In my spare time . . .

I am currently, planning a 50th birthday celebration (out of state with 10 attendees), working, getting everyone on track for the new school year which started last week, getting us all settled back a home after the unexpected renovations this summer, getting the Girl Scout troop up and running and trying to make some time for me!

I have been working on my Simple Scrapper October assignments but also got these layouts done.  

First up - three random photos from college - still using the scraps from a recent layout and loving the color combo.  It screams college to me as these were the colors of my comforter in the dorm.  Silly - but true!

I went to the closing of my elementary school (sniffle sniffle) and had pulled out some photos from that time to take with me - and of course they ended up on my table and there was an idea sparked by an assignment and then there was this!  Sixth grade international festival photos.  I used a page protector to add in the photos that I wanted to keep but didn't want to embellish.  All scrapped.  It's the little things in life that keep you happy! 

Left side:

Right side:

And with the pocket page in between:

P.S.  I am photographing my layouts just after work in my office cause the light is great, but please ignore the dirty glass spots that you can see on the navy layout.  I guess I will have to go outside and wash the windows!

Simple Scrapper Guest Designer - me!

I'm guest designing for Simple Scrapper for the next few months (Eek! So excited). 

Here are the pages I made with the sketches and the prompt this month.  If you need inspiration, order, grounding, and an awesome community, you should totally check out Simper Scrapper.  It is inexpensive and the owner, Jennifer Wilson, makes sure you get an incredible amount of content and value out of the membership.  There are monthly sketches and prompts which really help to get you thinking and scrapping.  There is a monthly book club, free classes each quarter, monthly chats (during the day AND at night) and so much more.  The magazine "Spark" is free this month as a way to show folks what Simple Scrapper is all about.  

Hope you enjoyed.  I better get going on the ones for September.  I am having such fun!

The Spring Round Up

Conferences, rodeo and spring crazy kept me busy for the first part of the year, but I did manage to scrap - I just completely forgot to photograph and post things.  Most of these pages are made with various late 2015 and early 2016 Cocoa Daisy kits.  Here we go!

This takes inspiration from Irit Landgraf and her wonderful ability to gather colors on a page.  Its a great way to use embellishments based on color instead of the theme or the actual words.  Happy New Year!  

Since I save the program and such from the annual Girl Scout luncheon (I was a table honoree) I decided to document it, even though there are really no photos.  I wonder why the scrappbooking industry shies away from kelly green . . . .

I was able to stick to my plan of using this super old stamp on a layout (the oval messy ring) by thinking of it as a condensation ring.  I also got a chance to use those cute wood veneer glasses since they sort of went with my sunglasses!  I really struggle with the word sticker sheets - anyone else?  I got one on this page, I need to figure out a way to use more of those since they always come in the kits!

I actually ordered a photo from the rodeo photographer to include on this page since it is the only one that captured the whole grand entry wagon.  I included on of our passes that we had to wear so that gave me the year and the rodeo logo.  Those amazing big letters just screamed "Grand" entry!

So there you have it, what I was doing in the spring.  I just wrapped up a layout about my first Girl Scout Brownie troop investiture way back in 1982.  I know I am jumping around in the decades a lot, but I am just going with it and trying to be super flexible as long as I am making things that make me happy!  I really need to complete the refresh exercise about the projects I have and map out a better plan to concentrate on something . . .

I Needed a Refresh and I Got it!

Refresh - I needed one, desperately.

I'm a member of the Simple Scrapper community -I read the emails, I'm active some on the FB group and even applied for a design position (which resulted in a guest designer spot for August, September and October!) but I've been off my scrapbooking game for a few months.

Insert Refresh - a class offered quarterly by Simple Scrapper. If you are a member, its free with your membership.  If you aren't, you can pay to take it.  I wasn't able to participate in the last session or two but the summer session came at the right time for me and it has been so helpful in getting me back on track.

I cleaned up my space and go back to the basics of stories and photos - along with some pretty things mixed in - and I couldn't be happier!

Here are two of the pages I made in the seven day class using various activities and prompts offered as part of the class.

This is a little something I put together as I was getting ready for the class to begin.  I am trying to use up my Cocoa Daisy Kits as they have piled up a bit.  So I just gave myself permission to unkit them and just grab whatever works.

Hope you all have a great week!  I got up early this morning and made five homemade cards (mainly because the chaos in my house from a water leak if making me feel out of control).  Who knows what's next - I don't care as long as it doesn't involve insulation or drywall!

Catching Up and Taking Stock

Funny how life is so cyclical.  As I look over this blog, I see a lull every conference season, spikes over certain periods and some down right scrap binges during other times. I have to remember, I'm a mom, I'm a Girl Scout leader, I'm a fundraiser with two roles at a major university, I'm a constant volunteer, and I need to sleep some time!  

So here are a few pages I have created between attending and presenting at two conferences in two different states and being a Rookie Rodeo volunteer (and all of that other stuff mentioned above!).  

Supplies are almost all from my lonely and neglected Cocoa Daisy kits that have lots more pages left in them than I have had time to make these days - but don't worry, I feel a binge coming on!

So back to high school again - I knew that patterned paper sheet was going to end up on a two page spread somehow and this is how.  

