Finally a Winner!

Sorry ladies, the days got away from me! My son competed in a Regional Championship meet and my daughter was in a talent show...you know how that goes :)

The winner of the giveaway is (drumroll please) Chark! Please email me your address @ehallgren@comcast.net

Thank you for participating!

Auntie Pool *The ScrapRoom*

Now I want you to know that allowing strangers (and friends) to get a gander of these thighs was a difficult decision...but I sucked it up for the sake of my niece and memories that needed to be captured :) An impromptu trip to Tennessee wasn't in my plans for that summer but my sister was very sick and in the critical care unit of the hospital. I spent some very  precious time with my niece Grace in her kiddie pool.

The chipboard icons come in the kit and the birdie was perfect to cover a dark area on my photo.

You can also purchase the entire package of coordinating chip icons in The ScrapRoom Store!

The scalloped border punch is from Martha Stewart and reminded me of waves.

  Doodlebug brads, button from the kit, Micheals dollar spot felt flowers and AC Thickers of course :)

My trusty Cricut and the Straight From the Nest cartridge for the tree. The little bird needed a place for her nest.

October Afternoon journaling spots from the February Embellishment kit.

Journaling cards are also included in the February Flavor of the Month Kit!

Stop on by The ScrapRoom and check out some amazing deals, there are many items in the store and a great clearance section in addition to the kits :)

Don't forget to enter my giveaway by commenting on the previous post by February 14th!

My Sweetheart *The ScrapRoom* and a Giveaway (Out for Publication)

She truly is my sweetheart. You'll never meet a kinder, more compassionate, smart, artistic, wittier girl. We won't discuss her less desirable qualities, like being a procrastinator or that her room looks like a hoarders dream :) Her brother on the other hand, is my sweet tart. Sweet, funny, smart and kind, yet stubborn, opinionated and argumentative. If he were inclined to let me take portraits of him, he would have a Valentines layout too!

This is another amazing kit from The ScrapRoom! Love the variety of papers and embellishments in each kit and the add on embellishment pack makes it even sweeter :)

 It's so much fun now that she is cooperating with my "photo shoots"

 I can't get enough of those beautiful green eyes or that cute little mole ;) 

 So photogenic, love all her expressions.

 This vellum quote was perfect for this layout but got lost on the light background. A fussy cut heart remedied  that! The craft paper heart stickers are from American Crafts.

Crate Paper patterned paper. The buttons are Studio G, I think I found them at Walmart.

 American Crafts craft paper die cut frame, just slid the top portion behind the photo.

Title from the Jasmine Cricut cartridge. Cut multiple times and layered to create a chipboard feel.  

This layout was created using a Creating Keepsakes sketch found under the submissions tab on their website. Had good intentions to submit but ran out of time :) Now that I look at this layout from a distance I feel like it would be improved by changing the 2 smaller photos to one larger photo. What do you think?

Now for the giveaway! How would you like to win an individual layout kit from The ScrapRoom? Just visit The ScrapRoom website and tell me which individual layout kit you like best and I will choose a randomly selected winner on February 14th! Be sure to leave a way for me to track you down in your comment :)

Gimme Some Love *The ScrapRoom*

Several years ago when my sister and niece were here visiting from Tennessee, the girls decided to make valentines projects. My sister (not interested in crafting) decided to goof around with the kids, giving hugs and kisses much to Matthews dismay! Now that my kids are older, finding Valentine photos is getting harder and harder. So I pulled out these goofy photos and scrapped away. 

The ScrapRoom's February Flavor of the month kit has the most adorable valentines kits in it! The oxox line is one of my favorites, because the pops of mint green. Most valentines paper is made up of the traditional pinks, reds and white and you know me and colors, the brighter the better :)

I had a lot of fun cutting out hearts with my  Cricut. The Doodlebug and Paisley cartridges have several shapes of hearts available.

 

I can't seem to do a layout without spray ink or splattering lately.It adds so much texture!

Aren't these layered heart stickers perfection?!

I finally used washi tape on a layout! The kit comes with an entire roll.

Full sheets of Cosmo Cricket letter stickers & October Afternoon journaling spots.

Hearts, hearts and more hearts!

Journaling. I'm really loving had writing my journaling and not having to mess with the computer.

Come back and visit throughout the month for more layouts from The ScrapRoom's February kit!

 

The Good Life and Beauty and the Beast *The ScrapRoom* (Out for Publication)

I couldn't resist scrapping some more of these photos of my son playing his electric guitar! I love his "Rock N Roll" t-shirt and improvised fingerless gloves, "To keep my guitar clean Mom!". Not for the cool factor I'm sure :) I used a sketch from my favorite sketch designer Allison Davis and the The ScrapRoom January Flavor of the month kit.

and the sketch

Unfortunately Sketch Support is no longer an active site so you are unable to access the sketches.

