Happy 4th of July to all of you!!!

My two girls- Izzy and Jenna -last year waiting for the parade to start- they had such a great time...but I'm gonna miss them this year because they are not with me in Michigan - instead they stayed home with my ex-husband to celebrate with him. So I will be thinking of them and this picture came to my mind so I thought I would post it. I wish you all a Very Happy 4th and take some great pictures!

Bahlorette Party layout...

Here is a two page layout today of my daughters Bachlorette Party which most of the pictures were not scrapbook material or x-rated so we just did a few of the opening of gifts and getting ready to go out and paint the town red..as they say. But we were all dressed in green- because it was also St Patricks Day so we were very festive...and had a super great time.

I used some special papers that also had glitter on it and some cute sparkle four leaf clovers scattered on the page. I used my Cricut to cut the champagne glasses -which I plan to journal on( soon) and also to cut out the title. I then tied a gross grain pink ribbon around the one glass to represent the bride to be sash that she also wore that night. Have a safe and fun 4th of July...I know I will be  while I'm in Michigan with my family for the week.

Its Monday and I am heading out of here on my way to Upper Michigan to spend the 4th of July with Family- which has been a tradition of me for over 15 years- so Im excited to get up there and spend some time and create some more great memories. So I thought I would post a few layouts that I have been working on the past month while I'm away on vacation for a week.

I help throw a Bridal Shower for my daughter and husband to be along with his mother and boy did I make alot of things for decorating and goodie bags and you name it..lots of projects! And everything turned out great . The theme was Tropical or paradise since they were getting married in Jamaica...So I used the actual paper that I used to make the banner for the shower also on this layout and added a few palm trees and some other little stamp embellies to the page. And trimmed it on top and bottom with K&Company pre-cut border strips. There were so many pictures taken at this event, so I pick out just a few of the highlighted moments. Well enjoy the summer and have a great week.

Fun on the Beach

Here is a Fun on the Beach layout of me, my daughter and my best friend while we were in Jamaica in April  this year.  I will be applying this over at Creative Scrappers sketch challenge #214.

I tore paper then emossed and then inked it to look like sand and layered it on the blue water paper. I used my Cricut cartridges to cut the palm trees and then distressed them a bit and cut out the lazy chair and the title also. Used some colorful paper scraps for the mats- and this was a pretty simple page sone in under and hour yeah.

Friends and water skiing- Testing the waters.

A fun summer layout of the girls having fun skiing and enjoying their new friendships while at summer camp. I applying this layout over at Sketches in Thyme #82 part 2 and have made a 2-page layout with the sketch. I used Lifes a Beach Cricut cartridge for the water (swirls) 2 boards & Hang Ten. I cut out the letters from a preprinted alpha book and pop dotted them and a few stickers added also. I used Fiskars border punch and my papers are from Recollections.

I rearranged and updated my craftroom

I think an organizational bug bite me..because ever since I joined in on Frosted Designs bog hop two weeks ago- checking out everyone's scrapping space, I have been reorganizing my rooms & painting new cabinets and having fun doing it at the same time. So here is a few new things that I added to my space.

Her is the bottom of a curio cabinet that I bought at a garage sale for $30.00 and repainted it- and kept the 2 bottom doors off and kept it open for baskets and boxes- which, I got the paint in the oops pile at Menards for $5.00 a pretty pinky purple color -which goes well in my craft room.  I also added a 4 shelf unit in white a few months back that a past scrapbooker was getting rid of for $25.00 (what a steal this was) and since then I also bought the ribbon rack online pre- Christmas sale for $10.00.

Here is the top half of the curion cabinet painted with the same paint , but I seperated them and put it on the other wall to give me more counter space if needed. I  filled up the cubby holes with my new arranged blue plastic container all labeled with the alphabet to put all my chipboard letters in ( saw a few other scrapppers have done this and thought it was a good idea). I also have changed the table space around a bit to a T- but I can change it back if need be- but it gives more space this way.

This was a big rearrangement for me...so many decisions I had to make..I wanted to have my papers all together- but I have so much paper( I don't need to buy anymore) wasn't sure if it would all fit in this area . So the 2 black shelves are paper stacks/cardstock 12 x 12 and drawers of color coded scraps and the 4 red crates are all 12 x 12 themed boxes filled with papers and then the 4 other containers are also filled with paper...  Yikes! I also have my acrylic paint holder( first storage container I bought over 10 years ago - love it) and all my inks in two storage racks and buttons in the storage spin rack ( recycled spice rack) which I painted the lids for the colors of all the buttons in them. Plus my black roll cart which has all my tools - stickles, tapes, glues and etc- which I roll to wherever I need it.

