A Few of My Favorite Things

I managed to squeeze a few of my favorite things into one layout. A sketch by Liz from The Scrappiest, a challenge by Susan from Scrap the Boys, a kit by Noel Mignon, and a cute photo of my boys. The result? A new favorite layout.
Bedtime Angels: My two boys love to cuddle up together and watch a movie. They start out so sweet. Then, five minutes in, they are fighting over the pillow or blanket or whatever. But, while they were being sweet, I was able to snap a couple of photos.



Supplies: Nightingale Kit by Noel Mignon; Flowers: Prima; Foam Letters: American Crafts; Buttons: Stash.

If you'd like to take a look at Liz's amazing sketch and the other design team layouts, which are fabulous as always, you can hop on over to The Scrappiest HERE.

This layout was also inspired by the December challenge at Scrap the Boys which you can find HERE along with the rest of the design team's layouts.

Also, today was my day to be featured at Just Imagine, the Imaginisce blog. Woo hooo!!! Still pinching myself that I'm on their design team. If you go by, be sure to leave me a comment. Thanks!

Here's a little project I created with more of Imaginisce's Polar Expressions line. These holiday ornaments are made of four strips of patterned paper, two I-Top brads, two flowers, and a strip of ribbon. They are fast and fabulous! You can find the instructions over at 3 Scrappy Boys HERE.



Thanks for stopping by today! I'll be back tomorrow with my SOL project. See you soon!

Polar Expressions

Now that Thanksgiving is over, t's officially the Christmas season! I've decorated my house and my blog and am digging into my Christmas scrapbook supplies. One of my favorites is the Polar Expressions line by Imaginisce. As soon as my design team box arrived, I dove in. That cute! While I'm up for air, I thought I'd show you a couple of projects.

Altered Candy Bar: I'll be sending these sweet treats to my sons' teachers as Christmas gifts. So simple and budget friendly, yet CA-UTE! Basically I made a new wrapper for a giant candy bar and then embellished it. I used my new I-Top brad maker to make the holly berries. I am LOVING that tool! I'll be posting instructions with photos at 3 Scrappy Boys on December 18th!





Snowflake Card: Ok, so I am addicted to the I-Top brad maker. Soooo much fun. For this card, all I did was cover three different sized brads with three different patterned papers and attach to the card in the shape of a snowflake. How cute is that! To cover the brad tongs, I lined the inside of the card with patterned paper and then added a chipboard sentiment. I'll pop in a gift card and voila...instant gift.





My head is still whirling with ideas for the Polar Expressions line and the I-Top brad maker, so I'll be posting more projects in the next couple of weeks. Hope I can put you in the mood to scrap some Christmas. See you soon!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Blushing Bride

This is the first of many layouts that will celebrate my sister-in-law's wedding. The blessed event will occur the Saturday after Thanksgiving, and my entire family will be walking in it. I'll get back to you on how well my two-year-old does. Nevertheless, there will be LOTS of photos to scrap.

Blushing Bride: This layout features my sister-in-law and her mother at her bridal shower. My mother-in-law cross-stitched a wedding sampler as a suprise. Sweet.







Supplies: Cardstock: Bazzill; Patterned Paper: Danielle Poulson; Paper Flower: Bazzill; Alphas: Thickers; Stick Pins: Maya Road; Bling, Leaves: Prima; Paint: Shimmerz; Glitter: Stickles.

This layout was inspired by sketch #41 at The Scrappiest. The original sketch and more design team layouts can be found HERE.

This layout was also inspired by this week's challenge at Scrapping Out LOUD!--scrap a family portrait. What better portrait than a bride and her mother. You can see more layouts HERE.


Thanks for stopping by and for following my blog!

On a Whim

This month So Sketchy was sponsored by Stephanie Hart at My Little Bit of Whimsy. She designs an array of clay buttons, critters, and stick pins. Fortunately, my last November sketch for So Sketchy is very whimsical, too. Take a look.

Along 4 the Ride: My two kids are some silly boys, I tell ya. They rigged up my toddler's plastic wagon to the back of their Jeep. They rode around the yard hooping and hollering, throwing their hands up in the air, like they were on a roller coaster.







