Long time, no post

Well I just finished my physical therapy for my back...improving but have on and off days. Is this what happens when you reach a certain age???? Maybe.

I made these LO's last weekend. Both of them are lifts of Keisha's...and are the same "sketch". I loved her LO so much that I had to do one for myself.

This first one is a near exact lift and the second one is nearly the same with different colors. I made the first one for Kendall's SB but had an extra picture printed, so I made the second one for Aydan's. These pics are my two children, Kendall and Aydan, and behind them are Chrissy's (my sister) children, Nathan and Tyler. They came over last week and I ordered them all into my sunny livingroom for a mini photoshoot.

Products used here: cardstock: Bazzill; stamps: Stampin Up and Hero Arts; ink, spiral punch, turquiose pp: Stampin Up; Heidi Grace heart embossed paper; ledger paper, transperancy overlay, definition sticker, and date stamp: Making Memories.

Products used here: PP, chipboard photocorner, epoxy flowers, definition sticker,button brads: Making Memories; Heart Stamps: Hero Arts; Ink: Ranger; Spiral Punch: Stampin Up.

And here is one of the pics in color. Came out OK. Hard to get kids this young to hold still. I gotta add that Kendall and her cousin Nathan (second from the back) are ultra close and hold hands all the time. They are 6 weeks apart.

Happy Easter

We had a simple dinner at home for Easter, but I actually did all the cooking...and it was good I must say! On Friday I was supposed to work, but one of my co-workers picked it up for me. I got 3 LO's done that day but I didn't have any energy or time to do anymore over the weekend.
This one is a 6x12. Love this new American Crafts PP. This was from a pagemap sketch. They have 6x12 formats too which are so much fun and quick.

This is from Aydan's first day of school. The PP was a gift from Laura Vegas in the RAK she gave me. Thanks again...this paper is cool... I think I need a title here, what do you thing, seriously?

This last one if of Kendalls favorite toy, her duck. This was from a challenge on A Million Memories. There were 4 rules: Lots of white space and journaling, no cardstock (only patterned paper), and it must take under an hour to complete. Used my American Crafts paper again here. Love this line.

A couple of LO's

So we had a sunny weekend here and I had a bit more energy. Love how the daylight savings time is earlier than usual...its so helpful. I've been going through some physical therapy and a few Drs visits for my lower back...hurt myself moving a patient. The days are up and down. Its hard not to pick up my 35-40 lb children. They love to be picked up.

The whole family went to see "Horton Heard a Who" this morning...it was OK, the kids loved it. It was Aydan's first movie. He did pretty good. He had a few commentaries during the movie like shouting, "elephant", etc. He entertained me!

Ozan was on a cooking rage today. This morning he made a skillet breakfast...the kitchen was a wreak afterwards! Then tonight he made a roasted chicken with homemade mac n cheese and some cornbread and a homemade apple pie for dinner. He says he doesn't like Martha Stewart, so why is he always reading her cookbooks??

Anyway, I did these 2 layouts.

This one is for a sketch challenge on A Million Memories. You can see the sketch
here. I love sketches...saves me time and headaches.

This one used almost all Making Memories Stuff. The card stock is from Stampin Up and I used the slit punch (see the punch and tutorial here) to make the scallops. I love doing that. If you look at the second picture, you can see a jump ring coming out of the button hole. I am trying to mix old stuff with new stuff and that is definitely old.

This one is for a sketch contest on Pencil Lines.
It didn't turn out like I imagined. Actually, I really don't care for it. The background cardstock is a very dark chocolate...everytime I go to Archivers, I get 3 free sheets of 12x12 so I figured I better start using some of it. See the old newspaper patterned paper? That was from a very old 7gypsies 8.5x11 paper that I had for years...I don't think they make 8.5x11I just started sticking stuff here and there. I used the slit punch again for this one on vellum and I used Making Memories copper sheets and embossed them with Stampin Up stencils. Kinda goes with the theme of cooking..I don't like themed anything. Ozan was telling me that I should add some handles to them...he was serious. Then he kept bugging me about that. I replied, "No, no that isn't gonna happen. I don't tell you what computer stuff to buy (he works in IT). Geez!Thanks for looking.

