Happy Sketch

Good morning, friends. Happy first day of November! Can you believe it's already November? I know... Thanksgiving and Christmas are right around the corner! I am trying to squeeze in a little craft time for myself here and there, between filling stationery orders, working on a big holiday card commission, and chasing the kiddos around! It's only going to get busier! ;)

This week, I really liked the Sketchy Thursdays sketch. It was CAS and inspired me. So, I used this picture of my mom and dad that I have had sitting on my desk for months. We were in Hilton Head and also at my cousins wedding. We had so much fun and this picture of them really does show their happiness with each other.   

My parents have been married for over 40 years!!! Sure, they have their moments, we all do, but for the most part, they have a solid relationship that my three brothers and I really look up to and strive to have in our own marriage. They brought us up right with strong values, and for that, I am forever grateful. They make me so happy! 

And, if you want to play along with this weeks sketch at Sketchy Thursdays, this is what you have to play with:

You have until Wednesday night at 10pm to link up! :)

26.2 Layout

I feel like I haven't done a layout in so long, but looking over all my race day photos that Stephen took, I felt inspired to create. I used this weeks Sketchy Thursdays sketch and really liked the design. So, here was the starting point:

And this is the layout that came to be:

Sorry about the crappy photo- it has been raining all day and I couldn't get outside. Had to use my flash. OK- there are a lot of happy goodies on here: Smash tape, Glimmer Mist paint, rhinestones, a faux Polaroid stamp from Lawn Fawn, felt, a fussy cut camera from some wrapping paper I got at Paper-Source, number stickers (26.2), and star embellies. Whew!

The journaling reads: He said I couldn't do it. I was determined to prove him wrong. It took courage, commitment and determination. I was scared and nervous, but also excited and anxious. I trained, and I trained hard. It all paid off because now I can say, "I did it." He was so proud... "

Thoughts from my first marathon- 26.2 miles of trying to beat myself. I won.

Best Friend

This week, Sketchy Thursdays is having a challenge/prize blowout! There is a sketch, a theme (friendship) and a blog hop! Woo-hoo! I couldn't resist playing along. Here is the sketch from Sketchy Thursdays:

The theme is from ScrapFit, workout #52- F is for Friendship. Hands down, my husband is my best friend, besides my mom.

 My layout:

These pictures were taken in Hilton Head this summer. We were at my cousins wedding and the two of us had the best time! My cousin caught these pics of us and I knew I wanted to scrap 'em! :) Enjoy!

A Sketchy Thursday Layout on Monday!

It's been a while since I've played along with Sketchy Thursdays! When I saw this weeks sketch, I immediately knew what pictures I wanted to scrap. I liked the sketch, but flipped it clockwise once to work with my photos and title.

Here's the layout:

This is Mac at the Crossover Ceremony for Cub Scouts. They walk across a wood 2x4 and "crossover" from a cub to a bear. He was so proud to be in the next level of scouting... A Bear!

Here's the sketch: 

I hope you get to play along... you have until 10 p.m. on Wednesday to get your scrap on!
Have a good night!

Sketchy Thursdays- GDT

Sketchy Thursdays has their challenge up for the guest designer for August. I decided to play along... I got a lot of scrappin' and card makin' done on my girls trip this past weekend. The gals at Sketchy Thursdays requested that we not only use the sketch, but to also include:

• A summer topic
• The colors red, orange and/or yellow
• A journaling spot

here's the sketch...

here's my take... 

I chose to use the colors red and yellow and my journaling spot is from the SMASH pad "entertainment." The summer topic: RUNNING! Training now for the Chicago Marathon in this heat has been murder. The layout is about the Rodes City Run, second race in the triple crown leading up to the KY Derby mini Marathon. After I finished my race, the kids got to run. It was a ball- they got to run along the river at Waterfront Park. All the kids got a prize, a free lunch at Chick-fil-A and had fun in a giant cow jumper.

A close up of some cute faces and embellishments! I love those puffy clouds- thanks, Elizabeth! ;) If you want to play along in the GDT Challenge, click HERE for all the details. You have until July 23!

Wanna Dance?

Hello, crafty friends! I have a layout today! This weekend was very productive in the creation department, so I got lots done and the inspiration was rollin'! I used this weeks sketch from Sketchy Thursdays, which I *loved*. In fact, I have two more layouts in the process using the same sketch... one for each of the boys. I hope to share them on Wednesday. Here's the sketch:

Here's my layout:

I had loads of fun doing this page- used some paint, tape, different borders, chipboard... Anna loves it- she wants to put it in her room. ;) It's of her and Stephen dancing at my cousins wedding we went to a couple weeks ago while we were at the beach. So fun...

