Scrap Your Story --

It's FRIDAY!  Woot! Time for another challenge at Scrap Your Story! This week we are mixin' it up -- an alpha mix up, that is!

I used three different alphas for this challenge.  "toothpicks" and "hicks" are both cork, but different fonts, sizes, and manufacturers.  And then, of course, the "for two" is different entirely. This was a fun challenge!  I hope you play along!!!

(after today, only 4.5 days left of school for the kids)

(today is Bob Dylan's birthday)

(he's 72)

(tomorrow is my One True Love's birthday)

(he's significantly younger)

:: layout a day ::

In this post I mentioned that I was going to attempt LOAD513 (layout a day May 2013). Well, I'm two thirds of the way in, and I've only missed one layout. Sunday we had a bad storm, lost power, and even some siding off our house! I did not complete a layout that day. I started one, but didn't finish. However, in twenty one days, I have completed and uploaded at least 20 layouts (I think there was a day or two that I actually completed two)!

What I have learned so far:

I can stay awake.
My scraps are my friend.
Read the prompt before bed, think about it all day.
Follow the prompt, stretch the prompt, don't follow the prompt, just do it.
Making that list of stuff that I want to scrap before LOAD began has been helpful.

But the most important thing I've learned is that I can scrap a page in a day or less! Prior to LOAD, it was a challenge for me to create a page a week. With a full time job and a family that I love, it seemed nearly impossible especially at my slow pace. I shared on my blog over and over that I was pretty sure I would "fail" LOAD, especially in May! Mostly, or at least in part due to my inability to scrap quickly enough to actually do a layout a day. But guess what?? I have TOTALLY gotten faster at documenting our lives. Even if I quit LOAD tomorrow (not planning on it), it was totally worth it for just that one thing. Besides which, I have 20 LOs, and only one of them is...something that I'll probably redo. :-) To be clear, I haven't found a way to do this without feeling like I am neglecting my family...so I'm not sure I will do it again...but it's rather addictive, so we'll see. ;-)

Here are a few of my favorites that I haven't shared on the blog until now:

All of my LOAD513 layouts (some with closeups or other details) can be found here.

Scrap Your Story :: welcome flowers

It's Friday! You know what that means -- a new challenge!  This week at Scrap Your Story Challenges we are playing with stamps!

I use stamps all the time now that I get stamps from Ali Edwards (@Technique Tuesday) in the mail every month. They are perfect and totally match my style. This layout was no exception. All of the stamps I used were from Ali. Nearly all of the papers and other materials were found in the May Scrapbook Circle kit : My Favorite. Are these papers fun?!  It's early in the month and I've already used most of the papers in the kit!  WOW!

Here are a few close ups:

I used the flower stamp from Ali's "Favorite Circles" stamps all over this page! I love that stamp! It's super simple and can be used for pretty much anything!

This welcome stamp was from "Memories of Home" by Ali Edwards.

In this photo you can sort of see the phrases that I stamped all over the vellum (along with that flower stamp again). The phrases are from Ali's "This Story" stamp set.

The journaling is in a vellum envelope that cut out using my Silhouette Cameo (I've been doing that a lot lately), and I used this blog post for my text. :-) So happy to get this fun story documented!

I hope you play with us this week!

:: plant shopping ::

Yesterday we went to the store to purchase the last of the flowers for the year (I say that, but, of course, since I am not the flower purchaser, planter, or care taker, I could be totally wrong that it's the last batch, but I think he's getting close).  Every year My One True Love transforms our back yard, deck and patio into a beautiful oasis that helps us escape, enjoy and entertain. Each year B. becomes more and more involved in the process.

The first thing she saw that she really, really  wanted was watermelons (and pumpkins, but watermelons were the fave). We don't really have the space for that, so they were eventually put back, but look at that face??!!  The Grandma's saw these photos on Facebook and decided that either one of the may have the space for watermelons.  :-)  I'll keep you updated.

Early on in the process she saw that they had wagons.  This was a hit.  She was totally in charge of the wagon. 

this wagon photo is probably my favorite one of the day

At three, she is such a little sponge and mimic. As she would pick out plants, Daddy would check the tags. At one point, early on in the adventure, he looked at a tag and said something about this plant not doing well in the full sun. So, that lead to her checking the tags and saying, "Those won't work in the sun." very confidently and convincingly, as if she had really read that. Or, if she really wanted to know, she would just pull it out and ask us (and yes, @3 she asks lots of questions)!