Last, major change is I painted two bedside tables in spa blue and bought the Jet max storage units on clearance and this is where I store all my stamps-rubber, foam, and acrylics- catagorized in 15 drawers for easy findings. Plus I have all my 8 x 11 cardstock here-plus the 3 drawers below paper is all my mists/sprays. And still in the same place is my handy ribbon rack- hanging on the back of the door-(repurposed shoe rack). So lots of work- but love the way it looks now --so so organized!
 Thanks for looking at my new craft room and I have more pics on my side bar under my scraproom updated last week. Happy Scrappin!

Volleyball Anyone?

Our family loves to play volleyball- so that they did in the sands of Jamaica- along with many others. They played several times during our week vacation down there and had some serious competition going on.  As you can see the weather was hot and sunny as by the burn on one of the girls backside in the picture- oops I think she forgot to put on the suntan lotion!
 Since we were in an all-inclusive resort the waiters or hostesses keep the players well hydrated at all time..lol
I used the cartridge Sports Mania for the volleyball title and Spike it and the volleyaballs on the right side and the banner to. But, after I put them on it was missing something so I hand drew the volleyball net on and out lined the banners in black. another layout for my Jamaican book. thanks for joining me and happy scrappin!

A favorite layout of mine

I just love this layout- the colors/sparkle the simplicity of it and its my 4 wonderful kids having fun in the sun!  I used chipboard and made my own letters (which represent their first name intial) that I painted  them in 4 bright colors that I wanted then added dimensional glossy/glue then added fine diamond glitter and let them dry. I cut out the middle to add the pics of the torn edge paper and back it with blue polka dot paper on a bright orange cardstock...very simple---- but just LOVE the way it turned out. I remember asking each of them to pose for me- cause I already had this layout/paper in my mind--can you tell that I'm a scrapbooker by that?  lol I will be applying this layout also over at Frosted Designs Fabulous Friday challenge to make your own embellies.

    Yes- these are my 4 silly & crazy kids having a time of their life the first night in Jamaica- and I loved it. So, I found this old paper sitting in the back of my stash that would be perfect for this layout- with so many colors going on in the pictures and I wanted it to reflect movement and craziness..so I also made these circle embellies( chipboard painted white and twine tied on) to go with the layout and added felt alpha stickers for the title and just stamped some one words scattered on the squares. I machine stitched around the torn edge and matted all the pictures with white cardstock. My favorite picture is on the left side with all four of them together for the first time in a few years and then some candid shots during that first evening celebrating us all together for some good times to be had in Jamaica....and yes I'm in one of them ( my back with purple blouse- dancing with my youngest son) and of course the new addtion of my future son- in -law- which I am so happy so have him join our crazy family - he fits right in..  lol

I will be applying this 2 page layout over at Frosted Designs Fabulous Fridays for " handmade embellies" this week. I usually make alot of my embellishments so this was a easy challenge

The Bride and her bridesmaids

    A plain and simple page of all the girls dressed - standing with the bride. The middle picture (are my two daughters) the bride and the maid of Honor. I used some really neat paper (?) with the embossed shiny palm leaves as the background paper and used white cardstock for mats- The pictures were taken by someone else and are a little bit blurry when I had them printed and mailed to me- so I didnt want to take away with crazy or colorful papers, but still wanted to do a layout of these because they are the only pictures of them seperately.

The Jamaican Bunch

Here is a wonderful layout of all the guests that attended my daughter's Jamaican wedding- The Jamaican Bunch is the title and I will be applying this over at Sketches in Thyme #81 .

