Reflection...

This layout was done for a Quote challenge at CCAS . Since we added our moderators, one of the new things that we have added are daily quotes and quote challenges. I, for one, am not great at finding quotes, but usually can find a picture to match a quote when one is thrown at me. This quote was an easy one for me. I had taken this picture of Bailee on Thanksgiving weekend at the woods and new exactly how I wanted to use it. Apparently, all reflective layouts require the use of old Basic Grey papers! LOL Either that...or this just proves how stinking much of the stuff I own! Stop over and give the challenges a try!

To answer everyone's questions on the holiday photos...I used my Kodak Easy Share camera on landscape mode with no flash. We were pretty far away, so I zoomed in and tried to be pretty still...but we were in a car, so a tripod was impossible. The other trick...I took a TON of pictures that night and chose the best ones. I think giving some distance made a big difference as the camera didn't pick up the blur as easily.

Oh Christy...thanks!!! LOL

Moving on...

It's been a rough few days, but this layout symbolizes growth for me. I am moving on. I am still very saddened by the loss of my dear, sweet doggie, but I am trying to move on and enjoy the season. I used a sketch to get me inspired. This sketch is a Becky Fleck sketch and is one of the December Page Map sketches. I wanted to focus on the things that I love about the season and this is the very thing I love the most. I love the lights and designs of the season. I also LOVE these snowflakes! LOL These snowflakes were custom made for me by Christy from 1 Creative Bug . I have used them on tons of pages and these are the last. Um...Christy...LOL So...as Christmas draws closer and only a week left...best wishes to all my wonderful blogger buddies. And thanks so much to everyone for all your kind words and support during my sad times.

In Memorial

Today is a very sad day for our family. I don't usually post bad news, but today I had to put my dog, Amber, to sleep. She started having severe problems yesterday and we learned that she most likely had advanced liver cancer. We have had Amber for almost exactly 12 years. Shane brought her home to me after many long months of trying to have a child and coming up empty. So in a way, she was our first baby. She was such a great dog and will forever hold a special place in my heart. The tears continue to flow as I write this as I just miss her so unbelievably much. I know that she is in a better place and is no longer suffering and I know that God will heal our family in time. I just wish it didn't have to be so hard right now. I love you Amber.

Can we fix it...Yes we CAN!!!

I had been struggling with these pictures ever since I got them developed. Then I got the idea that I would crop them all down to 3x4 and make a collage of pictures and just add my title over the pictures. I really wanted to use as many pictures as I could because this display at the Children's Museum was so cool that I just couldn't part with any of them. I loved all the bright colors. Now that I am home, I am hoping to have time to put some actual albums together. This will be its own album as we go to the Children's Museum a LOT! But it will be fun to add to it and look back at all the colorful exhibits. We will be going again in a couple of weeks. I guess I'd better charge my camera batteries!!!

He looks like ME!!

OK...so Logan and I were goofy off...imagine that??? and we decided to take a picture of ourselves. Well...I didn't think much about it until I had it developed. Holy Cow! That kid looks like ME!! Everyone had said he looked a lot like me...and honestly I thought he and his dad were more similar, but looking at this picture...wow...we even hold our mouth the same way! So...my little buddy is also my little clone!

How exciting!!

I got an e-mail last night from Memory Makers...they are featuring my layout in their featured page of the day today! It was the one that I did recently of Logan's "thankful" quote. Woohoo!!!

Here's the link if anyone wants to check it out! The link will probably only work for today. Apparently it was also sent as an e-mail to all the subscribers as well. How cool!

What's really important...

Today is my 2nd day of unemployment. So far so good! LOL Yesterday I worked on this layout. I love the quote by Erma Bombeck. That woman was a very profound writer even through her use of humor. We took this picture on Thanksgiving. I love how Logan is holding my face. He does this once in a while and it just melts my heart. Such a sweetie. Bailee is also holding her doggie, Ashley. This is the newest member of our family. She named it after her aunt Ashley who recently moved to Florida. Needless to say, Ashley II goes everywhere with us. And of course, that handsome guy beside me is Shane...my sweet, tolerant hubby! (well...most of the time). This was such a good day for my family despite the fact that Bailee was sick and Logan was tired and sick of pictures! LOL I look at us here and can't help but think...this is what is important in life. If I lost everything I had, but still had my family...we would make it through. We could survive on the pure support of one another. For that I am SO grateful. I am SO grateful that I get the chance to be home and spend more time with them. I am SO grateful that I am able to recognize what is important in my life. And I am SO grateful that I am loved.