Sketchy Layout

Here is my Sketchy Thursdays layout for the week! This is the sketch: I loved the sketch and instead of using 4 photos, I substituted some embellishments and a journaling card. :) Anna and Mac have changed so much since the first day of school! I love looking back at all these photos! Have a good day! It's beautiful here, so I'm off to run 5 or 6 miles!

Spring has sprung!

I decided to try out for the guest design spot for April at Sketchy Thursdays. I followed the sketch and was also instructed to use spring colors- no problem! So ready for spring...
This layout, I am in love with. It just screams happiness! The patterned paper is from the new line called "Daily Junque" and the frame is fabric, from Little Yellow Bicycle. Then I added velvet ribbon, die cuts, butterflies and buttons.
Happy Spring! It's sunny and 75 degrees here!
Uh, actually, Happy St. Patrick's Day! ;) I am so lucky!

A Two Pager!

This week, Sketchy Thursdays had a 2 page layout sketch! Usually, I hate doing a 2 pager because it typically takes twice as long. However, this time I was into it because I had some great pictures of Anna at her sixth birthday party. I always save an invitation to include in my layouts. (I also make the invitations myself... which explains the trendy banners!)

Here's the sketch... which was intimidating at first:

And my take:Here are the pages individually:

How cute is that banner paper from My Minds Eye? It matches my invitation perfectly! This is one of my favorite pictures of Anna, she is wearing the pinata as a hat!

So, I'm just making the sketch challenge entry by the hair of my chiney-chin-chin! It's been crazy busy around here! Not to mention that I decided last night to rip down the wallpaper in my giant foyer. What was I thinking?

New Specs...

Mac just got glasses last week. We didn't know he couldn't see until he started squinting... poor little fella is near sighted. He was awesome getting his eyes checked and he even took his time choosing his glasses. Thankfully, I had my camera at the optical store! With my wicked printer, I cranked out this layout in no time flat!

I used lots of Studio Calico odds and ends and random paper: Pink Paisley, Jenni Bowlin, and Sassafrass. The Sketchy Thursdays sketch is what I used as my template:
Lovin' the way it turned out... it's hanging in my studio!

Vintage Christmas

Thankfully, Jingle Belles extended their project deadline to today at 10 pm! I have been busier than a one-armed paper hanger with school functions, fundraisers and just daily life. Whew! It's not finding the time to make something, it's taking a picture of it, uploading and posting it that seems to throw me off! Anyway, I'm here now and showing off my cute card...
I went with a vintage cute Christmas card this week and just love the look on that little girls face! I know exactly who I'm sending this one to! ;) Supplies: The vintage card is October Afternoon, patterned paper is Basic Grey, red edge border is Bazzill, the felt poinsettia is Making Memories and the ribbon is Papertrey.

This week, Jingle Belles partnered up with Sketchy Thursdays for a "double your chance at a prize" challenge. This was the sketch to go off of for the card:If you have time, link up your card! You have until 10:00 pm EST to enter on both blogs to try and win a fantastic prize!

Two for Tuesday!

Right on! I'm a crazy, craftin', cool mama! Okay, I'm not that cool, actually kinda nerdy- my kids will definitely say I'm not cool, but I used to be! I use to be awesome! Then, I had three little ones and my cool-o-meter dropped drastically. Enough of that! Look at this hilarious layout:

Elan gets some serious bed-head, but on this particular morning, pictures had to be taken! I have been wanting to scrap them for a while and apparently today was the day! A closer look and the wicked title: I used some Echo Park paper, KI Memories quick strips, and all the chipboard is Cosmo Cricket, from the Joy Ride collection. The sketch is brought to you by Sketchy Thursdays.

Have a great evening and try playing along over at Sketchy Thursdays!

Run... fast!

It's cold outside... and windy and dreary. The absolute perfect day to do some paper crafting! I finished a layout for the Sketchy Thursdays challenge and have finished up a few sets of note cards for friends. I'm planning for Valentines Day already!

Here's the layout...

I used all kind of pink on here, including some Tattered Angels mist and pink shimmer 3D paint.

The journaling reads: "Your first race at St. Albert was the Pumpkin Run in October, 2010. You got first place and were ahead of all the Kindergartners by 45 seconds. You even beat half of the girls in the 4th grade! Way to go, Runner Girl!"

