still making layouts with the February kit and thought the colors in the kit went well with a photo of my boy just after their bath, right after a I took a towel and smooshed their hair in an attempt to dry it.  They absolutely hate when I do that!  The alphas that cam with the February kit are an natural color and only came with 2 of each letter, so after using the alphas on a few layouts I am running out of certain letters. So for this challenge I altered my alphas in two ways.  One, I sanded them and painted them red and Two, for an "R" and a "A", I used the negative from the chipboard sheet to use as a template to draw the missing letters with a black pen.

The prize this time is bunch of goodies from Glitz.  I know I cannot possibly get lucky enough to win twice, but I am keeping my fingers crossed!

Lots Goin' On

I know, I've neglected my blog this past week.  I lost someone very dear to me and have been trying to focus all my efforts on being with loved ones and healing.

But a few good things were happening while I was gone.  I was featured on a few scrapbooking blogs, which is quite exciting for me.  Wanna check them out?

I won a challenge at Scrapbook Circle, see the post and my winning page here.  I'm going to receive an awesome prize pack featuring American Crafts "Love" collection.



Next, also at Scrapbook Circle, a layout of mine using their January kit was "lifted".  Some of the DT gals used my layout as an inspiration point to make a layout of their own.  You can checkout the post, my layout and the lifted layouts here.

Lastly, I had several layouts featured on the Sweet Peach Crop Shop blog, here.

So, once again my scrapbooking has been more than just a hobby to me.  It's my therapy!  Hopefully, I will have some new scrappy goodies to show off soon!

More Fussy Cutting with the February Scrapbook Circle Kit

I wanted to share another layout I made using the February kit from Scrapbook Circle in which I used fussy cutting.  The kit came with some papers from the "Hopscotch" collection from Basic Grey which just begged to be fussy cut.  On this layout I fussy cut various flowers, butterflies and the strip of "lace" (paper) towards the bottom. 

Aren't the gold dots awesome?  They are a rub on from Glitz Design and were also included in the kit!

Scrapbook Circle Challenge - Fussy Cutting

Scrapbook Circle started running challenges on their blog this year.  I've never been much for challenges, but I love Scrapbook Circle, so I though I would give it a try.  Here is the current challenge that runs until this Wednesday, when they post the new one.  The link will show you the prize should you "dare to try"!!!!

Anyways, here is my take on the challenge:

I "fussy cut" the letters to spell "movie night" for my layout.  They were from a sheet of paper from the February 2011 Scrapbook Circle kit.  I was hoping I had a circle punch the right size, but I did not, so I had to cut those little buggars out by hand!

Keep your fingers crossed for me that I win, the prize is just awesome!

Sweet Peach Crop Shop - January Kit Layouts

I just finished 6 layouts with the January kit from the Sweet Peach Crop Shop.  The kit was beautiful, and I am sure I will be ordering from them again in the future!

I happened to be scrapping some photos from Vegas when the kit arrived, so I made 3 layouts about our escapades while in Vegas:

Some photos of the boys at the beach last summer.  I posted one of them a few days ago as my entry into the SPCS color challenge:

And finally, Tyler's school photo from last year.

Thanks for stopping by!





Scrapbook Circle - November Layouts

I just realized that I never shared all of the layouts I made with the November kit from Scrapbook Circle.  I did share a few in random posts about other topics, but here they are all together.  I love these kits, you can get so much done with them so quickly because everything is already coordinated for you.  Plus, it's a great way to get your hands on all the newest products, especially if you are not lucky enough to have a local scrapbook store, at a great price!  This kit contained fall/outdoor and school themed products from Lily Bee, Crate Paper and October Afternoon.

Thanksgiving 2001 - I posted this one back in November:

A trip this past year to Disney's Animal Kingdom:

Tyler's Pre-K Graduation:

Some cute pics of Carter:

Sleepy time pics of Tyler (he's an awesome sleeper!  6 yrs old, still takes a 2 hour nap on weekends and is passed out by 8-9 pm):

Tyler waiting to get on a ride during our Disney trip:

Hope you enjoyed my layouts!  Leave me a comment and let me know what you think!

