layout and gifts

Once again I was inspired by this wonderful group of ladies I hang out with online to complete a layout before the end of the month. And I finished it up last night but didn't get it posted until today. I was a little sidetracked with my thank you gift project.

Anywho... here is the sketch that was given to all of us to see what we could do with it. Pretty neato sketch.

And here is what I did with it. I totally messed up my pattern paper placement on the first page and had already glued everything down on the second page. Yes sometimes I work backwards from page two to page one. It's a quirk. But I am happy with how it came out. I pulled the papers from my stash that I found under holiday papers. Guess I'm pretty lucky that Easter colors don't seem to change year to year!! Used my handy dandy border punch (apron) that I totally LOVE!! That was part of my birthday present from my mom. Very happy I picked it up. Yes that is computer journaling on yellow vellum! Oh yeah baby, I went old school for that one.

As I was uploading the batch of pictures of my thank you gifts to the PTA moms, I realized I forgot two ladies. Not sure how that happened. So I was working on these next two sets today when I realized I forgot ANOTHER two!! OH MY WORD!!

So far I have made 102 cards and 12 gift boxes!! I have 16 more cards to make and two more gift boxes. And that does not include my end of the year thank you gifts to the secretaries and teachers that I need to get motoring on!

Here are the next two sets of cards with their respective boxes.

Now to dig out more of my DCWV stacks so I can pull some papers for the next two sets. Really hoping I now have gotten everyone on my list. Guess I should have thought this project through a little more than I did. At least I am having fun!!

easter 2012

We had a very relaxing and fun Easter. Nana and Papa were here to celebrate with us and Grandpa sent a box of goodies. The kids actually let us sleep in until 8am but after that they were quite insistent that we get up so they could hunt for the eggs the Easter Bunny left. Only one problem with that... they had already scoped out the family room and had found them all. So cute.

Here they are with their baskets before the hunt began.

Here are the contents of their baskets. Not too much candy as they are not big candy kids. There were Reece's peanut butter cups in Kira's eggs and Starburst Jelly Beans in Alex's.

And this was left by the Easter Bunny in our kitchen. So nice of him.

On Saturday we went to the rec center for their annual egg hunt. Thank goodness this year it was sunny and not raining. My parents had decided they didn't want to be peeps again this year. I don't know why... they were pretty cute peeps in their rain gear.

We were standing on the edge of the playground, waiting for them to call Go... Alex took off and landed there. Right past all those eggs!! Then he kept going into the center of the playground stepping over a ton of eggs. So cute. They had 1600 eggs on the playground for this group.

I'd say he did pretty darn good. He was happy.

Kira's age group (6-12) was released into the woods in a staggered start which put her at the end of the entering the woods. She was not happy with her collection, but did get a few more eggs from the rec center and seemed to perk up when we went to visit the Easter Bunny.

This is the only picture I got of the kids with the bunny this year. I didn't even take them to the mall. Not sure what was wrong with me... maybe next year I'll do better. I love how Alex is crossing his legs. So cute.

I finished up one layout that had been hanging out on the desk and am in the process of putting my journaling on a two pager. Hoping I can share those later.

actual scrapbook pages

I know so totally amazing! Not that I have done them over the past couple weeks. These were done and then lost in the piles of stuff that collected on my desk. Finally got them photographed and uploaded. Nothing slow about me! LOL

This is Kira's fourth grade class picture. I swirled the kids in the class since I don't have permission to post them. Very simple layout but it works. And I finally had a chance to use those metal letters that have been in my stash FOREVER!!

This one is of our very own Elf on a Shelf, Scout. We adopted him last year. He got himself into some pretty fun spots around the house. He was also a bit of trouble maker. One night he rearranged the tins on the Advent Calendar, another one he 'helped' put the candy canes on our tree by using them as a ladder to the top of the tree! On this particular night, he grabbed my point and shoot camera and had himself some fun around the house! The kids loved it and can't wait for him to come back this year to do it again!! Scout left the kids a letter on Christmas Eve since he was going back to the North Pole with Santa.

Easter Morning in our house this year. My 'enamel' embellishments didn't come out too good. I didn't adhere them very well before adding the glossy accents. Oh well... still like how this came out. Used a pagemap for this one. I don't remember which one though- sorry.

Alex at his family birthday party in Syracuse. He put on a bit of a dancing show for us before the party. So many cute shots I couldn't choose one or two. I used the Picasa collage feature to create the 8X10.

Another birthday layout with another collage. Love them. They make scrapping in a hurry much easier. This is my first banner. Not sure if I like it or not, but I did it. Cross that off my list of things to try.

