Merry Christmas

I love this time of year! With this season, so many of us gather as families and celebrate. So many of us are so blessed to have children and grandchildren, parents, and grandparents to celebrate with. I feel so blessed to have this season, to reflect on good fortunes and to thank the Lord for His guidance through so trouble times.

As 2011 ends, we welcome in a new year. It seems with each new year come resolutions. Some years, I've made lots or resolutions, and some years, I haven't. This year is no different. One of my many resolutions, is to not neglect my blog. There was a stretch of time, where I hadn't been creating. I felt like my mojo, picked up and moved on. Took some time, but the mojo returned and I am back again, creating lots of layouts. In the coming weeks, I'll share with you my creations.

In years past, with the coming of the new year, I use to set a number of layouts I wanted to complete within the year. It was always an outrageous number, and a goal I couldn't keep. I came pretty close but never made it. So this year, I thought I would set different new year goals. Instead of setting a number, I thought I would set up themes for each month and do layouts with that particular theme. For instance, January could be birthday theme layouts. I would love to do snow theme layouts, but those are few and far between here in the desert. February could be wedding layouts. December could be Christmas layouts, October could be Halloween. I am still in the planning stages, but this might work. And I am not under any kind of pressure. And if I only do 3 layouts, then I don't disappoint myself. No set number, just a set theme.

Thank you for following my blog and I wish you and yours, a very prosperous New Year.

Until next time,

Happy Scrappin'

Leanne

Raggedy Andy Boys

Some time in the distant future, my grandsons will have nothing nice to say about me when they discover these pages in their 2nd year album. But how can you NOT take pictures and scrap them when they are so darn cute!

Let me tell you the story of how the clothes pins ended up in the boys hair and not on the clothes line. I had the clothes pins in a container sitting on the kitchen table. Benny found them and picked one up and put it in his hair. I imagine he thought these were barrettes and didn't know the only little girls wore barrettes in their hair. I thought it was sooooo cute, I had Ben go show his dad. Kevin thought it was funny and decided to put more into Ben's hair. Then I grabbed the camera. Once Ben, had a full head of clothes pins, Jaden decided he wanted a head full of clothes pins as well, so Jaden got a head full.

This is what I did to accomplish these pages. A few years ago, as a NSD special or perhaps it was Heart of Winter special, (it was one of them, I just can't remember which) Close To My Heart offered a year of scrapbooking. There was paper enough for 12 2 page layouts (2 pages for each month of the year) and also included were 2 sheets of My Stickease pertaining to that month. These photos were taken in February, so that would have made it Valentine's Day theme. The paper was somewhat of what you see here, except the blue (Indian Corn Blue) was a deep pink (Hollyhock). Now I could have lefted it but I felt there was too much pink for a little boy's page. So I used a combination of 3-4 stamp sets that had the spiral circle stamps in various sizes and I randomed stamped Indian Corn Blue ink onto ICB cardstock. Then I punched a strip of White Daisy cardstock with my Fiskars "Lace Apron" border punch, lined it along the bottom of the pages. I didn't want to put flowers on the page, at least not the feminine kind I like to use, so I punch out some circles to go with the circles I stamped for the background, ran it through either my crimper or my Cuddlebug folder "Swiss Dots." Then I stacked them with a pop dot inbetween and a button on top.
Now, the Raggedy Andy figures, are coloring book figures, I found online. My good good friend, Jennifer, (Hi Jenn!!!) colored them for me for the pages. Didn't she do a fantastic job? Click on the link above and see all the fantastic artwork Jenn does. She is just one talented lady!!!

Well, I am off onto another scrapbooking adventure. I hope you enjoyed my layouts as much as I enjoyed creating them. So, until next time...

Happy Scrappin'!!

Hugs,

Leanne

Mayberry Papers

Good Morning Everyone!

Its kinda early this morning to be up and at 'em! But my dogs decided it was time for me to get and let them out. Nice alarm clocks aren't they? NOT!! I have a lot to do today, so I might as well get up and get started. Although I am not looking forward to doing laundry and scrubbing down bathrooms, I am excited to share with you this next layout.

This layout is of Deborah's 2nd Birthday Celebration. I used Close To My Heart's "Mayberry" kit and the left side of Allison Davis' 2 page sketch #9. The layout came together so easily. I also use Lyndsay Riches' digital scrapbooking add-ons. I changed the colors using my RGB codes in Photoshop Elements and then converted them to gsd files and cut them out with my cutter.

