Inkin' & Thinkin'

Just Breathe & A Freebie

After this week, this kit was so appropriately named.  LOL!  Between the house deep cleaning, the first week of soccer and really the first week of classes...I'm exhausted.  I have been running non stop all week and am really looking forward to a much quieter week next week so I can do some scrapping.

The kit I'm going to show you today is called Just Breathe and is Farrah's latest kit.  You can get it for free with a $5.00 purchase from her store!  How cool is that?!  I just loved the bright contrast of colors in this kit...blues and oranges and browns...one of my favorite combinations! 

This is my aunt and 2 of my uncles a few years back...ok...a lot of years back!  LOL!

Credits:  Just Breathe by Farrah's Designer Scraps

This is my cousin back in 1997...so beautiful!

Credits:  Just Breathe by Farrah's Designer Scraps

My friend, Kristan, took these pics of our friends Keeli and Kerri at Keeli's daughter's wedding a couple of weeks ago and I just loved them so I scrapped them, naturally!  LOL!

Credits:  Just Breathe by Farrah's Designer Scraps

I also made a QP for you with this kit...well, it's really one of my layouts minus the photo and the title.  LOL...I told you, I'm a busy girl, this week!  Enjoy!

You can pick up the QP here.

If you're looking for even more freebies, scroll down a little here on my blog or check out DigiFree for hundreds of options!

A Touch of Color & A Freebie & A CT Call!

Some of my favorite color combos are those of black a white with just a touch of color.  I have long wanted to create a kit in black, white and green.  I just love that color combo for some reason.  Well, Farrah went ahead and created it so I didn't have to.  And what's better is that she also included teal, peach and pink in the mix too...tadaa!  Perfection!

So here are a couple of layouts I made with it and if you get down to the bottom, you'll also get a free QP I made with this kit.  Sound like a deal?  Here we go...

This first page is of my Grandma O'Brien's mother.  I love this photo of her.  It's timeless I think and one of the few photos we have of her.

Credits:  Touch of Color by Farrah's Designer Scraps

And well, I'm not finished scrapping Lexi's birthday shoot yet so yes, you have to see more of it!  LOL!  My blog, my rules.  She really wanted to include an umbrella in her shoot and so we did a few umbrella scenes.  Now I need to find a great striped umbrella to give it some more visual interest next time.

Credits:  Touch of Color by Farrah's Designer Scraps

Now Farrah is holding a CT Call right now and well, if you follow my blog, you know that I love her kits.  I think she has a gift for combining elements and texture and color.  She is so incredibly talented and beyond that she's a sweetie too!  So if you'd like to work with her kits, please respond to her CT Call.

Now, a little goodie for you... a QP from Touch of Color.

You can pick up the QP here.

You can pick up the kit here.

Don't forget to apply for the CT Call.  You just never know if it's you we're looking for!

Speed Scrap, Sneak Peek & Some Layouts!

So tonight at 8pm CST (9pm EST, 7pm MST, 6pm PST) I'll be hosting a speed scrap at Pretty Scrappy.  It's going to be challenging and fun and I can't wait!  So if you'd like to play along, meet me in the chat room (or follow along in the challenge forum) and we'll have some fun tonight!  If you should happen to come by and participate you'll not only receive Pretty Scrappy Points but you'll also receive this little kit I've been working on that won't be released until September sometime!  Wanna peek?

I hope to see you there!

Here are a few things I've been up to lately...

This page was done as part of a template challenge at Pretty Scrappy.  Love this template and the kit is Just Passin' Thru's latest as well!

Credits:  Enchanted Forest by Just Passin' Thru

I couldn't keep from laughing as I watched Luke chasing Makalyn making faces at her as he taunted her across the grass.  It was just too funny!

Credits:  Nightmare by Farrah's Designer Scraps

And a few more pics from my new favorite place...now if only I could remember how to get there the right way!  LOL!  We hiked back in last week when my mom came to visit and I let Andy lead because well, he's the outdoorsman.  Well, we ended up in a very different neck of the woods and had to find our way to the right place via some not so hiker friendly rocks.  But we had a good time and I was able to get a few more great shots while we were there.

