Inkin' & Thinkin'

A creative bug! WAHOO!!!

I have to tell you that since I got sick, I just haven't had the desire to create anything but this past Saturday, I was in creative mode and I got a ton done!  I edited over 200 pictures for a couple of photo shoots from last month, I created some layouts and I even started a new kit!  So I thought I would share a little with you.

You may remember this QP from an earlier give away.  I made it with this photo in mind.  This is one of the Sr Pics I took of Destiny and I have to tell you we had a lot of fun.  Grab your camera and a teenage girl (really, any girl!) and just see how much fun you can have!  I had a blast with her ideas and her willingness to try anything.  It was awesome!

Credits:  Autumn Dream by Wendy Tunison

When I originally made this page, I was thinking that I would scrap my other grandma and how I wished she had kept a journal so I could read it.  But then it went a different direction and I scrapped my other grandma and my lack of a relationship with her. 

Credits:  Ticket To Ride by Just Passin Thru (coming soon to Nuts4Digi.com)

I have this friend that recently moved away and with her she took her two beautiful babies.  I miss all three of them so much and was feeling a bit nostalgic the other day and found these photos of the girls when they were babies and couldn't help but scrap them....aren't they the cutest little things ever?!

Credits:  Freshly Picked Fall by Teri Mayo (she's back!!!!!)

I also stumbled on this photo of Kaylee from Halloween last year and well, she was just too cute!  This was her version of Dolly Parton and she was completely in character (ok...minus a few obvious embellishments) and had a ball being so pretty.

Credits:  2 Cute 2 Spook by Teri Mayo

My cousin had sent me these photos of her son a while ago and I finally figured out what I wanted to do with them this weekend.  So I went for it.  The large photo on each page was her favorite so I wanted to make it pretty predominate.  She loved them so I was happy!

Laura aka {simply.scraps} gifted me this uber fun kit called School Girl Crush and of course I had to play with it!  So I grabbed some goofy pics from Lexi's soccer team this year and scrapped them.  I just remember them giggling so much that day and having fun with the shots.  I loved it!

Credits:  School Girl Crush by {simply.scraps}

I was also having a bit of an open journal moment and scrapped my nephew's mom.  I have tried to get to know her and have really desperately wanted to know more about my nephew and to meet him but she is pretty closed off and won't tell me much of anything so while I was in an honest journaling mood, I made this page.

Credits:  Freshly Picked Fall by Teri Mayo

And finally...because you know I'm addicted....

I also thought I'd show you Andy's hunting pics.  He went to eastern MT last week with his buddy and went antelope hunting.  They had a great time and both came back with some nice sized antelope to show for it!

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Come back tomorrow for a new freebie!

  

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.

Is July Over Yet? How about a freebie too?

I am so over this month it's not even funny!  I have really been struggling this month personally and it's time for it to be over.  The month started out with some devastating news from my sister that really just sucked everything right out of me.  I had no desire to do anything and being creative just wasn't happening at all.

I also quit my job this month after really struggling with some things that happened months ago.  I have to say that this was one of the hardest decisions I ever made but one that had to happen for my family's sake.  So bring on the extra stresses of less income accompanied with Andy's cut in wages due to a job change and well...that can just make you a little stressed. 

Then I had a wonderful visit from a friend from High School over the 4th and that left me feeling very tired...staying up all night chatting and then all day exploring takes a lot out of a girl!  LOL!  But it was so good and so worth it!

Then once I was rested from that, I went for a hike with Jamie and Dana and their family into the most beautiful place and ended up breaking my tailbone.  Not good.  So I've spent the last week swallowing pain pills and feeling like crap but the hike was totally worth it! 

Then this past weekend we went to the lake with Denver and Anita and spent the day just peacefully watching the kids swim and enjoying ourselves.  The next morning I woke up sicker than sick...throwing up, shaking, shivering, hot flashing, dizzy.  It was not good. 

Yesterday was Kaylee's birthday and we didn't do a whole lot because I was still feeling pretty crappy.  But her birthday party is on Thursday so now I need to get everything ready for that! 

Then on Friday or Saturday my parents are coming for a visit for a week.  If ever there was a time when I needed my mommy, this just may be it!  LOL!  So I am excited for them to get here.   

So....needless to say I haven't really done much creatively this month at all.  I just have not had the energy or the desire to create.  But I do have a few things that I worked on either late last month or actually accomplished this month so I thought I would share them with you.