That completes all the 2nd year birthdays for the grandchildren. I still have quite a bit to do to complete their second year album, but I'll keep plugging away and get them completed when I can. I still have a few more layouts to share. I'll be back tomorrow to share another set of layouts with you. Meanwhile, the dust mop and cleanser are calling my name. I guess I best get busy.

Until next time,

Happy Scrappin'!!

Hugs,

Leanne

First Birthday

Good Morning Everyone!

This morning I have three, yes, you read that right...3 layouts to share with you. They all came together pretty easily, once I had a concept in mind. I'll share more with each layout. I want to wish all the fathers out there, a very Happy Father's Day. I hope you enjoy your day.

Since I had already done a 1st birthday layout for Matthew's 1st birthday, I couldn't name this layout, first birthday. But I also wanted to scrap these pictures of Dave with Matthew. When this group of people get together, we usually end up passing the baby. But for some reason, Matthew preferred sitting with his Poppi to enjoy the festivities.

Once again, I used one of Allison Davis' sketch from Sketch Support. Its her two page sketch #2. It really is a simple layout...something I am not use to, but I sure can become accustom to simple! LOL I used papers from 4 different paper packs, some of which are pretty old, but came in handy for this layout. I used: Close To My Heart's "Pride, Route 66, Tinkerin' and Zippidee." Oh and that zig zag border along the bottom came from CTMH's Animal Cookies My Stickease. The sun and the bird and the trees are from a digital kit from JCarson Designs. She provided vector files which I converted to cut files and used them on my layout.

These next two layouts, I have been thinking and thinking of what I wanted to do with these pictures. How did I want to scrap them? I had saved the party hats from their first birthday and wanted to use them on the layout as well. I wasn't sure how, till I saw a layout on scrapbook.com. In the comment section, the scrapper said she CASED the layout from a layout she found in the July 08 issue of Creating Keepsakes. The layout was perfect for what I wanted to do with mine. So, I went in search of finding the July 08 issue of the magazine. Wouldn't you know it...I had just gone through all my past issues and got rid of them. So, I posted on the message board of ClubCK that I was looking for a past issue. Another reader came through and posted a link and I found the layout I was looking for. Guess who the original designer of that page? It you said, Allison Davis, you're correct. I should have known. Its funny how things have a way of coming around and back to you.

As you can see, I used the boys party hats. The papers are from Close To My Heart's "Animal Cookies." I also used some "Sunflower" Background and Texture paper (retired). The scalloped circles were cut with my Nestabilities die in Tulip cardstock. All the eboxy embellishments are from Creative Imaginations. The balloons and cake with the one candle are from The Paper Studio, La Petites. And the top of the hat embellishment is from Studio Calico Notions. Even though one of the pictures looks like it was taken at Christmas, our tree was still up at the time of their birthday. They were born a week into the new year and we've decided to keep our tree up till after their birthday. The party hats at the top of the layouts are from Suzy Zoo.

Now, all the grandkids "First Birthday"s are completed, that makes all their first year albums done. What a sense of accomplishment! But you know, when I get that need for a baby fix, I just may add another page or so to their album. LOL

I have one more birthday layout to share with you, which I'll do tomorrow. So stay tuned. Thanks for stopping by.

Until next time...

Happy Scrappin'

Hugs,

Leanne

Kern County Fair

Good Morning everyone!

Its been a busy couple of days here in the Eisler household. The twins have been here since Thursday, and yesterday, our little Matthew turned 7 years old. Oh my, where has the time gone to?

I finished up a couple more layouts in the past few days, but wanted to share with you what I've completed before that. The layouts I am sharing today are of Deborah's first time visiting the Kern County Fair. She has so much fun that day. You can see through the pictures how apprehensive she was at first, but slowly found out how much fun going to fair really is.





Let me explain what I've done. I've taken two different sketches and combined them to make a two page layout. I don't remember where I got the left side sketch but the right side sketch came from Allison Davis' Sketch Support blog. The papers are from Close To My Heart's "Days To Cherish" special from a few years ago. I chose these papers because of the colors go so well with what Deborah is wearing and I love putting circle and stripes together. It makes it so much fun. But I think the Ferris wheel and carousel horse and carousel really make the layout. I found a couple of digital scrapbook kits which contained these items. I was able to change the colors to suit the colors of my papers. Then I converted them from a digital image to a cut file and cut then did a print and cut with my Wishblade.


I hope you have a terrific Thursday. Thanks for stopping by. I'll be back tomorrow with another layout I've completed.


Until next time...
Happy Scrappin'


Hugs,


Leanne

Snack Time with the Twins

Good Monday Morning Everyone!

