ScrappingMomOf3

First Pair of Glasses

2012-02-10T13:55:00.000-05:00

Used the new Winter Twig line here (from a Scrapdango kit)... LOVE these papers as much as the original!

Fall 2011 layouts

2012-02-09T13:49:00.004-05:00

I had been wanting to save these gorgeous Crate papers (from a recent Scrapdango kit) because I loved them so much, but I finally had to break into them...

Speaking of Scrapdango, there's a new owner over there and tons of fun to come... join us on the boards!

SCY: 7-4

2012-01-26T00:01:00.002-05:00

For this S:CY sketch, I did three layouts... one for each of my kids about July 4th.

I used a Scrapdango kit for these.

SCY: Field Trip

2012-01-12T00:01:00.002-05:00

Here's my take on the first S:CY sketch of the year.

Journaling: You told me, “Itwas the best field trip ever!” I’ll never forget how you WANTED me to sitbeside you on the bus and held my hand at different points throughout the day. You loved the IMAXmovie about forces of nature and the crime solving lab. I loved watching youexplore and play and having you all to myself. I love being with you... I love being your mom. Thank you for being so sweet. I love you!

A Capital Day revisited

2012-01-02T06:08:00.000-05:00

Two more layouts on one of our D.C. daytrips from last year.

Times Square

2011-12-31T13:27:00.002-05:00

In honor of tonight's ball drop, here are three layouts on our stop in Times Square this past summer...

Happy New Year!

Thankful for you

2011-12-16T12:25:00.001-05:00

Backtracking to a Thanksgiving layout (because you should still be thankful at Christmas, right?)...

Annie Meets Snow

2011-12-13T12:22:00.002-05:00

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

2011-12-11T12:20:00.001-05:00

Christmas 2010

2011-12-09T12:18:00.001-05:00

All {she wants} for Christmas...

2011-12-04T12:42:00.002-05:00

is to NOT lose any more teeth.

She has a fit when a tooth is loose! I love that toothless grin, though, and I'm going to miss it if her permanent teeth ever come in...

Stationery card

2011-12-03T12:36:00.001-05:00

Snowflakes Ribbon Christmas Card

Turn your favorite photos into Christmas cards at Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.

Variation on yesterday's layout...

2011-12-02T00:20:00.001-05:00

Time to share Christmas layouts!

2011-12-01T00:01:00.002-05:00

We don't put our tree up until December 1, so I've been waiting until now to share Christmas layouts also! =)

Cousin vs. Cousin Football

2011-11-29T19:50:00.003-05:00

My oldest LOVES football. And so does my sister's little boy. Lately, whenever they are together outside, it's all football, all the time. I love that.

{Kit from Scrapdango.}

Thanksgiving

2011-11-28T14:22:00.004-05:00

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday!

I'm just popping in to share a layout from last year's Thanksgiving, showing my son's list of things he was thankful for. :)

{Kit from Scrapdango.}

SCY: 1st swim meet (part 2)

2011-11-24T00:01:00.002-05:00

Sketches: Creatively Yours has a new sketch up!

Again, I didn't stray far from the sketch this time (what's up with that?!?!)...

I used up the remainder of my July Scrapdango kit on this one.

Please go see what the other designers made this time around!

A huge giveaway

2011-11-23T08:04:00.001-05:00

Just dropping in to share this AMAZING giveaway with you... $10,000 worth of prizes will go to ONE person!

http://laurawinslowphotography.com/blog/2011/11/21/10000-holiday-bloggie-bash-laura-winslow-photography/

Happy Thanksgiving!

SCY: 1st swim meet (part 1)

2011-11-10T00:01:00.005-05:00

This is my first reveal for my new term at Sketches: Creatively Yours. I'm so happy to be back!

Both of my takes on this month's sketches are going to be on the big kids first day of swim team. I stayed pretty true to the sketch here...

I used the July Scrapdango Sugar kit here.

I would love to see you play along this month!

Log Your Memory: I can finally share!

2011-11-09T07:52:00.005-05:00

I've been part of a "secret" design team for two months now.

Have you heard of Log Your Memory yet?

If you are looking for help with where to get started when it comes to sharing your stories, this is an amazing book... actually TWO separate books - the actual 2012 Memory Logbook, which has the calendar pages and questionnaires - and a separate Real Life Scrapbooking Weekly Challenges: Time Capsule book, which has the actual Weekly Challenges.

There is also a special area of the website just for Weekly Challenge book owners!

I am so honored to be a part of this special team.

Here is the official announcement.

