New Year....New Goals

Have you ever had one of those days/weeks where anything you had planned was put back on the back burner because other things took priority. That is how my week has gone. But the good news is...I'm somewhat free of having to set priorities and I get to spend some quality time here in the rubber room.

Since the first of the year, I have been concentrating on getting pages done for my grandsons, Matthew, Jaden and Benjamin. Their first year album is just about completed. I had to order some things for their pages, and as soon as those things arrive, I can get those pages completed. YAY!!! So meanwhile, I thought I would move along into their second year album. I have made a chart for myself to help me keep track of all the pages I've completed and to know what I need to work on to complete that album. Since I'm scrapping for 10 people and everything else, I need that kind of thing to keep my organized and to track my progress.

I felt like I had been neglecting Matthew's books, so I decided to do some pages for him. I also realized I didn't have any pictures of Matthew with his parents. So, these pictures were perfect for scrapping.

This is the first layout I've made using CTMH's new how-to book, "Magic". The papers I used came from CTMH's Heart of Winter "Days to Cherish" special.(retired) The word stickers came from my stash. The big half circle on the left page, is from MyLYB, "Safari Baby Boy". And the words on the pictures are rubons from my stash.

This next set of pictures are of Matthew. He loved this little microphone, that would play so loud, it could be heard anywhere in the house! LOL He still has that toy and still loves playing with it. But that thumb tastes so much better!

The bumblebee paper I used is from Bo Bunny. The sketch is another from CTMH's how to book, "Magic". I believe the other papers are from Bo Bunny, but I am not sure. They came from my stash without their tags on them. The large chiboard letters are from Making Memories, and I painted them with Making Memories scrapbooking paint. I made the bubble buttons from the patterned paper and glued them to painted chipboard. Then I attached CTMH's round "Window Charms" on top of the disc.

I should have started out this post with these layouts. I wanted to finish my Notre Dame layouts before I started on the boys' pages. So, I brought in the New Year finishing up these layouts.

The floral patterned paper is from K and Company, "Ancestry.com" line. The green polk dot patterned paper is from CTMH's "Perfect Day" paper pack. The brown patterned paper at the bottom portion of the layout is CTMH's retired "Fleurs de Jardine paper pack. And the pink is from CTMH's retired background and texture paper pack. The colors are Juniper, Baby Pink and Desert Sand. The scallop edge paper is a punch from Martha Stewart. The flowers are homemade and the flourishes I cut on my wishblade. This marks the half way point of my Paris album. I hope to get another layout done for the Paris album sometime this month.

So, I set my goal once again this year to complete 144 pages. I just fell short about 11 layouts to meet my goal of 144 last year. If I had an extra month in the year, I would have met my goal. LOL If only...LOL. That makes my goal for each month, 12 pages a month. With what I've shared above, I am half way in meeting my goal for the month. But as in past years, I start out strong, but dwindle down half way through. I'll have to think about how to keep the momentum going. I'd love to meet my goal this year and even surpass it. Wish me luck!!

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Until next time,

Happy Scrappin'

Hugs,

Leanne

Happy New Year!

I can see that I am not very good at making New Year resolutions. LOL I had promised myself to post more regularly on my blog. And here it is...January 10, 2011and this is my first post for the new year. I can say I'll try to do better, but haven't I said that before? So, bear with me as I try to figure out a more logical way of posting.
It's not that I haven't been scrapping...I have! I think its when I am on a roll, I hate to interrupt that creativity. But when I have scrapper's block, I get busy looking for inspiration. Oh my, its a vicious cycle I put myself through. So, let me share with you the layouts I did last month.

These first set of layouts were for my workshop last month. We used CTMH's "Mistletoe" WOTG. Now, I like to put a twist of the layout, corp has chosen for us. These two pages, are my renderings.

When I photographed the layouts, as you can see, I switched the layouts. What is suppose to be on the left is on the right and visa versa. I used Martha Stewart's Around the Page punch and punched out the border. Then took the border stamp from the stamp set "B1357 All the Best" that came in the kit and stamped around the page, I really like how the stamp and punches goes so nicely together. I will probably use this again.

So now that I've completed one set of Christmas layouts, I felt the need to do some more. Can we see a patterned happening here? LOL You have to admit...I AM getting those pages scrapped. I also realized that I am almost done with Matthew's and the twin's first year album. Just a couple more layouts and all three of the books will be done. Yippee!! So here is a page for Matthew's first year album.

Some of the papers I used are retired, but I also used some scraps from the Mistletoe kit. It really was a simple layout to put together. I don't know why I waited to complete it as long as I did. But everything here I used from my stash. I am slowly dwindling down everything I have been hoarding. I still have a ways to go...but its getting there.

So, while I was in the Christmas spirit and it was the Season. I realized I had started a 2 page layout for Matthew last year. Somehow, my attention got turned away, but I had kept it close to work on at a later date. Well, that later date had arrived and I completed the layouts from last year's "Jingle" WOTG kit.

Now that I've completed pages for Deborah and Matthew, I turned my attention to the twins. I knew I had quite a few pages to finish for their first year album. So looking through the file of their first year...I found a few I knew I should scrap.

As many scrappers I know, they enjoy using Page Maps' sketches for doing their layouts. I too use Page Maps alot for inspiration. I found another blog that has given me quite a bit of inspiration. The blog is Sketch Savvy and the blogger is Susan Stringfellow. I have used quite a few of her sketches lately. Check out her blog and leave her a comment or two. I know she'd love to hear from you. Click here for the sketch I did above. I flipped the layout so I could use it on the left side. Then you can click here for the sketch of the layout below

These next pages I did for the twins. They were learning how to crawl, and they kept crawling and climbing all over each other. They were the most curious set of babies. And if one of them found something the other had to investigate it as well. Where one was...the other was right there with him. It was easy at that time to keep an eye on them.

The papers I used for these layouts are from DCWV "Linen" paper slab. The flowers I cut out on my Wishblade in addition to the little car in the lower left corner. The flowers I spritz them with homemade glimmer mist (create a shade paint, reinker, liquid hair spray) and scrunched them to give them some dimension on the page.

So this is what I had been up to the last month of the year. In addition to baking cookies, and cleaning and wrapping gifts..all the normal stuff that comes with the holiday season. As the song says, I am so glad Christmas comes but once a year!

I still have more to share, but for now, I have got to go get some housework done. You know, like dusting and vaccuuming and changing the linens on the beds, etc etc etc. The list goes on and on. But, good news...I don't have to cook tonight! DH is going to take me out to dinner!

So, until the next time. Thanks for stopping by. Leave me a comment or two and let me know what you think of all my pages. I would love to hear from you.

Happy Scrappin'

Lots of hugs,

Leanne

Getting into the Spirit

I find I have the hardest time, when working on layouts, is selecting the best photos. I either don't have enough photos for the page or I have WAY too many and its all a process of elimination till I have the correct number of photos for the layout. That process can be quite time consuming. There have been numerous occasions where I just can't get through all the photos to even think of eliminating any of them. So, off to the back burner till I come back to it again.

This past week, its been an absolute delight having my daughter here creating with me. She worked on Christmas cards and I worked on various Christmas layouts. After all, tis the season!!

How many of you remember CTMH's Hollydays paper pack? Well, those papers were part of a workshop I conducted back in 2006. I was able to get Deborah's and Matthew's Christmas pages completed that year! (That doesn't happen very often!!) But I decided to do the twins Christmas pages with this paper pack as well. The first two pages were a breeze. Of course we have the visit with Santa (which they weren't too happy about). And their very first portrait sitting. Then it was selecting the photos for the next two pages that were the hardest. It was of course Baby's First Christmas and I had to select 6 photos of each twin out of 92 photos taken that day. But I did it! I took a deep breath and dove right in and didn't come away from the computer till all 12 photos were selected.

