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!

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!

Living In Paradise

That's how I feel when I'm walking around my yard marveling at the beauty God has created! Each year I take multitudes of photos that just beg to be made into a layout. The problem is that they are all so colorful it's hard to choose paper and embellishments that don't compete.This year I gave in to the color and used some gorgeous floral Basic Grey paper with even more colorful flowers :) The pop of yellow on the left seems to balance it nicely.

My interpretation of a Creating Keepsakes sketch.

 

I love Basic Grey sticker sheets. They have so many cute icons, aren't the birdies sweet! Martha Stewart border punch and my ever favorite Thickers.

 

I loved how the sketch mixed squares with circles.

 

Prima and Recollections flowers.

Splattering on the background helped keep it from looking too stark. 

 

Another sticker from the sheet, such a pretty journaling spot.

Dad is slowly getting around. The catheter in his chest is quite annoying to him and necessitates sponge baths instead of showers. Hoping the new fistula will be ready in another month or so. Thankfully it's football season and he's semi distracted!

Matthew had an awesome last game of the season with several tackles, 2 quarterback sacks (one sent the quarterback to the hospital :/ Sorry to his Mom), and he ran a 2 point conversion in for his first ever points!!! They moved him up to Varsity for playoffs, hope it goes well. My nails will be gone before the game is over :(

My poor Mimi is burning the candle at both ends. Volleyball, Colorguard, Student Council, Peer Helping, Health Careers Club and I could go on! She is sick with an ear infection now. Thankfully her last Colorguard appearance will be next weekend, so no more practices in the cold & rain.

Off to bed, work tomorrow. As they say...no rest for the wicked!

 

Little Yellow Bicycle Cycling Team "The Escape"

Yay! It's my turn to share the projects I created as part of the LYB Escape Cycling Team :)

I was amazed by the variety of embellishments and had a field day playing with them! Almost all my travel photos are from our vacations to Florida over the years. My first project highlights some of those photos we all have...uncooperative family outtakes. Hop on over to their blog to read the details!

Some photos from a trip to Busch Gardens in Tampa inspired the next layout.

My final project is an altered picture frame. We have so few family photos, I wanted to create a special frame for one of them. Even if it wasn't the most flattering photo of me :P

I want to thank Little Yellow Bicycle for choosing me to be a member of their Escape Cycling Team!

Delightful and She Loves the Beach *The ScrapRoom*

The second half of the Doubleshot kit from the ScrapRoom was a selection of My Minds Eye Indie Chic loveliness. I'm so in love with this line! I'd actually purchased some of this line a couple of weeks before on my 1st trip to Archivers but amazingly enough, none of the same items!

I love these photos of my daughter playing at Lake Michigan but they were very bright and I wanted a soft feeling for this layout. Desaturating them in Photoshop, leaving just a hint of color accomplished my goal.

Used 3 sizes of scalloped circle punches to create the flowers.

Promise I'll add the journaling later :) Used the new sticky Thickers and glitter for "Beach", love the soft effect.

Used Aphra's sketch of the month for Delightful.

Added misting, bling and butterflies to to compliment this beautiful paper



The Flower Shoppe Cricut cartridge was perfect for creating these flowers, tried to mimic the ones in the paper. Bling from Zva Creative (not in kit).

I used everything in this kit but a few scraps of paper,1 sticker and 1 button! I plan on making a couple of cards with that :)

For more inspiration and to check out the August kits , head on over to The ScrapRoom and the ScrapRoom blog !

Purrrfect! {Out for Publication!}

I'm so in love with these photos :) The colors are beautiful and my sweet girl and her friend were so adorable that day, lovin' on the baby kitties. Those kittens are now 3 years old and aptly named "Hungry Man" & "Lean Cuisine". My father is graciously allowed to live in their domain and even gets to pet them whenever they like.



My Minds Eye is one of my favorite manufacturers...but I have a problem using their papers. They are too pretty to cut into, what if I mess up? Bit the bullet and used them on this layout, the colors are just too purrrfect :)

LOVE this color combo!

Finally used some of my stash of Zva Creative bling, a wonderful blog hop win.

The kitty silhouettes were perfect for this layout, you can find them on the Kate's ABC's Cricut cartridge.