This is where you can make your purchase (because you are NOT going to want to miss out!).

Thanks for letting me share my excitement!

A Capital Day

2011-11-06T12:07:00.003-05:00

My first layout about our day trip to D.C. on President's Day.

Scrapdango, naturally!

Redskins vs. Browns

2011-11-05T12:06:00.003-04:00

Digging deep into my stash of both pictures AND scrapbooking supplies for this one!

I pulled out some older Studio Calico and Sassafras for the page.

The pics are from a football game that my husband and I went to in 2001... another lifetime ago!

Canal Cruise

2011-11-04T12:01:00.002-04:00

This past spring, we went on a cruise of the Kanawha Canal and learned things about Richmond that we never knew. I want to go back and take more pics of the kids there!

More Scrapdango here! You knew that was coming, though, didn't you?

Autumn

2011-11-03T11:59:00.002-04:00

Using more of last month's Scrapdango Sugar kit!

A fall page for my medium DD this time.

Fall

2011-11-02T11:57:00.000-04:00

Capturing Fall last year, when my baby turned 1!

Another Scrapdango Sugar kit here.

Thankful for you

2011-11-01T11:54:00.001-04:00

Thought I should tackle last year's Thanksgiving photos before this year sneaks up on me!

Used a Scrapdango Sugar kit here!

Photography

2011-10-21T07:59:00.002-04:00

Confession: I'm taking Karen Russell's Photography Workshop, and it's seriously cutting into my scrappy time.

I have learned a ton, but I think I might be the worst photographer to ever take her class. I guess that means I could be the most improved, no? :)

I highly recommend it if you want to improve your photography skills.

Have a lovely weekend!

Callum

2011-10-19T13:46:00.003-04:00

My newest nephew was born in June...

I made this for a Scrapdango challenge last month and realized that I hadn't yet posted it here!

Basket baller

2011-10-17T13:41:00.002-04:00

Loved getting these memories together finally!

College Football Heaven

2011-10-16T13:37:00.002-04:00

I had been meaning to get these pics from last year scrapped for a long time... so glad I did!

Our hometown

2011-10-15T13:33:00.002-04:00

Since I made one of these layouts for my DS, I needed to get one done for my medium DD as well!

Parent Swim Meet

2011-10-14T13:16:00.008-04:00

I created this one about a very fun backwards swim meet where the parents competed and the kids ran the event. Our whole family loved it!

I used the July 2011 Sugar Scrapdango kit.

SCY: Student of the Month

2011-10-13T00:01:00.001-04:00

I loved this Sketches: Creatively Yours design, and I'm still loving this Pink Paislee paper... I'm going to miss it when it's gone!

Hop over to S:CY to see the other designers' work!

SCY: Bye, Bye Baby

2011-10-07T06:37:00.002-04:00

Ali has a special sketch this week at Sketches: Creatively Yours.

My baby is growing up so fast I can hardly believe it... she'll be two on Wednesday!

You can play along to win a guest spot... just link back to this sketch on the main site.

Have a lovely weekend!

Sketches: Creatively Yours

2011-10-03T06:42:00.003-04:00

I am so honored to have been asked to serve another term at Sketches: Creatively Yours. Ali's designs push me to think differently about my pictures on hand than I might otherwise (and that's a GREAT thing). I hope you'll be able to play along with us soon. You can read the announcement here.

Journaling Junkie: Favorite Cartoon Character

2011-10-01T12:31:00.002-04:00

Loved this JJ challenge... I had been wanting to get this down for a few months!

Journaling: Phineas and Ferb is by far your favorite show at the moment. You generally choose to "be" Phineas. I think you can relate to how smart and creative and fun he is. It's fun to imagine all the what-ifs of their adventures. Yes, we're all a bit P+F obsessed... watching the new episodes, even though they come on LONG past your bedtime, and listening to the songs in the car. If only summer lasted forever...!

P.S. PLEASE ignore the messiness of the room in the pic! LOL.

SCY: New Reader

2011-09-30T00:01:00.003-04:00

This picture is actually from last spring. I meant to scrap it long before now, but Ali's most recent sketch for Sketches: Creatively Yours was perfect for getting it done.

Jamestown Birthday

2011-09-22T00:01:00.002-04:00

Today is my husband's birthday. I finally got this page done about his birthday 11 years ago!

So Naughty

2011-09-19T12:40:00.002-04:00

I caught my medium daughter taking her baby sister out of her crib several months back, and, although I didn't love her doing that, I had to grab the camera!