Credits:  Patriotic Pride by Trixie Scraps

Credits:  Weekend Getaway 2 by Teri's Thing-O-My-Jigs

Credits:  June Inspiration Lane Collab

Credits:  Head In The Clouds by Just Passin' Thru

Credits:  Our Heritage Collab by Digi Scrap Station Designers

Credits:  Just Beachy By Scrappy Shannon

Credits:  Oh Em Gee! by simply.scraps

Credits:  So Very Shy by Throwing Some Scraps Around

Credits:  It's A Date Page Kit by Heavenly Scraps

Credits:  A whole lot of this and that...sorry...not a clue.

Credits:  Robert by Trixie Scraps & Staying In Shape by simply.scraps

Credits:  Yankee Doodle Dandy by Teri's Thing-O-My-Jigs

Credits:  Oh Em Gee! by simply.scraps

Credits:  Yankee Doodle Dandy by Teri's Thing-O-My-Jigs

Credits:  Something's Fishy by Teri's Thing-O-My-Jigs

Credits:  Something's Fishy by Teri's Thing-O-My-Jigs

Credits:  It's A Date Page Kit by Heavenly Scraps

Credits:  Patriotic Pride by Trixie Scraps

Credits:  Robert by Trixie Scraps & Staying In Shape by simply.scraps

Credits:  Home Improvement by Kathy Scraps

Credits:  Home Improvement by Kathy Scraps

Credits:  Head In The Clouds by Just Passin' Thru

Credits:  June Inspiration Lane Collab

Credits:  Another that has a lot of this and that

Credits:  Our Heritage by DigiScrapStation's Design Team

Credits:  another with some of this and some of that

Credits:  Weekend Getaway 2 by Teri's Thing-O-My-Jigs

Credits:  Funk-a-licious Mega Collab by Pretty Scrappy & Friday's Child by Teri's Thing-O-My-Jigs and Stacey Crossley Designs

This last layout is part of a contest I'm participating in for the next 4 weeks at DSA.  If you would take the time to go and vote, I would appreciate it so much.  I am part of the Store Team for Pretty Scrappy and we are called the Busy Bees.  You'll need to register in the forum in order to vote but if you'd take the time, our team would appreciate it!  We are working hard to be the best!

And finally since you made it this far into my blabbering, how about a freebie? 

A little something for the guys!

You can pick the kit up here.

You can grab the QP here for the next week. Enjoy!

Grab a cup, a towel and a freebie!

Well, my weekend was a little off schedule so I am running behind in getting things posted here...but I'm here now so let's get to it!

I have listed my kit Burst of Summer for sale over there to the left in "My Kits For Sale" and if you missed it, you can pick it up now!  Here's a little refresher of what it looked like.

You can also pick it up here in this post if you'd like for just $3.00.  Enjoy!

Now, if you missed the speed scrap Saturday night then you also missed these hottie layouts I made up for the occasion.  LOL!  So this is where the towel will come in handy...enjoy!

Credits:  Adrift by Just Passin' Thru

Credits:  Adrift by Just Passin' Thru

Credits:  Adrift by Just Passin Thru

Credits:  Adrift by Just Passin' Thru

Credits:  Adrift by Just Passin' Thru

Credits:  Adrift by Just Passin' Thru

Credits:  Adrift by Just Passin' Thru

And in case you couldn't tell, I really like Just Passin' Thru's new kit Adrift!  LOL!  If you're hottie didn't make this list this time, never fear.  I have plans to make a few more pages with this kit and create a little hottie album just for moments when I might need a drool!  LOL!

So how about a few more wild things?  Late Night Scraps collaborated with Creations by Rachael B this weekend to bring you a beautiful zoo kit called Safari Stampede.  Lucky for me, I had just been to Cat Tails Zoo with Kaylee's class so I had some pics to put on it!  YEAH!

Credits:  Safari Stampede by Late Night Scraps & Creations By Rachael B

Credits:  Safari Stampede by Late Night Scraps & Creations by Rachael B

Credits:  Safari Stampede by Late Night Scraps & Creations By Rachael B

Credits:  Safari Stampede by Late Night Scraps & Creations By Rachael B

They also have some add-ons available as well that include a set of Quick Pages, a set of CU Animals, and a mini kit add-on.  And if you want the mini kit and the full size kit, you can even get them as a bundle!  How cool is that!?