Logan's quote...

So here is the layout I did using Logan's Thankgiving quote. Again...more old Basic Grey (eek I am depleting my supply!!!). I used some random pictures of him with his game boy (the one on the bottom was actually on Thanksgiving Day). That boy is obsessed I tell ya! But his quote made for a cute story...so I will let it slide this time. Especially since he told his teacher at school that he wanted to get his Mama a flower for Christmas...such a sweet boy!! LOL

I can't believe this little baby is almost 11!!

This is a layout I did a few weeks ago, but I have to tell you...I can't BELIEVE this is my daughter. My slang-talking, training-bra-wearing, boys are not-s0-icky daughter! I found this picture when I was looking through her baby album. I have always been so disappointed with her baby pictures as she was born "before scrapping". This picture was originally 3 1/2 x 5 and I had it blown up to an 8x10. It was one of the few pictures that were uncluttered and just the very essence of my little baby.

The other cool thing about this page is that almost all the embellishments are stickers. (Achoo! ROFL). I guess I will always have a passion for stickers. I guess as with my photography, my sticker use has evolved as well.

Thanks Jamie!

I had this picture of my daughter that I really loved, but needed a good quote for. My friend, Jamie, at ebb suggested this one it is just seemed to fit my daughter's personality perfectly! Using up some more of my older Basic Grey. It's so hard to say good-bye to my stash of Basic Grey. Not sure why that is, but I am on a quest to use up some of my older stash and Basic Grey just seems to work so well with most of my pictures lately.

Hope everyone is having a great Thanksgiving holiday. Got a couple of cute quotes that I need to save, so I will share them with all my blogger buddies...

Thanksgiving morning...I say to my son, Logan..."Do you know what Mommy is thankful for?...You! What are you thankful for Logan?"
Logan to Mommy "VIDEO GAMES!!!!" (eventually he added..."oh yeah, and my family too")

Black Friday...found out that my SIL is getting married, so I told Logan, "Aunt Ashley and Fly Boy are getting married (Fly Boy is her boyfriend and he is a pilot...hence the nickname)!"
Logan to Mommy: "Is he going to kiss her?"
Mommy: "Yes"
Logan: "That's SO GROSS!!"

Kids!! Gotta love em!!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

everywhere you go...ok, now I have that song stuck in my head! So for some unknown reason, I have been seriously into altering stuff lately. It all started a while back with a DT assignment, then I decided to alter this wooden sled for my MILs bday...and then I just couldn't stop myself! I found these Making Memories cubes and had some random picture from last Christmas and just needed to finish the project. It's sort of got me in the holiday mood...although don't tell my hubby as he will tell you "it's too soon". What a grinch! (tee hee)

"One HAPPY Mom"

I was up late scrapping Thursday night...or should I say Friday MORNING. I had these pictures that Shane had taken of me when we went to the Indiana Transportation Museum and I had been dying to scrap them...just for me. I have been really reflective about life lately with all the changes going on and the pictures with the train just reminded me that I was "on track" with the rest of my life...finally!!! I had also purchased this paper, emb, etc. on a whim and they all seemed to fit really well together, so I was off. I posted it in the Creating Keepsakes gallery and to my surprise, Erin Lincoln found it and used it for the Page of the Day!! I was so excited! It has been a really great week for me. I got an e-mail from Scrapbooks Etc. that they were publishing one of my layouts in their April edition and I am the December cover finalist for Scrap Street ezine. I just feel so blessed.

I HAD to do it!!! (insert evil laugh)

OK...I have said since my kids were born that I was starting mutual funds for them to use for college or therapy...whichever came first! So I guess Logan will be using his for THERAPY!! Oh I just couldn't resist!!! He wants to be like his sister SOOO much that he is even willing to wear this pink tutu. What good mother wouldn't take a picture of this?? I couldn't help myself. Logan has the longest, prettiest eyelashes and I am sure will be a real heartbreaker one of these days...assuming I can get him out of high heels and tutus!

But on a related note, there is a hidden agenda to this layout...besides blackmail! Since I was recently given my lay off notice, I am determined to start using up some of my older stash. This is a bunch of Basic Grey that I have been hoarding. I literally have SO MUCH STUFF that I think I could live my entire life without another single thing. I am determined to use up only old stuff for at least the rest of the year and see what kind of dent I make.

Anyone want to join me? Do a layout/project using only your old stuff (and if you want to make it REALLY challenging...use up stuff from at least a year ago). Link it back here and I will send you a RAK! Yep! That's all you have to do...and I get to clean out my RAK pile! See??? WIN WIN!!!

Snow much inspiration!

I guess the little bout of snow we had the other day inspired me to not only do a snow-related page, but a whole mini album. This was a mini album from Midnight Oil Scrapbook Design. They are a great up and coming company that I design for. This is one of the mitten-shaped chipboard albums. The pictures are from when we went "sledding" at the Indianapolis Children's Museum last year. The snowflakes are also a custom die cut from 1 Creative Bug. I loved making this so much that I asked Christy (1 Creative Bug) to make some more albums for me to play with as I am now officially addicted! Keep watching for some really cool stuff from Midnight Oil!

I love this layout!

Hey all you blog stalkers out there! So I went on retreat this weekend with my awesome friends from Scrap-a-latte and got like 17 layouts done! The funny thing is, when I got home, my daughter wanted to scrap a card for her old teacher, so I ended up working on this layout and I totally love it. It's wierd for me because pinks and purples are not my "thing" normally, but I even have more ideas of layouts to do with this paper. This is one of the pictures that I took of my daughter after she got her make-over at Libby Lu. I have to admit, my 10 year old BABY does NOT look like much of a baby anymore! Eek! Better stop thinking about it before I feel old again! LOL

Making the Grade

Hey all! Wanted to let you all know about a great challenge going on at 1 Creative Bug! The challenge runs from now until the end of the month! Here are the rules:

* The layout(s) you create must be new *Upload layouts to the 1 Creative Bug Galery and link or post picture in this thread as well. * Enter as many times as you wish * Layouts must be 8 X 8 or larger - a 2 page spread will be 2 entries. * Winner will receive a Box of Hunnie of their choice from the Hive Store * Winner will be chosen by a random draw - all skill levels encouraged to participate! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This month's challenge to you bugs is as follows~ 1 photo (any size) 1 Patterned Paper CS-Use primary colors-red, blue, yellow and green Embellish with your choice of items!

These are a couple of projects I have done with the Making the Grade Box of Hunnie...get yours today because they are AWESOME!!!

They say it's your birthday...

So yesterday was my hubby's 35th birthday...here are the long-anticipated UNDEROO pictures!

The back of the shirt says "Thank God it's Comic-Day". What a hoot, huh? Happy Birthday Shane!!!!!

I won!

I got some really cool news this weekend! My Bazzill layout that I did of Amber (my precious, geriatric beagle) won a contest at Luv2 . I won first place! Woohoo! I am excited to see what I will get in the prize package as I am totally in LOVE with Bazzill! Hope there are some of the scalloped papers and maybe some brads...I'm not picky...it's free and I get to feel happy for winning it! For those that are interested...Luv2 is having another contest and the theme is "Summer"...if you enter...let me know so I can go over there and leave ya some LUV and encouragement!!!

I also got an e-mail from Lil Davis that they are sending my package this week...should be a fun mail week!

It's been a long time!

I have been SO bad about blogging lately! I guess I have just gotten crazy busy and this was just not on my list of priorities. Apparently scrapping hasn't been lately either...but I will share a couple of new layouts with everyone... I did these for a cyber crop a couple of weekends ago. It has sparked me to work on my doggie albums...I have the pictures sorted...now I just have to find the time to do them!

A good day!

I just found out that I won the July photo contest at Lil Davis Designs! Woohoo!!! I win a prize package worth approx. $100!!! I can't believe it! Here is my photo that I entered and all the information: contest . This month they are doubling the prize so all you bloggers out there...give it a try...I did it and had totally forgotten about entering... (of course, you totally have to share if you win) teehee!

This winning photo was taken with my new Canon Powershot on auto with no flash.

Creating Pages

As I posted earlier, I am the GDT for CreatingPages for August. We got a kit FULL of American Craft papers. The papers were so bright and cheery. I just LOVED working with them. Here are a few that I did with them. And just for fun...here are a couple of layouts I did just for me. What a concept, eh?

Did ya miss me?

For some strange reason, Blogger has not allowed me to upload pictures for a while, but I am back! Finals week is here, I am starting to catch my breathe and get caught up and will post some of my recent projects. These are for the August Reveal at 1 creative bug . The kit is called "Just Add Color"...and I am telling you it is SO much fun to work with and CHEAP! Seriously! You just can't beat the price of it. I still have tons left that I have plans for. Can't wait!

