Best Ever Hiding Place

I have had this collection in my posession for what seems like FOREVER!!!  I'm so excited to finally have found the perfect set of photos to scrap using WRMK Geo-Hectic.  It's a really cute collection, and when I was playing around with the colours of these photos in Picnik, I thought they looked a little retro (I'm sure our retro kitchen cabinets didn't hurt) and I think Geo-Hectic has a bit of a retro vibe to it...so it seemed like a perfect match!

I used Kristy Lee's sketch from www.scrapbooksteals.com (Topaz #5) for this layout...

Here's my layout!

In addition to some of the Geo-Hectic collection, I used some I-Rock bling, Thickers, Sassafras letters, twine (can't get enough) and my Ranger Espresso ink.  OH, and I JUST that day had gotten 7 rolls of washi tape in the mail that I had ordered from Etsy...you see a bit of that too.  I wasn't sure how I would feel about the washi tape in person, but I love it!  Just a little something to add!

Thanks for checking me out! ;)

Canmore 2011

I found this sketch (perfect for Joely's Canmore layout) through one of my crafty groups and I'm so glad I did!  I really love its simplicity, but it was not an easy sketch for me to execute...at all!  LOL!  I actually ended up completely tossing my first version...wasting a bunch of time and a bunch of I-Rock gems...lol!  Oh well, I'm so much happier with the way the second layout turned out!  I bought this Martha Stewart butterfly punch last week from Michael's (for 25% off) and I've been waiting for the perfect, simple layout to use it on!  This was the one!  Glad it only took a week to find!  I love these little butterflies!  Here's the sketch from the Sweet Peach Crop Shop blog (2nd August Sketch)...

Cute, right!?  This was my take on it...

Plain white card stock, no name ribbon, BG buttons, Sass lettering for the title, Crate Paper Emma's Shoppe paper (the strip down the right-hand side, the butterflies and the journaling tag), I-Rock gems and Sew Easy made this layout work for me!  I'm pleased with the results!

A Year At A Glance...

I did a layout similar to this one and I just love to see how much can change in a year when it comes to seeing their photos month-by-month all laid out on one page!!

I used a sketch by Kristy Lee at www.scrapbooksteals.com (Topaz #4) and with a little modification of photo placement, I managed to finish Owen's year at a glance layout!

Here's the sketch...

Here's my take...

I used Crate Paper's Toy Box collection, which I got from my awesome swap buddy in the summer swap box exchange!  Super cute collection...I love the old school retro feel of it.  Added some AC Thickers and a few brads, buttons and ribbon from my own collection and VOILA!  I pretty pleased with how it turned out, even though I feel as though I could have embellished a bit more...however, it was time to step away from this layout...LOL!  

What a cute boy!!!

I'm adding this in...because it's just too funny!  This is the layout I did for Joely's "Growing Like A Weed" frist year page...totally different sketch...very similar results...lol!

This is Kristy Lee's sketch for MWM #2...from July 2010!!!

And this is where I took it!

LOL...look familiar!  

A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words

Truly.  One of my favourite photos ever.  This photo (4x6) completely captures the mischievous side of Owen...and I love it.

Another EXCELLENT sketch from Kristy Lee at www.scrapbooksteals.com.  This is Topaz 2...I can't believe I'm all caught up!  A new Topaz (4) was posted today though...so I'd better get on it.  Here's Topaz 2...

And my layout...

I definitely strayed from the sketch because I just recently discovered picnik.com...it's a photo editing site and I just can't get enough!!!  You will probably see MANY edited photos, collages, etc. in the days to come.

I used plain red card stock for the background and layered and embellished with Sassafras Monstrosity.  I really had fun doing this layout, but I found the loooooooooong title especially satisfying.  I really enjoyed mixing up the Thickers and Remarks to get the look I was going for.  

Thanks for peeking in!

Me Too, Me Too!

There was the most AWESOME guest sketcher this week on www.scrapbooksteals.com, Kristina MacKeen, and all I can say is WOW!  She totally rocked it, had a fantastic collection to work with, and I jumped on it!  Here's the sketch...

And here's where I took it...

