Inkin' & Thinkin'

Catchin' Up & A Freebie!

It's been so long since I blogged regularly that I had to go through my layouts to see what I'd actually gotten done since then...it's not a whole lot but there were a few in there from August and September that I haven't shared yet so...here ya go.

Izzy loves Anita.  In fact, she calls her "My 'Nita" and insists that she is her friend and not mine.  This pic is from a day at the lake this past summer.  Notice how Izzy has her life jacket on and a float tube?  Well, by the end of the day she was without both and loving the water!  

Credits:  Beach Cantina by Inspired By Dominic & Sweet Tomato Designs

This is my family at my sister's wedding a few years ago.  The day after I uploaded all of my pics (800+) from her wedding my laptop hard drive crashed and the photos were lost.  Luckily a few friends were able to send us some photos of that day. 

Credits:  Just Breathe by Throwing Some  Scraps Around (coming soon)

I gave up all of my online games at the end of summer except Fish World.  So I thought I'd scrap it with this kit that was just perfect for it!  LOL!

Credits:  Squid Ink by Late Night Scraps & Creations By Rachael

When I saw this next kit, I immediately thought of this picture of my Grandma O.  The colors in the kit reminded me of her shirt and I just had to use it. 

Credits:  Angels Among Us by Dancing Princess Designs

Not long after we did Izzy's bday shoot she discovered just how cute she was and every time she saw something cool to pose in or on she was there and telling me to check it out and get out my camera and take a picture.

Credits:  Fall Friends by Flutter Expressions and GET Designs

After Izzy had seen that I could change the color of dresses in PSE she wanted me to change the color of her dress from Red to Blue so naturally, I had to oblige!  LOL

Credits:  A New Day by Christy Skaggs

When I saw the word art in this kit, I had to scrap my friend, Jamie.  I just love her to pieces and think she is one of the best people I know. 

Credits:  Megan by Just Passin' Thru

This is our friend's daughter playing in the mud at Kaylee's bday party in July of this year.  What a nut!

Credits:  In A Boy's Pocket by Designs By Angel & Project B Designs

I love this pic of Kaylee.  She is such a peaceful child and I'm so blessed to be able to observe her.

Credits:  Fall Friends by Flutter Expressions & GET Designs

This is just another picture from the same day.  Kaylee was telling Izzy all about the ducks and how she needed to sit quietly and be still so they didn't disturb them.  She's such a good big sister!

Credits:  Megan by Just Passin' Thru

My cousin and his family on a recent trip to Yellowstone stopped and had their old west portrait taken.  I love this guy...he is so smart and so funny and always adds some fun to our family gatherings!

Credits:  Cozy New Home by Trixie Scraps

This is another Lacey & Kyle layout.  They are such a cute couple and the wedding was fabulous!

Credits:  Powder Blue by Carena's Designs

As cool as her yellow dress was it just wasn't right for the railroad crossing sign so I changed it up a little bit and gave her a smashing new purple look!  LOL!

Credits:  Just Breathe by Throwing Some Scraps Around (coming soon)

From the moment Izzy was born, she and Lexi have had an amazing bond.  Lexi has always been such a force in her life. 

Credits:  Squid Ink by Late Night Scraps & Creations By Rachael

These are just a few pics from one of the Senior sessions I've done this summer. 

Credits:  Cozy New Home by Trixie Scraps

I loved watching Luke run through the water this summer.  It was such a blessing to spend some time with him and his sister when they came to visit. 

Credits:  In A Boy's Pocket by Designs By Angel & Project B Designs

I also had a little time this afternoon so I made you a Halloween QP.  Enjoy!

You can grab the QP here.

Thanks for stopping by!

Don't forget that if you're looking for freebies you should check out DigiFree where you'll find hundreds every day!

A couple of Layouts & A Freebie

Well, last week, I was a little quiet but it was for good reason.  I promise.  I was working on some fun projects that weren't quite ready to be shown yet so though I was hard at work, I couldn't show you.  But now I can!  So grab a cup and let's get started.

