Valentine Cards!

If you've been scrapping a while, you've probably seen Ali Edwards Christmas Card Layout or someone's take on it... I have done several of these with Christmas Cards! I love the whole concept of saving a peek at these things!

So this year, I did two pages using Valentine Cards! One for each of my younger kids... I am not head-over-heels in love with either of these pages as pages but I really like the idea at least!


This is my youngest's -- I cute hearts out of each of his Valentines and his big Valentine bag for this one -- It came together pretty bright and fun!
Paper: We R Memory Keepers
And for my middle son (with a much bigger class!) I went for a two pager! I had a lot of fun cutting up his valentines, except when I broke my Fiskars Heart Squeeze punch trying to cut through a hologram card -- it didn't strain or seem like it was trying to hard it just SNAPPED. That sucked! Still I had lots of fun putting this together with lots of little chipboard embellies, a few fun stamped frames. I really like this one a lot!
Products: Sorry, I don't really know on the chipboard! Most of the stamps are Close to my Heart, the Cardstock is DCWV and the strip of paper at the bottom is WRMK

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Friday Fun

This is a part of my morning -- that's Pike's Peak as seen from a spot between my house and my kiddo's school this morning. Isn't it beautiful? I loved those low clouds this morning.

This page is of pics that you may have seen before! I used a fab sketch from The Scrappiest blog for this one -- of course I twisted and turned it but it was super fun! My kids LOVED riding that camel! This one and the next were both part of a Serendipity Daily challenge - to fussy cut some elements out of patterned paper and pop them up with dimensional adhesive (this one was Zots - I love those suckers!)

Product: Basic Grey: Granola
And here's another one we've seen before! This is my middle son making a BIG mess with Diet Coke and Mentos with his Scout den (they're not in uniform due to the massive potential for MESS with this oh-so-fun project!) Used another sketch for this one from the Serendipity Sketches for Thought spot where the fab design team pics a few fun sketches from here and there to inspire us members each week!
Product: Basic Grey: Granola
And here's some pics from our Playgroup Halloween Party! So much fun! On this page I lifted the remarkably talented Madeline's fab, fun design -- she did a digi Mardi Gras page with 7 photos in this LO as part of a daily challenge.
Product: Scenic Route: Salem
And this is another Halloween-y page -- but this time it's an art project from my youngest -- one handprint bat, and one handprint spider with his FAVORITE - Googly Eyes! The challenge here was to add a string of pennants on the page.
Product: Scenic Route: Salem, Making Memories Alphas

And he's a final one - the daily challenge for this day was to use "The biggest photo you've got!" -- So I hit the big ol' box of random professional and oversized photos and pulled out another School photo! FUN!
Product: Scenic Route papers and sticker, Making Memories: Alphas, Brad and Clip by Close to My Heart

Do you know what time of year it is?

Yes, yes... it's Lent... Abstention and goodness....

and ummm

FORGET all that -- it's time for EASTER CANDY!!!!!!!!

My favorite, my very, very favorite, is Cadbury Caramel Eggs!



When I was a kid, it was Cadbury Creme Eggs but as I got older -- the Caramel won out. Also love Reese's Eggs!

Then there are the other - can't do withouts -- PEEPS! Gotta have them!

My kids like jelly beans but I was never a fan. But then, they'll take anything with sugar!

Today my 14 year old asked me for a 14 oz Chocolate Rabbit. Yeah, right, kid! You do NOT need nearly a pound of chocolate!



I've struggled off and on with the chocolate rabbits. I used to BUY them for the kids, let them eat the ears and then... never let them have any more! Terrible! I promised myself last year that if I bought rabbits I'd let them eat them. And then bought them SMALLER rabbits -- which worked alright last year. We'll see.

In the House of Serendipity...

We're having loads of fun at the House of Serendipity right now! We've got weekly challenges going on, and lots of silly fun!

We're fantasizing about being here:


And we're of course, getting some scrapping done, this is my week 2 challenge using a red/pink color scheme (and this same Sketch from before)



And we are VERY THANKFUL to our awesome sponsors!