I am only showing one set of layouts, but there are two pages for each of the boys. This paper pack has been retired but its one of my favorite Christmas papers. These pages are not the standard 12"x12", I reduced the size to 9"x9" and use layouts from CTMH's how to book, "Cherish." Another consultant, way back then made cutting files for the ornaments, and I cut them on my Wishblade.

These next set of layouts are pages 3 and 4 of the twin's first year album. Remembering back to that Christmas 5 years ago...oh what fun we had. There is nothing like "Babies First Christmas!" They don't understand, but love the excitement. Oh how fast they learn though!

This first set is of Benny. Look at the excitement in Benny's eyes. The expression speaks volumes.

This next set of layouts are of Jaden's First Christmas. I could not get him to look up at the camera, for fear that everything would be gone! LOL He learned mighty fast how to rip off wrapping paper. But he wouldn't let go of the wrapping paper once the package was open. Too funny!

As for materials use here, all products are from CTMH (now retired) except for the ribbon which came from my stash. I believe I got that from JennD at www.just4funcrafts.com.

Well, I have a couple more layouts to share. I'll try to post again tomorrow. This has been one whacky week. Yesterday, I spent the day tidying up around the house and working on getting these pictures posted. Today, Kelli and I went down to the Base Exchange and then up to KMart to do some Christmas shopping. Then tonight was Deborah's Christmas program. Tomorrow, I have to head to the commissary and Thursday, Kelli and I plan on baking Christmas cookies all day. Christmas parties are Friday. Matthew's Christmas program in Thursday. And Matthew's class will be building gingerbread houses. Lets hope he gets more candies on his house than in his mouth!! Hope to get some good photos to scrap.

Oh yeah...on top of all of

that, Kelli and I will be making the teachers Christmas presents. So that needs to be done before Friday. I'll post a picture of what we do. I'm excited to get started on it!!

I'll see you tomorrow. Hope you have a great day.

Talk to you soon.

Lots of hugs and smiles,

Leanne

Busy, Busy, Busy

Oh my how time flies when you're in the midst of a family crisis. Now, that the crisis (the major portion) is somewhat behind us, I hope to be a bid more active with my blog. Please keep my family in your prayers as we make our way through this. I know with the Lord's help, He will guide us.


Even though I haven't been posting, I have been very very busy in the Rubber Room. This is the place I find solace. And of course, I have to keep my fingers moving. Since my posting (over a month ago) I have been working on layouts for my workshops and continuing to complete some layouts I've put on the back burner.

This first 2 page layout is another page for my Paris album. The pictures I scrapped are of the Champs Elysees, Arc de Triomphe, and Place de la Concorde. The papers are from CTMH's Felicity. The paper flowers are from my stash, and the bling on top of the flowers...I picked up at Michael's.

This next set of layouts was for my November workshop. Its the Hooligan's WOTG kit. The papers and title just matched the twins costumes. I liked the sketch so much, I used Making Memories Halloween tablet and scrapped Deborah's and Matthew's Halloween pics from the same year (2008).

Now, the page on the left, I made identical for each of the boys, but individualized the right page for each of them.

This is the left side of the layout.

This is Jaden's page (the right side).

This is Benny's page (the right side).

Now, I CASED the instructions from the Hooligan's WOTG kit and changed out the papers for Deborah's and Matthew's pages.

Matthew's pages:

It is such a good feeling to have all four of the children's Halloween pages done for at least one year. I am slowly but surely getting caught up on their albums. Now, if I could make time stand still, so I could get completely caught up. But what fun is that? This way, it keeps me very very busy and out of trouble.

I have a lot more to share, so stay tuned. I'll be back and share more of the pages I have completed.

Until next time.....

Thanks for visiting with me, here in my rubber room.

Happy Scrapping!!!

Lots of hugs and smiles,

Leanne

Apple Picking and more

Hi there!

