Friday Fast Track

is awesome and you have to come join me! Every Friday from 7pm to 9pm Eastern time, Pat or Cindy of Scrapping the Moments (see link on right side) post a sketch. You have 2 hours to complete the LO and post! A hint is usually put up on Thursday...today! The hint for tomorrow is one 4x6 photo...landscape.

Last week I actually got mine done within the time. (I'm a very slow scrapper...I NEVER finish on time!) I was amazed that I finished and love the layout. (photos taken in the evening are not that great, but what is a girl to-do!)

Its tons of fun...come play with me tomorrow!

Scraplift time

Yep...November 1st had come and gone...which means it was time for me to post my scraplift challenge!

I had a blast this month! I picked this wonderful LO by April. I LOVE everything about this lo...the photo, heart, misting, frame, and clusters of embellishments.

Then I took this photo of my family at Illinois City pumpkin feast...and well...I couldn't resist using April's lo as my inspiration!
I hope I have inspired you in some way. If soo...I'd love to see your lift. Come visit me at Scrapping the Moments (link on the right) and post your lift!

Trick or Treat?

Yep today is the day...the munchkins get to wear their costumes and go trick or treating. I also get to post a treat. We just finished the 12 days of Halloween at Scrapping the Moments. Our wonderful DT member Jess challenged us to create a LO with only adding what she says on each day. The first day was 3 1x12" strips of patterened paper. Next was a banner...I adlibbed here a little and created the scalloped branch with the owls. Next was 2 journaling spots and then a photo. I matted my spot to count for 2. Then the journalling followed by a piece of ribbon, a handmade embellishment, a spider, 3 brads or buttons, a stamp or rubons, some bling, then finally the title. Viola...
I LOVE IT!!! Thanks Jess!

Quad City gymnasts practice with Olympians

Kelly was on TV! She is in the blue leo in the center group shot and she is waiting her turn at the trampoline.

Quad City gymnasts practice with Olympians

It is Christmas Time!

Well...not really. I mean Halloween isn't even over yet. But I am soo ready to decorate and start crafting for the season. I got to work with MME's 12 days of Christmas line for some of my DT projects this month. And well...I LOVED them! Check out this wall art I made....


I took a $5 frame from Walmart and added the background. I alcohol inked some Maya Road bottle caps, added some trim and embellishments from the MME line. Then the star...and viola...
I have to admit altering is not my thing. But, the challenge of it is way fun! I just love the way this turned out. So...if you are local...Go out to the Scrapbooking Studio to see this puppy in person, because the photo does not do it justice. And load up on some MME 12 days of Christmas!

Happy Birthday

to my dear friend Cathy!!! I did not get a chance to get her card in the mail...So here it is for her (and all you to see). She is the Number 1 Doodlebug fan, and well, I have to use Doodlebug for her cards! I hope you like it Cathy and it is in the mail!
Also...the October layout tag reveal is up! I have soo much fun with this every month. I created this seriously monster lo about Max. You can't go wrong with Jillibean Soup product!

Christmas LO

Wow...It has been a while since I posted. I've been scrapping, but scrapping super secret stuff that cannot be revealed yet. But I can show you this lo. I love it. I knew the MME Christmas papers would be perfect for these photos. Then Scrapping the Moments posted a wonderful sketch which was the inspiration and viola...
Misting, glubers, sewing...Way fun LO!!

Challenge time!

Yep, it is the 1st of the month, which means new challenges at The Moments. I host the scraplift challenge...Every month I post a layout for the members to lift. This month I chose this fabulous layout by Peggy. I just love everything about this lo. From the clouds, to the clustering of elements, to the cute photos.

Her layout inspired mine. I diecut the clouds and used them as masks then watercolored over them to create the sky. Way fun! Then added my photos and elements...viola!!
I hope I have inspired you in some way...and if I did...come join me at the moments and share your creation!

