3 Scrappy Boys Sneaks

Are you excited to see the April 3 Scrappy Boys kit? You should be as it is AMAZING!! I got to work with the Main kit this month and I must say, I was a little worried upon first sight. It isn't a line I would have otherwise run out to buy. It just isn't my style. But I'll tell you what, I may now need to go grab more of it! I fell in love with it!

In no particular order, here are sneaks of the three layouts I did this month!








Don't forget to enter the giveaway in yesterday's post --- I will be picking a winner tomorrow!!

Final Reveal - Sketchabilities

After two terms, my tenure as a designer at Sketchabilities has come to a close. It has been an amazing journey and I can't begin to thank Karan enough for her fantastic sketches and allowing me to be part of her team. While it will cut down on my monthly "assignments" there is no doubt that I will continue to play along with the reveals!!

And with that, my final reveal --



Before I go however -- I am going to send one of you loyal blog followers and scrapbooking friends a BIG box of scrap goodies. I spent a good number of hours cleaning up my scraproom these past few weeks and come to the conclusion that I have TOO much stuff (it is possible to have too much, really it is!)! So, if you are willing to take on some new supplies leave a comment below. Here is a sneak at 'some' of the goodies....trust me, this is only a tiny bit of it. The box is filled to the brim with papers and embellishments...there might even be a Maya Road album in there as well!



I will select a winner on Friday morning --- the winner will have 5 days to respond or another winner will be chosen.

Chicken and the Egg..

What came first, the scrapbooker or the shopper? More and more I am seeing celebrity scrapbookers (and I don't mean movie celebrities -- I mean the AE's of the scrapbooking industry) advertising stores on their blogs. The thing is, it works. I click over to the store to see what it is all about...don't you? Heaven knows, most scrapbookers LOVE to shop and the blog link is such a convenient and inexpensive way to advertise!! I never click on site bar ads...but you put a link in the body of your message and I am all over it. Just the other day I ended up with this shirt from Shop Ruche all because of a link in a blog post.



I love the blouse and wouldn't have known about that particular store without the link but I wonder...will I eventually tire of seeing link after link and just disregard them altogether?

Now that I have rambled on for a bit, for all of my scrapbooking friends out there, I want to let you know I am going to be doing a give-away on Wednesday. Be sure to check back in then --- I will post the details with my final Sketchabilities reveal!

Busy Crafter

I apologize for being M.I.A.this week. My excuses are three-fold....first, spring sports are upon us and our schedule is crazy these days. The kids had sports practices every single night this week! Thankfully, on Wednesday some things were cancelled because of the weather but DS still had his indoor baseball clinic. Second, I have been crafting up a storm but can't share just yet. I completed SEVEN layouts in the same number of days. I should be able to start sharing some later this week! Lastly, I was just plain lazy. I didn't have too much to share in the craft arena so I didn't make blogging a priority. I did however have a couple of funny things happen this week but for some reason, I find myself a little guarded when I post here publicly. Maybe I'll share another day...in the meantime, here is a little something I made a month or so ago.

This layout is based on a Pencillines sketch. Since my term with Sketchbilities is coming to a close this month,I threw my hat in the ring for the Pencillines Design Team Call. I didn't make the team, but I still adore this layout. It is so bright and cheerful -- very unlike me to create something so colorful!









I'm not sure I love the handwritten journaling but I love the overall layout. The rainbow and polka dot papers are Studio Calico exclusives designed for them by Crate Paper (swoon).

Weekend Happenings

We had another fun filled busy busy weekend!! But before I get to the details of that, I thought I would start off by sharing another Crate paper layout. I have started going through some old photos of my kids and am trying to scrap some of them to include in their albums. If not, they may think their life didn't start until I started scrapping....hmm.



Quite by accident I ordered these Kaiser frames twice --- guess I should pay more attention to my supplies. It worked out b/c I really wanted two identical frames on this layout. At first I thought I would include a poem or something in the second frame but after working with this one, I opted to leave it empty. What do you think? DH doesn't know it yet but I will have him write a litle note to DD to include in the kraft envelope. It will be a nice little surprise for her as she flips through her album after she is grown.