How was your weekend? Were you able to find some time to do some scrapping? I finished up the twin's final page of their first year album Friday night. It such a good feeling having a whole album completed. It feels even better now that all four grandkids albums are done. NOW...to move on to all of their second year albums. Its a slow process, but I'm getting there.

These layouts are 9"x9" format. I started off with something completed different and the feeling I normally get when I scrap just wasn't there. So, I put the layout aside and had a good think about why I didn't like this layout. When I did realize what I didn't like about it, I was able to come back and finish it up. Once again I turned to my friend Susan's blog for the sketch. Its sketch #41. I used Close To My Heart's "Sky" cardstock for my foundation. But wanted a bit more texture to the page. So I used my Quikutz handle and my Cuddlebug embossing folder. Here is tutorial on how Susan explain how to do it, click here. The pattern paper is from 3 bugs in a rug. The cookies are from a digital kit from Sprouting Seed Studio. I downloaded the kit and them made the cookies into cut files and use my cutter to cut them out. The clock face I found online as well and printed it out on transparency and the attached it to giant cookie and the single minute hand attached in the middle. My friend Jenn sent my those clock hands a while ago for a workshop I was doing, and this is just leftover. And the little "Yummy in my Tummy" embellishment down in the lower right of the layout is from Marcella which I picked up at Target a while ago. There was a dinosaur head there where the cookie is...I just replaced it.

So that finishes the twins first year album. YAY!!! As I said a few posts back, we are celebrating quite a few birthdays this month. So, I am working on trying to get past birthdays scrapped so I can move on to scrap more present day photos.

I hear the laundry calling my name and that dust on the floor won't go away unless I run my dust mop. So, I am off to complete my chores for the day and then I can do some scrapping this afternoon or evening.

Thanks for stopping by, stay tuned for another completed layout.
Happy Scrappin'!!

Hugs,
Leanne

Sweet Adorable Baby Girl

Every once in a while, after scrapping so many pictures of trips, and school pics, that I need a "baby fix." This is the case when I did this layout of my daughter Kelli. I would prop her up against some pillows and grab the camera. This one in particular is my favorite.

The papers at the top of the layout, I've had since Close To My Heart first introduced their My Creation collection. It has since been renamed to My Reflection collections. I wanted though to dress the paper up a bit. So, I had some little Prima yellow flowers on top and a bead in the center. The rest of the papers are from My Little Yellow Bicycle's Baby Safari collection, along with all the stickers. I also used Martha Stewart's punch along the bottom of the yellow cardstock.

Through the years, Kelli has develop a frog fetish. She loves anything frogs. So when I found a small tiny little frog in the epoxy stickers, I simply had to add it the layout. Its small, I know, but I thought it would be fun to add a lil frog to her layout.

I also used CTMH's "Glitz Stardust." Which is a liquid glitter. Its hard to tell from the picture, but there is lots of sparkle to the layout. I did get a bit carried away when using the Glitz.

As I said in yesterday's post, I was hoping to get the layout completed for the last page of the twin's first year album, provided I didn't have too many interruptions. It wasn't so much the interruptions, it was the amount of time I spent on each of the layouts. I cut the title out for their layouts, and I just didn't like it, so I went back to find another font that would cut better and I could use for their title. So hopefully, I'll have those to share with you tomorrow.

Thanks for stopping by,

Until next time...

Happy Scrappin'!

Hugs,

Leanne

May Stack-a-holics Challenge

Good Thursday Morning to you all!

We've made it through the night and this morning, logging on was hassle free! YAY!! So, what did I do while our DSL was down and the computer was turned off? Yes, you guess it! I worked on some layouts. I've been working on the final page for the twin's first year album. I hope to have that completed today, if I don't have too many interruptions.

Last month, Erin, over at Die Cuts With a View 's blog, posted the May Stack-a-holics Challenge. She posted this sketch, from Susan Stringfellow and using any of the DCWV Stacks, we were to create a layout.

Now, I have a few stacks and I pulled out my favorite stack of all and completed this layout. I don't normally do challenges. I'm either to engrossed into another project or I don't have enough time to complete the layout. (Remember...I am a slow slow scrapper!)

I used "Nana's Kids" Stack. And everything on this layout, came from my stash. Usually, I'll find I would need one maybe two little embellishments to finish off a layout, but not this time. Let me just tell you, some of these things have been in my stash since I started scrapbooking. I think the hardest thing of all in completing this layout was cutting out that little rocking horse with my cutter. It's only about 1"x1.5". It made for some very delicate construction. Luckily enough, I had my Xyron "Create-a-Sticker" 150 loaded and ready to be used.

