Trying to get that perfect picture

supplies used - kraft cardstock - Close To My Heart,  patterned paper - Simple Stories Homespun 6x6 paper pad, heart punch - Martha Stewart, Alpha stickers - red - October Afternoon, blue - Jillibean Soup

Ah - the perfect family photo. They are few and far between at our house. With Shane we are on a strict time limit. When he is done taking pictures, he is done.  And then, of course, there is always operator error - meaning I'm hitting the wrong button - instead of hitting the timer button I'm actually taking the picture. That is the case with these photos. But, if we just stick with it - once in a while we do get a good one!

I decided to play along with some of the sketch challenges over at Cookin' Up Creations.  This is the sketch that I used

 

and the challenge was to use distressing. I distressed the edges of my paper strips and inked the edges of my hearts. Two of my favorite things to do!

I am also entering it in the Lasting Memories #180 Alpha Wars challenge - to use 2 or more different alphas.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Inspired To Scrap Weekend Warriors Class

I am super excited! Inspired to Scrap is getting ready for their next Weekend Warriors class and Stacey has asked me to be a guest designer for this class! She always has super fun sketches to work with (a good mix of single and double page sketches) and this time is no different! Here is a little more about this class:

Class is coming! Get those photos ready for another Weekend Warrior class!!
We will have a total of seven *BRAND NEW* sketches, SBC templates, tips, prizes and more. Woohooo!!!

*April Weekend Warrior Class- (April 9-20)  Cost- $5

The classroom will open April 9th and run through the 20th. The format will be the same as the other Weekend Warrior classes. *Remember, these are only guidelines! Feel free to substitute photo sizes as needed…make them work for you!

Class Schedule:
Wednesday, April 9th- Class opens
Pre-class sketch (one 4×6 H, two 4×4′s)

Friday, April 11-
Sketch #1- (Double) three 4×6′s H, four 4×4′s, one 4″ circle
Sketch #2- two 4×6′s H

Saturday, April 12-
Sketch #3- (Double) four 4×6′s H, four 3×4′s V
Sketch #4- three 4×4′s, two 3×4′s V

Sunday, April 13-
 Sketch #5- (Double) six 4×6′s H
Sketch #6- one 5×7 H (or you could use one or two 4×6′s either direction pretty easily)

April 14-20- We will be finishing layouts, sharing them, and chit chatting! You have until the 20th to upload your pages for a chance to win a fun prize.

Be sure to check it out here!

Ada Loves Her Pops

The boys have been on spring break this week, and since Scott has to work all week and the weather has been not-so-spring like, we have been taking it easy at the house. I have been trying to scrap as much as possible and they have been playing video games and watching movies until all hours of the night!

I have another layout of Miss Ada to share today. I just love this photo of her looking up at her Pops. I'm sure these two are going to get into all sorts of orneriness as she gets older!

I used this sketch from Stuck Sketches. I just love Laura Whitaker's sketches and use them as often as I can!

 

I also used some fun papers from Heidi Swapp's Serendipity collection. I found the 12x12 paper pad at Hobby Lobby a while back and since I don't have many pink papers in my stash, I thought it would be a great addition.

I am also linking this up to The Memory Nest's Crafty Creations No. 14.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

A Quick Card

I have a quick and easy card to share today. My card is a total lift of this card from Lawn Fawn's blog. When I saw their card I fell in love with it and thought - I have circle dies and plenty of paper in the colors of the rainbow, so I made my own version of it. Super quick and easy to do - and since you only use half of the circles, I still have another rainbow to use on another project. The prompt this week for Scrappin' N Chattin's card challenge was to use a quote on your card. This is one of my all time favorite quotes and it is just a good reminder to always for the good in everyday. Now that I think about it, maybe I'll use that extra rainbow to make myself a picture for my scrap room!

Thanks for stopping by!

My Monday Morning Greeting

This is how I am usually greeted on Monday morning when I pick Ada up from Abby at the school. I just might think she doesn't care for me, but that pout usually turns into a smile pretty quickly!

I feel like I am patterned paper challenged when it comes to using a pattern my background. I guess I'm just too used to using a solid color (and usually that solid color is a neutral color) background. I  feel like my layouts are so busy when I use a patterned paper! But, I am trying to add a little variety to my pages.

I loved the Vintage Bliss collection from Simple Stories when it first came out, but at the time I didn't have much use for a girly collection, so I just picked up a couple of pieces of it. Now that Ada is here, I am kicking myself for not getting more! I did pick up the 6x6 paper pad of it a couple of weeks ago at Hobby Lobby when they were 50 percent off and I just may have to go back and see if I can get another one! I used a sketch from Scrapbook Generations - Sketches For Scrapbooking, One Page sketches - Vol. 1, and was able to use a variety of the papers from the pad.

I'm sure this is not the only layout I'll have of Ada's pouty face - it's just too darn cute to not share!

Scrapbook Generation Blog Hop

Good morning and welcome to the Scrapbook Generation Blog Hop for March. Thank you for visiting my blog.  You should have found your way here from Mandi's blog. If this is your first stop, you might want to start at the Scrapbook Generation blog and then make your way through each stop.

For my layout I used a sketch from the June 2013 downloads - Boys/Father's Day bundle.

In keeping with my vow to use up my stash, I used some older Dear Lizzy - Lucky Charm papers on this layout. And to make it even better, all of the strips but two are the cut away strips from the paper. Which means I still have a lot of this paper that I love left for other layouts and projects.

I've been seeing a lot of cork embellishments lately, and while going through  my stash I found a piece of cork paper that I have had for a good 10 years and never used. I pulled it out along with a couple of heart punches and made my own cork embellishments. I just love using up some of that older stash!


You can find the SG sketches in their books and as downloads in the SG store, and there is a free one every month in case you wanted to try it out.

Next on the hop is Cassie. Be sure to check out her blog and see what she has done with a Scrapbook Generation sketch. Leave a comment on each blog and one lucky commenter will receive a free sketch bundle of their choice from the store. The winner will be drawn on Monday, March 10th, so you have one week to leave a comment.

In case you get lost at any point, here is the list all the blogs
Scrapbook Generation blog - http://scrapbookgeneration.blogspot.com/
Ruth - http://scrapmachine.com/
Louise- http://madeatnumber27.blogspot.com.au/
Tina Gale - http://tiggersscrapplace.blogspot.com
Steffanie - http://steffanies.blogspot.com/
Devra - http://mycreativeview.blogspot.com/
Melissa - http://www.scrappyjedi.com
Lori - http://savingmine.blogspot.com/
Mandi - http://www.mjskraze.blogspot.com/
Lori S - http://loriannie670.blogspot.com
Cassie - http://allsmilesandsunshine.blogspot.com/
Katy - http://www.scrappinkaty.blogspot.com
Stephanie - http://craftyholidaygirl.blogspot.com
Isbaha - http://isbahashome.blogspot.com
Corrina - http://anotherthingoffthelist.blogspot.ca

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!