Everything Grows Better with

LOVE.  I had so much fun working on this layout.  I was contacted by a local photographer looking for a baby to model some onsies.  She asked me to snap some photos of Reese's smile.  Here's the layout that tells the rest of the story (click photos to see larger pictures).  I used all CTMH papers, stamps and embellishments (except for the metal accents).  The tree was created with a CTMH stamp set and was inspired by some artwork in a CTMH Idea Book.  I loved it so much I had to scraplift it.  I used CTMH Liquid Glass on all the hearts as well as the dots in the word, "grows".  I think I may go back and add some bottons to some of the circles on the tree to add a little more dimension.

I couldn't find the perfect color of green cardstock that I wanted so I inked it with a rubber brayer until I got it just right.  Then I couldn't find anything in blue with a subtle pattern so stamped some patterns onplain blue cardstock.  I've included a list of supplies I used for this layout below.

CTMH Supplies:

Twitterpated Level 2 Paper Pack - X7118B

Grown with Love My Acrylic Stamp Set - D1372

Extreme Caps My Acrylic Alphabet Stamp Set - D1250

Doodle My Acrylic Alphabet Stamp Set

Spot On My Acrylic Stamp Set - D1280

Boutique Borders My Acrylic Stamp Set - D1332

"Organic" Dimensional Elements in Color - Z1230

Liquid Glass - Z679

3D Foam Tape - Z1151

Tombow Mono Adhesive - 1514

Check out

what my hubby got me!!!!!  I am so excited with this find.  I'm using it as my "Inspiration" center.  I told my Pottery Barn Armoire (PBA) that I still loved it but had to share that love by adding another element to the scrapping dynamic.  The PBA will be home to my tools and things I don't need at my fingertips.  It's just on the other wall so it's no biggie to get to things.  Here's some photos of the new "Inspiration Zone". You can't tell from the photos but it's got a great distressed look. 

Here's what it looks like when not in use:

Now check this out.  The top doors open to the sides and the larger piece pulls down for a larger desktop area.  Look, it's got 15 slots big enough to hold 12 x 12 paper. I've already identified slots for my new paper, online challenges, my baby stuff (I seem to be working on that theme constantly), works in progress (WIP), and layouts that just need a few finishing touches (the perfect title, journaling, etc).  It's got an taller area on the left for my sketch books, magazines, or whatever I decide to use it for.  The right side has 3 shelves.  Another cool thing is that the back part of the unit has built-in pegboard.  I love that I can be mid-way through a project and just close all the doors when not in use.

The lower section has some great drawers too - 3 on the left, one in the middle and another 4 on the right.  I just need to figure out how to make the most of them, since some are hard to access when the desk drawer is down.  I have some ideas already. 

I'm still trying to figure out what goes where so I decided that instead of filling it now I will fill it while I work at it.  I think that will be the most effective way to know what works best and where.  We also got an entertainment center with the same black, distressed finish?  Did I mention that I love these new finds?

Hearts for Haiti

is all about giving but there's an added bonus that you get something in return. Our hearts go out to the victims of the earthquake in Haiti, and helping has never been easier! Throughout February, purchase a 12" × 12" textured cardstock combo pack and you’ll get one free—and with every offer purchased, Close To My Heart will donate $2 US to Operation Smile’s Haiti relief efforts. That means for only $14.95 US, you get two packs of our high-quality textured cardstock and you help this urgent, important cause. 

http://leopard.myctmh.com/

Sketchy Thursday Challenge

I decided to participate in something new for me.  It's my first ever online scrapbooking challenge.  I did it for 3 reasons ... 1. it gets me creating outside of the box, at least what I'm used to doing. 2. it puts me on a deadline so I can get these pages done faster (and actually complete them). 3. It's an opportunity to win some goodies and who can resist that???  Of course, that's not what's driving me to participate.  It's really points 1 & 2.  So, on to my page.  My page is based on this past week's Sketchy Thursday sketch.  Here's the sketch:

Here's my take on it. It's a term I hear often from my daughter in a whiney, but actually cute, voice.

Everything I used was from my existing stash. I used K&Co Napoleon paper. I wasn't happy with the yellow background paper so I took some white paint and added some CTMH Crystal Blue re-inker to get it the color I wanted. Then I distressed the outside edge of the paper with that paint and then with black ink. While I had the paint out I also distressed the photos and edges of circles and the arrow, which I drew, cut and popped up. The blue ribbon is actually blue cardstock that I stamped with my CTMH Fabric Finishes stamp set to give it the grossgrain look. I then stamped the words on that. The other ribbon was misc. scraps I had. Oh I also had this cute flower ribbon that looks like the bluebonnets in the picture so I wrapped one of the circles with it. The chipboard letters are by Heidi Swapp, as is the clear flower under the button with the date on it. I made the smaller letters out of an old black envelope I had and stamped it with white ink. I used black Staz-On & CTMH Moments in Time stamp set to stamp the date. That button lays on the clear acrylic flower. I added a yellow flower with blue rhinestone below the title. Lastly I added black beads (Robin's Nest) to the bottom right to tie it all together. This was so fun and I'm looking forward to my next challenge. Wish me luck on this one!

