The Story of our Life

Show Me Your Vintage!

This week, I am hosting one of the challenges at Scrapbook Challenges! For my challenge, I want you to create a layout using something vintage (an old photograph, vintage embellishments…). Really, as all as what you use 'just feels’ vintage – even if it isn’t really – you can use it! Here is my layout. I scrapped some old vintage photos of my mom before she got married.

We’re still sick here…Ben still has a fever of 103 (and that’s with Tylenol/Motrin every four hours), and John is starting to get better. Alex and I just have congestion in our chests and coughs…More DR appt this afternoon.

xxoo,

M

Can you believe its time??!! Well, its here! Scrapbook Challenges Design Team Blog Hop!! Yay! So, grab your scissors, develop some photos and let’s get cropping!

How does this work, you ask? It’s easy! If you’re just getting started on the hop, head on over to Pamela’s blog. She’s your first stop! If you’ve been playing awhile, and have made the other two spots before mine, then awesome! Here is the sketch for our Blog Hop and my ‘take’ on it. I ended up using some old photos of my brother that I had in my stash (he’d kill me if he knew I posted them on the web!). For my journaling…um, well…it didn't turn out like I liked. Should have used a ruler! But, I am leaving it! Life is about making lemonade!

 

Anyway…back to the hop! Play along and YOU could be a lucky winner! Here’s how!

1. Post a comment on ALL the team members blogs you could win one of 2 Kits from Apron Strings Monthly kits!
2. Everyone (whether you are a member of the MySpace group or not) that does a layout based on the sketch above gets entered into a drawing for a stamp set from Unity Stamps...its a seriously cute stamp set!
3. Anyone emails Pamela the answers to these questions ([email protected]) gets entered into a drawing for a different Unity Stamps set!
    1. What is the name of our guest blogger today?
    2. Name one of our newest DT members.
    3. How long has Scrapbook Challenges on MySpace been around?
    4. Which Scrapbook Challenges DT member also designs for Scrap Within Reach?
    5. Are you a member of Scrapbook Challenges on MySpace

And for the heck of it, here are  5 little factoids about me. 1. I love October Afternoon papers. Not just like…I would forgo all other paper brands if I could have a lifelong stash of OA! 2. I have two adorable dogs, AJ and Annie. 3. I hate to cook. My family eats out, usually, at least 4 nights a week. 4. I drink a glass of iced milk every night before bed. I figure if I add ice to the milk, then its practically ice cream without all the calories! 5. I am a twin. My ‘other half’ is a boy (and no we are not identical. Think about it!) named Michael.

Want to win a surprise RAK from me?? In my comment section, list 5 things about you! I will draw a winner on Monday morning!

For your next stop on the Scrapbook Challenge Blog Hop, you’re going to go to Marilyn's  Blog. Go check out her blog, and see her awesome work!

Thanks for stopping by and playing!

xxoo,

M

Monday Night Mayhem!

I.hate.Mondays. Really, I do. Especially Mondays that involve:

a. notes home from teachers ( 3 of them, to be exact)

b. sharpie marker marks on my dining room table. Amazingly, no one will admit to doing this. Our mischief fairy strikes again. I hear this same fairy shows up at other peoples homes’ as well. Interesting…

c. One child has football while the other has Cub Scouts…so that means lots of shuttleing kiddos back and forth and no one gets home till after 8 pm.

 

I know, I am whining. Get over it.

 

This past weekend we went to the Tri-State fair. Had a blast!  Alex and I went on date night (Friday) without the boys, then we took them on Sunday. I will post photos tomarrow. There some cute ones. I ended up winning the scrapbook, card and paper art categories…yay! That was a nice suprise.

Here is my layout for Scrapbook Challenges. Have you seen the new sketch? It worked perfectly for a layout about John eating a corn dog at the fair.

 

Ok, I am off to bed. Yes, it is on 9:30 pm, but as I previously pointed out, today was rough.

xxoo,

M

Today. Is. The. Day.

I've been waiting for today for probably atleast 3 months. And. Today. Is. The. Day.

My photography class with Karen Russell started this morning, and I was up at 6 am to see what she had posted. Yeah, I am a dork! And to make matters worse, I was the first one to get my assignment done! Yeah, thats the only time that will probably ever happen! Hehehe

Lots to do today. I have a sneak peak later for you for our next challenge at Scrapbook 101, I am in right in the middle of a mini album that anyone can make, I have a new layout for Scrapbook Challenges to reveal, and so much more! But all of that will have to wait. I have a ton of work to do today & a meeting for the March of Dimes. But I promise I will have something nice for you to look at later.

Scrapbook Challenges Sketch #160

Sketch #160 has been posted on the Scrapbook Challenge website….have you seen it?? Well, what are you waiting for??? LOL Here is my take on it.

I hate scrapping holidays – but this sketch had me reaching for photos from last year’s pumpkin painting project! I also NEVER use 3-D stickers, but I did on this page. All of the papers and chipboard stickers are from KI Memories. It’s a cute line I found at Target. Anywoo – make your way over to the SC website and join in on the sketch!