Lift me Up Challenge

Check out Karla's lift challenge results here...ultra cute and fun.

I've been tagged

I was tagged by Laura...thanks, its my first time. Anyway, I am supposed to share 7 random things about me and then tag 7 other people...I am choosing Kimmithy, Staci, Kate, Sheila, Alexandria, Jessica, and Heather. This was harder than I thought...OK here it goes:

1. I am addicted to Suduko and I'm pretty good at it. I can finish puzzles at the evil level. It takes a lot of practice to get there.
2. I don't speak a second language but in my early teens, I was fluent at sign language. I had a neighborbood who was my good friend and she was deaf...she taught me and my sister a LOT. But she was stubborn, she'd close her eyes if she was mad at you. My sister and I used to talk at home in sign language if we didn't want anyone to know what we were saying.
3. I am terribly shy. Not many people know this except my husband and a few others...because when I know someone I will talk your ear off and people who don't know me may think I'm stuck up or something. When I have to go to one of my daughters events, I have to indulge myself in a magazine so no one will talk to me. I can deal with it. And if a stanger starts a conversation, I'm happy to talk with them. I just can't start it. I can't even order a pizza on the phone and I won't answer the door or the phone if I don't know them. What's ironic is that I'm a radiographer and a clinical instructor and my day if full of dealing with strangers, meeting new people, and teaching. I'm completely different at work..its like I come out of my shell.
4. When I was 9 months old I was having a very routine surgery and I coded right on the OR table. My Dr had to crack open my chest and restart my heart by squeezing it. I was in such bad shape that I was in the adult ICU. My poor mom...I can't even imagine what she had to go through. I found out very later in life that during that time period, there were anesthesiology problems where certain drugs were causing these types of problems. The story kind of freaks out any new Dr's I go to see.
5. I am a terrible sleeper. I remember as a kid just tossing and turning trying to fall asleep. Now that I'm older, I've learned that I need the room very cold. We actually keep our heat at 67 and we all sleep pretty good. And being a mom helps out...incredibly.
6. I am a home body. Nothing like staying at home with my children or scrapbooking on Saturday night. Of course, I do have a life and we like to take our kids places.
7. My most embarrassing moment (got this idea from American Idol): I was a teenager and I was doing a play "A Christmas Carol", for our HS drama club. It was a community event and the man (who was probably in his 60's) who played Scrooge (lets call him Bob) hadn't been at a few practices. Well, my friends told me that he died. I was like, "What?". So...the next week, who walks in the door? Bob. Then he comes up to me and says, "I heard that you thought I was dead". He thought it was funny...I was mortified. And speaking of that, my husband calls me at work one day and told me that my eye Dr's office called to cancel my appointment that day because my Dr had passed away. Well, I had this goofy insurance where you had to go to their Dr. I waited a few weeks, then I called the office and asked them what was going to happen because the Dr had died. There were like he didn't die, he wife did. I could of killed my husband, I felt like a total ass.

OK, that was fun and long. Can't wait to see everyone else tags.

new pages

Went to the zoo this morning had lunch and was back by 12:00. And got this cute pic of Aydan in my favorite hat. He just looks too cute in this!

It was a sunny 50 degree day...the zoo is shady so it was a bit cold. I did these 2 pages. The first one is for a scraplift challenge on karla's blog. I copied Kimmi's here. Tried the sewing machine and couldn't get it to work right...tossed that idea! But it was fun doing this!

I did this page about how I told Ozan that I was pregnant with our son Aydan. It is pretty funny. I found out early, early Christmas morning so I wrapped the preg test in a box and gave it Ozan when he woke up...he looked at it (I was thinking that he was going to cry) and said, "What is this? A thermometer. Yeah, broke up my idea that he was going to cry. I'm like, "No, you doofus, I'm pregnant!" Well, I didn't write that!

