Back to work, the heat is back and I am tired. But not tired enough to create.

Hello all. How was your week? Well I went back to work on Tuesday. Didn't want to but I had to. I wasn't able to work on any layouts until last night. I have posted the two. The heat is back in Milwaukee and I am soooo uncomfortable. Thank God I have a AC though. OK so this morning I had planned to go to Old Navy to get some of those $1 flip flops. However when I got there there was a line as long as the Wall in China! All kinds of people, some with an unkempt appearance. As I walked past the line I decided to just go in Michael's and grab some of those "Creatology" ones for $1.25 and 15% off my purchase. I sat for a while outside while the parking lot slowed down and chatted with an Old Navy customer. She was sitting outside smoking a cig. She said there was a fight and the police had to be called. What kinda crap is that?

I wasn't that hard up to go in there so I left. So not that serious!


I will try to take a nap once I finish posting. Here's my creation.

These photo's were taken last Sunday. I save my DSLR for these types of shots and my regular point and shoot for snapshots. I dont really direct them, I let them be them most of the time. But of course the little one will cooperate when SHE wants to. The older doesnt mind. I use Picasa to edit my picture and I used "cross process" filter. I LOVE IT! I think it gives more life to the pictures. I added some stitching and I used dimensional paint and brushed it with a foam brush. I did not know that you could do that with puffy paint. I learned you can. I will be doing this more often. Then I used a template and more paint. I found these cool moth stamps @ Michael's today. 40% off I had to get them. At first glance I thought they were regular butterflies but I couldnt pass them up. I am so infactuated with butterflies. I have so many stamps and punches. Also I got the Smash Tape today too. I guess its new. Michaels has more Smash items in. I added more paint! Its from Apple Barrel, called Honeysuckle pink. Really cute out of the bottle. I love that they are so inexpensive. You can adorn your page with them easily. I misted a little bit, didnt want to overwhelm the page. Thanks for looking.

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This came together pretty quickly last night. I used mainly scraps . I love using punched negatives like flowers, hearts and butterflies.

This is Gabby's favorite smile. She loves to do this more than anything. Dont know where she got it from but I can tell you she's got her own way about her. Thanks for looking. 

All Good Things Come To an End....A Layout To Share

Hello all. Well my vacation is all but over. I go back to work tomorrow. Not looking forward to it but we gotta eat don't we. But all is not lost, here's a layout to share. Taken of Gabby and Farrah last week Sunday after church. I have a few more pictures from that day that I plan to use. This layout took a direction of its own. I started out by punching the circle border, then distressing the remaining edges. I painted with Apple Barrell paint in Patina and Martha Stewart satin paint in Easter Egg. Then I started piecing my page together with brads, buttons, chipboard and other items. Thanks for looking.

Hello everybody. My vacation is going well but winding down. I have one more free day (Monday) and then its back to work on Tuesday. Can I make it???? I have been cranking out layouts this week. I have 2 more recent layouts to share. Thanks for looking.

Don't you just love this sassy pose? She's 8 but acts older @ times. I started first but cutting the strips into banners and adhered them to the page. I splattered the paint with a toothbrush and let it dry. I punched out the "doily" die cut with Martha Stewart Embroidery punch. I pierced the holes with WRMK brad setter and stitched with embroidery floss. I love using part of a stamped image. I used Staz on in Jet Black and partially stamped over the ppr. You will see more paint from me in the near future. 

Products Used:

Bella Blvd decorative tape in Teal Stripe and Yellow Chevron

EK Success scallop photo corner

Heidi Swapp Sugar Chic ppr pack

Martha Stewart Doily Lace punch

Pink Paislee Spring Jubilee ppr pack

Staz on Jet Black

American Crafts Remarks Stickers LAX

KI Memories Hot Date ppr

Pink Paislee Nantucket ppr pack

WRMK Brad Setter

Here is my next creation. I decided to do 12X12, I got the inspiration yet again from Scrapbook Trends 6/2012 book. Check out "The Big Orange Balloon" by Elizabeth Gardner on pg 29. This was pretty easy and was quick to put together. This picture was taken last Sunday after church. Yes they love each other very much but they can still get on each-others nerves a lot. Don't they look so happy? As you can see I used Martha Stewart Cherish punch for the border. I added some stitching for interest. Once I put down all the elements I misted with Tattered Angels in Pink Taffy.

Products Used:

Dear Lizzy First Date

Crate Paper Legend

Just The Edge III Lily White

Crafter's Workshop Mini Chevron

Tim Holtz Adage Tickets

Martha Stewart Classic Butterfly punch

Martha Stewart Cherish punch

Adirondack paint dabber  watermelon

My Minds Eye Geo Star

Ranger Ink Bubblegum Pink

Marvy Uchida Extra Giga circle 3.5 in

Spring Jubilee Celebration

Basic Grey Nook and Pantry brads and buttons

Basic Grey White Chocolate Chipboard Alphabets

Fiskar's My Funny Valentine

K and Company Greenhouse Rub ons

My Little Shoebox Mini Alpha Sunrise

Tattered Angels Pink Taffy

Relax, relax, relax....

