Summer update & June layouts

With the boys home from school, we've been enjoying their summer vacation. I can't believe June is already more than half over! We had a heat wave with temps in the 90s for a while, but things have "cooled" down a bit to the mid 80s. ;) The regular season of baseball ended and the tournaments are wrapping up. Blake's team finished 3rd of 6 and Kevin's team finished 1st out of 8 teams. Both boys won their first tournament game, but lost the second. It's double elimination, so we are hoping they both come back to win tonight's game so we can stay in (and hopefully win!). The tournaments will end our baseball for the summer.

This week both boys are attending Camp Invention and although Kevin got off to a rough start (he DID NOT enjoy the first day!!!), both are enjoying it. I don't think they enjoy being back on a school schedule in the morning though!

Next week we will have Vacation Bible School at our church and next month they will take swim lessons.

Although I haven't had much time to scrapbook since school let out, I was thrilled to receive my June kit from Personal Scrapper. Although the paper has a sort of beach theme to it, I was able to use it for so many things. So far, I have made 11 layouts with the kit and add-on, but two of them are double page layouts. That's a total of THIRTEEN 12x12 pages! I stayed up late after everyone was in bed for a few nights to get them completed.


Last Fall the boys attended a Jake's outing. Kevin caught a fish and even made the paper.
For some reason this Mother's Day layout isn't cooperating. I can't load it turned properly. (Sorry.) I cut surf boards out of the patterned paper to make the flower and border down the side of the page. The paper also worked great for Blake's Cub Scout kite flying pics. Before this arrived, I had no idea what to use with them. I cut his kite out of another shot and then positioned it over itself in another photo.

My "Backyard Play" layout is another one using hard-to-scrap photos. I loved using these fun papers with it. This is the view from my backdoor almost every weekend from spring until almost winter. All three of the Wheeler "boys" love to play backyard ball! Last fall we went to Bass Pro Shop for the first time. We had just left a pumpkin patch, so I had my camera with me. There was a portable potty on display and the boys had fun goofing off with it. Kevin's picture is priceless. Yes, he's our weirdo!!!The weekend before Mother's Day, we went to visit Tom's mother. We had a great time fishing over there and I got some wonderful shots of the boys. The series of photos in "Casting...123" just cracks me up. :)
Kevin was the big fisherman of the day! He caught several fish!
Tom had one fish "talking" to me. He tried to get Kevin to kiss the fish, but he wouldn't!
Although Blake's favorite part of fishing is casting (see above), I did get some good shots of him sitting still and being patient.
The patience paid off and he caught one! (It was his only catch all day, but he did better than me!)
Everyone had a great day and we can't wait to go back. I used a "Smashing Pumpkins" song for the title for this page in Kevin's album.
That's what we've been up to. I hope to post some baseball pics with hardware soon.

Productive Weekend

Thursday was the last day of school for the boys. Friday, my youngest sister, Molly, graduated from high school. Saturday, after attending the boys' baseball games, I went to a crop at Archiver's with a few friends. At the crop, I finished 8 layouts, but was also able to finish up another 8 yesterday and this morning. I actually pre-planned my layouts for the first time ever and that really made things go a lot smoother and also helped relieve some stress on my back by being able to pack lighter! All of my layouts were either lifts from some recent magazines purchases I've made or at least inspired by an idea in one of the new books.

I made this layout to document Blake's growing feet! It's based on a sketch in SBE's new Page Planner book. I used mainly Basic Grey items (paper, diecut stickers, chipboard letters). I added a Rusty Pickle chipboard "7", MME journal tag, and Cherry Arte number rub-ons. Notice I included the tag from the shoes. I used Tim Holtz ink on the chipboard and to distress my tag.
When Kevin was sick in April with the flu, I thought it was too cute how he moved a table over to his spot in the living room to keep his stuff together. He's so much like Tom! Blake and I would have just strung everything out across the floor! This is another lift from the new SBE Page Planner book. I used some fun, bright paper from WeRMemory Keepers. I traced a Scenic Route arrow onto my paper and cut it out by hand. I used my Martha Stewart scallop punch to make the photo mat. I've had the ribbon forever. The stars were Hot Spot purchases Saturday night. I added American Crafts Thickers and a Jenni Bowlin journaling card.

