Monday, January 31, 2011
I Heart Faces: Best of January
This week is a People's Choice category, so once today (Monday) is over, you can go here and vote for your favorite photo (mine, right? #140). :) Here is my entry, my very messy Addy as she was having spaghetti for lunch one day.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Calendar Pages
Last year when I was working on my gift calendars a friend suggested I make one for my own family. Well, this year I am doing it! I have March-May done from when I was the "Calendar Diva" at Challenge Masters last year, but I needed to do January and February.
For January, I used the sketch for the February Guest Designer contest at Back Porch Memories. The challenge was to use this sketch:
Here is my layout:
(Sadly, I wasn't chosen, but I will be trying again!)
For February I used the current sketch at Sketchy Thursdays:
Here is my layout:
Finally, I did this layout for the Stash Challenge at Challenge Masters. The challenge was to use themed supplies. I used some fall/Halloween papers and some fall phrase stickers for this layout.
For January, I used the sketch for the February Guest Designer contest at Back Porch Memories. The challenge was to use this sketch:
Here is my layout:
(Sadly, I wasn't chosen, but I will be trying again!)
For February I used the current sketch at Sketchy Thursdays:
Here is my layout:
Finally, I did this layout for the Stash Challenge at Challenge Masters. The challenge was to use themed supplies. I used some fall/Halloween papers and some fall phrase stickers for this layout.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Challenges!
I got three more challenges done on three projects that pretty much cover the gamut of subjects.
The first is a layout celebrating our friend Luci's first birthday (She is almost two and a half now, so that shows you how far behind I am!) I did the January Technique Challenge at Challenge Masters for this one. The challenge was to make a fabric flower like the one in the top right corner of the layout. I didn't have fabric that would work, but I had some American Crafts Fabric paper. The fabric paper is pretty stiff so it was a little hard to work with, but I am still happy with the result.
The next project is a wedding card I did for the Cards Challenge at Challenge Masters. The challenge was to make a card with a love theme, using 2 patterned papers, some bling, ribbon or lace, glitter, at least one heart and the color blue. I also used the current sketch from "Sketches in Thyme."
The final project is a sympathy card for the family of my classmate who passed. I did the stamping challenge for this one. The challenge was to paper piece a stamped image. So I stamped the flower image on the card and then on a scrap of patterned paper. I cut out the flowers from the patterned paper and glued them over the flowers on the card. The sentiment on the front is from a Stampin' Up set called "Hope for Comfort". I don't know if this set is still available, but the sentiments in it are great. I have not had to make many sympathy cards (thankfully) but when I do, this set always has words when words fail me (as they do now).
The first is a layout celebrating our friend Luci's first birthday (She is almost two and a half now, so that shows you how far behind I am!) I did the January Technique Challenge at Challenge Masters for this one. The challenge was to make a fabric flower like the one in the top right corner of the layout. I didn't have fabric that would work, but I had some American Crafts Fabric paper. The fabric paper is pretty stiff so it was a little hard to work with, but I am still happy with the result.
The next project is a wedding card I did for the Cards Challenge at Challenge Masters. The challenge was to make a card with a love theme, using 2 patterned papers, some bling, ribbon or lace, glitter, at least one heart and the color blue. I also used the current sketch from "Sketches in Thyme."
The final project is a sympathy card for the family of my classmate who passed. I did the stamping challenge for this one. The challenge was to paper piece a stamped image. So I stamped the flower image on the card and then on a scrap of patterned paper. I cut out the flowers from the patterned paper and glued them over the flowers on the card. The sentiment on the front is from a Stampin' Up set called "Hope for Comfort". I don't know if this set is still available, but the sentiments in it are great. I have not had to make many sympathy cards (thankfully) but when I do, this set always has words when words fail me (as they do now).
Monday, January 24, 2011
Project 365 Week 23
A pretty normal low key week, all everyday photos (except for the last :( )...
1/17 Rick reading a story to the kids (Hey Will, act natural!)
1/18 Ellie, "The bus isn't working."