On to our weekend.........we had sports after sports. Two of the three had baseball practice, one had a friend's swim party, everyone had Sunday school, and DD had a soccer game. Since DH couldn't be at two places at once (baseball & soccer), I made sure to take my camera. DD had a spectacular game. She was aggressive and really kept her head in the game. I have yet to edit the photos but I thought I would share a couple of my faves. I know my mom likes to lurk to see what is going on up here (you know mom, you are welcome to comment :) )



She also got to try out being goalie. She must have stopped at least a dozen goal attempts --- one did finally make it past her but 1 of 13 isn't so bad!



DS and I decided to get a little creative in the kitchen --- we had a hankering for something sweet but didn't feel like cookies or cake. So, we thought we just use what we had on hand and figure it out as we went along. Voila, our very own Krispie Butterfinger Pie (not the best picture but with my stomach growling, I wasn't about to waste time trying to get a magazine worthy shot).



What is it? Graham Cracker Crust layered with crushed Butterfinger Bars, Rice Krispie treats, peanut butter, chocolate syrup and peanut butter chips. Top it with a dollop of whip cream and it is heaven on earth! YUM!!

Explosion...

MAJOR explosion in my scrap room today --- so bad that I had to call in support troops!!

I have been working on some Design Team assignments and decided I could use a touch of paint on my layout. So I grabbed a green paint dauber -- a BRAND NEW green paint dauber. Desk is in a state of disarray with all of my kits and supplies scattered about as well as the layout I am 90% done with. Being that the dauber is new, I undo the plastic wrap, shake, and SQUEEZE to get the paint up and onto the sponge dauber. Uh, Oh!!! Paint flies EVERYWHERE. I was covered from finger to elbow, pants, everything. There is green paint all over my nice brown carpet, on the white closet doors, in my camera bag, on my iPod and speakers which sit across the room on a shelf........it is EVERYWHERE and I literally mean EVERYWHERE!

It took myself, DH, and DS the better part of 30 minutes to get to the point where the carpet was looking like there wouldn't be noticable GREEN spots. I will forever be reminded of the "incident" with the green streaks that wouldn't come off of the door, or the green that is wedged down into the lock switch of my ipod or the green that now trims the zipper of my camera bag. Ironically, not a speck of paint got onto the layout I was working on .... the layout that was misted and could have used a few drops of paint (lol)!

Yet the best part, in my mad rush to get to the bathroom to rinse my arm and get rid of the bottle before it dripped more all over, I unknowingly step in a pile of paint....yes, trekking it to the bathroom...and trekking it back from bathroom....oh and just for fun, trekking it once more to bathroom before realizing I had stepped in paint!

At least I kept a sense of humor about it and didn't freak out (which by the way, is very unlike me)....of course DS couldn't understand why I thought it was so funny and kept asking why I was laughing?!?!

And now that you have been throughly entertained, I have a layout to share using my new Crate Paper goodies!! Crate was one of the companies that I couldn't resist ordering as soon as I saw their new releases --- and I am so glad that I did! Emma's Shoppe is GORGEOUS!!

Design Team Call

3 Scrappy Boys is having a Design Team call! It is a fantastic kit club to design for and a great group of ladies on the message boards! So hop on over to the site for all of the DETAILS!! The deadline is April 3!

As part of the 3 Scrappy Boys team, we each post a monthly challenge on the boards. My challenge to everyone, including myself, is to use STAMPS. I know we all have them, for me, it is TOO many! I don't use them nearly enough! For this challenge, I created my own patterned paper using the 'Disclaimer' set from 7 gypsies. This set can be used as individual sayings or as you can see, as a whole sheet.



Let's see what you create.....dust off those stamps and put them to use!

Sketch #43 - Be You

Scrapbooking doesn't always come easy -- LOL! I know, it sounds ridiculous to all of you non-scrappers but seriously, creativity seems to ebb and flow for me. I have days/weeks where everything just seems to flow. Unfortunately, I fear this layout was created at LOW TIDE. I truely struggled with this one. I love the Pink Paislee papers, I adore this photo of my daughter, and Karan created a wonderful sketch but it still isn't quite what I wanted it to be.




Sadly, this is my next to last layout for Sketchabilities. I have served two terms and it is time to allow others to inspire. The new design team has been posted over on the site --- go check them out. There are some amazing gals joining Karan's team!! In addition, be sure to check out what the other gals did with this sketch, amazing work as always!!
I have a few more layouts to post this week and I will have one more Sketchabilities layout to share at the end of the month --- Also, since I recently cleaned up/out my scrap room, I am thinking a giveaway is in order so be sure to bookmark this blog or become a follower! I will post details soon!!

