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Friday, August 31, 2012

jillibean mystery box & tj maxx finds! {scrappy shopping!}

I normally have a scrapbook budget of about $25 a month for paper and adhesives. Some months I spend it all. Some months I don't spend any. This month, I had some extra because I did a massive destash-I sold my Cricut and a bunch of other unloved supplies on craigslist {I love craigslist!} and netted a little over $200 to spend. Woot!
So the first thing I did was buy my new BFF, Sally. AKA a Sillhouette SD. I haven't really had a chance to play with it yet. I purchased it gently used from someone on the Two Peas Message boards-that's such a great way to get big tools like this. I rarely buy things like this brand new, it's just a much more affordable option to buy used.
While looking for my Silhouette, I started seeing posts about the Jillibean Mystery box sale. Hmmmnnn...I'm a sucker for a good mystery/warehouse box. I've gotten the Bella Blvd., Sassafrass, and Pink Paislee boxes in the past and have been pretty satisfied. This box was only $29.99, so I thought I give it try.
WOW! So glad that I did. It was WELL worth. Check out what I got:


Corrugated alpha in green, 3 packs of journaling sprouts, ribbon, a 6x6 pad of paper and card labels...


Chipboard alpha, canvas stars, buttons, 2 stamps sets...


3 sets of alpha stickers and 3 sets of element stickers...






50 {yes FIFTY} sheets of patterned paper. I love this paper. So much. I have to say this is the best warehouse box that I've gotten to date {and I loved, loved my Bella box}. The value was phenomenal. I'm seriously considering buying another box. :)

Also on Two Peas I discovered that some TJ Maxx locations have Thickers on sale for just $1.49. Whaaattttt? My Thickers addiction is well documented and Thickers at $1.49 is a crazy low price.
So I waited (im)patiently for lunch to arrive and hit up the TJ Maxx closest to my place of employment and then I may or may not have hit up the TJ's on the way home as well.
I ended up with:


7 packs of Thickers at $1.49 each! Woooooooo!

And they had Martha Stewart Halloween stuff that I loved-lots of fun plans for this. I was hoping to find the Drippy Goo punch but no such luck.


Everything but the punch was $1.99, the punch was $3.99. Which is a steal! {Aren't those brads adorable, I know exactly what I will do with those!}

Whew. And with those scrappy splurges. I'm done for awhile. What scraptastic deals have you found lately? Are you a bargain shopper?

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

swingin' {a scrapbook layout}

Years ago, when I took the twins to the park swinging meant pushing them gently in baby swings, watching them giggle with delight. These days it's watching them act like monkeys as they hurl their own bodies across playground equipment as if they were trying out for an Olympic sport.
Makes for great action shots for their scrapbook though. :)

This is the very last layout I'll post using those Studio Calico kits {and everyone said "Thank Goodness!"}.
I broke what was left of the kits, which was a lot, up and added it to my stash.

Unfortunately, I'm nearly out of these wonderful wood veneer letters. Loved them. {Used them here as initials to identify which twin was which, J=Jarron, B=Bryce.}

I might have a slight addiction to buttons. :)

I'll be back later this week to share the contents of my Jillibean Mystery box {wow, so much stuff!} and some scrappy finds from TJ Maxx {Thickers!!!!}.

Happy Wednesday friends!

Friday, August 24, 2012

winner buys dinner and it's not too cold {a scrapbook layout}

Winner buys dinner! {Kidding!}
We have a winner in my 111th post giveaway and it's Katie!!!


Yay! Congrats Katie-email me at christinalakes at gmail dot com with your info and I'll get your prize pack out to you ASAP. :)
This week has been insanely busy. My boys started school, work was crazy, and I started my own business. {Yup I'm a tad insane, at times.} I'm hoping things will slow down and we can settle into a groove here shortly.
I wanted to share that double page layout I promised a few days ago. Last February, we got a ton of snow and it was very cold. One day the temperature got all the way up to 30 degrees. Down right balmy. So the kids couldn't wait to run out and play.

Kind of a long title but I like it. ;) "It's Not Too Cold To Play Outside"


They stayed outside that day for about 15 minutes before they realized that 30 degrees is, in fact, a little too cold to play in. :)

Have a great weekend friends!!

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

so tough {a scrapbook layout}

My husband took my boys camping last night, so my 8 year old, Jackson, missed his 2nd grade Open House. Two years ago this would have freaked me out. Because two years ago, I would have worried incessantly that Jackson wouldn't make friends, that he would never find his way to his classroom, that he wouldn't feel comfortable with his teacher. I feel so silly now. Because this boy of mine? He is so, so tough. So fiercely independent and strong.
I was looking over my list of photos to be scrapbooked and saw the photos from our trip to the Luken Airport last June, so I pulled them out. In that pile were these of Jackson and I knew right away what direction I wanted to take.

Oh yes, still using those SC kits. I have at least three more layouts to share with you that are from the kits. {And there's still plenty of materials left, but I just got my Jillibean box, so I'll probably break up what's left of the kits and put it in my stash.}

Love this wood veneer alpha-I may or may not have nearly broken my Xyron forcing the letters thru it. :)


I never really understood the fascination with the fabric border embellies, until I had them in my possession. Oh my heck. True love. I need more....