First is a layout from Pretty Scrappy's newest collab American Symphony.

I also made up a few QPs for the collab as well but you'll have to check them out at Pretty Scrappy.

Now, two of my favorite digi stores got together this month to give you some collabs...Pretty Scrappy and Scrapable...now that makes me happy!  LOL!  So I was lucky enough to get to work with the kits the two stores collaborated on...

This is one of our friends and can you blame me for taking this shot and scrapping it?  Just look at that face!  Go Scuba Steve!  LOL!

Credits:  Splish Splash by JayaPrem's Hangout & Spinky Dink Scraps

We happened upon these turtles on a recent trip and since Kaylee is currently obsessed with turtles, I had to grab a few photos and I love how the main photo on this page turned out.  I'd never seen a turtle's shell peeling before...very interesting.  I also love the reflection in the pond.

Credits:  Splish Splash by JayaPrem's Hangout & Spinky Dink Scraps

You'll have to come back if you want to see more...the other kits have not been released just yet.

Do you ladies that came to the Spring Crop this year remember this?  LOL!  I hope you had as good a time scrapbooking blindfolded as I had watching you do it!  ;)

Credits:  I Am Toddler by simply.scraps & Spinky Dink Scraps

Credits:  I Am Toddler by simply.scraps & Spinky Dink Scraps

Nope...I'm not done scrapping the birthday pics yet. 

Credits:  Adore by Farrah's Designer Scraps

Credits:  Adore by Farrah's Designer Scraps

Jacabean Designs has released a whole line of monochromatic page kits so I grabbed a few to work with...what a fun challenge for me.  These kits would be great to add to other kits as fillers.  There's such a range of colors in each hue and they really work well together.

Credits:  Color Me Pink by Jacabean Designs

Credits:  Color Me Pink by Jacabean Designs

Credits:  Color Me Purple by Jacabean Designs

Credits:  In The School House Now by Throwing Some Scraps Around

I had to scrap a few pics from Kyle & Lacey's wedding as soon as I got home so I grabbed a kit that I made and went to work.  You'll be able to get this kit by coming to my Speed Scrap on the 2nd Saturday at 7pm MST at Pretty Scrappy.  After that, I'll have it available for sale here on my blog.  There will even be an add on if you come to my Bingo night at Pretty Scrappy on the 3rd Sunday at 7pm MST!  Put it on your calendar now!

Credits:  Mish Mash by Wendy Tunison & Staying In Shape Vol 2 by simply.scraps.

Credits:  Mish Mash by Wendy Tunison & Staying In Shape Vol 2 by simply.scraps

Can you believe that this was 2 years ago?  Man, time flies! 

Credits:  Little Whimsy by Jacabean Designs & Doohikey Designs

And that's all I can show you for now.  I was hoping it would be more but alas...you must wait.  How about a freebie?

You can pick up this QP here.

Have a great day and don't forget to scroll down to pick up Lina's Joy!  It's a 110 piece kit!

And if that's not enough freebies, you can go to DigiFree and pick up tons of them every day!

Wild And Wacky & Freebie

So school starts in 2 days and guess what, we haven't bought anything for school!  LOL!  I swear, it's almost sad!  So we are headed out to shop today.  But before I go, I needed to tell you about Jodi's new kit Wild And Wacky that's being released today.

Here are a couple of layouts I did with it...

Credits:  Wild And Wacky by Throwing Some Scraps Around

Credits:  Wild & Wacky by Throwing Some Scraps Around

I also turned my first layout into a QP for you!

You can pick up the QP here.

You can grab the kit here (on sale!).

If you're looking for more freebies, check out Digifree.com  You'll be happily surprised!

Monday night at midnight...hmmmm...a freebie?

I thought I better pop in here and catch up a little....so here goes the rattling.  Are you ready?

Well, Izzy wanted to do a photo shoot like Lexi did on her birthday so when she turned the magical age of 5, I took her on a little photo shoot and was it ever magical!

