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)

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)

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

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)

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

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.

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!

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

"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!

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!

A few more Christmas

I just wanted to get these posted, I will come back later and add the details... I need some sleep tonight!

Sugar & Spice and Gingerbread Men

Okay I am really feeling the heat of the summer already (and have the sunburn to prove it) so I am really wishing that it were Christmas time again! These scrapbook pages really take me back and get me in the mood all over again!

Hailey and I had so much fun making cookies this past year, although we totally cheated on the dough! I bought premade-precut dough, since I have zero baking supplies, and we just put all our effort into really cute decorating. I cheated on the decorating too and bought the bagged cookie frosting and lots of sprinkles from the Target dollar bins! :o) The really funny part was after all the snowmen, stockings, and trees were docorated, Hailey wanted to use the leftovers as cookies too. She said one looked like a shark and one looked like a stork! Too funny!

PP: Basic Grey Figgy Pudding
CS: CTMH Cranberry
CTMH Craberry Mini Safety Pins
CTMH Desert Sand Ink
Ribbon: CTMH Twill & Garden Green, RicRac from the sewing stash
Chipboard Title: Stampin Up! On Board and CTMH Dimensional Elements Monograms painted with Making Memories Paints

This was our first year making a gingerbread house, so it was a complete learning experience! I am all about making life simple, so we opted for the complete kit and I am really glad we did! It turned out a little lopsided with a gap in the roof, but we still had loads of fun and it was really cool watching her figure out the perfect spot for all the candy accents. After she decorated the people, it was really funny to watch her play with them like they were Barbies! They took on their own personalities and voices!

PP: My Minds Eye Stack
CS: CTMH Craberry, New England Ivy, and Colonial White
Embellies: CTMH Cranberry and NEI Buttons, RicRac
Quickutz: Maddie Anne Classic, Mary Jane Grand

Together Time & Crop for a Cure

This layout has been sitting on my scrap table now for about two weeks just waiting on a title! Ridiculous, I know! So, I finally got it wrapped up in preparation for a major scrapfest tonight! So excited! The local high school is hosting "Crop for a Cure" an all night scrapbook event. Even better than getting to scrap for 12 hours straight, is that is is catered by Olive Garden... YUMMY! That has to be one of my most favorite places to eat! And I don't get to go very often because hubby doesn't care for it, so I am super excited about dinner tonight! And of course there will be tons of raffles, contests, etc. to keep us going all night long! Too fun! So if you are free tonight, email me and I will give you the details! You can register at the door if you like. Anywhoo, to the layout.

I made the flowers using the QK Nesting Circles (although you can totally free hand cut some circles), edge distresses the edges, then crumpled and flattened a few times, and hand sewed the button on top, right through all the layers to hold it together... much like the Prima Lollipop flowers. I am pleased with the result and this way they perfectly match my layout since I used scraps of the patterned paper and cardstock.

PP: Latte Stack from JoAnns Fabrics
CS: CTMH Petal and Garden Green
Quickutz: Blossom Grand, Maddie Anne Classic, Nesting Circles, Leaves
DMC: Embroidery Floss

First Day of VPK

I used the Kraft Girl Kits April Sketch for the left page of this layout and just made up something for the right side that kinda of matched the flow. Papers and Stickers are all from K & Co "Sparkly Sweet" Paper Pad and Paisley Grand Adhesions. Ribbon is mostly CTMH and a little from my stash. I also used my Quikutz 12" Border Die for the scalloped edge paper, Blossom Classic and the Nesting Circles for the title block, a little machine stitching, andCTMH White Daisy Textured CS for the background and inked it with CTMH Orchid Bouquet Ink.

My Journaling and date are hidden under the photo on the second pape that has the ribbons tied on the corner. I just cut my mat to 4.25" x 8.5" and folded it down the center. When I put it in the page protector, I will just slit my pp and slide it out from inside.

Whoo loves you?

This layout has such a funny story behind it! Not that my dd isn't adorable and funny, but I'm not talking about her and when the pics were taken... I am talking about when I sat down to start this layout! I will be the first to admit that I love to scrap-lift and very few of my most prized layouts are originals Shocking, I know ;o) But, I knew I wanted I wanted to do a layout using that adorable owl paper in the background, so I went searching on google for owl layout and came across this amazingly perfect layout! It had the right number of photos, orienation, and sizing even! You can see the original here. I immediately starting working on all the pattern paper strips, getting the bones of the layout down and then it all came to a halt when I got to that owl and branch.
Lucky for me, granny is a pretty amazing artist! She can free hand just about any thing that I throw at her! So, I emailed her a link to the layout I was lifting along with size and color guidelines. A day or two later, opened my mailbox to find this adorable little guy and perched him atop my layout just where I had envisioned! Awesome!

Or so, I thought! In the mean time, I started noticing other adorable scrapbook layouts using owls and came across one that used... H-E-L-L-O a Quickutz Revolution OWL! Duh, I didn't even think to see if QK made a die in the exact size and cuteness of this one! What's worse, is that I was telling my scrappin buddies at the crop on Friday about my goof, and one of the girls chimes in "oh, I have that owl!" Of course! So, if you love my layout or more importantly my owl... go buy the owl die-cut and save yourself some time! Too Funny!

On a different note, I took my layout to the crop on Friday to finish up the title and journaling, and was able to use my friend's Cricut... a first for me! It was alot of fun. My favorite thing about using it, was that after I programed in my title, I could go work on something else while it cut all by itself! And, after it was all done and I realized I wanted the words on the right to be a hair smaller, I just had to reload the paper and dial down the size! Easy Peasy! I did have to hand touch the center of the L, E, and Y... but all in all a nice cut!

Supplies:
K & Co "Berry Sweet" Paper Pad and "Words and Icons" Adhesive Chipboard
Cricut Machine and Cursive 101 cartridge.
CTMH: Watermelon, Bubblegum, Clover Meadow, Cocoa, and Chocolate CS
CTMH Desert Sand Ink
Background is very old CTMH Heavenly Blue B&T
CTMH Sweet Leaf RicRac

Little Witch... and a little suprise!

Okay, this is one of those layouts that looks all wonky in photos... the layout really does match in real life :o) I promise! Anywhoo, I loved the Rusty Pickle Pirate Princess paper for this layout, pair that with the Die Cuts that match and it was sooo easy.

I used the Quickutz Nesting Heart on the right side over the file-folder and the Merry & Bright font for the title, all with Black and Bubblegum Pink Cardstock. I also used a few ribbons from my stash, the CTMH Dimensional Elements flourishes from the Fresh Shapes set, and some retired CTMH Bubblegum Buttons.



On an exciting side note: I just got an email that Accucut gave me little shout-out on their blog for a layout I posted as an entry into their Spring Design Challenge, here's how you can enter too:

You have until this Friday, April 17 to submit a photo of a spring project you are working on. All who enter will have a chance to win the new Dragonfly #2 die! Here are the details again:

• Post a photo on your blog or website and give us the link by posting a comment here. Be sure to provide a way we can contact you. Or, if you don't have a blog, simply email a photo to blog@accucut.com. If you send an e-mail, use the subject line "Think Spring" and include a photo of the project (less than 150k please!). Make sure to include the item numbers of the die(s) used.

• You must use at least one AccuCut die (steel-rule).

• Be creative! Use any shapes or colors that shout "spring." From flowers, birds and bugs to Easter bunnies and eggs, the possibilities are endless.