Sassafras Lass = look back over the scrapping I've done lately and you'll see LOTS of Sass! I love their fantastic products!

Cosmo Cricket = one of the first brands that I really just RECOGNIZED their products -- I adore their designs!!

Altered Pages = I admit, I wasn't that familiar with Altered Pages before but I am TOTALLY digging their awesome supplies!

and

Kiki Art = This is a fairly new Canadian company focusing on eco-friendly scrapping! Check out their bright, fun new products.

Just a peek at my front yard today...

Thought this looked pretty neat today.

Oh look... you guessed it - some more!

Before I get to the scrapping... Here's a fun pic for you :)

This is my youngest, being ALL BOY... crunching through the snow, with a stick, making a line in the snow :) I absolutely adore that:



Did your mind just fill with images of The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats?


So.... any3way... on to the scrapping!

This one is a lego Roller Coaster built by my four year old - entirely on his own! DH had been playing a lot of Thrillville: Off the Rails on the Wii. If you don't know about the game - it's a simulator in which you build a virtual theme park including designing your own Roller Coasters. A few years back we played a similar computer game. I was really impressed with the ingenuity my youngest showed -- he built these graduated risers totally on his own!

Products: All kinds of Sassafras

And this one is my middle son -- this was a daily challenge to do a 'food themed' page with at least 30 words of journalling -- He's sitting at a table, in a restaurant, building a fortress out of jelly (thus the title)... he builds a lot of 'fortresses, crypts, castles, tombs, etc."

Products: Paper: Sassafras and a little bit of DCWV (the cardstocks), Alphas by American Crafts Thickers and Basic Grey
Here's another food themed page - this one is about making Homemade Pizza (well sort of homemade -- the crust was Pillsbury, the sauce from a jar... but we did make them at home! The journaling is about how when I was a kid - Delivery pizza was a special treat, we mostly ate homemade. For my kids the homemade pizza is a treat and delivery is kind of commonplace.

Product: Paper and Monster cards: Sassafrass, Alphas: American Crafts Thickers and Minimark Rub Ons)


And finally, here's my page for my House of Serendipity Challenge -- the Challenge for this was to use at least two photos - one larger than the other(s). These photos, I didn't take... DH took them on a business trip to DC he made some time for touristing. All of the DC photos that will be showing up here were taken by DH with his Blackberry!

As for the title: Where Valor Rests. Where Valor Rests is the title of a book that is given to the families of service members who are buried at Arlington :
The book salutes those of our armed forces who now rest in Arlington National Cemetery. It is a beautiful, oversized commemorative book produced for the families of each newly-interred service person who paid the ultimate sacrifice during our country's Global War On Terrorism.

Product: Paper: DCWV Natural Stack; Stamps: Close to My Heart; Alphas K & Company

And some more scrapbooking...

These are mostly from Monday... but my week has been quiet and at-home due to a sick kiddo so I've gotten a few more done since then, too. Apparently I've been on a bit of a water theme!
OK this one isn't a water theme -- this is my baby boy (age 4)'s treasure. We painted these pint-sized treasure chests a while back and I always delight in finding his laying out somewhere so I can take a peek inside. The contents on this day included 28 cents, 4 marbles, 2 green army men, 1 plastic shark, 1 black Bendaroo and 2 pieces of yellow string.