If I do a layout about Blake's new shoes, I can't leave Kevin out! He was just proud of his! I used more of the WRMK papers (LOVE the colors!). This is a lift from the Scrapbook Trends May issue. The orignal layout was by Renae Clark. I used Heidi Swapp ghost letters and some old American Crafts stickers for my title. The star and round accents are old Heidi Swapp that I've been waiting to use on the "perfect layout." Used my Martha punch on this one, too. I'm really getting my money's worth out of it!
This next one is just a picture that makes me smile (laugh!). More WRMK papers. Sketch from SBE Page Planners book. I added AC Thickers and old Doodlebug stickers for my title. Accents are a couple of journaling cards from Elle's Studio at Etsy, an AC felt flower with Foofala button, a Scenic Route chipboard circle and a MM felt arrow.
I had to tell this next story on a page. We went fishing at my mother-in-law's and everyone caught something but me. I was just stalked by a turtle all day! I lifted a layout in SBE's Page Planner book by Shannon Zickel (love her style!). I used misc. products: paper by Love Elsie, GCD Studio; Scrapworks letter stickers, American Crafts Thickers; Jenni Bowlin label stickers; Paper Studio brads; and a Scenic Route chipboard accent.
Kevin's flu experience provided several photo ops...I made this page up with Paper and die cut stickers from Little Yellow Bicycle. I added Heidi Swapp ghost stars and chipboard letters. This started out as a lift of Kandis Smith's layout in the Scrapbook Trends May issue.
On Mother's Day, I had Tom take a rare picture of me and my mom. Unfortunatley Mom was sick with pneumonia that day and no one bothered to tell me my hair was doing crazy things in the back! I lifted a layout from SBE's Page Planner. Papers are by Bazzill, Jenni Bowlin, Daisy D's and Love Elsie. I added a random piece of trim, Heidi Swapp chipboard letters, flowers by Imaginesce, misc. buttons, and a Fancy Pants journaling card. This is one of my layouts from the crop.

I pulled out some "old" Junkitz papers from a couple years back for a picture of Kevin worn out after opening weekend tournament. The title is actually something I received in a swap. I lifted a layout (digital even!) from the May ST by Paula Gilarde. I added 7gypsies rub-ons, an Autumn Leaves stamp and notebook paper. (Another one from the crop.)
More Junkitz paper found it's way onto a layout. The title for "Little Man" was also from a swap. Everything on this one is Junkitz except for the Heidi Swapp chipboard stars. (completed at crop)
I had to make this layout up Sunday when Blake realized Kevin had more layouts completed at the crop than he did! I go in spurts. One sitting I'll do mostly Blake...the next Kevin. Trust me, Blake has no shortage of completed pages (or albums for that matter!). I used the wonderful May kit from Personal Scrapper for this page. Papers are Chatterbox; Heidi Swapp flowers; Scenic Route chipboard letters; MM stickers. Another ST May lift of a layout by Tina Albertson.
I used the May kit for a layout of Kevin with his Sunday School teacher. He's "graduating" on to Wednesday night RE now. I added some Heidi Swapp flowers and MM metal embellishments I found on clearance at Hobby Lobby. The stickers are by Chatterbox from the kit, but I added HS chipboard letters, too. This layout is based on the Pencil Lines sketch #85.
This was my first layout at the crop Saturday night. I pulled out my collection of KI's Pop Culture line. It's a lift of Kara Henry's layout in the May ST. I added rick rack, flowers and brads from the Target Hot Spot, and Heidi Swapp felt flowers and ghost letters.