It was in no way easier than doing Lexi's.  Miss Izzy wanted to do all the things that a 5 yr old does naturally...run, jump, skip.  I took over 400 pictures of her that day and these are the ones that I liked in the end.  She was very excited to go but once we got ready to take pictures she just wanted to play so after a few pics, I let her do just that and I snapped away as the opportunity presented itself.

Gosh I wish I had her hair!  LOL!

Just look at those toes dangling out there above the creek...too cute!

I love this one!

Notice the great princess shoes she was sporting...LOL!

This is another of my favorites. 

I like this one a lot too!  The sun was just perfectly hitting that spot so Andy had to tromp through the mud to put her there and then she had to stand really still so she didn't get stung by the bushes.

She was all about climbing the trees as often as she could and finding that perfect spot to just relax for a second.

Every time we came upon an informational sign, she would do this pose...she was reading each one carefully and telling us all about what it said.

She couldn't resist jumping off of this log.  It was just begging her to do it!

This is another of my favorites...reminds me of little red riding hood skipping down the trail to Grandma's house.

This one is probably my very favorite..maybe.  Isn't that tree just magically delicious?!

I love this one too...just a great way to capture the magic of it all.  She was awesome!

Well, I hope you're not over her pictures yet (or Lexi's for that matter!) because you know I couldn't wait to get these on pages!

Credits:  Cherish by Throwing Some Scraps Around

I did this for the speed scrap I hosted last weekend...so fun!

Credits:  Cherish by Throwing Some Scraps Around

Credits: Katie by Throwing Some Scraps Around

Credits:  Katie by Throwing Some Scraps Around

Now I've done a few more layouts with these pics but the kits aren't in stores yet so you'll just have to come back if you want to see more!  *Do you feel like you've just had to endure someone's photo album?!  LOL!

Now that I tortured you with my pics, how about a freebie to make you feel all better about it?

You can pick up the QP Here.  The kit is on sale this week for just $1.50 as well! 

ps.  I have two kits completed...maybe I'll surprise you with one very soon!

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!

Like No Tomorrow & A Freebie

It amazes me sometimes how quickly our family rotates to Andy's schedule.  He rotates between night shift and day shift and when he's on nights, we simply stay up all night just like him and sleep the day away just like him.  This is good and bad.  I feel like we miss out on a lot of things we could do during the day but at the same time, it's so nice to sleep in the sunshine and be awake when the rest of the world is quiet. 

Last night we stayed up all night.  The girls danced and sang to music and I got a little work done.  I love that feeling.  It is fun to see them all get together and dance and sing along to the music as loud as they want to.  I remember when I was little, my mom would dance with me and I loved it.  My mom is a fantabulous dancer and whenever a good song came on the radio she couldn't help but grab one of us and start dancing.   I remember feeling like a million bucks when she danced with me.  She would jitterbug me around the living room and her rhythm was perfect.  Somedays I wish I was still small enough to stand on her feet and dance her steps.    What a fun feeling.

Of course I'm a little too big to do that now and I definitely don't have her rhythm so I dance awkwardly when the mood strikes but you know what, I still dance (only in my living room or craft house.  LOL!) and I still get a huge amount of joy from that.  Izzy loves to dance too and it's quite often that we move all the tables out of the way in the craft house and turn the music up loud and just let loose.  There's nothing like it!

Today's post has nothing to do with dancing I guess but as I sat down to type, the words came so I figured, why not?  LOL!  So thanks for coming down memory lane with me.  Now I'll show you some layouts.

Jodi released a new kit this week called Like No Tomorrow and I got the chance to work with it and I had fun doing it!  This first page is kind of off the wall but you know what, sometimes you just gotta do that.  I have this sick obsession with organization...not that my house is.  But I do love to look at organization options and dream of all the things I could make look cute if I had a million bucks to do it with!  LOL!

Credits:  Like No Tomorrow by Throwing Some Scraps Around

Then there was this rainbow in the kit and these sparkles and when I think of rainbows, I think of my friend's little girl, Ruby.  She is such a little ray of sparkles and rainbows.  I just love being around her because she is the perfect example of a little girl.  So happy and beautiful!

