National Scrapbooking Day

Well, today is NSD...tried to find a logo or something to post but no dice...and I doubt I'll get in any actual scrapbooking. I do, however, have teacher appreciation (schools down here are celebrating this all of next week) and Mother's Day cards to make up so at least I'll be in my scrapbook room later today.

Here's wishing all my scrappy friends a wonderful and productive day!

TEN years ago today...

Cam came into the world after a 23 hour labor...the stinker! He was an easy going baby who has grown up to be a strong willed individual.

Happy Birthday Cam Man!

(I did this layout quite awhile ago but it was the only thing I had on the computer where Cam was a newborn.)

Being a scrapping fool

Another one for the 4x6 challenge on 2Peas.

Some more of Cam's T-ball season.

There's one more LO that completes Cam's season but I haven't done the journaling on it yet as I've been sideswiped with cross-stitching Alex's stocking for Christmas and planing my Christmas cards so who knows when I'll get back around to it.

And one of Helena.

More scrapping and an update

I've been trying to get the older photos scrapped before printing out a ton of digital. Plus with this recession or whatever people are wanting to call it, I'm trying to keep scrapping without spending money. I've done fairly well and really haven't bought anything other than adhesive since our trip to Oregon in March. These first three layouts are all from a 4x6 sketch challenge I'm doing on 2 Peas.

I've always been amazed at how much Cam changes with a simple haircut so when I came across this old series of photos that Mark took I just had to create a layout. More of Cam's T-ball season. Mark took Cam to his Opening Day Ceremonies and Mark had fun taking "trading card" style photos.
End of season. I can't believe I only had these two photos but there you go.
I'm hosting a challenge on 2 Peas called the Debt Free Divas. Because I'm really trying to work my way through old photos and supplies I came up with a

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, a sixpence in her shoe.

challenge for this month. So on this layout: old ~ Crate Paper (that's the patterned paper, frame, and letters), new ~ Bazzill brads and colored staples, borrowed ~ a sketch, blue ~ the frame, sixpence (6 metal elements) ~ 4 brads and 2 staples, "in her shoe" (green for luck) ~ green cardstock. Additionally, this month we're to use buttons and the color yellow. This baby has them all LOL and we're only at the start of August!


On the home front, there's not a lot going on. Mark is back to work with shows. The boys are trying to get in whatever last minute summer activities they can think of.
Swimming was cancelled twice last week due to thunder storms so we have a make-up next week.
Alex has two more weeks of reading class...he definitely does better when I'm not in the room with him.
School orientation for Cam and Alex is Friday the 22nd. The first day of school for Cam, Alex, and Ian is the 25th. Ian will be going 3 mornings a week but if they get enough for an afternoon class he'll switch over to that (keeping the same teacher). I'm looking forward to having a few hours each week where it's just Robbie and me!
If anyone is interested in moving to Vegas...we have about 14 houses available for sale or rent on our street. Wow, it has become a bit of a ghost town! Neighbors on both sides of us are gone...the one house is up for rent the other we think is in foreclosure. Two of Cam and Alex's friends have moved due to foreclosure, one has returned to Texas now that his mother is out of the military. The 4 houses across from us are also vacant. So anyone want to move in?

More scrappy fun...

Some more sketch challenges...I'm having a lot of fun pulling out some of these older photos and just working with them as is.

Getting started on the boys' sports albums. Cam and Alex picked the sketches, colors, and embellishments for each of their professional Baseball and Soccer pictures. Mark came up with the quotes on Cam's first and second year layouts. I think they did a darn good job.

Cam's T-ball

Cam's first year of Baseball

(The clear "ghost" stars on this layout are actually cut from a plastic cake box...now that's recycling!)

Cam's second year of Baseball

Alex's T-ball

Cam's first year of Soccer

Cam's second year of Soccer

Alex's first year of Soccer

The plan is for each of these layouts to start the section for that season's pictures/layouts within the album. I'm hoping to get Cam and Alex enrolled in Fall Soccer this week/weekend so they can continue without too much of a lapse as we missed last fall with the move. Don't know about Spring Baseball yet though I'd love to see both continue with it as well.

What I came up with

I'm pretty happy with the results...Ian (1mo to 6mos old) playing in the baby gym. Ribbon: purple on left page and ribbon words on right page. Wings: little blue bubble bee on right page (not to mention all the things with wings in the pictures LOL)

More scrapping!

Working my way through some more old photos.

These are from September 2002 when we did a family self-portrait for Cam. He needed a family photo for school.

Alex
"knocking
out" Cam back in July 2002


My Dani-girl. I'm starting a pet album and this will be the first page of Dani's section.








I've been challenged today to use ribbon and something with wings...we'll see what I can come up with LOL

Scrapping

Got some scrapping time in today. I was challenged to used some 4x6 photos so I pulled out these from 2005...pretty happy with the results.

