Sep 27, 2009

Merry Monday

Here we are at another Monday. The newest ScrapTiffany challenge is posted. This week's challenge is to scraplift anyone you want. I took Cathy Zielske's Design Your Life class which was a 3 month class jam packed with her sketches, so I pulled out my favorite and went to work. Here is my take on the challenge. I love the bright colors in the Sassafras papers and felties for the kid layouts. And of course I am loving the new American Crafts Thickers. Go over to ScrapTiffany and take a look at everyone's scraplifts--lots of fun. And be sure to send in your take on the challenge (Tiffany@scraptiffany.com) for a chance to be the ScrapTiffany guest designer for the month of October.

For more Sassafras goodness go on over to their blog. I have a layout up there.

Finally, check out Posh Scrapbook Designs Store blog. I have a new post up there as well using the latest Basic Grey Indian Summer line.

And, a few photos from the weekend. Hope your week is starting off well.


Sep 20, 2009

First Monday of Fall?

I know many people are already experiencing Fall weather. I definitely miss that season. The colors, the scents and the crisp temperatures. We don't really get a fall season here at all.


On Saturday we went to a birthday for a friend of Little Miss. It was at a local farm where the kids were able to go on pony rides, feed some animals, pet some goats and bounce on an inflatable castle. Lots of fun, but it was 107 degrees. Even in the shade. We kept pumping them with water and juice but they still got very red and sweaty faces after just a little while of play. We did get some cute pictures though.














And since it is Monday, the new ScrapTiffany challenge is posted. This week's challenge was to do a back to school layout. I remember having 3 full months of summer growing up and not going back until after Labor Day. I guess many places still follow that schedule, but for us back to school time is mid August. I think they figure it is so hot here during the summer that everyone starts getting bored of being cooped up inside so they might as well go back to school! So, these pictures are from a few weeks ago when Little Miss started Pre-K. I have already scrapped these pictures and will probably scrap them again before I am done with them. Each time I try and take a different angle so I am telling different parts of the story. In this recent layout I talked about her new classroom. In this new layout I documented how well her first day went.




The brown letter stickers, all the papers and journaling spot where I stamped the apple are Jillibean Soup products. I also added some basic office supplies including a green rubber band, staples and a pencil. Go on over to ScrapTiffany and check out everyone's Back to School layouts. And don't forget to email your take on the challenge to Tiffany for your chance to be a Guest Designer in October!

Also, go over to the Ruby Rock-it blog. I have a layout up there!

And last, but not least, I have a new layout and blog post up at the Posh Designs Scrapbook Store Blog. Go check it out here!

Sep 14, 2009

Monday

The new ScrapTiffany challenge is up and running. The challenge this week is to use scraps. I didn't want to cut into a single full sheet of paper, so I decided to do a 6x12 LO. I also had a picture that I wasn't using of the palm tree in our backyard. I had a scrap of sticky backed canvas and stamped a leaf on it. So all papers were scraps. I have an open file that I use for my scraps. In the front is a 12x12 celophane bag that I put the scraps from each project into and then every once in a while when the bag gets out of control I file them by cardstock and patterened paper and by color. Here is my take on the challenge:
Be sure to stop by ScrapTiffany and check out all the other takes on the scrap challenge. Also if you take the challenge be sure to email Tiffany for your chance to be chosen as the guest designer next month.

Finally, we took the kids to the outdoor mall on saturday night to play in the splash pad. I was attempting to use my zoom lens, but it is not a fast focusing lens so I took about 100 photos and only came up with a couple of cute ones:


But without the zoom I wouldnt be able to get close enough to get any at all (with the water spraying everywhere) so I am happy to have those few.
Have a great week!

Sep 10, 2009

Jillibean Soup sketch challenge

I know...it's not even Monday and here I am! But, it is Thursday already and with the short week, we are really just getting back into the grind.

