Lazer Tag

My boys were SO excited to play lazer tag!  My oldest loved it right from the beginning.  My second one took a little convincing, but mostly just because the vest was too big for him that it was uncomfortable.  The second time he actually went without a vest and loved just running around.  I have some really cute pictures of them just before the game started that I need to dig up.  My 3rd guy was too small to play but some workers will let them in, so the next time we went they all 3 got to play and loved it.  I am kicking myself that I didn't get a picture of my 3rd little guy.
I chose the lazer tag set that can be found inside the Scrappy Dew Vault http://www.scrappydew.com/pages/scrappydew-vault-members  I love the vault, there are so many fun files in there!  I also used the Dew Drops facial stamps 2 and 3.  I let my boys choose their own faces.  My oldest chose the mad face, because "we are about to go to war and I need to look tough."

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Construction Time

My boys would probably be really good at obstacle courses.  They have grown up learning how to dodge around things, climb, and teeter.  We have been doing various work around our backyard for a very long time.  It was pretty much 95% rock and 5% clay when we started so any work we did was extra painful.  We are not done yet, but we are getting close.  I have plenty of yard work pictures and my boys love the machinery.  I decided to use the Scrappy Dew Construction Kids File http://www.scrappydew.com/products/construction-kids/?aff=4 to make this layout.  When one of my boys saw what I was making he asked me to make him his own cement truck, because he really loves them.  So I made the set and an extra truck for him to play with. I didn't have any confusion with any of the pieces, everything came together really well.  I did trim some of the under pieces so they were just what I needed and I left the road off the title, as we weren't doing road construction.  I love the little vests and tool belt!

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3D

I have been very intimidated to try anything in the 3D realm.  I found this Nativity 3D box card at Dreaming Tree http://www.3dsvg.com/shop/cards-svg-files/nativity-paperscape-box-card-svg/ I knew my parents would LOVE to get this so I thought I needed to at least try.  (I have also seen a really cool nativity set on cricut but not sure if that file would transfer as an svg so I could use it with my silhouette) Anyway, turns out it is not as scary as I thought.  This actually came together pretty easily.  I watched the tutorial several times and took each step very slowly, but I probably didn't need to, it was rather simple.  There are a few things I would alter to this card if I made it again.  For my first try, I wanted to do everything exactly as it was laid out.  I just went and bought some little tealights to put in it, I haven't tried them yet but I hope it looks as cool as the display at the store.  I will probably give this to them with their gift and send another card in the mail, because they love getting mail.  Sorry this is not a great picture.

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Sale of all Sales

Oh my goodness.  I just found out Scrappy Dew has decided to put their whole scrap factory on sale.  If you don't know what this is, it is a program that allows you to put all of the expansion packs into it...then you get to choose from those pieces, what you want it to make.  So you choose which body, which outfit, which accessories then it makes the svg for you.  It is just a super easy way to mix and match your files.  You don't have to worry about resizing if you want to use the hair from one file, the outfit from another and the body of another...it puts them all together and sizes them for you.  This sale includes the program AND all of the expansion packs...they just released 2 new ones, including peanuts...which makes 27 expansion packs...27!  Some of these packs are loaded, they come with a ton of pieces.  I love scrap factory, you can see a lot of my work has used them.  Even if you have the program already and only a couple of expansion packs, it is an awesome price to get all of the expansion packs! Here is the link, you should check it out!  http://www.dash12.com/scrapfactory/special/index.php 

minions

My boys love the minions.  In fact we had to make minion birthday cakes twice because they love them so much.  The second time we did the purple minion just so they didn't end up being the same.  The first time, my son was turning 3, so I decided to make 3 minion cakes.  We also made some minion twinkies.  I did this layout before I printed the pictures out, but I had to add the pictures so you could see how perfectly the file went with the pictures...however when I went to add them I found that I had done the photo mats vertical and all the pictures seem to be horizontal.  I will have to go back and rearrange a few things, but for this it worked out okay...but that is why the picture doesn't fit quite right.  So I used Scrappy Dew Minions http://www.scrappydew.com/products/minions/?aff=4 and let me be honest...I actually have a few different minion files already, however they have a lot of little pieces to them.  I chose this file because it looks just right and it is so easy to put together!

