A couple layouts to share

Pictures from our first breakfast with the animals at the zoo.  Nicholas had a ball feeing the goats.

Visiting Santa in 2009, the boy's letter's from Santa are tucked in the envelope.

Have a great week!

Freedom...and other things I have discovered this month (long and photo heavy)

As February comes to a close I am still pondering the future, if any, for Color Me Daisy.  If you missed it, we announced with the release of our February kit that we were no longer going to offer monthly kits (the official announcement can be found here) with the original thought that we would do periodic kits 4-6 times a year. Life has changed dramatically in the past 2 years, we have an active 1 and 3 year old. My job is incredibly non-stop busy and I am working a lot more than I was a year ago. I don't want to miss anything with my two little guys and I want to enjoy life a bit more. I turn the big 4-0 at the end of the year and it is making me take stock of where I want to end up come the end of 2010.

I decided before I think about any future direction for CMD I need a break from kit planning and the business side of scrapbooking.  I got to a point where my heart wasn't in it, I wasn't scrapping and when I did, I was just slapping it on the page.  While life is still busy, I have had a lot more fun this past month with my family and my scrapping.

One of the things I did at the beginning of the year was a major scrap room overhaul.  I came across several class kits I never completed from past CKC's.  So one Friday night a week or two ago I grabbed this one and finished up these 2 class layouts...

These two were based on a  CK Sponsored class, but I don't remember which one and I am guessing it was a couple of years ago at least based on the products used.  But I think they are pretty timeless pages and I love them.

When I finished up these I had a sheet of Kraft cardstock still and lots of scraps, so I used them to make my least common layout for my Library of Memories class at Big Picture Scrapbooking that I am repeating as an Alumni this year.  My least common layout was People We Love and Why, this is about my nephew Andrew who is a big brother to two and helps his Dad (my brother), who is a single dad, a lot. I am proud of the young man he is becoming and the good example he is.

I have never been adept at creating a layout from a magazine ad, I usually look at them and can't see an actual layout. But after I finished my last issue of Real Simple this past month I did a quick flip through and landed on this ad (sorry for the pens in the corner, but they paper was lifting when I was taking the picture):

From this ad, I created this layout from our trip to California last July for my Grandfather's funeral.

One morning, when we didn't have to be anywhere early we drove down to Laguna Beach, grabbed Starbucks and had breakfast on the beach. It was Jackson's first trip to the beach. But the journaling is about how attached Jackson is to Mike. Everything is all about Daddy for Jackson right now. Most of the supplies used for this was from a mystery box I picked up from Scrap Attack Scrapbooking. I think for less than $50 with shipping I got a huge box of goodies with a original value of about $150.  I sorted through it, kept what I wanted and anything I didn't think I would use went into the yard sale pile for the LSS.  I figure I didn't take much of a loss and ended up with some cute things.  The Thickers and small letters were not from the mystery box.

I made this card for Mike for Valentine's Day. We had a crop over at Color Me Daisy this past month and one of the challenges was to make something with only what was within reach. It worked out for this card, ribbon, cardstock, a punch, patterned paper, foam dots and stickers were spread out on the desk and this came together pretty fast.

Since I am cutting back at Color Me Daisy I had to fill the void. I am still a huge fan of kits and always will be. I love to scrap with a coordinated kit, it helps me focus, I didn't have to spend the time to get the "ingredients" together. It simplifies the options in the room that I scrap, i.e., the mini store.  LOL!

Anyway, long before CMD was a thought in my mind I subscribed to Mosh Posh and still do. I never cancelled my sub even after I started CMD, I thought that for the most part the kits from Mosh Posh were very similar to my style and several kits overlapped what I did at CMD so they rounded out each other pretty well. So in February I got their kit featuring October Afternoon, Farm Fresh. Not really a line I would have picked, but I also saw a sketch on their blog that I liked and wanted to use.

So I ended up with this...

We were walking in the barnyard section of the zoo and Nicholas ran over to the turkeys and did this, and I actually got it on camera. The month before we fed the turkeys and chickens in a Zoo Animal Program and he had a ball. We went in the cages with the guides and he was able to pet the chickens and feed them. He wanted to pet the turkeys too, but they wouldn't let us near them. We just threw their food and stood back.  I guess they are aggressive with little kids. But when we were back on this day, he ran over and started talking to this turkey. And this paper that I never in a million years would have thought I could use, ended up featured on a page.

