A Color Splash Challenge

This week's challenge for the Use Your Stuff Design Team was to create a project in black and white with the addition of only one color.  We recently took a family vacation and I made it a point to get pictures of my husband and I together and so I thought this challenge would be a great opportunity to actually do a layout of my husband and I as they are few and far between in my albums.


I changed the pictures to black and white as well because I felt like they we a little more "forgiving" than the original color ones...and let's face it, we are our own worst critic!  I was happy with the result.  I paired them with patterned paper from DCWV and Echo Park and then added a mix of embellies from my stash.

Hope you will join in with the rest of the Design Team at Use Your Stuff!

HAPPY SCRAPPING!

A Magical Music Challenge

I recently hosted another challenge over at the Use Your Stuff blog.  Given my love of Disney I thought it would be fun to combine it with my love of music and so I asked to see projects using the title or lyrics from a Disney song of their choice.

My layout was inspired by The Little Mermaid's - Kiss the Girl song.  My son and his girlfriend had some beautiful pictures taken of them before they headed off to their senior prom and so I chose to use a few of them for this page.

I personally think they make a sweet couple :)

Happy Scrapping!

Trying Something New

This week my team over at the Use Your Stash blog was challenge to try something new...whether it be a technique or a product you may have never used before.  I had a hard time initially coming up with what I wanted to do but finally decided on giving a hand stitched title a try.  It isn't too terribly difficult but it definitely takes patience!

I love this picture I took of my littlest guy last week and wanted it to be the main focus of my layout.  I hand stitched the "KISS" title and I am really happy with the final results!  I just love that sweet little face!

It was kind of fun trying something new.  Hope you will give it a go and share your creation over at Use Your Stuff.

Happy Scrapping!

Summer Fun Blog Hop

Welcome to the SUMMER FUN blog hop at Use Your Stuff

Summer is just about here and the ladies of Use Your Stuff are excited and wanting to share some hot summer projects using our stash! We hope that these projects inspire you to create your own fun summer scrapping projects!

The Blog Hop will run from May 29th until June 4th. You have all week to hop along and see what we have created for you.

Hop along with us for a chance to win this great prize pack:

Here are the rules for the hop

1. You must leave a comment on each Design Team members blog and on the UYS challenge blog.

2. You have from May 29th until June 4th 8pm EST to enter. Winner will be announced on June 6th on the blog.

3. Create and link up your own summer project for an additional chance to win using the link on the blog.

4. International scrappers welcome.

Hello and Welcome!  Thanks for stopping by!  Hope you are enjoying your hop along with some of the Use Your Stash ladies :)

I am a Disney loving girl and so when I hear summer the first thing that comes to mind is Olaf!  I decided to scrap some pictures from last summer when my daughter and youngest son were at Hollywood Studios visiting with our favorite little snowman.  I love that my littlest guy is not afraid of the characters and so it makes for some pretty cute photo ops.  I kept this layout pretty simple as I really just wanted my pictures to be the focus.

Be sure and head over to Lori's blog next to check out her summer fun project. Can't wait to see YOUR summer fun inspired projects!

 

Here is the list for the hop in case you want to stop along the way or get lost:

USE YOUR STUFF http://useyourstuff.blogspot.ca/

KARRIE http://sweetscrapsbykarrie.blogspot.com/...

BETH http://stampingmom.com/

CHRISTINE http://mommomandpoppop.blogspot.ca/

TAMMY http://tampatha.wordpress.com

MAJO http://majos-art.blogspot.ca

RENEE http://www.reneehagler.typepad.com/

ALICE http://yellowhousestudio.blogspot.ca/

HEATHER Mommyribs.blogspot.com

LORI http://loriannie670.blogspot.ca/

TINA http://tinasscrapcorner.blogspot.ca/

It's All Magical

So this week's challenge over at Use Your Stash was all about metallics, glitter and all things shiny.  I wanted to scrap these pics of us from 2006 with Sorcerer Mickey and found a little stash of glitter star stickers for my layout [It's All Magical]

Hope you will join in the fun...maybe this little tune will get you in the mood...

