TGI....Thursday?

Is it Friday yet?
I am so ready to pack up my crap and go on a mini va-ca this weekend....I can't stand myself. We are going to spend the weekend with friends at an water/amusement park about 4 hours away.......and it is going to be some kind of LEWIS weekend...sketchy on the details.
I am such a kid when it comes to roller coasters and such...my man and I have traveled quite far to go to some of the parks in the USA, just to to amuse ourselves for the weekend.....we are sad.
Since this mini break has been a long time coming, I have found myself constantly trying to come up with things to amuse us, especially on those rainy or HOT summer days. We often have game night, and knew that there were also many times during the out of school months I was going to hear......"I'm bored"......and since....... "go clean your room" wasn't working, this is what ya get for my creative efforts, lol!
~~~~~~~FAMILY GAME NIGHT COASTER'S~~~~~~~~

I started with a kit from Sweet Digi Scraps, called:
TAINTED LOVE

****image linked to shoppe at Gotta Pixel****

I then created the usual 8.5x11 tranparent background blank page. I pulled a frame and some papers to start my "coaster's". I made a small decorated area on each of them to make a "basic page". This is the same page I used a total of 15 times, I just changed the questions on each set:




When I started this, it was going to be a set for us, but I ended up making a set for a friend's beach house, and matched her bright colors when I decorated a cardboard box, which happen to go 50% off all the time at Hobby Lobby....got both of these for $2.49!, total, tax and all!!!!! Just cut, glued, filed and inked the edges.......done. All printed on regular copy paper. The coaster's were done on cardstock, but just to give them some weight.




When I started to do mine, I thought it a perfect opportunity to add a little of my charteuse green in yet still another area, but because of my lingering, pesty OCD and the dust and dirt issues that seem to gross me out all the thime....made mine a closed box with traditional supplies to match my living room.



I made two complete sets of questions..... few good ones I kept for both sets, but added more adult ones to mine for the usual crowd and the fact our kids are older. I am even working on a set that has a "treasure hunt/I spy type theme" to it, they will have to search through the house for the answers...great for a rainy day!
So, my challenge to you, come up with another great theme to make some coasters with....then, share them with me...hahahahaha....I will probably use this idea for a few Christmas presents....the endless possibilties!!!!!

Shopping is soooooooo Therapeutic......

Well, I have to say I love me some GURLZ! I had such a great day hanging and shopping with my friends, that I thought I would spread a little of our goodness around.....

We had decided to meet for lunch at fast food Italian....yummmmmmmmmmm, lovin' that Olive Garden!........and predictible not so predictable Danyale got the usual, cause it is awesome, lol:



I had forgotten just how darn hilarious and sweet my girlfriends are.....we crack each other up wayyyyyyy to much....my sides feel like I did a gabillion sit ups..:) If I ever swing for the other team, it would be a hard decision who to pick......LMAO!!

After lunch, we did a whole round of various out stores in the area. I have had a hard time deciding what accent color to add to my living area. It blends in an open floor plan with three other rooms, so I had to pull the chocolate and oil rubbed bronze fixtures with whatever I chose. I really wanted charteuse green, so when we saw these pillows from PIER 1.....SOLD!!! I have to tell you that the opposite side is the one I am actually facing out on my couches, as the colors are reversed (green leaves and brown bg.....GORGEOUS...and actually a lot bolder and brighter in person)....and a fabulous pot pourri bag that has the bright green in it to add to my brown/black wooden ball filled glass urn on the fireplace (Fresh Fig.....smells clean and crisp .... PERFECT!) Now I just have to keep looking for unique pieces to spread around to mesh it all togther, which means more shopping for more little splashes of chartuese ...... poor me......

I found sooooo many things to buy...........oh and so little money to spend! I need to get back to work! I remember the days when I made or thrifted my way through the decoration process.

I really do have to get back to scrapbooking though....I joined the brag book exchange at GP this month, and over 90 people signed up! It is going to be huge!!!!!! Need to work on my page, and send it in.

Hope this finds everyone well, and welcome back KayJay....we've missed you!

Gurlz Day is HEREEEEEEE......

I am up and getting coffee in me for a much needed GULRZZZZZZ day with all my goofy friends, but thought I would leave a small post with a layout I made.

I recently cleaned out my camera phone, and BOYYYYYY was there some forgotten goofy photos in there........I live a nutty life!

Two of my favorites were some taken of my husband, who was given the simple task of getting straws for our drinks. Normally, a singular task requiring very little on the part of the "straw picker upper", but clearly should have been requested with instructions. These photos are a prime example how he never misses an opportunity to make a joke or see me crack a smile....he says it is what he lives for.......our smiles and laughter directed at him. Poor sap.....





What is really sad, is he actually had a huge audience by the time we all stoppped laughing, which made him act out even more......complete dork.
I used various kits and stuff from several NSD purchases....even some oldies I can't seem to get enough of.
Credits:
Breath of Fresh Air by Gina Marie Huff
Helter Skelter by Flergs
Shabby Stitching by Christina Renee’
Urban Summer by Brigit Kerr
Little Jake Album by Kathryn Balint
Cardboard tear by Bad Candy
Font is : My Old Remington

Wish me luck in my shopping endeavor, and hope I find at least two Christmas presents...which is my goal.
Please feel free to leave any sarcastic comments about my OCD and early shopping, I get it all the time from everywhere else anyway....LMAO..........

Coffee and FruitLoops

Yeah...that is what is going on here this morning.......
As I sit here with coffee in hand, and eating randomly dropped FruitLoops off my desk ( I try telling myself these are tiny drops of love, left by my little "Loop Fairy...aka Asha) I had a moment to share some random thoughts of nothing that have occurred this week:

~~~~Why is the song from the commercials in between NOG shows, stuck in head for the third day in a row?....."We're goin on a trip, we're going on a trip......" can't decide if it the staccato of the music or the completely toddler dork words that have me moving my head from side to side, even as I type this

~~~~When did my kitchen floor become the "ocean" and the rug "the island", and why have I taken to stepping from the carpet in the living room directly to that said rug to keep from "drowning" or get "ate by sharks"....my legs are only soooo long and this is not always easy, but darn if I am going to let that little toddler catch me not following the safety rules

~~~~How often should you really change your ac filter......once a month I was told, but have you seen yours lately?....Gross, even after two weeks, and just think that crap could be up your nose and inhaled directly into your respiratory system to be absorbed by your vascular system and farmed out to many parts of your body.....
........................okay I have to stop talking about it......ugh

~~~~Am I the only one that finds their creative mojo, kicked in when there are no restrictions on the kit I am using? Or if my designer creates a NEW kit? I find I LOVE a lot of designers, but am most pleased when my layouts include multiple pieces from several kits. And why is this bad? If I designed, I would be pleased if I saw any piece of my work on any random page...that they sought it out specifically. Kinda like an adoption rather than whatever beautiful baby the gene pool gives you.....you chose the extra steps to bring that "bundle of love" into the world. Of course, I am a lucky scrapper that I am on a CT that TOTALLY ROCKS and my designer IS A DESIGNER QUEEN!!!!!! (small disclaimer, Liz...hahahaha, but true....:) , so I get a huge amount of fabulous stuff to play with, but I like all girls, still like go shopping.....duh

~~~~Why can't I get into reality shows on t.v., like everyone else? I don't even like game shows anymore....dull, boring, and I feel Like my IQ level falls each time I even see a commercial. I liked to watch them occasionally, but then ....CLICK...something shut off in my head. Like when Princess Diana died and I have refused since to buy any rag mag because of the way the brutalized her afterward. (Can't say I don't pick them up for a glance at the Dr's office, but mostly don't even know the people they are plastering all over the pages)

Happy TGIF and all that........ Asha is spending the weekend away, so should have lots of time to scrap and finish the hybrid I am working on.

I do have to participate in a Saturday afternoon with the GURLZ, which means I have to eat, drink and go shopping for our mini vacation next weekend......darn these friendship requirements and random hangin out with my crazy friends....the pressure.

