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Thursday, December 20, 2012

balloon fest {a scrapbook layout} and project life 2013

Hello again! I'm getting pretty excited to finish my holiday mini-I've been keeping up with photos and my post-it notes. At the end of the month, I'll get everything printed out and put it all together. I think this one might just be my favorite one to date!
I'm also getting super excited to start Project Life in 2013. I have so many ideas of how I want to approach it-I know I won't be doing a photo a day but taking it more of a week in the life-lots of iPhone photos and pieces of our daily life-notes from work & school, that type of thing. I got my core kit in the mail and I couldn't wait to start playing with it. This is the base for my title page-still lots of work to do (add photos, etc) but I love the colors of this kit!!!


Also wanted to share a quick two page layout I did of our trip to the Mid America balloon festival this summer. We've gone to the balloon festival the past 3 years and love it-it's such a fun way to spend a summer evening.

The rich primary colors in the balloons led me to pull out the Simple Stories chevron patterned paper and yellow cardstock. You probably can't tell from the photo but each letter in my layout title is pop-dotted, so that it has a little dimension. I just love this event!
Are you tackling project life in 2013? If so, link up in the comments-I'd love to follow along on your journey-I'll be sharing mine throughout the year next year!

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

you are my sunshine {a scrapbook layout}

Wow. This has been the busiest December ever for us. It seems like we have something scheduled for every single night of the week and our weekends are packed too. {at least my Holiday mini won't be boring this year!}
Just wanted to pop in here and share a quick layout-my posts might be a little short the next couple of weeks but I'll try to pop in a least once or twice a week to share.
Today's layout is a fun one! I captured this silly photo of the twins horsing around at a festival that we went to this summer. It looked like they were almost hugging or holding onto each other because they cared about each other; when in fact, they were wrestling over a frisbe. I couldn't help having some fun with it. :)
Happy Tuesday!


Monday, December 3, 2012

you can never have too much happy {a scrapbook layout}

Happy Monday! I have to say, I had a great weekend-I got a lot of creative projects done-and my 2013 Project Life kit arrived. I was pretty excited to get it out and start getting some ideas of how I wanted to organize myself next year.
I'm also working on my Holiday mini-2 days down! {Post-it notes adhered & photos taken!}
Feeling good about where I am at creatively.

Our family recently started watching a show called Duck Dynasty-which I highly recommend. It's very funny and clean for the family-something that's hard to find these days. One of the main characters on the show often says "Happy. Happy. Happy." We've started saying it too. I was in a happy mood this weekend and my layouts this week reflect it! :)
This one is capturing my baby, Moose {aka Brody}, doing a dance he does ALL the TIME, called the crab dance. So glad I got this recorded. I know he'll stop doing this someday-but it's so stinking cute.


Happy Happy Happy!

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

holiday mini {a mini album}

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Ours was full of family activities-including getting family photos taken! So exciting-this is our first family photo since 2009-I can't wait to see how they turned out.
I didn't do much scrapbooking over the long weekend but I did manage to finish all of the base pages for my holiday mini album. Now all I will need to do is print the photos and add embellishments each week.
I think I will borrow an idea from Becky and use post it notes on each page until I get my photos printed to show where each photo should go.
I wanted to share the cover and a couple more pages with you-I'm using We R Memory Keeper's Merry & Bright collection. I used a very muted line last year, so I wanted something bright and cheery this year. I decided to use an actual 6x6 AC album rather than binder rings-we'll see how I feel when it's all said and done.
Here's the cover:

And some of my base pages:





Oh and I almost forgot to mention-look what Katie and all of her fun posts convinced me to order on Black Friday for 2013:
Yes, that's the Amber Project Life kit-I got the core kit, the page dividers, and the matching cardstock. Sigh. Let's hope I can do this.

Friday, November 16, 2012

twas the night before {a scrapbook layout}

Oh Moosey. There are so many stories of your childhood we will someday embarrass you with. This one, though, was embarrassing for both of us.
You see, we took the Moose and his brothers to the Candlelight Christmas Eve service at our church. It was a beautiful service. Quiet and reverent. No sound system, just a piano for music. Moosey was getting restless a few minutes in and a I gently shushed him. "Shhhh". That's it. Nothing more. He sprung up and in his VERY loud Moosey voice yelled, "NO MOMMY YOU SHUT UP!"
Oh brother. Needless to say, service was over for me and the Moose. I could hear the snickers of the teenage youth group as I hauled him out of the sanctuary. Good thing Santa was already on his way!

Side A:
 Side B:

Happy Friday! We are attempting family photos for Christmas cards tomorrow-wish us luck!

Thursday, November 15, 2012

christmas with the sawyers {a scrapbook layout}

I love Christmas. I love the lights, the tree, the decorations. I love spending time with my family. I love the true reason we celebrate-the birth of my Savior, Jesus. It's just such a special time of year. As I get older, I appreciate the meaning behind the traditions more and more. It's not about gifts any more-it's all about celebrating the birth of our Savior and spending time with our loved ones.
We've been really blessed the past two years. My mother, who is my best friend, has had a couple of really difficult and scary health scares. Both of which landed her in the hospital and were life threatening. So to say we have much to be grateful for this year is a HUGE understatement.
Layouts like this one-celebrating the holidays with my family, are really important to me. I want to document for my children and grandchildren this special time. I look back on the many Christmases I celebrated with my grandparents and I can barely remember them-how I wish I had scrapbooks from my childhood.
 Using some "vintage" Cosmo Cricket on this one with those Thickers I got from Big Lots and some twine.