For Mother's Day, Kevin made "5 reasons why I {heart} you" cards/mini albums for his grandmothers. I wish I still had the cards! I'll have to settle for documenting it on a layout. Papers: KI; Bazzill edges; Jenni Bowlin journaling card; Creative Imaginations sticker; chipboard by EK Success (5), Heidi Swapp (letters), Fancy Pants (heart); Ghost Letters by Heidi Swapp.
Blake doesn't like my title for this next one! However, I have a rule that once a layout is done...it's done! I lifted this design from Heather Keller's layout in the June Scrapbook Trends. Loved using the KI lace paper, patterned papers and rubber button embellishments. I just added an Elle's Studio journaling card, Petaloo flower and Heidi Swapp chipboard letters.
I took advantage of this self portrait of me and my sister Adriane at a Bats' baseball game to use PINK! We were under an umbrella in the pic. The design was inspired by a sketch in the SBE page planner book. I used KI papers and ribbon; journaling cards by Elle's Studio; AC plastic embellishments; MM brads; and HS chipboard letters.
If Kevin's friend Adam wasn't in these next pictures, I think "Ladies Man" may have been an appropriate title! Everything on this page is Basic Grey except for the KI lace paper, MME journaling card and journaling date/place strip from Elle's Studio. I was inspired by a layout in SBE's page planner book.

Whew! There you have it...16 layouts from my weekend. I think now I need to push everything aside (scrap-wise) and focus on finishing up our St. Lucia album for Tom to take into work.

Have a great first week of June!

Smile...

I placed an order for photo printing today and wanted to share some pictures from this month that make me smile...

I was a little behind in getting the chalkboard calendar in the utility room changed over from April. One day as I was walking through, I caught Kevin standing on a barstool and changing it over for me. I love how he added the smiley faces on each side of May. :) Have you ever heard me call Kevin "Weirdo"??? This is why...
We were enjoying a night at the Bats baseball game in Louisville.

I'm not sure if this next picture makes me smile or cry. This is Blake - my NINE year old - showing off his new pair of shoes. They are a size SEVEN in Men's!!!!! He's already taller than my shoulder. At least it makes him smile!

We enjoyed a day trip to visit my mother-in-law. The boys love the lake in her backyard. We had a great afternoon of fishing. Kevin caught three and Tom tried to get him to kiss the first one. Blake caught a fish, too. I would have smiled like this if I had caught one. I just had a turtle chasing my bobber around!
We tagged along for Kevin's kindergarten field trip to the zoo. We wisely invested a quarter in the massage chairs toward the end of our "hike". Kevin loved it. I wish we had more quarters...I would have done it, too!
Finally, here's a self-portrait of me and Blake. I'm happy he isn't making a crazy face in this one. I guess I can look at this and smile since it's likely a peek into the future. Once he bypasses me in height, I'm sure he'll continue to bend down for me!
I love having two boys!

After everyone else is in bed...

I am often asked when I find the time to scrapbook. Well, the answer is whenever I get a chance, but that's usually after everyone else in the house is in bed. This past week I had many late nights in my scrapbook area.

One of my favorite recent layouts is for Kevin's album. It tells the story about his Rosary, Pappa's Rosary. I made this layout with some pictures from last fall. I was happy to answer the doorbell to find a love note on the sidewalk and two happy boys with their artwork. I used papers from Paper Trunk that were in my Personal Scrapper May add-on.
This next layout just makes me smile. Kevin loves to help in the kitchen and I captured him helping make Sunday morning breakfast one weekend. He loves to flip the pancakes! Oh...and don't you love the apron?? I grabbed that on clearance at Old Navy after Halloween. It's my favorite! For the layout, I used my May Personal Scrapper kit for this (new Chatterbox papers). You can't tell in the picture, but the flowers are cut out of paper and the centers are raised up with pop dots. I used my new favorite tool - a Martha Stewart border punch - to make the scalloped edge on the striped paper.