Credits:  Enchanted Forest by Just Passin Thru

And yes, you have to endure another proud Auntie moment.  LOL!  Luke learned to ride without training wheels and you know I had to get it in pictures!  What an awesome little man!  Just look at that face...can't tell he's proud, can you?!  :)

Credits:  Retro Funky by Stormy Scraps

Ok...I think that just about covers it.  Tomorrow my baby girl will be 5 and I feel time slipping away slowly as I've watched them all turn another year older in the past two weeks.  And what did this beautiful almost 5 yr old ask for for her birthday?  Bananas and a photo shoot.  LOL!  God bless her sweet little cheeks!  I think I can swing that one! 

Have a wonderful weekend.  I hope to see you at the speed scrap tonight but if not, maybe I'll catch you back here on Monday!

A Few Layouts and a Freebie QP

My mom is here this week so I'm going to keep this short and sweet.  I'll show you a few layouts I've done lately and then I'll have a freebie for you at the end of it all.  How's that for short and sweet?  LOL!

Credits:  Shiny Happy People by Share Joy available at Bouquet of Pixels

Credits:  Boo Boos by Farrah's Designer Scraps available at Designer Scraps

Credits:  Letting Go by Farrah's Designer Scraps available at Designer Scraps

 

Credits:  Letting Go by Farrah's Designer Scraps available at Designer Scraps

Credits:  Boo Boos by Farrah's Designer Scraps available at Designer Scraps

Credits:  Snow Day by Trixie Scraps available at Scrap Matters

Credits: Have Faith by Farrah's Designer Scraps available at Designer Scraps

Credits:  Have Faith by Farrah's Designer Scraps available at Designer Scraps

Credits:  Lina's Joy by Wendy Tunison (soon available here on my blog)

Credits:  Snow Day by Trixie Scraps available at Scrap Matters

Credits:  For The Girls by Trixie Scraps available at Scrap Matters

Credits:  Comical by simply.scraps & Amy Sumrall available at Inspiration Lane

 

Credits:  Comical by simply.scraps & Amy Sumrall available at Inspiration Lane

Credits:  Shiny Happy People by  Share Joy available at Bouquet of Pixels

Credits:  For The Girls by Trixie Scraps available at Scrap Matters

Credits:  Drama King Team Collab by Pretty Scrappy Design Team available at Pretty Scrappy

And now I have a freebie for you from and it's one of the layouts I've shown you above but you'll have to just download it and see which one it is...after all, a little surprise is always fun.

You can download the QP here.  Enjoy!

Saying Goodbye

I am so sad today.  I received yet another letter from one of the designers I love to work with that she will be retiring from designing.  That makes it 1 store and 3 designers that I ct for that have called it quits this month.  Another designer is seriously struggling and is unsure of her design future at this point.  I work with several other designers that I haven't heard from in months so I'm assuming they have thrown in the towel as well. 

I understand the economy sucks and I understand that no one is spending money on unnecessary items right now.  I get that.  We're in the same boat.  It just really breaks my heart to see these ladies that are so incredibly talented having to give up their dream.  

I will miss working with each of them so much.  They have made me laugh and cry and they have become my friends.  I truly hope we'll stay in touch but I know that when you're not working with someone it's easy to let that relationship fall by the wayside unintentionally. 

You still have time to grab some amazing deals from them as they retire all of their products.  Please take a moment to support them if you can.  They are so talented and their designs are worthy of your hard earned.  You never know what a difference your $5.00 purchase can make in someone's life.

Farrah is having an amazing sale at her store this month and I know she would appreciate any support you can give her.  In fact, if you purchase $10.00 from her store this month, send me the receipt and I'll gift you both of the kits I've made.  I know it's not much but it's all I've got to offer at this point.  I found Farrah while blog hopping one day and immediately asked her if I could be a part of her CT.  I love the visual interest and texture she puts into her designs.  I have found her kits to truly stimulate me and push my creativity to new heights. 

Shannon is having a buy my store special and holy smokes...why wouldn't you?  I have long admired her talents and found her designs to be so beautiful and classic.  I remember when I first worked with one of her kits.  I almost couldn't stop myself.  I made about 5 pages and a couple of QPs before I did!

