Spring Time Mini

I had fun this week creating a mini album for my Mother-in-law while she was visiting us here in the Carolinas. I took photos every time we went out on an excursion. Then I bound them together and surprised her on her last day here. The best part is that this mini is made with brown paper lunch bags. Here is a peek at the book.

Thanks for looking.

Until next time...

April Challenges at Scrap 'N Chat

Today is April 15th and that means I posted two new challenges at Scrap 'N Chat today. Our scraplift challenge was inspired by Nicole Nowosad on her blog. I just loved the layout and the colors she chose.

So of course when I decided to use it as our inspiration I tried to stay true with the shape of the layout. But my colors went their own way. AND she did not have a single button on hers. You know, my layouts always need a button or two.

Then I completed the layout for the Ad/Art Challenge. I was loving the colors in this advertisement for a Vogue magazine.  

And since I was already working with these colors from the previous layout, I decided to hit the stash for this one. 

So if you are needing some inspiration for your scrapbook layouts head over to the Scrap 'N Chat forum and see what other challenges we have lined up this month.

Until next time...

Two Posts in One Day

I just wanted to share. In March I participated in Layout Tag with Scrap 'N Chat. If you don't know what Layout Tag is, here is a brief description. "The Tag Queen" sends you an anonymous layout from another participant sometime during the month. You are to copy something on the layout, create your own and send it back to "The Tag Queen" within 48 hours.  She then passes it onto another participant. At the end of the month, we have a big reveal and see how the tag started and ended. It is always amazing to see the evolution.

This month, I received this layout created by our fabulous team member Diana:

I created this using my favorite new grand-nephew as the subject. Isn't he a doll!!!

Feeling like Layout Tag might be a challenge you would enjoy? Come over and join us at Scrap 'N Chat. The more, the merrier!!!

Until next time...

Taking a stroll Down Memory Lane

I am strolling along 1977-78 today. This is the last shot I have left from our trip to Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, CO. I am going to have to move on to another old road now. I was inspired to do this layout based on a Scrap 'N Chat's Facebook Challenge today as well as a Technique Tuesday Challenge from Cooking Up Creations. All of the paper included here is "stash" paper, meaning I did not cut a single new piece of paper. Part of the Technique challenge was to sand something. So I sanded the edges of my photo, the matte, and the blue circle with the embossed squiggles. This was a fun layout to do.

Until next time...

Anyone Scrapping Lately?

I have. I found an old album of mine from "the junior high era". I say that, but the more I think about it, I wonder if  it was from 6th grade. For all you young'ns, that was LONG before junior high became "middle school" when 6th grade was your last year of elementary school. We were so cool!!!

Any-who, I noticed the photos were starting to fade and yellow because I had them in an old photo album that had self adhesive glued pages. YUCK!!! So I took them all out, scanned them (for "just in case" purposes) and picked up a cheapy scrapbook to put them in. These are all 8.5" X 8.5" pages. Since the camera was a Kodak Instamatic, which were all the rage back then, the square photos fit nicely on the small pages.

Our fabulous trip to Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, circa 1977 or 1978.

Won't my sisters be so happy to know I am scrapping their awkward  years. Luckily the photos are small, hee, hee, hee!!

A secret flap on the page allows me to share the dailies on this page without embarrassing my sisters in the shots. LOL!!

OH and while I was at it, I did an ATC too.

Until next time...

Card Folding Part Two

I am going to be offering a new card making class at Michael's in May. This is the second class in a series of card making classes that involves scoring card stock and creating cards with special folds, pockets and pop ups. We will also learn how to use a score board to create accordion flowers. These cards were fun to make and are so festive in the spring. Have a look:

Trifold Card

Tri-shutter Card
(my favorite to make and give)

Pop Up Box Card

Until next time...

Avoidance

There are many, many things I should be doing today. I should be heading out to the grocery store to purchase a few items. I should be doing laundry and cleaning my house. I should be figuring out what I am making for dinner tonight. I should be reading the last 400 pages of the book I have chosen for book club that is meeting this Thursday night. (It only has 500 pages to begin with.)  I should be making samples of the new classes I will teach next month for my open house this Saturday. Instead I am avoiding all of these and doing something that really could be put off.

SCRAPPING!!!

What a wonderful way to avoid the "shoulds".

Until next time...

Lesson Planning

I have spent part of today making cards to be featured in some of my upcoming classes. I have been looking forward to teaching a class on uniquely folded cards. They are so much fun to make. Everyone who receives them is always surprised. Here are some of the samples.  And if you are in town this month, stop by to make a couple.

Until next time...

In Between My Naps

I have not had a very productive day today. And yet it has probably been more productive than usual. I was fortunate enough to spend the evening in the hospital emergency room until the wee hours of the morning this morning having tests. Long story short, I am fine. The one thing the doctor told me to do today was to take it easy. I am not very good at taking things easy. I am a busy busy girl who does too many things at one time and wears herself out. Today I took it easy.

So  in between my naps, I decided to work on some creative things. Artist Trading Cards are fun and tiny. I always love to make them and share them with friends. Here are a few I completed today as well as a couple of cards.

Until next time...

One Snowy Morning

Yesterday the snow started on my way home from work. I guess Mother Nature was letting me get home before she dumped the white stuff on us. Now I have a snowy photo to scrap!!

Until next time...

Doing a little lifting...scraplifting that is

I am working on a scraplift challenge today. 

Here is the inspiration piece:

Here is mine!!

Until next time...

Catching Up on the 12 Days

Day 6
Use paint, mist and a stamp

Day 7
Monochromatic

Day 8
Something Grinchy

Day 9
Use plastic or metal on there

Day 10
Distress a die-cut item

Day 11
Copy one of TH's tags from a past year

One more day left!!! I am so excited!!!

Until next time...