The Last Goodbye

Kaylie loves this dress and insisted on wearing it for my mom's viewing. As my sister and I were sorting through my mom's personal effects, we came across a pair of earrings that were so very pretty and perfect for Kaylie. Needless to say, she only wanted to wear this particular pair of earrings. This was her way of honoring her. She wanted to look her best and to her that meant wearing her burgundy dress and floral earrings. She was the only person wearing red at the viewing, but I couldn't deny her wish.

Kit 14 by ON Designs

http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=20355&cat=0&page=1

EyeLoveYou 12x12 photo ovelays by Berna Datema

http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=20462&cat=0&page=1

Font: Passions Conflict and Pea Elizabeth

Round frame - Fun with Frames by Bren Boone

Butterfly from Butterflies No. 1 by ON Designs

http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=20476&cat=0&page=1

Circle Stitching by Traci Sims.

Tied ribbon by Petja 24.

Sketch by Becky Fleck

Silver glitter style applied to title made with Chocolate Berry Glitter Gel by Flergs

http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=20179&cat=0&page=5

Printables

I made this wrap for Kaylie's marshmallows that she brought to school for the xmas party.

Text: I heard that you've been naughty, so listen here is the scoop, I'm running short on coal this year, so here's some snowman poop! :)

I made miniature tags for Liam. I then glued mini candy canes to the card. I took pity on the teacher...imagine 20 kids high on sugar running around the room! LOL. Liam was pleased with the tags...he even got to sign his name.

I used Merry Memories by Bren Boone: http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=19545&cat=0&page=1

Printable

This project is so easy to make and very useful, too.All you need are two circles and a brad. For this project, I made the top circle 7" inches, and the 2nd circle (bottom) 6.75". Notice the placement of the brad...it is on top of a snowflake, which makes it look like a tiny button.

P.S. And don't forget to cut an opening where the word will be visible!

I used Bren Boone's CHILLY WILLY papers and the snowmen is from MERRY MEMORIES, also by Bren.The snowmen in the blue circle is the original color. The snowman for the girl version has been altered in color...This neat contraption makes it fun for the kids to practice reading and spelling their popcorn* words from school. Obviously, I can do this straight from a list, but that isn't any fun. This is cute, cute, cute and they get to spin the circle to pick a word, which makes it fun for them.

*popcorn: High usage words that enable beginners to learn to read.

Liam is learning the months of the year and days of the week so that is what his words are all about, as well as some christmas words.For Kaylie, she is learning popcorn words, so all of her words are from a list supplied by the teacher. I used words that she really needs to practice and focus on.

Snow Days Series

I will be doing snowy layouts for a bit now...taking a breather from the xmas pages...but don't be surprised that I still have more xmas pages...I am redoing most of my old ones.

Kaylie loves snow. Once the snow starts coming down, she starts looking for her gear to go out to play. She is full of glee and her eyes twinkle with joy. If it makes my girl this happy, I say, Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow. 2-11-2006

Chilly Willy by Bren Boone
http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/search.php?mode=search&page=1
Frost Biten Overlay by Bren Boone
http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=19434&cat=0&page=2
All Tied Up Vol II by Traci Sims
http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=19272&cat=0&page=6
Sketch Coll 22 by Jen Caputo
http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=19744&cat=0&page=1
Font: Century Gothic

Extreme Makeover

Every Sunday, faithfully, my dh and kids watch America's Funniest Videos and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Kaylie listens to the family's story of misfortune and invariable ends up crying. Liam, on the other hand, loves to watch Ty Pennington screaming on the bullhorn running around like a wild man. But I digress, the purpose of the preceeding information is to make you realize that that is where the inspiration for this page came from.

Extreme makeover in the fact that Liam, who is only 5 years old and in Kindergarten, thought to dress up the turkey as Santa. We printed papers and embellishents from Bren's kit and started disguising the turkey. Cotton balls, foam and staples where also used. The same digital papers that were used to make the turkey, were used in my scrapbook page. How is that for coordination?

Fonts: Century Gothic, Mistral and Impact

Ribbon from ON Designs' Christmas Stuff’ No. 1http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=19546&cat=0&page=1

Kit: Christmas Cheer by Bren Boone

http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=19523&cat=0&page=1

Sketch from Sketch Collection 22 by Jen Caputo.

http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=19744&cat=0&page=1

P.S. The minute that Liam heard the title of the page, he got a huge smile on his face and then he was grinning. He thought it was so cool..

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Studio Start Challenge - Scraplift Trish Jones

This is my page for the Scraplift a Studio Girl at Scrapbook-Graphics.