A closer look:

The sketch:

Anna has been having hip problems again, so doing a layout of her running was quite fitting. She has been limping since Thursday... off to the Orthopedist tomorrow for hopefully some answers. Have a great day!

Poppy's Layout

My scrapbooking has suffered... I put it on the back burner during the holidays because I have so many other things and projects to do. I haven't made a layout in months! So, last night, I got out a couple pictures that I have been wanting to scrap for a long time and set out some new product and went to town!

These pictures are from 4th of July in 2009, and are of my dad and Elan. I love the ways a photo tells a thousand words... Elan has always loved Poppy and had an instant bond with him the day he was born. The journaling is on the pull-out tag that I added a rub-on to the outside of the pocket.

A close up of the banner...

To make this banner, I used the new triangle punch by Marvey and the circle emblem is from Martha Stewart. I have gotten really attached to certain punches and these are two of them. Lots of uses and possibilities!

And... I used Sketchy Thursdays sketch for the week to inspire me:

Enjoy, and I hope you find inspiration too!

It's been a while...

I felt like I hadn't scrapped in so long... then, Friday night I got to scrap with my favorite crafty girls and it was such fun! I got a few layouts done and some fun conversation was had! It's been a while since I've visited Sketchy Thursdays and played along with their sketch, so this is the layout based on their sketch for this week...


The sketch...
The layout is of my sweet as sugar niece, Claudia. She is so precious and I am honored to be her Godmother. These picture are from her baptism day.

Now that daylight savings time is over, it's almost dark at our house. The kids will turn in earlier and nights full of snuggling with a show or a book are upon us. I love the crisp air and cold nights... make me want to craft! ;)

It's a BIG week...

Over at Sketchy Thursdays, they are featuring different Etsy shops as one BIG prize for the winner this week. That means YOU could win 5 different prizes from the featured Etsy sellers! All you have to do is complete a layout or card by next Wednesday (9/22) at 10pm based on this sketch: And, my Etsy shop is featured! This is the prize I'm giving away:

Head over to Sketchy Thursdays and take a look at what the design team did with the sketch (for inspiration!) and take a look at what the other Etsians are offering as a prize! Now scoot, go get a layout or card done so you have a chance to win!

Two for One!

It's Wednesday, and that means I bust my hump to get my Sketchy Thursdays project uploaded in time! Well, I have a treat for you... the sketch was quick, easy and wonderful, and I made a layout and a card!
So, presenting the sketchy sketch...

My Card... a Halloween one, because it's coming up and it's my fave holiday! ;) My Layout... brace yourself, this is a funny one...

The mustaches are not photo-shopped in... they are those stick on ones. Stephen and I laughed ourselves silly when Mac and Anna put them on! So funny...

Sorry I have been MIA the past several days. Elan has been sick with fever and barfs over the weekend, and today he woke up cursed with the Ohio Valley allergies. Stay tuned... I have pre-scheduled posts lined up for the next few days! Wa-hoo! Have a great night!

Lucy's Love...

My niece, Lucy, has always been in love with Mac. She always follows him around and gives him hugs and kisses when she can! My sweet Mac, simply puts up with it and lets her think that he, too, is in love with her. Last summer, while we were in Hilton Head, I captured these adorable pictures of Mac and Lucy together. This particular night, Lucy was wanting to dance with Mac, on top of all her doting efforts... Mac just grinned and bared it!

A close up of all the yummies!
And, before I forget... I got a little off the subject! This is a sketch from, who else, Sketchy Thursdays! Here's the sketch, you have until 10 p.m. today to enter if you want to play along! I turned the sketch once, clockwise to go off of!
Have a great day!

A card sketch?

That's right, Sketchy Thursdays has a card sketch this week! I'll be honest, I was a little like, "huh?" when I checked the site for my weekly layout inspirational sketch! But, I enjoyed the card making just as much. The sketch...

My card...

This time, no apples, but I gave you the alphabet!

I'm so Sketchy...

Hello there... I am trying again for a second chance for the Sketchy Thursdays guest designer for September. I liked the sketch I had to use, and this time, no rules! Not to mention the wonderfully generous prize I'm playing for! So, here's the sketch:

I'm not much of a "circle" scrapper, so I improvised and made it a square. Anyway, my take:

I really like the color scheme and the way the finished page turned out. I pulled out my paint and stamped the harlequin background, used some rub-ons, covered that little chipboard house and the best part...

The cute kraft string and button envelope that hugs the letter I wrote about him. The letter tells my dads story and how our relationship has grown into a strong bond. Someday, I will give it to him, but for now... it's just for me. ;)