my favorite layouts of 2009

I had so much fun doing this last year that I thought I'd do it again this year.

It's amazing to look through my scrapbook pages and see how my style and techniques have changed throughout the year, fun to see what products I was most into and fun to look at pages that have since gotten lost in the piles in my scrap room.

So, here are my favorites- it was so hard to choose, once again, so I included 12 (I figure I can pick one for each month of the year, right?!). These aren't in any particular order, either. Enjoy! Maybe tell me which one is your favorite and why, okay?

Lovin' the Sassafras Lass- Nook Scrap-off Layout- Hailey

Pink Paislee Amber Road

Another Nook Scrap-Off layout and cute Sarah

This layout made the cover of ScrapStreet magazine!

Another Scrap-Off layout- one of the few I've done about ME

Pink Paislee Winsome papers; spring Disneyland trip

The lovely Cosmo Cricket Early Bird line- LOVE it!- my Sarah

A mix of Pink Paislee products- and lotsa pics of Aimee

My final entry for My Scrapbook Nook's Scrap-off this summer- got me a 2 month guest spot

on the design team and eventually earned me a full spot on the team!

I had to include this one- Jolly by Golly line by Cosmo Cricket- pics of Sarah and Aimee;

was in the top 10 at 2 Peas and was featured on Cosmo Cricket's blog.

Graphic 45 Domestic Goddess- after I made this layout I fell in love with that collection.

And, lastly, this page of Aimee that mixes papers from Jenni Bowlin, October Afternoon, My Little Shoebox, Pink Paislee, American Crafts- to challenge the ladies at My Scrapbook Nook to create a page using lots of different paper manufacturers.

And, because I still love more than what I posted above, here are a couple more. You don't mind, right?

This is the Grandma's Christmas Soup line (and some other JBS lines as well)

from Jillibean Soup- love this one! And, of course, those are pics of my Aimee.

I HAD to include this last Aimee page- using the gorgeous Lily Bee line, French Couture.

So, there you have it- my favorite pages from 2009.

I hope you all have a wonderful day, festive night with family and friends and, as cliche as it sounds,

 a very, very happy new year!

waiting on Pink Paislee

Some of you may be with me in this. I've been waiting anxiously today to see who the new Pink Paislee design team members will be. I have some friends who are trying for the team and I'd love to see their names on the list when it's posted. Who am I kidding? I'd love to see my OWN name on the list but I am not holding my breath, lol. It would be a dream come true for sure to make it onto the team and be able to design for the fabulous Pink Paislee company.

While we are not so patiently waiting I thought I'd share another quick page that I made using the January kit featuring Pink Paislee's Cupid line. This is my Aimee this time, showing me how big she is.

And a closer look at the journaling:

I used lots of scraps for this page, also some of the Cupid rub-ons and some from Hambly (thanks, Lynn!). You might notice something a little different about this page- there's no inked edges. My friend Wendy from the forum at My Scrapbook Nook was trying to make a page without inking anything and I took it upon myself to do the challenge as well. I instead did lots of doodling on the edges and found some other to fill in.

January kit from Color Me Daisy

This is such a fun, happy kit that I couldn't wait to show it to you!

Isn't it adorable? I love it! I sure lucked out with my design team kits this month, didn't I?!

This kit features papers from Basic Grey Nook & Pantry and We R Memory Keeper's Twirl line. With lots of cheery colors and fun embellishments this is sure to be a fun one. I have mine out and hope to play today!You can find out more about the kit by clicking here

some recent family pictures

It's been quite a crazy week or so and I hadn't posted some of the new pictures we've taken lately so I thought I'd take time to do that this morning. Here are some pictures of Matt and Hailey from this past Saturday building "Frosty" in our backyard. Hailey gathered all of the extras herself, including M&Ms for the buttons. I used some red food coloring for the mouth- a good idea but now the front of Frosty is tinted pink!

Here's Sarah checking out the goods in her stocking on Christmas morning.

Hailey and Matt with Hailey's new bike. Sarah got a bike, too, and really liked the knee pads that came with her helmet and kept talking about her new Hello Kitty "knee caps." It was way too cute.

Aimee in her sporty little car

One of our family traditions for Christmas morning: crepes

Matt and the girls before we started opening gifts

Sarah in her Thumbelina costume. She was so excited about it that she had to put it right on!