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Another Challenge

After I finished my items for my design team, I found myself with some extra time so that's why I ended up participating in a few different sketch challenges.  I usually try to do the ones for Little Scraps of Heaven anyway, but I'm not always able to.  I saw the sketch and thought right away what I wanted to do with it.  After I actually made it and laid it out, I realized it didn't exactly follow the sketch after all, but it was still my inspiration and it was close enough.  I used the Little Einstein file and used the chalkboard as the background they had placed.  I left the mustache off Einstein and made him blonde instead of gray, so that he looked more like my son.

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Last Designer Post

Well I got my final 2 files from Marjorie Ann Designs but I called one of them Boys at play because that is the title, but the file is really called Building Buddies...I got the Boys will be boys file instead, which I already have so I guess that makes this my last post.  This is the Night before Christmas filehttp://marjorieanndesigns.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=164_192&products_id=1544 and I thought it would be cute to do pictures of the quiet night before.  I always take pictures of the presents around the tree and one of each of my sleeping boys.  I decided to do print and cut with these pieces and I still haven't figured out how to get the nice cuts like other people do.  I saw someone else that was even able to cut between items within the image (like the banister).  I traced this as the outside and it traced things in the middle like the eyeballs to cut so I traced again and tried to get it to cut the banister but it did a pretty sloppy job.  It may be my cheap paper or I may need to play with settings.  I had to go back to the silhouette mat for this because it cuts way off with the cricut mat.  I thought with the registration marks, you could put the paper wherever you wanted and it would cut within those marks, so it shouldn't matter which mat I use...but apparently it still goes of the edge of the mat...there has to be a different way for that...maybe I am setting the cut up wrong....anyway off with the tangent.  I thought it was cute that the file has mice as the characters, to go along with the story...usually I don't do too many with mice.  This is not all the way finished...I still need to make a title and finalize placement but you get the idea.

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Tweetheart

There is so much cuteness in the fuzzy loves fall set http://marjorieanndesigns.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=164_192&products_id=1531  I knew I had to have it.  The piece that jumped out to me first was the one holding the little bird...It looks like he is holding a baby so that is how I decided to use it.  My cousin just had a little boy and I thought it would make a cute baby card so I played on the word sweetheart to match the bird.  I tried to put a border under them but everything seemed too busy or too plain I decided to leave it as is.  Looking back now I think a nice pile or border of leaves would have worked perfectly.  I used a versamarker for the eyebrows and I tried to use chalk for the muzzle line, wondering if the versamarker would have been enough or leave it blank?  The card is from Craft Smith and then I threw on the cute washi tape for the top.   I decided to pop them up and put the greeting flat.  I love the way the eyes look on this!

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Piles of Fun

We kind of missed out on playing in the leaves this year.  We usually drive up the canyon when the leaves change and take pictures.  We also go to the park and play in the millions of leaves but the seasons were so mixed this year that the leaves barely changed at all and once they fell it was all the sudden over and done with, and now it's winter.  I have enjoyed having some actual fall weather though, it usually is too hot then only 1 or 2 weeks of fall then winter.  Anyway...I have these really cute pictures of my oldest two boys playing in the leaves.  I saw this file at Scrappy Dew http://www.scrappydew.com/products/piles-of-smiles/?aff=4 and I thought it was so cute...but I held off getting it for a while because I just thought there was going to be a million tiny pieces to put together.  Finally I decided it was cute enough to be worth it...and I was pleasantly surprised.  There really aren't that many pieces, they made this very well so that it looks full but isn't too difficult.  The only problem I had with it is I think I lost a couple or few leaves but I didn't even remake them, I just made it work with a few less leaves and it is still adorable. (The file is currently on sale this week)  I used the Dew Drop Facial expressions on the faces.  I am still having some slight issues with stamping so if anyone has any tips on what the best way to cover it is I would love to hear them.  I am getting better but not consistent in getting a clean image.  I was using a colorbox ink and it didn't seem to hit everywhere or go on dark enough.  I switched to Stazon and that stuff is sticky.  It dries fast and is very permanent, I don't really like it so I'm still looking for a good dark, easy to use ink for these.