I made another layout with the May PS kit with pictures of my visit at my parents' house with my aunt Sandy and cousin Tiffany.
This next layout was inspired by a conversation I had with my sister, Adriane. One night over dinner she asked how long I'd had my UNC sweatshirt. Tada...a layout was born. I found pics from the weekend I purchased the shirt...in NC!...and mixed them with a current self-portrait. I used Crate Paper papers for this one.
Kevin picked up some Build-A-Bear Workshop stickers when our local scrapbook store went out of business earlier this year. He wanted to make a page for our trip to make his new friend, Bark E. (he already had a bear named Roar E. Pinecone - he came up with the names himself!). We finally made those pages this week. He was soooo proud of them! (I was too!)
Finally, I sat up one night and used the mini album from the Personal Scrapper May add-on to make a little book all about me. It's 4.5" square. It makes me happy.
Now this week I have a request from Tom to PLEASE finish our St. Lucia album. I had good intentions to finish it by the end of March, but I got sidetracked. The housework is caught up now, so my goal is to see how much I can get finished tomorrow while the boys are in school. ;)

1 Year Ago

One year ago today, my grandfather lost his battle with cancer. I miss him.

Catching up...

With baseball season starting up, it's been a CRAZY time in our house! Opening weekend was a busy time for us. We had great weather for our walk through on opening night, but our boys didn't have games. Then that Saturday, Kevin won two games and Blake was 2-2 in the COLD, FREEZING rain! We were at the ballpark from 9 a.m. until nearly 8 p.m. With Blake's team out of the tournament, he was able to watch Kevin's team play FOUR games in a row on Sunday to win 2nd place. Luckily we had beautiful weather that day!

I participated in an online crop at http://personalscrapper.com for National Scrapbook Day. I was able to finish all 18 of their challenges for the weekend. I'm posting some of my favorites below.
This "Play Ball" layout was based on a sketch. Instead of using one large enlargement, I used 6 smaller photos of Kevin during the opening weekend tournament. When I lifted a DT member, I selected photos of me with my aunt Sandy and cousin Tiffany. Tiffany was diagnosed with Glioblastoma Multiforme (stage 4 brain cancer) in July. She's had a long fight trying to "Kill Ted" (the tumor). I'm so proud of them both. I think they are the strongest two people I know.
Here is another opening weekend layout, "18 Wheelers". Both boys use the number 18. This page is for Blake's album. I used the April kit from Personal Scrapper for this one.
This photo of Blake in "Stop!" just cracks me up. Sometimes I know they get tired of me taking so many pictures, but for the most part, I think they really appreciate that I do so much and I know they love their scrapbooks!
"Messy" was a quick under 30 minute page. I lifted this idea from the new Scrapbooks, Etc. magazine. This is Blake goofing off after one of the ballgames last summer.

For the ribbon challenge, I used a self-portrait of me and Kevin. This is another lift from SBE's latest issue. It's one of my favorite pages from the weekend. I used my new sewing machine to sew the ribbons on.
Talk about feeling old, my baby sister went to Prom a few weeks ago. I realized at her graduation later this month, I will be one year younger than Mom was sitting at mine! Here is a shot of us together before she left for prom. A classmate of hers said we looked just alike. We don't! But, it sure was flattering! Oh, and I lifted this from SBE, too.
We had a "no adhesive" challenge, so I only used staple and brads to adhere everything to this "happy" layout. There is hidden journaling on the tag inserted behind the photo.
Aside from scrapbooking, we went to the zoo with Kevin's kindergarten class. That was fun! We celebrated Mother's Day in Evansville with Grandma Rosemary a week early. The boys got to go fishing there. Everyone caught a fish but me! I just had a turtle chasing my bobber! Blake took a field trip to Bernheim, but it was the day after a huge rain, so I skipped that one. Tom and the boys spoiled me for Mother's Day. They sent me for a "La Stone" massage, manicure, and pedicure. While I was at it, I also chopped my hair off...short. I love it!

The school year is wrapping up. The boys will have field day and awards ceremonies next week. I'm really looking forward to having them home for summer break!