Valentines is coming!

And these puffy hearts are too cute not to add to your layouts. Heck, it doesn't even have to be a Valentines day or a lovey layout to want to add these to your page. I love them. Puffy heart stickers by Corina Neisen, very cool.


















Here's a layout I did using them.

Sisterly Love

Journaling:
Rachel, you were your sister’s dream and wish come true. Elizabeth wanted a sister more than anything, and you are her true love in life. Never forget that.



















Credits:
Corina Nielsen: Paper is from the Arsenal kit. Hearts are from the Puffy Heart pack.
Nancy Comelab: Curled frames.
Ida: Fall doodles (recolored).
Katie Pertiet: Pinned tag.

Toggler

I love the background on this page. It was part of a gift from Sylvie of Sausan Designs that she gave to some of her customers. Those that were the first group of scrappers that noticed her and began buying her products. It was definitely a nice surprise in my inbox. And a pretty one too.

The name of the page is Toggler, which is how Elizabeth pronounces 'toddler'. I can't correct her. It is to stinking cute. I don't want her to stop saying it, lol.


















Credits:
Sausan Designs: Background paper from Midnight Moon paper pack. Cardboard behind photo from Dream On element pack.
Nancy Comelab: Curled frame.
Natalie Braxton: Ribbon rider.
Linda GB: Cardboard overlay. Tag and lace from Wintersong kit. Flowers from Ophelia kit.
Happy Robin: Bird from Wintersong kit.
Michelle Coleman: Boho flourishes.
Syrin: Loose stitches
Meredith Fenwick: Paint brush.
Nancie Rowe Janitz: Inking.
Michelle Pearson: Photo action.

Birdbath

Here is another layout using all Designer Digitals stuff. Hoping they might pick me for the guest CT, but definitely not getting my hopes up. There are some great scrappers that also want that one single little guest spot. LOL

Journaling:
After finding the birdbath in Uncle Gerald’s backyard, there was no way that Felix could be kept dry. Eventually, it was just easier to strip him and let him play. November 2005.



















Credits:
All from Designer Digitals:
Anna Aspnes: Vintage evergreen paper pack. Torn & Distressed journaling paper in the Buff. Hipster Plumes 4.
Jackie Eckles: Altered Embellies, stars. A Lot of Buttons. Big Quirky Stitches.
Katie Pertiet: Curled frames. Botanical frames. Nature brushes. Ledger Grids. Aged alpha.

Do you like vibrant colors?

Well if you like fun colors and patterns, check out Tracey Monette's new kit, Siesta Jellies. It is very fun, and available here.


















Play

Journaling:
Elizabeth, you began the day, all nice and fresh, ready to play with your cousins. You ended the day, exhausted and just a wee bit mussed up after playing hard all day with your fun older cousins. November 2005.



















Credits:
New colorful and fun kit by Tracey Monette, available on Sunday at Scrapbook-Elements, called Siesta Jelly. Also by Tracey Monette: Pop-Up frams and Painted notebook alpha.

Pinned ribbon by Natalie Braxton. Flower doodles by Ida. Swirls by Anna Aspnes. Paint by Nancie Rowe Janitz.

Layout of the Week

I was surprised this week by a little note informing me that my layout 'Pony' was picked as layout of the week at Designer Digitals. That is always a fun surprise.

Check it out here.

So we finally got some snow this week and the kids were loving every minute of it. In fact, it's still on the ground. But we are supposed to have beautiful sunny, and cold, days ahead of us during the next week. You know what that means to me? Taking the kids outside for photos!!! LOL

Toothless Talk

This is why I love blogs. I can go back and find my journaling for all my old photos without any problem! Compared to my more recent layouts, this is fairly simple. Not a lot of elements. All about paper, stamps and journaling.

Journaling:
As I watched you talk this morning, and the drool was escaping your mouth due to a lack of teeth, I was reminded of how you used to chew gum. Not that you get to chew gum very often.