Here are the pages laid together.  I think they turned out really cute!  

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Rainy Days

I remembered about this Rainy Day friends file http://marjorieanndesigns.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=164_192&products_id=1281 and thought it was so cute and so many different uses for it.  When I got the file I kind of had a brain freeze and all those possibilities disappeared.  I couldn't think of any sayings that would work with a card or why would they have such and such animal with them.  So I spent a few days and decided they would be cute on a layout of my boys playing in puddles.  So that is how I will eventually use them.  I changed the file a bit because they weren't actually playing with critters in the rain, just the puddles so I thought it fit better this way.  I like the way it turned out too!  I thought the stamp was fun, because what kid doesn't try to catch raindrops on their tongue?  Both faces are from Peachy Keen.

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Turkey Time

I love these lazy little turkeys.  They are from the I'm stuffed file. http://marjorieanndesigns.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=164_192&products_id=1600 I had originally planned to put him on a card but decided he was just so cute and would go great with a family picture.  Well I got a little mixed up going back and forth.  First a card layout, then a layout with one large photo, I mixed things around a few times and now looking at this layout I'm not sure that everything that ended up together goes well together, I may have to go back and change one of the papers.  I also would have made him a little bigger if I knew he would be on a layout alone.  What I do love about this though, is I was finally able to experiment with using patterned papers with my file.  I never remember or dare to use patterns instead of solids, but I did for his feathers, and I love it!  On his shirt I thought the letters were too tiny so I just wrote them on.  I also just drew on the eyebrows (Versamarker) and the beak dots.

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Patriotic mouse

Cuddly Cute designs put a sketch challenge up on their site.  I mostly just have titles from them so I wasn't sure I would be able to participate but I found a file that would work.  I used the 4th of July Mouse and this layout actually came together pretty easily because of the paper that I happened to have.  Most of my paper is pretty cheap and I try to find it that way and get the majority from yard sales.  However, my friend sells her stash occasionally and she always has very nice papers, I'm sure this paper came from her.  Some of it is a little crooked because I hadn't glued it down yet and I must have bumped it.  (Most of my layouts I take the picture before I glue everything down, so I can do little adjustments when I add the photos)

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Another Sketch

I was just planning out what to do for the current Little Scraps of Heaven sketch challenge and realized I never even posted my last entry.  My boys love building forts or obstacle courses or military bases or whatever they want to call it.  So I made a layout of a fun little fort.  I threw a couple extra pillows and a blanket around the page, but my husband said you can't tell what they are.  I also made my own title.  I like doing sketches because I don't have to think about how to arrange everything but it's hard for me to do pages in advance.  I print out all 4x6 sized photos so I usually have to pick my photos and then try and plan my layout around what sizes they are...I have a hard time cutting items out of photos or cropping it to just a small part of the photo so usually I try to cram as many 4x6 photos on to a page as I can, or slightly smaller than 4x6.  I have just found out about interactive layouts and I am excited to try those....eventually.  I do really like how this page turned out.

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Candy Freaks

Hello everyone!  Did you survive Halloween?  How about the sugar rush afterward?  My kids had a great time trick or treating.  It was a little rough for me since I recently sprained my ankle, but I made it and I love watching their excitement.  As I mentioned before one of my kids has told me that candy is his life (oddly he was the one that was the most willing to share ALL of his candy) but I thought these crazy bats would make a great layout to display some of their Halloween pictures...I never remember to take a picture of the loot.  But I would much rather see their cute faces anyway.  The file is from Marjorie Ann Designs and can be found here http://marjorieanndesigns.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=164_192&products_id=1567  I decided that these bats were really cute and they didn't need the crazy eyes to give the full effect.   There isn't really anything else to explain...I did have to cut a couple of the fangs myself since they didn't cut right with my machine, they are tiny!