I snagged my first-ever Sassafras box sale after some scrappy friends recommended it!  They had been super happy with their last pick up from Sass!  I also realized that I only had one collection from Sassafras (Monstrosity) and I didn't know why, because I really like them!  So, a friend picked it up yesterday from the border store I had it shipped to and I dug in as soon as it was here!!!

I used primarily Cherry Delicious, with my background page from Mix and Match.  The only items used on this layout that don't belong to Sass are the buttons (basic grey and Crate Paper), brads (Imaginisce - To Love and Cherish, and again, basic grey) and pink Thickers for the second half of the title.  Oh, and of course the journaling strips are just Recollections plain white card stock inked with Espresso pigment ink.

Kristina, LOVE this sketch...thank you!

Worm Rescue

There were HUNDREDS of worms on our driveway after a crazy rainstorm in the area.  When we got home from our walk, I told Joely that worms belong in the grass or garden so that they're safe and she made it her mission to return them there!  It was crazy how many worms there were!  CRAZY!  She went through her three stage process with EVERY worm (pick it up, show mom, throw it in the grass)...I bet she did this for over an hour...and that was with me helping her return the worms to the grass!

I didn't follow a sketch for this layout, but I should have waited because today's guest sketcher on www.scrapbooksteals.com (Kristina MacKeen) drew out a perfect one for these photos...time to look for some more photos to scrap!

I used a combination of American Crafts Backyard and Blue Skies collections for this layout.  I just love the bold colours and patterns in all the AC collections.  Definitely one of my favourites! A Fiskars punch helped with with the edging and the Sew Easy stitched my two layering pieces together.  I just picked up a bunch of Thickers from M's on sale last week and it didn't take long for them to make their debut!  I also added a little 'x' stitch over each letter to make it look like I had stitched them on...did it work?  heehee.  I ruched some ribbon at the bottom of my 5x7 to ground it a bit and used to buttons in my stash to dress up the wormy words.

That worm.  Oh, that worm.  I found some worm clip art and felt that this was the most appropriate wormy to add a bit of fun to the page.  It was a bit of a challenge to get him printed out in the right size, but there he is.  I went over the black lines to darken them up and then using a Versamark pen, shaded in the brown segments and added some brown/copper embossing powder.  I'm really pleased with how he turned out.  The perfect slimy embellishment for this wormy layout!

Ride Junkie

I will honestly say that putting my two-year old on a roller coaster was not at the top of my list.  However, Pete is a die-hard ride-lover and there was no height requirement for this particular roller coaster at Marineland.  Off they went to wait in line, while I stayed with a sleeping Owen in the stroller.
I used Sketchy Thursday's 8.4 Sketch as my inspiration for this layout...

I started with a sheet of roughed up 12x12 Recollections Kraft paper and smeared some teal blue craft paint here and there.  The blue/green layering papers belong to Splash Dance by Imaginisce and the brown is a piece from Fancy Pants, Fine and Dandy (Snazzy).  I used my Sew Easy to make some loop-de-loops on the layout and to stitch down the Snazzy card stock.  The yellow trims also belong to Fine and Dandy (LOVE these kinds of trims...LOVE), a bit of twine, Pearls from my LSS, a random button from my stash, and, of course, Thickers for the title.  I doodled on a couple of the orange letters which hopefully adds a bit of interest to the plain Jane letters.  :)

Back in the "Now"

Here's my most recent layout featuring that sweet baby face of Owen's.  I just can't get enough of those chubby cheeks...and I know his hair is in his face now, but I just can't BEAR to cut it yet!  I love his little surfer, messy "do!"

This was our first monthly challenge posted in a scrappy group I belong to, where I've made some FANTASTIC friends!  This was Chloe's challenge...use NO patterned paper.  This was a tough one for me!  I LOVE PATTERNS...the crazier the better!  BUT, I'm thrilled with the way it came together!