Another wonderful collage. I didn't get very great pictures of Kira during her concert so it was good to be able to edit them into useful pictures for the collage. Love the big one of her with her BFF Michaela.

Here are a couple things I did do yesterday. Love them. I found the idea on Scrapbook.com from a scrapper named 3peaspress. So simple and fun to do. I bought different sizes of the glass ornaments to make up some photo ones and to have Kira make some for her friends. Thinking of all the fun things she can do with hers!!

Here's a close up. I used glitter number stickers to add the year. I also put a bit of glitter in the bottom of the ornament before I started rolling the paper strips. On a few of them, I would add a bit of glue to both ends and a small bit to the side before putting it in the ornament. Then I shook it so the glitter would stick to the paper. It's a little bit of bling and looks neat. The rolling of the paper is such a stress reliever. I did pack my ornaments pretty full as the rolls will unravel if left on their own and with space to grow. I liked the fuller look better for mine.

So those are two teacher gifts. I have to make another one for a helper in Alex's class and then Kira's Girl Scout leaders. I need more ornaments. Guess I should grab them while they are on sale at Michaels this week. That's where I am heading tomorrow!! And maybe some more ribbon. It's on sale too. ;)


I have figured out how to give them, I need to do it and make sure it works. Keep your eyes peeled for that!

project life 2011- weeks 16-19

Got my photo order from Winkflash and got my Project Life pretty much up to date. There are three weeks that are missing one picture each. Those pictures were on other peoples cameras and I didn't have them when I place my photo order. Those weeks will have to wait to be posted!!

Week 16- Spirit week for Kira and a rainy Easter Egg Hunt for us this week.

Week 17- Easter Sunday and then CKC weekend with Jackie!! That is some sticker shock over the price of gas on Tuesday!! Certainly not driving the car until it is empty anymore!!

Week 18- Kira will learn someday not to take silly pictures as more often than not, they end up in a scrapbook!!

Week 19- Mother's Day and the PTA's Spring Auction. Good week. Especially Monday night's drink with dinner... yummy.

freehand scraps sketch contest...

and the Punky Sprouts sketch contest that I have missed the deadline for :(

The first layout is for the Freehand Scraps sketch contest over at the Pagemaps blog. Here is the sketch....

And here is my take on the sketch. I had fun using all those thumbnail pictures that come with your order with Winkflash. They were perfect as embellishments on this layout. Some Doodlebug Easter pattern papers I have had for awhile, DCWV solid cardstock and Making Memories rub on letters for the title. Pretty sure all the blooms are primas, if not they are a giving a good impression of primas!! LOL

This year the kids moved so fast in finding the eggs, I didn't get many of the actual finding the eggs pictures. Kira would find an egg and then pose. Love it!! Alex was a blur in most pictures. Even with the sport mode on the camera!! He's fast!

This next layout was supposed to be for the Punky Sprouts sketch challenge but since I went away to enjoy some me time, I didn't get it entered (or completed) in time. But happy to have scrapped the pictures. Here's the sketch....

Here is the layout. This continues the wet egg hunt theme that was happening this year. Even my parents got in on the action. They were keeping dry but they looked just like a couple of peeps! I really really wanted to get a black marker and put some eyes on those hoods. I don't think they would have appreciated it but it was a funny thought. Yes I voiced that thought as well which was received with some snarls from both of them!!

Today I took the kids on a photo shoot around town. Trying to get some new pictures to replace their birthday ones from last year. Yes I am about six months late for Alex's but the timing would not work out, and Picture People is not the greatest place to get pictures taken anymore. For that I am really sad as I have loved going there since before Kira was even born. I don't like the direction the company is headed and their photographers no longer care about capturing the personalities of the kids but instead need to sell photos to be considered a good hire.

Personally I would think that if you have captured my child's personality, I would be willing to spend a small fortune to get those portraits into my house (and I have been known to do such things) So I opted for taking the pictures myself.

When I can narrow down the ones I am going to have enlarged and hang in the house, I will post those ones. If you want to scroll through the rest, they are on my Facebook page... all 143 of them!! Those are just the ones that I am considering enlarging. I need to narrow those down to the best four for each of the kids and then a few of them together so about 11 total. Should only take me a few months to do that!! ;)

wet egg hunt

I did manage to scrap a couple of pages last week. Of course it took me pretty much all week to get it done since I was working on getting both of the kids rooms picked up and ready for them when they are done hanging with Nana and Papa.

This sketch is from May 2011 Pagemaps. I saw it and knew I had to use it for something and since the Easter pictures were hanging on my desk, I used them.