Another phrase we heard frequently, "These are kinda cute." She was saying that exact phrase as she was looking the plants in the photo above. This phrase would typically be heard right before she would try to pick up the entire tray of plants that were "cute" (or pretty, or pink, usually all three). Apparently, we haven't learned that "less is more". 

The conversation that prompted me to take the above photo went like this:

B: "Hey Dad, we need more. See, there're spaces!"

Daddy: "Honey, we don't have to fill up the wagon."

So love her.

Shopping for plants with the family is magic for sure.

Call me crazy, but you just might see these photos again really soon on a layout. ;-) 

Here's a short video clip that I captured. Just prior to this video, Daddy taught her how to smell the leaves of a mint plant. So of course, she had to smell the leaves of all the plants...

Join me tomorrow for another Scrap Your Story Challenge reveal!

:: my mother's hands ::

So, yesterday morning I ran across this photo, and that prompted me to write this blog post. Then I spent the day with my mother, older daughter, then my MIL, and then back home for a movie and popcorn with my family. After everyone went to bed, I grabbed the goodies that I just got in the mail on Friday from Paper Issues, (all from Crate Paper's :: The Pier collection) and I made this:

I used yesterday's blog post for my journaling (which is hidden in the vellum envelope behind the photo)

This was my favorite part! I used my exacto knife to cut one of the chevrons out and replaced it with a little homemade confetti! The stitching serves two purposes -- that finishing touch, and it holds all the confetti in the pocket!

 Amy Tangerine alphas that I inked with a bit of yellow ink.

Several layers and scraps, enamel dots, washi tape, and Mister Huey's spray to finish it off!  This was a fun one to make, and I love how it turned out!

my mom

My mom has always looked and acted much younger than she is. In fact, it is unbelievably easy to forget that she is seventy-six. Her attitude and heart are clearly still somewhere in their thirties…maybe forties...and she looks at least twenty years younger than her chronological age. I took this photo a year ago, on Mother’s Day. After our celebrations were over and I was home looking at all the photos on my computer, this photo of her hand reminded me, she is in her seventies. I am so lucky that I have my mom. I don’t know what I would do without her.

There were other memories that came flooding back when I saw this photo. I used to sit on my mother’s lap and play with her hands.  Specifically, I would hold a finger from each of her hands and click the fingernails together. I don’t know why I did this, I just remember that I felt safe in her arms, and somehow doing this was comforting. I always wanted to grow up and have long nails like my mother (I don’t, by the way).  I also remember that her hands and fingers seemed so big compared to mine. This memory must be from when I was quite small because her hands are tiny compared to mine now! I think it’s interesting that something that seems so minor, clicking my mother’s fingernails together, is really such an important memory; and that this photo strikes such an emotional chord in me. 

matching socks -- from just a few weeks ago!

at the fair last summer

at grandma's last summer

Scrap Your Story :: No Rain ::

It's FRIDAY!  For mean this means I can wear jeans to work, I get to have pizza and wine for supper, AND it's a new challenge at Scrap Your Story Challenge Blog!  This week is a sketch.  Here is the sketch:

And here is my take on it:

I hope you join us this week at Scrap Your Story.  I love seeing all of the great submissions each week!

TTFN!

:: strawberries ::

I'm having a great time participating in LOAD 513. I really don't plan on posting each layout that I do -- I just don't have that kind of time -- but I'm awake, so I might as well.  :-)

I took this photo -- and then I stamped the date on!  You can see that below

If you recall, our theme for the month is "Get a Clue" (from the Clue game). So each day our prompt has something to do with the game. Day two's prompt was "the knife".  So we were to "take a stab at" something, and/or interpret as we wish.  :-)  I used machine stitching, some distressing, and then in the close-ups you will see that I pierced the paper in three locations, 2 brads, and then a stick pin.  I thought the stick pin met the prompt!

These photos were from nearly two years ago -- she was so little!  Her hair was so much shorter!  Wow!

No time for listing supplies this time! Please just ask in the comments if you want to know where something came from! Thanks!

