All Aboard the Blog Train!!!!

Woo hoo!!! It's time for another Stuff to Scrap blog train. This month there are tons of designers, CT members and forum members participating and we've all created some mini-kit and quick page freebies for you!!! The links will be up for at least 2 weeks so you have plenty of time to download them all. If you want to know more or participate next month (wait 'til you see the color palette - it's gorgeous!), hop on over to the forums HERE.

Here's a preview of my kit - you can pick up the papers HERE and the elements HERE.

And here's a list of everyone participating - make sure you get all the goodies!!!
Always Be Neighbors Designs
Anyecs
Becky Young Designs
Dream Big Designs
Dreams Inspired
Digi-designs by Nicole
Eva Marina Scraps
Every EverAfter Moment
Flower Scraps
Jackie Torres
JenasisDesign
JW Digi-Scraps
KnittinJen
Mad Genius Designs
My Digaddiction
Nibbles Skribbles
Pure Pixel Designs
Resistance is Futile You Are Here!
Scrappin' Serenity
Scrapping Sisters
Scrapping Words
Scraps of Ellay
Seal Scraps
Sexy And Hot Mama Scrapper
Shel Belle Scraps
Tanya's Crossbone Cuts
Tery Hooson
The Latest Scoop, Too
The Scrappy Kat

Summer plans (SSD FOBTY 5/28)

Today's FOBTY challenge at SSD is to blog about your summer plans. Our B-I-G plan is to bring our baby boy home from Russia, which means 2 more trips to Moscow between now and hopefully the end of July. I am going to take some leave after we bring him home, so we will probably hang out in the pool and may take a short trip to visit my brother (in Virginia) and/or sister (in NY). Fortunately, it's so easy to find fun things to do around here - we live about 15 minutes from the beach, and have a pool in our backyard - and there are lots and lots of parks nearby!

It's going to be fun (and somewhat challenging) having a baby in the house again!

Do you know a rock star????

Eva just released a fantastic, grungy, music themed kit called Roxy. She is offering it on SUPER SALE through 5/31 - the GIGANTIC kit is only $2.79!! She also has coordinating alphas available on sale for $1.74. You can view the kit and pick it up HERE and the alphas are HERE.

My page is very girlie but there are plenty of blue elements you can use for boys in the kit!

Go Me!!!

The first layout I posted in my last entry was selected as one of Sweet Shoppe's standout layouts for this week! TOOT TOOT!

You can see the SSD blog post HERE.

Layouts, and layouts, and layouts, oh my!

I have had an INCREDIBLY productive weekend. Operation "Get Ready for Baby" is completed! I also did several paper layouts, two hybrid cards, and a whole bunch of digi layouts! Here are a few of my faves (a couple of them are from earlier in the week, too):

Credits: All papers and elements from the Close to My Heart kit by Zoe Pearn (some items recolored)

Credits: based on this layout; all papers and elements from the Bring Back the 70s kit by Eva Kipler

Credits: based on a layout by Kris; all papers and elements from the So Memorable Collab by the Sweet Shoppe Designers

Credits: SSD 5/22 Recipe Challenge; Outlaws from Outer Space kit by Eva Kipler and Krystal Hartley

Credits: Inspired by a Becky Fleck page map; button by Traci Reed; everything else from the Cafe Latte kit by Sugarplum Paperie and Tracie Stroud - some items recolored

Credits: Word art by Ali Edwards; everything else from the Cafe Latte kit by Sugarplum Paperie and Tracie Stroud

Credits: SSD 5/16 5 Neapolitan Challenge; Julie Billingsley's Wild at Heart kit; background beads by Kristen Rice

Yes, she's a princess!

Before I share this mini album that I'm SO excited about, I though I'd check in on operation "Get Ready for Baby." We've pulled all the big stuff out of the garage (high chair, stroller, baby gates, etc.) and it's all washed down and ready to bring into the house. The baby's room is done (and it looks ADORABLE - will post photos in the next few days). However. Really. A toy store has exploded in my house. Alexa's room - well, you can't even walk in it. The hallway outside her room is full of toys. They're all over the family room. Ya think maybe it's time to give some things away??

On to the album - every year I do a mini album around Alexa's birthday so we can remember what she does and what her personality is like in a quick, fun format. Kelleigh Ratzlaff just released this hybrid printable Princess Album and I knew I had to use it!!! I clipped in some papers from Mari Koegelenberg's May Grab Bag, added my photos and printed each page out onto 4x6 photo paper (super duper easy!). I then cut out each page (easier than it sounds), adhered them back to back, and finished it off with some fluid chalk around the edges, some sparkly ribbon to tie it all together, and a little bling on the cover! You can click the image to see it a little larger.

SASSY!!!