Stacey is also having a buy my store special and well, just check it out, you know you love her designs as much as I do.  I kinda forced myself on Stacey.  LOL!  She had worked on a collab with Teri and well, after working with her designs I just kind of adopted myself into Stacey's family.  She very graciously accepted me as one of her own and I'm so thankful.  I have enjoyed the conversations we've had and feel blessed to have worked with her.

Teri will be having a great special starting in August as this will be her last month.  You've heard me say time and again how much I love this lady and her designs...so be on the lookout for some amazing deals!  She gave me my first ct thrill when she asked me to join her CT Team.  I had long admired her work and was too chicken to ask her if I could be on her team.  But then out of the blue, she emailed me.  I am telling you that I screamed, jumped up and down and woke Andy up to tell him.  He didn't get it but I didn't care.   I was so excited to be a part of her team.  I think I've been closer to Teri than any other designer and I have been blessed to count her among my friends.  She is an amazing woman.

I am so sad to see these ladies leaving my digi world.  Please support them as much as you can during their last month.  Grab up those buy my store specials and get while the gettin's good.  Once these designs are gone, they are gone forever. 

To my beautiful designers I say thank you for opening a world of creativity for me.  Thank you for giving me the opportunity to work with your delicious designs.  I truly appreciate the faith you had in me to do your designs justice.  I have enjoyed every moment of it and I will truly miss you.  You have enriched my life and I feel blessed to have been a part of yours.

Imagine and a freebie!

There is something about Farrah's kits that bring out my emotions.  I don't know if it's the texture of it all or the colors or what.  But there is always something about her kits that make me dig a little farther from the norm for my journaling.  Her latest kit Imagine did the same thing.  I love the blues and browns and blacks in this kit and all the grungy elegance of it all.

Before I show you that though, I thought I'd remind you about the sale she is having this month.

She is also giving away a little somethin' until Sunday if you'd like to pick it up...I did!

You can pick them up here.

Now how about some layouts?  This first one is about Kaylee.  She is the  most unique of my children.  The other two were spitting images of each other as babies and really have acted very much alike.  Their personalities are similar as are their mannerisms.  But Kaylee on the other hand is completely different.  So I thought I'd put that into a page.

Credits:  Imagine by Farrah's Designer Scraps

This second page is where the crazy emotions came into play.  I started out this page with a completely different idea and tone but once I started typing there was no stopping.  And once it was typed I decided to just leave it.  So it's a little raw but I think that's okay every now and then.

Credits:  Imagine by Farrah's Designer Scraps

And finally, I made a QP for you with this kit.  I hope you'll enjoy it.

You can pick up the kit here.

You can grab the QP here.

Enjoy!

I'll have another girly QP for you tomorrow...it's too cute!

Peaceful Journey & a Freebie!

I promised you a freebie yesterday so I thought I better get in gear and deliver today!  LOL!  I have been working with Farrah's recent release Peaceful Journey lately so I thought I'd share a couple of layouts as well as a freebie QP.

Do you have Aunts & Uncles who really aren't related?  I know I did as a kid.  There was Grandma Carlson who was our next door neighbor.   She always had bowls of buttermints waiting for us.  I loved to feel her arms because they were so different from anyone else's.  They were covered in wrinkles and they were loose and wobbly.  I loved that as a child.

I had Uncle Rick who I was going to grow up and marry someday.  He was simply the coolest person I knew.  He use to let us clean his house for him and we could keep whatever money we found laying around for doing it.  Of course, looking back, I think he probably threw most of that change out on the floor on purpose!  LOL!  He use to take us for ice cream and swimming at the lake.  He was one cool dude back in the day.

There was also Grandma Tieson who I got the opportunity to go and see last summer.  She still knew who I was immediately and I have to say that her hug was one of the best feelings ever.  She hasn't changed one bit since the last time I saw her when I was in 8th grade.  She still has that same love and happiness to her and visiting her felt like going home.  What a treasure.

Of course, along with Grandma Tieson and Uncle Rick came all of her real grandkids.  I couldn't wait for summer to come when Christy and Tiffany would come to visit their grandma and when Kori and Brian moved to town, it was like getting another brother and sister! 

