Citrus Tree Studio Sneaks

We are only a week away from the July Citrus Tree Studio reveal! I am so thrilled to be joining them this month as a Guest Designer. Their kits are so amazing and their Design Team --- awesome!

Here are a couple of sneaks to wet the palette.






If you want to see even more from the other designers, be sure to click on over to CTS, HERE.

Scrap Challenge

I posted a scrap challenge over on the 3 Scrappy Boys Blog...go check it out HERE



Supplies: Bazzill Cardstock, Studio Calico fabrips and stickers, Basic Grey mini alpha, Jillibean corrugated alpha, October Afternoon chipboard and circle, Studio Calico mist in Lemonade and Piglet.

Kayaking Adventure

What a fun time DS and I had kayaking this morning! It was my very first time and DS's as well, 'almost" --- I say 'almost' because he has boating at camp and they go around the lake in kayaks but I am not sure how much instruction is ever given. We spent about an hour and a half on the lake and tackled "the Amazon". On one end of this man made lake, there is a winding river that leads to the dam. It has all kinds of low hanging branches and timbers that you have to navigate around. Of course, I was the first to run straight into the brush and have to work my way out. Oops! DS did the same a few moments later so I didn't feel too bad!



If you have the chance you should give it a try --- it was good fun and not too difficult. It was so much fun, we already made reservations to do the three hour sunset trip on Friday!

Scrapping goodness

Finally a little time squeezed in for scrapbooking. I must get that pile of unopened supplies down a bit so I don't feel so guilty buying more as they come out of CHA, it's only three weeks away!

DD has decided to either turn her face, hide her face, or make funny faces at me every time I get my camera out. It is a shame...I thought I had her so well trained!!







Supplies: Crate paper papers, stickers, and diecuts, Cosmo cricket sticker, AE stamp, SC mist and tag, Maya Rd tag, 7G ticket


**finally after 6 months, I have figured out how to blog with photos from my iPad!

- Aubree

A Week Well Spent!

The kiddos had a week off between school and summer camp. So, I took the week off to spend with them and what a wonderful (albeit trying at times) week it has been! We have gone out to breakfast more than once, taken in a movie (I highly recommend Mr Poppers Penguins), shopped at the Apple store, gone ice skating, and tonight .... Headed to the Phillies stadium for a special work event with DH's company.



We had open access to most of the stadium....media room, dugout, and even the player's batting cages! The kids had a blast...and I admit, I did as well!

All of that and the week isn't over! Not sure what tomorrow will bring but Saturday, DS and I are going out kayaking for the first time!

***Oh, and I failed to mention we have also eaten our weight in water ice and ice cream!!

- Aubree

Tooty Ta

There is nothing like watching a bunch of first graders and their parents do a modern version of the chicken dance. DD had a class presentation last week and the began the festivities with a rendition of "Tooty Ta" .... hands together, butts out, etc. It was very very funny to watch. I was much too busy taking pictures to volunteer to get up there and do the crazy dance!

I couldn't wait to scrap the moment and I thought this sketch was the perfect launching point --



However, as you can see, I didn't stick with the sketch for too awfully long. I loved the idea of the circles so I stuck with the theme both with the paper choice as well as the punches. But when stuck a series of photos on the top and bottom, it just didn't seem quite right. So instead you got this....



Supplies: Cosmo Cricket patterned papers, Cosmo Cricket alpha, border stickers, and chipboard, Cooredinations/Cosmo textured cardstock, Bazzill Cardstock, Studio Calico packaging, Lily Bee rub-ons, LYB tag, Echo Park sticker, and misc paint and floss.

On Vacation

Kids are finally finished with school as of tomorrow! We had a fun weekend with lots of water balloon fights, baseball closing ceremonies (DS's team didn't win the big game but we are Super Proud of him and the other boys and they took home a 2nd place trophy), swimming with friends, and some scrapping to boot!

I have yet to take pictures of this weekend's creations... and some are for design work so I can't share them yet anyway but here is one from a few weeks ago after our trip to the Franklin Institute in Philly.



It is a mismosh of tags from K & Co, paper bits from 7G, and stamping with chalk coloring. It is certainly not my norm but was very fun to put together. DD loved the electricity exhibit and couldn't help but to keep "shocking" herself on Ben Franklin's key.

Weekend Update

What an exciting day of baseball! DS's team advanced to the Championship game with a 14 -7 win over the green team. While the final score doesn't reflect it, it was a nail biter of a game!! We were behind for the first half with a number of bloopers made by our team. Luckily they got their act together, settled down, and came back to take the lead in the fourth. DS had a couple of awesome plays! A double play in the third with a last minute catch and throw to first. Then later, an attempted catch, missed, but kept it together and made the throw for an out at second. Whew. I think I get more nervous and excited than the boys!! Wish them luck for the finals on Tuesday!!


