Scrapper Al's Card Swap, Month 1

A card kit swap. I needed an extra push to force myself into some creative time so when I saw Arlyn post about starting up a new group with her card kit swap I thought, why not?  I joined.  I'm glad I did.  I'm not very good at cards, so not only was it a way to get back into doing some crafting, it would also challenge my creativity.  So, here are my cards using the February kit (I forgot to take a photo of the kit contents before I started, oops).

Card 1:

I really liked the metallic paper included in the kit, so I let that be my starting point.  Using a tag included in the kit, I used a couple of stamps from Technique Tuesday. The gray and white stripped washi tape was a nice accent along with a button at the top.  I like the whole monochromatic look to this card.

Card #2

I was kind of going with a music theme as you can tell by the stamped sentiments on both cards.  This card I used the pretty metallic green brads and pretty ribbon to add a touch of color.  The patterned paper, doily and glittery silver colored card base were all part of the kit also.

Card #3

For this final card, I used the blue metallic patterned paper, blue cardstock base, ribbon and washi tape.  The colorful patterned paper was also included.  Don't really know what direction I was going with this card, but it all came together and I was happy with the results.

I ended up giving these cards to a co-worker.  She is always doing nice things for me and I wanted to return the favor.  She was very surprised and I think she liked them too.  All in all, a good thing.

Thanks Arlyn for the great kit.  Now I'm anxious to see what Susan has up her sleeve for the March kit.

Senior Photo Shoot

I had a lot of fun tonight taking this round of senior photos of Jasey. She's such a pretty girl and the evening light was wonderful!

Facing Challenges Straight on.

The last couple of weeks have been full of challenges to be met. But this post isn't about that, it's about a challenge issued by a dear friend of mine. She told me I needed to update my blog, well, that's what I'm doing. So here's to you Susan!

This photo was taken about 3 years ago when Susan and I attended a "Crop of a Lifetime" sponsored by Jackie and the gang from Lifetime Moments, a great little scrapbooking community. In the picture with us is Beverly. She was my secret pal at the crop - a way cool gal! Thru scrapbooking and events like this I've had the fortune to meet ladies from all across the country as well as Europe and Japan. How lucky I am to call these ladies my friends.

So now I've risen to the challenge of updating my blog. I may keep it up, I may not, who knows what tomorrow holds. As far as other challenges in my life, well, I'll rise up to meet them too. I've got great friends and a great family by my side to help me along the way.

Happy Valentine's Day

Today is going to be a quiet day around here. It's snowing..... again. Will it ever stop? Let me be the first to tell you that when I do a layout about things I love most, snow will not be included.

Since it is Valentine's Day, I would like to share a scrapbook page I recently completed. It does show the 2 people I love most in this world....

SS&M, New Lines, New Layouts

Yeah, I know.... this "keeping up with the blog" thing just isn't going so well. But, I did want to pop in to express my excitment about the new lines SS&M are coming out with (debuted them at CHA in January). A new sports lines, "Sports on the Edge", and an aminal line, "Down On The Farm". I've been creating with those lines over the last couple of weeks - these are fun papers!

The first layout uses the basketball "On The Edge" paper. Our basketball teams sold Madrid Hoops t-shirts to raise money for the Coaches vs. Cancer organization. It hit home with so many of the kids having watched as Mr. Cosens fought this dreaded disease.

The second layout is of Michael and Toby. It uses the dog paper and cardstock stickers from the "Down On The Farm" line. I had a tough time coming up with a title for this one..... does a boy need a dog or does the dog need the boy????

Thanks for looking! Hope you like the new papers.

Shuttercal

Whatever was I thinking? I signed up on Shuttercal for 2010. It's a calendar-picture-a-day-thing. It encourages users to take a picture a day to document your life over the course of the year. The concept is good, but c'mon..... I go months without updating this blog. HOW am I ever going to keep up with the photo a day???? It's a challenge. I need more challenge in my life, right?

Actually, I think it's a reaction to the fact that my "home away from home" on the web for the last 7 years closed. Lifetime Moments is no more. It's so sad. I can't even tell you how many people I've met and become good friends with thru the site - from California, to Virginia, to Texas and Minnesota... man, I've met some of the most wonderful people in the world thru LM. I got to go to the first Crop of a Lifetime in San Diego as well as attend a LM crop in Detroit. While some may laugh when I tell people I scrapbook. To me, not only has it allowed our family's life to be documented, but it's brought me true friendship. That's hard to find these days. So here's to LM.... I'm going to miss you!

Since we are talking about scrappin', here's another little lo I finished up last night. It's for a Pagemaps sketch contest. Addi & Tierney... can they be any cuter???

The pinks of greens of the Scrappin' Sports and more dance papers were perfect for this layout along with a bit of red from the family line and some green from the Name of the game line. Love this lo.