Scrapping and Motrin...

Not necessarily in that order.
Asha almost made it a whole trip without getting sick. She has been in bed all day and up all night, so I actually managed to get some scrapping in during those medicine induced naps. Motrin can be a wonderful thing.......now I think I need some....:)...
I played with several kits I have been itching to get my hands on, and of course the subject matter is poor, over photographed Asha..... she just looks up and says "cheese" now, I am really pathetic.
My first layout is the couple of photos, one of which that was sent via phone one day, taken by my sweet Em as she was watching Asha with PeePop:



If I had not seen it, I wouldn't have believed it. She actually fell asleep standing up, over the ottoman. Then a few days later, she had crawled over the edge of the couch, again insisting she wasn't sleepy, but promptly fell asleep like a narcoleptic...... ahhhhhhhhh, the sleep of toddlerhood.

The other little kit I played with, was the one mentioned in my previous post, by my blog friend Lillian, called Jardin Romatique'.....since there very few romance days with a toddler running around the house, I used it for those random photos of Asha and her favorite chair, with her favorite pilow, and her favorite stuff toy( this week, lol), and watching her favorite show "Little Bear"...

......also note the use of the word favorite, as this is a word she has started using frequently. It has become more of a punch to her sentence, opposed to actually being used as the adverb it is. It is as if she wants you to realize by using this word before describing whatever she really wants, it helps you to understand how important it is ....

I am off for a nap myself, and hope to bring the hybrid into play in the next day or so....until then, hope you are all having a great week....

Layout 1 ****Pocket by Annabv Designs
Magnus by Bren Boone
Lullaby by Brigit Kerr
Font is : Boopie
Layout 2**** Jardin Romantique’ by Designs by Lillian
Opsie Daisy by Lily’s Designs
Magnus by Bren Boone
Block Templates by A Reis
Font is: Beck’s

Look At This Stunning Kit.......

A dear blog friend, Lillian has created another fabulous kit for us.





A stunner and such a fabulous crisp color set.....I always look for something not already done. She has been designing for a little while, and really has such a great style. You may remember her pastel kit that she used to make a few fun layouts of Asha, but still just creates to give them away for us to enjoy! Lillian is like some of my other "blog" friends.....you know how those micro-relationships are created....gallery/forum lurking, then you spot a layout you just love, and then you begin looking for their unique style.......you know the drill! It has created a few dear friendships, in this huge digi world. Hope to get time to play with this one tonight, then back to the hybrid.......

The preview is linked to her blog, and please leave her some love.....;)

Those darn Monday's

They just keep on coming....don't they?
When I recently went back to work, my reasons for dreading Monday's only altered in their focus of who or what was causing the dread. I have been ordered by my husband....LMAO.....:O.........sorry, couldn't keep a straight face while I typed that one....to leave that new job. So, I find myself here, hanging out with my blog friends, looking for another job after only 8 weeks.
I have to say, this place is more comfortable, but mostly because we are all here for the same reason .....TO SCRAP!!!!!!!
I found recently, that for the first time in my life.....I didn't fit in somewhere???? I was totally un-prepared for the full onslaught of the office bubble I encountered. I started doubting my experience and efforts.......I had real issues pretending to agree with them that they think they are friendly and helpful. I mean, after all that time, and I didn't even have a picture of any of my kids or family on my desk? Or a mini scrapbook? They didn't even notice or care, because unlike everyone else there....I had to clean off my desk space every night. There seemed to be so many rules, that only applied to me. Maybe I was wrong in going to work in a non-creative, cold environment? I seriously doubt they even know that they are disfunctional and quite frankly..... inappropriate.
I know I have been out of the work-force in a full time capacity, but spent many hours a week with customers in the scrapbook store, so my skills couldn't be that rusty .....hahahahaha.... besides, my friends would tell me in a micro-second if I was an idiot, for no other reason than to get one up on me .....I am the one up queen at the moment, married to the one up king otherwise known as the twin of TED...they battle all the time for the crown...50 gabillion Wendy, LOL !!!!!
So, here I sit behind the computer with a cuppa....thinking how much I missed my blog friends. How many layouts I should be able to get done....that reeeealllllll long list of NSD kits waiting to be scrapped...hahahahaha! I do have a really cute hybrid I am currently working on....you will love it cause it all about FAMILY GAME NIGHT!!!!!!!
I'll be in and out this week with the instructions and finished project, hopefully a freebie (waiting response from the boss, lol), and some serious scrap time! Take care my dear friends, and fingers/eyes crossed I find gainful employment !!!!!!!!