I'd like to kiss whomever invented foam squares :)

Look at the sweet little face!

Love all the textures together.

Supplies: Cardstock: American Crafts, Bazzill; patterned paper: My Minds Eye; letter stickers, lace ribbon: American Crafts; flowers: Recollections; brads: Making Memories; crystals: Zva Creative; sticker: My Minds Eye; canvas stickers: Little Yellow Bicycle; buttons: October Afternoon; border punch: Fiskars; corner rounder: EK Success; marker: Sharpie; adhesive: 3L, Scotch, Therm O Web.



Busy day ahead! Dr's. appointment this morning, fix lunch at band camp this afternoon, finish a couple of assignments and whatever else I can fit in!

Dad has to go back to surgery on Thursday, his fistula is partially blocked again. My niece and Brother in Law are here visiting unexpectedly from Tennessee, and Matthew is battling a case of ringworm or impetigo (not sure which or if he has both) a nice present from wrestling camp a week or so ago :(

Can you tell that my mind is in chaos? Off I go :)

Splash!

I just love going through all my photos of the kids when they were little. Such sweet little faces :) Matthew was 8 months in these photos and it was his 1st time in a swimming pool. Aunt Linda & Uncle Vere were (and still are) kind enough to let the Hallgren family use their pool. Daddy got to be the pool buddy since Mommy doesn't really like cold water...in my book anything under 100 degrees is cold!

Used "Splash" from Echo Park. I knew I had some pictures in a box somewhere that would be perfect with this line :)

I've decided I really stink at faux stitching and need to stick to sewing! Anyone have any tricks up their sleeve?

This line came with a great sticker sheet. Popped some of the stickers and layered them.

Love the splash flourish! I actually tore it by accident and solved my blooper by tucking it under the photos and paper strips.

Googly eyes :)

Just looking at this layout makes me happy, with it's bright cheerful colors and silly fishes.

So excited!!! Tomorrow I'm leaving for a 3 day scrapbooking retreat :) Three glorious days of scrapping, eating, and socializing...not necessarily in that order. Off to try and pack my scraproom, how did I acquire so much stuff? I always say I'm not going to take so much but when I try to pack, my mind says "What if I need that?" and "What if I want to stamp and emboss!". My efforts to make kits always results in me changing my mind and wanting what I don't have.

I guess I'll have to endure those looks of disbelief as I drag in half my scraproom. The bonus to everyone else is that I share my tools and scraps... sometimes even embellies :}  Have a good weekend, I'll report back on Monday!

Girls of Summer *The ScrapRoom*

The July Doubleshot Kit from The ScrapRoom is full of summer goodness like the Summer Fresh line from Simple Stories. The sticker sheet has the most adorable icons! This layout has a "Recipe Card" along with it, available only to club members.

The chevron is cut from patterned paper and matted with red.

Love the stickers that look like washi tape!

These photos are from our annual campfire. The girls had a blast. That's Mimi doing the "Sprinkler".

Jillibean Soup letters (not included in kit).

I love the pinwheels and mason jar trend. Reminds me of my childhood and riding in the car while holding a pinwheel, watching it spin in the breeze :)

I have a friend that likes to see the journaling so these last 2 are for her :)

I still have lots of goodies left from this 1/2 of the kit so watch for more to come!

March Sketch Challenge

My friend Amanda over at Love Joy Paper is hosting her monthly sketch challenge and she has invited me to play along! Her lovely sketch can be interpreted in so many ways or kept just as it is, either way it's a great sketch :)

Here is the sketch:

And my interpretation:

Cardstock: Bazzill, Stampin' Up; patterned paper: Bo Bunny; letter stickers: American Crafts; flowers: Petaloo; buttons: Sassafrass; diecuts: K & Co., Little Yellow Bicycle; marker: Marvy Uchida; bakers twine: Martha Stewart; adhesive: 3L, Therm O Web, Tombow.

I chose to keep the original photo, title, and journaling placement. These papers by Bo Bunny just begged to be fussy cut for the background!

You know me and Thickers...it's a love affair :P

Love the movement of the swirls.

Those buttons came pre threaded and sticky! What a concept :)

The seagulls were a perfect finishing touch.

Pop on over to Amanda's blog and participate in her challenge for a chance to win an awesome prize!