I'm really in love with splattering right now!

The bright graphic patterns of "The Good Life" by Fancy Pants are right up my alley.

It only took me 3 tries on the Cricut with the United We Stand cartridge to get the right sized star :)

The Traditions line by Carta Bella was a little harder for me to work with as my style has moved away from soft, traditional prints but this photo of my son and his (no longer :( ) girlfriend had the perfect color scheme.

More Cricut cuts from the Jasmine, Stamped and Flower Shoppe cartridges. Somehow I failed to do any close ups of this layout. Used Glossy Accents on the "Beauty" part of the title. More misting and inking to complete the feminine feel.

It's almost time for the February reveal! I'd better get on the ball!

Summertime…and the Living is Easy *The Scraproom* (Out for Publication)

I have been delinquent in my duties as a ScrapRoom designer and haven’t posted all of my January layout s yet . Life has a habit of getting in my way! This layout is one of my favorites for the year. I love the bright graphic feel and cheery colors of the “Snap” line from Simple Stories.

The coordinating sticker sheet makes embellishing a “Snap”, I’m so punny today

Used the  Cricut font from Nate’s ABC’S and offset the shadow.

Instead of inserting 3 photos on the strip I added the smile sticker next a photo of my friend Lyn and I.

More sticker fun! Some 3L foam square added to the camera for some extra “Snap”.

Love the numbered journaling spots!

This was a great way to document an awesome collection of summer photos. Not so many of Matthew, thanks to his aversion to the camera right now. He’ll be sorry later when he can’t find photos including him in all of the fun things we did that summer

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Us *The ScrapRoom*

I love the recent trend of having photo booths at events! Reminds me of when I was a teenager and squeezing into the one at the mall or fair :) Mariel and two of her cousins had a blast in this one at Brian and Kathryn's wedding. "The Good Life" from Fancy Pants was the perfect line to compliment this photo strip!

 

The kit comes with a chipboard sheet of  versatile frames and other cute icons.

The acrylic words fit the feeling I was aiming for perfectly...it's all about family!

 

Used my favorite…foam squares from 3L

Another winner from The ScrapRoom, bright colors, cute icons and fun patterns. Stop by The ScrapRoom today to check out their Flavor of the Month Kit for January, you won't be disappointed!

 

Sisters *The ScrapRoom*

I'm sure everyone will agree that funerals are very sad events... but I feel that they are also a celebration of sorts. A chance to celebrate the deceased persons life, their release from earthly bonds, their ascension into Gods hands and a reason to get together as family. A lot of times this family hasn't been seen in months or years! This was the case at my Mother's funeral. My aunt, cousins, sister and stepsisters came from North Carolina, Kentucky and Tennessee to be with us.

Needless to say we got a little goofy and decided to make a sister pyramid (after a couple of cocktails I might add). I love this picture, red eye and all!

I'm in love with this collection by Pink Paislee. Teal and grey with a pop of yellow, so pretty! The frames are from The Good Life by Fancy Pants. This kit from The ScrapRoom is one of my favorites!

Haven't been able to create without spray ink lately. A big flower from Basic Grey and little ones from Bella. 

Border punch love :)

Tab punch and Basic Grey letter stickers.

More layouts using The ScrapRoom's January Flavor of the Month Kit coming soon. Thanks for stopping by!



For You Santa *The ScrapRoom*

Leaving cookies out for Santa is a tradition I really miss. No more wide eyed wonder at the empty plate in the morning or arguments about which cookies were Santa's favorite. The truth came out this year during a conversation we had while I was looking through photos and the kids were peeking over my shoulder. Matthew admits that in his later years he would sneak downstairs and eat some of the cookies! (and I thought Eric was the one!) He looked so guilty admitting this even though he knows now that Santa wasn't eating them :)

More Christmas goodness from the December Flavor of the Month kit from The ScrapRoom.

Fussy cut the banner from patterned paper and added some Thickers :)

This Santa is from the Winter Frolic Cricut cartridge, I love that I can reverse the image with the Expression. Added some Stickles for that extra bling factor.

Now I'm off to "snuggle" with my teens and watch a movie. Christmas was my holiday off this year and starting tomorrow I have to pay the price for having 4 days off (if you don't figure being on call and called in) with a 4 day stretch over New Years. Adding in Wednesday and a 12 hour call slot on Thursday :( I really need to look at the big picture when I'm signing up for call and not do that to myself!

Merry Christmas to all!