All About Some Hybrid......finished, phew!

Sorry for the delay, but I need to go on record that food poisoning sucks, and doubly if the whole house gets it.....hahahahahaha! Don't know what the crappin' A we ate, but it wasn't good........so here is my final project, a little delayed:



of course with the usual camera disclaimer....lol! How cute is that element blown out of the box???!!!!!! I told you all the tree was perfect, and I steadily cute out papers to make a total of 12 trees, which means approx. a TWENTY-FOUR page scrapbook and 36 pics I have printed so far!!!!! OMGosh!!!!!
Of course, all the pages are not done, cause I often walk away and come back to embellish a little here and there, but you can get the main idea with these pics. A fabulous idea to round clip them together, so you can add as many as the clip will hold.....lots of room to expand this album. The first page I am showing you here is actually the second side of a park day:



I added some of my own stuff, and how perfect are the colors of my traditional products for the digital kit? My second inside pic is the one I showed you before, using the layout created first, then printed.....love the little dragon-fly brad I had just sitting around ready for me to to use....:)



This last page is one of my favorite pages in the book, because it included journaling. I didn't worry about the blurriness on this one cause I wrote several things that are personal, but you can get the jest of it all! I still have several more journal strips to add, but it is hard to think of everything you want to write at one time!!!!!
I titled the two pager " Funny little things about Asha", you can see previous post to see details:



The project was super simple once I decided on a shape. I only printed the front and back, as I said in previous post....used that "template" to make an actual one from cardboard(the thin variety used for packing paper product, but very sturdy for future use) I then adhered the "wrong" sides of the scrap paper I wanted to use together. Traced my shape and cut once....huge time saver, but does take a little pre-planning, so you match all the products up if you are doing true hybrid, which is a mix. I then just sat and pulled out stuff I tought would look good, or work with the page.....glued and inked like crazy...duh, you all know me....and.......POOF! A magic scrapbook....HAHAHAHAHAHA! You can find the kit HERE at Gotta Pixel!
I hope this gives you an idea, a small incentive to help you on your scrapbook growth. I had a great time with this one, because I know Asha will always have this to look at, even if she is not here....her perfect tree and summer with Dodo....and PeePop...and Jello....and.....

Part One......Matching My Blog!

Okay, all my blog friends, I am sure you have guessed by now...I have almost finished with the cutest summer hybrid! Waiting on some glitter to dry and you will see the final project tomorrow....Yaayyyyyyyy!

I spotted this adorable kit of Sweet Digi Scraps in Liz's shop at Gotta Pixel
called Play Date:


***image linked to kit in store***

I was doing some serious weekend shopping around because I had been looking for a cool shape to make a hybrid scrapbook for Asha. One her little fingers and hands could hold onto...even if I wasn't there to help her. Liz, of course said...Go for it!

The tree in this kit is a perfect size and I knew it would work!!!!!!

I started with my usual 8.5 x 11 transparent, pretty much the norm due to printer size. I made one with my tree, and immediately copied and flipped horizontal. I then decorated the front cover just like a scrap page with a few odds and bits. I left the back one plain, so didn't make a pic to show you. After deciding which elements I wanted to use for the decorations for my pages that will be on the inside (see the cute little frame out cluster in the wagon...SWEET) also placed them all on a 8.5 x 11 transparent. At this point I had "3" papers to print out. (front & elements...see below....and the back)




Because I also have a couple of dozen "water" photos I wanted to include....I then made some small layout type clusters using other scrap kits that related to those photos.
Here is one example using Kristin Aagard's Pond Play.....she can also be found at Gotta Pixel:


I made several different "layouts" that I wanted to have completed when I went to glue things together, and room enough to include photos I wanted to work into a paper medium.....like the good old days....HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!