I think those bonds never really fade out and all of the wonderful people we adopt into our families are true blessings in our lives.  One of those blessings for our family has been Uncle Dean.  Uncle Dean has been Andy's parents' best friend since high school.  Andy & I genuinely love this man like an Uncle and my kids are now enjoying a relationship with him as well.  The girls just love him and I am thankful for him being a part of our lives.

Credits:  Peaceful Journey by Farrah's Designer Scraps

Now, if you know Kaylee, you know that she thinks all boys are ugly and that there is no way she'll ever have a boy friend!  LOL!  She is only in 2nd Grade so I'm happy to hear her say these things.  Boys should still have cooties at that age!  But the other day while we were watching Twilight (yes, again) she let it slip that she thinks Jacob is cute.  She immediately took it back and tried to cover it up, but it was too late, she had uttered the words.  So naturally, as a scrapbooker, I had to do my duty to document it.

Credits:  Peaceful Journey by Farrah's Designer Scraps

Now, while I was working with this kit, I also made you a QP.  I hope you'll enjoy it!

You can pick up the kit here.

You can pick up the QP here. 

Enjoy!

I will have another for you tomorrow!

A couple of announcements, layouts & a freebie!

Well, it seems there are big things happening for Trixie Scraps so I thought I'd share the big news with you!  Congrats Tracey!  YOU ROCK!

Want a little sneak peek at the collab kit she and Simply Scraps will be releasing tomorrow?  It's too too cute!

Isn't that exciting?!  Well, how about another exciting announcement in the form of a sale?  Seriously, if you haven't gone shopping yet, what are you waiting for?

Here's a couple of layouts I made with one of Farrah's latest kits called Everyday.

First I had to document our May...it was the craziest month I think we've ever had but it was so fun.  I am thankful for life to slow down now a little just in time for my sister and her family to move here.  At least I'll have some time to get my house in order before she arrives!  LOL!

Credits: Everyday by Farrah's Designer Scraps

And while I was working with this kit, I couldn't resist the corkboard that was in it....love it!  I remember as a kid, my walls were plastered with things that were important to me.  I even covered one of my bedroom windows with black paper and collaged my love for Andy all over it.  LOL!  I was a scrapper then and I didn't even know it! 

Now I'd love to cover Kaylee's wall with a huge canvas and give her some mega strength glue because she makes the most interesting art pieces.  Last night she made me a princess wand out of a broken plastic spoon handle (which she covered with a broken balloon so that it wouldn't hurt my hand), a piece of wax paper that she cut into a circle then drew a pic of me on.  She glued this to the top of the broken handle and then added four princess stickers to the edges.  To top this awesome creation off, she picked some flowers from our hawthorne tree and glued them to fill in where the stickers didn't cover the paper.  So awesome! (I'll have to take a pic)  I would love to see what she could do with a wall over time.  But I want it to be something she could take with her if we moved at some point so I'll have to figure out a cool way for her to do just that.

Anyway, back to the cork board.  LOL!  I thought it would be fun to make a page look kind of random like a corkboard would if I were to add things to it.

Credits: Everyday by Farrah's Designer Scraps

And then, I decided to make you a freebie QP with this kit as well.  It's a little tropical...I hope you enjoy!

You can pick up the kit here.

You can download the QP here until next Friday.

I'll be back at 6 with the latest installment of Burst of Summer...only two more days to go and you'll have the full kit and if you come to the Speed Scrap on Saturday at Pretty Scrappy at 7pm MST, you may get even more!  LOL!

Some pages, announcements, coupons and a freebie...grab a cup!!

This post is loaded so grab a cup and put your feet up for a minute.

Let's see...where to start?  How about with Pretty Scrappy's new collab for this month?  It's so stinkin' cute! Wanna see?

You can pick it up here and if you use the coupon code SunnyFun you'll get $2.00 off through June 30, 2009.  And as a little bonus when you buy the collab you'll receive these QPs for free!  I made a couple of these so you know you want them.  LOL!  Just kidding!  But really...aren't they fabulous?  The QP Team at Pretty Scrappy is pretty awesome!

