Weekend Scrappy Recognition

Happy Monday friends.

This morning I wanted to share with you a couple of toots I had on the weekend.

The first would be this.  I know this layout is just recent, but still so fun to have it highlighted by Hilde as a favorite of this past week.

Second is this.  My first publication.  This was a layout I made after refusing to become victim to insomnia.  I had this design floating around in my head for a couple of days.  So rather than continue to lay in bed not sleeping, I got up and got my scrap on.  I submitted it for a call in Scrapstreet Magazine focused using punches on your pages, and got an acceptance letter with in a couple of hours.  Yay!

Journaling reads: Because she's always been in their lives, Kendi is like a sister to my girls.  Just as her mother is to me.

I've got some catching up to do around here today, but I'll be back tomorrow with the reveal of our Scraplift Chain Challenge.  It was so great to see the layouts change a little bit from person to person.  Can't wait to show you all.

Have a great day all!

♥ S.

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School Photos

I don't know about you, but I love getting the school photos of the girls every year.  I know they're nothing special, but they just take me back to the days when I was the one getting my picture taken.  Spending time the night before trying on, and taking off outfit after outfit until I found the perfect thing to wear.  Trying so hard all morning to keep 'the look' just right while awaiting my class' turn for pictures.  Sitting there with the fake smile pasted on my face hoping it wouldn't look fake in the actual picture.  You know.  The problem with the girls' school photos however, is that despite the memories they bring up in me, they look really bland in frames, and are really hard to scrap.  Hence the fact that last year's photo were only scrapped the other day.  I put it off, and put if off, until I just couldn't do in any longer.  I decided to keep it real simple.  The photos are what they are, and there's only so much you can do with a 5x7 Lifetouch photograph.  In the end I think they turned out better than anticipated, well except for Théa's, I think I ran out of mojo by the time I got to that poor girls' photo.  Alas, they all look worlds better now than they did sitting in the envelope in my 'important papers' pile.

Using Cosmo Cricket Circa 1934 papers.

Using Basic Grey Hello Luscious papers

Using Crate, My Mind's Eye, Webster's trim, Sassafraslass alphas, Studio Calico mist (Barnwood)

Any big plans for the weekend?  Ours are pretty status quo from weekend to weekend: Youth Group on Fridays, Dance on Saturdays, Church on Sundays.  This weekend we'll start up our Small Group again.  I'm looking forward to that.  For those who don't know Small Group is a bunch of us who get together (4 couples, 1 single mom, and anywhere from 6-12 kids), have dinner, and discuss Jesus, the Bible, Christian living and how they all relate to our real lives day in and day out.  The kids play, and usually end up watching a movie together.  We rotate from one home to home every other week.   Sometimes we'll watch a dvd, other times we'll read something together, a few times we've done a service project of some type, like working at a food bank, or painting a small inner city community center.  It's been great 'doing life' together with these friends.  Proverbs 27:17 reads "as iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another", and Hebrews 10:24-25 reads "let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, but encouraging one another..."  we want to live by these standards, together.  But before Small Group on Saturday, D and I will watch the Bomber Game (our local football team) and see what will happen with the new QB and running back.  Last week was a horrible week for our beloved team, 3 players out, 2 for the rest of the season, ugh!  Here's hoping 29, 000 people don't freeze their butts off in the cold, at the stadium for nothing.  At least I'll be watching from the comfort of my home with D by my side, maybe I'll make us a yummy appetizer to share.

Hope you've got an enjoyable weekend lined up too.  Thanks for stopping by today.

Happy Friday friends,

♥ S. Pin It

Home Grown

I had a chance to pull out with my new Crate Farmhouse papers yesterday.  They were perfect for this photo of my girls and me.  Remember I mentioned that we were going to go the the Corn Maze on Sunday.  That didn't happen, as everyone else in the city decided they'd go there too.  The place was packed.  We didn't even bother pulling in, as cars were parked virtually bumper to bumper.  Instead we headed just a little further up the road to the river entrance.  We ventured down to the water to discover the coolest looking and feeling earth any of us had ever seen.  It is evident that it was once the river bed back in the Spring when the water would have been as high as the road in many places. Now it was gooey underneath with a bit of a caked on exterior so we could gingerly make our way across it.  Check it out...

