"Baby Shower by Friends" Layout

I recently created a quick layout about the Baby Shower hosted by two of my daughter's good long-time school friends.  The theme was owls and there were lots of charming elements to it.  You can read my blog post about this shower Here.

A tree was created and put on the dining room table. Each guest was asked to write a piece of advice about taking care of babies/children on a tag that was charmingly decorated with a brown owl.  I took one of the tags home with me to use on a layout I knew I'd create about the shower.  Free embellishments excite me. 

The owls on this layout were cut from a gift bag I had in storage.....how perfect. My personal challenge for this layout was to use Stick On Fonts I had in my stash. I wanted to use some for the title and I was really limited as I needed small ones.  I like that I used something in my stash I've had for 2-3 years.  For more on my 'personal challenge' method see this post Here. 

I will put all the other shower pictures in photo sleeves following this layout in my 2010 scrapbook. 

Have a good Tuesday and thanks for reading me.

(Oh...and if I ever go to another shower where there is an Advice Tree (or something similar) I'm writing "This family is crazy...run baby, Run!"  (I got that from my cyber friend Ann.)

Tree Trimming

of 2010 is done.  A few pictures from Saturday night:

All done

"Where's Rudolph to pull my sleigh?"

"Yeah, here he comes."

"Go Zags."

Granddaughter and her dad hanging out. Son In-law was in Afghanistan Christmas 2009 and it was so nice to have him back in the family fold for our Tree Trimming party. He's so appreciative of our family traditions and we cherish that.

Thanks family for the fun night.

Use those Scrapbooking embellishments...

.......you have and maybe forgot about!!  How you ask? 

I created a very simple and easy way to do so and this works great for me.  I challenge myself for each Layout to use an embellishment in my stash or do a technique with a tool I purchased....  how many of you really use That tool you just had to have (two years ago)??  I have a Tag Maker that I had to have and do like the results when I do use it; but...remembering to use it - hard to do. 

My system:  I took tiny squares of paper and wrote on each one an embellishment to use or a technique or tool to use of which I have in my stash. Examples of what I wrote are:  "Use crimper, use a tag, use ink, use paint, use Stick on Font from stash, use a Rubon in stash, use brads, use a journaling block, use bling, use Cricut cartridge "_______", emboss something, use ribbon"; etc.  I think you get the idea.

I took two small containers I had in my stash (not being used) and put all the slips of paper in one and in the lid of the other I cut an opening. The first thing I do when starting a new layout is to draw a slip of paper out of the Challenge Container and I challenge myself to DO what is on the slip of paper. I admit sometimes I'm not so happy with what I drew for the layout to be done but I make myself do it.... I am happy when I complete a challenge and I love I am using items in my stash; some of which have been there for years, untouched. 

As you can see in the following photos I didn't even decorate these containers and lots of creative scrappers would - I'm just lazy that way.  

My two containers...I draw from the left one; DO IT on a layout and then deposit the slip of paper in the right one.

Pink container = pink paper: my fav color.

Example of just three of the slips of paper in my "Challenge Container".

I hope some of you try this idea or if you have a system that challenges you to use your stash please share it with me.

Christmas Prep

Happy Friday all. 

Last Tuesday I went shopping for a few clothing items for myself and a few Christmas Gifts.  I ate a good breakfast before heading out and stopped for lunch....have to feed the brain for all that 'work'.  I am always surprised by the quantity of goods available at this time of year; and sales everywhere.

Being I'm ancient; I remember when sales happened only once or twice a year. Linens went on sale once a year and they were called "White Sales". It was a BIG deal when it became twice a year. You did not see a sale sign before Christmas except on Christmas Eve...(which is when my good friend's father took her and her sibs out shopping. Her Mom stayed home and knowing her she was probably cooking or sewing). 

I like items on sale but what saddens me about the whole thing is most of those items are not made in the USA. I bought a jacket from China, two sweaters from Taiwan, and a few gifts also not from this country. I didn't even check the bolts of the fabric I bought to see where it's made now.

If I make a gift as a Christmas present, it is made in the USA but from products probably not produced in the USA.  I've seen tags on items that say "constructed in the USA"... I guess that is telling us the components were not made in the USA.

The mall and stores I went to were festively decorated and some were quite pretty. I was surprised at how many people were out and about but the only line I encountered was at Jo Ann's. I waited over an hour to get fabric cut.  Thankfully they were announcing the numbers over the main intercom so one could browse while waiting. 

I was hoping that going shopping Tuesday would jump start me into wanting to decorate for Christmas but it didn't work. But I am going to start today and I've decided I am cutting back this year; in decorations and entertainment. I feel the need to give myself the time for continued healing, contemplation and not overdo.

This weekend our grown children and their spouses are coming over to help decorate our tree. This has been a long time tradition; one I like. This will be Granddaughters first time helping Grammy decorate the tree...stay tuned for a report on that...haha. Definitely a Scrapbook page in the future.

I always prepare spiritually this month as that is the reason for the season. I try to live my life always 'prepared' but I do like researching and finding ways to help people. Our church and many other organizations have Gifting trees with tags that share a specific item someone needs. I myself am drawn to the elderly as there really are a lot of people who do not have family to help.

Baking food gifts for people is a favorite prep of mine. I love to bake. The manual part of it and of course the smells keep me pretty happy; and chubby!

I hope you are enjoying your preparations and share with me your favorite one.

Below is what Granddaughter looked like a year ago.....just a figment of our imagination and we did not imagine a redhead. Life has great surprises sometimes.

and here she is yesterday helping me unload the dishwasher...

what a difference a year makes. Oh For Joy!

Have a good preparatory weekend.

9 months old

Hi All...happy Thursday.  Granddaughter is 9 months old now. Gosh time flies when you are having fun.  I was going back thru the digital pictures of her on my computer last night trying to remember when she was not the giggling, charming, fast moving dynamo she is now.  The first year of growth is so so amazing.

She loves to have a playmate on the floor and I had my camera with me yesterday...one can get some great angles that way.

I set my camera timer and kept popping up and down to take more pictures....she kept giggling but there is not one of the six photos showing her doing so.  So serious looking here.

Watching her grow and develop these past 9 months has been amazing. She is a Joy...and we are blessed.

Celtic Woman Layout

Happy Wednesday all. Today I'm taking care of Granddaughter...yippee! Lots of snuggles, kisses and fun. 

"Good Will Wednesday" seems to have take a back seat to the remodel they did, illness and babysitting Granddaughter. I miss Good Will Hunter finding cool things for me.  I do think he'll be back at it next week though.

I did a layout recently of our night out to see Celtic Woman in concert last May.  I'd seen them before but it was hubby's first time. He enjoyed it a lot.  The theater they performed at is absolutely beautiful. I did a post about it Here.

The gold cardstock mesh is cut using the Cricut cartridge called Paper Lace. The edges of the black cardstock was punched using an EK Success edge puncher. That scroll punch is a favorite of mine. The two lights featured are in the Theater...so pretty. I had to take them without a flash and am pleased with the way they came out. 

This is one of those layouts that I just couldn't get to 'come together'. I was so so frustrated and gave up; went to bed. I was in bed reading and IT hit me what was wrong...so out of bed I got and had it figured out in 10 minutes.  I've talked to other scrappers who say they've done the same thing...so I don't feel totally crazy....(just a little).

That's it for today followers. Have a good Wednesday.