Naked Stamp Sheets by Meredith Fenwick @ SBG
http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=18056&cat=0&page=1
Bg. papers (blended) from Backyard Barbie (PaperTrails2) by Trish Jones @ SBG
http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=19075&cat=0&page=1
Leaves from Keeping Up with the Joneses - The Yard page set by Trish Jones @ SBG
http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=18817&cat=0&page=1
Overlay on photo from Eye Love You 5x7 photo overlays by Berna Datema @ SBG
http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=19455&cat=0&page=1
Paper Dates by Janet Phillips @ SBG
http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=19432&cat=0&page=1
Fall Stamp (recolored) from Fall Palette page set by Bren Boone @ SBG
http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=19178&cat=0&page=1
Carboard alpha and staples by Bren Boone @ SBG
http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=19165&cat=0&page=1
Card-OfficeCards by Trish Jones @ SBG
http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=18967&cat=0&page=1
Inked overlay by Nancy R. Janitz/Scrapartist
Font: Pea Marcie

Posting Galleries:
DigiShopTalk Scrapboook-Bytes Scrapbook-Graphics

The Kiss

I am redoing a lot of my old layouts. This is one of the pages I redid. This template by Michelle Godin came in handy. The minute I saw it, I knew it would be perfect. The bows are to die for.
The same thing happened with my kit choice. Merry Memories by Bren Boone. The minute I saw it, I had to have it. If you are looking for Christmas or Winter stuff, Bren is the designer for you.

Gift wrapped template by Michelle Godin @ SBG
http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=19638&cat=0&page=1
Frame-The Basics Collaborative kit by the Studio Girls
http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=16927&cat=0&page=1
Merry Memories page set by Bren Boone @ SBG
http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=19545&cat=0&page=1
Tag from Measure of a Man by Bren Boone
http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=19174&cat=0&page=1

Posting Galleries:
DST http://www.digishoptalk.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=216842&ppuser=976
SBB http://www.scrapbook-bytes.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=263292&cat=500&ppuser=19252
SBG http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=23264&cat=500&ppuser=4310

Color it Yellow! Daffodils

Blue ribbon from The Peacock Lady by Bren Boone/SBG
http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=19175&cat=0&page=3
White and blue bg. pprs. are from The Secret Smile Ppr. Pk by Bren Boone/SBG
http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=19151&cat=0&page=3
Yellow bg. ppr. is a combination of a yellow, floral and orange pprs. from Little Tykes page set by Bren Boone/SBG
http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=19233&cat=0&page=2
Hot spots – Sparkly by Trish Jones/SBG
http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=19480&cat=0&page=1
(Note: Some parts were erased and recolored to suit my taste)
Fancy Glitter Border by Traci Sims/SBG
http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=19497&cat=0&page=1
Stardust sprinkles overlay from Blissful page set by Bren Boone/SBG
http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=19221&cat=0&page=1
Pretty Petals by Bren
http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=19514&cat=0&page=1
Sequin done with an action by Bren Boone, from her November grabbag.
Font: Pea Elizabeth, Ville de Geneve ES
Template by Rachael Giallongo (Nov. grabbag) at PolkaDotPotato

Posting Galleries:
DST http://www.digishoptalk.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=210091&ppuser=976
SBB http://www.scrapbook-bytes.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=261630&cat=500&ppuser=19252
SBG http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=22714&cat=587
Polka Dot Potato: http://www.polkadotpotato.com/gallery2/showphoto.php?photo=3936&ppuser=1174

Enabler Alert, Part Deux

Now that you have the templates and are in a Christmas mood, you will need a kit. Well, I found that for you, too. Bren Boone's Chilly Willy is just perfect. Just look at those pprs., and the snowflakes, the glitter, the wordart on a path...it doesn't get better than this, folks.

Chilly Willy by Bren Boone/SBG
http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=19433&cat=0&page=2


Perfectly Imperfect/Janet Phillips/SBG
http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=19449&cat=0&page=1


Winter Wonderland/Janet Phillips/SBG
http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=19451&cat=0&page=1

Oh Christmas Tree/Janet Phillips/SBG
http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=19452&cat=0&page=1

It should not be a surprise to you that I am a template lover; I can't get enough of them. These layered sketches make my life easier, if not faster. You would think that because I have a layered sketch, the process would go faster, but you would be wrong in that assessment, at least when it comes to me.

I am amazed when people say that their layouts can be done in 15 minutes. It takes me 15 minutes to pick what photos I want to use and determine if they are good enough. It takes me just as long to determine if my shadow looks good. Determining what papers look good together will take twice as long. Anyway, you can see where I am headed with this...I obsess over everything that I put on my pages. I may not be a good scrapper, but I do try. And I won't put out a page out there that I am not happy with. Many a times I finish a page and I don't like the results. If I am not happy with it, I delete it and start over.

Now to the reason I brough up the topic of templates...have you seen the fabulous Christmas templates that Janet Phillips just put in her store...I tell you I am drooling over them. COME CLOSER, let me SHOW THEM TO YOU.

I wouldn’t be a good friend if I tempted you with
these goodies, and fail to tell you that these templates are ALL ON
SPECIAL!

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ORANGE IS THE COLOR OF MY OBSESSION!

This is my layout for Studio Start 63 at Scrapbook-Graphics. Isn't this orange bg. ppr. amazing? And those flowers are to die for. Love, love, looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooove orange.