It's Wrestling Season Again...

and that means lots of photos of my guy and others in those things they call "singlets". So if guys in the equivalent of leotards offends you, time to move on :)
 
He always looks so intense and nervous before a match. I know my stomach is in knots! The idiom "The bigger they are the harder they fall" is true. Last years wrestling season is still fresh in my mind. He was so inexperienced and it showed. This year I was pleasantly surprised to see a huge improvement. He didn't win either match but he sure gave those guys a run for their money!

I think these guys from Constantine thought they were going to just walk on the mat and be done, but Matthew had other plans. The first guy he wrestled was ranked in state last year. I only have this one pic of the first match because I was so excited all the others are too blurry from my shaking hands!

Matt put up a great fight and was in control for the first part of the match. His downfall is learning how to get out of a hold when on his back.

The second match. Remember he is a BIG kid and he makes everyone else look tiny...

Little can be deceptive. This dude had thighs the size of New Jersey!

I'm learning some of the strategies slowly. grabbing around the head and pulling down is a good move :)

A little coaching between periods.

Got him down and getting him maneuvered into a good hold.

Showing he's in control...

but all it takes is one wrong move and the tables are turned :(

It's going to be a long season for this Mom. My stomach ties itself in knots before every match. He had a tournament this weekend with 3 matches. 1 win and 2 losses but learning from his mistakes. I also committed the cardinal sin of the photographer...I forgot my SD card at home and don't carry a spare :O Guess I'm learning from my mistakes too :)

Scrappy goodness coming next week.

Christmas Kisses *The ScrapRoom*

Mimi has a habit of sitting in my lap and giving me hugs and kisses, hopefully she'll never outgrow this habit! My sister in law Debbie took these photos, Thank you Debbie!

If you check out The ScrapRoom Blog you can see my tutorial on stitching :)

Fussy cut the string of ornaments.

This "package" is stinkin' cute! Added the baker's twine bow with a little Tombow glue.

As you can see by my last 3 posts... The ScrapRoom's Flavor of the Month kit is awesome!

One more layout to share form this kit coming up :)

Make Mine With Sprinkles! *The ScrapRoom*

A sugar cookie just isn't a sugar cookie without sprinkles, in my book anyway :) Making sugar cookies with frosting and sprinkles is a long standing tradition in our family. Used more of my ScrapRoom Flavor of the Month Kit, this time some Simple Stories. I can't get enough of their sticker sheets!

I actually cheated a little...I had 2 sticker sheets so there was enough of the scalloped border sticker for both pages. Ditto with the adorable popcorn banner.

Can you imagine what their clothes looked like at the end of the night :(

The tag sticker filled in the white space on the photo perfectly.

Used some pre embossed American Crafts cardstock for the circles.

Love this little gingerbread man :)

Journaling cards are always included in the Simple Stories lines, they make journaling a snap! 

I had to dig deep into my stash for these "sprinkles". Way down in my cross stitching bin, these little seed beads were hidden. The only catch was there were no red ones and I really wanted red. After digging through Mimi's room looking for her bead supplies, I found a pair of earrings she had made with red beads and actually disassembled them for the beads. Bad Mom! Luckily she wasn't mad at me. She knows how I get when I have an idea in my head and nothing else will do :} To make the "sprinkled" letters I first painted the Kraft alpha stickers from Pebbles, then added some Glossy Accents and sprinkled the beads on.

Check out The ScrapRoom Blog for more inspiration. You'll be glad you did...promise!

Magic *The ScrapRoom*

No. Not Magic Mike. Christmas magic. The magic you feel when you see the Christmas tree lit up for the first time each year. When I was little I would lie on the couch or on the floor in front of the tree and stare at it for hours. I can't resist taking photos of the tree each and every year. This was the year of the mirrors.

It started the year before when I decided the wall in the front room would look really cool covered with antique mirrors. I have a wonderful friend that loves to frequent auctions and estate sales. He loves to scour the corners for cool items and doesn't mind looking for my collectible of the moment. I requested oak mirrors with beveled edges and one year later, voila! A wall of mirrors! Imagine my delight when I turned the lights down to gaze at my tree and this gorgeous view appeared :)

This layout is one of the rare ones that didn't start with a photo. When I pulled out my Flavor of the Month Kit from The ScrapRoom and saw this paper, I knew immediately what photo I wanted to use.

The birds are fussy cut so that the photo and mat slide underneath. Doesn't it appear as if the birds are looking at the tree too?!

A little spray ink with some "magic" masking to help it stand out.

The brads included in the kit are so beautiful. I love the vintage feel of this collection.

I hope you feel the magic too!