More heavy lifting

The "Lift It" crop continues over at My Scraps and More. I didn't get to partake in too many challenges this week with activities in full swing. We have officially started baseball with practices two or three times a week -- opening day is this Saturday with a 10:00am game. That will be interesting with youngest's dance class running from 9:30 to 10:30am. Ah, the joys of having active kids!

On a happy note, N's basketball team took home the championship trophy yesterday! Go red! They played an awesome game and showed real teamwork on the court! As luck would have it, this is the ONE game I forgot my camera! We had a crazy day of running beforehand so when I left to drop the girls at a birthday party across town, my camera wasn't even a thought....except I needed to go straight from drop off to the game in order to catch tip-off. Oh well, I got an 'ok' shot with my phone and that will just have to do. Hey, a big trophy should be a large reminder of his awesome game!! What's the kid need yet ANOTHER scrap page for?!?! LOL.

With that, I will share the one lonely page I did finish for one of the lift it challenges:



I am loving the Cameo!! Cutting fonts straight off of my computer is awesome!! Now, to download more fonts!! Any recommended favorites?

Bright

Spring must be in the air because I find myself drawn to bright colors these days when scrapbooking...quite unusual for me actually. My stash of Echo Park papers has dwindled with this new trend! Not that I am complaining -- I am already on the look out for their new Note to Self Line. I am hoping My Scraps and More stocks it soon ... a little birdie told me they will be getting it!

As I look at these layouts, I also realize I tend to gravitate toward the bright colors when I do pages about my son. Must be a reflection of his bright personality! :)

Entered into the Dots & Stripes contest at Echo Park:



Based on a Color Room sketch from a few weeks ago:

New Toy

As I mentioned before, I just got the Silhouette Cameo machine. It is nothing short of FABULOUS!! I am not usually one for 'cutesy' designs but how can you resist this Parrot? These photos are from our vacation in Tybee Island when a parrot scared the daylights out of my daughter. She wasn't expecting such a loud squeak to come out of the bird! What better way to put that Cameo to work than to cut out a multi-cut/colored parrot? I think he is adorable!!



Daughter and I are going to spend the day cutting out gymnastics designs for her walls! I can't wait...a toy we can both enjoy!

The News

I have been selected to join the design team over at My Scraps and More. SO EXCITED!! Tammi is the owner and she is awesome! The turn around time on ordering from her site and receiving the goods is amazing. The pricing and deals can't be beat. She carries my absolute favorite manufacturers: Crate, My Minds Eye, Cosmo, Basic Grey...and so many more. On top of all of that....the women on the forum are fabulous!! Such a welcoming and talent group of ladies. At the very least, stop on over and say hello!! Right now we are having a month long "Lift It" Crop -- I have posted a number of my lifts over the past week.

Today I'll share the layout I submitted for the DT call --- I loved how easily this one came together for me. The weathered wood paper was perfect for our Arizona horseback riding picture and those old October Afternoon and Cosmo papers have been sitting in my scraps pile for months but I couldn't bring myself to throw them out. So glad I hadn't!

Life Today

This past seven or so days have been a blur. We...

• had Hannah's gymnastics team over for a sleepover. I turned into a drill sergeant around 1:00am when the seven girls were still awake. Giggles were heard as I left the room so at least they didn't take my foul mood too personally. BTW the boys ran and headed to Atlantic City for the night and following day -- good thinking on their part!
• spent an hour an a half at the pediatrician's on Monday b/c Hannah had broken out in a rash during school....turns out she has strep. -- Good thing we had just had the gym team over! I let all of the parents know and so far no one has gotten sick that I know of.
• have gone to bed every night this week by 9:30pm, myself included .. hope I'm not getting sick as well!
• [I] got some awesome news from My Scraps and More!!
• had the sitter cancel last minute so I had to leave work 2 1/2 hours early to take care of school pick-up.
• are off tomorrow!! Teacher in-service day so I am staying home with the kids.
• will spend tomorrow getting the car inspected, running some overdue errands, and playing with my new scrap toy:

So mine doesn't have the cute little peacock on it but excited all the same! I have already cut out a couple of gymnastics things for Hannah to decorate her room!

Many Loves

I have many loves...my children, reading, chocolate, scrapbooking, photography....this past weekend I think I indulged in all of them. In fact, three of them worked quite well together this past weekend! I am taking an online photography course and had a weekend assignment. I had to photograph a person or thing in five different settings. In the house, in front of a window, outside in shade, outside in sun, and outside in indirect light. My youngest jumped at the chance to pose for mom. I love that she hasn't outgrown that --- even at six she still loves to be my little model. Well, with photo assignment complete, I rushed in and printed out a few of the pictures. There were a few shots that captured the light in her eye and with this Color Room sketch and color palette in mind, I set to work.





And the end result:

Farmhouse

I wasn't really sure about Crate Paper's Farmhouse collection upon first glance. I adore the colors but country kitchen and farmhouse embellishments? Could I really put those to use? Like I said, I adore those colors...the teal, orange, and deep red with mustard, so heck, I went ahead and ordered. It is Crate Paper after all!

So happy I did --- the line is now one of my favorites!!



What does a lamp and couch have to do with anything on this page....absolutely nothing, but I think they work, don't you?

Education

I am lucky enough to attend a professional program at the Wharton School for one week a year, for three years. Every year, I immerse myself in learning and LOVE it! I wish I could go back to school, just for the sake of learning. No exams, no pre-requisites, no required classes to graduation. Just learning because my mind yearns to be saturated in facts and knowledge. As a 19 year old college student, you don't appreciate the opportunity that schooling offers....at least I didn't. Now, I live for this week! Sadly, this is my last year. It will be over much too quickly but off I go to enjoy every last minute!

House Cleaning

I finally got around to that house cleaning --- easier to do when you threaten, oh I mean enlist, the help of your three children! I still have mounds of laundry to fold but at least counters have been cleaned off and toys picked up. I have yet to peek into the kids rooms....I am figuring they took the piles from downstairs and now have new piles in their rooms! LOL. I know as a kid that is how I cleaned!! :)

With the house picked up, I am headed off to scrap a bit more. It has certainly been a productive crafty weekend!

Interested in Scrapping?

My Scraps and More is hosting a month long "Lift It" challenge. Each day, Monday thru Friday with some extra bonuses on some weekends, a new layout will be posted to 'lift'. Prizes are being awarded and you have until the end of the month to complete as many "lifts" as you can. Five challenges have already been posted and I have completed three layouts. I don't envision that I will do all 20+ but I am certainly off to go a good start!

Check out what I've done this far....

This first challenge was all about paper layering and clusters. I don't layer much in general but I was able to put that 6x6 MME pad to good use here!


The second challenge was based on a Julie Bonner layout. I adore here clean lines and use of tags. I didn't follow her layout exactly but I took those two concepts to heart with this one.


Lastly, a challenge based on Kelly Goree's layout from CHA featuring the new PB&J line. Unusually bright for me...but I am digging the slant...


I hope you'll come play along......