Stacey Crossley Designs also had a new release this weekend called Mask Addiction that I couldn't resist playing with.  There are so many things you can do with a mask and I had a little fun with these ones!  I also used an older release of hers called Childhood...so bright and cheery!

Credits:  Mask Addiction & Childhood by Stacey Crossley Designs

Credits:  Mask Addiction & Childhood by Stacey Crossley Designs

Let's see...what else can I show you?  Ah, yes....a few more new releases!  YEAH!  Laura aka simply.scraps released a new kit called I'll Cry If I Want To and it was delicious!

Credits:  I'll Cry If I Want To by simply.scraps

Credits:  I'll Cry If I Want To by simply.scraps

You want more new releases?  Well, I can deliver!  Trixie Scraps also released a collab with simply.scraps this weekend called Me & My Teddy so you know I had to play a little with that!

Credits:  Me & My Teddy by Trixie Scraps & simply.scraps

Credits:  Me & My Teddy by Trixie Scraps and simply.scraps

Teri's Thing-O-My-Jigs also released a great kit recently called Weekend Getaway and with it's beautiful earthy colors, I was smitten! 

Credits:  Weekend Getaway by Teri's Thing-O-My-Jigs

Credits:  Weekend Getaway by Teri's Thing-O-My-Jigs

And now that you've made it this far and your cup is almost empty...how about a freebie?  This QP is from Shanmomto4 Designs' kit Awakening.   This kit was so beautiful to work with...so peaceful and calming. 

You can pick up the kit here.

You can download the QP here for the next week and then it'll be gone.  Enjoy! 

THE LINK IS NOW FIXED!  SORRY ABOUT THAT!

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Come on back tomorrow for another freebie!

A Few Layouts and a Freebie QP

It's been kind of interesting lately the number of HS friends I've been contacted by.  I love getting to know what they've been up to for the past 14 years since we graduated and I moved away.  There are several friends that are very much just like they were in HS and then there are some that have changed so much I hardly recognize them by their looks or the conversations we've had. 

All in all, I've really really enjoyed catching up with these long lost friends.  Imagine a time before we had internet...would I have ever talked to them again?  Something to think about today.  I am so thankful we have the ability to carry on relationships online.  I have cousins and friends all over the US and it is so wonderful to get to see their new pics and hear what's happening in their daily lives.  It's so much better than a Christmas Letter.  LOL!

Anyway, this first page was prompted by one of those conversations.  I have a friend that I went to grade school with and she and I have been chatting a little lately and she asked why I don't have me in my layouts.  Honestly...I'm the one behind the camera all the time.  So she asked me to take a pic of me now and post it so she could see what I look like today...it's been about 15 years since I have seen this friend so she was in for a shock.  LOL!

So Lexi and I went to the backyard the other day when everyone else was gone fishing and she snapped a couple of pics of me.  I have to say that I kinda like what we came out with.  Of course I was getting ready to do a CTMH party so I was dressier than usual but that's okay...the pictures turned out alright and I was happy with that.

So I made a page with one of the pics and a few thoughts about my life at 32.

Credits:  Thursday's Child by Stacey Crossley Designs and Teri's Thing-O-My-Jigs

Then I decided to do a little then and now just for fun.

Credits:  Thursday's Child by Stacey Crossley Designs and Teri's Thing-O-My-Jigs

And then because I happen to love working with this kit, I made a QP for you and I also made 4 for the designers to add to their QP album they will be offering for sale a little later on.  These are the 4 I made for them.  You'll have to wait a little bit longer for yours.

Credits:  Thursday's Child by Stacey Crossley Designs and Teri's Thing-O-My-Jigs

Teri also released another kit recently called Bullfrogs & Butterflies and I couldn't help but scrap these pics of Izzy's little friend, Bradley and his cousin doing the boy thing.  They were throwing, stomping, licking and eating dirt!  It was so hilarious and as I watched them I couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Credits:  Bullfrogs & Butterflies by Teri's Thing-O-My-Jigs

I also wanted to do a girly page with this kit so I scrapped these pics of Lexi doing the long jump this year.  I could not believe how a little coaching from her dad helped her improve her distance this year.  Last year her longest jump was 4' 8" and this year it was 6' 1"!  I am so proud of her for working hard to reach that distance.  What a jumper!