I'll be back tomorrow with a double pager!
Don't forget to enter my giveaway on yesterday's post-still plenty of time to enter to win lots of fun goodies including a Studio Calico stamp set.
May the odds be ever in your favor.
{Yeah, the boys and I read all three Hunger Games books and loved the movie!}

Monday, August 20, 2012

#111 -it's giveaway time!!! {a giveaway}

Wow! I can't believe I'm up to 111 posts-that's crazy! That also means I have scrapbooked just about 100 or so layouts or mini-albums in the past couple of years. Woo hoo!
In honor of my 111th post and all of my awesome readers, I'm doing a little giveaway. There's only three rules:
1. You must be a follower of this blog to enter.
2. You must leave a comment on THIS post to enter.
3. You must live in the US. (Sorry international friends-the shipping these days is crazy expensive.)

You can earn extra entries by:
-sharing this post on your blog (leave me a comment with a link)
-sharing this post on your facebook feed (leave me a comment)

I'll leave the giveaway open until Friday at NOON, so feel free to tell your friends and scrappy neighbors. :)
I'm sure you're wondering what the winner will receive right?
Well, my giveaway is all about love/friendship-I've been fortunate to make so many friends through this blog and the community at Two Peas, that it only seemed fitting.
The winner gets:

-a sheet of Bella Blvd Party Girl (cut into 6x6 for shipping)
-a sheet of Bella Blvd He Loves Me (cut into 6x6 for shipping)
-a sheet of Bella Blvd Heart Throb (cut into 6x6 for shipping)
-CTMH thanks very much Petite Perks stamp set
-ki Memories puffies Love You felt stickers
-Bella Blvd Bits A Bella Flirty Line
-Bella Blvd Flirty Stamp Set
-A few random matching embellies
-Studio Calico Let Love Grow Stamp Set
-Sassafras Count Me In wee bundle (6x6 paper pack)

I'm pretty excited about this giveaway-I hope that whoever wins will come back and show us what they create with it! :)
Remember, the giveaway is open until Friday and you must be a follower of this blog to enter! :)
Good luck!!
I'll be back tomorrow with a new layout!

Friday, August 17, 2012

crazy hair night {a scrapbook layout}

At our old church, the boys went to a Wednesday night program called AWANAs. It was a lot of fun-they'd learn Bible lessons, have game time, snacks, and many nights were theme nights. The boys loved "Crazy Hair Night". We normally keep Jackson's hair very short, almost like a military cut. It suits him, and he has a nervous habit of pulling at his hair so it's a practical thing too.
For whatever reason last year we hadn't gotten around to getting Jackson's hair cut before crazy hair night, so he was able to participate too! He loved it.
Still using the Studio Calico kits {how about if I just tell you when they finally run out?? LOL}


I did use some Making Memories letter stickers from my own stash for this.

Love his expression in these photos-so happy!

I have some fun layouts to share next week. Sadly they are still using the SC kits. It's almost comical at this point-but I've gotten pretty creative with them. {I think.}
Also MONDAY IS MY GIVEAWAY POST!! I'll be celebrating 111 posts! Make sure to stop by for that!
Have a fabulous weekend!

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

i bee-lieve i can fly {a scrapbook layout}

As a rule, I'm a pretty conservative mom. I don't let my boys do crazy things like skateboard off insane ramps or jump off the roof into the pool or anything remotely X-Games ish. However, every time we see the Euro Bungee set up at a mall or outdoor festival the boys beg and plead to have a go at it. And I usually relent, for everyone except for our little guy, the Moose. He's too small for that nonsense. But last summer, we went to the movies with my sister in law and she convinced me that it would be fine. The ride operator seemed responsible. {not so much}. He strapped my tiny little toddler in and let him fly. And boy did he fly. He just about hit the ceiling. In a 3 story mall. I kid you not. I was FREAKING out. The ride operator was texting. Moose was squealing with delight, "Momma, I FLYINNNNNGGGGG!"
Yup. You sure are.
He lived. And I scrapbooked it. :)


Still using my Studio Calico kits. Honestly, I'm almost kind of bored of them-but I'm determined to use them all up at this point. I'll have to post a tally when I finally finish them of how many layouts I did.


The bee motif works well with the subject, don't you think? :)


Managed to include the story and everything, yay me!

I'll be back Thursday with a crazy hair layout. {No, not me!}

Friday, August 10, 2012

baby, it's cold outside {a scrapbook layout}

Before I share my Friday layout with you, look what showed up in the mail yesterday. Oh, just my pretty little Silhoutte SD, that's all. :)

I think I'm going to name her Sally. {Sally the Silhouette} :) Sally looks right at home on the little Ikea table next to my desk!

Okay, on to the layout. Another winter in August layout for you today. And another break from those Studio Calico kits that seem to have a bottom-less pit of supplies.
Just a quick double page layout of the boys from February 0f 2011. Another layout crossed off the list. :)
Lots of shimmer on these papers-tried to tone it down a bit with some solid cardstock.