Guess that is it for now. I am just trying to get caught up on life right now...but will post more soon!

Splendor

I mentioned earlier that I had been chosen to be the GDT at Creating With Paper . This is one of the layouts I did with this awesome kit. All the papers and embellishments are from Autumn Leaves and the kit even comes with an entire box of foam stamps!! It is truly awesome and I can't wait to work on some more projects with it.

I think the coolest part of GDT positions is that you get a chance to work with some amazing new products that might not always be in your comfort zone, but I think that really helps me grow as a scrapbooker.

Well, I guess the kids and I are about go to fight the heat and play at the zoo for a while...perhaps I have some zoo pages in my near future!

GDT and reveals

I had seen a call for a Guest DT at Creating Pages and barely made the deadline. To my surprise, I was chosen! Yippee!!! Here is the entry I sent in. We had to use opposites on the color wheel, use at least 3 summer adjectives and have a summer theme.

It wouldn't be the 15th of the month without reveals at Scraptabulous . This kit was fun to work with and really challenged me as those that know me know that I have "pastel" issues. But then I thought about these pics that I had taken of the Asian Garden in front of the Performing Arts Center and they worked out perfect! I even came up with ideas for my reveal on the 25th and have been sketching out ideas for my other kits. I think my mojo is kicking into high gear with the anticipation of CHA!

I have 2 more layouts to finish up for MMM contest and then I will be sending in my application and the torcher will begin! Well, you can't win if you don't try, right?

What's the deal...

With all these 2 page layouts I've been doing lately? This is a layout I did that was inspired by an Ali Edwards design from the July 2006 CK. She is my HERO! Seriously! I took these pics of Logan with my new camera the other day and I was SO happy with them. He's just too stinkin cute for his own good and he knows it! LOL OK, I'm his mother and this is my blog so I can proclaim that my son is the cutest boy in the universe if I want! LOL Anyway, Logan mixed with Basic Grey paper and Ali Edwards...how could I resist?

I doodled!!!

OK, first, the irony is that I call Bailee (who is in the pic). "Doodles", so it is only fitting that I doodled all over her page, right? My other dilemma...I used some old Pressed Petal paper for the pub calls blog call and now I am wondering if I should have gone through my older papers to get rid of them...ugh! The stress of letting go! :) Well, anyway, here is my Pressed Petal, Elsie Flannigan-inspired, doodlerific layout! Oh...and did I mention that normally I HATE pink??? Tee Hee!

Sketches and contests and calls...oh my!

So last night I got down to business in my scraproom. I have been trying to get more organized and get my work out there. It seems with school and everyday life that it is harder and harder to do that, but this month I am determined! I did a Becky Higgins sketch (2 pages) based on a typical day in my life. Honestly, I could have filled up a whole album, but I tried to touch on the highlights. I have struggled recently with being a working mom and it was therapeutic for me to get my feelings down on paper. I love my career - or at least until recently. I love the independence that it gives me to know that I don't have to rely on anyone financially - that I can stand on my own 2 feet and have it all...but there are sacrifices that comes along with everything in life and I needed to put to rest my feelings on that.

I also did a quick layout of my dog, Amber...the 12 year old beagle...my baby...my BRAT! I turned it in for the scrapfriends celebration, but I have had the idea in my head for a while and needed to put it to paper.

Another submission...

Today was the last day for the Where Was I When contest at Scrapbook Answers. Of course, I wait until the LAST MINUTE to submit, but I am pleased with the way it turned out. My daughter, Bailee, is named after a child that died in the Oklahoma City Bombing. This layout is a tribute to her name and a reminder of how precious life truly is. Of course...I had to attach a REALLY bad picture of myself on it...but hey! I had just given birth! Guess it is ok to look like crap!

In an altered state...

Well, I thought today I would post a couple of my altered projects that I have done lately. I am REALLY excited about the flower pot that I did with the 1 Creative Bug Serenity BOH and the CD album was a trial run to make sure I knew how to make one. They are actually sort of fun to make. I used my kit from Scraptabulous to make the CD Album. Enjoy!

The Scrapping Streak Continues

So I finished my reveal for 1CreativeBug . I am really happy with how things turned out. Here is a layout and a set of coasters that I did with the Serenity BOH...