Supplies: Patterned Paper, Puffy Alphas & Shapes: American Crafts; Clay Buttons: My Little Whimsy.

Please go check out Jen's and Frances's layouts over at So Sketchy. Precious! Frances even stretched the sketch into a two-pager.

See ya soon!

Sniff, sniff . . .

Tonight is our last 2009 design team meeting at Treasured Memories. This year has flown by, and I'm terribly sad to see it end. I will miss this zany, talented, fun group of ladies. The challenges, not so much. Just kidding! Melissa has managed to push me "outside the box" each month, and I've learned a lot as a result.

This month's challenge was a little different. We were given four one-page sketches by Julie Bonner and told to pick one and stretch it to make a double-pagers. And we were given some Webster's Pages embellies: lace die cuts, fabric tag, and cameos. The rest was up to us. Here's what I concocted.

Summer Dreams: I am still scrapbooking pictures from our beach vacation last summer. LOVE the colors and the memories. Besides, they really worked with the Webster's Pages. I used a variety of their papers and the embellies from my DT bag. To create my title, I covered a chipboard word and some old chipboard letters with crackle paint, glitter, and msit.








Supplies: Cardstock: Paper Studio; Patterned Paper, Lace Die Cuts: Webster's Pages; Flowers, Cameo: Prima; Chipboard Word Summer: Lil Davis Designs; Chipboard Alphas: Heidi Swapp, American Crafts, Scenic Route; Glitter, Butterfly Punch: Martha Stewart; Glimmer Mist: Tattered Angels; Crackle Paint: Tim Holtz; Pearls: Kaiser Craft; Border Punch: Fiskars; Journal Tags: 7 Gypsies.

Thanks again, Janet and Melissa. This has been a fabulous year!

Pick a Number, Please

That's this week's challenge at Scrapping Out LOUD! Use numbers on a layout--in the title or as embellishments. Here's what I did.

Happy Birthday: This layout was inspired by my pack of Jenni Bowlin birthday bingo cards. I used the WHOLE pack. I just love those little cards and couldn't choose just one. A little cleaner than what I normally do, but I do like the outcome.

Supplies: Cardstock: Paper Studio; Patterned Paper: Jillibean Soup Staples; Calendar Sprout: Jillibean Soup; Bingo Cards: Jenni Bowlin; Puffy Alphas: Thickers; Brads: Michaels; Die Cut: Making Memories Slice.

Over at Scrapping Out LOUD, you can see more inspiration as well as this month's prize. Thanks for stopping by!

A Fall Challenge

This month's challenge is up at A la Carte. For November, the menu is all about the great outdoors: (1) use orange and brown (2) use woodgrain (3) use fabric (4) include something with wings (5) use a toilet paper roll and (6) use song lyrics for your title. Here's my take.

Pedal to the Metal: My little guy loves driving the Jeep. And he loves driving it fast! Even if that means running into the fence, the house, the slide, or whatever else might be in his way.






Supplies: Patterned Paper, Buttons: Bo Bunny; Puffy Alphas: American Crafts; Tiny Alphas: My Little Shoebox; Border Punch: Fiskars; Star Diecut: Sizzix.

So, what menu items did I use? My paper and alphas are orange and brown. My title incorporates song lyrics from "Born to Be Wild." And my stars are die cut from toilet paper rolls. What a cheap embellishment, hun?

Be sure to hop on over to A la Carte to see more inspiration! Thanks for stopping by.

Calling All Facebookers...

How would you like to win a $300 goodie basket full of Imaginisce and Glue Arts products? Well, who wouldn't, right?

All you have to do is become an Imaginisce or Glue Arts Facebook Fan and post on their wall, "I'm a Fanatical Facebook Face-Off Fan."

Go, Imaginisce, Go!

Girls' Weekend

Today's layout is brought to you by The Scrappiest sketch blog and Scrapping Out LOUD! challenge blog. Liz's sketch is linear (ahhh.....my kind of sketch), features two photos, twine, white space, journaling spot and a fun sprinkling of embellishments. This week's challenge at SOL is a recipe: one photo, three circles, five buttons, scallops, and a heart. Fun stuff, hun? Here's what I did.