Waiting for Rylie

2011-09-18T12:36:00.001-04:00

It's been a year since my beautiful niece joined our family. We waited so long for the process to be complete, and the wait wasn't easy, especially for her parents or her siblings and cousins.

I can't believe how much she has changed in the past 12 months. We love you, Rylie!

Montreal

2011-09-17T12:32:00.003-04:00

I wanted to do a layout for my husband's album, so I asked him about his favorite road trip prior to our marriage. He chose a baseball trip to Montreal.

I also submitted this for a challenge over at Scrapdango.

SCY: Beach Day 2011

2011-09-16T00:01:00.004-04:00

Ali has a GREAT new sketch up at Sketches: Creatively Yours... so great, that I actually did three layouts (one for each of my kids' albums) based on it.

Journaling Junkie: Check

2011-09-15T00:01:00.003-04:00

It's a new journaling challenge! This time at Journaling Junkie, we are scrapping something from our Bucket List.

Journaling: It's one thing every parent in this part of the country plans for their kids- a trip to Disney World. You two were a great age to run all over the parks and still be amazed at the magic and endless fun!

Journaling Junkie: Hometown

2011-09-07T09:28:00.003-04:00

The new challenge at Journaling Junkie is on your hometown... what you like to do, where visitors go, what akes it unique.

Journaling:
We have such a rich history in Hanover that we finally just had to take a day to see some of the things we'd never stopped at before... Hanover Courthouse and Old Jail, Hanover Tavern, Polegreen Church, and Beaver Dam Creek Battlefield. We learned that Patrick Henry was even more instrumental in Hanover than we originally thought. YAY for local history!

Great Wolf Lodge

2011-09-05T08:52:00.003-04:00

Created these three with the July 2011 Scrapdango kit. The first one, I submitted for this week's School's In challenge on the forum there. Come play with us!

PageMaps: best friends

2011-09-02T10:51:00.002-04:00

Guess who contributed to PageMaps this month? Hop over to check out the other layouts and sketches!

SCY: Last Day of School

2011-08-26T00:01:00.006-04:00

School starts on Monday for my big kids. :( Here's a layout on their last day of school, which I'm already looking forward to again!

The sketch came from Ali over at Sketches: Creatively Yours... come see the other designers' work!

Date with Mommy

2011-08-23T00:01:00.002-04:00

Got this one in just before taking my son on another date. The pictures here are actually from LAST summer. Used Scrapdango here, too.

A girl and her cat

2011-08-20T00:01:00.002-04:00

Love the way that the baby is enthralled with our cat! Yet again, a Scrapdango kit pulls it all together.

Presents

2011-08-18T00:01:00.002-04:00

One last one from my youngest's first birthday party... used a Scrapdango kit here.

Base Running

2011-08-16T11:23:00.000-04:00

I love Jillibean. Luckily, one of the most recent Scrapdango kits was exploding with it!

Journaling Junkie: Favorite Recipe

2011-08-15T11:50:00.002-04:00

The new challenge at Journaling Junkie is on your favorite recipe.

It's been awhile since I posted a recipe for my cookbook scrapbook.

A few weeks back, the kids and I had a cooking day, where we made the entire week's dinners in one hour. One of the things that we made was this super simple crab salad that we ALL loved! I hope you'll give it a try and let me know if you enjoyed it as much as we did.

SCY: Building our House

2011-08-12T00:01:00.003-04:00

I used a Scrapdango kit to create this layout from one of Ali's fab sketches for Sketches: Creatively Yours.

August slowdown

2011-08-07T10:33:00.002-04:00

I'm trying to savor these last weeks before my big kids go back to school, so you will see a general slowdown on my blog. I have a few reveals pre-posted, and I'll post some recent layouts that I have tucked away, but that might be it for a few weeks. I'll be back when my heart is away playing in the schoolyard. Enjoy your families!

SCY: Leader

2011-08-05T00:01:00.002-04:00

This is my layout for the latest sketch over at Sketches: Creatively Yours. I needed to document this story, on how my daughter was a leader at preschool... she could convince anyone to play any game that she chose. I love that about her!

Journaling Junkie: Favorite Things

2011-08-02T08:52:00.006-04:00

Does anyone else have the Sound of Music song in their heads now? No... just me?

The new challenge at Journaling Junkie is on your favorite things.

Because I turn 35 (gasp!) this month, I wanted to highlight 35 things about myself.

1. I am a die-hard HOKIE… loved my time at VT and can’t wait until my kids go there.

2. Speaking of kids, my kids are my favorite people in the world.

3. I was a music education major for two years before deciding that if I taught, I would never want kids of my own. I finished my finance major in two years so that I could graduate “on time” by taking several 21+ credit semesters (and I still never turned down the opportunity to go out for a beer).