Another kit club I have joined to fill my CMD void is Studio Calico. I had heard of them, I don't live under a rock :)-, and checked them out several months ago. When we decided we were going to cut back on the CMD kits I was looking for another kit club so I could get a monthly fix. I like that their kits are so different from what I would put together; but, I love all the products that are in them. I knew their kits would stretch my scrapping style.  It took me a couple of months to get around to using one though.

They have challenges on their blog each week, the perfect thing to get my scrapping. This challenge was to use baby colors on a layout. The layout didn't need to be baby themed and since right now I am over those pages, I did this one instead.  The DT over there mists a lot, and it is inspiring me to give it a try.  I was looking at one of the SC exclusive papers in the kit and noticed that the circles on the paper created a perfect frame on the edges. So I cut out the circles, misted my cardstock using a chipboard piece from a Maya Road Mini Book and placed the semi-circles around the page.  This is to tell the story about Nicholas and books right now, he loves to read and I love it when he comes over and says "Read to Me".

They also have a weekly sketch challenge on the blog at SC and this was from this past week. I love these pictures of Nicholas on my laptop. He loves to watch YouTube videos of the Wiggles, Barney and Blues Clues on my computer and one afternoon last summer I caught these pictures of him.  I also got to try out my new Martha Stewart Butterfly border punch. Love it!

Rounding out my recent scrap adventures....I got a box in the mail a few days ago with all this new Jenni Bowlin goodness. I can't wait to get these on a project!

And lastly, I recently received this in the mail. Assuming there really is a next Color Me Daisy kit I am quite certain something from this catalog will be in it....

If you are still here...have a great Sunday!

December Daily 12/2-12/7

I've been keeping up on the pictures even though I don't have my book ready yet. It's been a busy December already, I am just glad my shopping is done.

December 2 - A typical morning the boys eating breakfast together and me heading off to work. Nicholas had a doctor's appointment and he weighs 27 pounds now. He still is pretty little for an almost 3 year old. But a cutie just the same.

December 3 - A typical night after I get home from work. After dinner the boys play a bit before bath and bed time. Jackson is such a character.

December 4 - This week was not a good one for naps. But they can only fight it for so long. Nicholas conked out watching a movie. See his bear?

December 5 - We started a busy weekend off with Nicholas and I doing the Sunrise Safari at the Phoenix Zoo. The other family did not show up so Nicholas and I had the tour guides to ourselves. Nicholas fed chickens, turkeys, horses, sheep, cows and goats. He had so much fun. Mom made dog treats and a sock puppet because Nicholas was more interested in the trail mix they had for a snack. We did a bit of shopping after the zoo, I cleaned out my closet and made Snickerdoodles in the afternoon.

(oops! I didn't rotate before uploading)

December 6 - We went to the mall for Christmas pictures. Jackson was a bit out of sorts and Nicholas didn't like his sweater, but all in all we were happy with the pictures. After pictures we had lunch at BJ's Brewery and did a bit of Christmas shopping.

Coming to a Christmas card soon.

December 7 - A cold rainy windy Monday. After work I met up with my old freind Suleman for dinner at Oregano's. Great food and catching up. After I got home, Mike checked his stats on Live 365 and found his alternative radio station "Flashback Now" is in the number one spot. So cool!

Now I am caught back up. Hopefully this week will not be as crazy as last week!

Our Weekend & Jackson's Birthday Party

I can't believe how fast this weekend went. Saturday I took Nicholas to the zoo to the Wild Art Zoo class. We made a Kamodo Dragon Puppet, but Nicholas lost interest as soon as she wanted us to paint with shaving cream. So I made the puppet and he played. After the class we walked through the ZooBoutique, ate some popcorn and watched the giraffes for a bit. Before heading home to get ready for Jackson's birthday party.

We celebrated Jackson's birthday with Nana & Grandpa Rettberg and Nana & Grandpa Carr

Jackson wasn't really interested in opening gifts. He would rather play.

Nicholas liked Jackson's toys. Especially the Little People Airport.

Time for birthday cake. Jackson wanted to take the tablecloth off the table. but we were party poopers that way and wouldn't let him.

He enjoyed his cake ... Full now... Happy Birthday Little J. We love you!