Critter Challenge Design Team Call

So.. first of all.. Blogger must hate me.. I tried to do this earlier today and it just would not post! I didn't stress too much as I know blogger has been doing some updates.. but uggghhh why when I NEED to use it. Then while trying to do it again this afternoon, my poor puppy got stung by a bee and her little face just swelled up we had to rush her to the vet. She had to have a shot and now we are having to give her Bendryl and have to keep an eye on her to make sure the swelling doesn't spread. It is hard to feel helpless when you can't make them better.. just like when your kid is hurt. So.. here goes.. I'm trying to post this yet again.

So.. when Melanie (and later April joined as co-owner) first started her Critter Challenge Blog, I was so fortunate to be one of the first Design Team Members. I managed to make the cut each time she looked for a new design team... until she started with a fresh group. I totally understood, but I was sad. I have so missed being part of the team. It was always a great group to work with. I watched carefully for a new DT call. I was excited to see it and created a card right away... mostly because I needed a card! (I know Melanie and April... me.. a card? Who would have thunk it?! lol)

So.. my oldest niece is moving away to university this weekend, can you guess what she's going to study? Yep.. Dental Hygiene. So this Bella stamp worked perfectly!



The paper is all Close to My Heart. I cut the teeth from the Cricut - A Child's Year Cartridge. The 'bling' is actually I-Rocks covered in Stickles.

So... fast forward a week and I just can't leave this sketch alone. I know I need to do a scrapbook page as that what I always did when I was on the DT before. So I came up with this... I had to add a little to the sketch to really make it work for a layout, but I didn't stray too far.


The paper is all Bella Blvd. The stars in the corner were done with a Jolee punch.

And.. just a plug for my puppy... here is Molly with her swollen eye... she does normally have a pink eye.. but this is red and swollen.. (picture taken about an hour after her shot at the vet).


Thanks again for the opportunity.

San Diego Zoo

The whole family riding the gondolas at the San Diego Zoo.

Love this zoo line from DCWV.

Woody and Winnie Woodpecker

Even though the boys weren't huge fans.. we certainly were.. and the boys were good sports and had their pictures with them.

Waterworld

Definitely my favourite live action show at Universal Studios.. it was so action packed you didn't know where to look there was something happening everywhere! When the plane "crashed" right in front of us it scared the heck out of me!!

CALIFORNIA Adventure

I am so sad that they removed the big letters that spelled CALIFORNIA right outside the gates of California Adventure.

Lucky for us we were able to get pictures taken. Love these pictures of the boys standing in the giant 'O'.

War of the Worlds

Took these pictures while riding the tram at Universal Studios. It still amazes me that this is just a movie set - it really felt like we were driving through a plane crash.

Happy Anniversary to my Best Friend!

So.. my niece and I actually made this last year for my best friend's - her mom and step dad - first anniversary. Not sure why I haven't shared it until now... but here it is! It is on an 8x10 canvas. I love how it turned out - Courtney did a fantastic job!

Animal Actor's Stage Part 2

More from the Animal Actor's Stage at Universal Studios.

Animal Actor's Studio

When I went to Universal Studios many years ago - this was one of my favourite parts. I was so excited that I would be able to share this with my family this time.

San Diego Zoo

Some random animals at the San Diego Zoo - one bad thing about taking a bunch of photos without knowing what they are - I learned a lesson and the next time I went to the zoo - I took photos of their "sign" before I took the photo of the animal.

Snow Cones

I always loved snow cones as a kid - so when I saw them at San Diego Zoo - I knew we all had to have them. At the end of a long, hot day - they were the perfect ending to our trip.

Snakes & Things

From the Snake Exhibit at San Diego Zoo. I was sure glad they were all behind the glass!!

Under Construction

Thought this was a cute photo op at California Adventure - Disneyland. Behind these walls was a great big hole in the ground where they were building something new and exciting. Hopefully it will be completed the next time we are there and will get to experience it.

Sharks!

I was too claustrophobic to go in the shark tank - but the boys went and got these great photos!

Another simple layout - didn't feel I needed to do much with this fantastic patterned paper.

Shamu!

I just loved it when I found this picture on Carsyn's camera. I love how you can see Shamu swimming under water.

Simple layout - let the patterned paper shine!

The Lion King at San Diego Zoo

I thought this would be a fun way to document some of the animals we saw at the San Diego Zoo.


Patterned paper is all DCWV and all cardstock is Stampin Up. Letters welded on Gypsy using Plantin' Schoolbook font.

Psycho!

From Universal Studios Tram Tour - the live action Psycho display at the Bates Motel.



Letters welded on Gypsy using the font on Happy Hauntings.

Disney's People Mover

We rode this every day to and from the Parking Garage.

I know.. I'm crazy - but I really did want to document every part of our trip - even the little things like riding on the people mover.

Panda Bears

One of our favourite parts of the San Diego Zoo was the panda exhibit. There was one guy who was wide awake and seemed to be performing for us. They are soo cute!!

Lego - Dragon

Considering we really didn't enjoy Legoland - I've sure got a ton of photos from there. The Lego structures/animals/vehicles etc - were amazing.. I definitely can't fault that - but for the rest of it - we just didn't enjoy it.

Love this patterned Core'dinations paper! I'm also madly in love with these puffy Thickers. Even though I had boys - I bought these bright pink letters - I knew they would come in handy some time. This page sat in my "to do" pile for a long time because I couldn't figure out a title for it... but then remembered about these Thickers and they are the perfect colour match!

Koala and Sloth

I'm really not sure why I chose to highlight these two animals - or why I made matching layouts. I'm sure there must have been some reason - but it has escaped me at the moment.

These were taken at San Diego Zoo.


Love this Bo Bunny paper!
Titles were welded on the Gypsy using the Robotz font.

Waiting at LAX

A simple layout of the boys waiting to board the plane to go home. After 10 days away we were all ready to get back to our home and back to every day life. Loved our trip away - but love home even more!

Universal Studios - The Grinch

The Grinch Who Stole Christmas is one of my favourite movies. It was so cool to see part of the set on the Universal Studios tram tour.

A simple page - but with having done over 300 pages of our Disney trip - simple is good sometimes!

Disneyland!

Here is a layout of just inside the gate at Disneyland. I couldn't believe I was able to get a photo with no one sitting on the brick wall. Total fluke! Just wish I hadn't cut off the top of the clock tower.

California Month!

So.. I've been trying to do theme months this year. You see.. I scrapbooked a ton of pages in the last year so I've got a ton to share... so I thought it would be fun to schedule them in themes... I'm actually scheduling this in March - but I'm hoping to finish our California trip by August and hope that I can share a layout from our 2009 trip to California every day this month! Maybe I'll even be able to stretch it out to September! We'll see!

This layout is of the Collapsing Bridge from the Tram tour at Universal Studios.