For the longest time Hailey has wanted a "wedding girl" outfit and kept asking me if I could make her a white dress. I lucked out the day after Halloween when I found a bride costume in the clearance at Walmart.

So, there you go! We had a wonderful Christmas despite the sickies going around our house. We are so thankful to have each other and to have family and friends who love us.

I hope you have a wonderful day!

happy birthday to Sarah

Yes, today is Sarah's birthday. Our sweet, sassy, smart, athletic, artsy, silly Sarah turned 4 today.

She is small compared to her sisters and will probably always be that way but she sure makes up for it in personality and determination. I love that she's so spunky and love that while sometimes she can get on my last nerve she can also be the sweetest little thing.

Hailey is sick today...seems we're sharing the flu at our house and now Hailey has it with very high fevers (over 105 today). The girls all have had the same symptoms and it seems to take a few days to get over so I just have to be patient and know that the end of all this yuckiness is coming soon.

For now I will share with you a Sarah page made using the gorgeous Cupid line from Pink Paislee and my January kit from My Scrapbook Nook.

and a couple of detail shots:

I put the rub-on (red angel) on some cardstock and cut it out.

I used some scraps of the brown die-cut paper and adhered it to some of the ivory heart paper,

 then used my old school scallop scissors for the edge and then did some faux stitching with my Sharpie.

The pearls are KaiserCraft and the trim by Prima. Isn't this Cupid collection just gorgeous?

 I don't think I'll be able to resist buying some more!!

Thanks for stopping by today. I have lots of recent pics I want to share with you (building a snowman, Christmas, etc.) and maybe I'll get some of that up later today. Now I'm going to go take a nap!

Design team call at My Scrapbook Nook

The time has come again for a design team call at My Scrapbook Nook. These last six months have gone by incredibly fast and it has been such a wonderful time being on the team, something I'd tried for 3 other times before FINALLY making it. The other ladies on the team are just incredible, the community is friendly and creativity-inspiring.  You've seen the kits here each month as I've posted about them. How would you like to get one of those gorgeous kits each month FOR FREE?!

Here is more information: 

The Scrapbook Nook Kit Club is currently seeking some new designers to be a part of our creative team and share in the fun of our monthly kit club! We are looking for talented, motivated, enthusiastic, responsible designers to design layouts and projects each month from our kit. Our 6 month term will start in mid-February with the March kit!

WE ACCEPT INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS!

A designer’s job:

1. Design at least 3 projects from each month’s kit.
2. Add at least 1 non kit something to the gallery per month..
3. Be an active member of the message board.
4. Help Moderate the boards.
5. Create online classes based around the kit- about every other month.
6. Promote the club.

What you will receive:

A fresh kit each month packed with brand new release goodies valued at appx $32
Additional product donated by manufacturers
25 % discount in the online shop
Bio up on the website
fame, honor & glory!

There will also be occasional contests and opportunities for you to earn extras.

To apply:

Please send an e-mail to myscrapbooknookdt@yahoo.com by Jan 30th including:

1. Link to an online gallery where we can see your current work.
2. Answer the following questions (If a link to a scrapbook resume answers most of these, provide the link, and answer the extras ):
A: List your prior experience
B: Design Teams you are currently affiliated with
C: Describe your style
D: Have you been published; if so, where?
E: Online Message boards you are active on
F: What makes you a unique asset to our kit club?
3. Tell us about you. How long have you been scrapping? What’s your motivation? What do you do for work? What’s your favorite product line? What scrapping trend do you not like? What other things make you tick? Why do I want YOU on the DT?
4. Name, address, phone number, e-mail, personal website if applicable

On February 1st a Select group of finalists will be invited to the board for some getting to know you and fun, scrappy challenges! We like to see how our favorites fit in with the vibe of our board! There will be a week's worth of low key, fun meetin' and greetin' before winners will be announced! 

New DTers will be announced by February 10th. For more information e-mail myscrapbooknookdt@yahoo.com or visit our website at www.myscrapbooknook.com


So, what are you waiting for? 

sharing love for Pink Paislee

I have been a Pink Paislee fan since it's arrival on the scrap scene a couple of years ago. The love that started with the "Spring Fling" collection grew with the Vintage Moon and Winsome collections and then Amber Road and Mistletoe & Co. and now with the Cupid collection. This is definitely one of my top fave collections of all time.