I love this little hybrid purse....if I do say so myself!!!


Template (Sassy Purse 2) brand new this week by Kelleigh Ratzlaff Designs.
Papers and flowers (Eden) brand new this week by Elise Hansen.

Quick May Recap (SSD FOBTY)

Wait, May isn't over, right??? How can I do a recap when it's only the 21st? Well, I am really hoping that the next week is completely uneventful and we actually get some downtime to haul all the big baby stuff out of the garage (and get it washed and bleached!), and figure out a way to take all Alexa's toys that are currently taking up 2 full rooms and condense them so they fit into 1 room (the second room now waiting for the baby). This has REALLY been a crazy month. Here are a few snippets:
1. Adoption paperwork galore
2. Alexa's kids' birthday party
3. Alexa's dance dress rehearsal and dance recital
4. Mother's Day Tea at preschool
5. More horseback riding lessons, dance lessons and gymnastics
6. Preschool graduation
And let's not forget the big one - our trip to Russia to meet our baby boy!! Adam has done a great job updating with details on our FAMILY BLOG if you want to check it out.

In the middle of all this, I tried (and mostly succeeded) to stay active on 3 Creative Teams, keep up with scrapbooking challenges, work my full time job, and generally keep everyone in the house organized. It's a good thing I'd rather be busy than not.....

Sweet Friends

Elise is releasing a GORGEOUS new kit at The Digi Chick tomorrow called {Always} Eden. Did I mention it's gorgeous??!?! Some of the papers and elements are very girlie but the color palette would work very well for boys, too (green/blue/brown). Here's a layout I did using the kit, and you can pick it up here beginning tomorrow (and remember, all new kits are on sale on Thursdays!).

A quick page freebie and some fun stuff coming up!

Eva and I decided that I would turn my layout from her kit Like No Other into a little quick page freebie for you! Here's a preview - and you can pick it up HERE. Leave some love if you like it!


Also, if you haven't speed scrapped yet, here's a chance!! Join us at Stuff to Scrap on Wednesday - there's a great alpha prize for participating!

CT for a new designer!

I'm very happy to be creating for Eva Marina Scraps - her store is at Stuff to Scrap, which is a newer digi community that is tons of fun! You know how much I love challenges, and they have TONS of challenges!!

Eva does really beautiful work - here's a layout I did with her kit "Like No Other" that you can pick up HERE (the paper/photo grid was inspired by a sketch by Stacey Curry):

A tease (a few) and a super awesome freebie from Elise

Just because I can't show photos of the baby doesn't mean I haven't been scrapping him! Here are few of the layouts I've done the last couple days - sorry for the blurs! At the very end is a layout I did with a terrific freebie from Elise.
Credits: scraplifted (and modified) from a layout by Charlize @ Sweet Shoppe Designs; embroidery brush by Shalae Tippets; all other paper and elements from the Outlaws from Outer Space kit by Eva Kipler and Krystal Hartley


Credits: all papers and elements from the Wild at Heart kit by Julie Billingsley; layout template by Kim Wresh.

Credits: sketch by Mari Koegelenberg; papers by Mira Designs (Caught in Traffic) and beaded string/paper star by Danielle Engrebretson

Credits: paper and elements from the Backyard Crawlies kit by LLIELLA Designs.

I did this layout using the FANTASTIC Garden Party newsletter FREEBIE by Elise Hansen. You can sign up for her newsletter on her blog HERE - it's all you have to do to get the freebie!

FOBTY 5/14 - Another silly quiz

Another fun quiz as today's blog challenge at Sweet Shoppe Designs - this time it's all about Star Wars...

Your Star Wars Name Is Trako Kubuf

Your Star Wars Title Is Yksiri of Mada

What Is Your Star Wars Name and Title?

We interrupt this Russia trip....

Elise has another beautiful kit in The Digi Chick store - releasing tomorrow! It's called Apricot Spice and it is GORGEOUS!!!! I had so much fun playing with it - here's one of several layouts I did -- you can pick up the kit HERE! Remember - it's not available until tomorrow (Thursday) and all new products are on sale on Thursdays!

Moscow adventure 2: the orphanage

Yesterday was a loooonnnggg day. We had our appointment at the Ministry to learn more about our referral, then we headed to the orphanage - it's really a nice facility and the staff is very friendly and seems to spend a lot of individual time with each child. I really wish we could post photos of the baby, unfortunately, Russian confidentiality laws are very strict and we don't want to take any chances. He's gorgeous, and we are very, very pleased with his development and his personality - he is very alert and responsive, and smiles and laughs easily when we can get his fingers out of his mouth!

We then went to a traditonal Russian restaurant for dinner, and went back to the orphanage to spend another hour or so with the baby. :)

More orphanage visits today!