Here is my take on that sketch. I used all the bright colors since Kira's coat is just as bright as the papers! Same reason for using all those butterflies... they are in her coat. This is when she did her egg hunt at the Rec Center. I used DCWV Spring Stack paper for this layout. The letters were attached to chipboard and then I put glossy accents over the top of them to give them the wet look. Thought it worked well for the title!

I can see that sketch being used more over the years. It is a great one for all the layouts I do with tons of pictures!! Thanks for looking!!

I need to get the second page to Alex's Egg Hunt pictures posted too. I think it is still on my camera. Maybe tomorrow... after I get back from Kelly's Roast Beef!! Yup we are headed down to Peabody, Massachusetts and we don't even have Alex with us to get a haircut. Hubby has some business down there so I am tagging along for the lunch. yummy... roast beef. See you then!!

pagemaps best creations sketch contest

LOVE USING PAGEMAPS!! In case any of you hadn't noticed, most of my work is based on these amazing sketches by Becky Fleck. I love how easy they are to use and to adapt to my pictures and embellishments.

The layout below is my entry for this month's sketch contest. I had my Easter pictures laying on the desk. They hadn't quite made it to the storage box so I grabbed them and found some that would work for the sketch below.

Here is my entry. Alex hunting for eggs in the POURING rain. I think it was better in the rain because there weren't as many people there. But still more people there than I thought would be. Guess I'm not the only crazy parent hoping to make some memories for my children!!

I used paper from DCWV Spring stack from a year or two ago. It had the rain cloud paper which is just perfect for these pictures!! I used my EK Success border punch to create the circles on the paper strip. Used my red Sizzix to cut the eggs. Thickers letters for the aqua title. I was quite happy that they matched the colors that I was using! The subtitle is made with EK Success's Bookworks letter stickers. Need to get me more of these.... love them! Cut the rain cloud out of the paper twice and added some pop dots to give dimension. Added the rain using my sewing machine. I like how that came out. I heat embossed the journaling area. Used some metallic paper I picked up at Walmart and can't remember who makes it for the yellow journal area as well as the eggs under the title. Used a Bic marker to write the journaling. Background paper is from a DCWV spring cardstock stack. Thinking it was the same year as the paper... whatever that was.

Thanks for looking! You have until July 3, 2011 to get in on this sketch contest. Use the link above to check it out!!

happy easter everyone!

It was a good day here. Although it started rather early thanks to a couple of very excited kiddos. One in particular had to get up and felt the need to wake up her younger and sleeping brother. Gonna be an early night tonight for them!!

Here they are with their baskets before the big egg hunt. Just a little excited to get started.

Kira's basket of goodies from the Easter Bunny.

Alex's basket of goodies.

Kira finding eggs. She was so adorable. She would grab the eggs and turn to me and smile. She was all about the posing with the eggs today. Needless to say, I have a few of her with eggs and huge smiles!!

Alex doing his part to find eggs.

Time to open the eggs!! This years eggs had M&M's, skittles, Hershey chocolate eggs and smarties inside. All the good sugar groups!! The sad part is, they will not eat half of it. I'll be tossing most of it before the end of summer. It's the thought that counts.

Kira checking out the goodies in her basket. She has the pillow pet dog so she thought the mini was cute. Alex got the panda to match his pillow pet.

Here's the cake!! It was nummy. Thank goodness there is still some left for us to enjoy today. And little E.B.?? He is on my scrapping desk here. Saves on the kids fighting over him. I'm such a good mom to save my kids from these issues.

Hope your Easter was a great one and that the Bunny was good to you. Working on some stuff and with the kids on break, hope to get lots done this week. Keep your eyes peeled for the posts!!

easter egg hunt at rec center

oh the joys of having an egg hunt in the pouring rain!! Because of the lovely spring weather we are having today, the games were brought inside. At least the Easter Bunny stayed dry. The rest of us got soaked!! But it was all good.

We were standing in line to get our picture taken with the Easter Bunny and I asked Alex if he wanted his picture taken and he said yes. Then I told him he could stand next to him and he said no. He wanted to sit on his lap!! Talk about happy mommy moment!! He climbed right up and smiled so nicely.

We brought our own peeps to the egg hunt!! LOL Here's my parents trying to keep dry and looking like a couple of peeps. I love it!! It certainly made it easier to spot them cuz you know it's not good to lose the grandparents at the egg hunt. The kiddos would not understand.

Here is Alex before his big hunt. We were hanging under the gazebo waiting his turn. He was so excited him and daddy went out to wait in the rain for his turn.