Credits:  Like No Tomorrow by Throwing Some Scraps Around

And I also made you a little QP freebie as well with the more prominent colors in the kit. 

You can pick up the kit here.

You can download the QP here.

Come back tomorrow for a new freebie!

Vintage America & A Freebie

A few weeks ago, Jodi aka Throwing Some Scraps Around asked me to chose a color combo for her to make a kit with.  So I chose a color combo I liked and sent it to her.  She asked what kind of feel I wanted and I said something along the lines of vintage american...twills, antiques, patriotic, stars, hearts, family...that kind of thing.

She made the kit and I loved working with it!  It's called Vintage America and it will be on sale this week for just $2.00 after which it will go to $4.00 so grab it this week while it's on sale. 

Want to see what I made with it?

This first page is all about Lexi's independence day.  It hit me really hard the day she decided she was too cool to hang with her family.  I knew she had to grow up but I just wasn't ready for that yet.  So this page is a little about how I took the unexpected news.  LOL!

Credits:  Vintage America by Throwing Some Scraps Around

I know I've scrapped these pics before but I decided to use them anyway...hope you don't mind.  And if you do, so sorry...my blog, my creations!  LOL!

Credits:  Vintage America by Throwing Some Scraps Around

And of course, I couldn't resist making a new QP for you.  I hope you can use it for something...4th of July, Military, Parade, Picnic...I'm thinking it's pretty versatile so I hope you find it to be useful!

You can pick the kit up here.

Sorry this link has expired.

PS...Jodi is organizing a Designer Blog Train to celebrate the upcoming birth of one of my fellow CT Member's new baby...check out her blog if you'd like to get involved!

A Hottie and a Freebie...what more could you ask for?

I promised you a hottie so I thought I better deliver.  LOL!  Tracy is on Farrah's CT Team with me and she sent me a pic of Johnny Depp for inspiration so I thought I'd make up a page for her with her man on it.  LOL!

Credits:  Zephyr by Throwing Some Scraps Around

As I was going through some older photos I found these pics of Izzy's first haircut on her 1st birthday.  She didn't have much back then but it was pretty yucko on the ends so I gave her a little trim (don't tell Tammy!  LOL!) and snapped a few pics.  You would never believe that this girl started her life out with reddish blonde locks that were thin and straight!  Now she is a toe-head blonde with curls and body everywhere...love her hair.  I'm more than just a little jealous of her beautiful head of hair.   But here's a then and now for you to see for yourself.

Credits:  Zephyr by Throwing Some Scraps Around

While I was working with Jodi's new kit Zephyr, I also decided to make a QP for you.

You can pick the kit up here.  It's on sale for just $1.75 right now too!

You can download this QP here until June 11, 2009.

If you come back tomorrow, bring a strong stomach...Crystal is getting ready to release a kit called Sighted In and I've got gopher hunting pics to share as well as a freebie.  If you've got a weak stomach...might want to skip the layouts!  LOL!

Changes

Recently my sister decided she wanted to move to Troy.  I am excited for her and excited to have my family closer.    While they were here doing job interviews and looking at property, I snapped a few pics and decided to scrap them yesterday.

This first picture just made me smile.  We were walking over to the post office and I couldn't help but snap this photo of her and her children.  Isn't it just sweet?  I find it hard to believe that she is already a mom and at that, a mom to 2 beautiful kids.  It seems only yesterday that she was the rebellious 16 yr old that was sneaking out and partying.  Life goes by too fast.

Credits:  Minty Blues by Throwing Some Scraps Around

While they were here, they looked at some property and it was so beautiful. 

Credits:  Minty Blues by Throwing Some Scraps Around

I also scrapped a few more pics from Lexi's field trip last week.  Did I mention that I love seeing her in nature?  She really is just home there and I love that part of her so much!