Sorry this post is a little late, I couldn't get BlogSpot to open the picture window.  I finally tried it in a new browser and it worked.  Thanks for the idea Debbie.

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Bedtime

I absolutely love sleeping pictures of my kids...they look so cute and peaceful.  I have always loved them, some days it may be because of relief they are asleep ;-)
For this layout I used a couple of premade frames and the file Our Baby Boy http://marjorieanndesigns.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=197&products_id=1381  I have a lot of baby pictures to scrap still and this file has a good baby variety.

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Changes

I have been cruising right along getting a lot of pages done.  Partly because my hubby let me have some extra craft time during fall break.  The main reason is my design team changed some rules, you can't be on any other design teams.   I wasn't sure if I would be able to stay on the team so I wanted to do as many files as possible, and they said as long as I was posting I could get more....but now it is back to only 2 a week so it slowed down as soon as it started....and I am not going to be on the design team anymore.  I will finish out this month and say goodbye.  I was a little sad because it came kind of suddenly but it is probably better this way.  I have been neglecting my housework and other responsibilities and I need to get back to my chronological layouts instead of jumping all over.  I am still part time with Scrappy Dew which I love, they are so thoughtful and I really like feeling included and part of a team.  Stay tuned for some mixed pages and hopefully some new layouts.

First sketch

Marjorie Ann had their first sketch challenge last week.  Here is the sketch that I did for it.  I used stoneage family http://marjorieanndesigns.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=164_192&products_id=1424 (another favorite cartoon)  The whole set is really cute, but I chose just to use Bam-Bam.  I have a few pictures of my boys climbing on hills.  (We have a VERY rocky back yard.  When we put grass in, we had to remove a ton of rocks, by hand and it created a huge 20x6x6 pile of rocks)  Anyway, they love to climb and be outdoors.  Unfortunately I also have a couple that like to Bam Bam.  I decided he would be great for a layout of some king of the mountain pictures!  I made my own title.  I also did my reverse piecing on his had and loin cloth.

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Back to School

Here is a page I did trying out using a border...either the border is too busy or too big I think.  I had originally planned to put my pieces on top of the border but they didn't blend right so I put them on top, it looks okay just not what I had planned.  I think looking back now I also would have made the school house bigger.  All of these files come from Scrappy Dew  I used back to school pencils http://www.scrappydew.com/products/back-to-school-pencils/?aff=4 and everything else is from the School Days expansion pack, that set is loaded! http://www.scrappydew.com/collections/scrap-factory-expansion-packs/products/scrap-factory-school-days-expansion-pack/?aff=4 I also used the Dew Drops facial expression stamps.
I always have these grand ideas for back to school pictures, but they never really work out.  Either we are running late, or my boys are too excited, or I don't zoom in enough.  I get a few pictures but nothing seems to turn out very nice looking.  Of course the pictures still capture the moment though and that is what it is all about. That is why I made this page a little fuller, because I'm not too worried if the pictures are not the main focus. ;-)

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Yoda

I did another photo mat.  I used Galaxy Friends from Marjorie Ann Designs.  http://marjorieanndesigns.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=164_192&products_id=1406  The whole set is really cute and this Yoda was really easy to piece together.  I am trying to get the hang of layering papers and doing different angles, not sure if I like keeping the whole piece behind the frame and letting it poke out or if that gives it an unfinished look but that is what I went with this time.  I didn't cut the wrinkle lines for Yoda, I just used a Versamarker and drew them on myself.

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Space Boy

Oops I forgot to post this one!  I loved the Jetson's as a kid, one of my favorite cartoons.  I saw this set (Space Family from Marjorie Ann Designs http://marjorieanndesigns.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=164_192&products_id=1464) and liked it, but held off getting it because I didn't know how I could use it. Then I remembered that my son was an astronaut for Halloween and his costume looked similar to Elroy.  This one is a digital page and I used papers from Faithway Designs.  I added a popular quote from the show as well.