Mommy's Girls

love to be wherever I am, and I mean EVERYWHERE.  You mommies out there know what I mean.  Anyway, I was working on some layouts the other day and my hubby snapped a few photos of my girls scrappin' with me.  My youngest was trying to get into everything so I wasn't too productive but how could I resist her wanting to ... help???  Of course, I will be scrappin' this soon I am sure!  My oldest worked on her own album next to me.  She had to have her mini tote, which holds her scrappin' supplies and her album that she got from her friend, Sammy (whose mom is my friend, Ale). She was working on Santa photos.  I hope they end up with the same passion as I have for this hobby so we can continue to do these things together. 

January marks the release of

the new Close To My Heart 2010 Spring catalog! I am sharing this with you because I am in love with so many of the new products.  I may sell CTMH but I don't do it as a business.  I sell it (mostly to myself) to support my hobby.  You see, I inevitably fall in love with so much everytime a new catalog comes out so I figured I'd join CTMH to get the discount.  I'm sure I end up spending the same amount of money, or more now that I'm a consultant.  I certainly do not use CTMH for all my layouts, not even close.

Here are some of my favorite items from this Idea Book and past Idea Books:

Topstitch Collection - The colors in this are perfect to scrap the all the lastst professional photos we took in November (a few are in my last post). 

Charmed Acrylic Stamp

You Rock Collection - this is on my list; just need to figure out what I need it for first ;)

I'm not usually a rainbowy swirly paper kind of girl but I really like this paper and coordinating goodies.

You Rock Die Cuts * Star Power Acrylic Stamp Set *You Rock Acrylic Stamp Set

Simple Stitchews Acrylic Stamp

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this.  It gives a great stitched on look to my layouts.

The Notebook Collection - I love the vintage look of this paper & stickease

There's so much more cute stuff.  Check it out for yourself.

I love, Love, LOVE

my family!  I grew up with incredible role model parents who gave me a strong foundation of what makes a marriage HAPPY and for that I am so lucky!  They may have only known each other for 2 months before they got married but they are still going strong after 40+ years.  My hubby and I are definately in love and I hope we can provide that same foundation for our kids as we all grow.  I wanted to share a few photos of my adorable little family with you all.  The photos were taken by Allison Schnurr of Allison Avenue Photography, a Texas based photog.  Allison is a FABULOUS photographer and her work is AMAZING.  Her pricing is great and she even gives copyright release to the photo images you buy.  Check her site out and you'll see my oldest girl on the main page.  She was 5 then; she's now 6.  http://allisonavenue.net/

So, here we are ... The Leopard Gang. My oldest daughter, hubby, me, baby and step-son.  These kids are gorgeous, if I do say so myself. 

A Preview

of what's to come.  OMG I have so many pics to take of the layouts of my pics!  Here's a couple of my favorites from this past year.  I will post more as I complete new ones and have time to go back through my albums.

This first double layout features pink background paper I distressed, chipboard letters that I stained with ink using a rubber brayer to match the layout. I made handmade flowers, crumpled them and then inked all the raised ridges.  I then used epoxy brads, buttons, more brads, spirals, tiny heart buttons and more for the flower centers. I really love how this turned out.

This 2nd page is features a pink and green plain cardstock that I handstamped to add a slight pattern. I then added a scalloped pocket to hold a personalized note, made from a corner rounder, added rhinestones, tied it with a ribbon.  I covered the #3 chipboard with matching paper and more rhinestones.  I then doodled, colored the hearts in with a blending pen and added a few more rhinestones to tie it all together.

Stay tuned for more to come.

To be more AWESOME this year

I need to concentrate more on what makes me happy.  I put everything I have into my family and I do a great job capturing those moments.  What I don't do a good job of in transitioning those events into a story.  I have so many incomplete albums and so many years that I jump back n forth to.  Not only that, most of my layouts are missing key elements, like titles or the actual photos ... HELLO! I am going to challenge myself to complete one layout per child each month.  Doesn't sound like a lot does it?  Well trust me, it is for this mommy who works full time managing multi-million dollar marketing campaigns. I wish I was the type to just throw a layout together, slap pics on them and go but I'm not.  I treat each one like a piece of art and put everything I can into them; therefore, I spend hours upon hours on them. 

So just how will I do it?  Free time = scrap time. I'm going to spend at least 2 nights every week after the kids go to bed organizing photos, planning layouts, sketching, printing, journaling, etc.  I'm hoping to exceed my goal but I figure I better test the waters first. I'm starting this month and even though it's half over I WILL make my goal this month. Follow my blog and leave a comment telling me how you make time in your busy schedule for your hobby. I'll randomly draw a winner for a free Close To My Heart stamp set (shown below).

Check back soon to see my progress.

My New Year Resolution ...

was to be more awesome in 2010 than I was in 2009.  Seems impossible, right?  Not quite.  You see, my favorite comedy right now is How I Met Your Mother (HIMYM).  It's laugh out loud ... wait for it .... funny.  I love the Barney-ism, so much so that I follow his fictitious character on Twitter.  Anywho, he's always talking about how AWESOME he is so I'm mixing that posititve vibe with positive thinking to make every day an awesome day, no matter what comes my way. I figure it's all a learning experience to make me better, whether it's good or bad.  I've been chronicaling my awesomeness on my Facebook status but you will soon see it on my Twitter feeds, posted here and I will expand on some of them via this blog.  I only hope to inspire all of the people who are {not} following me.