Moscow adventure 1: Swine Flu screening!

We made it to Moscow! Adam and I are seasoned travelers - even of long, transatlantic trips - but man, that 10 hour flight from Atlanta to Moscow is rough!

I think the swine flu has been way overhyped, and really is much ado about nothing. But, I got to participate in the hype! Our entire plane was screened when we landed in Moscow - they shot this red beam into our ears (what WERE those things, anyway??) to take our temperatures. Fortunately, we all passed, although a handful of people had secondary screens. I kept wondering what would happen if someone had to be detained - they were letting everyone leave after they "passed" so apparently the whole plane wouldn't be quarantined.

We meant to go to Arbat St shopping today (it's Monday - we're 8 hours ahead of Eastern time). Instead, we slept. We've slept pretty much constantly since we got here roughly 28 hours ago.

We'll speak to our coordinator tonight and head to the Ministry of Education then the baby home tomorrow. Yippee!!

My part of spring

Yesterday's daily challenge at Sweet Shoppe Designs was a fun little blog quiz. Here is my result!

You Are Blooming Flowers

You are an optimistic person by nature. In even the darkest times, you are hopeful about the future. You feel truly blessed in life and can sometimes be overwhelmed with emotions. You have an artist's eye. You are always looking for beauty in the mundane. You have a good sense of aesthetics, especially when it comes to shapes and color.

What Part of Spring Are You?

I've been busy!

It's been a creatively busy week for me this week! Here are just a few of the layouts I've gotten done:
Credits: layout for Speed Scrap #22 at Stuff to Scrap; all papers and elements from the Boutique kit by Misty Cato and LilyAnne Taylor; ornate swirls brush by FlyGuy; sparkle action by Atomic Cupcake


Credits: sketch by Dana @The Digi Chick; all papers and elements from the {No Longer} Flowerless kit by Pamela Donnis

Credits: layout created for the May slogan challenge at Stuff to Scrap; all papers and elements from the NSD Collab by the DigiChick designers - Cherry Delight

A little layout and a hybrid box :)

Well, I am almost recovered from NSD weekend. My desktop is still a mess from all the files I downloaded, but I actually got quite a lot of scrapping accomplished in the midst of a very busy weekend! YIPPEE!!

I did this layout for one of the speed scraps at Stuff to Scrap - if you have never participated in a speed scrap, they are SO MUCH FUN!! Basically you get a set of instructions and you have to follow the instructions in a set period of time (usually 1-2 hours) to create a layout. It's so cool seeing the different things that everyone comes up with with the same set of instructions.
Credits: all items are from the My Scrapbook Art NSD Collab - I used items from Sugarplum Paperie, Sherry Ferguson, Sabrina Lopez Dupre and Gina Miller

And here's a little treasure box I did for the NSD Box IT UP challenge at The Hybrid Chick.

Credits: purse template by Kelleigh Ratzlaff; papers and elements from the Living Seas collection by Dawn Inskip.

The hybrid chicks are crazy

Seriously. Google Reader is getting a workout today just from The Hybrid Chick blog alone. You HAVE to jump over there and check out all the awesome challenges and giveaways - and check out this adorable hybrid gift box project: CLICKY

Here's a hybrid card I did for one of the challenges (which is actually a super fun card swap!!!). Credits to Kelley Mickus, Sugarplum Paperie and Pamela Donnis

So much digi goodness....

I am seriously overwhelmed by the number of contests, chats, and giveaways in the digi world for iNSD (that's (inter)National Scrapbooking Day for those of you who aren't obsessed like me).

Here's just a little roundup - site titles are linked for ease of enabling! This doesn't even scratch the surface or include individual designers' blogs. NOTE: You will need to be registered for the forums for most of the sites in order to participate in chats and obtain freebie downloads. Registration is free.

Jessica Sprague is doing lots of fun stuff - including TWO FREE VIDEO CLASSES to introduce paper scrappers to both digi and hybrid. Her classes are AMAZING - I've taken almost all of them. Trust me, this is something you do not want to pass up if you are even thinking about using your computer to scrapbook some or all parts of your layouts.

The Hybrid Chick is providing lots of giveaways and freebies, along with their usual awesome project ideas. One of the things they're giving away is Jessica Sprague classes (the ones you have to pay for, of course!)!!

The Digi Chick designers have some kits to give away, and there's a fun chat tonight at 10pm Eastern - with lots more to come tomorrow.

Both My Scrapbook Art and Digi Shop Talk have AMAZING mega collab kit freebies this weekend.

Finally, Stuff to Scrap has a full day of fun planned for tomorrow - all times listed are MOUNTAIN time. STS is a newer site but is tons of fun! Their store will be opening soon and I'm on the CT for one of their designers - Eva Marina.
Have fun!