Credits:  Bullfrogs & Butterflies by Teri's Thing-O-My-Jigs

And finally...here is the QP I made to share with you from Thursday's Child.

You can pick up the kit here.

You can download this QP here until June 10, 2009.  Enjoy!

ps.  I had a request to do a hottie page so you'll have to come back tomorrow to see that!  I'll also have another QP for you at that point.

Lexi's 5th Grade Memories Mini Book

Man, where does the time go?  It seems like I have been saying this all month but I am so stinkin' busy lately!  We are down to our last two days of school and I can't wait for summer to get here.  I plan to spend the first two weeks of summer vacation simply getting my house back in order and creating some kind of semi-normal schedule for our family.   There are so many projects that haven't been finished this spring that need to get done.  I think we started switching Lexi and Izzy's bedrooms around in January and we still haven't finished.  It's crazy. 

I know I need to tackle the girls' bedroom upstairs and do some serious cleaning out all over the house.  I can't believe the amount of junk that piles into our house in a year's time.  Where does it all come from?  We do a clean out of the girls' room at least once a year and every year we throw away a couple of leaf bags of broken toys, trashed clothing, etc.  And then we make them go through their things and we donate at least another 3 to 6 leaf bags full of toys to the local police department or churches.  It's crazy!  It's looking like we are going to do it again this year...next week!

But enough about what is making me crazy today.  LOL!  Izzy and I got up and went for a nice hike this morning with a friend of ours and it felt good to be out there just enjoying the day.  Andy and I use to do that all the time before we had kids but when we had to carry kids and diaper bags and strollers and everything with us, we kind of lost interest in doing it together.  He still hikes all the time but until last fall I didn't really go out and do it anymore.  Now Izzy is big enough to walk a while on her own so we get to go out exploring every now and then.  It just feels good to do that.

I haven't had much time to create this past week but I thought I'd show you a few things I've finished.

First of all, I'm hosting a challenge at Pretty Scrappy this month that involves making a mini album so if you're feeling up to it...go join in and get your creative juices flowing.  I made my mini album this past Sunday.  I sat down with Lexi and we pulled up the pics we've taken of here at school activities this year and went to work making a 5th Grade album for her.  We started out by using the brag book album Teri is offering made with the kit School's Out 4 Summer.  We simply added our pictures and our journaling on making sure we left plent of room for binding and adding some extra embellishments after we were done printing it out. 

So we made 26 pages and then printed them out 5x7 on regular photo paper.  Then I put Andy to work cutting out 13 pieces of 5x7 chipboard to go with it.  While he was doing that, Lexi and I chose the embellishments and got them attached to the photo pages.  Then we simply glued the pages to the chipboard (one on front, one on back with chipboard in the middle) and filed away the edges so it was a nice smooth finish.   I popped them into my bind-it-all and bound them together.  Of course we added a little ribbon to complete the book and voila!  Her 5th grade highlights are scrapped in 3 hours!  WOOHOO!

So you want to see it?

These are the digi pages we made up...keep in mind that there are some blank spots that we later filled with embellishments.

Now if I can do it, you can do it!  Go sign up and make a mini for you!

Ok...I was going to add more to this post but now I think I'll retitle it and send it to you.  Come back later and I'll post again today.  A twofer!  LOL!

School's Out 4 Summer & A Freebie

As we count down to the end of the school year, it seems like there is more to pack into our schedule and that the days just keep getting longer and longer.  Soon, school will be out and we'll sleep in for the first week or two until the girls adjust to not having to go to school.  I CAN'T WAIT! 

I can't wait for trips to the lake, hikes in the woods, camp outs and picnics.  For this is what the end of the school year brings for us...a little r&r.

Today what School's Out 4 Summer is all about is Teri's latest kit.  I spent a little time today playing with it and thought I'd share with you. 

This first layout is all about my love to create.  I don't know when I first really loved to create but when it became a constant part of my life was when I was pregnant with Lexi.  Andy was working out of town and I was home alone for most of the week.  I would get off work, stop at DQ for a healthy dinner of Peanut Buster Parfait (with almonds instead of peanuts), then head home to veg in front of the tv.  While I was sitting there doing that I would cross stitch the night away.  I have no idea how many patterns I bought or completed during that time but it was a lot and I still have a lot left to finish should I get the urge again.