4. The Melting Pot is my favorite restaurant.

5. I converted to Catholicism in 2001, and I am totally at home in the Church.

6. I miss living in D.C. I still read the Washington Post. And, no, the traffic didn’t bother me that much.

7. I miss working. I love that I decided to take a break to stay home with the kids, but I miss accomplishing goals and getting PAID.

8. I became a Democrat in college largely because my beliefs were more aligned with that party, but also because I didn’t feel, as a woman, that the Republican Party really cared if I was part of it or not.

9. I am addicted to chick-lit books.

10. My favorite drinks are a good Merlot, Mountain Dew, and Starbucks Caramel Frappuccino

11. I never learned to swim or ride a bike.

12. I am huge on recycling and try to buy only organic produce. I would love to buy almost all organic foods, but WOW would that be expensive.

13. We are only 13 years away from paying off our house, thanks to a great seller’s market when we left D.C.

14. I’m an optimist, and Joey is a pessimist… makes things interesting!

15. My first car was a wood-paneled station wagon. NO I didn’t buy it; it was the one that my parents allowed me to have almost-exclusive use of.

16. We live in a subdivision down the street from the house I grew up in. If you told me when I was a teenager that I would live here BY CHOICE as an adult, I would have never believed you.

17. I am a classic oldest child, and I still think my sisters had it easier than I did when we were growing up.

18. I use scrapbooking as a tool to document my family’s life. When I’m no longer here someday, they will have books of not only pictures, but my own love letters to them, to hold onto.

19. I love snow and complain about the heat every day of summer.

20. My least favorite chores are folding laundry and emptying the dishwasher.

21. I often have horrifying dreams about someone breaking into our house and have since I was a child.

22. I sing in the car. Loudly. And not very well.

23. I’ve been pulled over by the police for speeding five times and only received one ticket… on the day that I drove an hour and a half for a wedding dress fitting.

24. I’m a stickler about the kids’ bedtimes so that I can have some much-needed downtime at night. With each minute that goes by without them being ready, my patience wears thinner. As far as my bedtime, I usually am falling asleep by 10pm.

25. I have only my mom left before my in our branch of the family tree, and I think that just sucks.

26. I don’t like dogs. I was scratched on the face by a neighborhood dog when I was 3 and had to have stitches. I don’t remember it, but almost all dogs still terrify me.

27. First memory: riding big wheels on the sidewalk in front of our house with the twins from across the street; Second memory: the day we moved to Virginia from Ohio. I cried because I didn’t want to leave the “my” house, the only one I remembered.

28. I can take on a northern or southern accent depending on who I’m talking to… Born in Lancaster County, PA (no, my parents were not Amish), then lived in Ohio before moving here… wonder anyone can understand me.

29. I could eat strawberries and peaches every meal of the day, but I can’t stand strawberry or peach ice cream.

30. The night of Joey’s and my first official date, I was sick but went anyway.

31. Every big storm that we had when I was growing up, we slept in the living room because of a huge dead tree that was in the woods right beside our house (but not on our property; the owners refused to cut it down)

32. I hate that I can’t remember the last time I played my clarinet.

33. I got a black eye when I was 6 or so, sledding with the kids in our area… one of the teenagers sledded right into me.

34. I was seriously not happy when I arrived home from school the day that Kristen was born. My mom’s mom was there, and I wanted my Mommy.

35. Within a month of getting every hair cut, I wish I had let it grow out.

I used a Scrapdango kit for this one!

SCY: 1st Reconciliation

2011-07-29T00:01:00.003-04:00

I knew this week's Sketches: Creatively Yours sketch would be perfect for these pictures from my son's first confession. This one is from Ali.

I used a Scrapdango kit for this one.

Puckhead

2011-07-26T00:01:00.002-04:00

I was very careful typing that title.

We are big hockey fans. At a Washington Capitals game last year, my son picked out this huge foam puck hat and said, "Look! I'm a puckhead!" It took me a long time to stop laughing after that one.

Thank you

2011-07-25T12:20:00.003-04:00

I made this card and welcome sign as a thank you for my husband's cousin, who we stayed with a few weekends back. I am so proud of the way the canvas turned out.

SCY: The only pic I've ever taken in a public bathroom...

2011-07-22T00:01:00.005-04:00

This week's Sketches: Creatively Yours prompt comes from our guest, Charlotte, again.