Layout Swap

Scrapping the Moments does a layout swap. Layout swap? you say. Yup! We email our photos to our ring leader Pat. She sends photos to us to create a page. We don't know who's photo it is until the big reveal. We all have a lot of fun with this. Some...even created "trick" los...good one Cindy!

I got this adorable baby boy photo. I thought I'd create a lo with the title "Adorable". But when I went searching for paper, I came across this Doodlebug paper. Oh yeah...So "Oh the Places you'll go" was created!

Halloween projects

So...my first assignment for the Scrapbooking Studio was Halloween. I had the very yummy lines from Echo Park and Reminisce! Check out these creations....

I also had this cute chipboard album. The Echo Park Apothecary line was screaming Orange and Black Tim Holtz inks and stains. So I prepped the chipboard and played! Inking, staining, misting, swirling...and viola...a gorgeous background for the Apothecary papers and stickers. I decided Halloween is time for HAunted houses, Lizard Legs, Oh soo spooky stuff, Witchcraft and Wizardary, EEk spiders, and Nevermore. Get it...all the CAPS spell Halloween. Anyway...all that lead to this:



Then I had to do a layout using that Echo Park line about my Favorite Spooks! Well they aren't very spooky...but they are oh so cute. I just had to cute out the skulls and use them as o's!

The Reminisce line is soo bright and colorful with lots of spooks and ghouls...Perfect for photos of my spooks trick or treating. I wanted a little drippy mist for the background to spook up my layout...but...it did not show up as dark as I would have liked. A little twine and some bling finished it up:

The "eat, drink, and be scary" sticker was screaming party invitation to me.

Another double pager

Sometimes I just get on a roll...this time it is with double pagers. I had fun making all the strips of patterned paper and stitching the edges of them. I really need to work on my photography...this one did not turn out well at all! The papers are a mixture, Bella, MME, Pink Paislee...which is unusual for me...I normally don't mix and match. But I love how it turn out. The flower is wired ribbon, I pulled the one wire to pleat and stuck it on a Gluber.

Doodlebug...gotta love....

Doodlebug. Especially when you are friends with their #1 Fan, Cathy! LOL!!! She basically buys entire lines with a couple of other friends, including me, every release. So I have all this yummy goodness in my stash. She has trouble actually using hers and I think that trait has rubbed off on me. But I couldn't resist cutting into the party lines. It was perfect papers and embellies for Kelly's 6th birthday. I love how it turned out. Then I made a fab birthday card with the scraps...Double the fun!

My Canvas

Hey all...Happy Sunday! I've finally finished this canvas I've been working on. I was inspired by Angela's class over at the Scrapbooking Studio. I couldn't take the class because we were out of town that weekend...But I didn't let that stop me. I bought a canvas...added the spackle for texture...used masks and mists. The patterned paper is Crate. The title is grungeboard with TH stains and inks. Same for the angle wings. I LOVE it...can't wait to hang it in my scrappy space!

Thanks Angela...for the inspiration!

Time to HOP!

Yep...the designers at Scrapping the Moments are hosting a blog hop! How fun is that! And guess what...I'm one of the designers! LOL!!! I just crack myself up sometimes.

So...if you came here from Diana's blog and her Sketch challenge, then you are in the right place...Otherwise head over the Jess's blog and her OLW challenge to get started!

Back to School - OH YEAH! Blog Hop! Good morning! I hope you are enjoying your hop around DT blogs so far! My challenge is the Scraplift challenge! This month I decided to challenge myself also. I am a pretty linear, clean, and simple scrapper. I decided I needed to get out of the box and do something with circles. I saw this wonderful layout by Pam and knew I had my lift. Check out Pam's wonderfully round-ish lo!I was also watching the Gymnastics nationals at the time with my daughter...circles, gymnastics...led to Olympics. Now, I had the rings and the photos and some of the other elements of the page...but it was missing something. Then Jess posted her watercolor layout! VIOLA...the final touch...some watercolors.