After Lexi was born, I discovered scrapbooking and dived into that leaving my cross stitch packed away.  This still carries on today...I love to scrapbook.  When I was pregnant with Kaylee I got an urge to stencil everything and to learn to paint Donna Dewberry style...so I bought some supplies and Lexi and I painted a lot during that time. 

Not long after she was born, my mom taught me how to crochet so I spent many hours crocheting blankets for the girls and everyone else I knew.  Then I decided to make some barbie clothes for Lexi and spent hours doing that.

When I was pregnant with Izzy, I was in a little scrapbook shop and was thinking about buying some Sizzix dies when the helpful cashier told me that they would be closing out their inventory of Sizzix that weekend at a Stamp Show for 75% off.  So I came home, told Andy that I planned to spend a big chunk of change that weekend and that I planned to go to this stamp show.  It was hunting season, I'm sure that went in one ear and right out the other.  So on that Saturday morning, I jumped in the car with a double stroller and Lexi and Kaylee and set off on my mission to pick up some dies.

Well, little did I know that this little excursion would be the start of a whole new adventure.  I walked into this huge room full of stamping vendors and promptly hit the sizzix sale and headed back to my car with my goods.  Then, the girls were being so good that I decided that since I had driven that far, I might as well go check out what all this stamping stuff was about.  Well, I came across a huge booth full of glittery embossing powder ... I had no idea what it was but I knew I had to have as much of that sparkly stuff as I could!  They were selling jars for 50 cents each and I bought quite a few. 

Well, then I had to ask how this sparkly stuff worked and it simply required stamps so I went in search of a few that I liked.  I didn't know I would find so many.  I also came across a CTMH booth and bought a catalog and a few stamps.  They talked me into booking a party and soon I was a consultant with a passion for stamping like none other I had ever had before.  The possibilities were endless and the creativity it allowed me was unimaginable!  I was hooked.  That was 5 years ago.

Last year I discovered beading thanks to a friend's beautiful bracelet...yep, I was hooked on that too!  I have a healthy supply of beading supplies and still like to spend a little time here and there creating pieces of jewelry.

This past Thanksgiving, I had let the girls have control of the camera so that meant lots of photos to scrapbook so I opened PSE and tried to figure out a way to fit them all on a page and once I had it there, I decided to give digi scrapping a try...after all...the pics were already there...why not add a few things and see if I could actually do this digi scrapping thing.  I had tried before and only made 2 pages and lost interest...it was just too hard and I didn't have a clue what I was doing or that there was a wealth of information out there that could have helped me.

In case you hadn't noticed, I have been kinda seriously hooked ever since!  So no matter where this creative path takes me, I'm happy just to be creating.  It simply makes me happy.  And thus this layout...

Credits:  School's Out 4 Summer by Teri's Thing-O-My-Jigs

Last week while on a field trip with Kaylee's class, we were rained out and had to skip our time at the park so Miss Coy opted for the library instead and what an adventure that was!

Credits: School's Out 4 Summer by Teri's Thing-O-My-Jigs

Teri also asked her CT to create a couple of Brag Book pages for her so these are mine.  I will have a special project to show you later with these. 

And finally, I asked Teri if it would be alright to share a QP with you all and she said yes, so here you go!  Hope you enjoy it!

You can pick up this kit here or here.

You can download this QP here until May 30, 2009.  Enjoy!

Monday Morning ... Grab A Cup & A Freebie!

So since it was NSD weekend, I spent as much time as I could scrapping.  LOL!  After all, Andy was working and the girls were cleaning their rooms so I had a little free time.  A little.  Andy and I also had a date night this weekend...holy moly...maybe he is starting to get it!  We went to the movies and watched the new Fast & Furious...let me just say...awesome!  Great action, great story, great actors to drool over...it was good!  It was good to get out without the kids even if it was just across the street for a couple of hours.

Baseball games start this week and my sister is coming to visit this week so I probably won't be online much but I'll try. 

So want to see what I made this weekend?  Here we go...

This layout is one I made for a speed scrap at Pretty Scrappy Saturday morning.  It's really a little funky and not my norm but it was fun to create.  This is a pic from our trip last summer.  I just love these three in their hats lookin' all cute!

Credits:  Aqualicious by Delicious Scraps

While I was doing that speed scrap I was also doing another one at Scrapable at the same time.  These are also pics from Branson...my little brother and all of his nieces and nephew.  He is just too cool!