WISHING YOU A MAGICAL MONDAY!

May The Force Be With You...

This week over at Use Your Stash it is all about Star Wars!

I had plenty of pictures to choose from since my family has always loved Star Wars and riding Star Tours at Walt Disney World.  The Star Wars weekends are fun too.  My first layout for the challenge features my oldest son back in 2004 outside of Star Tours with his new laser gun.  We also had a picture made of him and his sister as Han Solo and Princess Leia...we still crack up at this picture even now!

Over the years my oldest son has chosen to be different Star Wars characters for Halloween.  This layout is him doing his  best Anakin Skywalker impression. The photos are from 2006.  Hard to believe he is graduating from high school in less than a month!

May the force be with you!

Hosting my first challenge!

This week on the Use Your Stuff blog, it was my turn to host a challenge...no pressure or anything! ;) I have recently been working on scrapping older Disney pics and was looking for a brad to add something to the layout  I was working on.  I couldn't help but notice the immense collection of eyelets and brads I currently have.  I think I must have bought every color under the sun at one point!  Needless to say, it was my inspiration for this weeks challenge.  I am hoping I am not the only one with umpteen thousands of little colored round things and so I am encouraging you to use some of them up by using them to make a shape on your layout or card.

I completed this Minnie Mouse layout for the challenge where I used up almost 50 of the red brads to make a heart shape around my page title.  Hard to believe the little boy in that picture is getting ready to graduate from high school in just over a month, and that little girl is about to turn 16 (*sob*)

Looking through some of my older layouts, I came across this one where I used the eyelets to make a heart frame on my picture (guess I have a thing for hearts?!) and then threaded embroidery floss through it...

Then on this Pooh and Tigger layout, I used some eyelet brads to frame out the circle on the left hand side.

Thanks for looking and I hope you will stop over at the Use Your Stuff blog to play along in the challenge!

Happy Scrapping!

Remember Me?!

Yes, it has been AGES since I last posted to my blog...life got in the way and then took me down a crazy, winding road and I am slowly finding my way back!

Since my last post in 2013, our family was blessed with a surprise new addition so now I have 2 teenagers and one toddler...and I probably drink more wine these days than I should! ;)  I have also been working to make more time for scrapbooking and crafting since it helps keep me sane!

Not too long ago I was invited to be part of the Design Team for the Use Your Stuff Blog and I was more than happy to accept.  This week I took part in the Polaroid Challenge.  I use my Silhouette Cameo to cut out a cute polaroid frame to highlight the picture of my hubby and I back in 2008 when we went on a cruise to celebrate his best friend's birthday...

Be sure and head over to the Use Your Stuff Blog to see what the other ladies have to share!

:: Waiting for Daddy ::

In an attempt to find my creative mojo again I started looking through some old photos hoping I would find one that would inspire me.  That's when I came across this one of my Little Diva.  When the kids were little we live in Seattle and we had a long slender window by the front door.  Almost every day the kids would take turns watching and waiting at that window for Daddy to come home.  I would always know when he was home because I could hear their squeals and the little jumps of joys...my Hunky Hubby and I sure do miss those days!

It's been a year...

It's been a year since I blogged anything at all.  It's not that I haven't thought about it but it seemed I just couldn't bring myself to actually sit down and do it.  SO much has happened over this last year...I have a new job, we had to move, my husband went back to school, he is also working hard to get his business up and going, my brother got married, my sister had a baby, my other brother moved out to California...I just haven't seemed to be able to make the time to blog about any of it and my creative mojo seems to have gone on vacation.  I am embarrassed to say that I started a gift for a close friend about this time LAST year and it still remains unfinished...how terrible is that?!  It was supposed to be a birthday gift...hoping I can get off my butt and finish it for her this year.

