First Layout of the Year

I finally finished my first layout of the year. So now I can at last say that I am one layout closer to achieving my goal for this year. I set myself a goal of making 365 pages or cards this year. A good friend recommended that I revise it to 52 layouts or cards this year, since that is a more realistic goal. So as of now I have completed 1/52 layouts or 2/365 pages for this year. Yeah me!!!!!!!!! 

This layout was completed for a layout contest at Simply Scrapping. I used the My Little Yellow Bicycle Christmas Magic Collection for this layout -- I love this collection!!!!!!!!! The only thing I added that wasn't from the collection was the Stickles --- I used Holly, very pretty. 

The layout is called "Sitting on Santa's Lap". The photos showcase the three different Santas that Sara and Samuel met this year. The big photo is the Santa at the Cambridge Centre --- it's the only picture where both of them look relaxed and somewhat happy. I think Sam was happy because he had a candy cane -- give him food and he doesn't care who is holding him LOL. The next photo is my favourite Santa - the one that came to our house. He was the most authentic of the three. He spent a lot of time letting the children warm up to him, talking to them quietly and trying to make them feel comfortable. By the time we took the photo Sam was no longer crying, but he still wasn't sure about the big guy in the red suit. Thankfully big sister had a protective arm around him so he felt safe. The final photo is of the Santa at Southworks Outlet Mall. He sits in his sleigh outside with Prancer to keep him company and the children are allowed to sit in his sleigh. Sam didn't like this at all. Sara was excited right up until we put her in the sleigh --- then she did her impersonation of someone who feels very guilty for being very naughty. Thank goodness that Santa is a man of infinite patience.

If you happen to visit Cambridge in the next two weeks, please stop by Simply Scrapping at Southworks and vote for your favourite layout. My Mom has also submitted a layout for this one.

This Week's Fresh Faces Challenge

Our assignment this week for the WeScrap Fresh Faces Challenge was "The Diet". We weren't allowed to use any patterned paper or stickers (including my beloved Thickers). We were allowed to use minimal amounts of bling, rhinestones, brads and buttons, although I didn't use any of those on my layout. Mini Maestro was created with cardstock, a Fiskars border and corner punch (to do the border), a Heidi Swapp mask, Colorbox chalk, a Fiskars squeeze punch (flower), a black marker, and a hole punch (for flower centers). The photos were taken in a store called Here Comes Treble in Frankenmuth, Michigan. I love how Sara looks like a professional at the piano at such a young age.

Voting is now open for this week's challenge and will close Sunday evening. This is week five of the challenge. Voting is open to all WeScrap members.

Sara Get Your Groove On!!!!!

Sara and friend dancing at Chuck E Cheese.

Another Kit Layout

I put together another kit from Two Scrapbook Friends. This one is all about picking pumpkins. I love the paper pumpkins on this layout. Photos are of Sara and Samuel at Strom's just outside of Guelph.

Two Scrapbook Friends Layouts

These layouts are from kits designed by  Two Scrapbook Friends. 

This layout was the perfect one for scrapbooking these pictures of Sara at Kim Glo Farm. The pictures are from September 2007 - Sam wasn't even born yet. I love the corn stalks created on the Cricut.

Our neighbours across the street go all out for Halloween. Not only do they have an amazingly decorated front yard, they have awesome costumes. Sara wouldn't get close enough to have pictures taken this year --- she was scared of the monsters!!!! Sam however wasn't given much of a choice. He wasn't sure what to think of them at first, but quickly made up his mind -- they were scary!!!!! This layout kit was perfect for scrapping the photos of Sam with our spooky neighbours!!!! Love those Fancy Pants Glitter Cuts!!!!!

Mini Challenges

Tara has posted a couple of fun mini challenges on her blog.

The first was to create a card of thanks. I used my Cuttlebug for the first time on this one, as well as my Chocolate Box coredinations.

The second was a quote challenge. Tara gave us some quotes and we had to choose one to use on a layout or card. I used mine as the title for my layout. Love that pic of Sara wearing Sam's lion hat. Sooooo cute!!!!!

Layouts for WeScrap's Wicked Halloween Online Crop

My friend Patty and I have been enjoying the challenges and games at the WeScrap Wicked Halloween Online Crop. We played an amazing bingo game that had everyone on the edge of their seats it was sooooo close. I would have loved it if I could have completed all of the challenges posted, but this was a busy weekend for me. These are the ones I did get completed.

"Fear" is a layout for two challenges actually: the Scared Yet challenge at WeScrap and  Tara's blog challenge (see previous post for the journaling and a link to Tara's blog) -- it is all about the journaling, with some doodling to support it.

"Happy 1st Birthday" was for the Wing of Bat, Eye of Newt challenge. We were given instructions on how to create the layout (i.e. 3 photos, piece of ephemera, double mat one photo, etcetera) and then were told to put it all together. It was fun and very interesting to see how all the different layouts turned out even though the instructions were the same.

"Talk About Spooky" was for the Let's Face It challenge. I had to create a face to use on the layout. Gary was a very good sport about this one :) He actually loved what I did with his face lol.

