14 Years, Fish and Greetings
Monday Musings
I am midway into my long vacation weekend, and I have spent a lot of time cooking, baking and going off on tangents that send me back to the craft store each day. Today I went to the day spa. They had a 50% off package for a massage, facial, hair wash and style and make up touch up. I had a gift card that covered most of it, so it was an extra sweet deal. I haven't spent much time scrapbooking this weekend. It seems like whenever I have several days off that is when I think I am going to conquer the world and my forever long list of things I want or need to do (emphasize more on the want then the need).
I did get my ScrapTiffany challenge finished up Saturday night. This week was a hybrid challenge. I had the picture in this layout sitting on my desk for a couple of weeks that I had been thinking would be the center of the overall challenge.
Before I even knew what hybrid meant I always used to do my journaling on the computer (I hated my handwriting when I started scrapbooking). I have been playing around with digital off and on since about 2005. I even considered switching completely to digital scrapbooking. I dabbled a bit, but went back to paper (can't resist the smell and touch of paper).
Over the years I have a accumulated a few digital goodies that I like to keep in my toolbox. There are a few things I think any scrapper can benefit from. My favorites are:
- Digital stamps and brushes (word art, frames, and journal spots).
- Actions for photo editing. I use Photoshop Elements and y favorite actions right now are from Pioneer Woman.
- Fonts I think are usable for journaling or to write digitally directly on my pictures. I
- Neutral papers to fill in white spots in collages and add a stamp over.
Finally Friday
I've had a really long week. Here is my weekend Top Ten:
- A 4 day weekend
- Celebrating 14 years with my sweetie
- Quiet mornings with a cup of coffee and no one awake
- Lazy afternoons to play with my boys
- Late nights to scrap with my new Studio Calico and Mosh Posh kits
- Me time at the spa for a relaxing massage and facial
- A family day out for lunch and a trip to the aquarium
- Cooking some comfort food including my "almost" fried chicken and mashed potatoes
- Sneak peek night at Studio Calico
- A nap, or three
Here's to hoping I get out of work at a halfway decent hour tonight!
And another layout made with the July Studio Calico kit.
Adventures in Cooking & Baking
Words on Wednesday
I am ready for the weekend already. I was so excited when I got the e-mail yesterday saying my Studio Calico box had been delivered. I called Mike and told him to get it off the porch. So I was a bit mad last night when I went to get my hair cut and highlighted that he double booked. I am usually there a little over 2 hours, last night it was 3 1/2. Making me get home too late to see my kiddos and too late to do anything else. So I am looking forward to enjoying my box tonight. In the meantime here is another layout from the Kelly Purkey Sketch class I am taking at Studio Calico.
Finishing up Week in the Life Pics, a Layout and JoAnn's Finds
- Morning school rush
- Sticky yucky weather
- Groceries
- Singing really, really loud
- Easier day
- Cooperative kiddos
- Thankful for naps
- Exhausted
- Homemade pizza
- Thoughtful parents
- Spending time together
- Early morning train horns
- Breakfast from leftovers
- Down time and relaxing
- Afternoon coffee
- Thankful for naps
- Laundry
- Delicious food
- Late night scrap inspiration embraced
ScrapTiffany Monday & Some Sunday Sweetness
This week at ScrapTiffany our assignment was Naked Chipboard. When we get the assignment we get a prompt like that, no explanation and usually amongst the DT we don't really talk about how we interpret it. I love that. It keeps it fun to see what everyone comes up with each week. I finished up my project Saturday, and was checking in at ScrapTiffany and saw a discussion on the challenge. So my interpretation is probably in the minority, but it was "naked" when I started. LOL!
I had so much fun trying to think of different ways to use my chipboard. I have 2 large baskets full, so I had lots to work with.
I embossed a rectangle with my Cuttlebug and painted it. Then tipped off the embossing with a glaze pen then stitched to the card base. The flowers were both painted. The red was painted, stamped with a glue pad and then flocked over the stamped image. The yellow flower was outlined with glaze pen. The stem was misted with spray ink.
Head on over to ScrapTiffany today and Friday to see what the ladies have come up with for using your naked chipboard. There are lots of fun ideas over there. And if you are inspired to play "naked" send your project to Tiffany at tiffany@scraptiffany.com.
And I will leave you today with some Sunday sweetness, my two boys:
I just love this sweet guy. Jackson is rowdy as can be and completely sweet at the same time.
My other sweetie pie. Nicholas doesn't nap anymore, he usually just crashes somewhere when he gets tired. Yesterday it was as if he was go, go, go and put his head down and was out just like this. He slept like that for over an hour.
I have a dentist appointment this afternoon, the only upside is I will be home earlier instead of working until 8:00. Off to work now. Have a great Monday!
A Layout, a Future Obsession and a Couple More Days from Our Week in the Life
I got to scrap yesterday afternoon and last night. I spent a bunch of time playing in the afternoon for my ScrapTiffany assignment for the week. I can't share until that is posted over there tomorrow. I also had time to make a couple of layouts using the Studio Calico Continental kit. I better get busy with it, because my August kit, Summer Camp is going to be landing on my porch in the next couple of days. This layout was to document my current obsession I have getting my Studio Calico box each month. I get excited for sneak peak night, shopping on reveal day and waiting (not so patiently) for UPS to show up with my box each month, just in time for it to start all over. So last month when my box arrived I snapped a couple of pictures. Don't you just love those cute cards that come in each kit.
Also, I stumbled on something I am certain will become another obsession for me:
Picture from the PaperCrafters Corner blog, follow the link and you can see all more pictures she has over there and enter for a giveaway too. I see several of these making their way to my scrap room, looks like I need to free up another drawer. I haven't even seen what Martha Stewart punches are coming, but I usually can't resist those either.
It is an obsession I don't feel too bad about. It seems I use at least one punch on every page or card that I do. So they are well loved and used obsessions. :)
Continuing on with posting our Week in the Life highlights, here are days 4 and 5 (Wednesday and Thursday) July 28th & 29th,
Wednesday I had trouble sleeping and woke up after having less than 5 hours sleep. Needing coffee...
- Grateful for grandparents
- Waiting, waiting, waiting
- Surgery successful
- Thankful I can be home
- Taking care of my family
- Happy for places that deliver food
- Hoping for speedy recovery
- Little boy that doesn’t sleep through the night
- Tough day expected
- Lack of sleep takes a toll on all of us
- Jackson rowdy
- Nicholas helpful
- Fresh food and homemade Pico de Gallo
- Oreo ball cookies
- Nicholas says “Daddy had surgery” and “Daddy’s resting"
A Month In Review Layout and Week in the Life Days 2 & 3
- Happy Nicholas loves school
- Busy getting things done at work to be off later in the week for Mike’s surgery
- Working late
- Mike’s busy cleaning and preparing for being down for a few days




























































