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The Land of Oz

I saw a card that I just loved so I decided to scraplift it!  It happened to be from another member on Marjorie Ann Design team (Barbara's spot of Sanity) so I didn't want to post the same card on the same page, so I made this card and a couple other cards from the same file that I could share to the page.  The file is Marjorie Ann Wizard of Oz http://marjorieanndesigns.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=164_192&products_id=1564
I plan to give the witch card to my friend who is almost done building her house. (I did straighten the bushes out)  I used yellow washi tape to make the yellow brick road behind the house.  I added glitter to the shoes.   Then I made a generic house card for future use.  I also made an encouragement card.  I thought the cowardly lion would be great to use.  Unfortunately there are so many kids battling diseases, this one will be used quickly.  I used a craft smith card for the backgrounds, then on the lion card I also drew little bricks on the yellow part.  The face is the Dew Drops #2 from Scrappy Dew.

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Santa!

Only 9 Fridays before Christmas!  Ha ha, every time I see or hear the word Santa, I think of Elf yelling Santa!  I know him.   Kristi W made this extremely adorable set and I was so happy that Marjorie Ann Designs made it into cutting files.  You can find it here http://marjorieanndesigns.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=164_192&products_id=1622  I had to make the Santa and reindeer right away and I think they turned out pretty darn cute.  I plan to go back and make the elves and possibly the workshop as well.  I am sure I will add these to a layout.  I haven't planned anything yet, I was just anxious to get the set and try them out.

I did make my own eye layers, by copying the black part then just making it a touch bigger, twice.  There is also a white circle I couldn't figure out where it was supposed to go, I put it on the neck, later saw that it was supposed to go behind the mustache.  

Carousel

The carousel horses file from Scrappy Dew http://www.scrappydew.com/products/carousel-horses/?aff=4 is perfect to document pictures from the first trip to the carnival.  It is always the first ride my kids went on (because it's the only one they were allowed to) but I have a lot of cute pictures of them on it.  They all enjoyed it as a baby, oddly one of my boys got scared of it a few years later, would only ride on the non-moving bench.  I had planned to put 2 photos on this page both with the carousel bar down the middle of them, but I couldn't make them both fit right...kind of going for the side by side horse/photo.  But I still like how this turned out.  I made it a simple page because I plan to load the other page up with pictures from all the other carnival activities.  The face is stamped with the dew drops facial expression 3 set. 

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Cards

I have expressed my opinion on cards before...I love to get them but was never really into giving them.  This opinion made it so I had no reason to make cards...well, my opinion has changed.  I have come across a few files that would just make cute cards so I tried it out...well making cards is actually pretty fun.  I still need to practice doing multiple layers and items but I think cards are fun.  It is also nice that they are easier, you get a cute product with less time so I feel more productive.
So I saw this set of holiday penguins and thought they were so adorable!  http://marjorieanndesigns.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=164_192&products_id=1585 I knew they would make a great card.  I couldn't choose just one so I did a couple.  It just so happened I had got the little gumdrop card a couple days before I got the file so I knew I had to do the little candy guy. (The cards are by Recollections)  I did a winter card and a Christmas card.  I have to admit, you will probably be seeing a lot more cards from me.  I also think they are fun to give now too.  I am the type of person who doesn't really like consumer holidays...I don't like to buy things (or get things) just because I am supposed to.  I would love to get flowers any regular day of the year, but not for Valentines, birthday, or mother's day...This is how I enjoy sending cards too, just a random day when I thought they could use it.  Though there are a few special occasions I can get in to.

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Who ya gonna call?