"My Guys" was completed for the Wicked Layout Sketch challenge. I turned the sketch on it's side and made a few slight changes. Love my guys!!!!

"Wild Thing" was for the Batty Layout Bingo challenge. I chose the following three things: 1) use something Halloween related (paper and photo), 2) add some stitching (mine is doodled, around the photos), and 3) use two types of ribbon. Isn't Sara adorable in her giraffe costume? Oh, guess now you know what she is going to be for Halloween LOL!!!!

"Little Lion King" was for the really cool Haunted Halloword challege. I had to select some words from a Halloween list (I chose nine) and then each of those words was assigned a layout requirement that I had to use on my layout. I chose All Hallows Eve (brown and yellow), ghost (white), magic (doodle), ogre (one photo), pointed hat (handwritten journaling), raven (3 circles), web (bling), witch (black cardstock) and wizard (tear paper). And now you know what Sammy is dressing as for Halloween too!!!!

Thanks for looking and thanks to all the folks at WeScrap for a great online crop!!!!!

Fiskars Online Crop

I completed two layouts in the last 24 hours, both for the online crop on the Fiskateers site. The "Spider Sam" layout was inspired by a layout in the gallery. Sam has this really cute way of crawling now, which we figure is a precursor to walking. He sticks his butt up in the air and straightens his legs, but keeps his hands on the floor -- the he "spider crawls" all over the house. It is so cute to see :)

The "A Handsome Prince" layout is based on the Fiskars October sketch. The pictures are all of our little prince on his first birthday. Don't you love that crown?

A Little Fall For You :)

Today's post features some Fall items that I completed for a contest. I had to submit a layout, a card, and an altered item with Autumn/Fall as the theme. 

"Beauti-Fall" used the sketch for the Fall issue of Scrapbook and Cards Today. I used Crystal Lacquer on the brackets. I really like how this layout turned out.

The Fall box is an altered cardboard box from a woodworking supply store. They were free so I grabbed a bunch. I am going to use them to store my rubons, stickers and other embellishments by season. I may expand beyond seasons, but for now I am sticking to seasons. I absolutely adore the pumpkin ribbon (bought at Michaels).

The turkey card has to be my most favourite card that I've made. I love how it turned out :)

I hope you enjoyed looking at my latest Fall creations :)

 

Simply Fabulous

I thought I better post a "pretty" layout today to balance out the "gross" one from my last post. It isn't often that we have a reason to take a picture of Sara that isn't adorable and beautiful. This layout is a great example. Sara loves playing in the backyard and loves posing for the camera when she is dressed in pretty outfit -- well, most times :) She is also a master of facial expressions.

"Simply Fabulous" was completed for the Cut It Out challenge at LIITD. I cut out two circle sections of this We R Memory Keepers paper so that the photos could be placed behind. I then did some accents with my Stickles to make small sections of the paper sparkle.

Hope you enjoy it :)

Please Enjoy the Following :)

"Sam's Static Hair" is a layout I created to showcase these fun pictures of Sam.

"Dish Duty" was created using a sketch by Ally at SoSketchy. I created if for a challenge at LIITD to use at least two pieces of chipboard (I used 5).

"Forever Together" is about my brother's wedding. It was created using the Vita Bella line from My Little Yellow Bicycle -- love that line!!!! I created it for a layout contest at Simply Scrapping. If you happen to be in Cambridge, drop by the Southworks Outlet Mall, go to Simply Scrapping and vote. My mother, who is a newbie to scrapping, also entered a layout, as did my friend Pat. Please come and vote for your favourite!!!!!! Thanks :)

"Our Family" was a kit from Two Scrapbook Friends. The layout showcases pictures from our 6th anniversary :)

More from the Love Is In The Details Online Crop

Here are two more layouts completed for the challenges at Love Is In The Details. 

"Queen of the Castle" was completed for the Pick 3 challenge. Lori from LIITD sent me the little pink doll, the bling and a blue flowered thong -- yup a thong -- and I had to use them on a layout. From the thong I created the "blanket" the doll is on, the flower in the corner, and I used the elastic to frame my photo. I then used the bling to decorate those pieces.

"Eve of Traditions" was for the Traditionally Yours challenge -- I had to scrapbook about a tradition in our family. My layout is about one of the stories we read to our children on Christmas Eve called "The Santa Key". We read the story then together we hang the key on the door so that Santa doesn't have to go down our chimney.

Hope you enjoyed these layouts :)

Scrapping Nook Crop

The Scrapping Nook crop is still going strong and I'm having a great time with it. These are my latest layouts for this week:

Sweet - completed for the Bling It On challenge, used lots of bling

May I Play Too? - completed for the Chip Off The Old Block challenge, could only use chipboard embellies

Sweet Sara Pie - this one was done for the Crayola Fun challenge, I created the crayon background using wax paper, crayon shavings and my iron

Free To Be Me - the challenge required us to use the word "free"

Ready 4 Takeoff - this one was for the Keeping A Button On It challenge in which we had to use a minimum of 10 buttons

I hope you enjoy my latest layouts.

More Challenge Layouts

Three more layouts completed for challenges at SoCalScrap.