I'm sure some people have put their test in their LO...that's a little too much for my style, so I took a picture of it and put it in an envelope. Is that weird? I don't want to throw it out.

cabin fever

Aydan looks like a little devil here...


Well, I think Kendall officially has cabin fever but she is really good at keeping herself entertained. She grabbed out her raincoats and asked me to put one on her brother...notice the ladybug coat on my son! He loved it! Had to snap some pics...he looks too cute and red is certainly his color!
Woo hoo, its gonna be 50 degrees Sunday. Boo hoo, snowed last night and more tomorrow. Its gonna be messy!

Random Pics

I was playing around with some pics in photoshop...trying to improve my photography skills. All experts say to use sunlight, no flash. Well, its winter and i work during the day so i have to do what I can.

I just picked up Jessica Sprague's second copy of "Computer Tricks for Scrapbookers". I have learned so much from her books. Laura Vegas has also emailed me a lot of her tips that are so helpful. Jessica is like the queen of digital scrapbooking tutorials. I don't like full digital pages, but I'd love to take those tips and use them for improving pics or to even use her tip for journaling, and even hybrid scrapbooking. She does a little of both. Love the hybrid scrapbooking!

So I took what I learned and played around a bit. Both of these pics were taken in the evening, all odds against me. I should check my camera settings and change it to match my lighting in my house (tungsten, etc).

Anyway I used Jessica's tips in her book on how to lighten a dark picture using layers and also using soft light to make colors pop. I did this on the Mr Potato Heads here.

I took this picture a few days ago because Kendall set this up right before dinner on our kitchen floor and put a spoon in front of each. I've been wanting to do a page called, "Kendall was here". She does these things like put up stickers on the inside of my car or bathroom...leaving little things out, leaving her mark! Finding her doll tucked in under a blanket. Love that stuff! So I thought these guys looked really cute. The pic was taken 10:00 at night. Used layers and a soft light to lighten up the pic and bring out the colors.

This picture was taken tonight. Kendall cracks me up, she does not mind wearing lightweight clothing during the winter. I'm all bundled up in sweats and she's running around in a summer dress perfectly comfortable. The other day she put on her swimsuit. Gotta love her. This dress is way too small and its funny that she picked it out because my late great aunt bought this for her and she never had the chance to wear it. I used the white eyedropper tool here to brighten up the whites and remove color cast.

3 Layouts

I am a SLOW scrapper...I do everything else fast...walk, drive, eat...but I get faster everyday because with 2 kiddies, you know that time is precious!

The first picture is a total lift from SBT magazine (March Issue) by Heather Keller...just fell in love with this LO and it looks so much better in person. The colors of this Scenic Route paper is just my favorite! And I love how she used the title in the middle of her journaling. Love that idea!

This next one I did of Kendall when she had to have 7 stitches. My son was 6 days old and she hurt herself at the playground. Ozan was with her and when she cut her chin, several mothers were helping. One of them took them to her house and put a butterfly bandaid on her chin, so after that she called her boo boo her "butterfly". She needed 7 stitches. Poor thing! I used the same technique as above: layering the patterned paper to the scalloped edges and then trimming it down. The circle paper is new from Making Memories...also MM chipboard flowers, tag rim, and cheeky glitter letter stickers, the PP is Scenic Route, so is the arrow. The butterfly is Fancy Pants and the rub on journaling is Hambly. Its hard to see but on the right side of the pink paper, I took my pen and made dotted lines to fit the theme for the blue paper. I used a flexible ruler and lined it up on the rest of the circle and just made dots along it.

This last one I did of Aydan eating dirt. I posted this picture back in April but never scrapped it (did I?). Anyway, Laura Vegas send me these adorable chipboard tags and they absolutely fit this picture...the theme, the colors, etc. The tags are MM, the yellow CS is Autumn Leaves, the stripped paper is Gin X, the red patterned CS is Creative Imaginations, and I stamped Aydan's hand in brown paint..I think it fits this page perfectly.

