Day 1: 8 mos.

Today is my Day 1 of the 37 day challenge (you can check it out here). I decided to dig back a bit in my photo stash. This one's of my middle son (he'll be turning 6 next month). Every month for the first year of all of my boys' lives, I took a photo of them in the rocking chair (I rocked all three in this blue gingham glider) with their Teddy Bears. The journaling for each of these monthly photos is simply a listing of the dates and milestones of the month.


The upside to being so far behind on many photos: you can marry older photos with fresh, trendy papers like these new ones from DCWV: The Stack 6. Love these little critters and trees. I used this layout from Stephanie Howell as "sketch inspiration" for my page. It was a perfect fit to try out the new Heidi Swapp masks that arrived today.

Placemat Purse

After my scrapbooking stint last week, I decided to do something very different with my crafty time this week. I used this tutorial from Small Fry & Co. She uses a single placemat to create an adorable little purse. Thank you to my friend Kayla for sending this along to me! Here's my take using a placemat I purchased at Target for $3.99. I picked up the beaded handles on clearance for under $3. The most expensive thing on this little bag is the magnetic clasp that holds it closed. I will admit that hand sewing is not really my thing (maybe it could be, but it's not right now). I did have to hand-sew the clasp and the handles about half a dozen times before getting them right. Practice makes perfect (or in my case something I wouldn't be embarrased to carry around!). I actually think the finished project is adorable, and if you can sew you've got to try this out.


Note: I just found out Small Fry is doing a giveaway through April 2nd, so be sure to run over and enter to win two beautiful fabric baskets . See her March 26th post.

All in a night's work

Today I received the Rolodex I ordered last week. I am very excited to finally contain all my phone numbers, addresses, and other such info in one place. There is something nostalgic about a good, old-fashioned paper and pen type of organizer that I don't ever have to worry about crashing or getting a virus. But after copying lots of info onto those little cards, it just didn't look quite right. So after a bit of looking and pondering, measuring and cutting, stamping and gluing I took my Rolodex from this:


to this:

in just a couple short hours (it would have been less, but I was checking email, blogs, and Facebook in between!) Here's the gist of what I did:

1. Cut divider cards to size (mine were 2 5/8 x 4"--perfect for getting 3 out of 1 strip of 12" paper) I used some K & Company double sided paper designed by Amy Butler that I've been saving for just the right project.
2. Using a 1/4" square punch and rectangle punch, you can create the notches for the cards quite easily. Apparently there's also a punch specific for this task, but I don't have that. Simply line up a card that came with the Rolodex against your new cut card and punch away--very easy.
3. Use the same designer paper to punch tabs for the letters using SU!'s Round Tab punch. I stamped my letters with a new alpha set I purchased just yesterday for only$1.97 on clearance.
4. Adhere the tabs to the cards and pop into place on the Rolodex.
5. I also punched 2-2" circles from the paper and adhered it to the knobs for a little more pizzazz. Isn't it adorable? And it was just the splash of color needed to make it into a happy, and useful desk accent!

If I knew anyone that was moving (and I'm glad I don't) this would make a great going away gift filled with addresses of friends and family. Wish I had thought of this in time for my cousin's shower the other day--it's perfect for a newly married couple. Or a graduate, or teacher, or friend who landed a new job. Or heck, just make one for yourself! But don't make the mistake I did and order it online. I saw the same exact thing today at Walmart for $7 less than what I paid--I hate when that happens! Have fun with it!

Scrapbooking Streak

I'm not really sure what exactly has come over me this past week, but I am scrapbooking a blue streak. The photos are just flying out of their neat little photo envelopes and onto layouts, and I am not about to question any of it! So here's why my blogs have been so sparse lately:

First Day of Preschool:

I usually incorporate their "favorites" at the moment into this annual page, and didn't remember that until just before going to bed. Of course, when I awoke in the morning to put the finishing touches on the layout and adhere everything down (I often do this to get a fresh look at my work to make sure I'm happy with everything), I had completely forgotten that I was going to list the favorites where the title ended up being. Oh well, there's always another layout for that, or I could add hidden journaling under that focal block on the left hand page.

Halloween Playgroup Party:

This layout quickly came together after putting my two oldest on the bus and while my youngest watched a bit of tv. It is extremely rare that I can get any scrapbooking done, let alone an entire layout, when my children are up and about. He must've known how much his mama needed this creative time. This layout is based on one from April's CK. I just picked up a pack of yo-yo's at JoAnn's and was thrilled that one was a perect color fit to this layout:

I was able to use up some felt flowers I bought quite a while back, some ancient letter stickers, and a Happy Halloween button that's been sitting in my stash. I love using up older supplies!

