Changing Gears...

Life is about to get really crazy again - at least for a while.
One job is ending, and another beginning, and I will probably be working both for a while.
I think it's time to stop messing around with contests etc. and just get back to the basics for now. (In the scrapping department.)
There are a lot of things I need to be doing, instead of playing around so much.
I was on a roll with my Book of Me, until my "home base" web site stopped having those challenges. I really want to get back to this, it's something that I just feel the need to get done.
I've had this layout roaming around in my head for quite a while now - it will be a first in a series about a very challenging time in my life.
My family all went to a ball game, and left me home alone tonight, so I finally got it done.



My BOM is an 8x8 album. I really love working in this size!

Spring Fling Round 4 - Recycle

I can't believe it I've made it through to round 4! The challenge this time was to "recycle" something that you wouldn't normally use on a layout, use 2 photos the same size, and use stamps.
This challenge for some reason, screamed Kristina Contes to me (former DT at KMA), so I looked up her gallery on 2peas, and found lots of inspiration there.
This is what I came up with. I hardly ever scrap my boys - and this seemed like a perfect challenge to do that & give my poor grandkids a rest! LOL!



I used Wild Asparagus paper, Making Memories foam stamps, cardboard from an Avon box, and the pop-top from the Coke I had for lunch!
Fun Challenge!

This Week's DH Sketch

I got an emergency call to do this sketch for this week. I just used some things I had on hand - Arctic Frog 6x6 papers, Heidi Swapp bling frames, and quickutz flowers.





I wasn't going to do this one because I had so much going, but I found a spare minute and threw one together... the thing that's nice about these sketches, is that they are simple and can be done pretty quickly - anyway, here's this week's work.

Whew!

It's been a busy week - pretty sad when 1 card and 1 layout a week is overwhelming (blush blush) But I've had a lot of other stuff on my mind (things at work aren't good) and kids in & out all week, so I refuse to feel bad about that!

It's taken me all week to come up with a plan for this week's Sprin Fling challenge on MFS - so many requirements, it took me a while to figure out how to put them all together, but here's what I came up with:




We were to use elements from 3 different sample layouts, as well as at least 4 different patterned papers, and "bling!"
Too many instructions confuse me a bit! Ha ha! But it's been fun trying to work outside my usual box.

This is the card I made for Di Hickman's sketch blog this week - it looked so much better in my head than it does in real life, but oh well!....it's done!

Some Moments....

...happen completely by accident. Saturday while we were in Grandma T's back yard for our Easter celebration, the kids came over after playing ball. One laid down on the grass, then the next one lay down on the first one, and so on until they were all stretched out in this "lanyard" pattern. I told them to "hold it right there!" and I went and grabbed Arilie and put her on top, completing the pattern - then grabbed this shot!
I love it! I wish my other son had been there - I would so use this for my Christmas card this year!
I'm so proud of all my kids! (and, of course the gran's) They are pretty awesome!
*MFS Blog Challenge*

Just another card....

My daughter asked me to whip up a card for her best friend's birthday tomorrow, so I pulled out my idea sheets, and found one by Melissa Phillips from CMK to scraplift (I love her cards!)
My oldest daughter's birthday is this weekend too, so I did her one while I was at it. I used my BG 6x6 papers again - this is the Stella Ruby one. I used a Heidi Swapp flower, but added some crafty store ones on top to make them more "fluffy." The edges are inked with Tim Holtz tea dye. I plan to add a birthday rub on, but DD is asleep and I want her to chose!
Now that you're bored to tears....LOL!
...just thought I'd post it before she gives it away!

April Sketch # 2

I finished my second layout for Di Hickman today. I'm loving her sketches, even I can do them! Ha ha!
The photos are from our recent trip to St. George. My son and his family went with us - the first day we went hiking all over Snow Canyon. I was worried that the little girls wouldn't be up to it, but they did better than we did!
I found these K&Co. papers on a shopping spree there, and thought the colors would work great with the desert pic's. The buttons are AMM, the letters are QK "Studio" font. the ribbon is Stampinup, and the photo anchors are MM.

Another BG Card

I've had this idea rolling around my head for a while, and finally had a minute to put it together - I love this paper line (Scarlett's Letter)...and this particular design is a favorite. It reminded me of those dramatic hats from the 40's with the netting that came down over the eyes - so that's the "feel" I was going for.
I started out planning to put a big red flower in the center of the bow, but I took it off to alter it a bit, and decided I liked it better without it!

MFS Tournament round 2

...the deadline is almost here - I've got my layout and one card done - just have to finish the second card and I'll be done.
This has been really fun - I don't usually work this hard on my layouts - it's good sometimes to have motivation to challenge yourself! The challenge this time was to use the sketch that was supplied, then to include inking, stitching, and doodling.
I've never done any stitching on my layouts (except fake ones ie: stamped or doodled ones) so that was "out of the box" for me.
The cards (2) had to be made from the scraps from the layout, and include inking, flowers and doodling.
Fun!

TOOOOTie Toot!

The book came today and guess what? I'M IN IT!!! (page 77)
It's been a fun week - another card added to my gallery at basicgrey.com, one of my layouts appears in this month's Scrapstreet e-zine at www.dihickman.blogspot.com, and now this! Woo Hoo!

*Sorry about the photo - my daughter took it and she said that I looked scary!

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