I recently finished a scrapbook layout which then finally prompted me to get my new craft space organized so that I can use it and try to get some of those creative juices flowing...and maybe blog again a little bit...even if it is just for me and no one else.

SO if there is anyone out there still reading this blog...then cross your fingers for me!  And if not, then I will just cross my fingers for myself! ;)

I am a Soccer Mom

Can I just take a moment and share this video of my Soccer Stud from his middle school soccer game last night? He is hard to miss...he is the goal keeper and the one dressed in bright orange!  Even just watching the video leaves me with my heart in my throat...especially the last play that you see where he is sliding in the middle of all these players coming right at him...it might be a little hard to see in the video but he indeed comes away with the ball.

I am so incredibly proud of him. He makes some truly amazing plays and I find myself in awe of the fact that he is mine. He works so hard to get better with each game and his goal is to play soccer in college. I feel so blessed to be the mother of this amazing kid.


**NOTE:  You will most likely have to click on the video twice...the second time so that you can view it through YouTube.

Thanks for letting me share.

A little more Valentine Love

Just thought I would share a little more of our Valentine decor.  Since we celebrate all month long with our Valentine Mailboxes I figure that means it is okay to show a few more pics...

This is our formal dining area.  I love the little conversation heart pillows -- picked those up from Target last year.  Bought every single color they had!

I love these candles...picked them up at an after Christmas sale at Joann's one year but I think the candy canes look a bit like hearts so I pull them back out for February and the plant is one that I picked up for Christmas and by some sheer miracle it is still alive, so I stuck a couple of hearts on sticks in it and now it is all set for the month of love...

Added a few more printables from around Blogland and more hearts on a stick ;)

Since we don't have a mantle I try to pretend that our family room entertainement center is like a mantle so it periodicaly gets changed out for the holidays...or whenever the spirit moves me.

More Christmas candles repurposed for Valentine's Day...

And then finally is my big mirror turned chalkboard.  The quote reads "Love doesn't make the world go round. Love makes the ride worthwhile"

Had to put out the Winnie the Pooh Hunk Hubby gave me years ago for Valentine's Day -- I think he actually gave me that before we were even married so he is at least 14 years old...still looking cute as ever!

Valentine's Day isn't over...

Valentine's Day isn't over...at least not in our house.  SO, I am using that as my justification for just now getting around to sharing my Valentines decor.  I have been struggling to find my creative mojo and in all honesty, I was just going to skip putting out any decor at all this year but the Hunky Hubby convinced me otherwise.

I never really used to be a fan of Valentine's Day but when my kiddos were younger I wanted to try and make it special for them.  So a few years ago we decided that rather than just celebrating our love for each other and our little family on February 14th, we would make it a month long event.  I put out mailboxes for each of us along with a box of valentine cards and the rule is that everyone has to put a "love note" in each box at least once a week...this has been especially nice as the kids have gotten older and we will periodically hear that someone wishes the other hadn't been born ;)  For now our mailboxes are simple white photo boxes and I made flags for each one.  The banner is a free printable I came across (need to find the link to share).

I have already been gifted 2 chocolate bars, an I {heart} Mickey t-shirt, and lots of sweet notes.  My little Diva made me a book filled with reasons why she loves me -- not gonna lie, brought tears to my eyes.  My favorite valentine this year so far though was the one I saw Little Diva put in her brother's mailbox..."Even though you are mean and annoying sometimes, you are still the best brother in the world"  LMAO!  Awesome!

I do have some wooden mailboxes along with pretty scrapbook paper to decorate them...I just haven't gotten around to actually doing it yet.  Did I mention I have had said wooden mailboxes for 2 years now?  However the pretty scrapbook paper is something I just picked up a couple of weeks ago ;)

Something else I whipped up for our month of love was a little specimen art...

