My sunshine through the rain: August 2011

Sunday, August 28, 2011

This is an old layout (notice the bad perm, and lots of extra baby weight via the one hanging off my hip!) but it is a LO that we did from a class at Scrapbook Generation several years ago...no it didn't take me quite that long to finish..but close to it! I LOVED this class when I saw it and had a ton of pumpkin patch pics to use. However, Allison made hers look flawless..mine not so much. I had a hard time getting my pics to fit and sewing through 3 layers, I ended up having a few tears. All in all, I would like to try this again with a different word, loved the concept..but it does require patience. Something God is still trying to teach me! :0 ) But it is another greatly designed page from Allison!

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Most recent on Sketchsupport

**NOTE*** the pictures from this post have been removed and will be updated soon..problems w/ photobucket! And blogger isn't showing all my text in this post even though it shows up when I edit it! GRRR! Sorry if any of it doesn't make sense ; )

This week and the last I have had a few projects posted on sketchsupport. The first was made from a birthday hat sketch which I flipped to make a flower bouquet.

And this is what I made:

"I Love You" by Amy Roller
Supplies - Patterned paper/Cardstock: unknown, Stampin Up!, Lasting Impressions, Bazzill Shimmer;
Stamps/Dies: Papertrey Ink; Ink: Stampin Up!; Flower: Prima; Border strips: K&Company, Close To My Heart; Felt: Papertrey Ink; Pearl: Close To My Heart; Other: Thread, Rhinestones

I decided to flip the sketch and use it as a bouquet of flowers. I kept the scallop from the bottom and added it to the top border of the bouquet.

I stuck with the shape and made it sort of a pocket for the flowers. The flowers are my version of the "poof" that sits on top of the hat. It's all there just a little rearranged!

To start, I hand cut the triangle shape and made it into a 3-D pocket with the border trim attached. I then cut a pattern and solid strip to add across the front of the project. I put the pocket down on top of this and used a die to cut the "you" out and adhered it down as well. Next, I stamped the "I love" above it.

For the flowers I used border strips that I rolled up and held with adhesive. I then "folded" the edges of the strips down to make flowers. I then added a pearl and rhinestone to the handmade flowers. For the last and middle flower, I used a Prima flower with more pieces of the green border strip to make leaves behind the flowers. The two handmade flowers also have a die cut felt flower base.

Last I stitched a border around the base of the whole piece.

I will be putting this in a shadow box frame in my home.

This week is the 1 page sketch:

I made this:
"Little Brother, Big Love" by Amy Roller

Supplies: Patterned paper: American Crafts; Letters: American Crafts, Fancy Pants; Felt: Papertrey Ink; Ribbon: American Crafts, unknown

One of the biggest variations I made to this page was deciding to use a pattern paper for the base. Because I only had two pictures to use, I also left off the three small photos and extended my title to that area.

It helps draw your eye down and across page just as the photos would have. I followed the rest of the sketch pretty close, but used a ribbon across the bottom in place of the stripe because I didn't have a stripe that matched.

I added a few more ribbon strips in the top left corner to balance out my long title on top.

I just cut varying strips of coordinating ribbon and then cut an upside down "v" on the ends to form the pennant shape. I also hand cut several hearts in different sizes and colors of felt to sprinkle throughout. I topped them off with rhinestones or mini hand cut hearts from patterned paper.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

First day of school 2011...the good and the bad.

Well the boys handled the first day of school great! (Caden=1st grade, Mason=Pre-k) Mason has been really nervous and wasn't excited to go until last night. He said he was ready but he's said so before and then hid behind me all through the open house! But he crawled into my bed early this morning and said he needed a quick snuggle before school...so I knew he must still be okay with going. He then got up in his normal very happy, bouncy mood and got dressed, brushed his teeth and then got Caden up. They both did an awesome job getting ready and seemed eager to go. I was nervous on the inside, but smiling on the outside.

When we arrived, we took Caden in first and he immediately unloaded supplies and then started on his coloring...just like every morning last year. He was good to go!

Mason held my hand and we walked down to his room and to my surprise he went right on in and hung up his back pack and then we found his desk.

He looked up at me with this sweet little nervous face and asked "Can I take a picture with you?" I tried not to boo hoo on the spot and said "of course." We had the teacher take our picture and he sat right down and smiled.

He looked around at a few others who weren't so happy to be there and for a minute I worried they might change his mind. He just looked back at me and asked "if I was gonna leave him?" I said, "yeah I will have to soon." He gave me a hug and kiss and then started playing with his playdoh.

I am so proud of him for not being scared. (and making it easier on momma!) I don't think I made it all the way out of the building before the tears came..and many more followed at home as I looked over the pictures I had taken that morning.

It has been 6 years since the last time I have been home ALONE in an EMPTY house. A very quiet empty house. I know I will get used to them not being here but for this morning, I am struggling. I cried on Caden's first day, but I at least had Mason at home with me. And I got used to his morning "snuggle time". Now it's just me and it really hits home that they are only going to get bigger, older, and inevitebly get more independent needing and seeing me less. That is a hard thing to come to face with as a mom. Not only as parent, but more as a stay at home mom, they have been my most important job and responsibility day and night and it is going to be an adjustment going from them being with me over 90% of my day to around 25% now. I love these little boys so much and hope they have many great learning and happy adventures ahead of them, today and always.

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Rainy day fun!

We are trying to soak up every last minute before school starts..even rainy days get put to good use! It felt so good to play in the rain and feel like a kid again. ; )

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Better late then never!

I CANNOT believe I FORGOT To post a giveaway winner!!! I guess you could say I was prolonging the suspense?? I am so sorry for all of you who have been patiently waiting, I will make you wait no more..the lucky winner is:

Michele's Scrapy Creations said...: I'm both. I love the various it looks in my album. sometime I don't always have enough pictures to do two pages that one page is enough for me. thanks for a chance. michelesscrapycretions35 at yahoo dot com

I will be contacting you and I will get that out to you ASAP! I PROMISE!!

Monday, August 1, 2011

A week of 1 pagers and a giveaway!

This past week was full of 1 pagers on Sketchsupport! Here are the 2 layouts I made, you can check out all the details about them and the supply lists on the site as well as see what all the other Design Team members have done with the sketch. I am normally a 2 page girl but have really been enjoying these 1 pagers. Be sure to scroll down and check out the rest of my blog and hopefully come back soon! Thanks for stopping by!

As for the giveaway, Allison has generously provided us with the new...

So leave a comment here telling me if you are a 2 page scrapper or a 1-pager. You have until Thurs. evening and I will announce the winner on Friday! Thanks and have a great week!