An American in Paris

The Philadelphia Flower Show - An American in Paris - was this week and it was nothing less than stunning. It amazes me what one can do with flowers! There were Parisian store fronts and cafes, carriages on their way to market, merry-go-rounds, and a room right out of Versailles. It was spectacular.

Exciting Game

Championship Basketball game last night. It couldn't have gotten any closer...or more exciting!! Our team was undefeated going into the game. The opponent had only lost one...to us. We knew we were in for a nail biter! We changed leads with almost every basket. With two minutes to go, DS's team was up by 6 -- the largest lead of the game. Very exciting....BUT unfortunately, we couldn't sustain it and ended up losing by a basket. It was heart breaking loss for the boys but they took it in stride.

I of course watched most of the game from behind my lens!







While it isn't the right sport, I couldn't leave you without a layout. This picture is from DS's roller hockey game a few weeks ago. I started out working on a two page layout as I had multiple shots I wanted to use but it wasn't working for me so I ended up with this single photo layout. I guess I will just have to use the other pixs on other layouts!

Must do Photoshoot

I had the sketch all laid out for this layout...what I was missing was a photo. As I flipped through my online album in search of a good shot, I realized how few pictures I have of myself with each of my children. I have a few with each but none are particularly stellar photos....they are from school events where the lighting is poor and there were too many distractions. So my goal for the next few weeks is to get with each of my children for a quick photo shoot. I was hoping to get one in today but it is rainy and gray out. Maybe next weekend. In the meantime, I will continue to use what I have. This shot is from a Mother's Day brunch that DD's class had at school in 2009.

I am loving these Echo Park papers...my love for this line may rival my adoration of Crate Paper's Restoration line!

Selected........

I am so excited to have been asked to be a Guest Designer over at Sweet Peach Crop Shop for the anniversary celebration...stay tuned!

Busy Week

It has been a very busy week with multiple school events --- today, DS and his enrichment class presented a Biography Museum. Each student chose a person to research and each wrote a biography. For the presentation, the students pretended to be figures in a wax museum that spoke about their lives when coins were dropped into their cups. It was very cute -- and quite educational! Here is DS as Jackie Robinson (imagine that, my son chose to write about a sports figure!):



Earlier this week, youngest DD's after school program presented "The Presidents". DD chose to be Gerald Ford -- or rather, she was 'assigned' Gerald Ford. She made it clear that it was not her choice. She would not have chosen him because he liked too many sports! LOL. What a difference from DS! She did a great job getting up in front of everyone and telling us all about former President Ford. I was impressed that even in Kindergarten the amount of information they each had learned, not only about their assigned president but also all of the others! I learned quite a bit during this program!!



Before I go, I did want to update you all on the pet status here in the Greenspun household. I appreciate all of the comments about our hamster 'issue'....you will be happy to hear that the new hamster seems to have adjusted nicely, it was a bit touch and go for the first 24 - 48 hours. Also, our fish (including the replacement) are also doing well. DD was so happy when we got them....it really is the simple things in life, isn't it?!?!



Supplies: Work In Progress kit featuring Echo Park For the Record papers, JB butterflies and label sticker, American Craft Alpha and rub-on, Maya Road envelope, Tim Holtz key, MM paint and misc. twine.

In addition, I have fallen in love with all of the 'coffee stain' stamps out there, but I just can't bring myself to order one. So, I repurposed this cup and managed to get exactly the same look without the cost!! Love that!!

A little Late

Last week's Color Room was all about blues and greens. I love the color combo yet it is one I rarely use. So, I went to work. The sketch screamed sleeping baby to me (with a single picture and floating stars)....as you can see, that is NOT where I ended up! I love that! I like that I can sit and let creativity take over and not worry that the end result looks NOTHING like my original vision!



A few close-up details...as you can see I used glitter which is VERY unlike me!!

Supplies: Papers - Basic Grey and Bazzill; Rub-ons - Studio Calico and Royal Brush; Stamp - EK Success; Alpha - American Crafts thickers; Bookplate - Holtz; Chipboard - Basic Gey; Button - Jenni Bowlin; Floss - CTMH; Mist - Studio Calico; Punch - Marta Stewart; Pen - Signo; Thread; Glitter