Be sure to hop over to see the other designers' fabulous work!

I used a Scrapdango kit on this layout.

CHA Summer Wishlist

2011-07-21T14:54:00.003-04:00

Are you excited yet? These are the newest things that I have my heart set on....

Studio Calico Memoir line
Crate Paper Farmhouse line
American Crafts Amy Tangerine

What's on yours?

Transportation Walk

2011-07-19T14:51:00.002-04:00

Last year, we went to a Washington Nationals game, and there was an outdoor transportation museum of sorts on the way from the parking lot to the stadium. Hubby was anxious to get to the game, but I couldn't resist pics first!

4th of July

2011-07-18T00:01:00.001-04:00

One more from last year's festivities...

Journaling Junkie: Favorite movie

2011-07-16T00:01:00.000-04:00

The newest Journaling Junkie challenge is to create a layout on your favorite movie.

I don't watch a lot of movies, but this one I've seen many times!

Journaling: Joey and I watch this movie each year around Christmas. Sounds cheesy, but it does remind me to look for love everywhere, in all things. And, I'm a sap for a good British accent (or two... or twenty!).

Home Parties

2011-07-15T00:01:00.000-04:00

I wanted to get this one down about how almost all of my birthday parties growing up were at home, whether simple cake parties or (usually) sleepovers.

I can't believe my kids are at the age that they are starting to sleep away also!

I used the October 2010 Dixie Pieces kit here.

Cousins

2011-07-14T13:10:00.002-04:00

I took this picture in January of my kids and their immediate cousins. Naturally, now that I've finally scrapped it, there's a new cousin.

Sigh....

Now I have a new layout on the list. :)

Again, it's using the April 2011 Scrapdango kit.

Routine Randomness

2011-07-13T08:26:00.007-04:00

That describes our summer days.

I decided that applied perfectly to Sassafras' challenge to mix up their lines in a layout.

Here, I used Bungle Jungle and Apple Jack papers; Flower Child, Beatnik, and Shindig paper whimsies; glitter alphas; and even packaging (title backings)!

The journaling reads: Summer is all about routine randomness!

Thanks to Jimmy Buffett for the perfect title.

Mother's Day By the Numbers

2011-07-12T12:59:00.002-04:00

Mother's Day this year was packed with so many things! Here's a look at everything we did:

3 Hours slept the previous night by me
6:07am Time awoken
214 Strawberries picked
3 Immediate family members receiving Eucharist (it was also my son's First Communion!)
0 Meals cooked
5 Handmade gifts received
10 Handmade cards given
3 Number of public bathrooms visited with Bella
2 Number of times braiding Bella's hair
3 Diapers changed
1 Starbucks drink
2 Outfit changes
200 Pictures taken
10:17 Bedtime
3 Number of children who love me beyond measure
*Infinity* Number of ways that I am blessed by being a mother

I used the Dreamsicle Dixie Pieces kit here.

First Day of Second Grade

2011-07-11T12:56:00.002-04:00

There was a challenge on the Scrapdango forum to complete a school layout in honor of school being out for summer, so I pulled out these pics from the first day last year. I used Tim Holtz, Graphic 45, and journaling cards from my stash for this one.

Backwards Dinner

2011-07-10T12:54:00.003-04:00

Each year, on the first day of school, we have a backwards dinner... just for fun. I needed to get that in the album!

This was another one with the Scrapdango April 2011 kit.

A Moment In Time

2011-07-09T12:43:00.004-04:00

I love having this picture of Zachary in the backyard of my parents' house just before Mom sold it. I spent so much time out there playing, walking, listening to music in the sun. That day, he enjoyed it just as much as I always had.

I just the April 2011 Scrapdango kit for this layout.

SCY: Easter Joy

2011-07-08T00:01:00.004-04:00

I know... it's Independence Day time, not Easter, but these pics worked perfectly with this week's sketch from Sketches: Creatively Yours. This month's guest is Charlotte, aka Suepup, and her sketches are gorgeous.

Go have a look at the other designers' fabulous work!

Two Fourth of July layouts

2011-07-07T00:01:00.003-04:00

I used this mini-kit from Scrapdango (and last year's pics, of course!)

4th of July mega pinwheel flowers

2011-07-06T12:14:00.003-04:00

I know the fourth is over, but I wanted to share with you these pinwheels that I made for the kids...

Happy 4th!

2011-07-04T12:59:00.001-04:00

Just a quick note to wish you a beautiful day and to let you know I'm still here, still reading your blogs!

As soon as Blogger fixes it's commenting issues, I'll be back to leaving you some love on your own blogs.