So my challenge to you is to lift Pam's lo, use circular photos, and get messy...use mists, water colors, paints...whatever! Get out of your box!
My take:
And....to spice things up during our little hop...I've decided to offer a RAK! Oh yeah...and not just any RAK, a copy of Betsy Flot's Inspiration Station. This is a got to have book for all scrappers. There are 606 pages of quotes, titles, and ideas. This is a $30 book. Check it out --> Inspiration Station.

All you have to do for a chance at this awesome book...is do the challenge, post it here on the challenge thread at Scrapping the Moments by September 15th, and leave a comment on this blog post. Decide to follow my blog for an extra draw for the book.

Easy Peasy...can't wait to see what you create!

Now off to the next stop on the hop...which is Jessica's blog.

Here is a complete list of blogs...in case you got lost...

start --> Jess - http://jessicahagland.blogspot.com

April - http://causeaprilsaidso.blogspot.com

Cindy - http://grammashappyplace.blogspot.com

Diana - http://itsmylifeandimscrappingit.blogspot.com

Janet - http://jpaluga.blogspot.com

Jessica - http://myscrappycorner.blogspot.com

Pat - http://ascrappinnana.blogspot.com

finish --> Resa - http://hardlyworkinggirl.blogspot.com

Just LOVE Doodlebug!

Check out this lo I did of Max's birthday! It just doesn't get any cuter than that! LOL!!
And it looks like I need to look at my white balance on my camera...that is a white label...not blue!
All materials Doodlebug except happy & third letter stickers...AC and baker's twine...WeRMemory Keepers.

Blog Hop!

Hey all...just a heads up! On Sept. 1st I will be a part of The Moments Back to School, OH YEAH! blog hop! The designers will be posting their challenges on their blogs and you get to hop to each one and see all the goodness. There even maybe a RAK or two offered! How cool is that!
Make sure you come and check it out!

The Scrapbooking Studio DT

Woohoo!!! I made my LSS, The Scrapbooking Studio DT! I'm soo excited to be designing for this awesome store! The owner, Amy, keeps it stocked with all the wonderful scrappy supplies I love!...MME, American Crafts, Nikki Sivils, JilliBean Soup, and more... Oh...all of Tim Holtz's colors and yummy inks! I can't wait to get started!

So...be checking my blog for my upcoming creations.

And...guess what...I'm going to be working with the following talented designers:

Jennifer Chapin

Mollie Deem

Marion Estes (can find her on Facebook)

and Stacy Rodriguez

Make sure you check out their blogs and the Store link (you can shop online) and the Scrapbooking Studio's blog! It's gonna be some great stuff!!!

Back to School

Kelly does her supply drop off today. I saw this incredible pencil cup on facebook. It was done with Nikki Sivils' Back to School line by one of her designers (I need to write names down!). It was so cute, I just had to make one for Kelly's teacher.

Well...I didn't have Nikki Sivils paper and my LSS didn't have it yet so I had to punt. I used some old Moxxie papers I had. I ended up using a can that was too wide. I also wished I had used shorter pencils...You put a pencil or pen in there and you can't see it! It ended up being bigger than 12" in circumference, so my paper didn't make it all the around...bummer. Then I made a card and viola...we are ready for school.

Kelly's Favorites

I'm finally caught up with Kelly's favorites. Every year, April time frame, I ask her the same questions:
Favorite Food
Favorite Toy
Best Friends
etc...
Pretty cool...it is neat to see what changes and what stays the same. I even get her signature every year. For some reason, I did 1st and 2nd grade first. I finally finished with Kindergarten. I couldn't resist these MME papers.
Looks like my camera needs a white balance adjustment!!! Sorry...that is a white library card in the pocket!

More Mini book pages

Oh yeah...here are some pages from the mini book I just finished. I just love this cute little book! I guess I'll have to make one for Max too!

It's a girl!

