Multiculturism at its best

Maybe that should be "multireligionism" at its best! When I snapped photos of the first night of Hanukkah last night, there was a big old Christmas countdown calendar in the background. Oops!

Here's the layout I created:

Credits: sketch by Christine Couch; journaling box shape, scalloped edge, photo turns and foil and distressed edge 2 actions by Atomic Cupcake; background paper overlay by Patricia Yochum; title and stars of David by Brandie Valenzuela

Brave Princess

I saw this kit - Story Castle - by Amanda McGee and I HAD to have it. It is so adorable. I also used Melissa Renfro's paper tearing action and a photo mask by Christine Smith on the layout. Hope it makes you smile!

Behind the scenes at the Nutcracker

These photos are from last weekend - we went to a really cool program sponsored by our local library system about how dancers are trained - then we saw some dances from the Nutcracker!


Credits: sketch by Charla Virkler, photo corners by Erica Hite, paper by Durin Eberhart, ribbon by Sarah Batdorf

Cookies, cookies, everywhere!

I don't know why I ever thought we needed to bake so many Christmas cookies - but we had fun doing it anyway! This layout is based on the sketch for Becky Fleck's current blog contest - although I love the sketch and this digi kit by Amanda McGee, I'm not sure if I'm actually going to submit it for the contest or not. I like the layout but don't LUUURRRRVVVEEE it, kwim??

Credits also to Melissa Renfro for the paper tearing action.

Completed gift mini!

Mom and dad - don't look at the gallery!!!

I did this album for my parents for Christmas - it features 2008 photos of each of their 5 grandchildren. I have a daughter and 4 nephews - so the paper line I picked (Black Market Society's Lucky 'n Love) was perfect - it is brown and blue (very boyish) but has some florals for my girl! I'm so very pleased with the way it turned out!! There was a smear of cookie making junk on my lens (and I didn't realize it) so the right hand side of the photos are kind of blurry, but hopefully you get the idea.

The holidays in full swing!

Oh, my. The last week has be I.N.S.A.N.E!! Alexa had her holiday show at school on Thursday (TOO adorable!!), and we went to a really neat program at Nova Southeastern University on Saturday called "backstage at the Nutcracker." We learned a lot about how ballet dancers train and prepare for productions, and then were treated to several dances. Sunday, my mom came over and we made cookies ALL.DAY.LONG!! Fun, but tiring!!

I also finished up a gift mini-album and created the foundation for a second. I'm hoping to finish it up tonight or tomorrow. Then I need to get caught up on my own projects! I still haven't even started my "December daily" album (although I have been faithfully taking a daily photo and jotting down things to remember to include) and I really want to pre-decorate my "52 Blessings" album for next year. I like the way the second gift album is turning out so much that I think I'm going to basically copy it for my Blessings album. Easy Peasy! But let's not mention all the layout ideas I have from all the festivities so far this month!

I hope this holiday season is treating you well!

I won! I won!

It is a big goal of mine for 2009 to begin submitting layouts to contests and for publication. Becky Fleck (whose sketches I ADORE and use all the time - just scroll through some of my layout posts and you'll see her credited often) has regular contests on her blog and I WON the "What I Am Thankful For" contest!!! I am so excited!

Here's the layout:

Credits to Paula Wright for her GORGEOUS Thankful kit (papers, leaf and button string), Sara Amerie for the journaling strips and Mandy Steward for the stitches and stitches and holes layer style and extra special thanks to Becky Fleck for being a continuous source of inspiration.

I really need to do those mini albums

Remember those mini albums I had to do? I still have to do them. Sigh. I planned to do them this coming weekend, but then I realized we are taking Alexa to see The Nutcracker on Saturday, I want to bake cookies on Sunday, and somewhere in between I'd like to take her to see Santa. Ack! I did find time to do a couple layouts (credits under each).
Credits: sketch by C.Couch, top background paper from a template by Melanie Johnson, distressed brush by Thao Cosgrove, Atomic Cupcake rough litho action, all other papers and elements from the Winter Wonderfull kit by Cinnamon Designs

Credits: quote by Brian Andreas, background paper (over which I put the photo) by Syndee Nuckles, swirls from a template by Diane Miller, Atomic Cupcake gold action

Happy Holidays!

We received our first holiday card yesterday (overachiever - you know who you are!) and I'm feeling woefully behind. I have several mini albums to finish/start as gifts, and I'm doing a December daily album that I've taken a daily photo for so far, but haven't started other than that. We have the tree and decorations to put up this weekend, and cookies to bake....but despite a to-do list a mile long, this is my absolute favorite time of the year.


Thought I'd share our holiday card with you all - it uses the Winter Wonderfull kit by Cinnamon Designs and is based on a sketch (and layout) by Juli at the Digi Chick. I've changed it around a bunch of times but I'm pretty sure this is the final version.

Some "Thankful" Layouts

We spent Thanksgiving in Virginia with my brother's family and my parents and we had a wonderful, relaxing time. My 2 nephews (one less than a year older than Alexa and one 2 years younger) are a joy and the kids played together constantly! As a special treat (hee hee), I actually did TWO double page spreads! I have a couple more layouts of the trip to go. Credits under each photo....
























Credits: sketch by Becky Fleck (last Saturday's sketch challenge at Sisterhood of scrap); Atomic Cupcake ric rac template, messy foam action, sponged edge action, inked edge action and torn cardboard action; background paper by Melissa Bennett; paper template by Ursula Schneider; staples by Elizabeth Quintana.















Credits: loosely based on sketches by Becky Fleck (RHS from October 2008 and LHS from November 2008); background paper by the Scrappin Cop (recolored); leaves by Paula Wright; stitched frame from a template by Thao Cosgrove; paper template by Ursula Schneider; Atomic Cupcake edged plastic action.
















Credits: layered sketch template by Yin at Yin's Designs; all papers and leaves by Paula Wright; tag and twine from a template by Amanda McGee