Getting My Groove Back

I have often said that scrapping is my personal form of therapy, and this week is evidence of that.......

I haven't been able to get much creative time the past few weeks and the pre-testing tension at school had just zapped me of all energy. I sat down with a list of the challenges over at Challenge Masters and a stack of photos. After selecting pics, I flipped through my sketch books. I selected a couple from Page Maps and I was off and running.



This one was for the manufacturer challenge.



and.........
This one is for the Day in the Life challenge. (We were supposed to scrap someone acting foolish....LOL!)

It could be the fact that today is Friday, or it could be the fact that I finally had some time to take part in my scrapbooking "therapy"....... Whatever the cause, I definitely feel a little less "stressed" this morning. I have a third layout on my scrap desk and there is time for me to begin a fourth one tonight. Yippee! I think Stella is getting her Groove Back!

For it is in Giving, that We Receive

I have always taught my children that it is better to give than to receive. At Christmas when they were younger we had each one choose an angel from the angel tree. Each of them would select the gifts and package them before delivering them to the drop-off site. We also made a trip to the children's hospital to drop off gently used toys that our children no longer played with. The kids even carried the box in themselves.

Now that my children are older, that independent giving spirit is beginning to show. Keenan came home recently, telling me that the BETA Club wanted to create Easter cards for the local nursing home residents and they would like for him to design something. The two of us put our heads together and created this simple card....



It's nothing fancy, because we wanted something that the kids could create fairly easily.

Yesterday morning, on a rainy Saturday when most of his classmates were still in bed, Keenan helped cut all of the paper and emboss the front panels.



I was so proud of him for taking the time to give of himself to help brighten the day for others. It is times like these when I know that my kids are going to make the world a bettr place.

My Girl....

I haven't gotten to do much scrapping lately.
When I did finally get to sit down and work on a challenge or two I had to scrap pics of "my girl" Kari.

She's had kind of a rough week. She fell twice this week at track, the second time while doing hurdles at a meet. Both falls injured her left wrist. It was still sore on Friday, so Glenn took her to the doctor to get it x-rayed. Thankfully, it's only a sprain. She has to keep it wrapped for 3 or 4 days. She's really missing doing hurdles and the relay.....

As for the layout....



This page was for another challenge over at Challenge Masters. We were supposed to use words from the "Easter Parade" song as part of the title. I LOVE this pic of Kari. I snapped it when she was all dressed up for the spring dance.

Chop..... Chop......Chop!

This is the final week of Challenge Masters "Chopped" Contest. I have to be honest and say that I feel a lot like those reality show contestants who are standing on stage just waiting to hear whether they are the one selected to go home that week.

I have NO DOUBT that if this weren't the final week, I would definitely be on the cutting room floor. For some reason this week's challenge was just that.... a BIG CHALLENGE!

We were asked to select 3 of the elements used in the previous 3 challenges and use them in our layout. I started thinking about my page and decided to use white, circles, and sewing. I then got a basic idea forming in my head, but the more I worked, the more I felt other elements inching in as well.

My final design used white, yellow, lime green, circles, sewing, and scallops.



I'm not 100% happy with the final page, but all of my critics (i.e. my family) kept telling me that they wouldn't change anything, so I guess this is my finished entry.... LOL!

Spring... Is it Finally Here??

As much as I find snow beautiful, I am really happy that spring is finally here! We've had some cool mornings, but the warm rays of sunlight are very welcoming after the months of snow and ice. One of the things that means spring to me is the row of brightly colored daffodils that are planted in our front yard flowerbed. I knew that I had pay homage to them and when I saw the sketch on Sketches in Thyme I knew exactly how to scrapbook it.

I used a 5X7 photo of one of the daffodils and created my own ruffled green "grass" by using a sewing machine to gather 3 layers of spring green tulle. I added some silk daffodils that I found at the Dollar Tree, of all places. Some stamping, a punched bird and a post-it note journaling spot finish off the page.

I LOVE it!



Here's a closeup of the ruffled tulle.

Time For a Riddle...

What do you get when you cross a sweatshirt that's too small with a sewing machine run by a teenage girl?

...............

...............

...............

Give Up?????

You get a one of a kind creation!!

Today, Kari came home from her BFF's house and informed me that she wanted my assistance with a project. She then showed me an old hoodie sweatshirt that she had outgrown. It was still in good shape and it was one of her favorites, so she really didn't want to get rid of it.

Instead, she turned it inside out, sewed up the bottom of the sweatshirt,and then turned it right side out. She slid the end of one sleeve inside the sleeve cuff on the other sleeve and stitched the two sleeves together.

Her creation was her own version of a "hobo" type bag.



She just reaches inside the "hooded neck" of the bag to put things inside or get things out. If she wants the bag to close, she just pulls the string in the hood.



Gee, I wonder where she gets her creativity???? LOL!

Chopped Week Three

I've been participating in the "Chopped" Challenge over at Challenge Masters and this week, I think I created my new FAVORTIE layout!! Our recipe for this week was to use white, cardboard, and stitching. As soon as I saw the recipe I knew exactly which photo I wanted to use. I had a photo of sweet little Kari, back when she one and a half or two years old, all dressed in white, sitting on a white carousel horse. I also knew what technique I wanted to use. I took 4 or 5 different border punches and punches strips of white cardstock. Then I placed them on a sheet of vanilla cardstock and sewed each one down. Here's a closeup:



As for the cardboard, I used my Big Shot to die cut 3 small butterflies. Then I pulled off one layer, painted them white, and added some coarse glitter. Here's a look at them:



Before I show you the finished layout, I have to give some credit to my biggest inspiration. Several years ago I started scrapping with some wonderful gals over at Scrappin Mojo. It was there that I met Niki Willaert. I immediately felt myself drawn to her feminine, nostalgic layouts and projects. I found myself oohing and aahing at everything she posted. The whole time that I was working on this layout I found myself thinking, "What would Niki do??" No joke.... I think I actually tried to channel her creativity into my work....LOL! I would love for you to get to see some of her work too. Visit her blog to see some of her beautiful inspiration! http://petalstopolkadots.blogspot.com/

Now for my finished layout.... Before I show it to you, let me say that it is much prettier in person.



This is truly my favorite layout, I think. I love the way all of the little touches blended together to create a frilly, lacy, girly page! Thanks Niki for your inspiration and Thanks Challenge Masters for the recipe!