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.