Credits:  Aqualicious by Delicious Scraps

A little later that day I participated in another speed scrap hosted by Trixie Scraps over at Digital Candy.  This one had me way out of my comfort zone but I added a little Robert and all was comfortable and good again!  LOL! 

Credits:  Seriously...a little of this and a little of that.

There was a challenge at Pretty Scrappy that had me using the words to the song Forever Young on a layout and I wanted to keep it simple so that the words were the important part.

Credits:  Early Birds by Trixie Scraps & Brandy Designs

And then who could resist scrapping a Grand Prize winner?  Not her mama!

Credits:  Picnic In The Park by Teri Mayo & Tabby Scraps

While I was working with that kit, I found these pics of Izzy and Marcus exploring on a hike last spring.  They are just too cute together and I love their enthusiasm!

Credits:  Picnic In The Park by Teri Mayo & Tabby Scraps

Just look at this face...how could a mother not love her cheesy little grin?

Credits:  Hey Daddle Doodle by Teri Mayo

Kaylee has been so blessed this year to have Miss Coy as her teacher.  I am so proud of the success she's had with this amazing teacher!  So a little love for Miss Coy was in order.

Credits:  Hey Daddle Doodle by Teri Mayo

I also hosted a Speed Scrap at Pretty Scrappy this weekend and created this embellishment free layout for it.  These are a few pics of a day spent at the river last fall.  Love days like that with people like this.

Credits:  Hey Daddle Doodle by Teri Mayo

Then I grabbed this kit that I've been dying to work with and went to work.  I seriously think this is my most favorite kit ever!  I had a hard time choosing what to work with because I wanted to work with everything in this kit.  But since I couldn't use it all, I used what I really loved and went with it.

This first page is about Kaylee and another of her creatures.  I think I must have a million pictures of her with bugs!  LOL!

Credits:  Wednesday's Child by Teri Mayo & Stacey Crossley

Then there was this really grungy green paper that I wanted to use so I grabbed a few pics from my latest trip to Seattle and went to work...I like the graphic feel of this page...really not something I do a lot but I do like how this one turned out.

Credits:  Wednesday's Child by Teri Mayo & Stacey Crossley

And I could stop there!  There was just too much in this kit to want to stop after two!  So I grabbed this crazy picture of Izzy and probably told her a little too much for my own good!  LOL!

Credits:  Wednesday's Child by Teri Mayo & Stacey Crossley

Ok...so there was one more page I wanted to make so I grabbed this photo of my dad and my niece and made another page with that kit!

Credits:  Wednesday's Child by Teri Mayo & Stacey Crossley

And this morning I decided to make one more page before I blogged so I grabbed this new kit I have and thought hard about how I wanted to use it.  What resulted was this page about my Grandma O.  She truly was the glue that held us all together.  She was such an amazing woman and the older I get the more I realize that.  She had more love in her than anyone I know and I miss her a lot and I have a lot of regrets that I didn't know her better.  She was my Grandma O and I took that for granted.

Credits:  Called Home by Scrappy Shannon

I also made you a QP with this kit.  It will be available for 3 days only so if you want it, grab it now.

SORRY...THIS LINK HAS EXPIRED.

A Long Awaited Sip of Digi...

So recovering from the crop took a little longer than I thought.  I have been so exhausted lately that I've been going to bed around 8:30 and sleeping until 9:00 am...that's a lot of sleep for me and very unusual.  But apparently I have needed it since I've been falling asleep on the couch before dinner is even ready.  CRAZY!  Couple that with a couple of wonderful migraines this week and well...let's just say I have been less productive than ever!  But I did get a few things finished last week and a few more accomplished at the crop so I thought I would share them.

This is my Aunt Karen as a baby...so stinkin' cute!

Credits:  Days Gone By by Lori Cameron

This is my brother, Steve and I when we were sweet and innocent. 

Credits:  Days Gone By by Lori Cameron

My sister...the wannabe cowgirl.  LOL!  Really this was for a costume party but I think she pulls off the hat quite well!

Credits:  Wild West by Crystal's Designs

My baby brother...the real cowboy.  LOL!  These are a few pics from when he won the big buckle last year for bull riding.  He just rocks!

Credits: Wild West by Crystal's Designs

My girls and their salon days...love them!  Of course, it helps that we have a fabulous stylist to work with!  I usually let the girls die their hair after school is out for the summer.  We usually buy the shampoo out temporary hair color.  Well, last summer, we picked up the wrong box and they were permanently died....so we had to do a little first aid and give them highlights so that they didn't look all greased out on top.  LOL!  Thank goodness for our stylist!