Scrap Your Story :: growing love

UPDATE:  I'm linking this up to Paper Issues Feb. 7, 2015 Issue Hip to Be Square (I used square photos and some {aflairforbuttons} flair.

It's FRIDAY -- and you know what that means -- another challenge at Scrap Your Story Challenge blog! Ready to play along? This is a "theme" week -- and the theme is "favorite(s)".  You can interpret that anyway you wish, as long in your journaling or title we can see that you are sharing something that is a favorite!

I have the word "favorite" a couple of places on this layout.  First I used an Amy Tangerine stamp that I got at Target and stamped "You are my fave" all over a piece of patterned paper.  Then I used one of Amy Tangerine's templates to make a speech bubble with a heart in the middle.  The second place, also involved stamping.  This time it was an Ali Edwards stamp "SUPER favorite" that I stamped over some Elle's studio tags (all supplies are linked below). Most of the rest of the supplies came from the Lucky You Scrapbook Kit by paperissues available here. And of course there is flair from {a flair for buttons}!

This photo was taken on the anniversary of Mikaela's death. It was a difficult day for us all. My daughter Hollyanne came over just to be with us for a while, and I was ever so thankful. I journaled a bit about that, but also about how B. was obsessed with her baby belly! Either way, I wanted the journaling to be hidden. I'm really happy with how this one turned out!  Love that green/yellow combo! Hope you play along with us this week at Scrap Your Story Challenges!


Supplies
Crate Paper :: Party Day :: Happy
My Minds Eye :: Collectable :: Remarkable Smile Grin
American Crafts :: Dear Lizzy Lucky Charm :: 6x6 paper pad
American Crafts :: Dear Lizzy Lucky Charm :: Wild Hearts
Studio Calico :: Here & There :: woodgrain thickers
Glitz :: Color Me Happy :: 6x6 paper pad
Glitz :: Color Me Happy :: woodgrain paper
Glitz :: woodgrain washi tape
Jillibean Soup :: Sunshine Resin Sugar Picks
Studio Calico :: Sundrifter :: flowers and leave wood veneer
My Minds Eye :: Collectable :: Remarkable Day Decorative Buttons
My Minds Eye :: The Sweetest Thing :: enamel dots
a flair for buttons :: arrow 1 flair
a flair for buttons :: lovely words flair
TCW :: Minivine mask
Elle's Studio :: Day to Day tidbits
American Crafts :: Amy Tangerine :: stencils
American Crafts :: Amy Tangerine :: authentic phrase stamp
Technique Tuesday :: Studeio AE :: super fantastic
Heidi Swapp :: Color Shine :: Mustard
Heidi Swapp :: Color Shine :: Mint Green

:: our pink princess ::

I am participating in LOAD513. What is that you ask??  LOAD = LayOut A Day, more info here.   What am I thinking??  I'm thinking that it will be fun. I'm thinking that I will probably NOT actually do a layout a day -- but I will likely get more layouts done this month than I ever would without it. Also, a friend of mine is doing it too, which makes it more awesome!

Each day in the month of May participants get a prompt to use or not use. I love that flexibility! I've made a list of stories that I would like to document -- some old, some new. Although I doubt I will post each and every layout, I will update you with progress throughout the month.

Here is my layout for day one! All of our prompts have something to do with the game of Clue, and this first one was all about Miss White. I chose a white background as my starter from the prompt, and then I decided to just add one color (pink).  FUN!  I may end up changing the title (I wasn't feeling very inspired), and I will definitely add some stitching -- the needle on my sewing machine broke mid-layout and I don't seem to have a spare!

Hidden journaling reads :: Sunday, April 28, 9:38AM. B. has to go out on the deck in her PJ's.  It's been such a cool spring, and the last few days have been warmer.  She needs to be outside. She was only out there a few minutes and then she was back inside. But only to get her tutu and crown. You see, when things are extra good and exciting -- a princess needs her tutu and tiara -- even if it's just over the top of her PJ's. 

Here are a couple of close ups:

pink + white

embossed wood veneers, tulle, and {a flair for buttons} flair

hidden journaling

And tomorrow is Friday! So here is your sneaky sneak sneak for the new challenge at Scrap Your Story!

I'm looking forward to Friday and Saturday. I will be celebrating National (International) Scrapbooking Day with a friend tomorrow (I took a personal day off from work) and with my daughter on Saturday! Fun times!