Girl's Weekend: My best friend Frances and I headed off to Treasured Memories in Lafayette in the beginning of October for a weekend of scrapping and relaxing and catching up. We had such a wonderful time and were quite productive. Don't we look like we're having fun?






Supplies: Cardstock: Paper Studio; Patterned Paper, Sticers, Pink Alphas: Basic Grey; Mist: Tattered Angels; Buttons: Rhonna Farrar; Green Fabric Alphas: Thickers; Bling: Prima; Floss: DMC; Paint: Shimmerz.

I don't think I'll ever get tired of lollipop flowers. How about you? I added the buttons to the centers to meet the recipe challenge of 5 buttons, but I really like that little twist on the flowers. And the leaves are painted with a bit of Angel Wings Shimmerz. It adds a subtle sparkle. I had such a good time with my girlie layout this week.

Be sure to pop over to both The Scrappiest and Scrapping Out LOUD! for more inspiration by the rest of the design team AND to see the prizes.

November So Sketchy

My first November sketch for So Sketchy is a double-pager. The original actually has room for four photos, but I altered it a bit since I didn't have four. You can see Allison's great sketch HERE. And here's my take on it.

Thankful For A Perfect Day: The weather has been so wonderful the past couple of weeks. Cool, breezy, sunny days. Yellow and red trees. Leaves dotting the lawns. Just perfect for relaxing outside. I took these photos of my parents in their backyard on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Even the cat was enjoying the weather.






Supplies: Cardstock: Paper Studio, Bazzill; Patterned Paper: SEI; Flowers: Prima; Stamp: Maya Road; Chipboard Alphas: Scenic Route; Bling, Fabric Tag: Little Yellow Bicycle; Ink: StazOn; Border Punch: Fiskars. Most available in Noel Mignon's November Kit, Mill Street.

This layout came together so easily despite all the layers and clustering. For one thing, the SEI paper is scrumptious and coordinates so well. The leaf paper is actually embossed, and the striped paper has foil. Mmm... Aren't the colors just perfect for fall?

I also really like how the stamped background turned out. I was inspired by several members of the Noel Mignon design team. They used brown ink to achieve a more tone-on-tone look. Thanks girls!

Don't forget to head over to the So Sketchy blog to get more info about this month's contest and to see the original sketch.

Monster Love

Monster Love...that's what I've been feeling these past couple of days with all the sweet comments I've received congratulating me for making the Imaginisce team. Thank you my bloggy friends!

Monster Love...also the name of the layout I have to share with you today. It was created with the October Main kit from 3 Scrappy Boys. Here's what all I got in my kit.



Aren't those little monsters cute? And since I'm raising a couple of monsters, I just had to have it. Those prima flowers were a big temptation, too! Here's my layout.



Monster Love: My little guy LOVES Elmo. He has all sorts of toys, books, videos, and even slippers featuring Elmo. I record Sesame Street for him, so he can watch Elmo's World after nap time. These photos are from last Christmas when Ethan first started wearing his Elmo slippers. Sweet!

Be sure to check out the 3 Scrappy Boys gallery HERE for more great design ideas! Thanks for coming by.

Imagine the Possibilities

I'm over-the-moon excited to report that I'll be joining the Imaginisce design team. WOOOO HOOOOO! I love all their fun products, just perfect for scrapping my two rowdy boys. And have you seen their I-Top Brad Maker. Um, yeah, I'm hoping to get my hands on that.

The Just Imagine blog is chock full of ideas and inspiration. Be sure to check it out and sign up to follow it because they pick people all the time to receive FREE products just for being a fan of Imaginisce. I'll be working with their fabulous Christmas line, Polar Expressions. Can't wait!

With such great products, there are sooooo many project possibilities! I made this sweet altered clipboard post-it-note holder with some scraps of Teacher's Pet by Imaginisce. I'm hoping to brighten up a teacher's day!

Supplies: Chipboard Clipboard: Stampendous; Patterned Paper: Imaginisce; Flowers: Bazzill; Button: Stash; Pen: Bic; Post It: 3M.