The rules were to complete a layout using the above sketch. Then Erin would select the top ten layouts and then select a winner from those ten. I am happy to announce I made it to the top ten. Erin used random.org to select the winner. Although my name was not selected, I feel so privileged and honored to be part of the top ten. She hasn't announced the June challenge yet, and I am not sure I'll have the time to complete the challenge. But who knows...I may just cave in and give it a go.

So, check out Erin's blog. There is something really big going to be announced in the next day or so. I wonder what it is?

Until next time,

Happy Scrappin'!

Hugs,

Leanne

Eat Cake!

Good Afternoon Everyone!
Normally, I like to post to my blog early in the morning...when my thoughts are clear and I know what I want to say. But since Verizon had a major equipment malfunction, we've been without our DSL for the past 19 hours, I was unable to get to blogger and post.

But now that Verizon has repaired its equipment, let hope there isn't any more outages. I was going crazy not being able to get onto the net to even check my mail. It was quite frustrating! But we're good to go!

I wanted to share with you a layout I did earlier this year. Its funny, I just shared a couple of days ago, the twins 2nd birthday layouts. And here I am today, sharing their father's 2nd birthday layout.

Back when Kevin was turning 2 years old, he was so in love with Winnie the Pooh. He would try to sing, Winnie the Pooh song but all he would sing would be "Winnie the Pooh, Winnie the Pooh, Winnie the Pooh!" It was so cute!! AND whenever he saw the Disney Castle and Tinkerbell with her wand...he'd come running, yelling, "Pooh, Pooh, Pooh!!!" And he would blop himself down in front of the television expecting to watch Winnie the Pooh.

This is a very simple layout, which is not what I normally do. But the papers, I think, take care of the "busy" feel to the layout. The "Eat Cake" paper came from Creative Imaginations. The larger matted bracket square is Sunflower and Goldrush from Close To My Heart. I made my own Glimmer Mist with Goldrush reinker and "Create-A-Shade" paint from CTMH and liquid hairspray. I selected this paper and colors because they matched so well with the Winnie the Pooh images I had in my stash. The border down at the bottom of the page, I used CTMH's Hydrangea (retired) cardstock and Martha Stewart's punch. The small bracket square in the lower right corner of the layout, I cut out with my cutter and I used Suzy Zoo stickers.

Let's hope that Verizon had permanently fixed their problem. With fingers crossed, and a big big wish, I hope to be back in the morning and post another layout I've completed lately.

So stay tuned...

Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...

Happy Scrappin'!

Hugs,

Leanne

Paris at Night

Good Tuesday Morning to you all!

I know I haven't been posting like I should, but this week, I am going to try to catch up with all the layouts I have completed. The pictures on these layouts are from our Paris trip in '93. I am a little over halfway through with the Paris album.

You know once I find a sketch that I really really like, its like everything else just falls into place. The pictures, the sketch, the embellishments just seem to pop up out of nowhere and they say, "Use us!! We'll work for that layout!" If I force myself to use pictures I am unsure about, or even the sketch, the layout will show it. Its a feeling, I can't force. So, I just go with it and let that feeling guide me.





This is the case for these layouts. Once I found the sketch at my friend's Susan's blog, I just knew I wanted to scrap these pictures with this sketch and with this paper pack. The papers are Close To My Heart's "Wings" paper pack. Along with most of the flowers and pleated ribbon. I used Martha Stewart's "Punch Around The Page" punch for the border. I cut my title out with my cutter and made it "faux chipboard" I also sprayed it with some liquid glass and hair spray to give it a glossy finish to it. Then I finished out the title with some bling. I also added some "Say it with Crystals" flourishes to highlight all the shimmering lights of Paris.



Thanks for stopping by.

Until next time...



Happy Scrappin'!!



Hugs,

Leanne

Where's the light?

Happy Monday Morning to you all!

Just when I thought I was just about all caught up on the layouts I had sitting in my "to do" file, I started a bunch more. But because I needed one thing or another, I've put them on the back burner till I can get the necessary supplies. I have though finished up or will finish up this week a few more layouts.

This month's workshop was last Tuesday over at the Pizza Factory. We worked with Close To My Heart's "Fanfare" Workshop on the Go kit. It was so good to spend the evening with friends and work on layouts together.