I just can't get away from paper and I don't want too......I know the steps, lol!

I then printed out my papers, and went to cutting and edge inking. I pulled out quite a few traditional papers into the mix that matched well, so that I could front/back shape plain paper trees for each page in the book. Glueing my papers wrong sides together, enabled me to cut once and have a double sided tree "page" to decorate.(you will see those steps in the next post, but didn't want to throw it all at ya' at once)........save a little for a lazy Sunday afternoon.

I am off to the couch for some snuggle time with the hubby and that precocious two year old.
Stay tune tomorrow for the finished project, dried and tied.......

TOO STINKIN' CUTE, I tell ya!

Yes, Continual change.....cause I can

I have made another new blog look to give you a hint about my current hybrid project under construction! I had a fabulous idea for an adorable shape book, perfect size for a mini album. We have only taken about..oh, a couple of hundred photos at the park and river, so I thought an adorable kit of Liz's (well, duh....cause she has the cutest stuff....)would be perfect for all of those summer play times.

Be back in stages this weekend to share the project and how-to's....so get some ideas of your own simmering up there in your heads....maybe even a small project to include the kids on ...... hhmmmmmmmm.

Side-note: If anyone has any hints as to how to center the header, please pass them along to your computer dumb friend here. I have tried following directions of several blog sites, that whole change the number by the px thing in the header section.......and none have worked thus far. Thanx!!!!!

She Sleeps

Everyday, as I leave to go to work, there is always an agenda going on in this house. A firefighter husband that is diligently trying to keep up commitments at two fire stations. An 18 year old totally unassuming college bound laptop toting "Sir Text Alot". That rotten little toddler with the side grin and more energy than I can feasibly keep up with.....and then there is Emi.

Her entire goal for the summer?.......to sleep in. That's it.

Well, since I put a kink in their plans, and went back to work....Emi has been a HUGE HELP with watching Asha. She has becoma an expert on diaper changing, snack sorting, and generally making sure poor Asha doesn't get her hands on another pair of scissors.......another long story, but not mine to tell.....

Here is a just one of another hundred or so photos taken in the last two months since Asha came back....our sweet Emi gave up about 2 seconds after Asha did one afternoon:


***image linked to shoppe at Gotta Pixel***


The kit is new creation by Sweet Digi Scraps, appropriately named

Afternoon Delight!!! It has some fabulous chipboard and cute tea elements as well.

As cute as my little girl is, you will soon also see the hilarious photos of Asha sleeping this same day........standing up!!!!

I am not kidding!!!!

We have caught her sleeping while standing/sitting a total of THREE times in the last few weeks.......WHAT DOES THAT MEAN!!!!!!!

Is she part horse or cow? How many of you know of other species that frequent this vertical sleeping method? Why does this FREAK ME OUT?????

I know I can't be the only parent or grand parent with a story...please feel free to share yours. Take Care, my friends

All About Some Magnets!!!!!

I am so excited about my new project, and can't wait to see how many will try this one!!!!

I recently snagged a fabulous kit of Liz's called "Growing Up Girl" I mentioned this past week via CT team coupon that I did not have......surprise, lol! I knew I wanted to make a project for that little toddler I have running around, as we are always scrambling to find new things for her entertainment. Since she discovered the fridge this week, and now has it almost covered in paper with unidentifiable squiggles......I had the perfect space to save me from the insanity of repositioning the mother lode of art everytime I opened the dooors! Magentized dolls and what-nots:



This was almost too simple, as I try to make all of my shared projects. Liz had taken out all of the work and made available a ton of fun. There are endless possibilities, so join me in my hybrid journey........

