Easter is on the way...

Lent is here and we are preparing for the upcoming Easter. This year our church is promoting small group meetings. The purpose of the meetings is to discuss our faith and remind us why we practice the way we do. I am participating every Wednesday night. I really enjoy the other four women in my group. We made a plan to be more "present" this week in how we worship.

I think being "present" is something I often take for granted. I might be somewhere or participating in something, but am I really "present"? Often, I'm probably just going through the motions. Since Wednesday, I've been trying to be a lot more aware while doing everything. Not just at church. Not just in prayer. But in EVERYTHING.

While driving the boys to haircuts yesterday, I was aware of the beautiful way the sun's rays were coming through the clouds. (Instead of stressing about being on time.)

On Thursday instead of staying home to catch up on housework during the boys' baseball practices, I went along too. The weather was beautiful and it was so much fun watching the boys with their new teams.

And, in church today I was more aware of the readings and my responses. I heard every word of the songs and really thought about what they were saying. I sat between my two boys and enjoyed seeing them participate as well.

I have to admit though, all this being present has pushed my scrapbooking to the backseat a bit. That and NCAA basketball! My evenings have been a bit occupied while I watch games with my guys.

I did manage to finish one layout recently. This layout is an assignment for Crop Chocolate. I used the new Echo Park "For the Record" paper line. I just added a set of Thickers for my title. I thought it was fitting to include an Easter layout in this post. I love celebrating Easter with my family. Back to scrapping...I also love all the journaling and accent stickers that come with the Echo Park paper lines.

With the new week starting, I hope you all take some time to be present.

Happy Spring!

Traveling with Crop Chocolate...

This month's Chocolatier assignment over at Crop Chocolate was to scrap something Travel or Vacation related. I used the new "Little Boy" line from Echo Park and ended up making two layouts to fit the theme.

For my first layout, I found a shot of Kevin sleeping in the backseat on the way home from the zoo. Has it really been THREE YEARS since this photo was taken??? LOVED the multiple alpha stickers and word phrases in this kit. I added some to my journaling. Love how that turned out. But, the story is the most important part of this layout.

Everything on this layout was included in the paper pack except for the orange/white baker's twine I added and pop dots, of course. I found another photo from 2008 to scrap for the vacation topic - our trip to St. Louis. I loved mixing the patterns from this line.

I cut some "tags" out of the journaling card paper to use as a backdrop for my mixed alpha title. And, I added a cloud sticker from the paper pack (adhered with pop dots).

One of my Martha Stewart border punches was put to good use on this layout, too. For a finishing touch, I cut a star out of one of the patterned papers and adhered it with pop dots to make an extra embellishment. The deals at Crop Chocolate are great. I love that they carry the new Echo Park papers as soon as they come out. Last week, their new "For the Record" paper line arrived on my doorstep. :)

Mixing up my holidays...

My February Chocolatier project for Crop Chocolate was to create something for Valentine's Day or love themed. Instead of using your typical Valentine's Day products, I decided to use the leftovers from the amazing "Everybody Loves Christmas" line by Echo Park. Since I scrap my boys, I didn't like using the pink patterns for their Christmas layouts. Plus, I thought the brown patterned paper I used on the left hand side made this page for Kevin a little less feminine, too.

In addition to the items in the EP paper pack, I added a sheet of white cardstock a strip of rose trim, and red foil Thickers (all by American Crafts). The pink brads were from my stash.

Kevin actually helped with this layout. He drew up a "sketch" for me and I actually used elements from that sketch to come up with this page. (He's my little artist!)

Here's hoping we get a full week in at school without any snow! It's back to work tomorrow.

"Wintertime" with Crop Chocolate...

This quarter I completed my Chocolatier projects for Crop Chocolate using the new Echo Park "Wintertime" paper line. This wonderful paper pack comes with 12 DOUBLE-sided 12x12 patterned papers, a 12x12 sheet of elements stickers, and a 12x12 sheet of alphabet stickers that includes THREE different alphas!

My first layout - "Wintertime Help" - showcases Blake's driveway-clearing skills. I added some red Foil Thickers to mix up my title a bit, a button, and soem baker's twine. This page uses two different sheets of patterned paper, the element stickers, and the alphabet stickers (date). I adhered some of my elements with pop dots to add some dimension to the page.

For further dimension, I added glossy accents to the circles on the border sticker strip. Glossy accents is becoming my new "go-to" scrap item!My next layout - "Snow Cream" - is also for Blake's album. It's rare that we get a big enough snow to make this treat, so I had to document the historical moment in a layout. I used four different patterned papers, the elements stickers, and the alphabet sheet. I added some Jillibean Soup corrugated alphas and pop dots. The journaling card was cut from a 12x12 sheet of paper from the kit.

I backed my "snow" sticker with patterned paper and cut around it before adhering with pop dots. I am really liking the look of titles with "mats."

And, once again, I got out my Glossy Accents.Be sure to check out what Crop Chocolate has to offer daily!

It's beginning to look a lot like CHRISTMAS...

As a Chocolatier over at Crop Chocolate, I earn a credit each quarter and in return create/submit one project with the items I purchased. This quarter, I was thrilled to see brand new Echo Park Christmas - the "Everybody Loves Christmas" paper pack.

The paper pack includes 12 double-sided sheets of patterned paper, a 12x12 sheet of embellishment stickers, and a 12x12 sheet with FOUR different alphabets and 12" border strips.

The first layout I made was to document Blake's role in the school Christmas play last year. We all cracked up when we heard that he was Tom the elf and that the elf had a personality like Tom!I had fun layering different patterns on this layout and grouping the stickers from the elements sticker sheet. With some pop dots, they became instant dimensional accents. I had a ton of shots of Blake and the cast and decided to make a 2-page spread with these shots. After I had the layout finished, I realized I should have added the program which includes the list of characters/actors.I cut a slit in the upper right hand corner of the layout a little wider than the program. Then I flipped the page over and adhered a piece of kraft paper to the back of the layout to keep the program from slipping around. I also added a tab labeled with "program" to identify what is peeking out. The elements stickers provided me with supplies for another embellishment grouping in the lower left corner of the layout.
I added a mixed title using two different fonts from the sticker sheet and some Thickers I had. I added a bird sticker from the elements sheet and raised it up with pop dots. (I think I'm addicted to pop dots!)
Even though I printed my "live action" shots of the play in 4-up collages, I probably still had too many to include in one 2-page spread. Needless to say, this layout isn't my favorite, but it's a completed layout.

I am getting a lot of use out of the elements stickers (big tree & snowman). I cut additional trees out of one of the patterned papers to use as the background of my grouping.My title is a mix of stickers and letters from the patterned paper. I felt that it was really "flat" so I used Stampin' Up's Crystal Effects over the letters to add some dimension.

Blake's program photos are scrapped, but I have enough Christmas photos from years past to scrap for months! But, I may put these papers away to scrap with something new today...

Crop Chocolate - Chocolatier projects

A while back I noticed a call for designers over at Crop Chocolate. It's a great scrap deals site and I was interested in designing with the kits they were going to send out.

Last week I received a box full of some Making Memories and Fancy Pants items.As the items appeared to be a bit "girly", I reached for some photos of my niece Reese. The first layout I made is for Blake's album. I used pop dots with the MM label stickers to add some dimension to my title.

I also made a layout for Kevin's album with the products. I LOVED the Fancy Pants' transparency and tried to get creative with the ribbon and make my own flower.

Crop Chocolate is closed until after Easter, but once they reopen, watch for my projects to pop up!