Me, "That's because it is upside down."
Ellie, "I'm trying to fix the wheels."
1/19 Rick and Ellie playing video games (Little Big Planet) while Addy watches
1/20 Ellie's dress up Tinkerbell doll
1/21 "My do it!" That is what I hear on a daily basis from this VERY independent 2-year-old. Here she is pulling up her own pants.
1/22 I was tired, we were hungry, I ordered pizza, everyone was happy!
1/23 On Sunday night when I checked my e-mail, I was shocked to find out the a classmate of mine had passed. She'd just had a brain tumor removed and had appeared to be on the mend, but she had bleeding in her brain, causing her passing.
1/17 Rick reading a story to the kids (Hey Will, act natural!)
1/18 Ellie, "The bus isn't working."
Me, "That's because it is upside down."
Ellie, "I'm trying to fix the wheels."
1/19 Rick and Ellie playing video games (Little Big Planet) while Addy watches
1/20 Ellie's dress up Tinkerbell doll
1/21 "My do it!" That is what I hear on a daily basis from this VERY independent 2-year-old. Here she is pulling up her own pants.
1/22 I was tired, we were hungry, I ordered pizza, everyone was happy!
1/23 On Sunday night when I checked my e-mail, I was shocked to find out the a classmate of mine had passed. She'd just had a brain tumor removed and had appeared to be on the mend, but she had bleeding in her brain, causing her passing.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Scrap That Baby Holiday and Other Projects
I have been scrapbooking and card making the last couple of weeks, I just hadn't gotten around to photographing my projects and posting them.
This project I did for the Scrap That Baby #20: Holiday Baby challenge. It was due January 14th and while I had it done by then, I am first posting it now. :( I also did the January Blade Masters Challenge from Challenge Masters for this one. The challenge was fussy cutting which is using a scissors to cut out images from patterned paper. I fussy cut the glitter ornaments for this layout. The majority of the products used on this page are from the Echo Park Everybody Loves Christmas collection. I LOVE this stuff! It is so cute and it was a lot of fun to work with!
I just finished this layout for the January Go Green Challenge at Challenge Masters. The challenge was to make your own flowers. I did two different kinds of flowers on my page.
The first are the orange ones. For those I cut strips of paper about 3/4" thick and then used a border punch on one edge. Then I took the strip and pleated it forming a spiral. I attached it to the layout using FabriTac glue and added a brad to the center to finish it off.
For the reddish flower I used my Cricut and cut several scalloped circles from patterned paper in 4 different sizes. I crumpled the circles and then inked them with Tim Holtz Distressing Inks and a foam blending tool. I finished them off by pressing the folds onto a darker ink pad to accentuate the creases. I then stacked the circles, punched a hole in the center and put in the brad. Finally, I curled up some of the edges to give it a little more dimension. I really like how this one turned out and will definitely do it again!
As for the rest of the layout, I don't totally love how it turned out, but it is done, and that is what matters.
I've also made a couple of cards. The first is a birthday card for my brother.
Finally, I made this card for our friend Max who celebrated his third birthday with a pirate party this past Sunday. I used my Paper Doll Dress Up cartridge and my Cricut for the pirate boy on the cover.
For the inside, I did a Google search for "pirate birthday greetings" and found this page with a 3rd birthday pirate poem! I was so excited! I printed it out on a scrap of cardstock, tore the edges and inked it up with my Tim Holtz Distressing Inks and a foam blending tool.
This project I did for the Scrap That Baby #20: Holiday Baby challenge. It was due January 14th and while I had it done by then, I am first posting it now. :( I also did the January Blade Masters Challenge from Challenge Masters for this one. The challenge was fussy cutting which is using a scissors to cut out images from patterned paper. I fussy cut the glitter ornaments for this layout. The majority of the products used on this page are from the Echo Park Everybody Loves Christmas collection. I LOVE this stuff! It is so cute and it was a lot of fun to work with!
I just finished this layout for the January Go Green Challenge at Challenge Masters. The challenge was to make your own flowers. I did two different kinds of flowers on my page.