Font: CS Tootsie by Carrie Stephens/SBG
Smile wordart (recolored) by Gina Marie Huff from Weeds and Wildflowers
Fun and Fresh Template from October Grab bag-Supersized by Janet Phillips/SBG
Floral Bg. and White bg. from The Secret Smile by Bren Boone/SBG
*Note The flowers were extracted from a floral ppr. in the kit)
Orange bg. ppr. from The Peacock Lady page set by Bren Boone/SBG

If you'd like to see it, click on the gallery links on the upper right hand side of the blog.

Autumn Splendor at Smithville Lake

Layout done for the We Can Build It challenge at SBG. (4 pprss., 1 non-people photo, 1 paragraph journaling)

Wow, is this orange or what? I love, love, love, loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooove orange. What do you think of our lake? Aren't those the best looking trees you have ever seen?

Smithville Lake is my favorite spot in the whole world. I can go there every day and discover something new. In winter, I love to see the frozen lake with its snow covered banks. In spring, the flowers open up to nature and the lake is filled with life; I especially love to see the water lilies fill the lake. In summer, I love to watch the flowers and animals. But in autumn, I delight in its spectacular beauty. Leaves of every color make their presence known. Green, orange, red, yellow, brown, rust, tan...it is magical!

All Tied Up –Vol II by Traci Sims, SBG
http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=19272&cat=0&page=1
Fall Palette page set by Bren Boone, SBG
http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=19178&cat=0&page=1
Note: The orange bg. ppr. is a combination of 3 bg. pprs. The orange ppr. is from Bren Boone's Creepy Candy page set.
Sketch by Rachael Giallongo. (will link it up later)
TK Stamped Font by Taran Conyers, SBG
http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=16624&cat=279&page=2

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New Layout: The Miracle of Life

A few days ago my friend, Maddy, sent in a layout showing her brand new granddaughter sleeping. It was so sweet and made me think of this photo of my little princess sleeping. While I have scrapped this photo once before, this is the final time I will do so. I am satisfied with this one and don't need further revisions or remakes. Do you agree with me?

Let me tell you that this kit of Bren Boone is fab! The colors are "oh so pretty." The kit does not have pink but that is not a problem since I was able to recolor one of the papers to suit me. I love each and every one of her kits...they are so gorgeous and fabulously designed. Her prices are reasonable and her quality is unmatched. If you haven't tried her designs, you don't know what you are missing. Once you buy one of her kits, you will be hooked for life.

Here are my credits for my page:

Wordart/title from SayWhat Mega Kit by the Studio Girls at SBG
http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=19162&cat=284&page=1
Stardust from Blissful page set by Bren Boone at SBG
http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=19221&cat=0&page=1
Font: FG Amelia
Sketch Collection 15 by Jen Caputo, SBG
http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=17614&cat=0&page=3
Ribbon from All Tied Up – Vol II by Traci Sims at SBG
http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=19272&cat=0&page=1
In Dreams page set by Bren Boone at SBG
http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=19222&cat=0&page=1
Black and White photo effect achieved with The Basics Photo Actions by Trish Jones, SBG
http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=19217&cat=0&page=2

Enabler Alert - My Must Haves of the Day...

Folded Scalloped Mattes by Jen Caputo at Scrapbook-Graphics
If you are in the market for innovative and fun mattes, then look no further! These are the must-have mattes of the season. Can you see the attention to detail that Jen put into these babies. Look closer...see the scallops - can you see how some of them are folded over? Jen is so innovative in her designs...I can't wait to see what else she has up her sleeves!


TP Peking Chicken Fingers Font by Taran Conyers at Scrapbook-Graphics
I just love the clever names that Taran assigns to her fonts! Isn't this a funny name? I love the clean and neat look of this font. It would be great for journaling.



Jot It Down 2 by Trish Jones at Scrapbook-Graphics
I got to tell you I am loving these notes. They are fun and not your typical run of the mill notes. I like Trish's outside the box thinking on these! But don't take my word for it, get them and tell me I am wrong.

Flowers in the Garden by Bren Taylor Boone at Scrapbook-Graphics
Aren't these flowers absolutely gorgeous? I love their vibrant colors. These beauties are sure to spice up any page.

Studio Bren Boone is Open!

I am so excited that Bren Boone gave up her sabbatical and joined the Studio Girls at Scrapbook-Graphics! Her store opens today. She is super talented and has an eye for color. Love, love, love her stuff.

Above is a preview of her work in the store, along with a link so you can see it up close and personal: http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/manufacturers.php?manufacturerid=33

Her stuff has a 20 percent discount on Saturday, 9/15 and Sunday, 9/16 only....hurry!

Watercolor Buttons by Bren Boone

I love these buttons! So whimsical and funky...thanks Bren! You did an awesome job on these!

http://brentboone.typepad.com/brens_blog/2007/09/a-lil-something.html

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