Pulled some of the shimmer out by using a silver glitter alpha. Fun!


I've been loving song titles as layout titles lately. Not sure why. I've also been having lots of fun with embellishments!


Some felt snowflakes...


Layout done!

Side A:


Side B:


Happy Friday friends! I'll be back next week with crazy hair, more song titles, and more studio calico layouts {best $30 I have ever spent, for reals!}.

Thursday, August 9, 2012

tubing {a scrapbook layout}

I've been doing a lot of single page layouts lately and that's all good but I've been itching to do a double pager. I keep a running list of "layouts to do" on a spreadsheet in my craft binder. {It's a long list, I will never be caught up and that's okay.} I've had 'snow tubing at Perfect North Slopes' on that list for a long time. The pictures have been printed and ready to go and I knew this would be a double page layout, so I decided to get it done.
I didn't go on this trip-my husband took our older sons, so he was responsible for taking photos and he did a pretty good job! I decided to dip into my extensive stash of patterned paper and pulled out some blue Close to My Heart papers that would work well with the photos. Once I found the papers, I quickly found some bling and diecuts to match, the spread came together very quickly after that.


Close up of Side A:


Close up of Side B:


The bling cluster: :)

Love that I can check this one off my list! Slowly but surely getting through all of the 2011 photos. I'll be back tomorrow with another wintery layout. Happy Thursday, friends!

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

forever yours, faithfully {a scrapbook layout}

When my husband and I started dating over 19 years ago, I knew a few things about him-he was kind, had wonderful manners, had the most amazing smile I'd ever seen, and he could make me laugh like no one else. I also knew he loved the band, Journey. At our wedding {almost 15 years ago}, I chose to have the song "Faithfully" play in the prelude, just as piano music, no words. It was my way of showing him the whole wedding thing wasn't just about me. It sounded beautiful and he knew right away it was from me to him.
It's amazing how far we've come. We've been through so much together, but it still holds true today-forever yours, faithfully.
Still using the SC kits {a seemingly never ending supply of materials}. I made the pinwheels using a tutorial on a blog I saw last week {super easy to do!} Wish I could remember where I saw it-if I find it, I'll post it.


Close up of those pinwheels:


And the cute heart embellie I made with a Heidi Swapp ghost shape and some bling:


Fun stuff!
I'll be back tomorrow with a double page layout that doesn't use my SC kits. {I had to take a tiny break!}

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

you've got a friend in me {a scrapbook layout}

My two youngest boys, Moose and Jackson, are the best of friends. I used to think it was because, by default they just got stuck together since the twins were a little older. But they seem to really enjoy each other's company. And I've got a whole stack of Instagram photos to prove it.
This has to be one of my favorite layouts I've done lately. Not because it's overly complicated or has a crazy technique but because of the relationship it illustrates. Love how close these two are.
I used my Studio Calico kit again {I'm getting my money's worth from those!-expect to see a few more out them before I'm done!}-I've mixed the two up so much I'm not sure which papers went with which kit now-so let's just call it a SC layout. :)


Everything is from the SC kits except the little flower embellie I made with some Jillibean corrugated shape, a yellow flower from my stash and a red CTMH button.


I'll be back tomorrow with yet another SC layout (I made pinwheels!!!)

Oh and I just bought a Silhouette SD! WOOOOOOOO! Should be here later this week, which means I can finally sell my Cricut! :)

Thursday, August 2, 2012

winner, winner, chicken dinner {a scrapbook layout}

The Moose is a video game genius. He's only 3 but he knows how to turn on the Xbox, find his favorite game and load it up. The other night we saw him surrounded by all four game controllers. He was playing a game with all 4 characters by himself. So funny.
So it was no surprise that when we went to The Web Entertainment center for one of Jackson's friend's birthdays Moose immediately headed for the video games.
For some reason he really liked this Spongebob game. It's a game of chance, where you try to hit the buzzer just as the light hits the Jackpot square. Moose walks up swipes his game card, looks at it, hits the buzzer and wins the jackpot. He does this twice more. 3 jackpots in a row. By this time there was a crowd around us and Moose wanted to play something else. It was funny watching all the teenagers try to do what my 3 year old had just done. None of them hit the jackpot. He decided he wanted to play one more time and hit the Jackpot again. The teenagers clapped for him. He didn't care though. He knew that he had enough tickets to get a BIG prize. And he did. A big stuffed dog.
We've been joking that we plan to take him Vegas.
We often say "Winner, winner, chicken dinner" at our house. And when I saw this chipboard ribbon in my Studio Calico kit, I knew exactly what I planned to do with it.

Can I tell you how much I love these wood veneer letters?? SOOOOO much.


I even got to use a few of the extra tickets from his win on this layout. :)


On my last post I had a comment about the Counterfeit Kit blog-oh wowzers. Totally spent an hour looking at that yesterday. I have a fairly large stash, so I'm going to try to play along in August!