I started with some basic white cardstock, and stitched the cloud shape around the outside edge using Sew Easy thread.  Then, I STAMPED, I know...crazy right?  I am not a confident stamper at all, but I had bought these swirly stamps from M's a while ago, and this was the perfect opportunity to use them.  I also stamped a pattern on the tree trunk to add a bit of dimension, but it definitely doesn't show up in the photo.  The flowers are American Crafts, and I used that Martha Stewart icicle punch for the grass (heehee...I've actually used it more for grass than icicles) and scrunched up the paper.  AC ribbon (green) and no name ribbon (blue) add a bit of fun to the page.  To give the owls a bit of dimension, I used my Espresso pigment ink pad on the back layer (lower owl) and the top layer (upper owl).  I used plain brown Thickers for the title, but used a marker to "stitch" a pattern around the outside edge.  They just looked too plain.  ;) I used the Stretch Your Imagination cartridge for the tree, and Create A Critter for the owls.  

I really enjoyed this little challenge.  I am SUCH a pattern-lover that it was fun to try something new!

Welcome Owen (oops...going back in time again)...

This was yet another sketch by Kristy Lee...

And here's my take using Little Sprout.  A very sweet, baby-friendly collection...

I actually used my Cricut (I know, rare) for some of the little swirlys, added a bit of bling from Dollarama, and Thickers for the title.  A very sweet, simple layout.

Oldie, but a goodie...

This layout features a photo from May 2010, but just looking at it makes me happy.  I know that those of you who use my blog to catch up on our most recent news are going to wonder why I'm going back in time...lol...

Sweet Slumber.

Yet another sketch from Kristy Lee...can you tell how much I just love playing along on the www.scrapbooksteals.com Facebook page?  It's a nice little scrapping family around there...just love it!

Here's Kristy's sketch...

And here's my sweet sleeping babes...I mean, really.  How often does this happen?  Of course I needed to take a pic and make a layout!

I went to town on the left-hand side with the Sew Easy...just love the little touches that the tool can add to a page!  I used some AC Patterned Paper - Metropolitan here...I love the patterns together.  Fun!  A Basic Grey button in the center of the flower, AC Remarks and Thickers make up the title (love mixing them up).  I love the ric-rac randomness on the left hand side and the little line of buttons, brads and pearls to throw a bit of randomness on the page.  I added the twine for a bit of interest, that that's about that!

Sweet little sleeping babies!  Love!

Long, lost passion...

Okay, I'll admit it.  Life has been absolutely nutty, embarrassingly busy, but I think I have things under control!  Time to catch up on my blog!  I feel the need to write a heartfelt apology to my blog.  So here it is.

Dear Will Work For Scraps,
I am a terrible blogger-person.  I have neglected you shamelessly due to another MAJOR commitment that is now wrapping up, but I WILL make it up to you.  I really did miss you.  Please accept this apology from the bottom of my heart.  This will not happen again.  :)
Much scrappy love,
Jana

Okay, I think we're on better terms now.
On a brighter note, I am one aerobics class (instructing it) away from becoming a qualified fitness instructor specialist!  This was the dark mistress who was keeping me from my blogging, but I am a fitter, happier, and soon-to-be employed person because of it.  :)

I need to give this blog some scrappy love!  Here are a few projects that snuck into my busy last few months...

Conquering The Bunny Hill

Were we crazy to bring our not-even-two-year-old out on the ski-hill?  Maybe.  But if people thought we were nuts, it only took them a minute to see this little natural out on the slopes was right at home!  Again!  Again!!  Joely absolutely LOVED hitting the slopes, and like any dedicated scrapbooker, I LOVED doing a layout featuring our littlest skier!  This was based on a sketch by the fabulous Kristy Lee at www.scrapbooksteals.com.  Here's her sketch...

Isn't she seriously amazing?

Here's my take on the sketch.  I actually stuck pretty close to her sketch because it worked so great with the photos I had along with the vision I had for working with this Echo Park collection, Wintertime.

The cardstock used is all from Wintertime, and I just LOVE the cool colours!  So perfect for scrapping so many of my photos...afterall, it seems like it's always winter up North! LOL!

The clear little snowflakes are actually from Imaginisce's Cottage Christmas, and the silver centres are from Dollarama!  I just knew those would come in handy one day! I've been waiting and waiting to use that Martha Stewart icicle punch.  A perfect little touch.  :) Thickers, some ink and ribbon round off this layout, and I almost forgot the Sew Easy to mark the little snowflakes at the top of the page. 

Just looking at this layout brings a smile to my face.  What a little trooper out there on the ski hill!  :D