Coming Up for Air

I am here.
really...

it is back to school week for all of us and it has been busy!

Life right now is about setting routines, laying out clothes, making lunches and squeezing it all in!

Two happy elementary school kiddos!

A tired, yet proud mamma!

And we are off...

Be back tomorrow with a new layout! 

All Grown Up

I can't believe this little girl:

Is going to kindergarten...

both of my children in school...

where did it go...and it only seems to be going faster.

She just graduated from preschool:

She had fun, one instance of tude!  But that is to be expected from a strong, confident young girl.

Who has lots of friends she will miss and I am sure many more to come!

She is graduated and ready...

Even though I might not be...

Screens, Screens

So many screens...

TV
computer
phone

I look forward to the kids going back to school so that their need to have screens is squashed!

We limit.  We have reading time.  We go on trips.  We do a bunch.

They still want screens.  I know it is the age of technology...Nathan is a whiz on the computer.

I did this layout a while back for Scrapstreet.com Magazine!  I have been scrapping and creating new stuff, but can't show anything yet!

He loves screens. He loves to play with his toys along with the movie or show.  But I want him to discover an old-fashioned style of play.  The kind that I grew up on.

One that doesn't have so many screens.

Pinterest Pretties

The last week of summer has found me:

having a family pool party and BBQ...so fun to see that many peeps in the pool

strolling along the CT shore, transported back in time with a trip to Mystic Seaport

realizing the power of a hot glue gun and some craft pieces for the kids to create with

working so that I will have a different kind of school year

sick...taking an antibotic that doesn't seem to be working on my cough

sleepy at night so I haven't scrapped much

pinning...but I pin every week!

Here are some things I have loved this week:

A layout that uses soft colors, almost monochromatic...I am intrigued by this

by Marcy Penner at Elle's Studio blog

This pillow makes me want to scrap...wouldn't this look cool on a layout!?

From See Kate Sew

I really want a pretty apron!  Maybe it will help me want to cook!

Found at Lulu's Vintage 

Oh, how I love this wall for my home.  Somewhere, anywhere!

From the House of Smiths

So many pretties...so little time!

Hope you have found something beautiful this week!

Where did that idea come from?

Where do you find your scrappy inspiration these days?  I am super addicted to Pinterest and you can find small elements of inspiration in other craft projects, gifts, and home decor photos.  I also love scrolling down my favorite scrappers blogs because it always makes me want to scrap!

We are having the last day of our virtual crop over at the Nook and there is so much eye-candy!  Our theme is "A Midsummer Night's Dream" with everything Shakespeare inspired!  I hosted two challenges and one of them involved the quote, "What a deformed theif fashion is."  I put together this inspiration board full of Elizabethan fashions.

The challenge is to steal inspiration and incorporate it into a layout!

Here is my take:

I know the layout is not Elizabethan...but it doesn't have to be.  What I did do was replicate the ruffle around the lady's necks.  Hence the scalloped circle with the smaller scalloped chipboard.

And the idea for the burlap twine under my title came from the corsetting on the dresses.  I knew I wanted to do a criss cross of some sort and this is how it turned out!  I love the little monochromatic detail it gives!

Inspiration is everywhere!  Maybe you just found some from the fashion above.  Thanks Shakespeare!

Make it Work

Channeling my inner Tim Gunn, maybe? 

I love the phrase "make it work".  Being able to take an idea to fruition and have it come out exactly as planned is a fab feeling.  Being able to repair a project gone wrong feels pretty good too.  I think "make it work" also means that you can use products you wouldn't normally use in a style that fits you to a tee!

Brings me to my latest project, a new Webster's layout!  Now, I use Webster's all the time.  It works for me.  Shabby and layered or graphic and clean...it works.  I like to dabble between styles!  I love that every single layout made by Webster's will be unique.  Because if you look at it from your eyes, you will see elements in the designs that no one else does! 

I have a couple of friends who are afraid of Webster's.  The papers are too pretty to cut or the A-sides are too patterned!  But, I think Webster's looks good on anyone, especially if you bring your own perspective to it!

Here is my page.  I used Yacht Club papers, stickers, flower, journaling spots and buttons!  I also used Webster's alphabet stickers for the title words in red:

It is not a typical Webster's page.  It is absolutely MY version of a Webster's page!  I started with a bright cardstock to add some white space, but still mounted that on bolder patterned paper.  I integrated B-side patterns like the stars and the red gingham.  Who doesn't love stars and gingham?

If you look, I certainly used the A-sides, but I used parts of the A-sides.  I hand cut the rope-edged, tall journaling block.  I included the flowers and the wheel.  Those little touches, graphics and patterns you can't find anywhere else add enough detail and whimsy!