Christmas Cards 2008:

I pulled this layout from a sketch I had drawn up. I will create this layout annually to document our Christmas cards. Our card goes in the upper left corner. 1 1/2" circles punched from the store bought cards are arranged grid style on the right hand side of the page, and a listing of who we received cards from that year goes in the lower left block. Everything is neatly sectioned with narrow strips of patterned paper (or in this case sticky border left over from the "I Wish" Simply Scrappin' Kit). I cut all of the photo cards down to 4 x 6 and these will slip into these 6-up page protectors right behind this layout in our Christmas album. Of course, my 1 1/2" circle punch bit the dust so the celery scallop in the middle looks a bit out of place. It will hold a circle with the year stamped on it. Dig out all those Christmas cards and create some layouts!

Tougas Farm:

I was inspired by this week's sketch challenge over at Splitcoast. This layout was a snap with the Summer Home SSK (retired). The colors in the kit were perfect for a trip to the apple orchard, and I love when I can use flowers on my boys' pages!

Remember This:

And the layout that started it all. I began this after my Scrapbook Club left on Monday night. This is the adorable kit that I will use for my next batch of SBC layouts: "Hoppy Memories". This layout shows how my middle son used to take off his socks. This sketch (my own) is perfect for shots that show a series (ie. riding a bike, going down a slide, etc). I am so in love with this cute kit!

So there you have it, how I spent my week. Thanks so much for reading this lengthy post. Hope you are inspired to go create some pages!

K Werner Color Challenge #45 Take Two

Inspiration hit me tonight as I sat typing away on my computer. What's black and white (and read all over)? A book, of course. And how about a bit of text torn from a book (I know, blasphemy!) But it's the perfect accent to a card with a library card background. And the K Werner black, white, and gray challenge.

Edit** Bummer, I was too late to Linky it, but it was fun to make anyway! I'm thinking it would make a great cover to a mini album about books read, or pics of my boys reading, or favorite books, or notes on books. . .

K Werner Color Challenge #45

I'm just scraping in with Kristina's Color Challenge for the week. I thought I would skip this one, but then in a desperate need to create something today I came up with this card. I don't get to use bling very often, but i love how it looks on the body of this Martha butterfly punch.


I don't think the photos show it well, but the text on the paper from DCWV is about making memories worthy of preserving.

Scrapbook Club Layout #4

Here is the final layout for the "I Wish" SSK. This layout uses: 1 vertical 4x6, 1 horizontal 4x6, 3-3x3 photos, and 2-4x3 photos. This layout showcases 7 of our Christmas holiday traditions and uses the two sets of tiny square stickers to number both the photos and journaling. I'm not thrilled with the look of my title, but I am "embracing its imperfection."

Inspiration Saturday

I opened the new Target catalog this morning to find this little bit of inspiration:

A scrapbook layout just waiting to be created, right down to all those happy little colors: Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Summer Sun, Green Galore, Tempting Turquoise, Orchid Opulence. This is going straight into my Inspiration Notebook so I'll have it handy for my next layout--I'm thinking a birthday or carnival one.

The inspiration didn't stop there. I thumbed through the rest of the catalog to find these yummies:

1) Another great color scheme, and love those birdies!

2) Cutting this right out for a page title or accent for Easter 2007 layout (lucky for me I haven't done it yet!). A squirt of deacidification spray and it's good to go.

3) Another great color mix and how cute are those little monster guys?! Can you say paper piecing!

4) And lastly, another great layout plan.

I will be sure to post the projects that come out of this deliciousness.

Scrapbook Club Layout #3

For my Scrapbook Clubbers, here is the first of this month's 2 layouts for our meeting on the 16th. We will be using the "I Wish" Simply Scrappin' Kit again.

This layout uses 4-4x6 photos. Two with a horizontal orientation, and two oriented vertically. The borders were inspired by a layout by Ali Edwards. I will post the second layout asap.

Color Challenge: Take Two

Creativity has taken hold (and my boys are quietly engaged with their lunch and Noggin), so I was able to whip up another card using Kristina's color inspiration.

Seems as though birds, paper piercing and pom-pom fringe are themes for the day. I had to run to the craft store this morning to pick up the fun fringe (in several colors) after seeing this last night.

Color Challenge

Here is my card for this week's Color Challenge from Kristina Werner. These colors scream femininity. I did a bit of paper piecing and piercing on this one--very fun. My inspiration for the tree came from the Trendy Trees stamp set from Stampin' Up! and this from Kelli Crowe.