Oh the memories...I still can't help but blurt out Ghostbusters is someone says Who are you going to call.  I think I may need to introduce my boys to these movies...I might have to watch them first since I don't actually remember much about them other than they were funny and catchy.
Anyway, I saw this set and I loved it, but I wasn't really sure what to do with it, so I held off getting it.  I decided it would make a fun Halloween layout.  The guys can double as other characters and the ghosts are just so much fun.  I need to do better to keep track of which digital papers I am using.  I pay attention while I am making my pages but I don't write it down so of course I don't remember anything...but if you would like to know I am sure I can track it down easily enough.  The elements come from the Ghostbusters file from Marjorie Ann Designs (artwork by KristiW)  http://marjorieanndesigns.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=164_192&products_id=1407

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I'm back

I took the summer off from Scrappy Dew design team.  I missed working with Scrappy Dew.  You have seen the talent of Chrystal, Rob is always so good to keep me feeling included, and Michelle is so helpful, plus I have made new friends on the team.  I am glad to be back.  I decided to stay at every other week so I don't get overwhelmed with my crazy life.   I am back now with my first project.  I have really loved the file Love at First Sight http://www.scrappydew.com/products/love-at-first-sight/?aff=4 I just think it is such a neat idea...and we all have pictures just like this.  I was finally able to use this file so I can scrap those precious first photos.

I used the Scrappy Dew stamps on the mom and dad, and Peachy Keen stamps on the baby.  I am so glad there were stamps that tiny, I really didn't want to piece on the tiny eyeballs and nose.  I did another set of pieces and had the baby's eyes open.  This was also the set that made me say enough is enough and opened my new ink.  It seemed to work better, so hopefully no more faded faces!

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cards

I have a lot of nieces and nephews, a lot.  Well 2 of them happen to be leaving for major life journeys...they happen to be brothers.  One of them will be serving a mission for the church, and the other one is in the army and leaving for Afghanistan.  I made them each a going away card.
For my first nephew, I decided to participate in the sketch challenge for Little Scraps of Heaven so I used her Out for a Ride File for the bicycle.  (I switched the boy and girl and left the hat off)  I did print and cut for my titles and the world.  I really like the way it turned out!

For my other nephew I used the Cutie Katoodle from Kadoodle Bug Designs, as I thought that it was just perfect.  I did print then cut with this but I printed out extra pieces for select parts of it so that it would have a lot of dimension.  I also used pop dots.  I used the yellow background to kind of represent the desert. 

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Camping

I have a lot of photos from our Yellowstone trip....we were there for 2 weeks.  So I found a couple of different files that had good pieces for layouts.  I plan to mix them together once I get time, but for now I just did pieces from each.  The last set had moose characters, but I also wanted to use kid characters, so I went with Camping Trip http://marjorieanndesigns.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=164_192&products_id=1503  This was one of the 3 sets I was working on simultaneously and kind of overwhelmed myself with.  I have been looking into going back to more simple layouts.  I need to as I am way behind, and it would be less stressful...but everytime I think I will, I see another set of files that I just HAVE to have ;-)

This raccoon is so cute!  I used Peachy Keen stamps for the boys.  I tried using more pattern papers.  I tried to match their swimwear colors but with patterns...it looks a little weird to me...but I need to keep trying.  Thanks for stopping by. 

My reality check

I am always optimistic about how much I can get done.  When I tell my husband I have about a half hour left, he knows that usually means about 2 hours...I am not a great judge of time, AND I am just REALLY slow at crafting.  So we went on vacation and I figured since it was vacation, I would have a lot of free time to craft...somehow I forgot my kids would still be with us taking up all my time.  So I got about 10 or so sets of files all ready and cut out, and took them to the cabin.  I think I got one piece done, and one small set.  All the other sets are still just sitting in my little case.  I thought I did the hard part but I still can't seem to find the time to piece them.  I have also realized that doing multiple pieces is difficult, but doing multiple sets is very difficult.  After you get everything cut, you still have to organize all the pieces to figure out where everything goes, except now there are a ton of pieces to sort...I just finished working on 3 different sets at the same time....I kind of burnt myself out, it was too much and it took way too long...luckily I finished them in time.
Here are the pieces I did manage to finish.  They are both from Kadoodle Bug Designs. http://kadoodlebugdesigns.com/shop/ One is just pieces (I love you this much), the other one (Cutie Katoodle Skunk) I did a quick layout for some pictures I have, but I'm not too sure about it, so I haven't glued anything down yet.  On the skunk I did one regular, and I flipped one and left some flowers off and added some Halloween pieces from Got Treats.   I also made my own title.

