Graduate

My youngest son, Ben, graduated from Valley Academy of Arts and Sciences last June.  This is the first in a series of layouts from the event.

I used the sketch from Scrap Our Stash (featured at that link, if it works, is my friend, Steffanie's layout -- I think it's awesome!)  Here's the sketch:

I love the energy in it and it's different than I normally do.  So here's my take:

One of the things I love about this blog and it's challenges is that they don't encourage you to go buy all kinds of latest and greatest -- they encourage you to use your stash.  The off-white/beige paper came from my very first DCWV stack, Old World.  The burgandy and blue papers come from an MME stack from 2010.  The title I printed out on my computer and the little bit of white branches embellishment came from packaging somewhere sometime.  

The photos are Ben and his principal and one of the proofs.  We weren't thrilled with his proofs, so we chose one for the year book and kept the proofs but didn't buy anything else (so the embellishment covers the photographer's name).  

I'm really happy with how this came out -- I think it has a casual elegance to it.

Good Stuff

I won a prize from the Scrapbook Circle Blog Hop!  The kit came in the mail yesterday (super fast!) and I couldn't wait to play with it.  I used the sketch for August on their blog, here.

Here is my take on it:

Although the kit title is "Island Paradise" and is geared for summer, I chose pictures from a trip in January to see the Rose Parade Floats.  I took Ben and two friends.  It was REALLY warm -- don't know how Angie wore her sweatshirt.  This is not my usual style -- and some of the papers are not anything I would pick out -- but that's the fun of prizes!  They stretch me and make me think outside my box.  Love how this came out.  And so much more scrappy goodness to play with!   Thanks to Scrapbook Circle!

New Home

This is our new home in Utah.  And the view from my window.  The photo of the layout is not great, but it's pretty late.  I have to remember to take photos earlier in the day.

The layout is based on a sketch from Let's Scrap.  Here's what it looks like:

This was actually last week's sketch (8/6/14), I just didn't get to it in time.  They've got another sketch up for this week.

Here's my take:  

I  was also inspired by the Frosted Design's challenge to use chevrons -- I'm so hesitant in mixing prints -- but I love how these worked.  And I love the bright happy blue chevron print!

I used DCWV papers from their Tradewinds stack.  I cut the circle and the tags with either my old Cricut or my Silhouette (don't remember which).  Pulled the map from online and made the mini journal card.  The title is from Scrabble tile stickers -- got those in a swap and I don't know who makes them.

Finally Scrapping Again

We moved to Utah from California and I haven't scrapped since before we left (mid-June).  I did get some cards made in that time, but mostly just been busy.  Finally getting settled in enough to get some scrapping done again.

The first layout is from Chuck E Cheese -- my boys, who were really a bit old for CEC, took pics of themselves.  Repeatedly.  In interesting poses.  These are all of my oldest, Scott, who is now 24.  These were taken at the Chico CEC which puts them back in 02ish.  A couple years ago :-)

I have a few more of my younger son, Ben (who just graduated and the photos are from 1st grade).  The frames around the photos were just too big, so I trimmed up most of them.  And finally used up my Nikki Sivils 6x6 pad I got forever ago.

The next layout is based on a sketch from Let's Capture Our Memories.  And the photos are much more recent.  Saying good bye and leaving my aunt was one of the hardest parts of leaving CA.

Here's the sketch I used:

As you can see, I turned the sketch and show more of the second photo.  I also moved the title and journaling.  I used Recollections "Route 66" paper and some old buttons I had in my jar.  

Feels good to be creative again!

My apologies....

This is a bunch of layouts -- and more to come.  I'm doing a LOAD and several of these are for challenges, so need to get them up NOW.  I got a LOT done at the weekend crop -- most of these I'm really happy with.  So here we go --

Priceless -- from Christmas Day, 2013.  If you can't read the journaling on the left it says:  BOGO slurpees for 5 -$5.25, Parking - $10, Whining to your Face Book friends back East that it was too hot at the beach on Christmas Day......Priceless.

Ben and his (now ex-) girl friend on Valentine's Day.  They went to Tomo's for sushi with reservations and everything.  

Life is Good -- from Memorial Day in Huntington Beach.  Picked up this Bo Bunny paper at Scrapbooking Forever during the crop.  Love, love, love it.  

I finished (I think) the HHN album (yes, there was so much I decided to make an album of it).  This is Moonrise, Over the Stars.  

Another HHN, Insidious -- the maze Scott worked in.  This was for a challenge at the crop.  We got the same 5 papers and could make anything.  You can vote for your fave -- and the winner gets a gift certificate (the contest is on their FB page)

Not much creativity here, but the front page for the album.

I thought this was done (other than a title on the tag) but when I pulled it out to photo it, I'm getting an "undone" vibe from it.  Hmmmmm

So I had done the page on the left for a challenge at the end of April, but then I found the photo of the sign and the one on the right.  So I changed the left page a bit and did the right.  Just a little campy.

Both of these are from sketches at Creative Scrapper.  Entertainment is some of the cast and crew just hanging around -- David and Scott got to know the little couple who would run around on their scooters all over.  I've got to ask the guys again what their names are.  Hitch is from a movie screening we got to go to (as employees and guests) on site at the studio -- and a picture of me in front of the Alfred Hitchcock Building.

And there's about 8 more pages to come -- once I finish up.

Easter/My First Silhouette Project

I made the baskets (including the pillow boxes) and the cards for my guys (and friends) for Easter.  I learned a lot in the process about my Silhouette and was happy with how they all came out for the most part.

The files for the cards were from Miss Kate (other than the basket itself -- don't remember where I picked that up), I'm not sure about the file for the box/ basket ,  I think it came from the Silhouette store, and I think the pill box came from Bird.  

The Purge -- HHN Opening

This is my LOAD 1 for Let's Scrap, using this week's sketch

The photos are from the "Employees Only" soft opening of HHNs.  Since DH and ODS were working, they could give their tickets to friends and family, so Ben and I went.  First pic is Ben waiting in line -- we got there at least an hour early, I think it was earlier and there were already people there.  They only had a certain number of Front of the Line badges and they had a posted policy of no saving spots in line -- but as more and more people jumped in with friends, we were beginning to wonder if we were going to get the badges.  But we did.  They opened the gates and then held everyone at the end of the street -- waiting for the "rope drop".  The alarm goes off (signalling the beginning of the Purge) and there were flashes and smoke and the chainsaws and the masked purgers came out -- and your first challenge was getting past them all.