easy day

it's a beautiful day in Oklahoma today. sun is shining and I need to get outside and do some yard work but can't seem to.   my laptop arrived this week, and while I was excited to get it, getting everything loaded onto it is really time consuming. :)  I've downloaded a trial version of photoshop elements, so I've been playing. and playing. and playing some more.  it's safe to say that I'm hooked!

I haven't even been in my scraproom to play for a few days, but am planning on getting in there during the Ranger game.  do a little scrapping and watch some baseball. 

I've actually set myself up a fantasy baseball team this season, and it's been fun.  David and Matt have one in the same league too, and Matt has been leading in scores since day one.  it's funny, he'll call and we'll talk baseball.  just one more memory we are making.  I think it's cool that he calls me to talk baseball.

it's a bit strange, but I've not much to say.  very unusual for my chatterbox self.

I needed to get my 4 Gossamer Blue layouts posted by today.  so far I've done the 4 each month to get my free album.  one more month to go!  woohoo!!

wishing you all a peaceful week!

Gossamer Blue January Kit

and, here are my 4 layouts with my January Gossamer Blue kit.  I'm telling you guys, I'm going to get a free album!  These layouts were a little more rushed than I would have liked them to be, and I'm not totally in love with them all, but, it's all good!  Most of last weekend was spent making baby shower invitations, and not working on my layouts, so I had to hurry hurry.

The exciting part about it, there are 4 pages to go in 4 different albums! That my friends is progress! 

I'm back to handwriting on most of my layouts.  There is nothing at all I like about my writing, because I can not seem to make myself slowdown enough to have it neat, but, it's me, it's always been this way, and one day I believe my family will look back, see that writing and smile.  I think this, because when I find things with my Grandmothers writing, it makes me smile.

The New Mexico trip with my family.

                                                   One for the new house album.

                                             
                                                Woot Woot, the Sr. Album!!

                                               Let's go to Vegas and get married album!

AND, in case you missed this on my facebook!  The grandpups have been spending lots of time at our house over the last couple of months.  Seems someone got into my scrappy supplies, so we had to make a sign for her momma to see what happened.  She really is a sweet little doll!  And seriously, does she not look just a little remorseful!

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!

Attack of...

and just so you don't think I'm going through a period where I'm not liking anything I create right now, that's not true.  I've really made several layouts I like, some I like a lot.  I think it was in July, I got on a roll, and I know I completed over 20 layouts, which for me, in one month, that is pretty super amazing! 

 Some I liked, some I didn't, but my mission was to get them done.  Which is a good thing, because in August it started drying up to the point that I completed nothing from about the middle of August through all of Sept.  Matter of fact, we were so busy working on the 8th street house for my MIL that weeks went by and I didn't even touch a scrappy item.  Sad isn't it.  

  While my mojo was on over drive I was taking advantage of creating and spending less time posting. Plus, I was being super lazy taking pictures of the finished product.  With all that being said.... here is a layout that I do like.  I'd had it in my head for some time, on paper it's not quite how I envisioned it, I ended up going in a different direction, but I still like it.  I like the tone on tone, using the negative part from the cut (got my cricut machine out), little pops of color, I just like it.  It was really simple, and just flowed together so quickly, you gotta love that! Did some inking and some stamping, used some of my beloved wood veener embellies from Studio Calico. 

Plus, I'm pretty fond of my subject matter, even if he might possibly threaten me when he discovers these pictures.  That's the beauty of the kids being grown and gone, they can't say oh don't use that picture, don't put those in the album or post online... cause by the time they see it, it is done!

The blue sure does stand out doesn't it, and a year ago you wouldn't find in blue in my pages.  Isn't if funny how what we like or are drawn to changes.

Have a peaceful happy day!

Zoey goes swimming

Happy Monday Everyone!  I'm not sure how Monday's seem to get back around so fast, but they do.  I do have to admit though that sometimes the weekends are so busy, I'm thankful for Monday to arrive! That was not the case this past weekend, I had a most wonderful and much needed restful weekend. 

Here is a layout that I made at the last retreat, it's another one that if I sat and looked at it for 2 minutes I could find many things about it that I do not like.  Please understand, I'm not putting that on here for anyone to think I'm looking for support or encouragement, only to say to myself that it's ok to not love every single layout, because I do come back and read through my old posts.  It's kind of like a diary, without being all personal, if that makes sense.  It's a way for me to look at the way I've grown as a scrapbooker, to see the things that I did or did not like, the trends at the time.  My point is, I hesitated even posting these layouts that I'm less than thrilled with, because I didn't want anyone to think I was hinting for approval.   I'm ok with not loving all of my layouts, as long as the memories get recorded and into an album, that's the most important thing.  Life is short sometimes, and I want to get as much of our life recorded as I can.  There will be a day that the kids and their kids are thankful I did.