Credits: Urban Primitive by Just Passin' Thru

I also caught a couple of good pics of the river as we walked over it so I thought I'd scrap them as well.  I just love the river...so peaceful.

Credits:  Urban Primitive by Just Passin' Thru

Have a wonderful day.  I have a CTMH party to go get ready for so I'll catch you all later.

A Few Announcments, a Few Layouts and a Freebie!

My sister called me around noon today to let me know that I hadn't blogged today and that looked a little funny since I said yesterday that there was more to come. 

Doesn't she know it's Saturday and that means you get to sleep in?  LOL!  So anyway, here I am mid afternoon blogging a little just for you and her.

First of all, it's Memorial Day weekend so there are specials and sales going on all over the place.  Here are just a few that I thought blog worthy...

You may remember that this is where I had my pages printed and I was over the top excited about the quality prints I received back from them...definitely worth spending your pennies there!

Remember how I hinted earlier this week that Pretty Scrappy would have some new designers and that they'd knock your socks off?  Well...here's the official announcement...

Well, with the closing of Digital Candy, Trixie Scraps along with several other designers there had to find a new store to call home and Tracy found Inspiration Lane and she's having a sale to kick things off at her new store.

And she is also participating in a blog train...here's her part...be sure to check out her blog for the entire list of participants.

Now that you've seen some of the goings on for this weekend, I'll show you a few things I've been working on lately.  Maybe you'll find some inspiration.

I spent an entire day with Kaylee's 2nd Grade class this past week and we had a great time exploring so many places together!  One of the places we made a pit stop was at Sandpoint Beach and ever since Lexi got to have her picture taken with the Statue of Liberty there last year, Kaylee has been begging to get her picture taken there as well.  So of course this was the perfect opportunity to do it.

Credits: Beautiful by Delicious Scraps

We also went to the Carrousel in Spokane and there were so many big smiles to be found there!

Credits:  Beautiful by Delicious Scraps

Throwing Some Scraps Around released a new kit this past week called Watermelon Daze so of course I had to create a couple of pages! 

This first page is all about sweet Kaylee.  She was such a beautiful baby and she still is such a sweet beautiful girl today.

Credits: Watermelon Daze by Throwing Some Scraps Around

This is an Izzy birth moment...a beautiful and sad day for me.

Credits:  Watermelon Daze by Throwing Some Scraps Around

Then I decided to make a second page to go with the layout I had created earlier this week with a photo of the girls in Lexi's class..this time I included the whole class and another quote I liked for them.

Credits: Starlight by Sherry's Scraps

Then I decided to reach into my heritage photos and do a couple of them as well.  This first page is my Grandma O'Brien's Confirmation class and I was able to include the handwritten notes she had written and tucked in with the photo.  Love that!

Credits:  Just Jo by Ambowife Designs

And then I stumbled across this pic of my mom with her older brother and I couldn't help but love the look on her face.  It's so obvious that she is proud of him and that she adores him in this photo.  After all, just check out that stringer of fish!  Why wouldn't she be?!

Credits: Just Jo by Ambowife Designs

And then last night I was trying to sneak in another layout before I went to bed and was able to finish this layout of Lexi on her field trip last week. 

Credits:  Escape by Stacey Crossley Designs

And while I was working with this kit, Kaylee wandered over and just fell in love with this kit and begged to make a page so I reluctantly turned my computer over to her and watched a movie with Andy while she created this page.

Credits: Escape by Stacey Crossley Designs

Didn't she do a great job?  I love her art...she is so fun to watch create.

Then since I left that kit open last night, I decided to do another layout with it today before I blogged.  No point in closing it when it was screaming for me to work with it again!  LOL!  So I created this layout about our family.  Just some candid and imperfect photos of us.

Credits:  Escape by Stacey Crossley Designs

And finally, I bring you your freebie for today...it's a QP made with Blissful Moments a new collab created by Creations By Rachael & Armina.  I really love the textures in this kit...so beautiful!

You can pick the kit up here at Pretty Scrappy.

You can download your QP here until May 30, 2009.

Enjoy!