Since I had more pictures than what the instructional brochure called for, I chose to use a different sketch. The sketch I used is from Allison Davis' weekly sketches. I love the big cupcake on the left page and chose to do some hidden journaling. Its from My Scrap Chick weekly Freebie Friday website. The other embellishments I used are from Suzy Zoo, such as the balloons and the title and the little duckie at the right page. I also used my 2" scalloped circle punch from CTMH along with the buttons. The number 2 on the right page is also from CTMH but it has since been retired. The birthday boy little tag is from a digital scrapbook kit and I converted it to a cut file. The ribbons I used came from my stash.

Thanks for stopping by and permitting me to share my layouts with you. I still have lots more to share. So, stay tuned.

Until next time,
Happy Scrapping!!
Hugs,

Leanne

Bliss

Update January 1, 2012
I noticed this in my blogger files, set as a "draft."  I thought for sure I had posted this way back in May.  This was the beginning of the hard times we spent this past year.  I apologize for posting this sooner.  I hope you enjoy reading this and enjoy my artwork I have attach to this post.  Leanne

*****************************************************************
Greetings from the oh so messy Rubber Room!
How was your day on Saturday? Were you able to do any scrapping? I woke up Saturday morning all excited and rearing to go. I knew I had a lot planned for the day and I wanted to get to it. Not only was it National Scrapbook Day, but here in our small little town of California City, we celebrate each year, the desert tortoise. The day/weekend is full of family fun. We start of with a parade down our main boulevard with lots and lots of floats. This year, Deborah walked in the parade with her Brownie Girl Scouts. And the twin, Jaden and Benny, accompanied with their dad, Kevin, walked in the parade with their preschool. Unfortunately, Matty didn't get to walk in the parade, but he hung out on the curb with his dad and watch the parade.

They had a lot of fun walking in the parade. Meanwhile, back at the homestead, I was gearing up for some heavy duty scrapping time. My plan was to complete a two page layout, that I had started a few weeks previously. And to complete another two page layout, that I started before I started the other. Plans never go according to schedule. But, the good news is...I did complete one of my two page layouts and even added another page for this particular album. So without further ado...

These are the layouts I did for my monthly workshop. Unfortunately, they weren't completed at the time of the workshop, but I did manage to work on some of it at the workshop and finished the pages last weekend. I was going to use these papers with CTMH's "Silhouette" papers, and continue with my wedding pictures, but decided instead, I would start on my daughter Kelli's wedding album. The papers are from CTMH's "Bliss" paper pack in addition to CTMH's "Spring Iris" cardstock. Most of the flowers through the layout are handmade. The tiny button flowers are actual buttons from CTMH and I just set one of CTMH's "Sparkles" gem in the center.


So, now that I'd completed, two pages of her album, I thought I would do her introductory page to her album.



I love the picture of the hands, showing the wedding bands, and the flowers. It sets the "ambiance" of the album. Don't you think? I had a lot of fun with this page. Let me tell you what I did: The birdcage...I cut out 5 of them, using my Wishblade. It gives the cage more dimension than just a single cutout cage. The flowers and the lace...well, the lace was a stark white and it clashed with the other colors, so I combined Colonial re-inker, alcohol, and hairspray along with a tad bit of glitter, into a jar and then added my lace and shock. Then I laid the lace out to dry, moving them periodically so that the paint wouldn't pool in certain spots. When it was completely dry I was able to make the flowers and then attach them to the layout. The two blue paper flowers I sprayed with my homemade glimmer mist. Nothing like getting your hands dirty with a little bit of ink! I also want to mention about the flowers...if you look at the photos of Kelli, you'll see she has some tiny little flowers in her hair. I used those flowers as well on the layout. It was the color of the flowers to select a complimentary color to the neutral colors of patterned paper.


So, this is what I was able to accomplish for National Scrapbook Day 2011.


I noticed in my files some layouts I haven't shared yet. So, stay tuned, and in the next few days, I'll share with you more of the pages I've completed lately.


Thanks for stopping by.
Until next time,
Hugs,
Leanne

Giveaway Time

Hi there!
I thought I would post this in case any of you are interested. Melissa at Creating from the Heart posted this giveaway on her blog this morning:

Melissa writes: "It's that time again! Time to give something away!! This time here's what's up for grabs!

A Martha Stewart All Around The Page punch!

And a $100 gift card...yes I said 100 hundred dollars...to Michael's Arts and Crafts!"



This is open to everyone. All you have to do is 1) leave a comment on Melissa's blog (click here) 2) leave a link on your blog to my giveaway and for an extra chance...become a friend(follower) of Melissa's blog.

This will stay open until May 30th, Memorial Day here in the States. After that, Melissa will randomly pick a winner and post it within a day or two.

So, check it out and Good Luck!

Hugs,

Leanne