AnyTime, AnyWhere Scrapbook Experience, Week 3

Tiare has done it again!  She is pushing us (in a loving manner) to do more layouts and do it efficiently.  


This is week #3 of the AASE.   The sketch layout for this week is below:

  

This week's photo feature my Little Man at a friend's birthday party.  The party was held at a local Burger King and he was really digging the BK crown.  My personal challenge continues to be to use materials from my stash.  I've had this background paper for forever and a day.  I don't remember the name of the manufacturer.  I've also had the star brads forever.  I was on a brad buying spree awhile ago.  It's nice to be able to do layouts and do them quickly (but nicely).  I appreciate the AASE.

Although it wasn't his birthday, I choose to do this layout of my son at a birthday party.  This was his first play date at a birthday party.  He had fun playing with the other kids and he loved the sliding board.
Typically, I shy away from busy printed paper but with the AASE sketch Tiare provided, the two 8x10 sheets helped to calm the busy-ness of the paper.  I used a Martha Stewart punch to create the present border on top of the page.

A Love Feast!

Every year, we travel home to spend the holidays with my Parents.  Mom is a great cook and makes a feast every year.  We tend to invite other family members over and enjoy spending time together.


This layout features our Thanksgiving feast from 2010.  Every food item was lovingly created by Mom.

Two Page Layout featuring the Thanksgiving Dinner prepared by my Mom

Page 1

Page 2

SOC November 2011 I'm Thankful Layout Challenge!

Over at SOC, we were challenged to make a Thankful LO.
I choose to do my son, nephew and Mother.
You see, both my son and nephew are Medical Miracles of the natural kind.  Do to "issues" and complications, Mom never thought she would be a Grand Mother.  I was told I'd never be a Mommy and my sister had all but given up hope.  Yet, we know God is a god favor and blessings.  We know Doctors practice medicine but God is the ultimate physician!  When my husband and I received the news that we'd never be Parents, my reply was "if it is God's will, I'll be a Mommy."  


Fast forward almost a year, I'm at the bus stop when my phone rings.  It was my Sister who is six years older than me.  She had been experiencing some health issues and went into the doctor.  She came out of his office with news that she was expecting!  The call went something like this - My Sister:  "Guess what?"  Me:  "Your Pregnant!?!"  My Sister:  "Yup, I can't believe it!  My baby wants a play mate."  Me:  "Congrats!  Call your brother for a playmate."   Well, I think it was a set up because shortly after, I found out I was pregnant!  The boys are exactly three months apart.  They are truly our blessings for so many reasons.

Papers from a Best Occasions paper pack were used as well as brads from my stash

The boys are always in motion.  Even when they are sitting down.  This is just one of their usual silly moments.   Notice that Hunter is holding "Ducky" in the top photo.  He is the resident mascot.

Mom and the boys were investigating the newly fallen snow. 

They've formed their own neighborhood watch group.  

The living room window is a favorite attraction at Nana's house.  

These are the journaling tags used on the layout.  

AnyTime, AnyWhere Scrapbook Experience

Tiare Smith is such a great inspiration!  Not only is she the founder of the Scraps of Color site, she has accomplished so much in her personal efforts and continues to give back to the creative community.

Over at iclassygirl.com, Tiare is hosting the AnyTime, AnyWhere Sketch challenge.  This isn't just about sketches, she challenges us to get organized, taught us how to make page kits and each Monday, Tiare posts a new sketch for us to try.  This is week two and it's been fantastic!

Most of my scrapbook layouts are of my family.  I can't think of any better subjects!!  Thanks for checking out my creations!

This is Week #1 Sketch Layout

This is my creation based off of the sketch.  

I always do two page layouts, but the first page using the sketch pattern.

I altered the sketch by including an additional photo.

I also challenged myself NOT to use my Cricut which is typically my "go to" tool.  

This is one of my first times using stamps on a layout. 

The circle spots were created using my Creative Memories Shape Makers.

This is the 2nd page of my layout.

 This is Week #2 Sketch Layout

 This is my creation based off of the Week #2 Sketch.

The photos are me, my son and my Mother at Kraynak's Christmas Tree Lane.

Although it was October, the place was decked out for the holidays.

It is seldom that we get out for an afternoon of fun so this was a good time by all.

The paper is by Cloud 9 Designs.

The embellishments are by Jolee's and Darice.

Journaling is by me!  :)

 Page 2 of my layout.

 Thanks for looking!

SOC: Embellished Candle Swap

A friend over on at SOC hosted an embellished candle swap.  I must admit, I'm a girl that loves her candles!  Here's a peek at the candles that I created for the swap. I ended up with two partners, which is great!  I hope they enjoy their candles!


The candles were purchased from Ikea.
I wrapped a wide printed Chrismas ribbon around the base of the candle.  The ribbon has a light-weight wire in it to allow it to keep its shape.  I used glue dots and pins to keep the ribbon in place.  I don't know why I thought hot glue would work - DUH!
Next, I used a silver ribbon with snowflake charms on top of the wired ribbon.  It doesn't show up so well in the picture but take my word for it!  :)
Then, I loaded some miniature glass ornaments on the silver pearl strand - this was probably the hardest part.  Also, the glass balls are not showing in the picture, but once again, trust me!
Last, I wrapped the silver pearls around the candle and tied it to itself.
A red ribbon is laced through the poinsetta strand to keep it snug to the base of the candle.  
There you have it, Festive Holiday candles!  

Happy holidays to you!

SOC: Altered Composition Books

You know I can't let a good swap go by!  And I'm here to tell you that on SOC, there is always a good swap goin' on!  This swap featured altered composition books.  I had to create three composition books as close to being alike as possible.  Easy, right?  


In addition to these instructions, I challenged myself to use layers and detail my details.  Why?  The work the SOC folks pull together is truly amazingly beautiful and abound in details.  I am trying to be like them when I grow up. Truly, I am!  :)


So, here's a peek at my altered composition books.  I used a paper pack from the Recollections line that caught my eye.  I liked the big, graphic turquoise flowers on the white background.  The complementing papers in the pack were also great and lent themselves to helping create this great project.  I had alot of fun trying to pull this together.  


The flowers on the front are Color Me Flowers (I believe).  I glimmer misted them pink and gray and added pearl centers as well as diamond dust to the gray flowers.  The center is embossed with the Cuttlebug spots folder as well as a Butterly folder by Darice.  I pop dotted the layers to give it some dimension and put photo corners on the edges.  I broke out my Prismacolor pencils once again (see prior post) and colored some of the embossed images just to give it a little more detail.  The top layer of the embossed edges are bordered by a shimmery ribbon gifted to me from Princess Jones (thanks Princess!)  Then the flowers were layered on top.  

The books were required to be decorated on the inside and outside covers as well.  For each of the books, I tried to incorporate pockets on the side flaps.  A few examples of the pockets are below:

I hope my swap partners enjoy their new composition books even half as much as I enjoyed making them.  This swap challenge was so much fun!


Thanks for stopping by!

Trying Something New

This year for my birthday, I gifted myself with Prismacolor Pencils.  I mean, if you don't treat yourself nicely, who will?  :)  So, it's been said that scrapbookers have hoarding tendencies.  I am offended by this comment, since it was directed right at me, BUT I must admit it got me to thinking.  So, after about 8 months of sitting on my shelf in its open box with unsharpened points, I decided to practice using my pencils.  

The ladies and gent over at SOC make some wonderful creations using this colored images.  Most use Copic markers but I really haven't graduated to that level and honestly, I don't think I every will! Until the purchase of my Prismacolor pencils, I've been using the same Crayola pencils that I had since college, if not before and I was ok with that!  I love the look of the Copics but I'm not sure I have the patience to create the masterpieces that my SOC family has created!   


When I finally dusted off my pencils, I choose three stamped images to shade and color.  I used Gamosol (mineral spirits) to help with the shading.  Now, I feel better that I'm one step closer to being a consumer of scrapbook products versus a hoarder! Thank you very much!  :-)

Just some random thoughts  -  


It's official!  We are rounding out the year with the entrance into November.  It is always during this time of year that I become reflective.  Is it because Thanksgiving is around the corner and it remind us to be thankful for the things that are important to us?  Is it because in just about 50 days, the Christmas holidays will be beckoning at our door causing us to remember the reason for the season?  During these fall days, please take time to pause and reflect on what is important on a long-term basis and also look back over the days of your life.  I've been thinking about my ancestors and wish I had the opportunity to spend time with them, to hold their hand and have a glimpse into their lives.  "If only" I could bake with my Grandmother or sit at the piano bench with my other Grandmother and what was their mothers like?  "If only" there was more time to spend time with each and every person that is still with us.  Oh, what a better person I'd be!