Products: Paper: My Minds Eye: Bohemia; Crocheted flowers - My Mind's Eye: Laundry Line; Ribbon: Felt border: Anna Griffin, blue ribbon: ?; Alphas: Basic Grey and Joanns, Boy epoxy sticker ?? Got them at Walmart, Journal Card: Close to My Heart
This is my youngest again -- wading... Wading is pretty much how he spent his whole summer -- if there was water, his shoes were off and he was in it!!
Products: papers, large alphas, chip frame and corners: Sassafras Lass, Small Alphas : Joanns house brand, Ribbon: Basic Grey
And here's some more of my youngest - apparently the subject of the day! This was his 4th birthday (the actual day - party pages will appear at some unknown future date) -- for lunch we took him to Guiseppe's Depot where we got to sit to watch the trains (none actually came by while we were there but this did not at all lessen his excitement!). It was a very fun treat for him! See the pressed penny :)
Papers and journal sticker: Sassafras Lass, Alphas: AC Thickers
And here's another water page -- hitting the local pool (which includes an indoor water slide, lazy river and wave pool!) That's all three of my boys -- don't worry, DS2 isn't quite as skinny as he appears in that top left pic ;)
Products: paper and stickers: We R Memory Keepers: White Out; Alphas - AC Felt Thickers
And some more water -- that's my youngest again. This time he didn't even take off his shoes! He was SO TOTALLY soaked from playing in this puddle!
Products: Paper and Flowers - Sassafras Lass (older), Alphas: AC Thickers

Busted out some scrapbooking! and a little Valentine :)

It has been busy around here - between me being sick, my oldest son being bumped up from JV to Varsity and sent to Wrestling Regionals, all the Valentine's Day fun, Genghis Con, Swimming lessons.... wooo it was quite a week!


But... at the hotel for Genghis and at home on Monday, I found some time for scrapping :)

So, here's a page of my youngest on a Hay Ride! I loved that day in the sunshine and he loved riding around the Spotted Horse Barnyard in the wagon! Worked on a Serendipity Daily Challenge for this one to use strips of mixed media (in this case, paper, stickers and ribbons) and to mix typed and handwritten journalling.

Paper and Stickers and Alphas: Basic Grey: Granola
For this page I started with this cute sketch from Liz Qualman -- I swapped out the large heart in the sketch for a kite since it fitted my theme. There's still some little hearts on there, though :)

Products: Mostly Sassafras Lass
And here's one more -- these photos are from something like 2006, but they are super cute! I had lots of fun making a bright, non-Christmassy snow layout.

Papers and Chipboard - Me and My Big Ideas: Sassy, Alphas - mixed, mostly AC Thickers, Large Felt Frame by Close To My Heart

There will be more to come in the coming week (and hopefully some more time for scrapping, too!)

Knocking out some Serendipity Daily challenges!

I have been seriously under the weather this week (not literally -- out here in the Wild West the weather has been clear and sunny for the most part). So, I'm behind on posting anything.

So here's a couple of Halloween pages I put together last weekend :)


This first one is pics of my youngest at his big Soccer Spooktacular Hallowee Party!

I was working a Serendipity Daily Challenge (from Susan) to Embellish a stamped image - I stamped these big flourished corners, added glitter glue to them and tiny spider rubons. I love this paper line! (My Secret Santa at Serendipity - Ellen- gave them to me!)

Paper and Rub Ons: Basic Grey Eerie, Stamps: Inque Boutique, Glitter Glue: Hampton Arts: a la mode, border punch by EK Success


And these pics are my middle son at his school party and parade -- he makes a very good Harry, I think!

For this page, another Serendipity challenge - this time using this fabulous sketch from Susan Stringfellow which included the challenge to trim out the page frame. I had a TON of fun with this one!

Everything is Basic Grey: Eerie (except the alphas- Thickers), border punch by EK Success

And another challenge from Susan, and another delve into the box of professional photos that need scrapping! Here's my middle son in an old school picture!

This challenge was to use this birdie paper piecing pattern, which, by the way, was OH so cute! Fun page to make! I used to do TONS of paper piecing, as it faded from 'scrapping style' for a while I had let it go... I should do some more!

Everything is Basic Grey: Granola, , border punch by EK Success

So, there's a couple of pages from the house of sick!