Side A:

Side B-ornaments made with circle tags and twine. :)


Happy Thursday friends!

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

just a dusting {a scrapbook layout}

We didn't get very much snow last year. We live in Southern Ohio, so we expect at least 2-3 decent snows. But last year? I think we got maybe an inch total. So sad.
It's hard to build snowmen or forts with just a dusting-but the boys got out there and gave it a try.

 I used Bella Blvd paper and embellies, Thickers, and some bling that have been in my stash for about 4 years!

Side A:

Side B:

Embellie Tags:

Here's to hoping we get more than a dusting this year! :)

Friday, November 9, 2012

Have You Mailed Your Christmas Cards Yet?

No, me either.
Haven't even taken the photos yet.

My friend, Kristina, can help us though....

She's a finalist in the Becky Higgin's Holiday Card contest!!! What????

Now I need to ask you a super quick favor – if you could, would you go to Becky’s Facebook page HERE and click on the post with the Top 25 card submissions and vote for hers? This is her design:



So if you could scroll through until you see hers and click LIKE that would be awesome! Plus if she wins, we get to use her design on our cards for free-sweeeeet!

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

christmas morning {a scrapbook layout}

Christmas morning photos are always a little hard for me to scrap. They are almost always blurry and feature lots of bed-head. That's when the boys open the presents under the tree that Santa brought them.
2010 was no exception-featured lots and lots of bed head hair and quite a few blurry photos. It also featured the last year that the twins believed that Santa delivered the presents under the tree. :(
Fortunately, I still have two little guys that believe {and two big guys that help make the magic happen} so there are lots of memories still to make in this house.
I've been using my stash like crazy lately. This layout features some Cosmo Cricket that's been hanging out in my craft room for some time-love the muted colors.

Side A:


Side B:


Paired it with some of those Thickers I got at Big Lots/TJ Maxx recently:


I used some of the die cut tags for my journaling:

{I love that photo of Moose there in the middle-he was thrilled to get Rock Star Mickey!}

I've got quite a few more Christmasy layouts to share this week but I wanted to give you a sneak for my holiday mini-I think I might share a little sneak each day. {Maybe I'll do a quick video when I get the base of it all put together!}
Here's today's sneak:
Anyone want to take a guess as to what line I'm using? I'll give you a hint-it is NOT a current line, I'm working in my stash and the colors are "bright". :)

Happy Wednesday, friends!

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

their #1 fan {a scrapbook layout}

Just a quick layout share today. I have lots more to share this week-including a sneak at my in-progress holiday album {some of you might be calling yours a "December Daily"-I prefer to not make that kind of commitment}. LOL.
This one pager is all Bella Blvd. I've got lots of photos of the Moose on the sidelines of one game or another for one of his brothers-thought I'd document this important aspect of his young life.


Hope you had a chance to go out today and exercise one of the most important rights we have-to vote. I stood in line for about 30 minutes this morning at my polling place. First time there's ever been a line. Pretty cool atmosphere. I have a feeling tonight might be a long night. :)
See you tomorrow, crafty friends!

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

thanksgiving 2010 {a scrapbook layout}

Happy Halloween, my friends!
I should be sharing a Halloween layout right? Nahhhhhh...I'm working on Thanksgiving and Christmas layouts. :) I got a ton of crafting done last weekend. {10 double page layouts done-what?!?} AND I have pulled together all of my materials for my "holiday mini"-not calling it a december daily because I don't want to jinx myself!

Wanted to share a Thanksgiving layout with you today-with a sketch, I've been using a lot lately. Probably because I've been using a lot of 2x3 photos. I love fitting 8-10 photos on my layouts-that's what scrapbooking is about for me-the photos and the story.


Side A:

Side B:


Faux stitching on the patchwork {because I'm hopeless with a sewing machine}:


Lots of Christmasy fun to share with ...coming soon. :)
In the meantime... for those you you who aren't Facebook friends or follow me on Twitter...


The crew from Trunk or Treat last night {my boys and their cousins}

AND the best pose of the night from Halloween photos....


You're Welcome. :)

Thursday, October 25, 2012

home made pizza {a scrapbook layout}

My boys love pizza-to be honest, I'm not really a fan. But I try to either make or buy pizza for them once a week. Last November, they asked if they could help make pizza, so I decided to try out an old recipe my mom used to make with my brother and I.
It's super easy and the kids can do just about everything themselves!

