Another product of Friday night crop

Sometimes I'm in awe of what actually gets produced on a Friday night. I usually grab a photo, and slap a bunch of things together in a hurry and rush off to my LSS. I'm always at least 2 hours late, spend way to much time ( and money) shopping, and still manage to finish a half decent page. Sometimes it's the wonderful company that inspires me, but often it's just making it work with limited supplies. I have to stop coming up with the realization that I can create more with less, or else I'm going to have to do a major purge of my supplies soon.


This layout is part of a "Trouble" scraplift we have going on between scrapping buddies. Check out JJ's beautiful original, and Noemi's quirky take on it. We're just waiting for yours Claude! (Anyone else who cares to join, let me know!)

The Lion Sleeps...

I take the kids to a local gymnastics center where they offer classes for babies and preschoolers. This week the kids were encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes. We started out all bright eyed and bushy tailed at home:


But after class, and a quick trip to my LSS, this is what I found after I pulled into our driveway:



Poor guy, went to bed without lunch, in the costume!! I didn't dare try and remove it and wake him up after sleeping for only 10 minutes. As it turns out, I should have; he only slept for an hour, and refused another nap later in the afternoon.

We're all punchy!

Over at Practical Scrapers that is- This week's challenge is to dig out your punches! Not just the basic shapes, but all those flowers and scallops, not to mention all those border punches!

Here's my layout for the week:Cardstock : Bazzill Basics Paper
PP: Fancy Pants " Rough and Tough"
Felt: Fancy Pants
Ink: JoAnn Craft Essentials, Staz On
Glossy Accents
Punches: Marvy Uchida, Martha Stewart, EK Sucess
Stamp: unknown

I think I sense some cross contamination approaching!

Oh oh! I just finished a layout with tons of ribbon on a giant spool of thread, dug out some old sewing and quilting books today , and machine sewed on a layout for the first time in my life ( can you believe that?! I'm not sure, but I think just seeing the Cosmo Criket "Girl Friday" collection turned fabric, and perusing Etsy ( also for the first time) last night has got me in the mood to do a little sewing again.

I realize now just how much I miss quilting and sewing. Many of the things I love about it are also quenched by my scrapbooking fetish. substitute fabrics for patterned paper, thread and sewing machine for my tape runner, and all types of notions for bling and embellies.

So why have I waited so long to bring real sewing into my scrapbook pages? Something in my brain needed desperately to keep the two worlds separate ( and all the tools on separate sides of my craft room). I still can't answer that question, but I think the more I venture into the blurred zone in between, the more satisfation I will get out of the creative process ( at least for now).

In the name of all things sewing, here is a link to a cute blog I've discovered called Sew Inspired. I'll leave you with my "Crafty" layout featuring the giant thread spool ( I know the ladies thought I was crazy trying to explain it Friday night!). I'd love to post my layout with the actual sewing, but it'll have to save for next week's design team reaveal on Practical Scrappers.

On pins and needles...

I just sent in my design team application for Imaginisce. For some time now, I've stayed away from applying for any manufacturer design teams. My heart just didn't seem to be in it. It's possible it was just because the right team hadn't come along!
Although I would love to be chosen for this one, if I'm not, I can honestly say I had lots of fun creating layouts and projects and experimenting with such happy product ( I've never met an Imaginisce critter I didn't love!).

Here's a layout I didn't submit using the new "Let's Roll" collection. It was all I could do not to build a traffic light out of buttons LOL!

I must be nuts!!

Before nap, Ethan tried to "aquire" the card I had just finished and was photographing for the Imaginisce Design Team call. He said ( clutching it to his body and running away from me) " My give Murpy card!" For those of you who haven't yet met Murphy, he's Ethan's beloved stuffed monkey. ( here's an older layout featuring Murphy).
He's had him since birth, and has taken him everywhere.
Once I carefully pried the card from his little clutches, I told him we could make a card for Murphy after nap. He then replied " YOU get card for Murpy!" ok! ok! I give- "Mama will make a card for Murphy while you are sleeping ok?"
So, with Parker refusing to nap ( and wrapped around my leg) I created this less than exciting card for our friend Murphy.



Inside it says:

Mr Murphy,
Today Ethan asked me to make a card for you. I think he wanted to let you know how special you are. Thank you for being such a good buddy! We love you!


what a crazy mom!!

Use office supplies on your scrapbook page!

You know there are oodles of scrapbook supplies out there for sale that mimic the look of office supplies, so wouldn't it make sense to just go ahead and use... uh...Office supplies?! This week's challenge at Practical Scrappers is to do just that. I used a mix or "real" scrapbook embellishments ( some that look like office supplies) and "real" office supplies. It was a challenge to keep it looking fun, but I'm pleased with the outcome.

Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Paper
PP: Pebbles
letters: Jillibean Soup
paint: Liquitex
Ink: Staz On
Labels: Creative Cafe
Reinforcement stickers: Buffalo
Mailing Labels : Avery
CD sleeves: Memorex
correction pen: Bic
Paper clip: Acme
felt trim: oops I forget!

the punkin patch

Ask my almost three year old what he did today and he may tell you that he played with his friend Luke's truck this morning, went for a bumpy tractor ride( like the ninky nonk) got "punkins" at the "punkin" patch, and that Mama made him really yummy hot "ocolate". ( oh and he may mention like he did to his dad that his little brother woke him up from nap).

We would all however have to agree that it was a great fall day!

An Apple a Day...

Here's the layout I started a couple of weeks ago at crop. Noemi had to almost slap my hands to keep me from adding anything else- She was right.

Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Paper
pp: Jillibean Soup
letters: Basic Grey
Leaves: BBP
Stickers: Reminisce
Chipboard: American Crafts
Pearls: Kaiser Craft
Journaling spot: Jillibean Soup
Ribbon: American Crafts Elements

I love Fall

I love Fall! I love cool days, fantastic shows of colour on the trees, the excitement of upcoming holidays, hot drinks, fireplaces and warm sweaters. ( I also love putting cute hats and coats on the kiddos and not worrying about sunblock for a change).

Just check out these cuties! Unfortunately I can only take credit for 2 of the three. Those are my boys Ethan and Parker, and their BFF; our neighbor Luke.

All shopped out!

We returned last night from a long week-end in New Hampshire. It was a great combination of Thanksgiving celebration/tax free outlet shopping and quality time with friends and the kids. We're tired, but had a blast. There is nothing like crisp fall mountain air to make a girl go way overboard buying fleece footed PJ's for her kids! :)
I missed the reveal of my first challenge for Practical Scrappers, but was pleased to see the week-end posts when I got home.

The challenge this week is lace cardstock- Here is a layout and a card I did. Why don't you dig some out of your stash and show us the creative things you can do with it!


Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Paper
Lace Cardstock: KI Memories
pp: Sassafrass Lass
Foil Tape: Berry Plastics Corporation
pen: American Crafts Precision pen
Journaling Spot: Fancy Pants
Chipboard letters: Dollarama



Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Paper
Lace Cardstock: KI Memories
Stamp: Sandy Lion
Ink: Colorbox
Letter stickers: Doodlebug Design
Other: Glossy accents, HP transparency sheet

Now designing for:

I was very sad to have the Mix it up Blog close down this month, as I was having so much fun on the Design team. But life changes and evolves for all of us.
Imagine my surprise to be contacted by Christine at Practical Scrappers to become a member of their design team. She was looking to fill a spot early, but the call is still on for new members if anyone is interested!!
I was first introduced to this fun blog by my friend Claude. The challenges are based on the idea of using up items we all already have in our scrapbook stash in new ways. ( Don't worry Nat*, it'll just help me make room for new stuff! LOL!) Now I know a few people who could benefit by using some of the "collectibles" sitting in their stash...Yeah you know who you are! Come join a challenge!

* Natalie is the owner of my beloved LSS Scrapbook Centrale- she carries EVERYTHING, or can usually get it in on request

Chatterbox

Awhile ago I remember admiring people who were able to record the cute things their kids said on scrapbook pages.(My friend Claude is particularly good at this). I couldn't wait until my eldest actually started talking in sentences instead of demands. Now that he's become a little chatterbox, i've been jotting some of the stuff down in my agenda, but not doing so well at getting it onto a scrapbook page. Hopefully this page is a start of a new trend, because this is really the stuff I want to remember weeks, months and years from now.

This is why I scrapbook.

This page was so much fun to make. Yes I scrapbook to preserve our family's photos and memories, but honestly, I mostly do it so that I can have fun with products like this!
These are both my boys at around the same age ( a year)- just a fluke that I got them both with cheerios stuck to their faces!

Last Hoorah for MIU!

Well, this is it, the last Mixer at Mix it Up. I didn't know at the time I created this layout that it would be our last challenge as a DT. I'm sad that it has to end, but I'm glad it is with this page- my favorite by far.
If you have a chance, please stop by and get involved in the last mixer with us, or just come and leave a comment for Melanie and all the talented design team ladies. The pages this week are phenomenal!

Thanks!
Erin