Midnight Maddness Blogging...

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!! I totally forgot to post this week about Midnight Madness at ACBailey, I'm sorry!!! What else am I gonna do on Halloween night after Trick-or-Treating is over? I'm so lame, I don't party...sorry!

So one of the challenges was a progressive layout. That's where the Design Team gives you one clue every few minutes and you are supposed to create a layout as they give you the clue. Yeah, right...I'm a bit too freaky about my scrapping to do that. So I waited until all the clues were out and did my layout. The clues were: Black cardstock background, add white, add pumpkins, add ribbon, add brads, add bling.

We had such a blast with Aaron and Ryan making cookies this year. Ryan was much better at being focused than Aaron and Erica...probably because Aaron and Erica have known each other since Erica was 3 months old (day care buddies). This year the kids all rolled out their own dough and cut the cookies all by themselves. Most of them turned out pretty good...Ryan sure liked to layer on and layer on and layer on the icing (mountains of icing!!!).

For my white patterned paper, I stamped images using the cookies cutters we used to make the cookies. The pattern papers are left over from last Aug KOTM plus Doodlebug (orange). I also have Doodlebug brads, BoBunny ribbon, and American Crafts Thickers (the bling). The pumpkins are made from misc buttons from my stash.

Who needs snow when we have leaves?!?

I don't know where Erica got the idea, maybe a neighbor friend, but she sure likes to make Leaf Angels. It cracks me up to watch her...she finds an area that has lots of leaves, or she makes a big pile. Then she plops down in them and just goes to town. And she's soooo careful when she gets up not to disturb any leaves. And there you have it...a leaf angel. So if you don't get snow like we do in Alaska, maybe you can make leaf angels, too.

For the layout, a friend of mine showed me this GREAT color blocked layout from a 4x6 idea book magazine for simple layouts (I think it was from Simple Scrapbooks, but I can't remember, sorry)...it was perfect! I changed it up to use pattern paper instead of just cardstock, and added some embellishments. The papers are from the AC Bailey Nov Kit of the Month last year (I can't remember exactly what line...I'll see if I can find out and update the post later). The metal embellishments are from one of the Stampin' Up! metal kits...I just love those!!! I also added some homemade leaves made from coffee filters (an idea from Scrapbooks Etc) and Making Memories dyes from their distressing kit. Check out the Freaky Friday Challenge at the ACBailey's blog...there's a new one every week. They're very inspiring!!! I can't believe I finally completed one on time.

Free Photo Collage Templates

I had my crop tonight and mentioned the photo collage templates available from Scrapbooks Etc. I was going to just email the link to a few ladies and they suggested I put it on my blog...so here it is. You need photo editing software (like Photo Shop). The site has some tips on how to use the templates. I used a template on Erica's first Day of School layout...you can see it here.

As with any scrapbooking technique, you can make this your own: put all photos in the boxes, put journaling in some, put digital pattern paper, or leave it blank. There's one layout example that left a box or two blank and after it was printed, they used regular pattern paper and it went off the template onto a layout...I loved it (and you know I'll be doing that one day, right???).

Have fun...and let me see what you do with these!!!

Boo!

So this is totally a layout out of context...do you ever scrap out of context? Let me tell you how much fun it is...I totally let myself go. I used pattern paper for the background (I may have two or three others) and adhered the photos off center (ugh...very hard for me to do). If you haven't noticed, my scrapping style is very linear. I think that's from being a math major in school. I lifted the layout from a very talented lady, Becky (I've blogged about her before, and her link is on my faves list "One Scrappin Mama")...you can see her layout here. It was so inspiring I had to do it.

Erica's nickname is Boo. We gave it to her when she was a baby...it was the first word/sound she made..."Ah, Boo." Then, when she was a toddler, I put her in those cute little piggies at the top of her head like the character on Disney Pixar's Monster's Inc: Boo, was her name. It was so fitting...and it has stuck. So I knew I wanted to use Halloween papers (perfect, cuz I have the ACBailey Oct Kit of the Month with the Pink Paisley papers!). I just didn't know what pictures I was going to use. As I was cleaning on Friday (in between scrapping), I found Erica's school pictures from last month. I looked at it and said to myself, "Wow...it's scary how grown up she looks." PERFECT! I pulled two pictures from Kindergarten and voila'...some of it got cut off from the scanner, sorry...

Are You Ready for Halloween???

I'm lucky, I don't have a job at Halloween...all I have to do is have fun! Jeff doesn't let me even THINK about candy. He always says, "Warren Buffet gives out the big half pound Hershey bars." And that inspires him. He buys the big packs of big Hershey Bars from Costco and hands those out...he's all about being the hero (and you know what I mean if you know him).

I also don't ever have to think about Erica's costume...Grandma has always made a costume for her. In past years she's been a princess. This year she's into Tinkerbell. So guess, what she's gonna be??? Yup, a fairy. And what's her favorite color? Pink and purple. Oh, my...this costume is awesome. I have one picture (which isn't really that great), so you'll have to wait to see the finished product. But here's the layout for inspiration (the white paper is a holding place for two photos). We're going to Trick or Treat Town next weekend, so I'll be able to add photos then.
The papers and clear sticker border are Pink Paisley, as is the little journaling card. The flare is from American Crafts. All the supplies are from the ACBailey October Kit of the Month (and Exclusive Add-On kits). You can save shipping and money with a 6-month or 12-month subscription. Plus, subscriptions also get you an exclusive idea package with how-to instructions for all kinds of layouts, cards, and paper crafting projects.

Exclusive Kits

In addition to the on-line kits, ACBailey will also have exclusive kits from Quick Quotes. These kits are 2-pg layouts and come with all the supplies necessary to complete them. You can only get them thru me (or another consultant...but I hope you choose me). Here is the October Exclusive Kit. Please let me know by the end of October if you want one of these kits. I will order them all at once. This kit is perfect for the upcoming holiday season!!! Just like the on-line class, this 2-page kit is $12.

On-Line Class

Yes, I'm still alive...but I haven't scrapped in a while (since the end of Sep...ugh!). So, to give you some inspiration, I wanted to let you know about a new program at ACBailey...on-line classes. Click here to purchase the October on-line class kit. Orders for the kits will be taken thru the end of Oct and shipped just in time for the class. This elegant 2-pg layout class is $12.