Happy birthday...

to my sweet, smart, getting-bigger-by-the-moment 8 year-old!



Materials were from the October 2010 Dixie Pieces kit.

Last projects before Christmas

A few more Christmas projects and one for the new year!

This year, I decided to bundle each child's gifts together (I love the look, and it prevents snooping!), and I added a tag with their names.


Each of the kids drew a name of one of their cousins to shop for, and I added a little pad of note paper (using up those scraps again) with their name on the front.


Lastly, we have a book with a small Catholic/Christian fact that we've read during our family prayer time each night, but we are almost done with it. We decided to create a gratitude journal for the next year to replace it. To make this, I repurposed one of Z's binders from last year that was falling apart... tore apart the front, spine, and back and re-supported it with chipboard and my best friend lately, my hot glue gun. I then decorated it with a healthy dose of Restoration by Crate Paper and a bit of Bazzill, Stickles, and Liquid Pearls. I still need to Mod Podge it, but here's what it looks like...


I wish you a very blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Christmas coupon book

Two years ago, I made a coupon book for each of the kids of little things that they could redeem on their terms. They think it was the best present they've ever gotten, so I'm bringing it back this year. Here are some images.

All product used (with the exception of black cardstock and jump rings) is Crate Paper.

Journaling Junkie: Changes

Changes in one year is the topic this time.

I used product from tons of different places for this one, which was pretty fun.

The "B. You" tag was appropriate because we call my daughter "B". It was from a Target toy, and my sister was the one that told me I should keep it for a page... she should totally scrapbook!

Journaling:
Bella, You've gone through so much change every year, but you continue to stay my beautiful, sweet, smart girl. I love to watch you grow, but if I could keep you little forever, I would do it in a heartbeat! I love you!

Spring Walk

Another one using the Dixie Pieces December kit...

Christmas decor

Here are a few things that I made this year in addition to our usuals.



This tree was for the baby... just like ones I did for the big kids a few years back. Just a styrofoam base along with buttons and straight pins.



The garland was an ornament pad from K & Company.

Family Meeting

One about A meeting the family...


I used the Dixie Pieces December kit for this one.

Class project

Z had a to do a project with a report on and facsimile of a famous person. He chose Sitting Bull. B, naturally, wanted to make one of her own. Scrapbooking supplies are useful in so many ways!

Scrapbook News and Review

I am going to have FOUR layouts published in the upcoming issue of Scrapbook News and Review. This is my first time submitting work for publication, and I was nervous, but I'm so glad I did it now!

Volume #3, Issue #12 will debut on Sunday, December 12, 2010 at 8pm. Make sure to get your copy so that you can see them. :)

UPDATE: "Snow Pizza" be found in the "Yummy Holiday Treats" section, and the other three are located in the "Holiday Spotlight" section.

Journaling Junkie: Ornaments

This challenge was about a favorite Christmas ornament.

Here is my submission from last year's December Daily book.



Journaling:
J: wedding cake
H: a house, because I love being home to raise the kids
Z: piano player
B: glass snowman
And for A, I picked her 1st Christmas ornament.

This is an easy one that you might already have done... submit it over at the JJ site for us all to see!

Imaginisce

I created these pieces for the Imaginisce design team try-out.

handmade presents

Each year for Christmas, I make something for the kids. I've done blankets, cereal bowls, hair bows, decor for their rooms...

This year, something possessed me to make slippers AND stuffed animals.

Let me pause here to say that I don't own a sewing machine... or even know how to use one.

*sigh*

You can imagine what my hands look like right now. And even worse, what they feel like...

For the slippers, I bought 9 sheets of felt, one sheet of foam (for added sole support), and three decorative patches. Total cost: $6.50

The stuffed animals are repurposed pillowcases, buttons that I already had, and felt leftover from the slippers. Total cost: nothing

LOVE that.

I've finished 2 out of 3 pairs of slippers and 1 of 3 stuffed animals.

It's taking me roughly 2 days for each at this point, now that I've gotten into a rhythm.

So, you won't see tons of paper projects from me right now. And I know they are rather wonky, but that's okay... because my kids are going to love these on Christmas morning!

*smile*

Leaving you with a few pics. The slippers really aren't that off... I think one was curled up when I photographed it, but they are the same size. Promise!

Put me in, Coach

Another one, and I don't even like baseball...

Most materials are from the November Dixie Pieces kit (and I still have more left!).

Meeting Annie

Did this one for my son, meeting his new baby sister for the first time.

Again, this was created with the November Dixie Pieces kit.

A baseball layout

Four and a half years ago, we went on a tour of Jacobs Field (now Progressive Field) in Cleveland... I'm just now scrapping this for my husband's album.

I used the November Dixie Pieces kit.

Journaling Junkie: Pets

This one is an easy one... it's about pets!

I have a 9-ish year old long-haired cat named Chaquoia.

Here is my journaling about her:
She can be the most infuriating creature when she leaves "presents" around the house or scratches the furniture, but she sure is a beautiful cat. We got her about the same time I got pregnant with Z, and she would sleep on my stomach, as if protecting us from harm. My other pregnancies, though, she would freak out towards the end, worrying about what it would mean for her, I imagine. When we go on vacation, she gets upset but not nearly as much as when we left her in a kennel for a week and refused to eat. Poor thing just loves us to no end... unless we have guests over, and then she'll generally hide!

Halloween Pumpkin

I don't love this layout... BUT, I don't hate it as much as I did. I guess that's a good thing. I think my time for scrapping Halloween pictures had passed and I no longer had the "spirit" left for this one. I am glad to have one more story told, though.

Journaling Junkie: Your Art

Challenge 91 over at JJ is about celebrating the artist in us all!



Journaling: You two spontaneously drew these pictures of me one day when we went out to lunch. Your art is so precious to me. It instantly melts my heart because I know it comes from yours. Thank you for all of the lovely little things you make me!

Coach Daddy

Another with the Dixie Pieces November kit...

First Game High

The Dixie Pieces kit for November is perfect for scrapping all the boy pics that I have laying around. I had to make this one for my son right away!

Disgruntled Angel

I was feeling Christmas-y and finally scrapped this pic from last year.

Last of the cards

More cards?!? Are you kidding?

Another set of cards

Journaling Junkie: Goals

Challenge 90: a dream you have, a goal you'd like to reach.

... or not, in my case.

Here's my journaling:
When I was in 2nd grade, I wrote an essay for a creative writing competition on what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote that I wanted to help people by becoming a nurse. It actually won an award! Only... I didn't know what I wanted to be, but I knew I definitely did NOT want to be a nurse. It was a running joke in our family for a long time. My first award was a fraud!
Fast forward to Bella in preschool. The class created a poster of what they wanted to be when they grew up. She said "a nurse." When I told her that I had no idea, and I thought that was great, her eyes got huge, she looked horrified, and said, "I DON'T want to be a nurse!"
In some ways, she is SO me.

Come play along with us!

Blessings

My new niece's baby dedication was yesterday, and I made this card for her!

A start on Christmas cards

... thanks to Scrapdango!

Card day

I created these four cards for the Scrapdango crop...