Super Easy Personal Pizza
1 package of English Muffins
1 Jar of Ragu Homestyle Pizza Sauce
Cheese
Your choice of toppings

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Split open enough English Muffins for each person to have 2 halves {depending on their appetite-we use the whole package}. Spread them out on a cookie sheet or pizza stone. Let your child spread pizza sauce on each English Muffin. Let them add cheese and their choice of toppings. {We like pepperoni but their dad puts bacon, banana peppers and olives on his!} Try to keep the kids from eating too much of the cheese and pepperoni, mine tend to sneak more in their mouths than on the pizzas.
Bake for 7-10 minutes or until cheese is golden and bubbly-remove from oven and serve.
Super easy and delicious!

Of course, I had to make a layout about this fun little treat-all supplies are Jillibean Soup. Loving all the Red/Cream/Kraft on this one:



Side A:


Side B:


I love these canvas stars-bummed that I used them all!


Have you ever scrapped your favorite recipe/or making a fun treat?
Happy Thursday!
 

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

thank you /so grateful {cards}

I have just barely resisted the urge to drive to every Big Lots in the Tri-State area looking for more Thickers-mostly because I now have  71 sets in my collection. That's a little bit excessive-no wonder the husband thinks I'm running a scrapbook store out of my craft room. LOL.

I wanted to share a couple of thank you cards today-in my Jillibean box, I had a lovely 6x6 pad of paper and I was determined to actually use it rather than hoard like I do most of my 6x6 pads.
I needed a thank you card for my sister in law (she's been picking my twins up from track every week this season-they wouldn't have been able to participate if she hadn't stepped up to help)-so I grabbed the Jillibean pad and got to work.
Materials- Jillibean paper & label, Recollections pearls, Stampin' Up rub-on and cardstock

Used the same sketch for both-love the look of pennants on my cards and layouts right now.

Materials- Jillibean paper, Recollections pearls, Stampin' Up rub-on and cardstock, Colorbox chalk ink


I inked the edges of the paper on this one with a light blue chalk ink-looks just a little bit more finished.

Happy Wednesday! I'll be back tomorrow with some home made pizza (on a layout, of course).

Monday, October 22, 2012

$1 Thickers!!! {scrappy shopping}

Run, do not walk, to your nearest Big Lots location! Mine had a large selection of American Crafts Thickers for just $1 per package. WHAT?!?
I showed a little restraint and only bought 12 packages.

They are the good ones-Elf (green gingham, black dot, and red and white peppermint), Cheer (the glittery blue/turq, orange/yellow, and pink/brown), Meadow (in orange and black), and two other lines that I can't remember.
I might just have to count up how many packs of Thickers I now have in my collection. I have a feeling the number might be alarming. :)
Happy Monday friends!

Friday, October 19, 2012

trunk or treat 2011 {a scrapbook layout}

Thanks so much for all your kind comments on my last post-you guys are the best!
I wanted to share a "budget layout " with you today. I'm pretty thrifty {aka cheap}, so I tend to use everything that comes in kits-even scraps!
For this layout I used 2 two inch scraps of paper and some leftover bling from the Halloween kit I worked with for my guest designer layouts. I added a few cardstock stickers and brads from Wal-Mart's $1 scrapbook bin, some leftover Thickers; did a little border punching and called it a day.
This layout used less than $5 in materials but I LOVE how it turned out:

Side A:

I used my Martha Stewart spider web punch (purchased at TJ Maxx for $3.99!!) on the scraps of patterned paper and added some bling to highlight each web.


Next I added a bat border cut out using an EK Success punch that I got on clearance last year at Michael's.


Side B:


I absolutely love this Halloween collection for Wal-Mart's $1 bin-I still have a ton leftover to use for other layouts.


There you have it-scrapbooking the thrifty way!
How do you save money scrapbooking??
Have a great weekend!

Thursday, October 18, 2012

guest designer layouts are up!

Thanks for all of the kind comments about my guest designer spot! I had so much fun playing with kit and got to pull my ink out and do some stamping. I haven't done that in a long while. :)
My full layouts are up over at Suzastampin's Creation Station, feel free to go HERE to take a look.
Let me know what you think!
I'll be back to tomorrow with a budget friend;y Halloween layout.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

happy hauntings {a card}

Well, hi there. I made it back from Florida safe and sound. I had a great week of business meetings and I even managed to squeeze in a trip to the beach. :)
I did lots of crafting this weekend and I'll be sharing some of that on my blog but I also have a special announcement-a couple of the layouts I did from the Close To My Heart Moonlight kit will be featured on Suzastampin's Creation Station blog-I'm her Guest Designer for October! {I'll post a link to that when it is up.} I had a ton of fun working with the kit and got 4 layouts and a card done!

Here's a little sneak of the main layout:

I also used the kit to make this card:


Super easy but fun! I stamped my mummy and senitment from the stamp set that came with the kit and punched a few circles of patterned paper from the collection. I added some Martha Stewart washi tape to finish it off.


Thursday, October 4, 2012

little boys=a happy home {altered painter's tray project}

I've made a few altered painter's trays as gifts for family members and they've been pretty popular.
I had an extra one laying around and decided to make one for myself. I used papers and embellies from my Jillibean Warehouse box to keep it tied together.

I am so happy with how it turned out. I love all the little boxes -I might do one for each season and display it on our mantle!



Have you ever worked with painter's trays? Where did you display them?