Here's Kira waiting for her turn. She came out with us to help encourage Alex to do his best and get as many eggs as he could. Which he did. And so did my little miss.

Glad to be home and dry. At least for a few more minutes. I'm heading out to Walmart to pick up our Easter cake. I'll post pictures as it will have E.B. from the Hop movie on it!! woohoo!

no visual tonight

Sorry. I didn't take a picture today. I know shock of shocks!! My picture of the day will be the flier I received when I went to the parent kindergarten orientation tonight. It wouldn't have come out too nice in the dark here so I am waiting until the light of day to take it.

Okay heck... you called my bluff. I am totally lazy today. At least in the picture taking area.

I packaged up all the meat I had bought at the store. Love buying in bulk and freezing it!! Also got the sgetti sauce all set and in the freezer as well. That was a total of 13 dinners that I froze today. Plus finished tackling the laundry baskets. Clothes are now all folded. Do you think they'll find their way to the closet and drawers if I leave them overnight?? I hope so.

Got a second coat of stain on the wood pieces for our half wall. Yes my dear sweet Alien, I will get pictures of my terribly beat up half wall without the wood trim. You'll be sorry but I'll get it tomorrow in the light of day. (along with my POTD) I will also mention that the half wall needs a coat of paint. I am thinking the pretty wood will shame me into doing that project next.

I did manage to get one coat of stain on my side table. It looks so much better stained than just sitting there as an unfinished piece of furniture!! What was I waiting for? Oh yeah...spring 2011. Glad it finally got here so I can get that project off my to do list.

All of this will be a surprise for my wonderful beloved hubby who has spent the past week in St. Louis for work. We have missed him terribly. At least I have. The kids do too... until bedtime when they are camped out in my room. Then they don't want him to come back. Poor daddy.

Tomorrow hubby comes home in the early afternoon. Party time! And we don't have anything planned! Even better. I do have a hair appointment on Saturday but that is in the early morning so I'll have all day to hang with my peeps. ooooh... peeps. Love me some peeps.

Sorry... sugar craze came over me. Probably because I have seen peeps everywhere!! But I have been good and have not let any of them follow me home. They do not need to find their way to my hips. Trust me!! The Cadbury mini eggs are doing that just fine! LMBO

Now that I am rambling and probably lost half of you... I'll sign off for tonight and hope to post a picture or two tomorrow. I will mention there is a layout sitting on my desk being ignored. Poor thing.

Catch you on the flip side.

real quick

I have a few minutes before I have to start dinner and finish putting things away. So here I am to keep you from jumping out of your skin in anticipation of what I have been working on!! LOL I know that's not the truth... so humor me. please??

All of them are based on pagemaps. I love me some pagemaps and use them all the time. I would be lost without them. Anywho, this one is from March 2009 pagemap. We had a saxophone in the garage, I know not your average thing to keep in a garage but there it was. Seriously, the inlaws were cleaning out their basement and it was sent home with us after a visit. I think it is BIL's but it's now ours. Ownership is nine tenths of the law right?? LOL

Anywho... rental of the instruments for band were crazy crazy expensive. Basically we would not be eating at least one week out of the month. Thank goodness we had it. For under $100 we had it cleaned and tuned and got Kira some reeds and she was good to go.

Kira's part of the annual egg hunt in town. Love love love my butterflies! Thank you Alien for turning me onto them. How have I not found these creatures before? I am hoping I don't become too obsessed with them and have a butterfly overload... but for now... I be a happy scrapper!! Also the leaf border punch is dreamy!! I would have loved the butterfly one, but it was out of stock when I had my mad money. I think I'll make due. (pagemap February 2011)

I punched a few eggs with my handy dandy red Sizzix machine. I inked the edges but then decided they needed a bit more so ended up covering most of the inking with stickles!! I like it and I think Alex will forgive me my glittering up his page!! BTW... he had a great time finding eggs!! (pagemap December 2010)

Last year both kids got new bikes. Yeah... Kira's is too small for her then and even more so this year. But she would not be swayed once she saw this puppy bike. Gathering our pennies together to get her a bike she may be able to use for more than one year!!

Easter 2010. Again that lovely border punch!! And a bunch of stuff from my stash. I collect Easter things and have a large supply of stuff for that holiday. It is one of my favorites. I used some left over arrows to point to the eggs that are in the pictures that the kids were walking right past. LOL They are cute. (pagemap September 2009)

That's what I've been doing. Right now I have a clean desk and no idea what I am going to pull out to work on. Strange. We'll both be surprised when I return!!