During your first year of learning to chew gum, it was especially distasteful because you couldn’t get the hang of it. I guess, like learning to pump your legs on a swing, learning to chew gum and swallow your saliva at the same time takes practice. Because you could not swallow your saliva when you chewed gum, no matter how hard you tried, the spit would just run out the sides of your mouth and down your chin.

It was lovely.

But, alas, just as you figured out how to pump your legs when you swing, you figured out how to chew gum without having spit run down your face. Now you just need to learn to keep the saliva in your mouth while talking without teeth.



















Credits:
Everything here is from Designer Digitals.
Katie Pertiet: Aged alpha. Supersized alpha. Blank safety tags. Deckeled frame. Curled frame.
Lynn Grieveson: Big Chill paper pack.
Anna Aspnes: Hipster plumes 3.
Kelly Mize: Paint brushes. Circle grunge.

Rock Angel

Journaling:
We thought you were excited when the truck dumped all the gravel into our driveway, but that was only the beginning. The true excitement came with jumping in it, playing in it and making rock angels. You are such a girly girl! Elizabeth. October 2005.


















Credits:
Everything here is from Designer Digitals.
Anna Aspnes: Vintage Evergreen paper pack.
Jackie Eckles: Altered embellies (stars), altered embellies (journaling tag), Whimsicality Doodles.
Katie Pertiet: Curled frames, Mixed stamped alpha.
Kelly Mize: Paint brush.

Eggs

Journaling removed because I've had two wierdo hits on my blog sice I posted this and that's enough for me.



















Credits:
Corina Nielsen: kraft paper from arsenal.
IOD: blue paper from Sweet ‘n’ Trashy. Staples from Essentials.
Nancy Comelab: Curled photo frame.
Natalie Braxton: Thingz on Stringz. Ribbon Riders. Fashionable Fasteners.
Jen Wilson: Patterned paper (blended). Hold-t-downs on the ribbon.
Miss Mint: tin foil star.
Amy Martin: Sequin strings.
Linda GB: twisted ribbon from Ophelia.
Anna Aspnes: Naked Tape It- freestyle.
Nancie Rowe-Janitz: distressing ink.
Kim Christensen: tissue paper alpha.
Zftamp: tearing strip.
Lisa Whitney: ric rac.
Michelle Pearson: photo actions.

A New Year

Happy New Year!

School started back today. The tree and decorations are gone. I feel good.

That's all.

=)

New Scarf

Elizabeth has wanted a scarf for years, and I have been telling her she wasn’t old enough for years. Finally, this year she received a scarf from Santa Claus for Christmas, and she was absolutely delighted with this gift.

















Credits:
Iron Orchid Designs (IOD): background paper from Little Miss Lola Britches and paper snowflakes (also blended into background).

Nancie Rowe Janitz: Schmootzy frames.
Nancy Comelab: Curled photo frame.
Natalie Braxton: ‘perfectly pinned’ ribbon.
Linda GB: lace, cardboard overlay, hanging tag.
Sausan Designs: Pressed leaves.
Kim Christensen: tissue paper alpha.
Meredith Fenwick: paint strokes.

Mirror Mirror

Elizabeth thinks standing in front of those funky amusement park/ carnival mirrors are a blast. Which of course means that I had to photograph it, lol. These photos were from this past August.

















Credits:
Tracey Monette (Scrapbook-Elements):
Background paper: blended paper from ‘carousel’ and ‘colorful marbles’. Carousel elements are from her ‘carousel’ kit. The frame from her ‘messy deckle matte’ pack. Ribbon from her ‘dotted ribbon’ pack. Tag and plastic hanger from her new ‘hang tags’ pack.

Natalie Braxton: Thingz on Stringz.
Nancie Rowe Janitz: Schmootzy frame.
Jen Wilson: Squiggle Fleurs.

First Pony

The first thing the doctor said was, ‘Look at all that hair!’