Here are a few more photos that we managed to get that day

And here is the layout I made. 

 

The journaling reads "I can remember when you all were just a wish I had.  So happy being your mom".

That's all I've got for today. Seems like the days are all melding into one these days.  Seems like D is always traveling.  Seems like I'm doing a lot of stuff, but nothing of importance.  Seems like something is about to change.  Don't know what, but I think I'm ready for it.  I'm trying to be in tune with God, trying to be quiet so I don't miss it.

Hope your  day is off to a great start.  Thanks for popping by.

♥ S. Pin It

Let's Create - the Pom Pom edition

Remember these?

Well I ended up making a whole bunch of them.  I think the total number was twelve when all was said and done.  My sweet friend Sharon loved them, thank goodness.  And I did end up finding black tissue paper, finally, at a teeny tiny Dollarstore near my house.  I had a few of you ask how I made them, so I thought I'd share the directions and photos with you here.  You won't believe how easy they are to make. 

Let's begin:

1. For the largest size pom pom, you'll need tissue paper measuring 20 inches wide by 30 inches long.

2. Begin by stacking 15 sheets of tissue paper.

3. Make a 1 1/2 inch fold in the stack of tissue.

4. Press down firmly on the edge, creating a crisp crease.

5. Continue folding the stack of tissue by 1 1/2 inches accordion style until the entire stack has been folded.

6. Take an 18 inch piece of floral wire and cut it in half.
7. Place one half to the side for later use.
8. Use the other half to wrap around the stack of pleated tissue paper.  Twist ends to hold in place. 

 9. Pull a good length of fishing wire through the floral wire loop.  Tie the ends together.  Length of the wire will depend on how far down you want the pom pom to hang from the ceiling.

10. To create a more visually appealing pom pom you may cut the ends of the stack in either a rounded or a pointed tip.  I prefer the pointed like this.

Note how I cut a few layers at a time.  Because we are using so many layers it is impossible to make only two cuts.  You'll find that cutting them a few layers at a time will result in an uneven look at the end.  Don't worry about this as it will not be noticeable in the final result.
11. Unfold one half of the stack.  Pressing it a little to flatten out the pleats a bit. This will help when separating the layers.

12. Delicately separate the layers.
Begin by separating the outer edge all the way along the width of the tissue, working your way up toward the center of the pom pom.

Note: work a few layers at a time, and then switch to the other side of the pom pom, working a few  layers there, then switch back to the other side and do the same.  Be prepared you will almost certainly rip the tissue a bit here and there.  Be as gentle as possible, and don't sweat it.  Again, the finished product, because of it's puffiness will pretty much hide all the imperfections created along the way. And there you have it!  

Want to create a smaller version?  Simply trim a little bit off each the length and the width of your stack of tissue.  Follow steps 1 through 12 once again.

The smaller the pom pom, the few sheets you may want to use.  However, the least number of layers I used in my small ones was 10, I think they look really great when they're nice and puffy.  Also, because mine are being hung in a store, I really wanted them to be able to stand the test of time.

Here are the various sized and colours I made.

Hope you enjoyed my little tutorial.  Please link me up if you give these a try.  I'd love to see your pretty puffy pom pom creations.

Later this week I hope to finally be able to share my scrappy little secret with you.  Should make for a fun scrappy related weekend, yah!

Thanks for popping by today friends,

♥ S. Pin It

Something I had to share

Happy Friday friends!

Tonight the Youth from church is having an Adults versus Youth football game at the stadium.  I've never been down on the field where our CFL team plays, and think it'll be fun to walk the same field where big hits, big TDs, and game changing interceptions take place.  Now, I just hope the boys actually pass to the girls.  We've got a little work and a little play on the agenda for the rest of the weekend.  D and I are planning on going out to the lake to shut it all down on Saturday while the girls are at Dance.  Thankfully Mom and Dad have agreed to pick them up for us.  It goes so much quicker when we don't have to break up fights, stop to make lunch or listen to their bickering while we're trying to get things done.  Sunday, I'd really like to take the family to Amaze in Corn, a fun corn maze just outside the city.  I'm really hoping to get some good photos.  I realized yesterday how few photos I've taken in the past few months.  Being a scrapper that really dose pose a problem.  Although I did come across this beauty in my perusing. 