I found a package of felt heart stickers at Joann's and then matted some scrapbook paper...easy peasy!  The blocks I picked up from Target last year and the little subway heart is one of the many found in Blogland.  Of course I had to add a little touch of Disney too.

Will share some more of our decor tomorrow...picked up some magnetic paint today in order to make a few gifts for my Little Diva's friend.  Will share those soon too...hopefully it all turns out as good in real life as it all looks in my head! ;)

Hope you all had a wonderful Valentine's Day. xoxo

a NEW {attitude}

So, I have been trying to write this post for about a week.  I start, then I stop...start, then stop.  I had this whole long post and when I went back to read it, it was more like a pity party.  UGH.  Suffice it to say, things have been really tough since just after Thanksgiving...I have been struggling with just trying to be thankful for my blessings, despite feeling like everything is falling down around me.  I am going to spare you all the sob story because when it comes down to it, I know there are others who are struggling even more than I am right now.

I wasn't going to bother with a WORD for 2012 but then one day, after crying to my BFF for a bit and then cruising Pinterest, my word just kind of found me and so my word for 2012 is {ATTITUDE}  And to help myself remember to focus on being positive I printed a couple of items I had pinned, framed them and put them on my bathroom counter to remind me every morning and every night...

I think my favorite is that stubborn looking little girl (art by Mary Engelbriet)...pretty sure if I asked my mom she would say that is exactly what I looked like growing up! ;)

I did manage to do a few Christmas projects...one being an EPIC fail and the others, well I somehow managed to lose all my "before" pictures and so I just never got around to posting anything.  Lame, I know.  Seems kind of late to post any Christmas stuff now though, don't ya think?

2012 is going hold a lot of changes for my family with my little sister having her first baby and my little brother getting married, plus my little family of 4 will be downsizing this summer.  I expect there will be lots of opportunity for being creative which will hopefully help me keep my sanity throughout all of it.

One of my creative projects this year is to participate in the 52 Photos challenge.  I confess, I started it last year but ended up only stickiing with it for a few weeks.  I am determined to complete the challenge this year though.  The first week's theme was NEW and so my picture is of my determination to have a NEW {attitude}.

Anyone else playing along with the 52 Photos...or do you have a WORD for 2012?  Would love see your pics or hear what YOUR word might be.

Have you started your Christmas cards yet?

Merry Montage Christmas

Christmas cards by Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Am I the only one who wasn't up at the crack of dawn...or skipping sleep altogether in order to go out and brave the craziness called Black Friday?  My sister is one who enjoys going out every year but it is just not for me.  Good luck to all of you who were brave enough to go!

We have had a whirl wind few days around here.  My hubby surprised me Monday and called me at work to tell me we were heading out of town...that night!  I was a bit flustered and overwhelmed at first -- I had a whole list of projects planned out and I was so completely taken off guard...wasn't quite sure how we were going to pull it off.  In the end, we managed to get out the door and on the road and really had a great time enjoying some true fall weather at Stone Mountain.

We had a wonderful room at the Stone Mountain Inn complete with a patio and two rocking chairs...pure bliss!  The mountain is such a spectacular sight, the leaves were gorgeous and at night Stone Mountain was decked out in a most awesome display of Christmas lights.  Not even the monsoon of rain that came through could dampen our spirits (okay, if I am keeping it real I will admit that I was initially pouting thinking the rain had ruined out plans but in the end, it all worked out.)

We even caught Santa before he headed off for a hot cocoa break...

If you have never been to Stone Mountain, I highly recommend it.  I think the fall is the perfect time to go to enjoy all the beautiful fall color.  Playing in the leaves was definitely my favorite part!

I am so thankful to my Hunky Hubby for planning our last minute fall getaway.  We all agreed it was a great time and are hoping to go back again and stay even longer.  

We made it back home in time to spend a small, quiet Thanksgiving with my best friend, her hubby and her kiddos.

I hope you all had a very Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving!