Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Livin La Vida Local


Sorry the pics are dark, I didn't want to wash out the details. But, hopefully you can see it okay! By the way, I totally lifted that title off a layout in one of the scrap mags! I was sitting at the bookstore one night this summer browsing mags and loved the title, so I snapped a pic with my camera on my phone. About a week ago, I was cleaning out my phone and ran across the pic. It was perfect, because over the last year I had taken a few pics at our local farmers market we go to each week and knew exactly how I wanted to scrap it!

This layout was kind of like putting together a puzzle. I just started cutting down photos to the highlight the part of the picture I liked, picked a center line and built out from there, then worked in a couple pieces of pattern paper.


Patterned Paper: "Carolyn Gavin" Paper Pack by K & Company
Cardstock: CTMH Sweet Leaf, Pansy Purple, Cocoa, Desert Sand, White
Believe it out not, that's all! No ribbon, buttons, or bling.
Easy Peasy!

Now for the die-cuts, this was super exciting! I found a cute solid pear on Lyrical Letters Cartridge (under Shift & the tall one) but I wanted it to show the seeds, like the pp. So, I found another image that was a framed pear with the seeds showing, cut it out, then used a circle punch to punch out a circle of brown and layered that underneath the part of the pear that I also circle punched out. Next, I decided I wanted some other veggies, but couldn't find what I wanted in the carts I have... so I made my own. Using my Gypsy, I unlocked the proportions to stretch the pear (above) into an eggplant (below). Not much of a difference, but just what I needed! This is the number one reason I love my Gypsy! I can take their stock images and make them into whatever I want :o) I am one happy girl!

I am sure some of you are thinking that Cricut Design Studio does the same thing, but I am a Mac user and it is not compatible. And I really like not having to take my beautiful new MacBook Pro to crops, where something might happen to my baby! LOL! This baby isn't even paid off yet! ;o) Oh, and I have also been making my own 11.5" die-cut papers that are all the rage right now, soooo cool!

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Blinkie Patrol

Blinkie Patrol is going on over at www.CuttingAbove.blogspot.com

So, go check it out. Post their blinkie. Check out the site.

I have been loving all the cricut tutorials, more to come on that later!

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Apple of Granny's Affection


Combine the terms "Apple of My Eye" and "Object of My Affection", and get "Apple of My Affection" for this Valentine Layout. I had a kinda new friend over to scrap last night and we had a great time, stayed up late, played with the Cricut, and got to know each other a little better. So nice to meet such a sweet fellow-scrapper that I seem to have a lot in common with! I am borrowing about 10 cricut cartridges from a different friend for the weekend, so last night I tried to use as many as possible. I ended up trying out Simply Sweet for the word Apple, Cursive 101 for the rest of the title, and Doodlecharms for the apple graphic and the little caterpillar. I also got to play with my new Deep-Cut Housing and Blades finally, used it on the apple and stem and it cut a nice thick piece of chipboard pretty clean after setting it on Multi-Cut 2 with Blade and Pressure maxed out. I have also realized when you have a mat for chipboard and a mat for paper, things cut much more smoothly!

Journaling pulls out from behind the photo (where the ribbon is sticking up)
PP: K & Company "Berry Sweet" Stack
CS: CTMH Cranberry, Bubblegum, Kiwi, and Cocoa
Ribbon and RicRac: from the stash
Leaves: Bazzill Basics Paper Leaves
Digital Cutter: Cricut
Cricut Carts: Simply Sweet, Cursive 101, DoodleCharms

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

You are so TWEET

During last nights insomnia and sniffling, I stumbled onto a new challenge website called Scrapfit and decided to try it out on this layout. I am waaaay outside my box on this page, mostly because of this funky paper, but it's all done and kinda cool! And all I had to do was follow these rules:

1. use 3 patterened papers
2: use 1 solid cardstock
3: hide your journalling
4: use at least 2 photos
5: use at least 1 star in your LO
6: use at least 2 different ribbons


On my two-page layout, I used:
1. Basic Grey's "Lime Rickey" Collection: Tutti Frutti, Fruit Fizz, and Tart & Tiny patterns
2. Close To My Heart Outdoor Denim, White Daisy, Sunny Yellow, Clover Meadow and Hollyhock Cardstock
(okay that's more than one, but I figured that was allowed too!)
3. Journaling pulls out from the bottom right photo
4. I've got 4 photos
5. Three little stars/asterisks on the journaling tag
6. Two ribbons from the stash
I also used Basic Grey Lime Rickey Chip Stickers, QK Maddie Anne Classic, and SU! Chipboard Alpha

Sunday, September 6, 2009

Perks of Insomnia

The last couple of nights I have not been able to sleep, mostly because I am fighting some sort of cold and nap anytime I can during the day (big mistake!) So at night, I sneak away into my little oasis and create. I have been working on this one for a couple of nights now and finally have it the way I want it. I also got to use my new Pink Cricut Expression for the title! I have only gotten to play with it a handful of times, so I hope to start using it and taking advantage of all it has to offer very soon!

I have a feeling I am going to be sneaking away more often now since hubby got my last shelf put in today and I am getting all the final touches put in and all my goodies organized! :o) Thanks hubby! One of the mind-numbing things that helped to get me to sleep on Friday night was hand sewing the stems of all these flowers, cutting out the flowers and leaf petals, and sewing the buttons into the centers of the flowers... turned out cute, but so very time consuming.


Cricut Expression: Plantin Schoolbook Cartridge Set on Tall Ball 1.75" at Speed 2, Pressure 4, Blade 5 for the cardstock layer and Set at Speed 2, Pressure 5, Blade 6 for the chipboard layer.
Quickutz: Maddie Anne Classic
PP: Making Memories Giggle Kids Fun Flowers, Stripe, Word Stripe, and Scallop Circle. CTMH Retired Heavenly Blue B&T
CS: CTMH Juniper
Buttons: CTMH Clear Craft Buttons
DMC: Embroidery Floss #309

Saturday, September 5, 2009

Make a Wish & Blow out your Candles

I think this is the final layout from H's Birthday this year. I reserve the right to post another though, lol! I have really had fun with this birthday! Usually, birthdays are one of my top two least favorite things to scrapbook, so it is quite unusual that I would drag out one birthday to four or five layouts! The flourishes on the above page are supposed to represent her "blowing" out the candles on her cake, get it? More flips on this layout, one of the pictures is of my house after the party! Wow! After having twenty little-ones trampling my living room, I was pleasantly surprised that there were no cake stains on the carpet, but there was quite a mound of wrapping paper the size of my couch! It was a really good, smooth party!

PP: Heidi Grace It's My Party "Cake" and "Decor Words"
CS: CTMH Hollyhock
Chipboard: Flourish ~ Accucut, CTMH Dimensional Elements Monogram W, I, S, H
Stamps: CTMH "Tiny Typewriter"
RicRac: From the stash

Friday, September 4, 2009

I have been a busy girl!

No, I did not do all these layouts this week. But I did manage to fit them in over the last month... ya know, while I was neglecting blogging, lol! I do have a new round of photos coming in from the printers very soon, so I cannot wait to get busy! The online photo printer I use (and love!) www.scrapbookpictures.com has made quite a few changes on their site and I am super excited! The have finally added options for the pro-sumer photographer that just make sense, hello ~ like professional paper, and choosing your level of color correction ~ like none if you are good with photoshop and set your own color profiles, and the checkout process is so much more stream-lined and visual ~ so it's so much easier to see your crops as you make them! Needless to say, I am hoping to be pleasantly surprised, because I do not want to find a new photo printer after 5 years!

On to the layout, trying to finish up all of H's birthday party. I wanted to capture all the party guests and all the activities of the party, so I made little flip ups so that there are 3 photos in the each footprint and a couple of group shots. Granny is always trying to remember (for some crazy reason) names of people I went to preschool with (which was a looong time ago), so I am pleasing her and actually writing it all down for H.

Under one of the flips is a picture of H on the webcam with Granny during the party. We set up a two webcam's so that Granny & Papa could "be there" even though they are 350 miles away. Granny told me it was better than actually being there because she could mute it when the kiddos got too loud! Too funny!

PP: Heidi Grace It's My Party "Party Gifts" and back of "Decor Stripes", "Reagans Closet" pink micro-grid
CS: CTMH Hollyhock
Chipboard: K & Co "Lipstick" Fresh Paint Palette
Stickles: Star Dust
Jounaling Block: AccuCut "7.5 Antique" Custom Die

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Granny's Girl


In honor of Granny's Birthday today (no, I won't share which birthday) here is a layout with Granny and her special girl. Granny was very excited to be with H on her birthday this year, since we usually are not together this time of year, and H even shared her special cupcakes with Granny! Awhile back, I posted about the very special Cinderella castle that Papa found for his princess, and well Granny was just as excited about the castle and knew that H just had to have Cinderella Barbie and her getaway horse to go with the castle. They sat at the table most of the weekend playing Cinderella and generally spending some very special time together. :o) If you feel so inclined, go here now, and wish Granny a very special Birthday wish in her comments section please!


