Croptoberfest Part 3

Whew! Where did the month of October go? Things have been staying really busy around here. We've been enjoying fall and adjusting to me getting back to work (which I really think I'm going to enjoy!).

I wanted to catch up on posting my Personal Scrapper Croptoberfest layouts.

October 13 challenge: Use Material
I might have cheated on this one since I used some old Love, Elsie fabric paper, but fabric is material! I pulled some shots of Kevin being crafty from different years. That's something I rarely do. October 14 challenge: Write a letter to someone
For almost two years, I've wanted to do this LO. I've had this photo of Blake at my grandparent's house taken the last time we were out there before the estate auction. I finally completed this challenge on Sunday, October 25. That was Pappa's birthday. October 15 challenge: Scrap a holiday or celebration
I think the birth of my new niece, Reese, was something to celebrate. I completed this 2-page LO for Kevin's album.
October 16 challenge: Circles and Celebrations
Continuing on the Reese celebration theme, I scrapped "The Wait for Reese" using the Basic Grey "Oh Baby Girl" paper line. October 17 challenge: Flowers, flowers, flowers
With a new little girl in the family, I might be using flowers more. This page is for Blake's album. He adores Reese!October 18 challenge: Black & White, Plus One Color, Plus Something Clear
I used new Teresa Collins products that I just received from Scrappin' {Sports} Stuff. For this challenge, I used red as my additional color. The "clear" accent is the "my team" clear sticker I added for my title. October 19 challenge: Birthday plus 2 of everything
I scrapped Reese's actual BIRTH day for this challenge! I used two different sheets of Basic Grey paper, two chipboard pieces (each inked with two different inks to get the color I wanted), two alpha sticker fonts, and two different ribbons. October 20 challenge: Use at least three 4x6 photos
This one was easy for me. I used new shots of the boys with Reese (surprise!) for Blake's album and an old Personal Scrapper kit. LOVE how this turned out. I didn't crop any of the photos, but I did tuck the lower one behind the curved strip of paper. October 21 challenge: Use both sides of only one sheet of patterned paper
I got creative on this one and used a "strip sheet" of paper from Cosmo Cricket's new Boyfriend line for this page for Kevin. It just makes me smile. I also completed four layouts that didn't fit into any of the challenges. The first, "ford tough", uses a favorite shot of Kevin. He's posing next to one of my dad's antique Ford tractors. Then I scrapped some school portraits of the boys. They are all really simple, but I am happy with how they turned out.

So far, I'm 8 challenges behind. Luckily, we have until November 6 to get them completed at uploaded.

Happy scrappin'!

Got the "Stuff"!!!

Mr. Mailman paid me a visit today...

He delivered my package from Scrappin' {Sports} Stuff!!! I was quite impressed with how quickly it arrived and the products I selected for my "kit" this month are all so cool! I can't wait to get started on my projects for November. :)

A new chapter...

Five and a half years ago, I left my job of nearly ten years to stay home with my boys full time. My only regret was that I hadn't done it sooner.


With both boys in school, we'd talked about me returning to work at some point. With Tom's travel schedule I really wanted to find something in the school system so I'd be on the same schedule as the boys. Less than two weeks ago, I heard about a job opening at the high school and applied. I was called last week and interviewed this Monday. I got the job!

Starting next week, I'll be the new clerk in the libary and the volunteer coordinator. I'm really looking forward to this new chapter in our lives.

Wish me luck!

Scrappin' {Sports} Stuff

I made the design team for Scrappin' {Sports} Stuff, the best online source for coordinated sports scrapbook supplies!

As everyone knows, I'm the mom of two sports-lovin' boys. I think I have more photos of sports - both organized and impromptu-around-the-house games - than I'll ever be able to scrap. I'm really looking forward to my six month term with them. In addition to sports, they also carry scrapbook items for games, activities (ex. Cub Scouts, 4-H, zoo), school, religious events (Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation), and family themes. The hardest thing for me will be deciding which supplies to work with each month!

You can check out their design team announcement here. I'm placing my order tonight for the products I'll be working with in November. I can't wait to share everything with you next month!

Croptoberfest 2009 Part 2

I have continued to play along with the Croptoberfest challenges at Personal Scrapper. Go me!

October 6 challenge:
We were challenged to scrap someone we admire and use a word to describe them in our title. I admire Tom and the boys. I love how much fun they have. The word I used for them was "crazy" as in "I give thanks for U 3 crazy boys". I used the new October Personal Scrapper kit for this layouts.

