Then and Now

This layout was for another challenge. A then and now layout. The first family picture was taken in 2004. The papers, ribbon, and embellishments are all from SEI's Mimosa collection. I love the glitz and sparkle on the papers! They are so hard to capture in a photograph.



This second photo was taken at Christmas 2007. We did a wonderful family photo shoot to include three generations. Joe's parents, brothers & wives, and all of the kids. We got some great pictures that day!


The bird was die cut using my Cricut Machine Home Decor cartridge. All of the other embellishments were hand-cut or punched using my Creative Memories Circle Punch.

Hailey's Cupcakes

Both of these layouts are for monthly challenges. The first page is using journaling strips for the journaling. I computer printed my journaling using a Creating Keepsakes Font on matching paper. The first of the title is a chipboard letter I painted using Making Memories paints from my stash.



The second page is using the same technique. The challenge here was to use a "food" in the title. So for Hailey's first birthday, I made "Hailey's Cupcakes".



Thanks for dropping by to take a look!

Oh, the papers are from Quick Quotes. They came in a page kit, but I didn't care for their design, so I made my own. The rickrack is from my sewing stash. I believe it is Wright's Brand.

Lassen Layout

Lassen Park

Wow, it is hard to believe these pictures were taken in 1998! They are three of my husband's all time favorite photos.

The patterned papers are from We R Memory Keepers. The solid cardstock is from Die Cuts with a View. The buttons are from my great-granny and granny's button boxes. The butterfly stickers are from K & Company. The letters are Thickers chalked with a Cat's Eye in lime green. The chipboard/matboard pieces are from various sources.

All of these photos were taken at Lassen Volcanic National Park near Shingletown, California. My "hometown" so to speak. We took the kids there during their first official stay with us in California. There was snow on the ground still near King Creek. The photos overlooking the mountain ranger were taken at over 8,000 ft. above sea level.

I hope you enjoy these layouts!

New Layouts

I have been working on more layouts for "Use-It-Up Challenges" we have been having on my scrapbook lists.


This first set is of my two step-children, Sydney & Noah. The picture of them together was taken at our local Walmart Photo Studio. They lady we had taking our pictures was great. As I scrap more of them you will see what I mean. She allowed us to take some great pictures that were definately, "outside-the-box" for a small photo place. We got a bunch of great pictures for under $50. I call that a super duper bargain!

The pictures in the park were taken by my extremely talented brother-in-law. I simply love both of those pictures of the kids. The umbrella photo of Noah was so spontaneous.







This layout is of my mom's dog, Mina. (pronounced Men-ah). Mina means little one in German, and when we got her she was the smallest puppy in the litter. Back in 1997, I took a road trip home from Texas to California (long story there), and when traveling through Nevada (I think), we found this town called Mina. It was 3 a.m., but my friends and I stopped and snapped a picture of this sign. I think the population was 40 poeple LOL. We joked that we were going to be shot standing out in the middle of no-where taking pictures of their town sign.

This wasn't the only sign we photographed on that trip. We found a city named Joseph City. One of my friends was Joe, so we took his picture next to the sign. It was actually a fun adventure. I am not sure I enjoyed it as much as I should have then, but the memories now are great.



This last layout set is of Noah at his graduation party in Missouri. Noah was accepted to KU (Kansas University) -- Go BLUE! The first set of pictures is of him opening his gifts, and the second page is one of the best pictures I have of him and his dad. They were both so happy there. That is another great memory for us. We were both so proud of Noah that day. He has grown into an amazing young man. I am so very proud of him and the person he has become.

Muir Beach Layout

These pages are of the first time my in-laws had went to the Pacific Ocean. I took them on a day trip to San Francisco. We toured around the city, and all of the famous landmarks, but they really wanted to see the beach as opposed to the SF Bay. We drove out to Muir Beach (1/2 hour or so out of SF), and we all got out and played in the ocean. It is almost impossible to read the journaling on the page, but it was almost word for word what they said. If you look from right to left, they start out tentatively wading in the water, and then they finally get out there a little way. (I did this because of the journaling). The last photo is of them running back up to the beach. A big wave came up and almost knocked them over. They were laughing so hard at the "feeling" of the waves and my MIL said, "Big, big, big wave. Big wave chase me." (Which is what the journaling strips say). My husband and I couldn't stop laughing.

I don't know if any of you have seen the movie with John Candy, "The Great Outdoors", where he runs in the cabin being chased by the bear. He says, "Big, big, big bear. Big bear chase me." Anyway the humor for us was in the journaling. I used real sea shells that we collected on the beach that day for the actual page accents. I cleaned them well in the sink and sprayed them with Archival Mist.

I really like the simplicity of this challenge layout, and the use of the white space on the pages. Thanks for looking!

{Ruger & Noah -- I love you}

This was a glitter/bling challenge for March on my group list.

This is my beloved dog, Ruger, and my step-son, Noah. They bonded quickly, and Ruger was Noah's protector.

More Layouts!

This layout is done on a transportation or car them, and again it is for a challenge. I has a great time finding some good pictures of my first two trucks. The 76 Chevy my dad bought when I was 13, and I always called it my truck. He always teased me and said "yes" when you get your license!

My second truck, the 1955 A Series Chevy was purchased a year later for me when I was 14. It was exactly the kind of truck I had dreamed of! I was so excited that dad let me take my savings and spend it on this beautiful piece of Detroit metal!

Are you surprised to know that I still have BOTH of those vehicles today! My two first trucks are still mine, and they still run. Both do need a little work and TLC. Their age is starting to show again!








I have been trying to get a lot of layouts down, and also get a jump start as we move into some new challenges for March:

This layout is about my best friend, Eddie -- He is a great guy. The 1982 picture was taken before we left for my Junior Prom. He was the best date, and we had a wonderful time. The 1989 picture is from my wedding to my now ex-husband. Eddie stood up with me that day, and it meant the world to me. He also had the honor of walking my mother down the aisle.

We have been friends since I was 12, and he was 14. We may be miles apart and not talk for days, months, and sometimes years, but we pick right back up where we left off. I know if I need him, he will never be more than a phone call away.

The cute little guy in the second picture is Eddie's son Zach. I often got told that he looked exactly like me whenever we were out in public. That was always a hard one to explain to people. They just would never believe he wasn't my son. He is a grown man now! Wow, those pictures are dated!





This is page two of that layout. Here he is pictured with his son, Zach.



And an attempt to get a nice overhead view of the two pages together.

More Layouts!

Recent Projects Completed

For one group challenge we needed to make a paper piecing from a pattern given. I couldn't decide which I liked better, so I posted both. Now I need to do a 2 page layout using at least one of them to complete the last part of that monthly challenge.


Next, I needed to do two more pages for a monthly challenge. Our goal for a double entry in the challenge was to make a total of 12 pages. Here are my last two pages to make my goal.





On one of my lists, we do Pay-It-Forwards (PIFS), and Random Acts of Kindness (RAKS). I got a huge envie from one such giving person, and I decided it was time to use up all the wonderful items I could.

I took a bunch of different items, and made 7 greeting cards. In under a half hour, I had a great start to replenishing my card collection.




I have one more set of pages I finished two nights ago, but I cannot post them yet. They are entered into a Sketch challenge, and I don't want to give away the who made what. Though, by now, everyone is starting to know everyone else's families. LOL