Oh, and the canvas letters are Lil Davis...I had to have those like 4 years ago and I never used them. I really don't care for them now but it fits the page.

Oh, and Karla is having a fun challenge at her blog. We are commenting and then we lift a layout of the person that commented before us...there is a RAK involved.

The Oscars are on tonight, its my "superbowl" but our TV broke so I have to record it on another set in the basement. Have to watch it later. I just don't have time to watch all that!

Preschool/Thanks Laura!!

I wanted to post some pics of Aydan's first day at his new school. Found Thomas right away!

Aydan is really serious when it comes to his letters and numbers...he recognizes and says all this letters and number up to early teens, yet he doesn't talk and he is only 2. the teachers put out the alpha puzzles just for him...all ready to go when we got there.

this picture of Daddy sitting in that itty bitty chair was too precious...the teachers probably think that we're nuts! You know me with my camera! And he is gonna kill me when he sees this...

I had to take pics of the cute little bikes stacked up.

Love old school stuff...

and the art center...

And also, I want to thank Laura...she mailed me a RAK full of nice scrapping goodies. There were 2 books, a mini album she made, tons of embellies and paper. It was like Christmas!! Thanks Laura!!!!!! I love it

all!

b-day party

We had Kendall's b-day party yesterday at a bowling alley. Here is Daddy with the kiddies. Aydan was so fussy the whole time...it was a bit stressful. The lights were turned off for Cosmic bowling, so I didn't get the best pics. They came out OK, considering.

Here is a page I worked on today called, "Almost 5". Just some journaling of Kendall's favorite things at her age.

And I also make some thinking of you/sympathy cards. Whenever I need to give someone one, I never have any on hand, so I wanted to be prepared. The ribbon on this card is American Crafts...saw it at my scrapbook store by the yard. I used it all already...wished I got more. I just love gray, its such a beautiful color...and this ribbon is just gorgeous.

The stamp is embossed in white on vellum...the brad is a nickel finish from American Crafts as well...I love these brads and they were hard to find. The card is pretty simple for my style but I wanted a more classic look since its a "thinking of you" card. The "Thinking of You" stamp is Stampin Up...I use this set more than anything.

Oh, and my neighbor told me yesterday that one of our local scrapbook stores closed down:( Darn...they always had the newest stuff. RIP...

Have a great week everyone.

birthday pics

Quick post here...we had a quiet evening at home for Kendall's b-day. Aydan's cake kept falling off his spoon, so he gave up and ate it right out of the bowl. He's too cute...I took over 60 pics within this 5-10 minute period!



He's really a charmer...all the time!!

Big Day Tomorrow

Kendall turns 5 tomorrow...I feel a bit sad. I just put her down to bed and it was hard leaving her. Of course, its snowing hard now...on top of the foot we got Friday.

I finished this LO tonight...usually I'm a slow scrapper and I did two this weekend and I'm getting ready to start another one. I gotta thank Laura for her inspiration on this one. I love the way she put the brads in her buttons and then she had some snaps around them. I used that inspiration for this page. It kind of matched the piercing theme. the colors here are my favorites!

Usually I get more scrapping done in the winter and in the summer months in I'm the mood for card making. Although, I did finish my Mother's Day cards yesterday. Ozan's watching the Super Bowl. I didn't even know who was playing until a couple of days ago. I sat down to watch the half time show...so dissappointing! Tom Petty? It was pretty lame. If I offended anyone, I'm kind of sorry. LOL.

Look who's a big girl now...

My Kendall got her ears pierced today for her birthday. We went to Claire's and they had the nicest people working there. She was so brave. I have been preparing her for the past week that it hurts and its like getting a shot. The worse thing you could do is say that it won't hurt...your kids will never believe you again! You gotta be honest, but use a lot of encouragement. It was perfect because their piercing chair sits in a corner glass window, so it helped with my pics. It wasn't that sunny, though. The two ladies pierced them at the same time. I was worried that if they did one at a time, she wouldn't let us do a second one.