October 7 challenge:
Today was my day to give out a challenge and I gave a "Lucky" challenge to use the word in your title and/or scrap about something that is lucky to you. I scrapped Kevin's 7th birthday adn the #7 pancakes I made for him.
October 8 challenge:

This challenge was a cool one that used a bingo board with different supplies/techniques in each square. We were supposed to take a row and use those items/techniques on our page. Overachiever me used four different rows going two different directions. I used ribbon, 2 patterned papers, distressed edge, vintage feel, bling, journal spot, 2 colors cardstock, inked edges, handwriting, 3 brads, journaling around the edge and chipboard.

October 9 challenge:

The challenge to scrap a name (where it came from...what it means, etc.) was a hard one at first. Then one afternoon, I realized I'd called Kevin "Pumpkin Butt." I knew I had photos from a recent outing to the pumpkin patch en route, so I was anxious to receive them. These photos of Kevin holding up a mini "double pumpkin" that actually looked like a butt were perfect to tell this story. I've called Kevin "Pumpkin" for a while. somhow it evolved into Pumpkin Butt and it stuck!October 10 challenge:

For the scraplift challenge, I decided to lift a layout by fellow PS member Erika Hayes. I used the October PS kit. Like my play on words..."School Days"...get it...they are fish! If that isn't a knee-slapper, I don't know what is. :)

October 11 challenge:

I was rather stumped on the "Thanksgiving or cooking something special" challenge. By then I was down to scraps with my October PS kit and there was a "give thanks" diecut. I decided to make a Thanksgiving card. (You don't have to may layouts for the challenge.) I finished the card and made six others to finish off the scraps of my kit. It is gone!

October 12 challenge:

This challenge was a fun one. You were supposed to make your own frame. I was using a PageMaps sketch (Oct. '09) that actually called for a frame on a photo. I simply handcut a frame out of chipboard, inked it and sprayed it with Pearl Glimmer Mist. I'm really happy with how this page turned out!

I just need to finish a couple more challenges to get caught up. ;)

Thanks, dear friend!!!

Last month I received a surprise package from a friend just to tell me "thanks". I am the one that is thankful now! I loved the Bella Boulevard papers and all the alphabets! She knew I had a new baby niece and even included some baby girl papers, too.

I quickly got to work using the Bella Boulevard papers and I LOVE the three layouts I made with them. They worked perfect with pics from fishing at my mother-in-law's on Easter.

For the LO I did for Blake's album, I used sketch #16 from 52 sketches 52 weeks.
The LO for Kevin's album uses bits and pieces from different sketches that I wanted to use. Finally, I used my scraps on a 2-page LO for Kevin's album celebrating his Grandma Rosemary's birthday last month. I made the layered patterned paper flowers myself.
Although I loved my new supplies, friendship is the best gift of all.

October Personal Scrapper Kit Layouts

When I received my new October Personal Scrapper kit on Monday, I immediately pulled out a set of photos from a 2007 trip to Huber's. I took a TON of photos on that trip. This week in between scrapping challenges for Croptoberfest, I have been creating layouts with my kit.

The following layouts are for Blake's album:
These are for Kevin's album:

I still have some scraps left and hope to get another couple of layouts finished with this paper line. Of course, I purchased some additional coordinating cardstock colors and am using additional alphabets. The papers have worked really well with these photos.

Croptoberfest

Erica over at Personal Scrapper is hosting another Croptoberfest - 31 challenges in 31 days. I'm game!

October 1 challenge:
Use one photo and one die cut paper...I used a lot of scraps - a little of this and a little of that. I couldn't tell you how many times I've pulled this shot from '06 out to scrap only to toss it back in the box. Now Kevin finally has his love of that construction barn at Grandma Rosemary's house documented in his album. :)
October 2 challenge:
This challenge was to use doubles. I used two Jenni Bowlin monograms, two monster cut outs, two photos (of two boys!), and two die cut strips along the bottom. LOVED mixing alphas here and using my new Sassafrass Lass papers.

October 3 challenge:

Today was the day for me to post a challenge. Since it's the first Saturday of the month, I came up with a "super Saturday" challenge to scrap either an event that happened on a Saturday or something you like about Saturdays. I scrapped an outing at Home Depot since the first Saturday of every month is the kids craft day. The base of the page is Jillibean Soup and the strips are scraps of SEI papers.

October 4 challenge:

For "Use 4 of it" I used four 4x6 prints (three were 2-photo collages, one I cut down to 4x4), four different patterned papers, and four different Thicker fonts for my title. I couldn't bring myself to use four brads though - I MUST USE THEM IN ODD NUMBERS!!! (OCD much?) This LO is pretty much self-explanatory.October 5 challenge:

This challenge was to make your own embellishment. I made a couple pumpkins - don't laugh! They look better in person. I used circle punches, wadded up the circles, flattened them, inked them and then layered one of them. I also hand-cut stems for them. I even pulled an OLD Lil' Davis binder clip from my stash to use as an embellishment. This LO uses the new October Personal Scrapper monthly kit.