Sweet Peach Crop Shop Color Challenge

Sweet Peach Crop Shop is running a color challenge.  Check it out HERE.  The colors they challenge us to use are a soft, serene and just beautiful.  The best part, their not too feminine and they match the colors in their January 2011 kit, which I just recently received!  Here are the colors:

And here is my interpretation:

I've done several other layouts with this kit and will post them in the next few days.  Check back later!

Scarlet Lime Kit - October 2010

Scarlet Lime is another kit club that I belong too.  Their kits are really eclectic.  What I like about their kits as they usually do not have a strong theme (like birthday, Christmas, zoo), sometime not even a strong color theme.  Their kits can therefore be used for anything and everything.  The October kit was really pretty.  When everyone else was doing the standard Halloween theme kit for October, they did a kit that included lots, of orange, purple, brown and teal and not one single pumpkin.  If you are looking for a embellishment heavy kit club, try out Scarlet Lime.  They even have a less expensive monthly option for $19.99.  It has less paper but tons of embellishments.  I would have to guess that the actual costs of the items in the Frugal Fab kits are close to $35 - $40.  That's quite a deal!

Here are 3 layouts I accomplished with the kit.


Some flower shots at Butterfly World.  I love the Dear Lizzy key/lock and butterfly that came with the kit.

Dan and myself at the Mirage in Vegas.  I made the big flower using a pleated ribbon (Pink Paislee), the bottom layer of a Bella Bloom (Bella Blvd), a chipboard button (Jenni Bowlin) and a button.  I love how it came out!

Dan and I taking a gondola ride at the Venetian, also while in Vegas.  I am love with that flowered paper I used on this layout and the one above.  It was a Scarlet Lime "exclusive" print.  Often time, the kits will include papers only available in the kit.  It really makes your layouts unique!

Hope you enjoyed them!

Scrapbook Circle January Kit Creations

Scrapbook Circle's January kit was gorgeous.  You can see it here.  It includes lots of "love" themed products from Fancy Pants, American Crafts and Glitz.  I did 3 layouts and a bunch of cards, plus I have scraps leftover to get creative with at another time.

Here are my creations!

This is a self timer family photo that I took a few weeks ago.  I love the photo and I knew it would be a perfect match for the kit.  I usually scrapbook chronologically (which means I'm scrapping photos from August 2010 currently) but I had to scrap this photo.  I hung the finished layout in my scrappy place.

These were just some random pics I took of Tyler for no special reason or occasion.  I love that little buggar's smile!

The last layout is a picture I have had for over 10 years of my MIL and FIL at their prom in high school.  I'm guessing this is from 1970 or 1971.  Doesn't my FIL look like Austin Powers in this photo???  The kit came with these really cool black doilies printed on transparencies.  I had a lot of fun layering all sorts of stuff behind it and in front of it.  I think I have to buy some more of these to add to my stash.

I hope you enjoyed my layouts!  If you are looking for a great monthly kit club, with a really active community and blog, go check out Scrapbook Circle.  You can even see the new kit for February!

Scrapping School Photos

I love to scrapbook, almost obsessively.   But I have the hardest time scrapbooking those pictures you get from the daycare or school.  I have my own system for these photos.  I frame the newest 8x10.  I frame a 5x7 of the old one that I just replaced with and 8x10 of the new one, and then the old 8x10 goes into a big envelope and waits for me to get around to scrapping it.  It usually waits for years.

As in this case.  I just got around to scrapping daycare photos from almost 3 years ago!  Oh well.  20 years from now will my kids care that I waiting 3 years and that the pages are mixed with layouts from when they were 3 and 6.  Doubt it.  Will my two boys even want their scrapbooks (all estimated 50 volumes each, LOL) when they are grown?  Who knows, who cares.  I scrap for me!

Anywho...here are the layouts.  I used mostly the "Life is Good" collection from  Echo Park Paper Company.