I even deconstructed a Princess Petal flower to make the sun up in the sky!  I love the bit of texture it adds!

So, how have you made something work these days?  I would love to see!  I so love this hobby because everyone has a different eye and a different perspective.

We all "make it work".

Nook Happenings

My Scrapbook Nook is a hopping, happy place right now!  One reason...our Virtual Crop starts this weekend and we have so much fun stuff planned!

Second reason, there is a design team call open until August 28, 2011.  Things are different this go-round.  Design obligations will be on an every other month basis, and typical 1 month non-design expectations will be spread over 2 months. So if you want to try out, but are afraid of the committment, fear no more!  Every other month is fabulous!

And then, this:

Leah is hosting an awesome journaling class over at the Nook!  Be sure to click on the image to see all the details and sign up!  The class runs from August 21 until September 11th!

Oh, I wanted to add that my Crate Paper color challenge layout was featured on the Crate Paper blog yesterday!  While I did not win, the feature is a nice treat!  Fun, fun!

So much to look forward to!

Color Challenge

I decided this month to participate in the Crate Paper color challenge!  I was intrigued by the masculine combination and Tara Anderson's layouts drew me in.

Here is the combo...I grabbed this from their blog.

I love navy and was glad to try to find it in my Crate stash!  For as much as I adore Crate, I don't scrap it enough!  I want to!  I want to!

Here is my take:

 I added in a touch of orange to pick up my son's shirt.  I love their faces in these photos...young friendship, so enthusiastic! 

Participating was fun...I will do it again!


(PS...I didn't win, but my layout did catch their eye and it here on the blog!)
Have a colorful day!

What a Summer!

Only two weeks left, and I am feeling it...I have loved this summer.  Tons of quality family time.  We made an effort to teach the kids the art of exploration and flexibility.  Each week held a day trip and we had jaunts to Disney and Boston.

I visited three cities this summer, rode the T more times than in the previous 20 years, and felt very independent.  Life should have a bit of that to help you face the everyday and all of your responsibilities.

I think the family has liked this approach.  Now, I just have to figure out how to edit my millions of photos!

Here is a layout featuring the new World Traveler line by Teresa Collins.  I will get a ton of use out of this collection!

 I love the touch of green is this collection!  See the circle on the top with the No.?  That is a stamp!  Lovin these papers so much!

Can't wait to explore them more...it might just have to take place on the weekends!

Happy Monday!

Stash It: Daily Junque

I don't scrap from my stash nearly enough.  And it grows and grows...that is what happens when you keep shopping but don't pull stuff out.  I make lots of things, but most have to do with an assignment.  I am going to change that a bit.  I plan to go to my stash at least one time a month...if not more and just make something...for fun, because I loved the product when I saw it!

Daily Junque by Pink Paislee did that for me!  I realize it isn't even considered old, but I have had it for a while.  Just sitting there, all pretty in its folder!

I opened it! and made this:

I love the navy in this collection.  It is hard to find a good navy...when you have a boy, it is important!  I had to tell this story.  The first picture is the first one I took this Easter day!  Nathan was crabby!  I had high hopes to get a good photo considering it was Easter and they were all dolled up!  I had to seriously bribe them to get to the photo on the bottom.  LOL!

The metal embellies are all from my stash too!  I have so much cool stuff all color coordinated that I just don't touch!

So there you go!  I am pledging to use up my stash...will you help hold me to it?

Supply Obsession

There are a few essentials that I cannot live without:  scissors, patterned paper, a good alphabet.  Maybe the simpliest, yet most powerful supply...my pen! 

It helps me to journal, which is a must do on every page.  I need a sturdy pen, fine point...Zig Writer is my man!  It helps me to add small details like dots to boring letters.  It also helps with adding frames of all sorts.

I relied heavily on my pen for this layout:

Good, old, reliable Kraft can be jazzed up with a pen!  I used it to add some pizzaz here and to make all the circles pop!

I started with the journaling spots and some smaller circles I cut from polka-dotted paper.  Once I had it laid out, but not glued, I decided to doodle the circles.  My technique?  I used the Happy circle to make the larger circles for the green #2 one.  I used the orange #3 to make the circle for the Happy.  And so on... In essence, I just made use of the supplies in front of me!



The rectangular shape here is not pen.  I used the Jillibean Soup stamp in the August Scrapbook Nook kit! This kit is so fun...beautiful bright oranges!  I did use my pen to make the lines and journal!

Speaking of journaling, be sure to sign up for Leah's journaling class over at the Nook.  She is such a talented writer and will have so much to share.  We are having a Virtual Crop on August 19th and 20th so be sure to come and play!

Bring your pen!  I know I will have mine!

What Disney Looks Like

So many pictures...here are some highlights:

No comments about the t-shirts, kay? 

What a wild ride!