I used several different papers that I have been using throughout all the layouts in this scrapbook- so it works out well with this 5 x 7 photo with everyone attending this event. I made my own rosette and cricut cut the title from Ashlyn's Alphabet, and the bird cage from Serenade, and added some silk flowers and stickers- flourishes to the page. Of course, some Stickles was added to the embellies/title.  I have not journaled on this page for a reason, I am waiting for my daughter to give me a list of everyone's name so I can write thiem in that area and spell everything correctly- just like the journal tag area say " Just so I never forget"

Climbing the Dunn's River Falls

OMG!!! This was a blast- I would do this again..we (23 of the guests from the wedding party) went on an excursion to climb the Dunn's River Falls on the day before the wedding- and did we all ever have a great time. This was the most fun I have had in a long time. And the best part was all my kids and even the ex-husband (father of my children) did this all together and we got along great and had so many laughs- like old times. During this climb- which we actually climbed right up the falls- they took pictures and a video of our whole group doing this- so at the end we bought one video and made several copies for everyone to have.
Since we had a reception here at home just 3 weeks ago and we al gathered at my home the day after - we all sat awatched the video for the first time- it was like we climbed the falls all over again- so many great memories were made that say also... I once again- have a journal tag ,which I have journaled on but after I took a picture of the page.  I just used Life's a Beach cartridge and cut out many different sizes of palm leaves and inked them in 3 colors of green and scattered them on the page to look like a forest- Thanks for looking at my post of my Jamaica layouts.

Views of our Villa at Sandals Grand Riveria in Ocho Rios... A 2 pager with a few pictures of the villa I stayed in with my other daughter. I have attached tags and since this pic have journaled on them- oops should of done that first. I just took white acrylic paint and drew/painted a white border on all the pic to make them stand out a bit more- a total of 10 large oictures on this 2-page layout.

Special lo for SOUS

I just love all the colors and embellies in this layout I did with the sketch from SOUS- its been so long since I did a challenge from there- but this one comes pretty close since my pictures were both a 4 x 6. Its another one of my favorites of my kids taken at my daughter's wedding in Jamaica this past April.

I used the background paper from Scrapbook Customs called Paradise- two colors of cardstock for the mats, and Cricut cuts from Ashlyn's Alphabet, Accent Essentials and Life's a Beach. I layered the flowers in two colors attached a brad and added some stickles for bling. The cloud I inked the bottom and added stickles also. On the palm leaves I inked in 3 colors of green and one the bottom three added some sub-titles to them in my own handwriting.

I will be applying this over at SOUS this week..hope its not to late. Today is the first day of Summer- enjoy and stay cool- because its been a hot one here lately Happy Scrapping!

Jamaica here I come!!

     My first trip out of the states to attend my daughter's Destination Wedding in April. And here is my first page to my book that I have started for myself (a book for me - can you believe that ?) I picked up this old World Atlas awhile back from a thrift store for $1.00 and this is the first page I used from it for the background paper of Jamaica and distressed the edges/ sections of the map. I also would like to point out the cute Passport that I made which opens up to journal on and the suitcases cut from the cartridge Going Places, a tag and some infor about the country- all the other embellies are stickers, which I purchased in a pack.
     The other couple in the pic( im sitting behind them) are good friends of mine that went with me to attend my daughter's wedding- I have known Laura since we were 4 years old- she is my oldest and dearest friend- so we all had a good time. On our bus trip to the Sandals resort from Montego Bay to Ocho Rios we stopped for a drink/cocktail at this establishment which was 3 feet on the main road- such a different culture and ways of living here-but very beautiful sites of the ocean.

I'm Back to scrap...

     I have been so preoccupied with my daughter's wedding for the past 5 months I forgot how to post to my blog...  lol. I was at a 3 day Scrapbooking Retreat last weekend and found my mojo..I'M BACK!!! I cranked out a whopping 50 pages at the retreat and had so much fun laughing and meeting new and old friends- such a good time I'm going again in October.
 I just wanted to post a few layouts that I was working on- Gee guess what theme I was scrapbooking ? Yeap wedding pictures from Jamaica  and lots of them. So here we go with some layouts:

 The first one of my daughter is my favorite page I did during the weekend retreat and I also got a prize in the Layout contest for this page. I will be applying this over at The Studio Challenges  for the Vintage Theme challenge, which I believe this qualifies for in several ways. I printed the pictures in Sepia for that special effect and used distressed inks on the papers. I made the silk flower from tulle and ribbon and added a  pearl button brad in center. I found this florist greenery in silver and thought to use it for a special embellishment. I also used several rub-ons, florist pin, vellum quote, stickles, silk flowers, beaded lace ribbon and a journal spot to write my thoughts at the moment I saw her.

