12 Days of Christmas #10

Hey there - welcome back for the next installment of the 12 Days of Christmas over at Apron Strings Designs!! This is challenge #10 - which was to make a Masculine Layout. Well, this is my 6 year old - Devin - playing in the fountainn in Boston this past summer (I really need to date this layout). Challenge #11, which I will show you tomorrow, is the second page of this two page spread and was to use Metal. So in essence, each of these two layouts incorporation metal & masculine, but we weren't technically allowed to combine challenges, so I had to pick one for each - obviously not a big deal since they both fit the criteria...anyway, I will stop rambling and tell you more about the layout.

So - for Apron Strings Designs - Challenge #10 - Masculine. It combines the December, 2007 and August, 2008 Smaller than a Bread Box kits from ASD. It also happens to be Jen Del Muro's SFYTT (both layouts are actually as you will see tomorrow). DEVIN - is made with the QuicKutz alphabet - available at CropStop.com.

So be sure to come back tomorrow to see the other half! Thanks for visiting!!

12 Days of Christmas - #6

Yes - I am still hopping around on these! This is the challenge for Day #6. The challenge was to use horizontal photographs only. You will note that I am generally a one photo scrapper (mind you, challenge #8 is to use 8 photos on a layout - not done yet - LOL). Anyway...I usually scrap in a 9x9 size, which is kind of unusual, so if you are looking at my layouts and are trying to figure sizes of things, etc...that might be a good starting point.

This is done using the Apron Strings Designs July 2008 kit. I happen to use the backs of the patterned papers - which all had relatively large patterns. That black ribbon is VELVET and beautiful in person - gives great texture and I love those little plastic-like buttons. The title is done using the QK Aquarius alphabet from CropStop.com. I absolutely adore all their new 4x8 alphabets!

As for the photo - those are my two boys on the swing ride at Lake Compounce in Connecticut. My older son, Riker - loved it. Devin, who's 6, only went on the one time and opted to watch Riker as he went on the second time.

As always, thanks for visiting...there's still more coming - there's a lot going on in January - so stay tuned!

12 Days of Christmas - #4

Yes - I am still on the 12 Days of Christmas! And probably will be until after they end on the 6th of January.

This is challenge #4 - Use a Bird on a layout...and as Lori (of Apron Strings Designs) put it (not THE bird) LOL. And I had pictures of "the" bird, so I could have...lol

Anyway, where is is - bird on layout. The birds are cut using QuicKutz dies from CropStop.com - many of you may know that I am the QuicKutz specialist over at CropStop, so you will see a lot of QK dies from me!! Anyway...the papers used here weren't actually a kit - they were what they call a Cookie Jar Treat - it was a contest win! As were the letters - which are actually fabric! Love how it turned out. This also uses the Verve challenge sketch. And one more challenge - uses April's color challenge over at the Mosy Scrapper - orange with yellow...of course, I did add green and white, but....gotta bend the rules somewhere! LOL But since I got so much accomplished in one layout, I can't really complain!

So come back for more...hopefully there'll be more up tomorrow...

Thanks for visiting!

12 Days of Christmas - #5 & #7

The 12 Days of Christmas are still going strong over at Apron Strings Designs! Today I am skipping and showing you the challenges for Day #5 and Day #7. Why, you may ask? Well, over at All That Scraps, their DT put out a challenge to use snowflakes, which I happen to love! So since their challenges go from Wednesday to Tuesday, I figured I should get this one posted so I get it in in time! (If I remember to link it of course! LOL)

So anyway, these were made using the January, 2008 kit. (yes - last year's kit). Challenge #5 was to use 5 circles - of course I am not a big fan of circles, but a challenge is a challenge!

Challenge #7 was to make a layout using three colors, one of which had to be white - white, green, blue!

Love the way this came out. You can't tell from the photograph but all the snowflakes were made from Doodlebug sugar coated white cardstock. One of the snowflakes is a QK die, which can be purchased from CropStop.com and the other is a punch by EK Success I believe. The letters are made from the QK Chemistry alphabet.

These are pictures of Gillette Stadium (home of the New England Patriots) from December 21st. The day was horribly cold and obviously snowed. We work at Gillette as a fundraiser for my daughter who is a Varsity Cheerleader at her high school. We get there before anybody else, so I promised myself I would get pictures of the stadium empty. It's quite a site and I don't think many people get to see it.

Thanks for visiting...and challenge #4 is already loaded to post tomorrow, so be sure to come back to see it....it's to use a BIRD on a layout...it's cute!

12 Days Of Christmas - #3

Apron Strings Designs 12 Days of Christmas is in full swing! Today was day #9...of course - I am only showing you challenge #3 right now....the others will be appearing, I promise!

Challenge #3 was to use a 3-color scheme in a layout...I was good with this one...I used red white and blue and of course used an Apron Strings Designs kit - I believe the kid I used was from July, 2007.