In the meantime, know that I'm still reading them!

Journaling Junkie: God Only Knows

2011-07-01T00:01:00.003-04:00

This fortnight's challenge at Journaling Junkie is to journal about one decision you would change if you could live your life all over again.

I can honestly say I wouldn’t change a thing, despite the bad times, even more despite the REALLY terrible times: the heartbreak, the dark nights, the wanting to give it all up… because if I changed something, I might not be in the great place that I am now, living the life that I wanted: not always easy, but full of love!

Title: God Only Knows (what I’d be without you) {from the Beach Boys song}
Journaling: You three are the best things that ever happened to me. I truly cannot imagine where I would be right now without being your mom. There’s no way I could be as fulfilled, as happy, as I am with you- each and every day. I love you so very much!

I've been wanting to pare down my ribbon stash, so it forms the entire background of this layout (mounted on cardstock). I also made a card with the small leftovers...

One set of pictures, three ways

2011-06-28T00:01:00.002-04:00

With three kids, I always scrap big events in triplicate (they each have their own set of albums).

Here is the set of three layouts on our visit to Luray Caverns last summer.

I would love to hear which one appeals to you the most!

McDonald's birthday party

2011-06-25T00:01:00.000-04:00

Here, I pulled out pictures from my childhood and used the October 2010 Dixie Pieces kit to complete a challenge at Scrapdango.

Summer activities for kids

2011-06-23T20:30:00.004-04:00

My kids are the type to complain that they are bored, so I was proactive this summer, inspired by my medium DD's Girl Scouts badges, to create a "badge" program with 50 different activities that they can do in whatever order they want (although the Christmas in Summer cannot take place until they have earned 24 badges, and, obviously, to earn the final one everything else must be complete.

Each of the older kids has their own ribbon attached to the wall to hang their awards on... I'm making them out of my scraps!

I hope this helps you to have a less boring summer. LOL. I'd love to hear how it works for you... we are almost 2 weeks in, and the kids and I are all loving it. I plan to modify it each year to try new things.

Requirements to earn a badge- complete (no more than two a day, unless they are out of town experiences) and journal about your experience
Badge Name - Description
1. An Apple a Day - No Sugar Day
2. Mother Nature – Planting a tree
3. Hiking
4. BioDome - go to the zoo
5. Until Someone Gets Hurt- Game day (soccer, basketball, board games, cards, magic tricks)
6. Shhhhh – Read 15 books (of appropriate difficulty) throughout the summer
7. The Baljeet Award- Z- master multiplication/division; B- become quicker at addition and subtraction
8. Get Moving – Slip n Slide, Bubbles, Fly a Kite, water balloons, picnic lunch, run a mile
9. Out of this World – Watch a sunrise and sunset, star/planet gaze (telescope)
10. Know Thyself – Write in a journal at least once a week
11. Mommy Rules- Go on a date with Mommy
12. Daddy Rocks- Go on a date with Daddy
13. Catch a Wave- go to the beach, build a sandcastle, collect shells
14. Smarty Pants – finish workbook over the summer
15. No rivalry here – make something for your sister/brother
16. Christmas in Summer: pick out a $5 treat
17. Fresh from the Garden- pick out food from a produce stand
18. Older than Dirt- visit a museum
19. Around the World- pick a country, learn five words in the native language, learn 10 facts, try foods
20. Mozart- part 1: perform a piano concert for our family; part 2- go to a concert
21. Oscars- go to the movies
22. Gotham – learn and have fun in New York
23. Wonders of the World- Natural Bridge
24. Culinary- Help prepare a week’s worth of dinners in one afternoon
25. Love thy Neighbor – deliver a treat bag and run away!
26. Aviary – make a bird house
27. Archery
28. Ancestry – visit your oldest relatives (great-grandparents)
29. Adventurer- try a new food, learn a new skill, and do something you don’t like
30. Religion- read a new Bible story and say an extra prayer each day for a week, attend a weekday Mass, go to confession (Z)
31. Touch the Sky- Blue Ridge Parkway
32. Friendship- Plan a play date
33. Love Thyself- Learn to tie shoes, wash own hair (Bella), clean ears, brush teeth for at least 1.5 minutes each time.
34. Construction – Build a blanket fort, block tower, candy lego tournament
35. Lost & Found- make up a scavenger hunt for your sibling (and color/play with Annie!)
36. Rot Your Brain- Computer/Wii /TV day
37. Picasso- craft day
38. Mama is no Maid- help Mommy and Daddy with chores (at least 1x a week over the summer to earn the badge)
39. Vanderbilt would be proud- Travel by train
40. The next Michael Phelps- compete and have fun in a swim meet
41. Pen Pal- write and mail a letter to someone
42. Character- Obedience, Orderliness, Diligence, Loyalty, Deference, Cheerfulness, Gentleness (Kindness), Contentment, Gratitude, Truthfulness, Servanthood, and Hospitality. Pick two of these strengths and do a project that demonstrates them.
43. Lights, Camera, Action- make up and perform a play
44. Inside Out- do everything backwards- go up a down escalator, wear your clothes backwards, walk backwards, can you talk backwards?
45. Business- Run a Lemonade Stand
46. Patriotism – learn all five service branch hymns, watch fireworks
47. Hometown- Learn about where we live
48. Cycling- Learn to ride a two-wheeler
49. Letterboxing- Find three letterboxes (http://letterboxing.org)
50. Busy as a Bee- Earn all 49 badges… big time treat!

