Sunday, July 31, 2011

Like Mother, Like Daughter

Meg has taken on a few summer craft projects of her own that I thought I'd share.

She's fascinated with gnomes.  I have no idea why, but she is.  Everywhere we go she's on the hunt for some version of the ugly, tacky little creature.  She was so excited when she discovered this ceramic one at Michael's. It came unfinished (as did the toadstools) but she already had a plan.  She announced that she was going to make a gnome garden for her room.  A bit of searching in the clearance aisle produced the feathers, sign and teapot planter.  Add in some styrofoam and moss and she was set.  She came home, immediately painted her treasures (acrylic paint from my stash) and proceeded to assemble her little garden, complete with a frog that she swiped from my outdoor garden, which she displays proudly in her room.

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Just a few days ago she came upon a Joann's advertisement that showed a fringed fleece blanket.  She thought she could just go buy one (she spent her own money on both the gnome garden and her new blanket) but I explained to her that she had to make it.  With that in mind she picked out a two piece set of fleece and we searched YouTube to see how it's done.  I did the cutting but she did the tying (with a little help from Daddy.)  She is very proud of her blanket and has been dragging this thing around with her ever since.  (This girl LOVES blankets, afghans, quilts and throws!)


Changing subjects....I hit my running goal of 40 miles last night.  Tomorrow starts a new month.

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Catching Up On School Albums

I have two separate scrapbooks that I keep for specifically to document my daughter's annual pictures.  One album contains photos of the first and last days of each grade while the second one contains her school "portraits".  I just finished getting caught up on the latter.

I use the same layout design (one created by my friend Lynne) to do each page to keep the album consistent as well as easy to create.

Her fall photo from 3rd grade, 2009...


Her spring photo from 3rd grade, 2010...


Her fall photo from 4th grade, 2010...


Her most recent school photo, 4th grade, 2011...

I've started albums for my sister's two kids as well but need more photos (hint, hint) and plan to start one for my brother's son as well.

Next up....catching up on her 1st/last day of school photos.

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Feeling My Groove Again...

I created this page for Week 4 of the online scrapping workshop I'm taking.  The topic was to break open your stash and actually USE the things you've been hoarding/saving.  I had lots to choose from (no surprise to those who know me) but these papers from Echo Park were my final choice.  And let me tell you, it was really hard to cut into these pretty cream, gray, black and pink papers.  (The lumpy flower threw off the scan but the background is all one pretty cream color.)


The photos were all taken last summer/fall, right after we got Jasmine.  These two are inseparable and one of the best decisions we ever made.

On a different topic...in the interest of additional "public" accountability I created a sidebar to track my running progress.  It's been (and still is) a slow journey back from my shoulder accident last spring but I'm working on it.  My current goal is to average 40 miles a month.  Right now I'm averaging 3-4 miles of run/walking (75% run/25% walk) and trying to get out 3-4 evenings a week.   Some months are easy...some not so much but I'm slowly getting my groove back, one step at a time.

Monday, July 25, 2011

Wasting away again...

in Margaritaville.  Searching for ....







Another cute idea that I swiped from some poor soul trying to make a living in Key West.  They were selling theirs for $18 each.  Since I already had all materials (except for the salt shaker) this project only cost me $3 to make.  And yes, mine is way cuter.

For my crafty friends I used a set of Taylored Expression stamps, Stazon ink and paint pens to embellish the sides.

I also made a second salt clock, this one for myself.  It's hanging in JulieWorld right now.  (Technically J'lieWorld because I somehow have lost my "u".  Go figure.)


This go round I didn't take the time to fill each shaker individually but rather left them opened in the box and went down the line with the box of salt.  I won't be doing that again.  (See how stingy they look?)  Sealing those little shakers with plastic wrap before screwing on the caps is the most time consuming part of the process.  Good thing this one was for me.

Thanks for stopping by!!!

Saturday, July 23, 2011

It's 5 o'clock Somewhere....

While vacationing a few weeks ago with friends, Michelle and I discovered these cute clocks hanging in a Key West shop.


We thought they were darling but at $80 apiece I knew I could do better.  In fact, I told Michelle I thought I could make them for $15.  So Little Ms. OCD was on mission.  I gathered my materials and sat down yesterday to make my version.



What do you all think?  I'm biased of course but I like mine alot better.  LOL!!!! Michelle, I hope you like it, 'cause this one's all yours hon.  :)  Thank you so much for your wonderful hospitality!!!!  xoxoxox


My Supplies....

CLOCK - Target --  $3.99 plus tax = $4.26

SALT SHAKERS -- WEBstaurant.com -- Case of 24/$7.69 plus shipping.  Bought two cases for a total of $27.08 which brings a dozen to $6.77.

PAINT MARKERS -- Michael's --  Set of 5/$4.99 which will be enough for the 4 clocks I have supplies for.  Total cost per clock = $1.25.

Grand Total for my Version?  $12.28  Am I good or what?  :)






Friday, July 22, 2011

I'm a little rusty...

In my 2+ year absence I have bought both a new scanner and a new version of Photoshop Elements and it's obvious from this 12x12 layout that I need to practice my photomerging technique.

The photo is of my niece and my daughter taken during a rollercoaster ride at Busch Gardens in the summer of 2008.  This is one of the layouts I created during my friend Catherine's visit in  2009.


I can't believe how much they've both grown since this photo was taken!

Below is another Busch Gardens page I created during Catherine's visit.  This photo is of my BIL, niece, daughter and son, taken in the early 2009.  As you can see from my daughter's position this coaster, Gwazi,  proved to be much more challenging than Cheetah Chase but she's always game for thrill rides.  She definitely gets her sense of adventure from her daddy.


Thanks for visiting!

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

I'm On a Roll!

Well, if you count two layouts in two weeks a roll, that is.  Week 2s assignment was to use supplies from our stash that we'd forgotten we'd had.  This was a very easy task for one who hasn't scrapped in two years.


One of my very dear BFFs recently bought herself a cute late 1970s VW convertible.  I loved it so much that it got me thinking that a convertible might just be the perfect "Happy 50th Birthday" gift to me.  My dear husband was quick to agree and after a brief search I found "the one."  It was just too perfect to have to wait until October....so inpatient person that I am (and acknowledge).... I got it in April and have been enjoying it ever since.

Thursday, July 14, 2011

So Far, So Good

The MotherLOAD scrapbooking class began three weeks ago.  The first week's assignment was to create a layout using the prompt "Why I Scrapbook."  I found it incredibly easy to get right back into the swing of things making me wonder just why it took me so long.  


For my scrapping friends all materials were from the May 2009 Studio Calico kit with the exception of the blue Basic Grey alphas.  

A New Day


As many of you already know, I have been in a scrapping slump for quite some time now.  Two years ago life's unexpected twists and turns burst my creativity bubble to the point that recording our family's life in pages was virtually impossible.  Life has since returned to a new (and better) normal and up until now I've satisfied my creativity bug by plunging into card making, which I absolutely adore. I have however found it extremely difficult to rediscover my passion for scrapbooking.  I am counting on LAIN EHMANN'S Scrapbook MotherLOAD class at BIG PICTURE SCRAPBOOKING  to help get me out of my slump and back on the road to resuming our family albums.  (No pressure there Lain.  LOL!!!) 


For those of you who share my hobby and passion much of what you'll see here will not be new.  I would however like to create a place that my non-scrappy family and friends can see just what it is I do and why I enjoy it so much.  Who knows, maybe I'll convert some of them "to the dark side."  To all of you who take the time to read my blog.....THANK YOU!!!