Credits:  Softball Stars by Trixie Scraps

A few pics of Kaylee playing t-ball last year.  She loves baseball!  She gets so focused on the game and I can just see in her face how much she loves this game.  She is pretty awesome at it too so that probably helps! 

Credits:  Softball Stars by Trixie Scraps

A Mother's Day Card I made for a challenge over at Pretty Scrappy last month. 

Credits:  You'll have to check out Pretty Scrappy this weekend to find the pieces to this kit!

I don't know what it is about photos like this that I love but I have a lot of pictures of my girls walking with their daddy.  I love how they're both wearing their camo jackets in this one.  I really love that bond he has with his girls.  I remember when I use to get to walk beside him and hold his hand.  I guess if I had to be replaced, I couldn't have chosen a cuter girl than this!  LOL!

Credits:  Moody Monday by Throwing Some Scraps Around

Lexi's teeth are a sore subject around here.  I am dreading the ortho bills I'm sure we'll be paying.  I am looking forward to her smiling confidently though...that will be the best part and most definitely worth the price!

Credits:  Moody Monday by Throwing Some Scraps Around

I love this photo of Izzy sleeping.  It has hung on my wall for the last 4 years.  She is just so beautifully perfect.

Credits:  Sweet Dreams by Farrah's Creations

Kaylee could not wait to hold Luke for the first time.  She was so thrilled to be the bigger person for a change! 

Credits:  Sweet Dreams by Farrah's Creations

I'm not sure how we came up with this nickname for Izzy but it has stuck and maybe we'll forever call her Monkey Butt...maybe she'll outgrow it...you just never know!

Credits:  My Lil' Monkey by Farrah's Creations

Lexi has such a great imagination for building.  I love to see her latest creations.  She is most definitely one of the reasons I'll never get rid of my legos, tinkertoys and lincoln logs!

Credits:  My Lil' Monkey by Farrah's Creations

I love this picture of Kaylee andIzzy.  I took this while we were on a field trip last year and I was so proud of how Kaylee handled having her little sister along with us.  She is such a sweet child.

Credits:  About A Girl by Designs By Mel

It's so hard to believe that Lexi was this little once.  This was taken at the beginning of her 1st Grade year.  She and her friend were inseperable at Soccer practice and we had a little photo shoot one day...such goofs!

Credits:  The BFF Kit by Stacey Crossley Designs

This photo was taken the same day as the photos on the last layout.  I love this one of the girls just being crazy in the grass.  It's what sisters is all about!

Credits:  The BFF Kit by Stacey Crossley Designs

Another Izzy sleeping photo...I'm telling you...you should see the amount of photos I took during her first month...it's sad!

Credits:  Oh Baby by Designs by Karyn

Just a little proof for future reference that I do the dishes too!   Andy is always saying that I never do but I have just one question for him...where's the proof that he does them?  LOL!

Credits:  Oh Baby by Designs by Karyn

These are a few pictures from the first time I was induced while pregnant with Izzy... she was stubborn but she was worth it!

Credits:  Oh Baby by Designs by Karyn

Last year was my first glimpse of the Pacific Ocean...just a few observations.

Credits:  Popsicle Toes by Teri's Thing-O-My-Jigs

I thought I might journal a little about my first trip to Seattle.  I have to admit that even though I love my small town home, I crave the city sometimes and I miss the city sometimes.  This was a treat for me and I loved every minute of it!  LOL!

Credits:  Popsicle Toes by Teri Mayo

My sister and I....I love her so much but I think that we have the same issues all sisters do.  We may be too much alike and that can lead to malfunctions.  LOL!  She is seriously one of my best friends and thank goodness we were born sisters because I probably would have beat her up by now if not!  LOL!  Perhaps someone a little higher up knew that I would need her in my life permanently.

Credits:  Bride To Be by Just Passin' Thru

Believe it or not, Kaylee gave herself this major wedgie.  She thought it was hilarious and Lexi and I could not stop laughing as she hung from the door knob by her underwear.  What a dork...but she is my dork!

