Fun in the Pool

These were taken in the pool when we were in San Diego last summer. We loved taking an afternoon break and hitting the pool. We did it every day when we were in Anaheim (not sure why I didn't get pictures there)... it was a great way to split the day up and relax and rest up for the evening activities.

This is the first time I have used these "Thickers" letters... and let me tell you.. I LOVE them!!



Challenges:
Penny's Challenges

Critter Challenge Blog - Challenge #9

Wow, can you believe, we are already on week #9 at the Critter Challenge Blog.

This week we were given colours to be inspired by and use in our creations. When I first saw them I thought... hmmm.. pink, purple, green... I guess I will be making a card.. because I don't have any pictures that I can use for my boys' albums. And, because I rarely use those colours.. I didn't have any in my stash... great excuse to go to the LSS.... which had just changed owners and locations... so I was looking forward to checking out the new location. I couldn't believe my luck when I stumbled across this Crate Paper line. I pulled up the colours on my phone and thought... perfect! So I picked up just one sheet... after all I was just making a card.. I didn't need anymore than one sheet of each. The more I thought about it... the more I thought.. I can't make a card.. I need to stick with the scrapbook pages... so... I totally went outside my comfort zone, and found a picture of me.. that I didn't mind (I hate most pictures of me... I'm so NOT photogenic)... and then headed back to the LSS to grab one of the last pieces of paper.. I have to make the same pages for my boys!

I absolutely love the page... and even wowed my hubby and kids. I even made my own matching flowers using a circle punch, scrunching up the paper, and inking the edges.

I hope you like it as much as I do.

Supplies:
Crate Paper - Bliss Collection - Glee, Spirited, and Mod (Love this line... there were a couple other sheets that I didn't choose - but I did use the backs of them for the solid pink journal box and green mat around the picture).
Bazzil - for the base - forget the name - sorry!
Versa - Pinecone Ink - everything has been inked.... I've said it before.. this is the best colour for distressing - it goes with EVERYTHING
Gem Brads - from my stash... probably dollar store.

So, come join us and you could win a fabulous surprise from My Scrapbooking Supplies.

Crafty Critter's Virtual Stamp/Scrap Weekend

Our blog group held a Virtual Stamp/Scrap weekend this past weekend and we had 5 challenges to do.

This is my layout for the challenge that I put out for our group.

These pictures were taken when we were at Sea World in San Diego last summer. We surprised the boys by buying these hats and having the hat seller take them to them (they were sitting in the splash zone... and we weren't!)

It is a little hard to see in this photo, but the pictures are matted in green and there are green dots on the patterned paper and there is yellow streamers in Carsyn's hat and a yellow ribbon and yellow brad.

VSD #3 Challenge #2

Ok.. I know a lot of you are going to hate me.. but I'm challenging you to make a scrapbook page. I'm pretty sure just about everyone scraps... (even though some of you haven't in years!) and if you don't.. then adapt this to a card.

Please use the following sketch.

Please make sure you use a stamp on your layout.

And since our theme is spring, please use the colours green and yellow somewhere on your layout... stamp, paper, embellishments.. etc...

I am also challenging you to enter your project into a challenge blog... You can enter it at the Scrap and Stamp Saturday blog (that's where the sketch is from) and/or wherever you choose.

Here are my layouts for Challenge #1

These pictures of my boys were taken on the beach... it wasn't a tropical beach, but we consider where we live paradise.

We weren't allowed to colour our stamps... so I used a Versamark pad and stamped the stars all over the pages.

My one embellishment is the chipboard circle with the star on it.

I crimped the three strips of paper to make a border for the photos.

Here is what the challenge was....
VSD 3 Challenge #1 - Paradise Inspiration

It's an inspiration themed challenge with a recipe to go along with it.
Create a card, page, or 3D project designed around this picture:


Ahhhhh, do you feel like you are in Paradise? Look at the great look of these rocks, their grooves and shapes, the green landscape behind them and of course, the beautiful crystal clear water!

I would like you to design your project around this photo. Then, follow a few little requirements (recipe):

~ Only 1 embellishment
~ somewhere on your card use a crimper. If you don't have one, manually get the look of crimped paper/card stock by accordion folding it, then laying it out on your project.
~ Last but not least....NO COLORING! GASP!!!!!! I know right? But, isn't that why it's called a challenge? Get out all those solid stamps and colorful ink pads. Or, just use a sentiment as your main focus. It's totally up to you, but you can't color your image.

This is my layout for challenge number 5.

1 Image
2 ribbons - the thick brown stripes are ribbons
3 layers... under the photo are three different mats

VSD Challenge # 5...

This is my card for challenge #3.

I made a layout last week using a similar picture. I had an extra so I thought I would make a card and send it to our aunt, whose house we were staying at when Carsyn fell in love with these little birds.

VSD Challenge #3

VSD #3 - Challenge #4 - Greeting Farm

Sorry Melanie.. I just ran out of time.

Great challenge though.. and I will try and get it done and post it later.

Sporty Challenge

My sister loves to cruise the blogs and is always sending me ideas... some I keep and others I don't. This past week, she sent me a link and it inspired me to create a page, right then and there.

Here is the link to the post that inspired me.....



I've entered this page in the Sporty Challenge at Scrap and Stamp Saturday.

I have stamped the Soccer across the bottom as well as using white ink to stamp right on the background page.

Fall Fun

Here are some of the pictures from our yearly visit to the hay maze at our local pumpkin patch.

The kid always have such a blast.

Wave Racers

Here is a layout from Legoland. This was one of the only rides the boys were able to go on. The line ups were crazy for rides there.. but they had a "blast" as they tried to soak each other!

Family Adventure

Here is our "1st Visit" family photo.

Love our ears?! Haha...

Quick and easy layout... I did Stickle on all the characters to give it a little extra bling. The ribbons bits were all from my scrap bag... love it when you can use up you scraps.. and these little "flags" are perfect for ribbon scraps.