The first are the orange ones. For those I cut strips of paper about 3/4" thick and then used a border punch on one edge. Then I took the strip and pleated it forming a spiral. I attached it to the layout using FabriTac glue and added a brad to the center to finish it off.
For the reddish flower I used my Cricut and cut several scalloped circles from patterned paper in 4 different sizes. I crumpled the circles and then inked them with Tim Holtz Distressing Inks and a foam blending tool. I finished them off by pressing the folds onto a darker ink pad to accentuate the creases. I then stacked the circles, punched a hole in the center and put in the brad. Finally, I curled up some of the edges to give it a little more dimension. I really like how this one turned out and will definitely do it again!
As for the rest of the layout, I don't totally love how it turned out, but it is done, and that is what matters.
I've also made a couple of cards. The first is a birthday card for my brother.
Finally, I made this card for our friend Max who celebrated his third birthday with a pirate party this past Sunday. I used my Paper Doll Dress Up cartridge and my Cricut for the pirate boy on the cover.
For the inside, I did a Google search for "pirate birthday greetings" and found this page with a 3rd birthday pirate poem! I was so excited! I printed it out on a scrap of cardstock, tore the edges and inked it up with my Tim Holtz Distressing Inks and a foam blending tool.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Project 365 Week 22
A pretty "regular" week for us. I missed one day (I totally forgot).
1/10 Making pizzas at Old Chicago. We went with out MOPS group. The kids got to make their own pizzas and, while they were baking, we went on a tour of the kitchen.
1/12 Another 6 month photo shoot of Will. Here he is showing off his sitting skills.
1/13 Ellie playing in the sensory table of sand at ECFE
1/14 Guess what? It snowed AGAIN!
1/15 All three kids taking a bath together. Will tipped over 4 times and then I decided it was time to clean him up and get him out. Also, notice how Addy is looking off into the distance? This is how she "smiles for a picture."
1/16 We got to celebrate Max's 3rd birthday with a pirate themed party. Here is Max sucking on a lime.
**Okay, I am posting this at the request of some friends. If you have a weak stomach, DO NOT scroll any further.
Here is my "action shot" from my 6 month photo shoot with Will. This was also when I decided it was time to be done... :)
1/10 Making pizzas at Old Chicago. We went with out MOPS group. The kids got to make their own pizzas and, while they were baking, we went on a tour of the kitchen.
1/12 Another 6 month photo shoot of Will. Here he is showing off his sitting skills.
1/13 Ellie playing in the sensory table of sand at ECFE
1/14 Guess what? It snowed AGAIN!
1/15 All three kids taking a bath together. Will tipped over 4 times and then I decided it was time to clean him up and get him out. Also, notice how Addy is looking off into the distance? This is how she "smiles for a picture."
1/16 We got to celebrate Max's 3rd birthday with a pirate themed party. Here is Max sucking on a lime.
**Okay, I am posting this at the request of some friends. If you have a weak stomach, DO NOT scroll any further.
Here is my "action shot" from my 6 month photo shoot with Will. This was also when I decided it was time to be done... :)
Monday, January 17, 2011
I Heart Faces: Winter Wonderland
This week's theme for I Heart Faces is Winter Wonderland. We are definitely living in a Winter Wonderland right now! Here is my photo:
I hope to post my photos for Project 365 from last week tomorrow, so stop back!
I hope to post my photos for Project 365 from last week tomorrow, so stop back!
Monday, January 10, 2011
I Heart Faces: Smile
This week's challenge at I Heart Faces is "Smile".
My picture is my handsome little boy giving me a big smile. Look at those dimples!
Thanks for stopping by!
My picture is my handsome little boy giving me a big smile. Look at those dimples!
Thanks for stopping by!
Project 365 Week 21
This week we returned to our "normal" schedule. We went to the zoo and Ellie had another performance too. Here's our week in pictures:
1/3 Rick and the girls building a shelf for the closet in the girls' room.