And since I'm in the mood to tell you about some coupons...how about another?  This one is good for Stacey's new kit Escape.   You can see a couple of the layouts I made with it here (scroll to the bottom of the post).  You can pick the kit up here.

And if you're in the mood to shop, be sure to check out Farrah's sale!  She is selling everything in her store for just $2.00 each!  That's awesome!  As I said last week, her kits are simply beautifully detailed and full of texture.  You'll for sure find something there to please you.  And she has CU items up for grabs too!  I know I'll be picking up a few of those! 

Want to see what I made with one of her kits this weekend?  Well, if not, I apologize.  I'm gonna show you anyway!

This is my brother Mark during a fishing trip last summer.  He forgot to bring his shoes with him so the poor boy was stuck in cowboy boots and budweiser swim trunks...now that's a fashion statement if I ever saw one!  LOL!

Credits:  All Boy by Farrah's Designer Scraps

On that same fishing trip Lexi discovered Missouri clay and couldn't help but get her hands dirty!  I love that she is such a tomboy...makes this mama happy!

Credits:  All Boy by Farrah's Designer Scraps

In April we had our annual Spring Crop and we had a ball just like we always do.  I was so bummed that my mom and Nina couldn't make it for this crop but sometimes that is just the way life goes.  Next time I'll clear it with them first!  LOL!  Aren't these a great lookin' bunch of ladies?!

Credits:  Let's Fly A Kite by Just Passin' Thru

Kaylee played her last game of softball for this season last night and I have to brag a little and just say that she rocks!  She has such natural abilities when it comes to sports and I really am just in awe at how quickly she picks things up.  Softball is definitely her game and even though she took a ball to the face last night, she still got back out there and played some more.  She ran with one shoe on and slid and tagged out 2 runners at home plate last night.  She is awesome!  This is her team from this year.

Credits:  Let's Fly A Kite by Just Passin Thru

Last August my friend, Jamie, introduced me to a much closer swimming hole for my kids and I  and for that I am forever grateful!  LOL!   I managed to snap just a few photos that day (like 500+) because it's such a great place for textural photos...ok and for pics of the kids too!   These are a few from that day...

Credits:  Give A Hoot by Heavenly Scraps

Credits:  Give A Hoot by Heavenly Scraps

I think my mom and my niece have this beautiful bond...I was looking through the pics from my sister's computer the other day and found these and just thought they needed a page to go with them!

Credits:  Family Ties by Trixie Scraps

And then I thought I'd scrap about how I had wanted all boys for children...no such luck...I got all girls instead!  LOL!  Someone up there has a sense of humor!  Of course now that they're mine, I won't be returning them!  I can't imagine having a house full of boys now!

Credits:  Family Ties by Trixie Scraps

Now how about a freebie?  I guess after all that reading you deserve one today!  LOL!  So how about a boy page?  I don't do those very often but I knew I had to when I opened up All Boy by Farrah's Designer Scraps! 

Don't forget...everything in her store is on sale this month for just $2.00! 

You can pick up your QP here.  Enjoy!

ps.  If you come back tomorrow...I'll have a special treat for you!

My Hero & Boy Template Freebie!

Farrah's Designer Scraps recently released a couple of new kits and a CU template that I just loved to work with! 

The kit is called My Hero and if you have a Guitar Hero in your family...it's a must.  If you just like a fun funky kit... it's a must!  I had a ball with it and will probably be doing more with it soon!

Izzy has loved the song So What by Pink for quite some time.  She loves to sing it and she really rocks it out so I thought a page about it would be necessary.  Just look at that girls hair flyin' out!  She rocks!

Credits:  My Hero by Farrah's Designer Scraps

Then after chatting with someone who knew me back in the day, I was inspired to create this layout. 

Credits:  My Hero by Farrah's Designer Scraps

But before I created any layouts, I couldn't resist playing with her new Boy Templates with this kit.  So I made two little rocker dudes for you! 

Aren't they stinkin' cute!?  I had a blast dressing these little guys.  I hope you'll enjoy using them!

You can pick up My Hero here.

You can pick up the Boy Templates here.

You can download the two rocker dudes I made here.  Please remember they are for personal use only.  Thanks!

Enjoy!