Call Me

2011-06-23T00:01:00.002-04:00

I had been wanting to scrap these pics for awhile now, and a recent Scrapdango prompt was the perfect excuse.

My youngest DD uses all kinds of things as a phone... she will hold them up to her ear and say "hello?". I love it!

Still loving the Daily Junque line from Pink Paislee and House of Three. I can't wait to see what they come up with next!

MawMaw mints

2011-06-22T00:01:00.002-04:00

I used the Dreamsicle Dixie Pieces kit for a "Then and Now" challenge at Scrapdango.

Journaling:
My MawMaw Boyers always had Hickory Farms mints that we called MawMaw mints. You guys have soft peppermint candies that you always ask your MawMaw for. I love traditions!

Father's Day card

2011-06-21T08:02:00.003-04:00

I just realized that I never shared the father's day card that I made for my husband...

She believed

2011-06-20T14:16:00.003-04:00

I saw a canvas by Nicole Pomeroy that I loved, and I wanted to make it my own.

She used a lot of paint and gesso, but, naturally, that is not my forte, so I pulled out Crate's Restoration line (again!)...

I'm off to go hang it in my 6 year-old's room!

Cloud Nine

2011-06-20T00:01:00.002-04:00

This one is about my medium DD and her LOVE of animals...

I completed it for a Scrapdango challenge to use the color green and a banner.

Journaling Junkie: Father's Day

2011-06-19T00:01:00.001-04:00

Happy Father's Day to the man that loves my kids almost as much as I do! :)

This is actually an 11x14 layout that I framed for him!

Such an easy prompt at Journaling Junkie this time around... come play along with us!

Journaling:
Zachary Bella
1. Because he reads me… Diary of a Wimpy Kid books Pet Shop books
2. Because he helps me… Get better at sports Open candy
3. Because he lets me… Play with him Have animals
4. Because he taught me how to… Play basketball Play soccer
5. Because he… Taught me to ride a scooter Taught me to ride a scooter
6. Because he finds time to… Give me horseyback rides Give me horseyback rides
7. Because he… Loves me Comes to have lunch with me
8. Because he takes me… Go-Karting To Cici’s
9. Because he works hard at… Teaching me to do new stuff Work
10. Because he is the BEST Dad ever!

SCY: Sympathy card

2011-06-17T00:01:00.003-04:00

I created this one based off of the new Sketches: Creatively Yours card sketch.

New Dresses

2011-06-16T09:32:00.003-04:00

I somehow missed posting this, though I've had it done for a few weeks.

It might be my favorite layout ever!

When my sister and her husband went to pick up their daughter from China, she picked out these awesome dresses for my girls.

Love this pic SO SO much!

Hope you do, too.

This one was for a Scrapdango challenge to use red and pink.

Red Hands, Happy Hearts

2011-06-14T11:19:00.003-04:00

I'm in love with these Sassafras sketches!

This page is on our Mother's day trip to pick strawberries...

Gauche Alchemy

2011-06-11T08:29:00.016-04:00

I'm trying something a little different today (I had too much coffee this morning!).

I thought I would have a little fun posting some projects done with Gauche Alchemy products(NOT mine... way cooler than mine!), that I found while trolling the web in an effort to be more artsy-thinking (which will hopefully translate into ME being able to create more artsy projects, which you know I've complained before that I fail miserably at). {Yes, I know that is a disaster of a sentence, but it fits perfectly with my disasterous painting experiments... and my high caffeine levels won't let me concentrate enough to fix it!}

One of my great addictions is cake shows. There's something about building layer after layer of yummy, creative goodness (oh, yes, and sugar... caffeine's best friend!) that keeps me looking for cake shows on TV.