I also did some altered flowers in a pot that I will post later. I had a lot of fun with this kit and still have lots to do with it yet just because there is SO much you can do with it! It's really awesome!

I also finished an Art Challenge at CCAS . We had gotten a "face" for the tree in our front yard and made silly faces...of course, I had my camera and this is how it turned out...

More Reveals...and other stuff

Well...the week of reveals begins! And what a crazy busy week for it! I start back to school today and my calendar is FULL to the rim, but thought I would share a couple of my reveal projects with you all today.

The top layout is a project I did for CCAS . We each got a kit from Daisy D. I love this paper and I think I might do another layout to match this one because I still have lots of this paper and pictures. These pictures were from a photo shoot I took of Bailee last year at the Botanical Conservatory with her American Girl Doll and their matching "Chocolate and Cherry" dresses.

The second layout is a project I did for Scraptabulous . I love this kit. It has so much stuff in it that I am still working on some projects because I have so much left over. Oh if there were just more hours in the day for me to be able to do all the projects I have swimming around in my head!

And last but not least...I got some good news on Saturday! I am a Garden Designer for Imagine Create Scrap . I am thrilled that I was chosen! Kimber is an awesome lady and I got to meet many of the team members when I went on retreat with them. I can't wait to get started. I will be doing designs for the on-line store. Yippee!!

What a GREAT day!!!

I NEVER post twice in one day, but I just got the most amazing news! Yesterday, I posted a layout in the Creating Keepsakes gallery I did with custom made snowflakes I ordered from OneCreativeBug and guess what??? It is Layout of the Day TODAY!!! I feel like such a nerd for being so excited about this, but to be even noticed at all in the gallery is just soooo cool! This has just been an awesome day for me!

Here is my layout and all the awesome things they had to say about it. I am just on Cloud 9 right now!

I also came up with an idea for the coasters in the BOH from 1CB that I am hoping look cute...I am scrapping my heart out tonight!!! Funny how a little recognition can do wonders for your attitude!

They like me...they really LIKE me!

So I have to admit that I have felt less than inspired this week with the new job change at work. But today, I got an e-mail from the owner of Creating With Paper asking me to be the Guest DT Member for July. The funny thing is...I didn't really enter. I had entered a few months back and they still had my work and liked it. What a pick-me-up! They have really cool kits and I am looking forward to working with them.

On another note, I am almost finished up with my other DT reveals. That's the bad part of reveals...you can't post them until the actual reveal. Come July 1st...this blog will be jumpin! :)

3 Bugs in a Rug Toot!!

I am sooooo very excited! I submitted a layout for the 3 Bugs in a Rug on-line gallery and they decided to use it! Woohooo! This certainly made my day a little brighter! It's such a typical Monday... and I will be glad when it is over. I started my new "job" today and I have a DT meeting tonight at Scrapbooks of FW to get some summer work. That will be nice as I get paid $$$ and I don't have to use pictures...so it should be pretty easy.

Also...worked on a Comic Book Challenge today at CCAS . I am pretty happy with the results. Also entered it into the Scrap-a-latte contest for Summer at our House. When I heard that topic, I got to thinking that summer with the Blinn's is all about the letter B! :)

Feeling Fall...

Worked on a fall layout that I have been wanting to do for a while. I LOVE this picture of Bailee. Actually, I used the B&W version of it for a class I took with Ali Edwards and SHE liked the picture too (swoon!!!!!!!), so I had to use it again! Also using some of my awesome Junkitz rub-ons and embellishments that my good friend Jen shopped for me when Junkitz had their warehouse sale. Thank you JEN!!!! Nice to have cyber friends from all over - especially when there is a big sale! So with all the leaves on this layout, I am not officially out of glue dots...must go get some...think I have a coupon for JoAnn's...road trip!!!

The next few layouts that I am doing I can't post as I am entering the MMM contest...and YES, I totally need my head examined for doing so, but what the heck, right? It's killing me though because I have done a couple of lo's that I REALLY like and I can't share...well, at least MM has to at least LOOK at my entries...

My first DT Project for Scraptabulous

So this is my first month as DT for Scraptabulous. It is awesome there and Vanessa always puts together some really cool kits! This is my first layout I created as an "official" DT member...

Pick Me!

OK, so I applied for the MME DT and will know something by 6/17. That's not that far away and I honestly don't think I will make it, but oh to design for a manufacturer...How completely AWESOME would that be???

So here were some of my projects for my application... Wish me luck!!!!