Another "Me" layout...sort of

I pulled out some more My Minds Eye papers to play with tonight. This one has five spaces for pictures that say "Place Picture Here." It also has blocks to include notes about the camera, who took the picture, location, and other details. I knew when I saw the paper that I'd tweak it and make it my own...I hope you like it. I didn't even really plan that it would be a shooting page...hee, hee...get it, "shooting"...taking pictures and shooting my new Christmas present. Ha...I crack myself up (yes, I'm a dork!).

So yes, this is my new Christmas present. The journaling reads: "I never really thought I wanted this gun until I held it at the store. And when I first shot it after Christmas, I was unsure again...it's such a small gun and has a big kick. But the more I use it, the more I love it. And I love that Erica enjoys sharing this with us, too...safely, of course."

I really like the last picture. Erica took it and I didn't really notice how cool it was until later...you can see the gun powder lit as the gun was fired. Man, I love my camera!!!

Easter eggs...and a ham

I found this layout idea a while ago from Scrapbook Memories. They showed several layouts on how to use extra photos as thumbnails on your layouts, and had an Easter layout as an idea. I modified it a little to add some extra papers and journaling.

I always get the egg decorating kit that has the sticker eyes and mouths. I don't know why I like that kit so much, but I do. And Erica seems to, also. She was such a ham decorating the eggs. In fact, here's the journaling: "Erica is such a ham...she goes well with eggs...hee, hee."
The papers and chipboard alphas are from My Minds Eye and the mini alphas are from Making Memories.

School Field Trip

I love going on field trips with Erica's class. I'm heart broken that I missed a trip this week to the Pioneer Schoolhouse. Erica had such great stories to tell...it just broke my heart.

So in memory of my first field trip this school year, here's a layout from Pyrah's Farm, a u-pick farm in Palmer, AK. We went in September and most of the veggies were picked over, but the day was absolutely beautiful. Many of the kids had never been on a hay ride, so that was cool, too. What great memories I have of that day!These papers are My Minds Eye Life Stories, and I used a layout sketch (you KNOW how I love them!).

Like Mother...Like Daughter

Erica and I went camping with her Girl Scout troop in Nov. While we were there, the girls made mini albums (not even my idea). The girls all did such a great job. Now, whenever I pull out my supplies, Erica asks if she can scrapbook with me. It warms my heart that she enjoys my hobby, too.

These are more papers from the My Minds Eye Quite Contrary line. And the layout is based on a layout from a DT member at Serendipity Scrapbooks for one of their challenges (so fun!).

A layout with me...

I got some really cute papers and die cuts from My Minds Eye. One of the title blocks says, "a little bird told me that you love me," and there's a cute bird to go with it. So I HAD to do a layout with them. Yesterday we picked Erica up from having a sleepover with a friend and she was a big snuggle bug. So I wanted to do a layout with the two of us. The problem is I'm usually behind the camera. I was able to find a few pictures from Disney over spring break, though. One Grannie Annie took of us, and the other I took with the camera at arms length.

Project 12 - March 2010

YEAH...I got to scrap tonight. I'm still getting over a cold I got last weekend and I should *really* be in bed so I can get up early for Erica's Daisy activity tomorrow morning...but I have been itchin' to scrap. So I'll sleep in on Sunday.

Tonight I completed the March Project 12 layout. You may recall how active we were in March with our trip to Orlando and Girl Scouts. WHEW...it was BIZAY! I almost felt like this layout was another trip summary, but adding in the Girl Scout stuff made me feel better about it. I still need to scrap each individual activity, though...hee, hee!!!

Here's the layout, and the sketch follows it. All the papers and embellishments are Basic Grey Origins. The green alphas are SEI, and the mini alphas are Making Memories (I love those things!).

Scraptique Project Sneaks...

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I got picked up on the Scraptique Design Team...yeah!!! Last week we had our first meeting and received our assignments and a pack of goodies. I had such a fun time playing with my goodies. I wish I could show you the whole thing, but they will be in the store next week and in the newsletter soon. Until then, here's a sneak peak. I'll post each layout with the full story behind them after next week.

Owl-lot of Fun

Have I blogged about Erica's troop going to the Zoo for Daisies Day at the Zoo? I had a crop and couldn't go, but I left specific instructions with Jeff to get pictures...LOTS of pictures. He did pretty well. I had lots of pictures to pick from, including some awesome pictures of the girls concentrating! What he didn't get pictures of was the completed projects. Never fear...I'm not above "fixing" that with pictures after the fact. So Erica and I took pictures Thursday to complete the layout. That falls in the category of "staged family fun." And what scrapper can say they haven't done that...hee, hee!!!

This layout is 100% lifted from Stacey Michaud. I just LOVE her work. My new favorite challenge forum, Serendipity Scrapbooks, had a challenge to use no cardstock. UGH!!! So, when I saw Stacey's layout, I immediately thought of Erica's Daisy trip to the Zoo and had to do it!!!

Reach for the Stars

Crop for Cancer is over (the fund raising event)...whew...so now I can get back into a scrapping routine. Just a reminder, though...Crop for Cancer is actually an American Cancer Society Relay for Life team. We raised over $6,000 at the crop this past weekend, not including ticket sales and other sponsor donations. The actual relay happens on May 21-22. I will be in town Fri night and am planning on walking it. I hope you'll join me.