1/4 Ellie and Addy playing with Play Doh
1/5 African Dwarf Crocodile at the Minnesota Zoo
1/6 Addy eating spaghetti (a very messy event, as you can see)
1/7 Will smiling
1/8 Just For Kix dancers after their performances
1/9 Will is 6 months old! I played with some actions in Photoshop Elements that I downloaded from here. I am so excited about this blog! I am trying some new stuff with my photo editing and loving it! It is amazing what a little Photoshop can do to an "okay" photo!
1/3 Rick and the girls building a shelf for the closet in the girls' room.
1/4 Ellie and Addy playing with Play Doh
1/5 African Dwarf Crocodile at the Minnesota Zoo
1/6 Addy eating spaghetti (a very messy event, as you can see)
1/7 Will smiling
1/8 Just For Kix dancers after their performances
1/9 Will is 6 months old! I played with some actions in Photoshop Elements that I downloaded from here. I am so excited about this blog! I am trying some new stuff with my photo editing and loving it! It is amazing what a little Photoshop can do to an "okay" photo!
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Baby Look At Me
I have completed a couple more layouts and cards. I have one more page that I want to do for Addy's first year book and then it will be complete. However, that page is going to take a little research and help from others for what I want to include.
I THOUGHT I was done with her book the other night, but then I found her 9 month pictures. I made this page with them. I used the Scrap That Tune challenge at Challenge Masters as inspiration for the title. The tune this month is "Fame." (I've had the song in my head for a few days now...) I used Basic Grey Porcelain papers on this one and did some distressing and layering, two things I don't do a lot of, but it was fun!
I did this layout the other night in under an hour. Just a quick page to display the cards Addy got on her first birthday!
With the scraps from the above layout and Addy's birthday layout and some random words from my stash of die cuts I made this card.
Finally, I made this card for my mother-in-law whose birthday is Sunday. I used the sketch from a new blog called Sketch Support.
I THOUGHT I was done with her book the other night, but then I found her 9 month pictures. I made this page with them. I used the Scrap That Tune challenge at Challenge Masters as inspiration for the title. The tune this month is "Fame." (I've had the song in my head for a few days now...) I used Basic Grey Porcelain papers on this one and did some distressing and layering, two things I don't do a lot of, but it was fun!
I did this layout the other night in under an hour. Just a quick page to display the cards Addy got on her first birthday!
With the scraps from the above layout and Addy's birthday layout and some random words from my stash of die cuts I made this card.
Finally, I made this card for my mother-in-law whose birthday is Sunday. I used the sketch from a new blog called Sketch Support.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
One is Fun!
I have gotten a few more layouts and cards done the past few days. This one I did for the Manufacturer challenge at Challenge Masters. The challenge for this month was to use at least 4 products by Basic Grey. Basic Grey is one of my favorite manufacturers, so this was pretty easy. This layout is from Addy's first birthday last year. The pick patterned paper and striped patterned paper are Basic Grey, as are the chipboard letters in the title, the chipboard scroll, the tag and the felt ice cream cone.
Sunday was my sister in law's birthday, so I made this card using the scraps from the "Sweet Child O' Mine" layout that I did early last week. I also got to use my new Texture Boutique that I got for Christmas to do the embossing on the bottom.
I also did this layout. I scraplifted a layout from the July/August issue of CK. Addy has always been pretty adventurous. In fact, as soon as she started crawling and pulling up on things I started to find her in tight spaces. Here are some examples.
Finally, I made this card with scraps from the above layout. I also used my Texture Boutique more on this.
Sunday was my sister in law's birthday, so I made this card using the scraps from the "Sweet Child O' Mine" layout that I did early last week. I also got to use my new Texture Boutique that I got for Christmas to do the embossing on the bottom.
I also did this layout. I scraplifted a layout from the July/August issue of CK. Addy has always been pretty adventurous. In fact, as soon as she started crawling and pulling up on things I started to find her in tight spaces. Here are some examples.
Finally, I made this card with scraps from the above layout. I also used my Texture Boutique more on this.
