Scrap Within Reach - My 2 Boys minibook!

I am so honored to have been asked to work with the April Kit from Scrap Within Reach as their Guest Designer! This kit features their "Cottage" collection with it's beautiful blues and greens, and lots of coordinating embellishments!

I created my custom "My 2 boys" minibook by cutting the base of the pages from scrap chipboard, using my Pazzles Inspiration and a cutting file that I created myself (I ♥ my Pazzles!). After painting the outer edges of each page (and the back cover), I covered each page with paper or cardstock from the kit. Then I went about embellishing and adding photos of my two adorable boys! I converted all of the photos to b&w except for the 3 color photos on the “tag page” that I inserted near the end (created from the two large tags in the kit). Those I left in color for an unexpected “pop”, and since that photo just happened to match the colors in the kit so wonderfully! Other than stamps and ink and the ribbons tied to the binder rings, everything is from the kit.

behind the plate

I completely LOVE this Industrial Park line from Scrap Within Reach! Great, distressed patterns, perfect for boy pages. I've had these pics for a while of Ryan playing as catcher in Little League a couple of years ago, and thought these papers worked perfectly!

You can find the sketch for this page in the Allyscraps Gallery!

Journaling:
Clearly, the catcher’s equipment was made for someone a bit bigger than you. You could barely stand up wearing the shin guards, chest protector, and everything else. But that didn’t stop you from doing your best to get to the ball and throw it back every time.

planting seeds

This is my page for the Allyscraps March Design Team reveal, featuring the theme "spring"! You can check out all of the girls' pages on the Allyscraps blog!

I have to confess, I didn't really see this Pebbles Inc Downtown line as a classic choice for a "spring" themed page when I got it. But then I noticed all of the blue in the boys' and dh's clothes, the orange shirt on Tyler, and thought that the orange/yellow/brown color combo was just perfect for the photos as well as the topic of "planting seeds"! I love how the page turned out.

Journaling:
Well, it was a nice idea. After collecting a number of “whirlygigs” – the little helicopter-like pods that fall from the silver maple tree and hold seeds – we thought it would be fun to plant a few. Ryan and Tyler worked with Daddy to fill a pot with soil, find a few perfect seeds, and carefully nestle them down into the dirt. After some water and strategic placement in the not-too-direct sunlight, we waited and watched for a seedling to grow. But alas, our horticultural experiment was not a success. After several weeks, we accepted that no tree was going to materialize. Still, it was a good bonding and learning experience, one that I suspect we will try again.

first day tradition

It's really no surprise that I ADORE this My Minds Eye Penny Lane collection! I love pretty much everything that MME makes! These pics are from our first day of school traditional stop at DQ.

My sketch for this page is the current sketch challenge in the Allyscraps forum - be sure to check it out for a chance to win the April $10 gift certificate challenge prize!

Journaling:
The 1st day of school always means a trip to Dairy Queen! We started the tradition two years ago when Ryan started kindergarten, and now it is a yearly event. Vanilla with chocolate dip for Ryan & chocolate with rainbow sprinkles for Tyler. What a fun celebration to look forward to!

a look back in time

I don't really do heritage pages, but this Graphic 45 collection truly inspired me to pull out some boxes of old photos. I love this picture of my mom from when she was just a teenager.

This is also my page for the latest scrappy challenge at the Allyscraps board! Be sure to check it out for an entry into the drawing for a $10 gift certificate to the store!

Journaling:

Looking at this picture of Mom in her teen years is like taking a peek back in time. When this was taken, she was younger than the students who I now teach are. She looks so happy and pretty, and so carefree. I imagine that she enjoyed her teen job as a soda jerk, and took great pride in doing it well and taking good care of her customers. That's how she approached everything that she did.circa mid-1950's

so happy to have each other

I thought this new 3 Bugs Snips & Snails was cute when I saw it online, but it truly doesn't do it justice! What a GREAT boy line! And the papers are all double-sided, so if the themey-er patterns don't work for ya there is a gorgeous versatile pattern on the other side! I skipped any formal journaling on this one, as I think the photo combined with the sticker, bingo card and stamps says the story just fine.

This page goes with my March 13 Sketch Challenge at Allyscraps! Be sure to check it out for a bonus 2-page variation for the sketch! :) Complete the sketch challenge for an entry into the March gift certificate prize drawing!

so proud of our grad

I LOVE these Prima boy papers! Perfect for these pictures of my little guy's preschool graduation last year. Also used: Making Memories tiny alpha, Pink Paislee alpha stickers, and Jenni Bowlin mini calendar.