Ever since then I have been looking forward to watching your hair grow and to being able to do fun and girly things to it.

You were just 7 weeks old the first time I put a barrette in your hair and it wasn’t long after that that I could put your hair in a little pony on top of your head. This summer I was able to put your hair in pig tails, and you looked so cute.

But this winter, it finally dawned on me that I could probably put your hair in a regular pony tail. So I gave it a try, and it worked. Not only did your hair stay in the pony, but it looked absolutely adorable that way too.


















Credits:
Corina Nielsen at Funky Playground Designs: background paper from ‘My Princess’. Hair clip from ‘cute clippys’. Folded ribbon from ‘folded dots’. Solid ribbon from ‘my prince’. Beaded flowers from ‘purty things’. Felt flower from ‘felt flowers 2’. Tape measure, price tag and stitches from ‘arsenal’ kits.

Natalie Braxton: Ribbon riders.
Tracey Monette: Date stamp.
Michelle Coleman: Boho frame.
Nancy Comelab: Curled Polaroid frame.
Holly McCaig: stapled negative frame.
Linda GB: Cardboard overlay.
Katie Pertiet: stamped alpha.

Year in Review 2006

Wow, now this page was a challenge!

I have never before placed so many photos on one page... and I still included journaling! This was not an easy project. But, I did it, and now I want to do one for last year as well, which will be another challenge, lol.


Journaling:
Special points of interest: In March we visited Grandma and Grandpa in Green Valley, Arizona. In September and October we visited Mimi and Papa in New York. During this trip we also visited in New York: Niagara Falls, Manhattan and Mimi’s house. We also took side trips to Plymouth, Massachusetts and Cape Cod. On our way home to Mimi’s house we spent the day in Mystic, Connecticut. We also toured Washington D.C, for a few days and then checked out Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. While on the East Coast we spent several days at Star Lake Conference Center in New Jersey for the Gaines family reunion and Mimi and Papa’s retirement party.

Rachel’s milestones: During 2006 Rachel learned to crawl and walk. She went from bottles to sippy cups and from being fed to feeding herself. Rachel celebrated her first birthday in May with a wild animal theme. This was also the year when Rachel began to talk, and she has a huge vocabulary for her nineteen month age at the end of 2006.

Elizabeth’s milestones: During 2006 Elizabeth began first grade, which included her first time spending entire days away from home and riding the school bus. Elizabeth went to her first slumber party, roller skated, ice skated, played soccer, and grew before our eyes. Elizabeth turned seven years old and celebrated with an art themed birthday party. This is also the year that Elizabeth cut her hair.

Other News: During 2006 our family pet, Zoe passed away. A few months later Elizabeth picked out a new dog from the Humane Society and we chose the name Lola for our newest family member. In July Shaun and Alissa celebrated their fourteen year anniversary. For Halloween Elizabeth dressed as a ‘rock star’ and Rachel dressed as an ‘Indian princess’. As a family we spent many afternoons in our backyard; we sat around the fire pit, made s’mores, climbed on the play structure, played in the fairy garden and ran wild among the plants shooting each other with water guns. 2006 was a fun year.



















Credits:
Michelle Coleman: Serendipity papers, paint brush and stamped alpha.
Katie Pertiet: Curled photo frame.

I hate being sick.

I have been sick for a week now. Not only me, but both of my girls too. We've had fevers and a terrible cold on top of it with coughing. So, I haven't been feeling too creative lately, lol. But I was inspired today when I scrapped the Beach layout posted below, and I am actually quite happy with the result.

It uses Tracey Monette's new paper pack, colorful marble, and I love the veins which give it quite a bit of texture.

Are you ready for Christmas?

Normally by now I have everything not only purchased, but wrapped. This year I am way behind on my Christmas duties. I blame illness. Oh well, I guess I'll catch up over the weekend. Definitely by Sunday night, lol.

Happy holidays everybody!