So, in an effort to show my love for Pink Paislee I got this scathingly brilliant idea (think Hailee Mills) to do a layout celebrating PP and my January Scrapbook Nook kit.

I cut the die-cut paper down to size and machine stitched it to my background, used a binder punch for the top edge, did some faux stitching with my Sharpie and some inking along the edges.

And a couple of detail shots:

I'll share more with you tomorrow!

playing with Pink Paislee

While I stay home to nurse my sick kids back to health today (as I feel a little woozy myself) I think I'll do a bit more scrapbooking! I don't think we'll be doing much of anything today except for resting and watching some movies and doing some more resting.

Last night I was finally able to pull out my goooorgeous January kit from My Scrapbook Nook and got to play just a bit before getting the girls to bed and let me tell you that I am in love with this kit and am so incredibly tempted to buy another one. It is just that good. Leah and Pam put together some pretty fabulous kits and this has got to be one of my favorites of all time, well, if not all time, at least over the last year and a half that I have been getting the Nook kits. Here's a little reminder peek for you of that ever-so-adorable Pink Paislee "Cupid" line and some of the other kit contents.

My first layout is about half done so I'll have that to share with you hopefully later today.

to bring some sunshine

With all of the business of the holidays and kids being sick I haven't scrapped much lately. I am sure that a lot of you can relate to not being able to do much else when it's Christmas time. It's easy to become consumed in the baking, shopping and doing during the holiday season and there's not much time to breathe let alone get any scrapping done.

I did manage to squeeze in a quick page the other day that I thought I'd share with you. This is my 5 year old Hailey. She's such a cute girl that it was hard to resist making a layout with these pictures.

Bella Blvd papers,  American Crafts Thickers, Sassafras Lass cloud stickers, AdornIt letter stickers, 

Queen & Co pearl, Chatterbox blue brad.  

I cut some skinny strips of the Bella striped paper (Plastino collection, I think) and

 curled up the ends to make the little sun rays.

Sometimes the alphas don't stand out enough for me so I like to do a little doodling with my Sharpie

What are your plans for today? Relax? Do a little day-after-Christmas shopping?

Whatever it might be I hope it's a great day for you.

and a Merry Christmas to all

It's been quite a day with the family. I am grateful that Aimee's temperature has been a little lower today, still has had a fever but nothing like she's had the last 4 or 5 days. Now Sarah has a fever but we are managing.

It's been a lovely day of crepes, opening gifts, laughs, fun and family and now I.am.tired.

I hope it's been a wonderful day for you all.

Now that the festivities are over I can get some sleep and do some scrapping of my holiday pics.

Merry Christmas to you!

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas just like the ones I used to know*pics added

We just don't see very much snow down here in west Texas. It's one of the things that I miss about Boise.
I loved having snow for Christmas, it feels so much more Christmas-y than a warm, sunny day in Texas.

It rained all day here yesterday so I was hoping, crossing my fingers and wishing that perhaps it would get cold enough overnight that we'd get some snow.

Guess what?

We did!





I woke up this morning and noticed how bright it looked outside so I took a peek out the window and everything is covered in beautiful white snow. Isn't that incredible? I think so.

Drifts of snow by our front porch

Merry Christmas to me!!!!

This is the wreath on our front door

I walked around with a smile on my face for a while so excited myself and excited to see the girls' reaction to having snow today. Matt, who grew up surrounded by probably too much snow in Tremonton, Utah was not as excited as the rest of us were. I think he thought it was at least a little bit cool, though.

The girls peeking out the back door

Of course now that it's snowy and windy and blowing I hope my mail lady will still come bearing gifts of my January kit from My Scrapbook Nook that I've been waiting for quite impatiently.

I guess we'll have to wait and see if the mail gets here today but for now I'll sit and enjoy my snow. Well, actually, I'd better go wrap some presents since we haven't wrapped ANYTHING yet. My time has been consumed with taking care of a sick Aimee this week.

I'll take some pics later for you to see.

Merry Christmas to you all !!!!!!!

oops...I forgot...and a layout

I was supposed to share a new layout with you but I have been consumed with taking care of a sick little Aimee, trying to keep her fevers under control while her meds start working on her double ear infection. She's been a little more needy, understandably, and with that and Christmas preparations I have neglected my blog.