Thanks for stopping by!

No Tricks, Just Treats

Fancy Pants's Halloween line is just that--all treats, no tricks! Vibrant colors, fun patterns, sparkly glitter cuts, and coordinating stickers. Combined with all the buttons, bling, dotted swiss cardstock, Thickers, and ribbons that Lisa sent me, I had a ton of great supplies for scrappin my Halloween photos. Wanna see?



Two Spooks: Don't you just love those little monsters? Aren't they a hoot with those ugly teeth in their mouths? Oh, you meant the monsters on the paper? Yeah, they're pretty great, too! To attach that glittery die cut, I backed it with paper and added foam adhesive where you couldn't see it.



2 Spooky: This fun paper had two little pumpkins in the corner. That just would not do, so I paper pieced a couple of pumpkins....one large and one small, just like my kiddos. To make the leaves, I looped a piece of twill and attached it to the back.



Batty PJ's: Those little monsters hanging out around the parenthesis sticker were cut from the orange patterned paper. I mounted them on some of the leftover stickers that I cut into squares. Use up every little scrap, ladies, every scrap.



Handsome Devils: Here's my son consorting with monsters at the Halloween store. How funny, hun? To add some dimension to this layout, I handcut those bats from the paper and then added some orange bling for their eyes. I'm loving all the warm colors on this one.

Hope you're feeling ready to scrap. Print out your Halloween photos and head on over to Right at Home Scrapbooking Store! Be sure to post your layouts in the Right at Home gallery, so we can all be inspired!

Hidden Journaling

This week's challenge at Scrapping Out LOUD! is to use hidden journaling. You know, for those private thoughts you don't want to display. Or, in my case, for those times when you just don't have enough room in your design for a journaling card or strips. Here's my take.

Enthusiastic Reader: Jonathan loves to read, and this layout shows that enthusiasm upon receiving a copy of Where the Wild Things Are. I just love the colors and the book paper accents of this October Afternoon Farm Fresh.




Be sure to check out the blog for more ideas and to see what's up for grabs this month.

Halloween Greetings

It's Monday. Reveal day at The Scrappiest. Woo hooo! And it's a circle layout. LOVE it!

Halloween Greetings: My husband gave my kids each a musical Halloween card since he wouldn't be home this year. My boys were super excited to receive them. They opened and closed the card over and over and over........And they danced and sang. Oh, it was sweet! The simple things, hun?

Supplies: Cardstock: Bazzill; Patterned Paper: Basic Grey, Pink Paislee; Chipboard: Basic Grey, American Crafts; Mist: Tattered Angels; Tag: Jenni Bowlin; Alphas: American Crafts; Punch: Fiskars. All from Noel Mignon's The 31st kit.

The other design team member's layouts are amazing! Be sure to pop over to the blog and check them out.

Shin guards and cleats . . .

and kicking balls with your feet--that's what soccer is made of! Does that tune ring a bell? It's my version of the familiar rhyme, Snips and Snails and Puppy Dog's Tails--That's what little boys are made of. For November's challenge at Scrap the Boys, we were told to be inspired by that rhyme. Here's my take.

Soccer: Most of my soccer photos are pre-game pics since I don't have a telephoto lens. Hopefully, Santa will help me out with that a little, and my Spring season photos will have more action. But, in the meantime, I thought I'd scrap my guy warming up before the game. Literally. Do you see that hoodie? *laugh*






Supplies: Cardstock: Bazzill; Patterned Paper, Die Cuts: Bo Bunny Soccer; Mist: Tattered Angels; Brads: The Paper Studio.

I just love how the big misted soccer ball turned out. I made a mask by cutting the soccer ball out of the corner of one of the pieces of paper. I had to use the exacto knife to get the centers out, but it was sure worth it in the end. I'll be eyeing all my papers in a new way to see if I can create a mask. The Glimmer Mist is so subtle and can be whatever color I want.

Be sure to pop over to Scrap the Boys to see the rest of the design team's layouts......pure eye candy! While you're there, check out this month's prize. YUM.