Journaling:

Your preschool graduation was such a proud day! You and your class performed a wonderful program. Then it was time for hugs & saying goodbye for the summer to your friends, like Maria, Joey, and of course, Mrs. Wasko.

no fear

I love this Cosmo Cricket Snorkel - what a fun line! This is also for Dana's "use a shaped paper" challenge on the Allyscraps forum. I used my Pazzles Inspiration to cut the eyelet-scalloped edge from the yellow, and also to cut the diecut paper shaped journaling block (using a print-and-cut technique).

Journaling:
It doesn’t seem like it was that long ago that you were timid about letting go of the side of the pool – even if the water wasn’t very deep. And now here you are, suddenly fearless, jumping off the diving board like it was nothing at a friends’ pool party. When you first asked me if you could go off the diving board, I was nervous, but thought you would probably reconsider once you got up there. You sure taught me how wrong I was!

forever us

I wasn't sure how I was going to use this Fancy Pants Splendid from Allyscraps since I don't scrap girlie pages. But I just LOVE how this page turned out! This is truly a versatile collection, and soooo pretty! I used my Pazzles Inspiration to cut the "forever" and the mat behind it with the cut-out hearts.

The sketch for this page is the current sketch challenge on the Allyscraps forum - be sure to check it out! Complete a page before the deadline and earn an entry into the March drawing for a gift certificate to the store. And if you're new to the site, be sure to check out the membership drive for the easiest-ever $10 gift certificate!

Journaling:
Just us, being silly and goofy. Sometimes your silliness cracks me up and at other times it’s just annoying, which I know makes it even more fun for you. But that’s ok, because it’s part of what makes us fit together so well. So we’ll just keep on being goofy together… being forever us.

Allyscraps is having a Membership Drive!

This just might be the easiest gift certificate you could ever win! We are having a membership drive at the Allyscraps Forum! Just come register on the forum, and then sign in on the Membership Drive check-in thread. That is all you have to do to get started. Post 50 posts on the message board ("real" posts with some substance, of course) over the next 4 weeks, and we'll send you a $10 AllyScraps gift certificate as a big HELLO! Now of course we are hoping you like us and want to hang out all the time, but if not, the gift certificate is still yours!

The counting starts now, but you can join any time between now and March 23. So, to sum things up, you will meet a great group of ladies, who will enable you with your addiction, and never make you feel guilty. Be both challanged and inspired. Play games, chat, and maybe make a new friend or two, and we are going to pay you to do it! What are you waiting for? We can't wait to meet you... come on over and have some fun!

never out of season

Love this My Mind's Eye Snowed In - it's not just for Christmas, worked great for these winter pictures too! The sketch for this page is also available in the Allyscraps sketch forum!

Journaling:
When we built the playset, we expected it to get lots os use in the warm weather months. Little did we know that it would provide year-round fun! The boys love it just as much in the middle of winter! 2.12.08

baby how I love your smile

This was Tyler's first ever dental visit, and I'm so glad I took my camera! It was really funny how he walked right in, took off his shoes and climbed up into the chair. LOL! I thought this Fancy Pants Daily Grind was great for this.

Journaling:
It was your first time at the dentist and you made yourself comfortable - even taking off your shoes! You did great, only getting a little bit upset at the end, when you had to pick just one new toothbrush. You wanted to take all 3 of them home!

a fun gift card holder!

Well, this was just such a fun little project and a great way to give a gift card!

If you check out this post on the Allyscraps Blog, I give the complete instructions and templates for making this.

a tree to climb

I LOVE this October Afternoon Weathervane! What a great, rich, fallish line! Wonderful for boy pages, but certainly versatile enough for lots of other things too! These fun pictures of Tyler climbing a tree are from our Thanksgiving trip to my dad's place in IL. And how cute is that little Maya Road chipboard tree??

Journaling:
What could be more perfect than a beautiful fall day and a tree that was made for climbing? Tyler went at it like a natural. It must be a boy thing!

You can also find my sketch for this page at the Allyscraps forum, and submit a page by February 12th to be eligible for the February prize drawing!

I can share some news!

Well, I'm just SO STINKIN' EXCITED to announce that I was one of the lucky designers selected to the next team of Bella Artistas for Bella Blvd! This is my first time on a manufacturer Design Team, and I couldn't be more thrilled and honored. I'm in the company of some incredibly talented ladies, including my fellow Allyscraps DT member, Morag!

Bella Blvd. has some great new products, and you can check out their full line at their website, here! I can't wait to get started! Thanks for letting me share!