On the 4th, after the tractor LO, I kept the My Mind's Eye papers out and scrapped with them until they were gone. I was able to get three more 12x12 LOs out of the papers my secret sister, Kim/kimmcc sent me last month. The first two LOs are from a vist to Uncle Terry's in April. Both are for Kevin's album.Finally, I finished this one for Blake. The boys played tackle football with their younger cousin on Easter at their grandparents' house. I used a die cut frame to focus on Kevin getting ready to tackle his cousin. My title is too appropriate! Well, 5 challenges down...26 more to go. Wish me luck!

Ugh...

Yesterday was the last day of school before the boys fall break. I was really looking forward to having them home. I just didn't expect that Blake would be home from school yesterday. He woke up with a low-grade fever and complaining of a sore throat and coughing. I thought it might be strep. Then he threw up. Twice.

We went to the doctor. It wasn't strep. He has the flu.

Last night we had tickets for all four of us to attend the Louisville vs. Pitt football game. Blake was especially looking forward to it since he's never been. (Last year Kevin got to go with Tom since Blake had just attended the Kenny Chesney/Keith Urban concert with me.) I was looking forward to enjoying a night out with my guys. Needless to stay, Blake and I stayed home. He threw up again. In the bathroom floor.

Today, Kevin was assigned to the bonus room and Blake had the living room and remote control to himself. I feel like I have done nothing but prepare meals/snacks, dispense medicine, Lysol this & that, wipe everything down, and wash or sanitize my hands. I am exhausted, but at least there wasn't any puke to clean up today!

I hope Kevin doesn't get sick. I hope I don't get sick.

I'm just waiting for the fever to go away and stay away for 24 hours. Tick tock, tick tock...

Finally...the rest of the layouts...

I was able to finish all 16 challenges for the Personal Scrapper crop last week. I've just been too busy to post them. :)

Patriotic Layout - use red, white and blue:
This LO doubled for Challenge #8 over at A La Carte, too. (I used primary colors, something that measures and notebook paper.) Although this awards ceremony took place while Blake was in 4th grade, he was being rewarded for his 3rd grade test scores.
Song Title:
I went with an appropriate "oldie but goodie" with this pic of Kevin cooking up some mac & cheese. I used an '08 Basic Grey PageMaps sketch, but altered it a bit. I used my September Personal Scrapper kit with a few extras. LOVED that October Afternoon paper!

4x4 challenge - use the same 4 products on 4 cards:

My four items were 1) American Crafts "Junior" papers; 2) Martha Stewart green rick-rack ($1 at Big Lots!!!); 3) yellow tags; 4) Prima alphabet set (both stickers and chipboard alphas packaged together). Both my boys have birthdays coming up and they are always getting invited to parties, so I can use these!Punctuation:

OK...so my pre-printed title/quote card had an exclamation point on it...it fit the challenge. Plus, I got to use new items from my secret sister gift from Kim/kimmcc. (Those yellow tags above were part of that package, too!)

Back to School (something you've learned) challenge:

I have recently learned that it's OK for Blake to drive the mower to pull the utility trailer around the yard when Tom is supervising. I think I'm light years away from being ok with him mowing though! This page also uses papers sent from my sweet secret sister Kim.

Button challenge (use 3 different colors):

More papers from my secret sister were put to use here and I used three different tints of clear-ish buttons plus the green at the bottom.

Summer Review:

Our summer is pretty much summed up with one word: BASEBALL. So, I made this layout for Blake using paper and diecuts from Kim. The journaling around the oversized photo mat explains that we didn't vacation this summer, but traveled every weekend to tournaments with both boys. I also listed where Blake played and how the team did there.

Fall Favorites:

One of the things I most look forward to each fall is a local community festival that takes place the 3rd Saturday of every October. It's especially fun when the boys ride in the parade with my dad like they did last year.

Grandparents Day challenge:

I scrapped pics of my mother-in-law visiting us earlier this month to celebrate her birthday. I used the September Personal Scrapper kit but added some embellishments. The chipboard "68" is Sassafrass Lass. Journaling challenge:

I used a Kelly Purkey sketch that I found on Kelly Goree's blog with scraps from my September PS kit. I added the buttons. I played with my journaling so it reads like a magazine photo caption.

Use Up a PS kit challenge:

I was able to get SOOOO many layouts out of my September kit that I was starting to wonder if I'd ever get to mark this challenge off my list! Finally, I was down to small scraps and I finished the kit off with these four cards. With the fall crop over, I think I'm ready for Croptoberfest! More on that tomorrow...