OK, with that out of the way, here's what I'm not loving about this layout.  It's a little lackluster for me.  It doesn't have my usual "stuff" all about it.  I was trying for the less is more approach, to see what I thought, give it a try, KWIM.  Well, I can say I did it and that it's not my thing!

These are cute pictures of Zoey and the boys in the pool.  I did break out an unused stamp set that I need to use more, it's pretty awesome.  Used a couple of my newly acquired flair buttons.  Discovered that I like putting parts of the title on the pictures.

Wishing you all a nice calm week! :)  Thanks for stopping by.

as is..

Here is another one of my layouts that I'm not loving, and while looking at it, I am thinking that there are certain parts of it I'd have done differently.  One such thing being the tags with sprinkles of confetti.  I'd punched all those, planned to put them in a vellum baggie and sew it on the layout.  It just didn't work, not sure if it didn't work for me or for the layout, but it didn't work!  Not wanting all that to go to waste, instead I glued the confetti dots to the tags, with my thinking being I didn't want to cover up all of the tag.  I wanted to be able to see that it was tags on there, I'm not sure why I wanted that, just remember wanting to know they were in fact tags.  Now looking at it, I wish I'd put more confetti dots on there. 

Throw on a bit of washi tape, some chipboard butterflies, and a mistable sun from Studio Calico, along with an old tag out of my stash, and  put it in the done pile.  Not sure if I really thought it was done, or I was just done with it for the time being.  There's no title and no journaling, and again I'm not sure if I'd planned on leaving all that off or not.  Because of where it will go in the album, it will be fine with no title and no journaling.  Perhaps that is what I feel is missing, maybe that would help.

Sometimes, on the projects that I seem to just "not know", it's better for me to walk away from it and then look at it later.  For now, this page is in the album as is, if it's still bothering me in a month or so, then I'll see about adding something to it.  Chances are, I'll leave it as is, because I only have another 42,683 pictures that need to make it on a layout.

Thanks for taking a little of your time to stop by and read my rambling.  I do appreciate your time.  :)

Back to being right...

Think things are starting to calm down a little on the home front.  I sure hope so, because I've been totally zapped of all mojo!  Seriously, I've done nothing creative in about 6 weeks.  Good news is some ideas are starting to gather, and that makes me smile!  Thankfully, I've got several layouts that I've completed and not blogged, because for a few weeks there the mojo was flowing fast and furiously, and I wasn't about to stop it!  Something else I realized a couple of days ago, not only have I not done any playing with paper, but I've not touched my camera in at least that long too.  I'm ready for my world to get back to being right!

Here is a layout that somehow it didn't turn out on paper the way I had it pictured in my head.  I'm pretty sure that's because I got a little finger heavy with the mist!  I believe I'd like it better if there were less misting on the left side, but, I'm keeping it as it is.  Who knows, heavy misting might be all the rage in a year or two.

Besides, my main goal was to get this pictures of Jessica scrapped, and I did.  Honestly, when I look at this layout, I see her bright smiling face, and that's all that really matters.

The picture is dark, and I apologize for that, it was late when I took these.  The sun had already gone down, and I know better.  In the picture of the 4 of them standing, do you see how tiny she is compared to the other girls.  You'd think she was years younger, no, just months.  Matter of fact, she may not even be the youngest one there.

I've been wanting to get started on some of the kids pictures when they were babies/toddlers, and I finally took the plunge.  I may not be thrilled with the design of the layout, but I am thrilled to have these pictures down.  One down, forty-nine thousand to go! :)

Miss Zoey after she took a dip in the pool.  She is a one of a kind dog, there is no doubt about that!

Another layout for the house album.  These pictures were from the first day we got the keys to the house.  Yes, even Zoey came down to go swimming.   What can I say, our dogs don't really know they are dogs.  To this day, if Zoey is there, while she doesn't just jump in the pool if we are in it, she does come down the steps like a person, and waits at the edge of the water with this eagerness that is too funny.  I really think she wants to get in, but she wants us to chase her first, and then put her in.  She is a mess!

                            

Welcome Home

  I got up a little early this morning, thanks to Sir Ozzy not being able to be still. I'm telling you, he is just like a 4 year old!  And huge, I really need to post some pictures of him.  Yorkies are supposed to be small, and he was supposed to be a tiny one like all of his brothers and sisters, tiny is not a word used to describe him.  It's not just that he is big, he is stout!  I mean thick kind of stout.  I swear him flopping on the bed when you are asleep is like someone walking in and throwing a tree trunk right smack in the middle of it! But, I love him so!!  Anyway, Oz and I got up a little earlier than normal, got some coffee while he went outside to wake the neighbors, then uploaded a new layout.

I really enjoyed creating this one.  It all just seemed to flow so easily.  Plus, and here is the best part, I was able to use items from a kit I've had for, oh, hmmmm, I don't know... couple of years maybe! Shameful I know!  What's shameful about it is that I didn't use more! 