Sometimes you just scrap the bad, poorly lit, flash on the backs of heads pictures, cause they are all that you've got.  Who cares - they were too fun not to add and they tell the story of the process of becoming a member and signing the book, shaking hands with the principal and all of that.

Here is the complete spread.  I added some doilies, chipboard, stickers and enamel dots and called it done.  It is a tad plain but I think the 90's clothes carry it off well!

These two random photos taken by my mother were never meant to capture the phone but rather me and the long chats with my boyfriends in the living room, but I saw a story.  My kids will never know the struggle of being tethered to a phone jack by an incredibly long cord - it's something to giggle over now.

RODEO!  This was my first event with the Poultry Auction Committee - our gala!  Such fun.  

And back to high school (see the full circle - even in this blog post).  I only have these two photos from Anchor Club but wanted to record my participation in this service organization with a friend that I have always admired.  We were a fun "A-Team." This paper just fit with the colors and who knew that summer themed cork arrows would turn out to be the perfect embellishment for a page about a high school club.

And finally, a little photo booth happiness - cause photo strips are always happy.

December Scrappy Round Up

First up - a few Christmas cards from the leftover from making 2 tags with my dear friend and Stampin' Up demo Karen.  Jarad's family wasn't able to visit us for Christmas this year so we had to remember to mail a package - lots of gift cards which of course require a card.  They turned out pretty cute for just using scraps. I need to post the tags we made next.  

Then - the Christmas break goal this year was to scrap at least a page for each day I was on break.  And I am pleased to say - I met my goal! Most of the supplies are from the last four - five months of Cocoa Daisy Kits (yes, I am a tad behind). Here it goes.

First up was a slightly unfinished project from a few weeks back - it was a good warm up activity to get me back in the creative mood. The picture was from an Instagram post. I hid my journaling - sorry I just wasn't in the mood to share.

I followed a sketch on the Cocoa Daisy blog for this one - hence the feathers. Also the sketch called for a larger picture, but I used two smaller ones together.

Here's the sketch.

Then a one off picture from the scrap soon box of photos.I needed something fun, and this paper fit the bill. I added some circles to break it up and the pops of orange and black to grab your attention.  It's not my usual style but it was fun to try something outside of my comfort zone. I love how my kit pushes me.

More from the scrap soon box. This is a random gathering of photos from the day care days. I used pocket pages. Man does it feel good to have these in the album and not wasting away in that box. They are fun stories and I am glad they are told. I no longer have Rock Star status when I pick them up at school. I miss those days . . .

Teehee - such a cutie.  Love this one with three random photos from back in the day.

Going back to an older album that needed some pages added - the Firefighter album for the hubby. Found a couple of pictures in the scrap soon box from the academy days. Funny stuff so I went a little crooked with the orientation - it makes me laugh so I guess that works.

What to do with photos with lots of black around the people - I went old school and made them into circles and then I just went with it. Busted out the Creative Memories Circle cutter - like the 90's all over again - yeah!

Just a one off photo from the scrap soon box - when it is going to get done? Elsie and her friend Deuce or as she called him at the time "My Deucey".  Such fun and getting to use a red doily - yes, please!

Ok - that's the round up for now. Twelve layouts and some cards. Not bad for a break. We had 11 days off and I made twelve layouts.There might be one or more lurking about that needs to be photographed, but still - accomplished my goal! And I just got my January kit in the mail - yeah!

I blinked and it's December!

How did that happen??  It is December 1 - already?

First up - in scrappy news here are two I have finished.  You can clearly see that I was diving back into my random photos to scrap box as these are from three decades apart. These four random images of my daddy and his dog Phaedra were first in the pile and, with that little fox in mind, this page used some scraps and some more fussy cutting from that pretty floral paper int he Cocoa Daisy kit.

Next up is a long overdue page to add to Jarad's firefighter album that I stared when he first joined HFD.  This is his "big" promotion ceremony to EO that happened in 2009.  These pages are hard - gotta keep them manly but I like them pretty at the same time.  I am kinda over the fire related paper and such but for fun I may pull some of that stash out and try to use it sparingly to keep the flavor of the book.  I still need to add to this - more photos need to be printed first.  He was just promoted to Jr. Captain so I need to get that in the book too.

I have about three pages that are almost finished that still need to be added and - wait for it - 6 weeks of Project Life that I completed over Thanksgiving break to add to.  I am now only 5 weeks behind!  I am totally gonna catch up.  (happy dance)

Update - here is one of the now completed pages -

And in non scrappy news:

I made cinnamon rolls from scratch - they were slap your momma good. Found the recipe on Sally's Baking Addiction - it is the overnight roll recipe.  I can't recommend it enough. The kids would agree.

We spend Friday decorating our house and then Saturday doing my mothers.  She was all smiles to have everything done and the boxes put away.  Yes, I asked them to pose for a post decorating photo.  They are so good to me.

Then we celebrated Jarad's birthday with a little brownie sunday fun. He and Wyatt watched the Texans and we played a game of Wits and Wagers together - fun game - I think we have many more rounds in our future.

And of course - Peppermint has returned!!!

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving.  Merry Christmas!