And speaking of which….I am hosting this week’s challenge on the Scrapbook Challenge website. My challenge for you is to Mix It Up! What I mean by this is, I would like you to take themed papers and use them on a totally different theme of layout. For instance, in my layout, I used Little Yellow Bicycle Traveling paper on a layout about hunting for pumpkins. Easy enough, huh?? I hope so! Here is my layout for you to get an idea about what I want you to do…

Enjoy your evening – I am going to try and find the floor in my scrapbook room! It looks like a tornado hit! Maybe I will take a photo to share tomorrow…Be sure to check back – I bet I have some good news to share later in the week! *wink wink!!

xxoo,

M

A Sneak Peak

…of sketch #160 from Scrapbook Challenges. Not much of a peek, huh? Come back tomorrow to see the whole layout!

For anyone who knows me, knows I hate scrapping holidays! But, I did! And I likey! LOL! Also, here is a heads up that I am responsible for posting a challenge tomorrow on Scrapbook Challenges…. Be sure to stop by and see what I have up my sleeve!

Having a lazy day at home today. Cleaning my scrapbook room, laundry. Nothing intense. Tomorrow Alex is home (and the boys are gone), so I am sure I will get some scrappy time! Yay! There is a mini album brewing in my brain – maybe it will be made tomorrow!

xxoo,

M

*Sigh* Fall is in the air

No, I didn’t look at a calendar to see that Fall had arrived (because technically it hasn’t). What I did notice though was that I am scraping in fall colors…and doing lots of Back to School pages! I love Fall – don’t you? The cooler (but not cold) weather. Sweaters. Browns, oranges and reds. Pumpkins. Fires in your fireplace, even though you don’t really need them for the heat. I love it all.

I love this boy, too. To the average blog visitor, you might see this layout as a bunch of brown. Blah. But not me. This layout really is a layout that reflects Ben’s personality. He is a bit,shall we say, dry. He would rather be reading a book or doing an experiment than being the center of attention. He’s happy to blend in. But when I see him, I see that he has attention getting qualities (like the white cardstock….follow me here….). He is smart. No, really. He is. He can quote every Science book he has ever read, and has no problem correcting adults who don’t know the Solar System like he does. He is caring and compassionate. He’s simple, and that’s good. He steers clear of drama…Thank you Lord for that! He’s Ben and he is just perfect!This next one is using a photo from last year when we were at the Pumpkin farm. This photo shows all the reasons I love Fall (see paragraph #1). The papers I used on this page are from Recollections, found at Michael Stores. You should go get some of them. All the papers have edges on them, that can be taken off. The colors are yummy, and the prices are fab!

xxoo,

M

Sketch #159

 

 

 

This is sketch #159 from Scrapbook Challenges. My first layout. This layout is the not the original layout I did. No siree. I had the layout all completed, and then went to run it through my sewing machine when *gasp* MY MACHINE ATE MY PAGE. Chewed it up, and spit it out. I was furious! But, never to let a good sketch go to waste, I redid it and this time used ribbon! Pretty smart, I think!

xxoo,

M

Oh, so much to share!

Ok, I have quit being mad at Typepad for deleting my post. Really, life is too short. Besides, I would rather have a big ole long post to share all my news (some good, some not so good).

Let’s start with the Texas State Fair. I found out Sat that I placed 4th. Honestly, I am disappointed but not suprised.  I just could not get into creating for them this time around. It was extra disappointing this year though because I won 1st last year. Alex has pointed out that apparently I am a sore loser! LOL

Let’s see….I have been asked to join Scrapbook Challenges, a group on My Space. If you love sketches and challenges, then this is a good place for you! This is a no stress challenge group, and honestly, it’s refreshing!  I am super excited to work with Pamela and the other girls! When I get the chance, I will update my sidebar and give you linkys to all the girls there.

Oh, and today Scrapbooking.com magazine came out, and I have two layouts in there. This is my first time to work with Jami over there, and let me tell you. She is wonderful! I am eager to work with them again in the future. I am especially proud of the two layouts I did for the article. I used a kit from the Mosy Scrapper, and some photos of my dad with my boys. Always melts my heart!

And last but not least, it is the 1st of the month which means a new challenge has been posted on Scrapbook – 101. We are super excited that Celine Navarro worked with the design team and created some amazing pages! You must go check it out!

Here is our challenge: 

1. Focus your layout on something from your daily routine. This can be a whole day, or just one item you use or someone you see every day.
2. You can journal as much or as little as you like, but you should answer the following questions within it: “who or what?”; “when?”; “where?”; and “why?”.
3. You can use no “bought” patterned paper – you must make your own patterned paper! Paint it, stamp it, or do something else creative!

Honestly, I thought this challenge would be easy. Turns out, not so much! LOL Apparently I have a lust for pattern paper! Here is my layout. I punched holes, then lined it with cardstock to kinda give the feel/texture of the poptarts.

 

Ok, thats all for now.

xxoo,

M