Changed Again!

As you may have noticed, I changed my blog up again! I just can't seem to find a background that I am happy with. I am digitally challenged so I can't do a custom background and I don't have the time or energy to sort through all of the free stuff that is out there. I guess this will do for now...and as we all get back into the groove of school the fall leaves will be appropriate before we know it! (Although, my children don't start school until after Labor Day so we do really have a few weeks to go.)

Since we are winding down the summer, I thought it appropriate to post a few of my beach layouts. These are both from our trip(s) down to Ocean City, NJ a couple of weeks ago.

On this first one, I misted the kraft paper with some Glimmer Mist, used the outer edge of some Jillibean paper as a frame, added some BoBunny chipboard, stamped a title with my Absolute Favorite stamps from Studio Calico, and finished it up with some sand on the bottom. How cute are my girls all lovey dovey on the beach...if only they could be that way all of the time!!



I love this second layout. It is only one sheet of patterned paper, some chipboard, and a title. How easy is that??? I masked and misted the outer frame with Glimmer Mist, and used the same Bo Bunny Chipboards that I used on the first layout. Notice how I used more colorful pieces of the chipboard on this one and gave it a completely different feel from the first --- while still using the same product? I love the versatility of the Bo Bunny chips!!

Reading and Scrapping

I am an avid reader and a love of reading is one thing I have tried to stress to my children. They enjoy reading but summer is hard. They go to camp 9 - 5 every day and are so tired come bed time. However, Barnes and Noble, Commerce Bank, and our library have made it easy to get my kids to read no matter what.

Barnes and Noble gives every child that reads at least 8 books (any 8 books) a free book at the end of the summer. All you have to do is fill out the form found here and your child can grab a free book from a selection they provide. We went and collected our free books today.
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Commerce Bank, for those of you in the NE, will put $10 in your child's savings acct if your child reads 10 books. We still have to fill out our forms but you can find them on their website.

Lastly, our local library gives kids a free spin on the "prize" wheel for every 300 minutes they read during the summer. I don't know what kind of prizes they give out but I do know my son has been logging his minutes all summer on their website and he was so excited when he got a message saying he could stop in to spin the wheel! Maybe your library has a similar program? It is certainly worth checking out!


Now, on to scrapping....I am taking my first online scrapbook class. I wasn't sure how I would like it but this one, Sketchbook2, is fabulous!! Kelly Purkey is amazing and I love that I get a pdf file 3x a week that I can work with at my own pace. I have only had a chance to work with one of the 3 sketches I have received so far but I have the pdf files printed and will be able to use them whenever I get a free moment in which to scrap. As it turns out, I was more inspired with one of the designer's takes on the sketch and ended up using her layout (Jenn Olsen's) as my springboard.



MME and SC papers. SC stamps. Smooches ink

You Make me Smile

I promised to share some layouts that I did while away at CKC but here it is almost a week later and I have yet to post anything. The weekdays just seem to get away from me. I did manage to unpack (mostly) and clear off my scrap desk in anticipation of posting and scrapping. But as you can tell, that's as far as it got....

Anyway, here is the first of many layouts I will share. I put some more of my Technique Tuesday tiles to use. I think I may own every shape they make! I adore them but seem to forget that I have them. They are so easy to use -- you can ink them, mist them, cover them with patterned paper, use them plain. Here I inked one with chalk ink and then stamped on it, the outer one I misted and then painted with some smooch ink. The patterned paper is Fancy Pants -- it was already swirled, all I did was add the two word stamps from Ali Edwards. I painted the stamp with Smooch ink rather than using an ink pad. The smooch makes it look more like a foam stamped image.

Sketchabilities #21

Back from CKC and am EXHAUSTED!! My girlfriends and I headed out on Wednesday and I just got back this morning. There is nothing like four days of scrapping and shopping with some great girls!! Because I was away, my Sketchabilities post is a little overdue....I hope you will head on over and check out everyone's amazing layouts!! They are so inspiring! When I first saw this sketch I wasn't sure what to do....I had never done anything quite like this. I must say though, after my initial hesitation, I was thrilled with the result. What do you think?





Keep checking back...I'll be posting some of the many layouts I did while at CKC this week! 24 completed and 9 waiting finishing touches....quite a productive weekend!