Once again it seems like life gets in the way of my blogging and scrapbooking. I've been trying to get my Paris album completed, but every time I plan on spending some time here in the Rubber Room, something or someone decides differently. So, here I am with a few minutes before I head off to the kitchen and start on dinner, I thought I would share with you the pages I completed for last month's workshop. We worked with CTMH's Olivia WOTG kit and this is what I came up with. A great big thank you goes out to Karen Pedersen for showing me what the layout would look like if I turned the sketch 90 degrees. Now, Karen's layout is a very masculine looking layout and its absolutely gorgeous. I chose to use CTMH's Tulip cardstock for my foundation page and cut some apples out using my Wishblade.

These pictures are of my granddaughter, Deborah, and her very first field trip. This was when she was in Kindergarten, and all the classes went up to Tehachapi to pick apples.

As I said before, I've been busy working on my Paris album and I have a few pages here to share with you. I've been trying to go chronologically except for the last two pages I shared but they were done for my September workshop. Where I left off before (way back in August) I had just shared with you part of our visit to Versailles. This next layout is the inside of the palace. As I toured the palace, I was in total awe of the spectacular rooms.

There's a funny story about this next page. Its not so much about the purse but how I had acquired the purse, which I journal about it on an index card and placed it behind the picture. It read:

"As we were ending our tour of Versailles, we met back up at the bus. Dave and I were a bit early and noticed all the men carrying lots of various purses. We knew right off, these men were "street" vendors, and this is how they made their living. I had mentioned I would like to have taken a closer look at the purses, but was a hesitant. Our tour guide mentioned he bought a purse for his wife here the last trip he had made to Paris.
Now I didn’t want to spend a whole lot of money. But our guide gave a me a rough idea on how much I could get a purse for. I thought I would take my own challenge and see if I could get it even cheaper than our tour guide. Now, I am not a wiz at math and doing conversions in my head is something I have never been able to do very well. So, before I left the bus to haggle with these guys, I knew I need about 155 francs, which is about L20 sterling or about $33 USD. So, I turned to Dave and asked him to give me only 135 francs and that was all I was going to take with me. I left my bag, husband, identification, etc. on the bus and went to meet my new purchase, hopefully.
As I was searching for the bag I wanted, all the vendors swarmed at me like bees to honey. I found the bag I like and began to haggle with the guy. He told me at first 175 francs. I said, no no...too much. I knew it was close to the end of the day, and the last thing these guys wanted to do was to take home the least amount of purses necessary. Once he gave me his price, and I turned it down...he tried again and came down 10 more francs. I said, no no...too much, and turned to walk away. He then said, "You tell me!" I turned to him and said, "All I have left from today is 135 francs." He frowned and baucked about not enough. So, I turned to leave and he said, "Ok, 135 francs." I gave him the money and he gave me my purse.
So, here I am writing and telling you about my adventure in purchasing this purse. I didn’t think it would last a month...but 17 years later, I still have the purse and its still in great shape."

In setting up my Paris album, I planned on 2 pages for each "attraction" we saw/visited. But with all there was to see and take pictures of, I ended up with 4 pages for Versailles. So, in keeping with my goal of 2 pages, I used the True Fit Folio folders and made all those pages in bit more interactive.

I have a couple more pages to share, but they need to be photographed. With this record breaking temps here, I'll be able to get outside and photograph the next two pages I have completed.

So stay tuned....
Until later,
Happy Scrapping!!!


Leanne

Magnifique

Greetings from the Rubber Room!

I can't believe its been almost another month has passed and I haven't posted any artwork. The artwork I am sharing today is for my September workshop. We are working with CTMH's WOTG Magnifique paper pack. I tried to stay within the instructions, but I always have such a hard time...so as usual I manage to put the "Leanne's" two cents to it and made it my own. Yes, there is a lot of brads and a lot of flowers. I cut a lot of the flowers out of Chocolate and Colonial White cardstock on my Wishblade and I have a few flower punches I used as well.

These pages are of our boat ride, the Bateaux Mouches, up and down the Seine River in Paris. So, there are two more pages done for my Paris album.

Thanks for stopping by.

Until next time,

Happy Scrappin'!

Leanne