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Missed photo opportunity

When we went to Yellowstone, we had a moose run out in front of us and run for about a block...yet I wasn't able to get a picture of it....Oh man, I really wanted a picture, it was such a neat experience.  I saw the set the great outdoors http://marjorieanndesigns.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=164_192&products_id=1568 and decided that was how I was going to remember the moose even though I didn't get a picture.  It has a great cabin, with moose visiting.  I made these pieces for some of the photos I did get.  (I also missed some great shots of bald eagles that kept flying over us, but of course never when I had the camera out).

I thought that smore turned out so cute!  When I first made these I had forgot to add the antlers, it definitely gives them a different look.  I love how they turned out!  If you have any questions let me know.  Thanks for stopping by!

Cancer Sucks

My cousin's little 3 year old has been battling cancer.  He is a fighter, and a strong, happy boy.  He loves Buzz Lightyear and they often tell him he can make it to infinity and beyond.  I got this file a while ago, and it's no longer available, but I thought it would be perfect to make into a card for him.  I added some hair to match his as well.  I HATE cancer, I hate that so many people are getting cancer.  I am glad that there is a way to fight it, but I still hate it.  I hope this card will bring a smile to his tender little face.

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Nurses

My sister has been having a bit of a hard time.  I wanted to send her a card to let her know I am thinking about her and hopefully make her feel special.  I decided to make one that she could display on her desk.  She is an RN (I actually have 3 sisters who are all RN's).  So I made her a nurse card and will put a nice sentiment on the inside.  I used the Little Nurse/Nurses are Special file from Marjorie Ann Designs. http://marjorieanndesigns.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=164_192&products_id=1341

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Wonderland

Having 4 boys, all pretty close in age, I can tell you that they are either best friends or worst enemies!  When they are best friends they get along really well and follow each other around...sometimes they even copy each others likes and dislikes.  My #3 does this all the time with the older 2.  If you ask his favorite color or favorite toy, he will tell you it is whatever #1 says his is.  I saw the Alice in Wonderland file from Marjorie Ann Designs http://marjorieanndesigns.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=164_192&products_id=1532 and thought about how she follows the rabbit all over Wonderland, just like he follows his brothers everywhere!  I used Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle Dum for the brothers, and of course the rabbit.  I also used the Cheshire cat along with one of his quotes.  This is a really fun set.  As I am starting to dabble into cards a little more, I can see some really fun uses with these characters.  The paper I believe is from Harper Finch Designs.

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Halloween

My boys are always ahead of schedule when it comes to holidays.  They pretty much know what they want for Christmas, the following year.  The same goes with costumes.  However when it comes to my crafting...I am always behind schedule...very behind.  (For the most part I am still working on the first 3 months of my 7 year old's baby book).
I saw the file Too Cute to Spook http://marjorieanndesigns.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=164_192&products_id=1558 from Marjorie Ann and it matched perfectly for what my boys want to be.  Last year my oldest told me that he wanted us to go as matching skeletons.  My second boy usually asks for a Halloween costume for Christmas (One year he asked Santa for Body Parts...I had to explain that it was Halloween Candy)  He got a vampire cape last year and that is what he wants to be this year.  The file also has a werewolf that I can use as I had a pretty fun costume a few years back.
This I believe is my very first layout I have done for pictures that have not yet been taken...probably my last as well.  It's kind of exciting to feel like I am on top of things...if only this meant I was really caught up and able to plan ahead....ha ha ha ha ha!