LOL!!! Lynn from Scrapping the Moments sometimes compares the creative process of a LO to birthing a baby. Her LO's are her babies. Well...this mini book...feels like I had twins or maybe triplets. But, I have to admit, it was worth every minute. It is one of those maze books, every page filled, every pocket with a tag, the whole enchilada!!! I LOVE Doodlebug products. They are soo easy to work with. Here is the cover and first page! I'll post more photos later!

Another Doodlebug LO

Inspiration...ya just gotta love sites like The Moments! The One Little Word challenge this month is to use the word "be". Well, Jess created a beautiful layout with the title "just be yourself". I just took these shots of Max and thought that would be the perfect title for this LO!

My Scraplift Challenge at The Moments

Hey all...The first of the month is upon us and that means new challenges at The Moments. My challenge to the member is to lift this lovely layout by Jess. Plus you would need to use photo strips...check out the challenge at The Moments. Here is my take:

More Doodlebug

I decided to use some more Doodlebug for last night's FFT at The Moments. These papers are really part of a cooking line. But the colors were perfect for the photos...And well...it think it worked out well. Everything is Doodlebug except cardstock and twine. The twine is WeRMemory Keepers.

Argh...A Pirate's Life

Check out this lo...I didn't think I'd like it...the photos were sub-par. But that pirate ship laser cut (Paper Wizard)...Wow...made the lo! The title sticker is from Karen Foster. All the rest is just card stock. Clouds and waves were cut with the cricut.

Doodlebug LO

My friend Cathy is a huge (probably not a big enough adjective) Doodlebug lover. I go in with her every year and get most of the lines. Well...when I saw the cherries on Kelly's shirt, I knew what paper I had to use!

More Layouts.

Well...it sure seems I've gotten my mojo back. I'm scrapping like crazy...and get this...pages are taking only hours instead of days! This week I actually have gotten 2 layouts done on 2 different nights. That is 4, yes 4 layouts in a week and the week isn't over! Yahoo!!!!

This one uses MME American Made, but I changed it to "You are an American Now!" Design is from Michelle Donner Ramsey from Scrapaganza.

The next 2 use Echo Park Country Days

It's my Birthday!

And I actually managed some me time today! Woohoo!!! Although the day started shaky with my son...we managed! I actually got two layouts done today. I think I've found a grove. As long as I start with a sketch or a lift, I can actually scrap at a decent pace!

I totally LOVE Echo Park. And their Summer Days line is soo bright and colorful! I just had to use it for these photos!

Surprise challenge!

I just love the challenges at The Moments. They have inspired my soo much. Check out my latest layout. The design is based on a Jana Eubanks sketch and was originally started for the color challenge: yellow, orange, and red. The problem was that I fell in love with this BoBunny paper and well, blue was calling to me. No worries...Surprise challenge to the rescue. Add some rub-ons to the photos and handmake a flower. The flower was made using CosmoCricket's Gluber adhesive circles. The instructions for making the flower is on the back of the packaging.
I soo LOVE this layout!

Ya just gotta love a good crop!

I attended the Favorite Things crop run by on of my LSS this weekend...OH BOY! I had a blast! It was the perfect mix of scrapping, socializing, snacking, prizes, and fun ativities.

Plus...I did not realize how much I needed some scrappy therapy. I was soo run down and defeated before this crop which was held Friday and Saturday. I was tired on Sunday but felt soo much better. Even though packing for a crop is a huge PITA...the rewards are worth every second of the agonizing packing process! I definitely need to attend more crops!

Here are a few of my creations:

Love Sketches

Hey all...Looks like I'm consistently scrapping again! Yahoo!!! And...I just have to say again...I LOVE sketches. The moments has a sketch challenge every month and this month they used a sketch from Sketchabilities! I just LOVE Karan's sketches...Here is my take on Sketch #50. Make sure you check out the 2 sites...they are 2 of my favorites!