I started with the basic 8.5x11 transparent, and placed all the things I wanted to print on it. I made a seperate one for the house and numerals (alphabet is being used in yet still another project to be posted later...wink,wink)


I then printed them out on Magnet Sheets I picked up at Office Depot (I know a shameless plug, but that is what we have here in the podunk town I live in) They are located in the photo paper section, and come in small pkgs of 5 sheets for about $12 or so.....I realize a little pricey for some, but a lot can fit on a page, as I had room to spare for much more! My plan is to make a set for a family friend, so adding a gift out of it, makes this a huge cost effective purchase.....I am all about saving some Benjamin's!

I did choose to use my photo ink option instead of just the tri-color....The magnet paper is ink jet quality, so clearly could handle it without smearing.


Please don't remind me that my camera stinks, last thing on the list of things to pay for these days...hahahahaha!! My two sheets of printed dolls and what-nots turned out like this.





I love the investment of the magnet sheets, as once I spent about 30 minutes cutting those things out......DONE.....no glueing! Of course, Emilee and I couldn't resist playing with them for a little while and managed to take a pic of our efforts:



I am in love with this idea, and have bought a small magnent board for the car, so we take these as a travel along as well......have I already said ENDLESS POSSIBILITES??????


Now, I did mention in my previous post that this was a precious little girl project, but again....Liz is way ahead of the curve and made two fabulous kits for us.

She created a "Growing up Boy" kit as well. How cute are those little trucks!! She also has a WAY CUTE cluster set for each kit, that is adorable.




Both images are linked to her shoppe at Gotta Pixel, and they are having a BLOW-OUT Celebrating The 4TH Sale, so her entire shoppe is 30 % off....WOO HOO!!!!!!

I hope everyone has the courage to try this one, and if you have time....leave me some comments on how it worked out for you.

I Do It........

I felt sorry for those sad photo's of Asha yesterday, so I just had to redeem myself and post some disclaimer ones, lol!
These are just some of the photo's taken that same day at the park, and I think this layout is perfect for a before and after two pager in her scrapbook....



******Ordinary Moments / SYTYCD*******
***image linked to Sweet Tomato Designs***

As you can tell, she was originally happy and thrilled to be there, just leaving is so hard for her to understand....She told me the other day, she was ready to go home to see Mommy. This was the first time she has said it, so it took me off guard. I will never understand this generation that feels kids and jobs are disposable. Boy, at the days when my husband and my salary combined added up to less than one of us makes today. We keep trying to tell her she is on vacation, but am pretty sure at this point she knows this may be a staycation. Way to much for one little girl to handle....she breaks my heart some days.....:(

We have been having a busy week and an even busier 4th! I hope everyone is playing safe and having a fabulous time. All of our friends have been on the water and sunning...me, busy cleaning and catching up on things around this house. Even managed to scrap some, so I feel a little more centered after the scrap/relaxation time. I always forget how hard it is to keep up with life when you are living it!

Tune back in for my hybrid, needed to send Asha off for the night to finish and the printer is back online....YAYYYYYYYY for us.

Growing up.....Drama Queen

I hope this post finds everyone well and having a safe 4th weekend! I have somehow managed the day off for no reason at all, and had some time to scrap this morning.....WOOHOO!!!! Go me! As I was working on my totally FABULOUS hybrid, which I admit did take on a new life once I started playing with Liz's awesome "Growing Up Girl" Kit.....my printer went kaput, but my husband assures me, with a couple of new downloads I will be back soon with the cutest, magnetized project.

Not wanting to get behind with my layouts, hahahahahaha, I carck myself up!!!! I managed to work with some pictures from this Spring, that just melt my heart everytime I see them:


***image linked to Gotta Pixel Shoppe***

Poor, sweet Asha loves the park, and leaving is always a huge cry fest that never ceases to amaze me! Even the promise of McD's french fries, often takes a minute or two to have the calming effect they seem to have on her. Those fries and that little girl......we may need an intervention!

Play safe this weekend everyone, and don't forget to come back for a fun, EASY hybrid for those with little girls in their lives (sorry for those that don't, but Liz' has a boy kit too you can also use with similiar elements, but then again....you may just have to buy both when you see their potential, LOL!)