Scrap A Little March sketch challenge

I've decided to leak a small part of my "project" I've been secretly working on, only because the recipient has already received something similar so if their eyes find their way to this page, I'm ok with it. 

This months' Sketch by Helen Croft at Scrap A Litte can be found here.  I love Helen's sketches and have used them before but this is the first time I've actually entered one of her sketch challenges. I encourage you to check out her blog, she has a ton of tutorials and is a flower making wiz!  Wish me luck! Up for grabs are a ton of American Crafts yummies!

This is my nephews first Phillies game this past summer. This kid is going to play baseball whether he likes it or not!  Luckily, both of his parents are sports fans and quite the athletes.  Hopefully some day, he'll be able to watch the Phillies win a World Series Championship just like his daddy!

A night all to us girls...

Well, my hubby is away attending a conference in Dallas with a few co-workers.  He's been gone two days now and they have been the longest two days of my life.  He'll be back Sunday night and I think I am going to take some much needed "me" time when he gets back, Lord knows I'll need it! 

To pass some time, the girls and I went out for a bite to eat at a local pizza place; Soprano's *insert Soprano's theme song here*.  They have delicious food and it was nice to just chill out and chat and giggle, in between smirks, rolling of the eyes and folded arms (anyone who has a 10 yr old girl, or soon to be knows EXACTLY what I'm talking about). I had a delicious veggie wrap with spinach, broccoli, roasted red peppers, mushrooms, lettuce and tomato with a little provolone cheese.  Not a great meal for someone trying to change my eating habits but not a total bust either. I still stayed within my allotted calories for the day and delicious is an understatement...

I didn't get ANY crafting done last night so I am going to try to muster up the energy to get creative tonight, although the thought of a warm king sized bed all to myself sounds pretty darn good so.....here's a little picture to document our night!

Titles and Clustering

While working on this major project I have going on, I decided to use this as an opportunity to experiment and work on a few technique's that I just haven't mastered yet. Now being relatively new to scrapbooking, I haven't mastered ANYTHING, but darned if I will try!

My latest focus has been on my title work and clustering. I've been stalking reading blogs for the last few months looking for techniques and looking at examples to figure out exactly just what style I am...but is there really a "style"? That is the purpose of this craft, is it not? To NOT have a style? Just be free to do what ever you want? Well, that's so they say...I seem to have backed myself in to a perverbial style corner. It's not too bad, it's been nice to "practice" and try to get things just right...*still trying*. Anyway, here's a few examples of my latest and greatest:

I attempted to make my own flowers for this layout.  It's quite easy, just a circle punch (or hand drawn circles for a more distressed look), a little water, a little crinkle of the paper and a hair dryer to dry.  Add a button to the center and whoala! I inked the edges for added affect.

This one was a F.U.N. layout to make...of course, it's from the super secret project but don't worry, full pics will be posted in a few weeks!  I am LOVING the Prima tea rose collection.

This one was a true test for me...this was in the planning stages for months and had to be just right!  The full page coming soon....(notice more Prima)

Now that the house is quiet, I'm off to get to work (some of my best work is done at night). Overall this project has been a bit of everything for me...a bit work, a bit fun, a bit creativity, a bit therapy. I love every minute I spend on this and hope the recipient loves every minute looking at it!

Goodnight all...xoxoxo

Web Surfing

I have been spending some time reading some of my favorite blogs and checking out some of the new scrapbook lines out there on the web.  I have to say My Minds Eye Abbey Rd is really catching my eye. I've recently done a page with the dinosaur paper and it has turned out SO CUTE!  I really have to get my hands on some more of this yummy goodness....but for now, I bask in the glory of online window shopping.  I wish some of the big chain stores would carry more of these new product lines but at the same time I'm glad they don't...or my wallet is.  I am chomping at the bit for my next trip to Quakertown to load up on supplies and thinking of hosting a crop soon at home.  Getting together to share ideas and techniques sounds so fun to me and what a great girls night!

I'll post the new layout shortly, as soon as the sun decides to show it's face again so I can take a decent picture of it! Until then, enjoy your weekend and Erin Go Bragh!

Creative BLAST!

Well, I am working on a new project for a family member and I am SO EXCITED about it!  I've been in a creative zone lately and the last few pages have really turned out better than I expected. I am not even close to being finished but have a month to go and hope to make some good progress over the next two weeks. 

Saturday, I decided to take a ride to a scrapbook store about 30 minutes north of me. I've heard of this particular store but have never been there so I decided it was finally time to check it out.  I was in absolute scrapping heaven!  If anyone lives on the Central Bucks/Montgomery County area, I highly suggest you check this place out. They had all of the latest and yummiest lines of paper and embelishments and more chalk, ink, flowers and stamps than your could imagine.  I could have stayed all day; however due to budget reasons, I limited my stay to 40 minutes and two new lines of paper.  I will definitely go back and hope to plan a midnight crop there in the very near future.  The crop room is delicious!  Let me know if you want the information...I will admit the website isn't all that great, but the store makes up for it!

I promise to post pictures of the project once it is complete and given to the recipient,  but for now it stays a secret for their eyes may end up on this blog!

For now...off to the dentist and then to come home and get crafty (and now I have the Beastie Boys in my head).

Here's a preview of the products:

Dinner with one of my favs...

I went out to dinner tonight with one of my favorite people in the world.  I've been looking forward to it forever; both the company and the restaurant of choice.  It was great to catch up over some of the yummiest sushi I've ever had (not that I'm an expert by any means) and a bottle of wine. We were able to chat without interuptions of "Mommy!" or diaper changes....it was nice to talk to someone who knows exactly how I feel and where I'm coming from, even if the reason is completely different. 

I came to a lot of realizations during and after this meal...changes that I need to make, things that need to be dealt with but mostly that I hope to be able to spend more time with her in the future...she's smart, funny, honest, straighforward and I'm so glad to have her in my life.  XOXOXO