OK, so more scrapping. I found a new forum (new to me) and am really liking the inspiration it provides. There are daily challenges, weekly sketches, weekly dear diary journaling prompts, and TEAM challenges. I'm having a blast! I hope you'll take some time to check it out and join me. The forum is at Serendipity Scrapbooks.

So this layout was supposed to be based on the challenge for Apr 1: use a boy line on a non-boy page. I took a cute pix of Erica (looking pretty girly in her braided piggy tails, Minnie Mouse earrings, and puppy purse on her shoulder) and turned it into an inspirational layout about what I wish for her. The star papers and stickers from the Bo Bunny U Bug Me line were perfect. BUT, as I posted the layout, I saw the requirement for BLUE. Ugh...what a dork I am. Oh, well, I love the layout anyway.

February Summary - Project 12

Yeah...another month complete for Project 12, and I'm almost caught up. Man do I LOVE challenges, they REALLY get my juices flowing.

After not having enough room to write my journaling for Jan, I decided to type it for Feb. YEAH...I got it all in. I still need to do individual pages for these activities, but it was nice to get all the words I wanted in. February was a fun lovin' month...as I wrote in the layout. We did more Girl Scout activities: Women in Science, and World Thinking Day. We also went to watch a girl from our troop skate at Fur Rondy. Erica's class went ice fishing and to see Seussical the Musical...I'm happy that I got to go on both trips. And of course I put a picture of the love of my life on the layout...it was one of the few pictures of him that month (I need to do better at that). Here's my layout, and the sketch follows it. These papers are from Pink Paislee's Cupid line, as are the rubons, stickers, and die cuts. I also cut out a few flowers for accents.

January 2010 Summary - Project 12

So I finished the January summary for Project 12. The hardest part was journaling and fitting what we did in that small space. I had soooo much more to say. I guess I'll just have to say it all when I do those individual pages, right?

In a nutshell, we took out my Christmas present (a little S&W pistol) out for a test. I have to say it's hard to shoot...a big kick in such a little thing. But I like the little red dot (officially known as the crimson trace). We also played poker with one of Jeff's friends...am I the worst momma ever for teaching my 1st grader how to play poker??? I think not...it teaches math and strategy...is that weak justification??? Anyway, to make up for that, we ended the month with some GREAT girl scout activities. The girls participated in a gymnastics clinic with the UAA team, made some hand-made projects for community service (including dog biscuts, cat/dog toys, lunch bags, baby blankets, etc), and went to the zoo to learn about dog mushing. It was a fun-filled month...and a great way to start the new year! These papers are Moravia by SEI. I also cut out snowflakes from the Cricut and alphas from Sweetwater and Prima.

Project 12

Have you heard of Project 365? It's where you take a picture every day for 365 days (yes, every day for a year). WOW...that's a bit much for me. But I found Project 12 and it sounds VERY DOABLE...so I'm gonna do it. I'm a bit behind, but that's OK. Now that Design Your Life is over, I need something else (ha...if you know me you know that's not true...but it sounds good, right?).

Here's the link to the Basics on Project 12. Basically, you do a layout every month summarizing your month. The best part about it is that they do 2-pg spreads. YEAH!!! I LOVE 2-pg spreads!!! So here's the first sketch (they're all from Becky Fleck who does page maps...one of my faves). I'm working on my first layout and will post it as soon as I'm done...while I'm at it, I hope you'll check out the link and play along with me.

Crop for Cancer...One week away!!!

Are you signed up for Crop for Cancer? This is an American Cancer Society Relay for Life fundraising event. It's a 12-hour scrapbooking/paper crafting event to help raise money to fight cancer. It is set for Apr 10, from 10am - 10pm at the ConocoPhillips Atrium in Anchorage. The cost is $65. We're scheduled for a day packed with fun, friendship, and prizes. There are prizes for the top fund raisers, LOTS of door prizes, and great silent auction items. Come check it out, be productive, and help us raise some money to fight cancer!

If you can't make it to the event, but would like to support the cause, you can donate to our team here.

Thanks...I hope to see you there!!!

Is it Spring yet???

It sure felt like it last week...OK, maybe just for a two-hour period. Yes, I know it's *technically* spring, but here in Alaska, there's still snow on the ground and while it's starting to melt, it freezes up at night. Have I completely confused you?

Last week Erica's troop went the the Municipal Greenhouse to work on some of their Journey activities. It's hard being in Alaska...the Girl Scout Daisy Journey has them going outside to see colors and shapes and art in nature. WHAT?! About all we see from Oct - Mar is dark, dreary nights with white snow. So our leader had the brilliant idea of meeting at the green house and having a bingo game with the girls. We started by eating plants...yes, plants. The girls ate roots (carrots), stems (celery), flowers (broccoli), and seeds (sunflowers). Then they searched for things like colors blue, orange, green, and yellow, fish and birds, and shapes like squares, circles, and triangles. Of all that, I think most of the girls would tell you the best part was all the lady bugs in the greenhouse. We had to watch where we walked and sat. It was a lot of fun!!! When I got the Basic Grey Origins line, I KNEW I would use it to scrap this activity.