Another day, a few more pages

I spent some time on Saturday tackling a little scrapping. The page above came out really fun! Digging through a giant pile of alphas trying to find not just the right letters but the right colors and styles of letters for the saying at right was TOUGH! You never realize how many sets of alphas you have, each of which is short on letter 'e', 'n' and 't'...
Paper: DCWV - really OLD DCWV, punch: EK Success giant scallop, not sure about the tiny spiral it's probably my oldest punch! Really this product list is an exercise in futility - I can't begin to guess all the brands on the alphas and embellies -- the yellow are AC Thickers, the word "The" is Heidi Swapp... everything else, no guess.
I started with a sketch from Donna Downey's Photos First Approach to Designing Layouts, it's one of my favorite quick sketch resources and is often out on my scrap table. I tilted the photos - she had them straight. I love these older photos of my boys baking some yummy cookies for Halloween 2006!
Fun K&Co papers from my stash! Sassafras alphas, EK punch, not sure about the transparent elements
Another delve into the box of oversized and professional photos -- to find this Easter Bunny pic of my youngest. There was a challenge on Serendipity to hang embellishments on the page. The original sample showed Christmas Ornaments but I thought these Easter Eggs would be fun!
Papers and floral rubons: Sassafras Lass, Alphas: Making Memories

Snow Dough

We've been using this playdough recipe to make snow-dough lately.... it's lots of fun so I thought I'd share it... very easy!

Homemade Playdough Recipe from "My Montessori Journey"

1 c. flour

1/2 cup salt

1 T. cooking oil

1 T. cream of tartar

1 c. water

Food coloring of your choice

Add-ins of your choice (i.e. spices, extracts, glitter, etc.)

Stir ingredients together well. Just measure them into the saucepan you will be using to cook the dough, but mix them well before heating up the pan. Over medium heat cook the dough, stirring constantly until it forms a ball. (NOTE: When it starts to pull away from the sides somewhat and clump together and most of the "wet-looking" parts look dry, it's ready to remove from the pan.) Turn dough onto a board (or the countertop) and knead until very smooth. (NOTE: It will be pretty warm to the touch, but try to knead it until it becomes a nice, smooth ball. If it feels sticky, you can work a little more flour into it and it will be fine.) Cool. Store in a covered plastic container OR in a sealed ziploc bag. (ANOTHER NOTE: This dough does seem to always stick in the saucepan somewhat. I have tried spraying the pan first, but I still have a crusty residue on the pan when I'm finished. I am used to this now and just plan on soaking the pan after I make a batch. I just wanted you to know about that though so you wouldn't think you had goofed something up if that happens.)

She goes on to recommend the addition of spices, extracts, and other things -- we initially found this recipe when looking for "Snow dough" so we've been making it plain white with gold glitter! (Super fine Martha Stewart glitter)

Today, for something different for Valentine's Day -- we're trying pink dough with pink glitter! My helpful advice if you don't want pink hands - don't use icing food color! (in my defense it's all I had) My hands are very magenta!

Endless, sparkly hot pink fun!

I am....

*the mother of a four year old - there's a large plastic praying mantis in my purse.
*the mother of a teenager - why do I have no cash?
*a little bit hungry... not really hungry just considering the possibility of a snack.
*cold, despite the fact that it's actually quite pleasant outside and I'm wearing a sweater - I think this is related to the fact that I am not wearing socks.
*happy.
*A scrapbooker - there are two photo hosting sites, a scrapbooking forum, a Stampin' Up! catalog and a scrappy blog open in various tabs on this computer.
*looking forward to February.
*considering making a trip to Build A Bear Workshop this week for the afore-mentioned four year old - who was so heartbroken at the prospect of returning his classroom teddy bear to preschool today that he began to weep - softening his teacher's heart into returning said-bear to our home for an extended visit.
*thinking half-heartedly of heading out for a mini hike this afternoon.
*not getting into my pile of library books as quickly as I'd like.
*wondering why I didn't hang my coat up.
*wearing warm, comfy Land's End shearling lined mary janes.
*looking at the clock almost obsessively.
*trying to figure out when I'm going to take my oldest to find the clothes he needs for the Valentine's dance.
*impatiently playing phone tag with a woman at the County Parks and Rec department, re: a reservation I need to make for an upcoming Scout event.
*really glad that dinner is already in the crock pot and I don't have to think of it again today.