Okay about what I had to share with you.  I was reading my friend Pam's blog last night when I came across a share she posted.  I took a look, and felt like someone had gotten into my head and read the ever repeating ticker tape running through my brain.  If you ever feel like you're on the never ending hamster wheel of trying to fit it all in, then you'll want to have a look too.  I think the post has pretty much gone viral, as of last night there were 242 comments.  Check it out for yourself here.


Enjoy your weekend friends.  If you're local, I hope you get the time and enjoy one of the last lovely weekends of year. 

♥ S. Pin It

Meet Jack

I mentioned yesterday that I had spent a couple of days watching a friend's little guy.  Well, meet Jack.  After getting permission from his mom to post photos of him I am able to introduce you to one of the brightest, cutest little guys I know.  He kept me on my toes, that's for sure.  Although admittedly afraid of monkey bars, I was able to convince Jack to accompany me to the park to get some exercise, and perhaps enjoy some of the other play things we'd find there.  I haven't been to the park in the middle of the day with a pre-schooler in several years.  The walk to the park has never been so interesting in the year we've been in this new home.  Jack had us stop to pick 'yellow flowers' in the forest (with which to adorn Miss Sherri's hair), admire the fountain, check out a couple of grass hoppers, chase the geese through the field, and even climb the monkey bars (well he did anyway).  It was so a vivid reminder of all the beauty God has placed around us.  To think He could have created a world in black and white, but didn't.  He could have given us only one season, but He didn't.  He could have made the world free of insects, and birds, trees, and wildlife, but He didn't.  Colour, beauty, and variety, are obviously of great importance to Him, and such a gift to all of us. On the way home Jack found a ladybug, which had to ride in the palm of his hand back to Miss Sherri's, as well as a gorgeous, long, fuzzy, black, and yellow caterpillar.  He carried that guy in his other hand, along with his 'yellow flower'.  The look of contentment on his face was just priceless.  When  we got home, I manged to convince him to allow me to take a couple of photos for his mom, but more importantly for me to scrap as a reminder of the miracle of God's tiniest creatures, and the joy they can bring us, if we take a moment to consider the gift that lies within all the colour and variety of the world around us.

Thank you Jack for a fun couple of days, and the reminder that no detail has been overlooked by God.

Using the Sept kit, and add ons from My Scrapbook Nook featuring Crate Random Collection. Alphas: Studio Calico

Details:

My experience that afternoon with Jack fit perfectly with Challenge #7 over at Scrapping Everyday Miracles "The Miracle of the Moment" was to be the subject for our layout.

Thanks for stopping by today.

♥ S. Pin It

Short & Sweet

That would be the category this post falls into today.

I wanted to share with you this layout I created last night with the September (Glee) kit from Studio Calico.  I made if for the Get Picky Sketch challenge.  If you have a sec, and enjoy scrapping multiple photos on a page, you should check them out.  Their creators are both Scrapbook Nook residents.  Each of them have oodles of talent, and always produce the most stunning layouts.

I spent the past couple of days watching the cutest little guy for a friend.  He's smart, funny, and oh so lovable.  After our walk to the park I had him do a little photo shoot for me.  I got some pretty good shots, but had to move fast, because there was no getting him to sit still for long.  Combine that, with the fact that my September kit from the Nook finally arrived yesterday, and my scrap room is calling my name.  Loudly.  So I'm off to get my scrap on.  Hopefully I'll have some new stuff to show you real soon.

Oh, and D made it home safe and sound late last night from Ireland.  I have yet to actually have a conversation with him, but it's nice to have him home in one piece (thank you Lord).  I'm looking forward to our first family meal together in over a week.

Happy Wednesday friends,

♥ S. Pin It