Childproof

Journaling: Like any first time mother, as soon as I found out I was pregnant with Cam; I read all the books. I researched natural childbirth. I learned about childproofing our home; I was told to get down on the floor, on my belly, and see what might attract a baby. EWW...who knew it was so dirty under that desk! Those cords...a teething dream come true! So we, as good parents should, invested in locks for the drawers and cabinets. We bought gates for the top and bottom of the stairs. We tamed all those cords and plugged all the outlets. We were set... Yeah, right...four boys later: They've all had stitches before or during Kindergarten. They've all fallen down the stairs. They've all gotten around the locks on drawers and cabinets (by moving furniture or braking the locks) to climb on the counters just to bypass those locks. They've all gotten into scissors to cut each other's hair. And Sharpie markers...the boys are attracted to them like magnets! It doesn't matter where we've hidden, stashed, or locked them. We were warned about the cords on blinds being a straggle danger...who knew the rods to adjust the blinds make such great swords! An innocent laundry basket has turned in to a stool...to reach those things high up in the closet (you know the things that aren't suppose to be reached). Even our clothes aren't safe...leather belts are whips (Thanks Indy). The belts to robes get used as reins while a younger brother rides an older one. Dressers next to beds become cliffs to jump from. And not to be forgotten are the open bookshelves and entertainment unit that are climbed just because they are there! This all leads me to believe...whoever it was that came up with CHILDPROOF wasn't raising boys! (But at least no one has been electrocuted, straggled, or poisoned...yet!)

Layouts

To go along with my improved scrappy area, I got to work today and did a couple layouts. Yay me! Had to share this one.




The only thumb sucker in the bunch and yes, he's got the tag to that blanket firmly in hand. Super simple page but I had to use that quote!


Still need to journal on the other layout I worked on today but this feels good. A quick tidy up and I'm off to bed. Have a great weekend!

What an awesome day!

Had a babysitter come in...the boys seemed to like her and they didn't scare her off LOL

Went to the Scrapafrass workshop...did a bit of creating...did a bit of marketing and selling...got a couple new leads. A good morning.

Went out to lunch with the girls...can't remember the last time I got to do that! Really.

At the open crop I completed one whole layout...way to turn them out LOL The good thing though is that in prep for the crop I put together some page kits for myself so I'll be able to work on those as I have time. Having not been able go to crops while in Oregon with Mark's crazy schedule and my working full time, I need to find my groove for crops because I see many more in my future.

Oh, and here's our business card! I love how it turned out.

ETA: This is the correct card and colors...wahoo!

Saturday 2 Peas Challenge

I haven't done one of these in a while with so much going on but I've got a bit of time tonight even if it's slightly early for the challenge!

Challenge~ What are you scrappin plans today?

Well, this is super easy LOL. Saturday entails a babysitter for the boys and Mom gone all day!

1) in the morning I'll be heading out for Scrapafrass' first workshop!

2) lunch out with the ladies...not a picky eating child in sight (at least not any I need to deal with!).

3) and open crop! I'm not prepared for it but man am I looking forward to it.

And I've been scrapping!

A layout for me...

Gearing up for Thanksgiving

Counting my blessings for a 2Peas virtual circle journal...a very timely topic. It's going to be very different this year around our Thanksgiving table with just the 6 of us. Maybe it's time to start a new tradition...hmmm

More layouts

Dad's Bridge Town Sound concert August of 2002...I need to figure out a way to highlight Dad in the group picture.
I scrapped these two photos because I don't have the wall space to keep them in their frames.


Do you remember this photo Julie? Always loved it...even if it was for your bi-line at the paper. I had forgotten you had written on the back (copied it and saved it on the back of the layout), you said "You're always there for me, always understand. You're the best and my best friend. Happiness & Love forever, Julie" Back at you sweetie...even though I feel like a failure of a friend these days. Love you and miss you! Get your IM up so we can chat again :)



Hidden journaling on this reads: Here you are...meeting your 1st Great-grandchild. What was going through your mind? What would you say about your legacy of 27 Great-grandchildren? (as of the August 2006 Watson Reunion) Sadly, we can’t ask you. You left us in January 1995, just months after your 2nd Great-grandchild was born. This picture from May 1992, when Ryan was just 4 weeks old, is the only picture of you holding a Great-grandchild that I know of. What was going through your mind as you held this next generation? Love you Grandpa and still miss you keenly after 12 years. Journaling: September 8, 2007 (your 97th birthday)

More scrappin'

Loving being organized enough to create! Here's some more:





This was Alex reading Thomas. Dec. 2003





This was Cam and Alex back when they played together more than fight...was it really only 3 years ago? LOL

I've been scrappin'

One of 35 Christmas cards I made last night. This is just one of four styles I made. I'm going to try and make enough to send out to everyone this year...especially as it's been a few years since I sent out cards.




And today's layouts:



Ian's first hair cut. Used the Jolee's stickers that Mark bought for just this occasion.


Used up some old swap stuff here. I used the kids actual finger paintings as the papers were small enough.