One major accomplishment for me this week was some serious time spent at the gym. I went to yoga Sunday and step on Monday, took the kids with me for 2 HOURS on Tuesday, went by myself wednesday night and took them with my again today, just for an hour this time. I was a little sore since I haven't been going this consistently lately, but now I am really sore and it has nothing to do with the gym. We went shopping at Super Target after our gym trip and I slipped on a wet floor. Ok, that sounds spazzier than it really was. I didn't see any water when I was rushing around trying to get through the grocery shopping with two flagging kids, but once I fell to the ground I realized there was a ton of water and my flip flops have absolutely no traction on them. I picked myself up and alerted someone who works there. Turns out their refrigeration was leaking big time. I told them I was fine, but man, now my right ankle and arch are sore from being twisted and my left knee is bruised. So I guess my gym streak will be broken tomorrow.

My other accomplishment this week caused no injuries whatsoever. I wanted to share the LO I created for the Jillibean Soup sketch challenge. Here is the fun, circular sketch they provided:
and here is the layout I made:


I don't usually share so many close ups but this time I really wanted to show how cute the smaller photos are.

Our little guy was scared to go down the slide and his big sister, without me having said anything, took it upon herself to hold his hand and show him how to get down the slide. If only every day were so sweet (sigh).
For this one I used a ton of Pop Dots.

And I fringed the top of the blue flower paper strip (you can almost see the coordinating pattern and colors on the back).

The only non Jillibean products here are the brads (Doodlebug) and buttons (Basic Grey). And I don't remember where I first saw this , but I love the look of mini brads poked through the button holes--just gives another level of dimension.

Last, but not least, I edited a few photos from yet another play date the little people had last week. I don't do a lot of editing for all the zillions of photos I take, but if there is a discrete number from a certain event I will crop a bit and sometimes run a few actions. Since I don't have Photoshop (just Elements) I use EZ Actions and LOVE them. My new favorite is adding a Vignette action. For example, here is the original...

and here is the same photo with the Vignette action run on it. I am a little heavy handed with this particular action and run it about 5-6 times before I like the look.

Oh and this one? SOOC. For friends and family not down with the lingo, that's straight out of the camera, baby!


That's all I have for now. Off to take some ibuprofen for my aching ankle. Hope everyone has a great weekend. :)

Sep 6, 2009

Not Really Monday

It doesnt really count as a Monday when the whole family is off and still enjoying the weekend. We didn't do anything crazy this weekend. Saturday thunderstorms kept us in, but we did get in some BBQ and swimming on friday night and Sunday. With the slightly cooler temps on Saturday we were able to play outside a bit. Here are a few pictures:

Today the latest ScrapTiffany challenge is up and running. The subject this week is HOME. I went back and forth for a bit trying to decide if I wanted to try and get a new photo of the house using my new zoom lens. But as the unbearable summer heat drags on and things in the house keep falling apart, my homey feelings just weren't there. So instead I scrapped the last place I called "home, " San Francisco. Here is my take on the challenge: 

I have really enjoyed using some older pictures lately and trying to think about the challenges from different angles to tell a story that is important to me. Go on over to ScrapTiffany and check out all the incredible LO's and if you take the challenge, be sure to email it to Tiffany for a chance to be the Guest Designer in October!

And, my first layout on the Posh Designs Scrapbook Store Blog was posted yesterday. Check it out HERE.

Hope everyone is enjoying the remainder of a safe and happy holiday weekend.

Sep 2, 2009

Woohoo Wednesday...

Ok , I am reaching there. I just love alliteration for blog post titles. But I do have some woohoo worthy news. I just received news that I will be joining the Design Team for Posh Designs Scrapbook Store (an online forum and scrapbook store based out of Montreal). Here is my fresh new Design Team member blinky! Posh Designs Scrapbook StoreI am very excited and can't wait to get to work over there. I will be participating on their forum and also posting several layouts a month on their blog. Be sure I will link you up when I have something new to share over there. Until then go check them out HERE.

Ok, the most recent thing I have worked on is this one...an entry at the Urban Anthology August manufacturer of the month contest. I HAD to enter because October Afternoon is by far my #1. And it is always just fun to play with their papers, plus it was fun to scrap an older photo. You know back in the day when we had our sanity, back before the small crazy people dominated our lives.

Speaking of those little people, they had a play date the other day. And I think you can tell from the cheese puff and popsicle stains on their faces that they had a good time.