Yes that's what I have been doing for the past week that I've been off work. I've also been doing some light shopping, spending time with my older sis and mother. Yesterday we went to her Dr visit, it went well, she knows her options but is going to take some time to consider each one. Other than that I am soooo happy that the heat has dropped. It was upwards of 90 degrees for the last 3 days. I was so irritated and moody. We're getting a break so far.

So for my birthday I went to Denny's with a college friend. We both ate free AAAANNNNDDD, the children ate free too. So all we had to pay for were our drinks. The following layout was inspired by Scrapbook Trends June 2012 book. On pg 25 you can see the layout called Summer by Wendy Morris. I loved the design but wanted to keep it 8/11 pg. I took this picture on Memorial Day 2012 of Farrah. When I edited the picture I took a chance and used the "glow" filter (Picasa) and loved the way it turned out.

Products used:
fabric trim (no name) from Joann's
Crate paper (cut down to 8/11)
Thicker's Lullaby and Delight
Making Memories Pink Ledger Stickers
Martha Stewart (Embroidery punch)
Basic Grey Nook and Pantry Brads
WRMK Brad setter
Half The Edge (Bazzill) Kraft border strips
Tattered Angels Viva Pink

Happy Birthday To Me, oh and the gray hair dilemma....Plus a new layout.

That's right, today I turned 33 years old. I'm blessed to make it another year. Right now I'm just enjoying my alone time, its going to be HAWT today. Where did this heat come from? You know Wisconsin weather can  be bipolar: it can turn to cool in a moments notice. Glad there is a nice breeze....I really didn't have any plans so I may just celebrate on the wknd. Do I feel different? Not really, haven't thought about it much. The only thing I DON'T like is that I've had a string of gray hair since 16, HOWEVER it seems more and more each day more of my hair turns silver! Okay my mother, dad and aunt are completely gray. I don't like it ONE BIT. It makes me look older than I really am. I put a black rinse over it and a few weeks later the silver is showing. I'm starting to look like WOLVERINE...Seriously, why so much gray so early? Well I guess I cant control it coming in but I can try to cover it up. Well I'm going to finish a page and take a nap. I deserve it. Have a great one.

Gabby's class had "crazy hat day" I didn't have any hats so I borrowed 1 from my mom. But SHHHH don't tell her that she left it over her uncles house....I wanted to mimic the hearts in her sweater so I used different heart punch shapes and sizes. By the way, I love the "That's Amore" heart punches from Fiskar's because of the shape of the heart. Also you can see exactly where you are punching. I stitched the hearts and  used Sea Monkey Shimmerz and Cosmos Tattered Angels. I also used a heart cookie cutter with some white paint, however it did not stamp as I wanted so I kept going over the image. If anyone has any tips on how to best stamp with cookie cutters please let me know. 

Products used:

Bazzill swiss dot 8/11

Marvy heart punch (large, small)

That's Amore heart punch (large, xtra small)

Martha Stewart Heart Confetti punch

Pebble's Sunny Side 6x6

Basic Grey Sweet Threads

Tattered Angels Cosmos

Shimmerz Sea Monkey

Recollections border punch

Lunch with my mom and a few pics of my kiddies from Sunday....

Just thought I'd make a quick post to say hello. My vacation began 6/13/12 @ 4:30 and I am loving being off work. I have been "ripping and running", a term my mother uses, since then. Yesterday for Father's Day the kids dad BBQ'd and we ate with their family. They had so much fun. Gabby did not want to go home and spent the night with her aunt...Which was a big relief on me LOL. So I got some pages done that are already posted. On Friday I took mom to lunch to Wendy's. I know, nothing fancy but it gave us some time to talk. She was surprised and asked me what made me do that. Just to show that I love her and wanted to do something nice. No pictures though. A few wks ago  I shared that she has breast cancer, it hasn't  spread. I am going to the Dr with her on Wednesday. Say some prayers. She says sometimes she doesn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Here's a picture of my two kiddies. They were playing around so much I only got a few post worthy shots. This was taken yesterday after church service :

Gabby LOVES to smile like this MOST of the time. Don't know where she got it from though...

Clearly they are wearing dresses and sandals but still insist on climbing that pole.....

2 for 1

I started my vacation 6/13/12 @ 4:30 pm. The last 2 days I have been running all over the city. Our church is having a cookout tomorrow so Gabby and I will probably be in attendance. Farrah is going on an end of year getaway with the Spark program. They are actually sponsored by the Boys and Girls Club, they do reading activities with the kids. They are going to a lake some miles away. I will be praying though....

I've worked on these two this week. This one was really fun to make because of the paint, although I was nervous about getting paint everywhere so I kept it to a minimum. You know that Cricut Expression 2 machine I bought from HSN a few months ago, well I decided to use it to make the the scalloped pennants. I used Pretty Pennants cart. Very cute images. I sat staring @ the machine trying to recall how to use it, then scrolling through the images to see what I wanted to use. By that time I could have used my scalloped punch BUT this one had flowers and I have to use them....Gabby @ her birthday/pool party last weekend. With her in the 2nd picture is her uncle Martin and cousin Monty.