Also - this is my entry for the CropStop January 2nd weekly challenge. You had to use stamps! I use the star stamp from Unity Stamp Company to stamp my background.

The photo is of my daughter, her boyfriend - Jimmy and their friend - Erick. Jimmy and Erick each got a Patriots jersey on Christmas and Amanda had stolen Jimmy's old one. So they were able to represents #54 - Bruschi, #81 - Moss and #12 - Brady. I just think they're cute! LOL

So come back tomorrow...I should have some more 12 Days of Christmas goodness!!

I will also be working on the Mosy Scrapper Kit this month - I am their January guest designer. My kit got delayed, so I just got it today - but watch for that - it's a great kit!

Thanks for visiting!!

The 12 Days of Christmas

I am not sure that everybody knows that the 12 days of Christmas are really the 12 days that follow Christmas, not preceed Christmas. The 12 days of Christmas end on January 6th, which is Epiphany. (My religion lesson for the day - lol). Anyway...why am I telling you this? Because over at Apron Strings Designs Yahoo Group, we are having a challenge a day for the 12 Days of Christmas.

I am a little behind (as usual) because I believe today is Day 7. All challenges are due on January 7th...there are points and prizes!

So, here are the first two.

Challenge #1 - One photo - this was an easy one for me - I have been doing one photo spreads lately.






Challenge #2 - Two cardstocks...that's it - no patterned paper - this one just about killed me. I NEED my patterned paper! LOL



If you want to participate - jump right in. You do get more points if you use Apron Strings Kits, but they are not required.

I can tell you four other challenges (I haven't seen 7 yet)

Challenge #3 - Three color scheme
Challenge #4 - Use a bird on the layout
Challenge #5 - Five circles on the layoug (Thanks Lori! NOT)
Challenge #6 - Horizontal photos only

I will apologize for the not so great pictures....it's tough getting them when the weather isn't cooperating.

Come back soon...I hope to have more challenges done before the end of the weekend!

Jan Kit #1

I love the way these layouts came out! They both use the January CropStop.com Crafty Kit - available for purchase today!! Love the pinks, greens & cream in this kit. As I always take the simple approach (Simple pages = completed albums) you don't see a lot of the embellishments that come with this kit, but I assure you, you will!! There are ribbons, chipboard, Jolees, brads!~ You're going to love it all!

I have more to show you, so be sure to come back and take a peek...hope to see you soon!

Cheer Bag Tags!

I believe I previously showed you the bag tag I had made my daughter - as well as many others because I just LOVE making them! They're quick and fun and always bring a smile to my face - I know - small things...lol.

Anyway - my daughter's cheerleading squad did Secret Santa and had a small party. We had made Haley - her recipient - one of those fleece tied blankets that are all the rage (love making those too - have made MANY in the past two years) and for the gift tag - you guessed it - a custom bag tag just for her!!

I will tell you Haley loved the bag tag and the blanket! All is well...

Thanks for visiting! Come back soon....

• Bazzill Cardstock
• QuicKutz dies - cheer uniform, megaphone, four petal flower
• QuicKutz Moxie & Chemistry Alphabets
• KaiserKraft rhinestones

EXCITING NEWS!!

I just recently found out that I was selected to be an Apron Strings Designs Sous Chef for 2009!! I was so excited when Kathy & Lori sent me the email! I can't wait to get started. My first design assignment for them will be using the February kit, so be on the look out for it!

Missed...

This is Mikey.

I love this photo - shows the zest he brought to so many.

His life ended too soon.

The Mojo is coming back!!

I am very glad to say that! I am finally feeling the creative juices flowing once again! I created this layout for CropStop.com. This is for a Charity Auction for literacy. The book will be auctioned off on eBay and all the proceeds of the books - which is every penny - will go to ProLiteracy Worldwide. You can see the first book (lowercase) here. The uppercase will also be placed on eBay although I don't believe it has been listed yet.

The page above is for the uppercase book. So you know, CropStop.com put the call out to scrapbookers to donate their time & supplies to make pages. QuicKutz donated two Mary Jane alphabets for the cause. The total amount the book sells for will go to the ProLiteracy fund. So please go check out the auction and check out the CropStop.com gallery to see many of the other pages that will be in these two books.

Help us help kids to read.

As always, thanks for visiting!

• QuicKutz Chemistry 4x8 Alphabet
  
• QuicKutz 12" Butterfly border die
  
• QuicKutz Mary Jane alphabet (B)

Happy Birthday Amandalyn!

Today - my baby girl is 17. She's my first born, my oldest and will always be my baby. As you can see from the picture, she has definitely grown into a lovely young lady. Okay, so that's my opinion and it might be a little bit biased! These pictures are from her homecoming dance in November.

Have the best birthday ever baby! I love you Manda!!