Are you ready for Christmas now? I am getting closer. The gingerbread cookies are frosted, the fudge is in the fridge, we delivered some "Secret Santa" things last night. All I have left is to deliver treats to neighbors and friends and to wrap ALL of the girls presents. Then I'll be done. No small task but this is my absolute favorite time of the year so I LOVE it all.

We've decided to give the girls 3 gifts this year- kinda like the 3 wise men who brought gifts to the baby Jesus. We have worried that one of our kids in particular is more concerned lately about what she'll get (and what kid isn't, right? ) and we want to teach our girls about the giving part of Christmas, too. So, we've found some opportunities to give to those in need and are doing our best to teach them about the true meaning of the  holiday.

I love that we get to do so many fun things during this time of year- making gingerbread houses and cookies, watching Christmas shows on tv, singing carols and having so much fun. We really need to do some of these things more often. I'm sure I can do without eating so many cookies and things, though.

Here's a layout I created recently using some Fancy Pants Magic Christmas and Pink Paislee Mistletoe & Co.  from my Color Me Daisy December kit.

Isn't Aimee a cutie? I love that she is having so much fun with all of the jingling, sparkly things of Christmas.

One of the things I really like about Michelle's kits is that she includes some kind of fabric in each one. This month she found some adorable holiday material at Hobby Lobby that was perfect for this kit. I used it to make a quick flower and then topped it with one of the Pink Paislee punchouts and some ribbon.

I hope that you and your family are having an enjoyable holiday season so far.

I was reminded about doing my top 10 layouts of the year by my Scrapbook Nook friend, Camilla, so be on the lookout for that here in the coming week. I did this last year and it was so much fun to look at all of my layouts from the year once again. Merry Christmas!

ok, Sarah is sitting on my lap and keeps asking when I'll push the orange "publish post" button, so here goes.

January kit from My Scrapbook Nook and a giveaway!

I have been teasing you about the cute cute kit from My Scrapbook Nook but now that I have pictures I can REALLY tease you!

Here is the kit in all it's lovely glory:

Isn't it adorable? I love the Pink Paislee "Cupid" collection and fun Scenic Route, Making Memories, Prima and Maya Road embellishments I'll get to play with this month. I can't hardly wait for it to get here. You can see a product list by clicking here

And now for the giveaway!!

We at the Nook are all about giving back, especially during the holiday season. So, go do something nice for someone else, donate some food to a local food bank, donate some clothing or blankets to a homeless shelter, give some money to the nice person ringing the bell for the Salvation Army, help out a family in need so that everyone can have a Merry Christmas. After you've done that, check back with this thread on the forum at My Scrapbook Nook and tell us about what you did for a chance to win a free Nook kit! Doesn't that sound incredible? What are you waiting for?

Thank you so much!

a card challenge at Color Me Daisy

For my December challenge and Color Me Daisy I decided to do a card one based on the beautiful sketch Julie Bonner (52 Sketches 52 Weeks) created for us. Her sketch was so fun I just knew it would be perfect for a card as well as for layouts.

Here is her sketch:

Using the sketch and the December CMD kit featuring Pink Paislee's Mistletoe & Co. and Fancy Pants Christmas Magic, I created this card:

I have another kit project to share with you tomorrow, so stay tuned.

And, my January kits will be arriving any day now so I'll have lots to share with you later this week.

Oh, and since it's her birthday, I need to wish my mom a very happy birthday.

guess where I am today?

I was so excited when I got an email last night from Mr. Lindsay (Lindsay Moore) that he wanted to share my "Oh What Fun" page on their blog today!

Here it is:



You can see it here: http://cosmocricket.typepad.com/cosmo_cricket/2009/12/oh-what-fun.html#comment-6a01053717ab71970b0128765ba593970c

It may not be a big deal to some but this was so exciting to me!!! I love Cosmo Cricket.

zany crazy girl

My silly Sarah  is quite a hoot. Anyone who knows her would completely agree.

In honor of her upcoming 4th birthday I decided to do a page just about her and her funny personality right now. At times she's a bit too much to handle but most of the time she just makes me laugh.

Here's a quick page I made this morning before the girls woke up.

The pink polka dot background paper is by October Afternoon, the alphas are American Crafts Thickers except for the big blue ones which are from Basic Grey. I LOVE the new red ones with the hearts printed on them! The embellishments are from Sassafras Lass and American Crafts.

And here are a couple of detail shots:

I hope you are having a great day. Thanks so much for stopping by!