Whole lotta more, part 3

The scraproom! Now remember, I've not hung anything on the walls yet... and this is just a first go at arranging my stash. It may very well change as I get started playing and determine what works better for me. But this is it for today.

This is what you see when you first walk in the room. I'm excited to have the computer in here, even though it takes up some space, but this allows me to have my pazzle in here also... which I know I'm going to love love love! I didn't get a picture of the pazzle, but it's on the left side of the computer.

Here's my table with my cricut, purple cow, and big shot. I'm going to love being able to have these out within reach of my finger tips.
Some of my paper. Susan wanted to see the stacks of paper. I love my storage system. It works great for me.
The two pink totes hold all of my SU! paper. I love it organized this way. The blue tote is full of kits. I'm thinking I don't need anymore.
Over here on this wall are more storage totes. The two shelves have all of my SU! stamps set, some punches, and the pink boxes are my sizzix dies.

This is inside the closet, and I'm not sure it will stay this way, but for now most of the stash is unpacked.
I think I'll eventually get cabinets and have them instead of just the tables. Or some of the cubby shelves. In my mind, that's what I see. That way I can keep more behind closed doors and the room will look neater. It just has a very cluttered look to me. Maybe after I get some things made and up on the walls, I'll love it more. Then I think who cares... it's my room. This is why I wanted a room in the back of the house, to keep this all out of sight from visitors. Besides, anyone who really knows me, they know how I love this addiction of ours. Plus, we all know how messy things can get when you are working on a project, or four!
Well that's it for now. Be sure to keep scrolling down to see the other two posts. I went at this a little backwards. What can I say.

Hope you enjoyed the mini tour. I'll get more up as I finish a room. Hoping to get curtains for the living room this weekend. Good thing I'm not an impatient person! hahaha

A whole lotta more, part 2

Hello, wont you come in!
Here I'm standing right in front of the house, next to the street. The window by the garage is the formal dining room, which we are not going to have. It is going to be David's music room. The door opens up, there's a small space and you see into the living room. The window next to the door is the living room. The last window is the spare bedroom. That's where you can stay if you come visit!
Still out by the street, but wanted you to see this other bed and all the flippin shrubs in it.

Can you believe it, more shrubs.
When next you see this area, it will be very different. It might not be until next summer... but that's ok.
Be sure you keep scrolling down. The last post is actually my first post. Yes, I'm a bit backwards today! Thank you for noticing.

Week 12 & 13 Plus a whole lotta more

I think I'm going to have to do this in two parts, it's not letting me upload any more pictures to this post. Either I hit my limit or the uploader is tired!

I'm not even going to pretend to know which pics I took on the weekend and which ones were taken at other times. Just trust me when I tell you... I've been taking pictures almost daily!

Some of these may be duplicates for some you. I'll be posting here, to facebook, and Memory Makers. I'm just trying to cover all my bases.

I've taken several pics so you can actually get an idea, I'm hoping, of the whole layout. One or two pics just doesn't do it!

Here goes... the back yard

This is what you see when you walk out the backdoor. It's also what you see if you are standing at the sink in the kitchen, which looks right out the backdoor.

The flower bed on the west side of the back yard. This shot is also taken standing in front of the window in my scraproom... so this is pretty much what I see when I look out the window.

Looking across to the east side of the yard. Oh do I have plans for that corner and fence row. David just doesn't know it yet!

The corner next to the back door. That window is my dining room. This is one of the beds I've managed to get cleaned out. You could tell the flower beds had been left unattended for the last month or so before we moved in. I'm not judging.. I might have done the same thing. They are just in dire need of help right now.

The one and only flower bed I've planted some flowers in. I brought these dasies over from our other house. The green barrel you see, there are two of them, they catch the rain water. While I love that idea, they aren't very pretty... so I'm going to try to think of something that I will want there to help hide them some. These two windows are my bedroom.

This shot was taken at the back end of the yard looking up at the house. We've not got a patio set yet, yes it's the best time of year to buy them... but we've had so much else to buy that we thought it could wait until spring. Ok... windows... the first on the left is my bedroom, it's corner windows... then the dining room, backdoor next, living room window, then another set of corner windows that are my scraproom.

Ahhhh... the trimmer and the cord I cut. Cool huh? Did you see all the shrubs... wait, you've not seen the front yard yet!

The dining room. The one and only totally complete room in the house. I love these curtains. Thank you J.C. Penny. If you go through that door way, straight leads to the laundry room then the garage. Take a left and you go down the hall into my bedroom.


The first plant I bought to plant in the new yard! The only plant so far to be honest. I planted this in front of the scraproom window.
My snake... make that my Dead Snake. Sorry... I had to share!
My toad. He comes out every night, to the back door, trying to catch bugs. I don't like bugs, so the toad gets to live.
Ok, that's it for now.... off to post more.