Slow but Surely ~

we are returning to "normal" around here. YEAH! After an anniversary trip to New Orleans we are refreshed and ready to take it "all" on again. I worked on this layout before I left and was inspired by all the banners that are cropping up (no pun intended) everywhere in the scrapbooking world. So I did my first version. I used GCD Papers, Making Memories embellishments as well as some cardstock. I am SO NOT A FAN of white space - makes me feel like I forgot something. In the end, I like the page and it helped me put a LOT of photos on one page.

I used my Circle Cutter and inside each one I journaled a short comment about the photos. A different way to tell the story in a short version - not my usual style.

Here is a closeup of the "banner" - the MM embellishment was like an elastic/rope type stuff. Very cool and glad I finally got to use it.

Thanks for looking and I'll be back soon to share some other pics of NOLA and other crafty things! Good evening :)

All worth it!

So this face makes it all worth it! I am so hooked on soccer - it's almost unbelievable! She is so great and really shows her personality on that field. Leaves nothing behind! Gotta love that about her.

We had our first game last night and we won 3-1 (not that anyone is keeping score - ha - try telling the kids that!) I was a bit anxious as one of our old teammates who is amazing - great footwork! - was on the opposing team and scored in like two seconds. But then we turned it on and in the end - it was great! Even if we had lost it would've been great - Mason is playing on the same team and he hustled so much - amazingly proud of him!



Half-time pep talk - GO USA (teams are named after countries this year ...neat!)

And then there's this handsome fella - no uniform shirts yet but he is loving soccer, doing well, and really actually paying attention. and looks super cute in his outfit!

Here he's checkin' out his boo-boo ( a minor lapse in paying attention!) What can ya say, he's five.

Sorry about the bad photos - they apprently didn't think we needed lights to play and then the motion. Clearly I need a lesson on my camera for night time shots. At least the rest are daytime. Here he got to do the throw in - a VERY BIG deal.

The Coolest Thing In a While -

I was so excited I actually did this. I busted out the sewing machine and did a few stitches on a page! I have been a bit intimidated just because I dont' use the machine very often but I was inspired by a page on a blog and had some time to myself - so I went for it! I really, REALLY, like it :) This was Mason's 8th birthday and I journaled about who he is - a total mixed bag! But I sure do love him!

There was a lot of "baggage" on the back of the page but I figured for m first time - not too bad.

Stacey

American Crafts Card Challenge ~

So I decided to put my "card" in the hat! It was time to send a little gift to someone so I made it with American Crafts stuff (mostly) and here we go. I am so ready for spring - love the BIG red flower that I cut out (as well as the white ones) from the a la carte line (it's a bit old but I just love the color combos for spring!) I used pop-squares to make the red one stand out and then added clear acrylic glass product to make the center more interesting. American Crafts foam thickers for the SPRING word and wala!

Hope you like it! It'll brighten someones day if you send them a card - I promise :)

For a LONG time ....

I have been thinking of doing a layout like this. One about me, where I am right now. I have always felt a bit overwhelmed (wanting "perfection") but decided to just do it. So last week, I started putting it together. I had been making my "list" of who/what I am for a few months and just kept adding to it as things came to mind. I am loving the Picasso 3 program and am hoping this will help me do more of the layouts like I want since I can edit/print much easier than with former programs. Also, love the "Soft Gloss" paper that David purchased.

Maybe this will inspire you to do yours today! We'll never have this time again, we'll never be the same person we are right now, EVER again. Put it on paper for those future generations - even if you aren't a scrapper - write it down somewhere - for their sakes!

This paper is Basic Grey and the alpha is American Crafts fabric thickers. I loved the bird but he didn't show up well so I mounted him on the pink. This pic isn't perfect but the sun was so bright - but I'm not complaining about that!

I did this double layer butterfly that kinda pops up - new for me and I know when I put it in a book it's going to go flat but it's cute for the pic!

Hope you have a great day and thanks for reading :)

Productive = Busy Weekend . . .

So around here it was pretty busy - Friday night the kids had a little company for a bit - actually played well together except for one little outburst "Mommy, he's bossing me around. And it's not even HIS house!" I find this hilarious - as the little ones already have territory issues. It just cracks me up! Also, a sweet little thing Braden said "Mommy, can you pick us up?" I said, "From where?" He said, "No, I mean can you pick me up yet?" Following my recent surgery I haven't been able to pick him up and hold him (he can sit in my lap but that's just not the same and we all know it) I think it's so sweet that he misses it and seems to be desperate for me to be to that point again (to tell the truth, Mommy is too)

Saturday AM was FILLED with very COLD soccer clinic - did I mention it was three hours LONG? In case I didn't, it was THREE HOURS LONG!!! We did take a short ride to Starbucks (Braden and I while the twins were in clinic) We haven't ever been there together and I haven't been in over a year or so. My point is - it was his first experience with that place. We ordered kids hot choc. and the lady offered a sample of marble bread - he exclaimed from the back seat " I LOVE YOU STARBUCKS!" I knew he was special!

Saturday night was date night (which included a trip to church) in which my husband was feeling sweet and actually we sat on the same side of the table at our chosen restaurant. Was kinda nice:)

Somewhere in the midst of all this, I did some scrappy stuff and am pretty happy with it. When you see some of the work being done in the scrapbook community you can have a tendency to constantly scrutinize, but in the end, I was happy and I hop you enjoy it too.

I did one of those crumpled up paper rose things http://amberscurlock.blogspot.com/2010/02/to-our-love.html likes to do and I think I like it - not sure what will happen to it when it's in a book one day but it looks pretty now. (Lisa - see I spared you from the orange hat shot!) This was my birthday weekend in 2008 - fun times!



This was of my hubby and how we have been so blessed to get to travel SOO much! Truth be told - I would follow him "to the ENDS of the EARTH" and kinda have already - hee hee!



This is the shot for the journaling on the inside - didn't figure everyone need to read all that stuff!


My sweet baby girl at eight - she's growing sooo fast!


Hope you have a FANTASTIC DAY ;)