PP: Autumn Leaves "Princess" and Heidi Grace "Reagan's Closet" blue micro-plaid
CS: CTMH Hollyhock and Heavenly Blue
Ribbon: CTMH Hollyhock RicRac, blue grosgrain from the stash
Flowers: CTMH "Just Blooms" and "Big Pinks"
Buttons: CTMH Craft Buttons Autumn Garden~ Hollyhock
Quickutz: Vixen Classic and Maddie Anne Classic

Happy Birthday to You!
Happy Birthday to You!
Happy Birthday, Dear Granny!
Happy Birthday to You!
~
We love you!

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

One of my little joys

This picture doesn't look like much to some of you, but to others I am sure you can feel my little twinge of joy. We recently moved in a new home, a small apartment to be exact. That thought may scare of alot of you, but for me it was exciting. I have never lived in an apartment before (except for a very large apartment when hubby was running one of the dorms on campus, but that was very different) so I was excited for this new adventure in our life. Hailey was more than thrilled since we let her paint her room pink and we now have a pool just a few yards away (most importantly, one that I do not have to tend to!) But, to get to the point, we have been here a little over a month and I have been having fun moving in, decorating, organizing, and generally just making it feel like home. One of the little things for me that makes it home is my plants and my scrapbooks. I was so excited when I figured out how to arrange the living room so that my favorite buffet table could sit just behind the couch with my orchids on top receiving the perfect southeastern exposure... and my scrapbooks below. This table is probably four feet long, and the bottom shelf is lined with all my completed scrapbooks. So, this photo represents all my memories of a wonderful life, all my hard work (and fun) I had making those layouts, and to a smaller degree, the results of my credit card bill ;o) LOL! But, I love that the albums are down low so that Hailey can look at them whenever she wants (and she does frequently!) I also love how neatly organized and lined up they are... yes, I am a little OCD, but I have learned to embrace it.

Monday, August 31, 2009

KGK Sketch Contest

So, back at the beginning of the month I got an email from Pam, that I had won the July Sketch Contest over on her website at Kraft Girl Kits with my layout "National Champions". A few days later, I was super excited to receive a package in the containing all of these goodies! Thanks so much Pam! I can't wait to get a project started, there are so many fun things in here... I have something special up my sleeve, but it will have to wait for awhile ;o)

Sunday, August 30, 2009

A Class Act

**Update: Pictures were a little blurry, so I finally got some new ones taken and have re-posted the pictures so the details are more clear!**



So, yeah, I just realized how long it has been since I blogged! I am surprised that there are not little virtual spiders crawling all over the cobwebs and dust bunnies that have collected since I was here last :o) And I have so much to share, there have been so many, many changes in my real life that my virtual life has been put on hold. My apologies, but I promise I am back and better! I will be back tomorrow with more details, and more projects, and photos. But, for now, I will leave you with a layout.


This is my little girl, and her VPK class this last spring. It is bittersweet for me, but very exciting for her, what this photo represents. You see, this photo was taken at the end of the school year back in May... which you have probably figured out means that she started Kindergarten this past week! Needless to say, I was a complete wreck on Monday! I am dealing with it, and trying to embrace it, but for now... She is extremely excited and loving school! And that is what matters, right?! I journaled on the tall tags about how much her personality/ changed and developed over those 5 months. The other tag has the names of all her classmates and teaches on it, since I am sure I will forget all too soon.


PP: We R Memory Keepers "Nonsense" Paper Pack
CS: CTMH Tulip & Cocoa
DieCuts: The chipboard slide frame is an AccuCut die, "class" is CTMH Simple Alpha chipboard, everything else came in the paper pack and I popped it with 3d foam squares.
Brads: CTMH Juniper & Sorbet Bigger Brads, covered with Stickles
Ribbon: My stash :o)

Friday, July 17, 2009

First Haircut!


So, I may have to retake these photos during the daylight tomorrow but I was so excited to share. Hailey had her first haircut the beginning of this year, yes I know 5 years?! It was hard for me, but surprisingly it made her hair curlier and much more healthy... so I have no problem taking her back, frequently! Her first hairstyle was a long layered bob, of sorts.


I got this layout started last night when my friend Becky was over... but just couldn't get motivated until tonight. It seemed to just fall into place. No sketch either :o) Hubby even gave me his two cents of a couple of color issues I wasn't feelin'. Turned out nice, thanks hubby! Granny, don't worry... the locket of hair is saved in her special trinket box waiting for that first lost tooth!


PP: CTMH "Emporium" L2 Paper Pack
CS: CTMH Vineyard Berrry, Cocoa, White Daisy, Indian Corn Blue
Ribbon: Unknown-picked up at Griffens ages ago, retired CTMH Indian corn blue grosgrain
Chipboard: Dimensional Elements Monogram letters, brackets from DE Simple Alphabet Lowercase
Quickutz: Metro SkinniMini
Buttons: from the stash

Saturday, July 11, 2009

National Champions


Yes, I realize for all my local friends, your eyes must be bleeding! An yes, I realize I am a Gator in Nole country! :o) Deal with it! J/K! Anywhoo, we had a blast back in January tailgating all the way from Tally, through Gainesville, all the way down to Maimi in our funky litlte RV for the National Championship Game, what a blast! My favorite memory is of Hailey leading a crown of about 50 people in a cheer, screaming "Give me G... give me an A.... What's that spell? GO GATORS!" You know the cheer I'm talking about!

The girls gave me a good razzing last night while I was working on this layout, but that's okay, all in good fun! The top page is from the Kraft Girls July Sketch Contest, really fun sketch to work with. I then created my own something for the second page of the layout, below. The Gator head is a sticker that we got at the game, I just dusted the back with baby powder to make it not sticky anymore, then used foam tape to make it pop off the page.


Sketch: KGK July Sketch Contest
CS: Close To My Heart Moonstruck, Autumn Terracotta, White Daisy
Quickutz: Dragonfly Mini, Studio Classic
Unknown: Buttons, Floss, Ribbon, Rickrack
Gator themed pp... picked up years ago and stashed it away ;o)

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Papa's Princess



This layout was so fun to do while I reminisced about that day! My dad, Hailey named him "Papa", found this huge Cinderella Castle one day and brought it home without telling anyone. Just before Christmas he showed it to me and told me he wanted to give it to her for her birthday, as if I was not going to let him?! So, the day of her birthday, after doing her cupcake, we told Hailey to cover her eyes and Papa carried in this castle and sat it on the table in front of her! It was nearly as tall as her! Once she opened her eyes, she squealed and couldn't quit smiling! Neither could Papa, it was so cute to watch him watch her! This castle has become a main fixture right in the middle of her room and all the toys play house there, even the big stuffed animals :o)



This castle is a whole story in itself, and really requires a whole post with instructions... so I will come back at another time with all the details and for now leave it at telling you that it started out as the Bare Elements Reyna Castle Book #1. Since that was waayyy too big, I used it as a template to trace, cut, and re-piece the smaller elements I liked most. The castle folds open to reveal the story of Papa's Castle.



PP: Autumn Leaves Adorable, Heidi Grace Reagan's Closet
CS: Close To My Heart Hollyhock, Heavenly Blue, White Daisy Textured
Quickutz: Maddie Anne Classic, Scallop 12" Border
Other: CTMH Hollyhock Brads, retired CTMH Daisy Sequins, Lace, Sewing Machine, White Thread, Zig Pen

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Eatin' Dirt

This layout I did a while ago and just never posted, I think I was waiting on the enlargement, who knows. Anywhoo, it was really fun to do because it uses only cardstock... and some patience! I had so much fun stamping the green background, making the colorful strips and sewing them on, and edge distressing all the matts and even using a little white paint to make it look like the photos are distressed, too. All in all, one of my favorite layouts.

Not to mentions, pretty cute subject too! We tagged along with Daddy to a conference in Kansas City and found the cutest little ice cream shop. Hailey was intrigued by the "Dirt Cup" and when I showed her the "dirt" oreo's and worms :o) she had to try it!

Supplies: CTMH cardstocks Hollyhock, Orchid Bouquet, Sweet Leaf, Sunny Yellow, and Chocolate; Quickutz flowers; CTMH stamps; CTMH Hollyhock My Accents and Summer Medley; twine; machine sewing; CTMH New England Ivy Ribbon Rounds; Coluzzle File Folder template.


Monday, June 29, 2009

Blog Candy for your thoughts ~ Closed ~

Awhile back, I got an email announcing the search for submissions to the Quickutz Ambassadors Program and have finally decided to go for it! I have never submitted my work to anything before, not a contest, magazine, e'zine, or anything, so this is really hard for me. What makes it even harder is that I use alot of sketches and most of those sites state that you are NOT allowed to use those sketches for any kind of submission or publication. Adding to the frustration is that there isn't a LSS within two hours of me that sells Quickutz, so the likelihood that I will be chosen is null. But still, it can't hurt to just send it in. For this, I am supposed to send in a two-page layout (keeping in mind best use of Quickutz AND not using a sketch) and I cannot decide.

In the same week, I noticed that my favorite kit company, Kraft Girl Kits, is looking for some new Kraft Girls for their design team. For this one, I am supposed to send in 3 layotus and 1 non-layout that best represent my style.

I would be sooo excited to be chosen for either of these of these awesome opportunities. So, here is where the blog candy comes in... look through my gallery over there ---> and comment here with which layouts you think I should submit to the two DT calls. I have put together a nice little surprise box of scrappy goodness that I will randomly give away to someone just for choosing which layouts you think I should submit with each application! Cool huh? You have until Tuesday morning June 30th, 2009 at 10:00am EST.... Go!

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Cupcake Queen


Okay, so haven't finished (or even made a dent in) the monstrous amount of Christmas photos, but I have decided to move on to my 2009 photos. Yay! This layout is one of the few that doesn't utilize a sketch but somehow managed to look strikingly similar to another layout that I had scrap-lifted. Funny how that works. Like Granny says, there are only so many ways to cut a piece of paper so they all start to look alike :o) Oh well, it started out as my idea but ended up just being a memory of anothers.

Either way, I think it turned out pretty cute. Thanks for the title idea Becky, it turned out to be the perfect fit. And I finally used up those adorable little chipboard candles Granny cut out for me using her AccuCut. I painted them up using some Making Memories paint I scored last week from Tuesday Morning really cheap. The word parts of the title are, of course, Quickutz... would you expect much else from me :o) Maddie Anne Classic Lowercase and Abigail Grand.

The pink and green patterened papers are Basic Grey from Michaels and the Cloud paper is from my March 2009 Kraft Girl Kits stash, love it! The really fun part of this layout, is that I actually have 7 photos on this layout! The matts for two photos on the right page are cut double the height and folded (like a card) then I have three photos in the place of one footprint. When I go to put this in my album, I just use an exacto to cut a slit in the page protector and pop it out. You get the idea from this side photo.

PP: Basic Grey Euphoria, American Crafts Howdy
CS: CTMH Blush, Hollyhock, Sweetleaf, White Daisy
RickRack: unknown
Ribbon: Sweet Leaf Grosgrain
Buttons: CTMH Hollyhock My Accents
Thread: DMC Embroidery Floss
Quickutz: Maddie Anne Classic Lowercase, Abigail Grand
Paint: Making Memories

Monday, June 22, 2009

"4" at Build a Bear Workshop

I have really gotten into my eyelets again lately. Maybe it is due to my new purchase, a PiNK Crop-a-Dile II... too cute! I am not totally sold on its eyelet setting abilities though. The hole punching works great, but the eyelet setter is not working AT ALL! I resorted back to my good ole' hammer and metal setter for all 51 eyelets. Ugh! I think I am going to call We R Memory Keepers and see what they have to say?!


This side of the layout is loosely based on an olde PageMaps Mini Sketch that I just resized and tweaked a little. Turned out cute, but not as cute as I had envisioned.

PP: Scenic Route
CS: CTMH Cranberry
Scallop Edge is cut from Granny's Accu-Cut.
Stitching with DMC floss.
Buttons & Eyelets are from my old stash :o)


No sketch for this one, just kept re-arranging the photos until I liked them. I toyed around with doodling on this one all around the edge of the layout and on the letters, cute. BABW stands for Build A Bear Workshop. I cut the letters out of Grannys new Sizzix Font with chipboard and the cardstock. The circle pp on the far right is a journaling block that pulls out.


PP: Scenic Route
CS: CTMH Cranberry, Honey, Garden Green, and Dutch Blue
Buttons, ribbons, and big brads are from Granny, and her rack of buttons in glass jars, so jealous!

Oh yeah, I really in need of some girl time... so girls call me, lets scrap!

Sunday, June 21, 2009

You're Toad-ally Awesome!


Happy Father's Day to all the Dad's out there! Especially to my Daddy-O and my hubby! I love you!
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