The Process:

Even though I have Photoshop Elements 10, I still use Picasa and I'm glad that they have new filters. I used the 70's filter. So cute. I suggest you try it, they have other filters that I am going to try but I fell in love with the 70's filter. 

I loved the background ppr, I thought it would give a nice summer-ish, poolside feel to it. I used Pretty Pennant's cart to make the pennant scallops. Then I used EK Success scalloped 2 inch punch with different papers and layered them over the bigger pennants. Then I added the stitching across the top. After that I started using bright yellow and aqua-ish paint, splattering it on the ppr. It was fun but I didn't want to get too messy so I kept it to a minimum. The magenta flowers are from Michael's. I cut them in half and painted on the outer edges and added some green buttons. 

I love kinda awkward, unposed pictures. She looks so innocent in this picture. I can't really explain why I love the picture, I just do. 

I used paint on this too, then I used the tops of the paint caps, dipped them in paint and pressed them on the ppr. I did some punching here and there and some layering. Thanks for looking. 

The Goofies

After a busy weekend I was able to crank this layout in 2 days. This is Gabby being silly @ Joann's. She called herself hiding from me but another shopper ratted her out. She's taken to these silly smiles lately but I guess they are better than no smile @ all.....

Busy weekend and some bday pictures..

Gabby turned 4 yesterday (Friday June 8th). I have been up since 7 am and I am beat. We had a BBQ today with some of her family members. It was hot today, about 90 and will be the same tomorrow. I forgot my camera but I had my Smartphone so I used that. I didn't take as many pictures as I could have but with the weather being so hot and my irritation @ some things today, the few that I did take were enough. Her dad decided to have a pool and water balloons. Gabby was not happy when her uncle doused her with the water balloon. Nor did she want to sit in the cold water or be splashed on. She's very touchy like me. I don't like to be splashed with water, also, I was not about to get my hair wet LOL. Farrah on the other hand wanted to be doused, sprayed and dunked...She doesn't mind.

Here are a few pictures of Gabby, thanks for looking.

Gabby looking hot in her bathing suit

Gabby, uncle Marty and cousin Monty

Happy Wednesday and A Treat

Hello all how are you doing this afternoon? I've tried to post about 3 times today but we are having computer issues @ work.. I have been working on this layout for a few days now but I finally finished last night. I got my inspiration from Kelly Foster's Sweet Sisters layout over @ Scrapbook.com. She was kind enough to let me lift it. You can see it here :

And here's the link to her gallery:

http://www.scrapbook.com/myplace/index.php?mod=galleries&u=23054&m=view&id=3633395&type=-1&page=1&f=1

I loved the overall design, like the border punching and the way she grouped her pictures. I also love how she matted them. These pictures are so sweet. Annnnd I also love how she painted the edges.

Here's my take on the layout:

I mimicked the borders with a border punch and the pictures. I used circle grid template from Crafter's Workshop and hot pink acrylic paint however it looks like a pale pink from the scan. Soooo much better in real life. I distressed and inked the edges. I used the Martha Stewart confetti heart punch. I wanted to try something different. It's pretty cool. I love the Fiskar's heart punch (That's Amore), it's sooo cute. I stitched around them to add some texture. 

Thanks for looking. 

Busy crafting week and some bad news.

So this week I completed 4 layouts, which is good considering it usually takes about a week to finish ONE layout. On Wednesday my mother told me she has breast cancer. It has not spread and its in the very early stages, her doc says she will survive this. Don't know much about it so I will be researching with her. It seems unreal, I don't know what to think. I haven't explained to my kids yet, I don't know how to tell my 8 year old. she has already experienced my grandfather's death in 2008. My uncle died April this year and a close family friend died March this year. So Wednesday night I couldn't go to sleep. I started working on layouts. I will probably crank out more to keep my mind from wondering. But I know the best thing for me to do is read my bible, pray and be there for my mom.

So now I'm sitting here watching Matlock while the kid folds the laundry. Last night I worked on this layout:
This is one of those late in the day pictures where you take the kids out and let them play for a while all the while planning to snap some pictures. We had walked to the playground and they wanted to climb this tree. Gabby just would not take a normal picture so I just started snapping. I didn't know that Farrah was hiding behind her until I printed out them pictures. Cute huh?

As you can see I painted the background. I love acrylic paint and pink is my favorite color. Then I added the circle stamp. Can you believe it was only $3.99 @ Michael's from their Ditto line. Soon as I saw it i grabbed it. I used Staz On in Timber Brown. I used Jenni Bowlin foam stamps to make the borders. I love that its not perfect. I decided to back the photo in orange instead of pink or turquoise. I used American Crafts Jared arrow stamp to point to Farrah who was hiding behind Farrah.