 Here is a layout of the handsome Groom- my new son-in law (Wayne) I simply added an overlay on top of a patterned paper- which I stamped some extra brown leaves on and cut out the area around the title- so the dots were covering it up. Matted the 3 photos on green cardstock and inked the edges.. Simple, but nice.

And here is the whole Bridal Party on a 2-page layout. I wanted the pictures to stand out and not all the patterned papers so I found some with alot of colors of the wedding - used a Recollections border punch and made some flowers out of white paper bags with punches and a brad center. And cut the title with Gypsy Font cricut cartridge. Of course my other 3 children our in the wedding party- the first two groomsmen on left side of page are my sons- and the maid of honor  the last girl on right side is my other beautiful daughter, escorted by the two best men.
     So, now that I'm back in the swing of things and have some time to myself- I will get busy and do some more blogging and scrapping..let the good times roll this summer!

Congrats again... Mr & Mrs. Richards

   My daughter and her husband (married April 22 in Jamaica) had the big family and friends reception this past weekend and it turned out great. I have been so busy with decorations and favors, flowers and gifts I haven't had much time to do anything else. So, now I can get back to my scrapbook room and scrap away...
     My first weekend to myself and I will be attending a Scrapbook Retreat here in Aurora, Illinois- my first time to this one (ScrapbookCabana) and I can't wait. It sounds like a good time will be had by all 75 scrappers for 3 full days of fun and relaxation. I of course will be working on lots of wedding photos- so when I get back watch out I will have so many posts to upload... Happy Scrappin!

Daughter's Wedding Day has arrived..

    The day has finally arrived- My daughter's wedding reception that I have been working on so so many projects- at all hours of the day and nights for the past few months. She and her fiance were married in Jamaica one month ago, but this weekend is the ceremony/ Reception here in our hometown. This project is one of many that I have made from them. Instead of a sign-in guest book I have made a sign the heart picture frame for them to cherish in their home everyday once everyone has signed their name on one of the 158 hearts I have attached.

( Below is a family portrait of the newly married couple in Jamaica on April 22, 2012-from the left-are my two sons,  my ex,   Wayne/ new son-in-law- my daughter Linda, Me and my other daughter)

 I purchasd a large 11 x 20 picture frame removed the glass and bought some tn colored matt board for the background. With my Gypsy and Cricut I cut out the hearts and scrolls and arranged them into a heart shape then attached with my Yes paste- on one side of the slightly folded hearts-s o they would be a little 3-demensional. Leaving the large heart in the center for them names and the original wedding date.  I will be entering this project over at Frosted Designs for their weekly challenge of Wedding Theme project- boy do I have a few projects to choose from for this challenge. I have enjoyed every minute I have put into all these projects- but at the same time I am looking forward to some free time and get back to some scrapbooking of pages- Which with all the wedding pictures will keep me busy for the whole summer. If I remember I will take another picture of this project after everyone has sign it- I think it will look great on their wall in their home.

Friday Recipe Challenge at FD

    Here is my take for this weeks Recipe Challenge- I used ribbon, brads, glitter, butterflies (my favorite embellie lately). I don't make cards that often anymore , but have a wedding to attend soon- so thought I would use this opportunity.

I also embossed the butterflies with my Cuttlebug and added some glitter and rhinestones for some added bling. I then took the remains of the punched/die cut butterflies and used them as my template to mist the envelope.

Layouts/projects for Frosted Design Blog Hop this weekend

Here are several layouts which I did this weekend (NSD) which I will be applying to several challenges for the online blog hop that was held at Frosted Designs, so this is very heavy with pics. But, it felt so good to just sit and scrap this weekend in between the weed wacking and mowing the yard, which was not as much fun- yet fneeded to be done.
The first layout was for the challenge of Stickers:

I usually dont use stickers- put I had a few for this page and thought great time to use them for this challenge






The next layout is for the Patterned paper only challenge- which was easy because I like to use papers .

The Recipe Challenge that I did  was to use 4 out the 6 - which I used all 6- handmade embellies, color yellow- 3 buttons, striped paper pattern- twine and punch

and the last Challenge I worked on was Nothing New- did into your scraps which I did that. all the papers were in my scraps so thats how come I did the corners in green and the butterflies were already punched from scraps and the polka dot circle was already precut in my scraps from a while ago.

So I will be applying these to the correct challenges and I hope you all wer able to find some time to scrap a bit this weekend.