She's so literal. They told her to hold her chin still...

the before shot...she looks like a little angel.

quick post

Got stuck in the house today with all that snow we got. I was a wee bit frustrated in my car yesterday...took 2.5 hours to get home from work. I don't have that much patience. I don't think anyone does.

There is so much going on in the next week or so...I'm gonna be busy. Next week is the last week we are using our daycare provider :( The school where Kendall goes has a spot for early childhood and we can't pass up the opportunity to take Aydan there. There is such a long waiting list...I want to keep Aydan at a home daycare, but I know this is the right decision. The classroom is just incredible. So many learning activities and he'll be close to his sister. I don't think he'll be bored.

Kendall's 5th b-day is Monday! Last year it fell on Superbowl (and with the Bears playing and all). I'm hoping to get time to take her to get her ears pierced for one of her gifts. We'll see how that goes...We also are filling out the paperwork for Kindergarten...I'm excited but a bit sad that my baby is growing up. I can't believe that I've been a mom for 5 years. Crazy.

I seriously need to do lots of paperwork for all these changes, get stuff for her party, etc. I don't think I will have time to do anymore scrapping this weekend. I did manage to do this one tonight. Have a good weekend.

Carla

Happy Birthday Sheila

today i drove to indiana for my friend, sheila's, 40th birthday party. sans kids, of course. as much as i wanted to bring them, i would of had to spend my time chasing them then enjoying the party. and i can truely say she was really surprised.this is her with her husband, chad.

also, i did this lo yesterday, not my best work. its kind of dark and dreary. it was for pencil lines sketches. the pictures aren't great...i really think there is a color problem with my printer...the challenge was to use a large title on your sketch. I got to use up some real old stuff here...There is some lil davis, some foof-a la...can you say "old school"? instead of scanning it, i took a picture of it hanging on my kids art easel...that's why the yellow clip is in there.

last night i was tweeking around with the pic in photoshop. i used the eraser tool to make the b/w photo with the pink shoes...its hard to tell that its b/w because the floor and her tights are white...but i love the look. this is the page i'm going to work on this week.

so we signed up kendall for t-ball this spring. she'll love that. ballet ends in may so there won't be too much overlap...i don't want to be one of those moms who make their kids take all kinds of classes!

ballet class

just wanted to stop and post some pics of kendall. she took her first ballet class today. just seeing her in her outfit and seeing all the cute little girls running around the room in them was just priceless. i couldn't get a shot during the class because we had to wait outside the room. i was the only parent with a camera, actually i had my video recorder as well. i felt like a papparatzo and i didn't care.

this afternoon i was working with kendall on writing her letters. she's going to be 5 soon and she is behind on this. i'm so mad at myself but she never wanted to do it. i found a nice workbook from barnes and noble and it introduces the letters in order of simplicity like "l", "t", "i"...we got through those first 3 letters and then i praised her like crazy. i'm going to do more tomorrow.

being goofy...

i can't believe its 2008...this year is a big one for us and i've been talking about this year for the last few years. kendall turns 5 & begins kindergarten, i turn 40, and ozan and i celebrate our 10 year anniversary. this month is our 16 year anniversary of being together. i didn't feel old until i just typed this. yikes!!!

also, laura and i've been talking about this embellishment center from making memories and i finally hung it up last week and got some pics as promised. i have another shelf i want to hang up as well so i can put the rest of my making memories jars up there. i did some rearranging this evening and put all my jars on one shelf, looks kinda cute there. somethimes when you do that rearranging, you realize how much good stuff you really have...which means you don't have to shop anymore...yea right!!

houses my beloved fabric tape, felt ribbon, and paper frills. most of my ribbon is in jars.

the rest of my jars, some primas, and my making memories tool carousel.