Credits:  Bride To Be by Just Passin' Thru

I was looking through photos and thought about how crazy the road has been between these two photos.  In the first photo, I am newly married, pregnant with my first child and blissfully in love with Andy.  In the second photo, I have been married for 6 years, have two children and am pregnant with Izzy and still in love with Andy...although maybe not so blissfully as a new bride.  LOL!  But definitely stronger and better.

Credits:  Pretty by Delicious Scraps

This last layout is pretty personal but I thought I would share anyway.  It's just a few thoughts I have every now and then.

I hope you enjoyed a few minutes away and that something inspired you somehow.  Enjoy your weekend!  I'll be back a little later this weekend with more!

Monday Morning ... Grab A Cup & A Freebie!

Let's see if I can get you all caught up aka me all caught up!  LOL! 

I spent 9 days at my mom's while the kids were on spring break...that meant lots of scanning, cards, food and family!  LOVED IT!

Before I left, I stopped and grabbed the mail and took my netflix movies with me.  One of them was Twilight...this was a bad thing!  I still have not returned it to Netflix 2 weeks later!  I am hooked!  I have watched this movie at least 15 times already and I read the first book in 3 days...well, really, 3 nights and early mornings.  LOL!  I passed up stopping to buy the second book on my way home because I thought I could just get it at the library (budget conscious there).  Well, I was wrong.  When I asked the librarian if I could reserve it and she giggled, I knew I was in trouble!  LOL!  So I did a search online for an inter-library loan and the closest one available was very far away.  I reserved it anyway.  Then my sister picked up the second book for me when she was out of town last week.  Now if only it would come in the mail, I could refuse to get out of bed again until it's finished!  But alas, I sit and wait for it to arrive and torture myself by watching the movie over and over again.  It's so hard to watch Edward...so hard.

While I'm sitting in front of the tv with my feet up, I'm attempting to finish sorting my digi kits and even getting a few pages finished here and there.  Here are a few of them...

Does that not make you hungry and ready for the sunshine?!

If not the food...does this?  These two pages were made with Teri's new kit Are We There Yet?  It's so fun!  LOVE IT!  Check out her blog for a coupon...you know you want it!

I also finished out the March Challenges at Pretty Scrappy which included making a birthday card, a page using certain colors, and a quote challenge.  I love doing challenges.  It really makes me think of new ways to use my kits and definitely makes me get more use out of them!

I used the PS Collab It's My Party for all 3 of these projects.  Don't you just love my parents?  They are awesome!

I tried some new photo editing techniques while working with Stacey's kit The Sugar Shack.  I think I like it.  It's completely different from any look I've done in the past but it's kind of fun and funky.  So I'm keeping it in my notes so I can do it again.

I also got to work with a new-to-me designer this week.  I really like the bright funkiness of her kits so I tried one on for size and I'm happy with the results!  I even won Pick Of The Day at Divine Digital with one of them!  YEAH ME (YILM)!

This kit is called For Henry and the new-to-me designer is Wetfish Designs. 

Can you believe that goose egg?  Makes me cringe!

Scrappin Freestyle released a new MegaKit the other day so I made a couple of layout with it as well.  It's called Just Peachy and just those words brought back a lot of memories.  I remember when my bedroom was peach...I had the coolest peach bedspread and Ranger Tails wallpaper.  I had a frilly pillow sham and the world was hunky dorey!

I also remember when I got my beloved Peaches N' Cream Barbie.  It was the Christmas my brother and I snuck upstairs while my parents were sleeping and checked out our stash from Santa.  I had to go to the bathroom and as soon as he was out of my protective eyesight, he had to fire up his remote control monster truck.  Well, it didn't take long for my dad to flip on the bathroom light and send us promptly to bed with a very stern warning.  We snuck back up again and slept on the stairs until he officially let us out for Christmas morning.  LOL!

But I didn't have pictures of those memories so I used this kit for some new memories.

If you ask me, those two girls are much cuter than any Barbie!

And finally, I'm getting to the freebie...are you still with me?  Or did you skip to the end already and I'm typing for nothing?  LOL! 

Jodi is releasing her newest kit today called Funky Time and that's exactly what it is!  First I'll show you a couple of layouts that I made with it and then you can pick up your freebie.  And if you want to pick up the kit, check out Jodi's blog for an awesome discount!

Now if that face isn't funky I don't know what is?!  She positively scared me with this make up job!  Guess she had a lot to learn at that point!  LOL!

And finally...you can download your freebie QP here.

Enjoy!