In a scraplifting state of mind...

Sometimes it's fun to come up with a 100% all original idea. I did that on this "our family tree" layout.This layout uses a sheet of paper from the Fancy Pants' "My Family" line. When I first picked up this sheet, I had big plans of finding some heritage photos and doing something grand. Then I came across this photo that needed to be scrapped, so instead of planning/editing/cropping photos for the frames, I used them for names to make a family tree starting with my husband's parents and going down to their grandchildren (who are all in the photo).

Sometimes it's fun to take layouts you see online or in magazines and adapt them to fit your own photos and supplies. I've been doing a lot of that lately.

"Woodworking 101" was inspired by a Nicole Harper layout in the February issue of Scrapbook Trends magazine. Although her base was all kraft paper (layered), I opted to use the one sheet in the "My Family" line that I didn't like (a floral) for my base. My title letters (new Cosmo Cricket faux wood) were too long to stretch across the space above my photos, so I stacked them to make them fit in the space. I also used my handy dandy Making Memories edge distresser on my green cardstock AND on my photos.
The photos are from a Cub Scout event at Home Depot in October '08.

"2nd Place" is another lifted layout. Again, my inspiration came from the February Scrapbook Trends, but the original layout was an 8.5x11 layout by Rhonda Palazzari. I added a 4x6 photo and changed the title placement. For last minute additions, I added a photo corner with pop dots and three more photo corners acting as arrows to accent the title.

These shots were from the Pinewood Derby in March '08.

My "cake bake" layout was also inspired by the February Scrapbook Trends - a layout by Pamella Brown. I pulled out some Scenic Route ruled paper for this one and had fun finding trims to match the "My Family" scraps.

The Cub Scouts have an annual cake bake. These shots are from the November '07 event - Blake's first with that pack.

I'm on a Cub Scout roll...In Cub Scouts, when you go visit a place that is a requirement for a badge, it's called a Go See. I scraplifted a layout on Allison Davis' blog to document this Go See to a local fire department. (March '08)

I scraplifted another Allison Davis layout for these wrestling shots of Tom and the boys on Blake's birthday in '07. It was his 9th birthday. This weekend will be a special one for our family. After five years in Cub Scouts, Blake will be "crossing over" to Boy Scouts at the pack Pinewood Derby on Sunday. I'm nowhere near "caught up" with scrapping his Cub Scout photos, but I've been trying to get as many scrapped as possible before Sunday. I've pulled everything Cub Scout related and I'm going to put them in a K & Co. Cub Scout album to give him at his Crossover.

He's worked really hard and made a big commitment to stick with Cub Scouts. Our goal is to help him and encourage him on his path to Eagle Scout someday.

On a weeknight scrappin' roll...

Completing two layouts a night, two nights in a row makes me happy! Now my husband on the other hand...I think he's wishing I hadn't strung my stuff out in the living room!

The other night I finished this 2-pager of crazy shots of us in '08. I love my three guys so much! Other than adding some Queen & Company pearls, the layout is just the My Family papers. My title is a mix of new Cosmo Cricket Tiny Type alphas, SR letter stickers and cool new Thickers.

I loved this next sheet of patterned paper and wanted as much of the design to show as possible. I rotated the paper around a few times and finally decided to use my three photos (2 of them really cropped down) on the bottom portion of the page. I added bling and pearls to the flower centers and then added my title - again a mix of SR stickers and Thickers. The love accent is cut from patterned paper and raised up with pop dots. The layout shows Blake with my sisters Adriane and Lindsey and my parents.

Last night I reminded myself that I needed to get some more Cub Scout layouts finished for Blake. He's crossing over into Boy Scouts in just over a week. I was proud of myself for taking six photos, eliminating one, and cropping the remaining five down to fit on a single page layout. Cub Scouts are always tying knots, so I chose three buttons for my embellishment and tied them with twine. I left the twine long to resemble ropes.

My last layout of the night came together surprisingly quick. I loved the "pieces of my heart" on the strip sheet and decided to add on it for my title. The lower part of the strip sheet had a "journaling box" design. I cut the center out to use it as a frame over one of my photos and journaled in the box beside it. It was a bit hard to leave so much "white space" in the upper right hand corner, but I did it. The "family" square in the upper left corner is adhered with pop dots for a little dimension. I also added the "corner" of Queen & Co. pearls. Oh, and I used my new punch that I got for less than 1/2 price at Joann's last week - another purchase justified!

So far I've finished seven layouts using the "My Family" line!

I love "My Family"...

I scrapped!!! Therefore, the purchase of Fancy Pants' "My Family" line at CKC has been justified. :)

The first layout I completed using this line is a 2-pager using photos from Blake's Blue Gold Cub Scouts' banquet from 2008. I thought this sheet of the family lined up along the bottom edge would be cute with family shots. I used a couple pics we took in '07 when Tom's whole family was together. The kids (and their Uncle Terry) made some pretty ugly/crazy faces in the one shot. It's just who they are!Finally, this last sheet of paper was a great one for a lot of journaling. I love this shot of Blake with his cousin, Jax. Jax has Autism and the photo of these two interacting and laughing was a good one to use to tell the story about their relationship.

I have several other photos pulled out to match up with this line. I LOVE the colors. With two boys, red and blue combos really work with my photos.

I'm off to create another layout now...!!!