Cake decorating style 1: vintage wedding

Imagine pearls and lace and dainty flowers.

Julia Stainton created this fabulous layout with producs from a Gauche kit using all three of these elements- emphasis on the amazing lace (Not Amazing Grace... that's a funeral song, not usually appropriate for a wedding.)! Look at the sparkle of the little blue gem. And, I just adore the rolled paper flowers.

Cake decorating style 2: child's birthday

Think crappy plastic toys. Horrible for a cake, right? Especially one that you paid $600 for.

But, genius for a layout. Can you imagine getting fun army men in a kit for use on a paper project?

Merdrey created this layout that I'm in love with (look at the paint splatters!)...

...{and, woot!, I just remembered that my son has a few army men that he got during the Valentine's swap at school. What do you suppose that means, anyway? I'm not sure war=love}.

Finally, cake decorating style 3: horror

{What? Have you never seen Cake Wrecks??? Go there after finishing this post!}

Horror... like a spider being stabbed to death. Okay, not really- that would be gross. But, take a look at this pin cushion by Carmen:

So.MUCH.fun!

I hope you enjoyed this post... I had fun writing it. And, now I need more coffee! I'll be back in a few days with my own work.

P.S. For more info on Gauche Alchemy, see their store or blog.

SCY: Baby meets pinata

2011-06-10T00:01:00.002-04:00

I actually scrapped this on Cinco de Mayo. I didn't plan it that way... it just happened, but I thought it was appropriate! :)

Loved this sketch for Sketches: Creatively Yours, but the curve on the right threw me at first. I'm happy with the decision to add ribbon there, though.

Used mostly Sassafras and (a lot!) of buttons from my stash on this one.

Trading card box

2011-06-08T00:01:00.002-04:00

My son loves trading cards. So much that they end up all over his bedroom floor more often than not... because he'll want to check a stat on one particular card.

This project doesn't solve the mess, but it might help with the organization.

I repurposed a shoebox, adding lots of boy papers to the top and sides, and split off the inside with chipboard into four rows.

Now he can organize by sport, year, or whatever. Once he decides on that, I'll make labeled chipboard tags.

No more mess.

Right?

Mommy cards

2011-06-06T12:13:00.002-04:00

Before my youngest was born, I had information cards that I could give out to my friends with my information on them.

I was thinking of ordering new ones, and then I decided to make my own.

I apologize for the blurring, but I didn't want my information out there for everyone. You understand, and I think you can get the idea, anyway.

I thought I'd give you an idea how I made them, though. The overall size is 2.25 inches x 3.5 inches. The backgrounds were all leftover scrap material. I printed out the information on one 8.5x11 inch sheet of paper, trimmed to size, inked the edges, glued to the background, and adhered a border sticker.

That's it!

Why buy them when they are that simple to make?

Happy crafting!

Scrapdango's Totally Rad Crop

2011-06-05T16:08:00.002-04:00

SCY: Picture Day

2011-06-03T00:01:00.003-04:00

I finally scrapped these pics from last year! When I saw Ali's sketch for Sketches: Creatively Yours, I immediately went for these pictures because I knew they would be perfect.

I used a Scrapdango kit for this one.

Journaling Junkie: Things Change

2011-06-02T00:01:00.002-04:00

Check out the newest challenge over at Journaling Junkie!

Journaling:
It's funny how you can tell your age based on your priorities in life. As a child, I wanted to be nice to others. In college, it was all about me. As an adult, it's about teaching my kids.

I used lots more Pink Paislee here!

Sassafras score!

2011-06-01T09:08:00.004-04:00

I made one of the top 20 submissions for Sassafras' May challenge with the frame that I shared with you a couple weeks back.

Notorious Adventure

2011-05-29T00:01:00.002-04:00

I created this layout for a Scrapdango challenge using pictures from my DS' spelling bee and a lot of Pink Paislee goodies.

Soccer picture day

2011-05-28T00:01:00.002-04:00

Love the way this grid turned out!

Again, another Scrapdango kit.

SCY: Baby surprise

2011-05-27T00:01:00.001-04:00

I loved the sketch now up at Sketches: Creatively Yours.

Not surprisingly, I needed to cram more photos on the layout that the sketch called for. I pulled out pics that are over 8 years old for this one. :)

Siblings

2011-05-26T00:01:00.002-04:00

A rare two-pager from me... for my youngest's album.

Used a Scrapdango kit for this one.