The title grabbed me right off so I had to use that...looking now I see I left the whites off the title eyes, I will have to go back and add them.  The skeletons are adorable and I will use them again...digitally.  There were a lot of tiny pieces, even with doing it the opposite way and subtracting the bones from the black instead of placing them all.  Also it only came with a girl skeleton, with a skirt so it was a lot harder than I anticipated to alter it to make a boy skeleton also.  I left the hat off the girl and just put on a headband instead.  I also am still struggling with my stamps coming off faded looking.  I had to retrace the whole thing with a black pen.  I am not sure if the stamps are not completely flat so it is missing the ink, or if it is the ink itself.  I actually got Stayz on black ink to try, but then heard it is very permanent, so trying to figure out if it can be used on these stamps.  Also not too set on the photo mats for this layout, but I figure it will be covered with a picture anyone so it should be fine.  Under the watermark is a Halloween journal tag. 

I also had to use the Dracula/vampire as he is adorable and matches what my other son wants to be for Halloween.  Although he is the only image I used from the set on this page, I really like how it turned out.  He was pretty easy to make although I couldn't get the tiny fangs to cut so I had to just draw them on...I do love the way he looks! 

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LSHD Fall challenge

I have been trying to get all caught up on all the pieces I thought I would have plenty of time to do on my vacation.  I think I am almost there!  Little Scraps of Heaven's challenge this time is just to do anything with a fall theme.  I of course chose to do a layout.  I used the moose with leaf chain file.  I sure have a hard time layering papers...most of the time I struggle with matching patterns together, this time I was having a hard time with angling the back papers...it just wasn't straight...lol.  I am trying to open up my talents and try new things but I seem to revert to what I know and they all seem very similar.  I know I am going to have to go outside my comfort zone and take time to practice new things if I want to grow.  I made the title using the Narnia font.

Looking at it now, I made the opposite mistake this time...I should have made the moose bigger.  Usually I go to place my pieces and they are too big.  (I make my pieces before deciding a layout...I base my layout on what will fit/work with the pieces I want to use....how do you usually do yours?)  I wasn't sure what to do besides the moose, title and photo mats.  I wanted to add something around the edges but found I barely have any fall items.  I decided to put the leaves on and the ribbon at the bottom.  I feel like he still needs something around him.  Maybe some more leaves by his feet or a piece of paper to make a ground???  We will see if I add anything before it is counted as finished. 

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Little Big heads

Scrappy Dew was doing a live broadcast to show everything you could do with their scrap factory.  While doing that they gave away the code to the little big head set.  I didn't think I wanted this set, but once I got it and looked in to it...it is so fun!  I saw the little granny file and thought it would be fun to toughen her up a bit.  I messed around with the hair to give her a good balance of tough and old, decided to go with orange with grey highlights!  I also added a pearl necklace...of course the shoes had to match the gloves!  You can see the expansion pack here: http://www.scrappydew.com/collections/scrap-factory-expansion-packs/products/scrap-factory-little-big-heads-expansion-pack
I actually already started another project with these guys...my son is going to love it!

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Malachi blocks

I had to finish off my boys names with these cute Baby alphabet blocks from Marjorie Ann Designs!  I can see me continuing to use these even if I use just the babies or just the blocks.  They are very versatile.  I used the sets A-F http://marjorieanndesigns.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=244&products_id=1469 and M-R http://marjorieanndesigns.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=244&products_id=1471

I did print and cut using a mix of the png files and pieced the svg file with the colors that I want.  I had a few issues with my machine not registering, I also have a problem with the inside pieces.  I have to only cut the edges or else it tends to trace the whites of the eyes and other inside pieces, and cut them out.  I need to fiddle around with it a bit more to see if I can cut all the pieces I want, and only the pieces I want.  I also need to figure out why my images keep getting darker when I put them in my software to add the logo...it makes it a little harder to see everything. 

While I was in working with the letters I needed for the name I saw these cute letters and thought they would be perfect for a card for my sister who is a nurse, so I made them too.  

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