With all of the baseball and end of school year activities, I really haven't had a lot of time to scrapbook. Outside of assignments and such, there just hasn't been time. I did manage to get this layout done last weekend. It is goodies from the 3 Scrappy Boys June trio as well as some October Afternoon 5 & Dime rub ons that can be found in the 3SB shop.
Of course, it has taken me all week to get the picture taken and get it posted! I have another layout sitting here that is 'placed' but not adhered. Maybe I will get to that tonight? I doubt it though....I got the July kit from Citrus Tree Studio and I can't wait to start working with it -- I am so excited to be guest designing for them next month!!

On Notice

Mr or Mrs Squirrel, I am herbey putting you on notice....you are not welcome in my home, nor are you welcome on my gutters or rooftop. I did not care for the 5:30am wake up call that you provided me yesterday. The scratching or chewing must stop! There are no acorns or nuts of any kind hidden in my downspouts. Please, take your things and find yourself a nice green tree to live in. I am formally evicting you!!

Purchasing Error

You know you really truly love the look of something when you find you have inadvertently bought it three times!! As I was organizing my scraproom the other day, I came to realize I had purchased three sets of Crate Paper's Portrait border sticker sheets. Oops! They are lovely though, aren't they?!?



No harm done. This way, I didn't feel guilty using half a sheet of the borders on just one layout!! I also didn't hesitate to use them on a layout that I wasn't so sure they would look right on --- so glad I tried them b/c I think they look fabulous on this baseball layout. It is certainly a far cry from the "wedding themed" line they came from!



I swear, seeing DD all decked out in this catcher's gear is worth the price of admission!!! Oh yeah, it's free but still.....SO CUTE!!!

Supplies: Crate Paper Portrait stickers, Crate Paper pp, October Afternoon chipboard stickers and border sticker, Basic Grey alpha stickers, Maya Road stars, Studio Calico mist in Classic Calico & White, Jenni Bowlin pennant sticker, and Jillibean Soup frame.

Weekend

Happenings this weekend:

Baseball: DS's team clinched first place for the season with a big win Thursday night. So, with a meaningless game Saturday, coach opted to switch it all up and play everyone in different positions. DS hasn't been able to pitch this year since he is now one of the youngest kids having moved up a division this year....so coach let him pitch an inning. He was very excited and did well! Even with the fielding switch-ups, DS's team still won the game!! They get a bye for the first round of the playoffs but will play in the semi-final game next Saturday.

Baseball Part Deux: DD also had a baseball game this weekend. She is such a superstar! All of the coaches rave about her...partially because she is quite a player but mostly b/c she is so darn cute out there! While I shouldn't be proud of this, it does make me smile...she spends her time in the field spitting and when base running, she feels the need to slide EVERY SINGLE TIME. She just loves the dirt!

Soccer: DD had her last soccer game(s) of the season. She managed to score a goal and was so proud to receive this:



I am very proud of her but also, SO glad at least one sports season is finally over!

Misc: The rest of the weekend was spent like this --


Scrapbooking:

What would I do....

What would I do without kids? Would it be weird to go to kids movies without kids in tow? Because I just adore Jack Black and the Panda movies are just awesome! I think I liked this one more than the first!! I surprised the kids tonight and took them to a movie after school....I may have loved it more than they did! Needless to say, if they make more of these movies, I will be going with or without kids!!

_____________________

So on to some scrappiness.....as promised, I have a layout using the 3 Scrappy Boys Trio kit to share! The Fri Sat Sun rub-on wasn't included in the kit but it was perfect to capture how we spend most of our hot weekends in the summer --- running through the sprinklers! These pictures are actually from last weekend when it was like 100 degrees here! As you can see, the sprinklers are more than just to run through...we play wiffleball in them as well!

June 3 Scrappy Boys Kit

Have you checked out the 3 Scrappy Boys kits yet? They went up yesterday....amazing! The main kit is chocked full of Crate Paper Neighborhood papers and chipboard. In addition, there are Studio Calico rub-ons, Maya Rd bead charms and acrylic houses, and some fun tissue paper and ribbon --- good, good stuff! With all of these goodies, it didn't take me too long to whip up some layouts.



It is hard to believe the photo in the above layout is 3 years old! Look at how cute those kids are .... I really am so blessed! As the little bird tweets, we are certainly living on 123 Joy Street!



The kids seem to be very into 'collecting' worms these days. They dig them up, put them in a bowl, and then a few hours later, release them all back into the wild. DD is very funny as she releases hers.....she gives each a name and sends it on its way saying, "bye bye wormie Bert" or "bye bye wormie Sally". It is quite funny!



The littlest one gets dragged to baseball game after baseball game with her two siblings both playing. Good thing she can be easily entertained. Give her a jumprope and she will hop around for hours!

I'll be back in a few with some layouts using the 3 Scrappy Boys Trio kit ---- I just couldn't resist getting that one too! It is just as fabulous if not more so than the Main!